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The Wrath of Kon
Dispatches, news, stories, and ramblings from fiction writer Jon Konrath
My Books and Stories
Ralph's charged particles
Posted on February 29, 2008 by jkonrath
I was at Ralph's yesterday. Ralph's is a grocery store, and it turns out it's part of the Kroger empire, but nonetheless it is a huge and fancy grocery store, and that's saying a lot because it appears to me that southern California takes their grocery stores very seriously, and even the shitty places have a produce department the size of a Las Vegas casino. So Ralph's puts to shame the old Astoria C-town, and I don't even think Ralph's is the best of the stores out here.
Anyway, I'm at Ralph's, and over the musak, I hear a song I know I know, and after a moment or ten, it comes to me: it's the Chick Corea song "Charged Particles" from their album Beneath the Mask. And that was suddenly weird on so many levels. I mean, I first got into that album in the summer of 1992, and listened to it end-to-end thousands of times that year. And then when I was writing Summer Rain, that was the one disc I could always put in and get back to that point in time. And not only was it completely burned in my head, but it was also an enjoyable album to play when I was trying to write. And then, 16 years later, I hear it playing over the PA system of a grocery store, while I'm trying to pick out a brand of ketchup.
I've had a lot of weird thoughts lately about the past, especially since I have been doing nothing but shredding old papers and packing up boxes of zines and books and finding old ticket stubs and letters and notes. Part of me has always been a completist, and I thought I needed to keep absolutely all of that shit. And sometimes that's true – every time I try to trim down my zine collection, I wonder if any of the authors are going to end up on an FBI terror watchlist. And part of me thinks that if I kept every damn thing I touched in 1992, it would have been much easier to write a book about that year. But part of me recognizes a need to let go of that shit, and I ended up throwing out a lot more old stuff this time around. I probably won't need a copy of every shitty death metal zine I traded with back in 1993. Yeah, "it might be valuable someday". Price out the cost of a storage space in LA and then talk to me about value.
My first week of living in LA has been interesting. I am the master of noticing small differences, especially those that have to do with grocery stores or fast food. But so many things amaze me. The plants are incredible, almost entirely tropical. It's closer to Hawaii here in many ways, with the palm trees and other huge, broad-leafed green foliage. There are so many collections of odd things in one place. We live near a wetlands, and when we drive through it at night, we hear all of these frogs croaking. The other day, I saw a dude out in the swamp flying an RC plane. We went and saw the canals of venice. I see all of those old, old-school cars, old VW bugs and muscle cars, with totally pristine sheet metal, no salt on the roads or rough winters at all. There are more fast food chains than you could possibly imagine – everything started here. The Indian joint a few blocks from here has a $7.95 all-you-can-eat buffet, so we checked it out today. I don't know if Denver's food was so bad, or if this place was incredible, but I'm going back at least once a week. And it's in this odd little house where no two corners or windows are the same, and everything's painted up in garish colors, and it looks like something that belongs in a college town, but it's here. It's all so interesting and bizarre and new, and I don't really believe I live here, but I do.
Speaking of which, on Monday, I fly back to Denver to be there as they pack up our house. I will have a night in what's mostly our old setup, our regular bed and stuff, and then a night in a hotel. After that. who knows how many days until the truck gets here, then a day of unloading confusion, and several days of arranging and organizing. At least I am very close to LAX. When we went last time, it was a sub-$20 cab ride there.
I went to Staples yesterday and blew $250 on a new desk and chair. I now have part of an office, and don't need to sit on the floor and type. I also got a new keyboard that purports to be spill-resistant. I got that at Fry's, which is a bizarre California institution itself. It's basically like an old-school Best Buy where they sell every single possible electronics item, including parts and pieces and oscilloscopes and everything else. We went to the one in Manhattan Beach, and found out that each Fry's has a theme, this one being Tahitian. So, it was a huge geek store with the occasional tiki torch or fake palm tree. Very interesting.
I forget what else. Still sick, but maybe it's going away. I wanted to go for a walk, since we are allegedly right by the ocean, but I measured it the other night, and it's two miles away. Funny, every apartment in the neighborhood says it is "just blocks from the ocean". Yeah, 20 blocks.
Crossing the nothingness of Utah
We're here, more or less. I forget where the story last left off, but we are in our new place in LA, but our furniture isn't. My car and a carload of stuff has been waiting here, and then yesterday and today, we drove the other car, a carload of stuff, and the two cats here. I go back next Monday to orchestrate the full-pack movers and get the last couple of suitcases of stuff. In the meantime, no phone, no internet, no TV, and no place to sit down except the aerobed. (I did cop a slow wireless signal from the business center, though.)
The drive was long and extremely cramped, as every square inch of the car had something in it. The first day was about twelve hours; the I-70 run through the pass in the mountains, dropping into the nothingness of Utah and then the I-15 shot into Vegas. The two cats had very different approaches to the trip: the little one cowered in fear inside of her carrier, and stayed comatose the entire time. The big one started crying about five minutes into the trip, so I let her out and she greatly enjoyed watching the landscape roll by. Neither ate, drank, or used their litter pans, so thank someone for small miracles.
In Vegas, we stayed at a La Quinta, which allowed pets. It's way the hell over on Paradise Rd, kinda-sorta near UNLV. We had a two-room suite, and the cats were fine and dandy once we got set up there. We ordered some really shitty food from the proxy room service thing and watched the Oscars. (After watching John Stewart host, it's odd that I'd actually miss Billy Crystal's saccharine schtick.) By the time that was over, we were both out for the night, and that was the extent of my Vegas trip.
Today was a quick drive, maybe five hours, but it still seemed like forever. We stopped in Baker to see the world's tallest thermometer, but I was bummed to see it was just a tower with a bunch of digital signs on it – I was expecting a giant glass tube filled with mercury. Anyway, we got here, hauled everything upstairs, made a giant Costco run, and now we're trying to unpack a bunch of luggage and gym bags filled with toiletries and clothes.
I got a new iPod, btw – the 60G classic, in black. Sarah gave it to me for Valentine's day, but I did not get it until today because it went to the address here. I just synced it up, and that's ready to roll. I did sell the Mac Mini anyway, and that money will probably go toward a new office chair, or something to make my new home office more habitable. You know, "if I buy this I might write more" stuff.
BTW I just got copies of a new book I am in, called Santi: Lives of Modern Saints. It also includes my pals John Sheppard, Erin O'Brien, Timothy Gager, Grant Bailie (all AITPL contributors) and more. And it comes with a CD, although I haven't listened to that yet. Anyway, well worth the $25, and also I got a handful of free copies, so state your case or make your best trade offer and one could be yours.
Way too much to do. I think Verizon shows up tomorrow, I need to look into that, too.
In LA
I'm in LA. Specifically, I am in a Panera near Playa Del Rey, eating soup and eating free WiFi. But yeah, I have been here since Tuesday, looking at places and stressing out about where we will live. I believe we have a place picked out down near here, but I better act stupid so I won't jinx it.
I've found a lot of the landlord/broker/managers here to be very spacy. And there's a level of deception not as great as NY, but more than Denver. Like I went to a place in Santa Monica – great, great neighborhood, one block over from the ocean. But the interior basically looked like a very rough Varsity Villas apartment (non-Bloomingtonians: a shithole apartment complex where jocks go to puke, black out, and date-rape sorority chicks.) Very sad because I really do like that area, but what are you going to do.
So I'm staying in a shithole Econolodge, driving around the Yaris, which is odd. Imagine taking a trip to Vietnam or Siberia or Dubai, and when you get off of your 24-hour plane trip, your home-town vehicle is there waiting for you. And instead of commuting to work or taking the holland tunnel to jersey or whatever else, you're driving past desert and oilwells and dudes on mopeds with 2000 pounds of monkey brains on sticks passing by you. It's just odd to me.
My fucking iPod broke, which is pissing me off to no end. I didn't do anything catastrophic, like drop it down ten flights of stairs. It just failed to boot the other morning, the sad mac face. Yes, I already tried all of the stupid tricks – it is 100% dead, end of story. I blame my old I-25 commute, because once a week I would have to lock the brakes in a 75-to-0 full stop when some fucknut pulled in front of me, sending everything in the car flying, and slamming the iPod against the floor or dash or whereever it landed. All I can say is I'm glad it didn't happen before or during my long drive out here, or I would have gone insane.
And no, I am not buying an iPod touch. I would have to buy five of them to keep all of my music on it. And without keeping all of my music, I might as well go back to cassette tapes. I am selling my old Mac Mini on ebay if you are in the market for one, that will be the "replace my iPod" fund. (Auction here.
I saw jfrankov of UCS fame last night – we caught a dinner, and also took a quick trip through a Trader Joe, so two nice bits of nostalgia there. He is well, and it was good to see him after something like 13 years. It's also further weird in that I worked for him last summer, and we did everything by phone and email. I still need to see my friend Julie, so we will catch up at some point.
This journal entry is nothing but short sentences and no real paragraphs for two reasons. One is that the MacBook keyboard sucks, and I never use it because I run with an external. So when I am mobile, my typing speed and accuracy is roughly the same as it was on the old Atari 400 with membrane keys. The other reason is I'm in Panera at peak hours, and I keep stopping to enjoy the dirty looks from people. So yeah, all of the misssspelliings, if it bothers you, you're always welcome to cut and paste this into Word and fix it yourself. Or I will refund your full purchase price. (ie $0.)
I am too lazy to write a giant esoteric introduction right now, and I will later, but go here to check out John Sheppard's new book, Tales of the Peacetime Army. (There's also some more at paragraphline.com. The short version is that John and I will be publishing his next book from the same publishing entity I created to put out the zines.
OK, I better get out of here before they lynch me.
I think Utah was closed for business
Hello from Las Vegas. I am writing from the 19th floor of the Stratosphere, which has aged about 28 years since I was last here in 2002. At a much too early hour this morning, I loaded up my little Toyota with six giant bags of mostly laundry and two bags of laptops and headed west. The plan is to get to LA tomorrow and bust my ass to find us a nice apartment. Sarah will be arriving on Friday, and we will hopefully sign whatever has to be signed, then leave behind my car (and the junk inside) at a friend of Sarah's, then fly back to Colorado to finish off everything going on there.
Today's drive took just about thirteen hours. The Yaris wasn't bad. It was exceptional on gas mileage; the thousand-odd miles took less than three tanks. I started full, filled up twice, and I am at 3/4. The tiny engine and jumpy automatic transmission were not that great crossing the rockies. No problems, but with the right lane being semis with their blinkers on going about 12 mph, and fucknuts in suburbans and jacked-up hummers in the left lane trying to go like 117, the winding, twisting two-lane roads filled with heavy up-grades and down-grades got a little nerve-wracking. It was beautiful, with the snow and mountains and all that, but it would have been better if I was the only one out on the road.
Then I got to Utah. I knew I was in Utah when I stopped for gas and some chick came up to me and was all too friendly and started asking me where I was headed and where I was from and how I was doing. And that's when I realized I was in mormon country. And that's when I remembered that Mitt Romney was a mormon, and his ideal country if he ended up becoming president (and if Bush could win in 2004 with like a -37% approval rating, who knows about this guy) would be everyone getting in everyone's shit like this constantly. And then I remembered if you spend a half a million dollars on real estate in the Bahamas, you are automatically a citizen. But I was overthinking all of this.
And speaking of having way too much to think about, when did the entire state of Utah close for business? From the time I left CO to the time I reached I-15, I saw about as much commerce as you'd expect to see in Hiroshima in mid-August of 1945. This place made Goshen Indiana look like one of those CGI cities in those Star Wars prequels where there are 17894 levels deep of rocket pods on platforms on cities on floating cities. The only thing there was white snow on either side of me, like twin tanning mirrors, burning out my retinas. I have some prescription sunglasses, and thank the baby jesus for those, or I would be configuring this computer to read me my web pages from now on.
The only thing that kept me relatively sane was the iPod. I loaded up every comedy and spoken word album I could possibly find, and kept going on that. I wish I had more podcasts, because I have no idea how I will continue to drive another five hours tomorrow.
So I am in Vegas, although I do not plan on going out tonight, and I will check out and leave early tomorrow morning, so I can get to LA to make an appointment. It is weird to be here so soon after having just been here, although I was here for such a short time last time, that a week here would not seem so horrible. But Monday nights are always a very beat time to be here, and Monday nights at the Stratosphere are particularly horrible. Yes, I could drive somewhere else, but I'm sitting here in bed and it still feels like I'm in a microcompact car with 12-inch tires going 80 on a badly paved Utah highway, so I don't think that losing $300 at a blackjack table at Caesar's is going to do much for me.
It is weird to have my car – the car I actually own, as opposed to a rental – here in Vegas. I think that's a first for me. It's also odd to think that this car will not be going back to Colorado. I mean, it was odd enough thinking last night that I would be getting on a plane for Vegas; I kept rethinking my packing strategy, like "can I get this in my carry-on?" before remembering that I would just throw it all in the hatchback and hit the gas. But it's unusual to think that this car, which since its arrival from the Japanese motherland, had never been more than 25 miles from its home dealership in Aurora. Maybe it will be back, but I'm guessing that if we were ever forced to drive cross-country again, it would be in the Subaru. (And if I was ever forced to drive cross-country, I would hope one of you would take the tiny toy tire iron on top of the spare of my car and beat me in the head until I remembered that flying is almost always a better deal, unless you're moving a car, or maybe trafficking drugs.)
I think that's about it. It's a dump here, but I think it was $39. There is a Coke machine on this floor that has a thing where I can tap my Amex card and it sells me a Coke. And this technology is there because a Coke costs $2.50. But I'd rather pay $2.50 on an Amex for a Coke than spend 47 precious minutes of my life trying to get the fucking thing to read a completely pristine dollar bill. Anyway, I need to go to bed. This probably won't get posted until tomorrow, since I have no wireless here, but I'll pretend it's going out there now, and say something like "next time I see you, I will be in LA."
Vegas Birthday #9
Posted on February 4, 2008 by jkonrath
So I went to Vegas for my birthday this year. (I have pictures, but most of them are stupid, and I have been apathetic about posting pictures. I'm vaguely thinking about writing a Rails app to handle my photos, but I'm sure the migration path will be a nightmare.) I went to Sarah's family reunion last year, on Superbowl weekend, but didn't hit the usual 1/20 weekend. This year, we switched off, and I went solo for the birthdays, and she's in Vegas with her family now.
