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Earning £1,000 a month might not make you feel rich, but 90% of the people on the planet are poorer than you. Craig Borlase asks us what life in this bubble is doing to us.
I live in a bubble. Not a real one, you understand, but a virtual one kept in place by a culture that keeps me safe from things that I'd rather not face. Like poverty. Like hunger. Like images of starving children using their last breath to plea for help. My bubble lets me change the channel quickly and grab another treat from the fridge.
And here's what I hate about the bubble: my faith says it shouldn't be there at all. My beliefs tell me that it's not right that all 60 million of us in the UK have access to clean drinking water while three quarters of those in Ethiopia don't. I know there's something wrong when one in three children in the UK live in poverty. It can't be right when the doorway of my favourite junk food retailer is the bed of choice for so many homeless.
Of course I don't like the bubble, and I'm constantly fighting my way out. What helps most is joining the dots between the past and the present. A couple of millennia ago Jesus said that 'a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions' [Luke 12:15]. I need to constantly ask if my life shows that I believe this. Am I living it out loud when I'm stuffing my face on food I've no room for? Am I proof of its reality when I'm dreaming about the next Must Have Toy that I want so badly? Does my integrity look a little thin when my worship fails to match up to my lifestyle?
And this is where it all gets vital. If I'm really going to sing those songs, to tell God of my devotion and desire to be one of those living sacrifices, then I'd better not get too cosy in the bubble. If not, we end up like the worshippers that God had something to say to through the prophet Isaiah.
There they were, doing what they were convinced was all the right stuff - praying, fasting, worshipping and all that - but God didn't seem to be listening. 'Why have we fasted,' they complained, 'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?' [Isaiah 58:3]
Finally they got their answer.
Firstly God questioned their integrity. He said that their words just didn't match their lifestyle:
'…on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarrelling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.' [Isaiah 58: 3-5]
We need check ourselves out too. Does the way we shop, the way we dress, the way we bank contribute to or combat the injustice we sing about? Which screams loudest to God, my words or my actions?
Actions really do speak louder, more than any heartfelt song. He made it clear precisely what he was after when he addressed the Israelites:
'Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?' [Isaiah 58:6-7]
Without the action, the practical acts of kindness and mercy, we settle back into our bubble. Our words stay there with us.
Finally the words given to Isaiah reveal just how close the relationship is between our worship of God and our lifestyle. What God wants from us is a life-long commitment to worship him and in doing so to love others. He wants more than the words that say how we want to do the good stuff, he wants to actually see it all put into action too. God wants us to step out of the bubble and start to live for something other than our own satisfaction. He wants us to live beyond our own wish-lists. He wants us to:
'…spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday….you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.' [Isaiah 58:10-12]
Inside the bubble it's all about me: my wants, my needs, my aims and ambitions. Outside it's all about Him: His desire for an army of people that choose worship that is simple, plain and effective because it is fair, right, impartial, honest, honourable, righteous, moral, and truthful. Outside the bubble you can hear the sounds and see the sights of a type of worship that makes a difference to him, to us, for others and for good. Outside the bubble the air is cleaner. And I've heard the view is pretty good there too.
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On this episode, we interview worship leader and songwriter, Dustin Smith, about his vision for The Healing Project, his move to Nashville, and much more!
WAW Podcast: Dealing with Difficult People On Your Ministry Team - Benji Cowart
Sometimes it's the sound guy, sometimes it's the drummer, sometimes it's YOU...we all deal with difficult people on the team. Worship leader, Benji Cowart, shares insights on dealing with difficult people on your team. Watch or listen below...
How Can You Learn Contentment?
I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty...


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Who else remembers this book when they were at school? Perfect book for your Relief Teaching Bag!
The lovely teacher of the unruly Room 207, Miss Nelson, goes missing & is replaced by the meanest substitute teacher ever, Miss Swamp! What will the class do? How will they get their teacher back?
Activities to go with 'Miss Nelson is Missing':
– Venn Diagram comparing Miss Nelson & Miss Swamp
– Missing person poster for Miss Nelson
– Students write own version about where THEIR teacher is that day
– Write classroom rules for Room 207 & create a poster displaying these rules

subset: commoncrawl


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- Income Investing
Return of 3%? Treasury Yields Spike as Payrolls Rattle Investors
- Order Reprints
- Print Article
Friday started with good news—a better than expected jobs report—that was bad news for the bond market. Bond prices, which move inversely to their yields, fell fast in the morning, while the yield on the 10-year Treasury Note hit a four-year high of 2.84%.
Fast job growth and higher wages are sparking fears that the economy could overheat, leading to inflation and faster interest rate hikes by the Fed.
This isn't a new trend. Yields have been heading higher for weeks, but the jobs report appears to have accelerated the anxiety in the market. The 10-year has been spiking this year, rising 31 basis points in January, its fastest growth since November 2016. The 10-year yield has been below 3% for four years. Investors pay particularly close attention to 10-year yields because they are sold in auctions that offer a clear view of investor expectations for economic growth and interest rates.
It's not just treasuries that are moving. ETFs that track corporate bonds have been slumping too, with the Vanguard Intermediate Term Corporate Bond ETF (VCIT) slipping 2.1% since the start of the year. It doesn't sound like much, but that ETF has traded in a tight range for years. The iShares 20+ Year Treasury Bond ETF (TLT), which is more sensitive to rising rates, has dropped 5.7% this year, with 3.2% of that decline occurring this week alone. And no one can miss the fact that rising bond yields have sunk stocks as well: The Dow Jones Industrial Average has tumbled 305.80 points, or 1.2%, to 25,880.91.
Investors will be paying particularly close attention to statements by Fed members in the coming weeks, as new Chairman Jerome Powell gets set to take over from Janet Yellen.


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Get Your Free Audiobook
Following the Equator
Publisher's Summary
This vivid chronicle of a sea voyage on the Pacific Ocean displays Twain's eye for the unusual, his wide-ranging curiosity, and his delight in embellishing the facts. The personalities of the ship's crew and passengers, the poetry of Australian place-names, the success of women's suffrage in New Zealand, an account of the Sepoy Mutiny, and reflections on the Boer War as an expression of imperialistic morality, among other topics, are the focus of his wry humor and redoubtable powers of observation.
Following the Equator is an evocative and highly unique American portrait of 19-century travel and customs.
More from the same
What listeners say about Following the Equator
- Arkent
- 10-06-14
One of Mark Twain's least characteristic books
Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Written at a time when Mark Twain was troubled by the recent death of his favorite daughter, severe financial problems, and concerns about his own health, this book is very different from his earlier travel books.It draws heavily on other writers' books, to which Mark Twain adds his own comments. These are often humorous, but humor is not the book's chief attraction.The book offers fascinating descriptions of Australia, New Zealand, British India, and South Africa during the 1890s and is worth reading for that reason alone.
What aspect of Michael Kevin's performance would you have changed?
In general, Kevin's performance is fine. However, his ability to pronounce unfamiliar names and words breaks down toward the end of the book. How is it possible that a professional reader pronounces "uitlander" oot-land-er? More incredible, he pronounces the simple German name "Beit" (as in English "bite") "bee-it"! His pronunciation of African names is generally shaky, but pronouncing "Matabele" (mah-tah-bay-lay) "MAH-tab-u-lah" is over the top.As one well familiar with that word, I winced painfully every time Kevin botched the pronunciation. Hearing such gaffes once is bad enough, but when they are repeated,they become unbearable.One would think a professional reader would do better.
Could you see Following the Equator being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?
No. Why are such questions even being asked here? Is it necessary to dumb down everything on the web?
Any additional comments?
In the absence of any other recording of FOLLOWING THE EQUATOR, Michael Kevin's version is perfectly acceptable. I'm sure I'll listen to it again some time.
4 people found this helpful
- Doug
- 27-05-10
The way it used to be...
This book is not quite as good as The Innocents Abroad, which is another Twain travel book, but it is nevertheless interesting. Twain as always gives us humor, and he gives us interesting details of life in the places he visits...the callous disregard for the lives of others, casual murder for the thrill of it, is described in detail regarding India, the scene of the awful events.
You will be entertained, and you will be surprised at the way of life in other countries a century ago. And you will hope that some of it has changed since then.
3 people found this helpful
- John
- 26-07-17
Ticks all the boxes.
A masterpiece from a wonderful storyteller full of great yarns. Reader is perfect!
You can open this book up at virtually any page and listen to an ineresting tale told with wit and intelligence. One of my all time favourite books.
1 person found this helpful
- Tad Davis
- 07-02-11
Twain's last tour
Michael Kevin does a great job narrating Mark Twain's last travel book. Twain had gone bankrupt and needed to go on a world-wide lecture tour to recover financially. Here he recounts the journey to San Francisco, and from there to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa. As usual, he throws in a good bit of history with the kind of local color he had a brilliant eye for. On the whole, though, it's a less interesting effort than some of Twain's other travel books, mainly because he's less visible as a character. (Some people would consider that an advantage, but I missed him.)
1 person found this helpful
- Menachem Rath
- 21-06-17
A bit of a headache
The narrator's voice was a headache when combined with Twain's writing style. Not again please.
- David
- 11-10-16
Great travelers manifesto
Twain writes about his experiences with a multitude of different cultures and how much he enjoys their differences from America. A must read for any traveler!
- Suraj
- 22-02-16
In this fantastic book Mark Twain chronicles his voyage around the world in a most entertaining fashion.
There is a high level of sarcasm and some excellent exaggerations, making for great storytelling.
I also enjoyed hearing about his encounters with places over 100 years ago, making this a historical travel journal as well.
Well read by the narrator, and I can recommend this title.


