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Val's repro star for white ground chintz
captures the popular red, white and blue color scheme.
Vintage chintz
In the 18th- and early 19th-century a color style combining red and a bright blue was quite the thing.
The blue was indigo; the red from madder.
The dyes used to print the color combination
worked quite differently, making the popular
palette difficult for printers to produce.
Early-19th-century quilt
Printers had to leave a white halo or space between the red and the blue.
Detail of a hand-painted and block-printed Indian palampore.
Collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Some designers planned the gaps between the reds and the blues. Others had a more devil-may-care attitude.
Early-19th-century blotch-ground chintz.
Calicoes from old blocks showing madder reds and indigo blues
printed adjacently without the intervening white spaces
that had been necessary prior to 1808.
Designers still could add white for effect but note how the
red touches the blue especially in that red scallop.
The mills called these red on blue prints Lapis prints,
Lapis cufflink
using the name of the vivid blue stone. Another name
was lazulite for another blue mineral.
From William Crooke's printing manual.
He outlined the complicated formula, even though "the lazulite style is at present in very little request...As fashion may revive at any moment, it should not be overlooked."
Fashion did not revive, so the blue and red combination is a good clue to an early quilt. And something to add to your shopping list.
Why is it important to know the difference between a true lapis
print and a blue ground with white haloes? If you are a quilt
detective you can use the information as a clue in dating.
The lapis print above had to be printed after 1808.
Lexington quilter found a stripe with red and blue
separated by white for one of her repro blocks.
Becky couldn't find any red, blue and white chintzes in her
stash. Here's the closest red and blue priints she could come up with.
But they are terrific blocks. Not only will the bird remind us
to buy some lapis style prints; she can remind us how good primary colors look together.
And why people wanted red and blue in the same print.
Another by Becky.
Can we count the blue and red berry as a lapis print.
Why not???
S.F.'s repro star has a copy of a blue ground chintz. The reproduction gives a hint of the haloes once necessary to print blue and red in the same design.
Stella Bella's small repro quilt makes the most of a
traditional blue and red palette.
As does Austin Manor from Harriett Hargrave.
It doesn't really matter if your reproduction prints
are true lapis style or just blue and red chintzes and calicoes.
Deatil of a Hickory Leaf repro quilt by me,
showing two red + blues in the upper left block
Broderie Perse by Roseanne Smith
Center of a quilt.
Above and below are blue-ground chintzes Terry Thompson
and I did over a decade ago for Moda.
Look for blue ground chintzes and smaller-scale prints
with lots of red in the figures.
The print is in the eage in the top border below.
Barbara Fritchie Star
by Jean Stanclift and Shirlene Wedd
Karla Menaugh and I designed the pattern and picked the fabric.
Jean and Shirlene did their deft sewing.
One of our favorite quilts from our old Sunflower Pattern Co-op days.
Stripes from Nancy Gere
Ginger Coral by John Robshaw
And, as always with these early prints, look at upholstery reproductions.
What to Do with Your Stack of Stars?
Shade the composition.
Quilt dated 1832 by Rebecca Burroughs,
possibly Pennsylvania
Nine Patch from the collection of the International Quilt Study Center and Museum.
Quilt dated 1832 from Chester County, Pennsylvania
Similar idea in a nine patch from the collection
of the American Museum in Bath---a hot design idea in 1832 in Pennsylvania???
Early quilters favored a central focus. They shaded the overall composition to create one, arranging the repeat blocks in areas of lights and darks.
Baby Blooming Nine Patch by Lynn Stalowy
Reproduction top.
Or one might shade the alternate setting squares as well as the blocks. The Blooming Nine Patch was an idea from Blanche Young's 1996 book Tradition with a Twist.
Simple stars could be substituted for nine-patches.
Reproduction top by Bobbi Finley and friends
We shaded the setting squares to mimic a strip quilt. The fabrics were strike-offs from my Lately Arrived from London line. The blues were never actually printed to be sold. We had too many choices and that colorway had to go. (Too bad for blues fans including me.)
There are many ways to shade the overall composition.
The star quilt on the cover of the McCloskey-Martin book Variable Star Quilts shows shading without the medallion-like focus you often see in early quilts. The shading moves the eye across the composition.
One More Thing About Blue and Red Prints
Detail of a foulard-set florette with a white halo
from an early 19th-century quilt
Even after 1808 when blues and reds could be printed adjacently without the intervening white spaces printers continued to include the halo. The calico above is in a style we might call a provincial print, a mignonette or an Indienne. The necessity for a halo became a style in itself.
Savonnerie by Sandy Klop/American Jane
The reproductions of these Provincial style prints tend to be rather minimalist lately and the blues are quite intense. But now you know what historical styles are the inspiration.
We'll discuss these classic prints later, but this week's a good time to see if you have any red on blue or blue on red provincial prints in your stash.


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tango- posted a photo:
Yala National Park is the most visited and second largest national park in Sri Lanka. The park consists of five blocks, two of which are now open to the public, and also adjoining parks. The blocks have individual names such as, Ruhuna National Park (block 1) and Kumana National Park or 'Yala East' for the adjoining area. It is situated in the southeast region of the country, and lies in Southern Province and Uva Province. The park covers 979 square kilometres (378 sq mi) and is located about 300 kilometres (190 mi) from Colombo. Yala was designated as a wildlife sanctuary in 1900, and, along with Wilpattu was one of the first two national parks in Sri Lanka, having been designated in 1938. The park is best known for its variety of wild animals. It is important for the conservation of Sri Lankan elephants, Sri Lankan leopards and aquatic birds.
Source From Flicker
#SriLanka #Photo #lka

subset: commoncrawl


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Tinkerers, start your tinkering! The Innovate or Die – You and up to 4 friends make a machine that "transforms pedaling energy into a new and useful purpose", then post a 2 minute video on Youtube. Judges from Specialized, Google, and Goodby, Silverstein and Partners (CA based ad agency) will pick a winner based on creativity, design, and environmental impact. Top prize is a cool $5k, plus a bike from Specialized's new 'Globe' line of bikes. You've got until December 15th, now go!
Specialized's new bikes look nice – clean single speed aesthetic, suspension-free frames, disc brakes all around and internally geared hubs on the higher end bikes.
I couldn't find much mention of what's to become of your new machine, other than a brief mention that you have to keep it in running condition for a year. The sponsors will, however, be hanging on to the media you submit pretty tightly. Prepare to be remixed if you win.
I'd like to see the them take the next step here – if a winning pedal powered machine really does have some design, environmental and creative chutzpah maybe they could pony up some engineering know-how to do a limited production run?
…We're riding townies, adventure, and mountain bikes. Find recommendations on our store page. As Amazon Associates we earn from qualifying purchases.


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From Las Vegas to Orlando, go head-to-head against experienced drivers in drag races and freestyle competitions! But before you can pull off doughnuts, wheelies and bicycles, you must first tune your truck to perfection. These machines are colossal and spectacular yet highly technical to drive. The game faithfully reproduces all the unique demands of mastering these powerful trucks, including independent front and rear wheel management, mass transfer anticipation in bends, and predicting bounces after jumps.
But what's performance without style? Customise your monster truck to reflect your style and show it off to your 7 opponents in online mode.
• 16 Monster Trucks
• Over 50 customisable elements
• 25 arenas
• 3 leagues


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- States:
- Colorado
- Utah
- Vermont
As they whizz fearlessly down the ski slopes with their flock of new friends, swaddled in ski suits and dwarfed by their helmets and goggles, children have the time of their lives on a ski holiday.
But keeping them smiling throughout the week requires planning, skill and the support of a crack team of English-speaking instructors and child care workers.
Catering to Children and Teenagers
In resorts such as Vermont's Smugglers' Notch and Colorado's Aspen-Snowmass and Beaver Creek, children get exactly that, with dedicated learning areas, interactive trails, winding treasure hunt runs through the woods, children's race arenas and terrain parks for even the tiniest skiers and riders.
Many USA resorts limit children's group classes to just five students, so forget those never-ending human crocodiles ubiquitous in the Alps. Several resorts, such as Crested Butte in Colorado and Canyons and Park City in Utah, provide clinics dedicated to teenagers. Some include specialist camps like Teen Girls classes in Vail, Colorado, and Park City's Freestyle Camp for 10- to 15-year-olds, which see budding freestylers benefit from hands-on coaching in the terrain park and digital media lab.
Beaver Creek ski runs and the village illuminated at dusk in Colorado
Activities Beyond Skiing in Vermont
Keeping the children happy off the snow is important, too, which is where three Vermont resorts excel. Jay Peak offers an indoor water park complete with Flowrider, an indoor ice rink and state-of-the-art games arcade. Smugglers' Notch keeps teenagers entertained at two supervised centers with live music and games while Killington keeps families together for dinners in a remote mountain yurt reached by a snowcat-drawn sleigh.
Family time riding a Crested Butte ski lift in Colorado
Related Topics:
More experiences nearby
Explore more
Rocky Mountain National Park
Mesa Verde National Park
Bryce Canyon National Park
Canyonlands National Park
Utah: A Breathtaking State of Adventure
Zion and Bryce Canyon: The Great Outdoors
Major League Soccer
5 Must-See National Parks in Fall


