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Watchdog Says Legislative Ethics Office Is 'Broken,' Calls For Stronger Conflict-Of-Interest Rules
By Brian Mackey • Apr 24, 2019
Amanda Vinicky / NPR Illinois
The former ethics watchdog for the Illinois General Assembly says the office is "broken."
Julie Porter says as her term was ending earlier this year, lawmakers on the Legislative Ethics Commission buried a report in which she concluded one of their colleagues had engaged in wrongdoing.
Brian Mackey reports.
Much of the work Porter did during the the roughly 16 months she was Illinois' acting legislative inspector general remains secret.
She seems to have concluded the majority of complaints she evaluated were "unfounded," or at least that there was not enough evidence to sustain them, and unfounded complaints are not published.
The decision whether to publish founded complaints is up to the Legislative Ethics Commission, which is composed of eight legislators — two Democrats and two Republicans from the Illinois House, and two Democrats and two Republicans from the state Senate.
There seem to be three cases in which Porter concluded the allegations against lawmakers were founded. But only one of those was made public by the Legislative Ethics Commission — the case in which then-state Sen. Ira Silverstein was found to have engaged in conduct unbecoming of a legislator.
Porter says the other two cases came toward the end of her appointment, which expired in February. One was still pending when Porter's term ended, and her successor, former appellate judge Carol Pope, decided to close the case without asking the commission to publish the findings. Porter disagrees with Pope's decision, but praised her as ethical and able.
In the other case, Porter asked the commission to publish her report, but the commission denied the request.
"I felt very strongly that it should be published, and I was shocked when the commission rejected that request," Porter said Wednesday in an interview. "That is not the way this should go. It should not be a function of whether the commission agrees with the LIG's analysis, agrees with her interpretation of the facts or the law."
Citing the commission's decision, Porter would not discuss the nature of the case or which legislator or legislators were involved.
The chairwoman of the Legislative Ethics Commission, Republican state Rep. Avery Bourne, of Raymond, said Wednesday the decision not to publish was unanimous.
In a telephone interview, Bourne was asked why the commission voted to keep the finding secret. Like Porter, she declined to discuss the case, citing the confidentiality of the commission's work.
Porter said members of the commission — and the public — are free to disagree with her conclusions: "I am not perfect. I make mistakes. But I certainly worked earnestly and hard on that investigation for a very long time, and worked hard to reach conclusions that I thought were not only fair but important for public debate and things that needed to be addressed within the General Assembly."
Porter said in order for a legislative inspector general to be effective, she must be able to independently exercise three powers that currently require approval by the commission: the power to open investigations, the power to issue subpoenas, and the power to publish findings of wrongdoing.
In an op-ed published Tuesday on the Chicago Tribune's website, Porter wrote that the inspector general has no power to punish lawmakers: "The only way to hold a legislator accountable in Illinois — and to promote discussion and change — is for the LIG to be able to publish her findings."
"It doesn't do much good for the LIG to be able to conduct an investigation if her findings go into a box that no one ever reads and no one ever sees," Porter said in the interview.
Porter also said it's a problem that the commission is made up only of members of the General Assembly. Before the inspector general can submit cases to the commission, she has to have presented them to the allegedly wrongdoing legislator's "ultimate jurisdictional authority" — that is, House Speaker Michael Madigan for House Democrats, House Minority Leader Jim Durkin for House Republicans, Senate President John Cullerton for Senate Democrats, and Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady for Senate Republicans.
Finally, Porter said Illinois needs stronger conflict-of-interest rules for legislators.
She says one could imagine a situation in which a legislator has a direct financial interest in a piece of legislation that he or she is sponsoring. Or a lawmakers has a day job in a profession that's directly affected by legislation he or she is voting on.
Porter says that's fine — she's not suggesting a ban on outside employment. "But there needs to be some transparency about what those interests are, so that when somebody takes the floor and says 'this is a law that is good for the people of Illinois; this is something that should be passed,' if there is some conflict of interest where the passage of the legislation would benefit someone's business or someone's industry … there need to be some rules about that," Porter said.
"Because if you're on the other side of that … even though the legislator may believe down to their bones that what they're doing is right for the people of Illinois, others can disagree," Porter said. "And when those others see well hey this guy is getting a fee or this is going to benefit and put money in this person's pocket, that brings our General Assembly into disrepute and it causes people not to have trust or faith in their legislators.
"That's something that many other states have; Illinois does not and it needs to," Porter said.
Julie Porter
legislative inspector general
Carol Pope
Ira Silverstein
Avery Bourne
IL Legislative Ethics Commission Appoints New Statehouse Ethics Watchdog
By Daisy Contreras • Dec 18, 2018
Jenna Dooley / NPR Illinois
The Illinois Legislative Ethics Commission has selected a new inspector general – to investigate misconduct and harassment within the Statehouse
Statehouse Ethical Issues Might Need Outside Oversight, Legislators Say
By Daisy Contreras • Nov 14, 2017
Daisy Contreras / NPR Illinois
The Illinois General Assembly took some steps last week to address concerns of sexual harassment in the statehouse. But some lawmakers themselves don't think legislators policing each other is the best approach.


British Columbia Premier Christy Clark speaks during an event in Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday January 22, 2013, to announce that The Times of India Film Awards will be held in the city in April.
The inaugural Times of India Film awards will be held in Vancouver, lured here by the promise of international exposure for the event and the media company that runs it – and an $11-million investment from the provincial government. The TOIFAs were launched with a splash Tuesday morning in the city, with appearances by Bollywood stars, Times of India executives and B.C. Premier Christy Clark.
"Welcome to Bollywood East," Ms. Clark told reporters after announcing the event, which is separate from the International Indian Film Academy awards. Known as the Bollywood Oscars, the IIFA awards were held in Toronto in 2011.
Director/producer Karan Johar, described at the TOIFA launch event as "the Steven Spielberg of India," will co-host the awards with Bollywood actress Chitrangada Singh. The ceremony on April 6 at BC Place will follow two days of related events, including a "music extravaganza" at Pacific Coliseum on April 4 and screenings of popular Bollywood films in multiplexes across B.C.
"The diaspora love that our films have received over the last 50 years has been something that I can't describe in words," said Mr. Johar. "Really, the diaspora love has made Indian cinema even more impactful, even more global." Mr. Johar, who was visiting Vancouver for the first time, said that he would be interested in shooting his next film in B.C., and would be scouting for locations while in town.
The province will provide $9.5-million in matching funding to the Times Group to produce the event, and a further $1.5-million is being budgeted for related activities, including a B.C.-India Global Business Forum. Officials say the immediate economic benefit of playing host to the awards will range between $13-million and $18-million.
"The Times of India communicates with 90 million people every single day and they'll be communicating about British Columbia to the people that they speak to," Ms. Clark said. "This is an incredible opportunity for us to sell our province."
When asked by reporters about providing millions of dollars to the Bollywood film industry while deciding not to improve tax incentives for local production, Ms. Clark said higher tax credits offered by some jurisdictions are not sustainable and that the $285-million her government provides in tax credits is appropriate. "What we are trying to do is create a stable, sustainable environment in which people can work," she said. "So we found I think a very generous level of tax credits that we are going to be able to sustain and make sure that the industry can predict not just what the business environment's going to be like this year, but what it'll be like five years or ten years from now." She also pointed out that as part of the deal, one Bollywood production will come to B.C. and use B.C. suppliers.
"So at the same time we're trying to make our province attractive from a tax perspective, we're also using events like this to try and bring more productions to our province. I hope that's just one production that we'll attract from the biggest film industry in the world."
Bollywood, may we have this dance?


