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Is There More to Life Than We Have Experienced?
Preparing for Worship 3-31-13 (Easter Sunday)
My college Literature Professor was a cool guy. He was hyper-connected to reality and always exploring the human experience, in literature, in the classroom and in everyday life. His heart was always asking "how is this grounded in real life and real experience?" It made for lively discussions.
One semester, when spring rolled around, we got to talking about Easter and "Resurrection." We were surprised to learn that he could not believe in Jesus' Resurrection any more than he could believe in "resurrection" in general. "Nothing in my experience suggests that there is any bodily or non-bodily life waiting for us after this one," he would say, over and over again. It was almost a point of faith for him. He was just convinced there was no experience that would qualify as giving any hope in the resurrection. He sure made a lively partner for thinking about life and Christ and the life that is promised to us by Jesus.
Perhaps this is the meaning of the Thomas experience of touching Jesus' hand and placing a hand in his side…blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe(John 20:22-29). Certainly we will need to have something that counts as experience with the living presence of Jesus in order to have hope, faith and confidence in God's intention to bring us also to life again with Jesus. What experiences of new life and renewed life do you have, if any, that give you confidence in God's promise to give us life together with Jesus?
Pastor Mitch
Words of Steel
Taking the Message with You…
Reflecting on Worship from Palm Sunday (3-24-13)
When I was a kid, we would spit and swear when we wanted to be believed "beyond question." If that wasn't good enough there was the last resort of all: cut your thumb and offer it as proof you were telling the truth. If your friend accepted your pledge he would touch your thumb with his (cut or uncut). Kind of gross, huh?
Even as kids the power of a blood covenant seemed like words of steel. Perhaps this is also true for us as we hear again the passion, suffering and shedding of Jesus' blood. This is a word of God that can be believed. What was that word? The very life of Jesus was that word: A word that is to be believed. Everything he said and did is to be accepted and believed as the true Word of God. In this gift and pledge there is new life.
God's coming near to make a pledge that will change everything for us, when we accept it. Do you find acceptance within you for this kind of pledge from God? It seems that words of steel are given so that they can be believed. Perhaps that makes clear the work we have to in this all. Believe God. Thank goodness that this is still, even more encouragment for us to believe that Jesus life and death. It comes on Easter. If you can accept the pledge in this death, given for us – then receiving the life that comes with Easter will not be far behind. AMEN
Pastor Mitch
Lows and Highs: Holding it together
(Preparing for Worship 3-24-13)
Palm Sunday / Sunday of the Passion has long been a challenge. It is hard to plan a meaningful worship experience that begins with joy and triumph that can settle in our bones which at the same time takes us to the disillusionment and surprise of Jesus' arrest, trial and execution. How do we hold these two very different experiences together? How do we experience each of them fully on one Sunday? And more importantly how does each of these events in Jesus' life inform our faith lives and discipleship today?
It is true that disillusionment is a real experience that we run into along the journey of faith. Things don't always look like they are going to turn out like they are supposed to. Walking through the valley of the Shadow of death is a difficult thing for anyone. But David reminds us in his poem (Psalm 23) that even there the presence and guidance of our shepherd steadies us so our faith can trusts in God's faithfulness to bring us to the day of triumph and rejoicing again.
So, this is our challenge: to meaningfully hold these two challenging parts of this Sunday before Easter together into a unified witness that God works in and through events that we have trouble making sense out of. This activity is a mark of discipleship and an activity that those who travel in faith must at some point learn for themselves. Let us gather and practice this activity of faith as we hear about Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and is arrest, trial and suffering.
Pastor Mitch
Finding Our Partnership Along the Journey
(Preparing for Worship March 17th, 2013)
The best partnership I have in my life is with my wife Shannon. I guess I should back up a step. Really the partnership that brought me to the place that I was ready for Shannon was my partnership with Jesus. Jesus has this way of keeping at things in my life that need attention, so that I come along a little at a time each day. And then, when the time is right and the planets align, he "speaks" or "nudges" me into the action or activity for which he has prepared me. It was like that when I met Shannon. It is like that again and again in my life when important encounters come along. It seems that often I experience Jesus working in my life and walking the trail with me as I journey in faith in these current days. Do you see Jesus in interesting junctures in your life?
Coming Home
Reflecting on Worship March 10, 2013
(…Taking the message with you.)
"You can't go back." It's hard thing to learn. Picking up the pieces of a painful experience is always a challenge, but we can't really go back to the way things were. I think that is what the Humpty Dumpty poem of childhood is all about. It is wasted energy to try and rebuild the past or to model the present after some imaginary idea time.
The good news is, although we can't go back, we can always go forward. I like to say it this way, "home is always ahead of you." Which is to say that finding ourselves; discovering our best expression of belonging, discovering that place where we can thrive – is always before us. And we can always come home. Coming home is the gift of welcoming people into our lives for blessing and encouragement and celebration. Coming home is making new friends, renewing old ties and gladly welcoming people into our hearts and into our homes. All these things are part of the work of moving forward and coming home.
The Prodigal Son struggled to come home but if you will notice, his older brother has almost as much work to do before he will be able to really be at home. Where in our lives is there work to be done so that we too may come, or be at home with God's love in our lives?
Lost and Found
Ever explored New Orleans with more than 33,000 young people? It's quite an adventure! We explored being Disciples, Servants and Peacemakers. Everyone seemed to be on the path of discovery and new experiences. I had the pleasure of accompanying one of our young people back to the convention center to look for a backpack and a pair of shoes that were left behind the day before. We were excited that we were indeed able to simply find the Lost and Found booth. There we had a curious experience. We described the backpack that was left, "It was a green Columbia day pack with yellow piping." The attendant went into the next room and returned with a back pack. It looked like the one we had lost but it wasn't She was undaunted. She returned again, and this time she had the right one. Curiously, the contents were missing. We mentioned this and she asked us what was in the back pack. So one item at a time, we described the lost contents of the backpack. One item at a time, the attendant would go and bring from the back room an item that seemed to fit our description. We were in luck, four of the six items that were in the back pack were found. When we came to the water bottle, our Lost and Found helper, simply smiled, nodded her head and pointed to the 12 LARGE boxes to her left that were filled with every make, model and concept of bottles used to keep one hydrated in the heat of July in New Orleans. She simply said, help yourself. There were even new bottles from one of the event displays that perhaps did not want to take the inventory home.
On our way out, I happened to peak through the doorway into the mysterious back room from which lost things are retrieved and was astounded to see aisle after aisle and table after table of sorted, categorized and lined up items all lost and not yet found. The volume could have filled twenty dump trucks. I couldn't believe it! Who knew that some much lost stuff could be generated from such a gathering? Well, there were 33,000 youth, not to mention some 6,000 adult leaders, chaperones and event providers. I guess it makes sense but still boggles the mind.
This whole experience left me wondering how much of our stuff we loose (most of which we can live without). But if this describes our human behavior how much that is really important to us do we misplace, forget about, abandon or simply fail to keep track of?
What help or hope and healing is there for this characteristic of our humanness? Perhaps the parable of the Prodigal Son (or is it the parable of the older brother – or the parable of a father's love) gives us some hope for humanity that is busy loosing things and one another all the time.


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Come See This Exquisite 1881 Sq. Ft. Freestanding Ranch, Featuring An Additional 1100 Sq. Ft. Finished Walk-out, First Floor Master Bedroom Suite, And Over-sized Two-car Garage. Located At Silver Ridge, Berlin's Premier Gated Community. The Open Floor Plan...

subset: commoncrawl


text: First birthdays. Balloons. Cake.. I mean, ICE CREAM!! This first birthday session wasn't about cake at all... This little guy's parents brought in ice cream! Okay, maybe he wasn't the biggest fan of the ice cream cone, but we got some pretty cute pictures nonetheless. Here are a few of my favourites from his session.


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community info / events / restaurants
Kew Gardens / Forest Hills / Queens / NYC
Friday, May 1, 2009
Restaurant Closings and Violations
2 comments:
- AnonymousMay 4, 2009 at 12:53 PM
Nice to see that Baluchis on queens blvd scored 40 pts- Ive had a decent time there, and the food was pleasant.ReplyDelete
Come on guys! When I went there it wasnt very crowded, and when I walk by its never crowded.
You'd think they could keep conditions a little more sanitary, esp if the staff has some time on their hands.
This is upsetting b/c I like Indian food and Baluchis is pretty close. My favorite Indian restaurant used to be Surya in the west village, but then they racked up 47 violation points. Surya recently retook & "passed" the test by racking up "ONLY" 20 pts-. Thats half of Baluchis but im not rushing to go back there either.
The fact remains that the last 2 indian restaurants Ive been to have each earned 40+ pts. ridiculous!
My only hope is that small spot next to the post office can come through.
Have you been to the one by the post office? I havent but it always smells good when I walk by!ReplyDelete
Please leave a comment and let us know if it is not letting you leave one so we can resolve that problem. And Keep trying! The site gets a little screwy sometimes...


