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It is with pleasure that I present the Public Health Agency of Canada's 2008-2009 Report on Plans and Priorities, the Agency's third such report on its corporate direction.
Canada is a great country with limitless potential, and Canadians have worked hard to create a solid foundation for our society and create a safe, healthy and prosperous nation for our children. Public health contributes to this foundation in many ways and is helping our Government deliver on its priorities for building a better Canada.
The Government of Canada is concerned with improving the quality and safety of our environment, not only the air that we breathe and the water we drink, but also ensuring that food for our families and the products we buy for our workplaces and homes are safe. The Agency supports the Government's priorities through its expertise and networks on the surveillance of health outcomes. By highlighting links between exposure and illness, this work allows us to direct interventions where needed, and to in turn measure their effectiveness.
The Public Health Agency of Canada will also continue to lead the Government of Canada's efforts, at home and internationally, on preparation and planning for a potential influenza pandemic and for any other emerging infectious disease that could threaten the health of our collective well-being. Through continued vigilance, the Agency works to ensure that early identification of and fast response to outbreaks will help reduce the impact of a pandemic on the health of Canadians.
An important step in reinforcing public health in Canada was the passing into law of the Public Health Agency of Canada Act in December 2006. The Act formally establishes the position of the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada and recognizes his unique dual role both as deputy head of the Agency and the Government of Canada's lead health professional. The Agency also has recently released its five-year Strategic Plan that sets its direction and key priorities.
This is indeed a country of which we can be very proud. By working to improve and protect the health of Canadians, the Public Health Agency of Canada continues to play a key role in Canada's enduring prosperity.
Tony Clement
Minister of Health
It has been over three years since the Public Health Agency of Canada was created to assist the federal government in protecting and promoting the health of the population. Emerging from the lessons of SARS we look back with some pride on the accomplishments of these first years as we work to address the fundamental factors that impact on health.
Public Health is the first public good addressed by governments in health as we recognized the powerful relationship between economic, social and individual health and wellbeing.
Whether it is protecting from emerging or well known infections, preventing and managing chronic disease and injury, planning for and responding to emergencies, preparing for a pandemic, enhancing public health capacity, studying and addressing determinants of health, or conducting research and surveillance, public health inevitably touches all aspects of our lives. Sound public health is a solid foundation that supports all else in society.
Looking ahead, the current pace of change within our borders and around the world poses both challenges and opportunities for Canadians, from changing demographics, environmental impacts, rising obesity and chronic disease rates, to a growing awareness of the interconnectedness of the world and the accelerating pace of scientific and technological innovation. It is ironic testimony to our technical success that despite our advances we have neglected the basics of health and this generation of children may be the first to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.
In facing these challenges and embracing these opportunities, the Public Health Agency's vision remains constant and relevant: healthy Canadians and communities in a healthier world. The Agency will continue to develop, enhance and implement strategies and programs for the prevention of infectious disease, for the promotion of health, and for the prevention and control of chronic disease and injury. We will continue to strengthen Canada's preparedness for emergencies and disasters, while increasing public health capacity and enhancing our national and international collaborations. The Agency remains the government-wide lead on efforts to study and address determinants of health.
Our new, first ever Strategic Plan articulates the Agency's objectives and will guide us forward over the coming years.
New with this 2008-2009 Report on Plans and Priorities is a revised strategic outcome for the Agency: healthier Canadians, reduced health disparities and a stronger public health capacity. By specifically stating the goal of reducing health disparities, we emphasize one of our greatest public health challenges. Health inequalities in Canada will be the focus of the upcoming inaugural Chief Public Health Officer's Report on the State of Public Health in Canada.
We look forward to the challenges ahead as we work together towards achieving "healthy Canadians and communities in a healthier world".
Dr. David Butler-Jones
Chief Public Health Officer
I submit for tabling in Parliament, the 2008-2009 Report on Plans and Priorities (RPP) for the Public Health Agency of Canada.
This document has been prepared based on the reporting principles contained in the Guide for the Preparation of Part III of the 2008-2009 Estimates: Reports on Plans and Priorities and Departmental Performance Reports:
Dr. David Butler-Jones
Chief Public Health Officer
|Health Portfolio Overview
The Minister of Health is responsible for maintaining and improving the health of Canadians. This is supported by the Health Portfolio which comprises the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Hazardous Materials Information Review Commission, the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board and Assisted Human Reproduction Canada. Each member of the Portfolio prepares its own Report on Plans and Priorities. The Health Portfolio consists of approximately 11 400 employees and an annual budget of over $4.5 billion.
In September 2004, the Public Health Agency of Canada was created within the federal Health Portfolio to deliver on the Government of Canada's commitment to help protect the health and safety of all Canadians and to increase its focus on public health. The Agency's role is to help build an effective public health system in Canada – one that allows Canadians to achieve better health and well-being in their daily lives, while protecting them from threats to their health security.
Events like the emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 demonstrated the need for Canada to have a national point of focus for public health issues. In response, the Public Health Agency of Canada was established on September 24, 2004, and Dr. David Butler-Jones was appointed as the country's first Chief Public Health Officer (CPHO). The creation of the Agency marked the beginning of a new approach to federal leadership, and to collaboration with the provinces and territories in the Government's efforts to renew the public health system in Canada.
On December 15, 2006, the Public Health Agency of Canada Act came into force. The Actcontinues the strong tradition of cooperation and collaboration that has been a part of Canada's approach to public health for decades. The Act formally establishes the position of the Chief Public Health Officer and recognizes his unique dual role as deputy head of the Agency and as the Government of Canada's lead public health professional.
The role of the Public Health Agency of Canada can be summed up as follows:
The Agency is mandated to work in collaboration with its partners to lead federal efforts and to mobilize pan-Canadian action in preventing disease and injury, and to promote and protect national and international public health by:
|Type of Organization
|Federal Agency funded by Parliament
|To promote and protect the health of Canadians through leadership, partnership, innovation and action in public health
|Healthy Canadians and communities in a healthier world
|Strategic Outcome
|Healthier Canadians, reduced health disparities, and a stronger public health capacity
|Government of Canada Outcomes Directly Supported
|Healthy Canadians
Safe and secure communities
|Enabling legislation
|Public Health Agency of Canada Act
|Acts and Regulations Administered
|The Quarantine Act
The Importation of Human Pathogen Regulations
|Program Activities
|Health Promotion
Chronic Disease Prevention and Control
Infectious Disease Prevention and Control
Emergency Preparedness and Response
Strengthen Public Health Capacity
|Reporting to Parliament
|The Agency reports to Parliament through the Minister of Health
The CPHO is to submit a report to the Minister on the state of public health in Canada
The following organization chart depicts how the Agency is structured within the Federal Health Portfolio.
To maintain the knowledge and skills needed to develop and deliver the public health advice and tools required by Canadians, the Agency calls upon the efforts of public health professionals, scientists, researchers, technicians, communicators, administrators, and policy analysts and planners. These employees work across Canada in a wide range of operational, scientific, technical and administrative positions.
The largest concentration of employees is in the National Capital Region. The head office in Winnipeg forms a second pillar of expertise. In times of a national health emergency, the Emergency Operations Centres (EOC), based both in Ottawa and Winnipeg, can be utilized to manage the crisis.
The Public Health Agency of Canada recognizes the need to have a strong presence throughout the country to connect with Provincial Territorial (P/T) governments, federal departments, academia, voluntary organizations and citizens. Outside of Winnipeg and the National Capital Region, the Agency's Canada-wide infrastructure consists of sixteen locations in six Regions: British Columbia and Yukon, Alberta and Northwest Territories, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Ontario and Nunavut, Quebec, and Atlantic. Some Agency programs are delivered to the Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories through Health Canada's Northern Region office under an interdepartmental agreement.
The Agency operates specialized research laboratories in several locations across Canada. The Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health in Winnipeg houses the Agency's state-of-the-art National Microbiology Laboratory which is one of the world's high containment research laboratories. The Agency's Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses, which studies the risks to human health from diseases arising from the interface between animals, humans and the environment, is headquartered in Guelph, Ontario and maintains units in Saint Hyacinthe, Quebec and Lethbridge, Alberta.
The following map shows where the Agency's staff, offices and laboratories are located (employee numbers are as of March 31, 2007):
A government-wide process to facilitate the full implementation of the Government of Canada's Management, Resources and Results Structure Policy took place starting in 2006-2007 and continued in 2007-2008. As part of this process the Agency reviewed and restructured its Program Activity Architecture (PAA). Changes to the Strategic Outcome (SO) and Program Activity Architecture were approved by the Treasury Board on May 31, 2007, and come into effect on April 1, 2008.
|Strategic Outcome (SO)
|Healthier Canadians and a stronger public health capacity
|Healthier Canadians, reduced health disparities, and a stronger public health capacity
|Program Activities (PA)
|Health Promotion
|Health Promotion
|Disease Prevention and Control
|Chronic Disease Prevention and Control
Infectious Disease Prevention and Control
|Emergency Preparedness and Response
|Emergency Preparedness and Response
|Strengthen Public Health Capacity
|Strengthen Public Health Capacity
|Program Management and Support
|Internal Services
|Sub and Sub Sub Activities (SA and SSA)
|18 Sub Activities
0 Sub Sub Activities
|22 Sub Activities
6 Sub Sub Activities
Notable changes include:
|Main Estimates 2007-08
and Control
and Control
and Control
|Vote or
Statutory Item
|Truncated Vote or Statutory Wording
Main Estimates
Main Estimates
|Operating expenditures
|Grants and contributions
|Contributions to employee benefit plans
|Total – Agency
* In 2007-2008, Vote 40 and Vote 45 were numbered Vote 35 and Vote 40 respectively.
The decrease of $77.9 million in Vote 40 between the 2007-2008 and the 2008-2009 Main Estimates is mainly attributable to reduced requirements for preparedness for avian and pandemic influenza (-$82.8M) offset by funding received for the renewal of the Hepatitis C Prevention, Support and Research Program ($4.7M) and incremental funding in support of the Integrated Strategy on Healthy Living and Chronic Disease ($4.7M), and the Federal Initiative to address HIV/AIDS in Canada ($3.9M), the Expenditure Review Committee (ERC) reduction announced in Budget 2007 (-$2.9M) and the transfer to Western Economic Diversification Canada (WEDC) for the InterVac project in Saskatoon (-$3.0M).
The increase of $10.3 million in Vote 45 is mainly attributable to the renewal of the Hepatitis C Prevention, Support and Research Program ($4.9M) and incremental funding in support of the Integrated Strategy on Healthy Living and Chronic Disease ($3.8M), and the Federal Initiative to address HIV/AIDS in Canada ($3.6M).
Refer to the table on "Departmental Planned Spending and Full-Time Equivalents" for additional details regarding variances in planned spending.
|($ millions)
|Health Promotion
|Chronic Disease Prevention and Control
|Infectious Disease Prevention and Control
|Emergency Preparedness and Response
|Strengthen Public Health Capacity
|Budgetary Main Estimates (gross)
|Less: Respendable revenue
|Total Main Estimates
|Supplementary Estimates (A):
|Funding related to the renewal of the Hepatitis C Prevention, Support and Research Program
|Funding related to government advertising programs (horizontal item)
|Funding to the Canadian MedicAlert Foundation to assist the "No Child Without" Program
|Funding for risk assessments and targeted research in the area of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)
|Funding to prepare for Canada's participation in International Polar Year 2007-2008, an extensive international research program in the Arctic and Antarctic (horizontal item)
|Funding support of the Federal Accountability Act to evaluate all ongoing grant and contribution programs every five years (horizontal item)
