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You have reached the original website of the
The claimant was represented by Zbigniew Rozbicki, Esq., Zbigniew S. Rozbicki & Associates, 100 East Main St., P. O. Box 419, Torrington, CT 06790-0419.
The respondent employer J & C Building Renovation was not represented at oral argument. Notice sent to J. Michael Cantore, Jr., Esq., 1172 Bedford St., Stamford, CT 06905.
The respondent employer Elite Contracting Inc. and the insurer ITT Hartford were represented by Douglas Drayton, Esq., Pomeranz, Drayton & Stabnick, 95 Glastonbury Blvd., Glastonbury, CT 06033-4412.
The Second Injury Fund was represented by Anthony Jannotta, Esq., Assistant Attorney General, 55 Elm St., P. O. Box 120, Hartford, CT 06141-0120.
This Petition for Review from the November 22, 1996 Finding and Award of the Commissioner acting for the Seventh District was heard June 27, 1997 before a Compensation Review Board panel consisting of the Commission Chairman Jesse M. Frankl and Commissioners James J. Metro and John A. Mastropietro.
JESSE M. FRANKL, CHAIRMAN. The respondents Elite Contracting, Inc. and ITT Hartford have petitioned for review from the November 22, 1996 Finding and Award of the Commissioner acting for the Seventh District. They argue that the trier erred by ordering them to assume responsibility for the benefits due to the claimant as a result of his compensable injury. We reverse the trial commissioner's decision, and remand this case to another commissioner for further findings of fact.1
The claimant was injured when he fell from a roof on June 1, 1994, while working for Cezary Bartosiewicz, who did business as the J & C Building Renovation Company. The claimant had begun doing roofing work for Bartosiewicz in 1993, and was paid on both an hourly and a piece work basis at different times. During the five years prior to the claimant's injury, Bartosiewicz had been working together with Elite Contracting, owned by Randy Russo. In each instance, he had subcontracted work from Elite.
This time, Elite had contracted with a general contractor, Kenneth Bacco, to roof a residence in Greenwich. There was no written contract between Elite and J & C, even though Bartosiewicz had tried to obtain such an agreement. The oral arrangement for the Greenwich job was that Elite would pay J & C $90.00 per roofing square completed. Bartosiewicz, in turn, had agreed to pay the claimant by the square as well. The job itself was performed with equipment supplied by Elite Contracting, and either Russo or his brother came to the work site several times each day. Bartosiewicz considered Russo the general contractor, as everyone on the job worked for him. The trial commissioner found that there was no credible evidence that Kenneth Bacco supervised the daily activities at the job site in any way. That function was performed by Russo and Elite Contracting.
The trier found that Bartosiewicz was the claimant's employer on the date of the injury, and that Russo/Elite Contracting was the general contractor on the job. He then ordered that "the Respondent, Cezary Bartosiewicz and Elite Contracting, Inc., pay Claimant all monetary and medical benefits due under the Connecticut Workers' Compensation Act." Elite Contracting and its insurer appealed that decision. They also filed a Motion to Correct the findings, including a request that "J & C Building Renovation" be substituted for "Elite Contracting, Inc." in the order, as the parties had been misidentified.2 That Motion to Correct was denied in its entirety.
Although the commissioner's findings labeled Bartosiewicz as the employer and Russo as the general contractor in this matter, he did not use the words "principal employer" in his decision. Instead, he simply made both Bartosiewicz and Elite Contracting liable for the claimant's benefits, without distinguishing the legal grounds for their responsibility. The appellants argue that this was improper, as findings regarding Elite Contracting's status as a "principal employer" pursuant to § 31-291 C.G.S. would be necessary before any liability could be assessed against that entity or its principal.
We begin by noting that the Finding and Award does not establish a direct employer-employee relationship between Russo/Elite Contracting and the claimant. An employee is someone who renders a service for another and whose actions are subject to the will of the other "in the mode and manner in which the service is to be done and in the means to be employed in its accomplishment as well as in the result to be attained." Nelson v. Deb's Inc., 15 Conn. Workers' Comp. Rev. Op. 274, 276, 2228 CRB-3-94-12 (June 20, 1996) (citations omitted), aff'd., 45 Conn. App. 909 (1997) (per curiam). The evidence demonstrates that the claimant was hired by and paid by Bartosiewicz (see Claimant's Exhibits A and B), and that Bartosiewicz controlled the hours that the claimant worked and his job duties. September 5, 1995 Transcript, p. 13-16. The claimant testified that he had never been told he was working for Randy Russo, nor had he ever heard of Elite Contracting. Id., 22. Further, Bartosiewicz testified that Russo paid him directly, and he in turn paid the claimant a portion of that money for his work. Id., 48-49. Thus, the trier found that Bartosiewicz was the claimant's employer.
Nevertheless, even if Russo was not the claimant's employer, a general contractor such as Elite Contracting may be liable as a principal employer if the three conditions of § 31-291 C.G.S.3 are met. See Jones v. Lillibridge, 16 Conn. Workers' Comp. Rev. Op. 143, 145, 3149 CRB-2-95-6 (Nov. 27, 1996). The trier specifically found that one of those criteria was satisfied, i.e., that Elite Contracting had control over the premises upon which the roofing job was being performed. He also made findings that establish a subcontractor-general contractor relationship between Bartosiewicz and Russo, with the former doing work for the latter. The only criterion he did not directly discuss was whether the work done by the subcontractor was a part or process of Elite Contracting's business.
Such an issue is a question of fact, and cannot be determined by this board. Hebert v. RWA, Inc., 3128 CRB-2-95-7 (decided May 2, 1997). We observe, however, that the fact that Elite Contracting did not actually perform any of the roofing work itself does not necessarily indicate that such work is not a part or process of its business, despite the appellants' arguments that Russo was a middleman and "a nonparticipant insofar as actual physical labor was concerned." Respondents' Brief, 5. See Mancini v. Bureau of Public Works, 167 Conn. 189, 196 (1974) ("process in the trade or business" includes all operations that enter into the successful performance of the principal employer's commercial function); Pacileo v. Morganti, Inc., 10 Conn. App. 261 (1987). The scope of a principal employer's business is not solely dependent on the actual work performed by that entity and its employees when they are contractually responsible for accomplishing a task that they cannot finish themselves.
We hold that this case must be remanded to a new trial commissioner for expanded findings and legal conclusions on the principal employer issue, based on the evidence in the record. We also note that Bartosiewicz admitted that he had no workers' compensation insurance in effect when the claimant was injured. September 5, 1995 Transcript, 54. Although the trier did not make a finding regarding his lack of insurance, no one disputes the fact that he was uninsured at the time of the compensable injury. Upon remand, the trial commissioner should thus make a finding regarding the employer's lack of insurance as well, and consider an order against the Second Injury Fund pursuant to § 31-355 C.G.S.
Commissioners James J. Metro and John A. Mastropietro concur.
1 The Second Injury Fund and the claimant have both filed motions to dismiss this appeal on the ground that the appellants' brief was filed one week late. As a motion for an extension of time for the appellant to file its brief was granted by the Chairman on May 12, 1997, these motions to dismiss are moot. BACK TO TEXT
2 The trial commissioner described "Cezary Bartosiewicz and Elite Contracting, Inc." as a single respondent in his order, rather than as two respondents. Nowhere else in his decision does the trier imply an identity between J & C Building Renovation and Elite Contracting; in fact, Bartosiewicz was found to be the employer, and Elite Contracting the general contractor on the job. BACK TO TEXT
3 Section 31-291 provides in relevant part that "[w]hen any principal employer procures any work to be done wholly or in part for him by a contractor, or through him by a subcontractor, and the work so procured to be done is a part or process in the trade or business of such principal employer, and is performed in, on or about premises under his control, such principal employer shall be liable to pay all compensation under this chapter to the same extent as if the work were done without the intervention of such contractor or subcontractor. . . ." BACK TO TEXT
You have reached the original website of the


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Written by Frances Lee, The Smart
The first gay kiss was aired on the long running soap opera, 'DooL'.
The first gay kiss in the 46-years was aired on the legendary soap opera, 'Days of Our Lives'.
I really admire the producers and writers for not submitted to bigoted opinions against gay rights. I wonder what's next, a African-American lead? I am now intrigued with the trail-blazing ways of soap operas. Now all the non-working stay-at-home moms can watch this gay couple's love blossom on television and hopefully they will become more tolerant to the idea of gay rights. As I reported a few months back, people in OC think being gay is a 'Choice'.
"And it's not just a kiss… it's a HOT STEAMY make-out sesh!!", blogged celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton. "Kudos to DooL and NBC for not bowing down to bigoted pressure!!"
[video_lightbox_youtube video_id="KXDvbmqU6pw" width="640″ height="480″ auto_thumb="1″]

subset: commoncrawl


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Country Music Marathon, Nashville, TN, April 29, 2006
My first marathon experience at the Chicago Marathon in October wasn't enough to turn me away from running. If anything, since the Chicago race, I've been looking for another race to motivate me to start training again in earnest. I've probably run less total in the last 6 weeks than did during the marathon itself. What a crappy way to get trained to race.
The goal in Chicago was to qualify for the Boston Marathon, which would require me to run a 3:10 marathon for my age group. Was I close? ...no. Was I stupid? ...yes. At the start of the race, I got in the opening line at the 4:45 pace group (that's 4 hours and 45 minutes for the marathon, NOT 4 minutes and 45 seconds per mile). Upside: I got to pass more than 10,000 people during the race. Downside: I finished at 3:36:55.


