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The Circle is back on Channel 4! The latest run of the high-tech game begins with a week-long all-celebrity edition, hosted by Emma Willis and with the voiceover of Sophie Willan.
For the first time ever, a group of celebrities move into the most famous apartment block in the UK, all in aid of Stand Up To Cancer. Expect twists and turns as these VIPs compete to be crowned The Circle's most popular celebrity player.
How are feeling about joining The Circle?
Baga Chipz: "Oh, my God. Do you know what? Sometimes I'm like, "What are you letting yourself in for, Baga? What are you letting yourself in for?" But at the end of the day, I've been given an amazing opportunity. I'm new to the game, but I might be one of the most famous women in Britain at the moment! Since Drag Race, I've been given all these opportunities and I was just like, "You know what? I'm actually a fan of that show." I haven't got to eat creepy crawlies or I haven't got to do intense fitness workouts. So I was like, basically I'll be sitting on my ass trying to catfish people."
Denise Van Outen: "I'm so excited! I can't wait. It's going to be so much fun. I'm looking forward to it. I like the show anyway. I caught Richard Madeley on it the last time I was watching, and I thought it was really fun, so yeah, just can't wait to get started... I like the idea of trying to figure out if people were being genuine by throwing questions at people and trying to suss them out."
Duncan James: "It's nice to actually get out the house and do some work, just something to escape from the lockdown. I've been with my mum the whole time. I've loved it but you do start to go a little bit crazy at times, don't you? And it's just nice to have a little bit of an opportunity to do something different."
Nadia Sawalha: "It's so exiting to really think about what we're going to do, and how we're going to play it! I love the idea of playing somebody else and hanging out with Kaye, we are like two mischievous sisters. I also love social media. I love it. For a long while, I was one of those, "What's all this social media rubbish?" And, now, it's a huge part of my life. I have a very busy Instagram and YouTube channel with all sorts of things going on including my family reality show, so whenever I'm not at Loose Women, I'm working on my social media seven days a week. I'm just fascinated by it."
Kaye Adams: "So much of our communication is around social media now, isn't it? I mean, it's an essential part of the way we communicate, it's the way you present yourself to the world. My kids are 18 and 13, not that they are particularly social media minded, but I think everyone now has a social media presence, and they have to think about how they present themselves. It used to be with kids, it would be how you walked in a room, and you shake the person's hand, and you look them straight in the eye, all of that kind of thing that my mum would have advised me. That's only one element of how you present yourself these days."
Lady Leshurr: "It's crazy, really. My emotions are all over the place. I'm a bit nervous, but at the same time, I'm quite excited. I'm looking forward to giving TV the entertainment that they've been dying for. I'm very excited."
Rickie Haywood-Williams: "Firstly, when the show first launched, myself and Melvin were just blown away by the concept of it. It was just so of this time, social media and the whole kind of trap that falls around catfishing and things like that. It's just really fascinating. We've always been really interested in doing this reality TV show. We were massive fans of Big Brother, obviously, when that was in its heyday and beyond that and just the psychological element of things as well."
Melvin Odoom: "You know what? Me and Rickie are secretly excited. It's an amazing concept and idea. And it's the cause, the fact that doing it for Stand Up to Cancer is a great cause as well. I think Channel 4 have done very, very well in addressing such a serious topic, but connecting them to shows that we all love. So, yeah, I think we're really lucky to be part of it, and we're gassed about the person we're going to pretend to be, as well."
Saffron Barker: "I'm really excited. I feel a bit nervous because I've never lived on my own before, I still live with my family. So it's going to be like such a strange experience, like not only am I not going to be in touch with everybody in the outside world, it's going to be the first time living alone. So I'm nervous and excited."
Charlotte Crosby: "I'm so excited. I am such a huge fan of The Circle. I just love TV, I'm one of those people who has seen every single reality show. Everyone's like, "Are you watching Selling Sunset? Are you watching this?" I'm like, "Yeah, I've watched them all." I am obsessed with TV. You know when you meet people and they're like, "I just don't watch TV." I'm like, "Why?" How could you not watch TV? It's my favourite thing to do."
Pete Wicks: "It's just such a good concept. Everyone goes on about catfishes, a lot of people have been catfished, or have been used as catfish. So I think it's just quite a good social experiment, isn't it? I think me and Sam doing it together is going to be quite funny, because we could not be any more different if we tried. Us trying to join together to be someone else is all kinds of weird, if I'm honest about it."
Sam Thompson: "You know what? I'm going to be honest with you. The reason I've done this is because Pete Wicks will be contractually obliged to live with me for six days! That is 95% of the reason I'm doing this, and I've always wanted to be a catfish and I get to be now. What a brilliant opportunity."
The Celebrity Circle begins Tuesday 9th March at 9:15pm on Channel 4.
Interview: Channel 4


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A little more than four years after Laredo ISD began the construction and renovations of several schools and support facilities, the work is nearly complete. The construction projects which include Dovalina Elementary School, Heights Elementary School, Kawas Elementary School, Nixon High School JROTC Building, Cigarroa Middle School and Cigarroa High School were funded by a $150 million bond proposition approved by LISD voters in May, 2018.
Changing the landscape in West Laredo is the construction of Dovalina Elementary School's new campus located along the riverbanks of the Rio Grande River at 1700 W. Anna Ave. Finishing touches are being added to the interior library space, hallways, and restrooms. The new $14.9 million facility will feature 21 instructional classrooms, two computer labs, a science lab, Library Media Center, a fine arts classroom, music classroom, and two self-contained classrooms. Dovalina Elementary School was designed by Design Group International Architects and is being built by Leyendecker Construction. The new campus is expected to be fully complete by March of 2023. Students will be receiving their instruction in the new setting during the 2023-2024 school year.
"I am elated and anxiously awaiting the grand opening of this new state of the art campus for Anita T. Dovalina Elementary School," said Dr. Karla Pena, Dovalina Elementary School Principal. "We are part of a proud historical community in the Ladrillera area, and these new facilities bring forth a new era of innovation and progress. Our students, teachers, and staff are eager to open the doors of these new facilities and continue our educational journey alongside our community."
At Heights Elementary, the district is adding four new classrooms, a new library, as well as an expanded teacher parking lot. Work on the front façade of the new library and connecting hallways to the existing building is in progress. The additions and renovations were designed by Design Group International and are being constructed by Summit Building and Design. The project will cost $3,091,580.00 and will be completed by April, 2023.
Kawas Elementary Schools is currently under construction at its original location at 2100 S. Milmo Ave. Exterior brickwork is currently underway. The new $16.4M campus will feature 31 instructional classrooms from Pre-K - fifth grade, three computer labs, two science labs, a music room, cafeteria and full kitchen prep, administrative offices, library media center, gymnasium, nurses' station, drop off/pick up lanes for students, parking lot improvements, security fencing and facility access control, covered canopies, and playground. The new Kawas Elementary School was designed by Cavazos Architects and is being built by Leyendecker Construction.
A new stand-alone JROTC Building is being constructed at Nixon High School. The project footprint has been poured. Concrete masonry unit block, exterior brickwork, interior walls, window installation, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work are currently in progress. The new JROTC Building will include instructional classrooms, offices, shooting range, weight room area, covered training area, and storage rooms. The LISD Construction Department and Cavazos Architects designed the building which is being built by Leyendecker Construction. The new $2.5M JROTC Building will be completed by April, 2023.
"As our District continues to expand opportunities for our students, we must continue to meet those needs by constructing facilities for all our new programs and provide an enriched educational experience along with activities possible," said LISD Board of Trustee President, Monica Garcia.
The last bond projects, which are already underway, include the reconstruction of Cigarroa Middle School and renovations to Cigarroa High School.
The new Cigarroa Middle School will be located at 3618 Ejido Road. in the Lomas Del Sur subdivision. The concrete floor for the gymnasium was recently poured. The new 250,000 square feet campus which sits on 23 acres of property will feature a three-story academic building with two wings each for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade classes. The campus will also have a boys and girls gymnasium with restrooms, lockers, weight rooms, and cheerleading and dance studio areas and its own cafeteria for 450 students with additional outdoor seating. The students will have access to a new band hall/fine arts area that will include orchestra ensemble, band hall rehearsal, choir area, storage and multiple sound-proof practice areas, a library with a lecture hall and computer lab, and a special education and life skills wing. The new school is designed by Sepulveda Associates and is being built by Leyendecker Construction. Cigarroa Middle School will be completed by December, 2025.
Cigarroa High School, which is already under construction, will be completed in two phases. Phase 1 will include a new two-story facility that will replace the existing academic wings, vocational classrooms, and administration offices. Phase 1 will be completed by Winter, 2023.
"As a former student of Cigarroa High School, I'm so thrilled about the renovations and construction in our south Laredo campuses, which is long overdue," said Garcia.
Over at Nixon High School, the new Johnny Mayers Vocational and Agricultural Building was constructed. The total cost of this project was $10.8 million. The new Vocational and Agricultural Building includes a new Auto Technology Shop, Auto Collision Shop, Carpentry Shop, Cosmetology Lab, Meat Processing Lab, and Agriculture and Welding Shop. Each shop has its own instructional classroom adjacent to it.
At Martin High School the new Estella Quintanilla Multi-Purpose Building was built. The $5.9M two-story Science and Culinary Arts Building has a multi-use student gathering atrium and a culinary arts lab with a full commercial kitchen and classrooms. The other side of the atrium will house a spacious dance studio for cheer and tumbling practices. The ample new studio also doubles as a contemporary dance teaching facility. The second floor houses the science classrooms and a robotics and technology lab.
The district recently opened a newly constructed Instructional Technology Training Center on Cedar Ave. where district employees receive the latest technology training available. The new Training Center was designed by Sepulveda Associates Architects and was built by Cobalt Construction. The cost of the new center was $1,826,633.00.

