Insultech Insulation Waikato provides a range of insulation products including wall insulation, roof insulation and floor insulation. We can help you choose the most suitable, cost effective heating and insulation system to suit your needs and assure a comfortable home – forever! The Waikato has an ever-changing environment and insulating your home helps to combat this and improve the consistency of temperature within the home. The main purpose of insulation is to create a barrier around the building, by insulating your roof, walls and floors you reduce the amount of heat entering the home on a hot day, and reducing the amount of heat loss on a cold day. A home with insulation can reduce heating and air conditioning costs by up to 40%.
We are now insulating homes throughout the Waikato area in locations such as: Hamilton, Taupo, Huntly, Morrinsville, Otorohanga, Putaruru, Raglan, Te Awamutu, Te Kuiti, Tokoroa, Turangi, Waihi, Whangamata, Whitianga, Cambridge, Matamata, Paeroa and Whitianga.
Insultech's experience in the residential energy efficiency industry is second to none in New Zealand. The company was established in Auckland in 1990 by two partners with combined experience in insulation of over 20 years, to address the causes of New Zealand's cold, damp houses. Since then, the company has grown at a rapid pace and is now able to not only provide Auckland with the best insulation service, but also the Waikato and BOP too.


Snowball fights are still cool.
I've only ever been on one, I've only been in enough snow to have one once in my life.
When I was younger I got my hand stuck in a tennis ball tube. I still have the scar from pulling it off.
when I was young...I wasn't smart...I ran into a lions den and they just carried on n then I left. nothin happened to me.
When I was younger I hated spiders. I still do.
When I was younger I ran into the glass security screen at the end of the bag xray machine at the airport when I tried to get my bag after I went through the metal detector.
When I was younger I got lost in tall grass (well over two meters) and slept there when I got bored.
When I was younger I had no worries at all.
When I was younger I collected all the pokemon cards. Ahhhh memories.
When I was younger, dueling with Yu-Gi-Oh cards was quite fun!
When I was youger you could still get tazos from chip packets.
When I was younger, certain cereal boxes had a toy in it.
When I was younger, I was addicted to flash games.
When I was younger, I didn't have much interest in Anime.
When I was younger, I used to wake up at four o'clock in the morning to watch Inuyasha.
When I was younger, I saw the chestburster scene in Alien. It put me off baked beans.
When I was younger it was actually worth getting up on Saturday mornings to watch the cartoons.
When I was younger I read encyclopedias just to look at the 'pretty pictures' and not really understanding it.
When i was little i was fascinated by space. And I still am.
When I was younger, I didn't know what I wanted to do in my future.
When I was younger I couldn't skip rocks. Now I can.
When I was younger, movies were better.
When I was younger society was better.
When I was younger family entertainment meant for the family, not just for the 3 year olds in the audience.
When I was younger, I was afraid of snakes. Now I am not afraid of them at all unless they are poisoness..
When I was younger, I didn't know there were different types of wheat. I know them now.
When I was younger, I didn't classify cartoons from where they originated.
When I was younger I loved playing super nintendo.
When I was younger, I got myself into a lot of trouble. Amazingly enough I still do without even trying.
When I was younger I wanted to be a volcanologist.
When I was younger, I wanted to be a cop.
When I was younger you could still get cards and toys from cereal boxes.
When I was younger, Cartoon Network was still the best...unlike now.
When I was younger, I liked watching Teenage Mutan Ninja Turtles. Even the new one.


The 2015 Gold Cup Air Rally Registration is now open!
Celebrating the birthday of Eileen Vollick – Canada's first female pilot.
The first airport in Canada to be named after a woman pilot!
You can help the Ninety-Nines win the Lightspeed Grant Competition, which supports our Aviation Scholarships!
Support Aviation Scholarships & the 99s in the 2015 Lightspeed Grant Competition Vote for us at www.vote99s.com You will be helping young women to have access to scholarships; advance aviation and the growth of the pilot community; and expand the 99s' participation in outreach programs and aviation events designed to encourage and promote young women's access to flight training. Please cast your vote TODAY!


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COVID Relief Bill – What's in it for you?
This week Congress passed a $900 billion COVID relief bill. While we await President Trump's signature, below is a brief overview of some key items found in the 5,000-page document.
The chief program that most are focused on is the Paycheck Protection Program ("PPP"). In our last post, we highlighted what we believed was the framework of the final bill. It appears that our initial prognostication was in-line with what Congress passed.
Program changes include:
Eligible tax deduction on PPP expenses & additional expense categories;
Simplified PPP forgiveness application for loans under $150,000;
Second PPP loan for eligible businesses;
Expanded loan guarantee to 90% on SBA 7(a) loans;
EIDL program extended thru December 31, 2021; and
Additional Eligible Expenses
Makes the following expenses allowable and forgivable uses for Paycheck Protection Program funds:
Covered operations expenditures. Payment for any software, cloud computing, and other human resources and accounting needs.
Covered property damage costs. Costs related to property damage due to public disturbances that occurred during 2020 that are not covered by insurance.
Covered supplier costs. Expenditures to a supplier pursuant to a contract, purchase order, or order for goods in effect prior to taking out the loan that are essential to the recipient's operations at the time at which the expenditure was made. Supplier costs of perishable goods can be made before or during the life of the loan.
Clarification of tax treatment of Paycheck Protection Program loans
The provision clarifies that gross income does not include any amount that would otherwise arise from the forgiveness of a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan. This provision also clarifies that deductions are allowed for otherwise deductible expenses paid with the proceeds of a PPP loan that is forgiven, and that the tax basis and other attributes of the borrower's assets will not be reduced as a result of the loan forgiveness. The provision is effective as of the date of enactment of the CARES Act. The provision provides similar treatment for Second Draw PPP loans, effective for tax years ending after the date of enactment of the provision.
Covered worker protection expenditure
Personal protective equipment and adaptive investments to help a loan recipient comply with federal health and safety guidelines or any equivalent State and local guidance related to COVID-19 during the period between March 1, 2020, and the end of the national emergency declaration.
Redesignates Section 1106 of the CARES Act and other subsequent conforming amendments as section 7A. This would transfer section 104 of this title to the end of section 7 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 631 et seq.). Relevant sections to follow contain this technical redesignation.
Allows loans made under PPP before, on, or after the enactment of this act to be eligible to utilize the expanded forgivable expenses except for borrowers who have already had their loans forgiven. Section 05: Hold Harmless.
Provides that a lender may rely on any certification or documentation submitted by a borrower for an initial or second draw PPP loan and that no enforcement action may be taken against the lender and the lender shall not be subject to any penalties relating to loan origination or forgiveness if (1) the lender acts in good faith relating to loan origination or forgiveness; and (2) all relevant federal, state, local and other statutory and regulatory requirements are satisfied. Section 306: Selection of Covered Period for Forgiveness.
Allows the borrower to elect a covered period ending at the point of the borrower's choosing between 8 and 24 weeks after origination.
Simplified Application
Creates a simplified application process for loans under $150,000 such that: o A borrower shall receive forgiveness if a borrower signs and submits to the lender a certification that is not more than one page in length, includes a description of the number of employees the borrower was able to retain because of the covered loan, the estimated total amount of the loan spent on payroll costs, and the total loan amount. The borrower must also attest that borrower accurately provided the required certification and complied with Paycheck Protection Program loan requirements. SBA must establish this form within 24 days of enactment and may not require additional materials unless necessary to substantiate revenue loss requirements or satisfy relevant statutory or regulatory requirements. Additionally, borrowers are required to retain relevant records related to employment for four years and other records for three years. The Administrator may review and audit these loans to ensure against fraud.
At the discretion of the borrower, the borrowers may complete and submit demographic information for all PPP loans.
The SBA must submit to the Senate and House Small Business Committees a report 45 days after enactment detailing their review and forgiveness audit plan to mitigate risk of fraud and provide monthly reviews and audit updates thereafter.
Applies to loans made before, on, or after the date of enactment, including the forgiveness of the loan.
Paycheck Protection Program Second Draw Loans
Creates a second loan from the Paycheck Protection Program, called a "PPP second draw" loan for smaller and harder-hit businesses, with a maximum amount of $2 million.
Eligibility: In order to receive a Paycheck Protection Program loan under this section, eligible entities must: o Employ not more than 300 employees;
Have used or will use the full amount of their first PPP; and
Demonstrate at least a 25 percent reduction in gross receipts in the first, second, or third quarter of 2020 relative to the same 2019 quarter. Provides applicable timelines for businesses that were not in operation in Q1, Q2, and Q3, and Q4 of 2019. Applications submitted on or after January 1, 2021 are eligible to utilize the gross receipts from the fourth quarter of 2020.
Eligible entities must be businesses, certain non-profit organizations, housing cooperatives, veterans' organizations, tribal businesses, self-employed individuals, sole proprietors, independent contractors, and small agricultural co-operatives.
Ineligible entities include: entities listed in 13 C.F.R. 120.110 and subsequent regulations except for entities from that regulation which have otherwise been made eligible by statute or guidance, and except for nonprofits and religious organizations; entities involved in political and lobbying activities including engaging in advocacy in areas such as public policy or political strategy or otherwise describes itself as a think tank in any public document, entities affiliated with entities in the People's Republic of China; registrants under the Foreign Agents Registration Act; and entities that receive a grant under the Shuttered Venue Operator Grant program.
In general, borrowers may receive a loan amount of up to 2.5X the average monthly payroll costs in the one year prior to the loan or the calendar year. No loan can be greater than $2 million.
Seasonal employers may calculate their maximum loan amount based on a 12-week period beginning February 15, 2019 through February 15, 2020.
New entities may receive loans of up to 2.5X the sum of average monthly payroll costs. o Entities in industries assigned to NAICS code 72 (Accommodation and Food Services) may receive loans of up to 3.5X average monthly payroll costs.
Businesses with multiple locations that are eligible entities under the initial PPP requirements may employ not more than 300 employees per physical location.
Waiver of affiliation rules that applied during initial PPP loans apply to a second loan.
An eligible entity may only receive one PPP second draw loan.
Fees are waived for both borrowers and lenders to encourage participation.
For loans of not more than $150,000, the entity may submit a certification attesting that the entity meets the revenue loss requirements on or before the date the entity submits their loan forgiveness application and non-profit and veterans organizations may utilize gross receipts to calculate their revenue loss standard.
Borrowers of a PPP second draw loan would be eligible for loan forgiveness equal to the sum of their payroll costs, as well as covered mortgage, rent, and utility payments, covered operations expenditures, covered property damage costs, covered supplier costs, and covered worker protection expenditures incurred during the covered period. The 60/40 cost allocation between payroll and non-payroll costs in order to receive full forgiveness will continue to apply.
Churches and religion organizations
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Administrator's guidance clarifying the eligibility of churches and religious organizations was proper and prohibits the application of regulations otherwise rendering ineligible businesses principally engaged in teaching, instructing, counseling, or indoctrinating religion or religious beliefs. Codifies that the prohibition on eligibility in 13 CRF 120.110(k) shall not apply for initial and second draw loans.
Application of Exemption Based on Employee
Extends existing safe harbors on restoring FTE and salaries and wages. Specifically, applies the rule of reducing loan forgiveness for the borrower reducing the number of employees retained and reducing employees' salaries in excess of 25 percent. Allows the SBA and Treasury Department to jointly modify any date in section 7A(d) consistent with the purposes of the Paycheck Protection Program.
Emergency EIDL Grants
Extends covered period for Emergency EIDL grants through December 31, 2021.
Allows more flexibility for the SBA to verify that Emergency EIDL grant applicants have submitted accurate information.
Extends time for SBA to approve and disburse Emergency EIDL grants from 3 to 21 days.
Modifications to 7(a) Loan Programs
Increases to 90 percent the loan guarantee amount on 7(a) loans, including for Community Advantage loans, until October 1, 2021.
Increases the Express Loan amount from $350,000 to $1 million on January 1, 2021, and then reverts permanently to a lower amount of $500,000 on October 1, 2021.
The Express Loan guaranty amount for loans of $350,000 and less is temporarily increased from 50 percent to 75 percent, and for loans above $350,000 the guarantee remains at 50 percent. On October 1, 2021, the guarantee reverts to 50 percent for all Express Loans.
Temporary Fee Reductions
Waives lender and borrower fees for both the 7(a) and 504 loan programs.
Grants for Shuttered Venue Operators
Authorizes $15 billion for the SBA to make grants to eligible live venue operators or promoters, theatrical producers, live performing arts organization operators, museum operators, motion picture theatre operators, or talent representatives who demonstrate a 25 percent reduction in revenues.
Grants shall be used for specified expenses such as payroll costs, rent, utilities, and personal protective equipment.
There is a set-aside of $2 billion for eligible entities that employ not more than 50 full-time employees, and any amounts from this set-aside remaining after sixty days from the date of implementation of this program shall become available to all eligible applicants under this section.
The SBA may make an initial grant of up to $10 million dollars to an eligible person or entity and a supplemental grant that is equal to 50 percent of the initial grant.
In the initial 14-day period of implementation of the program, grants shall only be awarded to eligible entities that have faced 90 percent or greater revenue loss. In the 14-day period following the initial 14- day period, grants shall only be awarded to eligible entities that have faced 70 percent or greater revenue loss. After these two periods, grants shall be awarded to all other eligible entities.
Governor Cuomo, Bowling is a League of Their Own
by Anthony Figliola As a father of…
$900 Billion COVID Relief Package Includes More PPP & EIDL Funds
As Congress continues to negotiate for a…
This week Congress passed a $900 billion…
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CONSUELO MACK: This week on WealthTrack, the two time winner of Morningstar's International Stock Fund Manager of the Year Award explains how he and his colleagues built the Artisan International Value and Global Value Funds to prosper in all market conditions. Artisan's Daniel O'Keefe is next on Consuelo Mack WealthTrack.
Hello and welcome to this edition of WealthTrack, I'm Consuelo Mack. This week on WealthTrack we are thinking global for two reasons. One, we have an opportunity to do a rare in-depth interview with Morningstar's recently announced International Stock Fund Manager of the Year and second, because the economic and financial dynamics of the world are changing significantly and U.S. investors are not positioned to take advantage of it.