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Suraiya Farukhi, Ph.D.
Director, External Communications
sfarukhi@usra.edu
Statement of Jeff Isaacson, USRA President and CEO, to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
USRA's Miguel Roman Featured in The Business Monthly
Measuring Carbon Emission from an Inclined Galaxy
USRA Scientists and Engineers Contribute to NASA's Xray Polarimetry Explorer
A Stellar Merger's Snapshot in Time
USRA Announces 2021 Distinguished Undergraduate Award Recipients
Universities Space Research Association Continues Low Earth Orbit Presence with Nanoracks and Voyager Space
STATEMENT OF
DR. JEFFREY A. ISAACSON, PRESIDENT AND CEO,
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION,
Update on How the COVID19 Pandemic Is Affecting Universities Engaged in Space-Related
Chairman Wicker, Ranking Member Cantwell, and members of the Committee, thank you for requesting an update on how the COVID19 pandemic is affecting universities engaged in space- related research and education, and thank you for your leadership, throughout this pandemic, and for the assistance provided to universities in the CARES Act. I appreciate the opportunity to provide the Committee with this perspective, on behalf of the university community engaged in space-related research and education.
I serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Universities Space Research Association (USRA), an association of universities deeply involved in our Nation's space program. USRA was formed by the National Academy of Sciences in 1969, at the height of the Apollo program. In concert with the vision of NASA Administrator James Webb, USRA was created to provide a means of collaboration among the U.S. Government, universities, and other research organizations toward the development and application of space-related science, technology, and engineering. Our mission is to advance the space- and aeronautics-related sciences and exploration through innovative research, technology, and education programs. We celebrated our 50th anniversary last year, as NASA completed its 61st.
USRA's governance is grounded in 113 Ph.D.-granting universities, spanning 40 U.S. states and 10 countries. The universities establish USRA's bylaws, elect members to our board of trustees, elect new university members of USRA, and provide guidance on public policy and advocacy. Each of these universities has Ph.D.-granting space science and/or engineering programs, in order to qualify for membership. Our advocacy is guided by our university membership, to provide an insightful voice in Washington on issues important to this part of the university community.
As you know, the university community educates the next generation of space scientists and engineers, and it embraces that mission in close cooperation with NASA. Together with universities, moreover, NASA plays a crucial role in developing the next generation of space professionals that will be able to design and deploy the U.S. space systems of the future. Training our future space workforce has significant implications for national defense, as well as civilian space applications. In the defense realm, U.S. space assets are critical to applications from communications, to navigation, to reconnaissance and surveillance, to meteorology. Space has been described as "the ultimate high ground," and recent efforts to develop new operational doctrine within the Department of Defense put space on par with other warfighting domains, including air, land, maritime, and cyber.
Now, more than ever, partnership is needed between government and academia. Space-related research is typically only a modest part of the overall research portfolio at universities, but it has outsize impact on the U.S. space enterprise. It is imperative to our Nation's future space workforce that we continue to prioritize investments that will advance our knowledge, create new industries and jobs, and give our students the technical background in space science and engineering that is necessary to succeed in a competitive world economy.
I am deeply concerned about the impacts of the COVID19 pandemic on the university community, including, in particular, that part of the community engaged in space-related research and education. After only a few months, I fear the pandemic is already having a deleterious effect on the pipeline of talent of our future space scientists and engineers. I also worry that disruptions in current funding may lead promising students to take alternative career paths away from space.
As a part of our effort to respond to the Committee, I requested input from senior university faculty engaged in space-related research and education at our member universities. From their responses, I will outline five common themes on how the COVID19 pandemic is affecting this vital capacity at our Nation's universities:
Disruption to teaching and education;
Financial damage;
Impact on students;
Impact on graduate and post-graduate training; and
Impact on our Nation's research, especially space research.
Following that, I will provide recommendations for Congressional assistance.
USRA strongly supports the recommendations recently presented to the Committee by the Association of American Universities (AAU), the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU), the American Council on Education (ACE), and the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). The recommendations I provide in this update are consistent with, and complement, those efforts.
To begin, in answer to one of the Committee's requests, I will describe the efforts USRA itself has undertaken to help during the COVID19 pandemic.
USRA recently hosted a national conference call to connect members of the NASA Science Mission Directorate (SMD) leadership to leaders within the university community engaged in Earth and space science research. NASA SMD participants provided a brief update on important measures being undertaken in response to COVID-19 to sustain the strength of the Nation's university Earth and space science research enterprise, including steps to protect the health of faculty, staff, and students contributing to NASA's mission. The majority of time was devoted to questions from the university community to the NASA SMD participants. USRA invited representatives from 130 universities to participate, and we ended up with over 100 universities joining in.
USRA works closely with universities, NASA, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Energy on many activities, several of which directly drive our nation's space workforce development. Below, I highlight three important programs that provide student internships and postdoctoral fellowships at U.S. Federal laboratories, and what USRA has done to help ensure some continuity for these programs.
How USRA is Responding in the Recovery from the COVID 19 Pandemic:
USRA NASA Academic Mission Services (NAMS) Program
As part of USRA's efforts to support the Nation's aeronautics research and workforce development, USRA is leading efforts in the NASA Academic Mission Services (NAMS) Program at NASA's Ames Research Center to transition it to an online format. This includes a new Aviation Data Science course that is now being implemented with a distance learning approach, utilizing data from the FAA System Wide Information Management (SWIM) and NASA Airspace Technology Demonstration 2 (ATD 2) systems. The online version of the course is currently being taught with participants from the existing aeronautics workforce at NASA's Ames Research Center, and a new Aviation Data Science course is being developed with a university for the fall 2020 term to develop the next generation aeronautics workforce.
Efforts are underway to develop an approach to scale this effort so that the existing and future workforce for airlines and other aviation stakeholders may emerge from the COVID- 19 crisis with new capabilities, which lead the world by utilizing data-science informed approaches to air transportation. USRA has also transitioned its NAMS Student R&D Program to a virtual format for summer 2020 internships, with planning underway to expand online engagement of student teams during the 2020-2021 academic year for hands-on projects that align with national interests in Advanced Aerial Mobility (AAM) research.
USRA NASA Internships and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars
Recognizing the importance of continued retention in our STEM workforce pipeline in the U.S., USRA is currently undertaking efforts to transition both the NASA Internship Program and the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars Program to a virtual format. Leveraging an array of online platforms, and working in close collaboration with both NASA and AFRL, USRA will enable internship orientations and enrichment activities and provide students with engaging lectures from esteemed subject matter experts. USRA is also working to acquire technology assets for students, including laptops and VPN access, to allow interns to conduct research projects remotely, securely, and effectively. During this summer, USRA expects to administer internships for more than 1,100 students representing numerous high schools, colleges, and universities nationwide. Here is one comment we received from Samantha Labrecht, a junior at the University of New Mexico, majoring in biology:
"I really appreciate everyone's hard work in putting this together for us while making sure to take safety precautions. This is a trying time and this internship is a real honor for me. I'm so glad I will still get to have a rewarding experience thanks to you all. Here's to a great summer!"
USRA NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP)
USRA has worked closely with NASA to ensure that NPP can continue, as normally as possible, during the COVID19 pandemic. Proposal submissions, review, and selection processes for fellows were conducted virtually, and took place by March 1, on schedule. USRA has a temporary policy, approved by NASA, that allows new fellows to begin their fellowship remotely, and continue for the duration of the pandemic. Written approval is required from their research advisor and NASA center representative to verify that they can telework effectively on their research project.
Let me now describe what we have learned about the impact of the COVID19 pandemic from senior university faculty. These individuals are engaged in space-related research and education at our member universities, and they graciously provided first-hand inputs on this topic to USRA.
(1) COVID 19's Disruption in Teaching and Education at Universities:
As you know, teaching in science and engineering programs at universities is done with large groups in lectures, smaller lectures in specialty areas, and in laboratory classes that both demonstrate physical principles, close up, while giving students practical training. Many universities have been able to switch large classes to remote learning, using services such as ZOOM. Universities cannot, however, use remote learning to demonstrate scientific processes to large groups. Student learning requires individual experiences. This requires instruction in small groups, typically with teaching assistants. Essential hands-on training at universities has ceased almost entirely.
With classes being moved online, other difficulties have emerged. Virtual classes now reach students, throughout their day, in various time zones across the country and around the world. For some students, classes are held in the middle of the night. Another problem is that not all students have the internet access needed to make online learning accessible.
Online learning will continue throughout the summer for most schools. If campuses reopen in the fall, classes and schedules are forecast to be significantly disrupted, because of the need for social distancing.
(2) Financial Damage to Universities:
Accounting for lost revenue in tuition, fees, housing, conferences, meetings, cancelled intercollegiate athletics and events, some universities have assessed the financial impact of the COVID19 pandemic to be in the tens to hundreds of millions of dollars. This financial damage to universities will worsen, if classes do not resume in the fall.
Schools are beginning to impose hiring and promotion freezes for postdoctoral researchers, research scientists, and faculty. I can also report that adjunct faculty layoffs are occurring.
Many universities have also incurred the costs of donating massive quantities of personal protective equipment (PPE) from their labs. They have assumed the cost of COVID19 testing for thousands of students, faculty and staff. Some schools have provided partial reimbursement to students for housing, and they have purchased licenses for faculty and staff for video instruction, conferencing, and proctoring of examinations.
The stimulus bills enacted into law, while helpful, are making up for only a small fraction of these kinds of losses. Some universities are considering salary reductions, while others have begun layoffs. Universities have also reported increased teaching loads, which will have major impact on university research.
Tuition and fee declines are anticipated, because cost fee structures for virtual courses are different from traditional on-campus delivery models, and because of economic uncertainties faced by current and potential students and their families. As university closures continue, additional budget cuts will rise.
I can also report that industry investments in universities are declining, in some cases.
Below are quotes from faculty at some of our Nation's leading space research universities, describing how the pandemic has caused significant financial damage:
"Starting June 1, 2020, my center will lose over 60% of its university support with additional budget cuts underway on a regular (monthly) basis. This has already resulted in the loss of all but one of my research faculty / postdoc positions. My understanding is that none of this funding will be returned. If so, external funding will need to be more than doubled (immediately,) in order to maintain current workload and personnel."
"The closure of my lab (which occurred in March) will become a large liability, if not reversed within the next month or so. It is difficult for students to produce the data required to meet grant deliverables, publication requirements, dissertation requirements, etc., when they are not allowed on campus or in the lab."
"We will need supplemental funds to complete the research obligation. It seems likely that tuition losses and other student revenue losses are going to require substantial cuts to university funding over the next year (at least)."
"Corporate partnerships have come to a halt. We anticipate at least a years' postponement of plans. Our initiative's budget will likely fall by 30%."
(3) Impact on Students at Universities:
Graduation ceremonies are a major part of the university experience. Needless to say, they have lost much of their impact and meaning during this epoch of virtual presence. Most, if not all, commencement ceremonies for spring 2020 will be conducted virtually. In addition, the graduation of many has been delayed for reasons of canceled classes, postponed classes, and sickness. Some students are also affected by a loss of financial support during this period, due to the loss of a student job, or employment within their supporting family.
As previously mentioned, the adjustment of students to remote instruction and online classes has been difficult, especially if they have internet connectivity issues. Depending on how universities grade students, this can potentially have an adverse impact on student scholarships, as well as student admissions to graduate and professional schools.
International collaborations and study-abroad opportunities are ending, which ultimately could lead to a stagnation of innovation. The long-term impact has yet to be determined, but we should identify ways to ensure our Nation continues to attract, train, and retain the top worldwide talent.
Here is a story shared by a professor at a major research university, which details the hardship one of his students is facing:
"When the pandemic-associated shut-downs occurred, my student was about two months from his PhD defense, working mightily to polish the final draft of his dissertation. With the shutdowns, childcare centers are shut down. Additionally, with his wife's highly demanding pandemic-related work, he is suddenly a full-time dad of a young daughter, looking for slivers of time to work on his dissertation. (Happy to say, he has sent his examination committee a very good draft, well in time.) For his post-grad plan, he had lined up a data- science postdoc, funded in part with a research grant and in part with a fellowship from a private research foundation. The latter has been put on indefinite hold. His postdoc sponsor is trying to fill the hole, but it will mean an employment delay to well beyond the summer. This likely means little or no research productivity over the next several months for a freshly minted STEM PhD at the threshold of his professional career."
(4) Impact on Graduate, and Post-Graduate Training at Universities:
We have heard from many institutions that the shuttering of campuses has largely stopped research, both for graduate students who use this research to train for a degree, and for post- doctoral researchers who are just beginning their careers. As a result, doctoral proposal defenses, theses, and dissertation research are being postponed, which will delay time to graduation and completion of M.S. and Ph.D. degree requirements.
The interactions between professors and postdoctoral researchers have decreased, despite sincere efforts to communicate and continue the research remotely. Laboratory-driven postdoctoral research has slowed or completely stalled at many institutions. Delays to program deadlines, due to COVID19, requires them to stretch their existing grant support. This has the potential to slow early-career researchers in getting "off the ground," which will have financial implications into the future, and could even affect the U.S. workforce.
Here is an example from a professor describing how graduate-level teaching has affected a significant space project:
"I was all set to begin the next phase of a deployable space mirror project, but now, not being able to get into the lab has brought the project to a halt. The potential entering Ph.D. program graduate student earmarked for the project backed out at the last minute because she was afraid she could not afford to come. She could not afford to come, because she lost her job due to Covid-19 that was paying for her undergraduate education. Thus, I no longer have a Ph.D. program graduate student to work on the project. A student in our Masters of Physics program who was counting on working on the project also could not start. Yet he has no scholarship, so this would have been his sole support outside his personal finances."
(5) Impact on our Nation's Research, Especially Space-Related Research at Universities:
Research progress has diminished significantly, due to lack of in-person interactions. Often, specialized equipment and resources are only available on site, which is currently inaccessible. I am told that that scientific papers will be lost, because of lockdowns of laboratories. I have also received reports indicating that fewer women are submitting journal manuscripts for review, compared to before the pandemic, and that grant proposals from women are also down.
Below is an example of research disruption from a faculty member at a USRA member university:
"The US has an impressive Solar and Planetary exploration program with missions to the Sun and Planets. There is Psyche, scheduled to visit an iron (or possibly platinum or other metal) asteroid, the Europa Clipper mission to the Jupiter system, and the ESCAPADE mission to Mars using ion propulsion. These bodies do not stop moving when the nation stops working, so we lose our launch opportunities. Thus, it is obvious that our solar system program has already been severely affected by the effects of COVID-19. We will not just have to extend funding to students but also the research groups and the launch and operations efforts that support them. These delays will be one to several years in length. NASA's planetary program has already been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak and needs now to double its efforts to launch these important projects in which we have invested and on which we depend."
Recommendations for Congressional Assistance:
Universities play an essential role in nearly all aspects of our innovation economy, from supporting basic research, to training the next generation of scientists and innovators, to collaborating with industry to move new knowledge out of the lab and into the marketplace. As I mentioned earlier, now more than ever partnership is needed between government and academia to ensure that the Nation has the next generation of space professionals to design and deploy the space systems of the future.
A reduction of American capacity in space science and engineering would also impede pursuits such as human space exploration, commercial ventures in space, and national security uses of space. Our national security requires space engineers who are capable of designing and constructing reliable space hardware of exquisite capability, and space scientists who understand in exquisite detail the space environment and the rigorous challenges of operating spacecraft in orbit.
There is a fear within the community that funding to science agencies may decrease, given federal spending associated with the pandemic. We need to reassure the community that we will return to the research paths we were on when the pandemic first arrived.
Please allow me to conclude with recommendations for Congressional support to help mitigate the impact of COVID19 on space-related research and education in the university community:
1. Provide an additional appropriation to NASA, to be utilized by the Science Mission Directorate, to provide augmentations to selected existing grants and contracts to universities.
Many universities made the decision to prioritize the safety of their community in March by transitioning to 100% online teaching and restricting campus access. This has put an enormous strain on graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, faculty, and the technical workforce, who cannot access specialized equipment and facilities to fulfill NASA contract and grant obligations. Students and postdoctoral researchers are among the most vulnerable in our community. Their financial security should be prioritized.
Even for tasks that can be completed remotely, efficiency has been greatly reduced. This situation is further exacerbated by delays in NASA's ability to issue new funding opportunities and awards. The interruption to existing research, combined with the uncertainty of future research, results in an environment where universities risk delays in degree completion or attrition of graduate students, as well as the loss of a skilled technical workforce (at multiple levels) who rely on NASA grants and contracts.
To ensure the future viability of the technical workforce, it is necessary to provide additional funding to existing grants to allow graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to complete current research obligations. I recommend that upcoming stimulus considerations include $25 million in supplemental funding, to be utilized by NASA's SMD, to allow funded extensions to existing grants and contracts, selected at the discretion of SMD.
Although this amount of supplemental funding to NASA's SMD would be modest, relative to other stimulus considerations, it would go a long way in lessening one of the critical concerns of universities I have heard from faculty. This specific appropriation to NASA, for the purpose of contract and grant augmentation, would have a significant, positive impact on minimizing disruption to the U.S. space workforce development pipeline.
2. Extend maximum flexibilities to federal funding agencies to modify grants.
I also strongly recommend that Congress extend to NASA and other federal funding agencies maximum flexibility to extend deadlines and revise milestones set forth in existing grants and contracts to universities, without the normal administrative burden, which can be time- consuming. Funding agencies should be allowed to streamline approvals for modifications to grants. Cognizant Government technical monitors should be permitted to work directly with university investigators to determine what modifications may be helpful in alleviating the impact of COVID-19 on university grants and contracts. Such an indication from the Congress that funding agencies should use maximum flexibility would be very welcomed by the university space research community.
3. Increased investment to the NASA EPSCoR program.
Lastly, there is a concern that the COVID19 crisis will have the greatest proportional negative impact on research in states with the least current NASA funding. Likewise, the recovery curve for these states may be similarly affected. This may further deepen the disparate access and talent development resources present in such states. I recommend the Congress consider an increased investment in NASA's Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). The EPSCoR program is directed at jurisdictions that have not in the past participated equably in competitive space-related research activities. Twenty- five states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam currently participate. Five federal agencies conduct EPSCoR programs, including NASA. Additional funding for NASA Research Infrastructure Development awards could be an effective and immediate way to mitigate the impact of COVID19 on space-related research in these states.
I thank you again for your leadership and for your longstanding support of space-related research and education at universities. I am available to answer questions from the Committee or be of any further assistance.
© Universities Space Research Association
7178 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD 21046