Bill Perry (the other birthday boy) initially got us a room at Bally's, which was a new spot for me. The rest of the cast of characters was new to this celebration, and also people I hadn't seen in a long time. First, there was the team of Marc VH and Tom, both old pals from the days of the sparcstation cluster in the basement of Lindley Hall. Bill recruited Marc to Seattle right before he got me there in '95, so I saw a lot of him at Spry (his office was next to mine for a while), and because he and Bill went on to the same company, we all ran in the same circles. Tom was an AI in the CS department, and finished a PhD there. He also just finished a law degree and passed the bar in Illinois. He used to work for Lucent in every odd place in the world, and last time I saw him was before he went on a long stint in Saudi Arabia. Now he lives in Chicago and does patent stuff for a huge law firm there.
Marc is always interesting to talk to, because he is one of the most dark, sarcastic, and cynical people ever, and couple that with his intelligence, and you have a lot of strange conversation. And Tom's great to talk to, because he's the sort of investigative person who will ask many questions to hear about your experience or opinion. And he's got the uncanny ability of being able to go back to a forgotten but unfinished conversation from earlier on. It's like he's one of those stack-based computers, where things get cleared and the next-oldest thing comes back up for action.
And the kicker is that my old pal and housemate Simms showed up, too! Simms met a lady out in LV and has gone head over heels, so he made his second trip of that month to see her. But he also hung with us, and it's always interesting to add a new thing to the mix. Like, it's weird that Bill and Simms just met, but they probably live less than a mile from each other in Bloomington.
So yeah, the trip. Sarah was in LA for a couple of days, and she got back on Friday morning, but I had all of my gear packed in the car and had to fly out Friday afternoon, so we just crossed paths, sort of. I parked in the underground garage, even though it costs like $30 a day, because I have this unnatural fear of parking in the $6 lot that's about 80 miles away, and having a freak snowstorm bury my car, so I would have to dig it out with my shoe, or maybe a copy of The Onion from the airport concourse. My foot was also bothering me again (rapid climate change) and I didn't want to walk two hours to get to the gate.
My plane was late. I talked to a music schoolteacher who was flying to play golf. I, up to this point, was on a crazy "stop fucking around" diet since 1/1, and had gone off of caffeine, sugar, fried things, and much more. But I was tired as hell, so that all went out the window. I had a crazy russian cab driver (aren't they all?) at LAS who started talking to me about subprime mortgages and how he was flipping properties, but now it's all fucked. (We had a lot of weird cab drivers that weekend. One was this Large Marge type who kept bitching about how everything from new condos to global warming was specifically designed to fuck over cabbies. I.e. "these fuckers at CES don't even want to go to the strip clubs anymore!" We also had this guy going to the airport who was a dried-out punk rock oldster who told this insanely long story about how he lived in the mountains, and the city fucked up the zoning drawings and he had to hire one of those diviner guys to find his septic tank.)
Bally's isn't bad. It's a place to sleep. Tom and Marc stayed there; Simms was out at the Tropicana. Tom and Marc have a collective IQ of about 780 and therefore spent an insane amount of time playing poker. Marc, at any given time, could tell you exactly what casinos were having poker tournaments at what time. (He has this human wikipedia quality, and could probably tell you the volume of concrete being used for each construction project on the strip, off the top of his head.) While they played poker, me and Bill did other stuff, or and of course Simms was off doing his own sort of stuff.
We went to Kraftsteak for dinner on Saturday. For $200 a person, they bring out a metric fuckload of food, including a million apps, and about a dozen cuts of kobe beef. I wasn't 100% with the food for whatever reason, but the desserts were pretty incredible. They just brought out a bunch of plates of different cakes and ice cream and whatnot. Good stuff, but like I said, not $200 good. The In-N-Out I had with Simms was much better.
The trip in general was nice, but way too short. I got there on Friday night and flew back on Monday. I did get to see everyone, got the variety pack thing at the Coke store, saw Penn and Teller again, and saw comedian Bobby Slayton, and didn't lose too much gambling. But I felt like I had a low-grade cold or flu the whole time, and wanted nothing but sleep. To counteract that, I fell off the caffeine wagon something fierce. Also, because my ankle was fucked up, I took a dose of Prednisone to try to knock it back in line. Normally, that would make me have an unstoppable appetite and extreme insomnia, both of which are good for a land of unlimited buffets and 24-hour gambling, but it never really took.
My biggest impression was that Vegas is really changing fast. The Stardust is gone; the Frontier and Boardwalk are levelled. The entire area from the Monte Carlo to the Bellagio are one giant construction site. The Aladdin has been redone to be a giant Planet Hollywood. Every little t-shirt shop or fast food joint with frontage on the strip has been sold and levelled. I guess a lot of my favorites are still there, but at some point in the near future, the Bellagio, recently the most posh place on the strip, will be bulldozed for something newer. And I'm not talking about in 50 years; it wouldn't surprise me if they closed in 2010.
And the strange thing is that I will be in, or maybe through Vegas at least two more times this year, as I move west. Both times will probably be a single-night break in driving, and not a gambling orgy. But maybe I will get more pictures.
Posted in Uncategorized	| Tagged Las Vegas, stupid travel update, Vegas
The end of Denver
Well, the Denver gig is up. We are moving again, by the end of this month, to the original Plan A city, which is Los Angeles. And I'm reluctant to talk about it at all, since the stock reaction of most people is similar to that if I told them I was building a machine in my back yard that would turn silly putty into platinum bars. But yeah, we are moving.
Sarah's job has been less than stellar, working ten hours a day, seven days a week, and dealing with a lot of general lunacy. Then the firm lost their biggest client and laid off half the company. And those of you dot-com survivors can affirm that when half of your company gets laid off, it doesn't mean your workplace will be just dandy from now on. It's a lot more like being the band on the deck of the Titanic, except they didn't have to deal with endless conference calls. Anyway, she talked to her old boss, who immediately found her a gig at their Los Angeles office. She had no real complaints about her old job, just that we were both sick of New York. And working for the biggest ad agency in the company means they don't start selling off their office furniture when they lose an account.
As for me, I was done with work as of the 31st, last Thursday. I actually will be staying on as a part-time contractor, working remotely, but I won't be going to meetings, dealing with politics, or driving an hour each way a day. My plan is to cut over to contracting part-time, and working as a developer. Since before christmas, I've done nothing but read Ruby on Rails books and work on a few simple projects that I hope to flesh out. I've been memorizing Ruby books, reading the Knuth books, reading the Gang of Four, and trying to learn every shortcut and trick tip in Eclipse.
But first, I have a huge marathon ahead of me. Three weeks today, we turn in our keys and leave this apartment forever. And when you look at the place now, it's pretty much in the 100% functional state. Sarah's in Vegas for her family reunion this weekend, and I have been shredding papers like I worked for the Stasi in 1989. But no matter how many hours I put in, the place looks about the same. We do have the whole rockstar relocation setup, even more than last time, so the little elves will show up in our last week with their packing tape and semi trailer and haul everything west. But we still have to find a place. A week from today, I drive my car to LA solo, with the back and trunk filled with a redundant supply of clothes and toiletries and whatnot. Sarah flies there on that Friday, and we have a weekend to seal the deal on an apartment, then fly home. We then have to drive out in the Subaru, with two cats in tow (which will be an awesome time for all) and then reverse the procedure on the other end. Between now and then, I have an endless stream of appointments and errands: service cars, go to doctors, fill prescriptions, cancel things, sign up for things, and continue the onslaught of throwing out, giving away, and shredding up.
So, Denver. It has been an interesting year, and there are some things I will miss. I always like when I'm driving and I see the snow-capped mountains on the horizon. I will really miss baseball here, last summer at Coors Field and the incredible run to October the Rockies had. I will also miss walking a block to the park to see a game. I really do like sitting here in my office, looking out at the open area of LoDo, working on the computer and enjoying this apartment. This is one of the nicest apartments I've lived in, and everything actually works, which is new to me. Having grocery stores bigger than jesus and Super Ultra Giant Fucking Monster Target has been nice. And hey, best emergency room ever.
Denver has its issues that make it a "probably not forever" place. I didn't have any altitude problems, but the dry air is a killer. I get so dehydrated, I wake up two or three times a night to get a drink, even if I take enough ambien to kill a horse. Allergies are worse, and most of the lifers here look like they were rode hard and put away wet. The botox people are taking a beating out here, because I see more than a fair share of ladies that resemble the crypt keeper. Yeah, they climb mountains and ski and all of that shit, but come on people, four words: SPF-50.
I always envisioned Denver as some kind of hip, high-tech mountain metropolis, and I guess it tries. There are some nice looking buildings and they try to be urban to an extent. But a lot of people think Colorado is the wild west. And when people think that in Elkhart, it's idiotic, but here, you could drive into the mountains and shoot a bear with a .50 caliber sniper rifle. So there's lots of camo, lots of country music, lots of fans of Larry the Cable Guy, and lots of people with pickup trucks that could fit my car and a cord of firewood in the bed.
So it's really George Bush country up here. And while I don't really give a shit about politics (especially with the group of geniuses jockeying for the big job later this year), it sets the mentality of the place. Just down the road in Colorado Springs, you'll find Focus on the Family; down there and in the suburbs out here, you'll see mega churches that are bigger than casinos in Vegas. The Promisekeepers also hail from Denver. There are lots of jesus fishes on cars, and you can ignore it all to an extent (which you can't in Elkhart), but it's like eating in a restaurant where something's burning on the grill in back: it's not your food, but it still bugs you.
I think the biggest case in point is the gay situation. I have friends who are gay, Sarah has friends who are gay, and we're both used to being in New York, where a person being gay is about as unusual as a person wearing a jacket in October. So sometimes if I'm talking to someone, something might come up in conversation where I know someone who did this or went there or owned that, and when I start to talk about it, I find myself pronouning things, which is really bullshit. But if I told a person that I had thanksgiving dinner with two guys who happened to be life partners, I might get dragged off to a reeducation camp. On the other hand, in LA, if I told someone a friend was gay, they'd probably just say, "well, does he know anyone who can read my script."
Everyone thinks that LA is the great devil, especially people in the Midwest, especially people with the "fuck that, New York is the greatest place ever" headtrip. But I like it. There's always been some allure to California to me, something that always made me happy or make me think I was in some huge, mythical thing. I can't say I've always dreamed and hoped of living there, but more than once in the last fifteen years, I've interviewed for jobs there and had my fingers crossed. Like I said, LA was our first choice last year, before the Denver thing came up. It will be nice to have the ocean, and water. We are aiming for West Hollywood, which isn't on the water, but it's close. (And no, West Hollywood is not the one with the hookers and smack dealers, that's East Hollywood.) There are other niceties, like multiple airports that aren't a million miles out of town (DEN), we get to see movies before anyone else (except maybe NYC), ethnic food other than just Mexican, and while there are always jesus people everywhere, they're pretty drowned out by the people who really don't give a shit.
We already have a network of people out there, too. Sarah lived there for almost a decade, and still has a lot of friends, both personal and in the biz (and both) and I have a couple of old pals out that way, too. Some of our NYC friends who would never visit Denver are in LA all the time, so we get to see those people too. We both have met absolutely nobody here, mostly because the only thing to do on a Saturday night in Denver is go to the mall and watch a movie, or maybe shop at Wal-Mart.
Bad stuff? It costs more, although compared to New York, it's maybe a bit cheaper. You need a car; we have two. Traffic, but my I-25 drive for the last six months has not been a breeze, either. I don't know what to do about baseball. Am I still a Rockies fan? I would love to go to all of their games at Dodger Stadium, but I'm afraid if I wear a Rockies shirt, I will be stabbed by a Mexican gang member. The Angels are there, but AL baseball sucks. Who knows, I thought the Rockies were a losing prospect when we moved here, and look what happened. Maybe when we move, the Dodgers will make it to the series. (And then maybe I can get Scott Boras to arrange a deal where I move to some other city with a shit team and get them to the series.)
So that's my story. I'll post more when I know it. And hopefully this cessation of salaried work will help me post more. I looked at my paper journal last night, and realized I hadn't updated it since the day I started this job. Anyway, time to shred…
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text:
Invest Rajasthan Summit: At least half of MoUs should be implemented, says Gehlot
PTI, Oct 8, 2022, 5:55 PM IST
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday said his government would try to ensure that at least 50 per cent of the total investment committed in the Invest Rajasthan Summit is implemented. He said usually around 25 per cent of MoUs signed in such summits held in various states reach the implementation stage. As many as 4,192 MoUs/LOIs totalling Rs 10.44 lakh crore have been signed during roadshows at international, national and state levels from November 2021 to September 2022 before the summit, which was held on October 7 and 8 at Jaipur.
Gehlot said the state government changed its policy this time and got the agreements signed before the summit. "Such events are held in several states and only 15, 20 or 25 per cent (of the total committed investment) comes as the actual investment. We have signed agreements worth around Rs 11 lakh crore. Of this, we will try to achieve 50 percent of the investment," he told reporters on the concluding day on Saturday. He further said Rajasthan has a business-friendly environment with a good law and order situation and no labour unrest, while the bureaucracy also works with dedication.
Earlier, speaking at an MSME conclave held as part of the summit on Saturday, Gehlot said the future of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) is bright and his government will leave no stone unturned to promote the sector. "MSME is closely related to employment. The stronger the MSME, the stronger the economy will be and the more jobs will be available," Gehlot said. He said the handicraft industry has flourished in Jodhpur and nearby areas, which has changed the lives of many people.
Thousands of MSME units will be set up in a petrochemical complex to be established near the Barmer oil refinery and lakhs of people will get jobs, he added. The chief minister said industrialists go to a state where facilities are provided and Rajasthan is ahead in providing an environment which is conducive for investment. "We want to pave the way for development in Rajasthan," he said. Reiterating that the happiness index and per capita income have increased in Rajasthan in the last three years, he said the state government has taken several reformative decisions to give a fillip to the industrial sector. He also highlighted the achievements of his government, saying it has worked to improve road infrastructure, provided social security and made healthcare facilities free in government hospitals. S Ramann, chairman and managing director of SIDBI, assured full support to the MSME sector in the state. Industry Minister Shakuntala Rawat and senior officials were also present in the conclave.
Mangaluru: Driver injured in ambulance-bus collision
Social activist Sunil Bajilkeri's new post draws ire; Arrested