Distracted driving causes many of the preventable car accidents in the United States, and state governments across the country are looking for ways to curb the behavior. Most believe that texting while driving is only an epidemic because drivers aren't educated about the dangers associated with distracted driving, but a new poll proves that isn't the case.
The Car Connection reports that a new Harris poll demonstrates that U.S. drivers know texting is dangerous yet choose to do it anyway. According to the research, 94 percent of drivers agree that sending text messages can cause an accident. When those same drivers were asked if they send texts, 37 percent admit to texting while driving.
The statistics for reading text messages tell a similar story. Harris reports that 91 percent of adult drivers say that reading a text message while driving is dangerous, but 45 percent admit to doing it.
Distracted driving is never acceptable, but certain cases are a bit more shocking than others. Most states ban all cellphone use for public bus drivers and novice drivers. People also tend to hold anyone who is transporting others to a higher standard.
News 4 JAX reports that the Department of Children and Families is investigating a possible case of a negligent daycare driver. Tony Crisp noticed that the anonymous driver was using both hands to text while driving with her knees.
Crisp said she had children on board at the time. He took photos of the driver to ensure that the daycare makes changes to its policy—or at least provides necessary discipline. He warned the daycare before sending the photos to the news.
If you are injured by someone who was texting behind the wheel, you'll want an aggressive accident lawyer to help you seek compensation. At Wolfson Law Firm, LLP, we have decades of experience helping negligent-driving victims in Miami. To arrange a free consultation with an accident lawyer, call us at 305-285-1115.
When you file a lawsuit against a negligent driver, there are two types of compensation that you can seek: compensatory and punitive damages. Until recently, most judges haven't allowed punitive damages in texting-while-driving cases.
The Claims Journal reports that several Florida judges recently allowed plaintiffs to pursue punitive damages, because they recognize that texting represents intentional misconduct. It's important to note that none of these cases have been resolved, and punitive damages are awarded on a case-by-case basis.
If you are seeking a Miami accident lawyer to help you file a lawsuit against a negligent driver, we can help. At Wolfson Law Firm, LLP in Miami, we are committed to helping people like you find the compensation they need for medical expenses and lost wages. To learn more about our firm, call us at 305-285-1115, and find out what 50 years of experience can do for you.


Q: Is Jason Bateman left handed?
Yes, Jason Bateman is left handed.
Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, Will Arnett, David Cross, Portia De Rossi, Michael Cera and Tony Hale.
ve was distilling whiskey. Rye became a city know for it's whiskey thanks to Bateman and the theater's dry humor helped shape Bateman's sense of wit.
One cool summer evening, the theater put on Peter Pan as it's last show to city-wide acclaim. With things going so well for him, and feeling sensationally drunk, Bateman took to the railroad. Inspired by On the Road by Jack Kerouac, he hitched on a commercial train and ventured off west to L.A with nothing more than a sack full of whiskey, a handful of playbills and some peanuts. He befriended a fellow train-riding actor named Will Arnett and together they drank and sang songs and re-enacted scenes from various plays to the delight of the train crews each time they stopped. Their friendship lasts to this day.


Tips On How To Find Affordable Car Insurance Rates - Knowledgtree101.com your ultimate source of Weddings Tips.
Carpool or take public transportation. Customers who have demonstrated a sense of responsibility by doing things, such as driving fewer miles, are often rewarded by insurers. Try to use public transport more often, and you may be eligible for a discount.
Before you buy auto insurance, always ask multiple companies for quotes. There are several factors at work that can cause major variations in insurance rates. You should get yearly quotes to ascertain that you maintain the best coverage and rates. The key is to ensure that you are receiving price quotations that include a similar amount of coverage as you had before.
You should understand that when you buy auto insurance, the basic policy only covers the driver who is named in the policy. Often people will allow a buddy to use their vehicle, but if the buddy is involved in a car accident, the insurance company can deny payment of any claims. It is possible to obtain insurance that permits additional drivers, though it will be more expensive.
If you increase your deductibles, you can save money. It is risky because you will be responsible for paying this higher deductible in case of a claim. The higher your deductible, the more you will save on your premium.
Consider subscribing to bundle insurance, as this can often save you money. You should talk to your agent about insuring your home and car together. To ensure you get sufficient coverage and still pay low premiums, you might be better off with two separate policies.
Get quotes from different insurance agencies before you decide on which one to get for your car. Odds are, you'll have to spend some time looking, if you want to get a really great rate.
Do not jump for the first lower rate you discover, though; check with your current insurers before changing companies. Often, they will match the rate to compete.
Consider paying your entire premium up front. This will save you a service fee that many insurance companies add when you make your payment monthly. Start saving money now so that when your policy is up for renewal, you can pay the entire annual cost and avoid the service fee.
If your insurance rate is high because of your imperfect driving record, there are several ways to lower it. If you have a ticket or collision on your record, ask about options such as taking a driver education course in order to alleviate surcharges. Some insurance companies also give drivers the option of installing tracking devices on their cars that monitor driving habits. They then use this information to determine whether your rate should be lowered.
There are plenty of specialized and hard-to-understand terms that occur regularly in the car insurance business. Through reading this article to learn about auto policies and the various terms, you can make wiser decisions about buying a policy that is right for you. It is important that you know as much as you can about insurance, and you can become an informed consumer by reading this article.


