text:
\section{Introduction}

The combination of metal nanoparticles or nanowires
with various organic adsorbates such as dyes, peptides, and J-aggregates is an active area of research with applications in bio-sensoring, catalysis, and medicine~\cite{Yu-acie-2007, Tanaka-acie-2011, Sapsford-an-2011,Halivni-an-2012, Tel-aemb-2012}.
Numerous theoretical and
experimental studies of  nanoparticle-organic hybrid
systems have been reported (for reviews, see, e.g., Refs.~\cite{Dulkeith-prl-2002, Anger-prl-2006,
Pustovit-prb-2011, Zweigle-jpcc-2011}).
These hybrid systems exhibits new composition dependent properties, which differ from those of the separate constituents
This includes the
enhancement or quenching of fluorescence, absorption,
and Raman scattering due to surface and plasmon resonances, the broadening of the absorption range to yield an antenna effect, and modified ``redox'' properties; see, e.g.,
Refs.~\cite{Wenseleers-jpcb-2002, Lee-nl-2005, Saini-jppac-2007, Zou-np-2012, Rai-ao-2012}.

\begin{figure}[t]
\includegraphics[width=0.3\textwidth]{./fig1_formula.pdf}
\caption{\label{IrPSscheme}
Chemical formula of the photosensitizer \ce{[Ir(ppy)2(bpy)]+} (IrPS).}
\end{figure}

In the present communication we discuss results on the electronic properties of a model system comprised of the \ce{[Ir(ppy)2(bpy)]+} photosensitizer (IrPS)  shown in \Fig{IrPSscheme}, bound to
medium-sized silver clusters \ce{Ag_{$n$}} ($n$=19, 20).
Our choice of the system is motivated by the use of heteroleptic
Ir(III) complexes as photosensitizers in a  photocatalytic system for water splitting
introduced by Beller et al.\  \cite{Gaertner-acie-2009}.
The original homogeneous system includes triethylamine as a sacrificial reductant
 and a series of iron carbonyls as water reduction
catalysts. The absorption spectrum of the IrPS overlaps with the sun's spectrum only in its long wave length tail between 300 and 450~nm~\cite{Bokarev-jcp-2012}.
Therefore, extending the range of absorption further  into the visible by coupling the IrPS to silver nanoparticles might provide a means to enhance the overall efficiency of this photocatalytic system.

Because of size of the systems under study,
density functional theory (DFT)
\cite{Koch2001}
and its extension into the  time-dependent (TD) domain in the linear response limit
\cite{Casida1995}
is the natural choice  for studying  ground and excited state properties.
However, the correct description of long-range
charge-transfer (CT) properties, which is of mandatory for
hybrid systems, can not be achieved applying
conventional DFT functionals \cite{Dreuw-jcp-2003, Dreuw-cr-2005, Peach-jcp-2008, Richard-jctc-2011,bokarev15_xxx}.
By introducing exact Hartree-Fock exchange  in long-ranges corrected schemes
as LC-BLYP \cite {Iikura-jcp-2005, Tawada-jcp-2004, Chiba-jcp-2006} or CAM-B3LYP \cite{Yanai-cpl-2004},
the correct asymptotic behavior and more  balanced description for CT states is obtained.
In our previous study on bare IrPS \cite{Bokarev-jcp-2012},  the LC-BLYP approach was shown
to give excitation energies in good agreement with experimental data and results of
CASSCF/CASPT2 calculations.

The binding of IrPS to small model silver clusters  (one to six silver atoms) has been studied using the LC-BLYP approach in Ref.~\cite{Bokareva-pccp-2012}.
Already for this size of the hybrid system pronounced changes in the electronic absorption spectrum had been observed. Moreover, the electronic properties were found to be rather sensitive to the number of silver atoms, Binding energies and localization of HOMO and LUMO orbitals are found to oscillate with the number of silver atoms in an even/odd like fashion. Whether such a  behavior propagates to larger clusters and how it influences the photophysical properties is the topic of the present study.

The paper is organized as follows. In Sec.~\ref{sec:Comp} we give the computational details putting emphasis on the tuning of the
range-separation functional in LC-BLYP. The results are presented in Sec.~\ref{sec:Res}, including electronic ground state structures and electronic absorption spectra. A summary is provided in Sec. \ref{sec:Conc}.
\section{Computational details}
\label{sec:Comp}
In the long-range separation approach LC-BLYP a parameter $\omega$ is introduced,
which defines the  separation of the Coulomb operator into long-range and short-range parts, with the long-range part then being described by the exact exchange integral.
In a number of publications, it was demonstrated
that an appropriate tuning of $\omega$ leads to a significant improvement of fundamental  and optical gaps, CT and Rydberg excitation energies as well as ionization potentials (IPs)  \cite{Sears-jcp-2011, Korzdorfer-jcp-2011, Karolewski-jcp-2013, Refaely-prb-2011}. A systematic procedure for the determination of an optimal $\omega$ has been suggested in Refs.~\cite{Livshits-pccp-2007, Stein-jacs-2009, Stein-jcp-2009}. It is based on finding that $\omega$, which minimizes the following functional
\begin{eqnarray} \label{Jsum}
J(\omega ) &=& J_{N}(\omega )+ J_{N+1}(\omega) \nonumber\\
&=& \left|\varepsilon^{\omega }_{\rm HOMO}(N)+\text{IP}^{\omega}_{}(N)\right| \nonumber\\
&&+ \left|\varepsilon^{\omega }_{\rm HOMO}(N+1)+\text{IP}^{\omega}_{}(N+1)\right| \, .
\end{eqnarray}
In other words, the optimized $\omega$ will provide a compromise for fulfilling Koopmans' theorem simultaneously for systems with $N$ (cation complex) and  $N+1$ (neutral complex)  electrons. In \eq{Jsum},
$\varepsilon^{\omega }_{\rm HOMO}$ and $\text{IP}^{\omega}_{}$ is the HOMO energy
and the IP, respectively.

In Ref.~\cite{Bokareva-omega-2014} we have studied the present systems and obtained  optimized range-separation parameters for the bare IrPS, silver clusters \ce{Ag_{$n$}}, and hybrid systems \ce{IrPS-Ag_{$n$}} ($n$ = 2, 10, 20). Here, we give a more detailed account on the case of \ce{IrPS-Ag_{$10$}}. In short,
the IPs and HOMO energies of neutral species, anions, and cations have been obtained from single-point
energy calculations at the optimized  geometry of the electronic ground state.
Similar to the small systems \cite{Bokareva-pccp-2012},
the geometry optimization was carried out without
symmetry constraints. Initial geometries of IrPS
for further optimization were taken from Ref.~ \cite{Bokarev-jcp-2012}
(assuming $\text{C}_{2}^{}$ point symmetry \cite{King-jacs-1987}). The initial structures of \ce{Ag10} were taken from Ref.~\cite{Yang-jcp-2006}, those of \ce{Ag19} and \ce{Ag20} from Ref.~\cite{Baishya-prb-2008}, except tetrahedral  \ce{Ag20} which had been studied before in  Refs.~\cite{Aikens-jpcc-2008,  Zhao-nl-2006, Lang-chc-2011}.
Binding energies have been obtained including the
counterpoise method to correct for the basis set
superposition error (BSSE) \cite{Boys-mp-1970, Simon-jcp-1996}.

Vertical excitation spectra have been calculated
by means of the TDDFT approach. The number of included transitions  has been 450 and 650 for XXa and IXXo, respectively.
A Lorentzian broadening
(0.4 eV) has been added to the  stick-spectra. Spin-forbidden transitions were not included in
the present TDDFT investigation although
they could have notable intensity due to the high spin-orbit coupling constant of Ir.
All calculations were performed with the Gaussian09 program package  \cite{g09}  using the LANL2DZ effective core potential  basis set for Ir and Ag
and the 6-31G(d) basis for all other atoms.

\begin{figure}[t]
\includegraphics[width=0.5\textwidth]{./fig2_omega_bw.pdf}
	\caption{\label{omegaX}
		Optimization of range-separation parameter for the case of \ce{IrPS-Ag_{10}^{}}. The functions $J^{}_{N}(\omega)$ and
			$J^{}_{N+1}(\omega)$ are defined in \eq{Jsum} and represent the conditions for fulfilling Koopmans' theorem for the cationic and neutral  species, respectively.}
\end{figure}

\section{Results and discussion}
\label{sec:Res}
\subsection{Range-separation Parameter Optimization}
In \Fig{omegaX}, the procedure for tuning $\omega$
is demonstrated for the case of \ce{IrPS-Ag_{$10$}}.
A minimum of $J(\omega)$ at 0.16 $\text{bohr}_{}^{-1}$ was found.
Around 0.63 $\text{bohr}_{}^{-1}$
an  additional higher energetic minimum occurs. This can be traced to the change of the character of the lowest adiabatic state of the cationic species, where the order of  HOMO and HOMO-1 orbitals are interchanged. Here, the
unpaired electron initially localized on the $\pi^{*}_{}(\text{bpy})$ orbital of the reduced doublet IrPS
 is transferred  to the $\sigma(\text{Ag}_{10}^{})$ orbital~\cite{Bokarev-pccp-2014}.

The obtained optimal $\omega$ value is substantially
smaller than values of $0.33 \, \text{bohr}_{}^{-1}$
and $0.47 \, \text{bohr}_{}^{-1}$
(shown as vertical lines in \Fig{omegaX})  implemented in common quantum chemical packages. This is not surprising since these  (standard) values were determined for test sets  of diatomics and small molecules \cite{Tawada-jcp-2004, Song-jcp-2007}.

Since the inverse of $\omega$ reflects a characteristic
distance for switching between short- and
long-range parts of the exchange contribution, optimal
$\omega$ values were shown to decrease with increasing system size and
conjugation length \cite{Stein-jcp-2009,
Korzdorfer-jcp-2011, Stein-prl-2010,
Karolewski-jcp-2011, Refaely-prb-2011,
Sears-jcp-2011, Salzner-jctc-2011}.
This size-dependence, however, is not monotonous
and there is a strong dependence on the electronic
structure \cite{Refaely-prb-2011}. Optimal values
of $\omega$ near $0.2 \: \text{bohr}^{-1}_{}$
have been reported for various systems
with  characteristic electronic radii
comparable to the present ones, e.g., 0.214 $\text{bohr}^{-1}_{}$ was found
for pentacene-\ce{C60} \cite{Minami-ijqc-2013}; for other
examples see Refs.~\cite{Stein-jcp-2009, Stein-prl-2010, Refaely-prb-2011}.

