Several projects along SEPTA's Chestnut Hill East regional rail line will move ahead in the coming months, most notably the long-awaited update of the 110-year-old Wayne Junction station.
In an interview with NewsWorks this week, officials from the transit agency detailed ongoing and future plans for station improvements and right-of-way work along the rail line that connects several key Northwest neighborhoods with the rest of the city.
By far the largest component will be a three-year, $33 million upgrade at Wayne Junction, which is currently out to bid, said Bob Lund, SEPTA's senior director of capital construction.
The work will include new elevators and other features to bring the station into full Americans With Disabilities Act compliance, along with restoration of historic building features and rehabbing of the Germantown Headhouse. Also, tunnels and stairways from Wayne, Germantown and Windrim avenues will be restored, and new public-announcement system and benches will be installed. The Wayne Avenue Bridge will also get a fresh paint job.
The project, included as part of SEPTA's $250 million borrowing plan approved in January, is currently out to bid and contracts are expected to be awarded in the fall, allowing the agency to use a $4 million competitive federal grant toward the project.
One interesting detail of the project will include raising the floors inside the station to the same height as the existing high-level outbound platform and a planned new high-level inbound platform, said Jeff Knueppel, SEPTA's chief engineer.
First opened as a stop on the Reading Railroad in the 1880s, the Wayne Junction Station is a key hub for SEPTA riders, serving more than 190,000 riders on the five SEPTA regional rail lines, one trackless trolley and two bus routes converging there.
Lund said Wayne Junction work would be phased, and the station would remain open at all times during the project.
Meanwhile, another $15 million in right-of-way work to repair track and install new train control switches will continue this summer, resulting in bus substitutions for Chestnut Hill East train passengers on several weekends: June 11-12, June 18-19, July 9-10 and July 16-17.
track tunnel, and painting the bridge over Washington Lane.
replacements. The previously closed passenger tunnel has been sealed off, and the outbound parking lot will be reopened.
the existing railings, along with new lighting, the reopening of the Ruff Street entrance and a mural painted by City Year workers.


Sue Myrick announced today that she will be introducing legislation that would cut off federal funding for colleges and universities that admit illegal aliens. Myrick plans to introduce the bill in September when Congress reconvenes. Myrick's bill comes in response to a statement by DHS that claims public colleges and universities are free to decide for themselves whether to admit illegal aliens.
Already, Catawba Valley CC has announced plans to enroll illegal aliens — in spite of the fact that current community college policy prohibits illegal alien admissions.
The State Board of Community Colleges will be meeting this Thursday and Friday to decide whether to admit illegal aliens. Currently, the 12:00 pm luncheon session on Thursday is devoted to "immigration issues." The meeting, which will be held in the Caswell Building at 200 W. Jones St., is open to the public.


text:
Former head of medical charity sues founder Lord Winston for unfair dismissal
30 September 2020 by Stephen Delahunty
The ex-chief executive of the Genesis Research Trust claims Winston sacked her after she blew the whistle on alleged wrongdoing; he rejects the allegation
Lord Winston (Photograph: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
The former boss of a medical charity is suing the organisation and its founding chair, the IVF pioneer Lord Winston, after claiming he sacked her after she blew the whistle on alleged wrongdoing.
The judgment from a preliminary employment tribunal hearing, held earlier this month, shows Dyan Sterling is claiming unfair dismissal from her role at the Genesis Research Trust after she made protected disclosures.
The judgment shows the tribunal, held in central London, heard that Winston announced plans to make Sterling redundant just six hours after she had warned that the charity was in danger of breaking the law.
Sterling said in July that trustees of the charity, based at Imperial College London, were reluctant to declare conflicts of interest after being awarded a £2.3m donation from the Angela Pattman Scholarship Fund.
But as GRT had not been involved in funding undergraduate programmes before, trustees feared that staff at Imperial College London, which did provide undergraduate teaching, would sue for the money because they believed they were better entitled to it.
The tribunal heard trustees considered transferring the funding to the college to avoid this issue.
Sterling sent a letter to Winston in July confirming that the trust's lawyers had already accepted that it was legally acceptable for them to keep the money, but that he and other trustees would need to recuse themself from discussing the matter because of their work for the college.
She said: "The trust and its trustees were acting in breach of charity law and that there were serious compliance issues with the law and rules governing charities and their trustees, including conflicts of interest."
The trustees decided on a legal review by a new lawyer.
Winston said the decision to make Sterling redundant was part of an earlier plan to cut costs to deal with serious financial difficulties at the charity, caused partly by the coronavirus crisis, the tribunal heard.
The charity produced a number of meetings and emails between March and June to the tribunal where trustees discussed "measures to reduce our deficit", with one document entitled, "Putting off the Evil Day".
Sterling argued that she was unfairly dismissed and "punished" for whistleblowing.
Winston was told by Sterling that there was "no other option" but to refer the matter to the Charity Commission, the tribunal heard.
Six hours later she received a written proposal from Winston requesting a trustee board meeting to discuss her redundancy.
Sterling asked for the meeting to be postponed, but discovered that it had gone ahead without her 25 minutes later, and no minutes had been taken.
She raised a grievance but it was dismissed by Winston, who said her allegations were "without foundation or merit" and refused to order an internal investigation.
The tribunal heard that a second grievance was raised by Sterling but received no response.
Sterling was dismissed by email last month without a final redundancy consultation meeting; she was not asked to undertake any handover to ensure continuity of key projects and events, and staff were instructed not to contact her without the express wishes of the trustees, the tribunal was told.
The tribunal concluded that it was likely Ms Sterling had been "singled out", but evidence also suggested there was a "genuine redundancy situation" prior to her dismissal.
The tribunal judgment said: "Professor Lord Winston contends that Ms Sterling was dismissed for the potentially fair reason of redundancy."
"Ms Sterling claims that the redundancy was a sham, and that she was not dismissed by reason of redundancy but because of her alleged disclosure."
The London tribunal is due to make a final ruling at an upcoming four-day hearing.
Management Employment law
United Response settles with former employee it unfairly dismissed
Mind charity worker who reported colleagues for mocking disabilities was unfairly dismissed, employment tribunal rules
Care charity unfairly dismissed autistic employee, tribunal finds
British Red Cross affected by cyber attack on global partner that compromised data on more than 500,000 people
Cats Protection interim chief steps down after raising concerns about 18 cats kept by chair
Small charities invited to apply for a share of coronavirus funds
Membership charity appoints chief executive
Charities missing out on hundreds of millions of pounds in Gift Aid, research finds

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


with a few of my very favorite ladies.
No propre ladies night would be complete without a choice cocktail, now would it.
for being able to share my passion.
and the bounty it has to offer.
and not wish it away in an attempt to get to my favorite fall... faster.
for learning to appreciate the seasons of life.
no matter how they come packaged.
celebrating the abundance that is my life.
What are you grateful for this Monday ?
Hi Tamera! You look like a young Stevie Nicks in that photo. I love your thoughts on digging a little deeper to see the gifts in this season.
I bet you ladies have a wonderful evening!
Lovely post and thoughtful words as always, Tamera.
lOVE AND JOY TO YOU TOO, MY DEAR tAMERA.
Oh how I wish I was at that party...I would love to learn from you Tamera. Your jewelry is fabulous! Hello to gratitude for inspiring women like you!!
Hello, to enriching others lives through your beautiful, heartfelt words and pictures. Hello to being jealous that I do not live next door to you and can intrude on a wonderful Ladies Night out. Hello to feeling grateful for the life and friends I have, thanks for reminding my of this.
Hello, to a beautiful woman, inside and out.
So grateful for finding you in this little blog world we have.
Wow, I wish I could crash this party!!
It sounds like a lovely time will be had by all.
Thank you for sharing such a lovely post and for the reminder to say Hello and embrace life to the full.
I just got back home to Minnesota yesterday from a visit in Southern California with my family!!!!


Speakers at a dialogue with Academicians on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) held on 31 January, 2019 in the city stressed the need of introducing Alternative Dispute Resolution courses in legal education. Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre (BIAC) organized the dialogue which was attended by eminent academicians, lawyers and representatives from the corporate houses.
Professor and former Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Dhaka Dr. Taslima Monsoor graced the event as Guest of Honor. In her address she stated how the field of dispute resolution appears to have quite different meanings and functions inside and outside law faculties. She also said that if ADR is being used as a vehicle to teach lawyers' skills and process, then some of the serious political and policy issues raised by the wholesale exclusion of certain categories of cases from the court system might not be addressed. Dr. Taslima said that we do not have ADR as a subject being taught in most of our universities and emphasized inclusion of ADR courses at Honors level of Law at all the universities of the country. She thanked BIAC as the only ADR facilitating institution in the country and also making substantial progress in their experience of less than eight years in popularizing the concept of ADR among various stakeholders including the Government, the banks and financial institutions, the corporate houses, lawyers and even students of Law.
Barrister Khaled Hamid Chowdhury, Head of Laws, London College of Legal studies (South) delivered the Keynote Speech themed ''Teaching alternative Dispute Resolution''. He said that the law and the policy makers have realized the need for alternative measures where mediation has started to feature in a subtle but definitive way. He also mentioned that there are around 3.3 million cases pending which is destined to reach a staggering figure of 5 million by 2020. There is only one judge for around 2000 cases and on that note ADR can play an important role. Barrister Khaled opined that teaching and promoting ADR at undergraduate and university level is very important because it will promote a culture where litigation would not be preferred or promoted and will also change the mind set of people.
Chairman of BIAC Mahbubur Rahman moderated the session and expressed satisfaction over the interest of eminent scholars and members of Faculties of Law of a number of universities participating at the dialogue. He said that ADR can resolve disputes amicably at low cost and less time. The present legal education system in Bangladesh does not provide enough priority to this important area, he added. He also mentioned that since 2011 till date BIAC has facilitated 269 ADR hearings of numerous ADR cases and not only that BIAC has also organized 30 arbitration training courses, 17 mediation training courses and 9 negotiation training courses including 7 courses conducted abroad and trained over 1290 participants from the Civil Service, banks, the legal fraternity, financial institutions, corporate houses and students of Law.
Speaking on the occasion, Muhammad A. (Rumee) Ali highlighted the background of the emergence of BIAC and narrated BIAC's recent achievements in applying best practices of ADR in the country by facilitating arbitration and mediation and also by arranging training programs on ADR at home and abroad for representatives from banks and financial institutions, Government, the legal fraternity, corporate institutions and students of Law.
Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre is the country's first and only licensed and registered institution in Bangladesh and it aims to embed the use of ADR as a commercial best practice to help, assist and facilitate creation of an eco-system that fosters investment including Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and is conducive to business.


