text:
Currently as the economy improves more and more new job opportunities are becoming available in the Leitrim region. As a result the Local Enterprise Office Leitrim in partnership with the Department of Social Protection are pleased to announce that a Jobs Fair will take place on Thursday 1st October 2015 in The Landmark Hotel, Carrick on Shannon.
The Jobs Fair event will assist those looking for a job and give an opportunity to engage directly with employers with job offers. The event will also showcase the array of training and education opportunities that are available in the region.
The 2015 Jobs Fair builds on similar events, in particular the very successful event in June 2014. The Jobs Fair promises to showcase the job opportunities available in Leitrim and surrounding counties at present. In addition local agencies will be present offering support and advice to employees and employers and those considering self employment.
Similar to the previous events the Fair will host companies with situations vacant including VistaMed Ltd, Abbott Longford and Finesse Medical to name but a few. Recruitment agencies with vacancies will also be in attendance. The event offers a chance to view job opportunities available in the region - under one roof on one day.
Agencies available on the day include the Local Enterprise Office, Leitrim Development Company, Department of Social Protection , Education and Training Board (ETB) etc.
The Fair will showcase job opportunities in the region, third level courses available, opportunities to retrain as well as giving the public a chance to speak to the enterprise agencies for those considering self-employment.
If you are interested in returning to work, moving jobs or just keeping your options open, come along to this worthwhile event.
For more information on the Fair log on to www.localenterprise.ie/leitrim or call Local Enterprise Office - Leitrim on 071-9650420.
353 (0)71 9620005
353 (0)71 9621982
Áras An Chontae,
St. Georges Terrace,
Carrick on Shannon,
Co Leitrim
© Leitrim County Council 2015


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In fact, the newfound crater, in Egypt, was likely carved by a space rock that was itself roughly 0.75 miles wide in an event that would have been quite a shock, destroying everything for hundreds of miles. For comparison, the Chicxulub crater left by a dinosaur-killing asteroid 65 million years ago is estimated to be 100 to 150 miles (160 to 240 kilometers) wide.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Huge Egypt crater found
Here's one more crater to add to the list of impact craters already marking the Earth's surface. Scientists looking through satellite images, have found a huge crater in Egypt that is 31 km wide. From Space.com:
Posted by I.Z. Reloaded at 12:37 PM
1 comment:
- Chuang Shyue Chou said...
This is fascinating. Thanks IZ for posting this.
- 7.3.06
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Singapore License.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Some tourists said they had held out hope that the federal government would get its act together in time. Others admitted they had all but given up. After traveling to New York City from far-flung places, they feared they would be resigned to squinting from afar at one of its most famous landmarks.
Maybe they could buy a pair of binoculars. Or write their congressman.
But on Sunday, they once again lined up in Battery Park, eager to resume one of the city's most famous tourist rituals. For the first time since the federal government shut down on Oct. 1, the Statue of Liberty was open to visitors, financed, for now, by the State of New York.
"We wanted to be here first thing this morning," said Janice Redfearn, a retired schoolteacher from Utah who was visiting with her husband, John, and described the Statue of Liberty's sudden reopening as a "miracle."
Ms. Redfearn said she and her husband worried that the shutdown would wreak havoc on their trip, and said they were thrilled that they were able to visit Liberty Island. But they had more headaches ahead: the next leg of their trip was a visit to Washington, where Mr. Redfearn yearned to visit the Smithsonian Institution, whose museums remained closed.
As of Sunday, under a deal negotiated by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, New York will pay the National Park Service $61,600 per day so that its personnel can operate the Statue of Liberty while the federal government remains shut down.
The agreement is one of several between states and the federal government to allow popular national parks, including the Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore, to reopen during the shutdown.
"It was a pleasant surprise," said Meredith Marcoux, a court clerk from Massachusetts who was visiting for the weekend and declared the Statue of Liberty "absolutely stunning."
Bob and Nancy Hughes, who came from Minnesota with their daughter, worried about what foreign tourists would think about America's government if they found national monuments fenced off and shut down.
"It makes us look horrible," Mr. Hughes said.
Mithun Baphana, an electrical engineer from California, was visiting with his in-laws, who had an even greater right to complain: they had flown all the way from India.
They came to see the statue on Saturday and were told to come back the next day — which, given the shutdown, they considered a victory.
"We have been really lucky," Mr. Baphana said.
Mr. Cuomo, who went to Lower Manhattan to announce the reopening, said the closure of the Statue of Liberty was taking a toll on the state's tourism industry. His office said that more than 10,000 people, who spend on average about $35 per visit, were turned away each day that the Statue of Liberty was closed, and that hundreds of workers were out of work.
Wakil Ahmed, who sells ice cream and hot dogs near where visitors board ferries to Liberty Island, said business had fallen sharply while the island was closed. He cited a bedrock principle of food-vendor economics: "No people, no drinks, no eat."
A performer who dresses up like Lady Liberty and poses for pictures with tourists — using a concealed stepladder for extra height — was also pleased about the reopening. Fewer tourists had been visiting, she said, and those who came did not want to give her any money.
She said that vendors who depended on Statue of Liberty tourists were suffering. "They have families," she said. "They have to pay rent, and mortgages, and they have to eat, and they can't afford it."
Other attractions were still off limits on Sunday. Across the street from Battery Park, the doors to the National Museum of the American Indian remained closed, and a sign cited the government shutdown. Tourists were reduced to taking pictures on the museum's steps, amid litter and a discarded Mister Softee milkshake.


text:
In cooperation with the Grandview Heights Athletic Department, The Bobcat Boosters are happy to once again offer the Bobcat Club Member Season Pass for admission to all Grandview Heights Middle School and High School home athletic events.
*In thanks, Bobcat Club members receive special recognition in the sports program passed out at all home football and home basketball games.
VALUE PRICING for 2019!
Bobcat Club Sports Passes are the best way to follow all of the exciting Bobcat action throughout the school year!
Individual Adult – $100
Each Additional Adult – $50
Each Additional Child – $25
Alternative Payment Options for Bobcat Club Sport Passes:
The Annual Door-To-Door Bobcat Booster Membership Drive will begin Sunday, April 28, 2019. Please give your completed application
to the Bobcat Booster who contacts you during the Annual Booster Drive, or mail it directly to:
Grandview Bobcat Booster, Inc.
P.O. Box 12315 Grandview Heights, Ohio 43212
If you have any questions, please call Tim Murphy (Fund Drive Chair), at (614) 488-5343 or e-mail him at email@example.com
2019/2020 Bobcat Booster Club Sport Passes will be prepared and available for pick-up prior to the first Grandview Heights home game.
Get Involved. Become A Booster!


text:
By: Helios on December 18th, 2014
How HR Can Solve Common Small Business Problems
Communication | Total Rewards | Business Management & Strategy | Best Practices | Employee Relations | Talent Acquisition
At Helios, we consider ourselves to be the HR experts. We frequently hear from business leaders, employers, and managers who don't understand the purpose or value of Human Resources. In fact, in conducting HR effectiveness assessments, the most frequent answer we get from stakeholders when we ask about the purpose of an HR function is hiring, firing, and payroll. The objective of this series is not to discount or discredit any one functional area of HR. After all, hiring, firing, and payroll are important, that said, they don't begin to tell the tale of what competent, strategic, and empowered HR can do for your organization. If you want to learn more, read on to discover from these case studies how HR can change your business for the better.
Problems with Effective Business Development
We have worked with a client for several years now who has been struggling to develop an effective business development team for their small business. They believe they have a good product, good technology, and superior intellectual property, but they've struggled to bring their solution to market in a way that grows their customer base and generates a consistent revenue stream. This is clearly a sales problem, maybe an operations and marketing problem, and if it intensifies, it will cause financial problems. Have you ever considered how HR fits in?
I know what you are probably thinking, HR will tell you that they care "hire a good salesperson". How many times have businesses brought in an army of highly paid salespeople or consultants only to see them flounder because they fail to understand the product, or they don't mesh well with the company culture, or other areas of operations aren't set up to partner effectively with sales? Everything I just mentioned is a human capital problem because people are at the root of it all.
Lack of Product/Service Understanding
- First of all, a good Talent Acquisition professional can develop a job ad targeted towards salespeople with relevant industry experience and can also partner with the hiring manager to develop interview questions meant to test specific product knowledge or overall sales aptitude.
- A truly good salesperson can probably compensate for a lack of industry relevant experience with overall sales skill. An HR Professional can help identify or develop pre-hire assessments that are both valid and reliable in identifying this type of sales skill.
- Lastly, your HR team can create a package of incentives that will keep your salesforce motivated and is benchmarked to industry norms.
Unique Sales Culture
What about developing a sales team who integrates with company culture? After all, sales tends to have its own unique culture.
- A good HR person will learn your business. If your HR Manager cannot explain how your company makes money and why your company is a good place to work, they should not be representing you to candidates.
- The best HR people not only understand your culture, but act as stewards. They take a proactive approach to building your employment brand and come up with many ways to communicate your brand to candidates via your company careers page, social media, their own personal networks, etc.
- Great Recruiters should also have several behavioral questions as part of their standard phone screen that identify good cultural fits for your organization. In fact, a good Recruiter can probably just tell by talking to someone if they will assimilate into your culture or cause problems. When HR and Talent Acquisition function well, your Hiring Managers can assume if they receive a resume for a screened candidate from your HR team, that candidate understands your business and culture and your HR team has judged that they will fit in.
- To further reinforce the cultural fit, the best HR departments understand and prioritize the employee experience during onboarding. They develop activities and processes to teach new hires all the rules, written and unwritten, of working for your company through new hire mentorship programs, multimedia campaigns, and effective use of onboarding technology. The return on investment for strong onboarding programs in terms of employee retention and productivity has been well documented.
Inaccurately Addressing Your Client's Needs
The last issue may be the most difficult to solve because it's cross-functional. A good HR person, skilled in principles of Organizational Development, can look at work flows and communication across the organization to identify problem areas and propose solutions. Let's say that you've hired your rock star Salesperson and they are hard at work creating a pipeline. You happen to notice that when a hot prospect is identified, the product development team is putting together a demo that is not going to cut it –
- it fails to address the prospect's needs;
- isn't attention getting; and
- just doesn't 'look right.'
There is a clear need for an outside perspective. By conducting focused interviews (sometimes could be as simple as a water cooler conversation), a good HR person should be able to identify the issue and suggest a fix:
- someone from the development team needs to sit in on sales meetings with qualified prospects;
- the Salesperson needs to create detailed account plans to help capture critical information in a systematic way; or
- perhaps everyone could benefit from communication training if it's really just a soft skill deficiency.
Let's not forget that once changed, all of these behaviors need to be reinforced. The best HR people will tie everything back to the company's performance management cycle to ensure that employees are being coached on the skills and behaviors that will help the company succeed.
Now, I'm not saying that HR should take over your sales function. Some of these solutions could be implemented by other managers should they have capacity. The bottom line is: optimizing your company's human capital IS the full-time job of your HR function. So think about it, what can HR do for your business?