|Spending authorities available within the Vote
|Transfer from Health – To adjust for the allocation of resources following the transfer of the control and supervision of the Population and Public Health Branch
|Transfer from National Defence – For public security initiatives (horizontal item)
|Transfer from Health – To support the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation's Community Health Nursing Study
|Transfer from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police – For the initial planning related to policing and security for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
|Transfer to Citizenship and Immigration – To support the Centres for Excellence in fostering and funding policy research related to immigration, integration and diversity (Metropolis Project)
|Transfer to Human Resources and Skills Development – To support the development of an Atlas on Country Resources for Intellectual Disabilities
|Transfer to the Canadian Institutes for Health Research – To fund health services and health population research relevant to the surveillance of diabetes
|Transfer to the Canadian Institutes for Health Research – To fund influenza research to strengthen Canada's pandemic preparedness capacity
|Transfer to Western Economic Diversification – For the design and construction of the International Vaccine Centre's (InterVac) Biosafety Level III Containment Facility in Saskatoon (horizontal item)
|Total, Supplementary Estimates (A)
|Supplementary Estimates (B):
|Transfer to National Defence – To fund public security initiatives (horizontal item)
|Transfer to Canadian Institutes for Health Research – To fund Hepatitis C specific inter-disciplinary training programs
|Transfer to Health – To fund the Science Library Network
|Transfer to Canadian Institutes for Health Research – To fund Pandemic Influenza Research
|Total, Supplementary Estimates (B)
|Other adjustments:
|Expected year end lapse for funding reprofiled to subsequent years
|Funds available internally from savings and other surpluses
|Transfer from Treasury Board Vote 22 for Operating budget carry forward
|Transfer from Treasury Board Vote 15 for collective bargaining agreement
|Employee Benefit Plan (EBP)
|Transfer from Treasury Board Vote 10 for allocation of ongoing incremental funding in support of the new requirements of the (2006) Policy on Internal Audit
|2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics
|Total, Other adjustments
|Total Adjustments
|Total Planned Spending
|Plus: Cost of services received without charge (1)
|Total Departmental Spending
|Full-Time Equivalents
|2 376
|2 452
|2 463
|2 449
The planned spending for 2007-2008 mainly represents funding received in Main Estimates and in Supplementary Estimates (A) and (B), adjusted to include employee benefit plans and anticipated surpluses.
Supplementary Estimates (B) are anticipated to be tabled in Parliament in February 2008.
The net decrease of $40.5 million between the total planned spending for 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 is mainly due to: reduced requirements for Preparedness for Avian and Pandemic Influenza (-$57.5M); funding received in 2007-2008 as a result of the 2006-2007 operating budget carry-forward exercise (-$14.8M) and for a one-time grant to the Canadian MedicAlert Foundation (-$2.0M) not required in 2008-2009; the sunsetting of funding in support of five-year projects under the Agriculture Policy Framework (-$1.4M) and three-year Genomics Research and Development projects (-$1.5M); reduction in employee benefit plans (-$2.9M); and Expenditure Review Committee (ERC) reduction announced in Budget 2007 (-$2.9M).
These reductions are offset by increases due to: forecasted internally generated savings ($15.6M), incremental funding for the Integrated Strategy on Healthy Living and Chronic Disease ($8.8M), and the Federal Initiative to address HIV/AIDS in Canada ($7.6M), the development and testing of a mock pandemic vaccine ($5.4M), the acquisition and retrofit of the Ward (Logan) Laboratory in Winnipeg ($3.5M), and the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative ($1.2M).
The increase of $42.0 million between the total planned spending from 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 is mainly due to funding received, which is to be transferred to provinces and territories under the Hepatitis C Health Care Services Program ($49.7M), for the Canadian HIV Vaccine Initiative ($8.5M), Preparedness for Avian and Pandemic Influenza ($4.3M), and for new funding related to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics ($3.3M). These increases are offset by reduced funding for the maintenance of the National Antiviral Stockpile (-$12.6M), Preparedness for Avian and Pandemic Influenza ($-6.4M), the Ward (Logan) laboratory Project in Winnipeg (-$2.0M), and the sunset of the 2008 advertising plan (-$2.7M).
The decrease of $43.1 million between the total planned spending from 2009-2010 to 2010-2011 is mainly due to reduced funding for the Hepatitis C Health Care Services Program (‑$49.7M), and the First Nations and Inuit Health Programming (-$4.9M), reduced funding related to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics (-$3.4M), offset by increases related to the Ward Laboratory Project in Winnipeg ($10.7M), the end of a three-year agreement for the InterVac project in Saskatoon ($3.0M), and incremental funding for Preparedness for Avian and Pandemic Influenza ($0.9M) and the Canadian HIV Vaccines Initiative ($0.3M).
|2 452
|2 463
|2 449
Public health focuses on the entire population at both the individual and the community level. It encompasses a range of activities performed by all three levels of government in collaboration with a wide variety of stakeholders and communities across the country. Public health plays a key role in preparedness and planning for crises such as an influenza pandemic. It also includes day-to-day activities, such as immunization campaigns, nutrition counselling and restaurant inspections, which require policy, scientific and analytical support (e.g. laboratory research and analysis, epidemiology, surveillance, and knowledge translation).
Changing demographics are an important factor in Canada. As noted in the 2006 Census, Canada has the highest rate of population growth in the G8, with the majority of this growth coming from immigration. As well, due to a combination of low birth rates and longer life spans, the age of Canada's population continues to increase. In the next 10 years, Canadians over age 65 will outnumber those under age 15. However, the exception to these demographics changes has been Canada's Aboriginal peoples. While the majority of this population lives in urban settings, over a third still resides in isolated, poorly serviced communities with few economic opportunities. While the Aboriginal population is younger and faster growing than the rest of the Canadian population, it also faces a number of specific health problems. All of these changes will have significant impacts in the incidence and distribution of many diseases and injuries, and will place increasing pressures on Canada's health system.
Canadians are increasingly recognizing the linkages between health and the environment, not only in areas such as the effects of toxins and pollutants, but also the impacts of climate change and the trade-offs involved in sustainable development. Growing populations are placing an increased pressure on the environment globally while, in Canada, greater urbanization brings with it increased demands for energy, land and other resources, as well as increased concentrations of toxins and pollutants.
Science and Technology
The rate of scientific discovery and technological innovation has increased dramatically in the past decade, but the impact on the health sector has been mixed. On one hand, advances in treatment and care offer new opportunities to address illness and improve health. On the other hand, these advances have increased the cost pressures on Canada's already stressed health system.
Globalization has already had a profound impact on public health in Canada. The vast increase in the volume and speed of trade and travel has brought significant economic benefits to Canadians, while making available a greater range of consumer products and foods.
However, there are challenges that exist. Over the past 30 years, health in Canada and in other migrant-receiving nations has been increasingly influenced by human migration. Migration represents one way in which globalization has meant a greater risk from infectious disease, increasing both the likelihood of an outbreak and the speed of its transmission. Keeping pace with the demands of a global economy has meant greater time pressures for Canadian families, along with a proliferation of convenience foods and reduced time for physical activity. As well, globalization has had a major effect in the area of health security, as the free movement of people and ideas has also facilitated the export of instability and violence, bringing threats to the health and safety of Canadians. And while the risk of a health emergency remains low, the impact of an event, whether natural or man-made, could be catastrophic.
Infectious Disease
In addition, globalization has had profound and multiple implications for Canada. The increase in the speed and volume of global transportation places Canadians within 24 hours of almost any other place in the world. Recent events have highlighted the precarious nature of the current infectious disease landscape, increasing the need for national approaches to the global issue of disease transmission and infection control, as evidenced by avian influenza outbreaks in various parts of the world, outbreaks of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in neonatal intensive care units, C. difficile in hospitals, and the development of extensively drug resistant tuberculosis and other infectious diseases in the community setting.
Trends and Burden of Chronic Diseases in Canada
The increasing burden of chronic diseases is significant, both globally and in Canada. A number of specific trends are contributing to the incidence and prevalence of chronic diseases and the ability to address them through health promotion and chronic disease prevention efforts.
In 2004, 82% of all deaths in Canada were the result of chronic diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, with about 184 000 Canadians losing their lives to these diseases. At the same time, the rate of obesity, an important risk factor for diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some cancers, is growing worldwide, leading to significant increases in heart disease and other major causes of death. With respect to mental illness, 11% of (or 2.7 million) Canadians have mood disorder, anxiety disorder or substance dependence. According to year 2000 data, the estimated economic burden of the major chronic diseases in Canada (diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal, neurodegenerative and respiratory diseases) was $108 billion.
Among the trends contributing to the overall growing social and economic burden of chronic disease are an ageing Canadian population, escalating rates of overweight and obesity among children, youth and adults, and increasing health inequalities, particularly among certain vulnerable or at-risk populations.
Determinants of Health and Health Inequalities
Decades of research demonstrates that for population health gains to be achieved, interventions must address the underlying factors and conditions that lead to poor health and health inequalities. At every stage of life, health is determined by complex interactions between the social, physical and economic environments in which people live. Differences in how people experience these determinants of health lead to health inequalities.
Canadians have been among the healthiest people in the world, but if inequalities in health outcomes are not addressed, this status will be difficult to maintain in the future. Major health-related inequalities in Canada are related to factors such as socio-economic status, Aboriginal heritage, gender, immigrant status and geographic location. To effectively address the root causes of health inequalities and the health issues to which they contribute, public health has a critical leadership role to play in coordinating the efforts of and collaborating with a range of other relevant sectors.
Public Health Capacity
One of the most significant challenges facing all governments is the traditionally weak and limited public health capacity in Canada. Gaps in this capacity have been identified by governments, and were highlighted by the events of the SARS outbreak of 2003. Although improvements have been made since that time, there remains a lack of qualified public health professionals across Canada, gaps in systems for communications and information-sharing, and uneven resources and capacity across jurisdictions.
These are only a few of the most significant issues that the Agency's activities must be able to respond to while continuing to fulfill its mandate to promote and protect public health.
The Public Health Agency of Canada will continue to meet its responsibilities in providing federal leadership in public health, building domestic and international partnerships to improve health outcomes and building capacity and expertise to meet new challenges that threaten the health of Canadians. Recognizing that the public health system is a jigsaw puzzle where all of the pieces need to fit together, the Agency's focus for the next three years will be on developing and delivering integrated approaches that cross sectors and jurisdictions. This will help to promote health, to prevent and control infectious and chronic diseases and injuries, to prepare for and respond to public health emergencies, and to develop public health capacity in a manner consistent with a shared understanding of the determinants of health and of the common factors that maintain health or lead to disease and injury.
In summary, these initiatives will further the ability of the Government of Canada to address Canadians' concerns that their health system be adaptable, responsive to emerging threats, and able to meet their needs. The Public Health Agency of Canada will work toward meeting the demand for an integrated health system that places an emphasis on promotion and prevention over the full range of the determinants of health, while providing treatment and care. To this end, the Agency will work strategically with key partners – such as provinces, territories, international institutions and stakeholders within and beyond the health sector – whose cooperation is fundamental to the achievement of its mandate.


