text:
Reclaim Your Streets: How to Create Safe and Social Pedestrian Plazas
The next time you find yourself waiting forever for a light to change at a busy intersection, practice this visualization: Imagine the streets around you completely devoid of cars. Replace the painted lane lines with lush, green, flowering plants. Zap that smog-spewing SUV and manifest a café table in its place, complete with a shady umbrella and chairs. Vanish the ugly traffic light and see instead a whimsical statue.
Think it's all just a wishful fantasy? It's actually happening, and in some unexpected places. From an artists' collective in San Francisco's funky Mission district to New York City's Times Square, people are working to reclaim streets as public spaces, partnering with residents and local businesses to create a renewed sense of community while they're at it.
Here's how to make it happen in your own city:
Start small and temporary.
Photo essay: Parking spots take on a whole new meaning.
Even something as small and car-centric as a parking spot can be transformed into a space for pedestrians to enjoy. In 2005, REBAR, an artists' collective based in San Francisco, wanted to demonstrate the need for more urban green space in San Francisco. They put some quarters in a parking meter, brought in some benches and sod, and used the parking space for a rather unconventional purpose: a park instead of a car. They called it PARK(ing) Day. Park(ing) Day is now "an annual, worldwide event that inspires city dwellers everywhere to transform metered parking spots into temporary parks for the public good," according to REBAR's website. The website also offers a downloadable instruction manual ($6.99) with step-by-step instructions on how to transform a parking spot into a park, including ideas about creative uses for the space and advice on how to make your park safe and inviting.
Once you've successfully reclaimed 200 square feet, you're ready to take on a whole street, or even a park.
Request a one-day street closure in an area that pedestrians and bicyclists already frequent, like a park or esplanade.
"Ciclovias" started in Columbia in the 1980s, when several of the country's major cities declared main streets closed to cars on Sundays and holidays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. A staggering 2 million people (30 percent of Colombian citizens) now participate in these weekly events, where stages are set up for aerobics instructors, yoga instructors, and musicians to encourage people to move their bodies without the assistance of an automobile.
The cities of Portland, Ore., Chicago, New York, San Francisco, and even Cleveland, Ohio, sponsor "Sunday Parkways"—events where park streets are closed to car traffic. On a recent Sunday in the streets of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, those enjoying the break from cars included families teaching kids how to ride bikes, joggers and runners of all shapes and sizes, and even old-school boom-box-toting roller skaters disco dancing their way across the pavement.
After you see how much fun a Ciclovia can be, you'll want to move on to a semi-permanent project. This type of project uses a temporary installation to test a street closure, with the goal of eventually closing the street permanently. For this one, you'll need help.
To make a park permanent, recruit partners who will benefit from the experience, like community organizations and local businesses.
San Francisco's Pavement to Parks project reclaims wasted space on overly wide streets and turns the space into temporary public parks and plazas, complete with benches and movable landscaping. City and community organizations help make sure the parks stay clean and coordinate community uses such as farmer's markets, chess clubs, and concessions. In one "parklet," Pavement to Parks partnered with REBAR and three restaurants to turn parking spots in front of the restaurants into additional seating and bike parking.
Building the World We Want
When city officials told them, "That's public space. No one can use it," architect Mark Lakeman and his neighbors began a revolution in Portland's public places.
Perhaps the most well-known example of a successful temporary street closure that is now on its way to becoming a permanent pedestrian area is in New York City's Times Square, where, in May of 2009, Broadway was closed to traffic between 47th and 42nd Streets. The goal of the project, named "Green Light for Midtown," was to improve mobility and safety in Manhattan's Midtown area, and to make it a better place to live, work, and visit. Because this project would affect a large and diverse group of residents and businesses, New York City's Department of Transportation held numerous public and private meetings with stakeholders before they started the project—with Business Improvement Districts, local community boards, elected officials, local media, the theater community, government agencies, and representatives from the taxi, hotel, real estate, and tourism industries.
This closure yielded some startling results. According to the Department of Transportation's 2010 evaluation report, pedestrian injuries in the area dropped by 35 percent. In addition, the area has become a much more inviting place, encouraging people to linger and spend time there, which promotes social interaction and benefits local businesses. Again, according to the Department of Transportation (DOT) report:
- 84 percent more people are staying (e.g. reading, eating, taking photographs) in Times Square and in another similar temporary pedestrian area (in Herald Square) than before the projects.
- 42 percent of NYC residents surveyed in Times Square say they shop in the neighborhood more often since the changes.
- 26 percent of Times Square employees report leaving their offices for lunch more frequently.
- 74 percent of New Yorkers surveyed by the Times Square Alliance agree that Times Square has improved dramatically as a result of this project.
The DOT currently is upgrading and reviving the plaza with a temporary mural, and is designing a permanent pedestrian plaza for the space that will be constructed in 2012.
Like the song says, "if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere." Here are some more tips to ensure that your new temporary pedestrian plaza will get built, be used, and turn into a permanent pedestrian oasis:
Make the space beautiful and inviting with plants, seating areas, and art.
Using reclaimed materials whenever possible is the inexpensive and environmentally responsible way to go. Pavement to Parks blocked off one street using reclaimed logs that were hollowed out and used as planters. In another plaza, they sanitized, painted, lined, and filled donated dumpsters and unused terracotta sewer pipes with trees and plants. For easy maintenance, make sure your plants are drought-tolerant.
Warn users of the space in advance of the closure with fliers, signs, handouts, and digital announcements.
Because the Green Light in Midtown project would potentially disrupt one of the most congested traffic areas in the United States, the DOT made a tremendous effort to involve the community and form collaborative partnerships long before the first orange cone was placed. In addition to meeting with key stakeholders, project leaders distributed thousands of fliers to inform the public about the proposed closure and invite them to participate in open house discussions. The DOT also welcomed feedback about the proposal on its website.
Make it fun! Have a party in your new park!
It's easier than you think to turn a parking spot or even a street into a beautiful, safe place for people to relax and socialize, even in the middle of a big city. Look around, visualize, and then start talking to people in your community about it. Happy parking!
The residents of Portland are literally tearing their city up. Who says cities have to be islands of concrete?
Who decides what happens to urban land when a city falls apart?
YES! Magazine's special issue: Why wait for permission? Create the world you want right now.


text:
Latest News
NOAA's theory: Shrimpers at fault in sea turtles' death
BILOXI -- NOAA's theory that shrimpers are to blame for almost 1,000 sea-turtle deaths since the BP oil spill unleashed a fury of comments in two languages Wednesday.
Mark Barnette, NOAA's representative at a meeting on the topic in Biloxi, wasn't sure how to handle the response, especially from Vietnamese shrimpers. He didn't have an interpreter.
Comments were coming at him before he'd even finished his slide presentation.
NOAA was seeking input at the meeting on plans to change turtle-excluder regulations in response to the absurdly high number of dead sea turtles washing up on the northern Gulf beaches -- 600 last year and 400 so far this year.
Turtle excluders are devices built into shrimp nets that give the turtles a chance to escape the nets.
Barnette said NOAA, in a test, boarded 44 boats in Louisiana and Mississippi and found only three with properly functioning devices.
Read the complete story at sunherald.com

subset: commoncrawl


text:
D.C. Residents Make Big Bucks Renting Homes to Inauguration Visitors
(WASHINGTON) -- This weekend hundreds of thousands of Americans are flooding the nation's capital, overtaking trains on the metro and annoyingly standing on the wrong side of the escalator. What better revenge for D.C. residents than charging exorbitant rates for those visitors to camp out in their studio apartments?
Jokes aside, some D.C. residents are making a pretty penny off inauguration attendees this weekend by renting out their spaces through social media sites.
Airbnb, a website that allows people to rent their homes to travelers and vice versa, is expecting roughly 2,000 people to stay in D.C. to partake in the inauguration festivities using its service, up from 150 people in 2009.
Ellen Boomer, a freelance writer who started using the site in July, said she sees renting out her space as a way for her to make some money while out-of-towners experience a historic moment.
"I'm so close to the Capitol and the inauguration," Boomer said. "Since I'm not going to the inauguration, why not let someone else enjoy the proximity and stay here?"
For $600 per night, a renter will be staying in her two-bath, two-bedroom, two-story home, about five blocks from Capitol Hill. Boomer said her client made the reservation about 10 weeks in advance – the night before Election Day.
Last week, some D.C. Craigslist users were banking on the idea that visitors might have procrastinated.
One poster listed her Dupont Circle apartment on Thursday and heard back from three interested parties by Friday afternoon.
Shar, who preferred to go by her first name since her apartment has a policy against this type of subleasing, advertised her "large, clean, sun-drenched, fifth-floor floor studio" for $179 per night.
Like many D.C. residents, Shar has no desire to brave the cold and crowds on Monday. Instead, she is staying at a friend's apartment a few blocks away from her guests. The two plan to split the profits.
"We tried to price it reasonably," Shar said. "We figured super rich people would already have somewhere to stay."
Both Boomer and Shar offer certain conveniences not found in many run-of-the-mill hotels. Boomer leaves her guests baked goods, bottles of wine and fresh lavender from her garden. Shar's ad said visitors could take advantage of free Wi-Fi and a Keurig one-cup coffee maker with K-cups.
"I was just trying to think if I were renting, what I would want," Shar said. "Everything's here, you don't need anything extra."
An Airbnb spokesperson said big events like the inauguration, where hotels often book up fast, drive more and more travelers to their site.
That means renters can drive up the price. For inauguration, Airbnb anticipates hosts will increase prices by 2.5 to four times the usual rate. A quick search shows rooms for the weekend in D.C. going for as high as $2,050.
Though Airbnb charges hosts a fee that Craigslist users avoid, it also offers a level of safety and comfort, with customer service agents available to help both guests and owners through their stay.
Shar didn't have much of a plan for what to do if her clients trash or burglarize her place, as happened to an Airbnb user before the company upped its security.
"If it looks shady or feels shady, the deal's off," Shar said. "I don't need money that bad."
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio


text:
Our team is divided on which way to go? The triathletes are for yards and the pool swimmers would like meters.
Our team is divided on which way to go? The triathletes are for yards and the pool swimmers would like meters.
I think switching to SCM is a terrible idea. For those of us who set goals and plan our swimming, to have a sudden switch from SCY to SCM plays havoc with goals for the SCY season. I swim Nationals every year to obtain best times and break records as an end-of-season event. That would mean no end-of-season event for SCY next year. I just moved into a new age group and have already begun thinking about my SCY goals for next year. If something like this is in the works there should be a lot more warning than a less than one year heads up. SCM season is from Sept through December. The SCM season has worked well in its current time of year and has not prevented those who can from posting top 10 FINA rankings. Very disappointing if it happens.
If the meet is scm, I would seriously consider going. If not, it's just another scy meet...
The USMS Championship Committee, after consultation with the host, has selected Short Course Yards for 2018 USMS Spring Nationals (Indy).
Jeff Roddin
USMS Championship Committee
It's good to see the idea of changing nationals to SCM at least being considered. We need to break out of our America-centered bubble and admit that SCY is an anachronism, quaint but increasingly meaningless. Imagine a track meet with 220/440/880 yard events. Meters is the world standard and insisting on our own "unofficial" format is simply out of touch. It's understandable that SCY meets persist because we've invested in that infrastructure for so long, but we should be actively phasing it out by discouraging the construction of 25 yard pools like we did 50 yard format. In my opinion, new pools should at least have a metric format option. We should not fear the transition from yards to meters. Let's evolve!
Those interested in a short course meters meet should consider Canadian Masters Nationals in Calgary next spring. I'm not sure the decision has been made yet whether it will be short course or long course, but I'm very confident it will be in meters!
I would have gone to Indy as a SCM meet. But as a yards meet, I don't see it as a significant improvement over the fast zone meet that is within driving distance.
Follow my blogs at http://www.1001pools.com and http://forums.usms.org/blog.php?u=5013
Maybe in 2019 meters for Nationals?
The people have spoken - ok - maybe only the ones with an opinion either way.
SCM only gets local meets.


text:
Microsoft Specific
The thread extended storage-class modifier is used to declare a thread local variable.
__declspec( thread ) declarator
Thread Local Storage (TLS) is the mechanism by which each thread in a multithreaded process allocates storage for thread-specific data. In standard multithreaded programs, data is shared among all threads of a given process, whereas thread local storage is the mechanism for allocating per-thread data. For a complete discussion of threads, see Multithreading.
Declarations of thread local variables must use extended attribute syntax and the __declspec keyword with the thread keyword. For example, the following code declares an integer thread local variable and initializes it with a value:
__declspec( thread ) int tls_i = 1;
You must observe these guidelines when declaring thread local objects and variables:
You can apply the thread attribute only to data declarations and definitions, and classes that do not have member functions; thread cannot be used on function declarations or definitions.
The use of the thread attribute may interfere with delay loading of DLL imports**.**
You can specify the thread attribute only on data items with static storage duration. This includes global data objects (both static and extern), local static objects, and static data members of classes. You cannot declare automatic data objects with the thread attribute.
You must use the thread attribute for the declaration and the definition of a thread local object, whether the declaration and definition occur in the same file or separate files.
You cannot use the thread attribute as a type modifier.
Only POD classes may be instantiated using __declspec(thread). The thread attribute is ignored if no object is declared as part of the class declaration. For example:
// declspec_thread.cpp // compile with: /LD __declspec(thread) class X { public: int I; } x; // x is a thread object X y; // y is not a thread object
Because the declaration of objects that use the thread attribute is permitted, these two examples are semantically equivalent:
// declspec_thread_2.cpp // compile with: /LD __declspec( thread ) class B { public: int data; } BObject; // BObject declared thread local. class B2 { public: int data; }; __declspec( thread ) B2 BObject2; // BObject2 declared thread local.
Standard C permits initialization of an object or variable with an expression involving a reference to itself, but only for objects of nonstatic extent. Although C++ normally permits such dynamic initialization of an object with an expression involving a reference to itself, this type of initialization is not permitted with thread local objects. For example:
// declspec_thread_3.cpp // compile with: /LD #define Thread __declspec( thread ) int j = j; // Okay in C++; C error Thread int tls_i = sizeof( tls_i ); // Okay in C and C++
Note that a sizeof expression that includes the object being initialized does not constitute a reference to itself and is allowed in C and C++.
END Microsoft Specific


text:
Currently Shopping by
Shopping Options
- Category
- Tea (7)
- Green Teas (1)
- White Teas (4)
- Black Teas & Pu Erh Teas (1)
- Scented Teas & Tea Blends (3)
- Master Blends (1)
- Earl Grey (3)
- Tea Bags (1)
- Cold Brew Teas (3)
- Iced Tea (1)
- Gifts (2)
- Bestsellers (3)
- Product Type
- Price
€13€2713 - 27
Green Tea
There are considerable variations in the rich tea-making traditions of China, Japan and Korea, explaining the distinct differences in aroma, taste and appearance of the resultant green tea. Whatever the variety, however, the tea leaves harvested from the camellia sinensis tea plant undergo a careful process of rolling, drying and heating to produce this much-loved tea at the lower end of the tea oxidation scale.
Elixir of life and spirit, green teas have been consumed throughout Asia for many centuries as much as a health tonic as for their energizing, revitalizing effects. In recent years, the appreciation of green tea has spread around the world and its long-lauded benefits for body and mind are being increasingly validated by scientific studies. But leaving antioxidants, vitamins, minerals and anti-carcinogens aside for a moment, the taste and the sheer variety of the category is what makes it a winner.
image credits: kim juwon / Matthew Hadley / Roberto Maxwell


text:
3/8" thickness - 3.75" x 6" - AR500 - Clearance Target
Square Mounting hole made to fit a 5/16" carriage bolt
This target is shipped unfinished.
We promise to never spam you, and just use your email address to identify you as a valid customer.
This product hasn't received any reviews yet. Be the first to review this product!
All prices are in USD
© 2019 GongShot.com.
All products made in the U.S.A.


text:
Social media sites are a dime a dozen these days, and there are only so many hours in a day, so keeping up with them all is impossible. But in terms of therapy ideas and just plain fun, Pinterest may be worth checking out. Never heard of Pinterest? You're not alone–while it's been around since 2010, the site is still in beta mode, requiring an invite to set up an account. However, you don't need to set up an account or a profile to enjoy Pinterest–you can simply go to the site, type in a search term in the search box in the upper left-hand corner of the page, and you'll be able to see and click through to any results that come up.
But sorry, I'm getting ahead of myself–what exactly IS Pinterest? According to Pinterest's "about" page:
Pinterest is a virtual pinboard. Pinterest allows you to organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. You can browse pinboards created by other people to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.
That's great, you may be thinking, but what does this have to do with CSD professionals? At first glance, nothing. But it just so happens that SLPs and other therapists and educators are "pinning" therapy ideas by the hundreds, making Pinterest an invaluable resource for therapy ideas and inspiration. If you go to Pinterest and search "SLP" or "fine motor" or "audiology" or any term you might be interested in, you'll see what I'm talking about. Pediastaff has pinned an incredible number of therapy ideas grouped by topic, and features a "pin of the week" of the most popular therapy pins.
Want to start exploring Pinterest and need an invite? Leave a comment and I'll send you one. Already on Pinterest and want to share your boards with ASHAsphere readers? Leave a comment with your Pinterest url (e.g. "http://pinterest.com/ashaweb") so ASHAsphere readers can find and follow you. ASHA is just starting with Pinterest so we haven't really started using it yet; however, we have set up an ASHAsphere board, starting with December's posts, and plan to update it with new posts going forward.