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Barranquilla, Colombia (PRWEB) July 31, 2012
This decision is part of the corporate and social responsibility that Fedco has of supporting the important work that is being done at the Zoo in Barranquilla, the only one the Caribbean region can count on to protect nature.
"The beauty of nature and of this particular specie is truly unique," said Leo Eisenband "We should do everything we can to help preserve it so that our future generations can also appreciate it and count with its entire habitat."
From all the corners of this zoo, the knowledge and nurture of our fauna is being promoted to reach the young urban population oblivious to it. The experience they get from visiting all the species found in the zoo, allows them to be in touch with nature and to understand their responsibility to take care of these animals.
"It is a privilege to Fedco to be able to support the preservation of the Caribbean region," said Eisenband. "We encourage other companies to join us in sustaining these environmental projects that are essentials to preserve species in danger of extinction such as the case of the spectacle bear. It is extremely important because this is the only bear specie inhabiting in South America."
Fedco is a perfume and feminine beauty product line that for over 30 years has promoted progress in Colombia generating employment, being an economic stimulus and achieving social and environmental goals as part of its corporate and social responsibility. Fedco is run by Leo Eisenband, a business man who believes that private companies have the duty to provide welfare and good quality life for the people.


text: Watch: CCTV footage shows robbery at Chinese supermarket Loop News Created : 29 June 2018 Viral Amid reports of recent robberies at two fast-food restaurants, CCTV footage circulating on social media shows yet another robbery at a supermarket in El Dorado. According to reports, the incident occurred at a Chinese supermarket in El Dorado on June 28. Anyone with information on this incident is urged to contact any police station or call 555, 999, or 800-TIPS. Citizens expressed concern that the rise in crime might drive business owners away. Robert Fortune: "These business people will surely get frustrated and leave if this crime situation continues." Darryl Alexander: "Create enough poverty n everyone becomes a criminal." Kwame Shaun Hernandez: "People working hard to build there business and you doing that." Curtis Chance: "Another good boy doing bad things." Get the latest local and international news straight to your mobile phone for free: Download the Loop News Caribbean app on Google Play Store: http://bit.ly/GetALoop Download the Loop News Caribbean app on the App Store: http://bit.ly/GetiLoop Get the latest local and international news straight to your mobile phone for free:


text:
Raj Bhawans are becoming an embarrassment to India's democratic system. They were designed by the framers of the Constitution to protect the glory of the Republic but have ended up as the least respected and the most subversive institution. It's time to revisit the relevance of the position of governor.
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text:
West Ham owner David Sullivan claims Slaven Bilic had lost his fight… and David Moyes is the right man to save his club
Sullivan has been taking a fair bit of stick from the Hammers fans for the appointment but says he had no choice
DAVID SULLIVAN has been taking his fair share of stick.
West Ham fans are in uproar again and the club's co-owner is getting flak for appointing David Moyes in place of Slaven Bilic.
The London Stadium, with supporters turning their back on the team as they slipped into the relegation zone at the weekend, is toxic.
Something had to give and Bilic got the bullet.
Speaking exclusively to SunSport, Sullivan said: "Sam Allardyce once told me he had the worst job in football.
"I said, 'Are you mad? You are a Premier League manager, you are in charge of West Ham United, you earn a fortune . . . '
"Then he said he was exhausted. That is what the job does to you.
"Slaven is a good man, but he needs a rest to recharge.
C'MON FEEL THE MOYES Moyes wastes no time in getting down to work with his new West Ham squad
"We had to make a change. His eyes had gone — and the fight had gone.
"When I told him, it was almost a relief. It had run its course. He wants to be liked, but we need to win football matches.
Latest West Ham news
"I probably should have made the change in the summer, but we decided to wait. Slaven is worn out."
In his place comes Moyes.
He bounced into East London yesterday, taking charge of his first training session at 2pm on the dot after a meet-and-greet with the club's employees.
Sullivan is convinced the Scot has the enthusiasm, the energy, the drive and the desire to turn it all around.
He knows Moyes is still carrying the scars from his season at Manchester United, his short spell at Real Sociedad and his last job, at Sunderland.
No matter how Moyes tries to dress it up, he is still the man who took the Black Cats down last season.
He has a point to prove, all right.
Sullivan added: "Jose Mourinho had a blip at Chelsea in 2015 and was sacked when they lost ten games before Christmas — does that make him a bad manager?
"He's resurrected himself at United and won three trophies in a season.
"A run of bad results can happen. David accepts what happened at Sunderland but, in my view, it is the kiss of death going there anyway.
"You don't manage a club the size of Everton for ten years if you are a bad manager — he is a good manager.
"He is always watching football, always learning, always observing. He's a football obsessive. He has already taken his first training session and wants to make the players hungrier, stronger and fitter."
That match sharpness has been lacking, with the players bottom of the sprint and distance stats under Bilic.
There is a feeling around West Ham that the Croatian took his eye off the ball in his final few months in charge.
He rarely watched the opposition, seldom scouted them and was never seen at West Ham's Under-23 matches.
After the catastrophic 4-1 defeat to Liverpool, the board were surprised when Bilic gave his players two days off.
It is not a good look for a club with only two league wins from their opening 11 games.
The players are on super-sized salaries, with Marko Arnautovic commanding £100,000 a week and Joe Hart, on loan from Manchester City, on £130,000, while Javier Hernandez is on an eye-watering £150,000.
Robert Snodgrass, famously brought in to replace Dimitri Payet last season, is now on loan at Aston Villa. West Ham pay half his wages.
Sullivan added: "We have spent big money on players the manager wanted.
"I don't veto signings unless we cannot afford them.
"We paid £20million for Andre Ayew, £20m for Arnautovic. This is huge money, then we have to pay their wages.
"We brought in Simone Zaza and he could not score a goal. He's gone to Valencia and now he's one of the leading scorers in the league."
In Bilic's place comes Moyes, who is desperate to show the football world he is still a top-class manager.
Sullivan added: "When I was at Birmingham we tried to get David before he went to Everton — and recently tried to get him before he went to Sociedad.
"Since the appointment, people have been talking very highly about him.
"Leon Osman played for him and said he was the best manager he worked for. That gives me even more confidence in him.
"I looked him in the eye and told him we have not got anybody else signed up or lined up for next season.
"He is an excellent manager — but has to prove that by keeping us in the Premier League."
If he does that, fans might just take to having Moyes as manager long-term.
Tweet @neilashton_