subset: commoncrawl


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Community News – Achievements of RPCVs
Author: Peter Deekle
September 2019
Daniel Martin Moore's new album Never Look Away is due out on October 4. In its title track which he co-produced, the Kentucky singer-songwriter tries to convince himself, and listeners, that all hope is not lost: "I hear that song as a way of accepting that it is still possible to be peaceful in our obsessive and hectic cultures." Moore has released seven albums since 2008 and will be touring this fall and into next year.
Juana Bordas (1964-1966) is the president of Mestiza Leadership International, a company focused on leadership, diversity, and organizational change. The first Latina to serve as a faculty for the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), she taught in the Leadership Development Program. She will receive the International Leadership Association's Lifetime Achievement Award at its October 2019 annual conference.
David Ives (1980-1983), the executive director emeritus of the Albert Schweitzer Institute at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut, an adjunct professor of international relations, political Science, philosophy, and Latin American studies, has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Nominated three times for this prize, he was last nominated in 2016 for his peace initiatives in Central America.
Carrie Dolan (2002-2003) is an assistant professor in the Department of Kinesiology & Health Sciences at the College of William & Mary. She began her scientific explorations as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Jamaica, working with the Ministry of Health. Her investigation of health care issues in the world's remote locations from Jamaica to Kenya resulted in her selection as a Fellow of the Explorers Club, founded in 1904 to promote "the scientific exploration of land, sea, air, and space by supporting research and education in the physical, natural and biological sciences."
Paul Thompson (1970-1973) started his work as an environmental advocate and volunteer in a group known as the Citizens Climate Lobby in 2007. Thompson was a fulltime teacher until his retirement in 2008. After his retirement, he has spent the past 11 years working on programs alerting the world of the current climate change issues. He has been carrying out his mission alongside his wife, Mindy.
Lisa Curtis (2010-2011) is the co-founder of Kuli Kuli, the first brand to introduce the green superfood moringa to the U.S. market. She gained a first-hand understanding of the common nutritional challenges faced in West African villages during her Peace Corps service.
Ed Riehl (2006-2008) founded the Delaware Valley Fairness Project, a nonprofit that supports Philadelphia schools and families. Since 2016, it has invested more than $500,000 on staff to support schools and on projects large and small, from launching and maintaining food pantries inside four city schools to buying furniture for a family getting back on its feet after homelessness.
Please share your news with us! Email Peter Deekle.


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After spending much time on the Mondraker Foxy 29, the Italian distributor sent us a Yeti SB150 frame for long term test. It's a bike of the same type and with the versatility necessary to be able to do loads of bike park laps as well as long human powered days. Here's a look at the build and assembly, even if over time it will change because we'll use the frame to conduct different tests of various new components.
The SB150 is a 29-inch bike with 150mm of travel at the rear, managed by a Fox Float X2 with a lever for quick compression lockout. I have combined it with a Fox 36 Factory Grip2 fork with 160mm travel and 37mm of offset.
The suspension system is the Infinity Switch, which has been the go to on all Yetis for yearsnow. Compared to the first version, it is now better protected from dirt thrown by the rear wheel because it is recessed into the frame.
An absolute novelty is the new Yep Components Uptimizer 3.0, in an advanced prototype phase. What you see in these photos has 155mm of travel and is by far the most sensitive and plush I've ever tried. You can immediately feel it even lowering the saddle with your hand when you are off the bike – it takes very little pressure to actuate it. It also has no side-to-side play, we'll see how it fares long term, at the end of the test.
The standover is very low, even for me on a size Large frame for me at 179cm tall with a 74cm saddle to bottom bracket length.
What makes the Yep post very interesting is being able to do maintenance yourself, without the need for special tools. The bleed port located at the top (under the saddle) allows the air entering the system to be removed. Another gem, which is not seen, are the tokens that increase the progressivity at the end of the stroke, making the impact less abrupt when the saddle is completely lowered. In this there are two that will be present in the package.
The details are very accurate, like the minimum and maximum pressure to insert (click on the photo to enlarge). The Uptimizer 3.0 will be on the market from the beginning of 2020, if you have any questions posted here in the comments, @church will answer.
The wheels are the new DT Swiss EXC 1200 Spline 30 , with the new Ratchet EXP that we presented here . The rims are carbon, with a 30mm internal diameter. The detected weight is 810 grams at the front and 930 grams at the rear, which is quite light for a 29″ wheelset.
Also the rubber coating is new, these are the Specialized Butcher (front) and Eliminator (rear) 2.3 "and with the new Grid Trail carcass, lighter than the Black Diamond but more puncture resistant than the Grid. The weight is 1,028 and 1,075 grams.
The braking system is a Magura MT7 with new MDR-P discs, both in 200mm. These discs are designed for heavy duty use and are even available in a 220mm diameter. They do not exist under 200mm.
The MT7s are very powerful and will be compared to the Trickstuff Direttissima in a comparative test. Magura also sent us various levers, interchangeable with those fitted as standard, as well as pads with different compounds.
Another novelty is found in the caps of the Fabric 50:01 grips. They are the Mariposa Stopgap, meaning that they are used to store plugs in the handlebar for repairing tubeless tires. One cap has a 1.5mm thick fork, the other has a larger 3.5mm one.
Here they are extracted and ready for use. The plugs are standard fare that can be purchased almost anywhere.
Speaking of handlebars and relative 35mm connection, this is the Pro Taper 800mm, in carbon fiber.
The more attentive will have noticed a thinner cable than most others: it is the one that comes with the remote for the Uptimizer 3.0. The lever remains unchanged, but the cable is thinner and should work better.
In the head tube I couldn't miss out on the One Up Components EDC Tool, now inevitable on the bikes I ride long term. In the extension I put some spare plubs.
As you may have noticed, I didn't say much about the drivetrain, a 1×12 SRAM Eagle. My AXS wireless derailleur and shifter are missing, lost for about a month around Europe in a package that should arrive in the coming days. I will update the photos as soon as I have mounted them.
Finally it is worth mentioning that mounting the SB150 was very easy to build, thanks to the sleeved internal routing, which also makes it very quiet on the trails. The passage of the dropper seat post is also well thought out, because there is a small door under the bottom bracket that allows the hose to be directed around from the seat tube to the down tube.
The weight of the bike without pedals is 13.75 kg.


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Joint COAA-PA & BCxA Event: Zero Defects: A Focus on Project Cx and QA/QC
Event Details
Join the Building Commissioning Association's Mid-Atlantic Chapter and the Construction Owners Association of America's Pennsylvania Chapter for a virtual event, Zero Defects: A Focus on Project Cx and QA/QC. There is no fee to register and attend.
After you have completed your registration, you will be sent a Zoom Meeting link from a BCxA National Capital Chapter member to use on the day of the event.
COAA-PA and BCxA continue to partner to offer educational and networking opportunities that focus on project Commissioning and QA/QC. Eliminate risk on projects by implementing a quality management plan that incorporates important aspects of commissioning, third-party ifwespections, mock-ups, and innovative technology in the field. Please join us as we explore best practices and strategies to limit defects in design and construction. See you there!
2:00 Welcome
2:15 Monitoring Based Commissioning presented by Jesse Sycuro, PE, CCP, CEM, LEED AP - McKinstry
3:00 Break
3:15 Trends to Watch (Update!): Technology Driven Quality Control on Projects presented by Brian Nahas - Mortenson
4:00 Break
4:15 Virtual Project Visit - Penn State Henning Building Project presented by Adam Ugliuzza, PE - Intertek, Phil Engers - Facility Dynamics, Jason Gross - Turner Construction
5:00 Closing & Social Hour


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Welcome to the most wonderful time of the year. This is the time where everyone in your family is supposed to gather and be joyful and present each other with gifts that make you smile. You're expected to show your gratitude for their thoughtfulness and cherish the deep conversations that are had.
Okay….we know the holidays are NOT always an amazing, magical, and joyous occasion. Many people stress about the financial toll of gifts and um... have you seen those gas prices? Or maybe they don't get along with their in-laws or second cousin, twice removed. These are just a few worries for those that have family to celebrate the holiday season with.
The holidays can be rough! Most of the commercials show families that are happy with each other and having the best time! Holiday movies make us believe that everyone finds love by the end of Christmas day. Magazine covers will have you believe that Santa always brings you exactly what you need. However, in truth there are a ton of people that do not have anyone to celebrate the holidays with. The ones that do have a place to go, do not always end up leaving the festive party in a happy mood.
Getting together with people who may have a variety of different opinions can take a toll on our mental health. Choosing when to voice your thoughts, when to just accept the opinions of others or just to walk away is a difficult task. You may be expected to show your gratitude for their thoughtfulness in gift choices and cherish the deep opinionated conversations that are had….
The amount of daylight starts to decrease, the temperature drops, and we tend to see a decline in ambition to trek outside. Have no fear, a couple of our therapists - Jason Carrasco and Carling Mashinter have a few tips to help you navigate your way through difficult conversations this year. If you have not had a chance to listen to their podcast this month, I will fill you in on their suggestions.
They suggest that when a dispute arises, try to take a mental step back and ask yourself what your intention is. Is your intention to prove the other person wrong? If so, do you think that will be helpful for you? For them? For the relationship? How do you feel the other person may react if you dedicate your energy to proving them wrong? Do you find that the conversation is giving you some big feelings and emotions?
If you find that you are holding onto a specific agenda as in "I'm right and you're wrong" then the conversation is going to become very combative. You will find that you are listening for times to prove the other person wrong. The other person may adopt the same way of interacting. It will be a back and forth of who's right.
There is another option for these situations - embracing curiosity. Why not ask the other person, "why is this so important to you?" or "It sounds like this is significant to you, can you help me understand your opinion?" Jason and Carling encourage you to actively listen which will allow you to give a brief overview of what you heard. It is then helpful to ask the other person if you got what they said correctly.
Overall, it is important to listen, understand, and then validate the other person. After you have understood the problem, you need to empathize and validate with emotion. You can do this by saying "That makes sense to me that you would feel that way". "If that were me in your position I would be just as upset". Additionally, you may find it helpful to repair and apologize! You can do this by saying "I'm sorry that I made you feel this way. I know and recognize the hurt that I have caused". If you are choosing to apologize, you must apologize for the specific hurt that you caused, not just a general apology.
Remember – listening, understanding and validating (and even apologizing) does NOT mean that you agree with the other person's opinion. You are seeking to understand their opinion and experiences.
This is an ongoing process, and we can always improve on our communication skills. If you need more help, give this month's Relationship Matters podcast a listen. It's all about polarization and how to survive the holidays . If you need additional support, give us a call and book in a session with one of our therapists.
Wishing you a very Merry Communication!