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Deciding exactly what the main theme which will be implemented which can suit the homeowner fashion and make the occupant or the guest comfortable there is extremely important to do. When the theme was decided, it will be very easy to select proper colour to match the theme. But, drum table for sale will depend on the imagination and style matching in order to get best layout for cooking and looking.
Deciding on drum table for sale is definitely an enormous obstacle. When distance is not on our side, there are so many things we've to think to make the table appears and functions wonderfully. Here are some layout models for smaller table which accent the major role of the place for a location for cooking. Galley table is extremely efficient since it's designed only for cooking. It is best to design the galley to become offered on either side to increase the airy feeling. But one other facet is fine as long as you insert a window at the left aspect for extra gentle.
An average of, one-wall table layout is applied for small table area. The top and lower cupboards, fridge, sink, and cooker in order are put into one row pertaining to to the code along with safety consideration. The constrained spaces are sometimes difficult in foods preparation, however give a simple time for attaining cooking tools or ingredients at the cabinets.
For decorative things on drum table for sale, simply put small vase with single flower so that you still can speak and confront each other across the vase.
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similar topics: antique drum table for sale, bass drum table for sale, cable drum table for sale ebay


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Hello friends,
A card to share for the new challenge at Double D Challenges. The theme for our two weekly challenge this time is "June Wedding" with a color combo of blue and coral/peach. It does not have to be a wedding card…just use the colors! For more information about the challenge and the prize up for grabs visit the Double D Challenge blog and start creating – we would love to see your card this fortnight.
I always love to make cards in the shabby style and the inspiration tile just fits this style perfectly. I used several layers of distressed paper for the base of the card. As background for the flower bouquet I used an Impression Obsession stamp "Wooden plank". For a bit of extra shabbiness I add a Marianne Design Creatables die cut doily and vintage lace. To finish off I added pretty flowers in different shades of blue and coral, white sprigs, a flower border, gemstone hearts and a bow. The sentiment is a Penny Black creative die " For you".
I entered my card in the following challenges:
- 613 Avenue Create Challenge #178 (ends 06/05) – Anything Goes
- Crafty Friends Challenge #32 (ends 06/04) – Summertime
- A Beautiful Mess Challenge #3 (ends 06/30) – Anything Goes
- Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge #164 (ends 06/02) – Dies and/or Punches
- Aud Sentiments Challenge #156 (ends 06/09) – Anything Goes + A Sentiment
- Die Cuttin Divas Challenge #268 (ends 06/07) – Anything Goes with Die-Cuts (I used Marianne Design Creatables die "Doily" (LR0269) ; Penny Black Creative die "For You" (51-105) ; Tattered Lace die "Starlight Oval" for twigs (D610))
- ScrapyLand Challenge #43 (ends 06/12) – Anything Goes using any brand of die that Scrapy Land sells (Dies used: Penny Black Creative die "For You" (51-105) ; Tattered Lace die "Starlight Oval" for twigs (D610))
The flowers
The sentiment
A peep at the inside
Project details:
- White and blue card-stock
- Impression Obsession Cover-a-Card stamp"Wooden plank" (CC177)
- Marianne Design Creatables die "Doily" (LR0269)
- Penny Black Creative die "For You" (51-105)
- Tattered Lace die "Starlight Oval" for twigs (D610)
- Lace
- Gemstone hearts
- Paper flowers
- Hug Snug seam binding "Flower Blue"
- Tim Holtz distress ink "Vintage photo"
There is more inspiration over at Double D Challenge blog! I hope you like today's creation. Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!


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We advertise on-campus jobs for over 100 College departments and many area employers.
Student Employment assists students in finding jobs - either through Work-Study or Temporary Services. More than 2,300 students find all types of jobs each year, and they collectively earn more than $2.9 million.
Eagle Connect
Eagle Connect is a database of ALL on-campus, off-campus, internships & full & part-time jobs. To get started:
- Choose the jobs of interest to you
- Contact each employer individually - you may be asked to interview, or submit an application and/or resume.
If you apply for financial aid and you check off that you are interested, you are automatically considered for a form of aid called Federal Work-Study. If eligible, a dollar amount will appear on your financial aid letter. Work-Study provides an opportunity to work and earn up to the amount of your "award."
Two-thirds of the students hired each year do not receive Work-Study. If you are in this category, visit Eagle Connect for a listing of non-Work-Study jobs. Remember that, since any Brockport student is eligible to apply, jobs are competitive. There are approximately 8,600 students on campus and all are eligible to apply.


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Policy to Allow Those 21 and Older to Drink in Fraternity Houses
COLUMBIA - MU fraternity presidents passed a policy a few days ago that will allow those 21 and older to possess and consume alcohol in fraternity houses starting next August.
Fraternities previously did not allow alcohol on their premises, and this new policy still does not allow communal alcohol like kegs or large packs of beer. A fraternity also must meet certain academic, conduct and risk managemet standards before it can be considered a "damp" house. Alumni boards, house owners and national fraternity councils also may have a hand in whether a particular house will adopt the policy.
One of the biggest parts of the policy, though, is the effect it is supposed to have on curtailing underage drinking. Third party auditors will begin doing random, unannounced checks at houses to make sure fraternities comply with the new rules. Auditors will check common areas and for any signs of alcohol consumption like loud music or yelling. They will then file a report with Greek Life which will take the matter from there.


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Blues Hog Original BBQ SAuce is a thick, gourmet sauce made from all-natural ingredients that "sticks to your meat" and has a "sweet with the right amount of heat" attitude! Voted "Best Baste on the Planet" and People's Choice at the prestigious American Royal. Excellent on pork, beef, wild game, fish, hot wings, mixed with ground meats, veggies, and especially on ribs. One Pint.
Posted by Linda Lavigne on Jan 30th 2017
Tastes great


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by Eric Suchyta
As we've seen throughout previous postings, a day in the life of a physicist can be quite different from one physicist to another, depending on what kind of physics you do. However, there are a number of skills that are generally useful and applied everyday across various disciplines. One such craft is computer programming. If you're not too familiar with computer programming, the idea is pretty simple. You write out a specific set of instructions, and then you tell your computer to go do these actions. Just like humans speak different languages, there are many different programming languages, each of which has its own strengths and weaknesses. Programming in each language will look a little different, but at the end of the day they're all aimed at basically the same thing, helping you tell your computer what to do.
Computer programming is useful to physicists for a variety of reasons. For one, the problems that physicists attempt to solve are often very sophisticated, maybe so much so that a pen and paper solution alone isn't even possible. In such cases we turn to a computer to implement calculations we couldn't feasibly carry out ourselves. Also, scientific datasets can be enormous, and often times we need to repeat the same types of analyses over various sets of data. Humans quickly tire of doing the same task over and over again, but computers love to do this and are much faster at it than we are. Computer programs are even written to control the instruments themselves when scientists are taking their data. Some instruments are sufficiently complex that attempting to control each moving part without the aid of computer programs would be utterly impossible. Take a look below at the picture of the Compact Muon Solenoid (CMS), one of the detectors at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). The LHC accelerates protons to extraordinary energies, and this awe-inspiring detector analyzes what is produced following a collision of these high energy protons. Notice how puny the person (not me) looks compared to the size of it. Can you imagine attempting to operate something like this without computer assistance?
If I tried to share all the ways OSU faculty and students use programming in their lives we would be here for days, so I'll limit the scope. Two examples that I find particularly fascinating include biophysicists modeling exactly how DNA functions, and condensed matter physicists moving tiny beads in a controlled way through a magnetic field, which you can watch for yourself in this YouTube video. For the rest of this post I'll be sharing my story, focusing on some of the kinds of computer programs I've been writing.
My area of specialization is astronomy; I work on a project called The Dark Energy Survey. If you've read the post by Ken Patton, I do the same kind of science he does. In short, we take lots of images of the sky with an enormous digital camera attached to a telescope, and then analyze the images in order to learn what the Universe is doing on scales roughly 100,000 times larger than the Milky Way. For a more thorough explanation, I invite you to see our project website or follow this blog written by one of our scientists. My work for the project has been twofold, writing software for controlling our instruments so that we can efficiently carry out our survey, and writing analysis software that uses our recently acquired data to make meaningful measurements. In both cases, I'm doing loads of computer programming. It'd take me a bit too long to adequately describe my analysis software, so I'll focus on the instrumental side.
We have a very sophisticated camera, and I was responsible for writing applications to control a few of its components. Today I'll mention two, called the filter changing mechanism and the hexapod.
The filter changing mechanism does exactly what its name says; it changes filters. Our camera has six filters to choose from. Each filter allows the camera to see only one specific color of light, everything else is absorbed. In astronomy, it is useful to look at the individual colors of the sky as separate images because no two images look the same, and the differences give us clues about what we're seeing. I've included a picture of the filter changer. The cartoon version illustrates how it moves the different color filters into the opening, and the frame directly above that is a picture of the real filter changer itself. To get a sense of how big these filters actually are, look at the next picture comparing the size of this opening to the size of a person. (Again, I'm not in the picture.) The scale of our camera is a bit larger than your everyday digital camera to say the least!
The hexapod is a system of six "legs" for precisely adjusting the focus of our images. Again, I included a picture of it (in which I don't appear). Despite its massive size, it controls movement of the surface atop those legs with extreme accuracy. This is where we place our camera, so we can make small adjustments to get the most crisp looking images possible. To see a much smaller hexapod in action, you can watch this YouTube video. You can see what I'm talking about at 1:43 into the clip.
Writing programs for such precise and very expensive equipment seemed a bit of a daunting task at first. Before starting the project I had only had limited programming experience, and had never written anything in Python, the particular language used throughout the work. In fact, I had never programmed anything before learning some basics in my undergraduate physics courses. Yet when all was said and done, writing the programs for the camera turned out to be completely manageable. The instrument has been tested, and much to my delight, what I wrote works! I'm not quite sure how to explain it, but when you talk to those with programming experience (myself included), there's a consensus for noticing a genuine feeling of satisfaction when you successfully run a program that you wrote yourself, even if it's a very simple program. This feeling is one of the things I look forward to daily at work. My experiences have also dispelled any misconceptions that I may have had about computer programming. I assumed it would have been much harder to get the hang of it than it actually was. With a little effort, anyone can learn to program and open the door to all the applications it affords. I wish I had learned sooner!
Want to Learn More about Programming?
Although I was taught a small amount of programming in college, the vast majority of what I have learned is self taught. Introductory programming help is widely accessible online, and this is how many aspiring scientists get started. I highly encourage you to go this route if you feel inclined. Googling "<insert programming language here> beginner tutorial" will bring back endless results. A few programming languages commonly used today include C++, Java, and Python. Here is one website that I know of which offers interactive tutorials. Another package which introduces you to programming concepts through 3D graphical movement is called ALICE, and is available for free download.
About Eric Suchyta
I am entering my fourth year as a PhD student in physics at THE Ohio State University, where I also did my undergraduate degree in physics. I'm a diehard fan of my local sports teams (Buckeyes, Blue Jackets, Crew, USA soccer), and enjoy playing sports and keeping active in my free time. I'm into metal music, and I've been known to grow a beard every now and then. I also happen to be an identical twin. I'm still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. You can find me on the Twitterverse with handle @eric_suchyta.


