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Tomato Worship
Seeds Trust is proud to offer only heirloom tomato seeds, seeds passed on from generation to generation and originally saved from the best tasting varieties. Looking for a good small acidic yellow cherry or maybe a big beefy red slicer? How about tomatoes from Siberia? Our goal is to continually add new categories corresponding to our customer's outlandish wishes.
America's most favorite vegetable originated in the highlands of northern South America. The first wild plants brought into cultivation bore tiny, watery, acid tasting fruits that barely resemble today's delicious giants. To give some idea, the Latin name for the original wild tomato, Lycopersicon esculentum, means "edible wolfpeach". Over the centuries the tomato made its way north to the Aztecs of central Mexico who are thought to have done much of the original breeding work. In fact, our name for the plant comes from the Aztec name, "tomatl".
Spanish conquistadors brought tomato seeds back to Europe for the first time and Spain became the first European country to really produce tomatoes. Italy adopted the Pomo d' oro, "golden apple", as an integral part of its national cuisine. The rest of Europe had a bit more trouble adopting this new garden favorite from the New World because tomatoes are in the nightshade family and their leaves closely resemble a number of deadly plants including belladonna. The English were really the last to be convinced and many of the first American colonists from England carried a bias against tomatoes. For this reason, the first tomatoes grown in America were grown as ornamentals.
The writings of Thomas Jefferson are one of the first places we find evidence of Americans eating tomatoes. He writes about growing them for consumption in his garden journal beginning in 1809. Amazing stories come from the early days of America when the majority thought tomatoes poisonous. Col. Robert Johnson, a world traveler and adventurer, against the advice of his physician and in the presence of the local undertaker, ate much of a bushel of tomatoes in front of a terrified crowd on the steps of the courthouse in Salem, New Jersey in 1820.
Some say the Creoles in New Orleans were the first in the United States to seriously use tomatoes and in 1860 brought them into commercial production. The immense popularity of tomatoes in the late 19th century helped to create hundreds of new varieties as gardeners and farmers saved seeds from their own stock and selected for different characteristics. This trend continued until after WW II when hybridization and commercialization became the driving forces in tomato production. The results have been nothing short of amazing. Tomatoes are now mechanically picked, tossed into trucks, driven thousands of miles and stacked on shelves for weeks at a time! A so-called breakthrough at the University of California at Davis a few years ago resulted in the "square" tomato which facilitates packaging in boxes.
Most of us would agree that modern commercialization of the tomato has not been without negative effects. Bland tasting supermarket tomatoes have forced a record number of Americans to grow tomatoes at home. The number of good-tasting, open-pollinated tomato varieties so prevalent before WWII is rapidly shrinking. In 1990, according to the Seed Savers Exchange, 396 open-pollinated varieties of tomatoes were available from seed companies in North America. This was 46 varieties fewer than just two years before. In the last few years, there has been a turn-around in popularity as all kinds of tasty, homegrown, heirloom tomatoes make their way into the mainstream.
Important Variety
The first step for any tomato gardener is to search for the varieties they wish to grow. Most American gardeners limit their search to the normal, commercial universe of hybrid offerings. SEEDS TRUST sells a wide variety of open-pollinated tomatoes from which seed can be saved (as opposed to the F1 hybrids which produce sterile or unreliable seed). This allows gardeners and farmers to save their own seeds from varieties that perform best in their own mini-ecosystem or conform to their own special tastes. This assures diversity in the same way that diversity has been promoted instinctively for 10,000 years. We invite you to sample the cornucopia of varieties still available around the world whether early or late, cold or heat tolerant, round or pear-shaped, yellow, gold, orange, purple, green or even red. You can be assured that the Seed Trust varieties listed result from careful selection for "fresh-picked" flavor and cold-tolerance.
Site selection is a gardener's next step. Maximize the growing seasons of cold mountain gardens by creating small, warm mini-climates. Choose or create well-protected, south-facing sites. Even a small angle of slope to the south can dramatically increase soil warmth. Surround tomatoes with large rocks or concrete walls that collect the sun's heat during the day and protect from frost at night. Tall-growing crops or permanent hedges will protect larger gardens and fields. It is worthy to note an old Chinese saying: "Select proper site for garden and half the work is done."
In the desert elevations, heat can be the culprit when temperatures get above 80° F and makes pollen sterile. In the early morning or late evening, when temps begin to cool, go out to your tomatoes and gently shake the flowers of the plants to stimulate fertile pollination.
Healthy soil is the foundation for all successful gardens and tomato gardens are no exception. At high altitudes, soils reach their extremes and are inherently more fragile, more alkaline or more acidic and more deprived of organic matter than soil in more moderate climes. Top soil is often non-existent, or subject to rapid degradation by being exposed to severe wind and intense sun. We encourage gardeners to build up and care for soil by:
Adding organic matter. We continually obtain the best yields in our gardens after feeding first our soil and secondly the plants growing in it. Feed soil with copious amounts of fully decomposed compost. Tomatoes especially like soil that contains composted tomato plants. Be aware that overly fresh manure and other undigested organic matter may take too long to decompose in cold, spring soil, aggravating already acidic pH levels and lowering nitrogen levels. If necessary, add overly fresh manure as early in the fall as possible.
Adding nutrients. The optimum method for building a supply of available nutrients in garden soil is to add organic soil aids each spring. Organic soil aids decompose slowly over the years thereby preventing overdose damage. The necessary macro- and micro-nutrients are assured. Testing and fine-tuning for specific nutrients becomes unnecessary. Balance between nitrogen and phosphorous is preserved when both are added at the same time at recommended amounts. Too nitrogen-rich soil will over-stimulate plant growth, delaying fruit production.
Testing soil pH. An unbalanced soil pH can bind nutrients into garden soil and prevent them from being made available to plants. Tomatoes prefer soil with a pH in the range of 6.0-7.0. A test for soil pH (acidity or alkalinity) is fast, simple, accurate and inexpensive. We test our garden beds each spring with the Lamotte pH test kit.
Minimizing tillage. Proper tillage increases the biological activity in the soil. We double dig our beds once each spring. We try to minimize a turning or mixing of the different levels of soil. Over-tilling leads to rapid breakdown of organic matter in soil. For a complete discussion of proper soil care, we recommend How to Grow More Vegetables by John Jeavons.
Keeping garden soil covered. In between crops or after harvest, plant a cover crop such as Austrian winter peas or rye to minimize erosion and to add organic matter.
Rotating crops. Occasionally allow one or more seasons for a nitrogen-fixing crop such as alfalfa or clover to replenish the soil.
Start Indoors
Tomato plants destined benefit from early indoor planting. Seeds should be planted indoors in flats at least 6-8 weeks early. Experienced tomato gardeners start as early as 11-12 weeks before the last frost date if unrestricted root growth during the entire period can be assured. Tomatoes must be transplanted before roots reach sides of the container because growth can be stunted permanently. Three or more transplants into successively larger pots is not uncommon in a 12 week period. Wise tomato gardeners plant no more than 6-8 weeks when the responsibility of transplanting is not wanted. A smaller tomato plant with growth momentum is better than a large, root bound tomato plant.
Provide plenty of light to avoid tall, leggy growth. Twenty watts of artificial light per square foot is sufficient. Light-deprived plants grow tall and spindly in search of more light. Nutrient movement through tall, skinny stems is restricted. Short, stocky plants, the result of adequate light, actually produce more, larger tomatoes, sooner than tall skinny plants. To minimize restricted nutrient movement, pinch lower leaves and bury stem completely. Tall, skinny stems will actually grow somewhat fatter underground.
A good potting soil should be used for indoor tomato starts. We make our own using 1/3 compost, 1/3 peat moss and 1/3 perlite or vermiculite. Regular garden soil is not an acceptable substitute. Daily watering in small containers destroys the structure of garden soil leaving it too compacted to allow necessary air exchange with roots. The result is yellow, sickly plants.
Transplant Outdoors
Experienced tomato gardeners "harden off" tomato starts before transplanting outside. "Hardening off" is a term used by gardeners to describe the changes tender, indoor plants go through to survive outside in wind, rain, sun and widely fluctuating air and soil temperatures. Successful "hardening" of tomato plants is done gradually over a ten-day period. Plants should be set outside for a few hours only the first day. A cloudy day or late afternoon is best in the beginning. Protect from strong wind until visible strengthening occurs. Lengthen the time outside each day and expose to sun and wind gradually. Allow soil to dry before "hardening". This actually begins the process to toughen and protect. White coloring on the leaves is a sign of sunburn.
Our favorite method to transplant large tomato seedlings is called "the trench method". Lower leaves are pinched off the entire length of the lower stem. The plant is laid horizontally into a small trench 3" or 4" deep with the top sticking out and above the ground at the end. The entire length of the stem underground will grow roots setting the stage for future dynamic growth. It will fatten to allow more nutrients access to leaves, flowers and fruit. Sun has a greater chance of warming the newly rooted stem early in the season because it is only 3-4" deep. Fertilizer should not be put directly in the trench as it may "burn" a tender, new seedling. Water deeply, immediately because root hairs are damaged temporarily during transplant and are unable to transport water efficiently.
The optimum spacing between newly planted tomato seedlings depends on several factors including soil fertility and exposure to wind and sun. Experience is the most important guide. If many tomatoes are sun burned one summer, less space may be an answer the next. Also, a gardener can produce more different varieties of tomatoes in a small garden by trellising, pruning and planting tomatoes very close to each other. The number and size of tomatoes on each plant will be somewhat restricted but more different kinds can be grown. Recommended, traditional spacing for tomato rows is 36-48". Plants in rows have been spaced between 12-24". Spacing in double-dug, deep beds often varied between 18-24".
Tomatoes are commonly thought to have no frost tolerance. However, many of our tomatoes have survived 29°F. frosts with no protection. This is possibly a result of supplementing soil with kelp meal. According to soil scientist, R. H. Faust, Ph.D., tests at Clemson College showed that, "tomato plants grown in flats on which seaweed meal has been used possessed considerable cold resistance. Seaweed treated flats of tomatoes withstood freezing temperatures as low as 29°F. We offer 1 lb. Icelandic Kelp Meal. Apply no more than one pound per 100 sq. ft. to avoid retarded growth.
Technology has provided a number of devices that protect tomatoes and other warm season crops from frost damage. Wall o'Water is a great product that allows heavy vinyl, sectioned, cylindrical tubes to be filled with water. These water filled tubes hold warmth from the sun to warm plants at night allowing a garden to be started outside, 6-8 weeks early. If water freezes, heat still will be released as water gives off heat when it cools. Perfect for peppers, squashes, tomatoes and other warm season crops. Protects small plants down to 16° F. Each self-standing Wall o'Water is 18" x 18" and holds 3 gallons of water. Lasts for years.
Soil temperatures below 70°F. can slow tomato growth for days, even weeks. We advise gardeners in high altitudes to take careful soil temperature readings before planting. After years of searching, we finally found a versatile, pocket-sized Propagation Thermometer that lets cold-climate gardener's monitor soil temperatures indoors in propagation flats or outdoors in the garden.
Gardeners have been using clear plastic mulch to warm spring soils and black plastic to suppress weeds. IRT 100 Mulch is a dark brown, embossed, wavelength selective, plastic mulch that warms soil like clear plastic yet suppresses weeds as well as any black plastic.
Companion Plants
The most complete discussion of companion planting, "the ability of certain species of plants to help each other by their mere presence" is contained in a book titled, Companion Plants, by Helen Philbrick and Richard Gregg. The book is based on 40 years of careful observation by Sir Albert Howard in India. The organic farming methods of Mr. Howard were brought to America in the early forties by the late J. I. Rodale. Plants which enhance the growth of tomatoes when planted closely nearby include: onions, parsley, asparagus, carrots, marigolds.
Contrary to popular belief, tomato plants do not require support to maximize tomato production. In fact, our tests show that indeterminate tomato plants allowed to sprawl over the ground actually produce more pounds of tomatoes. Provide at least 1 sq. yard of garden space per plant if this method is used. A thin layer of mulch on the ground will keep tomatoes dry and less likely to rot.
Trellises, cages and stakes do provide some advantages. Tomatoes are easier to find and harvest. Individual tomatoes grow larger because pruned, supported vines produce fewer numbers of fruit. Tomatoes kept above the ground are cleaner with less rotting and ripen sooner.
Wire cages offer the most advantages for a garden with less than 10 tomato plants. Plants in cages grow and support themselves with little pruning or care. They develop enough foliage to shade tomatoes and prevent sunburn. We use concrete reinforcing wire with 6" squares to allow easy hand access. Our cages are 5' tall and at least 18" in diameter. This requires a piece of wire 5' x 4 1/2' which is then rolled.
Staking tomato plants also keeps vines and tomatoes off the ground and saves space. Sticks for use as stakes cost less than wire. Staking does require more labor than caging. Plants should be pruned and tied to the stake at least once a week. Fruits are less protected from the sun by foliage and therefore more likely to be sunburned. Staked tomato plants produce fewer fruits because every branch not tied is removed. We found staked tomatoes to be more susceptible of blossom end rot because the ground underneath is less shaded and therefore more likely to dry in hot weather.
The advantage of using tomato trellises is that only one structure is necessary to support a large number of plants. The time needed to prune and tie is similar to staking and tomatoes are more exposed to sun than in cages.
"Pruning" usually means pinching off new little shoots that grow out of stems just above leaves. These little "suckers", as they are often called, have become the unfortunate target of many serious gardeners. If tomato plants are staked or trellised, pruning makes sense because room is available for one or two stems only. Whether pruning actually increases production on caged or free roaming plants remains to be seen. Pruning late in the growing season can allow more sunlight and heat underneath a plant which will speed ripening on cool days. Pinch off the top of a plant late in the season to encourage more energy to ripening fruits instead of foliage which will soon be frozen. Sunburned tomatoes result from plants pruned too much.
Provide an even supply of water to maximize growth and prevent blossom end rot. Lack of calcium will cause a black rot to appear on the ends of tomatoes and calcium flow into a plant will be greatly reduced if water is unavailable. On the other hand, too-much water will saturate soil and restrict oxygen to the roots which is necessary for optimum growth. Tomatoes need at least 1 inch of water per week to insure quality growth. This translates into about 60 gallons of water per 100 sq. ft. of garden soil per week.
Avoid watering with icy, cold water. Many Siberians fill large tanks painted black so that garden water will be warmed before being applied. If possible water deeply at the base of each plant and avoid top-watering. Some gardeners bury gallon cans between each tomato plant. The tops are cut off and holes punched in the sides. Fill each can with water and it will soak deeply into the soil around the roots without damage.
Mulch can keep free roaming tomatoes clean and dry and keep the soil underneath moist during hot spells. Avoid applying too early in spring when it can act as an insulator and prevent the soil from properly warming.
Many tomato diseases are associated with hot, moist weather and are not a threat in higher, drier climes (except in greenhouses). To prevent most problems, provide healthy transplants, fertile soil and plenty of calcium.
Early blight (Alternaria solani) is probably the most common tomato disease. This soil-born fungus first appears as brown spots on bottom leaves with yellow, concentric circles spreading out around them. Lower leaves are affected first, but whole plants can become infected. Avoid top-watering and splashing underneath. Practice three-year rotation to eliminate.
Fusarium wilt is also common in warmer climates. The best defense against "the yellows" as it is also called is to plant resistant varieties (designated "F"). Fusarium is a fungus that is taken up through the roots and into the stem where it grows and gives off the toxic substances that eventually cause yellowing, wilting and death. Fusarium can remain alive in the soil for many years so infected sites should be avoided for at least 4 years.
Verticillium wilt appears with identical symptoms as fusarium and is much more common in cold, northern climates. The only definitive solution is to plant resistant varieties (designated "V").
Flea beetles are most likely to be most destructive early in the season. Use sticky traps or diatameous earth (not the kind used in pools). Making sure soil is free of debri and companion planting will also dimish flea beetle infestations. We pick Colorado potato beetles by hand and occasionally use pyrethrum. Dipel (Bacillus thuringiensis) will control tomato horn worms.
Physical Problems
Blossom end rot, sunburn and cracking are serious problems faced by small-scale commercial growers who need especially beautiful fruits. Blossom end rot is actually caused by a lack of calcium. Calcium is transported by water in tomato plants. Dry conditions aggravate calcium deficiencies in plants resulting in blossom end rot. Provide consistent water to avoid most cases. Calcium can be added as a last resort.
Sunburn appears as a yellowish, white patch on the sunny side of ripening tomatoes. Prevent sunburn by allowing enough foliage to shade each fruit. Although ugly, sunburn does not affect the eating quality of tomatoes. Simply cut away the discolored portion and enjoy the remaining fruit.
Cracking is often the result of too much water. Unusually rainy, warm weather most often causes cracking. Ripening tomatoes actually absorb too much water and expand faster than skin can grow. Provide a consistent, even, water supply.
Continued harvesting stimulates continued production. Harvest to avoid frost damage should be done by pulling entire plants instead of picking individual tomatoes. Hang entire tomato plant upside down in cool, dry location. If not damaged, tomatoes will ripen slowly, for several weeks.
Firm ripe tomatoes keep for 4-7 days at 45-50°F. and 85-90% humidity. Mature green tomatoes will keep 1-3 weeks if kept between 55-70°F. and 85-90% humidity. Ethylene gas will ripen green tomatoes to full color. Commercial growers artificially apply ethylene gas to green tomatoes before delivering to grocery stores. Apples, pears, plums, peaches, musk melons and avocados naturally give off ethylene gas and will hasten ripening if added to a paper bag containing green tomatoes.
"Long keeper" tomatoes are quite unique. They contain the "NorA" or long-keeper gene that prevents tomatoes from ripening. "NorA" varieties can sit for months in cool, dry places waiting to be eaten fresh. The skin on these varieties never turns red yet the flesh inside turns red and is quite delicious.
Growing Indoors
Unpredictable weather forces most mountain gardeners at one time or another to consider growing tomatoes indoors. Whether you plant in a new, solar greenhouse or carry pots of tomato plants indoors at night to avoid fall frost, the following information can help assure a supply of fresh-picked tomatoes year round.
Most northern gardeners never realize that tomatoes are perennial plants. Brought inside in the fall, tomato plants can be coaxed to produce for many years, or at least until outdoor summer gardens are again productive. Another short-cut method for starting indoor winter tomato plants is to pinch the larger "suckers" or the tops off outdoor tomato plants. Soak in warm water for several hours to stimulate root production, pinch off lower leaves and plant in good potting soil. Keep moist for several days.
Use large containers for your tomatoes. The scientists at the Integral Urban House in Berkeley, California figured the optimum size for soil containers that would minimize stunted growth in tomatoes. Their answer was a 50 gal. oil drum cut in half. Small containers work but larger containers mean more and larger tomatoes. Don't fill containers with regular garden soil.
Plant indeterminate varieties. Indeterminate varieties continue tomato production as long as the plant is alive. Size can be controlled in tight spaces with pruning. Production in determinate varieties is more cyclical with all fruits ripening at one time.
Don't be discouraged when flower production slows during the shortest days of December. Fruits will continue to ripen and as soon as the days begin to lengthen after December 21, masses of new flowers and foliage will begin to reappear.
Feed potted and indoor tomato plants regularly. Chemical fertilizers are basically salts. Regular use will cause potting soil to become too alkaline. Check soil pH. Add acidifying agents if necessary. Sulphur is our choice.
Put containers of tomato plants into a child's wagon to help facilitate movement indoors at night during transition periods in spring and fall.
Seed Production
With little more work and attention than it takes to grow a home garden, everyone can begin to re-elevate the gardening experience to a new, sustainable level. We were inspired by our trip to Siberia where thousands and thousands of people from all walks of life save their own garden seed. In fact, seed saving in Siberia is an integral part of the gardening experience. Competition for the best garden harvest is intense. For example the best tomato varieties we saw while we were there resulted from years of selective seed saving and not from a packet of seeds purchased in the mail. Our goal as a seed company is to find the best open-pollinated varieties from around the world so gardeners can begin a seed saving adventure with the best possible genetic material. (These open-pollinated varieties as opposed to F1 hybrids, produce "viable" seeds.)
Isolation For Purity
Tomatoes produce individual flowers with both male and female parts (botanists call them "perfect"). They are self-pollinating. This means that two or more varieties can be grown safely in the same garden. (Note: A small percentage of natural cross-pollination can be caused by bees. This is greatly reduced by increasing the distance between different varieties or by separating them with another flowering crop.) Separate varieties with short styles (most modern varieties) by at least 10 feet. Varieties with long styles (heirlooms and older varieties) need at least 25 feet. If bees are prevalent, separate all varieties with another flowering crop.
If possible, allow tomatoes to completely ripen before harvesting for seed production. Unripe fruits, saved from the first frost, will ripen slowly if kept in a cool, dry location. Seeds from green, unripe fruits will be most viable if extracted after allowing the fruits to turn color.
Cut the tomato into halves at its equator. This will open the vertical cavities that contain the seeds. Gently squeeze out from the cavities the jelly-like substance that contains the seeds. If done carefully, the tomato itself can still be eaten or saved for canning or dehydrating. (We always have a winter-long supply of sun-dried tomatoes!)
Place the jelly and seeds into a small jar or glass. (Add a little water if you are only processing one or two small tomatoes.) Make sure the container is properly labeled. Loosely cover the container and place in a warm location, 60-75° F. for about three days. Stir once a day.
A layer of fungus will begin to appear on the top of the mixture after a couple of days. This fungus is not only eating the gelatinous coat that surrounds each seed and prevents its germination, it also is producing a range of antibiotics that help to control seed-borne diseases like bacterial spot, canker and speck.
After three days fill the seed container with warm water. Let the contents begin to settle and begin pouring out the water along with pieces of tomato pulp and immature seeds floating on top. Note: The viable seeds will be heavy enough to settle to the bottom of the jar. Repeat this process until water being poured out is almost clear and clean seeds line the bottom of the container. Pour these clean, viable seeds into a strainer that has holes smaller than the seeds. Let the excess water drip out and quickly invert the strainer onto paper towel or piece of newspaper. Again, make sure to label this paper. Allow the seeds to dry completely (usually a day or two). Break the clumps up into individual seeds and properly label and store in a packet or plastic bag.
Selection Traits
The real rewards from learning to save your own seeds come from saving seeds from those plants that exhibit important traits. The process, known as "selection", is an important step toward breeding new tomatoes.
The traits that gardeners observe and select are caused by the presence (or lack) of individual genes or large groups of genes. In other words, traits can be characterized as individual or quantitative. Top on our list of quantitative traits is good flavor. Flavor is caused by any number of factors including adaptability to specific climates. A gardener does not have to understand all of the individual genes in order to select for a quantitative trait like flavor. Simply mark any plant in the back yard that produces unusually good tasting tomatoes. Other quantitative traits high on our list include earliness, cold tolerance and those plants that bounce back after a hailstorm or slight frost. One of our customers concentrated on selecting for the best tomato plant for a condominium, small deck environment.
Gardeners should look also for traits attributed to specific genes including size, color, disease resistance, and ripening.
Ashworth, Suzanne. Seed to Seed: Seed Saving Techniques for the Vegetable Gardener. Decorah, Iowa: Seed Saver Publications, 1991.
Deppe, Carol. Breed Your Own Vegetable Varieties. Boston, Mass.: Little, Brown and Company, 1993.
Horst, Ph.D., R. Kenneth, ed. Westcott's Plant Disease Handbook. New York, NY: Van Nostrand Reinhold Publishing. 1979.
Raymond, Dick and Jan. The Gardens For All Book of Tomatoes. Burlington, Vermont: Gardens For All, Inc. 1984.
Yepsen Jr., Roger B., ed. The Encyclopedia of Natural Insect & Disease Control. Emmaus, Pennsylvania: Rodale Press. 1976.