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Horror Channel, FrightFest and Movie Mogul have teamed up again, with new partner Wildseed Studios, to create SHORTCUTS TO HELL 2, a nationwide search for new filmmaking talent who are primed and ready to make their first horror feature film.
The winning filmmaker will have their film produced by Movie Mogul and Wildseed Studios, entering production early 2015, with a minimum cash production fund of £20,000. The completed feature film will receive UK digital distribution, its world premiere at Film4 FrightFest 2015, and a broadcast premiere on Horror Channel.
Launching on 13th May 2014, the jury panel (to be announced shortly) will be looking for a highly driven individual with a burning desire to make their first feature film. All entries will need to submit a 3-minute short film version of their full-length horror movie idea and their submission must clearly demonstrate the core idea, premise, story and characters in narrative form. A shortlist of twenty-six finalists will then be invited to an interview where they will have the opportunity to pitch their feature film directly to the jury panel.
Three filmmakers will then go forward to this year's FrightFest event at the Vue West End in London, and have their 3-minute films screened before the discerning FrightFest audience. Their work will be broadcast on Horror Channel throughout August and September, where the overall winner will be chosen by public vote. The twenty-six finalists will also receive significant exposure via Horror Channel and UK digital distribution channels.
Chris Sharp, Chief Operating Officer for CBS Chello Zone Channels said today: "Based on last year's brilliant output, the second instalment of our film competition promises a hell of a ride yet again, for budding horror talent and the loyal audiences of Horror Channel, and we can't wait to see the entries. Horror Channel is always hungry for fresh blood and remains dedicated to the horror genre offering inspiration to young filmmakers and entertaining horror aficionados across the UK."
John Shackleton, Managing Director of Movie Mogul added: "The most exciting and innovative first feature films are often made by talented individuals with ideas, passion and drive, and this is exactly who we are looking for with SCTH2! This is a remarkable opportunity for new writer/directors that allows them to shine and be seen, ultimately resulting in the production of their debut feature film with the support and guidance of experienced producers throughout the entire script-to-screen process."
Miles Bullough, Joint Managing Director of Wildseed Studios commented: "Wildseed Studios is thrilled to join the team sponsoring and supporting Shortcuts To Hell 2 – we love any opportunity to get involved with projects that can move fast and fearlessly and actually get made rather than spend years in development – producing micro budget features means not needing permission to make something – just talent, energy and inventiveness. We can't wait to get see to the films that come in."
Alan Jones, Co-director of FrightFest also added: "Film4 FrightFest is all about the new, the innovative, that little bit extra and the talent who can bring all those ingredients to the table. So we are delighted to join forces again with Horror Channel, Movie Mogul and new partner Wildseed Studios to find an original genre force. Last year's competition was hotly contested and a winner with our audiences, and we have no doubt the same levels of excitement and commitment will be similarly honoured. The gauntlet is laid down for those with the necessary skills and aptitude to take up this once-in-a-lifetime challenge. Good luck to all!"
Check out www.shortcutstohell.com for more details.
All entries will have ten weeks to turnaround their cinematic visions of hell and upload to YouTube, submitting the link to email@example.com by 6pm on 22nd July. Downloadable T&C's from www.shortcutstohell.com must be adhered to.
- Max duration 3 minutes
- Original material (made for the competition only). Existing film promos WILL NOT be considered.
- Max production budget capped at £666 (evidence required)
- Applicants with previous feature film credits as writer/producer and/or director will not be accepted


text: In 1996, the President signed Public Law 104-303 that established a National Dam Safety Program Act. The law authorized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide funding and technical assistance to states willing to "work toward" developing a Statewide Dam Safety Program. The purpose of the National Dam Safety Program is to reduce the risk of loss of life, economic loss, and property destruction that could result from dam emergencies.


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Levede 4 Tiers Bamboo Shoe Rack Storage Organizer Wooden Shelf Stand Shelves
In stock
These are contemporary high quality wooden shoe rack shelf rail slatted shoes organiser stand. A Wooden Shoe Rack is probably the best way to keep your shoes organized.
Our classic Wooden shoe rack will keep your shoes in good condition. Shoes can get scuffed or bent into crazy shapes while you go rummaging around through the pile desperately trying to find the right pair at the last minute. These Wooden Shoe Racks will last a lot longer than plastic one looks much nicer and gives your home a modern look.
Our shoe storage racks are a stylish and functional item for your contemporary home
- Contemporary high quality wooden shoe rack shelf rail slatted shoes organiser stand
- Unique solid modern and beautiful design
- Perfect for keeping shoes tidy in the hallway
- Space saver and attractive
- Can be placed in any part of your home
- 4 Tier(LxWxH): 65x25x78cm
- Material: Bamboo
- Colour: Natural wood
- 4 Tier Shoe Rack
Additional information
|2.3000 kg
|7.000 × 28.000 × 7.000 cm


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Mobile Seamless Learning for the 21st century/
How can mobile technology benefit learning?
Using mobile devices for learning is a logical extension of our life in this tech-centric world. Undoubtedly, technologies affect learning in various ways. Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) grant access to knowledge to all people regardless of where or who they are. We can now learn whenever the need arises. Learning is no longer limited to one location, nor does it follow a strict schedule.
However, despite the opportunities ICTs present, there are certain constraints mobile learning needs to deal with, such as digital literacy, data security, and infrastructure[i]. A customized mobile learning experience should be able to address these challenges.
How mobile learning can help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?[ii]
The idea of learning in contexts builds upon the fact that learning does not happen in a vacuum, but is closely linked to objects and experiences in the real world so that knowledge becomes meaningful to learners. Mobile learning provides "Just in time, Just enough, and Just for me" experiences. Therefore, learners have the mobility and are able to decide what and how to learn depending on the contexts which makes it different from being simply eLearning on a mobile device.[iii]
The ITCILO has developed a series of mobile learning projects since 2011.
By offering a learning solution flexible to learners, mobile learning can boost engagement and knowledge retention. "Mobile technology offers unprecedented power for users to access information and services that can create life-changing opportunities in education and employment," said Brahima Sanou, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), at the Policy Forum on Mobile Learning held in Paris last year.
Moreover, UNESCO's "Mobile Learning Project in Education for Sustainable Development and Micro-Gardening" [iv]has shown that ICTs can contribute positively to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), literacy and skills development.
Register for the upcoming course on Mobile and Seamless Learning
Building upon internal expertise and partnership with internationally recognized institutions such as the Open University of the Netherlands, an upcoming course Mobile and Seamless Learning will be available in September 2018:
By the end of the Mobile and Seamless Learning course, participants will be able to:
- Have a global overview about the history of mobile learning research and development;
- Have a basic understanding of related theories (e.g. situated cognition, experiential learning, anchored instruction, cognitive apprenticeship);
- Explain how various learning contexts can be connected and integrated enabling a continuous learning experience (seamless learning);
- Explain what are the existing gaps between different learning settings;
- understand the challenge of learning transfer between different contexts, and
- Be aware of the essential technologies, tools and principles that enables seamless learning (e.g. storytelling, collaborative and networked, project-based and competence-based learning).
More information about the course: https://www.itcilo.org/en/areas-of-expertise/learning-methodologies-and-technologies/seamless-learning-design-new
Contact person: Alessia Messuti firstname.lastname@example.com
Photo Credit: Alessia Messuti (Nairobi, Kenya)
[i] (2017, June 28). Chinese spend 3 hours a day on their smartphones, ranking second in the world: survey. ChinaDaily. Retrieved from http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2017-06/28/content_29916917.htm
[ii] (2018, June 19). Social media use continues to rise in developing countries but plateau across developed ones. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewglobal.org/2018/06/19/social-media-use-continues-to-rise-in-developing-countries-but-plateaus-across-developed-ones/#table
[iii] Alhajri, R. (2016, October 10). Prospects and challenges of mobile learning implementation: a case study. Retrieved from https://www.omicsonline.org/open-access/prospects-and-challenges-of-mobile-learning-implementation-a-case-study-2165-7866-1000189.php?aid=84267
[iv] (2017, March 24). Harnessing digital skills and mobile learning for inclusive sustainable development. International Telecommunication Union. Retrieved from https://www.itu.int/en/mediacentre/Pages/2017-PR12.aspx


