text:
The City of Apple Valley partners with the Apple Valley Arts Foundation to host the popular Music in Kelley Park concert series. The popularity of the concert series supports a slightly larger venue that will improve the experience of both the performers and concertgoers. With an improved Kelley Park, it is envisioned that additional concerts and events such as festivals, movies in the park, community theatre opportunities, private party rentals, etc., can take place.
Show All Answers
As our City has grown, there has been an increased demand of our parks and recreation system. Reinvesting in our City's parks, trails, and recreational facilities will help us continue to provide for our residents, protect property values, enhance the natural environment, attract new residents, and draw visitors to local businesses, which helps support the local economy. The Parks Referendum is being presented as a direct response to residents' requests for improvements to our parks system. After thorough research and public input, the proposed projects have been identified as priorities by the community.
After gathering valuable input from residents and parks and recreation system users over the last two years, the City has developed a two-question Parks Referendum plan, Question 1 asks residents to consider an investment of $66,750,000 to fund priorities outlined by the community. The investment plan would include:
Additionally, Question 2 asks residents to consider an investment of an additional $6,500,000 to fund the replacement of the Redwood Community Pool and associated building. Question 2 can only pass if Question 1 passes.
Apple Valley residents played a major role in shaping this investment plan. Residents were asked for their input to help establish priorities over the course of the last two years through meetings, social pinpoint comments, emails, surveys, etc. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC) also played a significant role in the community engagement process. Results from two statistically accurate community phone surveys helped the PRAC narrow down options and priorities. Since then, we have continued to listen to feedback and views through events, surveys, and other activities. Based on this feedback, City staff developed a long-term plan to invest in our parks and recreation system and the services it supports.
If the referendum is successful, the City will likely sell the bonds over a three- to four-year period. This will mean that the increase in property tax impact will also be spread over three to four years.
The City may sell approximately 25% or 33% of the bonds in 2024, 2025, 2026, and/or 2027. Once bonds are sold in a particular year, they will not impact your property taxes until the following year. As an example, if the City sells bonds for four consecutive years beginning in 2024 (2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027) the increase in property tax impact would begin in 2025 and continue for four consecutive years (2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028) and then remain constant for the remainder of the 20-year period until the bonds are retired.
Question 1 Example
Tax impact is estimated based on certain assumptions, including a median value home valuation of $352,500 and an estimated issuance of $66,750,000 in general obligation bonds with repayment period of 20 years and estimated bond rates as of June 30, 2023.
Question 2 Example
Tax impact is estimated based on certain assumptions, including a median value home valuation of $352,500 and an estimated issuance of $6,500,000 in general obligation bonds with a repayment period of 20 years and estimated bond rates as of June 30, 2023.
If the referendum passes, property owners may be eligible from the State of Minnesota for a "Special Refund" of their property tax payments if they increase over a certain percentage.
Under state current law, the special refund requirements include:
Program requirements are subject to change by the state. The refund is claimed on the MN Homestead Credit Refund form M1PR, it can be completed and filed electronically directly on the Department of Revenue website.
By law, any public project with a value greater than $175,000 must be bid and awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. The City will use a process that informs and encourages local bidders, while still respecting the state law. If local contractors are the low bidders, the City will use local contractors.
The longer we wait to address the issues, the more our needs are likely to grow, and the longer residents will have to wait for services and amenities that they have been asking for. Further, it's likely that construction costs will continue to increase each year. Ultimately, voters in Apple Valley will decide whether now is the right time to make these investments.
Yes, a variety of local groups have shared their views and ideas, including families, civic groups, businesses, parents, and City staff. The City conducted meetings with various community groups who use our parks and recreational facilities, including senior residents, art groups, teenagers, and athletic associations. Feedback from residents continues to shape the plan and will be critical as the City moves forward with planning.
Cities do not typically invest in developing detailed design plans until funding for a project has been authorized. If the Parks Referendum question(s) pass, more detailed drawings will be developed and available for public review, comment, and input before plans become final.
If the referendum passes, your property taxes will increase for a period of 20 years depending on your property value. Anticipated property tax impacts for each question are as follows:
Tax impact is estimated based on certain assumptions, including estimated issuance of $66,750,000 and $6,500,000 respectively in general obligation bonds with a repayment period of 20 years and estimated bond rates as of 6/30/2023.
The Parks Referendum, if passed, will be the primary financial source for these improvement projects. The City will leverage referendum dollars to try and attract additional dollars through grant opportunities at the regional, state, and federal levels. Other financial contributions may include sponsorship and donations from local organizations and/or businesses.
As a part of Question 1, plans include creating a four (4) field youth baseball/softball complex behind the Hayes Community Center by changing the configuration of four (4) existing fields that already exist. Reconfiguring the fields into a wheel-style layout is desired by youth baseball/softball to improve the experience of those players and spectators. The fields would have covered dugouts, scoreboards, irrigated turf, and approximately 240-foot outfield fences. They would be lighted for evening games/practice, which would increase the number of games/practices that can be played without purchasing more land or building more fields.
The State Legislature passed Amara's law in 2023. The law places a ban on the non-essential use of poly-fluoroalkyl (PFAS) beginning in 2032. Based on the fact that most, if not all, synthetic turf contains PFAS, the City isn't interested in installing a product that is planned to be banned in the near future. If a synthetic turf product is proven to not contain PFAS the city would consider the product. Installing synthetic turf is advantageous to youth baseball/softball to allow for earlier access in the spring, more games to be played, fewer cancellations because of weather conditions, and less regular maintenance by park maintenance crews.
Question 1 of the Parks Referendum would provide funding for an inclusive playground, splash pad, a new building/shelter with restrooms, and new courts for basketball, volleyball, tennis, pickleball, ecuavoley, and other improvements. If Question 1 passes the existing community pool and building will be removed. Question 2 allows voters to consider the replacement of the community pool and pool building. If Questions 1 and 2 pass, Redwood Park would have an inclusive playground, a new community pool, a new building/shelter supporting the inclusive playground and community pool, and new courts for basketball, volleyball, tennis, pickleball, ecuavoley, and other improvements.
If the Parks Referendum passes, we plan to make many improvements that will benefit the environment we all live in. We will have the opportunity to:
If the Parks Referendum passes, City leaders will work to develop specific plans for each of the proposed projects. There will be public meetings scheduled for residents and neighbors to review plans before making final decisions. Improvements will likely begin in the spring of 2024 on some of the smaller projects (i.e. playgrounds, courts, trails). Some of the larger projects (Community Center, Aquatic Center, Redwood, Kelley) would take more time to plan, bid, and hire contractors. Overall, it will take three to five years to finish all the proposed projects.
If the Parks Referendum isn't approved, City leaders would consider various options, including an increase in property taxes, to support needed projects that are focused on safety. Many of the projects being proposed would not happen, or there would be significant delays in making improvements. City Council members believe that residents should have the opportunity to decide whether a Parks Referendum is the best way to fund these improvement projects.


text: Tapping the Scales of Justice - A Dose of Connecticut Legal History Lafayette S. Foster: Connecticut Statesman, Jurist and Acting Vice President of the United States Born in Franklin, Connecticut, on November 22, 1806, Lafayette Sabine Foster was a descendant of Miles Standish and the eldest son of Welthea Ladd Foster and Captain Daniel Foster, a veteran Continental Army officer. In 1828, after graduating with highest honors from Brown University, Lafayette took up the study of law and moved south to head an academy in Centreville, Maryland. He passed the Maryland bar in 1830 and returned to Connecticut to study law under the tutelage of Norwich's Calvin Goddard. He was admitted to the bar of New London County in 1831 and practiced law until 1835, at which time he became the editor of The Norwich Republican, a Whig journal in Norwich, Connecticut. Bolstered by a thriving law practice and formidable debate skills, he was elected to a series of local, state and federal government positions: State House of Representatives: 1839-1840, 1846-1848, 1854, 1870.Speaker of the House of Representatives of Connecticut: 1847, 1848, 1854, 1870.Mayor of Norwich: 1851-1852.Republican U.S. Senator from Connecticut: 1855-1861, 1861-1867 (Chair, Committee on Pensions; Member, Judiciary, Foreign Relations and Indian Affairs committees). President Pro Tempore of the U.S. Senate: March 7, 1865 to March 2, 1867. Acting Vice President of the United States: April 15, 1865 to March 2, 1867 due to the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln (Vice President Andrew Johnson having succeeded to the Presidency upon the death of President Lincoln). A man of persistence and strong religious convictions, Lafayette S. Foster took the notion of service to his government and its citizens very seriously. His dedication to public affairs was evidenced by both the positions he held and those he did not attain, namely his bids as Whig candidate for Governor of Connecticut (1850 and 1851) and his Democratic candidacy for U.S. Representative (1874). The Honorable Lafayette Foster's legal career was pursued intermittently with his political career. Brown University conferred the degree of L.L.D. on him in 1851. His counsel was well regarded: he was a close and trusted advisor to President Lincoln and a respected leader of the Senate. However, he lost the support of the Connecticut Republican Caucus back home, presumably due to his conservative views, and failed to obtain his party's nomination for a third term. He resumed his law practice in 1867. In 1869, he returned to public service to once again become a State Representative from Norwich. He was then elected Speaker of the House for a fourth term. In June of 1870, he resigned to accept the position of associate justice on the bench of the Connecticut Supreme Court. Lafayette Foster served on the Court until 1876, when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 70. Returning to the practice of law, he delivered a course of lectures on "Parliamentary Law and the Science of Legislation" at Yale from 1875 to 1880. In 1878, he was appointed a commissioner to devise simpler rules and forms of legal procedure for the state courts. He was also appointed a commissioner from Connecticut to settle a disputed boundary issue with New York State during 1878-1879. He died in Norwich on September 19, 1880, at the age of 73. Lafayette S. Foster was not only a statesman and a jurist, but also a philanthropist. He willed his personal library to the town of Norwich and his residence for the use of the Norwich Free Academy. He also endowed two ongoing academic endeavors: the Lafayette S. Foster Professorship of English Common Law at Yale University and the Lafayette Sabine Foster Prize in Greek at Brown University. Doses of Connecticut Legal History

