Wednesday May 19, 2021
A lawsuit filed by 22 Illinois school districts alleges Gov. JB Pritzker is not doing enough to emphasize spending on education.
The ACLU of Illinois says a Black member of the Eastern Illinois University men’s swim team is ending a lawsuit filed against police officers who mistakenly detained him.
Researchers at the University of Illinois say they’ve developed a new and faster COVID-19 test that’s portable and affordable enough to use at home.
The Macon County Health Department is offering a Pfizer vaccination clinic for individuals 12 and up on Wednesday.
In today’s deep dive, a look at how the pandemic has changed the way drag performers in central Illinois build their audiences as live drag shows begin to return.
Reporting today contributed by Derek Cantu, Jim Meadows, and Marissa Plecia.


text:
Indonesia: Left debates how to challenge the neoliberal regime
July 4, 2009 -- Green Left Weekly -- By Dominggus Oktavianus, Ulfa Ilyas and Rudi Hartono, translated by Data Brainanta
More than 2500 people from the Volunteers of People’s Struggle for the Liberation of Motherland (SPARTAN) held a festive anti-neoliberalism protest in front of the National Election Commission on July 1 in Jakarta. The multi-sector coalition, initiated by the People’s Democratic Party (PRD) to intervene in the 2009 election, held similar protests involving more than 1200 people in Makassar on the island of Sulawesi. Hundreds rallied in Surabaya, Medan, Lampung, and protests occurred in 11 other cities.
The following day, a SPARTAN-organised protest drew thousands in Riau,
Sumatra and 80 people in the central Javanese city of Semarang.
The SPARTAN protesters mostly came from the poor, organised through the Indonesian Poor Union (SRMI), as well as some labour and students activists. Protesters denounced the incumbent in the July 8 presidential election, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, as a neoliberal politician supported by foreign interests.
Agus Priyono, SPARTAN’s general coordinator, said that protests targeted candidates who represent the political-economic system based on the “Washington consensus”, which promotes policies that liberalise trade, introduces “flexible” working conditions and a free hand for investors. “Neoliberalism is actually an incarnation of neo-colonialism that was fought against by our founding father, [former president] Sukarno”, he said.
Electoral politics and neoliberalism
A decade of intense economic liberalisation has increased poverty, unemployment, and environmental destruction. Almost half of Indonesia’s 230 million people live on less than US$2 a day. Thirty-seven million people are unemployed and thousands of children suffer malnutrition.
The destruction of national industry, both in agriculture and manufacturing, goes hand-in-hand with big business’s plunder of Indonesia’s economic resources, through legal and illegal means. Deforestation for timber production, mine expansions and fossil fuel consumption have increased drastically in this period.
Most people are not aware of the cause of the situation. Nor do they see the link between the degradation of their lives and their electoral choices. This is the product of decades of repression and de-politicisation under the 1965-98 Suharto New Order dictatorship. This has been made worse by the illusions and image manufacturing that have dominated electoral politics since 1999.
Until the rise of neoliberalism as an issue in this year’s presidential election, previous electoral contests did not involve a contest between pro-people policies versus pro-capital ones.
However, the bitter truth is that this development is not directly caused by any advances for progressive and democratic forces. Rather, it comes from a conflict within the oligarchic elites. This specifically involves Prabowo Subiyanto, a retired lieutenant-general who commanded the notorious Kopasus elite troops involved in the kidnappings and killings of pro-democracy activists in 1998.
Lately, the content of Prabowo’s speeches are almost identical to the arguments of progressives in recent years. This is both the way he explains the nature of neoliberalism as well as, to a degree, the proposed economic solutions.
Prabowo is running for vice-president with the presidential candidate Megawati Sukarnoputri in this election. Is his populism an illusion, considering that Megawati carried out a neoliberal agenda when she was in power between 2001-2004? Only time will tell.
Then there is the presidential candidate Jusuf Kalla, now vice-president, who talks more moderately about a national self-sufficient economy and promotes programs to strengthen domestic capitalists and weaken foreign capital’s domination. He comes from Suharto’s Golkar party. His running mate is Wiranto, the armed force chief from 1997 to 1999 and repsonsible for serious human rigths violations — most well known the massacres in East Timor in 1999.
