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Illinois Botanists Big Year
Native Plant Nurseries
Illinois Plants Listserv
Plant Profiles – Henry "Weeds" Eilers
Central Chapter Videos
Southern Chapter Videos
Northeast Chapter
Quad Cities Chapter
Kankakee Torrent Chapter
Grand Prairie Chapter
Forest Glen Chapter
Central Chapter
Southern Chapter
2021 Survey Grants
Central Chapter Grants
Erigenia
The Harbinger
About INPS
2020 Illinois Indigenous Plants Symposium
2020 Illinois Indigenous Plant Symposium Has Been Cancelled
In response to the emerging COVID-19 situation and in line with the advice of health officials to minimize exposure by limiting large gatherings, we have decided to cancel the 2020 Illinois Indigenous Species Symposium that was to be held at John A Logan college April 4th along with the field trips on April 3rd and April 5th. Anyone who has already registered for the symposium will receive a full refund. The native plant sale that accompanied the symposium is currently still being planned for this spring, with the date and location to be determined. Watch the Green Earth, Inc. website and social media for updates on the plant sale.
Please note that this step was not taken lightly or without careful deliberation. The INPS Southern Chapter board made this decision out of a desire to protect the health and welfare of our members and the community.
INPS Southern Chapter President
Putting Theory into Practice: Ecosystem Restoration & Management
John A. Logan Center for Business and Industry
800 Mary Logan Rd.
(Directions are at the bottom of this page)
REGISTRATION FOR THE CONFERENCE WILL OPEN ON MARCH 2, 2020. Please register by April 1, 2020 to ensure your lunch.
Vendor registration is now open! The link is at the bottom of the page.
Participant Cost (includes lunch):
INPS Members – $25.00 per person
Non-Members – $30.00 per person
Students – $15.00 per person
Download Symposium Booklet (pdf)
Online registration (credit, debit, or Paypal)
To register by mail, download the symposium booklet. A registration form can be found on the last page
Registration Information and Policies
We accept registrations by mail, in person, or online. Registration fee includes a box lunch. We cannot guarantee lunch for registrations at the symposium site.
Registrations made after April 1 will not include lunch. Individuals can also register on Saturday at the registration desk with a check or cash. This will also not include lunch.
Cancellations will be accepted until Friday March 20, 2020.
Requests for refunds can be made in writing and sent to:
INPS – Southern Chapter
Attn: Dr. Nancy Garwood
Life Science II – Mailcode 6509
1125 Lincoln Drive, Carbondale, IL 62901-6509
The symposium is made possible by the southern chapter of the Illinois Native Plant Society in collaboration with John A. Logan College, US Forest Service at the Shawnee National Forest, Southern Illinois University Department of Plant Biology, Green Earth, and University of Illinois Extension.
2:00 PM Guided Hike at Simpson Barrens
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Registration
9:00 AM: Opening remarks
9:10 AM – 10:00 AM: Keynote Address – Doug Ladd
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM: Break/Visit Vendor Area
10:15 AM – 11:00 AM: Session I
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM: Session II
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch/Visit Vendor Area
1:00 PM – 1:45 PM: Session III
1:45 PM – 2:00 PM: Break/Visit Vendor Area
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM: Session IV
3:00 PM – 3:45 PM: Closing Remarks – Mike Baltz
2:00 PM: Guided Hike at Trail of Tears State Forest
Friday, April 3, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.
Hike Location: Simpson Barrens
Simpson Township Barrens is a unique ecological area containing several native plant communities such as limestone barrens, seeps, dry and dry-mesic upland forest, an intermittent creek drainage and support a rich diversity of plants. The limestone barrens communities are characterized by very dry, calcium rich soils that support a flora more commonly encountered on the tall grass prairies found north of the Shawnee National Forest. At the Simpson Township Barrens Ecological Area two limestone barrens are located within a matrix of dry and dry-mesic upland forest each with a southwestern aspect. The dry and dry-upland oak forests are dominated by post oaks (Quercus stellata), white oaks (Quercus alba) and black oaks (Quercus velutina). pignut hickory (Carya glabra), and mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa) are also commonly encountered. Unlike the barrens community the forested matrix is characterized by sandstone cliffs, sandstone boulders and other sandstone rocks giving the soils a somewhat sandy consistency. The soils are acidic and support a flora completely different from the limestone barrens. Read more at: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/shawnee/recarea/?recid=30345
Directions: From Vienna proceed east on IL 146 to the intersection with IL 147. Turn left on IL 147 and proceed through the small community of Simpson; on the east side of Simpson turn left on Trigg Tower Road. Proceed uphill on Trigg tower road until you come upon the roadside pull off and interpretive sign for Simpson Township Barrens.
Sunday, April 5, 2020 at 2:00pm.
Hike Location: Trail of Tears State Forest
Trail of Tears State Forest lies within the southern section of the Ozark Hills, one of the most rugged landscapes in Illinois. The hills are composed of chert (a weathered limestone residue).
The variety in plant communities at Trail of Tears is influenced by the terrain. Dry ridgetops and south-facing slopes have black oaks, white oaks and hickories. Extremely dry sites contain prairie-like openings (barrens and hill prairies) with a mingling of gnarled open-grown trees and shrubs like wild azalea, farkleberry, and low-bush blueberry. The shaded north-facing slopes and protected coves support stands of American beech, tuliptree and sugar maple, or red oak, tuliptree and sweetgum. A rich understory of shrubs (including pawpaw, buckeyes, bladdernut and hornbeam), exists in moister sites. In stream valleys, a canopy of American elm, sweetgum, tuliptree, sycamore and sugar maple over a shrub layer of redbud, deciduous holly and spicebush, and thickets of wild cane (bamboo) occur. The wildflower flora of the Forest's lower slopes and valleys is lush and diverse. On a walk in the spring, a visitor can see many of the woodland wildflowers native to southern Illinois. In all, 620 species of flowering plants, ferns and fern allies are reported to occur at Trail of Tears State Forest. Read more at: https://www.dnr.illinois.gov/Parks/Pages/TrailOfTears.aspx
Directions: Trail of Tears State Forest is situated in western Union County, five miles northwest of Jonesboro and 20 miles south of Murphysboro. Meet at the white barn.
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
Shifting Perspectives on Restoration
Doug Ladd
Ecological restoration is an essential part of regenerating a sustainable future for nature and people. To succeed, conceptual shifts are needed in our approach to restoration and the broader issue of how our culture interacts with natural systems. This talk will explore some of the ecological and historic drivers of these issues, with thoughts on how to sustain functional natural systems and vibrant human societies in a rapidly changing world.
TRACK ONE
Session I – Effects of Forest Windstorm Disturbance on Invasive Plants in Protected Areas of Southern Illinois, USA
Eric Larsen and Melissa Daniels
Southern Illinois has been affected by a number of severe windstorms over the last 20 years. We sought to investigate how blowdowns caused by these windstorms might contribute to the invadedness of forest parcels by non-native plants. We found that blowdowns were more invaded than statistically similar areas of undisturbed forests, but that invadedness decreased with increasing time since disturbance. Larger blowdowns were more invaded than smaller blowdowns and may recover more slowly. Our findings suggest land managers should prioritize treatment of invasive plants in larger and more recent blowdowns.
Session II – Emerald Ash Borer and its Impact on Southern Illinois High-Use Recreation Areas
Zach DeVillez
This talk will cover information about what emerald ash borer is, how it leads to widespread tree mortality, and what impact it will have on high-use recreation areas in southern Illinois. The talk will cover where we have found emerald ash borer in southern Illinois, the magnitude of infestation and tree damage we are observing, and what we can expect in the future.
Session III – A Partnership in Stewardship: The Nature Conservancy in Southern Illinois
Caleb Grantham, Hugo Goulet-Papazian, & Nathan Speagle
The Nature Conservancy's Southern Illinois Interagency Habitat and Fuels Crew (SIIHFC) has spent the past three and a half years practicing a holistic, landscape-level approach to land management. Through partnerships with the Shawnee National Forest, IDNR, private landowners and others, the SIIHFC has worked across legal boundaries to minimize the impacts of invasive plants, let the sun shine in our forests, and return fire to the landscape. Explore the history of the SIIHFC along with details of their timber stand improvement projects and fire management in the region.
Session IV – Vascular Flora of the Illinois Audubon Society Round Pond Swamp Preserve, Pope County, Illinois
Paul Marcum
Round Pond Swamp Illinois Natural Areas Inventory site encompasses 526 acres in southern Pope County. Illinois Audubon Society has recently acquired 347 acres at the south end of the INAI. This purchase, along with 206 acres owned and protected by The Nature Conservancy, effectively protects the entirety of this important natural area. In 2019, botanists at the Illinois Natural History Survey were contracted to conduct a vascular plant inventory of the site, as well as assess the natural communities, rare plant species records, invasive species, and other management issues. During the course of the 2019 growing season, over 600 vascular plant species were recorded and four new Illinois state-listed plant species were documented for the site, bringing the total for Round Pond Swamp up to 10 Illinois endangered or threatened plant species. Also, one plant species not seen in Illinois for 160 years was rediscovered.
TRACK TWO
Session I – Bottomland and Floodplain Forest Restoration
Bruce Henry
This talk will explore bottomland and floodplain forest restoration in the Middle Mississippi River corridor. Specific management strategies being implemented within the Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge will be highlighted.
Session II – Prescribed Fire as a Management Tool
Scott Crist
Session III – Let the Sun Shine In at the Trail of Tears State Forest
Benjamin Snyder
The Trail of Tears State Forest is a unique site in the Illinois Ozarks. Take a look at the need for forest restoration work at this forest and the progress thus far. We will also examine the process used to gain consensus among resource professionals and partnering organizations about the actions needed to work toward restoration of the ecosystem.
Session IV – Spatio-temporal changes in natural xeric forest opening plant communities
David Barfknecht
Let the Sun Shine In: An Innovative Conservation Partnership
Mike Baltz
The Let the Sun Shine In conservation partnership helped to bring order and efficiency to the oak ecosystem recovery effort in southern Illinois. Partners coalesced around common objectives and (ultimately) a vision document; focused their efforts utilizing four innovative steps; and operate using a constellation collaboration approach that helps catalyze multi-partner projects maximize efficiency.
Dr. Mike Baltz is the former southern Illinois Area Director for the Nature Conservancy and is currently the Let the Sun Shine In program coordinator. He has a Master's degree in Environmental Science from Miami University and a PhD from the University of Missouri. His research area of expertise is migrant songbird ecology and conservation.
David Barfknecht is a doctoral student at Southern Illinois University in the Plant Biology department. Hisresearch interests focus on temporal and spatial shifts in different types of biodiversity including their causes (invasion, disturbance, etc.) and how these shifts can inform management practices. Some of his specialties include spatial analyses, quantitative biogeography, and multivariate biostatistics.
Scott Crist is the Fuels Specialist for the Shawnee National Forest. In this position, he is responsible for planning, implementing, and monitoring prescribed fires in a variety of terrain and fuel types across southern Illinois. He began his career in forestry in 1994 with a summer job with the City of Decatur Forestry Department, before working temporary positions in Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, North Carolina, and Washington for the Forest Service, National Park Service, and US Fish and Wildlife Service. He served as a Fire Suppression Crew Foreman in New Mexico for three years before coming to the Shawnee, where he has been since 2003. His fire career has taken him to 25 states. He is qualified as a Division/Group Supervisor and Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2. He serves as the Operations Section Chief for the Shawnee's Type 3 Team and as an alternate Division Supervisor with the Eastern Area Type 2 Team. He also teaches a number of classes and is in the Advisory Board for the Oak Woodlands and Forests Fire Consortium.
Zach DeVillez is a forestry technician with University of Illinois Extension Forestry at the Dixon Springs Agricultural Center, where he spends most of his time on emerald ash borer research. From Harrisburg, Zach spent much of his time growing up in the Shawnee National Forest, which led him to pursue a career in forestry. He graduated from Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor's degree in Forestry Natural Resource Management. Prior to his work with U of I, he spent a year working for a forestry consulting business working in forest stand improvements, invasive species management, and forest inventories. He currently serves as the program coordinator for the Illinois Forestry Association.
Caleb Grantham, Hugo Goule-Papazian, and Nathan Speagle are members of TNC's Southern Illinois Interagency Habitat and Fuels Crew. All graduates of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, their time studying in southernmost Illinois fostered a deep passion for stewardship of the region's unique diversity and beauty. Their efforts to protect and restore native ecosystems were recently awarded the USDA Forest Service Eastern Region 2019 Honor Award.
Bruce Henry is a Forest Ecologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Missouri. Prior to this position, he worked as a Natural History Biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation. He was also a member of The Nature Conservancy's Southern Illinois Invasive Species Strike Team. He earned his Master's degree in Forestry from Southern Illinois University and his Bachelor's in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences from University of Illinois.
Doug Ladd has been involved with prairie and woodland ecology, fire management, fire ecology, conservation planning, natural area assessment, and ecological management, restoration, and research for more than 40 years. He worked for The Nature Conservancy for 33 years, serving as director of conservation for the Missouri program. Doug is known throughout the United States as an accomplished conservation biologist and botanist. His recent work has concentrated on vegetation and fire ecology of Midwestern prairies and woodlands, developing assessment and ecological monitoring protocols for terrestrial vegetation, and ecoregional conservation planning. As a federally certified fire leader, he has instructed fire training courses in the United States and Central America. Doug is also a leading lichenologist and has researched lichens in the Midwest and the Great Plains. His ongoing work with Ozark lichens has resulted in the discovering of several species and genera new to science. Doug is currently a research associate at the Missouri Botanical Garden, and a senior lecturer at Washington University in St. Louis, where he teaches courses in conservation, botany, and ecology.
Eric R. Larson is an assistant professor in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. He works on the management and conservation of both invasive and imperiled species. Melissa K. Daniels led this research as a graduate student at the University of Illinois, and is currently employed in environmental consulting in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Paul Marcum is a life member of the Illinois Native Plant Society and has served on the state INPS board since 2008. He was INPS President from 2017-2018. Professionally, Paul is an Associate Scientist/Botanist with the Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) Wetland Science Program, on campus at the University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign. In this capacity he co-coordinates activities within the group and conducts environmental surveys for potential Illinois Department of Transportation projects. Paul has been fortunate to research and publish numerous manuscripts and technical reports on Illinois natural areas and rare plant species. He has served on the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board's (IESPB) Endangered Species Technical Advisory Committee (ESTAC) for plants for the past 10+ years. Paul lives in Champaign, Illinois, with his partner Jean Mengelkoch, a mammalogist at INHS.
Benjamin Snyder is originally from Neoga, IL and currently lives in Murphysboro. He has worked for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as a District Forester since June of 2013. Prior to working for DNR, Benjamin spent ten years working at Frost Valley YMCA summer camp and environmental education center in upstate New York. He managed the Natural Resource Department at the 5,500 acre facility, including forestry, trails, wildlife, fisheries, maple sugaring, mapping, and research. He attended Southern Illinois University where he earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees in Forestry. Benjamin has also worked for the U.S. Forest Service on a wildland fire crew, Custer State Park in South Dakota as an interpreter, and the Army Corps of Engineers. He is married to Jennie and they have three children: Greta, Everett, and Lincoln.
Vendor Registration – Deadline to register is March 20, 2020
Educational Exhibit, no sales (display table) – $50
Vendor with items for sale (1/4 page ad and display table) – $100
Sponsor (1/2 page ad, display table, and 1 complimentary lunch) – $200
Booklet advertising only (Business card size) – $50
Shawnee Sponsorship – $300
Online Registration for Vendors (credit, debit, or Paypal)
Mail-In Registration for Vendors (cash or check)
We will provide one (1) table 4′ x 8′ for your display.
If you have any questions, please contact: Indigenousplants@hotmail.com
Directions to the Symposium
From I-57 in Marion (east), go west on Illinois Route 13. Turn right on Greenbriar Rd– there is a traffic light, school sign, but no street sign. Turn right on Logan College Rd, then make 1st left on Mary Logan Rd. Make the second right on Mary Logan Road. The center is at the end of the parking lot. Follow the signs to the atrium.
From Carbondale (west) go east on Illinois Route 13. Turn left on Greenbriar Rd – at the traffic light, school sign. Proceed same as above.
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Illinois Botanists Big Year 2020 Results
Be Among the Super Generation to Save the Monarchs!
Plant Profiles: Lindera Continued, Shrub Communities, and CO2
Board Minutes – 11/9/2020
Plant Profiles: Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
© 2021 Illinois Native Plant Society
P.O. Box 271, Carbondale, IL 62903
illinoisplants@gmail.com - 708-613-0163

