text:
Leveling the soccer field
Equal pay for equal work has been one justification cited by those who believe the U.S. Soccer Federation's World Cup-winning women's team should be paid as much as those on the men's team. But that is misleading:
In an important way, the women are doing more valuable work.
U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, has introduced a bill aimed at pressuring the USSF to increase what it pays female soccer players. His measure, if enacted, would prevent use of any federal funds to support the 2026 World Cup contests, scheduled to be held in the United States.
Manchin's decision apparently came after he received a letter from Nikki Izzo-Brown, head coach of West Virginia University's Women's Soccer Team. Her missive pointed out that the USSF women's team brings in more revenue than the male squad. And, in World Cup competition this year, the women were watched by 14.3 million people — compared to 11.4 million for the men.
Izzo-Brown concluded her letter by stating what seems obvious, that "it is wrong for the US Soccer women to be paid and valued less for their work because of their gender."
All that may be resolved by a lawsuit filed by many of the women, who decided to take the USSF to court in an attempt to receive the same pay as the men.
It is pointed out often that in sports, male players often are paid more than women because more people pay to watch them. In other words, the pay is not equal because the work done by female athletes is not as productive financially — or, so goes the argument.
Fine. What about the soccer players, where the women are bringing in more money and, frankly, doing much more than the USSF men's team to popularize their sport in this country? By the conventional wisdom, the women should be paid more.
Manchin's bill may or may not gain traction in Congress. But his goal in introducing it is right on target. As he put it, it is an attempt to "finally create a level playing field for all."
Ensure Ohio schools work
Giving local officials as much control as possible over public schools normally is the best policy. Education ...
Aid rural Ohio school districts
Among disagreements holding up adoption of a two-year budget for Ohio state government is one that could affect ...
Strong stand by first lady
Our nation's first lady, Melania Trump, has taken a very specific interest in the drug abuse epidemic, for which ...
How did Epstein slip through?
US election integrity is of utmost importance
Oh, no, county-level election officials in Ohio may be thinking. Not another mandate from Columbus. Indeed there ...


Author of Death of the Falcon, 2009, (www.deathofthefalcon.com) release of Meet America pending (www.comeflywithme.org). Video producer of stories of the American culture.
Based on the true story of an iconic airline grounded by rapacious unions and weak management.


text:
Holiday-Luxury.net
Holiday-Luxury.net Website Review
At the moment we do not have enough data for a serious traffic estimation. Please check back soon for any updates. holiday-luxury.net is a domain name delegated under the generic top-level domain .net. The domain was registered in 2018 and is currently over 4 years old. The web servers are located in the United States and are reachable through the IP address 208.91.197.27.
holiday-luxury
Estimated Revenue
Estimated Website Worth
Estimated Visitors
Estimated Page Impressions
4 years, 5 months and 6 days (1,620 days)
Where is Holiday-Luxury.net Server Location?
The servers for holiday-luxury.net are located in the United States. The traffic is routed via the IPv4 address 208.91.197.27.
37.7510 / 37°45′3″ N
WHOIS holiday-luxury.net
holiday-luxury.net uses the generic top-level domain (gTLD) .net, which is administered by VeriSign Global Registry Services. The domain was first registered on August 25, 2018 and is due to expire on August 25, 2020. It was last registered through registrar Network Solutions, LLC. The WHOIS data for the domain was last updated on July 1, 2019. There are currently 2 nameservers in the WHOIS data for the domain.
Top-Level Domain (TLD)
TLD Type
Network Solutions, LLC
Registrar WHOIS Server
whois.networksolutions.com
Registrar URL
http://networksolutions.com
Domain Updated Date
Domain Creation Date
Domain Expiry Date
ns13.worldnic.com
.net Sponsoring Organisation
VeriSign Global Registry Services
.net WHOIS Server
whois.verisign-grs.com
.net Registry URL
http://www.verisigninc.com
How fast is Holiday-Luxury.net? And what web server software does the site use?
The site uses the Apache web server software.
Is Holiday Luxury down today? Use our Ping Tool to check if holiday-luxury.net is up and running...
http://holiday-luxury.net
What are Holiday-Luxury.net DNS Records?
The start of authority (SOA) record for holiday-luxury.net specifies NS13.WORLDNIC.COM as the primary master name server for this zone. The REFRESH value is set to 10800 seconds, RETRY is set to 3600 seconds, EXPIRE is set to 604800 seconds, and MINIMUM TTL is set to 3600 seconds. The serial number for the zone is 118082502. In addition, the DNS configuration for holiday-luxury.net contains 1 IPv4 address (A), 2 name servers (NS) and 1 mail relay (MX).
SOA NS13.WORLDNIC.COM. namehost.WORLDNIC.COM. 118082502 10800 3600 604800 3600
A 208.91.197.27
MX 10 p.webcom.ctmail.com
NS ns13.worldnic.com
Holiday-Luxury Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who is Holiday-Luxury.net?
The domain has been registered at Network Solutions, LLC. You can visit the registrar's website at http://networksolutions.com. The registrar's WHOIS server can be reached at whois.networksolutions.com.
What is Holiday-Luxury.net IP address?
Holiday-Luxury.net resolves to the IPv4 address 208.91.197.27.
When did Holiday-Luxury.net come out?
Holiday-Luxury.net was registered 1620 days ago on Saturday, August 25, 2018.
When has Holiday-Luxury.net expired?
This domain has expired 889 days ago on Tuesday, August 25, 2020.
When was the WHOIS for Holiday-Luxury.net last updated?
The WHOIS entry was last updated 1310 days ago on Monday, July 1, 2019.
What are Holiday-Luxury.net's nameservers?
DNS for Holiday-Luxury.net is provided by the nameservers ns13.worldnic.com and ns14.worldnic.com.
What country does Holiday-Luxury.net come from?
Holiday-Luxury.net has its servers located in the United States.
What webserver software does Holiday-Luxury.net use?
Holiday-Luxury.net is powered by "Apache" webserver.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
using J2N.Threading.Atomic;

namespace YAF.Lucene.Net.Util
{

    /// <summary>
    /// Simple counter class
    /// <para/>
    /// @lucene.internal
    /// @lucene.experimental
    /// </summary>
    public abstract class Counter
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Adds the given delta to the counters current value.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="delta">
        ///          The delta to add. </param>
        /// <returns> The counters updated value. </returns>
        public abstract long AddAndGet(long delta);

        /// <summary>
        /// Returns the counters current value.
        /// </summary>
        /// <returns> The counters current value. </returns>
        public abstract long Get(); // LUCENENET TODO: API: Change to Value property and add implicit operator to get

        /// <summary>
        /// Returns a new counter. The returned counter is not thread-safe.
        /// </summary>
        public static Counter NewCounter()
        {
            return NewCounter(false);
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Returns a new counter.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="threadSafe">
        ///          <c>true</c> if the returned counter can be used by multiple
        ///          threads concurrently. </param>
        /// <returns> A new counter. </returns>
        public static Counter NewCounter(bool threadSafe)
        {
            return threadSafe ? (Counter)new AtomicCounter() : new SerialCounter();
        }

        private sealed class SerialCounter : Counter
        {
            private long count = 0;

            public override long AddAndGet(long delta)
            {
                return count += delta;
            }

            public override long Get()
            {
                return count;
            }
        }

        private sealed class AtomicCounter : Counter
        {
            private readonly AtomicInt64 count = new AtomicInt64();

            public override long AddAndGet(long delta)
            {
                return count.AddAndGet(delta);
            }

            public override long Get() => count;
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The current obsession with nuclear power is a red herring, says Marty Hoffert. The United States and others should instead invest in a clean-energy revolution.
There has been much debate about the future of nuclear power following the crisis in Japan. Yet present-day fission reactors are, at best, transition technology. Instead, we should use the current high profile of energy to refocus the debate on what the long-term solution to our problems must be: innovation.
As a scientist working on energy and climate change, I was inspired by President Barack Obama's call for US researchers to put a million electric cars on the road by 2015, and to generate 80% of our electricity from carbon-neutral sources by 2035. In this journal in 1998, colleagues and I concluded that engineering projects on the scale of the Apollo moonshots might be needed to transform the world's energy system (M. I. Hoffert et al. Nature 395, 881-884; 1998). We should now be debating not whether but how to do this.
Some assert that government investment in transformative energy technology is code for tax and spend, and that suitable technologies already exist, or will be delivered by market forces. Others argue that government incentives such as feed-in tariffs for solar and wind energy are unnecessary, and that clean energy should compete in the market from the beginning. But the idea that private-sector entrepreneurship can do the job alone is based on a myth. It took 30 years of government funding of the Internet by the military research agency DARPA and the National Science Foundation before Wall Street discovered that there was money to be made out of it.
The private-sector-alone approach is a prescription for disaster, and displays abysmal ignorance of how the United States ended up with its current energy system. The US government made crucial investments in energy technology in the post-war years. Consider Hyman Rickover's light-water reactor, developed for Nautilus, the world's first nuclear submarine, which became the prototype for 85% of the world's nuclear power plants. We still use the term 'reactor fleet'.
Today, a poster child for carbon capture and storage (CCS) schemes is carbon dioxide collection at the Dakota Gasification Company's plant in Beulah, North Dakota. This facility was paid for initially by the US Department of Energy as a synfuel plant under President Jimmy Carter's Energy Independence Program. It would not have happened without massive government underwriting of the risk. CCS in the North Sea by the Norwegian Statoil Company is likewise heavily state subsidized.
No money? US debt now is a comparable per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) to what it was in the Great Depression before the Second World War. By massively borrowing from ourselves to finance President Franklin D. Roosevelt's miracles of war production and technology development, we saw aircraft morph from biplanes to jets, and nuclear power become a reality, even as the US debt-to-GDP ratio increased to more than 100% by the end of the war. We bet the farm on a stimulus package on steroids — and we won. The United States emerged as the strongest economy on the planet.
One can only hope that we're not so distracted by ideological battles about government versus private-sector funding that the real energy and global-change problems defeat us because of a failure of imagination — particularly a failure to fund research, development and demonstration in sustainable energy, at least with the initial US$15 billion a year recommended by industry leaders and academic researchers. If the president asked Congress for this sum, which could even be paid for by eliminating perverse subsidies for fossil fuels, it would still be only one-tenth of 1% of the present US GDP of $15 trillion. We can afford the investment needed to induce a revolutionary transformation of the world energy system away from fossil fuels. China is planning to invest $75 billion a year to do just that.
In the latter part of the 'American century', the United States somehow lost its way. No longer 'makers', we became a nation of rustbelts, Ponzi schemes and subprime mortgage risk, myopically focused on quarterly earnings and consumerism. What a tragedy it would be to lose America's talent for innovation after 200 years.
Mr President and Congress: open your minds to a civilization powered by wind turbines in harmony with our landscape and continental shelves; solar electricity from deserts and Earth orbit powering our cites; safe, proliferation-resistant nuclear reactors; coal gasifiers driving efficient electric power plants with CO2 stored underground; along with energy-efficient homes and public buildings, smart power grids, high-speed rail, electric and biofuelled cars, even carbon-neutral fuels made from sunlight, water and CO2 in the atmosphere more efficiently than nature does by photosynthesis. These are no longer impossible dreams, but realities of new US industries revitalized by American entrepreneurs and a high-tech workforce, much like the one Roosevelt created to fight the Second World War.