July 16, 2011–An outraged Republican friend sent me a link from Jesse's Café Américain, commenting on SEC and other actions announced on July 7. The related SEC actions, from their announcements, are summarized below. My friend was distressed at the inadequacy of the penalties.
The SEC charged J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (JPMS) with fraudulently rigging at least 93 municipal bond reinvestment transactions in 31 states. JPMS agreed to settle SEC complaints of violations of Section 15(c)(1)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by paying approximately $51 million, to be passed on to municipalities that were cheated.
JPMS and its affiliates also agreed to pay $177 million to settle related claims by the IRS and other federal and state authorities.
JPMS improperly won bids by entering into secret arrangements with bidding agents to get an illegal 'last look' at competitors' bids. Municipal issuers and investors didn't stand a chance against the fraudulent strategies JPMS and others used to guarantee profits.–Robert Khuzami, Director of the SEC's Division of Enforcement.
When municipalities sell securities, they usually invest the proceeds of the sales until the money is needed. As part of its oversight of the tax-exempt market, the IRS requires that such proceeds be invested at fair market value, which is commonly done by utilizing a competitive bidding process. But the SEC claims that during the period 1997-2005 JPMS's fraudulent practices undermined this process. Municipalities paid more for reinvestment products than they should have. JPMS thereby jeopardized the tax-exempt status of billions of dollars in municipal securities.
When powerful financial institutions like JPMS conspire with each other to intentionally violate regulations designed to ensure fair investment prices, the integrity of the municipal marketplace becomes corrupted. Rather than playing by the rules, the rules got played. - Elaine C. Greenberg, Chief of the SEC's Municipal Securities and Public Pensions Unit.
Won bids that were wired in advance for JPMS to win ("set-ups"). The bidding agent deliberately set up non-winning bids from other providers, for whom other bids were wired for them to win.
The employees involved are no longer with JPMS.
The SEC gets great credit for nailing this one. The penalties may be inadequate, but it's good to see the SEC taking action. The financial markets in the United States need to have their credibility restored and the SEC has a crucial role in making it happen.


Daniel Coyne graduated with a business degree from Florida State University in Hospitality Administration. Joining his father 's firm in 1999, Daniel continued his education at Florida Atlantic University graduating with a degree in Accounting and then went on to receive his CPA license in the state of Florida.
He has over 15 years of experience and specializes in providing individuals and all forms of businesses with tax, financial accounting, QuickBooks, payroll, IRS representation and business consulting services. He is currently a member of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. As a client's trusted advisor, he is an important team member in helping business owners improve and grow their businesses.
Daniel resides in Coral Springs, Florida with his wife and two children. He enjoys cooking, health & fitness, and spending time with his family and friends.
Edward Coyne graduated from Boston University and has been a licensed CPA since 1978 originally working as an accountant in Massachusetts.
In 1982 he relocated his family to Coral Springs and was employed at Gerson & Preston Company in Miami from 1982-1983 as a staff accountant. In 1984 he opened Edward B. Coyne, CPA PA and began serving the Coral Springs area by providing every client with prompt, professional and personalized accounting services throughout the year. The practice he developed has been family owned and operated for the past 30 years until Edward and his wife retired in 2013.


ATTENTION! First, I want to announce that the Sunnyville #17 Kickstarter IS OFFICIALLY OVER!!! The final rewards went out earlier today. That is out of the way.
Now I want to announce my next Kickstarter. In the early morning hours of Saturday, September 15, 2018, a Kickstarter will launch to fund a limited edition print run of the Sunnyville Stories Super Special #2. Approximately twenty-five copies of this 68 page comic will be printed.
Its contents will be Sunnyville Stories #15, Sunnyville Stories #16 and a bonus three-page story NOT available anywhere else! Each copy will be signed & numbered by me much like with the first Sunnyville Super Special. The goal that we aim to raise will be a total of US$250. So now let's take a look at the breakdown of those costs, shall we?
Twenty-five copies of the 68-page comic will cost about US$102.50 plus 13.65 to ship them to me.
Mailing them out to backers is next. Mailing out about 17 copies to domestic backers at an estimated first class mail rate of 3.46 each will run to about 58.82 with international mail to roughly 3 backers abroad would run 37.50.
That runs to a total of 212.47. We have to tack on 10% to that (3-5% for processing fees and 5% taken by Kickstarter) which brings up the total to 233.71. With some extra money added on (for any contingencies), the total we aim to raise will be US$250 all together.
Now we'll get onto the good stuff – the rewards!
Anyone pledging just US$1 will get their name printed in the book as thanks.
Anyone pledging US$4 will get their name in the book and a free PDF copy of the Sunnyville Super Special #2!
Anyone pledging US$8 will get their name in the book, a free PDF copy and a signed & numbered copy of the Sunnyville Super Special mailed out to them ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD! Yes, even if you live in Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, etc, you can still get my comics.
I have two special rewards planned. There will be an "early bird" special that will run the first 72 hours of the Kickstarter campaign and will be limited to only 5 backers. The first 5 backers to pledge US$10 in the first 72 hours of the campaign will get their name IN BIG LETTERS printed in the book, a free PDF copy, a signed & numbered copy of the Sunnyville Super Special mailed out to them plus you will get one of 4×6 watercolor artwork of the Sunnyville characters with your comic (my choice).
That photo is of the artwork I'm offering as part of the $10 early bird reward and the next one I'm going to talk about.
Anyone who pledges US$100 will get a very special reward – this will be limited to ONLY ONE BACKER. Anyone pledging that will get their name IN GIANT LETTERS printed in the book, a free PDF copy and a signed & numbered copy of the Sunnyville Super Special #2 mailed out to them. But wait – there's more! You will also get four of those 4×6 watercolor sketch cards picture above (my choice) and you will get to own the original cover artwork I'm using for the Sunnyville Super Special #2 cover!
This will launch on Sat. Sept. 15 and we will keep everyone posted on the launch date plus Kickstarter details. Get your money ready and spread the word, Sunnyville fans. Until next time!
This entry was posted in Episode 15, Episode 16 and tagged crowdfunding, kickstarter, sunnyville stories episode 15, sunnyville stories episode 16, sunnyville super special. Bookmark the permalink.


