text:
Liberty Letters, James Madison
James Madison to George Washington (also, a copy taken by permission by Daniel Carroll and sent to Charles Carroll of Carrollton)
1. Failure of the States to comply with the Constitutional requisitions.
This evil has been so fully experienced both during the war and since the peace, results so naturally from the number and independent authority of the States and has been so uniformly exemplified in every similar Confederacy, that it may be considered as not less radically and permanently inherent in, than it is fatal to the object of, the present System.
2. Encroachments by the States on the federal authority.
Examples of this are numerous and repetitions may be foreseen in almost every case where any favorite object of a State shall present a temptation. Among these examples are the wars and Treaties of Georgia with the Indians–The unlicensed compacts between Virginia and Maryland, and between Pennsylvania and New Jersey [The Interstate Commerce Pact by these two states without the involvement of the U.S. Congress]–the troops raised and to be kept up by Massachusetts [in response to the Shays's Rebellion and other similar revolts in the New England States].
3. Violations of the law of nations and of treaties.
From the number of Legislatures, the sphere of life from which most of their members are taken, and the circumstances under which their legislative business is carried on, irregularities of this kind must frequently happen. Accordingly not a year has passed without instances of them in some one or other of the States. The Treaty of peace–the treaty with France–the treaty with Holland have each been violated. The causes of these irregularities must necessarily produce frequent violations of the law of nations in other respects.
As yet foreign powers have not been rigorous in animadverting on us. This moderation however cannot be mistaken for a permanent partiality to our faults, or a permanent security against those disputes with other nations, which being among the greatest of public calamities, it ought to be least in the power of any part of the Community to bring on the whole.
4. Trespasses of the States on the rights of each other.
These are alarming symptoms, and may be daily apprehended as we are admonished by daily experience. See the law of Virginia restricting foreign vessels to certain ports–of Maryland in favor of vessels belonging to her own citizens–of New York in favor of the same.
Paper money, installments of debts, occlusion of Courts [obstruction of Justice], making property a legal tender, may likewise be deemed aggressions on the rights of other States. As the Citizens of every State aggregately taken stand more or less in the relation of Creditors or debtors, to the Citizens of every other States, Acts of the debtor State in favor of debtors, affect the Creditor State, in the same manner, as they do its own citizens who are relatively creditors towards other citizens. This remark may be extended to foreign nations. If the exclusive regulation of the value and alloy of coin was properly delegated to the federal authority, the policy of it equally requires a control on the States in the cases above mentioned. It must have been meant
1. to preserve uniformity in the circulating medium throughout the nation.
2. to prevent those frauds on the citizens of other States, and the subjects of foreign powers, which might disturb the tranquility at home, or involve the Union in foreign contests.
The practice of many States in restricting the commercial intercourse with other States, and putting their productions and manufactures on the same footing with those of foreign nations, though not contrary to the federal articles, is certainly adverse to the spirit of the Union, and tends to beget retaliating regulations, not less expensive and vexatious in themselves, than they are destructive of the general harmony.
5. Want [lack] of concert in matters where common interest requires it.
This defect is strongly illustrated in the state of our commercial affairs. How much has the national dignity, interest, and revenue suffered from this cause? Instances of inferior moment are the want [lack] of uniformity in the laws concerning naturalization and literary property; of provision for national seminaries [colleges and universities], for grants of incorporation for national purposes, for canals and other works of general utility, which may at present be defeated by the perverseness of particular States whose concurrence is necessary.
6. Want [lack] of guaranty to the States of their Constitutions and laws against internal violence.
The confederation is silent on this point and therefore by the second article the hands of the federal authority are tied. According to Republican Theory, Right and power being both vested in the majority, are held to be synonymous. According to fact and experience a minority may in an appeal to force, be an overmatch for the majority.
1. If the minority happen to include all such as possess the skill and habits of military life, and such as possess the great pecuniary resources, one third only may conquer the remaining two thirds.
2. One third of those who participate in the choice of the rulers, may be rendered a majority by the accession of those whose poverty excludes them from a right of suffrage, and who for obvious reasons will be more likely to join the standard of sedition than that of the established Government.
3. Where slavery exists the republican Theory becomes still more fallacious.
7. Want [lack] of sanction to the laws, and of coercion in the Government of the Confederacy.
A sanction is essential to the idea of law, as coercion is to that of Government. The federal system being destitute of both, wants the great vital principles of a Political Constitution. Under the form of such a Constitution, it is in fact nothing more than a treaty of amity of commerce and of alliance, between so many independent and Sovereign States. From what cause could so fatal an omission have happened in the articles of Confederation? from a mistaken confidence that the justice, the good faith, the honor, the sound policy, of the several legislative assemblies would render superfluous any appeal to the ordinary motives by which the laws secure the obedience of individuals: a confidence which does honor to the enthusiastic virtue of the compilers, as much as the inexperience of the crisis apologizes for their errors. The time which has since elapsed has had the double effect, of increasing the light, and tempering the warmth, with which the arduous work may be revised. It is no longer doubted that a unanimous and punctual obedience of thirteen independent bodies, to the acts of the federal Government, ought not be calculated on. Even during the war, when external danger supplied in some degree the defect of legal and coercive sanctions, how imperfectly did the States fulfill their obligations to the Union? In time of peace, we see already what is to be expected. How indeed could it be otherwise? In the first place, Every general act of the Union must necessarily bear unequally hard on some particular member or members of it. Secondly the partiality of the members to their own interests and rights, a partiality which will be fostered by the Courtiers of popularity, will naturally exaggerate the inequality where it exists, and even suspect it where it has no existence. Thirdly a distrust of the voluntary compliance of each other may prevent the compliance of any, although it should be the latent disposition of all. Here are causes and pretexts which will never fail to render federal measures abortive. If the laws of the States, were merely recommendatory to their citizens, or if they were to be rejudged by County authorities, what security, what probability would exist, that they would be carried into execution? Is the security or probability greater in favor of the acts of Congress which depending for their execution on the will of the state legislatures, which are though nominally authoritative, in fact recommendatory only.
8. Want [lack] of ratification by the people of the Articles of Confederation.
In some of the States the Confederation is recognized by, and forms a part of the constitution. In others however it has received no other sanction than that of the Legislative authority. From this defect two evils result:
1. Whenever a law of a State happens to be repugnant to an act of Congress, particularly when the latter is of posterior date to the former, it will be at least questionable whether the latter must not prevail; and as the question must be decided by the Tribunals of the State, they will be most likely to lean on the side of the State.
2. As far as the Union of the States is to be regarded as a league of sovereign powers, and not as a political Constitution by virtue of which they are become one sovereign power, so far it seems to follow from the doctrine of compacts, that a breach of any of the articles of the confederation by any of the parties to it, absolves the other parties from their respective obligations, and gives them a right if they choose to exert it, of dissolving the Union altogether. [A reminder from the upcoming Father of Our Constitution, that the Constitution we have today was not such a compact, and that the government under the new Constitution would have executive power to enforce the national law such as we read in Article 1, Section 8 as to the powers of Congress: "To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, [and] suppress Insurrections", and in Article 1 Section 10 which forbade states from entering into "agreement or compact with another State" without the consent of Congress. Likewise Article VI declared the Constitution "the Supreme Law of the Land" to which all "the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support"]
9. Multiplicity of laws in the several States.
In developing the evils which viciate [corrupt, destroy, invalidate, render defective] the political system of the U. S. it is proper to include those which are found within the States individually, as well as those which directly affect the States collectively, since the former class have an indirect influence on the general malady and must not be overlooked in forming a complete remedy. Among the evils then of our situation may well be ranked the multiplicity of laws from which no State is exempt. As far as laws are necessary, to mark with precision the duties of those who are to obey them, and to take from those who are to administer them a discretion, which might be abused, their number is the price of liberty. As far as the laws exceed this limit, they are a nuisance: a nuisance of the most pestilent kind. Try the Codes of the several States by this test, and what a luxuriancy of legislation do they present. The short period of independency has filled as many pages as the century which preceded it. Every year, almost every session, adds a new volume. This may be the effect in part, but it can only be in part, of the situation in which the revolution has placed us. A review of the several codes will shew that every necessary and useful part of the least voluminous of them might be compressed into one tenth of the compass, and at the same time be rendered tenfold as perspicuous.
10. Mutability of the laws of the States
This evil is intimately connected with the former yet deserves a distinct notice as it emphatically denotes a vicious legislation. We daily see laws repealed or superseded, before any trial can have been made of their merits: and even before a knowledge of them can have reached the remoter districts within which they were to operate. In the regulations of trade this instability becomes a snare not only to our citizens but to foreigners also.
11. Injustice of the laws of States
If the multiplicity and mutability of laws prove a want of wisdom, their injustice betrays a defect still more alarming: more alarming not merely because it is a greater evil in itself, but because it brings more into question the fundamental principle of republican Government, that the majority who rule in such Governments, are the safest Guardians both of public Good and of private rights. To what causes is this evil to be ascribed?
These causes lie
1. in the Representative bodies.
2. in the people themselves.
1. Representative appointments are sought from three motives.
1. ambition
2. personal interest.
3. public good.
Unhappily the two first are proved by experience to be most prevalent. Hence the candidates who feel them, particularly, the second, are most industrious, and most successful in pursuing their object: and forming often a majority in the legislative Councils, with interested views, contrary to the interest, and views, of their Constituents, join in a perfidious sacrifice of the latter to the former. A succeeding election it might be supposed, would displace the offenders, and repair the mischief. But how easily are base and selfish measures, masked by pretexts of public good and apparent expediency? How frequently will a repetition of the same arts and industry which succeeded in the first instance, again prevail on the unwary to misplace their confidence?
How frequently too will the honest but unenlightened representative be the dupe of a favorite leader, veiling his selfish views under the professions of public good, and varnishing his sophistical arguments with the glowing colours of popular eloquence?
2. A still more fatal if not more frequent cause lies among the people themselves. All civilized societies are divided into different interests and factions, as they happen to be creditors or debtors–Rich or poor–husbandmen, merchants or manufacturers–members of different religious sects–followers of different political leaders–inhabitants of different districts–owners of different kinds of property &c &c. In republican Government the majority however composed, ultimately give the law. Whenever therefore an apparent interest or common passion unites a majority what is to restrain them from unjust violations of the rights and interests of the minority, or of individuals? Three motives only
1. a prudent regard to their own good as involved in the general and permanent good of the Community. This consideration although of decisive weight in itself, is found by experience to be too often unheeded. It is too often forgotten, by nations as well as by individuals that honesty is the best policy.
2dly. respect for character. However strong this motive may be in individuals, it is considered as very insufficient to restrain them from injustice. In a multitude its efficacy is diminished in proportion to the number which is to share the praise or the blame. Besides, as it has reference to public opinion, which within a particular Society, is the opinion of the majority, the standard is fixed by those whose conduct is to be measured by it. The public opinion without the Society, will be little respected by the people at large of any Country. Individuals of extended views, and of national pride, may bring the public proceedings to this standard, but the example will never be followed by the multitude. Is it to be imagined that an ordinary citizen or even an assemblyman of Rhode Island in estimating the policy of paper money, ever considered or cared in what light the measure would be viewed in France or Holland; or even in Massachusetts or Connecticut.? It was a sufficient temptation to both that it was for their interest: it was a sufficient sanction to the latter that it was popular in the State; to the former that it was so in the neighborhood.
3dly. will Religion the only remaining motive be a sufficient restraint? It is not pretended to be such on men individually considered. Will its effect be greater on them considered in an aggregate view? quite the reverse. The conduct of every popular assembly acting on oath, the strongest of religious Ties, proves that individuals join without remorse in acts, against which their consciences would revolt if proposed to them under the like sanction, separately in their closets. When indeed Religion is kindled into enthusiasm, its force like that of other passions, is increased by the sympathy of a multitude. But enthusiasm is only a temporary state of religion, and while it lasts will hardly be seen with pleasure at the helm of Government. Besides as religion in its coolest state, is not infallible, it may become a motive to oppression as well as a restraint from injustice. Place three individuals in a situation wherein the interest of each depends on the voice of the others, and give to two of them an interest opposed to the rights of the third? Will the latter be secure? The prudence of every man would shun the danger. The rules & forms of justice suppose & guard against it. Will two thousand in a like situation be less likely to encroach on the rights of one thousand? The contrary is witnessed by the notorious factions & oppressions which take place in corporate towns limited as the opportunities are, and in little republics when uncontrouled by apprehensions of external danger. If an enlargement of the sphere is found to lessen the insecurity of private rights, it is not because the impulse of a common interest or passion is less predominant in this case with the majority; but because a common interest or passion is less apt to be felt and the requisite combinations less easy to be formed by a great than by a small number. The Society becomes broken into a greater variety of interests, of pursuits, of passions, which check each other, whilst those who may feel a common sentiment have less opportunity of communication and concert. It may be inferred that the inconveniences of popular States contrary to the prevailing Theory, are in proportion not to the extent, but to the narrowness of their limits.
The great desideratum [perfection or improvement which is lacking – see Webster's 1828 Dictionary ] in Government is such a modification of the Sovereignty as will render it sufficiently neutral between the different interests and factions, to control one part of the Society from invading the rights of another, and at the same time sufficiently controlled itself, from setting up an interest adverse to that of the whole Society. In absolute Monarchies, the prince is sufficiently, neutral towards his subjects, but frequently sacrifices their happiness to his ambition or his avarice. In small Republics, the sovereign will is sufficiently controlled from such a Sacrifice of the entire Society, but is not sufficiently neutral towards the parts composing it. As a limited Monarchy tempers the evils of an absolute one; so an extensive Republic meliorates the administration of a small Republic.
An auxiliary desideratum [perfection or improvement which is lacking – see Webster's 1828 Dictionary] for the melioration of the Republican form is such a process of elections as will most certainly extract from the mass of the Society the purest and noblest characters which it contains; such as will at once feel most strongly the proper motives to pursue the end of their appointment, and be most capable to devise the proper means of attaining it.
12. Impotence of the laws of the States
Liberty Letters is a project of The Moral Liberal Editor In Chief, Steve Farrell. Mr. Farrell has altered the original formatting to apply bold to topical headers and placed the headers above the appropriate sections of text rather than beside (as in the original), and added indenting to Mr. Madison's internal numbering system. Spelling has also been modernized and abbreviations removed. Explanatory comments, definitions and examples have been added in brackets and highlighted in blue. Header 12 had no accompanying text in the original as is the case in this production as well.
Document as altered, enlarged, and newly formatted as noted above: Copyright © 2012 Steve Farrell