text:
Special Interests Threaten FDA's Ability to Make Science-Based Decisions
Mar. 30, 2012 01:47PM EST Energy
The pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology industries together spent more than $700 million in lobbying from 2009 through 2011, according to an analysis from the Center for Responsive Politics commissioned by the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Pharmaceuticals companies and related trade groups spent more than $487 million on lobbying over this three-year period, while biotechnology firms and their trade groups spent more than $126 million and device manufacturers and their trade groups spent more than $86 million.
By comparison, the oil and gas industry spent more than $467 million and the insurance industry spent nearly $481 million during the same three-year period.
While these companies differ in their specific objectives, a central lobbying target for all of them is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which must evaluate new drugs and medical devices for safety and efficacy as well as monitor them after they enter the market.
"All this money skews the debate and diminishes the public's voice on these issues," said Francesca Grifo, director of the Union of Concerned Scientists' Scientific Integrity Program. "What's at stake here is FDA's ability to make independent, science-based decisions that affect our health and safety."
The analysis comes as the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing on March 29 on draft legislation to amend and approve an agreement between the FDA and medical products companies that governs how the agency approves drugs and devices. The companies have agreed to pay fees to the agency, and in exchange the FDA has agreed to meet certain performance standards in the review process, including a timeline for device and drug reviews. Congress must act on the legislation this year.
The analysis also showed that these industries were generous with their campaign contributions, giving nearly $6.3 million to 70 lawmakers who served on relevant committees from 2009 through 2011.
This year, several industry-friendly proposals are pending in both the House and Senate, including legislation that would reduce the FDA's scrutiny of medical devices, relax conflict-of-interest standards at the agency, and emphasize speed and innovation over adherence to the FDA's science-based standards for safe and effective drugs and devices.
"These industry-friendly legislative proposals, many of which will roll back reforms Congress approved in a bipartisan manner just five years ago, raise significant concerns about the increasing impact of special interests in our democratic process," said Celia Wexler, Washington representative for the Scientific Integrity program. "Those interests are now threatening the role science plays in guiding policy that directly impacts public health."
UCS is tracking several issues related to the roles of science and corporate interests at FDA, and conducted a recent survey of agency scientists and staff regarding industry influence and political interference in scientific work. Click here to view the survey's results.
food energy


A sensation in his rookie season, even before one considers he wasn't old enough to drive on public roads for half the season. Put another way, he had already passed Felipe Nasr around the outside of Spa's 290km/h Blanchimont left-hander - arguably the overtake of the year - by the time he convinced an examiner he was fit to drive in his native Holland.
The exits of then-president Luca di Montezemolo and then-team principal Marco Mattiacci suggested Ferrari would be in for a massive, and lengthy, restructuring in 2015. Instead, they began the year with an unexpected spring in their step, and broke into a full gallop in Malaysia.
By the season's end they had triumphed on another two occasions - one short of prompting Maurizio Arrivabene to take a barefoot stroll in the Maranello hills - and claimed 16 podiums, their best return since 2008.
With James Allison steering the technical direction, and Sebastian Vettel injecting a fresh energy along with his unerring talent, the Scuderia's prospects are suddenly looking very rosy.
Now a three-time F1 world champion, and with 43 victories to his credit - two more than childhood idol Ayrton Senna, and third on the all-time winners list behind only Michael Schumacher (91) and Alain Prost (51).
If his end-of-season dip gave him food for thought, Hamilton wasn't letting on in Abu Dhabi, where he said - as much to Nico Rosberg as to the press - "I think being world champion sounds a lot better than winning the race..."
Hamilton has earned the right to such a statement. For all the talk of his lifestyle being a distraction - and references to the occasional off-track mishap - Hamilton at his best, and in the best machinery, is a frightening combination. Seven wins, 11 poles and 11 podiums from the opening 12 races showed that when it mattered most, Hamilton blew his opposition away.
Proof that absence makes the heart grow fonder - or that Mexico's love for F1 racing has not dwindled in the slightest over the last two decades. A sell-out crowd, a carnival atmosphere and that podium - this was a glorious return in every sense of the word, as Mexico City rapidly established itself as a new fan and drivers' favourite.
The best campaign in Force India's history started in inauspicious fashion, with the team missing the first two pre-season tests and running an interim car for the first half of the year. Despite that, both Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez kept themselves in the game with a collective nine points finishes over the first nine races, leaving them perfectly placed to capitalise when the B-spec car finally hit the track.
They did just that. Over the final races, the team outscored Red Bull, and only just trailed Williams, 106 points to 97. A podium in Russia - the fourth in the team's history - was the standout moment, but just as impressive was the fact they scored points in every race from Belgium onwards. Only one other team managed that - Mercedes.
As Force India hit their stride, so too did Perez. A list of the results of his last five races tells its own story: 3rd, 5th, 8th, 12th, 5th, equating to 39 points. Only the championship top three - Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel - picked up more.
In the process, the Mexican finished a career-best ninth in the championship, and out-scored Nico Hulkenberg 78 points to 58 - the first time Hulkenberg has been put in the shade by a team mate since his rookie season. Little wonder Perez himself labelled it his 'best season' in F1.
Gambled by leaving Red Bull, who scored 12 podiums and three wins in 2014, to join Ferrari, who claimed just two podiums amid their worst season in modern times. It paid off.
This wasn't just about Ferrari's upturn - Vettel himself was reinvigorated after the low of 2014. It wasn't needed, but by comprehensively out-performing Kimi Raikkonen the German offered proof of the qualities that carried him to his four world championships. When on song, Vettel is a match for anyone on the grid. If Ferrari take another step forward in 2016, a fifth crown will be firmly in his sights.
Red Bull scored a massive PR win before the championship had even started with the bespoke camouflage livery run in pre-season testing. 'More than just black and white' was the team's take on the CamoBull. 'Epic' was the verdict from the fans.
Saved at the 11th hour prior to the season's start, their mere presence on the grid - let alone staying the course and actually closing the gap to Mercedes across the 19 races - is to be celebrated.
A superb season to dominate his team mate - Grosjean led Lotus team mate Pastor Maldonado 17-2 in qualifying, and scored 188 percent of the Venezuelan's total points. That he did so while missing 13 FP1 sessions makes the achievement all the more emphatic - while the unlikeliest of podiums in Belgium, amid a string of financial complications for Lotus, was the icing on the cake. A fitting way to end his relationship with the team from Enstone - now he rolls the dice and bets big on the US newcomers Haas.
Mexico City replaced Monza as the temple of top speed in 2015, with the high altitudes producing record speeds in excess of 360 km/h - significantly faster than the pre-V6 era.
No driver made up more ground, or on more occasions, on the opening lap than the two-time champion. Admittedly McLaren's dismal season played into Alonso's hands in this particular regard, giving him plenty of opportunities to rise from the lower fringes of the grid. But when the lights went out, the Spaniard was a force of nature, making up more than 40 places - an average of more than two per race - over the season.
Perhaps it was always going to be difficult to live up to pre-season hype for McLaren and Honda, but the reuniting of these two former powerhouses wasn't just underwhelming: it was crushingly disappointing.
Pre-season set the tone, with McLaren turning in 827 laps in total. Mercedes alone managed 1,914, Mercedes-powered cars 5,836 - effectively seven times Honda's count.
Five seconds off the pace in qualifying in Australia, McLaren pledged patience. But while they did improve, there was ultimately no fix for the fundamental issues of the Honda power unit. Having made compromises to try and keep the engine as tightly packaged as possible, Honda's small compressor meant they were down on power and energy harvesting, leading to a 'scary' deficit of around 20km/h on some straights.
After 19 painful races, both parties have the chance to make real changes - and real progress - over the winter. After such a dismal year, it is an opportunity they simply must take.
They might not have plumbed the same depths as McLaren, but Red Bull had their own painful season, as well-documented issues with power unit suppliers Renault dogged their form.
For the first time since 2008, the team failed to win. Over the same period, 2015 delivered their lowest podium count (three) and worst championship position (fourth).
The conviction remains that the RB11 was one of the best chassis in the field, a notion backed up by the team's instant improvements at circuits where engine power wasn't a priority. But in their very public row with Renault, and their subsequent (unsuccessful) pursuit and aggressive brokering with other engine suppliers, Red Bull lost face as well as performance. Not a season to add to the collection.
Whether your sympathies were with Red Bull or Renault during the war of words that broke out in 2015, it was hard to argue that the French manufacturer had gone the right way with their power unit. Poor initial reliability - which they eventually got on top of - was married with a distinct lack of power, a dynamic exacerbated when they finally released their upgraded unit in time for Brazil. Daniel Ricciardo was the only man to try it, and was distinctly underwhelmed. "It hasn't really given us anything," was the verdict, "so back to the drawing board for Renault." Quite.
Was there a more depressing sight in 2015 than two world champions, widely considered to be among the best drivers in the world, trudging round at the back of the field? Both often looked for the positives, but this was a character-building season for two veterans who didn't need it, having already cut their teeth in F1 for a decade.
Winners for staying the course in the season, but losers for the way they ended it. The departures of Graeme Lowdon and John Booth, the men behind the team's phoenix-like rise from the ashes, is a big loss. With technical chief Bob Bell also departing, and having been demonstrably slower than anyone else in 2015, the team have a massive battle on their hands over winter.
Maldonado lived up to his alias in 2015, completing five laps or fewer in six Grands Prix this season, and retiring from nine in total. Only Roberto Merhi and Alexander Rossi, neither of whom contested the full season, completed fewer racing laps than the Venezuelan, who was also emphatically beaten by team mate Romain Grosjean. This wasn't a season to silence his detractors by any stretch.
Let go by McLaren. By email. On his birthday. Despite largely matching Jenson Button during his rookie season in 2014, the talented Dane's future F1 options are already looking limited.
The Saturday of this year's Grand Prix at Austin was not a time to be outside. Buffeted by the fringes of Hurricane Patricia, high winds and heavy rain lashed the circuit and caused first the delay, and then the postponing, of qualifying until Sunday morning. Through it all, fans somehow remained in their seats. We can only salute them.
"Will you get each other a Christmas present?" one reporter cheekily asked Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in Abu Dhabi. 'No', was the effective response.
Such frosty relations could actually be exactly what F1 needs. Rosberg might have been blown away at the start of the year, but by the end he was firmly on top and had Hamilton rattled. Continue in that vein of form, and the pair's fierce rivalry might become a fierce fight for the championship - and that can only be a good thing for the sport, even if the postman might not be delivering them Christmas cards anytime soon.
Won a reprieve by signing a one-year contract extension with Ferrari, but there was no disguising the fact Raikkonen was soundly beaten by a multiple world champion for the second season running.
One win in 19 came from outside the front row in 2015 - and that was when Vettel won from third in Hungary. That's not to say there weren't some outstanding races - but it does emphasise the control Mercedes had over proceedings almost throughout.
Even Alonso poked fun at McLaren's list of grid penalties, particularly the 105-place collective demotion he and Button received at Spa. That 'world record' was mocked by pundits and public alike, though regulation changes did at least mean it constituted nothing more than a back-row start.


