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Viewed through the LGBT gaze
GAZE INTERNATIONAL LGBT FILM FESTIVAL Having scooped awards at Sundance, Berlin, and Edinburgh, there’s a huge buzz around Francis Lee’s God’s Own Country, a semi-autobiographical, Yorkshire-set Brokeback Mountain.
But if you can’t score tickets for that, you’re still spoiled for choice at the 25th Gaze LGBT Film Festival. With The 34th, directors Linda Cullen and Vanessa Gildea have fashioned an Irish version of The Case Against 8, a chronicle that begins with the KAL case (Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan) and ends with the historic yes vote on 22nd May 2015.
Other hot docs include Jeffrey Schwarz’ The Fabulous Allan Carr, Tristan Ferland Milewski’s bulges-ahoy cruise ship diary Dream Boat, and S Leo Chiang and Johnny Symons’ Out Run, a biographical portrait of Bemz Benedito, the leader of the world’s only LGBT political party who is striving to become the first transgender woman in the Philippine Congress.
We Love Queerama, Daisy Asquith’s exemplary collage spliced from 100 years of archive material on gay and lesbian lives, features such archaic questions as “What do lesbians actually do”’, equally archaic medical diagnoses (“I think the damage is very often done in childhood”) and the wry songs of John Grant.
Oscar-nominated director David France’s new film The Death and Life of Marsha P Johnson probes the mysterious death of the titular trans and gay New York activist, whose body was found floating in the Hudson River in 1992. Eva Orner and Chris McKim’s Emmy-winning Out of Iraq recounts the wonderful true story of Nayyef Hrebid and Btoo Allami, two Iraqi soldiers who fell in love but were forced to part when Btoo became the target of an honour killing.
John Trengove’s The Wound is an affecting drama about a conflicted young South Africa of the Xhosa lineage.
There are welcome shades of The Wicker Man about The Dark Mile, in which a London lesbian couple (Rebecca Calder and Deirdre Mullins) embark on a sailing trip through the Scottish highlands, only to encounter pubs that fall silent when they enter, altars to the Celtic god Cernunnos, reticent locals, and a mysterious black barge. There’s a welcome opportunity to revisit Neil Jordan’s groundbreaking The Crying Game, which is also celebrating its silver anniversary.
The complexity of female sexuality and familial ties are variously explored in Hui-Chen Huang’s Small Talk, Uisenma Borchu’s Don’t Look at Me That Way, Lisa Gornick’s The Book of Gabrielle, and Helene Hegemann’s punkish teen drama Axolotl Overkill. Icons Alan Cumming, Touko Laaksonen, and Armistad Maupin are respectively represented by After Louie, Tom of Finland and The Untold Tales of Armistead Maupin. For more, see gaze.ie.
Clockwise from above: The Death and Life of Marsha P Johnson, After Louie, God’s Own Country and Out of Iraq


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Trojans Take Neutral Court Decision Over Eagles
“We played a good team today that took advantage of opportunities given and Troy played a consistent match,” said head coach Justin Miles. “Hopefully we can improve on this match and come out strong against Central Florida tomorrow.”
The non-conference opponents tussled for the doubles point, drawing the decision to the wire on each court. Despite strong winds, Troy proved victorious at all three seeds to nab the early 1-0 lead, jumping out with an 8-3 triumph on court one. The Trojans took an 8-5 decision at the No. 3 seed, but squeezed out a win at the two seed in a tiebreak. Seniors Jayraj Jadeja (London, England) and Justin Flynn (Dublin, Ireland) drew their contest into a tiebreak over Xavier Masson and Branko Weber, falling 8-7 (4).
Mario Rolemberg extended Troy’s lead to two with a straight set decision at the five seed in singles play and Guilherme Sahadi pushed the Trojans to the brink of victory with a decision at the sixth seed. Aurelien Tave secured the match with a 6-2, 6-3 victory from No. 3, before Troy added two from the top and fourth seeds, respectively. Melian Puigventos (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain) closed out the match for the Eagles notching his third dual match singles victory of the season, coming from the No. 2 seed. The freshman Eagle handled Weber in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, to seal a final 6-1 score.
Georgia Southern returns to the court and will look to rebound against Central Florida, Sunday, February 7. First serve is slated for 11 a.m.
Troy 6, Georgia Southern 1
Records: Troy 3-0, Georgia Southern: 1-3
1. Luis Henrique Grangeiro/Mario Rolemberg (Troy) d. Juan Manuel Melian Puigventos/Gregory Bekkers (GSU) 8-3
2. Xavier Masson/Branko Weber (Troy) d. Jayraj Jadeja/Justin Flynn (GSU) 8-7 (4)
3. Guilherme Sahadi/Anas Rouchdi (Troy) d. Matthijs Verdam/Alain Garrido (GSU) 8-5*
Order of finish: 1, 3, 2
*Clinched the doubles point
1. Luis Henrique Grangeiro (Troy) d. Jayraj Jadeja (GSU) 7-6 (5), 6-3
2. Juan Manuel Melian Puigventos (GSU) d. Branko Weber (Troy) 6-3, 6-4
3. Aurelien Tave (Troy) d. Gregory Bekkers (GSU) 6-2, 6-3*
4. Xavier Masson (Troy) d. Alain Garrido (GSU) 7-6 (4), 7-5
5. Mario Rolemberg (Troy) d. Matthijs Verdam (GSU) 6-3, 6-2
6. Guilherme Sahadi (Troy) d. Justin Flynn (GSU) 6-4, 6-3
Order of finish: 5, 6, 3, 1, 4, 2
*Clinched the match
- Category: Men's Tennis
- Published on Saturday, 06 February 2010 21:19

domain: news


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Preheat grill to medium-high. In a small bowl combine the cumin, 1/4 tsp. salt, and pepper to taste. Brush the chops with 1 tsp. oil. Rub the spice mixture over both sides of the chops. Grill the chops for 3 minutes on each side. Brush the peach preserves on the chops and grill for 1 minute more or until done (145°F).
In a large, microwave-safe bowl combine the green beans, corn, 1 Tbs. oil, and 1/4 tsp. salt. Cover and heat in the microwave for 2 minutes. Toss with the arugula and serve with the pork chops.
Wash, trim, and cook green beans in boiling water for 5 minutes. Store in the fridge until needed.

domain: food


text:
Virginia E Pitzer
Affiliation: Princeton University
- Modeling rotavirus strain dynamics in developed countries to understand the potential impact of vaccination on genotype distributionsVirginia E Pitzer
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108:19353-8. 2011..Better understanding of homotypic vs. heterotypic immunity, both natural and vaccine-induced, will be critical in predicting the impact of vaccination...
- Modelling seasonal variations in the age and incidence of Kawasaki disease to explore possible infectious aetiologiesVirginia E Pitzer
Department of Epidemiology and Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
Proc Biol Sci 279:2736-43. 2012....
- Influence of birth rates and transmission rates on the global seasonality of rotavirus incidenceVirginia E Pitzer
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
J R Soc Interface 8:1584-93. 2011..While vaccination is expected to decrease the overall burden of disease, it may increase the degree of seasonal variation in the incidence of rotavirus in some settings...
- Direct and indirect effects of rotavirus vaccination: comparing predictions from transmission dynamic modelsVirginia E Pitzer
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States of America
PLoS ONE 7:e42320. 2012..Discrepancies among model predictions reflect uncertainties about age variation in the risk and reporting of RVGE, and the duration of natural and vaccine-induced immunity, highlighting important questions for future research...
- Global seasonality of rotavirus diseaseManish M Patel
National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA
Pediatr Infect Dis J 32:e134-47. 2013..We sought to establish global seasonal patterns of rotavirus disease before the introduction of widespread vaccination...
- Exploring the relationship between incidence and the average age of infection during seasonal epidemicsVirginia E Pitzer
Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
J Theor Biol 260:175-85. 2009....
- Demographic buffering: titrating the effects of birth rate and imperfect immunity on epidemic dynamicsSinead E Morris
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
J R Soc Interface 12:20141245. 2015..Furthermore, our results identify key variables in this relationship, including R0. ..
- Epidemic dynamics at the human-animal interfaceJames O Lloyd-Smith
Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
Science 326:1362-7. 2009..Progress in understanding and combating zoonoses requires a new generation of models that addresses a broader set of pathogen life histories and integrates across host species and scientific disciplines...

domain: biology


text:
CAPTION. Officials discuss layout of the Marine Barracks at Klamath Falls, 1944. Cmdr. Lowell Coggeshall, the Chief Medical Officer of the “Barracks,” is standing on the right. From 1944 to 1946, the Marine Barracks served as a rehabilitation facilities for Pacific War veterans with filariasis and relapsing malaria. Courtesy of Oregon Historical Society
|Date Posted:||07.28.2023 09:14|
|Location:||FALLS CHURCH, VA, US|
This work, Life in the “Barracks”: Klamath Falls and the Navy’s Forgotten Filariasis Problem, by André Sobocinski, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.

domain: history


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n.— «The brothers say they benefited from confinement in the Missouri juvenile system, which emphasizes rehabilitation in small groups, constant therapeutic interventions and minimal force. Juvenile justice experts across the nation say that the approach, known as the Missouri Model, is one of several promising reform movements that strapped states are trying to reduce the costly confinement of youths.» —“Missouri System Treats Juvenile Offenders With Lighter Hand” by Solomon Moore in St. Louis, Missouri New York Times Mar. 26, 2009. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
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domain: law


