text:
The report cites three pillars of its approach: environmental justice, smart growth, and equitable development.
Environmental Justice
Approaching environmental justice, the EPA reiterates its policy that "no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial, governmental, or commercial operations and policies." [1] The EPA also resonates the idea that the "public should have opportunities to participate in decisions that could affect their environment and their health, their contributions should be taken into account by regulatory agencies, and decision-makers should seek and facilitate the engagement of those potentially affected by their decisions."[2]
Under the authorities of Executive Order 12898 and the EPA's Plan EJ 2014, the Agency's overarching strategy for advancing environmental justice, the EPA together with the White House Council on Environmental Quality, and 17 other federal agencies, are working with community stakeholders to develop and implement environmental justice strategies. Together, they aim to strengthen community access to federal resources, integrate environmental justice into programs, policies, and activities across the federal government.[3]
Smart Growth
Under Smart Growth, the report describes how low-income, minority, and tribal communities can employ strategies to clean up and reinvest in existing neighborhoods; provide affordable housing and transportation; and improve access to jobs, services, parks and stores. It also provides practitioners with concrete ideas on how they can better meet the needs of low-income residents as they promote development or redevelopment in underserved communities. To this end, the report enumerates 10 Smart Growth principles[4] based on the experiences of communities around the country:
- Mix land use: by mixing housing, shops, offices, schools, and other compatible land use in the same community, the residents are able to walk, bike, or take public transit thus drive shorter distances and lowering their transportation costs; (according to the report, low-income areas and underprivileged individuals tend to spend a larger portion of their income on transportation—up to 30%, as opposed to privileged and wealthy individuals who may spend only 9% of their income on transportation);
- Compact building design: green and compact building design principles preserves open space and uses land and resources in efficient and effective ways to create communities that are transit friendly, reduces pollution thus improving water quality, and encourage healthier lifestyles;
- Affordable housing and range of housing opportunities: by providing quality and affordable housing options in new and re-development communities, people of all income levels, household size, and stages of life will be able to live near jobs, public transit, and services thus encourages inclusion and diversity, promotes new opportunities, and allows for innovation to occur naturally;
- Walkable communities: increasing walkability of communities encourages active lifestyles, reduces transportation cost and pollution, and helps reduce obesity, diabetes, and other preventable diseases;
- Strong sense of community: preservation of community history and culture encourages economic vitality and long-term sustainment of quality of life;
- Open-space, farm-land, natural landscape, and critical environmental areas: preserving these types of natural and working lands support land-based economy that are critical for regional and national economies; the vegetation in these natural areas also helps protect environmental public health by filtering pollutants from the air and water;
- Direct development in existing communities: by investing in communities that are blighted, investing dollars will go to addressing environmental and health hazards in the most critical areas; it will also bring new jobs and services for residents while conserving investment by utilizing already existing infrastructure;
- Variety of transportation choices: by building a balanced transportation system that incorporates different means of travel—buses, rail, walkways, bike lanes, and carpool lanes—residents will have more options for getting around; this will encourage responsible behavior and reduce air pollution as well as related health problems; this will also increase mobility for low-income individuals thus providing more job and service opportunities;
- Predicable, fair, and cost effective development decisions: by making development processes clear and by working with the private sector and all stakeholders, municipalities can make smart growth economically viable and attractive to private investors and developers;
- Stakeholder collaboration: by encouraging all stakeholders to participate in the decision making process, development will create great places to live and work, thus increase a community's sense of ownership and empowerment; this will invariably lead to smarter growth patterns from both the private and the public sector; involving all stakeholders will also encourage inclusive innovation, and by involving all parties early, the implemented innovation will have a better chance of succeeding according to the community's vision and goals.
The EPA report vitalizes the idea that development should be about creating healthy, vibrant, and sustainable communities where residents of all incomes, races, and ethnicities have access to opportunities, services, and amenities they need to thrive. The strategic focus is on helping low income, minority, tribal, and overburdened communities participate in and benefit from decisions that shape their neighborhoods and regions.[5]
The concept of equitable development is a culmination of environmental justice and smart growth: it emphasizes that everyone should be protected from environmental hazards and be able to enjoy equal access to environmental, health, economic, and social necessities such as clean air and water, adequate infrastructure, jobs, and involvement in decision-making. Equitable development incorporates people-focused strategies with placed-focused strategies. People-focused efforts are centered around supporting and empowering residents of a community within the context of their own; there is an emphasis on job training and placement, business development, homeless initiatives, education, health, and wellness programs, financial literacy programs, and revitalization efforts taken by the residents. Place-focused efforts focus on stabilizing and improving infrastructure and environment, developing fair housing initiatives, and initiating pollution cleanups to reduce economic disparities, bring new opportunities, and improve the overall quality of life. Equitable development also calls for a regional perspective in order to reduce health and economic inequalities and improve outcomes for low-income communities while building healthy urban regions.
More Details
The report also notes some of the challenges and sets out some case studies around the country showcasing their success. These case studies include:
- designing safe streets for all users
- cleaning and reusing contaminated properties
- reducing exposure to facilities with potential environmental concerns
- fixing existing infrastructure before investing in new projects
- preserving affordable housing
More information about the report: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/equitable_development_report.htm
More information about the Office of Environmental Justice: http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice
More information about the Office of Sustainable Communities: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth
[1] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Justice, available at http://www.epa.gov/compliance/ej.
[2] Id.
[3] Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Justice and Executive Order 12898, (EJ MOU), available at http://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/resources/publications/interagency/ej-mou-2011-08.pdf.
[4] Smart Growth Network, Why Smart Growth? available at http://www.smartgrowth.org/why.php.
[5] PolicyLink, Equitable Development Toolkit, available at http://www.policylink.org/site/c.lkIXLbMNJrE/b.5136575/k.39A1/Equitable_Development_Toolkit.htm.


