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Product Details
Ford Ranger 1987, Belt Driven Fan Spacer Kit by Flex-a-Lite®. This sturdy aluminum part will stop your Flex-a-lite fan from wobbling due to misalignment. Flex-a-lite fan spacers have a large bearing surface and are machined to a soft radius. The spacer adapter will also provide the required spacing from the radiator to ensure the overall efficient operation of your cooling system.
|Spacer Material: Aluminum
|Bolt Quantity: 4
|Bolts Included: Yes
|Male Pilot Diameter: 0.625"
- Converts a variety of hub pilot diameters to a 5/8" pilot
- Ensures the necessary spacing from the radiator
- Mill aluminum finish
- Hassle-free installation
- Backed by a one-year warranty
- Proudly manufactured in the United States
The Flex-a-lite fan spacer adapter converts various hub pilot diameters to a standard 5/8-inch pilot. It also allows for the necessary spacing from the radiator. The Flex-a-lite spacer adapter installs in no time flat by simply screwing onto your water pump. The part is machined to a soft radius, which reduces point-loading and thus helps prevent stress cracking on the fan center star. All Flex-a-lite fan spacer adapters are expertly crafted from premium aluminum and backed by the manufacturer's unbeatable one-year warranty against defects in material and workmanship.
Flex-a-lite® is a third-generation business that has been in the automotive industry for over half a century. In 1962, Eddy Davis, who was an Army Air Corps pilot in England during the Second World War, set up Flex-a-lite with the original 'flex fan' concept. The company is currently based in Fife, Washington, and run by Lisa Chissus, Eddy's granddaughter. Lisa is the one who invented the now patented Flex-a-fit radiator sidetank design that provides superior heat transfer. Though Flex-a-lite continues to look for innovative performance cooling solutions, one thing that hasn't changed since the company's foundation is that all products are still engineered and manufactured in the USA, with American hands.


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Hospice Care
Hospice is designed to provide comfort and support to patients and their families when a terminal illness no longer responds to cure-oriented treatments. When you choose hospice care, you've decided that you no longer want care to cure your terminal illness and/or your doctor has determined that efforts to cure your illness aren't working. Professional medical care is still provided with sophisticated pain/ symptom relief. The patient and family are both included in the care plan and emotional, spiritual and practical support is given based on the patient's wishes and family's needs.
Hospice care is provided to patients who have a limited life expectancy. Although most hospice patients are cancer patients, hospices accept anyone regardless of age or type of illness.
The Hospice Team
Hospice care is typically provided through an interdisciplinary, medically directed team. This team approach to care for dying persons typically includes a physician, a nurse, a nurse's aide, a social worker, a chaplain and a volunteer.
The hospice nurse makes regularly scheduled visits to the patient providing expert pain management and symptom control techniques. Throughout the time that the patient is under the care of hospice, the nurse keeps the primary physician informed of the patient's condition. Nurses provide the complete spectrum of skilled nursing care and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Nurse's aides provide assistance with the personal care of the patient.
Social workers provide assistance with practical and financial concerns as well as emotional support, counseling and bereavement follow-up. They evaluate the need for volunteers and other support services needed by the family and facilitate communication between the family and community agencies.
Chaplains provide spiritual support to patients and families, often serving as a liaison between them and their religious community.
Contact your local facility for more information about their Hospice services.

subset: commoncrawl


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Sally Price Gomez's mother was a wise woman who once told her, "You'll never finish college. You'll want to get married first."
Sally Price Gomez's mother was a wise woman who once told her, "You'll never finish college. You'll want to get married first."
Now, almost 50 years later, the former Pocono Mountain Joint High School student says her life has been better than she'd expected.
Classmates at "the Jointure," as it was called when it first opened, will be the focus of a national study of 440,000 teenagers who took part in a 1960 study to try to find out what became of their lives.
Gomez grew up in Canadensis and enrolled in East Stroudsburg State College for one year. Then she became engaged to her high school sweetheart. So she took her mother's advice and got a two-year business degree.
She grew up in a family-run hotel, the Spruce Mountain House. After college, she remained in the industry, working at Pocono Manor and other local resorts before a job brought her to Myrtle Beach, S.C., where she worked as director of sales for a large hotel company.
"(Life has) been all that I expected and more, because I loved the hotel business," she said. "But it was on a small scale, and I was lucky enough to move onto a bigger arena."
Gomez attributed much of her success to the self-confidence instilled by her parents, education and work experience.
That's exactly what the study is trying to find out.
In 1960, Project Talent assessed the aptitudes and abilities, hopes and expectations of high school students from across America. The study was conducted by the American Institutes for Research and the United States Office of Education.
"The study was put together to be very representative of the country," said Sabine Horner, Project Talent's director of outreach and communications. "Geographically (the Pocono Mountain Joint High School) was very diverse. They were invited to participate. Pocono Mountain agreed."
Students participated in two full days or four half-days of testing.
The new long-term study will help researchers understand how early life experiences affect later life outcomes.
"A new follow-up study can tell us how family and educational background impact the life course, up to and including the retirement process," Horner said. "Researchers can also learn why certain people stay healthier and happier and are more able to enjoy their later life."
Researchers are recruiting people now for the follow-up study. The results of the research will be announced sometime in the future.
The timing of the original study is expected to play a significant role in the subsequent results.
"They came of age during an era of great upheaval and they transformed the United States as we knew it," Horner said. "Project Talent is an opportunity to share their perspectives and experiences in a meaningful way that can benefit future generations."


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September 4, 2012
Recreation services offering personal training special
Recreation services is offering a Labor Day personal training special on the purchase of personal training sessions Sept. 4-7.
Purchase a 12- or 18-session personal training package and receive three additional sessions free.
This special applies to one-on-one training, buddy training and aqua training. Participants must be a K-State student or recreation services facility member.
Purchase must be made before 5 p.m. Sept. 7 in the recreation services office. For more information, call 785-532-6980.


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You deserve to have the very best in advanced diagnostic imaging. At El Portal Imaging Center, it's our job to make you feel as comfortable as possible, while getting a clear picture for an accurate and timely diagnosis.
Our state-of-the-art facility is equipped with some of the most modern digital diagnostic imaging technology available today, which enables our highly skilled radiologists to provide your doctor with high resolution pictures and accurate reports to assist with your diagnosis and treatment plan.
Drs. Richey and Hansen have served Merced area patients and their physicians for over 25 years. These board-certified physicians are trained in the areas of angiography, interventional procedures, musculoskeletal imaging, general sonography, mammography, nuclear medicine, and general radiography – allowing our patients access to a wide variety of services without having to leave town. Our uncompromising commitment to quality allows us to provide the finest in imaging services – the right procedure, at the right time, for each individual patient.
We invite you to explore our Web site for more information on medical imaging and radiology procedures, our physicians and related information.
Accurate images for your doctors. Less stress, risk and time for you. And it's finally available in Merced – El Portal Imaging Center.
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text: Congressman Scott Tipton (CO-03) will be in Steamboat and Craig this week as part of a district work period. He plans to meet with the commissioners from Routt and Moffat Counties and hold a town hall meeting. In conjunction with National Small Business Week, Tipton will tour FM Light and Sons in Steamboat which has been in business for 109 years, as well as hold Continue reading


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Second Half Blues
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WSI Regular
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 404
Why do the Sox always do better in the first half?
The Sox have dominated in interleague play for years.
Interleague play takes place in the first half of the season.
Move interleague play to the second half of the season, and the thread title would change to "First Half Blues".
I only went back five years, but it you eliminate interleague games, the Sox have averaged 36 wins and 35 losses in AL games in the first half, and 36 wins and 37 losses in AL games in the second half (using B-R's definition of "half" being the ASG). The Sox have been dominant over the NL for most of the ten years originally mentioned, so I'd think a longer analysis would find the same thing.
Now this year is different, as the Sox were 9-9 against the NL, and I do believe the team was simply playing over its head for a while and finally hit reality in September, combined with an inexperience pitching staff. But in previous years, they've gotten fat off the NL and played around .500 against everyone else- first half and second half.
In the end, it doesn't really matter what order you win the games in. I know that a team that plays poorly in April and May and plays well in August and September is more highly regarded than a team that does the opposite, but why?
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Postgame quotes after the New England Revolution fell to Brazilan powerhouse Cruzeiro at Gillette Stadium on June 13, 2010
I think [bad luck is] the only kind of luck going for us at the moment, ain't it? (Steve Ralston) has dislocated his elbow and Khano Smith has done his ankle. Not exactly what we're looking for.
I think the biggest difference was the final third. I mean, the finishing. Obviously [Wellington Paulista] is a good player. The way they are in the final third of the field – it's something we can definitely learn from them. When we get there, we're a little bit predictable. Whereas when they're getting in there, you know have to really be on your toes and the movement is good. They've got some real quality. So I think that was the biggest difference to me, was what was going on in the final third.
On Matt Reis's season debut in goal …
It was good. Obviously the experience (Matt Reis has) got, and the ability he's got – it makes everybody feel better.
As I said, the biggest thing was what was going on in the final third. I think we got ourselves forward just as much as they did, but we just couldn't produce anything in the final third. I think that the second goal was a terrible goal – we're basically giving them it. The first goal was avoidable, but the third was just a great goal …The guy's a good player and [Welington Paulista] is a great striker, as well. The third goal was just a great goal.
I think we competed and the score line would suggest that it was pretty easy, but I don't think it was an easy game for them. So there're positives to be taken out of it.
"I think, overall, we are better in terms of moving the ball and keeping possession, which we stressed a lot this week in practice. But we gave up a soft goal, and that's the same thing we did in Seattle and the same thing we've been doing in the last couple of games. [We're] just giving up way too many goals. Tonight, [Cruzeiro] are a top-notch team. They move the ball a lot and play well together, and we just have to learn from it.
Yeah I thought Kenny's (Mansally's) shot) went in … there were some chances, which is good for us. We can build from that. But we just have to better about not giving up goals.
[Matt Reis] brings another dimension to our team in terms of leadership and communications by having him in the back. He's been in the league so long, he brings that kind of stability and we need that in the back. So, having him back was really good.
Yea, I was trying my best Dany Alves impression out there. But seriously, I thought we were much better than we have been recently. We were better keeping the ball; minus the 3-0 score line it was a lot better.
Any time you play a team like that is all about possession, the more you lose the ball the more you have to play defense, and the more tired you get. Therefore it is crucial to keep the ball and move it forward.
Oh it was great, Matt Reis is really experienced and a great leader, a real vocal leader and it was good to have the presence and experience back. He's a guy who has been around so long and played in this league for so long and can really help our organization as a defense.
I mean, I think it was definitely way better than the Benfica game and I think there is a lot of things we can take from tonight over the break and use in our league games.
It's always tough when there are injuries but luckily we have this break and it's timed pretty well where we can back healthy.


