GEOG 100 Introduction to Meteorology credit: 3 Hours.
Same as ATMS 100. See ATMS 100.
GEOG 101 Global Development&Environment credit: 3 Hours.
Introduces geographical perspectives on environment and development studies with case studies drawn from Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Investigates the origins of the global South in relation to the global North, especially the historical and contemporary processes driving environmental, economic, and cultural change.
GEOG 103 Earth's Physical Systems credit: 4 Hours.
A basic introduction to the environmental systems of the Earth's surface, including landforms, soils, and ecosystems and how these systems are affected by global change. Emphasizes the importance of human-Earth relations and a holistic view of environmental systems. Same as ESE 103.
GEOG 104 Social and Cultural Geography credit: 4 Hours.
Introduces the basic concepts of social and cultural geography, and the application of these concepts to a variety of topics; mental maps, territoriality, cultural regions, cultural elements and their diffusion, population movement and migration, settlement patterns, environmental hazards, and spatial patterns of social problems.
GEOG 105 The Digital Earth credit: 3 Hours.
Geospatial technologies such as global positioning systems (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS) are becoming increasingly important tools in research and policy arenas and in everyday life. This course will provide an introduction to these emerging technologies and to the principles of mapping science that underpin them. At the same time, the course will explore how these innovative technologies are changing the spaces and places around us, including how we interact with the environment and each other. Lab exercises provide hands-on experience in collecting and mapping geospatial information, interpreting digital imagery and the Earth's environments, and critically thinking about the social implications of the digital Earth.
GEOG 106 Geographies of Globalization credit: 3 Hours.
A survey of major world regions by systematically considering five themes: environment, population and settlement patterns, cultural coherence and diversity, geopolitical fragmentation and unity, and economic and social development. While examining the persistence of unique regions, the course will both scale up to global linkages and scale down to place-specific impacts of globalization processes. Same as ESE 106.
GEOG 199 Undergraduate Open Seminar credit: 1 to 5 Hours.
GEOG 204 Cities of the World credit: 3 Hours.
In-depth exploration of global urbanization. Using a comparative regional approach, discuss the recent history of global urbanization, dissect its problems, and offer possible solutions. Approximately ten major regions of the world will be examined, exploring the significant urban patterns and processes, built and natural environments, and social, economic, and cultural landscapes of each.
GEOG 205 Business Location Decisions credit: 3 Hours.
Analyzes location decision-making emphasizing industrial and commercial location patterns; identifies important institutional factors and their changing roles over the recent past; and focuses on plant closings, economic disruptions, and problems of structural change. Same as BADM 205. Prerequisite: ECON 102 or ECON 103, or equivalent.
GEOG 210 Social & Environmental Issues credit: 3 Hours.
Introduction to the complex relationship between people and the natural environment from a social science perspective. Explores different approaches to environmental issues, and examines the role of population change, political economy, technologies, environmental policymaking, and social institutions in causing and resolving contemporary social and environmental global issues. Same as ESE 210.
GEOG 221 Geographies of Global Conflict credit: 3 Hours.
Focuses on contemporary cultural conflicts, competition among nations for economic and mineral resources; treats territorial disputes from a cultural and geographic perspective. Case studies vary to illustrate types of contemporary conflicts. Same as GLBL 221. Credit is not given for GEOG 221 and GEOG 110.
GEOG 222 Big Rivers of the World credit: 3 Hours.
An interdisciplinary approach to the study of big rivers, encompassing geomorphology, engineering, ecology, risk assessment and planning. Commencing with an assessment of the nature of big rivers; their hydrology and geomorphic setting; hazards associated with large rivers, and issues of river impoundment and management, then proceed to examine the geography, geomorphology, and ecology and management of a range of the World's greatest rivers, focusing on how a geomorphological understanding of such large rivers can aid study of riverine ecohabitats and inform decisions regarding water usage and engineering management. If the weather permits, a one day field-trip will be organized in the second half of the course to view aspects of a local river in Illinois/Indiana. Same as ESE 222.
GEOG 224 Geog Patterns of Illinois credit: 3 Hours.
Systematic analysis of the environmental and human processes that have shaped the regional landscapes of rural and urban Illinois.
GEOG 254 American People, Places, & Environments credit: 3 Hours.
Students will broaden their understanding of how the United States' physical and human geography interact to produce unique American landscapes. Covers a dozen different regions of the U.S., exploring the significant spatial patterns and processes, built and natural environments, and social, economic, and cultural landscapes of each. Focuses on the experiences of minority cultures in the U.S. through the concept of environmental justice in order to understand how environmental and social inequality are closely connected in ways that differ from region to region. Same as ESE 254.
GEOG 280 Intro to Social Statistics credit: 4 Hours.
Same as SOC 280. See SOC 280.
GEOG 287 Environment and Society credit: 3 Hours.
Same as ESE 287, NRES 287 and PS 273. See NRES 287.
GEOG 350 Sustainability and the City credit: 3 Hours.
Examination of the tools, techniques, strategies, and rationales that can be used by urbanists to produce and sustain a productive, fair, and equitable city. Emphasis is placed on diagnosing, implementing, and sustaining an ideal U.S. city as a complex whole that embeds an array of interconnecting parts (neighborhoods, retail districts, downtowns, city economies). Lectures and discussion cover the broad background of theories, concepts, and principles that will be essential for imagining and implementing these ideals, strategies and plans.) Same as ESE 350.
GEOG 356 Sustainable Development in South Asia credit: 3 Hours.
Examination of sustainable development in the region of South Asia (India, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka). Geographic analysis of development processes since the colonial period, with particular emphasis on the interrelated processes of environment, society, and politics as related to sustainability. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing or consent of instructor.
GEOG 370 Water Planet, Water Crisis credit: 3 Hours.
Same as ESE 320 and GEOL 370. See ESE 320.
GEOG 371 Spatial Analysis credit: 4 Hours.
Overview of the spatial analysis (nomothetic) approach to geographic research, both physical and human; includes discussion of the scientific method, with explanations and uses of analytic geographic concepts in studying real world problems. Prerequisite: A course in geography.
GEOG 379 Intro to GIS Systems credit: 4 Hours.
Investigates the fundamentals of geographic information science as well as the basic skills in the execution of that theoretical knowledge with industry standard software packages. Student will learn the basics of projections and coordinate systems, how geographic information is stored and manipulated, and the theory and practice behind the production of thematic maps. Includes lecture and hands-on laboratory components. Same as ESE 379.
GEOG 380 GIS II: Spatial Prob Solving credit: 4 Hours.
GEOG 384 Population Geography credit: 3 Hours.
Problems and issues surrounding the geographic distribution of populations at the world, regional, and local levels; emphasizes problems associated with population growth and decline, recent population redistribution, births and deaths, and elderly and minority populations.
GEOG 390 Individual Study credit: 2 to 4 Hours.
Supervised independent study of special topics or regions. May be repeated once. Prerequisite: Junior standing; at least one formal course in the topic or region of interest; consent of instructor.
GEOG 391 Honors Individual Study credit: 2 to 4 Hours.
Individual study and research projects for students who are working toward the degree with distinction in geography. May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours. Prerequisite: Junior standing; consent of honors adviser.
GEOG 392 Geography & GIS Internship credit: 0 to 3 Hours.
Supervised, off-campus experience in a field directly pertaining to Geography and/or GIS. A written report is required at the end of the internship relating work accomplishments to the student's program of study. Approved for Letter and S/U grading. May be repeated in separate terms up to 6 hours. Prerequisite: Consent of faculty sponsor and Director of Undergraduate Studies; at least two courses taken within Geography & GIS.
GEOG 401 Watershed Hydrology credit: 3 Hours.
Same as NRES 401. See NRES 401.
GEOG 405 Geography Field Course credit: 1 to 4 Hours.
Field observation and mapping of human and/or physical phenomena using basic geographic field techniques, including pre- and post-trip meetings. Required field trip. Additional fees may apply. See Class Schedule. 1 to 4 undergraduate hours. 1 to 4 graduate hours. May be repeated if topics vary. Prerequisite: Major or minor in Geography & GIS, or consent of instructor.
GEOG 406 Fluvial Geomorphology credit: 4 Hours.
Systematic overview of the forms and processes associated with rivers and drainage basins; topics include basin hydrology, drainage networks, river hydraulics, sediment transport processes, channel morphology, channel change, and human impacts on fluvial systems. Same as GEOL 406, and NRES 406. 4 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: PHYS 101, and GEOG 103 or GEOL 107, or consent of instructor.
GEOG 408 Humans and River Systems credit: 4 Hours.
Systematic analysis of the biophysical processes operating in rivers and watersheds and the interaction of humans on these processes. The course will emphasize the importance of biophysical processes and human interaction with these processes in river and watershed management. Class discussion and a class project will focus on analysis of practical river and watershed problems. 4 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: GEOG 103 or an introductory course in earth or environmental science.
GEOG 410 Green Development credit: 4 Hours.
Theory and practice of sustainable development. Course materials draw upon theoretical and case study material from the social and natural sciences to analyze environment and development relations with emphasis on the Global South. Same as ESE 410. 4 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
GEOG 412 Geospatial Tech & Society credit: 3 Hours.
Examines the use of geographic information systems (GIS), geographical positioning systems (GPS), and other geospatial technologies in everyday life with emphasis on their implications for social, economic, and environmental change. Topics include critical cartography, GIS, and social theory, crime and health, environmental justice, feminism, economic development and environmental change. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 graduate hours. Prerequisite: GEOG 105 or consent of instructor.
GEOG 421 Earth Systems Modeling credit: 4 Hours.
Same as ATMS 421, ESE 421, GEOL 481 and NRES 422. See ATMS 421.
GEOG 423 Politics of International Conservation and Development credit: 3 Hours.
Same as NRES 423. See NRES 423.
GEOG 436 Biogeography credit: 3 Hours.
Same as ANTH 436, ESE 439, IB 439 and NRES 441. See IB 439.
GEOG 438 Geography of Health Care credit: 3 or 4 Hours.
Methods and perspectives of health care. Emphasizing the spatial analysis of health and health care. The organization, provision and competition of health care will be highlighted. Same as SOC 478. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: GEOG 384 or SOC 274 or consent of instructor.
GEOG 439 Health Applications of GIS credit: 3 Hours.
Same as CHLH 439 and PATH 439. See PATH 439.
GEOG 440 Business Applications of GIS credit: 3 or 4 Hours.
Design and implementation of GIS for business and strategic planning applications. Course goals include: (1) provide students with an understanding of Geographic Information Systems; (2) provide students with an understanding of how GIS can be applied in various business applications; (3) familiarize students with GIS and modeling techniques; (4) provide students with opportunities to work with various data sources through a project related to their own interest in business. Same as BADM 440. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
