text:
Archive for the Organic Farming Category
Healthy Natural Beverage
Posted in Classic Sci-Fi, Lucerne Village, Organic Farming with tags anaphrodisiac, bobby, brainwash, bromide, farm, farmer, industrial agriculture, industrial organic, organic, tea, water, weed on October 3, 2012 by javedbabar
Bobby remembered starting work at the farm, but only vaguely. It was possibly a year ago. He used to live in the city; he had a brother there who was married, and parents who were old.
He also had somebody here… a sister, who had a daughter – that's right! – Naomi, who he enjoyed spending time with. When was the last time he had seen her? He couldn't recall. He should see her more often, and swore he would do that, but it was hard to find time; he was busy working "Farmtime Fulltime", as the boss called it. He often snoozed in the forest at lunchtime, but other than that, he rarely left the farm.
He should know his fellow workers better, but he barely knew their names. Beyond "good morning,", "good afternoon", and "good night," they exchanged few words. They worked alone in the fields, and then went to trailers to watch TV. It was a lonely life, but somehow pleasing. It must be, as Bobby had no desire to do anything else.
Beers in town? He had some in the fridge.
A restaurant meal? Why suffer the noise and expense?
Meeting girls? There were plenty on the internet, who were much less trouble than wining and dining a real girl just to get her into bed. Who could be bothered to expend energy on sex anyway? He wasn't married and wanting kids. What was the point? Pleasure was readily available, if he could be bothered.
Bobby had come to the farm on the WWW programme, a Willing Waterer and Weeder. Though his official working day was twelve hours, he watered and weeded only for 4 hours in the morning and 4 hours at night. That was all he could manage. It was hot thirsty work.
The farmer encouraged them all to keep well hydrated, and there were vintage signs in many places saying Drink Tea. He'd told them that tea was better than water, as it was a healthy natural beverage with vital trace minerals. In the same way that we should eat food containing nutrients, not just empty calories, we should also consume nutritionally enhanced drinks. Their minerals ensured optimal physical functioning.
He didn't tell them that the tea was Silva Sanguinarus, which had been given to soldiers in European wars. It was an anticonvulsant and sedative, and an anaphrodisiac.
The tea kept them working steadily but reduced their desire to do anything else. It was the perfect dietary supplement for the endless watering and weeding required for industrial organic production. After all, they were only one step away from machines. Right now people were more economical to use but that could change soon. The farmer would then switch from tea to oil.
Satellite Mushrooms
Posted in Classic Sci-Fi, Lucerne Village, Organic Farming with tags 1984, bobby, brainwash, farmer, food, gardener, mushroom, personality, satellite, smartphone, television on October 1, 2012 by javedbabar
Bobby was surprised that tomatoes preferred listening to commercial stations rather than official state radio. Commercial stations were full of inane chatter and annoying jingles, rather than well-programmed classical music, but plants seemed to prefer them, probably for the same reason that humans did. They was more fun.
He tried a few different stations in the hothouse, and also began broadcasting in the fields. The results were consistent – always Munchies over Mozart, Burgers over Beethoven, and Wiggles over Wagner. It was sad but true. Crops preferred crap.
A forest of mushrooms grew beneath the satellite dish in the garden corner. Was this dish for television or internet access? There were no cables leading off from it; they must be buried. He called another worker over and said, "Hey dude, what's this?"
"Duh! It's a satellite dish. What do you think it is?"
"I know it's a satellite dish. I mean, why is it here?"
"Who knows, my friend. I don't get paid enough to answer technical questions. No one has asked me to do anything to it, so I don't care."
He pointed to the pink fungi growing beneath. "Maybe it's there to protect the little mushrooms from the sun. They don't like too much sunshine, you know. Why did you plant them there?"
People make strange jokes, thought Bobby. "I didn't plant them there."
"You did too! You planted them there! I saw you!"
Bobby could ignore him or play along. "Why did I do that? Please remind me."
"Because you're a fun guy. Get it? And there wasn't mushroom under the dish, so you squeezed them in. Now when you pine for savoury flavour, you just pick one!"
Bobby said that's enough.
"I'm not talking shitake, pal. Why should I button it?"
Bobby wasn't paying attention, as he'd noticed something strange. Each mushroom looked like an upside down satellite dish. It was an exact replica in pink. Maybe he was reading too much into things, after all that was their natural shape – bell ends.
But there was something stranger. Each one looked the same but also seemed different. Each had a distinctive character, almost a personality. They seemed alive, more than a vegetable should be. One mushroom was fat, one was thin, one was shiny, another, tough-skinned; one, wet; one, almost dead.
He hadn't been smoking the good herb last night, so why was he seeing strange things?
The fat one seemed lazy; the thin one, active; the shiny one was happy; the tough one, angry; the quiet one, sad; the almost dead one, well dying, and in a way relieved.
The other worker said, "Look pal, no need to be so glum. I've got a trick I can show you." He fiddled with the dish connections. "I studied electronic engineering," – he looked up – "things didn't work out, but I did learn a thing or two." He hooked the satellite dish to his smartphone. "I can't get a decent signal in this valley, but let's see what we can get here."
His smartphone had crystal clear reception. They flicked through food, health, beauty, action, romance, and crime channels. They forgot about the mushrooms, and any effects these channels may have on them. Lazy, active, happy, angry, sad and dying. They were now affected themselves.
Radio Tomatoes
Posted in Classic Sci-Fi, Lucerne Village, Organic Farming with tags bach, bobby, farm, food, frequency, gardener, mozart effect, music, polytunnel, radio, tomato on September 30, 2012 by javedbabar
Bobby liked his job on the farm. It was great to be out in the fresh air all day, even when it was raining or snowing; much better than being snowed under with paperwork. He recalled a time at year-end when his entire desk was filled with files, a foot deep or more. Now there was only rhubarb and squash to wade through.
"I'll take care of the tomatoes!" he shouted to his fellow worker, pointing towards the eastern polytunnels. "You can do the peppers." These were the two main hot house crops here, with two hundred metres of each in tidy rows.
The tomatoes had started the season really well, shooting up and flowering early, but they had slowed with balmy weather. Aphids were a bother too. The new batch of ladybugs had helped.
Bobby wondered why tomatoes in the corner were doing so well. The plants were taller and the fruits were bigger and brighter than elsewhere in the hothouse. He went to the western polytunnel to ask his colleague. "Did you use a special fertilizer in the corner? No? Any extra inputs? No? What? They were just the same as the others last week? Okay."
Why were they so strong and healthy? So picture perfect, like the image on a seed packet. Yes, there was more light in that corner in the mornings, but when the sun crossed over there was more shade, so there was no real advantage. Maybe being near the door provided extra ventilation, the airflow helping to regulate temperature, and deterring pests. Or did they benefit from heat flowing past them?
There could be something special in the soil here, like a small rotting animal providing a sustained supply of nutrients. A microclimate? Other beneficial bugs?
The tomatoes looked like large coloured party bulbs. They were sunset red and fist-sized, with flesh like ripe mangoes and juices like nectar. Over a few days Bobby checked everything, but could find no explanation for why they grew better. He wasn't a proud person, but would be pleased to get some credit for this. These were the healthiest, tastiest tomatoes he'd ever seen. The best ever. They would soon be ready to harvest.
He thought about the tomatoes on his day off, and found himself licking his lips.
When he returned to the hothouse the tomatoes had wilted, and some of the plants had collapsed. The fruits were looking sick and pinched, as if somebody had strangled them in the desert. He checked the drip irrigation. It was still working.
Bach provided a tender soundtrack to this sorry state of affairs. The combination of dying fruit and sad music could be a still life by a renaissance painter. Or maybe the bright colours were more Van Gogh. Tomatoes fell as he stood there; the ground was covered with dead bloody bombs.
Then he recalled something. Last week the radio in the corner of the hothouse had been tuned to a commercial station. It was another worker's choice. There was inane banter and non-stop ads. Had this affected the plants somehow?
Maybe they didn't like classical music as everyone supposed. Maybe they felt it was plain and boring. He re-tuned the radio to LVR. A chorus of jingles began immediately.
"Good climes with Arctic Vodka!"
"Generali Cigars – Get Smoky!"
"Double-double burgers – only at Quenchers!"
"It's party night at Dirty's Bar!"
"Half-price cars this month at Valley Cars!"
Bobby started humming along. The words and music were designed to please. The wilting tomatoes raised their heads.
Meaty Plants
Posted in Classic Sci-Fi, Lucerne Village, Organic Farming with tags armageddon, bco, building, day of the triffids, evolution, frankenstein food, green food, greenhouse, regulations, sentient, shama on September 27, 2012 by javedbabar
As Lucerne's Building Control Officer, Shama's remit was residential, commercial and industrial building. He was not responsible for agricultural building. Bona fide farmers could build whatever they wanted to provided it served a purpose.
He did however have a watching brief. So when he wasn't busy he would drive around, looking, to keep his new empire in check. This was his second week in the job, and he wanted to stay on top of things.
At first he thought it was a trick of the light. Bright fragments shone around the valley at dawn, illuminating bluffs and gleaming across forests. The sun was catching something large – what was it? The source seemed to be away from the road – where was it?
More driving around indicated that it was likely the Old Percy Farm. He'd heard that the old fella had passed it on to his son, who had returned from Africa to live here. He'd also heard that the son was sci-fi author Balthazar O. Percy, one of whose books Shama had read in his teens. He recalled it being very strange, barely comprehensible stuff.
There was a gate and buzzer, newly installed. He was about to press the button when the gate opened itself. Was it an automatic gate? Then he saw the discreet camera built into the gate post. Somebody had let him in.
Shama followed the driveway, winding around a slough, and through a patch of forest. Why people built their homes so far from the road, he had no idea. What a waste of time and energy every time you went to town. Anyway, that was their choice, to hide.
A shaven-headed man stood on the road ahead of him, clapping. He increased his speed of clapping as Shama approached, and then moved and stood to the side.
Shama pulled up beside him. "Hello, I'm Shama, the new BCO. I'm familiarizing myself with the area. I hope you don't mid me paying you a visit."
The man was wearing grey overalls, and seemed like a prisoner or factory worker. "Not at all. Welcome to the ranch. I am the owner, Balthazar O. Percy. Would you like to look around?"
Shama spotted a vast greenhouse on the edge of a far field. At first glance he'd say the greenhouse covered an acre. It could be even more than that.
"Ah! I see the greenhouse has caught your eye. Let's start with that. This is my personal project. I've wanted to do it for years. Now that Dad has passed the farm over to me, I am…"
Shama saw something moving inside. It didn't seem like a person.
"… trying some new ideas. This valley has plenty of nutrients which could provide the ideal human diet, if only humans could absorb them. Animal production is very wasteful, they eat more then they produce. Plants are somewhat fickle, one flood or frost and they're gone. I'm developing a new green food source, meaty plants."
Shama could swear that one of the plants was looking at him.
"If the valley floods, they'll swim. If it's frosty, they'll huddle. If there's a fire, they'll escape. They are independent and will ultimately create their own ecosystems. When nuclear war comes – we all know it is inevitable – they may even outlive us, and begin a new evolution stream, but right now they are fragile and need protection. That's what the green house is for."
Shama thought, I wonder how soon before we'll need protection from them?
Posted in Alternative Energy, Classic Sci-Fi, Organic Farming with tags 3d printer, amp, creation, energy, integration, karma, life, microscopic, organic, sami, worm on September 11, 2012 by javedbabar
Sami wasn't sure if he was ready to create life – or at least not human life. Maybe he could start with something smaller, like a pet, or even smaller than that.
Having a 3D printer to play with was fun but was also daunting. Was it really true, that with the right materials he could create anything? Meeting Alfred was a stroke of luck. The young entrepreneur had invited Sami into the experimental shop where he was testing his new integrated technology.
"So what did you decide?" said Alfred. "Still interested in using organic materials?"
"Well yes, but nothing ambitious. We could start with amoeba or bacteria."
"I'm not sure that would work," said Alfred. "They are simple organisms that are easy to make in theory, but they are fragile. I don't think they would survive the process. Also, it would be better to make something more tangible; it's easier than making things we can't see. We could try making an insect."
"What about a worm?" said Sami. "I've always liked them, and they're resilient. I hope worms have forgiven me for the experiments I performed on them as a child, cutting them into two, three, four or more pieces, and seeing which parts survived. We could make a worm. Bring one to life. That would improve my karma!"
"Okay, let's make a worm." Alfred tapped away at his computer, and printouts appeared on a small desktop printer.
Sami said, "Why don't you use the 3D printer?"
Alfred looked sheepish. "It's not very good with paper." He gave Sami the printouts, which showed worm dissections along various axes.
"What about its biological systems? Will they work properly?"
"Yes, if there is enough detail. I'm going to set up the 3D printer. Can you find some more information on worms? Photos, videos, textbook pages, anything else you find interesting, and we'll feed it into the printer, and use the integration tool. It combines all of the data to create a holistic model for production."
Sami collated details of worms' long, legless, tube-like bodies, their range of sizes from microscopic to over fifty metre long marine worms, their variety of parasitic niches or living freely on land, in marine or freshwater environments, their hermaphroditism and asexual reproduction, their ability to sense light, their muscular hydrostatic structure, the transmission of parasitic worms by mosquitos, their need for food, moisture, oxygen and favorable temperatures, their hatching from cocoons, their ability to replace or replicate lost segments, their valuable role in food chains, and their sticky slime that holds soil particles together.
Alfred reviewed the information before processing. "They are small but quite complex," he said. "It will take two days to produce the worm."
After 48 hours they examined the machine. There was nothing there.
"Damn!" said Alfred. "I don't know what happened. Everything seemed to be working fine. All the key indicators were…"
"Uh-oh," said Sami as he squashed something on the floor.
Tingling Bells
Posted in Lucerne Village, Mystical Experience, Organic Farming, Sacred Geometry with tags bells, code of life, dna, double helix, fertility ritual, guru baba, moon, morris dancing, pattern, sami, spiral, tree of life on August 30, 2012 by javedbabar
Sami touched his own face with fear, and shouted, "Guru Baba! What has happened to me?"
His cheeks were now hairy, his eyebrows met in the middle, and his teeth were sharp. Even his fingernails were curved and pointed. He scratched his own skin and shouted again, "What has happened to me?"
Guru Baba was also different. He was sharp and hairy too.
One night each year the citizens of Lucerne shape-shifted and became Hounds of God. Known commonly as werewolves, they were thought to be evil and feared.
In truth there was nothing to fear. The spring moon caused this transformation, bringing people back into tune with nature. It reminded them of their reliance upon the holy land.
"Look at the cherry trees," said Guru Baba. "Look how they bow down. It is also their night of humility. It shows the great debt they carry to Mother Earth, which can never be repaid."
Sami was panicking. "But why is it happening? Is this why you brought me here – to change me into a monster?"
Guru Baba reached out with a furry hand, and Sami drew back his claws. "It's precisely the opposite of that, Sami. We do this to avoid becoming monsters. We reconnect with nature. We become whole and true."
Sami was shouting without meaning to; he couldn't control his thoughts. "Then why all the robes and mumbo-jumbo? You tell people to repeat mantras, to meditate, to pray. Why do they need all that? What good does that do?"
He wanted to stay far away from Guru Baba, but dark shapes emerging from the forest caused him to draw closer to the sage. Guru Baba put his arm around Sami and said, "It gives you peace of mind. Tonight is what gives you peace of heart."