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The Department of Colorectal Surgery, led by Prof. Antonino Spinelli, deals with the diagnosis and treatment of major diseases of the small intestine, colon, rectum and anus. The activities are performed for patients on both an outpatient and inpatient basis (ordinary and day surgery). The surgical team performs over 900 operations and sees over 2800 patients each year.
The team specializes in the treatment of colorectal diseases, such as cancer of the colon and rectum (even in the presence of hereditary tumors), chronic inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), complicated diverticular disease, functional disorders obstructed defecation syndromes, rectal prolapse, rectocele), proctological diseases (hemorrhoids, anal fissures, anal fistulas).
The team uses the most advanced, minimally invasive surgical techniques (via traditional or single access-"single port" laparoscopy and via robotic platform) for the treatment of major diseases of the lower digestive tract, associating them with custom routes of clinical management of the postoperative period, in order to minimize the impact of the surgery on the patient and optimize the recovery and the resumption of normal activities.
In particular, for patients with tumors of the colon and rectum, cancer indications and treatment programs are delineated by continuous collaboration in the form of integrated and multidisciplinary teams that use multiple specialties including Oncology, Endoscopy, Gastroenterology (with family counseling for genetic forms ), Hepatobiliary Surgery, Radiology, Radiotherapy, and Pathological Anatomy. Furthermore, for surgery of large polyps of the rectum and the removal of certain cancers of the rectum, a procedure known as Transanal (Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery, TAMIS; transanal Total mesorectal excision, TaTME) is used, with significant reduction in surgical invasiveness.
For years, there has been a strong partnership with the Centre for the Study and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, led by Dr. Silvio Danese, for an integrated and multidisciplinary approach to these diseases: there are two active multidisciplinary medical-surgical clinics, one of which is exclusively dedicated to patients with Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis after restorative proctocolectomy and is known as the Pouch Clinic.
The Operating Unit of Colon and Rectal Surgery collaborates with the Operating Unit of Gynecology for the combined treatment of deep pelvic endometriosis.
In the postoperative period, the Section uses specialized nurses in advanced wound therapeutics and in the management of stoma, for patients for whom it is necessary.
Alongside the clinical activities, the Operating Unit of Colon and Rectal Surgery is engaged in clinical research related to the application and development of new technologies for the surgical treatment of these diseases. It also plays an active role in an ongoing collaboration with several laboratories for basic scientific research on investigating the molecular basis of intestinal diseases.
The Unit has also recently launched an innovative project for International Clinical Fellowships in Colorectal Surgery and works closely with many of the major centers of international reference.


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Today The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota is a prominent cancer research center and high performing part of Masonic Cancer Center.
After two major expansions in 11 years, The Hormel Institute is home to some of the world's expert cancer researchers, a stunning design for our cancer center and labs filled with state of the art technologies.
We are focused on accelerating answers to cancer so people can live longer, healthier lives. The Hormel Institute is currently comprised of 140 faculty, researchers and staff. We now have 20 research sections with plans to continue to fill the institute's labs with expert scientists to further our mission.
After joining The Hormel Institute in 1999, it has been my great and incredible journey with former executive director Dr. Zigang Dong, faculty and staff to help build The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota to where we are today.
Strengthened by leadership and support from the University of Minnesota, The Hormel Foundation and our generous community, we are fully committed to continuing our quest for continued success through discoveries leading to cancer prevention and healthier controls.
I'm honored to serve as interim Executive Director and I thank you – on behalf of all of The Hormel Institute, UMN – for your continued support.
With kind regards,
Ann M. Bode, Ph.D.
Interim Executive Director