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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text:
Hartman è un centro abitato (town) degli Stati Uniti d'America, situato nella contea di Prowers dello Stato del Colorado. Nel censimento del 2000 la popolazione era di 111 abitanti.

Geografia fisica
Secondo i rilevamenti dell'United States Census Bureau, Hartman si estende su una superficie di 0,8 km².

Note

Altri progetti

Collegamenti esterni

Comuni del Colorado

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Having previously informed you about Metrolinx plans to construct a large rail bridge on the east side of our Junction Triangle neighbourhood, I have taken quick follow up action to ensure that land-use planning and urban design considerations are part of the EA process being carried out by Metrolinx.
Due to its height and bulk, this proposed bridge will create a significant impact on the surrounding, largely residential, neighbourhoods. The appropriate planning of this infrastructure must include measures to mitigate these impacts. Toronto's City Planning department has a critical role in diagnosing the potential impact to resident and community interests within the EA process, as well as identifying urban design opportunities afforded through the proposal. Among the significant concerns directly affecting city and community interests as a result of this proposal are: vibration, community division, land-use, visual/aesthetic issues, compromised land development opportunities and public safety concerns.
I have taken a strong position on this issue and said that City staff must have an opportunity to identify what new measures can be invoked to mitigate negative community impacts and foster better use of the transformed landscape. The pressure from my office and area residents, along with City staff expertise will help ensure that we maximize the positive local outcomes from this regional transportation project.
You can view my motion that was passed here.