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Pellet stoves represent one of the most innovative and advantageous systems for domestic heating. On the one hand they are practical and easy to use: they have completely automatic and electronicallymanaged function, and can also be remote-controlled. Above all, using these systems really keeps heating costs down compared with traditional fossil fuels, which translates into saving.
The advantage of biomass heating comes from the fact that pellet and wood fuels are considerably more economical than oil and methane gas in terms of the same heat produced.
* Average annual consumption for a house measuring 80 m2 (average h 270cm) - Approximate value


text:
Our Smoke Damage and Fire Restoration Company in Salisbury, NY, 13329 is available for both severe and minor fire and smoke damage and restoration. Regardless of the size fire you experienced, a fire damaged home can be both emotionally and financially devastating. That is why it is important to call our Staff at Rock Environmental as soon as possible.
Our clean up efforts could save you time and money by preventing more damage by having it done the proper way. Our teams are trained and certified in both residential and commercial fire clean up, and we are fast and efficient at what we do. Our Smoke and Fire Restoration Service is ready with its fire damage specialists ready and on call 24 hours for your convenience (866) 806-6970.
After the fire department leaves, your property will likely be suffering from not only fire and smoke damage, but also water damage and flooding from the fire fighters efforts to extinguish the flames. Our Smoke Restoration and Fire Damage Service can remove the smoke odor and deep-clean build up soot from upholstery, contents and building materials. Rock Environmental in Salisbury, NY, 13329 is available 24 hours if you are in need of fire restorataion (866) 806-6970.
If your home or business needs emergency fire restoration and repairs, call our Smoke Damage Cleanup Service now! Acting as quick as possible after a fire has occurred is extremely important. Rock Environmental in Salisbury, NY, 13329 has the training and certifications to handle any sized fire restoration job. We offer emergency fire restoration services 24 hours a day, so give us a call at any time at (866) 806-6970 if you have experienced fire damage to your property.
When you call Rock Environmental in Salisbury, NY, 13329, the very first thing we do is sent a crew out to assess the situation and create a plan with you, generally this process starts with fire mitigation services, to ensure to minimize the risk of additional damage (secondary damage) to the property, and most importantly, to the health of those who have to enter the premises.
Our Smoke and Fire Restoration Company has years of experience in dealing with residential and commercial Smoke Restoration and Fire Damage Service. We understand the risks of ongoing damages after a fire has been put out and therefore we can take proactive measures immediately to prevent them. Call us anytime even during after hours and weekends for assistance, we can be reached 24 hours at (866) 806-6970.
Experiencing a fire can be devastating to property owners, as an expert Smoke and Fire Cleanup Service, we specialize in soot and smoke damage as well as content restoration. If your home has been damaged by fire, it is important to contact a Smoke, Fire Cleanup Company quickly.
Our Smoke and Fire Restoration Company in Salisbury, NY, 13329 area for both severe and minor fire and smoke damage and restoration. Regardless of the size, a property that is suffering from fire damage can be both an emotional and financial hardship, but with our Staff at Rock Environmental can minimized these concerns and get you back to your pre-loss routine as quickly as possible.


text:
Although CFOs are still cautious, their optimism has grown since last quarter, climbing back to 2007 levels, according to the most recent Duke University/CFO Magazine Global Business Outlook Survey.
Now in its 60th consecutive quarter, the survey also finds finance chiefs expecting to increase earnings by double digits and boost spending in several key categories over the next year. The uptick in optimism is good news for the economy overall, as the survey has historically shown that an increase in CFO optimism signals stronger GDP growth, spending, and employment within a year, according to John Graham, professor of finance at Duke's Fuqua School of Business and director of the survey.
Fifty-six percent of finance chiefs in the United States say they are more optimistic about the economy than they were last quarter, up from 50% in December. They plan to increase capital spending by 12% on average over the next 12 months, a robust rise that marks the highest level of capital-spending growth since 2004. CFOs say spending on technology will increase by 6%, research-and-development spending will rise 4%, and marketing and advertising outlays will also grow by 4%.
Al Blazek, finance chief at Dunham's Sports, a midwestern sporting-goods retailer with stores in 13 states, says he is "reasonably optimistic" about the future. "It seems like people are pushing away from more-expensive purchases, which could be a negative for places that sell very expensive things but has given us a lift," he says. "We have gotten some new customers who might not have crossed the threshold before."
At Douglas Machine, a manufacturer based in Minnesota, CFO Tom Wosepka says he is more confident about his company's outlook than about the economy in general, but that he expects "continued relatively modest growth" in the United States, with more opportunities for faster growth in emerging markets. Douglas Machine, which makes capital equipment used in packaging consumer goods, recently expanded into a new end market — making equipment used by biotech firms. The move has accelerated the company's growth, says Wosepka.
The Missing Ingredient
Still, despite growth expectations and strongly rebounding earnings, CFOs remain reluctant to hire. On average, they plan to increase their domestic full-time workforce by just over 1% in the next year. Finance chiefs in the transportation and energy sectors will do more hiring, expanding their staffs by nearly 5% on average, while communications and media firms and mining and construction companies continue to plan layoffs.
Retailers will increase their workforces by 3% on average, a number that Blazek says makes sense, given the depth of the cuts many retailers made during the recession. "So many retailers have been running for so long with skeleton crews that there were sales left on the table as a result," he says.
Bill Helenberg, finance chief at Precision Machine Works, a maker of aerospace parts, says the company is "trying to avoid massive hiring," making do instead with adding overtime as needed and working as efficiently as possible. "There's no point in building up your production workforce when there's so much uncertainty out there," says Helenberg.
Indeed, certain skill sets are in demand, even as overall hiring remains weak. Finance executives say their companies are seeking skilled and professional workers above all, followed by salespeople, engineers, and product-development staff. Wosepka says Douglas Machine has been continually trying to hire staff ranging from machinists to genetic scientists. The task has been challenging, in part because of the company's suburban location, where the hiring pool is small, he says, and because demand for such workers is intensifying.
Nearly 40% of CFOs say their workforces have returned to prerecession levels, but a fifth say their staffs will never again reach that size. The remainder say they will get there eventually, but not without significant revenue growth.
Top Concerns
Consumer demand once again tops the list of external, macroeconomic concerns, while the ability to maintain margins is the top company-specific concern. Many CFOs faced with rising input costs are finding that continued soft demand limits their ability to pass along price increases, resulting in a squeeze on margins. In industries that were hard-hit by the recession, scrambling competitors also make pricing a challenge. "We've seen some competitors get really hungry," says Wosepka. "Unfortunately, when you have desperate competitors, it does not help your ability to price."
CFOs are growing more worried about inflation, citing the cost of fuel and the cost of nonfuel commodities among their top concerns. They expect to increase their prices by just 2% on average over the next 12 months, however, in part due to the pricing pressure described by Wosepka.
"Inflation is a concern from a long-range perspective," says Blazek, who adds that his business has witnessed the skyrocketing price of cotton. "But in the short run, there are just too many dampening activities out there to have inflation get out of control."
Kate O'Sullivan is a deputy editor of CFO.


text:
This is no time for gloating, neither for Americans nor for Europeans. For both sides are in deep economic trouble, only in different ways. The U.S. runs the worst deficit (as share of GDP) since World War II, and yet Keynesianism to the max won't budge the unemployment rate—pace Professors Krugman and Stiglitz. What does fall is the dollar and the price of real estate, a double-whammy if ever there was one.
The euro, meanwhile, may be rising, at least against the greenback, but the common currency, now ten years old, is about as stable as was Confederate script back in the Civil War. "Civil war," actually, is not a bad way to describe the state of Euroland. On one side, there are the "PIIGS"—Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece, and Spain—looking at bankruptcy. In fact, Greece is bankrupt. Its foreign debt exceeds its GDP by about one-half, and, as slices of it come due, it cannot possibly redeem the bonds without yet another infusion of cash from Europe and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Government outlays keep rising, while tax receipts are falling (year-on-year). So austerity does not work—except in the streets of Athens, where the angry masses revolt against a tottering government.
On the other side are France and Germany, the two heavies of the E.U. economy (Britain is in as much trouble as the U.S., but outside the euro). Their banks groan under a hefty exposure to Greek debt, French banks more than their German counterparts. So neither Berlin nor Paris wants the Greeks to default. But the two of them have their own little civil war. Nicholas Sarkozy wants to put Greece on welfare as long as it takes, counting on Germany—the biggest and richest country in Euroland—to foot the largest part of the bill. Angela Merkel, well aware of this unending drain, wants to impose fiscal discipline and market reforms on Athens. In the latest spat, Merkel, who is not as enamored of state action as her French counterpart, wanted to drag in banks, pension funds, and insurance companies by making them roll over Greek debt by seven years. This would be a default in everything but name, and so the French balked. Merkel, always tougher at the outset than at the end, finally relented. Participation by the private sector now is to be "voluntary." So far, though, there haven't been too many volunteers.
This mano-a-mano is typical for Germany and France, who are always vying for the leadership of Europe. But it is patty-cakes compared to the other horrors the monetary union has wrought, and not for lack of warning. As many economists cried out in the run-up to the euro 15 years ago, in monetary policy, one size won't fit all—certainly not a bunch of diverging economies untrammeled by common governance. And, indeed, the euro, instead of forcing member states into fiscal convergence, has only accentuated the bad habits of the PIIGS. These countries had always lived beyond their means. With the euro, however, they could suddenly spend like Italians, but borrow like Germans, at low rates. Bond spreads converged between the spendthrifts and the tightwads, but not basic policies. Indeed, cheap money encouraged even more profligacy—worst of all in Greece (which also managed to cheat on its financial statistics before and after entering the euro).
This is where we are now: With Greek two-year bonds fetching almost 30 percent, the markets are growling that Hellas is doomed. Both Merkel and Sarkozy dread the looming default as "Lehman squared"—and so, by the way, does Washington. So, too, does the IMF, which wants to withhold a critical $12 billion pay-out to the Greeks unless the E.U. swears a holy oath on bailing out Athens, come what may.
Europe will inevitably buy time by handing over a few more slices of bail-out money to Greece, even though, one day, the country will default. With 50 cents of the euro, it will halve its debt as well as its repayments and thus buy more time. The E.U., meanwhile, still won't have any idea where it's going or how to handle the crisis long-term. But what else is new? Twenty-seven governments do not a "more perfect union" make. Certainly not when the natural leader, which is Germany by dint of wealth and weight, sounds such an uncertain trumpet as it has under Chancellor Merkel. Yet what, exactly, is she supposed to do when the chickens of an ill-designed monetary union have finally come home to roost? Neither she nor Sarkozy can undo the mismanagement of the PIIGS in one fell swoop.
Meanwhile, back to the United States—to its still-sinking dollar and rising unemployment. It is hard to think of a time when both the U.S. and the E.U., the two biggest players in the international economy, were in such miserable shape. We are talking about two giants with a total of 50 percent of global GDP. Who will save them?
Josef Joffe is the editor of Die Zeit in Hamburg Germany. He is also a senior fellow at the Freeman-Spogli Institute for International Studies and Abramowitz Fellow at the Hoover Institution, both at Stanford.


