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I haven't gotten around to gardening this year, but my unkempt vegetable patch has already expressed itself in a riot of deep-green mint.
Mint's one of my favorite herbs, and one that I use most often in my Indian kitchen, after coriander or cilantro. Luckily for me, it is likely also the easiest herb to grow, and returns year after year with almost no tending. By spring I already have armfuls I can pick and toss into anything I please.
Mint's also one of the most versatile herbs around: it's great in sweets and spicy dishes alike. Regular old black tea turns into an extraordinary treat when you dunk in a crushed mint leaf. And who doesn't love a mojito? Or two?
Mint's also good for you– its cooling properties make it the perfect summer food. It aids digestion and is a great breath freshener.
I use mint lots of different ways in my cooking: I use it as a garnish for curries. I zap it with silken tofu, salt and lemon juice in the blender for a cooling raita. I mix it up with some nuts, garlic and olive oil for a refreshing pesto. And I use it, of course, to make the uber-delicious mint chutney.
But one of my favorite ways to use this divine herb is in this Mint Biryani With Roasted Mushrooms that I'm sharing today.
I used white basmati rice for the recipe, but you can go ahead and make it with brown rice, for some added healthiness. I have separate instructions on how to cook the brown rice. Also, use more mint if you're using brown rice so that the herb's flavor can stand up to the nuttiness of the brown rice.
Here's the recipe. Enjoy, all!
Mint Biryani with Roasted Mushrooms
1 1/2 cups white or brown basmati or other long-grain rice
4 cloves
4 pods of green cardamom
2 1-inch pieces of cinnamon
1 tsp canola or other vegetable oil
3 cups water
Heat the oil in a saucepan. Add the cardamom, cinnamon and cloves. When they sputter, add the rice and stir for a minute until the grains start to turn opaque.
Add the water, and bring to a boil. Cover, lower the heat to low, and simmer for 15 minutes.
If you're making this with brown rice, change the proportion of water to 3 3/4 cups. Once the water comes to a boil, cover the saucepan with a tight lid and bake in a 350-degree preheated oven for 50 minutes.
Let stand for at least 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, thinly slice:
1 pound of white button mushrooms or crimini mushrooms. You can also go with a meatier mushroom like portabella or shiitake here.
Toss the mushrooms on a baking sheet with 1 tsp oil, 1/4 tsp turmeric, 1/4 tsp red chilli powder and salt to taste.
Roast in a 350-degree oven about 20 minutes or until the mushrooms are tender and beginning to caramelize, but not burned.
(Tip: If you don't have mushrooms around, potatoes would also be great here. Cut them into thick fingers, and follow the rest of the instructions. You might need to add a few more minutes in the oven for the potatoes to cook and turn golden-brown.)
In a blender, add and grind:
1 cup tightly packed mint leaves (Add another 1/2 cup if using brown rice. I would also add 1 tsp more of the garam masala and maybe another green chili, but I leave that to your taste.)
1-inch piece of ginger, minced
4-5 cloves garlic, minced
2 hot green chillies, minced
1/3 cup soft tofu (can use soy yogurt as a substitute)
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup water
In a large saucepan, heat 1 tbsp canola or other vegetable oil.
1 medium onion, sliced. Saute until it turns golden-brown.
Add 1 tomato, diced, 1/2 tsp turmeric, and 1 heaping tbsp of garam masala.
Stir and let cook until the tomatoes start expressing oil.
Add the mint paste and stir and cook for about 10 minutes on medium heat. Add salt to taste.
Now carefully add the rice to the mint, using a light touch so as to not crush the grains. Using a fork, mix the rice and the mint paste.
Cover and cook for another 2 minutes on a very low flame.
Sprinkle the roasted mushrooms on top. Biryani tastes especially delicious with a garnish of fried onions. To make this, heat 1/2 tbsp of vegetable oil and saute 1 medium onion, thinly sliced, and 1 tsp sugar. Turn off the heat when the onion caramelizes and turns a deep golden-brown.
Nuts, tossed in with the onions in the last minute of cooking, or raisins or even roasted sunflower seeds make a great garnish for biryani.
(C) All recipes and photographs copyright of Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes.


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Update Dec. 29, 2011: Thanks to all our loyal Twitter followers who used the #8000kids hashtag to raise $243 for CFCA scholarships! We beat our original goal of $200 for the entire year. Way to go!
Many of you are already supporting our efforts to help CFCA President Bob Hentzen reach his goal of 8,000 kids sponsored during his 8,000-mile solidarity walk. We can't thank you enough!
The CFCA social media team is now hoping to harness Twitter as a tool for spreading the word about Bobís goal and Walk2gether.
For every tweet with the hashtag #8000kids (that doesn't come from us), donors will contribute one dollar to fund CFCA scholarships for students to complete their education.
We're hoping to get at least 200 tweets with the hashtag #8000kids ñ that's up to $200 for scholarships!
While raising money for scholarships is one of the goals of our initiative, our primary goal is to utilize Twitter to tell more people about CFCA and Bobís walk to help children living in poverty.
Do you use Twitter? If not, do any of your friends and family members? Here are some suggested tweets to send, or compose your own using the #8000kids hashtag to start spreading the word. Thanks so much.
- Half the world's children live in poverty. Bob, 75, walked 8,000 miles to help them. http://on.fb.me/8000miles #8000kids
- Did you know a guy walked 8,000 miles at age 75 to help kids in poverty? Check it out! http://on.fb.me/8000miles #8000kids
- A 75 y.o.† walked 8,000 miles to help kids in poverty! Learn more: http://on.fb.me/8000miles #8000kids

subset: commoncrawl


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Veteran MLB umpire Bell, 48, dies of heart attack
NL crew member's resume includes one World Series, three All-Star Games
LOS ANGELES -- There was only one umpiring crew working Monday night when word of Wally Bell's death circulated, which made the ensuing hours very difficult, especially for six members of a very tight umpiring fraternity.
Bell, a veteran umpire with 21 years of Major League experience, reportedly suffered a massive heart attack on Monday in his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio. He was 48.
Crew chief Gerry Davis was informed of the news about an hour before first pitch of Game 3 of the National League Championship Series between the Dodgers and Cardinals in Los Angeles.
"It was obviously very difficult, and we had to regroup rather quickly and put our concentration where it needed to be," Davis said. "We kept telling each other that that's the way Wally would have wanted it, and we know that that's really true."
Bell joined the NL staff in 1993 and umpired three All-Star Games (1997, 2000, 2013), seven Division Series (1998-99, '03-04, '06, '12-13), four League Championship Series (2000, '01, '05, '10) and the 2006 World Series, when he was behind the plate for Game 3 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.
Bell was the first-base umpire in the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field in New York and most recently was a member of the crew that worked this year's NL Division Series between the Pirates and Cardinals.
"All of us at Major League Baseball are in mourning tonight regarding the sudden passing of Wally Bell," Commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "I always enjoyed seeing Wally, who was a terrific umpire and such an impressive young man. On behalf of our 30 Clubs, I extend my deepest condolences to Wally's family, fellow Umpires and his many friends throughout the game."
According to the Associated Press, Bell had quintuple bypass surgery on Feb. 18, 1999. But he returned to work 11 weeks later in San Diego for a game between the Padres and Atlanta Braves.
Bell, a member of Tim McClelland's crew during the 2013 regular season, is the first active MLB umpire to die since John McSherry suffered a heart attack on the field in Cincinnati on Opening Day in 1996.
Major League umpire Joe West, president of the World Umpires Association, said in a statement: "Wally was a great umpire, a great partner and a great friend. The umpiring community is deeply saddened by this tragic loss. He will be sorely missed by many."
MLB executive vice president for baseball operations Joe Torre said he was driving to Dodger Stadium when he received a call from another veteran umpire, Jerry Layne, who informed him of Bell's passing.
"It just shocked me," Torre said. "I had just seen him in the Division Series with the Cardinals, and I just give these guys a lot of credit because there was a ton of emotion in that umpire's room. They really hitched up their belts and went out there and did a remarkable job."
Davis' crew that umpired Game 3 of the NLCS included Mike Everitt, Bruce Dreckman, Ted Barrett, Greg Gibson and Mark Carlson.
"Wally was a true umpire's umpire, and anyone who ever worked with him loved him, and I think that's not only true of the umpire brotherhood," Davis said. "But I think if you'll check with the players and teams they felt the same way because Wally always gave 110 percent on the field. We're a very-tight knit group, and it's going to be a big loss for us."
"It hits you right between the eyes," Torre said. "I think in this position I'm in now, it's certainly a different perspective of the umpires, and I couldn't be more proud of the brotherhood that they have and the caring for each other."
According to a WFMJ.com report, Bell leaves two young children, two brothers and a sister. His bio on MLB.com lists his proudest moment as "returning to the field after having open heart surgery in 1999."
Perhaps parallels can be drawn between that part of his legacy and his teammates' resolve as they stepped on the field for game time Monday night.
"One of the things that we shared in the locker room afterwards is that I'm sure he's very proud right now," Davis said.