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Monday, March 21, 2016
Spring Favorites
I'm thrilled to welcome Spring, although it's a bit confusing here in South Carolina. Last week the temps were in the 80's and yesterday we were hardly pushing 60 degrees. Either way, Spring is here and I'm sure it won't be long before the temperatures follow. I couldn't resist sharing some of these beautiful spring pieces to get you ready for the warmer weather.
Posted by Ryan @apolishedpalate at 6:00 AM
Labels: Fashion
2 comments
ohhh i love the off-the-shoulder dress! xo jillian - cornflake dreamsReplyDelete
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The metrics that say something about the quality of traffic laws is not solid to apply universally to each website. Sometimes a long-term stay in a website is a good sign, for example, a blog that has very long articles. But when the time is very high in an e-commerce website could be a clear signal that visitors can not find what you are looking for. The same would happen with other metrics such as rebound and return visitors. It would surprise no means to say that this is critical for applications using Web analytics so you can measure and monitor the metrics we have mentioned. The choice of the software in question will depend on our objectives, demands and experience in web analytics. But the metrics mentioned above can be fully discussed with free applications like Google Analytics web analytics, Yahoo Index Tools and Microsoft AdCenter Analytics. (Pay: Urchin, Omniture, Coremetrics, Xiti, etc.
..) Educating the Client Client Was clear enough to indicate their goals for the SEO strategy? It's our job to communicate to you what keywords will produce the best results, not the best rankings. We should not forget the customer the main challenge of SEO, which is not far to reach the top of the ranking for certain keywords. There are more important metrics when analyzing the success of an SEO campaign. Educate the client in the right direction as far as we can. Can be quite a difficult concept for some of them since the rankings are often the best resource to brag. But once we have convinced the low vacuum contribution and leads the rankings work, we are free to pull the list of rankings overboard once and for all and do it our way to achieve real success in SEO. We then analyze the things that really matter like the traffic quality and above all, the conversion rate or ratio. What good old days when we could say we did our job pitching rankings reports each month and informing the customer of all the variations obtained.
But that, unfortunately it does not help the day run … Today we must also be able to show the customer a positive return on your investment in SEO, or will not do our job properly. What matters is the ROI What is the value rankings of search results if you do not convert? The ROI on SEO can be defined as the benefit we get for every dollar invested in generating traffic for a period of time. We use ROI to conduct a feasibility analysis of various campaigns and optimization efforts are being made and also allows us to measure their success or adapt actions based on the results. We must focus all efforts on measuring the return on investment (ROI) through metrics that we provide the fastest, clear and simple information. Achieving a good feedback on the quality of traffic and conversion rate but interpreted with caution and not lose the north of our strategy. We must be concerned in creating friendly and simple websites designed to achieve higher conversions through web optimization techniques. As search engines are trying to return relevant results to the user, we are obliged to make our content and designs are sufficiently relevant to make the conversion. The ranking may be too soon to stop the meter to provide us with increased reliability and confidence because … What is the value appearing at the top of Google for a high traffic keyword, if we do not bring results in terms of profitability?


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The Washington Post has an interesting article on "The Aging Brain" this week. I was particularly drawn to one observation . . .
"Expertise — a composer's virtuosity or a professor's knowledge of his subject — remains intact throughout life. Those synapses seem to be set in stone, so an 80-year-old law professor may forget where he left his glasses but still grasp the nuances of torts."
I will note that they do not suggest that a contracts professor can function in the same way or that contracts contains any nuanced meaning — adding credibility to the study. This is yet another reason for me not to change my class notes after roughly 20 years.
FLOG THE BLOG: Have you voted yet for the top legal opinion blog? WE NEED YOUR VOTE! You can vote at HERE by clicking on the "opinion" category. Voting is open until December 31, 2011.


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ALERT: Congress Is Secretly Trying To Steal Your Gun Rights
Posted on June 16, 2016 in FPC Grassroots Alerts
In response to renewed calls for a ban on firearms by persons on the federal government's secret "no-fly" and "terror watchlists," Firearms Policy Coalition President Brandon Combs released the following statement: No person that participates in terrorism should be allowed to acquire or possess firearms.... Read More
The Blaze: Howard Stern Dismantles Calls for Gun Control After Orlando Attack With Chilling 'Sheep' and 'Wolves' Analogy
Posted on June 16, 2016 in FPC Newslinks
In the wake of the deadly Orlando terrorist attack, radio icon Howard Stern spent part of his Wednesday program berating those calling for gun control as the way to prevent further carnage in the future. "I'm so upset about Orlando and what went down," Stern... Read More
Fight The Senator Who Called Gun Owners Disgusting
Posted on June 16, 2016 in FPC Grassroots Alerts
Because you are a gun owner, a California State Senator called you "crazy, vicious and heartless." He blamed you for the terrorist attack in Orlando. He stated you don't care about keeping people safe, and you are only more concerned about holding a weapon in... Read More
Breitbart: California Democrats Invoke Orlando to Push 'Gunpocalypse'
Posted on June 16, 2016 in FPC Newslinks
On Tuesday, California Democrats invoked the Orlando terror attack to push a body of gun control bills known as "Gunpocalypse." The list of bills consists of roughly 10 new gun controls, which cover everything from "high capacity" magazine bans to limits on the number of... Read More
BREAKING: Legislature Passes Budget To Raid User Funded Firearms Safety Fund
Posted on June 15, 2016 in FPC Grassroots Alerts
They're at it again. This time, the Legislature is raiding the Firearms Safety Fund, which you pay in to every time you purchase a gun! And now only Governor Brown stands in the way of this scheme becoming reality. The Armed Prohibited Persons Program (APPs) recently raided the... Read More
The Fight For The Second Amendment Is Not Hopeless
Posted on June 15, 2016 in FPC Grassroots Alerts
We did not lose yesterday. Sure they passed every single one of the Gunpocalypse bills through their committees. And they called you vicious and hateful. And they treated us like we weren't even human beings. But all they did was draw a line in the sand.... Read More
LA Times: Tempers Flare As Lawmakers Move Forward With A Dozen Gun-Control Bills In Wake Of Orlando Shooting
Posted on June 15, 2016 in FPC Newslinks
With emotions still raw over the massacre in Orlando, Fla., tempers flared Tuesday as divided California state lawmakers advanced a dozen gun-control bills, including proposals to outlaw the sale of semiautomatic rifles with easily detachable magazines. "Less than 72 hours ago, 49 people were slain... Read More
Gunpocalypse Passes Based Off Of Vitriol And Lies
Posted on June 14, 2016 in FPC Grassroots Alerts
They hate you. The answer to the question of why the "representatives" on the California Public Safety Committees continue to pass these nonsensical anti-gun bills has been there all along. But it was never more apparent than today when they passed every single one of... Read More
BREAKING: Obama Calls For New Assault Weapons Ban
Posted on June 14, 2016 in FPC Grassroots Alerts
As if on cue, President Obama announced today he is urging Congress to pass another Assault Weapons Ban in response to a terrorist attack. I swear, the world had gone insane. According to the President's (non)logic, Americans will be safer if they are disarmed because... Read More
BREAKING: New surcharge on firearms purchases
Posted on June 13, 2016 in FPC Grassroots Alerts
I bet you are sick of being nickel and dimed every time you go to buy a gun. When you go to purchase one, you automatically have to assume that the cost is going to be at least $50 higher than the sticker price. First... Read More


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Champion Team vs. Team of Champions in the Future Workforce
Recent research has revealed that almost one in five executives in the corporate business sector have a scarily high number of psychopathic traits! This has sparked our interest in the role that personality types play in the workforce, in particular the digital workforce of the future.
You're responsible for hiring a new employee. What do you look for? Do you focus on the skills and experience required to carry out the job, or does the sociability and friendliness of the job applicant determine your decision? Although both criteria are fundamental when considering the right person to fill the role, researchers are suggesting that the right personality type should be favoured over proficiency and hard-earned qualifications.
In the digital age, hiring an employee is not solely about looking for skills and specialised knowledge. After all, with tools like Siri and Watson becoming more intelligent, how much information will we really need to remember in a few years' time? Einstein once said you should never memorise anything you can look up, after consulting the phone book to find his own phone number.
Collaboration and the ability to work well in a team are key employee attributes which will carry into the workforce of the future, so the real question managers must ask is how to build an effective team – which personalities are required and who works well together? Perhaps it's okay to have psychopaths in your team. In fact, having a dominant driver can be extremely important, as long as there are counterbalancing forces.
Personalities and team work are not the only criteria for the workforce of the future, analytical and problem solving skills will also take precedence over knowledge. Those who can think critically will be more likely to succeed over those who can recite textbook knowledge. So what does this emphasis on personality and problem solving skills mean for our hiring processes into the future?
The Institute has recently been exploring the application of nudge theory into business processes to guide better social outcomes. The leaders of the pack in implementing behavioural insights and nudge theory into government policymaking are the United Kingdom's Behavioural Insights Team (BIT). A major factor underpinning behavioural insights is the contributions that unconscious biases have on the decision making process, leading to unintentional suboptimal decision making that carries into the workplace.
For example, if an employer reads a resume and the first thing they see is pleasing or attractive to the role description, human bias kicks in; the employer is more likely to view the rest of the information presented favourably. Conversely, if an employer has an undesirable first impression, they are more likely to view the remainder of the resume in a negative light. This is called the "halo effect."
The BIT are trialling a new digital hiring platform called "Applied,"aimed at addressing these issues by diminishing the human error components that unconsciously but significantly influence preferences for applicants in the hiring process. By concealing the information that is found to be irrelevant to the job application process, greater objectivity is achieved.
However, as we try to remove biases from decisions, there is still a place for subjectivity, in particular when building teams. Evidence-based management principles provides for professional judgement to be considered in line with other data points which are measurable.
According to the Center for Evidence-Based Management,
"The starting point for evidence-based management is that management decisions should be based on a combination of critical thinking and the best available evidence. And by 'evidence', we mean information, facts or data supporting (or contradicting) a claim, assumption or hypothesis. Evidence may come from scientific research, but internal business information and even professional experience can count as 'evidence'."
A question of "can the person fit in with the team dynamics?" is an example of exercising professional experience within the hiring framework. While the digital workforce of the future has the potential to be hired on the basis of digital evidence free of human bias, human judgement is still likely to play a part where team play is an essential part of the job.
For millennials, the answer to every second question seems to be "Google it." People no longer need to memorise technical information, it's so easy to press a few buttons and search for the information or ask an intelligent assistant to dig up the information for you. In the smartphone world, the information we need is constantly available at our fingertips. So rather than directing all of our energy towards remembering things, we should be working to develop our critical and creative skill sets in leveraging the digital information available to us, and our ability to do this in the context of building effective teams. After all, a champion team is much more effective than a team of champions, psychopaths and all.
This article was written by Belinda McKeon and Shaeyen Mackay from the SAP Institute for Digital Government. To find out more about the Institute visit www.sap.com/sidg, follow us on Twitter @sapsidg and email us at email@example.com.