text:
Welcome to the Seattle Soccer Referee Association. We provide licensed referees to matches in the general vicinity of Seattle, Washington. If you'd like a little more background information about us, check out the Information segment of our Site.
If you are a new referee, or are new to Seattle, Register Here.
Are you interested in becoming a referee? Start here with the Washington State Referee Committee
The Laws of the Game and the US Soccer Referee Program are helpful resources for Referees, Coaches, Players and Spectators.
Please see the Professional Referee Organization for current MLS assignments and useful analysis of the game and current issues.
Finally, please see FIFA for general information about the game in its international context.
October Pay for the games worked during the month of September 2019 will hit your bank on October 16, 2019. Thanks for all your hard work!!
Referee Running Group on Monday night at Garfield HS. This group is designed for any fitness level-they will help design a running program that will help you reach your personal goals and impr...
Remember, always check the website and your match assignments within 24 hours of the match and you must complete a match report within 48 hours of the match completion or face possible non pay...
How to write a Misconduct Report
Did you show a yellow or red card? Be sure to file a correct and accurate report. See this document for advice on constructing your report.


text:
Chimp attack victim tries again to sue state
Charla Nash, who was disfigured and nearly killed by a 2009 chimpanzee attack in Stamford, is seeking a second chance to prove her case against the state.
Lawyers for Nash, who underwent a facial transplant but is still blind and unable to use her hands, appealed last month's decision, which denied her the chance to collect damages from the state. The ruling by J. Paul Vance Jr., the state's claims commissioner, said that state law at the time permitted private ownership of chimps.
Nash was attacked brutally on Feb. 16, 2009 by a chimp owned by her friend, Sandra Herold. Police killed the chimp, Travis, during the attack and Herold has since died. Her estate paid a $4 million settlement to Nash.
Now, Nash is seeking an additional $150 million from the state, claiming the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, at the time known as the Department of Environmental Protection, had been warned by its own biologist that the 14-year-old, 200-pound chimp Herold had raised since it was a baby was "an accident waiting to happen."
Ann and Charles Willinger, the married lawyers who filed the appeal with Vance Wednesday, is hopeful that the state legislature's Judiciary Committee will consider their claims by conducting a full hearing when they convene early next year.
"We anticipate they will correctly apply the law, overrule the claims commissioner and permit us to pursue our case in court," Charles Willinger said Thursday.
In their appeal, the Willingers claim Vance's decision is flawed on several issues including failing "to recognize the unique position of the DEEP and horrendous consequences that can and did befall a state resident when the DEEP, despite its manifest responsibilities, ignored its obligations..."
Chimpanzee ownership was banned by the state legislature as a result of this attack.
The Willingers claim Vance erred by not applying the same standard of responsibility to the state a private person would have. They further point out Vance failed to address the allegation of DEEP's negligence for not taking action on warnings from their own employees and from other state residents.
"The DEEP biologist tasked with oversight of exotic animals in Connecticut...included an outline of the dire consequences that could befall individuals coming into contact with the animal," Ann Willinger said. "No action was taken by the DEEP."
Nash's lawyer further charges that Herold did not have the required permit for the chimpanzee and as a result it should have been seized by the state.
They point to a state Supreme Court case in which a dog warden failed to quarantine a biting dog for 14 days as required, and instead allowed the dog returned to the owner, which resulted in another person being bitten.
"The court found there was a duty to protect the public," said Charles Willinger. "That same duty exists here."


text:
To Best Fight Cancer, New Guidelines Urge Exercise
People undergoing cancertreatment traditionally have been told to rest as much as possible and avoid exertion, to save all their strength to battle the dreaded disease.
But a growing number of physicians and researchers now say that people who remain physically active as best they can during treatment are more likely to beat cancer.
The positive evidence for exercise during and after cancer treatment has piled so high that an American College of Sports Medicine panel is revising the group's national guidelines regarding exercise recommended for cancer survivors.
The panel's conclusion: Cancer patients and survivors should strive to get the same amount of exercise recommended for everyone else, about 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise. Resistance training and stretching also are recommended.
"Exercise is so important for cancer patients, but so many doctors and health professionals are concerned about safety issues -- is it safe for people undergoing treatment to exercise?" said Colleen Doyle, director of nutrition and physical activity at the American Cancer Society. "And this group has decided that yes, it is. These guidelines really help lay some of those issues to rest. This clearly delineates that it is safe and it is feasible and we should be recommending exercise for cancer patients."
The new guidelines stand as an important sea change in cancer treatment, said Kathryn Schmitz, an associate professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and a researcher at the university's Abramson Cancer Center, who presented the guidelines at a meeting this past summer of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
"The exercise guidelines for all Americans stand for cancer patients undergoing treatment," Schmitz said. "This is a landmark statement because the guidelines up to this point have been, 'Take it easy, don't push yourself.'"
But that's changed, she explained. "Not only is exercise safe, but it has a number of benefits for cancer patients during treatment," she said.
The top benefit is a better chance of survival. Exercise seems to make the body better able to withstand the withering effects of such cancer treatments as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
"Evidence is promising that exercise may make cancer treatment more effective," Schmitz added. For example, breast cancer patients doing resistance training were better able to take a full dose of chemotherapy, rather than having to cut the treatment short due to the detrimental effects of chemo on the body, she said.
Other exercise benefits for cancer patients and survivors include:
Doctors do not expect cancer patients to always be able to keep up the same level of physical activity as healthy people. "We understand that a person throwing up because of chemotherapy may have trouble getting that amount of exercise, but they still should be avoiding inactivity as much as they can," Schmitz said.
Workout plans also will have to be tweaked to best fit the person's condition, according to the American College of Sports Medicine panel. For example, some types of cancer therapy can make bones more brittle, requiring exercise that places less stress on them. Other cancer patients could be so vulnerable to infection because of their embattled immune system that they would need to exercise away from other people.
But overall, the new message is clear: If you have cancer, you'll have a more successful fight against it and a better recovery afterward if you exercise as much as possible.
"Our study is potentially showing that even if you don't start your exercise training until you've received your diagnosis, it can still be of some help," Walker said. "And if you're in a healthier state before you get a diagnosis of cancer, you're going to do better because your body is in better shape and you have reserves there."


text:
Souvenir Homer
June 28, 2007
Tonight's Lineup
Rollins, ss; Victorino, rf; Utley, 2b; Howard, 1b; Rowand, cf; Dobbs, lf; Helms, 3b; Ruiz, p; Eaton, p.
Bullpen Woes
It was another tough loss last night because the Phillies had the lead and couldn't hold on.
Bullpen issues are more than just a Phillies concern. Looking around baseball yesterday: 14 games were played, 80 relievers were used, combined they threw 99 innings, allowed 47 runs, lost four games, won three and recorded seven saves. The numbers could have been a little higher because one of the 14 games yesterday (Cardinals/Mets) was called after five and one-half innings. Each team used only pitcher.
Souvenir Homer
Ryan Howard's historic homer was a monster smash that landed in Memory Lane which is located behind the 31-foot high brick batter's eye wall in center field. After the ball landed in Memory Lane, it bounced over a Turkey Hill ice cream stand in Ashburn Alley. Ryan became the first player to hit one over that wall a year ago, an estimated 496 feet. Last night's was an estimated 505 feet. Distances are estimated off charts of various sections of Citizens Bank Park. It is not an exact science.
The blast was historic because it was Ryan's 100th career home run. He got to that number faster than anyone in major league baseball, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. It came in his 325th game. Ralph Kiner held the old mark at 385 games in 1948.
Paul Hagen of the Daily News talked to the fan that got the ball, Joe Ruffin of Summit, NJ. Ruffin agreed to return the souvenir for a Howard autographed baseball. "If Howard wants the ball, he should have it," Ruffin was quoted in Hagen's story.
A fan who is lucky enough to catch or retrieve a home run hit by a Phillies player can turn the baseball into Guest Services during that game and the Phillies will have the player autograph the baseball, compliments of PECO. Once autographed, the Phillies return the ball to the fan.
Big Weekend
After tonight, the Mets come in for four games in three days. It all starts with a day/night, separate admission doubleheader tomorrow, 1:35 p.m. and 7:05 p.m.
Fans will exit the park and parking lots after the 1:35 game. Cleaning crews and ARAMARK's staff then take over, getting the park ready for the night game. Gates will open at 6:05 for the 7:05 p.m. game which is followed by an Independence Blue Cross fireworks show.
For those of you coming to games tomorrow, carpooling or public transportation is recommended. Variable electronic signage will be located throughout the Sports Complex directing fans to the parking lots.
For those of you watching on TV or you computer or listening on the radio, fill your tummy, brush your teeth, take a snooze and get ready for the night gamer game. If the Phillies lose the first game, shake off your emotional downer by taking a short, brisk walk. If the Phillies win the first game, hug someone.
Roster Shuffle
With J. D. Durbin pitching the first game tomorrow, the Phillies will need to make a roster move. Then, J. A. Happ is scheduled for Saturday's game, which means another roster move. Stay tuned.
All-Star deadline
Online balloting ends at 11:59 tonight: www.mlb.com/mlb/events/all_star/y2007/ballot_reg.jsp.
If you try to vote after midnight, rumor is you may turn into a pumpkin.


