It may seem odd to have house insurance in place to cover your home from a car driving into it – or damage from a herd of animals. But events like these can happen and it pays to be prepared.
Although most of us would never expect a car, motorbike, lorry – or even a train – to hit our homes, it can happen. Especially if you live near a road or railway. And if it does happen, it could cause hundreds, even hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage. Thankfully, most insurance companies will cover your home if this does happen. Make sure you check your policy, and if you don't already have a policy in place, look for house insurance quotes online.
Whether it's just one, or a whole herd, animals can potentially cause damage to your home. A lone bullock or a flock of sheep damaging brickwork and fencing – or a bird flying into a window. It's good to know that most house insurance policies will cover you for this kind of damage, so long as domestic pets are not the cause.
However beautiful trees are, if they fall onto your house, they can wreak havoc on its structure. After all, they will probably weigh several tons at the very minimum. Especially in extreme weather, trees can sometimes fall, so it's best to be on the safe side and make sure you have adequate insurance cover in place should the worst happen.
Most house insurance policies can also cover your home if it were to be hit by an aircraft or other aerial device. They can also cover you if anything falls from an airplane and hits your home. You may think it will never happen to you, but do you want to take the risk? Check your policy to be on the safe side.
Nature is unpredictable. Storms, floods, earthquakes and lightning can all damage the structure to your home. Starting over again after a natural disaster has ruined your home can be too stressful to even consider. So make sure you read the details of your house insurance policy to make sure it covers you for damage from Mother Nature too.
This may seem like a list of the worst-case scenarios. But just because they are rare, it doesn't mean that they don't ever happen. Don't fall victim to the unexpected and ensure that your house insurance is in place – and up to date. Get quality contents and buildings insurance– it will help to give you extra peace of mind.
I hope a train never hits my home but if it does, I am glad to know that I am covered.
Nice read! Home insurance allows you to claim for the cost of repairs or even the complete reconstruction of the property if it is damaged. Most good policies will also allow you to claim for alternative accommodation during the repairs works.
Great list. Always talk to your agent and discuss exactly what your coverage includes. Local agents can be a great resource because they know exactly what the prevalent threats are as well as other minor things that may occur in your region. Doing your research will keep you covered and may also save you money in the long run because you won't be paying for unneeded coverage.


There is certainly no shortage of places to visit in Milan, Italy, but you might not have heard of San Maurizio church.
If you have not, then perhaps you should have because the art within is simply amazing and is well worth seeing. Indeed, this church has been dubbed by one Italian art expert as Milan's sistine chapel.
I've produced a video photo slideshow to give you a taster of the spectacular art that lies within Milan's sistine chapel.
Feel free to view the slideshow full-screen.
San Maurizio church can be found close to the centre in Milan's Corso Magenta. Best of all, entry into this absolute jewel, which does not look much from the outside, is free.
I found out about this church only quite recently and discovered that it is kept open by volunteers of the Touring Club Italiano. Conservation work has only recently been completed.
Restoration of the frescos began in 1997 and the work was completed in June 2015. Construction of the church started in 1503. Artists Bernardino Luini and Antonio Campi, amongst others, where involved in the decoration of the church's interior.
If you are looking for places to visit in Milan, then I'd recommend adding San Maurizio Church to your things to see list.
The area surrounding this church is also lovely and next door there's an archeological museum. Both would make ideal places to while away time in the event Milan is being battered by a heavy rainstorm.
Address: Corso Magenta at number 15, in Milan, Italy.
Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday 9.30am to 7.30 pm.
It looks worth a religious visit. Definitely for me.


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We got into homeschooling because we weren't satisfied with the public school options available to us when my oldest was ready for kindergarten. We started with a virtual charter school, and after one year made the transition to full homeschooling. We absolutely love the freedom it offers.
We have the freedom to choose curriculum that works for each child. We have the freedom to travel and spend time together as a family making memories.
Everyone I run into asks what we do with our kids. I decided to start this blog/site so that I can just update everyone once.
Homeschooling is really doable and so worth it. I really advocate it, and want to help others find their way. Good luck on your journey!


