text:
Trixie Outdoor Run with Mesh Cover (45.25" x 26.75" x 27.75")
Product Details
About this item
- Cover folds open on one side
- Houses 2 standard or 4 bantam chickens
- Use as an extension for TRIXIE chicken coops (Item #55962 and #55963)
- Suitable for 2 standard size chickens or 4 bantams
current price: $75.74
Online only
Free shipping for Plus
Raising chickens can be a fun and rewarding experience for any backyard farmer. They produce nutritious eggs, as well as organic fertilizer, and are low-cost pets to maintain. Because chickens need room to roam and stretch their wings while still feeling safe, TRIXIE's outdoor run with mesh cover is ideal for these lively companions. The galvanized metal grid, solid wood construction and weatherproof finish mean this attractive outdoor run will endure years of use with very little maintenance. The mesh cover and metal slide latches keep your flock safe and secure from predators. The cover also folds open on one side for easy access. Our run quickly and easily attaches to TRIXIE's chicken coops item 55962 and 55963 using our metal latches. Suitable for up to 2 standard size chickens or 4 bantams. Quick and easy assembly. One year warranty. Color glazed pine. Dimensions (inches) 45 x 26 x 28; mesh door 17 x 22. Weight 13 lbs.
Policies & plans
- Pine with weatherproof finish
- Powder-coated metal lattice
- Mesh cover folds open on one side
- Large side door with metal slide latch
- Attaches to Trixie's Chicken Coops with four metal slide latches
- Houses up to 2 standard size chickens or 4 bantams
- Compatible with Trixie's Chicken Coops (Item #55962 and #55963)
- Materials: glazed pine, galvanized metal grid, metal hardware
- Quick and easy assembly
- 1 year Manufacturer's Warranty
- Color: glazed pine
1 year Manufacturer's Warranty
Assembled Country
Assembled Size
45.25" L x 26.25" W x 27.75" H
Component Country
Shipping Info
Standard - null to null business days
Premium - 2 to 4 business days
Express - 1 to 2 business days

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The coolest thing ever happened to me this week.
As some of you may know, California has been inundated with wildfires this season. Generally we have a few – hey, it's really hot and dry here in the summers – but this year, we've had non-stop fire everywhere. At one point there were 1,100 separate fires burning in Northern California alone. And a lot of those have been near where I live. Luckily, I'm only near the fire zone, and not in it, so my house has been relatively safe. But the smoke has been like a thick, gray cloud hanging over us for days. It makes for a really eerie sci-fi like yellow hue over everything with a blood red sun in the middle. Very surreal. Very stinky. Very bad for breathing.
Because of our seriously out of control fire situation, Governor Schwarzenegger has asked people to reconsider their fireworks use this forth of July. On the one hand, I totally agree. The last thing we need are more amateur firebugs setting the hills ablaze. But, on the other hand, the professional displays are generally very safe and… they're pretty! As much as I'm for anything that helps get rid of the constant smoke layer, it will not be July 4th for me without fireworks.
So, I went on a mission to find one place in the area that is still having their annual display tonight.
Usually I go to the amusement park where they have a really killer professional display every year. Nope – this year, canceled. I checked over in Santa Cruz – fireworks on the beach, awesome. Nope – canceled this year, too. I was beginning to hate that Terminator guy. After checking every place in town I found that the Giants were doing a fireworks display after the baseball game… but it was on Wed, the 2nd instead of actually on the fourth. Hmmm… close. But I wasn't sure they would carry over two days to give me my Independence Day fix.
I was just about to give up and go buy a handful of little sparklers instead, when I tried one last place and found the perfect display. An outdoor concert venue near the bay where they were having a symphony play patriotic music along with a gigantic fireworks display. Yes! I went to their website, clicked through the process to buy tickets, and… sold out. Noooooo!
So (after hitting the back button and trying two more times just in case they really did have tickets left but I was just ordering them wrong. Nope. Still sold out.) I fired up Google and went searching for anyone who might be scalping them online. Yeah, I'm not above that. I found one guy with two tickets who wanted $250 for the pair. Originally, they were $25 a piece. And I needed four. Ouch. I kept looking.
Then, miracle of miracles, I found a listing on Craig's List of a guy with 4 tickets to get rid of. Score! The only catch… he didn't want to sell them for cash, he wanted to trade.
I stared at the listing, trying to figure out just what kind of trade he was looking for. Was this code for something? What exactly did he want? (Briefly I wondered if he took a ladies size seven shoe… ) But, out of other options, I emailed him anyway.
The next morning I woke up to find a response in my inbox. Yay! I clicked it open and saw he'd sent two emails. The first said he was looking to trade anything valuable for the tickets – gift cards, other event tickets, merchandise – "Make me an offer," he said. My eyes strayed around my room. Did I have anything valuable enough to trade for these sold-out, scalpable tickets? A spare lamp? A chipped vase? An old used cell phone? (Wow, I really need to redecorate in here.)
Realizing I had nothing of value to trade, I'd pretty much given up hope of seeing fireworks as I clicked open his second email.
And could hardly believe my eyes. Apparently he'd seen my website addy in the signature line of my email and been to my website, because he said, "Tell you what, I'll trade you the tickets for a signed book." I blinked, re-reading it. Then immediately wrote back, "sold!"
So, thanks to a couple signed copies of Undercover in High Heels, I'm going to see fireworks tonight! Woohoo! It's moments like these that make all those painful hours hunkered over the keyboard worth it. Who knew I could trade books for concert tickets? This opens up a world of possibilities… I wonder if there are any readers out there with spare Bon Jovi tickets…
Happy Independence Day everyone!!
~Trigger Happy Halliday
P.S. Thanks for the tickets, Howard! You rock!
Friday, July 04, 2008
The coolest thing ever happened to me this week.
Posted by Gemma Halliday at 5:00 AM
12 comments:
- Lucy said...
How cool! Glad you're getting your fireworks fix. Have a great time. :)
- July 4, 2008 at 6:15 AM
- Christie Craig said...
Wow, Gemma!
I love, love that story. It's one of those times where we're really proud to be writers.
Thanks for sharing.
Crime Scene Christie
- July 4, 2008 at 8:38 AM
How very cool! I don't mind the professional fireworks. They know what they're doing. It's the idiots in the neighborhood who are Totally Clueless that drive me insane.
A lot of the professional fireworks displays around here have been cancelled, too, though not for the fire hazards. They can't afford to have them because of the ever-rising cost of gas and other increases in the city/town budgets.
I hope you have a fabulous time!!! And Howard does indeed rock! :)
- July 4, 2008 at 10:19 AM
- Keri Ford said...
How very awesome! Howard, you're totally cool! When I spent my summers with my dad in Florida (Tampa Bay area), the fireworks were completely mouth hanging open worthly. I remember going to different places-just not where those places where. The one I remember most was in a downtown area. The fireworks cracked over a pond or lake or something and the colors and boom were echoed in all the surrounding glass buildings.
Have fun!
- July 4, 2008 at 10:30 AM
- Gemma Halliday said...
I'm so excited! I'm such a sucker for anything bright and sparkly. (never take me to Vegas, I go nuts)
Tori - I'm with you on the Totally Clueless. There should an IQ test you have to pass in order to buy fireworks.
Keri - that display sounds awesome! I'll be sure to let you all know how the one tonight is.
- July 4, 2008 at 10:43 AM
- catslady said...
Is he single roflmao. Sounds like a nice guy and who wouldn't want a signed book!!!
- July 4, 2008 at 11:05 AM
- Blondie0409 said...
Hey! Happy 4th of July to you too! Oh, and it's my 18th Birthday! Can't wait for your next book Gemma!
- July 4, 2008 at 11:31 AM
- Gemma Halliday said...
Is he single roflmao
Good question! But, no, it sounds like he has a lovely wife. He got the books for her and her sister. What a good guy, huh?
- July 4, 2008 at 11:56 AM
- Gemma Halliday said...
Happy Birthday, Blondie!!! Hope it's a great one!
I just got coverflats for my next book. They are SO pretty. The colors are a lot more vibrant than they look on the computer screen. Can't wait to hold one in my hot little hand. :)
- July 4, 2008 at 11:58 AM
- Jana DeLeon said...
LOL!!!! That is too funny, Gemma! I guess people don't know we usually have stacks of our books sitting around for just those kind of request. :) At least, I do.
Hope the fireworks were great!
- July 5, 2008 at 8:48 AM
- Heather said...
Glad you got to see some fireworks for the Fourth - what a great trade you made for those tickets!
I'm with others in that professional displays are great, idiot displays are not. Idiots on the block behind ours have been doing them as late as 1am for two weeks now. Ugh!
- July 6, 2008 at 12:01 PM
- Gemma Halliday said...
Two weeks?! Ugh, that sucks!
- July 6, 2008 at 10:58 PM


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Gerhard Berger - first Motorsports athlete
In 1989, Formula 1 Driver Gerhard Berger, became the first Motorsports Athlete to be sponsored by Red Bull. He won his first Grand Prix in Mexico in 1986 and his last in 1997 in Germany. In his 14 Formula One seasons he twice finished 3rd in the World Championship. He won 10 Grands Prix, was on the podium 48 times and recorded 12 poles and 21 fastest laps.


text:
Items where Person is "Dumont, Kevin"
Group by: Item Type | No Grouping
Jump to: Article
Number of items: 1.
Meiffren, Vincent and Dumont, Kevin and Lenormand, Pascal and Ansart, Florence and Manov, Stephan. Development of new processes to protect zinc against corrosion, suitable for on-site use. (2011) Progress in Organic Coatings, 71 (4). 329-335. ISSN 0300-9440


text:
JR 6/24/2010 09:36:00 PM Tweet Edit
_______________________________________________________________« Prev Post Next Post »
Looks athletic though the defense he was facing in that video was atrocious,haha.
He hit a whole 3 jumpers in that video. lol.
lol apparently hes a good defender...hes the same size as rondo...athletic...jumper not ideal
i mean it sounds like hes a good backup for rondo lol...goodbyeeee nate!!
Maybe he'll be as good as William Avery. Or Shawn Bradley.
1 word: defense
ya I heard he was the #1 recruit out of high school just didn't have as good a freshman year as people thought. Solid pick by the Celtics I think.


