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Early September, Environmental Science & Technology, a prestigious journal of the environmental engineering field, published an editorial titled "Crossing the Imaginary Line." The editorial, written by Editor-in-Chief, Prof. David Sedlak, argues that environmental engineering academics should not cross the "imaginary line" that separates the "dispassionate researcher from the environmental activist" as it threatens the objectivity of research and discourages funding for basic research. Or in other words, by advocating for a certain environmental position, the researcher risks academic integrity, and retaliation from funding sources and political entities. The question of not only the researcher's, but the engineering practitioner's ethical responsibility to the public has long been debated within the engineering community. The appearance of this editorial in such a major publication has sparked much debate between environmental engineering researchers across the country.
Despite my lack of experience and not being a researcher, I wish to express my thoughts regarding this topic from the perspective of a student still very much in the nascent stages of his career as a practicing engineer, as the ethical responsibility of engineering is often skimmed over in engineering coursework, and always deserves more attention. In addition to my own thoughts, I will include in my discussion the written responses from Prof. Marc Edwards and the Flint Water Study, Prof. Charles Haas, and Ph.D. student Maya Carrasquillo. These responses, along with the original editorial, offer an array of perspectives and help inform my own as I attempt to shape an opinion.
The "imaginary line" between researcher and activist immediately blurs when one considers the ethical responsibility of the engineer. The First Canon of Civil Engineering states that "Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public…Under this canon an engineer is expected not only to protect the public in his or her own work, but also to take action if he or she has knowledge that any other person's actions may undermine the public welfare, a requirement that may include reporting such actions to a government authority with the power to act on behalf of the public." While there are indeed differences in services between the practicing engineer and the researcher in an academic setting, this ethical responsibility is assumed when one conducts any work within the field of engineering. The engineer's first responsibility is to the public – not the company, not the institution. For researchers in academia, this responsibility manifests itself in community outreach requirements for faculty – whether it be serving on a governmental panel or local water board, or advising local chapters of Engineering Without Borders or a professional organization. Some institutions hold this community outreach requirement more seriously than others, and indeed, I would expect faculty to have mixed feelings regarding the existence of such a requirement. Prof. Sedlak covers the typical responsibility of a researcher near the beginning of his editorial, "the combination of meaningful research, mentorship and a few hours per week of outreach fulfills the need of the researcher to improve the planet. But encouraging forays into the real world comes with unintended consequences as researchers are exposed to situations where the system designed to protect public health and the environment has failed."
Though engineers have a primary obligation to the public, I still believe that there is a point where a researcher can cross "the imaginary line." My preliminary interpretation of the editorial was that Prof. Sedlak was not outright banning the researcher from environmental advocacy, but that he was cautioning the researcher of potential consequences of advocacy. The editorial wishes to highlight the "unintended consequences" when the researcher chooses to devote more and more time to environmental advocacy.
While the researcher's primary obligation is to the public, the researcher's main task is to research, not advocate. Yes, there almost always will be a component of advocacy in any research, especially engineering research, where much of the research has direct application in mind. But I believe there is definitely a danger when a researcher commits fully to environmental advocacy. In the public eyes, and even to a degree in the academic view, the researcher will forever more be associated with that particular environmental position. I am of the opinion that researchers are best suited to advocate for a position based on solid understanding of science, and would be prepared to change their opinion when new evidence comes (indeed, this is the very essence of the scientific method). But whether or not this position influences the researcher to produce biased results is irrelevant, as the perception that such a bias may exist persists. In a sense, a complete devotion to an environmental position results in the researcher becoming pigeon-holed and ostracized, both academically and socially, greatly limiting any further meaningful research from being produced. Prof Sedlak discusses this, warning that crossing the line "is often a lonely road that one follows at both personal and professional cost."
In order for a researcher to conduct studies, their work needs to be funded. Prof. Sedlak points out that a tarnished reputation not only hurts the field of research as a whole, but the personal funding opportunities of the researcher. As stated in the editorial, "if we move from being educators and researchers to allies of a particular cause, no matter how just, we jeopardize the social contract that underpins the tradition of financial support for basic research." While it is very possible that politicians will be more likely to block public funding to researchers with differing agendas, that is by no means a legitimate reason for one to not make an issue known if all other methods have been exhausted. This is an example of a system that does not work as intended. As Maya Carrasquillo points out, if research funding is the main motivator for research results and actions taken, rather than the welfare of the public, then the concept of an impartial researcher is already jeopardized. The Flint Water Study notes that the rational for having academic tenure is to avoid academics having such misplaced priorities. Prof. Sedlak comments that environmental research often concludes with recommending "costly or unpopular" policies, but fear of lack of funding should not be used as an excuse for ignoring public welfare.
Just because crossing such a line comes with many personal consequences, that does not mean that the line should never be crossed, just that it should be crossed rarely. When an academic decides to enter into the realm of environmental advocacy, there is a great weight carried with such an action, as this is a rare occurrence, a "final alternative that is only exercised when all else fails." When it does happen, it signifies a failure of the current system to implement change, and can act as a catalyst to engage the public, media and relevant parties to action. The researcher carries great weight in the general public, and that weight should not be thrown around carelessly. For better or for worse, having someone with Ph.D. after their name supporting any position gives more credence. The researcher knows this, the public knows this, the media knows this. There is power in this position, and it should not be used lightly, but it should be used. Maya Carrasquillo believes that researchers have a responsibility to have "a voice, one that is held with much credibility because of the letters that come after the name." There is an amount of sacrifice required on behalf of the researcher, but ultimately, their responsibility to society outweighed their desire to keep their academic career unblemished from controversy. Prof. Haas suggests that crossing the line belongs to the tenured and experienced researchers to lessen harm to career. That once reputation and scholarship is established, "going to the media is not beyond an imaginary line."
When used correctly, environmental activism by a researcher does not hurt academia, it enhances it. Particularly in the field of environmental engineering, when so much of the research is tied to crucial systems hidden from the public eye, having a public academic voice puts the field in the spotlight. As Maya Carasquillo points out, many issues that environmental engineers are tasked to solve are "at the effect level, rather than the causation because they are not being addressed at higher levels necessary before they even reach the bottom line." While communicating environmental issues should first and foremost be conducted by environmental advocacy groups, when the issue is pressing enough, an academic voice is looked upon favorably. The researcher is advocating on behalf of the public, which is surely to increase the field's pubic standing. I may be alone in this opinion, but I believe the public would rather have the researcher advocating for action based on solid scientific results rather than have the researcher remain silent and maintain the appearance of objectiveness when public welfare is on the line. When all other methods have failed and crossing the line is the last resort, remaining silent is equivalent to complicity. What is the cost of not doing anything? Again, the researcher's role is somewhat underestimated in the editorial, as having a researcher explain the relevance of their research to the public can be a powerful motivator for public support of the field, if not for funding
Prof. Sedlak is no stranger to being the spotlight – as a well-regarded and recognized environmental engineer, Prof. Sedlak has appeared in many interviews and delivered many talks regarding the state of the country's infrastructure, and a need for a new water infrastructure system. His own experience may have informed his writing, and should not be taken lightly. His forays into the public have been encouraging to fellow engineering students and me as we begin our careers, and demonstrate the positive impact that can occur when a researcher of high academic standing becomes an advocate.
To summarize my opinions so far, I agree with Prof. Sedlak that Crossing the Imaginary Line should be an absolute last resort when all other avenues have been exhausted to preserve academic integrity. The act of crossing the line is a major step, and symbolizes a failure in the current system. While many of the consequences of crossing the line are legitimate concerns and should serve as a warning to researchers, I do not believe that these consequences should be used as reasons for not crossing the line, as public welfare must hold paramount in all actions of an engineer. I also do not believe that crossing the line harms the social contract between researchers and the public, but instead enhances it through an example of dedication to the public. So while I read the editorial as a cautionary tale, I believe that researchers can, and should, cross the line only as a last resort. Of course, "last resort" can have many interpretations, and will undoubtedly vary per individual. However, there are certainly steps that can be taken to ensure that researchers have a solid ground to stand on when questioned for their decision to cross the line.
The editorial proposes some solutions to avoid having researchers cross the line in the first place, some more useful than others. Prof. Sedlak proposes that "we must increase our active support of efforts to rebuild State and Federal agencies that have been diminished by budget cuts and political meddling." This action underscores that our current system is not adequately serving its purpose, and must be modified. But Prof. Sedlak does not give much detail on how one can implement this solution, and "active support" sounds dangerously close to advocacy, something that he aims to prevent in the first place. Again, the second solution is vague at best: "do a better job teacher our students…about their professional responsibilities, emphasizing their obligation to push back when faced with injustice." I fully support increased engineering ethics education in the undergraduate curriculum, but what does pushing back when faced with injustice look like? And how does it differ from environmental advocacy? Both these solutions seem to support some sort of action to be taken when faced with injustice, but what does this action look like short of crossing the line? Detailing these steps would be helpful in understanding the spectrum of dispassionate researcher to environmental advocate.
The third solution offers more substance. "We should protect ourselves and our institutions by seeking out non-governmental organizations that employ full-time activists to translate research findings into action." Prof. Haas agrees with this sentiment that researchers should "first seek to involve competent authorities or advocacy organizations. I agree whole-heartedly, and indeed, I believe this should be the default approach to all research results. In an ideal world, it is the researcher's responsibility to conduct sound, objective research. Once complete, it is the researcher's responsibility to submit the results of this research for review by all interested and relevant parties. It is then the responsibility of the relevant parties, such as the governing bodies and non-profit oversight organizations to translate the research into actionable policies and advocate for the policies. But we live far from an ideal world, and in this world the position of an influencer has more responsibility than originally intended. Additionally, advocacy via large organizations does not by any means guarantee results. As noted by the Flint Water Study, for years the ASCE has made known the poor state of infrastructure in the United States, and yet it was only after the publicity of the flint water crisis did investment begin to pour in.
But even Prof. Sedlak admits that there still may be times when this does not work, or if I may rephrase, there WILL be times when this does not work. But even in these situations, the "community member will be more powerful if their peers assist them…he or she will cross the imaginary line with the full support of the community." Here, Prof. Sedlak argues that the voice of many peers is preferable to the voice of one lonely researcher, which certainly makes sense. I may be in the wrong, but I am of the opinion that many researchers that the media has uplifted due to "Hollywood's dramatic sensibilities…to create a narrative about the noble individual fighting injustice," have the support of many peers, and certainly of the public of which they are defending. It is thanks to the media narrative that we believe that these researchers acted on their own. Contrary to what school teaches kids about history, great events are rarely ever the result of a single person. It takes numerous people, both in the public and the background, to get a movement to work. So I agree that when a researcher crosses the line, it is best to do so with the support of peers. But it is important to realize that this may already be the case, and the media just portrays the story differently.
However, as Prof. Edwards and the Flint Water Study point out, that one may never receive the approval of the community. Whether due to bureaucracy or "conformists who hold positions of greatest academic power," support may not come immediately. Academic consensus is a slow movement, and one should "never wait for, or expect, the approval of your community." When the researcher fully accepts the potential consequences of crossing the line, understanding that public welfare is more important, a reaction takes place. Changing a broken system is extremely difficult, but one should never underestimate the power and influence of an academic in the public eye.
Perhaps what would be more encouraging for critics of the editorial is if Prof. Sedlak pointed out a situation where he believed that crossing the line was justified. When asked by the Flint Water Study whether or not the Flint Water Crisis qualified as a last resort, Dr. Sedlak replied, "From everything I have been able to learn it does indeed look like a criminal activity and, as a citizen, I'm glad that someone stepped in to help. I am just not convinced that it has to be an academic. In fact, for the reasons related to incentives and other expectations from the people who pay our salaries that you have pointed out previously, we seem like a poor choice as watchdogs for the oppressed. If it is mainly a question of being able to speak truth to power, Erin Brockovitch and others who do this full time seem like they would be better watchdogs." As pointed out by the Flint Water Study, Erin Brockovitch did reach out to no avail. So seemingly by every metric Prof. Sedlak sets out in his editorial, the Flint Water Crisis warranted a crossing of the line, and yet he seems adamant that an academic voice was not necessary. His belief that academics are a "poor choice as watchdogs for the oppressed" seems to underestimate the social influence that academics hold. I don't believe that academics should be so-called "watchdogs," whose role is to constantly monitor the state of things, but they can certainly serve as advocates when no one is listening.
The need for both environmental engineers and researchers to focus on both fundamental issues and improve the environment and public welfare is great. While I agree with the caution that Prof. Sedlak places on crossing the line, I believe that the line should, and must be crossed in certain occasions. To Prof. Haas, making findings publicly known should not "be regarded as crossing an imaginary line," and I would argue that as long as the researcher's actions are grounded in solid science and the continued pursuit of such research, the researcher is not crossing the line, as they continue to be researcher first, advocate second. These consequences should not dictate our actions and excuse us from our public responsibilities. Environmental Engineering research should not be solely motivated by personal gain or fear of retribution, but public welfare. The best case is for a researcher to have the backing of at least a few peers before going to the public. Regardless, the social contract is not jeopardized by crossing the line, indeed it is enhanced.
People pursue environmental engineering for a variety of reasons, but one that many hold common is the desire to "make the world a better place." Prof. Sedlak's article acknowledges this, but almost in a dismissive tone, attributing such desires of "idealism and personal responsibility" to naiveté that will almost certainly turn into begrudging responsibilities with experience. But for many researchers, as evidenced by the debate generated by the editorial, making the world a better place is still very much a desire, not just a responsibility. Still, it is important to point out, as Prof. Sedlak does, "for others, the desire to protect human health and the environment became the touchstone guiding decisions about research and career development." The presence of an article, while prompting critical debate, also has the undesired effect of discouraging the next generation of environmental engineers, who see the editorial as a survey of the depressing state of academia without social investment. But the editorial does present some solutions that, with collaboration and consensus among the field, can develop into actions to fix the current system and support crossing the line when the time arrives. As environmental engineers and researchers we are in a unique position, socially and academically, to provide actionable, practical solutions to some pressing issues, even if just for the smallest of stakeholders.
EDIT: Prof. Sedlak has posted a clarifying piece regarding his editorial.


