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Laura A. Zubulake
Slay the Dragon
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Crime, corruption, conspiracy, conflict.
César Rosada is on a crusade. As Minister of Finance, César is committed to righting decades of corruption, crime, and misguided economic policies, and defending progress made in the fight against the illegal drug trade. He anticipates resistance from those with money, power, and vested interests. However, he now confronts a burgeoning challenge—America's opioid epidemic. César's adversaries intent on maintaining the status quo conspire and threaten everything for which he has worked. The stakes are high—a reversion to the days when drug syndicates rule, politicians collude and profit, and the people remain hopelessly trapped in a cycle of poverty. Weighing choices between what is perceived as right versus wrong, César pursues a path that for some is morally ambiguous.
FEATHERED QUILL says: Kudos to Zubulake for producing Slay the Dragon, a gripping and provocative read.
A politician discovers that defending the poor becomes costlier than he anticipates in author Laura A. Zubulake's debut mystery.
Forty-six-year-old Cesar Rosada is no ordinary politician. The famous football star turned Minister of Finance, Cesar never loses sight of his meager beginnings; his highest priority is to help the impoverished in his country break the vicious cycle of oppression. Making strides is slow going amid corruption, especially when opioids are involved. Cesar's plans (Project Amalur) for citywide changes are met with opposition, beginning with a cryptic phone call.
The call is not the only situation that troubles Cesar. The mysterious deaths of a top-level administrator and a boy (who was involved in a local robbery) coupled with the lack of news coverage also weigh heavy on his mind. More disconcerting events follow that harm the agricultural sector. It's not until a significant explosion directly affecting his parents' coffee farm that Cesar believes that all of the incidents are somehow connected. Whether or not he can successfully identify and successfully deal with the miscreants remains to be seen.
According to Zubulake's website, it is during her many years working on Wall Street where she was able to hone "her communication skills, business acumen, attention to detail, and sense of intrigue." There is no doubt that Zubulake utilized these skills in the shaping of her first novel, particularly capturing the vicious cycle of exploitation within societies and governments.
A tension-filled plot from the get-go, Zubulake's fictional Latin-American-ish setting lends plausibility to the ubiquitous corruption connected with opioids and the problems associated with people's efforts to solve societal ills once and for all.
Zubulake surrounds Cesar, her protagonist, with a tight and well-defined cast. The characters, designed mainly as foils, keep pushing and prodding Cesar in directions that steadily test his principles. Chapters alternate between taciturn and tightly-lipped characters replete with elusively laced conversations and consistently closing on cliffhangers.
While extremely well-written, there are a couple of chapters focused on drug-related history and statistics that may bog down the narrative flow for those who are well-versed on those topics. Regardless and to Zubulake's merit, the inclusion of such pertinent information makes for a well-rounded plot.
Quill says: Kudos to Zubulake for producing Slay the Dragon, a gripping and provocative read. - Feathered Quill Book Review
IndieReader Approved
César Rosada, Minister of Finance in SLAY THE DRAGON's fraught Latin American country, struggles against not only the vicious Core Front's bombings, arson, and assassinations, but inner conflict. Allied with anti-drug campaigns waged by military, government intelligence ops and local police, Rosada learns the deeply embedded "system" exploits insiders as much as the working-class people he vows to free from poverty and—for many—opioid addiction. The relentless violence and despair shatter conventional ideas (and idealists) of good and evil; perhaps only a genuinely ethical soul can effect social change. Haunting the narrative is the ever-mounting opioid crisis, and Zubulake portrays to heartbreaking effect its corrosive spread through user, family, and community—including one politician's hunger for revenge after the overdose-death ("…another victim of the dragon.") of a family member.
The so-called war on drugs proves as addicting as the substances themselves, with equally dire consequences for its fighters, here exemplified when protagonist Rosada receives an anonymous phone-call: "Let me make myself clear. The military should continue to focus on what they're paid to do—protect us from outsiders. Forget about securing borders and airports. Let our trade continue. . . . Mr. Rosada, imagine life without fields to grow crops, ranches to raise cattle, ports and trains to transport it all. . . . What would that do to those people you've pledged your undying loyalty to?"
That brief passage accurately sums what Rosada—and certainly real-world agents of change—faces. Entering deeper into a sociopolitical landscape ruptured by rail-line bombing, arson, murder and assassination, the handsome former athlete covets moral clarity no longer existent (or even relevant) in a world changing so quickly there can be no future but risk management. Zubulake's deft characterizations, silent moments and physicality–played to masterful effect–are her greatest strengths. She's learned too the value of restraint in dialogue, where each word carries charged emotion, or its absence. Only a handful of glitches are present: cell phones are not "dialed," but keyed; phrasal redundancies such as "he thought to himself," and too-frequent tagging of dialogue (i.e., he said, she said) can be easily smoothed by close editing.
Laura A. Zubulake's very human players, living, loving, lying and dying in her viscerally enthralling SLAY THE DRAGON know it's a brutal game—with no Off-switch save insanity or death. ~William Grabowski for IndieReader
5-Star Review
Small children, when given the chance to look at themselves in a mirror, often take their discovery to the next step—turning the mirror over or looking behind it in an attempt to figure out where the images in the mirror really come from. There's an intriguing behind-the-mirror quality to Zubulake's SLAY THE DRAGON for U.S. readers. While outlining the increasingly-concerning impact that opioid drug addiction can have on consumers, SLAY THE DRAGON also goes around to the back of the mirror, trying to describe the implications and social impacts of this huge problem on societies that may have one or more types of involvement in making opioid drugs readily available….Her hero Cesar Rosado has built his entire life on the force of seeking and telling the truth for the benefit of others. Confronted with a complexity of family and friends' needs and weaknesses, he must struggle hard to balance his love for the people he knows with the love of pursuing justice for all the people under his care. Just as the symbol of the dragon is ambiguous--a source of wisdom and strength for some cultures and a source of danger and darkness for others—Cesar must pursue complex paths in his search for what is really the right thing to do and the effects of his decisions. Zubulake's pacing is fast and engaging, and she creates a lush atmosphere with a constant underlying thread of tension, inhabited by appealing characters. Her most difficult struggle is with her own dragon: the huge size and complex structure of the opioid crisis itself. Zubulake works very hard to keep the dragon within novelistic bounds; occasionally, as in Chapter 5, the dragon scores points, requiring more straightforward exposition than the story really welcomes. Then again, ambiguity reigns. Zubulake spends longer explaining the current state of the opioid drug epidemic than her literary side might prefer, but it's a good, comprehensive description of a crisis that impacts everyone from addicted individuals to the populations of whole countries. The novel is intriguing on its own, addresses a gravely concerning problem in today's world and illustrates some of the difficulties of solving that problem. For going behind the mirror, Zubulake deserves thoughtful attention.- Janet Beal Goodreads & Amazon.com Reader's review
THREE 5 STAR RATINGS from Readers' Favorite
THREE 5 STARS from Readers' Favorite
"Laura A. Zubulake weaves crime investigation, corruption, and social ills into the story of a man's gritty fight to defend his values and the lives that matter to him. I loved the protagonist, a man who has to make difficult choices, but who must also deal with his shortcomings. The conflict is developed at multiple levels, from the protagonist's struggle to reconcile his position with his core values, to the opposition he faces from his peers, and then there is the social plague of opioids. I enjoyed the way the author explores the psychology of the characters, injecting them with humanity and realism. The characters are believable, the plot intelligently done, and the prose exquisite. Slay the Dragon can be read as a succinct indictment of the misuse of power and of what happens when a minority in authority has to make decisions that affect the lives of millions. The story is deft and balanced, as entertaining as it is thought provoking." - 5 STARS Reviewed By Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite
"This is a beautifully written book and readers will enjoy the fast pacing, the great dialogues and Laura A. Zubulake's confident writing. The story gives a compelling exposé on the world of opioids and how users get to the point of taking these, plus the general effect of the drugs on society. The author weaves strong social commentaries into this story, creating a social and financial setting that is real. As one reads through this well-plotted and expertly written story, one can't help but think about how a handful of people can hold the destiny of millions hostage, a reality that is happening in today's US political landscape. While Slay the Dragon: A Novel is interesting and entertaining, it offers a lot of material for readers to think about, and characters like Zacarias, Carlos, and the protagonist who are really memorable. There is a fragment of each of us in this intelligently plotted story. " - 5 STARS Reviewed By Divine Zape for Readers' Favorite
"Slay the Dragon by Laura A. Zubulake hooks you in immediately. I loved Cesar; he made a great protagonist. He is a real person who has a genuine strength of character, but also is not afraid to show his faults too. This book has every ingredient for a compelling story; crime investigation, political corruption, the fight for your beliefs, and thought-provoking questions to ponder. The truth of how a drug problem can affect a community and drag it into a cycle of poverty; and the injustice that there are people in power determined to keep them there. It raised questions of how an elite few can hold the future of the majority in their hands, just to keep themselves in a lavish lifestyle. The plot was superbly executed with the perfect mix of suspense and tension. The characters were gritty and true to life. It highlights complete social injustice and corruption, and what can happen if you dare to rock the status quo. I highly recommend this superb piece of writing." - 5 STARS Reviewed By Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite
There is a lot of evil in the world. Evil that is supported by the very people on whom the responsibility of protection has been bestowed. The kind of evil that stands up against any man who dares threaten it. Men have bled and lost their lives trying to excrete this evil from the world. It is manmade evil.
From corruption to security, so many evils threatening the wellbeing of the people. Cesar Rosada is determined to rid his beloved people of these evils. However, the one that he is having the most trouble with drug trade. Drugs can cripple a country. Drugs can taint anyone regardless of social class. Drugs are also very lucrative. This means that the forces that are for the trade will often outman the forces that are against.
His descendants were mere coffee farmers. He rose to become an athlete before turning to serve the people. Despite his rise from the ashes, Cesar is still considered a minority. One who can be easily crushed. However, these people do not know how strong his resolve and tenacity can be. The Minister of finance is forced to make a decision. To choose between love for his people and love for the truth. To bare all for the sake of his country. To put all his cards on the table so that the future of the country is secured devoid of the opioids that threaten humanity.
Laura Zubulake weaves a tale from a very stark reality facing the world today. She moulds this into a story that is a unique blend of thought provoking and entertaining. She does this with a fast pace and excellent content. The books captures attention right from the get go and does not slow down until the very end. The plot is intelligently woven with twists and turns.
Cesar Rosada is a relatable protagonist. He holds strong values. He is a man willing to put everything on the line for what is near and dear to him. Nevertheless, he is also a man with flaws. A man who accepts and is not afraid to let his flaws show. This man is fashioned out of the human condition. Purpose albeit a little skewed. He shows strength of character and never waivers. His resolve is inspiring and perhaps a directive of how the realities of life should be dealt with.
Slay the Dragon has a constant underlying tension. This only works to keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Eager and rooting for Cesar to win the war despite the looming threat of losing the battle. The opioid challenge is a little over explained. It may feel like the author is digressing but it is necessary to understand the deep-rooted problem that it is. It helps understand Cesar's fight better.
The author's own passion for the truth is evidence from her narration. It is a marvel and infectious. For a read that holds the complete social evils package, this is the book.- David Gunner Amazon.com reader review
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THREE 5-STAR Reviews from Readers' Favorites