We get a better picture of what our ancestors were like if we can place them in the context of their times. The Metis people were primarily descendants of the French fur traders. The French fur traders were from Quebec, often listed as "Canada" but their families may have been there for only a few hundred years if that. The Quebecois were primarily of Norman origin and are famous for retaining the culture of their ancestors. That became a little harder to do when you came west. The country was a creation of vastness, sweeps of prairie grass as far as the eye could see, raging rivers roaring out of the mountains only to trickle down to a creek, crippling cold….
There were people who could not deal with the isolation and hardship. Few could make the return trip home. Many came to escape oppression or poverty and many died in the attempt, especially women and children, for the promise of freedom.
You may have grown up with immigrant grandparents who retained a heavy British accent which left you with a "twang" often mistaken for a Texas accent. That is a problem I had into my 30's. You may have strange and wonderful memories of relatives you never did get to know, like the man with black braids and buckskin I saw mending the roof of my Metis grandmother's house.
During the times of the fur trade wars and Metis rebellions, members of my family were present in Selkirk and St. Boniface, Manitoba.
Again, the Marie Anne Lagimonier above was Louis Riel Jr's cousin as his mother was Julie Lagimoniere.
I think it is important to note that the Metis people were a distinct society, separate from the French and First Nations. Many people ask about the native people in your family but that track could have been very long ago at the start of the fur trade. Only a few generations passed before mixed blood began to dominate and the fur traders actually married Metis women. The marriages began to be between Metis people themselves, although culturally, the buffalo hunt kept native tradition alive. Also, you may have been from a line where the father was a Scot and generally would have been termed a half-breed.
What were some of the cultural symbols of Metis society?
An infinity symbol representing the future of the Metis people. It was changed to red for the hunt.
Built as a reliable means of transportation over rough ground and known for the high squeal of it's wheels. It was an all wood construction. Trains would go out on the buffalo hunts to carry back hundreds of pounds of buffalo meat.
Worn over the left shoulder by women and around the waist (usually to hold a capote closed) by men. The capote commonly made from a HBC blanket.
Dried buffalo meat mixed with berries which was a survival food for the native people, passed to the Metis who gained a livelihood from it. It became their main commerce for canoes travelling between forts. Later, the Selkirk settlers would also rely on it to survive. After the buffalo hunt, the women did all the work, skinning, tanning and curing meat.
Here is a sample of the music and dance of the Metis people from a town close to where my mother grew up Dauphin, Manitoba, Four Nations Square Dancers.
I suppose there are many reasons one would pursue their ancestors down the path and into the past, there to be confronted by errors in judgement, locked and half-open doors and at times utter incredulity. In the space of the last 24 hours, I have been confronted by the wildest errors both in documents and online. It makes one want to laugh and cry at the same time. This is not to say I am an expert by any means but seriously?
Apparently, Jean's father was born after him. Two names have ridiculous variations. Angelique Pambrum, Josephte Dit Doney and apparently he married another man, Amable! Shall I go on? Shame on Ancestry for letting this happen. Get as close to the actual docs as you can. In this case I am looking at Sprague and Frye's The Genealogy of the First Metis Nation 2012. Jean and his wife Angleique Pangman were both born in 1800.
Now these people are are citing Sprague and Frye. Here we have Jean born in 1839 instead of 1829 as in the book (Table 1) to Marie Ann Goneville instead of Janeville. Who's going to call up Sprague and Frye?
Last night as I was nearing the point of exhaustion, I decided to search the Daigneault family for records. I hit a few censuses. Census takers are the bane of a genealogist's existence. I submitted 3 corrections to ancestry. One of the transcribers unbelievably put the husband of the next family down as the spouse of the head of the family before. The other did not even absorb the initials on the census and put a boy down as a sister. The S was for "son". That being said some of the censuses are almost illegible. Interestingly, I did not find that at all in Ireland and England.
The point is that some of us have to do the work because our ancestors didn't. Most of my Metis relatives could not even read or write, never mind whether their scrip got ripped off or not.
There is ample warning from professional genealogists to check and cite the source of your records correctly. Therefore, I try to find my own records as much as possible rather than using someone else's tree for the same family. It is rather frustrating when you find that they are for the main part accurate but I still feel better about at least checking things. You run into problems most times because of naming patterns. The son being named after the father for instance. That can also be a help because names tend to run in families. There is also a problem created by indexed records which may contain errors through transcription and the interpretation of at times illegible handwriting.
Like most people with the Beauchamp name in Quebec, I knew the pioneers in the family were Pierre, Jacques and Jean. Comparing trees, I saw that I had the wrong line going fairly far back. At that point I had to start checking and double checking to see how many people had the same line going. That would be the line connecting to Damase my great-grandfather. So I would use them as a framework and check each person as I went. Then I hit the Joseph's in the family. Not fun. There is the name they were called and the name they were baptized with. I was thrilled to see a whole family of voyageurs. I had found records of two brothers I know are in my family, Jacques and Pierre Beauchamp who were voyageurs. Many men had to supplement their income by transporting goods and furs along the rivers of New France. They were two generations back and one of them was called Damase.
There are, of course, many resources for Quebec genealogy which you can find at Cyndi's list. Ancestry is so good at joining things up for you, the index and the original. That is a help because if you are able to actually read the original you will get extra information. So, by looking at the orginal baptismal records, I found out that the two Joseph's were called by their second names of Theophile and Isaac . Then I started cross-checking with the records at PRDH from the University of Montreal. That is a paying site as well but with a little information you can save some money by looking for the union or family of two known ancestors. They have been kind enough to list the couple with their parents, date and place of marriage along with their children's information. That costs 17¢ (providing you know who you are looking for). Pretty cool! Then you can go from there.There is also a tree at Nos Origines, another site that is fairly well done. So you can see I am right in the middle of it now. What fuels me? The history of the place and times my ancestors lived in and knowing I am part of that. And the memory of my grandparents.
If you are Canadian, you may have grown up with a subliminal awareness of the differences between us and our American neighbors. You would be hard-pressed to find it described more eloquently than in the writings of Francis Parkman. Parkman was the son of a wealthy Boston family who attended Harvard. He spent time living with the Sioux in 1846 where he saw the effects of disease and alcoholism. He also suffered from ill health and lived through the Civil War. His descriptions of native people and pioneering French are a bit jarring though he does make feeble attempt to counter that along the way. To some degree it was like reading a western novel. All his books are wonderfully descriptive especially of the forest environment which was his passion.
He is able to distill down a description of the differences between the French and English colonies.
Yesterday, I listened to a podcast at Maple Stars and Stripes who was hosting Anne Mordell of The French Genealogy Blog. She pointed out that there has been so much research done on the original families of Quebec that it may possible that you will find all you need about your family without going over to France, though I would never let that little thing get in the way! They mainly covered the archives of France and how to approach them, most of the information which is contained in her book, French Genealogy from Afar. The host, Sandra Goodwin, has a very American attitude though I believe her mother is French Canadian. Very forthright. I found the contrast between the two women's personalities quite archetypal. Anne had mentioned how to approach the mayoral office of the small French communities by being prepared before you go and perhaps presenting them with a small presentation on your family. I thought I was going to hear a "what!" there for a moment. That being said I cannot help but siding with the Americans on one thing, if I am giving you my money YOU are the one who needs to be considerate of my wishes, barring rudeness of course. But we Canadians are known for our politeness anyway. It does make sense to be prepared otherwise you would be wasting your own money. My experience with genealogy is that it is still to some degree filled with that old moray of "my Dad's better than your Dad". I have been to so many meetings where the people, especially the older generation won't even talk to you. I find the Americans to be much more open and willing than anywhere else.
That being said, Anne does have clinics on her website for your "brick walls" and said that if she gets enough of them she will return for a podcast. Which got me to thinking of the numerous brick walls I have. The French one being whether the family were indeed Protestant, which is hard to tell in Canada because you had to be Catholic to get into Montreal and there were workers hired who were Protestant. Most of the skilled tradesmen were Huguenot in France.
I thought I would just do another search for the last of the Beauchamp line, one Marc Beauchamp. Nothing on ancestry, nothing on Family Search. But after playing around with names I came upon a page that might have made the connection between the two names Deschamps and Beauchamp which seem to confusingly be passed back and forth the further back we go. This time it was a baptismal registration in Sedan, Ardennes, containing the names of Libauchamp and Deschamps. As below. Fairly far back as records show and another indication of Protestantism in that family.
This below is a Protestant registration of Lea Deschamps daughter of Francois. Again, showing that name as Protestant.
So the question really is, did the Beauchamp family use St. Marguerite church in La Rochelle in place of their own church as was commonly done at the time? Time will tell. In the meantime, I am simply enthralled with the story of my ancestors. I can't believe that they were present during much of what I am writing about. You get a sense of how bad it can be when people want to emigrate to a country where they are roasted on spits by the natives! Oh no, Canada was not the benign land it is today.
So, why would I write about the Cardinal anyway? For one, he helped to found Montreal through the Compagnie des Cents Associes and supported Samuel de Champlain in establishing colonies there. Further to that, there are many indications that the family Beauchamp were caught up in the Seige of La Rochelle, as below.
Once again, we note that the brothers, Pierre, Jacques and Jean's maternal grandparents were married at the Great Temple of La Rochelle. It is unlikely that Catholics would marry into Protestant families. Next, the boys father, Michel, was gardener at the New Town (on the original record as Villeneuve. After the seige, the Protestants were given land for a new church by the King outside La Rochelle. Would a Catholic work there? After the siege it is unlikely. In 1630, after the Huguenot temple is demolished, the grandparents Jean and Louise disappear from the records, they are listed as burials at sea or in unknown graves.
The name of Jean Beauchamp is registered with the National Huguenot Society as a Huguenot ancestor, so we know that the surname Beauchamp was associated with the dissenters.
This is a record from Emigration Rochelais en Nouvelle France.
We see the name Deschamps used by the older ancestors which is switched out to Beauchamp by Michel. So, his parents die rather mysteriously and he changes his name. There is a record of Jean Deschamps as sitting on the Council of La Rochelle under Jean Guiton the mayor of the city during the Seige.
This is from the book by A.M.Paul Marchegay " Le Seige de La Rochelle". The previous records state that Jean died in Nantueil so how he got onto the list of unknown burials one can only imagine. The facts remain to be seen, but we can be certain that whatever their religion, the family would indeed have suffered by being at La Rochelle during the seige. However, since Jacques and Marie Beauchamp arrived here as recruits of Jeanne Mance, we will assume they were Catholic by 1659 the year of their arrival at Montreal on the Saint Andre.
As you know I am an avid history reader and have just finished Cardinal de Richelieu by Eleanor C. Price. At the same time I have been following the new series "Musketeers". Of course, everyone knows that the series is a rather creative look at the lives of the Musketeers, Louis XIII and of course Richelieu, played brilliantly by Peter Capaldi. It is swashbuckling fun. By coincidence, I hit a small section at the end of the book where Ms. Price talks about Richelieu on his death bed.
" Louis XIII, himself too ill and depressed to enjoy his hunting as usual, was pestered by Chavigny and de Noyers with messages from the Eminentissime, insisting on the disgrace of four of his best-liked officers- among whom was M. de Troisville, or Treville, the famous captain of musketeers-whose only crime was that they had formerly been friends of Cinq-Mars, and that Richelieu feared their hatred and their influence. The King resisted long, but at last, by sheer angry obstinacy, the Cardinal gained his point, and the four gentlemen were dismissed from the Court, though not from the army; the King showing "great displeasure, even to shedding of tears".
Richelieu was anxious to finish off what ever business he had before his death and was at this point demented with pain. Louis himself was ill. At one point, Louis was brought in his bed to Richelieu to discuss the Spanish treaty and the fate of Cinq Mars, a former favorite of the King turned traitor.
A "mousquetaire" of course, was a soldier armed with a musket, in this case, part of the king's body guards. I am sure there are much better references for the life of a musketeer and their relationship with the King than Dumas's novel. It is rather sad to think that all the next generation may know is what they see on TV. My take? Truth is more often stranger than fiction ( and a lot more exciting)!
© 2019 Yolanda Presant. All Rights Reserved.