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Senate Republicans release report on Biden-Ukraine investigation with rehashed information
Senate Republicans, led by Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), on Wednesday released an interim report on their probe into Joe Biden and his son's dealings in Ukraine.
Why it matters: The report's rushed release ahead of the presidential election is certainly timed to damage Biden, amplifying bipartisan concern that the investigation was meant to target the former vice president's electoral chances.
- The Senate Homeland Security Committee and GOP staff for the Senate Finance Committee investigated Hunter Biden's work for Ukrainian gas company Burisma at a time when Joe Biden was leading the Obama administration's Ukraine policy.
The state of play: The report ultimately fails to support one of Republicans' top claims about the Burisma affair — that, as vice president, Joe Biden fought for the ouster of Ukraine's top prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, to protect Burisma and his son from scrutiny on corruption issues.
- In fact, European countries and international bodies had contemporaneously accused Shokin of failing to pursue corruption, including in the Burisma case, and wanted him fired.
- The report also leans on a statement from senior U.S. diplomat George Kent that Hunter Biden's work in Ukraine was "very awkward" — a sentiment he already expressed last year during President Trump's impeachment hearings.
- Kent also told impeachment investigators that Joe Biden had done nothing wrong with his Ukraine work.
The other side: Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said that Johnson's investigation served to "subsidize a foreign attack against the sovereignty of our elections with taxpayer dollars — an attack founded on a long-disproven, hardcore right-wing conspiracy theory."
- Democrats have called the probe a "fishing expedition" intended to damage Biden ahead of the election, while intelligence officials have warned that some of the sources Johnson relied on may be laundering Russian disinformation.
- Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) said last week that the investigation had the "earmarks of a political exercise." He added, "It's not the legitimate role of government, for Congress or for taxpayer expense, to be used in an effort to damage political opponents."
The bottom line, via Politico's Andrew Desiderio and Kyle Cheney: The report "is largely a compilation of previously public information — some of it rehashed anew by witnesses who already testified during the House's impeachment inquiry last year — as well as news articles and strongly worded insinuations with little evidence to back them up."