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| 16.8°C Dublin
Businesses across Dublin have been hit by a loss of more than €15m since the Luas strikes began, it has been claimed.
Tram drivers went on strike for the 10th time yesterday, leaving passengers stuck in gridlock for long periods during morning and evening rush hour.
Areas on the green line in south Dublin were particularly badly hit by increased traffic due to the strike action, according to AA Ireland's Conor Faughnan.
Among the areas that experienced a huge increase in traffic were Dundrum and the Merrion Road.
"However, it wasn't the worst day for a Luas strike in terms of traffic because it was a Wednesday in May with the schools off," he said.
One disgruntled Luas user said it took 20 minutes to get from a bus stop at Busaras to the quays, while the journey from Heuston Station to the city centre was taking over 25 minutes in gridlocked traffic.
Meanwhile, traders across the city have lost more than €15m in sales since Luas strikes started, it has been claimed.
Traders are now bracing themselves for further losses with more strikes planned and no end in sight to the dispute.
Business groups have estimated that traders lost more than €1.5m every day Luas workers went on strike - a loss of €15m in sales since the dispute first started.
Footfall throughout the city was up around 10pc last week, but shoppers decided to stay out of the city last Thursday when Luas workers held a strike - with the footfall figure dropping by 10pc.
Dublin Town CEO Richard Guiney estimated that more than 25,000 customers were not coming into the city on each day strike action was held.
He also warned that lost sales will not be recouped.
"It's not like that if people don't shop today, they will then spend that money and shop next week … that's not the psychology.
"If people don't shop, they don't shop. Those sales are not made up next week," he told the Herald.
"The last couple of months we have found that the spend has actually been a bit down. There seems to be a consistent caution amongst consumers who are slightly nervous."
Mr Guiney, who heads the Business Improvement District in the capital, called for an end to the pay dispute between Luas workers and operators Transdev.
"It is costing us on an ongoing basis and we really do want to see a resolution to this," he said.
"We would have preferred if there wasn't 10 days of strikes, and we certainly don't want to see another 10 days."
Meanwhile, the Dublin Chamber of Commerce has warned the strike action may have a devastating long-term impact.
Chamber spokesman Graeme McQueen told the Herald that businesses are growing increasingly "frustrated".
"Businesses just want a resolution at this stage," said Mr McQueen.
"I think there is very little sympathy for the drivers at this stage. I think the demands from the start were viewed by the public in a certain way.
"I don't think they have done themselves any favours the way they have gone about things.
"It would put people off coming into the city centre because traffic is heavier and buses are busier."
He added the chamber fears workers may now decide to use their cars to travel into the city and that tourists are being affected.
"The long-term worry for us would be that if you're taking somebody off the Luas, they might be more inclined to jump into the car and they might make that switch long-term."