text:
She doesn't look happy and is dressed in gray...
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
In a display of common sense...
First off, this news is a couple of weeks old, but I've been a bit busy...
In an all too rare display of common sense, the Massachusetts Legislature defeated a bill that would have allowed illegal aliens to attend UMass colleges at the state residents rate. Under this bill, which should have never made to the floor, legal residents of other states would still have to pay the non-resident rates.
Friday, January 27, 2006
Interesting photos
The Palestinian people have spoken...
The major difference between Hamas and the group of terrorists they replaced is that at least Hamas is honest and upfront about their goals of genocide.
That could explain it...
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
A good year for Freedom
According to Freedom House, nine nations or territories in 2005 were upgraded in their ranking of free, party free or not free.
Among those deemed freer were Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan, where peaceful revolutions overthrew entrenched governments; Lebanon, where Syrian occupation troops were pressured to withdraw; and Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories, where trailblazing elections were held. Overall, Freedom House concluded, "the past year was one of the most successful for freedom" since the survey began in 1972.
Ace comments on the article:
It's a surprisingly fair article, detailing where Bush has actually walked the walk and where he has only talked the talk. In many cases (China, Pakistan) strategic considerations militate against an aggressive, provocative US push for democracy, but in others -- such as in Uganda -- it's a mystery why the Administration doesn't take a tougher line against tyranny.
The article continues with:
In other places, the United States has done more than talk. In Kyrgyzstan, the U.S. government funded pro-democracy groups and provided generators to print an opposition newspaper before its revolution. Edil Baisalov, director of the Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society, can quote extensively from the Bush inaugural speech. "The Kyrgyz people are much, much better off today than they were a year ago, and I think the U.S. government should take pride in taking credit for that," he said. "And [it] should never apologize that it wants the people to be free."
Ok, that's just weird...
This is what I got in a fortune cookie recently:
The rubber bands are heading in the right direction.
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
More Red on Red action in Iraq
According to ThreatsWatch.org:
But the Islamic Army in Iraq hasn't just turned down al-Qaeda's invitation, it has, along with five other insurgent groups, including the Anbar Martyr's Brigade and the 1920 Revolution Brigades, openly declared war against al-Qaeda
As Mr. Reynolds put it, may both sides fight to the last man...
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Baen on Blackfive
I've mentioned Baen Books multiple times here.
They got a string of posts over at Blackfive's blog as well.
Laughing Wolf posts on John Ringo's non-SF book Ghost, which is up for a Romance Award!
John really would like to win this one, so stop by and vote!
Laughing Wolf also posts on Michael Z. Williamson's book The Weapon.
He has one more that is a general post on Baen Publishing.
Danes supporting terrorism
By selling t-shirts that fund terrorist organizations world wide.
One poster notes:
I'm currently in an area where the enemy refuses to wear a uniform (Baghdad). I love these t-shirts, it's an Anti-Democracy uniform. It is always good to know who the enemy is, best if they wear a uniform announcing such.
Update: The comment reminds me of the "Stop Snitchin" t-shirts so popular in Boston.
Monty bin Laden
From "Death to the Great Satan!" to "Let's Make a Deal!"
A clear sign that, as Mr. Reynolds puts it, "YES, WE'RE WINNING"
The man who arranged a terrorist attack that killed 3,000 people in one day wants "a long-term truce with fair conditions."
Ya, we got your "fair conditions" right here buddy.
democrat Senator says she's keep Abramoff related money
This AP story points out that democrat Senator from Washington Patty Murry "said Friday that returning contributions from Indian tribes represented by Jack Abramoff would "taint" the tribes.
The state's senior senator, a Seattle Democrat, said there was nothing wrong with accepting more than $40,000 in campaign donations from out-of-state tribes represented by the disgraced lobbyist."
As Mr. Reynolds said, you can't make this stuff up.
Friday, January 20, 2006
New Voyages strikes again!
The fan produced "fourth season" of Star Trek: The Original Series has scored two more TOS originals for an upcoming episode. Writer David Gerrold & actor George Takei.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
John Bergstrom's on a roll...
He has some new, sharply on target cartoons up. Go check 'em out.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
Good progress
Mr. Reynolds points out that some major progress in defending an important international human right is being made.
I don't recall reading this in the Boston Globe...
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December marked the seventh consecutive month that the US Army has met it's recruiting goal.
Film takes a hit
According to this CNN story, Nikon Corp. will stop making 7 film camera models. That will leave them with only their top line model and low end manual focus model.
The stated goal was to focus on digital cameras.
This caught my eye, since I've been know to take a picture now and then...
Thursday, January 12, 2006
What I'm reading
Myths for the Modern Age, essays on Philip Jose Farmer's Wold Newton Universe.
Good crunchy pulp goodness so far.
I just started Harry Turtledove's Days of Infamy. This should be good.
I just finished Michael Z. Williamson's The Weapon
Damn good and more than a bit scary at times.
One light moment was the designation the Freehold military used for their man portable tac-nuke...
I recognized the container. I'd dealt with them during training. It was a crated Q-36 Explosive, Special, Medium. They're designed to take out dams, headquarters, major transport junctions and similar targets.
I had just signed for a nuclear weapon.
Insert the Marvin the Martian joke of your choice...
There is also a nice tip of the hat to another SF series:
Occasionally, one was mis-aimed and hit suburbs or farmland. One that was likely aimed at Pittsburgh made a perfect hit on the little town of Mannington, West Virginia, leaving nothing but a perfectly round hole where the town had been.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
A good analogy
Bookworm has a good post on the San Francisco city goverment making a safer working environment for violent criminals at the expense of the law abiding.
She wraps up with a good analogy.
My confession? I'm terrified of guns and don't own one. However, I'm hoping to benefit from "herd immunity." My analogy here is to disease control. As you know, not everyone needs to be vaccinated against measles. You simply need a critical mass of vaccinations to make it impossible for measles to take hold in a community. In the same way, I want guns to be legal in my community so that a critical mass of upstanding community members can own weapons, making it more difficult for crime to take hold in the community. Once you ban guns entirely, your immunity vanishes, and all you can do is sit back and let the gun violence virus begin.
On the local front...
Bruce at mASS Backwards covers the story of Massachusetts AG Tom Reilly interfered with the police investigation into the death of two teenage girls.
Feinstein gets Miller wrong
On Fox News Sunday today, California democat Senator Diane Feinstein said that the US vs. Miller case gave the government to regulate fully automatic firearms. Since Senator Feinstein is a long time foe of the Second Amendment, I find it hard to believe she managed to mangle that case so badly by accident.
The Supreme Court ruling on US vs. Miller case stated that the government could regulate a weapon (in the case under question, it was a shotgun, which actually was in use by the US Military at the time) because it was not used by the Military and thus not protected by the Second Amendment. So, what Feinstein said was completely and utterly false.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
I wonder when the NY Times will carry this story...
According the the Weekly Standard:
THE FORMER IRAQI REGIME OF Saddam Hussein trained thousands of radical Islamic terrorists from the region at camps in Iraq over the four years immediately preceding the U.S. invasion, according to documents and photographs recovered by the U.S. military in postwar Iraq. The existence and character of these documents has been confirmed to THE WEEKLY STANDARD by eleven U.S. government officials.
The secret training took place primarily at three camps--in Samarra, Ramadi, and Salman Pak--and was directed by elite Iraqi military units. Interviews by U.S. government interrogators with Iraqi regime officials and military leaders corroborate the documentary evidence. Many of the fighters were drawn from terrorist groups in northern Africa with close ties to al Qaeda, chief among them Algeria's GSPC and the Sudanese Islamic Army. Some 2,000 terrorists were trained at these Iraqi camps each year from 1999 to 2002, putting the total number at or above 8,000.
The discovery of the information on jihadist training camps in Iraq would seem to have two major consequences: It exposes the flawed assumptions of the experts and U.S. intelligence officials who told us for years that a secularist like Saddam Hussein would never work with Islamic radicals, any more than such jihadists would work with an infidel like the Iraqi dictator. It also reminds us that valuable information remains buried in the mountain of documents recovered in Afghanistan and Iraq over the past four years.
Michelle Malkin points out that this proves some US officials dead wrong:
"Iraq was not a breeding ground for terrorism. Our invasion has made it one." --Sen. Ted Kennedy
"Iraq was not a terrorist haven before the invasion." -- Sen. John Kerry
"The evidence now shows clearly that Saddam did not want to work with Osama bin Laden at all." -- Former VP Albert Gore
HT to Bruce at GayPatriot Blog.
Get ready for the mud slinging..
Matt Drudge reports that the democrats are going to smear Judge Samuel A. Alito during his confirmation hearings.
One Democrat Hill staffer involved in their strategy declared, "Put a fork in Scalito. It doesn't matter that Alito didn't write it, it doesn't matter that Alito wasn't that active in the group, Foote wrote it in CAP's magazine and we are going to make Alito own it."
Friday, January 06, 2006
On the "do what I say, not what I do front" part 2
Paul at Wizbang points out the following
Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the Democratic leader, is keeping the $30,500 donated to him and his political action committees by tribes represented by Mr. Abramoff. "He feels that Abramoff was a Republican operative and this is a Republican scandal," said Mr. Reid's spokesman, Jim Manley. "He's done nothing improper."
Harry Reid, ignoring the fact that he, Hillary Clinton and dozens of other Democrats took money from Abramoff too. - Dumbass.
Ace also is on this:
The fact that over 90% of Democrats took Abramoff's dirty money is just further proof Abramoff is "most closely linked" with Republicans.
Among those named by the NRSC as the worst examples of "Democrat hypocrisy" for taking money from Abramoff and his associates are: Sen. Byron Dorgan, (D-N.D.) who received at least $79,300; Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), who received at least $45,750; Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who received at least $68,941 and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), who received at least $6,250.
It's good to know that a Kennedy stays bought:
Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) has decided to buck the current fashion of donating the money given to him linked to Jack Abramoff clients to charity, while the rest of Kennedy's colleagues distance themselves from Abramoff-directed contributions as fast as possible. Kennedy insists that he has nothing to hide -- since he's been taking Indian gambling money for ten years and acting on their behalf for, coincidentally, the same amount of time...
On the "do what I say, not what I do front"
Howard Stern, who makes a very nice living by getting women to take their clothes off, has stopped his daughter from appearing nude on stage.
Wizbang has pictures.
Meanwhile, what's going on around the globe...
A gang of more than 20 youths -- thought to be North African immigrants -- terrorized hundreds of train passengers in a rampage of violence, robbery and sexual assault on New Year's Day, French officials said yesterday.
The leader of Iran said that he hoped for the death of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. This was the latest anti-Israeli comment by a leader who has already provoked international criticism for suggesting that Israel be "wiped off the map."
The Palestinian response is quick and not unexpected.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
New to the blog roll...
A Universe of Stories, the blog of Baen Books.
I've mentioned them before. They have, IMNSHO, the best model for selling ebooks, and the authors seem to agree.
Their blog is fairly new, but I'd like to point out the contents of this post.
A solider in Iraq sends the following to Baen
"I've been deployed in Iraq for over a year, and I can honestly say its been the Baen e-books that made it for me.
This format is fantastic for deployed troops.
A sincere thank you."
The folks at Baen reply:
No, Jason, we thank YOU.
Thank you for your service to our country, too.
Happy New Year.
I'm currently reading one of those Baen e-books.
It a subtle difference...
Monday, January 02, 2006
Over the top anti-civil rights bias
Alphecca points out an example in the Wausau Daily Herald (WI):
Happy new year! Have a gun!
That's the Wisconsin Legislature's gift to citizens of this state. Members hope this will be the year they can ram through a bill that would allow residents to carry hidden pistols, stun guns and other weapons.
Gov. Jim Doyle has said he will veto the bill, as he did the last attempt to pass this reckless and dangerous law. This time, though, the Republican majority says it has lured enough Democrats with last-minute amendments that they can override a veto.
Heaven help us.
Alphecca correctly points out:
Well actually, allowing law-abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons is a far more reliable means of self-defense than relying on someone in Heaven to come to your aid...
Go read the whole thing.
Tin foil...it's not just for hats anymore...
Here are the instructions to build a wallet out of duct tape and aluminum foil.
The stated reason is to block RFID signals. As the author points out, RFID tags are being to show up in things like his student ID.
On the alien front...
First, the KGB "Blue Folder" on UFO studies have been declassified.
Second, a Brit so goofy the British Green party booted him, tells us that:
...the Illuminati plot to take over the world is actually being carried out by a race of extraterrestrial reptiles in human form. They are described, literally, as being child-sacrificing, blood-drinking Satan-worshippers capable of changing their shape, whose ranks include George Bush, Bill and Hilary Clinton, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mum, Bob Hope and Kris Kristofferson, among others.
HT to Ace on the blood drinking lizardoids.
Hmmm...wasn't that a bad TV SciFi show back in the 80's?
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Investigating leaks against national security...
While Fitzmas was a bust for the loopy left, there is a leak under investigation that ia a much bigger threat to national security.
A step toward finally pulling out of that quagmire!
The war in Europe has been over since 1944. In late 2005, the US Air Force (which didn't even exist in 1944!) has closed down a major air base in Germany.
A couple of geek notes
I found this in the print copy of Wired. The GP2X, a $180 handheld gaming and media device that runs Linux, ships with an SDK and runs on AA batteries. It supports SD cards and USB 2.0. It plays MPEG-4 and DivX and displays multiple image formats.
In other news, Dawn Chmielewski is joining the LA Times as a multimedia reporter. She's a good tech reporter and hopefully will raise the overall level of journalist quality there.
Someone else's Quote of the Day
By way of Leslie Bates comes:
I knew I'd been living in Berkeley too long when I saw a sign that said 'Free firewood" and my first thought was "Who was Firewood and what did he do?'
-- John Berger
Cool stuff...
I'm an avid reader of SciFi & pulps. So, the Expansion of Phillip Jose Farmer's Wold Newton Universe is something I find cool.