Here’s what you need to know about one of the longest-running U.S. senators and Republican leaders, from his beginnings to his controversies. USA TODAY
Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell’s hold on the Senate majority leader position is hanging by a thread this morning.
Tuesday’s high-stakes runoff elections in the Peach State pitted two Republicans — David Perdue and U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler — against Democrats Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock, with the GOP’s current control of the Senate — and McConnell’s role — hanging in the balance.
The Associated Press called the race for Warnock at 2 a.m. Wednesday. He received 50.6% of the vote.
As of 9 a.m., Ossoff was leading Perdue with 50.19% of the vote, though the race had not yet been called.
Warnock’s defeat of Loeffler and Ossoff’s potential victory would create a 50-50 split in the Senate in terms of the number of Democrat and Republican members.
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, who will be inaugurated Jan. 20 alongside fellow Democrat and President-elect Joe Biden, would get the tie-breaking vote in the Senate and give her party the edge over the GOP.
Georgia’s Senate runoffs: Warnock makes history with runoff win, Ossoff ahead
Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., participates in a mock swearing-in as his wife Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao holds a Bible, in the Old Senate Chamber at the Capitol in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021. (Kevin Dietsch/Pool via AP) (Photo: Kevin Dietsch, AP)
That would mean Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer would swap jobs with McConnell — a development that’s sure to disappoint Kentucky’s longtime senator, who served as minority leader before he got the top job in 2015.
“I’ve been both, and I can tell you, the majority leader’s better,” McConnell told reporters last year.
Two months ago, McConnell easily got reelected to the Kentucky Senate seat he’s held for 36 years when he trounced Democrat Amy McGrath by about 20% in the November election.
As majority leader, McConnell has control over which legislation comes up for consideration in the Senate.
Warnock’s win and Ossoff’s potential victory would strip McConnell of the ability to single-handedly block bills from coming up for a vote in the Senate — a power he used often in recent years, prompting criticism over the “legislative graveyard” of proposals that effectively died on his desk.
This story will be updated.
Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2021/01/06/georgia-election-results-will-decide-mitch-mcconnell-leadership-role/6561654002/


DUAL SUB BOX 2004-2008 FORD F-150 Regular Cab
- Xtreme Enclosures
- F150 STD 04-08 DUAL
- Built-to-order Item. Due to an overwhelming amount of orders, the Current Estimated Build time of 8-10 weeks. Hand Built in the USA..
- 40.00 LBS
- Calculated at Checkout
Custom fit sub enclosure for 2004-2008 Ford F-150 Regular Cab
NOTE: Will not fit the 2004 Ford F-150 HERITAGE Regular Cab. The Heritage model will fit the sub box we have available for the 2003 F-150 Regular Cab.
- fits dual 8, dual 10 inch or dual 12 inch subwoofers
- fits triple tens also
- subs fire down with 1 1/2 inch baffle clearance
- no seat modifications required
- mounting depth = 6 3/8 inches
- air space = .8 cubic ft per chamber
- low profile design
- fits around cab wall
- speaker terminals included
- charcaol grey carpet
- Standard hole cutout diameter for 8s = 7 inches
- Standard hole cutout diameter for 10s = 9 1/8
- Standard hole cutout diameter for 12s = 11 1/8
- If you don't know the actual hole cutout diameter, choose the standard cutout below.
- If we don't have your actual diameter listed below, choose the standard cutout, then provide us with your sub model #. No worries, we can look up the specs of your subs.
Popular subs customer use for this box:
- JL Audio TW3
- JL 8W1v3 and 10W1v3
- JL 8W0 and 10W0
- Alpine SWRT
- Kicker CVT, CVR, CompRT, Comp, CompD and CompS
- Sundown E series, SA and Sd


B.C. flooding prompts provincial state of emergency; more fatalities expected to be confirmed
A state of emergency has been declared in B.C. following a storm that left parts of the province under water and debris.
Speaking publicly for the first time since announcing he needed a biopsy for what was later diagnosed as cancer, Premier John Horgan announced the declaration Wednesday.
The state of emergency came into effect at noon, Horgan said.
"The last few days have been incredibly difficult for British Columbians who have experienced yet another natural disaster," he said.
"Heavy rains, strong winds, flooding have devastated entire communities of our province."
Thousands of people have been forced out of their homes, he said, and at least one person has died.
"Sadly, we expect to confirm more fatalities in the coming days," Horgan said.
The premier said he's spoken to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who has offered federal resources, and added B.C. has now formally requested the assistance of the Canadian Armed Forces.
He said the governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario have also offered support.
And with a state of emergency, there will be more options available on the provincial level when it comes to responding to the natural disaster.
"The order will preserve basic access to services and supplies for communities across the province," Horgan said.
The declaration made by Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth will be used to help mitigate impacts on transportation networks, he said.
The state of emergency followed recommendations from the Ministry of Transportation and Emergency Management B.C.
Calling the impact of the storm "utter devastation," Farnworth said getting B.C.'s railways and roadways operating again will be the province's top priority.
This is in addition to providing support for the approximately 17,775 people who've had to leave their homes due to evacuation orders.
Earlier this week, a group representing B.C. First Nations called on the province to take such action.
In a news release addressed the government Tuesday, the group wrote that such a state would allow easier access to support for members affected by what one provincial official called the "worst weather storm in a century."
The First Nations Leadership Council said many nations are under evacuation order or alert, and are struggling to navigate the complicated provincial system for emergency funding.
"B.C. must deploy all available resources and enact extraordinary measures. This can only happen by declaring a state of emergency," the FNLC wrote.
Calling a state of emergency gives the province extra powers under the Emergency Program Act. For example, during the state prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, a state of emergency allowed officials to fine those caught breaking certain orders issued by the provincial health officer.
These states also allow the province to make payments or grants to local authorities, implement emergency plans, acquire or use personal property necessary to respond to an emergency, control or prohibit travel and order evacuations, among other things.
By default, a state of emergency remains in place for two weeks, at which time it can be renewed. However, they can also be called off at any time.
In its call for a state of emergency, the FNLC quoted Grand Chief Stewart Philip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs as saying, "As extreme weather events ravage across B.C., First Nations continue to bear the brunt of climate change impacts and have been forced to flee their homes again. The unprecedented and continuing weather events prove that this is no longer a climate crisis; we are in an ongoing climate emergency, and lives and communities are at imminent risk."
This is a developing news story. Check back for more information.


This young angel, who is just 5 years old, amazed the judges with her vocal talents, but it was her footwork that caught everyone’s attention. Watch the video:
Joy Jerkins, a 5-year-old, came to the American talent show to perform a song from the animated movie “Frozen.” Her voice surprised the jury, and what’s more, the little one turned her performance into a theatrical showcase, embellishing it with her charisma and interesting footwork.
The child’s primary coach is her father, American songwriter, composer, and producer Rodney Erkin, who has worked with many stars, including Whitney Houston and Beyoncé.
With such a parent, it was impossible to let her talent go unnoticed, and we will certainly see more of her.
Meet Heavenly Joy, or “Hev” as her aunt calls her. She is only five years old, but she amazed the judges of America’s Got Talent with her incredible performance of “In Summer” from Frozen. Her voice is incredible, and she also does tap dancing! But the best part? Her attitude!


HOME > The Next Food Network Star > The Next Food Network Star 4 > The Next Food Network Star 4 News
The Next Food Network Star 4 News
American chef and Food Network workhorse Bobby Flay, who unabashedly loves food and mentoring, says the network's next star must have the same passions.
Food Network has announced Will Work for Food, a new reality series hosted by former The Next Food Network Star fourth-season finalist Adam Gertler, will premiere Monday, January 19 at 8:30PM ET/PT.
He didn't win the competition, but Food Network has announced it's still giving The Next Food Network Star fourth-season finalist Adam Gertler his own television show.
Food Network's website spoiler was spot on, as Aaron McCargo Jr. was revealed to be The Next Food Network Star's fourth-season winner during last night's pre-taped finale broadcast of the culinary competition series.
Food Network has apparently spoiled The Next Food Network Star's fourth-season finale by prematurely revealing the winner on its own website.
None of the remaining finalists were eliminated during last night's The Next Food Network Star penultimate fourth-season broadcast -- meaning for the first time ever on the show, three contestants will compete for the reality competition series' grand prize instead of just two.
The Food Network has revealed the identities of the 10 culinary contestants competing on The Next Food Network Star's fourth season, which is scheduled to premiere Sunday, June 1 at 10PM ET/PT.
The Food Network announced it has ordered a fourth season of The Next Food Network Star -- and for the first time, will hold open casting calls to find amateur or professional chefs looking to compete for the chance at their own Food Network television show.
- 'The Bachelor' Nick Viall reportedly tried making moves "on every single girl," no one truly knows how many he had sex with
- Blake Shelton to perform at People's Choice Awards ceremony
- Danielle "Lo" Lombard reportedly deemed "fake" by 'The Bachelor' bachelorettes -- "she didn't get along with the others"
- Nick Viall -- 20 of 'The Bachelor' star's sexiest pics!! (PHOTOS)
- Raven Gates' 'The Bachelor' comment was something I didn't like, says Nick Viall
- Dominique Alexis -- 7 things to know about Nick Viall's 'The Bachelor' bachelorette
- Nick Viall: Corinne Olympios interrupted more people on one date than I did in two 'The Bachelorette' seasons
- Astrid Loch -- 7 things to know about Nick Viall's 'The Bachelor' bachelorette
- Jordan Rodgers' dad Ed talks family's estrangement from Aaron Rodgers -- "Fame can change things"


Taranaki District Mayor Andrew Judd leads a hikoi in response to his stand to statutory Maori seats in the Taranaki district.
Latest NZH Video
Fire and Emergency Services Commander Geoff Purcell speaks on the Park Residences fire.
Halsey delivers a powerful poem about her experience with sexual assault at the New York Women's March. Source: AP


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Avoid Running Related Back Pain
Running is a common activity that many use to keep physically fit and maintain cardiovascular health. Check out these 5 tips to avoid developing running-related back pain.
Tips to Reduce Golf Related Back Pain
Back pain in golfers is a common problem. Physician Assistant Cate Pandiscio explains how you can prevent many injuries by following these tips.
Get Your Spine Ready for Skiing!
Snow is finally here and we want to get out there and enjoy it. Get in shape so you can stay out skiing all day by working on strengthening, (quads, glutes, hamstrings, hips), balance (core muscles and hips), and build up your cardio.

