Just a few thoughts on the very weird and wonderful year of movies we had in 2020.
Just a few thoughts on the very weird and wonderful year of movies we had in 2020.
Despite everything that happened in 2020, the gears of popular culture and US media still turned. Culture provided a reprieve, a respite, and rejuvenation from the multiple simultaneous crises that roiled our country this year. Frequently, it was window into what life was like before the pandemic, a document of how we used to interact and move in public spaces.
I’ve already counted down my:
Here’s some of the stuff that didn’t make it onto those lists. Reading, watching, and listening to all the stuff below consistently made me a more thoughtful and intelligent person. I hope it helps you too.
Garbage Day – Ryan Broderick is one of the best analysts of internet culture there is.
Formerly Dangerous – Love Drew Mcweeny’s insight on films and in his newsletter Formerly Dangerous, he goes in-depth with his analysis on new and old films alike. Expect thoughtful, long-form writing which will take hours to get through.
Letters from an American – Heather Cox Richardson’s newsletter was recently covered by The New York Times. I’m only a recent subscriber but it does a great job of calmly contextualizing the day’s events.
Platformer – Casey Newton’s newsletter documents the increasingly relevant intersections of technology and democracy.
The Ankler – The entertainment industry is falling apart at the seams and Richard Rushfield is one of the few people who’s willing to call out individuals and institutions for all their bullshit. (Listen to my interview with him)
Pocket – A great digest of the most interesting long-form reading on the internet.
Ghost of Tsushima (PS4/PS5) – The single-player experience for Ghost is strong, offering an addictive gameplay loop to level up your character. But going through the Legends raid with some friends was one of the best videogame experiences I have ever had in my entire life. It’s ridiculously fun and gorgeous. Bravo to Sucker Punch for making this.
Among Us (multiplatform) – No game was able to bring me together with more people, while reminding me why I shouldn’t hang out with people regularly anymore.
Doom Eternal (multiplatform) – One of the most intense first-person shooter experiences I’ve ever had. A non-stop nail-biter that’s not ashamed to be over the top and ridicluous. A fun, intense ride from beginning to end.
Ori and the Will of the Wisps (Xbox/PC) – A beautiful platformer with a melancholic story that expands the world of its predecessor significantly.
Microsoft Flight Simulator (Xbox/PC) – In a year where traveling was basically impossible, Flight Simulator essentially created a videogame version of the planet for you to travel around in. See how they did it here. It’s a huge accomplishment and it was very soothing and oddly moving for me to see the world through this thing.
Tetris Effect/Connected (multiplatform) and Tetris 99 – The 21st century continues to bring new and fun ways to play one of the greatest games of all time.
The Press Box – A fun podcast that covers everything that’s happening in the mainstream media and on Twitter.
Why Is This Happening with Chris Hayes – Interviews with fascinating people about what’s happening in the world. Chris Hayes is on fire this year (see here) but I appreciate what he brings to the podcasting world as well, which is a huge inspiration for Culturally Relevant.
Waypoint Radio – I’m a latecomer to this show but has what I think is the most thoughtful commentary on videogames that I’ve been able to find. Check out their Last of Us Part II review for a good demonstration of this.
Extra Hot Great – A delightful show (co-hosted with my collaborator Tara Ariano) that covers all the goings-on in the world of TV.
The Next Picture Show – An always-reliable film review show with the smartest film critics on the internet.
Jeremy Renner Files – Why did Jeremy Renner have an app? This podcast, fashioned like a True Crime story, takes that question deadly seriously.
Dead Eyes – Have you ever had one rejection shape the rest of your life? Connor Ratliff may have! He explores that concept in this amusing and moving podcast.
Good One – Song Exploder but for jokes. Jesse David Fox does a great job probing comedians on these in-depth interviews.
Upgrade – Consistently excellent and insightful Apple-focused tech talk.
The Vergecast – A more generalist tech news podcast with some smart tech reviewers.
Gangs of London – Sadly the show is only available on AMC+, so it can be a bit of a chore to actually get access to it. That said, it is wonderfully entertaining trash with some amazing fight sequences directed/choreographed by action extraordinaire Gareth Evans. I absolutely loved it and binged the whole thing in three days.
Cheer (Netflix) – Director Greg Whiteley’s Cheer is one of the finest and most visceral works of documentary filmmaking I can recall. It made me care about cheerleading, brought to life the physical difficulties of doing it well, and made me care about the dramas of these people’s lives.
Medical Police (Netflix) – I can’t believe I watched this show in 2020, as it feels more like a lifetime ago. A fun parody by the folks behind Children’s Hospital.
The Workouts of Jeanette Jenkins (Popsugar) – Working out is tough when you can’t go to the gym due to a pandemic. I’ve tried other workout regimens (e.g. Nike+) but I’ve found Jeanette workouts to be easy on the body while also being suitably intense.
MyNetDiary (app) – I took some baby steps towards getting more healthy this year and using MyNetDiary to log my calories and track my weight was a huge part of that.
Paprika (app) – Paprika is a great place to store recipes and create shopping lists. It also has a killer feature: Stripping out all the text from an online recipe and organizing it into just the ingredients and directions. Pretty useful for a year where many of us had to learn how to cook more often.
If you enjoyed this newsletter, consider supporting me on Patreon.
Every day for the past 8 years, I’ve been recording one second of video every day of my life and stitching them together to form a document of my life that year. You can see the past versions of some of my videos here.
This year for my 1 Second Everyday video, I decided to try something different: I narrated the entire video so that I could share some reflections about my life and about what’s happened during this very eventful year for all of us. I hope these thoughts can help you as you’re reflecting on how your life has changed too.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and thanks for watching.
I’ve spent a lot of time reading these past four years to try to make sense of what’s been happening in America. Much of what I read provides analysis and context on the news, but every now and then I’ll find something that transcends this and taps into some feeling, some emotion, some idea that I think is critical to understanding our current times.
I wanted to share seven articles that have done this for me. Why seven? This entire exercise is arbitrary anyway, so it might as well be seven. (If you want to see every article I’m reading, I tweet them out from this account). Here are five pieces that have defined the Trump era for me, in no particular order:
Headline: “I Don’t Know How To Explain To You That You Should Care About Other People”
Key excerpt: I don’t know how to convince someone how to experience the basic human emotion of empathy. I cannot have one more conversation with someone who is content to see millions of people suffer needlessly in exchange for a tax cut that statistically they’ll never see (do you make anywhere close to the median American salary? Less? Congrats, this tax break is not for you). I cannot have political debates with these people. Our disagreement is not merely political, but a fundamental divide on what it means to live in a society, how to be a good person, and why any of that matters.
What it captures: More and more, I’ve realized that disagreements about politics are fundamentally disagreements about whether we as a society should care about fellow humans. Should everyone have the right to vote? Should all have access to healthcare? If people fall on hard times, should they be able to depend on their government or their fellow (wo)man for help? Should parents seeking safety in America have confidence that their children won’t be ripped from them? In general, only one major political party in the United States is for policies like gutting the social safety net, removing people’s access to healthcare, and essentially codifying an “Everyone for themselves” mindset. And if we can’t even agree on whether or not you should give a crap about having compassion for others, it’s hard to find any other middle ground. On that note…
Headline: “The Cruelty Is The Point”
Key excerpt: Trump’s only true skill is the con; his only fundamental belief is that the United States is the birthright of straight, white, Christian men, and his only real, authentic pleasure is in cruelty. It is that cruelty, and the delight it brings them, that binds his most ardent supporters to him, in shared scorn for those they hate and fear: immigrants, black voters, feminists, and treasonous white men who empathize with any of those who would steal their birthright. The president’s ability to execute that cruelty through word and deed makes them euphoric. It makes them feel good, it makes them feel proud, it makes them feel happy, it makes them feel united. And as long as he makes them feel that way, they will let him get away with anything, no matter what it costs them.
What it captures: For quite a while, my mind had a difficult time pretzel-twisting itself into figuring out why people who seemingly have no reason to support Trump would not only vote for him but be proud endorsers. After reading this article, whenever I had difficulty understanding what I was seeing in the news, I’d return to this simple yet strikingly accurate headline: The Cruelty Is The Point. Things don’t need to make more sense that that. There’s a portion of the electorate that not only condones Trump’s attacks on minority groups; they relish it. It doesn’t matter that Trump’s policies would lay waste to their way of life. He makes them feel good and ultimately that’s more important to them than literally anything else.
Headline: “Three Cheers for Socialism”
Key excerpt: Americans are, of course, the most thoroughly and passively indoctrinated people on earth. They know next to nothing as a rule about their own history, or the histories of other nations, or the histories of the various social movements that have risen and fallen in the past, and they certainly know little or nothing of the complexities and contradictions comprised within words like “socialism” and “capitalism.” Chiefly, what they have been trained not to know or even suspect is that, in many ways, they enjoy far fewer freedoms, and suffer under a more intrusive centralized state, than do the citizens of countries with more vigorous social-democratic institutions. This is at once the most comic and most tragic aspect of the excitable alarm that talk of social democracy or democratic socialism can elicit on these shores. An enormous number of Americans have been persuaded to believe that they are freer in the abstract than, say, Germans or Danes precisely because they possess far fewer freedoms in the concrete. They are far more vulnerable to medical and financial crisis, far more likely to receive inadequate health coverage, far more prone to irreparable insolvency, far more unprotected against predatory creditors, far more subject to income inequality, and so forth, while effectively paying more in tax (when one figures in federal, state, local, and sales taxes, and then compounds those by all the expenditures that in this country, as almost nowhere else, their taxes do not cover). One might think that a people who once rebelled against the mightiest empire on earth on the principle of no taxation without representation would not meekly accept taxation without adequate government services. But we accept what we have become used to, I suppose.
What it captures: The past few years have revealed to me that many Americans cannot imagine a better world than the one we live in. One in which a medical event doesn’t have the capacity to be financially ruinous. One in which children don’t have to fear execution due to a crazed school shooter. One in which huge swaths of the population don’t live in constant mortal fear of the police state. One in which the government can play a meaningful role in curbing a pandemic. I hope for the sake of all of us this election, and for the sake of the rest of the world, Americans can imagine a better world in which it doesn’t have to be like this.
Headline: “With Impeachment, America’s Epistemic Crisis Has Arrived”