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Abidjan- Côte d'Ivoire (PANA) -- Under the authority of the minister of National Education and in accordance with a directive issued on 26 July 2000, the school canteen service of the National School Canteen Division (DNC) has oversight of these facilities.
Its mission consists in implementing the project backed by the World Food Programme, monitoring the administrative, material and financial management of school canteens, analysing application files for the creation of school canteens, receiving, storing and distributing foodstuff and non-food aid provided within the project.
It is mandated to evaluate and conduct studies aimed at improving the organisation and operation of school canteens in liaison with other structures and organisations, ensure continuous training of canteen supervisory staff, and promoting nutritional and health education in schools equipped with canteens.
It draws up, designs and disseminates training and sensitisation documents and teaching aids on the monitoring, animation and management of school canteens.
At regional level, the school canteen programme enjoys the support of regional divisions (DREN), departmental divisions (DDEN) and the Inspectorates of primary education.
These supervise all operations aimed at implementing the school canteen project, receive and forward applications for the creation of school canteens, submit quarterly reports to the School Canteen Service, manage funds put at their disposal, and take part in the elaboration of school canteen projects.


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Friday, July 8, 2016
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Art lovers have a chance to see a myriad of media and styles of art by stopping by Mamaroneck Artists Guild this summer. The members of Mamaroneck Artists Guild are exhibiting work in our two back-to-back shows that together feature all media. Summertime I includes ceramics, jewelry, glass, photography and works on paper or that make use of paper. Summertime I runs from June 22 – July 9, 2016 with a reception Saturday, June 25 from 3-5 pm. Summertime II covers wood, fiber, sculpture and works on canvas, board, or non-paper surfaces and runs from July 13 – July 30, 2016. The reception for Summertime II is Saturday, July 16 from 3-5 pm.
Gallery Hours are Tuesday – Saturday from 12 noon – 5:00 p.m. The Gallery will close for the month of August and will re-open September 1.
The Gallery is located at 126 Larchmont Avenue, Larchmont, New York. Admission is free.
These exhibitions are made possible, in part, by ArtsWestchester with support from Westchester County Government.
Event Location and Ticket Information
Mamaroneck Artists' Guild
126 Larchmont Avenue
Larchmont, NY
Handicap Accessible? Yes
Date: Friday, July 8, 2016
Times: 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Ticket pricing:
Free event
Presenter: Mamaroneck Artists Guild
Presenter Phone: 914-834-1117
Presenter Website: www.mamaroneckartistsguild.org


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Elizabeth Foss is enjoying her first grandbaby, and I enjoyed her post regarding the days after birth here: http://www.elizabethfoss.com/reallearning/2014/05/in-praise-of-the-babymoon.html
I find it interesting if one looks on the Internet regarding "planning" a babymoon, most of the top posts have to do with planning some special time with a spouse prior to the arrival of a baby! This is baffling to me. Most attached parents, and parents who hold childbirth and the parenting of children in the most sacred terms, do not think of babymoon as a honeymoon getaway, but as a sacred time after a baby is born when life as a family with children begin.
Having a first baby, having multiples babies, all changes things. Nothing is or should be the same as it was, but perhaps not in the "inconvenienced" way general society assumes. I wrote some time ago about the joy of the first forty days after birth, and encouraged readers to slow down for an extended time after birth. Here is that original post: https://theparentingpassageway.com/2009/07/17/40-days-after-birth-and-beyond/.
There are many beautiful ways to prepare for the first forty days: Continue reading


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|I Thought I'd check out the show at this neat little store and gallery just around the corner of my place that moved in a couple years back called Rare Device. Although I've stopped in a few times I've never been able to make one of the openings, so I'm glad I finally could.
@Rare Device Gallery
September 4-29th, 2009
1845 Market Street
I Thought I'd check out the show at this neat little store and gallery just around the corner of my place that moved in a couple years back called Rare Device. Although I've stopped in a few times I've never been able to make one of the openings, so I'm glad I finally could.
Really neat work from Steve MacDonald, I love all the embroidery.
Really like this piece on the right. All the color and richness from the embroidery is beautiful, with a kind of hippie feel.
Kitties, I want it!
Another favorite, the little vampire mouth and rainbow at the bottom right is fun.
Again love the hippie feel and colors of this one on the top right, and the mini skateboard ramps are awesome.
Little ship.
Great work, and glad I finally got to make an opening!
Words from Rare Device website -
San Francisco-based artist Steve MacDonald creates embroidered paintings on gilded canvases. His work draws inspiration from an eclectic array of sources including Japanese nature scenes, folk art, fantasy, mythology and elements from the urban experience. Taken together, his compositions provoke a variety of spontaneous references through the depiction of fantastical landscapes. A variety of imagery act out fantastical narratives, where tigers, rainbows, cityscapes, skulls and shipping containers are juxtaposed against the backdrop of a traditional Japanese print form.
This merging of futuristic subject matter and historical setting underlies the mythical nature of MacDonalds creative method, preventing the viewer from getting too comfortable in one context or another. Rather, his work encourages a more associative approach to interpretation. The mood and pace of the stitching varies considerably from one painting to the next, often within a single work, using a different material language to describe the texture and lines of any given element, whether it be foliage, water, the peaks of a mountain range or the facade of a building.
There is something unpredictable, nearly magical, about MacDonalds work, as if his pieces might change form and character even between views. It is this fundamental spontaneity that makes MacDonalds work so engaging, drawing the viewer ever closer to the fantasy world of the canvas.
Rare Device is a store and gallery that features functional experiments and original ideas in art, design, craft and fabrication. Owners Rena Tom and Lisa Congdon constantly seek out objects that are beautiful, evocative, well constructed and thoughtful. We are pleased to bring to our San Francisco store an ever-growing roster of local, national and international artists and designers for a truly "rare" experience.
Rare Device (raredevice.net) is located at 1845 Market Street between Valencia and Guerrero Streets. Store/gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 7pm and Sunday noon to 6 pm.
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CHICOPEE, Mass. – The nationally-ranked No. 5 MIT men's volleyball team extended its winning streak to five following a 25-14, 25-17, 19-25, 25-13 victory over Elms College on Wednesday night. Sophomore Ken Siebert (St. Louis, Mo.) powered the Engineers with eight kills, six aces, and six digs.
MIT built an 8-4 lead in the first set, but the Blazers scored four of the next five points to come within one (9-8). A strike by junior Matt Hohenberger (St. Louis, Mo.) stopped the rally and sparked a 10-2 run which featured another kill and three straight aces by Hohenberger. Miscues trimmed the margin to six (19-13); however, the Engineers closed out the game with a 6-1 spurt.
In the second stanza, MIT raced out to a 9-2 advantage that later grew to 21-9. Both squads traded points as a hitting error gave the visitors set point at 24-13. A trio of errors in addition to a kill kept the Blazers alive, but freshman Tyler Nolan's (Sayville, N.Y.) block ended the set.
With the third set tied at six, the Cardinal and Gray generated a 6-2 spurt to gain some breathing room. Elms responded with a 10-3 run that resulted in an 18-15 lead. MIT narrowed the gap to one (19-18), but the Blazers won the frame by scoring six of the final seven points.
The Engineers established a 4-1 edge in the fourth set; however, Elms posted the next two points. This was as close as it would get as MIT replied with a 17-7 run which created a 21-10 advantage. An exchange of points ensued until a Siebert kill gave the Engineers match point. Siebert then followed with an ace to clinch the victory.
Senior David Thomas (Carlsbad, Calif.) and freshman Alex Klein (San Diego, Calif.) both recorded eight kills while Hohenberger finished with five kills and three aces. Junior Patrick Vatterott (St. Louis, Mo.) posted four blocks as senior Jeremy Velazquez (Chelmsford, Mass.) collected six digs. Sophomore Paul Syta (Fairport, N.Y.) tallied 31 assists, seven digs, and three blocks.
MIT (10-3) returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Baruch College Invitational.


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The Xbox, the Xbox 360, and Xbox Live have been successful because of many people. One person alone doesn't get 66 million consoles sold or more than 25 million people signed up for a premium online gaming network. If anyone was singled out though, former head of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices division, Robbie Bach, would be the man. Up until his retirement in 2010, Bach had spearheaded some real duds for Microsoft. The Zune and Games for Windows Live could certainly be called blemishes. Bach helped make the Xbox a defining piece of technology though, and the Xbox 360 has been the best-selling console in the US for 14 of the 24 months since his retirement.
He was a Microsoft man. Peculiar that he credits the Xbox's success to Sony.
Speaking at the Northwest Entrepreneur Network (via Geek Wire) event in Seattle on Friday, Bach spoke candidly about the Xbox brand's birth and how Sony's bungling of the PlayStation 3 release helped make the Xbox 360 and industry leader. "Some of the success of Xbox was due to the fact that Sony did some really not so smart things. They mismanaged their 70 percent market share," said Bach. "The transition to the PlayStation 3 was really, really bad. And really hard. They mismanaged their partners, they mismanaged their cost structure. They made their next platform so complicated that developers couldn't develop for it."
These bungles made it easy for Microsoft to curry favor with the biggest and most successful western publishers, namely Electronic Arts and Activision Blizzard, as well as retailers like GameStop. "[We] were able to convince retailers and publishers like Activision, Electronic Arts and others that it was a good thing for Microsoft to be successful, because if we were not successful, the only game in town was Sony. Being dependent on somebody else was bad for them, and so they supported us disproportionately to what they should have, mathematically."
Hence why Xbox 360 received so much exclusive support between 2005 and 2009.
Bach did not discuss Nintendo's successes and failures during his talk, though the Wii certainly had an influence on how the Xbox business changed at the end of Bach's career. The development of Kinect and Microsoft's shift in focus from games to entertainment services like streaming television on the Xbox 360 have kept the console thriving even though it has aged dramatically in recent years.