text:
L'artère angulaire est la branche terminale de l'artère faciale. Accompagnée de la veine angulaire, elle monte verticalement dans le sillon naso-génien et le sillon naso-palpébral jusqu'à l'angle supéro-médial de l'orbite, pour irriguer le sac lacrymal et le muscle orbiculaire de l'œil. Elle s'y anastomose avec l'artère nasale, segment terminal de l'artère ophtalmique, réalisant ainsi une anastomose entre les artères carotides externe et interne.

Notes et références

Liens externes
 https://www.imaios.com/fr/e-Anatomy/Structures-anatomiques/Artere-angulaire

Tête et cou

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Gasoline Price Spike Has Temporary Offset
Published Wed, Feb 22 20122:44 PM EST Updated Fri, Sep 13 20134:33 PM EDT
Patti Domm@in/patti-domm-9224884/@pattidomm
How much rising gasoline prices will pinch consumers has yet to be seen, but energy savings from the warm winter may have already helped consumers avoid some of the pain.
Deutsche Bank chief U.S. economist Joseph LaVorgna crunched the numbers and says consumers may have seen about a third of the recent rise in gasoline prices offset by cheaper natural gas and lower utilities costs this winter.
"To me it's really more of a usage story than a price story," said LaVorgna. "The savings is going to be disproportionate to the people that live in the northeast...for those people that it's impacting, it does add up to lots of dollars."
Gasoline prices, however, are expected to continue to riseinto the spring and are expected by analysts to top out above $4 a gallon, and the benefit from cheaper heating bills will also fade as the spring approaches.
Economists are concerned that the consumer will start pulling back on other spending as gasoline nears $4 a gallon, a level it's already reached in some areas. Certainly, as prices rise consumers also cut back on spending on gasoline, a bigger trend that has been in place over the past year. Last week alone, demand for gasoline dropped 6.4 percent from last year's level.
From the recent low in the week of Dec. 19, gasoline prices have risen by 29 cents to an average of $3.58 per gallon, during the week of Feb. 13. Oil prices have risen about 40 percent from their October low of around $75. West Texas intermediate was trading above $105 Wednesdayon Nymex as tension surrounding Iran keeps prices high.
"Our standard rule of thumb is that a one-cent increase in gasoline pricesincreases household energy consumption by approximately $1.4 billion," notes LaVorgna. So, the recent price jump from December through the week of Feb. 13 means household energy consumption would go up $41 billion.
"The good news is the rule of thumb may have temporarily broken down," he says.
If consumers this quarter are spending as they did in the fourth quarter, natural gas and utilities consumption could be about $9 billion lower, LaVorgna says. In fact, he notes utilities production is off sharply in the first quarter so far, or down 16.1 percent at an annualized rate, relative to the fourth quarter.
"If we hold this level throughout the current quarter, household consumption of electricity would be down another $6 billion. This means we could see about $16 billion in less natural gas and utilities consumption, effectively offsetting about half of the recent run-up in gasoline prices—assuming gasoline prices remain near $3.58," he said in a recent note.
Bloomberg | Getty Images
LaVorgna said the peak in gasoline is typically in May, and the impact of higher prices on the economy depends on how long and how quickly they rise.
While use is down for heating oil, as well, the price for that fuel is about 20 percent higher than it was at this time last year. So consumers using heating oil may not see a savings.
"We're behind on degree days by 20 percent. That's the New York area, but it's pretty much the northeast," said John Kilduff of Again Capital. He said there is global competition for distilled products, like heating oil, and that drives up the price, especially since Europe has had a particularly cold winter.
Natural gas prices, meanwhile, are at a decade lowand could still head lower, analysts say. LaVorgna says natural gas accounts for just 13 percent of total household energy consumption, and utilities spending is much higher, at 27 percent.
"This rise in gasoline is clearly something we want to watch, and does pose some risk," said LaVorgna. "I think of all the things in the world now gas isn't the worst thing if the economy is getting better, which I think it is, and if Europe stabilizes, which I think it is."
Follow Patti Domm on Twitter: @pattidomm
Questions? Comments? Email us at

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


DALLAS — Frank Abagnale, subject of the blockbuster book and movie, "Catch Me if You Can," will provide the Keynote Address during the International Roofing Expo (IRE) to be held Feb. 26-28, 2014 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Frank Abagnale is one of the world's most respected authorities on the subjects of forgery, embezzlement and secure documents. For more than 25 years, he has lectured to and consulted with hundreds of financial institutions, corporations and government agencies around the world.
Held immediately prior to the opening of the show, the Keynote Address will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 26 from 9:45 to 10:50 a.m. in South Pacific E. The Keynote is sponsored by Malarkey Roofing Products, exhibiting in booth #949.
His best-selling book, Catch Me if You Can, was released as a major motion picture directed by Steven Spielberg and featured an all-star cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken and Martin Sheen.
His rare blend of knowledge and expertise began as a teenager. More than thirty years ago, he was known as the Great Imposter, one of the world's most famous professional check writers. He cashed $2.5 million in fraudulent checks in every state and 26 foreign countries during a five-year period. Between the ages of 16 and 21, he successfully posed as an airline pilot, an attorney, a college professor and a pediatrician. Apprehended by the French police when he was 21 years old, he served time in the French, Swedish and U.S. prison systems. After five years he was released on the condition that he would help the federal government, without remuneration, by teaching and assisting federal law-enforcement agencies.
Abagnale now lectures extensively at the FBI Academy and for the field offices of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He is a past faculty member of the American Bankers Association's Security Officers School. More than 14,000 financial institutions, corporations and law enforcement agencies use his fraud prevention programs.
In his second book, The Art of the Steal, Abagnale advises individuals and businesses how to prevent fraud, identity theft, credit card crimes, theft in the workplace, on-line scams and street crime.
In his third book, Stealing Your Life: The Ultimate Identity Theft Prevention Plan, Abagnale exposed the astonishing tactics of today's identity theft criminals and offered powerful strategies to thwart them.
The Keynote is included free of charge in all registration packages, but advance registration is required. Online registration will available beginning in mid-September.