Minor correction of flag of the city of Yaita.
The city emblem was adopted on Nov 1st 1958 and the flag was adopted on Nov 1st 1978 by Notice No 64. The green flag has a white city emblem in the center. The city emblem is stylized kanji 矢 Ya and hiragana い I of YaIta. It represents a growth of the city. The flag proportion is 2: 3. The height of the emblem is 3/5 of the height of the flag. The flag law does not show kanji name at the lower hoist in the official city flag.
the emblem is hitagana I い in silver with a gold arrow and fringe.


text:
Tag: National Trust
Skyscape at Petworth House
Paul Nash (1889-1946), The Sun Descending – Study 3, watercolour and chalk on paper, 1945 © Ashmolean Museum
This week I am visiting Petworth House in West Sussex where their latest exhibition, Skyscape, has just opened. This exhibition showcases the extraordinary breadth of prints, paintings and objects in the Ashmolean's collections. The show represents a collaborative partnership between the National Trust and the Ashmolean which brings together two great regional collections.
The National Trust's Exhibition Assistant at Petworth, Natasha Powell
I meet with The National Trust's Exhibition Assistant at Petworth, Natasha Powell. She is clearly excited to have worked with the Ashmolean on this show.
Speaking about the exhibition Natasha says "The exhibition is chronological and thematic. The prints and paintings date from the 16th century to the present day. They have been chosen for their depictions of the sky in a variety of mediums and techniques. And it's exciting to see Petworth's collection anew celebrating the sky rather than the landscape."
All of us have experienced and understand the wonder of the sky, the fleeting, changing qualities of light, colour and movement.
The Ashmolean's current major exhibition in Oxford explores Rembrandt van Rijn's early work. I am pleased to find the etching Three Trees at Petworth. It was produced by Rembrandt in 1643 just a year after Saskia, the love of his life, died giving birth to their son. The combination of etched lines captures the approach of a foreboding sky. In the foreground a man stands fishing on the banks of a river as his wife watches with a picnic. Both are seemingly oblivious to the approaching storm.
Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669), The Three Trees, etching, 1643 © Ashmolean Museum
An artist of towering reputation, by the 1630s Rembrandt was highly respected. His fame and reputation as a painter ensured that his prints were seen as originals and not mere reproductions. Contemporary collectors of his prints afforded Rembrandt a freedom of expression which was sometimes lacking amongst the patrons of his paintings.
Paul Nash's watercolour study The Sun Descending is painted with an immediacy which Turner would have understood. Like Turner Paul Nash worked in Sussex. As an artist Nash returned again and again to the poetry of the English landscape. He sought to look beyond the immediate to what he referred to as the 'genius loci', the spirit of the place, to 'a reality more real'.
Over in the main house I catch up with Andrew Loukes, the National Trust's House and Collections Manager at Petworth, in the North Gallery. As we re-examine J.M.W. Turner's skies Andrew says "Very few artists can paint like Turner and get it just right with his sheer virtuosity and ability to look at the world anew." I am reminded how extraordinary Petworth's own collections are.
Skyscape allows us to celebrate our shared experience of the sky and offers a fresh perspective.
I am delighted that Toovey's are once again supporting Petworth House's exhibition program. Skyscape is a revealing exhibition and runs until 18th March 2020. For more information on the exhibition, to book tickets and for opening times visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth.
Posted on January 22, 2020 January 31, 2020 Author RupertCategories Rupert Toovey's ArticlesTags Ashmoleon, Joseph Mallord William Turner, National Trust, Paul Nash, Petworth House, Rembrandt van Rijn
National Trust's International Exhibition at Petworth
The National Trust's landmark exhibition Prized Possessions has just returned from The Mauritshuis museum in the Hague to Petworth House in Sussex.
The Mauritshuis houses the Royal Cabinet of Paintings which includes many of the finest Dutch Golden Age paintings including Johannes Vermeer's Girl with a Pearl Earring. Nevertheless long queues formed to see Prized Possessions which speaks of the importance of the works on show in this exhibition.
Prized Possessions builds on the tradition established at Petworth House by house and collections manager Andrew Loukes of re-examining the collections and art of the National Trust. In the 17th and 18th centuries Dutch art informed English taste. It is wonderful to see these works displayed in the context of, arguably, England's finest country house. Petworth has a fine collection of Dutch masters.
The exhibition reflects the diversity of subjects and styles in Dutch Golden Age art with wonderful religious scenes, landscapes still lifes and portraits. Prized Possessions has been curated by David Taylor and Rupert Goulding. The paintings on show are amongst the most celebrated and prized in the National Trust's collections. The visitor to Petworth will uniquely also be able to see a selection of Dutch masters generously loaned by Lord Egremont from his private collection.
Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669), Self-Portrait, wearing a Feathered Bonnet, c.1635, oil, signed and dated © National Trust
As you enter the exhibition gallery you are met by Rembrandt van Rijn's remarkable 'Self-Portrait, wearing a Feathered Bonnet.' There is such life to the portrait. It displays the psychological insight and unsurpassed technique which underpins Rembrandt's reputation as an artist. Here we see Rembrandt's confidence at the height of his wealth and fame.
The portrait is typical of the popular tronie genre where the sitter is depicted in costume playing some sort of role. Rembrandt's costume with its velvet bonnet decorated with ostrich feathers, the gorget armour and aristocratic hair lends the painting a timeless quality. His pose and the dramatic use of light seems to unite sitter and viewer.
The portrait is signed and dated 1635, the year that the artist and his wife Saskia moved to the fashionable Nieuwe Doelenstraat in Amsterdam.
Until recently the portrait was attributed to one of Rembrandt's pupils, Govaert Flinck. However, recent scientific and historical research has established the painting as one of a large group of some forty autograph self-portraits by Rembrandt.
Simon Pietersz Verelst (1644-1721), Prince Rupert of the Rhine c.1680-82, oil © National Trust.
The portrait of Prince Rupert of the Rhine (1619-1682) by Simon Pietersz Verelst is of contrasting style. The painting forms part of Petworth's permanent collection and depicts Prince Rupert in middle age after the restoration of his cousin Charles II. He wears the robes of the Order of the Garter. Verelst employs light and colour beautifully to emphasise the opulence and power expressed in his attire.
The exhibition is a cabinet of exquisite paintings and the context of Petworth House and its exhibition rooms allows us to re-examine these prized possessions and their influence on English Country House taste with fresh eyes.
I am delighted that Toovey's are once again supporting Petworth House's exhibition program.
Prized Possessions is a jewel like exhibition and a must see. The show is sure to be a sell out so book early. For more information on the exhibition, to book tickets and for opening times visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth.
Posted on February 7, 2019 April 7, 2019 Author NicholasCategories Rupert Toovey's ArticlesTags National Trust, Petworth House, Rembrandt van Rijn
The Original White Cube Gallery
J.M.W. Turner's watercolour of the North Gallery at Petworth
How modern the 21st century gallery interior seems to us with its light, white interiors – but is it really modern?
This week we are at Petworth House, in the company of the National Trust's inspirational Exhibitions Manager, Andrew Loukes. The Petworth House team are preparing for their spring opening on Saturday 19th March 2016. All around us the house's treasures are emerging from beneath their winter covers.
The Classical sculpture at Petworth
George Wyndham O'Brien (1751-1837), 3rd Earl of Egremont
As we enter the North Gallery the deep red of the walls sets off the white of the sculptures. It is a remarkable space. The blinds are opened and the light floods in. It reminds me of a watercolour of the North Gallery by the artist J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851). The watercolour depicts the gallery luminous and white. John Flaxman's (1755-1826) famous sculpture 'St Michael subduing Satan' is to the fore. The sketch is one of a number produced by Turner which he painted for his own pleasure, they illustrate life behind the scenes at Petworth House. Andrew Loukes explains "At the time of the 3rd Earl these galleries were painted white." I remark that this must have been the first white cube gallery. Andrew agrees and adds "This is arguably the first purpose built art gallery in Britain." He reminds me that the Carved Room at Petworth House, sometimes called the Long Dining Room, was created by the 3rd Earl from two rooms. It houses the remarkable Grinling Gibbons carvings. The room would have appeared very much as it does today although the panelling was papered and painted white. Andrew says "The effects of this white colour scheme can be seen in the palette of Turner's paintings produced specifically for that room." Some rooms were also painted a bright red.
The North Gallery was altered and expanded by both the 2nd and 3rd Earl's of Egremont. The influence of George Wyndham O'Brien (1751-1837), 3rd Earl of Egremont, and his forebears is immediately apparent. The best contemporary art of the early 19th century sits alongside sculptures from classical antiquity. Andrew Loukes explains that this is no accident "This is a very personal collection reflecting father and son. The classical sculpture was predominately collected by the 2nd Earl. Under the 3rd Earl the modern was brought alongside the ancient. The house and collection influenced many of the artists of the time. It is not possible to overemphasize how important this place was, in the early 19th century, to British art –it was an unofficial academy." The 3rd Earl was very discerning so there are no examples of work by artists like John Constable or Edwin Landseer in the collection, even though they stayed at Petworth.