domain: health


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See all the highlights from the Victoria Beckham autumn/winter 2013 catwalk show at New York Fashion Week.
10 February 2013
Picture: Vladimir Potop
First look at Lulu Kennedy for Marks & Spencer
Why we can't resist a white summer dress
Michelle Obama gives herself the curly 'Whitney' hairdo
Christy Turlington Burns sets new personal record at London Marathon
Does IPL hair removal really work?

domain: celebrity


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Chairman Hensarling, Ranking Member Waters, and Members of the Committee, I am pleased to present the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) semi-annual report to Congress for the period beginning April 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017 as well as to provide you an update on the activities of the Bureau during my tenure.
Shortly after President Trump appointed me as Acting Director of the Bureau, I announced that the Bureau would continue to execute the law but would no longer go beyond its statutory mandate. In enacting section 1016(c) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act), Congress enumerated nine elements for inclusion in the Bureau’s semi-annual reports to Congress:
- A discussion of the significant problems faced by consumers in shopping for or obtaining consumer financial products or services;
- A justification of the budget request of the previous year;
- A list of the significant rules and orders adopted by the Bureau, as well as other significant initiatives conducted by the Bureau, during the preceding year and the plan of the Bureau for rules, orders, or other initiatives to be undertaken during the upcoming period;
- An analysis of complaints about consumer financial products or services that the Bureau has received and collected in its central database on complaints during the preceding year;
- A list, with a brief statement of the issues, of the public supervisory and enforcement actions to which the Bureau was a party during the preceding year;
- The actions taken regarding rules, orders, and supervisory actions with respect to covered persons which are not credit unions or depository institutions;
- An assessment of significant actions by State attorneys general or State regulators
- An analysis of the efforts of the Bureau to fulfill the fair lending mission of the Bureau; and
- An analysis of the efforts of the Bureau to increase workforce and contracting diversity consistent with the procedures established by the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion.
This semi-annual report meets this mandate.
Moreover, section 1012(c)(4) of the Dodd-Frank Act contemplates that the Director will submit independent legislative recommendations to Congress. It is appropriate to include legislative recommendations in this semi-annual report, because doing so will afford Members of Congress a timely opportunity to discuss my recommendations in the hearing.
Undoubtedly, many Members of Congress disagree with my actions as the Acting Director of the Bureau, just as many Members disagreed with the actions of my predecessor. Such continued frustration with the Bureau’s lack of accountability to any representative branch of government should be a warning sign that a lapse in democratic structure and republican principles has occurred. This cycle will repeat ad infinitum unless Congress acts to make the Bureau accountable to the American people.
Accordingly, I request that Congress make four legislative changes to the law in order to establish meaningful accountability for the Bureau :
- Fund the Bureau through Congressional appropriations;
- Require affirmative legislative approval of major Bureau rules;
- Ensure that the Director answers to the President in the exercise of executive authority; and
- Create an independent Inspector General for the Bureau.
You also requested that I discuss the activities of the Bureau during my tenure, and I am prepared to explain the Bureau’s new strategic priorities and new approach.
Semi-annual report requirements
The first section of the Bureau’s semi-annual report to Congress is a discussion of the significant problems faced by consumers in shopping for or obtaining consumer financial products or services. In this section of the report, the Bureau discusses “credit invisibles,” consumers who lack a credit record at one of the nationwide credit reporting companies. In June 2017, the Bureau released the Data Point: Becoming Credit Invisible,  which explores the means by which consumers transitioned out of credit invisibility. The semi-annual report also discusses the Bureau’s mandate to provide consumers with financial education and the Bureau’s 2017 financial literacy annual report.
The second section of the semi-annual report is a justification of the Bureau’s budget request of the previous year. The Bureau’s FY 2017 Strategic Plan, Budget, and Performance Plan and Report includes estimates of the resources needed for the Bureau to carry out its mission. The justification of the FY 2017 budget request is on the Bureau’s website at https://www.consumer finance.gov/about-us/budget-strategy/budget-and-performance/.
The third section of the semi-annual report lists the significant rules and orders adopted by the Bureau, as well as other significant initiatives conducted by the Bureau, during the preceding year and the plan of the Bureau for rules, orders, or other initiatives to be undertaken during the upcoming period. The Bureau’s significant final rules during the term of this report are the final rule on arbitration agreements (which will not go into effect because Congress adopted a joint resolution of disapproval, which the President signed pursuant to the Congressional Review Act) and the final rule on Payday, Vehicle Title, and Certain High-Cost Installment Loans. The Bureau’s significant initiatives include requests for information on assessments of significant rules under section 1022(d) of the Dodd-Frank Act, which include 2013 Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act Servicing Rule Assessment; Remittance Rule Assessment; and Ability-to-Repay/Qualified Mortgage Rule Assessment. On September 14, 2017, Bureau staff also issued its first no-action letter to Upstart Network. Additionally, the Bureau’s plan for upcoming initiatives lays out a series of Calls for Evidence about various aspects of the Bureau’s work. This section of the semi-annual report also lists out the Bureau’s plans for upcoming proposed rules: Payday, Vehicle Title, and Certain High-Cost Installment Loans rule; the Expedited Funds Availability Act rule; the Debt Collection rule; and Home Mortgage Disclosure Act rule, as well as upcoming final rules: Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act Privacy Notice rule; Amendments Relating to Disclosure of Records and Information rule; and the Amendment to the Federal Mortgage Disclosure Requirements under the Truth in Lending Act rule. The semi-annual report contains additional details on these and other Bureau initiatives.
The fourth section of the semi-annual report provides an analysis of complaints about consumer financial products or services that the Bureau has received and collected in its central database on complaints during the preceding year. During the period October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017, the Bureau handled approximately 317,200 consumer complaints. Most of those complaints were submitted through the Bureau’s website. The Bureau does not verify all the facts alleged in complaints, but it takes steps to confirm a commercial relationship between the consumer and the company. Approximately 235,400 (or 74%) of all complaints handled were sent by the Bureau to companies for review and response. Companies have responded to approximately 93% of complaints sent to them for response during the period. Consumers did not receive a timely response from the company in only 3% of complaints. The top four complaints by the product category designated by the consumer when submitting the complaint are debt collection (27%), credit or consumer reporting (27%), mortgages (13%), and credit cards (9%).
As required by the Dodd-Frank Act, the fifth section of the semi-annual report discusses the public supervisory and enforcement actions to which the Bureau was a party during the preceding year. The Bureau’s supervisory activities with respect to individual institutions are non-public. The Bureau has, however, issued numerous supervisory guidance documents and bulletins during the preceding year. These documents are listed under section 3.3 of this report as “issued guidance documents undertaken within the preceding year.” With regard to enforcement actions, the Bureau was a party in 53 public enforcement actions from October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017. The detailed list of those actions, with a brief statement of the issues, is set out in section 5.2 of the semi-annual report. Section 5.2 also identifies those actions involving Office of Administrative Adjudication Orders with respect to covered persons that are not credit unions or depository institutions.
The sixth section of the semi-annual report addresses actions taken regarding rules, orders, and supervisory actions with respect to covered persons that are not credit unions or depository institutions. The Bureau’s Supervisory Highlights publications provide general information about the Bureau’s supervisory activities at banks and nonbanks without identifying specific companies. The Bureau published four issues of Supervisory Highlights between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. As noted in the previous paragraph, all public enforcement actions are list in section 5.2 of the semi-annual report. The brief statement of issues identifies those actions taken with respect to covered persons that are not credit unions or deposit institutions.
The seventh section of the semi-annual report requires an assessment of significant actions by State attorneys general or State regulators relating to Federal consumer financial law. For purposes of the section 1016(c)(7) reporting requirement, the Bureau determines that any actions asserting claims pursuant to section 1042 of the Dodd-Frank Act are “significant.” The Bureau is aware of two State Attorney General actions that were initiated during the reporting period and that asserted Dodd-Frank Act claims. The actions are listed in the semi-annual report.
The eighth section of the semi-annual report provides an analysis of the efforts of the Bureau to fulfill the fair lending mission of the Bureau. This update is focused on highlights from the Bureau’s fair lending enforcement  and rulemaking  activities from October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017, and continued efforts to fulfill the fair lending mission of the Bureau, through supervision, interagency coordination, and outreach from April 1, 2017 through September 30, 2017.  The Bureau’s Fair Lending Supervision program assesses compliance with Federal fair lending consumer financial laws and regulations at banks and nonbanks over which the Bureau has supervisory authority. As a result of the Bureau’s efforts to fulfill its fair lending mission in this reporting period, the Bureau’s Fair Lending Supervision program initiated 11 supervisory events at financial services institutions under the Bureau’s jurisdiction to determine compliance with Federal laws intended to ensure the fair, equitable, and nondiscriminatory access to credit for both individuals and communities, including the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) and the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). Over the past year, the Bureau announced two fair lending public enforcement actions involving HMDA reporting and credit cards. First, as described in section 5 of this report, on March 15, 2017, the Bureau resolved an enforcement action against a national mortgage originator for violating HMDA by consistently failing to report accurate data about mortgage transactions for 2012 through 2014. Second, as described in section 5 of this report, on August 23, 2017, the Bureau took action against a credit card company, for violating ECOA by discriminating against consumers in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other U.S. territories by providing them with credit and charge card terms that were inferior to those available in the 50 United States.