Key excerpt: As congressional scholars Thomas Mann and Norm Ornstein warned in 2012, the GOP as become “an insurgent outlier: ideologically extreme; contemptuous of the inherited social and economic policy regime; scornful of compromise; un-persuaded by conventional understanding of facts, evidence, and science; and dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition.” The machine was primed and waiting for someone like Trump. Now, with his erratic and indefensible conduct, he is accelerating the breach, pushing the right into ever-more cult-like behavior, principles laid aside one after another in service of power. That is what a tribalist like Trump wants: for communication and compromise across tribal lines to become impossible, so that loyalty becomes the only measure and everything is reduced to pure struggle for dominance. If he makes it through impeachment unscathed, he and the right will have learned once and for all that facts and evidence have no hold on them. Both “sides” have free rein to choose the facts and evidence that suit them. Only power matters.
What it captures: One thing that strikes me about the past four years is that it’s become ever more clear that people live in two separate versions of reality. There are no more agreed upon set of facts that undergird our decisions and arguments; there isn’t even an agreement that facts are important. Instead, the GOP is largely driven by tribalism — an unwavering loyalty and belief in their leader, regardless of any decisions or mistakes he makes. It’s a terrifying thought and I’m uncertain if our country as a whole will ever find our way back to the truth.
Headline: “An American Spring of Reckoning”
Key excerpt: Race, to the degree that it represents anything coherent in the United States, is shorthand for a specific set of life probabilities. The inequalities between black and white Americans are documented in rates of morbidity and infant mortality, wealth, and unemployment, which attest that although race may be a biological fiction, its reality is seen in what is likely to happen in our lives. The more than forty million people of African descent who live in the United States recognize this reality, but it’s largely invisible in the lives of white Americans. As with men, who, upon seeing the scroll of #MeToo testimonies, asked their wives, daughters, sisters, and co-workers, “Is it really that bad?,” the shock of revelation that attended the video of Floyd’s death is itself a kind of inequality, a barometer of the extent to which one group of Americans have moved through life largely free from the burden of such terrible knowledge.
What it captures: There has been so much great writing about the murder of George Floyd and the protests that have roiled America in its wake (I’d recommend Ashley Reese’s commentary, this interview with Bryan Stevenson, and Wesley Lowery’s reporting on the matter). But I feel like Jelani Cobb’s piece for The New Yorker elucidates the fundamental reason why Floyd’s death was such an eye-opening moment for many Americans. It kicked over a rock for people and revealed to them what festered underneath: that we are a country in which some people inhabit a different reality than others, and there’s a lot to be done if we’re going to fix that.
Headline: “Human sacrifice and the digital business model”
Key excerpt: And so a pattern emerges that is larger and more consequential than the specifics of the latest political flare-up. It is not the arguments or ideas of any political group, but the structure of the digital platforms that sets the tone of the culture as a whole. And what is the structure? It is an arena for perpetual conflict driven by an accumulation of grievances collected in a mass program of decentralized surveillance. We are incentivized, by the coded logic of the social media platforms where public engagement now takes place, to find reasons to hate each other. The algorithms that encourage and reward particular behaviors on Twitter and Facebook play on our deepest human instincts and desires to create spectacles of symbolic violence and sacrifice. Much of the time, the violence and spectacle has the appearance of a game or a light amusement. To take it too seriously, therefore, is to risk being an alarmist, and likely of the reactionary sort. But it is precisely the gamelike aspect of the platforms that keeps us playing. Playing and paying because the point, finally, is profit.
What it captures: I’ve written about Geoff Shullenberger’s piece in the past, but I continue to think it is incredibly helpful in understanding online behavior today. Social media platforms are currently designed in a way that make us want to destroy each other. In recognizing this fact, perhaps we can attempt to carve out a better future for our online lives.
Headline: “How the Pandemic Defeated America”
Key excerpt: The countries that fared better against COVID‑19 didn’t follow a universal playbook. Many used masks widely; New Zealand didn’t. Many tested extensively; Japan didn’t. Many had science-minded leaders who acted early; Hong Kong didn’t—instead, a grassroots movement compensated for a lax government. Many were small islands; not large and continental Germany. Each nation succeeded because it did enough things right. Meanwhile, the United States underperformed across the board, and its errors compounded. The dearth of tests allowed unconfirmed cases to create still more cases, which flooded the hospitals, which ran out of masks, which are necessary to limit the virus’s spread. Twitter amplified Trump’s misleading messages, which raised fear and anxiety among people, which led them to spend more time scouring for information on Twitter. Even seasoned health experts underestimated these compounded risks.
What it captures: “Each nation succeeded because it did enough things right.” No country was perfect in its handling of the Coronavirus but they did enough things correct that they aren’t living with the reality we are right now in America, where cases are spiking, infections are happening at the rate of about one every second, and where winter looks like an increasingly bleak time. America is unique in its failure in that we couldn’t meet the minimum bar to control this thing. With our underinvestment in public health, the rise of anti-intellectualism, and the specter of minoritarian rule upon us, we are finally reaping what we’ve sown.
“Your stories are so good, and I bet you have many more of them just waiting to get out into the world. Let me know if you want me to help you get them out into the world.”
I spoke these words to legendary character actor Stephen Tobolowsky 11 years ago. At the time, I had recently created The Slashfilmcast podcast. Writer/director Kevin Smith had been one of our first guests. Stephen had also appeared on the show to promote his storytelling film Stephen Tobolowsky’s Birthday Party. We had just cracked 1,500 listeners per week. I felt like there was nothing the medium of podcasting couldn’t do.
To my great surprise, Stephen took me up on my offer and The Tobolowsky Files was born. Each week, Stephen told a series of stories from his experiences in Hollywood. How he made Groundhog Day. Working with Mel Gibson Bird on a Wire while his son was being born. What it was like to read the script for Memento the very first time.
Early on in the podcast, Stephen asked me what I thought about him doing stories that weren’t strictly showbiz related. Of course, I said yes. That led to our fourth episode, The Alchemist, a devastating story that Stephen tells about his mother’s passing. To this day, it’s one of the most powerful pieces of storytelling I’ve ever heard. That’s when I knew we had something special.
The podcast grew and took on different forms. A man named Jeff Hansen asked if he could put the podcast on Seattle Public Radio. Adam Zacks invited us to Seattle where we performed our very first live show. In 2017, I directed a movie called The Primary Instinct, a concert movie featuring Stephen’s storytelling. Stephen used his stories to get two book deals with Simon and Schuster.
Stephen’s life and my life also changed. I uprooted my life, moved to Seattle, and eventually ended up working at a small tech startup called Amazon. Stephen started getting more high-profile work and becoming more recognizable. He got major roles in The Goldbergs, Californication, and eventually, Silicon Valley. He went from “Hey, it’s that guy that I can kind of vaguely recognize!” to someone who was getting swarmed in public places. Eventually, he joked, he could no longer go to Ralph’s without being recognized — a major imposition.
The podcast’s release schedule started fluctuating dramatically. Each episode consisted of roughly 5,000 words of Stephen’s original writing. Initially, Stephen and I were cranking these episodes out on a weekly basis. In the early days, it felt like the podcast was a hole in the wall of a dam; Stephen had spent so many years writing down notes and shaping narratives, and the podcast finally allowed his words to flow freely as they’d always desired to do. But as time went on and we both got more busy, the time between episodes eventually grew from one week to several weeks to several months to several years.
In June of 2017, we published episode 83 of the podcast, with a promise to come back the following year. That obviously didn’t happen, but it wasn’t for lack of effort. In the time since then, I’ve felt an even greater responsibility to help get Stephen’s stories out into the world in a way that was as impactful as possible.
Over the past few months, Stephen and I have been painstakingly recording and editing more of his stories. We wanted to bank a bunch of them so we could release them weekly. So people would have something to look forward to.
I’m pleased to announce that beginning today, there will be a brand new season of The Tobolowsky Files, with new episodes every Monday through the rest of 2020. We are also launching a new YouTube channel, featuring Stephen’s stories told in front of a live theater audience (filmed pre-COVID). The latter project came together through the massive effort of many people who loaned us their time and expertise, including Valentina Vee, Jon Berry, and Tyler Schirado. I hope you enjoy this latest version of the podcast – yet another form for Stephen’s stories.
Stephen and I have kept in touch and our friendship continues. It is one of the most unexpected, rewarding friendships of my lifetime. Stephen’s kindness, understanding, and faith in me has helped me through some challenging times. I hope this new season can help you through the rest of the year.
I’ll close by sharing an email (excerpted) that we received from a listener who I’ll refer to as K from India. K shares their love of the podcast in powerful terms.
I can’t express in words just how much listening to your stories has changed my life, but I’m going to try.
I began listening to the tobolowsky files podcast when it first came out. I revisited each and every episode this month and I’m quickly making my way through them since you’re such a compelling storyteller.
I have been heartbroken the past year and these wonderful stories have helped me get through this incredibly difficult time. The way I see it, your stories are about being lost and found, and I hope that one day I will also be found just like you were.
I love how you derive meaning out of everything that happens to you, connecting them to literature, philosophy, science….you transform the ordinary into the extraordinary, Stephen. I don’t know anyone even in my real life who is able to do that…
Your stories are a source of guidance for me. It has been the reason why I want to get out of bed. Being heartbroken can really crush you, as you can imagine. They’ve given me a sense of purpose, and I can’t thank you enough for that. They make me feel like….like life matters.
❤ Sending you lots of love.
The beautiful thing about stories is they can bring us together. They can help us find universality in the specific. And maybe, just maybe, they can make the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Stay safe and happy listening.
I hope everyone is having an okay weekend dealing with the sheer tonnage of news that’s occurred the past week (most of it bad).
Since I hate myself, I spent some time this week watching Antonio Campos’ new film, The Devil All The Time. This film’s cast is incredible, but do not watch this movie if you are looking for something to pick you up and make you feel better!
That said, it’s one of the top 10 movies on Netflix so most of you probably watched it. What did you think? Did you find it illuminating about the nature of evil and humanity? Or a bit too over the top, as I thought it was in my video review above?
Charlie Kaufman’s latest film I’m Thinking of Ending Things is arguably his most inaccessible work yet. I’ve spent quite a bit of time thinking about it, reading about it, and dissecting it. Here’s the best explanation I’ve been able to come up with (Note: Spoilers, obviously).
It’s been a long time since I’ve made a video essay as researched as this one, and it’ll probably be a long time until I do one again. It’s just too much work to do on top of my full time job to become a regular thing, but this movie was so compelling (plus I had a brief opening with the holiday weekend) that I pushed through to make it happen. I hope enjoy it.
I watched Disney’s Mulan (2020) last night and got together with my wife @joyofnapping to record a few thoughts on it. Overall: it’s a real mixed bag!
This review is now available as a podcast download on Culturally Relevant.