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Jano é um satélite natural de Saturno, conhecido como Saturno X, foi chamado assim em homenagem à divinidade romana Jano.

Descoberta e órbita
Jano se encontra 30 km mais perto de Saturno do quê a órbita do satélite Epimeteu, e esta característica provocou uma certa confusão entre os astrônomos, que acreditavam que tinha apenas um corpo naquela órbita e tiveram problemas em entender as características orbitais porque tentavam conciliar as observações de dois corpos distintos em um só objeto.

Características físicas
Jano têm muitas crateras, algumas até com mais de 30 km de diâmetro. A superfície parece ser mais velha que a de Prometeu, porém mais jovem que a de Pandora. Devido à sua baixa densidade e ao seu relativamente alto albedo acredita-se que Jano seja um corpo congelado e poroso, todavia estes dados precisam ser confirmados.

Referências

Luas de Saturno

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Y Combinator (YC) provides seed funding for startups. This call is for applications for the Winter 2019 funding cycle.
$150,000 funding for 7% equity.
You can still submit after the deadline – note that the later you apply, the harder it is to get in.
On October 23, 2018, the groups that seem most promising to them will be invited to meet them in Mountain View, California, United States, in late October, November, or early December.. They will decide who to fund after each day of interviews.
Successful applicants will be expected to move with their team to the Bay Area for the January–March 2019 period.


LIVERPOOL take on Newcastle at St James' Park tomorrow, and their players have been working hard on the training ground.
Jurgen Klopp's men were held to a 1-1 draw at Spartak Moscow in mid-week, leaving them plenty of work to do in the Champions League, but attention returns to the Premier League this weekend.
They face former Reds boss Rafa Benitez and his Newcastle side, who have experienced an up-and-down campaign so far on their return to the top flight.
The Reds have failed to win any of their last three matches on Tyneside, since they recorded an incredible 6-0 victory there back in April 2013.
But three points will be crucial if they are to keep pace with the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City.
CLICK THROUGH THE GALLERY ABOVE TO SEE THE TRAINING PICTURES FROM MELWOOD YESTERDAY.