If I had to use three words to describe this episode, they would be "Oh my god." Two words? "Holy wow." I can't even count how many times I was reduced to incoherent and astonished noises at some of the things I saw in Carnage of Krell. I will not hesitate to say that this is the best episode of The Clone Wars ever. Period. End of story. (At least in my humble opinion.) Let's be honest, this episode was everything we've been wanting from a show that bills itself as a clone-focused war drama. Even without Anakin, Obi-Wan, Padm?, or Ahsoka, The Clone Wars managed to pull off a complex, dark, and dramatic story. It's hard to imagine how the bar could be raised higher than this.
Carnage of Krell was such a treat for my eyes and ears. From the neat aesthetics of the holding chamber and its detention pods to the eye-popping explosions on the battlefield, there was always something impressive on-screen. These visuals were complemented by incredible music that fit each moment perfectly, especially during the firing squad scene. Additionally, Dee Bradley Baker's array of trooper chatter and the realistic camera work (following individual clones until they were picked off) lent drama to each moment and brought authenticity to the battle.
Captain Rex truly shined in this episode. There's simply no better way to put it. He was the episode's main character in a way that sometimes even Anakin and Obi-Wan fail to be. He demonstrated his leadership capabilities, risked his life, doubted himself, defied authority, experienced a wide range of emotions, and questioned the nature of the Clone Wars all in the course of twenty-two painfully short minutes. I cannot stress enough how excellent it was to see Rex looking conflicted during the almost-execution scene. He appeared to be absolutely miserable as Fives appealed to the firing squad for justice.
Even we as viewers honestly didn't know what was about to happen. Because they weren't as important as Rex, and because we had no guarantees about their survival, it was completely unclear whether or not this was going to be the end for Fives and Jesse. In a series with so much pre-ordained, I found it supremely enjoyable to legitimately be on the edge of my seat for a while. The tension was mostly relieved when, in an appropriate display of solidarity, the executioners intentionally missed their marks and dropped their weapons. Dogma had been foiled for the moment. Still, if Rex's frustration had been simmering up until now, that experience brought his anger to a boiling point that would soon spill over into more palpable action.
Ultimately, it was the unbelievable twist during the supposed Umbaran surprise attack that sent Rex over the edge. I was legitimately aghast when Rex removed his supposed enemy's helmet to discover the ruse. This moment, perhaps the single most dramatic few seconds in the entire series, was enhanced by incredible music and dramatic choral chanting. As the battlefield noise died down and Rex called a cease-fire, it occurred to me that we were seeing Rex's crowning moment. In running across that battlefield and risking his life to stop the needless bloodshed, Rex demonstrated, to me at least, that he was deserving of main character status right alongside Anakin and Ahsoka.
I didn't process any of this when I first watched the episode, of course. I was far too distracted by what I had just seen. There are very few events on this show that I can't predict a few minutes or seconds before they happen, but this twist honestly caught me off-guard. The moment that I suspect brought some to tears was the gut-wrenching shot of both "sides" realizing that they're all actually on the same side. The moment, replete with incredible symbolism in the bigger picture of the war, was an absolutely perfect example of how animated series can contain just as much drama as live-action shows.
This drama continued when Rex went to converse with Waxer. In such a clone-centric arc, it was nice to see our old friend Waxer again. He even had that Numa drawing on his helmet. Sadly, the man was just a pawn in Krell's game, and we barely had time to mourn his death, complete with regretful single tear, before we (and Rex) had to refocus. Judging by the way Rex's face hardened when Waxer died, it was clear what was coming next. Viewers' anticipation for the looming conflict heightened even further as Rex rallied his troops to confront Krell. "From this point forward, we are entering uncharted territory," Rex said, in a scene brimming with tension and complemented by close-ups on grim clones. This scene was followed by what was visually the stand-out sequence in the episode: the phenomenal shot of Rex putting on his helmet as he and the 501st approach Krell's tower.
Needless to say, the entire scene where the clones confronted Krell had a thrilling Order 66 vibe to it. This was most obvious when Rex addressed Krell and he replied, "It's treason, then." This was, I thought, a blatant but tasteful (if that makes any sense) way to pay homage to the attempted capture of Darth Sidious in Revenge of the Sith. Just like Sidious, Krell responded to the threat by finally jumping into action with stunning prowess. I really enjoyed finally getting to see him fight. He was, as one might have expected, absolutely lethal with his four blades, eviscerating the clones sent to detain him and slaughtering his way into the Umbaran jungle. Those were some of the most brutal clone deaths we've ever seen on the show for sure.
Krell's voice became even more primal and menacing as he fought the clones and called them "creatures bred in some laboratory," reflecting his descent deeper and deeper into the Dark Side. In a move that reminded me of a caged animal frantically seeking to evade capture, he smashed through the tower window and leapt away, beginning the chase. Almost immediately, Dogma rejoined his brothers (he broke away before the 501st entered the tower) to order them to stop. This was yet another deep and thought-provoking scene, briefer than Krell's interrogation but no less significant. We got to see Rex discussing the meaning of being a "good soldier." He was right, of course: clones are not droids, and the Republic wanted them instead of automatons for a reason. They have a duty to think and improvise, to act as individuals when the situation demands it. Dogma might not have fully embraced Rex's message, but when it came right down to it, he was unable to shoot his brothers.
Krell's escape was really the Order 66 resistance that we never saw, except with a reversal of roles, as the clones were still "the good guys" in this scene. The shot of the clones walking through the jungle searching for Krell was a great continuation of this episode's "mad Force-user on the loose" theme. To be honest, the jungle search was what I wanted to see with Aayla Secura on Felucia in ROTS. I loved how Krell's voice echoed through the trees. That sinister effect, and his admission that "I was using you," were the first clear indication of Krell's secret agenda.
I had a feeling that Krell wouldn't be killed on the battlefield, and since he was clearly up to something, it would take an interrogation scene to give us closure about his intentions. So I knew that he'd be captured, but (especially after seeing him escape the tower) I couldn't figure out how. Tup's idea to use the miniature Sarlacc was really smart, and given that we'd seen the creature before, it offered nice Umbaran continuity. I also liked Tup's bitter humor as he shouted, "Hey, ugly! Come and get me!" Krell's ability to defeat the Sarlacc, even if he couldn't stop the clones from stunning him, was the display of Force prowess that we'd been waiting for since the first part of this arc.
The interrogation of Krell was positively fascinating. Krell stunned me and probably fulfilled the expectations of others when he said, "I am no longer naive enough to be a Jedi. A new power is rising. I have foreseen it." Readers of my previous Umbaran episode reviews will note that I didn't predict this. Quite honestly, while I suspected that the war had tampered with Krell's morality, I did not see this coming. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The foreshadowing in this scene was actually more rewarding than all of the combat in the episode. It was, to my knowledge, the first time that such malevolent prescience came to the forefront of the story in The Clone Wars.
In a sense, Krell pitting the clones against each other was a micro-scale version of Palpatine's grand Sith plan. By pitting the galaxy against itself, Palpatine distracted and disoriented the few individuals with the ability to make any difference or foil his plans -- namely, the Jedi. The secret to Krell's scheme was that he counted on certain clones to play everything by-the-book and others to resist him. He wasn't actually troubled by Fives and Rex's headstrong independence. In reality, it served his goal of fomenting distrust and opening up fault lines in the clone ranks. A shrewd manipulator, Krell knew that he could cause trouble by appealing to Rex and other clones' sense of agency with lines like, "Some clones are just defective. They aren't able to succumb to authority." I especially loved how Krell warned Rex that the enemy in the upcoming battle might disguise themselves as clones. In keeping with the rest of this episode's brilliant pacing, this line was followed by a shot of Rex regarding Dogma wearily. After all, the latter could be considered an enemy wearing Rex's own "skin". In reality, though, their enemy was disguised, but as a Jedi.
Given that Krell's goal was to foment distrust, it made sense that Dooku would be behind him. I should have expected that he'd be approaching Jedi in the background of the war, just like Palpatine recruited him years earlier. Speaking of which, I wonder if Krell knew about Sidious, too, or just Dooku. He obviously foresaw something more powerful than Dooku alone, but surely he'd have mentioned Sidious as his hoped-for Master if he knew that Dooku was merely an apprentice. In any event, I loved Krell's despicable confidence in his plan to wait out the Umbaran assault and break free then. He clearly relished the thought of his clones being defeated by the Umbaran soldiers.
Krell's confidence, which reminded me of Palpatine in and of itself, led to another scene that carried gripping undertones of Revenge of the Sith. First, there was the interesting fact that Rex seemed reluctant to execute Krell right then and there. Despite everything the Besalisk had done, Rex wanted more deliberate justice. This reflected the early belief of Jedi Master Mace Windu, before he had engaged Sidious in their lightsaber duel. After that duel, Mace realized that in war, nothing was ever clean or simple. Rex seemed to realize the same thing here.
Yet he wasn't able to bring himself to do it. I loved the moment with Krell talking Rex down. In its eeriness, it reminded me of Palpatine goading Anakin to kill him in his office after he revealed himself to be a Sith. Krell noted that Rex momentarily had the power, simultaneously tempting the captain and reminding him of how low he normally was. Rex's response, which I'm not sure even he believed, was, "I have to do this." His bitter acceptance sounded like Anakin warning Mace Windu to back off in Episode III. Anakin, like Rex, didn't fully like what he was doing (and, in young Skywalker's case, what he was about to do), but he knew he had no other choice.
I was honestly expecting Rex to eventually execute Krell, but this episode offered up yet another twist when Dogma pulled the trigger instead. The more I thought about it, the more this decision made sense, but in a dark way. Rex had the moral authority to put down Krell for conduct that he (Rex) had despised all along. Dogma, on the other hand, had gone along with Krell, and it was his feeling of betrayal that motivated him to avenge himself and his brothers. Unlike Rex's drawn-out frustration and calculated contemplation, Dogma shot Krell out of primal hate for what the General had done to all of them. That was a disturbing thing to witness. Dogma wasn't evil, however; he was just too trusting, and as we saw in the episode's final moments, he clearly hated himself for it.
Those final moments bring me to my closing thoughts. Carnage of Krell was, as I have said, the absolute best episode of the series so far. I have high hopes for the future, given what this arc managed to accomplish. Krell was the villain you loved to hate, but The Clone Wars put him in the unique position of being the good guys' ostensible leader. Rex, Fives, and the rest stole the spotlight for the first three Umbaran episodes, and even in this episode, they still rivaled Krell's for importance and audience attention. With a perfect score and phenomenal audio mixing, realistic camera work and eye-popping explosions, and an overarching message as deep as that of the Mortis trilogy, Carnage of Krell blew me away and cemented its position as a defining moment in the series' evolution.
Having summarized my general praise for this episode, I turn now to an examination of a scene that I believe tied everything together. The very last lines of the episode were incredibly powerful, laden as they were with foreshadowing that has only begun to play out, even if we all know the dark conclusion. As Rex and Fives discussed what the point of Krell's dissent had been and what was coming next, they reminded the audience that, despite their uniqueness and displays of individuality, they were considered assets by the Republic. The Clone Wars' focus on the theme of clone brotherhood may be critically important to us as Star Wars fans, but to the grand puppet-master behind the scenes, these remarkably brave and thoughtful warriors are simply short-term tools in a long-term strategy -- a strategy with an endgame that Rex and his men can't possibly foresee.