text:
He's been co-editor of the school's newspaper, The Royal Times, for the past four years, hosted a T.V. program "Live at 5" before that in junior high school, and recently starred in CTK's musical production of Phantom of the Opera - and he hasn't even started college.
After careful consideration, Scarpati decided on attending Brooklyn College where he was accepted into the Macaulay Program. The program provides a four-year scholarship and grant money usually used for travel. Scarpati knows where's he's headed.
"I'd love to travel to Hollywood," he said. "That'd be really cool."
As for academics, Scarpati intends to double major in Film and Computer Information Technologies, something he's always wanted to do. The areas of study won't be easy, but Scarpati said he's up for the challenge.
"I know it's a pretty hard area of work to get into. It's so competitive," Scarpati said. "But Brooklyn has the best film studio, and that's where I'd be doing high definition conversion."
While finishing up his last year in high school, Scarpati finds time to write a monthly column which gives reviews of popular video games. He also writes stories on various other subjects, and edits his peers' stories as well.
Perhaps his biggest accomplishment this spring was his starring role in Phantom of the Opera. But don't expect Scarpati to seek the limelight on Broadway anytime soon.
One of his idols is award-winning film director and producer Steven Spielberg, the man behind such classics as E.T., Jurassic Park and the Indiana Jones movies. Scarpati said he hopes to follow in his footsteps by making movies on the big screen.
"I love the idea of filmmaking," he said. "I always thought about how cool it would be to be part of a film and helping make [something for] millions of people to see."


text:
When I asked Kenny Williams about Cespedes he said: "Who's that? Is he a pitcher? Is he Japanese?"
— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) January 28, 2012
Don't let Williams' comical misdirection fool you on the Cuban players. White Sox have interest: Concepcion could be the most likely target
— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) January 28, 2012


text:
For over 40 years, REMBE® has been a leader in the innovation and manufacture of high-quality venting and isolation equipment systems to minimize or eliminate the catastrophic effects of combustible dust explosions to your employees and facilities.
Now, REMBE® Inc. continues the tradition of providing top-quality explosion protection through our Charlotte, NC location and warehouse.
The inventor of flameless venting, REMBE® specializes in explosion prevention/protection applications with a comprehensive portfolio: Q-Rohr and Q-Box indoor/outdoor venting systems, a complete line of explosion vent panels for standard and custom applications, passive/active isolation systems.
A REMBE® Inc. representative will work with you and our team of professionals to find the best solutions for managing your facility's combustible dust explosion risk. Together, our team will identify the proper prevention and protection mix of venting and isolation equipment for your facility, based on your specific circumstances.
To learn more about REMBE®, INC.:
[email protected]
Manufacturer Product Categories
- Accessories
- Dust Collection & Air Pollution Control
- Explosion Protection & Safety
- Instrumentation & Control
- Mechanical Conveying
- Pneumatic Conveying
- Storage
- Valves, Gates, & Airlocks
- Weighing Systems & Scales


text:
When Rafi Gasner decided to spend a year studying in a seminary in Israel, she thought she would spend most of the time focusing on her own personal growth. Her year has shaped up to be much more about helping others.
Gasner was born and raised in Thornhill, Ont. While attending Ulpanat Orot High School for Girls, she quickly discovered that one of her biggest passions in life is helping others, specifically children with special needs.
She volunteered with Yachad, the National Jewish Council for Disabilities, an organization dedicated to addressing the needs of disabled peoples and including them in the Jewish community. "My high school promoted volunteer work and especially organizations like Yachad. On the first day that I met with the people at Yachad, I immediately felt a connection to them and I loved what I was doing. It made me want to come back, and I continued volunteering there for four years," Gasner said. Afterward she volunteered with D.A.N.I. Toronto, an organization founded in 2005 to create opportunities for young adults with disabilities and allow them to have a full and meaningful quality of life. "I was intrigued with the organization… because they help young adults live a real and full life, just like any other adult. After working mostly with children at Yachad, I wanted to volunteer with D.A.N.I. and help young adults like myself have the same opportunities that I did," Gasner said.
Her desire for helping people with special needs led her to work for Camp HASC in New York for two summers. The organization provides children with special needs the opportunity to attend sleepover camps. "It's really completely different than working with other children. If these kids don't do something, it's not because they don't want to, it's because they can't. I really wanted to help kids grow and overcome some of their obstacles." After graduating from Ulpanat Orot, Gasner decided to spend a year in a seminary in Israel. Part of her program was committing to one afternoon a week of volunteer work. She chose to volunteer with ALEH, Israel's biggest network of residential facilities for children with severe physical and cognitive disabilities.
After one afternoon, she fell in love with the organization, the staff and the kids, and she decided to volunteer there not only once a week, as required by her school, but also on her weekly day off from school. "It's a very welcoming environment," she said. "On the first day I was there, I noticed all the kids had these beautiful smiles on their faces. It was so amazing to see their genuine smiles." In the beginning, Gasner had to overcome some challenges herself. She was not fluent in Hebrew, which made it difficult to communicate to the staff and the kids. "The teachers only spoke Hebrew, which was challenging for me, since my Hebrew was not very good. Luckily, the staff was very helpful and helped me communicate with the kids," she said. "The one thing that really amazes me is that every day is a different, unique experience. Every day these kids have new challenges that they overcome. My job is to help them through these challenges, and help make their lives like any other kids' lives. One day we had a musical therapist come in and we helped the kids dance. Their faces lit up, and you could see they felt valuable." Gasner knew when she got involved with ALEH that she would be giving back to the community, but she is pleased that the experience has helped her as well. "I didn't just want to spend a year focusing on myself. I wanted to give back to the community, and in the end, this experience is also helping me grow," she said. "When you work with special needs children, you develop an appreciation for life. You see how they appreciate the [smallest] things, from being able to hold a ball in their hands to being able to stand up, and it makes you grateful for everything you have," she added. The staff at ALEH plan activities such as dancing, baking cookies and Shabbat parties. They try to let the kids use their different motilities to do the different activities. "Some kids can move their hands, so we would play a game like bowling. Other kids can't move at all, so we let them touch the textures to their face so they can feel what we are doing," said Gasner. She hopes to pursue a career in special needs and nursing. "I can't imagine doing anything else. These children don't complain about their obstacles, and they take on their challenges. It helped me learn to deal with my own challenges. "When I first came to ALEH, my biggest challenge was [the] language barrier. When I saw how these kids deal with bigger problems every day, it helped me overcome my difficulty." She is thankful the staff at ALEH was so welcoming, and is grateful to have formed relationships with both the teachers and the kids. "These teachers are 24/7 caretakers. The kids have constant love and care from people who they are not related to. They develop a connection to us, and this bond is so rewarding." For more information on ALEH, visit www.


text:
Advantage Plan®
All Mr. Electric® customers are eligible for membership in our exclusive Advantage Plan. As a member, here is what you can expect:
Peace of Mind
We will perform a full Electric Safety Check to survey all items associated with your electrical service, provide a report of findings, and quote prices for repairs that may be necessary. We reduce the number of emergency calls by preventing potentially dangerous problems before they occur.
Service You Can Trust
Our skilled, reliable Service Professionals know their business. We are licensed, insured, bonded, and undergo full background checks for your peace of mind. Rely on us and our reputation to give you fast and dependable service at a fair price.
Priority Scheduling
Should you need emergency service as an Advantage Plan® member, you will receive priority when it comes to scheduling your appointment.
Price Protection
We charge by the job, not by the hour, so you save money. Plus, your agreement price cannot be raised during the effective dates.
We maintain complete records of all maintenance and repairs performed and will provide you with a written report upon the completion of any work.
Transferable Agreement
Our Advantage Plan is fully transferable to the new home or property owner should it change hands. Or, you have the option to take your Advantage Plan with you to provide peace of mind in your new home (coverage subject to availability). Ask a Mr. Electric service professional about how our Advantage Plan can help save you time, headaches, and money.
*Honored at most participating locations


text:
Explore and enjoy Sonoma County's array of things to do and see. See how life opens up through our arts and culture, outdoor activities in the redwoods, whale watching along the coast, or hiking in the magnificent state and regional parks.
Sonoma County offers something for everyone, from wine lovers to nature enthusiasts, from families to couples on a romantic getaway. Get inspired with the free Sonoma County Visitors Guide.


text:
ARRIVE guidelines
Our ARRIVE (Animal Research: Reporting of In Vivo Experiments) guidelines are intended to improve the reporting of research using animals – maximising information published and minimising unnecessary studies.
The ARRIVE guidelines, originally published in PLOS Biology, were developed in consultation with the scientific community as part of an NC3Rs initiative to improve the standard of reporting of research using animals.
You can download the ARRIVE guidelines in English by clicking on the purple box above, or by following this link.
Further information on the project, including the current list of endorsements by scientific journals, funding bodies, universities and learned societies can be found within our Our Science pages.
The ARRIVE guidelines are available in a number of languages. Please scroll down to download electronic copies in Chinese (Mandarin), French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (including Brazilian Portuguese) and Spanish.
Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, we are currently unable to send out hard copy resources. Please visit our dedicated COVID-19 page for more information about the support we are offering during this time.
The ARRIVE checklist is designed to be used when submitting manuscripts describing animal research. To complete the checklist, fill in the right-hand column with the section and paragraph (e.g. 'Methods, Paragraph 2') reporting the ARRIVE item. If the checklist item is not applicable to the study being reported, provide a reason for not reporting this information in the right-hand column. A completed checklist can be provided as supplementary information and will help reviewers and editors to ensure the high-quality reporting of animal research.
NOTE: Please ensure that you save the pdf locally on your machine before you fill in the table, DO NOT work on the file within your internet browser as the changes will not be saved. If you are unable to complete the PDF checklist, please download the Word version. An example of a manuscript using the ARRIVE checklist can be found here.
Latest news
The guidelines are being revised. The ARRIVE guidelines 2019 are available in preprint while undergoing peer review. For more information click here.
Resources to support the use of the guidelines
ARRIVE webinar: 'The ARRIVE guidelines: Improving the design and reporting of animal research to optimize the reproducibility of animal studies', presented by Dr Katie Lidster at the Laboratory Animal Science virtual conference.
ARRIVE presentation: A short presentation describing the ARRIVE guidelines can be used to disseminate key information about the guidelines. The presentation is an ideal introduction to the ARRIVE guidelines and explains their development, how they can be used and the benefit of using the guidelines when reporting animal research.
Presentation speaker notes: To accompany the presentation, speaker notes include comprehensive guidance to assist the presenter.
ARRIVE examples: Specific examples for each point of the ARRIVE guidelines demonstrate how they can be used in practice to report animal research.
Our ARRIVE guidelines are now available in a number of languages (more coming soon):
- ARRIVE - Chinese translation (Mandarin)
- ARRIVE - French translation
- ARRIVE - Italian translation
- ARRIVE - Japanese translation
- ARRIVE - Korean translation
- ARRIVE - Portuguese translation
- ARRIVE - Portuguese translation (Brazilian)
- ARRIVE - Spanish translation
Related content
- Experimental design hub
- NC3Rs blog: ARRIVE Guidelines: Moving beyond endorsement
- NC3Rs blog: ARRIVE at five