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What do you do when you are in a hurry and hear someone say things which you do not agree or is wrong? Well, let me tell you what I do or what I recently did.
I was walking by and heard someone mentioning "Columnstore Index are really great as they are using Batch Mode which makes them seriously fast." While I was passing by and I heard this statement my first reaction was I thought Columnstore Index can use both – Batch Mode and Row Mode. I stopped by even though I was in a hurry and asked the person if he meant that Columnstore indexes are seriously fast because they use Batch Mode all the time or Batch Mode is one of the reasons for Columnstore Index to be faster. He responded that Columnstore Indexes can run only in Batch Mode.
However, I do not like to confront anybody without hearing their complete story. Honestly, I like to do information sharing and avoid confronting as much as possible. There are always ways to communicate the same positively. Well, this is what I did, I quickly pull up my earlier article on Columnstore Index and copied the script to SQL Server Management Studio. I created two versions of the script. 1) Very Large Table 2) Reasonably Small Table. I a query which uses columnstore index on both of the versions. I found very interesting result of the my tests.
I saved my tests and sent it to the person who mentioned about that Columnstore Indexes are using Batch Mode only. He immediately acknowledged that indeed he was incorrect in saying that Columnstore Index uses only Batch Mode. What really caught my attention is that he also thanked me for sending him detail email instead of just having argument where he and I both were standing in the corridor and neither have no way to prove any theory.
Here is the screenshots of the both the scenarios.
1) Columnstore Index using Batch Mode
2) Columnstore Index using Row Mode
Here is the logic behind when Columnstore Index uses Batch Mode and when it uses Row Mode. A batch typically represents about 1000 rows of data. Batch mode processing also uses algorithms that are optimized for the multicore CPUs and increased memory throughput. Batch mode processing spreads metadata access costs and overhead over all the rows in a batch. Batch mode processing operates on compressed data when possible leading superior performance.
Here is one last point – Columnstore Index can use Batch Mode or Row Mode but Batch Mode processing is only available in Columnstore Index. I hope this statement truly sums up the whole concept.
Reference: Pinal Dave (https://blog.sqlauthority.com)


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French seating designer Michel Ducaroy (1925-2009) is best known for his iconic, Pop Art-inspired Togo Sofa produced by high-end design brand Ligne Roset.
Ducaroy grew up surrounded by industrial design; his family owned a furniture factory that fitted the interiors of both private clients and ocean liners built at ports in Normandy. He studied sculpture at the École Supérieure Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Lyon—a specialization that can be seen in the distinctive silhouettes of Ducaroy's later design work. He launched his design studio in 1952.
In 1954, Ducaroy began working with Ligne Roset, a family-run business dedicated to the production of traditional French, high-end seating. By the 1960s, he was one of the brand's key designers, favoring biomorphic forms and high-tech synthetic materials like foam, thermoformed plastics, and quilted textiles. Some of his most successful Ligne Roset designs include the Adria, Kashima, Koufra, Safi, and Kali collections.
The pillow-like Togo, however, featuring a structure-less, foam-filled body, put Ducaroy and Ligne Roset on the international design map. Launched at the 1973 at Salon des Arts Ménagers in Paris, Togo Sofas and Seats have since been sold to over a million consumers in more than 50 countries.
Ducaroy retired in the 1980s and passed away in Lyon in 2008. His iconic sofa is still in production today.
* Images courtesy of Ligne Roset


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At A Glance
Arrange a viewing
DescriptionIf you are looking for Northern charm, a rustic atmosphere, wildlife, beauty, peace and quiet then look no further! Beautiful cottage on Ministic Lake, Ermintinger, in the Levack/Onaping area, Northern Ontario. This 1550 sq/ft cottage features log siding, 2 x 8 rafter roof construction Pine & cedar tongue and groove interior, mixed with paneling and drywall in some rooms, 3 piece bath with hot water & environmentally friendly 1qt septic system, Airtight Heritage glass door fireplace & turn of the century kitchen wood stove with extended wood box both plumbed with stainless steel Selkirk chimneys. Gravity fed water system from two glass lined tanks in the attic. Enjoy the tranquility from your Sun porch with lake view or down by the lake from the sauna deck. Great fishing, Don't wait till summer is over book your showing now! Balance of Legal Desc. – PT LOCATION CL 6025 ERMATINGER PT. 2, 53R13014 (id:24038) |


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On Wednesday, the 2nd District Court of Appeals in Los Angeles, CA overturned the rape conviction of a man who impersonated a woman's boyfriend in order to have sex with her because the woman was not married.
The district appeals court found that a law from 1827 that criminalized impersonation of a woman's husband in order have intercourse did not extend to this case because the law did not include protections for women who were not married. "A man enters the dark bedroom of an unmarried woman after seeing her boyfriend leave late at night, and has sexual intercourse with the woman while pretending to be the boyfriend. Has the man committed rape? Because of historical anomalies in the law and the statutory definition of rape, the answer is no, even though, if the woman had been married and the man had impersonated her husband, the answer would be yes," the court stated. In its ruling, the district appeals court also called on the state legislature to fix the outdated legislation.
The case featured a woman who went to her home with her boyfriend and his friends after a party. After she fell asleep, her boyfriend left and a friend who had also attended the party entered the woman's room and began to have sex with her. When she realized the man was not her boyfriend, she began to yell and her attacker left. She called her boyfriend who summoned the police. The attacker in question was convicted and served three years in prison.


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Modern technologies have become an integral part of our lives – helping us communicate, learn, and do business. As you've likely noticed, technology advances fast – from self-driving vehicles to wearable technology, here are the top 5 emerging tech-trends in life and business:
- Wearable technology going above and beyond fitness trackers:
Wearable technology started with allowing people to monitor their health, set goals, and track daily fitness results, but now wearable technology has gone a few steps further: 'smart' clothing, 3D printed accessories, and the world's first 'smart band-aid' designed to fight against ebola, and even the concept of a future wearable drone has been talked about!
- Self-driving vehicles and connected cars:
In the future, we'll see futuristic self-driving vehicles and connected cars that are able to predict traffic patterns and safety concerns through sophisticated data analytics. There's been significant progress when it comes to self-driving vehicles. In fact, an automotive supplier, Delphi, sent a self-driving car 3,500 miles coast-to-coast between March to April, in order to test the cars capabilities.
- Powerful video live streaming apps:
Meerkat, a live-streaming platform, allows users to broadcast experiences and events for others to view in real-time. Other similar apps include Teleparty and Periscope, which is still in beta; however, these two apps will also be powerful to help remote viewers stay connected.
- Robots of various capabilities and sizes:
Robotics, a tech trend you've likely heard about before, is a rapidly advancing field. In fact, the field of robotics can lead to breakthroughs in scientific exploration, disaster-relief, and much more.
- Connected and 'smart' technologies/the Internet of Things:
As virtually every industry is starting to see a range of connected and 'smart' technologies, we're noticing the Internet of Things becoming more prevalent than ever before. The amount of physical objects featuring network connectivity to send and receive data is huge – from televisions to fridges to cars, the physical world is essentially becoming one giant information system.
Interested in learning more about these exciting tech trends that are guaranteed to change the way we live and do business? Contact OffSite IT at (866) 828- or send us an email: email@example.com .


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Explore the Recent Research into the Solar PV in Mexico Market Outlook to 2025 Update 2015 :MarketResearchReports.biz
September 25, 2015MarketResearchReports.Biz has announced addition of new report "Solar PV in Mexico Market Outlook to 2025 Update 2015 – Capacity Generation Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) Investment Trends Regulations and Company Profiles" to its database.
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The report provides in depth analysis on global renewable power market and global solar PV market with forecasts up to 2025. The report analyzes the power market scenario in Mexico (includes conventional thermal, nuclear, large hydro and renewable energy sources) and provides future outlook with forecasts up to 2025. The research details renewable power market outlook in the country (includes hydro, small hydro, biopower and solar PV) and provides forecasts up to 2025. The report highlights installed capacity and power generation trends from 2001 to 2025 in Mexico solar PV market. A detailed coverage of renewable energy policy framework governing the market with specific policies pertaining to solar PV is provided in the report. The research also provides company snapshots of some of the major market participants.
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YAKIMA COUNTY, Wash. — Nearly 150 employees at a Costco store in Washington State have tested positive for COVID-19, according to county health officials.
Yakima County is southeast of the Seattle area. The county's health department released a statement this week detailing the outbreak and actions they and the store are taking.
"After reviewing the number of cases, and the timeline in which they were identified, there is evidence to show that this sharp increase in cases mimics the type of activity that happens after some sort of superspreader event where multiple people are infected at the same time," the release from Lilian Bravo, Director of Public Health Partnerships reads.
The outbreak was first reported to the health department on Christmas Eve, at the time 68 staff members had tested positive for COVID-19.
The Yakima Health Department recommended site-wide testing after the outbreak was reported, and said Tuesday there are now 145 employees who have tested positive. All of them are currently completing their isolation and quarantine period, according to health officials.
"As Costco continues its site wide testing, we anticipate the number of cases to continue to go up over the next few days as results are received," Melissa Sixberry, RN, Director of Disease Control statedin the release.
Costco will continue to provide on-going site-wide employee testing to monitor the outbreak. The health department says they are not recommending the store close if they follow safety precautions and recommended disinfecting and cleaning guidance.