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This picture appeared in the August 1990 issue of The Face in an article called A Raver's Guide To Europe. It shows Andrew Weatherall at Pacha, Ibiza, hard at work doing research for Screamadelica and Morning Dove White.
Looking at the late 80s/early 90s there's a point when Balearic (an eclectic mix of records you could dance to that all fitted in with a certain vibe) turned into piano house and then chill out, i.e. people making records with a specific sounds and feel deliberately to evoke those Balearic feelings, the tail wagging the dog maybe. Piano house and chill out both quickly became debased currencies. This record from 1990 by Voice Of Africa skirts around that fine line, with the Keep On Moving drum sample and the tinkling piano line. Very close to the line.
The Voice Of Africa record is a million miles from Balearica of The Woodentops, Fini Tribe, The Residents and Nitzer Ebb (not that any of those bands knew they were making Balearica at the time). Nitzer Ebb's Join In The Chant is a much tougher animal.
Filed under: andrew weatherall, nitzer ebb, the face, voice of africa | Leave a comment »


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Though fans wait with baited breath for Slaughterhouse to finally sign to Shady Records, Joe Budden has revealed that the two camps are busy recording in the studio.
Via his JoeBuddenOffTV youtube channel, Budden spoke about a new track Slaughterhouse is recording with Shady.
"I feel like it's not fair, because he can do so many different things with his voice," said Budden (presumably of Eminem), recording from the studio, while an unnamed beat played in the background. "Everybody did they verse already. Em did his verse first, Royce heard it first, did his second, then Crook did his, and them Em rewrote his."
"Joell's is done," continued Budden, who added incredulously, "but I think he might be rewriting his."
"It wouldn't be as difficult to do a song with Jay-Z, because he's just an incredible rapper," explained Joe. "Eminem, he can give you 20 different voices, he can to 20 million different things in a verse. It's not really about incredible rapping with him. I think I'm an incredible rapper; I put my rapping up against anybody else's rapping. But it's more than rapping with Eminem."


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Al Tayer endorses B2G initiative
Al Tayer group has become only the sixth company to sign a deal with Dubai Customs to allow bulk processing of imports into the emirate.
Al Tayer group has become only the sixth company to sign a deal with Dubai Customs to allow bulk processing of imports into the emirate.
The memorandum of understanding, which was signed at GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK, is the culmination of an agreement between the two organisations in March to allow Al Tayer direct access to submit shipping declarations to the government body's customs system Mirsal 2.
"Launching the B2G initiative comes as part of the department's continuous development of eServices provided to clients and in line with the corporate directives towards completing customs declarations electronically," says Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Executive Director of Client Management Division at Dubai Customs.
According to Dubai Customs, the main benefits of the agreement are the time saved by being able to submit custom declarations in batches – allowing Al Tayer to avoid frequent trips to the customs department – as well as the removal of inefficiencies, such as human error and large paper trails.
"Al Tayer Group is pleased to join [Dubai Custom's] B2G initative," says Khalid Ahmed Al Tayer, who was representing the group at the signing. "We believe that this service will enhance efficiency in our logistics supply chain. B2G helps simplify procedures significantly and enables us to track and trace submitted declarations. We have successfully completed structuring and linking our IT systems to B2G and Mirsal 2 with the help of Dubai Customs."


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New York Times | By David W. Dunlap | December 6, 2016
In 1962, the architect Eero Saarinen's Trans World Flight Center at Kennedy International Airport seemed poised to ascend, its 310-foot-wide concrete wings flexed in hopeful upstroke as a memorable symbol of the globe-girdling Trans World Airlines.
There was just one problem.
"It was functionally obsolete the day it opened," Tyler Morse, the chief executive and managing partner of MCR Development, said. He is also an avid student of the building, an official New York City landmark, inside and out.
Designed by Mr. Saarinen when the propeller-driven, triple-tailed Lockheed Constellation ruled the skies, the flight center opened at the dawn of commercial jet aviation. Its check-in and baggage-handling capacities were quickly taxed by Boeing 707 jetliners, and then simply overwhelmed by jumbo Boeing 747s.
Unsympathetic expansions were made to the terminal building, called the headhouse, between 1967 and 2000. It closed in 2001, after American Airlines acquired the crippled T.W.A., and has stood largely empty ever since.
For one brief shining moment, however, the flight center was an embodiment of the jet age.
That is the moment Mr. Morse seeks to recapture in his plans to revive the building as the public entrance — with reception desk, restaurants, a nightclub, event space and a food court — leading to a new two-building, six-story, 505-room hotel in the crescent-shaped area between the Saarinen landmark and JetBlue's Terminal 5.
He even plans to call his $265 million project the TWA Hotel.
Inside the Trans World Flight Center, water would bubble again in Isamu Noguchi's green marble fountain in the Ambassador Lounge, softly masking the tik-a-tik-a-tik-a-tik-a-tik chatter of a Solari di Udine split-flap display board announcing flight departures and arrivals from an orchidlike sculptural pedestal.
An L1649A Constellation would be parked outside the sweeping window wall that once overlooked Runway 4 Left/22 Right and Runway 13 Left/31 Right, air stairs at the ready. "It will look like the Connie has just pulled up," Mr. Morse said, envisioning the scene.
Two luminous, gently arching tubes that guided passengers to their waiting aircraft would be used to connect the flight center, the hotel buildings and Terminal 5. "We really want to activate these so that everybody has a chance to use them," Mr. Morse said in April, as he led a couple of visitors over the chili-pepper-red carpet in the tubes.
The hotel is expected to open in late 2018. A formal announcement of the project is to be made on Dec. 15.
American Airlines has licensed the use of the T.W.A. name and logo. "It's a wonderful tribute to T.W.A. and the many employees of American Airlines who came from the T.W.A. family," Matt Miller, a spokesman for American, said.
MCR Development, based in New York, owns and operates 88 hotels. It holds a 75-year lease on the flight center and its 6.2-acre site from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees the region's airports. JetBlue Airways has a 5 percent stake in the project.
The authority estimated the aggregate rental over the term of the lease at $70 million. That sounds like something of a bargain. Mr. Morse insisted it was nothing of the kind.
"We're taking all of the risk for something that has never been done," he said. Besides investing $265 million, he said, he has to deal with 22 government agencies. MCR must remediate asbestos throughout the headhouse and rebuild or update mechanical systems. If the restoration work meets government standards, however, MCR will be eligible for a credit against federal and state income taxes of an amount up to 20 percent of qualifying construction costs.
The architects of the hotel project are Beyer Blinder Belle and Lubrano Ciavarra Architects. Beyer Blinder Belle was responsible for the sumptuous restoration of Grand Central Terminal in Midtown Manhattan.
As Grand Central Terminal still conjures the majesty of transcontinental train service in a commuter rail age, the Trans World Flight Center continues to evoke the romance of air travel. (There. How many times have you read the words "romance" and "air travel" in the same sentence?) For that alone, it is irreplaceable.
The restoration facet of the hotel project has won praise from leading preservation groups.
"It will be wonderful that the public will be able to see it and appreciate it once again," said Alex Herrera, director of the technical services center at the New York Landmarks Conservancy.
Gina Pollara, the president of the Municipal Art Society, said, "Beyer Blinder Belle has done an incredibly sensitive and beautiful partial restoration of the headhouse."
However, preservationists object to the new six-story structures, which are more than 70 feet high.
Frank E. Sanchis III, the United States program director of the World Monument Fund, said, "The hotel is far too high and will effectively imprison the headhouse, both reducing the amount of natural light entering it and severely restricting the outward views from the interior."
Ms. Pollara said, "The Port Authority abnegated its responsibility to care for this treasure thereby forcing the developer to build a larger hotel to finance the remainder of the renovation."
The agency sees it differently.
"The Port Authority stepped up and preserved the T.W.A. Flight Center, which has been empty for 15 years, with an initial $20 million investment plus $1.5 million per year in operational costs — with the intention that the remaining rehabilitation investment would be made by a developer pursuing an adaptive reuse of this historic site," a spokeswoman, Cheryl Ann Albiez, said.
"The agency's resources are not unlimited," she added, "and spending more on the structure would have taken away from critical airport infrastructure investment."