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Feminism March 10, 2017
What Buffy the Vampire Slayer taught me as a feminist
**Warning: May contain show spoilers.
Over the last few months, I've slowly been re-watching one of my favourite science-fiction television shows — Buffy the Vampire Slayer (BTVS). Little did I know that just as I opened the first episode of season five (thanks Netflix), I would be surprised by the following announcement.
It is the show's 20th anniversary.
The 1997 television drama merges high-school comedy and supernatural horror into one successful package. The storyline follows Buffy Summers, "one girl in all the world, a chosen one", who has the strength to kill vampires and demons and save the world from multiple apocalypses — the plural of apocalypse has never been confirmed, even in the show. "I suddenly find myself needing to know the plural of apocalypse."
Also, did I mention she is 16 and simply trying to get through high school in one piece without revealing her secret identity?
I realize this description may sound cheesy — and ultimately, the first few seasons of the show were just that. But, it was also good television. Joss Whedon, the show's creator, knew how to merge all these great themes together in a way that made you laugh, cry, and yell at the TV with each plot betrayal. Many of the monsters Buffy fights are metaphors themselves for real-life high school issues. Inappropriate teacher-student relations, peer pressure, online dating, physical abuse, and, of course, teenage romance. All the while kicking serious vampire ass in high heels and a halter-top. Now, that's female empowerment!
As Buffy grows older, the show introduced a lot adult themes like casual sex, employment, and the effects of alcohol. The characters viewers spent years getting to know started to change and grow. They went off to university, dealt with career transitions, and experienced intense loss. Buffy's best friend Willow starts to build a relationship with fellow witch Tara in what was my first introduction into lesbianism as a teen. This exploration of sexuality was done in such a subtle and honest way that it just seemed a natural transition for the character, and for the viewers.
What does this all have to do with feminism, you may ask? The whole idea of BTVS was that a young girl, someone who is often overestimated in intelligence and strength, has the ability to conquer the worst evils the world has ever seen. She has boyfriends, sure, but usually she is the one doing the rescuing. As she tells her sister Dawn, "no guy is worth your life, not ever."
In the end, Buffy becomes the idealistic female superhero. Sure, she has a few male sidekicks and a British father figure to offer guidance, but at the end of the day, it's Buffy's plan, her leadership, and her sacrifice that saves the world.
And then, there is the last season (note: serious spoilers ahead).
As Willow and Buffy work together to break the "one chosen one in all the world" curse, her strength and power is transported into all the potential slayers around the world. From the young teenagers fighting the ultimate evil to the six-year-old playing baseball in the park, that energy flows within them, making them stronger and more capable then ever before. Now, it's up to all of womankind to fight the battle. Could there be a more perfect symbol for female strength and unity?
At the end of the series, she doesn't get the guy. In fact, she is independent, standing among the rubble of the apocalypse she helped prevent, with her friends and family by her side. She is strong, stoic, and just plain awesome.
If I wrote an article about all the things I learned, and continue to learn, from this amazing 90s television show, it would result in an essay over 10,000 words in length. Every few years, I re-watch BTVS and find something I previously missed. I usually watch it when I need to rejuvenate my sense of purpose or when I'm feeling down after the end of a relationship. Buffy the Vampire Slayer isn't just a quirky teenage drama with lovable characters and a few evil vampires to fill in the space. It is a coming of age tale that represented all of the good and bad elements involved in growing up. Underneath the supernatural magic of this television show, BTVS is able to accurately portray the effects of death and trauma on a group of young kids, while still instilling hope in those who were watching it.
Not many television shows nowadays can make that same claim.
All of this is to say, happy 20th anniversary BTVS! I have no doubt that, in another 20 years, people will still be talking about this iconic and empowering series.
Are you a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer? Let us know what the show means to you below!
by Katherine DeClerq
Sustainability March 9, 2017
Tourism Toronto captures beauty and creativity in city
The perception of Toronto by outsiders and those actually living within the city are very different. As someone who moved year a little over a year ago, I can confidently say that Toronto is not the mean, green, and cold place many across Canada think it to be.
Toronto is hot, it is fresh, and it has an edge to it that offers people many creative outlets to express themselves. The new video "The Views are Different Here," released by Tourism Toronto, truly manages to capture Toronto's essence and shows a variety of different perspectives to living in the Big Smoke. The video is getting massive hits on social media because it shows the quintessential Toronto narrative of a multicultural city, where everyone is welcome. Tourism Toronto manages to capture the annual pride parade, the AGO, Caribana and a Drake concert in the video and it creates a narrative of what it is like to be a part of the multicultural fabric of this city.
When I moved to Toronto from Western Canada, I had certain assumptions of the city. I thought it would be big, mean, and greasy. It has the reputation of being the main hub of Canada where people go to work long hours and spend most of their time underground on the subway. I was completely surprised when I learned that Toronto isn't just a chaotic and busy city, but actually exudes a vibe that is creative and beautiful; yet, authentic. Toronto is replete with people full of large ideas concerning art, the environment, music, and everything in between. Most of these folks manage to own their ideas, but are not pretentious or self-serving about it. In other words, they are real and genuine creators looking to collaborate and work with other like-minded people.
Though Toronto typically has a reputation of being one of the more 'unfriendly' Canadian cities, its actually just the opposite. The majority of city dwellers are non-judgmental and very kind to each other. I have met so many lovely people since moving here and am struck nearly every day by how kind the average person really is. There is a level of openness and progressive discussion in this city (perhaps due to deep ties leaning to the left politically) that opens doors for a variety of topics. Any daily conversation could range from an 80 year old man about attending a drag show to discussing the future of classical music with a 20 year old woman with green hair.
I will even admit that the man bun has grown on me. It isn't just a sign of the dreaded hipster, but has become a fashion symbol for the Toronto urban style ([note the clip in the tourism video of the older gentleman with the man bun, doesn't he look suave?). It is important to notice that the video also includes a special focus on graffiti art in the city. To see the beautiful street art that exists in the city showcased as a tourist grab is phenomenal. It is a form of art that deserves celebration and there is a turn happening in Toronto where art is become an important avenue of expression for the city. Lastly, the video also manages to put a creative spin on the TTC with ballet dancers on the subway. This gives a more positive outlook for the subway system, and dare I say it almost makes commuting on public transit look enjoyable.
It really is incredible to see Tourism Toronto for giving other outsiders such as myself a more realistic glimpse of what this beautiful city has to offer. I am proud to live in this dirty, artsy, and fascinatingly multicultural city. It is busy, it is loud, and it is in your face. I would ask for nothing else in the years of my youth and I am astounded nearly every day by something new and fresh in this city that I just hadn't noticed before.
What did you think of "The Views are Different here"? Let Women's Post know in the comments below.
Feminism March 8, 2017
Are Canadians investing in women?
March 8 is International Women's Day. During this time, it's easy to think back to all of the trials and tribulations women have experienced. Just last week, there was a tragic case in Halifax in which the victim of sexual assault was wronged thanks to an outdated definition of consent. There has been a large investigation into "unfounded" sexual assault cases by the Canadian police. And of course, there is the incredible sexism women are facing in the United States from their own politicians.
No, Women's Post is not going to focus on that this March 8 (at least, not too much). Instead, Women's Post is choosing to celebrate this important day by speaking with successful business women, gathering their advice for other women, and learning about who they invest in. Here is a teaser with some of the results:
Visit our women of the week page for profiles of successful Canadian women.
What's Hot March 8, 2017
Women of the Week: Mandy Rennehan
Staying humble and true to yourself after achieving success in the business world may seem like a difficult feat, but CEO of Freshco Mandy Rennehan, makes it look easy. Rennehan leads the retail construction supergiant, an enterprise that has spread across Canada and the United States. Rennehan is one of the top CEOs in Canada; yet, anyone in her presence feels extremely comfortable and important, a rare and welcome way to treat others in the high stakes modern business world.
"Growing up in a small town on the East coast, people are humble and simple. People will give you everything they have because they truly care," Rennehan says. "I didn't know I was going to be an entrepreneur, it just picked me and I'm 41 now. When people from home see me and talk to me, they tell me I'm the same way I was when I was 10. I left the east coast with a personality, a smile and a work ethic. I want to treat people like I want to be treated."
Freshco is a boutique facilities firm that focuses on maintenance, projects and reconstruction. The company has landed some massive clients including Home Depot, Lululemon, Sephora and Apple, among others. "Freshco does everything on the mechanical and cosmetic level to retailers with any form of structure," Rennehan says. "As soon as they are ready to open a store, we renovate, maintain and come in when there is an emergency. We call ourselves ninjas sometimes. All you see is the beautiful design, and merchandise and Freshco is the company that maintains that look all the time. We are there in the morning, and overnight."
Rennehan believes that employee happiness is paramount to the success of her company. She handpicks all of her employees with her management team and then dubs them with a nickname. The chosen nickname for a new employee is put on company hoodies and business cards. "I don't believe in work-life balance and I think employers put too much strain for people to have two lives," Rennehan says. "I create an environment that is cool, trendy and comfortable. I believe in the fun and narrowing in on people and bringing out the personality in them. Happy people are productive. We jam up the music and have fridges full of beer."
Rennehan is also invested in helping others who need support in the trades industry. She launched the Chris Rennehan Scholarship in 2015 that supports people in dire financial circumstances to go to trade school or work for Freshco. "I launched the scholarship because my brother is a lobster fisherman and before he died, we were making a plan to get him into the floor renovation business. His death really affected me and my family. There are so many people who are lost and don't have the time to go to school. They need to learn something right now because they have bills and families," Rennehan says. "The scholarship fund sends them to trade school, or sends them to me and we can teach them. People are donating to the fund because they know I am going to do the right thing with it. These people are almost on the brink of mental health issues. My philanthropy and objective long-term to fund the passion of any trade and any individual."
Due to her amazing work as a Canadian entrepreneur, Rennehan has received a number of awards including being on WXN's 2015 Canada's most powerful women: Top 100 award, in which she also received a letter from the Minister of the Status of Women. She also won EY Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016 and was named 20th in Profit's 2016 W100 list for top female entrepreneurs in Canada. Rennehan is often asked to be the keynote speaker at various events, most recently at the Women with Drive Summit on March 2.
Rennehan is clearly an innovative and forward leader that is taking Freshco to the next level with projected growth across the United States in the next year. The company is a success story, but had its trials as well. In 2010, FreshCo, a grocery chain owned Sobeys, was launched and there was little Rennehan could do about the extremely similar name (only difference on Sobey's part being the capital 'C'). The rub? Sobeys was one of Rennehan's first clients. "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger and that's the truth. We got our heads kicked in with this, and Sobey's was my first client," Rennehan says. "I should've trade-marked Freshco and I didn't. They took my font, my colours and everything. We completely rebranded and with the media attention I get, people are seeing the difference between the two." Rennehan, true to her positive and upbeat attitude, decided to make a joke out of the issue and even launched a national campaign that including rebranding her trucks to say "FRESHCO, not the grocery store".
Rennehan is also an avid supporter of women in the trades. Though she has been immersed in a male-dominated industry for the last 20 years, she has never felt discriminated against in her field. "The trades are still very male-dominated, but it has never bothered me because they know I'm better than them," Rennehan says. "Despite my sexuality, I've never been discriminated against a day in my life. I don't listen to the garbage and I arm myself with knowledge. I've really been a poster child for not being a woman, but being amazing at what I do. Feminism is all fine and well, but just be amazing at what you are and you won't face that discrimination."
Rennehan is reading a book called "Spark", based on a study between physical exercise and how it improves brain function. "Being married to Jane Fonda [a nickname Rennehan calls her partner] for years, I've been very involved in exercise," Rennehan says."She also loves to golf, play tennis, travel ad is a big wine connoisseur. Her favourite travel destination is Tuscany.
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What is consent?
"A drunk can consent." This statement was said by Judge Gregory Lenhan following a sexual assault trial in Halifax in which he acquitted a man who was practically caught red-handed trying to have sex with an unconscious woman in the back of his taxi. Those four words have caused a public outcry, and a petition signed by 34,000 people is circulating asking for an inquiry into the judge himself.
Apparently, this whole idea of consent is rather confusing. So confusing that a judge, a man that has dedicated his life to justice and the law, thinks that sexual assault is something that can be decided be given without actually being conscious.
I know — I don't get it either.
To help, let's actually define the term consent.
Consent, according to the Oxford dictionary, means to give "permission for something to happen." In the case of a sexual relationship, both parties must clearly agree to a sexual act and each person has the right to say no. Consent should never be assumed or implied. Seems simple enough, right?
What people tend to forget is that consent is continually. At any point during a sexual encounter, a woman or a man may tell his or her partner to stop — and that partner MUST stop. That is the nature of consent.
Therefore, considering that very basic definition, a person who is incapacitated through alcohol or drugs cannot give true consent.
In the Halifax case, the woman was found unconscious in the vehicle vehicle. She was naked and the taxi driver was found stuffing her pants and underwear into the front seat of his car. His pants were undone. The woman had an alcohol level of 241 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood. This would have severely impacted short-term and long-term memory. Staff at the bar where the woman was picked up said she was incredibly drunk and was turned away at the door. That is when she hailed a cab.
Did I mention that her DNA was found in the accused's mouth?
All of those details together should have resulted in a guilty verdict. Instead, the judge said there was no way to know whether the woman gave consent prior to her losing consciousness, and therefore the man could not be found guilty.
In essence: "a drunk can consent."
This verdict verges on the ridiculous and unbelievable — and yet, it does not shock me. It doesn't shock me because, as a woman, I know the judiciary system is not on my side. I know that, in the event of an unwarranted and unsolicited sexual act, it will take even more persuasion to convince a police officer that it was not my fault. And that's a real shame.
Using the above definition, it is clear, without a doubt, there was no continual consent in the Halifax case. Even if the woman in the taxi urged the driver to have sex with her, the fact that she was unconscious nullifies whatever consent was originally given. The consent, at that moment, cannot be continual as the woman is not awake to give it.
Let me run through a few other scenarios in which consent is implied, but not actually given:
A woman dresses provocatively, and that implies she is "looking to get some."
A woman invites you into their house or hotel room following a date, she is implying she wants to have sex.
A woman asks a man if he has a condom. He puts it on. That means that sex is inevitable and what happens afterward is a consequence of that act. No one is allowed to change his or her mind at that point.
A woman is intoxicated and their judgement blurred. That means they are looking for a fun time.
In all of these scenarios, a woman – or a man for that matter – has the right to change their mind and say no. None of these acts should be able to prove consent in the court of law, as consent is continual.
However, in many of these situations, lines are blurred and the judiciary system falls on "implied consent" rather than actual consent. There is also a double standard when alcoholism is thrown into the mix. How many times have you heard the defence say the following: "He was drunk, he didn't know what he was doing. Let's not ruin the reputation of this person based on one stupid choice." The accused is then acquitted. When a victim of sexual assault says they were drunk, it is used to imply guilt and irresponsibility. This should not be the norm in our judiciary system.
That simple four-word verdict " a drunk can consent" shows an ignorant and naïve understanding of the term itself. I am absolutely distraught and offended that a judge, someone who is in a position of power to determine whether or not a victim of sexual assault was in fact a victim, thinks it's okay to make such generalized and harmful statements like this one.
Canadian women deserve better. They deserve not to be discriminated against in the court of law. They deserve to feel safe — and this can't happen unless everyone is taught the real meaning of consent.
How to cohabitate with urban wildlife humanely and ethically
Urban critters are a fascinating part of a city landscape and Toronto is replete with creatures small and big. Raccoons, squirrels, skunks, pigeons, and other animals are seen regularly patrolling the streets, and unfortunately can sometimes be spotted in our green bins as well.