This camp represents an alliance between a sector of Indonesia’s
capitalist class with military elements dating from the New Order
dictatorship. However, Kalla’s openess, determination, and egalitarian appearance has
drawn support from critical cultural figures and a handful of
Facing them is the incumbent Yudhoyono. His running mate is Budiono, the head of the central bank and the International Monetary Fund’s trusted economist who been a key to implementing economic liberalisation.
Armed with the image of being a more “civilian” former general, with a gentlemanly manner, committed to anti-corruption and from a simple farmer family, Yudhoyono seems to be in the best position to implement a neoliberal agenda. The Economist described him in a March 24 article as “a champion of the foreign investors”. Under Yudhoyono’s administration, 44 state-owned companies were sold at discount prices to foreign buyers in one year. He is notorious for the explosion of debt during his administration, which rose at the highest rate in Indonesian history, $8 billion a year.
Under Yudhoyono, Indonesia has also been active in endorsing trade liberalisation at a global as well as regional level.
His financial backing and image appealing to Indonesia’s feudal past has resulted in Yudhoyono leading various polls.
Not surprisingly, various mid-sized political parties, including the religious fundamental ones, have opportunistically supported Yudhoyono. As the incumbent, he is also able to use the state apparatus for his benefit.
Economic bribes, such as the Direct Cash Assistance and Rice for the Poor programs, that were usually with the neoliberal austerity programs, have been used by Yudhoyono as a sign of his “generosity”.
Neoliberalism and human rights
This reality has caused confusion among progressive groups. Most human rights NGOs, mostly foreign-funded, support Yudhoyono because they believe that his human rights record is the least bad when compared to Prabowo or Wiranto.
This is despite Yudhoyono being directly involved in the July 27, 1996 military attack against Megawati that killed dozens of people. He served in occupied East Timor in the 1970s, when serious human rights abuses occurred. His administration has not shown any serious commitment to solve past human rights cases. Violations of human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights, intensified during his term.
The price of basic goods increased more than 100% and fuel subsidies have been cut three times. His administration’s response to the global economic crisis, transferring the burden onto the poor majority, reflect Yudhoyono’s loyalty to neoliberialism.
Those on the left that have been campaigning against neoliberalism are faced with the dilemma that there are no ideal candidates. Some choose to remain uncontaminated by any connection with the political elites by calling for a boycott — risking isolation from the majority of people who accept the current electoral process.
The April legislative elections recorded an abstention rate of 40%. But this does not imply, as this section of the left believes, an active boycott against the representative system. Studies have showed that abstention occurred mostly due to political indifference or technical problems, such as a lack of sufficient information.
Moreover, a boycott by some sections of the urban middle-class cannot stop the widespread belief, tied to the huge campaigns and money politics, that exercising the periodic right to vote is the “best possible way” to relate to politics as the economic situation deteriorates.
The various left positions can be into three broad categories. First, those that do not intervene in order to prevent “ contamination” from the elites. This argued on ethical grounds — very debatable ones.
Second, those who intervene by rejecting all candidates, on the grounds they all have bad human rights records and represent the interests of capitalism. This is the position of a limited section on the left and it tends to benefit Yudhoyono in practice.
Third, those who focus their attack against the most obvious representation of neoliberalism, Yudhoyono, while remaining critical of the other candidates. For this sector, intervening in the elections is a way of promoting, and seeking to organise around, anti-neoliberal policies.
This is what the SPARTAN-organised protests have sought to do.
Supporting this view, the National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) has said that Yudhoyono’s rivals who speak against neoliberalism still have to prove that they are not just “thieves who shout thief”.
Anti-neoliberalism cannot be demonstrated only through debates and advertisements, but through concrete measures such as the nationalisation of the oil and mineral industry, cancellation of foreign debt and a national industrialisation program.
Anshar Marulu, SPARTAN’s coordinator in Makassar, challenged these candidates to support and join the anti-neoliberal mass.