Fuel cell is one of the most promising candidates of renewable energy that have been highlighted in many researches these days. The main reason for this is the depleting non-renewable energy resources and the skyrocketing demand for energy in various applications to support current situation of technology development in a variety of fields. However, the main challenge of commercializing usage of fuel cells is the electrodes used in fuel cells. This major challenge revolves around the materials used as electrodes and their corresponding catalytic activities. It was discovered that nanoparticles can be used in construction of these electrodes. Thereby, large number of researches is going on investigating on various morphologies and crystal structures of nanoparticles. Among the so many kinds of nanostructured materials, platinum nanostructures have been broadly used for catalysis and fuel cells, owing to that Pt could catalyze both the oxidation and reduction reactions. Many researches have seen different synthetic routes proposed and carried out by researchers from around the world attempting to synthesize Pt nanoparticles since Pt could function as electrocatalyst for not only the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) but also the fuel oxidation reactions, for example, formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR), with the highest efficiency. As the demand for Pt grows while the Pt resource is scarce, the price of Pt has increased, and it could be predicted that the price will keep climbing later on. Finding new ways to lessen Pt utilized in a specific application by improving its catalytic activity is in need so as to overcome the prohibitive cost barrier. In this project, we focus on the rational design and synthesis of Pt-based nanostructures and MOF-derived carbon for electrocatalytic performance. In the first part of the research work, 3D Pt nanodendrites with clean surface and good catalytic performance were synthesized by a facile inorganic species assisted strategies. The possible specific adsorption of iron and nitrate ions would assist the growth of this 3D Pt nanostructure. Thanks to their unique 3D morphology composed of interconnected 1D Pt nanorods/wires, the clean unsupported 3D Pt NDs exhibit higher stability and enhanced activity than commercial carbon black supported Pt nanoparticles and Pt black electrocatalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction and oxidation of small fuel molecules. Incorporation of the transition metals with Pt during the preparation of Pt-based catalysts could significantly improve the activity and the poisoning tolerance while reducing the cost of catalysts. Of all the bimetallic Pt-based catalysts examined hitherto including PtRu, PtSn, PtPb, PtCo etc., PtBi exhibits the powerful activity for formic acid oxidation. Inspired by this, PtBi nanosheets with tunable composition and 2D structure is prepared with an effective thermal decomposition method and investigate the composition effect on the catalytic activity for formic acid oxidation reaction (FAOR). The addition of NH4Cl plays an important role on the formation of well-defined nanosheet structures. Due to the unique nanosheet structures and optimized composition, the as-prepared PtBi catalyst demonstrates the excellent electrocatalytic performance of FAOR. In addition to synthesizing bimetallic/trimetallic electrocatalysts by introducing transition metal, various support materials for Pt and Pt contained nanocatalysts have also been investigated in depth and employed widely with the mutual purpose of significantly reducing of Pt cost while gaining fantabulous electrochemical performance. Nitrogen-doped CNT@Co-Pt composite using zeolitic imidazole framework-67 (ZIF-67) derived hierarchical nitrogen-doped CNT@Co frameworks as the carbon matrix was prepared with a facile method in our research work. The unique structure of the framework enables the catalyst with excellent structural merits including high accessibility, strong structural stability and sufficient loading site for the Pt nanoparticles. Meanwhile, the small amounts of carbon-nitrogen species would generate some extrinsic defects and active sites. In addition, the inner wrapped cobalt nanocrystals might provide extra conductivity. When applied as an advanced catalyst of ORR, the hybrid displays superior performance compare with commercial Pt/CB catalyst.