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Want to terrorize the general populace as you ride your open-piped chopper to work at the accounting firm? Then these spooky DOT-approved motorcycle helmets may be just the thing for you.
Created by a Brazilian artist by applying teeth, fangs, bones, hair and "fine stones" found along the Amazon to basic, open-faced helmets, the New Jersey-based Craigslist entrepreneur selling them claims they're fine to ride in. We wouldn't do the same, not just because they look really gross, but because all the stick-on animal parts would fundamentally compromise the crash worthiness of the helmets by altering the way in which they control neck movement on impact. But hey, they're only $99! [via Craigslist]


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These pictures were taken at Monmouth in Natchez, Mississippi. It is the former home of John A. Quitman. I wrote about him a few days ago....HERE.
This is my 28th week for Thursday Thirteen. You can find other Thirteeners HERE
You can see more current postings from me HERE.
|1. Lady Rose
2. Joan
3. Susan Helene Gottfried
|4. pussreboots
5. Nancy Bond
6. L-Squared
|7. Lisa (qtpies7)
8. Starrlight
Get the Thursday Thirteen code here
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants
Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.


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Austin Mahone treated for blood clot, cancels tour
Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
Teen singer Austin Mahone has postponed his tour and is being treated for a blood clot in his throat.
A representative for the 17-year-old said in a statement Friday that Mahone was admitted to the hospital Thursday with a 104 temperature. The rep adds that he's dealing with "extreme inflammation in his throat as well as severe dehydration."
Mahone's U.S. tour was supposed to kick off this week but is being pushed to next year.
The singer, popular among teenage girls, has opened on the road for Taylor Swift. The music video for his single "What About Love" has close to 50 million views on YouTube.
Mahone won the artist to watch award at the MTV Video Music Awards this year. He will release his debut album next year.


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Programming Challenges: Check the Check
PC/UVa IDs: 110107/10196, Popularity: B, Success rate: average, Level: 1
I had two approaches in mind for checking the check before solving this problem:
returna flag value from the move-generation functions as soon as opponent's king is encountered in a reachable square.
- Generate all reachable squares for a side first, and then check whether opponent's king is positioned on one.
I opted for the latter because even though it was more performance-intensive, it made my move-generation functions more generic and appropriate for extensibility.


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Thousands of four- to five-foot blacktip sharks are brushing past America's premier spring break beaches, raising alarm among swimmers and lifeguards but also drawing new attention to a stunning natural phenomena.
An annual migration of a distinct population of sharks begins off the tip of Florida and moves into an area off Palm Beach in February and March, where the sharks congregate close to shore as the offshore shelf narrows – a prime spot for the small baitfish that the sharks feed on.
The sharks are drawing attention for their natural showmanship, as well. They're often seen making spinning jumps out of the water. And thanks to the clear water and white sands of south Florida, they're easy to spot and view, especially for lifeguards from their elevated chairs.
During the annual migration, "they hang onto the coast and follow the baitfish, which makes them super-easy to see, especially when they get brought together in a tight group," says Shari Tellman, a researcher at Florida Atlantic University's Elasmobranch Research Laboratory, or "the shark lab."
Ms. Tellman and other researchers have been tracking the blacktip shark migration by Cessna airplane since 2011, trying to understand how climate change – specifically warmer average water temperatures – may affect the migration and the dynamics of the ecosystem.
"We're looking to see whether [climate change] might shift their migratory pattern north and whether we could lose them as apex predators [in this area], and also whether regulations as far as shark fisheries are concerned are actually working."
A report from the journal Marine Policy estimates that humans may be killing more than 100 million sharks a year. Tellman says the migration appears to contain fewer animals this year, though the cause of that is unknown.
Blacktips account for 20 percent of unprovoked shark attacks in Florida, and beachgoers are taking precautions. But blacktips are seen as being less of a threat to swimmers and surfers than tiger sharks, which sometimes prey on the blacktips.
Florida had the largest number of unprovoked shark attacks in 2012, a total of 25. None were fatal.


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Self-Guided Workshop
Please click here to access videos from a BibleWorks Workshop. There you will find over four and a half hours of instruction on how to use BibleWorks that is similar to what you would learn in an on-site workshop.
On-site Workshop Options
On-site training workshops generally entail a full day workshop of 6 hours. Part one of the workshop introduces users to the tools in BibleWorks and the essentials of searching and working with texts in the program. Part 2 of the workshop after a break for lunch demonstrates the use of BibleWorks tools that may be applied to a variety of approaches to Bible study and exegesis. In some instances, we can work with you to design a workshop that suits the needs of your school. The general format would look something like this:
8:30 to 11:30 noon -- BibleWorks Workshop, Part 1
1:00 to 4:00 p.m. -- BibleWorks Workshop, Part 2
Click here for information regarding what will be covered at each workshop.
The cost of the workshops is set to only cover workshop expenses and depends on the number of attendees and our travel expenses. It usually comes to about $30 per person per 3-hour workshop. See the two registration options listed at the bottom of the hosting requirements for more information about workshop costs.
If you are interested in hosting a training workshop, or would like more information about our workshops, please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com. For hosting requirements, please click here.
If you are interested in attending a workshop see the currently scheduled workshops listed below. Click on the Detail link next to each a workshop for registration information. Check back regularly for updates!
Click links below for registration information
Past locations
Birmingham, AL; Phoenix, AZ ; Berkeley, CA; Los Angeles, CA; Pasadena, CA; San Diego, CA; Denver, CO; Washington, DC; Orlando, FL; Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Winona Lake, IN; Leawood, KS; Lexington, KY; Louisville, KY; Wilmore, KY; New Orleans, LA; Boston, MA; South Hamilton, MA; Washington/Baltimore, MD; Silver Spring, MD; Detroit, MI; Grand Rapids, MI; St. Paul, MN; Kansas City, MO; St. Louis, MO;Jackson, MS; Charlotte, NC; Wake Forest, NC; Madison, NJ; Princeton, NJ; New York, NY; Cincinnati, OH; Westerville, OH; Portland, OR; Salem, OR; Gettysburg, PA; Hatfield, PA; Philadelphia, PA; Columbia, SC; Chattanooga, TN; Nashville, TN; Dallas, TX; Fort Worth, TX; Houston, TX; San Antonio, TX; Lynchburg, VA; Springfield, VA; Virginia Beach, VA; Tacoma, WA;
Canberra, Australia; Sydney, Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; Trujillo, Peru; Langley, B.C. Canada.