domain: news


text:
Defective Geeks has survived (kind of, sort of?) another year of random geek shenanigans and once again, I wanted to highlight some of our accomplishments. This year was a bit more mellow than 2013 was but we got to experiment with bringing new content to the website with the help of friends. I would like to… Read more »
Posts Tagged: live show
The Lady Geeks get together on stage at the Ogeeku booth at Anime Expo for some awkward fun and silly anime-nerd talk! We also play another successful round of Giseru-chan, because it had to happen. Fanfic Theatre: Attack on Titan.

domain: entertainment


text:
The Yellow Snake Necktie will pimp up your style with ferocity. A fun fact about snakes is that they don’t have eyelids and their jaws are so flexible they can devour prey up to 3 times the size of their head. If this doesn’t scream “majestic” and “necktie design worthy," then the Brothers at OTAA don’t know what does!
Constructed by hand and tailored from a fine, navy woven fabric, this Sahara Snake Tie perfectly demonstrates OTAA’s high-quality philosophy. Yellow snakes slither across a navy blue canvas for a vivacious addition to your boardroom ensembles. The superbly textured navy backing offers a detailed asset to your necktie assemblage- ssss-sensational! Designed exclusively by the Brothers at OTAA.
Necktie Code : M696-T85
Tie Colour : Navy Blue, Yellow
Necktie Style : Animal & Novelty Design
This item's measurements are
3 to 7 Business Days
1 to 2 Business Days
FREE FOR ORDERS OVER $80 AUD
Dispatch within 1 working day 📦
let's get you a catch!

domain: design


You will be joining Mellanox’s RnD office in Kyiv and work in global teams that deliver new technologies to the market. You will participate in software design, contribute to decision making and be responsible for delivery of features to the clients/market, which might include communication with end-users, customers, and open-source community.
Mellanox SHARP™ (Scalable Hierarchical Aggregation and Reduction Protocol) is a technology that allows offloading collective and aggregation operations from the CPU to switch in MPI environments. This technology boosts scientific and machine learning applications and is used in some most powerful supercomputers in the world.
As a development and verification engineer, you will be responsible for developing code for verification tools to test the technology in different environments.
Would be a plus:
Since 1999 Mellanox Technologies has been providing high-speed RDMA/InfiniBand and Ethernet solutions for data centers, high-performance computers, and clusters.
We are working at the edge of technology and science, investing into RnD to provide our clients the most reliable and high-speed solutions, which include: host control adapters, L2/L3 switches, cables, storage systems and software that allows running everything– drivers, management utilities, libraries and tools for software developers and admins.
A short list of facts about Mellanox Technologies:
Joining Mellanox Technologies is an opportunity to stay at the edge of technologies that will shape the World tomorrow.