If you asked the fans of Avatar: The Last Airbender who their favorite character was, a lot of them would probably say Zuko, the hot-tempered (pun intended) Fire Nation prince. And who could blame them? Zuko is a very interesting character, and he probably had one of the most amazing redemption arcs in cartoon history. He goes from being one of the main antagonists to switching sides and helping Aang and his friends save the world.
Zuko probably was my favorite character in the series. He was incredibly interesting, and you never knew what he was going to do next. There was so much turmoil going on in him that you just wanted him to find some sort of happiness.
Zuko was very complex, having many contradicting elements to his personality. He was strong, yet he showed mercy. Zuko was proud, but he could also be humble when required. He was royalty, but he had learned to survive on his own. His journey was incredibly interesting to watch as he learned more about himself, the world, and what it means to follow your destiny.
While Zuko is one of the most interesting characters in this series, he's also a pretty intimidating character. (Well, not as intimidating as Azula, but come on, that girl is just plain terrifying.) His impressive skills and powers combined with his temper and unpredictability made him a character you really didn't want to anger.
So here are 20 things about Zuko that make him seriously scary. Think we missed some good ones? Make sure to let us know in the comments below!
It's no secret that Zuko is a pretty skilled firebender. He's definitely trained enough to be skilled at it. But that's not the only thing Zuko is actually quite good at. This boy has quite a few other talents.
First, there's the fact that Zuko is a very competent fighter even without using his bending. He displayed this a lot when he was hiding in the Earth Kingdom. He's a master of unarmed combat, and he's incredibly agile. The fact that he's skilled with his twin Dao swords is also pretty impressive. But what's also kind of scary is how his senses are actually pretty acute. It's canon that Zuko has impressive hearing, which is what helped him escape pirates at the beginning of the series. Even without firebending, Zuko is a force to be reckoned with.
Zuko's home life was less than ideal. Besides the fact that his father always seemed to be disappointed in him, his practically sociopathic sister didn't really help matters. But the real kicker here is that Ozai was incredibly abusive toward Zuko. He was constantly belittling him, always favoring Azula, and always reminding him that he was lucky to be alive because he willed it.
Ozai was incredibly mean to Zuko.
And then there's the infamous Agni Kai duel. If you could call it that. What kind of father forces his son to fight him in a duel and then burns part of his face as punishment for refusing to do so? And he then made it out to be Zuko's fault. That is some textbook harmer logic right there. It's no wonder Zuko was so messed up when we first meet him.
We all know that Ozai has very little love for his son, Zuko (if any at all.) He constantly saw his oldest as a source of disappointment. But did you know that he was going to end him when he was a kid?
When Zuko was 11, Ozai asked Azulon to be named the successor instead of his older brother Iroh, who was distraught after losing his own son. Azulon was angry and told Ozai that he should feel his brother's pain in losing a son, and ordered him to eliminate Zuko. Here's the crazy part: Ozai probably would've done it without much hesitation. It's only thanks to Zuko's mother, Ursa, that none of this actually happened. Though I don't think Ozai would've had any regrets if he did destroy Zuko. That's just messed up.
While Zuko didn't get along with his father, he was very close to his mother. It was probably thanks to her (and Uncle Iroh) that he didn't turn out more like Azula, or Ozai for that matter. Ursa was kind, loving, and not afraid to teach Zuko what was right. But unfortunately, they didn't have much time together.
For the longest time, Zuko thought his mother was gone.
After Azulon told Ozai to eliminate Zuko, Ursa stepped in and made a deal with Ozai. She then eliminated Azulonsubsequentlyquentally banished. But all Zuko knew was that one day, his mother was there, and then she was gone. There was no explanation. And for the longest time, Zuko thought his mother was deceased. It wasn't until he confronted his father that he found out she's actually alive.
If Ozai was abusive emotionally and physically, then Azula was pretty abusive to Zuko mentally. This little girl was always playing sinister mind games with Zuko, and she can be very persuasive. Azula has a natural talent for lying and twisting the truth.
What's scary is that Zuko lets her manipulate him. Even though he knows she's likely lying, or doesn't have his best interests at heart, he will still listen to her. This was why he ultimately betrayed Aang, Katara, and his own uncle in Ba Sing Se. If Azula hadn't come along, promising him that his honor would be restored, he probably would've been content to stay with Iroh in Ba Sing Se. The fact that his younger sister has such power over him is kind of scary.
If you think about it, Zuko has fought a lot of battles and has taken on some incredibly powerful people. The fact that he has a bit of a temper usually did mean that he tended to rush headlong into a fight. But he's held his own in a lot of crazy battles.
He's faced his own sister multiple times who is canonically a better firebender than him.
He defeated General Zhao in an Agni Kai, he's taken on Aang and Katara multiple times, he fought Katara under a full moon, and he's faced his own sister multiple times who is canonically a better firebender than him. He's also fought Jet, who was no slouch at combat, and faced off against his own father. He even managed to redirect his father's lightning attack. Say what you will about Zuko, he is a survivor and he's pretty relentless.
You'd think that after his visit to Ozai in prison to find out where his mother was, Zuko would want nothing more to do with the former fire lord. If I were him, I would've been perfectly fine never having to see that man again. But apparently Zuko did visit him again. And asked him for advice.
The pressures of Fire Lord were becoming too much for Zuko, and he was torn by indecision. Apparently, he was desperate enough to visit his father and ask him for advice. While this probably was a bad idea, I could understand why Zuko did it. He's still just a teenager who has so much on his shoulders now. I think Zuko could likely sympathize with Ozai a bit at this point. Being Fire Lord was no simple task, and Zuko was facing a lot of difficult decisions.
While Zuko was all about honor, I guess there were a couple things that he was willing to compromise on. And that was the idea of stealing. When he and Iroh were in hiding in the Earth Kingdom, Zuko resorted to stealing food and supplies, using a mask to hide his identity. Iroh didn't approve, and that was one of the reasons the two parted ways for a bit.
Zuko resorted to stealing food and supplies, using a mask to hide his identity.
In Zuko's defense, it was a way to get supplies and he usually didn't try to take from people who seemed to need it more than he did. But the fact that he did resort to stealing showed that for him, honor was a bit of a loose term sometimes. Though since he used his alter ego, perhaps he felt like it wasn't really him. Or maybe he was just in survival mode and was doing what he felt he needed to do. It's complicated.
It's safe to say that Zuko did not get along with his father, and likely even grew to hate him (I don't blame him after what Ozai did to him). But Zuko was also terrified that he would eventually become like Ozai: ruthless and unforgiving.
This fear grew so much that he asked Aang to make a rather dark pact with him. He told Aang that if he sees that Zuko is becoming too much like Ozai, Aang should end him. Of course, Aang was horrified by this idea and resisted at first, but he eventually agreed and made the pact. That is a pretty crazy promise to make to a good friend, but it showed just how scared Zuko was of his father's legacy. Underneath it all, Zuko was still very much a traumatized young man.
We know that Ozai definitely isn't winning any father of the year awards with the way he treated Zuko and twisted Azula. And it's no secret that Ozai would have very little problem in ending Zuko, since he saw him as a blight on his honor. But did you know that Ozai wanted to eliminate Zuko when he was a baby?
Ozai was ready to toss his newborn son over the wall and end him.
When Zuko was born, it was uncertain if he was a firebender or not. Ozai didn't want the shame of having a nonbender for a firstborn and was ready to toss his newborn son over the wall and end him. It was only thanks to Zuko's mother and the fire sages that he didn't. What's more messed up about this is that he actually tells Zuko this when he's older, saying that he was lucky to be born at all. Can you imagine what that must've done for Zuko's psyche?
Zuko is a born fighter and isn't afraid to throw some punches. Because of that, he has found himself in quite a few life-threatening situations. Seriously, it's kind of crazy how many times this teenager almost perished in the Avatar: The Last Airbender series alone.
There's the Agni Kai against Zhao, who probably would've ended him if he lost. And the time where he was partially blown up by Zhao's men. Then he almost froze in the North Pole. Then there was that illness that probably could've ended him. And let's not forget his battle with Azula that resulted in him getting his insides fried; it was only thanks to Katara he survived that one. Not to mention the time when his father was ordered to destroy him when he was a kid. And there's that time when Ozai shot freaking lightning at him. Seriously, it's kind of amazing Zuko made it to adulthood.
Zuko's redemption arc is probably one of the most satisfying character arc's in cartoon history. But it's also so good because Zuko was pretty bad in the beginning. He was actually a scary threat to Aang, Katara, and her people. This is the Zuko who is still hurting from everything that's happened to him, so he's lashing out.
Zuko was pretty bad in the beginning.
He had no qualms about threatening to burn down Katara's village. And he did set the Kyoshi village on fire. He's taken Aang and Katara a couple of times. Even his fighting style can be pretty bad, full of aggressive punches and kicks. But we also saw times when Zuko did show mercy, so it did present him as a rather complex character, all twisted up inside from years of mental anguish and trauma. But that didn't change the fact that he did some pretty awful stuff.
When it comes to firebending, Zuko uses fairly basic techniques. He does have a few cool tricks up his sleeves, like redirecting lightning, and an airbending technique to keep himself warm in cold climates. But he has one particular skill that no other person in the fire nation uses. His Dao swords.
Zuko will sometimes use his twin Dao swords to firebend. We see this especially in the episode "Zuko Alone," and it's pretty awesome firebending. And he's the only person in the Fire Nation to use this type of firebending. Most people just choose to firebend with their hands and feet. The fact that Zuko can extend his bending to inanimate objects is seriously impressive. This kid is a lot more talented than some people may think.
It was surprising to Zuko (and the rest of us) when he found out that he shared the lineage of the great Fire Lord Sozin, and also the previous Avatar: Avatar Roku. While Sozin is Zuko's ancestor on his father's side, Roku is his ancestor on his mother's side.
Zuko shared the lineage of the great Fire Lord Sozin and of Avatar Roku.
It makes their story all the more tragic. The two were the best of friends, but as their duties took them further apart, they grew distant. And eventually, they ended up on opposite sides, as Sozin was determined to conquer the world, while Roku was against this path. In the end, Sozin ended Roku by leaving him to his demise on an erupting volcano. For both of these powerful men to be connected to Zuko shows just what kind of blood flows in this firebender's veins.
For firebenders, the honor of the family is very important. If you are considered disgraced by your family, it's the ultimate insult and dishonor. And Ozai was no exception to this mentality. He put a lot of stock in his kids' ability to firebend, to fight, and to be ruthless like him. So Zuko often didn't live up to his expectations.
But if you think about it, when Ozai banished Zuko, he basically disowned him. He told him that the only way he could get his honor back was to find the Avatar, which was deemed an impossible task since the Avatar hadn't been seen in over a hundred years. It's obvious that Ozai didn't want Zuko to come back, and by sending him on this fool's errand, he ensured that Zuko would never be able to return. Zuko was pretty much cut out of the family at that point.
We know that by the time Avatar: The Legend of Korra came around, Zuko was known as a wise leader, who's beloved and well respected by many people. He showed to be a capable leader who was also compassionate. You could tell that he served his time well as the Fire Lord. But it wasn't always this way.
Zuko wasn't very good at being Fire Lord.
At the beginning of his reign, Zuko wasn't very good at being Fire Lord. He made quite a few mistakes and ended up putting Aang and the others into some pretty tense situations. But we can't blame him too much; he was just a teenager, and he was put in a very difficult position where he was trying to do what was best for his nation, but for also the rest of the world. I definitely don't envy the stress that must have caused.
4 Are You My Mummy?
In the comic series The Search, Zuko and the other members of Team Avatar join together to find Zuko's mother. And after quite a bit of travel and hardship, they do find her, but she's not quite the same. In fact, Ursa has forgotten all of her previous life and was living under a new name: Noriko.
Ursa went to a place called the Forgetful Valley, where people often go to forget their past lives. It's kind of a clean slate deal. It's only thanks to the arrival of a spirit called the Mother of Faces that Ursa is able to remember her previous life and remember Zuko. So, it all ended fairly well, but that's a pretty dark notion. You spend all this time trying to find your mother and then when you do, she doesn't remember you. Poor Zuko.
When Zuko first took over as Fire Lord, a lot of people weren't happy about it. There was even a group that rose up in support of Ozai coming back as Fire Lord. As a result, Zuko had to deal with a lot of backlash from his people. But do you know he was almost eliminated for it?
This guy isn't just some soft political leader; he's a warrior through and through.
In fact, there were several attempts on his life (at least five). What's crazy about this is even though some of the would-be life-takers got past the guards, Zuko still held his own against them, defeating them. He definitely proved that he was someone you don't want to mess with and that he's not that easy to destroy. This guy isn't just some soft political leader; he's a warrior through and through, and he's not afraid to fight for what he believes in.
But Zuko was one of two characters to be shown bleeding in the series. His first moment happens when Azula scratches his forehead with her nails in their first encounter. The other character to bleed in the show is Appa when he's on his own and gets injured. Considering a cartoon has to be pretty choosy about when to show blood, it's interesting that these two characters were chosen. Appa's would make sense since it shows what he's gone through, but Zuko's is a little weird. Maybe it was to show the seriousness of him and Azula fighting, and that she wasn't playing around.
It's a fact that Zuko has many issues; who wouldn't with the upbringing he had? But I don't think people realize just how messed up Zuko actually is. While he didn't go insane like Azula did, Zuko still suffered from a lot of mental issues like insomnia, chronic nightmares, paranoia, and the crippling fear that he would turn out like his father.
Zuko is still a traumatized young man.
While he is trying to do what's right for his people and also for the world, Zuko is still a traumatized young man. We know that eventually, he becomes quite wise and calm in his old age, but while he was younger, he showed to be a very angry, bitter young man. And that got him into a fair amount of trouble. It was a good thing he had Iroh, or he probably never would've gotten out of that vicious cycle of anger.