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Earn £0.85 in loyalty points. Sign up for a Macarons & more account to start building up your balance!
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The Green Mountain Retreat Center (left) is located on the sunny side of a mountain in Barnet Vermont. This New England frame building, companion to the Barnet Center sanctuary (right) of the Presbyterian Church of Barnet Vermont, was built in 1898 at a site that had already become a center for worship and for appreciation of the view of the river valley below. Within its white walls are golden hardwood floors, sunshine, and simple sleeping and dining space for up to forty people.
The green mountains of Vermont remain a treasure of rolling farmland, thick woods, and spectacular vistas. Around the retreat are hundreds of acres of fields, forests, small ponds, and back roads to stroll.
Barnet is about a half hour from the un-crowded yet challenging ski slopes of Burke Mountain, and a few minutes further from Lake Willoughby's spectacular hiking trails. You may see peregrine falcons, golden eagles, deer, maybe even a moose. Raccoons and squirrels will certainly stop by the Retreat, and the wetlands a mile up the mountain road are a birdwatcher's paradise.
The Green Mountain Retreat is part of a thriving country church that welcomes you to this special corner of Vermont. You are invited to join or contribute to Sunday services, and by special pre-arrangement, hold your own worship service in the sanctuary, where straight-backed pews carry you back to an earlier, less cluttered era.