Don't force. It's like hunting rabbits. Better noise you make, greater you look, the more the rabbits hide. Get on with your life and make other things matter. This is when you find love. Zolciak singing career may be the center of gossip in show. Her fellow housewives Nene Leakes and Sheree Whitfield have continued to laugh at her music and singing. Zolciak success in music began after she approached Kandi Burruss, to assist her in producing singular most important "don't be tardy for your party". Kandi Buruss, who a well-known music writer and singer did an incredible job in transforming "don't be tardy for the party" due to Country song along with pop tunes. It seems this season of Atlanta housewives will focus on Zolciak's singing career. I assume bands learn that when they break up, they're separating with their fans because well Chris Stapleton . More information about Date For Chris Stapleton Tour 2018 Stubhub In Franklin Tn.
A free shuttle will be making trips from Rock Ledge Ranch and Coronado College to the expensive vacation event. No Charge: Again this is another country hit sung by Tammy Wynette. This song is totally amazing! It begins with girls list to her mom about being "owed" for chores she had done. When she sings within the note she wrote along the back among the list, I recieve tears around my eyes. Products one heck of a Country song! "When you add it all up price tag real love is no charge", a fantastic message individuals we care for. To hear this song, please click here. The video centers around a . It has scenes of babies selling lemonade outside the garage, 2 people going to prom obtaining it a car at the garage Chris Stapleton and a serviceman returning home, pulling up in the garage. There are plenty of scenes of this rock band performing which only boosts the feel much better tempo associated with the song and video. I constantly remember my first concert seeing Eric Clapton in 85. A friend of mine got the Country concert from Tickettron together with his Dad delivered near the Civic Shop.
If you are looking for How To Get Discount Chris Stapleton Concert Tickets Mountain View Ca, sports tickets and theater seats at the best prices click here.