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From Head To Heart
The greatest distance travelled is from head to the heart. It's cliché, but cliché is worn phrasing of truth. Truth I've experienced firsthand. A couple of years ago our church put up what we called a desperation wall, which was nothing more than a side of the stage, painted white in preparation for spiritual graffiti. There was a message I don't remember much of except for the question:
What are you desperate for?
I'm desperate to feel, to be lead out of a heart guided by God rather than my mind.
Not that I was looking for a lobotomy, but for far to long my logical center had been as a farmer in Oregon once put it, "one mean sonufavabitch" running the show with an iron fist, untrusting of emotion and the imaginative. Those things were for the most part frivolous, dangerous even.
And I agree with myself on that estimation, emotion has its pitfalls, much like logic can turn God into a math problem. If I can borrow from my own lyrics, "I've two demons battling for control / reason and desire in skirmish o'er my soul."
I'm growing in the conviction that we were meant to know and be known via logic, emotion, and imagination, all working with and through the others, walking in the awe and mystery, picking up facts, and using story to explore the one who put on flesh, spoke poetry, who laughed and cried.
My own journey from head to heart took what I like to call moments of wonder, moments so powerful I couldn't take them in intellectually. One such moment of wonder came as I drove up the side of Lassen Volcano at dusk, a winding one and a half lanes with no guard rails on the dark side of the mountain. As I drove by steam pouring from vents in the slope, I wondered if I would die by landslide or veering off the cliff.
Halfway up, my friend Preston, suggested we pull over and walk around a bit. Maybe it was the altitude, or the fatigue of driving 12 hours with the thought another three to go, but my immediate impulse upon exiting the vehicle was to find some sort of handle in the asphault. Standing above and below several thousand feet of steaming rock, I felt very small and very stupid for singing so many lyrics about mountains so casually. In that smallness, in that awe, I felt my fragility in the face of nature and how silly my aspirations were by comparison. As we drove down the other side of the mountain I didn't process so much as I simply accepted a gift that put love in perspective.
There have been others, one on a Scottish seashore, one dancing with a hippie girl, even one in a milking parlor. Each a sledghammer to the cinder block wall I had built around my heart, overwhelming my ability to fight off things deeper than syllogism.
God has, and continues to answer that cry of desperation, and I'm grateful for it. The melding of every part of who I am into who He is has been soemthing I wouldn't trade for all the knowledge in the world
May He guide you through the wilderness. May He protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonder He has shown you.

subset: commoncrawl


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Jurassic Pork Bloody Mary at Breakfast Republic
Breakfast Republic
4.5 🍅's
Run cock run! It is not my saying, but it's what you'll read on the walls of any Breakfast Republic when you walk in! In fact, there are bold and/or sarcastic statements on just about everything in there which makes for a great time and Instagram worthy stories! Just like the bold words on the walls and cups, the Jurassic Pork bloody mary makes a bold statement.
When the Jurassic Pork bloody arrived at my table I was elated! The dark red bloody is a perfect backdrop for the plentiful spices in the drink and the aroma of the thick piece of Jurassic pork filled the air with warm bacon superbness.
The house-made mix is rich in flavor and has a thicker consistency that is hearty and warming. The Worcestershire sauce makes the bloody quite tangy and the horseradish nips at your sinuses. Just what I needed since I had a terrible cold. Forget whiskey, bloody marys work like a charm for a pesky cold! Black pepper and the other spices gave the Jurassic Pork some heat and the thick bacon drizzled some savory and salty juices into the mix. The flavor journey of each sip ends with a lingering smokiness the ties in the tangy and savory flavors, creating a masterfully balanced and delicious cocktail.
The food at Breakfast Republic is equally delicious! I highly recommend the shrimp and grits or the Croque Monsier eggs Benedict! If you're not feeling like drinking, then I'd say go for the Mexican hot chocolate, it is incredibly delicious! So, if you love sarcasm, great food and a bold bloody mary then head to Breakfast Republic! With new locations popping up everywhere you're never too far away from a Breakfast Republic!! Run cock run!
For a list of the best bloody marys in San Diego, including this one, check this out!