The full moon bathed the field in brightness. All around them dark beings advanced, heading towards the circle of cherry trees. The Headman of the village, the seventh generation of a pioneer family mixed with native blood, came towards Guru Baba. He bowed and said, "Master of the Holy Ceremony, shall we begin?"
Guru Baba said, "Yes, let us begin."
The dark beings adjusted items on their bodies and came forward together. Their tingling bells frightened evil spirits away. Their clashing sticks announced the fight between good and evil.
Guru Baba crowned Sami with a wreath woven of cherry branches. Sami's body then seemed to move of its own accord. He weaved in and out of the thousand dark beings converging, and led them to a tall fir tree. They decorated the tree by hanging bread soaked in beer from its low branches, and poured more beer on its roots. They lit and stamped out small fires around it. They passed around a bowl of herb liquor, all taking sips. They sang bits of nursery rhymes together, and then Guru Baba produced a shotgun from beneath his robes.
Sami's heart fell. So this was it.
Guru Baba smiled as he shot the gun in the air to wake up the tree for the coming season. He was greatly honoured that Lucerne's citizens had asked him to oversee their yearly fertility ritual. Yes, he was a famous holy man, but he was also quite new in town.
They tied bright ribbons around the tree and danced in rotation.
The ribbons all wrapped around the trunk, creating a colourful, spiralling pattern.
The code of life was cracked for another season.
Sustainable Sandwich Specials
Posted in Lucerne Village, Organic Farming with tags agent orange, cafo, danny, diner, food, hfcs, organic, sustainable, tuna on June 10, 2012 by javedbabar
Danny was hungry. He wouldn't normally have considered going to the Lucerne Valley Hotel, but had heard that their diner was under new management by some kids from the City. Maybe their service had improved since his last visit, and their ingredients, and their cooking. He recalled a spongy patty with plastic cheese and cardboard bun, served with slimy greens and oily chips. Where had they got them from, the transfer station?
Things were better the moment he entered. The walls were painted dark grey, and stained carpet had been ripped out to reveal original floorboards which were sanded clean. There was a smart new glass counter manned by hip staff. He tried not to stare at their piercings and tattoos, which featured Greek letters and Celtic patterns entwined. There was a large blackboard saying SSS, but with no further details.
"Hi, I'm Joho," said a cheerful twenty-something with a ring through the centre of his nose, and blonde dreadlocks bearing beads and shells. "Welcome to Sustainable Planet. Have you been here before?"
"I have when the hotel guys ran the joint." Danny raised one eyebrow, and they shared a smile. "This place is looking great now. I can't wait to try the food."
"Shall I run through the menu with you? Okay, SSS stands for Sustainable Sandwich Specials. That's all we've got right now – the full menu's coming next month. We have meat, fish, veg, and fruit options; that seems to cover most people's needs."
"Well, what's on the menu for today?" Danny felt good about this place. It was just what the village needed; a progressive, friendly place where you know your money is supporting the environment rather than its destruction."
"The meat option today is CAFO beef. Do you know what that stands for? It means Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, a place where hundreds of thousands of cattle are crowded together, often up to their knees in their own excrement. They are disgusting places that lead to much distress and disease."
Danny's mouth fell open. "How is that a sustainable option?" Was the dreadlocked kid taking the Mickey?
"I thought you may ask that question. You see, we rescue as many cattle as we can from the feeding lots; this removes them from the industrial food chain plus highlights their plight to our customers. It's served rare, on rye, with wholegrain mustard."
Danny felt he was missing something but didn't want to be difficult. These kids were trying their best to promote an earth-friendly philosophy. He asked, "What's today's fish option?"
"It's dolphin," said Joho.
"I'm sorry, do you mean dolphin-friendly tuna?"
"No, it's Pacific White-Sided Dolphin, Lagenorhynchus Obliquidens. Japanese trawlers kill them accidentally and it would be a terrible thing to waste them, so we buy them up wholesale. We choose our ingredients very carefully to make customers think."
This guy's logic is pretty messed up, thought Danny. Maybe non-carnivorous options would be more palatable. "What about the veg and fruit choices?"
"Today's veg option is High Fructose Corn Syrup reconstituted into corn chunks, and the fruit choice is oranges sprayed with Agent Orange; nice irony don't you think? They're salvaged from chemical field trials."
Danny got up to leave. "I'm sorry pal, I can't eat anything here. Everything you've offered me sounds disgusting. How is any of it sustainable?"
"Now we're getting somewhere, my friend. Nothing we do on earth is sustainable. Sustainable development is an oxymoron; all human activity leads to environmental degradation. That's what we want to tell you. This joint is a public interface for our policy; what we are really providing is food for your mind."
Extreme Gardening
Posted in Classic Sci-Fi, Lucerne Village, Organic Farming, Unknown with tags botanical garden, education, gardener, impact, shama, soil, terraform on June 9, 2012 by javedbabar
Shama wanted to turn his life around. He had escaped from his life of crime in the City and found this peaceful village, but had yet to find a job. The opportunities were all in Strattus, half an hour away; the only jobs available in Lucerne were working in the grocery or hardware stores for ten bucks an hour. He would rather go back to robbing kids and selling drugs. There was also seasonal farm work, which paid about the same, but was outdoors and you got fresh produce. He might try that if he was still here in the summer.
He spent most of his time in the forest hunting rabbits and grouse, which he ate himself, and sometimes deer, which provided some income. He also hung around village cafes, getting coffee refills. When he discovered the Botanical Garden, he began to spend time there. He found inexplicable joy in the garden, especially in its Prime Indigenous Areas – the Amazon Rainforest filled with mysterious fertility; the Egyptian Oasis, a cool, calm haven; the Babylonian Hanging Gardens were so vibrant it felt like you were in an ancient cartoon book. It was amazing that there was no entry charge.
Shama saw workers toiling in many parts of the garden. They hardly said a word to each other, and rarely acknowledged visitors. This was a pleasant change from the village, where everybody wanted to know your business. He wanted nobody to know his business. The Botanical Garden suited him well.
One day a voice from behind him said, "I hope that you are enjoying our Garden. We take our duty here very seriously. We make every effort to ensure it thrives."
"Yes, I like it," said Shama. Who was this man, he wondered, with his gold-white beard and green suit? He'd heard the creator of this place was called The Gardener. Maybe this was him.
The man said, "I've seen you many times during the daytime. Are you working at present?" Shama felt nervous at the man's intrusion but told him the truth; he was struggling to make a living in Lucerne.
"Have you considered studying gardening? It is the first of all human arts."
Shama said wasn't cave-painting the first?
"No, that's not true. Gardening came before cave-painting, fire-making, and hunting with weapons. Where do you suppose natural colours came from, and kindling, and beasts?"
"I'm not sure what you mean," said Shama. "They all come from the earth of course."
"Yes that's true, young man, as far as it goes. But there's much we can teach you here that will benefit you, and the world. Why don't you enrol for our next programme? It won't cost you a penny. All of our students are fully funded by The Authority; it knows the true value of our education."
Shama indicated the workers digging and planting nearby. "Can't you offer me a job like those people? My need right now is for money, and I was never good at school anyway."
The Gardener smiled and stroked his beard. "Young man, education always comes before money. Improve your mind and cash comes running, guaranteed! Those workers are all students too. After a month of successful study we offer them a five-year work/study contract, and as their skills develop, so does their pay. Rest assured, none are earning minimum wage, and they love their work."
Even though it was getting dark, and an early moon was apparent, their pace did not slacken. "What do you teach them, and what work do they do?"
"They are enrolled on the B.Sc. Extreme Gardening course, affiliated with Luna University. In their first year they study Taxonomy, Plant Pathology, Soil Health, Entomology, Multicultural Landscaping, Sustainable Gardening, Nuisance Wildlife Management, and Integrated Pest Control."
"All in the first year?" said Shama. "What about the other four years?"
"They are all dedicated to Impact Gardening. They learn the process by which impact events stir the outermost crusts of celestial objects; these erode over time to form the first soils on planets, from which life evolves. As I said, gardening is the first human art."
Shama said, "I'm still confused about the order of things…"
"When our last home was threatened, humans terraformed earth; the soil we created made life here possible. Now our planet is threatened again, we must begin elsewhere." He pointed up to the moon. "As a cosmic being, are you ready for your next challenge?"
Posted in Lucerne Village, Organic Farming with tags botanical garden, coco de mer, danny, dispersal, fertility, gardener, iram, orchid, seeds on May 28, 2012 by javedbabar
Danny liked wandering through the Botanical Garden. He had visited most days since it had opened, either before or after work. The Zoological Society of Lucerne had done a good job with the garden; it had become a popular landmark to the extent that you were more likely to hear local people saying "See you at the garden," than "See you at the pub."
The latest addition to the complex was the garden shop. Danny liked its library, which contained unusual volumes like "Arid Gardening for Apocalyptic Times," and "Return to Iram" (by flicking through which he discovered that Iram in Arabic meant paradise; it was a book about creating classical Islamic gardens). He became fascinated by seeds, which were the source of the wonders he witnessed in the garden daily; he was pleased when the shop created a dedicated seed fixture, and browsed it on most visits.
He saw a container of orchid seeds, such tiny things that produced rare beauty. Each was a treasure, a generator of wonder and untold possibilities. His mother had loved orchids. She kept them near the kitchen window, their tall stems reaching bravely, arching for light. When he was young he'd thought their buds each contained an eye to watch over him when his mother was away. Instead they bloomed into black and purple lips.
A woman came and stood beside him. He saw her black hair, her long arms and legs, but most of all her eyes. They were the eyes he'd imagined would bloom from the orchid buds, huge and brown.
"Is that a seed?" she asked him. She said it casually, like you would to a best friend. He followed her pointing finger, indicating a huge thing like a black man's bottom, but pointed and flattened.
"I'm not sure," he said. "I guess it must be." He leaned towards the fixture and read, "Coco de Mer. It says it's the world's largest seed." He continued reading. "Most plants generate many small seeds to disperse widely, which travel by wind, water, and via animal fur and scat. But some put all their energy into a few large seeds, which tend to stay within the local area, closer to home."
"Which kind are you?" she said, smiled, and walked away.
Danny was taken by surprise. Was she coming on to him, he wondered? Was she asking if he was still sowing his wild oats indiscriminately, or ready to settle down? He became restless and took a turn around the garden. He hoped to glimpse her walking away, to admire her from a distance, but she had disappeared somewhere into the garden.
The Gardener was strolling along the main path. Danny asked if he'd seen the woman. He said, "Can't say that I have. Why do you ask? Did she make you wish to pollinate?"
He saw Danny's red face and added, "Only kidding. I remember what it was like when I first saw my wife. I knew she was the one for me. Till then I had been lying dormant, awaiting optimal conditions to synchronize germination." He often spoke in horticultural terms, which intrigued and sometimes confused Danny. The Gardener continued, "She was probably wondering if you were an orchid seed or a Coco de Mer. Dormancy is a state of the seed, not the environment."
Danny said, "I'm not sure what you mean."
"Well, plants and animals have many similarities. The one that I find most telling is present from inception. A plant's embryo has two points of growth – the root and the stem, and grows from the centre outwards. Similarly, humans grow in two ways also – physically and spiritually. Orchid seeds are tiny and have no nutrient supply, relying on soil fungi for growth. However the Coco de Mer has invested many resources in seed production, and provides everything needed to survive. This is what I found with my wife. She was an independent soul, and together we became interdependent souls. When she died I created this garden, to remain entwined forever."
The next day at the seed fixture, Danny was looking at winter cherries and winter bananas, when he felt a presence at his side. It was the woman with the big brown eyes. She asked him, "Which seed do you like?"
He said, "Coco de Mer."
She said, "It seems quite heavy. Shall I help you?"
Potanical Garden
Posted in Lucerne Village, Organic Farming, Unknown with tags bc bud, botanical garden, cannabis, danny, drugs, gangs, gardener, lord of the flies, pot on May 23, 2012 by javedbabar
The Zoological Society of Lucerne had done a great job developing the Botanical Garden. Danny took a leisurely stroll there most days, which cheered him up, especially in winter. He was healthy generally but became sad without sunshine. The blooms in the garden, especially the huge crimson flowers of Silva Sanguinara,were a vital tonic. The creator of this haven was known as The Gardener. As well as a grower, it seemed that he was also a healer.
Danny walked along the main path and stopped to admire a collection of funnel spider's nests. They were marvels of construction, their weight close to zero, and their strength unbelievable; if only human beings could live so lightly and strongly. Beyond them were swallows' nests; again, masterful engineering. High above, crowning a cedar was an eagles' nest, providing the ultimate vantage point for this forest kingdom.
The Gardener practised permaculture. Everything grew among everything else, as it should do. There were no cleared patches for single species cultivation.
There was a wooshing near a side-trail, and Danny set off to investigate. It was amazing that five acres could be so diverse; you never knew what was happening anywhere elsewhere within it. It was probably the boys he saw playing hide and seek and fighting.
As he walked down the side trail, he saw something moving ahead, high up in the trees. He wondered if The Gardener had introduced monkeys, or maybe flying squirrels. The movement continued back and forth across the trail. The canopy made it hard to identify, but something was swinging quickly, whooshing, and sometimes stopping.
As Danny drew closer, the motions and sounds stopped. He too stopped instinctively, but was intrigued and went to investigate further. At first he saw nothing but then eyes and heads appeared. Boys were peering at him from both sides of the trail, hiding and whispering, trying to be invisible, but not doing a good job.
"Hey guys!" he said. "Why are you hiding? I've seen you. You may as well come out." They didn't move, so he said, "Sorry if I've ruined your game."
Danny stepped off the trail towards the left and was met by five boys advancing, and was suddenly surrounded. He became scared and said, "What's going on boys? I already said that I'm sorry for ruining your game."
He wanted to say something more but didn't know what to. He'd never imagined feeling threatened by young teens – thirteen, fourteen tops. All physically smaller than him, but together they were menacing.
One jumped at him suddenly, and two more followed with fists flailing. When he was on the ground, those standing kicked him. Danny shouted, but his voice seemed to die off in the forest. He renewed his fight back, till kicked in the head too hard to recover. One of the boys put his face close to Danny's and said, "Shut up or we'll kill you."
Danny was terrified and stopped resisting. The boys lashed him with vines to a coconut tree, which he fertilized inadvertently. He thought of calling out again, but decided to remain quiet. He was never left alone for a moment, and the imminent threat of violence was a disincentive to fuss.
They left him there, and brought him food and drink; usually stuff they'd foraged in the forest. Over a week he lost a few kilos but was basically okay. He discovered the reason for their aggression. There were pot-growing patches on both sides of the trail, with gangs of boys competing for this lucrative trade. They swung in the trees for reconnaissance and to intimidate rivals. If they found plants unattended, they stole and replanted them in their own patch.
Danny was a problem for them now. Would they kill him if they lost patience?
One day he saw The Gardener walking on a path nearby. It may be his only chance to escape, so shouted out "Help!" The Gardener ran over immediately. Thank God, thought Danny, he can protect and free me with his machete. The boy guarding Danny backed away as The Gardener raised the glinting weapon. Like every good business man, he must protect his source of income. He brought it down on Danny's neck.