subset: commoncrawl


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Call of Duty Black Ops 3:
Black Ops 3 continues Call of Duty Advanced Warfare's jet pack fueled movement system, and while it may be a major turn off for many, it is definitely an improvement on Sledgehammer's system. The game's movement system is extremely fluid, and controls are easier to manage this time around.
Zombies mode has a new set of characters and a really cool 1950's map, but the included map might be hit or miss for many.
This time around, the campaign is a huge misstep for the Black Ops series. While the previous 2 campaigns linked together nicely and features memorable stories, this campaign is separate and extremely forgettable. While it has its fun moments, it falls flat due to its weak story telling ability.
Microtransactions show their ugly face in this CoD entry. The game features a loot box system for playing the game (luckily on top of normal unlocks), and many of the games coolest weapons are locked behind ridiculously high odds.
Duck Season:
What makes Duck Season so appealing is obvious from the start. It's a fun looking Duck Hunter VR remaster with a spooky spin. And while at first this is a fun concept, clunky controls and lack of replayability hurt it.
Holding the shotgun in the actual hunting game can be difficult, and after a while it just becomes boring. The boredom doesn't help the fact that Duck Season is supposed to be extremely replayable because of its multiple endings.
These multiple endings become stale after the initial shock value of the first playthrough too, so the game doesn't feel like coming back for.
Dead Island:
Dead Island feels like one of those movies that's so bad it's good. It's filled with bugs, gameplay issues, and has a god-awful story. But when played with friends, the number of things to do can give players plenty of incentive to keep grinding through the often times repetitive missions.
Dead Island features a fairly cool weapon crafting system, and almost forces you to use it by limiting guns and ammo throughout the game.
What may be the saving grace of this game is it's tone. While at some points, especially the beginning of the game, feel like it's going for a tense movie-like experience, the game eventually loosens up and doesn't take itself too seriously.
Tower Unite (Early Access):
This friendly early access game is a bash at first, but it's fallen into the Early Access purgatory that many fear when buying in to a game like this.
Tower Unite is a Garry's Mod Tower style game featuring mini games, a casino, and a fully customizable apartment. While on the surface it can seem like there's a lot too do, especially with the promises of even more mini games, Tower Unite has failed to continue to add substantial updates to keep afloat.
The Stanley Parable:
Stanley Parable is a charming, loveable, and extremely sarcastic branching path story with humor to spare. The amount of ways to "complete" Stanley's story is mind-blowingly large, and the more you play the game the more option you have.
While it's fair to describe it as a walking simulator, it's easily the most entertaining walk I've ever been on.