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National Coalition Calls on Big 3 Infant Formula Brands to Remove GMO Ingredients And Protect American Babies
Mounting Concerns About The Health Effects of Genetically Modified Ingredients And The Herbicides Used In Production Incite Consumer Action On Top-Selling Formula Companies to Remove GMOs
May 1, 2013
Washington DC – Similac, Enfamil, and Gerber Good Start – which combined account for more than 90 percent of all infant formula sales in the US – are exposing American and Canadian babies to potentially grave health risks by using genetically modified ingredients. Commonly referred to as GMOs (genetically modified organisms), these ingredients have been banned or at least require a packaging label in more than 60 other countries including China, Mexico, Russia, and the entire European Union.
GMO Inside, a national, non-GMO coalition led by Green America, is calling on these brands' parent companies (Abbott Laboratories, Mead Johnson Nutrition, and Nestlé), via an online petition, to remove GMO ingredients immediately as infants face particular health risks when it comes to consuming GMOs.
GMOs have never been proven safe for human consumption and a growing number of peer‐reviewed studies show the negative health impacts of consuming GMOs on laboratory animals over their life span. Inadequate research has been conducted on the health impacts on GMOs humans and infants; however, an increasing number of concerned parents and pediatricians have voiced that using GMOs in infant formula is far too large of a risk to take. Babies are particularly vulnerable when it comes to consuming GMOs as their digestive and immune systems are not fully developed and GMO crops have very high exposure to dangerous pesticides and herbicides such as Roundup. Infant livers do not reach maturity for about two years and therefor are less equipped to process toxins in the body, such as the high levels of chemicals used on genetically modified foods.
"For the infant that is unable to nurse I insist upon an organic commercial formula," says pediatrician Michelle Perro. "Because of the toxic effects of herbicides, particularly glyphosate (due to its prolific usage) as well as other organophosphates and genetically engineered foods in non-organic commercial formulas, these are not an option for infant feeding. In order to ensure the health of our infants and children, there is no amount of acceptable herbicide or GMO that should be in their diets."
Adding insult to injury, these companies all spent money to oppose GMO labeling in California last year, thus obstructing a parent's right to know whether or not the first food they are feeding their newborns contains GMOs.
Unlike more than 60 countries around the world, the United States and Canada do not require companies to label and reveal their GMO ingredients to consumers. This means that American and Canadian babies are exposed to ingredients that parents in Europe, China, and elsewhere would never feed their children. In fact, due to these labeling requirements, all three companies offer non-GMO formula options to their consumers in Europe.
"It's infuriating that parents in the United States are not given the same assurances as citizens in more than 60 other countries including China, Mexico, and Saudi Arabia, when it comes to GM ingredients," says Green America President Alisa Gravitz, "All parents have a right to healthy food options for their children."
So who are these companies peddling these unhealthy infant formulas?
|Company Name
|Formula Brand
|Likely GMO Ingredients
|US Market Share
|2012 Company Sales
|Amount spent to oppose labeling in CA (support for "No on Prop 37")
|Abbott Laboratories
|Corn, Soy, Sugar
|$39 Billion
|Mead Johnson Nutrition
|Corn, Soy
|$3.9 Billion
|Gerber Good Start
|Corn, Soy
|$92 Billion
Throughout May, GMO Inside will call on Abbott Laboratories, Mead Johnson Nutrition, and Nestlé to remove their GMO ingredients, while also offering consumers suggestions for non-GMO choices.
Consumers can sign our petition to the companies here or take action with us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GmoInside
GMO Inside is a coalition of businesses, organizations, and individuals that support a healthy, GMO-free food system. The GMO Inside steering committee is made up of the following organizations and individuals and convened by Green America:
Food Democracy Now! is a grassroots community dedicated to building a sustainable food system that protects our natural environment, sustains farmers and nourishes families. Food Democracy Now! members know we can build a food system that gives our communities equal access to healthy food, and respects the dignity of the farmers who produce it. We believe in recreating regional food systems, supporting the growth of humane, natural and organic farms, and protecting the environment.
GMO Free USA works to harness education, advocacy, and bold action to foster consumer rejection of genetically modified organisms, until they are proven safe. They support the labeling of GMO foods with the ultimate goal of getting GMOs out of the food supply and environment. Their current campaign focuses on engaging Kellogg's to get GMOs out of their entire product line.
Green America is the nation's leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America (formerly Co-op America) provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses, investors, and individuals to solve today's social and environmental problems. www.GreenAmerica.org
Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT) is a world leader in educating policy makers and the public about the documented risks of GM foods and crops, as well as the problems associated with current research, regulation, corporate practices, and reporting. IRT's founder, Jeffrey M. Smith, is an international bestselling author, filmmaker, and the leading spokesperson on the health dangers of GMOs. He documents how the world's most powerful Ag biotech companies bluff and mislead critics, and put the health of society at risk.
Label GMOs advocates for transparency in the food supply and for clear and concise labeling of genetically modified organisms. They are the California grassroots network that helped to lay the groundwork for Proposition 37. Label GMOs continues to educate in California and provide support for other on the ground grassroots GMO labeling efforts throughout the US.
Nutiva® is dedicated to a healthy and sustainable world, demonstrating its mission to nourish people and planet by using delicious organic ingredients, enriching the soil, and donating 1 percent of sales to sustainable-agriculture groups. Founded in 1999, Nutiva is the world's best-selling brand of nutritious organic hemp foods, extra-virgin coconut oil, and chia seeds. Fifteen thousand retailers in the United States, Canada, and the European Union offer Nutiva products, including Whole Foods, Sprouts, Vitamin Shoppe, GNC, Publix, Safeway, Loblaws, and Amazon.com. Nutiva is located in Richmond, California. For more information, visit www.nutiva.com.
Vani Hari is a management consultant, food activist writer and a two time elected North Carolina delegate, endorsed by President Obama. Vani started foodbabe.com in April 2011 to spread information about what is really in the American food supply. She teaches people how to make the right purchasing decisions at the grocery store, how to live an organic lifestyle, and how to travel healthfully around the world. The success in her writing and investigative work can be seen in the way food companies react to her uncanny ability to find and expose the truth. She been featured in the Washington Times, NY Times, Lawyers Weekly, Prevention.com, NBC – WCNC, ABC – WLOS, and profiled in Charlotte Observer.
MEDIA CONTACTS: Leslie Maloy, email@example.com or (703) 276-3256; and Elizabeth O'Connell, firstname.lastname@example.com or (202) 872-5309.


text:
(PECL imagick 2.0.0)
Imagick::compareImageChannels — Returns the difference in one or more images
This function is currently not documented; only its argument list is available.
Compares one or more images and returns the difference image.
Imagick object containing the image to compare.
Provide any channel constant that is valid for your channel mode. To apply to more than one channel, combine channeltype constants using bitwise operators. Refer to this list of channel constants.
One of the metric type constants.
Array consisting of new_wand and distortion.
Throws ImagickException on error.