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Centrally located in the heart of New York's Tech Valley, Enable Labs can provide all of our services to businesses located in or operating in Saratoga County, NY. Many of our staff were born and raised in upstate New York and know Saratoga County well. As you can see listed below, Enable Labs has a lot to offer the businesses of Saratoga County, NY. Contact us at 866.895.8189 to get started.
The Right Choice


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Our textbooks are free
- Search or browse categories
- Choose a book
- Download in 10 seconds
Start a 30-day free trial of our Premium eReader, and gain access to our huge Business eBook library Try for free
Our free online law books provide students with a unique view on the subject of evidence, proof and justice. You can also check out law for computing students, business students and sports law.
Download all Law books in one ZIP-file
For your convenience, we have put all the books in this category into a zip file which you can download in one go
Introduction to the Law of Contract
Pitched at a comprehensible level and user-friendly, this book offers a comprehensive, clear and straightforward account of what is required for the formation of a valid contract.
Business Law Now!
In this succinct textbook the author has attempted to focus and highlight the more important commercial and business applications of the areas of the law covered in todays globalised business world.
Law for Computing Students
Anyone hoping for an IT career needs to know something of how the IT industry is affected by the law.
Evidence, Proof and Justice
This book uses legal philosophy to analyse the transformation of the rules of evidence in English courts.
Law For Business Students
All business jurisdictions operate on a legal structure, and share the basic principles set out in this book.
Internet and Technology Law: A U.S. Perspective
Learn about Internet and technology law from a U.S. perspective. Topics include jurisdiction; privacy; copyright and trademark law; trade secrets and patents; free speech and obscenity; cybercrime.
English Legal System and Obligations
This book deals with the essentials of the English legal system, including the sources of English law and the structure and operations of the judicial system.
Introduction to the American Legal System
Introduction to American Law provides an overview of the legal system in the United States. It is designed for leaners who have little familiarity with U.S. law.
Privacy Law
This book provides learners with information on the constitutional and statutory implications of American privacy law from personal, work, and governmental perspectives.
Business Law Now!: Exercises
These exercises supplement the succinct online-textbook, a non-lawyer's version of business law concepts.
Conveyancing Law for Paralegals and Law Students
The book is designed to be an easy-to-read practice guide that covers most of the basic and common conveyancing transactions that are dealt with in a law firm on a daily basis.
English Insurance Contract Law
This book explains the English law regulating the meaning and validity of the arrangements whereby people provide against the possibility of events that might adversely affect their person or property
Conducting Transatlantic Business
This book describes the law in a cultural perspective to make you aware of some very important distinctions when conducting business across the Atlantic.
Sports Development, Law And Commercialization
This book is ideal for sports managers, administrators and sports organisers running a sports club or institution.
Business Organisations and Agency
This book deals with the law governing the establishment, operation and regulation of partnerships and companies, as well as the law governing the creation and operation of agency relationships.
Product Liability: A U.S. View
Product Liability, A U.S. View, presents an overview of the development of product liability law in the United States, written particularly for the paralegal, pre-law, and criminal justice student.
The UN Declaration On Indigenous Peoples' Rights
This book is constructed around the development of indigenous peoples' rights.


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I bought two Clouds sight unseen based on the same long thread here on kiteforum that others have mentioned. I like experimenting with gear, and it seemed to me that the designer was authentic in his pursuit of his goals, and he had evidence (photos, video) to show that the kites worked. I live in San Francisco so I bought an 8m and a 10m – light wind kiting isn't really an issue here I've ridden both several times in the bay and ocean (waves) and can echo many of the same observations that others have made: solid kites, turn fast, very light, pack down tiny, very grunty, responsive, relaunch no problem.
Two things I would say in more detail about the Clouds:
1) they are very powerful for their size. Seriously. My experience was that they ride 1.5m to 2m "bigger" than, so I swapped my 10m for a 6m, giving me a 6m+8m, which to me feels about equivalent to a 7-8 and a 9.5-10.5 in my OR Razors (of course, this is all relative). I ride the 8m in 19-24kts and the 6m above that. Surfboard only, and I weigh 190lbs/86kg.
2) they have very short throw (sheeting) distance on the bar. Most other kites I've flown have 1-1.5 feet of travel in the main sheet, er, bar throw – as I understand it, the Clouds are designed to be sheeted like 3-4 inches in and out, that's it. If you sheet out more than that, the kite won't be flying right and will be be very unresponsive. It has taken some work for me to adjust my riding to the shorter bar throw.
@windrupted: the Clouds work great in surf. They are very 'twisty', and turn quickly. Watch some of the BRM videos, you can see that there. The kite will not, in my experience, do anything like "wad up or twist" in bad air. When overpowered the Clouds will flutter (madly, if madly op'd) and you can't really do much with them in that state but this isn't a problem with the kite, it's simply that I've have to adjust my judgement of what size to rig. Once or twice, I have seen the kite lose its structure and bend backwards when under-inflated and way overpowered due to user error on my part. If I rig the right size, no problem. I've dealt with some very holey / gusty conditions with the Clouds (pro beach Maui w/ mad wind shadow caused by trees, and at Crissy in SF, for example), and they handled those conditions at least as well if not better than strutted kites I've ridden.
Overall, based on those that I've tried, all modern kites are pretty damn awesome. Some are slightly better for some things, but – think about it – you could enter a race on a Cloud, or take your new race kite out in the surf, and it certainly would work more than not work. I applaud Greg at al for trying something new!


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Adobe Acrobat is a commercial tool for manipulating PDF files. Earlier I was using CUPs – printing system, to export PDF files. I've also tried out gv for the same purpose. However, I needed complete editing of pdf documents. My search ended with PDFedit software, which is free and open source editor for manipulating PDF documents. The software available in both GUI and CLI (commandline) interface.
This software also supports scripting and almost anything can be scripted. PDFedit is a low-level tool for users. You can use this software:
=> To write / create / edit PDF files.
=> Print PDF files.
=> Save PDF files.
=> Export PDF files to XML etc.
Install PDFEdit
If you are using Debian or Ubuntu Linux, enter:
$ sudo apt-get install pdfedit
Start Editing PDF Files with PDFEdit editor
To start PDFEdit, type:
$ pdfedit /path/to/pdf.file &
$ pdfedit &
( Fig 01: PDFedit ~ Linux PDF maker in action [click to enlarge the image] )
Other Linux pdf maker / writer software
During my research I came across other apps to edit PDFs. I hope you will find following tools useful:
=> scribus – Open Source Desktop Page Layout / desktop publishing (DTP) application software. It works under Linux, Mac and Windows computer. This software is another good alternative to PDFEdit. Just open file using open option and you can edit PDF file. You can install scribus using apt-get command:
$ sudo apt-get install scribus
To use scribus to edit PDF files:
Start scribus > New File > Insert > Image > Double click > Select PDF file
=> flpsed – a WYSIWYG pseudo PostScript editor. This software is very fast and light weight. To install flpsed, enter:
$ sudo apt-get install flpsed
To edit file, enter:
$ flpsed /path/to/pdf-file.pdf &
=> Gimp – I've also used gimp for editing pdf files. However, you need basic knowledge of gimp itself for editing pdf files. GIMP is almost installed on all Linux distribution. Please note that GIMP is not elegant solution for editing pdf files.
Online PDF manipulation tool
Finally, you can always use the Internet to modify PDF files using a web browser. [pdfescape.com]
PDFEdit is the best free open source software for for Linux / Unix-like operating systems. However, it does not support editing protected or encrypted PDF files.
Further readings:


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NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL – 20 Apr, 2017 – At a City Commission meeting on March 21st, the City of North Miami Beach and The Commission on the Status of Women recognized Macken Companies for again serving as the Presenting Sponsor of the City's 4th Annual Heart Health Walk. Macken Companies Director Monte Greenberg accepted a plaque from Councilwoman Beth E. Spiegel, the event liaison, during the City Commission meeting. The event, which took place on Saturday, February 25th at the Gwen Margolis Amphitheater, comprised of a 2.6-mile walk with the goal of building awareness to heart disease in women. According to the American Heart Association, more women die from heart disease than from all female-related cancers combined.
The Greater North Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce also sponsored a free Health Fair at the event. This free, family-friendly event brought together hundreds of people from all age groups. The walk started and ended at the amphitheater and followed the paved trails on the banks of the Snake Creek Canal, one of the most beautiful and safest walking/biking trails in South Florida.
"Macken Companies is happy to continue to serve our community by contributing to events that provide a positive and educational experience for our local residents," stated Alan S. Macken, principal, Macken Companies. "We thank the City of North Miami Beach and The Commission on the Status of Women for their hard work and dedication to this important cause."
The Health Fair included local health care professionals providing free health screenings, and fitness trainers provided free group exercise routines for attendees. There was music, entertainment, raffles, prizes, and much more. Other event sponsors include Voda, SDG, Florida Blue, Dezer, Wigley Feet, Afin, Mt. Sinai and NMB CRA.
Macken Companies is a fully integrated North Miami Beach real estate development firm with investment, development, construction, financing and brokerage entities. Over the course of nearly 30 years, Macken Companies has been instrumental in the repositioning and revitalization of neighborhoods throughout South Florida. The name Macken has become synonymous with visionary planning and development, superior construction, and record-breaking sales and marketing. As a fully integrated firm, Macken Companies' affiliate entities — VCM Builders, Macken Realty, SFCS, Owners' Choice, Bid That Project, Sefran, G&A Strategic and MTV Investments — work in tandem to offer clients complete residential and commercial real estate solutions. Regardless of the size and scope of the endeavor, Macken Companies approaches every opportunity with equal passion, diligence and accountability. As a result, Macken Companies is highly regarded throughout the state for its reputation and integrity.
For more information, visit the Macken Companies website.
Media Contact
Company Name: Macken Companies
Contact Person: Tom Siodlak
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Country: United States
Website: mackencompanies.com


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Playing this video requires the latest flash player from Adobe.
Download link (right click and 'save-as') for playing in VLC or other compatible player.
After reviewing some of the highlights of the implications of the Planck
results for cosmic inflation (presentation to be coordinated with Hiranya Peiris), I will discuss
some recent developments
regarding future searches for B modes and other new science resulting from an
characterization of the microwave and far-infrared sky in polarization. I will
outline ideas for
a recently proposed large-class European Space Agency mission called PRISM.


text:
Al Udeid Air BaseAl Udeid Air Base, Ab? Nak?lah, Al Rayyan, Qatar
Ab? Nakh?lah, Al Rayyan
Gulf News Journal is an online news journal covering business and innovation in the Gulf Region. Whether you live and work in the region, or you're looking to expand your business to the Gulf area, GNJ will keep you informed about business developments, real estate and property sales, medical innovations, currency-related news, and job opportunities.
We love to hear from our readers! Have a question, comment, or a suggestion for an article? You can contact us by liking us on Facebook, following us on Twitter, or email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Online Casino games court fans of Avengers and other Marvel properties in new games.
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Report: Facebook Marketing Adopted by 70% of Local Businesses
MerchantCircle, an online network of US local business owners, revealed in its quarterly reports that more local businesses are turning to Facebook and other social networking sites like Twitter, as a low-cost option for their marketing efforts.
The survey, conducted with 8,500 random small and local business owners across the U.S, revealed that 70% of these business owners are actively marketing their business through Facebook. This represents a 20% increase over 2010.
Most small businesses running on limited budgets (less than $2,500 annually) and 60% of survey respondents do no plan to raise their budget this year. This makes Facebook an attractive and cost-effective marketing tool for most local business owners. (more…)
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|There's more than one way to do things
Perl Monks Discussion
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This section is only for discussing issues pertaining to the PerlMonks web site. You can ask about how things work, or offer ideas on how the site could be improved, for example.
Unless the topic pertains to the PerlMonks web site, it does not belong in this section. If you're unsure, check out Where should I post X? and The Perl Monks Guide to the Monastery, or ask in the chatterbox.


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Ride Home 8/24: Oblique Tangents
UPDATE: So, Neil Armstrong died today. I wrote the post prior to this happening and to the best of my knowledge, it was coincidence and my gentle joshing was not the cause of his passing. Rest in Peace.
Some events today (Saturday) that you might want to do since I can't:
St. Elizabeth's Bike Carnival
DC Bicycle Advisory Committee "Rolling" Meeting through Ward 2
And some news you can use if you use news about Bikeshare expansion into Old Town Alexandria. I don't spend a lot of time in Old Town, but I still think this Bikeshare expansion is going to be a big deal. Especially for the touristical types. If you ride the Mount Vernon Trail on weekends (and really, if you do this, WHY?), expect more CaBi traffic.
As for the ride home, the description of which is the putative reason behind this post, it was fine. I followed a lady superbiker down Massachusetts Avenue. She was wearing a white kit and I'm pretty sure one of the sponsors was Wendy's. Otherwise, fairly standard superbikerliness, including her assuming a tight aerodynamic tuck on her descent. She turned off to ride down into the park and I continued straight onto Massachusetts and almost into a turning SUV, the driver of which chose to abort his turn to avoid the oncoming car in front of me, but declined to do the same for me, whom he didn't see or didn't care to see. Braking, muttering, a shaking fist and life goes on.
I decided to ride through Dupont Circle and down 19th Street, a one way that would take me through the M/L/K (the letter streets are a secret Martin Luther King homage?) nexus to Pennsylvania Avenue, where I turned left. 19th wasn't nearly as crowded as 21st normally is and aside from having to ride through Dupont Circle, it's vastly preferable.
Let's just build a cycle track on the western end of Penn, ok? I promise that I'll use it. Though I'm willing to compromise for a sooner completion of the planned cycle track on M.
I'd be alerted to this via twitter, but I saw for the first time that the gap between the steel plates on 15th that I mentioned the other day has since been covered, partially, with an orange traffic cone. Not the best solution, but at least it's something. I guess they couldn't just push the plates closer together? The cone union in this town is powerful- almost as powerful as the caution tape lobby and I'm pretty sure this is just another make-work solution for a traffic cone with some seniority that gets the first bid.
That thing where a driver isn't looking closely and thinks a green bicycle traffic light is a green left turn arrow and then the driver behind them does the same and then I get all mad about it and maybe use curse words.
Quick down Penn and then fairly East Capitol. No drama with the 5-0 this time.
And one last time, a reminder: I'll be wearing a tuxedo, singing karaoke (song tbd) at 7PM tomorrow (Sunday) at Banana Cafe (Barracks Row). See you there. It'll be fun.
3 comments:
- KoloheAugust 25, 2012 12:16 PM
There's already a good deal of CaBi traffic on the MVT between 14th street and the airport, and a non-zero number south of 4 mile run (I have no idea where those people are going). But there are only two stations that could be considered on the MVT route (Prince & Union + King & Royal). The real question is how crosstown traffic on King is going to accept new Cabi ridership. (or for that matter up & down Patrick/Henry). The smart money already takes the parallel streets, but if this does actually introduce some new ridership, there's going to some turf fightsReplyDelete
I generally preemptively glare at potential left turners a the end of the cycletrack to make sure they don't try and run me over. Then I get out in the crosswalk about 8 seconds into the pedestrian walk light so that I'm ready to go as soon as the bike light goes green. Then I often glare once more over my shoulder for good measure.ReplyDelete
I have been known on occasion to yell loudly "You have a red light!" to cars who don't respond to all the glaring and my being in the intersection and them having a red light and all. Most of them don't appreciate it. One woman passenger even made rude (though not obscene) gestures back at me because she clearly didn't realize that the man driving (her husband, I suppose, though I don't like to jump to conclusions) was breaking the law.
This morning turning onto 15th from Penn a car turned left in between myself and the cyclist in front of me during the bike green. A cop witnessed the whole thing and pulled the car over!ReplyDelete


