text:
March is the National Women’s Month Celebration for the Philippines, a country that has been annually taking an active part in the worldwide recognition of women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievement in various forms. Moreover, the eighth day of the month is Women’s Rights and International Peace Day—a special date of further acknowledging and appreciating the role of women in world history.
Many studies, reports, and figures have already revealed that women today are still facing various forms of violence in most environments, hence the already given significance of being in solidarity with them all over the world who are still fighting for gender equality. Even in the world of literature, the literary history and present culture of many countries, including the Philippines, show that sexism is prevalent. US-based feminist organization VIDA: Women in Literary Arts has published an annual count that presents how little female writers’ works are featured and reviewed in anthologies and journals compared to their male counterparts, a fact that is similar to scholars’ findings in the early development of Philippine literature. According to writer and critic Erlinda Kintanar-Alburo in her paper, “Towards a Feminist Perspective: A Reader’s Guide to Contemporary Philippine Literature by Women,” the women’s literature in the country “does not fall consciously within the feminist agenda” except for the last decade. Early female writers have written from the margins, either submitting to it or subverting the dominant patriarchal order.
Nonetheless, the interest in women’s issues in the country is continually growing and empowered female writers strive as they aim for gender sensitivity, challenging the male-dominated literary canon that has been established through the years through workshops and conferences where panelists critique with a feminist perspective as well as the production of more literary writings and critical essays written by women themselves. Female writers currently write not solely on being a woman in general, but also about women facing contemporary concerns regarding identity, sex, human rights, nationalistic awakening, among others in a postcolonial setting. For this month’s issue, Cotabato Literary Journal joins in the celebration by featuring the literary works written by women and female-identifying individuals in the region. Most of the writings are from writers who are published in the journal for the first time. The editors have also selected some works that are published on zines featured during the SOX Zine Fest last November 2017 to be included.
Two fiction pieces written by Rossel Audencial and Hope Daryl Talib narrate surreal encounters with strangers. Audencial’s “The Road” is a short horror story about a young woman’s encounter with a strange co-passenger and their shared sentiment regarding their respective mothers in a late-night tricycle ride home that takes longer than the usual. The driver’s escape route from men who are assigned in one of the checkpoints at GenSan is unfamiliar for her, hence the escalating anxiety and confusion—all due to an expired license. The empty back seat upon reaching home adds to her peculiar experience. “Dead Lazy” by Hope Daryl Talib is a flash fiction piece that shows how a life that must be lived can present itself as a catastrophe if it must awaken one who is merely existing. The main character, Mitch Cabrera, is a college dropout who inherits enough money to survive after her parents died and chooses to not live beyond her bed, favorite movies, cheese puffs with cold mayonnaise, and the comforts of her house. As “life happens” in the form of a stranger who provides a tragic event for her to make the choice between saving herself and falling for her demise, she answers for herself if she is already a lost cause.
It is difficult not to succumb to bitterness when “the taste of tears and sweat are the same.” “Amalia,” Jerome Cenina’s heart-wrenching yet hopeful poem, presents a mother who remembers her childhood dream of exploring what is beyond her parents’ restrictions and the opportunity to experience freedom that she has grabbed. With the harsh realities of the present and the narrow path she sees as she carries her child, all she can do is embrace her choices and its seemingly irreversible outcomes. To face life head on may be its poignant, positive answer. In Maguindanaoan writer Merhana Macabangin’s poem “Timpo Saguna,” the persona challenges the claims of Filipinos in general that violence is absent and peace is enjoyed in the country. The first lines are written as sugarcoated lies that will make readers think twice about how people—either blind from the truth or refuse to see it—talk about the current times. After every human right defender and peace advocate whose lives are sacrificed for the country’s betterment, the ongoing wars prove that nothing has changed.
The woman as a lover who looks at the concept of desire as a two-way, give-and-take construct is also explored in the poems of Marie-Luise Coroza Calvero and Joana Galila. In Calvero’s romantic poem in Spanish titled “Quiero estar” (I want to be), the persona desires to claim its beloved’s heart as home: a place for growth where deep love is nurtured and a place where it is impossible to fully be away from. On the other hand, Galila’s balak “Inig Kita Kanimo” is a lament for the one that got away despite the persona’s attempt to save the person she truly loves from setbacks; even the healthy relationship, as presented in the poem, does not turn out as an assurance that an individual will be saved from a difficulty that consumes it. The lover can only do so much when love is not enough, and one step is to not get lost in the process of coping with heartbreak.
This month’s featured essays present the young women’s perspective in the environments they live in and their profound observations in life. Ira Shayne Salvaleon’s “Twenty-Two-Hectare Treasure” is about a senior high school student who reminisces the beautiful farm his family owns in a village in Carmen, Cotabato Province. As she thinks about the place that she has always loved and has not outgrown and how life’s challenges should be traversed through, she wishes to be a child whose happiness she considers as the most innocent kind of joy. Full of local color, the personal essay connects true love and the wonders of nature through the eyes of a young person. “Ice Candy” by Jhessa Gales is about a young girl’s love for eating ice candy at another store that may taste different than her mother’s own ice candy sold in their sari-sari store, but still “gives the same feeling.” Together with her friends after school, she would walk to the village instead of obeying her mother and riding the tricycle on her way home just to buy one. After encountering an accident, the young survivor contemplates in the middle of eating the hard-earned treat whether she should have listened to her mother, the closest source of her favorite food. The essay subtly delves into the mother-child relationship, resonating with readers who have vivid memories of their hardworking mothers.
Nobel Prize Winner in Literature and feminist short story writer Alice Munro writes in her book The Progress of Love that “the girl herself will have to say more if anything is to be done.” Mariz Leona indeed says more in her essay, “First Aid,” as she recounts her bleeding toenail and a personal encounter with a vehicular accident that makes her ponder about how prepared Filipinos are in helping those who get into an accident. Her work also serves as more than a social commentary on the importance of learning how to give first aid; it questions humanity’s willingness to help others even if it means active involvement.
These writers have written about the human condition with a combination of feminist, local, and postcolonial perspective. It is remarkable to see that female writers in the region are active in contributing to the rich and diverse literature of Region 12. Aside from these featured works, the promising entries submitted in BalakBayi poetry contest (The deadline is on March 15, 2018!) that I spearhead—in partnership with the journal and Aklat Alamid—are proof that women’s literature in SOX is thriving. It is my hope that the local women and women-identifying writers will produce more works to further cultivate a gender-sensitized readership.
Andrea D. Lim
General Santos City


DefExpo is India’s largest expo which covers the complete spectrum of aerospace, defence and security sectors. More than 1000 Indian as well as foreign exhibitors participated in Defexpo 2020 held from 5th – 8th February 2020 in Lucknow. Aeron had participated in Defexpo 2020 to showcase its capabilities in developing tactical class inertial navigation systems, inertial sensors and its IoT based monitoring systems designed specially for the defence sector.
Aeron Systems Secures ‘Series A’ Investment From Bharat Forge Limited.
Aeron Systems has secured “Series A” investment from Bharat Forge Limited, a flagship of the Kalyani Group. The funds will be utilized in the development of new products, expansion in the markets outside India and augmentation of the production capacity. Aeron Systems has achieved an enviable position in the Inertial Navigation technology in the domestic
Gyroscopes And Their Types
Gyroscopes are the most important part of an inertial navigation system or any guidance system. Gyroscopes were invented a century ago and have been used as references to know the inertial state of a moving body. From Kettering bug to the Apollo spacecraft,


Is it Really Possible to be an “Ethical” Consumer?
Have you ever bought something because it’s “green” or “ethical”? Do you know if it really makes a difference? Join University of Toronto Masters student Jess Davidson for a talk on how the ethical consumer has evolved from “boycotter” to “shopper”.
About the Presenter
Jess Davidson is a Social Cultural Anthropology MA student who currently studies political and economic anthropology at the University of Toronto. Before returning to pursue graduate studies, Jess worked in public relations where she developed an intimate understanding of consumer marketing strategies, including the promotion of green initiatives as an advertising tool. She is interested in exploring people’s relationship with consumables, and looks forward to a discussion about ethical consumptive patterns.
Leave a Reply


text:
WORK is well under way to transform The Bridges.
The £15million expansion will create a huge new Primark store and a new entrance to the centre on High Street West.
Sunderland Council leader Paul Watson, and key figures from centre owner Land Securities, were joined by representatives from contractor Morgan Sindall to officially kick off work on site.
The High Street West entrance to the centre has been fenced off, and hoarding has gone up as work gets under way on the three-storey expansion.
The start of the planned improvements has generated about 150 jobs and Land Securities is encouraging the use of North East resources during the construction phase of the project.
“It’s exciting times at The Bridges,” said portfolio director Gerald Jennings.
“The start of construction work signifies that the transformation has begun.
“In no time at all we’re going to be the proud owners of an even bigger and greater shopping centre, which I know all our shoppers will enjoy and appreciate.”
He added: “We’ve said all along that we’ll work closely with Sunderland City Council to create a viable extension strategy, and that we’re committed to making it happen.
“Today clearly demonstrates we’re delivering on our promise – despite tough times – Land Securities is investing, expanding and developing in the heart of Sunderland.”
Councillor Watson said: “The further expansion of The Bridges is a vote of confidence in Sunderland city centre, as well as being great news for shoppers.
“To see a development of this size taking place in the middle of a worldwide economic downturn is quite phenomenal.
“Coming as it does just a week after the city’s independent shops were judged sixth best in Britain, it is further evidence that Sunderland is very much open for business.”
The work is due to be completed next July.

domain: economics


text:
If your child catches an infectious disease they may need to take some time off school. We always recommend that parents seek medical advice if their child becomes unwell. In order to check whether your child’s condition requires them to miss school click on the link to read the official guidance.
Medicines in School
To see our instructions regarding Medicines in School please click here

domain: medical


Last month, we had exclusively reported various details about the successors to the high-end Galaxy Tab S tablets from Samsung. Now, one of those devices has been spotted on the import listings website Zauba. The SM-T715, which is believed to be an 8-inch variant of the Galaxy Tab S 2, was imported in India last week for testing purposes, and will be destroyed after testing process is completed.
The Galaxy Tab S 2 8.0 (SM-T715) will feature an 8-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 and as aspect ration of 4:3. It will be thinner than the Apple iPad Air at just 5.4mm, and will feature an octa-core Exynos 5433 processor, 3GB RAM, 32GB storage, 8-megapixel primary camera, 2.1-megapixel secondary camera, LTE Cat. 6, and a 3,850 mAh battery. This tablet, and its 9.7-inch sibling, the Galaxy Tab S 2 9.7 (SM-T810), will run Android 5.0 Lollipop out of the box and have metal bodies, just like the recent mid-range and high-end smartphones from Samsung.


Eureka has been renewed for a fourth season, which brings good news/tired news for fans of the series; the new season will be its longest yet, but also feature a musical two-parter. Does every show have to sing now?
In fact, Eureka plans to up the ante from where Xena, Buffy and the upcoming Batman: The Brave And The Bold left it: their musical episode will be two episodes long, according to star Erica Cerra:
"We're doing a musical episode-well, a two-part musical episode-next season... That will be very, very, very interesting. I have no idea what that will be about. I suppose the network and the writers feel comfortable with the fact that the cast can sing... I don't sing. I can't, and I don't, so I'm going to have to take some singing lessons. I'm a little nervous.
The musical two-parter will have to go some way to beating this last attempt at bringing song and dance to Syfy's sci-fi town:
Cerra also told SciFi Wire that the show's fourth season will be 22 episodes long:
Last year they made an attempt to do 21, I believe it was, and we got cut down to 18 because of the writers' strike. So we're thrilled, and the way we found out was so much fun, getting word before the end of the season.
Eureka's third season concludes over the next two Fridays on Syfy; the regular recap of last night's episode will be up later this afternoon.
Why Eureka renewal has Erica Cerra singing [SciFi Wire]


The Benefits That Come with Prompt Heating Repairs
Table of Contents
Your home greatly relies on your HVAC system to ensure your family’s comfort and safety. A significant part of this system is your heater, which provides much-needed warmth to your living space during the colder seasons. This component, however, is no different from any other appliance, and repair needs will inevitably arise from time to time.
When this does happen, it’s imperative to address the issue as soon as possible. At Air Doc’s of the Treasure Coast, we associate prompt heating repair in Fellsmere, FL with the following benefits:
Even if your system is still operating, the issue could lead to temperature inconsistencies and other inconveniences. And who would want to sit in a cold and drafty room? Prompt repairs ensure that your heater is back up and running, so you can enjoy optimal comfort.
The longer you wait to address an issue with your heater, the more inefficient it’ll become over time. The added strain will consume more energy, resulting in higher utility bills and a diminished return on investment. By getting the problem fixed right away, you can restore the efficiency of your heating system and keep those bills at a minimum.
Calling for repairs at the first sign of trouble is essential to heating maintenance. This will help extend the service life of your heating system, enabling it to perform at its peak for a longer period and saving you from the cost of early replacement.
During heating installation, your contractor may have warned you about the potential dangers of leaving a malfunctioning system running. Faulty heating systems can lead to various safety issues, including carbon monoxide poisoning and the possibility of a fire. Scheduling repairs as soon as possible can help prevent these risks and guarantee a safe environment for your family.
Whenever you need reliable heating services for your home, you can rely on the experts at Air Doc’s of the Treasure Coast. Your safety and comfort are our top priority, so our experienced technicians always strive to come through with prompt and quality repairs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Call Us Today!
Other Blogs You May Be Interested In


Domestic airfare increased 4.7% between February and March, in anticipation of spring and summer travel
Prices are 9.4% cheaper this year as compared to last year
Airfare from Dallas rose by a whopping 20.8%, while airfare from Fort Myers dropped by 4.9%
We predict that peak prices this summer to be $17 cheaper than last year, a decrease of 5.7%
Hopper's Consumer Airfare Index increased by 4.7% from February to March, reflecting increased demand for upcoming spring and summer travel. This puts the average price of a round-trip domestic flight at $249, up from $238 last month. This jump follows eight months of declining or nearly flat prices, ending with a 3.3% decline in February.
The March increase is not surprising, as fares regularly increase in the spring to account for increased demand. Last year, our index increased by 5.4% in February and 2.7% in March -- an earlier peak than this year.
While the current increase is largely seasonal, it’s noteworthy that last month’s average fare has declined 9.4% from March 2014, when it was estimated at $275. Prices at the beginning of last year were unusually elevated compared to the previous year, before dropping in the second half of the year. After a particularly steep decrease in February, prices this year are still well below last year’s despite the increase in March. While prices will likely increase further this spring, consumers have so far been enjoying better deals and can expect more of the same through the rest of the year.
On average, consumers were searching for flights over 60 days ahead in March - a number considerably higher than what we’ve historically observed. This puts the average departure date in May or early June, the beginning of the summer travel season. Last year at this time, the average search was only 53 days in advance.
Not all markets experienced the same price changes last month. Here are airports where departing domestic flights saw the biggest average increases in price from February to March:
|Departure Airport||Feb. Price||Mar. Price||% Change in Price||% of Domestic Traffic|
|San Jose (SJC)||$218||$249||14.29||0.67|
|Santa Ana (SNA)||$214||$243||13.58||0.67|
While these increases can be particularly dramatic, they mostly reflect routes with disproportionately large seasonal effects and routes that had previously been unusually cheap. For example, flights departing from Dallas may have been 20.8 percent more expensive last month than in February, but the price in February was exceptionally low, over $70 cheaper than in 2014. So while the increase last month was particularly large, prices still ended up being 4.8% cheaper than in March 2014, and we expect prices in June and July to be comparable to last year. Despite the overall increase in airfare, some airports actually experienced decreases in average prices:
|Departure Airport||Feb. Price||Mar. Price||% Change in Price||% of Domestic Traffic|
|Fort Myers (RSW)||$221||$210||-4.86||0.73|
|Fort Lauderdale (FLL)||$196||$191||-2.62||1.54|
|Kansas City (MCI)||$190||$186||-2.19||0.74|
Like some of the price increases above, these changes mostly reflect recent pricing patterns for particular routes. For example, prices for flights departing from Fort Myers decreased a substantial 4.9% last month. Taking a closer look at individual destinations, it’s clear that this decrease is driven by a dramatic 45% decrease in the price of flights to Atlanta due to a fare sale. Since flights to Atlanta comprise nearly 13% of all departing flights from Fort Myers, this had a huge effect. Excluding this anomalous data, the price change in March was actually a more seasonally-appropriate 1.7% increase.
The map below shows the current price index for flights departing from each state, illustrating how prices can vary across the country:
It’s no surprise that more sparsely-populated states with fewer airports have higher prices. Wyoming, Delaware, and North Dakota top the list with average prices over $400, while Massachusetts, Colorado, and Missouri are at the bottom with prices just over $200.
Smaller states also tend to have more volatile prices, and there were some pretty dramatic increases last month. Here are the biggest winners and losers, compared to the nationwide price increase:
The pattern here is very similar: it’s more expensive to get to more remote states with smaller and fewer airports. To instead see how much it costs to fly to each state from your home airport, check out Hopper's Consumer Airfare Index map.
Looking forward to the rest of 2015, we anticipate that prices will continue to increase throughout the rest of spring and the beginning of the summer, with the largest increase in May (7%) and peak prices in June ($280). Relative to last summer’s peak of $297, peak prices are $17 and 5.7% cheaper.
Why do we think peak prices will be so much cheaper this year? It’s mostly due to how late and low prices bottomed out this winter relative to last year. Last year the index reached its lowest point in January, at $254, before rebounding strongly in February and March. This year, prices were even lower in January and continued to fall in February. As of March, prices are still below their January 2014 level, and with only a few months of peak shopping season left prices can only go so high.
Beyond this summer’s peak, if you’re already thinking about holiday travel, prices aren’t expected to rise again until September, when they’ll increase steadily through November. As the year goes on, we’ll have a better idea of when, generally speaking, to buy your tickets for Thanksgiving or the winter holidays.
Our airfare index combines search data for every origin and destination in the United States, providing a near real-time estimate of overall airfare prices - unlike other comparable indices that can lag by several months.
Other indices simply take the average of all fares to represent overall price which skews the results toward expensive fares and can give an unrealistic impression of the true cost of flying. We instead use what we consider to be a “good deal” for each route to reflect what consumers should reasonably expect to pay.
Since our index is constructed and forecasted at the origin-destination level, we can also provide comparable estimates for any combination of routes and extract insights on pricing not only across time, but also across different markets. We use monthly passenger data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics to ensure that each domestic route is properly represented in the final index based on its share of total passengers.
When predicting future prices, we also consider a few key features of airline pricing. First, prices within a given route will fluctuate with the number of passengers.
Second, prices change predictably with the seasons, especially during the peaks of summer and holiday travel. Of course, much of this variation has to do with increased demand - but in peak travel seasons, airlines can raise prices not only because there are more people interested in travelling, but also because the average traveler is willing to pay more for their summer vacation or trip home for the holidays.
Finally, changes in prices may persist, especially if there are underlying conditions pushing prices up or down, as these effects may be spread over several months. Conversely, the opposite may be true - after a big price increase or drop, fares are more likely to change in the opposite direction in future months. Since dynamics like these and the above aren’t always consistent, we evaluate future prices at the origin-destination level to capture the unique properties of pricing for different routes.
Of course, predicting the future is no easy task, and many factors that influence pricing are simply unforeseeable. However, by exploiting the factors that are predictable, like trends in passenger distribution, seasonal variation, and recent price activity, it’s possible to extract insights about the near future of pricing.
Our index generally tracks the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Airfare Consumer Price Index, which is a similar aggregation of the prices consumers pay to fly.
We must also consider how our forecast would have performed in the past, given the data that was available at the time. Three months ago, we would have computed a forecast with similar dynamics but a very different price level:
While the January forecast predicts a big price increase in February, we actually observed a decrease. This puts the new forecast at a permanently lower level throughout 2015, highlighting the importance of the unusual February data to our projection. Had the index increased in February, we would have predicted summer peak prices to be broadly consistent, if perhaps a bit lower, than last year’s.


- VIRGINIA BIZZI Knee-length dress
VIRGINIA BIZZI Knee-length dress
- Made In Italy Item made in Italy, synonymous with quality and design creativity.
- Product Info Composition: 97% Polyester, 3% Elastane - +
- Composition: 97% Polyester, 3% Elastane
- Details: neoprene, satin, multicolor pattern, round collar, long sleeves, no appliqués, no pockets, unlined, no fastening, stretch, dress
- Product code: 34658494XR
Similar to virginia bizzi knee-length dress
Lanvin Knee-length dress is on sale!


text:
This training is an introduction to Antecedent Based Interventions (ABIs). ABIs are interventions that increase the likelihood of appropriate behaviors and/or decrease the likelihood of problem behaviors by changing events that occur before a behavior. Throughout this course, you will learn about several different ABIs including Visual Supports, Priming, Highly Preferred Materials, Offering Choices, Premack Principle, High Probability Requests and Noncontingent Reinforcement. Participants will be introduced to each ABI and learn how to implement each one with fidelity.
This training is an introduction to Targeted Behavior Interventions. In this training, you will be introduced to the Student Intervention Matching (SIM) Form. The SIM Form is used for students identified as “at risk” and helps match the behaviors exhibited by the student to possible Tier II interventions. The interventions include School Home Note, Check-In Check-Out, Class Pass, Positive Peer Reporting, Behavior Contract, Self-Monitoring and Small Group Social Emotional Learning. Participants will learn how to complete and score the SIM Form, match the student needs to interventions and implement each of the interventions with fidelity.
In order for the training to be held, there must be at least ten (10) participants registered.

domain: psychology


text:
Rolls of eggplant and zucchini
120 15 минут -
Love to create fresh vegetables something interesting . This time I rolls . You can eat as a snack and can be served as a main dish with side dishes such as rice porridge or mashed potatoes.
Ingredients for Rolls of eggplant and zucchini
Step by step instruction of cooking Rolls of eggplant and zucchini
Rolls of zucchini.

domain: food


text:
The price of Brent crude ended the week at $94.92 after closing the previous week at $103.97. The price of WTI ended the week at $89.01 after closing the previous week $98.62.
As we expected, oil prices declined last week because of disappointing economic data and weak demand growth coupled with the supply side of the equation stabilizing. Additionally, prices were not helped by the recent price movements resembling a descending triangle, which is a bearish chart pattern. With the declines of last week, oil prices have dropped below trends, including the 200-day moving average, for the first time since December of 2021.
The demand picture continues to show signs of weakness with the latest EIA report indicating that gasoline demand in the US decreased to 8.54 million b/d from the previous week of 9.25 million b/d. In comparison, for the same period of the previous year, gasoline demand was 9.78 million b/d. Based on the 4-week average, current gasoline demand is running 958,000 b/d less than for the same period of 2019, which represents a difference of 10.03%. Diesel demand in the US increased to 3.88 million b/d from the previous week of 3.75 million b/d. In comparison, for the same period of the previous year, diesel demand was 3.62 million b/d. Based on the four-week average, diesel demand is running 17,000 b/d less than for the same period of 2019, which represents a difference of 3.75%. Jet fuel demand increased to 1.44 million b/d from 1.77 million b/d of the previous week. In comparison, for the same period of the previous year, jet fuel demand was 1.64 million b/d. Based on the four-week average, jet fuel demand is running 208,000 b/d less than in 2019, which is about 16% less.
Looking forward, however, from a global perspective, we are expecting that oil demand will grow during the second half of 2022, and on average, we are forecasting that global demand will increase by 2.63 million b/d in 2022. (For a complete forecast of refined products and prices, please refer to our Short-term Outlook)
While the US economy has had two quarter of negative growth, the recent jobs report indicates that the US economy still has some residual strength. The US economy added 528,000 jobs in July – and with the recent gain in jobs, the US economy has now regained all the jobs that were lost as the result of COVID-19. Additionally, the unemployment rate declined to 3.5%, which matches the pre-pandemic level and the lowest in 50 years. The U6, which is a broader unemployment metric that takes into account the discouraged, underemployed, as well as the unemployed remained unchanged at 6.7%. However, the US participation rate declined to 62.1% from the previous month of 62.2%. Furthermore, average hourly earnings increased by 5.2% (year-on-year basis), which remains well below the overall inflation rate of 9.1%. The lower increase in hourly wages indicates that inflation is not being driven by wage increases, but instead wage increases are being driven, in part, by inflation of other goods and services.
The latter point highlights one of the major risks associated with the US economy in that real wages are not keeping pace and therefore, purchasing power of consumers is being eroded. The risk will only increase if inflation continues to be elevated. However, there are signs that inflation is waning with a range of commodity prices (including crops, metals, and energy) declining in recent weeks. There are also risks with the economies of other regions, but there are also some positive developments, including the GDP growth rate of 4.0% that Europe reported for July. Additionally, China reports record level of exports in July with an increase of 18% in comparison to the same period of the previous year.
As mentioned above, the supply situation has been stabilizing and will be furthered so by Europe delaying plans to lock Russia out of the Lloyds of London maritime insurance market. As reported by the Financial Times last week, the sanctions approved by the UK in July only prohibit insurance for vessels shipping Russian oil to the UK (taking effect at the beginning of next year) and does not ban insurance on oil shipments from Russia to other countries. While the EU insurance ban remains with no new insurance allowed on vessels shipping Russia oil and existing insurance becoming invalid after December 5, the EU is allowing European companies to deal with some Russia state-owned entities, including Rosneft. However, supply will remain tight with minimal surplus capacity and limited ability of OPEC+ to increase supply. While Libya’s production rebounded last week to 1.2 million b/d, production in other African producers, including Nigeria, continue to lag. Nigeria’s production in July fell to 1.08 million b/d from 1.16 million b/d in June. Additionally, the US production continues to increase slowly. At the beginning of the year US oil production was 11.7 million b/d and for week of July 29, production was 12.1 million b/d, which is still around 1.0 million b/d less than the peak production before COVID-19. Furthermore, at some point, the US is going to stop pulling barrels out of the SPR. Since the beginning of March, SPR inventories have been drawn down by 103 million barrels, which equates to 4.68 million barrels per week and 669,000 barrels per day. The SPR currently holds 470 million barrels of oil, which is the lowest level since 1985. Of course, in 1985, US crude oil demand was around 12 million b/d, and is now around 16 million b/d, so the SPR is effectively only 75% of that in 1985.
Therefore, with consideration of our short-term outlook for demand and supply, we are expecting that oil prices will rebound from the current level and for the most part the price of Brent crude will remain throughout 3Q within the channel between $100 and $120.

domain: finance


text:
If there’s one thing we’ve learnt by now, it’s that Chanel doesn’t do things by halves. And preempting that we’re all already ferociously looking forward to warmer days, Karl Lagerfeld transported guests to the seaside with a luxuriously real beach in Le Grand Palais in Paris.
Powdery-soft sand, lifeguards, azure backdrops and gentle waves softly lapping the shore were all part of the SS19 spectacle. And the models treaded along the shoreline, barefoot, clutching mules and perspex-block heels in hand.
The usual tweed offering was still very much present, but received a balmy weather update, in citrus shades, paired with cycling shorts and island-life straw hats. Block lettering logos took over jewellery and knits for kitschy fun, and semi-sheer lace trousers and tufty tulle dresses in jet-black made us reminisce back to hot summer nights.
Paris Fashion Week or the Italian Riviera? Either way, we’ll take a one-way ticket please.

domain: design


text:
Date & Time:
Every Other Monday
March – Aug
1186 Raymond Boulevard 4th Fl
Newark, NJ 07102
About The Event
In anticipation of The One Love Caribbean Music Fest in August 2020, we are taking over Im So Yoga Studio before the FEST to gather the community, learn some dance moves, and have a good time.
Soca Fitness is an aerobic class with movements from the islands in the Caribbean and directed to styles of Soca dance.
OLMF invites you to join us for evenings of Soca Fitness occuring every other Monday during the Spring and Summer season of 2020.
First Class is on March 9th. All classes will be 90 minute sessions from 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Tickets are on sale for $15 per person. There are multiple class packages available.

domain: artistic


text:
Bitcoin vs ICON
What problem does this service solve?
|Bitcoin is the first digital currency and the first use case of Blokchain technology. The bitcoin blockchain was the first decentralized, immutable, and transparent ledger.||ICON wants to integrate multiple blockchains, that were designed with different purposes, in a unified system. ICON is a very ambitious project that tries to combine various elements of other decentralized projects into a combined symbiotic system.|
Bitcoin is the first digital currency based on blockchain. It solved the double-spending problem and enabled peer-to-peer transactions on a large scale. Bitcoin was designed to work as a trustless digital currency that would function without government oversight or a central bank.
ICON (ICX) is unique compared to most other digital currrencies. ICON's primary objective is to establish a unifying system to integrate an unlimited numbers of blockchains. This would allow numerous blockchains to work together and incorporate aspects of all of them. ICON is powered by a unique system called loopchain, that can adopt different features, rules, and consensus systems. The loopchain has different circles, with nodes that connect it. There are community nodes and individual nodes that are all connected to the ICON Republic, which is the entire ecosystem. These nodes can connect in countless ways and results in unlimited applications. The network has an innovative consensus mechanism called Delegated Proof-of-Contribution (DPoC).


text:
The median (MR) and dorsal raphe (DR) nuclei contain the majority of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) neurons that project to limbic forebrain regions, are important in regulating homeostatic functions and are implicated in the etiology and treatment of mood disorders and schizophrenia. The primary synaptic inputs within and to the raphe are glutamatergic and GABAergic. The DR is divided into three subfields, i.e., ventromedial (vmDR), lateral wings (lwDR) and dorsomedial (dmDR). Our previous work shows that cell characteristics of 5-HT neurons and the magnitude of the 5-HT1A and 5-HT1B receptor-mediated responses in the vmDR and MR are not the same. We extend these observations to examine the electrophysiological properties across all four raphe subfields in both 5-HT and non-5-HT neurons. The neurochemical topography of glutamatergic and GABAergic cell bodies and nerve terminals were identified using immunohistochemistry and the morphology of the 5-HT neurons was measured. Although 5-HT neurons possessed similar physiological properties, important differences existed between subfields. Non-5-HT neurons were indistinguishable from 5-HT neurons. GABA neurons were distributed throughout the raphe, usually in areas devoid of 5-HT neurons. Although GABAergic synaptic innervation was dense throughout the raphe (immunohistochemical analysis of the GABA transporters GAT1 and GAT3), their distributions differed. Glutamate neurons, as defined by vGlut3 anti-bodies, were intermixed and co-localized with 5-HT neurons within all raphe subfields. Finally, the dendritic arbor of the 5-HT neurons was distinct between subfields. Previous studies regard 5-HT neurons as a homogenous population. Our data support a model of the raphe as an area composed of functionally distinct subpopulations of 5-HT and non-5-HT neurons, in part delineated by subfield. Understanding the interaction of the cell properties of the neurons in concert with their morphology, local distribution of GABA and glutamate neurons and their synaptic input, reveals a more complicated and heterogeneous raphe. These results provide an important foundation for understanding how specific subfields modulate behavior and for defining which aspects of the circuitry are altered during the etiology of psychological disorders.
Bibliographical noteFunding Information:
This work is funded by the National Institute of Mental Health under grant number MH0754047 .
- Dorsal raphe
- Median raphe


Free Equipment Replacement Consultations! 843-273-6908
At Mura-Tech Services, we understand how crucial it is to have a dependable heating system. Heaters should be as strong, reliable, and efficient as possible. This allows them to keep you comfortable while keeping your running costs low. With our dependable heater maintenance, repair, and installation services, we're ready to assist you in accomplishing all three.
You can be confident that your heating service experience will be provided by a local expert in the Charleston area. With continuous training, a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee, and fully loaded vans, you have nothing to lose by using Mera-Tech Services. We take our time to go over your current situation and come up with a diagnosis. Once we fully understand the issue, our repair team is prepared with the most common parts to fix and repair your furnace issues. We offer heater repair and heater installation and maintenance services for all of the Charleston area.
Maintaining your furnace assists it in better serving you. If you have an older furnace that hasn’t had maintenance done for a long time, why not set something up? Call Mura-Tech today at 843-273-6908.
There are many components that go into a working furnace that can wear out and break. Having proper maintenance done to the furnace will ensure that your furnace will be working as efficiently as possible and have less chance of breaking. Whether you have had your furnace for a long time or just moved, you should call Mura-Tech Services right away to get that furnace inspected.
We're prepared to handle any heating issue you may have, whether it's a geothermal heater, heat pump, or boiler. All of our technicians are highly trained on the most up-to-date technology, licensed, and ready to serve you.
When we arrive at your home to repair your heating system, we will immediately identify the problem and propose immediate solutions. If your system has to be replaced or if you need a heating system for a new structure, we are here to assist you in finding the best solution for your needs and budget. If a heater repair is the best solution for your problem, we'll do it swiftly and reliably.
In some cases, replacing a heater may be the best option for old units that are inefficient. Mura-Tech Services can work with you to determine the best heating solutions for your home. We strictly adhere to all local laws and regulations for heating installation services.
Mura-Tech Services provides comprehensive annual maintenance programs to help you avoid expensive and inconvenient heater breakdowns. We accomplish this by focusing on tiny issues that frequently grow into large ones.
If you have an emergency heater problem, Mura-Tech Services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We provide emergency heating services when HVAC systems fail at night, on weekends, or on holidays. We prioritize ethics and client service above all else, and we back up our work with a satisfaction guarantee. Nothing is more aggravating than waiting all day for a technician to arrive. We understand how important your time is, and so is ours. That’s why we strive to arrive at each appointment on time and ready to go.
Avoid common household allergens within your HVAC System by adding Indoor Air Purification systems to your Heating and Air Conditioning Duct System.


Realistic’s catchy broken-beat sample-scapes could almost have been the bread and butter of a label like Ninja Tune in the late ’90s. But whereas previous greats like Coldcut and Amon Tobin were certainly adept sample-manipulators, their focus was always on creating an atmosphere and groove, while labels like Illegal Art are part of a tradition focused on more blatant pop cultural appropriation and recontextualization. Girl Talk still rests firmly in that territory, however popular these days, but Realistic, with tracks like “Conversation Hearts” gliding and skipping with the finesse of a lost breakbeat classic (or even a refinement of sampling innovators like Art of Noise) forms a kind of missing link. But for every briskly evolving “Library Music” or “Welcome to Heaven”, there’s a “Brand Name Sunday”, a track that jitters through too many slightly ill-fitted motifs and fails to really cohere, intriguing but ultimately frustrating. Those bits, sounding at times more like musique concrète sound-collaging, arguably tether the album more firmly to its plunderphonic roots and their grooveless roaming is probably not entirely unintentional, but they can still be more science experiment than song. There’s nothing wrong with such experiments — virtually the entire Negativland catalog falls into this category — but Realistic, by seemingly shooting for songs, set for themselves a tougher task. Perhaps appreciation is all in interpretation, but it’s unclear at this point whether Realistic should be evaluated as reconstituted faux-pop or the real thing.


text:
Flanged End Globe Valves
Product Description The KOSEN Flanged End Globe Valves is a forced seal valve, so when the valve is closed, pressure must be applied to the disc to force the sealing surface to leak. When the medium enters the valve six under the valve disc, the resistance that the operating force needs to...
Flange globe valve is a forced sealed valve, valve closure, must be applied to the disc pressure to force the sealing surface does not leak. When the medium enters the valve body from below the disc, the resistance to be overcome by the operation force is the friction force between the stem and the packing and the thrust force produced by the pressure of the medium, so the valve stem diameter to be large, the valve stem bending will occur.
Normal Size Range: 1/2"- 2"
Normal Pressure Rating: PN10~PN250, CLASS150~1500
Temperature Range: -29~425Degree C
Design and Manufacture: API602
Face to face(end to end): ASME B16.10
Flanged connection: ASME B16.5
Butt welded end: ASME B16.25
Socket-Welding Ends: ASME B16.11
Screwed Ends: ASME B1.20.1
Test and inspection: API598


text:
|Full name:||Ricardo Lima|
|Rank:||Level 4 Lieutenant (Army)|
My name is Ricardo Lima and i'm from Brazil.
My love for the pixels started when I got my first video game, a Mega Drive with Sonic 2, Toxic and some other games that I forgot.
Nowadays I'm not practcing as much as I was doing before college, but I still enjoy see how beautiful games are made today with pixel art graphics.
Anyway, I'm trying to get back to the pixels, doing simple games and stuff. Let's see what happens.

domain: entertainment


Baltimore will allow nonprofit organizations to begin applying Oct. 1 for funding from the city’s $640 million American Rescue Plan allocation, Mayor Brandon Scott announced Monday.
City officials have been debating how to spend the money, promised by the federal government as part of a coronavirus pandemic relief program passed by Congress in March. Earlier this year, Scott hired several new staff members to begin assessing and scoring internal applications for the funding made by city agencies, and officials are nearing announcements about the first round of awards, Scott said during a virtual address.
Early projects receiving some of the money will include investments in the continued fight against COVID-19, community-based violence reduction initiatives and an economic recovery fund for small and local businesses, particularly minority- and women-owned businesses as well as artists and creators.
Scott also pledged to invest in broadband infrastructure as the pandemic continues to force people to work from home and some children to attend virtual classes. More details on the recipients of the funds will be announced later this month and in October, Scott said.
Groups outside city government looking to apply for funding can attend a Sept. 28 virtual seminar to be held by the city, Scott said. Application materials already are available on the city’s website.
Scott’s announcement comes as City Council President Nick Mosby is making a push for more transparency in the spending of American Rescue Plan funding. Mosby introduced a bill Monday evening requiring the City Council to conduct quarterly oversight hearings on the disbursement of the money.
The City Council has little control over the spending. While the sum was included in the budget passed by the group in June, individual allocations are controlled by Scott’s administration.
Scott said Monday that he plans to comply with the City Council’s request for quarterly updates to the group. The first such hearing is set for Oct. 5, he said.
Maryland Policy & Politics
Until now, Baltimore officials have been largely mum about how they plan to spend the American Rescue Plan funding, although Scott and others have pledged to use the money in more “transformative” ways than previous pandemic-related funding.
Officials announced earlier this year that applications will be scored using a rubric that weighs the public good a project will generate, any risks involved and available resources to achieve the project’s goal. The scoring system is weighted most heavily for a project’s impact on equity.
Projects must cost a minimum of $250,000. Those considered eligible can be approved immediately, but some may be held back until city officials can analyze the possibility of using other streams of federal recovery funding.
Funding from the American Rescue Plan has fewer restrictions than previous recovery programs offered by the government, but federal officials have outlined some rules. Eligible uses include public health, supplementing revenue loss, and specific infrastructure projects dealing with the supply of water, sewer and broadband.
The money cannot be used for legal settlements or judgments, infrastructure unrelated to the pandemic, “extraordinary deposits” into a pension fund, or to bolster financial reserves.
City finance officials have set aside $130.6 million for budget stabilization. About $50 million of that will be used to balance the fiscal year 2021 budget, as is required by law, and the remainder would be saved in case it’s needed to balance future budgets.
An additional $10 million will be spent to operate the Office of Recovery Programs, the city arm analyzing applications and doling out the assistance, through 2025.


'I love playing in Montreal': Habs captain Pacioretty doesn't want to be traded
29-year-old forward expects change is coming after team finished 27th overall
Max Pacioretty is quite aware that his days as a Montreal Canadien may be numbered.
It would break the 29-year-old's heart to be traded by the only NHL team he's played for, but changes are expected after the Canadiens plunged to 27th overall this season one year after finishing first in the Atlantic Division.
Pacioretty's name was mentioned frequently at the trade deadline in March and, while he survived that stressful period, crunch time is approaching.
He is entering the final season of a six-year $27-million US contract. The Canadiens must sign him to a new deal or risk losing him for nothing at the end of next season. If they don't intend to sign him, they are almost certain to deal him to another club.
So far, there have been no talks on a new contract.
"I love playing in Montreal," Pacioretty said as players gathered this week for the last time before the off-season. "I haven't played with another player who loves playing here as much as I do.
'I'm invested in the city'
"I live here all year. I'm invested in the city every day. I'm out every day with the fans and I just love everything about it. But as we all know, hockey was below par this year for the team, for myself, and when that happens everyone has to look for answers. Whether that's changing players or making other moves, I can't control that."
The six-foot-two left-winger is coming off his least productive season since becoming a regular in the Canadiens lineup.
After scoring at least 30 goals in the last five complete NHL seasons, and 15 in the lockout-shortened, 48-game 2012-13 campaign, he plunged to 17 goals and 20 assists in 64 games. He had two fewer points than he did in 44 games in the lockout year.
He was among a handful of Montreal's top players, including goalie Carey Price, to see their numbers drop.
Pacioretty, who had 35 goals and 67 points in 2016-17, looked to be playing a different game this season, trying to battle more for pucks and be more of a playmaker instead of getting open and wiring shots on goal. His 118 hits were a career high, but his shooting percentage dipped to 8.0 per cent.
Always looking to be a more complete player
"It's not like I was only looking to pass to people or set people up," he said. "I look always to be a more complete player.
"I don't want to just be the guy that benefits from the nice feeds and takes the credit away from the guy who makes the plays. I do bring more to the game. I have a big body and speed and I feel I can use that to add elements to my game other than just shooting the puck. It's not like I'm doing things completely different than I was in the past. I'm trying to help out my linemates more by doing more of the work that doesn't get rewarded instead of just camping and waiting for that pass so I can score."
Even if general manager Marc Bergevin said he remains part of the team's plans, Pacioretty is aware of how quickly that can change.
He said he would be sad to go, but added that if he's traded he won't "be a baby about it."
Still, hearing one's name in trade rumours is stressful.
"It was tough flirting with the idea of seeing myself in another uniform but I think at the time, given the way the season was going and the way my season was going, if it were to happen, if I were to get dealt like rumours said I was going to, I was just focused on the hockey part of it and finding my game," he said. "Once the deadline passed I calmed down."
City continues to embrace him
Pacioretty said he likes everything about playing in Montreal. He and his wife, former pro tennis player Katia Afinogenova, and their three children live in the city year-round. He said he would probably continue to return during off-seasons even if he was traded because they like the city's vibe and European feel.
And he feels fans like him and want him stay, even if nearly all players were panned on social media this season for their sub-par play.
"I didn't take much heat from people around the city," he said. "In fact, it's all positive outside this [media] circle and I really mean that.
"I'm in the city every day and if it wasn't positive I wouldn't be in the city every day. I get so much support from the fans. They all tell me they love me. I've never had one negative encounter.
"I know where I stood this year. I had a very down year and it's never happened to me before statistically. So I'll own that and I'll live with it, but to say I got a lot of heat outside of this circle — I disagree with that statement."


text:
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair, the cause of which can be attributed to a mental disorder such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse. Stress factors such as financial difficulties or troubles with interpersonal relationships often play a significant role. Over one million people die by suicide every year. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that it is the 13th leading cause of death worldwide and the National Safety Council rates it sixth in the United States. It is a leading cause of death among teenagers and adults under 35. The rate of suicide is far higher in men than in women, with males worldwide three to four times more likely to kill themselves than females. There are an estimated 10 to 20 million non-fatal attempted suicides every year worldwide.
Contributions by CloudSurfer, Patrick, and Evercat.

domain: health


ZfP (Centre for Psychiatry) – Clinic for Geriatric Medicine
Split-level building for geriatric medicine on Lake Constance
General building data
Address: 78479 Reichenau
Architect: huber staudt architekten bda Gesellschaft von Architekten mbH, baulinie architekten
Partners involved: Peters GmbH & Co. KG, Neher Butz Ingenierbüro für Gebäudetechnik GmbH, Alu Technic K. Rinkenburger GmbH
ZfP (Centre for Psychiatry) Reichenau
Modern and architecturally sophisticated, this is the impression given by the new Clinic for Geriatric Psychiatry in the Reichenau Centre for Psychiatry. huber staudt architekten from Berlin decided on a relaxed design and spaces flooded with light for dementia sufferers and people with age-related depression. Large windows with a clear view over the green surroundings are not merely a feature of the patient rooms.
In line with the naturally south-sloping plot, the new building was designed as a split-level building. The structure fits smoothly into its surroundings and marks out the entrance to the campus.
The customer’s requirement for dormakaba
- Barrier-free design
- Structured arrangement of products
As a vestibule on the facade, the automatic ST FLEX Green sliding door, with its thermally-separated profiles, presents an harmonious view.
The integrated ITS 96 door closers (on over 70 doors in different versions) are constructed in such a compact manner that they can be completely concealed when installed in doors and frames. At the same time, the door closers offer high user convenience and a wide range of functions.
The TS 93 door closer comprises a modular system which enables just a few door closer models to be combined with a number of different slide channels to meet virtually every conceivable functional requirement. Doors of varying designs can be equipped for a wide range of different applications.


text:
Powdery Mildew on Crape Myrtle
en Español / em Português
El inglés es el idioma de control de esta página. En la medida en que haya algún conflicto entre la traducción al inglés y la traducción, el inglés prevalece.
Al hacer clic en el enlace de traducción se activa un servicio de traducción gratuito para convertir la página al español. Al igual que con cualquier traducción por Internet, la conversión no es sensible al contexto y puede que no traduzca el texto en su significado original. NC State Extension no garantiza la exactitud del texto traducido. Por favor, tenga en cuenta que algunas aplicaciones y/o servicios pueden no funcionar como se espera cuando se traducen.
Inglês é o idioma de controle desta página. Na medida que haja algum conflito entre o texto original em Inglês e a tradução, o Inglês prevalece.
Ao clicar no link de tradução, um serviço gratuito de tradução será ativado para converter a página para o Português. Como em qualquer tradução pela internet, a conversão não é sensivel ao contexto e pode não ocorrer a tradução para o significado orginal. O serviço de Extensão da Carolina do Norte (NC State Extension) não garante a exatidão do texto traduzido. Por favor, observe que algumas funções ou serviços podem não funcionar como esperado após a tradução.
English is the controlling language of this page. To the extent there is any conflict between the English text and the translation, English controls.
Clicking on the translation link activates a free translation service to convert the page to Spanish. As with any Internet translation, the conversion is not context-sensitive and may not translate the text to its original meaning. NC State Extension does not guarantee the accuracy of the translated text. Please note that some applications and/or services may not function as expected when translated.Collapse ▲
It is not a surprise this time of year to see diseases show up on some of our popular landscape plants. Crape myrtles are known for being essentially trouble-free plants with little disease and few insect problems but one problem that can occur is a disease called powdery mildew.
Powdery mildew is a disease which is common on many ornamental trees and shrubs, including crape myrtles. Powdery mildew is a powdery white to light gray-colored fungus that will grow on succulent stems, leaves, buds, and flowers. Young plants and new growth are usually more severely damaged than older plants, leaves, or branches. Flowers that are heavily infected may fail to open. Parts of the plant that are severely infected will usually look distorted and stunted.
Powdery mildew will also show up in shady, damp locations especially where plants are crowded and air circulation is poor. High humidity and rainy conditions are good environmental conditions for powdery mildew to occur.
The good news is there is several control measures that can be followed in order to prevent and treat powdery mildew. If you are getting ready to purchase a crape myrtle, you can immediately control powdery mildew by purchasing a resistant variety and avoiding susceptible varieties. The level of resistance to powdery mildew varies for particular crape myrtles. Location and environmental conditions can also affect the level of resistance in some crape myrtle varieties. Some crape myrtle varieties will have good to excellent resistance to powdery mildew, while others will be very susceptible. When shopping for crape myrtles note the variety and check for the extent of resistance.
There are some cultural practices that will help reduce or prevent powdery mildew from occurring on crape myrtles. Be sure to remove sprouts (suckers) at the base of the plant as they occur. Since the sprouts are new growth, they are more susceptible to powdery mildew. Once these sprouts become infected, the fungus easily spreads to the upper portions of the plant.
Planting crape myrtles in the proper location will also help discourage powdery mildew. Crape myrtles should be planted in a sunny location. Planting a crape myrtle in a shady location will not only encourage powdery mildew but shade will also reduce flowering.
When pruning a crape myrtle, thin the canopy so that you allow good air circulation throughout the tree. Good air circulation will allow the leaf surface to dry out more quickly after a rain and will reduce wet surfaces for powdery mildew to show up on. Pruning out severely diseased portions of the plant will also help reduce the disease if only a few parts are infected.
If the disease is severe enough, there are some chemical control options available. Available fungicides to control powdery mildew on crape myrtles and many other ornamentals include: myclobutanil (Eagle, Immunox), triforine (Funginex), propiconazole (Banner Maxx), and triadimefon (Bayleton, Strike). When using fungicides remember to read the label and follow directions.
Recommendations for the use of agricultural chemicals are included in this article as a convenience to the reader. The use of brand names and any mention or listing of commercial products or services in this article does not imply endorsement by North Carolina Cooperative Extension nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned. Individuals who use agricultural chemicals are responsible for ensuring that the intended use complies with current regulations and conforms to the product label. Be sure to obtain current information about usage regulations and examine a current product label before applying any chemical.
Jessica Strickland is an agriculture extension agent, specializing in horticulture for North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Wayne County.
- Gardening questions? Ask a Master Gardener Volunteer. The Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers of Wayne County Plant Clinic is open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (April through August) to help you with your gardening questions. Contact by phone at 919-731-1433, e-mail email@example.com or stopping by the N.C. Cooperative Extension, Wayne County Center at The Maxwell Center (3114 B Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro).
- Sign up for the Wayne County Extension Gardening email list to receive timely gardening tips.
- Learn more by following us on Facebook and Instagram.

domain: agronomy


text:
A hands-on preview of Konami's PES: Pro Evolution Soccer 2013. The Finite Playlist = 20 games in 40 minutes. A weekly podcast from veteran games journos Chet Roivas and Jon Denton.
sounds good! PES12 is fun to play and the best soccer game ever but with many flaws and PES13 improving on that is a good idea and the rumors are that pes14 is been made already by the main developer seabeas who is not even making pes13 and is using the new kojima's nextgen fox engine to make pes14!
"PES12 is fun to play and the best soccer game ever" lol. its fun but not the best ever, no even close this gen fifa have been better and people have speak with there wallets, when before last gen pes outsold fifa (and deserved since it was clearly a better game)now its the contrary and well deserved also fun game still
i get it you hate PES because you a) never got to play in in the ps2 era b) you love it, but they start bad this gen and know you hate them. c) you don't know much about futbol (your from usa or mexian) whatever makes you happy ! but pes12 is he best soccer game ever made today, maybe on par to pes6 but better because of the nextgen tech it have in it. don't be a hater next gen and give pes a try, if the rumors are true pes14 and next gen pes in general, will be far superior to fifa in virtually every way but most important gameplay. I mean sabeas is not even making pes13, he shift focus to make pes14 and that a fact and the rumors say that he is using "fox engine" with will be used in mgs5 for the next gen consoles and that alone is amazing sine we all know kojima engine are spectacular.
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It’s part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today’s pop culture.


text:
Kraftwerk K9 is your champion breeder.
Check out these beautiful German Shepherds available for new homes. Our Owner, Wayne Curry, has a great passion and love for the German Shepherd breed. You can see this passion in every single dog that leaves this facility.
Wayne Curry, is the only breeder in history to send dogs back to Germany to compete. Never before in history has any American bred dogs been able to qualify and compete in Germany and….Kraftwerk K9 Dogs don’t just compete – they win.

domain: pet


ATLANTA (AP) — Coca-Cola shares hit a record high after the company upped its full-year revenue expectations and said it’s winning customers with new drinks like low-sugar sodas and iced coffees.
Shares of Coca-Cola Co. rose 6% to close at $54.33 Tuesday. Coke’s shares first rose above $50 in early June.
Chairman and CEO James Quincey said product innovation is helping the company gain global market share. New and reformulated products — like Coca-Cola Plus Coffee and lower-calorie Simply juices — now account for 25% of the company’s revenue, up from 15% two years ago, Quincey said.
The world’s largest drink company also sees plenty of room for growth. Quincey said 80% of the world’s population lives in developing markets like Africa, India and China, where commercial beverages make up just one-quarter of drink consumption. In developed markets, commercial beverages account for three-quarters of consumption.
“That’s a huge opportunity in front of us,” Quincey said. “We’re seeing good growth this quarter and have been seeing it for a while.”
Coke posted second quarter earnings of $2.61 billion, or 61 cents. Earnings, adjusted for one-time gains and costs, came to 63 cents per share, which is a penny better than expected, according to analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research.
Revenue was $10 billion, also beating expectations.
The Atlanta company projected organic revenue growth of 5% for the year. That’s equal to its growth in 2018 and better than the 4% organic revenue growth the company initially forecast in January.
Coke said it still expects full year earnings growth between 1% and negative 1%.
Coke said its first energy drink, Coca-Cola Energy, launched in Europe during the quarter and saw some sales success. The company plans to expand sales of the new product to 20 markets by the end of this year. Quincey said the company hasn’t yet said when the drink will come to the U.S.
Coke’s acquisition of British coffee shop chain Costa Coffee — which was completed earlier this year — is also paying off. New drinks like Coca-Cola Plus Coffee and chilled, low-sugar Costa Coffee beverages saw growth in the April-June period.
Soft drink sales rose 3% in the quarter, thanks to double-digit growth of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar and new products like Coca-Cola Orange Vanilla.
Coke recorded some softness in older products like Dasani bottled water and Minute Maid juices. But in those cases, higher sales of premium products like Smartwater and Simply juices made up for some of the shortfall.
Overall volume was up in every market but North America, where it fell 1%. Quincey said a transition to smaller can sizes — which command higher prices — is one reason for the decline. Pricing rose up 4% in the region.
Shares of Coke’s archrival PepsiCo Inc. are also trading near record highs as consumers transition to healthier drinks and snacks that command higher prices. Pepsi’s second-quarter earnings and revenue also beat Wall Street’s forecasts earlier this month.
Portions of this story were generated by Automated Insights (http://automatedinsights.com/ap) using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on KO at https://www.zacks.com/ap/KO


text:
Slough, Upton Lea Post Office c.1960
Memories of Slough
My parents, Doug Harrington and Betty Lake, met in Slough and married in 1948. Does anyone remember them?
I have fond memories of getting together with other musicians and practising big band music in the ballroom out the back. There were about 15-20 of us - no particular leader but someone took the arrangements home ...Read full memory
I seem to remember that this section of Upton Park had its entrance at Sussex Place (at the East end of the High Street, just past Upton Road) Many an hour was spent walking/running through this section on route to Lacelles playing ...Read full memory
It was a must in the 1960's. The Carlton was in the High Street near the post office, a few steps were at the front, leading to the entrance and it was always packed. They had a bar upstairs where you stood drinking looking ...Read full memory
This photo is available to buy in a range of sizes and styles, including framed and on canvas.

domain: history


text:
oard a yacht on Puget Sound, who should be serving a prison sentence to-day, yet never came to a trial, is Hollis Tisdale of avis sur l'apple watch 4 apple watch zoom off ed Rimrock dryly, and L. W. turned from bronze to a dull red. "I know the whole bunch of you, from the dog robber up, and thi .
in China--this is the only country in the world where a mining claim don't go straight down. But under the law, when you loca .
and the enemy were pretty sure to have their scouts out. On again through the still air, and between the winding avenues of .
ow," he answered after a dogged silence. "Why? what makes you think he does?" She laughed. "You don't know Mr. Stoddard as we .
was over the wall. He knocked it flat with the fury of his charge, striking the gunmen aside as he passed. There was a moment .
You went outside to look at the tree." "Yes--he went away, but he came back, and while we were talking I heard you coming an .
at ails you? What IS the matter?" For a moment he stood there staring. Then he turned and picked up the fallen chair. "Oh, it .
. Eustace took the chair Harding placed for her and he sat down by her. "Who--did it?" she asked. "No one knows yet," he answ .
th set austerely. But the space between them became electrical. It was as though wireless messages passed continually between avis sur l'apple watch 4 apple watch zoom off burdened soul will cry out for help when there seems to be no help. At such times there needs to be a patient waiting upon t .
, tel I'm Firm-fixed in the conclusion that they haint no better time, When you come to cipher on it, than the old times,--I .
is trees were doing fine; thrifty, every one in the twenty acres. Last year they began to bear, only a few apples to a tree, .
ce she has been in Waroona. Refer to the office records. They will show you whether it is so or not." Wallace turned to the b .
lowed the contour of the roadway, gurgled pleasantly. Everywhere along the spillways alfalfa spread thriftily, or strawberry .
ught the culprit before he was quite lost, and mounting guard over the bar, entered upon those duties which, once shouldered, .
er kiss, no power to raise a hand. It was as though his will no longer had control over his muscles, as though his consciousn .
win this case. My stock is gone when the ninety days are up. The most I can hope is to beat him on this suit. That will make .
n in school more or less, but was not extra bright. Recently his father had placed him as an apprentice in a shoeshop. He had avis sur l'apple watch 4 apple watch zoom off waiting me and the hope, very warmly expressed by the way, that I would let him, the editor, have many more in the same vein. .
g." "Ah! Then that poor thing's a widow?" "That's so," Soden replied. "But, between you and me, I don't think for long. You k .
ences where any chance word might offend. He had alluded at one time to the fact that she was deaf and she had avoided his pr .
t know there was such disinterested kindness in Denboro." Sim seemed a bit put out. "Why," he stammered, "I--I--of course I p .
ally French in its airiness; its cheap splendours attested to one side of her peculiar character and the sturdier and more se .
t you going to see him?" "No. At least not until I get good and ready." Dorinda came in just then to ask Mother some question .
of the bank and gave as a reason a long-standing friendship?" The look of astonishment which showed on Harding's face was suf .
eroic endeavours to recollect the details of his last debauch. He paused, and, with a trick characteristic of him, pushed awa .
ith Jesus in saving a lost world. MY CONVERSION When I was a boy of about thirteen, my father said to me one evening at the s
avis sur l'apple watch 4 apple watch zoom off
fossil smartwatch q explorist fitbit versa 2 quick reply
ikon ik w82 r smart watch samsung galaxy watch active 2 running
m l apple watch band 38mm samsung galaxy watch active 2 on sale
would you buy apple watch 4 samsung smartwatch active 2
reviews of ticwatch smart watches from wish

domain: literature


text:
Central Limit Theorem (sampling distribution) applet This applet demonstrates the Central Limit Theorem using histograms. It is primarily an interactive teaching tool, but could potentially be used as part of learning material. The web page should meet most accessibility requirements, but the nature of the applet means that is probably will not. From MERLOT - 10 Most Recent Materials on March 12, 2005 at 11:30 p.m..
School Library Media Centers: Selected Results From the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 This report provides an overview of the current state of secondary school library media centers (school libraries) in the United States. It contains summarised findings from the US Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 library media center survey which examined space, organisation, collections, resources, staffing, and use. 10th graders provided information on their use of and opinions about their school libraries. From EdNA Online on March 12, 2005 at 2:13 a.m..
Trends in Educational Equity of Girls and Women This report draws upon a wide range of published and unpublished statistical materials to present an overview of the educational status of girls and women in the United States to 2004. A selection of indicators illustrate the educational gains made by females in recent years as well as areas where gaps continue to exist. From EdNA Online on March 12, 2005 at 1:30 a.m..
[List Feeds][Add Another Feed][Back to DLORN]

domain: library


Margaret Levi, Jere L. Bacharach Professor Emerita in International Studies at the University of Washington, has been named the 25th recipient of the Johan Skytte Prize in Political Science. She is awarded the prize for “having laid the foundations of our understanding of why citizens accept state coercion, by combining theoretical acumen and historical knowledge.”
Margaret Levi is currently Director of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (CASBS) and Professor of Political Science at Stanford University.
Please link here for the Johan Skytte Prize page.
Please link here for the press release.


text:
Berlin Film Festival has announced its Competition lineup for the 70th edition, which runs from February 20 - March 1.
Screen has picked out six key talking points to arise from the selection.
It looks pretty familiar
Carlo Chatrian’s first main competition selection does not look wildly different from the Dieter Kosslick years at first glance. Ilya Khrzhanovskiy and Jekaterina Oertel’s DAU, Natasha, Burham Qurbani’s Berlin Alexanderplatz, Benoît Delépine and Gustave Kervern’s Delete Forever and Philippe Garrel’s The Salt Of Tears are the pick of the new films. The two titles by US directors – Kelly Reichardt’s First Cow and Eliza Hittman’s Never Rarely Sometimes Always – are both European premieres having premiered at Telluride and Sundance previously.
Hong Sangsoo, Rithy Panh, Tsai Ming-liang, Sally Potter and Christian Petzold are all international arthouse auteurs and festivals regulars. The headscratcher is Abel Ferrera’s Siberia following the lukewarm (putting it politely) reaction to Ferrara’s last film Tommaso at Cannes last year. A “terribly indulgent character study” said Screen.
How soon is DAU?
The inclusion of Ilya Khrzhanovskiy’s controversial project DAU will spark a fury of speculation ahead of the festival. First conceived in 2006 as a biopic of Russian physicist Lev Landau, the production built the Institute for Research in Physics in Kharkov, Ukraine for a two-year shoot in which hundreds of participants came to live and work as if they were in the 1950s. A version of the work launched in January 2019 as a series of feature films, visual art projects and live installations playing non-stop for over three weeks in Paris.
This iteration, titled DAU. Natasha, is co-directed by Khrzhanovskiy and Jekaterina Oertel, a makeup artist with credits including Roland Emmerich’s 10,000 BC. Another work from the over 700 hours of recorded footage, called DAU. Degeneration, plays as a series in Berlinale Special, co-directed by Khrzhanovskiy and Ilya Permyakov. It is marked as a documentary, with no such classification for Natasha; both are listed as world premieres. What footage will transfer from the Paris performance? How long will the screenings be? What exactly went on at the Institute? Watch this space…
Fewer women directors than last year
Despite the presence of several prominent women – including Kelly Reichardt, Eliza Hittman and the UK’s Sally Potter – there are fewer female-directed titles in Competition this year than last. The six of 18 (33%) films directed or co-directed by a woman is down from seven of 16 (44%) last year, although it is up on 2018’s 21%, 2017’s 22%, 2016’s 11%, and the rolling five-year average of 26%. The number is also up on the 10% of Venice and 19% of Cannes from last year.
Outgoing artistic director Dieter Kosslick signed the 5050x2020 charter on gender equality at last year’s event, pledging to ‘work to increase parity in the Festival and the Film Market’. This morning Chatrian said the aim for 50/50 was “a process”. The Berlinale will announce the jury to serve with chair Jeremy Irons in the next week or so.
US stars in town for TV rather film
The Hollywood star wattage in Potsdamer Platz will come from the Berlinale Series strand this year. Chatrian pointed to Cate Blanchett and Damien Chazelle, who have both created TV series - Stateless and The Eddy - who will be in town to support their Berlinale Series premieres.
There are no huge US stars or directors with films in the Competition. The obvious omission is Wes Anderson whose films regularly screen at the Berlinale, a tradition stretching back to The Royal Tenenbaums in 2001. The French Dispatch now looks a shoo-in for a Cannes spot. It’s the first film the France-based Anderson has shot in France and it’s set in a fictional French city and features Cecile de France and Lea Seydoux in its usual starry cast.
Where is the new German talent?
Three German filmmakers feature in this year’s Competition line-up, ranging from Berlinale regulars to newcomers to the director’s chair. Afghan-German director Burhan Qurbani returns to the festival with buzz title Berlin Alexanderplatz, having had his debut feature, Shahada, play in competition in 2010. The previously mentioned German makeup artist Jekaterina Oertel is credited as a co-director on DAU. Natasha with Russia’s Ilya Khrzhanovskiy. In addition, Christian Petzold returns with drama Undine, having previously played Transit, Barbara, Yella and Ghosts in competition at the festival.
Nina Hoss, who has starred in six Petzold films including Yella (for which she won the Silver Bear for best actress in 2007), also appears in competition but in rival feature My Little Sister, from Swiss duo Stéphanie Chuat and Véronique Reymond.
Last year’s line-up also featured three German filmmakers in competition: Fatih Akin, Angela Schanelec and Nora Fingscheidt, who was last year’s break-out talent with the success of System Crasher. It’s hard to see at this stage who will be this year’s Fingscheidt.
No Netflix films in the Competition
There are no films produced by a US streamer in the Berlinale competition following Isabel Coixet’s Elisa & Marcela for Netflix last year. “Our criteria is an artistic one,” said Chatrian when asked about this at the press conference. “These are the best ones to represent cinema.”


text:
In a year that was pretty wide open in terms of trainer of the year accolades, the candidates came from all over. But much like last year, one trainer did just a little bit more than the others according to the staff at ThaBoxingVoice.com and that trainer was Robert Garcia.
Yes, I know Nonito Donaire got taken to school by Guillermo Rigondeaux and looked so-so against Vic Darchinyan. Yes, I know Brandon Rios lost twice this year in a very exciting fight with Mike Alvarado in their rematch and was virtually shutout versus Manny Pacquiao, then went on to test positive for a diuretic . But let’s take a look at the rest of his body of work.
Mikey Garcia, the younger brother of Robert went 3-0 and won 2 titles in 2 different weight classes and is definitely going to be a pound for pound fighter in the very near future. Mikey is probably the best fighter out of the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy and that will likely be the trend for a while to come as he steamrolled past his 3 opponents Orlando Salido, Juan Manuel Lopez, and Roman Martinez and will look to continue his work next year against Juan Carlos Burgos.
Garcia also guided Evgeny Gradovich to a world title at 126 lbs and two title defenses making Gradovich another breakout exciting fighter to come out of The Robert Garcia Boxing Academy. Robert Garcia was also the man in the corner when Jesus Cuellar won his interim WBA featherweight title this year against Claudio Marrero.
But some will say Garcia’s best work came when he took over the corner of hard-punching Argentine Marcos Maidana. After his loss to Devon Alexander in 2012, most seen Maidana as a one dimensional brawler who could not deal with a boxer with fast hands and feet. Garcia showed little wrinkles in Maidana’s fight with Soto-Karass in 2012 with a jab and subtle movements.
In his fight with Josesito Lopez in June of last year, Maidana showed that when it was time to turn it up, he could still do that while trying to box as he out brawled Lopez in route to a stoppage victory. The biggest success for Maidana came in December of 2013 as Maidana dethroned WBA champ and heavy favorite Adrien Broner knocking him down twice to a clear decision victory. What was great about the game plan was the relentless pressure he maintained against Broner and also the weird angle punches that systematically broke Broner’s should roll defense. His work in the corner that night was almost flawless, telling Maidana not to let Broner get in his head with his antics like the dry humping, pushing, holding, and the dramatic rolling on the ground after Maidana head butted him because Broner kept with a holding tactic that referee Laurence Cole let him get away with. It was to the point that Garcia stood up for his fighter telling Cole to be fair and call things both ways. Maidana’s victory over Broner was his finest moment in 2013 that even caused my co-host Nestor Gibbs 20 pushups in the process in a bet he lost with Garcia while in Texas. Garcia is consistent and is great at what he does. That’s why whenever someone note worthy is looking for a trainer, Garcia’s name is always brought up. That’s why for the second year in a row, he is our trainer of the year.
Freddie Roach: He helped the comebacks of two of the three biggest boxing stars in the states when Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto were victorious this year in their comeback fights as both fighters were winless in 2012. He also trained Provodnikov in the fight of the year against Bradley and his title victory over Mike Alvarado (although he was not in his corner that night). All 3 will likely have bigger fights in 2014.
Joel Diaz: He trained Bradley in that same Provodnikov fight and guided Bradley to a clear decision over Juan Manuel Marquez and was excellent in the corner that night. He also has hard-hitting lightweight Omar Figueroa in his stable who himself was in a fight of the year type fight. His brother even past his prime has shown to be a tough fight for the likes of Amir Khan and Shawn Porter. He will now welcome the Magdaleno brothers to his stable as well.
Angel Garcia: Although, he only has one fighter in his stable, Danny Garcia, the duo once again proved everyone wrong in 2013 after doing the same in 2012 when Garcia knocked out Amir Khan. The still undefeated Garcia won the Ring Magazine title when he beat Khan. After he decisioned Zab Judah, he went on to take on Lucas Matthysse, who many thought was the number 1 guy at 140 even though he was not even a title holder. The fight took place on “The One” undercard and was probably the fight of the night. Garcia out boxed his opponent, knocking him down and closing out his eye. Garcia also showed a chin and toughness as he took one of Matthysse’s best shot in the 11th that causes his mouth piece to fly out of the stands but the young champion weathered the storm and won a decision victory. Garcia looks to continue his success with his father in 2014 where the duo may be in like to enter the Mayweather sweepstakes.

domain: news


text:
Cara Stephenson carefully navigates the short, well-worn path that begins at her grandparents’ back door and drops down a gentle slope before ending at the milking barn. It’s muddy and slick this time of year, saturated with fall rain and melting snow and rutted by the repeated pounding of work boots.
It’s the same path five generations have been walking since 1795 when Stephenson’s great-great-grandparents purchased the 160-acre plot of land along Center Drive in Butler County, Pennsylvania, and made it a farm.
In more than 200 years, that farm has been a lot of things: a place to grow potatoes and breed racehorses and raise cattle. But, for nearly a century now, it’s been Moser’s Dairy, an operation known for its 80 head of prize-winning Guernseys, a hardy, docile breed with distinctive fawn-and-white coloring.
Milking them is not an easy business. At Moser’s, mornings begin at 4. Evenings end after dark or not at all when a calf is coming. There are no vacations, no sick days.
“You don’t hang a sign up when it comes Christmas or New Year’s,” said Jim Moser, Stephenson’s grandfather and the farm’s current owner.
At 86 and beset by heart issues, Moser is mostly retired, but for decades, he was the one rising before dawn, milking the cows, bottling the product and driving a familiar loop around the county to deliver fresh jugs.
He likes things done the traditional way, so his children and grandchildren still use a bucket milking system and his wife, Dixie, keeps track of expenses by hand. Thanks to her off-the-farm job at Koppers, a local chemical company, and her meticulous bookkeeping, the farm has never been in debt.
Dixie would like to keep it that way, but in today’s economy, that likely means shutting the dairy down. Jim wants to keep milking for as long as the money will let them.
Out in the milking barn, Stephenson sweeps her eyes over the lazing Guernseys– each of which has its own name and personality– and considers the options.
“I’ve been in this barn since I was two days old,” she said. “Us grandkids would love the dairy to go on.”
She pauses and recalculates.
“If we can overcome the problems, we’d love it to go on.”
The troubles in the dairy industry, not just in Appalachia, are numerous and growing. Prices, which have historically followed a three-year cycle, have been low for more than four years now thanks to a global milk glut, requiring many farmers to dip into savings or equity to stay afloat. The down market is scaring off the next generation of farmers, who see more stability and potential wealth in working off the farm. As they opt out, farms are forced to close. And as the farms disappear, the infrastructure around them — large animal veterinarians and equipment suppliers, for example — collapses, making it more difficult for the remaining farms to operate.
“It’s a cumulative challenge,” said Andrew Sandeen, a Penn State Extension dairy educator.
And it’s a challenge to which farms across the nation are increasingly succumbing. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the country has lost more than 17,000 dairy farms in the past decade. Dean Foods, the nation’s largest milk producer, recently filed for bankruptcy protection citing a decline in dairy consumers.
Pennsylvania, which ranks sixth in the nation in total milk production, milked 25,000 fewer cows and produced 5.5 percent less milk in the past year alone and had the unfortunate distinction of ranking second in the nation in number of farms lost. Pennsylvania lost lost 370; Wisconsin lost 590.
But the state does have at least one unique advantage. It ranks second-to-last in average herd size, behind only Rhode Island. Those small, family-owned operations that pepper the western half of the state tend to be nimbler than their thousand-herd counterparts in the Midwest, theoretically allowing them to adapt and evolve with greater ease, attempting unconventional or value-added ventures that may help to keep them afloat.
“It’s tough to dig out of the hole and be optimistic about the future,” Sandeen said. “But Western Pennsylvania comes about as close as anywhere to fitting that idealistic farm picture our society has, and I think there’s potential in that.”
‘Close Your Eyes and Jump off the Deep End’
Economics on a small dairy farm are stark.
In Western Pennsylvania, a typical family farm will milk about 50 cows, and each one will produce about 20,000 to 23,000 pounds (before bottling, milk is measured in pounds, not gallons) of milk per year, depending on farm practices and cattle breed.
In the current market, an area farmer can expect to make about $17 to $18 per hundred pounds. It all sounds viable until you consider the expenses: feed, vet bills, tractors, milking equipment, machinery upkeep. In a bad year, the profits may not cover the costs.
“It’s the impossible industry,” said Jason Frye, whose family owns Pleasant Lane Farms in Westmoreland County, situated directly west of Pittsburgh. “There’s no good reason anyone should be milking cows.”
Which makes Frye’s return to the farm after 20 years of working in Washington, D.C., that much more implausible.
Frye and his brothers, Todd and Chad, labored alongside their father, Ralph, a sixth-generation dairy farmer, when they were teenagers. But as soon as they were able, each chose his own path. Jason turned to tech, Todd joined the National Guard and Chad took a job in manufacturing.
Their off-the-farm work is more stable and less taxing, but their roots are still firmly planted in the ground at Pleasant Lane. So when the dairy industry took its troubling turn four years ago, instead of digging deeper into their chosen careers, they devised a bold plan to circumvent industry weaknesses and revive the ailing family business.
They’re going to make cheese.
“Cheese actually makes real money that can support the family,” Frye said. “But the problem is you have to close your eyes and jump off the deep end.”
This summer, they did just that. With the help of a $364,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Dairy Investment Program, the Fryes are building a 5,000-square-foot facility that will house a creamery, half a million dollars worth of equipment, a learning laboratory and, eventually, a robotic milking system.
When the facility is up and running in late February or early March, the family will begin devoting 20 percent of their milk to cheesemaking– the remaining 80percent will continue being shipped to Turner Dairy Farms in Penn Hills for fluid processing. But Jason Frye predicts that 20percent will be much more lucrative, returning about $90 per hundred pounds instead of $17. As the creamery grows, they’ll devote more and more of their milk to cheesemaking.
“The goal,” said Frye, “is to get to 100 percent.”
If that happens, they’ll be able to count the gains in hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Pleasant Lane’s grand experiment will begin with six cheeses, including curds, gouda, aged cheddar and quark, which has the consistency of Greek yogurt and will be spiked with honey from the farm’s apiary. Eventually, family matriarch Ann Frye will add cheesecakes, filled with fresh, farm-grown berries, to the product line and a full-time employee will join the team to help process products for other local dairies.
But for all of the excitement about cheese, it’s the robotic milking system that could be the true difference maker.
The smallest and most traditional dairy farms employ a relatively inexpensive bucket milking system, where the milk flows from the cow into a stainless steel drum that must then be emptied into a bulk tank. Today, most farms in Western Pennsylvania use pipeline milkers that carry milk directly from the cow to a bulk tank.
But both systems require that cows be milked at least twice a day, a process that takes hours of labor. Once Pleasant Lane Farms has its robotic system in place, the cows will decide when they want to be milked, entering and exiting the system on their own, grazing in the fields freely, letting the family focus on other operations and, perhaps, allowing them to increase the size of the herd. Eventually, they’d like to milk 65 cows instead of the current 45, expanding milk production and profits.
The venture is a gamble, if a well-calculated one, but Jason Frye says it is also a necessity if the family wants Pleasant Lane Farms to survive.
“It was basically do this or go home,” he said.
‘It’s Hard to Imagine Getting Out’
Back in Butler County, Jim and Dixie Moser settle into chairs at their dining room table. Their home is timeworn and cozy, surfaces covered in newspaper clippings and photographs of their grandchildren. Every night, the extended family gathers inside to eat a meal that Dixie and her daughter prepare.
It’s an idyllic existence, but one that the family knows could fall into economic peril with any further dip in dairy prices. And they admit that, save for selling gas and oil rights, viable solutions for the operation have been hard to come by. At 86 and 87, Jim and Dixie say they’re too old to produce niche, value-added products, like cheese, ice cream, or bottled milk. They stopped the time-intensive practice of jugging their own milk years ago and now sell to United Dairy in Ohio.
Growing the Guernsey herd — a solution often offered by the uninitiated — is a futile endeavor, akin to “cutting your own throat,” Jim says, noting the increased facility, feed and labor costs that would outstrip any profits.
But shuttering the farm means not only cleaving off the only revenue source for two of their four children and three of their four grandchildren but also abandoning a centuries-old tradition that has become inextricably entangled with their family identity.
“For people who have worked for themselves in an industry they love for their entire lives, it’s hard to imagine getting out,” dairy educator Sandeen said.
But all around the Mosers, the unimaginable keeps happening. Butler County had 396 dairy farms in 1969. Today, there are just 26.
The price of milk is, of course, the leading culprit, but Jim Moser believes there’s an underlying issue that’s just as troubling.
“The general public doesn’t understand agriculture,” he said. “They have no idea because they’re too far removed. Agriculture is the most important industry in this world. If you don’t have food, there’s a whole lot of other things you’re not going to need.”
It’s a lesson granddaughter Stephenson attempts to impart in her role as the chair of the Butler County Dairy Promotion Team. The 50-year-old organization’s mission is to educate the public about the dairy industry, and its central message is a familiar refrain: Buy local.
Purchasing milk produced by local processors in Western Pennsylvania, like United, Turner, Marburger and Schneider, or looking for a plant label that begins with the number 42 ensures that the milk came from a local dairy and that the money will stay in the region.
At Pleasant Lane, the Fryes are doing their part by working with the state’s Center for Dairy Excellence on programming designed to reconnect the public to its food source. They will offer educational tours for area students and cheesemaking classes for prospective cheesemongers in the creamery’s learning laboratory, capitalizing on the farm-to-table trend — “People just want to see how the cheese is made,” Todd Frye quips — and creating another possible revenue stream.
Whether messages or methods like these will slow the region’s hemorrhaging of dairy farms is unknown, but the Mosers and Fryes are willing to bet that inviting the public to share in family lore and tradition is at least enough to inspire loyalty.
“That’s why you build the story,” Jason Frye said.