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Great talent is hard to find because the demand outweighs the supply. Especially for tech companies, business is good and they need more software engineers to drive the production they have the demand for.
But they just can't seem to fill their positions because jobs are being created much faster than they can even meet candidates (let alone interview and hire them!).
So, what's a company to do? Expand your search for great candidates worldwide, and bring in talent from every corner of the earth.
Here's how:
1. Build a World-Class Employer Brand and Culture, and Make it Known
Focus on your employer brand so you can pride yourself on being a great place to work. You can do this with a team-oriented structure and flat hierarchy that allows each person to contribute in a meaningful way, and use an open office space (no cubicles) to foster teamwork and innovation. Plan fun team-building events, and celebrate birthdays and holidays together.
These things will help you retain your talent, but it's also important to share this information in order to attract top talent. Use word of mouth (hello, referrals!) and social media, and add information about your employer brand to your website and job postings. That way, whether you're reaching out to a candidate, or they found you, your employer brand and company culture are front and center for a candidate to review and evaluate against their professional interests and goals.
For a top candidate that's willing to make a long distance move and has endless opportunities around the world, this information can be a deciding factor in whether or not to consider, or accept, an opportunity with your company.
2. Be flexible with interviewing.
Allow relocation candidates to do a phone interview and take any preliminary tests (like a coding challenge) remotely – so they don't have to spend time and money flying out to your office before you get to know each other a little better. This can give candidates a sense of who everyone is so, when they came out to visit in person, they aren't completely in the dark.
3. Foot the Bill/Take Money out of the Equation
Cover the interviewing and relocation expenses, removing finances as an obstacle so the candidate can focus on the opportunity and fit. This includes interview traveling expenses, relocation and moving expenses, work visas for eligible foreign workers, and even assistance with temporary housing if an employee has not had time to find a place on their own.
By taking money out of the equation, candidates don't have to worry about costs associated with interviewing for a job that may not pan out, or moving across the country when they could probably find a job closer to home. Remember, top candidates are in demand everywhere, so if you want them to relocate to work for your company, you need to make it an easy decision.
4. Implement a Flexible Vacation Policy
Consider an unlimited vacation policy, which allows employees to take time off and recharge as needed - and also allows relocated employees to return home on a regular basis. Especially for an employee that's moved across the country (or across the world!) with few personal contacts in a new place, it's important that they don't feel stuck within the constraints of company vacation days.
What do you do to attract relocation candidates?
Views: 125
Thanks Jen.
Relocation: If they're not from NY, Boston, or some other high-cost area, they probably can't afford to relo here to the Bay Area.
As far as the other things: it seems that all they require is a flexible, open sr. management willing to spend lots of money. Good luck with EITHER of those...
Keep Blogging,
ha, thanks for the feedback, Keith. In the past few startups I've worked at, they've brought in talent from all over the world to ensure they had the right people to build the products they needed. This is certainly not for every position - pretty much just software engineers. With the high demand for engineers right now, many companies that are willing to do whatever it takes the get the best ones. Obviously, not every company can or will take this approach - but the ones who want to focus on bringing in top talent don't have a lot of options otherwise.
Thanks, Jen. As Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and the Sochi Olympics have shown, there's little you can't accomplish with lots of power and money behind you.
Keep "Making it So", Picard!
True that.


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Following in the footsteps of inventive Hood River Valley High School music and drama productions, Hood River Middle School teens and teachers are simultaneously bringing to life a new musical and opening a new chapter at HRMS.
According to HRMS music teacher Rebecca Nederhiser, this is the first full-scale musical to be done at the middle school in anyone's recent memory, and may be the first ever.
In a partnership with Mark Steighner, mentor musical director from HRVHS, Nederhiser is undertaking her own first musical as a teacher and director.
To add to Nederhiser's creative inspiration, Steighner wrote the musical's script and lyrics and composed the original tunes for the show, entitled "Princess Slob."
"The message is truly about the power in being yourself and letting your own unique qualities shine," said Nederhiser. "The show is really geared to fit this age group and the issues they face.
"Set in a faraway kingdom, the story features a young tomboy princess named Ally who is sent to 'Lady Higgins' School for Girls.' There she is horrified to find snooty princesses obsessed with the idea of being 'perfectly perfect.' Luckily, Ally finds a friend and the two discover what being a princess really means," said Nederhiser.
It seems that in addition to the fun, singing, dancing and laughter, the audience may enjoy a few good life lessons in this family-friendly production.
"Kids, staff and parents have worked tirelessly on the show," said Nederhiser. "We are all very lucky to have the generosity of Mark Steighner because we couldn't have afforded to do a musical of this caliber without him creating one for us."
Twenty-six HRMS students will perform alongside four HRMS adult staff members. In addition, according to Nederhiser, many HRMS parents and volunteers contributed behind-the-scenes, including accompanist and music teacher Kathy Smith, costume coordinator Shawnie Emmons and Laura McAllister, who designed the set - making this a truly collaborative production.
Performances, which will last about an hour, will be offered four nights, Feb. 17, 18, 24 and 25, at 7 p.m., with matinees starting at 2 p.m. on both Saturdays. Adult tickets are $5 and youth are $3.
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blue windows IMG 2154 lonley? sun vs clouds over the Bosporus_2 driving over the Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridge sun vs clouds over the Bosporus you felt warm inside? D'Artagnan lässt grüßen... red corner @ DD_ps_work shadow_work a statue of M. K. Atatürk_2 a statue of M. K. Atatürk waving need a flat? walking . . . the mosque towers adornments some colored high risers more call me Gustav pls comin' over it there something for free? easefully another skyscraper bank skyscraper triplets another skyscrapers waving flag waving flag_2 rush hour along the roads is it praying time? a dream water tower or little conservatorium ? Lauritzen Bulkers Ltd. Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridge_2/Ist/TR wanna buy somthing? yacht harbour of Ortaköy entrance of Dolmabahce castle seems to be a little church wanna fly with my? no space for flora backview of Konak Hotel backview of Konak Hotel_2 almost done... find the trees!
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text:
WASHINGTON, July 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — There are currently more than 100,000 plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) on the roads in the United States. A key factor in EVs' rising popularity is charging costs that are much lower on average than comparable gasoline fueling costs. In June, the US Department of Energy increased transparency with its launch of the "eGallon" metric, making comparisons with the price of gasoline easier. With the majority of charging done at home, EV drivers are now looking to their utilities to offer special tariffs to make EV charging even more affordable.
The average national price of a gallon of gasoline was $3.65 as of June 30th. The eGallon averaged $1.14 per gallon equivalent across all 50 states. Electric utilities offering special EV tariffs for their customers were even cheaper at an average of $0.93 per gallon equivalent, according to a new study published today by Northeast Group, LLC. The study United States Smart Grid: Utility Electric Vehicle Tariffs (Volume III) includes a benchmark of all utilities in the US that have launched EV tariffs.
Northeast Group's benchmark found that there were 24 utilities located across 13 states offering EV tariffs. In these 13 states, the average DOE eGallon was $1.40, but the average EV tariff cost was just $0.93. This is a discount of 34% from the eGallon, which is based on standard electricity rates. The two states with the largest number of utilities offering EV tariffs were California and Michigan. California had six utilities offering EV tariffs, reaching more than 80% of the state's residents, and has been at the forefront of the EV market for several years. Michigan had four utilities offering EV tariffs, reaching more than 90% of the state's residents, as the state is eager to facilitate the shift for its car manufacturers from conventional vehicles to EVs.
In addition to launching EV tariffs, there are other ways utilities are helping enable electric vehicles. For example, 91 of the 100 largest utilities in the US have sections on their websites with information for EV owners. As EV prices continue to decline, cheaper leasing options become more prevalent and consumers see the clear benefits, the penetration rate of EVs—and prevalence of EV tariffs—is likely to continue to grow in the US.
ABOUT: Northeast Group, LLC is a Washington, DC-based smart infrastructure market intelligence firm. www.northeast-group.com
SOURCE Northeast Group, LLC
Source prnewswire.com


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Dr. Eliana Belmonte
DDS President
Abella Skin Care, Inc.™ was launched in May of 1999 in beautiful Boca Raton, FL. Our philosophy is to keep skin care simple and effective. The Abella Skin Care line fits easily into any skin care regiment and in all stages of the skin, from common skin care issues to post procedures with compromised skin. The President of Abella Skin Care, Eliana Belmonte, DDS, has a background working with physicians and directly with patients to experience the connection that links procedures and products for optimal results. You will find the Abella products in reputable online e-commerce sites, top spas, physician's offices and in prestigious hospitals. Abella Skin care has also been featured in Celebrity magazines and gift bags, Today Show, and the STYLE Network.
Dr. Belmonte is Hispanic and understands the demand for specialized formulas that are compatible with all skin types including ethnic skin. Abella's product literature is now available in bilingual, Spanish/English packaging. Eliana shares her industry knowledge and tips in her blog posts and on the Abella Skin Care Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest pages. She is also a contributing blogger in Spanish on PielBoutique.com. With an increasing demand for high quality products, Abella Skin Care continues setting the trend in offering the latest innovations in skin care.