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October 29, 2013 – (BRONX, NY) – The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has chosen two leading aging researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University to chair panels at the first symposium on "geroscience"—the study of how aging influences the onset of chronic diseases.
Jeffrey Pessin, Ph.D. (left)
Ana Maria Cuervo, M.D., Ph.D.Aging is a major risk factor for major chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Understanding the biological processes that underlie aging could lead to new ways of treating or even preventing chronic disease.
The NIH symposium is the first to take an integrated approach to studying diseases associated with aging. Each of its seven panels will focus on a different broad area of research: inflammation, adaption to stress, epigenetics, metabolism, macromolecular damage, proteostasis and adult stem cells and regeneration.
Jeffrey Pessin, Ph.D., director of Einstein's Diabetes Research Center, and Christopher Newgard, Ph.D., of Duke University School of Medicine, will co-chair the panel on metabolism and how making it more efficient could help fight age-related diseases processes. Dr. Pessin holds the Judy R. and Alfred A. Rosenberg Professorial Chair in Diabetes Research and is professor of medicine and of molecular pharmacology at Einstein.
Dongsheng Cai, M.D., Ph.D. (left)
Jan Vijg, Ph.D.Ana Maria Cuervo, M.D., Ph.D., co-director of Einstein's Institute for Aging Research, will co-chair the panel on proteostasis with Richard Morimoto, Ph.D., of Northwestern University. Proteostasis involves preserving cell function by preventing cell proteins from either degrading or accumulating as we age. Dr. Cuervo is professor of developmental and molecular biology, of anatomy and structural biology, and of medicine and holds the Robert and Renée Belfer Chair for the Study of Neurodegenerative Diseases.
Two other Einstein researchers will make presentations at the summit:
Featuring National Institutes of Health (NIH) director Francis Collins, the "Advances in Geroscience: Impact on Healthspan and Chronic Disease" scientific summit was organized by the trans-NIH Geroscience Interest Group (GSIG) with support from the Alliance for Aging Research and The Gerontological Society of America. Among the largest trans-NIH interest groups, the GSIG focuses on the relationships between aging and age-related disease and disability. More information and the Summit's agenda are available at http://www.geron.org/meeting2013/GSIG_PreliminaryAgenda.pdf.
9/11 World Trade Center Exposure Linked to Heart Disease Among NYC Firefighters
On Becoming a Physician: New Einstein Students Receive White Coats and Stethoscopes
Novel Therapy for Acute Migraine Shows Promise in Phase 3 Clinical Trial
First Complete Wiring Diagram of an Animal's Nervous System
Multimillion Dollar NIH Grant to Help Reduce Opioid Use & Get Care to People Who Need It
NIH Grant Funds $23 Million Study of Diseases Affecting People Living with HIV
New TAILORx Data Guides Adjuvant Therapy in Younger Breast Cancer Patients
Einstein Celebrates Its 61st Commencement
Bolstering Biopsies: Testing Patients' Individual Cells to Guide Treatment


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Grief is Complex, Etiquette Can Help Keep it Simple.
During times of grief, everyone wants to say or do the right thing, the loving thing, the appropriate thing, but it isn't always clear what that is. Following are a collection of questions and answers about bereavement to help guide you during difficult times.
What do I write in a sympathy note to my coworker who lost her brother? I talk to her mother on the phone sometimes. Would it be okay to send a note to her as well?
Only one rule should guide you in writing sympathy messages: say what you truly feel. Your clear expression of sympathy and caring for your coworker is what matters the most. Sit down at your desk as soon as you hear of the death and let your thoughts be with your coworker as you write to her. If you knew him, some kind words about him—perhaps an anecdote—would mean a lot. If you didn't know him, you could mention something special you've heard about him. You could offer to be helpful to her, perhaps by helping her with her workload the day of the funeral or memorial service. Close with warm words, such as "With deepest sympathy." Surely, a card or note to the mother would be welcomed as well.
Don't forget that you can also e-mail your coworker to express your thoughts before you write your condolence note. E-mail is a immediate way to reach out and say, "I'm sorry. I'm here for you." And unlike a phone call or a personal visit, e-mail doesn't require an immediate response from the recipient. E-mail shouldn't replace a handwritten condolence note, but it's a nice way to let your coworker that you're there for her.
My neighbor down the street lost her husband. I just moved here and I don't know this family well, but want to attend the memorial service. Would it be inappropriate to attend?
Check with another neighbor or look in your local newspaper for an obituary or death notice. A notice would either state the hour and location of the service, which would mean that it would be appropriate for you to attend if you wished, or it would indicate if the service is private.
Even though you're new to the neighborhood, your neighbor would likely appreciate your expression of sympathy. You could certainly send her a personal note expressing your condolences. In many locales, even those who don't know each other will rally to assist bereaved neighbors in some way. It could be anything from a gift of food—a casserole, a fruit basket, or some brownies for the family and their visitors—to an offer to house out-of-town relatives or friends.
My best friend lost her adult son. She's asked me to help plan the memorial service. What do I do?
Consider it an honor to help your friend during this painful time. Be sensitive to the level of help your friend is asking for. She may depend on you entirely or she may wish to participate in the planning and have you take care of the details. In either case, develop a list of questions that your friend will need to answer. Where would she like the service to take place? Is there a member of the clergy or other person she has in mind for performing the service? Will it be a private or open service? Who else would she like to have involved as eulogists, readers or ushers? Would she like to have a reception for some or all of the attendees of the memorial service? Where would it be held? Decide upon the best way to get the word out to friends and relatives about the service. Then, organize help with phone calls and the preparation of a newspaper announcement.
Once the major decisions have been made, visit, or at least speak with, the person performing the service. Ask for his/her input and a checklist of what needs to be decided and completed. Keep your friend informed and get her feedback. By merely being there, listening and taking care of the details, you'll undoubtedly be a great help to her during this sad time.
I've lost a very close friend. Her family has asked me to give the eulogy. I'm not sure whether or not to accept. What if I break down in the middle of it? How can I honor my friend in a dignified way?
Some people are able to manage the delivery of a eulogy with aplomb; others can't even bear to think about doing so. Before making your decision, take time to consider the family's request. Think through how you truly feel about it. Talk to your friend's family. Are others going to be speaking about her? Then go with your intuition. If you decide you want to do it, then write your talk from your heart. Think of some light, special stories about your friend. It's fine to ask others to share their memories and weave them into your eulogy. Relate stories that show your friend in a positive light, and handle any humor with care. Remember, the subject of your eulogy is the person's best qualities, not your feelings. You can also include a poem, passage or anything else you feel reflects your friend's life. The more eulogies that are to be delivered, the shorter yours should be—no less than two minutes, but no longer than eight to ten. Ask the person who will be officiating at the service for any tips on preparing and delivering a eulogy. It's a good idea to have a friend read over your eulogy. then, practice it out loud, preferably in front of another person or a mirror. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will be delivering it at the service. Have a shortened version ready in case you find yourself breaking down.
If you're completely overwhelmed by the prospect, and feel that you must decline, it's okay to do so. Thank the family for offering the honor to you. Explain that you don't feel you can do it, and be honest as to why. They'll surely understand. Offer your help in other ways, such as ushering, delivering a reading, preparing the program for the service, or assisting the family with plans for the service or for any reception afterwards (if there is one).
How do I select honorary pallbearers and what do they have to do?
Honorary pallbearers are chosen from among the deceased's closest friends and/or business associates. Since this is such a personal request it should be made, if at all possible, either in person or with a phone call. Usually, 6-8 people are asked. Members of the immediate family aren't chosen, as their place is with the family.
Honorary pallbearers do not actually carry the casket at a funeral, and they do not serve at a memorial service because there is no casket present. At a funeral, either the casket is carried by professionals provided by the funeral home, in which case the honorary pallbearers follow, two by two, or they flank the casket, as it is wheeled down the aisle. They sit in the first two rows on the left, and after the service they leave, two by two, preceding the casket.
There are almost never any honorary pallbearers at the funeral of a Christian woman, but at a Jewish funeral both men and women may have honorary pallbearers.
Since it is such a singular honor, one shouldn't refuse an invitation to be a pallbearer except for illness or absence from the location in which the funeral is being held.
My co-worker's obituary states that the family has requested donations in lieu of flowers. I know his mother is particularly fond of lilies. Would it be wrong for me to send her a bouquet of lilies with a condolence note?
It's best to stick with their request at such a sensitive time. If you want to do something now, send a donation as suggested by the family. Your personal condolence note would be especially kind, too. Since you know that his mother likes lilies, you might want to wait a bit—until the activity immediately following your co-worker's death settles down—and then send her the lilies. It would surely be a meaningful and caring gesture.
I've received almost 300 notes of condolence. Do I need to write a thank you note to each person who sent me a note?
Notes of condolence should be acknowledged with a handwritten note. The only exceptions to this obligation are when the expression of condolence is simply a printed form with no personal message, or when the writer asks that his or her note not be acknowledged (a thoughtful thing to do when writing a close friend, or when someone you know well will receive a great number of condolences).
There is no official time frame for writing notes of appreciation to those who have extended their condolences and kindness to you. The important thing is that you have received comfort from the many who have helped you. For some, writing notes is helpful as they work through their grief; for others it is too difficult to get much done for some time. The best thing is to work things through at your own pace. Another option is to ask a close relative or friend to write some notes on your behalf. It's up to you.
It's been a few weeks since my neighbor whom I am friendly with lost her husband. She's been fairly reclusive. What can I do to help her without being too intrusive?
Just letting her know that you are thinking about her can be helpful. Offer specific assistance: "I'm going to the grocery. Can I get anything for you?" "Would you like to have lunch with me next Tuesday?" She'll let you know, when you ask, whether or not she wants to see you and or needs anything. Drop her a note periodically, or even an e-mail, to let her know you're thinking of her. In her own time and way, she will start to venture forth more.
My daughter is 10. Should she attend her uncle's memorial service?
Most 10-year-olds are ready for this type of experience, as long as they are accompanied by a parent or someone else close to them. If you decide to let her attend, prepare your daughter by letting her know what the service involves and address any questions she may have. It's worth noting that some communities and faiths have an open casket at the visitation and at the funeral service. If you don't feel comfortable having your daughter view an open casket, skip the visiting hours and simply attend the service.
I will be attending the funeral of a Hindu colleague. What customs and traditions should I be aware of so that I can be respectful?
Hindu funerals usually take place within 24 hours of death. Friends may call or visit family members of the deceased to offer their condolences upon hearing of the death and may bring flowers to them at that time. The flowers are placed at the feet of the deceased. The body usually remains at home until it is taken to the place where it will be cremated. The funeral ceremony is conducted at the place of the cremation. The coffin is generally open, and guests are expected to look upon the body and be seated in the room for the service, which is conducted by a priest or a senior member of the family. Guests may attend the cremation, but if they do not want to, they may depart after the service. After the funeral, friends may visit the bereaved, usually bringing gifts of fruit.