1.Club Matches: The club is arranging to set up a match against West Orange (either for the 15 or 22 of September) and another one against Roselle.
2. Introductory Membership Offer: A $1 charge for the rest of the year for new members with an ad for it to be placed in the newspaper is being proposed.
3. Coffeemaker: A proposal for the club to invest in a coffeemaker was discussed.
4. Tentative Fall Club Schedule*: Game 30 rated tournaments to be held on October 20 and 27, lectures to be held on October 6 and November 17, 5 minute tournament on November 10, 15 minute tournament for September 29, bughouse tournament to be held on December 5, and a Christmas party for December 22.
Great Response so far for West Orange Match!


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De Zandenplas is een recreatieplas in de gemeente Nunspeet.

Aanleg
De plas is gegraven in de jaren 60 om bij de aanleg van rijksweg 28 tussen Amersfoort en Zwolle te voorzien in de behoefte aan zand. Na het beëindigen van de zandwinning werden het water en het aanliggend gebied ingericht voor recreatieve doeleinden. Er werden een uitkijktoren en een EHBO-post geplaatst en er zijn diverse speelvelden aangelegd. Er is ook een horecagelegenheid. Het recreatiegebied wordt beheerd en geëxploiteerd door Leisurelands, het voormalige recreatieschap. De plas is in 2013-2014 aan de oostzijde breder gemaakt en uitgediept, met als doel het zelfreinigend vermogen te vergroten. Het zand werd daarbij door middel van een aangelegde pijpleiding getransporteerd naar het enkele kilometers verderop aan te leggen bedrijventerrein De Kolk.

Waterkwaliteit
De plas wordt vooral gevuld met regenwater en water uit een kleine wel. Als er in de zomerperiode weinig regen valt vindt onvoldoende aanvulling met vers water plaats. Door de aanwezigheid van vele recreanten en de hoge temperatuur kan de waterkwaliteit dan snel achteruitgaan. De waterkwaliteit wordt daarom voortdurend in de gaten gehouden door de beheerder.

Geografie van Nunspeet
Recreatiegebied
Recreatie in Gelderland
Meer in Gelderland