The ninth, and final, section of the semi-annual report provides an analysis of the efforts of the Bureau to increase workforce and contracting diversity consistent with the procedures established by the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion (OMWI). The Bureau has developed an agency-wide strategic plan—Diversity Strategic Plan—to guide the Bureau in its efforts to manage its diversity and inclusion goals and objectives.  The Bureau also publishes an Annual OMWI report in the spring of each year. The 2017 OMWI Annual report was published on March 29, 2018.  Additionally, during FY 2017,  the Bureau awarded 30% of contract dollars to small businesses enterprises (SBEs), some of which are also minority-owned or woman-owned businesses (MWOBs). The Bureau’s contracting rate to small businesses exceeds the Small Business Administration’s recommended goal for each Federal agency of 23%. Of the 30% of SBE contracts awarded at the Bureau in FY 2017, 10% went to small disadvantaged businesses (minority-owned). The total contract dollars awarded to woman-owned small businesses during this period was 11.9%. In accordance with the mandates in section 342(c)(2) of the Dodd-Frank Act, goal six of the Bureau’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan describes the efforts the Bureau takes to determine that a contractor will ensure, to the maximum extent possible, the fair inclusion of women and minorities in the contractor workforce, and, as applicable, subcontractors workforce. This concludes the overview of the Bureau’s Fall 2017 semi-annual report to Congress.
New strategic priorities
As noted above, you have also requested that I discuss the activities of the Bureau during my tenure. I will begin by outlining the Bureau’s new strategic priorities, and then I will provide an overview of the new approach I have taken in leading the Bureau.
The Bureau’s new strategic priorities are to recognize free markets and consumer choice and to take a prudent, consistent, and humble approach to enforcing the law. This reflects my understanding that consumers and creditors alike gain from mutual exchange, provided that promises are kept, terms are clearly disclosed, and property rights are protected.
As an officer in the executive branch, I am sworn to execute the law, and that is what I am doing. That is all I should be doing. My job is to make sure the Bureau is acting consistently with our statutory responsibilities, to improve our daily operations and our interactions with consumers and industry, and to ensure we are accountable to the American people.
Our recently published Strategic Plan outlines how I intend to fulfill the Bureau’s statutory duties. Specifically, the Bureau’s mission statement is “to regulate the offering and provision of consumer financial products or services under the Federal consumer financial laws and to educate and empower consumers to make better informed financial decisions.” That is what Congress created us to do.
And that is what we will do. We will adhere to the Bureau’s statutory responsibilities. Our job is to enforce Federal consumer financial laws, and our focus will be on carrying out only those activities Congress explicitly wrote into law.
The Bureau is going about its work in several new ways. First, to execute the new mission, the Bureau will continue to seek the counsel of others and make decisions only after weighing relevant available evidence and a full range of perspectives. Second, the Bureau will protect the legal rights of all, equally. And third, we will do what is right with confidence, acting with humility and moderation.
That is why we launched the Call for Evidence—an initiative aimed at gathering public feedback on the wide range of work done by this agency. It is important to learn more about what is working and what needs to improve in the work done by the Bureau. An agency that is confident in its mission should care about getting it right. An agency should welcome constructive feedback and then learn from it.
We are actively seeking this feedback. To date, the Bureau had issued 11 requests for information—RFIs. We are seeking public comment on the Bureau’s Civil Investigative Demands, administrative adjudications, enforcement processes, supervision processes, complaint reporting, external engagement strategies, our rulemaking process, rules issued by the Bureau, and rules the Bureau inherited. Most recently, we issued RFIs on guidance and implementation support and consumer education. Later this week, we will issue an RFI on consumer complaints and inquiries. We have extended all of the comment periods to 90 days to give everyone more time to provide us with feedback. I encourage any interested parties to submit comments. Your comments will help the Bureau evaluate what we do and how we do it and determine whether changes are warranted.
Another area where we are doing things differently is executing the Bureau’s regulatory agenda. First, regulatory agencies like the Bureau are not legislatures. The Bureau has very broad rulemaking authority to regulate consumer financial products and services. We must be very judicious in the use of this power.
Second, we are committed to making sure the Bureau’s regulations work not only for those who use consumer financial products and services but also for those who provide them. This means clear rules that, where appropriate, can be tailored to the business models of the companies subject to these rules. For instance, the Bureau is here to help protect people who use credit, but we’re also here to establish clear guidelines for those who provide that credit because it is an important service for consumers and central to our capitalist system.
Additionally, under my leadership the Bureau will implement a more robust quantitative analysis of potential costs and benefits to consumers and those we regulate.
We are also opening up the rulemaking process to reconsider elements that may create unnecessary burden or restrict consumer choice. Specifically, the Bureau recently issued statements about revisiting the regulation issued under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and the “Payday, Vehicle Title, and Certain High-Cost Installment Loans” rule.
Regarding HMDA, the Bureau intends to open a rulemaking to reconsider various aspects of the 2015 HMDA rule, such as reporting thresholds and transactional coverage and reconsider data points not mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act. Furthermore, we have announced, with our partners at the Office of Comptroller of the Currency, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, that our supervisory examinations of 2018 HMDA data will be diagnostic. Our goal is to help companies identify any weaknesses, and we will credit good-faith efforts to comply. Financial institutions that submit HMDA data are doing so through the Bureau’s new online platform, which allows an institution to upload loan application registers, review edits, certify data, and submit data for the filing year without the manual processes required previously. Over 5,800 institutions have submitted their 2017 data using the new platform.
We are not pre-judging the outcome of any rulemaking; instead, I share our recent efforts with you to demonstrate that under new leadership the Bureau is willing to revisit existing rules to find ways to ease undue burdens and protect consumer choice. This we will do efficiently, effectively, and transparently. We will structure ourselves and conduct Bureau operations in a way that reduces redundancy and makes the best use of resources.
Above all, the Bureau must be efficient. That means I will organize the agency and conduct its operations in ways that reduce redundancy and make the most of our resources. For example, the Office of Fair Lending and Equal Opportunity is being moved to the Director’s Office, to become part of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Fairness. The Office of Fair Lending will continue to focus on advocacy, coordination, and education.
The Bureau will continue to enforce fair lending laws. The current fair lending supervision and enforcement functions will remain in the soon-to-be-renamed Division of Supervision, Enforcement, and Fair Lending. Accordingly, the Bureau will have one office, not two, that handles enforcement matters. It will have one office, not two, that handle supervision policy, and one office, not two, that handle supervision examinations. This will make enforcement and supervision more efficient, effective, and accountable.
In another change, the Bureau practice of “regulation by enforcement” has ceased. The Bureau will continue to enforce the law. That is our job, and we take it seriously. However, people will know what the rules are before the Bureau accuses them of breaking those rules.
Through the changes I have discussed and others, I am making sure the Bureau is operating within its statutory mandate, is accountable for its actions, and is doing the American people’s business in ways that are efficient and effective.
The best that any Bureau Director can do on his own is to fulfill his responsibilities with humility and prudence and to temper his decisions with the knowledge that the power he wields could all too easily be used to harm consumers, destroy businesses, or arbitrarily remake American financial markets. But all human beings are imperfect, and history shows that the temptation of power is strong. Our laws should be written to restrain that human weakness, not empower it.
Thank you again for the opportunity to present the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection’s semi-annual report to Congress for the period beginning April 1, 2017 to September 30, 2017, as well as to provide you an update on the activities of the Bureau during my tenure. I would be happy to answer any of your questions about the Bureau’s work.
 Other than the Bureau’s Acting Director, no other officer or agency of the United States approved these legislative recommendations prior to submission to Congress. The views contained herein are those of the Acting Director and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or the President of the United States.
 Dodd-Frank Act section 1016(c)(5).
 Dodd-Frank Act section 1016(c)(3).
 Dodd-Frank Act section 1016(c)(8).
 Data source is from the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) for FY 2017 from October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017. The data are current as of October 4, 2017. FPDS data is subject to an OMB annual validation each January for the previous fiscal year.

