this something that I can help with?
> importers do encoding conversions.
>> other cp125x and cp1521), which are Microsofts variants on ISO8859.
>> Many people mistakenly refer to cp1250 as Latin-1. It is not.
>> will not be present.
> module is Codepage 1252.
> connection with Sword, we really mean Codepage 1252.
>> not looked lately ]).
> CP1252 to things like "ibm-1252" before using them on their systems.
> none of the importers are actually doing encoding conversions.


text:
Data Dashboards
For building applications that connect to industrial-strength servers, it's what's up front that counts
by Daniel Miles Kehoe
Part I: Front-end database tools
Pick your buzzword: Client-server computing. Enterprise computing. Distributed databases. Rightsizing. At NeXT, the au courant phrase is "operational productivity." It is an article of faith today that the best way to manage information resources is with centralized databases residing on networked servers and client applications manipulating the data from desktop computers. Gone are the days of mainframes and drone terminals; equally passÝ is the notion of managing organizational data on stand-alone or networked personal computers.
Client-server computing provides security, reliability, and flexibility by splitting applications into two parts: front-end client programs on locaworkstations, which interact with the user, and a back-end application server on a central computer that manages data, processing requests from clients and returning manageable sets of data across the network. Client-database applications make requests of data servers in Structured Query Language (SQL, often pronounced "sequel").
The lingua franca of client applications and servers from many vendors, SQL makes shared data possible. Servers may store data in peculiar file formats and know nothing of a client application, but they will respond to a SQL request by returning data to the client.
NeXT endorses this model with support from SQL servers such as Oracle and Sybase. The central hardware platform may be a specialized database server like the Sequent Symmetry, Pyramid MIServer, or Sun SPARCserver 690MP ± or (in smaller companies) it may be a workstation like the Data General AViiON, the IBM RS/6000, or the NeXTstation. On the client side, built-in networking makes NeXTSTEP ideal for connections to shared databases.
In Part I of this report on the NeXT database market, NeXTWORLD surveys client applications that speak SQL and connect to database servers. We will explore the world of database servers in Part II of this report in a future issue.
Databases defined
Computers may be data machines, but it takes database software to organize data. Flat-file database applications, such as Stone Design's DataPhile or Teledia's FileMaster, structure data in a single table, much like the rows and columns of a spreadsheet. The system is fine for simple lists and is easy to maintain, but as soon as one record has data that doesn't fit (a person with two phone numbers, for example, while all other records have only one), the single-table structure becomes cumbersome.
A relational database management system (RDBMS) allows the use of multiple tables. Names and customer IDs may form one table; phone numbers and customer IDs a second; and shipping addresses, billing addresses, and customer IDs yet another. When data is needed, relational tables are joined by a common key (the customer ID in our example). Tables can be kept to a manageable size and more closely resemble the unevenly structured real world.
Object-oriented database management systems (ODBMS) can model the real world even better. But there are no tables in an ODBMS; instead, containers hold objects comprised of data and behaviors. Objects are linked by chains of inheritance ± thus a request to an inventory object for a count of writing instruments yields both pens and pencils, and a request for pens yields fountain pens and blue ballpoints. Right now, relational-database applications are easier to implement, because ready-made RDBMS development environments are available, and perhaps because contemporary computer users find it easier to think of the world in terms of tables rather than taxonomies. For now, ODBMS clients must be custom-built by programmers.
Overlapping categories of database software add to the confusion. A PC product like Borland's Paradox is colloquially a "database," though it is really a software package that is used to build database applications. It comes packaged with its own relational database engine, a simple database-programming language, and data-entry and reporting-forms-generation tools. In the world of SQL databases, each of these functions is often sold as a separate product: a server, a fourth-generation programming language (4GL), an application generator, a screen painter, and query or reporting tools.
There is no application like Paradox for NeXTSTEP. Stone Design's DataPhile is a flat-file database application: It has an engine, plus forms-design tools, but no programming language (though one is promised for a future release). IP Design's Parabase uses a relational server (purchased separately) and includes forms-design tools but doesn't make use of a database-programming language. Only the combination of a third-party SQL server, NeXT's DBKit and third-party objects, and Objective-C can be compared to Paradox ± though the comparison is that of a construction project with a Lego set.
The right tool for the right job
As the "Database Clients" table shows, you'll need more than one application to round out a NeXTSTEP database management system (DBMS). In addition to SQL servers such as Sybase or Oracle, you'll need applications for data entry and reporting, database-administration tools, and perhaps, database-engineering aids. Also, users may ask for utilities to link analysis tools, such as spreadsheet applications, to databases.
Stand-alone applications designed for your industry may connect to SQL databases. Or you may decide to build your own DBMS clients for data entry, reporting, and analysis, using a database-shell application or NeXT's DBKit and its add-ons. Unlike word-processing or page-layout applications, which vary little across industries, you'll likely find that your DBMS must be tailored to fit your particular business, if it is to deliver gains in operational productivity.
Many NeXT customers use DBKit to build applications for accessing DBMS records. Although novices can build simple applications, sophisticated database-client applications using DBKit require Objective-C. (If you're ready to tackle programming with the DBKit, see the sidebar, "Approaches for Programmers.") Don't abandon hope if C and SQL are beyond you. A NeXTSTEP package such as IP Design's Parabase or the forthcoming Proponent from Proponent (see the sidebar, "Proponent in the Wings") can get you up and running a custom DBMS with no programming. At their best, these programs can be as easy to use as a flat-file database, but they tap the shared data of industrial-strength SQL relational-database servers.
Parabase, $695 from IP Design, provides everything, except for the SQL server, that you need to build a database application. The $695 version of Parabase is used to design forms; $349 run-time licenses can be deployed among users who do not need to modify designs. To build a database application, use Parabase to create an empty database on the SQL server and design a form, pulling fields off a palette and assigning a name and descriptive title to each field. As soon as the form is designed, you'll save it, storing a graphical description of the form in the UNIX file system and automatically creating the first table in your new database (each data entry field corresponds to a column in the table). Open the form and you are ready to enter data and query for specific records. You can output database records as reports by graphically building a form, using a report-layout panel to specify a sort order for records and summary data for aggregate groups.
Parabase's strong suit lies in its flexible forms and its basic database system-administration tools. Fields in your database can contain data in the form of fixed-length text, variable-length text, numbers, time and date, yes/no check boxes, graphics, whole files (making document-archiving applications possible), and an "electronic signature" field type that is used to build applications that require password-protected authorization of documents. One of Parabase's sample databases uses a scanned Federal Express form for a freight-tracking system, combining invisible fields and a background image. Validation of user-entered data can be specific to each field, and field data can be calculated from other fields (this requires acquaintance with SQL "select" statements ± though the statements can be created from a point-and-click editor). Table-based pick lists, combined with scripts triggered by buttons or custom menu items, flesh out a custom app.
Parabase handles enough database system administration to get any SQL-based application up and running. Point-and-click tools add and delete user accounts and modify permissions. Databases can be added or dropped, dedicated storage space can be increased, and disk mirroring or backup can be configured in one step. You'll need SQL skills or a stand-alone database-administration tool for more advanced operations. Parabase accommodates the relational-database model, albeit with some limitations. A single form can employ fields from more than one database table, as long as a field common to both tables is present. But Parabase 1.1 can't handle a common expression of a one-to-many relationship ± cases in which a single form shows a single record from one table and multiple records from another (sometimes called a "master detail" form). In the real world, you might need an invoice that accommodates a variable number of line items. IP Design plans to incorporate this feature as "multirecord blocks" in Parabase 2.0. In its favor, Parabase automatically maintains the referential integrity of the database.
If you're using Parabase to build a NeXTSTEP shell around an existing SQL database, you'll easily drop pre-existing tables and fields onto database forms. In fact, it may take only ten minutes to duplicate a character-based data-entry screen used on another platform. Migration from a PC- or Macintosh-based DBMS, however, may not be as easy. The version we reviewed imported only comma-and-quote delimited text files, though IP Design has plans to improve the flexibility of importing and exporting. Despite some limits, Parabase will be a godsend for many users, especially those who want to quickly build a database application around a SQL server without learning programming.
Spreadsheets as clients
Instead of building your own custom application, you can use a standard spreadsheet as a database front end. After all, the basic component of a relational database is a table, and spreadsheets are fancy tables. Put the two together, and you've got an intuitive database application. There's just one missing ingredient ± a way to transfer data to a spreadsheet from a SQL server. Two utilities, OTProvide for Lotus Improv, and DataLink for Oracle and Wingz, forge the link.
OTProvide, $850 for a single user with floating license, is a model NeXTSTEP application. Objective Technologies's product attaches to Improv and manifests as another set of Improv menus, allowing you to log onto a SQL server and open an inspector panel that displays all resident databases, tables in databases, and columns in tables. You won't see actual data until you click buttons to select columns and specify details of your database query, saving the instructions to a query file that you can recall or share with others. Execute the query and watch an empty Improv worksheet fill with the contents of the database you've selected. Improv users can manipulate models built on SQL data without learning the syntax of SQL, if an experienced user supplies a prebuilt query file. On your own, you may find that setting up a query requires confronting an unruly combination of file viewers and multipurpose inspectors, as well as a brush with SQL. We'd prefer to see a graphical representation of databases, with data only a double-click away. Nonetheless, we can't fault the functionality of OTProvide in combining the power of Improv and SQL databases.
DataLink for Oracle, $500 from Fusion Systems Group, links Informix Wingz spreadsheets to Oracle databases. Wingz's strong suit is its HyperScript programming language. Unlike macro functions in PC spreadsheets like Lotus 1-2-3 or Microsoft Excel, HyperScript is a full-featured procedural programming language, powerful enough to build decision support or executive-information systems.
DataLink is nothing more than a third-party HyperScript routine that adds database-access menus to Wingz and new functions to HyperScript. Placing the DataLink files in your Wingz folders creates a version of Wingz with menus for logging onto Oracle servers, selecting tables, specifying criteria for retrieving data, and copying columns of data into columns of the spreadsheet. By itself, it's convenient, but if you're handy with HyperScript, your imagination will soar. You could easily write your own HyperScript routine that logs onto a server, retrieves data from a table, and graphs the results. In fact, since HyperScript lets you create dialog boxes, a prompt could ask the user how recent the data should be and offer a choice of graph types (Wingz's other strong suit is more than 25 different charting choices). Fusion Systems has a version of DataLink for Sybase in beta; Wingz also directly supports Informix's own Informix-SE SQL server, which is an alternative to Sybase or Oracle under NeXTSTEP.
Mesa, $499 ($99 educational) from Athena Design, is a spreadsheet application that includes rudimentary SQL-query capabilities. A database menu includes a Query Inspector, which has fill-in-the-blank fields to establish a connection to server and database. The user types in pieces of a SQL "select" statement and specifies a range of spreadsheet rows to fill with retrieved data. It's possible to save the query specifications for reuse. You'll need to know how to construct a SQL "select" statement, but SQL querying doesn't cost extra for Mesa users. (Mesa is reviewed elsewhere in this issue of NeXTWORLD). The Appsoft Solution spreadsheet, scheduled to have shipped in January, also supports SQL queries, according to the company.
Database tools and utilities
Although SQL databases can be designed and maintained entirely from the UNIX terminal window, we found a crowd of NeXTSTEP query tools and administrative utilities, as well as one engineering tool. If you're new to SQL, these products can be a substitute for help from a SQL expert, and, by confining SQL commands to menu items and alert panels, flatten the learning curve.
DBCommander, $250 from DBSA, is a comprehensive database-administration utility. It implements almost all SQL administrative commands, including all their options, within a NeXTSTEP interface. There are eight main panels for administrative functions: security; configuration of server and database operational parameters; disk-device and database management; data import/export and Improv data transfer; database-consistency verification and error-log review; database backup; permission controls; server start-up/shutdown; and database-process control. Few database managers will use all functions often, but when administrative matters need attention it's easier to launch DBCommander than to hope one has entered an unfamiliar SQL command correctly on the command line. DBCommander will be particularly welcome if you have suddenly been assigned database-administration responsibility ± it offers a thorough, if daunting, introduction to administration tasks.