text:
This reply to the House of Lords European Union Select
Committee's report on Mid-Term Review of the Common Agricultural
Policy: external implications (HL 62) is submitted on behalf of
the Government by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs. The response addresses the recommendations as they are
laid out in the report's summary of conclusions and recommendations
(report text shown in bold below). The numbers refer to the paragraph
number in which the recommendations appear in the report.
104. It is essential that the Commission's
recommendations on decoupling are agreed and applied in advance
of the eastward enlargement from 2004 to ensure that any stimulation
of production resulting from the application of EU agriculture
policy is minimised (paragraph 42).
We share the Committee's view. Decoupling will remove
the perverse incentives to over-production in the current system
and allow producers in both new and old Member States, to optimise,
rather than maximise, production. Furthermore decoupling will
also minimise the distortion of market signals in the accession
countries when the CAP is extended to them. Many of the accession
countries' agricultural sectors are in need of significant restructuring.
We believe enhanced rural development measures would be the best
way to support them.
105. A necessary corollary to decoupling of
subsidies from production is the abolition of market intervention
and export subsidies. Change in emphasis from production and market
support to the stimulation of structural change through modulation
is even more essential in eastern European than in the EU15 (paragraph
In general it is true that the new Member States
need to restructure their agriculture even more than the EU15.
The predominant structure of farming in the new Member Stateslarge
numbers of small holdings with limited interaction with the marketsmeans
that their agricultural productivity tends to lag some way behind
levels in the EU15. This is why direct payments are being phased
in and why the new Member States are being offered a broader and
more generous rural development instrument. Rural development
commitments for the new Member States are in excess of direct
payment commitments for the period 2004-2006this should
help to prevent ossification of their current structure of farming.
Furthermore, beneficial co-financing terms and an extended and
adapted rural development regulation between 2004-2006 should
help candidates further to restructure and to modernise their
agricultural economies in their first years after Accession. Contrary
to the implications of paragraph 102 of the report on decoupling,
Poland has stated it intends to make use of the option available
to new Member States to apply a flat rate, decoupled direct payment
system and others are at least giving consideration to following
suit. The UK supports the gradual reduction in CAP market support
which will benefit the whole of the enlarged EU.
106. As we recommend in paragraph 91, modulation
should involve a larger proportion than the maximum of 6 per cent
to be removed from direct subsidies and transferred to structural
measures, and this should take place at a faster rate than the
seven years (effectively ten, since the transfer would not start
until 2007) recommended by the Commission (paragraph 46).
The Government agrees that the proposed level of
modulation funds to be made available for rural development may
not be sufficient for a strengthened second pillar. We have led
calls for a faster and larger transfer of funds to the second
pillar. At the time of writing, the outcome of Council negotiations
on CAP reform is not known.
107. Serious consideration should also
be given to transferring funds to Pillar 2 policies in the new
Member States at a greater rate than in the EU15, possibly by
skimming off a percentage of the yield from modulation in the
current Member States (paragraph 47).
The Commission proposal to transfer funds from direct
payments to rural development is vital to meet our objectives
for rural areas in the EU15; in fact we have called for a more
signification transfer of resources. The new Member States will
benefit from a more generous rural development instrument in the
2004-06 period as a result of the accession negotiations. We can
look again at levels of Rural Development commitments when we
come to set levels post-2006. We would want such allocations to
be based on objective criteria. The UK receives an unfairly small
share of Rural Development funds and we are actively seeking to
increase this.
108. Urgent consideration should be given
to the formulation of proposals for the reform of the market regime
for sugar and dairy products, which have particularly important
implications for the new Member States. We consider the Commission's
recent proposals (January 2003) for the dairy sector to be completely
inadequate; they leave the market unliberalised and the market
distorting intervention and export subsidisation mechanisms intact.
They also go against earlier understandings under Agenda 2000
(paragraph 50).
109. Proposals
for these two sectors should involve, most essentially, plans
for the rapid phasing out of the delivery and production quotas
linked to stepped cuts in support prices with a view to rapid
abolition of market support and export subsidisation. A short
time limit should be set for the further operation of milk and
sugar quotas. Compensation for the removal of support should be
incorporated into the plans for the payment of decoupled income
subsidies (paragraph 51).
112. Urgent consideration should be given
to the formulation of proposals for the reform of the market regimes
for dairy products and sugar. We do not regard the latest proposals
for modification of the dairy common market organisation as a
valid contribution to trade liberalisation. These should involve,
most essentially, plans for the rapid phasing out of the delivery
and production quotas in both sectors, linked to stepped cuts
in support prices with a view to rapid abolition of market support
and export subsidisation (paragraph 59).
Paragraphs 108, 109 and 112 (sugar aspects)
On sugar, the Government agrees that a high priority
should be given to early and radical reform of the EU regime.
The Commission has indicated that their report and conclusions
will be issued shortly, and we welcome this. The Government believes
that the current EU Regime, based on high internal prices, import
controls and export subsidies, is unsustainable.
If the present CAP reform proposals for other sectors,
including decoupled payments to farmers, are agreed this summer,
we hope and expect that sugar would follow this model.
Paragraphs 108,109, and 112 (dairy aspects)
On milk, the Government shares the Sub-Committee's
disappointment that the Commission has proposed the extension
of quotas to 2015, despite the clear mandate from the Berlin Council
for their abolition. However, the price cuts proposed, which go
much further than those agreed under Agenda 2000, are welcome
as a stage towards the abolition of quotas, and a more market-orientated
milk regime. (In our assessment, the cuts would probably result
in the alignment of EC skimmed milk prices with those on the world
market by 2008/09, although additional cuts of around 12% would
still be required for butter). We agree that the direct aid in
compensation for the milk price cuts should be decoupled, and
therefore support the Commission's proposal to integrate the dairy
premium into the single income payment.
111. It is essential that the European Union
agrees the proposals for the decoupling of subsidies from production.
This is the only way that the EU can present a credible proposal
to what is intended to be a "Development Round"in
other words providing real agricultural trade advantages to less
developed countriesand strengthen its own negotiating position.
We do not regard the Commission's draft current minimal EU proposal
to Geneva as a valid contribution to progress, since it is based
on the assumption that present methods of agricultural support
will be maintained and that the EU will continue to support markets,
subsidise exports and maintain prohibitive import barriers (paragraph
The Government supports decoupling of subsidies from
production. We believe that the EU's current proposals on agricultural
trade, submitted to the WTO in January, offer a valid contribution
to the negotiating process although we share the Committee's views
that we will need to move further. Decoupling would provide the
114. The EU has a responsibility towards the
world community, particularly towards less prosperous members,
which it has yet to address properly. We share DfID's disappointment
that the Commission has not looked in more detail at the impact
of its proposals on developing countries. If there is to be any
gain for the less developed countries in the mid-term review process
it has to come from a significant reduction in the level of EU
subsidisation of production. Only in this way can subsidised competition
in the domestic markets of these countries and on the international
market be reduced. For this reason it is not only necessary that
the EU's subsidies be detached from production, but also that
the level of subsidy payment to the individual producer be reduced.
It is clear that large subsidies to large farms are a positive
incentive to low cost production which will continue to undercut
international marketswhatever from the subsidy may take.
We deplore the complacent attitude of a number of Member States'
governments to this problem, as revealed in the seven ministers'
open letter of 23 September (paragraph 77).
The Government shares the Committee's concern for
the less prosperous members of the world community and agree that
if the current proposals for CAP reform are to offer any real
gain to less developed countries it can only come through significant
reductions in production-related subsidies. The Doha Trade Round
commits all member countries to substantial reductions in market
protection and trade-distorting subsidies and we support the current
CAP reform initiative as a means to helping achieve this.
115. We therefore recommend that in order
to act as intended, as an income subsidy only, the level of subsidy
receipts allowed to individual holdings should be capped, as originally
proposed, but at a much lower rate than that recommended by the
Commission. The converted subsidy should be utilised only as a
transitional income supplement, to be used only where hardship
is created by elimination of EU support to production or in economically
disfavoured areas (paragraph 78).
The UK did not support the Commission's earlier idea
to cap the subsidies available to large farms. This would discriminate
against the UK, which has more such farms than most other Member
States, and discriminate against employed labour which tends to
be more important on the larger farms. We will argue for a fair,
transparent and simple method of degression with flat-rate, across-the-board
reductions. Our experience of administering modulation in the
UK supports this approach. A simpler approach would avoid these
discriminatory impacts, encourage efficient restructuring in rural
areas and provide a simple way of raising funds for rural development.
116. As part of the mid-term review the EU
must abandon its direct subsidisation of exports and scale down
its import tariffs. Developing country trade is particularly affected
by the EU's subsidised exports of wheat, dairy products and sugar.
It is therefore all the more essential that the EU abandons its
direct subsidisation of these exports and takes early steps to
reform its dairy and sugar market regimes which remain the two
outstanding examples of unreconstructed common market organisations.
The Commission's January 2003 proposal to continue dairy quotas
is a step in the wrong direction (paragraph 79).
The Government supports the substantial reduction,
with a view to phasing out, of all forms of export subsidies and
substantial reductions of import tariffs. We are committed to
continue negotiating with other WTO members to achieve a successful
agreement on these issues in the ongoing WTO negotiations on agriculture.
We support the need for reform of the diary and sugar market regimes
including the abolition of dairy quotas (see also replies to paragraphs
108, 109 and 112).
117. Where reform of European agriculture
policy and the introduction of the "Everything But Arms"
agreement harms the incomes of countries which are dependent on
the high prices maintained in the EU market through long-standing
preferential access agreements, the EU's development effort to
diversify the economies of these countries should be intensified
(paragraph 80).
The Government is working with multilateral and other
bilateral agencies to build trading capacity within developing
countries so that they are better able to compete on the world
markets. For example, we are working with some ACP countries,
such as Barbados, to help them adapt for the reform of the EU
sugar regime once the EBA agreement is fully implemented.
119. An important conclusion to be drawn from
the evidence presented by less developing country and development
agency representatives is that reduction of subsidised competition
and the lowering of import barriers is only part of the solution
to the problem of increasing the agricultural trade of developing
countries. As important is the removal of health, technical and
quality obstacles. We therefore recommend that more emphasis should
urgently be given to development projects which will assist less
developed countries to meet EU health, safety, quality and labelling
requirements (paragraph 81).
We agree that more emphasis should be given to help
developing countries in the area of standards. We work with a
number of multilateral agencies and in particular through the
Standards and Trade Development Facility of the World Bank with
the WTO, FAO, and WHO which delivers capacity building to developing
countries to meet the Doha objectives. DfID also supports developing
country representation at a number of international committees
to support the interests of developing countries and ensure that
their views are taken into account in the standards-setting process.
The European Commission has a number of development assistance
projects on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) and Technical Barriers
to Trade (TBT) matters, which DfID contributes to.
120. It is essential that the cross-compliance
measures and the closely allied Farm Advisory system recommended
in the mid-term review proposals are sufficiently effective to
ensure that possible intensification stimulated by the reduction
of support to production is discouraged (paragraph 90).
On cross-compliance: The Government anticipates
that the overall effect of de-coupling will be to reduce the incentive
for production. We acknowledge that a degree of intensification
may ensue, but other farms may see significant reductions in the
intensity of production and problems of under-grazing. We are
continuing to work to establish a meaningful set of cross-compliance
conditions attached to Pillar I payments to counter potentially
negative environmental effects. The proposals envisage that the
redeployment of some Pillar I funds to Pillar II schemes will
target money at increasing environmental protection and enhancement.
Furthermore, in the event of changing land-use practices, there
are a number of existing policy mechanisms which provide safeguards
as well as incentives for enhancement of the environment.
On the Farm Advisory System: The Government
agrees with this view and with the related comments in paragraph
89 on the need for a flexible risk-based approach to environmental
regulation relying more on self-regulation and effective delivery
of advice. The government does not consider that the Commission's
proposed farm advisory system would fit well into this model,
and is pressing for changes designed to yield better value for
money and promote more effective outcomes.
121. The switching of funds from support of
production to structural, environmental and other Pillar 2 considerations
proposed by the Commission amounts to only a possible total of
1.5 billion for the EU15 by the end of a seven year period.
We consider that this is inadequate to have any noticeable effect.
We therefore recommend thatsubject to careful monitoring
and assessment of value for moneythe modulation percentage
should be considerably more than the maximum of 19 per cent proposed
under the Commission's "degressive modulation" proposal
of 21 January 2003 and that the time allotted to reach the full
figure should be considerably less than what has now effectively
become ten years. We deplore the delay in the application of this
measure until 2007, as recommended in the January modification
of the Commission's proposals (paragraph 91).
The Government agrees that the proposed level of
modulation funds to be made available for rural development may
not be sufficient for a strengthened second pillar. We are therefore
continuing to press for a faster and larger transfer of funds
to the second pillar.
122. A revised CAP should be less complicated,
less bureaucratic and less centralised. It should offer farmers
more choice about how to run their businesses. In this respect
these proposals fall far short of the Commission's commendable
intentions to deliver such reforms (paragraph 92).
We agree with the Committee's assertion that a revised
CAP should be less complicated, less bureaucratic and less centralised.
Decoupling will lead to significant simplification for farmers,
the industry, and the various agencies involved in distributing
and enforcing the CAP. We also agree that CAP reform will offer
farmers more choice, as they will be able to optimise their production,
as it will be market oriented. Although we would have liked the
Commission's proposals to go further, we do not believe they fall
short of the Commission's intentions, as they do go a long way
in the direction of developing a sustainable, simplified and market
oriented common agricultural policy.
123. If environmental measures are to be effective
it is important that, rather than being of an essentially prescriptive
nature, the new policies envisaged within the mid-term review
proposals should be designed to encourage and reward good land
management. We recommend that the type of subsidised "best
practice" measures being developed in the UK and in some
other EU Member States should be adopted at the general European
level (paragraph 93).
The Government agrees that rural development measures
should be sufficiently flexible to allow Member States to target
rural development priorities including good land management. 'Agri-environment
measures are a compulsory requirement of Rural Development Programmes.
To ensure agri-environment schemes reflect the varying needs and
characteristics of each Member State, the responsibility for scheme
design should remain at Member State level. The Government agrees,
however, that having such agri-environment measures should continue
to be a compulsory element of Rural Development Programmes. The
Government will consider, in advance of decisions on the next
EU Financial Perspective, whether further changes are needed to
the EU framework to ensure that a consistently high contribution
to objectives such as the protection of biodiversity are made
across the EU's Member States.
124. Early agreement and the application
of the Commission's cross-compliance proposals is if anything
more urgent in the new Member States than in the EU15. This is
because there are many habitats and species still surviving in
Eastern Europe which are now rare in the west. Faire to apply
effective cross-compliance measures could result in these being
endangered by the intensification in these regions (paragraph
The Government supports the principle of cross-compliance,
which, among other things, seeks to establish minimum standards
for environmental conditions on farms. Under the current proposals,
farmers would also have to ensure minimum maintenance levels to
avoid deterioration of habitats.
While the Government acknowledges that there may
be a number of vulnerable habitats and species in Eastern Europe,
we envisage that effective implementation of all relevant EU legislation
in accession States, and not only that which relates to cross-compliance,
would ensure that habitats and species are adequately protected.