text:
Related links:
Explore Space Weather and the Sun-Earth System
Space Weather at Earth and in Near-Earth Space (Geospace)
Hands-on Activity: Build a Magnetometer
Movie: Supercomputer Models Help Scientists Understand Sunspots
When Nature Strikes: Space Weather
When Nature Strikes: You Be the Solar Scientist! Classroom Activity
How Space Weather Affects Human Society
Space weather affects human society in many ways. Let's take a look at the ways in which radiation and magnetic disturbances in space can affect us here on Earth.
Space weather "storms" can disrupt radio communications on Earth. This includes all kinds of transmissions carried by radio waves, from television signals to airline communications to cell phone transmissions. GPS (Global Positioning Systems) also use radio signals from satellites; their accuracy can be diminished during space weather storms. The ionosphere, an electrically charged region in the atmosphere, has been used for decades to "bounce" radio signals to distant locations on Earth. Space weather alters the heights and densities of the layers of the ionosphere, changing their abilities to reflect radio waves.
Space weather disturbances alter the magnetic field around Earth and can change the way electrical currents flow in Earth's atmosphere. These disruptions throw off compasses used in navigation. The disruptions can also generate problematic currents in wires used in our electrical grid, overloading transformers and causing blackouts. Space weather-induced electrical currents can also flow in metal pipes that carry oil and gas, causing increased corrosion which can lead to leaking and even ruptures. Magnetic disturbances also interfere with geologic prospecting, which often relies on sensitive instruments called "magnetometers" to detect the presence of ore deposits.
Various types of radiation are associated with space weather, and can produce health hazards to humans and other living creatures. As you might suppose, astronauts in space are at a much greater risk from radiation than are people on the ground. However, airline passengers and crews, especially on flights that take them near Earth's poles where radiation from space typically penetrates most deeply into the atmosphere, must also take precautions when space weather "storms" are especially active. Some animals, such as homing pigeons, are sensitive to magnetic fields and use that sensitivity to navigate on long journeys. The "natural compasses" of such creatures can be thrown out of whack when our planet's magnetic field is altered by space weather disturbances.
Satellites are vulnerable to major space weather disturbances. Radiation can damage electronics on satellites in several different ways, and can cause the premature "weathering" of the solar cells that power many spacecraft. Active space weather heats and "puffs up" Earth's upper atmosphere, generating drag on satellites that causes them to fall from orbit sooner than they otherwise would.
Not all space weather effects are bad, though. These "storms from space" can produce beautiful light shows called the aurora, or Northern and Southern Lights. The celestial light shows have fascinated people for ages, especially those (like the Inuit and Norse peoples) who dwell at high latitudes. The aurora have influenced myths, legends and art in Arctic cultures. For example, one Norse myth attributes the auroral lights to reflections from the shields of the warrior-maiden valkyries.


text:
PR: One's A Pawn of Time by ina
Date: 09 September 2008
CONTACT: Maedin Tureaud
Beginning this Friday, September 12, the Second Life Shakespeare Company (SLSC) presents a modern play to open their Autumn 2008 season. The play, One's a Pawn of Time, is a fast-paced and clever one-act play about relationship drama that may arise through hasty time travel. Written by Mike Dederian, the play is directed by Rob Knop (Prospero Frobozz in SL) and will feature the voice actors of Second Life residents Jeremy Jester, Lorne Harlequin, Kinji Lockjaw, and Maedin Tureaud.
Performed in Second Life, most of the shows will be free to attend, and audience members will be required to turn on the voice feature in order to hear the dialogue, though microphones must be strictly turned off. Two of the shows, promoted as "very low-lag", will require a ticket fee to limit the audience size. Set in the confluence of 4 island simulators, the SL Globe theatre is ideally situated to accommodate large audiences and stage performances that are as low-lag as possible. In keeping with SLSC convention, the set, costumes, and avatars are custom-made for the play. Ina Centaur, artistic director at SLSC, confirms the tailoring of details: "The set for the production continues the RL tradition of preserving the structure of the Globe stage in set design and also our SL tradition of extravagance in visuals."
The custom features of the set continues with innovative on-stage advertising. As this is the first non-Shakespearean play produced by the SLSC, it has provided them a unique opportunity to experiment with interactive and dynamic advertising. Centaur also says, "The set is filled with details and interactive 'incognito' advertisements blended into the stage in the form of fake movie and rock band posters, newspapers, books, photos, and magazines, to amuse and inform those who zoom around and explore as only a virtual audience might." To arrange in-set advertising, contact Ina Centaur directly.
Director Rob Knop has directed in RL, but this will be his directorial debut in Second Life. He has been active in the Hamlet and Twelfth Night productions and got a taste for the possibilites available. He's also very keen on his choice of play, too: "This play bears some philosophical similarities to Second Life. Second Life combines game-like elements with social interaction and potential for serious creative discourse of real life. The play is light entertainment, with humorous dialog and a somewhat absurd situation, but being about time travel it challenges our assumptions about the linearity of reality… just as having our lives partly in Second Life challenges traditional assumptions about the single-threaded nature of our real-life identities."
Knop has more than just the actors to prepare; he will also be responsible for immersing the audience in the play. For audience members who choose to participate, he will be able to dynamically direct and move their cameras, real time, following the action as it unfolds. This allows the audience a "hands-free" experience, their view zooming around the stage and focusing on actors and events as necessary. Knop is encouraged by all of the innovative ways in which theatre in SL is expanding and becoming viable entertainment.
Maedin Tureaud, who will play Lucy for several performances, is excited by the prospect of seeing theatre in SL become prominent and well-attended events, and is enthusiastic about the possibilities available. "Theatre in SL is a unique and exciting opportunity to simultaneously reach audiences all over the world, specifically those people who are unwilling or unable to attend real life productions. The virtual stage presents engaging challenges, and this new platform for cultural and artistic events is bound to capture imagination and harness talent in the future as the virtual universe becomes ubiquitous."
Kinji Lockjaw, who also plays Lucy, is happy to admit that the biggest challenge for her is the fact that it's her first SL play. She remains positive though, and states, "I'm very excited about […] getting to work under the direction of Prospero and working with such great actors," a sentiment expressed by the other three actors, as well. The fast-paced dialogue in the play ensures that the actors have achieved a good rapport with each other and will be able to generate energy on the SL stage, a crucial aspect of the real world stage, too.
Opening night performance of One's a Pawn of Time begins at 7pm SLT on Friday, September 12. Subsequent performances are:
* Saturday, Sept 13 at 11am
* Sunday, Sept 14 at 3pm
* Tuesday, Sept 16, at 1pm
* Fri, Sept 19, at 7pm #
* Sat, Sept 20 at 11am #
* Sun, Sept 21 at 3pm
#Ticket fee assessed
For more information on this and future productions, join the SL Shakespeare Company group in-world.


text:
Immediate Interrupt; Trigger: You or an ally is attacked by a creature.
Does a ranger need to call this interrupt before the attack roll, before the damage roll or can he do it whenever he wants? If he can do it whenever he wants, it seems problematic that he can save it for whenever the ally receives near-max damage from an enemy. If he has to call it BEFORE the damage roll, or even before the attack roll, the window of opportunity seems problematically small, especially with a GM who usually rolls attack and then damage behind his screen and exclaims "the goblin stabs you with his dagger and does 15 damage".