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Now showing items 1-2 of 2
Application of eggplant peels powder for the removal of oil from produced water
(Taylor & Francis, 2016)
The removal efficiency of oil from simulated samples of produced water (SPW) was studied using a low-cost adsorbent eggplant peel powder (EPP). The effects of pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, and temperature on the ...
Produced Water Treatment Using Naturally Abundant Pomegranate Peel
(Taylor & Francis, 2016)
Pomegranate peel powder (PPP) was employed as a low cost adsorbent for the removal of crude oil from simulated produced water (SPW). The effect of contact time, adsorbent dosage, pH, as well as temperature on the efficiency ...


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Thanks to a grant from Allina Health, the West Broadway Farmers Market offers a bike/walk raffle. If you bike or walk to the market, you can enter into a raffle to win $25. But there's a catch: that money has to be spent at the next market. I was a lucky winner two weeks ago, and cashed in my Broadway bucks last week. The deals are so good that I actually had a hard time spending twenty-five dollars in one shot.
What does $25 get you at the West Broadway Farmers Market?
- Swiss chard from Agape Farms, part of Project Sweetie Pie. The chard was grown by northside youth, and Agape/Sweetie Pie folks openly brag about how it's the best you'll ever taste. $2 seems like a bargain.
- Three loaves of bread from Knox Berry Foods. Normal prices for the bread are $2 per loaf, $3 for 2, and $5 for 3. Since I'm a
n addictreturning customer, I got the three loaves for three bucks this time around. - Green beans and eggplant from Teng Vue, a northside resident and farmer. I'm not sure where the veggies are grown, but the items at Vue's table are among the best at the market. They set me back a mere $4.
- Bananas and mangoes from Starr Carpenter of GrassRoot Growers and Growing Pathways. The fruit is obviously not grown in north Minneapolis, but having bananas, mangoes, and pineapples among the other West Broadway offerings is a great addition to the Farmers Market. Another great addition: Starr has a portion of her table reserved for a "northside aggregation" table. People who have extra fruits, veggies, or herbs from their own garden can sell them here. (Maybe this is what I can do with my extra hot peppers?) The bananas and mangoes cost $6.
- If I kept on buying items like these, I wouldn't have room in my backpack to bring them home. So I splurged the last $10 on honey from from Havlicek's Veseli Vrsek Happy Hill Orchard in Webster, MN.
The Farmers Market is at the corner of Broadway and Bryant Ave N, Friday afternoons from three to seven.


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Simon Gachet will contest his second season of the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 series in 2015, the championship has announced.
Gachet, 21, joins Tech 1 Racing after running in the Eurocup with other French teams ARTA and ART.
After winning the 2011 V de V Challenge in single-seaters, he moved to French F4, finishing third in the 2012 season.
He joined ARTA for the following year, taking 14th in the Alps standings with a best finish of fifth. That earned him a graduation to the Eurocup, as well as another season in the Alps series.
He commenced the 2014 Alps campaign with three consecutive podiums and finished in the points twice on his Eurocup debut, but did not manage to maintain that form for the rest of the campaign. He was only 19th in the Eurocup, but did secure a top-five spot in Alps.
Tech 1 Racing, Eurocup champions in 2010 and 2013, endured a difficult 2014 in the series, with guest driver George Russell salvaging their season with a shock win in the season finale.
2015 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 line-up so far
Team | Drivers | ||
Koiranen GP | Jake Hughes | Anton De Pasquale | Jack Aitken |
Fortec Motorsports | Ben Barnicoat | ||
ART Junior Team | |||
Josef Kaufmann Racing | Louis Deletraz | ||
Manor MP Motorsport | Dennis Olsen | Lasse Sorensen | |
Tech 1 Racing | Simon Gachet | ||
ARTA Engineering | James Allen | ||
Strakka Racing | |||
JD Motorsport |


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The biggest from this location for me, 5lb on the nose, certainly some nice fish around from what I know, but for me it's always been an area to get a bite, not for the lunkers I'm after.
But bites here can be plentiful if you play it right, bankside at 6.00am to avoid the great unwashed, a deadbait here is not the norm. Shad chuckers and wasp flickers here in numbers. The first bite came in the same swim, a visible pull of the line and the float bobbles and moves, then confidently goes from left to right and headed to the middle of the swim.
I feel a little resistance, but then it drops off !!!!
An inspection of the bait, it's a small fish. They tend to do that here, a little more pressure than the other areas I fish, so they can tentatively take the bait, clutching the bait side-on so any resistance they let go. Bait back out, again another bite, this time on the other rod.
Sure enough, another fish on, then off as quickly as I type this sentence.
But then two bites at the same time, one float properly going off like the fish is trying to take the bait away from another fish. So a pack most likely mooching around the structure and moving around confident fashion.
A small fish banked, hardly troubled the rod though, a fish is a fish after all.
2 lure anglers turn up, one has decided to join me at my swim, that's nice of him isn't it. He's been blanking and wanted to see what I was doing,
"Hey I recognise you"
Time to move on, I prefer fishing on my terms, a towpath that I share with the rabbits and ducks. So on to the next stretch, an area that has been on my radar for a while. Some cover I wanted to fish, this more my thing some roving to do, the step meter woken up.
The far bank cover is thick here, but boat traffic can be heavy, the shallow waters going from static to pedestrian in a split second. As someone that has fish for Zander plenty of times you get to know where these fish hold out, and sure enough as nice thick bush providing some canopy cover brought a bite pretty quick.
Not a huge fish but at least I'm on them now, having had some mediocre sessions of late. A another couple of hours fishing a few other likely looking spots, no more fish. The boats becoming a pain.


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U.S. Military's Largest Helicopter Engine Procurement Gets Under Way
By Yasmin Tadjdeh
Top aerospace firms are gearing up to compete in a high-stakes program to produce nearly 3,000 engines for Army helicopters.
"It will be the largest engine program in the Department of Defense," said Craig Madden, president of the Advanced Turbine Engine Co., a joint venture of Honeywell and Pratt & Whitney.
The company will be challenging the Army's incumbent engine supplier GE Aviation in the so-called "improved turbine engine program," or ITEP.
The Army is expected to budget more than $500 million for development and engineering of the new engine over the next five years. The selected manufacturer would begin production in 2019.
The Army said it plans to buy about 2,135 ITEP engines for the Black Hawk utility helicopter made by Sikorsky. Nearly 700 would be produced for the Apache attack helicopter, made by The Boeing Co. The 3000 shaft horsepower ITEP engines would be a significant upgrade compared to the 2000 shaft horsepower T701D engines that power the latest Black Hawk and Apache models.
The Army has billed the ITEP program as a centerpiece of its aviation strategy. "This is Army aviation's number one modernization program," said Lt. Col. Curt Kuetemeyer, product manager for ITEP. With limited funding in the foreseeable future to buy new helicopters, the Army has chosen to hedge its bet on a new engine that would make current choppers more fuel-efficient, give them longer duration and additional power to carry extra weight.
"More engine power to the Black Hawk and the Apache means farther range, more time on the objective … all resulting in a more lethal, more effective mission," he told reporters Sept. 28 in a conference call.
The Army published a draft request for proposals in December and the final RFP was released Sept. 24. Vendor proposals are due Nov. 9. The Army will award up to two 24-month contracts for the preliminary design of the new engine. By the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018, the plan is to eliminate one vendor and the winner would continue on with the engineering, manufacturing and design phase, Kuetemeyer said.
Army officials said the ITEP engine will be more advanced and consume less fuel than the current General Electric T700 engine that was fielded in the 1970s and upgraded over the years.
"We estimated savings of $1 billion in fuel and maintenance for the Army," Madden told reporters Sept. 28 at Honeywell's DC office.
The new engine is required to fly at 6,000 feet in temperatures up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. During the war in Afghanistan, the T700's performance in hot conditions was severely degraded and would require aircraft to be flown with less crew and equipment.
Rich Kretzschmar, ITEP's program manager, said feedback from soldiers over a decade of war compelled the Army to seek an improved engine — not just for use in deserts — but in any region of the world.
For the Army, the stakes are high because ITEP could be the first major program in years to transition successfully from research to development and production. It also is viewed as a test case for how aggressive industry competition can help the Army get what it wants at reasonable prices. Before it became ITEP, the program was known as the "advanced affordable engine."
"We do expect healthy competition and hopefully that keeps the price reasonable for the taxpayer and also healthy competition hopefully gets us more refined or more competitive proposals," said Kuetemeyer.
ITEP competitors — which have huge commercial engine businesses — are motivated to win this program because of the prestige associated with supplying an engine to the Army and because the government is committed to funding the entire development.
GE Aviation is expected to propose a new design to replace the latest version of the T700. Honeywell joined forces with Pratt & Whitney in 2006 in anticipation of the Army's engine program. Madden said the ATEC joint venture will make a big play to win the business from GE. The company has spent years testing engine prototypes and working with airframe manufacturers Sikorsky and Boeing to learn the ins and outs of the aircraft. The Army requires that the new engines fit in the same space as the older ones. "We can't grow it. That is a big challenge."
Whoever loses ITEP could still have opportunities to bid for new engine procurements after 2030 when the Army is expected to begin acquiring new helicopters under an umbrella program called "future vertical lift."
The improved turbine engine will be "available for future vertical lift, but the requirements for future vertical lift have not been finalized," said Kuetemeyer.
Madden said the 3000 shaft horsepower ITEP would probably work for future light helicopters but a bigger engine would be needed for medium and heavy lift airframes. "Either competitor in ITEP still has opportunities in future vertical lift," Madden said. "It could be either a 3000 horsepower or a larger version. And the technology can spin into other engines." The ATEC engine, he said, could be scaled up to 4500 horsepower.
Kuetemeyer said the current budget standoff on Capitol Hill affecting the entire federal government should not hurt the ITEP program. "In the short term, second order effects may eventually affect us if we have a longer term shut down or if … this lasts a while and other priorities are more important to the Army," he said. "Right now, no, it won't have a direct impact."
Topics: Aviation, Business Trends, Procurement