subset: commoncrawl


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|My recent solo travel was in Myanmar last August.
Sure I get asked with this question a few times now, especially that I have been traveling alone more recently. I understand that there is that set of people in the opposite side of the spectrum, who don't exactly get solo travel. One good example is my boyfriend. When I asked him one time if he could travel alone, I immediately got a resounding "NO" as an answer. "What's the point?" he retorted like it was the most ridiculous idea in the world.
Of course, I don't hold judgment against these people because to each his own and I hope that they also reserve their judgment to those people, like me. Walang basagan ng trip. Yun lang. haha
So how am I able to travel alone?
1. I grew up in a small town.
I spent my first 11 years of my life in a rural area, where everyone knows each other albeit sometimes, all too well. However, it didn't hinder me to dream and to be eager in exploring what is out there, outside my familiar and comforting bubble.
I remember one time that conversation I had with my classmates back in primary school about a certain older girl who was able to go to the city alone. Our town is about 3-hour travel by bus to the city so, that was already a major feat for the little boys and girls. With big confidence, I told them "Hey, I can do that too!" I never had any inkling that time, I could go beyond other cities, let alone other countries.
2. I am making most out of my present circumstance.
|Exploring the Hamarikyu Gardens in Tokyo
Back in 2009, I was in Japan for training in my previous company. I was there for almost 6 months and almost always, I had weekend plans even it meant getting tan lines in the process. I am talking about wristwatch-kind-of tan line and I blame you Japanese summer. But when I think about those times now, I am happy that I couldn't think of regrets. It was just epic.
Presently, I live in a different country for almost 4 years now, and like in Japan, I am definitely making most of my time while I am here. Singapore has been a good base for travel for me. It has one of the best connections to Asia and the rest of the world. Getting tourist visas is also much easier for me since all countries that I want to visit, have their embassies or consulates here and they are all a taxi away. Back in Cebu however, I may likely fly to Manila or use travel agencies and for an ordinary person like me, it might be an arduous process.
3. I decide on impulse, most of the time.
|Felt stuck for far too long, booking a weekend flight to Penang, Malaysia resolved the uneasiness.
My impulse is a dominant influence in my decisions, perhaps because I don't have that much bigger responsibilities in my life now. I understand that people in my age, are now in a different stage in their lives, like my friends having their own families, with some have even two kids in their brood. In other words, we all now have different responsibilities and everyone of us has our own choice in life. That goes to say, I have already accepted the fact that I can't drag people that easily to follow my impulse, except maybe my boyfriend who lives far away from me. So in the end at times, it's just me, myself, and I.
4. I am comfortable being with myself.
|I have no idea what I was trying to do here in the Tower of London.
I am that type of person who only keeps a small circle of dear friends so, I am never the extrovert one. Yes, I can be easy going to those people I get the drift and I am comfortable with. But at the same time, I can be alone just fine. And you know, some people can all have the issues in the world and sometimes, these people are hard to please. While for me, I can be just as content prancing to my own beat (see above photo) and just sit, observing people.
5. I am not good in dealing other people's issues.
|Because I could just easily put my camera on top of almost anything in a temple in Bagan.
When I travel, it is a conscious decision for me not to compare and not to complain. Sure there are hiccups along the way and difficult situations that are unavoidable but it is another thing to act as if it's already the end of the world because of such circumstance.
Like my recent exploration of the temples in Bagan, Myanmar, it was very challenging to say the least. I biked on dirt roads with potholes and puddles and to top it all off, it was scorching hot! I was even afraid to get close to other people because I could already smell myself and it was that bad. Ewww Good thing, it won't come through the photos. haha Thinking about it now, I only have a handful of people in my mind, who could go through that situation with me. Yes, it includes my boyfriend but I can also imagine his grumbles for sure. However at the end of the day, I know both of us can just laugh it off and charge it to experience to never do it again. haha
6. I can arrange my travel plans by myself.
|One of the only three references for Myanmar, in a public library in Singapore.
As the country begins to open to the world, I am hoping for more references in the near future.
I work in an office, which involves staring at my computer monitor throughout the day. It might be a distressing daily routine to other people but I can easily get by, by daydreaming of what's out there. The excitement in planning a future travel, then comes naturally.
7. It's not lonely, trust me. You'll meet new friends!
|My young guides in exploring the Korean palaces.
When I travel alone, I notice that it's easier to talk to the locals and strike a conversation with other people, who may be in the same tour as me. I used to be very shy as a child and having able to do this now, is something that I am proud of growing up.
Traveling alone is not something I suggest to people because we all have our own thing. But if you can try it, it will be a different experience (Whether good or bad, it's really on you.) and I hope you can also feel that it's rewarding in a whole new different level.