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No more looking back in the mirror because, after months of searching, scouring, polishing, and saying a prayer or two today was the day! Today was the day I was going to start a new job for a local non-profit. It offered decent pay and wonderful part-time hours to accommodate my family schedule. It was exciting to think even after all the failed interviews, the "I'm sorry's" to former co-workers and supervisors that someone saw I had something positive to offer a company. Today was the day I was going to be a company trainer!
Today was the day I was going to put my best foot forward and work hard, so when the call came (and it always does), the new co-workers would understand that I did not enjoy having to drop everything at once, but it was what I had to do for my boy.
Today was the day I was done feeling nervous. There would be no more "what ifs." There will be no more second guessing if this is the right thing to do. My boy had a good team around him, and he was growing and changing into a young man right before my very eyes. It was a time to look forward to the possibilities for both my boy and myself. Yes, today was going to be that day!
That is until the doctor said it was time to change daily meds and let us visit the idea of starting occupational therapy again. Instead of meeting new co-workers, touring the facility, and filling out my paperwork I had phone calls to make to the insurance company and mountain of paperwork to complete. The same paperwork needed every time a new therapy started. Today wasn't turning out to be the day I thought it was going to be at all.
The new job turned out to be prepping my boy to go to school and therapy even though every fiber of his being was begging to stay home because he was worried something might happen. The new job wasn't so much new, but shifting and turning with new issues and concerns showing up a daily basis. Today was the day, with mixed emotion, that the new job was politely turned down with some fumbled words, "My son has autism…needs therapy…so sorry…thanks for the consideration." It was going to be the day for me to start something new. Instead, I looked back in the mirror and told myself that my boy needs me now. It was time to look forward, wipe away the tears, smile, and tell my boy, "I'm here, and I will always be here!"
All my best to you,


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Healthy HbA1c levels in people with diabetes can reduce risk of infections
A study conducted by a team from St George's, University of London found that the poorest blood glucose control among people with diabetes increased the risk of infections, particularly those caused by bacteria.
It is known that diabetes increases the risk of infections, because the condition weakens immune system defences, so researchers wanted to investigate what impact well-managed blood sugar levels had on health outcomes.
They used health data from electronic GP and hospital records to look at infection rates across five years from 2010. The findings were based on an HbA1c review of 85,000 adults aged 40-89 who all had diabetes.
Those with diabetes who had an HbA1c of 97 mmol/mol (11%) or higher had an elevated risk of hospitalisation due to infection compared with those who had optimal HbA1c levels of between 43-53 mmol/mol (6-7%).
As expected, people with diabetes and optimal HbA1c still had a greater infection risk compared with those without diabetes, but the researchers stressed that the risk was kept lower by maintaining healthy blood glucose levels.
Professor Julia Critchley, from the Population Health Research Institute at St George's, said: "Diabetes patients with the worst control were almost three times as likely to need hospital treatment for an infection compared to those with good control. This was especially high for people with type 1 diabetes and very poor control, who had about 8.5 times higher risk of needing such treatment compared to those without diabetes.
"Across England as a whole, we found that poor diabetes control accounted for about 20-46% of some of the most serious types of infections (sepsis, bone and joint infections, tuberculosis and endocarditis) seen in diabetes patients."
Higher blood sugar levels were also linked to an increased risk of pneumonia which Prof Critchley added is particularly significant with regard to risk in older people.
The study findings will be published in the Diabetes Care journal in October.
Editor's note: Its true that having diabetes increases the risk of complications over the population as a whole, however good blood sugar control - which can be achieved through healthy dietary choices and getting regular exercise - can reduce these risks, helping to ensure people with diabetes can live as normal lives as possible.
Also related to this storyHbA1c Test for Diabetes
Intermittent fasting helps lower HbA1c in new type 2 diabetes study
HbA1c study identifies associations with mortality risk among older people with diabetes
Diabetes Health Guidelines
First HbA1c Since Diagnosis And Starting Low Carb
Diet and weight management


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Qantas Frequent Flyer's lounge membership program Qantas Club gives you access to lounges, priority check-in, domestic upgrades and an additional checked baggage allowance.
In this guide, we outline pricing, points earn, the benefits of membership, and alternative ways to access these privileges.
Current offer
Between 22 and 25 May 2018, you can save 40% off the price of a new 1, 2 or 4 Year Qantas Club individual membership. The discount is also applied to the joining fee.
That means that (including the joining fee), a 1 Year membership drops from $939 to $563; 2 Year from $1,379 to $827; and 4 Year from $2,249 to $1,349.
Note that individual membership does not include any new memberships in the name of organisations, corporations or business. Members renewing their Qantas Club membership, Qantas Club Corporate or Partner membership are also not eligible for this offer.
Here is the pricing structure, broken into individual and partner memberships:
|Points earn
|Redeeming for points
|Join fee
|1 Year
|2 Year
|4 Year
|Points earn
|Redeeming for points
|Join fee
|1 Year
|2 Year
|4 Year
The last time fees were increased was in August 2017 and, previous to that, in 2014.
Redeeming your points for a Qantas Club membership generally represents poor value. For example, you'll only get 0.57 cents per point value from using 70,000 Qantas Points for your $399 joining fee, which is well below the 2 cents that we value Qantas Points at.
You'll get much better value from using your Qantas Points for something like Emirates First Class
Qantas Business Rewards members can receive 10% off individual membership fees.
You'll receive your membership pack within three weeks or you can pay an extra $30 to get it delivered in 2-5 business days.
You can join Qantas Club here.
As a Qantas Club member, you'll get access to the following lounges when your next onward flight that day is a Qantas or Jetstar flight number:
- Qantas Club lounges when travelling within Australia, like the Qantas Clubs in Melbourne, Perth and Cairns
- Qantas International Business Lounges, like the Qantas Sydney International Business Lounge or Qantas/oneworld International Business Lounge Los Angeles
- Emirates Business Lounge in Dubai
- American Airlines Admirals Club lounges
- Cathay Pacific Lounge in London Heathrow
- Alaska Airlines lounges in Los Angeles, Seattle, Anchorage, Portland and New York JFK when connecting to or from a Qantas flight and an Alaska Airlines flight
- Associated lounges in most international ports where there is no Qantas or partner airline lounge partner airline lounge
You can bring a guest when travelling domestically within Australia and New Zealand and they do not need to be flying with you (or at all). When travelling internationally, your guest needs to be on your flight. For information on your children gaining access, read more here.
In addition to Qantas Club lounges, you are also able to access Qantas Regional Lounges. These are usually available in major regional towns around Australia where Qantas' regional subsidiary QantasLink flies into.
You'll also get these other benefits:
- Priority check-in on Qantas flights
- Access to On Departure Upgrades using Qantas Points on Australian domestic flights
- Additional checked baggage allowance when travelling in Economy or Premium Economy
- Discounts on Qantas Meeting Rooms in Australia
To understand the differences between the six types of lounges Qantas runs, including Qantas Clubs and International Business Lounges, check out the definitive Point Hacks guide to Qantas lounges.
Digital membership card
Qantas Club members with the Qantas mobile app can use their digital membership card to enter domestic lounges. Qantas Club members will have a Qantas Club logo on their card (unlike the one below).
Earn Qantas Points on Qantas Club fees
You'll earn three Qantas Points for every dollar you spend on your joining and annual Qantas Club membership fees. That means you'd earn 4,137 Qantas Points on a regular joining fee and two-year membership.
However, you can also pair that with a credit card that offers bonus points for spend with Qantas if you use that card to pay your dues.
For example, if you use your Qantas Ultimate American Express card to make your purchase, you'll earn an extra 2.5 Qantas Points per $ spent on Qantas products and services, bringing that total to 7,584 Qantas Points.
To compare with other options, check out our guide to the highest Qantas Points-earning credit cards.
Other ways to access Qantas lounges
Through a credit card
There is a handful of credit cards that offer lounge passes that can be used at Qantas Club domestic lounges in Australia and most Qantas International Business Class Lounges too.
Most cards offer two lounge passes each year you keep the card.
If you have Qantas Gold status or above or the equivalent status with a partner airline like Royal Jordanian (the easiest to reach Gold status with), then you'll enjoy the privileges above not only on Qantas flights but when travelling with any oneworld airline.
You can also check out some of the cheapest ways of earning Qantas Gold status in one trip.
Paying for access
Qantas periodically runs trials to give lower-tier frequent flyers the opportunity to buy a day pass for Qantas lounges in Australia and overseas.
Summing up
A Qantas Club membership does not come cheap, even with the occasional discount, so this option is best suited to those who fly frequently and quite exclusively on Qantas and/or Jetstar.
For those with other travel patterns, it may be best to get hold of a credit card that offers access to Qantas lounges, or work your way to obtaining elite status, which will give you benefits across a wider range of airlines and airports.


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Just when Northwood High's football team thought it couldn't get any worse, it did.
The Timberwolves suffered through another long night Thursday, falling to Huntington Beach, 42-7, in a Sea View League game at Irvine Stadium
The loss comes on the heels of last week's 38-0 loss to El Toro and left Northwood at 0-3 in league and 3-5 overall.
"I don't know what to say," Northwood Coach Rick Curtis said. "I'm not doing a very good job of coaching, that's all there is to it. We can't get them to play hard for four quarters."
Northwood seemed to come out flat from the start.
"And there's no reason for it," Curtis said. "We do everything in practice to prepare them for the game. I'm kind of at a loss.
"I just don't think we're that bad of a team the way we played in the first half."
Huntington Beach (5-3, 2-1) took it to the Timberwolves in the first half, rolling to a 28-0 lead.
Quarterback Sean Guite threw three of his five touchdown passes in the first half to lead the Oilers.
Trailing 7-0, Northwood had a chance to get back in the game following an interception by Brenen Tidwell, which gave the Timberwolves possession at the Oilers 22-yard line.
But the drive stalled at the 3 and Huntington Beach blocked a 20-yard field goal attempt.
On its next possession, Huntington Beach moved ahead, 14-0, on a 1-yard TD run by Jack Dilbeck and Northwood was never able to recover.
Guite had two interceptions in the first half, but was on target after that, finishing with 8 of 15 completions for 154 yards.
"He was very good," Huntington Beach Coach Eric Lo said. "He can really throw the football. He had two interceptions, but they weren't his fault."
Northwood was led by quarterback Ricky Bautista, who completed 16 of 31 for 151 yards.
Tony Fullman hauled in nine catches for 94 yards for Northwood.
Huntington Beach took control early.
Guite connected with Cameron Pizzica on a 6-yard TD pass in the first quarter. Jack Dilbeck scored from 1 yard out midway through the second quarter to make it 14-0.
Guite threw a 21-yard TD pass to Shawn Lemaster and 12-yard TD pass to Kaller Roemer in the second quarter to give the Oilers a 28-0 lead at halftime.
He then hit Roemer on a 23-yard TD pass in the third quarter and teamed up with Lemaster on a 39-yard TD pass in the fourth quarter.
Fans had to depend on the public address announcer for the score and the time remaining in each quarter since the scoreboard at Irvine Stadium was not operating from the start of the game.
Technicians tried to fix it for most of the first half but were unable to.
The time was kept on the field by the officials.