GEOG 446 Sustainable Planning Seminar credit: 4 Hours.
Same as LA 446, NRES 446, and UP 446. See LA 446.
GEOG 455 Geog of Sub-Saharn Africa credit: 3 Hours.
Regional geography of Africa south of the Sahara. Geographic analysis of Africa which includes topics in both physical and human geography and provides a general overview of the processes and interactions between human and environmental factors that shape Africa's physical and human geography. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 graduate hours.
GEOG 459 Ecohydraulics credit: 4 Hours.
Interactions between hydraulic, ecological, and geomorphic processes in river environments at a wide range of both spatial and temporal scales. Draws upon and synthetize fundamental concepts from biology, ecology, fluid mechanics and morphodynamics, to apply them to truly interdisciplinary problems. Such an approach, coupled with hands-on experience involving planning, conducting and analyzing hands-on experiments at the Ven Te Chow Hydrosystems Laboratory and field surveys on local natural waters will provide the students with a broad perspective on the interconnections between physical and ecological systems. Students will apply their knowledge of fundamental processes to assess complex problems involving monitoring, management, conservation and restoration of ecosystems. 4 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
GEOG 460 Aerial Photo Analysis credit: 3 or 4 Hours.
Review of methods for extracting quantitative and qualitative information from aerial photographs using computer-based techniques and visual interpretation. The first part of the course will cover basic photogrammetry and mapping. The second part will focus on interpretation of physical, biological, and cultural features. Same as NRES 460. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: Knowledge of trigonometry (MATH 014 or equivalent) and basic physical geography (GEOG 103 or equivalent).
GEOG 465 Transportation & Sustainability credit: 3 or 4 Hours.
Descriptors of transportation systems; transportation as an industrial activity and public good; and transportation and spatial development, including the role of transportation in urban and regional development. Emphasis on the economic, environmental, and social aspects of sustainability as they apply to transportation systems and the activities they enable at local, regional, national and global levels. Field trip required. Same as ESE 465. Additional fees may apply. See Class Schedule. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
GEOG 466 Environmental Policy credit: 3 or 4 Hours.
Examination of the geographical and political aspects of human-environmental relations; focusing on how environmental problems are defined, negotiated, and addressed through policy formulation. Specific approaches to environmental policy will be considered at different geographical scales. Same as ESE 466. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: One course in Geography or Political Science or consent of instructor.
GEOG 468 Biological Modeling credit: 3 or 4 Hours.
Interdisciplinary modeling course for students interested in dynamic system modeling of living processes; each student will build a model by the end of the course. No special mathematical background required. Same as ANSC 449, CPSC 448, and IB 491. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: IB 444 or equivalent, depending on curriculum.
GEOG 471 Recent Trends in Geog Thought credit: 4 Hours.
Examination of recent trends in human and physical geography. Themes include empiricism, logical positivism, regionalism, Marxism, realism, phenomenology, and post-modernism as applied to geographic research. Emerging geographic literature is explored to identify the latest conceptual developments. 4 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
GEOG 473 Digital Cartography & Map Design credit: 4 Hours.
Instruction and practice in the basic techniques of map making followed by a consideration of problems involved in the construction of maps for presentation in a reproduced form (i.e., printed, photographed); the selection of proper source materials for the base and body of the map, the compilation and correlation of these materials, and methods of mechanical and photographic reproduction. 4 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
GEOG 476 Applied GIS to Environ Studies credit: 3 Hours.
Demonstrates how geographic information systems (GIS) have become a major technology ubiquitously applied to solve important problems encountered in geospatial and environmental applications. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 graduate hours. Prerequisite: GEOG 103 or GEOG 104, consent of instructor.
GEOG 477 Introduction to Remote Sensing credit: 3 Hours.
Fundamentals of energy-matter interaction mechanisms, and the manifestation of reflected and emitted radiation on photographs and images; introduces characteristics of aerial films and filters, electro-optical scanners, and digital processing; and emphasizes applications in environmental problems. Same as NRES 477. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 graduate hours. Prerequisite: GEOG 280 (beginning statistics) or equivalent, or consent of instructor.
GEOG 478 Techniques of Remote Sensing credit: 4 Hours.
Optical and digital information processing of imagery acquired from aircraft and satellite remote sensing platforms; includes systems design, mensuration theory, photographic enhancement techniques, and automatic digital classification for all of the standard sensor systems; and laboratory focusing on the design and implementation of information processing techniques with application limited to a survey of uses. 4 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: GEOG 477 or equivalent.
GEOG 479 Advanced Topics in GIS credit: 3 Hours.
Introduces advanced concepts in Geographic Information Science. Course topics may vary. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 graduate hours. May be repeated, if topics vary, in separate terms to a maximum of 9 hours, but not more than 6 hours in any one term. Prerequisite: GEOG 379 or equivalent.
GEOG 480 Principles of GIS credit: 3 Hours.
Focuses on Geographic Information Science (GIScience) principles that underlie the development of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and its intelligent use. Helps students adapt to rapidly changing geospatial technologies. Knowledge gained in this course will be general and, thus, not be limited to any specific software product that may be revised in the future. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 graduate hours. Prerequisite: GEOG 379 and GEOG 380 or equivalent, or consent of instructor.
GEOG 482 Challenges of Sustainability credit: 3 Hours.
Same as ESE 482 and GEOL 483. See ESE 482.
GEOG 483 Urban Geography credit: 3 Hours.
Broad background of theories, concepts, and methods of research for understanding how and why our cities have reached their current status. Focus on examining the internal structure of the North American city, including analysis of the commercial, industrial, and residential sectors of the urban environment. Particular emphasis is placed on the range of urban theories developed to explain both urban structure and contemporary urban ills. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 graduate hours.
GEOG 484 Cities, Crime, and Space credit: 3 or 4 Hours.
Focusing on US cities, this theory-intensive course surveys traditional and critical perspectives on relations between crime, space, and place. We will explore this interplay within broader contexts of industrial and post-industrial urbanization, concentrating on dynamics including governances, economic processes, and social transformations. Emphasis will be placed on the extent to which these interwoven processes generate, classify, organize, and react to crime across cityscapes. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
GEOG 489 Programming for GIS credit: 4 Hours.
Introduction to programming to customize and extend the capabilities of geographic information systems. Topics include the principles of programming, advanced function and tools coding, visualization, fundamental spatial data structures, and spatial algorithms. 4 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: GEOG 379 and GEOG 380 or equivalents, or consent of instructor.
GEOG 491 Research in Geography credit: 2 Hours.
Detailed examination and discussion of the methods of initiating and executing research projects in human or physical geography (taught in separate sections); requires students to write a research proposal of a quality suitable for a graduate thesis. 2 undergraduate hours. 2 graduate hours. Prerequisite: GEOG 471; either graduate standing in geography or senior standing as a geography major and consent of department.
GEOG 495 Advanced Topics in Geography credit: 3 or 4 Hours.
Explores special topics not covered in regularly scheduled Geography courses. 3 or 4 undergraduate hours. 3 or 4 graduate hours. May be repeated if topics vary in the same term to a maximum of 9 undergraduate hours or 12 graduate hours or in separate terms to a maximum of 12 undergraduate hours or 12 graduate hours.
GEOG 496 Climate & Social Vulnerability credit: 3 or 4 Hours.
Existing climate variability and likely climate change call for policies to protect vulnerable people who make their livelihoods in a changing environment. Students will explore: 1) causes of climate related stress and disaster; 2) theories of vulnerability and adaptation; 3) practices and policies designed to reduce economic loss, hunger, famine and dislocation in the face of climate trends and events. Focus on multiple policy scales affecting poor and marginal populations, who are disproportionately vulnerable when facing climate stress, drawing on case examples primarily from the developing world. Same as ATMS 446 and SOC 451. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: GEOG 410, GEOG 466, GEOG 471, GEOG 520, or consent of instructor.
GEOG 520 Political Ecology credit: 4 Hours.
Political ecology integrates social and biophysical processes in the study of nature-society relations. Examination of the conceptual origins of the field of political ecology and identification of influential bodies of research and promising research directions. Readings focus on recent advances, debates, and the ongoing evolution of political ecology as an integrative approach to Geography and environment-development studies. 4 graduate hours. No professional credit. Prerequisite: One of the following courses, or consent of the instructor: GEOG 410, GEOG 466, SOC 447, HIST 460, or equivalent.
GEOG 560 Spatial Epidemiology credit: 4 Hours.
Same as PATH 560. See PATH 560.
GEOG 561 Landscapes and Human Health credit: 3 Hours.
Same as CHLH 580 and LA 570. See LA 570.
GEOG 570 Advanced Spatial Analysis credit: 4 Hours.
Advanced techniques of spatial analysis, including spatial autocorrelation, trend surface analysis, grouping and regionalization procedures, and point pattern analysis.
GEOG 575 Alluvial Boundary Layer Dynam credit: 3 Hours.
Examination of the structure of turbulent boundary layers in rivers and how turbulent flow, sediment transport and channel forms interact over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Explores these interactions through critical analysis of contemporary research in fluvial geomorphology, fluid mechanics, hydraulics and sedimentology. Same as GEOL 575. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
GEOG 587 Qualitative Research Methods credit: 4 Hours.
Same as UP 587. See UP 587.
GEOG 594 Seminar in Social Geography credit: 4 Hours.
Advanced study of a current research topic in social geography. Topic varies from term to term; prepares students for dissertation and thesis research through study of advanced literature and the completion of a research paper. Prerequisite: GEOG 471 or equivalent; graduate coursework in social geography or in one of the social sciences.
GEOG 595 Advanced Studies in Geography credit: 0 to 8 Hours.
Seminar and directed individual investigation of selected problems or regions; designed to develop ability to conduct independent investigation. Scheduled seminars are detailed in each term's Class Schedule. Approved for both letter and S/U grading. May be repeated.
GEOG 598 Graduate Capstone Project credit: 4 Hours.
Major individual project that demonstrates a PSM in GIS student's ability to solve an advanced geospatial problem or develop a GIS-based application. Student will work closely with a faculty capstone adviser to determine the project focus and expected outcome(s). 4 graduate hours. No professional credit. Prerequisite: Restricted to second-year PSM in GIS students.
GEOG 599 Thesis Research credit: 0 to 16 Hours.
Approved for S/U grading only. May be repeated.