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Sophisticated elegance. Open gold plated choker with a hanging gold plated snake chain accented by a single pave crystal ball. Jorge Morales creates delicate and elegant pieces.
- 11" chain & feather length
- gold plated brass
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Robert "Bob" Wallace, a historical Lamborghini test driver
The roundabout dedicated to the Lamborghini test driver Bob Wallace was inaugurated in 2015 in Sant'Agata Bolognese.
In October 2015 in Sant'Agata Bolognese was officially inaugurated the roundabout dedicated to Robert Bob Wallace, famous tester, technician and creator, and one of the most amazing Lamborghini models of the '60s and '70s. For the occasion on the roundabout a tree was planted in his memory next to the monument specially installed that represents the posterior part of the frame of the Countach, which was grafted a crankshaft.
The work was carried out by Marchesi Bonora, historical frame builders of Lamborghini models such as Miura and Countach. The ceremony was attended by many colleagues and friends coming from different parts of the world, and the ribbon cutting was done by Mayor Giuseppe Valli, along with Ing. Paolo Stanzani. Stanzani himself, who was very close to Bob, wanted to leave a thought through the words engraved on the bronze plaque affixed to the sculpture.


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Featured Works
Named one of ArtReview Asia's FutureGreats 2014, the works of Boedi Widjaja (b. 1975, Java, Indonesia) connect to diverse conceptual references through his own lived experience of migration, culture and aesthetics. Immigrating to Singapore at the age of 9, Widjaja's works draw on his experiences, investigating concerns regarding diaspora, hybridity, travel and isolation. Often process-based and conceptually-charged, Widjaja's artistic outcomes take the form of multiple mediums ranging from drawings to installations, sound and live art.
Widjaja's practice has been described as "at once autobiographical and oblique;" as curator of Singapore Art Museum, Louis Ho, remarked, "the effects of displacement—its trauma, anxieties and melancholy—are channelled through materially-oriented explorations of the immigrant's estrangement and experience." As a person of Chinese descent, Widjaja was sent abroad to escape the Sinophobic policies of the former Indonesian President Suharto's New Order. Widjaja spent much of his childhood and adolescence apart from both his parents and birthplace. Noting that he "never felt like [he] belonged to any people group," Widjaja's work references his own personal memories, and addresses the wider conversation about immigration and the immigrant.
Boedi Widjaja currently lives and works in Singapore. He has shown in numerous exhibitions internationally, including: Singapore Biennale 2019; MAP1: Waterways (2017), Diaspora Pavilion, 57th Venice Biennale; Jerusalem Biennale (2017); Yinchuan Biennale (2016), China; From East to the Barbican (2015), Barbican, London; Infinity in flux (2015), ArtJog, Indonesia; and Bains Numériques #7 (2012), Enghien-les-Bains, France. The artist's solo exhibitions include: Black—Hut (2016), Singapore Biennale Affiliate Project, ICA Singapore; Path. 6, Unpacking my Library 。书城 (2014), Esplanade, Singapore; and Sungai, Sejarah 河流, 历史, 源 (2012), YRAC S-Base, Singapore.
Recent accolades include: NTU CCA Residency Programme (2020/2021); Top 10 Winner, FID Prize (2017); Finalist, Sovereign Asian Art Prize (2015); ArtReview Asia FutureGreats (2014) ; Grand Prize (Sound Arts; with David Letellier), Bains Numeriques, France (2012); and First Prize, Land Transport Authority Beauty World Station (2012).
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text: ADJUSTA-VIBE 25SS AV-SS version designed for use with steel media Specifically designed for use where steel or stainless-steel media processing is required although all medias can be used. It is designed with a heavy-duty drive and suspension system and has adjustable amplitude. The 14-inch bowl has a discharge port for easier unloading and a capacity of .22 cubic feet. Steel or S/S media capacity is 50 pounds. • Comes in 115V & 230V • 14 " bowl capacity is .22 cubic feet • Has a discharge port and a drain • Designed for heavy duty use to deburr or polish • Features adjustable amplitude • Deburring metal stampings and machined parts • Descaling metal castings • Cutting radii on sharp edges of metal parts • Polishing metal and plastic parts • Rated Horsepower: 115v - 0.19 and 230v - 0.18


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Daddy was always singing, around the house, in the car, at church, out fishing, just about everywhere. Despite the fact that I really can't carry a tune, I loved singing along with him and remember many times loudly singing along in the car to songs on the radio or (gasp) an old 8-track as we traveled somewhere. I honestly can't remember if my sisters or Mama ever sang along, and I look back now and wonder how they put up with us at times!
I have a Project File in my craft room where I'm collecting photos, memorabilia, papers and embellishments with a music theme. I also have some old 45s that I'm planning to use as "pages" in a mini-album . . . someday. Maybe Cheri's new blog meme will be the push I need to get started on that project. For now, I'll leave you with a YouTube video I found of the song "Young Love."
Do any of you remember this song? Did you ever sing along to it?
(Be sure to pop over to Cheri's blog to read more Life Tunes stories and share your own!)


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It's that time of the year when strange items start appearing in the German shops. Not the Lebkuchen and Stollen … they've been on the supermarket shelves since August, thank you very much. No, I mean these things….
We are into the period where children parade through the streets of every town and village singing songs about St. Martin and carrying (mostly home-made) paper lanterns. It's not as exciting as in the old days, when the paper lanterns had candles inside (what could possibly go wrong?). In my experience wind and rain were always the biggest menace. For the record, a paper lantern lasts about seven-and-a-half minutes in steady drizzle.


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Wynn, Martin G ORCID: 0000-0001-7619-6079 (1983) The landlord and tenant game – an instructional simulation. Valuer, 52 (5). pp. 148-150.
The Landlord and Tenant Game.pdf - Published Version
Available under License All Rights Reserved.
Download (701kB) | Preview
With the demands on the practicing professional becoming greater than ever, case study simulations can play a valuable role in providing participants with the deeper insights and broader awareness they need today. The Independent Society of Valuers and Auctioneer's ISVA) research contact was awarded to North-East London Polytechnic to design and test a Landlord and Tenant game for use at ISVA branch meetings and in other educational contexts. This article outlines the background to the project, provides a description of the game and makes some concluding observations regarding the educational value of simulation exercises.
|Item Type:
|Article Type:
|L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
|Schools and Research Institutes > School of Business
|Research Priority Areas:
|Applied Business & Technology
|Depositing User:
|Martin Wynn
|Date Deposited:
|26 Mar 2018 14:10
|Last Modified:
|04 Feb 2022 12:31
University Staff: Request a correction | Repository Editors: Update this record


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The number of measles cases continue to rise in Ukraine, albeit at a slightly lower level in the past two weeks, according to the Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine.
During the 9th week of 2019, 2,524 people – 1,230 adults and 1,312 children – became ill with measles.
An additional fatality was reported in a 25-day-old infant, the 10th measles death of the year.
Through March 1, Ukraine health officials report 26,544 cases. The highest rates of morbidity are in Lviv, Vinnytsia, Rivne, Khmelnytsky, and Kyiv.
Poor immunization coverage has contributed to the measles outbreak in Ukraine. In 2018, the measles vaccination rate for newborn babies was only 54 per cent, which is amongst the lowest in the world.
Tetanus: First pediatric case in >30 years in Oregon
In order to stop the spread of measles, a special operation is underway in the Lviv region to increase the level of immunization of children. In January and February, tens of thousands schoolchildren have been vaccinated.
Other regions of Ukraine will also be covered. Similar events are already taking place in Vinnytsia region, health officials note.
- Cutaneous leishmaniasis: How does the body responds to DCL?
- Canada: 17 measles cases reported in British Columbia
- New Jersey reports hepatitis A cluster among homeless, substance abusers
- Salmonella Outbreak Linked to Supermercado Rivera in Chicago
- Measles in Japan: Most are genotype D8
- Texas reports more measles, tops 2018 total
- Chikungunya outbreak tops 2,000 in Thailand