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Ferdous M.Z., Hareland G., Husein M., Mostafavi V.,
University of Calgary, CA
Keywords: circulation loss, drilling, fluid loss, invert emulsion, mechanical strength, nanofluid, plug, resiliency
Nano-fluids have recently attracted attention in the petroleum industry as potential solutions to several shortcomings of conventional drilling fluids. Drilling fluid is in charge of numerous functions during the drilling operation including transport of cuttings to the surface, maintaining the wellbore pressure and stability, lubrication and cooling of the drill bit and isolation of formation fluids by forming a filter cake around the borehole. Most troublesome drilling issues are directly or indirectly triggered by fluid related problems including loss of drilling fluid and wellbore instability. Circulation loss which is defined as the gradual or accidental loss of drilling fluid to formation voids is one of the most well-known drilling problems which may lead to increased costs and time required to reach the drilling target depth, loss of pressure control, increased safety concerns on the rigs, contamination of water beds as well as several other consequences. A large amount of capital and time has been spent on development of new Lost Circulation Materials (LCMs) and technologies to plug the openings in the wellbores with various levels of success. The key to experience a "fluid loss free" drilling operation lies within the ability to build a firm and high strength plug over the fractures and other types of "thief zones" to maintain the fluid level in the borehole. An extensive collaborative research program at the University of Calgary has led to development of a profound understanding of the sealing mechanisms and reliable analytical models based on a wide range of experimental work. The research also aimed at developing a new class of highly specialized nanoparticle based drilling fluids with superior ability to plug the pore throat of the formation and prevent fluid loss while drilling. Application of nano calcium carbonate and nano iron hydroxide were considered in the drilling fluid to fill the gaps between larger particles forming the plug. Nano materials are capable of reducing the permeability and the porosity of the media and increase its yield point and mechanical strength. Filtration and rheology tests performed on nano-fluids unveiled the significant capabilities of nano calcium carbonate to increase the consistency and sealing capabilities of the filter cakes. The behavior of nanoparticles in invert (water/oil) emulsion drilling fluids was investigated. Iron hydroxide nanoparticles were prepared in invert (water/oil) emulsion drilling fluids by reaction with FeCl3 and NaOH at room temperature. The nanoparticles were characterized using analytical tools such as X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Presence of iron hydroxide nanoparticles in invert emulsion drilling fluid substantially reduced the fluid loss. A separate series of resiliency and triaxial tests showed the significantly improved mechanical strength of the samples which contained nano particles. The tests also showed a remarkable impact of nanoparticles on the mechanical strength of the filter cakes. This paper shows an optimum composition of the particles can be obtained to maximize the desired capabilities of the nano-fluids while minimizing the costs.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: Technical Proceedings of the 2011 Clean Technology Conference and Trade Show
Published: June 13, 2011
Pages: 383 - 386
Industry sector: Energy & Sustainability
Topics: Materials for Oil & Gas


text:
Vy (formerly NSB) is a leading Nordic mobility provider, with passenger trains, buses, freight and travel operations in Norway and Sweden.
Vy currently operates on a total of 26 local, intercity and regional train routes, serving 375 stations, including the largest towns and cities in Norway. VY trains were used for more than 70.7 million journeys in 2018.


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Chattanooga Health & Recreation
Chattanooga has a wealth of recreation facilities & opportunities that will assist you in living a healthy lifestyle. Situated along the Tennessee Riverfront is a 10-mile path connecting riverfront parks. Bike routes are established throughout the span of the city, and fitness events (such as the Ironman triathlon) occur regularly throughout the year.
Fitnesss facilities available to residents, fellows, and medical students include:
Erlanger Work Out Facility (Elevator A, next to First Tennessee Bank, on the 2nd floor-accessible 24 hours each day.) The facilities include treadmills, bikes, Stairmaster, and weight equipment. The rooms are only available for Erlanger employees, residents, and medical students via a special pass code. Do not give the code to others.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offers the following: The University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga has a reciprocal arrangement with the Student Activities Office at UTC that provides for residents at the UTCOMC to participate in the UTC activities and programs. For a minimal fee of $60 per year, residents are eligible to participate and utilize services and facilities. Residents must show verification of payment of the fee by bringing a receipt from the UTC Business Office to the ID Office in the UTC Student Center. UTC facilities residents can use include an outdoor pool, eight lighted tennis courts, two indoor tennis courts, six modern racquetball courts, a library, a gym, and bookstores. Contact the GME Office at 778-7442 regarding the procedure to obtain a UTC ID.
The following organizations offer UT residents special pricing for exercise facilities and programs:
The Chattanooga LifeStyle Center in downtown Chattanooga (part of the Erlanger Health System) offers more than 250 distinct programs to include a balanced integration of preventative, rehabilitative, therapeutic, fitness, and educational services. The LifeStyle Center is located downtown (778-9400) and has partnered with the Sports Barn.
The Sports Barn Fitness Center offers the following to residents:
Siskin Fitness Center (located in Siskin Hospital just across from the Erlanger Emergency Department) offers the following to residents:
Below are some links to local organizations and facilities which may assist you in your health & recreation needs:
Chattanooga-area Fitness Facilities
City of Chattanooga Recreation
Revised 7/18