text:
C.D.S. Newsletter October 2012
In this issue...
- TRACE 700 Version 6.2.9 Available
- TOPSS Update Includes New Version Control Process
- Frequently Asked Support Question
- Meet the C.D.S. Support Staff ... Eric Bleckinger and Charlie Jelen
TRACE 700™ Version 6.2.9 Now Available
TRACE 700, Load Design, Load Express, and Chiller Plant Analyzer updates are now available. The articles below detail the newest features in version 6.2.9. View the complete list of changes.
- New ASHRAE 90.1–2010 Minimally Compliant Equipment Library
- Updated calculation for dry fluid coolers and evaporative fluid coolers
- Ability to measure overall chiller plant efficiency
TRACE 700 90.1-2010 Equipment Library
The latest update to TRACE 700 includes the ASHRAE Standard
90.1-2010 Minimally Compliant Equipment Library, which contains a
collection of equipment and assemblies from the standard's Table 6.8.1
and Appendix A. The library can be used to model heating and cooling
plants and envelope assemblies for Energy Cost Budget analyses and
LEED baseline buildings. LEED v4 (the upcoming version formerly known
as LEED 2012) relies heavily upon 90.1-2010.
How are changes in the standard reflected in the TRACE Library?
Several major changes distinguish ASHRAE 90.1-2010's Table 6.8.1 from its predecessor. Variable-refrigerant-flow (VRF) air conditioners and heat pumps have been added to the equipment list, and computer-room air conditioners have been broken out from other unitary equipment. More equipment categories include part-load requirements, and IEER has largely replaced IPLV for defining these requirements. Lastly, 90.1-2010 has simplified the efficiency requirements for water-chilling packages into two alternatives for compliance: Path A emphasizes full-load performance while Path B emphasizes part-load requirements. Each path has both a full-load and a part-load metric to meet.
The 90.1-2010 library in TRACE incorporates these changes and addresses some other issues as well. Air-cooled VRF air conditioners and heat pumps are included in the library; computer-room air conditioners (CRACs) are also included but will require additional adjustment by users for accurate modeling. Standard 90.1-2010 requires CRACs to meet a certain "sensible COP" (SCOP), defined as:
ASHRAE defines net sensible cooling capacity as equipment gross
sensible capacity minus the fan heat dissipated to the space, and
defines total power input as all consumed energy apart from re-heaters
and humidifiers. Because these values (and thus the SCOP value) will
vary from project to project, we elected to enter the required SCOP
value as the unit's COP and allow users to adjust the full-load rate
to suit their application. Additional information about SCOP can be
found in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 127. ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2010
references Standard 127-2007. Note: Standard 127-2012 has replaced
the term SCOP with Net Sensible Coefficient of Performance
Lastly, in order to comply with LEED Interpretation IC 90.1-2007-09, air-cooled heat pumps will now operate in heating mode down to 17°F with progressively declining capacity (see Figure 1 for the capacity curve that has been assigned to air-cooled heat pumps). The 90.1-2004 and -2007 libraries will also be updated to reflect this change, which will alter energy consumption for projects using those libraries' heat pumps.
Figure 1
Within an average project, we expect that overall heat pump electric consumption will increase.
How was part-load efficiency integrated into the TRACE 90.1-2010 Library?
There is no direct input in TRACE 700 to enter the part-load
efficiency values required by ASHRAE 90.1. Instead, part-load
performance for a given piece of equipment is incorporated into the
program using an unloading curve and an ambient relief curve. The
unloading curve defines equipment power consumption based on load
while the ambient relief curve modifies power consumption based on
off-design condenser temperatures.
Each equipment category within the library uses a common unloading curve but accounts for different IEER or IPLV values using custom ambient relief curves. For instance, several centrifugal chillers contained in the library unload based on a CVHE curve (Figure 2), but each chiller uses its own individual ambient relief curve (Figure 3) to define its own part-load efficiency. This allows each family of equipment to unload in the same fashion while still accounting for consumption variances between different units.
Figure 2
For each piece of equipment, efficiency values were calculated at 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% load and entered into the IEER or IPLV equation (see the latest versions of ANSI/AHRI Standards 340/360 and 550/590 for more information on how IEER and IPLV are calculated). An ambient relief modifier was used to raise or lower these efficiency values based on entering condenser temperature, which allowed us to make part-load performance a function of ambient relief. The equipment minimum compliance with Standard 90.1 was established by using a combination of unloading and ambient relief curves. For each type of equipment, a representative unloading curve was selected from the existing unloading curves within the TRACE 700 curves library. Knowing the unloading curve data points, the full- and part-load requirements from Standard 90.1, and a single data point on the ambient relief curve, the ambient relief curve slope can be established. This data was then used to create the unloading and ambient relief curves for each piece of equipment. See Figure 4 for more details on the ambient-relief calculation:
Updated Fluid Cooler Calculations
The fluid cooler model in TRACE has been rewritten to accurately
model fluid coolers as condenser-side heat rejection devices, as well
as improve the simulation of free-cooling devices. New algorithms were
implemented for dry fluid coolers and evaporative fluid coolers (aka
closed-loop cooling towers), based on those used in EnergyPlus.
Both types of fluid coolers are still identified in the TRACE 700 Heat Rejection library in the Heat Rejection Type field. The value in the Makeup Water field determines the cooler type:
- For a dry fluid cooler model, the value in the Makeup Water field must be 0 gal/ton-hr. See screen example
- For an evaporative fluid cooler model, the value in the Makeup Water field must be greater than 0 or "To be calculated." See screen example
Measure Overall Chiller Plant Efficiency
A new kWh/Ton-hr metric has been added to the Economic Summary Report. This metric helps measure the overall efficiency of the cooling plant, as opposed to the efficiency of its individual components. The plant efficiency applies to water-cooled, air-cooled, unitary, or hybrid plant configurations.
TOPSS™ Update 8.8.050 Includes New Version Control Process
As part of a continuous effort to provide customers with the most current information, Trane has implemented a new version control process for TOPSS. TOPSS customers will be prompted to install a new version of the program every six months to ensure they are using the most current Trane product selections.
Installation Instructions [PDF]
Frequently Asked Question
How do you model an ice arena in TRACE 700?
When modeling an ice arena, you must take the following into account:
- The energy needed to freeze the skating surface and keep it frozen (using a chilled brine/water mixture piped underneath the surface).
- The cooling effect of the ice on the interior space.
- In some cases, the energy needed to keep the heated concrete base underneath the rink at a sufficiently high temperature to prevent the ground from freezing.
For a quick estimate of the chiller capacity needed to cool the chilled water/brine loop, refer to the table below from the 2006 ASHRAE Handbook—Refrigeration, Chapter 35. This chapter also contains a detailed breakdown of the load estimation procedure for a rink.
There are two different methods in TRACE to account for the heat
lost by the space to the ice slab. In both cases, humidity control
should be applied to the space to minimize the risk of dripping
condensation on the ceiling or other surfaces of the rink.
Option 1
The first way involves calculating the heat gain manually and entering it as a miscellaneous load with a negative value. Convection and radiation gains to the ice should both be taken into account. The equations below are from the ASHRAE 2006 Handbook—Refrigeration.
Convection gain (including both sensible and latent heat gain) in Btu/h-ft²
K = .17 lb/h-ft²
h = convective heat transfer coefficient = 0.6 + 0.00318V (V = velocity of air over the ice, ft/min)
ta= air temperature, °F
ti = ice temperature, °F
Xa= mole fraction of water vapor in air, (lb mol water)/(lb mol dry air) = 6.6 x 10^-3 at 38°F and 80% RH
Xi = mole fraction of water vapor in saturated ice, (lb mol water)/(lb mol ice) = 3.6 x 10^-3 at 21°F
Radiation gain in Btu/h-ft²:
fci = gray body configuration factor, ceiling to ice surface; see
Chapter 35, p. 3, of the handbook for details (values range from .01
to 1)
ó = Stefan-Boltzmann constant = .1714 x 10^-8 Btu/h-ft²-°R^4
Tc = ceiling temperature, °R (=°F + 464)
Ti = ice temperature, °R
Option 2
The second way to account for the load is to model the skating surface as a floor partition within Create Rooms.
- In Create Rooms, click the Partn/Floor tab.
- Click New Floor. Make sure the Exposed option is selected.
- Enter the Area of the rink (16,237 ft² for a full-size rink).
- Enter the U-factor of the ice slab.
- Under the External temperature section, select Constant from the Method drop-down box.
The U-value of the ice can be found by using the equation:
U = k/L
k = the thermal conductivity of ice (approximately 1.3 Btu/hr-ft²-°F)
L = the thickness of the ice in feet
A 1-ft slab of ice, then, would have a U-factor of 1.3 Btu/hr-ft²-°F.
If a heated concrete slab will keep the ground beneath the rink from freezing, that must be modeled as well. This can be done using a hot-water base utility, as illustrated below.
Meet the C.D.S. Support Staff
Eric Bleckinger joined Trane as a marketing engineer in January 2011, after graduating with a mechanical engineering degree in 2010 from the University of Minnesota. Originally from St. Paul, MN, he spends the majority of his time enjoying the outdoors either running, golfing, or playing basketball.
If you had to live in a TV show for a month, which show would it be and why?
Any show on the Golf Channel, because by extension, I would have to be considerably better at golf.
If you could invite any three people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would it be and why?
I'd probably only invite two guests, and let them choose the third. I would invite my grandfathers, who both passed before my first birthday. I've heard so many stories about those guys over the years, to finally get to know them for myself would be priceless.
Charlie joined C.D.S. as a marketing engineer in November 2011 after
working for three years as a sales engineer for a power transmission
company in Minneapolis. He graduated with a mechanical engineering
degree from the University of Minnesota in 2008. Charlie is a La
Crosse native, and enjoys listening to music, riding his motorcycle,
golfing, and snowboarding in his free time.
C.D.S. would like to extend congratulations to Charlie, who just got married this weekend. Best wishes!
What is your most prized possession?
My Harley-Davidson.
If you could invite any three people (living or dead) to a dinner party, who would it be and why?
Gregg Allman - Lead singer of my favorite band, The Allman Brothers.
I'm sure he has some great stories.
William Harley – The original engineer for Harley-Davidson Motorcycles. I'd like to hear about the early days of the company.
Uncle Scott – My uncle died when I was really little. My family has told me my whole life that we look and act exactly alike. I'd like to meet him in general, but I'd also like to get an idea of what I might look like in 24 years.
Contributors: C.D.S. marketing engineers Eric Bleckinger, Charlie Jelen, and Chuck Stellberger.
C.D.S. Newsletter December 2012
C.D.S. Newsletter June 2012


text:
Colicchio, Chang, Ripert, Flay, Morimoto--ever wonder what they would want to eat for their last meal on earth? Photographer Melanie Dunea captures the last suppers of 50 of the world's most renowned chefs in her new book "My Last Supper: The Next Course," a follow up to "My Last Supper," an intimate look into the last meals of some of the greats. We talked to Melanie about her inspiration for the book and we were curious to know what her last supper would be like.
How did you come up with this original idea and how did you choose the chefs?
I came up with the idea when I started to photograph chefs and realized that what they eat away from their restaurants isn't necessarily what they are serving. I decided to give them an ultimatum and find out what would be their ultimate food.
Are you yourself a home chef or foodie or both?
I love to cook simple food and I tend to eat out a lot... but I am neither a home chef or a foodie.
Were you surprised by anyone's response to your questions?
Each chef's answer reveals a great deal about them. I loved the unexpected answers like Dave Chang wanting to drink Bud Light and Albert Adria wanting to share his last supper with drunken clowns.
If you could dine with anyone (living or dead) who would you dine with? And, where or what would you eat?
Oh la la, that is a tough question... I will give you an abbreviated list because the list is long! I wouldn't want anyone to stay at the dinner for the whole night, except my husband, but these people can make an appearance then disappear when I see fit. Some of the guests: Paul Newman, Ernest Hemingway, Picasso, Georgia O'Keefe, Escoffier, Wallace Simpson, Nabakov, Jim Harrison, Mozart, to name a few.
We would all share an enormous wooden platter of french cheeses, dried cured Italian meats, French baguettes, crappy candy from the movie theater, cakes with lots of frosting, cones stacked with mint chocolate chip ice cream and finish it with Thornton's chocolate smothered toffee. We would laugh and get very very drunk on English beers, amazing red wines and Ruby Port, but it wouldn't matter because there would be no hangover as it's our last supper.
The following questions pertain to the themes of upcoming episodes of our show. What's the best thing you've ever eaten between two buns?
I prefer the bun to anything inside of it. In fact, give me two or three buns.
What food do you turn to for a late-night bite?
Crunchy things... like cereal and pretzels.
© The Next Course by Melanie Dunea / CPi. Published by Rodale Books. Available where all books are sold.