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It is with great and sincere sadness that I must report the passing of a horror legend. Naschy.com and other sites have broken the news this morning that Jacinto Molina, better known to his legions of fans as Paul Naschy, has passed away at the age of 75.
I'm really having a hard time expressing the weight with which this news has hit me, and find myself not in a state of mind right now to fully process it, let alone give the great man the kind of remembrance he so richly deserves. I am not at all joking or exaggerating when I tell you, my loyal readers, I'm sitting at my computer with tears in my eyes this morning.
The Duke and I started this blog because of our giddy shared discovery of the joys of Paul Naschy's films, and his passing leaves an unfillable void in our hearts. Expect a more fitting tribute after a period of mourning, and please check out our previous reviews of Naschy's work to relive some of the joy he's given us. Better yet, get yourself some of his movies, pour yourself a Sangria, and remember him as he'd have wanted: on screen, in a world of magic and monsters.
The Vicar
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Posted by The Vicar of VHS at 8:47 AM
Labels: In Memoriam, Paul Naschy
15 comments:
- December 1, 2009 at 9:26 AM
R.I.P. indeed
- December 1, 2009 at 9:33 AM
- The Duke of DVD said...
Dearest Paul. You brought us such joy, and gave us a reason to love movies that others might consider "bad". The Vicar and I owe you a considerable debt.
You will be missed, mi amigo.
- December 1, 2009 at 10:08 AM
- prof. grewbeard said...
the "HIDEOUS WOLF-MONSTER!" will never die!...
- December 1, 2009 at 10:19 AM
- Samuel Wilson said...
This is awful news. Naschy was one of the last of the "horror men" (Christopher Lee still survives!) and I don't know if cinema will see his like again. I pay my respects here because I know what Naschy meant to Your Eminences. Now he belongs to the ages.
- December 1, 2009 at 10:35 AM
- Jenn said...
I don't know what to say. Seriously. I'm at a total loss of words.
- December 1, 2009 at 10:52 AM
- TimTE01 said...
Damn, this is going to put a big damper on my day. R.I.P. Paul.
Maybe I'll get a usable copy of your more recent films now...
- December 1, 2009 at 11:11 AM
"The tell-tale heart":
- December 1, 2009 at 1:04 PM
What a sad day, and a considerable loss to horror cinema worldwide.
I came to know the great man because of this blog. I'd heard of him for years, but didn't make the effort to check out his films until reading your enthusiastic reviews. I'm sure many others can say the same.
What impresses me most about Mr. Naschy is his conviction. The lighting might've been weak, the settings not quite convincing, or the effects a bit obvious, but Paul was always committed. He never wavered, never played it for camp, never gave a half-hearted performance. The man was always in the moment.
It was his brand of Madness.
So take heart, Sirs Duke and Vicar; I'm sure you have his eternal gratitude for your part in constructing his legacy.
There's a great deal to mourn today, but a great deal to celebrate forever.
- December 1, 2009 at 7:08 PM
- Al Bruno III said...
RIP Paul Naschy - I like to think he made films for horror fans because at when you get right down to it he was one of us.
(I hope that made sense...)
- December 1, 2009 at 7:19 PM
- Fred said...
Very sad to hear this, Duke and Vicar. One of my earliest memories was of a friend in first grade coming to class and bragging that he had just seen "Frankenstein's Bloody Terror." Having been the premiere monster kid in school, I had to seek out this film which didn't star Boris Karloff or Peter Cushing. I wasn't disappointed (just a bit non-plussed) when this Iberian werewolf/vampire film showed up on Chiller Theatre. I've been a fan ever since. Jacinto, you will be dearly missed by all us grown-up horror kids.
- December 1, 2009 at 7:38 PM
Goodbye Paul. You have no idea how much I love you and your films. But maybe now in heaven you can see.
- December 1, 2009 at 8:56 PM
- The Vicar of VHS said...
Thank you, everyone, for your kind words and well-wishes. It means a lot.
@Geo--your comment gave me a sorely needed uplift; thank you. If the Duke and I have done some small thing to further the cause of Naschyvangelism and help others discover the joy he brings, then our work here has not been in vain. And I mean that sincerely.
@Al Bruno III--your comment makes total sense. On any set or at any premiere of any of Naschy's films, I can guarantee the biggest horror fan in attendance was always Paul.
As I posted on the excellent Tomb of the Headless Werewolf (http://tinyurl.com/y9uttrv) I watched BLUE EYES OF THE BROKEN DOLL last night, and was expecting to be all sad and depressed; but once Naschy was onscreen, it was all joy and smiles from me. That's the magic he had. That's what he's given to us all--his joy, his enthusiasm, his heart. Though I never had the chance to shake the man's hand...I still considered him an important person in my life.
Rest in Peace, my dear, dear friend.
- December 2, 2009 at 8:13 AM
- Ezreal said...
I'm just starting to enjoy his films. He was on the same level as any of the classic British or American horror stars.
- December 3, 2009 at 6:46 PM
- Richard said...
This is the first I've heard of this tragic news. I had only become acquainted with Mr. Naschy's work during the last 2 years. Those 2 years left an impression on me that will last forever. I fully understand why you shed tears on this sad news.
- December 14, 2009 at 8:25 PM


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I rode till it froze yesterday – starting in the cold rain and finishing in freezing rain, I kept going until I couldn't shift, or brake, and my tires made disconcerting snap crackle pop sounds as I rolled over the icy roads. Besides mountain bikers, I guess I was the only one out riding the roads yesterday in the Tri-Cities.
As I've posted before, icy or not, that area has the best roads in the state and I'll ride them again next weekend.


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MTR combines the functionality of the traceroute and ping programs in a single net-work diagnostic tool.
As mtr starts, it investigates the network connection between the host mtr runs on
and HOSTNAME. by sending packets with purposely low TTLs. It continues to send packets
with low TTL, noting the response time of the intervening routers. This allows
mtr to print the response percentage and response times of the Internet route to
HOSTNAME. A sudden increase in packet-loss or response time is often an indication of
a bad (or simply overloaded) link.
(SOURCE MTR man pages)
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and not to commit a crime.
I stress the first part because this may get you into trouble with your ISP or Network Admins.
If you do something that causes you to hose your box don't come kicking and screaming on the forums!
All IP and MAC address' have been munged!
First off I did this using BT2 Final but the process is the exact same using BT3 the only change is now there is graphical front-end using GTK+
I am going to show a couple of examples of this tool and leave the rest up to you for now. I may add more later on.
The purpose of this tool is to provide a ping and traceroute utility in one package.
This is good for 1 allowing us to determine if a target is alive and 2 what hops our packets take in order to get to said target.
When Pentesting once we have identified a target on a network we try to learn about other networks that interact with it and this is one of the ways.
This will also help us what else may stand in our way.
To use mtr we need to open a terminal and type at the prompt
bt ~ # mtr --help
usage: mtr [-hvrctglspni46] [--help] [--version] [--report]
[--report-cycles=COUNT] [--curses] [--gtk]
[--raw] [--split] [--no-dns] [--address interface]
[--psize=bytes/-s bytes]
[--interval=SECONDS] HOSTNAME [PACKETSIZE]
bt ~ #
So in order to know more about the different flags we will take a look at them now:
-h help
Print the summary of command line argument options.
-v --version
Print the installed version of mtr.
-r --report
This option puts mtr into report mode. When in this mode, mtr will run for
the number of cycles specified by the -c option, and then print statistics and
This mode is useful for generating statistics about network quality. Note
that each running instance of mtr generates a significant amount of network
traffic. Using mtr to measure the quality of your network may result in
decreased network performance.
-c COUNT --report-cycles COUNT
Use this option to set the number of pings sent to determine both the machines
on the network and the reliability of those machines. Each cycle lasts one
-s BYTES --psize BYTES
These options or a trailing PACKETSIZE on the commandline sets the packet size
used for probing. It is in bytes inclusive IP and ICMP headers
If set to a negative number, every iteration will use a different, random
packetsize upto that number.
-t --curses
Use this option to force mtr to use the curses based terminal interface (if available).
-n --no-dns
Use this option to force mtr to display numeric IP numbers and not try to
resolve the host names.
-g --gtk
Use this option to force mtr to use the GTK+ based X11 window interface (if
available). GTK+ must have been available on the system when mtr was built
for this to work. See the GTK+ web page at
www DOT gimp DOTorg/gtk/for more information about GTK+.
-p --split
Use this option to set mtr to spit out a format that is suitable for a split-
user interface.
-l --raw
Use this option to tell mtr to use the raw output format. This format is better
suited for archival of the measurement results. It could be parsed to be
presented into any of the other display methods.
-a IP.ADD.RE.SS
--address IP.ADD.RE.SS
Use this option to bind outgoing packets' socket to specific interface, so
that any packet will be sent through this interface. NOTE that this option
doesn't apply to DNS requests (which could be and could not be what you want).
-i SECONDS
--interval SECONDS
Use this option to specify the positive number of seconds between ICMP ECHO
requests. The default value for this parameter is one second.
Use IPv4 only.
Use IPv6 only.
Ok now we see that we have lots of options to play with here.
Ok back to the terminal we are going to look at a target computer with the -r (report mode) and -c (count) set to 1 packet
bt ~ # mtr -r -c 1 www.yourexampletarget.com
NOTE: I had to use this picture in order to get the formatting to show up like it would in a shell.
NOTE: we can use both domain names like above or we can use IP address the result is the same.
Ok now let's see what we got back, we only care about the first two columns. The first is the name of the nodes along the route,and the second is the percent of packets that were lost. If we lose packets then the traceroute must find a new way to get to the destination. Sometimes nodes along our route will drop these packets.
So we see that in number 3 above it would seem we lost a packet however the node just dropped it.
But our trace continues until it gets to 13 and the same thing happens. Also this could be the result of a node not advertising itself blindly. Could be good or bad.
And last we arrive at 14 our target network. Remember just like any traceroute the first node returned is the closest to your box and the last is farthest away.
If we are Pentesting we can use a whois command and lookup the network node names above and may learn more about the route our packets take to our target.
This may help us determine if our target is sitting on the edge of the network or not.
Also when doing this if you do not specify the number of packets with the -c flag this process will continue to run until you stop it!
This can be bad depending on the TOS from your ISP or other networks along the route. Generally speaking most admins will not want you repeatedly pinging their networks. Sometimes one or two ping attempts may be ok. At a minimum it is plain rude to needlessly ping a node!
This tutorial should give you enough information to work with MTR.