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Araromi, Dauda O. and Alade, Abass Olanrewaju and Bello, Muibat Olabisi and Bakare, Taofiq and Akinwande, Bolanle Aishat and Jameel, Ahmad Tariq and Adegbola, Samuel A. (2017) Optimization of oil extraction from Pitanga (Eugenia Uniflora L) leaves using Simplex Centroid Design (SCD). Separation Science and Technology, 52 (8). pp. 1341-1349. ISSN 0149-6395 E-ISSN 1520-5754


text:
About Us
Fox Family Heating and Air Conditioning is owned by Greg and Melissa Fox.
If you call to schedule an appointment or have questions about your club membership, you will likely talk to Melissa. If you need an estimate for HVAC replacement or have a service call, there is a good chance you will meet Greg.
Of course, we trust all the members of our team with the comfort and safety of your home. The unique thing about Fox Family owners, Greg and Melissa, is they absolutely love working directly with customers and the day to day operations of the business. You will always be greeted by a friendly voice or smile. You should expect "Fast, Honest, Friendly" service when you work with Fox Family Heating and Air Conditioning.
We appreciate your interest and hope to serve you soon.
What You Can Expect From Us
Our focus is on residential heating and air conditioning system repair. We're the HVAC service company determined to prove there is still a "Fast, Honest and Friendly" HVAC company in the Sacramento Valley. It's a privilege to be invited into your home to service your heating and cooling equipment, and we take your comfort and safety very seriously.
Fox Family serves all of the cities in the Greater Sacramento, CA area, including Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Arden-Arcade, Fair Oaks, Citrus Heights, Roseville, Rocklin, Folsom, and El Dorado Hills, CA. We also serve Cameron Park, Shingle Springs, Placerville, Coloma, and Auburn, CA.
We appreciate your interest and hope to serve you soon.
Meet the Family
Melissa Fox
Greg Fox
Keith Worley
Field Supervisor
Erik Hayes
Service Technician
Andrew Peterson
Service Technician
Kyle Rovane
Service Technician
Colin Smith
Service Technician
Kyle Wernersbach
Service Technician
Sasha Worley
Customer Support


text:
Nunavut is a vast but sparsely populated Canadian Arctic territory between the 60th parallel and the North Pole, with the Northwest Territories, Yukon and Alaska to the west, and Greenland to the east.
Credit: By TUBS [CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons
With 1,936,113 square kilometres of land, Nunavut makes up 21 per cent of the total land area of Canada. However, it also has an extremely small population. According to the 2016 census Nunavut had a population of 35,944 primarily living in 25 small communities, the largest being the capital, Iqaluit, with a population of 7,7401.
The Arctic has a frigid climate with long, cold winters and short, cool summers which seems dangerously hostile to human settlement. The temperature in Nunavut's coldest community, Grise Fiord, rarely rises above freezing, and winter temperatures may drop as low as −50°C. Nunavut is not only cold, it is also extremely dry. Annual precipitation is so low, in fact, that it is classified as a polar desert.1
Nevertheless, the native Inuit people have managed to live successfully in this challenging climate and to develop a unique culture. They migrated east from Alaska in the 11th century at around the same time that Norse pioneers from northern Europe were establishing farming communities in Greenland12.
Contact between Inuit and Europeans has a long but sporadic history. The Inuit originally traded with the Norse for metal tools, and subsequently came into contact with Basque and Portuguese fishermen and whalers who arrived in Labrador in the sixteenth century2. Searching for a Northwest passage to the Pacific, Henry Hudson, William Baffin and Robert Bylot undoubtedly encountered the Inuit when they explored Hudson's Bay and the coast of Baffin Island in the seventeenth century3.
Contact became more frequent when European whaling ships began to ply Arctic waters in the eighteenth century. Desperate for whale oil to lubricate the machines which fueled the Industrial Revolution, Britain dominated the whaling industry in the late eighteenth century4. Year round whaling stations were established in the mid nineteenth century and the Inuit traded with European whalers and sometimes worked at whaling stations1.
Credit: By Unknown - Ellis, R. 1994. Monsters of the Sea. Robert Hale Ltd., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1405188
However, over-harvesting of whale stocks led to a severe decline in the whale population. This, combined with other factors such as the discovery of a new lubricant, petroleum, resulted in the gradual decline of the whaling industry4.
By the end of the century, the whaling industry in the Eastern Arctic had come to an end. Britain transferred her Arctic territories to Canada in 18805. However Canada did little to solidify legal claims to the North American Arctic until 1922 when Royal Canadian Mounted Police posts were established on Baffin and Ellesmere Islands, and annual ship patrols of the Eastern Arctic began1.
Otherwise, this vast frozen land was largely ignored by Canada and the world until the construction of northern air bases during World War Two. Subsequently, during the Cold War, a line of radar stations which constituted the DEW Line or Distant Early Warning System was constructed across Canada's north in order to be prepared for the possibility of a Russian attack.
Land Claims
The creation of Nunavut was the culmination of over forty years of negotiations concerning the largest Aboriginal land claim settlement in Canadian history.
In 1969 two important events took place. A Commissioner of Native Claims was appointed to address Inuit grievances, including forced relocation and lack of economic opportunity. At the same time the Inuit Tapirisat of Canada (ITC) was formed to pursue land claims negotiations based on a historic precedent of 1,000 years of continuous occupation.6
In 1973 negotiations for aboriginal title were supported by favorable court decisions based on ancestral rights. The ITC began negotiating Inuit hunting rights, and received federal assistance for a study of land use and occupancy to support their claims6. Following lengthy negotiations, an agreement was ratified by 84.7 percent of residents in a plebiscite held in September, 1992.
Credit: By Ansgar Walk at the German language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4327864
The 1993 Nunavut Land Claims Agreement Act established the new territory of Nunavut by separating Canada's eastern Arctic from the western Northwest Territories. The Act gave the Inuit land rights to over 350,000 square kilometers of territory, including mineral rights to 36,000 square kilometres. It provided for capital transfers to the Inuit of $1.14 billion and an ongoing share of royalties from resource development. It also guaranteed territorial hunting rights and shared responsibility for land and environmental management7.
Nunavut elected its first Legislative Assembly in February, 19999 and its government, the first primarily Native government in North America, was established in April, 19998. Nunavut has a consensus government system, meaning that all decisions in the legislative assembly are reached through majority consensus rather than by voting along political party lines.
Credit: No machine-readable author provided. CambridgeBayWeather assumed (based on copyright claims). - No machine-readable source provided. Own work assumed (based on copyright claims).
The official languages of the territory are English, French, and the Inuit languages Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun, with Inuit languages being the first language for 83 percent of the population10.
The main industries in Nunavut include fishing, hunting and trapping. Hunting and trapping contribute an estimated $40,000,000 per year to the economy. While there are commercial char, turbot and shrimp fisheries, much remains unknown about the ocean around Nunavut. The territorial government, with federal funding assistance, has purchased a ship to conduct marine research which could help to further develop the fishing industry 10.
Arts and crafts is another important source of income. Inuit carvings and prints are popular with collectors worldwide11.
Credit: By Kiugak Ashoona (Cape Dorset, Nunavut Territory, Canada) (photo taken by Ansgar Walk) [CC BY-SA 2.5 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
The mineral wealth of Nunavut is a barely tapped resource with vast potential, but the extreme Arctic climate and poor infrastructure make it particularly difficult to develop. Minerals that have been discovered include gold, lead, zinc, iron, nickel, copper, platinum1 and diamonds.
Diamonds were first discovered in Canada's Arctic in 1991. Canada's first diamond mine opened near Lac de Gras NWT in 1998 and by 2003 Canada became the world's third-largest diamond producer after Russia and Botswana.1
As a leading producer of ethical diamonds, Canada became a key player in international efforts to regulate the diamond trade and prevent the illicit trade in conflict or "blood" diamonds, which are used to fund armed conflicts in Africa. Canada played an important role in the development and implementation of the Kimberley Process, a diamond certification programme designed to prevent the sale of conflict diamonds on the international market.13
Nunavut's first diamond mine was the Jericho mine, which opened in 2006.13 However, the history of diamond mining in Nunavut has been problematic. According to Wikipedia, the Jericho mine produced 780,000 carats of diamonds between 2006 and 200814 . Unfortunately, the company subsequently declared bankruptcy. The mine was purchased by Shear Diamonds in 2010 but the company's plans to revitalize the abandoned mine came to an abrupt end in 2013 when its administration office suddenly shut down and company personnel vanished.15
In 2017 the Federal government announced that it would go ahead with plans for environmental clean-up and stablization of the minesite16. In addition, there is a new company interested in opening a diamond mine north of Iqaluit if it can obtain sufficient funding17.
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Visiting Nunavut
Another developing sector of the economy is tourism.
Many tourists are attracted to Nunavut's uniquely wild land, its austere natural beauty and its wildlife. The territory has five national parks and national wildlife areas, as well as territorial parks, historic sites and wildlife sanctuaries1. Visitors can enjoy outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, dogsledding, bird watching, canoeing, and snowmobiling. They can also learn about the culture and history of the territory, enjoy local festivals and purchase Inuit arts and crafts18.
Credit: Paul Gierszewski. Own Work. Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Future Challenges
Economic development in this harsh, sparsely populated land remains a challenge. Mining could help to fuel development but there are also serious environmental concerns. The Inuit remain dependent on subsistence hunting, and the environmental impact of mining could severely impact the habitat of important species on which they depend, such as caribou.1
Another challenge which Nunavut faces is the impact of global warming, which is having a greater impact in the Arctic than other parts of the world. Shrinking sea ice is threatening animals such as polar bears, seals and other animals which are a vital part of the Inuit diet. In addition, the permanently frozen layer of subsoil known as permafrost is melting. This results in ground becoming unstable, which poses a threat to housing and infrastructure1.
As global warming causes the sea ice to melt, Canadian Arctic sovereignty is becoming a vital issue. The Northwest Passage sought by seventeenth century explorers such as Hudson, Baffin and Bylot could well become ice free, leaving the Arctic Ocean open for international shipping as well as oil and gas exploration.
The United Nations Law of the Sea Convention, ratified by Canada in 2004, divides the Arctic between Canada, the United States, Russia, Norway and Denmark. However, the ownership of some areas remains in dispute. These include Hans Island, a small island between Greenland and Ellesmere Island in Nunavut, and the Lomonosov Ridge, an underground mountain chain which stretches from the New Siberian Islands in Russia to Ellesmere Island in Nunavut19. There is also disagreement between Canada and the U.S as to whether the shipping channels in the High Arctic are Canadian internal waterways or international waters.1Credit: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
While Nunavut faces many challenges, it's people have moved rapidly in the last 60 years from a marginal hunter gatherer society into the complex, multinational world of the twenty-first century. Nunavut also has the fastest growing population in Canada. The 2016 census showed a 12.7 percent population increase from 2011, with 30% of the population under the age of 14, giving Nunavut the youngest population in the country.1
Nunavut, which means "our land" in Inuktituk, is young, proud, and ready to face the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century.