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Prime Style Extender®
Prime Style Extender®
A lightweight cream to prime hair and extend the life of styles up to 2x longer.
Size: Travel 2 oz
- Travel 2 oz
- Extends the life of hairstyles up to 2x longer
- Helps to repel dirt and oil to keep hair cleaner, longer
- Creates an optimal base for all styles
- Saves time so you can forget the touch ups
- Perfects cuticles so weightlessly it can be used alone or layered under other styling products
Contains a non-paraben based preservative system.
Free of phthalates.
Free of active ingredients known to reverse the results of chemical hair treatments (e.g. perms, straightening services).
Free of silicones.
No ingredients or formulas are tested on animals.
Apply to damp hair from roots to ends. Comb through. Style as usual. Use alone or under other styles.
2013 New Beauty Awards
2013 Total Beauty Awards
2014 New Beauty Awards
2018 Brides Beauty Awards
the science
It's powered by our patented Healthy Hair Molecule combined with priming emollients to: create a weightless shield around hair strands that repels dirt and oil, keeping hair cleaner, longer. It also weightlessly primes, detangles, and corrects your hair's cuticle. This creates an optimal base for styling to last longer.
The result: your style will be extended up to 2x longer.
This side, treated with silicone products, attracts dirt.
Our Healthy Hair Molecule repels dirt.
What is Prime Style Extender?
Prime Style Extender is a breakthrough, first-of-its-kind hair primer that extends hairstyles up to 2x longer. It reduces the need to touch up hairstyles and keeps your hair cleaner longer, reducing the need to shampoo as often. Prime Style Extender detangles, perfects, and corrects cuticle texture and thoroughly primes and creates an optimal base for styling.
Does Prime Style Extender work on all hair types?
Prime Style Extender is a universal product that works on all hair types to prime hair for more perfected and longer lasting hairstyles.
How do you use Prime Style Extender?
Your hair style is created by wetting and drying your hair, which sets hydrogen bonds into a desired shape. Your style will stay in place until these temporary hydrogen bonds are broken by moisture leaving or entering the hair shaft. This movement of moisture into and out of hair is called moisture flux. This phenomenon happens to everyone throughout the day, every day of the year because moisture levels in the environment around us are constantly changing. Prime extends hairstyles by blocking moisture flux, preserving hair's hydrogen bonds and therefore your hairstyle.
Will Prime Style Extender weigh my hair down?
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Can you layer Prime Style Extender with other styling products?
Yes, Prime Style Extender is so perfecting it can be worn alone, yet so weightless it can be layered under other styling products. Always start your styling routine with Prime Style Extender.
Can I use Prime Style Extender with a leave-in conditioner?
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What is the technology in Prime?
Prime is a highly efficient delivery system for our miracle molecule, which is clinically proven to: Create an exquisitely thin, weightless shield around each hair strand Limit the disruption of hydrogen bonds by controlling moisture flux Repel dirt and oil to keep hair cleaner and styles lasting 2x longer Provide priming emollients that corrects hair texture, detangles and increases resistance to breakage Our Healthy Hair Molecule is proprietary to Living Proof meaning no other hair care companies have this same technology, so they have to rely on other ingredients such as heavy oils and silicones.


text:
I was thinking on this post for several days. Father's Day is when this will post.
My father left this world in 1995. He was a good father and also a friend. It is strange how you can still miss someone
from passing so long ago. Dad, I love you.
Now this post is for all Father's. May the Lord Bless and Keep you in His Care. Being a father is a big, tedious, long, job that
last an entire life time. The child whom turns 21 is still your child, the child that turns 45 is still your child, even though he/she may now be a parent too.
I have learned it takes a special caring to show your parenting skills. Most Dad's have it if they would just release it to
work for them. It is okay to cry, laugh, hug and show emotions. Our children need to know emotions are okay.
Teenagers need love almost more than a kindergardener does. They are not children, they are not adults they sort of mixed up
in between. In a 30 minute period they can show all three age elements. Try living in their skin for awhile. It may help
to understand the emotions you see or do not see.
So Dad's step to the plate and be the awesome Dad's I know you can be even if the child is 43.
Husband this is for you, I love you very much. We have five wonderful children that you have been able to
share in their lives with when the Military gave you a chance to be around.
You were great and always wrote the children a note for them in your letters to me. Sometimes on separate paper some times as tags on my letters. You never missed their Birthdays or Christmas either.
I always had them write you and tell you of their events, good and bad. That is what helped to make us a strong family.
Your awesome ability to listen and stay calm, (most of the time) really helped to develop a good relationship with each
Your helping and sharing with them as adults has been a great way to learn more about their world. You helped remodel two homes and helped grandchildren in college and at home.
I love you for all you do for us, for them and for our neighbors. You are a true blessing given them and I.
For 5o years you have been a Father, Dad and friend. For 25 years you have been a Grandfather and friend to your Grandchildren. As Dan said, "Wow I quarter of a century I have been around."
Thank you with all my heart for your generosity and love.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Father's Day
Posted by Susi's Quarter at 7:46 PM
2 comments:
That's a good one!ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJune 20, 2010 at 5:16 PM
I LOVE U 2 DAD...ReplyDelete
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Backbone Entertainment
Streets of Rage & ESWAT remakes pitched to Sega by Backbone, concept art surfaces
Backbone Entertainment artist Arvin Bautista has published a gallery of concept images for Streets of Rage and ESWAT pitches to Sega while at the studio. The images give a glimpse of what might have been.
Backbone Entertainment headlines
Midway Arcade Origins out today, contains over 30 classic titles on one disc
Midway Arcade Origins, a collection of Midway titles from the heyday of the arcade, is now available on PS3 and Xbox 360.
Backbone Entertainment confirms layoffs
Backbone Entertainment has shed an undisclosed number of staff from its California-based HQ, while parent-company Foundation 9 has released a statement assuring that its upcoming projects, Dance Central 3 and Midway Arcade Originals, remain unaffected.
Death Jr. dev Backbone Entertainment may close - report
Backbone Entertainment, creators of PSP title Death Jr. is facing closure according to sources at the company.
The Simpsons Arcade Game pops up on ACB website
One of the better Simpsons games to grace consoles may finally be heading to XBLA, if listing on the Australian Classification Board website is any indication. Dug up by XBLAfans, the listing pegs Backbone Entertainment as handling the current-gen port for Konami which is good news considering the bang-up job the studio did with X-Men […]
Backbone Entertainment latest
Streets of Rage & ESWAT remakes pitched to Sega by Backbone, concept art surfaces
Midway Arcade Origins out today, contains over 30 classic titles on one disc