text:
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Understand the Sun Certified Java Developer Exam Process 9
The exam assessors aren't thinking like my-algorithm-is-bigger-than-yours
code mavericks. They aren't looking for the next great breakthrough in
record-locking. They aren't even looking for new, creative implementations.
They are looking for development that says, "I'm a thoughtful programmer. I
care about maintainability. Readability is very important to me. I want everyone
to understand what's going on with the least amount of effort. I write careful,
correct code. My code might not be the snappiest, and it might even incur an
extra few bytes in order to make something less complex, but my logic is simple,
my code and my design are clear and implement the specification perfectly, I
didn't reinvent the wheel anywhere, and gosh—wouldn't you just love to have
me on your team?" If your project submission says all that about you, you're
in great shape.
The user should be able to select the origin and destination of flights, and the display should update to show only flights that satisfy those criteria. The user must be able to describe enter the string value "any" for the origin, destination, or both, so as to implement a wildcard-like feature.
For example, the following argument string would select all records describing flights by the SpeedyAir carrier that originate in San Francisco.
Hello Stephane,
I received your inquiry from my customer service team and discussed it with one
of my Java Subject Matter Experts who helped design the certification exam.
She stated we view a production version as any version that was downloadable
directly from java.sun.com, as long as it wasn't an "Early Access" and/or BETA
release, or one of the older "developer releases" (which was an alternate
version of the JDK, also available from java.sun.com, but we don't do that any
This version (1.4.0-b92) should be fine. The '-b92' refers to a particular
build, so as long as you are using what was a full release (FCS) then there will
be no problem. Currently there is both a 1.4.0 and 1.4.1 available as production
versions, both of which are acceptable for the assignment.
The real key is to remember how you obtained the J2SDK, to ensure that it wasn't
a pre-release/early access/beta version that you downloaded. The risk with a
beta version is that something you compile and run on a beta version might work,
and then fail to work on a production version that we use to test it on.
Hope this is helpful.
Best regards,
Steve Moore
Senior Certification Program Manager
Worldwide Certifications
Sun Services
For example, the following argument string would select all records describing flights by the SpeedyAir carrier that originate in San Francisco.
Mark Posted:
This could mean that they [Sun, -- edited by me] take into consideration what platform you used and probably try it on that platform.
best regards,
Steven
SCJP, SCEA
Originally posted by Mark Spritzler:
Bringing this back to the top.
SCJP, SCJD, SCWCD, SCEA Part I
Fly by Night Consultants

quote:
I climbed on the back of a giant albatross
which flew through a crack in the cloud
to a place where happiness reigned...
all year 'round
the music played ever so loudly!
Hole in My Shoe

Ashik Uzzaman
Engineering Manager, Marqeta, Oakland, CA, USA
-Matt
 SCJP2
 SCJD
-Matt
 SCJP2
 SCJD
Spot false dilemmas now, ask me how!
(If you're not on the edge, you're taking up too much room.)
SCJP, SCJD, SCEA 5 "Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science!" Agatha Heterodyne (Girl Genius)
SCJP, SCJD, SCEA 5 "Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science!" Agatha Heterodyne (Girl Genius)
SCJP, SCJD, SCEA 5 "Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science!" Agatha Heterodyne (Girl Genius)
I'd appreciate it if you pronounced my name correctly. Pinhead, with a silent "H". Petite ad:
a bit of art, as a gift, the permaculture playing cards


text:
Meteor has become the go-to Javascript framework for our team. We use it in combination with React on the front-end. I thought I would write a quick tutorial to get started with Meteor + React. In addition, I'll also touch on FlowRouter for the routing. If you do not have Meteor installed yet, you can follow the instructions from this page
Creating the app
You're back? Good, let's get started. First thing to do is creating an new Meteor application. We do this with the following command:
meteor create <nameOfYourApp>
Once this is done, you have a new Meteor application inside the 'nameOfYourApp' folder.
- imports folder
We will create a folder named imports at the top of our new application. imports is a special folder in Meteor. Files inside will only be loaded if an import statement is found to import them.
- client/main.js and client/main.html
You will remove everything from those two files located in the client folder. By default, Meteor uses the Blaze templates. We won't need it. Replace the contents of main.html with the following:

Nothing fancy here, just preparing for React.
- Add react and react-dom
We are going to need those:
meteor npm install --save react react-dom
Note: Inside a Meteor application, when installing new packages, prefix your commands with meteor.
- First Component
For clarity, I added a /ui folder inside my /imports folder. I like to separate the client code and the server code. You don't have to do this though. Inside this /ui folder, I created my first component App.jsx:
import React from 'react'
const App = () => {
return 'Home'
export default App
Again, nothing crazy, just returning a simple string.
- Updating our client/main.js accordingly
Our html file is ready, we need to write our code to render our component. This is basic React, it goes something like this:
import React from 'react'
import { Meteor } from 'meteor/meteor'
import { render } from 'react-dom'
import App from '/imports/ui/App'
Meteor.startup(() => {
render( <App />, document.getElementById('root'))
The code inside Meteor.startup() will run when our application starts.
You can launch your app with meteor
, go to localhost:3000 and see our component properly rendered. Great, now you can use Meteor with React.
Implementing FlowRouter
In this part, we will add a router by using the FlowRouter package. You can install it with:
meteor add kadira:flow-router
Packages inside the Meteor environment are installed by using meteor add. You can remove them with meteor remove.
We will also need the react-mouter package to mount a layout for our routes:
meteor npm install --save react-mounter
- Configuring our routes
We will define our routes in the /client folder, in a file called routes.jsx:
import React from 'react'
import { FlowRouter } from 'meteor/kadira:flow-router'
import { mount } from 'react-mounter'
import App from '/imports/ui/App'
import HomePage from '/imports/ui/HomePage'
import AboutPage from '/imports/ui/AboutPage'
FlowRouter.route('/', {
name: 'Home',
mount( App, {
content: <HomePage />
FlowRouter.route('/about', {
name: 'About',
mount( App, {
content: <AboutPage />
We define routes with FlowRouter.route(). The first argument is the path of the route. We want '/' and '/about' here. Then, we give it a name and we use the react-mounter mount method inside the action() method. The mount method takes the layout as the first parameter. In my example, the component App that we created earlier will be used for that purpose. It will hold the routes content. Then, we specify which component should be rendered inside that layout. The component HomePage will be rendered if the path is '/', and AboutPage will be rendered at the path '/about'.
What component I am rendering will be accessible in App with this.props.content because I chose the key name 'content'. You are free to choose the name you want.
- Adapting our App.jsx component
Our App component now will look like this:
import React from 'react'
const App = props => {
return props.content
export default App
- HomePage and AboutPage components
Finally, we need to create our two components AboutPage and HomePage:
// /imports/ui/HomePage.jsx
import React from 'react'
const HomePage = () => {
return 'This is the homepage'
export default HomePage
// /imports/ui/AboutPage.jsx
import React from 'react'
const AboutPage = () => {
return 'This is the about page'
export default AboutPage
And that's it. You now have two routes in your application. Have fun!