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Staying fit past 60, means learning a lot of new and modified exercises and doing everything possible to maintain an active sex life.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Where Have all the Liberals Gone?
What has happened to politics?
When I got started in politics, in the 60's, the groups I joined existed to change the world for the better. Get out of Vietnam and Cambodia, Civil Rights for All, Consumer Safety, Legalize Abortion. The issues haven't changed much. Different wars. Different needs for civil rights. Different needs for consumer safety. And Keep Abortion Legal.
But last night I went to a meeting of my local Democratic activist group: Organizing for America (formerly Obama for America – we got to keep the same initials). Nobody was happy with the political situation, particularly the gun safety issue, and the lack of a public option in Obamacare. But nobody talked about fighting for causes. The only cause was Elect Democrats. Even Democrats in Name Only (DINO). Just to get the scary Republicans out of office.
I went home questioning my involvement in politics. I hate opening my door to strangers who want to sell me a political or religious cause. But during the last election I knocked on doors – asking if people needed a ride to the polls, or needed an absentee ballot. I did something to others that I don't want others to do to me.
And now, since that technique worked – Obama was re-elected – OFA expects me to continue knocking on doors. Yes, I get it – Obama can do more of what I want if we give him a congress of Democrats. I want progressive and liberal Democrats. There seems to be a shortage of my kind of candidate, of people who support my issues, even at the neighborhood level.
What happened? Are the Republicans so scary in their extreme views that my side has forgotten what matters? Or put another way – have we forgotten our extreme views. Because, yes, the Republicans are terrified of our views. Raise the minimum wage. Health care for all. Women should make their own health decisions. Automatic weapons do not belong in private hands. People who love each other should be allowed to marry.
It looks as if the Republican Party has a very successful tactic. They threaten to take away rights we already have, and we stop fighting for more freedom. It's as if you could stop people from reading by raising library fines. It shouldn't work.
I learned a long time ago that there is no reason to give in to a child when s/he has a temper tantrum in public. Don't buy a child something to silence the screaming. Don't indulge a child's superstitions. It's okay to step on cracks in the sidewalk. Politics is an adult activity. Let's act like adults and fight for what we believe in.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Another Rant
It's my blog, and I'll rant if I want to.
Here's how I want to be treated when I go for a medical appointment. I'll state up front, that it takes more time to do medicine my way, but I think it's worth it.
If a doctor wants to do a test, I want to know the reasons. How likely is it that the test will find anything, given my general health? Will it hurt? Are there risks? The choice is mine – not the doctor's. When I went for a stress test, the young doc who ran it wanted to run a camera inside my heart. I'm in better shape than he is. I'm more than twice his age, and I'm sure I could beat him in a bike or swimming race. Some random anomaly is no reason to run invasive tests.
If a doctor wants to prescribe a pill, I want to know about the side effects. I want to know about the success rate. It's my choice if the possible benefits outweigh the risks. My cancer surgeon wanted me to take aromatase inhibitors for 5 years. She said they reduce the chance of getting cancer in my other breast by 50%. She didn't tell me that the chance of getting cancer in my other breast during a 5 year period is 3% and the pill cuts it to 1.5%. I do not consider that to be a significant advantage. She said the pill is well tolerated. According to what I read on the web, side effects are common and so horrific that many women quit the pill long before the 5 years. The side effects include hot spells worse than menopause, short term memory loss, painful joints, brittle bones, and migraine headaches. In my opinion, for my health care, the benefits alone aren't worth taking a pill, even if there were no side effects. The bottom line is that getting cancer in one breast does not make me more likely to get cancer in the other one than someone who has never had cancer. And taking the pill has no effect on my anticipated longevity. This is the type of information I want my doctor to tell me.
If a doctor wants to recommend surgery, I want to know the details. My breast surgeon wanted to do reconstruction. She recommended inserting a bag of salt water. She said it was just one more surgery after the mastectomy. That's simply not true. The bag must be replaced every 10 years. So, given my longevity expectations, that means 4 more surgeries. I looked for consumer satisfaction reports on the web. Nobody who has posted seems happy with the feel of a bag of salt water under her skin. I don't like the idea of something artificial under my skin. I agreed to the hip replacement because I couldn't ride my bike with the worn-out one. I can't think of a single thing I could do with a bag of salt water. Plus, reports say that the plastic insert that stretches the chest muscles to make room for it hurts. And this kind of reconstruction interferes with doing yoga. I love doing yoga. That seals it. No insert for me. My doctor didn't mention any of this.
If a doctor wants to recommend stretches or exercises, I want these stretches or exercises demonstrated. I want lessons in how to do them. If appropriate, I want a physical therapist to work with me. "You need to stretch," doesn't mean anything to me. I probably stretch more than anybody else I know. But if there is a specific stretch that would help, I'll add it to my regimen. I just need the details.
Finally, I don't see any reason to see specialists if I don't need special services. I see no reason to visit a surgeon to get my remaining breast checked every year. As I said, I'm no more likely to get cancer in that breast than a woman who still has two breasts. And if a general practitioner can detect cancer in a woman with two breasts s/he could detect it in my one. Specialists are harder to schedule. They cost more. And they don't have time to talk to me.
If doctors don't have time to talk to me, then set up a system of nurse practitioners who do. I'm not a car. I have pain sensors and decision making abilities. I want to be treated as a whole person.
Friday, March 15, 2013
A Year Ago I Had Cancer
A year ago, I had cancer.
The big scary word.
A small lump in my breast.
Needle biopsy.
Blood tests.
PET scan.
After all those tests, my surgeon recommended lumpectomy.
Lumpectomy didn't get it all.
It's out-patient surgery.
The lab report says this time they did get it all. Yay!
From the time I found the lump, my immediate thought was get this out of me!
I cannot understand my friend who put off surgery for years until it was too late. What was she thinking?
Arguments with the surgeon – No I don't want reconstruction surgery.
I can't think of a single thing I could do with a bag of salt water stuffed under my chest muscles. It would just get in the way of my yoga.
No, I don't want to take pills that will give me painful joints, brittle bones and short term memory loss – all for a 1.5% reduction in my chance of getting cancer in the other breast, an no increase in longevity likelihood.
Getting cancer in one breast doesn't make me any more likely to get cancer in the other one than someone who has never had cancer.
The health system now treats me like I'm high risk, but I'm not.
Medicare will now buy 4 bras a year for me with pockets for my prosthetic.
They will buy a silicone prosthetic every 2 years. I prefer the knitted ones from eBay.
A year ago cancer was a scary word.
Now, I know it's a whole range of words. Cancer means different things at different times in different people. Cancer can getting a part chopped off. "If thine eye offend thee..." Cancer can mean you're dying, like my friend the chiropractor. Cancer can mean you need many rounds of chemo and surgery every few years (a search-and-destroy-mission lifestyle). Most of all cancer means choices – choices that must be made in a hurry – and doctors don't have the time to give all the advice needed – so it's off to the internet! Hurray for the internet!!!!!
I was lucky. I didn't need radiation or chemo. They got it all with the mastectomy. I've got my life back, minus one breast. Cancer can change lives. I just have extra exercises and stretches for the chest area.
Some people get great ephemeral insights and discover new meaning in their lives. I got left out on that one – unless the new meaning is that no matter how well I take care of myself, I can still be zapped by the randomness of the universe – but it doesn't really matter – life goes on.
I had to change my self-image – I was a lucky person who doesn't even catch the flu. Now I'm a lucky person who had cancer and it's gone.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Quitting Sugar
All my life, I've known people who quit sugar – not forever, in most cases, but they were going to try. They wanted to lose weight. They wanted to get rid of pimples. But I didn't want to lose weight and I didn't care about my pimples. I thought I had a free pass on sugar. I could have dessert any night I wanted. I could make cookies whenever I wanted.
About 4 years ago, I noticed my knuckles bulging. But they didn't hurt. They just looked funny. I didn't think it mattered. About 4 months ago, they started hurting. I bought cat's claw and drank some every morning. And again during the day if my knuckles stabbed me.
About 1 month ago, I read my AARP email newsletter. In it an article said that most of arthritis pain is from sugar inflammation. The article said it would take 6 weeks of no sugar to notice an effect. I immediately quit sugar, honey, agave, anything except fresh fruit that tasted at all sweet. Within 2 weeks, I was in less pain. At 3 weeks my hands felt almost normal. I was still taking one dose of cat's claw every morning, but never during the day or evening.
A few days ago, I didn't read the label. I used an old jar of pad thai sauce. Pad Thai doesn't taste sweet to me. I didn't think it could have sugar in it. Within 2 hours, my hands were in pain. I drank a glass of water with 18 drops cat's claw extract. My hands calmed down. The label said this sauce was 38% sugar. Yipes! I only put a few spoonfuls of the sauce into the pad thai. I had made enough for 4 people. So half a spoonful of a sauce that is 38% sugar is enough to cause pain.
Years ago, I went through all my cookie recipes and removed 1/3 of the sugar. My husband wanted some gingerbread cookies. I cut the sugar in half again, and substituted honey for the sugar. Honey is not sucrose. It's a combination of glucose and fructose. I used my small cookie cutters. I ate one cookie. The pain was minor. Honey is not sugar. I used to eat two cookies. I used to use the big cookie cutters – the mermaid, the two-headed gingerbread man, the big rabbit. Now one small cookie with 1/3 the original amount of sweetening is pushing my limits. It's not something I'd eat every day, or even every week.
But I have discovered that fruit smoothies fill my urge for something sweet. I make those every day. I don't crave cookies or other desserts. They are no longer part of my regular diet. My husband, the alien, has taken to buying extra candy bars for himself. I can look at them in the fridge and not want even a nibble. It's not the fear of pain – it's that they truly don't appeal to me any more.
I thought quitting sugar would be hard. Thanks to fruit smoothies, it feels like I'm eating what I crave. Yay for my blender!
Friday, March 1, 2013
Reading History
My grand daughters have been reading fiction for years. They have just started reading history books. They have learned not to spoil a book for each other by talking about the characters and their problems at the dinner table. They want to preserve the mystery.
Last week, one grand daughter started talking about Aaron Burr at the dinner table. Her sister piped up, "Don't ruin it!"
I'd never thought about history as a plot to be protected by book covers, only to be discovered anew by each diligent reader. History was a subject of debate at my childhood and parenthood dinner tables. What was Aaron Burr thinking? Why did he think his actions were for the good of himself and / or the country? And what was Alexander Hamilton thinking when he wrote those angry newspaper articles about Burr? And why did either man think a duel was the way to solve their problems?
And did they know that hundreds of years later, my grand daughters would nearly come to a duel when one tried to talk about their story before the other one had read it?
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Fishing Bridge, WY
The highly skilled professional who performs ultrasound examinations in a clinical facility is known as a sonographer, ultrasonographer, or ultrasound technologist. There are various specialties within the field that include the abdomen, obstetrics and gynecology, vascular, and echocardiography. The sonographer is a key member of the health care team that provides individualized care to a variety of patients utilizing highly technical instrumentation to create and interpret images of the internal organs, tissues, and blood flow. You can find information about ultrasound technician schools in Fishing Bridge below.
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What do Medical Sonographers do?
Sonography is the use of sound waves to generate an image for the assessment and diagnosis of various medical conditions. Though it is most commonly associated with obstetrics, sonography is used as diagnostic aid in many circumstances.
A sonographer is the technician who operates the equipment, called a transducer, and records the results for interpretation by a physician. The process begins with the sonographer talking with the patient and recording any medical history that may be relevant. The sonographer then ultimately uses imaging technology to project a live view of a patients' internal tissue.
Though sonographers are not qualifed to diagnose, they do make preliminary judgments based on the images and select which of these images to show to a physician.
Many sonographers also have clerical duties such as preparing work schedules, evaluating equipment purchases and/or managing a sonography/ultrasound department.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 59 percent of sonographers are employed in hospitals, while the rest work in physicians' offices or diagnostic laboratories. Some sonographers also travel with imaging service providers.
What are the Different Job Titles?
A sonographer is the same thing as an ultrasound tech. There is no difference. In fact, depending on their place of employment and special area of practice, they can also have job titles such as:
- Diagnostic medical sonographer
- Ultrasound technologist
- Ultrasound technician
- Ultrasonographer
- Diagnostic cardiac sonographer
- Cardiac sonographer
- Echocardiographic technician
- Vascular sonographer
How do I Become a Medical Sonographer in Fishing Bridge?
There are multiple avenues to becoming a medical sonographer, including formal education from a college, university, or hospital; technical training at a vocational school; or training in the armed forces in Fishing Bridge. No state requires formal certification for medical sonographers; however, certifying bodies exist, most notably the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS), and many employers prefer certified sonographers because they have been held to a regulated standard. A sonographer can qualify to sit for the exam through formal education or work experience.
If you choose formal education, the types of programs available are:
Associate Degree – These two-year programs are offered at various colleges, and are the most prevalent degree in Fishing Bridge. They also make up the majority of the 150 accredited programs nationwide. Coursework includes anatomy, physiology, instrumentation, physics, patient care, and medical ethics.
Bachelor's Degree – A few four-year sonography training programs exist at colleges and universities in Fishing Bridge, but they are much less common than associate programs. These programs are also accredited.
Vocational Certificate – Some vocational/technical schools offer one-year training programs in sonography in Fishing Bridge, and some employers accept this as sufficient education. This avenue is mainly recommended for professionals who are already employed in the health field and seeking training in ultrasound to increase their marketability. A certificate may not be the best way to get started in the field.
Ultrasound Technician Career Overview in Fishing Bridge
|Required Education
|Associate's degree is most common; certificate and bachelor's degree programs also available
|Professional certification may be required or preferred by some employers
|Projected Job Growth (2013-2022) in Fishing Bridge
|Median Salary (2012)* (Fishing Bridge)
How do I Choose an Ultrasound Technician Program in Fishing Bridge?
Accreditation – The accrediting body for medical sonography programs is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health/Education Programs (CAAHEP). The CAAHEP has accredited 150 programs, including those offered by colleges and universities, as well as some hospital training programs. Though attending an accredited program is not the only way to become a medical sonographer in Fishing Bridge, it does automatically qualify graduates to sit for the certifying exam and is universally recognized by employers.
Admissions Requirements – Make sure to research the admissions requirements of programs that interest you. Vocational, associate and bachelor's programs may specific courses in math, health, and/or sciences.
Career Goals/ Specialization – Because specialization is so common in sonography, be sure that your program of choice offers your desired specialty. Vascular and cardiac sonography are two particularly specialized programs that not all schools offer.
Curriculum – Look over the program curriculum and make sure that yours provides plenty of hands-on experience. Because sonography is a very hands-on, technical profession, this might be the most important part of your education.
What's the Job Market Like?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for diagnostic medical sonographers/ultrasound technologists in Fishing Bridge looks very promising. The projected job growth between 2014 and 2021 is 41% in the United States. (The average job growth projection for all occupations in the U.S. is 14%). This equates to over 23,000 new ultrasound tech jobs within this decade.
Ultrasound Technician Salary
In 2013, the median salary for medical sonographers was $64,523/year in Fishing Bridge, according to the BLS. The BLS adds that the bottom 10% of ultrasound technologists made $49,86492/year, whereas the top 10% made $95,694/year in Fishing Bridge.
Numerous factors contribute to an ultrasound tech's salary. Naturally the more experience you have, generally the more you will make. Certifications and higher education also lead to more advanced or specialized job positions which lead to higher compensation. Where you work also plays a role. For example, the BLS stated that in 2015, ultrasound technologists working in outpatient care centers made more than those in doctor's offices, labs and hospitals. Finally, geographic location is also a factor.
Ultrasound Technician Schools in Nearby Cites :