John Flaxman's famous sculpture, 'St Michael subduing Satan'
John Flaxman's 'St Michael subduing Satan' is still displayed in the North Gallery. Flaxman based the composition of this piece on Raphael's painting of St Michael which now hangs in the Louvre. The sculpture tells the story of the eventual triumph of good over evil from the book of Revelations in the Bible. A youthful St Michael prepares to smite Satan as he raises his spear. It is a heroic and patriotic piece produced by Flaxman at the height of his powers.
It was John Ruskin who commented that the white walls made the sculptures look dirty and by the 1850s the North Gallery's walls had been painted red. Petworth House is one of the nation's great treasure houses. The house reopens on Saturday 19th March 2016. Whether you are visiting for the first time or returning to an old friend you cannot fail to be inspired by the art and history of the place. For more information go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth-house.
Posted on March 12, 2016 March 9, 2016 Author RupertCategories Rupert Toovey's ArticlesTags Joseph Mallord William Turner, National Trust, Petworth House, Sculpture
Standen and its Textiles
The Drawing Room at Standen
It is a beautiful bright spring day as I approach the National Trust property, Standen, near East Grinstead in West Sussex. The dappled light falls upon the narrow drive through the canopy of trees, the vista opens as you arrive at the house. I have come to see Standen's latest exhibition, 'Medieval to Morris' which explores the history of embroidery.
Standen is a fine example of a late 19th century Arts and Crafts Movement home. It combines the talents of architect, Philip Webb with an interior alive with the rich textiles and wallpapers of the designer, craftsman and poet, William Morris. Webb and Morris were famously close friends.
Standen was built between 1892 and 1894 for James and Margaret Beale. James was a successful and wealthy London solicitor. They chose the architect Philip Webb to design and oversee the project.
Ben Dale, House Manager at Standen
The house manager, Ben Dale, comes to meet me. Ben is a social historian whose passion for Standen is infectious. As we tour the house together he tells the story of this remarkable place through the objects, house and gardens. I comment on the unity of design which meets your eye in every room. Ben responds "Everything was designed by Webb for a reason. It's a shining example of the Arts and Crafts. He put great thought into how the rooms would be used with a real attention to detail."
'Artichoke', a design by William Morris
As you arrive in the Drawing Room you can imagine it as a family setting with the Beale's using it. The easy chairs are mostly by Morris & Co. The settee was probably designed by Agnes and Rhoda Garrett. The Garrets set up their own 'Art Decoration' business in 1875, working in the Morris taste. They lived together at Firs Cottage in Rustington. I am interested how important the textiles and carpet are to the overall aesthetic of the room. Ben explains "Many of the wall-hangings were made by Margaret Beale. She didn't like to have idle hands which is why she embroidered with her daughters. It was a very social thing which they did together." The hanging beside the settee was worked by Margaret Beale. This 'Vine' pattern was first designed by Morris for wallpaper in 1873. Margaret started work on the panel in 1920 and it took six years to complete.
The carpet, designed by J. H. Dearle is particularly fine. These hand knotted wool carpets were manufactured at Morris & Co's Merton Abbey workshops.
Standen volunteer and curator of 'Medieval to Morris', Sally Roberson
Ben introduces me to Sally Roberson who is a volunteer at Standen and curator of their current exhibition, 'Medieval to Morris', which explores the history of embroidery. Sally expertly leads me around this excellent exhibition which tells the story of embroidery from medieval times to the current day. Examples of the stitches and techniques used over the centuries reveal the art of the embroiderer. It provides context and insight to the remarkable collection of William Morris designed embroidery at Standen. I comment on how I am fascinated that so many of the embroidered hangings and panels were worked by Margaret Beale and her family. Sally responds "Almost all of the panels were produced from kits. The patterns were printed on linen."
I have always been struck by William Morris' genius for flat patterns and his remarkable understanding of the relationships between natural forms, the curl of a leaf, a flower and its stem. I am drawn to an 'Artichoke' pattern panel embroidered by Margaret Beale and her three eldest daughters, from a design by William Morris, between 1894 and 1896. Sally says "It is stitched in silks which give a richness and sheen which wool would not." Flowers and patterns were obviously as important to Margaret as they were to Morris. Sally remarks "Mrs Beale was a woman obsessed with gardening and embroidery, one informed the other."
It has been wonderful to visit Standen anew and to see it through the eyes of Ben Dale and Sally Roberson. The exhibition 'Medieval to Morris' runs until the 26th July 2015. For more information on Standen House and Gardens, West Hoathly Road, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 4NE visit their website by clicking here or telephone 01342 323029.
Revd. Rupert Toovey. Originally published on 27th May 2015 in the West Sussex Gazette
Posted on June 1, 2015 June 16, 2015 Author RupertCategories Rupert Toovey's ArticlesTags Arts & Crafts, National Trust, Standen, William Morris
Mr Turner at Petworth
Mr. Turner – Timothy Spall, as J.M.W. Turner, paints in the Old Library © Simon Mein, Thin Man Films.
Mike Leigh's textural depiction of the life and work of Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775-1851) in his award-winning film Mr. Turner has been brought to life in an exhibition at Petworth House. This fascinating show runs until 11th March 2015. It brings together rarely seen works by J.M.W. Turner with props, costumes and paintings from the film by the actor Timothy Spall.
Andrew Loukes, Curator of Collections and Exhibitions at Petworth House, is clearly excited by Mr. Turner – an exhibition, which he has co-curated with Dr Jacqueline Riding. Andrew enthuses: "Mike Leigh's work on Mr. Turner at Petworth is arguably the most significant cultural moment at the 'house of art' since Turner himself was a frequent guest here in the 1820s and 30s." The third Earl of Egremont was amongst the most important English patrons of art in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The film Mr. Turner has provided the opportunity to re-examine the important role that Petworth and the third Earl played in Turner's later work.
As we walk up the Old Library staircase in conversation, I remark on one of my favourite scenes in the film, in which Turner stands painting at his easel in this library with three ladies, bathed in light from the arched window. As we reach the landing, we are greeted by the very same scene and light. Andrew smiles and explains, "Mike Leigh wanted to recreate some of Turner's iconic pictures. Turner painted several sketches of this room."
J.M.W. Turner – The Old Library © Tate, London, 2014
The Old Library is often called 'Turner's Studio'. This particular scene is taken from Turner's luminous gouache of 1827, titled The Old Library: The Artist and his Admirers. Here three ladies watch as the artist paints. Turner's delight is obvious in his depiction of light, colour and movement. It provides the viewer with a remarkable impression of a particular moment in time. The sketch is one of a number produced by Turner in the autumn of 1827. Painted for his own pleasure, they illustrate life behind the scenes at Petworth House.
Timothy Spall studied under London artist Tim Wright for two years as part of his preparation for the role of Turner. His vigorous performance in the film convincingly reflects something of the practical physicality of creating art and it is surprising to see the level of accomplishment in his paintings and drawings first hand. Spall depicts J.M.W. Turner as an artist consumed by his art, confident, eccentric, prosperous, forthright, both detached and tender in his personal relationships.
Like the film, the exhibition offers a revealing and very personal insight into the character of this great artist. Andrew reverentially shows me Turner's leather watercolour pouch, which is one of the objects on display. Although worn, it shines, displaying the patina of years of use and handling by the artist himself.
As Andrew and I continue around the exhibition into the Carved Room with its Turners, Grinling Gibbons carvings and costumes from the film, it becomes apparent that I am in the company of a man whose depth of understanding and love of the collections he curates at Petworth House have rooted him in this place in a very particular way. He remarks, "I am excited to be able to expand the exhibition offer at Petworth, based around the remarkable collections here." Andrew Loukes' quiet passion, vision and dedication are bringing life to this important house and its collections and he deserves our thanks.
Demand for tickets for Mr. Turner – an exhibition at Petworth House is expected to be high, so book your tickets early! For more information go to www.nationaltrust.org.uk/petworth-house and to book tickets telephone 0844 249 1895.
By Revd. Rupert Toovey. Originally published on 14th January 2015 in the West Sussex Gazette.
Posted on January 14, 2015 February 6, 2015 Author RupertCategories Rupert Toovey's ArticlesTags Exhibition, Joseph Mallord William Turner, National Trust, Petworth House, Sussex History