text:
Now that I am officially 10 weeks into my fitness regime, there are a few more things that I'm discovering. First and foremost? I still do NOT like running. I've been doing it 3 times a week for 10 weeks and am almost done with my Couch to 5K training. I will be doing a 5K in May with my sister, but for as much as I tried and wanted to love it, I still dislike running. But. Disliking it doesn't necessarily mean I'll quit doing it. That's still yet to be determined.
Secondly? I still love my sweets. If anybody knows a way to not like them, I'd love to hear it. Anway. Here are a few things I LOVE about working out.
I posted this photo on Instagram on Sunday. This dress I wore on my wedding day (for the luncheon). It doesn't fit the same now as it did then, but the fact that I can get it on and get away with wearing it is a huge step in the right direction!
1. I love that I am setting a good example for my children. They know that every morning, I am going to be exercising. Sometimes they do it with me. Sometimes I find them doing it on their own. They know that exercise makes you healthy and strong and it is a frequent discussion in my house.
(Side note? My 3 year old son likes to step on my bathroom scale every time he's in my bathroom. And he always has a response to his "weigh-in". Sometimes he'll cheer and do a little happy dance, other times it's a disgruntled growl. Hehehe!! They really do watch every single thing you do! :) )
2. I love the girl bonding time I get with working out. I love my workout buddies! I love the fun girl time, the chatting and the motivation they give me. I fear for the day when I no longer have my "sweat buddies" to cheer me on.
3. I love that I feel stronger. I still don't really look that different (well, except for my calves. I can totally tell a difference in my calves. But you know what? I could care less about my calves...), but I totally feel different. I feel stronger. I feel healthier. I love it.
4. I love accomplishing my goals. Most of the time, they are only significant to me. But I love when I can cross a "huge" milestone of my list. An example. For the last few weeks, I have been trying so hard to get my 3.1 miles done within 36 minutes. I finally accomplished that goal this week. Not that big of a deal to anybody else, but a HUGE deal to me.
5. Last but not least? I LOVE watching the scale go down and the numbers on the measuring tape getting smaller. From the time I stepped on the scale checking into the hospital to have my baby girl on October 8 until today, I have lost a grand total of 36 pounds. Granted. 30 of those pounds were just from this last pregnancy. However, 6 of those pounds were from Baby Numero Uno. I'm glad to see them gone!
If you are just starting your weight loss journey, or are discouraged and feeling like it's not worth it. Stick to it! It does take a long time. It is super hard. But it is worth it!!
Need another fitness pal? Come join me on MyFitnessPal! I can always use more people to hold me accountable!


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Because the eternal birth is always happening.../
Advent is for waiting, but I hardly know what to do with that concept. I've lived my life celebrating Christmas during this season actually known as Advent. I don't know how to spend the month of December solemnly waiting. I love my stockings hung by the chimney with care all month long! I love the Christmas tree sparkling..as soon as the Thanksgiving leftovers have been consumed. I like singing all the Christmas songs, not just "O Come O Come Emmanuel." I'm a girl of my culture. But the Church calendar always pulls us out of culture and places us in a secret world of quiet, a place where our souls can receive during this season. The Christmas season of December is loud and full of parties and music and stressful shopping deadlines. But the Advent season is the opposite of my usual December: It's quiet, it's contemplative, it's patient. How can we live in both at the same time?
I don't know about you, but I can't remove myself from the Crazy of Christmastime during this season. Our culture has demanded this time of us. That's why my soul needs to learn the slowness found only outside of time, where God is.
The first time C.S. Lewis ever blew my mind was when, as a nineteen-year-old, I read his suggestion that God is not bound by time; and more than that, he is the boundary for time: "If you picture time as a straight line along which we have to travel, then you must picture God as a whole page on which the line is drawn" (Mere Christianity).
God is not bound by my calendar. God is not frustrated with the lack of hours in a day. God is not stuck in December in all of this materialistic madness. He's not frantically searching for a babysitter for the office party or up late addressing envelopes.
Do you know what that means? We are called to wait because our waiting is real. Because God is both here in 2011 and there in the stable, ushering the angels to their performance above the hill of sheep and shepherds, ordering the star over Bethlehem to burn with frenzy above his son's newly exposed flesh.
If God is not bound by time, then he is here with us and there with Mary and Joseph. He is both celebrating the birth of our Rescuer and at work restoring us because we have been rescued.
That means the waiting is not merely symbolic. The waiting is real.
This is what my Advent reading said last week: ''Here in time we make holiday because the eternal birth which God the father bore and bears unceasingly in eternity is now born in time, in human nature. Saint Augustine says this birth is always happening. But if it does not happen in me, what does it profit me? What matters is that it shall happen in me" (Meister Eckhart, "Where God Enters"*).
This birth is always happening. Jesus is always being born to the shouts of angels and I am always invited to wait with Mary for the coming of our Savior.
Here in time we make holiday because the eternal birth...is always happening.
May that be our reason to stop in the madness of the season and breathe deep the Advent. May we wait with joy and longing and great hope.


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Greetings from Southwest Florida,
This week's images are a continuation from last week when Michele and I spent 4 days in central Florida photographing. This first image is from Hillsboro State Park. If the palm trees weren't all around, I would have thought I was back in the Smokey Mountains. Seeing running water like this was a treat for sure. The other images were from Lake Wales at Bok Tower Botanical gardens. Bok Tower is a magnificent place with lots of mature landscaping. I think it is one of the best botanical gardens we have ever seen. There were lots of Monarch butterflies to see in the gardens, presumably making their winter pilgrimage to warmer climates of Mexico. We had a great time in that part of the state and we look forward to sharing more images in the weeks ahead.
I hope you enjoy this week's photos.
Have a blessed week.


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What a difference a year can make.
The Class of 2016 was known as the year of the point guard with Lonzo Ball, Dennis Smith Jr., Markelle Fultz, De'Aaron Fox and Frank Jackson all capable of finding immediate stardom on some of the biggest stages in college basketball next season.
The 2017 point guard class is quite different. In fact, there is only one point guard, Trevon Duval, ranked among the top 19 players in the ESPN 100. Trae Young and Matt Coleman both currently hold five-star status, but aren't on the same level as their aforementioned predecessors from 2016.
There are only eight point guards still available in the ESPN 60 and the majority of them find themselves on the second half of the list.
The lack of depth and star power at arguably the most important position on the floor presents an interesting predicament for college coaches. Consequently, programs such as UCLA, Florida, Auburn, Michigan and Pittsburgh have all landed early pledges from four-star prospects.
With many of those second-tier point guards flying off the board, stakes have gotten even higher at the top where Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, Arizona, Indiana, Louisville, Villanova, Syracuse and numerous others remain in the market for an immediate impact point guard in their 2017 class.


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Dierks Bentley Rolls Out 'Black' Bus to Sample New Music
Dierks Bentley can't wait for people to hear his new record, Black, so he's not waiting until its release date. Some diehard fans will get to hear the album before anyone else in the star's Black Listening Bus, which will follow Bentley to a handful of his upcoming tour dates.
Fans who are Black Card Members will get exclusive immediate access to the bus, which will be parked at the concert location, putting them on the front lines to experience the personal songs Bentley's been working on.
"The anticipation around the new music and tour is killing me," shares Bentley in a news release. "We're bringing out a Black bus for the hardcore fans who have supported me for so long … I wanted to make sure they had the first chance to hear the record. I can't wait to jump up on there with them at some of these first shows and hear what they think!"
Bentley's Black bus has already rolled through Holmdel, N.J.; Pittsburgh, Penn. and Camden, N.J.. It will hit Cleveland, Ohio; Chicago; Detroit and Baton Rouge next. Check out the list of dates below for more details.
The artist's first single from Black, "Somewhere on a Beach," has hit No. 1 and been certified gold by the RIAA already, boding well for the rest of the album. Bentley says Black is "mysterious and sexy," filled with a range of emotions from ballads of heartbreak to love songs, but all are true to himself.
"It's a relationship album," he explains, "and to do it right, I had to dig deep as a writer, dig into the Nashville songwriting community, and record songs that explore the shadows and edges of the heart."
Black will release May 27, just in time for Bentley's Somewhere on a Beach Bash, which he's hosting over Memorial Day weekend in Panama City Beach, Fla.
Dierks Bentley's Black Listening Bus Tour Dates:
5/20 - Cleveland, Ohio @ Blossom Music Center
5/21 - Chicago, Ill. @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
5/22 - Detroit, Mich. @ DTE Energy Music Theatre
5/27- 5/29 - Baton Rouge, La. @ Bayou Country Fest
See Pictures From Dierks Bentley's Country Music Hall of Fame Exhibit
You Think You Know Dierks Bentley?


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Well today, is my first post for The Stamping Chef. Every (fingers crossed) Tuesday I will be bringing you one of that weeks new releases. This week there are five new images & they are all fantastic! You can find them here!
Fabulous image Shell love your card! Susan x
Fabulous card Shell. I love the image and beautiful colouring
hugs Sue xx
Beautiful, love the vibrant colouring.
{Doing Life – my personal blog}
Oh Wow! this is gorgeous Shell… what a wonderful image and your colouring is fab!! I love the pretty paper and the leaf border is perfect !!
Hope you are well hun!
Big hugs
Sue xx
so stunning shell.fabulous fantasty image and i love your colours :D
xx coops xx
So cute. Thanks for joining us this week at Craft Your Passion for our "Well Read" challenge.
Fabby Card again, Love those new pencils, Love Me xoxo
Fantastic card, love the beautifully coloured image. Thanks for joining us for the Crafty Bloggers Network Challenge.
Sylv xx
What a fabulous bright and vibrant card.
Thank you for using my sketch and joining us at Sunday, Sketch & Stamp this week
Claire x
(DT member)
Gorgeously bright colours. Thankyou for joining us this month at Crafty Bloggers Network.
Geraldine M


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I've got a confession to make: since getting our dog Lawrence in November 2017, the relationship between Mo and I has suffered. This is a little tough to admit because I don't want to be a failure as a dog mom or as a dog trainer in training.
When we first brought Mo home, Mo and my husband bonded quite quickly, but it took a few months for Mo and I to really connect. However, once we connected, that bond was strong. I could anticipate his needs, he was reading my emotions and body language, we were making strides with training, and he was happy.
Adding the Larry to the mix has disrupted Mo's only child status. Mo has always been wary of his personal space, but there has been an obvious increase in Mo's sensitivity to touch and stress levels. When you first bring a new dog home, you hope that it's all going to be okay, but it's not always rainbows. I've had to take a hard look at the needs of each dog to figure out how to make sure everyone is happy and comfortable.
Relationship Bank Account
I'm looking at Mo and I's relationship and we are definitely not as connected. Sean Covey, the author of 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, talks about a concept called the relationship bank account and it's a great way to visualize how trust in relationships works. It's used mainly for humans, but it's also a great idea to apply to dogs too!
Here it is: imagine a piggy bank, actually let's make it a doggie shaped bank. That bank represents the relationship between you and your dog. Currently, it's empty, so your dog may not have a bond with you. Maybe you don't get a lot of eye contact or the dog doesn't seem too interested in hanging out with you.
Pay Day
The good news is, you can make deposits into that account and build trust and a bond. Here are a few ways to make deposits:
- Tug of war
- Fetch
- A walk
- Your full attention
- Positive training
- Allowing possession
- Pets
- Directing them away from a potentially bad situation
You might notice after making some deposits, that you have a better relationship with your dog. They might seek you out, initiate a snuggle, bring you their favorite toy, be more responsive in training, etc. because you are building a relationship.
At the office you don't go the extra mile for a new boss you don't have a relationship with and you don't bring flowers to the cashier at the grocery store you don't have a bond with. Until you start adding to the bank account, you are "in neutral" with that person.
Bad Day
On the other side, you can make withdraws. This can sometimes happen by mistake and that's okay, but make sure that the bank account is full before a withdraw. When you withdraw from an empty account, you get a credit and this can cause serious trust issues and relationship damage. You may notice that your dog is avoiding you or that their training isn't progressing. Here are a few ways to make a withdraw:
- Yelling at your dog
- Hitting
- Not providing enriching activities
- Putting them in unsafe environments
Trust me, we've all been there. With a reactive dog, the barking can get so annoying and on a bad day, it's so easy to yell. Or a puppy chews on your new shoe and you lose your cool. These are moments to learn from. Take a step back, leave the house, do some yoga, stop training. There is no point in continuing in that moment, because you'll only do more damage and stress yourself out more. If I have a training session planned with Mo after work, but work was rough, I'll skip it. I know it's better to not push and have a calm evening with no training, than have a frustrating and potentially damaging session.
This happens to our human relationships too! If a spouse lies or a friend forgets your birthday, those things are withdraws from the bank account and your relationship suffers. It's always best to have some deposits in the account for cushion.
Awesome Article Roundup
I've compiled a list of articles about the relationship with your dog. Whatever point you are at, you just got a new dog, have a suffered serious relationship withdraw, or you want to maintain the great relationship you have, the links below have some great ideas and resources for you. And if you have any ideas or links about relationships and your dog, please share in the comments!
1. 9 Ways to Improve your Relationship with your Dog from BARk
Super simple relationship builders to incorporate in everyday life. Nothing out the ordinary, but these things can make a huge impact!
2. 5 Ways to Building a Better Relationship with your Dog from Dogington Post
Great tips for maintaining a good relationship during dog training. Expecting too much from our dogs or getting frustrated with them during training can be a withdraw from the bank account!
3. How to Improve the Bond with your Dog from Modern Dog Magazine
A little history on the relationship between dogs and humans. Also, tips to improve the bond and a quiz to see where you and your furry friend sit!
4. 16 Ways to Bond with your Dog from BuzzFeed
A lighthearted article with some easy to do ideas and lots of adorable pictures.
5. 6 Ways to Connect with your Dog on a Deeper Level from Dogtime.com
A couple more suggestions to take it to the next level.
6. How Dogs Stole our Hearts from Science Magazine
A scientific look into why dogs and humans can have such a strong bond. This might explain why they might have become domesticated in the first place.
7. Health and Psychological Benefits of Bonding with a Pet Dog from Psychology Today
Read about all the ways a bond between a human and a dog can benefit the human. Plus an interesting story about Colonel Deems and his dog Riley. I'll probably be looking that one up later!
8. Dogs are People, too from The New York Times
Science shows us that dogs have emotions. That means if they're feeling things, a relationship without trust or affection could be affecting their mental health!
9. 6 Simple Ways to Help Your Dog's Mental Health from PawCulture
Here are some ways we can help their mental health. Providing a well rounded life to our pups is really important!
Hope for a Happy Ending
In my situation, bringing Larry into our family took my attention away from Mo and that was a major withdraw for Mo. Now I make it a point to spend some alone time with Mo. We'll take a walk together, do training separately, or we'll go to another room and he'll chew a bone by my side. We might not get back to where we were, but that's okay because relationships grow and change, so maybe we'll be somewhere better.