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2022 Spring Clothing Drive
The Foundation had a successful clothing drive in June. Thank you for participating!
Congratulations, 2020 High School Scholarship Winners
On June 6, 2020, The Foundation awarded two $1000 scholarships to college-bound Avon-by-the-Sea students. Daniel Magrini, a graduate of St. Rose High School, will attend Villanova University. Julia Maloney, a graduate of Manasquan High School, will attend University of Notre Dame.
Daniel and Julia are the 7th cohort of students to receive this annual award. Recipients are chosen by their community involvement as well as their reflections and insights about growing up in Avon-by-the-Sea. We are so proud of Daniel and Julia. Congratulations!
"Easter Bunny Neighborhood Ride" April 12, 2020
To Celebrate Easter during the Covid-19 Seclusion, The Foundation, starring Board Member Susan Bongiorno as The Easter Bunny, parade through the streets to wave and say "Hi" to the children.
Congratulations, 2019 High School Scholarship Winner
At Tuesday's summer kick-off meeting, Avon-by-the-Sea Education Foundation recognized Brendan Magrini, Manasquan High School senior, with a $1,000 scholarship. Brendan's comprehensive application, which included evidence of his scholarship, leadership, and community service, was chosen among a highly competitive and worthwhile applicant pool.
Brendan accepted the award from the Foundation board members, and his parents, John and Nora Magrini. Dr. Tess Nielsen, Foundation president, added, "Brendan embodies the ideals of our community. He'll be a great ambassador for the power of a quality education." As this is the sixth year for awarding the scholarship prize, the significance of program is growing.
Brendan will matriculate to The University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland as engineering major.
Avon Elementary School Receives National Recognition for Music Education Program
Avon Elementary School has been honored with the SupportMusic Merit Award from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. The SupportMusic Merit Award recognizes individual schools that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.
To qualify for the SupportMusic Merit Award, Avon Elementary School answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs.
This award recognizes that Avon Elementary School is leading the way with learning opportunities as outlined in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). ESSA recommends music and the arts as important elements of a well-rounded education for all children. Avon Elementary school was one of 135 school to receive this honor in 2018.
Click here to read the full press release and statement from the NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Foundation.
Congratulations Avon Elementary School! download
Avon-by-the Sea Education Foundation
Student Advisory Council
Student Advisors '18-'19
Alex Devoy
Gina Maurer
What is the Student Advisory Council?
The advisory council is a group of students from elementary/middle, high school, and college who assist the Foundation as a voice in their school communities, and provide information and feedback to help guide the Foundation in planning and programs.
While there is not a set number of students on the council, the Foundation invites students from Middle School, High School, College and Young Adult Life to participate
Students will act as a resource for the Foundation, convey message to their schools, or act as a sounding board for representing the student voice at their level of learning.
Students may serve on the advisory council for one year. Most of the communication will happen remotely. Students may or may not attend meetings, and their tasks and level of involvement may vary.
What is the purpose of Student Advisory Council?
Students want to have a say in decisions made about their communities. Students are invited to participate in our processes, in which proposals for various items and programs are considered for funding and development.
How are students selected for the program?
The Foundation sends a notice to local schools we serve. Students who wish to participate write to us at email@example.com. In the message, students will introduce themselves and describe why they would like to participate.
How can interested people receive more information about the Student Advisory Council?
Email firstname.lastname@example.com or call 732-925-4974
Fall 2017: NAMM SupportMusic Merit Awards for Avon School Band Program
The Avon-by-the_Sea Education Foundation recently completed a project to provide the Avon Elementary School (AES) music room with new equipment. Music room chairs serve a dual purpose. They are designed to give the young musicians the proper posture when playing instruments but they also have a moveable desktop for a writing surface.
This effort was completed in partnership with the Avon Home and School Association. Several funding sources, including the Foundation Annual Fund, a gift from Home and School, and student efforts in a car wash, bake sale, and Chipotle dinner night helped raise the funds to purchase the chairs. The Avon School music room functions as a regular classroom as well as a practice space for music, so flexible seating is required.
The Avon School Music program is a recent recipient of the NAMM SupportMusic Merit Awards for Best School Music communities. With continued support from the Foundation, music lives in for the elementary and middle school students at Avon School.
May 2017
2017 Avon-by-the-Sea Education Foundation High School Senior Scholarship
Congratulations to Elizabeth 'Ellie' Farrington, of Avon-by-the-Sea, winner of the 2017 Avon-by-the-Sea Education Foundation High School Senior Scholarship. Ellie is a dance major at Red Bank Regional High School's Visual and Performing Arts Academy. The daughter of Maureen and Paul Farrington, Ellie plans to matriculate to the University of Connecticut to study Physiology and Neurology.
In addition to information about their high school performance and community service involvement, scholarship applicants were asked to explain how the experience of growing up in Avon influenced their goals and plans. In Ellie's essay, she explained how her teachers at Avon Elementary school stressed the "importance of honesty, individuality and respect." The AEF scholarship recognized Ellie' exemplary community service, academic talent, and extracurricular participation. Among a pool of highly qualified candidates, Ellie's application best reflected the mission of the Avon-by-the-Sea Education Foundation.
On Wednesday, June 7, Foundation members Tess Nielsen (president), Peggy Oldakowsky (secretary), and Susan Annitto (board member), met with Ellie Farrington and her family at the Avon Library to award the $1,000 prize.
Avon Library Donation 2016The Foundation is proud to help sponsor the NJ Hall of Fame Mobile Museum at the upcoming Avon Public Library Centennial celebration on August 20, 2016. The NJ Hall of Fame Mobile Museum is an interactive exhibit highlighting the many great accomplishments of Garden State citizens and will be the cornerstone of the Library's Centennial Celebration.
CENTRAL NEW JERSEY WINERY TOURThe summer adult learning program enjoyed a wonderful afternoon in Central Jersey wine country at Unionville and Old York Cellars. Participants learned about the vine to bottle process while exploring the vineyards and tank room. Throughout, we gained insight into New Jersey's agricultural industry.
June 2016Congratulations to the High School Scholarship winners! These young people represent the mission and ideals of the Avon-by-the-Sea Education Foundation Faith Westhoven, (center) attended St. Rose High School and will matriculate to Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
Jon Erik Nielsen, (left): will go to college at Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York.
Alex Devoy, (right) graduate of Manasquan High School plans to continue his studies at Delaware Valley University.
Coast Star Announcement June 2016
In a student-centered ceremony, the 1st and 8th grade class met by the Community Garden to exchange of class projects. The first grade, led by Mrs. Fiorentino, kicked off the Earth Day celebration with a poem they had written, followed by a song, Hes Got the Whole World in his Hands. It was the perfect opportunity to wear their self-designed t-shirts with an earth-based logo. Next, Mrs. Crottys 8th grade class presented the first graders with potted rosemary plants and booklets about plant care. Members of the Avon Education Foundation, The Avon Environmental Commission, and the Home and School association were on hand to support the students.
THANK YOUto all who attended our Adult Summer Education Enrichment Series: "Discovering the Impressionists"
We hope you join us for upcoming programs in cultural and community enrichment
Scenes from Impressionist Painting Class at Torché Gallery, Belmar, July 2015
Thank you, patrons and donors, for attending
"Rock the Dock" to Support Avon-by-the-Sea Education - Saturday, May 16, 2015We had a great time at the New Avon Marina,
Your donations will be used to fund ongoing enrichment opportunities in arts, culture, sports, and continuing education for all residents of Avon-by-the-Sea
Presenting: The Avon Community Campus Garden Sponsored by Lowes Toolbox for Education Grant
The Avon Community Campus Garden supports environmental education, community building, and service learning through gardening at Avon School. When young students gain hands-on knowledge of how life works in a garden, they learn about renewable energy and ecological health, among other issues.
The garden serves the students of Avon School as well as community residents. Working in partnership with students, teachers and administrators, The Avon-by-the-Sea Education Foundation and Avon Environmental Commission will plan, build, help to maintain, grow and sustain the garden plots, within the oversight of the School Administration.
Thank you to:
Avon-by-the-Sea Environmental Commission
Gardens of Avon-by-the-Sea
Parents, Students and Friends of Avon Elementary School
For helping us plant and maintain the Community Garden.
Planting a community garden at the school gives tangible meaning to the interconnected nature of small town living. The entire community gains understanding of its environmental issues. The garden promotes a discussion about reducing our ecological footprint and renewing energy resources. Additionally, it adds to the beautification of our neighborhood.
September 2014:The Foundation continues to develop the Avon Elementary Instrumental Band Program with a $3500 gift to the school, supported by a grant from PNC Bank and donor funding.
August 2014:The Foundation sponsored a community summer reading of the Daisy Goodwin novel, The American Heiress. On a beautiful summer evening, adult learners met at the Avon Pavilion Boardwalk to enjoy a book discussion moderated by professor Olefsen.
June 2014Congratulations to the High School Scholarship winners! These young men represent the mission and ideals of the Avon-by-the-Sea Education Foundation Andrew Sperduto, attended Manasquan High School and matriculated to The University of Michigan.
Jack Cole: attended St. Rose High School and matriculated to Marist College in New York state.
Tommy Rooney attended Christian Brothers Acadamy and matriculated to Columbia University in New York City
Donate to the Annual Fund:
Click below to make a donation online.
The foundation's mission supports educational advancement for all boro residents---both children and adults.
With your help, this past year the Foundation has implemented:
as a result of Teacher mini-grant
There's more to come as you help us grow these educational endeavors.
AbtS Education Foundation is an exciting new philanthropic organization--the first of its kind in our town. Its a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) incorporated for the purposes of community educational advancement.
Your attendance supports the AbtS Community Education Fund, providing opportunities in arts, culture, sports, and continuing education for all residences of the Borough.
Summer Fundraisers
August-September - Annual Fund Mailing Campaign
August 7: The Columns Door Donation Event
June 25: Clothing Drive at the Avon First Aid Station
firstname.lastname@example.com Box 114
Avon-by-the-Sea, New Jersey 07717


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The GSTIN ( Goods and Service Tax Identification Number) could be entered at the time of Checkout while purchasing our product. This is only for Indian customers who are operating the business from India.
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Got Stuck with something serious or you wish to hire us for a while. We are here to hear from you, feel free to reach us and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.Contact Us
If you have more details or questions, you can reply to the received confirmation email.Back to Home


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If you want to change an advertisement from one type to another you'll need to delete the current ad and add a new ad. Even though ad types share some features, they are completely separate.
- Log in to your Broadstreet account here https://my.broadstreetads.com.
- Click "Advertisers" on the left side menu.
- Click the advertiser you want to change the advertisement type for.
- Click the advertisement you want to change.
- Click "Edit advertisement".
- Scroll down and click "Delete".
Here's a short video to guide you:


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Contributions from Healthcare Facilities to the overall Mass Loading of Pharmaceuticals on Wastewater Treatment Plants
MetadataShow full item record
The presence of human pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment is now becoming a well-established fact. The identified problems associated with their presence include the fact that these compounds are biologically active, some of them are toxic in nature, and a number of compounds have potential to foster and maintain drug resistant microorganisms. They are discharged into the aquatic environment from a variety of sources, but mainly by the excretion of incompletely metabolized pharmaceuticals by individuals into the wastewater. This situation makes finding a source-control strategy difficult. However, healthcare facility (hospitals and long-term-care homes) effluents are suspected to have relatively higher concentrations of these compounds, as such facilities use pharmaceuticals in large amounts for diagnostic, cure and research purposes. It is expected that controlling discharges from these facilities may provide a cost-effective solution to reduce the pharmaceutical loads entering the aquatic environment.
Cite this version of the work
Muhammad Riaz ul Haq (2010). Contributions from Healthcare Facilities to the overall Mass Loading of Pharmaceuticals on Wastewater Treatment Plants. UWSpace. http://hdl.handle.net/10012/5634
Other formats


