Monitoring ichthyoplankton is useful for identifying reproductive fronts and spawning locations of bigheaded carps (Hypophthalmichthys spp.). Unfortunately, sorting and identifying ichthyoplankton to monitor for bigheaded carp reproduction is time consuming and expensive. Traditional methods require frequent egg-larvae sampling, sorting of all samples to obtain presumptively identified bigheaded carp, and genetic validation of presumptively identified eggs. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) has the potential to streamline this process by identifying samples that likely do or do not contain a target species. Our objective was to develop a genetic screening tool using qPCR with the duplex assays SCTM4/5 and BHTM1/2 to prioritize samples that have a higher likelihood of containing bigheaded carp eggs or larvae. We used tandem ichthyoplankton samples collected for monitoring bigheaded carps in the Upper Mississippi, Illinois, and St. Croix rivers to evaluate the effectiveness of qPCR as a screening tool. Samples with > 10,000 copies of DNA had 100% occurrence of bigheaded carp eggs or larvae in the traditionally sorted samples, whereas samples with < 10 copies of DNA had 0% occurrence of ichthyoplankton from these invasive species. We used a logistic regression model to calculate the probability of finding bigheaded carp eggs or larvae based upon the number of DNA copies; 406 copies corresponded with a 50% probability of having bigheaded carp ichthyoplankton present in a sample. These data can be used to inform management actions (i.e., control, containment) for these invasive fishes, and this tool could be adapted for monitoring for reproduction of other aquatic invasive species.
Bighead Carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) and Silver Carp (H. molitrix), collectively referred to as bigheaded carps, are invasive fishes originating from eastern Asia that were introduced to North American waters beginning in the 1970s. Bigheaded carps have become established across large portions of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio River drainages, and are now poised to establish populations in the Great Lakes and the Upper Mississippi River and Ohio River basins. Their high consumptive demand, high reproductive and growth potential, migratory behavior and planktivorous nature make them well suited to compete with native fauna reliant on planktonic food resources, including most larval fishes (Kolar et al. 2005; Fritts et al. 2018). Silver Carp also present a hazard to boaters because of their leaping behavior in response to noise (Vetter et al. 2017). Bigheaded carp spawn pelagically in fast flowing rivers (Kolar et al. 2007) and their eggs must drift for 24–48 h to successfully hatch, after which the larvae continue to drift until they can occupy suitable nursery habitats (George and Chapman 2013). Managers must know when and where reproduction of bigheaded carp is occurring in invaded systems, especially near the invasion front, to efficiently and effectively contain and control populations.
The traditional method of ichthyoplankton sampling to monitor for bigheaded carp reproduction is tedious, time consuming, and expensive (Kelso et al. 2012; Deters et al. 2013; Hintz et al. 2017). Crews must collect egg and larvae samples with nets during periods of appropriate temperature and discharge. For bigheaded carp in large rivers in the U.S., egg-larvae samples must often be collected weekly from May through October because bigheaded carps can spawn multiple times and are not limited to springtime reproduction (Coulter et al. 2013; Gibson-Reinemer et al. 2017; Larson et al. 2017). The preserved samples are typically sorted visually in the laboratory to remove presumptively identified bigheaded carp eggs and larvae from other species and debris. Debris (i.e., plant matter, suspended soil) in samples collected during high water events can be voluminous relative to the eggs and larvae making sorting samples very time consuming. The time required to process a 'typical' sample from a large river is 2–3 h, and large samples with substantial debris can require up to 20 h to pick out all eggs and larvae and to identify all ichthyoplankton to an appropriate taxonomic level (Overdyk et al. 2016). This processing leads to a high cost per sample when natural resource agencies conduct identifications, and contracted processing can be prohibitively expensive. Subsampling is a common technique to reduce the processing time per sample (Kelso et al. 2012), but this may not be a desirable option when the targets of the ichthyoplankton monitoring are cryptic or rare species, such as invasive species on the leading edge of an invasion front. Once presumptively identified using traditional microscopy techniques, eggs must also be tested genetically because there is morphological overlap between bigheaded carp and native species in some parts of the Mississippi River basin (George and Chapman 2013; Larson et al. 2016). Management of invasive species is generally time sensitive (Pyšek and Richardson 2010), and these delays in sample processing ultimately lead to delays in information needed for decision making.
Samples with plentiful debris that are difficult and time consuming to process are not exclusive to ichthyoplankton. Microbiologists have faced similar challenges when trying to understand microbial communities in terrestrial soil environments (Boivin-Jahns et al. 1995). The original method of culturing bacteria and identifying them through morphological and biochemical characteristics was very time-consuming and error-prone. Technological advances now allow soil bacteria to be identified by genetic sequence analysis (Liesak and Stackebrandt 1992; Boivin-Jahns et al. 1995; Janssen 2006). These analyses are collectively referred to as DNA barcoding, and are now commonly applied for identification of all living things (Hebert et al. 2003). Further technological advancement and simplification of analyses to look for particular genetic sequences gave rise to the field of environmental DNA (eDNA, Ficetola et al. 2008; Rees et al. 2014). The use of quantitative PCR (qPCR) has allowed for additional insights into diet sources and predation patterns for a broad assortment of organisms, ranging from tunicates to longtail ducks (Weber and Lundgren 2009; Frischer et al. 2014; Fara 2018). Additionally, there has been progress in developing non-destructive genetic methods that can isolate DNA that is sloughed off ichthyoplankton into preservative fluid (i.e., non-denatured ethanol), which allows post-processing identification of ichthyoplankton using traditional morphological or meristic characteristics (Alvarado Bremer et al. 2014; Becker et al. 2015). These technological advances have raised the question whether genetic screening could help streamline the process of traditional ichthyoplankton sampling, particularly when monitoring for the presence and reproduction of invasive species.
Our objective was to develop a genetic screening tool using qPCR to prioritize samples for processing that have a higher likelihood of containing bigheaded carp eggs or larvae. Quantitative PCR provides information on presence and relative abundance of target species. By providing a means of rapidly prioritizing samples that have the highest likelihood of containing bigheaded carp ichthyoplankton, this screening tool could help save time and money, and provide managers with timely information needed for management of these invasive fishes.
We sampled ichthyoplankton in three rivers in the midwestern U.S. that cover a gradient of bigheaded carp densities and spawning activity (Fig. 1). Two rivers with relatively high probability of spawning by bigheaded carps (i.e., La Grange through Marseilles pools in the Illinois River and Pool 20 of the Upper Mississippi River) were sampled in May–September 2015 in conjunction with ongoing research and monitoring efforts by the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) and Iowa State University (ISU). Samples were also collected in August 2016 by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) from the St. Croix River, which forms part of the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin. Occasional pioneer bigheaded carps have been collected in this region but no reproduction has been documented yet (Minnesota Department of Natural Resources 2018).
Ichthyoplankton sampling targeting bigheaded carp in the three different rivers generally followed similar protocols. Ichthyoplankton samples were collected using a 0.5 m-diameter push net (INHS), 0.75 m-diameter push net (MN DNR), or a 0.5 m-diameter tow net (ISU) with 500 µm mesh. To obtain each sample, the net was pushed upstream using an aluminum frame mounted to the front of the boat, or towed upstream on the side of the boat, with the boat speed adjusted to obtain 1.0–1.5 m/s water velocity through the net for 4–5 min. Flow was measured using a flow meter (General Oceanics model 2030R) mounted in the center of the net mouth and was used to calculate the volume of water sampled. Fish eggs and larvae were collected in a meshed plankton bucket at the cod end of the net, transferred to sample jars, and preserved in 90–95% non-denatured ethanol. Nets were flushed without the collection bucket present between sampling sites to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. In the Illinois River, four ichthyoplankton samples were collected in addition to the sample collected for DNA screening at each site on each sampling date. The four standard samples were gathered from each side of the river channel, parallel to the bank, at both upstream and downstream locations within each study site. The tandem samples for DNA analysis were collected adjacent to one of these standard samples. In the Mississippi River, two tows were conducted parallel to river flow in the main channel thalweg, with one sample visually identified and one used for DNA screening. In the St. Croix River, three tows were conducted parallel to river flow in the main channel thalweg, with two samples visually identified and one collected for DNA screening.
Traditional sample processing (visual sorting) methods varied among the three agencies. The MN DNR sent samples to a contractor for processing, and INHS and ISU processed samples in their own laboratories to separate fish eggs and larvae from sediment and debris. Fish eggs were separated by size, with all eggs having a membrane diameter larger than 4 mm (Yi et al. 2006) identified as potential bigheaded carp eggs and retained for further analysis. Bigheaded carp eggs and larvae were identified according to Chapman (2006) and by comparison to a developmental series of Bighead Carp eggs and larvae obtained from a hatchery (Osage Catfisheries, Inc., Osage Beach, Missouri). All eggs and larvae were enumerated and subsamples of presumed bigheaded carp eggs and larvae, along with known Bighead Carp larvae (hatchery source; positive controls) and larvae that were confidently identified as taxa other than bigheaded carp (negative controls) were sent to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Whitney Genetics Lab for molecular confirmation.
The tandem ichthyoplankton samples, each stored in 500-mL high-density polyethylene bottles, were processed for DNA analysis at the US Geological Survey-Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center. To minimize detection of bigheaded carp DNA that was not associated with an egg or larvae (Alvarado Bremer et al. 2014), we exchanged ethanol in each sample by pouring the original ethanol off through a 500-µm nylon mesh filter (Science First; Yulee, FL, USA) placed over the bottle opening to retain the ichthyoplankton and detritus. New molecular grade ethanol was immediately poured back over the sample. Following the ethanol exchange, we gently inverted the ethanol-preserved ichthyoplankton samples five times and placed them on a laboratory bench until the detritus settled. We then removed three 1-mL aliquots of the ethanol (subsamples) from each tow sample. Each ethanol subsample was centrifuged at 5000×g for 30 min. The supernatant was discarded from the subsample, and then the subsample was placed into an incubator for 15 min at 60 °C to evaporate any residual ethanol. DNA from the resulting pellets was extracted using the commercially available gMax mini genomic DNA extraction kit (IBI Scientific; Peosta, IA, USA) in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines.
Each DNA extract was analyzed with qPCR to determine the presence of Silver Carp and/or Bighead Carp DNA. We used the duplex assays SCTM4/5 and BHTM1/2 (Farrington et al. 2015) that are used by the USFWS for their bigheaded carp monitoring program (Woldt et al. 2015). Each DNA extract was analyzed in septet 25-µL reactions. Each reaction contained 2 µL of extracted sample DNA, 12.5 µL Bullseye TaqProbe qPCR 2x Mastermix-Multiplex (Midwest Scientific; Valley Park, MO, USA), 0.5 µM each primer, and 0.25 µM each probe. A no-template control was included on each plate to test for reagent contamination; no contamination was detected during this study. Inhibition was tested for each sample by spiking 100 copies of our synthetic gBlock (Integrated DNA Technologies; Coralville, IA, USA) DNA standard into three of the seven reactions. This allowed for analysis of each DNA extract in quadruplicate, while testing for inhibition in triplicate; no inhibition was detected during this study. Each plate also contained a standard curve that consisted of two reactions of 10,000 copies, two reactions of 1000 copies, four reactions of 100 copies, and four reactions of 10 copies of gBlock DNA standard. All qPCR assays were conducted on a CFX96 Touch Thermal Cycler (Bio-Rad Laboratories; Hercules, CA, USA) using the following PCR protocol: initial denaturation at 95 °C for 10 min, followed by 55 cycles of denaturation at 95 °C for 30 s, annealing temperature of 56 °C for 30 s, and extension at 68 °C for 30 s. The number of copies of SCTM4/5 and BHTM1/2 for each reaction was determined using the standard curve. We then averaged the copies for the quadruplicate reactions for each subsample.
To assess the association between qPCR copy number and presence of morphologically identified bigheaded carp eggs or larvae in tandem samples, we built a logistic regression model using generalized linear models with binomial distributions and logit links in R (version 3.3.0; R Core Team 2016). For each of the 3 subsample qPCR measurements from each sample, the number of copies of all four markers was summed, and the triplicate subsample with the maximum sum was used (after log(x + 1) transformation) as the predictor variable; this subsample represented the greatest amount of potential DNA within the sample. The response variable was the presence or absence of bigheaded carp eggs or larvae in the traditionally sorted samples. We then used this fitted model to calculate the probability of finding bigheaded carp eggs or larvae based upon the number of DNA copies from the qPCR analysis and used the McFadden pseudo-R2 as a measure of predictive power (McFadden 1974). All data are publicly available through ScienceBase ( https://doi.org/10.5066/P96BTBUH).
We analyzed a total of 34 tandem ichthyoplankton samples, which were composed of 12 samples from Pool 20 of the Mississippi River, 18 samples from the Illinois River (La Grange Pool, n = 7; Peoria Pool, n = 5; Starved Rock Pool, n = 5; Marseilles Pool, n = 1), and 4 samples from the St. Croix River (Table 1). Of the 34 traditionally sorted samples, 12 had bigheaded carp ichthyoplankton present within the sample (5 samples with eggs only, 4 with larvae only, and 3 with both eggs and larvae), and 22 samples had no bigheaded carp eggs or larvae present.
All samples that had a combined total of > 10,000 DNA copies (n = 7) among the four genetic markers had 100% occurrence of at least one bigheaded carp egg or larvae in the associated tandem sample. The number of egg and larval bigheaded carp present within these seven traditionally sorted samples ranged from 5 to 8608. Samples that had > 1000 copies (n = 9) had 89% occurrence, > 100 copies (N = 14) had 64% occurrence, and > 10 copies (n = 24) had 50% occurrence of at least one egg or larvae. For those samples that had between 10 and 10,000 copies of DNA and had bigheaded carp ichthyoplankton present in the traditionally sorted sample, the number of eggs and larvae present in the traditionally sorted samples ranged from 1 to 14. Samples that had a combined total of < 10 copies (n = 10) had 0% occurrence of bigheaded carp eggs or larvae in the traditionally sorted sample.
The sample with the smallest number of DNA copies and bigheaded carp presence in the traditionally sorted sample had 18.6 copies of DNA. From the logistic regression equation (R McFadden 2 = 0.481), an 11.3% probability of bigheaded carp presence is predicted from this number of copies (Fig. 2). The sample with the largest number of DNA copies and no bigheaded carp present in the traditionally sorted sample had 1141 copies of DNA. This equated to an 67% probability of bigheaded carp presence from the logistic regression prediction (Fig. 2). With 15 copies of DNA, there was a 10% probability of having a bigheaded carp egg or a larva within the sample, 52 copies corresponded with a 20% probability, and 406 copies corresponded with a 50% probability of having bigheaded carp ichthyoplankton present (Table 2). Based upon our 34 samples, 9 contained greater than 406 copies and, of these, 8 contained bigheaded carp eggs or larvae in the traditionally sorted sample, or an 89% occurrence of bigheaded carp; 25 samples contained fewer than 406 copies and 4 of these contained bigheaded carp ichthyoplankton. Using the 50% threshold from the logistic regression prediction as a cut-off for identifying samples for traditional processing would have resulted in a 16% failure to detect bigheaded carp in samples with fewer than 406 copies; the 20% threshold would have resulted in a 12% failure to detect, and the 10% threshold would have had a 0% failure to detect bigheaded carp with this set of data.
Our results indicate that high and low DNA copy numbers generated from qPCR were useful for identifying samples that have a high or low probability of containing bigheaded carp ichthyoplankton. Samples with > 10,000 copies of DNA had 100% occurrence of bigheaded carp eggs and larvae in the tandem traditionally sorted samples, whereas samples with < 10 copies of DNA had 0% occurrence of ichthyoplankton from these invasive species. Natural resource agencies and managers could use qPCR as a screening tool to quickly prioritize samples that have the highest likelihood of containing bigheaded carp eggs or larvae. The qPCR technique can be completed expeditiously, with final data available to researchers and managers within 3 days of receiving the samples, given proper coordination and pre-planning with the laboratory (Farrington et al. 2015). The ability to rapidly screen ichthyoplankton samples could enhance management decisions for control efforts for these invasive species as they continue to expand their range in North America.
The logistic regression model performed well at high (> 10,000) and low copy numbers for predicting bigheaded carp ichthyoplankton presence or absence, but performance was less consistent at intermediate DNA copy numbers. The DNA copy numbers varied considerably with a small number of eggs or larvae; traditionally sorted samples that had 1 to 14 eggs or larvae present were associated with a wide range of DNA copies (i.e., 18 to 21,000 copies). Additionally, presence of bigheaded carp DNA does not necessarily indicate evidence of carp reproduction. Ichthyoplankton tows often contain a large amount of detritus, debris, and sediment. DNA regularly sticks to these surfaces and can be retained and amplified even when eggs or larvae are absent in sample(s). We attempted to minimize the likelihood of amplifying DNA that had adhered to sample debris by completing an ethanol exchange prior to removing the triplicate ethanol samples for the qPCR analysis (Alvarado Bremer et al. 2014), but this does not guarantee bigheaded carp DNA removal from ichthyoplankton samples.
An additional complicating factor is the presence of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) eggs, which are morphologically indistinguishable from bigheaded carp eggs (Chapman 2006; George et al. 2017). A subset of eggs from all samples with morphologically identified bigheaded carp eggs were processed for genetic verification. All samples with eggs were confirmed to contain at least some bigheaded carp eggs, but without genetically verifying all eggs we would be unable to state the proportion of eggs that were bigheaded carp versus Grass Carp.
This qPCR screening tool can be used to enhance traditional ichthyoplankton methods (Yoccoz 2012). Quantifying the DNA copies in the ethanol preservation fluid is a non-destructive technique that retains the original eggs or larvae for subsequent morphological evaluation and identification. We opted to quantify the DNA copies from the exchanged ethanol rather than the original ethanol; the original preservation fluid would have a greater likelihood of contamination from adult carp DNA that could originate from mucus or milt. The use of the exchanged ethanol should prove more reliable for detecting DNA that originated from eggs or larvae rather than contamination from adult fishes. Managers can use this screening tool to identify the locations and dates that have the highest probably of bigheaded carp ichthyoplankton (i.e., highest number of DNA copies). These samples can then be prioritized for traditional sorting and subsequent genetic confirmation if bigheaded carp eggs and larvae are found. Successful bigheaded carp spawning has been documented as far upstream as Pool 16 of the Mississippi River (Larson et al. 2017). These screening tools could prove useful for programs that continue to track this and other important invasion fronts.
There has been tremendous progress over the past decade on the development of DNA barcoding and meta-barcoding (Hubert et al. 2008; Briski et al. 2011; Almeida et al. 2018). These genetic techniques seek to identify species based upon standardized gene regions (Hebert et al. 2003). In the context of ichthyoplankton samples, meta-barcoding has the potential to identify all species within a sample, thereby identifying not only the presence of bigheaded carps but also potentially providing a mechanism to monitor for the effects of bigheaded carps on other pelagic spawning fishes (e.g., Freshwater Drum [Aplodinotus grunniens], Mooneye [Hiodon tergisus]) or zooplankton (e.g., species composition shifts). Even with the advances in meta-barcoding of ichthyoplankton samples, some researchers still support the combined use of the genetic techniques and traditional visual identification (Yoccoz 2012; Overdyk et al. 2016). The cost of DNA sequencing has decreased tremendously in the past two decades (Pennisi 2011), but meta-barcoding is still approximately 10 times more expensive than qPCR and requires 3 to 4 times as much time to process the samples (C. Merkes, U.S. Geological Survey, personal observation). As such, the use of qPCR as a rapid screening tool for ichthyoplankton samples remains a faster, less expensive option for managers that are tracking bigheaded carp invasion fronts.
We used a combination of two genetic markers each for Silver Carp and Bighead Carp (i.e., SCTM4/5 and BHTM1/2). Since the traditional manual identification of these species is usually to the level of genus (i.e., Hypophthalmichthys spp.) rather than species level, it may prove more efficient and less expensive to use the genus-specific Hypophthalmichthys spp. markers, rather than the specific markers for the two individual species (Farrington et al. 2015; Erickson et al. 2016, 2017). Resource managers are often more focused on identifying the presence of Hypophthalmichthys spp., rather than the specific species, as early life history and management actions are often similar for these two species (Coulter et al. 2018).
Our research has demonstrated the viability of using qPCR as a screening tool for bigheaded carp ichthyoplankton but refinement of the technique is possible. Future application of this method should collect the ethanol samples from the same sample that will be processed using the traditional sorting technique. This would enable analyzing the direct relation between qPCR copy number and the number of eggs or larvae within a sample. Since our qPCR copy numbers were derived from a tandem tow sample and could not be related to a definitive number of eggs or larvae, we opted to conduct our analyses on presence/absence of bigheaded carp ichthyoplankton, rather than doing a direct correlation of ichthyoplankton abundance versus qPCR copy number. Additional refinements could include quantifying the amount of debris in the tow samples and including this as a co-variate in the predictive models.
Future applications of the ichthyoplankton qPCR screening technique include targeting other invasive species such as Black Carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus), Grass Carp, and Northern Snakehead (Channa argus). Black Carp eDNA monitoring is proving more challenging than eDNA monitoring of bigheaded carps because of the tendency of Black Carp to occupy deep benthic habitats in large river systems, which also makes it difficult to capture this species using traditional fisheries techniques (Nico and Jelks 2011). A qPCR screening tool for eggs and larvae of Black Carp might provide insight about the distribution of this species because reproductive strategies are similar to those of bigheaded carp species (Nico et al. 2005). Additionally, the qPCR screening technique could identify the presence of any species with pelagic eggs, including imperiled or endangered species (e.g., Topeka Shiner [Notropis topeka], Rio Grande Silvery Minnow [Hybognathus amarus]) and could therefore be a valuable addition to endangered species recovery programs.
We have shown that qPCR screening tools can allow managers to rapidly identify target species in samples, and thus locations that have a high probability of bigheaded carp reproduction. This technique is relatively inexpensive and returns data in a short period of time, enabling rapid identification of invasion fronts, which could allow managers more time to take action to control these invasive species before their populations begin to grow exponentially.
Funding sources were the U.S. Geological Survey Ecosystems Mission Area Invasive Species Program, Minnesota Environment and Natural Resource Trust Fund, and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (CAFWS-93) with funding administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. We thank the staff of the Kaskaskia, Ridge Lake, and Sam Parr Biological Stations, and graduate students at the University of Iowa, University of Illinois, and Eastern Illinois University for field and laboratory support. We thank Eileen Kirsch and Patrick Kocovsky for their insightful reviews on an earlier draft of this paper. Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.