DBInspector, $349 from Black Market Technologies, is a database-query-and-update tool. The interface is a file viewer that looks much like the NeXTSTEP File Viewer, but hierarchically displays servers, databases, tables, columns, and the data in columns. Double-clicking a table name opens the DBEdit panel, a matrix that displays the columns from the table, allowing entry of new data. Data can be modified by double-clicking a column name or data in the file viewer, opening a DBQuery panel in which one specifies the desired records. The records are sent to the DBEdit panel, where they can be edited (alternatively, data can be sent to a text window or an empty Improv worksheet). Both the DBEdit and DBQuery panels show the SQL statements that underlie queries or updates, a "training wheels" feature that helps the novice. Both novices and experienced SQL programmers will appreciate DBInspector as a utility for data peeking and tweaking.
Objective DB Designer, free with the purchase of the $995 Objective DB Toolkit from Professional Software, is intended for database engineering and administration. Three windows serve as control panels for server administration, database administration, and documentation of database design. Server administration runs the gamut from basic (adding and deleting databases) to advanced (expanding data-storage allocation, setting backup and disk mirroring, and configuring parameters in the Sybase master database).
The structure of databases can be displayed and edited using an Inspector-like panel, allowing changes to table structure (including column data types and size), stored procedures, data-entry defaults and validation rules, and more. After one has made extensive engineering changes to a database, Objective DB Designer handily generates documentation either as easily readable reports or as SQL source code that can be used to recreate a database. The Objective DB Designer interface is a combination of inspectors and scrollable lists, and while we would have preferred a diagrammatic graphical interface, the interface is more polished than DBSA's DBCommander. The DBSA product has a few more functions (data transfer to text files or Improv, for example), but Objective DB Designer generates engineering documentation.
SchemaE, $2500 from Schema Research Corporation, is billed as a database-engineering tool, a NeXTSTEP version of the pencil-and-paper planning aids or computer-aided software and engineering (CASE) tools of salaried database managers. The rationale for tools such as these is irreproachable. Corporate databases may contain hundreds of tables and thousands of columns. In order to maintain relational efficiency and referential integrity, data must be normalized. Key columns must match, data must not be duplicated, and relationships between data entities must be explicit.
Until now, descriptions of database organization were kept in three-ring binders or in stand-alone CASE applications, not in the SQL servers themselves. SchemaE maps the inner territory of a SQL server, allows an administrator to reorganize and document the landscape, and saves the description back to the server for on-going reference and maintenance. We liked it because its click-and-drag graphical representation of SQL databases showed us the structure of our DBMS better than any other product in this roundup. We were able to quickly add and drop tables; add and drop columns; move columns; and copy columns, preserving data types and other attributes. We assigned primary keys and drew lines representing data relationships. Unfortunately, that's all we could do in the current version of SchemaE. It would be more useful if it also contained the administrative functionality of DBCommander or the querying power of DBInspector.
SqlBuddy, $499 for a single user with floating license, is another Objective Technologies product and solely a database-query tool ± allowing peeking but not tweaking. A Build Query panel is SqlBuddy's main window, allowing an unschooled user to select tables in databases. A click of the Execute button retrieves data, opening a text window that has the contents of the database table neatly displayed. The results can be saved in a text or RTF file. You can narrow a query in the Build Query panel, defining SQL "where" clauses by pointing and clicking, specifying sort orders, requesting unique results, aggregating data for summaries, and retrieving data from multiple tables (SQL "joins," which the on-line manual handily demystifies). A Query Inspector shows the SQL commands generated by the Build Query panel and allows editing of queries, including common administrative and query operations provided by SqlBuddy as prebuilt templates. We liked the interface but judged the overall utility of SqlBuddy limited, since it does not connect to analysis applications or allow data updating. SqlBuddy is a compact and handy can opener for databases, but at heart it's no more than a tool that eliminates the typing of SQL commands.
Stand-alone applications
Would you love to put SQL data to work without the expense of building a custom application? There is a wealth of NeXTSTEP applications that connect to SQL databases (the table "Speaking SQL" provides a sample). Some applications can be used in any industry, like Megatel GmbH's FLIG, a system for combining geographic data with maps. Other applications are more specialized, like Leading Market Technologies's EXPO worksheet, for analyses of financial time-series data. Accounting packages are particularly suited to use of shared data ± Datrix is shipping accounts-receivable and general-ledger software, with more applications coming from other vendors. Indeed, with the NeXT's DBKit simplifying connections to SQL servers, there may soon be more NeXTSTEP applications sharing data than not.
A workbench for data
It's inescapable that databases under NeXTSTEP require more work and more tools than the typical database applications on PCs or Macs. NeXTSTEP's advantage is the pooling of SQL-accessible data throughout an organization, with no limits to database growth ± in a phrase, industrial-strength applications. If your company's operational productivity requires client-server databases, you'll likely assign a team to program one or more custom front ends. For the person who oversees your databases, we'd recommend DBCommander or Objective DB Designer as administrative tools. Skilled users are likely to appreciate DBInspector for ad hoc querying and data updates. And Parabase is great for quick, uncomplicated database applications users can build themselves. Though none of the reviewed products is fully mature, they all show promise, and the time is ripe for building a database-development workbench.
Daniel Miles Kehoe is a NeXTWORLD contributing editor. He can be reached at dkehoe@nextworld.com.
"Speaking SQL" (Stand-alone database applications)
A sampling of applications that use shared data.
Datrix5
A conventional accounting package with a NeXTSTEP interface.
List Price: $695 per module (up to four Sybase connections); $1695 (up to 255 users); $2695 (source-code version)
Contact: Datrix, 33 W. Boxelder #104, Chandler, AZ 85224.
602/545-7421, 602/545-7419 fax; e-mail: bobby@datrix.com
A graphical worksheet for analyzing time-series data, using historical or real-time sources, intended for financial analysts, traders, and investment managers.
List Price: $3000 (historical data only); $5000 (real-time system)
Contact: Leading Market Technologies, One Kendall Sq., Cambridge, MA 02139.
617/494-4747, 617/577-8211 fax
FLIG
A geographical information system (GIS) for NeXTSTEP. Geographical objects appear against the backdrop of a scanned map. The user accesses database records (text, graphics) by clicking the objects or data lists. Simple demo available from ftp archives.
List Price: Free (via ftp only)
Contact: Megatel GmbH, Wiener Straûe 3, D-W2800 Bremen 33, Germany.
49/421/220.95.16 fax; e-mail: mhi@megatel.de
SIDEBAR: Approaches for Programmers
Your most productive database application will be the one you build yourself. You'll have full access to the entire NeXTSTEP environment unlike working on another platform with a 4GL, a high-level language designed for databases but which restricts access to the rest of your computer. NeXT's DBKit provides three essential ingredients: Adapters that link the DBKit to external servers; an Access Layer that presents a uniform application programming interface (API) for all Adapters, allowing programmers to maintain portability of applications among servers from various vendors; and a palette of Interface Builder objects, such as a database file viewer and an image-displaying object. Although you'll likely write to the Access Layer API, you'll probably supplement NeXT's own DBKit palette with objects from third-party vendors or develop your own interface objects.
Frontier's DBKit Companion Objects and spreadsheet matrices from Black Market Technologies are examples of third-party objects that can be used for database-application development in Interface Builder, though you'll use plenty of your own Objective-C in your application. Alternatively, if you know SQL but aren't comfortable with a lot of C, check out Professional Software's Objective DB Toolkit. It's a C-free substitute for NeXT's DBKit for the experienced SQL programmer.
If you've caught the object-oriented bug, VNP Software's AccessKit layers on top of NeXT's DBKit, mapping the traits of your own Objective-C classes directly to relational-database columns and tables. The product lets you build object-oriented applications directly on top of an existing RDBMS. Or you may want to start developing applications based on ODBMS technology from Versant Object Technology, Object Design, BKS Software, or Persistent Data Systems (NeXTWORLD will cover ODBMS development in a future issue). Whatever your approach, you'll get there faster with NeXTSTEP.
Database Clients
Shell application
Parabase 1.1
Servers: Sybase and Oracle
3.5 cubes (beta)
The only NeXTSTEP software that builds SQL database applications without programming. Despite a few missing pieces, it's easy to use and constructs quite elaborate applications.
IP Design, 201 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401.
310/394-1820, 310/393-7245 fax; e-mail info@ipdesign.com
Spreadsheet link
OTProvide 1.2
Servers: Sybase
3 cubes
Turns Improv models into powerful SQL applications, though OTProvide doesn't allow data entry or updating.
List Price: $499 (one machine); $850 (one user, floating license)
Objective Technologies, 7 Dey St. #1502, New York, NY 10007.
212/227-6767, 800/362-5328; 212/227-3567 fax; e-mail info@object.com
DataLink for Oracle Version 1.3
Servers: Oracle
Turns Wingz spreadsheets into powerful SQL applications.
Fusion Systems Group, 225 Broadway, 24th Fl., New York, NY 10007.
212/285-8001, 212/285-8705 fax; e-mail info@fsg.com
Mesa 1.1
(obtain cube rating from Lauriston review)
Mesa connects directly to databases through a primitive interface but requires familiarity with SQL. (The cube rating here applies to the entire application, as reviewed elsewhere in this issue.)
Athena Design, 17 Saint Mary's Ct., Boston, MA 02146.
617/734-6372, 617/734-1130 fax; e-mail info@athena.com
Administration/Engineering Utility
DBCommander 1.01
Distinguished by a reasonable price and comprehensive administrative panels, DBCommander needs a graphical make-over before it'll be an attractive NeXTSTEP product.
Contact: DBSA, 1525 Los Pueblos Rd., Los Alamos, NM 87544.
505/662-5619, 505/662-9944 fax; email: info@dbsa.com
DBInspector 2.0
A point-and-click query builder with a less-than-intuitive interface, DBInspector satisfactorily retrieves and updates data.
Black Market Technologies, 501 Hicks St. #307, Brooklyn, NY 11231.
718/522-5090; 415/474-7896 fax; e-mail: info@bmt.gun.com
Objective DB Designer 1.0
Intended for database administration and documentation, this utility is cluttered but useful.
Free with Objective DB Toolkit
Professional Software, 599 North Ave. #7, Wakefield, MA 01880.
617/246-2425, 617/246-1443 fax; e-mail: psi@logibec.com
SchemaE 1.0
3 cubes (beta)
It does little but does it well. The interface is elegant and the price may be acceptable when there's large databases to design.
Schema Research Corporation, 460 Seaport Ct. #202, Redwood City, CA 94063.
415/368-8477; 206/783-4762; 415/368-8479 fax; e-mail: products@LSC.com
SqlBuddy 1.0.1
2.5 cubes
Without an ability to update data on its own, SqlBuddy is graced by an attractive interface and limited utility.
$179 (one machine); $499 (one user, floating license)
212/227-6767, 800/362-5328, 212/227-3567 fax; e-mail: info@object.com
SIDEBAR: Proponent in the Wings
At Swiss Bank Corporation/O'Connor Associates (SBC/OC), the database-application development environment of choice is neither NeXT's DBKit nor IP Design's Parabase. SBC/OC is using Proponent, an application from a company of the same name.
"Parabase makes a good forms generator," says Jeff Kvam, head of SBC/OC's NeXTSTEP office-automation project. "Proponent can better handle the full life cycle of defining and building our databases." Proponent extends the familiar metaphor of the spreadsheet to represent databases. In comparison, the form is the interface metaphor for Parabase; query tools such as DBInspector or SqlBuddy use a combination of NeXTSTEP browsers and inspectors; and SchemaE represents databases diagrammatically. Arguably, Proponent's spreadsheet approach offers no inherent advantage, but in the prerelease version that SBC/OC uses, Kvam says Proponent offers genuine advantages over Parabase.
"We found that Proponent can handle more complex problem sets. Our applications use multiple joins, a variety of tables, and tons of one-to-many, or even one-to-many-to-many relationships," says Kvam. He claims that Proponent easily accommodates relational complexities, including the prototypical example of an invoice with a varying number of line items. More importantly, says Kvam, design of a Proponent application begins with legacy data, not a blank form.
"We're working with real data from the start, so we talk with users about ways to organize the data, not make pretty forms. It helps that using Proponent is a quick, iterative process. A manager who understands a business problem can sit down with our database expert and together they'll design an application, often in an afternoon. That's very different from typical database programming, where a programmer who doesn't know anything about inventory tracking, for example, comes back three months later with an application that doesn't fit the user's needs." Kvam says, adding that Proponent's architecture simplifies adapting applications as needs change.
Although you might be as intrigued as NeXTWORLD about this product's promise, Proponent is only available to select customers. Bob Beth, president of Proponent, explains that only a handful of large NeXTSTEP customers are using the product.
"We'd love to see everyone using it, but we're going to take the time to get it right. Industrial-strength databases are a complex problem space and the software can require a lot of support, so we want to be sure we're ready when the time comes." Beth declined to state when the product would be generally available.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
describe FlareUp::OptionStore do