domain: economics


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domain: entertainment


text:
I would like to invite you on a wildly imaginative creating journey of how-to projects that explain the creative process of the universe when using one's thoughts and feelings to create beliefs into physical form. Join me as I challenge myself in finding usual household or unused objects and incorporate them magically into one extraordinary trash to treasure design. My ultimate goal is to help you learn what materials to look for, expand your mind on the usual for the unusual and for you to create that stunning Masterpiece you already had in mind. Whether you want to Paint a mural worthy to walk into, a chandelier made from an old tea set, or the most unique holiday craft. Join me as I try to connect your creativity by believing in it! All you need is just a little brain paint! Enjoy the variety of interior design tutorials, holiday crafts and entertaining videos of my artwork.
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domain: artistic


Juventus 2-0 Sampdoria: Juve seal NINTH successive Serie A title as Cristiano Ronaldo and Federico Bernardeschi score and Morten Thorsby is sent off for Sampdoria at the Allianz Stadium
- Juventus won Serie A for the ninth time in a row by beating Sampdoria 2-0 at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday
- Cristiano Ronaldo struck the opener deep into first-half stoppage time following a Miralem Pjanic free-kick
- Federico Bernardeschi tapped in the rebound from a Ronaldo shot to double the lead with 67 minutes played
- Ronaldo smashed the crossbar from a penalty two minutes from time after Morten Thorsby had been sent off
- Maurizio Sarri led Juve to the title with two matches to spare as they moved seven points clear of Inter Milan
Juventus clinched their ninth straight Scudetto with a 2-0 home win over Sampdoria to seal the Serie A title with two matches to spare at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday.
Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time, firing an angled drive into the far corner of the net from just inside the area from a clever free-kick routine with midfielder Miralem Pjanic.
Winger Federico Bernardeschi added the second midway through the second half, pouncing after goalkeeper Emil Audero had been unable to hold a fierce low Ronaldo effort.
Juventus stars jump for joy after securing their ninth Scudetto in a row on Sunday with a 2-0 win at home against Sampdoria
The leaders lap up their latest trophy triumph after winning Serie A with two matches left to play thanks to goals in either half
Cristiano Ronaldo (second from left) hugs a member of the coaching staff after winning the league in Italy for the second time
The victory secured Juventus’s 36th top-flight triumph and continued their unbroken run of titles since 2012, although they have rarely looked like suffering the kind of collapse that saw them lose seven matches out of 11 in the new year in 2011.
Maurizio Sarri’s side did suffer several scares against Claudio Ranieri’s in-form Sampdoria, including a close-range header from defender Lorenzo Tonelli that came within inches of levelling the score nine minutes after the break.
Gaston Ramirez, who provided Tonelli’s chance from a corner, wasted another opportunity three minutes later when he headed straight at Wojciech Szczesny when well placed.
The striker raises his arms aloft at the end of an eventful night in which he opened the scoring and missed a last-gasp penalty
Former Premier League bosses Claudio Ranieri (left) and Maurizio Sarri meet on the touchline as Juventus host Sampdoria
Sampdoria’s Gaston Ramirez (centre) and Juve’s Danilo were in the wars after a clash of heads during a frenetic first half
Ronaldo could have had a second – moving to within two goals of Lazio striker Ciro Immobile’s remarkable 34-goal haul at the top of the scoring charts – but was denied by Emil Audero’s save after a dangerous run by Adrienabiot set him up.
After Bernadeschi had eased any lingering nerves, veteran hitman Fabio Quagliarella spurned the chance to halve Sampdoria’s arrears by directing a powerful header from a Mehdi Leris cross too close to Szczesny, who dived to palm clear.
Referee Francesco Fourneau (left) asks for a chat with Ronaldo, who listens intently as the in-form visitors hold Juve early on
Paulo Dybala (centre) is forced to depart through injury during the first half, making way for fellow forward Gonzalo Higuain
Ronaldo makes the breakthrough after several minutes of first-half stoppage time, sweeping home a powerful first-time strike
The Portugal captain celebrates after meeting a neat set-piece from Miralem Pjanic to score his 31st league goal of the season
Any realistic chance Sampdoria had of denying Juventus the title took a severe blow when Norwegian midfielder Morten Thorsby was sent off 13 minutes from time, receiving a second booking for a foul on Pjanic.
Ronaldo then missed his second penalty since the Serie A restart after Fabio Depaoli fouled Alex Sandro in the closing moments, smacking the crossbar as he again passed up a golden opportunity to close in on Immobile.
Juventus are able to enjoy breathing space thanks to Federico Bernardeschi’s close-range goal after Sampdoria had chances
The winger is understandably ecstatic after his first goal in the league for 18 months on a glorious night for his side in Serie A
Ronaldo accepts the chance to put Juve 3-0 up with a late penalty but sees his effort from the spot crash against the crossbar
The talisman is left to rue his uncharacteristic wastefulness, staying three goals behind leading Serie A scorer Ciro Immobile


Press Release Summary:
SF series of PPTC polymeric positive temperature coefficient resettable devices reset automatically after fault current is cleared and power is removed. Overcurrent increases resistance, reducing current to acceptable levels. After power is removed, circuits cool and resistance returns to normal levels, clearing device for operation. Models include surface mount SFmSMC and SFSMC, SFAL for protection of rechargeable battery packs, and SFRL leaded devices.
Original Press Release:
Polymeric Positive Temperature Coefficient Devices Reset Automatically
Bradford, PA - May 20, 2002 - KOA Speer Electronics introduces a new line of polymeric positive temperature coefficient (PPTC) resettable devices that reset automatically - offering a significant performance advantage over traditional fuses that must be replaced. KOA Speer SF series resettable devices will automatically reset after the fault current is cleared and power is removed, making them ideal for a number of sensitive electronic equipment applications that demand overcurrent circuit protection. SF series resettable devices are offered in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit many uses.
In the event overcurrent conditions develop KOA Speer SF series devices increase resistance with temperature, thereby reducing the circuit current to acceptable levels. After the power is removed, the circuits will cool and resistance will return to standard levels, clearing the device for operation once again.
KOA Speer surface mount SFmSMC and SFSMC series are available in sizes 1210 and 1812. Maximum voltage ratings range from 6 to 60V and maximum fault current ratings include 10A or 40A. These ratings are dependent upon the type of device selected. SFmSMC and SFSMC series are designed for placement with automated assembly machines. Plastic tape and reel packaging is available.
SFAL series devices are designed in a "strap" form ideal for protection of rechargeable battery packs. Selected components within this series feature various design advantages including low profile structure, reliable non-cycling protection, and protection for temperature sensitive battery packs such as NiMH and Lithium-based. The hold current range for this series is 0.7A to 7.3A with maximum operating voltage from 12V to 30V. Customized size and form factors are available.
KOA Speer SFRL leaded devices offer increased product reliability and assist in meeting regulatory requirements. The SFRL30 provides a maximum circuit voltage of 30V and hold currents from 0.9A to 9.0A. The SFRL60 provides a maximum circuit voltage of 60V and hold current as low as 0.1A.
SF series resettable devices may be utilized in a number of electronic applications including automotive, audio equipment, computer components, PDA's, POS equipment, test and measurement equipment, satellite video receivers, primary and secondary batteries, battery chargers, security and fire alarm systems, small and medium-sized motors, telecommunications equipment, toys and transformers.
KOA Speer Electronics is a QS 9000, ISO 9002 certified company that has been serving the electronics industry since 1980. An affiliate of KOA Corporation of Japan, KOA Speer is a leading supplier of surface mount and thru-hole resistors, tantalum chip capacitors, inductors, resistor networks, integrated passive components, and ferrite beads. These products are distributed primarily to the North American market for applications including automotive, telecommunications, computer and instrumentation.
For more information, contact Dawn McGriff, KOA Speer Electronics, Inc., Bolivar Drive, P.O. Box 547, Bradford, PA, 16701. Phone: 814-362-5536, ext. 266. Fax: 814-362-8883. Web site: www.koaspeer.com.


text:
The Huntington Library, Art Collection and Botanical Gardens & The Getty Villa Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens
Ocean Beach, Golden Gate Bridge (again) and some other shots… This is the last post with images from San Francisco. The next posts will cover Highway 1, LA and Las Vegas. Oh man… so much catching up to do. Damn!
Last night two friends and I were out to explore Vienna with our cameras. As I took so many pictures, I divided them into three categories: ‘Panoramas’, ‘HDR’ and ‘Fun with Lights’.
Today: PANORAMAS! Continue reading


LG has officially launched the new LG V40 ThinQ smartphone and LG Watch W7. The new LG V40 ThinQ is the successor of LG V30 ThinQ. It’s a 5-Camera Phone with triple rear-facing cameras and dual front-facing cameras. The phone is IP68 water and dust resistance. In this article, we’ll tell you the specifications of the LG V40 ThinQ and LG Watch W7.
The price of LG V40 ThinQ is $899.99 in the US. It will be available in four different colors – Aurora Black, Moroccan Blue, Platinum Gray, and Carmine Red. It will go on sale in the US from 18th October 2018.
LG V40 ThinQ Specifications & Features
- Screen size: 6.4-inch FullVision Display, 536 PPI
- OS: Android 8.1 Oreo
- CPU: Snapdragon 845 SoC
- GPU: Adreno 630
- RAM: 6GB
- Storage: 64GB or 128GB
- Rear Cameras: 12MP + 16MP + 12MP
- Front Cameras: 8MP + 5MP
- Battery: 3000mAh
- Fingerprint Sensor: Yes
- Connectivity options: 4GG VoLTE, NFC, Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, etc.
- BoomBox speaker
- IP68 Water and Dust Resistance
- Dimensions: 178.8 x 75.7 x 7.6 mm
- Weight: 169g
PRICE: $899.99 (US)
The LG V40 ThinQ features a 6.4-inch QHD+ OLED display with a 19.5:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection 1440×3120 pixels. The display has Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor powers the device with Adreno 630 GPU. It comes with 6GB of RAM and 64GB/128GB of inbuilt storage. You can use a microSD card up to 2TB for storage expansion.
The V40 ThinQ comes with triple rear-facing cameras that include a 12MP primary sensor with f/1.5 aperture, a secondary 16MP sensor with f/1.9 aperture and a third 12MP telephoto sensor with f/2.4 aperture. This rear camera setup comes with Optical image stabilization, 2X Optical Zoom, Dual PDAF, HDR, AI Cam mode, and LED flash.
On the front, it has 8MP (f/1.9) + 5MP (f/2.2) dual front cameras. You can use a 90° wide angle lens to get the full picture in the selfies.
“The LG V40 ThinQ was designed with the main goal to deliver an uncompromised experience for users to create, consume and share high-quality content,” said Hwang Jeong-hwan, president of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company.
The LG V40 ThinQ comes with a 3,300 mAh battery with Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 and wireless charging. It uses USB Type-C port. There’s rear-mounted fingerprint sensor.
The handset has a 3.5mm headphone jack, BoomBox speaker, DTS:X 3D Surround Sound, and FM Radio. For network & connectivity, it has Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4 GHz/5GHz), Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, 4G VoLTE, GPS / GLONASS, etc. The phone is priced at $899.99 in the US.
LG Watch W7 Specifications & Features
- Display: 1.2-inch LCD (360 x 360 / 300ppi)
- Operating system: Google’s Wear OS
- CPU: Snapdragon Wear 2100 Platform
- RAM: 768MB LPDDR3
- ROM: 4GB
- Battery: 240mAh
- Sensors: Accelerometer, magnetic, gyroscope, pressure sensor, compass, altimeter, and barometer
- Connectivity:Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n (2.4 GHz/5GHz), USB Type-C 2.0, Bluetooth 4.2 BLE
- Size: 44.5 x 45.4 x 12.9mm
- Weight: 79.5g
- IP68 Water and Dust Resistance
The company has introduced a new smartwatch named LG Watch W7 along with the V40 ThinQ. The smartwatch runs on the Wear OS by Google. It packs a 1.2 inches LCD and runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2100 chipset.
With the 240mAh battery, the watch can run for two days in smart mode. The smartwatch is compatible with all standard 22mm watch bands. It is priced at $449.99. It will be available from 13th October 2018.