text:
Lifetime Cancer Risk from Heart Imaging Low for Most Children, but Rises with More Complex Tests
DURHAM, N.C. -- Children with heart disease are exposed to low levels of radiation during X-rays, which do not significantly raise their lifetime cancer risk. However, children who undergo repeated complex imaging tests that deliver higher doses of radiation may have a slightly increased lifetime risk of cancer, according to researchers at Duke Medicine.
The findings, published June 9, 2014, in the American Heart Association journal Circulation, represent the largest study of cumulative radiation doses in children with heart disease and associated predictions of lifetime cancer risk.
Children with heart disease frequently undergo imaging tests, including X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans and cardiac catheterization procedures. The number of imaging studies patients are exposed to depends on the complexity of their disease, with more serious heart conditions typically requiring more testing.
Although children benefit from advanced imaging procedures for more accurate diagnosis and less invasive treatment, the increase in radiation has potential health risks.
"In general, the benefits of imaging far outweigh the risks of radiation exposure, which on a per study basis are low," said senior author Kevin D. Hill, M.D., M.S., an interventional cardiologist and assistant professor of pediatrics at Duke University School of Medicine.
"We know that each of these individual tests carries a small amount of risk, but for patients who get frequent studies as part of their care, we wanted to better understand the risk associated with repeated exposure."
Hill and his colleagues studied a group of 337 children ages six and younger who had one or more surgeries for heart disease from 2005 to 2010. During the five-year study period, the children received an average of 17 imaging tests each as part of their medical care before and after their surgeries.
In order to estimate the amount of radiation delivered in the tests, the researchers used a combination of existing data on radiation levels, as well as simulations that calculated radiation doses using child-sized "phantoms," or models to estimate radiation exposure.
The researchers found that most children had low exposure to radiation, amounting to less than the annual background exposure in the United States. However, certain groups of children, particularly those with more complex heart disease, were exposed to higher cumulative doses from repeated tests and high-exposure imaging.
Abdominal and chest X-rays accounted for 92 percent of the imaging tests, but only 19 percent of the radiation exposure. Advanced imaging (CT and catheterization) made up only 8 percent of imaging tests performed, but accounted for 81 percent of radiation exposure.
The researchers estimated the average increase in lifetime cancer risk to be 0.07 percent, with the risk increase ranging from 0.002 percent for chest X-rays to 0.4 percent for complex imaging.
"Clinicians need to weigh the risks and benefits of different imaging studies, including those with higher radiation exposure," Hill said. "We're not proposing eliminating complex imaging – in fact, they're critically important to patients – but we can make significant improvements by prioritizing tests and simply recognizing the importance of reducing radiation exposure in children."
The researchers also noted that lifetime cancer risk was increased among girls and children who had imaging tests done at very young ages. Girls had double the cancer risk of boys because of their increased chances of developing breast and thyroid cancers.
In addition to Hill, authors include Jason Johnson, Christoph Hornik, Jennifer Li, Daniel Benjamin Jr., Terry Yoshizumi, Robert Reiman and Donald Frush. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (UL1TR001117) and the Mend a Heart Foundation.


text:
Bishop Ireton's swim and dive teams opened up the 2011-12 season on a high note, beating Paul VI in separate meets earlier this month.
The Cardinals boys dive team upended the Panthers 113-57. Their peers on the girls squad sneaked by with a 98-72 win during the meet at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center November 18.
Ireton sophomore Alex Branham placed first for the girls diving squad while team captain Elizabeth Schaefermeier rounded out the Cardinals performance with a third-place finish.
Among the Cardinals swimmers, Michael Ryan Clark took home first in the 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke while Ben Gorski placed first in the 200- and 500-meter freestyle. Teammate Kevin Grant finished victorious in the 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter breaststroke.
For the girls team, Hayley Snell took home the 100- and 200-meter freestyle while fellow Cardinal Maddie Zeigler placed first in the 100-meter freestyle and backstroke.


text:
I know you've got a big event planned soon and you're looking for the perfect recipe to try out…right?
OK, even if you're not, I think today's post might inspire you to start planning a dinner party! Let's check out my top 5 favorite Disney dessert recipes! Which ones have you sampled in the parks?
Bananas Foster Bread Pudding at 'Ohana
Alrighty — it's time to start out with a BANG! There are few things that I love to eat in all of Disney World more than the Bread Pudding at 'Ohana.
This Polynesia-meets-churrascaria restaurant can be somewhat unpredictable in terms of quality. But one thing is always certain: the dessert is PERFECT. Seriously…every single time!
The bread pudding is served warm with a heaping scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, and the most incredible sauce ever. I could easily eat a bowl full of it.
It was a happy day when I discovered the 'Ohana bread pudding recipe, and with it, the power to make this one at home!
Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake at Liberty Tree Tavern
Say what you will about Liberty Tree Tavern, the Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake is a must-order!
While Liberty Tree Tavern dinner is served family style and consists of roasted meats and traditional sides, lunch features an a la carte menu…and it's awesome. There are many dishes on the menu that I look forward to having when I visit, but I never leave without ordering dessert, and it's always Ooey-Gooey Toffee Cake!
Less a cake and more like a rich, shallow, muffin-shaped chocolate chip cookie, I fell in love with this treat the first time I tasted it! And I could have kicked myself for having passed on it before then. The flavor combo of [Read more…]


text:
Jury Duty
Grand Jury
"Regular Grand Jury" service is both an obligation and a privilege. It is also an interesting experience that provides you an opportunity to learn more about our system of justice. While Grand Jury duty may require you to adjust your normal schedule, our goal is that any inconvenience will be minimal and that you will enjoy the opportunity to see the Middlesex Circuit Court in action.
The information on this page supplements the Handbook for Virginia Grand Jurors and specifically addresses Regular Grand Jury service in the Middlesex Circuit Court.
Annual List of Grand Jurors
Each year, the Circuit Court Judges select at least 60 persons and not more than 120 persons, who meet the qualifications set out in the Virginia Code, to serve as grand jurors. The citizens selected will be "on-call" for grand jury service during the twelve-month period beginning August 1. A list of those selected is furnished to the Clerk of the Circuit Court. (Virginia Code Annotated, Section 19.2-194)
Number & Qualifications of Regular Grand Jurors
A Regular Grand Jury consists of not less than five nor more than seven persons who are selected from the annual grand jury list. Regular grand jurors are summoned by the Sheriff, as ordered by the Court, to appear at the next term of Court at which a Regular Grand Jury is required. Each regular grand juror shall be: (Virginia Code Annotated, Section 19.2-195):
- Eighteen years of age or over
- A citizen of the Commonwealth
- A resident of the Commonwealth of Virginia for one year
- A resident of the City of Middlesex for six months
- Honest, intelligent, of good demeanor and suitable in all other respects to serve as a grand juror
See Virginia Code Annotated, Section 19.2-194 for this information.
When Regular Grand Jury is Convened
The Middlesex Circuit Court convenes a Regular Grand Jury on the 4th Monday of January, March, May, July, September, and November.
Days of Service
Grand Jury service typically entails only one day, the date on which you are summoned to appear.
The Juror's parking area is located in front of the Courthouse.
Security Check
You will pass through a security check when entering the Courthouse. Sheriff's deputies check for items, such as weapons, chemical agents, or pocket knives. Please leave these items in your car to prevent delays. Assist the Sheriff's deputies by removing change or other metallic objects from your pockets. Cell phones are not permitted.
Each juror must bring a valid identification with a picture or sign a sworn affidavit as to their identity.
Jurors receive $30 per day for each day they are required to report for jury service, which covers expenses of travel incident to jury service and other necessary and reasonable costs as the court may direct. This is outlined in Virginia Code Annotated, Section 17.1-618.
You should wear comfortable but appropriate attire. Shorts, halter tops and hats are not to be worn in courtroom. For your comfort, be prepared for heating and air conditioning fluctuations in the court rooms and jury rooms.
Persons With a Disability
Access to jury service is available to individuals with a disability as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you have a disability and need accommodation, please telephone the Clerk at 804-758-5317.
Smoking in the Courthouse is prohibited.


text:
You can find the full essay on the olpc wiki.
Summary: The formidable expansion of the digital environment in our planet is one of the most urgent challenges of this century. This new environment supports most human activities around the world today. Among the multiple socialchanges empowered by the digital environment we must emphasize the transformation of the education of the new generations, the so-called "digital natives.†The access to this digital environment is now becoming a hope for millions of students and teachers, a way to overcome ignorance and poverty. It is a human right, and a value in itself.
At the same time the digital environment is becoming the common ground for the mind, brain and education sciences. We think that the future of
education will depend on the increasing integration of these sciences. And education is the hope of humanity. The teacher is facing new pedagogical challenges in a globalized world. We should however acknowledge the fact that while we have significant information about the learning brain we lack a similar knowledge of the teaching brain. Our expectation is to bridge this neuro-cognitive gap in the next years.