This will take you directly to the DOE's Payroll Portal. Click "sign in. to access your DOE e-mail (e.g., If your DOE e-mail is [email protected] then your On the far left of your screen locate Employee Self Service and click once on it. Sign in page used by multiple NYC Department of Education websites for logging in. Your User name is your DOE email without @prevbiotech.com If you are a New York City DOE employee, you can use the HR Connect Web to your health benefits, is available on the Key Links and Documents page.
NYC Department of Education. Sign in with your organizational account (Must know your Employee ID – same as your Reference # on your paystub). The Employee Payroll Portal is a web-based portal offering employees access Result: The Login screen opens to the Secure User Login tab. If you have just been appointed to a position with the NYCDOE, welcome! This page outlines the steps you'll need to take in order to complete the hiring process Once you activate your Applicant Gateway account and log in, you'll see a list of State law requires every employee of the New York City public schools to be .
On this page Key Tools Log in using your 7-digit DOE Employee ID number ( listed at the top of the welcome message you received). Note that To obtain a DOE Photo ID card, complete the Application Form for NYC DOE Photo ID Card. On that payroll portal a NYC DOE employee can: or I then opened up a command prompt and pinged those IP addresses. Nyc Doe Payroll Calendars New York City and longevity increases New York City . NYCDOE Payroll Portal NYC DOE School Year Calendar. . If you need assistance with a particular page or document on our current site, please with login issues, Please visit the DOE's intranet site state and New York City.


Occurrence is a rating corresponding to the likelihood that a particular failure mode will occur within a specific time period.
Note: Controls can be used to prevent or minimize the likelihood that failure cause(s) will occur. In this event, the presence or application of the control should be considered when estimating the Occurrence rating.
For each cause listed in Column 14, estimate the possible failure rates and/or mean time between failure.
The occurrence of failure can be based upon historical data, including the service history, warranty data, and maintenance experience with similar or surrogate parts.


Easy white chocolate mousse made with cream cheese for an amazingly delicious treat that's perfect for Valentine's Day or any day!
Whether or not you celebrate Valentine's Day, it's a great excuse to make chocolaty treats. Who's with me?
It doesn't get much easier than this white chocolate mousse. Raspberries and white chocolate is already an amazing combination and the addition of cream cheese just sends it over-the-top. If you also love that combo, try these no-bake mini raspberry cheesecakes, which is probably one of my favorite recipes ever.
One reason that I love today's recipe is that it doesn't have any eggs. I don't have anything against eggs but I don't like eating them raw. And the mousse recipes that call for cooked eggs usually require an extra few steps.
So here we have a fuss-free and egg-free version! All you do is melt white chocolate, whip whipping cream, and then mix them together and add in a few other ingredients.
Decorating is also easy! Just throw some berries on top of the mousse and call it a day. If you're looking at this recipe around Christmas, some mint leaves are a nice touch.
If you don't like raspberries, you can of course top off the mousse with strawberries or any other fruit of your choosing! It's also great as is, without anything extra on top.
There's a range given for the amount of sugar because the sweetness of white chocolate seems to vary a lot. One tablespoon of sugar was enough for us but you may want another 1-2 tablespoons. You can easily add that in at the very end.
If you don't have any whipping cream, I'm pretty sure heavy cream would be okay. It'll just be firmer. Half-and-half would not work! I also don't recommend using semi-sweet chocolate in place of the white chocolate. It could work out, but I haven't tried it.
For another dessert that would be great for Valentine's Day, try these gluten-free lava cakes. They have a surprise raspberry filling!
These strawberry white chocolate cheesecake bars are also a great option and can be made gluten-free or with all-purpose flour.
Whatever you do for Valentine's Day, I hope you make some time for some chocolate goodness!
In a medium mixing bowl, beat the whipping cream at high speed until stiff peaks form. Set the bowl aside.
Gently melt the white chocolate in a small pot over low heat or in 30-second increments, stirring frequently, in the microwave at half-power.
Using the same beaters you used to beat the whipping cream, beat the cream cheese and 1 tablespoon of powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in the white chocolate, vanilla extract and salt on medium speed until well combined.
Fold in the whipped cream. If it's not combining easily, you can use the mixer to beat it in on the very lowest setting, just until combined. Do not over beat!
Taste the mousse and if it's not sweet enough, fold in a tablespoon or two of powdered sugar until the mousse is sweet enough for your liking.
Serve immediately or refrigerate for 1-2 hours for a firmer version.
Refrigerate any leftovers for up to 2 days.
Hi there! I'm Erin and I'm the blogger behind Texanerin Baking, which focuses on making healthier desserts that taste just as delicious and decadent as their unhealthy counterparts. I also firmly believe that no meal is complete without at least a little dessert and that we'd all be a bit happier if we'd just indulge in more cheese and carbs.
This looks and sounds so good. I plan to make it Tuesday for Valentine's Day and had 2 questions. How much white chocolate did it take to get a 1/2 cup chopped? Was it a 4 oz bar?
Hi Stephanie! I used 3 ounces to get 1/2 cup chopped and I did use a pastry bag. It also works to just dollop it into the serving glass. I hope you'll enjoy it!
Do you think you can use it as a cake filling?
I haven't tried it but I think that's a great idea! It's definitely firm enough. Hope you'll enjoy it!
I made this dessert last night, and in no way could I call it mousse. Mousse by definition, "a mass of tiny bubbles". ( I'd like to add before anything else, my stand mixer has twice the motor power of the kitchen aid). Balloon whisk fitted I whipped the cream and then the cream cheese (at room temp) then stirred them together. I melted the white chocolate and (after beating two tbls of the cream into the melted chocolate) beat it directly into the cream & creamed cheese mix. Immediately the white chocolate began to set up so didn't full incorporate. Even then, the cream and cheese set, like creamed butter icing ( but with tiny dots of white chocolate) . I expect I was disappointed because I'd hoped it would be fluffy and light. And although it is winter, I'm wearing a t-shirt under an apron. Unsure if it was just a temperature thing ?
I'm sorry it didn't work out for you! It always comes out pretty light and fluffy for me and only firms up after sitting for a while at room temperature or after chilling. Right after mixing, it's too soft to even pipe. I have to chill it a bit first to get it just firm enough to pipe. Do you by any chance live outside of the US? I know that some countries don't have brick cream cheese like in the US, but the kind that comes in a tub and is meant for spreading on toast. That kind has extra water (or maybe whey) in it and I wonder if that might cause the whole thing to seize. The white chocolate could also be an issue. I've never had issues but I know a lot of people who had problems with even just melting white chocolate. Sorry again! Wish I had a better answer for you.
I notice that when you list out how you did the recipe, you didn't combine it in quite the way the recipe says – you mentioned stirring together the cream cheese and whipped cream, and then adding the white chocolate etc to it, while the recipe calls for blending the cream cheese, white chocolate, etc. and then folding in the whipped cream at the end. I'm going to guess that this may be why the recipe failed for you?
I tried your white chocolate mousse today and it was absolutely wonderful. The texture was perfect.
Hi, Phil! I've never substituted milk chocolate in this, but I think you should try it. I'm so glad you enjoyed the white chocolate version!
The amount it yields says 2 servings. How big were those 2 servings? I need to make 60 dessert shooters 3 oz each consisting of white chocolate mousse and white cake layers. And if I chill it, could I then pipe it into the shooters creating layers?
Hi…can we try this with brown regular chocolate instead of white?
Looks easy to make and yummy but my kids won't go for white chocolate ever!
Hello! I personally haven't tested this recipe with milk or dark chocolate, but I think it will be just fine. Thanks so much for stopping by!
This looks divine! I am wondering if this would hold up on a cake as icing? I am doing a Lemon Charlotte cake that calls for a white chocolate ganache icing, but found your recipe in hopes for a lighter consistency. Thanks!
My friend Erin contributed this recipe to my blog. Personally, I don't think this would hold up as icing, but maybe Eric will also chime in. Happy Holidays to you and yours!
This sounds really delicious. I would like to make this for my daughter's wedding in chocolate cups and am wondering if I could make this a week in advance by freezing them?
I do not think this recipe would freeze well. Thanks so much for stopping by.
It looks pretty easy, but where is the egg version???
Hi Jessica – You want the heavy whipping cream in the dairy section (next to the milk). Hope this helps! Happy Baking.
Hello! I was wondering if this would work for a cake filling and if so, would it hold up if I made the cake Friday and kept it in the fridge for a day (cause the event is on Saturday) or do you think it would soften too much and the cake wouldn't hold together?
Hello! I haven't attempted this recipe as a cake filling, so I am not sure of the result. If you happen to give it a try, I'd love to know how it turns out. Thanks so much for stopping by.
Delicious! I served these mini desserts at our Christmas party and they were a hit! Even one of my non-dessert-eating guests called it 'decadent'. It was easy, light, and perfect for any occasion.
So happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe, Wendy! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback!
This filling is SO good. I quadrupled it and used it to fill a yule log cake for Christmas. I had a small amount of it left over and I have been picking at it all week; taking a couple spoonfuls whenever I'm near the fridge. I just finished the rest of it with a spoon and some crushed up walnuts.
I'm definitely saving this recipe for the future.
So happy to hear you enjoyed the mousse, Stephanie! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback!
Amazing recipe. I tried it yesterday and layered it with my homemade grape jelly. The texture was so smooth. Really loved it. Thank you for sharing.
So happy to hear you enjoyed the mousse, Arthi! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback!
can I use this recipe to make eggless tiramisu..i think white chocolate will help to give it body??or it will taste like white chocolate not tiramisu cream?
Hello! It will taste like white chocolate as opposed to tiramisu cream. It might still make a delicious dessert, but it may not resemble a traditional tiramisu. Would love to know how it turns out if you try it! Happy baking.