As shown in Ref.~\cite{Bokareva-omega-2014} there is only a slight variation of $\omega$ when going from IrPS, via Ag$_n$ ($n=10,20$) to \ce{IrPS-Ag_{$10,20$}}.
Thus, in the following we provide results on excited states obtained
using  $\omega=0.16 \, \text{bohr}_{}^{-1}$ for all compounds.
It turned out the ground state geometries of the present systems are little affect by the choice of $\omega$.  The corresponding tests have been performed for IrPS, \ce{Ag2}, \ce{IrPS-Ag2}, and \ce{IrPS-Ag19}.
Therefore, we have used the
the standard $\omega^{}_{2}=0.47 \, \text{bohr}_{}^{-1}$ for the ground state optimization. Selected TDDFT calculations are also performed with the latter value in order to study the  influence of $\omega$ on the absorption spectrum.

\subsection{Ground electronic state}

In our previous study of IrPS bound to small ($n\le 6$)
silver clusters \cite{Bokareva-pccp-2012}, we found
that configurations in which \ce{Ag_{$n$}} is
situated in the cavities
between ligands are the lowest in energy. Note
that in all cases the interactions are ``weak'' and
no chemical bonds are formed. Here, we extended
our investigation to \ce{IrPS-Ag_{$n$}} geometries with 19 and
20 silver atoms, however, focussing mostly on
those structures where the cluster is located  in the ``ppy-ppy'' cavity
as shown in \Fig{Structures}.

\begin{figure}[t]
\includegraphics[width=0.45\textwidth]{./fig3_structures.pdf}
\caption{\label{Structures}
Optimized structures of \ce{IrPS-Ag19} and
\ce{IrPS-Ag20} studied in this paper. The conformers labeled IXXe and IXXo are not distinguishable at the scale of the image.}
\end{figure}

The differences in geometry of \ce{IrPS} upon complexation with a silver cluster are only minor (maximal changes are 0.09 \AA{} and $4.6^{\circ}_{}$); for an overview of geometries see Table ~\ref{Geom}.
The binding energies of the  studied systems
are in the range $1.5-2.5\: \text{kJ/mol}$, which is about 10 times smaller than that of silver atoms in large nanoparticles \cite{Fernandez-prb-2004} and smaller than in analogous systems with $n=1-6$.
This confirms the trend of a decrease of binding energies with the increase of cluster size found previously \cite{Bokareva-pccp-2012}.
Such a behavior can be explained by the fact
that no stable complexes are formed, i.e. the interaction
belongs to physisorption case and might
be considered as a weak attraction between
the ligands of IrPS and nearest atoms of silver cluster.
The total  binding energies
(not divided by number of silver atoms)
are 30-100~kJ/mol for all systems disregarding the cluster size.
Accounting for the BSSE decreases the binding energy by factor of  about two for all cases. The change of $\omega$
from the standard to the optimized value has no uniform impact on
binding energies. Changes of a  factor of about two in both directions were observed.
Note that the order of stability is sensitive to the value of range-separation parameter used. For clarity, we provide here only results of calculations with the optimal $\omega$ value. For the series of XX stuctures, the XXa conformer is the lowest in energy, while XXa' and XXb are by 30.0 and 4.1 kJ/mol higher, respectively. For the IXX species, IXXe is more stable ($\Delta \text{E} = 38.2 \text{kJ/mol}$). Nevertheless, in the following we also discuss the IXXo structure because of its unique electronic structure in the ground electronic state.

\begin{table*}
\begin{threeparttable}
\caption{\label{Geom}
	Selected equilibrium geometric parameters of all
	\ce{IrPS}$\cdots$\ce{Ag}$_{n}^{}$ compared to IrPS \cite{Bokarev-jcp-2012} and \ce{IrPS}$^{\text{0}}_{}$ \cite{Bokarev-pccp-2014} in the ground electronic states.
	For notation of structures see \Fig{Structures}.
	Bond lengths in \AA, angles in degrees.}
\begin{tabular*}{0.9\textwidth}{@{\extracolsep{\fill}} l c c c c c c c}
\hline
Parameter \tnote{a} & IrPS & IrPS$^{\text{0}}$ &
 IXXo & IXXe & XXa & XXa$^{\prime}_{}$ & XXb \\
\hline
 r(Ir--C$_{\text{ppy}}^{})$ & 2.007 & 2.010 &  2.019 & 2.005 & 2.007 & 2.001 & 2.002 \\
 r(Ir--N$_{\text{ppy}}^{})$ & 2.055 & 2.051 & 2.051 & 2.059 & 2.058 & 2.056 & 2.057 \\
 r(Ir--N$_{\text{bpy}}^{})$ & 2.163 & 2.134 & 2.116 & 2.158 & 2.158 & 2.160 & 2.162 \\
 r(C--C)$_{\text{ppy}}^{}$ & 1.463 & 2.464 & 1.470 & 1.463 & 1.466 & 1.457 & 1.461 \\
 r(C--C)$_{\text{bpy}}^{}$ & 1.485 & 2.409 & 1.408 & 1.482 & 1.485 & 1.481 & 1.482 \\
 r(Ir--Ag) \tnote{b} & -- & -- & 3.563 & 3.919 & 4.042 & 5.101 & 5.108 \\
 $\angle$CIrC & 89.3 & 89.1 & 93.9 & 92.9 & 90.7 & 89.8 & 90.4 \\
 $\angle$N$_{\text{ppy}}^{}$IrN$_{\text{ppy}}^{}$ & 172.1 & 174.5 & 174.8 & 171.8 & 171.8 & 172.8 & 172.2 \\
  $d$CIrCN & 92.4 & 96.1 & 95.8 & 93.2 & 93.3 & 95.0 & 94.6 \\
 \hline
\end{tabular*}
\begin{tablenotes}

	\item[a] For parameters including ppy, only those ppy fragment that is closer to the silver cluster is regarded. The parameters of second ppy fragment differ by no more than 0.04~$\AA$;
	\item[b] Distance between Ir and closest silver atom.
\end{tablenotes}
\end{threeparttable}
\end{table*}

The representative frontier orbitals (LC-BLYP, $\omega=0.16\: \text{bohr}^{-1}_{}$) are given in \Fig{Orbitals} for the cases of IXXo and XXa.
If the standard value of $\omega$ is applied then the HOMO-LUMO gap increases by about 1 eV for all cases. The shift is mainly due to the LUMO orbitals while the nature and order of orbitals remains the same.

The orbital structure differs for systems containing odd and even number of silver atoms.
For an even number, the HOMO orbital is localized on the silver fragment ($\sigma ^{}_{\text{Ag}}$) and the
LUMO is of $\pi^{*}_{1}\text{(bpy)}$ type.
For an odd number of silver atoms this situation is reversed:
 the unpaired electron is situated on the  $\pi^{*}_{1}\text{(bpy)}$ orbital as in the reduced IrPS, while the LUMO is localized on the  silver fragment.
A similar situation with one exception for \ce{IrPS-Ag5} was found for smaller clusters \cite{Bokareva-pccp-2012} as well as for the much larger cluster \ce{IrPS-Ag92} \cite{Bokareva-cp-2014}.

For 19 atoms  two cases were found which slightly differ  in geometry: IXXo (``o'' means ``odd'') follows the orbital rules just given and IXXe (``e'' stands for ``even'') is an exception where the unpaired electron is localized on the silver fragment.
The  ``odd'' and ``even'' groups can be also seen from the comparison
of geometries, see Table ~\ref{Geom}; the distances Ir-N$_{\rm bpy}^{}$ and $r$(C-C)$_{\rm bpy}^{}$ are shorter for the ``odd'' group and the IrPS in its reduced form (IrPS$^0$).

\begin{figure}[t]
\includegraphics[width=0.49\textwidth]
	{./fig4_orbitals.pdf}
\caption{\label{Orbitals}
	Molecular orbital energies and frontier orbitals for IXXo and XXa systems.}
\end{figure}

\subsection{Absorption spectra}
The absorption spectra of IXXo and XXa are presented
in \Fig{Spectra_all}.  The standard (0.47 bohr$^{-1}_{}$) and optimized
$\omega$ values were applied for comparison.
Because of the number of states considered and of
the complex character of most states, we distinguish  only between
two types of orbitals: those localized on silver or on dye fragments, but
do not consider the particular character of orbitals, e.g., $\pi\rm{(ppy)}$,
$\pi\rm{(bpy)}$, or $d\rm{(Ir)}$ for IrPS. For each state different contributions have
been summed up and the corresponding dominating character has
been assigned. Most of transitions have very complex assignment and
are marked as ``mixed''.
In \Fig{Spectra_all} the spectra are shown as sticks and with a Lorentzian broadening.

All spectra have a clear  maximum composed mainly by
silver-localized transitions, which, for pure cluster spectra, would  be called ``plasmonic'' excitations (collective excitation of electrons).
Similar to the cases of small silver clusters \cite{Bokareva-pccp-2012}, the hybrid systems support a  new type of long-range intermolecular CT, corresponding to
$\rm{IrPS}\rightarrow \rm{Ag_{n}^{}}$ or $\rm Ag_{n}^{} \rightarrow \rm IrPS$. These
intermolecular CT transitions (denoted as IM to
emphasize the their  long-range nature) are marked with red bars in \Fig{Spectra_all}.
The IM transitions have very different intensities, from almost zero to that comparable with silver plasmon-like transitions.
Many transitions can not be attributed to pure IM type. but have a notable contribution of  intramolecular CT character. These mixed transitions are marked with black bars in \Fig{Spectra_all}.
In the lower panel of \Fig{Spectra_all}, electron density difference plots for transitions of IM and cluster localized types are given.