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Decades after they were banned from the airwaves, Big Tobacco companies return to prime-time television this weekend — but not by choice.
Under court order, the tobacco industry for the first time will be forced to advertise the deadly, addictive effects of smoking, more than 11 years after a judge ruled that the companies had misled the public about the dangers of cigarettes.
But years of legal pushback by the industry over every detail means the ads will be less hard-hitting than what was proposed. Tobacco control experts say the campaign — built around network TV and newspapers — will not reach people when they are young and most likely to start smoking.
"Their legal strategy is always obstruct, delay, create confusion and buy more time," said Ruth Malone, of the University of California, San Francisco, who has studied the industry for 20 years. "So by the time this was finally settled, newspapers have a much smaller readership, and nowadays, who watches network TV?"
The new spots, which begin Sunday, lay out the toll of smoking in blunt text and voiceover statements: "More people die every year from smoking than from murder, AIDS, suicide, drugs, car crashes and alcohol, combined."
Smoking remains the nation's leading preventable cause of death and illness, causing more than 480,000 deaths each year, even though smoking rates have been declining for decades. Last year, the adult smoking rate hit a new low of 15 percent, according to government figures. That's down from the 42 percent of adults who smoked in the mid-1960s.
Experts attribute the decline to smoking bans, cigarette taxes and anti-smoking campaigns by both nonprofit groups like the American Cancer Society and the federal government.
The new ads are the result of a 1999 lawsuit filed by the Justice Department under President Bill Clinton which sought to recover some of the billions the federal government spent caring for people with smoking-related illnesses.
A federal judge ultimately sided with the government in 2006, ruling that Big Tobacco had "lied, misrepresented and deceived the American public" about the effects of smoking for more than 50 years. The decision came nearly a decade after U.S. states reached legal settlements with the industry worth $246 billion.
But under the racketeering laws used to prosecute the federal case, the judge said she could not make the companies pay, instead ordering them to publish "corrective statements" in advertisements, as well as on their websites, cigarette packs and store displays.
The campaign will be paid for by Altria Group, owner of Philip Morris USA, and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., a division of British American Tobacco.
Altria, maker of Marlboros, referred inquiries to a statement it issued last month: "We remain committed to aligning our business practices with society's expectations of a responsible company. This includes communicating openly about the health effects of our products."
Reynolds, which sells Camel cigarettes, did not respond to a request for comment.
Originally the U.S. government wanted companies to state that they had lied about smoking risks. But the companies successfully challenged that proposal, arguing that it was "designed solely to shame and humiliate." An appeals court ruled the ads could only be factual and forward-looking.
Even the phrase "here's the truth," was disputed and blocked. "Here's the truth: Smoking is very addictive. And it's not easy to quit," read one proposed message.
"This was a classic case of a very wealthy set of defendants willing to appeal every conceivable issue time and time again," said Matthew Myers of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, one of several anti-tobacco groups who intervened in the court case.
More than half a century ago, American media was saturated with tobacco advertising. Cigarettes were the most advertised product on TV and tobacco companies sponsored hundreds of shows, including "I Love Lucy," ″The Flintstones" and "Perry Mason." People smoked almost everywhere, in restaurants, airplanes and doctor's offices.
Congress banned cigarette advertising from radio and TV in 1970 and subsequent restrictions have barred the industry from billboards and public transportation. Yet companies still spend more than $8 billion annually on marketing, including print advertising, mailed coupons and store displays.
Anti-tobacco advocates estimate the upcoming TV advertisements will cost companies a tiny fraction of that, about $30 million. The broadcast ads will air five times per week for one year and the newspaper ads will run five times over several months in about 50 national daily papers.
Robin Koval, president of Truth Initiative, has seen mock-ups of the TV ads in court and says they are not very engaging.
"It's black type scrolling on a white screen with the most uninteresting voice in the background," said Koval, whose group runs educational anti-tobacco ads targeting youngsters.
Nine of 10 smokers begin smoking before age 18, which is why most prevention efforts focus on teenagers. Yet less than 5 percent of today's network TV viewers are under 25, according to Nielsen TV data cited by Koval's group. While lawyers were hammering out the details of the TV advertisements, consumers increasingly switched to online social media sites and streaming services like Facebook, YouTube and Netflix.
A former smoker who was shown the mock-up ads called them terrible.
"They weren't very compelling ads, "said Ellie Mixter-Keller, 62, of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, who smoked a pack a day for 30 years before quitting 12 years ago. "I just don't know if I would have cared about any of that."
The Associated Press contributed to this article.


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Pure oxygen tanks in the corridor, a cryosauna in the gym and a carefully prepared macrobiotic meal three times a day - just another day at a modern-day wellness resort
Melbourne is a city in love with words - it's bookstores offer real insight into what makes the city tick.
The Champions League gets down to serious business this month, so we asked the world's most expensive footballer about playing for Real Madrid and his new life in Paris
What makes the Paulistanos fond of this São Paulo institution – a hotel that has become synonymous with the city, despite its all-Italian roots?
The photography of Marilyn Stafford lay largely unnoticed for 30 years, which is surprising when you consider Albert Einstein and Edith Piaf were among her subjects. But with fashion weeks around the world set for this month, we feature a woman whose images portrayed a seismic shift in the life and styles of women around the world
Open Skies speaks to Duran Duran on playing at the Emirates Airline International Jazz Festival and dealing with fame
The Trans offers a hideaway from the city's hustle and bustle, with not a single rev from the roads' plentiful motorbikes heard in the hotel's rooms. Located just a stone throw away from the nation's only six-star hotel is an indoor theme park which boasts 20 exhilarating rides. If that doesn't suit your fancy, the Trans Hotel complex also features an adjoining 200-store-strong mall.


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We are thrilled by the surprisingly large number of bots, tools, channels and the overall vibrancy and excitement within the developer community since our launch of Bot Framework on Github in March. The democratization of AI and the advancement of conversational canvasses are well underway.
For software developers, creating a conversational experience requires a shift in the way we design and build software. It turns out, it's pretty difficult to do well. Conversation is inherently fluid and tangents are the norm. This isn't the case for a traditional app, where the design center has (mostly) been about task completion accomplished through a graphical user interface (GUI).
In order to make it easier to get started creating a bot, today we are excited to announce a new service which is built using the Bot Framework and Azure Functions: Azure Bot Service.
Azure Bot Service is the first public cloud bot-service powered by the Microsoft Bot Framework and serverless compute in Microsoft Azure. With this cloud service, you can build, connect, deploy and manage intelligent bots that interact naturally wherever your users are talking – from your app or website to text/sms, Slack, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Teams, Kik, Office 365 mail and other popular services. Bots run on Azure Functions, a serverless environment, so they scale based on demand and you pay only for the resources your bots consume.
Accelerate development cycles
With the Azure Bot Service, developers can accelerate building intelligent bots using Microsoft Cognitive Services by working in an integrated developer experience designed for bot development. You can get started quickly with out-of-the-box templates such as the basic bot, Language Understanding Intelligent Service bot, form bot, and proactive bot. You can build bots in C# or Node.js directly in the browser and try it out with the companion Web Chat control. Or you can use the IDE and code editor of your choice under the covers; the Azure Bot Service uses an Azure Resource Manager (ARM) template to create an Azure Function App for easy deployment and automatically registers your bot in the Microsoft Bot Framework, which provides a public bot directory to increase the exposure of your bot.
Enrich your bots
The Azure Bot Service includes built-in configurable channels to improve your customer interactions and increase your reach to more customers. You can easily build bots that work from your apps or websites and across popular channels such as Slack, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Teams, Web chat, Email, GroupMe, Kik, Telegram and Twilio. Through the Direct Line support you can interact with Microsoft Bot Framework features through a REST API, so you can bring the conversation experience to your app or website, provide control over your branded experience and reach the many channels Bot Framework supports.
Plug in Microsoft Cognitive Services to enable your bots to see, hear, interpret and interact in more human ways. You can enhance the capabilities of your bots with a just few lines of code using many other Azure services, too. For example, Azure Search makes it easy to add powerful and sophisticated search capabilities to your bots. Check out this GitHub sample to see it in action.
Boost operational efficiency
Azure Bot Service uses Azure Functions to give you the operational agility to run and handle scale as your bots grow in popularity and you only pay for what you use. Moreover, you also don't need to worry about provisioning or managing servers that run your bots. Patching and infrastructure maintenance is handled for you – you focus on writing code.
Integrated continuous deployment support means that you can use your preferred DevOps tool chain and commit code to source control systems such as Visual Studio Team System, GitHub, and BitBucket and then automatically publish the code into Azure to continuously improve your bot.
Get started
Get started today by signing up for an Azure Trial and creating your first bot! Please give your feedback at UserVoice and visit our documentation.