Lewis will open the outfield area of the Lionel Roberts Stadium to residents working in Downtown Charlotte Amalie and the general public to park for free beginning Monday, April 8, until further notice.
Parking in Fort Christian will be restricted in preparation for Carnival festivities on St. Thomas.
Parking will be available from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays.
No parking will be allowed on Saturdays, Sundays or during inclement weather.
All vehicles must be out of Lionel Roberts Stadium by 6 p.m. on weekdays. Failure to remove vehicles will result in a traffic citation, and vehicles on the premises after hours will be towed at the owner's expense. A parking attendant will be present during hours of operation to direct motorists. The Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) advises motorists to follow all instructions.
Lewis will notify the public in advance of any changes to this contingency.
The Office of the St. Thomas-Water Island Administrator thanks the Department of Sports, Parks, and Recreation, the Department of Public Works, the Virgin Island Police Department and the Virgin Islands Carnival Committee for working collaboratively to remedy the gap in available parking at the Fort Christian Parking Lot in preparation for the 2019 Carnival Village.


text:
Thought Leaders Interviews
Megatrends and Innovations
Inside infrastructure
Global Economy and Sustainability
Stories behind Projects
Infrastruc-
ture: sector consolida-
tion to create economies of scale
Exclusive Interview with Stefano Gatti
Italy's largest groups are growing in size so they can compete in world markets
San Francisco's Water System Improvement Program: fighting droughts
Exclusive Interview with Paula Kehoe
Innovation makes the city's water network among the most efficient in the United States
Flexible and sustainable: here's how the cities of the future will look
Exclusive Interview with Carlo Ratti
How digital data and new technology can help improve the quality of life and the sustainability of cities
ture, knocking down barriers
Exclusive Interview with Richard Baldwin
The role of infrastructure from the great colonial empires to globalization
Atlanta: a transpor-
tation plan to remain the USA's main hub
The city is ready to invest $172 billion by 2050
Paris-Saclay: ready for the Grand Paris Express to arrive
A new subway line from Paris will reach the research centre, considered to be among the world's top ten
The 78, Chicago's new neigh-
bourhood
The real estate development's $7.2 billion investment will build an entire new residential and office quarter in the Windy City
Guizhou, where China's economic miracle has turned farmers into city dwellers
Bridges, high speed railroads and airports now dot what used to be one of China's poorest areas
The Growing Popularity of Driverless Metros
Fully automated metros are being deployed at a faster pace as cities seek to accommodate growing populations
Green infrastruc-
ture: the future of the U.S.
Investments in clean energy and sustainable mobility to reduce air pollution
Future Megacities of the world: discover the 6 new entries
The world's megacities will number 39 in 2030, and will produce 15% of the world's GDP
Silk City: Kuwait's City of Dreams
Kuwait plans to invest $86 billion in a free economic zone called Silk City
Record Year for Supertall Building Completions
Supertall Building Completions Reached A Yearly Record of 26 in 2019
Heathrow: a masterplan to expand Europe's busiest airport
UK parliament has approved a gargantuan plan to expand Heathrow Airport
Africa's first SkyTrain
Ghana will build the first elevated train on the African continent
Sydney's infrastruc-
ture projects: new roads and sustai-
nable mobility
Sydney has embarked on an ambitious infrastructure modernisation programme
Climate-resilient infrastruc-
ture urgently needed to cope with climate change
Sustainable mobility, clean energy, and efficient water management: the infrastructure that can save the planet
"Construc-
tion Megacities": Infrastruc-
ture projects that will change the face of the world's cities
In 2019, 50 of the world's megacities had infrastructure projects in the pipeline worth over $5.3 trillion
Australia: wildfires threaten Sydney's water supply
Dams, aqueducts and electricity networks risk being damaged by the uncontrolled fires
About the US water crisis: two million people with no running water
Certain remote rural areas are in desperate need of water infrastructure
Recycling Wastewater in Turkey: a plan to fight drought
Istanbul is Using Innovative Technology to Reuse Treated Wastewater
Milan's M4: Saint Barbara's Feast Day
At the construction site, the feast day of the patron saint for tunnel workers
Greater Toronto's new light rail line
The province of Ontario has awarded a contract to build a new light rail line for the Greater Toronto Area
Washington State's infrastruc-
ture plans start with highways
Plans for road infrastructure improvements in one of the country's leading export states
Megacities
Hugues de Jouvenel
Fast growing big cities must be accompanied by the creation of new infrastructures
The Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations regularly publishes world demographic projections, of which the medium variant is too often the only variant cited, even if the projections are based on hypothesis that should be validated with extreme caution. It is possible to frequently hear statements affirming that in 2050 the planet will accommodate nine billion inhabitants, although there are many uncertainties relating to future developments in terms of fertility, life expectation and migration.
The Increase of Urbanisation
Nevertheless, it is evident that a certain trend is difficult to oppose: global urbanization - which sparked off in developed countries between 1750 and 1950 is now especially advancing in underdeveloped ones. Statistical data states that the urban population has passed from 740 million to 3.9 billion people from 1950 to 2014, and that in 2008 the number of people living in cities was greater than the rural population; 54% of humanity now lives in cities. According to the UN's medium projection, this figure could reach 66% by 2050.
Even more impressive is the increase of the so-called "megacities" (as they are defined by the United Nations), cities exceeding ten million inhabitants. In 1970 these cities were only three; in 1990 they grew to ten, then twenty-eight in 2014. By 2030, they could become forty-one.
During the 20th century, the number of citizens grew, passing from 220 million in 1900 to 2.84 billion in 2000. Still according to the United Nations, such an increase could actually occur in just four decades. Approximately 93% of this increase will occur in developing countries, and more than 80% of in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.
What is a city?
Although the answer to this question would seem to be, maybe wrongly, absolutely evident, it is important to underline that a clear and universal definition of what we would normally call "city" or "urban area" does not exist. The criteria used to define a city are very diverse: population density, structure of the area, existence of a local administration or even of a common governing system. In Iceland, an area is defined "urban" if it includes more than two-hundred inhabitants; in France a city must exceed two-thousand inhabitants and has to be characterised by a built-up area continuity. The definition used by the United Nations is the result of the combination of different criteria.
In 2007 nineteen urban areas were considered to be "megacities" (cities with more than ten million inhabitants).
With great probability their number could have increased since then and will still increase, even if in some large cities (Buenos Aires, Calcutta, Mexico City, São Paulo and Seoul) the emigration flow has exceeded the immigration one that, historically, has been the main motor of urbanization. Even if the number of megacities with more than ten million residents, and even those with twenty million people, could still increase, it is still highly probable that half of future citizens will live in urban areas with a population of less than one million people.
It is important to point out that the configuration of urban areas is not identical everywhere. Some cities have a really concentrated population and have grown in height. Other cities have experienced an increase in their population, but in a disorganised manner and in waves. This brought an intensification of the differences between a central middle-class nucleus and the city's suburbs, where the so-called "ghettos" expand. Therefore, in many northern cities of the world and in many southern ones, residents that are very well-off and that live in the city's centre coexist with people suffering from extreme poverty and who live in the periphery.
Challenges connected to urban poverty are enormous. We already observed that in the 2000-2030 period the urban population of developing countries could double. In order to guarantee that these people do not live in shanty homes, during these thirty years, a new city with one million people should be built every week. Statistical data regarding poverty are incomplete, whether they concern homeless people in rich countries or people living in shanties in poor countries. In 2008, the year in which the number of people living in cities exceeded those living in rural areas, a third of the people registered as citizens lived in shantytowns, 90% in developing countries, bidonvilles having often very different characteristics, like Brasil's favelas, Kenya's kijiji, Venezuela's barrios, South Africa's townships and Calcutta's bastis. It is therefore logical to ask oneself why cities attract an ever-growing number of people.
The attractions and downsides of urban life
Sociology's founders have always considered a city to be the cradle of modern life. They highlighted how it is not only characterised by a concentration of people, infrastructures, administration offices, but how it is a product of human nature, an ecological environment, an attitude, a mentality, a network of rational and interpersonal relationships that bond individuals. Other authors have pointed out instead how cities have represented the heart of industrialization, the places where work opportunities, welfare, the possibility to acquire an education and culture, communication media and the opportunities to improve one's life condition were more concentrated.
Just as the literature on educational, research and innovation centres, on the main poli di competitività and for the creation of wealth demonstrates, this second interpretation is still being advanced today, in the presence of a global economy that needs to be permanently "connected" and therefore placed at the heart of the networks formed by cities.
In 2007 Veolia Environment established an Observatory of Urban Lifestyles, which carried out a study concerning the inhabitants of fourteen large cities. The results confirm, in many ways, what has been said by Sociology's founders. The global community of citizens is composed of individuals whose daily lives are organized and are sorted out in a universe characterised by architectural modernism, which regards infrastructures and cutting edge services.
The inhabitants of large cities, captured in many flows, live on a "smaller planet" where distances and time are reduced thanks to mobility and accelerated communication. Individuals that live in cities and different social environments are continually close to each other, even if they are connected to the rest of the world and create relationships that are based on affinity. The city can, in any case, arouse confused and sometimes contradictory emotions in its inhabitants. The feelings felt by them with regard to their cities can be very different. The survey shows, for example, that comfort, attachment, politeness ... are the opposites of stress, saturation and insecurity. In all the cities surveyed more tan eight out of ten citizens perceive the city's space as a sum of every possibility that allows to, as a new yorker states, to "access everything, rapidly, how you want, when you want". At the same time, citizens state that "to really live well in a city you need to earn a lot" and, even if they consider the city to be a permanent space for potential encounters, they admit that it still conveys a feeling of anonymity and loneliness.