Comparing the spectra of XXa and IXXo with different $\omega$ values, three important points should be highlighted.
First, their maxima  are shifted to the red by 0.4 eV  for XXa and by 0.1 eV for IXXo.
The positions of particular bands can hardly be compared
as the assignment is very complex.
Second, the density of states for the optimized $\omega$
is almost twice higher than for the standard $\omega$. Finally, the distribution of oscillator strength depends on $\omega$ as well. This is particularly visible for the XXa system, where the optimized $\omega$ yields a double peak spectrum, which is in contrast to IXXo. For the standard $\omega$ XXa and IXXo have essentially the same line shape.

\begin{figure*}[t]
\begin{widetext}
\includegraphics[width=0.8\textwidth]{./fig5_spectra.pdf}
\caption{\label{Spectra_all}
Upper panel: Selected vertical electronic singlet-singlet (for XXa) and
doublet-doublet (for IXXo) TDDFT spectra
calculated with LC-BLYP with standard and optimized $\omega$ parameter.
Associated spectra are broadened with Lorentzians of width 0.4 eV.
Lower panel: Electron density differences (contour value 0.0008) for selected transitions,
which are marked with asterisks in upper panel.  Red and blue colours correspond to particle and hole densities, respectively.}
\end{widetext}
\end{figure*}

The changes of absorption spectra upon complexation are of general importance for possible photochemical and photophysical applications.
Because of complicated assignment of single bands, the direct comparison of particular transitions is hindered and only the overall shapes can be compared. In \Fig{Comparison} the broadened spectra for IXXo and XXa are compared to those of the pure constituents.
For IXXo, we provide the spectra of reduced \ce{IrPS^{0}} and Ag$_{19}^+$ according to the ground electronic state structure, whereas for XXa  the results for IrPS and \ce{Ag20} are given.

The broadening parameter was chosen in such a way as to reproduce
the approximate width of experimental plasmonic band for silver clusters, which is about 50 nm \cite{Thomas-n-2008, Ma-apa-2011}. However,
different types of transitions (local and CT), even in
case of pure IrPS, could have a different broadening, which is not considered due to the lack of detailed information.
For the case of smeared fine structures of spectra, we expect
our results to be only slightly dependent on the variation
of line shape and  small changes in line widths of transitions of particular types.
When discussing the changes in the broadened spectra in the following, one should keep in mind that the individual  transitions and thus the  unresolved fine structure of the spectrum is strongly modified upon complexation.

\begin{figure}[t]
\includegraphics[width=0.45\textwidth]{./fig6_comparison_bw.pdf}
\caption{\label{Comparison}
Calculated (LC-BLYP, $\omega = 0.16 \, \text{bohr}^{-1}_{}$) absorption spectra of pure IrPS, \ce{Ag_{n}}, their sum,  and combined systems \ce{IrPS-Ag_{$n$}} ($n$ = 19, 20). The width of the Lorentzian broadening has been 0.4 eV. Note that for IXXo the reduced IrPS and the oxidised Ag$_{19}$ have been used as reference, in accord with the ground state orbital structure of this system.
}
\end{figure}

If we compare the absorption spectra of the hybrid systems with those of their constituents the following observations can be made: The maximum of the plasmonic band in the spectrum of IXXo is shifted by 0.2 eV to the blue and its width increases slightly.
For XXa the maximum remains almost at the same position upon complexation with IrPS. The position and shape of this broad band is very similar for unbound and bound clusters.
Some additional features in the spectra of
XXa in the region from 4.5 to 5 eV could be attributed to the influence of IrPS through the manifold of new states with non-negligible IM CT character.

Figure \ref{Comparison} also contains the  sum of spectra of the isolated dye and the cluster. It  almost does not differ from the spectrum of the interacting hybrid system for  XXa, and it is shifted only by about 0.2 eV to the blue for IXXo.
But the density of states increases and most transitions have at least an admixture of IM character. Therefore, the spectra of hybrid systems cannot be considered as perturbed spectra of metal clusters.
Consequently, the photodynamics of the hybrid systems might strongly differ from those of pure IrPS.

\section{Conclusions}
\label{sec:Conc}
The interaction of an Ir(III)-based photosensitizer with silver clusters containing 19 or 20 atoms has been studied by means of TDDFT with a properly chosen range-separation parameter in the LC-BLYP functional.  Although the interaction between dye and metal particle belongs to the case of weak physisorption, the properties of the hybrid systems differ notably from those of its constituents. This concerns
the appearance of long-range intermolecular CT states, which might lead to a completely different photophysical and photochemical behaviour, including long-lived charge separation favourable for further reactions. The low resolution electronic excitation spectra are close to the sum of the spectra of the non-interacting constituents.  However, the underlying density of electronic states and thus the fine structure of the spectra is strongly modified in the hybrid system, with the details depending on the number of silver atoms.
The changes in the  adsorption spectrum  upon forming the hybrid system are mostly observed the  region from 3 to 4.5 eV, but they are masked by the  broad plasmonic type absorption band of the cluster.

If we extrapolate the obtained theoretical results to experimental observations the following considerations should be taken into account.
First, metal clusters used for spectroscopic and catalytic studies are produced either chemically by reduction in solutions~\cite{Badr-ass-2006, Peng-apa-2012} or with laser techniques, e.g., cluster beam generation utilizing arc  discharge, magnetron sputtering, or laser vaporization
(for review see, e.g., Ref.~\cite{Popok-ssr-2011}).
The resulting clusters are substantially larger compared to those
used in our theoretical model and have a certain size distributions.
Second, the clusters are produced either in solution or deposited on a plate.
The deposited nanoclusters have the advantage of being protected from fast aggregation and thus are often applied in spectroscopic studies and also in catalysis providing more stable and long-living catalysts.
The experimental maximum of plasmonic band for silver particles is in the range 375-430 nm for an average diameter  from 2 to 50 nm \cite{Peng-apa-2012, Badr-ass-2006,
Hilger-apb-2001, Ma-apa-2011,Thomas-n-2008} and produced in aqueous solution or embedded in solid substrate (\ce{SiO2}, \ce{Cr2O3}, and \ce{MgF2}).
The maximum of this peak shifts to the red with increasing the average cluster  size and with increasing the dielectric constant of the surrounding medium.
Consequently, the spectra of IrPS bound to silver clusters relevant in those experiments should be averaged over different cluster sizes and red-shifted as  compared to those shown in \Fig{Comparison}. It can be expected that the differences between odd and even number of atoms in cluster will not be seen in this case. Further, the interaction between the silver clusters and the IrPS will be weakened due to the increase of the spectral separation. The consequences for the properties of the hybrid system still need to be explored.

\acknowledgments
This work has been supported by the European Union (European Social Funds, ESF) within the project ''PS4H'' and by the Ministry for education, science and culture of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