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Here's a short overview of the work that went into creating Kendra. First... I was given a brief description of the character, her traits, role in the game, and a bit about her personality. Then I sat down and cranked out a bunch of ideas in rough sketches. The art director and I would then sift through the pages of sketches, picking out what we liked about certain ideas, shelving the ones that didn't quite work. After a round or two of that process, we had settled on three ideas that felt right for the character
Then once we were happy with a direction for Kendra, i drew out a variety of possible hair styles. I was hoping to go the Ripley route with option I, but in the end, we went with a combination of G and K
Then came the fun part of putting together modeling packets for the character to be modeled in 3D. One is the full model, with the jacket, and then one without. Also, each character had a "gore" pass in case the necromorphs got a little hungry. Texture details were called out for the texture artist to accurately render the different materials on her outfit.
The character of Kendra was brought to life by the lovely actress Tonantzin Carmelo (as well as some very talented riggers and animators). She got a chance to slip into a mocap suit and have her face scanned to become Kendra Daniels! Check out her website, she's awesome!!! Click Here
And here's the final render of Kendra that appears in the game...
The end


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Siena and Lake Trasimeno
Travelling through Italy.
First we visited the Novasol Central of Italy in Monteriggioni right in the heart of Tuscany, near Siena. This city is a good possibility to visit this historical city. The first thing you should visit is the dome, called Siena Cathedral, the main church of Siena with its beautiful black and white marmoreal tower. This is one of the most important examples for the gothic architecture of Italy. In 1229 it was a small church and 1263 it was finished as the dome it is today. But the 77 meter high tower was finished in 1313. Awesome. Other reasons for a visit are the floor, the artful windows and the inside itself.
Only a few alleys ahead is the mainplace, called Piazza del Campo. Twice a year the people of Siena celebrate their most important events, called Palio. It is a competition between horse riders of the 17 districts for honor and glory. Everybody who lives in Siena wants to see and celebrate this event. And of course there are hundred thousand visitors. Novasol has some apartments in Siena even directly at the Piazza. It is fun to walk through this city: artful alleys, small shops offering a lot of tasty sweets.
You can find hundred of places like this in Tuscany, especially Florence and San Gimignano.
80kms to the south is the Lake Trasimeno at the border of Tuscany and Umbria. It is one of the five biggest lakes of Italy, right after Lake Maggiore and the Lake Garda. This lake is located between smooth mountains with a beautiful coastline we want to show you
Tuoro at the northern coast offers a few small beaches and everything to do water sports. In the north is also the inhabited island Maggiore. And you can find Novasol holiday homes and Novasol apartments on this island, too. This is absolutely relaxing holiday if you know that you are ready for holiday.
There were today boats and visitors peacefully enjoy the sun was a huge battle in history in 217 BC, The Battle for Lake Trasimene. Here Hannibal fought the roman army.
On this place actual sculptors created statues, which invite a lot of visitors, just like the near national park.
Another 15km further is the castle Castiglione del Lago at the peninsula of the lake. This castle still defends the city with its high city wall. Once a year is the festival of classic music, But all over the year you can enjoy the astonishing view across the lake.
Cuisine and wine are as nice as in Tuscany, but less spectacular. It really is worth holiday in one of Novasol holiday homes and a visit in this region in Umbria.
The sunset light is as amazing as in the Tuscany, but more romantic.


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Jennifer Aniston may be at the height of her career with millions in the bank, but over the last several years, her romantic life has been filled with ups and downs.
Having survived a marriage to Brad Pitt, a lengthy relationship with Vince Vaughn and an on-again, off-again romance with musician John Mayer, Jennifer has a pretty good idea why romance can sometimes fizzle out.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Jennifer Aniston: From TV 'Friend' To Box Office Superstar
"I think it's laziness. I really do," she told the latest Australian edition of Harper's Bazaar magazine. "I think a good relationship is about collaboration. That's the way to go in a relationship. I think you just need to talk to each other. Say what you need. Say what you want. That way it's not threatening. You just need to say, 'This is important to me.' Don't expect your mate to read your mind."
The actress said when romances do come to a close, she prefers to turn the page.
VIEW THE PHOTOS: Angelina! Cameron! Jen! Leading Ladies Of The Big Screen
"I think it's important to have closure in any relationship that ends — from a romantic relationship to a friendship," the actress said. "You should always have a sense of clarity at the end and know why it began and why it ended. You need that in your life to move cleanly into your next phase."
Jennifer, who told the mag she is "still a romantic" and believes "in love," said that while she isn't settled down with a man, she feels she's exactly where she should be in life.
"It's my experience and I feel good about it," she said. "I don't feel I'm supposed to be any further along or somewhere that I'm not."
VIEW THE PHOTOS: First Look: Jennifer Aniston In 'Love Happens'
Jennifer, who returns to the big screen in "Love Happens" opposite Aaron Eckhart on September 18, said that during bad times, she has taken comfort in two things – friends and work.
"I have great support and great friends. My close friends are important to me, so I make time for them," she said. "I've always wanted good friendships and they have supported me, through good times and bad. It's [also] good to have something creative, a creative outlet. I loved having work to go to."
As for work, Jennifer credits her drive and one particularly unfavorable comment from a former teacher for her current success.
"I just really wanted to work — to do good work — ever since I was at the High School of Performing Arts [in New York]. My Russian acting coach told me I was a disgrace to the Moscow Theatre. So I was determined to prove him wrong and do good work," Jennifer said. "I've never had my eye on a prize. I really wanted to enjoy the passage of time. Before 'Friends' and the success of that I have a graveyard of sitcoms that, thank god, you don't know about. I was happy to get a job every year, whether it went on or not."
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
PLAY IT NOW: Access Exclusive Clip: Jennifer Aniston's 'Love Happens'
PLAY IT NOW: Is 'Love Happening' For Jennifer Aniston?
MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Jennifer Aniston - Movies - Aaron Eckhart - Vince Vaughn - Cher