text:
MeritBadgeDotOrg:Current events/2014
From MeritBadgeDotOrg
Feb 03, 2014
Mining in Society has been added and now needs loving care, the rest of the requirements listed (which will be released Feb 24th), and a workbook created. BartHumphries 00:23, February 4, 2014 (EST)
July 12, 2013
MeritBadge.Net status
|MeritBadge.Net is currently down... User Optimist has been notified and we are attempting to determine and resolve the problem. I apologize for the inconvenience.—RWSmith (Bureaucrat), 13:23, July 13, 2013 (EDT)
MeritBadge.Net is back up. Going there will not let you navigate to the new bulletin board, to this wiki, and the new free Scouting book download site. BartHumphries 00:23, February 4, 2014 (EST)
June 22, 2013
New Sysop: Philpisch
User Philpisch has been approved for Sysop status.—RWSmith (Bureaucrat), 13:23, July 13, 2013 (EDT)
If you are interested, see: Can I become a Sysop on this wiki?
March 08, 2013
New Game Design Merit Badge/Contest
The BSA has released a new Game Design merit badge. In addition, they are encouraging participation in the STEM game design contest to promote the new merit badge. Here is the info from the BSA:
- Compete in the National STEM Video Game Challenge and win prizes.
- Entry submissions for the competition, which is for middle school
- and high school students, are due by April 12.
- Visit http://stemchallenge.org/ for more details.
February 08, 2013
Wiki Updates
Advancement changes for rank and merit badges based on the new 2013 Boy Scout Requirements have been completed.
July 08, 2012
Unscheduled maintenance
|There may be some occasional, unscheduled site maintenance during "normal hours" today... i.e., due to upgrades, off-site back-ups, etc. We'll try to limit downtime to just a few minutes at a time. (See MeritBadgeDotOrg:Maintenance for details.) — The Staff
April 23, 2012
New BSA Health and Safety guidance
Just released:
- Service Project Planning Guidelines BSA Pub. 680-027 (2012 Printing) (5 pgs) — Note: Fillable, savable
|— Service Project Planning Guidelines, BSA Pub. 680-027
- Age Guidelines for Tool Use and Work at Elevations or Excavations, BSA Pub. 680-028 (2012 Printing) (3 pgs)
|— Age Guidelines for Tool Use and Work at Elevations or Excavations, BSA Pub. 680-028
March 25, 2012
All merit badge worksheets have been updated
I've just finished uploading all Merit Badge Worksheets (workbooks), which were recently reviewed and updated by User PaulSWolf. —RWSmith (Bureaucrat), 16:53, March 25, 2012 (EDT)
February 21, 2012
New Sysop
Congratulations to User Miksmi, who has been nominated for and approved for promotion to Sysop status. —RWSmith (Bureaucrat), 14:58, February 28, 2012 (EST)
If you are interested, see: Can I become a Sysop on this wiki?


text:
Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Holders crash out to Blues
Swansea's defence of the Capital One Cup ended at the first hurdle as they were knocked out courtesy of a resounding 3-1 defeat by Birmingham at St Andrew's.
It is just seven months and one day since Michael Laudrup's side lifted the first major honour in their 101-year history with a thumping 5-0 victory over Bradford at Wembley.
But the holders were brought crashing back down to earth by another side who also share fond recent memories of the competition - 2011 winners Birmingham.
It was a classic game of two halves in the third-round tie as the Swans saw plenty of the ball in the opening period and hit the woodwork twice within a matter of seconds through Wilfried Bony and Alejandro Pozuelo.
But the Sky Bet Championship hosts appeared a different animal after the break and Dan Burn headed home his first goal for the club in the 56th minute before Matt Green added a second from close range soon after.
Inspired by winger Chris Burke, who played his part in all three goals, Tom Adeyemi also got in on the act with his maiden goal late on - with Bony netting a consolation with virtually the last touch.
Laudrup had made no secret of his desire to lift the League Cup in successive seasons, despite the heavy demands of the Europa League, although he did make 10 changes from Sunday's Barclays Premier League victory at Crystal Palace, with midfielder Jonjo Shelvey the only survivor.
Yet his in-form side, having won three of their last unbeaten four including a memorable 3-0 triumph in Valencia, were unable to reproduce their heroics from the Mestalla in the midlands.
The only downside of the evening for Birmingham was that there was only 7,470 in attendance to watch what was arguably the biggest upset of the third round.
There was very little for the sparse crowd to get excited about inside the opening stages, but that all changed in the 18th minute.
Jonathan de Guzman's corner was headed goalwards by Bony but Paul Caddis, stood next to the back post, reacted quickly to nod the ball up against the crossbar and out in the direction of Pozuelo, who duly hammered the rebound back against the woodwork.
Yet no sooner had the excitement passed than the game fell back into its previous pattern - Swans passing the ball around neatly without great penetration and Blues keen to hustle and counter where possible.
Bony was proving the liveliest outlet on the pitch and he saw a close-range shot well blocked in the 30th minute before curling another effort narrowly wide soon after.
Birmingham skipper Paul Robinson produced a great tackle to deny the Ivorian when he found himself one-on-one before goalkeeper Colin Doyle used his legs to block from Roland Lamah when he was also sent clean through.
The hosts immediately looked more dangerous after the interval and Green fired their first real chance straight at Swans stopper Gerhard Tremmel, inspiring the home crowd in attendance.
And it was the hosts who duly broke the deadlock - Burke finding Caddis down the right and his cross was headed home by Burn from six yards.
Just five minutes later and Birmingham were in dreamland as Burke, again the creator, found Mitch Hancox down the left and he crossed low for Green to fire home from close range.
Swansea were reduced to long-range efforts as they searched for a route back into the game.
But all hopes of a comeback were extinguished in the 81st minute.
Adeyemi caught out Jordi Amat on the edge of his own penalty area and the ball broke for Burke, who played the ball back to the midfielder to wrap up a superb evening for Lee Clark's side - despite Bony's injury-time header from Wayne Routledge's corner.


text:
Animal Services
Arts & Culture
Community Centers
Event Planning
Fire Department
Online Services
Parks & Recreation
Permit Center
Police Department
Transportation & Parking
San José Prepared
Volunteer Opportunities
Utility Services
Doing Business With the City
Business Incentives
Maps & Apps
Data & Demographics
Economic Development
Environmental Regulations
Greening Your Business
International Relations
Permit Center
Planning & Development
Start a Business
Small Business Resources
Tax Forms & Business Permits
Workforce Programs
Airport & Flight Information
Calendar of Events
City Hall Falcons
Experience San José
Getting Around
Outdoor Fun
Places to Go
Public Art
Things to Do
San José Culture
San José Sports
Social Media Center
Stay Connected
Visitor Resources
Wickedly Fast Wi-Fi
San Jose Free Wi-fi
Agendas & Minutes
Boards & Commissions
Budget Office
City Charter
City Clerk's Office
City Council
City Hall
City Manager's Office
Departments & Offices
Elections & Voting
Job Openings
Mayor's Office
Municipal Code
Open Government
Recycling & Garbage
Water Utilities
Climate Smart San José
Illegal Dumping & Litter
Our Creeks, Rivers & Bay
Homes: Green Tips & Resources
Business & School Resources
Green Mobility
Parks & Trails
Airport & Flight Information
Calendar of Events
City Hall Falcons
Experience San José
Getting Around
Outdoor Fun
Places to Go
Public Art
Things to Do
San José Culture
San José Sports
Social Media Center
Stay Connected
Visitor Resources
Wickedly Fast Wi-Fi
San Jose Free Wi-fi
Getting Around
Getting Around
View Larger Map
Area Description
San José is well-connected to the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, with a range of transportation options. The city covers a geographic area of almost 180 miles. Downtown is very walkable as are other parts of the City.
San José is easily accessible from several major freeways, including 101, 280 / 680, 880, and 237. Convenient public transportation options make it easy to travel from San José to other cities in the region, including CalTrain, ACE train, VTA, and light rail.
Bus & Light Rail
Mineta San José International Airport
- served by all major airlines
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)
(bus and light rail)
Altamont Commuter Express (ACE)
Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART)
Capitol Corridor
Plan Your Trip
511 SF Bay provides a convenient online tool for planning trips in our region using public transportation.
Use Trip Planner
Trails & Bikeways
Bike maps
Trail system
200 E. Santa Clara St.
San José, CA 95113
408 535-3500 Main
The City of San José
is committed to open and honest government and strives to consistently meet the community's expectations by providing excellent service, in a positive and timely manner, and in the full view of the public.
About sanjoseca.gov
Mobile Site
Print Friendly
Site Map
Contact Us
Code of Ethics
Open Government
Whistleblower Hotline
Accessibility Instructions
My Connection
Powered by CIVICPLUS
For Employees
Access eWay from home
Employee Web Mail
Website Administrators Login
Live Edit