Is Standard Process Astragalus Complex Right For You?
The beneficial effects of Standard Process Astragalus Complex are directly linked to emotional balance and immune functions of patients. The business behind this remedy is called Standard Process, and they mainly advertise this formula as an immune system enhancer and a means of assisting the body during periods of convalescence. Moreover, it should facilitate the body's normal response towards occasional stress while encouraging a healthy response when it comes to environmental stress.
The business is headquartered in the U.S. and claims to have been committed since its beginning to improving the quality of life by offering practical, safe and of high-quality dietary supplements. Nowadays, it manufactures and distributes more than three hundred dietary supplements and herbal remedies, as well as veterinary formulas.
The formulation is based on a mixture between Eleuthero, Echinacea purpura, and Astragalus, herbal extracts known to be abundant in caffeic acid derivatives, flavonoids, saponins, and triterpenoids. They state that the Eleuthero component of this supplement is standardized to contain 600 mcg of eleutheroside E per capsule, which is more than other similar products contain.
Standard Process Astragalus Complex contains the following Ingredients: Astragalus root 4:1 extract from Astragalus Membranaceus Root 850 mg, Echinacea root 6:1 extract of Echinacea purpura root, Eleuthero root 10:1 extract from Eleutherococcus senticosus root 750 mg containing syringaresinol glucosides as Eleutheroside E 600 mcg, Cellulose, calcium acid phosphate, silica, sodium starch glycollate, maltodextrin, hypromellose, and magnesium stearate.
Have a comment or question about Standard Process Astragalus Complex Review?


No idea on Prince Edward area. Sorry.
Like I said in my old post, avoid Sham Shui Po and Mong Kok when renting. Sham Shui Po is the poor district and where many low-income group are residing. Mong Kok on the other hand is very densely populated and there's people everywhere.
If you are afraid of crematoriums, coffins, urns and funeral wreaths, then avoid the area near Hung Hom MTR.
Thanks...i visited the prince edward...walk up building. too small. too bad it's 5k only.
buildings are too old. had a schedule in kennedy town...place looks nice and fully furnish. if i end up none, then i guess service apartment would do. less hassle. it has same price with kennedy town anyways.
May I ask how much is the rent in Kennedy Town and around how many square feet?
Rent is expensive these days. Even a small subdivided apartment room in the New Territories will cost 3K above.
Have you checked North Point, Fortress Hill or Quarry Bay areas? It has tram, bus and MTR network and I think price should be less expensive than areas around the Central district.
Anyway, i found an apartment already...200+ sq ft i believe which is somewhere ins sheung wan. fully furnish. Already on contract negotiations with agent. Price is reasonable since its just walking distance to my office.
yeah, my headhunter gave me that. Found one in hung hom which is direct landlord. Very nice flat but price is almost same as the one i found here in sheung wan so i didn't pursue it.
if direct owner no commision which is good.
Now moved to my new apartment....waterbill $400 for new connection. deposit for electricity $600. Paid thru 7/11.
Is that you really need the flat to be in Hong Kong Island?? As far as I know, Hong Kong Island properties are one of most expensive in Hong Kong (especially Central, Mid-Levels, Causeway Bay apartments for rent, Wanchai apartments for rent and Happy Valley). Personally, I would prefer somewhere in Kowloon or in the New Territories as long as they have good transportation network. And you don't really need to wait 2 months to look for a flat. I think 1 month is enough to scout apartments in Hong Kong island, Kowloon and New Territories (you can look around through property agents after work or during weekends).
About internet connection, there are many to subscribe. The most popular ones are PCCW (most expensive, most efficient), I-Cable (very cheap, but some customers complain of unstable connection), Hong Kong Broadband (affordable).
By the way, may I know which industry/type of job are you into HKG?
Why don't try local property agencies?


text:
TVU Networks is latest addition to the ASPEN Community
The ASPEN Community has announced that TVU Networks, a pioneer in IP-based live video solutions, has joined the ASPEN Community. The ASPEN Community is a rapidly growing coalition of more than 30 industry leading manufacturers and end-users who are adopting the ASPEN framework for building state-of-the-art IP facilities.
TVU Networks designs and develops technology for IP-based live video solutions for newsgathering organisations and other independent video producers. TVU's solutions help transform broadcasters' SDI-based operations – which include acquisition, transmission, production, distribution and management – to an IP-based infrastructure.
ASPEN (Adaptive Sample Picture Encapsulation) is a standards-based, open format that moves uncompressed Ultra HD, 3G, HD, and SD signals over MPEG-2 transport streams (ISO/IEC 13818-1). ASPEN provides a framework for transporting separated video, audio, and metadata as independent IP multicast streams. The ASPEN Community was founded at IBC 2015 to realise and promote the benefits of deploying the ASPEN format within IP-based broadcast and media facilities through the integration and interoperability of the open format.
"We have been a big believer in the advantages and benefits of IP based infrastructure for broadcast from the beginning. We introduced our TVU Grid video switching, routing and distribution solution a few years ago in response to the industry's inevitable movement from SDI to IP, and we continue to develop IP based technology products and services for the industry," said Matt McEwen, VP of product management, TVU Networks. "We are honoured to join the ASPEN community in support of IP-based workflows and standardised interoperability between devices."
"We are excited to welcome TVU to the ASPEN Community. TVU brings a strong background in IP-based live video playout to the ASPEN Community. Globally recognized by major newsgathering organizations, TVU has integrated their live video playout expertise into the IP-based workflow and helped organizations transition to IP while leveraging their existing workflow infrastructure. This expertise will help to further develop the ASPEN technology," says Mo Goyal, co-chairperson of the ASPEN Community.
Current members of the ASPEN Community include: Abekas, AJA Video Systems, Broadcast Pix, ChryonHego, Cinegy, CSP, Inc., Deltacast, Diversified Systems, Discovery Communications, Dome Productions, Edit Share, Embrionix, Evertz, FOR-A, Game Creek Video, Hitachi Kokusai Electric Limited Inc., I-MOVIX, LEADER Electronics Corp., Macnica America Inc., Matrox Electronic Systems Ltd., Myricom, NBC Sports Group, NEP Group Inc., Neutrik, Nextera Video, PacketStorm, PHABRIX, Pixel Power, Providius Corp, Ross Video, Sony, Streampunk Media, Tektronix, Time Warner Cable SportsNet, The Weather Channel, TV2, TVU Networks and Vizrt.


text:
Characterisation of recombinant glycosylation variants of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3
J Endocrinol. 1999 Mar;160(3):379-87. doi: 10.1677/joe.0.1600379.
S M Firth 1 , R C Baxter
1 Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales 2065, Australia.
DOI: 10.1677/joe.0.1600379
There are three potential N-glycosylation sites in the non-conserved central region of the insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) sequence (N89AS, N109AS, N172FS). IGFBP-3 exists as two glycoforms which reduce to a single form on enzymatic deglycosylation. To determine the functional significance of the carbohydrate chains, the N-glycosylation sites were mutated singly and in combinations by substituting Asn residues with Ala. Each recombinant glycoform was detected by radioimmunoassay, indicating that glycosylation is not essential for secretion in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Ligand blotting of the conditioned media using [125I]IGF-I indicated that all seven mutants are active. On the basis of the number and molecular masses of the bands detected for each glycoform, there is approximately 4, 4.5 and 5 kDa of carbohydrate on Asn89, Asn109 and Asn172 respectively, with variable occupancy of Asn172. Ternary complex formation by the glycovariants in the presence of ALS and excess IGF-I was not significantly different from that of fully glycosylated recombinant human (rh)IGFBP-3 [Ka (fully glycosylated)=12.5+/-4.1 l/nmol; mean Ka (all mutants)=22.1+/-3.0 l/nmol]. In contrast, Asn to Asp substitutions decreased acid-labile subunit (ALS) binding activity. Cell-surface association experiments indicate that glycosylation may influence the partitioning of IGFBP-3 between the extracellular milieu and the cell surface. Therefore, while the carbohydrate units appear to be non-essential to ALS or IGF binding, they may modulate other biological activities of IGFBP-3.
CHO Cells
Cricetinae
Glycosylation
Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / genetics
Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 / metabolism*
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism*
Protein Isoforms / metabolism
Receptors, Cell Surface / analysis
Recombinant Proteins / analysis
Recombinant Proteins / genetics
Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3
Protein Isoforms
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I


text:
Q: Dfferent between class based components and functional based component I know there are endless Questions and Answers about this, but everyone are talking about the code and the syntax.
what I'm asking is that what is the different between class based and functional based components, when it comes to performance, rendering, state managements and ...
should we use class based components at all or not.