text:
Many states require young drivers to get extensive experience, including driving with an adult, before getting a full license. But in most states those laws only apply to those younger than 18. The new study suggests some teens are just putting off getting a license until they turn 18 - meaning they have little experience and higher odds for a deadly crash.
"There's an incentive right now to skip out and just wait until you're 18," said Scott Masten, the study's lead author and a researcher with California's Department of Motor Vehicles. "In most states you don't even need to have driver education or driver training" if you obtain a license at 18, he said.
"I was actually bummed by my own findings - to find out we're offsetting the benefits" in young drivers so much, he said. "It was quite unexpected."
The study examined fatal crashes from 1986 to 2007 involving 16- to 19-year-olds. Results appear in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association.
Most previous studies have also linked graduated licensing programs with a decline in fatal crash rates among young teens, but evidence on effects in older teens is mixed.
A journal editorial by researchers with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said the potential effects in older teens "is a serious issue deserving attention by researchers and policymakers." The editorial noted that New Jersey is one of the few states where graduated driver's licensing restrictions apply to all first-time applicants younger than 21. That has led to lower crash rates among 17- and 18-year-olds.
Whether these programs should be extended to include older teens merits further study, the editorial said.
Every state has some type of graduated driver's licensing program. These typically allow full, unrestricted licenses to kids younger than 18 only after several months of learning while driving with an adult, followed by unsupervised driving with limits on things like night driving and the number of passengers.
The study authors analyzed fatal crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and information on each state's licensing programs.
Comparing states with the most restrictions versus those with the weakest laws or no restrictions, there were 26 percent fewer fatal crashes involving 16-year-old drivers; but among 18-year-old drivers, there were 12 percent more fatal crashes. The differences are estimates, taking into account factors that would also influence fatal crash rates, including seatbelt laws, changes in minimum speed limits, and the fact that 18-year-old drivers outnumber 16-year-old drivers.
The programs appeared to have no effect on fatal crash rates for drivers aged 17 and 19.
Researchers estimate that since the first graduated licensing program began in 1996, the programs have been associated with 1,348 fewer fatal crashes involving 16-year-old drivers but with 1,086 more fatal crashes involving 18-year-old drivers.
During the 1986-2007 study, there were nearly 132,000 fatal crashes of drivers aged 16 to 19. Nearly 20 percent involved 16-year-old drivers, while almost 30 percent involved 18-year-olds.
Evidence suggests that many teens are waiting until they're older to get their licenses; in California for example, only 13 percent of 16-year-olds have driver's licenses, Masten said.
In a nationwide survey of almost 1,400 teens published last month in the journal Traffic Injury Prevention, 1 in 4 who were 18 and hadn't obtained a license cited the hassle of licensing requirements as a reason.
Masten said more research is needed to determine why the fatal crash rate among 18-year-olds rose and whether an increase also occurred in nonfatal crashes.
The study confirms that graduated licensing "is doing what it was intended to do - prevent novice drivers from being in high-risk conditions before they're ready for it," said Dr. Flaura Winston, a pediatrician and traffic injury expert at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. But the results also show there's a need for strategies for the novice independent driver at any age, she said.


text:
Total approves $10 billion Congo project, sees 2015 startup
Total and its partners have committed $10 billion to a development off the coast of Congo, expected to produce 140,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day by the time full output is reached in 2017, the French oil company said on Friday.
The Moho Nord joint development is one of a string of African projects that Total is banking on to help it boost its oil production by 25 percent over the next five years, with growth accelerating after 2015 to top 3 million barrels of oil and gas a day for the first time.
Oil from the first project is due to start flowing in 2015, while Moho Nord will start up a year later, partner Chevron Corp said in a statement.
Moho Nord is the largest oil and gas project in the Republic of the Congo. It includes the Moho Bilondo "Phase 1 bis" tie-back to an existing floating facility, while Moho Nord involves new offshore production capacity and a 50-mile (80-km) pipeline to the shore.
The project is one of three west African deepwater projects that will help Total deliver on its ambitious plans.
"The launch enhances visibility on Total's production growth objective," said Yves-Louis Darricarrere, Total's head of exploration.
Total operates the Moho-Bilondo license, of which it holds a 53.5 percent stake. Chevron holds a 31.5 percent working interest, while Congo's national oil company holds the rest.
"Moho Nord is further indication of our commitment to West Africa where Chevron has made sizable investments," said Ali Moshiri, president of the U.S. oil company's Africa and Latin America exploration and production arm.
In a joint Angola-Congo development area, Chevron has a 31.3 percent interest in Lianzi, where it is drilling and expects first oil in 2015, with daily output of up to 46,000 barrels.
Off Angola, Chevron expects final approval next year on Lucapa, which has a design capacity of 80,000 barrels of crude oil per day.
Chevron's focus on developing crude oil projects helped lift its stock to a fresh record high of $121.40 on Friday on the New York Stock Exchange. Total shares ended 0.4 percent lower in Paris.
(Reporting by Michel Rose in Paris and Braden Reddall in San Francisco; Editing by Gus Trompiz and Bernadette Baum)


text:
Pick out your favorite products from the carefully curated selection of Four Seasons Beauty Bar.
The newly opened location in the Polo Shoppes (5030 Champion Blvd.) brings the 14-year-old ecommerce site, fourseasonsproducts.com, into a more intimate and personal setting.
Four Seasons is stocked with all your beauty needs from perfume to hair products and features hard-to-find brands like Amouage and Fragonard.
The boutique is open Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call 561/499-6400.


text:
The Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry identifies design review as one of the most critical phases in the AEC workflow for ensuring the final building meets expectations. With multiple teams collaborating on a project, it can become problematic to maintain clear and timely communications during the review process. It's also often difficult for all stakeholders, especially non-experts like owners and developers, to fully understand design intent and visualize the end-result of a project from presentations during design reviews.
Recent advances in technology are helping optimize crucial aspects of design reviews and significantly enhancing decision making, communication among extended teams, and the efficiency of the entire process.


text:
500mm |
$6,799 average price |
Your purchases support this site
Buy the Nikon 500mm f/4G IF-ED AF-S VR Nikkor
(From Nikon lens literature) Nikon has announced three new AF-S super-telephoto NIKKOR lenses -- the AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8G ED VR, AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR, and AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR -- to further strengthen its super-telephoto lens line-up. With unprecedented image quality, responsiveness and versatility, these new NIKKOR lenses are certain to set a new benchmark for super-telephoto lenses.
The new super-telephoto lenses are equipped with a Vibration Reduction (VR) function. Nikon's VR II system minimizes image blur caused by camera shake, offering a shutter speed up to the equivalent of four stops faster. The newly added Tripod mode reduces vibration that may occur when shooting with a super-telephoto lens when attached to a tripod at shutter release time. Nikon's VR function also gives photographers the option of a natural viewfinder image even during VR operation.
The superior functioning of the newly developed optical system ensures flawless synchronization with Nikon's digital SLRs. The new optical design features three Extra-low Dispersion (ED) glass elements that minimize chromatic aberration while producing consistently high-quality images. The Nano Crystal Coat -- extra-low refractive index coating --- virtually eliminates internal lens element reflections across a wide range of wavelengths and is particularly effective in reducing ghosting and flare. A meniscus protective glass element also minimizes the ghosting that occurs when light is reflected from a digital camera image sensor and in turn reflected off an ordinary flat protective glass element.
Nikon's exclusive Silent Wave Motor (SWM) provides fast autofocus with superior accuracy and ultra-quiet operation. All lenses feature nine-blade rounded diaphragms that ensure a more natural look for parts of a scene intended to be out of focus. The minimum focus distances are 2.9 m/9.5 ft, 4.0 m/13.1 ft and 5.0 m/16.4 ft for the AF-S NIKKOR 400mm f/2.8G ED VR, AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/4G ED VR and AF-S NIKKOR 600mm f/4G ED VR respectively -- much shorter than their predecessors.
Ergonomically arranged switches and buttons enable easy access and comfortable operation even during handheld shooting. These buttons include the Focus Preset function, which instantly recalls a focal point preset with a simple push-button operation; Focus Limiter switch, which restricts AF-servo movement to a controlled shooting distance range; AF-L switch, which makes it possible to lock focus from the lens; and AF-ON, which engages autofocus from the lens. The new A/M focus mode allows instant switching from autofocus to manual focus, even during AF-servo operation. It also offers a major improvement over conventional M/A modes by significantly reducing the possibility of unintentional switching from Auto to Manual. By employing magnesium die-cast in the lens body construction, the new lenses achieved considerable weight savings without sacrificing rugged field-proven construction resistant to both dust and water.
Major Features:
- VR II operation realizes the equivalent of a shutter speed four stops faster
- New Tripod mode reduces vibration that may occur at shutter release when shooting with a super-telephoto lens attached to a tripod
- Enhanced optical formulas, engineered to produce exceptional sharpness, contrast and color, render outstanding image integrity
- Three ED (Extra-low dispersion) elements control chromatic aberration while enhancing sharpness and contrast, even at the widest apertures
- Exclusive Nikon Nano Crystal Coat and a Meniscus protective glass element combine to further reduce ghosting and flare for even greater image clarity
- High-performance Nikon Super Integrated Coating realizes superior color reproduction while minimizing ghosting and flare
- Nikon's exclusive Silent Wave Motor enables fast autofocusing with exceptional accuracy and powerful, super-quiet operation
- Rounded diaphragm opening (9 blades) makes out-of-focus elements appear more natural
- Newly added A/M mode reduces the possibility of unintentional switching from Auto to Manual
- Focus Preset function instantly recalls preset focus points with the push of a button
- Engineered to Nikon professional D-SLR standards to effectively resist dust and moisture
- Magnesium die-cast for a lightweight body with rugged construction
- Supplied lens hood effectively minimizes stray light
- Detachable monopod collar provided
Nikon 500mm f/4G IF-ED AF-S VR Nikkor
Your purchases support this site
Nikon F - Black
Nikon 500mm f/4G IF-ED AF-S VR Nikkor User Reviews
great lens all aroundnot cheap, limited availability
If you need a long lens this will not disappoint.
reviewed April 16th, 2009 (purchased for $7,800)
This is a great lens with nothing to complain about. Great IQ - even with a 1.4 or 1.7 TC
Unfortunately the price is high and has gotten higher, and it is not easy to find in stock if you are looking to buy.
If you have a long lens you're already happy with, do NOT try this one. It will change your level of expectations.