Just deployed OPNSense 16.7.r2. A simple rdp port forward isn't working. I've attached port forward screenshot.
(OPNSense and my test Windows machines are running on separate VMWare hosts). As this is my test lab, on WAN interface, tick mark removed for "Block private networks" and "Block bogon networks".
Replaced OPNSense with pfsense (same environment) and rdp port forward is working.
Do you have block on log page ?
What sort of adapters are you using in your OPNsense VM, i had troubles with the VMX Adapters, beter to use the e1000. Had exactly the same problem yesterday made a new VM but now with e1000 and all working fine now.
Thank you for looking into. Nic used is e1000.
I have attached the image of firewall log view, rdp connection is initiated from 172.17.1.12 to OPNSense wan ip 172.17.1.25 (port forward is configured as shown in my first post).
Can you try moving the wan side out of a private adres range ?
I had the same problem with lan & wan sitting in privatte adres ranges even with the "block private adresses" unchecked. Never bothered to find out what went wrong. Anybody figured it out ?
I don't have additional wan ip hence I can't move my wan from private ip range to true public ip.
its not a routing or adapter issue, because I tried it with both E1000 and VMX3 none of them works.
hopefully someone can give us a hand here.
We have had a bit of internal discussion... does this work when the option "Disable reply-to" is enabled under Firewall: Settings: Advanced?
Have the same issue, Proxmox KVM, Intel e1000.
Now I use 17.1.1, but port forwarding still don't work!


The builds on F-Droid have map view support, FCM and crash reporting removed and will not be able to receive push notifications from openHAB Cloud.
openHAB is a Java-based open-source home automation platform that integrates and combines a vast range of different smart home systems and technologies into one single solution.
On top of the unified abstraction layer all connected devices are available for the overarching automation rule engines and different user interfaces.
The app is flagged with the "NonFreeAsset" flag, because the openHAB icon is not under a free license.


We believe every member is called to be a minister. Whether greeting people at the front door, serving food with hospitality, or volunteering in Kidsrock, we want Highrock Malden to be a place where people are using their time and talents to connect to God's purposes. Joining a ministry is also one of the best ways to get plugged into our community and get to know people. Take some time to browse some of the ways you can get involved or contact a ministry leader for more information.


Men, we need you too!
Kairos 10 volunteers help inspect the jewelry when a shipment arrives in the U.S. Each piece must then be bagged and tagged with a charm. Volunteers also assist in selling the jewelry at bazaars and special events.


RGB light strip multicolor LED Neon Flex LNF of length 50m.
Interior with 60 LED/m. Based on SMD 5050 LED chip.
Possibility of cutting, since it has cutting marks. It is a light black mark located every 1 meter (approximately).
They are very flexible and can be cut, according to needs and respecting the cutting marks, to adapt them to different installations without needing toner of special tools. They allow to be installed both indoors and outdoors, thanks to their high resistance and degree of protection IP65 against dust, liquid and moisture. Ideal for creating an infinity of shapes, signs, signage, signs and decoration of all kinds of spaces, such as terraces, balconies, gardens and architectural lighting in general.
It is connected directly to the 220 VAC electrical network, using the appropriate accessories.
Section: 26 x 14 mm.
Consumption: 8W/m (70% savings in consumption compared to traditional neon lights).
RGB color (multicolor). It allows the user to configure the desired color by means of controller #NL51, #NL52 or #NL53 (not included).
Compatible with the range of accessories #NL31, #NL32, #NL45, #NL48, #NL49, #NL50, #NL51, #NL52 and #NL53 to perform different installations, according to needs.
What do you want to know about Flexible light strip LED Neon Flex LNF 26x14mm 220VAC 50m RGB multicolored ?