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Eddie's earliest claim to fame is he and Kim Wilde were born in the same hospital a few weeks apart. He got the bug for music after using his uncle's reel to reel tape recorder and got interested in radio after getting a radio/cassette player for Christmas. Eddie began his radio days at hospital radio and even spent some time at a radio station in a biscuit factory. His first radio show on commercial radio was at Radio Trent in Nottingham. Eddie was among the original line-up when we first came to air. These days he's group head of music for the Lincs FM Group. He has a wife and 2 children, James and Sarah, plus a large record collection.
Get in touch with Eddie!
Check out which songs Eddie played!
Get more with the Listener Club!
Sweat (Ala La La La Long)Inner Circle
When I'm Good And ReadySybil
Midnight Train To GeorgiaGladys Knight & The
Hot LoveT Rex


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An anti-diversity memo from a dissident Google employee reveals much about how the Church operates as well.
Fearing Theological Innovation, Clinging to Orthodoxy
Why people oppose new technologies can also be applied to why they resist novel ways of thinking about God.
Unity requires Flexibility, Not Rigid Orthodoxy
It is not a rigid underlying belief system that leads to unity, but rather our works lead to unity in a diverse belief structure.
Media or Message in the Worship Driver Seat?
Figuring out a light touch for technology in traditional worship.
Facebook Guide for Pastors in Transition [2of2]
How can I better manage friend requests from church members at the church I am moving to? For Pastors active on Facebook who are going into new ministry contexts, this two-part seeks to provide resources for this question.
Facebook Guide for Pastors in Transition [1of2]
Should I unfriend the church members from my old church I am moving from? For Pastors active on Facebook who are going into new ministry contexts, this two-part series seeks to provide resources for the question.
Worship 2020: Facial Recognition for the personal touch in worship
As churches begin to use facial recognition software to track attendance, what's next for personalized worship experiences?
Does Progressive Christianity's complexity barrier make it less popular?
The bundled nature of traditional Christian beliefs renders them easier to picture than Progressive Christian beliefs which require more reframing. Will the resurgent DIY culture of the Internet change the game?
Getting rid of our societal and ecological waste
What the Pope's encyclical on climate change and the terrorism in Charleston have in common is a revealing of the ways how humanity hasn't figured out what to do with the waste and the harmful by-products of our systems of life together.
The Persuasive Power of Fonts in Church Publications
Research on fonts yields one font that binds all the others.


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By Curtis Sagmeister
7 Sep, 2010, 14:20
Should you find yourself in Terrace a good daytrip is a short hop to the town of Kitimat, BC and the Haisla First Nations community of Kitamaat Village. Save this one for the day where you feel the need to relax a bit more.
While Kitimat and Kitamaat Village share much of the same history as Terrace and Prince Rupert, the one important difference for Kitimat is its founding with the construction of the Aluminum Company of Canada (Alcan) in the 1950's. It was built as a company town.
Even though the town's future is precarious, after major industry closures and shaky world economics, Kitimat is worthy of the short 45 minute drive from Terrace. Certainly not a shopping destination, Kitimat lacks the bevy of tourist traps and you will immediately notice entering a time warp if you pay any attention to building design.
Asylum, the world's worst guard dog
Of course, on board with me for every trip I take is Asylum, the world's worst guard dog and my ever present companion. He enjoys pinning back his ears and letting the wind blast his face while comfortably balanced on the arm rest of the rear door of my car. It looks like fun, but I tried it once and it wasn't. To each their own.
Driving south on Highway 37 from Terrace, one of the things that strikes me is how green and lush the area is. Every shade of green is represented on trees, shrubbery and grasses, and when there is a break in the continuous flow of forest, I am treated to the layers of coastal mountains that were formed here millions of years ago.
I am not what you would call a beach bum, but Lakelse Lake Provincial Park is about twenty minutes from Terrace and its beaches are a Mecca for residents of the region. If the sun is shining brightly, you can bet your bottom dollar that Lakelse Lake is hosting kids of all ages. There are picnic areas here as well if you want to pick up a lunch at the deli and enjoy it in the great outdoors.
On this particular drive, something caught my eye as we drove over a bridge crossing the Kitimat River. Stopping for a quick peek, it was two grizzly bear cubs wrestling over a salmon. I stood and watched from the bridge as they fed, all the while hoping to see mommy bear join in the frenzy. Unfortunately, she did not make an appearance for the camera.
Giant Spruce Park. Has spruces.
There are two natural places Asylum and I enjoy in Kitimat. One of the breathtaking destinations is the Giant Spruce Park, a small forested area within the town boundaries that is home to mammoth spruce trees, some dating back 500 years. One of the Sitka Spruce trees measures about 11.4 meters (almost 38 feet) in circumference and is the oldest known living organism in the Kitimat Valley and the largest living Sitka Spruce in British Columbia. Standing at the base of these giants, I could only marvel at the tales it could tell as it towered over the forest. Thankfully, it is protected by law, otherwise it would be harvested and would provide enough lumber to frame nine average size houses.
The other little gem in Kitimat is Moore Creek Falls, located directly across from the Alcan administration building. There is only one small sign indicating access to the snowfall melt that sustains the falls, and it is easy to miss, so it is best to watch for the Alcan building as the marker. There are 26 steps carved into the earth leading to the viewing platform and the water is absolutely crystal clear.
For specific directions to these highlights, I recommend stopping in at the Visitor Centre located just before you enter Kitimat.
Kitamaat Village is located approximately 13 kilometres from the town of Kitimat. Signage on Highway 37 immediately after the Visitor Centre will point you in the right direction. Home to the Haisla First Nations, Kitimaat Village is a hub of commercial and cultural activity. The Haisla First Nations was formed by a merger of the Gitamat (Kitamaat), People of the Snow, and the Gitlope (Kitlope), People of the Rocks. They spoke similar dialects and amalgamated in 1948-1949. What are now referred to as the Haisla have occupied and flourished in this area for centuries.
The Haisla proudly share their cultural and heritage in a number of ways, one of which is by offering guided tours of the area for bear viewing, whale watching, natural coastal hot springs experience, and local cuisine, including the only fresh seafood restaurant in Northwest British Columbia. It would take an entire article of its own to properly represent the unique aboriginal experiences of the Haisla, and perhaps that will become a future article, but for now, please enjoy the link provided.
No disrespect to the Kitimat area intended, but I view them as a filler type of experience, one that does not require much planning and forethought. It's close and committing to a visit to the industrial hub of the region can be made on a whim. So if your itinerary in Northwest British Columbia is a little cramped for time, visiting Kitimat and Kitamaat Village is an excellent way to take in another corner of this most beautiful neck of the province, while not seeming like it is a major undertaking.
Haisla Tourism www.haislatourism.com
Tourism Kitimat www.tourismkitimat.ca
More by this author at www.sagmeister.ca
Copyright © 2010 Curtis Sagmeister


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Digital transformation (DX) is at the center of modern organizational strategies. IDC estimates the economic value of DX to almost $19 trillion, or more than 20% of global GDP. This program looks at how companies are transforming decision making with technology with speed, scale, and agility, creating sustainable performance excellence in the digital economy.
IDC's Industry-leading DX Taxonomy provides structured guidance for 18 distinct industry and government verticals that are creating and enabling digital transformation success capabilities in the digital economy through a four-tiered model. These industries are supported across 18 digital missions, almost 80 strategic priorities, over 200 programs, and in excess of 700 business outcome-oriented specific use cases (business and IT-enabled digital projects), plus another 170 back-office and administrative operations use cases covering 8 functional areas.
Worldwide Digital Transformation Strategies program benchmarks the maturity of enterprise transformation efforts, identifies organizational impact, provides guidance on building new capabilities, and prioritizes investment options. This program is also fully supported and aligned by IDC Digital Transformation Strategies Spending Guide that enables quantitative analysis of investment by industry, technology, and use case taxonomy framework.


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Hold your meetings behind hotel doors
As the policies and practices that shape the modern economy evolve, the way we organize and do work changes with it. Take, for example, the emergence of coworking spaces and the gig economy. There's a different experience that employees seek, and it's not one that requires companies to bend over backward for. In this regard, company events and meetings are a great place to begin. Enter, hotels. They offer space, experience, and the guarantee that all your gatherings conclude without a hitch. Here are the top reasons why you should consider making hotels your go-to for business meetings and events.
1. They take care of everything
When an event is organised internally, employees are forced to take on multiple roles as planners, coordinators, and attendees. It is likely that a few employees don't benefit from the event because of the roles they play in the days leading up to it. A hotel venue enables employees to kick back and enjoy an event, as the staff on premises manage all preparations.
2. Modern hotel rooms are designed to be more social spaces
Advanced technology and IT infrastructure make it possible to exchange information at the click of a button. This leaves more time for attendees to navigate the room and build important social connections. The lounge-like ambiance at hotels also creates an opportunity for employees to loosen up, thereby bringing out their best, and making them bolder with ideas.
3. They are universally recognised as places of celebration
The décor, flower arrangements, and fresh hotel smell that greets you at the door, together create a welcoming atmosphere to make any company event that much more special. Even if the office is a more buttoned-up formal space, employees can take this opportunity to enjoy themselves in a more laid-back environment.
4. Hotels offer corporates the chance to be extravagant without breaking the bank
However extravagant a property might be, there are usually special offers reserved for corporates clients. This promotes exclusivity while still being cost-efficient, with the added bonus of boosting employee morale.
5. They cater to a wide range of requirements
Hotels have options. It's as simple as that. Whether you require a banquet hall that can accommodate 500 people or a smaller meeting space for 5, a hotel is your best bet. In addition to the venue, they are well-equipped for other arrangements, with everything available on-site. High-powered Wi-Fi, projectors, a well-running kitchen, and trained staff make hotels the place to trust with your important meetings and events.
6. It makes you look good
A company that's willing to hold conferences at hotels is one that invests in its employees. When they feel valued and rewarded for their work, they don't burn out, and everyone benefits. It also helps the company present themselves in the best possible light, and build a good reputation for employee satisfaction. With all these reasons to make hotels your no.1 choice for company events and meetings, it's time to do away with drab office spaces and say hello to a new era of more efficient, gratifying meetings.