text:
using System;
using System.Xml;
using System.Text;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TextManager.Interop;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.OLE.Interop;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell.Interop;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.Designer.Interfaces;
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell;
using IOleServiceProvider = Microsoft.VisualStudio.OLE.Interop.IServiceProvider;
using IServiceProvider = System.IServiceProvider;
using ShellConstants = Microsoft.VisualStudio.Shell.Interop.Constants;
using OleConstants = Microsoft.VisualStudio.OLE.Interop.Constants;
using System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis;

namespace Microsoft.VisualStudio.FSharp.ProjectSystem
{
    [StructLayoutAttribute(LayoutKind.Sequential)]
    internal struct _DROPFILES
    {
        public Int32 pFiles;
        public Int32 X;
        public Int32 Y;
        public Int32 fNC;
        public Int32 fWide;
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Defines possible types of output that can produced by a language project
    /// </summary>
    [PropertyPageTypeConverterAttribute(typeof(OutputTypeConverter))]
    public enum OutputType
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// The output type is a windows executable.
        /// </summary>
        WinExe,

        /// <summary>
        /// The output type is an executable.
        /// </summary>
        Exe,

        /// <summary>
        /// The output type is a class library.
        /// </summary>
        Library
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Debug values used by DebugModeConverter.
    /// </summary>
    [PropertyPageTypeConverterAttribute(typeof(DebugModeConverter))]
    public enum DebugMode
    {
        Project,
        Program,
        [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1709:IdentifiersShouldBeCasedCorrectly", MessageId = "URL")]
        URL
    }

    [PropertyPageTypeConverterAttribute(typeof(CopyToOutputDirectoryConverter))]
    public enum CopyToOutputDirectory
    {
        DoNotCopy,
        Always,
        PreserveNewest,
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Defines the version of the CLR that is appropriate to the project.
    /// </summary>
    [PropertyPageTypeConverterAttribute(typeof(PlatformTypeConverter))]
    public enum PlatformType
    {
        [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1709:IdentifiersShouldBeCasedCorrectly", MessageId = "not")]
        notSpecified,
        [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1709:IdentifiersShouldBeCasedCorrectly", MessageId = "v")]
        v1,
        [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1709:IdentifiersShouldBeCasedCorrectly", MessageId = "v")]
        v11,
        [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1709:IdentifiersShouldBeCasedCorrectly", MessageId = "v")]
        v2,
        [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1709:IdentifiersShouldBeCasedCorrectly", MessageId = "cli")]
        [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1704:IdentifiersShouldBeSpelledCorrectly", MessageId = "cli")]
        cli1
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Defines the currect state of a property page.
    /// </summary>
    [Flags]
    internal enum PropPageStatus
    {

        Dirty = 0x1,

        Validate = 0x2,

        Clean = 0x4
    }

    [Flags]
    [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Design", "CA1008:EnumsShouldHaveZeroValue")]
    internal enum ModuleKindFlags
    {

        ConsoleApplication,

        WindowsApplication,

        DynamicallyLinkedLibrary,

        ManifestResourceFile,

        UnmanagedDynamicallyLinkedLibrary
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Defines the status of the command being queried
    /// </summary>
    [Flags]
    [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1714:FlagsEnumsShouldHavePluralNames")]
    [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Design", "CA1008:EnumsShouldHaveZeroValue")]
    internal enum QueryStatusResult
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// The command is not supported.
        /// </summary>
        [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1709:IdentifiersShouldBeCasedCorrectly", MessageId = "NOTSUPPORTED")]
        NOTSUPPORTED = 0,

        /// <summary>
        /// The command is supported
        /// </summary>
        [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1709:IdentifiersShouldBeCasedCorrectly", MessageId = "SUPPORTED")]
        SUPPORTED = 1,

        /// <summary>
        /// The command is enabled
        /// </summary>
        [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1709:IdentifiersShouldBeCasedCorrectly", MessageId = "ENABLED")]
        ENABLED = 2,

        /// <summary>
        /// The command is toggled on
        /// </summary>
        [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1709:IdentifiersShouldBeCasedCorrectly", MessageId = "LATCHED")]
        LATCHED = 4,

        /// <summary>
        /// The command is toggled off (the opposite of LATCHED).
        /// </summary>
        [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1709:IdentifiersShouldBeCasedCorrectly", MessageId = "NINCHED")]
        NINCHED = 8,

        /// <summary>
        /// The command is invisible.
        /// </summary>
        [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1709:IdentifiersShouldBeCasedCorrectly", MessageId = "INVISIBLE")]
        INVISIBLE = 16
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Defines the type of item to be added to the hierarchy.
    /// </summary>
    internal enum HierarchyAddType
    {
        AddNewItem,
        AddExistingItem
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Defines the component from which a command was issued.
    /// </summary>
    internal enum CommandOrigin
    {
        [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1709:IdentifiersShouldBeCasedCorrectly", MessageId = "Ui")]
        UiHierarchy,
        OleCommandTarget
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Defines the current status of the build process.
    /// </summary>
    internal enum MSBuildResult
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// The build is currently suspended.
        /// </summary>
        Suspended,

        /// <summary>
        /// The build has been restarted.
        /// </summary>
        Resumed,

        /// <summary>
        /// The build failed.
        /// </summary>
        Failed,

        /// <summary>
        /// The build was successful.
        /// </summary>
        Successful,
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Defines the type of action to be taken in showing the window frame.
    /// </summary>
    internal enum WindowFrameShowAction
    {
        DontShow,
        Show,
        ShowNoActivate,
        Hide,
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Defines drop types
    /// </summary>
    internal enum DropDataType
    {
        None,
        Shell,
        VsStg,
        VsRef
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Used by the hierarchy node to decide which element to redraw.
    /// </summary>
    [Flags]
    [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1714:FlagsEnumsShouldHavePluralNames")]
    internal enum UIHierarchyElement
    {
        None = 0,

        /// <summary>
        /// This will be translated to VSHPROPID_IconIndex
        /// </summary>
        Icon = 1,

        /// <summary>
        /// This will be translated to VSHPROPID_StateIconIndex
        /// </summary>
        [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1704:IdentifiersShouldBeSpelledCorrectly", MessageId = "Scc")]
        SccState = 2,

        /// <summary>
        /// This will be translated to VSHPROPID_Caption
        /// </summary>
        Caption = 4
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Defines the global propeties used by the msbuild project.
    /// </summary>
    internal enum GlobalProperty
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// Property specifying that we are building inside VS.
        /// </summary>
        BuildingInsideVisualStudio,

        /// <summary>
        /// The VS installation directory. This is the same as the $(DevEnvDir) macro.
        /// </summary>
        [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1704:IdentifiersShouldBeSpelledCorrectly", MessageId = "Env")]
        DevEnvDir,

        /// <summary>
        /// The name of the solution the project is created. This is the same as the $(SolutionName) macro.
        /// </summary>
        SolutionName,

        /// <summary>
        /// The file name of the solution. This is the same as $(SolutionFileName) macro.
        /// </summary>
        SolutionFileName,

        /// <summary>
        /// The full path of the solution. This is the same as the $(SolutionPath) macro.
        /// </summary>
        SolutionPath,

        /// <summary>
        /// The directory of the solution. This is the same as the $(SolutionDir) macro.
        /// </summary>
        SolutionDir,