Although they have the best intentions, institutions make for a poor substitute for parental love and affection.
Institutions have long been linked with adverse effects on children well into adulthood, and are being phased out in many parts of the world.
The Christmas holidays came just a few short weeks ago and, with it, the spirit of giving. As observed from many social media sites, many people reached out to the less privileged, in different ways some of which were really innovative, such as placing orders on Amazon, for deliveries to homeless people in the US. Closer home in Kenya, corporates and individuals made what has now become the traditional annual visit to charitable children's institutions (CCIs), or if you like, children's homes. It was all genuinely moving and a real representation of the kindness of humanity.
While giving to CCIs is a noble gesture, we must try and nip in the bud the underlying causes for children ending up there in the first place. Lumos Foundation estimates that only 20 per cent of children in orphanages are actually orphans. This means that an astounding 80 per cent of children in those institutions have at least one living parent.
Poverty remains the biggest reason for the separation of children from their parents. Although they have the best intentions, institutions make for a poor substitute for parental love and affection. Institutions have long been linked with adverse effects on children well into adulthood, and are being phased out in many parts of the world.
As the country moves towards winding down institutionalisation, here is another way you can still help children thrive, but this time, in their home settings. Consider seeking out needy families within you community and give directly to parents or primary caregivers of children. I found that there are some valuable resources which, if used judiciously, can help one select whom to assist, if their interest is to make a difference in the lives of children and families.
These fall under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. Social protection is not a devolved function, but there is a children's office in each sub-county. Often times, caregivers who are at their wits end up in these offices seeking whatever form of assistance they can get for the survival of their children.
Many of these children's offices maintain a waitlist of vulnerable households. Children's officers can play a pivotal role in identifying a family (or several) to support since they interact with caregivers from needy families almost on a daily basis.
Volunteers at the community level could be Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), Volunteer Children's Officers (VCOs), or any other volunteers working closely with the community. These are champions in identifying needy households with children, and will take you right to their doorstep, or mobilise for you as many disadvantaged households as you can possibly take into one place, if you so wish.
You will find that many chiefs and assistant chiefs are well versed with the community to the extent that they know most members by name. They are heavily involved in activities meant to promote the welfare of the community. They can easily point out to you which ailing grandmother is taking care of nine grandchildren alone because her own children are all deceased, or which academically gifted child has failed to join secondary school for lack of school fees.
In Kenya, teachers in public primary schools come across children from all manner of backgrounds, majority of whom are poor.
The writer is researcher – social and economic development.


Digital, platform-based businesses (the likes of Amazon, Airbnb, LinkedIn, et al) are among the most powerful forces of transformation and disruption across many industries in the early 21st century. Investors are becoming aware that these business models are at an early stage of evolution and dispersion (with, in many cases, the potential for extraordinary returns on investment).
But what are "platforms" and "platform business models?" In the year 2013, the answer could be an elusive one. But it needn't be. There is an extensive body of management science research stretching back over the last two decades which helps to clarify the original concept of a "platform" in product development and manufacturing to a broader concept of the "platform business model." While "platform business models" are as old as physical marketplaces and shopping malls, it is only in the past 15 or so years that "digital, platform-based business" have begun to emerge and evolve.


Cork Airport Reduces Gas Usage By 50% And Electricity Consumption By 25%.
Cork Airport has made huge strides in reducing its energy costs and achieved a Level 2 rating under the European Airport Carbon Accreditation Programme. For the four year period since 2008, the Airport has reduced its gas usage by a staggering 50% while electricity consumption has decreased by 25%.
This significant energy cost reduction is a direct result of Cork Airport's work towards achieving Airport Carbon Accreditation. The European wide aviation accreditation blueprint enables airports to implement carbon reduction programmes. Having successfully achieved Level 2 accreditation, the ultimate goal is for the Airport to achieve Level 4, or carbon neutral status. Reaching Level 4 status will involve offsetting the remaining footprint associated with the Airport's day-to-day operations.
The introduction of electric vehicles at Cork Airport will contribute to the overall carbon reduction process. While there are a number of electric vehicles operating airside at the airport, Cork Airport is currently trialing electric vehicles to operate on the full campus and expects to introduce these vehicles to the fleet by the end of this month.
Niall MacCarthy, Airport Director, Cork Airport, is delighted with the Airport's Level 2 status achievement: "Since we introduced the European wide Airport Carbon Accreditation scheme here at Cork Airport, a reduction of 2,490 tonnes of carbon has been recorded which is a very significant achievement for Bill Daly, our Head of Asset Care and all the team here in Cork. This equates to taking 725 cars off the road for one year".
"During the construction of the new terminal, Cork Airport made significant technical improvements and further enhancements to systems that were previously in place, to promote green energy usage. The reduction in energy usage not only reduces the carbon footprint but also delivers real savings to our operating costs. Through our partnership with the SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland), we will strive towards gaining Level 3 accreditation and onwards to achieving our ultimate Level 4 or carbon neutral status", concluded Mr. MacCarthy.
The European Airport Carbon Accreditation Programme was launched in 2009 by ACI Europe, the European region of Airport Council International. A total of 59 airports are now accredited representing 52.8% of European air traffic.
The next step in this process is for Cork Airport is to achieve Level 3 status. This will involve the ongoing reduction of carbon emissions at the airport, while actively engaging with all third party operators on-site.
← ESB Announces the Completion of its East-West Ring.