All you need to know about the Green Belt
The green belt continues to be central to our campaigning work. But what is the green belt? And why do we care so much about protecting it? Find out in our jargon-busting explainer.
What is the Green Belt?
Green Belts are fourteen areas of land that are protected from most forms of development. Local Planning Authorities are responsible for designating land as ‘Green Belt’ through powers established in the Town and Country Planning Act 1947. Around London, some small areas are designated Green Belt by an earlier statute (1938). The designation is formalised in Local Plans, which set policies for the local area. Local Plans are used to inform decisions on development, ensuring it is sustainable, meets relevant policies and guidance and reflects local needs.
The Green Belt and planning
The Government set out its approach to how we use land within the Green Belt in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which was last updated in July 2021. The NPPF sets out the government’s planning policies for England and how they should be applied.
Local Planning Authorities are encouraged to follow the guidance in the NPPF, which sets out a general presumption against development in the Green Belt unless there are exceptional circumstances. Local Planning Authorities are also responsible for producing planning policies protecting and enhancing the Green Belt, in line with the NPPF guidance.
Currently, national planning policies to protect the Green Belt aren’t statutory (bound by law). However, the Government is consulting on the introduction of national development management policies (NDMPs), which may include a new policy on protecting and enhancing the Green Belt.
In a minority of cases, there are brownfield (previously developed) sites within the Green Belt. Quite often these sites are airfields, old hospitals or research establishments. These sites are often redeveloped for housing and in many cases, this can happen without causing urban sprawl or damage to the countryside feel of the Green Belt. And, like in National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, there are communities within the Green Belt that choose to develop small schemes of affordable homes for local people on so-called ‘rural exception sites’. This can and does happen without causing lasting damage to the functions the Green Belt fulfils.
Not all large towns and cities have Green Belts around them – most notably Leicester and Teesside. At the very least, we would want the countryside around these large towns to be as well managed as we think the Green Belts should be.
Why do Green Belts exist?
Green Belts are often spoken about in the context of all the bad things that they prevent. In land use planning terms, the primary function of the Green Belt is to prevent urban sprawl, a phenomenon whereby cities expand outwards into neighbouring countryside, which eventually results in towns and cities merging and the valuable green space between them being damaged or lost altogether. Because of this, it’s more difficult to obtain planning permission for development on Green Belt land.
While the Green Belt does help to perform these functions, the original intent was more than just a vanguard against development. If we talk about what the Green Belt ‘prevents’, we miss its crucial function: what it offers. When it was first coined as a term, the Green Belt was proposed to offer urban communities access to green space for recreation and to improve public health. This is exactly why CPRE often talks about the Green Belt being ‘the countryside next door’ for around half the population and one of the many reasons we campaign passionately for it to be protected, enhanced, and expanded.
But what Green Belt land offers surpasses even this. There are so many benefits to having Green Belt land designated around urban areas, and that’s what we’re going to come to next.
Benefits of the Green Belt
Health and wellbeing
As we saw during the coronavirus pandemic, more people came to realise the importance of green spaces for their mental, social and physical wellbeing. England’s Green Belt plays a crucial part in this. For example, it contains more than 30,000km of rights of way and provides important access to nature for more than 30 million people. The People and Nature Survey by Natural England noted that since the COVID-19 pandemic, 38% of people felt that nature was more important to them than ever and 41% felt that visiting local green and natural spaces was even more important to their wellbeing.
Better management of the Green Belt (as well as other countryside around our largest towns and cities) will provide opportunities for a large section of the population to interact with green space, nature and cultural heritage.
Food and farming
65.6% of Green Belt land is registered as agricultural land. Green Belt farmland has the potential to provide local produce to the many urban areas within the Green Belt, improving food security and self-sufficiency as well as reducing food miles. Just over a quarter (28%, or 310,000 hectares) of all the usable farmland in Green Belts is covered by agri-environment schemes that aim to improve the value of farmland for nature and for public access. CPRE is calling for this coverage to be doubled so that over half of all Green Belt farmland is covered by such schemes.
Climate change and wildlife
CPRE supports the Natural Capital Committee’s 2015 recommendation to create 350,000 hectares of new woodland and wetland close to urban areas. Green Belt land will be the obvious place for most of this new habitat, and our local group in London is leading calls for a new M25 of trees to provide a ring around the city. There’s lots of scope for carbon sequestration and reduction through the planting and retention of mature woodland, standing grassland and peatland.
In cases where new woodland and wetland is created especially, Green Belt land can absorb and intercept heavy rainfall and help protect against flooding, which is something we’re likely to see more of as a result of climate change.
But even as it is, Green Belt land includes both significant areas of deciduous woodland (140,000 hectares) and floodplain (around 130,000 hectares). It also contains around a fifth of our ancient woodland and a third of our nature reserves. As is so often the case, natural landscapes like this double up as nature-based solutions to climate change as well as vital wildlife habitats.
Green Belt land encompasses the 16 largest urban cores of England, and so are a huge part of our green infrastructure network. They bridge the gap between the natural environment and the built environment in urban areas and help to lessen and otherwise mitigate the urban heat island effect.
Why should you care about the Green Belt?
The countryside near our towns and cities is a vital solution to many of the issues we face today. From the food we eat to the homes we need, the paths we wander, to the nature that we cherish, the Green Belt provides us with so much and has the potential to give so much more.
We believe the countryside is for everyone. So, whether you live in a cottage in a rural hamlet or an inner-city apartment, everyone deserves clean air and space to breathe. Our Green Belt provides accessible green space for approximately half our population and should not be depleted.
Access to nature is one of the fundamental reasons that the Green Belt exists. And we don’t just want to protect the Green Belt for us, either. It’s a bastion for wildlife and needs protecting and expanding now more than ever in our increasingly nature-depleted country.
Green Belt ‘in the crosshairs’
Sadly, however, the Green Belt is more threatened than ever. It’s in the crosshairs of huge corporate housebuilders, developers and lobbyists who see it as a barrier to profit. Even worse, our recent report has found that speculative development in the Green Belt is still skewed towards expensive, executive homes. This means that despite what some may argue, releasing Green Belt land isn’t delivering affordable housing to the people that need it most. Meanwhile, opportunities to enhance and improve the Green Belt for those that rely on it have gone completely untapped.
Our Green Belt is the work of generations before us who have stood up and fought to protect the countryside for us all to enjoy, making it the heart of who we are as a nation.
In the run-up to an era-defining general election, we need to challenge our elected officials to see, value and protect the countryside next door for what it is and what it can be. A living network for our rural communities, the frontline in our fight to prevent climate collapse, a vital home for wildlife, and an irreplaceable space where millions of people across the country can enjoy fresh air and the great outdoors.
We’re calling on the next government to protect, promote and enhance the Green Belt, ensuring that this special part of the countryside lives up to all that it can be.
New report available
Our 2023 ‘State of the Green Belt’ report is out now! You can read it here.
You can also find out if there is any Green Belt in your area by using our interactive map.