Urban spaces provide - according to the same survey - better access to education and to hygienic, sanitary, water supply and waste management services; they offer a series of infrastructures, means of transport and communication unimaginable in rural areas. Economists state that the externalities of cities are positive. But not all citizens have the same possibility of accessing these services; the city also means pollution, congestion, erosion of solidarity, marginalization, insecurity, crime; there are also the same number of isolating factors, reciprocal exasperation, tension and fear.
City modernization or abandonment?
Cities combine all the advantages and defects offered by "modern life". A main consumer of natural resources, and particularly greedy of energy, a city is a source of every type of pollution, like greenhouse effect gas emissions and waste; it appears to be not very environmentally sustainable and maybe even less attractive in terms of "life quality"; cities are being managed not as efficiently as they should be, while their vulnerability tends to increase based on their development. And, most importantly, not all cities have infrastructures and services of the same quality, on the contrary.
They also do not offer residents the same level of well-being. Urban engineering must be re-created and re-invented. And this is where concepts such as post-carbon cities, sustainable cities, intelligent cities or "smart cities" are born.
They can all greatly benefit from the development of information and communication technologies. The same technology, if it is not used to promote a more efficient management of urban areas and to develop new services, can encourage people to abandon large metropolitan urban areas, in order to favour a life style that combines a life lived in the countryside with the advantages that were once only exclusively reserved to cities.
While urbanisation cannot be contrasted, the future of cities and of megacities is still marked by many uncertainties. Administrative offices and companies in the construction sector, modernize cities and build systems and infrastructures, all parts that characterise a city and its appeal. They need to invent new ways of creating new opportunities: those offered by technological progress, in favour of a planned and optimal management of complex systems; those imposed by sustainable development; those born from a new aspiration for a better life in a world that tomorrow will be very different from yesterday's.
Hugues de Jouvenel|
Furibles|
World's Megacities | Tokyo
Hugues de Jouvenel - International projection and strategy consultant, Chairman of Futuribles International
Futuribles International
Lands above sea-level represent 29.2% of the total surface (510 km2) with respect to 70.8% occupied by water (149.9 million km2 against 361.1 million km2). 15 million km2 (2.9% of the total surface) are occupied by deserts, while the area that can be said to be "inhabitable" for the current 7.046 billion inhabitants is actually reduced to 134.9 million km2 (26.3%).
The world's virtual average density is then equal to 52.21 people per Km2. The data of the World Bank's "World Urbanization Prospects 2014" report contribute, however, to give the actual dimension of the urbanisation process, ongoing in all continents since 1970, and the complex urban engineering issues, especially infrastructural ones, announced by its current increase, which is expected by 2040.
The 28 megacities, for example, which already accommodate 10 million people, are set on an area that is only 0.17% of the world's surface, while their overall population of 463.37 million corresponds to 6.57% of the world's surface. Compared to an average density of 16.55 million people, the density (people per km2) in some cases reaches exceptional values - 39.7 thousand at Dhaka, 32.8 thousand at Manila and 31.2 thousand at Mumbai - or in relative terms: the indexes of Buenos Aires (14.3 thousand/km2), Moscow (4.5 thousand/km2), Sao Paulo (7.4 thousand/km2) or Kinshasa (9.1 thousand/km2) compared to national ones: Argentina (15), Russia (8.4), Brasil (23) and Congo (30).
These 28 cities are also an extraordinary concentrate of economic, industrial, financial and commercial resources. Their GDP (gross domestic product) amounts to 10,475.6 million dollars and contributes for 14.61% to the 71,692 million generated in the whole world, while the per capita GDP of the residents amounts to an average of 22,607 dollars (the maximum value is registered in New York with 158,223 dollars against 9,299.5 of the rest of the world).
World's Megacities
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We love games from Japan and the rest of Asia, of course; it's what we do as our bread-and-butter at DDNet. But we also love films, and would love to see more people watching films from Asia, because far too often people miss classic moments in cinema because they weren't from Hollywood.
With this in mind we've partnered with Dendy Cinemas in Australia to review a series of superb and wonderful films from Japan, China, and elsewhere in Asia. What's more, we want to share the love! We'll be providing two winners with a $10 voucher for Dendy's online streaming platform, Dendy Direct, so you can watch any of the films that interest you after reading the review! Just click the image at the bottom of the review and complete a short, two-question survey to go in the draw (note: competition only open to Australian residents).
Our next review is the filmic adaptation of an incredible anime and manga series, Rurouni Kenshin.
It's easy to see why Rurouni Kenshin is so respected among anime and manga fans in Japan. Telling the story of an ex-assassin who has sworn off violence as he travels across the tumultuous backdrop of the post-Bakumatsu era, the original manga touched upon notions of morality, personal change and Japan's national identity all while codifying tropes for the wandering hero which would become staples in manga for decades. Director Keishi Omoto had big shoes to fill with his live-action adaptation of the much loved epic, but thanks to excellent cinematography and a talented cast, the first film was released to acclaim. Rurouni Kenshin: Kyoto Inferno is the second in the trilogy, but it's perfectly enjoyable as an entry point to the series – it treads darker territory than the first, building upon the established character and further exploring the source material.
Related reading: For more information on the period of time, check out Matt C's piece on the Shinsengumi.
What really struck me about Kyoto Infernal was how elegantly the setting informed the narrative. Kenshin explores early Meiji Era, a time where the Machiavellian tactics of the Tokugawa shogunate were giving way to a more Western influenced central government. This was a time where veteran samurai clashed against police under martial law, where assassins clashed with politicians for the right to determine a holistic vision for Japan's future. Kyoto Inferno's protagonist and antagonist embody this opposition perfectly. Kenshin is an ex-assassin who has sworn off bloodshed, and aims to atone for his past sins by resolving conflict through nonviolent means. His adversary, Shishio, sees the unstable and weak-willed new government as a ripe opportunity to muscle his way to power. Both sides believe they are a "correct" ideology, and both philosophies influence how the characters see the world and respond to plot developments. It's a truly fascinating glimpse into Japanese culture at a time where it was malleable and prone to debate.
Kyoto Inferno also doesn't shy away from looking at the darker aspects of this historical period. It bears its share of scenes that question the audience's understanding of traditional good and evil, and while it can be a little heavy-handed at times, there are still plenty of scenes that got me thinking. It's a film which portrays revenge as a temptation, brutality as a kind of boldness and pacifism as an arduous path which might be more trouble than its worth. Kenshin is consistently beset by moments where his reluctance to kill hinders the wellbeing of those around him, or even makes him an outsider to Japanese culture. By contrast, Shishio is a truly impressive villain, commanding the respect of a veritable army and proving himself adept at everything from guerrilla tactics to grand military scheming to one-on-one combat. This is all sold thanks to a meticulous eye for detail in period-recreation, and the film ends up pulling you right into the middle of these difficult moments.
This is, however, a chanbara story after all, and while political intrigue and explorations of morality are good, they're a side attraction to the swordplay. Thankfully, the fights in Kyoto Inferno are magnificently choreographed and are a delight to watch. If you've enjoyed the original manga and anime, there's still something magical that happens upon seeing it performed by live actors. Takeru Satoh, with a Kamen Rider role under his belt, is no stranger to physical choreography and his expertise really shows in his performance as the agile yet restrained Kenshin. As the character uses a backblade – a sword blunted so it will not cut – each strike makes a satisfying thwap sound, but the fights are no less thrilling with this addition.
The film strikes a good balance of one-vs-one duels and one-vs-army showdowns, leading to some standout scenes. The choreography is balanced by a clear "some, but not too much" philosophy. There are some gratuitous slow-motion scenes, but not too much. There are some moments of wince-worthy violence, but not too much. There are some flash steps and impossible leaps, but not too much. The focus on physically reproducible sword fighting leads to fights which feel believable yet unpredictable. There are also dozens of fighting styles on show, all of which are used to characterise the film's eclectic cast in addition to building the visual spectacle. All of this would not be possible without the work of a spectacular cast. Munetaka Aoki as Sanosuke was a clear favourite, as he manages to steal every scene he's in – his swinging movements and weighty fighting style makes an instantly likeable character. He even has an exaggerated bored face to distract you in scenes where he's a mere background character. Ryunosuke Kamiki's gleeful expression as Seta Sojiro also made for a very convincing villainous sidekick, and the duel between himself and Kenshin is made all the more memorable for it.
While the original Kenshin movie was made to be standalone, Kyoto Inferno was filmed alongside The Legend Ends, which unfortunately means there's a lot of plot payoff set up by this film which is dealt with in the next. The film builds up a hero's journey structure, except with a mini-resolution and a promise of bigger things to come. It's hard to resist the urge to load up the next movie immediately – the transition is perfectly done – but prepare for a little disappointment if there's any gap between seeing the two.
Otherwise, there's nothing which tarnishes Omoto's adaptation of the classic Rurouni Kenshin story. The film seamlessly blends thoughtful drama with artfully performed fight sequences to form a compelling narrative that shouldn't be missed by any fan of Asian cinema. If you were ever wondering if a live action film could do justice to the legendary franchise, see for yourself and be amazed.
Item Reviewed: Films from Asia that you should watch: Rurouni Kensin: Kyoto Inferno 9 out of 10 based on 10 ratings. 9 user reviews.