According to Estadao, Duda Melzer is amongst the most successful businessmen in Brazil and presently holds the position of being Chief Executive Officer of RBS Group, which is a family owned company. It was known to all that Duda Melzer would one day lead the company, but his father made sure that he goes through different levels of the company's operations and earn his position. It is for this reason he joined the company in 2014 and worked in various positions for the next couple of years after which he was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the RBS Group.
He is the third generation in the family to lead the RBS Group, which was established in the year 1957 by his grandfather. Over the years, RBS Group has earned an excellent reputation in its field of business and has grown manifolds over the years. Duda Melzer graduated doing studies in Business and Finance and went on to pursue higher education at one of the top universities across the globe, Harvard Business School, to do Masters in Business Administration. After completing his studies in the United States, Duda Melzer went on to work for some of the top companies in the U.S. including Box Top Media and Delphi Corporation. However, he came back to Brazil after gaining experience in the field of business and joined his family company, the RBS Group. More details can be found on Crunchbase.
Even when he had a comfortable life and professional position at RBS Group, he did not let his entrepreneurial spirit die. He started a media firm named e.Brick Digital. It is the technology arm of the RBS Group today, and due to his efforts, the company managed to gather funding of $300 million. As the world of media and technology continues to evolve, Duda Melzer knows that he would have to make strategic changes in the business model of the company to ensure it continues to lead from the front.
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Q: My neural network gives an error and I don't know why I'm relatively new to programming neural networks and have been following a few tutorials about it before deciding to try and learn to program neural networks on my own using what i'd learnt. I've been trying to program a basic neural network just so i can learn how it works, but it keeps giving me an error. I would really appreciate it if someone could help.
Here's my code:
import tensorflow as tf
from tensorflow.keras.models import Sequential
from tensorflow.keras.layers import Dense, Dropout, Activation, Flatten
from tensorflow.keras.layers import Conv2D, MaxPooling2D

import pickle

pickle_in = open("X.pickle","rb")
X = pickle.load(pickle_in)

pickle_in = open("y.pickle","rb")
y = pickle.load(pickle_in)

X = X/255.0

model = Sequential()
model.add(Conv2D(8,(5, 5),padding="same",activation='relu',input_shape=(784,)))
model.add(Conv2D(32, (3, 3), activation='relu', padding='same'))
model.add(Conv2D(64, (3, 3), activation='relu', padding='same'))
model.add(MaxPooling2D(pool_size=(2,2)))
model.add(Conv2D(64, (3, 3), activation='relu', padding='same'))
model.add(Conv2D(64, (3, 3), activation='relu', padding='same'))
model.add(MaxPooling2D(pool_size=(2,2)))
model.add(Conv2D(64, (3, 3), activation='relu', padding='same'))
model.add(Conv2D(64, (3, 3), activation='relu', padding='same'))
model.add(MaxPooling2D(pool_size=(2,2)))
model.add(Conv2D(64, (3, 3), activation='relu', padding='same'))
model.add(Flatten())
model.add(Dense(1))
model.add(Activation('linear'))
model.add(Dense(y.shape[1]))
model.add(Activation('linear'))

model.summary()
model.compile(loss='mean_squared_error',optimizer='adam',metrics=['mae','mse', 'accuracy'])

model.fit(X, y, epochs=20, batch_size=10,verbose=2)

Here's the error message I'm getting:
str(x.shape.as_list()))
ValueError: Input 0 of layer conv2d is incompatible with the layer: expected ndim=4, found ndim=2. Full shape received: [None, 784]

Thanks in advance!