  describe '.store_option' do
    it 'should store the specified option' do
      FlareUp::OptionStore.store_option('name', 'value')
      expect(FlareUp::OptionStore.get('name')).to eq('value')
    end
  end

  describe '.store_options' do
    it 'should store all the options' do
      FlareUp::OptionStore.store_options(:o1 => 'v1', :o2 => 'v2')
      expect(FlareUp::OptionStore.get(:o1)).to eq('v1')
      expect(FlareUp::OptionStore.get(:o2)).to eq('v2')
    end
  end

  describe '.get_options' do
    let(:options) {{:o1 => 'v1', :o2 => 'v2'}}
    it 'should return all options' do
      FlareUp::OptionStore.store_options(options)
      expect(FlareUp::OptionStore.get_options).to eq(options)
    end
  end

  describe '.clear' do
    it 'should remove all options' do
      FlareUp::OptionStore.store_option('name', 'value')
      FlareUp::OptionStore.clear
      expect(FlareUp::OptionStore.get('name')).to eq(nil)
    end
  end

end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Melissa Peterman
Jump to: Overview (3) | Mini Bio (1) | Spouse (1) | Trivia (5)
Born July 1, 1971 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
Birth Name Melissa Margaret Peterman
Height 5' 10" (1.78 m)
Mini Bio (1)
Actress, Melissa Peterman, is from Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. After graduating from Minnesota State University with theater as one of her majors, she was cast as "Madeline Monroe" in Hey City Theater's production of "Tony & Tina's Wedding". After more than 600 performances, she went on to work as a writer and performer at the improvisational comedy theater, "The Brave New Workshop". While with "The Brave New Workshop", she also performed at the "Chicago Improv Festival" and the "Big Stink Comedy Festival" in Austin, Texas. She made her film debut, with character role, "Hooker #2" in the Coen brothers' Oscar-winning movie, Fargo (1996). On TV, she appeared in the Oxygen sketch comedy show, Running with Scissors (2000) and guest-starred on Just Shoot Me! (1997). Actress, Melissa Peterman lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband & actor, John Brady + their son, Riley David Brady. The duo became parents on Thursday, October 20th, 2005. Their parenthood began 2,329 days, (332 weeks & 5 days), after their matrimony occurred on Saturday, June 5th, 1999.
Melissa Peterman's date of birth, Thursday, July 1st, 1971, & her motherhood date, Thursday, October 20th, 2005, differs 12,600 days, equaling 1,800 weeks exactly.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: Ryan McIntosh
John Brady (5 June 1999 - present) ( 1 child)
Appeared with her husband, John Brady, cast-mate Christopher Rich (Reba (2001)) and his wife, Eva Halina Rich, on TLC's Trading Spaces (2000). [2003]
Baby boy named Riley David, was born Thursday, October 20, 2005, at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles and weighed in at 8 lbs. 5 oz.
Was a bridesmaid in Reba (2001) co-star JoAnna Garcia Swisher's wedding, along with Reba (2001) co-star, Reba McEntire, who also served as one of JoAnna's bridesmaids.
Melissa worked with (the late) Ryan Mouritsen on both Reba (2001) and Rita Rocks (2008). They had a good friendship.
Good friends with her Reba (2001) co-stars Reba McEntire, Christopher Rich, and JoAnna Garcia Swisher.
Other Works | Publicity Listings | Official Sites
View agent, publicist, legal and company contact details on IMDbPro
Game Show Hosts
cast for a remake of Planes, Trains and automobiles
My favorite actresses
Sexiest women: 40+


text:
S/S Hjejlen är en dansk hjulångare i stål, baserad i Silkeborg.

S/S Hjejlen byggdes 1861 på Baumgarten & Burmeisters Maskinbyggeri, senare Burmeister & Wain, i Köpenhamn. 150-årsjubileum firades med pompa och ståt 2011.

Hjejle är danska för ljungpipare.