Most of them, however, were utter nonsense. It got pretty weird, readers. Here are some of the weirdest, most wonderful questions from today's Q and A, organized by category.
And the will you hire me? of which there were too many to count.


text:
Q: Простой запрос на выборку select из таблиц SQL Есть sql запрос
select
  TOV.NTOV,
  SUM(DMS.KOL) as SUMKOL,
  round(SUM(DMS.CENA), 2) as SUMA
from TOV, DMZ, DMS
where DMS.PR=2
  and DMZ.DDM = ('2014-03-01')
  and TOV.KTOV = DMS.KTOV
  and DMZ.NDM = DMS.NDM
group by TOV.KTOV
having count(*) >= 1
order by SUMA desc;

где TOV - товар, DMS - документ товара1, DMZ -документ товара2,
поля KTOV, NTOV - код товара и наименование соответственно,
KOL -количество, CENA - цена, PR - приход или расход товара (1 - приход, 2 - расход) и DDM - дата.
Нужно сделать выборку по заданной дате и вывести наименование товара, количество (итого за день), сумма (итого за день), по одному товару должна быть одна итоговая строка.
В данном варианте получаю ошибку:

Столбец "TOV.NTOV" недопустим в списке выбора, поскольку он не
  содержится ни в агрегатной  функции, ни в предложении GROUP BY.

Выводить нужно именно поле с названием товара, НО обязательно сгруппировать по id(это в задании). Надеюсь на вашу помощь,уже много вариантов было перепробовано.

A: *

*having count(*) >= 1 делать бессмысленно, т.к. в группировке автоматически будут лишь те значения, у которых количество строк ненулевое.

*Ошибка логична, потому что в select у вас TOV.NTOV, а в group by у вас TOV.KTOV

A: select
  TOV.NTOV,
  SUM(DMS.KOL) as SUMKOL,
  round(SUM(DMS.CENA), 2) as SUMA
from TOV, DMZ, DMS
where DMS.PR=2
  and DMZ.DDM = ('2014-03-01')
  and TOV.KTOV = DMS.KTOV
  and DMZ.NDM = DMS.NDM
group by TOV.KTOV, TOV.NTOV
having count(*) >= 1
order by SUMA desc;

альтернатива - выбор TOV.NTOV подзапросом, что-то вроде
select
  (select top 1 tt.ntov from tov tt where tt.ktov = t.ktov) as ntov,
  SUM(DMS.KOL) as SUMKOL,
  round(SUM(DMS.CENA), 2) as SUMA
from TOV t, DMZ, DMS
where DMS.PR=2
  and DMZ.DDM = ('2014-03-01')
  and T.KTOV = DMS.KTOV
  and DMZ.NDM = DMS.NDM
group by t.KTOV
having count(*) >= 1
order by SUMA desc;

Но смысла в таком решении нет, т.к. результат выдаст точно такой же.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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text:
Items where Subject is "Chemical Structure"
Chemical measurement (41)
Chemical Structure (29)
Jump to: B | C | E | H | M | N | P | S | W
Buchard, A., 2014. Advanced optimisations of fac-mer and trans-meso isomers of Zr(3)(OiPr)2. figshare. Available from: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.1190538.
Buchard, A., 2015. DFT Study of Aluminium complexes of bipyrrolidine derived Salan ligands for the hetero- selective polymerisation of rac-lactide. figshare. Available from: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.1420458.
Buchard, A., 2014. Preliminary DFT study of the isomers of a Zirconium complexe of bipyrrolidine derived Salan ligand. figshare. Available from: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.1189338.
Buchard, A., 2013. ROP of R-manOCA: DFT study. figshare. Available from: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.786543.
Buchard, A., Gregory, G., 2015. DFT study of the reaction between DBU, CO2 and (R)-1,3-butanediol to form cyclic carbonate (R)-4-Methyl-[1,3]-dioxan-2-one. figshare. Available from: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.1333535.
Buchard, A., Gregory, G., 2015. DFT study of the tosylation and cyclisation steps in the synthesis of cyclic carbonate (R)-4-Methyl-[1,3]-dioxan-2-one from CO2 and (R)-1,3-butanediol. figshare. Available from: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.1333544.
Courtenay, J., Jin, Y., Schmitt, J., Hossain, K., Mahmoudi, N., Edler, K., Scott, J., 2021. Dataset for "Salt-Responsive Pickering Emulsions Stabilized by Functionalized Cellulose Nanofibrils". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-01013.
Edler, K., Hammond, O., 2021. Dataset for "Structural Evolution of Iron Forming Iron Oxide in a Deep Eutectic-Solvothermal Reaction". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-00954.
Hammond, O., Atri, R., Bowron, D., Edler, K., 2022. Dataset supporting "Neutron diffraction study of indole solvation in deep eutectic systems of choline chloride, malic acid, and water". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-01138.
Hammond, O., Sanchez Fernandez, A., Dalgliesh, R., Smith, A., Edler, K., 2022. Data supporting "Mix-and-match diols: Adjusting self-assembly of micellar phases in choline chloride eutectics". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-01222.
Miles, D., 2015. Dataset supporting "Hierarchical 3D ZnO Nanowire Structures via Fast Anodization of Zinc" published in Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2015. Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-00078.
Nearchou, A., 2020. Dataset for "Zeolites fit for a Crown: Probing Host-Guest Interactions with Thermogravimetric Methods". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-00427.
Nearchou, A., Cornelius, M., 2019. Dataset for "Pressure-induced symmetry changes in body-centred cubic zeolites". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-00580.
Nearchou, A., Cornelius, M., Skelton, J., 2019. Dataset for "Intrinsic flexibility of the EMT zeolite framework under pressure". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-00560.
Pering, S., Kubiak, P., Deng, W., Niemann, R., Brivio, F., Ghosh, D., Troughton, J., Jeffrey, F., Johnson, A., Lewis, S., Walker, A., Watson, T., Islam, S., Raithby, P., Cameron, P., 2018. Raw Data for Azetidinium Lead Iodide for Perovskite Solar Cells. Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-00432.
Price, L., 2021. Dataset for "Determining the structure of zeolite frameworks at high pressures". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-00861.
Price, L., Sartbaeva, A., Jones, Z., Nearchou, A., Stenning, G., Nye, D., 2022. Dataset for "The Effect of Cation Exchange on the Pore Geometry of Zeolite L". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-00648.
Salmon, P., Zeidler, A., 2022. Data sets for "Structural model for amorphous aluminosilicates". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-01093.
Salmon, P., Zeidler, A., 2022. Data sets for "Structure and related properties of amorphous magnesium aluminosilicates". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-01139.
Salmon, P., Zeidler, A., 2022. Data sets for "Structure of diopside, enstatite and magnesium aluminosilicate glasses: A joint approach using neutron and x-ray diffraction and solid-state NMR". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-01192.
Salmon, P., 2017. Data sets for the Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter article entitled "Structure of rare-earth chalcogenide glasses by neutron and x-ray diffraction.". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-00343.
Salmon, P., Zeidler, A., 2019. Data sets for the Frontiers in Materials article entitled "Structure of the intermediate phase glasses GeSe3 and GeSe4: The deployment of neutron diffraction with isotope substitution". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-00664.
Salmon, P., Zeidler, A., 2019. Data sets for the Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids X: Article entitled "Pressure induced structural transformations in amorphous MgSiO_3 and CaSiO_3". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-00601.
Salmon, P., Zeidler, A., 2019. Data sets for the Journal of Statistical Mechanics: Theory and Experiment article entitled "Ordering on different length scales in liquid and amorphous materials". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-00600.
Sartbaeva, A., Wells, S., 2017. Dataset for "Defining the flexibility window in ordered aluminosilicate zeolites". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-00399.
Skelton, J., 2015. Data for "Crystalline adducts of the Lawsone molecule (2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthaquinone): optical properties and computational modelling". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-00137.
Skelton, J., 2017. Data for "A rapidly-reversible absorptive and emissive vapochromic Pt(II) pincer-based chemical sensor". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-00440.
Skelton, J., 2015. Data for "Sulfamerazine: Understanding the Influence of Slip Planes in the Polymorphic Phase Transformation through X-Ray Crystallographic Studies and ab Initio Lattice Dynamics". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-00136.
Wayment, L., 2020. Dataset for "Continuous flow for materials synthesis, assembly and crystallisation at Diamond: discovery and delivery of high value materials". Bath: University of Bath Research Data Archive. Available from: https://doi.org/10.15125/BATH-00779.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
This Sceptred Isle Collection 2: 1702 - 1901
The Classic BBC Radio History
Anna Massey (Read by)
Peter Jeffrey (Read by)
The final five volumes from the landmark BBC radio series This Sceptred Isle.
Christopher Lee's epic history tells the story of Britain from the Romans to the death of Victoria. This collection includes the original volumes 6-10:
1702-1760: The First British EmpireThe reign of George I; Britain's first Prime Minister, Robert Walpole, and the first rendition of Rule Britannia.
1760-1792: The Age of Revolution The Industrial Revolution begins; America declares independence and France is rocked by social and politicalupheaval.
1792-1815: Nelson, Wellington and Napoleon War in Europe; the introduction of Income Tax; and England is victorious in the Battle of Trafalgar.
1815-1837: Regency and Reform The Prince of Wales becomes George IV; Sir Robert Peel creates the Metropolitan Police and slavery is abolished in the British Empire.
1837-1901: The Age of Victoria Victoria's 64-year reign encompasses huge social changes; Britain expands her empire and the Labour Party is founded.
Narrated by Anna Massey, with extracts from Sir Winston Churchill's A History of the English-speaking Peoples read by Peter Jeffrey, this is the definitive radio account of the events and personalities that have shaped our nation. Duration: 14 hours approx.
Colvil & Soames: The Complete Series 1-2
This Sceptred Isle: The Dynasties
This Sceptred Isle: Collection 1: 55BC - 1702
Johnners' A View From The Boundary Test Match Special
Barry Johnston
This Sceptred Isle Empire Volume 3 - 1876-1947
This Sceptred Isle The Twentieth Century 1979-1999
This Sceptred Isle
Christopher Lee is a British writer, historian and broadcaster, best known for writing the radio documentary series This Sceptred Isle for the BBC. His study of the British monarchy and its future was published in spring 2014 and his book on Royal Ceremony and Regalia is to be published early 2015. He is also the writer of more than 100 Radio 4 plays and series.