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After the Embarcadero and Central freeways were severely damaged in the Loma Prieta earthquake, San Francisco took a tragic situation and turned it into a great urban planning success story: the creation of the Embarcadero and Octavia boulevards. Taking down these freeways and replacing them with surface boulevards created enormous positive land use changes in the surrounding neighborhoods. This enabled San Francisco to reconnect with its waterfront and supported the creation of the Market and Octavia Neighborhood Plan.
San Francisco now has another opportunity to take down a freeway while creating major transportation infrastructure improvements in an important area of the city. Currently, the stub end of Interstate 280 creates a barrier between the developing Mission Bay neighborhood and Potrero Hill. At the same time, the Caltrain railyard — 19 acres stretching from Fourth Street to Seventh Street between King and Townsend — forms a barrier between Mission Bay and SoMa. The obstruction will only get worse if current plans for high-speed rail proceed, forcing 16th Street and Mission Bay Boulevard into depressed trenches beneath the tracks and the elevated freeway.
SPUR believes that these challenges can be addressed with a few dramatic urban planning and transportation infrastructure moves that could transform this divided part of the city while also generating funding for several key regionally important transit projects — namely, the electrification of Caltrain, the extension of Caltrain into the Transbay Terminal and putting high-speed rail underground, as opposed to having it travel at street level through Potrero Hill and Mission Bay, which would require crossing streets to go below grade. While the path to making these changes will be a challenging one, SPUR believes that it is worth developing this vision further to see if it can be made into reality.
Figure 1
Replacing I-280 with a surface boulevard would create many opportunities for improvement, including the creation of new green spaces that would help to link many neighborhoods together.
Existing Conditions
Right now, several massive infrastructure barriers separate Mission Bay, Potrero Hill and SoMa from one another. I-280 runs along Seventh Street, cutting off Mission Bay from Potrero Hill. Sixteenth Street, which is slated to become a future transit connector with a bus rapid transit (BRT) line, travels under I-280 and across the Caltrain tracks.
To the north, the Caltrain railyard creates a large barrier between Mission Bay, Showplace Square and SoMa, taking up three long city blocks. Pedestrians, bicycles and vehicles cannot cross the site between Fourth Street and Mission Bay Boulevard, and a tangle of freeway ramps clutters the southwest edge of the site.
Currently, the Caltrain railyard is used for train storage and layover and for light servicing such as emptying garbage and cleaning restrooms. All of the important maintenance work is done at Caltrain's Central Equipment and Maintenance Facility (CEMOF) in San Jose. [1]
Meanwhile, Mission Bay is currently being developed into a regional employment center. The Mission Channel and the park are difficult to access from the surrounding neighborhoods due to their proximity to the freeway ramps, limiting their potential use by workers and residents in Showplace Square, Potrero Hill and SoMa.
To add to these barriers, future plans for highspeed rail call for lowering 16th Street below surface level in order to allow trains to run at street level in the Caltrain right-of-way. If this happens, the entire intersection of 16th and Seventh streets would be subgrade, as would Mission Bay Boulevard. These changes would undermine plans to upgrade 16th Street into a viable transit, pedestrian, bicycle and traffic route.
Figure 2
The I-280 freeway and supporting piles form a barrier that is difficult — and in some cases impossible — for pedestrians to cross. The Caltrain tracks run between these piles.
Figure 3
The freeway ramps form a tangle at the edge of the railyards, creating yet another barrier.
Figure 4
Sixteenth Street currently runs at grade, heading under the elevated freeway from Potrero Hill to Mission Bay.
Future Rail Transit Infrastructure
Significant regional transit improvements are slated for downtown San Francisco and the surrounding area. Caltrain has planned a system upgrade to electrify its tracks and purchase new electric trains that allow for faster acceleration and deceleration, more service and greater flexibility regarding the number of cars per train. Additionally, the second phase of the Transbay Transit Center project — known as the Downtown Extension — will provide an underground Caltrain station at Fourth and Townsend and extend Caltrain into the new Transit Center.
While both the Downtown Extension and the electrification of Caltrain are moving forward, they are not yet fully funded. The Downtown Extension will cost $2.6 billion, and Caltrain electrification $1.5 billion, but both projects face significant funding challenges.
At the same time, the California high-speed rail project is in the process of being developed. The idea is that a high-speed train will ultimately connect San Francisco to Los Angeles, with up to four trains per hour arriving at the Transbay Transit Center. The current high-speed rail business plan calls for a so-called "blended system" for the 50 miles between San Jose's Diridon Station and the Transbay Transit Center, meaning that Caltrain and high-speed rail would share two tracks for most of that distance. This plan will require grade separation at many intersections where trains cross above or below automobile traffic, and without conflict between the two (see Figures 5–7).
Now is an important time to engage in the discussion of how Caltrain operates in San Francisco, as Caltrain and the City of San Francisco are undertaking a feasibility study to explore reducing or eliminating Caltrain's footprint at Fourth and King. This study will provide an opportunity this year to modify Caltrain's electrification project as long as the study results do not significantly delay Caltrain's electrification process or result in substantial additional capital or operations costs. The landscape of future federal funding for major transportation projects is changing to reward transit-oriented development, giving us the opportunity to take a fresh look at potential development opportunities. This is good timing, as it will take at least a decade for high-speed rail to move north and for the region's other federally funded major transportation projects (Central Subway and BART to Silicon Valley) to be completed.
Figure 5
In the California High Speed Rail Authority's current proposal, 16th Street would run in a depressed trench under the high-speed rail train.
Figure 6
An elevated view of the High-Speed Rail Authority proposal. Portions of Seventh Street would dip below grade as they approach 16th Street.
Figure 7
The California High-Speed Rail Authority's proposal for Mission Bay Boulevard. Mission Bay Boulevard would run beneath high-speed rail in an underground loop structure.
The Big Moves
There are several big urban planning and infrastructure moves that could leverage the large transportation investments described above while addressing urban design challenges. Taken together, these moves improve the entire area, knitting together SoMa, Mission Bay and Potrero Hill. They also have the potential to generate financial value by developing newly available land and making existing land more valuable. This value can in turn be recaptured by the public sector to fund transit and urban design improvements. Taking such steps could be transformative for the area and for the city as a whole.
The big moves are:
1. Putting Caltrain and high-speed rail underground
2. Tearing down I-280 and replacing it with a surface boulevard
3. Redeveloping the Fourth and King railyards and the surplus freeway parcels
While any of these moves could be undertaken independently of the others, done in tandem they have the potential to greatly benefit all of the surrounding neighborhoods while providing funding for the large transit improvements described above.
Figure 8
Current infrastructure cuts through existing neighborhoods, creating barriers such as the freeway overpass and supporting piles, seen in figures 2–4.
Figure 9
If high-speed rail and Caltrain move underground, many other urban design and transportation benefits could follow. The image above shows one possible version of a future underground high-speed rail and Caltrain alignment.
Big Move #1:
Put high-speed rail and Caltrain underground
Today, Caltrain runs from the 22nd Street Station through a tunnel under Potrero Hill, proceeding at street level from Mariposa Street into the Fourth and King railyard, where it currently terminates. As described above, Caltrain is expected to run underground, together with high-speed rail, from Fourth and King to the Transbay Terminal as part of the Downtown Extension.
However, there are several issues with the current Downtown Extension plan. The new rail tunnel portal planned for Seventh and Townsend Streets would inhibit the development potential of the railyard. Also, this portal will include a tight track curve on a grade (slope), which will substantially limit train speeds. Furthermore, grade separation will be required for high-speed rail at both 16th and Seventh streets, which will create additional neighborhood barriers as described above.
There are several possible options for the Caltrain/ high-speed rail extension that would reduce its impact on Mission Bay and Potrero Hill, deliver a better urban design and create a superior technical alignment into Mission Bay and the new Transbay Transit Center. All of the options have advantages and disadvantages and require further study. However, all would begin track undergrounding north of Cesar Chavez Street, be run completely under Mission Bay, feature a Mission Bay Station and then proceed to the new Transbay Transit Center.
There are many benefits to these options, all of which would let 16th Street and Mission Bay Boulevard remain at the surface. The rail alignments could eliminate the tight curve at Seventh and Townsend, allowing the trains to run faster. The 22nd Street station could move to 16th Street, or perhaps Cesar Chavez, allowing for a connection to Mission Bay and linking 16th Street bus rapid transit (BRT) and Mission District buses. This underground option also allows the railyard to be developed and for the public to recapture some of the value of that development. Tradeoffs include revisiting the alignment options, and possibly additional costs.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Big Move #2:
Tear down I-280 and replace it with a surface boulevard
Currently, I-280 runs above street level along and above the existing Caltrain tracks, touching down just south of the Caltrain railyards at Fourth and King. What would happen if I-280 instead touched down between 17th and Mariposa Streets and the remainder of the freeway was replaced with a surface boulevard?
That would allow for radically improved connectivity between Mission Bay, Showplace Square and Potrero Hill, with crossings at 16th Street, Irwin Street, Hooper Street and Berry Street. Mission Creek Channel would become accessible to neighborhoods to the north and west. And parcels of land that previously were used for highway infrastructure could be redeveloped, and their value recaptured.
Figure 10
New Mission Bay Boulevard (section). In addition to accommodating cars, the boulevard could include a separated bike lane and graciously sized sidewalks.
The boulevard itself would allow for vastly improved bicycle access, including a separated bicycle path. The boulevard would also support an improved pedestrian experience, allowing for people to comfortably use the liberated street grid. Wide sidewalks could be added to either side of the boulevard to encourage pedestrian activity.
Many other possibilities for urban design improvements would be created as well. A new, greener Hubbell Street would link Mission Creek to Jackson Playground. A series of smaller pedestrian plazas and areas of widened sidewalks could sustain an active streetscape south of Mission Creek. San Francisco could have its own version of New York City's High Line if a segment of the freeway were repurposed as a raised park. And perhaps most important, the Showplace Square/Potrero street grid could be reconnected with Mission Bay.
Figures 11 and 12
Potential access to Mission Creek Park if the freeway is removed. Access to Mission Creek Park is currently obstructed by the freeway (top). If the freeway were removed, Mission Creek Park would become an asset to the entire area. The lower drawing shows a future view of Seventh Street to Mission Creek and beyond.
Figure 13 and 14
Potential future view from Daggett Street to Mission Bay. The freeway forms a barrier throughout Showplace Square/Potrero Hill. The top view looks east from Daggett Street to Mission Bay. Removing the freeway would greatly improve the connections between Showplace Square/Potrero Hill and Mission Bay.
The removal of the freeway and the undergrounding of high-speed rail and Caltrain offer another way of thinking about land use in the area. With these changes, 16th Street could become an important transit spine, especially when BRT is implemented along the corridor. The area at Seventh and Townsend could become a mixed-use gateway to the rest of the community, and the Fourth and King intersection could become a more successful commercial, transit-oriented development (TOD). Value generated from development in all these areas could be recaptured to fund further public improvements.
Figure 15
Replacing I-280 with a boulevard would create opportunities for new development, including a potential mixed-use, transit-oriented development node at 16th Street if the Caltrain stop were moved to that location.
Figure 16
The removal of the freeway would create opportunities for new development and value recapture, both on land previously within the existing I-280 footprint and another land within the vicinity of the new boulevard.
Big Move #3:
Redevelop the Caltrain railyards
In our 2007 report A New Transit First Neighborhood, SPUR explored the opportunity to develop new buildings over the Fourth and King Caltrain station using air rights (the rights to develop over a piece of land or infrastructure) as a means to pay for both electrifying Caltrain and bringing high-speed rail into the Transbay Transit Center. This study assumed that the railyard would stay in its current location and that any new development would need to be built above the railyards.
Fortunately, a recent San Francisco Planning Department study took this idea to the next level. In its "4th and King Street Railyards: Final Summary Memo," the department explored two development scenarios for the site: one where the air rights above the railyard are developed while the railyard remains in use (which would require building above the railyard), and another where the railyard is relocated, allowing the entire site to be developed as a blank slate. The second scenario has two variations: one where only the railyard is moved, and another where the railyard is moved and I-280 is replaced with a surface boulevard.
This last scenario would provide the greatest benefits. It would allow for much better urban design, greater development capacity and greater opportunities for value recapture because the land would become more valuable when it is no longer adjacent to freeway ramps. The planning department's study shows that the net potential value that could be created for the public sector ranges from $148 million all the way to $228 million if the railyard were moved and the Caltrain site redeveloped.
In order to redevelop the railyards, the complex ownership of the site will need to be addressed. As the planning department memo points out, the underlying railyards are owned by ProLogis/Catellus, the entity that owns Mission Bay. However, Caltrain owns an easement to the railyards. This easement is only to construct and operate a railroad, not to undertake other types of development. Any future development on the railyards will need to substantially benefit rail infrastructure and Caltrain operations in order to incentivize Caltrain to alter its footprint to allow development on the site.
Figure 17
This diagram of the development of the Caltrain railyard from a recent planning department study shows development at grade, allowing for the creation of a new linear park while also making the most of the replacement of I-280 with a surface boulevard. Image courtesy San Francisco Planning Department.
The three big moves discussed here have the potential for tremendous positive impact on many important San Francisco neighborhoods. While each can be completed independently of the other, the benefits are strongest when they are undertaken together.
In order to move this vision to reality, many steps will need to be taken, including completing further study, determining Caltrain's post-electrification storage needs, engaging in community outreach and education, and determining what resources will be needed to make these changes.
We hope that the City of San Francisco, with participation from regional partners and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), will take the first step and study the big moves outlined above. Studies should include a cost-benefit analysis of each step, as well as an analysis of what the impacts would be to projects that are already in advanced planning stages (such as Caltrain electrification and California high-speed rail). City staff estimate that the cost of completing these studies is roughly $2 million.
We believe that this approach could be a regional and national model for how to use thoughtful development to retrofit past planning mistakes and pay for new infrastructure. We estimate that land value recapture from new development could cover a significant portion of the costs of the big infrastructure moves. Land value recapture won't work everywhere, but it is a strategy that could be used more broadly in American cities. San Francisco has the potential to bring all the pieces together — neighborhood place-making, environmental sustainability and economic development — by rethinking its transportation infrastructure in the I-280 corridor.
[1] CEMOF is a new 20-acre facility located to the north of Diridon Station in San Jose, replacing an old 22-acre yard formerly located on the same site and consolidating most of Caltrain's maintenance and operations in one location. CEMOF is Caltrain's central control facility, with water treatment and storage tracks, an on-site fueling facility, service pits and a machine to wash trains. About 150 people work at CEMOF performing maintenance, and roughly 120 Caltrain train crew members are based there.