text:
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Romania of occupying northern Bukovina, territory that Romania lost during World War II, in remarks that immediately drew rebuke and risk complicating already troubled bilateral relations.
Zelensky made his remarks on Wednesday to mark Ukraine Unity Day, the day the country became a state 101 years ago.
“The age-old dreams, for which the best sons of Ukraine lived and died, have come true,” Zelensky said quoting from the Unification Act proclaimed in Kiev on January 22, 1919.
“In all corners of Ukraine this was met with enthusiasm: at last there was a chance to build a united and independent country. Unfortunately, it was lost. The ambitions of the then politicians prevented them from achieving true state unity.”
He recalled that leaders of the Ukrainian People’s Republic were forced to leave the capital under pressure from the Russian Bolsheviks.
“Most of the territory of Galicia was occupied by Polish troops. Northern Bukovina was occupied by Romanians, and Zakarpattia went to Czechoslovakia,” he said.
Romania’s foreign ministry expressed „surprise” and said it had asked Ukraine for „clarifications” about the comments. It underlined „the necessity (to have) a correct understanding of history,” in a statement and said that state secretary Dan Neculaescu had met Ukraine’s ambassador to Romania, Oleksandr Bankov, on Thursday.
Bankov said he „sincerely regretted this unpleasant situation, which is the result of an incorrect translation and and baseless foundations.” He claimed that the Ukrainian president had used the word „had” and not „occupied” which he said had a different connotation.
Former Romanian Foreign Minister Cristian Diaconescu told universul.net that the statement was “bizarre and uninspired” taking into consideration Ukraine’s current security situation. He was apparently referring to Crimea that was annexed to Russia in 2014.
“I expected the new leadership in Kiev to be more rational in its approach to neighboring states, especially in the context of the grave problems it has,” he said. Ukraine needs friends in the region,” especially ones that have influence in the Euro-atlantic area, adding:”It should have a more discerning approach.”
Dan Dungaciu, a commentator on Moldovan and Romanian affairs, went further, telling universul.net that Ukraine was making an unjustified “historic mistake” to an “honest neighbor like Romania.”
„I hope this doesn’t become policy, and it was just some kind of accident,” he said.
Relations between Bucharest and Kiev deteriorated after the adoption of a language law in 2017 which made it harder for ethnic minorities to study in their mother tongue in schools.
Ukraine makes a distinction between Romanian and the so-called Moldovan language. Romania says this was a device used by the Soviets to artificially divide the two communities for political reasons.
Bukovina was under the control of the Habsburgs and the Austro-Hungarian empire from 1774 to 1918. After World War I, Romania took control over the region, also known as ‘the land of beech trees.’
It was annexed to the Soviet Union in 1940 as part of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. After the 1991 breakup of the Soviet Union, it became part of Ukraine.


text:
The Amazing Adventures of Willy the Woolly
Eulenspiegel Puppets performs a delightful tale of the lovable mammoths who roamed the Iowa prairies 10,000 years ago! Follow Willy the young woolly mammoth and his friend Bonny the Bunny as they overcome the dangers of sinkholes and saber tooth tigers. Learn about the Ice Age and the power of friendship. Performed with a cast of tabletop marionettes, rod puppets, shadow puppets, and the whimsical live music of Ron Hillis!
- Drama, music
- Character Counts
- STUDY GUIDE PROVIDED
More from Eulenspiegel
Summer Class for Adults!April 25, 2019
Puppets Aren't Just For Kids!
Once again, we are offering a week long summer puppetry class for adults! If...
The Big Election! Available for Touring!June 4, 2019:
The Big Election! Fun, Fantasy, and Voter Education!
Who will win the big election for Leader of the Beasts? Will...
Summer Neighborhood Tour 2019!
Contact us for dates or schedule a special show!
Galahad's Fool Reading
Monday, August 27, 7:00 PM
Great Plains Puppet Train
Sept 13-16, 2018