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I heard an amazing story at a conference of educators I recently attended in Denver. A third-grade teacher from Jefferson County School District was relaying to the group his experiences in a federally funded experiment on teacher pay. In the program, teachers in certain high-poverty schools have the opportunity to earn bonuses ranging from $2,500 to $7,500 for achieving individual, team and school goals in other words for raising scores on TCAP, Colorados standardized test. Researchers want to know if the pay increases will result in improved test scores for some of Colorados lowest-performing students.
The teacher, Matt, described how a little boy in his class developed a habit of getting up from his desk in the middle of lessons and work, hiding in the corner of the room and falling fast asleep.
After the third time this happened, Matt kept his student in from recess to talk with him about why he was having such a hard time staying awake. The little boy said that his mother worked at night, and that she often could not find anyone to stay with him and his sister, who was 10. When he and his sister were home alone at night he was afraid and could not sleep. At school, though, he knew he was safe and so there he slept, curled up in the corner of a classroom. Matt wasnt sure what to do: let the boy sleep or wake him for the intensive reading instruction needed to help him score proficient on the TCAP.
Matt, whose individual, team and school goals and therefore bonuses may ride on that tired students TCAP reading score, decided that the boy needed to sleep.
When the conversation returned to the test results which for some perverse reason have become the end-all be-all of public school in the United States the results were inconclusive. Halfway through a five-year study, the test schools in JeffCo have had no sustainable or measurable improvement in scores.
Denver Public Schools moved to a pay-for-performance system in 2002 with the stated goals of increasing student performance (i.e., test scores) and increasing teacher pay. Neither goal has been achieved, though countless administrative staff has been hired to run the program.
Harrison School District has a pay-for-performance system tied in part to student performance on pre- and post-tests in every single class taught in the district, along with a variety of other factors. This program is the most comprehensive in the state its guided by a 54-page instruction manual and is also one of the most complex and controversial. Like Denvers system, it takes a small army of human resource personnel to administer. Harrisons achievement (again, this means TCAP scores) hovers just around the state average.
A multi-year study conducted by Vanderbilt University and the RAND Corp. in Tennessee schools shows similar results. Teachers on the whole are not hiding their talents away, waiting for bonuses in order to convince them to work harder or more effectively.
So how should teachers be paid? Most rational people agree they are underpaid, and I would challenge anyone who disagrees to spend a week in a classroom and then come talk to me.
Currently, most teachers are paid on a salary schedule that rewards education and experience. Historically, this system had two purposes: to prevent gender discrimination in pay and as a means to compensate a large group of people cheaply. In other words, school districts have never been able (or willing in some cases) to pay teachers what they were worth. Salary schedules are noncompetitive and non-market-based. Its an old-school throwback, to be sure.
Pay-for-performance advocates believe that running schools like businesses and therefore paying teachers on a business model is the most logical form of compensation.
I suppose if the goal of public school were to make a profit this might make sense. If schools chose their raw materials in order to produce a product to sell in a competitive marketplace, paying the people who fashioned the product based on the final outcome might be the right way to go.
But the fact is, teachers and schools gladly take everyone and do the best they can with the children they have. It is not a market or a factory, and it never should be.
If districts want to pay teachers what theyre worth, Ill be the first to agree to that. But if that means I have to wake an exhausted, impoverished third-grader so he can be proficient on some meaningless test, Ill pass.
Elizabeth Collins teaches social studies at Durango High School. Reach her at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Energy prices are increasing, there's an increasing dearth of skilled labor – especially for airline pilots and truck drivers – while government regulations and budget deficits threaten to choke off economic growth and infrastructure improvements.
That's quite a "worry list" of issues for the transportation and logistics (T&L) industry; a list compiled from the broad 17th Annual Global CEO Survey conducted by global consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
PwC surveyed 1,344 business leaders across 68 countries in the last quarter of 2013, conducting further in-depth interviews with 34 of those CEOs. Within that mix, PwC did some digging into the T&L sector to find what worries the CEOs of firms that move goods within the U.S. as well as worldwide.
[For example, here are some thoughts from Brian Molefe, group chief executive of Transnet SOC Ltd., based In South Africa.]
PwC noted that over the past several years, T&L CEOs have consistently been less optimistic about future revenue growth than their business peers from other industries – and that's true this year, too, as only 45% believe the global economy will improve in 2014. Indeed, T&L CEOs are much more worried about sluggish growth in the advanced economies (43%) than about a slowdown in emerging markets (39%), according to PwC's poll.
Energy continues to be a big worry as well, noted PwC, as trains, planes, ships and trucks all rely on fuel. Thus it's not surprising that T&L CEOs continue to worry more about high or volatile energy costs than do their colleagues across the overall survey sample, the firm said. Here are some of the details:
- In the last survey, 61% of T&L CEOs were somewhat or extremely concerned about energy costs, but that's jumped to 76% in this survey.
- Since 2001 the price for crude oil has risen fourfold. Ongoing high oil prices will lead to an increased use of alternative fuels, like liquefied natural gas (LNG).
I traded emails with Jonathan Kletzel (seen below at right), PwC's U.S. transportation & logistics leader, to get some deeper insight into the T&L fears regarding energy and he stressed to me that a couple of different things are in play here.
"New fuel sources are certainly helping the U.S. with its energy prospects but this was a global survey so the geo-political uncertainty in key energy regions continues to be a stress point," he explained.
Kletzel also stressed that switching from petroleum to natural gas is a costly investment for most fleet operations and in many cases the return-on-investment (ROI) horizon is still too far out to make sense for that investment. Also, the refueling infrastructure and networks for natural gas are not as developed as they are for petroleum. "And not all transportation modes (i.e. aircraft) can use natural gas to power their vehicles," he emphasized.
Regarding fears of higher petroleum costs, Kletzel pointed out that most of the polling got done during the third and fourth quarters of 2013, which was just after a pretty significant run up in crude oil prices.
"So energy costs were more likely to have been top of mind as a concern because of the (at that point) recent increase in impact on profitability," he explained. "Also with crude oil generally up since late 2013, the concern is unlikely to have abated much in the eyes of executives since the surveys were taken."
On another front T&L CEOs, like their peers overall, are concerned about the ability of debt-laden governments to tackle soaring deficits. It's a worry that's been increasing over the past several years, with 66%, expressing about government responses to debt and deficits.
"I would also add that government budgets are strained in many Western countries, which is making it more difficult to grow infrastructure spending," Kletzel said. "Infrastructure privatizations can be an answer, but these can also be difficult to pull off in some cases given concerns about employment and the long-term nature of the contracts."
Yet he stressed such concerns vary by mode and by geography. "In the U.S., government – that is federal, state, and local – investment in infrastructure (roads, airports, railroads, etc.) is down. Private investment is there in as much as companies see buying opportunities for infrastructure on the cheap, but it doesn't mean they are investing in infrastructure renewal."
More broadly, PwC found that half of T&L sector CEOs would like to see the government make infrastructure investment a priority, with 42% believing that governments have been effective at improving country infrastructure and 43% noting that their companies are taking direct responsibility, too, in infrastructure investments. Still, 56% are worried that basic transportation infrastructure is not adequate today.
On the regulation side, nearly two-thirds (68%) of T&L CEOs believe taxes could sidetrack growth prospects, with that same percentage concerned that excessive regulation could put the brakes on growth. Regulatory restrictions cited by T&L companies ranged from carbon emission regulations to road tolls or restrictions on toll-free road usage, noted PwC.
T&L CEOs highlighted five "big trends" in PwC's survey that they believe will "transform" their businesses in the coming five years.
The top one cited by nearly four-fifths (79%) of them centered on technological advances such as the digital economy, social media, mobile devices and big data. More than half also pointed to demographic fluctuations (53%) and global shifts in economic power (59%), with resource scarcity and climate change (51%) followed up by urbanization (50%) rounding out the list.
Some 43% of T&L CEOs polled by PwC said they are concerned about the speed of technological change and while that's lower than the overall sample of business leaders, that's probably because few see product and service innovation as their main route to growth, PwC said.
Still, most sector CEOs want to improve their company's ability to innovate, with 75% aiming to alter their research and development (R&D) functions, while 89% are exploring better ways of using and managing big data and 82% are changing their technology investments.
Yet there's a "glaring gap" between aspiration and action, PwC determined, with for example only 17% of T&L CEOs stating that they've already started or completed the changes they're planning to make their companies more innovative.
The composition of the global population is changing radically and that's going to have a big impact on the T&L sector, especially in terms of finding the right labor skills for their business functions..
By 2025, the population will hit 8 billion, noted PwC, but this growth won't be homogeneous – indeed, some countries are seeing a decline in fertility rates. Complicating this scenario is that the number of city dwellers is expected to rise by 72% of the next four decades, with this trend in "urbanization" producing an enormous impact on both T&L networks as urban areas get more congested, requiring new mobility strategies.
Thus the need for new and improved "talent," of which 62% of T&L CEOs are worried won't be available. Another 46% of T&L CEOs believe that creating a skilled workforce should be a government priority, but only 21% believe that the government has been effective. As a result, many say they are taking action themselves, with 62% noting that creating a skilled workforce is a priority for them.
"Talent is one of the main engines of business growth. So one of the biggest issues CEOs face, as these huge demographic changes occur, is finding and securing the workforce of tomorrow – particularly the skilled labor they need to take their organizations forward," PwC noted in its research. "For T&L, there are major shortages looming in some key professions like pilots and truck drivers. And logistics skills are in short supply in many countries."
Kletzel added that this "talent shortage" problem varies by mode in the U.S. but in general there are several trends at work here:
- Finding skilled labor continues to be a challenge for companies that operate in remote areas (i.e. freight rail)
- For younger talent, T&L companies lack the allure of tech companies and startups
- T&L companies are lower margin businesses and have a hard time with competitive labor rates
- A large number of boomers are retiring and the replacement workforce is just not there
"I would also note that there is more competition from a rebounding construction industry in the US and some other regions," he stressed. "In addition, there are more shale-related energy job opportunities in the US that the transportation sector now has to compete with."
That all adds up to quite a lengthy – and detailed – laundry list of concerns T&L firms will have to overcome in the next few years. It will be interesting to see what solutions they develop, too.