text:
Freedom or Death?
TomAll Other Posts, Crete, Greece and the islandsChania, Crete, Greece, Xania2 Comments
Independence Day in Xania
"Freedom or death" were the words uttered by the Bishop of Patras on March 25, 1821, as he raised the flag of revolution over the Monastery of Agia Lavra in the Peloponnese, and these words became the motto of the War of Greek Independance against the almost 400 year rule by the Ottoman Turks.
Today it's the 194th anniversary of that auspicious occasion, and I suppose that those words still have some meaning to modern day Greeks, what with the new battle they find themselves fighting, though this time against the so-called 'Troika' of the IMF, the ECB and other Banks….. good luck this time, methinks they are going to need plenty of it.
The Greek Crisis certainly gets lot of airtime on the TV news channels, and is a constant source of discussion on the street and in the kafe-neon's here. But here in Chania, at least on the surface, you'd never know there was much of a crisis. Certainly, there seem to be a few more empty shops, cafes and offices with old 'for lease' signs on them, than there were when we were here 3 years ago….. and maybe a few more people begging on the street, but most of the bars, cafes and tavernas here in Chania all seem to be doing a good trade. With youth unemployment around 50%, I'm amazed to see so many young people packing out these places….. where does the money come from?
But enough about problems and politics, today is a day of celebration and commemoration, and it is not unlike our Anzac Day….. except that unlike us, the Greeks happened to win their battle against the Turks!
YM on her way to the parade… flag in hand…
It's a pity that the weather has changed, as yesterday was such a glorious sunny day. The church bells were particulary loud this morning and we awake to overcast sky's and scattered showers….. but not enough to dampen our enthusiasm to go out and watch 'i Parέlasi'… the parade. We've been told it starts at 12 noon from Platia Eleftherias, or as the locals call it, Dikastirio, but time is a flexible notion in Crete, and anyway, it'll take the first lot of marchers at least 15 minutes to reach the town centre, so we dont leave the house till 11:45. It's only takes us a five minute stroll to reach the parade route, and jostle with the crowd to take up our position at the bottom of Andrea Papandreou Street.
As it's an Official Holiday today, the schools are closed as well as all the shops, offices banks etc…… some cafes, tavernas and restaurants are open, as are a few tourist shops around the harbour, but most everthing else is shut for day, Consequently the streets are very crowded, with lots of kids all waving the umistakeable blue and white striped flag of Greece… what a great atmosphere.
The rain has held off so far, and we can here the sound of the drums of marching band getting closer…..and here come the first lot of marchers, a contingent of Nurses, then the Search and Rescue organisation, followed by boy scouts, cubs, girl guides, people from different villages in national costume, followed by more schoolkids etc etc…. haven't seen anyone from the military yet though!
Enthusiastically waiting for the parade to start…
in Cretan national dress…
hand on his knife…ready for action?
proud young Cretans carry on the tradition…
After a while, we move to a different spot nearer to the market-place, with a better view and so that I can take some photographs of the crowd. By now, the first lot of marchers have reached the end of the parade and are walking around and mingling with the crowds…. and very colourful they look too in their Cretan national costumes. Lots of photo opportunities today.
waiting for some candyfloss…
YM meets some locals..
not everyone was enjoying the parade…. one of the unfortunate victims of the 'crisis'?
I have noticed that many Greek people here seem to me to be very tolerant and caring for those poor unfortunates who are doing it tough. They nearly all give a few coins to beggars and such, and at the Saturday farmers market I often spot stallholders giving a small bag of their produce to what look like 'Gypsy' kids. When we are sitting in a taverna or cafe, the owners will allow people in who are trying to eke out a living by selling lottery tickets, and other things that you may not neccesarily need. Last Sunday, we were having lunch in a small taverna in the suburb of Halepa, when a couple of 'scruffy' young kids, about 12 and 14 years old, came into the place, playing drums and bouzoukia…. and not that good either ( well, they were quite young…. and hopefully they will get better with more practise!) They went from table to table playing their instruments and singing, traditional greek music, and every table gave them a euro or two…… Maybe it's not like this everywhere, maybe just the places we frequent, but I think it's a great attitude to have…. live and let live. ( Some of my Greek friends reading this may think that I am a little naive)
here come the reinforcements…
Back to the parade, and at last, here come the military….. a few jeeps and personell carriers to start, with a veteran or two onboard, along with some children…..and then suddenly we hear the sound of boots marching in extra-quick time….. I'm not sure if that's the correct terminology, they are actually trotting along at quite a pace….. and shouting at the same time. Dont ask me what thay are shouting though…. but it'd scare the bejeezus out of you if you were the enemy….. they are all dressed in camouflage fatigues….and they look like some tough MoFo's!
Fixed bayonets?
YM loves a man in uniform…. look how excited she is.
all the bad girls, love a sailor, all the bad girls love a tar….
Next come the Airforce, then the Navy, and finally, making up the rear of the parade is The Salvation Army Band….. actually I made that bit up, it's a band allright… a bit ragtaggle…. but maybe not the Salvo's. It's all over at 1:30pm and even though the streets are full of pedestrians, the police on duty remove the barriers, and the motorbikes and cars try to negotiate their way through the crowds on the main street through town. It's a wonder that no-one is injured in the muddle, but as mentioned before, OH&S is not a strong point here. In Australia we seem to take it to ridiculous lengths, but here it's the opposite…. and quite refreshing too.
OH&S nightmare?
Xania after the parade
The rain has eased and the parade and crowds have all dispersed, so YM and I stroll back into to the Old Town and make our way down to the harbour. The cafes and restaurants we pass on the way are all chock-a-block full with families and friends enjoying their day off….. Crisis, what crisis?
the orchestra at the old mosque..
On the waterfront, outside the old building that at one time was a mosque when the Turks ran the joint, a large crowd has gathered to listen to a small orchestra playing and singing their traditional greek songs, so we stay for a while ourselves, until the rain puts a dampener on it.
so boring….wake me when it's over…
As we make our way 'back home' along the waterfront, one of the cafe owners calls out to us to come in and have a drink 'on the house'. His taverna is one of those right on the seafront, which cater mainly for foreign tourists…… their position and the view from them are great, and the ambience is OK…..I call it 'Zorba-style'…. Bouzouki music playing, traditional chairs & tables, fishnets hanging from walls, and octopus hanging to dry outside …. and of course, a menu that has a photo of each item on it……Mmmmm…..all of which is in direct contrast to their food…… factory made Mousaka, frozen vegetables, frozen fish, supermarket french fries ……and at this time of year, with tourists as scarce as a pork sausage in Israel, most of these places are struggling to get customers. I feel quite sorry for them, but I know that in the summertime they do a roaring trade. Most of these tavernas, in their prime waterfront location, employ a 'kamaki' ( it's greek for 'harpoon') who stand outside and 'encourage' ( persuade/entice/harass ?) and 'hook' any likely looking tourists who happen to be passing by to come in and sit down for a meal. This particular Zorba-style taverna has a very friendly 'kamaki', named Nektarios, and at least a couple of times a day, either on our way out, or on our way back home, whenever we pass by, he stops us for a quick chat….. he really is a lovely guy with a wicked sense of humour.
The 'Kamaki' and the Australida…
Anyway, It's payback time, as yesterday, after I had finished my greek language classes, we were headed home for lunch, and stopped off there for a quick drink…. as I said, it's very close to 'home'…. and YM felt guilty that we'd never had a meal there, or even a drink, so why not stop for once. As usual, there are no other customers…. it's about 2 in afternoon…. I ordered a 'Fix' for me ( the best beer in the world?) and a 'tetarto' of 'lefko'…. a quarter kilo of white house-wine for YM. Well that's what I ordered, but this is Crete, and while I got my beer, YM didn't get a quarter kilo of wine, but rather a half a kilo…. " tetarto on me" say's Nektarios when I point this out, and he then resumed his duty out the front. Success too, as quite soon, seeing us enjoying a drink, he snags a young couple passing by, who sit near us. I notice that the waiter has brought them a huge 'boot' of beer each…. about two litres in every 'boot'!
das boot?
A few minutes later another couple get snagged and take a seat, also nearby, also being served with this 'beer boot'… First couple turn out to be American, who ask me if I could take a photo of them, which I obligingly do….. the young girl is very attractive and so while YM slips into her 'Parkinson' mode ( a friend says she suffers from'Parkinsons Disease'…. she can't stop asking questions!) and begins her interview with them, I take photographs of the Angel. ( steady on, that's her name, Angel). Within a few minutes, others passing by, seeing us enjoying ourselves, also sit down…. (maybe they have heard that Michael Parkinson is in town) …. and all without Kamaki assistance! Well, about an hour later, and a few drinks later (a half kilo of wine doesn't last long here, it has something to do with Global Warming…. it's the evaporation factor!) and by now the Taverna is full of Americans, all drinking 'boots' of beer…… talking LOUDLY and enjoying themselves immensely. It turns out they were part of a coach tour of the Greek Islands….were in Xania just for the afternoon…. and were passing the time while waiting to catch their coach back to Heraklion. For the ones that YM got to interview, she passed on to me the information that it was their first visit to Greece…..I do hope that it's not their last. When we leave them to go home for our lunch……fasolakia, is in the oven cooking….. they all seem to be enjoying themselves immensely, some even attempting 'Zorbas dance' along the waterfront…. hopefully they got back to their coach OK ……. and I wonder to myself if they have a toilet onboard, as they'll certainly not be able to hold those beer 'boots' all the way back to Heraklion, that's for sure !!!!!
harpooned?
So, back to this afternoon again, on Independance Day, and our Kamaki friend stops us for drinks, as I said, 'on the house'. It's to thank us for helping bring in all the customers he had yesterday….. one of his busiest afternoon's so far this year. The owner then comes to join us, and also thank us….. my greek language skills are still not as good as I'd like, despite all the lessons I take here….. but I'm certain he offered YM a job as assistant 'kamaki'…..
So watch this space!!!!
The Xania waterfront…
Rio? No, Rethymnon
2 thoughts on "Freedom or Death?"
Marianne and Leon Lawrence says:
Hi you guys! Behaving like locals……….and celebrating like locals! Looks like fun, but have you two ever been to the Mardi Gras
in Sydney – talk about men in uniform! lots and lots of them…haha.
Assistant kamaki – new job opportunity for YM………. love it.
Her questioning is legendary and now in Xania too.
Love and best wishes RB and T xxx
Well written!! Tel YM to call me if she would like to resume the local questioning!