text: New to the site here. Trying to start a thread on location reports of Blacktip activity. Just general areas... don't give up your honey hole! I am heading down to southern Florida once I hear they are runnin. Came across a post on this forum for the 2011 migration and it got quite a few reports. Lets make it happen this year!!


text:
A 74-year-old Maine man has been charged with two counts of murder following the shooting deaths of two tenants inside an apartment he rented out at his Biddeford home.
Maine State Police say James Pak was arrested at about 10 p.m. Saturday following a standoff at his suburban neighborhood home. He is charged with killing 19-year-old Derrick Thompson and Thompson's girlfriend, 18-year-old Alivia Welch.
Thompson's mother, 44-year-old Susan Johnson, was being treated for a gunshot wound at Maine Medical Center in Portland. Johnson's 6-year-old son was not hurt.
Police say Johnson and her young son were rescued by Biddeford police after she reported the shootings about 7 p.m.
Detectives are investigating whether the violence is connected to a landlord-tenant dispute. Johnson and her family moved into the apartment in October.


text:
Scotland v South Africa, Murrayfield, November 17
Strokosch ruled out of Boks Test
ESPN Staff
November 16, 2012
John Barclay will start against South Africa © Getty Images
Scotland have received a blow on the eve of their match with South Africa following Alasdair Strokosch's late withdrawal from the side.
The blindside is struggling with a calf injury and has been replaced in the starting XV by John Barclay. Barclay will take up the openside berth while captain Kelly Brown will revert to blindside, with David Denton remaining at number eight and uncapped Edinburgh back-row Stuart McInally named among the replacements.
The loss of Strokosch, who performed well against New Zealand, particularly in defence, is a blow. It is the third change from the side which began the 51-22 loss to New Zealand last weekend and second in the back row after Ross Rennie dislocated a shoulder and was replaced by Denton.
Scotland head coach Andy Robinson said: "We wish 'Stroker' a speedy recovery. John is an experienced campaigner, while Stuart was with us on the summer tour and is raring to go."
Scotland team doctor James Robson added: "Alasdair suffered a minor calf strain in training this week and while we were hopeful it would settle in time we believe his recovery has not been sufficient to warrant risking a partially-fit player."
Glasgow Warrior Barclay, who was man of the match when Scotland beat South Africa in November 2010, will win his 40th cap. McInally has captained Scotland at every age grade and represented Scotland sevens and Scotland A.
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Communication error please reload the page.


text:
Follow RFF News on your cell phone. Text follow rff to 40404 you will receive txt messages with RFF News
0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.
Well, that's true, but LETS Just say there is a TBC there can be:April 8th - leg 9April 15th - Leg 10AApril 22nd - Leg 10BApril 29th - Leg 11May 6th - Leg 12/13
I guess there won't be a TBC episode this season, because wouldn't that all count as one leg. There isnt enough weeks left until may 6th for one leg to take 2 weeks, so I guess the schedule will be something like this:4/8/07 (Su.) 8:00 PM CBS (#1109) - NEL - U/J4/15/07 (Su.) 8:00 PM CBS (#1110) - U/J gone4/22/07 (Su.) 8:00 PM CBS (#1111) NEL - ?? 4/29/07 (Su.) 8:00 PM CBS (#1112) - Chas gone5/6/07 (Su.) 8:00 PM CBS (#1113) Finale
I'm leaning towards EP9 to be a NEL because the sightings put the teams in Malaysia on Dec 10th then we lose track of them on the 11th and the next sighting is the Hong Kong airport on Dec 12th. .....
hmm...the people at sucks seem to be getting annoyed at the fact that I'm not bashing eric and danielle over here.I feel the need to say this now since I don't want to feel like I'm hiding anything from you guys since you guys rockI'm not acting fake here or on sucks. I don't really like E/D being on all stars, I just don't feel the need to constantly say it over here since I know the majority of you guys are fans
I don't really like E/D being on all stars, I just don't feel the need to constantly say it over here since I know the majority of you guys are fans
Page created in 0.101 seconds with 34 queries.


text:
The Jordan Phosphate Mines Company (JPMC) has denied reports that the company was negotiating the sale of its Aqaba complex.
"The issue was not discussed, and no decision was taken in that direction," said Khalid Sheyyab, JPMC general manager.
Earlier this week, the Arabic daily Al Arab Al Yawm reported that the JPMC was holding talks with a Norwegian and a French company to privatize the complex in order to make up for the losses incurred by the company.
According to mid-year results, the JPMC, once Jordan's major foreign currency earner, incurred heavy losses of JD59 million during the first half of 2000.
However, the company said that privatizing some of its operations might be considered in the future.
"We will look into the selling-off of part of JPMC activities, which include mining, transportation, processing, manufacturing, if this proves to be in the interest of the company," Sheyyab told the Jordan Times in an interview.
A World Bank official last month suggested that Jordan's mining sector be privatised, including the phosphate company where the Jordanian government is a majority stake holder.
According to Sheyyab, the JPMC will launch a study to investigate the reasons behind the losses, analyse the costs, the markets, and draw up a restructuring, marketing and a production plan, which is profit-oriented.
He also clarified that the company's contract with the Indian Oswal Chemicals and Fertilisers Limited was not a major reason behind the losses.
"Only one shipment, of around 58,000 tones of phosphate, headed to the Indian market under the deal during June. "Thus, it could not have anything but a minimal impact on the company's sales during the January-June period of this year," explained Sheyyab.
But he said that the JPMC is reconsidering the five-year contract, to end in 2005, whereby the JPMC was supposed to provide Oswal with an annual amount of 1.5-2 million tones of phosphate.
Although the first 0.5 million tones was set to be supplied by the end of this year, slightly over 276,000 tones were exported until the end of August, said the manager. He also preferred not to disclose the selling prices, because of the fierce competition the company faces.
Meanwhile, he added that certain circumstances, including the need for cash, might have forced or in the future force the company to sell its product at less than market value.
( Jordan Times )
By Rana Awwad
© 2000 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)


text:
Channel icons
One of the best sources of channel icons is http://www.lyngsat-logo.com/ . There, you can browse the available icons and choose those appropriate for your system. However, doing so can be a lot of work (requiring many page hits and a lot of time).
An easier approach is to use channel_icons.pl a new feature in the post-0.20-SVN trunk of MythTV to quickly look up the information. Doing so requires the MythTV Perl bindings (which can be compiled/installed by passing the "--with-bindings=perl" argument to the MythTV configure script). However, the script requires Perl bindings from SVN trunk. So, if you're using 0.20-fixes, please see the MythTV HOWTO.
If you have the appropriate MythTV Perl bindings, checkout the required scripts with:
svn co http://svn.mythtv.org/svn/trunk/mythtv/contrib/master_iconmap
Doing so will create a directory called "master_iconmap" underneath the current directory. The master_iconmap directory contains a file called "channel_icons.pl", which can be used to retrieve channel icon information. See http://www.gossamer-threads.com/lists/mythtv/commits/255099#255099 and "./master_iconmap/channel_icons.pl --usage" for more information.