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Cambridge, MA, Broad Institute (June 27, 2016) –
Liz Harley A room containing over 50 sequencers makes an odd noise. For one thing it's very cold – all that machinery pumps out some serious heat – so there is a constant whoosh of air-conditioning. The machines themselves whirr softly, punctuated by a constant Morse code of beeps. That is the sound of data generation on a phenomenal scale. This was the final room on our tour of The Broad Institute, which so far had taken in everything from DNA extraction to seriously advanced automated sample preparation.
The Broad Institute, the largest sequencing laboratory in the world, has 28 Illumina HiSeqX sequencing machines (and 25 from previous iterations of the platform), each producing 1 terabyte of data every 2-3 days. This rate of production is so prodigious that the Institute has now moved its data storage out of a physical central server and into the cloud.
Aside from getting my first look at the legendary HiSeqX in action, the visit to The Broad also brought home just how much of a challenge the $1000 genome really is. For one thing, the electricity bill to run a sequencing room like this one runs into the millions. And outsourcing data into the cloud is not always a cheap option, although it does save on valuable floor space that could be taken up with MORE SEQUENCERS. In reality, even working at this kind of scale the costs of data storage and library generation alone put the cost of a whole genome at closer to $2000. Meanwhile, back onsite, Carl and Eleanor were deep in the workshops, learning how this tidal wave of information can be put to good use!
Getting all that data to the clinic
Carl Smith
While Liz was out at the Broad Institute, it was seminar heaven here at the Festival grounds. 'Translating NGS Data Into The Clinic' was one of the morning's most popular sessions. Danielle Greenawalt (Bristol-Myers Squibb), Long Phi Le (Massachusetts General Hospital), and Carl Barrett (AstraZeneca), did a fantastic job presenting the reality behind getting NGS into the clinic.
While the technology is there, the centralised standards are not. It was also startling to hear just how difficult it is to get a diagnostic approved. We hear a lot about how inexpensive NGS is these days, but it is still prohibitively expensive for many hospitals. At the moment, it's really only the big hospitals who can afford it (and the teams you need to make it all work!).
There is still a lot of figuring out to be done. Sequencing will continue to get cheaper. When that barrier to entry drops again, we need to have standards in place and a good idea of how NGS should work efficiently in the clinic. If that happens, it will make widespread adoption a much more realistic possibility.
Actionable information for patients and their physicians
Eleanor Rogers
Xuan Shirley Li, Chief Scientific Officer at Molecular Match, started off the workshop by saying that we still had a long way to go to achieve the cancer moonshoot laid out by Vice President Joe Biden. Although around 300 thousand genomes and exomes of Americans have been sequenced, that still only makes up less than 0.1% of the population.
James Walsh, MD Anderson Cancer Center, was up next. He started his career at Genentech, and now works at MD Anderson Cancer Center on lung cancer. Along with some amusing slides on God's disapproval of the annoying hackers discovering the genome, he covered the great begin done around the EGFR gene mutation. There is still resistance, both against the treatment due to mutations, as well as in the clinic because of the high number of molecular profile subsets of the variant.
Jack Whelan, a research and patient advocate, took the stand and brought the audience back down to Earth as he described what it was like living a rare diagnosis. "It's like the feeling you get on a roller coaster", he said. He gave great positive vibes as he described the importance he placed on laughter as the best medicine, and how involving patients in clinical trials is just as importance as the research. 'Patient-centric' can be just a buzz word for some bio-pharma, the importance should be placed on compassion.
Finally, Corrie Painter, Associate Director of Operations and Scientific Outreach at the Broad Institute, explored the importance of support from fellow patients, such as finding a Facebook support group on Angiosarcoma, a rare blood vessel tumour with effects only 21 people in the world every year. The knowledge that people had in that group went far beyond anything else Corrie could find and highlighted the importance of the engaged patient. If they could crowd source photos of themselves for the Facebook group, why couldn't they crowd source their tumours?
There were also some great questions raised, such as the need to improve IT as part of healthcare strategy, with Jack Whelan making the point that his car dealership had better patient, or customer, data than hospitals! All round a great sharing of ideas and for someone coming to patient data fairly new, it was eye-opening to see just how involved some patients are prepared to get.
And finally…
Today also saw the inaugural Drug Development Leaders Meeting at the Festival. Senior representatives from Regeneron, Takeda, Merck, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Teva, and Roche, met to discuss a range of topics: patient access and clinical trials, using real world data, companion diagnostics, collaborations, and the Precision Medicine Initiative.
More on these topics
Clinical genomics
Festival of Genomics


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Even in the midst of Penn State's worst loss in recent memory, even in the second half of a game that had long since been functionally over, even with a backup quarterback throwing him the ball, Allen Robinson continued to be Allen Robinson.
This wasn't a hard choice, of course; you could probably count the number of Nittany Lions who actually made a positive impact on the game Saturday on your fingers. But there's no keeping a good receiver down, even if he did a good chunk of his work in garbage time. That won't make Robinson's 65-yard screen pass touchdown that looked, with its cutbacks, runs back and forth across the field, broken tackles, and trail of Buckeyes in his wake, more like a punt return than a reception, any less spectacular.
At the end of the day, it was another 12 catches, another 173 yards, another touchdown for the Big Ten's best pass catcher, and at this point, all he's doing is padding his draft stock should he decide to go pro a year early. Or, should he stick around for another year (pretty, pretty please?), he's working his way up the Penn State record books with alacrity.
Also considered: Bill Belton, I guess. 98 hard-earned yards on 22 carries, most in the first half, for our new #1 running back.


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The Business of Ballistics
MASONRY attended a structural brick testing event and spoke with several members of Interstate Brick. Learn more about this important and controversial topic from the making of structural brick to its many potential uses. Read at MASONRY
The Masonry Foundation Awards First Grants
The Masonry Foundation has awarded grants for the first time, thanks to many generous pledges to the Foundation. Full story
Historic Masonry Restoration Best Practices
Historic masonry buildings can last forever if they are properly maintained. Amy Lamb Woods and Casey Weisdock provide detailed information and tips on the restoration process. Read at MASONRY
Creating Memories with Outdoor Rooms
Derek Stearns shares valuable insights about outdoor rooms. Read more about this popular trend and how to help create memories. Read at MASONRY


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Extraordinary General Assembly 2014
Dear Shareholders,
Please be advised that the extraordinary session of the General Assembly of the Joint-Stock Company Tigar from Pirot (Tigar AD) will be held on 14 April 2014 , in Pirot, in the Large Conference Room of the Administrative Building at the seat of the Company, 213, Nikole Pasica Str., starting at 12:00 hours.
A g e n d a:
1) Making Decision on submission of the proposal for the initiating of the bankruptcy proceeding through reorganization in accordance with the Pre-prepared Reorganization Plan
2) Making decisions on appointing members of Tigar ad Supervisory Board
You are kindly invited to take part in the decision-making under the above items on the Agenda, either in person or by proxy. Detailed information about voting by proxy is contained in the Notice of the Ordinary Session of the General Assembly which is appended hereto. Also appended is a Power of Attorney Form for the proxy.
If you decide not to participate in person but by proxy, kindly complete the Power of Attorney Form, identifying yourself (address, ID card number or citizen's number/corporate ID number) and your proxy (full name and voting instructions under each item on the Agenda), and submit the Power of Attorney to Tigar AD not later than 3 days before the session, i.e., April 11th 2014 (either in person or by mail in a blue envelope). This booklet contains the draft resolutions under each item on the agenda, along with explanatory notes.
Materials for the session may be downloaded from the Company's website www.tigar.com and will be available for inspection at the Company's headquarters each working day – from Monday to Friday, from 8am to 4pm.
N o t e:
Kindly arrive at the venue of the session not later than 10 a.m. for registration of attendance and other formalities, so that the session of the General Assembly may begin on time. Please note that you will be required to present an ID card for identification purposes.
Based on a decision of Tigar AD's Supervisory Board, shareholders of record at the unified registry as of 12 March 2014 have been invited to this session. All invitations have been duly sent to shareholders' respective addresses.
The right to participate in the work of the session have individuals figuring as shareholders of the Company on the tenth day before the date of the meeting, according to the list of shareholders, as determined on the basis of statements of shareholders from the Central Registry – Shareholders' Day: 04/04/2014.
In Pirot, 24.03.2014.
Managing Director
Nebojša Đenadić
I n v i t a t i o n
Material for the Extraordinary Session of General Assembly (booklet)
Power of attorney
Ballot for voting in absentia
Presentation of the Platform for the Preparation of PPOP