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I cannot thank you enough. You have no idea how much this is helping to heal my family. I have two little boys with horribly bad tempers and I've just felt like this is above my level of parenting skills, felt this way for a few years now. I've tried to find help in various ways but nothing has shown to be effective. But this, wow, this is helping me to heal my children, thank you so very much!!!
Genevieve gave us some advice on how to validate our son's feelings and show him how to breathe deeply when he was angry. It turned out that we never had to use those techniques as he hasn't bitten or clawed either of us again 🙂 (We have used them in other frustrated moments though!) It really showed us that just being heard and empathized with can heal immediately. My husband and I were given a space to talk which gave us both an immediate feeling of relief and Genevieve spoke out for our little boy (who was pottering around and listening the whole time) and for the first time we 'heard' the feelings behind his behaviour. Just the seemingly simple process of being heard and your feelings validated and empathized with really does heal! Babies, too!
Genevieve, your advice have made so much difference to my parenting style and state of mind overall (which has been much needed) - don't think I have it mastered by a long shot but the daily reminders, practical advice, and overall positivity is helping my husband and I to learn to be the best parents we can be. Can't say how much I appreciate this and have been wondering for nearly 3 years, since my son was born, where on earth to access this kind of information. It is so great to gain a more positive, nurturing perspective and begin to achieve far more successful outcomes when managing our wee lovelies. To have so much information and strategies available is so what I have needed to not only reinforce the parent I want to be but give me confidence in how I have been managing so far - who doesn't need that?! Thank you thank you thank you. What a wonderful job you do!
I have noticed some improvements with my 7 yr old son. We had a session with Genevieve & it was great to help us focus. Tried some of her techniques of connecting & after a couple of tries my son told me this in the bath one night "Yeah it is really scary mum. When I get really angry it feels really good to hurt you and say bad things and i think I really mean it and then I calm down and I feel really bad that I did that and I'm sad". Since Genevieve pointed it out I now understand that it is more scary for them than for us - it took me ages to get that.
What's included in the Village?
All resources in our learning centre are designed to step you through the concepts and strategies of Peaceful Parenting and gain support as you aim to put the theory into practice in your family or classroom.
The Peaceful Parenting Step by Step eCourse. Worth $295, this course alone makes your membership crazy good value! Guides you through a toolkit of Peaceful Parenting strategies in a step by step process, allowing you to tackle all your parenting challenges. This eCourse offers an in depth, 36 lesson course including videos, downloadable audios, reflection questions & practical tasks. Learn in the ways that work for you.
Discipline without Punishment Full Video Series (worth $90) This course is like having Genevieve in your living room guiding you through the principles of why and how replacing punishments with Peaceful Parenting strategies will lead to greater harmony and cooperation in your family or classroom. In 8 lessons, you'll enjoy videos, each with quick reflection worksheets and a printable overview.
10 Day Peaceful Parent Challenge (worth $35). This offers a 10 minute per day for 10 days challenge, with the intention of bringing more peace, harmony and clarity into your days and helping to build positive habits in self-care and mindfulness, while optionally sharing your journey with fell members.
Mama Meltdown Mini Course (worth $45) - A quick but powerful course that looks at anger and overwhelm.
More eCourses to come in 2019! Currently in development is our Sibling Struggles eCourse (worth $140).
No time to sit and watch videos? Download the audio versions to your phone and listen on the go.
Watch a video, read an article or download an audio for inspiration while doing dishes.
Sorted by video, audio and text you can easily find your preffered format.
People often comment on how much they learn from seeing and hearing Genevieve explain and demonstrate the concepts.
From Q & A's like, "How do I help my child get in their car seat?" (haven't we all been there?), video on "Helping your child stand up to other adults" and audios like "How to parent when overwhelmed" you're bound to find strategies and support you can use.
Village Forums are supportive spaces to ask those niggly questions or gain support on days where it feels too hard to be an adult - let alone one who is trying to parent peacefully!
You'll soon consider our lovely mentors friends.
Non-judgemental, compassionate support and advice - no matter where you are with your parenting.
Aren't fellow parents amazing? Get support from one another. Just knowing other parents are having the same struggles makes the journey less lonely.
Favorite groups include the Village green general forum, Self-healing & Peaceful Partnering but there is something for everyone.
always more videos, audios & eCourses in the pipeline!
We have an overflowing list of videos, courses & resources we're continually developing! The Village will continue to grow & evolve.
Fortnightly live Q&A webinars with Genevieve give you the chance to ask your burning questions.
More goodness being added all the time.
This is your village. Want something? Just ask. We love making stuff you love.
People learn and grow best when they learn and grow together.
Wanting to expand your Peaceful Parenting toolbox?.
Join our free Discipline without Punishment Video Series.
Monthly subscription. Money back guarantee first 14 days.
Join now for $28 p.m. Just $7 a week!
Pay annually and save $90.
Join now for US$220. That's just $4 a week!
Join this community where you can learn, heal and grow with like minded others, all from the comfort of your own home! Joining is both an important investment in your family's emotional wellbeing while also supporting the Peaceful Parent Institute to reach further and wider!
The Way of the Peaceful Parent Village was developed to help people connect with like-minded others and access the learning and the support that they need to maintain more harmony in their family or classroom.
This virtual village is something I've been developing in my mind and heart for a long time.
Some of you might feel like you know me already if you've been following peaceful parenting for years and others may be very new to my work and this whole philosophy.
I have worked with individuals, couples and groups over the last twenty five years, educating and facilitating personal growth, healing and positive change. I am a qualified Psychosynthesis Counselor, a Level II Aware Parenting Instructor, a Heart to Heart Parenting Facilitator, an international speaker, writer, educator and the founder of The Peaceful Parent Institute. I grew up in Ireland and have lived in New Zealand since 2000. My husband Dan and I founded the Peaceful Parent Institute with the vision of extending the work. Over the last twenty years I've presented hundreds of workshops and courses from evening seminars to five day residential retreats in parenting, relationships, self-healing, meditation and personal development. Dan and I have helped teenagers through nature based leadership camps and are both involved in an annual Nature Education Conference here in NZ. Facilitating positive change has been a privilege and a passion throughout my adult life.
I have huge hopes and visions for connection and attachment based parenting to become the norm in our society. Through my work with parents and teachers face to face and in the village and with the help of the rest of our very awesome team, I hope to continue extending my support to more parents, teachers and hence children globally.
Does it matter where in the world I live?
No not at all, you can join from anywhere in the world. You can post your questions at any time, and they'll be answered as others are online and you can monitor notifications. We change around the times that we offer webinars to facilitate different time zones, and also people can send a question in ahead of time and then watch the replay after the event.
From the time that Genevieve's following started to become increasingly international through people accessing the website and later the facebook page, she began developing the online resources that equip parents and teachers with the kinds of information and support that people gain from live workshops and seminars.
Is this more suitable to parents of younger or older children?
Those who seek the support of the Peaceful Parent Institute present a huge range of questions and issues relating to all the different stages from pre-conception to parenting adult children or grandparents bringing up their grandchildren. You can also contact the admin team by email or posting a question to gain prompting on the best resources in the Village that meet your particular needs. As specific answers are given, we often package that response into a Q&A for others to avail of in the future.
Will the Peaceful Parent give me the therapeutic support that I need?
Although many of our participants have found the support in the forums to be very healing and therapeutic, we need to be very clear that online therapy is not the intention of the Village.
Genevieve, Tabitha, Meg and Wendy, Gauri, Julie, Michelle, Debra and the other administrators each bring a huge richness of experience and passion to this community. We each have different skills that we bring and all share a passion for reaching as many families and schools as possible with these connection based approaches. Between us we have a lot of experience in counselling, family therapy, teaching, special needs, sensory issues, mindfulness, occupational therapy, the healing of trauma and childhood wounds. And yet none of us are offering to be a primary support person to a Village member. We can support people to reach out and gain the support they need in their world and gain extra support in the Village.
I don't have specific problems, just want to make sure I continue to be the best parent I can be. Is the village still helpful?
This is a great time to join a community like this and engage in the learning and sharing. It's a fact that having the support of others you share values with is one of the biggest resilience factors in preventing problems (including mental health issues). We love that parents feel equally as free and uninhibited to share their enjoyment of their child and their wins and their pride, as they do the tough stuff. And when things are going well, it can be very satisfying to play a part in encouraging and supporting others who are needing that friendly comment or even clicking that little love button.
Will you continue to run The Way of the Peaceful Parent facebook page and Q&A group?
Yes absolutely! You'll still see my daily page posts in your newsfeed and new people will continue to learn about peaceful parenting through my and other people's parenting pages.
I've wanted to bring to more people some of the advantages that course participants and clients gain from me, which is what spurred me to start developing the membership site; increased privacy, security, a range of special interest groups, teleseminars and a more sustainable system of moderating. And for clients and course participants, this is a place to gain ongoing interaction and support with like minded others. The Q and A is a great place for parents to seek the advice of a large group of members working towards more peaceful parenting. However, giving satisfactory responses to all the questions that come in daily is beyond our admin capacity, so although we still moderate this group and help to maintain emotional safety, we prioritise answering questions in the Village membership or member's only Village Participants facebook group.
How confidential is the village?
This system has taken a long time to set up, but in the village, we can be much more confident about safety and security. Only logged in paid members can view or read any of the content in the discussion forums. Being the internet, we can never fully guarantee 100% safety, but can reassure you that we pay a lot for very high quality hosting with layers of security.
We ask members to respect the confidentiality of others who post here and avoid ever copying and pasting another's words to share without their permission (as in guidelines).
How does the refund policy and cancellation work?
You can gain a full refund in the first 30 days. The only conditions that apply is that we'll first send you a couple of questions to make sure that you're not leaving because you didn't access the help you needed finding the materials that most relate to your situation.
As a safeguard, we also check at our end that a member hasn't already downloaded lots of the material. This is for our protection knowing how valuable the content is and not wanting it to be misused or repackaged. But if you've downloaded 3 or 4 items to see if it's a good fit for you and you decide to leave, we absolutely respect that and will be happily give you a refund!
If you joined more than 30 days ago and signed up for a year, you can cancel or downgrade to basic (free) membership and you'll still have access until the full year has passed, at which point you'll lose access to all premium Village areas.
I get a bit scared commenting in forums? Will this one be supportive?
We understand the insecurity of joining discussions on facebook or other open forums as it increases the chances of you situation being commented on or judged by those lacking understanding of Peaceful Parenting.
We aim to moderate in a way that greatly reduces advice is given that lacks empathy, sensitivity and encouragement. If this does happen, our skilled admins intervene sensitively to ensure a safe outcome for all involved.
It's a big deal to expose your personal questions, struggles and vulnerable feelings relating to personal situations. The admin team will prioritise moderating the Village forums and aim to moderate as gently as possible, by bringing a member's awareness to the guidelines and inviting them to edit comments or responses to help maintain a more level, mature and emotionally safe space.
We also understand that everyone is learning and hope to support that learning in a compassionate way.
Do I need to pay extra for the webinars and for new eCourses or videos as they are added?
No your annual fee includes the webinars and any other resources that are added during your term of membership.


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Brenda completed her Masters while working, raising kids and moving around Australia.
Keryn Donnelly
Pop Culture Editor
Thanks to our brand partner, Open Universities Australia
When Brenda Bruce decided to study nursing after high school, she had no idea she would fall in love with the profession.
But she did.
"I started my degree in 2001," she told Mamamia. "I had thought about doing nursing but I wasn't super keen on it. My best friend at the time didn't want to go to uni by herself, so I went with her."
"It was one of the best decisions I've ever made," she laughed. "So listen to your best mates."
After she finished her undergraduate degree, Brenda headed to Mount Isa for a one-year rural placement. When she returned to Brisbane, she began working in the emergency ward. At that point she undertook some further study in emergency nursing.
A few more years into her career, and after a stint working overseas in Canada, Brenda decided she was ready to take the next step in her career.
"There are three streams you can go into in nursing – management, clinical and education," she explained. "And management was where I wanted to be and where I thought my talents lie."
So Brenda enrolled in the Master of Health Industry Management with Curtin University, studying online through Open Universities Australia.
Brenda is a clinical nurse consultant. Image: supplied.
At the time she was single and child-free, but within a few short years, Brenda had married, relocated and started a family.
"I married an army officer - so we moved around a fair bit," she explained. "We got married and had kids, so I paused my study and then picked it back up at times when I thought I could do a little bit."
Brenda knew she wanted a specific degree that could get her where she wanted to be, and something that was flexible for her. That's why she chose Open Universities Australia.
"When I was looking for a course, there were a lot of unis that were offering a Masters of Nursing. But I knew I wanted to open my options to the entirety of healthcare," she explained.
"Open Universities were offering that in a way where I could do it from home."
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The main drawcard for Brenda was the ability to fit further education into her already busy life.
"It was really flexible and that's what I needed," she said. "I was doing two subjects a semester and then the semester that I got married I dropped it down to one. So I could drop it down to one when I could look forward and see that I had something on."
Brenda also found that she could choose the subjects that suited her lifestyle at the time.
Image: supplied.
"They have all of the subject plans online, so I could look at it and go 'OK, so I have time now to do one subject but I don't have time to do an exam, but this subject here is only assessed on assignments'," she said.
"So I could really choose which subject I did depending on what I had on when."
Despite studying remotely, Brenda always felt connected to the other students in her course.
"All of the subjects have a subject board online where you can talk to your peers and your unit coordinator," she said.
"They would also let you know who in your area was studying the same subjects as you, so you could talk to those people if you liked."
And support was always just a phone call away.
"They have such a good online call centre," she said. "They're so helpful - they were pretty much my personal assistants."
After nine years of part-time study around her growing family and burgeoning career, Brenda graduated from her Masters.
She's now a Clinical Nurse Consultant for Safety and Quality at Alice Springs Hospital.
Brenda's not the only one who has pursued their dreams through flexible study while juggling the demands of family life.
For years, Nessa worked hard building her career in human resources for the community health sector.
"I got into HR work, just administration at first," she explained. "And then worked my way up to being in a management role and at that time I was encouraged to finish off my bachelor degree."
"It fitted my lifestyle." Image supplied.
When it came to taking the next step, Nessa knew she needed to complete some further study without disrupting her lifestyle. So, like Brenda, she turned to Open Universities Australia.
"In terms of my career ambitions and where I ultimately want to end up, leaders and managers in the past have talked to me about the importance of having the theory behind the practice," she said.
She studied Griffith University's Master of Employment Relations online through Open Universities Australia - all while working full time and caring for her 13-year-old brother, who was under her guardianship.
Nessa had two children, and did another degree through Open Universities Australia, earning her Executive MBA from RMIT.
As a working mum-of-two, the flexibility of online study was a perfect fit for her.
"It fitted my lifestyle, " she said. "I couldn't afford to actually take time off from work."
"Having children it was also very helpful in trying to accommodate that juggle as well. Because it means I can study at any time of the day, so it gives me that flexibility."
Nessa is now the General Manager of People and Communications at Merri Health.
If you're ready to take the next step in your career, visit Open Universities Australia to browse hundreds of different degrees that you can fit in and around your busy lifestyle.
This content was brought to you with thanks by our brand partner, Open Universities Australia.
Open Universities Australia has helped more than 400,000 students study online with leading Australian universities, without putting their lives on hold. Explore your options at open.edu.au or call a friendly student advisor on 13 OPEN.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