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AUSTIN, TX – 9/30/2016 (PRESS RELEASE JET) — This morning, the O'Leary Report released a number of spot polls that the national media ignores. The national polls clearly says that Hillary Clinton was a major winner. Spot polls tell a different story. Spot polls and focus groups are a little harder to analyze, but they tell a clear story – that Trump scored a decisive victory.
We can only find two media-related focus groups. One took place in Pennsylvania sponsored by the Pittsburgh Gazette. Clearly, Hillary Clinton lost ground among the independents and Democrats who were watching. The second focus group was in North Carolina sponsored by the Charlotte Observer. Unlike Pennsylvania, it did not show Trump gaining ground, but it showed Hillary Clinton losing ground. Governor Johnson was the winner with a couple of Clinton donors saying they were now supporting him.
Three polls that are indicative of Republican precincts are The Drudge Report, Washington Times and Breitbart. In The Drudge Report, readers chose Trump 81% to 18% for Clinton. In the Washington Times, the poll showed Trump won 71% to Clinton's 22%, with 35,000 people responding. In Breitbart, with 168,000 people responding, Trump took 76% to Clinton's 24%. Clearly, these three polls indicate that by election day, Trump is likely to have all the Republican votes he needs with the exception of philosophical whiners who can't believe he's not using their philosophy.
There are spot polls that, before the debate, no political pro would have guessed Trump could carry. The first one was Slate, the ultra-liberal news magazine that never met a Republican it couldn't hate. They showed Trump carrying the debate 54% to Clinton's 45%. 42,000 Slate readers took the poll.
In another Democratic precinct, CBS Manhattan TV, 41,000 people took a poll and declared Trump the winner with 59% in support to Clinton's 41%. No Democratic consultant would have guessed that result. On Pix11, also in New York, Trump carried 55% to 42% for Hillary Clinton.
Spot polls from magazines are likely to tell us what independents might do. Time magazine, which leans to the left, had 409,000 votes on their online poll. 58% voted for Trump and 42% for Clinton. Fortune Magazine had 434,000 people voting in their poll. 51% voted for Trump versus 49% for Clinton, indicating that the thinking of Republican billionaires have not infected the overall business community.
Around the country, a few newspaper and television stations did try to poll the people. In addition to Pittsburgh Gazette and the Charlotte Observer, Cincinnati television station nine had almost 4,000 voters. 60% voted for Trump and 35% voted for Clinton. Newjersey.com had 93,000 voters on their online poll, with 4,000 saying either neither or no one. With headline stories on the bridge closure, Trump carried the poll 53 to 42%. Channel two in Nashville, TN had 10,679 voters with Trump carrying it 63% to Hillary's 36%.
On Michigan Live, which is a television station, Trump carried 52% to Clinton's 47% with 22,000 people responding. In a highly Democratic area, Trump carried over Clinton 81% to 19% at the Las Vegas Sun. In the Denver Post's online poll, Trump also carried the poll 55% to 45%. However, on the website arkansasonline.com, Clinton won the poll ^^% to 34%, but only 102 people voted.
In Pennsylvania, two local newspapers let polls of their own. The Johnstown Tribune-Democrat found that Trump won the debate 59% to 41% with 185 people responding. In Williamsburg's Sun-Gazette, Trump won with 36% to Clinton's 30%. In this poll, many people were undecided or felt neither won.
The individual polls of likely precincts are hard to come by, so if you can find any, send it to me at firstname.lastname@example.com and we'll run it in our daily blog TheOLearyReport.com.
Full News Story: http://pressreleasejet.com/news/local-focus-groups-and-opinion-polls-prove-trump-to-be-winner-of-mondays-presidential-debate.html
Distributed by Press Release Jet
Media Contact
Company Name: The O'Leary Report
Contact Person: Bradley O\'Leary
Email: email@example.com
Phone: 310-804-6957
Country: United States
Website: www.theolearyreport.com


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What if the earth stops spinning?
What happens when you wake up every morning? Maybe, you see the sun coming out of the clouds, radiating bright rays through your window. What if you experience day for six months of the year and night for the rest? Relax! We are not talking about living in the poles. What if you wake up on a bright sunny day and found out it would never end? Confused! Well, this might happen if the earth stops spinning. Of course, it's unlikely to happen. But think about it – What would happen if the earth stood still?
If the earth stopped spinning (actual rotation speed at the equator is approximately 1200 miles per hour), the atmosphere will continue to exist. However, the bedrock would be wiped clean of all the land masses-the topsoil, rocks, trees and buildings would disappear into the atmosphere. A sudden stop and every object that's not firmly anchored to the earth would travel in the direction it was moving (tangent to the earth's surface).
What if earth stops rotating on its axis, but continues revolving?
If the earth stops rotating on its axis but continues to revolve and the axis of rotation maintains the same inclination, the following changes are bound to happen.
- The length of the year would remain the same, but a day would be as long as a year resulting in equal days and nights.
- The temperature on the surface of the earth depends on the latitude. If the earth stops rotating, it would be way hotter as the light rays are slanted away from the poles and towards the equator with the heating efficiency being lesser.
- The wind circulation in the atmosphere is affected by the long-term gradient temperature which moves towards the poles away from the equator. In this case, land in the equatorial region would emerge pushing the oceans toward the poles resulting in the emergence of two large polar oceans and a mega-continent.
Did you know?
The earth's magnetic field is generated by a dynamo effect that involves its rotation.
If there are any physics enthusiasts out there having the knowledge about the mass of the earth, the radius of the earth, the earth's escape velocity, the rotation period of the earth, and the average density of the earth, you can calculate a rough estimate of the size of an impactor needed to stop the earth's rotation. At the moment, scientists are not aware of any objects of that size in the solar system. This means that none of this will happen anytime soon. And that's definitely a relief!
For Kritika happiness is chocolates, loads of Netflix, journal scribblings and of course music. A child at heart she is currently grappling with adulting. On any given day you'll find her on the lookout to learn new things and the perfect cup of coffee. Drop in a line at email@example.com if you liked her stories or have exciting ideas to share!
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G N S Rishitha says:
Ya good article Byjus
Adarsh says:
Yup it's video is also there on Byju's channel! Yup!
Arunima Singh says:
Very interesting way to understand,though very fast and easily.
Sujith says:
It's good article.it made me to think for a minute.when I opened the webpage I noticed it first as the topic was interesting.


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* الأعداد تشمل القدس
عدد الاصابات
عدد العينات
عدد المتعافون
عدد الحالات الحرجة
عدد الوفيات
Islamic Relief is a humanitarian INGO (www.irpal.ps) operating in Palestine in the fields of emergency relief and development. Islamic Relief announces the following vacancy for its office in Gaza Strip.
Title: Enhancing Youth Employability (EYE) Project Coordinator
Ref: PC-D-12-2016 .
Location: Gaza Office.
Duration: one year, renewable (Full time).
Deadline: 03-DEC-2016
Main Duties:
- Ensure effective stakeholders' management including communication, coordination with project key stakeholders, maintaining strategic relations with key actors at TVET sector level and promoting project vision among target groups.
- Manage the regular stakeholders' coordination events and meetings.
- Supervise the process of developing and implementing business plans for TVET centers/school.
- Responsible for project planning, and scheduling, and implementation, in adherence to the organization policies and practices, and guided by IRPAL vision and the projects goals towards achieving the anticipated results.
- Oversee the design, implementation and evaluation of competency-based curricula for the TVET occupations.
- Responsible for producing results-based reports as per the donors' and IR requirements.
- Contribute to the preparation of annual work plans and monthly/quarterly progress reports in a timely and quality manner
- Monitoring the project budget and controlling expenditure in consultation with project manager.
- Ensure that all related activities are carried out to the highest quality standards within agreed timelines and budgets
Candidates must possess the following competencies:
- University degree in business administration, education, engineering, social development or any other related field from an accredited university
- Minimum 4 years of proven project management working experience in the field of education/TVET in INGOs, with solid background about developmental context in Palestine in general and Gaza Strip in particular.
- Thematic knowledge of TVET sector reality in Gaza Strip.
- Knowledge of curricula development approaches, learning methodologies, internship, apprenticeship, etc.
- Ability to network and build relations with stakeholders and partners with proven experience of stakeholders' management including communication and coordination with project key stakeholders, maintaining strategic relations with key actors at sector level and promoting project vision among target groups.
- Experience in procurement management, particular dealing with experts and consultants (preparing TORs, supervising implementation of studies, etc.)
- Interpersonal skills including demonstrated leadership, teamwork, communications, etc.
- Fluency in English and Arabic (written and spoken).
- Research design, data analysis, and high reporting skills.
- Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team.
- Very good knowledge in MS Office applications.
- Problem solving, initiative, able to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
- Committed to Islamic Relief values and code of conduct.
- Enthusiasm, humanity, honesty, trustworthy, sincerity, responsiveness, dedication.
- A proven experience of effective project design, budget control and management.
How to apply
Interested applicants are invited to apply electronically before the deadline shown on the vacancy announcement by completing an electronic version of the Application form.
Important notes to applicants:
- Only candidates possessing relevant experience will be short listed.
- Incomplete applications will not be given consideration.
Islamic Relief is an equal opportunities employer
حمّل تطبيق زمن برس مجاناً