Urban wildlife is often given a bad rep because they enjoy eating human food and can be disruptive to human homes. But, when you think about it, it's incredibly fascinating how these animals have adapted to living amongst people — don't forget they were here first and deserve our respect. In other words, Toronto belongs to the raccoons and squirrels and people need to share it appropriately with them! This does not mean turn into the token squirrel lady (my mother) or start giving squirrels or raccoons daily pieces of bread and other treats. Instead, people need to learn how to co-habitate with these city dwellers in an ethical and humane manner by animal-proofing your home, securing green bins, and providing urban green spaces for critters to thrive in.
People often complain about their green and garbage bins being raided by raccoons and squirrels. This is a common issue and in 2015, the City of Toronto tried to solve the issue by introducing raccoon proof green bins. Unfortunately, these intelligent and ingenious animals found a way around the latch system on the bins by learning how to open the latches or chewing through the sides of the lid.
To combat the determination of the urban raccoon, put a large rock or heavy bin on top of your containers and the problem is effectively solved. The raccoons will not be able to open the bins and people can stop having to listen to you complain about having your compost strewn about the lawn. The next generation of green bins are being rolled out by the City of Toronto throughout 2016-2017 and the Region of Peel has also released the new bin. It is much more difficult for raccoons to break in, but who knows, they may yet find a way!
If urban critters have taken up residence in the attic, chimney, or other accessible spaces in your home, don't call just any wildlife control company . The City of Toronto does not require licensing for wildlife control businesses and many will harm or even kill these critters. AAA Gates' Wildlife Control is a humane and ethical wildlife control company that will make sure to remove urban critters living in homes to more fit living spaces and will not separate a mother raccoon from her babies (very important!). Raccoon and squirrel mothers are some of the best and most dedicated urban animal moms, and will travel great distances to retrieve their babies.
AAA Gates also provides tips on how to prevent animals from getting into your home, which is the most ethical and humane way to prevent having to remove wildlife. By covering chimneys with cage wire, covering the space underneath decks with caging, and keeping your roof up to standard to prevent any holes will keep critters out and everyone happy. Squirrels and bats are especially apt at taking residence in tiny spaces, so be sure to do an annual check of your home to make sure there are no unwanted holes in the siding and roof of your house.
Another great solution is to create a space for them to enjoy in the trees and put nuts and seeds in it. By creating a 'squirrel house' or fashion an area for a raccoon, it keeps them out, but you can still enjoy their company in a more natural environment for these lovely animals. The same goes with having bird houses on your property. There are many creative different wildlife homes to make and it is a great interactive project to do with kids.
It is also important to note the proper procedures when finding a baby wild animal in the city. I found a baby squirrel in spring 2014 that had fallen from its nest. I was instructed by Toronto Wildlife Centre to leave it for 24 hours in case the mother found it. I checked back several times and after a day, I decided to take matters into my own hands. It is illegal to keep urban wildlife in Toronto and I spent several hours contacting licensed wildlife rehabbers (interesting to note that rehabbers must be certificated but animal control isn't). I was incredibly lucky to find a wildlife rehab outside of Toronto where the little guy was taken care of before being released back into the wild.
Toronto Wildlife Centre normally does not take baby squirrels or raccoons in their high season and will often offer for animal control to come and put the baby down. It is a very difficult situation to be in as the babies require immediate feedings and finding a home for them is difficult, but can be managed with effort and dedication. If you are ever looking to donate to a worthy foundation, any wildlife rehab centre in Ontario deserves financial aid tenfold.
Overall, never forget that living without urban wildlife, your city would be empty and eerie. Imagine not seeing squirrels bounding through the trees or pigeons gathering on street corners? These animals deserve to be here as much as we do so next time you see an urban critter in your neighbourhood, take a minute and appreciate this adaptable and amazing animal.
Ontario moves towards zero-waste using a circular economy
Landfills are one of the most glaringly obvious examples of human waste, holding over 2.6 trillion pounds of trash worldwide per year. Over half of this garbage is organic waste, which can be composted. Many other sources of 'garbage' can be recycled or reused. Something needs to be done to reduce waste and Ontario is taking steps towards a zero-waste future.
Ontario's Strategy for a Waste Free Ontario is an initiative that will introduce a circular economy to begin the process to become zero-waste in the province. The strategy is a creation of the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change and is a welcome addition to Ontario's Climate Change Action Plan. The circular economy is a model that would divert waste from landfills by changing from a make-use-dispose landfill system to a re-using products until they are truly not useful any longer. This will lower levels of waste substantially and will promote the use of the three R's, reduce-reuse-recycle.
In 2014, Ontario generated 11.5 million tonnes of waste, nearly a tonne of waste per person every year. Approximately 75 per cent of this waste goes to the landfill. It is definitely time for a massive change when it comes to managing waste. If Ontario increases organic waste diversion from landfills by 10 per cent, from 38 per cent to 48 per cent, it will prevent 275,000 tonnes of green gas emissions. According to the Ministry of the Environment, this is the equivalent of removing nearly 64,000 cars from Ontario roads per year.
In order to implement steps towards building a circular economy, Ontario will use the Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act, 2016, which establishes full producer responsibility and makes them environmentally accountable for recovering resources and reducing waste. Producers are described as importers, wholesalers, retailers and e-tailers. The ministry will also create a Resource Productivity and Recovery Registry to oversee producer performance and will monitor progress of the producers' waste reduction strategies.
The province plans to lower waste 30 per cent by 2020, 50 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050. The zero-waste plan has a relative timeline to meet these goals and in 2017, the province plans on developing the Food and Organic Waste Action Plan, and establishing the Resource Productivity and Recovery Registry. The ministry also plans on making amendments to 3R regulations, implementing the Organic Waste Action Plan and transitioning the Used Tires Program. All of these changes should make it possible to lower waste 30 per cent by 2020.
Zero-waste in Ontario sets the stage for the province to be a leader in creating a green economy that focuses on the financial gains of recycling and reusing items. It will save producers' money to enact the 3R's when disposing of used products and will reduce waste in the province. It is time for the green economy to become the mainstream way of making money in the western world, and the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change is taking important steps to making that a reality.
5 Social Media Etiquettes You Didn't Know
Now that everyone and their grandma is on social media, it seems there are a few habits that people need to avoid. They may be rules that you were not necessarily aware of, but fear not! Women's Post has got you covered on the 5 social media etiquettes you didn't know, but should really hop on upon completion of reading.
One post a day keeps the haters at bay
Your cat is cute. She does tricks, she lays on the floor, she eats off your plate – but your friends don't need an hourly update on their feed of their activities. You looked nice at the club last night, and one picture will suffice to demonstrate that. Anymore then that and you will end up on someone's group chat, being torn to pieces on how you have to 'get over yourself.' Don't be that person. That person is not liked. What will get you likes, however, is being a rare gem, one that posts one striking, tear jerking picture instead of 10 mediocre ones.
The first Snapchat's a charm
Logically, your selfie does not need to be seen twice. No matter if you get mistaken by Rihanna, or you are Rihanna herself, once a snap goes to your story, that's it. It's done. The world can indulge in your selfie no matter how many times they would like. (Let's face it, if bae knew how many times we viewed their story, he/she would have some questions.) Therefore, another 10 seconds to special individuals seems rather tedious. Irrelevant, albeit. Besides, nothing makes a person feel more insignificant than seeing a snap they thought was meant for them, and seeing the same picture on the person's story.
140 characters is still a lot of characters
There's a stark difference between 'too much information' and 'missing in action'. It doesn't take a lot of effort to do either or. However, it does take a special type of skill to master the perfect balance between the two. A play by play of your day in 140 characters is not ideal for anyone, especially if your day consists of nothing out of the ordinary. We get it; gym, breakfast, work, and complaints about work can be worded in so many different ways before it becomes redundant. So keep it spicy, babe.
Sharing is not always caring
Just because it says to 'share if you love your mom', doesn't mean you should. People will know you love your mom anyways. And if you don't, well they won't know, therefore preventing any sort of judgement and negative thoughts thrown your way. Care about the sanity of your friends before sharing. This goes for all types of sharing- status updates included. Read #3 again for reiteration. Sure, your intention may be to bring awareness to 784 of your closest friends about how 'the world will end in 62 days', however sharing a link from www.thetruthisrare.com is really not helping you accomplish this goal. Be vigilante. Be woke.
#STAAAAAAAP
Whether you're on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Snapchat – keep your hashtags to a minimum! The thirst for likes is real, but if you #LikeforLike, your followers will #UnfollowWithSpite. Because #noone wants to read a #statusupdate that looks like this, no matter if you #wokeuplikethis or not. A few relevant #hashtags never hurt, but the fewer the better. For some added #education, please re-read this #paragraph how many times you need to further understand the sheer #annoyance that comes with excessive hashtagging. #sorrynotsorry
If you are guilty of any of these social media habits, just know temporary relief from social annihilation will be provided. Just promise us you'll change.
What are some other social media habits you didn't know? Let us know in the comments below!
by Tasnia Nasar
Living March 2, 2017
How should parents deal with child bullying?
Parenting challenges you in unexpected ways. Recently, my daughter confessed to me that a boy is bullying her at school for being vegan. This little kindergartener is a constant source of sorrow for the other kids, teasing and kicking other children at will. My daughter has mostly managed to escape his abuse, but not since he discovered she was vegan.
As a parent, how do I deal with this little bully? I can't directly confront the child myself as I would if someone was teasing or kicking me, but I also cannot just let it go. Bullying is one of the most devastating things kids can go through in school, and it can have traumatizing effects if not dealt with properly. It does fall to parents to manage it and ensure that all the appropriate parties are aware they have a bully in their midst.
This leads to step number one; telling the teacher and/or daycare. Having open communication with the school and daycare teachers will help the problem. Most times, they simply aren't aware that a child is being bullied in the first place. If the teacher seems dismissive of the problem, don't be afraid to go to the principal. Your child matters and putting up a big stink about bullying is necessary to protect kids from harm.
If the bullying continues despite informing teachers or daycare instructors, the next logical thing to do would be contact the child's parents. This can be difficult to do because parents want to think best of their children, and it is hard to admit when your child isn't acting appropriately. At girl guides recently, another little girl tried to exclude my daughter from playing in a group of girls and luckily, my daughter held her own and played with another child. I could tell she was upset though and decided to step in after the fact. Being friends with the little girl's mom, I decided to approach her about it. I made sure to not accuse or blame in any way, and having a friendly rapport with her helped a lot. It is important to build relationships with other parents, so that if there is a problem, it is much easier to speak to the other parent openly and honestly. If this isn't possible or the parents aren't receptive to being friendly, contacting them in the most polite and calm way possible is the best way to get the results you want.
Other suggestions include preparing your child against bullies through open communication. After both incidences, my daughter and I had a thorough discussion about how bullying is bad and is often a result of the 'bully' being insecure and sad. We also discuss how important it is to walk away from a bully, to be brave, and to tell the teacher. Practicing what to say in case a bully teases her helps her feel more prepared. Now, when someone teases her for being vegan, she knows and understands from our discussions that it is because she is different, but in a good way. Bullies often pick on kids that are vulnerable or different. I try to help her understand that being different is great and she should feel empowered for being known as the token vegan at school.
For younger kids, the book "Have you filled a bucket today? A guide to daily happiness for kids" is a great read that helps promote good behaviour towards others. The story explains that everyone has a bucket and filling other people's buckets with love and kindness will make you happy. Alternatively, if you are mean and selfish, or you take from people's buckets, then will be unhappy. It is very simple and helps kids relate better to the abstract explanations of emotions.
Bullying is a common problem that kids and parents are forced to deal with on a regular basis, and being prepared will help. Overall, I try to give my child as many compliments a day as I can to help boost her self-esteem. I try to not stick to compliments solely based on appearance, but compliment her intelligence and skills as well. A child that feels better about themselves can be better armed against bullies, and I want her to feel protected and loved.
What are your solutions to dealing with bullying as a parent? Let Women's Post know in the comments below.
Woman of the Week: Dr. Vicky Sharpe
Dr. Vicky Sharpe can claim something many professional women cannot: "I basically follow my passion."
Sharpe sits on the following boards: QUEST (Quality Urban Energy Systems for Tomorrow), the Alberta Energy Corporation, Carbon Management Canada Inc., and the Temporal Power Ltd. She is also a director on the board of The Capital Markets Regulatory Authority. Sharpe's goal is to use her background in microbiology and energy to help inspire sustainable practices and encourage funding and investment in clean technologies.
"Board work, in my view, is really rewarding — if you get on the board that is right for you. I wanted to try and create more change."
Sharpe always had a passion for the outdoors, in particular for the microorganisms that connect it all. These "tiny little simple genetic organisms" could affect so much change. They could digest oils, or remove hydrogen from the air. It was this interest that led her down an impressive and fulfilling career path in sustainability and finance.
She began her career studying science in Bath, U.K. and took her PhD in microbiology, or more specifically surface chemistry as applied to water pollution, at Trent University in Nottingham. She originally moved to Canada because there were more opportunities for women in her field.
"It's a male-dominated system. In the U.K., I took a higher degree, a PhD, because I knew if I wanted to compete with the men, I had to be more qualified. People forget how hard women worked at that time to be treated equally," she says. "There were more opportunities for women [in Canada]. It's more receptive."
Sharpe began her illustrious career as VP of Ontario Hydro International Inc. She was responsible for a community-based conservation program that helped retrofit homes, commercial buildings, shopping centres, and hotels in a small town with energy efficient technologies. The idea was for Hydro to become as utility energy efficient as possible. "There was a 90 per cent uptake in people taking at least one product that would be beneficial," she says. "That was the highest level of adoption by society of energy efficiency."
While at Ontario Hydro, Sharpe was involved with Women in Science and Engineering (WISE). She would travel to schools and talk with kids between the ages of five and eight about careers in science and technology. She also informally mentors women and helps connect them to other decision-makers. "I actually have taken some heavy hits working to support employment equity," she says. "At the time there was a lot of negativity about that [but] I integrate it into my life. I give them advice. We all need help. I had great people who help me."
One of Sharpe's other big accomplishments is the founding of Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), an organization she helped run as CEO for 13 years. She describes the SDTC as an "unusual organization" that was created through an act of parliament as a response to the Canadian Climate Change Commitment in the late 1990s. Through this organization, she helped find and negotiate agreements with clean technology companies and start-ups. In total, she mobilized over $5 billion for clean tech companies in Canada.
"It's so exciting to see these great Canadian companies growing and building, but now – I asked for this in 2006 — we need to get more capital to scale up these companies if we want to be world leading. We are still struggling with that. Investors tend to go with what they are used to."
Throughout her experience and studies, Sharpe never had any formal training in terms of finances — yet now, she is one of the leading negotiators in the field. "I found I spend a large chunk of my life chasing money for these companies," she says. "I just learnt it. If you are trying to persuade businesses to be more sustainable, they are designed to optimize financial returns. So if you are presenting opportunities, you have to take that into account."
Sharpe has a variety of experience, but there is one commonality that drives her. "I have to do something that does an impact," she says. She won the Purvis Memorial Award in 2016, which is given to those who have made a major contribution to development and strategies in Canadian industry or academia in the field of chemistry.
In the little free time she has, Sharpe does a lot of travelling. Sometimes it is to visit family in the U.K., and other times it's to better understand a global issue or to use her skills as an amateur wildlife photographer. Travelling and reading helps her reconnect with her love of nature and the environment, and revitalizes her passion for the topic.
"Climate change is in the background and it's a critical thing to deal with. It's a threat. I … promote a better understanding of what this is and what it means to people's lives, both business and personal, and try to influence it for the better because as a society. I don't think we've embraced the positive angles of sustainability," she says.
"But, when you want people to do stuff, you have to be able to help them do it. There are great Canadian technologies for those who want to build sustainability. They are carrying the torch."