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Europe and therefore The Netherlands needs America
Photo: President Trump Meets with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands in 2019. © The White House2
Bram Boxhoorn
In the run-up to the 2020 US presidential election, it is time to examine the impact of Trump's presidency on various countries across the globe. How do different countries look back upon four years of President Trump? In this eighth and final episode of the Clingendael Spectator series "Four Years Trump: Taking Stock and Looking Forward", Bram Boxhoorn explains why the number of political differences between the Netherlands and the US has not increased or decreased significantly over the past four years.
All authors of this Clingendael Spectator series grade the impact of the Trump administration on the relations with their country. See also the scorecard below the article.
Before discussing developments in the Dutch-American relations, it is useful to emphasise the stratification of mutual ties. At least three layers can be distinguished, or to quote the American historian Joseph Nye: the Netherlands plays at three "tables": security, economy and culture.1
Of course, the Netherlands is no longer the only player at these 'tables'. They are flanked to varying degrees by European Union allies. Nevertheless, the Netherlands strives for a strong bilateral presence.
The three 'tables'
Since 1949, Dutch security policy has primarily been organised on a multilateral basis, through the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). But given the political weight the United States (US) holds within NATO, the tie with the US in this area remains essential. This applies mutatis mutandis to the purchase of defence material, like the F-35 (Joint Strike Fighter).
The Netherlands has been a loyal NATO ally for decades. The country often operated cautiously but – when it came to the moment of truth – supported American positions.2
If there has been a recent turning point in the relationship, it was the unilateral termination of the Dutch mission in Uruzgan (Afghanistan) in 2010. This brought an end to years of intensive cooperation following the Dutch Srebrenica debacle in 1995.
Dutch soldiers march through the Lithuanian countryside during Exercise Scorpion Strike, held by NATO forces in Lithuania in 2018. © NATO
Within NATO, the Netherlands has different faces. While it does not commit the agreed minimum of two per cent of their gross domestic product (GDP) to defence expenditure, there has been a great deal of willingness in The Hague – military perhaps more than politically – to contribute to NATO missions.
The Netherlands is also part of NATO's Nuclear Planning Group, a select and therefore prestigious group of allies whose task it is to carry out nuclear missions. It is an open secret that American nuclear weapons are stored on Dutch territory for this purpose.
The problems on the other side of the Atlantic also turn out to be 'our' problems
Without going into too much detail, it can be said that the economic ties between the Netherlands and the US are unquestionably healthy. In this context, the most cited data reveal that around 800,000 jobs in the US can be attributed to Dutch economic activity, whereas the US is one of the largest investors in the Netherlands.
Next to this, about 200,000 Dutch people work for American companies. It is not often mentioned, but thousands of Dutch people try their luck in the US every year.3
The cultural connection between the two countries is more difficult to measure.4 The American 'footprint' in the Netherlands has recently been illustrated again. Black Lives Matters, along with its English-language slogans, has penetrated the Dutch public domain without a Dutch filter. The problems on the other side of the Atlantic also turn out to be 'our' problems.
The election of the 45th president of the US in 2016, marked the beginning of turbulent years. Since 1945, no American president has ever focused so explicitly on the self-interest of the US. Donald Trump's inaugural address on 20 January 2017, in which he promised to put the interests of US citizens first, shocked America's allies.
Meeting of NATO Heads of State and Government in Brussels in 2017 with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on the right. © NATO
Trump's policy thus abandons the system of the international 'liberal order 3.0', as the political theorist John Ikenberry called the most recent phase of international liberalism.5 As a corollary to his 'America First' principle, Trump has strongly questioned the usefulness and necessity of international institutions, although consistency in his statements is often sorely lacking. At times, he has portrayed international institutions, such as the EU and (agencies of) the United Nations, as true enemies of the US.
While the criticism of Trump is not entirely flawless (which country does not pursue its own self-interest?), the lack of a clear international agenda as well as the reduction of nearly every international topic to a matter of national economic interest, added to the neglect – and sometimes the downright abuse – of America's political allies, which Trump elevated to an art.
Dutch foreign policy is increasingly 'Europeanised'
Nonetheless, given the current state of affairs, he can boast little success abroad. Only in the Middle East, a success has emerged: the contours of an anti-Iranian coalition between Arab states and Israel are becoming visible.
'Narrow margins'
This is not the place to dwell on historical developments in Dutch-American relations, but it is important to emphasise that the current third Cabinet of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte is building on a stable foundation of relations and, more importantly, wants to continue that policy.6
The former Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs Max van der Stoel (from 1973-1977 and 1981-1982) once stated that there are narrow margins in the Dutch foreign policy field.7 This applies a fortiori to Dutch-American relations.
Moreover, it is important to note that Dutch foreign policy is increasingly 'Europeanised'; more and more, foreign and security policy have become a European (EU) prerogative. The phrase that NATO is the cornerstone of Dutch security policy has gradually given way to a more Eurocentric approach.
A Dutch Navy NH-90 helicopter lands on a Danish support ship during the NATO Trident Juncture Exercise in 2018. © NATO
The scope of Dutch foreign policy has thus broadened and is no longer as binary – the EU for the economy and NATO for security – as before. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands has an interest in a strong EU, a strong NATO and other strong multilateral institutions.
The fact that these institutions are not aligned (requiring choices to be made), becomes clear (again) by the current consternation in the International Criminal Court (ICC). This is because a strong ICC does not go well with maintaining a flawless relationship with the US, that does not recognise the ICC.
The amount of political differences has not increased or decreased significantly over the past four years. The most important observation is that the tone of the relationship has sharpened in some cases, especially regarding the aforementioned NATO agreement to spend a minimum of 2 percent of the GDP on defence and regarding the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, a new gas pipeline from Russia in which Dutch consortia participate.
A Dutch Cougar helicopter takes off while NATO forces prepare to make an amphibious landing during Exercise Trident Juncture 18 in 2018. © NATO
The NATO issue has a long history. Of all member states, Dutch defence expenditure is clearly lagging behind. Although there is much to be said about the meaning of this agreement, this is an evident observation. Previous US president Barack Obama unsuccessfully tried to persuade the – in American eyes – European 'free riders' to increase their expenditure. By contrast, Trump opted for a frontal political attack.
The result: European displeasure, especially on the Franco-German side. On the other side, European countries also made new promises to keep the agreement. However, it is virtually impossible that the Netherlands will be able to meet the standard in 2024, the year in which most member states aim to do so.
The Netherlands is commercially closely involved in the construction and operation of Nord Stream 2
A relatively new issue concerns a corollary of Trump's China policy: the restrictions affecting the Chinese technology company Huawei, which is constructing the fifth generation of wireless systems, 5G for short. They have been imposed, because the Trump administration foresaw major security risks through the involvement of Huawei. The pressure initially worked as a red rag to a bull, but now the discussion in the EU has turned in the direction of the US government.
Another charged issue concerns the construction of Nord Stream 2, the gas pipeline between Russia and Germany. An international consortium is responsible for this project, but the Russian energy company Gazprom plays a leading role as the only shareholder. Since the Nord Stream 2 has signed financial agreements with Shell and several Dutch offshore companies, The Netherlands is commercially closely involved in the construction and operation.
The Americans fear that the construction can make Western Europe vulnerable to blackmail by Russia. The counterargument that Russia is also becoming dependent – on Western income – is not given great credence by the Americans. The argument that it is a commercial project, without any government intervention, also makes little impression on US officials.
A complicating factor in this 'dossier' is the American offer to sell Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) to compensate for the possible loss of Russian gas supplies. Is the argument really only about strategic considerations after all?
President Trump visits the Cameron LNG Export Terminal in Louisiana, May 2019. © Wikimediacommons
For decades, the Middle East has been fertile ground for disagreement as well. Dutch armed forces recently took an active part in the fight against Islamic State (IS), and contributed to a training mission in Iraq. However, the Dutch efforts were modest, handicapped by the low level of defence spending and recruitment difficulties facing the defence apparatus.
Trump's proposal to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel did not receive a lot of support from the Netherlands. Next to this, his peace plan, which is based on large investments in the Palestinian territories (to be paid for by the Arab world), was also met with scepticism from The Hague.
The Netherlands suddenly found itself in an EU coalition with Iran, Russia and China on its side
A similarly dismissive stance was taken with regard to the US request for a joint maritime action in the Persian Gulf, following several attacks on oil tankers in 2019. After hesitating for a long time, the Dutch government decided to opt for a naval mission under French leadership, for fear of being drawn into an American-Iranian conflict.
The 'Iran deal' between Iran and the 'p5+1' (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) was a thorn in Trump's side from the outset, summed up in his catchword "Bad Deal." One of his first acts, as promised in his 2016 election campaign, was the US withdrawal from the agreement.
The European signatories were furious but powerless. The Netherlands suddenly found itself in an EU coalition with Iran, Russia and China on its side. The fact that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA), as the deal is actually termed, was considered to be a success story of the then EU foreign policy chief (Federica Mogherini) in EU circles, did not make this situation any easier.
The American ambassador
In the developments over the past four years, the role of the American ambassador to the Netherlands cannot be ignored. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra, who took office in January 2018, caused quite a stir in the short time he has been in office.
US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra during the celebration of the 242nd year of America's independence in 2018 at the John Adams Park in Wassenaar, the new location of the U.S. Embassy in The Hague. © U.S. Embassy The Hague
For an ambassador, he is open and he uses a direct communication style. Next to this, Hoekstra is a regular guest on news programmes. He does not disguise the views of the US government. It is difficult to assess whether this style is effective. It is certain, however, that he often provokes irritation in government circles with his sharp comments.8
The 'Rutte factor'
At first glance, there are enough 'dossiers' on which the Netherlands and the US disagree, and which could make the relations run less smoothly compared to previous periods. The fact that relations have not been too bad can in part be attributed to the role played by Rutte.
This is because he is convinced of the importance of a strong bond with the Americans.9 He visited the White House several times in recent years (in the summer of 2018 and 2019 to be precise) and, more importantly, he did not allow himself to be intimidated by the US president during these visits. Apparently, he had prepared himself well for the pitfalls in terms of substance and publicity awaiting a visitor to the White House – including his predecessors.
President Trump Meets with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte in 2019. © The White House
The fact that Rutte remained steadfast in his positive view towards the established multilateral system did not go unnoticed, even outside the White House. He received the Global Citizen Award from the American Atlantic Council for this; not a Nobel Prize, but Rutte is the first Dutch person to receive this prestigious award.
It is also notable that, due to his efforts, the Dutch-American Global Entrepreneurship Summit, jointly hosted by the two countries, was held in The Hague in June 2019.
According to Norwegian historian Geir Lundestad, the US was able to establish a great "empire" of allies through a policy of "seduction" after the Second World War.10 For each of them, participation in the empire was advantageous from a multilateral economic and security perspective. In essence, this picture still holds true for the Netherlands.
However, President Trump has attacked this 'seduction model'. He may not have thrown multilateralism completely into the trash yet, but for the past four years, his bilateral approach has dominated affairs.
Ironically, Trump's policies have led to notable 'unintended consequences' on the other side of the ocean. His constant criticism of the EU and NATO has driven America's European allies into each other's arms.
It is up to the European allies – including the Netherlands – not to be reduced to a footnote in American foreign policy
For example, a recent report of the Dutch Advisory Council on International Affairs (AIV) plainly argues for the Dutch to join Franco-German initiatives aimed at further European integration ("European strategic autonomy"). Former NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has now become an enthusiastic advocate of such a course. With this approach, the Netherlands would undoubtedly drift further away from America.
Because no single EU country has the strategic power to replace the US, such a course would also be fatal. For strategic security reasons, the time has therefore come to invest in the transatlantic bond and set self-interest aside.
Ultimately, Europe and the Netherlands need the US more than the other way around. That was the case back in 1949 and the fact that it continues to be so, says more about the European allies than it does about the US.
For the Netherlands, there is a high degree of continuity at two 'tables': the economic and the cultural. The disagreements are mainly of a political and strategic nature. It is up to the European allies – including the Netherlands – not to be reduced to a footnote in American foreign policy, but to remain relevant.
1. Nye, Joseph S. (2011). The Future of Power. New York: PublicAffairs. p. 84. ISBN 9781586488925.
2. These include NATO reforms, such as the reorientation of the tasks of the alliance after 1989. See: Bram Boxhoorn, 'American and Dutch policies toward the Reorientation of NATO after the Cold War', in: Hans Krabbendam et al., Four Centuries of Dutch-American Relations: 1609-2009, Amsterdam: Boom, 2009, pp. 717-728.
3. On the economic relationship between the Netherlands and the US: 'Internationaliseringsmonitor 2019-I: Verenigde Staten', CBS, March 2019. Another useful source is: 'Investment Climate Study 2020', AmCham The Netherlands. This study describes a number of global developments, including the effects of Trump's trade policies on international trade and investment. For the studies covering the years 2015 to 2019, see: 'The Investors' Agenda of Priority Points', AmCham The Netherlands (my thanks to Elke Roelant, AmCham, the Netherlands).
4. An interesting, but far from complete, image of the Dutch presence in the US can be found in a report issued by the Dutch consulate in New York: 'About Us', DutchCultureUSA.
5. Liberal Internationalism 3.0: America and the Dilemmas of Liberal World Order Author(s): G. John Ikenberry Source: Perspectives on Politics, Vol. 7, No. 1 (Mar., 2009), pp. 71-87.
6. "The US remains an essential partner to perpetuate our security, prosperity, norms and values and create a functioning multilateral system. We also maintain an intensive trade and investment relationship with the US and work closely together on innovation. Only together can we find an appropriate response to strategic challenges facing both the US and Europe. The COVID-19 crisis has underlined the importance of good transatlantic relations. Transatlantic cooperation therefore remains one of the cornerstones of foreign policy. (...) Naturally, NATO is central to Dutch security policy. In 2021, the Cabinet will invest in the further restoration of the Dutch armed forces and in a more balanced transatlantic burden sharing within NATO along the lines of the 2018 National Plan." Source: 'Miljoenennota 2021', Vaststelling van de begrotingsstaat van het Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken, 2020, pp. 10-11.
7. Reformatorisch Dagblad, 21 September 1976.
8. 'Why are Dutch-Americans so different from the Dutch?', The Economist, 24 May 2018. The article questions why someone with a very conservative Dutch-American background is appointed ambassador to one of the most liberal European countries.
9. See his talk at the Netherlands Atlantic Association, 3 October 2019.
10. Geir Lundestad, The United States and Western Europe Since 1945: From Empire by Invitation to Transatlantic Drift, Oxford: Oxford University Press, September 2005.
Director of the Netherlands Atlantic Association
SeriesDiplomacy and Foreign Affairs
India can deal productively with Trump (and Biden)
SeriesGeopolitics & Global Order
The winding road of Russian disenchantment with Trump
Trump Rivals China: Four Years Of Machiavellianism
Trump and Ukraine: Uneasy Allies
AnalysisDiplomacy and Foreign Affairs
Trump's Jekyll and Hyde Special Relationship with the UK
Trump: The most pro-Israel president in American history
Trump's Mirror to Germany: A Reflection on Four Years
Mike Stanley
Het doel van dit rapport is om kaders te identificeren voor een onderzoeksagenda voor de ministeries van Buitenlandse Zaken, Justitie & Veiligheid en Defensie over de dreigingen voor de nationale veiligheid voortkomend uit de effecten van globalisering.
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The Fraser Valley – Our Home Our Business
The Fraser Valley of BC refers to that part of the valley beyond the built-up urban area of Vancouver, East to Chilliwack and Hope. Our area of coverage spans from North Delta, Surrey, White Rock, Langley and Abbotsford. With our office situated centrally in Langley we have the advantage of being able to properly manage all of these areas.
Each of these Fraser Valley communities has its own unique history, distinctive traits and appealing charm woven into the fabric of the community that lives on.
North Delta: Originally founded as Annieville, a commercial fishing center in years gone by, now a largely middle-class bedroom community of the Lower Mainland and is the most populous of the three communities that make up the Corporation of Delta. It is home to numerous parks and recreational areas and is adjacent to Burns Bog, the largest raised peat urban bog in N. America. See http://www.corp.delta.bc.ca
Surrey: Second largest city in BC and fastest growing city in Metro Vancouver, consists of a number of separate community centers, each a vital part of a truly livable, modern city.
Cloverdale; One of Canada's largest rodeos, productive agricultural land, new clean technology businesses.
Fleetwood; Predominantly a residential community with amenities for all, including seniors parks, libraries, and skateboard parks.
Guildford; Single and multi-family residential, recreational and major shopping areas.
Newton; Thriving business and residential districts.
South Surrey; Exciting mix of beaches, mountain views, and parks along with the laid-back residential properties.
North Surrey; the developing urban heart of Surrey including new residential condos and facilities such as the Simon Fraser University campus. See http://www.surrey.ca/
Abbotsford: "The City in the Country" means one has the best of both worlds, with all of the amenities and attractions of a modern urban core to the most beautiful and bountiful agricultural areas possible. A large multi-cultural residential population, vibrant business and industrial base and home to The University of the Fraser Valley, TRADEX, and Abbotsford International Airport with its annual international Air Show. All makes this one of the best places to work, live, stay and play. See http://www.abbotsford.ca/ and http://www.tourismabbotsford.ca/
Langley: Known as the "Birthplace of BC", the municipality was incorporated in Fort Langley in 1873. A community unlike any other, where the rich heritage of the past, ongoing strategically managed development of today and vibrant vision of the future results in rural beauty complemented by an energetic urban atmosphere.
Agriculture and green space is an integral feature of the community with 75% of the Township located in the Agricultural Land Reserve. This coexists amicably with one of the lower mainland's largest retail centers, Colossus Theatre complex, numerous recreational centers as well as a 5,200 seat hockey area.
The Township prides itself in developing complete neighborhoods offering flexible, affordable and mixed residential housing options of condos, townhouses, single family, coach houses and even acreages. Langley is also a central major transportation hub with quick access to US border crossing, the much improved Port Mann Bridge, Golden Ears Bridge as well as bus and rapid transit links. See http://www.tol.ca/ and http://www.city.langley.bc.ca/
In all, these are just a few of the reasons people are choosing to live, work and play here and why we have chosen to make this the centre of our professional residential rental property management service.
Licensed with Royal LePage Wolstencroft Realty, and having a career spanning over 30 years, Andy Schiller – (Personal Real Estate Corporation) specializes in residential rental property management serving the lower and central Fraser Valley.
Feel free to give us a call or send us an email for more information.
Andy Schiller Personal Real Estate Corporation
Royal LePage Wolstencroft Realty
Property Management Division
#135-19664 64th Ave
V2Y 3J6Phone: 604-530-0231
andyschiller@fraservalleypropertymanagement.ca
Note: we specialize in managing residential rental properties, including strata units for individual owners. We do not provide Strata Management services for buildings per se.
Residential Tenancy rules, regulations and legislation that apply to the Fraser Valley may be found at http://www.rto.gov.bc.ca