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Murad Jussuf Bey Ibrahim
Related eponyms
Biography of Murad Jussuf Bey Ibrahim
Murad Jussuf Bey Ibrahim at first worked as a physician in Cairo, then went to Munich, where he was conferred doctor of medicine. From 1902 to 1906 he was assistant physician at the Heidelberg paediatric clinic. In 1905, in Berlin, he was habilitated for paediatrics with a dissertation entitled Die angeborene Pylorusstenose im Säuglingsalter. In 1907 he came to Munich as director of the Gisela Kinderspital; and in 1916 appointed extraordinarius in Würzburg, in 1917 full professor in Jena. Ibrahim's scientific work concerns, in particular, the diseases of the newborn as well as diseases of the gastro-intestinal tract, and the nervous system of children. He was a contributor to the textbooks and handbooks of Pfaundler-Schlossmann (Handbuch der Kinderheilkunde), Emil Feer-Sulzer (Lehrbuch der Kinderheilkunde; Handbuch der Kinderheilkunde), Albert Siegmund Gustav Döderlein (Handbuch für Geburtshilfe), and Penzoldt-Stintzing (Handbuch der gesamten Therapie).Ibrahim was an honorary citizen of Jena.
Until recently Ibrahim's name was attached to the clinic for child- and adolescent medicine at the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität in Jena, the Kinderklinik Jussuf Ibrahim. However, an investigative commission has concluded that Dr. Jussuf Ibrahim supported the euthanasia program of National Socialist Germany, and that from 1941 he took an active part in the killing of severely sick and handicapped children, defined by the Nazis as "unworthy life ("lebensunwerten Lebens").
His name is no longer associated with the children's clinic at the Friedrich-Schiller-University in Jena.
- Über eine Soormykose der Haut im frühen Säuglingsalter.
Archiv für Kinderheilkunde, 1911, 55: 91-101.


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Aspergillosis is caused by an infection by the aspergillus fungus which is quite literally everywhere in the environment, in that the spores are so light and tiny that the smallest movement will make them airborne and they will be breathed in without being noticed. Most of the time they cause no trouble, but if they are present in particularly large numbers, or in an enclosed environment, or the bird (or any animal) is not in the best health or is immune suppressed due to medication, then the aspergillus can gain a foothold the very serious condition of aspergillosis can develop, sometimes with startling suddenness.
Where can Aspergillus be found?
The quick answer is everywhere, but of course there are some places where it is more likely to be found in problematic amounts. It is worth taking a moment whenever you buy any food or bedding for your bird to think about whether it seems to you to be damp, musty smelling, has visible mould this will be greyish-green and powdery or may have been stored in damp conditions, or harvested in the rain and left to dry. If the answer to this moment of pondering is either yes, it has been damp or even that you can't be sure, then it is best not to let it get anywhere near your bird. Peanuts are particularly bad in other ways than carriers of aspergillus but that's another story as they grow in the ground and aspergillus is found in most soils.
Sunflower seeds which are a late crop often begin to moulder even before harvesting, so unless you know exactly where they come from they are best left out of the diet. Corncob bedding is very prone to mould and so is best avoided. These simple examples should be enough to enable the owner of a pet bird to work out the kind of things to avoid. It sounds at first as though nothing is safe, but if the bird is in good health and the environment it lives in is dry, clean and well ventilated then there should be little or no risk.
Signs of Aspergillosis in birds
Perhaps the first thing to say about the signs of aspergillosis is that they will almost certainly come too late. The acute form will be a sudden onset of breathing difficulties, increased drinking and therefore urination, and a bluish colour (cyanosis) of the membranes in the mouth due to lack of oxygen reaching the blood from the lungs. The bird, if vocal, will sometimes lose its voice, or the voice will change. This is often the first real sign that points specifically to aspergillosis. Sometimes the only sign of it in the acute form is sudden collapse and death. In many diseases the chronic form is easier to treat than the acute, but this is not usually the case with aspergillosis as the onset can be so gradual and generally asymptomatic that the bird is too ill to respond.
Aspergillosis and the Respiratory System
As the aspergillus is breathed in to begin the infection, the first organ to be affected is the respiratory system, where the fungus forms spores in white nodules on the walls of the airways which then migrate into the bloodstream and then can go all over the body, affecting other organs. Sometimes at this point the bird will die of respiratory failure without further organ involvement. If the infection does go further, it will sometimes reach the central nervous system and the bird may have seizures, or will develop a limp or may show signs of having balance problems. It may also have diarrhoea, loss of appetite and become lethargic and depressed. Unfortunately, these symptoms are not unique to aspergillosis and sometimes valuable time is lost whilst other avenues are explored.
Treatment of Aspergillosis in birds
Most vets will be honest with the owner and give a prognosis which will not promise a good outcome. However, treatment with a wide range of fungicides and also a lot of back up with heat treatment, feeding via a tube, oxygen administration and the treatment as needed of underlying problems such as respiratory tract infections and vitamin deficiencies may result in recovery. This has to be balanced against the obvious stress that all of these interventions must cause the bird and unless it is a very prized specimen intended for breeding or a particularly treasured companion, it is usually kinder to let the vet put it to sleep, difficult though that decision always is.
Prevention of Apergillosis
Aspergillus is a very common fungus and so the main way of preventing it from becoming a very serious problem for your pet bird is to make sure that no part of its food or bedding ever has a chance to go mouldy and certainly to take whatever steps are possible to make sure that the mould is not introduced to the environment. It is possible to take these precautions to excessive levels such as not going near the bird if you have been digging in the garden, using distilled water in its water trough, changing the water is ever the bird bathes in it, not allowing it to breathe in air that has been disturbed by building work and similar measures. Whilst these will certainly go a long way to ensuring that your bird does not develop aspergillosis, keeping to such a demanding regime may also remove any pleasure you once got from keeping a pet bird. As long as the environment is dry and clean and the food and water is also fresh daily and most importantly if the bird is maintained in the very best of health and condition, then this serious disease will almost certainly be kept at bay.


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JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 16 (UPI) -- Versatile running back Maurice Jones-Drew of the Jacksonville Jaguars has agreed to a lucrative contract extension.
The new deal is worth $31 million over four years with $17.5 million guaranteed.
Last season, the former UCLA product gained 824 yards on 197 carries and added 62 catches for 565 yards.
He scored 14 touchdowns, and in 2009, is expected to carry the load following the release of Fred Taylor, the franchise's all-time leading rusher, in February.
"It's an opportunity to reward one of our own," said General Manager Gene Smith on the team's Web site.
Since he was picked in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft (28th overall), Jones-Drew has 530 carries for 2,533 yards with 34 touchdowns and 148 receptions for 1,408 yards and four touchdowns.
"We believe he's the feature guy and it's his time," Coach Jack Del Rio told the Florida Times-Union.


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For the week, stocks were mixed with the TSX down .2%. The S&P faltered for the third week in a row after hitting a high the week of August 24 as the tech sector continued to slide. The broader S&P 400 MidCap and the Russell 2000 eked out gains during the week but are still in high single-digit negative territory. The pan-European index was up .22%, but major European country indexes lost ground led by Italy's MIB losing 1.49% and France's CAC 40 pulling back 1.11%. US Treasury yields ended the week slightly higher over concerns of the Fed failing to clarify the duration of asset purchases.
In economic news, Canadian retail sales showed a modest gain in July of .6%, below the market expectations of 1% after the surge of May's 21.2% and June's 22.7%. Still, positive figures indicate the recovery is making progress, however, at a slower rate. Housing starts and existing homes sales continued to rebound during August. National home sales rose 6.2% on a month-over-month basis in August. The MLS price index also rose 1.7%. For the fourth month in a row in the US, industrial production increased in August, however modestly at .4% below market consensus of 1%. Nevertheless, it remains 7.3% below pre-COVID February levels. Core retail sales fell .1% in August, hinting the expiration of benefits could slow the recovery. Initial jobless claims came in at 860,000 versus the previous week at 875,000, and continuing claims fell to 12.6 million. Both numbers were new lows but still elevated versus pre-COVID data. Housing permits and single-family starts remained strong.
The US Fed did little to inspire investors after a two-day policy meeting concluding on Wednesday. They confirmed the low-interest rate policy is staying near 0% through 2023, which market participants priced into the market weeks ago. Disappointing was the lack of changes to the quantitative easing program. On a more positive note, they did revise the US's economic contraction upward to 3.7% from 6.9%. Generally, it is becoming accepted that the Fed has little more that can be accomplished without accompanying fiscal measures.
On the political front, more details were released on the Biden/Harris tax plan, leading analysts to discuss the wisdom of taking capital gains should Biden win the election. What is becoming increasingly clear is the election results will be contested on the night of the election. The sentiment of the many Democrats, as recently voiced by the former Secretary of State, is Joe Biden should never concede the election. With Justice Ginsberg's death, the pressure is on the GOP-led Senate to confirm the next Supreme Court justice before the election, stacking the court with a six-to-three conservative majority. It is highly expected the Supreme Court will inevitably be called upon to rule on election processes. One of the US's hallmarks is the peaceful transition of power from one party to the next. At present, a peaceful transition is not likely to occur, creating more uncertainty for corporations and volatility for investors well after the November 3rd elections.
Important Information:
Warren Gerow is an independent investment wealth consultant to Sightline Wealth Management.
Sightline Wealth Management LP ("Sightline") is an investment dealer and is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF). Sightline provides management and investment advisory services to high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors primarily through fee-based accounts.
Sightline Wealth Management LP is a wholly owned subsidiary of Ninepoint Financial Group Inc. ("NFG Inc."). NFG Inc. is also the parent company of Ninepoint Partners LP, it is an investment fund manager and advisor and exempt market dealer. By virtue of the same parent company, Sightline is affiliated with Ninepoint Partners LP. Information and/or materials contained herein is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation to purchase securities of any issuer or any portfolio managed by Sightline Wealth Management or Ninepoint Partners, including Ninepoint managed funds.
The opinions and information contained in this article are those of Sightline Wealth Management ("Sightline") as of the date of this article and are subject to change without notice. Sightline endeavors to ensure that the content has been compiled from sources that we believe to be reliable. The information is not meant to be used as the primary basis of investment decisions and should not be constructed as advice. Each investor should obtain independent advice before making any investment decisions.