text:
During the regular season, Shane Battier was a key cog in the Miami Heat's small-ball offense. His willingness to guard bigger power forwards and his ability to cause matchup problems on the offensive end with his three-point shooting were big factors in the Heat's success. But his inability to guard David West and his cold shooting rendered him useless during the Heat-Pacers series, and he didn't see a minute of game action in last night's Game 7. But he managed to contribute in other ways!
Look at what a fundamentally sound arm-toweler Shane Battier is. Would you expect anything less from one of the NBA's smartest players? I mean, there's just no wasted motion there at all. I bet Battier spent hours in the film room before last night's game, studying LeBron's in-game huddle movements in order to figure out the most efficient way to towel him. What a pro.


text:
CONGO: New row over delay of Congo funds report
The World Bank has withheld the findings of an inquiry into alleged
mismanagement of bank funds in the Democratic Republic of Congo, raising fresh
questions about the anti-corruption strategy of Paul Wolfowitz, the bank's
An audit by the integrity department, which answers directly to Mr Wolfowitz,
was launched more than a year ago in the wake of allegations of corruption in
Congolese government agencies handling hundreds of millions of dollars in
postwar reconstruction aid. The inquiry raised hopes in Kinshasa that officials
alleged to have misused donor funds would be exposed.
Bank insiders say a draft report was completed in the autumn when the country
was in the midst of its first contested election, which cost donors about $500m.
But at the time the bank was reluctant to cause ructions by publicising the
report. It has since been kept private.
In its rush to re-engage with Congo as it emerged from civil war, some experts
contend that the World Bank failed to exercise sufficient oversight in lending.
In line with bank policy "not to punish the poor twice when there is government
corruption", officials have argued that if normal procedures had applied to
Congo, where the state was in advanced collapse, no funding would have been
Mr Wolfowitz has spearheaded a tough but controversial anti-corruption policy,
which some donor nations argue has been applied selectively.
The bank has committed $3.6bn (¤2.6bn, £1.8bn) to Congo since 2001, and
disbursed at least $1.2bn. In March it approved a fresh grant of $190m for
emergency reconstruction. It is set to discuss a further $290m project for the
rehabilitation of the Inga hydroelectric dam later this month.
Some diplomats, UN and reformist Congolese argue the inquiry should have been
disclosed - at least to concerned creditor nations - before the release of new
funds. Failure to do so, one senior UN official in Congo's peacekeeping mission
told the FT, risked "undermining transparency efforts".
One bank official said there was "considerable frustration" within its Africa
and Congo teams at the prolonged delay. The bank told the FT this week it hoped
to share the details with the Congolese government this month. A bank official
said one reason for the delay was an internal debate over the bank's legal
authority in probing Congo's budget as part of the investigation.
The controversy has thrown into question the bank's own record on transparency,
at a time Mr Wolfowitz is under pressure to resign over his role in the
promotion and salary increase of his girlfriend.
In another sign the scandal in Washington is undermining the bank's credibility
abroad, a senior European diplomat and a Congolese government appointee said
from Kinshasa this week that they believed the report was being held back to
avoid Mr Wolfowitz losing the personal support of senior Congolese government
officials. Some African leaders support Mr Wolfowitz for his focus on Africa and
do not want to see him resign.
- 104 Globalization
- 106 Money & Politics
- 116 Human Rights
- 185 Corruption
- 194 World Financial Institutions


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A closer look at Android's form, function, and structure
Samsung is celebrating the onset of spring early this year by open sourcing the code for the Android version 4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) of its Galaxy S II operating system.
With this release, the company is providing continuity to open source-focused developers who have already used three iterations of Android version 2 (Gingerbread) and worked to build their own hacks and applications as a result.
Although this open source release is only initially suitable for the European and Korean markets, any international version of Samsung's i9100 smartphone can reportedly apply it. It is also suggested that open source code ROM builders and other code modification "modders" will enable programmers to perform more advanced ports.
NOTE: Despite Android's open source pedigree, which it still retains, many manufacturers have worked to close up parts of the operating system when deployed on their own specific hardware offerings.
Samsung continues to make a name for itself as being more open than many other vendors and also provides its TouchWiz user interface as part of this current download (which can be removed if desired). The company's willingness to stay open in this way is arguably helping developers to get a closer look at Android's form, function, and structure than they might have expected form the industry at large.


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Assembly passes sweeping election reform bill
Bill would allow online voter registration, double campaign contribution limits
The state Assembly passed an election reform bill that would create online voter registration, and double campaign contribution limits.
The Assembly passed the measure on a voice vote due to computer problems in the chamber. The bill will go to the Senate next, but it was not clear on Wednesday whether that chamber would take up the bill before it goes on break at the end of June.
The proposal represents a compromise reached between Republicans and Democrats, with more controversial elements dealing with photo identification at the polls removed. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says he hopes to take up that issue in the fall.
The new contribution limits double what any one person can give to candidates for governor, the state's constitutional offices, Supreme Court justice, state senators, Assembly representatives, circuit judges and district attorneys.
The limits would increase based on inflation rates every two years. It would be the first time contribution limits have gone up since the 1970s.
Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa, D-Milwaukee, said the bill was far from perfect, but voters would appreciate the fact that a compromise was reached. She spoke out against the increase in contribution limits, but praised the removal of the photo identification provisions.
Two lawmakers who helped draft the compromise, Reps. Jeff Stone, R-Greendale, and Fred Kessler, D-Milwaukee, will discuss it Sunday on "UpFront with Mike Gousha."


text:
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Quote from: claude_24hrs on September 21, 2013, 03:22:32 AMEpisode two location is up (From TV Guide): The Amazing Race : Zip It, BingoS23, E02 (First Aired: October 6, 2013)
Episode two location is up (From TV Guide):
So after the first exciting day of TAR on Iquique and me following them around and waiting for the last team to arrive at the first pitstop of this race, this is what I could gather from some personal contacts and what this forum could find on twitter. Locations are confirmed but the order of the events in Santiago are not confirmed.Leg 2, Iquique - Santiago, ChileJune 10Pitstart: "Plaza Prat's Clock Tower"Jut before midnight start for the second Leg under the Clock Tower from Iquique's Main Square Plaza Prat.June 11Route Info: "Museo Replica Corbeta Esmeralda"Make your way on foot to the museum, it opens at 8:00 and it takes 10 minutes on foot to get there from the main square, so teams are probably gonna get all together. No Task here only clue inside.Route Info: "Irland 3 Salt Mine"Teams took taxis from the museum to "Kilometro 21" (they might call it differently) from where they grabbed a bike and ride it to the abbandoned Irland 3 Salt mine, they were followed by a 4x4 pickup truck with camera and sound crew.Detour: "Ireland 3 Salt Mine"Both choices inside the open salt mine.Option 1: Change in your swiming suit, jump in to a pool of salt water, get out and stack some salt sacks (confimated by preview)Option 2: Break an amount of Salt Rocks and (maybe) fill some sacks.Route Info: Santiago, Chile.Drive your bike back to "Kilometro 21" (They might call it differently) and from there teams would take back the taxi they left waiting for them to take them back to to Iquique to take a bus to Santiago's Estacion Central.June 12Route Info: Estacion Central.Take the metro train from "Estacion Central" to "Plaza de Armas" this are two stations that teams are gonna need to change lines, so if they don't understand the metro system they are gonna get lost underground. From twitter user.Route Info: Plaza de Armas.Teams and clue box spotted here.Roadblock: Paseo Ahumada or Plaza de ArmasShoe polish and stored your tools in an specific way and take them to an unknown location. From twitter user.Route Info: Cascada de las Animas, Cajon del Maipo, Santiago, Chile.Twitter and taxi drivers talk about driving the teams to the Waterfalls. Canopy is an activity that can be done here and the preview shows the teams doing it over what probably is "Rio Maipo"Pitstop: Unknown. Probably on Cajon del Maipo, Santiago, Chile.Possible bridge over "Rio Maipo" is seen on the "on our way" preview for this season.And that is the end of my contribution to this forum at least from this season. Peach and co. feel free to edit and apply your layout to this. No links this time but feel free to add them to this.
All in one leg? THAT'S AWESOME!!!
not sure if anyone else saw it yet, but episode 3 title quote is "King Arthur Style".
Route Info: Cascada de las Animas, Cajon del Maipo, Santiago, Chile.Twitter and taxi drivers talk about driving the teams to the Waterfalls. Canopy is an activity that can be done here and the preview shows the teams doing it over what probably is "Rio Maipo"
Oh the ZIPLINE, lol. Now I get it!
Racers strip down and muscle up for a bizarre salt bath in Santiago, Chile.
Quote from: bc922 on September 30, 2013, 11:48:19 PMRacers strip down and muscle up for a bizarre salt bath in Santiago, Chile.Oh no they don't. They do it in a mine right outside Iquique. 1000%.
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Volunteers Donate Shoes in Senegal
Projects Abroad Care volunteers in Senegal have been doing a great job in one of the local Talibé Centers. Noticing that the children's feet were bare and injured Naomi from the US, Christina from Norway and Coby from Germany resolved to club together and buy some shoes.
These volunteers have all been involved in healthcare programs at the center and have seen the wounds that the children have on their feet. The girls decided that investing in shoes for each of the children would not only allow their current wounds to heal, but would prevent this type of injury in the future.
The children stood excitedly in line waiting to have their feet measured, and were extremely happy with the new shoes that they were given. Thank you very much to Naomi, Christina and Coby, for this thoughtful gesture, which makes such a difference to the lives of these children.