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karimi darani, M., Ghasemi, A. (2018). Analytical Solutions of the FG Thick Plates with In-Plane Stiffness Variation and Porous Substances Using Higher Order Shear Deformation Theory.
Journal of Solid Mechanics
, 10(2), 315-325.
M karimi darani; A Ghasemi. "Analytical Solutions of the FG Thick Plates with In-Plane Stiffness Variation and Porous Substances Using Higher Order Shear Deformation Theory".
Journal of Solid Mechanics
, 10, 2, 2018, 315-325.
karimi darani, M., Ghasemi, A. (2018). 'Analytical Solutions of the FG Thick Plates with In-Plane Stiffness Variation and Porous Substances Using Higher Order Shear Deformation Theory',
Journal of Solid Mechanics
, 10(2), pp. 315-325.
karimi darani, M., Ghasemi, A. Analytical Solutions of the FG Thick Plates with In-Plane Stiffness Variation and Porous Substances Using Higher Order Shear Deformation Theory.
Journal of Solid Mechanics
, 2018; 10(2): 315-325.
Analytical Solutions of the FG Thick Plates with In-Plane Stiffness Variation and Porous Substances Using Higher Order Shear Deformation Theory
Article 7
Volume 10, Issue 2
, Spring 2018
, Page
Document Type: Research Paper
M karimi darani
A Ghasemi
Department of Engineering, Colleg of Engineering, Fereydan Brabch , Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran
This paper presents the governing equations on the rectangular plate with the variation of material stiffness through their thick using higher order shear deformation theory (HSDT). The governing equations are obtained by using Hamilton's principle with regard to variation of Young's modulus in through their thick with regard sinusoidal variation of the displacement field across the thickness. In addition, the effects of the substances in FG-porous plate are investigated.
Functionally Graded Materials
Navier solution
Porous material
Rectangular plate
[1] Birman V., Byrd L.W., 2007, Modeling and analysis of functionally graded materials and structures, Applied Mechanics Reviews 60(5): 195-216.
[2] Jha D.K., Kant T., Singh R.K., 2013, A critical review of recent research on functionally graded plates, Composite Structures 96: 833-849.
[3] Cheng Z.Q., Batra R.C., 2000, Exact correspondence between eigenvalues of membranes and functionally graded simply supported polygonal plates, Journal of Sound and Vibration 229(4): 879-895.
[4] Navazi H.M., Haddadpour H., Rasekh M., 2006, An analytical solution for nonlinear cylindrical bending of Functionally graded plates, Thin-Walled Structures 44(11): 1129-1137.
[5] Sun D., Luo S-N., 2011, Wave propagation and transient response of functionally graded material circularplates under a point impact load, Composites Part B: Engineering 42(4): 657-665.
[6] Zenkour A.M., 2012, Exact relationships between classical and sinusoidal theories for FGM plates, Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures 19(7): 551-567.
[7] Abrate S., 2008, Functionally graded plates behave like homogeneous plates, Composites Part B: Engineering 39(1): 151-158.
[8] Ghannadpour S.A.M., Alinia M.M., 2006, Large deflection behavior of functionally graded plates under pressure loads, Composite Structures 75(1-4): 67-71.
[9] Cheng Z.Q., Batra R.C., 2000, Deflection relationship between the homogenous Kirchhoff plate theory and different functionally graded plates theories, Archive of Applied Mechanics 52(1): 143-158.
[10] Menaa R., Tounsi A., Mouaici F., Mechab I., Zidi M., Bedia E.A.A., 2012, Analytical solutions for static shear correction factor of functionally graded rectangular beams, Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures 19(8): 641-652.
[11] Saidi A.R., Jomehzadeh E., 2009, On the analytical approach for the bending/stretching of linearly elastic functionally graded rectangular plates with two opposite edges simply supported, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C: Journal of Mechanical Engineering Science 223(9): 2009-2016.
[12] Nosier A., Fallah F., 2009, Non-linear analysis of functionally graded circular plates under asymmetric transverse loading, International Journal of Non-Linear Mechanics 44(8): 928-942.
[13] Nguyen T-K., Sab K., Bonnet G., 2008, First-order shear deformation plate models for functionally graded materials, Composite Structures 83(1): 25-36.
[14] Liu M., Cheng Y., Liu J., 2015, High-order free vibration analysis of sandwich plates with both functionally graded face sheets and functionally graded flexibl core, Composites Part B: Engineering 72: 97-107.
[15] Reddy J., 2000, Analysis of functionally graded plates, International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering 47: 663-684.
[16] Hosseini-Hashemi S., Fadaee M., Atashipour S.R., 2011, Study on the free vibration of thick functionally graded rectangular plates according to a new exact closed- form procedure, Composite Structures 93(2): 722-735.
[17] Qian L.F., Batra R.C., Chen L.M., 2004, Static and dynamic deformations of thick functionally graded elastic plates by using higher-order shear and normal deformable plate theory and meshless local Petrove Galerkin method, Composites Part B: Engineering 35(6-8): 685-697.
[18] Neves A.M.A., Ferreira A.J.M., Carrera E., Cinefra M., Roque C.M.C., Jorge R.M.N., 2013, Static, free vibration and buckling analysis of isotropic and sandwich functionally graded plates using a quasi-3D higher-order shear deformation the ory and a meshless technique, Composites Part B: Engineering 44(1): 657-674.
[19] Wattanasakulpong N., Ungbhakor V., 2014, Linear and nonlinear vibration analysis of elastically restrained ends FGM beams with porosities, Aerospace Science and Technology 32: 111-120.
[20] Wattanasakulpong N., Prusty B.G., Kelly D.W., Hoffman M., 2012, Free vibration analysis of layered functionally graded beams with experimental validation, Materials & Design 36:182-190.
[21] Belabed Z., Houari M.S.A., Tounsi A., Mahmoud S.R., Anwar Beg O., 2014, An efficient and simple higher order shear and normal deformation theory for functionally graded material (FGM) plates, Composites Part B: Engineering 60: 274-283.
[22] Mantari J.L., Guedes Soares C., 2013, Finite element formulation of a generalized higher order shear deformation theory for advanced composite plates, Composite Structures 96: 545-553.
[23] Amirpour M., Das R., Saavedra Flores E.I., 2016, Analytical solutions for elastic deformation of functionally Graded thick plates with in-plane stiffness variation using higher order shear deformation theory, Composites Part B: Engineering 94:109-121.
[24] Kim S-E., Thai H-T., Lee J., 2009, Buckling analysis of plates using the two variable refined plate theory, Thin-Walled Structures 47(4): 455-462.
[25] Thai H-T., Choi D-H., 2013, Analytical solutions of refined plate theory for bending, buckling and vibration analyses of thick plates, Applied Mathematical Modelling 37(18-19): 8310-8323.
[26] Tornabene F., 2009, Free vibration analysis of functionally graded conical, cylindrical shell and annular plate structures with a four-parameter power-law distribution, Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering 198(37-40): 2911-2935.
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The Magic of Cold Brew Coffee
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About The Chemex
Invention And History
The Chemex, invented in 1941, was arguably the first coffeemaker to emphasize form alongside function. Created by chemist Dr. Peter Schlumbohm, it was intended to be a work of art as well as an effective tool. (He referred to them as "Beautilities.") Schlumbohm wanted to reimagine the perfect cup of coffee—to strip this basic act down to its very essentials and reshape it from the ground up—and this began with design.
Pour Over Brewing
Hand poured coffee, like so many activities, was once the only method of brewing coffee. Then coffee machines were invented, and people were eager to get the machines to do the work for them. Now, interestingly, in a quest for integrity and quality, we are creeping back in the other direction. Pour over coffee, a method begun in 1900s Germany but mostly imported from Japan, has caught on like wildfire among U.S. artisanal coffee drinkers because of three essential aspects: flavor, process and story.
What is the Vacuum Pot?
The vacuum pot (also called the vac pot or siphon) method of brewing coffee is one of the oldest techniques still in use today—beautiful with its ornate design and sleek glassware. It revolutionized nineteenth-century coffeemaking in Europe after its invention in Germany in 1830. Much like the Chemex brewer, it fell out of favor in the mid-20th century for what came to be seen as unnecessary requirements in brewing: patience, practice and a steep learning curve. However, also like the Chemex, the vacuum pot is now enjoying something of a renaissance among fans of artisanal coffee.
Classic French Press Brewing Method
Of all the different coffee brewing methods, perhaps one of the most enduring is the classic French press, also known as the cafetiere or press pot. It's the peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich of coffee brewers—dependable, utilitarian and affordable. Now ubiquitous in homes across the world, the French press actually has quite a convoluted past, including its invention—by an Italian, technically.
Aeropress—A New Classic Brew Technique
As contemporary as the vacuum pot is classic, the Aeropress is manufactured by the company that brought the world the Aerobie flying ring. It unabashedly embraces 21st century materials and design, and is a triumph of modern production. For around $30, the Aeropress can actually compete with thousand-dollar Italian coffee machines in terms of flavor. It's been on the market since only 2005; it makes both American drip coffee and espresso; and it brews outstanding coffee in about a minute.
How Brewing Technique Affects Taste
The temperature of the brewing water—cold, room temperature, warm or boiling—has a profound effect on the flavor of the finished product. Steeping time, likewise, has a significant impact on the quality of the finished product. Pressure plays a big role, and even such seemingly trivial factors as filter material and whether to cover the pot while brewing have their say in the final cup. Many people take coffee quite seriously and believe wholeheartedly what others shrug off—that brewing technique has much (though not everything) to do with how good (or bad) that cup of coffee tastes.
How Hot Should A Cup of Coffee Be Served?
A hot bath means different things to different people—one man's "toasty" is someone else's "scalding." And so it is with coffee—some may like it hot, but there is a wide range of preferences on just how hot "hot" is.
Fortunately, there is also an objective side to the equation. Coffee and temperature are not just a matter of opinion; science steps in to guide java lovers when heat is having an adverse effect on a cup of coffee.