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PMC cashes in on demonetisation drive
As the civic body gets flooded with Rs 130 crore in long-pending tax payments, I-T dept sniffs around for potential defaulters
The honest citizens of Pune have never been this eager to pay their taxes. In the last 13 days alone, Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has been swamped with Rs 130 crore in property taxes — all of it in the now defunct Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.
'Ban' bajaa
Many of these payments have been pending for as long as five years, and defaulters only came forward to pay up after the shock ban on the higher denomination currency notes.
Usually, the PMC has to think up ingenious ways to get people to cough up their property tax, and in the past, the corporation has even hired troupes of musicians to shame defaulters with 'band bajaa' outside their homes. This time, it was more like 'ban bajaa'.
Two days after the government began the demonetisation drive, PMC announced on November 10 that it would accept the old currency notes in tax payments. The very next day, Rs 37 crore had piled up at the municipal office. At the last count yesterday, the civic body had raked in nearly Rs 130 crore in cash payments.
Number crunching
Most of these payments were in the range of Rs 5-50 lakh, but the largest cash payment in the past fortnight rounded up to a whopping Rs 8 crore, shelled out by a firm.
Encouraged by the cash flooding in, the authorities have now decided to continue accepting the banned notes till November 30 to give the civic body a chance to recover all dues.
If visiting the municipal headquarters is inconvenient, defaulters can also make payments at 15 other offices spread across the city. PMC has deployed 200 staffers for this job and two private banks have also been authorised to accept these tax payments.
I-T probe
There are those who have objected to the fact that citizens are using the scheme to get rid of their black money and pending taxes in one fell swoop, and have demanded that such payments be investigated.
Former deputy mayor and NCP leader Deepak Mankar raised the issue in the general body meeting on Friday, stating, "The Modi government is trying to curb black money but such defaulters are approaching PMC and paying their dues which have been pending for more than five years."
"The government is penalising anyone who reports more than Rs 2.5 lakh in the banned currency, but these people are paying crores of rupees in the same notes to PMC. Such defaulters should be reported to the Income Tax department," Mankar added.
Despite repeated attempts, the I-T department refused to comment, but Suhas Mapari, head of the property tax department of PMC, confirmed, "In 13 days, we have received around R130 crore in cash. Counting payments made by cheques or demand drafts, a total of Rs 910 crore has been recovered so far. But 70% of this is in cash, with some payments running into crores. The I-T department has approached us for details about such payments and we shall hand over the details to them."
Rs 390 cr
Amount of property tax yet to be recovered
Rs 8 cr
Largest single payment in cash in the past fortnight
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Grossing over $100 million in the U.S. last weekend, "Wonder Woman" made quite a splash. And although I haven't seen it, after reading the plot, it isn't hard to understand why; a legendary superhero — who happens to be female — overcomes tall odds, fights with friends-turned-enemies, and (spoiler alert!) ultimately triumphs and remains on guard in the modern day.
Off the silver screen and back in Maine, another woman made a splash this week: Mary Mayhew. The first big name to jump into the Republican primary race for the Blaine House, she also walked a unique path to this point.
A former Democrat, she led Pat McGowan's 1990 House campaign against Olympia Snowe. She had worked for Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, and even served as an aide to a Democratic congressman. Then, after an interlude working for Maine's hospitals, she took a job with — wait for it — Paul LePage.
Yes. That Paul LePage.
She spent approximately a month as an advisor in the governor's office, and then was nominated — and confirmed by the Legislature — as the commissioner of health and human services. In 2012, during LePage's State of the State address, she received a standing ovation from both sides of the aisle in the House Chamber as the governor praised her leadership and grace. Yet, ultimately, many of those former friends turned into enemies.
The vitriol directed at her both before and after the announcement was swift and unrelenting. Editorials attacked her, commentators from the left offered a bevy of grievances, and she is even the proud new owner of a "cease-and-desist" letter from the Portland Press Herald. Maine Democrats and their affiliated groups were quick to issue press releases and try to incite activists against her.
Some of that rhetoric has gone a bit far. No, neither Mayhew nor any other reasonable Republican wants children to go hungry, people to lose health care, or addicts to die. There just might be disagreement on the best way to address those ills. Just like there might be disagreement on the proper laws surrounding tips, yet Democratic Sen. Bill Diamond was receiving messages on this topic from angry individuals that were so bad that he rushed home to delete them before his "grandchildren would hear what was left."
But, as we enter the campaign season, we will get to hear from Mayhew directly. We're able to have debates about the tip credit, about the tax code, and about education funding because of her efforts.
In 2011, as the LePage Administration came into office, the state budget was a mess. Maine's hospitals — major employers in their communities — held hundreds of millions of dollars in IOUs from the state. Gimmicks, such as "furlough days" shutting down state government, were used to eek out extra dollars to feed the MaineCare budget. And like clockwork, every January brought the need to pass a supplemental budget in Augusta because the Department of Health and Human Services was running out of money.
Today, the state is current on all its bills, employees can expect to work a full week and receive a full week's pay, and we can have heated debates on real policy issues, like income tax rates. That is all possible because of Mayhew's efforts to right the DHHS ship.
Her detractors seem to confuse perfection with progress. Because there is still need in the state, they attack her. But that misses the forest for the trees.
With a state budget in the black, the idea of "welfare reform" can advance to its next stage. It means really engaging across government to ensure we eliminate roadblocks to employment, like the "cliff" waiting for individuals who get a job and earn "too much" to receive assistance. They are rational people; it is financially advantageous to work less and maintain benefits. That is a big, broken aspect of the welfare system, and it needs to be fixed. We need to cut the Gordian knot.
The old saying that "the best welfare program is a job" rings true. Continued economic growth is the best prescription to address the still-existing need in Maine, whether through individual opportunity or increased resources. For that growth to occur, we need clear, level-headed leadership making decisions from positions of stability, not jumping from one budgetary crisis to another.
So, like Diana Prince, aka Wonder Woman, will Mayhew ultimately prevail in her quest to take up the mantle of leadership? Over the coming months, voters will decide and we will have an answer. But, my advice is this: Be they good or bad, ignore all the editorials, commentators, and press releases. Find out when Mayhew is coming to your town and, with an open mind, listen to her in person. You will learn what I already know: she is a wonderful woman. And she might just be our first female governor.


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We are constantly bombarded with articles that dramatically tell us there is a skills shortage in the UK but if we are honest, has that made us change the way that we recruit for new talent? The standard cv based recruitment model is very much designed to hunt out specific skills that the organisation believes it requires. If you've ever asked any of the following questions in an interview, you will know what I mean:
- Describe a time where you have ….
- Give me an example of where you have delivered x project….
- What steps have you taken to ensure the success of …..
All the above examples are designed to tease out directly equivalent experience at previous companies. So, in effect, we are looking for more of the same. But what if that is not always possible to find?
Recruiting for character.
I read the attached article with interest. In it the author defines character and social competence as the key critical recruitment criteria. How the employee works becomes as important as what they deliver:
- Can they influence people especially where there is no line management responsibility?
- Can they see beyond what is already there to deliver the solutions of the future?
- Do they treat colleagues with respect?
- Are they passionate about what they do?
- Does their life outside of work align to how they work inside the organisation?
So in essence, are you getting someone with the correct mindset who is trainable rather than just recruiting someone to do what they've already done. The former example may take time to train but will contribute to the long term growth of the organisation. The latter example will do what they've always done and could get bored easily.
How do we achieve this change?
Clearly some level of capability is required. You probably aren't going to unleash someone with no IT experience on your precious systems after all. However, if we can't recruit what we need, looking at character in line with experience may unleash hitherto unrealised potential. It will require a change in how roles are advertised and assessed but it is achievable. Contact us on 07908 875146 if you'd like to discuss this further. For more information on how we can help you with your recruitment needs, click here.