Our main studio is in Mission Bay the newest neighborhood in San Francisco. We are also in Chicago, Seattle, and San Diego.
Catalyst is located in the MB360 complex at the intersection of Mission Bay Boulevard North and Merrimac Street. Enter the building via SE entrance at 750 Mission Bay Boulevard North.
Take I-280 north to Mariposa or King Street Exits. Ample metered parking in the neighborhood and several paid lots and garages nearby.


It's the Sunday for the Mercedes Marathon, and if you're able to come help us provide hospitality to the runners we need you at Trinity Commons at 7AM Sunday morning. I know it's early but it's once a year, an excellent way to give back to the community, and it really is a fun time together. We'll have breakfast and coffee for you; the roads will be tricky (some closed for the marathon) so do your best and thank you for being willing to come serve others.
Sunday night our usual 6pm Eucharist will be across our parking lot and with our friends at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. Come join us for this combined service and the recognition that our community includes more than we often are aware. I hope to see you on Sunday.


CTS, is a large hardware vendor in Florida had multiple warehouses in the Orlando area, two warehouses in Nassau County, New York and a master distribution center in Singapore.
CTS catered for time-sensitive customers that had SLA's with leading banks, trading companies, government agencies, etc. These customers' always wanted everything in a rush. For customers in the proximity of the inventory, rush delivery would be executed by messengers; or where goods were to go via FedEx, it had to be ' rush-rush '.
During our need analysis we experienced a pandemonium. It was a high-pressure work environment and that built-up as the time for FedEx pickup grew closer. The pressure intensified because there had to be cross exchanges from other warehouses, if one item was in Singapore, the Singapore office had to ship out the goods. People were managing these orders in their heads, with confusing verbal orders to other warehouses - there were often slip-ups that caused aggravations with customers and the management.
The critical need was a simple, intuitive system that the warehouse employees could use; homegrown systems were not able to cope. It had to be simple since the capabilities of managing each order differed by the employee. The system should be web based with system alerts for the managers.
We designed the system as a password protected, browser based solution that could be accessed company-wide or via the Internet. The solution was hosted on the company servers and is designed to further integrate into the ACCPAC accounting and inventory system used by CTS, and the CTS website. At the rollout, the system was deployed in a manner that it invoked FedEx's online shipping system, it was operationally seamless and the shipping department could ship more in less time.
When an order comes in today via fax, IM, email or telephone, it is entered into the system. The system will determine the location of the inventory and send messages to the various centers. For example, the server was at the Lake Mary, Orlando warehouse, the monitor at the Sanford warehouse and the router was in Nassau County - the customer name, order number, the shipping & the payment mode would be flashed to all warehouses for shipment. Sanford would send the monitor to Lake Mary and when the order is assimilated, Lake Mary would ship out its portion as would Nassau County. The manager could see the completed order from anywhere he was.


Virginia Tech presents The Innocence Project with Darryl Howard on Monday, February 11, 2019 at Colonial Hall, located within the Squires Student Center on the campus of Virginia Tech.
Darryl Howard was sent to prison for 24 years for murder and arson charges, but was exonerated on DNA evidence linking him to the crimes. Hear a conversation on race, justice and hope with Darryl Howard.
Note: This event was originally scheduled to be held in the Black Cultural Center.
For more information, visit: https://ccc.vt.edu/awareness/History_Heritage_Months/Black_History_Month.html or https://gobblerconnect.vt.edu/event/3186749.


It's Easter, and I'm at work. Not like I'd be doing anything today, anyway. Maybe ridin'... But I rode my bike to work, and I'll have to ride it home, so I got some riding in, anyway.
I had a couple of wack dreams Friday night. The first dream was sexual in nature. The woman in the dream looked familiar. She had long, straight, dark hair, her skin was of the color that looks like a light tan, but you can tell it's her natural skin color. And her eyes... whoa! Her eyes were blue, and looked like stained-glass windows with a light shining behind them. She started to mount me, and I asked her if it was wrong for us to be together. That's when she told me, "God wouldn't have given you to me if it wasn't meant for us to be together." I woke up from that dream feeling good, and justified, and I have no idea why.
I had been asleep on the couch up until that point. I got up and went to my bed, and had another weird, although non-sexual dream. In the second dream, I was trying to find a place to stay, and this girl invited me to stay in an abandoned house on her parent's property. Her father said it was ok, as long as I was safe down there.
I guess I should explain how everything looked, and was situated in the dream. The girl's house was on the top of a hill. Towards the bottom of the hill, down a gravel driveway, was the place in which I was to stay. The girl's house had a carport on the left side, with an old looking Chevy Malibu from the '70s or late '60s parked in it. The place where I was staying was old and dusty, and somewhat cramped. It looked like it may have been a bunkhouse for hunters at some time. There were several bunkbeds. I only really remember 2 rooms from the place: The bedroom, which had the door leading outside, and another room that you had to step up to enter.
Shortly, I learned that there was a serial killer on the loose, and I told the girl I was afraid to be down there in that place by myself. She told me to mess the place up, and make it look like someone had broken in, and her dad would let me sleep on the couch in their house. So, from somewhere, I procured blood, and splashed it on the walls of the little bunkhouse. Apparently, after that, I went riding on my bike. When I pulled up to it after having taken a ride on my motorcycle, the dad was in the bunkhouse. He told me I couldn't stay in there anymore, because he was afraid the serial killer had used that place.
We went up to the main house, and I sat down on the couch. He disappeared into the other part of the house, and I sat watching TV in a small den area. I tried to get comfortable, and take a little nap. About the time I was about to fall asleep (remember, I'm dreaming this, and I'm falling asleep in my dream... that's just plain weird) the dad busts into the room, drunk. He starts in on the girl about something, and begins screaming at her. I was kinda afraid. Suddenly, I realize I'm the serial killer. The blood I had sprayed on the wall was from my victims. I couldn't believe it. The father didn't know. The girl didn't know. I woke up.