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Tag: dracula
Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror (1922)
Another Halloween's upon us ladies and gents and once again I get to dig out some of the archives most terrifying creations to display for your entertainment and viewing pleasure. I've been trying to decide on a format for these halloween specials and I think for the time being at least that im going to do a year on a theme and a year on a series of halloween-esq movies…mainly because there are a lot of good halloween movies that dont necissarily fit into a theme. But also; there are loads of films that i'd love to talk about which I think if I link them while discussing their themes it creates a bit of "a history of" vibe…which I always encourage because it allows me to go deeper into the movies than I probably would…
naturally just doing 5 random halloween films every year would be a bit boring and wouldnt quite cover the depth I would like to cover. Equally if I did 5 themed films every year. I'd probably grow quite bored of the format. So this is a good happy medium…at least for the time being. by this logic next year will be a random assortment again.
Nosferatu isnt a film that i'd pick up regularly. it's a good movie. But as I mention in the review I just dont really get on with Silent cinema all that much…I can appreciate it's form and acknowlege that it is a item of it's time. But I do struggle with quite a few of them and I find that finding good silent movies is quite a challenge. Because of this; It was a bit of a struggle to get this years theme well and truely under way. But Im glad I rewatched this movie as it really allowed me to get to the origins of the Vampire Mythology quickly and gloriously.
This is the start of a 5 part series on the history of Vampire movies from 1922 to 1986. You might wonder why it's such an oddly specific timeframe. but those 64 years really do define such a massive evolutionary leap. that I think it should prove quite an interesting trip. I've already decided that a 2nd part will need to happen at some point (If nothing else just to cover the movies from 1987 to whenever I decide to go through all this again)
In the mean time I hope you enjoy the start of this series and I look forward to seeing it develop over the next few weeks!
(I love this poster…Im about 99% sure this isnt the original theatrical poster…if it even had an original theatrical poster…but there's just something so unsettling about this one.)
Oct 4, 2019 Oct 4, 2019 by tytdreviews
I have a real soft spot for the Hammer movies, they really have a charm about them. obviously there horror films are probably there most well known productions but Hammer had a quite diverse filming range outside of horror and sci-fi as well. The Nanny is a prime example of this really as its really more of a psychological thriller than anything really resembling a horror movie…I mean; I suppose the ending falls a little bit into the Macarbre but realistically the rest of this movie is about as close to a non horror as hammer could get really.
I think this is one of Bette Davies' finest roles as the titular "Nanny" and she's terrifically watchable as she flicks in style between the very sensible and well measured on the surface Nanny and the role she eventually ends up playing towards the end of the film.
I cover pretty much everything I can say about this movie in the review itself but I would also like to add that since publishing this review I've found it amazing how difficult it is to actually find much information about this movie. Mainly due to the fact that there was a CBS sitcom called "The Nanny" which ran from 1993 to 1999. I dont know how popular that show was but according to google it was more popular than this film…You can mark this one down as another "Underrated movie that doesnt get the amount of airing that it should".
(Based on the "Bath" scene I can see why this one isnt played on Television all that often…still criminally underrated though…)
Apr 24, 2018 Apr 24, 2018 by tytdreviews
The Dragon Lives again! (The Deadly Hands of Kung Fu) (1977)
Well it's usually good with these things to start at the beginning! and starting my youtube channel off all that time ago was this movie: 1977's "The Dragon Lives again" also known as "The Deadly Hands of Kung fu". I love this movie. like; I both love it and im In love with it. its my favourite martial arts film of all time just for how surreal and bizarre it is. Though the only downside of this being my first review is that because its the first one I didnt really get my style down properly. I talk too fast and I dont feel I said everything I could say about this awesome movie. consider this a pilot episode. I'll need to revisit it at some point in the future but for now please enjoy one of the strangest (And most copyright infringiest!) movies I've ever seen…
(Seriously…I bloody love this film)
Apr 9, 2018 Apr 11, 2018 by tytdreviews