        /// <summary>
        /// The extension of teh directory. This is the same as the $(SolutionExt) macro.
        /// </summary>
        SolutionExt,

        /// <summary>
        /// The fxcop installation directory.
        /// </summary>
        FxCopDir,

        /// <summary>
        /// The ResolvedNonMSBuildProjectOutputs msbuild property
        /// </summary>
        [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1709:IdentifiersShouldBeCasedCorrectly", MessageId = "VSIDE")]
        VSIDEResolvedNonMSBuildProjectOutputs,

        /// <summary>
        /// The Configuartion property.
        /// </summary>
        Configuration,

        /// <summary>
        /// The platform property.
        /// </summary>
        Platform,

        /// <summary>
        /// The RunCodeAnalysisOnce property
        /// </summary>
        RunCodeAnalysisOnce,

        /// <summary>
        /// The VisualStudioStyleErrors property.  We use this to determine correct error spans for build errors.
        /// </summary>
        VisualStudioStyleErrors,

        /// <summary>
        /// The SqmSessionGuid property
        /// </summary>
        SqmSessionGuid
    }

    public class AfterProjectFileOpenedEventArgs : EventArgs
    {
        private bool added;

        /// <summary>
        /// True if the project is added to the solution after the solution is opened. false if the project is added to the solution while the solution is being opened.
        /// </summary>
        [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Performance", "CA1811:AvoidUncalledPrivateCode")]
        public bool Added
        {
            get { return this.added; }
        }

        public AfterProjectFileOpenedEventArgs(bool added)
        {
            this.added = added;
        }
    }

    public class BeforeProjectFileClosedEventArgs : EventArgs
    {
        private bool removed;

        /// <summary>
        /// true if the project was removed from the solution before the solution was closed. false if the project was removed from the solution while the solution was being closed.
        /// </summary>
        [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Performance", "CA1811:AvoidUncalledPrivateCode")]
        public bool Removed
        {
            get { return this.removed; }
        }

        public BeforeProjectFileClosedEventArgs(bool removed)
        {
            this.removed = removed;
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// This class is used for the events raised by a HierarchyNode object.
    /// </summary>
    internal class HierarchyNodeEventArgs : EventArgs
    {
        private HierarchyNode child;

        public HierarchyNodeEventArgs(HierarchyNode child)
        {
            this.child = child;
        }

        public HierarchyNode Child
        {
            get { return this.child; }
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Event args class for triggering file change event arguments.
    /// </summary>
    internal class FileChangedOnDiskEventArgs : EventArgs
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// File name that was changed on disk.
        /// </summary>
        private string fileName;

        /// <summary>
        /// The item ide of the file that has changed.
        /// </summary>
        private uint itemID;

        /// <summary>
        /// The reason the file has changed on disk.
        /// </summary>
        private _VSFILECHANGEFLAGS fileChangeFlag;

        /// <summary>
        /// Constructs a new event args.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="fileName">File name that was changed on disk.</param>
        /// <param name="id">The item id of the file that was changed on disk.</param>
        public FileChangedOnDiskEventArgs(string fileName, uint id, _VSFILECHANGEFLAGS flag)
        {
            this.fileName = fileName;
            this.itemID = id;
            this.fileChangeFlag = flag;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets the file name that was changed on disk.
        /// </summary>
        /// <value>The file that was changed on disk.</value>
        public string FileName
        {
            get
            {
                return this.fileName;
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Gets item id of the file that has changed
        /// </summary>
        /// <value>The file that was changed on disk.</value>
        public uint ItemID
        {
            get
            {
                return this.itemID;
            }
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// The reason while the file has chnaged on disk.
        /// </summary>
        /// <value>The reason while the file has chnaged on disk.</value>
        public _VSFILECHANGEFLAGS FileChangeFlag
        {
            get
            {
                return this.fileChangeFlag;
            }
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Defines the event args for the active configuration chnage event.
    /// </summary>
    internal class ActiveConfigurationChangedEventArgs : EventArgs
    {
        /// <summary>
        /// The hierarchy whose configuration has changed
        /// </summary>
        private IVsHierarchy hierarchy;

        /// <summary>
        /// Constructs a new event args.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="hierarchy">The hierarchy that has changed its configuration.</param>
        public ActiveConfigurationChangedEventArgs(IVsHierarchy hierarchy)
        {
            this.hierarchy = hierarchy;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// The hierarchy whose configuration has changed
        /// </summary>
        public IVsHierarchy Hierarchy
        {
            get
            {
                return this.hierarchy;
            }
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Argument of the event raised when a project property is changed.
    /// </summary>
    [SuppressMessage("Microsoft.Naming", "CA1710:IdentifiersShouldHaveCorrectSuffix")]
    internal class ProjectPropertyChangedArgs : EventArgs
    {
        private string propertyName;
        private string oldValue;
        private string newValue;

        public ProjectPropertyChangedArgs(string propertyName, string oldValue, string newValue)
        {
            this.propertyName = propertyName;
            this.oldValue = oldValue;
            this.newValue = newValue;
        }

        public string NewValue
        {
            get { return newValue; }
        }

        public string OldValue
        {
            get { return oldValue; }
        }

        public string PropertyName
        {
            get { return propertyName; }
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Generally, it is safe for pregnant patients to get needed dental care as long as the proper guidelines are followed. In the past, a conservative position has been maintained that all dental care be postponed until the pregnancy has run it's course. What we have found to be the case, however, is that preventive care is more important during pregnancy. General dental care can also be addressed during pregnancy. Infections need to be addressed as soon as possible as evidence shows that the adverse affects of dental infection are significantly more damaging than we thought.
If you are pregnant and concerned about dental care, feel free to call us. The health of your mouth can affect the health of your baby. When you visit, please ask for guidelines for the dental care of pregnant patients. We will be happy to discuss the best options to keep your mouth healthy throughout your pregnancy.


Wine Spectator Notes : This is bright, offering peach, melon and subtle orange peel flavors and spicy oak nuances. Balanced and integrated, gaining harmony with air, so decant now. Shows fine intensity and a lingering finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc. Drink now through 2020.
Robert Parker Notes : Sublime..endowed with layers of sweet fruit interwoven with mineral and sweet toasted oak notes, it offers outstanding length on the palate..It is not to be missed.
Tasting Notes : A beautiful blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Blanc. It is best to consume Batar once the wine has reached maturity, approximately three and a half to four years after harvest. The wine's maturity plateau is four to twelve years after harvest. i.e. from 2017 till 2025. No animal products or byproducts are used in the production of this wine, making it suitable for vegans and vegetarians.


text:
Fast Byte and the Seven Wharfs
EMBODIED RAGE- NOT SO PRETTY
In BUD, people gathered regularly in the town square for festivals. There were games and contests, booths with roasted meats and other delicacies, crafts, so much to choose from.
ALL HIS LIFE, SOAR had resented the joy he could see at these festivals.
PLUS- these people seemed to full of ENERGY- SOAR had never really felt GOOD!
Over the years, this resentment festered into a mighty rage. He masked it of course- no one could EVER know - but the rage grew by the day…
And then one night it embodied itself,
At first SOAR thought he was having a nightmare.
What appeared before him was a hideous thing, frightening beyond anything SOAR had ever seen…
A GIANT HEAD...
...with arms that radiated from ALL PARTS of it. Too many arms to count, all writhing around. SOAR didn't want to even look, he was terrified. The HEAD was HINDEOUS.
It began to speak.
"There is a way", it said, drooling and snarling, "to destroy the JOY of these people. But how would you like to make a vast amount of money AND gain complete control of them at the same time?."
"HOW" exclaimed SOAR, still trembling, but now peering out from under the sheets.
"Their food" replied the BIG HEAD. "Not only is their very survival dependent on FOOD- but also their festivities center around it.
POISON THEIR FOOD
Poison it in a way that is slow and subtle. Make it a poison that they actually grow to CRAVE.
SOAR sat up.
The BIG HEAD continued:
"They will willingly consume this poison until it destroys their health AND spirit. They will think of nothing but how to get more and will PAY you to give it to them."
Let me tell you how it is prepared…