A new version of Parallels Remote Application Server includes features designed to make life easier for IT management.
If you need a great solution for virtual application and desktop delivery to any kind of device and operating system, Parallels wants to be by your side.
Version 15 of Parallels Remote Application Server features an improved user interface aimed at speeding common admin tasks.


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Partygate is damaging the reputation of the civil service and integrity of the Union
By Luke Tryl
18 Jan Political parties
No10 culture buck firmly rests with the Prime Minister – he must go
By Anna Soubry
Where Are They Now? Former Conservative Brexit Rebel MP David Gauke
To win, Labour must become the party of rural Britain
By Lord Knight of Weymouth
Casinos seek Covid support package alongside hospitality industry if further restrictions are needed
Winter 2021 edition of Order! Order! magazine published
By Association of Former Members of Parliament
'Roadmap' To End Lockdown Sees Pubs And Hairdressers Return From 12 April
Boris Johnson unveiled his roadmap out of lockdown in the Commons today (Parliamentlive.TV)
@Alain_Tolhurst
7 min read 22 February 2021
The prime minister's "cautious but irreversible" plan to bring the country out from lockdown will see pubs and hairdressers re-open from 12 April.
Boris Johnson outlined his eagerly awaited four-phase 'Roadmap to Recovery' in the Commons this afternoon which will begin with the easing of restrictions on 8 March, when schools will reopen and care home visits can begin again.
The first phase will also allow people to start socialising outdoors, meaning up to six people or two households of any number of people can meet up in parks or private gardens from March 29.
Each phase after that will begin after a minimum of five weeks, meaning pubs and restaurants will be able to serve customers outdoors from April 12 at the earliest. Non-essential retail and personal care including hairdressers could also open their doors from 12 April.
Phase three, which will start no earlier than 17 May, will see indoor mixing allowed for the first time, as well as indoor hospitality and entertainment venues, and the fourth and final phase from 21 June will see all legal limits on social contact hopefully removed.
8 March: Schools will reopen. You will be able to meet one other person from another household to socialise outdoors.
29 March: Outdoor sports facilities will re-open. "Stay at home" order will end and gatherings of six people, or two households will be able to meet outside.
No earlier than 12 April: Hairdressers and other personal care outlets, and non-essential retail can re-open. Pubs and restaurants can begin serving outdoors. Indoor sports and swimming pools, and self-catering accommodation can also open.
No earlier than 17 May: Indoor mixing in pubs, cinemas hotels and threatres could resume. Football stadiums and other outdoor venues can host up to 10,000 people. Weddings and funerals can go ahead with 30 guests. International travel could resume.
No earlier than 21 June: Legal limits on social gathering could end, so nightclubs and large events can re-open.
The government confirmed all of England will move through the phases of unlocking at the same time, and there will be no return to the tier system before Christmas.
The announcement today covers restrictions in England only, with the devolved nations due to set out their roadmaps in the coming weeks.
Outlining the plan this afternoon Johnson said it will "guide us cautiously but irreversibly towards reclaiming our freedoms", but warned the threat from Covid-19 "remains substantial".
"But we are able to take these steps because of the resolve of the British people and the extraordinary success of our NHS in vaccinating more than 17.5 million people across the UK," he added.
The PM said "no vaccine can ever be 100% effective". Addressing MPs he explained: "As the modelling released by Sage today shows, we cannot escape the fact that lifting lockdown will result in more cases, more hospitalisations and sadly more deaths.
"And this would happen whenever lockdown is lifted - whether now or in six or nine months - because there will always be some vulnerable people who are not protected by the vaccines.
"There is therefore no credible route to a zero-Covid Britain, or indeed, a zero-Covid world and we cannot persist indefinitely with restrictions that debilitate our economy, our physical and mental wellbeing and the life chances of our children."
Step 1 on the roadmap to end lockdown sees schools reopen on 8 March and six people allowed to meet outdoors from 29 March pic.twitter.com/DEwBKbj4c1
— PoliticsHome (@politicshome) February 22, 2021
As well as schools reopening colleges and and wraparound childcare can restart in a fortnight's time as the first part of the first phase, but pupils in secondary settings will have to wear masks in the classroom and get regular tests for coronavirus.
The second part of phase one, which begins three weeks later on March 29 will see a return to outdoor sports, with golf courses, tennis and basketball courts reopening, and both children and adults can take part in formally organised outdoor sports.
It is also at this point the "stay at home" order will end, with government messaging switching to encouraging people to stay local wherever they can.
There will be a minimum five-week gap before stage two can start – four weeks to assess the data on the impact of the previous changes, and then a week for the relevant sectors and the public to prepare.
Johnson said this was because he does not want to take the risk of having to reimpose restrictions as a result of lifting lockdown at a quicker pace.
"The chief medical officer is clear that moving any faster would mean acting before we know the impact of each step, which would increase the risk of us having to reverse course and reimpose restrictions, I won't take that risk," he added.
"Step one will happen from March 8, by which time those in the top four priority groups will be benefiting from the increasing protection they receive from their first dose of the vaccine."
The second phase will see hairdressers and nail salons reopen, as well as public buildings such as libraries and museums, as well as most outdoor attractions like zoos and theme parks.
Indoor leisure facilities such as gyms and swimming pools will also reopen but only for single households.
In terms of hospitality it will be outdoor only and either be two households of any size, or up to six people from more than two households.
But there will be no curfew or requirement to order a substantial meal with alcohol, so no return to the Scotch egg debate of last autumn.
Phase two will also see self-contained accommodation, such as campsites and no-shared holiday lets open again.
Indoor funerals can continue with up to 30 people while the numbers who are able to attend weddings and community events rises from six to 15.
The third phase, from 17 May, will see indoor hospitality in groups of six or two households can begin, and the rest of the accommodation, indoor adult sports groups and exercise classes can also reopen.
Larger performances and sporting events in indoor venues with a capacity of 1,000 people, or half full, whichever is lower, will be allowed - and outdoors those with a capacity of 4,000 people or half-full will be allowed.
And up to 30 people will be able to attend weddings, receptions and wakes, as well as funerals and other life events will be permitted, including bar mitzvahs and christenings.
The date of may 17 will also be the earliest possible date that international travel will resume.
The fourth phase, potentially from June 21, will see those final parts of the economy which have been closed throughout the pandemic, such as nightclubs, be able to finally re-open.
It could also see the restrictions on large events and performances removed fully too, but will be subject to one of four reviews the government is undertaking.
Detail of the government's roadmap out of lockdown was welcomed by business leaders. "The Prime Minister's roadmap offers hope that the country can get back to business in the coming months," Tony Danker, director general of the CBI said.
But while Danker said the plan was a "good starting point" but said it needed to translate into "economic momentum," by aiding business trying to get back on their feet.
"The Budget is the second half of this announcement – extending business support in parallel to restrictions will give firms a bridge to the other side," Danker continued. "This is particularly needed for sectors who will have to wait for up to three months to re-open and have an anxious 10 days ahead before the Budget."
Helen Dickinson chief executive of the British Retail Consortium welcomed the update, but also called for more support for those affected by the closure of shops.
"To avoid further job losses and permanent job closures, the Chancellor must announce a targeted business rates relief from April and extend the moratorium on debt enforcement, as well as removing state aid caps on Covid business grants," she said. "This would relieve struggling businesses of bills they cannot currently pay and allow them to trade their way to recovery."
All Schools In England Will Reopen On 8 March As Boris Johnson Unveils "Roadmap" Out Of Lockdown
Read the most recent article written by Alain Tolhurst - How Does Boris Johnson's "Work Event" Apology Stand Up To The May 2020 Covid Rules?
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Minister Says His Inbox Is "White Hot" With Furious Emails About Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson "Categorically" Denies He Was Told Downing Street Gathering Was Against The Rules
Jeremy Hunt Says It Would "Take A Lot" To Persuade Him To Run For The Tory Leadership Again
Bahrain-Linked 'Think Tank' Accused Of Trying To "Silence" MPs and Peers Raising Human Rights Abuses
18 Jan Foreign affairs
Dominic Raab Dismisses "Caricature" Of Party Culture In Downing Street
Liz Truss Leadership "Schmooze Operation" Is In Full Swing As Boris Johnson's Popularity Plummets
Penny Mordaunt Emerges As Dark Horse Tory Leadership Candidate To Succeed Boris Johnson
Nadhim Zahawi Insists Boris Johnson's Job Is Safe Despite "Anger And Hurt" Over Parties