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Dimensional Metrology
AEP is the world leader in surface metrology and technology innovation. From its inception it has developed cutting edge instruments to aid researchers and users. As the pioneers of innovation in hi tech engineering, it has grown steadily in worldwide markets. Currently it has offices in America, Asia and Europe.
In addition to manufacturing optical profiler, interferometer and contact profilometer AEP also produces ex-situ and in-situ stress monitors for thin film deposition processes. Please contact us for any questions. Our team of scientists from silicon valley are always excited to answer your questions and help solve your problems.
Step heights measurement
Surface Roughness measurement
Quantify scratch and dig features, wear depth, width and volume
Flatness or curvature measurement
2D thin film stress measurement
Film thickness
Surface Profiling – defect, features etc. depth, width and volume
Wear Lubricity
Creep Cracks
We design and manufacture high accuracy Laser Micrometers and Laser Gauges for non-contact diameter measurement and control.
Aeroel is a dynamic and flexible firm, prepared to meet the challenges required for the development of new ideas and concepts: their young staff are specialised in the design and manufacturing of Laser Systems for Diameter Measurement and Control.
The use of laser light has made it possible to develop instruments for high precision measurements in the factory, on-line and on the bench. Innovative technical solutions, secured by patents, have enabled us to make gauges which are insensitive to variations in temperature, vibration, product movement, dust and other environmental conditions which would normally influence the measurement results in the production environment.
Angstrom Sun Technologies Inc. is a privately held company, headquartered in Boston, USA. The focus of company is to provide a series of cost-effective optical solutions for characterizing thin film thickness, thick coating thickness, their optical properties (refractive index N and extinction coefficient K), surface and interface behavior, alloy concentrations and their uniformities across surface.
Affordable, low cost, but advanced and high performance tools, including spectroscopic reflectometer, microspectrophotometer, microreflectometer, film thickness mapping system, simple desktop film thickness station, and automatic variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometers, offer a way to probe film stacks nondestructively and precisely. In addition, Angstrom Sun Technologies Inc. also delivers advanced analytical services for characterizing thin films, thick coatings and complicated layer stacks.
Angstrom Sun Technologies Inc. designs and manufactures all TFProbe tools in a facility located in Boston, USA. TFProbe tools are sold and distributed by international sales networks.
With performance and professional support as our mission, Angstrom has established a worldwide customer base since 2002, including well-known education institutions, government agencies and Fortune 500 companies, such as NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Seoul National University, NanoTech Center (CESTM) at SUNY, Columbia University, Hewlett-Packard Co., Lockheed Martin Co., General Electric (GE), Corning Inc., Bell Laboratories, Johnson-Johnson, Mylan Technologies, Applied Materials (AMAT), Lam Research, Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology(SAIT), and MIT Lincoln Laboratory.
Spectroscopic Reflectometers
Spectroscopic Ellipsometers
Thin Film Mapping Systems
Integrated In-line Metrology
TFProbe Software
Compression Presses
Anton Paar TriTec SA (previously CSM Instruments) has been leader in the development of instruments for surface mechanical properties characterization for over 30 years in both research and industrial fields.
CSM Instruments develops, manufactures and sells instruments to characterize mechanical properties of surfaces. We have been the world leader in this market for more than 30 years, first under the name of LSRH then CSEM.
CSM Instruments provides equipment that allows the mechanical characterization of a wide range of surfaces and bulk materials. Adhesion of paints, optical thin films or hard coatings can be defined using one of our Scratch Testers. These span the nano to the macro range to analyze the widest range of materials. Dynamic testing measurements can be performed to define not only the hardness of the material, but also to evaluate the plastic and elastic deformation, the elasticity module, creep and much more. For wear testing we offer the Tribometer, based on the pin-on-disc principle that operates both in the Micro and Nano regime; to record the frictional coefficient and measure the wear volume. Other equipment measures film thickness. Additionally, CSM provides three dimensional viewing capabilities of sample surfaces under most testing regimes.
Indentation Testers
Scratch Test
Coating Thickness by Calotest
3D Imaging
When a small machine shop opened on Ash Street in Waltham, MA in 1896, nobody could have known it would grow into a leading force in the manufacture of precision measuring instruments used around the world.
Products include
Dial and Digital Micrometers.
Hundreds of models are available in English and Metric for precision measurements in standard or unique applications. All Ames micrometers are ruggedly built, easy to read, and may be fitted with a variety of contacts and anvils.
Numerous English and Metric Bench Comparator models capable of providing precision measurements through a broad range of thicknesses. Many optional attachments are available and all indicators are interchangeable on all comparators.
Bore Gages.
A unique, modular design bore gaging system of precisely fitted, quickly interchangeable components for large bore, blind hole, and split ball gaging. Special probes may be ordered for unusual applications. English and Metric models are available.
List of Catalogs.
If you are in need of a Catalog not listed, or more information about a specific catalog, please email us at email@example.com
If you would like more information on our product line, or you have questions, please email us at email@example.com
Baugh & Weedon is a leading manufacturer of Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI) Benches and Liquid Penetrant Inspection (LPI) Penetrant Lines. Baugh & Weedon can also provide MT accessories including UV Lamps, dual UV and white light Inspection Lamps (Lumazon) and our dual UV and White Light Meter (LumaCheck) as well as a full range of MPI and LPI chemicals from Pfinder Chemie. You name it, we have it for all your Magnetic Particle Inspection and Liquid Penetrant Inspection needs.
Baugh & Weedon also have a wide range of Ultrasonic (UT) Thickness Gauges, EMAT Flaw Detectors, UT Flaw Detectors, Ultrasonic Wall Crawlers, Hollow Rail Axle Inspection Sytems, UT Immersion Tanks, Eddy Current (ECT) Sorting Bridges, Gamma Ray and X Ray Pipeline Crawlers.
Established in 1967, Baugh & Weedon has a long history of supplying the NDT industry with high quality products and services. Based in the UK and with a wealth of industry knowledge, we strive to be client focussed at all times, working with you to find the right solution for your NDT needs.
Products by Methods
Magnetic Particle Inspection MPI
Liquid Penetrant Inspection LPI
Ultrasonics UT
Magnetic Flux Leakage MFL
Beijing TIME High Technology Company is a testing instrument manufacturer, located in China. Our company is a wholly owned subsidiary of TIME Group Inc., founded in 1984. We have a long history of manufacturing portable hardness testers. In fact, we produced the first Leeb hardness tester in China. As a result of our focus on expanding our product range, we are now able to provide a wide range of products to perform many material test, measurement, and quality control tasks, including our portable hardness tester, surface roughness tester, ultrasonic thickness tester, and coating thickness tester. In addition, other products such as the ultrasonic flaw detector, X-ray generator, and concrete testing gauge are also available.
Product Categories:
Portable Hardness Tester: Leeb Hardness Tester, Shore Durometer, Ultrasonic Hardness Tester
Roughness Tester
Ultrasonic Thickness Gauge
Coating Thickness Gauge
Vibration Tester
Ultrasonic Flaw Detector
Bench Hardness Tester: Vickers Hardness Tester, Rockwell Hardness Tester, Brinell Hardness Tester
Concrete Testing Gauge
CIANFLONE SCIENTIFIC LLC is the world Headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA for the manufacture of laboratory/portable x-ray spectrographs for on-site chemical analysis and coating thickness measurements. Also available is the related Laboratory sample preparation equipment.
We have supplied our products globally for decades and we continue our promise to our customers to help solve their analytical needs.
Products include:
WDXRF Instruments
Sample Preparation
Parts & Accssories
CRAIC Technologies manufactures superior microspectrophotometers for science and industrial applications. We specialize in the UV, visible and NIR regions and pride ourselves in making the finest tools for the finest minds.
Since CRAIC's founding, our mission has been to become the leading provider of superior quality optical tools and superior support for the customers who use those tools. We manufacture the best quality microspectrophotometers and UV-visible-NIR microscopes and Raman microspectrometers bar none.
Since its inception, CRAIC has specialized in optical tools for the ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared regions. Products include microspectrophotometers (also known as microspectrometers or microscope spectrometers) that is able to take spectra of samples smaller than a micron. CRAIC has also designed and built UV-visible-NIR range microscopes. Full spectral range fluorescence, transmission, and reflectance spectra and images can be acquired from any microscopic sample non-destructively and without contact with these tools. CRAIC manufactures both scientific grade systems in addition to specialized systems for industries such as semiconductor inspection and pharmaceutical metrology. CRAIC also makes NIST Traceable Standards, the only ones in the world specifically designed for microspectrophotometers, and specialized software packages.
CRAIC specializes in the following micro-analytical techniques: UV-Visible-NIR microspectroscopy, UV-visible-NIR microscopy, Color microspectroscopy, Transmission microspectroscopy & microscopy, Reflectance microspectroscopy & microscopy, Fluorescence microspectroscopy & microscopy, Polarization microspectroscopy & microscopy, Raman microspectroscopy, Film thickness measurements, Spectral modelling.
CRAIC has more experience designing, developing, manufacturing and installing microspectrophotometers than anyone. CRAIC is committed to maintaining the highest level excellence for ist' products and service.
Microscope Spectrometer
UV-Vis-NIR Microscope
Raman Microspectrometer
Reflectance of Coal
Microspectrometer Standards
CRAIC Software
Refractive Index of Glass Fragments
DEK-TRON Scientific Instruments is A Specialty Testing Instruments Company whose business and dedication is to the Testing Instruments Business for Materials Testing and Research. DEK-TRON commitment and goal is the constant upgrade and the change for better and more reliable instruments day by day. DEK-TRON's commitment to service its customers promptly and with courtesy it's the ultimate goal. A wide range of Standard Apparatus as well as Custom Engineered Testing Instruments are offered for: Paper, Plastics, Wire, Cable, Textiles, Leather, Paints, Lattices
Brittleness Tester
Bulk Density Testing Apparatus
Flammability Test Chamber
Free Falling Dart Impact Tester
Heat Deflection Tester
Indentation Tester
Latex Mechanical Stability Tester
Melt Flow Index Tester
Pilling Tester
Thickness Tester
Random Tumble Pilling Tester
Score Bend Quality Tester
Shrink Tension Tester
Side Angle Tester
ZDT Tester