For a number of yours now the rallying cry in the mortgage industry was that rates are moving. Don't get left behind! That went on for about 4 years. Every year the talk was how the FEDs will raise rates. And every year that never really materialized. FEDs left the rates alone. In fact, in some years, the rates even went done further.
Well, this year was no different. Everyone in the mortgage industry was telling anyone that would listen that the rates are going. And it finally happened. Rates did indeed started going up and I am here to say that it will most likely continue to go up in the coming months, maybe years.


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Every year our high schools host a design competition among students to determine the school's Teen(er) Parade costume. (Imagine a younger version of Project Runway, Carnaval edition) Ethanie Martina (20) was lucky enough to win Radulphus College's competition in 2010. 100+ students dressed up in her design and shimmied their way down our Carnaval route on the Friday before Gran Marcha (the adult parade) "It was an amazing experience, I felt like a professional designer surrounded by my models… a little more popular than usual!" she says.
She decided on MSN Messenger (Microsoft's popular online chat service) making great use of Microsoft's iconic multi-colored logo (red, blue, yellow, green) and MSN's status icons (Busy, Away, Online, Offline).
Teener Parade organizers managed to find materials (satin for extra shine) for NAf 50 ($30) per student and Ethanie's grandmother was able to sow half of the costumes. Ethanie grew up observing her grandmother as she sowed numerous Carnaval and Séu costumes and draws a lot of inspiration from her work. She's particularly proud that her grandmother has become Radulphus College's "unofficial" Teener Parade costume seamstress (she'll be sowing all of the costumes this year!).
RC students having a blast.
If she had to design another costume, she'd probably go with "Blenchi ta chupa flor" (Hummingbird feeds off flower) inspired by our incredibly beautiful blenchis (the most amazing shiny green you've ever seen!) and our popular children's song by the same name.
Ethanie admiring one of her paintings at Kas di Kultura.