A: The error is cause Conv2D expects input shape to be of 4 dimensions i.e. [batch_size, height, width, channels]. You can do one thing i.e. reshape your input to the model.
X = X.reshape(-1, 28, 28, 1) # incase of single channel (grayscale)
# OR
X = X.reshape(-1, 28, 28, 3) # incase of RGB
# and then change the input shape of your `Conv2D` layer accordingly to
model = Sequential()
model.add(Conv2D(8,(5, 5),padding="same",activation='relu',input_shape=(28,28,1)))
# OR
model = Sequential()
model.add(Conv2D(8,(5, 5),padding="same",activation='relu',input_shape=(28,28,3)))

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Exhale and sidebending, reaching hand down to pedal as the other arm reaches overhead. maintaining equal weight on ischium push pedal down towards the floor, forming a C -curve overhead. Maintain pelvis in neutral alignment inhale to return to starting position. You may modify breathing as necessary;inhale in side bend position and exhale to return to starting position.
Rotation of the pelvis flaring rib cage.


Karen Loader is a professional artist living and working in London. She graduated with an MA in Fine Art from City & Guilds of London Art School in 2017. She was subsequently shortlisted for the ARTIQ/Herbert Smith Freehills Graduate Art Prize in 2017 and the Collyer Bristow Graduate Award in 2018. Her installation "KLAW II" was selected for the Bow Arts exhibition 'Hereafter' in 2017 and she had her first solo exhibition at Highgate Gallery at HLSI in the same year.
Previously she received a first class BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art from the University of East London in 1999 and since then has taken part in numerous group shows and art fairs. She was invited to participate in an Open Lab session at Barbican Guildhall in 2014 and over the past decade she has co-curated several large group exhibitions in London, Sofia, Florence and Berlin on behalf of Candid Arts Trust.
Loader creates site responsive installations and paintings that refer to representations of man-made and natural phenomena to construct a rhythmic interpretation of place that is both physical and psychological. She is interested in how our perception of place is formed, not only by our visual observations of it, but also by the sensations we feel when moving through that place. Her work is influenced by modernist architecture and minimalist aesthetics as well as an interest in philosophical theories concerning the subjects of place and space, phenomenology and perception. She is always actively seeking to balance the interior with the exterior, the internal with the external. Allowing the viewer to navigate the work both physically and imaginatively, she aims to choreograph an experience that alludes to the urban environment and how we exist within it.


I'm biking along in the early morning, riding down Sherbrooke for just one block. Suddenly, a taxi door flies open in front of me and now I'm lying on the pavement: bike on top of me, left arm red and bruised, helmet visor broken off and lying in the street.
I was doored. It didn't hurt too badly—no broken limbs or brain damage—and thankfully I was wearing a helmet. But some haven't been so lucky.
Bicycling in Montreal is a central part of the city's flow. It makes for more physically active citizens and a greener urban environment. Yet, safely including this form of transportation poses significant problems for urban designers and policy makers. As a result, Montrealers are becoming more than a little familiar with easily preventable bike injuries every day. I'm not even the first writer for The Main to have been doored.
"Montreal is the best city for biking in North America," says Philippe Crist, French economist and researcher for the International Transport Forum. A renowned cycling advocate, Crist has dedicated a large sum of his work to researching and improving cycling safety in major cities.
We are only the best in North America.
Indeed, this is more due to weak competition than our impressive bike infrastructure. The Copenhagenize Index —which ranks cities on their bike friendliness— rates Montreal as the only North American city in the top 20. But it still sits low on the list at number 11 (a drop from 2011, when it stood at number 8). The rest are predominantly European.
What Mr. Crist believes is, if Montreal wants to keep up, it must compete against Europe's most bicycle-friendly cities, rather than North American cities, which apparently aren't even in the competition.
But how can we do this? We can't just throw money left and right to accommodate bicycles. This doesn't have to be expensive, he says. We don't have to build super-highways for bicycles and we don't have to toss hundreds of thousands of dollars into new infrastructure. Crist believes you only have to attract new cyclists. He believes that turning drivers into cyclists will reduce auto traffic, freeing up the roads for bicycles, and thus improving overall safety and making the city greener.
The Spanish city of Seville sets the bar for this method, having displaced 1-6% of its car traffic onto bicycles in just 4 years. Montreal has only displaced 1.5-2% from 2003-2008. However, some neighbourhoods show higher rates, such as the 10% displacement of car traffic in the Plateau.
Have you ever been hit by a car as it turns left here?
Attracting new cyclists means improving safety. It's about making people who are scared to bicycle feel more comfortable. One way Crist suggests doing this is to lower speed limits. Though even proposing this might send Montreal drivers into a fit, it wouldn't require a shift across the entire grid—only in major routes of bicycle and pedestrian traffic—and requires little cost. Paris has tried this already, shifting speed limits down to 30km/h across 38% of its roads.
But reducing speed limit is a one-sided fix, and it likely won't prevent accidents unrelated to speed, e.g., dooring. Many argue that bikers themselves are the problem. Running stop signs, weaving through traffic, cutting off cars and going the wrong way on streets are not uncommon practices for many bikers. Just because they don't burn fossil fuels, many seem to think they always have the right of way.
When it comes to bike safety, we could use some new ideas from both sides of the issue.
Whatever your perspective, it's clear that cars and bikes aren't great at sharing the road. However, for the safety of all our citizens and the health of our city, Montreal voters and policy-makers should keep bicycles in mind. They can make for a healthier, happier city, but they can also create a hazardous environment for bikers and drivers alike. Whatever happens, I really don't want to be doored again.
Photos by Gerry Lauzon, James Schwartz. Featured image by Aimee Custis.
Based on Philippe Crist's talk at Go Vélo Montreal and the Copenhagenize Index.
What are your ideas for improving cycling in Montreal?