text:
Skip to Main Content
Join Nampa PD
About NPD
How Do I?
Stay Informed
Get news and updates sent right to your phone or inbox!
Sign Up for Notifications
Office of Professional Standards
Office of Professional Standards
Members of the Nampa Police Department hold a unique status as public officers, and the security of the city and its citizens depends to a great extent upon the manner in which members of the department perform their manifold duties. The performance of such duties involves the members in all manner of contacts and relationships with the public. Out of such contacts and relationships questions may arise concerning the actions of the members, or citizens may simply wish to offer gratitude for the member's actions. This web page may be used as a forum for either one.
If you wish to offer your gratitude, or recognition for the actions of a member of the Department, or if you wish to submit a complaint about the actions of a member, please use the appropriate forms below. When submitted, complaint forms will be routed to the Chief's Office for proper assignment, and commendation forms will be routed to Captain Shankel. Please be sure to read and follow the instructions for the forms for proper processing by NPD.
Please allow several weeks for investigation of your complaint. You should automatically be notified of the resolution once the investigation is completed.
To commend an officer's actions:
Please use the form, below.
You can save the PDF form to your system, then fill the form out and save the changes (click file, then "save as"), and email the completed form to
Captain Shankel
. You may also print the form and fill it out manually, then
print & mail the completed form to:
Nampa Police Department
Captain Curt Shankel
820 2nd Street South
Nampa Idaho, 83651
Officer Commendation
If you wish to submit a complaint about an employee's conduct:
Use the below citizen complaint form. Note that the form
must be signed
to be considered a valid complaint.
Mail completed and signed forms to:
Nampa Police Department
Office of Professional Standards
820 2nd Street South
Nampa Idaho, 83651
Bring the completed form to the department and deliver to a shift supervisor.
Officer Complaint
Chief of Police
Office of Professional Standards
Mission Statement
File A Report
Records Request
Traffic Problems
Alert Sense
Nampa Home
Arrow Left
Arrow Right
Slideshow Left Arrow
Slideshow Right Arrow


text:
True Repentance
Two kinds of repentance are possible in human experience. One is the sorrow of the world," a feeling induced by the fear of getting caught. Many people recognize the unpleasant consequences of their sin and are persuaded that they are guilty. This results in a superficial sorrow that may lead to a temporary reformation but not to a genuine turning to Christ for forgiveness. Godly sorrow, on the other hand, is accompanied by conviction of sin, the work of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:37). This stems from the realization of offending a holy God. It leads to genuine repentance.
An unknown author wrote, "There is a radical distinction between natural regret and God-given repentance. The flesh can feel remorse, acknowledge its evil deeds, and be ashamed of itself. However, this sort of disgust with past actions can be quickly shrugged off, and the individual can soon go back to his old wicked ways. None of the marks of true repentance described in 2 Corinthians 7:11 are found in his behavior. Out of a list of 10 men in the Bible who said, "I have sinned," we believe only five actually repented. They were David (2 Sam. 12:13), Nehemiah (Neh. 1:6), Job (Job 42:5,6), Micah (Micah 7:9), and the prodigal son (Luke 15:18)." - H.G.B.


text:
Buy this item and earn 8 points valued at $0.38.
These body sprays contain a small amount of lotion to lightly moisturize and hydrate your skin. Spray on after a shower or to freshen up anytime throughout the day. Shake before using.
Net Wt. 8 oz.
Distilled water, glycerine, palm stearic, coconut oil, polysorbate 20 (olive oil source), goat milk powder and essential oils of pink grapefruit and ginger


text:
Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
For motor vehicle taxes, an appeal of the presumptive value must be filed within forty-five (45) days of the mailing of the tax bill. Appeal forms are available in the Assessor's Office. For real estate and tangible taxes, you must file an Application for Appeal of Property Tax application within 90 days from the date the first tax payment is due (must be received in the assessor's office by October 30 at 4:30 p.m.). Forms for appealing assessments along with detailed taxpayer information about the appeal procedures will be available in the Assessor's Office after the July tax bills are mailed.
Applications can be picked up in the Assessor's Office or the taxpayer can request that they be mailed to them. The assessor has forty-five (45) days to review the appeal. The taxpayer, if still aggrieved, may appeal to the local tax board of review within thirty (30) days from the date of the assessor's decision or if no decision is made by the assessor with the forty-five (45) days of the filing of the appeal, the taxpayer has 90 days from the expiration of the forty-five (45) days to appeal to the tax board of review in writing. After the tax board of review renders a decision the person if still aggrieved may, within thirty (30) days of the tax board of review decision notice, file a petition in the superior court as provided by Rhode Island State Law.
Show All Answers
The last revaluation was done as of December 31, 2015. The next revaluation will be done for December 31, 2018. View for more details about the revaluation process.
The real estate tax bill that is being mailed to the homeowner is the original copy. The Town does not send tax bills to the lending institutions. If you do not receive a bill please contact the Assessor's Office. If you escrow your taxes, you should make a copy of your bill and forward it to your lender for payment.
Your tax bill has been sent directly to you, the homeowner. If you do not receive a bill please contact the Tax Collection Office. No tax bills are sent directly to lending institutions. If you escrow your taxes, as soon as possible after receipt of your bill, you should mail your quarterly tax bills to your lending institution for them to make payment. The Town provides tax information to escrow agents electronically and only upon request.
There are two different elderly exemptions available to property owners over the age of 65 years. One is a flat exemption not based on income and the other is an exemption that varies in amount depending on the level of income.
Motor Vehicle Tax Rate is $22.04 per thousand of assessed value. Real Estate Tax Rate is $17.50 per thousand of assessed value for residential and commercial property. Tangible/Personal Property Tax Rate is $17.50 per thousand of assessed value. Retail and Wholesale Inventory is exempt from assessment.
If only one installment has been missed, interest will be charged on the installment amount back to the date that the installment was due at a rate of 12% per year, equivalent to 1% per month. If more than one installment has been missed, interest will be charged back to the date of the original tax roll, i.e. July 31, 2017. The interest is calculated at a rate of 12% per year, which is 1% per month.
Motor vehicle taxes are for the vehicles owned during the previous calendar year. Real Estate taxes are assessed as of December 31st of each year for the current calendar year. Prorated real estate taxes are assessed as of the date of the certificate of occupancy (CO) for the days from the CO date to the end of the calendar year. Tangible personal property taxes are assessed as of December 31st.A
The tax bills are mailed on July 1st of each year and are due and payable by July 31st. For bills over $100, payments can be made quarterly by the following date: First Installment July 31st Second Installment October 31st Third Installment January 31st Fourth Installment April 30th.
Motor vehicle excise taxes are charged for the period that the vehicle was registered during the previous calendar year. All motor vehicle information comes from the Rhode Island Registry of Motor Vehicles.


text:
Applications are in the Clerk of the Board's office or you may apply online. The term of office for members is three years and one year for alternate members.
The applicant must meet one of the following requirements:
Show All Answers
You may not need to file a formal appeal if you talk with staff from your County Assessor's office first 530-265-1232 or file an informal appeal with the Assessor's office. They can explain your property's assessed value, answer any questions you may have about the assessment, and review any additional, pertinent information you may provide. If the Assessor's staff discovers an error, they may be able to reduce your property's assessed value to correct that error, and you may not need to file an appeal.
If, however, you and the County Assessor cannot reach an agreement, you can usually appeal your assessment to the Assessment Appeals Board in the County where your property is located. You must file an "Application for Changed Assessment" and your application must be filed on a timely basis. Decline in value appeals must be filed during the regular assessment filing period July 2 through November 30, based on the market value of your property as of January 1 of the year in which you are filing.
Your property may have been reassessed because of a change in ownership or completion of new construction (Supplemental). You must file an "Application for Changed Assessment" within 60 days of the mailing of the supplemental notice.