text:
Consider the following theories as they relate to the video segments you selected:
Social structure theories view societal, financial, and social arrangements or structures as the primary cause of deviant and criminal behaviors.
Social process theories view deviant and criminal behaviors as evolving mechanisms learned through societal interaction.
Social development theories view deviant and criminal behaviors as part of a maturational process.
Write a 700- to 1,050-word paper in which you:
Summarize the subject or content of each video segment chosen.
Identify what major principles of sociological theory are addressed in the video.
Explain how each of the video segments you selected align with the three theories outlined above.
Explain what social issues are raised in the video based on the three theories.
Explain the role of sociological theories on crime causation on policy implementation.
Also the paper is based off a movie called Why they kill its on amazon prime. that is a big key to this paper.

domain: sociology


text:
We recently picked a winner in the Write Your Own Story competition. Inonge Malumo was selected as the winner, and this amazing mother-of-one simply blew us away with her entry!
In the competition, entrants receive a short paragraph which forms part of a story, and we asked our fans to complete the story and submit it to stand a chance of winning R7 500 towards their studies, or a Samsung Galaxy Tab valued at the same amount.
We caught up with Inonge to find out more about her skilful story-writing and which prize she would choose.
The story you wrote in our competition is simply amazing! It’s clear that you have a gift and passion for writing – where did your love for writing begin?
I think I have always had a love for words! I come from a different generation – I’m almost 40 – and I didn’t grow up with the distraction of cellphones and satellite TV. My parents passed on the love of reading and words to me, I loved primary school and at the age of eight I started writing stories and poems. All my writing has an element of truth to it and it all stems from a deep love of books from early on.
Do you write often?
I am working as a corporate writer, working in corporate communications - all my working life I have been writing! My desire has always been to be a children’s author, because I love kids & books.
What did you study?
I studied journalism at Rhodes, which led to my current career. I decided to go into broadcasting & communications, but finally settled into the corporate communications space.
How would you like to write your own story for your own future?
Writing makes me happy, but I would be happier and complete if given the opportunity to write for children – I believe it’s my calling & passion and I don’t want to waste much more time doing anything else.
I want my story to have some sort of value, because not everything we read today has value in it. I’d like people to be moved by my words and have something to take away with them from what I have written.
There are a lot of people who think they’ll accomplish their dreams at “some point” and then they leave this earth and that “some point” never comes. Talent is given to you for a reason - it might take a lifetime to achieve your dream, but you should make a start today and never stop trying!
You had a choice between a bursary and a Galaxy Tab – which one did you choose and why?
I initially chose the bursary because I wanted to enrol for a creative writing course. Unfortunately my Blackberry was stolen, so I decided to take the Samsung Galaxy tablet, to help me do research and work from home if I need to. It will definitely help bring stability into my life again. I also want to take my time to research which course is the best instead of rushing into a decision.
The tablet will also assist in enhancing my 9 year old daughters education and learning. She will be able to use it to assist in her school projects and homework, while I cook and clean and ultimately easing the pressure as I am a single parent.
See below for Inonge’s winning entry in the Write Your Own Story competition.
Themba could never understand why his colleagues complained so often. Break after break, he would sit listening to them, trying to avoid the conversation. If only they knew what it was to be without work! Like he was, until someone saw the potential in him and sponsored his artisanship, ensuring a better future for himself and his family. He still remembers the day it all began when…He sat outside his nephew's school, waiting as usual for the little boy to come running out so they could walk home together. As he sat there, a lonesome piece of paper fluttered past, creating a sense of litter in the tidy environment. Themba picked it up and noticing it was relatively clean, pulled out the pencil from his back pocket and began to sketch a picture of five year-old Thulani, hoping to finish it before the school bell rang. As he sat sketching, the noise of his surroundings made him look up at the people around him there was Mama Sindi who sat frying legwinya, singing her church songs in a low, melodic voice. To the right was Sizwe who washed cars outside the school, perpetually joking with anyone who passed by and never without a smile on his sun-baked face.Sizwe not only washed cars, he also fixed them and invariably some broken-down vehicle or other would be in the near vicinity, awaiting his attention. To the left was the stray dog which roamed the area and seemed to like being around the school - perhaps hoping to catch a crumb or two from a child’s lunchbox or be thrown a scrap by Mama Sindi at the end of the day. Everyone called the dog Zozo, although no one knew why. Themba sketched it all, becoming more and more fascinated as he recreated his surroundings on the paper, adding random characters who happened to walk by.
A voice behind him suddenly broke his concentration, making him look up hurriedly. A man stood there entranced, murmuring softly and reaching out for the piece of paper. Themba hesitantly handed it over, unsure what to say or think. A minute passed, or perhaps five minutes, and then the stranger handed the paper back and looked searchingly at Themba, who was now a little unsure what to make of the unexpected company.
“Young man”, began the stranger, “do you realise how enormously talented you are? I have never seen such beautiful and compelling work. Who do you draw for, or are you a student artist?” Themba shuffled his feet nervously, unable to stop a smile from forming on his young face. He greeted the stranger politely before clearing his throat.“No sir, I am just waiting to collect my sister’s son from school, I sometimes come too early and today have passed my time sketching what I see around me. I have completed my secondary schooling but I don’t work, although I would love to.”
The stranger looked at the paper again, whistled softly in wonderment, then reached into his back pocket and took out a card. “My name is Phil Matiya, and I’ve come to this school to speak to the headmaster about opening an art centre for these kids, I came to this school as a child and want to give back. I am now an art dealer and want to uplift my community by giving back to the people who raised me. And I want to give back to you, young man.”
Unsure what to say, Themba stood there and nodded shyly at the gentleman, who continued speaking. “Themba, you have a gift you should share with the world. If you can draw the day as you see it, with such talent and passion, then you can draw your way through life and make a name for yourself. You say you are looking for a job? You have one now young man. I want you to come to my arts and crafts centre, where I offer artisanship in various disciplines, including fine arts. Because that is what you are doing here young man; this is fine art!”
In the distance, the school bell rang and the shrieks of children could be heard.
“I want to groom you - not into a township artist, but into a world-class, world-renowned artist. There are galleries in the world which need your talent on their walls. Are you ready to take this trip with me, are you ready to take your gift to the world?”
Phil slipped his card into Themba’s trembling hands. “Remember, a gift is never for one person alone. Come and see me at the address on that card - I will fully sponsor your artisanship and we will take your gift to the world.”His eyes alive with excitement, Phil smiled broadly at Themba before walking off into the school in the direction of Principal Hlatshwayo’s office. Themba took out the card and gazed at it. Somehow, right there, he knew his life had changed forever.

domain: literature


text:
A Novel Methodology of Powder-based Cementitious Materials in 3D Inkjet Printing for Construction Applications
- Publication Type:
- Conference Proceeding
- 6th International Conference on Durability of Concrete Structures, ICDCS 2018, 2018, pp. 685 - 695
- Issue Date:
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© ICDCS 2018. All rights reserved. Recently, additive manufacturing techniques such as 3D printing are becoming increasingly popular and widely used in a variety of applications. Inkjet 3D printing (i.e. powder-based printing) is one of the most reliable frequently-implemented techniques in 3D printers. This paper discusses a novel methodology to replace the currently used typical powders in 3D printing to make it possible to use the printed specimens in construction applications. The printed cubic (20?20?20mm) and prism (60?5?5mm) specimens with different saturation levels are printed to investigate the relative strength of the 3D printed specimens. Curing in different saturation environments can increase their strength and durability. In general, the experimental results show that the highest compressive strength was recorded (14.68MPa) for the samples that are first cured in water then dried in an oven for one hour at 40°C, comparing to the samples that are cured without drying at 40°C (4.81MPa). Accordingly, it has been discovered that the post-processing technique has an effective and significant impact on the strength of the printed specimens. Furthermore, samples which are cast using manual mixing have been also been compared in detail.
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Pleus, R. C. (Intertox, Inc. Seattle, WA United States) Goodman, G. (Intertox, Inc. Seattle, WA United States) Mattie, D. R. (Air Force Research Lab. Wright-Patterson AFB, OH United States)
August 20, 2013
May 1, 2000
Publication: JANNAF 18th Safety and Environmental Protection Subcommittee Meeting
Safety and Environmental Protection(Cocoa Beach, FL)
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.