text:
Flicker and spark
When I worked at a theatre company in my teens, one season there was a play that opened with Geroge Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue". I fell for it at first listen, somewhere in between the flirting tumble of notes at the beginning and the arcing rise up the scale before the clarinet cascades in a sigh. It was summer, and the play was a love story. One of my friends had a breathless crush on the production's male lead. One afternoon, the power went out in the theatre, so the show continued by candlelight.
It was all pretty romantic.
I'm keenly aware of how strange it sounds but when I was trying describe these apple cider caramels, namely caramels spiced with chai masala, strains of "Rhapsody in Blue" kept coming to mind.
Before I lose you entirely, it might be best to try to lay out what we have here. The recipe starts with reduced apple cider, bulked up with sugars and swirled with butter and cream. Then things perk up with a combination of spices; cinnamon, cardamom, clove, and ginger, flinty with black pepper, which taste to me how that Gershwin tune sounds.
Caramel can oftentimes be flat, all sugary heaviness, a dud. These caramels lilt; they flicker and spark. There are highs and lows, deep sweetness, prickling warmth, fragrance and flavour that rolls and develops. They're romance and drama wrapped up in brown paper, and totally worthy of infatuation.
They are soft caramels, not the kind that stick to your teeth and threaten to pull out your molars, but yieldingly-so; they stretch only the tiniest bit when bitten, then relax, supple and dense as you chew.
We made them by the trayful for gifts this December, in both a straightforward cinnamon version and this fussed up one. They were so popular, I'll be making them into January as well. I am not one for candy, usually, but found it easy enough to make an exception in this case (this being my other). And speaking of ease, these are a cinch as far as candy making goes; some boiling and stirring, then pouring out. Just make sure to keep an eye on the bubbling pot towards the end — when it comes to temperature the caramel will be a smidge lighter in colour than these photographs show, as the shade deepens with the addition of the spices, and even further when the candy cools.
And for that ease, you get something stunning. A candy that's interesting yet familiar, and altogether dreamy. Candlelight not required.
Happy new year.
Modified slightly from Deb Perelman and her book The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook (Appetite by Random House, 2012), rewritten by me, except as noted.
Cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, clove and black pepper are fairly standard for chai masala — the mixture used, as you might gather, to flavour masala chai. I think the assortment of spices brings further complexity to the caramels, and works nicely with the apple cider. And, as it's evocative of gingersnaps and gingerbread, the blend matches well with the echoes of the holiday season. While it's not traditional in masala chai, if so inclined, seeds scraped from 1/2 a fresh vanilla bean can be added to the spiced salt.
The original caramel recipe calls for cinnamon alone, so feel free to use 1/2 teaspoon of the ground stuff if that is your preference.
Deb says: Apple cider (sometimes called sweet or "soft" cider), as I'm referring to it here, is different from both apple juice and the hard, or alcoholic, fermented apple cider. It's a fresh, unfiltered (it has sediment), raw apple juice — the juice literally pressed from fresh apples. It's unpasteurized, and must be refrigerated, because it's perishable. In the Northeast, I usually find it at farm stands and some grocery stores. I occasionally find vacuum- sealed bottles called apple cider in the juice aisle, but none of the bottled varieties that I've tried has the same delicate apple flavor as the more perishable stuff sold in the refrigerator section.
4 cups (945 ml) apple cider
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
A good pinch ground clove
A few turns of freshly-ground black pepper
2 teaspoons flaky sea salt, less of a fine-grained one
8 tablespoons (115 grams or 1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into chunks
1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
1/2 cup (110 grams) packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup (80 ml) heavy cream
Neutral oil for the knife
Bring the apple cider to a boil in a large saucepan over high heat. Continue to boil, stirring occasionally, until transforms into a dark, thick syrup and is reduced to about 1/2-1/3 cup in volume, which should take around 35 to 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, set out the other ingredients, as the candy comes together pretty quickly at the end. Line the bottom and sides of an 8-inch, straight-sided metal baking pan with a cross of parchment. Set aside. In a small bowl, stir together all the spices with the sea salt.
Once the apple cider is reduced, remove it from the heat and quickly stir in the butter, sugars and heavy cream. Return the pot to medium-high heat and let it boil until a candy thermometer reads 252°F, about 5 minutes.
Immediately remove the caramel from the heat. Add the spiced salt mixture, and give the caramel several stirs. Pour the caramel into the prepared pan and set it aside to cool; around 2 hours at room temperature, or faster in the fridge. Once the caramel is set, use the parchment paper sling to transfer the block of candy to a cutting board. With a well-oiled knife, cut the caramel into 1-by-1-inch squares. Place the cut pieces onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and place in the fridge for 10 minutes before wrapping. Once firmed up, wrap each in pieces of parchment or wax paper, twisting or folding closed.
The caramels will be soft at room temperature, or can be kept firm in the fridge. They'll last about two weeks, either way.
MAKES 64 candies.
First photo taken from my Instagram. For those who asked about the recipe, this is for you. I hope you enjoy them. xo!


text:
An Epic Quest For Pizza Immortality: Eating Nothing But Sausage Pizza for a Month
The place: An unknown office in the Chicago area The date: Late September 2009 The event: The birth of an American Hero
How many among us have made the claim that we could eat nothing but pizza for the rest of our lives? I certainly have on more than one occasion, and the typical responses range from silence to mild amusement. Occasionally, someone calls me out, which leads to immediate backtracking on my part. Nobody, I reason, could actually eat nothing but pizza. No human being, I think to myself, could possibly be that great. It turns out, such a person may well exist.
At the end of last month, a man who for now wishes to remain anonymous, bragged of his pizza devotion one too many times for one of his business partners, a guy who goes by the online name Ronnie_Suburban and is one of the moderators of LTH Forum, a great Chicago-centric food website. Ronnie called out his partner, expecting that he would back down and admit he was being hyperbolic. But this great man, this anonymous American hero, refused to give in.
The result: Beginning on October 1, our pizza loving friend has a significant wager backing the claim that he will eat sausage pizza, and nothing but sausage pizza, every time he eats in the month of October.
Not sausage pizza as part of every snack and meal, but sausage pizza for every snack and meal. Nothing else, not even a Tic Tac. Other toppings are allowed in addition to sausage, and sauce is optional, but every pie must have crust, cheese, and sausage (a category deemed to include a couple other meats like pepperoni and gyros, but not ground beef). He is allowed to drink, but not substantial beverages like shakes and smoothies.
Our hero wishes to remain anonymous, so if you happen to recognize him from his photo, please do not mention his name in the comments. Perhaps if people show him appropriate respect and awe, he will reveal himself. In the meantime, you can follow his progress on this thread on LTH Forum, where Ronnie_Suburban is providing regular updates.
Anyone out there think they can eat nothing but pizza for a month? And still love pizza when they are done?
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


text:
Residents describe twister that ripped through backcountry
When Lee Kraus received a tornado warning on his smartphone shortly after 11 Monday morning, the Kansas-bred Greenwich resident knew exactly what it meant.
"A tornado watch means there might be a tornado," Kraus said. "A tornado warning means there is one."
He headed straight for his basement to wait out the storm.
The twister that plowed into Greenwich and Stamford Monday might have seemed routine and comparatively small for Kraus, who grew up in the heart of Tornado Alley, but for most of those caught in the 3.7-mile swath it left behind, it was anything but.
With winds of 80 mph, the tornado was rated EF0, the least serious of six levels by which tornadoes are measured in the United States. Still, it leveled trees and snapped branches throughout the densely wooded northern parts of the two towns, downing power lines in some places and leaving hundreds without power, some for as many as 12 hours.
"Everything in our yard started flying around," said Dulce Solsol, who lives on Riverbank Road in Stamford, "The windows were banging -- we had to call the fire department when a tree hit the utility pole next to the house and it started smoking."
Greenwich Director of Emergency Management Dan Warzoha estimated hundreds of trees had been knocked down in the two towns, with private costs potentially surmounting $1 million in Greenwich alone. No injuries have been reported as a result of the storm.
"For us, this was worse than [Hurricane] Sandy," said Greenwich resident Victoria Sotgiu. "We're lucky nothing fell on our roof."
According to Warzoha, the tornado initially touched down in the Greenwich backcountry near North Street above Stanwich Road, and travelled east toward the Stamford border, causing significant damage along Stanwich and Carrington Drive before coming off the ground.
Stamford's director of emergency management, police Capt. Thomas Lombardo, said officials determined Wednesday that the tornado touched down again in three locations in Stamford -- once at Mead Farm on June Road, again near the intersection of June and Riverbank Roads and finally at Janes Lane.
Mead Farm, a horse riding facility on Stamford's eastern border, was hit particularly hard.
"The horses were sort of ready before the weather started getting really bad," said owner George Mead. "They knew what was coming better than we did."
The worst of the storm barely lasted 10 minutes, said Mead, but the tornado's impact was massive, nonetheless. Mead suspects the farm lost somewhere between 30 and 40 trees to the twister, posing not only clean-up problems, but also issues of erosion on an adjacent cliff face and safety concerns for the riders below.
The timing and effectiveness of tornado warnings continued to be a topic of conversation among emergency responders as well as residents yesterday.
Lombardo said as much notice as possible always helps people prepare, but the nature of tornadoes can make it difficult to get much warning.
He first received a warning about the storm at 11:14 a.m. and the tornado touched down in North Stamford 16 minutes later.
"I'd like to get as much lead time as they can give us, but the problem with tornadoes is you often don't know they're imminent until they're coming through," Lombardo said.
In Greenwich, the official tornado warning from the National Weather Service arrived after the tornado had already touched down and passed through the town, Warzoha said, though the agency sent out warnings of flash floods earlier that morning. The lack of lead time prevented the town from using its own emergency notification system to alert residents, who instead had to rely on warnings received through other channels such as smartphones. Some residents, such as Sotgiu, never received notification of the tornado warning.
Mike Layer, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Upton, N.Y., said alerts are sent out at the first sign of a rotation within a thunderstorm cell -- an indicator of a potential tornado.
"Every case is different, but the goal is as soon as there's some indication of rotation, we get a warning out as soon as possible," Layer said.
The warnings are put out on smartphones as well as through email alerts and traditional media, Layer said. The NWS station near the Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island provides alerts for all of southern Connecticut as well as northeast New Jersey, New York City and the lower Hudson Valley and Long Island.
Since 2002, there have been six tornadoes in Fairfield and New Haven counties, Layer said.
Scott Devico, a spokesman for the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, said the NWS alerts clearly work. The same thunderstorm cell that produced tornadoes in Greenwich and Stamford on Monday also hit a sports center in East Windsor where a worker got the alert and moved children and other staff to safety.
"In the East Windsor case, it was definitely beneficial and from what we saw it was a proven success," Devico said. "As far as the alert for the Stamford and Greenwich area, I'd have to defer to the National Weather Service as to whether they feel the alert was put out in a timely manner or not."
Those who received warnings remained mixed on their effectiveness. For some, the flash flood warnings were enough to begin emergency preparations.
"I got the first warnings on my phone, and that was enough," Mead said. "By the time we actually heard about the tornado, we were already rockin' and rollin'. We wouldn't have done anything differently if we had gotten the tornado warning earlier."
But in a place like Connecticut, where such tornados are relatively infrequent, Kraus suggested notifications may not have been enough.
"The NWS did a pretty good job alerting people to the storm," he said. "I'm just not sure if people knew how to heed their warnings."