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Service Provider Name: Georgian-British Center for Donation & Reproduction
Founded in 2000 and has worked with foreign couples since that time. Can provide Caucasian and known donors, IVF and surrogacy services. Well-priced and operates in a country which has legislation which awards parentage to foreigners engaging in surrogacy. Surrogates and donors are Georgian, Armenian and Ossetian.
Languages: English, Russian, Greece Georgian.


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Then it gets really quiet in the house, and I sit back and think about me. When I really think about my life, I love the places that these roads have led me to, but I also love to dream about where we will go together. As a mom of two children, much of my day involves following them around on their own little journeys. Journeys to the potty, journeys running after a ball in the yard, and journeys chasing their friends at the playground. I love these little trips that we take, but I also wonder what life will be like when our roads go separate ways. When my son goes down his road to football practice or my daughter goes down her road to a friend's house, where will my road lead me? When my son travels off to college or my daughter travels to her own home with her own family, where will my road lead me? Obviously, I know that my husband and I will always hold hands as we enjoy this ride called life, but as a mom, my life will change. When my husband goes off to work in the morning, where will my road lead me?
I know that I won't discover the answers to these questions for a while, but I like to sit and wonder as I stare out my window. Dreams and passions fill my heart. Some are for today and some are for tomorrow. Does every mom dream this way? Is it ok to feel this way?
It is important to dream! It is essential to who we are. It is a foundation to whom we will become. What are my dreams? What are your dreams? This is an important question to ask. Where are the places that I long for my roads to take me one day?
What are the places that my legs run to before I even tell them which way to run? What are the passions that are so deeply rooted in who I am that no matter where I go they will always arise to the surface?
The roads that I travel on today will lead me to the roads I take tomorrow.
So, as I sit and dream with God as I look out my window, I look forward to my day today. I rejoice in my little journeys today. I let my legs take me as far as I can go with a child wrapped around each leg. I remember today that I am a dream of God, a passion in His heart. He made me to dream, and so I dream. I do what I can do today, and I leave tomorrow up to Him. He has big dreams with many roads to lead me there.
Just as Mary did, I ponder many things in my heart.
Day 5: More than Enough (Taken from Laid Down: A 30-Day Devotional for the…28 August 2013
I love my honest conversations with my kids. My two big kids are 9 and…28 August 2013


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Yep also pls add purpose to the backpack where we can extend our inv when there's a bag or.... Make it our portable chest where it is just like a chest, but, we can bring and wear it enewa.YiRUMA said:
Also add Perk like " Flipper" (that allows the Qbee to flip when it double jump)
And same as "Packrat 3-4" (that allows Qbee to store more items in thier inventories)
Daz all :)
+1 but Merchants 3-4 too crazy discount lolJerNoLimit. said:
More Levels and more Perks for Qbee's
My Perks suggestions:
•More Fonts for Names
•Another level for Fast Mining perk
•Merchant 3-4?
•New perk that you are able to mine Diamonds,Ruby,Emeralds
•More Pet Pals perk
•More Craftmaster perk
even an airplane, havent you seen that episode?Intimate said:
Perks should match levels too like why is there perks we can't get just because we select different ones. I got cheated out of Pet Pal 3 because it gave me (well didn't give me as it was) More Cubits 4 times.
+1 on the backpack. Even Dora is able to store things in her backpack.


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PREP Framework Writing Workshop for Associate Fellow, Fellow and Senior Fellow applications Event
- Time:
- 09:30 - 11:30
- Date:
- 5 April 2019
- Venue:
- venue details will be emailed to you after booking
Event details
This workshop offers space to further the writing of your portfolio with the support of individuals who are experienced PREP mentors and portfolio reviewers. Before attending we expect you to have attended a briefing session and to have completed the first stage mapping of your activities against the appropriate fellowship requirements of the UK Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF). The workshop is intended to help you to revise your mapping, select appropriate examples to further develop into your case descriptions and progress with the writing of one or more case descriptions. Whatever point you have reached in your writing, this workshop is designed to support you in moving your journey forward and creating a plan for completion. The sessions will include brief presentations from the tutors, personal work and individual/pair/group discussion with the tutors.
Target Audience: PREP Associate Fellow, Fellow and Senior Fellow applicants (D1-D3)
Pre-requisites: Participants should have attended a PREP Framework Briefing session or equivalent and begun to write their portfolio.
You can expect to learn about:
• The scope and key characteristics of the UKPSF Associate Fellow, Fellow and Senior Fellow Descriptors
• Key evidence to include
• Structuring your case descriptions
• Evidencing the Descriptor / Reflective writing in the PREP context
• The portfolio review process and role of the professional conversation
(There is no professional conversation for D1 & D2)
Led by: Paul Riddy (Centre for Higher Education Practice) and David Read (Chemistry)