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Saturday, May 09, 2009
A shapely Italian
Hot blooded, at rest
Laval, QC, August 2008
With Chrysler's merger with Fiat all but a done deal, this yellow Ferrari Testarossa that lives in the parking garage of my parents' building somehow springs to mind. Fiat also owns Ferrari, so it's not much of a stretch to envision future Sebring drivers - assuming there are any left - mimicking Goggles Paisano as they pull on open-knuckled leather driving gloves to shuttle the kids to karate practice.
Maybe not. But the geneology is neat. As is the geometry of the body of this car. Truth be told, this particular vehicle hasn't aged well. The owner deserves a spanking for letting it deteriorate. Light lenses are cracked, pieces of moulding are askew and stretches of paint would barely pass muster on a Yugo let alone a car that sold for the equivalent of an average house mortgage.
Yet despite its relatively sad condition, it's still easy to find angles that play to this car's strengths (see earlier blog entries here and here.) Say what you want about stratospheric purchase costs, laughable practicality and criminally pathetic reliability, but there's no denying these cars were penned by artists who understood to the base of their souls how to translate design into timeless emotion.
Your turn: We're still playing with yellow as part of this week's Thematic Photographic theme. Head here to get started.
7 comments:
- Martha said...
Now that's a beauty! Glad you had a nice birthday :-)
- 6:52 PM, May 09, 2009
- David Edward said...
yes, its getting tough even for ferrari owners.... and why exactly does fiat want more of CHrysler? I don't see how they benefit.
I am back from sailing, and have a few pictures up and on the web albums
- 7:09 PM, May 09, 2009
- invisible said...
Like Sophia Loren wearing a bright yellow wrap dress on a summer day.
She may show a few years,but the beauty and curves are still in all the right places.
P.S. you are never too old for a Flintstones reference.
- 8:05 PM, May 09, 2009
- Wendy said...
Well your title had me thinking along different lines. Did not think you were talking about a car! LOL!
- 10:14 PM, May 09, 2009
- Mojo said...
I remember a different view of this beauty from a while back. I forget the theme, but I remember the car. Marvelous angle!
My newest Yellow entries are far more prosaic.
Thematic Photographic 48: Yellow v.3.0Thematic Photographic 48: Yellow v.4.0
- 10:21 PM, May 09, 2009
- Cloudia said...
- 11:19 PM, May 09, 2009
- momemts in time said...
Italians design great cars absolutly no question about it... but ...having owned one of the beautiful Bertone designed 'shapely' Alfa GTV's 30+ years ago I realise that you need to have an Italian car for looks and style with a German one for those frequent days when the Italian one becomes tempremental...
'Top Gear', one of our highly entertaining motoring programmes on BBC1 / Dave channels here in the UK set their presenters the task of buying an Italian supercar for under £10,000 and then undertaking a series of motoring tests... the conclusion was that you could buy one .... but don't expect it to be reliable ~ they all broke down / wrecked engines & electrics being the common faults if you igniored the bodywork!
- 9:22 AM, May 10, 2009


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Ottawa, the capital of Canada, is a small city with a population of about 860,000 for the city itself and 1.15 million for the urban area as a whole. It has relied exclusively on busses for local public transportation since the abandonment of its streetcar system in 1959. The all-bus system includes several bus rapid transit (BRT) lines, which consist of busses running at frequent intervals on mostly exclusive rights of way.
In recent years, however, there has been an increasing interest in light rail transit due to a growing awareness of the limitations of busses and of the boom in construction of light rail systems throughout North America and much of the rest of the world. Thus, the O-train was launched as a pilot line that was expected to be followed by the construction of additional light rail lines.
A major feature of the O-Train line is its very low cost of implementation. It cost US$21 million for the five mile line, or a little over $4 million per mile. This was made possible by utilizing an existing rail line, which is also used occasionally for freight service at night after transit service has ended. The biggest expenditures were for the vehicles, construction of simple, low platform stations, improvements to the track, including the addition of a passing siding at Carlton station, and construction of a simple maintenance facility.
Another major innovation has been the use of diesel multiple units (DMUs) instead of conventional electrically powered light railway vehicles. DMUs allow operation comparable to that of conventional light rail without the need for costly and time-consuming electrification, and they are thus well suited for use on pilot lines as well as lines with relatively low traffic volumes. The attractiveness of using DMUs has increased in recent years due to a number of technology advances which have resulted in reduced emissions, greater fuel efficiency, faster acceleration, lower noise output and simplified maintenance.
The three state-of-the-art, low-floor DMUs trains were built in Germany by Bombardier, the Canadian manufacturer of rail vehicles and other transportation equipment. Each train, which consists of three articulated sections, is 48 meters in length and has a width of 2.9 meters. Capacity is 135 passengers seated plus 150 standing. The maximum speed is 120 kilometers per hour.
In contrast to commuter rail and other passenger services that operate on conventional railroads, there is only a single operator on each O-Train vehicle and no conductor or other personnel on board. Another first is the use of operators who are former transit bus driver and who have been specially trained for this task rather than railroad locomotive engineers. Both of these measures contribute to the low operating costs.
The main criticism of the line is that it is not long enough and does not extend into Ottawa's downtown. Nevertheless, it still has a good ridership of more than 10,000 trips per day, which substantially exceeds original projections.
There has been considerable enthusiasm among Ottawa's population for adding extensions to the line at both ends as well as for the construction of additional light rail lines. Of particular interest has been an extension into the downtown, as this would add greatly to the convenience of the existing line and undoubtedly result in a large increase in its ridership; however, this has been accompanied by a controversy about whether that segment should run in a tunnel or in the streets. The routes for the other proposed extensions and new lines have also been the subject of much controversy and are mired in local politics, and thus construction is not likely to begin soon.
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Cable 2015 reveals lumberjack mascotThe talisman of the IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships is named as Tim Burr. 06 Jan 2015
"Tim Burr fits in nicely with what we have planned for part of the Ceremony - the re-enactment of a lumberjack competition."
The organisers of the 2015 IPC Nordic Skiing World Championships, taking place in Cable, Wisconsin, USA, from 23 January – 1 February, have unveiled the mascot of the competition – a lumberjack playfully named as Tim Burr.
Around 150 skiers from 20 countries will gather in Cable, located in the one million acre Chequamagon National Forest, for the biggest gathering of biathlon and cross-country skiers since the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.
Tim Burr is a nod towards the area's rich history in the lumber industry, which was built around its natural resources in the 1800s.
Loggers used to float trees down the many rivers in Bayfield County to mills where they were transformed into lumber, and put onto trains to Chicago. The city was originally built with the timber from the area until the great Chicago Fire raised it to the ground over two days in October 1871.
At the same time as revealing the mascot, organisers also gave a glimpse into the festivities for the Opening Ceremony for Cable 2015 which until now have been shrouded in secrecy.
Yuriy Gusev, Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, said: "Tim Burr fits in nicely with what we have planned for part of the Ceremony - the re-enactment of a lumberjack competition.
"The Lumberjack World Championships are held here every summer. The lumber industry is still a major part of our economy and is the second greatest revenue source for Bayfield County, so we are really keen to incorporate it into the Championships."
Cable 2015 is expected to see a host of Paralympic and world champions descend on the world-renowned Telemark Resort, which every year plays host to the start of the American Birkbeiner, the largest cross-country skiing race in North America. Athletes from team USA are currently in Soldier Hollow, Utah, for the US Nationals.
The Opening Ceremony will take place on 23 January, before competition starts with biathlon events on 24 January. All competitions are free to spectators.
Media accreditation for Cable 2015 is also still open.