If you have any questions about Quarzo Bal Harbuor, Bal Harbour Real Estate, or any other property listed on our site, please feel free to Contact Us or call us at 561.245.8722.
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text:
© Biodiversity Research Group
In recent years, Salit Kark and her Biodiversity Research Group have organized and chaired a wide range of workshops and conferences. In 2012, we established the First International Workshop on Conservation Planning in the Mediterranean Sea, which took place in Santorini, Greece. This was followed by the 2nd International Workshop on Conservation Planning in the Mediterranean Sea that took place in the Eastern Med basin in 2012. These led to new successful collaborations among multiple leading scientists and experts working on biodiversity/ecosystem conservation prioritization and planning across the Mediterranean.
Between 2012-2014, we led several workshops discussing the Role of Collaboration in Conservation, as part of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions (CEED). Management of alien invasive species also requires collaboration and coordination among different countries, stakeholders and regions, and in 2014 we led a CEED workshop in Canberra discussing invasive bird management in Australia. In 2010, we coordinated and chaired an International Expert Workshop on Science-based Conservation: Achievements, Gaps and Challenges, to which we invited experts from five continents.
During 2009-2011, Kark led a working group and monthly round table meetings of scientists, practitioners, managers from both governmental and nongovernmental organizations discussing how to close the gaps between science, policy and practice in biodiversity conservation (science-based conservation) in Israel. In 2010-11, along with Prof Noam Levin, we organized a series of workshops entitled: Identifying the Most Important and Policy Relevant Research Questions: Horizon Scanning for Biodiversity Conservation in Israel, with international invited guests. In May 2009, we led an International Workshop on Griffon Vulture Conservation Planning at the University of Rome La Sapienza.
International Cross Boundary Conservation Workshop, 2019
In August we hosted the Second Workshop on Catalyzing Cross-boundary Conservation in the Indian Subcontinent and the Himalayas, which was the continuation of the first workshop held in Nepal back in April. The workshops were led by Salit Kark and Dibesh Karmacharya.
Our colleagues from Nepal and India gave inspiring presentations of cross-disciplinary work focusing on wildlife conservation and human well-being, human-wildlife conflict, novel technologies, social entrepreneurship, public health and other areas. We followed by working groups discussions of the conservation challenges and opportunities for cross-boundary collaboration in the Himalayas and Indian subcontinent.
International Expert Workshop on Science-based Conservation: Achievements, Gaps and Challenges
In March 2010 an international workshop on science-based conservation and conservation-oriented science took place in Israel.The international workshop was aimed at:
Discussing avenues for global science-based conservation of biodiversity and keys for success
Understanding and examining models of cooperation between science, policy formulation and conservation practice, including modes of operation and terms of communication
Assessing applicability of models to Israel
Providing a brainstorming opportunity to forge the way forward in establishing long-term connections between conservation science, policy and practice.
The international workshop was attended by leading figures in the field of conservation science from the US, Europe, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Israel. The workshop focused on ideas and avenues for developing future generations of conservation specialists by establishing teaching, funding and research programs that will place Israel as a world leader in the fields of biodiversity conservation research, practice and policy.
Workshop Speakers
The workshop included an open conference day with lectures by invited guests. Click on speakers to watch their presentation.
Prof. Luigi Boitani: University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy & Society for Conservation Biology- President
Science and conservation of large carnivores in Europe
Dr. Tom Brooks: Nature serve & Conservation International, USA
The alliance for zero extinction: conservation targets, investment priorities, and local action
Dr. Salit Kark: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Science-Based Conservation: Achievements, Gaps and Challenges
Prof. Hugh Possingham: The University of Queensland, Australia
Does science change government policy and management? Examples from Down Under
Dr. Liana Joseph: The University of Queensland, Australia. New Zealand Department of Conservation
Prioritising management for threatened species recovery in Australia and New Zealand
Dr. Richard Maloney The University of Queensland, Australia. New Zealand Department of Conservation
Belinda Mellish The University of Queensland, Australia. New Zealand Department of Conservation
Dr. Eric Sanderson: The Wildlife Conservation Society, USA
Mapping human influence on the biosphere in the 21st century
Prof. Uriel Safriel The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Dr. James Watson: The University of Queensland, Australia
Turning systematic conservation planning tools into action
Dr. Belinda Reyers: The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa
Conservation planning and practice in South Africa
Summary of academic programs that link science, environment and policy, by Tessa Mazor
Speaker bios and feedback
Planning an Israeli Platform for Science-based Biodiversity Conservation – Final Report of Outputs
Interim Report and Summary Brochure
Advancing Science-based conservation in Israel
Workshop run by the Department of Evolution, Systematics, and Ecology, The Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
This large-scale initiative aims to bridge the gap between conservation science, policy and decision making in Israel.
The working group commenced activity in October 2009 with a team from a range of academic, governmental and non-governmental organizations. The objectives of the initiative are:
To strengthen the links between scientists, practitioners and policy makers in the areas of biodiversity conservation and promote science-based conservation in Israel
To enhance communication between the major stakeholders in Israel's biodiversity and conservation arena
To build partnerships and improve communication between scientists and decision makers
To develop a successful platform that promotes the co-operation of people within the biodiversity conservation arena in Israel
Ultimately, to improve the ability to sustain and protect Israel's unique and rich biodiversity.
Dr. Salit Kark – Group Leader, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Yacov Arak – Jewish National Fund (JNF)
Dr. Naama Berg – The Israel Consortium of Ecosystems Management (MAARAG)
Liron Dean – Israel Ministry of Environmental Protection
Dr. Yael Gavrieli – Tel Aviv University
Dr. Rivka Hadas – The Agricultural Research Organization (Volcani Centre)
Hanoch Islar – Israeli Society for Ecology and Environmental Sciences (ISEES)
Dr. Gili Koniak – The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Dr. Noam Leader – Israel Nature and Parks Authority (NPA)
Dr. Amir Perelberg – The Society for Protection of Nature (SPNI)
Dr. Arye Vanger – Israel's Union for Environmental Defense
Dr. Ruthy Yahel – Israel Nature and Parks Authority (NPA)
Other Participants in working group activity
Prof. Yohay Carmel – Technion – ISEES
Emanuel Cohen-Shacham – Tel-Aviv University
Dr. Elli Groner – The Israel Consortium of Ecosystems Management (MAARAG)
Liat Hadar – Ramat HaNadiv
Nir Papay – The Society for Protection of Nature (SPNI) Prof. Avi Perevolotsky -The Agricultural Research Organization (Volcani Centre)
Alon Rothschild – The Society for Protection of Nature (SPNI)
Prof. Uriel Safriel – The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
1st International Workshop on Mediterranean Conservation Planning: Santorini, 2012
This workshop aimed to bring together experts involved with conservation planning of the Mediterranean Sea, in order to inform each other about ongoing projects and future collaborations. Due to the novelty of conservation planning in this area and importance of implementing conservation measures, this workshop provided an opportunity to collaborate and advance current conservation research efforts and programs. The objective was to emerge from the workshop with expanded knowledge, enhanced cooperation between researchers and countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea and clear goals for future projects and partnerships.
Find out more about this workshop here.
2nd International Workshop on Conservation Planning in the Mediterranean Sea: Mikhmoret, 2013
3rd International Workshop on Mediterranean Conservation Planning: Lecce, 2015
In April 2015, Associate Professor Simonetta Fraschetti (University of Selanto, Italy) and Associate Professor Salit Kark co-chaired the Third International conference/workshop in Lecce, Italy. The workshop was the third of a series of workshops that Kark initiated and has led since 2012 with colleugues aimed at advancing conservation in the Mediterranean region through science and collaboration with policy makers. We are currently working on the papers resulting from the workshop and a summary from the Lecce workshop can be found in the link: here.
Conservation and Management in Norfolk Island, The University of Queensland, Australia, 2016
This workshop was hosted at the University of Queensland. Several Parks and collaborators were in attendance to discuss the conservation and management of Norfolk Island. Norfolk Island is a small island in the Pacific Ocean between Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia. Norfolk Island is inhabited by a substantial number of endemic flora and fauna.
If you would like more information on these and future workshops it is available via email at:
s.kark@uq.edu.au.
Read more about some of workshops led by Kark and the Biodiversity Research Group in recent years:
February 2016Threatened Species Recovery Hub WorkshopSaving Species on Australian Islands- Failures, successes and lessons learned
Mediterranean Conservation
July 2016 Threatened Species Recovery Hub Workshop Threats posed by Cane Toads
2015 The 3rd International Workshop on Conservation Planning in the Mediterranean Sea
2014 The role of Collaboration in conservation in the Western Indian Ocean, CEED/NERP workshop, Brisbane Managing Invasive Birds Wisely, CEED workshop, Canberra
2013 The 2nd International Workshop on Conservation Planning in the Mediterranean Sea, Michmoret
2012 The 1st International Workshop Advancing Conservation Planning in the Mediterranean Sea The Role of Collaboration in Conservation
2011 Identifying the Most Important and Policy Relevant Research Questions: Horizon Scanning for Biodiversity Conservation in Israel
2010 Identifying the Most Important and Policy Relevant Research Questions: Horizon Scanning for Biodiversity Conservation in Israel International Expert Workshop on Science-based Conservation: Achievements, Gaps and Challenges
2009 Advancing Science-based conservation in Israel – How to close the gaps between science, policy and practice International Workshop on Griffon Vulture Conservation Planning


Hello, I need to migrate a wordpress install from one d...it. Or update it first, then migrate it to the new server. Whatever you feel is best. As I see it, its a 50/50 chance of this not giving you any problems. But I've migrated WP installs in the past and server mismatches have caused issues. Be prepared for this and make your bid accordingly.