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Dear GazeFi team,
I just want to write this email to send a big thank to all of you for the great support and dedication for Maybelline activation Campus tour.
Your passion, energy and especially flexibility brought success to the whole activation. Especially thanks to chi Dung, Kim and Y for your amazing attitude to make things done (even in a urgent situation).Once again, thank you and hope to work with you in other projects soon.
Best regards,
Product Manager
Maybelline New York


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Design Decisions: Finding an Alternative Military Battery
March 7, 2012
While the battery chemistries used to power single-use military and aerospace applications remained virtually unchanged for decades, technological advancements have pushed legacy batteries to their limit in terms of supporting advanced product designs for avionics, navigation systems, ordinance fuses, missile systems, GPS tracking and emergency/safety devices, shipboard, and oceanographic devices.
Recognizing that antiquated battery technologies would hold back new product development, the US Department of Defense identified the "critical need" for a new generation of high-power, long-life batteries for single-use applications. From this challenge, a new battery technology has emerged that represents a viable alternative to legacy battery technologies.
Reserve and thermal batteries store the electrolyte separately from other active ingredients, which keeps it inert until a pyrotechnic device initiates a chemical reaction. The most popular type of reserve battery is the thermal battery, which utilizes a metallic salt electrolyte that is inert and non-conducting in its solid state at ambient temperatures. A squib delivers a pyrotechnic charge that causes the electrolyte to become molten at 400C to 700C, thus energizing the cell to deliver short-term continuous current from a few watts to several kilowatts depending upon battery size and chemistry.
Advantages of thermal battery design include ruggedness, safety, reliability, and long shelf life. Limitations include an inability to test the cell without fully depleting it, delayed battery activation, and the need for insulation layers to keep the molten electrolyte at a steady temperature, and to protect surrounding components from heat-related damage.
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Miranda's Personal Team
Miranda's 'Personal Team' includes the International Moon Mother Admin Team, the Moon Mother Workshop Teachers, Complementary Workshop Facilitators and Moon Mother Technique Trainers, and Womb Blessing Ambassador, who she works with very closely.
There are a few additional people who are part of Miranda's team:
In particular, she has support and assistance from Moon Mother level 1 Teacher Veronica Morosi who has worked with both Miranda and her husband Richard from the very early start of the Worldwide Womb Blessing, helping with all aspects of producing and sending the newsletters and emails. The Womb Blessing would not have reached so many women without the help and commitment of this amazing woman.
Miranda also would not be able to teach worldwide if she did not have the help and organisational support from MM Shila, her Workshop Organiser Manager. Sometimes this can be a challenging role, but Shila helps with love and patience – especially with Miranda!
Miranda's main support is from Richard, who has worked with the Womb Blessing from the first idea and inspiration back in 2011. Richard is involved in the technical aspects of Worldwide Womb Blessing registration, of the website development and social media. He manages workshop organiser questions and emails, he edits all Miranda's writing, from books to articles and interviews, he is Miranda's executive assistant organising accommodation and flights, and travels with Miranda helping to setup workshop venues, carry bags and support the organisers, Moon Mothers and publishers. Richard edited Miranda's first book Red Moon back in 1994, so he is a man who has lived with a Cyclic Woman for many years.
Miranda would not be able to take her work and her vision worldwide if it wasn't for the support and enabling force that Richard brings. Every Moon Mother in the world, every Womb Blessing given in the world, happens because of his love and strength and commitment and passion.
And we would not have the amazing international family of Moon Mothers around the world if it were not for the Moon Mother workshop organisers, past and present. These are women who are passionate about the Womb Blessing and who work hard to encourage and inspire women to take the first step on a soul-path of being a Moon Mother. They are often Moon Mothers themselves but not always. They can be in a big city or on a small island, somewhere without Moon Mothers or somewhere there are already Moon Mothers.
'My Moon Mother workshop organisers are the voice of the Divine Feminine saying 'Now is the time to teach here'. I never plan where I will teach, instead I follow the Flow and wait to be invited. ' Miranda
If you are interested in becoming a workshop organiser and you already have a group of women interested, please contact: email@example.com
For the list of current workshops, see the Calendar Page.