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It's been years, in some cases decades, but I still mourn them, my favorite TV shows that never had a chance to live, snuffed out by the networks that created them before they could gain a following. I might be biased, because these shows were among MY favorites, but the writing was excellent and the acting was superb. What made them stand out was that they offered something that was different.
These shows hooked me from the start then left me gaping when they were cancelled.
Do you remember these shows?
The Class (CBS) – Six friends who were in the third grade together reconnect twenty years later. FUNNY and irreverent. Jesse Tyler Ferguson who plays Mitchell on ABC's Modern Family (one of my new favorites) was in this show. It lasted for only one season, 2006-2007.
Moonlight (CBS) – I've spoken about this show before. A vampire private eye watches over a woman internet reporter he'd once saved. Chemistry up the yin yang. I fell in love with vampires as a result of this show. It too, lasted only one season, 2007-2008.
Swingtown (CBS) – Is there a trend here with CBS? Set during the sexual revolution of the 1970s, a couple is introduced to the swinging lifestyle by their more worldly neighbors. When previews first aired, I remember thinking, "Whoa, that's risqué for CBS." I guess it was. I loved the mood and tone of this show, and the plotting…the way the inexperienced couple was seduced into swinging. I may have to write my own swinging tale one day as a result of this show. It aired in 2008.
Duet (Fox) – This romantic comedy followed the dating relationship of a young couple, starring Mary Page Keller. Well written. This was one of those shows that felt REAL and spoke to me at a time in my life when I was single and dating. LOVED this show. It lasted two seasons, 1987-1989.
The Reaper (CW) – Because his parents sold his soul to devil, on his 21st birthday, a young man is forced to work for Satan as a reaper, reclaiming souls who escaped from hell. Grim, yes. Irreverent, absolutely. And snort-through-your nose funny. The main character's two buddies helped him on his assignments – it was a great friendship story. This show kept me on the edge of my seat. It ran 2007 – 2009.
The Mole (ABC) – The Mole remains one of my most favorite reality shows and the only one I could see myself going on. A group of people have challenges to complete to add to their pot of money. But one of them is a saboteur, whose goal is to prevent them from winning. There were only five shows, two them "celebrity" Mole episodes. 2001-02, 2003-04, 2008.
Did you have a favorite show that ended too soon?


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I am going to be a bit naughty and I will start the review of this book with a negative comment: it is far too short. I wrote it, that's it. I would have loved to read two hundred pages more!
Jenetta James was so extremely kind as to offer me a copy of her book in exchange of a honest review and here you have it. I do apologise for taking so long but life got in the middle.
If you like books like The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown or The Eight by Katherine Neville + Jane Austen, you will love this book. The Elizabeth Papers features two intertwined storylines set two centuries apart where the protagonist of the 19th century are Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy, yes, the characters from Pride and Prejudice. Whereas the protagonists from the 21st century are Charlie Haywood, a private detective, and Evie Pemberton, a young artist.
Both Charlie and Evie come together due to a Darcy Trust that gives money to all Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy's female descendants. But why? Why only the women and what does Charlie and Evie have to do with it?
In order to know the reasons behind that trust, Charlie investigates to know the truth and what will make this book awesome is a secret diary written by Elizabeth Darcy about her life and her secrets. Do you believe that Darcy and Elizabeth were always happy? Do you think that there was no betrayal or infidelity? Are you of the opinion that Elizabeth and Darcy were happy ever after their double wedding with the lovely couple of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bingley?
You must read this book and discover it for yourself. There will be moments of disbelief and incredulity but you will have to keep reading and find out why does this trust exists and what happened to the protagonists of, I believe, the most famous novel by Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice.
I want to also mention a bit more about Charlie and Evie: there is mistrust, there is chemistry, there is attraction, there is pain but eventually things get better for them after they solve the enigma of The Elizabeth Papers. However, will there be a happy ending for the 21st century characters?
I recommend you to go directly to your usual bookshop and buy this book. It is easier to go online and get a ebook copy or a paperback. You can find The Elizabeth papers on:
Amazon UK Amazon US Amazon ES (English version) BN Book Depository
Moreover, follow Jenetta James to see what else she is writing.
Facebook Goodreads Meryton Press Twitter
She has another novel: Suddenly Mrs. Darcy, it is on my to-be-read list and it is very intriguing because Mrs. Bennet declares that Mr. Darcy has compromised Elizabeth and they must marry. (I have checked and it is only 170 pages… guess who is going to complain about that on her review 😉 )


text: View Bag Shop >Jewellery >Necklaces <> Koru Heart Locket (Treasured love) 2P23313 Meaning 'Treasured Love' Our delicate heart locket, adorned with a contemporary New Zealand motif, represents secret love. Open and stow a tiny photo of someone special, a note with a secret message, or something blue for your wedding day. Delivery We currently ship to NZ, Australia, Europe USA & Canada. Free Shipping Offers: FREE Standard shipping on all orders over NZD $150 FREE Express shipping on all orders over NZD $500 Paid Shipping Services: New Zealand - Standard: $6.40 (3-6 business days) Australia - Standard: $9.90 (5-8 business days) Australia - Express: $23.50 (4-5 business days) USA & Canada - Standard: $18.50 (8-12 business days) USA & Canada - Express: $41.00 (7-8 business days) Europe* - Standard: $18.50 (8-12 business days) Europe* - Express: $41.00 (7-8 business days) Japan - Standard: $17.00 (8-12 business days) Japan - Express: $40.00 (6-7 business days) Guarantee Evolve jewellery is designed & handcrafted with care, to the highest standards. We're proud to be a Kiwi owned & operated company & offer a 12 month product warranty* * Products with leather, cotton, resin, elastic or string components have a warranty of 6 months For more information, please view our full warranty terms. Like all quality jewellery, Evolve Products require special care. Please ensure you follow our cleaning & care guidelines to keep your jewellery looking as stunning as the day you bought it. Choose your chain None $0.00 NZD Evolve Curb Chain View Select a Size: 45cm: +$45.00 55cm: +$49.00 Evolve Small Cable Chain View Select a Size 45cm: +$55.00 55cm: +$59.00 Evolve Medium Cable Chain View Select a Size 55cm: +$65.00 80cm: +$89.00 Evolve Large Cable Chain View Select a Size: 40cm: +$89.00 50cm: +$95.00 70cm: +$110.00 Evolve Belcher Chain View Select a Size 55cm: +$95.00 $125.00 NZD incl. GST Quantity: We currently ship to NZ, Australia, Europe* USA & Canada. Find a store Add to Wish List print meaning


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Just Resist Ticket Sales
Thank you for purchasing a ticket for Just Resist: An Evening with Winona LaDuke and Water Protectors.
Tickets are $10 for students and seniors, $20 for the general public, and free for Native American community members. For a free ticket, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com or by calling 541-301-9204.
All proceeds will benefit Honor the Earth and the Next Generation Climate Justice Action Camp.
Who's donating: David Maas from Ashland, OR donated. Thank you!