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There's been much in the recent news about a shortfall in teacher numbers in the UK, with recent figures estimating the shortfall at 30,000.
Additionally, one in four English schools could face operating without a head, deputy or assistant Head Teacher as some senior staff leave the profession early and others are parachuted out to work at academy trusts.
But though it's tough at the top, the Department for Education says more people are entering the teaching profession than leaving it. The same goes for early years provision.
There are myriad ways to break into the sector, from teaching assistant qualifications to recognised childcare courses, maths refreshers to A-levels and child psychology to sign language diplomas.
Always wanted to work with children but don't know where to start? e-Careers has dozens of courses to enhance your skillset, whether you're already a teacher or looking to break into nannying or pre-school provision.
With flexible, cost-effective online learning, there's never been a better time to land your dream job in childcare or primary or secondary education.
Term-time school hours, no marking or lesson planning… a career as a teaching assistant is the perfect way to make a difference in the classroom. While there's no official requirement for a TA to have a vocational qualification, our CPD-certified course will give you a head start on your CV and show you're committed to the job before you get there.
Visit our Teaching Assistant course page to find out more.
Boost your understanding of everything from Asperger's to ADHD and sign language with e-Careers' Special Educational Needs courses. Introductory CACHE-endorsed programmes in recognising and supporting children with SEN to advanced Level 2 SEN diplomas are on offer, along with the opportunity to become an SEN Teaching Assistant, helping children to flourish in a happy classroom environment.
As more and more families are made up of two working parents, pre-school childcare is in demand across the UK from nursery schools to registered childminders. From safeguarding to cultural awareness and best practice for nursery key workers, there are courses for every walk of early years life.
Find out more on our Childcare course pages.
Parents need to know the person they're leaving in charge of their children is capable and trustworthy. And for the nanny, watching children grow, develop and learn in a safe and happy environment can be hugely rewarding. This CACHE-endorsed foundation Introduction to Nannying course is the first step to becoming a professional nanny.
Already a nursery nurse or childcare practitioner? Take the first step to climbing the professional ladder with CACHE-endorsed leadership in the early years, building a team and first-time leadership courses. Even if your step up doesn't come immediately, your new knowledge will help you become more aware of your attitudes and behaviour in a workplace setting, and help you deal with everything from conflict to tricky colleagues.
Unsure which course is best for you? Contact a member of our Sales Team on 0203 198 7700 for more information.
Choose any one from a HP Laptop, Fitbit Versa 2 or Apple Airpods*.*Special terms and conditions apply to certain courses. See product page for details. View Deals


text: seanfingh 42,589 posts Posted April 13, 2019 On 4/10/2019 at 3:18 AM, Dinosaur jr. said: I get that. But your not going to see a qualified 9.2 that is equal to a .5. I look at a lot of comics and I see Blue Labels with pages missing and signatures on them all the time. By CGC's own criteria, their own rules , those should be qualified. Judging by the very low numbers of qualified Silver and Gold books plus the many Blue Labels I see with missing pages and signatures it seems they don't follow their own rules too much. To me its either Green Label them all or don't Green Label any of them. That's just me. This would be a 9.8 in the new Yellow/Green label. http://www.myslabbedcomics.com/GalleryPiece.asp?Piece=22825&GSub=1562 The Green label provides a way to distinguish comics that have unique issues and allow not only the comic to be completely identifiable for its "uniqueness" but also allow the market to decide its value by providing all the available information - including the grade that it would have achieved, but for its "uniqueness." In sum, there are a lot of people who feel the same way that you do about the Green label. But for those who like to appreciate the book as the sum of its parts, especially when there is something different about it, the Green label is very beneficial. 3 Gnasher, oldrover and The Lions Den reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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On April 14, 2014, Yahoo! made some email authentication changes to stop spam. On November 2, 2015, rocketmail.com and ymail.com have also made these changes.
On April 22, 2014, AOL made the same changes that Yahoo! had made, and on June 17, 2015, ZenDesk also made the same change.
Google is expected to makes similar changes for gmail.com on or before June 1, 2016.
Specifically Gmail, Yahoo!, AOL, Zendesk, rocketmail.com, and ymail.com have updated their DMARC record. DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) is used by many major organizations and ISPs to help them identify issues with email authentication abuse. While using DMARC is great for reducing email abuse issues, changes like the one that Gmail, Yahoo!, AOL, Zendesk, rocketmail.com, and ymail.com have made will have a widespread impact on its users.
Why you should use email addresses from your own domain as your From Address
As of this writing, Gmail, Yahoo!, AOL, Zendesk, rocketmail.com, and ymail.com have changed their DMARC authentication standards to a DMARC = reject policy. Based on this information, Gmail, Yahoo!, AOL, Zendesk, rocketmail.com, and ymail.com email addresses cannot be used as your list's "From" address. Once these new standards are adopted, any email campaigns sent with those email addresses in the "From" line will require that AWeber send your campaigns from an alternate email address.
This is not an AWeber-specific issue, these changes impact anyone using an email service provider with a sender address from Gmail, Yahoo!, AOL, Zendesk, rocketmail.com, and ymail.com. So if you use ANY third-party mailing service (such as AWeber or any of our competitors) to send emails for you on behalf they will also need to change the "From" address you send with or your emails will not be delivered.
How AWeber will fix your From Address
If you have a "From" address configured in your account that is one of the many providers now setting a DMARC = reject policy, AWeber will automatically rewrite your outgoing emails to be compliant.
For example, if you were using:
It will be rewritten as:
Note: Your Reply-To address will still be shown as firstname.lastname@example.com.
This rewriting process is automatic, you don't need to take any action for it to happen and it is generally transparent to your subscribers. If you desire to not have your address rewritten, simply change your "From" address to use an email in your own domain name or another email inbox provider which does not have a DMARC = reject policy.
You are able to use the free domain address without any issues moving forward. Your subscribers will see email@example.com as the From Address in their inbox.
If you are receiving subscribers from Gmail, Yahoo!, AOL, Zendesk, Rocketmail.com, or Ymail.com
These changes do not affect subscribers from being added to your mailing list that are using Gmail, Yahoo!, AOL, Zendesk, rocketmail.com, or ymail.com email addresses. They will be able to sign up to your list as usual without any issues.
Why have these DMARC changes been made?
While these changes are reasonably new, it was only a matter of time before they were made. Free email providers have always worked hard to reduce the amount of spam that looks like it is being sent from their networks. They made the DMARC = reject policy change to prevent malicious users from sending spam using their domain and that change also impacted legitimate users like yourself.