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Harvard and Rensselaer Researchers Join UAlbany's RNA Institute Faculty Ranks
Jia Sheng (left) and Alan A. Chen bring expertise in RNA structure and the use of x-ray crystallography to the Institute's ongoing effort to combat human disease.
ALBANY, N.Y. (November 25, 2013) — The RNA Institute at the University at Albany announces the addition of two research scientists who will support the Institute's collaborative RNA research efforts to combat the most difficult of human diseases. Jia Sheng and Alan A. Chen bring their expertise in predicting RNA structure and testing it using x-ray crystallography to the national research resource.
Jia Sheng joined UAlbany this fall after completing a research fellowship in the lab of Dr. Jack Szostak, the 2009 Nobel Laureate, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Professor at Harvard Medical School and Alexander Rich Distinguished Investigator at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
Alan A. Chen, who will join UAlbany in January, has been a member of the research group of physicist Angel Garcia, award winning Fellow of the American Physical Society, at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). Both researchers are joining the faculty as assistant professors in the Department of Chemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Both scientists approach RNA structure prediction while using different disciplines/approaches. Sheng experimentally uses a method known as X-ray crystallography and Chen applies data from X-ray crystallography and other approaches to his structure prediction algorithms to improve the accuracy of prediction methodology for RNA structures.
"The hiring of these two young faculty provides a combination of disciplines that is fantastic for predicting RNA structure and testing it by x-ray crystallography," said Paul Agris, director of The RNA Institute. "Taking an interdisciplinary approach to RNA science is critical for making scientific breakthroughs and achieving funding in today's research environment."
About Sheng
Sheng's research interests include synthesis of and structural insight into functional RNA, with a focus on paths to non-enzymatic RNA replication, and RNA functional and crystal structures. Utilizing The RNA Institute's extensive RNA modification database, he is synthesizing RNA with different modifications and carrying out structural studies of complexes of modified RNA with their partner proteins in order to figure out more details about the dynamic biosynthesis pathway and working mechanisms of each modification. These could ultimately direct novel drug targets.
While earning his Ph.D. in bio-organic chemistry from Georgia State University, Sheng received the 2009 Graduate Award for Outstanding Research at the Doctoral Level and was also named Best Overall Chemistry Graduate Student. He has more than 20 journal publications, including manuscripts in revision or in preparation, six invited reviews and book chapters, our patents and nine presentations at different conferences.
About Chen
Chen received his Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics from Washington School of Medicine in 2009. His research interests focus on molecular dynamics simulations of RNA, simulations of electrolytes and RNA-ion interactions and the biophysics of RNA-protein interactions.
He was co-author with RPI's Garcia on a September 2013 study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science on the development of the first computational model to accurately simulate the complex twists of a short sequence of RNA as it folds into a critical hairpin structure known as a "tetraloop." The research is a glimpse into RNA, found in all life on Earth, and could advance a variety of research areas, including the search for new antibiotics and cures for protein-related diseases.
Chen received a National Institutes of Health Individual Postdoctoral Fellowship for his study on "Simulating Ion Modulated Stability of Retroviral Kissing-Loop Complexes." A kissing loop is a highly stable complex formed by loop–loop base-pairing between two RNA hairpins. This common structural motif is utilized in a wide variety of RNA-mediated processes.
About The RNA Institute
Launched in June 2010, The RNA Institute conducts cutting-edge research for development and delivery of innovative medicines, vaccines and diagnostics. The national research resource recently unveiled its state-of-the-art facility for RNA biomedical technology development and commercialization. The new space utilizes an "open source" model where leading researchers from around the globe can collaborate on investigative efforts into designing RNA technologies and drug therapies for the treatment of such diseases as cancer, Alzheimer's, HIV/AIDS, and ALS.
The RNA Institute now boasts several research collaborations with institutions such as Albany Medical College and RPI, as well as public-private partnerships with global corporations, Albany Medical Research, Inc., Sigma-Aldrich and ThermoFisher Scientific. The Institute has established a network of research affiliates with more than 50 laboratories nationwide encompassing more than 350 researchers, as well as a scientific advisory board with Nobel Laureate and National Academy of Sciences members.
For more news, subscribe to UAlbany's RSS headline feeds
About the University at Albany
A comprehensive public research university, the University at Albany offers more than 120 undergraduate majors and minors and 125 master's, doctoral, and graduate certificate programs. UAlbany is a leader among all New York State colleges and universities in such diverse fields as atmospheric and environmental sciences, business, criminal justice, emergency preparedness, engineering and applied sciences, informatics, public administration, social welfare, and sociology taught by an extensive roster of faculty experts. It also offers expanded academic and research opportunities for students through an affiliation with Albany Law School. With a curriculum enhanced by 600 study-abroad opportunities, UAlbany launches great careers.


text: Dania Suarez, 24-year-old single mom, says an agent offered her $28 for an $800 service. Her complaint is the match that touched off the explosive secret service "hooker scandal." Nine military servicemen and 11 Secret Service agents, including the three already sacked, are under investigation for hiring 20 or 21 prostitutes in Cartagena last week when they were supposed to be preparing for President Barack Obama's April 13 arrival at a regional summit. Click here for more, thanks to New York Daily News.


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USA: Occidental Chairman Sues Protestors for Harassment
Please Note: This action has been discontinued.
Thank you for your support!
LOS ANGELES -- The chairman of Occidental Petroleum is staging his own
protest against the human rights groups who picket his home and office --
he is suing them for harassment and wants a court to grant him damages.
Groups including Rainforest Action Network, Action Resource Center and
Amazon Watch have picketed outside chairman Ray Irani's home -- sometimes in the early morning hours -- to protest Occidental's plans to drill for oil on the ancestral home of the U'Wa Indians in Colombia.
The U'Wa religion says oil drilling cuts the veins of a living, breathing
Mother Earth and the tribe's 5,000 members have threatened to
collectively commit suicide if Occidental drills on its land.
In a lawsuit filed at the end of January in Los Angeles County Superior
Court, Irani said demonstrators picketed and marched outside
his home many times from September 1999 to January, disrupting his family
A court in February granted him a restraining order that keeps protestors
off of his property. Irani's lawyers said Tuesday that no
protests had taken place since the court order but they were still pursuing
legal action.
''We were gratified that the injunction was granted in part, but obviously
would have preferred the whole request to have been granted,'' Irani attorney Larry Barth said. Irani's suit had asked the court to further restrict the protests to certain times of day and at a set distance from his property.
Irani also asked for unspecified damages for ''substantial emotional distress and interference with quiet enjoyment of real property rights,'' according to court papers.
In the court papers, Irani also said he received threatening letters coinciding with the protests and warning that he would ''suffer the blood of you and your fellow earth rapists'' if Occidental drills on U'Wa land.
Amazon Watch, one of the groups that organized the rallies at Irani's home,
said they held quiet prayer vigils and did not loudly bang
on drums as alleged in Irani's suit. ''It is a frivolous action and it's
ironic that Ray Irani is trying to stop the protests around his home
when he's invading the U'Wa homeland,'' said Atossa Soltani, Amazon Watch
executive director.
At the U'Wa tribe's request, a Colombian court last week issued a temporary
order that stops Occidental from beginning to drill on the
block of land in dispute.
Occidental has said it will appeal, in its latest efforts to begin drilling
after it was awarded exploratory rights in 1992.
Protests against Occidental have included demonstrations at Occidental's
annual meetings in 1997, 1998 and 1999.
In addition, protest rallies have been staged at the offices of major
Occidental shareholder Fidelity Investments.
- 100 Climate Justice Initiative
- 107 Energy


text:
Lights, Camera, Conference!
This story appears in the February 1999 issue of . Subscribe »
You don't have to own a large corporation to afford teleconferencing. You don't even have to own a PC. All you need is a TV, a phone line and the C-Phone DS-324 "set-top box" videoconferencing unit. Controlled by an embedded operating system running on an internal 32-bit CPU, the C-Phone contains a built-in videocamera, a full-duplex speakerphone and a 33.6 Kbps modem, as well as an ISDN interface that speeds up video frame and data transmission rates for systems equipped with a high-bandwidth phone line. The 4-pound C-Phone can be upgraded by downloadable software, and is operated by an infrared remote control (included).
C-Phone DS-324
(910) 395-6100
street price: $1,000
Net Gain
Having a single PC with an Internet connection may be economical, but that excuse will cut zero ice if your partner or employees have to wait in line for a chance to access e-mail messages. There is another option: Intel's InBusiness Internet Station, a multifunction communications device that lets LAN users simultaneously share a single analog or ISDN modem, phone line and Internet access account. Installing InBusiness is a cinch with the included Networking Basics handbook, quick-installation poster and CD-ROM; all you need is a 10Base-T network hub and PCs that run Windows 95, 98 or NT 4.0.
InBusiness Internet
(800) 538-3373
street price: $499
Street Smarts
Driving in circles again? Get back on course with Garmin's StreetPilot GPS. This portable car-navigation system uses global positioning satellites to pinpoint your exact location anywhere in the continental United States and offer a direct route to any destination you choose. SteetPilot's backlit, easy-to-read LCD screen displays speed, distance to destination, moving maps and step-by-step directions. The device is programmed with millions of miles of rural and urban roads, and Garmin offers a series of MetroGuide add-on cartridges (not included) that allow StreetPilot to show more details for residential and business locations.
StreetPilot GPS
Garmin International
(800) 800-1020
street price: $600