Referenser
Ångbåtstidtabell 2008, utgiven av Sveriges Ångbåtsförening

Noter

Externa länkar
Om Hjejlen på Axel Nelsons webbplats
En attraktion i verdensklasse Fartygets hemsida

Danska ångfartyg
Silkeborg

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Comment on: Scoping review and international multi-centre cohort study investigating teaching, knowledge and beliefs regarding physical activity as a health intervention among medical students: A comparison between Singapore and the UK
Singapore Med J 2019; 60(12): 655
doi: https://doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2019161
Laura Pattison1, James Mason1, Anvay Deshpande1
Author Information > Copyright and License information >
1Warwick Medical School, Warwick University, Coventry, United Kingdom
Laura.pattison8 gmail.com
Copyright: © Singapore Medical Association
As medical students in the United Kingdom (UK), we read with interest the article by Chew et al on physical activity (PA) as a health intervention.(1) We were shocked to read that 74% of UK students had not received any formal teaching in discussing PA with patients and, even more so, that only 10% had observed a doctor giving PA advice. In contrast, we received formal training on this in our first year and are expected to put it into practice from the outset.
We follow the National Health Service England's Making Every Contact Count (MECC) initiative,(2) which encourages staff to undertake brief health interventions during everyday consultations. The method used in MECC is the four 'As': ask, acknowledge, advise and assist. This simple and memorable structure helps clinicians to build confidence in broaching what can be an uncomfortable topic. Additionally, there is a pocketbook for health professionals that gives example statistics and facts to help standardise advice given to patients.(3)
With such an effective tool, what then accounts for this variation in PA interventions in the UK? A major factor is low awareness of the MECC initiative, particularly among general practitioners (GPs), those best placed to support behavioural change.(4) We feel that we can look to medical students for a practical solution: provided that students receive rigorous training in PA interventions, as we have, we may pass on our knowledge and awareness to staff in our GP placements. As the authors acknowledge, learning by observation is a powerful tool. Thus, the simple act of students practising PA interventions in clinics may be greatly influential.
1. Chew EJC, Ho YN, Kee GJ, Sirisena D.Scoping review and international multi-centre cohort study investigating teaching, knowledge and beliefs regarding physical activity as a health intervention among medical students:a comparison between Singapore and the UK. Singapore Med J. 2019;60:642-51.
2. Health Education England Making Every Contact Count [online]. Available at: https://www.makingeverycontactcount.co.uk. Accessed September 5 2019.
3. Health Education England A Pocket Guide to Making Every Contact Count in Healthcare [online]. Available at: https://www.makingeverycontactcount.co.uk/media/1040/012-mecc-pocketbook-for-healthcare-staff-june-15.pdf. Accessed September 5 2019.
4. Keyworth C, Epton T, Goldthorpe J, Calam R, Armitage CJ.Are healthcare professionals delivering opportunistic behaviour change interventions?A multi-professional survey of engagement with public health policy. Implement Sci. 2018;13:122.
1. Chew EJC, Ho YN, Kee GJ, Sirisena D. Scoping review and international multi-centre cohort study investigating teaching, knowledge and beliefs regarding physical activity as a health intervention among medical students: a comparison between Singapore and the UK. Singapore Med J 2019; 60:642-51.
https://doi.org/10.11622/smedj.2019051
2. Health Education England. Making Every Contact Count [online]. Available at: https://www.makingeverycontactcount.co.uk. Accessed September 5, 2019.
3. Health Education England. A Pocket Guide to Making Every Contact Count in Healthcare [online]. Available at: https://www.makingeverycontactcount.co.uk/media/1040/012-mecc-pocketbook.... Accessed September 5, 2019.
4. Keyworth C, Epton T, Goldthorpe J, Calam R, Armitage CJ. Are healthcare professionals delivering opportunistic behaviour change interventions? A multi-professional survey of engagement with public health policy. Implement Sci 2018; 13:122.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-018-0814-x
PMid:30241557 PMCid:PMC6151030


Stabilizers and emulsifiers, especially in frozen desserts, is a MUST to preserve shelf-life, and improve the structure and stability of frozen desserts to prevent iciness or rapid melting. PreGel Texture Improvers are key for obtaining optimal texture in frozen dessert recipes affected by the amount of fats, sugar, water, and flavor utilized. PreGel Stabilizers increase viscosity, improve the smoothness of the product body, and prevent ice crystal formation and melting.


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Jan Raszka ist der Name folgender Personen:

* Jan Raszka (Bildhauer) (1871–1945), polnischer Bildhauer und Maler
 Jan Raszka (Nordischer Kombinierer) (1928–2007), polnischer Nordischer Kombinierer


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Weeknote, Sunday 8th January 2023
This was the first week back at work since the middle of December, so it was a bit of a shock to the system. Good to see everyone I work with, though.
The good news was that my MacBook Pro was brought back from the dead by our local independent Apple dealer. It had been dead for several months after a failed update to Ventura (thanks largely to our poxy broadband), which led to a strange "cryptographic error" happening every time it tried to update anything. I assume this was down to the disk encryption going wonky, but I decided to nuke the whole thing from orbit (it's the only way to be sure) and reinstall Monterey, then make a fresh attempt to update.
Of course, that update failed too. So I tried wiping the whole disk and promptly lost the ability to see it, even via Target Disk Mode. Once I had tried using Apple Configurator to fix it — the last option available — and that had failed, it was time to bring in the experts. And a day later, I had a working, upgraded, very blank MacBook Pro.
It's been good to get back to using a Mac laptop after quite a while when I didn't really have one (my old MacBook Air is also in need of a wipe and install), using Mac-native tools like Ulysses rather than cross-platform ones. And the Pro has a 16in screen, which feels much less cramped than the 14in one on my ThinkPad. Even though it's the last generation of Intel Macs, it's still an excellent machine with a few years of life left in it.
This has been a bit of a frustrating writing week. I reached an impasse with the Alice and God story, which I started before Christmas because I had done a rough outline of the plot but reached the point where I needed to flesh it out a bit more – and I was trying to write my way through it instead. That doesn't really work for me: I either need to know nothing about what's going on (in which case I discover it through writing) or have a reasonably solid idea of what a scene is supposed to do in the plot (in which case I can give it some direction). So back to the plotting board!
And because I love tinkering around with tools, I will start using Ulysses again rather than Scrivener. Don't get me wrong — Scrivener is an excellent application for putting together anything long-form — but I think it's a bit fussy, and I like the idea of having all my writing in one place. At the moment, it's split between Ulysses and Obsidian (blog posts and short-form) and Scrivener (long-form), and it's not quite gelling for me.
Reading and watching
Also, a quiet week for reading: I restocked the unread books stack with a few items.
← Previous Post Yearnote, 2022
Next Post → Weeknote, Sunday 15 January 2023
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Background: Anesthesia for abdominal myomectomy remains a challenge in the developing countries. Easy adaptability and proper utilization of available resources are essential features desired for the Anesthetists working in developing countries, in there to provide anesthetic services. Thus, there is a need to audit the anesthetic practice for abdominal myomectomy over the period of 5 years in our institution. Methods: This retrospective study was done, following the approval of Research and Ethics Committee of Federal Medical Centre Owerri. The surgical theatre registers recordings were used, and we reviewed all our patients who had abdominal myomectomy from 1st January 2009 to 31st December 2013 in Federal Medical Centre Owerri, Imo State - Nigeria, and the type of anesthesia they received were recorded. Results: A total of 202 anesthetic services were offered for abdominal myomectomy during the period of January 1st,2009 to December 31st,2013 in our Institution. Seventy nine percent of them were general anesthesia, while 15%, 4.5% and 1.5% were spinal anesthesia, spinal with general anesthesia combination, and combination of spinal and epidural anesthesia respectively. Conclusion: This study revealed that in our Institution the most available anesthetic service for abdominal myomectomy is general anesthesia. In the recent time, combined spinal epidural anesthesia is emerging, and this offers the benefit of analgesia even in prolong surgery and postoperative period.


Today Audi presented the diesel-powered Audi nanuk quattro concept show car at the IAA in Frankfurt.
With this crossover concept, Audi wants to combine the dynamics of a high-performance sports car with the company's quattro expertise on the road, on the race track and also off-road.
Audi's V10 TDI engine has been chosen for power and efficiency.
Audi said it developed the Audi nanuk quattro concept show car in collaboration with designers from Italdesign Giugiaro. The result is defined by Audi as a sports car for any stage of life and for any surface – equally at home on the race track, the highway or a winding country road as it is off-road in the sand or in the snow; it's crossover concept combines the dynamics of a mid-engine sports car with the versatility of a sporty recreational vehicle.
The two-seater is powered by a newly developed V10 TDI installed longitudinally in front of the rear axle. The 5.0-liter diesel engine produces over 544 horsepower and delivers 737.56 pound-feet of torque to the crankshaft at 1,500 rpm; the twin-turbo register charging unit is controlled via the Audi valvelift system (AVS) while the common rail system operates at an injection pressure of 2,500 bar. A beefed-up seven-speed S tronic transmission located behind the engine transfers the torque to a specially designed quattro drivetrain.
The Audi nanuk quattro concept has a curb weight of around 4,188.78 pounds and sprints from 0 to 62 mph in 3.8 seconds with a top speed of 189.52 mph. The thermal management with its separate cooling loops and the steplessly regulated oil pump contribute to a fuel consumption of 7.8 liters per 100 kilometers (30.16 US mpg) on average.
The adaptive air suspension with electronically controlled dampers features a next generation technology from Audi. The driver can manually adjust the ground clearance of the Audi nanuk quattro concept in three stages: normal, 30 millimeters (1.18 in) lower or 40 millimeters (1.57 in) higher. The system also controls the level of the body itself based on driving speed and the predictive route data supplied by the navigation system. On the highway, for example, the body remains lowered even when the Audi nanuk quattro concept is moving slowly. It is automatically raised when turning onto a gravel road.
Another technological highlight of the show car is the integral steering, which is said to resolve the classic conflict between dynamic handling and stability. The system combines the proven Audi dynamic steering at the front axle, which among other things can intervene at the cornering limit for enhanced stability, with supplemental steering for the rear wheels. Separate actuators activate the two active track rods.
Body-wise, a large rear window exposes the TDI engine. The entire rear bodywork can be flipped upward in one piece like with a race car for maintenance work. The occupants' luggage is stored at the front of the car, where there is room for two trolleys or a golf bag.