text:
Q: Copy and Paste contents from another workbook into current workbook I have some code that downloads an excel file from the web. I need it to copy and paste its contents into my current workbook, but I get the "Subscript out of range" error. Code is below, and thanks in advance!
Sub dwnld()
  Set IE = New SHDocVw.InternetExplorer
  IE.Visible = True
  IE.navigate "http://broomfield.flatironslibrary.org/"

  While IE.Busy
    DoEvents
  Wend
  Do Until Not IE.Busy And IE.readyState = 4
    DoEvents
  Loop

 IE.document.getElementsByClassName("hidden-xs header-button header-primary")(0).Click
 Application.Wait (Now + #12:00:02 AM#)
 IE.document.getElementById("username").Value = "user"
 IE.document.getElementById("password").Value = "pass"
 IE.document.getElementsByClassName("btn btn-primary extraModalButton")(0).Click
 Application.Wait (Now + #12:00:02 AM#)
 IE.navigate ("http://broomfield.flatironslibrary.org/MyAccount/CheckedOut?exportToExcel")
 Application.Wait (Now + #12:00:02 AM#)
 Application.SendKeys ("%o")
 Application.Wait (Now + #12:00:05 AM#)
 Call CopyingRange

End Sub

Copying Range Code:
Sub CopyingRange()
  Workbooks("CheckedOutItems").Sheets("Checked Out").Range("A3:E62").Copy Range("B2")
End Sub

A: Please try this code below for CopyingRange
Sub CopyingRange()
      Workbooks("CheckedOutItems").Sheets("Checked Out").Range("A3:E62").Copy ThisWorkBook.ActiveSheet.Range("B2")
End Sub

Good luck!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Chesapeake Energy Corporation is an American exploration and production company, headquartered in Oklahoma City.

In 2021, the company produced  per day, of which 69% was natural gas, 24% was petroleum, and 7% was natural gas liquids. As of December 31, 2021, the company had  of estimated proved reserves, of which 69% was natural gas, 23% was petroleum, and 8% was natural gas liquids.

History
The company was founded in 1989 by Aubrey McClendon and Tom L. Ward with an initial investment of $50,000. McClendon named the company after Chesapeake Bay due to his love of the region. Ward left the company in 2006 to establish SandRidge Energy.

In 1993, the company became a public company via an initial public offering, with a valuation of $25 million.

Focusing on a strategy of drilling horizontal natural gas wells in unconventional reservoirs, the company built a sizable position in the Golden Trend and Sholem Alechem fields of South-central Oklahoma and in the Giddings field of Southeast Texas.

In the mid-1990s, the company unsuccessfully attempted to extend the Austin Chalk play into western and central Louisiana.

In 1997, the company wrote down the value of its assets by over $200 million, approximately equal to shareholder's equity at the time, due to low commodity prices and implemented a turnaround plan.

In the early 2000s, after a rise in natural gas prices made it economically feasible, the company focused on unconventional drilling in carbonates, tight sandstone, and shale particularly in the Barnett Shale, Fayetteville Shale, and the Marcellus Formation.

In 2006, the company was added to the S&P 500. It was removed from the index in 2018.

In 2008, the company announced its discovery of the Haynesville Shale in East Texas and northwestern Louisiana.

In 2009, the company partnered with Orange County Choppers to create the first chopper powered by compressed natural gas.

In 2011, Chesapeake Energy agreed to a 12-year naming rights partnership with the Oklahoma City Thunder for naming and branding rights of the Paycom Center at a cost of $3 million per year, with annual increases of 3%. On April 20, 2021, the agreement was terminated.

In June 2012, in response to shareholder concerns about corporate governance issues under McClendon's watch, the company appointed Archie W. Dunham as chairman, while Aubrey McClendon remained CEO.

In December 2012, the company sold midstream assets for $2.16 billion.

Effective April 1, 2013, Aubrey McClendon was forced to leave the company after revelations that he took a personal stake in Chesapeake wells and then used those investments as collateral for up to $1.1 billion in loans from banks that also financed the company.

In May 2013, Robert Douglas Lawler, an executive of Anadarko Petroleum, was named CEO of the company.

In 2013, Chesapeake sold 55,000 net acres in the Northern Eagle Ford Shale and 9,600 net acres in the Haynesville Shale to EXCO for aggregate proceeds of $1 billion.

In December 2014, Chesapeake sold a large portion of its oil and gas assets in the Marcellus Formation and Utica Shale to Southwestern Energy for net proceeds of $4.975 billion. The transaction included approximately 413,000 net acres and 1,500 wells in northern West Virginia and southern Pennsylvania. Net production of the sold assets was 57,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in December 2014.

In 2014, the company also sold additional midstream assets for $520 million.

In September 2015, the company announced layoffs of hundreds of people in Oklahoma City.

On March 2, 2016, former CEO and co-founder Aubrey McClendon died in a single-occupant single-vehicle crash when he drove his vehicle directly into a concrete bridge embankment in Oklahoma City. It occurred the day after a United States Department of Justice federal grand jury indicted McClendon for violating antitrust laws during his leadership at Chesapeake.

In 2017, the company sold assets in the Haynesville shale for $465 million.

In January 2018, the company laid off 400 employees.

In the first quarter of 2018, the company sold assets in Oklahoma for $500 million.

In February 2019, the company acquired Texas oil producer WildHorse Resource Development for $4 billion in cash and stock.

In June 2020, the company filed for bankruptcy protection with $7 billion in debt. It emerged from bankruptcy protection in February 2021.

In April 2021, Doug Lawler resigned as CEO of the company and  Mike Wichterich, Chair of the Board of Directors, was named interim-CEO.

In November 2021, the company acquired Vine Energy, which operated in the Haynesville Shale.

In March 2022, the company acquired Chief Oil & Gas.

In February 2023, it was announced the company had sold a portion of its oil and gas assets in the Eagle Ford shale, south Texas for US$1.4 billion, to the UK-headquartered multinational company, Ineos.

Antitrust allegations

Alleged collusion with Encana
In mid-2012, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) began an investigation into whether Encana, Canada's largest natural gas company, "illegally colluded with Chesapeake Energy Corp to lower the price of Michigan exploration lands during a public land auction in May 2010." Encana's internal investigation determined in 2012 that it did not collude with Chesapeake. The investigation ended in 2014.

Cancellation of leases
On June 5, 2014, the state of Michigan filed felony fraud and racketeering charges against Chesapeake Energy, alleging that the company canceled hundreds of land leases on false pretenses after it sought to obtain oil and gas rights. Michigan attorney general Bill Schuette claimed that the company "obtained uncompensated land options from these landowners by false pretenses, and prevented competitors from leasing the land." Chesapeake Energy disputed all charges. In 2015, the company settled the lawsuits by agreeing to pay $25 million to the landowners.

Underpayment of royalties to landowners
The company has faced thousands of lawsuits regarding the alleged under-payment of royalties due to individuals that rented land to the company. In 2013, the company agreed to pay $7.5 million to settle a class action lawsuit by Pennsylvania landowners. In 2017, the company agreed to pay another $30 million to Pennsylvania landowners.