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"The Bachelor's" Ali Fedotowsky says she was shocked that Jake Pavelka didn't welcome her back after she left the show.
"One of the reasons it was OK for me to leave in the first place was because I thought, 'If this is love and he really cares about me, then he is going to come and find me. He's a pilot, like fly to get me that would be amazing,'" Ali told Ellen DeGeneres during an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" airing Tuesday.
The 25-year-old advertising manager said she was dumbfounded by Jake's decision not to promise her a rose after she left fearing her job might be in jeopardy.
On Monday's episode, Ali suggested meeting up with Jake in St. Lucia, where he was filming the final episodes of his ABC series – but he shot down her offer.
"I was pretty shocked," she told Ellen. "I thought we had something really great."
Ali believes Jake might end up with Vienna, but she is hoping he picks Tenley.
"Watching actually the connection that Vienna and Jake have, I didn't realize that was happening behind the scenes or when I wasn't around. They look like a good couple. So, I actually think it could be Vienna," she explained. "I want it to be Tenley. Tenley and I are really good friends. I will be friends and talk to her forever. I joke if she marries Jake I'll be in their wedding party. We're that close. That would be a little awkward. I'm happy for him whoever he ends up with."
As for rumors that she might be the next "Bachelorette," Ali says she'd love the chance to search for love in a sea of single men.
"That would be so nice," she told Ellen "I would be so flattered."
Let your voice be heard in the AH Nation! If Ali is the next "Bachelorette," will you watch? And, who do you think Jake will pick? VOTE HERE!
Related Content from AccessHollywood.com:
VIEW THE PHOTOS: People's Hottest Bachelors Of 2009
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MORE ACCESS ON THESE TOPICS: Couples - The Bachelor - Ellen DeGeneres - Rumors - ABC


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PARIS (Reuters) - Francois Hollande's bid to rescue steel furnaces in France's historic industrial heartland was to be the mark of a president on the side of the workers and a state with the courage to bring a multinational to heel.
But the two-month stand-off over steel giant ArcelorMittal's ISPA.AS Florange plant in Lorraine has unnerved investors in the euro zone's second largest economy, confused France's unions and exposed his six-month-old government to international ridicule.
His Socialist allies have hailed as a victory a late-Friday compromise under which ArcelorMittal agreed to invest 180 million euros to expand the site near the German border over five years and hold off making forced redundancies.
But as the European steel sector struggles to cope with over-capacity, the furnaces themselves will remain shuttered for now, and questions remain over the exact fate of the some 630 workers employed there and further funding needed for expansion.
With unemployment at 14-year highs of 10 percent and his popularity ratings at record lows for a president only half a year into his mandate, there was clear political advantage for Hollande to lock horns with Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal.
But the result is at best a no-score-draw, and the tactics used - anti-business rhetoric and the threat of nationalization - could damage his wider reform effort.
While his pugnacious, micro-managing predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy led from the front, Hollande let his ministers lead the fight, creating confusion over who runs industrial policy.
Arnaud Montebourg, the firebrand leftist industry minister who pushed the nationalization option hardest, declared Mittal a persona non grata in France and revealed he had found an anonymous potential buyer ready to invest in the plant.
That was lapped up by international critics including London mayor Boris Johnson, who told executives in New Delhi that the "sans culottes" revolutionaries had taken control in Paris and advised them to bring their investment rupees to Britain.
Montebourg later retracted his personal attack on Mittal but then had to watch as aides of Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who announced the final accord, briefed media that his putative investor was neither "credible or solid".
Facing opposition calls to resign, Montebourg went on local television on Saturday to announce he had Hollande's support and insist he felt "not betrayed, merely let down" by the outcome.
But worse than the damage done to the credibility of one of Hollande's most high-profile ministers, many fear the cacophony further shakes France's image as a place to do business just when it needs all the help it can get to avert recession.
"It has been a disaster," a senior French banker said last week as the episode unfolded.
"Even for sophisticated investors who understand that in France there is a difference between the rhetoric and the reality, this is hugely unnerving."
Elie Cohen, economist at the CNRS public research institute, told the commercial i>Tele television network that by raising the option of nationalization, Montebourg risked encouraging copy-cat demands by workers at other struggling sites.
It is still too early to say whether the Florange wrangling will hurt foreign investment in France, which Bank of France data show has grown modestly since the 2008/2009 global turndown to hit 30 billion euros or 1.5 percent of output last year.
Barely noticed last week, U.S. online giant Amazon (AMZN.O) said it was opening a new distribution center in northern France that will create up to 2,500 jobs - four times the number at the Florange furnaces and a reminder that 80 percent of France's economy is now in the services sector.
Vital to France's long-term prospects is whether Hollande obtains in coming weeks the overhaul of the country's unwieldy and expensive labor regulations which he has tasked employers and unions to achieve in negotiations by year-end.
For that, France's trade unions must make unprecedented concessions to allow business more flexibility in hiring and firing. But the government handling of the Florange tussle has left many labor leaders feeling betrayed.
"Until the last minute, basically, we were made to believe that temporary nationalization was essentially a given," Edouard Martin, head of the Florange chapter of France's large CFDT union, told RTL radio.
"We did not understand this last-minute fix-up in which Jean-Marc Ayrault unveils an option never before discussed ... We get the feeling he was lying to us all along."
A big test now will be whether unions have been riled so much that they stonewall in the labor reform talks. It could also make some more prone to protest if the government makes the extra public spending cuts that analysts say could be needed next year to ensure France hits its deficit-cutting target.
For now, both sides hope the battle of Florange is over.
ArcelorMittal has welcomed a deal that includes commitments on voluntary redundancies and re-deployment of furnace workers elsewhere in its French activities that go little beyond what it would likely have offered without government intervention.
Hollande's office concedes he did not manage to get the furnaces re-opened as he promised during his election campaign, but argue the deal to expand activity in the current poor economic climate is a victory of sorts.
Whether the accord goes ahead in its entirety partly depends on variables outside the two parties' control, including 400 million euros' worth of European Commission funding.
It may not be quite the end of the story.
Referring to the nationalization threat, one Hollande aide noted: "We are still keeping that revolver on the table."
Additional reporting by Nicholas Vinocur, Julien Ponthus and Elizabeth Pineau; Editing by Will Waterman


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Welcome to Parking & Transportation
Valdosta State University campus provides ample parking spaces to accommodate the campus community. Should you have questions about where to park to attend classes or campus events, please contact Parking & Transportation. We will be happy to assist you! When parking your vehicle to attend classes, we ask that you be responsible and respectful of private and city property.
- Fall 2020 parking permits will be available for purchase beginning July 1, 2020.
- New web site to track shuttle buses:www.wherestheblaze.com* Be sure to download the DoubleMap application from the App Store to track VSU Shuttle Buses! Wi-Fi also available on all shuttle buses!
- Shuttle Guide
- Blazer Safe Ride (This service is only operational during spring and fall semester.)
Parking Information
Attention Students
- Resident Student Parking will be available in student spaces in the following lots overnight: Oak Street Parking Deck levels 2-5 only (no overnight parking in Oak Street surface lot), Sustella Avenue surface parking lot (unmarked student spaces), Sustella Avenue Parking Deck (all levels), and Centennial Parking Lot (unmarked student spaces).
Attention VSU Community (HSBA Parking at North Campus): VSU students with a valid parking permit are permitted to park at the Billy Grant baseball field lot, unmarked student spaces behind Pound Hall, Ashley Cinema Movie Theater parking lot, and the 5th (top level only) and adjacent ramp of the SGMC parking deck. Please use the SGMC deck entrance on Cowart Street to access the deck.
Attention Employees
- Employee Parking in the Oak Street Parking Deck will be limited to the 5th level only beginning Fall 2019. The remainder of the deck will be designated for overnight student parking, since student mandatory fees fund the deck. Additional employee spaces have been added in the Oak St. surface parking lot.
Thank you for your cooperation and have a great academic year!
Parking Permit Information
- Parking Permit Placement - The static cling parking permit must be affixed to the vehicle front windshield face-up, lower driver side, inside of the vehicle.
- Citation Payment, Appeal, Permit Purchases - Once you enter into the web portal please enter in your MyVSU login and then your password (Students and Employees - DO NOT create a guest account).
- Student parking permits are $50.00 (fall) $25.00 (spring) and $15.00 (summer).
- Faculty/Administration parking permits - $95.00 (when purchased in the fall), $75 (when purchased in the spring) and $65.00 (when purchased in the summer).
- Staff parking permits - $55.00 (when purchased in the fall), $45.00 (when purchased in the spring) and $35.00 (when purchased in the summer).
- Semester parking permits must be purchased inside of the Parking & Transportation office with cash, check, money order or flex. Prices are as follows: Faculty/Administration -$60.00, Staff - $35.00, Student - $30.00 (fall) & $20.00 (spring).
- Payment methods: We accept cash, check (no starter checks) and money orders inside of the main office. Credit card payments ( Master Card, Discover or Visa) must be made via the web portal only. Coined monies must be rolled by customer (with full name and ID number listed on each roll); rollers can be provided by the department. Flex payments must be made in the office (have to physically swipe your card).
- University Bursary also accepts parking citation payments - cash, check or money orders inside of the Bursary.
- On Line Payments will be processed Monday-Thursday 8:00am-5:30pm and Friday 8:00am-3:00pm. Payroll deduction for parking permits are available for Full-Time employees only (accepted during the fall and spring semesters only). We will inter-campus your permit to you once we process your application. Payroll Deduction is not available for parking citations, permits only. Please note that employees must have a ZERO balance before they can obtain a new parking permit. All part-time VSU employees MUST go by Human Resources first to obtain an authorization form before a permit can be issued. Students purchasing parking permits on line can select for the permit to be mailed to a physical address or for the permit to be held inside of the parking office for pick-up. Permits are mailed through the campus mailing services department. Temporary parking permits can be obtained in the parking office during the mailing process of the static cling permit if needed to avoid receiving parking citations for no permit or expired permit.
- Banner holds are generated each day for all outstanding parking citations. Failure to pay citations in full will result in the blocking of transcripts and registration processes.
Interested in finding out what the parking situation at VSU is? This Parking Study shows some interesting parking statistics for Valdosta State University.
- 229.293.7275
- 229.245.4343
Campus Address
1308 Sustella Avenue Valdosta, GA 31698
Mailing Address
1500 N. Patterson St.
Valdosta, GA 31698
- M-TH 10:00am - 2:00pm Email and/phone calls responded to within 24hrs. Thank you for your patience.