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Up until last year, National Dairy Products LLC and Dairy Smart Inc. had a working relationship with Trader Joe's, a company with which some Georgia consumers may be familiar. The specialty grocer allegedly broke its contracts with the two companies. This was the impetus for the breach of contract lawsuit the two companies commenced against Trader Joe's.
The two companies were contracted to assist Trader Joe's in keeping up the standards for which it has become known. National Dairy Products LLC handled tastings and worked with ice cream makers to give Trader Joe's the frozen treats it provides to its customers. The company also handled invoicing, made sure the orders were accurate and received by Trader Joe's in a timely manner and in the correct quantities.
Dairy Smart Inc. acted as a broker for dairy items — such as butter, yogurt and the like — purchased by Trader Joe's for resale to its customers. The lawsuit accuses Traders Joe's of going to its suppliers and telling them that if they wished to continue working with the company, they should stop working with National Dairy and Dairy Smart and work with Trader Joe's directly. The complaint also claims that one supplier was essentially forced to provide Trader Joe's with a significant discount for its products to remain working with the company.
It will be up to the court to determine whether the claims made in the breach of contract complaint are valid, but only after Trader Joe's is given the chance to contest the allegations. Any Georgia company in Trader Joe's position has the right to defend itself against such accusations. Sometimes, the party filing the complaint may have breached the contract first, causing the other party to terminate it.
Source: foodnavigator-usa.com, "Trader Joe's move to cut out the middlemen in dairy supply chain left key vendor & broker "high and dry," says lawsuit", Elaine Watson, July 11, 2014