Popular Mechanics has released their Top 10 Worst Gadgets list for 2007. Coming in at number 1 is Palm's Foleo mobile companion.
"Sometimes, a product makes a Worst of the Year list for all the wrong reasons. Take the Foleo, Palm's perfectly reasonable attempt to revolutionize ultra-lightweight laptops. We tested this 2.4-pound computer, which ran for up to 5 hours per charge, and despite a relentless pre-release trash-talking from the tech world (mainly from bloggers who hadn't touched the thing) we liked it.
The 10.2-in. screen and meager flash-based storage were good enough for word processing and Web surfing. Without even realizing it, we started carrying it everywhere. Within days, the tiny machine was a fixture in our dorky lives, tucked under our arms, popping open at every meeting, and drawing as many chortles as breathless questions. Like it or pity it, the Foleo was generating a buzz.
But before a single Foleo hit the shelves, Palm killed it, claiming that they needed more time to develop the Foleo 2. The bloggers won, Palm lost, and our review unit became a bizarre unreleased prequel to a product that might never exist. It wasn't perfect, but the Foleo deserved better. "
Just for the record, I was one of the bloggers who did touch a Foleo. And I'm waiting, not too patiently I might add, for the Foleo II running Palm OS II.
I totally disagree with PM.
So, all of the sudden, the bloggers ("Ahem, Engadget, ahem) opinion automatically makes a device appear on the worst gadget list? Even though it has received good reviews from those that actually got to use it?
I own the "next best thing" to the Foleo (the EEE PC) but I would have gladly paid $100 more for a larger screen, keyboard and bluetooth.
"I still like the hardware of the Foleo better than the Eee, but having used both, I really want the combination of both -- the Foleo's screen and keyboard (with a few alterations, like adding the Esc key) on top of a x86-compatible chipset so I can easily run the software I want."
The EEE has proven that there IS a market for SSD-based subnotebooks, which is even further testament that Hawkins' vision was head on.


text:
Q: how to check json string values how to check json strings values,i have 2 json,i want to check the flag equals to "P" or"M"
{"page_menu":{"flag":"M"},"menu":[{"pid":"0","name":"Home","refid":"1","ord_field":"1"},{"pid":"0","name":"About Us","refid":"2","ord_field":"2"},{"pid":"0","name":"Services","refid":"3","ord_field":"3"},{"pid":"0","name":"Products","refid":"4","ord_field":"4"}]}

{"page_menu":{"flag":"P"},"page":[{"name":"Home"}]}

my code is here.am creating dynamic button with respect to the webservice.here,else part only working.if am clicking the button which consist of child elements its working but other part flag p, page json not working..
public class MainActivity extends Activity {
 String url = "http://10.0.2.2:80/android_connect/home.php";

@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

    new LongOperation().execute(url);

    }

private class LongOperation  extends AsyncTask<String, Void, Void> {
    private final HttpClient Client = new DefaultHttpClient();
    private String Content;
    private String Error = null;
    private ProgressDialog Dialog = new ProgressDialog(MainActivity.this);
    String data ="";

    TextView text=(TextView) findViewById(R.id.textView1);
    int sizeData = 0;
    private View addButton;

    protected void onPreExecute() {

         Dialog.setMessage("Please wait..");
         Dialog.show();

          }

    // Call after onPreExecute method
    protected Void doInBackground(String... urls) {
            /************ Make Post Call To Web Server ***********/
      BufferedReader reader=null;
              // Send data
            try
            {
                // Defined URL  where to send data
               URL url = new URL(urls[0]);

              // Send POST data request
              URLConnection conn = url.openConnection();
              conn.setDoOutput(true);
              OutputStreamWriter wr = new OutputStreamWriter(conn.getOutputStream());
              wr.write( data );
              wr.flush();
              // Get the server response
              reader = new BufferedReader(new InputStreamReader(conn.getInputStream()));
              StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
              String line = null;
                   // Read Server Response
                while((line = reader.readLine()) != null)
                    {
                           // Append server response in string
                           sb.append(line + "");
                   }

                // Append Server Response To Content String
               Content = sb.toString();
            }
            catch(Exception ex)
            {
                Error = ex.getMessage();
            }
            finally
            {
                try
                {
                           reader.close();
                }
                     catch(Exception ex) {}
            }

          return null;
  }

    protected void onPostExecute(Void unused) {

        Dialog.dismiss();
              if (Error != null) {
                  text.setText("Output : "+Error);

        } else {

             String OutputData = " ";
            JSONObject jsonResponse;
            //String Data = " ";
            try {

             jsonResponse = new JSONObject(Content);

             JSONObject jsonMainNode = jsonResponse.optJSONObject("page_menu");

            String Data = jsonMainNode.getString("flag");

            if(Data.equalsIgnoreCase("P"))

                  {

                Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(),"flag"+Data+"selected", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

                JSONArray jsonMainNode1 = jsonResponse.optJSONArray("page");

               TextView text=(TextView) findViewById(R.id.textView1);