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About the Natural Resource Trustee Program
On this page:
NRTP Program Mission
The Natural Resource Trustee Program's mission is to fulfill the TCEQ's natural resource trustee role of evaluating injury to natural resources as a result of discharges of oil or releases of hazardous substances and to seek restoration of the injured resources when appropriate.
A clear direction on how natural resources damage assessment should be practiced in Texas was provided by the Texas Legislature when it passed the Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act. The 1991 act required that natural resource damage assessment rules be jointly developed between the three state trustee agencies (Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, Texas General Land Office and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department), industry representatives and the public. The act also required that responsible parties be invited to fully participate in all phases of natural resource damage assessment, and that data be shared fully between the parties. The act further specified that all claims go through a mediation process prior to litigation. This approach to natural resource damage assessment has since been applied with great success to both oil spills and Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) sites in Texas.
The key to successful natural resource damage assessment in Texas revolves around coordination and cooperation among the trustees, responsible parties and response agencies, and a commitment to cooperative restoration-based assessments. The state and federal trustees in Texas work closely with responsible parties and response agencies to implement habitat restoration projects rather than seeking monetary damages in litigation. To the maximum extent possible, natural resource damage assessment data gathering is incorporated into remedial investigations, and restoration is integrated into - or performed concurrently with - response actions. Innovative assessment techniques (such as habitat equivalency analysis, which utilizes an ecological currency rather than money) are used to develop cost-effective restoration alternatives.
The goal is to make the environment and public whole for injuries to natural resources and natural resource services resulting from an incident involving a discharge or substantial threat of a discharge of oil or hazardous substances. This goal is achieved through returning injured natural resources and services to baseline and compensating for interim losses of such natural resources and services through the restoration, rehabilitation, replacement or acquisition of equivalent natural resources and/or services.
Legal Authority
The NRTP works cooperatively with other participating state and federal agencies and responsible persons to restore lost natural resources and their services on behalf of the public. Natural resources are defined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response and Liability Act (CERCLA) 42 U.S.C. §101(16) and the Federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990 33 U.S.C. §1001(20) as land, fish, wildlife, biota, air, water, groundwater, drinking water supplies, and other resources belonging to, managed by, held in trust by, appertaining to, or otherwise controlled by the United States, any state or local government or Indian tribe.
The NRTP's authority to seek restoration of natural resources injured by releases of oil or hazardous substances is derived from the following statutes and regulations:
- Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act of 1991
- Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) 42 U.S.C. §9622
- National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan 40 CFR §300.600-§300.615
- Federal Oil Pollution Act of 1990 33 U.S.C. §2701
- Federal Water Pollution and Control Act 33 U.S.C. §1321
- Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act 42 U.S.C. §9604
- Texas Administrative Code: Title 31 Part 1 Chapter 20
Natural Resource Trustees
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 require the U.S. president and each state governor to designate federal and state officials who will act on behalf of the public as trustees for natural resources. In Texas, a federal/state memorandum of agreement (executed in 1995) has been developed between two of the five federal agencies, the U.S. Department of Interior (DoI) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the three State of Texas trustee agencies, which outlines procedures for a cooperative working alliance for the determination of natural resource injuries and subsequent restoration activities.
The Texas trustees recognize a role as advisors to responsible parties and response agencies on the natural resource damage assessment liability associated with different remedial strategies at CERCLA sites. This cooperative relationship allows the responsible party to evaluate the most cost-effective remedial alternative and provides a measure of certainty on total CERCLA liability. A memorandum of understanding between the trustee agencies regarding coordination under the Texas Risk Reduction rules has been adopted by rule. The text of the memorandum of understanding may be viewed or downloaded from this link to the Texas Secretary of State web site.
Links to the following web sites are provided as a courtesy to give a more complete picture of natural resource trustee activity in Texas.
- US Department of Interior
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- US Department of Defense
- US Department of Agriculture
- US Department of Energy
- Texas General Land Office
- Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
For more information on natural resource trustee activity in Texas, contact Richard Seiler at 512/239-2523, or call toll free 1-800-633-9363. For email inquiries please click on Comments here, or at the end of this page, and use the pre-addressed form.
TCEQ Staff Role in NRTP
The TCEQ has designated its NRTP staff to serve as trustee for natural resources of Texas by acting on behalf of the public to restore natural resources that have been injured, lost, or destroyed as a result of discharges of oil or releases of hazardous substances. The NRTP staff and the other trustees may take the following action:
- Conduct preliminary surveys of the affected site
- Coordinate planning and investigation with responsible persons and site managers
The Texas NRTP has adopted a cooperative restoration-based approach, where the trustees work together with the responsible party to determine how to best restore or replace lost resources.
- Perform injury assessments
The injury assessment evaluates the loss of ecological services provided by natural resources, such as water purification, flood control, erosion control, food supply, and shelter or reproductive habitat. The assessment also looks at reductions in public use services, which include public or industrial water supplies, swimming, fishing, hunting, and boating to determine the extent of the loss of these services over a period of time.
- Work cooperatively to develop and implement plans for restoration, rehabilitation, replacement, or acquisition of equivalent natural resources
Restoration or replacement can be accomplished by directly restoring the injured resource or by providing in-kind compensation, where the responsible party agrees to perform a restoration project either on-site or at another location in the vicinity, such as creating a wetland or preserving sensitive habitat at risk of development or degradation. Another option may be for the responsible party to pay financial compensation, where the funds are then applied by the natural resource trustees specifically to the restoration of the resource.
The Texas program has spearheaded the use of a habitat equivalency model which matches the natural resource injury to an appropriate level of habitat restoration. The use of this model and other innovative techniques and the success of the cooperative approach has made the Texas program a prototype for other states seeking to implement natural resource trustee programs.
NRTP Restoration Accomplishments
Since the program's inception, natural resource restoration projects valued at more than $32 million have been implemented or are planned on behalf of the public as a result of NRDA settlements for the restoration of injured natural resources.
The program has increased the scope and value of its restoration projects through partnering to obtain matching or in-kind funding worth approximately $3.24 million.
The NRTP program has completed 41 natural resource damage assessment settlements and has developed an additional 4 agreements in principal pending final settlement. The program has initiated or completed construction on 55 separate restoration projects.
The Trustees in Texas currently have about $15.8 million in funding available to implement additional wetlands, bird habitat, and beach use projects.
The NRTP is currently involved in 43 natural resource damage assessment cases (involving both oil spills and releases of hazardous substances) in varying stages of assessment and restoration.
Some notable restoration projects completed or underway include:
- the acquisition and preservation of Shamrock Island, a sensitive 110 acre bird rookery island in Corpus Christi Bay;
- construction of the Baytown Nature Center, a 60 acre nature park and wetlands construction project in Baytown;
- a 35 acre fresh and saltwater marsh project in Pasadena along the Houston Ship Channel;
- the rebuilding of the lost estuarine marsh in the San Jacinto Monument State Park;
- the rebuilding of the lost estuarine marsh in the Galveston Island State Park;
- restoration of Swan Lake in lower Galveston Bay;
- acquisition of valuable bottom land hardwoods forests and their preservation through placement into the Big Thicket National Preserve;
- extensive restoration of subsided wetlands in the Nelda Stark Unit of the Lower Neches River Wildlfe Management Area;
- construction of a water control structure to protect and restore marshes in the Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge;
- addition of bottomlands hardwoods forests to the Sheldon Reservoir State Park;
- restoration of native Prairie in the Maddin Prairie Preserve and Clymer Meadows Prairie Preserve;
- restoration and protection of riparian habitats along the Colorado River near Colorado City;
- construction of 11 acres of oyster reefs in Lavaca Bay;
- preservation of 729 acres of wetlands, coastal prairie and shrublands through transfer to the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, and construction of 70 acres of intertidal salt marsh within and adjacent to the Refuge;
- construction of 3 fishing piers and enhancement of 3 boat ramps to increase recreational fishing opportunities in Lavaca Bay;
- construction of 85 acres of estuarine marsh and 30 acres of wet prairie in the Old River South Unit of the Lower Neches Wildlife Management Area;
- construction of water control structures to enhance nearly 1600 acres of coastal wet prairie in the J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area, near Port Arthur, and
- restoration of scarce freshwater wetlands in urban bayous of Harris County.
- development of master plan and construction of pavilions and shade structures to enhance visitor experience at Mustang Island State Park.
Completed and planned projects have resulted in the following accomplishments listed by habitat type:
Estuarine Wetlands:
- 735 acres constructed
- 2165 acres enhanced
- 322 acres acquired and protected in perpetuity
Freshwater Wetlands:
- 197 acres constructed
- 1505 acres enhanced
- 908 acres acquired and protected in perpetuity
Riparian and Bottomland Forests:
- 55 acres constructed
- 1740 acres protected in perpetuity
Oyster Reefs:
- 11 acres constructed
Prairie Habitat:
- 415 acres restored
- 277 acres acquired and protected in perpetuity
Recreational/Human Use Projects :
- 3 boat ramps
- 3 fishing piers
- beach pavilions and shade structures
- $1.17 million for future projects


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Download Weather Animated Widgets APK for Android
This version of Weather Animated Widgets 7.70 APK includes several changes which are mentioned below. You can Download Weather Animated Widgets APK directly from APK4Market, all you have to do is click one of the two Direct Download Links given below.
App Description: Animated Widgets Clock & Weather are amazingly awesome animated widgets that will get a lot of "wows" from your friends!
|File Name
|Weather Animated Widgets 7.70.apk
|Current Version
|Package Name
|Requires Android
|2.3.3 and Up
|Content Rating
|Low Maturity
What's New in Weather Animated Widgets 7.70 APK:
Fixed WAW provider issues
Download Weather Animated Widgets 7.70 APK:
Download Weather Animated Widgets 7.70 APK
Source: www.apk4market.com
Disclaimer: APK4Market only provides the Android Apps which are already available throughout the Internet on several websites. If you are the Copyright Owner of this App and you want it removed from here, please Contact Us and We will remove your App ASAP. 🙂