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Historiography: Riding The Rails
by Randy Stern	| Posted on January 7, 2019 January 7, 2019
All Photos by Randy Stern
"There's something about a train that's magic."
This was the first line from a jingle that encouraged travelers to ride the rails on Amtrak – the passenger rail service that traverses the USA. Amtrak had its ups and downs since its formation in 1971 as a national semi-public sector organization consolidating the many companies that provided these same services for well over a century prior. It remains the largest rail passenger service in the country running on 21,400 miles of track to each of their 500 destinations. In 2017, Amtrak carried 31.7 million passengers on its network.
Before 1971, passengers had to ride on privately-run railroads to get from city to city in this country. Rail was extremely popular from its inception in the 19th Century well into World War I. To transfer from one railroad to another, they had to go to different depots in a single city, or head to a single station where these lines all met as a hub.
What made rail travel all worth it was the lines that stretched out from coast to coast. Most of them ran out of the hub in Chicago, with iconic routes heading in all directions. The routes heading out west took days to accomplish. You can thank the meeting of the railroads in 1869 out in Promontory Summit in Utah, where the Golden Spike was nailed to the ground signaling the start of transcontinental rail service.
The fact that many railroads ran their own service on the track they laid down and own, it felt as passengers were married to a particular line in order to be serviced by them. There had been mergers, spin-offs, and operating agreements on these railroads prior to Amtrak's creation. The greatest concern for both the government and the passenger was the fact that the railroads operated as monopolies that needed to be reigned in. Therefore, the railroads had been seen as one of the first industries to be the target of anti-trust legislation and heavy regulation by the Federal government, dating back to the 1880s.
While the railroads enjoyed the spoils of track ownership and both freight and passenger operation, they made sure to provide a level of service that was attainable for everyone who needed to go from Point A to Point B. The word "Pullman" meant a level of luxury that equaled first class service, while the sleeper car was the ultimate luxury – predating the ultra-expensive suites seen on Middle Eastern and other high-end airlines today.
Trains were used to take troops to be shipped out to the war front. Yet, they seemed too expensive for people migrating away from the despair of the Great Depression. The automobile started eating into train ridership. This was part due to a new competitor in intercity travel – the bus. Like today, intercity buses were less expensive, but provided less amenities a long-distance train would provide.
The spoils of World War II provided a major shift in intercity transportation. The Federal Government invested in a national highway network that was seen to augment rail networks. The result was mixed. Freight services were augmented by trucks, which help keep the railroads operating through the postwar era. Passenger service began to suffer because the building of the Interstate Highway system got families off the train and into their automobiles.
One would think that the airlines would serve the biggest blow to passenger rail in the USA. Not immediately after World War II. Eventually, they would. It just needed a few things to happen. One, would be the creation of Amtrak, which was left with a handful of intercity routes to service. The next blow would be airline deregulation, which opened up the skies to many low-cost operators promising a quicker way to get where they wanted to go.
In Canada, the same progress of its train network mirrored that of its southern neighbors. VIA Rail came about the same way as Amtrak in 1977. Both Canadian Pacific and Canadian National railways offered passenger service that was no longer profitable and viable to provide to its customers. VIA took the same strategy as Amtrak and kept its most iconic routes, such as the Vancouver-Toronto run and its Eastern network from Toronto into the Maritimes.
Let's not forget about Alaska. The single connects Fairbanks with Seward through Anchorage. It serves more as a tourist train than a commuter one, which means superb opportunities for the causal traveler. The line operates multiple trains and offers a variety of services along the way.
This is where we are at today. Passenger rail in North America is far from dead. However, many promises and dream projects have been discussed for years that one wonders whether they would help reintroduce passenger rail to more travelers.
The issue lies with track ownership and agreements to utilize these tracks with both freight and passenger services operating on them. While Amtrak rides on 21,400 miles of track, Amtrak owns only 623 miles of it. While some of the network can be sped up to 150 MPH, there is also a lack of true high-speed service across Amtrak. Future projects have been positioned towards creating high-speed lines, but we have yet to see anything on the scale of operations in use in Japan and across Europe, among other networks.
Amtrak maintains some services that reflect back to the past. Sleeper cars are usually the way to go for long-distance routes. They are designed with efficiency in mind by being more utilitarian and practical. Bunk beds, along with a very compact bathroom set. You still have dining cars, where ion some long-distance routes you have to make reservations. I have heard mixed reviews of the food quality, but you should have service that is above that of a diner.
One advantage that Amtrak has above the airlines are the seats. They are wider, seat in a two-two configuration per row, and offer a lot more legroom than some premium economy seats up in the air. And, don't worry – modern trains are heated and air conditioned.
Granted, it takes as long to get somewhere about the same time as driving. You don't have to stop to take in a view, since they are right there just outside your extremely large window. If you're lucky to live at an Amtrak hub, you can go anywhere you want for a day's excursion. Or, for an overnight adventure to a place you always wanted to go.
Speaking of driving, Amtrak operates only one train service that transports cars, along with passengers. The Auto Train runs from Lorton, Virginia near Washington, DC to Sanford, Florida near Orlando.
This history just reflects experience of passenger rail in the USA and Canada. European countries enjoy a nationalized network of rail options that combine cross-country and localized services under one brand. The UK has the complete opposite situation today. Though Network Rail (formerly British Rail) maintains the entire network, they have since contracted multiple operators to provide passenger service. Japan also operates a nationalized rail network that also offers several different services across the country.
In truth, passenger rail in North America may be centered on Amtrak and VIA Rail for intercity services. The real growth in this business is coming from commuter rail. Up to about three decades ago, regional commuter networks already existed to feed into Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Chicago, Toronto, Montreal, and San Francisco. Since then, we saw an explosion of rail systems designed to reduce highway traffic and provide a comfortable alternative to get to work or head towards the city center for fun.
All of the sudden commuter rail services were operating in places, such as Los Angeles, Seattle-Tacoma, South Florida, Minneapolis, Albuquerque, Denver, Vancouver, and Dallas-Fort Worth. On top of all of this, a new project is underway to link Orlando with Miami – one of several non-Amtrak intercity services that are being planned in the future.
While growth in passenger rail within the USA remains in creating regional, commuter-focused services, Amtrak is as steady as it goes. I have not been on an Amtrak train in 11 years – the last being a roundtrip on the Cascades services between Seattle and Portland – I face the task of trying to get back to the Empire Builder that runs through Union Depot in St. Paul.
The Empire Builder runs from Chicago to Seattle and Portland. It takes a few days to do the entire run, but there are plenty of opportunities along the way. I have been on this train between Chicago and St. Paul. In fact, that was how I moved here. It is indeed a full service, long-distance train that runs through some amazing vistas through Montana. They call this the highlight of the train. Clearly, it is not as exciting as running through the heart of Wisconsin…actually, it should be.
The drawback is the travel time between St. Paul and Chicago. Some motorists will tell you that it takes a shorter time to get between the two cities out on the Interstate. That is, if you do not make any stops along the way – which is impossible, in my case. There are other drawbacks, such as a lack of Wi-Fi, and the opportunity to visit places that you have to arrive and depart at odd hours of the night – such as Fargo and Grand Forks.
When I lived in the Washington, DC area, Amtrak was a major option for travel. I could do a day trip to Philadelphia or Richmond, run up to New York or down to Charlotte for an overnight trip. I can do an overnight passage to Chicago on one of two train routes. It is worth living in a place where there is a rail hub, like Washington, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, Oakland, or Los Angeles.
From St. Paul's refurbished and lovely Union Depot, you only have two trains coming through. The eastbound Empire Builder in the morning is probably the better bet than the westbound train that arrives late at night. That is, if you are definitely heading to Montana, Seattle, or Portland.
Is there still something about the train that's magic. I could say that unless you live in key parts of Amtrak's system, that may well still be the case. Maybe another train ride is in order to find out…
Historiography Travel Writing
Historiography: The Origin Story of Victory & Reseda
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V&R@5: Five…No, Seven Favorite Places to Eat