2 Days exploring the city with my new Lubitel!!
These pics are from 2 days of walking around the city and shooting with my new Lubitel. Not sure if I've said this already, but I LOVE this camera. I am really proud of these shots, esp. the park bench and the guys rocking their Nikes. Love it! This is such a fun camera; can't wait to see what else it helps me create!


text:
package com.cloudTop.starshare.ui.main.fragment;

import android.support.v7.widget.LinearLayoutManager;
import android.view.View;
import android.widget.FrameLayout;
import android.widget.LinearLayout;
import android.widget.TextView;

import com.cloudTop.starshare.base.BaseFragment;
import com.github.jdsjlzx.ItemDecoration.DividerDecoration;
import com.github.jdsjlzx.interfaces.OnLoadMoreListener;
import com.github.jdsjlzx.recyclerview.LRecyclerView;
import com.github.jdsjlzx.recyclerview.LRecyclerViewAdapter;
import com.github.jdsjlzx.recyclerview.ProgressStyle;
import com.cloudTop.starshare.R;
import com.cloudTop.starshare.app.AppConstant;
import com.cloudTop.starshare.been.TodayEntrustReturnBean;
import com.cloudTop.starshare.listener.OnAPIListener;
import com.cloudTop.starshare.networkapi.NetworkAPIFactoryImpl;
import com.cloudTop.starshare.ui.main.adapter.HistoryEntrustAdapter;
import com.cloudTop.starshare.utils.DisplayUtil;
import com.cloudTop.starshare.utils.LogUtils;
import com.cloudTop.starshare.utils.timeselectutils.DatePicker;

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Calendar;
import java.util.List;

import butterknife.OnClick;

/**
 * Created by Administrator on 2017/5/25.
 * 历史委托
 */

public class HistoryEntrustFragment extends BaseFragment {

    private static int mCurrentCounter = 1;
    private static final int REQUEST_COUNT = 10;
    private List<TodayEntrustReturnBean> list = new ArrayList<>();
    private List<TodayEntrustReturnBean> loadList = new ArrayList<>();
    private LRecyclerViewAdapter lRecyclerViewAdapter;
    private HistoryEntrustAdapter historyEntrustAdapter;
    private int end_year;
    private int start_year = 2017;
    private int end_month;
    private int start_month = 1;
    private int end_day;
    private int start_day = 1;
    private int current_end_year;
    private int current_end_month;
    private int current_end_day;
    private LRecyclerView lrv;
    private LinearLayout ll_start_time;
    private LinearLayout ll_end_time;
    private TextView tv_start_time;
    private TextView tv_end_time;
    private FrameLayout parentView;

    @Override
    protected int getLayoutResource() {
        return R.layout.fragment_history_entrust;
    }

    @Override
    public void initPresenter() {

    }

    @Override
    protected void initView() {
        initData();
        initAdapter();
        getDateTime();
        getData(false, 1);
    }

    private void initData() {
        lrv = (LRecyclerView) rootView.findViewById(R.id.lrv);
        ll_start_time = (LinearLayout) rootView.findViewById(R.id.ll_start_time);
        ll_end_time = (LinearLayout) rootView.findViewById(R.id.ll_end_time);
        tv_start_time = (TextView) rootView.findViewById(R.id.tv_start_time);
        tv_end_time = (TextView) rootView.findViewById(R.id.tv_end_time);
        parentView = (FrameLayout) rootView.findViewById(R.id.parent_view);

    }

    private void getDateTime() {
        Calendar c = Calendar.getInstance();
        current_end_year = c.get(Calendar.YEAR);
        current_end_month = c.get(Calendar.MONTH) + 1;
        current_end_day = c.get(Calendar.DAY_OF_MONTH);
        end_year = current_end_year;
        end_month = current_end_month;
        end_day = current_end_day;
        tv_end_time.setText(end_year + "-" + end_month + "-" + end_day);
    }

    private void initAdapter() {
        historyEntrustAdapter = new HistoryEntrustAdapter(getActivity());
        lRecyclerViewAdapter = new LRecyclerViewAdapter(historyEntrustAdapter);
        lrv.setAdapter(lRecyclerViewAdapter);
        lrv.setLayoutManager(new LinearLayoutManager(getContext()));
        lrv.setPullRefreshEnabled(false);
        lrv.setNoMore(false);
        DividerDecoration divider = new DividerDecoration.Builder(getActivity())
                .setHeight(R.dimen.dp_0_5)
                .setPadding(R.dimen.dp_25)
                .setColorResource(R.color.color_dcdcdc)
                .build();
        //mRecyclerView.setHasFixedSize(true);
        lrv.addItemDecoration(divider);
        lrv.setLoadingMoreProgressStyle(ProgressStyle.BallSpinFadeLoader);
        lrv.setOnLoadMoreListener(new OnLoadMoreListener() {
            @Override
            public void onLoadMore() {
                getData(true, mCurrentCounter + 1);
            }
        });
    }

    private void getData(final boolean isLoadMore, int start) {
        NetworkAPIFactoryImpl.getInformationAPI().todayEntrust(start, REQUEST_COUNT, AppConstant.HISTORY_ENTRUST_OPCODE, new OnAPIListener<List<TodayEntrustReturnBean>>() {
            @Override
            public void onError(Throwable ex) {
                if (lrv != null) {
                    lrv.setNoMore(true);
                    if (!isLoadMore) {
                        list.clear();
                        historyEntrustAdapter.clear();
                        lrv.refreshComplete(REQUEST_COUNT);
                        showErrorView(parentView, R.drawable.error_view_comment, "当前没有相关数据");
                    }
                }
            }

            @Override
            public void onSuccess(List<TodayEntrustReturnBean> todayEntrustReturnBeen) {
                if (todayEntrustReturnBeen == null) {
                    lrv.setNoMore(true);
                    return;
                }
                if (isLoadMore) {
                    closeErrorView();
                    loadList.clear();
                    loadList = todayEntrustReturnBeen;
                    loadMoreData();
                } else {
                    list.clear();
                    list = todayEntrustReturnBeen;
                    showData();
                }
            }
        });
    }

    public void showData() {
        if (list.size() == 0) {
            showErrorView(parentView, R.drawable.error_view_comment, "当前没有相关数据");
            return;
        } else {
            closeErrorView();
        }
        historyEntrustAdapter.clear();
        mCurrentCounter = list.size();
        lRecyclerViewAdapter.notifyDataSetChanged();
        historyEntrustAdapter.addAll(list);
        lrv.refreshComplete(REQUEST_COUNT);
    }

    private void loadMoreData() {
        if (loadList == null || list.size() == 0) {
            lrv.setNoMore(true);
        } else {
            list.addAll(loadList);
            historyEntrustAdapter.addAll(loadList);
            mCurrentCounter += loadList.size();
            lrv.refreshComplete(REQUEST_COUNT);
        }
    }

    @OnClick({R.id.ll_start_time, R.id.ll_end_time})
    public void OnTimeSelectClick(View v) {
        switch (v.getId()) {
            case R.id.ll_start_time:
                onYearMonthStartTime();
                break;
            case R.id.ll_end_time:
                onYearMonthEndTime();
                break;

        }
    }

    private void onYearMonthEndTime() {
        final DatePicker picker = new DatePicker(getActivity());
        picker.setCanceledOnTouchOutside(true);
        picker.setUseWeight(true);
        picker.setTopPadding(DisplayUtil.dip2px(20));
        picker.setRangeEnd(current_end_year, current_end_month, current_end_day);
        picker.setRangeStart(start_year, start_month, start_day);
        picker.setSelectedItem(end_year, end_month, end_day);
        picker.setOnDatePickListener(new DatePicker.OnYearMonthDayPickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onDatePicked(String year, String month, String day) {
                end_year = Integer.valueOf(year).intValue();
                end_month = Integer.valueOf(month).intValue();
                end_day = Integer.valueOf(day).intValue();
                tv_end_time.setText(year + "-" + month + "-" + day);
                //调用获取数据
                //getData();
            }
        });
        picker.setOnWheelListener(new DatePicker.OnWheelListener() {
            @Override
            public void onYearWheeled(int index, String year) {
                picker.setTitleText(year + "-" + picker.getSelectedMonth() + "-" + picker.getSelectedDay());
            }

            @Override
            public void onMonthWheeled(int index, String month) {
                picker.setTitleText(picker.getSelectedYear() + "-" + month + "-" + picker.getSelectedDay());
            }

            @Override
            public void onDayWheeled(int index, String day) {
                picker.setTitleText(picker.getSelectedYear() + "-" + picker.getSelectedMonth() + "-" + day);
            }
        });
        picker.show();
    }

    public void onYearMonthStartTime() {
        final DatePicker picker = new DatePicker(getActivity());
        picker.setCanceledOnTouchOutside(true);
        picker.setUseWeight(true);
        picker.setTopPadding(DisplayUtil.dip2px(20));
        picker.setRangeEnd(end_year, end_month, end_day);
        picker.setRangeStart(2017, 1, 1);
        picker.setSelectedItem(end_year, end_month, end_day);
        picker.setOnDatePickListener(new DatePicker.OnYearMonthDayPickListener() {
            @Override
            public void onDatePicked(String year, String month, String day) {
                LogUtils.loge(year + "-" + month + "-" + day);
                start_year = Integer.valueOf(year).intValue();
                start_month = Integer.valueOf(month).intValue();
                start_day = Integer.valueOf(day).intValue();
                tv_start_time.setText(year + "-" + month + "-" + day);
            }
        });
        picker.setOnWheelListener(new DatePicker.OnWheelListener() {
            @Override
            public void onYearWheeled(int index, String year) {
                picker.setTitleText(year + "-" + picker.getSelectedMonth() + "-" + picker.getSelectedDay());
            }

            @Override
            public void onMonthWheeled(int index, String month) {
                picker.setTitleText(picker.getSelectedYear() + "-" + month + "-" + picker.getSelectedDay());
            }

            @Override
            public void onDayWheeled(int index, String day) {
                picker.setTitleText(picker.getSelectedYear() + "-" + picker.getSelectedMonth() + "-" + day);
            }
        });
        picker.show();
    }