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Thursday, August 14, 2014
what happened in August
Remember how, a few months ago, Pinterest thought the only space in the city good enough for them would be the San Francisco Design Center, because it is so pretty and made of brick and just the only building pin-worthy in all the Bay Area?
No other office space would do, even though there still seems to be plenty of it. The Design Center had to be converted from coveted PDR space into office space, just for them to be happy. And they are a big company after all.
And the city said no.
And the current tenants were so happy.
And then the landlord raised their rents. Astronomically.
In short, my gallery is closing. John McEvoy Fine Art is closing end of this month after 20 years in business. I know it is not Pinterests fault. Maybe nobody is to blame and it is just the way things go.
It still makes me not want to paint. At all. Because, if galleries keep closing, how am I going to sell my work?
If you were making, let's say, liquor, and all the liquor stores that sell your stuff were closing, it would be pretty clear to you that the place needs no more liquor, no? So there.
I am contemplating Detroit, just to be far away from San Francisco- or from what San Francisco wants to be all of a sudden. Of course I am not going. But I am so, so sad.
Article from February 2014
Article from last month.
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There is a common belief that the air outside your front door is much worse to breathe than the air inside your home. But, as studies show, the air inside your home may also come with health implications. How did your indoor air get dirtier than your laundry? Think of fumes off-gassed by furniture, paint and building materials, chemicals from household cleaning products and fragrances, combustion devises, dust, bacteria and mold. These are all common culprits of poor home air quality.
When you consider that we spend most of our time indoors, this is a big problem. But it can be especially debilitating for those who suffer from allergies or asthma. Here are some simple solutions to improve your home air quality—many of which are quick, easy and affordable.
Tip#1: Air it out
Open a window to air out harmful chemicals and let cleaner, healthier air in! Even if it's for a few minutes a day, it's one of the simplest (and most affordable) things you can do to improve your home air quality. You can also turn on a ceiling or portable fan while windows are open to recirculate household air and push out stale air.
Tip #2: Use non-toxic household cleaning products
Traditional household cleaning products are one of the leading contributors to poor home air quality. Your home is not a science experiment. Rather than spend money on household cleaning products, look no further than your pantry for ingredients that possess natural cleaning prowess. Ingredients such as baking soda, white distilled vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, tea tree oil, hot water, coarse salt, and castile soap all do a bang-up job without spewing harmful chemicals in your home.
If you prefer something in a bottle, don't just trust what they tell you on the label. Do some research before you buy. Look for products that tap into plant-based ingredients for cleaning power without artificial dyes and/or fragrances to better your home air quality. And remember, traditionally, the fewer ingredients on the label, the better.
Read more about making your own natural cleaners
Tip #3: Invest in healthy houseplants
Believe it or not, there are some plants that act as renegade air filters by sucking up harmful chemicals that rest in your air and pumping out fresh oxygen. Not just any plant will do. A study conducted in part by NASA found that a handful of plants are particularly skilled at eating up some of the more harmful chemicals: formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide to name a few. Here are a few of the top plants that proved to be most effective at removing harmful chemicals:
• Bamboo Palm – Dypsis lutescens
• English Ivy – Hedera helix
• Gerbera Daisy – Gerbera jamesonii
• Janet Craig Dracaena – Dracaena deremensis 'Janet Craig'
• Red Edged Dracaena – Dracaena marginata
• Mass cane/Corn Plant – Dracaena massangeana
• Warneckii Dracaena – Dracaena deremensis 'Warneckii'
• Mother-in-Law's Tongue – Sansevieria laurenti
• Pot Mum – Chrysantheium morifolium
• Peace Lily – Spathiphyllum species
Tip #4: Skip the scent
We are all guilty of associating fresh, aromatic scents with a clean home, but synthetic fragrance found in air fresheners, household cleaning products, detergents and candles infuses your air with harmful chemicals. Since the actual components of a fragrance are considered a "trade secret," companies are only required to list the catch-all term "fragrance" on the label—but they are not required to disclose what they actually are4. In this case, the devil is in the details. A study conducted by Washington University found that nearly 100 volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) were emitted from six popular air fresheners. Of the 100 VOCs emitted, none were listed on the label and five of them released at least one (or more!) cancer-causing chemicals. Many fragrances have not been tested for human safety, and a group of plasticizers known as phthalates are commonly used to make the scent last longer. Phthalates have been linked to hormone disruption, cancer, and reproductive and developmental issues.
To protect your home air quality, look for household cleaning products, detergents and aerosol sprays that are fragrance-free or scented with 100 percent natural ingredients. You can also use essential oils, lemons, or baking soda to freshen up your home. Check out these recipes.
Tip #5: Buy safer furniture
Your furniture can off-gas VOCs, which can be highly toxic to human health. Conventional woods in furniture such as plywood and particleboard are fused with toxic glues that can contain formaldehyde and harmful chemicals, and are finished with paints, lacquers, and varnishes that contain even more harmful chemicals. These chemicals can be detrimental to those with allergies and asthma, while contributing to serious diseases like cancer. If you can, avoid buying furniture made from woods that have been treated with formaldehyde and look for furniture that was assembled with non-toxic glues and water-based or low to no-VOC finishes. Certifications like GREENGUARD also serve as a great guide by identifying products that have lower chemical emissions for better home air quality. Since healthier furniture can be more expensive, you can always buy second-hand—a good indication that the furniture has already done most of its off-gassing. You can also open a window for better air ventilation (See Tip #1).
Tip #6: Be picky about paint
Are you familiar with that funny odor that fills the room after you have freshly painted the walls? It makes you dizzy for a reason. Conventional paints can emit toxic fumes into your home over its life cycle . Look for safer paints that are labeled "Zero VOC or "Low-VOC." The most ideal option is "Zero VOC, no toxics and no solvents," which states that the canister of wall color does not contain any of the harmful chemicals found in traditional paints.
Tip #7: Invest in a HEPA filter vacuum
Carpets and floors can harbor chemicals and commons allergens, which accumulate in household dust. Vacuuming a few times a week is key, but cheap vacuums can just make matters worse. The problem with cheap vacuums is that they suction chemicals in, and then spew them back out in the exhaust to exacerbate poor home air quality. Purchase a vacuum with a true HEPA filter, which is capable of suctioning up dust, dirt and even the smallest irritants.
Book a obligation free consultation from Delta Air Systems


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Tips for Keeping Your RV Dependable
Although the average RV's expected lifespan and predicted mileage has increased, there are still things that RV owners can and should do to extend their vehicle's longevity. Many of the maintenance tasks you can perform, or have a certified mechanic help you with, are simple measures that will keep an RV going strong. These preventative measures, such as keeping up with oil changes and routine service, can make a difference in your RV's longevity, its performance, and even the amount of money you spend on repairs. In fact, estimates predict that proper vehicle care can save about $30,000 in repairs, which can very well be the cost of getting a new RV!
Change the Oil
One of the simplest but most important ways to keep your RV in optimal condition is changing the oil as recommended in the owner's manual. RVs require different kinds of oil, which in turn affects how frequently they should have their oil change. Many average about 5,000 miles in between oil changes. Some, especially those that don't take synthetic oil, should have their oil changed about every 3,000 miles. But others can go for more than 5,000 miles without an oil change, primarily if they use synthetic oil. The alignment, which is another essential service, should also be performed between 5,000 and 7,000 miles. Some RV owners choose to schedule both at the same time for convenience.
Schedule Mileage-Based Repairs
Less frequently, your vehicle will also need to have mileage-based maintenance appointments. These inspections are vital for keeping your vehicle's important components working as they should. Mileage-based services start with inspecting just a few components initially, such as the wipers, lights, and cables. When the RV reaches 30,000 miles, it should have the brakes checked as well. By 60,000 miles, it may be due for more. The lug nuts, tire pressure, and battery will all need to be checked as part of a comprehensive RV inspection. Parts exposed to the elements, such as the awning, should be carefully inspected for leaks and signs of damage.
Choose Top Replacement Parts
When your vehicle needs repairs, you may be tempted to choose the parts that cost less for a replacement. However, less expensive parts may not be good for your vehicle. Parts offered for a discount are called aftermarket parts. Unlike OEM parts, which our dealership uses, aftermarket parts may not fit your RV well, and they do not come with a warranty.
If you want an RV that lasts, let us know. You can schedule a service and maintenance appointment at our Reliable RV service center any time your RV needs help.