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Verticordia sect. Recondita is one of eleven sections in the subgenus Verticordia. It includes a single species in the genus Verticordia. Plants in this section are inconspicuous shrubs with linear leaves which are triangular in cross-section, rather scattered flowers and staminodes tapering to a fine point. When Alex George reviewed the genus in 1991 he formally described this section, publishing the description in the journal Nuytsia. The name Recondita is derived from the Latin word reconditus meaning "concealed" or "hidden" referring to the small size and scattered flowers of plants in this section.

The type and only species in this section is Verticordia humilis.

References

Recondita
Rosids of Western Australia
Plant sections
Monotypic plant taxa


A SpaceX Crew Dragon rocketed into the sky under its own power this morning, completing a critical milestone necessary to certify the spacecraft for crewed flights in 2017.
Despite a rainy spring that has caused schedule delays, NASA is preparing for a busy year of Space Launch System engine testing.
The six crew members aboard the International Space Station will have to go without a scheduled delivery of food, supplies and fuel.
An International Space Station-bound cargo craft is spinning out of control in Earth orbit following an afternoon launch from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
SpaceX's ISS-bound Dragon spacecraft is in orbit, but the drone ship landing of the company's Falcon 9 rocket was unsuccessful.


I've attended the Newport Beach Wine & Food Festival now 4 times (out of the 5) since it first started (see post here) and it still continues to be one of my favorite local food events of the year! Founded by Stefanie Farnsworth Salam, she wanted to create a place that combined her love of food, wine, and cooking which lead her to start Newport Beach Wine & Food Festival back in 2014. Since then, every fall hundreds of people gather for a chance to experience this epicurean lifestyle event featuring celebrity chefs, top restaurants, and sips from wineries across the world. My friend (and photographer for the day) Annie joined me as we scoured through what felt like endless rows of food & wine options to put our taste buds to the test and make the tough decisions of what stood out amongst the rest. Keep on scrolling below to see more photos from the event plus favorites from this year!
What would top your list?? Have you tried any of these yet?
I mean, with unlimited bites and wine, all I can picture is having one heck of a fabulous time. And we sure did. Thanks to the Newport Beach Wine & Food Festival team for a deliciously good event! Want to join next time? Keep an eye out for it to return next fall. As always, thanks for reading and sending you hugs!