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Our experienced and caring faculty create and facilitate a rich, joyful learning experience for all students whether a young child or an adult.
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She was certified in ballet and modern dance by the Ecole Superieure d'Etudes.Choregraphiques de Paris and established her own school of dance, developing her own method of free expression through movement, "Expression Corporelle".
In America, Ghislaine discovered Danskinetics, another form of movement that encourages the body/mind/spirit connection and became a certified Danskinetics instructor in 1998 (Kripalu Center, Lenox, Mass.). She will be teaching Danskinetics on Thursday mornings.
Abigail Agresta-Stratton, earned a MA in Dance Education from New York University's Steinhardt School of Education and is a Registered Dance Educator. Abigail has taught dance in many public and private schools and studios and has created and implemented multi-faceted dance curriculums for PS161M in the New York City Department of Education and West Islip High School on Long Island in New York.
Abigail has performed with the Mary Anthony Dance Theatre in works by Mary Anthony, Charles Weidman and Bertram Ross, and in venues such as the Field in New York City in works by independent choreographers such as Michiyo Sato. She is a graduate of Dance Education Laboratory and has been a member of the New York City Department of Education Blueprint Writing Committee, a scorer for the NYS Dance Content Specialty Test, Chair of the New York City Dance Educators/UFT, President of the NYS Dance Education Association and Membership Director of the Capital Region Educators of Dance Organization, a state affiliate of the National Dance Education Organization serving Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia. Abigail also serves as the moderator of the K – 12 Forum and has served as the CREDO forum moderator for NDEO.
In October 2012, she was awarded the Presidential Service Award by the New York State Dance Education Association for her dedication to the advancement of dance education. Last August, Abigail was honored at the Dance Teacher Magazine Summit as the 2013 K – 12 Awardee and was recognized for her commitment and accomplishments in both dance education and advocacy for dance. She served as the Director of the Specialty Center Dance Company at Thomas Dale High School in Chester, VA for two years. Abigail and her husband, Daniel, the proud parents of Maxmillian Anthony and Charlotte Serafina, are excited to return to New York and to the Posey school.
Much of Allison Graziosi's professional and personal life has revolved around educating children. Allison has been a New York State certified teacher for ages birth to sixth grade since 2003. She earned a bachelor's degree in communications and sociology and a master's degree in elementary education, both from Fordham University. Allison taught elementary school in New York City for eight years before choosing to become a stay-at-home mom for her two children. She always knew she would return to the classroom.
Allison is married to a teacher and has two young children in elementary school. She grew up on Long Island and moved to a historic home in Northport in 2016. She loves Northport and working on beautiful Main Street. In her free time, she enjoys hunting for antiques and keeping her children busy at museums, classes, art projects, and organizing outings. Allison is on her PTA board and runs her son's Boy Scout den. Allison also manages her husband's test prep company.
Allison is a passionate, dedicated teacher. She enjoys the curiosity of children and helping to create lifelong learners. Allison is excited to be back in the classroom at Posey Preschool, a very special place!
Christina started dancing at Posey School at the age of 5. This is where her passion and love for dance began. With the excellent training she received from Posey School she received a scholarship to Adelphi University and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance. Christina also attended many prestigious dance intensives such as American Ballet Theater, The Rock School of Dance and NYSSSA. Christina has been assistant teaching since she was 14, and she began teaching her own classes her first year of college. Christina has also performed in many ballets, her favorite being "Play Ball", Christopher Fleming from New York City Ballet hand picked the dancers out of the Adelphi dance majors to be in his 45 minute ballet. Christina was speechless when she was chosen. Christina is thrilled to be back at Posey teaching.
Asma Khan, native New Yorker, was raised in various studios across Long Island. Starting dance at the early age of four, she performed in many styles including tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, musical theater and hip hop. She continued her training pre-professionally in ballet and modern. Having graduated from Queens College, Asma now holds two degrees in dance. Asma Khan has continued her passion performing for various artists and companies in New York while still teaching for the last decade.