The Anabaptist Bestiary Project was an alternative rock band of students from Bluffton College under the direction of theologian Trevor Bechtel (also an MCCN member)….
The news from Vermont: Heather Wolfe of Taftsville Chapel Mennonite Fellowship, says, "I am pleased to report that we are now generating renewable energy! The installation went smoothly and finished up May 4. Praise God!" The photo below shows the panels being installed on the Taftsville building.
The news from New Mexico: After some frustrating red tape and paperwork, Albuquerque Mennonite Church's solar panels are going up the week of May 15, 2017.
October 31 is the next deadline for applying to the Pam De Young Net Zero Energy Fund. Are you ready?


Relatively few products in the rapidly evolving digital health market are designed for low-income, high-need, high-cost patient populations. In response, the Center for Health Care Strategies, through support from Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit, created a national Super-Utilizer Health Innovation Challenge (the Challenge) to spur software developers to create digital products for this population.
In this podcast episode, Rachel Davis, CHCS senior program officer, and Teagan Kuruna, CHCS communications associate and Health Innovation Notes host, speak with the three winners of the Challenge. Each of the winners describe their innovative products and discuss opportunities to forge partnerships between health care purchasers and health technology startups.
Listen to the full episode or individual interviews below.
Health Innovation Notes, a podcast series from the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), highlights cutting-edge solutions for improving health care delivery for low-income Americans.


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The Easiest 30-Minute Butter Chicken
Laura Arnold, The Kitchn
After a long day of work or an especially hectic week, I fall hard and fast for the takeout game. Out of all the choices in my NYC neighborhood, Indian cuisine always makes its way to the top of my list -- and, more specifically, Indian butter chicken. There's so much to love about this classic dish: It's comforting, creamy, rich and full of flavor, and never fails to brighten up my day.
If you've ever tried to make butter chicken at home, you know it's not easy. First, there's the long, intimidating list of spices, not to mention the overnight marinade for the chicken -- and that's all before you've even start cooking. Needless to say, it's not practical for a busy work week. So I decided to take on the challenge of making a quick 30-minute version of butter chicken that's just as creamy and satisfying, and practically as fast as picking up takeout.
Butter chicken was first created in India just a few decades ago, and was actually born out of a need to re-purpose unsold chicken. Restaurant owner Kundan Lal Gujal came up with the recipe in 1948 to use up dried-out, unsold tandoori chicken, another one of his well-known Indian recipes. So he created a creamy tomato sauce full of spices and butter to rehydrate the chicken and create this heart-warming dish. I'd say it's ingenious.
For this shortcut version, I'm using quick-cooking boneless, skinless chicken breasts (but feel free to use thighs or a mix of breasts and thighs) and skipping the overnight marinade in favor of a dry spice rub. Speaking of the rub, I'm also saving time by starting with a store-bought spice blend called garam masala, which translates to "hot spices." This blend of flavors varies from region to region in India as well as from chef to chef, but no matter what kind you use, it will give the butter chicken its rich, smoky, familiar flavor. You'll finish the dish off with plenty of butter (and a splash of heavy cream), and I promise you'll feel as accomplished as Gujal when he created this dish.
Prep time: 10 minutes to 15 minutes
1 medium yellow onion
1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon garam masala, divided
1/2 teaspoon plus 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric, divided
3/4 teaspoon plus 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, divided
Pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
1 (16-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Cooked basmati rice or naan, for serving
Finely chop 1 medium yellow onion, grate 3 garlic cloves, peel and grate a 1-inch piece of ginger; place it all in a medium bowl.
Combine 1 teaspoon garam masala, 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric, and 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin in a large bowl. Combine 1 tablespoon garam masala, 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric, 3/4 teaspoon ground cumin, and a pinch of cayenne pepper if desired in a small bowl and set aside. Cut 2 pounds chicken into 1-inch pieces, add to the spices in the large bowl, season with kosher salt and black pepper, and toss to evenly coat.
Melt 4 tablespoons unsalted butter in a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned on all sides, about 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate; it might not be cooked through.
Add the onion mixture to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, until beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Add the reserved spices, 1 (3-inch) cinnamon stick, and 1 tablespoon tomato paste, and cook 1 minute more.
Add the can of tomato sauce, 1 1/4 cups water, and the chicken and any accumulated juices, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until the sauce slightly thickens and the chicken is cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, chop 2 tablespoons cilantro.
Add 1/2 cup heavy cream, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice to the chicken, and stir to combine. Taste and season with salt as needed. Garnish with the cilantro and serve over basmati rice or with naan.
Recipe notes: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
This article is written by Laura Arnold from The Kitchn and was legally licensed via the Tribune Content Agency through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.


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Rock out with greater ease with Spotify's updated iPhone app
Spotify redesigned its iPhone app and made it easier to use. See what's changed and how your mobile Spotify experience has improved.
Matt Elliott
February 28, 2013 4:07 PM PST
I have been a big fan of Spotify since it reached our shores, but the Spotify iPhone app has been buggy and more difficult to navigate than it need be. Making it all the more frustrating was the fact that the iPhone app was the chief reason why I upgraded to Spotify's premium plan. With this latest update, Spotify on my iPhone now feels worthy of the cost required to operate it.
With the updated Spotify app, you'll encounter the first of its two big new features by swiping to the right to reveal the new sidebar menu. It provides quick access to these commonly accessed areas:
Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNET
The other big addition is the Now Playing bar. It sits at the bottom edge of the screen no matter where you are in the app, letting you see artist and track information, including the tiniest thumbnail of the cover art on the left and a play/pause button on the right. Better yet, you can swipe left and right on the Now Playing bar to skip tracks. You can also swipe up on this bar to see the cover art in full screen with play controls.
There are also two new menus, each containing helpful items. The first is accessed by tapping on the full-screen album art and includes three buttons I use frequently: shuffle and shortcuts to the album and the artist of the currently playing track. (There is also a shuffle button above a tracks list for both albums and playlists. It works as one might expect for playlists, but it works for albums only before you begin playing any tracks. Once you tap to play a track of an album, this shuffle button doesn't do anything.)
The other menu you can access by tapping the "..." button located next to each track when viewing a list. It calls up a menu with six buttons (across two screens) that let you add the track to a playlist, star it, add it to your queue, share it, go to the artist page, and start a radio station based on the tracks.
Add an equalizer to Spotify with Equalify
Create Spotify playlists from songs you liked on Pandora
Meet like-minded music fans with Moosify
In addition, Spotify claims this version fixes a number of bugs, including one that frequently displayed a meaningless message -- "track only available online" -- to be ignored when starting the app and another that displayed the wrong track on the lock screen. In the day I've used the app, I am happy to report that lock-screen reporting has been nothing but accurate, and I've yet to be told anything about a track's availability.
The iPad app received an update yesterday as well, but I don't use Spotify on my iPad nearly as much and don't perceive any noticeable changes.
Culture Pandora Spotify
Discuss: Rock out with greater ease with Spotify's updated iPhone app


text:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Net.Http.Headers;
using System.Web.Http;
using System.Web.OData.Extensions;
namespace AlbumSystem.Services
{
    public static class WebApiConfig
    {
        public static void Register(HttpConfiguration config)
        {
            // Web API configuration and services

            // Web API routes
            config.MapHttpAttributeRoutes();

            config.Routes.MapHttpRoute(
                name: "DefaultApi",
                routeTemplate: "api/{controller}/{action}/{id}",
                defaults: new { id = RouteParameter.Optional }
            );

            config.Formatters.JsonFormatter.SerializerSettings.PreserveReferencesHandling = Newtonsoft.Json.PreserveReferencesHandling.None;
            config.Formatters.JsonFormatter.SupportedMediaTypes.Add(new MediaTypeHeaderValue("text/html"));

            // Uncomment the following line of code to enable query support for actions with an IQueryable or IQueryable<T> return type.
            // To avoid processing unexpected or malicious queries, use the validation settings on QueryableAttribute to validate incoming queries.
            // For more information, visit http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=279712.
            config.AddODataQueryFilter();