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Beautiful home built in 1907 in the heart of midtown, on N Monterey. This home is convenient to shopping, restaurants, schools, and downtown. The front door leads into the original grand hallway with exposed brick fireplace and 3 bedrooms with 2 full baths and a half bath off of back living space. The kitchen has GREAT space with a butlers pantry and large walk-in storage pantry. The back stairwell leads up to an additional living space and 2/3 bedrooms with 2 full bathrooms. There is a small kitchen upstairs that would easily be brought back to life. A small basement area with exposed brick would make a great wine cellar. This home is just waiting for the right buyer to put their personal touches to it! There is alley access in the back. The street has 2 annual street parties and a wonderful sense of community. Buyer to verify all measurements.


This relatively new Scientific and Natural Area was officially designated June 27, 2011. The 64-acre site consists of two units separated by Lovell Road (County Road 52). It is mostly low wetland with areas of mesic prairie and oak woodland.
This SNA is in a busy suburb and is often visited by local residents. Some parts of the site get a great amount of use and have well-worn footpaths. There is a very well worn footpath beginning 75 yards east of the parking area. It leads north 100 yards then west, through the SNA, to a ball field near the northwest corner of Lexington Memorial Park. Other parts of the SNA are relatively untrammeled, with faint paths used mostly by deer, amateur naturalists, and the site steward.
The Blaine Preserve protects 13 rare plants, including four of Minnesota's endangered species. The largest know Minnesota population of cross-leaved milkwort and the second largest Minnesota population of twisted yellow-eyed grass are found on this site. The predominant native plant community that supports most of these plants is a Graminoid Rich Fen, a low-lying wetland characterized by grasses and sedges growing in peat. Blaine Preserve was protected because of the site's outstanding biodiversity significance, and because only remnants of this community type remain in this rapidly developing part of the metropolitan region.