text:
BIG PINE KEY, Fla. -- In Chris Bergh's neighborhood, the difference between no man's land and lush forest is a five-minute walk.
At the end of one street, 5 feet above sea level, endangered Key deer and rabbits roam past driveways before darting behind thick pine trees lining both sides of the road. Behind the green walls, they slurp from drinking pools fed by an ample supply of fresh water underneath the ground.
As the road gradually slopes downward toward 1 foot above sea level, the pine trees get sparser and wildlife disappears. The shrubby landscape thrives on salt water that seeped through the ground or came from storms, killing off or driving away much of the freshwater ecosystem.
Bergh stopped at the end of the road, where the landscape turns into a mangrove-filled marsh. The only reminder of the pine tree forest that once grew there is a white stump.
"As the sea rises and the salt water keeps coming in, the rest of the area eventually is going to look like this marsh," said Bergh, a director at the Nature Conservancy. "It's just a matter of time."
The future inundation of Big Pine Key is one of many issues that Bergh said he hopes are addressed as part of Monroe County's first-ever climate action plan, set to be released this fall.
The county is the southernmost in the United States, with acreage that is 73 percent water over its 3,737 square miles. It covers portions of the Florida Everglades and the Big Cypress National Preserve, but most of its population of 74,000 resides in the Keys, which are connected by a single highway. Climate change models predict that much of the area could be underwater eventually because of sea-level rise, a process fueled by rising temperatures.
Bergh is the vice chairman of a 11-person advisory committee of city officials, county representatives, environmentalists and other appointed members tasked with providing recommendations on climate change to Monroe's Board of County Commissioners, the Keys' governing body. The commissioners can in turn implement the document in the entire county -- if they approve it -- via their control over agency staff and spending.
Putting the plan together involves hours of meetings, as the committee considers everything from controlling garbage emissions to encouraging planting of native flowers. Florida's "sunshine laws" force them to try to maximize their time, as they are allowed to communicate on the details only in publicly advertised forums.
The draft plan is not meant to be a regulatory framework far in the weeds or a legal mandate. Instead, it makes broad suggestions, such as "provide support to implement water conservation measures."
Will a climate action plan survive?
Even so, officials here say the climate action plan could make a big difference in whether the Florida Keys sit completely vulnerable to the impacts of rising temperatures. Among other things, the county controls zoning regulations, and any changes on how high things are built, and where they are built, likely will have roots in the final document.
"The plan is absolutely critical for keeping climate change on the county agenda," said Michael Roberts, an official in the county Growth Management Division.
At a meeting of the climate change advisory committee in June, officials explained how the action plan meetings -- which have occurred for the past year -- are already driving policy.
Alison Higgins, sustainability coordinator for Key West, said the process prompted her to add climate change considerations to the city's 10-year review of its comprehensive plan, which governs land regulations. The framework will be voted on in October. The seemingly small language changes could determine whether everything from shopping malls to roads consider sea-level rise when undergoing construction.
"There was previously nothing in the comprehensive plan about climate change or greenhouse gases," she said.
Similarly, officials here are under a state mandate to upgrade the Keys' entire wastewater system to advanced treatment plants by 2015. It's a $150 million expenditure eating up much of the county budget.
As the wastewater network heads into its final design this fall, there are discussions about raising wastewater pumps higher in the lower Keys, to make sure salt water doesn't seep into the sewage system in the future. The plan in its current form says "all new and significantly renovated roads, parks, pump stations, filled lots, towers, etc., shall have the grade elevated above the lands' projected sea level for the expected life of the infrastructure."
Kevin Wilson, an engineer in the Monroe County Public Works & Engineering Division, said consideration of the height of wastewater pumps is important because salt water flooding into them could wreak havoc with bacteria designed to break down sewage sludge.
"Wastewater has to come first," County Commissioner Sylvia Murphy said at the recent meeting. The wastewater upgrade is such a huge expenditure that it is the obvious first choice to direct efforts about climate change, she added.
Low-level burning
In Big Pine Key, there is no viable way to prevent seawater from seeping through the porous geology and contaminating the underground freshwater pool that feeds pine forests and deer. The action plan aims to address part of the problem with a "natural systems" section that calls for "low intensity fire regime in fire-dependent uplands and wetlands of the lower Keys."
That essentially is a push for more low-level burning of vulnerable trees, a process that makes them naturally more resilient against storm surges. Controlled burning every decade or so helps clear out leaf litter that gathers on the ground, Bergh explained.
That clearing of litter through fire in turn prevents pine tree roots from migrating upward toward the nutrient-rich litter piles. With their roots tapping into the underground freshwater lens, they are less likely to die from salt water flowing in from heavy rains, he said.
In Bergh's neighborhood, the Fish and Wildlife Service would have to oversee any such burning, as it controls most of the area as part of the National Key Deer Refuge. Many of the pine tree forests in the Keys have not experienced any natural burning for decades, creating a huge amount of buildup on the ground, he said.
"The plan is one way to say, 'Hey, Fish and Wildlife Service, the county thinks this is something you should consider,'" Bergh said. About 60 percent of the Keys is public land, so part of the focus of the climate change advisory committee is to educate and reach out to federal and state agencies.
Federal officials say increased low-level burning is being looked at as part of the service's overall modeling of future climate change impacts. However, there are multiple jurisdictional and social "constraints" to burning more, said Phillip Hughes, an ecologist at the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Complex. Those include the concerns of homeowners leery of increased fire in their neighborhoods.
David Bender, a botanist in the South Florida Ecological Services Office, said the county could play a huge role by buying and conserving land adjacent to public areas. The Keys contain so many species that are found only in this part of Florida that the county will be needed to help create land corridors for plants and animals to move to higher elevations, he explained.
The Fish and Wildlife Service, for example, is helping fund the replanting of Key tree-cactus in the islands that are threatened with extinction because of saltwater intrusion increasingly tainting the soil. This summer, 72 cactuses were planted in the Keys at high ground to try to boost their long-term survival, Bender said.
With climate change, this problem with freshwater-dependent native species is only going to increase, he said. The reintroduction in this case involved state land, but with other species, it will inevitably involve county land, he said.
Sea level rises as budget sinks
The action plan provides a framework for these kind of climate refuges, stating that the Monroe County Land Authority should place "a high priority on purchasing natural areas for conservation purposes."
How much any of these ideas will be implemented is an open question. Monroe County, like many counties around the country, is strapped for cash. The 2012 county budget was $319 million.
As a reference point, the county Public Works & Engineering Division's Wilson said it could cost hundreds of millions of dollars to outfit the entire Florida Keys with stormwater pumps that force water down drains during storms, one option for predicted heavier rainfalls with climate change.
Simultaneously, the county is getting less revenue from state and local gas taxes, said George Neugent, one of the five county commissioners.
It is currently funding many of its projects, including the wastewater revamp, with a 1-cent infrastructure sales tax that may expire, depending on whether Monroe County voters approve its extension in November elections. After that, the next priority for use of the sales tax money is roads and bridges in need of repair, Comissioner Murphy said at the advisory committee meeting.
"Don't even think of trying to do anything else with that money," she told the committee members.
Real estate community prefers 'quiet'
But it is those already planned projects that provide a golden -- and often inexpensive -- opportunity for the action plan, Bergh said. As the county resurfaces roads in coming years with money already allocated, he said, it should think about adding culverts so threatened wildlife can more easily move around.
There are also inexpensive ways to restore wetlands through activities such as plugging ditches, he said.
Additionally, he said, research is going to be extremely important. The county has a basic understanding of the most flood-prone areas, based on land elevation data. But it has not done a thorough analysis of natural infrastructure, such as offshore coral reefs and sand barriers, that could play a major role in holding back water from storm surges and rising seas.
"We need to do that analysis and overlay it with our current zoning," Bergh said.
The fate of the action plan may depend on the public's reaction in hearings and time constraints of the county governing schedule. Murphy and others have urged the advisory committee to narrow things down to six or so main points, to not overwhelm the Board of Commissioners. That raises a lot of questions in coming months about what will be emphasized and what will be taken out.
There is no guarantee, either, that the plan will be implemented if it is adopted.
Neugent said public opinion and a "lack of passion" among some members of the board are still obstacles.
The islands are not yet experiencing constant flooding problems, making it difficult to force climate change to the top of the agenda on a day-to-day basis, he said.
The real estate community, for one, is not thinking extensively about climate change and does not want the board to alarm people, he said.
"They want me to keep quiet," Neugent said.
Reprinted from Climatewire with permission from Environment & Energy Publishing, LLC. www.eenews.net, 202-628-6500