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Cold Spring Harbor, NY – A research team at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has used a recently developed technology they call TSUNAMI to create the first animal model of the adult-onset version of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a devastating motor-neuron illness.
The same team, led by CSHL Professor Adrian R. Krainer, Ph.D., and including scientists from California-based Isis Pharmaceuticals, as well as the University of Southern California and Stony Brook University, succeeded a year ago in using TSUNAMI to make a mouse model of the disease as it is manifest in children. In its most severe form, called Type I SMA, the disease is the leading genetic cause of childhood mortality. Half of infants with Type I SMA die before their second birthday.
Many SMA patients do reach adulthood, however, and on occasion people develop symptoms of the illness only after they have become adults. Hence the importance of the team's success, reported online today in EMBO Molecular Medicine.
All patients with SMA, regardless of their age, have a non-functional version of a gene called SMN1, or are missing it entirely. The acronym "SMN" stands for "survival of motor neuron" and suggests why SMA is so serious. The SMN1 gene encodes a protein, called SMN, that motor neurons need in order to function. Humans have a backup copy of the gene, called SMN2, which produces the same protein, but in much lower amounts.
The body's manufacture of the SMN protein from the SMN2 gene can limit the impact of SMA. How much a patient is helped depends on the number of copies of the SMN2 gene they possess. People who have 2-3 copies (Type II SMA) make more protein and survive longer, but can never walk. Those with 3-4 copies (Type III SMA) usually have a normal lifespan and can walk early in life but accumulate various limiting disabilities over time. Type IV SMA patients have 4 or more copies of the SMN2 gene and don't experience effects of the disease until adulthood. Yet they often end up in wheelchairs.
Scientists understand why SMN2 does not efficiently yield functional protein: much of its RNA "message" is edited incorrectly, in a process called pre-mRNA splicing. The flaw in the protein's production is understood. "What we don't understand is how insufficient levels of the SMN protein in the period following development – i.e., adulthood — causes pathology in different parts of the body," Krainer explains. "That's why we set out to create a model in the adult mouse."
The Krainer lab's TSUNAMI technology actually intensifies SMA's pathological processes in mice bred to mimic the less intense forms of the illness. Thus, it can be used to recapitulate the process by which pathology manifests in different places in the body over the model animal's lifespan.
"Our efforts to model the adult form of SMA were successful," says Kentaro Sahashi, M.D., Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher and neurologist who is first author of the team's new paper. "We observed delayed onset of motor neuron dysfunction; we noted also that SMN2 mis-splicing increases during the late stages of SMA, likely accelerating its progression in the body. We noted, importantly, marked liver and heart pathologies that were related to SMA's progression in adults."
Drs. Sahashi and Krainer added: "Perhaps most encouraging, our mouse model suggests that only moderate levels of SMN protein are needed in the adult nervous system for normal function. This means that there may be a broad time window in adult Type IV SMA patients in which to intervene therapeutically."
Dr. Krainer and colleagues, together with Isis Pharmaceuticals, have identified and characterized an antisense oligonucleotide drug that is currently in Phase 2 clinical trials.
The research described in this release was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the SMA Foundation, and the St. Giles Foundation.
"Pathological impact of SMN2 mis-splicing in adult SMA mice" is published online ahead of print September 9, 2013 in EMBO Molecular Medicine. The authors are: Kentaro Sahashi, Karen K.Y. Ling, Yimin Hua, J. Erby Wilkinson, Tomoki Nomakuchi, Frank Rigo, Gene Hung, David Xu, Ya-Ping Jiang, Richard Z. Lin, Chien-Ping Ko, C. Frank Bennett and Adrian R. Krainer. The paper can be viewed online at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/emmm.201302567/abstract.
About Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Founded in 1890, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has shaped contemporary biomedical research and education with programs in cancer, neuroscience, plant biology and quantitative biology. CSHL is ranked number one in the world by Thomson Reuters for the impact of its research in molecular biology and genetics. The Laboratory has been home to eight Nobel Prize winners. Today, CSHL's multidisciplinary scientific community is more than 600 researchers and technicians strong and its Meetings & Courses program hosts more than 12,000 scientists from around the world each year to its Long Island campus and its China center. Tens of thousands more benefit from the research, reviews, and ideas published in journals and books distributed internationally by CSHL Press. The Laboratory's education arm also includes a graduate school and programs for middle and high school students and teachers. CSHL is a private, not-for-profit institution on the north shore of Long Island. For more information, visit www.cshl.edu.
Written by: Peter Tarr, Senior Science Writer | [email protected] | 516-367-8455


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While summer and winter may be the most popular seasons in Sun Valley, many folks will tell you fall is actually the best time to be here, especially if you...Read More
Ever since it first opened eight years ago, people have loved the Sun Valley Clubhouse. And it only takes a single visit to the sun deck, especially on an...Read More
Conditions could not have been much better as golf season teed off this weekend in Sun Valley. If the warm sunshine, lush fairways and gentle greens weren't enough...Read More
While skiers and boarders bid adieu to another season on Baldy last weekend, the crews at some of Sun Valley's other famous terrain were busy at work. Pre-season...Read More
When it comes to swinging the sticks, Sun Valley has become a dream-come-true destination. The place is literally surrounded by three world-class courses. It also offers a wide variety of...Read More


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Broschiertes Buch7th edition. Specifically designed for ESL students preparing to take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).
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Making Meaning – Critiquing Reality Using Web 2.0 to Foster Critical Thinking
This webinar explored the underpinnings of critical thinking, asking three questions:
Is it developmental?
How do we know when we see it?
Can it be measured?
A website that provides perspective about the developmental aspect is Kids on the Net: Critical Thinking Skills for Web Literacy – An Analysis of What Kids Should Know about Cyberspace. This site explains the development of cognitive, emotional, moral, and psychological issues of different children's age groups. Their resources show that learning critical thinking should address these issues in a developmental way, building skills step by step.
There are quite a few different models/definitions/attributes of critical thinking that attempt to make it possible to observe it in action. Every description depended on the discipline it came from, i.e. psychology, philosophy, educational theory, etc. Here are some of the exemplary websites:
Discussion and Model of Critical Thinking from Ed Psyc Interactive
Model of Information Seeking and Critical Thinking from Baltimore County Public Schools
Partnership for 21st Century Skills and Critical Thinking
How are we to deal with the issue of standardized testing and the teaching of critical thinking? In an ERIC abstract (ED312622) of "Literacy and Critical Thinking: The NAEP Literacy Studies and What We Are Not Teaching about 'Higher Reasoning Skills," by Craig Walton (1989,) the author states that the elements of synthesis or summary, analysis or problem solving, argumentation, and experimentation are skills that seem to be lacking in students. He sees a correlation of that lack with educators' ignorance of those higher skills and how to teach them. That was quite an indictment, and worth challenging.
Socratic questioning is a way of helping students face the issue of critical thinking. The questioning can be used first by the teacher, and as the students start to become more aware of how the questions help their thinking, the students can begin questioning each other and themselves. This website from Northern Illinois University Consortium for Problem-Based Learning provides the foundational precepts and a matrix of exemplary questions.
Web 2.0 has been called the Read/Write Web. That is because you become an active participant, not just a passive viewer – You interact with the information. How does this help critical thinking? By the fact that people make comments. All of the following websites provide examples of ways that teachers can provide students examples of commenting that they can see, critique and respond to.
Comments about places to stay:
A "safe" current event website that kids can practice making comments:
International Movie DataBase – using movie reviews and forums as examples of critique:
Going beyond the Wikipedia articles and looking at the discussion and history of the content:
Responding to visual examples:
Commenting both textually and visually:
Finally, any blog or wiki could be used to help kids learn and practice discourse and critique, as well as the Gallery, Discussion and Chat in Studywiz.
Measuring critical thinking can be a wicked problem, depending on what you are looking for. Perhaps you can develop small rubrics based on your deconstruction of pertinent elements of critical thinking. In that manner students could review or make comments based on individual aspects of critical thinking skills on which they are focused. Here is a higher education rubric for critical thinking that can be used as a reference for ideal goals. And here is another that has been used for higher education and business with a rationale as well. An accompanying document from Insight Assessment proposes that there are dispositions as well as skills involved in critical thinking and provides self-reflective questions.
Just to be provocative, here is a quote from a recent article to think about:
Much as Darwin's theory of natural selection depends on genetic variation, any
theory of democracy depends on a multiplicity of ideas. It is the responsibility of
the citizenry, the media, and the schools to safeguard the expression of those
ideas. Schools have particular responsibilities in this regard. Healthy critical
analysis is one hallmark of a mature democracy, and educators have a responsi-
bility to create learning environments that help to realize these ideals. There are
many varied and powerful ways to teach children and young adults to engage
critically – to think about social policy issues, participate in authentic debate
over matters of importance, and understand that intelligent adults can have
different opinions. Indeed, democratic progress depends on these differences."
"No Child Left Thinking: Democracy at Risk in Canadian Schools," Joel Westheimer; CANADIAN EDUC ATION , Spring 2010; Canada Education Association; p 5-8