Alleged collusion in Oklahoma
On March 1, 2016, a DOJ federal grand jury indicted Aubrey McClendon for allegedly rigging the bidding process for land leases between December 2007 and March 2012. McClendon was charged of orchestrating a conspiracy in which two oil and gas companies, not named in the indictment, colluded not to bid against each other for the purchase of land in northwestern Oklahoma. According to the indictment, the companies decided ahead of time who would win bids, with the winner then allocating an interest in the leases to the other company, eliminating open competitive bidding. The DOJ said this was the first case resulting from a continuing federal antitrust investigation into price fixing, bid rigging, and other anti-competitive conduct in the petroleum industry.

The next day, on March 2, 2016, McClendon died in a single-occupant single-vehicle crash when he drove his vehicle straight into a concrete bridge embankment. The charges were dropped by the DOJ as a result of the death.

Possible conflicts of interest by Ex-CEO Aubrey McClendon
Ex-CEO Aubrey McClendon was accused of engaging in several conflicts of interest that benefited him at the expense of shareholders of the company:
 McClendon nominated several of his friends, including long time childhood friends, to the board of the company and made them the highest-paid directors in the petroleum industry. In return, the board made McClendon the highest paid CEO of any company in the S&P 500, awarding him a salary of $112 million.
 McClendon had the company develop a shopping center near the company's headquarters and lease space to restaurants part-owned by McClendon. The company used these restaurants for millions of dollars worth of catering business.
 McClendon and his family frequently used business jets owned by the company for personal reasons. McClendon has stated that this was allowed per his employment agreement.
 When McClendon needed money, he convinced the board to have the company purchase his collection of rare maps hanging in the company's offices for $12 million.
 An entire department at the company, known as "AKM Operations" was dedicated to working on personal projects of McClendon, including having his house fixed after a hail storm.
 The company signed an agreement to pay $3 million per year for the naming and branding rights to the Paycom Center, where the Oklahoma City Thunder play. The company also committed to buy $3 million worth of tickets per year. McClendon owned a 19% interest in the team.
 Since McClendon was a history major and loved history, he hired a company historian, who was paid a salary of over $100,000 per year. He also hired the World's Strongest Man, who also received a salary of over $100,000 per year, to promote exercise among company staff.
 Through the Founders Well Participation Program, McClendon was able to purchase a 2.5% interest in every well the company drills. McClendon borrowed as much as $1.1 billion against his 2.5% stake in thousands of company wells from banks that were also lenders to the company. After this potential conflict was made public, the company terminated the Founders Well Participation Program. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission opened an informal inquiry of McClendon's borrowing practices. However, no enforcement action was taken.

Lobbying
In 2004, then CEO Aubrey McClendon contributed $450,000 to the campaign of Tom Corbett for attorney general of Pennsylvania. These funds were cited as the reason Corbett won the election, with a narrow margin. When Corbett eventually became governor of Pennsylvania, he was very supportive of Chesapeake's fracking activity in Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania was the only state without a severance tax on drillers, despite the fact that the budget for education was being reduced.

In 2008, then CEO Aubrey McClendon formed American Clean Skies Foundation, a non-profit foundation focused on selling the virtues of natural gas. The foundation was funded by the company and by McClendon. The foundation was criticized for doing nothing but pushing Congress to pass policies that benefited the company and McClendon's business interests.

Environmental damage

Discharges of fill material
In 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency levied a fine of $3.2 million on a subsidiary of the company and forced it to spend $6.5 million "to restore 27 sites damaged by unauthorized discharges of fill material into streams and wetlands".

2011 well blowout
On April 19, 2011, due to a failed seal assembly in a wellhead, the company lost control of a natural gas well in Bradford County, Pennsylvania that was being fracture stimulated, causing a large spill of salt water and chemicals, such as 2-butoxyethanol and methanol, into the surrounding countryside. By April 22, 2011, the leak had been stemmed. Maryland announced its intention to sue the company for violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Clean Water Act since fracking fluids from the well blowout wound up in the Chesapeake Bay.

2015 landslide
In November 2015, the company was fined $1.4 million in Pennsylvania for a landslide caused by the company in 2011 that resulted in clogged waterways.

Earthquakes Oklahoma and Kansas correlated with hydraulic fracturing
In 2007, Oklahoma recorded a single earthquake. By 2015, after the rise in hydraulic fracturing, there were more than 900. After the 2011 Oklahoma earthquake in Prague, Oklahoma, having suffered home damage and physical injury, a resident sued Chesapeake. The Sierra Club also filed a lawsuit against Chesapeake and Devon Energy over damages suffered in a magnitude 5.8, 2016 Oklahoma earthquake near Pawnee, which was tied for the largest such shock in the eastern United States in 70 years. A judge dismissed the lawsuit in April 2017.

Awards and recognition
In 2007, the company was named the best managed oil-and-gas company by Forbes.

In 2009, S&P Global Platts named the company as the Energy Producer of the Year and it received the Industry Leadership Award. The company was also a finalist in the Deal of the Year, CEO of the Year, and Community Development Program of the Year categories. In 2012, the company received an Award of Excellence.

In 2010, Shaleplay, the company's corporate band, won first place in the Fortune Battle of the Corporate Bands.

In 2014, the company was ranked 51st on the 100 Best Companies to Work by Fortune.

In 2021, the company achieved Grad "A" MiQ and EO100 Certification for its legacy Haynesville Shale operations.

References

External links

1989 establishments in Oklahoma
American companies established in 1989
Companies based in Oklahoma City
Companies formerly listed on the New York Stock Exchange
Companies listed on the Nasdaq
Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020
Energy companies established in 1989
Natural gas companies of the United States
Non-renewable resource companies established in 1989
Oil companies of the United States
Petroleum in Oklahoma

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Genomic Science Program
Systems Biology for Energy and Environment
Images from the Genomic Science program and other U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research (BER) programs. Also includes archived images from the Human Genome Project and Microbial Genomics.
Search for Image:
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Citation and Credit
Unless otherwise noted, publications and webpages on this site were created for the U.S. Department of Energy Genomic Science program by Biological and Environmental Research Information System (BERIS). Permission to use these documents is not needed, but please credit the U.S. Department of Energy Genomic Science program and provide the URL (https://genomicscience.energy.gov). Materials provided by third parties are identified as such and not available for free use.
The Genomic Science program is sponsored by the Biological Systems Science Division of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research.
Searchable BER Research Highlights
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BER Advisory Committee (BERAC)
For more information on foundational genomics research programs initiated by DOE, see Human Genome Project Information Archive
Unless otherwise noted, publications and webpages on this site were created for the U.S. Department of Energy Genomic Science program by Biological and Environmental Research Information System (BERIS). Permission to use these documents is not needed, but credit the U.S. Department of Energy Genomic Science program and provide the URL https://genomicscience.energy.gov. Materials provided by third parties are identified as such and not available for free use.


You really have to listen to Scissor Sisters' I Don't Feel Like Dancing to get my sentiments today. (Lemme see what I can do about that… see below.) Don't listen too closely to the words, I don't.
Last night's Sharks-Red Wings game was just what it was chalked up to be: suspenseful, fast, and unpredictable. Of course it had a happy ending for those who believe unreasonably that the universe wants things to come out fair.
Since my last post, I learned that Mr. Laperrière sustained a concussion in that last game, which I must say I find upsetting. I must say it not because anyone cares what I think but because I wrote that last under the delusion that Lappy was okay. On re-reading it, I stand by the general argument, that extreme self-sacrifice makes a big impression on friend and foe alike. Nonetheless, I hope he is okay and is able to resume playing, and becomes a little bit more self-protective.
Also since last posting, I have discovered the NHL.com message boards, which I knew about but did not visit before. This is almost inexcusable in light of my position on message boards versus social networks, but I was skittish. You would be too if your first venture had been on the Penguins fan boards in the late 90s. In any case, I now have many voices to listen to, though I still lack some capacity to understand them.
I find myself stumbling around in a daze… they all won. All of them… today? All three in one day? Sharks, Flyers and Red Wings. Saw some blip on the screen about a boarding call on Datsyuk. Ultimately irrelevant but made me hiss nonetheless. Absurd, nonsense, pshaw.
Mr. Boyle rose from the ashes to score the first goal for the Sharks. Nabakov was crystal clear, no muddle in sight. Some kind soul posted a link to a pirated live feed so I could watch the Sharks in OT. Hopelessly superstitious, I now suspect that this blog is an exorcism of sorts. I would be of no use to bookmakers at all. Life is beautiful.
This morning an email from the NHL's tv media offices confirmed what the Sharks Face Book page had already told me, that not for love nor money would I ever be able to view a San Jose Sharks game in my own living room, not unless the nearby municipality expanded its boundaries to swallow up my still fairly rural district, bringing real honest to goodness hard line cable with it. I was forced to confront the fact that I would have to go to town to watch the Sharks play Colorado in the playoffs.
Do not always run deep. Working on a flash project about the environment, fashion, the NHL and body image.
An extreme response to a blog entry I read.