Just like comprehensive car insurance, private health insurance covers you for the unexpected. Unlike car insurance, there are dozens of day-to-day health treatments you can claim back. It's not all about the big stuff: what about gym membership, or a massage?
Private health insurance is a great way to cover the costs of the treatments to improve your health and wellbeing.
Medicare is the public healthcare system, funded by a levy. Australian citizens - and most permanent residents - are eligible for Medicare.
Whilst Medicare will pay towards many things - such as a visit to the doctor, an eye test, or being a public patient in a public hospital - there are many things it won't cover.
These include the cost of an ambulance, glasses and contact lenses, most dental treatments, physiotherapy, non-PBS prescriptions, and other day-to-day health services. It can also leave you with a gap - the difference between the cost of a doctor's appointment, for example, and what the doctor actually charges.
Private health insurance gives you the freedom to choose the treatment you want, when and where you want it - and have much, if not all, of the costs covered.
Private health insurance comes in three types of cover: Hospital, Extras and Ambulance.
With Hospital cover, you can choose the hospital and the doctor you want. You also get to choose when you want to be admitted (subject to availability).
Hospital cover includes benefits for things like accommodation, theatre and labour ward fees, doctor/surgeon fees, emergency ambulance transport - and more.
Check out our Hospital cover page for more details.
This is cover for those looking to improve their overall health and wellbeing. It includes services such as dental, optical, physiotherapy, dietitian, chiropractic, massage therapy and more.
There are limits for what will be paid under your cover, so check out our Extras cover page for more information.
Depending on which state you live in, this covers you for emergency ambulance transport - which can be costly, and not covered by Medicare.
To find out more, visit our Ambulance cover page.
A trip to hospital can cost thousands of dollars.
A trip in an ambulance - even in an emergency - can be very expensive. Call-out fees alone are hundreds of dollars.
By taking out hospital cover, you could also save money by avoiding the Medicare Surcharge Levy, and Lifetime Health Cover Loading (if these apply to you).
Yet, for a few dollars a day, you can reduce your potential for unexpected expenses, and enjoy peace of mind. If something happens, you're covered.


Croatia's climate follows two patterns: Mediterranean on the coast, with warm summers and mild winters, and continental inland – slightly hotter during the summer, and extremely cold in winter, with average daily temperatures barely scraping freezing from December to February. July and August constitute the peak season on the Adriatic, and this is definitely the best time to visit Croatia if busy beaches and lively café society are what you're looking for. Many Croats make their way to the coast at this time, and social and cultural activity in the inland cities tends to dry up as a result. Peak-season daytime temperatures can be roasting, however, both on the coast and inland, and dawn-to-dusk sightseeing can be a gruelling experience. Accommodation soon fills up at the height of summer, and it may be more relaxing to travel in June or September, when there is significantly less pressure on facilities. From October to May the coast can be very quiet indeed, and many hotels and tourist attractions may well shut up shop for the winter. Autumn is a good time to enjoy inland Istria and national park areas like the Plitvice Lakes and the River Krka, when the woodland colours produced by the mixture of deciduous and evergreen trees are at their best. Given the innocuous winters on the Adriatic coast, urban sightseeing in historic centres such as Zadar, Split and Dubrovnik can be enjoyable at this time, and it's also worth bearing in mind that hotel prices on the Adriatic may be over fifty percent cheaper than in peak season. Winters inland are a different kettle of fish entirely: snow is common here over this period, and transport in highland areas is frequently disrupted as a result – though it can also be a picturesque backdrop to sightseeing. Spring is well into its stride by mid-March: warm, dry weather makes this a great time to go cycling, hiking or touring the cultural sights, and in southern Dalmatia the sea might be warm enough to swim in by mid- to late May.


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Current pageThe Unilever Compass: our next game-changer for business
The Unilever Compass: our next game-changer for business
Authored by Alan Jope
Now more than ever is the time for action. Our journey towards making sustainable living commonplace for the world's 8 billion people continues.
Alan was appointed Chief Executive Officer in January 2019. As CEO of Unilever, Alan is responsible for leading one of the world's largest and most geographically diverse consumer goods businesses, with presence in 190 countries, serving 2.5 billion people every day.
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This year marks the ten-year anniversary of our Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP). It comes at a difficult and unusual time, with millions around the world reeling from the devastating human and economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
We have learnt much in recent months. Not least, we have a new appreciation for who really are the heroes in society. The frontline health care workers, of course. And others too, from factory workers and truck drivers to supermarket staff and delivery people. Their selflessness and dedication are truly awe-inspiring.
Building a better future: our ongoing purpose
At the same time, the pandemic has brought many of the world's ongoing challenges into sharp focus. I'm talking about today's big issues, like the climate emergency, rampant social inequality and the terrifying spectre of ecosystem collapse. If we are to address these challenges and build a better future, then a new model of capitalism will be needed.
It was this same determination to create a more sustainable way of doing business in which people and the planet mattered that led us to launch the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) ten years ago. The plan set out three big goals to transform our social, environmental and economic performance across the value chain.
Underpinned by multiple commitments and time-bound targets, the USLP represented a first-of-its-kind plan, in terms of its breadth, size, scope and ambition. At the time, we had no clue how we might achieve all these goals, although we knew it would take immense ingenuity, dedication and collaboration.
Looking back, it has been quite some journey. Some goals we have met, while others we have missed – and we have certainly become a better business for trying. So, while I am immensely proud of all the great things we've achieved, I am equally conscious of all that we still have to do.
USLP journey: a ten-year learning curve
Many highlights exist from the last ten years. If I had to make a selection, then one would definitely be the growth of our purpose-led brands – like Dove, Lipton, Hellmann's, Omo, Seventh Generation and Pukka tea. These 'sustainable living brands', as we call them, have continuously and consistently outperformed the average growth rate of Unilever.
Other success stories include the cost savings we have achieved – over €1 billion since 2008 – by improving water and energy efficiency in our factories, and by using less material and producing less waste. Another remarkable statistic is the almost 90% of employees who feel proud to work for Unilever – a reflection, I believe, of our commitment to sustainability and building a better world.
Photo by Unilever employee Yanamurti Nindya, Indonesia
Our USLP journey has also presented us with many hurdles. We have many programmes to improve livelihoods and to enhance opportunities for women, for instance, but measuring their actual impact has proved extremely difficult. Likewise, the complexity of many of the global supply chains that we source from has made our sustainable sourcing targets extra challenging.
We always knew it wouldn't be a smooth ride. With that in mind, we have consistently sought to view hurdles less as setbacks and more as opportunities for learning new lessons. One critical lesson from the last decade has been the importance of remaining flexible. In a world in which change is inevitable, being nimble and open to new approaches is key to staying ahead of the curve.
Perhaps the most important lesson of the last decade relates to systems change. As a company, we can do much to mitigate the impacts of our direct operations. Yet the bulk of our footprint – be it social or environmental – occurs outside our four walls. To reach our sustainability goals, therefore, we need to work with others to change how key systems such as water and energy are structured.
After a decade, the USLP is drawing to a close. But let me be clear: this is not the end. Our journey towards making sustainable living commonplace for the world's 8 billion people continues.
This is definitely not the end. Our journey towards making sustainable living commonplace for the world's 8 billion people very much still continues.
Unilever Compass: our new, fully integrated corporate strategy
Now more than ever is the time for action. The pressures on the planet are getting worse and social inequality has reached a critical point – a reality made even more severe by the pandemic we are currently experiencing.
So, as we consider our next steps, what priorities should we focus on? We put this question to 40,000 employees and hundreds of external stakeholders. This listening exercise set us three key challenges: to drive purpose and encourage behaviour change through more of our brands; to embed sustainability further into every part of our business; and to do more to actively bring others along with us.
I am convinced that these three action areas will deliver the highest possible value not just to us as a business, but to all our stakeholders. This is why we are making them central to the Unilever Compass – our new, fully integrated corporate strategy.
The Compass very much builds on the past ten years of the USLP: the successes, the failures and the lessons learnt. It lays the pathway for us to realise our vision of being the leader in sustainable business globally – as well as to finally putting to bed the debate of whether sustainability is good for business.
Giving focus to the Compass will be 15 multi-year priorities that cover the full spectrum of our business and wider ecosystem. We are still finalising all these priorities and their associated targets, but I can confirm that they will be more holistic, inclusive and far-reaching than ever before.
Similarly, we will put in place a new set of industry-leading, company-wide sustainability commitments for all our brands. These commitments will tackle the key challenges of our time, such as packaging and waste, gender equality, human rights and fair value – plus, of course, climate change and social inclusion.
Repairing capitalism: a model for our collective future
As we look forward to the future, none of us really know what the world will look like after Covid-19. But I am convinced that there will be no future unless we double down on our commitments to look after people and the planet.
Globalisation and capitalism are good for a business like ours, but globalisation and capitalism at the expense of people and the planet are not.
It's therefore up to businesses like us – working with NGOs, government organisations, academics, suppliers, customers and other partners – to drive a new model of capitalism, and build a better future.
Main photo by Unilever employee Dariusz Solowinski, Poland