text:
News from Suz: 2017 09 12
News from Suzanne Brockmann
www.SuzanneBrockmann.com
www.BookBub.com/authors/suzanne-brockmann
www.facebook.com/SuzanneBrockmannBooks
www.twitter.com/SuzBrockmann
Happy Mid-September! I've got a bunch 'o cool news to share this month…
1) Check out our new Kickstarter Campaign to help fund Jason's latest indie movie, an hysterically funny m/m rom-com called Analysis Paralysis! (Fun backer rewards include "Be a beta-reader for my next SEAL book!" Which, incidentally, is a TDD book featuring SEAL Team Ten… More below…)
2) New England premiere of Russian Doll (my production company's latest LGBTQ thriller movie!): Sunday, Sept. 17, at 5:45 at the Hanover Theater in Worcester, MA. Join writer/director Ed Gaffney, lots of local cast and crew, and me for a screening and a Q&A discussion after!
3) I'm leading a Reading Without Walls Book Club at the Bacon Free Library in South Natick, MA, and our next meeting is Weds., Sept. 27th at 7:00 p.m. We're discussing Louise Gornall's wildly entertaining YA romance Under Rose-Tainted Skies. Come and chat!
4) On e-sale for $2.99: Body Language—one of my early rom-coms, originally published in 1998! (Star Trek Alert: The heroine of this book is named Cassandra Kirk, and she owns a business called Video Enterprises. Romance Trope Alert: Friends-to-lovers and Pygmalian/make-over!!)
And… here are the details:
1) Analysis Paralysis: We're making another LGBTQ movie. The incredibly funny script is by the comedy writing duo of Jason T. Gaffney and Ed Gaffney (aka my son and his dad).
Find out more about the film on our Kickstarter page:
Why Kickstarter? Well, movies are mondo expensive to make. Crowd-funding sites like Kickstarter allow low-budget filmmakers to reach out and connect with our audience before filming starts, and establish a foundation of viewers who are willing to chip in—just a little—to make sure the film gets made.
People who contribute to the Kickstarter aren't investors; they're backers. And we don't "sell" copies of the movie or other enticing items, we give those backers "rewards" for their financial support.
And we've got some fun rewards for Analysis Paralysis. The obvious one is a DVD of the finished film. (It'll arrive in your mailbox anywhere from one to two years from now—that's how long it can take to make a movie. Waving and saying another TY to the people who backed Russian Doll, who just recently received their DVD of the finally finished film…)
But one of the rewards we think will resonate with you, dear long-time-readers-of-my-romance-novels, is the chance to be a beta-reader for my next book. It doesn't yet have a title, but as of right now, the book I'm writing is the next installment in my long-on-hold Tall, Dark & Dangerous series about Navy SEAL Team 10. (Remember them? Joe Cat? Lucky O'Donlon? Thomas King…)
This next book isn't Tasha and Thomas King's—but I am working toward telling their story in the very near future, I promise!
This next (as of right now 2/5th finished) book should be in a send-to-beta-readers state some time at the end of the year. Backers who choose that "be a beta-reader" reward via the Analysis Paralysis Kickstarter will get an email from me, and then a PDF of the book well before it goes through its final revision and is then released to the general reading public. (Heads up: there are two versions of the "be a beta-reader" reward. One is just "be a beta-reader," the other is "be a beta-reader and get a DVD of the finished film." Both are limited as to the number of backers, so act fast. (Here's that link again to our Kickstarter Campaign…)
In fact, the entire Kickstarter ends on 10/4/17, which is coming at us, fast!
I hope you'll check out the Kickstarter for Analysis Paralysis and find out a little bit about the movie, too. It's a truly funny script and a great m/m romcom! Jason and his steadfast crew are filming in ten very busy days at the end of October. And I'm talking about the October that's coming in just a few weeks, so yeah, it's happening fast and soon.
And I know that most of you are readers and love books more than movies. But even if you don't back the film, you can still help by spreading the word about our Kickstarter campaign via social media! (Thank you so very, very much!)
2) Sunday, September 17, at 5:45 pm, my production company's latest LGBTQ movie, a thriller called Russian Doll will be shown at the Hanover Theater in Worcester, MA, as part of qFLIX, the Worcerter/New England LGBTQ film festival. For more information about the festival, the festival's website is qFLIXWorcester.com
Note: there will be a Q&A with writer/director Ed Gaffney, local cast and crew, and me (executive producer Suz Brockmann) immediately after the screening!
List of Movies: http://www.qflixworcester.com/2017-program/
For tickets to the movie (general admission = $10) go to https://tickets.thehanovertheatre.org/Online/article/qFlix
You can also contact the Hanover Theater 877-571-7469
Here's how qFLIX Worcester described the film:
Sunday, September 17 @ 5:45 pm
Directed by Ed Gaffney, USA, 2017, 83 mins, Drama
East Coast Premiere
How about a female-driven, sexy, lesbian, edgy crime thriller—about, what else, but revenge? In a world where everyone has at least one secret, the heroine, an attractive, sexy blonde, still grief-stricken over the loss of her deceased partner, meets, during a crime investigation, an objection of her affection. The idea of having an attraction to another woman throws the smart cop into a feeling of unresolved guilt. While a young woman goes missing, their investigation leads them to the cast and crew of "The Russian Doll," a production by a local play group. Little do the cops know that there's a killer in their midst ready to avenge a 30-year-old crime. It's a revenge drama. It's a girl power movie. It's a gal cop caper. There's captives, blood, guts, romance, and crime gone crazy. What else do you need?
Director Ed Gaffney and Executive Producer Suzanne Brockmann will be in attendance with cast and crew: Peter Adams, Vanessa Dunleavy, Cheryl McMahon, Bill Kuhlman, Annie Kerins, Alicia Zipp, Randy Diviniski, Kathy Lague, Mike Lague, Colby Thompson, Andrea Rees, Maya Landi, Linda Goetz, and Erik Johnsen.
3) 9/27/17: Reading Without Walls Book Club in S. Natick, Massachusetts:
Bacon Free Library says: "Join us for our second Reading Without Walls* Book Club meeting! Led by award winning author and well known diversity advocate (and BFL supporter!), Suzanne Brockmann, we'll be discussing books written by authors of diverse backgrounds, on a wide range of topics (including LGBTQ literature, global issues and historical perspectives of current events) and of multicultural interest.
We invite civil and honest discussion on these topics and look forward to hearing a multitude of perspectives."
Wednesday, Sept. 27th
More info: http://baconfreelibrary.org/event/reading-without-walls-book-club-2/
Note: there are copies of Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall available at the library!
This month, we're reading and discussing Under Rose-Tainted Skies by Louise Gornall
(Note from Suz: This is a fast-paced and wildly entertaining YA romance! Even if you can't attend, it's a really fun read, and the Kindle edition is really priced right!)
Link to $4.49 Amazon Kindle edition: http://amzn.to/2jinhQD
Nook book $9.99 edition: http://bit.ly/2xgpPE6
Kobo $9.99 edition: http://bit.ly/2xgdZKb
iBooks $9.99 edition: http://apple.co/2y0yqsu
Summary of Under Rose-Tainted Skies:
Norah has agoraphobia and OCD. When groceries are left on the porch, she can't step out to get them. Struggling to snag the bags with a stick, she meets Luke. He's sweet and funny, and he just caught her fishing for groceries. Because of course he did. Norah can't leave the house, but can she let someone in? As their friendship grows deeper, Norah realizes Luke deserves a normal girl. One who can lie on the front lawn and look up at the stars. One who isn't so screwed up. Readers themselves will fall in love with Norah in this poignant, humorous, and deeply engaging portrait of a teen struggling to find the strength to face her demons.
*Based on the Reading Without Walls Reading Challenge by Gene Luen Yang
P.S. If you're okay with spoilers, you don't have to read the book before the discussion! Come and hang out at one of the coolest little libraries in Massachusetts and maybe you'll be inspired to read this really fun story!
4) My latest reissue, Body Language, is on e-sale for $2.99
Body Language is a fun, short rom-com, originally published and set in 1998. The storyline is a combination of the friends-to-lovers as well as the Cinderella/Pygmalion make-over tropes. With the fairy godmother/Henry Higgins character as a long-haired, leather-pants wearing, motorcycle riding cameraman from New Jersey named Clint McCade…
Read the book's blurb on my website: https://suzannebrockmann.com/books/body-language/
Body Language:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2xrB3GT
Nook: http://bit.ly/2eQQUnh
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2wSxngy
iBooks: http://apple.co/2y0I2nt
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/2vuuwd3
And of course this book is also available in a (pricier!) paperback print-on-demand edition:
Amazon print: http://amzn.to/2gXPfN7
BN print: http://bit.ly/2eQQUnh
CreateSpace: http://bit.ly/2w1p4j9
Next up to be reissued in October: Future Perfect, my very first romance novel, originally published in 1993! This reissue is gonna be an annotated edition! And, trust me, I've got a thing or two to comment on in those annotations!
Last but waaaay not least: My latest Troubleshooters novel, Some Kind of Hero, has a 4.6 out of a 5-star rating at Amazon! Yay! Thank you to all who have read and posted a review for this book!
Some Kind of Hero Digital:
Kindle: http://amzn.to/2seuGn4
Nook: http://bit.ly/2rmIWG9
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2tclahl
iBook: http://apple.co/2e87stD
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/2d2s9Dx
Some Kind of Hero Print:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2r2w5g0
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2qBpIkb
Indiebound: http://bit.ly/2rCv8wj
Books-A-Million: http://bit.ly/2sBjbWK
Powell's: http://bit.ly/2rHtvZr
Target: http://bit.ly/2sKaBWg
Random House: http://bit.ly/2tzrVdg
Some Kind of Hero Audio:
Audible: http://amzn.to/2qb1Cfb
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2qbNwtl
iTunes: http://apple.co/2sPNFBX
Downpour: http://bit.ly/2sPX3oP
As always, thank you so much for your time and attention!
Please feel free to email, blog, post, tweet, and/or share any or all of my news with your social circle! In fact, I appreciate it greatly when you do!
Thank you so much for your ongoing support!
By Suz|2017-09-12T19:12:18+00:00September 12th, 2017|blog, news from Suz|Comments Off on News from Suz: 2017 09 12
About the Author: Suz
News from Suz: SOME KIND OF HERO is here — 11 July 2017
News from Suz: 19 June 2017
News from Suz: May 19, 2017
News from Suz: October 17, 2016
News from Suz
I also post my e-newsletters in my blog.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Python and Modbus I am using modbus-tk to talk to a National Instruments cfp-1804 as a modbus tcp slave.  I am able to establish a socket connection with the cfp-1804.  Using wireshark, I can see both the master and slave acknowledge the connection.  When I send a request, the cfp acknowledges the request and closes the connection.  0 bytes of response are sent back.
Is there anything else that I can use to troubleshoot the request response?  I saw that function code 08 can perform diagnostics but I am not sure how to implement.  Any help or advice would be much appreciated.


text:
HomeFeaturesRough diamond Antonio can continue his wonderful rise
Rough diamond Antonio can continue his wonderful rise
I could not have been happier for Michail Antonio when I heard he had been called up to the England squad because I really felt he had deserved it.
September 11, 2017 Blowing Bubbles Features 0
I know some West Ham fans don't have many positive things to say about Sam Allardyce but he has taken a risk in selecting Antonio. He didn't take many risks when he was our manager but this selection shows he appreciates raw talent and I think Antonio is the kind of player England need right now. He is a rough diamond who works hard, gives absolutely everything, and is over-the-moon at being called up.
How refreshing was his first press conference? ITV's Gabriel Clarke said it was the best debut press conference by an England player that he had ever seen. He was brimming with confidence and genuinely gobsmacked that he was there but anyone who has seen him play on the wing knows it is well deserved. He really is a complete unknown when he is out wide and you never quite know what is going to happen but you know ultimately he is going to get you goals.
I interviewed him last week just after the Bournemouth game and we talked about how his life had changed in the space of a week. Against Chelsea, he'd given away the penalty and was hauled off which had left him devastated but a few days later he scored the first goal in the London Stadium in the Premier League.
He was euphoric about getting the winner and he was really open about playing right back. He doesn't like it and has told the gaffer this because he knows he isn't a defender and has never played in defence during his professional football career.
He was happy to play and do a job for the team but playing in a position you aren't comfortable in, you are going to make mistakes. Having said that, even the best defenders in the world make mistakes like Antonio's at Stamford Bridge.
He gives everything his best so he was understandably down after the Chelsea game but then it seems Slaven's confidence in Sam Byram and Arthur Masuaku has grown and this has subsequently given Antonio another chance to play out wide. I'm so happy that Slaven stuck by him even after his mistake against Chelsea and now both player and manager are reaping the rewards. Michail told me that people gave him great vocal support and told him they had his back and now he is repaying them.
He didn't lose his confidence in himself, he has always got a smile on his face and it just goes to show how powerful fans can be when they are positive.
As for the opposition giving him extra attention now that he's had this call up, I think they tried to do this last season and it didn't work too well. You can't predict what he is going to do next. He is all arms and legs and battles his way through but if he, his teammates or the fans don't know what he is going to do, the opposition defender has no chance.
And if clubs do start to double up on him, that'll leave more space for the likes of Dimitri Payet or Manuel Lanzini to exploit. Finally, I was delighted to see Alvaro Arbeloa sign for us. I think defensively we needed another body but he brings a wealth of experience with him. I think it was a brilliant signing and it just goes to show the kind of players we can attract now
I think Arbeloa will get a run in the first team at the expense of Byram, even though Slaven's confidence in him is growing, but if he doesn't, what a player to have sitting on the bench!
The new Ljungberg? Sead might just be on the road to greatness
Sakho is not worth the baggage and we should have let him go


For those of you that are hearing about stevia for the first time, it is a plant that is typically grown in South America, and while its extract is 200 times sweeter than sugar, it does not raise blood insulin levels. That's what makes it so popular. However in 1991 the FDA refused to approve this substance for use due to pressure from makers of artificial sweeteners like Sweet n' Low and Equal (a one billion dollar industry). But in 2008, the FDA approved the use of rebaudioside compounds that were derived from the stevia plant by Coca-Cola (Cargill) and PepsiCo – hmmm doesn't that sound suspicious? Not until a major food company got involved did stevia become legal, and only after it had been highly processed using a patentable chemical-laden process…so processed that Truvia (Coca-Cola's branded product) goes through about 40 steps to process the extract from the leaf, relying on chemicals like acetone, methanol, ethanol, acetonitrile, and isopropanol. Some of these chemicals are known carcinogens (substances that cause cancer), and none of those ingredients sound like real food, do they?
The whole leaf stevia that you can grow in your backyard (and has been used for centuries in countries like Brazil and Paraguay) remains a non-approved food additive by the FDA. However, rebaudioside A (the stevia extract) that was approved by the FDA has not been used for centuries and long term human health impacts have not been studied and are still unknown. The sweetener/sugar industry wields powerful influence over what is ultimately approved at the FDA, and this is just another example where they are influencing decisions that don't make sense. How can a chemically derived extract be deemed safe in processed food and a plant from mother nature.
Stevia as a medicinal herb has been used for centuries but has also been recently studied for its health benefits.
One double-blind placebo study found that regular consumption of stevia can help reduce blood pressure for patients with mild hypertension.
Another study found that stevia may have the potential to reduce breast cancer cell growth*.
Follow up studies have uncovered potential benefits in reducing blood sugar and in avoiding other types of cancer growth.
In addition, most people who consume stevia use it as an alternative for sugar, and simply avoiding sugar can have health benefits of its own.