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D12 - Kill Zone
D12 - Kill Zone off their new Mixtape "Return of the Dozen Part 2" Dropping April 12th 2011
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Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee: Naples' 24-Hour Attraction
Just beyond the peaceful shores of Naples and Marco Island, one of Southwest Florida's most exciting attractions awaits. The Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee welcomes visitors 24/7 with Las Vegas-style thrills, culinary delights and live entertainment.
Following a multi-million-dollar renovation, the casino now features an upscale hotel and an expanded gaming area packed with more than 1,300 of the industry's newest slots, 38 live table games and a WPT poker room.
A safe bet for a weekend getaway, the Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee offers everything you'll need under one roof — entertainment, dining and amenity-rich accommodations.
The Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee is Southwest Florida's top destination for slots and live blackjack. With an array of slot machines, live table games and a WPT poker room, there are many opportunities for a lucky streak.
More than 1,300 slot machines with denominations from 1 cent to $100 line the casino floor. Games include modern hits like the Ellen DeGeneres Show and Duck Dynasty, and favorite classics like the Wheel of Fortune and Pink Diamonds. For live action, move to one of the 38 table games including Blackjack, Three-Card Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold'em and Let it Ride.
There's no shortage of dining options at this casino and hotel; several in-house restaurants all serve unique local and international cuisine.
Try the EE-TO-LEET-KE GRILL (The Camp) for home-style cooking and dishes like French Onion Soup and Pork Osso Bucco. The menu at this restaurant features abundant choices, including organic and gluten-free options.
For Asian-inspired cuisine, Lucky Mi Noodle House serves authentic tastes of the Far East with Vietnamese Pho Noodle Soup, Thai Panang Curry Noodles with Malaysian Sauce, and Korean Bulgogi. For traditional New York-style deli food, 1st Street Deli piles pastrami high for "Shaved Fresh" Sandwiches. The menu also includes home-style matzo ball soup, sloppy joe sandwiches, corned beef and cabbage and a decadent mushroom Swiss burger.
Cappuccino's Coffee and Pastry Bar is a small coffee shop, open in the mornings, serving specialty fresh-ground coffee drinks like cappuccinos, espresso, frappes, French vanilla crème, café mocha and Kona coffee. For a savory start, try one of the many pastries or opt for an oversized slice of New York Cheesecake.
The Seminole Center located at the casino hotel is home to concerts, comedy shows, reviews and more. With seating for 800, the center features a state-of-the-art sound and lighting system and two large screens for close-up viewing. The center has showcased many touring bands including Los Lonely Boys, Patti LaBelle and Tony Orlando. If you plan your trip at the right time, you'll catch hundreds of Elvis impersonators competing for the King's title at the annual Elvis Fest.
The Zig Zag Lounge offers 24/7 entertainment for a break from the gambling scene. Make yourself comfortable in the lounge's plush chairs and catch a sports game at the 103-inch screen television, or take advantage of the monthly drink specials at the bar.
The new upscale hotel features 19 suites and 80 deluxe rooms – all with full amenities. Also on site, you'll find an outdoor pool with loungers. If you feel like splurging with your winnings, upgrade to one of the authentic Seminole Chickee poolside huts. Onsite you can also get in a workout at the 24-hour complimentary Seminole Casino Hotel Fitness Studio or catch up on work at the self-service Business Center.Back to top of page


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Historians, WH Reporters: Press Shouldn't "Whitewash" Bush Record In Library Reports
Blog ››› ››› JOE STRUPP
As the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum opens today, some in the press have been caught up in a swoon over the former president.
Pundits from the center and the avowed left called on critics to re-examine the former president as a "good man with a good heart," while those on the right declare that "Bush is Back." Political analysts are compiling lists of "The 7 best moments of George W. Bush's presidency" and highlighting polls indicating that Bush is more popular now than he was in office. And Fox News has pulled out all the stops, lining up their Bush-administration-officials-turned-Fox-employees to sing the former president's praises.
Presidential historians and veteran reporters who covered the Bush White House are speaking out, saying that reporting on the Bush library and legacy should put his failures in their proper context.
The academics point out that while some of Bush's defenders in the press have said that the Bush legacy is a question for history, historians largely pan his tenure. And the veteran reporters who covered Bush's presidency urge that coverage of the presidential library provide a complete accounting of his tenure in office, including its many missteps.
"The press needs to take a really cold-eyed look at the circumstances ... look at the state of the country and world on Jan. 20, 2001 and eight years later," said Ed Chen, former Los Angeles Times and Bloomberg correspondent who covered the White House from 1999 to 2010. "Were mistakes made? Sure, the whole WMD fiasco ... it sure has a long way to go for anything close to a full rehabilitation."
Chen later added, "Of the three [presidents] that I covered, we have to put Bush at the bottom."
Several top presidential historians echoed Chen's low-ranking view, noting a week of positive coverage cannot erase that.
"Right now he's ranked as one of the lower presidents because of the War in Iraq and the economy tanking so he's got a long way to go to get rehabilitated," said Douglas Brinkley, a top presidential historian and author. "It is a long revisionist road up from the bottom for George W. Bush. He is ranked toward the bottom rung of presidents."
Indeed, surveys of historians regularly find Bush ranked among the worst of U.S. presidents.
Having toured the new library at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Brinkley described it as having a "compassionate conservative motif" for Bush, adding, "I was surprised how much wall space was given to AIDS in Africa, marine conservation, No Child Left Behind. I got the feeling that the Bush crowd was trying to paint their president as more of a centrist than many people feel."
But Brinkley stressed that whatever positive image is being attempted this week cannot rewrite his presidency.
"I don't think it matters two weeks from now, it is a building opening and people tend to be jubilant," he said. "It's the beginning of revisionism of a presidency."
Brandon Rottinghaus, associate professor at the University of Houston and presidential historian, offered a similar assessment.
"The Bush legacy is certainly one of increasing partisanship, he certainly presided over a country that became more polarized and didn't do much to try to alleviate that," Rottinghaus said.
He noted much of the positive press for the library is a tribute to the office, not necessarily the man, but added that that could be a problem for real reporting of Bush's legacy.
"You can't get past the fact that some of these policies were obviously flawed, its hindsight to suggest it, but I think what will happen is that presidents are judged on the big moments of governing," he said. "The big moments were the aftermath of 9/11 and the war in Iraq. In terms of the war in Iraq, there are some serious oversights and some clear failures."
Cal Jillson, political science professor and historian at Southern Methodist University, said many in the press are tending to "bend over backwards to accentuate the positive."
He cited the nearby Dallas Morning News as being "all very positive" in its coverage. Still, he points out Bush's image among historians remains poor, despite any revision attempt. "George W. Bush is ranked with the lowest of the lows in presidential rankings," Jillson said. "He is always in the bottom 5 or 6 or 7."
He added of the library coverage: "Most will miss that the most important element of the story is that we do have a presidency here with two wars, inconclusively fought at great expense and an economic collapse, the worst in 70 years, that is a huge legacy burden."
Those who covered Bush in the White House say that legacy burden should be front and center as the media covers the opening of the presidential library.
"I would be surprised and disappointed if coverage did not include the War in Iraq," said Steve Thomma, a McClatchy White House correspondent since 1997. "The coverage of a presidential library is the coverage of his entire record. I would hope it would include a big examination of the Iraq war."
He added that at the library opening, "the role of the press is to use it as an occasion to examine the presidency and the totality of the presidency. The number one thing is foreign policy -- from Sept. 11 on it dominated his presidency and the economy for what happened at the end of his term, the economy crashing, you have to ask if his policies were the right ones."
Carl Cannon covered Bush's first seven years in office for National Journal and co-authored a book comparing him to Ronald Reagan.
He said reviewing Bush's record during a library opening allows for reporters to "humanize" him, but that they should not "whitewash his record."
"I would simply say that we should evaluate George W. Bush--if that's what we're doing this week--as best we can, with benefit of what we've learned about him and his policies, good or bad, since he left office."
Jennifer Loven, who covered the White House from 2002 to 2010 for Associated Press, said the descriptions she has seen of the Bush Library sound like it is "overly defensive for Bush to present his big decisions the way he does."
She added that seeing more positive coverage of this event is not a surprise, but points out she has seen good balanced coverage as well.
"I've actually been interested to see that the coverage of his legacy essentially boils it down to a presidency dominated by very bad things - basically bracketed by 9/11 and Iraq at or near the beginning, Katrina in the middle, and the financial meltdown at the end."
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RIOT GRRRL PROBLEMS #8, a photo by suzy_ex on Flickr.
"Our Secret"
"Our Secret"
Found you by searching for Mr.Wilson's printmaking. I'm a junior at DA and I was lazy and decided not to take printmaking for sophomore year, so I wanted to look up what to expect.
ANYWAY, totes in love with everything you stand. Feminism fuck yeah! But I was just wondering if you make zines with your comics. It would be pretty bitchin' to have one for myself.
Love always,
Hell yeah grrrl! Glad to know somebody from DA is still carrying some feminist pride. It was abysmal when I went there, and surprising that people at an art school (but in Jacksonville, no less) would make fun of me for being a feminist.
You really should take printmaking with Mr. Wilson, he's a fun teacher and gives you room to do what you want (within reason, of course). I do have a Riot Grrrl Problems zine and I'm selling it for $4. You can pay for it online by clicking on the Donate button on the right side of my blog. Send me your address to firstname.lastname@example.com and I can mail it out to you as soon as next week.
In solidarity,