Welcome to my BetFan Review, Betfan is tipster platform with hundreds of services available across a multitude of different sports. The sports covered by betfan tipsters include Horse Racing, Football, Cricket, Golf, Tennis as well as many other sporting events.
Service Cost: Numerous services on offer covering all sports with free trials and more some premium services can cost upwards of £40 per month.
Betfan also offers a free tipster package which costs absolutely nothing to claim. It is called Mega 4 and you can claim your free tips package here.
BetFan is one of the biggest tipping platforms on the internet we a huge following of over 50,000 strong its easy to see that there is a good reason for it. They cover all sports and have hundreds of tipster services, many of them are highly profitable even if betting at lower than advised stakes.
All of the tipsters on Betfan are put through the strict betfan proofing process over a period of 3 months or longer to make sure there selections are profitable.
There are two free tipster services too, Bet Kudos and Mega 4 both of which are well worth signing up for (all it costs is your email address to register) free tips are given every week at zero cost ever to you.
There are much more for other sports too just have a look around on their website and you will see there are hundreds of services with new ones being launched all the time. The good thing is that all tipsters on the Betfan platform are proofed for a period of around 3 months to ensure profitability this ensures that any service you do join has a very good chance of making you money.
Let's face it how many of us could show a profit from betting on horse racing or football after a period of 3 months..not many. The free tips package is a good thing to try out before you jump into paying for services a some can be quite expensive and to be honest some are not worth the price tag.
Keep an eye out for reduced prices from time to time as well as free trials as this is the best way to get a feel for a services profitability before you part with your hard-earned cash.
With nearly every sport covered and multiple trials and membership options available you will certainly find a tipster to suit your betting style and budget.
There are some services with over 1000 point sof profit in 2 years which is very very good and worth of your attention.
I think BetFan is a good platform and you will certainly find something to suit not only your budget but your profit targets when looking for a new tipster service.
Here is a selection of the best tipsters on the Betfan platform these are paid for services. You can also claim a free betfan tips package here.
Lucky 7 Naps – This service has delivered its members masses of profits on a regular basis and is based upon win selections only and has given an average of 50 points per week in profit since 2014.
Super Lucky 15 – Another horse racing tipster service yet this one offers its members Lucky 15 bets (4 selections with 4 win bets 6 doubles 4 trebles and a fourfold). Huge winnings can be had with these bets as you know and this service has amassed over 250 points in profit since late 2016.
Favourite Plays – This is a horse racing tips profile on Betfan that offers spread betting tips for horse racing meetings in the UK.
The service has produced over 600 points of profit in just over 6 months at the time of writing and if you like spread betting on horses this could be the tipster for you.
The Champagne Kid – A horse racing tipster that has delivered over 1000 points of profit in just under 2 years is pretty impressive. Massive odds winners are a regular theme here with winners at odds of 33/1 and above.
A good old fashioned horse tipping profile that delivers long term.
Two Percent Club – another horse racing tipster which is basically one of many profitable horse tipsters on the Betfan platform.
Chepa to join and stay a member and has delivered over 400 points in just over 2 years (to £10 stakes that's over £4000).
Bet Fairway – You may have guessed by the name that this is a golf tipster. This is a long-running service, in fact, it has been going for over 5 years and during that time it has brought its members 1,653.84 points of profit between February 2014 and February 2019.
Another thing to consider with this platform is bet fan plus where you can filter out the very best tipsters on offer. I have no doubts you can find something to tickle your fancy at betfan.
Have you used The BetFan Service? Please create your own review and leave star ratings on upon your findings when being a member of this service. This enables other readers to make an informed decision on joining the tipster in question.
These guys know what they are doing the free tips at times excel even tips I have paid for! Betfan I owe you big time.
For a free tips package, it is pretty good and I would certainly join some of their services based on the results I have seen.
The horse racing tips are of a high standard and I think I will possibly try out some of the premium tipsters when I see a free trial like your Betfan review states.


Prevention and treatment of rejection reactions in transplantation of kidney, heart, pancreas or liver.
CONTRAINDICATIONS – documented allergy to rabbit proteins. – Acute infectious diseases of viral or other etiology.
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS – Use of the drug during pregnancy is not recommended. – The development of anaphylactoid reactions when using the drug is a contraindication to its further introduction. – In order to assess the risk of anaphylactic shock, the first introduction for 1 hour can be administered intravenously test dose in 1/10 volume of the vial after dilution in 100 ml of saline (saline or dextrose). This test should be conducted under strict medical supervision in the conditions of the possibility of immediate intensive care. In the event of an anaphylactic reaction, immediately stop the infusion and in the future not to renew it.
The introduction should be carried out by a slow continuous infusion. Rapid infusion of less than 4 hours is unacceptable.
When using TIMOGLOBULIN drug is not administered simultaneously or using the same infusion set or blood derivatives and lipid solutions (intravenously).
During the infusion needs constant medical supervision. In case of severe anaphylactoid reaction, the infusion should be discontinued.
At transplantation, the treatment should be interrupted if the blood platelet count is below 50,000 / mm 3.
In the case of neutropenia, the dosage should be reduced or use of the preparation should be discontinued.
During the period of treatment should be carried out daily monitoring of peripheral blood counts, and after completion of the drug should be monitored peripheral blood counts and kidney function for 2 weeks.
Implemented inadvertently overdose can cause leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia.Prolonged use drug can cause serious infections, increase the risk of lymphoma.
Drug Interactions – Concomitant use of other immunosuppressants and dangerous because of the possibility of too strong immunosuppression. – Live attenuated vaccines: during the use of the drug is contraindicated immunization data vaccines due to the risk of generalized systemic infections (which can be fatal).
Clenbuterol side effects introduced in / into a large vein with large bloodstream after dissolution using the supplied alpha pharma solvent and subsequent dilution in isotonic saline or dextrose solution (usually 50 ml per vial preparation). For prevention for 1 hour anaphylactoid reactions to a first infusion / are introduced in antihistamines and corticosteroids. Rapid infusion duration of less than 4 hours is not admissible.
Prevention of rejection reactions: from 1.25 to 2.5 mg / kg body weight daily for 1-3 weeks after kidney transplantation, pancreas or liver and for 3-10 days and after heart transplantation. Treatment clenbuterol reviews can be terminated without the gradual decrease in the daily dose.
Treatment of acute rejection reactions or syndrome "graft-versus-host disease."2.5-5 mg / kg body weight per day to improve the clinical and laboratory characteristics.
Aplastic anemia 2.5-5 mg / kg body weight per day for 5 days.
ADVERSE REACTIONS – temperature reaction, chills, skin rash. – Thrombocytopenia, neutropenia. – By the end of the first week of administration of the drug dianabol for sale uk may develop serum sickness. Continued treatment depends on the degree of its severity. – During or immediately after infusion anaphylactoid clenbuterol side effects reactions may occur, accompanied by a fall in blood pressure, respiratory disorders, fever and hives. The appearance of these symptoms requires the introduction of glucocorticoids or correct ongoing steroid therapy. These symptoms most frequently observed after the first injection and weaker the further use of the drug. The development of acute anaphylactic reaction is a strict contraindication to further the introduction of the drug clenbuterol.


Ben Mirin is an explorer and music producer who travels the world recording the sounds of nature. He creates music from those sounds to inspire and teach people about the natural world. Ben's compositions draw inspiration from the finely tuned orchestras that have evolved in nature. Most recently in Madagascar, Ben works on location. The sounds in his music are excerpts of his own scientific field recordings, creating anthems to each site's natural heritage that capture what it really sounds like to be there. As a National Geographic Explorer and Safina Fellow, Ben leads expeditions to record wildlife and make music with local musicians to inspire conservation through culture, communication and creativity. Back home in the US, he is the creator and host of the television series WILD BEATS on National Geographic Kids and Nat Geo Wild, the first Artist in Residence at the Bronx Zoo, and a collaborator at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. He lives in Brooklyn, NY.