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Fontef is an independent type foundry based in Tel Aviv, established by Yanek Iontef in 1994. We are a small team — Yanek Iontef is a well-known Israeli type designer and Daniel Grumer, a graduate of the Type and Media program in The Hague (2016). We design typefaces in Hebrew, Latin and Arabic. We offer typographical solutions for graphic design studios, collaborate with international type foundries and take custom projects.
Since 2019, Fontef is the exclusive distributer of the classic Hebrew typefaces designed Zvi Narkiss [1921-2010]. We created new digital versions of all his typefaces, with matching Latin, and a special website where you can play with them here.
As with everything from Adobe Fonts, you can use these fonts for:
Design Projects
Create images or vector artwork, including logos
Website Publishing
Create a Web Project to add any font from our service to your website
Embed fonts in PDFs for viewing and printing
Video and Broadcast
Use fonts to create in-house or commercial video content
How to Use
You may encounter slight variations in the name of this font, depending on where you use it. Here's what to look for.
In application font menus, this font will display:
{{familyCtrl.selectedVariation.preferred_family_name}} {{familyCtrl.selectedVariation.preferred_subfamily_name}}Web
To use this font on your website, use the following CSS:
font-family: {{familyCtrl.selectedVariation.family.css_font_stack.replace('"', '').replace('",', ', ')}};
font-style: italicnormal;
font-weight: {{familyCtrl.selectedVariation.font.web.weight}};
Glyph Support & Stylistic Filters
Fonts in the Adobe Fonts library include support for many different languages, OpenType features, and typographic styles.


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We learned about the parts of an insect and drew an "Anti-litterbug" using the Sketchbook Express app. Students then learned about creating the illusion of depth to make a landscape in the same app. These two pictures were combined (after the insect was saved as a PNG with a transparent background using the Superimpose app) to make an animation of their insect scouting the environment in search of litter.
Anti-Litterbugs from Tricia Fuglestad on Vimeo.


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Best Picture of December 08
Thanks to everyone that sent us pictures in December. We finally chose Emily Leslie's brilliant illustration, inspired by An American Werewolf in London and our Slaughtered Lamb T-shirt. Emily wins 3 T-shirts from our range. Think you can do better? Send us your pictures to be entered into our January competition.


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Global Financial Training Program
Franchise Fee: $0
Royalty: 0
Total Investment: $19,950 - $19,950
Can Be Home Based: Yes
Founded: 1998
VetFran Member: Yes
Global has been helping people who want to get into the business of providing loans to small to medium size businesses who can not get financing at their local banks for more than 17 years. In short they can "OWN THEIR OWN FINANCE COMPANY" We provide a four day training in New York City where they will learn every aspect of the finance business. They will learn about all of the types of loans they can make. Typically they can do equipment financing ,invoice financing,unsecured business loans ,business acquisitions and about 30 different types of loans they can provide.They will be able to provide just about any type of loan a business owner needs. We are not a Franchise so there are no royalties and no territory restrictions. In order to be in this business they need to deal directly with the lenders. When they complete the training they will be approved by approximately 25 lenders. Normal requirements for these to approve new agents are 3-4 years of experience ,great references and stringent background checks. These requirements are waived based upon our long standing relationships and the track record of our program.


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Aquaduck + Paradise Jet Boating 55 mins Adventure Ride
- Durata: 3 Ore (aprox.)
- Locatie: Surfers Paradise, QLD
- Cod produs: AQD/PJB
Suitable for ages 4 - 95
This combo is not available for children under 4yrs, as they are not permitted to ride on the jet boat. You can book standalone Aquaduck tickets for young children and infants here.
1 hour Aquaduck city and river tour. Departing from the heart of Surfers Paradise, tours aboard the amphibious 'Aquaduck' combine an informative city-tour with a unique and exciting river-cruise. Travelling past the glitzy waterfront mansions of the rich and famous and taking in the spectacular views of the Gold Coast waterways and its famous landmarks.
* Please select on the right of this screen your date and time for the Aquaduck Tour.
Paradise Jet Boating
Paradise Jet Boating is the "must do" adventure activity on the Gold Coast. Great FUN and SAFE for the whole family. Our exciting Jet boating cruises have been described as similar to many theme park roller coaster rides or rally car rides….on the water!!
Operating in areas of the Gold Coast Broadwater and Moreton Bay Marine Park exclusive to Paradise Jet Boating, our rides are famous for their unique combination of Jet Boat Thrills & Excitement mixed with Stunning Scenery & Sightseeing. Experience full 360° spins, high speed drifting, incredible beach buzzing and other exciting manoeuvres in as little as 10cms of water…while we explore the Gold Coast's unique waterways. Ride in the most advanced jet boats in Australia. Our vessels are faster, more manoeuvrable and feature the highest levels of safety, comfort & performance.
* You are purchasing an Aquaduck and Paradise Jet Boating Combo. Your selected booking date and time is for your Aquaduck tour. Please contact us on +61 7 5539 0222 and we will arrange your jet boat ride for you.
You will need to make your own way to Paradise Jet Boating at Main Beach. Check in for jet boating is 30mins prior to your ride.
This combo is not available for children under 4yrs, as they are not permitted to ride on the jet boat. You can book standalone Aquaduck tickets for young children and infants here.
- Check in is required at the Aquaduck store 20 minutes prior to your tour departure time.
- All tours depart on time, we do not wait for passengers.
- If you are late you forfeit your ticket. No refunds will be provided.
- Abusive behaviour will not be tolerated and will result in 100% cancellation fee.
- Seating is Pre-allocated by the Aquaduck staff.
- Any person under the age of 16yrs must be accompanied by an adult 18+.
- Infants 0-1 years ride free on your lap. Please ensure you book infants when making your booking as we require total group numbers
- Please note there is no pram/stroller storage. You cannot take these items on the Duck and there is no storage area to leave them behind whilst on tour. Please leave your prams in your car or accommodation.


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Pot may be on its way to beating pop. (Editor's note: Yes, we know it's called "soda" out here on the West Coast, but we didn't want to mess with this writer's lead.)
The U.S. legal cannabis industry is expected to reach $75 billion in sales by 2030, according to research firm Cowen & Co. That's almost as large as the North American carbonated soft drink market in 2017.
With the industries' diverging trajectories, weed may be poised to take the mantle as the larger industry. Cannabis is growing rapidly as more states legalize the plant. Nine states and Washington, D.C. now allow for recreational pot use. That means more than one in five American adults can smoke, vape, eat or drink it however they please. Cowen previously predicted that the market, assuming federal legalization, would reach $50 billion by 2026. That seems small now, according to analyst Vivien Azer.
Check out our updated map showing shops licensed to sell recreational cannabis in California.
"New forecasts suggest that the market is already that size," she said in a note Wednesday.
Meanwhile, soda sales are on the decline as increasingly health-conscious consumers eschew sugary drinks. Per capita carbonated soft drink consumption declined to a 31-year low in the U.S. in 2016, according to Beverage-Digest, a trade publication. The market in North America fell to $76.4 billion last year from $78.3 billion in 2016, data from Euromontior International shows.
While soda may be eclipsed, the industry that's hearing alarm bells is alcohol. Binge drinking rates declined in states with legal weed compared with states that allow only medical marijuana and those prohibiting any kind of pot, according to the note.
"We have consistently argued that cannabis and alcohol are substitute social lubricants," Azer said.
To subscribe to The Cannifornian's email newsletter, click here.


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Emerson Street "Gym and Tonic" nightshirt in a bag. This "one size fits most" nightshirt is a white 100% cotton coverup with a thin black V neckline, and comes rolled in a cotton bag. Emerson's art is not only featured on the nightshirt but is printed on the white drawstring cotton bag as well. 36"length/25"width. Lounge and Sleep in comfort.
Made in the USA.
Check out our entire Emerson Street collection when you're looking for the perfect gift.
The nightshirts/bags feature the whimsical art of Emerson Quillin, and will definitely make you smile.
Our nightshirts are 100% cotton so expect a small % of shrink if washed in hot water and/or if put into a dryer.