Seoul Shakespeare Company will be hosting an evening of the writer's monologues and scenes in honor of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death next week.
The event is part of the Shakespeare Theatre Association's "400 Dreams: Shakespeare Around the Globe" program to celebrate the anniversary.
Proceeds will go toward the SSC's production of "Much Ado About Nothing" in May and June.
The company is also running a fund-raising campaign on Indiegogo to help pay for the props, costume and venue, which ends Saturday.
The anniversary event will start at 7:30 p.m. on April 23 at the Camarata Music Company Studio in Haebangchon. Admission is on a "pay what you can" basis, with a suggestion of 5,000 won ($4.30) to 10,000 won. Drinks and refreshments will be available. For more information, visit www.seoulshakespearecompany.org.


text:
Nanite to Remember
Monday evening B. and I went to the Bath Science Café to hear a talk on nanotechnology given by a real-life nanotechnologist.
The "café" actually meets in a pub -- the very pleasant Raven, which sells its own custom-brewed beer and Pieminister pies -- so the atmosphere and surroundings were convivial. (Rather amusingly, the Raven's website claims that "No-one does vegetarian pies like we do". Well, only every other pub who Pieminister have a contract with, dear.)
I was astonished at how popular the event was -- there must have been 50 or so people crammed into the Raven's upper room. (The chap behind the bar claimed that the science events were more popular than the poetry ones. Quite what that suggests about contemporary British culture, and whether I approve, I'm not sure.) Most of those present seemed, judging by the tenor of the discussion afterwards, to be either professional scientists or enthusiastic amateurs. More on that later.
The speaker was a personable, engaging sort of chap, very knowledgeable and informative about current developments in, and uses of, nanotech. He saw the primary future benefits of the technology as being computational and medical. (He cited a claim by the U.S. National Institute for Health from five or so years ago that nanotech would have eradicated -- not cured, but actually eliminated -- cancer by 2015. They seem to have changed their mind about the timing of this since then, but even so, his point was that this was something nanotech might conceivably one day do.)
It was when he came to the potential dangers of this field of research that his bias became apparent. He suggested that the real threat from nanotech, if any, comes from pollution and potential toxicity, and that these would require further study before any particular instance of nanotech was accepted as safe for general use. He was very dismissive of the so-called "grey goo" scenario -- essentially an epidemic affecting all matter, whereby self-replicating nanobots run out of control and start assimilating everything they encounter.
I'm not an expert, by any means, and I assumed that his basis for dismissing the idea was a sound one, based in his own expertise in the field. But, er no. When challenged, it emerged that his main reasons for rejecting "grey goo" theory were:
Prince Charles and Michael Crichton believe in it, so it must be nonsense.
It has a silly name.
It's part of a general reaction against science on the part of the public which hampers the freedom of government-funded research.
Current science is incapable of creating self-replicating machines.
It was that last bit which he seemed to consider his trump card -- and it is, indeed, the only one of those arguments which might be seen to have any bearing on the actual truth of the matter.
Unfortunately, he seemed entirely unwilling to consider that "current science" might be incapable of things which "future science" would do as a matter of routine, despite the fact that the existence of his entire field seemed absurdly visionary a mere 50 years ago.
That utter lack of historical perspective (he admitted that he never read any science fiction) seemed to conspire with a fatal failure of imagination to blind him selectively to any long-term negative implications of his work.
This meant that while, for instance, he was quite capable of using the far-fetched idea of cell-repairing nanites eradicating cancer as propaganda to raise further funding for his field, he utterly rejected the equally fanciful idea that said nanites might be capable of reproducing -- despite the fact that self-replication would surely be the only way of achieving the necessary level of saturation in a human body to achieve that.
Similarly the suggestion that self-replicating nanobots would be capable, like any self-replicating system, of undergoing evolution, and therefore potentially of overcoming their initial programming safeguards, was rejected on the grounds that, er, there's no such thing as a self-replicating nanobot yet. So that's all right then.
(Now, if there's some theoretical reason why all complex systems must be incapable of self-replication, or why such a system would be incapable of spontaneously mutating and evolving so as to grow exponentially in size and influence until eventually it transformed the entire nature of the planetary surface, then I'd have been very interested to be told about it. But I don't honestly think there can be, because after all, it's already happened once.)
I didn't ask him where he stood on the idea of using nanites to dismantle all the non-stellar matter in the solar system and turn it into concentric dyson spheres of computronium, running the uploaded descendants of the human species at oct- or nonillions of times our current joint processing capacity. I guessed his answer would probably be, "Oh no, we couldn't possibly do anything like that at the moment."
Instead I tried to fool him by using a Good Nanotech Prediction -- that medical nanotech might eradicate not only cancer, but all forms of cellular damage including old age -- as the predicate for a Bad Nanotech Prediction -- that said technology would immediately become the preserve of the rich, giving rise to an immortal cast of geronto-plutocrats.
He said, er, no, he didn't think so, not as long as nanotech was funded by the government, because that meant all that stuff would be public property and would go straight onto the N.H.S.
In fact, his main thesis appeared to be that government funding for nanotech was an absolute essential, and that anyone who opposed it -- indeed, anyone who felt the public should have any say whatsoever in how scientists spent their money -- was "anti-science". (He didn't actually use those words, but he did repeatedly call those holding the opposite point of view "pro-science", so I think I'm justified in assuming it.)
Now, I consider myself to be "pro-science". I even consider myself to be "pro-nanotech", in the sense that I think it's really cool and freaky and could achieve some startlingly awesome things. (Admittedly that may not be a very sophisticated "pro-science" position, but just look at the competition.)
However, I do think people are justified in being cautious when events which may be statistically very improbable nonetheless carry enormous penalties if that unlikely roll of the dice comes up. It may, for instance, be very unlikely indeed that C.E.R.N.'s Large Hadron Collider will produce a black hole which will fall to the centre of the Earth and orbit it rapidly, sucking in everything it encounters and causing the extinction of the human race, our culture (including its science) and our entire ecosystem within a matter of hours... but dude, it only needs to happen once.
The speaker (whose blushes I've spared by not naming him, although it shouldn't be difficult to find out his name if you're interested, even if you're coming to this post after the information changes on that first page I linked to) seemed baffled -- hurt even -- that the public have such mistrust for scientists that they'll accuse harmless researchers like himself of possibly destroying the world.
As I say, he was a likeable chap, and it was difficult not to feel for him. But frankly, he -- in his deliberate use of propaganda, his amused rejection of the opinion of non-experts and above all his utter refusal to consider the potential long-term negative effects of his field on an equal footing with the potential positives -- provided a prime example of exactly what it is about scientists which the public finds so difficult to trust.
"We're people, just like them," he said. "We're human beings, too." Because obviously no human being in history has ever been known to do anything whatsoever which might be construed as stupid or unethical. For Christ's sake get a bloody grip, man.
In summary: never trust a scientist who doesn't read S.F. They'll create armies of giant robots which break out from their underground laboratories and destroy your city, then whine that no-one ever warned them that might happen.
Despite the above character assassination, though, I really enjoyed the event. It was refreshing to be part of a crowd who seemed to be actively thinking about important issues, even if most of them did appear to be cheerleading for a clueless loon. Ironically -- or at least, I'm sure many of those present would have found it ironic -- it was the same feeling of communal intellectual engagement I get from the seminars at Greenbelt. I'm going to try to go to more of them.
Indeed, there's also a Bristol Science Café which, it seems, meets just up the road from us. In one of our favourite pubs, in fact. I can't think why we haven't been before.
Expect more of these reports in future.
Labels: beer, food, pleasant, politics, s non f
Checking Out the Competition
Rejoice! For I now have my contributors' copies of Nobody's Children , and it looks lovely. The various minor issues I had with the proofs have mostly been resolved, and it's a joy to see the thing I've written in its final bound form, with covers and a dust jacket and all.
As if to celebrate, I've uploaded loads of extras to my Nobody's Children webpages, including some quite extensive Notes -- which contain some quite extensive SPOILERS, so do be careful if you haven't yet read the book -- and an exclusive short story, "Making a Collection", which deals with elements from Nobody's Children and Collected Works , and offers a glimpse of what's to come in the Bernice Summerfield universe. (Don't worry, though -- it deliberately does so so obscurely that you shouldn't be able to derive any actual plot details from it. Read it again in four months' time and go "ooh".)
I was under the impression that I'd mentioned before, on more than one occasion, how splendid Kate Orman's and Jon Blum's novellas for this book are, and how I'm pretty pleased with mine as well. However, looking back over this blog, among all the things I've said about writing the book I don't think I've ever actually mentioned how much I like our finished product.
So let me say it now: between us I think we've come up with a pretty damn decent story. Do buy it.
As you can read here, Jon thinks so too, and he's promoting the book with a competition for the best review posted either to his LiveJournal or to the book's thread at Outpost Gallifrey. As he says, you don't even need to like the book to enter -- just to be able to say intelligent and insightful things about it.
And you could win a signed copies of one of Jon and Kate's books. Hell, I'll even throw in a signed copy of Emerge as well, since I still seem to have a stack of them sitting around and it contains my earliest professionally published short story (assuming for the sake of argument that the entries in The Book of the War don't count as a "story"). It's a bona fide rarity, with work from SF author Simon Morden (The Lost Art, Another War) and performance poet Jude Simpson among others.
So don't just buy Nobody's Children -- review it!
Hurrah.
Labels: books, nobody's children, website, writing
Babel-17 Is Missing
Various random and unconnected book-related things follow.
You may have noticed that I've been rather quiet recently about Nobody's Children , the novella triptych I spent much of the end of last year and the beginning of this writing in conjunction with Kate Orman and Jon Blum.
Officially -- insofar as such things are ever announced officially -- the book's been out for several weeks now. Some customers certainly have their copies, and have read it. I'm still waiting for my author's complimetaries, though, and none of the bookshops I have access to have it in either.
This is perfectly routine, but quite frustrating, especially since I've had a bunch of extras ready for weeks now, which I'd really rather not add to my website until I've actually had sight of the book. Oh well.
Instead I've put online, with Paul "Brax" Castle's permission, a copy of the interview he carried out with me for the Summer issue of his splendid Doctor Who fanzine, Shooty Dog Thing . If you've unaccountably missed out on my opinions on the various Doctor Who spinoff ranges, the genius of Philip K. Dick and the precise nature of my own literary talents, then do hurry over and read them here.
Meanwhile, as well as banging away at this enigmatic Doctor Who reference book I mentioned some time ago, there's every sign that I'll be writing another Doctor Who short story... er, shortly. Which is good news, as it's useful to keep one's creative head in practice while writing non-fiction.
As a consumer rather than a creator, I'm pleased to note that two of the latest batch of Doctor Who tie-in novels are by the rather excellent Mark Michalowski and the exceedingly excellent Paul Magrs, both of whom would have been high on my own list of people to commission if -- due to some hilarious sitcomesque misunderstanding -- I'd been installed in the BBC Books editor's chair. Having moaned about the poor quality of some of the recent commissions, I'm looking forward very much to reading Wetworld and Sick Building -- although I'm disappointed that the latter was inexplicably deprived of its original title of "The Wicked Bungalow".
Amazon also tell me that they've dispatched in my direction Daniel O'Mahony's Force Majeure -- not a Who novel, but a standalone magic-realist-fantasy thing from Telos, birthed from the brain of one of the best of the Who authors. So that'll be nice too.
Meanwhile, I've started rereading The Anubis Gates , finished Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold (and not Glengarry Glen Ross, as I keep wanting to call him), and realised that I accidentally left Samuel Delany's Babel-17 out of my last books roundup.
Plus there are all those comics to review, and they're swiftly falling out of my brain. I must do that soon.
Labels: books, nobody's children, writing
Final Greenbelt Roundup
I'm not away any more. In fact I've been back for over a week, but things have been a bit busy. Sorry about that.
Greenbelt was enormous fun, and surprisingly relaxing this year -- in previous years when I've been doing stuff I've ended up getting rather stressed, but this time around I was able to incorporate my Surefish blogging into my daily routine quite happily.
I just want to tidy up by mentioning a few things which that reportage didn't have the space to cover...
Daliso Chiponda's comedy slot (which I went to after filing my last day's copy) was good in parts, but lacked structural unity. Despite the "Attack of the Colonies" title, and although some of his best material was political ("There are good things about living in a dictatorship. When you have phone sex, it's always a threesome."), the show as a whole was a stream-of-consciousness ramble through jokes about relationships, family life and -- rather archaically -- how white men can't dance, which never really came together.
I didn't blog about how much time I spent in the beer tent, which was rather a lot in the end. There were a couple more beers than last year, which I appreciated, although they could still do with expanding their range for next year. The tent was often very full indeed, I suspect partly because they'd relaxed the "No Under 18s" rule (not for drinking, obviously, but for being physically within the bounds of the licensed area).
I enjoyed a rather spendid worship installation which combined gigantic paintings of Christ's hands with a piece called "Prayer of the Heart" by John Tavener, incorporating multilingual Kyries sung by Björk. It was very powerful, weird and visceral music, which would have had substantial emotional punch without the spiritual content. At first I found the noise of the festival all around the room rather distracting, but after a while I was able to imagine it incorporated into the music itself. Which was also kind of weird. I don't tend to get much time for meditation, and this was a good experience. I went back a couple of times.
That said, visual art at the festival generally had dropped off compared with previous years. The emphasis seemed to be on art as a process, with several visual artists creating artwork around the site, but the gallery-style displays of previous years were prominently lacking, which was a great shame.
I enjoyed visiting the animals. I always miss my cats when we're away, and there's something very comforting about physical contact with other mammals. Plus there was a hen who could fit up to seven chicks under her wings at a time.
I bought Billy Bragg's book and the interesting-looking The Gospel According to Science Fiction . The former was sold to me by a very professional eight-year-old girl, which I found a little unnerving.
I have some photos which I need to upload at some point, although Lord knows when. Some are of some very exciting (and huge) kites being flown in the shapes of fish and lizards and things.
That's about it, really. Next year I really must get organised about speaking again, before everyone forgets who I am.
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Labels: books, comedy, greenbelt, music, pleasant, reviews, sorry, surefish