text:
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text:
Macy's building comes down with a bang
A dozen continuous thundering bangs brought the downtown Macy's to a pile of debris early Sunday, shaky waves trembling the ground and dust soaring to the sky.
Hundreds of zealous spectators gathered at dawn as high-powered sprinklers sprayed water on the building in preparation. After a series of loud bangs, smoke cut through the 10-story brown brick historic site - swallowing it in a mere 10 seconds.
"Everything went according to the plan," said Houston Fire Department spokesman Kenyatta Parker, who attributed a slight delay to the implosion company's careful pre-execution check.
The crowd cheered as the spectacle unfolded a block away, behind a protection radius set up by authorities. Morning wind carried black dust to the crowd watching from the southern side of the structure.
"How often do you see a building coming down?" exclaimed Hank Stout, who watched with his 2-year-old son, Henry, perched on his shoulders.
"They should have a count-down sign," said Stout, while he waited anxiously.
Eve Atkisson held an "implosion party" in her downtown apartment that started at 3 a.m. and lasted until Atkisson headed outside to watch.
"We had food and drinks to celebrate because this is a really neat thing to see," said Atkisson.
Her friend Jaime Torres was sad to see a building full of history destroyed.
"It's an end of an era," said Torres.
Macy's took the lease in 2006, from the previous department store, Foley's, a one-stop shopping destination for many Houstonians since the 1940s.
The implosion caused small fires that were quickly extinguished, as firefighters sprayed water to control dust. Authorities said the implosion didn't affect any nearby buildings, some of which were covered with plastic.
The building owner decided in January to tear down the nearly 70-year-old structure in favor of an office tower.
Mayor Annise Parker appointed a new downtown retail task force to research options for a new downtown Macy's.
"As the fourth-largest city in the U.S., Houston needs, and should have, more retail options downtown," she said in a statement earlier this year.
Yet many people see the implosion as a reflection of Houstonians' changed shopping habits.
"It's sad because it's got a lot of history, but people don't go shopping in downtown anymore," said Torres.
Road closures in the area could continue through Monday as workers continue to clear debris, but Metro officials said normal transit services will be running Monday morning.
Crews were working late Sunday to re-establish electricity to the rail line.


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Current region > Arab Emirates
Carpentry and Joinery Apprenticeship
Established over 40 years ago, The John G Sisk Training Centre trains skilled young apprentices in carpentry and joinery to a professional level.Consistently recognized in awards at a national level, the 4 year apprenticeship course entails periods of full-time study, practical workshop experience and exposure to the construction site environment as you work towards a Fetac Advanced Certificate Level 6 in Carpentry and Joinery.
Many of our leading site agents, foremen and site managers are graduates of this centre. We specialize in the production of high quality bespoke units to architectural specification, in addition to doors and frames, fire door sets, screens, panels, stairs and moulded handrails.
We have supplied a full range of joinery to projects including The National Convention Centre, Aviva Stadium, The Grand Canal Theatre, the rebuilding of the Teak House at the National Botanic Gardens Glasnevin and the Mater Adult Hospital. Despite all this work, every December staff and craftsmen give their time and energy to build traditional wooden toys for the distribution to hospitals, schools, homes and orphanages.
Interviews are annaully held during September with a view to starting in October/November the same year.
For additionalinfo on the Training Centre / Joinery Works and its services contact Dave Tracey on 00353 01 4091629, or email email@example.com


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SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois lawmakers were poised Tuesday to vote on a plan to solve the state's $100 billion pension crisis — a proposal many are calling the most important vote of their careers and one that could deeply reduce the retirement benefits of hundreds of thousands of workers and retirees.
At a hearing on the measure Tuesday morning, House Speaker Michael Madigan called the pension shortfall — the worst of any state in the country — "one of the most serious problems affecting the state of Illinois."
"Change must be done," the Chicago Democrat said.
But public-employee labor unions called the plan unfair and unconstitutional and were continuing their efforts to kill it. Dan Montgomery, president of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, said it would severely cut the retirees' benefits and could only be described as "theft."
"How can you do this to the good people who serve our state?" Montgomery said.
Nine of the 10 members of a bipartisan pension conference committee signed off on the deal late Monday, sending it to the floors of both the House and Senate, where votes were expected later Tuesday. But passage in those Democrat-controlled chambers is not a sure bet. The committee's chairman, Sen. Kwame Raoul, said Senate President John Cullerton was still working to ensure "yes" votes Tuesday morning.
Illinois' unfunded pension liability was caused primarily by lawmakers who failed for decades to make the state's full payments to the funds.
Even as other states with similar pension messes took action in recent years, the General Assembly was unable to come up with its own solution. Meanwhile, the major credit rating agencies downgraded Illinois to the lowest credit rating of any state in the country, and annual pension payments grew to about one-fifth of the state's general funds budget, taking money away from schools, roads and other areas.
The pension proposal is estimated to save the state $160 billion over 30 years and fully fund the systems by 2044.
It would push back the retirement age for workers ages 45 and younger, on a sliding scale. The annual 3 percent cost-of-living increases for retirees would be replaced with a system that only provides the increases on a portion of benefits, based on how many years a beneficiary was in his or her job. Some workers would have the option of freezing their pension and starting a 401(k)-style defined contribution plan.
Also included in the plan is language to prevent "pension abuses," as nongovernment employees such as union bosses couldn't participate and new hires wouldn't be able to bank sick or vacation time to boost pensions.
Gov. Pat Quinn and other supporters on Monday stressed the importance of the vote, saying approving the legislation is a crucial step toward improving Illinois' disastrous financial situation. Quinn, a Chicago Democrat, planned to travel to the state Capitol and meet with as many legislators as possible to try to get them to vote yes.
"I think (this is) the most important fiscal vote that will ever be taken by the General Assembly in my lifetime," he said Monday at an unrelated event. "We need to erase the liability and move Illinois forward. That's what I'm committed to and I think everyone who is interested in the future of Illinois, the common good, what's good for taxpayers should join us in urging a yes vote."
Others have said the plan doesn't cut benefits enough, while some critics say legislators and the public haven't had sufficient time to review and analyze the legislation.
Tuesday's vote is scheduled to occur one day after the deadline for candidates to file with the state board of elections to run in the 2014 primary — timing that could give some lawmakers concerned about a primary challenge the freedom to vote in favor of the bill.
It's also a big vote politically for Quinn, who has made fixing the pension problem his top priority and is seeking another term next year. Just one of his three potential Republican challengers, Sen. Bill Brady, has said he supports the bill.
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Petite in size, glamorous in style, this watch is the ultimate wear-everywhere accessory. The classic silver tone and shimmering details make it perfect for layering with your favorite arm candy.
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