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Day 366 +12 - June & July 2016 Recap
Once April and May passed, I knew I was over the rush. The rest of the year would be a slog. Slow moving, filled with chases, and a lot of questions about will I be able to do enough to reach 356. 356 being the number I would have to get to for a new record. Despite the fact I knew it would be slow, nothing could have prepared me for how devastating slow the first 3 weeks of June were. In those 3 weeks I didn't tally a single new bird--and not for lack of trying... Although I might have put some effort into other creatures as well...
Why did the Western Tiger Salamander cross the road?
Sometimes you have to get up close and personal for a photo...
During those first 3 weeks, I did 4 surveys at North Shore. It got hot quickly and by the 2nd week, I knew I was basically done until fall migration. Migrants were scant or gone, and the number of breeding birds was pretty static. My lists for each trip fell between 35-38 species respectively--those were the breeders on the property and weren't helping my list. The reason I kept going back was hoping for the latest spring migrants that often pop up in northern Utah in early June. There was the chance for Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a species I thought I had a legitimate chance at finding in what seemed like awesome habitat.
The North Shore with runoff in full swing
But it was also a good time for some of the warblers that randomly show up this time of year like: Chestnut-sided, Blue-winged, Golden-winged, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-throated, and Blackpoll. But I didn't find any rare warblers, and that was it for spring migration. June is when my guiding business hits its busiest. More than 1/2 the night of the month I am taking clients from all over the states (and recently Europe) to look for Flammulated Owls in the mountains outside Salt Lake City. Now that I have a kid, I also try to take him out scouting with me as much as possible. Showing him what a beautiful place we live in will hopefully give him the same appreciation I have for Utah!
Showing the little guy the mountains
And letting him explore on his own...
And that is exactly what this June was like. Most nights I was in the field showing clients owls. And it was a good summer. Instead of talking about all these tours, here are some pictures to paint the scene, and give you an idea of what birding with me in Utah is like...
Little Cottonwood Canyon
Mountain Dell Canyon
My Secret Owling Hotspot... Shhhhh.
Sunset in the Uintas
The plus side is that during this time I was taking lots of pictures, and filling in the gaps on things I had missed for photos earlier in the year. Things like:
Wilson's Snipe at Bear River Meadows
Spotted Sandpiper at Brighton
Mountian Bluebird at Strawberry Reservoir
Bobolink near Heber
Gray Flycatcher in the Lake Mountains
Cordilleran Flycatcher on the Mirror Lake Highway
Northern Goshawk at Brighton
Swainson's Thrush in Little Cottonwood Canyon
Purple Martin at Monte Cristo
Finally, at the start of the 4th week, I picked up a few new year bird high in Cair Paravel--that would be the Mirror Lake Highway for those that didn't follow my blog--and elsewhere in northern Utah. It all started with Clark's Nutcracker feeding in a campground around 10,000' anove sea level. I didn't get a great photo, but a few days later while guiding I snapped this shot of one near Brighton, Utah just outside Salt Lake.
Clark's Nutcracker grabbing a bite to eat
The best bird of the month came about an hour later, after showing my clients the gorgeous panorama view from a lookout near Bald Mountian Pass.
The view from the Bald Mountain Pass Overlook
Enjoying the magnificent scenery with a couple clients
White-winged Crossbill flight call
We spent the rest of the day birding around northern Utah where I added one more species for the year--a Williamson's Sapsucker at Monte Cristo in the main spine of the Wasatch range. In what is a strange de ja vu moment, I saw many of these same birds exactly 9 years earlier on the same date, at the same places. White-winged Crossbill was a bird I had during my previous big year, on June 22, 2007 at the same parking area. The same goes for my year Williamson's Sapsucker. I still can't shake the eerie feeling that I felt that day as my two big years collided. Of course, we go to many of the same places for the same birds year in and out--but that still doesn't make it any less strange.
Williamson's Sapsucker at a sap site
When the weekend hit, I joined my buddy Nate Brown in southern Utah to do a little searching for a couple specialty birds I was missing for the year--and to make an attempt for Least Bittern and Elf Owl. Late June in southern Utah, and the temps were less than pleasant.
The hot end of my extremes for 2016--the low was -12F in December...
This was around 6:00pm on Friday the 24th. Shortly after this, we hit the marshes along the Virgin River to try and find our target bittern.
The marshes along the Virgin River
The birding was slow, and we didn't find any bitterns. But we saw lots of dragonflies, and quite a few Blue Grosbeaks to liven the birding.
Blue Grosbeak on the Virgin River
After dark, we headed out towards Lytle Ranch and attempted to track down Elf Owl. It wasn't meant to be and in the still sweltering desert, we only managed to hear Western Screech-Owl, Great Horned Owl, and Common Poorwill. The following morning we birded a mostly dead Lytle Ranch--mid-summer is never amazing here. But as we neared the orchard on the way back out a surprise pair of Zone-tailed Hawks appeared over the tree line.
Zone-tailed Hawk soaring over Lytle Ranch
We watched as the two birds flew around for maybe 5-10 minutes. I had all but lost hope I wasn't going to get this bird for the year, and surely didn't think I was going to get them out in the Beaver Dam Wash.
Both of the Zone-tailed Hawks together
So after our morning birding, I decided to head back to Salt Lake instead of sticking around for another night. I probably should have. I could have tried for Painted Redstart. I could have tried for the bittern and the owl again. I could have done a lot of things, but I decided to go home. Along the way, I remembered how easy it was to get Dusky Grouse in the mountains outside Fillmore, Utah. I thought how I hadn't been there in over a decade and should check it out--I had the time, so why not. I took the road into the mountains which was in very bad shape. I made my way across the divide to this gorgeous scene.
A hissing punctured tire in the background really set the scene!
And when I stepped out to take this picture, I could hear the air escaping from one of my tires--I had a flat. Luckily a family working in the hills pulled up, and helped me quickly change the flat. They had a pickup full of tires, and a floor jack. Turns out they get flats so often that they always carry a full set of spares while out on these roads. That wasn't comforting. I had to descend another 10 miles on road that was even worse. It was a slow trek down the mountain, all the while watching the air pressure in my spare drop 1 PSI at a time. I was too focused to worry about getting out to hike around for grouse or really even think about anything other than making it to the nearest town to get my tire repaired. I made it into Scipio, Utah with 10 PSI in my spare while my other tires sat at 34 PSI. I was extremely lucky. Except, the only tire shop in town was closed. I guess I had some of that May luck because the owner happened to be there and agreed to mount a full-size spare I had on the rim of the flat. In the end, I was $35 poorer, and back in Salt Lake in my bed for the night. My tires at the time were at about 63,000 miles and I knew they needed to be replaced. It was a miracle I didn't have a bigger issue, so the following Monday I took the truck in and got set up with a brand new set so I wouldn't have to worry about tire issues the rest of the year.
The rest of June passed without any more new birds, but a few more great nights showing birders around northern Utah:
Headlights on a field with several Common Poorwills singing nearby
And of course highlighting our specialty Flammulated Owl:
A cooperative young Flammulated Owl--this one was actually photographed in late July.
July started pretty similar to June with a long drought on new birds. July 14th, and I found myself back at Bald Mountain Pass adding year birds. This time it was an American Three-toed Woodpecker that I missed on earlier trips into the hills. It was also the only time I saw one during 2016 which was odd.
The solo American Three-toed Woodpecker I saw in 2016
I certainly spent plenty of time in the right habitat, they just weren't very cooperative.
Client and friend Pete Ferrera photographing some bird at 10,500'
I also added my first Rufous Hummingbird of the year--a species that from mid-July through September is one of the most common species found at feeders all over the state. The next day I added what had been a sort of insane miss for 6-months. I had my first Greater Yellowlegs of the year on a pond near the Salt Lake County landfill.
Birding behind a landfill is alwasy pleasant!
I was birding with a client for a 4 day stretch here, and we had in the first 2 days slaughtered his target list. There was literally nothing left to get, so we decided to turn his trip into a photo expedition to get better pics of a few species he wanted better shots of--and do a little exploratory birding. This took us high into the Uinta Mountains in the dark to look for a variety of nocturnal birds.
Sunset while we waited to start owling
Although not a bird, one of the best photos I took this day was a Sphinx Moth while we waited for it to get dark.
Sphinx Moth visiting flowers at dusk
After dark, the owling began. I picked this specific location because for years I felt the habitat was good for Boreal Owl. So we tried--and we got a response! Each time I played a volley of BOOW calls a bird screeched back from the forest--the typical Boreal Owl call. It was on a steep old growth site that I will try visiting again in the future
Boreal Owl single note screech call
On the way out of the forest we heard quite a few Long-eared Owls, and even had one land on the road. I wasn't able to get a photo without scaring the bird, so my client took a bunch of shots and got this beautiful capture. This was one of the species I failed to photograph in 2016 myself.
Pete's great shot of a Long-eared Owl along the road
We also had a mighty cooperative Common Nighthawk that landed on the road as you can see from the photo below.
Common Nighthawk resting in the road at 9,500'
On my final day guiding the gentleman from New York we were watching hummingbirds visit a feeder in Alta, Utah. While this happened a tiny yellow warbler darted into a bush nearby. When I raised my binoculars I saw the distinctive white undertail coverts that went along with the dagger bill and electric yellow plumage of a young Tennessee Warbler. This was a strange find for July, but not unprecedented in the west. The bird flew before I could get a photo--but that didn't matter too much as I found another a couple months later and managed a shot before that one disappeared.
A September Tennessee Warbler for brevity
On my 3rd trip to the High Uinta's to look for Ptarmigan, I struck out. No ptarmigan, but I did add Gray Jay for the year--a bird that had eluded me on the previous trips as well. I didn't get any photos of the bird because I thought I would have better photo ops later in the fall. Oops. I did enjoy the gorgeous scenery, though--from the top of a spire in Cair Paravel...
Strike 3 on the Ptarmigan... And I strike out for the year!
At least the view was ridiculously amazing
In the last few days of July, I added a long overdue Glossy Ibis on one of my lunchtime outings in the Lehi Fields by my office.
The record digiscoped Glossy Ibis. It was not a good year for this species in Utah
This was followed by what appeared to be a juvenile Little Blue Heron at Powell Lake. I won't argue the ID of the bird, only to say that the coloration, and structure along with the way the bird was hunting was textbook LBHE. The heron was bird 315 for the year and the last new year bird for July. A couple days later I was on a plane headed to Europe for 2-weeks, putting my big year on hold.
Record shot of the juvenile Little Blue Heron
June and July weren't quite as productive as I had hoped. I worked hard to get a couple of really good birds. But I missed some things I sort of expected to find. That's a big year, though. Over the 2-month span, I put 4,141 miles on my truck in search of birds. Most of this was guiding so it fit into my plans. I also came in just shy of 60 miles on my feet, most of which was spent trekking around the higher elevations in search of those specialty birds. I also spent 210 hours in the field--again mostly with clients--looking at hideous scenery like this...
Rolling meadows in the Uinta Mountains
Twin Lakes above Brighton
A secret meadow in the high Uintas
Juniper Woodlands in the Lake Mountains
My summer was over with a planned trip out of the country. What would I miss while I was gone? And how would it effect my big year in the end? I'll tell you next time!
Even with all the guiding, we managed to get away fishing as a family
2016 Year List: 358
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Quantum Photonics > Funding
Experimental research in nanophotonics and quantum optics is tremendously costly. A thorough effort requires a certain critical mass both in terms of state-of-the-art equipment and man-power.
We gratefully acknowledge financial support from the following sources:
- Danish National Research Foundation
- Innovationsfonden
- Horizon 2020
- The European Research Council
- Ministry of Higher Education and Science
- Villum Fonden
- Lundbeckfonden
- Carlsbergfondet
- Augustinusfonden
- A.P. Møller og Hustru Chastine Mc-Kinney Møllers Fond til almene Formaal


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Observation in Permaculture, Nonviolent Communication and Meditation
I was reminded in a workshop I gave last week, called "Inner Peace and Outer Nature", that observation is as much about paying attention to details as it is about opening our attention and allowing information to come in. I think meditation is a great example of effective, thoughtful observation in both permaculture and Nonviolent Communication. In meditation and observation, we focus on one object (an element) or our field of awareness (patterns in a whole system), open our attention and notice whatever is there, all without grasping at a certain solution.


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Cortlandt Farm Market – Garden Center and Farmers' Market
At Cortlandt Farm Market, we offer a large selection of products for your outdoor spaces. Domenick, one of the owners, grows extraordinary hanging baskets, annuals, and vegetable plants inside our greenhouses. From plants and pots to fertilizers, we carry everything you need to make your garden flourish.
Apart from being a full-service garden center, we are also a farmers' market. You can count on us for seasonal produce, baked treats, and other farm products.
Our Products
Cortlandt Farm Market carries the products listed below to complement our existing offerings. We aim to ensure that our customers always have what they need.