A:
Functional Components

In functional components, you need to export the default function export default function component() {} return to render content on the page and you can use React Hooks easily without worrying about this keyword
Example:-
export default function App () {
     const [count , setCount ] = useState(0)
     useEffect (()=> {
      // start
     } , [])
     useEffect (()=> {
      // update
     } , [])
     return (
       <> jsx </>
     )
}

Class Base Components

In class base components first, you have to inherit your class from
React.Component. Class Base Components use render function to render
content on the page. if you wana to use React Hooks its syntax is little bit
different than functional components and you also have to add the this
keyword with every variable
Example
class App extends React.Component {

  constructor (props) {
    super(props)
    this.state = { count : 0 }
    // this.setState( {count : this.state.count })
  }

  // useEffect Syntax

  componentDidMount() {
   // start
  }
  componentDidUpdate() {
   // do update
  }

  componentWillUnmount(){
    // on destory
  }

  render () {
    return ( <> JSX </> )
  }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
No. 56/2011 - Changes in Elspot from 1 November 2011
Tuesday 1 November 2011 Sweden will be divided into four bidding areas. Effective from this date, the Elspot trading platform is adjusted and ready to handle the four bidding areas.
Nord Pool Spot's production system for delivery on Monday 31 October will be available from Monday 24 October. For delivery Tuesday 1 November and onward, the production system will be open from Wednesday 26 October. This means the production system will include the four bidding areas from 24 October, and it is possible for all members to include actual orders. Orders for 1 November can be added and adjusted until 12:00 CET Monday 31 October.
It is the reposnsibility of the participant to ensure that the correct order is submitted. Nord Pool Spot asks all participants trading in the new Swedish bidding areas to take extra precautions to secure that orders are entered into the correct bidding area. Please note that since there is no trading history on the portfolios per area, it is more difficult for Nord Pool Spot to discover any orders entered in the wrong bidding area.
Nord Pool Spot will receive all available transfer capacity between Swedish bidding areas from Svenska Kraftnät. These will be published each day around 10:00 CET from 31 October. This capacity will be utilised in the price calculation, and all participants are required to have a planned hourly balance per bidding area.
The names of the different areas are from north to south are SE1 (Luleå), SE2 (Sundsvall), SE3 (Stockholm) and SE4 (Malmö). The city names indicate the reference points for the CfD contracts in the financial market.
Nord Pool Spot would also like to remind you of stating the correct bidding area in urgent market messages as described in exchange information no. 14/2011. Should you need any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Market Surveillance on +47 67 10 91 35.
About Nord Pool Spot
Nord Pool Spot runs the leading power market in Europe and offers both day-ahead and intraday markets to its customers. 350 companies from 18 countries trade on the market. The Nord Pool Spot group has offices in Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, Copenhagen, Tallinn and London. In 2010 the group had a total turnover of 310 TWh, which includes the auction volume in the UK market N2EX.
Lysaker, 24 October 2011 16:14 CET
Trading desk, +47 67 10 91 10 or elspot@npspot.com
Stina Johansen, Communications Manager Nordic, +47 916 50 603 (press)


Sessoms Quilt In Gleaned Fabrics.
My Sessoms quilt was one of my very first patterns. It's a design that I've enjoyed making through the years, as well as one that I've enjoyed seeing others make. For many reasons, it's been a long time coming to make a new one, update the printed version and translate the pattern into a digital format.
First, I have to credit two people for making this quilt happen. Ellen Rushman pieced the quilt, and Gina Pina quilted it. I'm so appreciative of these super talented ladies for bringing this project to life.
When I first opened the box from Gina after she quilted it, I actually gasped. Of course I'd seen pictures during the process, but there's nothing like seeing a project for the first time in real life. The colors, piecing and quilting felt so bright and cheerful, which at the time was very welcome. I was still in hurricane-Irma-recovery mode, and seeing this quilt totally made me forget about everything that had happened.
The design was inspired by some lattice-work on Sessoms Avenue in my hometown–a street where my Dad grew up. I love bringing a change in color and fabrics to a repeated block. There's something special about seeing the changes across the surface of the quilt.
The fabrics are all from my newest collection, Gleaned, and the background is one of the new Architextures crosshatch colors. I've been using this particular color a lot! It's a pale grey-ish green that I've found to match just about everything.
The pattern is kind of neat because it works with a 2 1/2″ roll-up and/or 5″-square pack, so it's pretty easy to attain a colorful gradient–you could just work the fabrics in order off the roll.
The quilting motif was inspired by ripples in a pool. I've been totally obsessed with the motif ever since Gina posted a picture showing it. Sometimes I really like how democratic an overall quilting pattern can function in a project, and this a great example. The quilting adds an evenness to the quilt that doesn't compete with the piecing, but it also lends a relevant texture. I just really like it.
Big thanks to Ellen and Gina for making it happen. And another big thanks to Lexi at Greenprint Photography for snapping these great pics.
Kai Scissors in the Shop and a Look at My Favorite Scissors.
3 Responses to Sessoms Quilt In Gleaned Fabrics.
Really interesting quilt pattern. I love the quilting as well – you are right, it works with the pattern instead of competing with it. The fabric line is fascinating. I am always in awe of the talents of quilters/designers like yourself.