As we get older, our skin gets more thin and dry, so it is easier to damage. The chance of skin damage is higher for people who can't move much and who spend most of their time in bed or in a wheelchair. The skin can develop rashes and sores, especially pressure injuries. These sores are caused by constant pressure, which can limit the blood supply to the skin.
You can help protect the skin of the person you're caring for by checking it every day and by being careful about cleaning the skin. It's also important to be careful when turning the person in bed.
Also look for rashes, especially in the groin area. This is very important for people who have problems controlling their bladder or bowels and wear adult protective underwear.
When washing clothing and sheets, use mild detergents. Don't use fabric softeners.


I am very guilty of assuming things. We all are. I tell people a lot not to assume things and I still do. I gather it's a part of human nature.
I am starting to explore housing options here and there. One thing that I automatically ruled out without any education of what it was was a group home. For me, the term group home was a big place with inadequate care of hundreds of people. Well, I went to visit the one my aide works at and I was completely wrong.
A group home is a regular home with people that have a similar disability live together. This one was a group of people with Down's syndrome. They were a sweet group, I must say.. Now I am wondering if this type of living system would be beneficial for me. I know that I wouldn't have as much freedom that I would in an apartment, but with a movement disorder, I may meet people in a similar situation that could help me cope with mine… Just a thought. I'm not getting a place yet; just exploring options.
I am taking a swimming class at the YMCA this summer. I'm a little nervous to start because I have struggled with swimming lessons before, but now that I'm older, I'm interested in going to develop my coordination and improve my swimming skills. And I have been wanting to get lessons before, but the membership was too much. So, now that I have Self Direction, they will pay for the membership. I am so excited to start.
I will have an update with how it goes. I will be doing two sports soon; swimming and horseback riding. The fact that more and more people with disabilities can participate in sports is amazing. I'm personally interested in the water sports, but I wonder what kind of adaptive sports will come out in the future. This increase in adaptive sports will hopefully encourage people to work on themselves physically, emotionally and mentally.
OK guys, I got another link to share with you about financial planning for your special needs child. It is https://www.creditzeal.com/. It has a lot of information about financial planning, but there is an article about special needs planning.


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Archviz the marketing revolution
POWERFUL FILM
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Ir para Versão em Português
Roberta Lemos - Communications Manager
- elephant skin -
Welcome to HubES: Home of the Elephants!
Flexible workspaces are a worldwide trend and bring new meaning to the work environment.
In May 2021, a global workspace design firm surveyed 186 locations as part of an analysis to determine the demand and fees for offices in major cities across the United States and Canada. Highlighted by the analysis was the increase in the number of companies adopting centralized office strategies, otherwise known as "hub" offices, used for purpose-based collaboration. Additionally, "spoke" offices were also mentioned and described as spaces located in areas closer to where the employees live.
Recent reports on the 2022 co-working market predict growth to exceed $13.03 billion by 2025. Among the key trends highlighted was homeowners entering the co-working landscape as "competitors," as they bring their own flexible spaces, which can be used not only by your teams but by other employees and even partners.
The global company Elephant Skin opened its first HubES office in Curitiba (Paraná), Brazil, and serves as a space for the team and real estate market to explore. To better provide an idea of the HubES environment interaction, there is a Pub on site!
HubES – Elephant Skin's Curitiba office
Remote business offices represent demand in this post-pandemic reality, not just as a place for people to work, but as an environment where they can congregate whenever they want to share ideas, relax, discuss, connect, inspire, and be inspired by others.
Communications Manager Roberta Lemos says that, ultimately, the idea is for ES to have HubES spread across other strategic locations: São Paulo, Miami, Vancouver, New York, and other places where Elephant Skin has great market strength.
Roberta explains, "HubES can also be very cool for presenting projects to developers and partners. Also, the developers and partners can use the same environment to present projects to their teams."
The remote office in Curitiba is different from most co-working spaces in that it represents the Elephant community, a community composed of already more than 100 professionals worldwide.
HubES is a space for whomever to visit whenever they want; an environment which allows the individual to get out of his/her routine, be surrounded by like-minded people, and to engage in the art of storytelling.
Two days after the opening of HubES, Roberta recalls her experience of feeling as though she were in the "home" of Elephant Skin. "The ambiance and decor made the environment very much ours! Connecting with the Elephants, and getting to know one another more intimately in a casual and relaxed way encourages a very positive feeling and energy. It makes our culture tangible and serves as an excellent exchange of energy."
What changes in the design of these new spaces?
Trending In the design of offices for remote business is structures sensitive to "psychological safety" and well-being. Visitors should feel welcomed, and so the biophilic principles of "prospect" and "refuge" are adopted. The concept behind biophilia (a term popularized by Edward Osborne Wilson) means "a love of living things."
Currently, the greatest challenge facing large and complex ecosystems in the work environment lies in how to configure and efficiently manage these ecosystems so that they result in exceedingly more value and maintain a competitive advantage.
One of the main types of these classified ecosystems is the Platform, in which companies have the desire to efficiently connect intellect and understanding with people. The value of the Platform ecosystem tends to increase based on the size of its community and capable customer-centric exchange.
No matter the market segment, for a company in a large and ambitious ecosystem, strategies must be put in place so that collaboration lies at the nucleus of any decisions made. And, when striving for a collaborative ecosystem, you better believe that the hub plays a pivotal role! Remote business offices really don't make much sense from a traditional "place to work" perspective. But, the hub, serving as a space to embody all the qualities and culture of a company, and in which ideas are exchanged and people transformed, was Elephant Skin's greatest insight.
For the Elephants: When you want to kick off your slippers, get out of your routine, be inspired, connect, engage in fantastic storytelling, and breathe people, come to HubES! Our doors are open to all!
Communications Manager - Roberta Lemos
Jornalist Daiana Barasa and Juliana Rodrigues | Naiá
Interviewed – Roberta Lemos - Communications Manager
20/09/2022 - 14:30 PM EST
REMEMBER, SHARING IS CARING!
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The Post-it Story


Topic: [online] Function for the clients that start.
I need a function similar to "function resume_game ()" and "function start ()", but only activate when a client joins a server .... something like "function client_start ()" ... is to show the scenario sale every time a player starts.
Re: [online] Function for the clients that start.
You could use resume_game. Is this not working?
The documentation for resume_game() says "This function is called when a savegame with active scenario is loaded.". Is there a guaranteed 1 to 1 relationship between loading a save game and joining a server?
gui.open_info_win_at("goal")I'm afraid it does not work.
Sorry for the wrong information: of course, any open_info_win works only locally at the server.
Is there a guaranteed 1 to 1 relationship between loading a save game and joining a server?
In terms of the game state: yes, but not in terms of gui.
Too bad, it would be good if each player could see the script rules at the moment of starting.
Now I see it, the function is executed, but the window is shown only on the server.
It would be good for clients to use a different function, in my humble opinion.
I could modify the open_info_win function to open the window for all clients. Also somehting like open_info_win_player(player_nr) which opens the window only if clients are allowed to play with the given player/company.
One could also always open the scenario window if a savegame with scenario is loaded.
I like this function "open_info_win_player (player_nr)", but I would also like to indicate the tab, something like "open_info_win_player (player_nr, goal)"
also all the open_info_win functinos now open the window on server & clients.
thank you very much !!.
It seems that something is wrong, clients do not show the scenario window.
Another detail, I noticed a lot of deicronization compared to the last time I did tests, is something causing problems ?.
player_nropens scenario info window on all clients that have this player unlocked.
I thought the player number was to show scenario window only if the client is using that player.