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The Fair Squared Almond Hand Cream will hydrate and nourish tired and dry hands to bring them back to their former glory. Natural, vegan and deeply hydrating ingredients of Olive Oil and Almond Oil give your hands the nourishment they need aswell as containing anti oxidants for smooth and soft skin.
Benefits of Fair Squared Almond Hand Cream at a glance:
- Deep moisturising
- Soft almond scent
- No greasy residue
- Quickly absorbs
- Light texture
How to use Fair Squared Almond Hand Cream:
Apply throughout the day especially after washing hands to keep them hydrated. Also available in a 250ml size pump bottle.
Ingredients INCI:
Aqua, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Olea Europaea Oil, Vitis Vinifera Seed Oil, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Prunus Amygdalus dulcis Oil Mandelöl, Betaine, Tapioca starch, Xanthan Gum, Fragrance, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Linalool, Limonene. Konserviert mit Sodium Benzoatund Potassium Sorbate
The Fair Squared Almond Hand Cream is:
- Certified natural by NaTrue
- Suitable for vegans
- Halal approved
- Cruelty free
- Fair Trade
UK Mainland, Highlands and Islands, Isle of Man, Scilly Isles, Northern Ireland and Channel Islands
Free delivery – On orders over £10 - 2nd Class Royal Mail takes 2 to 3 working days.
Orders Under £10 - £2.99 – 2nd Class Royal Mail take 2 to 3 working days
Paid delivery - £4.50 - 1st Class Royal Mail takes 1 - 2 working days.
Europe and Southern Ireland
Paid Delivery - £7.90 - Royal Mail Airmail takes 5 - 10 working days
Please note Royal Mail does not consider a parcel lost until 15 working days after date of despatch.
For more information see our Delivery section.


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Equipping families to grow together on their journey to know, love, and serve Jesus Christ.
Wacky Wednesday Kids Night
Wacky Wednesday is for all children ages Preschool through 5th
All Meet in God's Playground in the lower level of the church from 6:00-7:30pm. Registration forms are required. Children Kindergarten to 5th grade will be transported by the church bus to Wells Elementary School Gym for games and activities.
We then return to the church to continue with Bible time, snacks, crafts, and hands-on learning in Rooms 18 and 20. Kids are divided into age groups of K-2nd and 3rd – 5th to offer unique experiences according to their age. "Kids in Mission" is held the last week of the month to encourage mission involvement into the church, community, and the world.
Preschool will stay at the Church and play in God's Playground followed with bible time, snack, and activities in Room 16.
This is a great time for kids to build friendships with each other while learning about
God's desire to have a relationship with each of them.
Open Hearts Café serves a free meal for the church and community each Wednesday
at 5:30 in Fellowship Hall. All families are welcome to join us!!
Contact Karyn Robertson at firstname.lastname@example.com
for more information.
Please click here for Wacky Wednesday Registration Form.
VBS and Summer Activities
East Moline Campus: VBS is usually held in June for Preschool to Grade 5.
Camp Connect VBS is held in July for 4-5-6 graders only with two overnights at
Colona Scott Family Park.
Silvis Campus: VBS held in July.
More information will be posted as VBS times and dates become available.


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Director, Cardiac Health Institute
Clinical Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University
VMO, Hornsby Kuring-gai Hospital
VMO, Sydney Adventist Hospital
VMO, Norwest Private Hospital
VMO, Macquarie University Hospital
Dr Aggarwala is a Director at the Cardiac Health Institute. He is a medical graduate of Newcastle University in Newcastle, Australia.
Dr Aggarwala completed his specialist cardiology training in 1990 and has developed special expertise in interventional cardiology. Dr Aggarwala has a particular interest in ischaemic heart disease and expertise in complex angioplasty and stenting, rotablation, drug-eluding balloons and stenting of coronary grafts. He is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Macquarie University.
Dr Aggarwala consults at our Epping, Norwest and Sydney Adventist Hospital suites and has admitting rights at The Sydney Adventist Hospital, Norwest Private Hospital, Macquarie University Hospital, Westmead Private Hospital, The Mater Hospital, North Shore Private Hospital, and Hornsby Kuring-gai Hospital.
He speaks fluent Hindi and Punjabi.


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The monitor will automatically inflate and record blood pressure and pulse rate periodically throughout the 24-hour period.
Continue with typical daily activities throughout the monitoring period but avoid vigorous exercise during monitoring.
When the cuff starts inflating, keep the cuff at heart level, temporarily stop moving or talking for about 1 minute, keep the arm immobilised and relaxed, and try to relax and breathe normally.
Some monitors give a warning tone prior to measurement.Do not kink tubing but do re tighten connections if a leak occurs.
Occasionally the device may repeat the measurement a moment later at a higher pressure. This is quite common and does not mean there is a problem.Keep the device on during sleep and do not switch it off.
During monitoring, do not shower or bathe (sponge baths only) because the cuff should not be removed.
Make diary entries as requested.Avoid napping during the day.Call phone number provided if you have technical difficulties or other concerns during the monitoring period.
Monitoring Collaborative WebMaster G A Head


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Hey Port Jefferson, we'll be in the area at Craft at C'est Cheese on Sunday, May 21st, for an in-store tasting from 1-4pm. Join us to taste new beers and take some home with you.
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: May 18DJ Night at Bobbique
Later Event: May 24Taste New York Experience


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I read an article today that was trying to tell firefighters how to keep "their stomach from looking like Santa's" and one thing the article said was that if you cant get a workout in, then you can do mini workouts and at least maintain what you currently have. The article stated that the mind is a super computer but the body is an idiot and that your body doesn't know if you do 100 straight push-ups or if you do 100 push-up throughout the day. Obviously, the person who wrote this hasn't ever done 100 push-ups without stopping. If they have then they would remember feeling that burning and fatiguing feeling that would be WAY different than if you did 10 push-ups every hour for 10 hours. The difference is the Intensity that is being done on that workout. Lets look at it for a minute. The work is your body weight moving the length of your arms for each rep. So basically the work of doing them all at the same time or over the course of the whole day is the same but if you now take the time frame into it, the Power, or Intensity, of the workout is TOTALLY different. More work done faster means quicker and more pronounced results. Remember, its all about Intensity. I think if you have limited time with the holidays then CrossFit training with the Inferno is the best thing you can do because in 1 hour you would have done some amazingly intense work, then you can get back to your holiday fun!!! So get it in here:)
"Frontal Assault"
INFERNO Warm-up x 3
Complete the following:
Front Squat (15 mins)
*Warm-up with a set or two of light regular front squats. Then for the wod, take 3 seconds to lower into the squat, hold for 5 seconds then explode up and wait no longer than 1 sec to start your next rep.
3 rounds:
15 reps Front Squats (155#, 105#) no rack
30 reps Double Unders
1 rep Rope Climb (15 ft)
7 reps Muscle-ups
*Sub tuck jumps for the double unders, do 10 pull-ups for the rope climb, do the muscle-up sub inwhich you jump up into a deep ring dip or have the rings lowered and again pull self up to a deep dip and jump up and hold self in the locked out position.
Post to comments:


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Contains FOUR versions of 'Jump Up, Superstar!'
For anyone who fancies getting their weekend off to a Super Mario Odyssey-esque bang, good news, as the soundtrack to the Switch mega-hit is coming to iTunes today.
Super Mario Odyssey Sound Selection is a 12-track album featuring choice cuts from Nintendo's grand adventure. The full track listing can be found in the tweet below, with cool kids noting it features both language versions of themes "Jump up, Super Star!" and "Break Free (Lead the Way)" The album is available in North America and Europe.
Meanwhile, an insane four-disc soundtrack set has been scheduled for release in Japan. Launching on February 28, the Super Mario Odyssey Original Soundtrack will contain a whopping 136 tracks.
You can download the #SuperMarioOdyssey Sound Selection via iTunes on 12/22! This includes several versions of �Jump Up, Super Star!� pic.twitter.com/6U7jQv7o0O— Nintendo of America (@NintendoAmerica) December 21, 2017
You are logged out. Login | Sign up


text:
See more 1 Panel Shaker Doors
1 Panel Shaker Oak veneer Internal Door, (H)1981mm (W)610mm
Door Size
Our stores do not stock this product
Product Details
Product Information
Will add style to your living space whilst providing privacy and protection from sound and draughts throughout the house
- Guarantee - 10 years
- Fixings not supplied
Features and Benefits
- Ready to stain or varnish
- Made from responsibly sourced, Forest Friendly timber
|Height (mm)
|1981 mm
|Width (mm)
|610 mm
|Thickness (mm)
|35 mm
|Weight (g)
|24000 g
|Door construction
|Engineered construction for greater stability
|Timber approval
|FSC® approved
|Timber certificate
|Product code
Holland4us - 1 year ago
Grand doors.Had them hung and varnished them myself.
Shaker Oak Veneer Door Review
Say Cha - 3 years ago
I love the colour, very beautiful door and will compliment any colour room because it has a very neutral tone to it. Very happy with this
Dior of doors...
Jamjay - 3 years ago
a contempory look to my old house, love them thanks
One panel oak vineer door
Davebplastering - 3 years ago
Good quality door. Good price. Had delivered which was hassle free. I use tradepoint ( b and q ) for most of my home and work projects.
Look great and not finished
Anonymous - 3 years ago
Bought 6 paneled and 2 glazed 6 weeks ago photos are untreated but decorator will finish in matt varnish.
4 fitted today local joiner commented on the quality and the centre panels don't rattle like some similar looking doors.
Well packaged and and protected for transit. joiner planed drilled and chiseled with no veneer chips splits.
Look great with Dale Polished chrome Sultan lever round rose handles and polished hinges.
Impressed for the quality and price and how they look prior to being fully finished.