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In the city center of Hillsboro, you'll have easy access to The Venetian Theatre. You can choose attractions in Hillsboro that are perfect for a weekend getaway, such as Bald Peak State Park. The most popular attractions for tourists in Hillsboro are Classic Aircraft Aviation Museum, Glenn and Viola Walters Cultural Art Center, Outdoors In. Commercial areas like Peace of Soap Company, Hillsboro Farmer's Market, The Jordan Studio are ideal places to buy souvenirs.


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Eye Care Directories & Listings
Website provides links and reference for ophthalmologists, optometrists, opticians and patients.
Health News Directory
Hospital listings by state, by city.
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List of Dictionaries & Directories
Extensive list of online medical dictionaries and glossaries, provided by the National Library of Medicine.
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Search the Yellow Pages for: biotechnology companies; chemical and drug suppliers; clinical studies/trials; community pharmacy; contract research; diagnostics; drug and medicine warnings; hospital pharmacies; pharmaceutical companies; pharmaceutical distributors, suppliers, wholesalers, and publishers; regulatory issues and compliance; research institutes; toxicology research.
EyeCareInfo.com,eyecareinfo,Health News Directory,Hospitals on the Web,Optometry Electronic Library,PharmWeb Yellow Pages


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Snoonian, Ouellette Vie for Adams Selectman's Seat
ADAMS, Mass. — Newcomer Jeffrey Michael Snoonian is challenging incumbent Michael Ouellette for a three-year selectman's seat in Monday's election.
Snoonian, 41, of 1 Berkshire Square, is originally from Lawrence, but has been visiting Adams for years became a permanent resident last year.
"I came up here not knowing a lot of people, and even though I wasn't born here, they treat me as such," Snoonian said. "I really do feel a civic duty to give back, and now that I'm here full time I want to get involved."
Although new to politics, Snoonian has worked in construction for nearly 20 years. After selling his house and business, he decided to permanently move to Adams.
Snoonian believes that he can bring a new perspective to the Board of Selectmen, which is currently comprised of longtime residents.
"I definitely think bringing in a different perspective, along with the other four guys on the board who have grown up here, helps," he said.
Snoonian wishes to make Adams more attractive to families as a place to live. He does not foresee large manufacturing jobs arriving, but rather sees Adams as a good place for people to commute from.
"In Adams, right now, we need to make it much more attractive for families to live in so even if they might work in Lenox or Bennington, they would want to settle down in Adams," he said.
Snoonian said he sees the budget cuts in the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District as a main issue in the town and region.
"The school budget keeps getting cut, which is a big concern and when the time comes it seems to get cut again so that will probably be priority No. 1 for me," he said.
Snoonian also sees plenty of tourist attractions in Adams that have been underutilized, and believes advertising areas such as Mount Greylock even more could be financially beneficial for the town.
"I'm big into tourism," he said. "The mountain to me is underutilized and is a big selling point."
Ouellette has been on the board since 2008, and is completing his second three-year term.
"I have lived here all of my life," Ouellette said. "My parents lived here and my grandparents lived here, so I have roots here, and I am committed to the town."
Ouellette was a town meeting member for 18 years and had been a member of the Zoning Board for 10. He currently is a delegate to the Metropolitan Planning Organization and a member of the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority advisory committee.
An engineer, he retired from the former GE in Pittsfield after 34 years. He has also worked in real estate development and taken part in land subdivisions in Adams and Lanesborough.
He also thinks the town can take greater advantage of Mount Greylock through the Greylock Glen, thinking Frisbee golf courses would be a great attraction.
Ouellette said the technical abilities he gained from GE and working in real estate development makes him an asset to the Selectmen: "I think I bring a very broad talent to the board."
Ouellette said he was instrumental in getting the votes needed to hire current Town Administrator Jonathan Butler and "did his homework" on that vote by conferring with state Sen. Benjamin B. Downing, for whom Butler used to work.
"I am not a rubber-stamp selectman, and I want to do what I think is in the best interest of the community," he said, adding, "I do my homework, and that's what it's all about."
He supports regionalization whenever possible to achieve efficiencies and cost savings.
"Anything we can work together with as a team with North Adams, Cheshire or Williamstown, we should try to do," Ouellette said. "I think you can get better services at a lower cost."
If re-elected, he would make sure an effective Department of Public Works director was hired for the now open position. He also would push for a clearer focus on the old middle school building and concentrate on solving the financial issues in the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District.
"I think that our school is suffering, and we need to do something there," he said. "I want to push to have our board work with the school board."
The election will be held Monday, May 5, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the town garage.
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GOP Candidate Baker Preaches Jobs, Schools & Communities
|Charlie Baker, in the middle, introduces himself to voters at Joe's Diner in Lee on Tuesday.
LEE, Mass. — Republican Charlie Baker says if he is elected governor, every time state revenues increase it will all go back to cities and towns.
The gubernatorial candidate met with potential voters over lunch at Joe's Diner on Tuesday. Baker has been all over the state preaching the need for more jobs, better education and improved communities.
"I spent most of my time talking about what I call the big three — jobs, schools and communities. Those aren't Republican, Democratic or independent issues, it is just what people worry about and what I worry about," Baker said. "We need more good schools, stronger communities and frankly, more jobs."
Baker has particularly noticed a disparity of school performances. Even in the same school systems, some schools are ranking high in student achievement while others are not. And he sees a lack of communication between the schools that are succeeding and those falling behind.
"We don't have those conversations. We treat them all like they are the same — they're not," Baker said.
Meanwhile, vocational, technical and career schools are "going under the radar" despite providing a great service. He wants those schools to have a greater emphasis in the state conversations about education and officials should be "more aggressive" in supporting them.
"They are really tied into local employers. They are working with the latest and greatest equipment. And they link together for kids the purpose of an education and opportunity for work," Baker said. "They are really doing a great job"
Meanwhile, the cost of education is growing for municipalities, eating up a majority of their budgets. Baker and running mate Karyn Polito say any time state revenues grow, local aid needs to grow at the same amount. That includes aid to both schools as well as municipal operations.
"If state revenue grows 5 percent, local aid grows 5 percent. Over the past five or six years, state spending has gone up six or seven billion dollars while local aid has gone down by $500 million," Baker said. "It puts tremendous pressure on cities and towns."
When local aid doesn't keep up with the costs, that puts more pressure on families who have to fund the schools through property tax increases and higher fees.
"As the state's tax revenues has been growing, they haven't been sharing that with the cities and towns," Baker said.
The same idea goes for Chapter 90 road funding. Baker said not enough money is being released to help cities and towns repair roads heavily damaged by the harsh winter.
"We're $600 million ahead of budget on the revenue side at this point in the fiscal year. We should be able to find the resources to help cities and towns dig out what for a lot of people was a tough winter," he said.
The former chief executive officer of Harvard Pilgrim said there is still a lot of "anxiety" about the economy. And while there are some sectors — such as what he calls the "inside [Route] 128 knowledge economy" — doing well, others are not.
|Baker is in his second campaign for governor and says his experience will help him this time around.
"I can't tell you how many businesses I talk to, especially small ones, who just say that the way stuff works around here is so much more complicated than it needs to be," Baker said.
"A really simple example is in a lot of states you can get an LLC [limited liability corporation] to start a business online and pay $25 for it and it takes you a half an hour. In Massachusetts, you get an LLC and you have to pay $500 every year and a lot people will tell you it is so complicated that you need to hire someone with a legal degree to figure out how to fill it out and get it in."
Baker is calling for a full regulatory review to find ways to make it easier for businesses to operate.
"We've got to be competitive economically. We need to dramatically improve the speed of issuing permits and licenses, and our cost of pretty much everything," he said.
But he also knows that not every area of Massachusetts is the same. While in the eastern part of the state, costs are the biggest issue, the lower costs in the west is a strength. Each region has its own strengths and Baker said he would set economic plans for each region within the first six months after he is elected.
"I want to have within six months of taking office is to have strategic principles in place for every city in Massachusetts so I know what is expected of us and they know what is expected of them. We can hold each other accountable and go get it," Baker said. "If you don't have a stated set of goals and objectives, you won't get it done. Period."
The effort would mostly be led by local officials in conjunction with his administration.
Tuesday was Baker's second campaign stop in the Berkshires. He met with the Berkshire County Republicans in January.
He announced in September and came out of the Republican State Convention in March as the sole nominee. However, tea party candidate Mark Fisher is suing the party over the voting procedure and says he will have enough signatures in time to be listed on the ballot for governor
This is the second consecutive time Baker has been the Republican nominee; he lost to Deval Patrick in the 2010. He believes that campaign experience will help do better this time.
"You don't want to run the same race twice. But there is no doubt that having done this before I have a much better understanding about how it works and what to expect," Baker said.
"I also know a lot more about Massachusetts. You learn a ton doing this. You spend a year and a half of your life criss-crossing the state, you get to know a lot about places you wouldn't know about otherwise."
This time, Baker says he is hearing more talk about education and bringing more viewpoints to the State House than last time.
"Four years ago, nobody really cared about one party running Beacon Hill. It never came up. Now there are a lot of people I talk to, including Democrats, who say this one-party stuff is bad. It's unaccountable. It's not transparent," Baker said.
What has also changed is that there is no incumbent. Patrick is not running for re-election, leaving the seat open. Currently, there are six Democrats seeking the seat, one independent and Baker. He feels that plays to his strengths because he stands on the same ground to "make my case to the voters."
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Green-Rainbow Statewide Candidates Launch 'Listening' Tour
|Local Green-Party activist L. Scott Laugenour, center, accompanied candidates Danny Factor, left, and Ian Jackson to submit their nomination sheets at Pittsfield City Hall.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A trio of Green-Rainbow Party state candidates toured the Berkshires on Tuesday, meeting with citizens and filing their papers at Pittsfield City Hall.
The group kicked off the day in front of the closed North Adams Regional Hospital to press a focal point of the party's platform: Universal health care.
"Health care is a human right," said Danny Factor of Acton, who is running for secretary of the commonwealth. If the government can bail out a corporation, it can find funds to secure a deal to reopen a critical medical facility, he said.
"There's a lot the government can do in that and it can look into other options, such as taking it by eminent domain."
Auditor candidate M.K. Merelice of Brookline, an "occasional Franklin County resident," said North Berkshire's position was similar to that of the "forgotten county" of Franklin with its pockets of poverty.
"It does seem to me that this has as much to do with classism as anything else," she said. "If this hospital was located in the Southern Berkshires rather than the Northern Berkshires this would not be allowed to happen."
She said if elected, she would determine what type of medical services the community needed.
The candidates, including Ian Jackson, running for treasurer, called for more transparency and information regarding the closure, and a possibly publicly operated system with greater accountability to the people.
"People did pay for medical care, [that money] didn't just evaporate," said Jackson, who called for a different payment structure to make it easier for lawmakers to understand what happened.
After North Adams, the three candidates traveled to Kelly's Package Store in Dalton to discuss the long-pending bottle bill. That bill would expand the 5-cent deposit on soda and beer bottles and cans to other packaging — such as water or sports drinks.
Kelly's Package Store owner John Kelly recently testified in favor of the bill, saying recyclables is becoming a "secondary economy." The store collects and recycles bottles as an additional source of income.
"We felt like the expansion of the bottle bill would raise the recycling rate in the average household from 33 percent to 88 percent," Kelly told the candidates.
He added that those deposits help community groups raising money through bottle drives while there are individuals who collect bottles from the side of the road for extra income.
The candidates say that bill is long overdue.
"Just having a small deposit make sure it is going to the right place instead of going into a landfill," said Jackson.
But, it is more than that too, said Merelice, adding that the bottle bill is just one small step in turning the state's economy into a more environmentally-friendly one.
"It is a tiny step of what a future economy looks like," she said. "This may seem like a little thing, but when you look at the environment as a whole ... ."
Factor said there is a "culture" that needs changing when it comes to being environmentally friendly and encouraging more recyclables through the bill would help make that change. The bill will help push environmental consciousness into people's minds, which can lead to even more environmentally friendly practices.
Merelice added, "part of auditing is recognizing that the commonwealth's resources are no confined to finances. Part of the resources are people and the environment."
Following Kelly's the group went to Berkshire Organics to discuss the labeling of genetically modified organisms. Berkshire Organics focused on organic, high-quality foods, which the Green Rainbow Party supports. The party wants to push the labeling bill and no cracking under the pressure of major corporate suppliers who oppose it.
The three candidates rode the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority bus from Lenox to Pittsfield's Intermodal Transportation Center, where they heard from BRTA Assistant Administrator Robert Malnati on the region's public transportation.
|The candidates set up outside North Adams Regional Hospital to kick off their tour.
A strong demand for increased evening and weekday service remain among the ongoing challenges for which the agency has had insufficient funding, Malnati said.
"Sixty-five percent of the population that we serve don't have a vehicle," Malnati told them, saying limitations in transportation availability was an obstacle to an economic development in an area increasingly dominated by jobs in the service industry.
Candidates expressed concerns about regional equality in transportation, as with health-care issues seen in their earlier NARH visit, and stressed that Berkshire residents must remain organized in order to effectively advocate for their needs.
"There's a saying that the quickest way that people give up their power is thinking they don't have any," said Merelice.
Green-Rainbow hopefuls said Berkshire County, which has seen high showings for their party in recent elections, is an important part of the upcoming election.
"We love this area," said Merelice. "It's important to identify your base."