text:
Int'l money laundering watchdog blacklists Myanmar
In first tweet after Pakistan exits grey list, PM Shehbaz Sharif thanks Bhutto, Gen Bajwa
Pakistan taken off global watchdog's 'grey' list for terrorism financing
Myanmar buys Russian oil as emerging markets take shunned supply
We are sincerely working to resolve Rohingya crisis: Minister Wang
Myanmar's shadow government to create its own police force
Myanmar soldiers walk along a street during a protest against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar, February 28, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
International money-laundering watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) added Myanmar to a group of high-risk countries, known as the 'black list,' citing its failure to make enough progress in addressing illicit financial flows.
The Southeast Asian nation joins North Korea and Iran, which have been on the high-risk list since 2020, reports Bloomberg.
By being included, entities and people in Myanmar will have to go through more checks from global financial institutions.
In the worst-case scenario, the FATF would instruct countries to take measures to protect the international financial system from money laundering and terrorism financing by persons on the blacklist.
Myanmar is already under a range of punitive measures. Western nations led by the US have imposed rounds of sanctions targeting the coup leaders, related business entities, as well as a group of arms dealers since the 2021 military coup which toppled Aung San Suu Kyi-led civilian government.
Pakistan has been taken off a "grey list" of countries that need to be watched more closely for money being used to fund terrorism after the country fixed the technical problems that were holding it back from meeting the goals of its action plans for the strategic problems that the FATF found in June 2018 and June 2021.
Mayanmar / Financial Action Task Force (FATF) / blacklist
Ukraine grain harvest set to fall further this year
One third of Amazon 'degraded' by human activity, drought: study
Biden reelection bid not official, but fundraising to begin
Gaza militants fire rockets, Israel strikes in Gaza
US urges de-escalation after Palestinians killed in Israeli operation


1. European Conferences on Earthquake Engineering are organised every four years in a city selected by the EAEE Association Council.
2. Each Member Association can make a bid to organise a European Conference on Earthquake Engineering by filing an application with the Central Office prior to the last EAEE Executive Committee Meeting.
3. The bid should specify the city, the venue of the conference and most probable dates as well as the Chairman of the Organising Committee.
4. The Member Association elected by the Association Council is the sole responsible for the organisation of ECEE.
5. The organisation of the ECEE should at least be composed of Local and International Organising Committees and Scientific Committee. The elected Member Association can establish other committees if they consider necessary.
6. The EAEE Executive Committee members need to be in the International Organising Committee.
7. The Chairman of the ECEE Organising Committee need to make the necessary preparations and notify the EAEE Central Office about the composition of the Local and International Organising Committees and Scientific Committee for the approval of the EAEE Executive Committee.
8. The Local Organising Committee need to prepare the first announcement for the forthcoming ECEE within the two years after the election by the EAEE Association Council.
One meeting room during the first and last days of the conference to enable EAEE Executive Committee to have two meetings.
One office room during the conference for the EAEE Secretariat.
A General Session for the presentation of the EAEE Prof. Nicholas N. Ambraseys Keynote Lecture selected by the EAEE Executive Committee.
11.The EAEE Honorary Members need to be exempted from the registration fee for the conference. The EAEE Secretary General and EAEE employees should be exempted from the registration fee for the conference.
12.The conference registration fee needs to be reduced for the individual members of EAEE.
13.The Local Organising Committee need to make the necessary arrangements to have the proceedings published before the conference, preferably with keynote and theme lectures as separate volume in the Springer Book Series on Geotechnical, Geological, and Earthquakes Engineering.
14.The technical sessions may be composed of invited lectures as well as some selected oral presentations.
15.Chairman and/or Second Vice-President report the progress of the ECEE to the EC.
16.The local organiser should provide a free exhibition booth for EAEE.
17.The Organisers of ECEE should support the EAEE budget by donating 1% of the registration fee of all the participants registered fully.


text:
June 27, 2012 March 12, 2017 by Save Virunga
Governments and oil companies slammed over Virunga exploration
David Lloyd Wildlife Photography
Saint Petersburg – The committee overseeing World Heritage Sites yesterday cautioned that petroleum exploration in Virunga National Park could cause serious harm and should be halted. WWF, the Wildlife Conservation Society, Fauna & Flora International, the Frankfurt Zoological Society and the Lukuru Foundation welcome this strong position and urge the DRC government and oil companies to act on it.
Expressing its concern over recent actions by petroleum companies, the World Heritage Committee reiterated its position that oil development is incompatible with World Heritage status. In the Committee's decisions, passed at its annual meeting, the committee also called on the Democratic Republic of the Congo to revoke permits granted to exploration companies.
British oil company SOCO International, which has already begun activities in Virunga, was criticized in the State of Conservation report on Virunga as being "hostile to the park". The committee said SOCO's permits did not conform to Democratic Republic of the Congo's international commitments.
SOCO has announced plans to begin aerial surveys to map oil deposits, and reportedly landed a helicopter in the park earlier this month. Questions over authorization for the landing allegedly led to an altercation between Congolese navy sailors, acting as security for SOCO, and Virunga park rangers. The incident resulted in the bayonet stabbing of a ranger, according to witnesses.
Residents have expressed concern over the possibility that pollution from SOCO exploration in Lake Edward could contaminate fishing waters where 30,000 residents make their livelihoods.
Total, the other oil company with a concession in the park and SOCO were admonished by the committee for not joining other industry leaders in pledging to remain out of all World Heritage Sites. The Committee also called on the countries where the companies are headquartered to "to ensure that petroleum and mining companies in their territory cause no damage the World Heritage properties."
Virunga National Park was declared a World Heritage Site in 1979. It is recognized for its unique landscapes and rare animals, including critically endangered mountain gorillas.
For further information please go to WWF
Blog, Conflict & Resource Curse, Politics & Oil	British government, FFI, French Government, FZS, Lukuru Foundation, SOCO International, Total, Virunga National Park, WCS, World Heritage Committee
2 thoughts on "Governments and oil companies slammed over Virunga exploration"
SOCO International plc says:
Reference your article which was taken directly from the WWF website, we would like to clarify the following points:
SOCO International plc (SOCO)'s involvement in 'Block V' is at the express invitation of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Government.
SOCO considers minimal environmental impact to be a priority in the areas we operate in, but we acknowledge that we are a commercially driven company.
We intend for our positive social impact on the 'Block V' surroundings to far outweigh any minor environmental impact that we may have. It is absolutely our intention to have a positive social impact on the local communities' lives, so we can truly say as an organisation that we have been a positive presence. We have already been in dialogue with many local stakeholders to understand their needs and priorities.
SOCO adheres to all the DRC's environmental preservation regulations, which include the continual use of environmental impact studies at each stage of any of our activities. We are also working closely with the Congolese Institute for Nature Conservation ('ICCN').
We would like to emphasise that we are at the preliminary phase of exploration for possible hydrocarbons and, even if successful, we are several years away from concluding our scientific research. At this stage, no drilling has been planned.
'Block V' currently encompasses an area of the Virunga National Park, including a part of Lake Edward. However, we would like to make it clear that Block V is not located close to the Mikeno Sector, which is home to the famous Mountain Gorillas. This has been subject to much inaccurate media speculation.
The initial exploration phase includes an aerial survey which would then be followed by a survey on Lake Edward, both commissioned by the DRC Government. We do not expect any animals or fish will be harmed as a direct result of our activities.
You should be aware that the incident you refer to regarding the helicopter landing in the Virunga National Park and altercation is inaccurate.
As you know, we released a statement about this event at the time, the salient points from which are as follows: We are aware of the situation that took place on 15th June 2012 involving a helicopter landing in the Virunga National Park. We would like to make it very clear that no SOCO employees or associates were involved and we are in no way responsible for the reported incident surrounding a routine, planned and fully authorised helicopter flight. Certain media reports on the issue contained a series of inaccuracies and did not include the fact that the helicopter flight had departed over 45 minutes before the reported incident took place.
Please could you amend your posting as necessary.
savevirunga says:
Dear user in answer to your comment, we would like to refer to WWF's reaction on the same comment also posted on their site and referring to the same article : Governments and oil companies slammed over Virunga exploration.
"To the user that posted the first comment under the name SOCO International PLC: we confirm every word on this statement.
In the other hand, could you confirm that the post you published here in our website is indeed an official statement from SOCO International PLC? If so, could you also provide a link from your official website where we can see this very same statement?
We only can see the statement you refered in your last paragraph on the helicopter incident at Virunga National Park on 15 June. However, we can't find the statement you posted here, therefore we can't recognize if this post really belongs to SOCO International PLC.
Please confirm.
Oscar Soria
Director of Media
Source: Comments WWF – http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?205421
← JUN 25, 2012: Oil a Weapon of War vs. Gorillas a Weapon of Peace
British oil company to drill for oil in Virunga National Park – SOCO 'Hostile to the park' →