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4,220 Publications Found
An Initial Look at Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Local Government Fiscal Condition
May 12, 2021 - In this analysis we examine what is known about the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on local governments' fiscal condition.
Impact of COVID-19 on Health Care Access
May 7, 2021 - This post describes how coronavirus disease 2019 has affected access to health care in California through the earliest months of 2021. Contrary to expectations in light of the high level of pandemic-induced job losses, we find that health care coverage has either remained steady or potentially increased during the pandemic. We explore reasons why health care coverage trends have defied expectations. However, health care employment and utilization both declined significantly, particularly in the early months of the pandemic. Although access to care is trending toward pre-pandemic levels, continued monitoring of these trends is warranted. We provide several policy options that the Legislature could consider for sustaining and improving access to care, such as funding or making policy changes to address a deficit in children's preventive services that has arisen among Medi-Cal-enrolled children during the pandemic.
COVID-19: American Rescue Plan's Major Health-Related Funding Provisions
May 6, 2021 - On March 11, 2021, the President signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP Act)—a $1.9 trillion coronavirus disease 2019 relief package. This post highlights the health-related provisions of the ARP Act that provide significant funding directly to state/local health care and public health agencies, rural hospitals, home- and community-based services programs, subsidized individual market health coverage programs, and public behavioral health services. Where possible, based on currently available information, we provide an estimate of the funding allocations to California governments and other entities in the state. While this post reflects our best understanding of the high-level content and implications of this legislation as of late April, we will update the post as new information and clarifications become available.
Estimated Cost of Expanding Full-Scope Medi-Cal Coverage to All Otherwise-Eligible Californians Regardless of Immigration Status
May 5, 2021 - This budget and policy post responds to legislative requests for our office to estimate the costs of expanding comprehensive Medi-Cal coverage to all otherwise eligible Californians regardless of their immigration status. We estimate that nearly one million undocumented immigrants would gain full coverage under this expansion. Assuming a January 1, 2022 implementation, we estimate that the additional cost of expansion would be $790 million General Fund ($870 million total funds) in 2021-22. On an ongoing basis, we estimate the additional cost of the expansion would be $2.1 billion General Fund (nearly $2.4 billion total funds). Both our caseload and cost estimates are subject to significant uncertainty and rest on a number of key assumptions. Moreover, our ongoing estimates would be expected to change over time with medical inflation and changes in caseload and utilization.
Hearing Handout
How Did the State Respond to the Last Major Drought?
May 5, 2021 - Presented to: Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife Hon. Eduardo Garcia, Chair
A Framework for Allocating Federal Recovery Funds
May 4, 2021 - In the coming months, the Legislature will face important decisions over how to use California's share of the state fiscal recovery funds included in the American Rescue Plan (ARP). Estimated at approximately $26 billion, the recovery funds should go a long way toward covering the state's direct and indirect costs arising from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Moreover, beyond a relatively broad set of pandemic-related parameters, the ARP likely provides states with considerable flexibility over how to allocate the funds, presenting the Legislature with a unique opportunity. In this post, we lay out some guiding principles for the Legislature to consider as it formulates a plan for using the fiscal recovery funds.
Third Round of Federal Higher Education Relief Funding
May 3, 2021 - The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 is the third piece of federal legislation that provides substantial COVID-19 relief funding directly to colleges and universities. This post recaps the key elements of the first two rounds of relief funding, then describes the key elements of this third round.
Overview of Federal Relief for K-12 Education and Child Care
April 29, 2021 - Since March 2020, the federal government has passed three relief packages that assist K-12 schools and child care providers in their response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. This post provides a brief summary of how the three federal relief packages affect K-12 education and child care and describes how the state has used these federal funds, as of April 2021.
The 2021-22 Budget: The Governor's Proposition 2 Proposals
April 26, 2021 - This post provides an overview of the Governor's proposals related to Proposition 2 (2014). We provide background on how the measure works, and then summarize and comment on the Governor's Proposition 2 reserve and debt payment proposals.
Early Budget Actions to Support In-Person K-12 Instruction and Address Learning Loss
April 23, 2021 - On March 5, 2021, the Governor signed Chapter 10 (AB 86, Committee on Budget), which provides additional one-time Proposition 98 funding to schools for providing in-person instruction and addressing student learning loss due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. This post describes the major components of the legislation.
The State Appropriations Limit
April 21, 2021 - This report: (1) describes how appropriations limits work for the state, school districts, and local governments in California; (2) explains why the limit is a constraint for state government; and (3) concludes with a variety of short- and long-term policy options—both of which we think the Legislature will need to take—in response to the issue.
Enhancing Federal Financial Participation for Consumers Served by the Department of Developmental Services—An Interim Update
April 19, 2021 - The Supplemental Report of the 2020-21 Budget Act requires our office to evaluate options for enhancing federal financial participation through Medi-Cal for consumers served by the Department of Developmental Services. This post provides an interim update of our initial findings and preliminary assessment. A final report will be delivered to the Legislature in the late summer.
Adoption of April 2021 Wildfire and Forest Resilience Early Action Package
April 16, 2021 - On April 13, 2021, the Governor signed SB 85 (Committee on Budget and Fiscal Review), which amends the 2020-21 Budget Act to provide additional funding for various wildfire and forest resilience activities. This post provides a brief summary of this funding package.
Overview of State Funding and Audit of CDAA
April 16, 2021 - Assembly Budget Subcommittee No 5. on Public Safety
Resentencing, Diversion, and Reentry Programs
April 16, 2021 - Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Public Safety


13th March 2014. ExplorOz National Members' Gathering 2014 News; Around Australia on a Working Holiday - New Article; Caravan Buyer's Guide - Just Arrived; Travel Tips and Alerts - Seasonal Burnings and Simpson Desert update.
Voting for the ExplorOz Photo Comp closes on the 21/3 so don't forget to get your votes in! For all of the details, see last week's Newsletter 323. Our must-see places in Australia survey also ends midnight 19/3, with 10 copies of 4WD Australia - 50 Short Getaways up for grabs, Click Here to Take the Survey and go in the draw to win.
The ExplorOz National Members' Gathering 2014 will be held at Trilby Station located on the Darling River Run from the 28th of September to the 4th of October. This is just 6 months away, so it's time to start planning!
The first step is to register your interest on the Gathering Page. Then make your booking for accommodation at Trilby Station, there are a range of options to suit your set-up, and make sure you mention your member number when booking.
Not only will you ensure that you don't miss out on a place at the Gathering, this helps to plan activities (and prizes and giveaways!) to suit the number of attendees well in advance.
When Ian Hookway started planning what would became a 3 year working holiday around Australia with his family, he discovered there aren't any "how to" guides.
Thanks to his experiences, we have compiled practical advice and tips covering the main issues you'll be faced with if you're contemplating this rather unconventional family adventure.
Read the New Working Holiday wih Kids Article.
Hema Navigator 7 - Pre Order Now!
The release of the Hema Navigator HN7 has been announced, and exclusive to ExplorOz, you can order your device pre-loaded with additional EOTopo200K as one of our buying options.
Stock is expected at the end of March, so place your pre-order now!
Caravan Buyers Guide - Just Arrived!
Did you know there are well over 100 brands of caravan on sale in Australia? The Caravan Buyers Guide is the only independent guide to buying a caravan in Australia. First published in early 2014, it is completely new and up to date.
The Caravan Buyers Guide helps you choose the right caravan for your needs. Fully illustrated and using simple, clear explanations, the guide will inform you on all issues affecting caravan owners from purchasing, insurance, accessories and much, much more.
Available for $34.95 ($33.20 for Members) from the ExplorOz Shop.
When planning a trip, do you think to check for planned reduction burns in the area you'll be travelling? This blog by our Roads Coordinator, Life Member - Mike (SA), highlights the potential for disruptions and road closures that you might not have considered. See Planned Seasonal Burnings Around Australia.
The outback travel season officially commences this weekend with the Simpson Desert scheduled to reopen on Saturday 15th March.
Road and Track Conditions Australia-wide are published and updated weekly in the ExplorOz Road Conditions Report. Anecdotal reports from travellers can also be added. Simply find the track you wish to report on & click the comments section.


Notes: Looks delicious to me!
Ewww...those enchiladas look disgusting. Rice looks completely dry. How that looks delicious to anyone is beyond me.
??)) with mexican food school should serve still water or juice.
It is not an American trend to serve milk with a meal. Growing up in Ireland, we always had milk. The same was true at my children's school in Glasgow. Live, let live, and understand that customs are not necessarily bad just because they differ from your own. Peace .
"Milk itself is a food"? No it's not. Besides, Mexican meals are often served with horchata, which is much sweeter and more like a dessert, so I'm not sure I see your point.


Julianne Moore in HBO's Game Change, reviewed.
HBO's Game Change dramatizes the insecurity of Sarah Palin—and of the McCain aides who transformed her life.
Danny Strong—the screenwriter of Game Change (HBO, Saturday at 9 p.m. ET), a brisk film extracted from the campaign-trail saga of that title—has delivered to Julianne Moore the meatiest role of her career. In turn, Moore, directed by Jay Roach, has aced the immodest task of humanizing the media beast called Sarah Palin. The real Palin (an ignoramus who condemned this nonideological film sight unseen) is a born star; Moore's Palin is a victim of American politics, just like us. The performance is so compassionate that anyone with an imagination will feel her terror as a deer in the Klieg lights of the national stage. A militant atheist could admire this Palin's religious faith. Moore makes a good liberal's heart bleed.
Game Change begins and ends with snippets from a 60 Minutes interview, with Roach splicing together questions posed by the real Anderson Cooper and answers offered by campaign strategist Steve Schmidt (Woody Harrelson). The two hours in between these semi-re-enactments thus play a bit like Schmidt's traumatic flashback. We are not limited to his perspective, but he serves as a guilty conscience and guide—maybe the closest thing Game Change has to a hero.
Heroism, after all, requires courage, and this movie is a study in disgrace under pressure—notwithstanding McCain's refusal to let the dog-whistles out and use the "dark side of American populism" against his dark-skinned opponent. (Ed Harris plays McCain as a good guy trapped in "a bad reality show," bubble-wrapped in the hotel rooms of the campaign trail, and isolated even from his own campaign machinery.) The movie picks up steam as his campaign is losing its own. "We desperately need a game-changing pick" for the Veep slot, says Schmidt. It's not the smoothest line in the film, nor is it the clunkiest. (That would be, "Now I know why they call her Sarah Barracuda.") But Game Change's exposition-through-dialogue and its rewarmed morsels of sound-bite go down smoothly compared to the wads of recycled newspaper that clotted the earlier Roach-Strong collaboration Recount.
In any event, for a game-changing pick, the campaign decides to pander to women, and this account has it that discovering Palin was like discovering a total unknown at the soda-fountain counter at Schwab's. Watching footage of the governor of Alaska on YouTube, one advisor exults, "She's a star!", as if she hadn't been buttering up the Republican pundits since the summer before.
Early on, as Palin gets called up to the bigs, rushed through vetting and hustled onto the trail, Moore communicates an earnestness that is touching and an eagerness to please that makes you feel sympathetic toward Palin—even and especially when that eagerness is faintly pathetic. Elsewhere, hugging Down syndrome kids on a rope line and dandling her own on her lap, Palin is downright inspirational. And Moore amplifies the governor's sexual charisma in a way that I shall need to discuss with my shrink. She wins you over.
The scenes that will clinch Moore's Emmy are in the second act. As it becomes apparent to McCain's team, via briefing sessions, that she is a know-nothing, they prep her on hot-button foreign policy issues—informing her that we fought Germany in two world wars, for instance. Here, Moore's Palin takes notes with a diligence that at once enriches the farce and deepens the tragedy. After it becomes apparent to the world, via Charlie Gibson and Katie Couric, that she is a know-nothing, the camera tightens on Moore's face at canted angles during subsequent tantrums, and we understand her resentment and paranoia. We can't laugh at the surreal scene of Moore's Palin watching Tina Fey's Palin on SNL because the woman alone in front of the set is so, so far away from home—and farther yet from the first-born son who is away at war. He is prepared to die for a nation where she is a national laughingstock. Watching Palin escape a depressive funk by going to sleep—curling fetally on an anonymous floor in a hotel a bathrobe—I wished her sweet dreams, and ultimately found myself rooting for her to do well in her debate against Joe Biden.
When she does do well, she shifts modes, and so does the film. Schmidt calls her "the best actress in American politics," and if you have spent much time with actresses, then you know that, sometimes, their egos become engorged when they read their own reviews.
With that taste of victory, Moore transforms again into a diva/demagogue/rogue. She had been a flawed human; now she's a political animal. Someone needs to juxtapose footage of a) Moore's Palin dabbing an impatient finger at her face to apply makeup before a rally and b) Moore's Amber Waves making a similar gesture while on a coke run with Rollergirl. These are women filled by hollow needs.
Spoiler alert: Obama wins. Palin wants to go rogue and give a concession speech. Schmidt explains that such a thing has never happened in American history and that McCain will deliver a concession speech worthy of the occasion: "It's not about you. It's about the country." But we already know that she, like most people, knows nothing of history, so why should it surprise us that she doesn't understand? McCain's parting words to her—an admonition that she not ally herself with "Limbaugh and the other extremists"—is perhaps the most gruesomely ironic line of dialogue delivered down the somewhat arduous home stretch.