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Friendship Nepal Tours and Travels
Friendship Nepal Tours and Travels, is a fully licensed and registered travel agency / company in Nepal and recognized by the tourism authority of the Government of Nepal, Nepal Association of Tour & Travel Agent (NATTA) and Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) as providing comprehensive Travel Package for leisure, Group, Charters & small-business traveler, backed by real-time Website & unmatched products.
Since its beginning in 2003, we have been growing at a fast pace aspiring to emerge as one of the leading travel company in Nepal. The very fact that we are a young company, we are open to new ideas, flexible & adaptable to our clients needs.
The organization is headed & professionally managed by people having vast experience in hospitality business. With our central locatio
Why Friendship Travels ?
- We are local based company
- Prompt response
- Trustworthy travel agency
- Experienced tour operator
- Unbetable value for money
- Customer care service
- Guaranteed Departures
- 46 reviews of Friendship Nepal Tours and Travels - Private Day Tours in Kathmandu
Best Selling Holiday Tour Packages
Recent Reviews
Here are some reviews what our clients says about us.
K. Ivy Thomas-Alcala
From the time I emailed them until we left they were always good about communicating. They tailored a trip to exactly what we wanted. They evenread more
We were not expecting our 8 days trip to Nepal will be so memorable and enjoyable. .thanread more
Thanks to Roka and his team, we had an AMAZING Nepal experience! Where do I begin to sing praises about this tour group? We visited Nepal for 13 days and wanted only to tour for 9. I contacted Frieread more
I have been to over 15 different countries, and let me tell you Nepal with Friendship Toread more
Places to see
Here are some highlight places to visit in Nepal.
Chitwan National Park
Surrounding Chitwan National Park in southern Nepal is one of the best planne


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Google's latest offering has more to do with science fiction than search.
The web giant announced the launch of a new forum called Solve for X that is dedicated to probing "technology moonshots." These are efforts, according to Google, that "take on global-scale problems, define radical solutions to those problems, and involve some form of breakthrough technology that could actually make them happen."
"Moonshots live in the gray area between audacious projects and pure science fiction; they are 10x improvement, not 10%. That's partly what makes them so exciting," Google wrote in a blog post announcing the Solve for X "experiment."
A technology moonshot could be an innovation that makes plants more productive, improves access to fresh water, or takes images of the mind's eye. "Moonshots can come from anywhere--people of all ages and places, companies, academia, inspired experts, enthusiastic newcomers, and often from accidental discoveries," Google notes.
Solve for X now exists online (See: WeSolveforX.com, which launched on Monday), but it originated offline as a three-day event for a select group of fifty people co-hosted last week by Google executive chairman Eric Schmidt at the dreamy CordeValle Resort in San Martin, California.
The Solve for X gathering, a "forum to encourage and amplify technology-based moonshot thinking and teamwork," sounds more than a little like the annual TED conference that attracts Silicon Valley technorati and focuses on "ideas worth spreading," albeit Google's is even more exclusive (so about that "spirit of openness...").
TED posts TED Talks from its invitation-only conference on the web, and the videos feature speakers ranging from street artist JR to Anthony Atala, a researcher exploring ways to print and grow organs.Google's Solve for X is also posting Solve for X Talks (yes, they're also called "Talks") from its invitation-only event on the web, and the videos feature speakers ranging from novelist Neal Stephenson to InCube Labs CEO Mir Imran, who is exploring ways to improve drug therapy delivery.
The content of the lectures must satisfy three critera: "Does it highlight a huge problem?", "Is there a concrete solution that could make a radical impact?" and "Does it explain breakthrough science and technology that could enable this solution?"
Nearly a week after its intimate gathering in San Martin, Google has now invited the world at large to learn more about Solve for X and "join the conversation on our website and our Google+ page."
Google says Solve for X is open to featuring your moonshot thinking, too, but don't expect it to be as easy as uploading a video to YouTube. See the steps required to submit your own video on Google+ by checking out the "Engage" page on the Solve for X site.


text: On May 30, 1974, 14-year-old Bernadette Whelan died after lingering in a coma for four days. The cause of her death? Officially, "traumatic asphyxiation." Unofficially, according to the coroner, "a victim of contrived hysteria," otherwise known as David Cassidy Fever. Twenty-six years later, at 14 years of age, my own life was saved. The cause… Read more →


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Dirs/scr: Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman. US. 2009. 90 mins.
Thought-provoking if uneven, HOWL is an examination of art's enduring value that succeeds largely as an intellectual exercise. An unconventional biopic of revered US poet Allen Ginsberg and his groundbreaking 1955 poem Howl - which led to his acclaim but also landed his publisher on trial for obscenity charges - this drama may be too esoteric for general movie-goers, but James Franco's confident, sympathetic portrayal of Ginsberg should attract adventurous arthouse audiences.
Scenes with Ginsberg present a man who remains an intriguing mystery to the audience
Much as director Todd Haynes tackled Bob Dylan's iconic stature with the multi-character, multi-era I'm Not There, directors Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman also approach Ginsberg's legend in unexpected ways, and HOWL's fractured narrative and cerebral style may cause it similar problems commercially. But although its theatrical appeal seems limited, partly due to the fact that Ginsberg remains only a niche cultural figure, HOWL could do better in ancillaries when viewers will perhaps be more receptive to sampling its unorthodox structure.
The film segues between three different story threads: courtroom scenes from the 1957 obscenity trial; animated sequences which illustrate the poem's text; and snapshot moments from Ginsberg's life around the time of Howl as he grapples with his homosexuality, looks for love and tries to develop his artistic voice.
With the documentaries The Celluloid Closet and The Times Of Harvey Milk (directed by Epstein alone), Epstein and Friedman have incisively explored America's reluctance to accept homosexuals into mainstream culture, so it might be tempting to assume they were drawn to Ginsberg simply because of his sexual orientation. But HOWL positions the poet as a larger symbol for the US's provocative, creative fringe that is constantly battling the country's homogeneous conservative culture.
Granted, this theme has been explored before in true-life dramas such as The People Vs Larry Flynt, but the film-makers largely avoid the de rigueur First Amendment grandstanding by drawing entirely from the transcripts of the 1957 obscenity trial, giving the courtroom scenes an authenticity and simplicity which eschew typical genre theatrics. Some may be disappointed that fine actors like Jon Hamm, David Strathairn and Bob Balaban deliver muted performances in the trial sequences, but these purposefully mundane episodes serve to highlight the actual courtroom interactions, offering a rare glimpse on screen of the nuts-and-bolts logistics of legal arguments concerning what constitutes obscenity.
The scenes with Ginsberg present a man who remains an intriguing mystery to the audience, even when he is explaining to an unseen interviewer his rationale for penning specific stanzas in Howl. Throughout the film, HOWL tries to upend biopic conventions in its portrayal of the poet by refusing to "explain" his motivations, instead offering an impressionistic, opaque overview of a few moments from his life.
Ironically, while the film-makers' documentaries have sought to illuminate their subjects, HOWL prefers to embrace the unknowability of its celebrated protagonist. This strategy will frustrate viewers who come to the movie with little beforehand knowledge of Ginsberg - just as Dylan neophytes were no doubt baffled by I'm Not There's heavily symbolic characters and settings - but the narrative tactic feels appropriate for an artist whose legend was at least partly based on his enigmatic demeanour.
The animated sequences provide a feast of fantastical, sometimes nightmarish images which complement the urgency and dread of the poem. In comparison to the stripped-down drama of the obscenity trial and the Ginsberg scenes, the animation creates a dynamic, fluid counterpoint which argues that Howl's vitality and imagination transcend both its scandal and even its creator's back-story.
As intellectually engaging as much of this is, however, HOWL suffers somewhat in its execution. The technique of juxtaposing the three story threads can become repetitive, and the animation sometimes fails to highlight the power of Ginsberg's stream-of-consciousness poetry, instead feeling superfluous and pretentious. And while Epstein and Friedman should be commended for jettisoning biopic cliches, HOWL's stubborn insistence on a nonlinear, chilly approach to Ginsberg's life and work inevitably leads to an erratic tone that never fully finds its dramatic rhythm.
Still, HOWL's unusual narrative strategy can become hypnotic once the viewer adjusts to its off-kilter construction, and Franco does a good job of hinting at Ginsberg's mercurial genius and sensitive spirit without lapsing into tortured-artist banalities. Clearly influenced by the film-makers' understated attitude toward their subject, Franco emphasises Ginsberg's ordinariness, save for a few verbal mannerisms that illustrate a brilliant mind still trying to find the best way to articulate its intricate visions. In an almost offhand way, Franco makes the poet an unassuming champion for the cause of controversial, challenging work, even if his most famous poem remains as inscrutable as it is deeply compelling.
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Production companies
Werc Werk Works
Telling Pictures
Rabbit Bandini
US Sales
Cinetic Media
(1) 212 204 7979
International Sales
The Match Factory
(49) 221 539 709-0
Elizabeth Redleaf
Christine Kunewa Walker
Rob Epstein
Jeffrey Friedman
Edward Lachman
Production designer
Therese DePrez
Jake Pushinsky
Carter Burwell
Main cast:
James Franco
David Strathairn
Jon Hamm
Bob Balaban
Alessandro Nivola
Treat Williams
Mary-Louise Parker
Jeff Daniels


text: Located on the strategically important strait that bears its name, Malacca is a multicultural mosaic of the trade and colonial history of Southeast Asia. From the magnificent Sultanate Palace and the Kampung Kling Mosque to the numerous churches built by the Portuguese and the Dutch, to Hindu and Chinese temples, every ethnic group in search of wealth and power, either earthly or spiritual, has left its mark. The ubiquitous, pedal-powered trishaws are a good way to get around. Straits cuisine is also world-renowned for its variety and complexity, flavored by centuries of cultural intermingling. The city is also a shopping source for Asian antiques.