Candidates said while the Green Rainbow party does have an overarching platform of core beliefs, they are touring the commonwealth to hear about each region's specific needs.
"Right now there's no candidate from the Berkshires running in our races, so it's important to come out and see what the Berkshires want and need," said Jackson.
The tour of the Berkshires led them to Pittsfield City Hall, where they submitted their nomination sheets to be on the ballot.
"We're calling this a listening launch," Merelise said of the daylong trip.
iBerkshires writers Tammy Daniels, Andy McKeever and Joe Durwin compiled this report.
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Economic Talk Dominates Williamstown Selectmen's Race
|The four candidates for two seats on the Board of Selectmen focused on jobs at an election forum last week moderated by Anne Skinner.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The men who want a job with the Board of Selectmen think it's the job of that board to help bring jobs to the region.
If that sounds a little repetitive, then so was a candidates forum hosted Wednesday by the Williamstown League of Women Voters.
The four men vying for two open seats on the Board of Selectmen shared a platform built on economic development during air time on the town's community access television station.
The event, which ran for a little more than an hour and was moderated by chapter President Anne Skinner, focused almost entirely on how each of the candidates would help revive the local economy.
Hugh Daley, Gary Fuls, Andrew Hogeland and Jack Nogueira are on the ballot for the May 13 town election. Two of the four will win three-year terms on the five-person board.
Three of the candidates hit on the theme of economic development in their opening statement, and Skinner pressed them for more details about their ideas in that area with her first question of the night.
Hogeland suggested a collaborative approach that brings more voices from the town's business community and takes advantage of the successful strategies being employed in neighboring communities.
"We don't have a game plan for Williamstown at all to survive [population decline]," Hogeland said. "Anything we do has to be coordinated with our neighbors in North Adams and Pittsfield. I think if we do more branding, cross marketing, cooperative stuff throughout the area, we'll have a better chance."
Hogeland specifically identified the tourism and hospitality industries and talked about the town capitalizing on its two main assets: Williams College and the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute.
Daley agreed that tourism is a mainstay but argued there is a place for manufacturing in the town.
"Another Sprague Electric is not coming back," Daley said, referring to the North Adams industrial giant that was a mainstay of the local economy for generations. "But small niche manufacturing has a place. ... My company [Meehan Electronics in North Adams] is a small, 20-person shop working in the aerospace industry."
Daley said the Selectmen needs to start an economic development committee akin to other volunteer committees in town addressing specific issues, like agriculture and affordable housing.
"I would hope to be appointed to it," he said. "We have a ton of creative people in Williamstown. Everyone wants the same thing. We just have to tap into them and organize them."
Daley said the town needs to reach out to summer tourists and Williams alumni to try to get them to make Williamstown their home. He suggested the town partner with the college to promote economic opportunities in town in its alumni magazine.
"We are a company town," Daley said. "The company happens to be Williams College."
Fuls and Nogueira agreed the town needs to take a strategic approach and said it needs to look well beyond the town line to build the economic base.
"We need to come up with a marketing plan, an advertising plan not only for Williamstown but for Pittsfield, Lenox, North Adams and Adams to let people around the country know what we have to offer," Nogueira said. "If they come to Lenox, have them come a little further north and come see Williamstown."
"Right now, the Berkshire County Chamber of Commerce is working on bringing North County and South County together," Fuls said. "Again, you have to have a plan where if you have people coming to Lenox, you tell them, 'Hey, if you drive 40 minutes, you can go to the Clark or you can go see Williams College and walk around the campus.' "
Daley said the town has a strong potential partner in North Adams. Hogeland said Williamstown's neighbors to the east and south have the right idea.
"This town needs to spend more of its time and its personnel on economic development," he said. "You look at our neighbors, and they actually have people hired with job titles that have the words 'tourism' and 'development.'
"We need to put together a broad team of people from different disciplines. For me, that would be the prime initiative."
Part of that solution includes looking at ways to recruit "satellite businesses" that could partner with the town's two big non-profits, Hogeland said.
Even when Wednesday's forum turned to other topics, the conversation seemed to come back to jobs.
The closure of North Adams Regional Hospital and the uncertain future of health care in Northern Berkshire County is a hardship for town residents, the candidates agreed. But part of the solution may lie in creating new ways to access health care, some of the candidates said.
"I don't think we'll ever see a hospital in Williamstown ... but the town and the college needs to come together," Nogueira said. "They have a facility that serves their students. Maybe the town and the college should come together and put together something that serves the residents, too."
Fuls picked up on the idea and noted that new private practices or an urgent care clinic in North County would be, "another way to bring business here."
Likewise, the subject that has dominated the town's political conversation for the last two years — affordable housing — has an economic development dimension.
"We need to welcome people to come to Williamstown," Nogueira said. "I think this is what affordable housing is going to be doing ... allowing people who can't afford half-million dollar homes to come or the ones who are here and thinking of leaving Williamstown because they don't think there's anything here for them to stay."
Nogueira said Williamstown does not have enough space to develop a strong manufacturing base, but it should work with North Adams and Pittsfield as they grow their economies and create housing options in the Village Beautiful for those who take jobs in other Berkshire County municipalities.
And the future of Mount Greylock Regional School figures into the local economy, too.
"I've been thinking a lot about sustainability of the local economy and population changes," Daley said. "I believe we must focus on ways to stop the shrinking population and hopefully bring people back.
"That means creating an economy that has a job for them, a housing market that has a place for them to afford and an education system where they want to send their children."
If Mount Greylock goes ahead with a new or renovated building — or even if it doesn't — the cost of infrastructure at the school promises to be a challenge for whoever wins the Selectmen's races. That's a point not lost on Daley.
"At my core, I believe we should invest in schools, but we should balance that with the ability to pay," he said.
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Adams Candidates Hold Forth at Maple Grove Forum
|Candidates attending Sunday's forum were, from left, Edward Driscoll, Melissa McGovern-Wandrei, George Haddad, Michael Ouellette, Barbara Ziemba, Kelley Rice and Jeffrey Snoonian; not pictured, Edmund St. John IV.
ADAMS, Mass. — Candidates for the town election pitched their platforms at the Maple Grove Civic Club on Sunday afternoon.
The club annually offers up one its monthly meetings at the PNA as an open election forum for any candidate wishing to attend.
Candidates running for selectman, Planning Board, town moderator, School Committee and treasurer/collector spoke this year.
Two-term incumbent Michael Ouellette is being challenged by newcomer Jeffrey Snoonian for a three-year seat on the Board of Selectmen.
Ouellette is a lifelong resident and property owner; Snoonian considers himself an "adopted son" who recently chose to settle here permanently after many years of visiting.
Ouellette has been active in a number of civic capacities, including 18 years as a town meeting member and currently as a delegate to the Metropolitan Planning Organization and member of the Berkshire Regional Transit Authority advisory committee.
A retired GE engineer, he's also worked in real estate development, including subdivisions in Adams and Lanesborough.
|Michael Ouellette
"I'm a working selectman, I'm not a rubber stamp," he told club members. "I look at everything before I vote."
Oullette stressed that he does his research before casting a vote to ensure actions are in the best interest of the town.
He also said he's been very active in seeking tenants and developers for the Memorial Middle School and Greylock Glen, and in advocating with state and federal officials, including the governor, on behalf of town projects.
"I do my homework and I put my heart into it, trying to make the best decision I can," he said.
He thinks the town should divest itself of properties when it can, including the middle school, work with school officials to make school budgets educationally as well as fiscally sound, and promote the development of the Greylock Glen, and possibly a disc golf course at the glen.
"I want to drive for regionalization where ever it is in the best interests of the town," he said. "We need to look at each aspect of it. It can provide better services at a cheaper cost."
Snoonian is a native of Lawrence who attended the University of Massachusetts with an Adams roommate who introduced him to the town more than 20 years ago.
|Jeffrey Snoonian
"When I decided I where was going to spend the rest of my life I chose Adams," he said.
He has not served on civic committees or boards but said he was "not afraid to talk" and expects to be an active member of the board. "I probably open my mouth too much," he said. "I have a plan for being called out of order."
His background is in construction, having owned one contracting business and been a partner in another one. That has given him experience in fiscal responsibility, he said, as well as union negotiations.
"Adams biggest asset is it's a nice place to raise a family," he said. "There's a ton of cheap real estate here. Once you fill them, then people start looking to fill businesses."
Snoonian said he sold off his businesses because he felt government was intruding enough to make it difficult to operate.
"People have told me Adams is really a quagmire to open a business," he said, hoping to make it more business-friendly.
He, too, believes the town owns too much property and the middle school should be sold, but said he did not know enough about what the current situation.
Kelly F. Rice and Melissa McGovern-Wandrei are both running to complete the two years left on treasurer/collector post being vacated by Holly Denault. Both said they would expand some evening hours to accommodate residents.
|Kelly F. Rice
Rice currently works in the community development office and has worked as an administrative assistant in various capacities for the town for 14 years.
She has been a resident for 31 years and property owner for seven, and a town meeting member and member of the Events Planning Committee.
"I think I have the qualifications for a smooth transition," she said. Rice did, however, say she would need more learning and time in the post to become a certified treasurer, which can take several years.
She said she is acquainted with the town's financial procedures and accounting software, does the payroll and records the bank statements for grants, among other duties.
In response to questions, she said she was familiar with the town's issues with the IRS (over misfiled pension documents) and a large backlog of unpaid taxes.
"I am a town resident and I'm very concerned about that also as a taxpayer," Rice said, but added she has to follow the state process to foreclose, which can take years.
"I look forward to strengthening the town any way I can," she said.
McGovern-Wandrei was raised in Clarksburg and is currently the appointed treasurer/tax collector in Clarksburg and the president of the Berkshire County Collectors & Treasurers Association.
|Melissa McGovern-Wandrei
She and her husband now live in Adams and their children attend the schools and they have been active with the football boosters.
McGovern-Wandrei was the elected tax collector for 15 years in Clarksburg; when several elected offices were in the process of changing to appointed, she worked as assistant treasurer in Lanesborough to begin certification in pursuit of the Clarksburg post.
She said the town could move quickly to collect delinquent taxes by placing liens at the beginning of the fiscal year to put pressure on homeowners and banks. It also prods homeowners into making repayment agreements.
"Put the lien in and explain that you won't act on the lien unless they don't make the payments you agree upon," McGovern-Wandrei. "Then you know if people really want to keep their house.
"We have a 3-5 percent collection rate in Clarksburg, which is very good."
She said there have been recording issues from the treasurer's office in Clarksburg predating her tenure that have been cleaned up.
"I love Adams and I would love to come in and help you straighten this out," she said.
Dennis A. Gajda and George J. Haddad are running for the three-year seat on the Board of Assessors. Only Haddad attended Sunday's forum.
|George Haddad
|Barbara Ziemba
Haddad said he was approached by several people asking him to run and decided to after speaking with the town assessor about the commitment.
"I think I can handle what could be done," said the former six-term selectman and interim town administrator.
Haddad said he was willing to take whatever classes or seminars required. "Whatever we're supposed to do we will do," he said.
Running unopposed are Edward Driscoll for moderator, Barbara Ziemba for a five-year term on hte Planning Board and Edmund R. St. John IV as the Cheshire delegate to the Adams-Cheshire Regional School Committee.
Each spoke a little about their duties and answered questions. Ziemba, who's served as a planner for 27 years, said two other members of her board have been on a similar length of time.
"I do not doubt there would be some vacancies sooner or later," she said, urging "new blood" to run for office.
Maple Grove officer Jeffrey Lefebvre thanked the candidates and asked voters to turn out for the election.
"I hear a lot of people griping, but when you get 15-20 percent voting it seems 80 percent are content and I know 80 percent are not content," said Jeffrey Lefebvre.
The town election is 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, May 5. The deadline to register to vote is by 8 p.m. on April 15 at Town Hall.
The forum was also recorded by Northern Berkshire Community Television; check the schedule for show times.
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The Autism Tomorrow Event Capped NYFW on an Uplifting Note
While we're all still recovering from the whirlwind that was London Fashion Week, and getting back into the swing of daily life after NYFW, we're also looking back on one of the week's final events—the Autism Tomorrow charity dinner held at PUBLIC's Bowery Garden. Founded by model and spokesperson Jacquelyn Jablonski, Autism Tomorrow seeks to build the bridge between adults with autism and a successful, fruitful life.
Milk.XYZ spoke to Milk founder Mazdack Rassi about the charity and its great importance—especially in the wake of New York Fashion Week: "They've been pushed aside. We tend to have this country where we look at health care not as a right, but something you're lucky to have. Mental health, autism, all of these issues then don't get the right kind of support."
"It's great that during this crazy Fashion Week where people are talking about fashion, and brands, and designers, that we're talking about something that has real meaning and substance. We're talking about something that affects so many people, so many families. There's no one out there that doesn't know an autistic person, and what's crazy and even good is that some of them don't even realize that. When you have a disorder that affects so many people on this planet, it's something that everyone should want to learn about. It's not the duty of only people who are close to it to learn about it, but people who aren't close to it."
The charity was inspired by Jablonski's own experiences growing up with her brother Tommy, now aged 20, who was diagnosed on the severe end of the spectrum when he was just two years old. Jablonski aimed to create a charity that focused on supporting adults with autism. While most charities today are dedicated to supporting children with autism, there remained a gap in support after they left formal schooling. "We launched Autism Tomorrow to shine a light on these forgotten individuals", the founder told Milk.XYZ. "Our goal is to help improve the quality of life for adults on the autism spectrum through access to job opportunities, continued education, and independent living."
Check out the full gallery from the event above, and learn more about how you can give to the cause at Autism Tomorrow.
Images courtesy of BFA
Stay tuned to Milk for more ways to give back.