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Facepainting and Glitter Tattoos for children in the London area
Contact Victoria on 07951 720 131
Parties with both Facepainting and Glitter Tattoos alongside each other have been very popular lately.
I designed and painted this bedroom wall mural. The little boy loves it!
Frankie's Hen Party - I painted the girl's faces to match their animal themed outfits. Looking glam and ready for lots of fun!!!

domain: hobby


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The 2020 TCS New York City Marathon has been cancelled due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns. Many runners continue training and fundraising for the hospital, as patients need your help now more than ever. Thanks for your support.
Five bridges, five boroughs and more than two million spectators make the TCS New York City Marathon a race like none other. Agree to raise funds for Boston Children’s Hospital and we’ll support you every step of the way.

domain: medical


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At least two of the nine members of the defense committees of the republic (CDR) who were arrested on Monday for alleged crimes of rebellion, terrorism and possession of explosives - two were released and seven will be put to justice on Thursday - they have recognized before the Civil Guard to have bought and made tests for the manufacture of artifacts, as confirmed by Efe sources of the investigation.
Another of the detainees has presented, for his part, a habeas corpus to be put immediately to judicial disposition, according to sources consulted by Efe. As the Cadena Ser has advanced and Efe has confirmed, the detainees who have confessed have admitted their participation in the acquisition of various substances to produce mixtures with which to manufacture explosives, after being shown videos and graphic documents in which some of those arrested appear .
The detainees have also indicated that they had acquired "the commitment" to commit some action to "make noise" for the anniversary of the illegal 1-O referendum.
According to detailed research sources, in one of the videos captured by the Civil Guard and that they would have been shown, some of them appear testing the explosive substances in a quarry.
The two people who were released must appear before the National Court when the investigating judge Manuel García Castellón cites them for an alleged crime of terrorism.
The magistrate will interrogate early this Thursday seven of the detainees, who have remained in the Civil Guard units. In a note issued following the arrests, the Prosecutor's Office of the National Court explained that they are accused of finalizing terrorist actions, which were allegedly to be perpetrated with the material to manufacture homemade explosives that were intervened.
Those arrested had in their possession documents on inquiries made on Google, information and even plans on public buildings, including a Civil Guard barracks house.
The operation, which is under summary secrecy, is the result of an investigation of more than one year, during which time many telephone interventions have been carried out, according to legal sources, which specified that it was decided to start it before the "certainty" that terrorist actions were to be carried out between the anniversary of the holding of the Catalonia referendum on October 1, 2017 (1-O) and the publication of the procés sentence, scheduled for the first half of October.
According to the criteria of The Trust ProjectKnow more
- Civil Guard
- National audience
- 1-O trial
CourtsThe CDR ended a terrorist attack in Catalonia "on D-Day"
Catalonia Independence joins to discredit the operation against the CDR
CataloniaThe link between Quim Torra and the CDR: the "targeted" family in the radical group

domain: law


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On account of the New Zealand Christchurch earthquakes 2010-2012, increasingly Canterbury policyholders are money settling their earthquake claims. The Financial Royalists know this, which gets to the root of why they set out to destroy government’s involvement within the economy. Previous corporatism was junked as part of the bureaucratism that was “holding Britain again”; enterprise was set freed from social constraints.
Corporatism is one of three modern approaches to economics and the group of society, including the function of government in society. Contracts themselves, and the markets that evolve out of them, are created and restricted via political energy.
This concern cut up the Catholic movement, employers arguing that the economy was the monopoly of enterprise and that participation shouldn’t go beyond wages and working circumstances. Although Corporatism is just not a familiar idea to most of the people, most of the economies of the world are corporatist in nature.
Poor Americans have their money taken from them and given to a world, unaccountable establishment, the place it’s then given to corrupt leaders in different nations within the form of kickbacks. Organising Business for Warfare: Corporatist Economic Organisation during the Second World Battle.
In doing this, corporatist systems implicitly limited who would have probably the most influential voices within the economic policymaking course ofâ€”and, because of this, helped shape the contours of the controversy. Those who denounce the corporatist wingâ€ of the Democratic or Republican events are objecting that policymakers are sacrificing the common good to the short-time period objectives of explicit companies or industries.

domain: finance


text: This bag has lots of space and lots of options. The chicken hen large tote handbag purse has an open top with magnetic snap closure, and measures approximately 18" wide, 11" tall, and has a 4" gusset. The handles measure 22" above the top of the bag so there is plenty of room to throw over the shoulder. There are 3 chicken print fabric pockets on the outside of each side, and many inside pockets. This bag can be made in lots of different fabrics, if you have something you would like custom made, just send me a message!

domain: design


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Geography is the study of land locations, different angles, maps, and some important facts related to land. Going for majors in geography is sole and independent decision of individual which is based on his interest level and understanding of the subjects. Geography dissertation is the complex and skilled required job for those who wish to have geography as their majors. Geography dissertation demands extensive and comprehensive research on selected topic this is because of nature of subject, there is no generic topic in geography such as if you are conducting a research on particular land field so you should have the exact figures and composition of that land field. So if you don’t love this subject you will not able to write a dissertation.
Geography dissertation requires maintaining notes of all the resources which going to utilize by the researcher, he make sure all the resources he have must maintain and share in his dissertation writing. It is very wise to visit your professor time to time so he can judge the pace and direction of your research.

domain: geography


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Art is everywhere in Russia’s second largest city, one of the world’s great cultural destinations.
St. Petersburg is a city of art. Peter the Great’s imperial capital is now Russia’s indisputable cultural hub, home to world-famous ballet, theater, and more. For fine arts, it’s unparalleled. Of the long list of museums in St. Petersburg (or Piter, as Russians call it), here are the five you absolutely can’t miss.
State Russian Museum
A bust of Tsar Peter I guards the State Russian Museum.
To immerse yourself in the art of this country, head to the sprawling State Russian Museum, home of the world’s largest collection of Russian works: more than 400,000 pieces spanning the 10th-21st centuries. Opened in 1898 by Tsar Nicolas II in memory of his father, Alexander III, the museum was the first of Russian art anywhere. Its permanent collection includes major pieces by Karl Brullov, Ivan Aivazovsky, Alexander Ivanov, and Vasily Kandinsky, just to name a few.
The museum complex covers a total of 40 hectares in the middle of the city; the main museum is housed in the yellow-stoned, neoclassical Mikhailovsky Palace. There’s also St. Michael’s Castle and the Marble, Stroganov, and Summer Palaces, as well as three gardens, including the Summer Garden, Peter I’s great pride and joy. The first St. Petersburg “palace” of Peter the Great, a three-room cabin built in 1703 that now sits across the Neva River on Petrograd Island, is a branch of the museum.
The unquestionable crown jewel of Russia’s museums—not just St. Petersburg’s—is the Hermitage, a vast complex that ranks as the second largest museum in the world. The beauty starts with the buildings themselves: six structures along the Neva River, dominated by the baroque, aqua-and-white Winter Palace that looks like a jeweler’s creation. It was finished in 1764, the same year that Catherine the Great founded the Hermitage with a collection of paintings she purchased from a Berlin merchant.
The Hermitage ranks as the second largest museum in the world.
Today, the museum includes more than three million works of art and cultural artifacts. There are paintings by Raphael, Rembrandt, van Gogh, Titian, Rubens, and Picasso; sculpture by Michelangelo; galleries of ancient armor and weapons; Empress Maria Alexandrovna’s ruby red boudoir; Tsar Nicolas II’s private library—and much, much more.
A newcomer to St. Petersburg’s museum scene is the clever Erarta Museum of Contemporary Art, housed in a neoclassical Stalinist building once home to the Synthetic Rubber Research Institute of the Soviet Union. The Erarta (“Era” and “Arta,” or Era of Art) opened in 2010 with the goal of bringing contemporary art to as many people as possible.
In addition to the 2,800-plus works of art in its permanent collection, the Erarta also architects its own creative projects. One, called U-Space, immerses the visitor privately in chambers designed to evoke certain emotions or feelings. Another, Theater With No Actors, is a play where the paintings are the characters. The Erarta also hosts concerts, screenings, lectures, and live theater performances.
The shopping is good here, too: Besides the usual gift shop, there’s a gallery with original works for sale, a specialized bookstore, and Erarta Home, which has home decor items and custom prints. There’s even an interior design service, Erarta Design, in case you’re inspired to up your game at home.
In 1885, Tsar Alexander III asked St. Petersburg jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé to design an Easter surprise for his wife, Empress Maria Feodorovna. Fabergé’s creation, a large egg that opened to reveal gold surprises inside, charmed the tsarina and led the tsar to order a new one every year, a tradition continued by his son, Tsar Nicolas II. Fabergé’s eggs became more elaborate each year, featuring precious gems and ornate designs.
- Nat Geo Expeditions
The Fabergé Museum has a collection of 15 of the jeweler’s famous eggs, including nine that were made for the royal family. The “Lilies of the Valley” egg, made in 1898, is an art nouveau wonder of pearls, diamonds, and rose enamel; portraits of Nicolas and two of his daughters pop up when a pearl pin is turned. The brilliant blue “Cockerel” egg made in 1900 has a clock face and a hidden bird that appears at the press of a button to crow and flap his wings. The museum also contains some 4,000 items of Russian art, all housed in a building that’s a masterpiece itself: the neoclassical Shuvalov Palace, built in the late 18th century along the Fontanka River.
Samoilov Family Museum
If you’ve had your fill of oil paintings and jeweled eggs, head to the Samoilov Family Museum for a taste of St. Petersburg’s theater arts. This unique museum is in an apartment—actually, the museum is the apartment—on the second floor of a building just off Nevsky Prospekt that’s now the Corinthia Hotel. For nearly 20 years in the mid-1880s, Russian theater legend Vassily Vassilievich Samoilov made his home here, and the flat has been turned into a museum commemorating the actor and his family.
Vassily was a triple threat—opera singer, stage actor, and painter—and the most well known member of the Samoilov theater dynasty, which spanned several generations. The museum, which is part of the St. Petersburg State Museum of Theatre and Music, includes personal belongings and furniture of the family, portraits painted by Vassily himself, and artifacts that shine a light on St. Petersburg’s theatrical culture in the 19th and early 20th centuries. There’s also a small concert hall where chamber music and other concerts take place; the Samoilovs frequently held small musical gatherings there.