It wasn't too long ago that I wrote about my daughter's experience in her own seed business (Introduce Your Kids to Entrepreneurship). I recently "met" a young entrepreneur who had an even better introduction to business and entrepreneurship. That was Kobie, a 13 year old with his own internet business. Like me, his father wanted to expose him to business, and give him a way to earn some money. They thought of a business making dog tags, and bought an old addressograph machine to make them. With the addressograph machine in the back of a truck, they went to swap meets and other local events.
Later they set up a web based business selling a number of different styles of dog tags, including brass ones, round ones, and modern types with the rubber edge protector. They also sell LED belt buckles, name patches, and P-38 and P-51 can openers. Kobie added a page to his site about P-38 can openers which he also sells, which is how we met when he emailed about my posts about this type of can opener in the Outdoor Technology Section of the Patent Pending blog (scroll down to see them).
Kobie's site is DogTagsRUs and that link will lead you to his home page, from which you can see his "About" page for more biographical information, and his catalog page with his product offerings. Way to go Kobie! (and Kobie's Dad).
I bought a set of dog tags for my son, and I can't wait to check them out.
Smokejumper, inventor, photographer Mike McMillan is up in Alaska fighing fires for the summer. He sent me this image of smoke and fireweed. His images are at Spotfire Images.
When my daughter Ciera was about 8 years old, we were hit with the usual school, team, and Girl Scout fundraisers. In these, the kids would sell some cheesy sugar filled product to neighbors, and depending on how much they sold they would qualify for a super cheesy prize.
Ciera sold hundreds of dollars worth of products, and got a $3.00 item for her efforts. I thought it would be better if she sold a product that wasn't full of sugar, and that people would actually want to buy, rather than just buying to support the neighborhood kids, and where her efforts were fairly rewarded. What we came up with was a seed business. In the Spring, we bought wildflower seeds in "bulk", as in bags of 4 to 16 oz, of about 10 different wildflowers. We got some tiny zip lock bags, which we discovered are available in coin stores. Then Ciera and her friend used a measuring spoon to place quantities of seeds into the bags. We made up package labels, with planting instructions and a photo, and a one page handout.
Then they hit the streets and sold their seeds for $1 per bag. They netted a few hundred dollars each for work that took place over a few weeks, and learned about paying for supplies, evaluating which flowers sold best, inventory, partners that don't pull their weight, and advertising. She did the seed business for about 4 years, and then got too busy with other activities. It was a great learning experience, and when her 5th grade class had a class assignment for each student to start their own fake business, with business cards and flyers, she had already had a real business for several years. She didn't go on to become the Bill Gates of wildflower seeds, but it was an introduction. I invite you to try something like it with your kids.
Igor Sikorsky started his airplane designing career designing aircraft for the last Tsar of Russia, Nicolas II. In 1913, ten years after the Wright brother's first flight, Sikorskiy proved the critics wrong by building and flying a huge airplane called the Le Grande. It had a wingspan of 92 feet, 3/4 the length of the Wright brothers first flight. It weighted 9000 pounds, with 4 100 hp engines. Experts of the day did not think that something that large could ever become airborne. The Le Grande had a balcony in front of the pilot cabin, and a passenger cabin for eight. The Le Grande flew flawlessly through54 flights, until it was hit by an airplane engine falling from another airplane during an airshow. By piloting the Le Grande, Sikorsky was the first person to fly a multi engine airplane.


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Office of Communications and Public Affairs
New Health Science Course
New Brand Guide
Social Media Road Map -- Is Social Media Right For You
Margie Yu
Public Affairs Specialist
Office of Public Affairs
Cal State L.A. Students to Study
Terrorism and Public Health
Los Angeles, CA – The events of September 11 and recent terrorism alerts have brought to light the importance of disaster preparedness and public health awareness.
In order to prepare future public health professionals, California State University, Los Angeles, will offer a new health science course, entitled "Terrorism and Public Health," this coming spring quarter. The HS365 course—taught by Rania Sabty-Daily, assistant professor of health science at Cal State L.A.—will provide students an overview of the history of terrorism, the possible means that terrorists may use to affect the public's health, and the role of public health in the face of terrorism threats and attacks.
This four-unit course will also examine the roles of public awareness and communication, balancing public safety and civil liberties, and personal awareness and preparedness in effectively mitigating terrorist threats. As part of the class, guest lecturers from local health departments and the UCLA Center for Public Health and Disasters will speak on related topics.
According to Sabty-Daily, principles adopted by the American Public Health Association in November 1991 underlined the importance of educating the general public as well as heath professionals to better identify, respond to, and prevent health consequences of terrorism. The more prepared the public, the less potential impact of terrorist acts on the public's health.
Sabty-Daily indicates, "Biological and chemical terrorism and the potential for mass destruction have been a subject of increasing concern. Terrorist incidents in the United States and elsewhere have involved bacterial pathogens (e.g. anthrax), nerve gas, a lethal plant toxin (i.e., ricin) and explosives."
Stressing the early detection of and response to terrorism as crucial, Sabty-Daily adds, "Without special preparation at the local and state levels, a large-scale attack with the airborne release of biological microorganisms, chemical or radioactive agents, contamination of food supplies with biological, chemical or radioactive agents, and the contamination of water supplies could overwhelm the local and perhaps national public health infrastructure."
Rania Sabty-Daily, who received her master's degree in public health and Ph.D. in environmental health sciences from UCLA, is a registered environmental health specialist. Her research focuses on the assessment of exposure to airborne chromium and the impact of aerosol particle size on airborne exposure assessment. Her career background includes experience as an environmental health consultant and an industrial hygiene and safety specialist in private industry.
The HS365 class will meet every Tuesday, 4:20-8:10 p.m., in the King Hall building, Wing B, room 1009, during the spring quarter (March 29-June 12). For more information on the course, contact Rania Sabty-Daily, Health Science department, Cal State L.A., at (323) 343-5867.
WORKING FOR CALIFORNIA – California State University, Los Angeles: A comprehensive university at the heart of a major metropolitan city. The 175-acre hilltop campus is located five miles east of Los Angeles' civic and cultural center. Since 1947, Cal State L.A. has been a leader in providing quality higher education. Today, the campus comprises a faculty of internationally recognized scholars and artists, and more than 21,000 students with a wide variety of interests, ages and backgrounds that reflect the city's dynamic mix of populations. Cal State L.A. is one of 23 campuses in the CSU system.