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Transformational Philanthropy by Lisa M. Dietlin
Lisa M. Dietlin and Associates, Inc. (LMDA) assists entrepreneurial individuals and nonprofit organizations in developing transformational philanthropic strategies. Serving as a philanthropic agent, our expert advice, structured counsel, and major gift programs results are becoming the prime model for philanthropic leadership. We believe that acts of philanthropy should be strategic and thus transformational to both nonprofit organizations and individuals. Put simply&we help find and focus major acts of philanthropy. Whether you are currently building your organization or thinking about starting one, not only is it imperative to build an infrastructure that is transformational for all participants, but sustainable, as well.
With more than 25 years of experience Lisa has come to believe acts of philanthropy should be strategic and thus transformational to both nonprofit organizations and individuals. Serving as a philanthropic agent, her expert advice, structured counsel and major gift program results are becoming the prime model for philanthropic leadership. Lisa is a frequent speaker on the subjects of entrepreneurial giving, major gifts fundraising and moves management, as well as board development. In 2007 CBS 2 Chicago named Lisa their permanent "Charity Contributor". Lisa was also interviewed for her expertise on Oprah & Friends Radio by Jean Chatzky and Better TV in NYC. Lisa holds a Master's Degree in Philanthropy and Development from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. She is an adjunct faculty member at North Park University in Chicago in its nonprofit management degree and certificate programs. Lisa has also served as the Assistant Dean of Development for the College of Business Administration at the University of Illinois at Chicago as well as Senior Advancement Director at Michigan Technological University for the College of Sciences and Arts. Additionally, she holds seats on several nonprofit boards throughout the country. www.lmdietlin.com


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Dearness Allowance 90% from July
Ahead of festival season, Central Government will this month announce a hike in dearness allowance to 90 percent from existing 80 percent, benefiting about 50 lakh central employees and 30 lakh pensioners.
According to official source, dearness allowance hike will be 10 percent and would be effective from July 1, this year.
The sources further said the exact amount of dearness allowance, as a proportion of basic pay, works out to over 90 percent after factoring in the revised all India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) for June.
According to revised data released on August 30, retail inflation for factory workers for June stood at 11.63 percent, higher than provisional estimate of 11.06 percent for the month released on July 31.
Sources said that since the revised estimate for the month of June is available, the Finance Ministry would soon prepare a proposal for the purpose for seeking Union Cabinet nod.
They further said the proposal will be moved this month.
There would be a double digit hike in DA after about three years. It was last in September, 2010, that the government had announced a hike of 10 percent to be given with effect from July 1, 2010.
DA was hiked to 80 percent from 72 percent in April, 2013, effective from January 1, this year.
As per the practice, the government uses CPI-IW data for past 12 month or a year to arrive at a number for the purpose of any DA hike. Thus, the retail inflation for industrial workers between July, 2012 to June 2013 will be used to take a final decision.
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MAC Holiday Smokey Eyes
I didn't show you my MAC Holiday haul because I only got one thing, lol. After much debating, I returned everything that I pre-ordered except the Smokey Eyes palette. I'm trying to really stick to a budget with Christmas and the holidays coming up.
I think this palette is so great to have. I am definitely bringing this with me traveling so I can bang out a smokey or neutral eye. I decided to do a smokey eye look because it's a great look that everyone can pull off.
Check out my video!
Here's What I Used (All MAC unless otherwise specified):
-Pur Minerals Peach Primer
-select moisture concealer in NW35
-mineralized satinfinish foundation in NC42
-msf natural in med dark
-gold deposit msf
-petticoat msf
-bare canvas paint
-2008 MAC Holiday Smokey eyes palette: scant, ambiance, gorgeous, carbon eyeshadows
-Revlon colorstay liquid liner in blackest black
-feline kohl power
-auto-de-blu pearlglide pencil
-#8 lashes
-Smashbox iconic mascara
-hodgepodge lip pencil
-viva glam V lipglass
-baby sparks dazzleglass
FYI, my new site is in the works. www.urbanpretty.com, watch out!


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Configuring working days
The Working Days setting for your board is used for different reports and gadgets. You change this setting to filter out weekends, holidays, and other times during which your team might not be working on your board's project(s).
Before you begin
You must be a Jira administrator or a board administrator for the board to configure estimation or time tracking for it.
Configuring working days
- Go to the desired board and select Board > Configure.
- Click the Working days tab.
- If your team has a different time zone from that of the server, select the team's Time Zone.
- In Standard Working Days, select all the weekdays during which your team typically works.
- In Non-Working Days, click Add Date to specify holidays or one-off dates during which your team will not be working.
To remove a Non-Working Day, click the 'x' next to the date.
These settings will be reflected in the following reports: Burndown Chart, Sprint Report, Epic Report, Version Report, Control Chart; and the following gadgets: Sprint Health Gadget, Burndown Gadget.
Screenshot: the 'Board Configuration' screen — 'Working days' tab
Next steps
Need help? If you can't find the answer you're looking for in our documentation, we have other resources available to help you. Check out Getting help.
- Learn more about the charts that working days affect: Version Report, Control Chart, Burndown Chart, Sprint Report, Epic Report
- Learn how working days affect the Sprint Health Gadget, Burndown Gadget: Gadgets for Jira applications


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Assertions by members of the U.N. Human Rights Committee that Irish abortion law violates international human rights agreements is erroneous and exceeds its authority, one observer has said. "No U.N. (agreement) or any other kind of treaty or understanding supports the notion that there is a human right to abortion," Austin Ruse, president of the New York-based Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute, told CNA July 24. "Only one treaty even mentions 'reproductive health' but even that treaty does not call for a right to abortion," he added. "This idea is made up out of whole cloth by the sexual left. And it is an idea that is even losing ground at the UN and around the world." The United Nations human rights committee in mid-July hearings in Geneva considered Ireland's adherence to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as part of a regular periodic review. Several committee members and witnesses contended that Irish abortion restrictions violated human rights agreements. The Irish pro-life group Family & Life said that several of the NGOs that testified before the committee had strong pro-abortion positions, including the U.S.-based Center for Reproductive Rights and the Irish affiliate of Planned Parenthood, the Irish Family Planning Association. Human Rights Committee member Cornelis Flinterman of the Netherlands charged that Ireland's law was restrictive and claimed that refusing legal abortion to a woman is cruel and degrading punishment, Family & Life said. The group added that committee chairman Sir Nigel Rodley of the United Kingdom said that Irish abortion policy results in discrimination on the grounds of wealth or social class because some Irish women can afford to travel abroad for abortions and others cannot. While Ireland's constitution recognizes the equal right to life of the unborn child and the pregnant woman, Ireland changed its abortion laws in 2013 to allow pregnant women whose life is at risk or who say they are suicidal to secure abortions. Ruse, whose organization monitors the U.N. and other international organizations, said that the committee has "no authority whatsoever" to reinterpret the agreement to include the right to abortion. "There is no precedent and no grounds in international law. They are simply making this stuff up. The problem is that in making this stuff up, they are harming a genuine understanding of human rights and international law and that is profoundly dangerous," Ruse said. "Most governments utterly ignore these ridiculous kangaroo committees." Dr. Thomas Finegan, legal and public policy advisor with Family & Life, made an oral intervention before the committee on July 15. "There is no such thing as a right to abortion in international human rights law, whether as an explicit right or as an adjunct to other rights. Any statement to the contrary displays either an ignorance of international human rights law or a cavalier and manipulative attitude towards genuine human rights," he said. He objected that the committee questions to the Irish government presuppose that abortion is a human right and that the unborn child is not a human being or a member of the human family. "We urge you to protect unborn members of the human family, and the integrity of international human rights law itself, by disavowing a supposed right to abortion, including a right to abortion on the grounds of an unborn child's disability or the crimes of his or her father," Finegan said. Finegan said that the unborn child is recognized as having human rights by "various international human rights law provisions," including the Preamble to the U.N. Convention on the Rights of the Child and the U.N. Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. He said the anti-abortion provision of the Irish constitution "should be lauded on human rights grounds." Ruse said that pro-life advocates should emphasize that committees like the U.N. Committee on Human Rights "have no power" and are "out of control." "We need to save human rights from the human rights industry," he said. The Irish government's delegation to the U.N. committee did not make significant defenses against criticisms from committee members who supported broader access to abortion. Some committee members focused on legalizing abortion for women pregnant by rape and pregnant women whose health was at risk. Frances Fitzgerald, the Republic of Ireland's Minister of Justice, told the committee that a constitutional referendum would be necessary to "capture all of the circumstances outlined by the committee," the Irish Times reports. However, Mary Jackson, an official with the Republic of Ireland's health ministry, told the committee that the Irish constitution's right to life provision is in conformity with the U.N. convention, Family & Life said. The committee's actions were widely reported in the Irish press, often angled in favor of further changing the country's abortion laws. United Nations committees have touched on abortion in past actions. In 2011 the United Nations Committee on the Convention Against Torture called on Ireland to change its abortion laws. In May 2014, members of the anti-torture committee have pressed the Holy See, a signatory to the anti-torture convention, about Catholic opposition to abortion. One committee member claimed that the committee holds that laws that prohibit abortion in all circumstances violate the convention. The United Nations' Committee on the Rights of the Child's February 2014 report on the Holy See's compliance with a children's rights treaty also condemned Catholic teaching against abortion, calling for changes in Catholic doctrine.
Catholic News Agency was founded in 2004, in response to Pope St. John Paul II's call for a "New Evangelization." It is an apostolate of EWTN News.


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25mm Double Faced Satin - Light Pink
Priced and sold per 25cm
This double faced satin is the perfect choice for a staple plain ribbon to go with most projects. With a silky satin touch on both sides and woven edges, it is great for finishing clothing, craft projects and more to a high standard.
- 100% polyester
- 25mm width
- Made by Berisfords
Ribbons are priced per 25cm, so make sure you add enough to add up to your desired length, and we will cut as a continuous piece.
Eg. if you require 1 metre, add 4 to your basket and we will send you a continuous length of 1m of the selected ribbon.
Please be careful to make sure you have selected the correct length you need, as once cut ribbons cannot be returned unless faulty.