text:
Lone Star FFA Chapter Excels at State Convention
Story by Robyn Scherer, M.AgR.
Photos Courtesy of Heidi Simpson & Glenda Summers
The Colorado State FFA convention is a place where FFA members from across the state gather to compete in various events, receive awards, listen to motivational speakers and participate in leadership workshops. The 84th convention was held on June 5-7, at Colorado State University-Pueblo in Pueblo, Colo.
"Envision your Impact" was this year's convention theme. More than 1,500 FFA members, advisors, supporters and guests attended the convention, and more than 250 State FFA Degrees were award to FFA members. This is the highest degree the state can bestow upon its members.
Hundreds of students won awards, from parliamentary procedure to creed speaking to livestock judging. Lacie Bone, a student from the Lone Star FFA Chapter, won the Agricultural Communications Placement Systems Proficiency Award.
The agricultural communications proficiency award is designed to recognize students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience, where the student is placed at a newspaper or other agricultural print facilities to obtain training and practical experience in writing and publicizing in preparation for a writing communications career.
Bone, who is now a sophomore at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo., won the award for her work as a rodeo queen. Bone took her role serving through the Washington County rodeo queen program to mentor youth and promote the message of agriculture. She traveled to county fairs, National Western Stock Show and community events to educate the audience on agricultural issues and leadership.
"No one even knew what the stock show was. They thought rodeo was just bull riding. There is so much more than that. We were re-informing them what an actual rodeo was. People had never seen one. They see it and understand what we do. It was a new world for them," Bone said.
She continued, "A lot of people don't understand anything with agriculture. People don't understand where their milk comes from. There is so much more to it than they know about. They get a better understanding that things don't come just from the grocery store. The inter-city people when they live there, they don't get out to see the country world. A lot of those people have no idea what agriculture even is. It was good for me to be able to tell them. After a little bit of explaining they are really surprised. Even just simple Denver people had no idea where their food was coming from."
Bone is the daughter of Randy and Treena Bone, and her adviser was Mr. Leon Hanhardt. "When I started my freshman year, I wasn't sure I wanted to do FFA. I knew I was growing up in the ag world and I wanted put a new meaning on it. I owe it all to Mr. Hanhardt. He taught me so much. All the hands on experience and learning everything, and he was the one who taught it," she said.
Bone plans to finish her animal science and animal nutrition degree at NJC, and then transfer to Oklahoma Panhandle State and finish her bachelor degree. "Then hopefully I want to get a job with a feed company, particularly a show feed company, and start down the career path of animal nutrition," she said.
Another student from the Lone Star FFA chapter who excelled at the state convention was Jace Harris, who received the Beef Production Placement Proficiency Award. Harris grew up in production agriculture on a cattle-feeding operation and wanted to continue working on his family's operation. He manages the fencing and administers the vaccinations. He also works on local cow/calf operations to learn the different sides to the industry.
"I was running cows and helping my family's operations. I have four part times jobs I work between, so I'm pretty much on call all the time for when people need me. From cow/calf to yearling to grower operations, I have worked with all of them," he said.
He continued, "FFA got my name out there in terms of meeting new people, and talking to those people and getting new ideas. I take those back to the places I work. As far as being able to go out and talk to people, FFA has helped me out a lot there. In terms of learning how I need to act and behave, I've learned a lot of manners as well in terms of respect. FFA helped opened my eyes and help me grow up to be a more responsible, respectable young man."
The beef production placement proficiency award is designed to recognize the students who are involved in a supervised agricultural experience and requires the students to use the best management practices available to efficiently produce and market beef. Harris is the son of Jay Harris and Danna Sonnenberg-Harris.
He is a sophomore at NJC studying agriculture education. "I plan to finish my degree at CSU and then come back to the family operation and start an operation of my own. My goal in the next five years is to take over the cattle part of my family's operation," he said.
In one of the team competitions, the Weld Central FFA chapter won the Parliamentary Procedure competition. The chapter received the Jerald Truax Memorial Trophy and $700 in recognition of its accomplishments and will represent Colorado in the national competition, which will be held in conjunction with the 85th National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Ind., in October.
The Parliamentary Procedure CDE is designed to help students learn and apply effective meeting management skills. Team members draw assignments immediately preceding the competition. One member receives the chairmanship assignment and others receive assignment regarding business items that are to be conducted.
Aidan Soguro of the Estes Park FFA Chapter won first place in the Creed Speaking contest. He received a plaque, a metal and $200. He will represent the state at the National Convention as well.
The state convention is also where the new state officers are elected. The new officers are: President: Kristen Schmidt, Greeley West; Vice President: Jayce Tappy, Merino; Secretary: Rebekka McCaleb, Arickaree; Treasurer: Mitch Stahley, Platte Valley; Reporter: Carly Hinton, Sangre De Cristo; Sentinel: Kendall Wilkins, Yuma; Executive Committee: Chance Kanode, Highland, Brandy Jo Marrinan, Alamosa, Lance Gilbert, New Raymer and Brooke Miller, Eaton.
One thing that is unique about the Colorado FFA convention is the attendees can have access to a mobile application, which allows them to find the schedule and see the results from their phone.
"It's a great way if you are on the go, very easy to find Colorado FFA. It's a great way to start teaching our students about the proper use of technology and how it can be a great tool," said Don Thorn, Executive Director for the Colorado FFA Foundation.
FFA is an integral part of the Agricultural Education Division within the Colorado Community College System. The Colorado FFA Association currently stands with more than 4,700 members. The FFA mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.


text: Q: Auto-login problem in Ubuntu 18.04 LTS To use my fingerprint sensor to login into my pc I tried to install some programs to use it, first I tried this one here, as it didn't work I tried another one which is here, after installing this my I couldn't login into my system using my password, it showed something like- "password didn't work". That's why I uninstalled the programs installed from the two links I just linked above and I successfully managed to log in but without password, from then to now I tried many times to turn auto-login off but failed. FYI, I already tried these: here, here and also I should mention that when I start my system and tried to run any browser it asks for a password for one time and it works fine there.


text:
Q: How to create a valid request to autosuggest in HERE API? I read documentation and tried solving problem on my own but I am stuck. I am trying to make example call from docs:
https://autosuggest.search.hereapi.com/v1/
    autosuggest
    ?at=52.93175,12.77165
    &limit=5
    &lang=en
    &q=res
    &apiKey={YOUR_API_KEY}

This is my code that makes a get request (in Angular)
getPlaces() {
    const bearer = 'my bearer'
    const headers = new HttpHeaders({
      'Authorization': `Bearer ${bearer}`
    })
    return this.http.get('https://autosuggest.search.hereapi.com/v1/autosuggest
      at=52.93175,12.77165&limit=5&lang=en&q=res&apiKey={MY_KEY}', {headers: headers})
}

What i get is respone:
{
    "error": "Forbidden",
    "error_description": "These credentials do not authorize access"
}
status: 403
statusText: "Forbidden"

To generate bearer I use olp as stated here:
get token with the cli
In docs in examples of usage there is no bearer, but without it I get the same result. I tried searching for similar problems but I found nothing that worked for me.

A: Well i found solutution but i did not see any mention about this in docs: you have to add service in services tab in project manager :)
Only API_KEY is needed - OAuth2 and bearer is not.


Auto and motorcycle accidents have the potential to negatively impact your job, your family, your health and your quality of life. Even an apparently minor traffic accident may result in serious injuries. If you have been hurt because someone was negligent, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries, including pain and suffering, past and future medical bills and lost income. B. Shannon Saunders, PA has successfully represented clients injured in auto and motorcycle accidents in Florida for more than 14 years.
The Law Offices of B. Shannon Saunders, PA handles motor vehicle accident claims that involve negligent motorists, pedestrians, dangerous road conditions and faulty or defective automobile parts.
We consult with knowledgeable and respected experts to assist with case preparation. Trauma doctors, chiropractors, forensics engineers, mechanics and collision reconstruction analysts lend their expertise to help us obtain the best possible settlements. At trial, these professional experts help by educating jurors about the specifics of the accident, what caused it and the injuries that resulted.
It is important to speak to an attorney immediately following a traffic accident to ensure the preservation of crucial evidence and witness recollection. In addition, Florida law places time limits on filing an automobile or motorcycle accident claim. We are committed to the timely investigation of your claim. The Law Offices of B. Shannon Saunders, PA even schedules appointments on the weekend or in the evening, and we make hospital and home visits to injured patients when necessary.
To best serve our clients, we handle auto claims on contingency, meaning we do not charge you attorneys' fees until we win a judgment or settle you case.
If you have been involved in an automobile or motorcycle accident, call the Law Offices of B. Shannon Saunders, PA at 850-633-2584 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation.


For rough rubies, what sort of chemicals would you advice using in order to take the matrix/external rock off? Is Hydrochloric acid enough?
No, that matrix is likely mica and hcl isn't going to do much to it. They use hydrofluoric acid to remove silicate impurities from included rubies prior to lead glass filling, but I would not recommend coming anywhere close to the stuff. It's incredibly nasty.
I hated using hydrofluoric in my Geology lab classes. Very dangerous stuff, and extreme safety procedures along with protective equipment is required.
Ok great. I will give it a try! Mr Google is also suggesting using the acid in small time frames. Is this correct.. it is difficult to accept any old garbage that is put on the internet these days.
It might be worth trying hcl. It is easy to gwt and can be handled safely, and in one csse cleaned up a tourmaline on quartz specimen of my dad's from being ok to being amazing.
Don't try HF. It goes right through your skin and melts your bones from the inside.
Been away for a while... but tried HLC and it seems not to be working. The water turns a light green after a while, but no real matrix was removed... looks like i will have to look for something else..
If it is not a learning excercise I think grinding away the outer crust would be a safer way for this particular stone. Acids can destroy good cabbing mtrl by tunneling through wherever incls break the surface.
Yes, I would have thought that grinding it away would be the best option. Get a coarse diamond whetstone and cut away under water by hand. Slow but safe and effective.
I have been experimenting recently, using some lesser quality stones, with cutting using a diamond tipped disc. It seems to be working, but is there any chance that by cutting i can make the fractures inside worse.
Will post my progress, cheers guys.
It can be a problem if it gets hot, so you'll want some sort of coolant if possible. Otherwise that is just normal gem cutting, and probably the best approach. Just make sure not to breathe rock dust.