domain: artistic


text:
But Who May Abide The Day...
Cello solo with piano accompaniment - Level 4
Composed by George Frideric Handel (1685-1759). Arranged by Robert M. Ewing. Sacred instrumental music. F. Traditional. Score and parts. Duration 2'45". Published by David E. Smith (DX.165120).
Item Number: DX.165120
Taken from the "Messiah", this solo with piano is essentially a transcription of the original work. It features sufficient counterpoint between the various instruments.
About Digital Downloads
Digital Downloads are downloadable sheet music files that can be viewed directly on your computer, tablet or mobile device. Once you download your digital sheet music, you can view and print it at home, school, or anywhere you want to make music, and you don’t have to be connected to the internet. Just purchase, download and play!
PLEASE NOTE: Your Digital Download will have a watermark at the bottom of each page that will include your name, purchase date and number of copies purchased. You are only authorized to print the number of copies that you have purchased. You may not digitally distribute or print more copies than purchased for use (i.e., you may not print or digitally distribute individual copies to friends or students).
Customers Who Bought But Who May Abide The Day... Also Bought:


BY PATRICK TOM
The new Range View Plaza will be opened in May this year.
Range view Heights is the latest multi-million kina development in NCD.
The development is undertaken by the National Capital District Commission, Lamana Development Limited and Nambawan Super Limited.
Worth more than K300 million, the development will consist of both a large retail and a residential complex.
The retail complex will feature two commercial buildings with a 280 car park space, while the residential compound will consist of 88 town houses and 140 car spaces.
Nambawan Superannuation Fund chief investment officer David Kitchnoge said that the building is already completed but the delay is with the tenants getting their fittings and also their stock orders coming in from outside.
He pointed out that the issue is with the availability of foreign exchange (FX).
There is not enough foreign exchange in the market so tenants need to first get the FX first and then place their orders and bring the stuff onshore, adding that there is also shipping issues as well; with COVID in the mix, it has impacted supply chain, so due to the multitude of issues it has prolonged the opening to this magnificent hub.
“This will complement that vicinity, Waigani area with Vision City and the other buildings opposite Stanley Hotel we are building.
“Of course there will be an element of competition but we see it as complementing of customer experience around the Waigani area; it’s our capital city, it’s our country,” added Mr Kitchnoge.
Nambawan Super owns 65 per cent in the development of the Range View Plaza located opposite Vision City and next to NCDC City Hall at Waigani, Port Moresby.


text:
Scriptures from Sunday’s sermon:
6 At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made 7 and sent out the raven; and it went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth. 8 Then he sent out the dove from him, to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground; 9 but the dove found no place to set its foot, and it returned to him to the ark, for the waters were still on the face of the whole earth. So he put out his hand and took it and brought it into the ark with him. 10 He waited another seven days, and again he sent out the dove from the ark; 11 and the dove came back to him in the evening, and there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf; so Noah knew that the waters had subsided from the earth. 12 Then he waited another seven days, and sent out the dove; and it did not return to him any more.