text:
Tag Archives: EEC
GOVERNMENTS IN CRISIS
July 20, 2018 Melvin	1 Comment
First came Brexit; followed by Donald Trump four months later.
Both showed that voters wanted significant change. Both are considered populist. Two years later, Britain and America, once the most stable nations in the world, are now in turmoil. Their friends and allies are in confusion.
Mrs. May's Conservative government could fall at any time. She survived this week and things are likely to quiet down with the summer recess, but with only a few months until the United Kingdom leaves the European Union, there's going to be more turmoil ahead.
There is little reporting on Brexit in the United States. Americans don't realize how important it is. The best analogy is this: California has voted to leave the United States, effective March 29th 2019. The vote was over two years ago, but there's still no agreement on trade between California and the other 49 states and time is running out. What about passports? Residence rights – can Californians remain in the other states after 3/29? Can people from Michigan remain in California if they own a home and work there?
It's almost unthinkable. So is Brexit, except that it's less than fifty years since the UK was a fully independent country outside of the EU (then the EEC, the European Economic Community).
It gets more complicated.
The referendum of June 2016 was a free vote. Many Conservative MPs (Members of Parliament) voted to "Leave," but many voted to "Remain." Members of the other political parties mostly voted to "Remain" in the EU.
73% of all MP's support continued membership of the EU, including 56% of Conservatives. But they are bound by the referendum result when 51.9% of the electorate voted to Leave, 48.1% Remain. Voter turnout was 72.21%, meaning that just over one third of British voters wanted to stay in the EU. Parliament is clearly not in step with the people. British democracy is at risk here.
David Cameron, the Prime Minister who presided over the vote, resigned. He voted to "Remain;" as did Theresa May, his successor, who is now trying to deliver Brexit. Although she is committed to honoring the will of the people and intends for Britain to leave Europe, she is clearly "hugging the coast" and wants as close a relationship as possible. She made things more difficult for herself last year when she called for a General Election, resulting in a minority government, which is propped up by a party from Northern Ireland.
On Friday, 6th July, the Cabinet met at the Prime Minister's country home of Chequers to discuss the way forward. They drew up plans for further negotiations with the EU. Since then, a number of party leaders have resigned, including the Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, and the chief Brexit negotiator, David Davis. Both men accused Mrs. May of wanting a compromise. Mrs May has had twelve frontbenchers resign since the election last year.
Visiting US President Donald Trump was in the UK a week later and got involved by stating that if the UK does not break away from Europe completely, the US may not be able to give the country a trade deal. If Britain were bound in some way to EU trade regulations, it would complicate a trade deal with America. Mr. Trump also said that he thought that Mr. Johnson, a close personal friend, would make a great prime minister.
Boris Johnson gave a Churchillian speech in parliament on Wednesday on why he resigned, criticizing Mrs. May and claiming that Brexit can be saved. Mr. Johnson has made a point of saying that the British have lost the confidence needed to go it alone. He claims that May's proposals would lead to Britain becoming a "colony" of the German led EU. A poll yesterday by "Westmonster" showed that, given a choice between Johnson or May, 93% of voters would support Mr. Johnson. ("Westmonster" is similar to Breitbart.)
It's reminiscent of the late 1930's, with a weak, compromising Prime Minister (Chamberlain / May) and one voice defying Europe (Winston Churchill/ Boris Johnson). Churchill is Mr. Johnson's hero – he wrote a book on him a few years ago: "The Churchill Factor: How one man made history." He may yet succeed May and lead Britain to a full Brexit.
US PRESIDENT TURNING THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN
Mr. Trump was criticized for getting involved in British domestic affairs. In an interview after his visit to the UK, he was asked who is America's biggest "foe." He replied that the EU is the biggest foe of the US at this time.
This followed his attendance in Brussels at the NATO conference, at which he threatened to pull America out of NATO if European countries do not contribute more to the military organization.
Not all EU countries are members of NATO. The EU is a major trading organization, whereas NATO is a military alliance. Within the space of a few days, Mr. Trump criticized the two organizations that have been pillars of the Western Alliance for many decades. An immediate consequence was the EU signing a trade agreement with Japan. The EU is already China's largest trading partner, and China is the EU's second largest trade partner after the US. The EU, China and Japan are busy building closer ties as the US turns away.
Mr. Trump ended his European trip with a visit to Helsinki to meet with Russia's President Putin. This was the most shocking meeting of all with the US president seeming to support Mr. Putin against his own intelligence services, Putin denying that Russia interfered in the US election. Mr. Trump has backtracked on his claim, now supporting his intelligence services; but has followed all this by inviting Putin to Washington in the autumn.
It's no exaggeration to say that the President of the United States, in just a few days, turned the world upside down.
The late Secretary of State, Dean Acheson, wrote a memoir of his years in the diplomatic service after World War II when America built the present world order. He gave the book the title: "Present at the Creation", published in 1969. It would be appropriate now for somebody involved in current events, to write a sequel: "Present at the Destruction."
The seventy-year global world order put together mostly by America and Britain is ending. It may take a year or two to see clearly what will replace it.
Boris JohnsonBreitbartBrexitBrusselsChamberlainChinaChurchillDavid CameronDavid DavisDean AchesonDonald TrumpEECEUgeneral electionHelsinkiJapanNATOpopulistPresent at the CreationreferendumTheresa Maytrade dealVladimir PutinWestmonster
OUTSIDE OF THE US
During a US presidential year, it's possible for people living in the United States not to realize anything is happening outside of the country. News programs, including even 24-hour news channels, seem to talk about nothing else but the election.
Watching CNN, Fox or CBS (which now has a 24/7 internet news channel) a viewer would have no idea of what's going on in Europe at this time. Mention of the Middle East would only be covered briefly when talking about America's role. America is fixated on itself – and it happens once every four years!
Al-Jazeera has given up and is closing its US channel. You would think Americans would be very interested in news from the Middle East, having played a major role in the region in recent decades. Not so. Now there will be one less source of news for those who are interested.
Few people, a very few, will be aware that Washington wants Britain to remain in the European Union. Even fewer will be aware that President Kennedy pressed British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan to join the EEC (predecessor of the EU) over 50 years ago. The United Kingdom applied to join but was turned down when French President Charles de Gaulle uttered his famous "Non!"
After de Gaulle, Britain applied again and was accepted. The EU went from six to nine members on January 1, 1973. Now it's 28 member countries. It might soon be 27 if negotiations between the UK and the rest of the EU don't go well. Today, Friday the 19th of February, is a crucial day for talks between the parties. British papers this morning show that Mr. Cameron is not doing well in trying to achieve his demands for Britain to remain a member.
The European Union is a big government project, with increasing numbers of well -paid bureaucrats who pay no attention to what the people want. Although members have to be democracies to join, there's little democracy in the organization itself. The people have no more say in government than they did in feudal times, although they can now move around from country to country thanks to the EU's Schengen Agreement. Even that may go in order to deal with the massive flow of migrants.
Americans would not like to be subservient to foreign bureaucrats, so why are they so keen on keeping Britain in the EU? The answer is the same as it was when Kennedy and MacMillan were in power. Americans want a pro-American voice in the EU. They also want free trade, which Britain encourages, rather than the more controlled economies that the French and Germans prefer.
In theory, the British people could reject the proposals put forward today. However, it's not just the British voting. There are millions of migrants from the continent of Europe who live in the UK – they will vote to support continued membership, regardless of the terms. Many of them depend on generous British welfare payments. There's also millions of voters from outside of the EU who have no knowledge, understanding or appreciation of British history.
This is a mess – but it's a mess the British themselves made when they decided to turn their backs on the Commonwealth and seek economic salvation courtesy of Germany and France. History should have taught them the folly of such an enterprise.
The Bible shows that a European super-power is coming. "The ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet, but they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast. These are of one mind, and they will give their power and authority to the beast. (Rev 17:13-14)
This will inevitably be led by Germany. This is likely to resemble the Holy Roman Empire more than the United States. Britain was never a part of the HRE. That might be an indicator of Britain's future role, or non-role, in the new Europe.
Germany is key here. The front page headline in The Mail on Sunday summed it up well: "Germans: You can't survive without us!" Intimidation, anyone?
Nationalism is on the rise in Europe. The cover of a Polish magazine this week has brought condemnation from around the world. It shows an attractive white woman dressed as "Europa" being groped by dark skinned men, representing the male Islamic migrants who have moved into European countries in the last few months. Reports of sexual assaults on white women have been a constant in the daily papers from various European countries.
At the time of the migrant crisis, television news programs implied that most refugees were women and children; it turns out that most were actually young men who left the women and children behind in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
Now those young men, brought up in a culture where women have to cover themselves from head to toe, are taking advantage of the West's more liberal ways. From their religious perspective, women exposing a lot of flesh are "whores." They have no respect for them and will take advantage whenever they can.
It's a classic example of a clash of cultures. The only way to solve the problem is to keep the cultures separated. Rather difficult now, when so many western leaders are bending over backwards to accommodate them all.
Donald Trump is clearly more supportive of the idea of separation, so much so that he advocated building a wall between the US and Mexico. Pope Francis, visiting Mexico, made some negative comments about the wall. He expressed the opinion that Donald Trump, in advocating a wall, showed he cannot be a Christian.
It should be noted that the one square mile Vatican City has a high wall around it!
Last week, I included the name of the man who attacked four diners with a machete in Ohio.
I love the following comment from Mark Steyn looking back on the week's news:
"On Thursday a machete-wielding man called Mohamed slashed four diners in an Israeli-owned restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. As is traditional, police professed to be utterly baffled. " (Steyn Online, Sunday)
AfghanistanAl-JazeeraBritainCBSCharles de GaulleCNNCommonwealthDonald TrumpEECelectionEUEuropaEuropeEuropean UnionFox newsHarold MacMillanHoly Roman EmpireIraqIslamicIsraelMark SteynMexicoMiddle EastmigrantsnationalismPolishPope FrancisPresident KennedySchengen Agreementsexual assaultsSyriaUnited KingdomUnited StatesVatican CityWashington
UK/EU RIFT
October 24, 2014 Melvin	Leave a comment
It's been a long time coming.
Some of us would say it's been over forty years in the making.
But now it's actually happening.
The European Commission has sent the United Kingdom a bill for two billion euros ($2.7 billion; or 1.7 bn British pounds).
Britain has been a net contributor to the EU ever since she became a member of what was then the EEC (European Economic Community) in January 1973. Margaret Thatcher demanded the EU recalculate Britain's contribution. They did and the UK got a rebate. But now it's flared up again.
The British economy has performed better than other EU states, hence the request by the Commission for extra money. The Netherlands and Italy have also been asked to pay more. Germany and France will get a rebate.
The British Prime Minister showed considerable anger in parliament today, refusing to meet the demand of the Commission. Payment is due by December 1st.
The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has promised a referendum on the UK's continued membership of the EU if his party wins the general election due next year. The British people, going through a period of austerity, are not likely to be favorable to any compromise as they see the EU as too bureaucratic and wasteful. Top officials are overpaid, with nothing to show for their bloated salaries. The anti-EU party, UKIP (United Kingdom Independence Party) is likely to gain more votes as a result of the EU's demand. This will further weaken David Cameron's Conservatives.
The refusal to pay the sum demanded could be the start of Britain going its own way outside of the EU. This could lead to the organization as it is now falling apart, leading to a reconfiguration of European countries built around Germany, the most dominant economy and another net contributor.
BritainDavid CameronEECEUEuropean CommissionEuropean Economic CommunityFranceGermanyMargaret ThatcherUKUKIPUnited Kingdom


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Wavves to Release Comic Book, Strain of Weed
ByAnthony Osei
Anthony Osei is a contributing writer at Complex and founder of the popular Tumblr, Thirstiest Men of Instagram.
Wavves already hit us with marijuana grinders and Wavves-branded rolling papers. Now, the San Diego-based band is looking to push the envolope even further with its own strain of weed. "I smoke too much weed. I think that's how I come up with these things," frontman Nathan Williams told Spinner. "I've tried to get a strain of weed—Willie Nelson has one, Snoop Dogg has one. That would be really cool. It would just be called 'Wavves' because I think that would be a pretty good name."
Williams also revealed non-weed related plans for his band, including the release of a comic book. "There's a lot of other things in the works. I'm writing a comic right now with a friend of mine, so I'll probably bring that along pretty soon [as merch]."
[via Spinner]
NewsWavves


text:
 Improve this doc
Static_methods

Description

Static properties of ng-bundle-collection.Collection

Methods

cancelAllRequests()

Cancels all pending requests in all instances of ng-bundle-collection.Collection by calling cancelAllRequests methods

clear(settings)

Clears all instances (clears arr and objById) of ng-bundle-collection.Collection by calling clear methods

Parameters

Param	Type	Details

settings	object

Settings of clearing (object with boolean flags):

withExtendFns=false - whether to remove all configured extending functions (collection.extendFns)

withInterceptors=false - whether to remove all collection.interceptors

invalidate()

Invalidates all instances (clears cache) of ng-bundle-collection.Collection by calling invalidate methods

Properties

instances

Array of all ng-bundle-collection.Collection instances


Source: Current Pollution Reports. doi: 10.1007 /s40726-019-0103-6.
The extent of the Earth's surface burned annually by fires is affected by a number of drivers, including but not limited to climate. Other important drivers include the amount and type of vegetation (fuel) available and human impacts, including fire suppression, ignition, and conversion of burnable land to crops. Prior to the evolution of hominids, area burned was dictated by climate via direct influences on vegetation, aridity, and lightning. In the future, warming will be accompanied by changes in distribution, frequency, intensity, and timing of precipitation that may promote or suppress fire activity depending on location. Where area burned increases, fire may become self-regulating by reducing fuel availability. The effects of climate change on fire regimes will be strongly modulated by humans in many areas. Here, we use a systems approach to outline major drivers of changes in area burned. Due to the array of interacting drivers working in concert with climate's influence on burned area, and uncertainty in the direction and magnitude of changes in these drivers, there is very high uncertainty for much of the globe regarding how fire activity and accompanying smoke emissions will change in the coming decades.
Riley, Karin L.; Williams, A. Park; Urbanski, Shawn P.; Calkin, David E.; Short, Karen C.; O'Connor, Christopher D. 2019. Will landscape fire increase in the future? A systems approach to climate, fire, fuel, and human drivers. Current Pollution Reports. doi: 10.1007 /s40726-019-0103-6.