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Thank you for visiting the Alachua County website. By clicking "Ok" you will be redirected to a non-County maintained website. Alachua County may not be responsible for the content at the site you are about to be linked to.
SHIP Annual Report:
The State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Annual Report for State Fiscal Years 2015-2016 (close out), 2016-2017 (interim) and 2017-2018 (interim) has been drafted and will be available to the public for review and comments between August 10 - August 27, 2018.
A copy of the proposed report will be available for review in the Alachua County Housing Programs' office at 218 SE 24th Street, Gainesville, FL 32641.
For additional information, please contact the Housing Programs Office at 352-337-6240.
You may qualify for up to $7,500 in down-payment and closing cost assistance through the Escambia County Housing Finance Authority.
Homebuyer Education Class Schedule for 2019-2020 lists classes that are being held ar various times through the year.
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Under Florida law (Statute 119.011), all information, including e-mail, written
letters, documents and phone messages, sent to the Alachua County Board of County
Commissioners is subject to Public Records law. This includes the sender's e-mail
address, home address or phone number if shown in the message, the content of the
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correspondence (e-mail) is made available on the Commission's public archive site
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The Irish architect has championed the retrofit of buildings, saying they can be as rewarding as new build, and said architects had a 'huge responsibility' to reduce their carbon impact
O'Donnell was speaking at a packed 'In conversation with …' AJ event, supported by Roca, at the Roca London Gallery last month (22 October) about her experiences of redevelopment and reuse during more than three decades in architecture.
But the co-founder of O'Donnell + Tuomey and winner of the RIBA Royal Gold Medal in 2015 warned against demonising concrete completely in the drive to reduce carbon emissions from construction.
She said her practice, which is backing the AJ's RetroFirst campaign, was looking at reducing the proportion of cement in the concrete it uses, and added that, in terms of whole-life carbon cost, concrete's powerful passive cooling effect should be taken into account.
The aim was not to blur the distinction between the old and new but to make them work together
'We have to keep studying the relationship between whole-of-life costs and energy expended,' she said.
Speaking about her early work, O'Donnell said she was 'deeply influenced' by one of her first projects: the retrofit of an existing building in Dublin into the Irish Film Centre in the late 1980s.
She and business partner and husband John Tuomey spent a lot of time trying to understand the site's specific geometry. 'Our project was working out what we needed to remove for new purposes and what we needed to add,' she said.
The aim was not to blur the distinction between the old and new but to make them work together. 'The new parts should never make the old parts feel embarrassed,' she explained.
Over the next 30 years, her practice worked on many major rebuilds and retrofits, including at University College Cork, St Angela's College in Cork and Central European University in Budapest (pictured below). The firm is currently working on a £23 million extension to Liverpool University's School of Architecture, which includes the revamp of a Georgian terrace and a 1930s block.
Budapest ceu
Source: Tamás Bujnovszky
'One thing I really like about working with old buildings is before you even start the project there's a huge complexity,' O'Donnell said. 'Immersing yourselves in an understanding of every aspect of it is very important.'
Convincing clients and other parties to retrofit is not always easy though. 'A lot of times, people are concerned that they won't get something as good,' she said. 'Funding agencies are quite reluctant as well. It may just be a prejudice people have.'
She believes architects have to make it clear that the final product of a retrofit may not be as 'impressively new' or even that much cheaper than a new build, but that it can still be worthwhile.
O'Donnell supported the idea, promoted in the AJ's RetroFirst campaign, of using taxation to level the playing field. 'People respond to strong messages,' she remarked. 'It seems incomprehensible that VAT is higher on retrofit than new build.'
She said that, where possible, O'Donnell + Tuomey designs existing materials into its projects. The redevelopment of the Central European University, for example, involved the reuse of old bricks.
But when it came to the construction of Saw Swee Hock Student Centre at the London School of Economics, this proved impossible because of the way the bricks had been laid. 'I think that's a pity,' she said, 'the idea that a building that's being demolished is not having another life.'
On a more personal note, O'Donnell spoke about her 'longest ever project': the home she shares with Tuomey in Dublin. The house has been remodelled many times over the years to suit the different stages of their shared life.
'It will always be a work in progress,' said O'Donnell. 'You can keep talking to an old building and it gives you more ideas about what to do. I sometimes think how much richer the world would be if we were to take into account the lives buildings have had before.'
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A Pennsylvania appeals court on Wednesday overturned rapper Meek Mill's 2008 conviction in a drug and gun case that has kept the rapper on probation for a decade and made him a celebrity crusader for criminal justice reform.
On Wednesday, the appeals court ordered a new trial and judge in the case of the Amen rapper.
The unanimous three-judge panel said new evidence that undermines the credibility of the officer who testified against Meek Mill at his trial made it likely he would be acquitted if the case were retried.
READ MORE: Meek Mill claims he was denied entry at 'racist' Las Vegas hotel
City prosecutors have backed the defence bid for a new trial and confirmed they do not trust the officer, who has since left the force and was the only prosecution witness at the 2008 non-jury trial.
The Pennsylvania District Attorney's Office said in a statement that it is pleased the appeals court "validated our position that Robert Rihmeek Williams deserves a new trial before a court that has no appearance of partiality."
Still, District Attorney Larry Krasner said Wednesday his office needs time to decide whether to drop the case and declined to comment further.
The 32-year-old rapper is now free of the court supervision he's been under for most of his adult life.
WATCH: Meek Mill launches drive to reform U.S. prison system
Meek Mill, whose real name is Robert Rihmeek Williams, said he had had trouble notifying probation officers about his travels as required because of the erratic nature of the music industry.
A little more than a year ago, the Issues rapper spent five months in prison over technical violations of his parole.
READ MORE: Meek Mill speaks at rally in his own honour prior to court appearance
"I'd like to thank the Pennsylvania Superior Court judges for their wisdom and transparency in reviewing my case, unanimously overturning my conviction and granting me a new trial," Meek Mill said in a statement.
"The past 11 years have been mentally and emotionally challenging, but I'm ecstatic that justice prevailed."
He continued: "This positive outcome wouldn't have been possible without the support of my family, my attorneys, Jay-Z, Desiree Perez, Michael Rubin, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office and my supporters who have stood with me through the ups and downs.
"Unfortunately, millions of people are dealing with similar issues in our country and don't have the resources to fight back like I did. We need to continue supporting them. I'm committed to working with my team at the Reform Alliance to change these outdated laws and fix our broken criminal justice system."
WATCH: Rapper Meek Mill speaks at rally in his own honour prior to court appearance
Reginald Graham, the officer who wrote the search warrant in Meek Mill's case and testified at his trial, left the Philadelphia Police Department a few years ago after an internal probe found he had stolen money and then lied about it.
The officer testified at trial that Meek Mill pointed a gun at him during his 2007 arrest outside his home in southwest Philadelphia.
The Uptown Vibes rapper, who was 19 at the time, denied pointing a gun at police.
A police colleague who took part in the arrest later said Graham lied about Meek Mill brandishing a gun.
READ MORE: A$AP Rocky charged with assault in Sweden following brawl
"Rather, (he) observed Williams attempt to discard his weapon," President Judge Jack A. Panella wrote in Wednesday's opinion, concluding the new evidence was so strong "that a different verdict will likely result at a retrial."
Panella said: "Williams' right to be tried before an impartial judge is necessary in this case because the trial judge heard highly prejudicial testimony at the first trial, which was a bench trial, and made credibility determinations in favour of a now-discredited witness and against Williams."
Assistant District Attorney Paul George said Graham wouldn't be called at a retrial due to questions about his credibility and because of its "legal, ethical and constitutional obligations."
Graham was investigated, but not charged, by the FBI in a separate corruption probe. The six city drug squad members indicted were all acquitted at a 2015 trial.
The Pennsylvania Superior Court also overturned the trial judge's parole violation findings and, in a rare move, pulled her off the case because "she heard highly prejudicial testimony … and made credibility determinations in favour of a now-discredited witness."
Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley had kept the Intro rapper on probation for 10 years and sent him back to prison for several short stints for violating parole.
He has been called back to court repeatedly over concerns about his travels and, in one instance, his use of painkillers.
READ MORE: Ariana Grande, Kim Kardashian speak out over alleged nude photo scandal
On July 24, Meek Mill tweeted: "I'm not on probation right now… new label deal with jayz!!! Today was lit already."
I'm not on probation right now…new label deal with jayz!!! Today was lit already 🤦🏾♂🤦🏾♂🤦🏾♂🤦🏾♂🤦🏾♂ "wtf GOD" you be acting a fool 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) July 24, 2019
He was making reference to the new record label he's launching in a joint venture with Jay-Z's Roc Nation.
The two rappers celebrated the launch of Dream Chasers Records on Tuesday at the Roc Nation headquarters in New York City, signing contracts at a small press conference and popping champagne to celebrate the partnership.
"Of course, I had offers to do a lot of business with other people, but the relationship we've built from (Roc Nation) believing in me through my whole career, through my ups and downs, and the morals they showed to me and my team when it wasn't in their best interest to have showed it — I feel comfortable going through this right here at home," Meek Mill said.
"We're ready to work. We're just starting the beginning of a new chapter, a new page."
Meek Mill will lead Dream Chasers as president, overseeing the label and staff.
Jay-Z said he and Meek Mill not only bonded musically but in other areas as well.
"His integrity, his honesty, his sense of responsibility," Jay-Z said about Meek Mill. "Everything that he's done leading up to this point, it showed that he can carry that weight for the next generation of people. Everybody can sign some artists, make some money and brag about how hot they are … (but) for us, we look at the big picture. For us, it's way beyond signing hot artists and having a hot record."
'WE CAN REALLY EFFECT CHANGE': @MeekMill launches new label, #DreamChasers, with #Jay-Z's @rocnation for the next generation of artists pic.twitter.com/wWdnlv6ycx
— AP Entertainment (@APEntertainment) July 24, 2019
The pair joined forces earlier this year to form a coalition that lobbies for changes to state probation and parole laws called the Reform Alliance.
"We come from the same neighbourhoods, been through the same things," said Jay-Z, who grew up in the Marcy Projects public housing complex in Brooklyn. "We're some of the few that made it through … (and) that responsibility is not lost on us. We haven't made it to this point just to be like, 'Let's just irresponsibly live our life.' We had fun, don't get me wrong. It's fun, too, but there's a responsibility that we carry for the entire culture."
Send me links if you're 🔥🔥🔥
@ me and @DreamChasers pic.twitter.com/2YKZvtjm8Y
— Meek Mill (@MeekMill) July 24, 2019
Meek Mill added: "Me coming out of prison this time, I signed up for a bigger responsibility. I always felt like I had a responsibility to lead the culture as much as I can. I always say Jay-Z and others that came before me was like a snowplow for people like myself. They made it easier to walk through the snowstorm. I want to continue to be a snowplow for the next generation coming behind me."
The Levels rapper is also set to release a five-episode documentary series on Aug. 9 on Amazon Prime Video titled Free Meek.
Family Ties 🤞🏾 #FreeMeek out on @PrimeVideo 8/9 pic.twitter.com/C1f9zcAyok
— DREAM CHASERS RECORDS (@DreamChasers) July 25, 2019
Free Meek follows his fight for exoneration in his legal case and his work with the Reform Alliance.
—With files from the Associated Press
© 2019 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.


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Reflecting on Connecting
It's strange how it really makes me sad when people don't greet each other. It's as if connection between members of the human race has been lost. The worst is when you greet someone that either ignores you, or mumbles a startled "hello" under their breath. The best is when their eyes light up and a smile emerges from their lips. And sometimes it's not only a "hello" but a "how are you?" Although the answer may be short (and perhaps pointless) that moment of connection is lasting. "Today I met someone real," we'll say, "our human hearts connected and not just our paths".
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My thoughts as I go about visiting interesting places, attending exhibitions and conferences, and the architectural world we live in.


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So, while looking at my blog this morning, I decided it needed a major face lift. And since we have no money right now to spend on a blog re-vamp, I decided to do it on my own - - in between taking care of a sick little 3 year old, hanging/folding the laundry, taking care of a 3 month old, and cleaning up after the little 3 year olds adorable b-day party from last weekend (pics coming soon). Just me, my bff picnik.com, and the new blogger template designer. I came up with this. So . . . yay or nay? Do you like it? Anything you'd change? Would love some feedback. Maybe one day I'll have a professional do it!
Would you guys want a tutorial on how to do this using picnik.com? Let me know if you're interested.


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Especially for beginners and returning sewers. If you're falling in love with sewing -- or already passionate about it -- our Teach Yourself to Sew Video will have you sewing great clothes in no time.
Over two hours of how-to demos. Our experienced Threads editors personally walk you through the fundamentals, from threading your machine or attaching the final button. In easy-paced video segments, you'll see up close exactly how each step is done and understand why.
More than information. What makes this video so special is that along with how-to information, it also offers insight into the basics. How stitches are formed by your machine. Why woven fabrics differ from knits. When you need to press seams. Plus, it helps you see all the creative options for expressing your own personal style when sewing, for example, your very own bias-strip scarf.
Brushing up your skills. For returning sewers, this video is the place to go any time you want to be sure you're proceeding correctly. The timeless contents provide a solid foundation for building on the basics and going on to new challenges.
Your trusted guide to sewing. At last, everything you need to start sewing is in one handy place. Teach Yourself to Sew provides a complete course in mastering the basics.
Read what people say about Teach Yourself to Sew:
'I think this is a great idea. [I'm] learning to sew again after many years of forgetting some rules of how to sew.'
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'Teach Yourself to Sew' is a revelation and definitely not just for beginners!'
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Apartments Ivan Peric - Lopar 529
Lopar is a vivid town on the north of the island and from the city of Rab is 14 km far away. It's a hometown of the founder of the Republic of San Marino in Italy- the stonemason Marin. If You came in Lopar from the direction of the city of Rab the first monument in which You will run to is exactly the one dedicated to him. In his honour the touristic village and the camping have it's name "San Marino".
The island of Rab is situated in the northern Adriatic Sea as part of the Kvarner archipelago. Besides the old town of Rab, there are 7 more places on the island: Lopar, Supetarska Draga, Banjol, Barbat, Palit, Kampor, Mundanije. There are about 9 000 inhabitants living on the island. The local people are involved in organized tourism for more than 120 years, and accompanying activities such as fishery, stock breeding, olive growing, wine making, ship building, etc. The first and foremost factor that enabled the development of tourism in the island was the pleasant Mediterranean climate, the main features of which are warm summers and mild winters.