text:
DeepingDo – The blog of Ashley Baxter, founder member of the Deepings' Rebel Alliance!
One of the very best blogs about local politics in South Kesteven
MDTC 2018
SKDC Attendance
Tag Archives: Deepings Leisure Centre
So much money down the drain! – Update on SK Leisure facilities – May 2020
Posted on May 28, 2020 by deepngreen
My last update regarding the new Deepings leisure centre was published on March 12th. Obviously, the world has changed since then, due to the pandemic. Nevertheless, I am pleased to report that, despite the lockdown, there appears to be some evidence of progress with the plans.
The Deputy Leader of the Council has promised that some detailed proposals will be shared with the Deepings ward councillors before the end of June. It appears that plans for a new leisure centre at Stamford have been abandoned and investigations into whether Grantham's facilities should be relocated from the Meres to the town centre have concluded that this would not be feasible (The latter decision shouldn't have taken more than ten seconds of informed research). Instead, the facilities at Bourne, Grantham and Stamford will receive facelifts and refurbishment of varying extent while the Deepings Leisure Centre remains firmly on the table as a new-build project.
Meanwhile, Independent Councillors who represent Deepings wards continue to ask questions about the lack of progress made so far. Cllr Ashley Baxter (Ind, Market and West Deeping and author of this blog) has discovered the Council has squandered £284,000 on paying consultancy firm 'Mace' to evaluate options for leisure centres across the District. A heavy tome has been produced by Mace but it is apparently of little use. I have recently asked for a copy of the report to see what 'magic beans' it prescribes but I fear I might have to wait a while and, if I ever do see it, the content will be commercially confidential.
The commisioning of the consultants' report was approved by the SKDC Full Council of 2019. During the meeting, the then newly-elected Cllr Virginia Moran prophesied that it would be a waste of money declaring ""We shouldn't need to spend more than 6p to determine the business case for a leisure centre for the Deepings.".
The expenditure was proposed by Cllr Helen Goral (Con) who has since resigned from the Cabinet during the leadership of Cllr Matthew Lee (Con) who has since resigned as Council Leader. The Chief Executive at the time was Aidan Rave but he has now left the Council altogether.
Before authorising the expenditure, the Council was told that Mace would be used as the preferred supplier because the Council already had a working relationship with them and consequently there was no need to shop around. It was also stated that the £250,000 additional funding allocation would "allow for the detailed business cases to be developed for Stamford, Market Deeping and Bourne". Now here we are, a year later, £284,000 poorer and it seems that no detailed business cases emerged from the consultant. I am not altogether surprised as it was rumoured at the time that the supposed leisure centre experts didn't appear to know that modern swimming pools can have movable floors.
It was the aforementioned Cllr Lee who, in 2017, made the bold promises of:
a new leisure centre in the Deepings
a new leisure centre in Stamford
10,000 ft2 of new office accommodation in the Deepings;
a 300-seat 'digital hub' in Stamford,
a serviced office facility for micro-businesses in Bourne.
Three years later and none of this has been delivered, furthermore it seems the Deepings Leisure Centre is the only item on the shopping list which currently shows any sign of intent or progress. I hope that my next 'leisure centre update' post will have some far more positive news.
Concerns over income
At the Finance Committee earlier this week it was revealed that the incumbent manager of the SKDC Leisure Centres, 1Life, has submitted a legal claim to the Council for financial losses resulting from the Covid crisis. The claim is being reviewed and challenged so it is not possible to specify the financial impact at this time.
Confusion over decision-making
As a Ward Councillor, it has always been quite difficult to keep up-to-date with what's happening regarding the Leisure Transformation programme, and especially to find information which can be shared 'on the record'. The Council Officers have been very good at answering questions as honestly as they can and as transparently as they are allowed. The recently appointed Head of Leisure has been very clear with me about the challenges she faces in terms of the existing leisure centres and the new-build and refurbishment projects and I am very grateful for her candour.
However, the 'proper democratic process' has been far more difficult to navigate. Independent Councillors for the Deepings, namely Cllr Virginia Moran, Cllr Phil Dilks and myself, have asked publicly for updates regarding the Deepings facilities at every appropriate opportunity. For three years now we have received patronising 'all in good time' and 'wait and see' responses. We have been subjected to phoney consultations and genuine consultations and have tried throughout to keep local sports clubs informed.
The most recent formal decision of the Council was to create a 'Members Working Group' or possibly a number of 'Members Working Groups', either concerning the Leisure Transformation plans across the District or relevant to each town, depending on which meeting minutes you read and whether or not you were in the room when the Group(s) were formed.
Regardless of the remit and the membership, no meeting of any formally established Members Working Groups have been convened. However, it is hoped that the Deepings will be the first to have a serious conversation about the available options for a new Leisure Centre and that conversation will start next month, hopefully!
If you have comments, suggestions or concerns about the impact of the new Leisure Centre you can respond to this post, contact me or, if you prefer, e-mail SKDC officers directly using enhancingleisure@southkesteven.gov.uk
Meanwhile, why not 'like' or 'share' this post?
Posted in Leisure, Lincolnshire County Council, SKDC	| Tagged Deepings, Deepings Leisure Centre	| 9 Replies
Update on the proposed new Deepings Leisure facilities – March 2020
Posted on March 12, 2020 by deepngreen
People keep asking me 'what's happening with the leisure centre?' and I would love to be able to answer the question with dates and specifics but, unfortunately, there isn't yet much tangible progress. Along with the Deepings other Independent councillors I continue to ask questions and sometimes I get useful progress reports.
There are now at least two different aspects to the fundamental questions of what's happening and when? The first concerns the proposed new Deepings Leisure Centre promised by Coun Matthew Lee (Con), back in October 2017 and the second concerns the much needed replacement for the all-weather pitch which was condemned in December.
The two issues are inextricably linked in terms of planning and funding although it is hoped that the new all-weather pitch will arrive sooner than the new leisure centre.
All Weather Pitch
At its budget meeting last week (Mon 2nd March) the issue was discussed by the Council who agreed to put aside £200,000 towards the cost of replacing the pitch. Unfortunately, the cost of an all-weather pitch is likely to cost a minimum of £400,000 and the figure is likely to be even higher, possibly £850,000, depending on the preferred playing surface.
The discussion was reported by the Stamford Mercury as "Deepings football teams to benefit from new playing surface" but, as ever, don't believe everything you read in the papers;
[DeepingDo editor's note: Since first publishing this blogpost, the online story in the Mercury has been adapted after 'clarification' from SKDC].
There are at least three aspects of the Mercury's report which are inaccurate or give a false impression. (For the benefit of the tape, the errors are not necessarily the fault of the journalists who are, after all, just trying to record what politicians say at public meetings.
The first mistake is the assertion that an agreement has been reached with the Football Foundation (FF) in which the Council will contribute £200,000 and the FF will give a grant of £650,000. This sounds great and if it happens I will be the first to take back everything I said about the disproportionate amount of money sloshing around the football community, from corporate sponsorships and TV rights, compared to almost every other kind of sport. However, after the meeting a spokesperson said: "SKDC is in the early stages of discussions with the Football Foundation regarding a funding application to provide a 3G pitch in Deeping St James. The council has set aside £200,000 in matched funding, should an application be successful."
Obviously, if the FF provides the lions' share (you could say the three lions' share?) of the funding then the pitch will be designed predominantly for footballers and therefore the potential use of the pitch for other sports including hockey will be very limited. Competitive hockey will be impossible although it is plausible that some hockey training be possible depending on the specification of the pitch.
Deeping Ladies top the league!
The Mercury reports that "England Hockey did not want to contribute to the cost as another pitch was available less than two miles away". This, I believe, is a correct report of what was said by a Conservative cabinet member at the budget meeting; unfortunately it isn't true. Firstly, England Hockey would be delighted to contribute to the cost but unfortunately they don't have any money to contribute. Hockey matches are rarely televised, England Hockey receives no sponsorship from bookmakers and consequently the sport doesn't have as much money as football. Secondly, no-one from England Hockey suggested funding would be withheld because "as another pitch was available less than two miles away" because there is no such pitch! The Bourne Deeping Hockey Club (which has been established since the 1920s) currently trains in exile in Peterborough, mostly at Arthur Mellows College which is four miles from Deeping and occasionally at pitches even further from Bourne and the Deepings. The pitch at Arthur Mellows is in a school and therefore has limited availability, especially during school holidays which would otherwise be a great time to run junior hockey coaching sessions.
It would be great for footballers in the Deepings, especially the very successful Deepings United FC, if the football foundation came forward with sufficient funding to provide a pitch. However, when deciding how, where and when to provide a pitch (or pitches) the council must take on board the needs of other sports including hockey and rugby. A standard 3G football pitch is only suitable for football, light rugby training and, bizarrely, lacrosse. A standard sand-based hockey pitch can also be used to play netball, football, rugby training, cricket, tennis etc (I'm not sure about lacrosse!). Given the facility will, presumably, continue to serve the 1,500+ pupils at the Deepings School, it would be good to have facilities for more than one sport. NB In case you're wondering, I understand the school has no funding for enhancing outdoor leisure facilities at the moment.
During yesterday's Budget Speech, Charncellor Rishi Sunak announced he was allocating "£30m a year to improve PE teaching… along with £8m for the Football Foundation's scheme to build new pitches for around 300,000 people to play on". If each pitch costs £800,000 then that's enough funding for only 10 pitches nationwide. Big deal!
The location of the new Deepings pitch(es) will depend partly on the design and location of the new leisure centre. It would be daft to spend half a million pounds on a new pitch only to find that has to be removed to make way for a a new leisure centre so, at the very least, we need agreement of where, on the agreed site, the leisure is going to be built….
The New Leisure Centre
The lastest news from SKDC on the leisure centre is as follows:
"As part of the council's wider feasibility work into enhancing leisure facilities across the district, the Linchfield Road site has previously been identified as the preferred site for a new development. Negotiations are, therefore, progressing with the various landowners in a bid to secure the site.
"The negotiations will need to be finalised, and the results of the feasibility work assessed, before any firm proposals can be put forward, either in respect of the leisure centre or the artificial pitch.
"It will then be important that local residents and stakeholders are fully consulted on proposals before any firm decisions can be made."
So, to put it another way, the new leisure centre will be ready when:
Negotiations with the landowners (and land users) need to be finalised. They have been going on for over 8 years but the opportunity of a new leisure centre has focused attention and I believe the necessary formal documents are almost ready to be signed.
Feasibility work has been completed and assessed (for sites across South Kesteven)
Firm proposals have been put forward
Local residents and stakeholders have been consulted
A business plan has been agreed
Capital funding has been allocated (approx £15m is said to be required)
Planning permission has been applied for, consulted on and agreed
At least one procurement exercise has been completed
The building has been constructed.
I have some experience of local authority building procurement and construction projects but I will let you make your own guesses about how long this will take!
The agenda for next week's SKDC Cabinet meeting suggests that in just a month's time there will be a meaningful decision relating to the "detailed business plans" relating to leisure centres.
Don't get too excited about this. The Cabinet workplan for September had similar aspirations but as with scrutiny group workplans, the 'due dates' bear no relation to actual progress.
On the bright side, there is still genuine commitment by most, probably all, Councillors to improving leisure facilities across SKDC. Furthermore council officers are also very committed and have been candid in conversations with me about the hurdles and the opportunities surrounding our leisure facilities. For example, it is pretty clear now that the promised new Stamford Leisure Centre will not happen in the foreseeable but the Deepings Leisure Centre is near the top of everyone's priority list.
Rome wasn't built in a day!
Sunset over the Deepings School Fields.
Finally, the site for Deepings' new Leisure Centre has been announced!
Posted on September 27, 2019 by deepngreen
South Kesteven District Council has unveiled the exisiting playing fields at Deepings School as the preferred site for a new leisure centre. The site is already the home of Deepings Rugby Club, Deeping United FC, the Deepings Rotary 10k and is used for a number of other competitive sports activities. In just two years time, it might also be home to a brand new swimming pool, all weather pitches and everything else one might expect of a modern 'wet and dry' leisure centre.
As you may have read, Cllr Matthew Lee (Con) announced in October 2017, and several times since then, that SKDC is planning to build a new Leisure Centre for the Deepings. This will replace the existing Leisure Centre which is well passed its sell by date and is literally falling apart at the seams with water often literally leaking through the roof above the pool area after heavy rainfall.
Deepings Leisure Centre Update – What's wrong with this picture?
Great news! The Council has announced new exciting new leisure centres for the Deepings and Stamford. Brilliant, fabulous, fantastic… but technically this is old news as it was also announced in October 2017 and again in October 2018.
As predicted in my previous blog concerning the new Deepings Leisure Centre, it's now just eight weeks before the District Council elections and South Kesteven has announced 'further details' of new leisure centres with a blaze of publicity.
The Conservatives want everyone to know that they are planning new leisure centres in Stamford and the Deepings and a refurbished and enhanced leisure centre in Bourne. The publicity has included a double-paged spread in SK Today, almost three pages in the Stamford Mercury, umpteen tweets and other social media posts and, to top it all, 6 massive banners parading the exciting new facilities "delivered by South Kesteven District Council". The irony is that nothing has really been delivered yet except for the posters.
I attended the South Kesteven Cabinet meeting last Thursday where a report on the new approach to sports and leisure facilities was formally approved. I wanted to ask the questions that everyone else is asking me. Here's a summary of the questions I asked and the answers I was given:
Q. Where will the leisure centres be built? Continue reading →
Posted in SKDC, South Lincs councils, Uncategorized	| Tagged Deepings Leisure Centre	| 6 Replies
Market Deeping Town Council February 10, 2021 at 8:30 pm – 10:00 pm Market Deeping Town Hall, PE6 8EA
Canada Day July 1, 2021
Deepings Raft Race August 5, 2021 at 10:45 am – 4:45 pm Market DeepingnPeterborough, England
Wilsthorpe, Obthorpe, Kate's Bridge and Baston #RunMyAge
Shooting at Greatford Hall
Barholm, Greatford and Braceborough #RunMyAge
Uffington to Barholm #RunMyAge
West Deeping to Tallington #RunMyAge
Follow DeepingDo – The blog of Ashley Baxter, founder member of the Deepings' Rebel Alliance! on WordPress.com
Deeping Do Twitter
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Ganesh masks at Batu Caves, Kuala Lumpur
THE BARGAIN BUY: Nirvana; In Utero
Graham Reid | Jun 9, 2017 | <1 min read
Has it been almost 25 years since this, Nirvana's final studio In Utero? After the unexpected success of Nevermind, Kurt Cobain wanted to re-establish their outsider and gritty position and so this was originally recorded with producer Steve Albini.
After that the story gets a little more complex (Scott Litt coming in to make some sonic changes) but from the cover inward this was a different Nirvana from the mega and more mainstream sound they had suddenly become known for.
Even now In Utero is a less easy proposition but it also had great songs and although it met with a mixed reception got extra traction in the charts after Cobain's suicide seven months later.
In Utero is a more pure version of Cobain's vision for the band's music and so for that reason alone it is essential in any collection.
And that has just been made easier because it is one of the stack of albums at JB Hi-Fi stores (here) going out in a two-for-$15 deal.
And the other Nirvana albums in this Bargain Buy offering are the excellent MTV Unplugged and thrilling Live at Reading.
Quarter of a century on, Nirvana still pack a gut punch.
And sometimes a jab to the heart.
More from this section The Bargain Buy articles index
THE BARGAIN BUY: Ornette Coleman; Original Album Series (Rhino)
The great saxophonist/composer Ornette Coleman never seems to have been in any doubt about how he might influence the course of music: the title of his first album was The Shape of Jazz to Come (an... > Read more
THE BARGAIN BUY: Various Artists; The T.A.M.I Show (DVD)
Rock'n'roll never looked quite as exciting as it did at this awards show in 1964. No, the Beatles aren't here but just eight months previous they had played on the Ed Sullivan Show for the... > Read more
DAMIAN MARLEY INTERVIEWED (2006): Maintaining the family standard
The most common complaint from those who have stardom thrust upon them -- the tabloid coverage and paparazzi, the private chef serving you rather than some kid on minimum wage -- is that nothing... > Read more
The Church: The Unguarded Moment (2004)
Most people know the Church's 1981 Unguarded Moment as a classic slice of paisley pop full of guitar jangle and a world-weary drone-meets-melody delivery (see the clip below). But the... > Read more