               String strName=text.getText().toString();
               Intent in = new Intent(getApplicationContext(),second.class);
                in.putExtra("NAME", strName);
                startActivity(in);

                String Name =jsonMainNode1.toString();

                      OutputData = Name;
                      text.setText(OutputData);

            }

           else if (Data.equalsIgnoreCase("M"))

            {
                JSONArray jsonMainNode1 = jsonResponse.getJSONArray("menu");

             int lengthJsonArr = jsonMainNode1.length();
               for(int i=0; i <lengthJsonArr; i++)
              {
                  JSONObject jsonChildNode = jsonMainNode1.getJSONObject(i);

                      String Pid      = jsonChildNode.optString("pid".toString());
                      String Name     = jsonChildNode.optString("name").toString();
                      String Refid=jsonChildNode.optString("refid".toString());
                      OutputData = Name;

                 LinearLayout buttonContainer=(LinearLayout)findViewById(R.id.btn_container);
               Button button = new Button(buttonContainer.getContext());
               button.setLayoutParams(new LinearLayout.LayoutParams(ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT, ViewGroup.LayoutParams.WRAP_CONTENT));
               button.setText(OutputData);
               button.setTag(Refid);
               buttonContainer.addView(button);
               button.setOnClickListener(new OnClickListener() {
                       public void onClick(View v) {
                           LinearLayout buttonContainer = (LinearLayout)findViewById(R.id.btn_container);
                           buttonContainer.removeAllViews();
                           Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(),
                                    "button" +v.getTag()+ "is clicked", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();

                           new LongOperation().execute("http://10.0.2.2:80/android_connect/home.php?pid="+v.getTag());                        }
                  }
                   );

              }
            }
            }
           //if closing bracket
            catch (JSONException e) {

                  e.printStackTrace();
               }

             }

    }

    }

logCat is here
01-28 04:23:53.522: D/AndroidRuntime(4112): Shutting down VM
01-28 04:23:53.522: W/dalvikvm(4112): threadid=1: thread exiting with uncaught exception (group=0x41465700)
01-28 04:23:53.552: E/AndroidRuntime(4112): FATAL EXCEPTION: main
01-28 04:23:53.552: E/AndroidRuntime(4112): java.lang.NullPointerException
01-28 04:23:53.552: E/AndroidRuntime(4112):     at com.example.proj2.MainActivity$LongOperation.onPostExecute(MainActivity.java:161)
01-28 04:23:53.552: E/AndroidRuntime(4112):     at com.example.proj2.MainActivity$LongOperation.onPostExecute(MainActivity.java:1)
01-28 04:23:53.552: E/AndroidRuntime(4112):     at android.os.AsyncTask.finish(AsyncTask.java:631)
01-28 04:23:53.552: E/AndroidRuntime(4112):     at android.os.AsyncTask.access$600(AsyncTask.java:177)
01-28 04:23:53.552: E/AndroidRuntime(4112):     at android.os.AsyncTask$InternalHandler.handleMessage(AsyncTask.java:644)
01-28 04:23:53.552: E/AndroidRuntime(4112):     at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:99)
01-28 04:23:53.552: E/AndroidRuntime(4112):     at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:137)
01-28 04:23:53.552: E/AndroidRuntime(4112):     at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5103)
01-28 04:23:53.552: E/AndroidRuntime(4112):     at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
01-28 04:23:53.552: E/AndroidRuntime(4112):     at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:525)
01-28 04:23:53.552: E/AndroidRuntime(4112):     at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:737)
01-28 04:23:53.552: E/AndroidRuntime(4112):     at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:553)
01-28 04:23:53.552: E/AndroidRuntime(4112):     at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)

after updated also am getting error..
    01-28 05:56:33.512: W/dalvikvm(4763): threadid=1: thread exiting with uncaught exception (group=0x41465700)
01-28 05:56:33.532: E/AndroidRuntime(4763): FATAL EXCEPTION: main
01-28 05:56:33.532: E/AndroidRuntime(4763): java.lang.NullPointerException
01-28 05:56:33.532: E/AndroidRuntime(4763):     at com.example.proj2.MainActivity$LongOperation.onPostExecute(MainActivity.java:162)
01-28 05:56:33.532: E/AndroidRuntime(4763):     at com.example.proj2.MainActivity$LongOperation.onPostExecute(MainActivity.java:1)
01-28 05:56:33.532: E/AndroidRuntime(4763):     at android.os.AsyncTask.finish(AsyncTask.java:631)
01-28 05:56:33.532: E/AndroidRuntime(4763):     at android.os.AsyncTask.access$600(AsyncTask.java:177)
01-28 05:56:33.532: E/AndroidRuntime(4763):     at android.os.AsyncTask$InternalHandler.handleMessage(AsyncTask.java:644)
01-28 05:56:33.532: E/AndroidRuntime(4763):     at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:99)
01-28 05:56:33.532: E/AndroidRuntime(4763):     at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:137)
01-28 05:56:33.532: E/AndroidRuntime(4763):     at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:5103)
01-28 05:56:33.532: E/AndroidRuntime(4763):     at java.lang.reflect.Method.invokeNative(Native Method)
01-28 05:56:33.532: E/AndroidRuntime(4763):     at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:525)
01-28 05:56:33.532: E/AndroidRuntime(4763):     at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(ZygoteInit.java:737)
01-28 05:56:33.532: E/AndroidRuntime(4763):     at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:553)
01-28 05:56:33.532: E/AndroidRuntime(4763):     at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)

A:    JSONObject jo = new JSONObject("page_menu");
   String flag= jo.optJSONObject("flag");
   if(flag.equalsIgnoreCase("P"))
    {
       JSONArray resultarr = jo.getJSONArray("page");
       for (int i = 0; i < resultarr.length(); i++)
        {
        String namevalue= resultarr.getJSONObject(i).getString("name");
        }
     }
    else if if(flag.equalsIgnoreCase("M"))
    {
       JSONArray results = jo.getJSONArray("menu");
        for (int i = 0; i < results.length(); i++)
        {
        String Idvalue= results.getJSONObject(i).getString("pid");

        }
      }

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Vagustim Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation Device
Vagustim – Animal Research VNS Device
We are committed to developing cutting-edge, high-quality Bioelectronic Medicine devices and medical solutions by utilizing the power of Non-invasive Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS).
Our Solution: Sending Safe Electrical Pulses Through Ear
Vagustim develops a wearable med-tech device that focuses on non-invasive bilateral auricular vagus nerve stimulation (VNS). VNS is a clinically approved, safe, and effective neuromodulation method*. Since stimulation of the vagus nerve rebalances autonomic nervous system activities, this process enables Vagustim to eliminate and treat autonomic dysfunction-triggered conditions, disorders, and diseases by increasing the activity of parasympathetic nervous system activities.
* Redgrave J, Day D, Leung H, Laud PJ, Ali A, Lindert R, Majid A. Safety and tolerability of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve stimulation in humans; a systematic review. Brain Stimul. 2018 Nov-Dec;11(6):1225-1238. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2018.08.010. Epub 2018 Aug 23. PMID: 30217648.
Learn More About Science
Our Recent News and Blog
The Autonomic Nervous System and Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation
By alican 23rd September 2021
In the human body, the autonomic nervous system is related to important vital functions and it is controlled basically by the hypothalamus, a smaller part of our brain. The autonomic nervous system is divided into
Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) has been used for nearly 20 years in the treatment of diseases such as epilepsy and depression and is duly approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The vagus nerve
We Are in 5 Top Neurotechnology Startups
By alican 21st September 2021
As Vagustim, we are highlighted as one of the top 5 emerging neurotechnology startups among 188 startups analyzed around the world by StartUS Insights.
For detailed information
Copyright Vagustim © 2023 All Rights Reserved.


Your brain is plastic and flexible. When we are young, it is easy to learn new skills. However, as we age, the mind becomes less elastic and we fall into routines that may not serve us now. Learn how to chunk your goals, write a success statement, and reshape your brain for a new level of success.


Creative processing turnaround time for IAB standard ads is 3 business days, permitting all Advertising Content and related technical elements meet Amazon's guidelines. Creative processing turnaround time for non-standard ad units varies by ad type; consult with your account team on the specific lead times for each type of placement.
If advertising content is late or does not comply with Amazon's advertising policies, Amazon reserves the right to extend the campaign by the number of days the advertising content was late in order to reach the contracted impression goals. However, Amazon will work with the applicable advertiser or agency to deliver all impressions within the contracted flight dates pending placement and available inventory. If Amazon has not received creative assets within 3 days of campaign launch, Amazon will release inventory for all placements without assets. While we cannot guarantee the contracted impressions will still be available at a later time, we will work proactively to revise media plans accordingly.
* All data transferred to Amazon by a DMP and used for an Amazon Ad Platform ad campaign in connection with a financial services company must have been collected by such financial services company itself in a first-party context and may not include data licensed or otherwise obtained from any other party.