text:
We all know that AIDS has become a scourge among black and Latina women. 64% of American women with AIDS come from the 13% who are African-American. AIDS is the leading cause of death for black women age 24 – 34 years.
It is generally assumed that this is something only those individuals can change, by changing their behavior.
However, some of this differential infection is actually due to government behavior. And, it is something the government could fix immediately and cheaply with one policy change.
This change would be the segregation of prison populations by infectious disease status, that is, based on seropositivity for HIV, Hepatitis B (HVB) and C (HVC) and TB. Separate facilities or cellblocks would be reserved for the virus-free, for those with the blood-borne diseases HIV, HVB and HVC and for those with TB, which can be airborne.
Prisons have become breeding grounds for disease. Ex-cons become vectors that carry diseases of incarceration out to their families and lovers, many of whom are innocent, faithfully waiting wives. HIV passes an estimated 10 times more easily from a man to a woman than vice versa, so women who have never been in prison are at high risk from men who have been.
It is estimated that the prevalence of HIV seropositivity behind bars, compared to in the general population, is 3 to 5 times higher, Hep C (or HCV) 9 to 10 times higher, and TB 4 to 17 times higher. The highest rates of known HIV seropositivity are in New York's prisons: 7.5% for men and 14.2% for women. These rates are far higher than the estimated prevalence among the general US population of 0.6% and even the pandemic rate of 8.8% in sub-Saharan Africa.
12% of African-American men in their 20s and 30s are in prison. 28% to 32% of African-American men become prisoners at some point in their lives. 65% of prisoners are non-white and 44% are African-American, despite the fact that only 13% of the general population is.
Meanwhile, prisons have become breeding grounds for infectious disease.
These factors must explain some of the differential rates of infection of African-American women, as compared to white women, whose likely partners, white men, comprise only 35% of incarcerated men.
The rate of infection at intake is far higher than in the general population, and then the uninfected readily contract infections in the crowded conditions of incarceration, where clean syringes and condoms are largely unavailable. One-quarter of inmates have injected drugs in prison, and nearly half of prisoners who use illegal drugs have shared needles. A Federal Bureau of Prisons study reported that 30 percent of federal inmates engaged in consensual homosexual activity while incarcerated. The same study found that 9 to 20 percent of federal inmates were victims of rape. In addition, when many infected individuals are forced into crowded conditions dangerous blood-borne diseases can be passed via accidents, handmade tattooing tools, fights, shared razors and deliberate infection.
In the case of Hep C (HCV), another slow-developing, frequently fatal and very expensive-to-treat viral disease which infects 17% of inmates but only 1.5% of the general population, some 15% of transmission is due to unknown or little-understood factors, among them "household transmission." While HCV transmission usually requires blood-to-blood contact, some strains apparently pass between household members. It is probably those strains which infect those American prisons in which 100% of prisoners are known to be infected with HCV. Hep C is a serious disease, which costs millions to treat, eventually leads to a slow, painful death by liver failure or a costly liver transplant.
An Op Ed in the New York Times on 18 July, 2007 called for condom distribution in prisons; however, this addresses only a fraction of the problem. Segregation is less controversial and would address all vectors by which disease spreads.
The negligence of prison officials in the face of these epidemics is tantamount to pronouncing death sentences for even minor offenses on many of those inmates unlucky enough to be placed in highly infectious institutions.
Until prison populations are segregated by disease status, thousands of inmates will be exposed behind bars, then released from prison each year to carry home serious diseases which will infect their wives, husbands and lovers.
Given the highly segregated nature of housing blocks inside prison, the separation of prison populations by disease status should be practical. Many prison inmates are already tested, as in most prisons it is already policy that infected men cannot work in the kitchen. Eighteen states already test all new inmates.
In addition, the fact that prisons have become hotbeds propagating dangerous, expensive-to-treat infectious disease is yet another argument for a major re-think of the "war on drugs." Individuals with addiction problems, or minor recreational drug use issues, are being sentenced to a substantial probability of rape by a population well known to be frequently infected with dangerous diseases or to being exposed through "household transmission" of potentially fatal Hep C.
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text:
Extending The Lockdown Is Not A Feasible Option; Here's What We Must Do Next
P R Srinivasan
Apr 06, 2020, 06:54 PM | Updated 07:09 PM IST
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for an exit strategy to ensure the staggered reemergence of population, once the lockdown ends.
Clearly, a phased unwinding of the lockdown is on the cards.
However, when the unwinding starts, what form it will take and how long some restrictions in one form or other will exist are in the realm of speculation.
However, planning for the post-Covid-19 world depends on speculating and anticipating every possible scenario.
International Outlook
As on 6 April 2019, about 60 countries had more than 1,000 coronavirus infections and another 65 have between 100-1,000 infections.
The World had 12.7 lakh infections, 2.7 lakh cured, 9.4 lakh active cases (of which 46,000 were serious or critical) and 69,757 dead.
Global infection rate may be slowing down to more than five days for doubling (on 31 March, the global number of infections was 858,361), but you never know.
All the countries in the world are going through three stages of Covid-19, and on 15 April we would see many countries in each of these three stages.
The first stage is when the number of infections is still very few or none. As of 6 April, there are about 80 countries with two-figure infections, but most of them are countries with small economies or small populations.
The second stage would be countries that are actively managing the crisis, practising social distancing, and are under national lockdown or regional lockdown(s) with only essential economic activities permitted.
Most of the world is in this stage and would perhaps remain in this stage until 15 April.
The third stage would be countries that have managed to keep daily infections low without shutting down their economy (eg, Taiwan), or survived a Covid-19 scare and have reopened their economies (eg, China).
International travel is currently near zero now, and will probably stay there for some time, until there is visible success globally against the pandemic.
Almost all countries have either cancelled all visas, allow only citizens or residents or diplomats to travel or have cancelled all international travel.
Until a vaccine is developed, international travel may only be possible between countries in third stage, and that also only if countries trust each other's data on Covid-19 infections.
Some kind of international travel where people are quarantined for 14 days (only recovered patients with immunity may be exempt) may be possible during the summer or later this year, though unlikely to be in big volumes.
The number of planes in the air at any time during a day has reduced from 8,000-20,000 before the pandemic to 2,500-5,000 currently. The world had about 24,000 commercial aircraft (only 1,800 cargo planes, excluding military aircraft) in active service during 2019.
We don't know whether the disease will be accelerating or slowing down elsewhere in the world on 15 April. We will of course be more concerned on whether the disease is decelerating in India or not. There are several possible scenarios and we would have to be prepared for all eventualities.
However, in all eventualities, we are unlikely to be attending large sporting events or political rallies or religious congregations for the rest of 2020.
Depending on whether or not a second coronavirus wave occurs in the winter of 2020, we may be avoiding large crowds in 2021 as well.
Until a vaccine is developed, approved and is manufactured in sufficient volume, the mantra is going to be "emotionally connected but physically distant!" Goodbye shaking hands! Welcome namaste!
Lifting The National Lockdown
Most of us are realising that an extended national lockdown is not a feasible option for India.
Our government neither has the means, nor does it have the method to feed 500 million unemployed (migrant and farm) workers for an extended period.
The government will have to lift the lockdown even if the national-level data looks bad, provided the spread is restricted to some pockets of pandemic hotspots.
Number Of Cases Per Day Across India
Unfortunately, this is the number that is reported by the press, which everybody is tracking. Clearly, the week starting 5 April is the crunch week. The dream scenario would be that the number of new cases per day sees a dramatic decline and goes back to two figures per day.
The worst scenario would be an increase in new cases per day touching four figures or worse by the end of the crunch week.
Of course, the third scenario would be that the number of cases per day remains in three figures. Whatever it may be, the government will most likely ignore the number of cases per day at the national level, and base its decision only on the following two factors:
Ramping Up Healthcare Capacity: We get sporadic news about railway coaches being converted into hospital beds but despite the non-availability of details, we can be sure that efforts are on a war footing to expand (temporary) hospital capacity and ensure all our hospitals are well-stocked with masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators and intensive care unit beds to a much larger number of patients.
Hopefully, by end of April/May, the Prime Minister would be able to assure the country that we are geared to handle a spike. Progress on this will be a key factor on deciding the date to lift the lockdown.
District-Wide Spread Of The Virus: Data about the number of districts that Covid-19 has spread to and the intensity of infections in the district will be a key factor to decide whether the challenge can be managed district-wide, or a national lockdown is still necessary.
As on 6 April, the Ministry of Health website, reported that 211 districts had Covid-19 cases (India has over 720 districts) and only three (Delhi – shown as multiple districts –, Mumbai and Kasaragod) had three-figure infections. Also, only 50 districts had double figure infections.
However, this is older data as it only considers 1,965 infections, whereas the all-India figure is currently twice that.
On 15 April, the government will have to assess the growth in each district to decide whether the new cases per day are climbing rapidly or are manageable. Districts will be classified as zero-growth districts (with no Covid-19 infections), districts where doubling is taking 10 days or more, districts where doubling is between five and 10 days, districts where doubling is five days or less.
The government will most likely lift the national lockdown on 15 April, and opt for statewide, district-wide or city-wide lockdowns, depending on what the above district-wide and state-wide growth factors. It is highly likely that the government may continue the lockdown in Mumbai, Delhi, Kasaragod and a few other hotspots for a couple of weeks more.
The Health Ministry will actively monitor district-wide data and opt for new lockdowns whenever required, hopefully only for a state/district/city and no national lockdowns will be required after the current lockdown.
The key factor that will determine new lockdowns would be the policy on travel. What will the policy on travel be for road, rail and air transport?
It is highly likely that no travel will be permitted to/from hotspots.
However, travel in other parts of the country may also be curtailed; train tickets in a 72-seater compartment may be restricted to 36. Buses and planes may also be told to sell only half the seating capacity or less.
Obviously, ticket prices will be higher – people will travel only if absolutely necessary. Everybody will be wearing 'face cover' (the authorities don't like the use of word 'mask' as it is understood to mean surgical masks that are still reserved for health workers only) and be practising social distancing.
Permitting travel increases the likelihood of new hotspots and new lockdowns but the country will have to take that risk.
Hopefully, people will practise social distancing, and new hotspots should become rare. Lockdowns in hotspots may be lifted when the district growth rates fall to doubling in 10 days or more and/or when the number of Covid-19 infections is below 100.
Airlines and train services will struggle as a lot of trains/planes originate and terminate in places like Delhi/Mumbai, use service stations/parking bays in Delhi/Mumbai that are likely to experience longer lockdowns.
They will have to reorganise and improvise. Trains that originate in the hotspots may have to originate elsewhere and trains may have to travel non-stop when they go through hotspots. Employees working in airline/railways may also have to be temporarily relocated outside hotspots.
Hopefully soon, all districts in India will see Covid-19 infections of less than 100, growth rates reduced to doubling in more than 10 days and all lockdowns lifted. Hopefully, that should happen, without overloading of the hospitals, without pressure on availability of ventilators and without too much loss of life.
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PR Srinivasan or PRS, as he is known, is passionate about investing and entrepreneurship.
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text:
Like every other film fanatic, Natasha Diddee loved her weekly movie outings. Last week, she booked a couple of tickets for Sully for the 6pm show at her preferred movie hall, Cinepolis, in Seasons Mall, Pune. The seats next to her were occupied by a couple and their toddler, who obviously did not want to be there.
A few minutes in, the kid was screaming and wailing, making it impossible for Natasha, or anyone else, to understand the A-rated movie. Natasha, who was at the theatre with her husband, stayed patient till the interval, and used the break to speak to the couple about the situation. Never did she think that a 'polite' conversation could turn into one of the worst experiences of her life. According to Natasha's Facebook post, she turned to the couple and politely suggested that they take their child out, calm him down, and bring him back in.
The parents, instead, took offence and began screaming at her in front of everyone.
Natasha told Vagabomb, "I was polite and patient, but I don't know what came over the couple, who immediately stood up and started accusing me of all kinds of things. The language, the tone, everything was beyond pathetic. My husband is an expat who has lived in the country for over a decade now. Never have both of us heard ridiculous shit like, 'Tum yeh gore suaron ko yahaan leke aa rahi ho. Sharam karo, humein matt batao kuch.' I was beyond shocked."
Thankfully, others in the theatre intervened and asked them to behave. "Everyone around us agreed that they were disturbed but, despite this commotion, nobody from Cinepolis intervened. The couple walked out because of the embarrassment and we thought that the ordeal was over. Ten minutes later, the authorities finally woke up, came to our seats, and asked us to step outside because this couple had complained against us!"
In the commotion, the woman made false allegations of molestation against Natasha's husband. They made a police complaint, which shocked Natasha and other audience members. Natasha shared, "I couldn't believe what was happening. Thankfully, some audience members accompanied us to the help desk and supported our statements. They told the cops and the authorities that the couple was faking the entire episode. But, even then, the Cinepolis staff and the cops kept asking me to apologize and get done with the matter at hand."
Natasha posted the entire incident on the theatre's Facebook page, which has been shared by her friends and family members. Seeing this, senior officials from the brand finally reached out to her and tried to apologize.
Vagabomb reached out to the Cinepolis team, and Devang Sampat, Director, strategic initiatives, Cinépolis India, shared this vague, evasive statement with us:
"Cinépolis India is a law abiding organization and it's committed to each and every guest that comes to our multiplex. Our staff is trained to analyze the situation, keeping in mind the safety and peaceful environment of our guests. The recent incident of a child allowed in the theatre (who was 16 months old as confirmed by the parents) adhering to the 'Cinematograph Act 1952; as per which "The exhibition of a film, in respect of which an "A" certificate 3 or a "S" certificate or a "UA" certificate] has been granted, to children below the age of three years accompanying their parents or guardians shall not be deemed to be an offence within the meaning of this section." Our team adhered to the company's norms and followed the Cinematography Act 1952."
The brand is using existing laws to justify why they allowed the child in the movie hall in the first place. But there's still no explanation behind why they didn't intervene during this mess and help a customer who was in trouble. But the bigger lesson here is for movie-goers around the country. We've all complained about noisy kids in movie halls on many occasions, but without knowing the laws involved. Now that you do, we suggest approaching the situation more cautiously.
In the meantime, here's hoping someone writes a book on movie hall etiquette for everyone to follow.