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Vegan (dairy free) banana bread loaf recipe with light cake-like sponge and a crunchy brown sugar crust on top
Before this bloody pandemic and us all being sentenced to life in lockdown (or at least so it seems), I had made epic leaps and bounds towards making my diet waaaaay more plant-based and veggie. A vegan or full-time vegetarian by no means (except when I did my Pledge to Veg challenge for Cancer Research UK) but certainly not the raging carnivore I have morphed into in quarantine. I plan to resume my voyage to becoming more veggie biased once normality resumes and convenience isn't quite so key but for now, here's a token effort with the best vegan banana bread recipe I have devoured thus far. No eggs, no milk, no butter but still fluffy AF, lighted spiced and plain delicious.
(Makes one loaf with about 8 slices)
- 3 very ripe bananas
- 100g brown sugar
- 75ml vegetable or sunflower oil
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 225g plain flour
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- Preheat your oven to 200° (fan).
- Line a loaf tin with baking parchment or grease with butter.
- Mash your bananas in a bowl.
- Mix brown sugar and oil into mashed bananas.
- In a separate bowl, put all of your dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg) and use a fork to combine.
- Pour wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix well to form your batter (fold don't stir so as not to make the cake too dense).
- Pour into your loaf tin and sprinkle with about a tablespoon of brown sugar, evenly over the top.
- Bake for around 20-30 minutes (or until it's golden on top and a skewer or clean knife stuck through the centre comes out dry).
- Leave to cool a bit then slice yourself a great big slab while it's still warm and enjoy with some fresh berries on the side. Uh-mazing.
Top tip: If you don't think it is cooked all the way through yet but the top is looking very toasty, just cover it will some kitchen foil for the remainder of the cooking time to prevent it burning.
This sh*t is b-a-n-a-n-a-s…
Still got loads more speckled 'nanas that need a new lease of life? Peel 'em, mash 'em and use them to make my Biscoff & Banana Blondies With Cookie Dough Base.
They are an absolute taste sensation and perfectly fabulous without the cookie dough base too (if you wanted to make them a little less 'slutty' or cba making cookie dough).


text: Big Rock Forge -- myArmoury.com About • Links • Search • Contribute Features Reviews Collections Albums Forums Books Info Favorites Register Log in myArmoury.com Discussion Forums Forum index Memberlist Usergroups Spotlight Topics Search Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > Big Rock Forge This is a standard topic Author Message Kevin Coleman M. Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Likes: 1 pageReading list: 4 books Posts: 86 Posted: Mon 08 Oct, 2012 9:09 am Post subject: Big Rock Forge Is anyone familiar with this smith or his work? I stumbled on him and am pretty intrigued. http://www.bigrockforge.com/swords.html Nathan Robinson myArmoury Admin Location: San FranciscoJoined: 07 Jul 2003 Likes: 29 pagesReading list: 327 books Spotlight topics: 32Posts: 11,553 Posted: Mon 08 Oct, 2012 9:14 am Post subject: On that site's About page is listed the name Scott Roush. Look on our site for his membership profile and his posts and topics. .:. Visit my Collection Gallery :: View my Reading List :: View my Wish List :: See Pages I Like :: Find me on Facebook .:. Kevin Coleman M. Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Likes: 1 pageReading list: 4 books Posts: 86 Posted: Mon 08 Oct, 2012 9:18 am Post subject: That's fantastic! Thank you! Victor R. Location: Klein, TexasJoined: 28 Jan 2008 Reading list: 4 books Posts: 338 Posted: Mon 08 Oct, 2012 10:40 am Post subject: The sword showing in the picture on the Big Rock Forge site is "Verteidiger" - a commission Scott did for me. You can find info about it the in Makers/Manufacturers forum. I've also since received a rondel dagger that is complementary to the sword. I am extremely pleased with both - you can see my thoughts in the Verteidiger thread. Scott is great to work with: good communication, takes the time to listen and undertand what you're trying to get at, and makes really good choices (in my opinion) when you give him a "concept" of an idea, but can't really articulate specifics. His site also links to his "Cold Iron Blog" that goes through the "in-progress" on much of his work. I very much recommend Scott and his work. Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Forum Index > Off-topic Talk > Big Rock Forge Page 1 of 1 All times are GMT - 8 HoursView previous topic :: View next topic Jump to: Select a forum Discussion and Research----------------Historical Arms TalkmyArmoury.com Features Talk-- Suggestions, Requests and Support-- Testing ZoneMakers and Manufacturers Talk Miscellaneous Discussion----------------Off-topic Talk Special Interest Area----------------The Marketplace-- Marketplace Feedback You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forumYou cannot attach files in this forumYou can download files in this forum All contents © Copyright 2003-2023 myArmoury.com All rights reserved Discussion forums powered by phpBB © The phpBB Group Switch to the Basic Low-bandwidth Version of the forum


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Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding
3 flax egg replacers (3 tablespoons milled flax seed whisked with 9 tablespoons water)
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon dark vegan rum
1/2 cup nondairy creamer
2 cups nondairy milk
6 cups day old French bread, 1" cubes (we like to use homemade)
4 ounces chocolate chips
4 teaspoons turbinado, or other raw sugar
1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flax eggs, brown sugar, rum, nondairy creamer, and milk. Stir in the French bread cubes and chocolate chips.
2. Cover the bowl with tin foil or plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. Lightly grease a 2 quart casserole dish. Once the mixture is chilled, pour into prepared dish.
3. Push down on the bread cubes with light pressure in order to saturate them with the "egg" mixture, sprinkle top with raw sugar, cover, and place back in the refrigerator for an additional 15 minutes.
4. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees fahrenheit. Once the 15 minutes are up, take the cover off of the bread pudding and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until set.
5. Place pudding under the broiler for 1-2 minutes to create a golden brown, crispy top. (If you have a weird oven like mine that makes you choose between high and low broiler, high works best.) Allow to cool for at least 5 minutes and serve warm.
It's great with a little bit of coconut whip on top!
Source of recipe: This recipe was found in an issue of Bon Appetit magazine, drooled over, and easily veganized!
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Bank of the West honors winning nonprofits at the 2014 Philanthropy Awards
On November 18, Wealth Management Group hosted the fifth annual Bank of the West Philanthropy Awards ceremony and awarded nonprofits with a USD 100,000 grant each in recognition of their innovation, leadership and measurable impact.
IDEO.org, was recognized in the Innovation Award category for its creative approach to addressing issues that especially affect under-resourced communities. Further information
Inner City Advisors (ICA) was the winner in the Community Impact category for its work in helping to create and retain over 10,000 jobs in the Bay Area since its founding in 1996. Further information
A guest panel speaking to this year's theme of Inspiration, Innovation and Impact, included Charly Kleissner, co-founder of the KL Felicitas Foundation and winner of the 2014 BNP Paribas Prize for Individual Philanthropy, and Chuck Slaughter, founder and CEO of Living Goods, awarded in 2013.
In addition, Kasia Moreno, editorial director of Forbes Insights, shared the findings of the 2014 BNP Paribas Individual Philanthropy Index, which measures the current state of philanthropy in four global regions.