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ST. MARY'S CITY, MD – The York College volleyball squad saw their school-record 21 match win streak come to a halt as the Spartans suffered a 3-0 Capital Athletic Conference loss at St. Mary's College on Tuesday night in St. Mary's City, MD.
The Spartans lost 25-17, 25-23 and 25-23 in a tightly played match. The Green and White falls to 22-2 overall and 3-1 in the CAC while the Seahawks improve to 15-5 overall and 3-1 in the league.
The Spartans hit a season-worst .080 as they had 31 kills and 21 errors in 125 attempts. York was led by junior Julie Coombs as the outside hitter had eight kills while she also had 20 digs. Junior Heather Bucher added seven kills and nine digs while senior Alysse Beshore contributed seven kills and four block assists.
Junior Cortni Rentzel handed out 29 assists while she also had 10 digs and three block assists. Sophomore Ashley Rineman paced the Spartans' defensive efforts with a match-high 22 digs.
The Seahawks were led by Michelle Klima as she banged out 13 kills while Claire Kodan added 10 kills and 21 digs for the double-double. Katie Obal added 23 assists and 14 digs.
The Spartans head right back to the floor on Wednesday night when they travel to Catholic University for a non-conference contest in Washington, DC. The match is slated for a 7:00 pm start at the DuFour Center.
Julie Coombs photo courtesy of Scott Guise


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"We are convinced that liquefied gas is one of the most important future alternatives to today's vehicle fuels." –Lars Mårtensson, director-environmental affairs, Volvo Trucks.
The effort to make natural gas a more efficient fuel for powering long-haul freight trucks increased this week as Volvo Trucks – a division of Sweden's AB Volvo – officially revealed a production-line ready heavy duty model that runs on a mixture of 75% liquefied natural gas (LNG) and 25% diesel fuel. This is a truck that Volvo's been working on in the prototype stage for some time.
The interesting twists to Volvo's new FM MethaneDiesel model is that is can use either LNG or "biogas" refined from, say, the methane vapors generated from landfill decomposition as the main ingredient in its fuel cocktail, the company said. That's because both natural gas and biogas share methane as the "base stock" in their composition, noted Lars Mårtensson, director-environmental affairs for Volvo Trucks.
He noted that Volvo uses a conventional 13-liter diesel engine generating 460 horsepower and roughly 1,696 ft-lbs. of torque. It's equipped with gas injectors, a special Thermos-like fuel tank that keeps the gas liquefied and chilled to minus140 degrees Celsius (roughly minus 284 degrees Fahrenheit), plus a specially modified catalytic converter so it can operate on blended methane/diesel fuel.
Now, if the natural gas tank runs dry, Volvo said the system automatically switches over to diesel, with the driver alerted via a control lamp that comes on in the instrument panel. That should certainly allay fears in some quarters of having trucks stranded on the road due to an inability to find natural gas refilling locations.
"By using liquefied gas, more fuel can be stored in the tanks compared to if the fuel is compressed. This gives the methane-diesel truck a far greater range than that of traditional gas-powered trucks that utilize spark-plug technology," he said.
Thus, in a truck with a gross weight of 40 tonnes, the fuel tank holds enough gas for a range of up to 500 kilometres (some 310.6 miles) in normal driving.
[Below is a video you can watch explaining all of this in more detail.]
Now, getting a hair over 310 miles in operating range on one tank of fuel doesn't sound like a lot on this side of the pond, where the average length of haul is still some 400 to 500 miles, but in Europe it's a big deal – to the point where it makes natural gas a more efficient option than before, noted Claes Nilsson, president of the European division within Volvo Trucks.
"The sales start of our methane-diesel model creates new conditions for the gas truck market. By using liquefied gas in an efficient diesel engine, we make it possible to use gas-powered trucks in heavier and longer-distance transport operations," he said.
Compared with conventional natural gas-powered spark-plug engines, Volvo's natural gas technology offers 30% to 40% higher efficiency, which in turn cuts fuel consumption by 25%, according to Nilsson.
Since the price of natural gas is often significantly lower than that of diesel, financial savings are also possible, he added – and such savings are in his words a "necessary precondition" for widespread acceptance of new technology.
"Natural gas is attracting considerable interest in many countries and regions the world over. This interest is being largely driven by environmental considerations as well as by concerns over the secure supply of energy," explained Mårtensson.
"In the U.S. and parts of Asia, Europe and South America, [natural] gas power is either already in use or decisions have been taken to invest in this power source," he noted. "Thailand, for instance, is well to the fore with an established infrastructure and good availability."
Initially, Volvo plans to sell the FM MethaneDiesel just in Europe, starting in the Netherlands, Great Britain and Sweden, where natural gas infrastructure is best established, Nilsson said, with other parts of the world will follow, as well as sales on additional European markets
At present there are plans to build about 100 trucks in 2011, with production slated to get under way this August, he added.
"If things go as planned, we expect sales to take off in 6-8 European countries within the next two years, with about 400 Volvo FM MethaneDiesel trucks sold a year," Nilsson stated. "Future sales will naturally depend largely on expansion of liquefied gas filling stations for commercial vehicles."
It'll also depend on how the price of oil fares, too. Yet the addition of a production-ready heavy truck powered by natural gas from Volvo – joining similar options available from Kenworth, Peterbilt, and others – gives fleets more options to consider as the prices for oil and diesel remain high.
And having options in this day and age of escalating energy costs is always a good thing.


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NEW YORK, N.Y. - After defeating Iona College with a score of 12-10 on Saturday afternoon, the MIT water polo team continued traveling through New York to face Fordham University and St. Francis College on Sunday. The Engineers fell to Fordham first by a score of 11-10 after two overtime periods and one sudden death period before going down the road, falling to St. Francis, 18-10. Tech is now 3-7 for the season.
In the exciting, aggressive game against Fordham in the morning, MIT got on the board first when senior Craig Cheney (Sherwood, Ore.) was able to shoot the ball past the goalkeeper less than a minute into the first period. Fordham countered that goal with three of its own, taking a 3-1 lead going into the second period. The Engineers tied the score at 4-4 in the second quarter and took the lead with a score of 6-5 following the third.
At three different points within the remaining six minutes of the final quarter, the score was tied. Following an MIT ejection with just six seconds left on the clock and a score of 9-8 in Tech's favor, Fordham scored another goal, sending the game into overtime. Less than a minute into the first overtime period, the Rams scored a goal to take the lead, but, one minute later, senior Scott Stephens (Los Altos, Calif.) found the back of the net, sending the game into the second overtime period.
Thirty seconds into the second overtime period, Fordham were awarded a five-meter penalty shot, which it used to its advantage, scoring the game-winning goal and ending the game.
Five different Engineers scored goals throughout the game. Cheney led MIT with three goals, while sophomore Ory Tasman (Orlando, Fla.), Stephens and junior Dylan Hallman (La Jolla, Calif.) scored two goals apiece and sophomore Kale Rogers (Newberg, Ore.) scored one. Freshman keeper Nolan Kruse (Orcutt, Calif.) had 11 saves and one steal throughout his time spent in the net, while classmate Ian Zaun (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) had two blocks and a steal.
MIT next traveled a few miles down the road to St. Francis College for an afternoon game. Cheney, once again, scored MIT's first goal, putting Tech on the board less than three minutes into the first period, after St. Francis had already scored three goals. Following a goal by Churukian, St. Francis started the second quarter with a 7-2 lead.
The Cardinal and Gray scored five goals throughout the second period, getting within two goals of the Terriers. Hallman, Churukian, Rogers, Cheney and freshman Patrick Everett (Ann Arbor, Mich.) each notched a goal. In the third and fourth quarters, the Engineers were held to just three goals, whereas St. Francis was able to score eight. The game ended with a Terriers' victory of 18-10.
Seven different MIT players scored goals throughout the 18-10 game. Churukian, Rogers and Cheney led the Engineers with their two goals each, while Hallman, Tasman and freshman Kelly McGee (Pasadena, Calif.) all scored one goal. In net during the first quarter, junior Spencer Boone (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) allowed seven goals and notched three saves and an assist. Kruse allowed two goals during the second period and split the third quarter with Zaun, allowing six goals in all. Zaun registered two saves in the final period.
MIT will host its first games of the season on Saturday, Sept. 28, playing Brown University at 3:00 p.m. and then Connecticut College at 7:00 p.m. The following day, they will travel down the road to face Harvard University at 12:00 p.m.


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Reported by CCP Eterne -
Hello cloned mercenaries! As you all know, Uprising is coming on the 6th and the launch of DUST 514 is happening a week later, on the symbolic 5/14, with additional features added in. There has been some confusion about the difference between these two dates. What is coming when? When do we get new weapons? When can we conquer planets? And so much more!
Well, here in this dev blog, we aim to clarify those questions for you.
*Full patch notes included in the credit url*
This new update will probably the big final test whether i delete this game or not off my PS3. I really hope they give it something that makes me wanna stick with Dust 514.
I don't have much expectations about this game, the graphics are bad !
Too late Dust.
Your GFX suck; you take too long to load; your maps are too big and detail-free; and your weapons.....ugh. No. Just no.
this game deserves to succeed it just so grand in its aims, i don't want to have to do back to mindless fragging in other FPS because in 10 days time my corp will start fighting for ownership of planets we will make more enemies there will be wars, spying and diplomacy and thats just now, when this games been going for 5+ years its going to be crazy


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Billions of people rely on artificial fertilisers to provide food on their plates, but it comes at a cost to the environment. So how do we feed the world and sustain the planet?
One of the biggest drivers of the Anthropocene - the age of man - is muck. More precisely, artificial muck, in the form of fertiliser. It's used to feed half of the world's people, but in order to provide food for the constantly escalating number of mouths we are running the risk of irreversibly damaging the planet.
Directly or indirectly, plants are the making of us. We rely on plants because we can't metabolise the nitrogen that makes up four-fifths of the air we breathe. Nitrogen is a vital constituent of all proteins as well as other important molecules, including DNA, but we can only use nitrogen once it has been broken down and combined into an organic molecule, such as an amino acid, for example.
So for thousands of years, humans have come up with ingenious ways of replacing the nitrogen – and other essential nutrients such as phosphorous – they have taken from the soil.
Farmers left stalks and silage in the fields to rot down, and added whatever other organic material they could, including animal and human excrement. As populations grew in Europe and the US, nineteenth-century scientists found precious useable nitrogen supplies in South America, in the form of vast quantities of guano – bird droppings – which indigenous people had been using for centuries as a soil enricher. This discovery, and of the nearby saltpetre (potassium nitrate) mines, generated enormous interest in Europe and the United States. Trainlines were constructed at great expense through the desert to export the valuable materials, and the War of the Pacific kicked off between the guano- and saltpetre-rich nations of Peru, Bolivia and Chile. Britain supported Chile, enabling it to win most of the guano and saltpetre area and Bolivia's entire coastline in the process.
Come the turn of the last century, though, the need for guano was replaced by a revolutionary idea. The German chemist Fritz Haber invented a way of converting the nitrogen in air into liquid ammonia (NH3). The era of artificial fertilisers was born.
The effect on crop production and hence population growth was immediate. The number of humans that could be fed from 1 hectare of land (2.47 acres) rose from 1.9 to 4.3. Half of the protein in our bodies now comes from ammonia made in the Haber process. (Unfortunately, the same reaction also leads to the production of powerful explosives, which have been responsible for the deaths of some 150 million people.) Billions of people owe their daily bread, rice or potatoes to artificial fertilisers. And fertilisers formed the backbone of the Green Revolution across Asia and South America, which dramatically improved yields and has lifted millions out of starvation over the past 40 years.
Global impact
But only 17% of the nitrogen used in fertilisers ends up in our food; the rest ends up in soils and water. And that's where the greatest problem lies, because nitrogen is also a superb fertiliser of algae and bacteria. Fertiliser pollution in lakes and the ocean causes massive blooms of algae, which use up the oxygen dissolved in the water, suffocating other species. The vast blooms of red or green algae cause dead zones for kilometres, with the associated stench.
Ten times more nitrogen is used to produce food than humans consume as protein, and not all the nitrogen in the food we eat is even used by our bodies – the excess enters the environment through human waste. Most people require only 2g (0.07 ounces) of nitrogen a day, but the average American consumes 13g (0.46 ounces) daily, mainly in animal products, which are fed on fertilised crops.
Over-use of fertilisers is a particular problem in China, where whole river systems are polluted and the soils degraded by intensive farming. But safeguards in Europe, including using only a small amount of fertiliser where needed, and providing catchment reed beds that filter out any runoff before it enters the river, have greatly reduced the problem there.
However, local fertiliser use has a global impact. Producing fertilisers also pollutes the atmosphere with climate-altering greenhouse gases. The Haber reaction requires burning fossil fuels, which emit carbon dioxide. And other potent greenhouse gases, including nitrous oxide, are also released while making or using fertiliser. Transporting fertiliser also releases significant carbon emissions, making it a dirty industry.
So what's the answer? One school of thought advocates organic methods that use pre-industrial methods of soil enrichment, such as muck-spreading, for example, They are useful, environmentally sensitive and cheap, if time-consuming ways of improving depleted soils across the world, but they have their disadvantages.
Artificial fertilisers cannot replace lost organic matter (carbon) in soils – mulch is a useful way of restoring structural integrity and preventing fertilisers from washing out of soil immediately, but it uses valuable animal fodder or cooking fuel. As with all fertilisers, manure runoff can also pollute rivers and oceans with eutrophication (death by oxygen starvation). Making manure releases its own potent greenhouse gas – methane. Planting legumes that fix nitrogen can take up space in the field that many farmers would prefer to dedicate to cash crops.
But, perhaps most damningly, in the world's poorest areas, the majority of farmers do not have a choice about whether to go organic or not – most farmers are working with poor soils, bad seeds and uncertain water supplies.
The truth is that it would be impossible to feed a growing global population using purely organic farming methods. And because organic farming is relatively inefficient (yields are on average 25% lower) compared to modern technological methods, vast new tracts of land would need to be used, which would further impact our forests and other ecological spaces.
Priceless subsidies
We're already seeing the effect of this Africa, where 75% of the continent's farmland is degraded. While Asia and Latin America farmers increased yields by increasing productivity of existing fields, in Africa, they have extended their cultivated land through slash and burn. As a result, grain yields in most of Africa are around 1 tonne per hectare, whereas South Asia achieves 2.5 tonnes per hectare and East Asia makes 4.5 tonnes per hectare. With Africa's population set to double by 2050 to two billion, this yield gap must be overcome.
Which leads to the other main school of thought – one that advocates industrial-scale methods with the efficiencies of synthetic tools.
Africans use less than one-tenth of the global average of fertiliser use – less than 10kg (22 lbs) per hectare compared to 140kg (309 lbs) per hectare in Latin America and South Asia. Very few African countries produce fertilisers, the majority are imported, and the cost of transportation is very high on the continent because of high fuel prices and terrible roads. As a result, African farmers pay as much as six times the global average price for fertiliser – when they can find it at all.
In the 1980s, the IMF and World Bank imposed conditions on development aid, preventing African governments from subsidising fertilisers. The cost of fertilisers have risen fourfold in the past few years because petrol prices have soared. Millions of African subsistence farmers survive on less than a dollar a day, so fertiliser is simply unaffordable. Without subsidies, farmers can't afford bad years, they plant less and are crippled by debts from loans just to buy seeds.
After decades in which the population was continuously on the edge of famine, and following a disastrous harvest in 2005 when more than a third of the population needed emergency food aid, the Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika said that enough was enough, and re-introduced fertiliser subsidies – the first sub-Saharan country to do so.
As a result, agricultural production more than doubled in 2006, and trebled by 2009 as fertiliser use doubled. By 2007, Malawi was exporting its surplus corn to Zimbabwe and Kenya, unthinkable just two years earlier. When I visited Malawi in 2010, the country had closed the grain gap from eight months (time during which the granary stores are empty) to two months, and some had two months' surplus. In going against the World Bank, Malawi created a production level that dragged its people out of starvation. The programme was curtailed in 2011, but a dozen countries are now following Malawi's lead.
Balancing act
There is no doubt that African farmers need access to synthetic fertilisers if they are going to catch up with the rest of the world in crop production (that is, close the yield gap) and preserve their wild spaces from slash and burn. But a truly successful outcome for Africa, and the world in general, would be to see agricultural yield per hectare increased with minimal environmental impact and in a way that can be sustained as the climate becomes less conducive.
So when I hear the passionate views about whether farming should be entirely organic and GM-free, or entirely industrial-scale with the efficiencies of synthetic tools, my response is that it will be all of these things.
The answer is to use fertilisers in a far more efficient and better targeted way, so that just the right dose is given to each plant with minimal run-off or waste – a concept known as micro-dosing. And to eat less meat so that the protein in the crops we fertilise is used in the most efficient way.
Meanwhile, traditional methods should be embraced. Farmers reap multiple benefits from planting nitrogen-fixing trees and hedgerows around their fields, for example, while also sowing the most effective crops for the area, climate and soil type – whether that be GM rice or conventionally bred cassava - rather than vast grain monocultures. With an enormous variety of crops, fields and farmers, there will be a variety of different practices used (including the investigation of wild-type relatives of staple crops), and we will need this variety in the coming decades.
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New York Startup Bindo Raises Funds To Expand in Asia
By Michelle Yuan
In the U.S., startups have already begun to take advantage of the online to offline commerce opportunity.
Now the trend is moving to Asia. After rapid expansion in the U.S., New York-based O2O, or online to offline, retail startup Bindo has just raised an oversubscribed seed round of US$1.8 million to expand in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.
Bindo is an iPad Point of Sale (POS), or checkout system, that features tools for merchants to manage inventory and customer relationships more efficiently through its cloud-based payment platform. Because all the data is organized in Bindo's own cloud, with one click, merchants can launch their entire store online onto web and mobile. Its products will also be aggregated onto an e-commerce platform called Bindo Marketplace, where consumers will be able to shop at neighborhood stores online. The locally focused marketplace will allow shoppers to check what items are in stock, purchase them and check out, and have it delivered from local stores.
The latest round of fundraising was co-led by Gary Vaynerchuk, a social media and wine expert; East Ventures, a venture capital fund based in Singapore and Tokyo; and Metamorphic Ventures, a commerce and digital media focused venture capital fund.
"The decision to come to Asia was easy," says Jason Ngan, co-founder of Bindo and a native of Hong Kong. "Asia e-commerce will exceed half a trillion U.S. dollars by year end. There's a transformation from a 'savings' mentality to a 'consumer' mentality, and a rapidly growing middle class that's becoming more mobile and tech-savvy not to mention a huge talent pool of developers."
Earlier this year, the startup opened offices in Hong Kong and is now expanding into Singapore. In April, Bindo competed in Startup Arena Singapore 2014, a pitching contest for startups, and took home first place and US$10,000.
Since its beta launch in March this year, the company says it has processed US$40 million in orders and has 180,000 customers who have swiped their card through Bindo's system in New York City. Data from the beta launch shows that stores can increase their sales by 20% to 30% in one month says Ngan.
Traditional POS terminals will get phased out over time and the trend will move to checkout systems that are mobile in the next few years, says Ngan.
"It's happening in Asia too. For example, in China the Alibaba and Intime deal is an excellent opportunity for Alibaba to explore integrating online and mobile payments solutions into brick and mortar retail."
Bindo isn't the first to introduce the iPad POS system in the U.S.. Its competitors include ShopKeep, Square, and Lightspeed. But Ngan says its cloud-based system combined with Bindo Marketplace makes it different, further closing the gap between online to offline commerce.