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Indie Travel » Travel Blog » United States of America » New York City – A Free Audio Travel Guide Podcast
New York City – A Free Audio Travel Guide Podcast
ByCraig and Linda Updated on May 10, 2022
Things to do, where to stay, airport guide, attractions and events in NYC
New York City hardly requires any introduction– people in even the most remote corners of the world have heard of this dynamic city, and most travelers — regardless of their budget — aspire to pass through this so-called "crossroads of the world" at some point.
But there's the New York City of TV and movie fame and the New York City of guidebooks. Both are different from the New York of New Yorkers.
A Travellers Guide to New York
What Neighborhoods to visit in NYC – New York Layout for Travellers
New York City – Travel Fact box
Accommodation in New York City
Budget Accommodation – Where to stay on the cheap!
Mid-range accommodation in Long Island City, New York
Luxury Accommodation in Manhattan
What to Eat and Drink in New York City
Transport around New York City
Getting To and from NYC airports
La Guardia Airport
Free Attractions in New York City
Seasonal Attractions in New York City
Paid Attractions in New York City
Where to next? Destinations from NYC
New York City means different things to different people– maybe that's why it has so many nicknames. One writer has documented as many as 98, though I'd never heard of half of them. The three most popular nicknames — and the ones you've probably heard before — are The Big Apple, The City That Never Sleeps, and Gotham.
Before it was given the name it carries today, New York City was known as New Amsterdam, a nod of recognition to the city's Dutch founders. The city was renamed in 1664, and played an important early role in US politics, serving as the nation's capital from 1785 until 1790.
New York City is made up of five boroughs, loosely understood as counties: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and — the most famous of all — Manhattan.
Located in the southern part of New York State, New York City is not the capital of New York, though those of us who live here think our city is the center not just of the state, but of the world!
New York can seem utterly overwhelming to first-time visitors. You're in for a surprise, though: it's actually one of the US's most compact and navigable cities, especially if your visit is confined to Manhattan.
Even for the most directionally impaired traveler, it's easy to get oriented in Manhattan, which is laid out on a grid system. The Hudson River is to your west; the East River is to your east. In between, avenues run west to east and streets run south to north. The number of the avenues gets lower as you move east; street numbers get higher as you move north. The system doesn't apply completely downtown, where many street names — Wall, Canal, Houston — hark back to the early days of the city. Grab a free map in any subway station and you'll be oriented in no time.
Name: New York City, New York, USA
Place: In the south of New York State, USA
Population: Almost 8 million
Languages: English. However, Spanish is spoken by more than 1 million people and Chinese by more than 300,000
Known for: Vibrant art and culinary scenes, Central Park
Temperatures: Spring: around 52°F, summer: around 75°F, autumn: around 58°F, winter: around 32°F
Airports: LaGuardia and JFK in the city, Newark across the Hudson River in Newark, New Jersey. Public transport is available to get into the city, but make sure you have the correct change.
Price of a pint: US$6-$7
Price of a dorm bed: US$40
Price of a public transport ticket: US$2.25 per ride
The price of lodging can be pretty sobering, especially if you blew your budget on drinks, but there are deals to be had. The average price of a hostel dorm is $35 to $45, with the best deals to be had at Big Apple Hostel in Times Square and Chelsea International Hostel.
If you're a step above hostels but don't quite have a Plaza, Ritz, or Trump pocketbook, the best mid-range options can be found at chain hotels like Holiday Inn, Ramada Inn, and Comfort Inn in Long Island City.
Don't be misled by the name of the neighborhood — Long Island City is NOT in Long Island; it's in Queens. Though it's not in Manhattan, Long Island City is just five minutes from Times Square by subway. The difference that five minutes can make on your wallet is worth it– nightly rates can be found for as low as $79 before tax.
If your budget is a bit more, ahem, generous, Manhattan is home to the flagships of many hotel chains and in recent years has experienced a boutique hotel boom.
Prices at boutique properties like GEM Hotel start around $140, depending on the season, but if you're flush with cash, the Four Seasons offers rooms ranging from $600 to just short of $1,000.
Pidgeon sits on the Empire State building, New York
New York's culinary landscape has been defined by films as a smorgasbord made up of pizza, hot dogs and pretzels served up from street carts, and steaming bowls of pasta served alongside tables of Mafiosi in Little Italy.
You CAN find all those things here, but it'd be a shame if you limit yourself to them. For one thing, street food has become incredibly sophisticated in the past few years, and you can find dumplings, ice cream and Belgian waffles, BBQ, enchiladas, Jamaican jerk chicken, and Indian biryani all dished out of food trucks that park temporarily at curbs all over the city.
Traveling foodies shouldn't miss Chelsea Market, a former Nabisco warehouse converted into a food and shopping arcade. Thai, Italian, American seafood, and organic local fare are just a few of the specialties here, and the bakeries turning out fresh breads and pastries can't be beat. Visit in the late afternoon, when many of the shops sell their goods, including sandwiches, at half price.
Waiting for the subway, New York City
As much as New Yorkers complain about the rising cost of their public transportation system, New York City transit is one of the world's most comprehensive subway and bus systems.
The current price per ride is $2.25, but you'd be much better off buying an unlimited pass. Unlimited passes come in daily, weekly, or monthly increments and can be bought with cash, credit cards, or debit cards inside any Metro station.
New York City is serviced by three major airports: LaGuardia and JFK, which are in the city, and Newark, which is just across the Hudson River in Newark, New Jersey.
La Guardia, which handles most domestic flights, is the airport that's closest to the city center, just eight miles from midtown Manhattan. From La Guardia, you can take the M60 bus into Manhattan, but be sure to have the exact fare of $2.25 (no bills!) on hand. Taxis are readily available, too, but avoid the men inside the terminal who approach you with offers of taxi service and opt for the yellow cab instead. NYC taxis now accept major debit and credit cards if you'd prefer to pay with plastic instead of cash.
JFK, approximately 12 miles from midtown Manhattan, is the airport you're most likely to fly into if you're arriving in New York from abroad. Like La Guardia, you can catch a bus or a taxi into the city from the airport, but a taxi will be pricey; budget at least $40. Either option is likely to have you spending the first part of your vacation annoyed with New York City traffic. A better bet is to take the AirTrain out of the airport and to the city subway system.
Newark, about 16 miles from midtown Manhattan, is an option for visitors arriving by plane; like JFK, it handles many international flights. Taxis and train service are available from Newark, dropping passengers off in the heart of the city. Be prepared to pay for the taxi ride, though; depending on traffic and your specific destination, the fare can run upwards of $50.
See more Things to Do in New York City in this companion podcast.
Most guide books recommend the same set of tried and true tourist attractions, but New York City offers many more activities and sites to see than can possibly fit into the pages of even the most novel and comprehensive guide.
One of the newest attractions, the High Line, is an elevated park that currently runs from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street; eventually, it will extend all the way to 34th Street. It doesn't cost a dime to visit, and though the warmer months are the best times to walk along the High Line's path, enjoying views of the Hudson River and the native plants landscaping the High Line, it's such a lovely park that it's worth a visit any time you're in town.
During the summer months and into early fall, it's just a short walk from the High Line to the Hudson River Park, which runs almost the entire length of Manhattan. This park –more than ten years in the making — is composed of cycling, running, and rollerblading paths, places for picnicking and enjoying open-air concerts and movies (both of which are offered by the city for free during the summer), and kayak launches. All of these activities are free.
New York city boasts a large number of parks
If you're visiting in the winter months, you can enjoy ice skating for free in Bryant Park, located behind the main branch of the New York Public Library. Skates are provided. In the summer months, free films are offered on the same lawn every Monday night.
The stunning art-deco Chrysler building
Hudson River Park boasts the Chelsea Piers sports complex, where you can bowl, golf, or practice your swing in the batting cage for a modest fee. There are also a trapeze school and a sailing school in the park.
If the outdoors isn't your thing, then there's plenty of indoor entertainment to keep you busy throughout your visit. The Comix Comedy Club in the newly trendy Meatpacking District has a comedy night called Get Your Yucks for Only Five Bucks; it's just one of dozens of comedy clubs around the city. And if you're one of the many visitors who want to see a Broadway show, be sure to check the cut rate ticket vendor, TKTS.
If you're the museum type, don't overlook some of the smaller, lesser-known institutions. They don't have the name recognition that MOMA and the Met do, but the Museum of Chinese in America and El Museo del Barrio are both wonderful neighborhood museums showcasing artwork reflecting the cultural diversity of New York City. With lower ticket prices and fewer visitors, you don't really have an excuse NOT to visit these museums.
If you're really on the cheap, though, I recommend following Newyorkology on Twitter. She maintains a list of free admission days as well as other announcements about current events around the city.
Every major guidebook publisher has a New York City title in its collection, but some of the offbeat guides written by locals offer travelers of all types specialized guides that are better choices.
Whatever your interest, there's a guide for it: Off the Beaten Subway Track, Field Guide to the Natural World of New York City, Bloom's Literary Guide to New York, Slow Food Guide to New York City, Jazz Guide to New York City, and The Cheap Bastard's Guide to New York City.
Once you've "done" New York — though, to be honest, one's never really DONE with New York — you can easily use the city as a jumping-off point for any other major East Coast destination, including Boston, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia.
Budget buses, including Fung Wah and Bolt, offer tickets between $1.00 and $20.00; Bolt buses are becoming increasingly popular with frequent travelers on a budget, not the least reason being that they're equipped with WiFi. Amtrak trains and, of course, the airports, also serve as points of departure if you're in a hurry to move faster.
After New York, though, you might just need a rest!
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This podcast was scripted and recorded by Julie Schwietert Collazo.
HostelBookers is an independent budget accommodation website — run by travelers, for travelers! Our aim is to provide the best online booking service for backpackers and budget travelers that reflects the quality and value they deserve.
We're proud to be the only hostel booking website that doesn't charge a booking fee. And, with thousands of ratings and reviews from past guests, we offer customers a clearer picture of the facilities and feel of each hostel.
If you're looking for a great New York hostel, you can search and book hundreds of excellent cheap stays across the city with HostelBookers.
HostelBookers has also launched a Lowest Price Guarantee on all their budget accommodation — if you can find the same New York hostel for less on another website, we'll refund the difference!
Post Tags: #Podcasts#travel guide
Craig and Linda
Craig and Linda Martin have been living on the road since February 2006. Both born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand they are ... somewhere in the world! Craig and Linda host the Indie Travel Podcast - you can get in touch with them here.
American South West road trip podcast
Angkor – A travel app from Travelfish
10 ways to make friends while travelling podcast
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It's possible to feel lonely while traveling — even if you're travelling with a partner, friend or family member! That's why making friends while travelling is so important.