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"I have often said to myself what are the boasted advantages which my country reaps from a certain Union that counterbalance the annihilation of her Independence, and even her very name!" (Robert Burns, 1795)
There's an episode of the great Channel Four comedy Father Ted in which Fathers Ted and Dougal manage to get the local milkman, a philandering rascal called Pat Mustard, fired from his job after they present compelling evidence that he is providing a lot more than just dairy products to the local housewives, which at least solves the mystery of the countless Pat Mustard lookalike babies in the parish. This presents a problem, however, because Craggy Island now has a huge surplus of milk having taken a shipment from a recently liberated Eastern European country – as you do – and now there's no-one to deliver it.
The hapless Father Dougal therefore takes a sabbatical from his pastoral duties and becomes Craggy Island's new milkman. But, unbeknown to him, An aggrieved Pat Mustard has left a farewell gift under the milk float – a bomb, that will explode if Dougal drops below four miles per hour. And he's currently doing five.
A crisis meeting is held by the priests. After much discussion, a way to resolve the situation is agreed.
They decide to hold another Mass.
I often feel that this – praying that the worst doesn't happen rather than taking evasive action – it what Scotland has been doing since the Brexit vote of 2016, and probably for three hundred years before that.
Last month, Westminster MPs – including my own, the Secretary of State for Scotland, Alister Jack, and every other Conservative MP in the country, voted down an amendment that would have ensured that food and welfare standards in any future trade deal with America and elsewhere would be remain at least as high as the have been during our long membership of the European Union. This despite countless assurances by everyone from Michael Gove to Theresa Villiers that standards would not be lowered under any circumstances.
If we'd been paying attention – and frankly not enough of us were – we wouldn't have been remotely surprised, as the American position has always been clear: lower the standards or we aren't coming to the table. So Westminster sold us out. They were always going to.
A wee reminder, then, of what this means.
Because poultry welfare standards are significantly worse in America than in the EU (bird cages are 28% smaller, for example) chicken carcasses are washed with chlorine dioxide. Growth hormones in beef have been banned in the UK since 1981, but will now be allowed. Ractopamine is an asthma drug used in US pig production, but it's so dangerous to human health it's banned virtually everywhere else.
Minimum somatic cell count levels in milk – the indicator of the underlying health of dairy cows – will be doubled. Scotland's moratorium on GM crops will be worthless in the face of American imports. There's been great progress in reducing antibiotic use and the UK is currently the fifth lowest user in the EU, but there are no such restrictions in American production system. And, in terms of welfare, we currently have strict rules over transport (a maximum journey time of twelve hours and mandatory low stocking levels). In America it's twenty eight hours and stocking density regulations don't even exist.
This is why at least sixty million Americans per year suffer from food poisoning, which if replicated on these shores would put even greater strain on a health service that is, of course, also up for sale to Donald Trump's disaster capitalists.
Every single Conservative MP in Scotland – all of whom represent the strongly rural constituencies which would be impacted disproportionately by a lowering of standards – voted to allow Ractopamine into your pork. Scottish Conservatism can seriously damage your health. Put that on your food labels, Mr Jack.
But, hey, there's been a petition jointly launched by the Farmers Unions. So it's all good. Only it isn't. As a response to an imminent human health and economic catastrophe it's about as useful as saying Mass to prevent a bomb going off under a speeding milk float.
Two years ago, during the week of the 2018 Highland Show, Westminster passed the EU Withdrawal Bill. It effectively meant that from that point forward London could effectively legislate for Scotland without her consent, including in previously devolved policy areas – like food and welfare standards, for example. And yet Scotland's largest food and drink showcase was that year emblazoned with Union Flags and messages about how great it was going to be post-Brexit. And, I'm sorry, but the industry leaders went along with it. As an industry we rightly condemn the "Supine Six" MPs who voted for hormones in your Sunday roast. But who voted them in? Perhaps we need to check our own snares before signing a petition that is over two years late in the commissioning. That banging noise you hear? That would be the stable door flapping in the wind after the horse bolts towards the great beyond.
I don't think I've ever experienced an age in which the objectives of Westminster Government and the people diverged so much – and it isn't just Scottish voters, either.
For example, a recent poll amongst the so-called "Red Wall" voters – the forty-four seats won by the Conservatives from Labour in the December 2019 election – showed that only twenty percent of people wanted America to be the UK's main trading partner post-Brexit. Virtually all of them considered it important – very important – to secure a trade deal with the EU.
Closer to home, sixty-four percent of Scots want a Brexit extension. And yet last week, at precisely the moment the First Ministers of Scotland and Wales had written to the Prime Minister outlining what a terrible idea a no-deal Brexit would be (it would immediately shrink the Scottish economy by £1.8bn), Michael Gove announced that he was ruling out any extension. Make no mistake, a hard-Brexit by Hogmanay is now inevitable, and the only reason so much political capital has been invested in saving the skin of Dominic Cummings is to ensure that it happens, come what may. In short, an outcome – cliff edge catastrophe – rejected by a large majority of Scots is now being driven forward by a government rejected by an even larger majority of Scots. If you're looking at this and seeing fair democratic process then I'd suggest that your eyesight is even worse than that of Dominic Cummings during a road trip to Bernard Castle.
For as long as Scotland is shackled to this madness, any sort of half-decent outcome isn't remotely conceivable. If a Rottweiler has your ball, negotiations are futile. Calls for a Brexit extension are ignored. Petitions calling for protections for food standards – when they've already voted to remove them – are about as much use as saying Mass for Father Dougal. If we continue to allow ourselves ourselves to go along with this in the vain hope that Boris Johnson might benevolently grant us a second vote on self-determination, then we are complicit in our own demise and belittlement.
In the comedy, the priests realise at the eleventh hour that, despite their celestial status, praying isn't going to cut it. They put Father Jack's beloved brick on the accelerator, grab the hapless Dougal and run like hell. Self-preservation wins the day.
It's time we stopped asking nicely.
It's time we stopped saying Mass.
It's time we ran like hell.
Stay safe everybody. I'll meet you further on up the road.
Categories: Uncategorized


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This quick read will teach you the basics of YAML markup language in the time it takes to make a cup of tea :)
If you haven't come across YAML yet, hang around a bit and you will, I am seeing it being adopted by a lot of organizations and projects recently and its worth knowing about. YAML is a data-orientated human readable serialization language, and I have come across it in many projects including OpenAPI, Docker, Kubernetes and Ansible playbooks among others.
YAML was originally an acronym for 'Yet Another Markup Language', but is now more commonly referred to as 'YAML Ain't Markup Language' (a bit like GNU is not unix!, or Bing! is not Google!).
The following snapshot illustrates some of the basics we will go through.This article is designed to give you a very brief overview of YAML - enough to get you started there is a lot more and some intricacies which you can find out about on the YAML website.
YAML elements
As you can see from the image above, a YAML file is constructed of a number of different elements. Together, they can be used to describe a wide variety of structures. I have seen YAML used to describe everything from cross language classes, api data structures and deployment instructions for virtual machines and containers.
YAML elements are mostly based on Key-Value pairs. We may see them as strict KV,
Name: Value
or a a key with a complex/compound value:
Name: < the keyAnotherName: someValue < the value
YAML is a superset of JSON, so we can utilize JSON style sequences and maps in our constructs:
a_json_style_map: {"K": "V"}
Here is a BIG BIG gotcha - this will bite you so know it! ..... in YAML, you indent with spaces, not tabs, in addition, there MUST be spaces between element parts.
For example, this is correct:
Key: Value
but this will fail,
^^ no space after the colon!
Begin/End document
Defining the start and end of a document is optional. To start a document insert '---' at the top of the document, to end it, insert '...'
Comments are defined by placing a hash in front of an item '#'. Comments can be made at the start of a line of anywhere in the line:
# this is a commentKey: Value #this another comment
Simple KV pairs come in this category, here are some examples, which are quite varied and flexible.
key: value
someNumber: 299
quotedText: "some text description"
moreQuotedtext: strings do not have to be quoted, but I prefer to do it=
boolean: true
we can also have spaces in keys: and also in values
nullKeyValue: null
List and collection members are lines that begin at the same indentation level, starting with a dash followed by a space.
# a collection of fancy carsFancy-Cars- Porsche - Aston Martin - Bentley
Complex keys can be catered for by placing a question mark followed by a pipe symbol to flag the start of a complex key:
You can also have deep nested collections:
Dictionaries comprise a key:value format with contents indented.
You can merge and mix-up collections of lists and dictionaries like this:
That's the very basics, here are some useful resources if you need to dig a bit deeper,
Exploring Design Pattern for Dummies