text:
Paula writes: Thanks to Rob for letting us put up the text of his articles from the Herald - we are happy to do so! Not only is Rob a great writer as well as amazing at juggling what seems like 50 shows a day at the Fringe, but he has impeccable taste in music. For all that, we salute him! That, and the "aural Lucozade... musical Mars Bar" line in the latest Fringe review, which is indeed total quality. ;)
From the Glasgow Herald, 21 January 2002
Celtic Connections: Nick Harper/Ivan Drever, Tron Theatre, Glasgow
This concert, masquerading anonymously in the Celtic Connections brochure as The Singer and the Song, featured two singer-songwriter-guitarists, both with followings, but few of whom were reached by the festival's publicity machine. The result was a rather more intimate evening than expected, with perhaps more of an insight into the workings of a singer-songwriter than the programmers envisaged.
Ivan Drever continued in the very personal manner which he has pursued since leaving Highland folk-rockers Wolfstone, his pleasantly sleepy vocal style and able guitar work planting both original songs and tunes and cover versions comfortably in the listener's ear. The spaghetti-western air, the White Horse, a typically persuasive reading of John Prine's Speed of the Sound of Loneliness, and a slightly Eddie Cochranised version of Michael Marra's Niel Gow's Apprentice were stand-outs in a fine set.
Marra himself appears in this series - on Thursday, January 31, and while we're dishing out some much-needed promotion, the second guest, Nick Harper, supports Mary Coughlan at the Old Fruitmarket tonight. Go early and see him. Outrageously gifted, he deserves an audience for his committed, creative songwriting, soulful singing, and startling musicianship, particularly after a set here in which he seemed to be putting in twice his usual phenomenal workrate for half the musical return. Sheer force of personality, a sympathetic audience, much chip-off-the-old-block madcap wit, a dedication to the old block himself, Crazy Boy, and a lot of hard guitar graft got him through, although it would have been worth turning up just to witness the performance he made of changing a broken string.
From the Glasgow Herald, 13 August 2002
Edinburgh Fringe: Nick Harper, Southside - 4 stars
In like a lamb, out like a lion. The great thing about a Fringe residency is that, assuming it's not some scripted automaton, audiences see the artist in varying guises. As one guilty of squeezing in return visits to Harperland for fun, I can confidently predict that the next Nick Harper gig I or anyone else sees will be completely different to this.
Here he began introspectively. Songs that can, if not rock, then certainly loom large were delicately laid out. The instrumental Like Punk Never Happened, a Segovianesque guitar study, was performed from the comfort of a back row cushion.
That's Harper: playing live to, being honest with an audience who almost instantly become friends. When a mobile phone - his own, to his horror - interrupts a new song of paternal pride, he improvises and completes it as The Ballad of BT. Wit, warmth, virtuosity. Then, bang. The strumming arm pistons into Headless, generating enough energy to fuel the national grid.
With Harper you don't get everything in the same order or quantity every time, but you do get everything. See him soon.
From the Glasgow Herald, 21 August 2003
Edinburgh Fringe (Aurora Nova): Nick Harper, St Stephen's, ends tonight - 5 stars
Fringegoers suffering from week-three fatigue, here's your fillip, your aural Lucozade, your musical Mars Bar. Just as some Fringe shows seem like the longest hour of your life, 60 minutes of Nick Harper in this wholehearted, energy-giving form feels momentary and yet, as the best live music should, nourishing, too.
Given the strict timing, "Harpic" promised the hits. Yes, but whose hits, seasoned watchers of this always personable one-person band might ask. Harper hits, for sure and there were even one or two new hits - well, they sound up to snuff - from the imminent Blood Songs album.
But there were others' hits, too: Elvis, Led Zeppelin, Monty Python, Public Enemy, and a stunning reading of Jeff Buckley's Grace, all either assimilated into Harpersongs or, as ever, made Harper's own. Being a hits show, there was also a breakage. Harper plays with such locomotive momentum, contrasting with his gentler dexterity, that he's the guitar string industry's biggest pal and as Harperlore dictates, he replaced the string while continuing to sing like a linnet. You have one more chance to catch him - same place, tonight. I might join you.
From the Glasgow Herald, 17 October 2003
Nick Harper, Sat Oct 18, 7pm, The Liquid Room, Victoria Street, Edinburgh, Ł10 (Ł8 adv)
0131 623 0168; Sun Oct 19, 7.30pm, Tolbooth, Stirling, Ł8 (Ł5.50) 01786 274000.
Do Angels have wings? Nick Harper doesn't, but he can fly - vocally and instrumentally. The singing, songwriting, guitar playing force of nature was granted Herald Angel status for his outstanding performances at this year's Edinburgh Fringe.
He's back in the central belt this weekend, continuing at the Lemon Tree, Aberdeen on Monday and Bein Inn, Glenfarg on Wednesday, to promote his latest album, Blood Songs.
It's his sixth studio recording but his reputation has been built largely on his extraordinary wholehearted live performances which portray best his soaring, almost operatic vocals and breathtakingly dynamic, virtuoso guitar technique.
"Harpic's" gigs are notable also for his warmth of personality and for cover versions - including an astonishing take on Jeff Buckley's Grace - which complement his own superbly crafted songs about life, the universe and... hangovers.
Oh, and you know that bit where guitarists break strings and have to stop? Harpic plays so physically that casualties are inevitable. Except, he'll replace the broken string, tune up and fire back into the song while still singing. It's not a gimmick; it's an artform.
One more time, then: if you've never seen this guy live, you're missing out on one of the musical phenomenons of our age.