They're out there: the surfer dudes and gals, along the breaks that stretch from Malpaís to Santa Teresa, near the southern tip of the NicoyaPeninsula.
Consistent waves and a wide range of challenge levels make these beaches pretty much a year-round draw for surfers. However, the area is growing from its backpacker, beachbum origins, and several higher-end eateries and resort options have opened along the dirt road serving these coastal communities.
While the cheap cabinas, food shacks and funky feel are still here for budget travelers, you can sense a polishing of the edges, a smartening of expectations.
It was still a surprise to fetch up at El Cruce, the area's main road junction – Malpaís left, Santa Teresa right – after a few years' absence and see the new Caribbeanstyle Playa Carmen mall, with its tropicalchic tones, glass-fronted stores and inner piazza. But what better location for possibly the most sophisticated fish and seafood distribution center in the country, with its keynote product: locally grown oysters?
"Product c" is the appetizing brainchild of Demian Geneau, formerly executive chef at leading boutique hotel Florblanca in Santa Teresa. Geneau, 29, brings an uncompromising commitment to stock the finest seafood products available and to teach any who will listen about fish in all its edible forms.
His credentials are impeccable. Having moved here 11 years ago from the western Canadian fishing town of Sechelt, British Columbia, Geneau started out in commercial kitchens at age 11 and graduated at the top of his class from the CulinarySchool at the Art Institute of Vancouver.
"My dad fished a lot, so the whole family grew up on salmon, shrimp, octopus and scallops. No junk food for us!" Geneau says.
Product c has become a family business. Geneau's parents, who took a year to sail from Canada to Costa Rica, are investors, while sister Samantha, 27, does the in-house accounts and brother Stephane, 23, helps on the retail side of the store.
Geneau says it's just as well his family is behind the venture, as he calculates it could take a couple of years to make the concept commercially viable.
"We aren't really taking a salary off this yet," he acknowledges. But the confidence that Costa Rica is ready for top-quality, hitherto-untraditional fish products offsets any start-up pains.
As Geneau shucks oysters lifted from the oxygenated-seawater holding tanks and slices some yellowfin tuna sashimi with accompanying mignonette of raspberry vinegar, olive oil, fine-chopped shallot and a touch of Honduran chili for me to try, he gives me the overview of Product c.
The prima donnas of the shop have to be the Saccostrea gigas oysters, a midsized shell with plump, sweet flesh. The seed is brought in from Chile as part of a long-term NationalUniversity sustainable fisheries project started by marine biologists Gerardo Calero, Sidey Arias and Alexandra Peralta.
Peralta, 36, was born at Punta Cuchillo, just east of the Paquera ferry jetty, where cars and passengers arrive on the peninsula from the Pacific port of Puntarenas. The calm, nutrient-rich waters by Peralta's family home are perfect for raising oysters.
Placed initially on fine mesh shelves inside net bags that hang one meter in the water, the oysters grow quickly. The bags are suspended from 60 buoys along a line anchored just offshore and benefit from the open-ocean currents that sweep through each tide.
As the oysters would normally be exposed at low tide in their native environment, the bags are raised once a week to dry out and to "stress" the oysters. This is not shellfish cruelty; the bivalves clamp firmly shut for the duration, and exposure helps strengthen shells. An additional wash in fresh water prevents too much exterior algal growth. Some eight months to one year later, the crop is ready for harvesting.
Peralta says she can produce up to 10,000 oysters a month if everything goes to plan, which represents a 70 percent survival rate. If response is good, Geneau hopes to use Peralta's facility to try farming scallops, mussels and clams grown along the same principles.
Other kinds of fish sold at Product c have a more familiar ring to them – tuna, dorado and grouper – but Geneau insists the quality is far superior to that usually marketed nationally.
Four times a week, Geneau meets the local fishing boats between Paquera, Tambor and Manzanillo. Shunning the commercial fishing fleets, he seeks product purely linecaught, without gaffs or dragnets. Shrimp are all farmed and of export quality.
Most importantly, this seafood is fresh; it has not been frozen in some refrigerated mother ship, to be sold at Puntarenas and possibly refrozen during its marathon journey to Tico dining tables.
To help provide a little inspiration to fish-wary cooks, a large display fridge tempts taste buds with cook-in-the-bag offerings prepared by Geneau. Of the 20 or so choices, the Thai chili dorado with star anise sounds inviting, as does the smoked paprika and garlic cabrilla, and a daily ceviche rests on ice, enticing customers to take away and enjoy at one of the nearby canopied tables. Sushi backups of wasabi, sticky rice and rolling mats are also on sale, as are pots of delectable crunchy green seaweed from the fridge.
Sadly, for josefinos (San José residents), no retail outlet is available in the Central Valley, though orders can be placed via Product c's Web site, and a couple of restaurants – Bacchus in Santa Ana and Texturas Wine Bar in Escazú, both west of San José – now offer the oysters on their menus. But the best bet is to head to Malpaís and cruise the road for several eateries that are making sure the oysters are here to stay and savor (see sidebar and separate story on Page W6 and W7).
Product c is open Monday to Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. For information, call 8821-7546 or 2640-1026, e-mail demian@product-c.com, or visit www.product-c.com.
Joanne and Kevin Young want their menu to be adaptable to what's available. So, if change is the game, then Malpaís' Camaleón organic juice and oyster bar is the place.
The Youngs also want fresh and organic whenever possible, and usually buy from whole-food champion Honey Akerson, who coordinates the region's weekly mobile organic market (TT, May 30).
Joanne's experience in the catering industry back in her native Canada lets her indulge customers in a deliciously eclectic range of juice mixes and smoothies (¢1,500-1,800/$2.70-3.30). My Surfer's Brew of avocado, banana, vanilla soy and honey was sublime, and friends tried out Alchemist Blend (pineapple, cucumber, celery, mint) and Immune Booster (carrot, apple, beet, ginger).
Juice add-ins, such as echinacea, ginseng, ginkgo biloba or omega-3, give added punch for lagging fun-lovers.
Simply designed in a swept sand-floor rancho, with rough-hewn but comfortable wooden seats or seats by the bar with a view of the action in the kitchen, the spot is a laid-back, roadside hangout. But the seared tuna over Asian salad (¢2,900/$5.30) and shrimp salad wrap with sautéed potato slices and fruit salsa (¢3,700/$6.70) are interesting and filling, and offer excellent value.
For ¢5,000 ($9), Kevin shucked me a half dozen oysters that, because they'd been sitting on mats in the fridge for a few hours, were particularly flavorful. In case you were wondering, oysters at both Product c and Camaleón, if not consumed within 48 hours, are sent to the soup pot or discarded.
Camaleón, 200 meters north of the Malpaís-Santa Teresa crossroads, on the right just before the bridge, is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. (closed from 4 to 6 p.m.) every day except Sunday. For information, call 2640-0949.