The United Nations University (UNU) is a global think tank and postgraduate teaching organisation headquartered in Japan. The mission of UNU is to contribute, through collaborative research and education, to efforts to resolve the pressing global problems of human survival, development, and welfare that are the concern of the United Nations, its Peoples, and Member States. UNU encompasses 13 research and training institutes and programmes located in 12 countries around the world.
As part of the United Nations University (UNU), the UNU-FLORES helps build a bridge between the academic world and the United Nations. UNU-FLORES develops strategies to resolve pressing challenges in the area of sustainable use and integrated management of environmental resources such as water, soil, and waste. Focusing on the needs of the UN and its Member States, particularly developing countries and emerging economies, the Institute engages in research, capacity development, advanced teaching and training, as well as dissemination of knowledge. In all activities, UNU-FLORES advances a Nexus Approach to the sustainable management of environmental resources. For more information, please visit https://flores.unu.edu.
Please note that interns are not financially remunerated. Selected candidates have the responsibility of arranging their own travel, accommodation, and cost of living.
UNU-FLORES accepts no responsibility for the medical and life insurance of the intern or costs arising from accidents and illness incurred during an internship. Interns will be requested to show proof of insurance when commencing their internship.
The purpose of the programme is not to lead to further employment with UNU-FLORES but to complement an intern's studies. Therefore, there should be no expectation of employment at the end of an internship.
The successful candidate shall be based at UNU-FLORES in Dresden, Germany, on a full-time basis (40 hours per week) for a period of 4–6 months. Part-time applications will be considered under exceptional conditions.
Please find the relevant information and the application form at https://flores.unu.edu/en/about/opportunities/internships.
Applicants interested in applying for an internship at UNU-FLORES should send their complete Internship Application Form as well as their CV and cover letter in English to flores_internship@unu.edu.
Workforce diversity is essential to UNU. Suitably qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds including minority groups, indigenous groups, and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. Applications from suitably qualified women candidates from developing countries are particularly encouraged. All applications will be handled with the strictest confidence.
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted and unsuccessful applications will be notified. If you have any questions concerning the application procedure, please contact us at flores@unu.edu.


When planning a wedding there are certain time frames when it comes to booking vendors. The first is normally the venue itself, then, shortly thereafter, the wedding photographer. And all of this normally about a year before the wedding day. Our current average for booking is about 8 to 9 months before the big day, which gives them lots of time to figure out all the details of their pending nuptials.
Carolyn + Matthew did things a little faster than that.


text:
news, local-news
DESPITE a growing need for her services, Grace Fava will once again have to look hard for funds to keep her doors open. For the seventh consecutive year, her Liverpool-based Autism Advisory Support Service (AASS) has been overlooked for early intervention funding. The organisation receives no formal funding and relies heavily on donations to stay in operation. Earlier this month, the Minister for Disability Services, Andrew Constance, announced a $6 million investment into the intervention scheme. Because AASS is not funded by the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care, it is not entitled to a cent. AASS president Grace Fava said this wasn't the first time her non-profit, self-funded organisation was left to fend for itself. "We are not funded because we speak out about what's really going on," she said. "We don't have enough mental health facilities to cope with the need and as a result two weeks ago we had a 28-year-old man with mental health problems who killed his mum. That problem came to us." Over the years, Mrs Fava's organisation has expanded its counselling service to not only cater for children and families affected by autism, but also many families dealing with mental illness. "We are often the last resort for families living in western Sydney," she said. During his Liverpool visit last week, Minister for Western Sydney and NSW Premier, Barry O'Farrell, said his government was funding more community health facilities than ever. "It's not just an issue for western Sydney, it's an issue for the whole of the state because mental health doesn't apply to a particular geographic or socio-economic region," he said. An Ageing and Disability Services spokesman said although AASS did not qualify for this funding, it might be able to access federal government grants that solely supported children with autism.
/images/transform/v1/resize/frm/silverstone-feed-data/6305c261-815b-4ed5-adf1-9909317f1b63.jpg/w1200_h678_fcrop.jpg
Autistic kids miss out again
Farah Abdurahman
L2R - Grace Fava (Autism Advisory Support), Michael Lofti (Mainbridge Primary), Fiona Zammit (Autism Advisory Support).
DESPITE a growing need for her services, Grace Fava will once again have to look hard for funds to keep her doors open.
For the seventh consecutive year, her Liverpool-based Autism Advisory Support Service (AASS) has been overlooked for early intervention funding.
The organisation receives no formal funding and relies heavily on donations to stay in operation.
Earlier this month, the Minister for Disability Services, Andrew Constance, announced a $6 million investment into the intervention scheme.
Because AASS is not funded by the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care, it is not entitled to a cent.
AASS president Grace Fava said this wasn't the first time her non-profit, self-funded organisation was left to fend for itself.
"We are not funded because we speak out about what's really going on," she said.
"We don't have enough mental health facilities to cope with the need and as a result two weeks ago we had a 28-year-old man with mental health problems who killed his mum. That problem came to us."
Over the years, Mrs Fava's organisation has expanded its counselling service to not only cater for children and families affected by autism, but also many families dealing with mental illness.
"We are often the last resort for families living in western Sydney," she said.
During his Liverpool visit last week, Minister for Western Sydney and NSW Premier, Barry O'Farrell, said his government was funding more community health facilities than ever.
"It's not just an issue for western Sydney, it's an issue for the whole of the state because mental health doesn't apply to a particular geographic or socio-economic region," he said.
An Ageing and Disability Services spokesman said although AASS did not qualify for this funding, it might be able to access federal government grants that solely supported children with autism.
Discuss "Autistic kids miss out again"