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"When I'm working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong."
-- Buckminster Fuller
June 07, 2007 - 12:45:53 PM
"When I'm working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong."
-- Buckminster Fuller
Sustainability Laboratories
February 16, 2009 - 04:32:49 PM
Green Map
January 03, 2008 - 12:09:15 PM
Buckminster Fuller Institiute
September 29, 2014 - 10:47:52 AM
September 30, 2007 - 05:07:25 PM
January 03, 2008 - 12:13:25 PM
12 Degrees of Freedom
February 10, 2009 - 09:14:08 PM
The Elumenati
February 16, 2009 - 03:19:22 PM
The Solutions Journal
November 15, 2009 - 06:55:23 PM
April 01, 2008 - 01:51:22 PM
Hardin Tibbs
September 23, 2009 - 09:28:46 PM
Capital Institute - The Future of Finance
November 17, 2011 - 11:24:44 PM
Capital Institute - The Future of Finance
MIT Technology Review - Energy
Science Daily Bidoversity and Extinction News
Earth Atmosphere Exceeds 400 ppm of Co2
May 25, 2013 - 10:24:43 PM
Source: SustainableBusiness.com
Concentrations of carbon dioxide in the global atmosphere could rise above 400 parts per million (ppm) for sustained lengths of time throughout much of the Northern Hemisphere as soon as mid-May.
Today, measurements at the Hawaii station show concentrations of 399.50 ppm ... pretty darn close to 400, according to scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at University of California/ San Diego.
If you'll remember, 350 ppm is the level the entire world has agreed not to exceed because that's when feedback loops and uncontrollable climate change is likely to kick in (as we've begun to see with vastly more wildfires, droughts, floods and storms).
"I wish it weren't true, but it looks like the world is going to blow through the 400-ppm level without losing a beat," says Ralph Keeling, whose has taken over for his father who created the "Keeling Curve" to track daily carbon levels.
It's hard to comprehend, but last time there was 400 ppm of carbon in the atmosphere was 3.2 million to 5 million years ago, during the Pliocene period.
Carbon levels reached about 415 ppm during the Pliocene, with global average temperatures 3-4 degrees C (5.4-7.2 degrees F) higher than today and as much as 10 degrees C (18 degrees F) warmer at the poles. Sea level ranged between 16-131 feet higher than today, according to Scripps.
"At this pace we'll hit 450 ppm within a few decades," warns Keeling.
Prior to the Industrial Revolution carbon levels were 280 ppm and rose gradually to 316 ppm by 1958 when Keeling's father began daily measurements. The rate of rise of CO2 over the past century is unprecedented; there is no known period in geologic history when such high rates have been found. The continuous rise is a direct consequence of society's heavy reliance on fossil fuels for energy, Keeling says.
You can track daily levels of carbon here or on Twitter.
Website: http://keelingcurve.ucsd.edu/
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Meet Orleans Avenue - Adopted
Barn Name: Orleans
Date of Birth: February 4, 2013
Gender: Gelding
Height: 16hh
Sire: Stormy Atlantic
Dam: Tax Refund by Artax
Race Record: 6-0-0-1
Earnings: $5,650
Date of Last Race: 2/19/17
*Eligible for the 2018 Thoroughbred Makeover
About Orleans
Orleans Avenue, a 16hh, 2013 gelding by Stormy Atlantic out of Tax Refund by Artax, is as full of possibilities as a brand new notebook on the first day of school. He has balance, conformation, and clean legs, and he's extremely attractive to look at. Orleans has an impossibly endearing face with a star, skinny stripe, and a big kissing spot (aka a snip) on his muzzle, and he looks out at the world with great big earnest and innocent eyes that will stop you in your tracks. But the best thing above and beyond all this is his mind and his temperament. Orleans is very new in our reschooling process, but he's taking to his lessons like a boy scout, with keen interest and calm behavior. It's hard to say at this early stage in the game where he will excel, but it's absolutely certain that this horse won't be at the MMSC for long!


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Due to this week's severe drop in temperature and constant dusting of snow on Colorado's Front Range, the non-profit organization Attention Homes has received several inquiries as to whether or not they will still hold their fund raising event tonight. Leaving one to wonder: Must they cancel an ill-timed dinner? Nope. Attention Homes is as bold – as an organization advocating for homeless and displaced youth should be- which is why they firmly responded to those inquiries with, "we will not cancel the event for any reason." So the scheduled Sleep Out, yes, sleep out, is on. Tonight many of us who take our warm, cozy homes for granted are helping to raise money for the organization by willingly sleeping out in temperatures that are predicted to dip down below 10 degrees.
For Attention Homes that makes their point: Boulder's homeless youth population sleeping out in near freezing weather isn't a choice, it is their only option.
Attention Homes has an impressive history. The organization, which is closing in on its 50th anniversary, pioneered a model for over 200 youth shelters established both in the U.S. and internationally. In its own words the organization "provides opportunities for at-risk youth to change their lives," through resources that support effective independent living for a young person. As tonight's activities should demonstrate, sometimes that resource is something as simple as a roof over one's head. For the homeless youth living in Boulder County going it alone without a safe home can lead to, at its very worst, sexual coercion and human trafficking. Attention Home's work is critical. To get a sense of the interventions that the organization undertakes with its clients scroll through their Facebook page. There you'll view photos of missing local youth interspersed with studies from an Attention Homes photography class. Both are stunning examples of the hope that Attention Homes offers to nearly 800 young people who deserve to thrive.
Please join us in supporting Attention Homes this season through their Giving Thanks event and drop off an item for a Thanksgiving meal that will be provided to Boulder's homeless youth on November 27. It's not much, a bag of peas, a can of cranberry jelly, but it could help a young person to feel warm during this chilly season.


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These mood-boosting books were suggested by Reading Hack groups, young library volunteers and visitors to the Southbank's 2016 YA Weekender. The final list was decided by young people from Shoreditch Library.
Mood-boosting Books
Reading Well Mood-boosting Books is a national promotion of uplifting titles, including novels, poetry and non-fiction. The books are all recommended by readers and reading groups.