This site by Alan Kwan contains a lot of reviews of weird and wonderful Japanese games you don't ordinarily see in Europe or the US.
How about Kitty On Your Lap, "the dream game for players who like 2D anime-style cat-eared girls"?
Or Chaos Seed? This is a game that involves cave excavation and attacks by villagers, and features Chinese mythology and even a functional Feng Shui game mechanism. It reminds me of Bullfrog's Dungeon Keeper, except the protagonist is not evil.


text:
Banking and Financial News
UPDATE 2-Bank Sarasin mis-sold $200 mln investments to Kuwaitis - Dubai court
* Bank found to have mis-sold $200 mln of investment products
* Ordered to pay compensation; family claiming over $26.5 mln
* Sarasin says considering appeal
* Ruling may set precedent for similar cases
* Marks development of Dubai's DIFC as financial jurisdiction (Adds Sarasin statement, analysis, quotes from lawyer and judge)
By Matt Smith
DUBAI, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Switzerland's Bank Sarasin mis-sold $200 million of investment products to Kuwait's prominent Khorafi family, a court at Dubai's financial centre found on Thursday in a ruling that could set a precedent for similar disputes in the region.
The Dubai International Financial Centre's (DIFC) Court of First Instance ordered Sarasin to pay compensation in what may be one of the biggest awards in the 10-year history of the DIFC, which is growing in importance as a financial jurisdiction.
The verdict could also set a precedent in future disputes between cash-rich Middle Eastern investors and the Western financial institutions which channel much of the region's wealth into overseas markets.
The court's judgement did not set a figure for the compensation to be paid to the Khorafis, but the family has been asking for more than $26.5 million in court. Sarasin has 14 days to appeal, court officials said.
Sarasin and its Middle Eastern subsidiary Sarasin-Alpen (ME) Ltd sold unsuitable real estate-related investments to Khorafi family members in 2007 and 2008, deputy chief justice John Chadwick said.
Bank Sarasin, which had denied that it broke any regulation or failed to meet any obligation, said in an emailed statement to Reuters: "We and Bank Sarasin-Alpen (ME) Ltd are currently considering the judgement and our options, including an appeal."
In their suit, originally brought several years ago, Rafed Abdel Mohsen Bader al Khorafi, his wife and his mother alleged that Sarasin failed to give them enough advice and warn them of risks in the complex investments.
They said they borrowed money from Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait to invest in real estate-related products through Sarasin, which lent the wealthy family additional amounts.
According to court documents, the Khorafis said they were told they would "never lose money" and that the risk of their investments not appreciating in value was "negligible", which they described as "hopelessly over-optimistic".
As the global financial crisis erupted in late 2008, dragging down real-estate prices around the world, Sarasin asked the Khorafis for extra collateral to back their loans and eventually liquidated their investments at a loss.
"It is said he (Khorafi) overreached himself and his schemes fell apart when markets crashed and that he has no one to blame but himself," Chadwick wrote in his judgement.
"I do not take that view. I am satisfied that the present is a clear case of financial mis-selling (of) unsuitable investments to an unsophisticated investor and to his equally unsophisticated wife and mother."
In 2013, Bank Sarasin merged with another Swiss bank to form the J. Safra Sarasin group, according to the group's website.
In the wake of the global financial crisis, some other Middle Eastern investors have tried to win some of their lost money back from Western institutions.
In February this year, a U.S. appeals court rejected an attempt by the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) to void an arbitration victory by Citigroup in a dispute over a $7.5 billion investment in the bank.
ADIA had said Citigroup fraudulently induced its investment, in part by issuing preferred shares to other investors that diluted its stake. Citigroup denies wrongdoing.
Goldman Sachs and Libya's sovereign wealth fund are set to meet in a London court over Libyan allegations that the bank exploited a position of trust by encouraging the fund to invest over $1 billion in trades that ended up worthless. Goldman denies wrongdoing, and a hearing has been scheduled for early October.
Bushra Ahmed, a barrister at KBH Kaanuun, the law firm representing the Khorafis, said on Thursday: "Lawyers across the world will be looking at this judgement, to what he (Chadwick) said, his reasoning and how he's come to the conclusions he has." (Writing by Andrew Torchia; Editing by Pravin Char)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Home>Science>Nick Carter Says "My Heart Is Broken" After Brother Aaron Carter's Death
Nick Carter Says "My Heart Is Broken" After Brother Aaron Carter's Death
nwcadminNovember 6, 2022Last Updated: November 6, 2022
Nick Carter of the '90s pop music group Backstreet Boys spoke publicly about death of younger brotherAaron Carter, for the first time on Sunday.
Captioning an Instagram post with photos that appeared to show the siblings together as children and teenagers, Nick Carter said he was "heartbroken" and his brother with mental illness and addiction. The conflict, which Aaron Carter openly discussed during his life, is "the real villain here."
"Even though my brother and I have had a complicated relationship, my love for him has never waned," he wrote. "I've always held on to the hope that he will, someday, want to walk down a healthier path and eventually find the help he so desperately needed."
"Sometimes we want to blame someone or something for the harm, but the truth is that addiction and mental illness are the real villains here," the message continued. "I will miss my brother more than anyone.
Nick Carter and Aaron Carter sit in the audience during the 2000 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
During several interviews in recent years, Aaron Carter has spoken openly about his ongoing struggles with substance abuse and mental illness. In 2019, Nick Carter Told That along with Aaron's twin sister, Angel, she had filed for a restraining order against their brother because of "Aaron's increasingly dangerous behavior". Nick said that Aaron confessed to having violent thoughts about Nick's wife. Aaron Carter denied those allegations at the time.
Others, including Angel Carter and Hilary Duff, the singer and actor who dated Aaron Carter when both stars were teenagers, have shared tributes on Instagram since his death.
"To Aaron- I'm deeply sorry that life was so hard for you and that you had to struggle in front of the whole world," Duff wrote. "You had a charm that totally gleamed… the boy loved you deeply in my teens."
Echoing Nick Carter's message, Angel Carter wrote, "To my twin… I loved you dearly. You will be greatly missed. My funny, dear Aaron, I have so many memories of you and me, And I promise to cherish them. I know you're at peace now. I'll take you with me until the day I die and see you again."
Aaron Carter, whose debut album "Aaron's Party" included hits like "I Want Candy," brought the singer to fleeting but memorable fame in the early 2000s, was found dead on Saturday. He was 34 years old.
"We are deeply saddened and shocked to confirm the passing of Aaron Carter today," Roger Paul, Aaron Carter's manager, said in a statement to CBS News. "The cause of his death is currently being investigated. We want you to give time to the family and they will have more information when it becomes available. We cannot express the love that is to come."
Aaron Carter was found dead at a home in Lancaster, California, after a sitter said he discovered an unresponsive man in a bathtub, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a news release. The sheriff's department said deputies and paramedics from the LA County Fire Department pronounced him dead.
Notable deaths in 2022


Today we celebrated the official presentation in press conference of the arrival of Wine Run in Rioja Alavesa, a brand that was born in Lanzarote to support and promote La Geria, its wine area and one of the most striking landscapes of wine.
Cuadrilla de Rioja Alavesa, with the participation of Eusko Jaurlaritza (Basque Government), has reached an agreement with Cabildo de Lanzarote to boost the brand Wine Run creating the event "Rioja Alavesa Wine Run". A sporting event that seeks to vindicate differentiated wine regions with a landscape and heritage cultural interest, as well as tradition and commitment to quality.
The event will be held in Rioja Alavesa on October 30th and will provide distances of 36, 20 and 10 kilometers in a journey through paths and trails through vineyards. A sports offer which aims to cover the gap between urban and mountain trials, offering an alternative to popular athletes who want to try this discipline. In addition, you can participate in a 10 km popular march, walking through vineyards and wineries as a way to know the values of Rioja Alavesa.
Since its beginning, the event has the support of ABRA (Rioja Alavesa Winery Association) and Ruta del Vino de Rioja Alavesa (Rioja Alavesa Wine Route). The intention is to involve wineries and wine tourism establishments for participants in the Wine Run to enjoy a wine experience in the complete region.
The trial will go through some of the wineries in Rioja Alavesa, its vineyards and even their barrel rooms. By enrolling, participants can enjoy special deals in wine and wine tourism, in order to complete the experience of their stay in Rioja Alavesa.
– Deputy for Economic Development and Territorial Balancing of Diputación Foral de Álava, Pilar García de Salazar.


text:
East Channel Railroad Bridge
BNSF Railroad Mississippi River Crossing
• Structure ID: N/A.
• Railroad: Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad.
• Daily Traffic Count: 12 Trains Per Day (Estimated).
• Bridge Type: Steel Plate Deck (Old), Concrete Girder (New).
• Length: 227 Feet, 67 Foot Longest Span.
• Width: Two Tracks.
• Navigation Channel Width: Non-Navigable.
The Saint Paul and Pacific Railroad built the first bridge across the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities area at this location. The bridge opened May 1, 1867. The complete river crossings consists of two spans, one over the main channel of the Mississippi River, and this bridge over the smaller east channel of the Mississippi River. The land between the two river channels is known as Nicollet Island.
The first bridge was an iron truss bridge, with the trains running through the truss span. In 1901, the Wisconsin Central built a curved spur bridge off of the main bridge. This allowed Wisconsin Central trains to cross on to Nicollet Island, travel along the north edge of the island, then cross another bridge to their rail yard on Boom Island.
The East Channel Railroad bridge was rebuilt in 1926. A new deck girder bridge was built on top of the original piers. That bridge has been in place largely unchanged until 2008. In the summer of 2008, the southern of the two spans parallel spans was removed and replaced with a precast concrete railroad bridge. This bridge sits on the original 1867 piers. The second parallel span will be replaced early in 2009.
This bridge has gone through a number of owners since 1867. This includes the Saint Paul & Pacific, the Saint Paul, Minneapolis and Manitoba Railway, and later the Great Northern Railway. The Great Northern was part of a large merger to become the Burlington Northern, which merged once again to become the Burlington Northern Santa Fe. In addition to being used by a major railroad, several other railroads have trackage rights to this bridge. As a result, one does not need to wait long to see a train cross this structure.
The photo at the top is a 2006 vintage photo of the bridge. This photo was taken prior to the current construction work on the bridge. It shows the bridge in its same configuration that it has been since 1926. The three boards running the length of the bridge in the middle are to fill the gap between the two parallel bridge spans.
The photo above is a view of the East Channel Railroad Bridge as seen from a highway overpass located on Nicollet Island. An older timber span is on the left, while the new concrete span is on the right. The old Wisconsin Central branch curves off to the far left of the photo.
The photo below is a ground level view of the Wisconsin Central spur that curves off of the main bridge. The curve was built using a series of straight bridge sections. Notice that this span is more or less level, while the two parallel spans in the background are climbing towards the right side of the photo. The mainline needs to climb almost 10 feet as it crosses Nicollet Island to meet the elevation of the main channel bridge.
These two photos are side views of the Wisconsin Central branch off of the East Channel Railroad Bridge. These views give us a chance to look at the bridge piers, which are of 1901 vintage. The photo above is the upriver view, while the photo below is the downriver view.
These two photos are looking to the southwest from the overpass on Main Street. The photo below shows the old Wisconsin Central line branching off of the main line on the curved bridge. The photo below is looking into the setting sun as it is reflecting off of the shiny surface of the rails.
These two photos are views of the two parallel bridge spans over the East Channel of the Mississippi River. The bridge span on the left is the 1926 steel deck plate girder bridge. The bridge span on the right is the 2008 precast concrete bridge. Notice the shine on the railroad tracks on the right side, which indicates that heavy traffic is using the new span despite it not being fully completed.
These two photos show the new span for the downriver of the two parallel tracks. The old bridge was removed, new bearing blocks were installed on top of the piers, and precast bridge segments were placed with a crane. Notice that the Main Street bridge over the railroad tracks in the background is being rebuilt. The bridge design has incorporated the old bridge piers into the abutments.
The photo above is a summer view from the Nicollet Street overpass located on Nicollet Island. The view is looking northeast towards the only Main Street area.
The photo below is a CSX locomotive entering the bridge headed northbound across the Mississippi River. I have no clue what a CSX train is doing in Minnesota. CSX does have some track rights agreements with the BNSF, but this is more likely the case where the BNSF is leasing CSX locomotives.
In the photo above, the CSX train is continuing its northbound journey across the Mississippi River. The photo below shows the tail end of the train crossing the East Channel Railroad Bridge.


One trouble with small personal loans is the fact that frequently they may be hard to obtain for those who have poor credit. Most financiers will require collateral for that loan, causing you to put your vehicle or home in risk for anyone who is not able to pay for the loan. Small personal loans are actually a more sensible choice for individuals with better credit ratings who are able to obtain these funds at mortgage loan reduced than many charge card companies.
If you're one of individuals individuals with adequate credit to be eligible for a a loan, the next thing is to determine which utilize it would need to you. Unlike home or auto loans which can be used for particular purchases, personal loans can literally be utilized for anything.
Other do it yourself projects may also be pricey, for example furnace replacements or upgrade to home windows, the rooftop, etc. Essentially, you should use small personal loans as options to a house equity loan if you fail to acquire one. A small loan can offer a terrific way to get enhancements done rapidly using the cheapest rate of interest around.
Around the switch side, you should also be ready for these occasions later on, and taking advantage of a loan to construct a security internet enables the reassurance of knowing you have already made the program to pay for the loan back, instead of fretting about doing this in the middle of an emergency.


If you've managed to quit ordinary cigarettes then well done - you are well on your way to being addiction-free.
However, having substituted cigarettes for the electronic version - e-cigarettes - then, if not already, you could soon find yourself addicted to these, and while the general consensus is that they are less harmful than cigarettes, these substitutes are still in their infancy and not enough tests have been carried out to see what the long term side-effects could be.
Vaping, as it is known, can be harder to quit than actual cigarettes as there is less incentive to give up.
E-cigarettes also contain chemicals and although they are absent of tar, which is the main irritant of cigarettes, they still contain carcinogenic toxins such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.
We have also heard in news reports of electronic cigarette chargers blowing up and setting fires - plus - they give the message to the younger generation that they are acceptable to use.
So tackle that addiction once and for all and as well as saving money, your health will be much improved and you will know that you are well and truly over the smoking habit.
Download this Addiction to E-Cigarettes hypnosis audio session today and say a big Hello to being free.
This powerful hypnosis session is recorded by Rachel, who has a soft, gentle voice (English accent) that will lull you into a deep state of relaxation. You may feel quite sleepy; however, your subconscious mind will be in the ideal state to allow you to act upon the suggestions given, so that very soon you will have no need for electronic or ordinary cigarettes.


text:
Your Reaction to a Request for an Independent Educational Evaluation Could Constitute Retaliation
Summary: The U.S. District Court, Northern District of California ruled that a school district's proposal to reevaluate a student after the student's parents requested an independent educational evaluation ("IEE") could constitute illegal retaliation, and allowed the case to continue. M.M. v. Lafayette School District, 115 LRP 54386 (Nov. 18, 2015).
Facts: Student was in third grade receiving special education services from the Lafayette School District when Student's Parents requested an independent educational evaluation ("IEE"). In response, the District proposed that the District reevaluate Student instead. Parents filed a due process complaint alleging various violations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA") and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, including retaliation.
Parents' due process complaint has continued for six years, rising to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals before being remanded to the U.S. District Court for further proceedings on the retaliation claim. The District attempted to convince the Court to dismiss the retaliation claim on the grounds that a request for an IEE is not a "protected activity" that can give rise to a retaliation claim, and that the mere suggestion that the District reevaluate Student instead of facilitating an IEE cannot meet the legal definition of an "adverse action."
Issue: Can a local educational agency's ("LEA") suggestion that the LEA reevaluate a student in response to parents' request for an independent educational evaluation ("IEE") be considered retaliation under the IDEA and Section 504?
Holding: Yes, an LEA's suggestion that it reevaluate a student instead of conducting an IEE could qualify as retaliation under the IDEA and Section 504. The burden is still on the student and parents to ultimately prove their allegations of retaliation, but a court will not dismiss the retaliation claim outright.
Discussion: Under Section 504, retaliation occurs when a plaintiff (1) engaged in a protected activity, (2) defendant knew the plaintiff was involved in the activity, (3) defendant took an adverse action against plaintiff, and (4) defendant would not have taken the adverse action "but-for" the plaintiff engaging in the protected activity. Alex G. ex rel. Dr. Steven G. v. Bd. of Trustees of David Joint Unified Sch. Dist., 387 F.Supp.2d 1119, 1128 (E.D. Cal. 2005).
In this case, Parents alleged that (1) their request for an IEE was a "protected activity" under Section 504, (2) District knew the Parents made the request for an IEE, (3) District suggested that it reevaluate Student instead of engaging in an IEE and this was an "adverse action", and (4) District would not have made its suggestion if Parents had not requested an IEE.
District argued that, even if Parents' factual allegations were true, Parents could not prove retaliation because requesting an IEE was not a "protected activity" and a suggestion that the District reevaluate Student instead could not constitute an "adverse action" in the eyes of the law.
The Court disagreed with the District. First, requesting an IEE is a "protected activity" under the IDEA because it is a right specifically granted to parents. Therefore an "adverse action" taken because of a request for an IEE could constitute retaliation. Second, the District's response to the IEE request could possibly be an "adverse action" that would not have occurred "but-for" the IEE request. When Parents requested an IEE, the District only had two options under the IDEA: (1) provide the requested IEE or (2) file a due process complaint. 34 Code of Fed. Regs. § 300.502(b)(2); Cal. Educ. Code § 56329(c). The District had to do at least one of these things "without unnecessary delay." 34 CFR § 300.502(b)(2). Instead, the District offered a third option to Parents which caused delay. The Court was skeptical that Parents could ultimately prove that the District retaliated against them, but the Court could not conclude as a matter of law that the action Parents complained of could never constitute retaliation.
Take Away: M.M. v. Lafayette School District is a reminder that LEAs stray from the letter of the law at their own peril, but also presents a good example of why most cases settle. (See this recent Legal Alert on OAH filing statistics.) Litigation can be very time consuming and, therefore, very costly.
When contemplating the alternative of litigation to compromise and settlement, a party has to consider both the strength of its case and how efficiently it can prove its case. There are procedural mechanisms to try and speed up the judicial process and resolve issues quickly without the usual array of hearings, discovery, or trial, but such procedural short-cuts set a very high bar for success to protect parties who have not had a full opportunity to develop and argue their cases. For example, juries usually resolve factual disputes while judges resolve disputes over the law. You have an opportunity to get a case dismissed if you can convince a judge that no legal violation occurred even if the other party's version of the facts is true. However, this is difficult to do and a judge will normally allow a case to proceed to trial when there is disagreement over key facts. This invariably leads to delay and more expense.
The M.M. v. Lafayette School District proceedings have continued for over six years. After a full OAH hearing, the District sought to get Parents' due process complaint dismissed years ago and succeed in the U.S. District Court only to see the Parents get a partially favorable ruling from the Circuit Court of Appeals. The matter was returned to the U.S. District Court to reconsider certain issues like the retaliation claim. The District tried again to get the retaliation claim dismissed. The Court was skeptical of Parents ability to prove the truth of their version of the facts, but nonetheless the case could proceed. All the while the parties continue to incur legal expenses and Student's placement is subject to a stay-put order.


And speaking of the flu . . . In case you need to be convinced to cough into your sleeve, watch this NPR film featuring the amazing medical animation talent of David Bolinski illustrating how influenza affects your body – and then forward this link to everybody you know.
While you're at it, consider NPR's alternatives to shaking hands during the flu season too!
Wow – this is amazing. And creepy! Thank you.
I'm with you, honey! At my friend's office in the cancer clinic where she works, each light switch and doorknob and toilet stall has a little sticker/sign above it that says something like "7,459 people have touched this so far!". Yuck! Debit machines at stores/banks, elevator buttons = THE WORST. If your friends at work are coughing hard enough to need one of your cough drops, they should be at home keeping their hacking and sneezing viruses to themselves!
After viewing this video, I have to say I don't feel at all bad about being a Germaphobic!!! I refuse to use the pens in stores, I use paper towels to open any doors in public, and I will not shake hands with anyone.
I became this way when I had Lyme Disease, and it never went away; since I have been stented, I have become a bit worse. When people are sick, I am not rude, but I let them know the dangers it could cause me, so I stay away from them. I also always have a drawer full of cough drops to give out in case they are needed by people at work.


text:
FCC To Lower Broadband Internet Prices for Low-Income Consumers - FACT SHEET
By Tom Koutsky
Download the Fact Sheet On Thursday, March 31, 2016, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will make it easier for low-income families to buy broadband service. It will expand its current "Lifeline" program, which currently subsidizes traditional telephone service for low-income consumers, and allow eligible low-income consumers to lower the price of their qualifying broadband service by $9.25 per month. Expanding Lifeline to broadband is the largest federal broadband adoption program in history. The Lifeline program was created in 1985, and it currently provides telephone and mobile voice service benefits to nearly 143,000 households...
Video: History of FirstNet
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) was created by Congress in 2012 to establish a nationwide broadband network for public safety. The final recommendation of the 9/11 Commission, the network will connect police officers, firefighters, and EMS providers throughout the U.S. FirstNet is reaching major milestones toward the development of this nationwide broadband public safety network. Here's a video reminder of the history of FirstNet and the public safety broadband network. Connect Iowa, in partnership with the Iowa Statewide Interoperability Communications System Board (ISICSB), has delivered FirstNet presentations to...
Band 14 Spectrum Relocation Grants Available
In a recent press release, FirstNet announced the Band 14 Spectrum Relocation Grant Program has been published on grants.gov. This grant provides funding assistance to public safety entities currently operating on Band 14 to relocate their communications to other frequencies allocated by the FCC. This is to provide clear spectrum, free of any interference, which is needed for the future, nationwide, public safety broadband network. According to FirstNet, a number of public safety entities around the U.S. are operating on the FirstNet-licensed Band 14 frequencies under previous FCC authorizations. The grant is intended to assist in their...
Next Deadline in FirstNet RFP is March 31
In January, FirstNet released its Request for Proposals (RFP) for a nationwide public safety broadband network. The final proposal deadline was extended by two weeks from April 29 to May 13, 2016, after FirstNet received hundreds of questions about the RFP. In an interview with The Business of Federal Technology, FirstNet officials say they've answered 334 of the RFP questions and 68 questions that remain will be answered this week. FirstNet officials say they are on track for the proposal deadline and do not foresee any other delays. The next deadline is for capability statements from potential bidders, which are due March 31, 2016....


Please help- if there anybody out there who knew about beig deaf but hearing people speaking to you -you cannot see the people that are talking but can hear them.
I often struggled seeing people but not hearing them. You seams to have it the other way around. Maybe you have a gift.
However, I did come across people wearing hearing aids that struggled to pin point the person speaking to him. One reason this could be, is that one hearing aid is more powerful than the other. This distort ones ability to determine where a sound came from. If the left hear have a more powerful hearing aid than the right ear, you might pick up sounds that on your right side with the left ear, thinking it comes from you left side.
Just cruising the net on this topic. I used to freebase cocaine a few years ago (not anymore!), anyhow, I started hearing voices. Well, I could actually hear my boyfriend went he was away from me getting high. In fact, I could tell him what he was saying even though I wasn't with him...Go figure. I've researched this pretty well and I do understand that cocaine has the propensity to make one auditorily hallucinate. However, if I can tell you what someone "really" said, from 10 miles away...what does that mean? And like the post previously, I still can hear when I'm around loud airconditioners, fans like the ones that come on in bathrooms, anything that has a lot of power and fills a room with noise. I don't get it but just wonder if the drug changed my hearing to being more sensitive to different sound barriers?
I used to work for the airlines as a mechanic. My hearing " I thought was tested fine" must be deminishing. My problem is that when I hear running water or "white noise" I hear voices. I can't make out what they are saying, but it sounds like I'm in a crouded room. Has anyone experianced this, or am I going insane? By the way, they don't seem to answer back.
Perhaps u have some kind of gift u need to find out from traditional ppl u could have important mesg sent to you by one of these voices.What i can say listen very carefull what these voices says....and seek traditional or religious help.
Maybe it could be passed voices reacurring, or mybe you are regaining your hearing.
Hey, I can relate to that. My sense of direction as far as sound is concerned is hopeless. In a crowded room, I give up completely! I often joke and say - If I can't see you, I can't hear you!! It seem to break the ice and people start making an effort to make sure they have my attention before speaking to me.


Amazon is releasing a software update for its Echo range of smart speakers that enables households with multiple Echos to use them as room-to-room intercoms (via TechCrunch).
Once the new feature is set up, users are able to select a speaker in a specific room and communicate with it one-to-one – to call the kids to dinner from the kitchen Echo, for example.
To enable the function, users must first give a distinctive name (such as a room) to each Echo in their household and enable the Drop-In feature using the Alexa app.
The intercom system works through household groups created during the setup process, meaning it's not limited to speakers on the same Wi-Fi, so it's possible to communicate with Echo-owning friends or relatives in a different area code, for instance. Users can also use the feature away from home using the Alexa app.
The Drop-In feature first appeared on Amazon's new Echo Show with integrated display, with some reviewers finding the video aspect a little intrusive. Similarly, there doesn't seem to be a way to block the intercom audio on the standard Echo range, so it's worth keeping this in mind before enabling it.
The update is rolling out to the Echo family of speakers this week.


Started Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017 @ 12:16 a.m.
Estimated time of restoral Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017 @ 5 a.m.
Estimated time of restoral Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017 @ 10 a.m.
Estimated time of restoral Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017 @ 3 p.m.
Estimated time of restoral Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017 @ 10 p.m.


text:
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">

<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html" charset="UTF-8">
<title>org.togglz.core.activation (Togglz 2.0.0.Final API)</title>
<meta name="date" content="2013-06-29">
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../../../../stylesheet.css" title="Style">

JavaScript is disabled on your browser.

Overview

Package

Class

Use

Tree

Deprecated

Index

Help

Prev Package

Next Package

Frames

No Frames

All Classes

Package org.togglz.core.activation

Interface Summary

Interface
Description

Parameter

A parameter used to configure an ActivationStrategy.

Class Summary

Class
Description

GradualActivationStrategy

Activation strategy that enables features for a given percentage of users.

ParameterBuilder

Fluent API for creating Parameter instances.

ReleaseDateActivationStrategy

ScriptEngineActivationStrategy

ServerIpActivationStrategy

Activation strategy that allows to activate features only for certain server IPs.

UsernameActivationStrategy

Activation strategy that allows to activate features only for certain users.

Overview

Package

Class

Use

Tree

Deprecated

Index

Help

Prev Package

Next Package

Frames

No Frames

All Classes

Copyright © 2013. All Rights Reserved.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Sundown Ridge is a premier oceanfront vacation rental located within the Roads End area of Lincoln Metropolis. This 4 bedroom, four lavatory dwelling incorporates a newly renovated kitchen, miles of ocean views, and the scale to accommodate nearly all your extended family. The master suite of this dwelling contains a non-public deck in addition to a flat-screen TELEVISION, king sized mattress, and gorgeous rest room with a jetted tub and stroll-in bathe. Additional into the home, friends can find two bedrooms that includes a queen mattress, and a kids's bedroom on the first floor providing a bunk mattress. Friends can even discover two sleeper sofas, one in the living room and one within the entertainment room. The National Park Service typically posts lifeguards right here from Memorial Day to Labor Day, along with chair and umbrella rentals (you will discover a restroom and chilly-water showers too). The ferry has a snack bar, however most folk bring a small cooler (you need to pack out what you herald). On the island's west end, explore Fort Massachusetts, which dates to 1866.
With a beach for day-after-day of the year, Antigua is a seashore lovers' paradise. Blessed with such a large number of seashores, this former British colony u. Store: Depart the boys in the arcade while the ladies visit Hi there Dollies (609/399-2800 or ), a doll shop across from the Music Pier. From U.S. 101, you barely discover the village, let alone the beach. That's why you may need this breathtaking confluence of sea, sand, and surroundings all to yourself.
Jetsetter is a participant within the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a method for sites to earn advertising charges by promoting and linking to Jetsetter additionally participates within the SkimLinks and SkimWords affiliate applications. There have been no directions to function fireplaces or sizzling tub. I finally needed to pull the breaker on the new tub simply to make it cease working. We did not use the recent tub, however were charged a $30 fee for its use.
When you're lucky, you may have the prospect to travel with your youngsters after they've turned the nook into maturity. Should you're luckier still, you'll get to do it with your personal mother and father too. Vacation Rentals usually include a effectively-equipped kitchen, laundry facilities, cable television and DVD players. Make your vacation a seashore getaway to remember.
The waters in Maine and New Hampshire are quite cold for some, however this seashore city has sufficient so that you can do even in the event you don't care to swim. In Dennis, you decide which type of seaside you'd wish to swim at — beaches with the mild waters of the Cape Cod Bay, like Mayflower Seashore, or the even calmer waters of the Nantucket Sound, like at West Dennis Beach.


Ok, I Think I Understand Insure Your Motor, Now Tell Me About Insure Your Motor!
Insure Your Motor – Like purchasing a vehicle there is not any best solution once it has to do with getting insurance. So you require insurance for automobiles but that there are a massive number of factors which influence the premium 26, as you might expect. Motor insurance has never been simpler! In certain places, the automobile insurance will cover parties which are hurt rather than an at fault driver who's hurt in a motor accident.
Liability insurance is normally extended from your car or truck insurance policy policy to your RV when you're towing it. If you're searching for insurance that is affordable, and you're tired of the hassle of shopping for car insurance, there are a few facts about searching for insurance, you want to know and help can be provided by agencies that are online. Affordable auto insurance for girls can become really cheap if you add up all the discounts from the most suitable companies especially if you maintain a clean driving record and collect a good deal of years.
Whenever you have comprehensive cover you will claim on your insurance. For instance, if you've got insurance, your trailer may be insured on a comprehensive basis, including accidental damage, theft and fire. Girl Motor has over 40 decades of expertise when it has to do with locating automobile insurance for ladies. The automobile insurance can be not the bargain. AA Automobile Insurance stipulates the exact insure it is made by you . When you purchase car insurance, you're purchasing what's referred to as a coverage. Looking for affordable auto insurance for women is actually simpler than finding cheap auto insurance for motorists or for guys.
Whether you're covered will ride on your insurer and the kind of coverage you purchase. Is going to function as underwriter. The insurance of the owner isn't valid. Automobile insurance is important to stop losses to the tune of tens of thousands and thousands of dollars.
Ideally, you shouldn't leave items that are valuable . Regrettably, however much your car or truck is worth, it may be stolen women and by men trying to earn a fast cash. You have the ability to insure a car for somebody else, like daughter a son or spouse, until you get it and you might insure yourself. Do not forget to cover your vehicle You must insure your vehicle from the very first day you get it. Regrettably folks are compelled to purchase the car they wished, that's colour and the model they desire.
What you have the car insured for, nevertheless, isn't always what the insurance provider will cover in case of a claim. As an example, in the event that you bought your car for $ 30,000 and two decades later the automobile is a loss that is whole, the industry value might be $20,000 or less. The car was created for racing and initially sold for a sum of approximately 200,000. A brand-new car ought to be comprehensively insured. Please visit our article auto insurance companies near me .


text:
As we speak, iTunes is playing on my computer. I decided listening to the Beatles as I write might give me some kind of inspiration although to be frank, I really don't need inspiration. Afterall... we're talking The Beatles here. Oh yeah. I probably should tell you right off the bat btw, that I was always the person who put Elvis in the number slot rather than The Fab Four. What can I say? The King is the king.
Don't get me wrong, however. There are zillions of Beatle songs that I absolutely love. Including zillions of their solo songs once the band broke up and branched out. I mean seriously... the minute I hear the opening chords of Paul McCartney's Jet, I get all psyched and as soon as it starts to move into the song itself, the rocking of the rhythm along with all the instruments has me up and dancing all over the place in seconds flat. I totally love it. And, I played the White Album and Sergeant Pepper a million times over while in college. As for Lennon... he's in a class all his own. But even Ringo and George had a few that I also loved. Which reminds me... did you SEE Ringo at the Grammy Awards? Oh man... he looked way too thin to me which then of course made me want to scream into the TV... GO EAT A DOZEN DOUGHNUTS IMMEDIATELY. But whatever.
In the meantime... 50 years ago today the entire country changed. THE BEATLES WERE IN NEW YORK! ON THE ED SULLIVAN SHOW! And boy did they ever make an impact. THE PEOPLE WERE SIMPLY CRAZED WITH HYSTERICAL DELIGHT. Don't even fucking ask. I never saw such a thing. Ever. Not even when I mySELF saw them a week later in Miami Beach. February 16, 1964 to be exact. When I was 15 years old. It was THE hottest ticket in town, but I was not even CLOSE to the raving fanatical girls going absolutely crazy in the audience.
Granted... both Claudia and I loved the hottest Number One records of the Beatles at the time, but neither of us remember being so damn stricken with orgasmic delight as was everyone else in the crowd. It was more like: YIPPEE. ISN'T THIS A GREAT DEAL?? WE GET TO SEE THE BEATLES PERFORM LIVE! It was far from: OMG. I THINK I MAY TOTALLY DIE FROM THIS MOST EARTH SHATTERING, LIFE CHANGING EVENT EVER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. Which I probably felt more of when first I saw Elvis, Elton John or Tina Turner in person. We must have been idiots I guess because we had no clue whatsoever we were basically viewing a MAJOR part of history. A subject which Claudia majored in college, btw.
In the meantime, here we are 50 years later and The Beatles are STILL the most amazing band ever. Their songs are STILL the most beloved of all. Paul and John are considered musical genius's and I can't think of a living human being that can't tell you their alltime favorite Beatles tune. Nor where they were when John was shot.
In fact some of my absolute happiest musical moments were when I was in my mid 20's, at a friends' house, TOTALLY blitzed, head phones on, stereo BLARING and listening to George Harrison and Leon Russell sing BEWARE OF DARKNESS in Bangladesh. I swear... I was so high that this song took me to an entirely different universe EVERY DAMN TIME. Which of course is why I repeated this exact scenario HUNdreds of time back in those days. I couldn't help it. The lyrics and rolling melody carried me away like nothing ever before. Bottom line: don't tell ME that drugs don't help create fantastic artists. Nor that they don't help listening to fantastic artists. It was a total win-win situation.
Oh yeah... get this. The song for my first dance as Mr. and Mrs. at my wedding?? SOMETHING. Uh... Abbey Road for any of you unknowing Beatles fans out there. And with that... am off to watch the special which naturally I'm recording. No wonder. They are by far... the greatest band of all time.
YOU GRILLIN'??


Right on trend for fall, this dark burgundy vegan leather satchel is decorated with a suede upper and includes gold plated details. This handbag has a double hand, includes multiple compartments in the accordion-style interior and has a snap closure. Made in Spain.


Yummy home cooked take-away for those rare occasions when you feel lazy to cook. The menu is small, but very delicious and affordable, from coq au vin to pork chops, salads, bread and dessert. It's a shame there is no seating. The street is very nice with many small shops and restaurants.


Usually when you buy a scented candle the scent is released from the wax as it burns, however there are others available which have a twin layer of glass, the internal "cup" containing the candle and the outer "cup" containing a gel which, when warmed by the internal cup candle, releases the scent.
Having mentioned this to friends I'm now aware of at least one other of these types of candles which has caught fire, as such I'd recommend anyone that has a candle of this type not to use it and to dispose of it for safety.
So it's fast approaching the end of the noughties and the festive cheer is upon us. I'm spending Christmas in North Wales and despite the poor weather on the roads all the family have made it here and the surroundings are really festive.
The mountains are snow capped, the sunshine is warm and low in the sky, we have real fires burning in the various grates and a real Christmas tree that I had the privilege of cutting down myself from a local grower. Keep on the look out for some fabulous photos of the country scenery that I'll be popping into my gallery in the new year!
After relaxing over Christmas with my family I will make my way across country to Leeds where I will be seeing in the new year with the old crowd. It will be fantastic to see everyone again – I certainly do miss the regular social activities when I'm down in Swindon.
On the websites and communication front, I'm going to be a little less contactable over the festive period on account of my travelling around and the lack of connectivity in the countryside. While I will be receiving and reading e-mail on my BlackBerry I don't expect to reply to any of it until the new year. If you need to get in touch with me urgently you can call my mobile – those who might need to have the number already.
Keen readers will have noticed that I've closed my forums until the new year. This is only a temporary measure and has been done to prevent people thinking I'm ignoring their queries – it's Christmas and I won't have the time or the inclination to answer technical questions. Please save up your issues and ask for help with them when the forums re-open and I'm around to answer.
Above all I'd like to take this opportunity to wish all my family, friends and regular blog readers a very merry Christmas and prosperous new year.
I'm back in Swindon after taking a well needed break from the daily grind by heading off to the East Coast for the Saturday and lunching with my family on the Sunday.
The weather was most pleasant on Saturday and the atmosphere in the marina was wonderfully peaceful compared with the hectic nature of my last couple of weeks at work. I spied a couple of fantastic photography subjects but unfortunately had neglected to bring my camera – I've made a note of them for next time.
As far as the family catch up goes, Hannah is settling in well at Law School and has already been able to explain some of the more interesting points with me which is great. The positive difference it makes in academia when you are truly enjoying what you have to study is immeasurable.
This weekend I've been staying with my family in St. Albans and today we got together with other family members to go out for a big meal for Mothering Sunday. I took a few photos around the table and before the meal and you can see them by clicking the thumbnail on the right. It's always nice to get together with family and I would have to rate today as one of the best gatherings for a while.
In an attempt to make up for the over-indulgence of Christmas day I went for a boxing day walk in Verulamium park with my parents before we sat down to lunch. Seeing as I can never resist the opportunity to take a few pictures I was accompanied by my camera. Sadly the battery ran out rather quickly after all the flash use on Christmas day but not before I'd taken a few nice shots which I've uploaded to my gallery.
After a thoroughly enjoyable family Christmas with a huge meal and all the trimmings, not to mention a relaxed evening and a fair few drinks along the way, the photos from the day are now online. You can view them over in my gallery.
This year I got the tripod out so that I could be included in the family photos around the dinner table and took a few more pictures of people opening their presents, some of which captured expressions reasonably well, although I'm not sure how much I'll be thanked for putting some of the shots online!


text:
Home DEPARTMENTS POLICE Memorial
Record Specialist
Police Officer Terrelle Lee "Terry" Adams
Tifton Police Department, GA
EOW: Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Cause of Death: Motorcycle accident
Officer Terry Adams was killed in a motorcycle accident on Tift Avenue. He was driving the motorcycle with his emergency equipment activated when a pickup truck pulled out of a shopping center and Officer Adams collided with the driver's side door of the truck.He succumbed to his injuries while being transported to a local hospital. Officer Adams served with the agency for seven years. He is survived by his wife and four children.
Patrolman Mercer Leroy Denby
EOW: Friday, August 28, 1942
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Patrolman Mercer Denby and Chief Joseph Henderson were shot and killed by a drunken soldier which had been arrested by Patrolman Denby. The suspect was able to gain control of Patrolman Denby's weapon and aim and shoot at him. The suspect then fled into the streets and started to fire the gun randomly. Chief Henderson was shot when he rushed to the scene to assist Patrolman Denby. Patrolman Denby succumbed to his wounds 6 weeks later. The suspect was sentenced to death and executed in the electric chair at Reidsville State Prison on May 28, 1943.
Chief of Police Joseph Stephen Henderson
EOW: Saturday, July 18, 1942
Chief Joseph Henderson and Patrolman Mercer Denby were shot and killed by a drunken soldier, which had been arrested by Patrolman Denby. The suspect was able to gain control of Patrolman Denby's weapon and shot him, Patrolman Dendy. The suspect then fled into the streets and started to fire the gun randomly. Chief Henderson was shot when he rushed to the scene to assist Patrolman Denby. Patrolman Denby succumbed to his wounds 6 weeks later. The suspect was sentenced to death and executed in the electric chair at Reidsville State Prison on May 28, 1943. Chief Henderson served with the agency for 14 years. He was survived by his wife and four children.


It looks like Adrenaline will finally get major attention in the MMA world, although not the way that Monte Cox and company would've anticipated. Former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia was knocked out cold by former boxer Ray Mercer in only 10 seconds at Adrenaline III.
In what was originally carded as a boxing march, Mercer stepped outside of his realm and into Sylvia's and may have proven at least to some that boxers can outstrike MMA fighters any day of the week, even in an MMA bout.
As you can see in the video, it seemed as though Sylvia was a step behind Mercer, who easily ducked under a right hook and landed a quick right of his own to Sylvia's jaw that put his lights out.
Sylvia was once considered a Top 10 heavyweight in the world, but after Saturday night's embarrassing KO loss to the 48-year old Mercer, it will clearly be difficult to defend that argument now.
Mercer vs. Sylvia was originally scheduled to take place as a boxing match, but was forced to be changed to an MMA fight after the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board refused to sanction the bout.
The "Maine-iac" is still scheduled to compete against Paul Buentello at "Affliction: Trilogy," but it'll be interesting to see what Sylvia has to say following the loss.


Installed this week in Pellon by Halifax Doors this classic black composite door from our Nottinghamshire Collection and white upvc door designed to the customers specification.
The door chosen for the main entrance is our Sandiacre composite door, complete with Crystal Flower glass and finished off with graphite fab & fix door handle and letter plate.
The back door was the design specified by the customer with a shiplap panel to the bottom and Contora obscure glass to the top and toplight, and again finished off with the fab & fix graphite door handle.
Both of these doors are fitted with the ERA Fortress 3 star cylinder locks, as are all doors supplied by Halifax Doors. The ERA 3 star cylinder is the only lock in it's category to be approved by the Neighbourhood Watch. It is Sold Secure Diamond Standard, Secured by Design and TS007 3 Star!


text:
West Langdon is a village in the Dover district of Kent, England.  It is located five miles north of Dover town. The population of the village is included in the civil parish of Langdon.

The name Langdon derives from an Old English word meaning long hill.  The first known written reference dates to 861 AD, mentioning one Langandune, but around 1200 AD there was a reference to Estlangedoun (East Langdon, about one mile to the south east) and Westlangedone.

The Church is dedicated to Saint Mary.  The remains of Langdon Abbey are nearby.

External links

 Church notes

Villages in Kent

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Home » Community News » Local Mentors Win Statewide Acclaim as "Big Brother and Big Sister of the Year"
User Submission March 1, 2017	Community News, Family, Misc, User Submissions
Each year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America affiliates nominate local mentors to be considered for the Big Brother and Sister of the Year award for their state. A host of criteria are considered in the selection process, including how effective the relationship has been in assisting the child to achieve positive outcomes in the face of obstacles. Each chairperson for each state additionally looks at each "Little" brother or sister's improvement in social-emotional wellness such as self-confidence and relationships with peers and family as well as how invested and active the nominated "Big" volunteer has been in engaging their community in the mission and work of BBBS.
It's been five years since Dickerson, a resident of Buncombe County, first met his "little brother" Isiah.
"In these times—when so many things could divide us—being a Big to Isiah has allowed me diversity in life that I cherish to be a part of."
As a result of their relationship, Isiah has discovered the opportunity to discover his talent in soccer through enrollment in a local soccer league as well as embracing his capacity for academic achievement.
"I always look forward to spending time with my Big Brother because when I'm with William, we always do something new," says Isiah.
The coming year will be marked with yet another milestone and growth opportunity for Isiah as he steps into The American Adventure Service Corps—a year round program dedicated to inspiring young people to become compassionate and conscientious community members
Experiencing new things and expanding horizons are common benefits reported by both Bigs and Littles as a result of their match, explains Elizabeth Spaulding, BBBS Program Director of Cashiers, who's been providing match support for NC's Big Sister of the Year, Lynne Keating, and her "little sister" Sophie.
"Lynne has been a champion for Sophie, encouraging her and nudging her gently to spread her wings and set her sights high. Their relationship has blossomed with time, and through that, Sophie has become a more independent, confident, vocal, and successful young woman," says Spaulding.
When they were first matched over three years ago, Sophie's interest in art quickly became clear to Keating, who found an opportunity to nurture that nascent talent with frequent trips to local art center Bascom.
With Keating's help, Sophie is now enrolled as an art student at a private school in north Georgia, where she is not only developing her artistic talents, but also discovering opportunities for leadership and project collaboration.
"Not only has Lynne helped me immensely these past couple of years, she's proven to be an amazing friend," says Biaso, "She's never spoken to me as if I were a child. She's always honest and willing to discuss, which is something I greatly appreciate. I think without Lynne I wouldn't have been pushed to go out of my comfort zone in many situations, and I don't think I would have progressed this much as a person without her."
The National Big Of The Year Selection Committee will announce the National Big Of The Year in April, 2017.
Jordan Foltz is a advocacy writer, traveler, father, mentor and homesteader who lives just north of Asheville, NC. He spent four years as a contributing writer at Mountain Xpress, covering sustainability, religion and spirituality and currently works both as Communications Coordinator with Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC and as Program Director for local mentoring and rites of passage organization Journeymen Asheville.
About User Submission
This article was submitted by an awesome reader. We gladly publish user submissions. For more about the author of this particular article, we have inserted the author bio at the bottom of the content when it is provided. Submit your own article by following this link: http://ashevilleblog.com/submit-an-article/
Previous Melvin Seals & JGB Play New Mountain AVL Saint Patricks Day
Next Workers Launch Campaign Petitioning To Keep Tips At US Cellular Center
HIGHLAND BREWING ADDS HIGH PINES IPA TO YEAR-ROUND LINEUP IN MID-FEBRUARY


Collage transferred onto indigo dyed 'waste' fabric, embellished with stitch. Mounted on canvas stretcher.
This piece was produced in response to a challenge to create a response to a passage from the King James Bible. The quote used is: "The Lord had Prepared a Great Fish to Swallow up Jonah" Jonah 1:17. I thought it was interesting that it does not actually mention a whale, so I created a fish using collage.


Vinge Train Station, expected to be complete in 2017, is part of a large urban development plan to connect the future city to regional public transit. Covering 370 hectares, Vinge City is the largest urban project in Denmark. In the middle of the new town plan, the circular station adapts organically to its surroundings and forms the point of departure of the new city development.
The fundamental idea is to develop a new town where natural elements are not simply added at the end, but integrated from the beginning of the town's development. The new regional train station is an important component of this holistic approach. The regional train station has been designed to function as the heart of the development, and to unify the movements of landscape and city.
Henning Larsen Architects also won a LEAF Award for Best Sustainable Development of the Year 2015 for SDU Campus Kolding. Previously, Henning Larsen Architects has received five LEAF Awards in different categories.


text:
Pete Buttigieg's Iowa Win Makes Him First Openly Gay Presidential Candidate To Win Delegates
Carlos Santoscoy
Pete Buttigieg's narrow win in Iowa makes him the first openly gay candidate to win delegates in any presidential contest.
The former mayor of South Bend, Indiana received 26.21 percent of the vote, while Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders received 26.12 percent. Rounding out the top five were Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren (18.03%), former Vice President Joe Biden (15.80%), and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar (12.27%).
The final results come after multiple delays blamed on a faulty app the Iowa Democratic Party used for the first time this year.
The Sanders campaign on Sunday said that it would ask for a recanvass for some of the results.
Buttigieg, who is married, has repeatedly said that the United States is ready for a gay president.
(Related: Pete Buttigieg: U.S. "absolutely" ready for gay president.)
Fred Karger made headlines in 2012 for being the nation's first openly gay presidential candidate. But his campaign for the Republican nomination never received any delegates. Karger used his campaign to raise awareness of LGBT rights.