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Dare to Dream is a  2005 sports documentary about the United States women's national soccer team. It describes the pivotal roles of Brandi Chastain, Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, Kristine Lilly, and Joy Fawcett in the development of the team. These athletes also give interviews for the film. It was created by the "Peabody Award-winning creative team at HBO Sports" and " follows the 18-year journey of the U.S. women's soccer team from obscurity in the late 1980s to its second Olympic gold match in 2004." The DVD of the film was released on 19 September 2007.

Awards
2006 Billie Award in Entertainment

Notes

External links
Official Site

Cover girl runs with the ball - San Francisco Chronicle
Fab Five Step Off the Field and Onto the TV Screen - The New York Times
 On the Cover - The New York Times
HBO documentary features Hamm, U.S. women's soccer team

2005 television films
2005 films
HBO Sports
History of the United States women's national soccer team
Soccer on United States television
HBO documentary films
Documentary films about women's association football
2000s American films

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


icap (Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy) is a registered charity that provides accessible, culturally-sensitive counselling and psychotherapy to Irish people, people of Irish descent and other communities. Their therapists are highly experienced, and all are accredited by the BACP or UKCP. They have therapy centres in Finsbury Park, London, and Digbeth, Birmingham, as well as providing a national therapy service for survivors of institutional childhood abuse in Ireland.
icap provides one-to-one therapy, both short- and long-term, group therapy, training and clinical supervision. They have particular experience and expertise in working with survivors of childhood abuse.


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San Antonio nonprofit boosts STEAM education with $100,000 in grants to local schools
Education upgrade
Nov. 03, 2022 01:03PM EST
Courtesy of TEXAS YES
Thanks to $167,000 in new grants from a San Antonio-based educational nonprofit, classrooms in 18 Texas schools will receive various upgrades to help further their students' academic pursuits.
An October 27 news release announced the grants from TEXAS YES (Texas Youth Education Support project) will go towards upgrading classroom equipment including a new computer lab, robotics program elements, chicken coops, a 3D printer, iPads and smart boards, and the purchase of new library books.
For the first-time since its inception, the YES Grant shifted focus to include classroom improvements, which is a crucial need to a child's education, TEXAS YES officials said.
"It's incredible to help schools not only update library books, which has seen a huge lack of funding, but also help provide classroom equipment such as computers and even P.E. equipment," TEXAS YES executive director Danielle Gunter stated in the release.
According to TEXAS YES, the following San Antonio-area schools and organizations are receiving grants: Koennecke Elementary School, CAST Med High School, Palo Alto Elementary School, Harmony School of Excellence, Burleson School of Innovation, Miguel Carrillo Jr. Elementary School, Boys & Girls Club of San Antonio, Patlan Elementary School, Spring Branch Middle School, West Campus High School, and Harlandale Independent School District.
The local grants total more than $100,000 in educational grants. The remaining funds have been distributed to schools in the Dallas and Austin areas.
Organization officials said TEXAS YES understands a high-quality STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) education is critical to a student's efforts at forming a successful future.
TEXAS YES partnered up with local injury attorney and philanthropist Thomas J. Henry to create the TEXAS STEAM Grant, which provides students and teachers with funds to provide an effective STEAM education.
"Now more than ever it's important to bridge the gap of educational inequality and give students the tools and resources they need to thrive in their academics," said Henry in the release.
Grants are open to public, private, and charter elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as 501(c)3 nonprofits with a youth focus.
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6 things to know about San Antonio food right now: Wicked cafe and cantina debuts near Pearl
NEWS YOU CAN EAT
Editor's note: We get it. It can be difficult to keep up with the fast pace of San Antonio's restaurant and bar scene. We have you covered with our regular roundup of essential food news.
A devilish concept has hopped into the former home of the short-lived Cervecería Chapultepec. Santa Diabla, the first Texas restaurant from Mexico-based hospitality group Grupo Orraca Restauranteros, debuted January 26 at 906 E. Elmira St. The menu traverses both Tex-Mex and interior Mexican cuisine, dishing out favorites like nachos, tuna carnitas, aguachile, and birria flautas.
Stinson Municipal Airport cleared a new restaurant for takeoff on January 25. Owned by Stephanie and Joshua Smith, the Trailblazer Café serves AM classics like breakfast tacos, salads, gourmet burgers, sandwiches, and a dizzying array of beverages. The unique eatery also commits to nourishing the community through its partnership with Ready to Work SA, teaching clients marketable skills that extend past food service.
The continued construction on the St. Mary's strip isn't harshing the vibe of the district's newest occupant. Vibras flipped the open sign on January 20, reimagining the former space of long-running café Candlelight Coffee at 3011 N. St. Mary's St. The hybrid concept thumps at night as a Latin nightclub illuminated by LED lights and washes of hot pink. The previous night's hangover can be nursed at the same spot with smoked Bourbon lattes from Sad Hrs.
Meanwhile, the race to fill Alamo City with out-of-town franchises continues with the announcement that Utah's Beans & Brews Coffeehouse is eyeing San Antonio as part of a six-state expansion. The release did not specify when or where the locations would crop up, but the deal with Brame Holdings would include 40 outposts split with Austin.
In still more caffeine news, a combo coffeehouse and beer garden is brewing at 11011 Shaenfield Rd. in northwest San Antonio. In addition to the titular beverages, Refuge Coffee + Beer will serve Texas wine and run a food program. However, as of press time the website is still being built with lorem ipsum text and no contact information or social media presence. A countdown clock does promise that the joint will be open by April 1, and permits have been filed with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
Details about the latest haunt settling into the booming Southtown neighborhood are also slim. Located in the former Jokesters 22 space at 713 S Alamo St., Blush has thus far offered three concrete clues: it will serve baked goods, brunch, and cocktails. Otherwise, the project flexes an Italianate atmosphere, scoring one post with the White Lotus theme song and another showcasing a pair of Testa di Moro-style planters. No word yet on whether Tanya McQuoid will actively be in danger there.
Surprise your valentine with thoughtful jewelry from James Avery
Want to get it right this Valentine's Day? You can't go wrong with jewelry, especially James Avery Artisan Jewelry.
Proudly crafted in the Texas Hill Country since 1954, James Avery rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and charms become something more for those who wear them. Each piece is inspired by the most precious things in life: love, family, and friendship.
With that in mind, here are three suggestions for the perfect Valentine's Day gift:
From colorful enameled designs like the Connected Hearts Ring to sweet sentiments found in styles like the Love You More Ring, there are so many ways to show your love.
A ring is a gift they'll wear every day — make it even sweeter with an engraved message to let your valentine know they're always on your mind.
Whether your loved one prefers sterling silver or 14k gold, colorful or classic designs, each piece is handcrafted to tell a unique love story.
A dozen roses
Just like your love, these pretty petals never fade. Delicately crafted in sterling silver or 14K gold, these rose designs are forever blooming.
Give a twist on the traditional bouquet with the delicately crafted Small Rose Ring, inspired by the beauty and wonder of nature and the universal symbol of love and courtship.
Charmed, I'm sure
Charm the one you love with tiny mementos that stand alone beautifully or in a treasured collection.
James Avery charms offer a way to always carry reminders of the people and experiences we hold dear, and are designed for both bracelets and necklaces.
Add to your sweetheart's medley of memories or start a new jewelry journey with the all-important first charm.
Shop James Avery now to find a Valentine's gift that expresses your feelings straight from the heart.
Photo courtesy of James Avery
Each ring is handcrafted to tell a unique story.


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Home Sectors Large Businesses Giant low carbon greenhouses could grow 12% of UK tomatoes
Giant low carbon greenhouses could grow 12% of UK tomatoes
1 in 10 of the UK's tomatoes may soon be grown in greenhouses warmed by waste heat, with the potential to significantly reduce agriculture's carbon footprint.
The UK's largest clean energy investor has announced plans to construct two of the country's largest greenhouses, covering the size of 47 football pitches. In a 'world first', these will be warmed by residual heat from nearby water recycling centres owned by Anglian Water.
Greencoat Capital says the £120m project will reduce the carbon footprint of food produce by 75% compared to European equivalents, and increase UK food security.
Closed loop heat pumps will be used to transfer the heat from the water recycling centres to the greenhouses, and will have the additional benefit of cooling the facility's treated water outflow before it is returned to the environment.
Electricity for the greenhouse's heat pumps will be provided by a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) plant, with waste heat from the CHP providing further warmth for the greenhouses. The gas-fired CHP plant's carbon emissions will be transferred into the greenhouses, raising the CO2 levels and further accelerating the growth of the plants, and capturing the majority of the carbon.
The construction phase of the project will begin immediately, with completion expected in autumn 2020. Commercial-scale growers from the UK and the Netherlands have already committed to leasing the space.
The greenhouses will provide ideal growing conditions for a range of plants and vegetables requiring a high-heat, and relatively low-light environments such as tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers. Once operational, the greenhouses will be capable of producing more than 1 in 10 of the country's tomatoes, and will create 360 permanent new jobs.
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