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Thoughts walk through the darkness,
without aim or intent.
Looking for a light to harness,
waiting for inspiration to descent.
What is that shining bright
guiding rays of insight?
Despair comes knocking,
leaving no way to escape.
Searching for an opening,
longing for an action to take shape.
What is that emerging scope
showing a glimmer of hope?
Now is the time to act,
go forward.
Have no fear to react,
Climb upward.
Raise your sails, steer your ship,
with the power of an idea.
Thank you,
Ranjit George
Enjoy more poems here.


text:
Freshman Information Session is an informal event geared towards students who will begin college for the first time.
Freshman Information Session
Our weekly sessions offer students a chance to learn about admissions policies, scholarship opportunities, academic programs and student life at D'Youville.
The discussion is led by an Undergraduate Admissions Counselor and a student-led campus tour concludes your visit. Select coaches from D'Youville Athletics may be on hand to meet with prospective athletes.
Upcoming sessions:
Location: D'Youville Academic Center (DAC)
Freshman Information Session is a two-hour event. Check-in will take place in the D'Youville Academic Center Lobby.
Visitor parking is available in lots A, B, C, and D with the parking pass provided in the confirmation packet. See parking lot locations on the campus map.
Call us at 716-829-7600.
Do you need special accommodations?
If you require special accommodations or information on accessible entrances and pathways, let us know by calling 716-829-7600.


text:
Knowing where to start can be a real issue for anyone looking to get their head around beginning their own health and fitness journey. So much so that it often paralyses people into not bothering at all! Too complicated. Too hard. Too much conflicting information.
The key is to address everything in priority order, bit by bit. The following is a couple of structured steps you can take to ensure you start out strong and get to work straight away on your own specific goals.
- ASSESS YOUR LIFESTYLE: Your working and social lifestyle will impact where and how you start your fitness journey massively. Do you work long hours? Maybe nights? Do you live for the weekend? Do you have an active job or a sedentary one? You will need to adjust certain parts of your lifestyle but don't feel you have to change everything overnight.
- OPEN YOUR FRIDGE: This is where most people come unstuck. Fill it up with colourful, single ingredient food groups. Aim to fill half of it with fresh veg and the other half with lean protein sources and you won't go far wrong! Keeping quick, healthy snack options in there will help for convenience sake too. Maybe some 0% fat greek yoghurt, protein bars or cooked chicken? These quick fix options will help keep you away from the equally convenient snickers, crisps or pastries!
- CONSIDER YOUR RELATIONSHIPS: Your immediate network around you (friends, family, work colleagues) can have a massive influence on your success in sticking to a new regime. Are they naturally supportive? Are they willing to join the cause? It's important you make it clear to them what you're trying to do and if they care and respect you, they will do all they can to make life easier for you and keep you in strong spirits. You can have all the motivation in the world but if those closest around you aren't on the same team, life gets difficult quick.
- BE HONEST ABOUT YOUR WHY: Very important this one. Your core motive is the thing that will drive you on the days when you come within an inch of falling off the waggon. If your motive isn't strong enough you undoubtedly will fall off. Be motivated for an internal reason; something that means a lot to YOU. If you're trying to prove a point to anyone else, that might motivate you here and now, but trust me it won't last, and nor will your results.
- SCHEDULE REALISTICALLY: Everyone has a different daily schedule and what you need to do is learn to work with it rather than against it. Consider the non compromisable parts of your day e.g. work or time with the kids, but then against that consider all the rest of your time, and trust me, we all have enough of it! If time is limited, then shorter workouts, 3-4 times a week might be the best option. Or maybe even home workouts? If you don't have time to get that healthy weekly shop in, order online and set it up to redeliver on a regular basis. That alone will save you about 2 hours a week! There's three 40 minute workouts gained!
The main thing to remember when starting out is you don't have to get everything right and perfect from day 1.
You dont have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great!


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Earthships, Adobes and Domes in Taos
One of our favorite pastimes in Taos was picking a random road to drive down and checking out the homes. The architecture here is like nowhere else.
You'll find Adobes old and new nestled next to domes, circular buildings, and off-grid earthships constructed out of tires and mud tucked into hillsides all over town. Just when you think you've seen it all, you turn a corner into a new neighborhood and your jaw drops.
Add to all that the mountain views and the high desert landscape overflowing with silvery sagebrush and fluffy, golden chamiso with pops of turquoise, lavender and mint green trim and you've got a recipe for magic. In fact, it's so magical that there were a good 24 hours where we schemed about buying an earthship as a part-time home base.
Two of our favorite drives are Tune Rd. on the North side of town, which will also take you to Manby Hot Springs and Rt. 150 in the South, which will take you to our favorite hiking and mountain biking trailhead in town (blog post coming soon!).
If you're visiting Taos without an RV, skip the hotel and rent an AirBnb so you can see one of these amazing homes for yourself. Heck, even if you have your RV, you may want to spend a couple nights in one just for the experience. We have our eye on a couple earthships to stay in next time we're in town.
Our Taos AirBnb Picks
We picked out our favorite 15 listings on AirBnb to give you the full Taos experience. Check them out, and if you're new to the site, you can get $40 credit towards your first stay with this link.


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Test-drive the GATK tools and Best Practices pipelines on Terra
Check out this blog post to learn how you can get started with GATK and try out the pipelines in preconfigured workspaces (with a user-friendly interface!) without having to install anything.
Where can I get more information about high-throughput sequencing concepts and terms?
This article has been retired, as the resources it cites are somewhat out of date. For an introduction to GATK and sequence analysis, see the Best Practices section of the website, which contains a lot of intro-level information and references useful resources.
We know this field can be confusing or even overwhelming to newcomers, and getting to grips with a large and varied toolkit like the GATK can be a big challenge. We have produced a presentation that we hope will help you review all the background information that you need to know in order to use the GATK:
- Introduction to High-Throughput Sequencing Analysis: all you need to know to use the GATK: slides and video
In addition, the following links feature a lot of useful educational material about concepts and terminology related to next-generation sequencing:
A basic review of the sequencing process.
Sequencing technologies, the next generation, (M. Metzker, Nature Reviews - Genetics)
An excellent, detailed overview of the myriad next-gen sequencing methdologies.
Next-generation sequencing: adjusting to data overload (M. Baker, Nature Methods)
A nice piece explaining the problems inherent in trying to analyze terabytes of data. The GATK addresses this issue by requiring all datasets be in reference order, so only small chunks of the genome need to be in memory at once, as explained here.
Primer on NGS analysis, from Broad Institute Primers in Medical Genetics


text: Network distributed, whole home audio systems are an important part of any home automation system. Users can choose to play music from a network connected source such as Heos or Sonos, in order to play specific music in specific rooms. The latest whole home music systems eliminate the need for separate, source based systems in each room. A typical home music system includes in wall or in ceiling speakers, as well as the network audio delivery system of your choice. Control options range from handheld dedicated remotes and touchscreens, to smartphone control and iPad control. Many of our clients choose RTI as their music source control system. We also use Sonos which is an easy to use, networks based music system. Whatever your need for home audio solutions may be, AVD is the experts in high end home audio & home theater installations.


text:
Listing type:
Short Term Rental
Posted by:
Agent/Broker [APT212]
Furnished Only
Kind of building:
Rental building
Opportunity to renew:
Brokerage Fee:
The poster of this listing is charging a brokerage fee.
Last updated:
Aug 19, 2019
No details available.
Located in the heart of the Midtown West on the residential corner of West 52nd Street & 9th Avenue. In Midtown West, just a subway ride away from Times Square, you will find this very welcoming apartment with all the comforts of home for your New York City visit.
Live in a peaceful, quiet building with a vibrant, bustling neighborhood just outside your door! A sprawling amenity in its own right, Manhattan caters to the life you want: world-class restaurants, famous museums, distinguished theater, glamorous nightlife, outdoor and recreational activities, and so much more, no farther than a short subway ride away. For Manhattanites, the complaint of not having something to do simply doesn't exist. A short walk or subway ride to many other Midtown attractions like Central Park, Rockefeller Center, and Bryant Park.
• Fully furnished apartment
• Renovated Kitchen
• Hardwood Oak Flooring
• Wireless high speed internet
• High definition cable TV
• Towels and linens available
• Cleaning services available
• 30-day rental minimum
Within three blocks to the A,C,E
Personal Reasons
Soho / Nolita, Manhattan (NYC) Building Address For Rent: 370 West 52nd Street, New York, NY, 10019