This thermoplastic-elastomer (TPE) jacketed portable/service cord (style SJEOOW) is rated for hard use up to 300V (junior service). The TPE jacket offers a wider continuous temperature range than rubber and better flexibility at very low temperatures. This flexible power cable is available with up to 4 conductors in up to 10AWG wire size.


Citation: Liu, Z., Liu, S., Yao, J., Bao, L., Jiang, C., Want, R., Sun, L., Li, Y., Zhang, Y., Zhang, J., Zhou, T., Zeng, Q., Fu, Q., Gao, S., Li, N., Koren, S., Jiang, Y., Zimim, A., Xu, P., Phillippy, A., Geng, X., Song, L., Sun, F., Li, C., Want, X., Chen, A., Jin, Y., Yuan, Z., Yang, Y., Tan, S., Peatman, E., Lu, J., Qin, Z., Dunham, R., Li, Z., Sonstegard, T.S., Feng, J., Danzmann, R.G., Schroeder, S.G., Scheffler, B.E., Duke, M.V., Ballard, L.L., Kucuktas, H., Kaltenboeck, L., Liu, H., Armbruster, J., Xie, Y., Kirby, M.A., Tian, Y., Moore Flanagan, M.E., Mu, W., Waldbieser, G.C. 2016. The channel catfish genome sequence provides insights into the evolution of scale formation in teleosts. Nature Communications. doi:10.1038/ncomms11757.
Interpretive Summary: Efficient whole genome analysis and selective breeding requires a reference genome assembly. ARS scientists at the Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit and Genomics and Bioinformatics Research Unit in Stoneville, MS, the Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory in Beltsville, MD, collaborated with scientists at Auburn University, the Department of Homeland Security, and the University of Maryland to produce a whole genome sequence assembly for the channel catfish. Genomic DNA was utilized from "Coco", a doubled haploid (homozygous) catfish to produce 1.3 billion DNA sequences with next-generation DNA sequencing technologies. The sequences were filtered and assembled using the MaSuRCA assembly software, and a novel method was used to fill gaps within scaffolded sequences. The team produced the most complete and continuous fish genome sequence to be assembled from next-generation technology to date. Assembly accuracy was validated using a variety of genomic resources such as sequences from DNA libraries and alignment to the catfish genetic map. The team demonstrated that the vast majority of DNA sequences from other channel catfish can be aligned to this assembly, and the catfish genome assembly contained more predicted genes than any fish genome assembly. Our analysis showed that 26,381 gene predictions could be validated from experimental gene expression data. The genome assembly will be key to the identification of sequence variation that is linked to improved performance for traits such as growth rate and carcass yield, and will permit selection of broodstock based on high resolution relationships with fish that exhibit superior performance.
Technical Abstract: Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), characteristic of its scaleless skin and prominent barbels, is an ideal species to study osteogenesis, development of appendages, olfactory sensing, and immunological adaptation. It is the leading aquaculture species in the United States. A high quality reference genome sequence is essential for understanding evolution and important biological characteristics of catfishes, as well as for genetic improvement programs. Here we report the channel catfish reference genome sequence with the highest quality among genomes sequenced with next generation sequencing. A total of 26,661 protein-coding genes were annotated, the largest gene content of any diploid fish. The catfish barbels serve as olfactory and gustatory centers, providing evolutionary advantages to catfish. Interspecific comparative transcriptome analysis, coupled to regeneration experiments, provided insights into scalelessness. The lack of secretory calcium-binding phosphoprotein genes or of their expression may account for the lack of scales in channel catfish, an evolutionary characteristic shared by thousands of catfish species.


An outstanding specimen. Semi pendulous branches. Foliage light cream almost white especially in spring and early summer. Slightly bronzed in winter. Needs full sun - very rarely burns in sunny conditions. Stands all extremes of growing conditions but especially good in high rainfall areas that are well drained. Oval.


text:
Q: Why is Kotlin accepting a null value in an attribute declared as a non-nullable string? I declared a data class like this:
data class Product(val name: String = "", val price: Float = 0f)

My code is:
val json = "{'name': null, 'price': 50.00}"
val gson = GsonBuilder().create()
val p = gson.fromJson(json, Product::class.java)
println("name is ${p.name}")

The console output is: name is null
How is this possible?
The name attribute is not a nullable string.

A: That's common problem when using Gson with Kotlin - and the runtime errors occur far too late here, which may make your program unstable and crash-friendly. For example, write:
val name: String = p.name
Boom! Crash.
Gson simply, as per super hacky implementation, allocates memory for the class without calling the constructor, and later fills fields with values that are present in JSON using reflection.
This makes it possible to store null in Kotlin's not-null properties, and that can cause NPE at runtime. You can provide custom TypeAdapter to disable reflection for your class.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


This is a very simple recipe. The chocolate has an incredible velvety texture and is to die for. Beetroot is delicious in the summer and brings seasonality to the dish. The bitterness of the chocolate marries with the earthy notes of the beetroot well.
Waste not: Keep the beetroot leaves for a stir fry or, if they are really tender, they are great in salads. If you make your own pastry, bake the off cuts with a sprinkle of sugar to make biscuits.
1) Start by boiling the beetroot in advance. Cover with water, add 100g of sugar. Simmer until the beetroot begins to soften and the liquid has reduced to a syrup. Place the slices of beetroot onto a sheet of parchment paper and place in the oven for 10-15 minutes until they go a little chewy. Put aside and leave to cool. Keep the syrup for a garnish.
2) Bring the double cream, sugar and a good pinch of salt to the boil, remove from the heat. Add the butter and chocolate. Stir gently until just melted and combined.
3) Pour into the baked pastry shell. Leave to cool and refrigerate. If you have any chocolate left, pour them into little glasses to serve as chocolate pots.
4) When you are ready to serve, dust with cocoa and serve with whipped cream or crème fraîche, a slice of beetroot and spoon of the vibrant beetroot syrup.


text:
Q: Question about the ring of polynomials bounded on a real variety Suppose that $I$ is a  prime real radical ideal in the polynomial ring $\mathbb{R}[x_1,\ldots,x_n]$. "Real radical" means that if a sum of squares $a^2+b^2+\ldots$ is an element of $I$ then so are the polynomials $a, b,\ldots$. Let  $V\subseteq \mathbb{R}^n$ be the zero-set of $I$, and assume that $V$ is unbounded.  Obviously the ring $B:=\mathbb{R}[I+\mathbb{R}]$ consists entirely of of polynomials bounded on $V$. Is every polynomial bounded on $V$ necessarily an element of the ring $B$?