        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
City Crown - Dragon Lake Public Art Center in Zhengdong New...
City Crown - Dragon Lake Public Art Center in Zhengdong New District, China Designed by Studio A+
Arts Center | 1 year ago
Dragon Lake Public Art Center
STUDIO A+
Zhengzhou, Henan Province, China
Su Chen, Chun Fang, Zhendong Jiang, Arch-exist photography
Min Wang(STUDIO A+)
Min Wang, Mei Ding, Hui Li, Yuliang Wang, Ye Miao, Shizhuang Zhu, Dahua Liu, Chongshuo Wang, Kefeng Liu, Yufeng Zhao, Rui Li, Jiale Ge, Yiyang Song, Mingyan Zhang
BIM: Hao Jiang, Yiting Gao, Xiaoqiang Zhou, Yan Liu, Heng Jin. Curtainwall Design: Bing Qu, Chi Gao. Partner: The Architectural Design and Research Institute of HIT (Harbin Institute of Technology), China Academy of Building Research Co., Ltd.
21205.88 m²
Ge Zhang, Wuting Li, Hongyu Wang
Congzhen Xiao
Chaohong Mi, Gang Chen, Peijiang Zhao, Shouyong Liu, Hong Li, Peng Zhang, Liying Zhang, Zhenyu Sun, Bin Sun, Baolong Shen, Shuwei Wang
Wenwen Zhang, Puqi Liu, Kai Shen
Dongning Wang, Lihua Zhou, Jinlong Liang, Qiang Chen
The Second Construction Limited Company of China Construction Eighth Engineering Division
Smooth fair-faced concrete, ultra-clear glass, white and wooden color coated aluminum panels/grilles
Zhengdong New District Construction Development Investment Co.,Ltd.
Cultural › Arts Center
Studio A+: As an important component of Zhengdong New District's public amenities, the Dragon Lake Public Art Center will be used to showcase urban planning initiatives and exhibitions in the short term, and as a public art center in the long run. Its program will allow for easy access to works of art of the highest excellence, as well hosting lively and engaging activities for all visitors. Taken together with the surrounding public spaces, the Center will provide the city with a waterfront area rich with vitality – and will allow visitors to climb up and enjoy an overall view of the new development, engage with each other, and truly make their waterfront experience a memorable one.
Upon first setting foot on the site, we were impressed by the fact that there are no tall buildings in the surrounding area - even the financial island complex across the water is not excessively large. The local residents are indeed fortunate that such a wide public green space on the waterfront is available. The architecture we create here must be sensitive and friendly to the existing environment, and should show respect to the surroundings in terms of its ultimate size and form.
The challenge for the architecture is to be seamlessly incorporated into the larger landscape context of the park, but to also become a recognizable landmark in the area - as per the wishes of the client. A preliminary analysis and design intuition lead us to conclude that the building would not be a pure example of either architecture or landscape, but rather a product of the combined action of the two "forces". We wanted to integrate the Art Center into the surroundings to a degree that it seems to have grown directly from the site, and is organically part of the overall environment.
The viewing requirement requested by the client provided the initial starting point for the design: looking around from the vantage point of the project site, important landmarks and scenery in the new district can be appreciated from multiple angles on a clear day. In response to these conditions, the shape of the glazed exhibition hall is a non-directional circle, which retains an appearance of a uniform 'the ring (the art center)' hovering above the city, visually effective from all directions.
Beyond the exhibition hall, the other major functional requirements of the project are placed underground within a green mound, as they do not require natural light; they include a large cubical multimedia exhibition hall and an extensive parking lot for the adjacent lakeshore Park. All told, over 97% of the parking spaces are located underground, and the visible volume of the program is diminished to the extent that it does not overpower the waterfront settings, instead blending into the surrounding green environs.
In contrast with the inward-looking functional spaces of the building which are rooted within the landscape, the enlarged circle of the exhibition hall is the most visible architectural volume, and is emblematic of the Art Center. It is set off from the green hills which spread over the site, "floating" in the air, and forms a new visual focal point. There, visitors may look out towards the lake and surrounding area while enjoying the art on display. During the day, it is light, exquisite, and transparent; at night, it glows from within, like a luminous laurel crown, pure and complete, becoming a bright symbol in the night sky of Dragon Lake.
The inner space of the ring has two surfaces: the outer ring is transparent floor-to-ceiling glass, which provides visitors with a 360-degree view; while the inner ring wall serves as an exhibition surface. Overall, the ring appears to 'float', and its structural trusses are expressed as a crown, in a celebration of the city and its culture.
Three-dimensional viewing platform system
When arranging the two major exhibition halls, we embedded one into the earth in the form of a square, and lifted one into the air in the form of a circle. The "floating" nature of the design redefines the conventional relationship between interior and exterior spaces of the building: two completely different spaces of the purest geometries, between earth and sky, stacked together - parallel with one another but not intersecting. Consequently, a series of interrelated yet independent outdoor and semi-outdoor spaces are created at multiple levels, which can accommodate a variety of public activities.
Although the main internal functional spaces are composed of pure geometric volumes, the Art Center has, on the whole, been conceived as an open place for people to stroll through at their leisure. The project has devised walking paths through the site which have two primary lines of movement: one light, and one dark. The "open line" winds through the landscape, while the "dark line" is rooted within the building's interior. The "dark line" leads to the indoor space of the Public Art Center, and can subsequently guide any visitor directly to a terrace at the top of the "Green Hill".
There, a round courtyard is defined by the circular volume floating above. Located at the center of the courtyard is a shallow circular pool, which reinforces the sense of centrality of the space. However, the courtyard is not specifically inward-looking, and its virtual boundary is a circle of gray space that has been deliberately created under the ring to invoke a sense of architectural restraint. In that the inner courtyard extends visually from its central pool out to the vast lakeshore park vista in the distance.
The Art Center's location adjacent to the lakeshore walkway allows for many viewing opportunities. It will be the highest building in the area, and thus an iconic focal point. Multiple viewing platforms are created in the design through the interaction of the building and the landscape. The different levels and orientations formed are connected by grand steps, spiral stairs, ramps, elevators, and other vertical circulation elements to form a comprehensive walking network, which will act as an extension of the existing lakeshore park promenade.
By having the Ring floating above, we have strived to make the site grounds easily accessible and inviting, as an offering back to the city. We have choreographed the journey for different groups of visitors as they move through the project. Regardless of whether they are visiting the Art Center or public park, there are routes to lead visitors gradually all the way to the top of the Ring to enjoy distant scenery and panoramic views unavailable from the waterfront walkway level.
The structure of the building is divided into two components: the lower part incorporates a reinforced concrete frame shear wall structure (used in the "Green Hill" multimedia exhibition hall and underground parking garage), while the upper part utilizes an integral truss steel structure (in the Ring exhibition hall).
The circular steel structure of the upper exhibition space has a diameter of 53.2 meters, and is connected to the main reinforced concrete structure below through only three points of contact. These three columns are neatly integrated into the frame scenery wall, the small green slope and the large spiral staircase. The spiral staircase serves as a means of vertical movement (and evacuation) leading to the inside of the circular exhibition hall and its roof terrace. Structurally, the spiral stair is merged with its adjacent columns, and with a small amount of exaggeration at its front and rear, forms an "elephant" shape - adding a touch of boldness and whimsy to the rigorous and rational whole of the building.
Inside the circular gallery space, all the columns at the perimeter have been eliminated by a cantilever structure from the inner circle of the Ring, in order to ensure an unobstructed panoramic view. The glass curtain wall has been designed to be transparent and seamless – as a result, a "floating" effect is created due to the large span of the cantilevered structure, while also providing the best possible view from the second-story roof terrace.
The outer wall of the Ring is curvy and smooth, glazed from bottom to the top, it employs ultra-clear glass to achieve an optimal viewing experience. The top of the curtain wall is connected with the roof structure with an L-shaped glass corner angle, which highlights the lightness and transparency of the construction. This treatment ensures a clear, immersive view from the inside to outside; seen from outside, the interior space is rich with layers of various materials, composed together to form a satisfying whole.
The bottom part of the ring is composed of smooth fair-faced concrete, highlighting its thickness and simplicity.
White and wooden color coated aluminum panels/grilles are used as exterior cladding for the Ring and staircases respectively, which stand in sharp contrast to the bare concrete of the lower portion of the building, with its visually heavy and earthy appearance.
Illumination at night
The Art Center also incorporates smart building technology, and its use and expression will be closely related to the ongoing social activities of the park and city. The interior space and light of the circular gallery will be transmitted through the highly transparent glass wall, becoming a brightly lit beacon in the night, a new symbol in the city's nightscape. The linked wall and roof of the ring reflect the form of its steel structure, and visually create the effect of the "Crown of the City". Its lighting system has the potential to connect with the city's big data (such as weather, traffic and other information) through a specially designed data processing procedure, and then output dynamic illumination displays from artistic interpretations of the data in real time. In other words, the Ring will express different moods defined by the region's weather, traffic conditions, and so on. Additionally, as the core of the Art Center, the Ring itself can become a media art platform for artists, by displaying any art pieces directly related to light.
During festivals and holidays, the Art Center's Ring can transform into an outsized red lantern for Chinese New Year, or a cool white moon for the Mid-Autumn Festival, adding to the festive atmosphere of the city. And on regular nights, the lighting can be simply low-key, becoming a cluster of dim stars shimmering in the dark sky.
The writer Xiaoyu once said: "Public space is the most important organ of a city. A good space has healing properties, you can experience real pleasure and freedom by immersing yourself in it - but it can also create a setting that allows people to look back at their city from a fresh perspective, and enable us to see our relationship with others in a new light."
The Zhengdong Public Art Center was completed as spring turned to summer in 2020 – when the recovery from the pandemic had just begun, which came as a pleasant surprise to the people of Zhengzhou. Even though the venue has not yet been officially completed and opened to the public, enthusiastic citizens have made it a recreational destination and turned it into a lively stage for urban activities, showing an eagerness for life and leisure after a period of many difficulties.
STUDIO A+ was founded by Ms. Min Wang in 2007. STUDIO A+(ARCHITECTURE + INTERIOR + LANDSCAPE + PRODUCT) is a young and vigorous design team aiming to provide innovative architectural, Interior Architectural, Landscape Architectural, Industrial and Product design solutions for clients. By its name the studio covers multi-disciplinary areas yet specializes high quality comprehensive design solutions. Studio A+ completes architecture and a better life by the means of design.
Arch-Exist
Chinese Architect
Art Centre
City Crown - Dragon Lake Public Art Center
Studio A Plus
Henan Province
Min Wang
Su Chen
Chun Fang
Zhendong Jiang
Arch-exist photography
Zhengdong Longhu Public Art Center
Bao'An Performing Arts Centre by Rocco Design Architects Associates
Tiangang Art Center in Hebei, China designed by SYN Architects
Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center (EMPAC) in Troy, USA by Grimshaw
Zhuhai Jinwan Civic Art Centre in China by Zaha Hadid Architects