text:
Hundreds of concerned citizens convened for more than two hours on Capitol Hill at the All Pilgrims Church Tuesday evening for the LGBTQ Hate Crimes Public Forum, sponsored largely by Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant. The overall mood of the structured debate appeared distressed and yet, at the same time, energized -- in part because of the uptick in crime in the neighborhood billed for LGBTQ inclusiveness.
In an interview with The Seattle Lesbian last Wednesday, Sawant said she thought tracing the demographic of attackers was less important than what she characterized as the larger picture: the safety-in-numbers effect of a thriving LGBTQ community being fragmented as some members are driven out by rising rents.
"I don't know that there's any opposition to people moving into the district, but what's hurting the community is people who have been living in the district have been displaced," she said.
A representative for the King County Prosecutor's Office told The Seattle Lesbian that in 2014 there were an estimated 126 hate crime events, compared to 110 in 2013.
Jonathan Halsey knows the hate crime scenario all too well. Halsey and his friends were near Cider on Broadway when a man approached and hurled homophobic slurs at the group.
"He basically spit in my face and then came towards me, and that's when I defended myself," Halsey told King 5.
Nearby police arrested the offender and charged him with malicious harassment.
Seattle Mayor Ed Murray, who is an openly gay man, told the crowd Tuesday night
I think there is an increase [in crime]. We have been here before. We have seen this right on this very street before in the late 80s and early 90s when I was a young person. And we are seeing it again.
Capitol Hill Community Council told The Seattle Lesbian in a statement
The Capitol Hill Community Council was grateful to listen to the perspectives from the diverse crowd of LGBTQ and allied people in attendance at last night's LGBTQ Hate Crimes Public Forum. We are optimistic after last night's conversation and look forward to collaborating with the LGBTQ organizations around Capitol Hill, supporting the efforts to reduce hate crimes and increase public safety, and working to make our community stronger and healthier.
We left knowing that this is merely the beginning in a longer conversation about how to preserve the rich, vibrant history of our city's gay neighborhood and the work ahead to retain the values, hopes, and needs of our community as we continue to grow at an unprecedented rate.
Public Policy and Communications Manager for the Greater Seattle Business Association (GSBA) Matt Landers told The Seattle Lesbian Wednesday:
We would like to thank Councilmember Sawant for convening this meeting at the request of community members, and to the Mayor for participating. It is clear that there is a lot of frustration that things have not changed, and we hope that the community continues to work constructively with one another to come up with real solutions. GSBA looks forward to being a part of those solutions.
This post originally appeared on The Seattle Lesbian.


text:
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Write For Remodeling Calculator
- Home Improvements
- 25. Feb
- 549
Remodeling Calculator is a blog run by a couple who decided to collect and publish all information people when they want to make their dream home a reality. The approach this blog took is quite down to earth. Thus, it provides information on most recent costs of remodeling materials, installation works and products. Budgeting of home improvement process is presented in detail. Remodeling Calculator also gives expert renovation advice and inspirational ideas for interior design, including doing it yourself projects. At Remodeling Calculator they believe that less is more. Quality is preferred over quantity. Thus, advice, information, and costs presented aim for the most cost-effective solutions. The blog also provides tools to calculate renovation costs for each particular part of a house.
Content Guidelines:
- Content must be original.
- Articles should have minimum 500 words.
- Writers can send posts in form of doing it yourself projects they have implemented.
- Home improvement guides are also welcomed.
- Content can have a form of remodeling cost-saving tips and advice.
- In case of a do it yourself tutorial, writers should present clear and step by step instructions.
- Minimum 5 to 10 original images must be provided, including captions.
- Videos are also preferred (a 500-word explanation should be sent along with it).
Topic Guidelines
- Remodeling (kitchen, bathroom, painting, plumbing, roofing etc.).
- Cost-effective remodeling solutions
- Unique design
- Do it yourself projects
Submission Process:
Writers are asked to fill in the form available at https://www.remodelingcalculator.org/get-featured. Response period is not defined.
Domain Rating


text:
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text:
Nabarangpur: In yet another instance of superstition prevailing in tribal district of Odisha, the villagers were found worshipping a woman as a deity after she developed unusual behaviour in the recent past days.
The incident was reported in Dhanasuli village in Tumbarla Panchayat under Papadahandi block in Nabarangpur district.
The villagers started worshipping woman, who is sitting on fast in the past five days in a dense forest after she allegedly had darshan of Goddess Parbati.
According to reports, five days ago Dalimba Mali (20), daughter of Jagat Mali in Dhanasuli village, had gone to forest near the village for collecting mushroom. After returning from the forest, her parents found her sitting quiet. When they asked her the reason, she said that she had darshan of goddess Parbati in the forest. After she expressed her willingness to go to the deity, her family members were panicked. Seeking help of a sorcerer in Jhitukuguda village, they told him everything.
After returning from the neighbouring village, the parents found Dalimba was not in the house. They searched her in the forest where they found their daughter was sitting near a termite mound and praying God.
Finding her in such a condition, they informed the villagers, who rushed the forest and began worshipping the girl. Even some of the villagers were found guarding her near the termite ground setting up a temporary camp in the forest.


text:
I love having such talented friends! Check out the amazing Becky Kessler, the frontwoman of Violent Mae in the band's video for "Man in the Country." (Bonus: It's shot in a cave!) Not surprisingly, Violent Mae is receiving tons of well-deserved critical attention, lots of play on local stations and have already topped many best-of lists. You can stream the haunting, thoughtful sounds of Becky and bandmate Floyd Kellogg here. (My favorites include "Worn Out My Welcome" and "Any Time You Fall".)
Support local music! Support good music!
(Featured photo by Rory Larson, as featured on popmatters.com.)


text:
Bloom Report
Update May 16th 8pm:
Update May 16th: OUR LAST DAY OPEN 10am to 7:30pm
TODAY IS OUR LAST DAY OPEN! Purchase a ticket online and visit us between 10am and 7:30pm today. The storm did very little damage, the show garden has many many very unique tulips in bloom. See pictures below I took this morning. Don't miss it! There are still tulips in the u-pick field. We will make sure everyone who wants to bring some pretty tulips home will leave with a beautiful bouquet. #wickedtulips #lastday #endofseason #dontmissout
Update May 14th:
We decided to stay open another day. Buy tickets at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/wickedtulips/r/website It looks like the thunderstorms do not start before 5pm. There are still some nice tulips left in the U-pick field and the show garden is still looking spectacular. See our latest video at https://www.facebook.com/
Update May 13th:
We have a nice surprise: We are open tomorrow! (Monday the 14th) Buy tickets at https://www.tickettailor.com/events/wickedtulips/r/website
We are closing very soon!
Tomorrow (Monday the 14th) might be our last full day open. Don't worry Early Bird Ticket holders we will make sure you have tulips to pick. The show garden is still looking spectacular but the hot weather a couple weeks ago shortened the season. We will assess the fields after tomorrow (Monday) to decide if we will stay open any longer.
If you decide to buy a ticket for tomorrow Monday the 14th you should know:
-The U-pick field has pickable flowers but there is less to choose from.
-The tulips might last a little less long in the vase, because it is the end of the season.
-The Show Garden still looks beautiful!
The below pictures are from our Show Garden and U-pick field this afternoon.
Update May 11th
We are ready for Mother's Day weekend! The late tulips look stunning and the show garden is in full bloom. It looks like we might get some rain, as of now the highest chance of rain is around noon. In previous years rain didn't keep our visitors from having a great time, just be sure to dress appropriately - it is going to be chilly at the farm...
Update May 7th
Today (all Mondays) we are closed. Our staff and ourselves are getting some much needed rest after a fantastic first week! Wow! We never expected to sell out on all weekdays too... thank you all for visiting! Jeroen, Keriann & Baby Kees
Photo Credit: Hallie Jade Pictures
Update May 5th 9:45pm:
There are showers in the forecast tomorrow. We are open rain or shine. We can let you know that even in the rain our tulips make you happy! In previous years, most people still came on rainy days, just bring an umbrella, appropriate clothes and shoes etc.
Sunday Morning Yoga in the Tulips
We are still planning on yoga in the tulips. If we cancel because of weather we will refund your tickets.
Update May 5th:
We are sold out every day until May 13th. Please do not come without pre-purchased ticket. Tickets for the week of May 14th to May 20th will go on sale late next week. We hope to stay open at least until the 18th
Update May 1st 7:30pm:
We are sold out every day until May 7th. Please do not come without pre-purchased ticket. We have still tickets available for next week Tue/Wed/Thur/Fri. The weather looks great next week, so if you plan to visit us, purchase a ticket now. This is the time to make some great memories in the tulip field! :)
Update May 1st 11am: We are sold out for today. Almost all tickets are sold out for this week. We only have some tickets left for Thursday. Please do not visit us without an entrance ticket. Thank you for all the Tulip Love!
Update April 29th: Our first weekend is already Sold Out. Weekday tickets are going fast too, only a couple 100 left for upcoming Friday. If the ticket sales keeps going like this, we expect to sell out even on most weekdays.
The Tulip U-pick field is looking amazing! Tuesday more then 50% of the Early & Mid blooming tulips will be ready to pick. Upcoming week is the best week to pick our early/mid blooming flowers... We planted one large field this year, but have our late blooming field roped off for our "late season customer". This way we can hopefully stay open a little longer.
Update April 28th: We are opening May 1st! Tickets will be available for purchase on our website Sunday April 29th. We will only be opening up ticket sales for the first 2 weeks because we never know how long we will be open. Remaining dates will be made available about a week before as we evaluate the field. Mother Nature decides when we open and close so this will help us to not issue mass refunds if we close earlier than expected. In 2016 we were open for 18 days and in 2017 it was 23. It is all weather dependant.
Below the first bouquet of the season! :)
We are getting more color every day!
(update April 26th: estimated opening day May 1st- tickets go on sale as soon we know when we open)
04-25-18 Every day we see new tulips in bloom! :)
04-23-18 The tulips are growing very fast at the moment, it has been warm and sunny! :) Each day I find new tulips budding & ready to flower!
Update 04-20-18: Finally sunny! But still windy and cold... we have 1 variety ready to be picked, but we do not open before +/- 30% is blooming,because we don't want to disappoint you! Because of the cold weather it doesn't look like we open by the 25th... maybe the 27th or 28th.
Update 04-18-18: 99.9% of the flowers are NOT blooming yet. This picture is of a very early tulip which is blooming all by itself. :( We bummed up our opening day estimation to the 27th. It has been very cold the last few days and the tulips progress slowly... So we all need to wait patiently
Update 04-12-18: Our first blooming tulip!)
Update 04-10-18: Tulips are growing good. We are on schedule to open around April 25th!
Update 04-07-18: Without April snow storm New England will be sooo borring #tulipsdontmindalittlesnow
Update 04-03-18: We were on Chronicle Channel 5! "Spring Flings: Tulips & Swan Boats" Our segment starts at 1 minute.
Update 04-02-18: The tulips look awesome! We still predict opening date around April 25th
Update 03-26-18: First real signs of spring! Blooming crocus and happy honey bees!
Update 03-24-18:
Update 03-20-18: Finally our new website is live! Yay! Happy first day of spring! Tomorrow we are expecting another snowstorm.... The tulips are doing great and don't mind the snow. We estimate that our first tulips will start to bloom late April. Just FYI: We do not start to sell tickets until we know an exact opening date.
Update 02-28-18: Our first tulips are up!
Update 2/12/18: Our family is blooming! :) Our first son is born on 2/12/18 -
Update 11-21-17: We are done planting! We planted over 600,000 bulbs!
Update 06-05-17: We are digging all bulbs up every year. It takes +/- 4 weeks with +/- 10 employees. Lots of hard work, but worth it!
Update 06-05-17: we imported this beauty from Holland. It is a "Holder", a German made one cylinder diesel two wheel tractor from the 70's. We use this tractor to dig-up the bulbs, our workers pickup the bulbs by hand and place them in the crates.