Read More 10 ways to make friends while travelling podcastContinue
Belgium | Czech Republic | France | Portugal | Spain
A drink-lover's guide to Europe
ByStephanie Lee May 27, 2009 January 20, 2018 Reading Time: 3 minutes
Need a drink after a long day's sight-seeing? Head to the pub, and grab a cold one. But you don't want to drink the same old stuff you have back home. How do you know what to get? This guide will show you the way.
Read More A drink-lover's guide to EuropeContinue
How to get around in Spain podcast
ByLinda Martin February 6, 2018 November 23, 2018 Reading Time: 6 minutes
Spain is a large country, and there's a lot to see in the different regions that form the country. There are plenty of ways to get around in Spain, including land, air and sea — check out the options in our Spain transport podcast.
Read More How to get around in Spain podcastContinue
How to couchsurf podcast
ByCraig and Linda May 23, 2011 August 14, 2022 Reading Time: 5 minutes
What is couchsurfing, how to couchsurf, and is couchsurfing safe? Advice from years of couchsurfing, making new friends and finding free accommodation around the world.
Read More How to couchsurf podcastContinue
Top tips for transit days podcast
ByLinda Martin May 3, 2018 November 23, 2018 Reading Time: 11 minutes
Transit days can be a challenge, but with a bit of preparation and a deep breath or two, you'll get there. Check out our top tips for travel days.
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Travel in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
ByCraig and Linda June 13, 2012 August 14, 2022 Reading Time: 9 minutes
Kuala Lumpur, that bustling, muggy, shopping mecca, is a great place to start exploring Asia. It's been referred to as "Asia lite" – it's definitely Asia, but most home comforts can be found somewhere in the sprawling metropolis.
Read More Travel in Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaContinue
Eva says:
Nice post, Julie!
My go-to hostels in NYC are the two Jazz locations in Harlem, Jazz on Lenox and Jazz on the Villa. They're a little out of the way, but the price reflects that – dorm beds go as low as $15 per night (including breakfast and wifi) in the off season, and $18 per night in the summer. It's easy enough to hop on the 2/3 or 4/5/6 downtown, and it means you see a part of the city that most visitors don't get to.
Lately I've also been a semi-regular at The Jane, the pod hotel in the West Village. Last I checked, it was $79 on weekdays and $99 on weekends for a teeny tiny room in a great location.
Alisha Robertson says:
Really great guidebook….and glad you mentioned Chelsea Market…love that!
Travelogged says:
As a lifelong New Yorker, I think this is an excellent guide. As for smaller museums, don't miss The Whitney at 75th & Madison. That's also a nice area to walk around, as it's one of the premiere residential neighborhoods and still has an old-world feel — don't forget to go for a stroll down Park Avenue, still one of the world's most recognizable addresses and fanciest streets anywhere.
Alisha and Travelogged: Thanks for the feedback and the additional recommendations. The Whitney's a definite favorite.
@Eva: Thanks for the feedback, Eva. I thought of you and your Jazz Hostel experiences when working on this podcast, which is why I checked out their long-term lodge-work option– seems like the best bet for people who plan to stick around a while!
@Chris: Exactly- Long Island City is a neighborhood in the borough/county of Queens (which, more confusingly, happens to be almost exactly on the border between the borough of Queens and the first county in Long Island)! Living in Long Island City, I can't tell you how often people get confused about its location, confounding it with what we'd call Long Island proper. "I'm not coming to visit you! You live out on Long Island," they say. And thus a conversation ensues about geography, history, and this utterly bizarre borough system. 🙂
Chris (Amateur Traveler) says:
It might be a bit confusing that your guest said that Long Island City is not on Long Island but in Queens since Queens and Brooklyn are both physically on an island and the name of that island is Long Island. But New Yorkers typically don't call those two areas Long Island because they are boroughs of New York City.
That's certainly confused me! 🙂 CM.
Jason of Two Backpackers says:
One place I really enjoying taking visitors to is The Central Park Boat House restaurant. It's pricey, but the brunch on a beautiful weekend day is very impressive. You get amazing views of the lake and delicious food and drinks. Excellent guide, it's short and has all the important stuff!
Jason-
That's a lovely restaurant–not so much for the food (which, as you mentioned, is pretty pricey), but mostly for the view. When you're tucked away deep in Central Park, gazing at the water from the enormous porch, it's easy to feel like you're somewhere in the American South. Thanks for adding that idea.
There are a couple of other restaurants in parks in the city. Though also pricey, they each have their draw. My very favorite is The New Leaf, just near the Cloisters in Ft. Tryon Park at the northernmost tip of Manhattan. All the proceeds from the restaurant (which has very good food) go back to the park. There's also a restaurant right on the waterfront in Brooklyn, the name of which is utterly escaping me at the moment. It's right next to Bargemusic, which is a visit-worthy stop in and of itself.
@ Jason, sounds AWESOME.
@Julie, with organising hundreds of volunteers to go to Haiti, how on earth do you have time to visit back and comment here? I'm stunned — and kudos for all your hard work.
It offered a welcome respite, Craig and Linda. 😉
And that handy little "subscribe to comments" button is quite useful.
Really enjoyed the podcast Julie. Am bookmarking for future use (fingers crossed).
Thanks, Neha! Would it be your first trip?
Coney Island hot dogs from Detroit are the best! Woot!
Craig and Linda fantastic article as we have become to expect. May I add that there is also the wonderful and unique "pod" style sleeping. This is very popular in Japan and is a rather inexpensive option for quality sleeping.
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Shack: D | Grade It Now!
One knife to rule them all
By Shack | Season 1	| Episode 7	| Aired on 12.18.2003
Finally, Donutface arrives, and he and Tru greet each other. He wants to talk to Tru -- on the roof, where it's quiet. She tries to beg off as the hostess, but he swears it will only take a few minutes. She agrees. Keep your thoughts close to yourself, Tru. Don't let the YELLOW KNIFE OF DOOM know you're alone with Donutface, so it won't possess you.
Up on the roof, Tru and Donutface talk about the fact that Luc's not there. Donutface declares that Luc's a fool for not panting over Tru. Then he tries to move in for the kiss again. She shoves him away, but things get a little pushier this time. He grabs Tru's arm and declares that he won't "give [her] up." They struggle and Tru falls down. While she's down, she finds a jagged piece of metal on the roof and grabs it, waving it menacingly at Donutface. Oh no; the YELLOW KNIFE OF DOOM sensed the struggle and has taken over Tru's body! Tru tells Donutface to stay away from her, for "[his] own good." She leaves him there on the roof and heads back to her apartment.
Tru heads back in, meeting Samwise in the hallway, same as she did yestertoday. Inside, Lindsay tells her that Harrison bugged out on her, claiming that there was "a card game" somewhere "downtown." Then she pulls out a wastebasket to clean up the remains of the dark-green vase, which Samwise still managed to destroy. Nooooo! Noooooooooo! The vase was saved! It was saved! Oh, I am filled with sorrow. Who cares about Donutface? I'm in mourning for the dark-green vase. They talk about Samwise, who apparently filled Lindsay in on his life story, too. And, of course, this causes The 8:55 Sudden Realization Of The Killer. That's what I'm calling it from now on. Tru spontaneously realizes that even though there are hundreds of professors at her old college, Donutface must have been the one who refused to give Samwise the retest. We get a bunch of stupid flashbacks to remind us that Samwise fits Davis's description of the killer, except for the fact that he's not a girl. She runs over to the sink to discover that the knife is gone.
Sure enough, up on the roof, Samwise is confronting Donutface with the knife over his brief delay in going to medical school. He's already slashed Donutface's hand. We'll just assume that Samwise knew that Donutface was on the roof because the YELLOW KNIFE OF DOOM told him so in magic whispers. "Bring the knife with you," the YELLOW KNIFE OF DOOM whispered to him. "Make the man with the face of a donut pay for his sins. With blood!"
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I started making Far Side inspired quirky animal comics when I was about eight. I only really stopped making comics in grad school when I became more interested in installation art and painting. I returned to comics a few years later after I moved to Berlin during a period when I wanted to tell stories more directly.
When I was a teenager I fantasized about living in Berlin, partly because of how it was portrayed as a queer, dirty utopia in Christopher Isherwood's The Berlin Stories. I was lured to the city in my twenties for pretty much the same reasons as everyone else: art, openness and cheap rents.
How do you describe Drawn to Berlin?
It's a book about different types of migration, personhood and nationhood. It focuses on comic workshops I conducted in refugee shelters, and uses the act of drawing to bind the stories of different newcomers to the city. It also follows myself and two young men from Syria as they try to build a life in Berlin. There are also historical parallels from Joseph Roth's journalism from the 1920's woven throughout. In the end, it's also a portrait of a city that always seems to be at the center of upheaval and renewal.
How did these workshops start?
I was approached by the director of a refugee shelter, Mathias Hamann, who asked if I could create comic workshops for teenage boys.
What were you hoping to do at first and how did that change?
In the beginning I think I hoped to impart more comic-specific knowledge like story pacing and characters etc. As the workshops progressed, I realized that the environment necessitated a more open structure where I let people do whatever they want. I became more of a moderator or someone who would encourage people based on their specific needs. Also, because of the open architecture/space of shelters, people of different ages and genders ended up joining the workshops.
Can you talk about the process of making the book. Because it's a book where you are the point of view character, but it's not your story, you are trying to tell and share the stories of others.
Because it's a memoir as opposed to a work of comic journalism, I wanted to make sure that I was the narrator, and that it was clear that the story was filtered through my specific, personal, sometimes surreal lens. However, I only included vignettes of myself as they related to the main themes of the book—windows that would potentially add meaning or depth to the recurrent ideas of otherness and migration.
You mention in one section about not talking about your own relationship, and you had good reasons for not doing so, but that does seem to be similar to how you approached the book. It's not like we learn nothing about you, but you seem intent on making sure we're not focused on you.
It's basically the same idea as noted above, I wanted to include only relevant, meaningful or revealing aspects of my story that could be interwined with others' stories. Also, in that particular passage and in others later on in the book, I found myself having to navigate evolving relationships (from teacher to friend) with Saker and Michael.
At what point did you start to incorporate the historical aspects of the book, bringing in Roth and Isherwood?
I always knew that I would include Isherwood because he represents so much of Berlin's mythos to me. I was familiar with Roth's fiction before writing the book, but not his journalism. In the initial stages of researching and writing, a friend recommended that I read some of Roth's journalism from the 1920's for the Berliner Zeitung. It was a revelation, and I knew that his voice would create this poignant historical parallel in the book.
You've been making shorter comics for years now for New York, McSweeney's and elsewhere. What was the biggest challenge in making a book and what was the biggest surprise?
The biggest challenge is really the stamina a longer narrative requires. At some points it just felt like I would never finish. I think shorter comics offer an immediate sense of accomplishment—like crafting a punchline or something. Longer comics are just grueling in a specific, fairly physical kind of way.
The biggest surprise was that everything worked out (relatively) smoothly and I have a copy sitting in front of me now.
Do you think that a historical perspective is necessary to understanding Berlin and Germany. For example, the right wing narrative is that Germany is and has always been Germany and these refugees have changed it. Which as you point out, if you know anything about history, that's just not true.