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Beyond "Conflict Diamonds:" a New Report on Human Rights and Angolan Diamonds
A Roundtable discussion with Rafael Marques, author of a new human rights report entitled "Lundas, the Stones of Death: Angola's Deadly Diamonds." In this report, Marques and co-author Rui Falcão de Campos examine patterns of human rights abuses linked to the diamond industry in the provinces of Lunda-Norte and Lunda-Sul during the course of the year 2004. The corruption and lawlessness in these diamond-rich provinces both permit routine human rights abuses, and prevent fair distribution of the wealth generated from the lucrative industry.
The report draws on evidence collected in these two provinces to argue that, by focusing on "conflict diamonds," the international community has allowed inhumane conditions to persist within legally sanctioned, but largely unregulated, diamond enterprises. The report documents new cases of extra-legal detention, sexual abuse, and even deaths linked to the diamond trade, in order to demonstrate the human cost of this regulatory neglect.
Rafael Marques served for six years as the Open Society Institute Director in Angola. Prior to joining the Open Society Institute, Marques acted as a correspondent for several international media outlets. He has received the Award of Outstanding Courage from the National Association of Black Journalists and the Freedom Passport from the European Parliament. Co-author Rui Falcão de Campos is a Portuguese attorney and former University professor. His current practice focuses on civil rights, white-collar crime and corruption.
Full Text
Download the full text of this report in English or in Portuguese.
The slides shown at this event can be viewed in Quicktime format by following the links below:
The Diamond Industry in Cafunfo
Cases Discussed in Report (Some material may be graphic)