text:
Friday, July 7, 2017
Briggs on By Man Shall His Blood Be Shed
18 comments:
Hi Ed,
I'm wondering if you would care to respond to the bad review you got on Amazon. I cut out the first part which is just an ad hominem.
The philosophical arguments are mostly just assertions, not compelling arguments. There is a concept of natural justice that is almost coherent, if you believe in something like the lex talionis as a standard for judicial equity. But even that is badly argued.
He doesn't say how it is badly argued, he just asserts this (seems like the pot calling the kettle black here). But is law supposed to be based on lex talonis?
More to the point, it has nothing to do with Christian teaching, which has nothing to do with preserving natural equity or retributive justice.
I find this hard to follow. Jesus died for our sins, yes, but even should an ax murderer make a good confession, the priest would still require the penitent to confess their crimes to the authorities.
As for the biblical arguments, they are like bad parodies of fundamentalist proof-texting from the Old Testament. The authors are unaware not only of patristic and later treatments of these passages, but of the Apostle Paul's teaching on the relation between law and the gospel of Jesus. They literally seem unaware that neither the Noachide laws nor the Mosaic law are regarded as incumbent on humanity redeemed in Christ, and that the higher law of mercy has caused the wrath of the law "to vanish away."
Hummm - It seems to me that Jesus told the rich man that he must follow the ten commandment to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Then there is Romans 13:4 "For the one in authority is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God's servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer." I think there is a bit more to this.
And then they seem not to know how the teaching authority of the church works. The Catholic magisterium has become very clear on this matter. There may be cases, in primitive circumstances, where public safety requires killing a threat to the community, this is never permissible where mean of incarceration and possible reformation are available. And all other criteria for capital punishment the church clearly deems illegitimate. It does not have to be doctrine to be binding on the conscience of the faithful--it only has to be magisterial teaching, which it is.
Sigh - Despite the fact that Cardinal Ratzinger himself said that this was a topic that one could legitimately disgree with the magisterium over. I wonder if there is such a thing as magistrial fundamentalism?
I suppose if you spent your time responding to every crack pot who makes a comment, you would never get anything done. :)
DanielReplies- AnonymousJuly 7, 2017 at 10:14 PM
Why bother? The review is entirely rhetorical. The author gives no support or even detail to his assertions.
Delete >Jesus died for our sins, yes, but even should an ax murderer make a good confession, the priest would still require the penitent to confess their crimes to the authorities.
This isn't true. Correct me if I am wrong (but I am not), but a priest cannot require a penitent to disclose his sins, as part of a penance or in any other way.
"Can. 983 §1. The sacramental seal is inviolable; therefore it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason."
Requiring a penitent to turn himself in would be a manner of betraying the penitent, thus "absolutely forbidden".Edward, I don't think you quite have it right. It is absolutely forbidden for the priest to do it; it is never forbidden for a penitent to disclose his own sins. If a penitent does it, the penitent does it. The (valid) objections to requiring the penitent to disclose his sin are circumstantial and not related to the absolute prohibition on the priest. Canon Lawyer Ed Peters, quoting 2 pre-Vatican II sources canon law commentaries:
"As for whether a public penance as sacramental satisfaction can be imposed on a penitent, under current law, it seems that such should be entirely rejected, for that would be to oblige a penitent to manifest his sin, something too burdensome and unreasonable. One could except the case where it is necessary for the public repair of scandal properly so-called, in which case the penitent is bound to repair this scandal publicly even if the confessor did not impose it as a sacramental penance."
The characterization "too burdensome and unreasonable" is a far cry from the incredibly severe censure of the canons against a priest disclosing a confession, which can result in excommunication. And from those canons there could be no exceptions for the "repair of scandal" case, either. So I don't think the prohibition is absolutely against the penitent himself revealing his sin due to the confession.
A priest can withhold absolution if he has specific reason to doubt that the penitent is contrite, but he is not allowed to be arbitrary about this, and a presumption of contrition is applicable. Nevertheless, a priest might use hypotheticals and circumstantials to plumb the matter, and might propose a hypothetical such as "suppose an innocent person were to be tried for the crime, what would you do? Would you alert the police to evidence that would exonerate him, even that it put you in danger of being discovered as the culprit?" Like the repair of scandal case, natural law itself demands that a penitent do what he is able to prevent yet ANOTHER innocent person be harmed by his crime, which would certainly happen if an innocent person were to undergo trial and possibly be convicted.
Like with other sins that bear concrete damage, the willingness to repair the damage is not foreign to the accepted practices for penance. Peters again:
Others rightly suggest performing works of mercy, restitution of stolen goods, retraction of slanders, and so on. CCC 1459-1460; McAreavey, op.cit., 535.
Restitution of stolen goods can reveal the original culprit, and this might be a reason to be cautious about the matter but so far as I can see the natural law that the stolen goods be returned is more fundamental and obligatory than the "right" of a penitent sinner to be secure from being found out by his own acts. So, even if the priest didn't demand it as a condition of penance or not, the priest's making clear the obligation to the penitent would be consistent with a good confession.
In any case, it does look like Daniel's comment is not valid across the board.
- ccmnxcJuly 7, 2017 at 7:46 PM
Hey Ed.
Somewhat OT, but Amazon has your Five Proofs book set for an August 18th release. Is that a dummy date, or is it, so far as you know, pretty close? Thanks! Hi Ed - Or anyone else who cares to respond :),
Is this book a good place to get a firm grasp on the principles of natural law? Or would you recommend another book where a more full account is made?
For example, as a Canadian, I find myself having philosophical debates that, more and more, depend on my making arguments based on natural law. For example, regarding transgenderism, homosexuality, and so on.
I find these discussions are not merely speculative, but apologetic in nature. My understanding of natural law seems to equate to the concept of essentialism, but how does that become a foundational principle in a legal argument? Especially when I live in a legal system that leaves such concepts as "Human", "Rights", "Man", and "Woman" so undefined....
DanielRepliesI would HIGHLY recommend the old manual (which Dr. Feser has actually mentioned on this blog several times, and even cites in By Man Shall His Blood Be Shed) "The Science of Ethics" by Cronin. It is in the public domain, you can find it pretty easily online for free, and from what little I've read of it (the first couple hundred pages) it is a very clear-headed and idiot-proof guide that explains the metaphysical and psychological bases of natural law in a slow and methodical way that covers all bases.
I would not particularly say that By Man Shall His Blood Be Shed is a good introduction to natural law. Yes, the elements are all there, mainly in the first chapter, but the important stuff is presented in a very condensed form, in which the less obvious implications of each step are easy to miss.Thanks for the recommendation Edward. Cronin covers a lot of ground!
So, I gather that natural law is grounded in what we own in justice to God. And that one of the key premises of this is that God is provable by reason alone, that all religions (including native and polytheistic religions) in some way recognize this dependence on God or gods or some higher powers.
So what are we to make of laws that make no reference to God in the formulation of their laws? For example, in Canada, we have the charter of rights and freedoms, where concepts like Humanity, right, and so on, seem to come out of nowhere and their definitions are merely presupposed? How an atheist of a secular humanist defines these terms is very different from how most religious people would define these terms. And yet, it appears that the reading of these documents by the Canadian Supreme court is primarily on secular humanistic and atheistic grounds.
What seems to be needed is a return to natural theology and natural philosophy, that is broad enough in scope to get support from all religious people regardless of creed.
I would be interested to know how one should think about arguments that people became bad because of their circumstances (eg abused by family) or that they have a form of mental illness that is not recognised by the legal system. Thank you, AlexRepliesMy $0.02, FWIW: People who make those kinds of arguments generally presuppose some sort of materilism/scientism. They pride themselves on not believing anything for which there is no emoirical evidence. So ask them for their evidence. They might cite socio-economic or psychological statistics, but all that can prove is that socio-economic environment, family dysfuction, or what have you increase the chances of certain behaviors. If even one person experiences those environments and behaves differently, that person falsifies a deterministic relationship between the environment and the behavior and provides empirical evidence that choice is real. Alternatively, they might try to argue from the fact that certain types of brain damage change behavior. That also is easily refutable. True, brain damage can cause changes in behavior just as leg damage causes changes in walking. But by your interlocutor's reasoning, there is no difference between a man who doesn't walk because his legs are broken and a man who doesn't walk because he's lazy. That assumption begs the question by presupposing the very materialism it is supposed to prove. They may try to argue from fMRI studies, but there are several problens there. First, all an fMRI can show is that there is activity in certain areas of the brain when the subject claims to be having certain experiences. Assuming the subject is being truthful (which there is no way to empirically verify), correlation does not necessarily mean causation. Even assuming a causal relationship between the brain activity and the experience, an fMRI cannot, even in principle, establish the direction of causality. Am I in love because there is activity in my brain, or is there activity in my brain because I am in love? An fMRI, by its very nature, cannot answer that question. The assertion that the direction of causality is from brain activity to experience and not vice versa again assumes (and again without empirical evidence) the very materialism it is supposed to prove.
DeleteAugustine says he would not have stolen the pears alone. In human morality, being as we are social animals, it's the rule rather than the exception that one becomes "bad" through the influence of others.
Becoming "bad" through the influence of adverse circumstances or other people is just what it is to be a "bad person". A man is morally responsible for whatever his will consents to, whether the ideas come from outside himself or inside.
As for mental illnesses, well... Just my opinion, but inabilities caused by physical brain/neurological damage excepted, most "mental illnesses" aren't real. Or rather, they are real, but there is no real difference between most "mental illnesses" and vice which is the result of repeated sin.
I say "most" because I know nothing about mental illness and I am talking out of my posterior. But still. Metaphysically, I see no difference between "a flaw in the way my mind works that makes me behave violently/slothfully/lustfully" (mental illness) and "a habit of my soul that inclines me toward violent/slothful/lustful behavior" (vice).
On that last note, I would love to be proved wrong. It'd be nice to think that most people have lessened culpability for their sins than common sense would suggest, due to the already endless and rapidly growing list of mental illnesses known to the DSM-5, the APA, and the State of California to cause cancer, depression, suicidal ideation, etc.Another path of response, from a completely different angle, is that we humans are not required to be perfect in our information in order to act uprightly, we are required to act on the information we have to act uprightly. We should take into account things that are known to modify responsibility in assigning punishment, because the due proportionality of punishment ultimately rests both on the gravity of the good which the offence damages, and on the degree to which the offender morally adheres to that evil. But our assigning weight X to Criminal A's responsibility for an act can only be based on our best judgment of A's moral responsibility, and our best is our best. We are not able to assign a punishment based on anything better than that, and we ought to assign due and proportionate punishments as best we are able.
Effectively, refusing to punish with capital punishment because we might have gotten the criminal's degree of responsibility wrong amounts to claiming that we should not punish at all. But this is absurd.
(It is, also, just a different form of "we might have gotten it wrong" that is already covered in respect of "but we might have convicted the wrong person". The same answer applies: we are obliged to do the best we can do, not to be gods and do perfectly. Anybody who wants us to be omniscient and do it all perfectly is oblivious of human nature.)
It is my understanding that the Church is against the use of torture to extract useful and lifesaving information, even during wartime. Is this correct?
What is the history of this teaching in the Tradition and how does it differ, historically and in moral reasoning, from the Church's position on Capital Punishment?
It seems to me that torture, like capital punishment, is not intrinsically evil and should be permitted if there is a sufficient reason to do so. If it is not intrinsically wrong to kill a guilty person, why is it intrinsically wrong to torture a guilty person?
Also, in what might be a related thread, when administering capital punishment is it morally permissible to use a more brutal form, like drawing and quartering, for more serious crimes (like the rape, torture, and murder of dozens of children).
Or should capital punishment be always carried out in a relatively quick and painless manner, e.g. hanging or lethal injection, and that is why torture is wrong, because it is anything but quick and painless and thus violates human dignity in a way that a quick execution does not?Kyle, those questions might induce a tortuous debate. Just warning you.
In fact, I do not know of any reasonable argument that purports to show that capital punishment should be carried out as quick and painless. I have heard plausible arguments that it should not go to the extreme of torture, but there is a large range between "painless" and "not yet torture" that would be available. I would consider the recent farce of an execution stopped because of "imperfect" drugs being used to be beyond ridiculous, into the realm of sheer idiocy: it doesn't take a Ph.D. in pharmacology to inject fatal poison into someone, and if the drugs used it turns out are not sufficiently potent, ramp up the dosage until he dies. Probably (for the sake of repentance), the execution should be painful and should not be instantaneous, but should leave the person mentally cogent and capable of repenting of his evil.
and that is why torture is wrong, because it is anything but quick and painless and thus violates human dignity in a way that a quick execution does not?
Nothing prevents corporal punishment that is NOT torture from being morally licit in principle.All societies have the obligation to deliver justice to their members, and also to non-members who are presently within the ambit or jurisdiction of the society. No society has such an obligation toward persons who are not members of the society *and* who are outside its ambit or jurisdiction.
To *refuse* to execute the murderer -- to *refuse* to deliver justice to her (*) victim(s) -- is to give the murderer to power to declare, by the act of the murder, that justice for the victim(s) is not the responsibility of the society. That is, it is to declare that murdered persons were not *really* members of our society and were not really within the ambit or jurisdiction of our society.
(*) in case it's not clear, I used the grammatically incorrect "she" to mock the idiots who do it to promote "gender inclusive" leftist bullshit.... to continue --
Thus, blanket opposition to capital punishment is profoundly immoral. A society which refuses, as a matter of "principle", ever to execute anyone whom justice demands be executed, is a society that is profoundly unjust and immoral; such a society will inevitably *create* broad swathes of injustice.I do object in principle to capital punishment. Nor in practice in some cases (eg Nuremberg). But there are too many cases where the evidence, though compelling, turns out to be wrong, eg witness identification, DNA, confession, for me to be comfortable, so, in practice, I oppose the death penalty. I do agree that capital punishment is licit.
ReplyDeleteMissed a not.
Should have read "I do not object in principle to capital punishment." And, in some cases, the evidence is incontrovertible (Moor Murderers in the UK, Cubillos in Colombia)so could safely be carried out.
But, just sticking to the UK, there were a series of pub bombings by the IRA in the UK in the 1970s. 21 people were murdered in two bombings in Birmingham in 1975.
Six men were eventually convicted. Turns out that the evidence was wrong, and the confessions were beaten out of them. But at the time it seemed a solid casse. They could have been executed. But, it turns out they were innocent, wrong people at the wrong time convicted when there was huge public pressure to find the perpetrators.
Perhaps the US is better. But, human nature being what it is, I suspect that more innocent people would have been executed than you would like.
One option is capital punishment in obvious cases, (like Moors Murderers, Cubillos) and life without parole for the rest, but don't see how this would work in practice.