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Tagged: David Dahl
2014 MLB Mock Draft: Spring Training Edition, part 1 of 3.
As much as I wanted to wait until all the free agents with draft compensation signed, I feel that it's time to make the first mock draft of the year for MinorLeagueMadhouse. While picks are usually done as either Best Player Available, Easiest To Sign, or General Manager's Draft Philosophy, I've decided to go by need in the minors. To be more precise, which position in the top 20 is the weakest, or, if there is a clear cut pick, or if the general manager has a philosophy that they have publicly disclosed (like Jeff Luhnow of the Astros or Sandy Alderson of the Mets,) So without further delay, here is the first mock draft of the year for Minor League Madhouse.
1. Astros: Carlos Rodon, LHP, NC State
Carlos Rodon is the consensus number 1 pick in the draft right now, and nothing short of a Rick Ankiel-type meltdown will change that. The Astros have a strong enough pitching presence in the minor leagues right now, but Luhnow will be hard pressed to give up on the potential that Rodon has. With a major league caliber slider and fastball, as well as a preference to strike out hitters. Rodon, who helped NC State make the College World Series last year, is definitely going to fit in what could be the best future rotation in the league.
2. Marlins: Tyler Kolek, RHP, Shepherd High School, Texas
The Marlins have reaped the benefits of one high school arm that they drafted, why not go for another that looks Major League ready? Kolek is arguably one of the best prep arms in this year's class. He has a fastball that is better than some collegiate pitchers, in addition to a well rounded arsenal of secondary pitches. Kolek's only knock is is command and control, which is common for flame throwing prep arms, not to mention he's behind on his development thanks to an injury he suffered in his sophomore year, but in showcases, he's looked like the genuine article, and would be a perfect developmental athlete, as he can only get better.
3. White Sox: Alex Jackson, C, Rancho Bernardo High School, California
Last year, I pointed out that Chicago's weakest position in the minors was catcher. And they did have the opportunity to grab a catcher early with Nick Ciuffo and Jon Denney on the board. However, they whiffed on both. Now, they have a golden goose in Alex Jackson, who comes from the same high school as Cole Hamels. Jackson is a well rounded high school catcher, although he does need improvement in commanding a game. He has plus power, decent speed, basically, he has the chance to be one of the better prep catchers in the last few draft classes. If Jackson fails behind the plate though, he could make it as an outfielder, where his arm would be his best strength.
4. Cubs, Jeff Hoffman, RHP, East Carolina
The Cubs have bolstered their position player ranks in the past few drafts, now it's time to go back to pitching. Hoffman, who pitches for a smaller school in East Carolina, is tall and gangly, but pitches like he's in prime athletic shape. Hoffman's fastball is something to behold, and his curveball is almost at the same level. He controls the ball well, but he will need to work on his finesse if he wants to be a high end starter.
5. Twins: Brady Aiken, LHP, Cathedral Catholic High School, California
You can never have enough pitching, especially when it comes to lefties. Brady Aiken is a bit of a reach for the Twins, but given that they don't have a top ten left handed pitching prospect at the time of this writing, it may be a good idea, both position wise and money wise, to go after him. This isn't to diminish Aiken's skill set, the young Southern California hurler is definitely even and well rounded in his skill set. He's a jack of all trades pitcher, with no set primary pitch, which is good, as it serves as a reminder to the better days of Johan Santana. Aiken's athleticism is also a plus, although now that his future has been set as a pitcher, he should focus primarily on that. Still, Aiken and 2013 pick Kohl Stewart would headline a young, and powerful pitching class should the Twins decided to pick him.
6. Mariners: Trea Turner, SS, North Carolina State
The Mariners don't seem to have a problem with a specific position, what they need, however, is speed. NC State shortstop Trea Turner is the answer to that problem. Turner has major league legs, and while his hitting is developmental right now, he is somewhat respectable in that category. Turner is still fully transitioning from third base to shortstop, which is fine, but if he wants to advance a few levels, he will need to improve on his fielding. Still, Turner profiles as a #1 or #9 hitter in an American League lineup, which isn't necessarily a bad thing for him.
7. Phillies: Michael Gettys, OF, Gainesville High School, Georgia
Byron Buxton was the star of the 2012 draft class and Austin Meadows and Clint Frazier were the stars of the 2013 prep class, now, Michael Gettys becomes the next high level hitter from the state of Georgia. Gettys' game is focused now on his legs and his arm, but his hitting, when properly developed, could make him into the next prep hitting star. Given Ryan Howard likely will retire when Gettys comes around, and there really isn't a power presence to back him up yet, it would be a good idea for the Phillies to capitalize on the Georgia Prep slugger trend.
8. Rockies: Jacob Gatewood, SS, Clovis High School, California
We got an early peek at Jacob Gatewood last year at Citi Field's high school home run derby, and he certainly put on a show, but besides that, Gatewood is a well polished athlete who despite his body, has the potential to be one of the better hitting shortstops in history. Tall and lanky, he does have the potential to lead the league in home runs, especially in the thin air of Denver. Given the injury history and likelihood that Troy Tulowitzki may not finish his mega contract extension, taking Gatewood would be a wise insurance policy for the Rockies. He and 2012 first rounder David Dahl could make a lethal power combination for years to come.
9. Blue Jays: Tyler Beede, RHP, Vanderbilt
Surprised that Toronto would try again? You shouldn't be. Beede was drafted by the Blue Jays out of high school as a first rounder in 2011, but he turned down the money to honor his college commitment. Three years later, Beede has emerged as one of the best pitchers in the SEC and after a historic campaign with the Commodores, brought himself into the Golden Spikes conversation. Beede's offerings, particularly his fastball, are devastating to hitters, but what he needs improvement on is his control. Beede has the chance to continue the legacy of excellent Vandebilt pitchers started with David Price and continued with Sonny Gray this past year. If he can improve his control, he should be in the majors by late 2015-early 2016.
10. Mets: Touki Toussaint, Pitcher, Coral Springs High School, Florida
If what Keith Law speculates from his interview with Sandy Alderson is true, then Alderson must be talking about Touki Toussaint. Here's a guy who has come out of nowhere, established himself as a truly different pitcher who, with some help, can control and even expand the strike zone with his fastball and major league curve. Touki has the potential to make an impact in any rotation, and his curve should allow him to strike out plenty of batters, provide catchers are able to handle it. The only knock on him is his lack of experience; Toussaint did only start playing his sophomore year of high school, and his international background; while he is from the Caribbean, Haiti isn't exactly a baseball hotbed. Still, his arm is very loose and worth looking at, and having it in the same rotation as Zack Wheeler, Noah Syndergaard, and Matt Harvey would be scary.
So this is part one. Stay tuned part 2, which is due to come out some time next week.


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Mamma Amalia - 6 pax
Holidays to Sicily! Beautiful Sicily villa with swimming pool in the residential area, the most elegant of Catania (Sant'agata Li Battiati). Stunning villa in the most elegant residential area of Catania (Sant'agata Li Battiati). The house is spread over 3000 m² of tropical gardens and has a beautiful view of the entire Ionian Gulf till to Catania. The first floor of the villa has a beautiful area consisting of glass windows with a beautiful view of the pool, and the other on the landscape of the sea. On this level are a bedroom, a bathroom with shower and a fully equipped kitchen. Through the stairs or the elevator leads to the second level, where are two suites with private bathroom and both with exceptional panorama: view to the Mount Etna and to the pool, the other on the Ionian sea. The exterior of the villa is dominated, as well as from many corners where you can read or eat, and from the beautiful and comfortable pool area. The house is located in the center of Sant'Agata Li Battiati. All the amenities can be reached byfoot.
MAMMA'S ANGELS TIP (by Luca, who will welcome you at this villa): Enjoy Le Zagare shopping center. Write Luca if you need more tips: email@example.com
By Giovanni Vallone (President of MammaSicily, writer, author)
The village of Sant'Agata li Battiati is considered an upscale neighborhood of Catania.
In fact, it is just a few minutes away from the center of the city of Catania, but at the same time away from city stress.
From here reaching the sea is a game: in 15 minutes you are there. the motorway is just 5 minutes away.
Furthermore, the villa is located in the town center, you can walk to all the shops, bars, banks, typical bakeries, pharmacies, etc. ...
We are in the eastern side of Sicily, and two masterpieces dominate the landscapes; the sea and Etna volcano, joined by something bigger thant them: the blue Sicilian sky!
Etna Park (Unesco's), with its inactiv volcanos (the sons of Etna), caves, forests, lava grounds … lasts 10 km's
By the way: enjoy our great Etna tour!
Catania, with its gorgeous Via Etnea and its outdoor markets, lasts 5 km's.
I suggest you to parke the car in Piazza Alcalà and then enjoy, by walk, the city: the outdoor fish market, piazza Duomo and the nice via Etnea until the Villa Bellini (public garden).
The Playa (photo, beach) is 10 km's away.
Taormina, the pearl of Sicily, is almost 30 km's away: it's a magic place with the amazing Isolabella and its narrow streets rich in history, a sort of vintage atmosphere and fashion: cool!
Siracusa (Unesco's), and its Greek masterpieces it's almost 70 km's away.
Another tips is the visit of Pantalica (Unesco's), with its more than 3000 graves carved on the rock, a river, a forest and a sort of mistery all around.
At a glance: Acireale (Baroque style, 5 km), Savoca (The Godfather movie's spot, 40 km), Brucoli (sea, 40 km), Megara Ibla (archaeology, 40 km), Randazzo (40 km), Giardini Naxos (sea, 30 km), Cavagrande del Cassibile (nature, 60 km)
Its time to eat something and my tipi s to do not miss the Pasta alla Norma (photo) and to have, at least once, a typical Sicilian breakfast: granita and brioche!
And, of course, fish, fish, fish … and visit the outdoor fish markets (Riposto, Acitrezza, Catania).
|August 2020
Minimum stay 5 days (except July and August, 1 week). Changeover day: Saturday (unless different agreement with the owner).
The electricity is included up to a consumption of kWh150 per week. Beyond that limit it will have a cost of € 0,35 per kWh.
Damage deposit to be paid locally: € 300
When the customer cancels a reservation 60 days or more before the arrival date the owner will retain the half of the paid sum as a cancellation penalty charge.
When the customer cancels a reservation 59 days or less before the arrival date the owner will retain the whole of the paid sums as a cancellation penalty charge.