1、Psychology helps to measure the probability that an aim is attainable.-Edward Thorndike.
2、In every living thing there is the desire for love.-David Herbert Lawrence.
15、Ninety-nine per cent of the people in the world are fools and the rest of us are in great danger of contagion.-Thornton Wilder.
16、The most characteristic mark of a great mind is to choose some one important object, and pursue it for life.-Anna Letitia Barbauld.


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After Death of a Loved One, Haitians Must Choose: Lifetime of Debt or a Funeral?
Imagine coping with the death of a loved one, and being told that you must pay more money than your annual income to 'properly' bury the deceased. This is the reality for many impoverished Haitians when they are at their most vulnerable and grief-stricken; they are charged exorbitant fees solely for the profit of those in the burial business, who exploit the family members' unawareness of cheaper options and their desires to pay respect to the deceased. 2/3 of Haitians live on less than $2 per day, and funeral fees will put them into debt for years to come. This issue continues to be of critical importance as the death toll from cholera, food shortages and natural disasters continues to rise daily.
Part of the article is shown below. Click HERE for the original article.
Grieving Haitians go into lifetime of debt to fund funerals
David McFadden, Associated Press
Aspasie Tanis lives hand-to-mouth on the edge of eviction in the best of times, scraping out a living selling packets of spaghetti and cookies outside her low-slung concrete shack in Haiti's capital. Now the death of her father by stroke threatens to send her into a lifetime of debt.
The distraught single mother is frantically seeking loans from friends and pastors to pay for the cheapest funeral on offer. Hospital morgue officials say her father's body will be dumped in a pauper's grave unless her struggling family forks over a relative fortune of just over $1,000.
"I'll never be at peace if he isn't buried properly," Tanis said quietly after transferring her father's corpse to a cut-rate private morgue.
Her anxiety is shared by many in Haiti, where two out of three people live on less than $2 per day and burying the dead is a predatory business. While funerals are costly in any number of countries, Haitian undertakers get away with charging rates that exceed what most citizens earn in a year.
Along the capital's bustling Rue de l'Enterrement, established morticians and unlicensed freelancers engage in a daily bidding war for new customers while telling bereaved families that anything less than their set packages can be seen as a lack of respect for the dead.
Click HERE for the original article.


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Cheap flights from Toronto to New York Accessible by car via the Macdonald-Cartier Freeway, Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) offers direct flights to New York City. As you spend nearly two hours flying from Toronto to NYC, you can narrow down the choices of places to visit along Manhattan's Museum Mile.
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This book is one of the most esoteric treatises in the world. It will show you the way to become more than the body and the way to bloom - how not to remain a seed but to become a golden flower. What, in India, they call the one thousand-petalled lotus, in China they call the golden flower. It is a symbol that represents perfection, totality. Moreover, the flower represents the actualisation of the potential - the beauty, the grandeur, the splendour of being.
This treatise, The Secret of Secrets, is very ancient - possibly one of the most ancient treatises in the world - at least twenty-five centuries old. But twenty-five centuries can be traced back very easily. And this treatise is also, uniquely, a great synthesis of all the great religions. The Bible belongs to the Christians, the Talmud belongs to the Jews, the Vedas belong to the Hindus, the Dhammapada to the Buddhists, the Tao Te Ching to the Taoists. But this small book, The Secret of Secrets, belongs to no one in particular, or it belongs to all.
It is heavily based on Taoist teachings, a flowering of the Taoist approach to life and existence. But it is not only that - Zarathustra has played a role; his teachings are incorporated within it. Buddhist teachings have also been integrated, and a certain esoteric school of Christians, the Nestorians, have played their part. It is one of the most synthetical approaches.


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No Louisiana House Independence Day, a lesson for Jon Bel Edwards and the parties
Written by Stephen Sabludowsky
Before we celebrate January 11 as Louisiana House Independence Day, let's call it what it was—a political putsch.
I know the Republicans are claiming credit for finally standing up to the principles of powers, but it's time to dismiss such mush. The House Speaker vote mission was not really about being "free at last". It was all about controlling the legislative agenda after losing at the November ballot.
Not that the new Louisiana Democrat Governor Jon Bel Edwards had reason to expect anything other than a mini-revolt on his new watch. He and his party had complained plenty during the past eight years of the Jindal Reign of Terror. They demanded that the former legislature not cave into the demands of the then-governor. The incoming governor and his party stood on the side of power trying to slam their choice down the throats of a hostile legislature. As a result, they failed to deliver and now look somewhat foolish with the results.
Edwards could have beaten the drums for reform but on this issue, stood up for the principles of status quo. As a result, the GOP blow-back filled the air with a vengeance.
If the issue were really about independence, the political parties would have stayed home. The Republican Party would not have threatened the lives of the first-borns for those party members who were to go astray and voted for the Democrat and Edwards' choice, Walt Leger. Likewise, the Democrats and Edwards would not have promised the store for those remaining loyal to their own cause.
Also, if the issue were really about independence, as it so maintains, the Republican Party would have complained thus, during the recent years when Republicans held the keys to the mansion and the legislature. They did not and as a result, Jindal called the shots for the legislature and the GOP legislators followed at his command.
Before etching that date into the capitol stone as the year that the legislature demanded its own sovereignty, it's time to speak the truth: In November 2015, the Louisiana Democrats won back the mansion and in January 2015, the republicans gained control of the legislative chambers.
There were no Louisiana Thomas Jeffersons, John Adams or Ben Franklins demanding our freedoms.
The House race tolled the bells of party, not of liberty.
WOW, WHAT A SHOCKER
Yesterday's House vote was full of suspense and for many, truly a shocker.
When Democrat Representative Neil Abramson's name was placed into nomination to compete with fellow Democrat Leger, you sensed a whiff of backroom smoke filling the air. You sensed that things were about to spin out of control. It did.
On the first ballot, Leger fell short with only 49 votes. He needed 53. However, even if you include the two votes going to Abramson (including his own tally), Leger did not have the numbers.
When conservative, pro-David Vitter supporter, Cameron Henry, dropped out, you could sense the handwriting on the wall. For weeks, all we knew, the contest was Leger vs. Henry. After that first ballot, Henry led Republican Taylor Barras by two, 26 votes to 24.
But, since Leger fell short after the initial vote, you knew the obscure republican from New Iberia, Barras, would emerge the surprised victor and the new speaker.
He did.
SO WHERE ARE WE NOW?
Now that party and politics and plenty of inaugural party, food even more politics are now history, it's time to clean the dust and get down to work .
As promised during his inaugural address, today, Governor Jon Bel Edwards will accept the Medicaid Expansion. This could be his second major error, the first, of course, trying to be House kingmaker in a hostile environment. While Medicaid Expansion is very popular among Democrats and it will fill a roughly $300 million dollar hole of a $2.6 billion dollar shortfall over the next two years, by unilaterally making this decision by executive order, he will be singularly blamed should the expansion fail down the road. Getting the legislature to approve expansion would be the safer route to go, assuming that body were to agree there would be no choice but to do so. Also, failing to negotiate with the Obama administration over conditions, will take the bi-partisan aura off of the money.
Also, yesterday, some republican critics of Jon Bel Edwards' speech complained of intellectual inconsistencies—how could the Governor possibly discuss budget woes from one side of his mouth, yet from the other side, promote a bigger government involvement?
For now, he can't and still maintain full credibility.
Instead, Edwards will be forced to govern from the middle.
With a Republican Speaker of the House emerging, Edwards has cover he could not claim if Leger had won. Barras, a banker, a numbers guy, while conservative, is not an extremist. He will be expected to cross party lines. For this state to emerge from this incredibly deep money hole, Barras likewise will need to show his own independence from the Republican Party. In doing so, he will need to acknowledge that his own party and its leader, Governor Bobby Jindal played a major role in causing the collapse in the first place.
It is time for everybody to be honest. Louisiana will raise revenues. The candidates in the governor's race warned us last year. We can play Jindal and Grover Norquist games and pretend that raising revenues is not raising taxes. But, whether it is via reduced tax credits, deductions or exemptions, or by out of pocket at the pump, somebody somewhere is short. It quacks like a tax, it is a tax. For those who insist that we can cut government only, with oil prices dropping further and further, I say, put up or shut up. Give us specifics, not political rhetoric. What do we cut and how much?
Now, with Jay Dardenne, a Republican, at the Commissioner of Administration switch and with former Democrat-now-Republican "switcharoo" Senate President John Alario calling that body's shots, we have the makings of an administration working in concert with the legislature.
While Edwards lost the first battle, with Republicans Barras, Alario and Dardenne having strong voices in the process, the chances are better that the middle will be the road taken to fix the structural problems causing our monetary woes. Had Edwards gotten his way in the House and if the budget were to worsen, the new Democratic Party governor would certainly be the easy target for the GOP. Now, whether by design or by fate, Louisiana goes into one of its worst money crises in its history with somewhat of a coalition government. Both parties have a large piece of the pie.
If the state does emerge from the budget battles, sizeable slices of praise can be shared across party lines. We all would win. If we place party over governing, all of us can smear our faces with the whipped cream topping of blame.
We all lose.
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