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This small wyvern, one of the only members of its order found in South America, was described in 1927 by Winston Kramer. The creature lives in the lowlands of Brazil, although unconfirmed sightings have been reported as far south as Chile. Gracilipterus, meaning "slender wing," is an apt name, given the wyvern's overall small, slender build but especially in reference to the wings themselves. The arms are very thing, and the widely-spaced fingers are long and splint-like. Gracilipterus lacks a propatagium, but it makes up for this absence by way of a very flexible wrist which allows the overall plane of the hand to be nearly perpendicular to that the lower arm. At a mere five feet long, with a nine-foot wingspan, Gracilipterus is one of the smallest living wyverns. It certainly stands out in its forest home with a grey-to-black body and red spots on the neck leading to a red chest. Uniquely, this wyvern's neck is adorned with dorsal spines, although the spines do not have bony cores. Instead, they seem to be made of flexible cartilage and dermal tissue. They can be folded back against each other or raised straight up. Adams (1967) suggested that the spines were used in courtship or threat displays.
Aside from its miniscule size, Gracilipterus is not far removed from the typical wyvern bauplan. Its head is triangular and the jaws end in a small rostrum. Small cranial horns sweep back behind the orbits. The feet are functionally tridactyl, but a prominant reversed hallux is present and is used, like most wyverns, to get a better grip on the substrate. In Gracilipterus' case, that substrate is tree branches. It is surprisingly capable in the jungle canopies, leaping and parachuting from branch to branch, and dive-bombing small vertebrates, toes outstretched--ready to grab the target in a second. In fact, Kramer rarely saw any Gracilipterus individuals on or near ground-level. Hicks (1982) would later relay that, in fact, Gracilipterus spend a large amount of time near the ground, where larger-bodied prey items could be caught. In one instance, Hicks witnessed three wyverns consuming a large boar, which he assumed had been killed by the group. While grounded, Gracilipterus lopes about awkwardly, in what Hicks described as "knuckle-walking, but more like a bat than any gorilla." He determined that, given their slow movement on the ground, the wyverns must have attacked the boar from above.
While not the first wyvern to display fire-breathing, Gracilipterus was the first wyvern studied in hopes of explaining this odd phenomenon (thus the species name). Arsenault (1944) described the "fire-breathing apparatus" of a dead wyvern, determining that large chemical glands existed on either side of the wyvern's tongue, wedged in a depression of the mandible. The glands, when compressed, would each squirt a chemical compound diagonally at such an angle that the two unique compounds would collide in mid-air about six inches in front of the dragon's mouth, at which point the chemicals would ignite. As neither compound was itself flammable, the resulting fire could not travel back down either stream, thus the wyvern did not risk burning its mouth. Bizarrely, the chemical makeup of either stream has not been analyzed to this day.
Gracilipterus pyros is placed in its own family, the Gracilipteridae, which does not have any other living members. However, the fossil record of the family is quite robust. A partial skeleton of Graciliwyvern lewins (Dawson, 1955) from the Miocene of Paraguay. Another fossil form, Lagopterus isopus (Dawson & Clarke, 1973), hails from Panama and may be from the Oligocene, suggesting that the Gracilipteridae is older than most other living clades. Only the Gigantowyvernidae may be more ancient. The unique manual anatomy of the group separates it from all others, but pedal morphology suggests a kinship with the Wyvernidae.
Kramer, W. (1927). A small Brazilian wyvern. There be Dragons 12: 213-225.
Hicks, A. (1982). Feeding strategies of Gracilipterus pyros (Kramer 1927). Natura Historia 391: 333-41.
Arsenault, J. J. (1944). A chemical component for the fire-breath of Wyvernia. European Journal of Draconology 34(1): 92-104.
Dawson, R. L. (1955). Graciliwyvern lewins, a new Miocene relative of the modern Gracilipterus pyros. Draconium 19: 33-45.
Dawson, R. L. & Clarke, A. C. (1973). A fossil wyvern from Panama. Draconium 37: 245-251.
Next Up: Deinowyvern, a giant monster of a wyvern from Central America!


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Who wouldn't want to own shares in a brewery!?
Craft brewing is growing at 25%+ per year. It's sales are growing when alcohol sales overall are falling. Popularity is booming, and, best of all, it's a brewery!
Except for one thing – craft brewing has a poor record in paying back its public shareholders.
ParrotDog's PledgeMe equity crowdfunding campaign is craft's third attempt at attracting investment from New Zealand shareholders.
The first attempt was when Moa floated on the stock exchange in 2012. Shares opened at $1.25 but fell quickly and have not yet recovered. Investors were initially interested, then cut their losses, with Milford Asset Management selling its 6% stake in Moa by 2014. Moa has yet to pay any dividend.
The second attempt came in 2014/15 when Renaissance and then Yeastie Boys chose equity crowdfunding as an alternative to the stock exchange. Both campaigns were a success for the brewers. Renaissance ran a second campaign last year, and Yeastie Boys' campaign will no doubt be proclaimed by PledgeMe and ParrotDog as a big hit.
But neither of these crowdfunding campaigns have financially benefitted shareholders. Both Renaissance and Yeastie Boys told me their shares trade infrequently, at or near their original price. Shareholders seem happy with this, but it's fair to say they're feeling the love for the brands rather than futureproofing family finances.
ParrotDog's campaign will need more than love. The expansion project looks like it has a seven-figure budget, with a new site and an initial tripling of production and sales to an estimated 750,000-900,000L/yr. PledgeMe equity campaigns can raise $2 million per year, and I believe ParrotDog is looking at raising $1-2 million in a flagship campaign for PledgeMe.
That's if the PledgeMe campaign is the sole source of fundraising. ParrotDog might just be using PledgeMe to build interest in its expansion, while funding it with other sources. But I don't think this is the case, given the effort ParrotDog and PledgeMe have both put into this launch. I believe this is the real deal.
ParrotDog is using PledgeMe to run an equity crowdfunding campaign. Equity crowdfunding is quite different to fundraising for a cause. Supporters are buying shares in the company, just as they would through the stock exchange. "Equity crowdfunding has not only lowered the barriers for companies raising investment, it has also made it easier for investors to invest," Pledge Me says.
But it also notes the risks to investors: "Equity crowdfunding is risky….The usual rules do not apply to offers by issuers using this facility. As a result, you may not be given all the information usually required. You will also have fewer other legal protections for this investment."
ParrotDog's expansion plans and share packages are ambitious. It plans to move to larger premises with initial capacity to triple production, then triple it again in the medium term and expand into the other half of the building long term. Share packages start at $500, with extra benefits at $2000 and $35,000. These benefits are fun – discounts, events, a personalised glass – but they're not financial.
Anyone investing $35,000 or more will expect a decent financial return, and these genuine investors will be looking closely at ParrotDog's investment prospectus when it's released at 9am on Thursday morning.
Genuine investors will be looking for this kind of information:
- Basic financial data – share price, number of shares, company valuation. Is the PledgeMe campaign the sole source of funds for ParrotDog's expansion, or are funds being raised through other equity sales or loans?
- Projections for production, sales, profit and dividends. No dividends could mean no deal.
- ParrotDog's sales strategy. The market is getting mighty crowded, with Emerson's, ParrotDog, Harrington's, Steam and B-Studio plans to increase capacity by a combined 7-10 ML between 2015 and 2017. ParrotDog plans to triple production in this competitive market. Look for details on sales strategy, the size of the sales team, and named distribution and retail partners here and overseas. Something vague, like "we aim to expand in Australia and Asia", isn't detailed enough.
- How has ParrotDog safeguarded its supply of ingredients, hops in particular, in this competitive period?
- How will shares be sold, and how will the price be agreed? The process must be fast, cheap and transparent so investors know they are getting a fair price.
The ParrotDog launch is a big deal, not just for the brewery and PledgeMe, but for New Zealand craft brewing as a whole. To investors, craft brewing is now on its second strike, and this may be the last chance to prove it can offer a realistic payback and treat investors seriously.
Equity funding is riskier than other investments, and greater risks deserve better returns. If ParrotDog does a Moa and fails to reward investors, it will make it all the more difficult for brewers to attract funding in future. That's why ParrotDog deserves the industry's support.


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The winners of Ashfield District Council's annual Tenant Garden Competition have been announced at a ceremony in Sutton today.
The Tenant Garden Competition, open to all council tenants, invites entries in the categories of: Best Kept Garden, Best Low Maintenance Garden, Best Vegetable & Herb Garden and Most Improved Garden. This year's entries were of an extremely high standard and Cllr John Wilmott and Council Officers undertook the tough job of judging. The four winners received their certificates at the ceremony held at the ADC offices in Sutton.
Cllr John Wilmott, Portfolio Holder for Social & Council Housing said "Many of our tenants take huge pride in their gardens and it was great to see so many high quality entries this year, which made judging a really tough job. All the winners and runners up should be very proud of the hard work they put into maintaining their gardens. Thank you to everyone who entered this year's competition, and I'd encourage tenants to get started in their gardens now ready for next year's competition!"
The winners are:
Best Kept Garden - Mrs Barbara Walker
Low Maintenance Garden - Mr Kevin Moss and Miss Anne Wilcox
Best Vegetable and Herb Garden - Mrs Maureen Humber
Most Improved Garden - Ms Lisa Spalding


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This replacement battery for the Apple iPhone is purchased from the OEM (the manufacturer who manufactures Apples original batteries) and have the exact same specification and performance that you would expect from an original Apple replacement battery.
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