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Puget Sound Goat Rescue brought some of its baby goats to Reuben's Brews in Seattle for a fundraiser.
A large crowd lined up to get close and snap selfies with baby goats on Tuesday in Seattle. Some people also tipped back a few brews at the fundraiser for the animals. Puget Sound Goat Rescue was at Reuben's Brews in Seattle with some of its rescued baby goats. People were separated into small groups and were able to spend about five minutes in a small pen with the goats, which ranged in from one week to two months old. Reuben's Brews said it was donating $1 of every beer, growler or flight of beer sold on Tuesday to PSGR. This was the second year for the fundraiser. The animal organization, based in Maple Valley, King County, gets about 85 rescue goats per year. They are bottle fed until able to eat on their own. The rescue goats, mostly males, are from dairies and breeders in the area. After a check of potential owners' homes, the goats will be available for adoption. The organization has about 40 volunteers, and there is a waiting list for people who wish to volunteer. More information about the goats is at www.pugetsoundgoatrescue.org.


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It's New Year's Eve and the bins have been overflowing since Christmas Day. Why the bin men needed an extra two days off, I don't know!
Before I wish you all a Happy New Year, Steve Green decided to tag me on Christmas Eve with a meme asking me for eight wishes for 2008. So here goes:
1. The Conservative Party to go from strength to strength.
2. The government to finally scrap the proposed ID cards. (Plenty of hard campaigning there for all of us).
3. The government to increase defence spending and give our troops the pay, conditions and equipment they deserve.
4. Durham County Cricket Club to win the County Championship.
5. The cost of fuel to go down.
6. To be settled back home and the memory of flooding to be well and truly behind us.
7. To become a councillor. (That's a dream my fairy godmother couldn't grant me!)
8. To be a happy, healthy family.
All that remains is for me to thank everyone for reading and contributing to my blog over the last year and I hope to see you all – and more readers – doing the same in 2008. Have a very Happy New Year!


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Fans have been hoping that Andre 3000 and Big Boi would reunite for an Outkast album over the past few years, but they'll have to wait a bit longer. During an interview with GQ.com, Three Stacks dismissed rumors that an Outkast album is in the works but that fans can expect more music from him in the near future.
"There's been a lot of talk on the Internet about an Outkast album and I have to say that as of now, there are no plans for another Outkast album," he said. "There's a lot of music on the horizon. I've been living off the excitement of new artists. I've been privileged to have these new artists kind of reach out and grab back and say, 'Hey, Andre, we want you on this song.' So I've been taking those calls and for the last two years, I've been doing collaborations. So these new artists have kind of been keeping me alive. I've just really been feeding off of that and this year I think I'm planning to do a solo project. I don't know when it will come out, but hopefully it'll come out this year. As far as Outkast, I really don't know if or when that will happen."
The dismissal of an Outkast reunion album comes as a surprise, considering that the group was reportedly heading to Epic Records to release a new LP. 3K did confirm that a solo album is on the way, and that it will take his sound back to the lively energy of early 'Kast music.
"The only thing I can really say is I'm going to get back to having fun because that's what it was all about when I started this in high school—with Outkast—those were like high school dreams. I'm 36 now, so I have grown-man dreams. This album will just be me being myself as normal."
Read the full interview at GQ.com.
RELATED: Andre 3000 To Serve As "Master Of Style" In Gillette Campaign


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The Aging & Accessibility Directory features helpful contact information, addresses, phone numbers, and live web-links to resources in a variety of service... more
The Johnson County Area Agency on Aging offers a single point of entry for services. Aging information specialists are your starting point for locating... more
CARE stands for Client Assessment, Referral and Evaluation. Everyone seeking a permanent move to a Kansas nursing facility must be assessed by the CARE program... more
The Area Agency on Aging sponsors services to support non-paid caregivers of frail older adults who need services to maintain independent living. 913-715-8861 more
The Johnson County Area Agency on Aging (AAA) Nutrition Program is pleased to offer a dining opportunity called CHAMPSS, a program for adults 60 or older and... more
The Commission on Aging (COA) is a voluntary group of individuals appointed by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to provide information, guidance,... more
For the millions of Americans who have physical, medical, sensory or cognitive disabilities, emergencies such as fires, floods and acts of terrorism present a... more
HomeConnect, a free books-by-mail delivery service, is available for those reside in the Johnson County Library service areas and who qualify as permanently or... more
In-home services provide support for older adults age 60+ who require assistance to maintain independent living. Services provided include Assessment,... more
Provides nutritious meals to frail and elderly homebound residents who are 60-years of age or older. The Area Agency on Aging provides home-delivered meals to... more
Multi-Service Outreach Centers provide a safety net for those in need and a means of moving beyond cycles of aid into self-reliance. They serve people in need... more
The Area Agency on Aging provides hot noon meals at seven Neighborhood Centers. In addition, Neighborhood Centers offer a variety of services, activities, and... more
Provides registered nurses who offer screening, assessment, education, resource information, and referral services to senior adults living in Johnson County. more
Since 1971, Johnson County Park & Recreation District's 50 Plus Program has been the area's leading provider of recreation and leisure opportunities for... more
Private care management focuses on assisting individuals age 60 and over to live independently in the community. Services include assessment of individual... more


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You are here: Resources > Young Bucks Outdoors > Critter Tales
By Buckmasters Online
Photo: Starlings have been in America since 1890, so long that we don't realize they are an invasive species.
The stories arrive from the East Coast or the West, from the Great Lakes states, or the arid lands of the Southwest and the humid areas in the South. And what these stories have in common is one thing—America is being invaded!
What? You didn't notice? Look outside. There are plants, animals and fish that have found new homes and have reproduced in the American landscape without natural predators or deterrents to keep their numbers in check.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identifies invasive species as those not native to an ecosystem that cause, or are likely to cause, economic or environmental harm, or harm to human health.
While many invasive species arrive from outside the U.S on ships and planes, or may have once been someone's pets that grew too big and were released in the wild, there are other species from within the U.S. that are invasive because they've relocated to a different part of the country.
That beautiful flock of Canadian geese flying overhead become annoying when they move to a warmer neighborhood and stay for breakfast, lunch and dinner year round, but there are things you can do. Here's one suggestion.
Like geese, the European starling has been invasive for generations (since 1890), and many believe they have always been here because they've witnessed the massive flocks in spring or fall as long as they remember. Read more about starlings here.
States like Florida have intensive programs to identify and combat invasives of all sorts—from Cuban tree frogs and green iguanas, to Burmese pythons. The Fish and Wildlife Commission asks folks to become citizen scientists to help manage nonnative species, and report sightings and locations through its Exotic Specials Reporting hotline.
In Illinois, where silver carp have been found nine miles from Lake Michigan, biologists fear the fast-growing and aggressive fish and will bypass intensive monitoring efforts and become established in Lake Michigan. At risk? All native species of fish. Officials also ask commercial and recreational fishermen to monitor waters. To understand more about those efforts, click here.
Meanwhile, on June 5 in Mississippi, two fishermen caught a Northern Snakehead Fish in Lake Whittington, an oxbow lake of the Mississippi River in Bolivar County. Bow fishermen Brad Baugh and Bubba Steadman, who caught the snakehead, kept it, photographed it, and immediately contacted the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to report their alarming discovery.
"Snakeheads have been present in the White River Basin in Arkansas since 2008 and have been steadily expanding their range toward the Mississippi River," says Delta fisheries biologist Nathan Aycock. The freshwater fish, native to China, Russia and Korea, also has been found in Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia where their impact on native fish populations are unknown.
In Mississippi, the Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks encourages anyone who thinks they caught a snakehead to keep it (freeze it), photograph it, and call (601)432-2200. But if you're not in Mississippi and catch a snakehead fish, report it by contacting the nearest fish and game agency or the US Fish and Wildlife Service at (703)358-2148.
Meanwhile in Texas, invasive zebra mussels were positively identified for the first time June 22 on Lake Travis in the Colorado River basin in central Texas. "This is pretty disheartening for us . . . who work to prevent this invasive species from spreading," said Monica McGarrity, Aquatic Invasive Species team leader with the Parks and Wildlife Department.
The next step is to educate the public. "Public awareness goes a long way in helping the effort to keep zebra mussels from spreading," Brian Van Zee, inland fisheries regional director added. Learn more about how to combat Zebra mussels here.
In Minnesota, known as the land of 10,000 lakes, the battle with Zebra mussels is real and ongoing.
"Clean, Drain, Dispose is the law in Minnesota, because it's an effective way of preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species," said Heidi Wolf, Department of Natural Resources invasive species coordinator. "These simple steps help protect your waters from invasive species and the environmental, recreational and economic harm they can cause."
In Wisconsin, forests and backyards have been invaded by the gypsy moth—a destructive pest that feeds on oak, aspen, crabapple, birch and hundreds of other trees. Currently, gypsy moth aerial treatments by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture are underway. Trees in Grant and Crawford counties have been treated with an organic mating disruption product, and seven other counties will also be treated. For more information click here.
Japanese beetles and the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) are two invasive insects that are wreaking havoc on Missouri's plants and trees. (Psst, they are also found in other states besides Missouri.)
The beetles were first discovered in North America in 1916, most likely imported from Asia in potted plants. Japanese beetles are leaf skeletonizers, feeding on the upper surface of leaves and leaving behind a lacy network of leaf veins.
Ash trees are the main diet for Emerald Ash Borers. "This species doesn't congregate in large masses like Japanese beetles," says Missouri Department of Conservation forest entomologist Robbie Doerhoff. "It can be difficult to actually see an EAB, even in areas where the population is high, because they will be feeding and mating in a tree's canopy."
The challenges to combat invasive species are so sizeable, Invasive.org categorizes all the species where you can find the invasive species most common to your state, whether it is plant, insect, pathogen, or wildlife.
The first step in facing the invasive challenge may be to simply understand its enormous scope. The second is to join the army of citizen scientists and everyday hunting and fishing conservationists to report what you find to the fish and game official in your area.
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