domain: artistic


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Ulcer on the Epiglotis15 messages in this subject.
|In the last few years iíve had what feels like blocked ears, sore throat. Nurses would say that my ears where clear and my throat wouldnít hurt every time i swallowed. I was very unsure of what was going on until one day whilst suffering these symptoms the doctor said i had an ulcer on my Epiglotis (the dangley bit at the back of the throat). It is very painful and often i have two very close to each other. Sometimes upto 8 in my mouth +2 on the Epiglotis! Doc obviously could do nothing and it was impossible to apply Orabase or Bonjela. Iím really sick of these things now. Does anyone else suffer from these? What do you do about them?|
|Matt 20 October 07|
|The dangly bit at the back of your throat would be your uvula, and itís an awful place to get an ulcer. I have one there right now, along with a huge one covering most of one of my tonsils. The uvula, in case youíre wondering, is whatís mostly but not entirely in charge of your gag reflex. Try touching it with a foreign object (e.g. a q-tip) and youíll see what I mean. (Or donít, if you have a very pronounced gag reflex, because you could vomit.)|
These, however, are nowhere near as awful a place to get one as your epiglottis, which is the bit further back in your throat that regulates whether something will go down your throat into your esophagus or into your windpipe. If you have an ulcer on your epiglottis, you could be in serious trouble, as if it gets swollen enough it can prevent breathing, which, as one might imagine, can lead to all sorts of complications. Well, ultimately, just one: death.
Assuming that you actually meant your uvula (doesnít it sound dirty just saying that?) there are really apparently only a couple of things one can do about this. Clearly most direct treatments, such as a laser treatment or anything thatís applied directly to the ulceration itself, are out of the question: youíd spend half your time gagging and the other half trying to hit the person who suggested such a thing in the first place. This is a pity, because Iíve had very good luck with Abreva on ulcers on my inner lips, but obviously canít use it on the ones in my throat.
One alternative is a mouthwash of some sort: I have had chlorhexadine (prescription) and phylorinol (over-the-counter in the US, anyway) suggested to me, but have not had the opportunity to try either yet. I have also been prescribed tetracycline capsules, which I was told to break open and mix with water, half of one 250 mg capsule per 8 oz water... apparently tetracycline is an anti-inflammatory as well as an antibiotic. ( http://dermatology.cdlib.org/DOJvol8num2/original/antibiotics2/jain.html ) This does seem to have had some effect, but I wouldnít say it was dramatic... perhaps cut down the symptoms from 6 or 7 days to 5-ish.
My other alternative, when the pain is bad enough (canít swallow, and when I do manage to swallow I have to hold my head sideways and my eyes tear up and my nose runs), is to browbeat my physician into prescribing me about four daysí worth of codeine (or whatever substitute works for you). Used in combination with the tetracycline (or, I hope, one of the other two mouthwashes) this is very effective in making me not give a shit whether I have ulcers in my throat or not.
I understand that some people are able to get some relief from (prescription) sprays or mouthwashes that contain a topical anaesthetic, but in my experience they always last on the order of five minutes. I ran myself out of an ostensible five day supply in less than eight hours once.
Hope this helps. Currently Iím under the influence of 10 mg of oxycodone AND a muscle relaxant... this is the worst set of lesions Iíve ever had, sufficiently bad that my esophagus (muscle tube that your food goes down after it gets past your throat) goes into spasm every time I swallow, which is ... well, novel, I guess, but not recommended for enjoyment of life. The muscle relaxant is doing a good job of preventing that, and the codeine is doing a good job of dulling the pain, or at least making me care a fair bit less about it.
As a bonus, it also makes me vastly more entertaining.
Anyway, hope some or all of this helps.
PS: Oh, incidentally, I wonder if you find any commonality between times that you get these? When I get them, itís nearly always between 0 and 3 days after Iíve recovered from a more usual kind of head and/or chest cold.
|Fred Fnord 21 October 07|
yes I too have had ulcers on the uvula painfull ent they. I have suffered for 30 years with the little buggers , I have now tried preventative rather than cure. I stopped using toothpast with SLS (sodium laural sulphate) you can buy this from health shops (make sure the one your buying deffinately dosnt contain SLS.) Also LYSINE tablets (which is an amino acid that helps cell renewal) also available from health shop. Holland & Barratts sell both if you have one near to you wait till they have a half price sale The Lysine tabs cost £3.50 ish in the sale. the toothpast was abot the same. I HAVE BEEN ULCER FREE FOR 7 WEEKS NOW SINCE USING THESE TWO PRODUCTS
good luck give them a go.
|lita 23 October 07|
Both my boyfriend and I suffer from mouth ulcers! He is worse than I am and has had one at the very back of his mouth. It was impossible to reach with fingers so the only way to treat it locally was with a mouthwash or spray. My boyfriend bought Aloclair spray which has a long nozzle on it - it looks a bit like a dalek! But anyway it worked wonders and healed the ulcer quicker than usual too. Also I am not keen on taking medicines and Aloclair has meant I donít have to take pain killers anymore so Iím pleased about that!
|Susie 24 October 07|
I currently...well when I say currently i mean regularly get mouth ulcers. I have one on my uvula & it has spread from a small dot to practically covering my entire uvula, not to mention the other 6 on my lips, throat & gums. It is extremely painfull to swallow, cough or sneeze & when you wake up first thing in the morning when your throat is dry, try swallowing with that bugger on your throat. Although the cause is mostly mystery to doctors as is a cure, I have tried everything from Strepsils to Aloclair & I have to say that Aloclair is about the best of the worst.
|Janssen 24 August 08|
|i have about 12 in my mouth 4 on my ulvulva wat shal i do?|
|jhon 7 October 08|
|I suffere from hese darn things and have done for the past 4 years... I am now 16 and the first time i got one of the buggers i went straight to the doctor...The first time i did this he recomended 3 things (seperate) either try:|
1 ) heavily salted water (gargle like mouthwash)
this was disgusting and often made me gag and left me swallowing the salty water.
2) Corsodyl - anitbaterial mouthwash cotaining chlorhexidine digluconate (horrific taste but nice smell)
3) mix bonjella and water and gargle again (nice enough taste and soothing)
|Robyn H 16 October 08|
|Maybe the problem is that I expected it to be easy and learned too late that is extremely challenging. The difficulty of life combined with the disapointment brought by major experience (love, work, friendship) keeps me up or makes me bury my head under the pillow.|
|DuffFeava 11 November 08|
|ulcers come from a lack of sleep, exhaustion and sometimes kissing. Other things to prevent ulcers returning is to change your toothbrush every 3 months, use your own toothpaste (dont share), dont have regrets, be happy, see a hygienist every 3 months, exercise, stay away from cold offices and if all else fails find someone with a bigger problem and look after them.|
|dr jon 24 August 10|
|Try becoming vegan with no junk food, and then gargle with raw linseed (also known as flaxseed) oil. A bit extreme you might say but your health is obviously not good. All raw oils have amazing healing properties|
|Felicity 16 May 11|
|Obviously stress is a big cause. One trick to help me was taking vit B complex. Seems to drive them away at first sign.|
|Philip (last seen in Dundee Hospital) 17 August 14|
|Could be acid reflux - specifically laryngpharyngeal reflux disease. Treated with valtrex, prilosec, and zantac. Doc said it is a strain of herpes virus that causes it.|
|Helen 3 Jan 2015 3 January 15|
|It's appears that most of you guys are talking about ulcers on your tonsils your Uvula not infact your epliglottos which is further back in your throats and is not visible by simply looking in to your mouth. The only way to see your epiglottis is by a nasoscopy which is a small camera placed through the nostril and down into your throat. The epiglottis is the flap of skin that prevents food from entering your lungs. I know this because I'm a nurse and one of the lovely ear nose and throat consultants at my workplace examined me in this way. I was complaining of reaccurent sore throats even but my tonsils appeared normal. He showed me images of my epiglottis and told me that actually it was an ulcer. I have suffered with mouth ulcers for as long as I can remember. I have many childhood photos that I was unable to smile for because my mouth was so sore and swollen from probably 5-10 ulcers. When I reached my teens and became sexually active I started getting ulcers on my genitals (even more painful than my mouth) my GP at the time told me it was the STI Herpes even though at this point I'd not actually had intercourse or oral sex so I knew it was impossible. She was very rude and abrupt and basically said I was lying. This caused me so much distress and I believed for years that I had this incurable STI. I now know that I don't (although some consider ulcers a strain of the herpes virus) My ulcers aren't going to infect anybody I have contact with like the STI. But doctors still can't tell me exactly what this condition is. About 3 years ago I started with ulcers on my ulvula too and now for about the last 18 months I get them on my epiglottis. Currently I have a huge ulcer on my tongue and lip which is making talking virtually impossible. And presumably I have one on my epiglottis again because my throats is really sore and swallowing is very painful. Although this time it feels different it feels even further down like near my clavicle (collarbone) is where the pain is which makes me wonder if this is ulcer is on my windpipe. It also keeps going in to spasm and when it doesn't It makes me move my neck down and like I can't move it or take a breath for those few moments until it relaxes again, when it spasms the pain radiates across my chest. I'm just getting really worried because these ulcers seem to be working themselves gradually further into my body. And I know that epiglottis ulcers can be dangerous as they can restrict your breathing. My appointment with the Rheumatologist isn't till October. I'm thinking about paying privately to see a doctor as this is been going on for years and I still don't have any answers. I guess I just wanted to post this to see if anyone else has these types of ulcers. The last diagnosis I was given was 'Biploar Ahpthosis' but that doesn't explain my throat ulcers too. Lastly I was wondering if anyone knows of a numbing mouthwash. I lived in Australia for a year and I remembering buying from a chemist a mouthwash that completely numbed your mouth for about an hour it was great for when my oral ulcers were preventing me from eating and talking. However I can't remember it's name and can't seem to find anything like it here in the U.K. I presumed that it contained some sort of local anaesthetics.|
Sarah (RGN, UK)
|Sarah 30 January 17|
|I have got swelling & potentiously an ulcerated epiglottis for the first time ever. I have ended up in hospital as it developed so rapidly between taking my first lot of antibiotics in the morning at 6pm that night that it had started to compromise my airway. This meant major steroids and 2 lots of antibiotics all intravenously due to not being able to swallow at all. Have never had anything like this before but have been suffering from mouth ulcers for the last year or so am wondering if its a mouth infection that then causes the rest.|
|Helen' New Zealand 7 September 17|
|Benzocaine in mouthwash numbs so try Cepacaine. It also has germ killer cetyl peridium chloride.|
|Wayne Thompson 17 November 17|
Ulcer on the Epiglotis15 messages in this subject.

domain: health


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100 High Street
Buffalo, NY 14203
WCHOB Doctors, Staff Help Prepare Ken-Ton Community for Safe Summer
Riding a bike is a healthy and fun way to get around Western New York in the summer. To help children and teens enjoy this activity in a safe manner, The Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Center at Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo held a Bicycle/Head Injury Prevention Education event at Ken-Ton Family Support Center. On July 8, 2014, 350 children and teenagers serviced by the center received free bicycle helmets and fittings, and witnessed an educational demonstration about the dangers of head injuries.
The young people in attendance learned just how easily the brain can be injured when not wearing a helmet. Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo Child Life Educator, Sue Mirabella, used a jello mold to simulate the human brain and show the serious effects of even minor head trauma. Two experts from Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, Kathryn Bass, MD, Medical Director of Trauma and Renée Reynolds, MD, Pediatric Neurosurgeon, spoke and answered questions about common head injuries and how to prevent them.
In addition, Jenna Mamon, PA, Pediatric Surgery, Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo talked with families about sunburn prevention and supplied them with bottles of sunscreen, an especially necessary tool as we enter the heart of summer.
Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo has been designated by New York State as a Regional Level I Pediatric Trauma Center. Care is provided to the eight county regions of Western New York and to Southern Ontario. The Emergency Department at Women & Children's Hospital treats over 40,000 patients annually and provides 24-hour immediate care for children and adolescents in acute or crisis situations. Traumatic and accidental injuries account for nearly 12,000 of these Emergency Room visits.


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|Container port competition and complementarity in supply chain systems:Evidence from the Pearl River Delta|Lam, J.S.L.; Yap, W.Y. (2011). Container port competition and complementarity in supply chain systems:Evidence from the Pearl River Delta. Maritime Economics & Logistics 13(2): 102-120. hdl.handle.net/10.1057/mel.2011.5
In: Maritime Economics & Logistics. Palgrave Macmillan: Basingstoke. ISSN 1479-2931; e-ISSN 1479-294X
container port; port competition; port complementarity; supply chain; container shipping; Pearl River Delta
|Auteurs|| || Top |
Container shipping is a significant trade facilitator in supply chains. Embedded within the container shipping system are competitive elements as well as complementary aspects in inter-container port relationships. The article aims to examine these relationships through a thorough investigation of the calling patterns of container shipping services in order to understand the dynamics of competition and complementarity which exist among container ports. Specifically, empirical evidence will be sought from the Pearl River Delta in South China where the analysis will identify the routes and markets where competition or complementarity exists, participants involved, and the extensity and intensity of such relationships between the container ports of Hong Kong and Shenzhen. The investigation shows that apart from container port competition, inter-port complementarity also accounted for a significant share of changes to shipping capacity affected. The article discusses the benefits offered from inter-container port complementarity for advancing the competitive position of container ports and the practical and research implications.


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First, and most importantly, know what genres of photography you enjoy the most and if that genre requires a tripod. Then, buy the largest, highest quality tripod you're willing to carry that fits in your budget. Specifically in that order; do not put budget ahead of any other aspect of the tripod. If you go too cheap, you may very well end up with a tripod that meets none of your needs when you're forced to replace it due to instability or fragility. The adage, "buy cheap, buy twice (or more)" applies here.
As much as I like Gitzo as a brand and the quality of their products, some of their stuff just isn't as good as others. Take for example their leveling base; Gitzo features a large lever for tightening a head to the base and a handle borrowed directly from their sister Manfrotto's lineup. Instead, I got the series 3 leveling base from Really Right Stuff. It's lighter, has a simpler attachment system with no silly lever and a much sleeker locking handle with, get this, a gear hook! That hook alone is almost priceless, allowing me to attach weight for stability when I'm not leveling the head, ending any need to swap back to the flat top base. Back into the box that can go.
I finally have my dream 3 tripod setup. Gitzo Systematic GT3543LS+GH3382QD, Mountaineer GT1542+GH1382QD, and Traveler GT1555T+GH1382TQD. Next up is the Gitzo GM2542 Monopod and Mini Traveler Tripod. I plan to give all of them a thorough shakedown in Long Beach, WA in a couple of weeks and then in the North Cascades the week after. That is all.
BMW doesn't make a perfect car. While certain aspects may exceed those of other makers, those others oftentimes exceed that of BMW. Despite that, the Bavarian badge commands respect and with it comes an unmistakable allure for most when they see it. It's a symbol of quality but not necessarily the best and certainly not with all products that display the marque. The Bavarian roundel holds cachet for many and that's something very hard to quantify, an intangible factor that appeals to one's emotion rather than objectivity.
So, just like what happened with the deal on the Gitzo Mountaineer GT1542 + GH1382QD kit, I got a price alert on a Gitzo Traveler GT1555 + GH1382TQD kit for 45% off the advertised price of $989. So I bought it, because I have no self control.
Some first impressions after picking up an Arca-Swiss P0 Ball Head recently. Why? It's interesting. It's an inverted design so that the panoramic base is above the ball, ensuring a level platform for panoramic photography. Basically it eliminates the need for a leveling base. Combined with the 9oz weight, it'll reduce as much as 1.5lbs from my systematic tripod setup. I quickly discovered the reason for the weight savings: the base of the ball head is made of polycarbonate, most likely Delrin. The rest is made from either magnesium or aluminum, depending on the part. Regarding the design, it also has no protruding parts beyond the pano lock lever. The ball lock is performed by a rotating collar around the middle of the body, resulting in a sleek design. The ball is also aspherical, a feature used across Arca-Swiss' whole line, that increases friction to prevent your camera from loosely flopping over when the ball lock is loosened. A very elegant solution to a universal issue with all ball heads.
So, I tore down my Gitzo Mountaineer GT1542 to see what's so special about it. Actually, I do this with every tripod I buy to discover its weaknesses and proper disassembly for maintenance, cleaning, and lubrication. During the process I just happen to take a close look at each part to see how well it's been made, purely out of curiosity. In this case, I was truly interested to see if Manfrotto/Gitzo does anything differently during the manufacturing process that justifies the higher retail price or legendary status.
Very simply: Does Wine Country Camera actually use the same glass and coatings between their filters? I wanted my filters to produce the same results between my filter sets to reduce post-processing time. Recently, I replaced my B+W and Haida ND filters with WCC because the results between the two would cause difficulties in post as I'd work to match the output if I used both during the same shoot.
Since finding joy in landscape photography, I made the decision to try and do as much "in camera" as possible in an attempt to teach myself the art of photography, rather than exploit the science of photography, to create a photograph. As such, I slowly learned exactly what that meant and have been on the quest to acquire the best tools for me to do so, starting with a solid tripod and high quality circular polarizers. From there, I continued. I bought a set of B+W ND filters in 3-, 6-, and 10-stops. Then, I bought a Formatt-Hitech (F-H) 100mm Firecrest filter holder kit so I could use graduated ND filters, solid ND filters, and a circular polarizer all at once.


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Bichon Poo Dog Clippers and Accesories
The Bichon-Poo, which is also known as a Poochon, Bichpoo, Bichon Poodle is a mixture of the Bichon Frisé and a toy or miniature sized Poodle. They have a small but sturdy appearance and weigh between 6 – 18 pounds and are approximately 9 – 14 inches in height. The coat is mainly white, but other colours can be black, apricot or blue. See below for our range of dog clippers.

domain: pet


In response to a proposal by Senate Democrats to require for-profit employers to cover birth control in their health plans, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday that Senate Republicans plan to offer their own bill requiring employers to allow women to buy their own birth control.
"We plan to introduce legislation this week that says no employer can block any employee from legal access to her FDA-approved contraceptives," McConnell told reporters. "There's no disagreement on that fundamental point."
The GOP bill would change nothing, because women can already legally access contraceptives approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The issue in question is whether for-profit corporations must cover the full range of FDA-approved contraceptives in their health insurance plans, as the Affordable Care Act requires them to do. The Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that Hobby Lobby, a craft supply company owned by evangelicals, can opt out of covering the four kinds of contraception that its owners believe are methods of abortion.
Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), joining McConnell at his press conference, said the bill is intended to make the political point that "women have the same rights today to access contraception as they did before Obamacare was passed, and before the Hobby Lobby decision."
The Democrats' bill, which the Senate will vote on Wednesday, states that no for-profit company can opt out of federal law based on its owners' religious beliefs. The bill would effectively override the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby decision and require most employers, with the exception of houses of worship and religious nonprofits, to cover all 20 forms of birth control laid out in the president's health care law.
Democrats kicked off floor debate on their bill Tuesday morning. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) said access to birth control is meaningless to women who do not always have the means to pay for it. "These women should not be forced to decide between birth control and food for their family," he said.


150lb BSP Stainless Threaded Full Socket Grade 316
This 150lb BSP Stainless Threaded Elbow Grade 316 stainless steel is suitable for use with water, oil, gas and other mediums. Manufactured to ISO 4144, this product comes in sizes 1/8″ to 4" NPT thread and can handle a working pressure of 300psi (20 bar)
BSP Threaded Socket150LB 316 Stainless Steel
Manufactured to ISO 4144
Maximum working pressure 300psi (20 bar).
BSP threads to ISO 7-1
- Hot and Cold Water
- Gas and other mediums


Recycle Week 2022: Six Recycling Tips
by Holly T.
October 18, 2022
2 MIN READ
This week is Recycle Week 2022 ♻
So, what is Recycle Week and how can you get involved?
Recycle Week is Recycle Now‘s yearly event to celebrate recycling nationwide. Retailers, brands, waste management companies, trade associations, governments and the media come together to encourage everyone to recycling properly and more often.
The theme of this year’s Recycle Week is ‘Let’s Get Real’ and will challenge people’s perceptions and myths around recycling, and target contamination to improve recycling behaviours 🌍
Better use of resources will contribute to social, economic, and environmental benefits. Between now and 2050, reductions could be as much as 2 billion tonnes in savings.
So, how can you get involved to make sure we reach this goal? Read below for some top tips 👇
Our Recycling Tips
🔋 Batteries placed in bins could start a fire if they are damaged. You can find collection bins for old batteries in shops and offices!
🚮 Any food and drink left inside takeaway boxes and cans will contaminate the recycling process. Empty out any food left in the container and rinse it out to place in a recycling bin!
🛍 Plastic shopping bags, bubble wrap and plastic film can be recycled at most major supermarkets. Why not also invest in a cute tote bag to avoid the single use plastic altogether.
🎄 Christmas is coming up… we know what that means. Try out the scrunch test; crumple the paper then open your hand, if it stays scrunched it can be recycled!
🥤 These are not accepted in household recycling collection but can be recycled at some high street coffee shops. Take advantage of discounts added by using your own re-usable cup!
💻 Be sure to check everything before you throw it away, more things can be recycled than you think! Never be afraid to google if you aren’t sure.
Remember, every little bit can help!


Linkin Park will headline the Sunset Strip Music Festival. Photo by Kelly Swift, for the Register
Sunset Strip Music Festival organizers announced today that the 6th annual festival, which takes place on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood on Aug. 3, will be headlined by Grammy Award-winning rock band Linkin Park.
Though no other acts have been revealed, SSMF is partnering with Music For Relief, a nonprofit organization that Linkin Park founded to support disaster relief, provide aid to survivors of natural disasters and support the preventions of such natural calamities via environmental programs. The “rock for a cause” initiative will designate a significant portion of tickets sales to the organization.
As in years past, Sunset Boulevard will be closed to traffic between Doheny Drive and San Vicente Boulevard to accommodate two outdoor stages, a number of beer gardens, an artist autograph tent, an outdoor VIP rooftop lounge, silent disco, food trucks and more. The famous music clubs located along that stretch will also open their doors to a variety acts during the day-long festival as well.
Tickets are on sale now via Eventbrite at Sunsetstrip.eventbrite.com. General admission tickets are $79 and $145 for VIP.


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Sports Betting Now Legal for States
By Charles Branch
Sports betting has been a complicated subject among betters and traditionalists in recent years. In the year 1992 The Supreme Court passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act making sports betting illegal across the United States. Nevada, Delaware, Oregon, and Montana were the only exceptions. The law established a protection on the integrity of sports from shaving points to even allowing sports executives and officials to manipulate the outcome of competitive matches.
Most remembered was the NBA referee in Tim Donaghy who was convicted of betting on games he personally refereed for. Donaghy served almost a year in prison before serving the rest of his sentencing in a halfway house.
March of 2018 The Supreme Court ruled that the federal government had no right to determine the laws over states that sports betting is illegal. States now have the power to appoint sanctions, laws, and regulations through the legislature. What does this mean for the future of sports betting?
Just like the passing of legal marijuana a state tax would most likely be applied or even a usage fee based on the sport books and websites. The most known sports betting websites Fanduel and Draft Kings would most likely reap the rewards in the next coming months depending on the outcomes from the rest of the forty six states.
Traditionalist states will methodically approach this wanting to preserve the purity of sports within each league. Gone are the days where you have to be in a Vegas casino and here we introduce the option to make bets and risks from a click on a computer while we drink our morning coffee. Times are changing and mere open mindedness has come to life. We see this in fantasy football leagues and other friendly betting events.
The black market will take a hit based on their billion dollar revenue stream, but just like the legalization of marijuana the economy boomed for states like Colorado and Seattle. This industry will match the marijuana market if not succeed that tenfold. Ad sales through websites and television commercials will spike marketing the average joe to stick their hand into the frenzy.
Ratings will spike with the top tv networks, sports bars will have more revenue coming in, and the intensity will escalate among the bbq watch parties. Apps will be created for easy access and sports will be changed forever.
COVER FEBRUARY 2019
Final Show # 16 Thurs Dec 20th Championship Week.
- No. 23 Baseball wins 7-2 in home openerLonghorns ride Bryce Elder's six-inning start to win over Purdue.
- Track & Field sets two school records on day one of Big 12 IndoorsAshtin Zamzow set the school record in the pentathlon while Elena Bruckner did so in the weight throw.
- No. 11 Softball wraps dominant day with 9-1 (6 inn.) win over TulsaSophomore designated player Lauren Burke ripped a game-ending two-RBI triple to right in the sixth.
- Video: LHN The Journey of Yuya ItoTexas junior Yuya Ito has traveled a long road from Japan to Australia to Austin, but it has led him to becoming one of the top college tennis players in the country.
- Video: Men's Basketball's Osetkowski appears on “Longhorn Weekly”Senior forward was a featured guest on Coach Smart's weekly radio show.
- Video: Community service at Thinkery MuseumFootball, Soccer, Women's Basketball and Volleyball student-athletes participate in local event.
/ 4 days ago
BY DANIEL JONES A year after losing in the final round of the Southern...


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Home » February » National Random Acts of Kindness Day (February 17)
National Random Acts of Kindness Day (February 17)
Check out the weird holiday Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17. Learn the history of this day, and get ideas on how to celebrate.
One weird holiday on February 17 is National Random Acts of Kindness Day. Check out the other weird February holidays!
History of National Random Acts of Kindness Day
This is an unofficial national holiday in the United States, but it’s celebrated officially in New Zealand on September 1.
It’s really easy to do a random act of kindness! You can smile at a stranger, compliment a co-worker, or even pay for the person behind you in the drive-thru. Just look around; there are so many ways you can be kind!
This weird holiday is celebrated by the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (RAKF). It was first initiated in 1995 in Denver, Colorado. It moved to New Zealand in 2004 (although it’s celebrate on September 1 there).
According to their website:
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is a small nonprofit that invests our resources into making kindness the norm.
We are rooted in the belief that all people can connect through kindness and that kindness can be taught. We follow a simple framework for everything we do. Inspire -> Empower -> Act -> Reflect -> Share. Our evidence-based Kindness in the Classroom® curriculum gives students the social and emotional skills needed to live more successful lives. Our workplace kindness calendar shows companies how easy it is to change workplace culture through simple kind gestures. We create a common language between schools, work and home with all of our resources.
One of the best ways to celebrate this holiday is by paying it forward. To get in the mood, check out the incredible movie Pay It Forward – we dare you not to cry.
While we all try to practice random acts of kindness throughout the year, incorporating these activities into a calendar for National Random Acts of Kindness Day keeps the true meaning of life at the forefront.
When’s the last time that you passed along a few random acts of kindness? In this post, you’ll get some amazing and simple ideas on how you can pay it forward on National Random Acts of Kindness Day to those around you!
Random acts of kindness don’t just have to happen once in a while or only on National Random Acts of Kindness Day. With these simple random acts of kindness you can spread joy throughout the whole year!
Are you looking for inspiring random acts of kindness quotes for kids to hear on National Random Acts of Kindness Day? Here are Kindness Sayings for Children including matching books, activities, and free printable kindness day quotes.
Help your children learn to be kind to others on National Random Acts of Kindness Day with these random acts of kindness for kids. Use the free printable as a check list to help your kids complete each task.
Kindness activities for kids are simple ways to instill positive habits. Plus, children learn so much from these types of acts, big or small. Use National Random Acts of Kindness Day as a reason to help your children to engage in kindness activities and get this free printable pack of charts and trackers to help you get started!


Feeds are the core of the Adafruit IO system. The feed holds metadata about the data you push to Adafruit IO. This includes settings for whether the data is public or private, what license the stored sensor data falls under, and a general description of the data. The feed also contains the sensor data values that get pushed to Adafruit IO from your device.
You will need to create one feed for each unique source of data you send to the system. For example, if you have a project with one temperature sensor and two humidity sensors, you would need to create three feeds. One feed for the temperature sensor, and one feed for each humidity sensor.
First, let's take a look at how to create a new feed using Adafruit IO.


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The Federal Government will pay about $5.5 million to descendants of the Wyandot Indians to settle a 143- year-old treaty that forced the tribe to sell their Ohio homes in 1842 for less than fair value.
The Government will send about $1,600 each in July to 3,600 people in Kansas and Oklahoma who have proved that they are Wyandot descendants, Dennis Springwater, a spokesman for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, announced Friday.
Under a program established in the 1940's to settle claims filed by various Indian tribes for promises broken as settlers invaded their territories, the Government has recommended payment of more $800 million.
The Wyandot settlement is based on an 1830 Federal law that required all Indians to move west of the Mississippi River. The Wyandots were paid 75 cents an acre for nine million acres of land that was worth $1.50 an acre, Mr. Springwater said.Continue reading the main story


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Large Aluminum Plain Bread Tin
is on back order
Period larger size aluminum sandwich container. This style was produced from the mid 30's into the 60's. It is correct for WWII and may even be original, it is difficult to date. Bread tins like this were an important part of everyday life in Germany and many made it to the front (I frequently see ground diggers finding them in Russia). It is in decent condition, but it does have a few dents.
Weight with packaging: 0.25 kg (Make the most of DHL shipping, learn more here.)

domain: history


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The Steam Holiday Sale Just Started Like 5 Minutes Ago
This just in from the interwebs, Steam has just announced the start of their holiday sale. From approximately now until January 2, they’re offering some particularly staggering discounts (in some cases as high as 80%). The thing is, you can only get it if you already own a steam game. Looks like you just got the perfect excuse to buy a copy of Half-Life, right?
But heck, why paraphrase a press release when we can share it with you. Here’s what it said:
In addition to the usual savings specials, each day of the sale will feature
a special Holiday Bonus on one select title. The twist: Players must qualify
for the Holiday Bonus by owning another Steam game.
For example, the first Holiday Bonus is Portal – save an extra 10% if you
own Half-Life 2. If you already own the title, Steam will automatically
detect this and offer you the 10% savings during check out.
Meanwhile, titles kicking off the traditional savings include:
F1 2010 50%
Battlefield Bad Company 2 66%
Fallout 3 (Game of the Year) 33%
The Deus Ex Collection 85%
LEGO Batman 75%
Peggle & Peggle Nights 60%
Prince of Persia (Franchise) 75%
F.E.A.R. (Franchise) 75%
Titan Quest Gold 75%
Super Meat Boy 75%
Oddworld’s Oddboxx 50%
There’s a lot more on sale over on Steam. Better hurry before you spend that money on gifts for someone else!

domain: game


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The Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act Now In Effect
The Government of Canada has implemented a new law to help make homes more affordable for Canadians. The Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act was put in effect on January 1, 2023, and will prevent non-Canadians and corporations controlled by non-Canadians from purchasing residential property in Canada for a period of two years.
According to the Act, residential property is defined as buildings with three homes or fewer, as well as parts of buildings such as semi-detached houses and condominium units. The law does not prohibit the purchase of larger buildings with multiple units.
The Act also includes a $10,000 fine for any non-Canadian or anyone who knowingly assists a non-Canadian and is convicted of violating the Act. If a court finds that a non-Canadian has done this, they may order the sale of the property.
In the lead up to the implementation of the Act, the Government of Canada conducted a consultation period during which it received approximately 200 written submissions from individuals and stakeholders. The accompanying regulations for the Act will also come into force on January 1, 2023, and the Act and its regulations will be repealed after two years.
What Is A Non-Canadian According To This Law?
The Act defines a non-Canadian as an individual who is not a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered under the Indian Act. Corporations based in Canada that are privately held, not listed on a stock exchange in Canada, and controlled by a non-Canadian are also included in this definition.
The Act applies to direct or indirect purchases of residential property, including purchases made through partnerships, trusts, or other entities seeking to avoid the prohibition. There are some exceptions to the prohibition, such as when someone acquires an interest in a residential property through divorce, separation, gift, or death, or when a dwelling unit is rented to a tenant for the purpose of occupation.
The Act will apply to residential property located in census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations, as well as vacant land that is zoned for residential use or mixed-use and located within these areas.
What Will Be The Impact Of The Prohibition On The Purchase Of Residential Property By Non-Canadians Act?
The goal of the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act is to ensure that the housing market in Canada remains available and accessible to Canadians.
The Act is intended to help make homes more affordable for Canadians by preventing non-Canadians from purchasing residential property in Canada for a period of two years.
There are several factors that can impact real estate prices in Canada, including demand, supply, and economic conditions. All else being equal, the Act will lead to a reduction in demand for residential property in Canada. However, it is important to note that the Act only applies to a relatively small segment of the market, as it only covers the purchase of residential property by non-Canadians.
That said, combined with a grim economic outlook and a rise in interest rates which will simultaneously reduce demand and increase supply, Canadian homeowners should feel the negative impacts while Canadian home seekers should feel the positive impacts.


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1894-08-06 (146lbs) Danny Needham w rsc 5 (10) Louis Groeninger, Hercules AC, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
1894-08-06 (146lbs) Danny Needham w rsc 5 (10) Louis Groeninger, Hercules AC, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. Referee: Jim Hall. Although billed for the welterweight title of America no weights were reported, but as Needham was fighting at around 146lbs at this moment in time that was quite probably the limit set. According to the Galveston Daily News, with the fight being a hot one, much blood being spilled, it was eventually stopped by the police at the end of the fifth round. The referee then awarded the fight to Needham. By this time it was apparent that Needham’s career was coming to an end, and following a further eight contests, of which he won just two, he had retired.


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Specialty crop growers in Southern California are facing a harsh reality. As climate change draws record heat and erratic precipitation patterns to the region, farmers struggle to find the resources that can translate climate scenarios down to the regional or crop level. While many growers here are already adopting climate-resilient practices, a new CDFA report shows they are eager for scientists and policymakers to close the research gap in climate modeling.
“We really don't have crop-specific information for how bad of an impact these extremes could have,” said Tapan Pathak, a UC Merced specialist in climate adaptation for agriculture, in a discussion on Monday about the report. “Based on that, we could create viable adaptation strategies.”
CDFA partnered with the San Diego–based Climate Science Alliance to produce the report. According to Connor Magee, who leads the alliance effort, agriculture in San Diego County alone is highly diverse, with a large portion of small farms, which sweep across high deserts, alpine landscapes and a Mediterranean climate on the coast. Magee and his team compiled more than 50 in-depth interviews and a survey of more than 150 stakeholders across Imperial, Kern, Riverside and San Diego Counties. They discovered a strong need for more training, on-farm support and analysis of the economic benefits for climate-smart practices.
The report serves as a region-specific update to a 2012 CDFA statewide report on specialty crops. That initiative led to a new CDFA office dedicated to environmental farming as well as partnerships with Israel, the Netherlands, South Africa and Australia and a suite of climate-smart incentives programs aimed at mitigating emissions, adapting to climate impacts and maintaining food security.
In 2019 CDFA secured funding for the follow-up study through a USDA specialty crop block grant and resources through a partnership with the alliance.
The report serves to distill a few of the many climate scenarios down to the regional level. One of the findings is that Southern California will face minimum temperatures much higher than other regions in the state, according to Michael Wolff, a researcher in the CDFA Office of Environmental Farming and Innovation. In the southern San Joaquin Valley, the average number of extreme heat days each year will go from seven today to 30 by 2050, and those days will arrive as early as May and stick around as late as November. By 2100, the number is estimated to double.
The temperature increases in the Sierra Nevada range are less certain but are likely to have significant impacts on agriculture by causing more precipitation to fall as rain rather than being stored as snowpack to replenish reservoirs in summer, said Pathak. Together with other cooperative extension specialists, he found that current studies show heat alone could reduce yields by nearly 30% for some crops — a number likely to be higher if water stress were factored in as well. The amount of time to reach maturity for processing tomatoes, for example, could shrink by three weeks — crippling a sector where California leads the nation.
Climate models show less certainty over whether the amount of annual precipitation overall will drop, according to Wolff. Rainstorms will be more intense, raising flood risks, and springs will be much drier. Yet the patterns will vary wildly from year to year. This presents challenges not just for surface water supplies. Current strategies to mitigate the heat effects on crops often involve more irrigation, which relies on more water availability.
Farmers must grapple with other trade-offs as well when switching to more heat- or water-tolerant crops or to commodities with higher market values that can offset the rising cost of water. Each crop responds to climate and weather differently.
“When we are thinking about adaptation research, we really need to be looking at the crop-specific and region-specific issues,” said Pathak.
Another climate challenge is a reduction in the number of frost days, which allows pests and diseases to survive longer and spread further. Currently, almond and walnut growers in just one or two counties are facing a climate that is highly conducive to navel orangeworms by allowing them to complete five cycles of growth.
“By end of the century, almost the entire valley is going to experience the fifth generation of navel orangeworm,” Pathak said. “And there is a huge impact, especially if it hits during the net production or harvest time frame.”
Warming temperatures are also leading to more insects and weeds migrating into and across the state from other regions. To combat this, Pathak said, integrated pest management should be a priority in this region, along with the means for adopting these practices.
“The growers [in the survey] mentioned that we need better tools to measure the effectiveness of these practices, and better tools to implement these practices,” he said.
The report will help researchers develop new outreach tools that offer more IPM options aimed at specific growth stages for insects, which would reduce the frequency and amount of pesticide spraying in the process, he said. Farmers can also play a central role in developing software that more intuitively integrates climate projections into regional risk assessments for certain crops.
CDFA and UC Agriculture and Natural Resources have been ramping up their extension efforts for adaptive practices as well. A partnership between the two organizations in 2018 created 10 positions for education specialists in climate-smart agriculture at the county level. They encourage growers to apply for incentive funding through the CDFA programs. Kern County education specialist Shulamit Shroder said the water efficiency grants have been “extremely popular” here, helping farmers convert to drip irrigation, purchase soil moisture sensors and replace diesel pumps. But she acknowledged the process is competitive and growers outside of overdrafted basins, such as Imperial County, tend to lose out on those grants.
Interested in more coverage and insights? Receive a free month of Agri-Pulse West.
The CDFA programs are also facing funding shortfalls this year as the state’s cap-and-trade revenues are in steep decline. The Legislature and Gov. Newsom are negotiating changes to the market that could generate more revenue in the future.
The governor has signaled strong support for the Healthy Soils Program particularly, and the department is planning to expand its partnerships on this front as well. The report serves as both a valuable resource for grower feedback and a policy paper for lawmakers in support of climate resiliency practices.
“This is what I hope is the first of many regional efforts to listen and hear from farmers and ranchers throughout California on what we are doing now and what we need to do to prepare for and adapt to a changing climate,” said CDFA Secretary Karen Ross.
For more news, go to www.Agri-Pulse.com.

domain: agronomy


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In a large, heavy, nonreactive pot, mix the fruit and sugar, and let stand to macerate at least 20 minutes, up to 24 hours.
With a nutcracker or a hammer, crack open several of the reserved pits and remove the kernel from within. On a square of cheesecloth (approximately 6-inch square), place the noyaux and spices, and tie up the corners tightly to form a sachet.
Place the macerated fruit over medium heat until all the sugar is dissolved. Add the lemons and the sachet. Raise the heat to high, stirring frequently to prevent burning. When the jam reads 220 degrees F on a candy thermometer, cook one minute longer, turn off the flame, add the bourbon, stir well to combine and let the jam stand for a few minutes. Remove the sachet and lemon slices.
Pour into sterilized jars and process via the standard water-bath canning method.

domain: food