New 18V LXT® Brushless Quick-Shift Mode™ Impact Driver is ideal for precision fastening applications
La Mirada, CA Makita, a worldwide manufacturer of technologically advanced power tools that are more compact with less weight yet deliver industrial strength power and results, has released the new 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion Brushless Quick-Shift Mode™3-Speed Impact Driver, model LXDT06.
The LXDT06 with Quick-Shift Mode™ is the latest addition to Makita’s 18V cordless line up, with 60+ cordless tools powered by one fast-charging 18V Lithium-Ion battery.
The new 18V LXT® Impact Driver features Quick-Shift Mode™, an automatic electronic controller that downshifts and reduces rotation and impact speed prior to driving the screw into place. It is engineered to minimize screw thread stripping, screw breakage and damage to work.
“The LXDT06 is the latest in Makita’s long line of expertise, innovation and leadership within the impact driver category,” said Mario Lopez, Makita Product Manager, Cordless Tools. “Precision fastening applications often require the user to stop or slow down the impact driver just prior to driving the screw into place to ensure there is no damage to the fastener or work piece. With Quick-Shift Mode™, the speed and power is reduced automatically as the screw is driven into place. Quick-Shift Mode™ is the solution for minimizing screw stripping, screw breakage and damage to the material within a wide range of fastening applications.”
Precision Features for Fastening
The new LXDT06 combines power and speed with precision features for fastening applications. The BL™ Brushless Motor delivers a full 1,500 in.lbs. of Max Torque in the 3rd speed setting. The 3-speed power selection switch (0-1,400/0-2,300/0-2,800 RPM and 0-1,300/0-2,800/0-3,400 IPM) provides the user with precise fastening control for a range of applications, from cabinet screws to lag bolts.
Quick-Shift Mode™ can be engaged with a push of a button at the base of the handle. When the driving process begins, the impact driver starts driving at 3rd speed (2,800 RPM). As the screw nears the fastened position, Quick-Shift Mode™ is automatically engaged and downshifts to 2nd Speed (2,300 RPM).
The LXDT06 features a number of comfort and convenience features. It weighs only 3.3 lbs. and has a compact size (only 5-1/8” long) with an ergonomic design and superior balance. Other features include a 3-stage battery power indicator and Makita’s Extreme Protection Technology (XPT), an interior seal inside the tool engineered for improved water and dust resistance for use in harsh jobsite conditions.
Similar to all Makita impact drivers, the anvil impact mechanism in the LXDT06 is engineered using the best raw materials with the highest quality steel and unique heat hardening process for maximum fastening and driving power.
Makita 18V Lithium-Ion
The LXDT06 is a new addition to Makita’s 18V LXT® platform. As the leading innovator in cordless tools, Makita created the 18V Lithium-Ion category in 2005. Today there are 60+ Makita 18V cordless tools powered by one 18V Lithium-Ion battery. Makita’s groundbreaking 18V Lithium-Ion platform features the ENERGY STAR® qualified Rapid Optimum Charger, which will charge an 18V LXT® battery in only 30 minutes for more work and less downtime. The Makita LXT® BL™ Brushless Motor delivers increased motor efficiency to provide up to 50% longer run time per charge, increased power and speed, and longer tool life.
No load speed
Impacts per minute
18V LXT® Lithium-Ion
18V LXT® Lithium-Ion
3.3 lbs. (with battery)
3.3 lbs. (with battery)
Tool, 2 ea. 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion Batteries, Rapid Optimum Charger, Tool Belt Clip, Tool Case
Makita Lithium-Ion tools are backed by Makita’s 3-Year Warranty which covers repair due to defective materials or workmanship up to 3 years from the purchase date. The Makita Lithium-Ion battery has a limited 1-year warranty.
About Makita USA
Makita is a worldwide manufacturer of industrial quality power tools and offers a wide range of industrial accessories. Makita utilizes leading-edge technology and innovation to engineer tools that are more compact with less weight yet deliver industrial strength power and results. Makita’s extensive line of cordless lithium-ion tools includes 18V LXT® Lithium-Ion, 18V Compact Lithium-Ion, and 12V max Lithium-Ion. Other best-in-class products include rotary and demolition hammers and saws equipped with Anti-Vibration Technology (AVT®), MM4™ 4-Cycle outdoor power equipment, Super Joint System (SJS®) grinders, miter saws engineered with Deep and Exact Cutting Technology (DXT™), and more. Makita U.S.A., Inc. is located in La Mirada, California, and operates an extensive distribution network located throughout the U.S. For more information, please call 800/4-MAKITA (800/462-5482) or visit the website at makitatools.com. You can follow Makita at facebook.com/makitatoolspage, twitter.com/makitatools, and youtube.com/makitapowertools. The Makita Teal color is the trade dress of Makita Corporation and is protected under common law and registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Makita is Best in Class Engineering.


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Do you have a home office for your S-corporation? Deduct your expenses using an accountable plan
S-corporation shareholders are considered employees of their businesses, so unlike partners in a partnership, they can’t simply deduct unreimbursed business expenses directly on Schedule E as Unreimbursed Partnership Expenses, or UPE. Until the end of 2017, their only option was to deduct home office and other business-related expenses on Schedule A, where it was subject to the 2% of AGI threshold.
However, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law in December, 2017, even this meager deduction is gone until 2025.
But if you set up an accountable plan for your S-corporation, everyone wins: the S-corporation gets a deduction, and you get a tax-free reimbursement.
To pass IRS muster, an accountable plan must meet three requirements:
- The expenses must have a business connection. The expenses must be incurred during the ordinary course of business. These can include mileage, meals with clients, and out-of-pocket travel expenses. They can also include expenses that are part personal and part business, such as home office expenses, cell phones, and home internet.
- There must be substantiation to support the deduction. This can be easily accomplished by submitting a detailed monthly or quarterly expense report with the relevant documentation attached. Apps like Expensify and ReceiptBank make this simple. Smartphone apps like MileageIQ and TripLog are great for tracking business driving.
- Any excess reimbursements over actual expenses must be repaid promptly. Any excess over actual expenses must be repaid within 120 days.
Result? Your S-corporation deducts the expenses, and the reimbursement to you is tax-free. Without an accountable plan in place, these reimbursements are taxable income, and should be reported on your W-2.
Setting up an accountable plan is quite simple. Here’s a sample agreement you can adapt for your business. Call our office for help in setting up an accountable plan for your business!

domain: economics


A to die for one piece that features a ribbed texture and mesh insets on the hips. Crisscross straps. Skimpy coverage. Lined.
- Fabric: 88% Nylon, 12% Spandex
- Care: Hand wash.
- Made in USA.
- Size and Fit: Model is in size S; Model is 5 ft 7 in, bust 32 in, waist 24 in, hips 35 in
- Minimale Animale style 305
- Item No. 85124


A new garage door motor can give a garage a new lease of life. 2018 motors are belt driven so quieter and stronger than the old chain driven models, this means no grease issues either. New remotes are small and sleek and more secure than previous generations too.
We are an approved Merlin supplier which means we only supply the best motors in the industry.
Quiet, powerful and backed by a full 7 year warranty, this will New Zealand’s new favourite opener.
As quiet as a mouse, this energy efficient opener has the latest security and multi frequency technology.
Commander Extreme – Designed for extreme conditions & heavy custom doorswith 2.4 or 3.0m extruded aluminium rail and Battery Back-Up accessory
The NEW SilentDrive Essential is myQ compatible, with bright LED lighting, quiet operation and includes 2 x premium hand held remotes. Used for Roller Doors.
The NEW SilentDrive Elite is myQ compatible, Battery Backup compatible with bright LED lighting, quiet operation and includes 2 x premium hand held remotes. Used for Roller Doors.
Faster: LR-Drive opens a 2.4m high door in only 21 seconds. Fastest in its class!
Stronger: The powerful motor and gearbox can lift roller doors up to 25m²
Thinner: The incredibly thin operator requires only 45mm of sideroom clearance
Smarter: LR-Drive is myQ compatible and features dedicated inputs for open / close
With constant duty cycle, battery backup onboard and the industry’s best warranty, the new Grifco S-Drive is indeed the Smooth Operator. It is purpose built for high-cycle, highly demanding commercial sectional doors found in carparks, emergency services buildings and commercial tenancies.
This innovative opener is installed beside the door, leaving your garage ceiling clear for storage space or simply improved aesthetics. Powerful, quiet and packed with accessories including safety beams, deluxe wall control, and automatic close this opener is the ideal choice for a designer home.
Monitoring of your garage door opener away from home. Receive alerts and notifications for complete piece of mind knowing you are in control away from home. Quiet, powerful and backed by a full 7 year warranty, this will New Zealand’s new favourite opener.


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Ham vs Beefsteak - In-Depth Nutrition Comparison
How are Ham and Beefsteak different?
- Ham is richer in Vitamin B1, while Beefsteak is higher in Vitamin B12, Zinc, Selenium, Vitamin B6, Iron, and Vitamin B3.
- Beefsteak covers your daily need of Vitamin B12 85% more than Ham.
- Ham contains 22 times more Sodium than Beefsteak. Ham contains 1203mg of Sodium, while Beefsteak contains 55mg.
Pork, cured, ham, boneless, extra lean (approximately 5% fat), roasted and Beef, loin, top sirloin cap steak, boneless, separable lean only, trimmed to 1/8" fat, all grades, raw types were used in this article.
Comparison summary table
|Lower in Cholesterol|
|Lower in Saturated Fat|
|Lower in price|
|Lower in Sodium|
|Rich in minerals|
|Lower in Sugar||Equal|
|Lower in glycemic index||Equal|
|Rich in vitamins||Equal|
All nutrients comparison - raw data values
Which food is preferable for your diet?
|Low Fats diet|
|Low Carbs diet|
|Low Calories diet|
|Low glycemic index diet||Equal|

domain: food


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A smelly vaginal discharge is a warning sign in women and it is usually a symptom of bacteria of parasite infection that can be passed from one person to the other through sexual contact or by direct contact with bodily secretions.
The bad smell of discharge is usually similar to the smell of rotten fish and it is often accompanied by other symptoms such as itching, a burning sensation when urinating, greenish-yellow colour and pain during sexual intercourse. It is therefore advisable to consult a gynaecologist who will identify the underlying cause of the smell and prescribe the right treatment..
Release of secretion through the vagina is normal as it is as a result of cell renewal. However, when the discharge is in excess, it happens frequently and is accompanied by a bad smell and other symptoms such as pain when urinating or a burning sensation in the vagina then it might be a sign of vaginal imbalance. It is therefore important to consult a gynaecologist.
The main causes of smelly vaginal discharge are:
- Bacterial vaginosis, which is an infection of the vagina caused by the bacterium Gardnerella sp. It leads to the appearance of yellowish or greyish discharge with a strong and unpleasant smell that is similar to that of rotten fish.
- Trichomoniasis, which is a vaginal infection caused by the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis and it is characterized by the presence of yellow-green discharge accompanied by a strong smell.
- Gonorrhea, which is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae and which leads to the appearance of brown discharge
Candidiasis is also one of the main causes of vaginal infection and discharge in women, however it does not result in smelly discharge.

domain: medical


Candidates for the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District Board of Education had a chance Tuesday evening to discuss their views at a forum sponsored by the Nikiski Elementary School Parent Teacher Association.
Voters have real choices in the race, as this year's contenders offer distinctive viewpoints and diverse credentials.
Three seats on the seven-member school board are on the ballot in the municipal election Oct. 2. The three incumbents have filed for re-election and face two challengers apiece. Two of the seats are for full, three-year terms, but the third is for one year.
Seven of the nine candidates attended the Nikiski forum.
Each had an opportunity to outline their positions and then answered questions posed informally from the audience. Here is a summary in the order presented:
Sandra Wassilie from Seward was appointed to Seat C eight months ago to replace Mike Chenault, who stepped down from the board to take a seat in the Legislature. She is seeking re-election to serve out the final year of the original term.
Wassilie quipped about having a particular interest in Nikiski schools since buying property in the Gray Cliffs area. She spoke about her Alaska roots and experience working at the Alaska Vocational Technical Center (AVTEC) and as a parent volunteer in Seward schools prior to becoming involved with the school board. She has served with other organizations and projects and, since joining the board, worked with legislators to change school funding.
"I think we need to attract and retain teachers of excellence ... and restore adequate funding for education," she said.
Margaret Gilman from Kenai is a newcomer running for Seat C. She grew up in Kenai and taught for 12 years in central peninsula schools. She described herself as a PTA veteran and current stay-at-home mom.
She said she wants the district to do more than help students pass the Alaska High School Graduation Qualifying Exam. Smaller classes, attracting and retaining top teachers and keeping schools safe and wholesome are her priorities, she said.
"I want to make sure my children and all the children in the district have the opportunity for that high quality education," she said.
Debra Holle of Kasilof, the other candidate for Seat C, is a former member of the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly and the head of the Red Cross office in Soldotna. She has a teaching certificate, has substituted in area schools and was a parent volunteer when her children were at Tustumena Elementary School.
She cited her administrative and budget experience, plus her ties to education, as strengths she would bring to the job.
One priority she listed would be finding ways to pay teachers more for their work.
"I have passionate ideas about how we should move ahead ...," she said. "I do have a heart for the teaching field."
Gene Dyson of Soldotna is running against incumbent Deborah Germano and challenger Linda K. Reynolds for Seat F. Neither of his opponents were able to attend the Nikiski forum.
A retired custodian, Dyson has served as a volunteer on several district committees including the budget committee and has run unsuccessfully for school board before.
He told the Nikiski group that he is particularly concerned about the district losing students to home school and about the upcoming employee contract negotiations. The school board needs to make tough choices and must find ways to attract area parents back into the public schools, he said.
"The main function of a school board member is that children receive a quality education. We work down from there," he said.
Lorraine "Sammy" Crawford, a retired teacher from Kenai, is the incumbent in Seat G and running for her third term. She described herself as active in the community.
She said her goals are to represent the needs of all students and to recruit and keep good teachers. Home schooling is valid, but public school remains essential for most families, she said.
"I really believe in public schools. ... I want to maintain and improve our public schools," she said.
She also cited the size and complexity of the district, warning that school board members need to learn a lot before they become effective.
"I thought, after teaching in the district for 28 years, being on the school board would be a piece of cake. I was amazed," she said.
Barrett Fletcher of Homer is a newcomer to the process challenging Crawford for Seat G. He told the group that, as a parent and school volunteer, he ultimately was disappointed with the education his children were receiving and became a convert to home school and alternative education.
Fletcher criticized the district as too focused on low-performing students at the expense of the bright ones. To solve the problem while keeping costs in check, he favors opening up education options.
He suggested privatizing some school functions, hiring lower-paid aides to free classroom teachers' time for instruction, and allowing families reimbursements for services such as tutoring.
"I am the candidate who really wants to change things," he said.
Michele DeMilta of Soldotna, another newcomer, also is running for Seat G. She described herself as a home-school mom who has serious criticisms of the district.
She expressed concerns that the district's budget is too big, not enough Alaskans get hired for school jobs and that essential services are being cut. She recommended that teachers take standardized tests to keep their jobs, analogous to those required of students. She also suggested that some teachers get paid too much, although she later said she had been given some erroneous information about teacher salaries and would look into the matter further.
"It is definitely time for a change," she said.
The session that followed was a free-wheeling discussion.
What do the candidates think of the two-tier salary schedule for teachers, a controversial point that will come up in contract negotiations in 2002?
Gilman: She has a 19-year-old nephew with a high school diploma who got a job in the oil industry and earns more than degreed, certified teachers. The district needs to look at equity in pay based on training and experience. One way to free up funding for hiking salaries may be to move more district expenses out of the operating budget so they will not be counted within the "capped" portion of the budget.
"The two-tier system I don't believe is fair," she said.
Holle: She opposes the two-tier system, saying it is detrimental to attracting and keeping talented staff. But she favors seeking more money from the state, rather than the borough.
She advocated working with legislators on efforts such as promoting the incorporation of rural areas so more money could come into the education system on a statewide level.
"I would like to work very hard to make that happen," she said.
Wassilie: She said there are additional problems with the current two-tier system because it pays unequally for equal work.
"If push comes to shove, it is probably not legal," she said.
She also noted that many school-related expenses, including food and busing, are already accounted separately from the operating budget, so the potential savings may be less than Gilman thought.
Dyson: He said he had been through union contract negotiations before and has concerns about district personnel issues. For one thing, the district's local hire record could be improved. For another, the state's retirement incentive program, which urged senior teachers into retirement from 1997 through 1999, was a big mistake, he said.
"There were so many good teachers who left," he said.
DeMilta: A two-tier system is unfair, she said, but teachers should not be trying to get more money.
"When you became teachers, you did it for the love of the job. Don't lose sight of that," she said. "Maybe we need to reappropriate some funds or something."
Crawford: Alaska used to be number one in the nation on the teaching pay scale, but in recent years it has dropped. For the district, the only effective way to deal with salary issues is to seek more funding from the Legislature. Current rules pay the Kenai district at about the same rates per student as Anchorage despite the district's expensive, small rural schools.
"There is no question. To keep good employees, you have to pay them," she said.
Fletcher: He agreed the retirement incentive program was a mistake for the quality of education.
He opposes the present two-tier salary schedule, but would favor a different class of less-qualified instructional aides who would earn less than professional, certified teachers. Many people have the attitude and skills to teach without following the traditional teachers' career path. It would be reasonable to offer at least conditional employment to people as a way to bring new ideas into the schools and lower the pupil-to-teacher ratios.
"I especially push the idea of aides," he said.
Support staff workers are unhappy that they receive low pay and only partial benefits. The board candidates were asked to comment on their status.
Fletcher: "I've heard a lot of griping about how custodial staff and borough maintenance don't seem to communicate very well," he said.
Crawford: She reiterated that the district will get what it pays for in staff quality. Often the support staff ends up working one-on-one with some of the neediest children in the schools, she noted.
"We need caring, responsible people," she said.
DeMilta: She said she agreed with Crawford.
"I don't have enough information on the aides and special education, so I can't really comment," she said.
Dyson: The low pay for support staff has been a festering issue for years, he said.
"I believe everyone deserves to make a livelihood," he said. "We've been underpaid for years."
Wassilie: Support staff are vital and need the same high-quality standards as other district employees. They are part of education and have a big impact on children. The district needs to support the support staff and pay for the best people.
"They are just as stressed as the teachers," she said.
Holle: Referring to a questionnaire from the district employees' unions, she said she had listed the welfare of the support staff as one of her top priorities. But she noted that state regulations limit what the district can spend on its support workers. Maybe some could be transferred to the borough payroll.
"I don't want to give anyone false hope. We are required by state law to apply 70 percent of our budget to classroom instruction," she said.
Gilman: Her sister is a district custodian, and she is amazed how much work the schools demand from their support people, she said. The district needs to do what it can for such workers.
She noted that when children go to Sears Elementary, the first person they see is the custodian, who sets the tone for their day.
"We are so fortunate that woman is so committed," she said.
Schools' supply budgets are strapped. What ideas do the candidates have for getting the Legislature to increase school funding?
Gilman: The state lawmakers need to address the area cost differential and forward funding to improve the educational outlook. She said she is eager to work on such state issues.
Holle: She cited Rep. Chenault, R-Nikiski, who was present, as an example of a legislator working with peninsula school officials to address school needs. The job of the school board is to rally citizens to unite and lobby lawmakers.
"It is our responsibility to rattle the cages and say this is what needs to be done," she said.
Wassilie: The school district needs to recapture the funding that inflation has removed over the years. It also needs to work with other districts around the state to reform the funding. Updating the area cost differential and increasing the base allocation are the best avenues to pursue.
She praised the peninsula delegation as "supportive."
Dyson: He was skeptical of what he called broken "promises" from Juneau in the past. He questioned the whole concept of having caps on education funding, suggesting that the borough would be willing to spend more. The system should be changed and, in the meantime, perhaps ways of shifting the cost burdens through "in-kind" contributions could be helpful, he said.
DeMilta: She said she is familiar with politics and grant writing. The district should either "work with or fight with" the legislators to get what it needs, she said.
But she also questioned current spending priorities. She cited the example of Connections, the district's home-school support program, getting new computers each year and passing the used ones to classrooms. It should be the other way around, with the home schoolers getting the hand-me-downs, she said.
Crawford: The state controls the bulk of the district budget, she said. She noted that last year the district spent a lot of time and effort in Juneau and the schools got a "raise" from the state, but less than they had hoped. One unexpected side effect, she noted, was that the state government hired away district employees.
"This year the school board made as a goal that we would lobby the Legislature," she said.
Fletcher: He called the Legislature "short-sighted" to plead poverty in the rich state of Alaska. It is time to move away from cutting and look at what Alaskans need.
In the meantime, the district may be able to do better by scrutinizing its instruction costs and considering competitive sources outside of classrooms.
The school board candidates addressed a League of Women Voters Forum Thursday night. They will speak again at the Kenai Chamber of Commerce luncheon, beginning at noon Wednesday at the Old Town Village Restaurant in Kenai. The chamber forum is open to the public.
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Design your garden with perennials if you want a beautiful, easy-care and sustainable garden year after year. Perennials thrive and spread even during the coldest winters, only becoming fully dormant when the ground freezes. Given any warmth at all, they’re off and running (although not to the naked eye, of course). When you’re finally ready to break your own winter hibernation and venture outside, you’ll likely notice that your perennials have doubled.
If you’re located in a climate at the colder end of the USDA climate zones, from 3-6, you can have blooming plants from the first warming rays of spring sun, all the way to the dark cold days of winter. Last winter, Delphinium ‘Magic Fountain’ was still flowering for my Thanksgiving table. It looked lovely in a crystal vase along with a delicate, fall-blooming Anemone (Anenome spp). All told, there are more plant possibilities with perennials than I can fit in my half-acre garden. But, I can’t resist. I keeping adding more that intrigue me.
How does one pick among all the perennials to create a sustainable garden that blooms in every season and for up to 9 months of the year? Checking the tags is critical. If you live in USDA climate zone 5, don’t choose a perennial that is for zone 8. It will make a lovely annual, but is not designed by nature to survive cold winters. Choose perennials that are in your climate zone or less, such as zones 3 or 4.
Spring Blooming Perennials
To get your garden started here are just a few of my favorites for each season. Early spring, tall-blooming perennials include the lacy, old-fashioned Bleeding Heart (Dicentra), brilliant Oriental Poppies (Papaver Orientale), Lupine (Lupinus), and the old garden staple, Peony (Paeonia).
With a huge array of colors, the beautiful Iris is virtually indestructible. You can count on Iris to spread and fill out your garden, so plant liberally. The Iris were brought west with the pioneers, just to let you know how hardy this perennial is. If you want to attract those large, fuzzy bumblebees, don’t forget Bee Balm (Monarda). Where a garden is partially under towering pines, the soil moist and slightly acidic, try varieties of delicate Astilbe (Astilbe) or spectacular dark Monkshood (Aconitum) and Baneberry.
Tip: When spring-blooming perennials have completed their bloom, prune all the flower spikes back and you might see another bloom period in the fall. The flowers will be smaller, but beautiful just the same.
Summer Blooming Perennials
I love the summer blooming perennials for their continuous bloom late into the fall. The soft brown centers of Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) blend with the varieties of purple and white Coneflower (Echinacea), pink Veronica, red Penstemon and purple Salvia. In mid-summer, the Ornamental Grasses begin to send their seed heads spiking, ending in graceful foliage. Some of my favorites include switch grass (Panicum spp.), and of the fountain grasses (Pennisetum), and most of the silver or maiden grass varieties (Miscanthus).
Enhance the grasses with the deeper colors of fall bloomers like Russian Sage (Perovskia), Goldenrod (Solidago), Chrysanthemum and Aster. Daylilies (Hemerocallis) make a last, huge showing and are lovely when combined with the taller Sedums ‘Autumn Joy’ and ‘Matrona’, as they begin to turn a beautiful warm rust color.
A sustainable perennial garden will provide ecstasy for years to come. Spend your early spring time planning the perfect color combinations within your garden. Its a painter’s palette, so be generous and let your creative heart make the choices. Then when the warm days are finally here to stay, plant it right, plant it once, and enjoy your garden forever.
In sync with nature,
P.S. My best-selling book on Perennials is designed so you can easily choose your plant palette for Spring, Summer and Fall-blooming Perennials. Shipping is free if you use the code word ‘Blog’, when placing your order.
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First Aired: Mar. 05, 2004 on SyFy
Summary: A newly elected President Hayes is told about the existence of the SGC, and the fact that Vice President Kinsey has know about the SGC for some time now. Angry about being left out, Hayes meets with Kinsey, Kinsey’s investigative attorney Richard Woolsey, and the General who informed…
Main Characters in this EpisodeMore
President Hayes: Now I have to call the ex-president of Togo. And when I'm done, apparently, the rest of the world is coming to an end.
- The Oval Office set used for episodes #7.20 "Inaguration" and #7.21/22 "The Lost City" is the same one used in the motion picture X2: X-Men United.
- As President Hayes is walking down the hall towards the Oval Office, on his first day, he stops to look at several historical busts. While looking at the last one, a bust of President John F. Kennedy, he bends down to take a long look at it and then stands up and adjusts his tie while looking at a mirror. William Devane played President Kennedy in a TV movie called The Missiles of October (1974) (TV).

domain: history


- February 11, 2016
- Posted by: Jeff Kish
- Categories: AI & Advanced Computing News, AI Transportation Systems News, Autonomy & Robotics News, Latest News, Research & Development News, Sensing & Computer Vision News
U.S. National Park Service (NPS) roadways and parkways experience safety and congestion issues when they are part of a metropolitan traffic network. Visually unobtrusive traffic monitoring and data collection systems on NPS parkways that minimally impacts viewsheds, as well as historical and cultural landscapes would help alleviate these concerns. IAI and its collaborator, Sabra, Wang and Associates, are developing an innovative, low power, visually Unobtrusive Traffic Monitoring System (UTMS) for the Department of Transportation. UTMS will be fully test and later deployed on the George Washington Memorial Parkway (GWMP). UTMS uses microwave radars and Wi-Fi scanner sensors for real-time collection and processing of traffic volume, speed, travel time, and vehicle type data. This stand-alone sensor system can be installed on existing infrastructure, including traffic signs, lighting poles, and bridge pillars, while the communication module and battery can be embedded safely underground in a waterproof enclosure. Drivers will not be distracted by these sensors because they will be situated out of the field of view for drivers travelling in both directions. The collected data will be archived and maintained by the NPS, and could be shared with other state agencies or the general public for both traffic management and up-to-date traffic information.


As the days wind down in 2017, we wanted to take the time to review our greatest victories for kids and some of the biggest challenges, and to consider what 2018 will hold for kids.
In Lincoln, lawmakers moved the needle for child well-being in the state with a number of bills signed into law:
- LB 427, introduced by Senator Vargas, provides protections and support for pregnant and parenting students in high school. Under the new law, school districts will have written policy and procedure intended to remove barriers to successful high school completion among young parents.
- LB 225 reauthorized the Alternative Response pilot project in the state child welfare system, which allows for a more family-focused response to cases of child maltreatment when there is no immediate safety risk identified.
- LB 8 implemented a system of graduated responses for juvenile probation officers, to both incentivize youth engaging in positive behaviors while on probation, and to provide a developmentally appropriate response so that technical violations of probation don’t have to result in further charges or incarceration.
- LB 11 clarified Nebraska’s court transfer statute to allow for earlier, speedier appeals on motions transferring cases between juvenile and adult criminal court. This change ensures that older youth will not lose precious months or even years of rehabilitative services, waiting for a final decision on the appropriate court of jurisdiction.
Still, the Nebraska Legislature missed out on many other opportunities to advance pro-kid bills:
- A bill that would have eased the “cliff effect” in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for working families failed to advance by one vote. Hunger is on the rise in the state, and LB 358, introduced by Senator McCollister, would have helped more hardworking Nebraska families get closer to financial independence without sacrificing their ability to make ends meet.
- Lawmakers failed to restore $1.2 million in budget cuts for abused and neglected children. In his approval of the final budget package advanced by the Legislature, Governor Ricketts included cuts to child welfare aid, though many advocates and families warned that any cuts would exacerbate dangerously high caseloads within the system.
- Members of the Banking Committee failed to act on a bill that would strengthen protections against predatory lending in the state. The committee heard from a number of Nebraskans who have been trapped in a vicious cycle of debt and called for sensible reform to an industry that currently charges up to 460% in interest.
- LB 158, a bill to ensure all children in Nebraska receive the protection of legal counsel when facing charges in juvenile court, stalled on general file and was not brought back to the floor for further debate. Currently, less than two-thirds of Nebraska youth receive access to counsel in juvenile proceedings, and this rate varies dramatically county by county. The bill remains in limbo, pending further action by the Legislature in the 2018 session.
Additionally, the Nebraska Supreme Court adopted case progression standards for judges in juvenile court proceedings, aimed at reducing court delays in periods of urgency for families and children. Speedy timelines are laid out for when youth are being held in confinement, and when a court is considering an order terminating parental rights. The Supreme Court also adopted guidelines for all attorneys who practice in juvenile court, to ensure that lawyers representing Nebraska kids maintain high ethical and professional standards.
At the federal level, it’s clear that our children need outspoken advocates now, more than ever. A few dangerous proposals in Congress were narrowly defeated this year, including an effort that would have decimated health care for low-income children. In addition, the clock continues to tick on another proposal that would cause children to lose health insurance as Congress to date has failed to reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides critical health care access for millions of kids nationwide including thousands of young Nebraskans. Several lawmakers have already signaled their intention to continue to put kids last in 2018 by drastically cutting federal investments in child health and nutrition programs.
Next year, we will continue to advocate for state policy solutions that reduce child hunger, strengthen parent-child relationships through incarceration, protect youth from the collateral harms of court records, and eliminate the use of extended solitary confinement in our youth-serving facilities.
For 30 years and counting, Voices for Children in Nebraska has worked to ensure that all children in our state are able to reach their full potential. In 2018, we’ll need the support of children’s advocates like you to advance a vision for Nebraska where strong communities allow all children to thrive. Here are three ways for you to Join us today:


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Kolkata: Ahead of the upcoming rural polls scheduled on July 8, Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday came up with a new idea of printing leaflets in different languages about the schemes started and implemented by the ruling government of West Bengal.
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh talking to the media said that the TMC had thought of printing such leaflets in Hindi, English and will give them to the central forces that will be deployed in the state during the polls.
TMC welcomes Central Forces troops
“We want to ask the central forces that will come from other states whether their wife gets Lakshmir Bhandar or not, or whether their children get Kanyashree and other developmental schemes like those started by the Government of West Bengal. Through Swasthya Sathi card treatment up to ₹5 lakh is free in this state. Upon their return to their own states the central forces should say that they want West Bengal like government,” said Ghosh.
Senior CPI (M) leader opposes this notion
Condemning the idea, senior CPI (M) leader Shamik Lahiri said that the Election Commission should immediately ask TMC to stop such a thing.
“This idea is completely illegal. They (TMC) cannot do this. The Election Commission is an independent body and they should immediately intervene and stop such a thing,” mentioned Lahiri.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya said, “The TMC and the EC are the same body. The TMC will do everything as they don’t want the central forces to be deployed at the booths during the election.”

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