A: I wish I had thought more about this before I posted. Anyway, here is a counterexample. Let $f\in \mathbb{R}[x,y]$ be the polynomial $y(x^2+1)-1$. Let $I$ be the ideal generated by $f$. Let $V$ be the zero-set of $f$ in $\mathbb{R}^2$. Writing the equation $f=0$ in the form $$y=\frac{1}{1+x^2},$$ it is clear that the polynomial $y$ is bounded on $V$. Moreover $y$ is not an element of the ring $\mathbb{R}[\mathbb{R}+I]$ because $y$ is not constant as a function on $V$. We must verify that $I$ is prime and real radical.

*

*$I$ is prime: To check this, we note that the quotient ring $\mathbb{R}[x,y]/I$ is isomorphic to the ring $\mathbb{R}[x,1/(1+x^2)]$, which is an integral domain, being a subring of the field $\mathbb{R}(x)$.

*I is real radical: It is enough to find an order on the ring $\mathbb{R}[x,1/(1+x^2)]$. But the field $\mathbb{R}(x)$ can be ordered: For example think of the elements as functions on $\mathbb{R}$ ordered by eventual domination.
It seems that the general problem of calculating the ring of bounded functions on a real variety is much much harder than I realized. If anyone has any references or thoughts on the matter please post.


text:
Disaster planning and response
FILE - In this Aug. 29, 2018, file photo, oxycodone pills are displayed in New York. Newly released federal data shows how drugmakers and distributors increased shipments of opioid painkillers across the U.S. as the nation's addiction crisis accelerated from 2006 to 2012. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
Data shows flood of opioids across US, many of them generics
WASHINGTON (AP) — The maker of OxyContin has been cast as the chief villain in the nation's opioid crisis. But newly released government figures suggest Purdue Pharma had plenty of help in flooding the U.S. with billions of pills even as overdose deaths were accelerating. Records kept by the...
FILE - In this Nov. 29, 2018 file photo, Oprah Winfrey smiles during a tribute to Nelson Mandela and promoting gender equality event at University of Johannesburg in Soweto, South Africa. Winfrey surprised the Maui Humane Society with a visit to thank the organization for evacuating animals during a wildfire. The Maui News reported Saturday, July 13, 2019, that Winfrey is a part-time Maui resident who only visited briefly Saturday, thanking a volunteer and taking a photo outside with the organization's sign. A Maui Humane Society official says Winfrey is a society supporter. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, File)
WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — Oprah Winfrey surprised the Maui Humane Society with a visit to thank the organization for evacuating animals during a wildfire. The Maui News reported Saturday that Winfrey is a part-time Maui resident who visited briefly Saturday, thanking a volunteer and taking a photo...
Martha Young, center, Patricia Plishka, left, and her husband Glen, right, battle the wind and rain from Hurricane Barry as it nears landfall Saturday, July 13, 2019, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
The Latest: National Guard trying to rescue family of 5
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Latest on Barry (all times local): ___ 11:40 p.m. Authorities are trying to rescue a family of five who are trapped by high water in a south Louisiana home. KTBS-TV reports that the family was trapped Saturday night in the town of Franklin. The Shreveport television station...
Italy firefighters battle wildfires; 1 dead, others evacuate
ROME (AP) — Firefighters are battling wildfires on multiple fronts in southern Italy, including one blaze in Puglia that left at least one person dead. Firefighters said Saturday they had sent up three Canadair aircraft to dump water on a wildfire raging in Tortoli, Sardinia, that forced the...
People check out the waves on Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans, La., Friday, July 12, 2019, as water moves in from Lake Pontchartrain from the storm surge from Tropical Storm Barry in the Gulf of Mexico. The area is behind a levee that protects the rest of the city. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
The Latest: Mississippi River won't be as high as feared
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Latest on Tropical Storm Barry (all times local): 11:05 p.m. Forecasters expect the Mississippi River to crest about 2 feet (0.6 meters) lower in New Orleans than previously predicted — good news for those who feared the river might spill over the levees that protect the city...
Alan and Dot Richardson, from England, wear ponchos as they walk along Bourbon Street in the French Quarter Friday, July 12, 2019, in New Orleans, ahead of Tropical Storm Barry. The National Weather Service in New Orleans says water is already starting to cover some low lying roads as Tropical Storm Barry approaches the state from the Gulf of Mexico. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
'It's powerful': Tropical storm starts lashing Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Homeowners sandbagged their doors and tourists trying to get out of town jammed the airport Friday as Tropical Storm Barry began rolling in, threatening an epic drenching that could test how well New Orleans has strengthened its flood protections in the 14 years since Hurricane...
People walk past Brennan's restaurant in the French Quarter with sandbags on the front door as bands of rain from Tropical Storm Barry from the Gulf of Mexico move into New Orleans, La., Friday, July 12, 2019. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
As Barry approaches, New Orleans residents debate evacuation
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Go or stay? It is a question people in and around New Orleans ask themselves every time a threatening storm lurks in the Gulf: a major hurricane like Katrina, which devastated the area in 2005 when levees failed, and now Tropical Storm Barry , which forecasters said was unlikely...
St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office inmate workers move free sandbags for residents in Chalmette, La., Thursday, July 11, 2019. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency is telling people in the southern part of the state to be prepared for heavy rain from Tropical Storm Barry as it pushes northward through the Gulf of Mexico. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Thousands of Louisianans broke out sandbags or fled to higher ground Thursday as Tropical Storm Barry threatened to turn into the first hurricane of the season and blow ashore with torrential rains that could pose a severe test of New Orleans' improved post-Katrina flood defenses...
A visitor takes a photo of a crack on the ground following recent earthquakes Sunday, July 7, 2019, outside of Ridgecrest, Calif. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
July 10, 2019 - 12:13 am
Nevada death may be linked to California quake
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A powerful July 4 earthquake in the Southern California desert may have killed a man in neighboring Nevada, authorities said Tuesday. It would be the first death linked to the magnitude 6.4 quake near Ridgecrest that was felt far and wide. The Nye County Sheriff's Department said...
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The powerful Mojave Desert earthquakes that rocked California ended a years-long lull in major seismic activity and raised new interest in an early warning system being developed for the West Coast. The ShakeAlert system is substantially built in California and overall is about...


A morning of Walking Netball and Walking Squash is to be held in Swavesey, as part of a programme to get even more Cambridgeshire residents exercising.
The event, run by South Cambridgeshire District Council in partnership with Living Sport and England Netball, is aimed at adults that want to try something different to get active, especially if they don't want to take part in the fast-paced game. It's a chance to enjoy a sport that is less intense, but just as much fun and rewarding.
Walking sports mean you get the benefits of being physically active, such as increased energy, reduced stress and contributing towards a strong heart, without the impact on the joints that running has.
Residents from across Cambridgeshire are welcome to attend the event, which will take place at Swavesey Village College's Sports Centre on Saturday 22 September from 9:30am to 12:30pm. It is part of the Let's Get Moving Cambridgeshire programme which aims to improve the health of communities, specifically be increasing the amount of exercise people do.
People can come as teams, with friends or on their own. There will be fun games to play to introduce the game of Walking Netball and full seven‐a‐side games to get stuck into. Additionally, there will be plenty of time for refreshments and meeting new people as well as trying out the brand-new sport of Walking Squash.
The event is open to people of all abilities and you don't have to have played netball or squash before to attend. All rules will be explained and introduced as you play. Residents wanting to take part just need to go to Swavesey Village College Sports Centre on the day and play for just £3 per person, including refreshments.
Find out more about the Let's Get Moving Cambridgeshire programme.