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You never know when, where, or how an accident will occur. Many of them a likely to result in injuries. Studies show that most accidents are linked to another person's or entity's reckless, intentional, or negligent actions. Having to deal with the damages and injuries can be challenging, more so when the accident also resulted in fatalities. If you unfortunate to be a victim of such an incident, you might be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit against those responsible.
At Crockett Law Group, we are committed to ensuring that all who come to us seeking legal representation are confident they have the best Palm Desert personal injury lawyer fighting for their rights and interests. We shall work hard to ensure you are fully compensated for your injuries, losses, pain, and suffering. A highly accomplished personal injury attorney will oversee your case, having extensive experience and backed by a dedicated team of specialists in different fields that will investigate your claim to gather the evidence needed for building an airtight case.
What Should I Do After an Injury?
The accident might leave you scared, in pain, and confused. Such a state can cause panic, but you should do your best to keep calm and avoid taking any drastic measures to jeopardize your case. That is why you should know the steps to take after sustaining a personal injury, which will help secure your chances of receiving fair compensation:
- It is best to seek immediate medical attention as soon as possible, even if you think your injuries are not severe and keep records of all the treatments.
- Use your phone to document everything because it will be used as evidence in your case. Take photos of the scene, making sure you focus on the more relevant details.
- Speak to potential witnesses and get their contacts, and request them to testify on your behalf when called upon.
- Report the accident to the relevant authorities (a workplace accident to your manager or supervisor, vehicle accident to the police). They will compile an incident report that can be used as evidence in your lawsuit.
- Watch your words because you never know what you say that can be used against you. Also, never admit any fault for the accident and steer clear of confrontations that cause tempers to flare.
- Reach out to an experienced and reputable Palm Desert personal injury lawyer as soon as possible because you have a limited period to act and ensure you cover all the necessary legal requirements when pursuing your claim case.
Why Do I Need A Lawyer And What Are The Benefits?
The law grants you the right to self-representation if you feel confident about your knowledge of the law. However, working with a professional law expert is the best option if you want to improve your chances of walking away as the winner. It is a decision that has its unique benefits. Opting to come to us at Crockett law to help fight for your rights and interests in a personal injury lawsuit will see you enjoy the following benefits:
Case Preparation / Filing a Lawsuit
You will have a dedicated attorney that will investigate your claims to gather the evidence needed when preparing your case. The lawyer will have a team of experts in different specialties when compiling the necessary documents to file the lawsuit, having in mind the applicable statutes of limitations that must be observed. You also will have a team of professionals that will face the insurance companies to ensure they do not scare or dupe you with legal technicalities.
Settlement Negotiation
Negotiating with insurance companies is never easy. It is full of challenges because insurers will do all they can to avoid making losses. That is why you should have an experienced attorney in your corner, helping you counter every trick used to make you agree to a lesser settlement. The lawyer will push for a better offer based on the evidence presented at that negotiation table.
Trial Preparation & Representation
The Palm Desert personal injury lawyer overseeing your case shall be ready to take the matter to court if the settlement negotiations are inconclusive or hit a stalemate. We will go to trial to seek a judge's or jury's verdict as you fight to ensure you get the maximum compensation possible that will help you regain some sense of normalcy in your life after the accident.
What Type Of Damages Are Recoverable In Palm Desert, CA?
Every personal injury case is unique because the damages that victims incur can differ. It is a fact that we at Crockett Law understand even as we represent your rights and interests in your claim case. Moreover, we know that money cannot be a solution for all your losses, pain, and suffering. But it can help you overcome some aspects of life after the accident that pose significant financial challenges. Some of the damages we shall seek include:
Economic Damages
Those at fault for the incident will be required to compensate you for your medical bills, home care, therapy, medication costs, and lost wages. We also will consider funeral and burial expenses because the accident resulted in wrongful death and the damages incurred because of your loved one's untimely demise.
Non-Economic Damages
It is compensations that will cover the losses that often do not have any substantial monetary value, but their impact on your life and family is significant. They are nearly impossible to point to on any bills or documentation that can help determine their specific cost. Such losses include lost companionships, physical disfigurement, emotional anguish, among others.
Punitive Damages
We might ask the court to consider punitive damages if our investigations show that the defendant's actions were irrefutably malicious and amount to gross misconduct. The judge or jury will administer the punitive damages as an additional punishment, issuing it at their discretion.
How Is Liability In A Personal Injury Case In California Determined?
Your chances of walking away with the maximum compensation are dependent upon proving fault. Such an outcome also requires you to have the best Palm Desert personal injury lawyer representing you. The attorney will have a team of professionals who will conduct thorough investigations to determine liability base on the following four legal facts that must be proved:
Proving Duty of Care
Striving to prove that the defendant owes you a duty of care, considering elements such as negligence or malice in the accused's actions. And since California is a pure comparative negligence state, proving liability on the defendant's part means you are entitled to compensation even if you shoulder some blame for the accident.
Breach of Duty of Care
Once we prove the accused owed you a duty of care, we then shall prove they were in breach of that responsibility.
The personal injury lawyer handling your case will also show the court that your injuries are a direct result of the accident that occurred because of the defendant's actions (breached the duty of care).
The goal of the lawsuit is to ensure those responsible for the accident are punished for their actions and you are compensated for your injuries, losses, pain, and suffering. The damages we help you recover in the settlements will be enough to cover your financial expenses related to medical bills, lost wages (current and future), among other life-changing situations.
How Much Time Do I Have To File A Personal Injury Claim In California?
Preparing for a personal injury lawsuit can be challenging, given the different legal hurdles that you must jump to ensure everything goes well. Part of this process entails gathering all the facts surrounding the case to have something substantive to submit when filing the claim case. All this takes time, and that is one element that might not be on your side if you do not act soon.
California state's statute of limitations for personal injury cases stipulates that you have two years from the date of your injuries to file a lawsuit against the parties responsible. Therefore, the sooner you get in touch with us, the better your chances of beating this deadline.
How Much Will A Palm Desert Personal Injury Lawyer Cost?
At Crockett Law, we believe that justice is a right to all; hence, money is not always the focus when we represent our client. Nevertheless, the compensation we help our clients to receive is a means to an end, offering some answers to various challenges they face because of another person's negligent or reckless actions. Therefore, do not fear coming to us for help when you need legal representation.
We are a law firm that will listen to you to understand the nature of your case. We offer a free initial consultation and will review your case to advise you on the best way forward. We also can offer our services on a contingency fee basis, meaning you will pay us after we help you win the case and get compensation. The payment will be a small percentage cut (prior agreed upon) from the settlement the court awards you.
Types of Personal Injury Cases We Handle at Crockett Law
Personal injuries can result from different accidents which can happen on the roads, at the office, in a restaurant, at a friend's place, in a public mall, or any other place. We have handled personal injury claims associated with the following incidents:
• Car Accidents – California records hundreds of vehicle accidents monthly, and many are linked to speeding, distracted driving, or driving under the influence.
• Truck Accidents – Such cases can be complicated by issues such as trailer/truck ownership, more so when the victim is employed as the truck driver.
• Wrongful Death – If your loved one died as a result of someone's negligent or wrongful actions, our attorneys can help you seek compensation in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Other accident cases we have handled as personal injury lawsuits include hit-and-run accidents, motorcycle accidents, and premises liability.
Get In Touch A Reliable Palm Desert Personal Injury Lawyer Today At Crocket Law
It would be best to consider working with a dependable, reputable, and seasoned personal injury attorney in Palm Desert, CA, to help you prepare your case. At Crockett Law Group, we are confident we have the legal minds with the capacity to fight for your rights and interests and ensuring you are duly compensated for your injuries, losses, pain, and suffering. Call our law offices today at (800) 900-9393 to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation and know more about how we can help.