Here is the latest project out of the shop this winter. Richie will use this saddle in northern Montana for his ranch work. The saddle features a Wade tree by Dusty Smith with a 8″ swell, and 4 1/2″ x 12″ cantle set at 40 degrees. The back of the cantle features his brand encased in sunflowers and floral scrolls. Just in time for calving season Richie!


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Wyden, Merkley Announce Investment in Conservation Program to Protect Whales Off Oregon Coast
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today announced a $26,205 federal grant awarded to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for its program to improve environmental conditions for whales off the Oregon Coast by reducing the risk of whales entangled in fishing gear.
"Oregon has a proud history of conservation, and fishing is the lifeblood of our coastal communities economies," Wyden said. "This important investment is a win-win on both fronts, protecting threatened whales and ensuring Oregon's fisheries continue to thrive."
"Oregon's breathtaking coast makes countless contributions to the spirit our state and the vitality of our local economies," said Merkley. "This funding is critical to maintaining the health of our waters, while ensuring that Oregon's fishing industry can support families in coastal communities for generations to come."
Two years ago, Oregon Sea Grant convened a multi-stakeholder working group at the request of Oregon fishermen to reduce the risk of whale entanglements in Dungeness crab and other fixed gear in Oregon and along the entire West Coast. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grant will continue these efforts by gathering valuable spatial data on both whale migration and fishing patterns to minimize interactions between the two, information that can be used by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to guide future management decisions to protect threatened whales and ensure the continued stability of Oregon's coastal fishing industries.
A web version of this bill is available here.
12/17/19 Merkley, Wyden Announce USDA Loan of Over $42.5 Million for Tillamook Electricity Infrastructure Upgrades
12/16/19 Wyden, Crapo, Merkley, Risch Announce Two-Year Authorization for Secure Rural Schools Program in End-of-Year Funding Package
12/16/19 Merkley Announces Major Broadband Investment in 2020 Funding
12/11/19 Merkley, Wyden: More Than $7.4 Million in USDA Funds Will Help Rural Oregon Save on Energy Costs
11/20/19 Merkley, Wyden Announce Key USDA Wastewater Investments for Rural Oregonians


text:
require 'rails_helper'

describe Page do
  let(:page) { described_class.new }

  it { should respond_to(:get_full_text) }
  it { should respond_to(:remove_from_index) }

end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY with SIHR!
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Announcing 2018's Women of Distinction!
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Исполнитель: Jonne (Korpiklaani) Альбом: Kallohonka Год выхода: 2017 Страна: Finland Жанр: Folk Rock / Acoustic Время: 0:55:04. Done! Once the premium accounts are available, we will notify you about. Sep 7, 2009 From opera to symphony and concerto to chamber, we look at the One of Mozart's most sublime works, this double concerto for violin Perhaps the greatest of all song cycles, sung by a master at the peak of his power. Sep 24, 2013 "Started From the Bottom" might be a Drake song, but it very much relates to the One that demonstrates a recognition of where the band comes from, "Molly's Chambers," the second single off of Youth & Young Manhood.
Mar 13, 2014 One indie band like that for me is Mac DeMarco, the Canadian dude who records for I listened to this song after downloading a torrent of this in 2012. " Chamber of Reflection"—I just found out Mac lives in Montreal, which. One: In the Chamber came four years later, again released only as a Likewise, "Everything I Need," a sweeping and aching number, is the best song fronted. "Musicians from Marlboro, the touring ensemble from the Vermont chamber music who, in a short time, has become one of the world's most remarkable singers. performance of "On Wenlock Edge," Vaughan Williams's song cycle for tenor, whispered opening of "From far, from eve and morning" and in the torrent. Rock music, lyrics, and videos from Columbus, OH on ReverbNation.


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The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Mix 'Twilight' and Buffy, add a dash of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter and a generous sprinkling of goth and you have this would-be tween sensation. Based on the novel by Cassandra Clare, it stars Lily Collins as Clary Fray, a Brooklyn teen who discovers she is a Shadowhunter by birth. Shadowhunters are a society of half-angel warriors who protect humanity against demons, apparently. When Clary's mother disappears, sexy fellow Shadowhunter Jace (Jamie Campbell Bower) guides her into their secret underworld. Along for the ride is besotted best friend Simon (Robert Sheehan). Let the love triangle commence!
It's a potent mix for young fans that gets off to an entertaining, action-packed start with bursts of knowing humour. But it's soon bogged down by an increasingly convoluted plot, an overindulgent running time and absurd dialogue ('So Bach was a Shadowhunter?'). The film is at its best when camping it up in leather rather than taking itself so seriously. Here's hoping the sequel is purposefully sillier – and considerably shorter.
Posted: Tuesday August 20 2013
Harald Zwart


Looking for success? Here is a simple mantra. To be successful in life, stop chasing the wrong things. And give up these limiting practices below.
Give up trying to be perfect – If you think you will wait until you achieve perfection, you will miss many opportunities. You need to act, rather than hanging back due to fear of failure. So get up and get things done.
Give up dwelling on the past or worrying about the future – Live in the Now because this is the only moment that is real and present. Now is your life, happening right here. Don't miss it.
Give up complaining – instead of cribbing about things, try to take action and change things. It will empower you.
Give up waiting – Don't wait for things to happen before doing something. There should be no dependency on external circumstances to be conducive. Start acting now.
Give up saying, I can't. As Henry Ford put it, "Whether you think you can or you think you can't, you are right." You write your own destiny and you pass judgement on yourself.
Give up thinking that you are not ready – It is a fact that nobody feels 100 per cent ready when an opportunity arises. Every great opportunity in life will force you to grow outside of your comfort zone. So don't wait until you're completely in your comfort zone.
Give up trying to do things by yourself – Instead of trying to manage everything on your own, you must delegate things to the right people. Know that you are supported and there will be people to help you.
Give up blaming others for your troubles – In blaming others for your circumstances, you are giving them power over that part of your life. The more you take responsibility for your life, the more empowered you become.
Give up trying to live up to the expectations of others – Matching up to the expectations of others will give you stress and make you lose your natural intelligence. You must do things because you love to do them and drive yourself with passion, not to please others.
Give up making promises that you can't keep – Do not over-promise. Say what you feel is right, and honor your word once you have committed.
Give up waiting until the last minute – Doing things at the eleventh hour puts you under a lot of stress and you will now have time to do things properly. So never let the last minute urgency breathe down on you.
Give up trying to control everything – When you control situations and people, you end up discontented. Moreover, the people around you will lose their natural will to work for you. So release all control and let the natural intelligence run things.


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NASA set to launch first mission to study 'heart' of Mars
Los Angeles | Published: April 30, 2018 2:54:26 PM
NASA's first-ever mission to study the deep interior of Mars is on schedule to launch this week, the US space agency said. The Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) is the first planetary mission to take off from the West Coast of US.
InSight is targeted to launch on May 5 at 7:05 am EDT (4:35 pm, Indian Standard Time) from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. (Reuters)
NASA's first-ever mission to study the deep interior of Mars is on schedule to launch this week, the US space agency said. The Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) is the first planetary mission to take off from the West Coast of US. Most of US' interplanetary missions take off from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, located on the East Coast of the country. Launching on the same rocket is a separate NASA technology experiment known as Mars Cube One (MarCO). MarCO consists of two mini-spacecraft and will be the first test of CubeSat technology in deep space. They are designed to test new communications and navigation capabilities for future missions and may aid InSight communications.
InSight is targeted to launch on May 5 at 7:05 am EDT (4:35 pm, Indian Standard Time) from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. The lander will study the deep interior of Mars to learn how all rocky planets formed, including Earth and its Moon. Its instruments include a seismometer to detect marsquakes and a probe that will monitor the flow of heat in the planet's subsurface.
The United Launch Alliance two-stage Atlas V 401 launch vehicle will produce 3.8 million Newton of thrust as it climbs away from its launch pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base. During the first 17 seconds of powered flight, the Atlas V will climb vertically above its launch pad. Then it will begin a manoeuvre that will place it on a trajectory towards Earth's south pole. "After lift-off from Vandenberg's Space Launch Complex 3, the Atlas V begins a southerly trajectory and climbs out over the Channel Islands off Oxnard," said Tim Dunn, launch director at the John F Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
About 1 minute and 18 seconds into the Atlas V's powered flight, the vehicle will be about nine kilometres in altitude and 1.75 kilometres down range. Two minutes and 36 seconds later, the Atlas first stage will shut down at an altitude of about 106 and 296 kilometres down range. The second stage will separate from the now-dead first stage six seconds later.
Ten seconds later, the Centaur's engine kicks in with its 101,820 Newton of thrust, which will carry it and InSight into its 185-kilometre parking orbit 13 minutes and 16 seconds after launch. This parking orbit will last 59 to 66 minutes, depending on the date and time of the launch. The Centaur will then re-ignite for one last burn at one hour and 19 minutes after launch, placing InSight into a Mars-bound interplanetary trajectory.
Spacecraft separation from the Centaur will occur about 93 minutes after liftoff for the first May 5 launch opportunity as the spacecraft is approximately over the Alaska-Yukon region. InSight's launch period is May 5 through June 8, 2018, with multiple launch opportunities over windows of approximately two hours each date. Launch opportunities are set five minutes apart during each date's window. Whichever date the launch occurs, InSight's landing on Mars is planned for November 26.


Amazon's second headquarters could drive up rental costs in New York and Washington, DC.
Amazon is reportedly considering splitting its new headquarters, HQ2, between neighborhoods in Queens, New York, and Arlington, Virginia.
An analysis conducted by Zillow in April found that if the new campus were built entirely in New York, then annual rents in the area could be as much as $204 higher than Zillow's estimates for rents without the new offices.
Zillow's base case called for a 1% decrease in New York's median rent of $2,401 for 2019. When accounting for the so-called Amazon Effect, which would most likely be diluted if Amazon were to split its new headquarters between two cities, it predicted that rents would decrease by only 0.2%.
In the Washington, DC, area, where Arlington is located, Zillow predicted that Amazon's headquarters could cause rents to rise by 1.1%, more than double its projected rate without a new headquarters.
Renters in New York City and the Washington, DC, area could soon be paying more in housing costs if Amazon splits its new headquarters between the two cities.
Amazon is said to be in the late stages of negotiations to build campuses in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, New York, and the Crystal City neighborhood in Arlington, Virginia, just outside Washington, The New York Times reported on Monday evening.
An analysis conducted in April by Zillow found that renters' costs could increase by more than $200 annually in the two cities relative to the real-estate site's base cases if Amazon were to set up in them.
Zillow's forecast was based on the assumption that Amazon would build a single campus for its new headquarters, meaning that splitting the headquarters between the two cities could lessen the impact to each city's rental costs.
Zillow projected that the new campus would increase rents in New York by 0.8 percentage points, equating to a 0.2% annual decrease instead of a 1% decrease that Zillow anticipated without the new headquarters. That would translate into about $17 more monthly, or $204 annually, given New York's median monthly rent of $2,401.
In the Washington, DC, area, Zillow found that Amazon's headquarters, if set up entirely in Arlington, could cause rents to rise by 1.1%, more than twice as fast as the 0.5% increase projected without a new Amazon campus.
That would translate into about $24 more monthly, or $288 annually, for those paying the city's median rent of $2,146.
The increases in rental costs would kick off next year, assuming Amazon starts hiring for its second headquarters in 2019, according to Zillow.
Amazon is now reportedly going to split its HQ2 into 2 locations after more than a year of intense speculation. Here's everything that has happened in the saga up until now.


The city's school board approved a $13,035 payment to its controversial former risk manager Samir Goow's firm with which it cut ties in early 2018.
School board members approved the payment to Investigations Unlimited on Jan. 3, 2019. It was the final payment for the company's work from Dec. 1, 2017 through Feb. 30, 2018, according to public records.
The district ended its relationship with Goow in 2018 after the city launched a probe focused on a $2 million increase in medical payments.
School officials opened an investigation of their own which found the district's workers' compensation medical billing skyrocketed by 78-percent, according to an internal investigation report provided to the school board.
Under Goow, the district's medical billings for workers compensation cases went from $1.27 in 2016 to $2.31 million in 2017, according to the report. Number of bills from medical providers jumped from 492 to 1,389 – a 182-percent increase – during that same period.
Goow was contracted by the district in Jan. 2017 through his firm Investigations Unlimited to serve as risk manager following the retirement of the district's in-house risk manager to save money on salary and benefits. His firm was hired for $70,000 from Jan. 1 through Jun. 30, 2017. His contract was renewed for the next school year for the same amount. Just days before his firm was suspended, Goow's contract was increased by 20-percent for a total of $84,000 for 2017-18 school year.
Goow, who is the brother of former councilman Aslon Goow, also steered business to a medical provider that operated out of the same building as his firm, according to the report.


Celeste, you look too young and beautiful to have a grown son. : ) Happy birthday to him...I hope he has a wonderful day.
How sweet! I have a birthday boy this week, too and it sure brings back wonderful memories! I love my boys!
Wonderful post, hope ya'all have a fun day!
Thank You so Much. For the post it means alot. Brings back alot of memories and birthdays growing up.
You are much too young to have a son that old! Kinda like me! LOL!
Happy Birthday to your son and what a beautiful tribute from a mother who obviously is proud of her son! Boys are fab!!
What a wonderfully sweet post!
"Train a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it."
I believe you son is an extension of you my friend. Loving Parents often produced equally loving children.
Oh Celeste, your baby is all grown up. All of mine, too. I still can't believe my youngest can feed himself and he's 39!
What a wonderful message to your son! You are a very thoughtful Mom (and friend).
What a beautiful message to your Son. Lovely photos and he must have received all the wonderful qualities from his dear Mother. Loved the photo of you and your Son together. You must be so proud of him.
Where has the time gone? We can't have children that old, can we?
What a great tribute to, I'm sure, a well-deserving son! I loved all the pictures taking us through time. The memories are so sweet to have. They grow so fast.
Please give him a big Happy Birthday for me.
Our prayers are answered when we have children that grow up to be loving, caring, productive human beings. We are blessed, friend.
What special young man GOD gave you! Give him my B-day well wishes. I know you have been such a wonderful, Godly influence in his life and God has Richly blessed you both!
Have a great week! Love ya!
That has got to be the most beautiful love letter from a mom to her son, Celestine. I was so touched by your wonderful message, your son is lucky to have you as a mother, and you to have such a great son!
Happy birthday to him and happy birthday to such a young looking and loving mother.
What a handsome young man! Such a blessing! Tears come to my eyes when I think of how loving and wonderful my sons are to me so I know what is in your heart Celeste. We are truly blessed sweetie!
Celeste, what a loving tribute to Ryan. You & Larry have every right to be so proud of such a handsome & caring young man. Please give him special Happy Bday wishes from me in McK!
Love being able to go back in time through the wonderful pics & share a part of his growing up that way. How did he grow up & age so beautifully & yet, Mom hasn't aged a bit!!
Happy birthday to both of you, Celeste. A friend once told me that on our children's birthdays it's our birthday too for giving birth is what we did on that special day. I like to include adoptive mamas too because their hearts are just as joined with their children.
Happy Birthday to your son Celeste !!!
You and hubby did a fine job.
I also wanted to wish you a Very happy and joyous anniversary.
Happy birthday to your, very handsome, son.
What a sweet post! Thank you for sharing your family with us! I hope your son has a Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Ryan! You are such a blessing to your sweet Mom!


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Q: Google sheets switches cell range? This one is odd, I think. I am creating arrays in g-sheets where I want the range to be A:A300. I enter A:A300 into the formula, but when I hit enter and then check the formula again it changes it to be A300:A, which of course doesn't work. I can enter A1:A300 and it works fine, but why would it swap the starting/ending parameters?

A: If you leave an open-ended range (meaning like A1:A,A1:1, not using one of the variables) it will go to the end of that column or row, and not the other way round. Then your range A:A300 actually goes from A300 to A1000 or whichever row is your last one. Then, the order Sheets stablish to your range is logically correct

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Colorado Will Use $173 Million Of Federal Dollars To Fund A COVID Testing Program For School Districts
By Paolo Zialcita
· Aug. 31, 2021, 2:51 pm
Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite
Kindergarteners Hayden (right to left), Mac and Nate build a space station out of magnetic blocks during Carson Elementary's Discovery Link after-school program. March 17, 2021.
Colorado school districts can opt in for a new state program that will expand testing measures in order to keep classes in-person. Students and staff at participating schools can get tested for free, regardless of vaccination status or whether symptoms are present.
By Tuesday, 447 schools from 22 districts had already opted into the program. CDPHE's Sarah Hamma said some districts may not need the program due to other resources being offered.
"We have some theories that there are other programs available within the state that aren't state-funded. And so school districts may be utilizing some of those programs," Hamma said. "We also have distributed significant amount of supplies to schools, and so schools could be choosing to implement their own programs with supplies they have on hand."
COVID-19 And Kids, Schools, Masks and Vaccines — Here's What We Know
The state did not specify which districts have already joined the initiative. Several school districts, including Boulder Valley and Aurora, confirmed that they are sticking to existing partnerships. Some smaller districts, like Eagle County, will not participate in the program despite not having a testing partnership in place.
The program will use $173 million of federal funds to contract private vendors who can provide testing resources and process results. School districts will not have to pay should they choose to participate.
CDPHE officials outlined six steps schools need to take to participate.
Superintendents need to approve the program for the whole district.
Participating superintendents can then decide whether to mandate it for the whole district or let individual schools decide whether to adopt the program.
Once those decisions are made, participating schools are matched with a testing vendor for implementation and logistics planning.
Schools must require students to get permission from parents before getting testing. Parents can exempt their students from getting tested at any time.
Starting Sept. 7, testing vendors will begin administering tests.
Weekly testing is provided for the remainder of the school year.
The state said consistent testing will help schools slow the spread of the Delta variant among student populations. Children under 12 are not eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, leaving them vulnerable. State data shows a rapid rise in cases among people under 18 in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, schools are still split on whether or not to require masks for students. The conflict over masks comes as Gov. Jared Polis declines to implement a statewide requirement.
CPR's Jenny Brundin contributed to this report.
A Woodland Park educator stood up for her students — and lost her job


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ToryDiary
ToryMPs
LocalGovt
The Jury
LeftWatch
« Welcome back to Britain - and politics-for-morons | Main | Modernisation, yes. Self-flagellation, no. »
Tokenism and ignorance: how the Conservative Party misplayed its hand with ethnic minority votes. And what it can do to improve.
By Paul Goodman
Follow Paul on Twitter
Knowing one group of ethnic minority voters...
Mohammed Razzaq died not long before I was selected as the Conservative candidate for Wycombe, so I never got the chance to meet one of the first Tory Asian mayors in the country. A wave of migrants left the part of Kashmir that is effectively controlled by Pakistan to work in the High Wycombe's paper mills and furniture factories, joined trade unions and thus were thus placed automatically on the conveyer belt that led to the Labour Party. Razzaq was part of it, and time made his switch to the Conservatives less unusual. As the years passed and living standards rose, clan politics, the Tory grip on local politics, disillusion with Labour and - I like to think - a growing awarness that Conservative policies work combined to give the party an unusually high share of this almost exclusively Kashmiri (or Pakistani) origin and Muslim Asian vote.
My swing in both 2001 and 2005 (the two elections I fought and won) was roughly the regional average - and this in what was then the Tory constituency with the largest proportion of Muslim voters in the country. The shift to me was therefore either disproporionately large among non-Asian voters - broadly speaking, the white majority - or shared out fairly evenly among voters of all backgrounds. The truth probably lies somewhere between the two. I would be surprised if I won less than a third of the Asian vote in 2001 and more than two-fifths or so in 2005. This had less to do with my merits or otherwise than, as I am indicating, unusual voting ( the recent Runnymede Trust briefing found that an average of only 13% of Pakistani-origin vote Conservative) in an unusal Tory seat.
...Doesn't mean knowing them all
My ten years in the constituency began three months before 9/11, ran through the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, and ended just after Israel's incursion into Gaza. This may help to explain why I became increasingly preoccupied by security and cohesion issues: the 2006 transatlantic bomb plot had a local connection. This left me with twin convictions about campaigning in seats with large ethnic and religious minorities. First, that it's mistaken to assume that they assume goodwill when the party is concerned, and can be wooed in exactly the same way as the white majority. Second, that they are all the same - a patronising and flawed assumption. I may know a bit about Kashmiri and Pakistani-origin voters, but have little experience of Indian-origin ones who practice Hinduism, or black Christians from Africa, or Sikhs, or... the list is a long one.
None the less, there is a common unease about the Conservative Party which has a common origin, and resonates across the generations. First, there is a perception that the party is against people of different backgrounds and religions, dating from a time when immigration control was more closely identified with race than it is today. The echoes of Enoch Powell's 1968 speech linger. Second, there is the reality of poorer people voting Labour: black people, and those whose familes hail from Pakistan or Bangladesh, tend to be poor and thus not to vote Tory. Finally, the two mesh together to push resistance to supporting the Conservatives up the income scale. Under a quarter of Indian-origin voters - relatively well-off people as a rule - voted Tory in 2010.
Under one in five ethnic minority voters backed the party in 2010
Only 16 per cent of all ethnic minority voters did so. The proportion of such voters was under one in ten in 2001. By 2050 ethnic minorities will make up a fifth of the population. The party is being propelled down the road to demographic decline. As James Forsyth and Bagehot have reported, Downing Street is on the case. The latter reported that Paul Uppal, the Sikh MP elected in 2010 for Powell's old seat of Wolverhampton South-West, addressed MPs at the recent party awayday. I gather that Kris Hopkins and Dominic Grieve also did so - and that of the three Grieve's address, which stressed that there is no substitute for commitment, hard work and engagement, went down best. Downing Street has also carried out its own polling, which suggests, like the Runnymede Trust's, that voter resistance is less strong among Hindus and Sikhs.
It is working closely with MPs from constituencies with large concentrations of ethnic minority voters, such as Uppal and Alok Sharma, the MP for Reading West. These are not necessarily members of ethnic minorities themselves: MPs such as Hopkins in Keighley or Angie Bray in Ealing Central and Acton or Bob Blackman in Harrow East or Mike Freer in Finchley and Golders Green or Gavin Barwell in Croydon Central represent these marginals, while ethnic minority colleagues in the same 2010 intake - Helen Grant in Maidstone or Sajid Javed in Bromsgrove or Kwasi Kwarteng in Spelthorne - represent safer seats. They don't always come up with the same solutions. Barwell wants David Cameron to denounce Norman Tebbit's cricket test. Others believe that part of the problem is that the Conservatives, unlike Labour, aren't associated with race relations laws.
Downing Street's plan to improve
They argue that the original race relations act and landmark reports like the Macpherson enquiry were carried out under Labour Governments, and that Labour has therefore received the credit for them. This line of thinking is contestible. After all, the Scarman report was carried out when Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister. Nor have the Conservatives always held out for tighter immigration controls than Labour. The Wilson Government restricted immigration during the late 1960s and the Heath Government admitted the Ugandan Asians a few years later (though the party has reaped no long-term electoral benefit in Leicester). But Downing Street is in any event resistant to dreaming up new race relations legislation for the sake of it. I have urged the re-badging of the party's opposition to multiculturalism.
But there is no quick fix - "This is a long-term work in progress", one party strategist told me - and no substitute for Grieve's recommendations: hard work, local knowledge, unceasing availability, grinding commitment. The party at last seems to be moving beyond the tokenism and ignorance that too often has marred its approach in the past. Sayeeda Warsi is also right to seek to make Conservative Ministers turn out for events in marginal seats with the same automatic commitment that their Labour equivalents show. But above all, Downing Street's motto should be: know your audience. If you want to make the Tory candidates' list "look more like Britain", fine - indeed, essential. But don't assume that putting up impressive ethnic minority candidates - such as Sean Bailey last time round - will automatically turn urban marginals blue.
Make a plan and stick to it
Indeed, be alive to the fact that perceptions are slow to change, and that while appointments made from tokenism rather than on merit may impress white liberal voters, they are unlikely to cut the mustard with anyone else - especially target voters. So make a plan and stick to it. If you believe that liberal voters - or female ones of Pakistani origin - are a key target group, keep Warsi in a important role. If the evidence suggests that Sikhs and Hindus are more likely to vote Tory, then look elsewhere. If you really want the support of black Christians - probably the easiest-to-reach part of hard-to-reach voters - ask yourself whether the push for gay marriage is a help or a hindrance. If you want to learn from abroad, note that Jason Kenney, the Canadian Minister that Downing Street wants to learn from, isn't squeamish about using the m-word - "multiculturalism".
And if you think that all this is a nonsense, appoint a single strong Party Chairman who can tackle any subject on TV or radio at the drop of a hat - and is in a position to "tell the truth to power" in Downing Street. Come to think of it, that's not a bad idea in any event.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012 in Conservative strategy, Race and multiculturalism | Permalink
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Matt Rhea, an applied sport scientist and strength and conditioning expert serving as a sport science consultant to many high school, college and professional athletes, and organizations, has been named head of sport science at IMG, the academy said Wednesday. IMG said Rhea, who relocated to the area for the job, will lead a systemized approach to data collection, analysis and application to continue driving the evolution of IMG Academy's science-based approach to performance training. "We are very excited that Matt has joined the team as Head of Sport Science, an appointment that will help us to drive continuous evidence-based evolution of our training programs," said David Hesse, director of Athletic and Personal Development at IMG Academy. "Sport science is a fast growing area in performance training and we are delighted that one of the best practitioners in the country has joined the IMG team." Rhea earned his Bachelor of Science in Physical Education and Coaching from Southern Utah University, followed by his Master of Science degree in Exercise Science from Arizona State University. Continuing on at Arizona State, Rhea completed his Ph.D. in 2004 with a research focus in athletic performance enhancement.


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Adventure Travel Destination: Gulag Prison Camp Perm-36
Alice W. Barnes December 3, 2022 4 min read
The Gulag penal system goes down in history as the most inhumane and barbaric means ever utilized by the Russian authorities to punish Soviet criminals and dissidents. Millions of hopeless souls were transported across the desolate Siberian Hinterland and deposited in crudely constructed work camps spread across the frozen permafrost, never to heard from again. None was more infamous or inspired more terror in the proletariat than Gulag Prison Camp Perm-36.
Reminiscent of Nazi concentration camps, Perm-36 was the harshest work camp the Soviet officials could devise, specifically designed to house formidable political dissidents, outspoken writers, abstract artists and anyone else who was considered an immediate threat to the communist ideals touted by the Russian government. Once considered a death sentence to be sent there, it is now a carefully preserved memorial and reminder to the world of what governments are capable of when faced with open opposition to their regime.
World War II was finished and Stalin was now faced with the daunting task of reconstruction. Severe damage was inflicted on Russian cities along the Western border (the Nazi's referred to this as the Eastern Front during the war) and were in dire need of repair. Figuring he could kill two birds with one stone, Stalin ordered the construction of logging camps around the Perm region, approximately 1,400 km due East of Moscow, on the border of the Siberian Hinterland. Here, 150,000 undesirables were dispersed throughout one hundred fifty work camps and assigned the task of providing much-needed lumber for Western cities.
Known officially as ITK-6 camp, the notorious Perm-36 was quickly filled with one thousand of the "worst of the worst" offenders. The inmates were divided into four inhospitable sleeping barracks, where they were allowed seven hours sleep every night, the time spent freezing under thin blankets as arctic winds blasted through wide cracks in the wooden walls. Along with the barracks, the camp also had a headquarters building, a rudimentary hospital and a horrific punishment block, where dissidents were sent if the authorities felt that maybe they were enjoying their winter vacation a bit too much.
The reformatory camp had the most stringent work schedule of any of the Perm work camps. Prisoners were awakened each morning at six a.m. sharp, given a meager breakfast and then promptly marched an hour and a half to the forest to begin logging. There they were forced to cut down massive aspen and oak trees with hand saws and then cart the timber to the Chusovaya and Kama rivers, which floated the timber Southwest to the Volga. After nine hours of non-stop labor, the dissidents were marched back to camp, given dinner and then sent to the barracks. Rinse and repeat. It is unclear if this rigorous schedule actually helped reform anyone, as a great majority ended up dead and the remainder were permanently damaged both mentally and physically.
The Soviet government, on the other hand, was quite pleased with the results. Feeling they were really on to something here, they formally named Perm-36 the official residence of the worst Soviet political prisoners and, in 1972, converted the Gulag into a fully functioning, modernized prison camp. Enemies of the state continued to be sent here to work and rot away until 1987, when it was finally closed.
The most famous dissident to be sentenced to the Gulag prison system was writer Alexander Solzhenitsyn. After his arrest for writing critical comments about Joseph Stalin, he was sentenced to eight years of hard labor. This terrible experience formed the foundation for his critically acclaimed works One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich and The Gulag Archipelago, his searing account of Soviet labor camps.
THE AREA TODAY
Soon after Perestroika in the 1980's, the labor camps were systematically dismantled and the door quietly shut on this dark period in Russian history. The one remaining camp is Perm-36, chosen for preservation by human rights activists in the former Soviet Union because of it's particularly diabolical nature. The site is now the Memorial Center Museum for the History of Political Repression, with all the original fences and buildings intact. Frozen in time, it is a vivid reminder of what lengths governments will go to repress the human spirit.
Ironically, because of the Russian government's practice of sending their best and brightest writers and artists to reside in the work camps, the nearby city of Perm has become a mecca for Soviet artists. Along with the prisoners, several theatrical companies also moved to the area during World War II to escape Soviet repression. This influx of creative individuals has turned Perm into a major center for the arts, hosting museums and galleries that rival those found in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
You will need to book and international flight to either Moscow, Russia (DME) or to Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia (GOJ). From there, you will take a ninety minute flight to Bolshoye Savino Airport, located in Perm, Russia (PEE).
Car travel is the most expedient means of making your way to Perm-36. You can rent a car right at the Perm airport upon your flight arrival. Perm hosts modern hotel chains (such as the Hilton) for a comfortable stay in between your daily touring excursions. The Memorial Center Museum for the History of Political Repression is open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and closed Mondays.
After your travels, I would enjoy hearing about your experiences, so feel free to contact me via the website below and send me and email.
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Spring is in the air, finally! I feel like the winter went on and on. I am a room mom for Nathan's class. I am in charge of their spring party. We will be doing a craft during the party. After doing some digging online I decided on a pinwheel craft. I feel like pinwheels are perfect for spring. They are easy enough to make that a room full of 6 and 7 years old can do it. I'm excited to bring this craft and in and see how much the kids love it. I always loved pinwheels as a kid.
The first step is to glue two paper squares together. You need to make sure to cover the whole surface and not just the edges. After the glue has dried cut diagonal on each corner half way to the middle. Next, pull half of each corner to the center. Make sure not to crease the folds. You can secure it to the middle with glue or you can use the pushpin to hold it. Make sure the pushpin is pushed through all the corners you folded into the middle. Stick the pin through a small button. This will help your pinwheel spin better. Lastly, attach the pinwheel to the pencil by pushing the pin through the eraser. That's it folks!
I think the party is going to be a huge success!
My three little ones would love making these pinwheels! Thanks so much for the great tutorial!
My mom used to get me pinwheels and bubbles for May Day :) I might have to whip up a few of these for my daughter. She's 17 but fortunately, she's a big kid at heart, just like me!
This is a cute little craft, great for class activities.
I can't believe how easy you make this look! My kids would love this and it would be a fun craft activity for a birthday party. Thanks for sharing.
These are super cute. My daughter would love to make something like this. She is obsessed with pinwheels…or at least the one she has. Maybe because it has flashing lights when it spins. But either way, these are so cute!