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Q: Absolute irreducibility of a symmetric square? This is a question I received today by email, which somebody more experienced with finite group representations can probably answer directly.   Take $F:=\mathbb{F}_q$ for some prime power $q$, so $G:=\mathrm{GL}(V)$ acts naturally on both $V:=F^n$ and its symmetric square in $V \otimes V$.

If $H$ is an absolutely irreducible subgroup of $G$, does it act absolutely irreducibly on the symmetric square of $V$ (and if so, what is a reference for this)?

Maybe it's enough here just to start with any absolutely irreducible representation of a finite group $H$ in $G$, not necessarily faithful?  Also, I'm unclear about what happens in characteristic 2.   Otherwise the statement looks reasonable but I can't readily find a reference in standard textbooks.

A: Certainly not in general : For an extreme case, consider the case that $n = q-1,$ where $q$ is a power of $2$. Let $H$ be a subgroup of order $(q-1)^{3}$ of ${\rm GL}(V),$ generated by a scalar matrix of order $(q-1)$ and the permutation matrix associated to the $n$-cycle $(12 \ldots n).$ Then $H$ is nilpotent of class $2$ and acts absolutely irreducibly on $V.$ The $H$-module $V \otimes V$ is a direct sum of $n$ absolutely irreducible $H$-modules of dimension $n,$ each of which is isomorphic to the first  Frobenius twist of $V.$

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Posted on July 29, 2020 by Erik Martin
State of the Heart changing name
Will be rebranded as 'EverHeart Hospice'
State of the Heart Care will soon be rebranded as EverHeart Hospice. The company will be introducing a new logo, brand colors, and tagline.
GREENVILLE — State of the Heart Care, a longtime presence in the area, will soon be known by a new name — EverHeart Hospice.
In a letter sent to business partners by State of the Heart's Kristi Strawser, the company said it is rebranding its name and identity "in order to better position ourselves to be able to continue providing outstanding care to the people and communities we serve."
Strawser said the company has been working with Irongate Creative to do extensive internal and external brand research to identify its strengths and weaknesses.
"Through this process, we learned that our name and branding often created confusion and, in some cases, even consternation for people who work for and with us," she said.
"We wanted a name that our staff can be proud of and use with confidence, and an identity that will resonate with our partners and customers by reflecting our purpose and mission. Most importantly, we wanted a name and identity that won't confuse people about who we are."
As well as a new name, EverHeart will soon sport a new logo, brand colors, and tagline.
"Ultimately it is the work we do that will continue to define us, and that simple fact has made this process much more reassuring," said Strawser. "But we are happy to be moving forward with a fresh look."
Now in its 40th year of business, EverHeart serves more than 15 counties in east-central Indiana and west-central Ohio. It employs more than 100 staff members, including physicians, nurse practitioners, RNs, LPNs, aides, board certified Music Therapists, licensed Social Workers, bereavement support specialists, chaplains, office staff and more in both its Ohio and Indiana agencies.
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UN Review on the Rights of Persons with Disability in Australia
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (the Committee) last week concluded its review of Australia on its implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Issues raised
Australia's Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Ben Gauntlett as well as civil society representatives participated in the review. Some of the issues raised that impact people with disability in Australia, include:
the absence of comprehensive human rights protections
that sterilisation of persons with disabilities continues to take place without free and informed consent
the slow progress in implementing a supported decision-making framework
that thousands of young persons with disabilities are forced to live in aged care institutions
the indefinite detention of unconvicted persons with disabilities
women with disability are not included very well in the work the government does to protect all women.
there are no programs that focus on promoting the rights of children with disability
the education system is segregated; schools turn away students because of their disability and the rate of segregation is growing
not enough funding for Disabled People's Organisations (DPOs) and other organisations that represent people with disability
Australian Government response
The Australian Government reported to the Committee that it had made progress in the rights of persons with disabilities over the last five years in the following areas:
establishment of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
improvements in the criminal justice system
implementation of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT)
establishment of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of Persons with Disability
Implementing the Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI) approach to provide support at the earliest stage possible for children with autism
The Australian Government also highlighted that when Australia is reviewed again in five years time, the NDIS would be well established, the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of Persons with Disability would have reported and its recommendations would be implemented, and the new National Disability Strategy would be in place.
However, the Australian Government recognised that while much had been achieved to ensure that persons with disabilities in Australia enjoyed their rights on an equal basis with others, there was still more work to be done, especially in meeting the challenges faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons with disability. Compared with the rest of the population, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability face higher levels of disadvantage across all areas of quality of life, and progress has been very slow when it came to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons with disabilities living with disabilities.
UN Committee response
The UN Committee applauded Australia on the many positive steps it had taken. However, it raised concerns on the slow implementation of the CRPD and the National Disability Strategy (NDS).
The Committee was particularly concerned that issues raised back in the 2013 review are still ongoing, and civil society organisations are still raising these issues six years later, in 2019.
The Committee highlighted the following practices and measures which are not in line with the Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities:
the ongoing exclusion of persons with disabilities from court procedures
the large number of persons with disabilities forced to live in institutions due to the lack of accessible and affordable housing
the ongoing practice of guardianship and substituted decision-making which has led to the ongoing practices of forced institutionalisation, involuntary medical treatments including forced sterilisation and surgery, and the denial of the right to vote
youth with disabilities, particularly those from Indigenous communities are overrepresented in prison.
the fact that many persons with intellectual and psychosocial disabilities are institutionalised, including children
that migrant and refugee children with disabilities are being detained in in-state and offshore facilities
The Committee also expressed concern on the following matters that impact people with disabilities in Australia:
that the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) does not allow for complaints by representatives of persons with disabilities, especially through their representative organisations
reports that parents with disabilities are 10 times more likely to have a child removed from their care, not because of evidence of neglect or abuse but because of the disability of the parents
the uncertainty of Australia's long-term commitment to international disability inclusive development through its international assistance programs
On the employment of persons with disabilities, the Committee suggested Australia should develop a national employment strategy that would implement recommendations from the 2016 "Willing to Work" Report.
In its concluding remarks, the Committee stressed that signing up to the CRPD was meaningless unless it was properly implemented and unless it improved the lives of persons with disabilities.
The Australian delegation meets with the Canadian delegation before giving their opening statements.
More information on CRPD Review of Australia
You can read more on Australia's 2019 Review on implementing the CRPD via the links below:
Statement by Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Ben Gauntlett
UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities reviews report of Australia
You can also watch the recording of the UN Sessions which include Auslan and captioning:
12th September - 22nd Session of CRPD


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FUNAAB DEVELOPS INDIGENOUS CHICKEN
Authorities of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, has developed what it called first improved indigenous chicken breed called the 'FUNAAB Alpha.'
The Vice-chancellor of the institution, Prof. Kolawole Salako, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing journalists about the breakthrough and the presentation of certificate of 'FUNAAB Alpha' by the National Centre for Genetics Resources and Biotechnology.
He said the locally-bred chicken are developed after 24 years of rigorous selection, cross breeding, as well as on-station and on-farm testing across five agro-ecological zones of Nigeria.
Salako, who explained that the university established the first Department of Animal Breeding; and Genetics in the country in 1990, said the latest discovery was; achieved under the headship of a distinguished animal breeder, Prof. Olufunmilayo Adebambo.
Salako said, "Under her headship, she was; challenged to work on animal breeds that would be; acceptable to Nigerians. She took up this challenge in 1994 to work and; develop the local chicken breeds of Nigeria to international standard."
While the VC said the breed was comparable to internationally acclaimed chickens, he added that the university had successfully placed, on the Nigerian poultry market, a dual purpose breed of chicken tested in rural households, suitable for egg production and poultry meat. He also said they were of hybrid yield in all forms, and had low fat.
He said, "It was; tested from September 2016 to December 2017; and was; found to be one of the breeds prefered for egg production; under semi-scavenging and scavenging conditions.
"It is worth noting that the broiler breed, also developed for commercial meat production, attains 1.5kg at eight weeks of age, white-skinned, low-fat with tough tastier meat produced for Nigeria cuisine.
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"In the same vein, the dual purpose FUNAAB Alpha attains 2.1 to 2.6kg at 20 weeks for males; 1.6 to 1.8kg for females, while eggs were; improved from white to brown from 39g to 55g and from 60 to 120 eggs per annum; to 200 to 250 eggs per annum."
Salako thanked the stakeholders who had accepted the breed and put it in the market, as well as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation who funded the establishment of the PEARL-FUNAAB Chicken Breeding Centre in the university.
He also commended the International Livestock Research Institute; Ethiopia, under the African Chicken Genetic Gain; for the sub-Saharan Africa who sponsored the on-station and on-farm testing; for the developed breed and supported the registration financially.
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Reuters Today: Is that it for China? Plus, welcome Guv!
July 1 - China factory data keeps investors on edge ahead of PMIs from the euro zone and the U.S. Plus, Mark Carney takes over as head of Bank of England.