Change is the only constant, they say…and one must always strive to be better. To change, to evolve and to try out new things. Keeping in track with time, there has been a couple of changes in my photography and travel arsenal.
This phone, from Xiaomi, is a wonderful piece of technology. Sleek, light and with 6GB of RAM, it packs quite a punch. It has a 12MP primary camera with a 5MP secondary camera to assist in depth perception. Doesn't shoot RAW files, but does shoot slo mo videos at 120fps, 240fps and a restricted version of 960fps. The camera is quite fine to shoot in a jiffy. Of course, nothing as close to the Nikon D7200, but then, this is the camera that is on me 24/7.
This tiny piece of crystal ball is one the most innovative photography aid I have come across in a long time. It is basically a glass sphere which is being used as a lens. It forms an inverted image on the lens surface, when viewed from the focus, typically around 100mm. If done properly, the images hence captured can be quite interesting.
Am still in the fiddling and getting to know the new toy phase of things with the lensball and honestly, am loving it. When paired with the Poco F1, it does quite an amazing job, I daresay. To me, this lensball is special, since it was a gift from my beloved.
Links to where one may find them is below.
Poco F1 from Xiaomi and Lensball.
Do note that the lensballs come in various shapes and sizes from a variety of dealers and of various quality too. Choose wisely.
Here's to making amazing photographs. Do tell me about your thoughts on my recent acquisitions.
Previous Post Hampi : Places to be!


text:
Q: Excel Date-Timestamp getting Changed when importing to R. how to change it to timestamp in R? Date Column in Excel
       Date
2021-02-19 10:05:03
2021-02-19 09:47:19
2021-02-19 10:53:19

Date column importing in R
     Date
44245.5487615741
44245.6650578704
4246.42021990744

How do I change this date back in timestamp

A: First it would be good to know how you load the data.
For converting the Excel number to date this might help you How to convert Excel date format to proper date in R

If you use openxlsx::read.xlsx() you probably want to use the detectDates parameter.


text:
Windows XP Sales Reflect Overwhelming Consumer Excitement
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 11, 2001 — This evening at COMDEX Fall 2001, Microsoft Corp. founder, Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates underscored the incredible demand for the Microsoft® Windows®
XP operating system by announcing that more than 7 million copies of Windows XP have been sold in the two weeks since its global launch. The 7 million copies of Windows XP were sold by Microsoft to computer manufacturers for use on new personal computers and through upgrades and full packaged product sold by retailers throughout the world.
"The appetite of businesses and consumers worldwide for innovative PC technologies is stronger than ever," Gates said, speaking to a capacity crowd of some 15,000 COMDEX Fall 2001 attendees at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. "In just the two weeks since the global launch of Windows XP, Microsoft has already sold an amazing 7 million copies of Windows XP, which we are incredibly excited about. We believe that Windows XP will light a fire of innovation across the entire high-technology industry."
Sales of Windows XP by computer manufacturers are over 200 percent higher than sales of Windows 98 in the first month of its availability. Also, Windows XP has been adopted by computer manufacturers faster than any previous operating system. Retail sales of Windows XP have surpassed those of Windows 95 and Windows Millennium Edition (Windows Me) by a significant margin. This momentum is expected to grow with the launch of Windows XP in Japan on Nov. 16. Windows XP has also provided a boost in sales across the industry, including personal computer manufacturers, software developers and hardware makers.
"These initial Windows XP sales figures confirm that Windows XP truly represents an amazing opportunity for industry partners," said Chris Jones, vice president of the Windows Group at Microsoft. "We believe that the momentum of the first few weeks of sales will continue into a great holiday season for the PC industry with consumers buying new personal computers, new Windows XP-compatible software, and cool new devices such as digital cameras and PC video cameras."
About Windows XP
Windows XP — the new standard for efficient, dependable computing — gives users the freedom to experience the digital world by building on the momentum of the Internet and digital media with improvements that increase productivity and provide both business and home users with an easy-to-use and exciting PC experience. Windows XP puts the exciting experiences of the digital age at users' fingertips by uniting PCs, devices and services and brings the solid foundation of Windows 2000 to home PC users, enhancing reliability, security and performance.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.


text:
Bankruptcy filings are at a 10-year low, but not for the reasons you might think
By Andrew Keshner
There are varying reasons for the light case load over the past decade
New bankruptcy filings are at their lowest point since 2007, according to new court data.
AndrewKeshner
Bankruptcy courts are quiet places these days, at least compared to previous years.
Corporate and consumer bankruptcy filing rates are at their lowest point in about a decade, according to a new report from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
September 2010 court statistics show that during the depths of the Great Recession, almost 1.6 million bankruptcy petitions were filed, with 1.53 million consumer cases making up the vast majority of the cas eload.
Eight years later, the amount of new cases has been cut by more than half. In September 2018, there were more than 770,000 cases filed from broke businesses and individuals looking to get their finances together through court-ordered debt-forgiveness and repayment plans. Consumers accounted for 97% of the cases.
People may not be filing for bankruptcy because it's too expensive to do so, and they might have too few assets to protect.
In fact, bankruptcy petitions haven't been so low since 2007, Roberts said Monday in his annual summary of the federal courts.
Yet the relative silence in bankruptcy court halls, at least when it comes to consumer cases, might not be entirely golden.
People may not be filing for bankruptcy because it's too expensive to do so, and they might have too few assets to protect, bankruptcy experts told MarketWatch. Besides, some added, more cases might be around the corner.
"People can't afford paying lawyers to file for bankruptcy," Chicago attorney Lorraine Greenberg said. She cited a 2005 legislative overhaul. The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act generated more work for lawyers, who were forced to raise their own rates for clients, she said.
Bankruptcy cases can be expensive
Greenberg said she charges $1,500 up front to file a Chapter 7 case, where debtors sell off their assets and can have certain debts forgiven. That price doesn't include the court costs and fees debtors also have to incur, she said. Those prices can hover around $350, she noted.
She has about three feet of shelf space devoted to documents from people ready to file bankruptcy cases once they get the money to hire her. "I'm never going to see it. … They have no disposable income to pay their attorney," she said.
'Bankruptcy trails recovery. When people have something they have to protect, they file for bankruptcy.'
—Ricardo Kilpatrick, a Michigan-based attorney
One 2017 study pegged average attorneys' costs on Chapter 7 cases at around $1,200, paid up front. Debtors typically paid around $3,200 for lawyers to file Chapter 13 cases; those fees were paid over time as a part of the case's resolution. (Chapter 13 allows for court-confirmed installment plans to creditors.)
The flip side of the findings was the fact that older Americans are filing for bankruptcy at out-sized rates, grappling with too little income and health-care costs that are too expensive.
But Ricardo Kilpatrick, a Michigan-based attorney representing creditors in consumer bankruptcy matters, said there were a number of reasons behind the drop-off in petitions, including attorney costs. "Bankruptcy trails recovery," he said. When people have something they have to protect, they file for bankruptcy," he said.
Still, Kilpatrick, a past president with the American Bankruptcy Institute, said consumer filings could increase as more people return to the workforce and take on more credit.
Bankruptcy petitions on the decline.
Some bankruptcy lawyers say December has been busy
A strong jobs report Friday said the American economy gained 312,000 new jobs in December. The unemployment rate edged up to 3.9% from the 49-year low of 3.7%. The slight rise could actually be a good thing, indicating that people think it's easier to land a job.
Kilpatrick recalled conversations last month with four separate lawyers for debtors. Three of the four told him it was the busiest December they've had in the last six years, Kilpatrick said.
Chicago attorney Lorraine Greenberg said the Affordable Care Act could help people avoid bankruptcy due to unpaid medical bills.
Reasons for the drop-off might not all be gloomy. Greenberg said there could be a link with increased health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act. "Less people need bankruptcy to wipe out medical bills," she said.
Don't Miss: Medicaid expansion saved 50,000 people from bankruptcy in 2 years
Another explanation: Recession-era federal mortgage programs that enabled distressed homeowners to work out deals with lenders also helped people avoid filing for bankruptcy, lawyers told MarketWatch. Creditors "became much more accommodating on doing out-of-court work-outs," Kilpatrick said.
Roberts' recent report said filings "rose steadily" from 2007 to 2010, "but they have fallen in each of the last eight years."
That slide in bankruptcy petitions largely coincides with a historic nine-year bull run on Wall Street — a streak that could be close to an end amid worries about an economic slowdown.
The slide in bankruptcy petitions largely coincides with a historic nine-year bull run on Wall Street, a streak that could soon come to an end.
But bankruptcy rates don't necessarily mirror the country's overall economic health. "It really has not tracked the economy exactly," said Henry Sommer, a past president of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. Filings were high in the late 1990s when the economy was humming along and consumer credit was easy, he said.
Bankruptcies seem to more closely follow Americans' debt-to-income ratio, according to Sommer. The figure shows how leveraged a household is, dividing its monthly debt payments by its income. Aggregate household debt to income ratios ramped up in the early 2000s and then started falling in 2008, Federal Reserve data showed.
Despite record levels of credit-card debt, households are still in a better position to pay off their debts than they were during the recession.
The $1.5 trillion gorilla
Another possible factor in the decline of bankruptcies: America's student-loan crisis. Americans now owe $1.5 trillion in student debt, and the repayments efforts can be soul-crushing for some.
But borrowers have a difficult time legally proving the repayments are an "undue hardship," which means filing for bankruptcy wouldn't help them much.
"As a practical matter, it's virtually non-dischargeable in all cases," Sommer said of student debt. Courts won't wipe out "non-dischargeable" debts.
And cash-strapped student-loan borrowers may not be driven to bankruptcy simply because they do not have enough money to rack up other forms of debt, like debt from credit cards, Sommer said.
In fact, consumers between the ages of 18 and 34 had fewer bankruptcies over the last decade per every 1,000 people, compared to people age 65 and older, Foohey's research has found. "These are people who are saddled with student loans," she said, making it tough for them to build up other assets.
Almost half of older Americans don't think they can afford this one essential cost
Teaching people about money doesn't seem to make them any smarter about money – here's what might
Neighbors of lottery winners are more likely to go bankrupt
Andrew Keshner
Andrew Keshner is a personal finance reporter based in New York.