text:
What Tools Are Revolutionizing the Workflow of Top Graphic Designers in 2023?
Graphic design, a realm that once relied heavily on hand-drawn artistry, has been thrust into a new age of digital innovation. One cannot overlook the significant impact of anAI artwork generator in this transformation.
As 2023 unfolds, it’s evident that modern tools are not just assisting but revolutionizing the design industry. But what are these groundbreaking tools, and how are they reshaping the designer’s canvas? Here, journey into this.
Table of Contents
1. Advanced AI Image Generators
Not so long ago, the idea that machines could assist in the creative process was almost laughable. But here you are, with AI-generated images becoming an integral part of the design toolkit.
These image generators can conjure up visuals spanning diverse themes, styles, and intricacies. The beauty lies in their speed and the sheer quality of the output.
For designers, this means less time sourcing images and more time refining and personalizing them, ensuring each project retains its unique touch while benefiting from AI’s efficiency. “Create an infinite range of images with Firefly Adobe, AI-powered content creation from Adobe.”
2. Collaborative Cloud Platforms
The world is more connected than ever, and the graphic design industry is no exception. Today’s collaborative cloud platforms are the digital equivalents of open-plan offices but without geographical constraints. These platforms have dramatically reduced the bottlenecks caused by time zones and location.
Designers, clients, and collaborators can seamlessly work on, discuss, and iterate designs. This real-time collaboration, eliminating endless email threads and delayed feedback, truly enhances productivity.
3. AR and VR Design Interfaces
Immersive technology, once the fancy of sci-fi enthusiasts, has rooted itself in practical applications. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) tools enable designers to build and witness their creations in 3D spaces.
This three-dimensional approach is aesthetically intriguing and adds depth to the design process. Clients can now “step into” a design, be it an interior space, product prototype, or virtual advertisement, making design presentations a multi-sensory experience.
4. Real-time Feedback Software
In an era where immediacy is prized, the wait for feedback within the design realm used to be an agonizing slowdown in the creative process.
Now, imagine a world where clients and team members can view a design and pinpoint specific parts, annotate, and suggest adjustments, all in real time.
This is the magic of real-time feedback software. By facilitating instantaneous communication, these tools bridge the gap between conception and refinement, ensuring designers can act promptly.
This timely communication speeds up the project lifecycle and minimizes the potential for misunderstandings, forging a seamless and harmonious design-development cycle that fosters greater collaboration and satisfaction for all involved.
5. Comprehensive Color Palette Tools
The emotional power of color in design is undeniable. Picking the right shade can make or break a design. Modern color palette tools go beyond just offering a spectrum of shades. They analyze a design’s content, target audience, and intended emotional impact, suggesting align palettes.
For designers, this means an infusion of science into the art of color selection, ensuring their creations resonate deeply with their audience.
As 2023 unfolds, it’s crystal clear: the realm of graphic design has metamorphosed into a dynamic and continually evolving space.
By integrating these tools, designers aren’t only enhancing aesthetics but are also pioneering a movement characterized by unmatched efficiency, deep collaboration, and a holistic understanding of consumer needs.
The design trajectory has been reimagined, with each tool paving the way for a future where innovation knows no bounds.

domain: design


Closure of birthing center reflective of fiscal realities
Published 3:35 pm, Thursday, March 7, 2013
Few people were surprised by the state's decision, announced last Friday, to authorize closure of the Family Birthing Center at New Milford Hospital and the relocation of services to Danbury Hospital.
The Department of Public Health's approval had been anticipated by most observers ever since the Western Connecticut Health Network -- the umbrella organization for the two hospitals -- announced nearly a year ago it wanted to consolidate most birthing services in Danbury.
We have mixed feelings about the move, as we have all along.
We hate to see New Milford Hospital, a local institution with a proud tradition, lose its birthing center, where thousands of babies have been born over the years.
And like many folks on both sides of the issue, we believe that Saturday, March 23 -- the date set for the birthing center's doors to close -- will indeed be a sad day.
We recognize, however, that the request by WCHN officials and the state's approval of that request are reflective both of changing demographic patterns and harsh fiscal realities.
Closing the Family Birthing Center in New Milford is a simply a sign of the times from a demographic standpoint.
The population in the New Milford Hospital service area, as well as in many other locales, is aging. As a result, the number of births at the hospital has been steadily decreasing for years.
Consolidation of services between the two sister hospitals is also a sign of the times, as fiscal concerns became a driving force, just as they have forced consolidation of operations in so many other industries today.
The New Milford Family Birthing Center has been losing several hundred thousand dollars a year, and with about half of New Milford's expectant mothers already going to Danbury Hospital, the decision to consolidate became inevitable from a business -- and in many ways, a medical -- standpoint.
There are those who fear that the closure of the birthing center foreshadows the ultimate demise of New Milford Hospital.
We are a bit more optimistic than that, at least for the foreseeable future.
The Western Connecticut Health Network has poured millions of dollars into technological improvements at New Milford Hospital; it plans to spend nearly $11 million to build a new, state-of-the-art Emergency Department; it promises to add new services in the space being vacated by the birthing center; and the Cancer Center remains an active, successful, valuable entity.
Having said that, Greater New Milford officials and residents, as well as members of the medical community, have a responsibility to play a key role in ensuring a bright future for New Milford Hospital.
They must maintain vigilance with regard to the operation of the hospital and the services provided there.
And they must demand from Western Connecticut Health Network decision-makers that New Milford Hospital remain a vibrant, multi-service facility within the growing health network.


Sacramento County’s Bradshaw Animal Shelter
is hosting its second Annual Howliday Stocking Toy & Treat Drive. Bradshaw’s volunteers have partnered with the shelter's non-profit, Teaching Everyone Animals Matter (T.E.A.M.)
, to collect quality toys and treats for shelter animals in need during the holiday season. Volunteers and high school students are already busy hand sewing and stuffing more than 700 holiday stockings. Stockings will be hung on each and every shelter kennel during the month of December so that every adopted shelter pet will be sent “Home for the Holidays” with added holiday cheer.
“As this project has evolved, the community has really rallied around it, which is bringing awareness to the shelter,” says Colleen Auernig, Bradshaw Animal Shelter volunteer. “People of all ages are eagerly getting involved by sewing and decorating stockings, collecting items, wrapping treats and participating in stocking stuffing day. The stockings have now become symbols of the love and kindness of many. That symbol is then given to the new adoptive family to show our gratitude and appreciation for adopting a shelter pet.”
Donations will be accepted through the month of November and there are three ways to participate:
- Donate toys or treats (bully sticks, KONG Dog toys, dental chews, cat toys, rabbit treats)
- Make a monetary donation online through the T.E.A.M. website. Please make a note that the donation is for the “stocking drive.”
- Sponsor adoption fees for a homeless pet
Donations can be sent to or dropped off at the Bradshaw Animal Shelter, 3839 Bradshaw Road, Sacramento, CA 95827 during open hours.
Tuesday/Thursday 12:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday/Friday 12:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday/Sunday 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
CLOSED Monday and most holidays
In observance of Thanksgiving, the Bradshaw Animal Shelter will be closed Thursday, Nov. 28 and Friday, Nov. 29.


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The Massachusetts version of the federal Money Follows the Person initiative, held a stakeholders meeting at the Worcester Public Library with a review of activity and a “heads-up” that an RFR will be coming out next month for the five coordinating entities that will manage money and services.
Dubbed Regional Coordinating Offices, or RCO’s, these newly formed entities will provide access to housing search for MFP transitional entities along with transition assistance itself as participant move from a facility to the community. RCO’s will also provide orientation and mobility training, assistive technology, and case management. The five RCO’s will chosen by January 2013 based on an RFR due out by this November.
In February 2011, CMS awarded a five-year Money Follows the Person Demonstration grant to Massachusetts. The funding will, according to the state’s office of Health and Human Services, will help transition more than 2,200 individuals out of nursing facilities, long-term care facilities, chronic care hospitals, and intermediate care facilities into community-based care.
HCA will continue to provide updates on this program, which are also available at on mass.gov here.
Return to www.thinkhomecare.org.

domain: finance


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Check the way to make a special photo charms, and add it into your Pandora bracelets. This sand-free mat works like quicksand. Its dual mesh weave lets particles fall right through and even keeps dirt and sand underneath from coming back up.
On aime l'esprits 'workshop' dressé avec des matériaux contemporain. Sands Castle industrial design studio, architecture office, and metalwork shop into the first two floors of their home in San Francisco.


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Marney Mutch, testifying as a witness at the fourth day of a coroner’s inquest into her son’s death, told the story of a young boy and man who could be “angelic” and caring, but struggled with abandonment issues, anger, undiagnosed mental-health issues and lack of suitable support in the child welfare and justice systems.
Rhett Mutch, 20, was shot and killed by Victoria police on Nov. 1, 2014, at his Dallas Road home. His mother called 911 after he broke a window to get into his basement bedroom, thinking she was not home. His mother had asked him to not come home after an argument earlier in the week.
In the year before he died, Rhett Mutch got into an argument with his mother and broke her laptop. Marney Mutch told the court she was desperate to get her son help. She said police had come to their home about 100 times before. She agreed to press charges, hoping he would get court-ordered help.
Rhett Mutch was given a conditional discharge for mischief under $5,000. He was not allowed to see his mom without her consent and he was mandated counselling for his anger issues, his probation officer told the inquest.
Lila Boulton said Rhett Mutch was one of 50 probation files she had at the time. She told the court she tried to get counselling for him. Her go-to, Forensic Psychiatric Services, would not take him because his charges were not serious enough. He did not want the private counselling his mom arranged because he said he was not comfortable in a group setting, Boulton said. He was open to counselling at the Men’s Trauma Centre, but got upset when he learned it would cost $30 an hour.
“He said he couldn’t afford it,” she said. Boulton described Rhett Mutch as a “good kid … forthcoming with pleasant interactions.” She said he did express suicidal thoughts to her at one point.
Marney Mutch told the court she was frustrated that her son was not in counselling, that suitable options were not provided and that there were no consequences when he refused to go.
“The only reason I agreed to charges is I was promised … that he had no choice but to participate in counselling,” she said.
She said the night her son was killed, she called police “out of sheer frustration” and expected officers to calmly talk with him, as they had many times before.
Rhett Mutch was in and out of foster care from the age of 11. His mother had initially requested respite care when she felt she couldn’t handle her son, but she said she was denied and told: “We don’t protect the parents.”
Rhett Mutch was placed in care and he and his mother were not allowed to see each other for a period. He later went voluntarily, becoming deeply attached to a foster family that later did not want to maintain a relationship.
He lived in youth shelters, went back and forth from his mother’s and eventually was on a youth agreement to live on his own.
Victoria police have been cleared of criminal wrongdoing in Rhett Mutch’s death. The coroner’s inquest seeks to determine the circumstances of the death. The jury can make recommendations to prevent similar deaths.