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Err this is my first one of these and I have no clue how to do it so bear with me.
My name's Connor and I'm from Texas. I am a senior in high school and an intern at two law firms. I enjoy most games (haven't played much recently but mostly Record of Agarest War at the moment), Magic the Gathering, and rock/metal concerts. I have a nice gaming machine but absolutely no time to play all my steam games. Figuring out how to sell it actually kind of led me here. Anyways I'm sure the games will be posted in a thread for offers as soon as I figure out how.


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The Kia Soul compact SUV has become very popular. It's a small and useful car wrapped up in a funky shape, but the newest one looks and sounds a little different. It's the Kia Soul EV, a fully-battery-powered electric plug-in … Continue reading
March 27, 2015
by Kitty Adams
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A candidate for a temporary position who has not yet graduated and is working towards a relevant Bachelor's, Specialist's, Technical, Master's or PhD degree from a relevant academic institute. A Student employee can do specific work in the area of their future degree or work as a Generalist in a specific department. The Studentship is limited in time with the intent to hire into an College Graduate/Technical Graduate position as appropriate.
XXXXInside this Business Group
Intel's Human Resources group is responsible for hiring, developing and retaining the best and brightest employees while continuing to strengthen the company's culture and values. Intel Human Resources provides first-rate, cost-effective services and support to employees worldwide and is dedicated to advancing Intel's business goals.


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I did in fact lose my 7×7 barrel at worlds unfortunately along with my camera. they were both in my camera case and i lost the whole thing. this was a pre filmed video. since i did lose my camera, i probably wont be posting anything for a bit except for another pre uploaded video that i just need to edit. i hope i can find a way to continue to make videos soon. i might possibly use some money i have saved up to buy a camera but it wont be as good as the last one.
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Open for tours:
Thursday 6pm-10pm
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Other times by appointment. The experts tell you everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask.
You can contact us via email at [email protected]
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My Inventor Club is located at 263 Decatur Street, Atlanta GA 30312
Visitors MUST sign in and out with guard on duty. If the gate is closed, call the number located on the sign.
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Abortion excepted, no issue divides left and right like climate change.
Unlike air pollution, which burns your eyes and rains soot on your car, or water pollution, which makes rivers stink and fish die, greenhouses gases are largely unobserved. They impose no discomfort when encountered. Nor is there certainty about immediate effects. Long run impacts are derived from esoteric mathematical models and tabulated using dense statistical inference. Consider that meteorologists, regardless of how convinced they are of the science, resist assigning the blame for a particular weather event to atmospheric warming. Even after Hurricane Irma dumped rain on Houston in feet, not inches, that reluctance persists. After all, changeable weather is normal.
I don't wish to re-try the physical evidence or the modeling. Let us accept that a persistent warming trend is evident and that warming can cause rising sea levels with serious consequences for low-lying coastal regions and unpredictable changes in weather patterns.
Many on the right accept these propositions. Why, then, is the debate so bitter and divisive? There is blame on both sides, to be sure. In this column I'd like to address ways that the left has made climate activism hard for the right to swallow.
I speculate that the assignment of responsibility contributes to the left/right conflict. Opponents of climate policy remind us that global warming and cooling occurred in the past, well before humans had the capacity to affect the atmosphere. Climate activists, by contrast, rarely fail to include the phrase "caused by human activity" in the discussion. Does it really matter? As long as we accept that greenhouse gases matter and that the problem poses significant risk, then the policy solutions are pretty much the same whether the cause is natural or anthropogenic.
Here's the problem: By insisting on human cause, climate activists are invoking guilt as a motivating force. This turns a physical problem into an issue of morality. The debate is no longer just about effectiveness, it is also about making restitution for past sins. And it then becomes easy to imply that opponents are not simply wrong on technical grounds but are wrong on moral grounds. Opponents are not simply mistaken; they are immoral. When mutual respect ends, so does any hope of compromise.
Those on the left may feel that they need to emphasize the human role in climate change in order to provoke actions that may be expensive and life-altering. Their attempts to use guilt as a motivator are counterproductive if they lead to endless arguments about the degree of blame humans should assume.
Environmental activism assumes a near religious tone—opponents are "deniers," in contrast to righteous "believers." This can cloud the debate over policy solutions. If guilt is central, then a policy that imposes some measure of pain and discomfort seems appropriate, supporting solutions that are strong symbolically but weak in cost/benefit terms.
Activists' reactions to solar geoengineering illustrate the point. Geoengineering refers to active efforts to counteract the warming impact of greenhouse gas emissions (see https://keith.seas.harvard.edu/geoengineering). A recent article in Anthropocene magazine articulated the issue well, asking, "What would (geoengineering) do to people's personal motivations for environmental action? Most environmentalists seek or enjoy a particular sense of what it is to care about nature and protect it. If environmental action is something that comes from outside, uncoupled from any change in the way we lead our lives, does it still deliver what the environmentalist spirit craves?" (http://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/geoengineering/)
Some environmentalists fear that successful geoengineering might allow mankind to escape climate damnation without "confessing sin and resolving to live a new life of grace." Yet if we accept that the warming problem is serious—and that even perfect compliance with the Paris Accords, for example, falls short—why would we fail to explore all solutions?
Complex problems are rarely solved easily. Solutions to climate change that require faithful adherence to all parts of the environmental gospel are nearly impossible to implement across a diverse planet. A realistic climate change policy is unlikely to satisfy environmental purists. So unless you prefer righteousness to effectiveness, compromise will be required.
Let's support research into solar geoengineering, like that begun at Harvard University. Let's acknowledge that the fastest and surest path to retiring coal comes from a switch to natural gas, secured through properly regulated hydrofracking. Let's not close the door on nuclear power: Consider the track record of modern nuclear power—even the plants built with 50-year-old technology have a remarkable safety record. Newer designs are worthy of our consideration. Let's pass a carbon tax that will spur effective deployment of wind, solar and battery technology plus ideas not yet discovered. Policies that discourage carbon fuels will be much more effective than policies that single out one technology or another for subsidy.
The separation of church and state should also apply to environmental policy. Let's look for solutions, not purity of thought and behavior. Dialogue between left and right on climate change will be less divisive if we look for compromise. And lighten up on the guilt.
Kent Gardner is chief economist and chief research officer of the Center for Governmental Research Inc.


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Pet Profile
Blanca 18-096Gender: Female
Age: 1 1/2
Weight: 80 pounds
Breed: Great Pyrenees
Spay/Neuter: Spayed/Neutered
Thanks to Angela Elizandro For Giving Me a Second Chance!
Blanca 18-096's Bio
Blanca was found wandering in a ditch, emaciated and apparently was or had been nursing puppies, although they were never found. She is the absolute queen of distinguished. She is gentle and loving and gorgeous to boot! She is low energy and would prefer to hang on the couch with you if she has the choice. She gets along well with other dogs, but has not been tested with cats. Blanca is in the Paws In Prison program where she receives obedience training. She is expected to graduate from the program on 9/14/18. The dogs in this program are trained under the AKC Canine Good Citizen standards and are specifically selected family and companion dogs. They spend 24 hours a day with their trainers. For that reason, they will do best in homes where they are primarily inside dogs and spend lots of time with their families. The adoptive family will receive Blanca's training journal. This journal documents her arrival from the shelter, daily training progress, and her interactions with her trainers. If you are interested in meeting Blanca or learning more about the adoption process, please visit our website and submit our online adoption application here: