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This page is intended to collect examples from Church History where the Church has promoted Scripture study and Bible reading. I wanted to make this page because I have often heard people claim that the Church discouraged Bible reading for part of its history, and I think that's not true. So what about you, friends? Do you know of any other sources showing that the Church has always promoted Bible reading and Scripture study?
Promotion of Scripture Study & Bible Reading in Church History
410 A.D. - St. Jerome - "[I follow] the command[s] of Christ: Search the Scriptures, and Seek and you shall find. Christ will not say to me what he said to the Jews: You erred, not knowing the Scriptures and not knowing the power of God. ... [For] ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ." (Commentary on Isaiah Book 18)
Before 604 A.D. - Pope St. Gregory I - "The Emperor of heaven, the Lord of men and of angels, has sent you His epistles for your life's advantage—and yet you neglect to read them eagerly. Study them, I beg you, and meditate daily on the words of your Creator. Learn the heart of God in the words of God, that you may sigh more eagerly for things eternal, that your soul may be kindled with greater longings for heavenly joys." Letters, 5, 46.
~630 A.D. - St. Isidore of Seville - "These bookcases of ours hold a great many books. … Here the venerable volumes of the two Laws shine forth, [the] New joined together with the Old." "Behold and read, you who so desire, if you wish. Here lay your sluggishness aside, put off your fastidiousness of mind. Believe me, brother, you will return thence a more learned man. But perhaps you say, 'Why do I need this now? For I would think no study still remains for me: I have unrolled histories and hurried through all the law.' Truly, if you say this, then you yourself still know nothing." (From the Poem Written in his Library)
798 A.D. - St. Alcuin of York - "Accustom the boys to...learn the sacred Scriptures, [so] that when they are grown up they may teach others. … [S]tudy the text; understand its meaning [so] that you may both feed yourselves and feed others with the food of the spiritual life." Also: ~797 A.D. - "Therefore the reading of the Holy Scriptures is necessary, for in them each may learn what he must follow and what avoid." (Letters to the Monasteries of Lindisfarne and Hexham, at it appears in G.F. Browne, Alcuin of York, p. 136, 138)
866 A.D. - Pope St. Nicholas I - "[T]he Christian [ought to use Sunday] to go...to church, to engage in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, to spend time in prayer, to offer oblations, to communicate with the memories of the saints, to rise to imitate them, to concentrate on divine scriptures, and to distribute alms to the needy." (Letter 99, The Responses of Pope Nicholas I to the Questions of the Bulgars)
Before 1153 A.D. - St. Bernard of Clairvaux - "The person who thirsts for God eagerly studies and meditates on the inspired Word, knowing that there, he is certain to find the One for whom he thirsts." (Commentary on the Song of Songs, Sermon 23:3)
1199 A.D. - Pope Innocent III - "the desire to understand the divine Scriptures, and, according to the Scriptures themselves, the zeal to spread them, is not forbidden, but is rather commendable." (Cum Ex Injuncto, Condemning Unauthorized Translators and Preachers)
1215 A.D. - 12th Ecumenical Council - "[In] each cathedral church there should be provided a suitable [income] for a master who shall instruct without charge the [priests] of the cathedral church and other poor [students]... [Each] metropolitan church shall [also] have a theologian to teach scripture to priests and others and especially to instruct them in matters which are recognized as pertaining to the cure of souls." (Fourth Lateran Council Canon 11)
1234 A.D. - Code of Canon Law (as promulgated by Gregory IX, quoting Pope Innocent III) - "The desire to understand the divine Scriptures, and, according to the Scriptures themselves, the zeal to spread them, is not forbidden, but is rather commendable." (Decretals of Gregory IX Book 5 Title 7 Chapter 12)
1256 A.D. - St. Thomas Aquinas - In his inaugural lecture at the University of Paris, St. Thomas Aquinas lectured about three reasons to study Scripture based on a quotation from the book of Baruch. " 'This is the book of the commandments of God, and the law that is for ever. All that keep it shall come to life: but they that have forsaken it, to death. Baruch 4:1.' [St. Thomas speaking:] ...Sacred Scripture is [here] commended for three things. First, for the authority with which it charges: 'This is the book of the commandments of God.' Second, for the eternal truth with which it instructs, when it says, 'And the law that is forever.' Third, for the usefulness with which it entices, when it says, 'All that keep it shall come to life.' " (Thomas Aquinas, Hic Est Liber, 1256, in Ralph McInerny, Thomas Aquinas, Selected Writings, 5-6)
1382 A.D. - Pope Gregory XI - "[T]he kingdom of England [is] glorious…[for] its sacred learning; [and for] producing also many men illustrious for their exact knowledge of the Holy Scriptures." (Bull Against John Wycliffe)
1546 A.D. - 19th Ecumenical Council - "[Let all churches] at least have a master --- to be chosen by the bishop... --- to teach grammar gratuitously to clerics, and other poor [students], that so they may afterwards, with God's blessing, pass on to the said study of sacred Scripture. ... In the public colleges also...a lectureship [is] honourable [and] most necessary of all...[therefore] let [one] be established... Furthermore, those who are teaching the said sacred Scripture, as long as they teach publicly in the schools, as also the [students] who are studying in those schools, shall fully enjoy...[special] privileges..." (Council of Trent Session 5 Chapter 1) The Council also said that the reading of Scripture is "necessary to the Christian commonwealth." (Council of Trent Session 5 Chapter 2)
1778 A.D. - Pope Pius VI - "[Y]ou judge exceedingly well, that the faithful should be excited to the reading of the Holy Scriptures...by publishing the sacred writings in the language of your country, suitable to every one's capacity…" "[F]or these are the most abundant sources which ought to be left open to every one, to draw from them purity of morals and of doctrine, to eradicate the errors which are widely disseminated in these corrupt times." (Letter to the Most Rev. Anthony Martini, Archbishop Of Florence, on his Italian translation of the Bible. Translated and printed in the Haydock Bible, revised by the Very Reverend Dr. Husenbeth, 1884 AD. See Photograph)
1893 A.D. - Pope Leo XIII - "[We] have for a long time cherished the desire to give an impulse to the noble science of Holy Scripture, and to impart to Scripture study a direction suitable to the needs of the present day. [We] not only...desire that this grand source of Catholic revelation should be made safely and abundantly accessible to the flock of Jesus Christ, but also not to suffer any attempt to defile or corrupt it, either on the part of those who impiously and openly assail the Scriptures, or of those who are led astray into fallacious and imprudent novelties." (Providentissimus Deus 2)
1920 A.D. - Pope Benedict XV - "Our one desire for all the Church's children is that, being saturated with the Bible, they may arrive at the all surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ." (Spiritus Paraclitus 69)
And: "Jerome's teaching on the superexcellence and truth of Scripture is Christ's teaching. Wherefore we exhort all the Church's children...to follow closely in St. Jerome's footsteps. If they will but do so they will learn to prize as he prized the treasure of the Scriptures, and will derive from them most abundant and blessed fruit." (ibid. 30)
And: "[Jerome's] words...to the maiden Demetrias are really addressed to us all: 'Love the Bible and wisdom will love you; love it and it will preserve you; honor it and it will embrace you; these are the jewels which you should wear on your breast and in your ears.' " (ibid. 31)
And: "[As] far as in us lies…[we] shall, with St. Jerome as our guide, never desist from urging the faithful to read daily the Gospels, the Acts and the Epistles, so as to gather thence food for their souls." "Our thoughts naturally turn just now to the Society of St. Jerome, which we ourselves were instrumental in founding… The object of this Society is to put into the hands of as many people as possible the Gospels and Acts, so that every Christian family may have them and become accustomed to reading them. ... We earnestly hope, then, that similar Societies will be founded in your dioceses and affiliated to the parent Society here." (ibid. 43-44)
1943 - Pope Pius XII - "[We wish] to dissipate the idea that the Church is opposed to or in any way impedes the reading of the Scriptures in the vernacular. ... Bishops should...lend help to those pious associations whose aim it is to spread copies of the Sacred Letters, especially of the Gospels, among the faithful, and to procure by every means that in Christian families the same be read daily with piety and devotion." (Divino Afflante Spiritu 9, 51)
1956 - Pope Pius XII - "[It] is clear that the faithful must seek from Scripture, tradition and the sacred liturgy as from a deep untainted source...the nourishment for the fostering and development of their religious fervor." (Haurietis Aquas 100)


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There are two ways to schedule an inspection:
1. Online at Austin Build + Connect, our new online portal
- You must be a registered user. If not registered, you can register online.
- Click on "My Inspections" in the Menu option and follow the prompts.
- If you are experiencing difficulty, call 3-1-1, or e-mail DSD Help. If outside the City limits, please call 512-974-2000.
- Once registered, Live Chat is available for assistance Monday - Friday, 7:30 am to 4:30 pm.
2. By Phone on the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System
- Make sure you have your IVR personal identification number (PIN).
To get an IVR PIN, complete the form Inspection Agent Letter of Authorization and Request for IVR PIN Number (PDF). You can also pick up a form at the Inspections Office on the third floor of One Texas Center, 505 Barton Springs Road, or request a form by calling 3-1-1. Upon completion, e-mail the form to email@example.com, or submit the form to the Inspections Office and a PIN number will be assigned upon submittal.
- Call the IVR number: (512) 974-9405
- Choose one of the following:
(1) Schedule Inspections (see requirements below)
(2) Obtain status on inspections
(3) Cancel the Inspection
- Enter your IVR PIN
- Enter your ten-digit permit number
- Enter the three-digit inspection code.Your required inspections and related Codes are noted on the printed Permit.
Note: Inspections are usually performed within 24 hours after scheduling, but an inspector's workload can delay a scheduled inspection until the next business day or 48 hours after scheduling.
How to contact your Inspector
If you have a question about your scheduled inspection, you may contact your inspector (View contact list below). Calls to an inspector may not be answered immediately because they are conducting an inspection or driving. When contacting your inspector, and he/she does not immediately answer, please consider one of the following options:
View list of Inspectors Names and contact information.
When choosing a contractor for your project, be sure to look for a licensed contractor who will go through the proper permitting process with the City of Austin. Read our tips on selecting a contractor.
Can I plant or remove a tree in the public Right of Way?
Trees that are located within the public Right of Way are public trees, and are regulated by the Public Works Department. Planting or removal of trees in the public Right of Way requires approval by the City of Austin.
My neighbor's tree limbs are growing over my property line - can I prune these limbs?
This can be a tricky issue. Prior to any action occurring neighbors are encouraged to interact and discuss their concerns. Legally, this is a civil matter between the property owners. Typically a landowner may remove vegetation that crosses their property line (or the air space directly above it). We encourage establishing a plan that has been approved by all parties. We also encourage using ideal pruning techniques. *Note - No more than 25% of the canopy can be removed without a permit if the tree is protected size.
Will the City pick up my tree and yard clippings?
The City's Austin Resource Recovery (formerly Solid Waste Services) manages these concerns.
Will the City prune or remove my tree?
The property owner is responsible for tree removal or required maintenance. If the tree is located on public property the City may perform the work.
Who can I contact about trees around power lines?
For questions about trimming around power lines contact Austin Energy's tree trimming hotline at (512) 322- 6771 or email firstname.lastname@example.com. If a tree has fallen on a powerline, then contact the Austin Energy call center at (512) 494 9400.
Who can I contact about other problems with trees?
There are multiple tree-related concerns that will determine if the City can assist you. Are limbs hampering traffic flow? Is a fallen tree clogging a waterway? Has a tree fallen on utility lines? Is a tree blocking the alley? Is a tree creating a blind spot at an intersection? For any of these issues you can can simply call 3-1-1.
Is ball moss killing my tree? In most cases, the answer is no. For a full explanation, read our fact file on ball moss.
There is something wrong with my trees. Can someone come out and look at them? The City of Austin does not provide tree consulting for citizens. While we are happy to answer basic questions over the phone or via email, we can not provide a full diagnosis of what may be ailing your tree(s). We recommend consulting with a certified arborist for those questions. Below are a few links that can help you find a Certified arborist in your area.
Oak Wilt - Please view our Oak Wilt Suppression page.
Can you recommend a good arborist? While we can not recommend specific arborists, we can certainly help you find a certified arborist that specializes in what you need. First however, it is important to know the difference between a consulting arborist and an arborist that trims and/or removes trees. Many arborists may do both, but typically if you need a diagnosis for what is wrong with your trees, you should hire a consulting arborist. If you have a tree that has been storm damaged or is dead, you should hire an arborist that specializes in tree trimming or removal. These links below can help you find an ISA Certified arborist in your area.
Tree Planting and Tree Selection Information
Please view the videos listed below:
What size trees are protected?
A protected size tree is determined by measuring the tree trunk at 4.5 feet above ground. This is commonly known as DBH (diameter at breast height). A tree within the Austin city limits is protected once it reaches 19 inches. Diameter = Circumference / 3.1416 and Circumference = Diameter X 3.1416.
What is the review process for a tree removal permit?
Click here to learn more about the review and application submittal process.
Click here to view Code Regulations about protected sized trees.
What is the purpose of a tree survey?
A tree survey tag is usually an aluminum circular or rectangular label attached to the tree trunk. A tag is used for physically identifying a tree with a specific number. This number is referenced on a site plan or survey. It does not mean the tree is marked to be saved or removed.
Who do I contact if I have a tree removal question?
Please email us at: firstname.lastname@example.com or contact 311
What are some benefits of trees? Trees supply character to a landscape, create a sense-of-place, provide a habitat for plants and animals, promote interacting within the community, temper local climate, reduce storm water runoff/erosion, diminish building lines, conceal unsightly views, provide solitude, assist in conserving energy, and increase property values.
Can you identify what type of tree this is? There are over 100 tree species in the Hill Country area. Access the following sites for additional information: Austin Grow Green and Texas A&M Horticulture - Texas Native Trees.
How do I measure a tree? See the Tree_Measurement_Diagram.
How do you tell the age of a tree? The Texas Forest Service states, "Every year a tree goes through a growing season when conditions are right for it to gain size. A ring forms on the inside of tree for each year that tree has been alive. A simple core sample can be taken using a special tool known as an increment borer. The rings on this core sample are then counted to determine the age of that tree."
For questions about zoning or to obtain zoning verification of a property, contact the Development Assistance Center, at 512-978-4000.
For questions about a Certificate of Occupancy, contact the Development Services Department, Building Inspections, at 512- 978-4000.
The Development Services Department is located at 505 Barton Springs Road.
Since 1931, all residential buildings in Austin have been required to have a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) for its current use. Sometimes a homeowner discovers their property does not have a CO on record, in which case a new one (known as an Amnesty Certificate of Occupancy) must be obtained. If your property qualifies for an Amnesty CO, the application can be found in Residential Building Review's forms and applications, which can be found here along with their location and hours of operation. Submit a complete application package to Residential Building Review during general information walk-in hours. If you do not meet the requirements (your house was built after 1986), then you must reenter the permitting process to obtain a new CO. Looking to get a CO for a non-residential property? Your process will begin with the Development Assistance Center (DAC).
A home occupation is a commercial use that is accessory to a residential use. A home occupation must comply with the requirements of Section 25-2-900 of the Austin City Code.
Advertising a home occupation by a sign on the premises is prohibited, except as provided under Section 25-10-156 (Home Occupation Signs). Advertising the street address of a home occupation through signs, billboards, television, radio, or newspapers is prohibited.
The following are prohibited as home occupations:
For information about Residential Tours and Garage Sales, please visit sections 25-2-902 and 25-2-903 of the code.
For more information contact the Development Assistance Center, (512) 974-6370.
The City of Austin requires a permit for any person, firm or corporation to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, improve, remove, convert, move or demolish any building or structure within the City's zoning jurisdiction or in a Municipal Utility District (MUD) if the consent agreement between the MUD and the City requires insurance of a permit prior to construction. Unless specifically exempted by the City Code, permits are required within the City's zoning jurisdiction; in MUDs or for electrical and plumbing work in other areas outside the City's zoning jurisdiction where City utilities are provided. A separate permit is required for each building or structure where work occurs.
A permit expires on the 181st day if the project has not scheduled nor received an inspection. A "Canceled" and/or "Failed/No Work Performed" inspection result does not extend the expiration date.
Questions regarding fences are common. This page has some helpful information on fencing and its regulation in the City of Austin.
Inside the City Limits (full purpose annexation) – Zoning, Subdivision, Site plan, Building, Trade and Concrete permits required.
If your property is totally within the City of Austin and you are erecting, constructing, enlarging, altering, repairing, improving, removing, converting, moving, demolishing any building or structure, you are required to obtain a City of Austin Building Permit, a site plan (development permit), or a site plan exemption. Depending on the extent of your work, you may be required to obtain one or more of the following permits
Inside the City Limits (limited purpose annexation) – The same rules above apply. In addition, Travis County requires development permits, building permits and driveway permits.
Extra-territorial Jurisdiction (not limited purpose annexation) – The extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ) is that area extending five miles outside the City of Austin corporate limits. All development in the ETJ is required to obtain site plan (development permit) approvals or site plan exemptions from the City. In addition, plumbing and/or electrical permits may be required if the project is served by City utilities (ETJ fees will be assessed in addition to the permit fees). Development and driveway permits are required by Travis County and Hays County.
All areas inside the city limits and/or ETJ (other commonly required approvals):
Contact the Planning and Development Review Department for information regarding permitting requirements at (512) 978-4000.
Demolition permits are necessary if you remove any portion of an exterior wall, roof, or structure.
Demolition permits are not required for the removal of interior walls.
More information is available on the Demolition & Relocation page.
On average, it takes 15 business days for your permit application to be reviewed once submitted and paid.
There are two ways to check the status of your permit application:
Review staff will be assigned once the application has been paid and processed, which can take a couple of days.
Once assigned, you may contact your reviewer via email or telephone, which can be found three different ways:
(Qless is our remote check-in system. It allows you to sign-in remotely and reduce the time spent waiting in the reception area for service.)
Residential – Express & Total Demo
Use this line if you are turning in an express application or a total demolition.
Residential – Permit Application Submittals
Use this line if you are turning in an application, update, or revision that is not an express or a total demolition.
Residential – Structural & Building Safety Assistance
For questions related to how a structure should be constructed or related to the International Building Code.
Residential – Zoning & Process Help
For questions regarding zoning of a property, what can be built on the property, or if you have general questions regarding the application or submittal requirements.
The new review times chart on the Review Times For Residential Plan Review page became effective on May 16, 2017.
These review times will be reviewed on an annual basis beginning in Fiscal Year 2018 and may be adjusted based on the availability of additional resources, the mandate of additional code requirements without additional resources, or a reduction of development within the City of Austin.
A scaled drawing is one that shows the object with accurate size reduction or enlargement by a certain amount and can be measured with a common architectural or engineer scale.
A common scale for floor plans is 1/4" = 1'-0" (one quarter inch is equal to one foot).
If you are hand drawing your plans, use graph paper to make it easier to draw to scale.
Graph paper comes in various sizes, including a size where each square measures 1/4" (one quarter inch), making it easy for each square to represent 1'-0" (one foot).
Our review staff uses both architectural and engineering scales for measuring plans to check they meet code requirements.
These scales are similar to rulers and can be purchased at office supply, hobby shops, and at some reprographic companies.
If staff cannot verify a measurement, this will lead to delays in the plan review process.
You can find websites and videos online to help you use and read an architectural or engineering scale.
A reviewer may also help you during a free 20 minute consultation.
Impervious cover is any type of surface that doesn't absorb rainfall. Surfaces such as stone, rooftops, patios, driveways, sidewalks, roadways, parking lots, and some decks are considered impervious cover. Uncovered wooden decks count as 50% impervious cover.
Impervious cover does not include sidewalks or paving in the public right-of-way or water features such as ponds, fountains, and water detention basins, porous pavement. Access ramps used for the disabled can be exempted if they meet the requirements of Section 25-8-63(C)(10) of the Land Development Code. You can meet with a reviewer to discuss the details if you believe you might be eligible.
Dependent on zoning designation, a certain percentage of impervious cover is permitted on a property. A reviewer can help you calculate your impervious cover, but if you would like to do it yourself, download this Building and Impervious Cover Calculation Aid spreadsheet.
After the Property Profile page loads, follow these steps:
Once you have determined what you want to build: a new home, addition, renovation, deck, shed, etc., Residential Review staff can guide you to applicable regulations.
Review staff are available 8:00am to noon on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, for free 20 minute consultations to answer your questions. If you need more time you may schedule a Residential Preliminary Plan Review paid consultation.
Depending on your project needs, you may want to hire a licensed professional such as an engineer, architect, or surveyor to provide assistance with the project or completing the permitting process. Your reviewer can tell you which parts of your application need to be filled out by a licensed professional during your consultation.
Some customers also choose to hire permit expediters to help them apply for permits. You can search for permit expediters on the internet.
Revisions where no review is necessary are Minor Revisions.
Examples of minor revisions are removing sidewalk in exchange for fee in lieu of, or adding trade (electrical, mechanical, plumbing) permits that do not change the scope of work.
All revisions requiring a review are considered Major Revisions.
Reprographic companies can assist with reprinting your plans to scale.
These companies are similar to a copy shop but are used throughout the construction industry for printing and scanning construction plans.
You can search for local reprographic companies on the internet.
A zoning change can be requested by submitting an application to the Intake division of the Development Services Department. Please contact (512) 974-7208, (512) 974-2681 or (512) 974-2350 to schedule an appointment. A pre-application conference with planners in the Development Assistance Center is encouraged.

subset: commoncrawl


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According to leading market researchers one third of adults have reduced or eliminated gluten in their diets. With Celiac patients only accounting for one percent of the population, a lot of research has gone into these new gluten-free foods, whether they are healthy, and if people without Celiac should be eating them. Lets clear up the gluten confusion...
What is gluten?
Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, barley and rye. The protein is also an additive in many foods including bread, pasta, food coloring, malt, beer, salad dressings and many other processed foods.
Who should be gluten free?
Celiac Disease
In the past, the only patients who were advised to go gluten free were those who had Celiac disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition in which the body's immune system causes damage in the cells of the intestine after the ingestion of gluten. This damage can be quite serious and cause mal-absorption issues and severe pain. If you think you might have Celiac disease, please discuss the appropriate testing with your physician.
Wheat Allergy
Wheat allergy is a true allergic reaction that can cause anaphylaxis at its most severe state. Most often found in children, wheat allergy is frequently outgrown by the age of 3 for many children, and by age 12 for the majority. While these patients can eat some gluten from non-wheat sources because the gluten free products on the market are wheat free, they provide more options to those with this allergy.
Gluten Intolerance
Gluten Intolerance is a new term coined to define the people who don't fall into the above categories but still have issues when they consume gluten. While some of the buzz about gluten intolerance is pure hype, built up to sell a product, there are also people who really do suffer when they consume gluten. If you believe you fall into this category you can work with a dietitian, do an elimination diet, or keep a food journal to see if you actually are intolerant to gluten.
Are gluten free foods healthy?
There has been a lot of debate in the media about whether a gluten free diet is healthy or whether it can actually do you harm. The short answer is: BOTH. What really matters is what kind of gluten free foods you are eating. As with any healthy eating plan, the more processed foods you eat, the more unhealthy your diet will be. With the addition of tons of processed, quick gluten free foods to the market what could have been a healthy eating plan turned into the equivalent of fast food meals. If you eat these types of processed foods that are high in sugar, salt and fat while being low in fiber your health will pay.
On the flip side, if you stick to the outer perimeter of the grocery store and pick whole foods that are naturally gluten free you can maintain optimum nutrition levels.
Should I talk to my doctor?
If you have not been diagnosed with Celiac disease, a wheat allergy or gluten intolerance and believe you suffer from one of those conditions, it is important to get an accurate diagnosis. There are additional things your physician will want to monitor if you have one of these conditions. For example, those with celiac may need to be monitored for any nutrient deficiencies due to mal-absorption. Many with wheat allergy may have additional allergies that are important to determine and may require the patient to carry an Epi-pen.
With all of the confusion out there it's important to resist the urge to self diagnose through books or online groups. Getting an accurate diagnosis and following it with the proper nutrition and treatment can get you feeling well quickly and prevents missing other conditions with similar symptoms.
Jennifer has a bachelor's degree in dietetics as well as graduate work in public health and nutrition.She has worked with families dealing with digestive disease, asthma and food allergies for the past 12 years.Jennifer also serves the Board of Directors for Pediatric Adolescent Gastroesophageal Reflux Association (PAGER).
See More Helpful Articles:
Celiac Disease: Preventing Cross Contamination
How to Eat Gluten-Free on a Budget


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Holiday Candlelight Stroll
Fri 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
$21/Adult, $12/Children 3-11, Free 2 & Under
Learn about the origin of holiday traditions on this 90-minute tour through Annapolis' historic district. Includes an interior tour of the historic Hammond Harwood House decorated for the holidays. Annapolis is beautifully decorated during the holiday season and it's the perfect setting for a wintry candlelight stroll with a period dressed guide. The perfect way to get in the holiday spirit!
1 1/2 Hour Tour (1 hour walking, 1/2 hour inside Hammond Harwood House)
7:00 p.m. Tour Departs From:
City Dock Information Booth
1 Dock Street
Annapolis, MD 21401


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SleepoversQuality of Care is our hallmark! DogWood Kennel will house your pet safely and affordably in some truly awesome space that is clean and healthy with lots of natural light and fresh air. Rooms have soft, soothing background music or pet-themed TV entertainment and, of course, our well-trained, pet-loving, friendly staff who will go out of their way to make your pet's stay fantastic. DWK is a place pets ask to return to! Sleepovers include meals, at least six potty walks a day, and a soft bed. Our first potty walk is at 6:00am, and our final walk of the day is at 7pm. We offer a discount for additional family pets sharing appropriately sized-accommodations. Many of our sleepover guests add DayPlay to their boarding reservations for an additional $18 a day.
The Midways — $37.00 a nightWe pride ourselves in customizing care for our guests! Our Midways are indoor accommodations, perfect for the small to mid-sized dog. Active dogs who are busy with DayPlay activities also do well in these cozy rooms, as do our older dogs who just like to kick back and relax. Adjoining Midways, priced separately, are available for those family dogs who want some together time but prefer to eat or sleep separately.
The Glass Flats — $47.00 a nightNeed more space? Our Glass Flats are nearly double the size of our Midways. They will allow your little one to caper or your larger pet to stretch out. These indoor rooms in their private hallway are perfect for the larger dog with plenty of space for our large raised bed with room to spare. Guests are taken outside a minimum of six times a day, with even more frequent outings for those who participate in group play.
The Deluxe Suites — $62.00 a nightOur deluxe suites have the choicest amenities, and they are intended for those regal guests who are accustomed to privilege and luxury. These suites offer a total of 96 square feet of lavish indoor and outdoor space. DWK deluxe suites are large enough for two or three family pets to board together. These rooms have TVs, indoor and outdoor windows, and private outdoor runs, weather permitting. Nightly movies are an option for those guests who like the ambient entertainment. In-floor radiant heat is zoned, so reserve a room in the cooler south wing for your large furry companion who prefers his space to be cool, or a room in the north wing for your short-haired snuggler who likes to be cuddled in a warm bundle. Book early for a suite with a web-cam to watch your pet from afar for a daily charge plus a small set-up fee (limited availability, personal data charges may apply). Suites are individually decorated and available on a first request basis.
The Ultimate Suites — $75.00 a nightOur ultimate suites come with super-sized floor space, 144 spacious indoor and outdoor square feet. These personalized rooms are large enough to accommodate several family pets. In fact, there's space for your kitty or your parrot to board with your dogs if you have a menagerie. Each room has an indoor and outdoor window, a private outside run (with day-long access, weather permitting), a TV for quiet-time entertainment, and fun-themed decor to add variety to each visit. Webcams for family check-ins from a distance are available for a daily charge plus a small set-up fee (limited availability, personal data charges apply). Choose from the cool south wing or the warmer north wing. You may just want to skip the vacation and do your own sleepover!
Additional pets — $27.00 a nightA second or third sibling pet from the same household who can share the same appropriate-sized accommodation is welcome to stay for an additional $25 a night. Of course, our staff reserve the option to separate pets who might tire of sharing space after a few days. Separate feeding accommodations may necessitate an additional charge.
Cat Condos — $28.00 a nightThese unique enclosures are exclusive to our feline guests. Cats are kept close to the people in a private area where they are separated from the activities of the dogs by a sound-barrier wall. Adjoining rooms have portals and shuttles to make up a kitty complex. Condos can be expanded to house additional family cats for $14 each. A stay at DWK is purr-fect fun!
Special Drop-off and Pick-up Times & Charges (Please arrange these in advance.)* Monday through Friday drop-off and pick-up times are 7:00 to 9:00am and 4:30 to 6:30pm. Alternate weekday drop-off and pick-up times between 9am and 4:30pm are available for no extra charge during the week.
* Weekend lobby hours are Saturday morning 7:00 to 9:00am and Sunday evening 4:30 to 6:30pm. Alternate weekend drop-off and pick-up times can be arranged as an appointment for an additional $40 staffing charge for Saturdays after 9:00am and Sundays before 4:30pm.


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The U.S. State Department said Tuesday a number of countries around the world have made progress over the last year on freedom of religion. The department's annual report on the issue, mandated by Congress, again listed eight nations as countries of particular concern for curbs on religious practice.
The State Department says there have been at least marginal gains in the protection of religious freedom world-wide over the past year, though it has again listed eight countries as serious violators of religious rights and says it might soon add one or two more nations to that list.
The report issued Tuesday was the seventh annual assessment of religious freedom world-wide issued by the State Department under a 1998 act of Congress.
The list of countries of particular concern, a designation that could mean U.S. sanctions, was the same as in 2004 and included Burma, China, North Korea, Eritrea, Iran, Sudan, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam.
However, the United States and Vietnam reached an agreement earlier this year under which the Hanoi government has pledged to take a series of steps to improve its record on the issue.
At a news conference releasing the new report, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Vietnam may be dropped from the list next time:
"We're committed to seeking improvements in each of these countries, improvements like those we've actually seen in Vietnam, which been further advanced by agreements on religious freedom that our governments signed just this last May," she says. "If Vietnam's record of improvement continues, it would enable us to eventually remove Vietnam from the list of countries of particular concern."
Ms. Rice postponed imposing penalties on key Gulf ally Saudi Arabia in September to give authorities there another 180 days to show progress on the treatment of religious minorities.
As it did last year, the 2005 report said flatly that freedom of religion does not exist in Saudi Arabia and that basic religious rights are denied to all but those who adhere to the state-sanctioned version of Sunni Islam.
However John Hanford, the State Department's special ambassador on religious freedom, did credit Saudi authorities with positive steps including the firing of some clergymen who preached intolerance.
He also said that despite laws forbidding other faiths, Saudi authorities have in effect been looking the other way and tolerated some non-sanctioned religious activity:
"In the case of Saudi Arabia, on the law books, on the books, it really doesn't exist. Virtually nothing is tolerated," Mr. Hanford says. "In practice, we are pleased that they allow on any given week, hundreds of thousands of people privately to meet and to worship. There are important exceptions to this, and we hope that those exceptions will disappear."
Mr. Hanford said Secretary of State Rice can be expected to raise the religious-freedom issue when she visits Saudi Arabia late this week for the first annual U.S. Saudi strategic dialogue.
The ambassador said varying degrees of progress on religious freedom have been made in a number of countries over the past year including Turkmenistan, Qatar and India.
He said while serious religious-freedom problems remain in Pakistan, the government there has continued to make public calls for religious tolerance and has taken some positive tangible steps including moves to revise blasphemy laws and school curriculums.
Mr. Hanford said that among the countries of particular concern, Burma, Iran, North Korea, and Eritrea, which was hit with U.S. trade sanctions in September, have not been willing to engage the United States in any meaningful way on religious issues.
He said the same can be said for other countries where serious problems have been noted and said one or two could be added to the list soon.
He did not name them, but said later in the press appearance that Uzbekistan's crackdown on Muslim factions perceived as subversive is problematic:
"In thousands of cases, authorities have asserted membership in banned political organizations that encourage terrorism based solely on outward expression by Muslims of their devout beliefs," Mr. Hanford says. "The government has also made false assertions of membership in extremist organizations as a pretext for repressing the innocent expression of religious belief."
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, a congressionally funded bipartisan group, has asked that Uzbekistan be included among the list of serious violators because of what it says is its deteriorating record.
Human rights groups say the Bush administration has a clear justification for adding Uzbekistan after the violent crackdown on protesters in the Uzbek city of Andijan last May.
The Uzbek government denies targeting Muslims for their faith but says extremists want to set up Islamic rule in the Central Asian state.


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Me + Jiten ^_^
CHU <3 November 28, 2009
Helper Monkey November 21, 2009
So at least we're keeping it weekly.
That's good right?
….Okay, so I'm doing a 2000 word essay and Shib is drawing. She hasn't come close to finishing summat to post up and I've worked as much as I will tonight, so I give you Helper Monkey.
…I refuse to wear a leash regardless of how much I help her…
University People 1 November 14, 2009
Just some people from my uni classes, drawn from photos/memory
Run Outta Art November 8, 2009
Sorry folks. It's been a long time coming, but after 200 posts (1 a day), Shib has run outta artwork to post.
In effect, posts will be sporadic but we'll be trying to post at least once a week. So fear not!! Cute and cool will still be coming. If we can't post in a week, I'll post some of my own stuff…
My artwork tends to involve abstracts.
And cheese.
Genetically modified anthropomorphic cheese.
Pray it doesn't come to that…
Girl Commission Line Art
I drew this as a commission for someone…. that thing on the side is a skirt i had to add on coz they didn't like the shorts lol
from now on Me + Jiten are only gonna post once a week mmkay?
Purple Squishy Bunny November 7, 2009
Wunjo November 6, 2009
Some work for an art trade is all I know this picture by…
Shib's trying to remember the story behind this picture as I type…


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I've given a lot of thought to how we assess our students in history recently. By getting rid of the National Curriculum levels the door has been opened to a host of opportunities, releasing the shackles of restrictive level descriptors. I've thought long and hard about whether the assessments I give my students actually work and importantly whether they are actually assessing their progression as historians.
The short answer is possibly not. In my department we have a series of very good Assessments (and I am purposely using a capital A). They brilliantly assess whether students are progressing in terms of the second order concepts (causality, interpretations, significance, etc.) as laid down in the old National Curriculum levels. But they are snap shots and as such fail to really assess (now with a lower case a) how they are progressing as historians as a whole.
For example, this term my Year 8s have learnt about changes in power over the 17th century by studying James I, Charles I, the Civil War, Cromwell, the Restoration and ended up at the Glorious Revolution. The Assessment on this unit gets the students to write to Professor Hutton at Bristol University (we genuinely send the best off) to challenge his interpretation of Cromwell. It's a winner of an Assessment and they produce great outcomes as a result. But it only assesses them at one tiny part of being a historian and only on one tiny part of their learning. This does not mean that I want to get rid of this Assessment or even tweak it. It is a perfect vehicle to allow them to challenge themselves in terms of interpretation and get their heads stuck in to a piece of history that is manageable, achievable and allows them to succeed. However, restricting the Assessment to this one topic means I have never really assessed how they have progressed as historians on the whole this term – what extra stuff they know, what their understanding of the bigger picture is and how their knowledge of substantive concepts have progressed over all the topics we have studies. Obviously, I know this to some extent as I constantly assess my students by questioning them, doing discussion work and marking individual pieces of work in their books. But if I am honest I have come to the realisation that I am not sure that I ever really do this formally enough to allow me to push them as far as possible as historians or to see if I am actually teaching them everything I had hoped.
If we want our students to become excellent historians we need to assess whether we are doing this. Decent historians (in my humble opinion) will do the following (in no particular order):
- Know lots of facts (stuff – dates, names, events)
- Improve their understanding of substantive concepts (war, power, monarchy, empire, etc.)
- Develop big picture overviews of the past
- Enhance their understanding of second order concepts
- Build a chronological framework
- Become more analytical and critical when working with evidence
How often have you assessed if your students can do all this? I haven't done it as much as I'd like to. As I said above, I've done it on a micro level in a lesson but I have never really properly done it on a macro level to assess learning over a longer period of time.
So what I am proposing? Current Assessments at our school work. Whether we like it or not, they periodically provide the numbers that school want and that SLT pour over. They also very competently provide excellent snap shots at how students cope with extended learning tasks that prepare them for and give an indicator of performance in examinations. Plus, in a world where children are obsessed with grades they give them this piecemeal. I won't change this. I can't, and our SLT, like many others nationwide, won't yet allow it. However, I am not so interested in Assessments, I am really interested in assessments. To summarise the important difference.
- Assessments – big one off snap shot pieces that produce a number/level/grade.
- assessments – small tasks that allow you as a teacher to evaluate students on all the other bits and bobs that make a decent historian.
So the question is how do we do the second bit? And importantly how do we integrate it so that our lessons aren't made dull and our students don't feel even more tested than they already are? I'm not sure I completely know the answer yet but that's why I am interested. It's also why this will form the focus of my practice this year, along with a number of other Bristol history teachers who have formed an assessment working party.
However, this term I have already tried out a few different strategies, some have worked better than others! They are detailed below:
Timelines to test big picture
I want to know that my students have the 'big picture', how all the little events and individuals add up to explain a larger narrative. This is the case in KS3, KS4 and KS5. This term I tried out giving students a timeline test in Year 11. I gave them a blank timeline from 1919 to 1933 and asked them to annotate it to explain how Hitler came to power. I told them I didn't just want a list of events, but for them to explain, in order how you get from 1919 to 1933.
Some were superb and really showed they understood the topic:
Some took a more thematic approach and definitely showed they understood it:
And some showed they had obvious gaps in their knowledge and understanding:
It took ten minutes and even less time to mark but allowed me to really evaluate the extent to which they understood this fundamental narrative. As a result I would definitely do it again both in KS3 and KS5.
'Big questions' about the big picture
Following my concerns above about Year 8 I decided I would give them a 'Big Picture' question. So unaided I gave them the question "How has the nature of power changed in these 100 years [the 17th century]?" I told them to think about monarchy and parliament and left them to it. A few did get it and produced answers that showed they had a developed understanding of the big picture I had intended on them getting from this term.
However, the majority (no photos sorry!) had very little clue. They had great knowledge of the discrete units I had taught them e.g. Cromwell and the Civil War, but lacked an understanding of how these events tied together. I was surprised at this. In class they had shown an understanding in discussion, or so I thought, but maybe I was relying on those few who like the examples above did get it. Either way this has highlighted that I have some work to do. This unit needs to be heavily tweaked to ensure there is a narrative thread running throughout these discrete units so that I can produce better historians at the other end. A very worthy exercise.
Substantive concepts questions
Year 9 have studied WW1 all term but I wanted to know what they had learnt about the nature of warfare more generally. How their perceptions about this substantive concept had changed and how they thought their learning had progressed. So I got them to write this down. Simple. The results were fascinating:
I have picked a few of the best above but it was a genuinely worthwhile activity. It allowed me to easily assess whether they had 'got it' this term and importantly for them allowed them the space to reflect on their learning and actually consider why they thought they had progressed. Again it took a few minutes but was hugely worthwhile.
This theme will be returned to each term in this blog so do check back in again to see where I have got to. Also if you have any better ideas or would like to comment on this please do, it's something I know I need to work on and the more collaboration the better.
p.s. Thanks to Ian Dawson and Sally Thorne who I have bored witless about this in last few weeks. Your advice was invaluable as ever folks.


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This is a real wedding proposal video made by Michael Justin Films for a man named John and his future wife. It tells the story of how John became the luckiest man alive once he met his soon-to-be bride. John and the team at Michael Justin Films worked together for about 5 months shooting and recreating some of the stories and memories of his childhood and also imagining some of his later years in life as a married couple.
This is definitely one of the sweetest proposal videos I've ever seen! Thanks Joyce!


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Gradient refractive index antireflection films are produced by a chemical etch/leach process applied to glasses sensitized by a phase-separating heat treatment. The reflectance (two surfaces) is effectively reduced from ~ 8% to < 1/2% in the wavelength regime 0.35–2.5 μ. The broadband antireflection film consists of a single, porous, skeletal layer made up largely of silica. The optical properties of the film are shown to depend on the time, temperature parameters of the phase-separating heat treatment, as well as the time, temperature parameter of the film-forming etch/leach treatment. The properties of films produced under different process conditions are correlated in a fashion that suggests that progressively steeper refractive index gradients are obtained for samples phase separated and formed at higher temperatures. A number of applications for these films are suggested, including solar energy devices.
© 1976 Optical Society of AmericaFull Article | PDF Article
OSA Recommended Articles
M. J. Minot
J. Opt. Soc. Am. 67(8) 1046-1050 (1977)
Ulrike Schulz, Friedrich Rickelt, Henning Ludwig, Peter Munzert, and Norbert Kaiser
Opt. Mater. Express 5(6) 1259-1265 (2015)
Bulent E. Yoldas and Deborah P. Partlow
Appl. Opt. 23(9) 1418-1424 (1984)


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FAYETTEVILLE, AR (KNWA) – A Siloam Springs man is behind bars after police say he raped a 10-year-old girl.
The Siloam Springs Police Department said Jose Garcia-Chicol, 33, was booked into the Benton County Jail on Monday. He faces a charge of rape (two counts).
Police said the victim came forward on Saturday to speak with authorities.
On Sunday, police interviewed Garcia-Chicol, and he denied all of the accusations against him. He was later arrested.
A check of the suspect's criminal history revealed he had none, police said.
His bond has been set at $75,000, and his next hearing is scheduled for January 22, 2018, jail records state.
*According to jail records, Garcia-Chicol has already been released on bail.


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What began in Selma, Alabama on March 7, 1965 as a peaceful one day protest, degenerated into a 3 week odyssey that wound its way through the Courts and into the living rooms of all America. Terry Lenzner was there. He was a young, idealistic assistant attorney for the Justice Department who had just cut his teeth the year before on the murder of the 3 Civil Rights workers in Philadelphia, Mississippi.
With a clear and crisp style, Mr. Lenzner takes us on a journey through the decades of the Civil Rights Movement; with all its attendant violence and moral outrage; and on into the Watergate Affair and beyond. From his first work with Robert Kennedy's Department of Justice, and on through his later work as an independent Legal Investigator, he has been a front row participant in much of the history of the 1960's and 1970's.
The author defended the Berrigan Brothers for their ant-war activities, which were controversial to even those in the anti-war movement. His portrayal of the men, and their cause, were a bit of an eye opener for me, as the author paints a picture of the nuns and the brothers, taking communion with wine smuggled into the courtroom before the proceedings each day. It should be noted that Mr. Lenzner is Jewish. His account has changed my mind about the sincerity of the Berrigans, whom I considered to be a bit "over the top" in some of their actions. Although I still don't condone the way they protested, I now understand their motivations more clearly.
I found the Watergate section of this book to be particularly interesting; and although Mr. Lenzner draws a slightly different conclusion than I do as to who started the chain of extortion which was at the heart of the Watergate Affair; the excitement of those times comes to life in his words. He is, after all, the first person to have ever subpoenaed a sitting U.S. President. And, in the end, both sides were the bad guys; with the CIA doing its level best to bring down the President by having him help cover up a botched burglary which he knew nothing of; and the President trying to blackmail the CIA with what he knew about Castro, the Bay of Pigs and even Dealey Plaza. It's just a case of who was trying to screw the other one first, and more importantly; why?
The author has also represented the CIA's "Dr. Death"; Sidney Gottlieb; an expert in poisons and the man most responsible for the suicide death of Dr. Frank Olson, who jumped from his room at the Statler Hotel in New York on November 28, 1953. Gottlieb's testimony was instrumental in shedding light on the American government's use of mind altering drugs to achieve "parity" with the Soviets, who were ahead of us at the time in this area of espionage during the Church Committee Hearings into the operations of the CIA and the MK-ULTRA program. Although the author seemed impressed with Dr. Gottlieb, this reader sees him more for what he was; a monster. Although his motivations may have been pure, his actions were monstrous. But, in the end, he was given immunity in exchange for his testimony.
When Mr. Lenzner moves into the private sector he finds no shortages of clients to serve. When the Mugar family of Boston wanted to purchase the RKO TV station, Channel 7, in Boston they faced a huge hurdle. They had to prove it was in the public's best interest to have license transferred from General tire, the entity which held title to it at the time, to the Mugar family.
The only way to do that was for Mr. Lenzner to travel to Mexico in search of 2 disgruntled employees of General Tire who had been forced into retirement for their part in a scheme which made the company a lot of money, but got them fired and exiled to Mexico, where they could presumably avoid prosecution.
Carefully courting the 2 former mid-level executives produced a boatload of information involving foreign bank accounts used as political slush funds, as well as skimming of profits from one company to another. Armed with these revelations, Mr. Lenzner was able to successfully make the case for a change in the license. The Mugar family now owned Channel 7 in Boston.
From Civil Rights and Watergate, to his work on the Alaskan pipeline, and the investigations into Princess Diana's death, the Swift Boating of John Kerry, and even the Monica Lewinsky Affair, Mr. Lenzner has been in the forefront of just about every major headline making case in the latter half of the 20th Century. And, aside from Civil Rights and Watergate, many of those cases have had at least an indirect effect on all of us as citizens.
His career is storied and his path has been, at times, arduous. But the results he has attained; both in the form of his accomplishments, as well as the formation of his company, Investigative Group International; have always been the result of a deep seated belief in the proverbial "little guy." And, who could ask for a better legacy than that?
His career is storied and his path has been, at times, arduous. But the results he has attained; both in the form of his accomplishments, as well as the formation of his company, Investigative Group International; have always been the result of a deep seated belief in the proverbial "little guy." And, who could ask for a better legacy than that?


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ZAQ Allay Litemist Aromatherapy Diffuser inspires aromatic tranquility with its compact, energy efficient design. Your body will be gradually relaxed, and your skin will be moisturized at the same time. Nurture relaxation and creativity with soothing aromas that stimulate your brain. Perfect for dorm rooms, bedrooms, boutiques
- 80 ML / 2.71 oz Capacity
- Color: Blue
- Just add your favorite essential oil.
- Makes a perfect gift, Includes ZAQ Allay & A/C Adapter, Oil Sold Separately.
- Energy Efficient Power consumption: 12 W, Voltage: 24V DC, 100-240V AC
- Operating time: 4 hours
- Automatic Shut Off
The ZAQ Allay is our signature diffuser. Tall and proud, Allay's vibrantly colored top makes a bold statement in any room, while the LiteMist Aromatherapy system diffuses essential oils for luxurious comfort. The Allay is crafted with a sleek, modern, and contemporary design that is inspired by new beginnings, untapped creativity, and upward growth.
Oils like lemon, peppermint, Eucalyptus radiata, Melaleuca alternifolia and frankincense are extraordinary to use with diffuser. Some key oils may harm the plastic parts so make a point to test the oil first.
Use mild cleanser and warm or high temp water when cleaning the diffuser. It is best to wash the diffuser before utilizing another mix or oil.


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Do I Need an Enterprise Tool?Posted by gregwstuart in Geek Speak on Feb 8, 2019 1:00:00 AM
When it comes to getting something done in IT, the question of "How?" can be overwhelming. There are many different solutions on the market to achieve our data center monitoring and management goals. The best way to achieve success is for project managers and engineers to work together to determine what tools best fit the needs of the project.
With most projects, budgets are a major factor in deciding what to use. This can make initial decisions relatively easy or increasingly difficult. In the market, you'll find a spectrum from custom implementations of enterprise management software to smaller, more nimble solutions. There are pros and cons to each type of solution (look for a future post!), and depending on the project, some cons can be deal-breakers. Here are a couple of points to think about when deciding on a tool/solution to get your project across the finish line.
Budget, Anyone?
Budgets run the IT world. Large companies with healthy revenues have large budgets to match. Smaller organizations have budgets more in line with the IT services that they need to operate. Each of these types of companies need to have a solution that fits their needs without causing problems with their budgets. There are enterprise management systems to fit a variety of budgets for sure. Some are big, sprawling systems with complicated licensing and costs to match. Still others consist of community-managed tools that have less costs associated with them, but also have less support. And, of course, there are tools that fit in the middle of those two extremes.
Don't think that having limitless budget means that you should just buy the most expensive tool out there. You need to find a solution that first and foremost fits your needs. Likewise, don't feel like a small budget means that you can only go after free solutions or tools with limited support. Investigating all the options and knowing what you need are the keys to finding good software at reasonable costs.
Do I Have the Right People?
Having the right people on your IT staff also helps when choosing what type of management tool to use. Typically, IT pros love researching tools on their own and spend hours in community threads talking about tools. If you have a seasoned and dedicated staff, go with a more nimble tool. It usually costs less, and your staff will ensure it gets used properly.
Conversely, if your IT staff is lacking, or is filled with junior level admins, a nimble tool might not be the best solution. An enterprise solution often comes with more support and a technical account manager assigned directly to your account. Enterprise solutions often offer professional services to install the tool and configure it to meet the demands of your infrastructure. Some enterprise management software vendors offer on-site training to get your staff up to speed on the tool's use.
Don't forget that sometimes the best person for the job may not even be a person at all! Enterprise management systems often provide the ability to have tools that can automate a large number of tasks, such as data collection or performance optimization. If your staff finds itself overworked or lacking in certain areas, you may be able rely on your EMS platform to help you streamline the things you need to accomplish and help you fill in the gaps where necessary. Not everyone has the need for a huge IT team, but using your platforms as a force multiplier can give you an advantage.
There are many other points to discuss when deciding on an enterprise monitoring or management system versus a nimble tool. However, the points discussed above should be the most pertinent to your discussions. Do not make any decisions on a solution without taking the time to make some proper assessments first. Trust your staff to be honest about their capabilities, ensure your budgetary constraints are met, and choose a tool that will be the best fit for the project. In the end, what matters most is delivering a solution that meets your customer and/or company's needs.


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These are the acupressure points for warts. Working on these points can help you get better faster. You do not have to use all of these points. Using just one or two of them whenever you have a free hand can be effective.
Acupressure Point CV12 — Zhong Wan
Chinese Name: 中脘
Location: midway between the belly button and the bottom of the breastbone. On the midline of the abdomen, 5 finger width above the belly button.
Benefits: acute abdominal pain, pain due to overeating, gastric pain, sour stomach, belching, regurgitation, vomiting, diarrhea, dysentery, distention of the abdomen due to flatulence, hiatal hernia.
Acupressure Point LV5 — Li Gou
Chinese Name: 蠡溝
Location: 7 finger width above the tip of the medial malleolus on the medial border of tibia.
Benefits: chemical and environmental toxicity, chronic fatigue syndrome, immune deficiency disorders, irregular menstruation, PMS, fibromyalgia, dysuria, low energy, retention of urine, side effects of radiation and chemotherapy in cancer patients.
Acupressure Point SP6 — San Yin Jiao
Chinese Name: 三陰交
Location: On the inside surface of the leg, four fingers-width above the inner anklebone.
Benefits: balancing point, abdominal distention, loose stools with undigested food, irregular menstruation, uterine bleeding, amenorrhea, clinical depression, immune deficiency disorders, chronic fatigue, impotence, low sperm, sterility in men and women, regulate hormone function, low sexual desire in men and women, pain in the external genitalia, warts, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, insomnia, PMS, hot flashes, cold limbs, side effects of radiation and chemotherapy in cancer patients.
It is important to drink plenty of warm water after the massage, to help clear away toxic substances in our body.
Caution: You should consult with a healthcare professional before practicing Acupressure or starting any diet, exercise, Chinese herbs or other supplementation programs.


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Technological advancements are instrumental in eliminating business operational obstacles. When it comes to the transportation industry, fleet tracking software can revolutionise the way companies organise and coordinate vehicle and workforce activities to improve productivity, efficiency and cost control.
Here are eight ways your logistics, freight and transportation business can benefit by adopting a fleet management system.
Maximise Vehicle Utilisation
With the GPS tracking system, you can now know the exact location of your fleet. Fleet managers can identify idle and free vehicles to quickly assign the nearest available vehicle to complete the job. By tracking the activities of your large or small-sized fleet, you can ensure that every vehicle is utilised to its maximum potential.
Plan Efficient Routes
One of the many common hurdles faced by the industry is the inefficiency in reaching the job location on time. By relying on the global positioning system, fleet managers can choose optimised routes that are shorter in distance and aren't heavy traffic zones. By sticking to a predetermined route, fleet managers can also track if the drivers use the vehicle for personal reasons or go off-route. This not only results in lesser miles travelled but also reduces fuel consumption.
Prevent Vehicle and Asset Theft
Your fleet is the largest investment in your business operations and ensuring its safety is the basic function of an organisation. The fleet tracking software provides real-time location of your fleet. This way, you will be notified whenever a vehicle is in operation. You can also track stolen assets and keep unauthorised vehicle use in check.
Quick fact: If your vehicle is equipped with a GPS tracking system, you can avail up to 35% discount on your insurance premium!
Monitor Driver Behaviour
Fleet tracking system goes one step forward by tracking not just the vehicle but also driver behaviour. Monitor excessive speeding and aggressive driving patterns (such as harsh braking, acceleration, cornering) in real-time. Also, by analysing your driver performance, you can deploy corrective driving programs to reduce fuel wastage and provide overall safety.
Deploy Timely Assistance
At the time of any accidents, you can rely on the fleet tracking system's accuracy to send assistance and an ambulance to the exact location immediately. Also, during vehicle breakdowns and flat tires, you can send backup vehicles to complete the jobs at once.
Maintain Vehicle Longevity
Quite often, trucks tend to wear down quickly leading to expensive maintenance costs. Advanced fleet tracking systems are equipped with OBD2 devices that provide engine diagnostics. Fleet managers can constantly monitor the overall health of the vehicle and control driving behaviour that damages the vehicle performance.
Also, you can schedule maintenance checks, oil changes and other regular preventive measures to avoid downtime.
Go Paperless
Paper trails are messy and entirely inconvenient. From drivers, dispatchers to the business operator, you can implement paperless logs and compliances to ensure smooth handling of processes.
Cut Down on Expenses
Fleet managers find it increasingly difficult to reduce operational expenses to increase profit margin. With a reliable fleet tracking system, you can now monitor three major pain points that drain your revenue – (i) fuel expenses (ii) overhead costs (iii) resource expenditure.
Irrespective of your business size, fleet tracking system is an invaluable tool in efficiently operating your logistics and transportation business. Adopt your very own fleet management system to scale your operations and bring in more revenue.


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Interview: Dr Yu Jeat Chong
Dr Chong Graduated from Imperial College London and is now a ophthalmology trainee. He organises talks and courses at a range of events including venues like Imperial Warf in London and the Royal Society of Medicine. Yu Jeat has a keen business mind and has completed an MSc in informatics. Alongside his clinical practice, he has also set up and ran his own company. He has an interest in medical technology development and data analysis.
Inspiring Clinicians clinical careers clinical innovation coding Dr Yu Jeat Chong informatics Inspiring Clinicians royal society of medicine statistics
maxwellflitton View All →
I help clinicians get to grips with coding and tech, I also code for a financial tech firm


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It's always interesting to find band pieces that I've played so long ago that I barely remember them. Yet when I hear it again, I know for sure I've played them before.
Also, I've found that the aforementioned rediscovery of band pieces happens most often with pieces by Robert W. Smith. Great composer, quite traditional in style, yet never boring to listen to.


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Thoroughly revised and updated, the third edition of Intuitive Biostatistics: A Nonmathematical Guide to Statistical Thinking retains and refines the core perspectives of the previous editions: a focus on how to interpret statistical results rather than on how to analyze data, minimal use of equations, and a detailed review of assumptions and common mistakes.
With its engaging and conversational tone, this unique book provides a clear introduction to statistics for undergraduate and graduate students in a wide range of fields and also serves as a statistics refresher for working scientists. It is especially useful for those students in health-science related fields who have no background in biostatistics.


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The memory game
This is an adaptation of the popular game we all played as children when we had to pick up matching pictures, but in this activity we use the two parts of collocations.
The Eden Project is in on the site of a clay pit in Cornwall, and consists of two enormous domes and an outdoor area. Visitors can learn to live in harmony with their environment.


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About a decade ago, adding an auto-reply to your e-mail (the thing that says "I got your message, and I will respond as soon as I finish my fourth Glenlivet, but really you should contact my assistant Gwen because I'm a super-leveraged uber-entrepreneur enjoying my four-hour work week") became all the rage.
Chalk this up to it being the one thing readers of The Four-Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss could implement immediately.
The Morning Adam™ uses an auto-reply (it replies once every 24 hours) and…
Get used to it.
Tough noogies.
No, we can't (and won't) turn it off just for you.
Stop your bitching.
That's because
For Us, The E-Mail Auto-Reply Is A Revenue And Profit MACHINE.
Though we tweak it from time to time, it reads something like this:
I got your message 🙂
If you're with the media, or a member of the Business Creators' Institute Titanium Elite Program, call toll-free (888) 536-5596 extension 23.
Be sure to leave your number even if you think I have it, if I am unable to answer live, as my business manager will triage.
If this is a non-urgent matter and you would like to schedule a phone-call, you may do so using the options at http://www.businesscreatorsinstitute.com/hire-us/
Otherwise, I will check this e-mail and reply if necessary before the close of business.
Let's Dissect.
- "I got your message" – the only way the auto-reply works is if the message was received. Now, we can focus on our money-making work without us having to stop recording a very important tutorial video for a big client just to log into our email and reply "Got it" to an e-mail we're not prepared to answer right now.
- "If you're with the media" – now you know the media contacts us.
- "or a member of the Business Creators' Institute Titanium Elite Program" – now you know we have one. We get business inquiries that lead to business (you know, they pay us and we do stuff for them) from this phrase. It also sends the message that "time is money" is something we take quite seriously around here, and when you work with us, we won't be taking calls willy-nilly when you need stuff.
- "Be sure to leave your number even if you think I have it" – since we're big-time globetrotters, we might return your call from an airport departure gate on our way to/from an exclusive in-person Client VIP Day.
- "my business manager will triage" – now you know someone else might reply. That's us helping YOU.
- "If this is a non-urgent matter and you would like to schedule a phone-call…" – you have yet another option, which is to book a phone call to discuss that important thing. We even have a technology that eliminates the phone tag!
- "Otherwise, I will check this e-mail and reply if necessary" – if this is actually urgent, you have the other options listed above.
Now you know.
And it's not like we didn't give you 2 other options AND specific guidance on how to get a faster reply.
Everything Helps Your Business When You Do It Thoughtfully and Strategically.
We haven't mastered the four-hour work week.
Heck, we haven't mastered the four-hour work DAY.
Nor do we want to – a business you enjoy should make you WANT to spend at least four hours a day on it, whether through actual work or through brainstorming to innovate more awesome stuff.
But we have figured out how to use technology effectively to spend less time editing and maintaining, and more time educating and monetizing.
And, thank goodness, we're not doing THIS for crying out loud.


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SINGAPORE (Reuters) – Singapore's central bank issued a warning against investment in cryptocurrencies on Tuesday, saying it considers their recent price surge to be driven by speculation and that there is a risk investors could lose all their capital.
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said it is "concerned that members of the public may be attracted to invest in cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, due to the recent escalation in their prices".
"MAS considers the recent surge in the prices of cryptocurrencies to be driven by speculation," the central bank said in a statement. "The risk of a sharp reduction in prices is high. Investors in cryptocurrencies should be aware that they run the risk of losing all their capital."
The city-state's central bank added that there is no regulatory safeguard for investments in cryptocurrencies and that it does not regulate cryptocurrencies.
It urged the public to act with "extreme caution" and to understand the "significant risks" they take on if they invest in cryptocurrencies.
"As most operators of platforms on which cryptocurrencies are traded do not have a presence in Singapore, it would be difficult to verify their authenticity or credibility. There is greater risk of fraud when investors deal with entities whose backgrounds and operations cannot be easily verified," the MAS said.
Bitcoin set a record high of $19,666 (£14,700) on Sunday on the Luxembourg-based Bitstamp exchange, its prices having surged more than 1,700 percent this year. On Tuesday, Bitcoin stood at around $17,980, down more than 5 percent on the day.
While Singapore has been an early adopter of fintech, it has not been a major centre for trading cryptocurrencies and none of the big exchanges are based in the city-state.
Reporting by Masayuki Kitano; Editing by Richard Borsuk


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- Heating Fuel & Pellets
- Co-op Membership
- Energy Efficiency
- New Equipment Installation
- Tune Ups and Repairs
- Rebates and Financing
Furnaces heat and distribute air; boilers heat and distribute water. Oil-fired boilers in Vermont offer several advantages over furnaces:
- Boilers provide hot water as well as space heating.
- Boilers provide very even heat.
- Thanks to new technology, homeowners with boilers can now install a central air conditioning system more easily than in the past.
In a hot water (hydronic) boiler system, heated water from the boiler is pumped by a circulator through radiators, radiant floor tubing or baseboards. Vermont homes with hot water heating are often divided into separate heating areas known as zones. This provides efficient, comfortable, trouble-free, inexpensive heating.
High efficiency, condensing oil-fired boilers are now available as well. This equipment can be up to 92% efficient, thanks to a second heat exchanger that recovers heat from flue gases.
Boiler Efficiency
Older boilers are much less efficient than newer equipment. Boilers that are 30 years old are about 65% efficient; new boilers have efficiency ratings of 80% - 92%.
Since 1980 every new boiler sold in the United States has come with an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating. The AFUE rating is determined through a test from the U.S. Department of Energy and the percentage represents the amount of fuel that is actually converted into heat. This rating system precisely measures boiler performance over an entire season. Our boiler techs also test combustion efficiency during annual boiler maintenance.
Call the Energy Co-op today if you live in Vermont and you'd like to learn about the benefits of a new boiler in your home or if you need any other type repair or service performed on your existing boiler.
Service Areas
Enter your zipcode to learn if we service your area
Our Member Testimonials
Guest Blog from Matt Cota, Executive Director of the Vermont Fuel Dealer's Association


text: I love the name that Amy Boring chose to name her photography business. One day I saw this amazing photograph of a child and her water mark caught my eye. A Boring Photo and this picture I was looking at was anything but boring. I loved the irony. As the mother of 2 girls, I wanted her to capture my children that way and to photograph our family so I could update our website. We had a great experience working with her and I loved the results.


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We are bidding farewell to Ho, LG Mobile merchandiser and a farewell dinner was planned by Joanne @ Pantai Seafood, Kg Kayu Ara. I think many readers here wouldn't be bother who the hell Ho is but here I am to share all the good findings in our local delicacies. I believe many of you from Klang Valley have visited this restaurant.
When first stepped in, you will see exotic sea creatures for eg: Alaskan King Crab, Snow Crab, Japanese Snail, etc. And of course there is a price to pay to enjoy such delicacies. I had been to this restaurant a few times and this is the 1st time I am blogging about it.
Our very first dishes for the evening, sweet Kam Heong Ostrich Meat perfectly cooked with onions & dry chillies. Meat is juicy and tender. A very good substituition to our normal chicken or pork dishes.
This is one dish I highly recommend to you all, Salted Egg Calamari, ever imagine having the taste of salted egg blended so well together with the deep fried squid. I just cannot get enough of this, though it is making my cough even worst today.
Normally in Chinese way of ordering dishes, always there must be accompanied with veges. So here we ended with Kailan being cooked in 2 ways, partly deep fried, partly oil fried with bits & chunks anchovies.
Overall, Joanne been good at ordering the dishes for the evening but this is one I do not really fancy is this fish dish. Not too bad but SzeChuan steam always good with Ikan Bawal not this Ikan Merah.
As we were not having enough that night, I ordered this in-house famous Pork Knuckle. Not too badly done but cannot be compared with the one I tried in the German restaurant @ Plaza Mont Kiara. This surely blends well with some beer. Nice finger food!!!
Ok, here come the nastiest dishes of the night. Reason being myself and Li Chin, both of us are allergy to crabs, ya I know, I know, I missing the best dishes of the night but it is the phobia that built up in me since I am small. Nevertheless it is good to see my colleagues all enjoying it while I took the picture down here.
We ordered 4 pieces of crabs altogether but cooked in 2 various style. First came in the butter cooked followed by the Sweet & Sour.
And guys, you know who enjoyed the most that night on these nasty creatures? Check out the picture ya... hehehe ;)
Good crabs with good sauces can never be complete with Muntou bread. There is an option between fried or steam Muntou. We ended up with the fried one.
Although I can't enjoy the crabs, but the Muntou itself was pretty satisfying, the sauce was good and with the food I am enjoying last night, it is not in any way helping my recovering from my sickness, coughing on and off while drafting this posting.
Only 8 of us last night to enjoy all this good dishes, and the damage was less than RM350. Pretty reasonable priced I would say, highly recommended for seafood lovers out there. The restaurant itself is situated in a pretty secluded area in Kg Kayu Ara, but I wouldn't mind if you guys wanna tag me along for dinner @ this place ya. ENJOY!!!


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Epacha Game Lodge and Spa is an extensive property west of Ongava Reserve
Epacha Gamo Lodge & Spa is five star lodge located in a Game Reserve of 21000 hectares. It shares a border with the Etosha National Park.
The lodge has 18 deluxe chalets and a complex including a billiard room, a cigar lounge and a pool bar.
When not on safari (by foot or 4WD), guests can opt into an apparently endless choice of spa and beauty treatments, go clay-pigeon shooting, or explore the reserve on horseback or quad bike.
Game drives are either through the pprivate Epacha Game Reserve or within Etosha National Park. Etosha National Park has only got two entrances, the Southern entrance (Anderson Gate) is close to the Epacha Gate, which makes your game drive to the National Park a lot easier and more comfortable. Etosha is be a unique and unforgettable safari experience.


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The Chobe River is the northern boundary of the Chobe National Park, where the great elephant concentrations occur on the river during the dry season. The national park encompasses a vast area that also includes Savuti.
Botswana Travel Guide to Chobe
The Best Time to TravelFor elephant lovers and safari fanatics, the great elephant concentrations on the Chobe River occur during the winter months of May through to September / October.
However for serious birding enthusiasts the Chobe area is spectacular in the wet summer months when the migrant birds are in full colour, and antelope start dropping their young.Proclaimed a wildlife reserve in 1968, and covering 11,700km2, Chobe National Park is situated in the far north-east of Botswana, bordered to the north by the Chobe River.
Chobe is game-viewing country, particularly in winter (March - July). November - December sees the migration of herbivores between the Chobe River and Savuti Marsh (and back between February and April). Game-viewing and bird-watching cruises on the Chobe River.The Chobe's perennial waters rise in the northern Angolan highlands. Chobe has four physically and vegetationally distinctive areas; the barely discernible dry Savuti Channel, Linyati, Serondella and Nogatsaa.Each area known for concentrations of specific game. Savuti famous for lion and hyaena, Linyati for hippo and crocodile, and Nogatsaa and Serondella for elephant. Savuti's carnivores follow large herds of zebra, wildebeest, buffalo and impala that move through the area.
Many types of animals seen including the fairly rare puku and Chobe bushbuck. 460 bird species, including raptors, vultures and inland waterbirds.
Staying in ChobeThere is a range of accommodation in Chobe, from camping to very upmarket safari lodges and luxury hotels, that these package tours visit.
Elegant Spa and Romance
Chobe River Houseboat Adventure
Colonial Comfort right inside Chobe
Self Drive Caprivi to Vic Falls
Enquiries / Questions


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A Republican-led effort to revise a federal education law could slash $782 million for disadvantaged students in Los Angeles Unified over the next six years, federal education officials said Tuesday.
Under the proposed House of Representatives bill, the nation's largest 33 school districts with high concentrations of Latino and African American students could receive $3 billion less in federal funding than President Obama's budget provides, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan told reporters in a teleconference Tuesday.
The bill, set for a House vote this week, would mark the first revision since 2001 of a law passed during the civil rights movement half a century ago to expand equal educational opportunities for poor and minority students.
"This proposed bill ... is bad for children and would result in our country losing ground relative to other countries and turning back the clock on 15 years of progress," Duncan said.
The U.S. Department of Education based the funding estimates on two of the bill's provisions. One would freeze federal education funding at current levels for the next six years, which would lock in $800 million of cuts made during the economic recession. Another would allow states to change the way special funding for needy students is allocated, which Duncan said would amount to a $700-million reduction to low-income districts and a $470-million increase to more affluent ones.
But U.S. Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.), who wrote the bill and heads the House Education and Workforce Committee, has said that the change in allocating special funding is optional for states; it is unlikely that California would choose to do so. The House bill also increases the special funding, known as Title I, to $14.9 billion from $14.4 billion, according to a committee spokeswoman.
But L.A. Unified officials were not placated.
"I find it horrifying that it's even a proposal to reduce the funding level for Hispanics and African Americans," said Megan Reilly, the district's chief financial officer. "I'm appalled."
Edgar Zazueta, the district's chief lobbyist, said the funding provisions are a "deal breaker" that would compel the nation's second-largest school district to oppose the bill.
Even though the proposed changes in allocating Title I funding are optional for states, Zazueta said, the current state leadership could change and embrace them.
Although he and other California education officials welcome other provisions -- primarily the expansion of local decision-making power, along with the elimination of federal academic performance standards and prescribed sanctions against schools that fail to meet them -- Zazueta said the bill's potential negative impact on L.A. Unified was too enormous to accept.
"It's too much to swallow," he said.
Elsewhere in California, the Department of Education estimated that the bill could reduce funding by $19.4 million for Santa Ana Unified; $31.1 million for San Bernardino City Unified; $32.3 million for Long Beach Unified; and $71.8 million for Fresno Unified.
Twitter: @TeresaWatanabe


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I didn't grow up attending church. I did not know Jesus.
I would pray when someone would ask me to pray for them for something they were concerned about, but I felt guilty and unworthy asking anything of God when I had not been faithful. I did not know Jesus.
A lot of my high school friends attended church and I wanted to fit in with them. I felt that I was missing something in my life. But when I attended, I still felt like I was on the outside, looking in. I felt like I didn't belong. I did not know Jesus.
Even within the last couple of years, a good friend got me to take some baby steps to get involved a little with her church. But that old feeling came back. I felt like I was still on the outside, looking in. I did not know Jesus.
My journey to Christianity began about 9 months ago.
This same friend, whose church I had attended, invited me to a Bible study at her house. I had to admit to her that I didn't own a Bible. She told me she had one for me. She even went out and purchased all the materials I would need to participate in the Bible study.
Through that study, I learned that I was not an accident, that God knew and loved me before my parents even met me, that God designed me with the gifts and talents he wanted me to have.
"For the first time in my life, I felt worthy of having a relationship with my Maker. I felt that I was beginning to understand God and Jesus."
I learned that I can't make him love me more than he does, nor can I make him love me less. It's an unconditional love that is like all parents' love. You may not like what your child does, but you will always love them.
I learned that God specializes in helping people start over, that it's never too late to change. I also learned that God know that humans are incapable of being perfect, that we are a work-in-progress.
I learned that God expects more of me than just being good in an attempt to earn eternal life. I want to love, honor, trust and obey him and use my God-given gifts and talents to serve him in this world.
I want people to know that there is a God.
(shared by Betty Davis in the summer of 2014)


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Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Attack of the Shopping Carts
There's a great creeping threat confronting our nation's cities. It's not homegrown Islamic extremism, and it has nothing to do with the health care industry or undocumented foreign-born residents. I'm talking about a commonplace and seemingly innocuous object, a simple metal basket with a handle and four wheels attached. Yes, I'm talking about a Shopping Cart, that very totem and mascot of our modern consumer-based economy. Sure: it seems harmless enough, as you trundle it up and down the produce aisle dropping shrink-wrapped rutabagas into its bottom. It's docile, unquestioning, and but for that one shuddery and skittish front wheel (standard issue, it seems), it does its work.
But what if I told you that the nation's Shopping Carts are rebelling? That they're escaping their grocery masters in ever-growing numbers? That they're swarming into our streets, tumbling down highway embankments, cluttering our pristine cityscapes, even — gasp! — nicking our bumpers? You'd laugh, is what you'd do. But then I'm not just trumping up the threat here. I have evidence:
In June 2006, municipal officials in Long Beach, California embarked on a "sweep" of their fair city for Abandoned Shopping Carts. The sweep, which was conducted over the course of a single Saturday, turned up 699 ASCs. If you'll allow me the blogger's privilege of rounding up, I'll be able to say that at least SEVEN HUNDRED shopping carts had gone astray of a single city's supermarkets and were parked in plain view for the city to collect. I understand that some 500,000 people live in Long Beach. By my calculation, that's 1400 "[c]arts per million," to paraphrase a preferred term of the Climate Change Cassandras. And that's just what's out in the open: who knows how many more were secreted away in hiding?
Long Beach had to act, and act they did: the City passed an Abandoned Shopping Cart Ordinance that condemned the ASC an "eyesore, potential hazard, and nuisance." Henceforward, Long Beach supermarket owners are required to warn shoppers against removing carts from their property; the ordinance specifies that the warnings must appear in at least two languages (which two is a question left, apparently, to the cart owner's discretion: Cherokee & Finnish? Inuit & Urdu?), and in block lettering at least two inches tall. Under the Long Beach Ordinance, it is now unlawful to make off with a shopping cart without the owner's permission — thank heavens this loophole, this gaping lacuna in the law has been closed! — and certain store owners are required to maintain a "physical containment system" to keep shopping carts from making a break for it when no one's looking. (This latter requirement might seem a costly imposition, but when you consider that some chains have already implemented similar confinement schemes for their employees, in many cases it's just a matter of tinkering with systems already on-site.)
Lest you should think this plague was confined to Southern California, take note that lawmakers in Fresno; Worcester, Massachusetts; and Florida's Hillsborough County (that's Tampa) have also taken steps to combat the Abandoned Shopping Cart menace. Indeed, the Northwest Grocery Association, a nonprofit organization of grocery retailers, wholesalers and suppliers in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, has devised a Shopping Cart Retrieval Service to help its constituent businesses comply with laws of municipalities in those states. It looks as though our nation's cities and towns are finally getting the upper hand on this crisis. One could, I suppose, object that these laws have a quality of micromanagement to them. But when you consider the alternative — unmanned grocery carts careering willy-nilly around the landscape, scattering Stop & Shop coupon circulars in their wake — it becomes clear that we're surely better off with these laws than we'd be without them.
We at Feigned Outrage tip our caps to you, Town and City Councils of America, for wrestling this matter to the ground.
7 comments:
When I lived in West Philly, one of the sad facts of life was the Thriftway Supermarket's policy on shopping carts -- they basically built a fenestrated barrier around the store entrance which allowed customers to walk in and out, but corralled the carts within, ostensibly to keep them from flying astray. Perhaps it was Thriftway's response to the Abandoned Shopping Cart Menace...
(A more sobering explanation is that people were stealing the carts to use as part of their home or as a means of transporting stuff to peddle, since poverty was so rampant in West Philly.)
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