text:
Hidden spots of the comunist past
Location:Berlinпосмотреть карту
I'm a journalist, GDR expert and author of a book about architecture and lifestyle within the German Democratic Republic. It's a fascinating period and there's nowhere better to explore it than Berlin. Since the fall of the Wall, it's getting more difficult to see the places that document this important time - but I can guide you and tell all you need to know, including about the Stasi...
Let's meet at the Weltzeituhr or World Time Clock on Alexanderplatz. Since I wrote a travel guide about the communist past of Berlin, I know all the secret places where communist architecture is still alive. On our tour I will show you 3 hidden spots, which are even unknown to Berlin citizen. Spots that you will not find in any travel guides! The tour is also suitable for fans of lost places…
We'll meet at Alexander Platz, once heart of East Berlin and home to the buildings where the communist state showed off its might. Moving east into Friedrichshain, we'll visit Karl Marx Allee. After that we head further east to secret spots that will fascinate you! Among them an abandoned amusement park, a former radio buidling and a historic clinic.
Осталось мест: 8 из 10


34 Creative Bike Helmets – Frikkin Awesome!
An advertising agency from Kazakhstan has employees with sense of humor who like to have a little fun. They created a series of cool motorcycle helmets painting them with different themed drawing like a watermelon, golf ball, Swarowsky crystals and more. Unfortunately they don't exist, the helmets that is, which is a shame.
The helmets above are pretty cool, right? But would you really want to wear one? Dunno. I might have some fun with the girly short hair one. Maybe. But this next helmet is a different story.
Batman bike helmet! It's something you'd definitely want to show off! Can you imagine what fun it'll be to watch people's reactions when you zoom passed them on the streets? It will be a head turner, that's for sure.
I guess there's basically no limit to what can be put on those, right? Oh yeah!! It's all up to your imagination. Here are a few more to get your artsy side working! Which one is your favorite?
Incredible Art by Nicky Barkla.


text:
Home Business Airline Nigeria lifts ban on Emirates Airlines
Nigeria lifts ban on Emirates Airlines
The Federal Government has agreed to lift the ban placed on Emirates Airlines from operating into and out of the country.
Mr James Odaudu, Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Aviation, in a statement on Wednesday said that the lift of the ban was based on an undertaking by the authorities of the United Arabs Emirates (UAE)
Odaudu said the Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, had said the commencement of the airline's operations would however depend on the commencement of visa issuance by the UAE.
"UAE has written to state that they agree to issue visas to Nigerians, consequently decision has been reached to allow Emirates to fly into Nigeria.
"Commencement of the Visa issuance is condition precedent. Please bear with this unusual situation."
The Minister appreciates the understanding of everyone who has been negatively affected by the recent policy decisions which forbade some airlines from operating into the country when Nigeria reopened its air space to international flights.
The decisions, he said, were taken to protect the interests of the nation and its citizens who deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, same Nigeria treats other nationals.
It will be recalled that Emirates Airlines was initially given approval to operate into the country, an approval which was withdrawn following the inability of Nigerians to obtain/use valid tourist visas to enter the UAE. (NAN)
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Don't allow your child to cram the night before as this can be counter-productive.
Make sure you and your child get a decent night's sleep the night before.
Your child should eat a good breakfast if they are taking the exam in the Morning or lunch if they are sitting in the afternoon.
Leave home early, make sure you know the route and where to park, and arrive early.
If you are nervous, try not to pass it on to your child.
Make sure you know who to inform if your child is ill on the day.
Check if they need to take a pen, pencil, eraser and ruler with them and whether school uniform is compulsory.
Remember reading-glasses, inhalers etc if required.
Encourage your child to use the toilet if they can before the exam.
Listen very carefully to instructions issued by the invigilator about both rules and the papers themselves.
Fill in front page details on the exam paper carefully.
Read the written instructions carefully.
Concentrate on neatness throughout the exam, as an unclear answer will result in a lost mark.
The multiple-choice papers have answer booklets that look similar to a lottery sheet. There tend to be about 5 possible answers for each question and they will be required to draw a single horizontal pencil line next to their chosen answer. The answer sheets are marked by an electronic optical reader, so it is important that your answers are clear. If a mistake is made, it needs to be rubbed out and NOT crossed out. It will be read as 'wrong' if there are two marks where there should only be one.
Answer the questions you find the easiest first, or which carry the most marks.
Circle unanswered questions clearly, so they are easily visible and go back at the end of the exam to attempt them.
Check all answers at the end of the exam in you have time and go back to unanswered questions.
Attempt all questions, even if you don't know the answer have a go – it might be correct and give you extra marks.
On maths papers, you may be asked to show your working, make sure you do if required.
Again in maths, ensure your answer is in the correct format, eg a question may be in metres but they require the answer in centimetres.
Stay calm, don't panic, just do your best!
11+ Exams are about finding the right school for you, not about testing how clever you are!
Don't cheat when practicing – this won't help you on the actual day!
Keep an eye on the time – you need to be speedy!
Always have a go at a question, however difficult – it might be right!
Don't do too little practice nor too much – remember to take breaks, especially after taking an on-line test!
Don't ignore your worst subject – spend extra time on it so it gets easier!
Read the instructions carefully – careless mistakes cost points!
Write down words you don't understand, look them up later in the dictionary and watch your vocabulary grow!
At the end of the test, go back and attempt any questions you have left – you could pick up extra valuable marks in the last seconds of the test!
Have fun, don't get stressed and just do your best.


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Modified the Makefile in TDDFPT/Doc in order to create *.txt, *.xml, and *.html documentation files for the turbo_davidson.x code.
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intel compiler complains that tex is used while undefined if it is not initialized, probably ecause OPEN defines EXISTS as intent in/out. HArmless problem, but it prevented run-time checks.


text:
The Falls: Covenant of Grace
This third and final film of the Falls trilogy revisits former Mormon missionaries Chris and RJ, six years after they first fell in love and were disciplined for it, who are struggling to make their relationship work amid...
This third and final film of the Falls trilogy revisits former Mormon missionaries Chris and RJ, six years after they first fell in love and were disciplined for it, who are struggling to make their relationship work amid conflicts with their families and their faith.
Determined to finally find closure and put the past behind them, the two men set in motion a quest for unconditional love that ultimately leads to the very top of the Mormon leadership.
Jon Garcia
Benjamin Farmer, Curtis Edward Jackson, Nick Ferrucci
Breaking Glass Pictures


Outfits for Radha Krishna Dieties available in many sizes and colors. These are nice hand made dresses with embroidery. Deity size is measured from the bottom of Krishna's base to the top of His head. Sizes are intended for brass Deities.


It's a familiar scenario: Your child returns home after outdoor winter play and complains that their feet are cold and painful—or worse, cold and numb. What to do?
Do remove your child's wet clothing, pat the affected foot dry (don't rub). If you see red or white patches on the skin, your child most likely has superficial frostbite (also known as "frostnip"), which normally is temporary and resolves during or shortly after rewarming. Green, blue or black skin indicates a deeper injury to the skin and should be brought immediately to a doctor's attention.
Do rewarm feet slowly. Use warming blankets, and cover your child's feet with layers of socks to keep them warm.
Don't don't rub or massage the feet. This may cause more damage to skin/tissue.
Don't pour hot water on the feet or use any type of direct heat, such as heating pads, radiators, stoves or fires.
Do keep your child still. Trying to restore circulation by jumping up and down or even wiggling the toes may be "too much, too quickly" and can cause injury to the tissue. Have your child sit for 10-15 minutes as feet are warming, then check to see if symptoms are improving.
Do check a half hour after starting rewarming and reassess every half hour thereafter. If the skin doesn't look as though it's improving within an hour, and continuing to improve after that, take your child to the emergency room.
Do prevent further or future injury by ensuring that your child wears layers, protective gear as needed and waterproof shoes or boots when outdoors, especially when temperatures are below freezing. Since waterproof footwear is often not breathable, your child should also wear padded socks made of acrylic blends that wick moisture away from the feet. Dampness makes feet colder.
Read more about cold feet here.


I am a teenager. These syptoms have been going on for the past few years. I recently had a blood test done and it came back with my red and white blood cells being off and my doctor said it was just a virus but I had a hard time believing that, so i searched online and found that I have many symptoms of systemic lupus. These arent constant but happen semi frequently. My doctor tested my ANA and he said it came back normal. Anytime I have these symptoms they dismiss them as a virus.
-I've pulled out clumps of my hair in the past.
-Shortness of breath and chest pain when I breathe deeply, they think I have seasonal asthma and I have inhalers for it but they dont help.
Just to add on my mothers cousin has lupus. Not sure if this makes a difference but any opinions on the matter would be very appreciated!