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Wonderful pictures of a 2016 wedding at Shillingstone House in Rock My Wedding
I have just been sent a link to a write up about a wedding last year at Shillingstone House. Here is the link to Rock My Wedding! They are a stunning couple and they are stunning photographs!
You need to go to "real weddings" and then to Grace and Alex.


text: One of our experienced consultants will call you to understand your unique IT challenges. Every business is different and blending our support capabilities to your exact requirements is essential to maximise IT efficiencies and performance, at the same time keeping your costs down and under control. Our advice is given from the highest level and is free of charge


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November 28, 2018
Bringing Your Plants Inside for Winter
Posted in Living by Guest Author
Winters in many parts of the Western U.S. can easily see temperatures that dip down below freezing. For many gardening homeowners, this can be troublesome when precious plants are concerned. Covering your plants with sheets may not be enough to save a plant from succumbing to freezing temperatures. Check out these ways to bring your plants inside for winter:
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November 26, 2018
The Do's and Don'ts of Hiring a Contractor
Posted in Living by Guest Author
Constructing or remodeling a home is a complex, expensive endeavor. Ideally, everything goes as planned, and when the dust clears, the homeowner can settle in and enjoy the new home — and never think about the building process again. But what happens when, nine months after the owner moves in, the floor develops a crack, the dishwasher begins to leak or the shower water won't...
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November 21, 2018
How to Stay Safe During the Holidays With Design and Planning
Posted in Living by John Trupin
While many people look forward to the arrival of a jolly red-suited visitor one night this winter, for all of us the holidays are a gift and a danger. All of us want to stay safe from burglary, and there's nothing paranoid about taking a bit of extra time to stay safe. The holidays are a time for relaxation, peace of mind, and sharing love and affection. From old-school security tricks to new...
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November 19, 2018
Go for Gold This Thanksgiving
Posted in Living by John Trupin
We're in the thick of autumn now, with Thanksgiving just days away. That means it's time to start considering how to best showcase your home before the calendar shifts fully into winter. One of the cheeriest bits of fall is the shifting colors that bring a canopy of rustic rainbow hues to a walk through the neighborhood. You can bring that cozy feeling inside yourself with some golden-dipped...
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November 15, 2018
Helping Homeless Youth Stay Warm From Head To Toe!
Posted in Windermere by Marilou Ubungen
With the onset of winter, Windermere offices throughout the greater Seattle area came together this month to host another "We've Got You Covered" winter drive for YouthCare, a nonprofit that provides critical services to homeless youth. This drive is a part of Windermere's #TackleHomelessness campaign with the Seattle Seahawks which aims to raise money, donations, and awareness for the...
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November 14, 2018
Windermere Foundation to Donate $25,000 to California Community Foundation Wildfire Relief Fund
Posted in Windermere Foundation by John Trupin
Like much of the nation, we've been heartbroken by the horrifying images and statistics rolling in as California suffers from the worst wildfires in the state's history. For our staff, agents, and franchise owners who live and work in the affected areas, it's a threat to their clients, their families, and their communities. Everything that Windermere is is thanks to the hard work and...
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November 12, 2018
5 Home Improvements That Will Boost Your Property Value
Posted in Selling by Guest Author
A home is the largest investment most people will make in their lifetime, so when it comes time to sell, homeowners often wonder what they can do to get the most return on their investment. Many have the misconception that remodeling is the way to go, but that isn't always the case. Rather than going all-in on upgrading your home, you should know which home improvements are worth it, and which...
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November 08, 2018
Montana Real Estate Market Update
Posted in Montana Real Estate Market Update by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate
According to the Labor Department, Montana added 7,400 non-agricultural jobs between September 2017 and September 2018, representing an annual growth rate of 1.6%. For perspective, the U.S growth rate is about 1.7%. The state experienced pretty substantial monthly increases in employment over the last few months and I hope this will continue even as we see a slowdown in employment in the...
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November 07, 2018
Oregon and Southwest Washington Real Estate Market Update
Posted in Oregon and Southwest Washington Real Estate Market Update by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate
Oregon added 42,000 new jobs over the past 12 months, representing a very solid annual growth rate of 2.2%. In the second quarter Gardner Report, I stated that job growth in Oregon was starting to taper, but since then the state has made adjustments to figures from the last three years that now suggest job growth was stronger than originally reported. The Southwest Washington market...
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November 06, 2018
Idaho Real Estate Market Update
Posted in Idaho Real Estate Market Update by Matthew Gardner, Chief Economist, Windermere Real Estate
Job growth in Idaho remains fairly strong. Over the past 12 months the state has added 22,000 new jobs, representing a solid growth rate of 3.1%. In August, the state unemployment rate was 2.8%, down from 3.1% a year ago. The state is, essentially, at full employment, and it appears my forecast predicting that Idaho would add just over 20,000 new jobs in 2018 will likely come true.
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Classic Elite Yarns Two-Color Seedling Scarf (Free)
Worked in Classic Elite Yarns Seedling with a contrasting color feather and fan edge, this Two-Color Seedling Scarf has short rows to give it a slight crescent shape. For a larger wrap, work additional rows on all stitches after the short rows are complete to make it deeper (you may need additional yarn if you choose to knit a larger wrap.
Finished Measurements: 65" wide x 9½" deep at center (from bottom of edging), blocked
Yarn Requirements: Seedling by Classic Elite Yarns
MC – 2 balls 4592 Horizon
CC – 1 ball 4502 Lime Juice
Needle(s): Circular knitting needle (24" or longer) in size US 8 (5 mm)
Gauge: 16 sts and 24 rows = 4" in St st.


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Welcome to Abingdon and Witney College
We are ambitious for our students, working with them to achieve excellence. But that excellence is not a 'one size fits all' solution. We offer a broad range of courses and celebrate the success of students at all levels across the college. With such a wide range of options there is something that is right for everyone.
We also know employers are increasingly looking to colleges to help solve skills shortages, which is why our courses are developed to meet the needs of local businesses and the future workplace. Our teaching staff have outstanding experience in their chosen sector and keep their skills industry-sharp through their programme of professional development which includes time spent in industry each year.
With a great college community, fantastic campuses, a huge range of new facilities, plus even more being built, there's never been a better time to start making your future happen!
Our aim is to support you, help achieve your goals and get you where you want to be.
Facilities available
In April 2001, Abingdon College and West Oxfordshire College merged to become Abingdon and Witney College. We now have five amazing campuses that offer our students and staff a range of courses and facilities.
We are proud of our campuses, each of them vibrant, social and career focused places to be in. At our two largest campuses in Abingdon and Witney, our great facilities include open access student support areas, a newly refurbished refectory complete with a Costa Coffee shop and games tables, brand new e-learning zones and break out areas, high quality learning centres, a lecture theatre, industry standard hair and beauty salons, specialist vocational workshops and state-of-the-art film production and recording units.
Both our Abingdon and Witney campuses are currently being refurbished. Recladding of the main building at Abingdon is complete and work is taking place on other buildings around the campus. A new Pathways hub will house The Propeller Project and Macintyre Abingdon Partnership students and this is scheduled to be in use in September 2015. The College has also been awarded £4m from the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership and the funding will result in the building of the new Advanced Engineering and Technology Skills Centre at our Abingdon campus.
At our Witney campus, the Courthouse building on Welch Way will be replaced by a new three storey building which will house the main reception, Pathway One, classrooms, IT suites and staff offices. A new Construction Skills Centre will be built in the place of the Weavers building, and will offer new trades such as plumbing.
Our Common Leys Farm campus in Hailey is a 60 acre campus, which boasts purpose built areas and facilities that house a range of land-based learning for subjects from Animal Care to Horticulture. The campus also has a fully functioning equine stud yard.
Avenue One in Witney is our dedicated construction skills centre. The campus is the perfect setting to hone skills in brickwork, carpentry, painting and decorating.
Learner success
We are the most successful college in Oxfordshire and we are also in the top 10% of colleges nationally. Our student success stories truly reflect the hard work and dedication of the students as well as the encouragement and inspiration from our teaching staff.
How to apply
If you want to apply for courses, you will need to contact Abingdon and Witney College directly.


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'Most Israelis do not want a bi-national state, I do not want a bi-national state!' If Israel's Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu means what he says, it is an indicator of where he is headed now. Coming into the home stretch of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's exhaustive peace mission, Bibi's timing was crucial. Netanyahu has taken a meaningful step forward beyond his vague declaration in support of a two-state solution- Jewish and Palestinian. Obviously a Palestinian state would have to be founded on some undefined territory in the West Bank and Gaza. However, by rejecting the concept of a bi-national state, the Israeli leader has indicated that he is willing to part with the densely populated Palestinian parts of the West Bank, and with good reason. The high Palestinian birth rate would eventually threaten the very essence of the Jewish state of Israel, which Netanyahu insists the Palestinians must recognize. Former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat once said that if Israel remained in all of the West Bank: 'The womb of the Palestinian woman would achieve the eventual victory for Palestine'.
In effect, Netanyahu, like some of his other historic Herut siblings, including Dan Meridor and Tzipi Livni, has parted company with far Right zealots such as Naftali Bennett of the Jewish Home party and many others in the PM's own ruling Likud. Despite Bennett's claims to the contrary, independent Israeli experts such as Prof. Pergola have warned that if Israel does not separate from most of the West Bank, it is only a matter of time before the Palestinians become a majority. (A Palestinian woman bears an average of five children, far more than an Israeli woman, except for the Haredi Ultra-Orthodox families that have an average of seven children.) The conclusion is that if Israel wants to continue being a Jewish democratic state, it must get out of the West Bank. Is it not a paradox that the founding of a Palestinian state would guarantee the Jewish majority in Israel? The Land of Israel ideology, into which Netanyahu was born and bred, cannot withstand the inexorable Palestinian population growth on the West Bank and remain a democratic country or be accepted by the Western democracies. Since Yitzhak Rabin signed the Oslo Agreement with Yasser Arafat in 1993, nearly every Israeli Prime Minister, including Peres, Barak, Sharon and Olmert, have taken partial or comprehensive steps to end the occupation and decrease the number of Palestinians under Israeli control. The only exception was Netanyahu in his first term from 1996-99. It appears that Netanyahu will bend with the new Obama wind of containment that is blowing from Washington, which is also being implemented in the Syrian and Iranian crises. Moreover, his point man, Secretary of State John Kerry, would not have made ten arduous trips to the Middle East if he had not received some conciliatory signals from Netanyahu. The European Union countries, possibly with a wink from Washington, have also been playing their part by threatening Israel with economic boycotts of one kind or another, if Netanyahu does not play ball. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States have been urging Abbas to be more forthcoming, although the Palestinian leader still refuses even to recognize Israel as a Jewish state.
But if the Kerry mission falls through and the U.S. blames Netanyahu, what lies ahead for Israel? Finance Minister Yair Lapid has revealed that his experts warn the floodgates of EU boycotts would open further to inflict a severe blow to the Israeli economy and the country as a whole. Moreover, Abbas would high tail it back to the UN in New York to launch a new diplomatic intifada against the Jewish state. Could Israel then depend on Washington's badly needed support? On the other hand, if Washington laid the blame on Abbas, the EU would oppose his diplomatic moves against Israel in the U.N. So, what is the U.S. framework paper, aimed at advancing the talks after the current deadline in April, likely to include? American diplomat Martin Indyk, who has been monitoring the Israeli/Palestinian deadlock, has leaked some of the proposals to American and Jewish leaders. According to Indyk, 75-80% of the 'settlers' would remain inside Israeli territory. (Settler spokesman Dani Dayan has charged this is 'misleading' because it includes the Jewish neighborhoods of Jerusalem, and would mean that 150,000 residents of Judea and Samaria would be uprooted from their homes, something that was 'repugnant and unacceptable'.) The proposal also referred to mutual recognition between Palestine and Israel, in which Israel would be recognized as the nation state of the Jewish people and Palestine as the nation state of the Palestinian people. Compensation would not only be paid to Palestinian refugees but also to Jewish refugees from Arab countries. Security arrangements would also involve Jordan and the West Bank as well as other new measures including unmanned aerial vehicles. The final agreement would stipulate an end to the conflict and all claims. Previously, New York Times reporter Thomas Friedman revealed some other details of the U.S. proposal that are expected to be presented with the next few weeks:
All this is gathering steam against the backdrop with the Iranian nuclear threat looming as larger as ever despite the interim agreement signed with Tehran on November 24th. Make no mistake; although the Palestinian issue has pushed the Iranian crisis to the backburner, it is still top priority for Israel's Prime Minister. It is of crucial importance that Netanyahu remains in the good graces of the U.S., if the necessity arises for Israel to go it alone against Iran's nuclear weapons installations. Despite all the hullabaloo about the nuclear negotiations, one of its most ardent supporters Fareed Zakaria of CNN, now talks about a 'train wreck on its way here. Zakaria was flabbergasted when Iran's 'moderate' President, Hassan Rouhani, told him that Tehran would not dismantle any of its existing centrifuges (used for producing enriched uranium for nuclear weapons) 'under any circumstances'. Rouhani went on to declare: "You can have as many inspections as you want, but we are not going to roll back that program. In fact, we're going to expand the program." And this was Zakaria's new assessment of Iran's intentions: 'Now that's a very different view from what the U.S. has laid out, where they expected a significant rollback of the program. They talked about shutting some of those centrifuges. They talked about dismantling the heavy water reactor at Arak. But he (Rouhani) made it categorically, specifically and unequivocally clear that none of that is going to happen. So I think we have a train wreck on its way here'. But the question remains whether or not the Obama administration is tuning in to Rouhani or playing it down as nothing more than Iranian rhetoric to placate criticism from hardliners at home?
In any case, there is now American verification of Israel's intelligence assessment that Iran has the capacities to break out for nuclear weapons any time it wishes to do so. This confirmation came from James Clapper, Director of U.S. National Intelligence, who stated in a report to the Senate Intelligence Committee: 'Tehran has made technical progress in a number of areas including uranium enrichment reactors and ballistic missiles for missile-delivered nuclear weapons. Iran has the necessary scientific, technical, and industrial capacities; and this makes the central issue the political will to do so [break out for a nuclear weapon]'. But Clapper added the interim agreement and other transparency 'would provide earlier warning of a breakout'. America's top intelligence official also disclosed that Iran has the largest arsenal of ballistic missiles in the Middle East that could deliver nuclear warheads. He then noted that Iran's space program gives it the means to develop ICBMs (inter-continental ballistic missiles), which could provide Iran with the capability to target the U.S. At present, Iranian missiles are capable of reaching Israel and a number of European countries.
In the past, U.S. intelligence officials have estimated that, if undeterred, the Iranians could be able to produce ICBMs within another three years or so. This would be after President Barack Obama leaves office. In other words, Obama could leave an American decision on a preventative attack against Iran to his successor. But obviously Israel would be faced immediately with a 'clear and present danger' if and when makes its nuclear breakout. Although Secretary Kerry has again spoken about a military option if Iran does not downgrade its nuclear weapons capability in the coming negotiations, his boss indicated in his New Yorker interview that he has had enough of America's involvement in the Middle East and prefers a policy of containment. Prime Minister Netanyahu must be aware of the need to create the best possible relations with the U.S. if Israel decides it must go it alone against Iran. Therefore, it follows that the Israeli leader will do his utmost to comply with the imminent framework proposal on an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord. In the Palestinian camp, it will be extremely difficult for Abbas to accept that Palestinian refugees will not be returning to their old homes in Israel, and that Palestine must recognize Israel as the Jewish homeland. Netanyahu could put Abbas on the spot by accepting first. If the leaks prove to be accurate, the proposal is something that Israel can live with, or at least something the Prime Minister could put to the Israeli people in a national referendum, while expressing his own reservations on giving up the strategic Jordan Valley Basin and a Palestinian capital in Arab Jerusalem.
However, it could trigger a breakup in his coalition with Naftali Bennett's party bolting the government. Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon might also lead a full-blown rebellion inside the Likud. Left wing Labor and Meretz could be counted on to back Netanyahu. In the past, former Likud PMs such as Menachem Begin and Ariel Sharon bucked their own Right wing Likud by withdrawing from Sinai and Gaza, but they were extremely strong leaders. It remains to be seen if Netanyahu is also made of their 'sterner stuff'. Overall, the U.S. plan resembles the proposal that President Bill Clinton presented at Camp David in 2000 to Prime Minister Ehud Barak and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat. However, Arafat refused to even reply, and returned home to launch the second intifada. At the time, Barak predicted that the Clinton plan, in which he played a significant role, would form the basis of a future Israeli-Palestinian peace plan. It appears that time is near at hand.
David Essing