We've just published episode 7 of season 8 of the 361 Degrees Podcast, and it's an awesome one that discusses mobile shopping and payments.
This week the team re-visit the subject of shopping (and paying for things) with and on mobile devices. We catch-up with the recent changes in the market and consider how things have moved with the advent of Apple Pay and others in the 2 years since we last discussed it.
Should you swap your iPhone 6 for the 6 Plus?


When an organization needs a springboard, a guide, or a movement, they call on NATIONAL Public Relations (formerly MT&L). We uncover every opportunity when solving our clients' problems and helping tell their stories. From integrated marketing communications and creative branding, to digital positioning and reputation building, we love the work we do: it's the business of smart, creative change that achieves results.
With deep local roots, we provide clients with access to global expertise, research, and perspective that's unparalleled – we are truly a national network with regional strength. With more than 325 professionals and offices in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, New York, and London, UK, NATIONAL offers clients a great depth and breadth of strategic communications expertise across geographies and practice areas.
We direct our efforts to projects that we believe in: sources of economic revitalization, good corporate citizenship, accountability, and strong communities. We are constantly inspired by the calibre of talent and imagination that we encounter in the region and the city of Halifax.
From the beginning, we have believed in the work of the Greater Halifax Partnership. Our firm continues to be invested in and committed to building initiatives and opportunities that help Halifax and our region succeed on a global level.


text:
US sanctions threaten Venezuela's economy as Maduro eyes next move
January 29 2019 10:26:00
CARACAS – Reuters
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro attends a meeting with members of the Venezuelan diplomatic corp after their arrival from the United States, at the Miraflores Palace in Caracas on Jan. 28. (Miraflores Palace / Handout via Reuters)
Venezuelans braced for the deepening of a brutal economic crisis on Jan. 29 after the United States imposed sanctions sharply curbing the country's vital oil exports, while the socialist government responded by refusing to load crude cargoes without payment.
The Trump administration hopes the sanctions, which bar state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela from collecting proceeds from crude sales to U.S. refineries, pressure President Nicolas Maduro to step down and allow opposition leader and self-proclaimed president Juan Guaido to call elections.
In a defiant national broadcast on Jan. 28 night, Maduro said he would take legal action to challenge the sanctions and defend Citgo Petroleum Corp, PDVSA's U.S. refining subsidiary, which he accused the United States of trying to steal. He also pledged to retaliate, but did not announce any specific measures.
"We will provide the reciprocal and convincing response needed to defend Venezuela's interests in due time," Maduro said.
Inshallah, says Venezuela's Maduro
PDVSA responded to the sanctions by ordering customers with tankers waiting to load crude destined for the United States to prepay, according to three sources with knowledge of the decision. Such prepayment could be in violation of the sanctions, setting the stage for a standoff at the ports.
The loss of revenue from the United States, the No. 1 buyer of Venezuelan crude, was sure to further hamper the government's ability to import basic goods like food and medicine, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis that has prompted more than 3 million people to flee the hyperinflation-stricken country in recent years.
"If you do not find a place for that crude quickly, the room for maneuver will shrink and imports will be affected," said Asdrubal Oliveros, director of Caracas-based consultancy Ecoanalitica.
Guaido, who argues that Maduro usurped the presidency on taking office for a second six-year term on Jan. 10 following a May 2018 election considered fraudulent by the opposition, has said he is prepared to receive $20 million in humanitarian aid pledged by the United States.
He also moved to set up new boards of directors for Citgo and PDVSA, which could allow his parallel government to collect money held in escrow accounts in the United States.
But to truly control state functions, he would need the support of the military. It has so far stood by Maduro, who has kept officers' support in part by granting them control of key state institutions like PDVSA, although the company's output has collapsed in just over a year of military rule.
The sanctions threatened to hasten PDVSA's unraveling.
"There is total shock. This company is already too beat-down," a high-level manager said on Jan. 28 on condition of anonymity.
Venezuela, oil company, sanction, United States, Nicolas Maduro
No vacancy: North Aegean campsites at full capacity
EU works to save unraveling nuclear agreement with Iran
Trump's tweets against liberal congresswomen called racist
Britain's Hunt says "small window" to save Iran nuclear deal
US Labor Secretary Acosta resigns over Epstein affair


As the state capital of California with a rich history of fortune, opportunity, and independence, Sacramento is a popular destination for students all over the state when it's field trip time. From gold panning to touring underground areas of the city long forgotten, elementary schoolers have plenty of opportunities to learn, explore and appreciate their state of origin.
The State Capitol building is the focal piece of downtown Sacramento and includes a museum that offers school tours. This is one of the best opportunities for students to experience a crash course in state history that includes plenty of exhibits, collections, and lessons in civics and economics. Groups are designed for groups of ten to 35 people and are free. It's recommended that one chaperone accompanies every ten students. Also at the museum students can journey down to the basement theatre for complimentary films showcasing California's history.
The Old Schoolhouse Museum is a tribute to the days of one-room schoolhouses and an excellent opportunity for students to experience what school was like for children their age way back when. School groups head over to historic Old Sacramento to venture through the one-room schoolhouse replica which includes fully-costumed teachers who pull children into a 19th-century educational world. The schoolhouse was established and is run completely by volunteers who have a true passion for California state history.
The schoolhouse is free to visit and field trips are sponsored by a local Parent Teacher Association. A suggested donation of $10 per class is requested. Tours may be booked by calling (916) 939-7206.
Every year, thousands upon thousands of California fourth-graders travel to Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park during their year-long study on California history. Here the children see the original site of gold discovery and learn about how it affected the local and national economy. Kids learn to pan for gold, meet "locals" donned in period clothing and participate in various crafts suitable to the era of 1849.
Bonuses include a souvenir shop, ice cream at the Argonaut and a chance to play along the river. Marshall Park is a great way to get some education into the mind of a child through play and interaction – many won't even realize they are learning! Tours can be arranged by calling (530) 622-3470. Marshall Park is located near Sacramento in the town of Coloma.
One of the most interesting destinations for a Sacramento history lesson is known only by locals – but its popularity is growing. The Old Sacramento underground walking tour is one hour long and includes the viewing and exploration of excavated foundations and enclosed paths as you see a long-buried ghost town version of Sacramento.
Tours are great for kids due to uneven walking surfaces, low ceilings and audio headsets to add to the fun. Tickets cost $10 per youth aged 6-17 and adults are $15. Special pricing is available for tour groups, including those coming with a school. Call (916) 808-7973 for reservation information.
Old Sacramento is also home to a variety of educational programs that are free of charge and encompasses a wide range of topics. The Old Sacramento Puppet Show, for example, is a 20-minute program that features colorful characters discussing the Gold Rush, the coming of the railroad to California and life in Sacramento during the days of the Wild West.
An hour-long program entitled Agriculture and Life on the Farm is also available, showing children what fruits and vegetables were grown in Sacramento Valley's early years, as well as plenty of hands-on learning activities to enjoy.
Other programs involve a Victorian-era trunk containing clues into the life of a 12-year-old girl in the late 1800s, information on the California Indians of the region and plenty of features on the Gold Rush of 1849.
These are only a few of the tour and educational examples found in Old Sacramento.
If you are a teacher or parent and planning a field trip to Sacramento seems overwhelming, there are professional tour groups that can help you experience California history. Educational Discovery Tours will lead groups of students through an expansive tour of Sacramento, including everything from a capitol building tour to gold panning and musket shooting.
Hysterical Walks offers humorous walking and riding tours of Sacramento, including a special student field trip program that will get kids aged 3-11 giggling and learning simultaneously.
However you decide to peruse Sacramento, there is plenty of educational opportunities to be found in this historical piece of the Wild West located right in the heart of California.


To keep your hardwood floors looking shiny and presentable, you should polish them every 2-4 months. Floor polish fills scratches and protects the finish against future damage and over-cleaning. Before polishing, as well as every week, you should give your floors a thorough cleaning. This simple maintenance will keep your hardwood floors looking like new for years to come.
Remove furniture and rugs. Ask a friend or family member to help you lift heavy furniture. If you're cleaning your floor alone, place furniture pads under the legs and slide the furniture out of the room. Roll up any area rugs and remove them, as well.
Vacuum your floors. This removes the dust and debris. Make sure your vacuum cleaner doesn't have any rough plastic parts near the bottom or edges. Vacuum cleaners with faulty wheels can scratch floors. If you don't have a good model, use a broom to get rid of the dust and debris.
Find out the finish of your floor. Polyurethaned floors have a hard finish. You can clean them with a small amount of water. On the other hand, shellac or lacquered floors can't have any water on them and may need to be waxed regularly.
If your floor has been shellacked or lacquered, you'll have to strip and wax it yearly.
You can use denatured alcohol and lacquer thinner to test your floor finish. Test a small area of the floor you normally cover with furniture or a rug. Apply 2-3 drops of the alcohol. After a few seconds, touch the spot with an old cloth. If it feels soft, it's shellac. If the alcohol doesn't soften the finish, apply 2-3 drops of lacquer thinner to a nearby spot. If it softens to the touch, the finish is lacquer. If it feels tacky, it's likely water-based.
Mop polyurethaned floors. Mix a few drops of dishwashing liquid with a bucket of water. Wring out the mop until it's damp. Run the mop along the grain.
Use smooth strokes. Start at the interior corner and work outward toward a doorway. This motion will keep you from stepping on your wet floors.
Wipe up excess liquid if you see standing water. It can cause damage and buckling in your floors. Use a clean dry rag or towel. Make sure the surface is completely dry.
Never mop floors that have been waxed. Clean them by vacuuming and sweeping.
Buff the floor. Get on your hands and knees to buff with a microfiber cloth. If you prefer to stand, use a dry microfiber mop. Move in a circular motion until it shines.
You could also rent a buffing machine if you prefer. Move the machine in the direction of the wood grain.
Buy the right polish. Use water-based (urethane) polish on floors with a polyurethane finish. For other finishes, use a wax-based polish. To avoid toxic chemical exposure, buy polish that's free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Read the instructions. Follow the directions exactly to avoid damaging your floors. Check to see if you have to sand and wax your floors before you polish them. Follow all recommended safety guidelines on the label.
Test an area of your floor. Even if you know what kind of finish your floor has, you should test the polish to make sure it won't discolor the wood. Locate an area under a large piece of furniture or in a closet. Apply the polish. Wipe it with a microfiber cloth.
If no damage appears, you can polish the entire floor. If you see discoloration, seek advice from a professional contractor.
Apply the polish. Depending on the directions, either spray the polish directly to the floor or apply it to a cloth first. Use a "feathering" technique (wiping the polish in a semi-circle). Overlap your feathering strokes for a streak-free finish.
Work from the interior corner outward. Cover 3 by 3 feet (0.91 by 0.91 m) sections at a time. Move gradually across the width of the room to the next corner. Continue along the length of the room to the third corner. Polish to the last corner. Begin to move inward to polish the center of the room. Polish the area by the doorway last to avoid ruining your hard work.
If your floor has been waxed, apply 2-3 thin layers of polish instead of one thick layer. Wait for each coat to dry completely (about 24 hours) before applying the next one.
Allow the polish to dry completely. Your floor will feel tacky or sticky until it's completely dry. For good measure, wait six to 24 hours before walking on the floor with socks. Don't wear shoes for at least 24 hours. You can replace your furniture after 2 days.
Block off the area with painter's tape or a chair for at least 6 hours.
If you have companion animals, keep them away from the polished area for at least 24 hours. You could also fit them with "doggie socks" after 6 hours.
What is the best way to clean and polish wood that was once carpeted?
Assuming you've already removed the carpet adhesive, you'll have to sand your floors, use wood paste or plugs to plug any holes left from nails, and vacuum the floor before proceeding with regular cleaning or polishing.
Do I need to sand the floor if it had carpet on it for years?
You will need to sand the floor after you remove the carpet. This will get rid of any leftover paint, glue or other leftover "gunk" from the old carpeting.
Is it safe to use Windex on hardwood floors?
Yes. You can also use other similar window cleaners; cross-reference the ingredients lists to ensure that they are the same, or at least very similar.
What's the best product to polish wooden floors?
Placemats and shoe trays near the edges of the polished room to collect shoes. You can reduce scratches by sticking felt floor protectors or furniture socks to the bottom of table and chair legs.
Before polishing your wooden floor, clean it with a vacuum cleaner to remove dust and debris. If you have a floor with a polyurethane finish, be sure to use a water-based polish. Test the polish on an area in a closet or under a large piece of furniture to make sure it doesn't discolor the wood. If no harm is done, apply the polish directly to the floor or rub it on with a microfiber cloth, starting at the interior corner. Polish 3 by 3 foot sections of the floor at a time and leave the section at the door until last so you can get out of the room easily. If you want to learn how to mop and buff your floor before applying polish, keep reading the article!
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 105,702 times.


text:
Terraced house right in the centre of London's Spitalfields Market is on sale for the first time in 20 years and costs £2m
The property offers someone the chance to own a slice of genuine London history
Rory Bennett
The property offers someone the chance to own a slice of genuine London history (Image: Rightmove)
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A property in the historic heart of Spitalfields is on the market after 20 years.
The 3-floor terrace building is up for grabs for £2 million and still includes the original Victorian signage for a milliner as part of the front facade.
The three-bed, three-bathroom, offers views of Spitalfield's famous market and the giant Hawksmoor designed Christ Church.
READ MORE: Zone 3 neighbourhood at end of London Underground's District line named one of best places to live
The ground floor entrance takes you through the original shop space and into an old office complete with an authentic Victorian stove.
Below is a basement that provides a storage area and also has a bathroom.
The first floor is designed to be a living space with a fireplace in a spacious room that offers views over the busy street outside.
Ground floor space (Image: Rightmove)
There is also a kitchen with another fireplace and stove to give the place a homely feeling.
Kitchen and dining room with an authentic Victorian stove (Image: Rightmove)
Two of the three bedrooms are on the second floor as well as a bathroom that has a roll-top bath and another fireplace.
The bedroom includes a fireplace (Image: Rightmove)
The front of the building includes another bedroom and bathroom and has stable doors that lead out onto a cosy terrace area.
The terreace offers an intimate space for socialising (Image: Rightmove)
The description on Rightmove says: "This beautiful Grade II-listed building sits in the heart of Spitalfields Market on Brushfield Street. For the first time in over two decades, it is offered for sale including a three-bedroom apartment directly above, with a private roof terrace at the rear.
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"Thought to have been built in the 1770s, the space retains the original signage of a Victorian milliner and represents an incredibly rare opportunity to live and work in one of London's most popular historic markets."
Interested in owning the 1,762 sq ft apartment and shop? It will set you back £2,050,000.
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5 players who might go unsold in the IPL 2023 auction
Posted on November 26, 2022 November 26, 2022 by cricopia
BCCI will conduct a mini-auction on December 23rd 2022 for 2023 season of IPL. Some notable players have been released by teams ahead of the auction. A total of 85 players including Dwayne Bravo, Kane Williamson and Mayank Agarwal were released.
Here are 5 cricketers who might go unsold in the mini-auction.
5. Tim Seifert
Tim Seifert | BCCI/IPL
Tim Seifert was bought by Delhi Capitals in 2022 IPL season. He was part of the KKR team in 2021 season. Tim was given the responsibility to open the innings for DC in absence of of David Warner but he could not play up to his potential and scored 21 and 3 in the two matches that he played. He was sidelined after David Warner came back to the DC squad. This Kiwi Wicket-keeper batter has often been called 'carbon-copy of Brendon McCullum'. Seifert had a quiet CPL 2022 as well, he could only manage 221 runs in 10 games playing for Trinbago Knight Riders. The 27-year has a good record in the shortest format of the game. He has scored more than 3000 runs at 125+ strike rate but his form off late has been disappointing. He might be overlooked at the auction by the teams.
4. Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane | BCCI/IPL
Ajinkya Rahane made his IPL debut in 2008 and has been featuring consistently in IPL in all these years but his form has gone all but downhill since 2020 season. He scored 113 runs in 9 matches in that season. In 2021 he only played 2 matches for Rajasthan Royals. In 2022, Ajinkya was bought by KKR in the mega auction for INR 1 Cr. He played 7 matches opening the innings and could only score 133 runs at a strike rate of 103.91. His strike rate has always been the problem in this format of the game. Do not be surprised if he does not get picked in the auction.
3. Jason Roy
Jason Roy | BCCI/IPL
Jason Roy was bought by Gujarat Titans at the mega auction for INR 2.00 Cr. He backed out from the IPL at the very last moment citing bio-bubble fatigue. Gujarat tried different openers through the tournament in his absence. He was released by GT and is unlikely to attract any buyer in the auction. His form has not been in his favor lately. He was dropped from the England T20I world cup 2022 winning squad. He might not be considered at the auction because of his commitment issues. Roy has never really set any IPL season on fire with his performances. He has scored 329 runs in 13 matches in his IPL career so far.
2. Varun Aaron
Varun Aaron | BCCI/IPL
Once known as an express bowler, Varun might not drag any attention in the auction. He made his debut in 2011 season. He has played for different teams and has taken 44 wickets in 52 matches at a strike rate of 8.94. In the last 3 seasons he has been going at the economy rate over 10. Aaron was bought by Gujarat Titans for INR 50L to boost their pace attack. He played 2 matches took two wickets but was very expensive. He was hammered at an economy of 10.40 and was dropped from the team. It will a big surprise if he gets any attention in the upcoming mini-auction at all.
1.Dwayne Bravo
Dwayne Bravo | BCCI/IPL
Everyone was surprised when CSK released an IPL legend like Dwayne Bravo. CSK had a disappointing 2022 season but Bravo's performance was up there. He took 16 wickets in the season at an economy of 8.71. He did not get much chance to bat to be honest. Bravo scored 23 runs in 6 innings that he batted, out of which he stayed not out 4 times. He has taken 183 wickets in 161 matches in his IPL career and has scored more than 1500 runs. He is 39 now and might not be picked in the coming auction. You never know teams might want to associate with him as a player or as a coaching staff because of the experience that he has in the IPL
Posted Under Deep Point IPL T20 LEAGUESAjinkya Rahane Dwayne Bravo IPL IPL 2023 IPL Auction 2023 Jason Roy Tim Seifert TOP 5 CRICKET Varun Aaron
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From the Archives: Terror in the Fruit Cellar — 'Where there's water and electricity, you've got problems'
Posted on July 29, 2019 by Carnegie Hero Fund
A 2019 aerial image taken of the house — still standing today — by officials at Perkins Township, Ohio.
Fifty years ago, on the night of July 4, 1969, stormy weather was brewing in the city of Sandusky, Ohio. During this particular electrical storm, 70 m.p.h. gale winds persisted through the night and 11 inches of rain fell. Residents of the city that bordered Lake Erie were busy coping with the heavy rainfall, which caused many basements to flood.
LoRene Limbird, a 66-year old housewife, lived in Perkins Township, a suburb of Sandusky. Around 10 p.m., she asked her neighbor, 29-year-old machine shop technician, Larry E. Smith, to take a look at her basement because she was worried that the freezer was broken. Smith, outfitted in hip waders, moved through the 1 foot of water that covered the basement floor, into a separate fruit room, where the upright freezer was located. He inspected the freezer and believed everything was working properly, but told Limbird that the delayed relay switch might be causing the freezer to struggle when being turned back on.
When he was in the basement, Smith also took a look at the sump pump. It was working at the moment, but wouldn't be able to handle the extra volume of water coming in. A neighbor and friend, 19-year-old Harry Kresser, was also present. Based on experience dealing with the ill effects of a storm back in 1966, both men suggested Limbird leave the basement window open and allow water to enter. This would alleviate pressure and prevent the concrete block walls from being pushed in by the relentless rain water. Limbird decided against it.
As Smith and Kresser were leaving, Smith told Limbird that if she had any more trouble that night and couldn't get to the telephone, to turn her front porch light on to signal him.
On their way back to the Smith residence, the men stopped by the home of Larry's mother-in-law. Firefighters had arrived and were helping salvage articles from the basement.
By now, the weather had worsened and the water outside was deeper. When the duo returned to the Smith residence, Smith's wife, Vicki, had more news about the state of Limbird's basement. A neighbor and retired printer, Edward Bender, had called to notify Vicki that more water was entering their neighbor's home.
As the men readied themselves for another trip to Limbird's house, Smith decided against driving his truck because he didn't think it would clear the water. Instead, he and Kresser took a tractor. On the way, they stopped at another neighbor's house. The family was away so they located a spare key and went down to the basement to check that the sump pump was in working order and place valuable objects on higher surfaces. After the neighborly check, the duo continued on to Limbird's.
Earlier that evening, Limbird had gone to bed around midnight, but after she realized the severity of the storm, she couldn't sleep. She put on a dress and stepped into her galosh boots to check the basement. At this point, the water was getting out of control and she wanted to make sure her valuables were okay. As she made her way into the fruit room, Limbird saw that a block about halfway up the concrete wall, was beginning to be pushed into the basement. She stepped over the threshold of the fruit room and the entire south wall collapsed inward. Suddenly, a wave of water, mud, and blocks surged against the opposite wall, closing and jamming the door shut.
In a matter of seconds, the water was level with Limbird's shoulders. She was a short and stout woman of just over 5 feet. According to the notes of Hero Fund case investigator, F.R. Inglis, she couldn't swim, float, or tread water.
Scene sketch by Case Investigator Fred R. Inglis indicating the obstacles that Larry E. Smith encountered as he moved through the water filled basement in Sandusky, Ohio, to save LoRene J. Limbird from drowning, The sketch was part of the 1970 report submitted to the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.
Limbird realized that getting the door to the fruit room open would be impossible and that her only chance of escape was through the single window in the fruit cellar. As she passed by the deficient freezer, it toppled over in the water behind her and floated door-down in the rapidly rising and swirling muddy water, further trapping Limbird and blocking any exit by the closed door.
When she arrived at the window, measuring 1 foot high and 30 inches wide, the water was even with the sill. She opened the window by removing a section, but couldn't remove the screen because it was fastened from the outside. The water had reached the height of the outside ledge. LoRene became very alarmed and started yelling loudly for help.
Back on the tractor, Kresser and Smith were driving through 18 inches of rain. Above the noise of the wind, thunder, lightning, and tractor engine, Kresser thought he could hear cries for help. At this point, they were 150 feet away from Limbird's house. Smith stopped the tractor and they listened carefully. Hearing someone faintly calling for help, Smith noticed Limbird's porch light was on.
At the same time, 14-year-old neighbor, Patti Rausch, was in bed when she heard screams for help. She woke her father, Richard Rausch, who dressed himself in a swimsuit and raincoat, and took off barefoot to check out the situation.
Kresser and Smith got off the tractor and began walking toward Limbird's house. Smith, remiss of the pond-like depression near the home, fell into the water and was briefly submerged. After resurfacing, both men continued on to find Limbird, calling for help through a basement window.
Limbird explained that the south wall of the basement had caved in, but Larry said he didn't believe her. He used his flashlight to inspect the scene and realized then, that Limbird, standing in 4-5 feet of water up to her neck, was in danger of drowning.
Rausch arrived to the scene and asked if anything was wrong. Smith replied, "Yes," but expressed uncertainty of what to do.
Using his flashlight, Smith broke the screen so Limbird could stick her head out the window and breathe.
Smith was becoming increasingly nervous of Limbird's trapped status and feared for her life. As the group discussed their options, she remembered that she had locked the back screen door from the inside. He told her not to worry and that he'd get inside somehow.
With no water rescue training, Smith forced his way into the home wearing his regular clothes, rain jacket, and boots. Kresser started to follow, but Smith suggested he would be more help from the outside.
When Smith surfaced, he found Limbird in a state of panic, floating face up, holding onto the window ledge and a rafter with one foot braced against the wall. On the outside, Rausch was removing the screws from the window screen. Smith kicked his legs until he found something solid to stand on. He went under Limbird and supported her head and shoulders in the still rising water.
Before Smith descended the stairs to the flooding basement, Rausch warned him of the electrical dangers of this rescue and encouraged him to get in and out as quickly as possible.
Commission Case Investigator Fred R. Inglis interviewed an Ottawa hydro inspector. "He stated that there is always a possibility of shock hazard where water is involved with electricity; that if [the rescuer] had tested the water with his finger for shock and got a tingle, he might not have recognized it, or in his desperation to reach [Limbird], would probably have ignored it and gone in anyway; that if the water were not charged when he entered it, it could be made so by rising water as it reached electrical outlets or equipment as he swam through it, making it lethal; that escaping gas could be ignited by arcing equipment and cause an explosion … His final opinion was 'where there's water and electricity, you've got problems,'" Inglis' notes stated.
Outside, Kresser took his position at the window while Rausch went to fetch a screwdriver and hammer to remove the screen.
Inside, the basement stairway was completely dark. As Smith walked down the steps, he tripped, and fell into 6 feet of water. He immediately began to tread water to get his bearings.
Smith inspected the scene. From the outside of the fruit room, the door was closed shut. Smith shouted to Limbird, indicating that he couldn't get the door open. She informed him that it was shut from pressure on his side of the wooden partition, separating the rest of the basement from the fruit room.
Feeling around in the dark, Smith could tell that the wooden boards of the partition went as high as the rafters that supported the ceiling. Bracing himself, he pulled as hard as he could and broke off several boards until the top one was just below the water level in the basement.
Smith swam and crawled over the partition into the fruit room, but he encountered another obstacle in the floating freezer. Its uppermost side pressed against the rafters and there was no space on either side for him to swim around. In that moment, Smith decided to dive under the freezer and swim to the other side to reach Limbird. In the muddy, swirling water, he was surrounded by baskets, boxes, bottles, papers, and other objects.
It took Rausch almost two minutes to remove the screen, which allowed for about 2 inches more of precious space, but no more than the 1 foot height of the window. Smith looked around and noticed that the water was now almost level with the base of an electric light that was mounted on the wall.
With time running out, Smith briefly thought about other options to get them both out of the basement safely, but the only other exit, the door, was blocked. So as not to frighten Limbird, Smith decided to remove Limbird from the position he found her.
Smith hoisted Limbird up on his shoulders to get her feet started out through the window. Outside, Rausch and Kresser each grasped a leg and pulled her carefully through the window while Smith supported her head above water until she made it out safely. Limbird was okay, but still very upset by the whole ordeal.
Smith remained in the water-filled basement. As he looked around, he noted that the water was almost halfway up the sizzling light bulb. Smith didn't have enough time to swim back toward his route of entry. With the water rising rapidly, he knew his best option was exiting through the window as Limbird had done. He pulled himself through the window and reached the outside.
A few minutes later, Smith and Kresser went to the south basement wall and discovered that Limbird was right, the wall had collapsed inward. As they assessed the damage, they also noticed a small gas main had been pulled down with the wall.
Rausch and Kresser helped Limbird into her kitchen and she changed into dry clothes. She stayed at the Rauschs' that night. Luckily, neither Limbird nor Smith suffered any injuries as a result of the incident. In all, Smith swam about 26 feet to reach Limbird and the rescue took 5 to 6 minutes.
The severe weather that occurred during the afternoon and evening of July 4, 1969, came to be known as the Ohio Fireworks Derecho, according to historical records at the National Weather Service. The derecho storm ripped through Michigan and moved across northern and eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. The rapidly moving showers, thunderstorms, and powerful winds of up to 104 m.p.h. resulted in 18 deaths in Ohio. The flat Sandusky area where this case took place experienced severe flash flooding, heavy rains, and powerful winds that knocked over trees and flooded houses.
Looking back, Smith told Inglis that he realized his life might have been in danger the next morning when he inspected the scene and saw how much of the wall had collapsed. After further processing the event and considering the broken gas main, electrical shock hazard, fast rising waters, and Limbird's panic, Smith realized the full magnitude of his act.
Smith was awarded the Carnegie Medal in 1970, along with a grant of $750. At the time, he and his wife, Vicki S. Smith, were raising a 2-year-old girl Melinda and were expecting their second child.
—Abby Brady, operations and outreach assistant/archivist
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Q: A conjecture involving prime numbers and circles Given the series of prime numbers greater than $9$, we organize them in four rows, according to their last digit ($1,3,7$ or $9$). The column in which they are displayed is the ten to which they belong, as illustrated in the following scheme.

My conjecture is:

Given any two primes (i.e. given any two points in the above scheme), it is always possible to find a circle passing through at least other two points, representing other two primes.

Here I present some examples, taking two random points. Sorry for the bad quality of the picture.

Since I am not an expert of prime numbers, this can be an obvious result (if true, of course). In this case, I apologize for the trivial question.
However, I tried to attack the problem by means of the equation of the circle, but I got lost. Thanks for your help!
NOTE: You might be interested in this and in this other post. Also, here I state a similar conjecture for ellipses.

A: Here is some loose intuition to convince you that it is equally hard as the twin prime conjecture. Especially, to convince you that there's no point in trying to prove or disprove it:

*

*At most as hard as the twin prime conjecture:
Take two primes $p_1,p_2$. If the twin prime conjecture is true, it is reasonable to expect that, for any even $2k \geq 2$ and $n \bmod 10$ there are infinitely many prime pairs $(q_1,q_2)$ with $q_2-q_1 = 2k$ and $q_1 \equiv n \pmod{10}$.1 Then for any given $p_1,p_2$ not congruent mod $10$ we can find two other primes to form a trapezium. This takes care of the case where $p_1,p_2$ are not congruent, at least.

*At least as hard as the twin prime conjecture:
Four points with coordinates $(x_i,y_i)$ are concyclic iff
$$\begin{vmatrix}
1 & x_1 & y_1 & x_1^2 + y_1^2 \\
1 & x_2 & y_2 & x_2^2 + y_2^2 \\
1 & x_3 & y_3 & x_3^2 + y_3^2 \\
1 & x_4 & y_4 & x_4^2 + y_4^2
\end{vmatrix} = 0$$
This gives, for every pair of primes $(p_1,p_2)$ a degree $4$ equation in two primes $q_1,q_2$ (and their residues mod $10$). Current methods are nowhere near proving that it has a solution; indeed, we cannot even show that the degree 1 (!) equation $$q_2-q_1-2k = 0$$ has a solution for every $k$.

1 Although, there was an article that appeared a few years ago with some computations, suggesting that the distribution of the remainder of three consecutive primes mod a given integer, is not uniform. Anyway.

A: Assuming Polignac's conjecture we will always be able to find two primes $(c,d)$ such that
$$
\left\lfloor{ \frac{a}{10}} \right\rfloor - \left\lfloor{\frac{b}{10}}\right\rfloor = -\left(\left\lfloor{\frac{c}{10}}\right\rfloor - \left\lfloor{\frac{d}{10}}\right\rfloor\right)
$$
(the distance between $a$ and $b$ along the $x$-axis is equal to the negative of the distance between $c$ and $d$) and
$$
a = b,\; \; c=d \; \mod 10
$$
($a$ and $b$, and $c$ and $d$, end in the same digits).
This defines an isosceles trapezium, which is always a cyclic quadrilateral (a quadrilateral such that a circle can be drawn with its 4 vertices.
If $a = b \mod 10 \;$, the above argument still probably holds, but I have not found a proof.

A: COMMENT.- It seems to me it is impossible to prove this geometrically. However, algebraically it could be maybe possible. The general equation of a circumference $\Gamma$ is $$x^2+y^2+Dx+Ey+F=0$$ and the compatibility condition for four points $(p_1,0),(p_2,0),(p_3,k),(p_4,k)\space$in $\Gamma$ is
$$\det\begin{vmatrix}
p_1 & 0 & 1 & p_1^2 \\
p_2 & 0 & 1 & p_2^2  \\
p_3 & k & 1 & p_3^2+k^2  \\
p_4 & k & 1 & p_4^2 +k^2 \notag
\end{vmatrix}=0$$
In this case $p_1,p_2,p_3$ are primes, the two first points are in the x-axis and the other in the line $y=k\ne0$.
Puting, for example, $p_1=37$ and $p_2=47$, the choice of $(p_3,k)$ determine for $p_3$ fixed (say $23$) and $k$ as parameter a family of circumferences $\Gamma_k$ defined by a quadratic equation (cubic?) $$Q(p_4,k)=0$$ in which the arbitrary variation of $k$ could give a prime $p_4$ maybe.

A: I'm not a mathematician, so take everything here with a grain of salt.  I couldn't help but be interested though.
You can circumscribe a circle on any trapezoid.  Any two primes equivalent mod $10$ can form one base of a trapezoid; any two primes not equivalent mod $10$ can form the side of a trapezoid, including primes $10x+y_1$ and $10x+y_2$, which would form a rectangle, special case of a trapezoid.
I'm going to treat the second case first, as I think it's actually easier.  Let's take two random primes that have a difference of $10a-b$.  If we can two primes with a difference of $10(a-1)+b$, with the same $y$ coordinates, then we can form a trapezoid.  So this is basically equivalent to the conjecture that for every even $d$, there are primes $p>q$ for which $p-q=d$.  This is an open conjecture which, if I'm not mistaken, is true if both the Goldbach conjecture and the twin prime conjecture are true.
For the first case, in order to find a trapezoid, we need a second pair of primes whose average is within $\pm 4$ of the average of the first pair of primes.  So, can we find two primes with an arbitrary average? This is just the Goldbach conjecture: for any even $k$, there are primes $p, q $ for which $p+q =k$.


"As part of [the magazine's] strategic planning process, we recognized that our online presence could use some work. Our website was out of date and running on a clunky platform. We are in the process of moving our online archive over to WUIS' website, so we can take advantage of their content management system, which is frequently updated by NPR and includes design elements that will hopefully make our work easier to read on mobile devices. The merger allows us to do this at no cost to the magazine and gives us a major online upgrade that we would have otherwise been unable to afford. To find stories from the current issue, as well as recent stories, go to wuis.org and click on Illinois Issues, which is the first button in the navigation bar. (You can also follow this link.) For a period of time, traffic to our previous website will be redirected to WUIS.org. You can also find many of our stories posted on our Facebook page and you can follow Illinois Issues on Twitter @capitolbureau. If you have any thoughts on how our webpage might be made more useful to our readers, we would like to hear from you.
Soon after WUIS and Illinois Issues came together, we held a staff meeting to talk about the merger and our strategy for news coverage. The staff put forth topic areas that they thought should be our priorities. Out of that list, we have developed beats for each reporter to focus on that we have dubbed our Illinois Issues. They include: the arts and culture; education; equality; the economy; food, health and fuel; government effectiveness; and government sustainability and leadership. ... Our goal was to organize our efforts in a way that would allow each journalist to develop sources and become somewhat of an expert on his or her topic. Many topics cut across several of these beats, so we plan to work collaboratively and pool our knowledge to bring you the best information that we can. In some cases, reporters may team up to tackle special projects.
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You can read the entire column here. Given that Blogger is a bit behind the times, too, we will no longer be using it for blogs. Instead, blogs on a variety of topics will be at WUIS.org.
A few months ago I asked for your thoughts on this blog. For those who responded, thank you for the feedback. Most of the response from readers was that you use this blog for unbiased information about the day-to-day action in state government. In my new role as editor, I will not be able to continue tracking action on every topic, but I will continue to write posts focused on budget issues. My new blog is called Past Due, and you can find it here.
It is with some sadness that I say goodbye to this blog. Former Illinois Issues Statehouse Bureau Chief Bethany Jaeger truly made it what is was, and I worked hard to continue what she started. Thank you for reading this blog over the years. Our dedicated followers made the late nights, early mornings, bad coffee and scrambling to digest new bills and break them down all worthwhile. I am excited about our new strategy and the possibilities that having a larger team bring us. I hope you will continue to follow our work as we seek to explore and explain policy and government with this new approach.