}


text:
myscience.ch › news › news from the lab 2017 › Caught in the act
Transport | Administration
An Opel Astra 1.6 CDTI on Empa's dynamometer test rig: the tubes connect the exhaust tract to a mobile PEMS device (portable emission measuring system) inside the car. Thus equipped it then heads off around Lake Greifensee.
As of October 2017, newly launched car models will have to pass more stringent exhaust gas tests in the EU and in Switzerland. The new test method includes measuring drives in actual traf-fic. Empa already tested currently available cars with the new method - with alarming results.
By now, it's no secret: the certification requirements for cars in the EU and in Switzerland have precious little to do with the cars' actual exhaust emissions on the roads. The 'real' exhaust emissions are, therefore, determined in separate studies, including at Empa. Air pollution control experts from the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) draw upon this kind of data if they want to estimate road traffic emissions. On behalf of the Swiss government, Empa measures about a dozen vehicles a year, which are supplied by randomly selected individuals for a small fee. The data is fed into the European HBEFA database (Handbook Emission Factors for Road Transport) and is used, amongst other things, by international research institutes and authorities as a basis for expert reports.
Last January was a prime example of what can happen during such measurements: the test candidate, a 2016 diesel Renault Mégane, already displayed high nitric oxide emissions at Empa's test rig. This is because the Empa researchers focused on the vehicle's actual values - as intended in the new WLTP method - and not the outdated standards of the previous approval procedure. For instance, the vehicle was measured as being almost 300 kilograms heavier than the type test regulations allow for - not out of spite, but because the car drives around the streets at this weight. Later, during the so-called RDE test (Real Driving Emissions), up to 1,300 milligrams of nitric oxides per kilometer were measured in the exhaust. In other words, this current Euro 6 vehicle emits about as much nitric oxides as a ten or 15-year-old diesel car. As of October 2017, however, new models will only be allowed to emit 170 milligrams per kilometer!
Daily driving is stretching the exhaust gas cleaning in diesel and gasoline cars to its limits. Until now, the law has turned a blind eye precisely here and relied on unrealistic tests on test rigs to set limits and classify cars. But what really comes out the rear end? Empa has been on the case.
A year earlier, the very same model had been crowned 'Car of the Year' by European car journalists. How is it possible for a modern diesel vehicle to display such high emissions on the roads' One problem is the previous exhaust gas regulations, which failed to keep up with the rapid developments in powertrain systems. These regulations are fraught with unrealistic dead-weight and driving resistance requirements, and predefined, high-speed gearshift points that have nothing to do with reality. This realization is nothing new: already back in 2010, a decision was made to develop a new, more realistic exhaust gas measuring technique. But why has it taken so long? The topic is complicated and processed by an international working group, which had to make do with many, sometimes even divergent demands.
In the case of the Renault Mégane, the exhaust gas recirculation evidently turned itself off during the test drive - perhaps because the outside temperature was below the minimum temperature in the lab. Other manufacturers also switch off the exhaust gas treatment to go easy on the engine, when it is used outside the test rig - which is perfectly legal according to EU emissions regulation 715/2007/EG.
In Audis and Fiats, for instance, it is turned off after 22 minutes, as the German newspaper Handelsblatt reported (the NEDC dynamometer test lasts 20 minutes); in Mercedes cars below 10 degrees and in Opels even below 17 degrees Celsius, as Handelsblatt also stated (the NEDC dynamometer test requires temperatures above 20 degrees). Opel also switches to another cycle at an air pressure below 915 millibars, as the magazine Der Spiegel reported. The deactivation, therefore, occurs at an altitude of over 850 meters above sea level (the highest testing lab for car certifications in Europe is situated in Madrid, at an altitude of 700 meters).
In February 2017, Opel, Daimler and VW expressed their willingness to voluntarily recall around 500,000 vehicles across Europe to correct their exhaust gas treatment software, which was not illegal so far. On top of this, VW has to correct 2.4 million cars containing an illegal software.
If we also want to use exhaust gas treatment systems continuously at low temperatures and in other adverse conditions, they need to be understood in technical detail, designed correctly and operated under optimal conditions. As the current scandal reveals: there is a still a lot of catching up to do in this respect. Empa makes significant contributions in this sector with a high-temperature flow lab by studying in detail the injection behavior of AdBlue, an aqueous urea solution that is injected into the exhaust gas in new diesel vehicles. Researchers measure the spray cone right down to single droplets using laser measuring devices, study the formation and evaporation of liquid AdBlue films on the walls of the exhaust pipe, and gage the AdBlue breakdown all the way until the formation of the reduction agent for the nitric oxides in the adjacent catalytic converter. These results are channeled back into the refinement of exhaust gas treatment systems.
During Empa's exhaust gas tests, the experts from the Automotive Powertrain Technologies lab drive along a defined route southeastwards from Dübendorf, around Lake Greifensee, then back on the highway from Uster via Brüttiseller Kreuz (see map). During the journey, the NOx emissions are meticulously recorded by a so-called PEMS (Portable Emission-measuring System).
Empa has already tested three new lower mid-range diesel vehicles with the current exhaust gas standard Euro 6 using the new RDE procedure. In all of them, NOx emissions during every phase of the trip lay between 600 and 1,400 milligrams per kilometer; exhaust gas tests by other labs reveal a similar picture. In other words, the Renault Mégane is not alone. These vehicles can continue to be sold until the fall 2019; however, upcoming model series must pass the stricter WLTP and RDE tests to be approved.
Anyone who would like to drive a cleaner car than the law requires today does have an alternative, though: with NOx emissions way below 10 milligrams per kilometer, the natural / biogas vehicle that was also included in the measurements fared around 60 to 140 times better than the diesel cars.
EMPA, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology
C. Wirth, Editor
Tracking the eye of the pilot - 25.11.2019
How the road network determines traffic capacity - 19.11.2019
Geneva's commuters embrace multimodal transport - 09.10.2019
The right carbon tax to reduce the impact of transport in Switzerland - 03.10.2019
Low-noise landing thanks to pilot assistance system - 10.09.2019
Six new National Centres of Competence in Research to boost cutting-edge research in Switzerland - 16.12.2019
Federal Council approves report on Switzerland's international activities in VPET - 13.12.2019
Gabriele Bavota earns an ERC Starting Grant to develop an artificial assistant for software developers - 13.09.2019
ETH continues to grow - healthcare professions are particularly popular - 12.09.2019


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Hello & welcome to the world of Mr. Shirazy & The Exile Orchestra!
We wish you a good start in 2020 full of innervision, peace and harmony. In these times is real connection and community more important than ever...and music is the key Nr. 1!
We are more than delighted, that we could make our album "The One" meet your soul & your eardrums in late 2019 and are excited, where the journey takes us to in this year.
Put the funk of James Brown, electro beats of The Chemical Bros and the psychodelic sounds of Pink Floyd together; and you will have a glimpse of what is awaiting you at a live performance of Mr. Shirazy & The Exile Orchestra.
Mr. Shirazy´s futuristic selfmade instrument FREEAK, the heartfelt performance of his band The Exile Orchestra and the amazing humanoid-dancers with a mix of clubbing and contemporary elements take you to another place in outta space! A place where a new form of art is created through innovation, original sounds and stunning visuals.
But the best thing is, that YOU are not just the audience, but an essential part of the party. Or with the words of Mr. Shirazy & The Exile Orchestra:
We are all drops in the ocean of unity...


Last month the Supreme Court of Texas struck down Laredo's plastic bag ban, finding that a statewide Solid Waste statute adopted in 1993 preempts the local bag ban. This much-anticipated ruling was especially disappointing for plastic pollution reduction advocates in light of the recent National Geographic cover story, #PlanetorPlastic, which drew global attention to the issue.
This case is part of a disturbing trend of state legislatures and courts preempting local decision-making and is something that everyone should fight. There are currently eleven states with at least partial preemption in place regarding plastic bags and one of the main forces pushing for preemption is American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). ALEC is an organization made up of corporate members that pay an expensive membership fee for the chance help develop model legislation and speak directly with state legislators who might want to introduce their model bills. ALEC circulated model legislation preempting local plastic bag and packaging laws - essentially a ban on bag bans and fees - and laws based on that model legislation have been adopted in several states.
One positive take-away from the Texas case is the diversity of the amicus briefs submitted in favor of keeping the City of Laredo's bag law in place. The briefs received included anglers, cattle ranchers, cotton ginners, surfers, conservationists, bass fishermen, grocers, cyclists, and other Texas cities.
If a cattle rancher has reason to know that a cattle ingested a plastic bag[,] the rancher has three options: send the animal to slaughter earlier than planned to salvage some value from the animal, call a vet for examination and possible surgery,or wait to see what happens and maybe administer a laxative treatment. The economics of cattle ranching go against paying a veterinarian to examine and possibly perform surgery to remove plastic bags thought to be ingested by cattle. . . . Spending $500 or more on surgery that may or may not be needed is rarely a viable option for animals that aren't worth much more than the veterinary bill.
These amicus briefs focused on the issue of plastic bags from a variety of perspectives. The justices ultimately felt that they were constrained to their broad reading of the word "container" to include plastic carryout bags and found preemption of Laredo's ban, but the color supplied by the briefs painted visceral real-life impacts of plastic bags in Texas.
Other cities and states would do well in forming similar unexpected alliances of a variety of groups with different specific reasons, including economic reasons, that they support reducing plastic bag consumption and litter. These alliances should be sought out from the beginning both in pushing for the adoption of plastic bag laws and in fighting to keep plastic bag laws in place.
Links to all amicus briefs in the case can be found here.