So this is a smaller ride, and started as a smaller Pre-Ride planning page I created for the sake of organizing information. This page has since grown much larger than expected, so I'll keep it around for informational purposes.
I ended up riding around the Bourbon Trail two weekends in a row. Both reports are in my short story blog, the first weekend was with David and George, while the second weekend was with my dad, brother, and girlfriend.
Disclaimer: Jeesh, lots of people think it's a bad idea to motorcycle the bourbon trail; so, here's some silly disclaimer that I don't think is necessary: We don't ride drunk. We won't ride drunk. We don't ride 'buzzed'. We won't ride 'buzzed'. We're not going to drink while out touring on the bikes. Will we sample if they offer (some do, some don't)? Probably! You know what a bourbon sample is? A taste. We purposely rented our very own apartment within walking distance to all the greatest bars of downtown Louisville, specifically so that we can have a little fun in the evenings, without having to get near a motorcycle.
Interestingly, will will be in Louisville on World Whisky Day! While not a notable holiday around Kentucky (really?!), it is celebrated in 43 countries around the world! We will tip a glass for World Whisky Day, will you?
From Columbus we will head southwest on 62, take the Augusta Ferry across the Ohio River (because bridges are lame), and take small roads southwest to Louisville. We will stop in Louisville to unload our gear mid afternoon, and most likely head out to a distillery or two, before coming back downtown for the evening.
To head home, we'll most likely leave the (east-most) end of the Bourbon Trail, near Lexington. A straight shot would be easy, up 62 again. But, depending on the time of day we depart (and how we feel) a longer ride could easily be taken. Perhaps head more east, and stop at Hillbilly Hotdogs in Lesage for dinner, before heading all the way home (that'd be a 300 mile ride).
There are two pre-made bike (back-road) routes, featuring 6 distilleries. Since we'll be staying in Louisville and will have 2 half days and 1 full day down there, our route will be a bit customized. We won't be visiting all of these distilleries; I'd expect we'll hit a couple a day, and simply ride and explore the rest of the day.
Sun (April-Oct Only): 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.
A GPS File That'll Get You Drunk!
I wasted several hours of my life making a GPS file for the area. I've included the 8 distilleries listed above, as well as 13 breweries and 12 wineries. Also included, the Louisville and Lexington visitors centers, the Brown Hotel, the Mega Cavern, and The Waverly Hills Sanatorium. This should easily upload to most any GPS device.
There are several campgrounds in the area, including the Louisville South KOA and the Holts Campground near the west end. Taylorsville Lake State Park, Willisburg Lake Campground, and Camp on the Kentucky are all towards the east end. But that would require us to pack camping gear, and we would be out of town in the evenings. Also, we would be more susceptible to weather.
Getting a couple hotel rooms was also an option we looked into. The Louisville Marriot East is supposedly bourbon themed, although I don't know exactly what that means. It's not in downtown, which is unfortunate because that's where the action is. The Brown Hotel is the featured and famous hotel for the area, but it is too rich for our blood.
Louisville seems to be the hot spot of the area (see the Urban Bourbon Trail below), so we decided to stay both nights in the heart of downtown Louisville where we're walking distance to bourbon bars and restaurants. We will ride to all the distilleries from there, saving the furthest east for the last day, before turning north to head home.
I was recently introduced to airbnb.com, a sort of 'hub' for people looking to rent out rooms, apartments, or houses. We scored a 2 bedroom apartment for two nights for less than the cost of one decent hotel room; and we're just blocks from the hottest downtown Louisville areas. Click for details of our apartment.
Louisville has an 'Urban Bourbon Trail' that I feel absolutely justifies staying in the city, Free maps as well as smart phone apps will guide you to all the best bourbon bars and restaurants, as well as historic bourbon sites. Gather six stamps in your free "Urban Bourbon Passport", and you get a free Bourbon Trailblazer T-shirt and certificate. What an awesome way to attract the attention of tourists. All the info is here.
Just a little fun fact, there are over 25 bars listed with between 50 and 170 different types of Bourbons.


Practical, yet fashion-forward, the Hunter Original Mini Top Clip Backpack is a vibrant, weatherproof backpack that has been crafted from a rubberised leather to ensure that all of your essentials are kept safe from the elements. This Hunter backpack features a zip closure which folds up to snap together with a sturdy parachute clip for further security. The Hunter Original Mini Top Clip Backpack can be carried on the back with the padded, cotton webbing shoulder straps, or hand held by the grab handle to the top. The shoulder straps can be easily adjusted to ensure your comfort and to suit your individual style. Store essentials safely in the three outer zipped pockets for easy access when you're out and about, while your valuables are secure in the main compartment. This bold Hunter backpack is finished with a tonal Hunter logo, and features the signature 'Hunter Moustache' to the front to emulate the style of their iconic wellington boots.
A new addition to the collection, the Women's Hunter Original Seaton Short Wellington Boots are sure to be your perfect partners come rain or shine! Whether you are out walking through the country, or you are heading into town, these wellies are fully waterproof to keep your feet dry. Designed to a short length, the Seaton's have been handcrafted for a premium feel, and boast a super soft fabric lining for added comfort. For that iconic feel, the wellington boots have a classic side buckle, and are finished with signature Hunter Original branding to the front and stylish Seaton detailing for that high quality, premium feel that you are sure to love.
The Women's Hunter Gardener Clogs offer you a convenient slip on style, designed with a wide tread outsole ideal for gardening. These handcrafted clogs feature a neoprene lining and waterproof foot for added convenience and wearability. The neoprene lining gives you added insulation and warmth, the ideal clog for the avid gardener.
The Women's Hunter Field Balmoral Poly-Lined Wellingtons offer you a practical and robust wellington boot you are sure to love! The Balmoral has been handcrafted using a soft natural rubber to offer you a strong yet flexible boot, giving you all the comfort you need for those days on the move. The matte finish and Hunter branding give you an added touch of style and wearability, ideal for this season and beyond. These wellingtons offers you all the features your need for a practical, yet stylish wellington. The Balmoral is waterproof and has been finished with a concealed pull tab and kick spur, making it easy to get these wellingtons on and off. For added comfort these wellingtons come with both a 3mm and 5mm insole so you can adapt the fit to suit your feet, perfect for easing foot fatigue on those long days exploring. The Vibram® outsole has been exclusively designed for Hunter and offers you high-traction and added durability. The multi-directional cleats offer you traction on a variety of terrains and easy mud release, these wellington are the ideal companion wherever you may be heading this season!


Join the vendors of the Saline Farmers Market for an Easter celebration. There will of course be local farm produce, baked goods, honey, and crafts plus Easter gifts.
There will be a family Easter Egg Hunt to win free prizes.


The Louisiana Public Service Commission on Oct 9 reinstated Energy Efficiency programs after having inexplicably suspended them on Sep 25. The reinstatement comes after expressions of outrage from citizens groups, energy efficiency contractors and suppliers and NGOs. Thanks to our friends at Alliance for Affordable Energy and to all who called or emailed their commissioners to say that we wanted our Energy Efficiency programs back on track.
The Louisiana Public Service Commission adopted Energy Efficiency rules at its last public meeting of 2012 before expiration of the term of Commissioner Jimmy Fields. The Commission came back in 2013 with new Commissioner Scott Angelle and suspended the rules, starting a whole new round of public comment and testimony about the benefits of Energy Efficiency (EE) programs for the State of Louisiana. Commissioner Angelle came back with a proposal for voluntary EE programs and obtained commitments from three major electric utilities, Entergy, CLECO and SWEPCO to implement EE programs. Utilities had hired contractors to help implement the programs and small businesses were geared up to help homeowners and small businesses start saving money on the proposed program start date of Oct 1, 2014.
Now, just days before the start date, the LPSC has suspended implementation of the voluntary programs that had been agreed to more than a year ago. The suspension comes with no real reason and with no commitment for when the voluntary programs would officially start. The only justification that any of us heard was that the commission staff "needed more time." This is a woefully insufficient excuse from a state agency that has had more than a year to prepare. Contractors, small businesses and nonprofit groups are justifiably outraged at the apparently arbitrary suspension of the EE programs. No better reasoning was provided in the LPSC public meeting of Oct 1, in which the Commission tried to limit public comment expressing opposition to the programs suspension. We are asking people to contact their commissioners to demand starting the Energy Efficiency programs no later than Nov 1. We think that in this case phone calls to commissioners' offices will be more effective but we have provided email addresses as an alternative.


Though Dawn is fairly close to Vesta now at just 2.9 million km away, it's still anyone's guess as to exactly what the surface looks like, and in preparation for arrival scientists have constructed two educated guesses into the appearance of the protoplanet's surface. You'll notice at 1:09 the chief engineer Marc Rayman who has been writing all the interesting journal entries, at the end of each month.
Arrival still isn't until July, but I believe I read that Dawn will begin photographing Vesta for navigational purposes somewhere around May so maybe a bit of eye candy around then. Having Vesta right in the probe's field of view will block out a lot of stars in the star tracker and so they've been simulating that a bit here and there too, as a dress rehearsal before the real thing.


text:
Book Thomas To Speak At Your Event
Tom Tanton is the Director of Science and Technology Assessment for E&E Legal. He is also a policy advisor to The Heartland Institute. He is also president of T² & Associates, a firm providing services to the energy and technology industries. T² & Associates are active primarily in the area of renewable energy and interconnected infrastructures, analyzing and providing advice on their impacts on energy prices, environmental quality and regional economic development.
Tanton has 40 years of direct and responsible experience in energy technology and legislative interface, having been central to many of the critical legislative changes that enable technology choice and economic development at the state and federal level. Mr. Tanton is a strong proponent of free market environmentalism and consumer choice, and frequently publishes and speaks against alarmist and reactionary policies and government failures.
Until 2000, Tanton was the Principal Policy Advisor with the California Energy Commission (CEC) in Sacramento, California. He began his career there in 1976, developing and implementing policies and legislation on energy issues of importance to
California, the U.S. and International markets. These included electric restructuring, gasoline and natural gas supply and pricing energy facility siting and permitting, environmental issues, power plant sitting, technology development, and transportation. Tanton completed the first assessment of environmental externalities used in regulatory settings. He has held primary responsibility for comparative economic analysis, environmental assessment of new technologies, and the evaluation of alternatives under state and federal environmental law.
As the General Manager at EPRI, from 2000 to 2003, Tanton was responsible for the overall management and direction of collaborative research and development programs in electric generation technologies, integrating technology, market infrastructure, and public policy. From 2003 through 2007, Tanton was Senior Fellow and Vice President of the Houston based Institute for Energy Research. He was also a Senior Fellow in Energy Studies with the Pacific Research Institute until 2010.
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