text:
The following is paid content sponsored by Blauer
By Greg Bogosian, Police1 Staff
External carriers have been around for quite a few years now, but when Stephen Blauer looked at all of the options available on the market, he noticed that a few key features seemed to be universally missing. All of the offerings had common problems; for example, they relied upon removing the soft and hard armor components from their manufacturer's carrier and inserting them into what in essence was just a loose nylon shell, meaning that the components could shift out of place during normal movement, compromising effectiveness. Most, as well, were constructed in a way which provided at best a markedly different appearance from the normal uniform look, which meant many administrators were not keen upon authorizing them as a daily-wear option.
With many officers hesitant to wear their concealed armor carriers due to comfort and overheating concerns, and an upcoming Federal mandate that officers wear their armor full-time in order for an agency to receive matching funds on armor purchases, Stephen began to look into the creation of a better option for external carriers. After years of research, testing, re-engineering, and re-testing, he developed a solution which solved all of the above problems and more: the ArmorSkin carrier, paired with the StreetShirt undershirt and an innovative suspension system.
So what is it that makes the system so unique, and why is it such an improvement over previous offerings by other manufacturers? Let's begin by looking at the ArmorSkin carrier component.
ArmorSkin: Exterior
The first thing that you'll notice as you look at it is that it's made to look exactly like a standard Class B uniform shirt, constructed from the same fabric as those shirts, and with the same tailoring and styling details, including functional pockets with "Napoleon" (side) openings as well as from the top - in essence creating two pockets in one. Blauer went through many fabric product samples and scientifically tested each until they came up with a combination of materials and interlinings which resist wrinkling, pilling, and abrasion exceptionally well. The final fabric choices are backed by a second fabric for internal abrasion resistance, which is attached to the uniform fabric via thermoplastic adhesion (heat-pressing) for durability. Fabrics in critical areas of the ArmorSkin also have anti-microbial properties.
ArmorSkin: Interior
Next is the manner in which the carrier holds the body armor components. Rather than having a loose container into which the panels are slipped, the ArmorSkin carrier is designed to encase an officer's existing concealed armor carrier, including allowing for use of the Velcro shoulder and side straps which came with it. This has several benefits, including maintaining the torso coverage area which the armor was designed to protect by holding it in the placement that it was manufactured be in (back-overlapping-front or front-overlapping-back). Assisting in this is the fact that the carrier is offered in half-sizes, with a 2" incremental increase in chest size between them. This also ensures that the armor cannot be easily removed in a struggle with an assailant, a benefit which is further reinforced by the fact that the side closure for the ArmorSkin is secured with high-quality Delrin zippers rather than Velcro. For officer maneuverability and tactical safety, the zippers are attached to side panels, which are constructed of a breathable mesh material that stretches in 4 directions. Simply unfasten one side zipper for easy donning and doffing, or you can quickly open the side for additional ventilation if needed without compromising the vest's placement on the body.
The interior of the garment is lined with a breathable, abrasion-resistant mesh material to aid in heat dissipation from the body… always a concern for officers, but especially so in warmer climates and during summer months. This material also has anti-microbial properties for hygienic enhancement. Sewn securely to the interior are guide straps for the duty-belt suspension system, which will be talked about in more detail later in this article.
Small details show the high level of engineering which went into the carrier, as well, such as 4 different binding materials used in the construction of seams depending on their function: for example, the shoulder seam material is stretchable for movement and ease of body armor carrier strap pass-through, and the bottom hem is made from abrasion-resistant material (especially important with officers who choose to use a Velcro duty belt). The bottom of the garment in front and back has a "soft" edge which flexes below the armor for comfort while seated. The armholes are tapered to fit directly around the arm without gapping in coverage. There is a built-in mic tab centrally placed on the front placket, and a removable fabric tab attaches between two buttons on the front of the carrier to secure a tie bar if desired. Finally, in a nod to the engineering of Blauer's popular SuperShirt, the pockets feature deployable reflective material for enhanced visibility when needed (remaining concealed when not).
StreetShirt: Design and Construction
Now, for the second component of this system: let's take a look at the StreetShirt.
This unique undershirt complements the ArmorSkin carrier by completing the look of a regular uniform shirt in both short- and long-sleeve configurations while maintaining a hidden benefit of enhanced heat dissipation and comfort. The arms, underarms, top placket, and collar are all made from the same standard uniform fabric (minus the thermoplastic lining fabric, as it is not needed here) as the carrier itself, and are designed to match the appearance of a regular uniform shirt: the long-sleeve version has a banded collar with collar stays and a 2-button sleeve, the short-sleeve version has a convertible sport collar, and both feature buttons on the placket. Sleeves accept a crease and patches, and the collars may be pressed. The epaulets were engineered to have a wide enough opening to pass a standard portable mic through without difficulty, for those officers who choose to do so.
From the mid-chest down, however, the shirt is constructed entirely of a breathable, stretchable, anti-microbial mesh material. This material is also abrasion-resistant for durability. The heat release and comfort afforded by this configuration greatly aid in preventing hyperthermia (a dangerous medical condition characterized by the body's core temperature being too high) on the part of the officer, and offer an increased range of motion for tactical safety while still maintaining a professional appearance. One Massachusetts officer reported that he wore the configuration for 5 weeks before anyone at the agency noticed that it was not simply a regular uniform shirt. Again, as with the popular SuperShirt, the StreetShirt features deployable reflective material on the underside of the back of the collar, and inside the sleeves, which are not visible unless intentionally exposed by the officer.
Integratable Suspension System
Finally, let's talk about the duty-belt suspension system which integrates into the system.
This system is designed and engineered specifically to work with an officer's duty belt and with the ArmorSkin carrier. Featuring an "X" configuration – with the "X" between the officer's shoulder blades – the ballistic nylon straps feature both macro-level and micro-level adjustment points on each front strap for balance, length, and comfort, and quick-release detachment buckles on all straps for easy donning and doffing mid-shift if needed. The system attaches unobtrusively to officers' existing belt keepers through the use of carefully designed loops at the end of the strap, which the keepers easily slide through. The loops' construction and materials were designed to keep them in place once attached, as they grip onto the sides of the keeper itself. Adjustable, long shoulder pads complete the system, and slide freely on the straps to ensure motion is not unnaturally restricted.
The suspension system slides through well-placed loops at the shoulders, back, and front of the ArmorSkin carrier to keep the armor in-place while utilizing it, and is fully adjustable for balance and comfort across a wide variety of body types. By removing the weight from the officers' hips and spine, and balancing the load of the duty gear, the system can both alleviate back and hip pain, and can help to prevent injuries from occurring both short- and long-term.
When combined, the Blauer ArmorSkin carrier, the StreetShirt, and the suspension system tackle all of the initial problems mentioned in this article and more, while retaining a professional look that complies with even the strictest uniform codes. Through careful engineering, scientific testing, research, and feedback from actual officers on the street, the family-run Blauer company has succeeded in creating the first truly integrated external carrier and shirt system which will keep officers cooler, more comfortable, and safer while on the streets protecting their communities.