text:
Home Business Rising Exchange Rate, Swelling Petroleum Price
Rising Exchange Rate, Swelling Petroleum Price
The rising exchange rate between the Liberian and United States (US) dollars has created a new dilemma for the economy as petroleum price takes an upward trend. The pump price of gasoline jumped to L$385 on Tuesday, up from L$360 on the previous day. The rising fuel price comes amid rapid depreciation of the Liberian dollar against the US dollar, our business desk finds.
The exchange rate currently stands at L$88.5 to US$1 with some Forex Bureaus buying a US$ for L$90. On Monday, the two currencies traded at L$88 to US$1, but there was strong indication that the Liberian dollar would have subsequently depreciated.
The interplay on the money market on Tuesday forced a rapid increase in petroleum prices and subsequently transportation fares by drivers across Monrovia. The Government of Liberia (GOL) has repeatedly said that it has no direct control over the foreign exchange market as it is influenced by the market forces of supply and demand.
The GOL recently warned that setting the rate would create a 'black market' which could further create chaos in the economy. Liberia is a free enterprise economy which is mostly controlled by the private sector.
But many Liberians believe that the government has a major role to play in ensuring price stability including properly regulating the market.
They strongly believe that failure on the part of the government would lead to the imposition of additional costs on the population, which they warned, would undermine the gains by the vary government. Some economists, however, warn against interference by the government. Amidst this debate, the prices of key commodities, mainly petroleum, have begun to rise.
The hike in petroleum price directly affected fares as commercial taxi cab drivers were charging up to L$90 from central Monrovia to Paynesville Red-light. Bus fare also rose from L$35 to L$50 with some buses charging up to L$75.
Previously, the fare in taxi cab from central Monrovia to Red-light was L$60, while bus fare was L$35 per person. Fares were also increased for other destinations of the city. Commuters reported L$5 increase from central Monrovia to Airfield Matadi, from L$35 previously to L$40 per person.
When asked Tuesday, May 06, a taxi cab driver directly attributed the increment to the increase in the pump price of gasoline.
"Gasoline price has been increased abruptly," this taxi cab driver said on condition of anonymity. "We are forced to also increase fare," he added. This elderly cab driver jokingly sang "when you're up, you're; so everything is up."
This song was a popular song sung by supporters of the ruling Unity Party (UP) during the 2011 general and presidential elections.
This driver, however, clarified that his intention was not to mock the ruling party, but noted that things are really tough.
"We are not happy to increase fare, but we can't also operate at loss," he said. Some of the commuters spoken with expressed dismay over the rising fares and called on the government to intervene. "Things are very tough on the ground. Everybody knows how tough it is to make living in Liberia and so I want the government to come in at this time and save the day," said Madam Estella Benson.
Madam Benson, who lives in the Airfield area, stressed the need for strong GOL action in dealing with the situation on the market. "If they sit and do nothing, we will definitely perish," she said.
To further exacerbate the transport problem, most of the GOL-owned public transport buses managed by the National Transit Authority (NTA) are missing from the streets.
Our business desk was told yesterday that most of the buses are down due to maintenance problem. Though our could get a word from the NTA up to press time, GOL sources confirmed that only few of the buses are in the traffic in Monrovia.
"Some of the buses are directly assigned to run between Monrovia and Buchanan as well as Monrovia to Gbarnga and Monrovia to Tubmanburg and Bo Waterside," this source said. When running Monrovia, NTA buses charged L$15.00 per person for any distance.
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Your job as a writer is to peel onions, remove each layer with care. Some onions are easy to peel; they produce none of the tears associated with onions. Other onions require deliberation and patience to make sense of the resulting pile of onion peels.
Each layer represents an integral part of a story or essay, some aspect, some element that will send you off to the dictionary or library or perhaps off on some individual flight of fancy to a part of you well below your immediate awareness. After all, if a story or essay holds no such challenges or questions for you, how can you expect readers to follow suit?
You'd not peeled too many layers off the onion of social strata before you became aware of the directions your preferences took you. You were a child of your culture and time, after all, educated enough to have a sense of class distinction.
Now, as you write this, you are still of your culture and time, but you have managed to educate yourself to a perspective where you have in fact extended the horizon. You can see more, have more serious conversations with your preferences and your prejudices.
Your preferences were formed in significant measure because of your growing distaste for and mistrust of those tiers referred to as "elite," "Upper-class," and, because you'd had enough reading of history, "ruling classes." To a large extent, you seethed distaste for these tiers. Now, you have not grown fond of "them," instead, you observe with a cold eye, observing and, yes, truth to tell, watchful to see if any traces of "them" appear in the "you" that is you.
You are from yet another culture than mere "middle-class" or "working-class;" your "other" culture had you during those earlier years where there was a concentrated effort to cause your extinction. This concentration reminds you of your frequent association with gophers and attempts to avoid them or remove them. This same concentrated effort reminds you of times when you or someone close to you sought to remove populations variously of ants, fleas, and ticks.
To that effect, you can still recall the time and place of your best friend's mother, telling you how fortunate for you that you lived in Los Angeles as opposed to certain cities and countries in Europe.
who were not so much out to get you as to exert authority over anyone not of their own kinship and turf configurations.
Soon, you made another discovery from a dictionary, when you sought clarity about the origins of the word chivalry.
"Does this mean," you asked a middle school teacher, "that chivalry is based on the class distinction between persons who have and ride horses and persons who do not have horses and must therefore walk?"
"I guess you could say that," the teacher responded.
"You guess? Don't you know?"
"I'd never thought of it in those terms."
This was not the so-what approach you'd hoped for, which probably explains why you were soon in the outer office of Mr. Engberg, a bony, likable enough man who was Boy's Vice Principal. You'd spent enough time there to know the drill; you'd be assigned a list of new vocabulary words to be learned and defined in a subsequent visit.
Mr. Engberg seemed intent on suggesting you not try to look at everything in terms of class struggles, although, because he impressed you as a decent and concerned person, you continued to question his line of thinking without appearing your usual, querulous self. Years after the fact, you do tend to see things in terms of class struggles, which has made you appear to be a Communist, which you are not, although in a realistic sense a Marxist, which approaches a description for you.
The most recent word with which you fell into a confrontation is "villain," long associated in your mind with someone of malevolent intent, say Satan in Paradise Lost, but not necessarily the Satan of The Book of Job.
The word villain seemed too dated to you when you began to teach literature and writing. You cannot take any credit for switching from villain to antagonist in your lectures, written notes, and general thoughts about story. The academic, Frederic Jameson, got you to a point of curiosity about villain, whereupon you checked the etymology of the word, a search that brought you information, a certain amount of surprise, and a brisk palm, slapped against your forehead as a sudden reproof to your naiveté.
The earliest meanings of villain take us to such tropes as "farmhand," "rural person," or unlettered, uneducated, or working class. In that sense, being "of" a "villa" is not so bad on its face, but class structure being what it is, villainy took on the meanings evolved through the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early portions of the twentieth century. A villain meant malicious intent against persons of chivalrous--and no, you did not put that word to emphasize your point. You used that word because it was part of the printed definition.
In a sense, everyone under the rank of a knight was a villain. Thus two words, chivalry, from the French for horse, and villain from the French for a person who worked at a villa, have become subtle markers of class distinction, influencing our literature, our social outlook, and the way we define behavior in general, education and its lack, and class distinction.
Your sympathies are clear; they go to the working classes, even though you can find as much to disagree with there as you can with educated classes and your scant association with upper classes. Being a writer has marginalized you, sent you to the gulags and Siberias of your own cultures. But you are able to accept this marginalization without bitterness, certainly without envy. You were fortunate enough to have had a mentor who gave you the metaphor of being the Mars Probe, going to places beyond the horizons of convention and possibility, gathering information, then sending back reports.