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London: Lady Gaga has revealed that she wants to open her own foundation for disadvantaged kids and is using her trip to India to find out more about children’s homes.
The singer is in India to perform at an after party for India’s first ever Grand Prix.
Despite only having a few hours off every day while she’s in India, she visited an orphanage in New Delhi minus her flashy makeup, clad in just jeans and a T-shirt.
“Gaga would one day like to set up a foundation in her name to help children and, now her career has really taken off, she feels as if it’s the right time to do something,” The Sun quoted a source as saying.
“She knows it will be a massive amount of work but she wants to start by getting involved in some orphanages that already exist and devote some of her time and money to helping them,” the source added.


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I received this email from Sandy Kassen last week, Sandy is a descendant of Obediah Pipes and Josephine Edwards (both in Old Union). She is a skillful researcher and while working on the Minerva Harmon and John Thomas Russell family she found this 1886 Bio of John Bradford Harmon, who was a half brother to Rice and Minerva Harmon.
"Hi Trudy and Bob,
I'm attaching a biography of John Bradford Harmon, b 22 Jul 1822, Mercer/now Boyle Co., KY.
John's father, Peter Harmon, was a brother of Margaret Harmon Pipes.
In the article...part of it boils down to:
1. Michael Harmon, b Germany, md Margaret Trump, b Germany; among others, they had..
2. Margaret Harmon, b ~1801, KY, md Nathaniel Pipes, b ~ 1779, NC; among others, they had..
3. Obediah Brumfield Pipes, ~1835, KY, md Josephine Bonaparte Edwards, b ~1849, KY; among others, they had Margaret Gertrude, Daisy and Frederica Pipes.
I came across the bio while researching John Thomas Russell, b ~ 1835, son of William Cletus Russell and Nancy Hatchett, who md. Minerva Harmon, also a descendant of the Boyle Co. Harmons.
I have included the info on my Ancestry tree, for any of you who do have Ancestry, my website is
Don't know if you've seen this bio, but thought that you'd enjoy reading it.
Hope all goes well with everyone, and wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Sandy Russell Kassen"
Here is the article:
Kentucky Genealogy and Biography, Volume V, Battle-Perrin-Kniffin, 4th edition, 1886. Boyle Co.
JOHN BRADFORD HARMON was born July 22, 1822, on the place where he now resides, in Mercer (now Boyle) County. His father, Peter HARMON, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in 1782, removed with his parents to Mercer County, Ky.; resided on this place as a farmer; was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, a Democrat, and died in 1852. He was the son of Michael HARMON, who established a tanyard on this place, and who married Margaret Trump (both born in Germany); their offspring were Barbara (Roberson), Katie (Henry), Margaret (Pipes), Michael, Jr., Jacob, John and Peter. Peter married Abigail Pipes, and from their union sprang Michael, Lucinda (Butler), Samuel, Thomas J., Nathaniel, Catherine (Montgomery), William D. and John B.; His (Peter’s) second wife was Mrs. Jane (Pipes) Gray, sister to his first wife, and their children were Rice and Minerva J. (Russell). February 18, 1847, John B. Harmon married Miss Catherine J., daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Stone) Montgomery, of Boyle County, born December 16, 1824, and to them have been born William T., Nancy A. (Williams), George D., Elias A., and John C. B. In youth Mr. Harmon enjoyed only such facilities for obtaining an education, as were afforded by the common schools of the vicinity but by improving his opportunities has become familiar with much of the current literature of the day. He is a farmer and owner of 320 acres of land, in a good state of cultivation. He is a Cumberland Presbyterian, a Granger and a Democrat. Mrs. Harmon's mother, Nancy Stone, was born in a fort on Clark's Run.


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GOODYEAR, ARIZONA — On March 21, 2018 an officer with the Goodyear Police Department received a phone call from Principal Timothy Dickey of Las Brisas Academy. The call’s purpose was to inform law enforcement of a possible sexual relationship between a 13-year-old student and his teacher. Her name was Brittany Zamora.
The officer used his body-worn camera to create an audiovisual record of his phone conversation with Tim Dickey.
There is nothing that would raise your suspicions in the video, but evidence discovered later in the investigation revealed that Principal Dickey was either forgetful or lying when he said that there was no history between the victim and Zamora. In fact, Dickey had been informed more than one month earlier of rumors that the victim and Brittany were “in a relationship,” that Brittany was favoring him and giving him A’s (despite his poor performance), that the victim and Brittany were spending an unusual amount of time together, and more. Photographs of his notes associated with the earlier disclosure are available on Patreon.
Ignoring his status as a mandatory reporter, Dickey instead took it upon himself to independently investigate the allegations. At the end of his investigation, Dickey decided it was appropriate to chastise the students, telling them that “they shouldn’t be spreading rumors like that about a teacher.”
That wrinkle – that the principal had been informed more than a month earlier – would form part of the basis for a civil suit filed by the victim’s parents against both the school district and Daniel Zamora. In that lawsuit, which the school district settled on July 16, 2021, the victim’s parents alleged that the school district was obligated to have notified law enforcement back when the rumors first came out in early-February 2018.
Daniel Zamora settled and was dismissed from the civil suit in 2019, in exchange for unknown consideration. Note that “unknown consideration” or “an undisclosed amount of money” could very well be zero dollars, as I previously discovered and revealed in relation to Asiana 214 victim Ye Meng Yuan and her family’s lawsuit against the City of San Francisco. Attorney Gretchen Nelson announced that the parties had reached “a confidential settlement on mutually agreeable terms,” but knowing that the City of San Francisco could not legally do such a thing, I inquired. Turned out the “mutually agreeable terms” were dropping the lawsuit. That’s it.
You should also know that Principal Tim Dickey was listed as a reference on Brittany Zamora’s job application, and that Dickey describes himself in another recording as having recruited Zamora to come to Las Brisas. The context of that statement, however, was Dickey beating himself up over having recruited Zamora.


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|Collection Quest Information|
This quest is part of the Collection Quests Timeline
Starting the Collection
Most Collection Quests begin by examining any of the members of that collection, which are harvested from special, random ground spawning nodes using the Collecting harvesting skill. Members of this collection can be found as follows:
- Special Blue: Blue shiny sparkles named ?, only found after completing the meta-collection Banners of Thalumbra.
- Lost Gnemlin's Spanner
- Lost Gnemlin's Map
- Lost Gnemlin's Shoe
- Lost Gnemlin's Provisions
- Lost Gnemlin's Journal
- Lost Gnemlin's Compass
Collection members can be found around Abyssal Overlook.
|EQ2i credits this article at EQ2U for some of the info in this article.|

domain: game


Most of the quadcopters that we talk about around here are powered by batteries and electric motors giving them a very limited amount of lifting power and a limited flight time. Quadcopters can’t typically carry large batteries and still be able to carry cameras to shoot photos or video. The Yeair! quadcopter that has just been unveiled and gives pilots considerably more flight time and payload capacity thanks to the use of internal combustion engines.
The Yeair! can carry up to 5KG of payload into the air giving it the ability to carry cinema quality cameras. The combustion engines are started via the hub shaft so no external starting devices are needed. Some small combustion engines need to be started via a power drill. In the case of this quadcopter, the engines are started with a small onboard battery and if you need more flight time, you just refuel.
With combustion engines, the quadcopter is also faster than electric offerings with a top speed of 100 km/h giving it the speed needed to follow a car. To protect expensive cameras, the Yeair! has dual engines and if one fails, the other takes over.
Integration with an app for smartphone and tablets allows pilots to set up autonomous flight plans for the quadcopter to follow. The Yeair! project is on Kickstarter seeking almost $77,000 and has raised almost $55,000 with 58 days to go. A ready to fly Yeair! starts at about $1526 with shipping expected in May 2016.


With 12″ releases peppering the market over the past five years or so, Cy Young finally drops an official debut album, and it’s well worth the wait! “Exactly”…
"The heart & soul of modern day music that matters"
Design by Maarten Mieras (mieras.org) development by Wouter den Boer
Copyright © 2023 · All Rights Reserved · MOOVMNT.com


text:
Amit tries to find himself a bride and meets Rachna. What happens when her kidnapping reveals that she is a con bride who finds her victims on matrimonial sites and cheats them of their wealth? Will the police be able to catch her?
Download our mobile app for your tablet and mobile!
Viacom 18 Media Pvt. Ltd @ 2022. All Rights Reserved


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A press render of Amazon’s upcoming 10-inch Kindle Fire tablet has been leaked ahead of its alleged launch. Although we’re light on specs, the renders show the (rather uninspiring) design of the next Kindle Fire. The image comes from well-known and usually reliable leaker, Evan Blass on Twitter.
From the renders, it appears the next Kindle Fire will have a completely flat front and back, with a slightly more angled, metallic frame around the edges. We can just about make out the power/sleep key on the top edge as well as the front and rear camera. Amazon’s branding is expectedly prominent, although the software is a completely different story. If the render is accurate, it looks like Amazon’s new software will be much more in line with standard Android. Or, at the very list, Amazon software disguised as standard Android. Whatever the software is, it’s a far cry from Amazon’s previous efforts.
Previous Kindle Fire tablets have featured a cover flow-like user interface, pushing Amazon apps and content to the forefront, similar to the UI found on the Amazon Fire TV and Stick. If Evan’s leak is anything close to the finished product (which it normally is), it’ll certainly make a refreshing change from a user experience perspective.It almost certainly has something to do with having fewer staff to work on skins after the job cuts recently. Perhaps it’s a lesson learned by Amazon after the catastrophic failure that was the Fire Phone. A shift to a more familiar UI will surely make the product less confusing to regular consumers.
We don’t yet have a release date, price or specs for the 10-inch tablet, but there have been rumors of a $50 6-inch model which is expected to hit the market in time for the holiday season. Both tablets will likely be announced and released at the same time to take advantage of the busy Q4 shipping period.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.