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Open Mon-Fri
Closed for lunch:
Key-drop available
Matt's Greenwood Auto Care, Inc.
Your Trusted Home For Japanese Auto Repair
Since 1998 Matt's Greenwood Auto Care has been Seattle's certified one-stop shop for automotive repair, factory scheduled maintenance, brakes, oil changes, air conditioning service and much more. Recognized as the area's premier Japanese car specialists.
Our Master Techs are equipped-with and trained-on the latest Computer Diagnostic equipment and our techs are State Certified to perform emissions repairs. Visit either of our locations today and you'll receive top-tier car care, that's guaranteed!
Learn More About Matt's Greenwood Auto Care:
We service Honda, Acura, Toyota, Lexus, Scion, Subaru, Mazda, Nissan, Infiniti, Isuzu, Hyundai and Kia.
We are closed for lunch Monday - Friday 12:00PM - 1:00PM
©2020, Matt´s Greenwood Auto Care, Inc.


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50 Reasons For Being a Homeopath' is a lovely little book. It consists of 50 letters from the famous homeopathic doctor J. Compton Burnett to a young skeptic 'Dr T.A.K' & was written around 1888. It still shines with truth today.
Part 15:
You need not be so angry at my last reason; I did no make Arnica grow in the world; I did not endow it with the power of causing erysipelas; and I did not discover the therapeutic law in question; I just use this law in order to cure my patients, even as I use the useful invention known as a spoon wherewith to partake of my broth. With me it is merely a means to an end; there is no hocus-pocus about it.
Just as I was writing you my last reason for being a homeopath, I was suddenly summoned by telegraph to a very severe case of quinsy. I hastened to the suffering damsel, and found that various remedies had been used in vain, and the patient was in great distress, having been for twelve hours unable to swallow even a few drops of fluid. Not even the juice of one grape would pass, and some operative interference seemed absolutely imperative.
I gave five grains of the third centesimal trituration of a remedy you may not be acquainted with, but which the heterodox homeopaths quaintly call Baryta carbonica, and which is now generally known as the Carbonate of Barium. In about a dozen hours the patient ate a basin of bread and milk. I have often cured quinsies before in the same way and I beg you to believe that the little trick has been done thousands of times by others, and though no clinical tip of mine, it nevertheless must serve you as my fifteenth reason – and not a bad one either, as said damsel would gratefully bear witness.


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MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The disease often goes undetected until it's too late for the women who get it, but groundbreaking research at the University of Minnesota could mean ovarian cancer is discovered much earlier.
As part of our Trees of Hope, WCCO is highlighting the work the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance, or MOCA, is doing in our community.
This time we're looking at how the money the organization raises goes to research.
WCCO found one professor's personal connection to the cancer she's fighting to protect future generations from.
Whether running a test in her lab or finishing up her latest report, Professor Amy Skubitz has found her life's work.
"It was really when my mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. So it was around 1982," Skubitz said.
A graduate student at the time, Skubitz had planned for a career in medicine. Still, she didn't know that her mother's stage-three diagnosis gave her less than a 50/50 chance of survival.
"It was not good news, but I at the time didn't know what the statistics were. I didn't realize how bad it was." Skubitz said.
Her mother's fight eventually led her to two decades of studying ovarian cancer at the University of Minnesota.
"The key is really to detect it really early on," Skubitz said.
Right now, just 20 percent of ovarian cancer cases are diagnosed before it spreads beyond the ovaries.
But, through routine pap tests, Skubitz's study is starting to establish a pattern, trying to find if there is a constant release of cancerous cells.
Right now, 120 volunteers are helping with the study. They all have been identified as at risk or past ovarian cancer patients.
"The goal of the project is to identify ovarian cancer biomarkers in the normal pap test that's always done routinely," Skubitz said.
Doctors recommend women have a pap test every three years to detect cervical cancer.
The U of M believes Skubitz's study could be five to 10 years away from also finding ovarian cancer.
Peter Argenta is the Gynocologic Oncology Division Director
"To get the additional benefit of this knowledge from something that you're already doing anyway would really be a tremendous advantage," Argenta said.
Over the last 10 years, the Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance has granted Skubitz more than $700,000 to continue her work.
The work she still does for her mom, who lived 28 years after beating the disease.
"Very lucky. I just think it was a miracle, really," Skubitz said.
MOCA says 400 women in Minnesota are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year.
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Introduction: Sit / Stand Pallet Box Desk
Last year I moved into a small apartment which didn't have a desk. It
was a temporary arrangement (probably for 3 months), so I didn't want to spend too much on furniture. I came across a pallet box ... and decided to build a desk out of it. I had some back pain, so the requirements were to be able to use it as a Stand-Up desk and a Sit Down desk.
Step 1: Find a Pallet Box
The first step after finding the box was to figure out the appropriate height and dimensions. For about $50 I build the desk using:
- Pallet box
- White Spray Paint
- Duck Tape
- Cardboard boxes
- Small Angle brackets
- Gorilla Glue
Step 2: Preparing the Box
The next step was to remove the wooden structure at the bottom of the box (otherwise it would have been a little too high). We took out out all the nails with a hammer and pliers and then used two of the wooden boards in the pallet to reinforce the inside of the box.
Step 3: Wheels, Keyboard / Screen Tray, Footrest and Height
I screwed 4 small wheels to the cardboard and onto the inner wooden boards. When standing, the keyboard was too low, so I built a little raised tray to put the keyboard. It was all made with cardboard, glue and 4 angle brackets screwed directly onto the cardboard.
Step 4: Finished Desk
The table was pretty versatile. You could use it with a screen, a laptop, a chair, a stool, or standing. Having to rearrange the footrest / table was also a good excuse to change position and move around avoiding the same position for too many hours. Eventually I moved out of that house and will soon give the table away for free. I also cut a couple of holes to be able to hold all the cables inside the box and keep the desk and space tidy.
Participated in the
Reclaimed Wood Contest 2016


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This week's releases largely include bug fixes.
Changes to product usage information
Information on purchased products and seat usage is no longer available directly within the application. To review your products and seats, please contact Replicon. A product specialist will work with you to ensure optimal product use.
Fixed issues
An error may occur when deleting a time off booking.
When the user sorts the rows on the Standard timesheet, the sort order is not always being saved.
On the Billing > Billing Summary page, hours entered against fixed bid projects are being included in the Time & Material column.
When editing another user's expenses, payroll and billing managers are not able to override mileage rates or exchange rates.
When you click on a client in the Billing > Billing Summary page, the client's billing details may not load if billing rates have recently changed.
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Google Maps now lets you preview international travel with images of airports, rail/subway stations
Google Street is well-known for whisking people across the world to any location from the comfort of their computer screens — you can visit Venice, the Galapagos Islands and beyond — but it's added a new practical use: helping you preview international travel.
From today, Google Maps features a range of international transit locations, including 16 airports, more than 50 train and subway stations and even details of a cable car station in Hong Kong and the inside of an Emirates A380 plane at Dubai Airport.
Google Maps is already a well-used tool for planning travel — across both short and long distances — so adding images to help users familiarize themselves with their points of transit makes a lot of sense, and is likely to be welcomed by many.
This interactive map shows where the new locations are situated. Right now, there are plenty of gaps but, as ever with Street View imagery, we can expect it to get more comprehensive and useful as Google's coverage spreads to new locations and regions:
➤ Take off for the holidays with Google Street View [Google Maps blog]
Image via Thinkstock
Read next: Google invites developers to purchase Glass as it woos them to create purpose-built apps
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text: Have been a professional writer of science fiction, mysteries and "techno-thrillers" since the 70's, and served as an Army reporter in Vietnam. I have five previous novels published, "Houndstooth" and "A Game of Titans" in hardcovers by Prentice-Hall with foreign editions in Great Britain and Japan, and "The Gods of Cerus Major" in hardcover by Doubleday, and original paperbacks "Morlac: The Quest of the Green Magician" and "Death Hunt on a Dying Planet" by Signet/New American Library. Also a number of stories published in magazines and anthologies, and more than 900 newspaper articles in Community Newspapers.