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Do you like taking ideas and making them happen? Do you like building the infrastructure and setting up systems to make those things happen?
We're looking for a highly motivated, experienced, and passionate systems development geek who wants to work with an innovative, international award winning social venture, Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE), to change the world! This position is a full or part-time volunteer position working in NYC (or potentially remotely) for 10 weeks.
Do you want to spend the next 10 weeks...
• Optimizing our new development software and bring it up to speed and ready to launch?
• Implementing a new more efficient email system?
• Transferring our email marketing system to a new and system?
• Implementing new payment online systems on the website?
• Researching "cloud" operational strategies that create efficient working systems?
• Making recommendations to the SHE team on what works and what doesn't? and providing a game plan for how to implement an efficient systems strategy as SHE takes off?
• Having a blast being a part of a kick-ass team and learning about the nuts and bolts of running a start-up social venture doing ground-breaking work?
Do you have experience and/or skills...
• Creating and/or utilizing systems so that individuals/organizations/teams can work more efficiently?
• Researching systems best practices and applying them to your work?
• Navigating all older and newer systems (email, database, etc)?
• Working independently, instigating, and taking the "pad" and running with it?
If you answered YES to these questions, please send resume and cover letter in an email with "Systems Development Geek" in the email heading to email@example.com by midnight, June 6th.
About Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE): www.SHEinnovates.com
Sustainable Health Enterprises (SHE) is a social venture using market-based approaches to address social problems in developing countries. Its first initiative is addressing girls' and women's lack of access to affordable sanitary pads when they menstruate causing them to miss school and/or work--up to 50 days per year. SHE is helping women start up their own businesses to distribute and eventually manufacture affordable and eco-friendly sanitary pads made of local materials (e.g., banana fibers). Echoing Green, one of the premier seed funders of social enterprises, named SHE 1 of the 20 most innovative social ventures worldwide (out of 1,500 applicants), Harvard Business School named SHE founder, Elizabeth Scharpf, its first Social Enterprise Fellow, President Clinton recognized Elizabeth Scharpf at the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative, and Nicholas Kristof featured SHE in the most emailed Dec 2009 NYTimes article as one of a handful of innovative and meaningful organizations.


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70/30 Plan for Non-Medicare Retirees
70/30 Plan Overview
The 70/30 Plan is a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plan administered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC). A PPO plan offers freedom of choice among in-network providers and lower out-of-pocket costs (copay only for most in-network office visits).
Affordable Care Act preventive services and medications will require the applicable copay under this plan.
70/30 Important Documents
- 2019 70/30 Benefits Booklet
- 2019 Comprehensive Formulary
- 2019 Plan Comparison Chart
- 2019 Uniform Summary of Coverage
70/30 Plan Rate Sheets
- 70/30 Plan for Non-Medicare Subscribers
- 70/30 Plan for 50% Contributory Non-Medicare Primary Subscribers
- 70/30 Plan for 100% Contributory Non-Medicare Primary Subscribers
Members indicated as 50% or 100% contributory notes the percentage of the premium for which they are responsible.
Medical Policies
Although your Benefits Booklet provides a good overview of what services and products are available to you under the PPO plans, the medical policies provide detailed information around the circumstances under which certain services and products are and are not covered. Medical policies can be found here on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield website*.
* If any of the State Health Plan medical policies conflict with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina medical policies, the State Health Plan medical policies will prevail.
Prior Authorization
Certain services require prior review and certification before they can be covered by your health insurance plan. Click here for more information.
If you disagree with the way a claim has been handled, you can request an appeal or grievance review. For the complete appeals process, please click here.


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Barry Jackson
Dolphins coach predicts Parker will be a "monster"
On a day when the entire focus was on Ryan Tannehill's knee injury, Dolphins offensive assistant coaches addressed myriad other issues:
• Receivers coach Shawn Jefferson predicts DeVante Parker is going to erupt.
"He'll be a monster," Jefferson said. "If he keeps progressing like we think he can, he'll be invited to the 'Monster Bowl' after the season is over. His name is not DeVante; he's a monster. So if he keeps performing like this he'll get invited to the Monster Bowl after the season is over. You guys have seen in the spring how DeVante, his maturation has been outstanding, and he's still progressing even through this training camp.
"Well I just think because when you see a guy like him with his talent, his movements, his lateral movement in his hips, and all (of those skills) like that, for a tall guy like that, DeVante has really loose hips. He runs well without the ball. So he has all of those things that you look for in a top-flight receiver. He has that ability to affect the game, i.e. L.A. Rams last year."
Jefferson agrees that the Parker/Jarvis Landry/Kenny Stills troika will be among the best in the league: "I would agree with that. We have three talented receivers and the good thing about it is that they work. They work and they're very smart too."
• Jefferson said receiver Jakeem Grant "has done well on the outside. He still plays both [boundary and slot]. It's just a thing that we wanted to see him outside because he has a lot of speed and with that speed, he can stretch the defense."
• Jefferson said of Leonte Carroo: "He's trimmed down and I think he's having a good camp. His mindset [is different]. I think last year coming in, it's hard for a guy when you've been in college and you've been the guy, and then you come here and then you have to take a step back. There was a little bit of an adjustment period for him there; but I think mentally, he knows how to handle that. I think mentally he knows his role now. I think he's trying to fit into his role."
• Jefferson said Kenny Stills is "a guy that I know is going to be in the right spot at the right time every single play." He said none of the undrafted receivers have "caught my eye."
• Running backs coach Danny Barrett believes Kenyan Drake could be an everydown back if Jay Ajayi misses multiple games.
He said Drake is "more reliable, more dependable, being where he's supposed to be – especially in our passing game – so the quarterbacks have a lot of confidence knowing that he's going to be where he's supposed to be. a lot of it is just paying attention to details. You make the rookie mistakes, you take things for granted, you don't finish a play here or there. Or just not being where you're supposed to be. I think he's overcome those things this offseason. He has done a great job of taking care of the little things, the detailed things we talked about. Our room is all about discipline and detail and he's done a good job of that this year."
• Quarterbacks coach Bo Hardegree on Brandon Doughty: "The best thing he's doing is he's really operating in and out of the huddle at the line of scrimmage with our protections, being able to … if a guy is in a wrong split, get him in the right split, and just situationally for young quarterbacks in this league, it's so important to understand when it's first down, when it's third down, when you're in the red zone, when to make a tight throw, when to throw the ball, live another down. So he's getting a lot better. I'm looking forward to watching him and David (Fales) play when we get to preseason."
• Offensive line coach Chris Foerster, on Laremy Tunsil's adjustment to his natural position, left tackle, after a year at guard: "Laremy is doing great. Missed a little last year by playing guard, but it helped him."
• Foerster suggested Mike Pouncey doesn't need a lot of work to be ready for the season: "He looks fine to me."
• I asked Foerster if rookie Isaac Asiata is pushing for a starting job. (It doesn't appear that way.)
"He's right in the mix with the backup guys to compete," Foerster said. "It's a full-on competition with he and Anthony Steen and Jake Brndel and Jesse Davis and Kraig Urbik. All of them are working their butts off to try and compete. He's right in the mix with those guys. These preseason games will tell a lot."
• Foerster on Ted Larsen, who left with what appeared to be an arm injury Thursday but remains (if healthy) the heavy front-runner to start at left guard: "The things we do with our offense, the system we run that coach Gase runs, he's a good fit for it. You say the things that you say, 'Hey, this guy really fits what we do. When he gets here, the things we ask him to do are the things he's good at. The things he maybe isn't as good at, we don't do as much. He's a good fit for us."


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Muhammad Yunus accepts Glasgow Caledonian University post
The founder of the pioneering Bangladeshi micro-lending Grameen Bank is to become the new Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University.
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus succeeds journalist, broadcaster and politician Lord Macdonald of Tradeston.
In March Prof Yunus announced details of a new charity, called the Grameen Scotland Foundation.
It aims to alleviate economic, health and social inequalities in some of Scotland's poorest communities.
Prof Yunus, 71, launched the Grameen Bank in the late 1970s to offer microcredit to the poor. The model has been copied in developing countries around the world.
He is often referred to as "the world's banker to the poor".
Last month, he stood down as the head of the Grameen Bank after a long-running row with the Bangladeshi government.
Authorities said he was over the legal retirement age, but supporters claimed his dismissal was politically motivated.
Prof Yunus has collaborated in the past with Glasgow Caledonian University.
In 2010, the university opened the Grameen Caledonian College of Nursing in Bangladesh to help bring nurse and midwifery training to an international standard.
Glasgow Caledonian later that year set up the Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, which researches the impact of microcredit on the health and well-being of communities in Scotland and overseas.
Prof Yunus said: "I look forward to building on the fruitful relationship that has already been established and has produced benefits which are helping to improve the quality of life for people in both our countries."