‘I know exactly how many knees I’ve hit, says Eden, who completed his service in the Israel Defense Forces as a sniper in its Golani infantry brigade six months ago. For much of the time, he was stationed along the border with the Gaza Strip. His assignment: to repel Palestinian demonstrators who approached the fence.
“I kept the casing of every round I fired,” he says. “I have them in my room. So I don’t have to make an estimate – I know: 52 definite hits.”
“There were incidents when the bullet didn’t stop and also hit the knee of someone behind [the one I aimed at]. Those are mistakes that happen.”
Is 52 a lot?
“I haven’t really thought about it. It’s not hundreds of liquidations like in the movie ‘American Sniper’: We’re talking about knees. I’m not making light of it, I shot a human being, but still …”
Where do you stand in comparison to others who served in your battalion?’
Read more: ’42 Knees in One Day’: Israeli Snipers Open Up About Shooting Gaza Protesters


A Washoe County proposal to reduce a voter-approved animal services tax so another tax could be raised is illegal.
In 2002, county voters approved a ballot item asking, "Shall Washoe County be authorized to issue up to $10,750,000 of general obligation bonds to provide an animal shelter project and to levy an additional property tax rate for the purpose of operating and maintaining the animal shelter project and performing related animal control functions of up to 3 cents per $100 of assessed valuation for a period of up to 30 years?"
The 3-cent tax rate brought in more than $4.15 million for the current fiscal year to cover what were expenditures of $4.2 million, according to County Manager Katy Simon, but animal services also makes money from other methods, such as donations and licenses. This combination has brought in enough extra money that $5.65 million has built up in reserves.
This year, commissioners asked staff to draw a budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year that drops that tax rate from $0.03 per
$100 to $0.0063 but keeps the county's overall tax rate -- of which the animal tax is a component -- the same. The revenue from that 0.63-cent tax and some of animal services' reserves would cover the department's bills next fiscal year. In fiscal year 2013-14 and beyond, animal services' tax rate would rise to $0.0264 and stay there in the future, and the overall county tax rate would remain where it is now: $1.3867.
Next year, property values are expected to decrease roughly 5 percent, Simon said. That means that the 0.63-cent tax will bring in nearly $828,000 for the shelter instead of more than $3.9 million the 3-cent rate would raise, and the county will be able to use the more than $3.1 million difference for something else. In fiscal year 2013-14 (assuming no drop in property values), animal services' $0.0263 tax would yield nearly $3.46 million, and the county would have more than $486,000 to use for something else.
This has critics accusing the county of disregarding the will of the voters.
One mass email proclaims: "The County Commissioners voted to divert 1 cent of the 3 cent voter-approved tax away from Animal Services and 'redirect' it elsewhere. This tax was specifically intended for Animal Services. IS THIS LEGAL???? When taxpayers vote for a special bond or tax to support a specific fund such as police, school improvements and yes, Animal Services, we expect our money to be put toward its intended use, not 'redirected' at the whim of politicians."
And on Wednesday, Reno City Councilwoman Sharon Zadra attacked the county for the plan.
"We need to take the county to task for this and have them respond accordingly," she said.
But Washoe County is also stuck with a tax cap. The amount county taxpayers can be charged by the county, the state and a city combined can't exceed $3.64, though the state can tack on another $0.02 to make the cap $3.66.
I talked to Tom Gransbery, supervisor of local government finance for the Nevada Department of Taxation, and Bill Chisel, director of the department, in a conference call. According to them, the cap includes taxes from ballot questions and special tax districts, and if one district in the county has hit the $3.66 limit, it blocks any further countywide tax increases. In Washoe County, this condition exists -- the Palomino Valley General Improvement District is at the max, County Treasurer Tammi Davis said -- which means that the county is out of luck when it comes to raising taxes.
So, if the county needs more money for other purposes -- such as law enforcement, criminal justice and human services -- it must lower one of the taxes that make up its overall tax rate and raise another one. The most logical one would be the general tax rate of $0.9706, since that would allow the county the most flexibility in allocating the revenue -- including to other voter-approved causes whose voter-approved tax rates don't bring in enough money. (The county cited the $0.01 tax approved for senior services in 1985 as an example.)
If the proposed plan goes through (the decision for the next fiscal year isn't until May 2012, Simon said), the overall rate you're taxed next year by Washoe County and beyond wouldn't change -- only how your bill was itemized.
That's why they're proposing taking revenue from all those cute puppies and kitties. But can they do it?
Yes, the county argues in the release, thanks to the "up to" language in the ballot item.
Jacqueline Byers, director of research and outreach at the National Association of Counties and a lawyer, agreed. Such a decision is up to the county based on the ballot wording, she said.
However, she also said she had never seen such "discretionary language" before, but a quick Google search indicated the "up to" concept certainly has been used in other ballot questions.
It was unclear, however, what a court would decide would happen if a county or city given such an "up to" directive by voters for a specific purpose by voters dropped the rate to an infinitesimal level -- or to zero -- without some mechanism to fund the item desired by voters. Of course, the probability of the county doing this with animal services seems slim -- no one wants bands of wild pets roaming around, cute as that could be. Also, if the ballot language for the city or county merely "authorized" it to do something (as in the Washoe County case), not forced it to do something, it seems like the local government could ignore it.
Of course, if Washoe County lowers the animal tax, it doesn't have a guarantee it can raise another of its taxes the difference. Reno or Sparks, for example, could try and raise its general tax rate that amount. In such a case, where allowing both proposals would violate the $3.64 tax
cap, they'd have to fight it out before the Debt Management Commission, an entity created by Nevada law to resolve such a problem. In the current climate, in which local governments are trying to scrape by, that doesn't seem so implausible.
Though I adopted a dog from a county animal shelter (in Georgia), I'd have to say Washoe County is within its rights in this case based on the language voters approved -- though whether or not it violates the spirit of the ordinance is another question.
Truth Meter: 2


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Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Little Honey Dress
The Little Honey Dress is finished! To save time, I've copied my review from Pattern Review here instead of writing another different post. In a day or so, I'll add pictures of Emily wearing the dress.
Oliver+S Jump Rope Dress Pattern
Shirtwaist dress features rounded collar and front placket detail. View A includes short sleeves with folded cuff and sleeve tab, slightly dropped waist, patch pockets, and self sash with belt loops. View B features long-sleeves with folded cuffs, A-line shaping, and gathered bias-trimmed patch pockets. I sewed view A.
Sizes 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 all in one envelope. Smaller sizes are also available. I made a size 5 and found the fit to be true to size.
Did it look like the photo/drawing on the pattern envelope once you were done sewing with it?
Inspired by a blouse on the cover of a recent Ottobre magazine, I decided to add a ruffle to the center front of the dress. Otherwise, my finished garment looks like the pattern.
Were the instructions easy to follow?
Excellent instructions! The front placket instructions in particular are very well-written and have clear illustrations. I've not had good success with this advanced type of placket, but by following the instructions my placket came out great. I'll refer to these instructions next time I sew this type of placket.
What did you particularly like or dislike about the pattern?
I love the front placket.
I love the dropped waist.
I love the many details in this pattern---the top stitching, the belt loops, the sleeve tabs, the pocket flaps, the sash, and the sweet little collar that rolls so nicely even without a separate collar stand.
I love the ruffle I added to the center front.
I love the way the found-in-my-stash purple buttons match the center of the flowers on the fabric.
I love the voile fabric I used. Lovely stuff, really, yummy, yummy voile from designer Anna Maria Horner.
I love the classic lines of this pattern.
Two coordinating prints of cotton voile from Anna Maria Horner. Did I mention how lovely this voile is?!!
Pattern alterations or any design changes you made:
Only 2 changes: I added a ruffle to the front of the dress, and I lined the skirt with white voile. There will be no searching for the always-lost slip with this dress...it has its own built-in slip.
Would you sew it again? Would you recommend it to others?
Yes, and yes! My Emily wears a size 5, and the pattern goes up to a size 8. Yup, I'll be making it again!
This is a sweet little pattern with a timeless, classic style.
I have enjoyed sewing this dress, and I can't wait to show you the pictures of Emily wearing it.


text:
Brown dropped out of a nasty Democratic race for City Council to take advantage of the chance to be the GOP's hand-picked nominee.
"I switched because I didn't like the choices we had in the Democratic Party, and I didn't like what the Democratic Party was doing to our city," Brown told Action News.
John Featherman is the more conservative candidate who is trying to win the Republican nomination. He has been endorsed by the local Tea Party. He favors across-the-board tax cuts and givebacks by organized labor.
Featherman calls the GOP party bosses losers who live off the scraps from the Democrats' table. Brown, he says, is their latest tool.
For years, said Featherman, "the Republican City Committee has fielded paper and soft candidates for small jobs and little scraps."
Featherman has made something of a splash with a YouTube parody video, suggesting Philadelphia would be a great place for Moamar Gadhafi to resettle because of what he calls a one-party system under the iron-fisted control of dictators.
"We felt Libya was in some ways like Philadelphia. One-party rule here for 59 years for the Democrats," said Featherman.
Brown, the recent Republican convert, has plenty of criticism for incumbent Mayor Michael Nutter.
"Nutter's been asleep for 3 1/2 years," she said. "I really thought that Nutter was going to make a difference in the city, but he hasn't. He has been cutting the services that every Philadelphian wants: the police and the firemen."
Whoever wins the Republican nomination faces the mother of uphill struggles to win the mayor's race. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans in Philadelphia by a ratio to 6 to 1.

domain: sociology