When you're searching for any speed math course for children, you are certain to experience being overwhelmed. You'd either are afflicted by mass confusion or from your analysis paralysis (this is when you cannot proceed to the following subject).
In either case, you aren't getting any nearer to your ultimate goal: get the best mental arithmetic course for children.
Now, when you are saying, "That's me, that's me!" well, you are fortunate. In the following paragraphs, we'll discuss probably the most important what exactly you need to consider inside a speed math course for children.
To begin with, allow me to say that it's a excellent choice to consider an additional math course for your children. Mathematics is really a daily factor we suffer from and it is sometimes complicated! As well as for kids, getting to consider regular exams and getting to consider home assignments make mathematics a lot more annoying on their behalf.
So a math course for children is certainly something which would give your kids to savor school existence and home existence a lot better. Given that they can solve math problems faster and much more precisely, this can hand them over here we are at more things- playing, getting together with family and buddies and much more.
Since we have become the apparent taken care of, let us talk much more about what you need to look or get in a speed math course for children.
Whenever we discuss an excellent speed math course for children, you need to instantly visit a obvious-cut lesson plan or course outline. This should help you make certain the tutor or book you're searching at is credible.
Even when you are unfamiliar with mental arithmetic, I trust you could separate the mumbo jumbo in the real factor. Right?
Next, if you wish to ensure that you get the best speed math course for children, consider the age groups from the kids who're already using the course. Could they be close enough for your kid's age? If so, then go on and look further into that speed math course for children.
In addition to that, among the factors that you ought to consider is the kid's current math proficiency. Is he a complete beginner? Or can he already count? If that's the case, as much as what number? Knowing these fundamental details can make it simpler that you should suit your child's skills using the skills necessary for a particular speed math course for children.
Lastly, when to consider a speed math course for children, you need to make certain that the kid will be presented apt attention and time. May be the class too large? Exist enough teachers to facilitate the program?
Searching for any super math for children can be difficult. However I hope these pointers make it a little bit bit simpler for you personally.


text:
The Stages of Retirement
Stages of Retirement
The Semi-Retired Life
Common Post-Retirement Risks
Budgeting for the 4 Phases of Retirement
Advice for Couples
Keep Planning After Retirement
Social Security Post Retirement
Managing Your Income Sources
Do You Still Need Life Insurance?
Other Post-Employment Benefits
The Retirement Lifestyle
Renting vs. Owning Your Home
Avoid the Downsides of Downsizing
Retiring on Social Security Alone
Strategies for Low Income Seniors
Retirement With No Savings
Retiring Abroad
U.S. vs. Abroad
Best Places to Retire Abroad
Retire on a Cruise Ship?
Retirement Accounts Abroad
Planning for Medical Expenses
Using Your Health Savings Account
Phases of Retirement
Retirement isn't just one phase of life but multiple phases, especially with today's increased life expectancy and retirements that often last for 20 years or more. Each phase has its own rewards, as well as financial and emotional challenges. Here is how some experts define the phases of retirement.
Retirement can last for decades these days and typically consists of multiple phases.
The first phase should be planning—both for the financial and emotional impacts of retiring.
Retirees often enjoy a honeymoon period early on, experience some disillusionment later, and ultimately settle into rewarding new routines.
What Are the Phases of Retirement?
Financial planners and other advisors sometimes divide retirement into three basic phases: an early, active phase when retirees may travel widely or embark on other adventures they had to put off during their career years, a more settled and somewhat less active phase, and a third phase in which the effects of aging begin to take a serious toll. In financial terms, the first phase tends to be expensive—often more so than when people were still working. Expenses generally drop during the second phase but pick up again in the third phase due to medical and/or nursing home expenses.
In the 1970s, the late sociologist Robert Atchley described a more elaborate six-phase process: pre-retirement, retirement, contentment, disenchantment, reorientation, and routine. While not everyone will experience all six of those phases, they can provide a useful framework for thinking about retirement.
Retirement, in Six Phases
Here is brief look at the six phases Atchley outlined, along with some of their financial and emotional implications.
1. Pre-Retirement
This is the phase when people begin to think seriously about the life they want for themselves in retirement and whether they're financially on track to achieve it. At least that's what they should be doing—and not waiting until they're right on the cusp of retirement to try to figure it all out.
Financial advisor Diane M. Manuel, CFP, CRPC, with Urban Wealth Management in El Segundo, Calif., says: "We all think that shucking a routine, especially one that may only marginally make us happy, will be easy. Think again. This routine probably began in kindergarten—60-plus years of the same thing. Get up. Get dressed. Get lunch. Go out. Come home. Eat. Go to bed. Repeat."
Manuel adds, "My recommendation to my clients is this: As you plan for retirement, think about what it looks like. Talk to your friends. Write about it. Create a storyboard. Be imaginative. Your financial plans and your day-to-day retirement plan should go hand in hand. This is your retirement identity."
2. Retirement
The big moment comes, and the retiree makes the transition from full-time work to the retirement they've planned for themselves. Work, possibly part-time, may still be a factor in the future if they enjoy working or need to supplement their retirement income. But now they are officially retirees.
Shanna Tingom, co-founder of Heritage Financial Strategies in Gilbert, Ariz., says, "The toughest transition most of my clients make is the one from working and saving to retirement and spending. It can be emotionally and financially harder than they ever expected. If they are younger retirees, and they have friends and family still working, it can also be very lonely, especially if they don't have a plan."
As Tingom sees it, "A proper retirement plan includes three things: a financial plan, a budget, and a FUN plan! The fun plan includes things that they want to do, places that they want to visit, and how much money is included in the budget for those things."
3. Contentment
This is a positive phase when retirees get to enjoy the fruits of a lifetime of labor. It's sometimes described as a honeymoon period. If the money holds out, this phase can last for a while.
4. Disenchantment
Once the honeymoon is over, some retirees find themselves asking, "Is this it?" Even if they are doing fine financially, they may experience some of the emotional downsides of retirement, such as loneliness, disillusionment, and a feeling of uselessness.
5. Reorientation
In this phase, people try to figure out who they are now and map out their place in the world as a retiree. For anyone whose pre-career identity was defined by a job title they no longer have, this can be challenging.
6. Routine
As retirement life becomes more familiar, people in this phase tend to accept their situation and settle into a new set of routines. If all goes well, they have a fresh sense of purpose and take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy their life.
"When you are newly retired, it can seem like you are riding on a roller coaster," says Kimberly Howard, CFP, founder of KJH Financial Services in Newton, Mass. "Peaks and valleys require attention and patience to manage. In time, the new norm will be your new reality."
A majority of people underestimate their life expectancy and how long they are likely to live in retirement, according to the Stanford Center on Longevity.
A comprehensive, holistic retirement plan should consider more than just how much money you need to save in order to leave the workforce. Having a strategy for tackling the emotional aspects of retirement, such as finding meaningful activities to take the place of work, will help circumvent the feelings of loneliness, boredom, and disillusionment that sometimes set in after the initial excitement of being job-free wears off.
"Life is not measured by the number in your bank account, but the memories you create. Therefore, focus on how your finances can maximize your life, not the other way around," says Cooper Mitchell, a financial advisor with Dane Financial LLC, in Springfield, Mo.
Families in Action. "Stages of Retirement." Accessed Sept. 1, 2020.
Avail. "The Six Stages of Retirement." Accessed Sept. 1, 2020.
Stanford Center on Longevity. "Underestimating Years in Retirement." Accessed Nov. 16, 2020.
Personal finance is all about managing your personal budget and how to best invest your money to realize your goals.
Phased Retirement
A phased retirement includes a broad range of arrangements that allow an employee nearing retirement age to continue working with a reduced workload.
Retirement planning is the process of determining retirement income goals, risk tolerance, and the actions and decisions necessary to achieve those goals.
A financial planner is a qualified money-management professional who helps clients meet their financial goals.
Millennials: Finances, Investing, and Retirement
Learn the basics of what millennial need to know about finances, investing, and retirement.
Journey Through the 6 Stages of Retirement
Budgeting for the 4 Financial Phases of Retirement
4 Big Reasons Your Expenses Could Rise in Retirement
Figure Out Your Investment Goals
Explaining Types of Fixed Annuities
The Pros and (Mostly) Cons of Early Retirement


So, What is it that Engineers Do, Anyway?
In this case study, new engineering students are introduced to the discipline of engineering by illustrating the roles of various types of engineers in a large engineering project, the intelligent transportation system, that has the potential to impact many aspects of society. This case is designed to be used in a freshman introduction to engineering course, in which students are typically introduced to a variety of concepts across engineering disciplines.


The Al Pollard Culinary Arts Program offers new opportunities for its students.
There's exciting news for Culinary Arts students. The Al Pollard Culinary Arts Program at Virginia Western, located in the Claude Moore Higher Education Campus on Henry Street, expanded in August.
The expansion has three brand new kitchens that gleam with stainless steel state-of-the-art equipment. Chef Jim Zeisler, Sr., CEC, CCA, CDM, CFP, Program Head, along with John Schopp CEC, CEPC, CCE, CCA and Ted Polfelt, CEC, CCA, the culinary instructors, each have a kitchen for their culinary specialties.
The school offers a career studies certificate in Baking and Pastry and an Associate's degree in culinary arts with a focus in Baking and Pastry. Career studies certificates are offered in Catering and Cake Decorating. The school offers Associate of Applied Science and Career Studies Certificate programs and is American Culinary Association (ACF) accredited.