text:
Medieval Footwear
Medieval Footwear
Welcome to our pages of Living History Footwear.
These shoes and boots have been designed to suit the needs of period re-enactors and living history groups as well as other re-enactment societies. They are the closest we've found to the original designs actually worn during the Medieval Period. The finest footwear from the best leather and of course each pair of boots and shoes is individually hand made by some of the best leather workers in Europe. They are available in either standard sizes or can be custom made to order.
These Items are made to order.
Shipping time is between 4 to 12 weeks.
Because of the natural materials used and real handcrafting, colors and appearances can deviate slightly from the pictures


text:
Jackie Faye: 5 Races Down, 1 To Go
How one military journalist lives, works, and trains to become the first woman to complete six IRONMAN races on six continents in a calendar year.
by Jackie Faye
A headscarf covered my long blonde hair as I thanked my driver, grabbed my bag, and ran into the Hamid Karzai International Airport. Destination: IRONMAN African Championship, South Africa.
Training in Afghanistan was not part of my plan when I set a goal to become the first woman in the world to finish six IRONMAN races on six continents within one year. When I received the opportunity to work there as a military journalist, however, I knew I had to go. With half of my races complete, in mid-October I boarded a military plane headed into the war-torn country.
Living and training in Afghanistan has definitely put my goal into perspective. I have learned that success is not just about the IRONMAN medals, but about showing women that they can do the seemingly impossible if they just take one step at a time. I have also realized that this is the conveniently optimistic view of an American, and know now that it's difficult to be so hopeful—let alone altruistic—for women in countries where they have to worry about their survival.
When one door closes, kick it down.
Women in Afghanistan who want to work outside of the cultural norms often receive death threats, and in many cases those threats are from their own family members.
The first woman to have ever completed a marathon in Afghanistan was in 2015—less than three years ago! She trained in her backyard for fear of getting killed if she were to run outside. Her story serves as both a lesson in perseverance and motivation for all women to continue challenging societal restraints and pushing for progress.
As for my own training, jumping in and out of helicopters in a weighted bulletproof vest has become part of my routine. I start most days at 6 am with a trip to the gym. I usually hop on the spin bike for an hour before heading to work. I get in my second workout of the day whenever I can. It is usually a high intensity interval training routine or a stop at the U.S. Embassy to swim in the pool. I try to work out 14 hours a week. In an attempt to save my body I actually don't run until race day. I don't have a coach or a fancy training watch – my fighter spirit makes up for my lack of equipment.
When I feel like complaining I just think of what the women in Afghanistan endure. As an American, as long as I have a pulse, I don't have any excuse not to push the boundaries. That is really the point of this whole journey. Nothing will stop me from achieving my goals. Nothing will stop me from advocating for women.
I don't believe in the adage "when one door closes another opens." I say, when one door closes, kick it down. If that doesn't work, set it on fire. And, if that doesn't work, call for backup. If enough people try to go through the door, eventually someone will get in. The people trying to knock it down may get burnt or injured, but the people behind them will have a clear path.
At 32, my family may think the path I have chosen is different and question why I have not been in a hurry to get married and have children, but I count my blessings each and every day. I am grateful to still have their love and support through every challenge I face.
Race schedule:
Australia (IRONMAN Asia-Pacific Championship, Cairns) – completed June 2017
Europe (IRONMAN Switzerland) – completed July 2017
Asia (IRONMAN Taiwan) – completed October 2017
South America (IRONMAN Mar Del Plata) – completed December 2017
Africa (IRONMAN African Championship) – completed April 2018
North America (IRONMAN Boulder) – racing June 2018
Jackie Faye is the founder of She Can Tri, which operates in partnership with the Service Women's Action Network (SWAN), a 501(c)(3). SWAN supports, connects and advocates for military women. Jackie has an MA in Business Journalism from Columbia University, attended Georgetown University's Institute of Political Journalism, and has a BA in Broadcast Journalism from the University of South Carolina. Her reports have been featured across the country on NBC, CBS, Yahoo News, and Health Magazine.


text:
The Australian Capital Territory has created this privacy statement to demonstrate its commitment to protecting personal privacy.
Information collected | Use of personal information collected | Other sites | Cookies
The Australian Capital Territory Government seeks to adhere to the Guidelines for Federal and ACT Government World Wide Web sites developed by the Federal Privacy Commissioner. The following discloses our information gathering and dissemination practices for this web site.
This privacy statement applies to all users who access this web site.
If you have any questions about this privacy statement, the practices of this site, or your dealings with this web site, please contact us.
Information collected
When you browse this web site, our system automatically makes a record of your visit and logs the following information for statistical purposes:
- your server address;
- top level domain name (e.g.: .com, .net, .gov, .au, etc);
- the type of browser and operating system you used;
- date and time of your visit;
- the previous site visited;
- which pages are accessed;
- the time spent on individual pages and the site overall;
- which files were downloaded.
This information is analysed to determine this web site's usage statistics.
However, no attempt will be made to identify individual users or their browsing activities except, in the event of an investigation, where a law enforcement agency (e.g. the Australian Federal Police) exercises a warrant to inspect our service provider's log files.
We collect no personal information about you unless you voluntarily choose to participate in an activity through this web site that involves the provision of personal information, such as:
sending electronic mail to this web site;
participating in a survey on this web site;
undertaking a payment or other transaction through this web site;
suggesting a link from this web site to an external web site.
If you choose not to participate in these activities, your choice will in no way affect your ability to use this web site.
Use of personal information collected
Any personal information you choose to provide will only be used for the purpose for which it was provided and will not be disclosed to other persons or organisations without your prior consent or if required by law.
The Internet is an insecure medium and users should be aware that there are inherent risks transmitting information across the Internet.
Information submitted unencrypted via electronic mail or web forms may be at risk of being intercepted, read or modified. If you do not wish to email or send an online form to the Australian Capital Territory Government, you can send a postal mail to the address in contact us.
Other sites
This site contains links to external web sites and this privacy statement does not extend to external web sites. The Australian Capital Territory Government is not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of external web sites. For more information, refer to our disclaimer statement.
Google will not collect personal information about you and the reports provided by Google to us will only contain aggregate non personal data about your use of this website. (These reports may contain data relating to pages viewed, files downloaded or the completion of online subscriptions). We will use the data collected by Google Analytics to improve how this website functions. For example we can use the data to check whether customers are having problems finding information and make access to information as easy as we can.
Google may transfer this data to third parties where required to do so by law, or where third parties process this data on Google's behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any personal information you may have previously provided to Google. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser. Please note that if you do this, you may not be able to fully use this website. By using this website, you consent to the processing of data about you by Google in the manner and for the purposes set out above.