text:
Discovery of 18th-century remains at Philly building site gives pause to modern world
Workers excavate a coffin from a construction site in the Old City neighborhood Thursday in Philadelphia. Crews working on an apartment building in Philadelphia's historic district got a shock last month when their backhoes started hitting coffins and unearthing fully intact human remains. The site was supposed to be a former burial ground from 1707, and all remains were supposedly exhumed in the 1800s and moved to a different cemetery. (Matt Slocum/AP Photo)
Work halted Thursday afternoon at a construction site in Philadelphia's Old City neighborhood when human remains were discovered in what was once an 18th-cenrury burial ground. A team of professionals quickly was summoned to assess the findings for historical value before transporting them to their final resting place.
Kimberlee Moran, associate teaching professor and director of forensics center at Rutgers-Camden, investigates an 18th-century burial site in Old City. (Emma Lee/WHYY)
Kimberlee Moran is an associate teaching professor and director of forensics center at Rutgers-Camden.
NewsWorks Tonight host Dave Heller met her outside the work site, where she and a group of undergraduate students are gaining a unique hands-on experience. You can hear their conversation below.
Brought to you by NewsWorks Tonight
NewsWorks Tonight
NewsWorks Tonight was a daily radio show and podcast that ran from 2011-2018. It is no longer in production, but the show's archive is available online.
About Dave Heller
dheller@whyy.org


text:
There was a meeting last week of the Province's Cities: the Union of BC Municipalities annual conference. People who run cities get together to talk about innovations, ideas, problems, and solutions. Pretty much like any other "convention", except that there is another aspect to the meeting. Cities also have the opportunity to communicate with the Provincial Government. This happens through closed-door meetings where Civic politicos or staff meet with Provincial Ministers and their staff to hash out issues of an intergovernmental nature; where the UBCM passes "resolutions" of their members to ask the Provincial Government to take action on some topic; and in the Provincial Government presenting speeches to the collected City folk, to tell them what great things the Province has in store for Municipalities.
This year, the Premier (whom I like to refer to as McSparklestm) gave the Keynote address, and as is typical, offered a number of baubles to Muni leaders to show that the Province cares about families cities.
For those of us living in the Metropola of Vancouva, there has been an awful lot of talk recently about the biggest challenge the region is facing: how to move people about. As the Biggest Bestest Bridge Ever is getting rolled out, our regional Transportation Authority is bleeding from the eyes. Such is the ongoing funding crisis at TransLink that they are cutting rationalizing bus service, hiring security guards to intimidate people away from overloaded night buses, scrapping plans to invest in expanded service, cutting their bike program, and will not even be able to drive buses over that shiny new bridge…
So I waited in a cat-like state of readiness anticipating that Premier was going to show a little leadership and give the Province's biggest Cities the relief they have been waiting for – a new funding model for TransLink, a new Governance model for Translink, a new idea of some kind in regards to TransLink. Anything. Just deal with it.
However, the word "Transit" did not appear once in her Keynote Speech to the Province's Municipal Leaders, just as the word Leadership rarely crosses her mind. Instead, she doubled-down on building up last century's transportation infrastructure. She doubled-down on Bridges and Roads. She doubled-down on dumb.
How bad? Almost a billion dollars in road infrastructure spending, not including the $2 Billion or more that any eventual Deas/Massey Tunnel will cost. Not a penny for TransLink or transit anywhere in the Province. I've said this before, and I'll say it again: Dumb.
The Premier announced they are going to start planning for a replacement of the Deas/Massey Tunnel, hoping to have it completed "in 10 years". She has no plan, doesn't know what to build, doesn't know what it will cost, doesn't know if it will be tolled, doesn't know anything- but she announced that it is time to start the conversation (recognizing she won't be arond long to complete the conversation). She want to start the planning.
Here, I'll save her some time. You are not twinning or expanding the tunnel. It may seem cheap and easy to toss a third tube down adjacent to existing ones, but it would be anything but. The infrastructure used to make and install the tunnel is long gone (the basin built for the purpose now a BC Ferries works dock just west of the tunnel), and the design from 1958 would surely not pass 2012 seismic standards, and dropping a third tube without disturbing the existing ones or the armor rock on them would be difficult.
Further, the tunnel is currently a limiting factor on ships traversing the Fraser River. Ocean-going cargo ships are restricted in draft on the River now by the clearance at the tunnel. The Panamax Tankers envisioned for the Vancouver Airport Fuel Delivery Project could not reach their terminal unless they are less than 80% laden, and even then only at high tide. If the Federal Government are going to agree to any Deas Island crossing (and they will have to as per the Navigable Waters Protection Act), they will no doubt insist on a bridge to open up PortMetroVancouver to more flexible freight movement on the River. Any "upgrade" here will involve the removal of the Deas/Massey Tunnel, full stop.
There is also no chance of a bored tunnel (as the Canada Line takes under False Creek) working in this location. The geology there is loose river sediment at least 500m down – making it like tunnelling through jello: a geotechnical nightmare.
So it will be a bridge. If near the same location as the tunnel (as would be required to fit Highway 99, we are looking at a 800-m long main span, similar to the Pattullo Bridge, but built on technically challenging foundations due to the loose sediment. Any other location (to the east, as there is no way Richmond will be ploughing neighbourhoods to allow the bridge to move west) will mean a longer span and lesser connection to Highway 99.
But how big? The new bridge will need to be larger than the current 4 lanes to meet Premier McSparklestm 1950's mindset that the "congestion problem" in Delta can be solved with new highway lanes. As the counter-flow system currently has three lanes with Rush Hour flow, a 6-lane bridge will also likely not be up to the task…. will 8 be enough?
For the sake of argument, let's say the Deas/Massey Tunnel is replaced with a 8-lane bridge, just slightly ahead of the Premier's 2022 deadline, to align with the Province's and MetroVancouver's growth predictions for 2021. Also presume that the current funding stranglehold doesn't scupper TransLink's planned 6-lane Pattullo replacement, the exponential growth of traffic lanes across the River is pretty clear:
Just between 2000 and 2021, the number of road lanes crossing the Fraser River within MetroVancouver would double from 18 to 36 with not a single increase in rail or transit capacity crossing the river in the same time.
The real economic choke point in the crossing of the Fraser is the 100-year old New Westminster Rail Bridge, with its single rail line being that flat purple line on the graph. TransLink forecasts big increases in Transit ridership across the River (well, it used to, it is unsure how the current funding crunch will impact these projections), but is currently operating the only two lanes of rapid transit (Skybridge is green line) at near capacity, will not have the money to even put buses on the World's Widest Bridge, which will have 10 lanes, but not one of them dedicated to transit. Dumb.
This is the real story behind the TransLink "Funding Crisis". $5Billion spent on roads and bridges in the last decade, and Billions more to come. All this while car use is declining, and our existing transit system is hopelessly overcrowded. The last comprehensive study of Traffic at the Deas/Massey Tunnel demonstrated that traffic through the Tube declined more than 7% over the 5 years, while people taking transit over the same time went up over 8% in the same period. This is not about capacity issues- this is about entrenching the building of car-oriented neighbourhoods in Langley, Surrey and Delta. This is threatening our livable region strategy, it will continue to threaten ALR land and our airshed. We cannot possibly hope to reduce our Greenhouse Gas emissions, to become food or energy independent.
The worst part of the Surrey Leader story? The Vice-Chair of TransLink (who happens to be Mayor of the City with the greatest proportion of car users in the region) calling it "a great announcement", while the only quote from the NDP opposition seems to be critical that the tunnel can't be replaced sooner. There is plenty of dumb to go around here.
Acting Locally environment Pattullo Planning Politics Thinking globally Transportation
Reaping and Sowing
2 comments on "Doubling Down on Dumb Growth."
Rod Smelser says:
Nice use of graph scales to make someting look exponential! Darrel Huff would be pleased.
On a serious level your exposition of problems on a Deas Island replacement is useful.
One might ask what became of former Premier Gordon Campbell's $14B transit scheme. And even more to the point, why are Metro taxpayers unwilling to fund Translink using any of the means available, property taxes, vehicle levy, etc.
P@J says:
Not sure what you are getting at with the scales, Rod. X axis is 110 years long, with equal 10-year divisions, starting just before the first crossing was built, and drawn as a linear scale. Everything left of there is zero, and we have no idea what is to the right. Y Axis is also linear, starting at zero (Something Darrel Huff insists is important to not "Lie with Statistics" and ending with the next decadal number above the last figure.
I'm not sure how I could have drawn it to make it not look exponential. Suggestions?