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Electronic Flora of South Australia Genus Fact Sheet
Phylum Rhodophyta – Class Florideophyceae – Order Gigartinales – Family Kallymeniaceae
Thallus foliose with an entire or variously lobed margin, perforate or not, sometimes spinose, usually almost as broad as high. Structure. Medulla becoming largely filamentous, but with stellate and usually larger medullary cells remaining, and with a cortex usually 2–4 cells broad, the outer cells smallest.
Reproduction: Non-procarpic. Carpogonial branch systems mono- or polycarpogonial with the supporting cell, first cell of the carpogonial branch, and subsidiary cells either rounded or variously lobed, fusion cell usually massive and much lobed, producing several to many connecting filaments. Auxiliary cell systems with 3–8 subspherical to ovoid subsidiary cells on an ovoid auxiliary cell. Carposporophyte consisting of numerous carposporangia intermixed with filaments, within the medulla. Spermatangia scattered over the thallus.
Tetrasporangia scattered, cruciately (rarely irregularly) divided, connected to inner or middle cortical cells and lying in the outer cortex.
Lectotype species: K. reniformis (Turner) J. Agardh 1842: 99.
Taxonomic notes: A genus of about 20 species, with 5 known from southern Australia and two further species from N.S.W. (see Womersley & Norris 1971, pp. 9, 11). The type species has been studied in detail by Norris (1957, p. 257) and by Hommersand & Ott (1970).
AGARDH, J.G. (1842). Algae Maris Mediterranei et Adriatici, Observationes in Diagnosin Specierum et Dispositionem Generum. (Fortin, Masson: Paris.)
HOMMERSAND, M.H. & OTT, D.W. (1970). Development of the carposporophyte of Kallymenia reniformis (Turner)J. Agardh. J. Phycol. 6, 322–331.
NORRIS, R.E. (1957). Morphological studies on the Kallymeniaceae. Univ. Calif. Pubis Bot. 28, 251–333.
WOMERSLEY, H.B.S. & NORRIS, R.E. (1971). The morphology and taxonomy of Australian Kallymeniaceae (Rhodophyta). Aust. J. Bot. Suppl. 2, pp. 1–62.
The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia Part IIIA complete list of references.
Womersley, H.B.S. (14 January, 1994)
The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia
Rhodophyta. Part IIIA, Bangiophyceae and Florideophyceae (to Gigartinales)
Reproduced with permission from The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia Part IIIA 1994, by H.B.S. Womersley. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra. Copyright Commonwealth of Australia.
1. Thallus with numerous subcircular perforations | 2 |
1. Thallus without numerous regular perforations | 3 |
2. Monocarpogonial with lobed subsidiary cells; stellate cells lightly staining and with irregular arms mostly shorter than body of cell; outer cortical cells mostly | K. cribrosa |
2. Polycarpogonial, with a rounded to ovoid first cell of the carpogonial branch; stellate cells lightly staining with slender arms commonly | K. cribrogloea |
3. Thallus large ( | K. tasmanica |
3. Thallus smaller (usually under 15 cm high), foliose but without overlapping lobes, monocarpogonial and with small auxiliary cell systems (without carpogonial branches) | 4 |
4. Thallus surface without spines, sometimes with small irregular excrescences; outer cortical cells elongate in section and subpalisade-like, medullary filaments coarse | K. rubra |
4. Thallus or at least the margin covered with branched spines | K. spinosa |
Email Contact: State Herbarium of South Australia |


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Border Grill at Caesars Palace and Mandalay Bay This cantina offers famous Latin flavors made by celebrity chef duo Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Fenuger. ….
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Updated March 18, 2019 1. The Las Vegas Strip The 2.5-mile-long central section of Las Vegas Boulevard, which runs through the city from northeast to ….
December in Las Vegas brings mild temperatures and typically sunny skies, making it one of the absolute best times of the year to get out ….
This year, travelers can enliven their Thanksgiving weekend in Las Vegas with new brand-new stage shows, concerts from famous musical acts, and active experiences like rooftop ice skating. The ….
Updated February 12, 2019 Sometimes it seems like the only way to enjoy Vegas is to risk losing money gambling, paying a lot for shows, or ….
Inside Caesars Palace Forum Shops, one collection of statues regularly comes to life in a free show. Because it's Las Vegas, you can count on ….


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Lucy Hale won the American Juniors singing competition in 2003. A performance that opened the doors to television for her, since she first appeared in Ned: How to survive my studies? , before starring in the fiction Secrets of a Small Town. Unfortunately, the program pilot is not selected by the ABC channel.
The comedy How I put your mother and The Wizards of Waverly Place, with Selena Gomez, invite her on their sets for a few episodes. Then, in 2007, Lucy Hale played the younger sister of a Bionic Woman, half woman, half robot. But the series, which does not meet its audience, is finally cancelled at the end of the first season. Still passionate about the performing arts, the pretty brunette remains determined to break into this environment.
After having illustrated herself alongside Blake Lively in 4 girls and 1 jeans 2, Lucy Hale becomes one of the protagonists of Privileged, Rose Baker, the rich daughter of a cosmetic legend. Seduced by her acting, the ABC Family channel entrusted her with the role of Aria Montgomery from Pretty Little Liars.
In this thriller-like teen drama, four teenage girls find themselves harassed by a stranger named "A", a year after their friend Alison's disappearance. The young woman from Tennessee then finds herself in the terrifying Scream 4 and gives the answer to Nikki Reed in Downers Grove.
She even lends her voice to one of the little creatures in Tinker Bell and the Secret of the Fairies. At the same time, she is working on her first studio album, " Road Between", released in the summer of 2014. Lucy Hale Wallpapers


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Refugio Oil Spill: Let No Crisis Go to Waste
Serious Erosion Issues Plague Ruptured Pipeline
Political leaders ranging from Winston Churchill to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel have long opined on the importance of never letting a good crisis go to waste. Whether the Refugio oil spill qualifies as "good" depends, no doubt, on one's vantage point. Probably the dead dolphins that washed ashore, their mouths blackened with oil, might have an opinion on the matter.
Earlier this week, state representatives Hannah-Beth Jackson and Das Williams dropped a legislative cluster bomb of gut-and-amend bills designed to prevent future Refugio spills from taking place. Late Wednesday night — 30 minutes before the stroke of midnight — Congressmember Lois Capps — managed to get an amendment to an appropriations bill passed that would require the federal agency responsible for pipeline safety to enact new rules and regulations relating to leak detection and shutdown capacity.
As quick fixes go, it ain't. It's weedy and wonky in the extreme, but it sends a clear message that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) — an especially obscure agency within the Department of Transportation — needs to stop dragging its feet on such matters. According to some Capitol Hill staffers who've bird-dogged the agency in the past, PHMSA has been under pressure from Congress to enact such regulations since 2002, but it has been especially slow to act. According to PHMSA spokesperson Damon Hill, drafting new rules involves a nine-step process, the first being an "advanced notice of proposed rule making." PHMSA took that first step in 2010, but has yet to take the second one — the actual notice of proposed rule making.
Hill took issue with critics who've charged his agency has been timid, querulous, and fearful of its own shadow. "PHMSA's work on leak detection and valves has been extensive, transparent, and inclusive," he said, pointing out the agency hosted a workshop on the matter in 2012. Capps would no doubt be stomping her feet were she not still recovering from recent ACL (anterior cruciate ligament, aka "knee") surgery. But her bill sets aside $1 million to help PHSMA accelerate the process. Capps introduced another measure that would have funded the agency to the tune of $27 million — what President Barack Obama's proposed budget called for — but that was shot down on a party-line vote 202 to 222.
Recent revelations about the extent of corrosion found on the Plains All American pipeline that ruptured two weeks ago will no doubt add fuel to the already raging debate over an agency that until two weeks ago most Santa Barbarans had never heard of. The preliminary results show that the pipe in question had been worn down by external corrosion — on the bottom of the pipe — losing anywhere from 54 to 74 percent of wall thickness.
Plains All American had "pigged" the line on May 5 — two weeks before the rupture — as part of an internal inspection and detection process. Plains reported to PHMSA metal loss of approximately 45 percent in stretches of the failed pipe. That report, however, was contradicted by PHMSA inspectors, who concluded the damage was substantially worse. They found metal losses up to 74 percent and that the pipe itself — in places — had been worn down to one-sixteenth of an inch.
Typically, under PHMSA protocol, such inspections are required every five years. The fact that the May 5, 2015, inspection was conducted within three years of the most recent one in 2012 indicates problems — described in the techno speak of pipeline inspectors as "anomalies" — were encountered. PHMSA investigators discovered three repairs made to the ruptured pipe. Still, the pipe blew, leaving a gash six inches long. Plains All American owns and operates several pipelines in Santa Barbara besides the now notorious Line 901. In Line 903 — 128 miles long and 30 inches in diameter — previous investigations found 99 metal loss anomalies.
These finds are re-enforced by the pipeline permit history with the County of Santa Barbara, limited and sketchy though it may be. In 2013 — not long after the previous inspection — Plains filed applications with county energy planners to investigate 82 anomalies. The most reported in any previous year were 15 in 2008. In that year, 15 anomalies were reported between Las Flores Canyon and Gaviota, the stretch where the current rupture took place. The most recent spate of anomalies took place away from the 10 miles of pipe currently giving Plains headaches and giving Santa Barbara millions of dollars' worth of unwanted free publicity.
County energy director Kevin Drude said he has no idea what any of these reported anomalies signify, explaining the County of Santa Barbara has no jurisdiction over pipeline safety matters and is kept out of the loop. (Plains All American Pipeline's pipeline is the only pipeline in Santa Barbara County not to be regulated by county energy planners. The company's predecessor — Celeron — successfully rebuffed county oversight efforts in federal court in the late 1980s. Celeron argued that because it was an interstate pipeline — meaning it went from California to Texas — the county lacked legal authority to impose its regulatory oversight; only the federal government did.) The county does have jurisdiction, however, over what happens to the ground on top of the pipeline, and permits are required when more than 50 cubic yards of soil have to be dug up or moved to get a closer look at what the "anomalies" entail. Typically, the pipeline operators rely on the results of their internal tests — pigging the line — for preliminary info as to where trouble spots might lie. At some point, however, actual digging is required.
Although PHMSA has not made any official finding as to what caused the pipeline rupture, clearly the failing is tied to what appears to be a dramatic level of corrosion. That the pipeline thickness could have gotten so worn away will animate debate as the adequacy of the job done by PHMSA.
Critics of the agency note PHMSA has yet to establish any functional threshold for pipeline leak detectors, or, for that matter, to require that such detectors be in place for all pipelines. The states of Washington and Alaska, by contrast, have very definite performance standards that any leak detectors must meet.
PHMSA has struggled to maintain a full complement of qualified pipeline inspectors. As domestic oil production has skyrocketed in recent years, the oil industry itself has been willing to pay considerably more for skilled personnel. This left the agency at a disadvantage when the need was most acute. Beyond that, there remain abiding questions — and doubts — about the agency's willingness and ability to adopt a tougher regulatory posture.