text:
If you had to choose a theocracy to live in which would you prefer? Personally, Islam would always be my least desirable option.
I understand that none of us would prefer to be forced to live under and submit to the ideology chosen by another person; we want that "none of the above" option. This question isn't about that though. This question is intended to force you to consider which religion is the most dangerous, the most detrimental.
American atheists seem to be generally ignorant about Islam and it's increasing threat, not only to freedom from religion, but to freedom of any kind. This is evident by the relative lack of discussion about Islam on the Atheist Nexus. If you are ignorant (which is no bad thing unless it is intentional) then I urge you to research the Islamization of Europe and the state of affairs in Islamic countries in Africa, the Middle East, and around the world. Below are a few resources which will hopefully inspire/incense you into doing this.
Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy: Inside a school for suicide bombers
Pat Condell on Islam
Pat Condell on the ground zero Mosque
I don't necessarily argue that we should be using the cold-war era tactic of buttressing the position of the church in the home and in the government. I do strongly argue that we should identify the greatest threat to our freedom and we should not simply speak up about it but act, with hostility if necessary, against any threats to our freedom. Islam respects nothing but force and if we continue to allow it to make inroads in positions of power and culturally then we will be left with absolutely no recourse but violence. Act now if you prefer a non-violent solution because there may come a day when that option no longer exists.
Views: 1042
© 2019 Atheist Nexus. All rights reserved. Admin: The Nexus Group. Powered by


text:
The internet used to be a place for learning. Communication. These days, it's just about who's got the biggest library of situation-appropriate gifs. So it's about time those gifs got their dues!
The .GIFYs are an award that's being overseen by the editors of a bunch of websites that, well, post a ton of gifs, including Gawker, Tumblr and Buzzfeed.
Voting is open to the public. You can make your vote count across a range of categories (including gif of the year) right here.
UPDATE - OK, so for those who missed it last year, here's the story about the first gif below. That's not a cat getting thrown down the stairs.
[via Fast Co.]


text:
You have come to the right place to find out all there is to know about your race experience at IRONMAN 70.3 Sunshine Coast.
Please explore the above drop down menus to find all information necessary to have a great race. If you can't find what you're looking for and need assistance, visit the Contact page and let us know how we can assist you.


text:
The anticipation of Helicopter Ben's date with the press, the waiting game for Raj Rajaratnam's verdict and the speculation surrounding Japanese recovery. Here's what we're watching…
Earnings Bonanza: Quarterly results were the driver for equity markets last week, with a slew of big beats helping the Dow to a multi-year high before the Easter holiday. This week won't be a letdown, with no fewer than 180 S&P 500 components set to report. Buzzworthy content distributor Netflix is the standout Monday, delivering numbers after the Market close. Everyone's got an opinion about Reed Hastings' company, but the consensus calls for earnings per share of $1.07.
Raj Watch: Can you be guilty of insider trading if you don't, in fact, trade on insider information? Accused hedge fund manager Raj Rajaratnam sure hopes that's the conclusion, with closing argumentslikely to wrap Monday, leaving his fate in the hands of jury deliberation. Of course, it's more than just Raj wondering what the twelve men and women decide. Observers anticipate a wave of similar suits if the government wins.
What New Homes?:February's new home sales data was historically terrible, indicating an annualized rate less than 20% the size of its peak rate six years prior. See: housing bubble. And, really, why would there be a bounce back? Unemployment remains, consumer sentiment is weak and the real estate market is plagued by a glut of inventory. Monday's March numbers shouldn't be as apocalyptic as what we saw in February, but don't expect a ton of good news.
Forecasting Japan: The Bank of Japan is expected to slice the country's 2011 growth outlook from 1.6% to 0.8% in the wake of the earthquake-related devastation that still grips the island nation. Investors are trying to make some sense of Japanese recovery, as the Nikkei has rebounded by more than 10% since its post-quake low, but remains more than 10% off its February highs.
Waiting for Ben: Ok, earnings aren't alone on everyone's radaras the essential driver this week. On Wednesday, the Fed's Open Market Committee concludes a policy meeting. While that's never less than noteworthy, this edition marks the inaugural Fed news conference at which Chairman Ben Bernanke will answer questions from the likes of our own senior economics correspondent Steve Liesman. Markets will hang on every word.


text:
By Al Pittman, published by Breakwater Books
Directed by Ruth Lawrence
This story captures all the power, laughter, joy and stubborn resilience of those who populated the out-ports of yesteryear, back before they were "drove out" from their homes by the fishing grounds to so-called growth centres. On All Souls night they all come alive again and relive the golden age of the Newfoundland out-port. You will get to know them all and the community they built. Al Pittman was a brilliant playwright and poet and you hear it in the power of his words.


text:
Steve Brown, executive consultant and leadership coach at DeVry, has been accepted to the inaugural class of Fellows to support implementation of Chicago's Plan for Economic Growth and Jobs. The dynamic economic development plan was created to drive the 14-county Chicago metro area's competitiveness in the global economy with clear, actionable strategies for economic growth and job creation. This month, Brown began a full-time three-month commitment working with World Business Chicago to launch initiatives that target one of 10 transformative strategies detailed in the Plan. Chicago Mayor and World Business Chicago Chairman Rahm Emanuel requested the development of the Plan last year and met with Fellows to hear about their projects Wednesday, Jan. 30. "I am grateful to our business community for lending us some of their top talent to help shape Chicago's economic development," Mayor Emanuel said. "This inaugural class brings new resources and knowledge to accelerate the Plan's key economic growth initiatives, which are essential for Chicago to compete in the global economy." Brown, a cum laude graduate of Princeton University, will bring nearly 40 years of experience in education to help implement the sixth strategy in the Plan: "create demand-driven and targeted workforce development." "I am excited by the opportunity to help implement Chicago's demand-driven workforce strategy," Brown said. "It's an approach that is guided by a clear understanding of the workforce needs faced by local employers." Brown's pro bono Fellowship is part of DeVry's ongoing commitment to World Business Chicago. Daniel Hamburger, president and chief executive officer of DeVry, also serves as a board member to the nonprofit economic development organization. "Steve's leadership at DeVry has always been focused on students achieving their career goals," Hamburger said. "His lengthy experience in career-focused education and meeting employer's workforce needs makes him a natural fit for the inaugural class of Fellows."
In addition to DeVry, other organizations sponsoring pro bono support in the inaugural Fellowship class include: Comcast, Ernst & Young, Deloitte Consulting LLP, Mesirow Financial, United Airlines, The PrivateBank and Trust Company, and Zurich Insurance.About DeVry Inc. DeVry's purpose is to empower its students to achieve their educational and career goals. DeVry (NYSE: DV; member S&P MidCap 400 Index) is a global provider of educational services and the parent organization of Advanced Academics, American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Becker Professional Education, Carrington College, Carrington College California, Chamberlain College of Nursing, DeVry Brasil, DeVry University, Ross University School of Medicine and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. These institutions offer a wide array of programs in business, healthcare and technology. DeVry's institutions serve students in secondary through postsecondary education and professionals in accounting and finance. For more information, please visit http://www.devryinc.com.


text:
"May God Bless You, Little Grace" Lifelike Doll
First So Truly Real® Early Arrivals collectible doll by artist Tinneke. Anatomically correct, lifelike RealTouch skin. A doll award nominee!
Measures approximately 39.4 cm L
- Price:
- s&s◇
So tiny, tender and precious, an Early Arrivals baby is a beautiful sight to behold! Her petite, delicate features hint at the beauty and promise of the young girl she will become. Imagine the hours you'll spend cuddling and loving this lifelike collectible Early Arrivals doll!
Now, you can shower this tiny infant with all the love in your heart with this collectible lifelike baby doll, an Ashton-Drake exclusive recently named a Dolls Award of Excellence nominee! And guess what you'll discover when you go to change her diaper? Her perfect little body is anatomically correct! Brisk demand is expected for this realistic, lifelike Early Arrivals baby doll, a collectible vinyl doll by famed artist Tinneke. Order now!
- A collectible Early Arrivals doll by artist Tinneke exclusively from Ashton-Drake
- Lifelike baby doll's soon-to-be-patented RealTouch vinyl skin holds all the realistic folds and creases
- Anatomically correct, just like a real baby!
- Collectible vinyl doll arrives in dainty pink cap and tiny disposable diaper
- Under her cap, realistic baby doll's hair is hand-applied
- Wears a hospital bracelet on her tiny ankle with her name on it
- A 2005 Dolls Award of Excellence nominee
- Certificate of Authenticity
- Measures approximately 15-1/2" L
©2004 Ashton-Drake Galleries