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Everything You Need to Know About the California Building Code in 2022
Posted on November 7, 2022 November 4, 2022 by Jason Somers
The state government in California is tasked with updating the Building Standards Code in three-year intervals. The latest changes were introduced in 2022 and resulted in alterations to Title 24 with a focus on lowering energy consumption, limiting emissions, and enhancing energy efficiency.
1 A Brief History of the California Building Code
2 What Exactly is Title 24?
3 How Often Does the Building Code Change?
4 Understand Upcoming Changes to Title 24 in 2022
4.1 Projected Benefits of the 2022 Energy Code
4.2 What Did the CEC Propose 2021?
4.3 Appliances in Some New Homes and Commercial Buildings Must be "Electric Ready"
4.4 Homeowners and Businesses in California
4.5 Some New Homes and Commercial Buildings Built in 2023 Must Have Solar and Battery Storage
5 How Much Will These Changes Cost?
6 What Types of Buildings are Subject to These Changes?
7 Is the Cost Worth it?
Both the CBSC and CEC have introduced code updates that are centered around making California healthier, less wasteful, and more independent. These updates include everything from requiring new constructions to have battery storage to encouraging the use of electric heat pumps. The following is an in-depth guide on all you need to know about the building code in 2022.
A Brief History of the California Building Code
In 1978, the California state legislation implemented a single building code that ensured all building standards in the state were unified. This code is referred to as the California Building Standard Code or Title 24. By placing all building standards under a single code, it's considerably easier for architects, designers, and builders to develop residential and commercial buildings that adhere to the right rules and regulations.
Before California building codes were standardized, they were listed under numerous title, which made it challenging for professionals in the construction industry to ensure development was up to code. Today, projects in all municipalities, towns, and cities are subject to the rules in Title 24.
What Exactly is Title 24?
The Title 24 building code includes all of the regulations on how buildings should be designed and eventually constructed. These standards are meant to make sure that buildings have structural integrity and are safe for the public to be in.
This code applies to residential homes, nonresidential buildings, and businesses. Certain renovations and remodels fall under the Title 24 building code as well. You'll discover that the standards listed in Title 24 apply to the building's structure as well as the ventilation, air conditioning, and heating systems.
The latest versions of Title 24 focus on making sure that emissions and climate change concerns are addressed, which involves implementing standards centered around energy conservation and gas emissions. Title 24 currently consists of 12 separate chapters, which include everything from the California Building Code to the California Administrative Code. Standards for historical buildings have also been placed in Title 24.
How Often Does the Building Code Change?
The most recent edition of the Title 24 guidelines was published in 2022. When a new edition is published, it's opened up to public comment for a short period of time. The previous three editions of Title 24 are always available to the public online. Today, the 2016, 2019, and 2022 versions can be viewed via the CBSC website.
Before these changes were finalized, they were weighed by the CBSC until the end of 2021. The public comment period was available in early 2022, which provides California residents with the ability to make complaints or ask questions about the intended changes. Only after the public has weighed in will the commission make a final decision on what revisions will be introduced to the Title 24 code. These changes won't be officially implemented until January 1, 2023.
Understand Upcoming Changes to Title 24 in 2022
In recent years, the California Energy Commission has aimed to make changes to Title 24 that focus on emerging technologies that are able to lower emissions for nonresidential and residential buildings. These updates are required based on the Warren-Alquist Act that was initially passed in 1974. Every change that's proposed by the CEC is then sent to the CBSC for final approval.
When looking at the summary of the Building Energy Efficiency Standards that was published in 2022, homes and businesses are responsible for nearly 70% of all electricity use in the state as well as 25% of the greenhouse gas emissions that take place in California. The reason why recent changes haven't made as much as of an impact as one might hope is because energy code updates are only able to be applied to new homes and commercial buildings as opposed to existing buildings.
Projected Benefits of the 2022 Energy Code
There are numerous benefits associated with the latest energy code changes, the primary of which include electric load flexibility, emission reductions, air pollution reductions, and an increase of on-site renewable energy. It's expected that the 2022 Energy Code will provide upwards of $1.5 billion in total consumer benefits. Greenhouse gas emissions are also anticipated to drop by as much as 10 million metric tons over the next three decades.
What Did the CEC Propose 2021?
In 2021, the California Energy Commission proposed that several updates be made to the Title 24 code. The proposed updates are meant to foster widespread adoption of electric heat pumps and make sure that new businesses and homes are outfitted with electric-ready natural gas appliances. These updates are also designed to bolster solar storage and energy standards while also increasing ventilation standards.
Every new home is expected to be electric-ready, which means that electrical circuits will be available for each appliance. The battery storage and solar standards that were first implemented in the 2019 updates are becoming broader in scope to make sure that they apply to additional nonresidential and residential buildings.
Appliances in Some New Homes and Commercial Buildings Must be "Electric Ready"
This specific change requires most new homes and buildings in California to have one or more appliances that are powered with electricity as opposed to gas. This is also set to be the first building code in the country to position heat pumps as the base technology for the building code. The installation of heat pumps in any building should lower emissions and reduce energy consumption by a considerable amount.
Homeowners and Businesses in California
Even though heat pumps are set to become standardized throughout new nonresidential and residential buildings, these systems have yet to be required. This update doesn't place a ban on natural gas, which is something that environmental groups were pushing for.
However, the updates provide builders with incentives if they go forward with having electric heat pumps installed. If builders don't install a high-efficiency heat pump, they must implement stricter energy efficiency standards. California is also making sure that installing heat pumps is more affordable than installing gas furnaces.
Some New Homes and Commercial Buildings Built in 2023 Must Have Solar and Battery Storage
Changes to specific sections in Title 24 are designed to reduce emissions from businesses, homes, and many other buildings that must be cooled, powered, or heated. The goal of these changes is to substantially lower and eventually eliminate such fossil fuels as natural gas. These fuels will be replaced with electricity that's generated by such renewable sources as wind turbines, hydroelectric dams, and solar panels.
Among the most impactful changes that has been made to the 2019 code is that fact that many new commercial buildings and homes are now required to be outfitted with solar batteries and panels. The code currently focuses on new builds until the law allows for updates to be made to existing businesses and homes.
How Much Will These Changes Cost?
If you're trying to determine how much these changes will cost for homeowners and businesses, it's important to differentiate between upfront costs and long-term expenses. Installing a battery and solar panels to a new build can increase the home's cost by as much as $20,000. However, these added costs aren't much when developing estates that are expected to cost at least two million dollars.
Even though issues might arise for families that only want to borrow several hundred thousand dollars when buying a home, the savings that are derived from having solar panels installed will add up over time. A homeowner's monthly energy bill can decrease to almost nothing after installing solar panels and a battery that stores unused energy.
What Types of Buildings are Subject to These Changes?
The changes that have been made to Title 24 apply to the majority of new nonresidential and residential buildings. Some of the types of buildings that are impacted by these changes include:
Any condos taller than three stories
Is the Cost Worth it?
Even though these changes may increase your construction costs at a time when inflation is already too high, you should see ample cost savings over the next several decades. If California doesn't takes action to reduce the effects of climate change, it may continue to have significant problems with heat waves, wildfires, and floods. The destruction caused by these severe weather events adds up to many billions of dollars.
Even though the upfront costs for solar energy may seem expensive when developing a nonresidential or residential building, solar is much more affordable than it once was. Over time, the costs for these installations can be effectively recouped. At the moment, around 1.3 million residential homes in California are equipped with solar panel systems, which is upwards of 10% of single-family homes that exist in the state.
Over the past two decades, California has made sizable changes to the Title 24 building code every three years. Even though these changes aren't always easy to abide by, they should pay dividends in the long-run and can help homeowners save money and protect the environment at the same time.