domain: literature


Early fire detection using infrared cameras
Monitoring temperatures to prevent fires is the best fire protection
Early fire detection via smart temperature monitoring
Why infrared fire detection is good preventive fire protection
Time is of the essence in fire protection because the sooner a fire hazard is detected, the sooner it can be stopped or prevented.
Conventional fire detectors such as smoke detectors, line detectors, or smoke aspiration systems only react to smoke/fumes. Sprinklers require heat at the sensor location to be triggered. To detect a fire in 12 m high warehouses, for example, often requires the fire to already be extensive. The same applies to flame detectors, which only react to flames.
This type of fire detection therefore requires a fire incident to have already started. For highly flammable materials or storage materials with high burning energy (recyclable materials, refuse derived fuels (RDF), paper, etc.), fire detection frequently reacts far too late.
It is better not to allow a fire to break out in the first place. This is precisely where infrared early fire detection comes in. It “sees” material surface temperatures that are too hot long before they cause smoke or flames. By detecting a potential fire early and immediately reporting it to the fire services via an FACP, no time in which a fire can escalate and become uncontrollable is lost.
When IR detection can also directly control immediate targeted extinguishing, a fire can be extinguished in its early stages.
In many areas, infrared early fire detection is therefore superior to conventional fire detectors.
PYROsmart® detects fire hazards early
PYROsmart® intelligent IR early fire detection uses different types of sensors depending on the version. A high-resolution infrared camera (“thermal imaging camera”) operates in the PYROsmart® FS pro in combination with a video camera and a specially developed pan/tilt system.
This enables large areas to undergo continuous scanning and high-resolution panoramic thermal imaging to be produced using our patented abiroVision® software. Thermal imaging of the entire monitoring area is clearly displayed in a panoramic view. The panoramic view can also be described as “temperature mapping” of the entire detection area.
PYROsmart®’s special features include intelligent algorithms that can differentiate between, for example, a hot exhaust pipe, which quickly reaches a temperature of 450°C, and a possible fire source of only 85°C.
This key feature saves time in the process of fire detection. It ultimately ensures prevention of fires that can lead to major damage to property and personal injury, loss of production, and even the total loss of a business.
When a critical temperature is detected, its location can be pinpointed immediately and accurately. This is yet another key advantage over all other types of detector equipment.
Precisely locating potential fire hazards is possible because PYROsmart® understands the monitored area’s exact space geometry. No extra sensors are required to do this.
We can therefore claim PYROsmart® to be an intelligent fire prevention system.
Not every heat source is a hazard
Exhaust pipes, brake discs, engines, etc., are normal, everyday sources of heat. It is therefore essential to clearly assess whether a detected “hotspot” actually poses a threat. Only then can false alarms and operational interruptions be prevented.
PYROsmart® uses a multitude of features and intelligent algorithms to reliably detect and exclude normally high temperatures. Alarms are then only triggered when there is a real reason.
Lower temperature ranges can also be set at which pre-alarms can be reported. Personnel are thereby warned of rising temperatures at the earliest possible stage and can respond accordingly.


text: Hi, I am translating a petition and am not sure about the meaning of "who has generally appeared"?. Could you please explain? Thanks, A. Extract from the petition - II. PARTIES 1. Plaintiff is an individual residing in Texas. 2. Defendant is a firm, a Texas limited liability company, [address], Texas, who has generally appeared. The defendant may be served with Plaintiff's petition by serving its attorney of record.

domain: law


3 shootings within 3 minutes leave 3 injured in Minneapolis
Three separate shootings injured three people within just a few minutes Wednesday afternoon.
According to Minneapolis police, a juvenile male victim was shot on the 2500 block of Aldrich Avenue at 4:37 p.m. Two minutes later, a man was shot near Fourth Street North and 30th Avenue North, and another juvenile male victim was shot on the 2900 block of Logan Avenue at 4:30 p.m.
All three suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
No one is currently in custody in connection to any of the shootings.


Following GQ's release of the 20 Most Stylish Men Alive, Metro FM's DJ Bonang Matheba compiled a list with the help of her listeners of South Africa's top most stylish men.
The men, voted by over 300 people on Twitter listening in to The Front Row, got a lot of nods from the NOW team, and just like GQ's list, it had nothing to do with how much your items cost or who is your stylist.
So from Maps Maponyane to Minister of Home Affairs Malusi Gigaba, here is The Front Row's top stylish men of Mzanzi (we took top 16) :
16. Siya Beyile (stylist and blogger who won GQ's Best Dressed Men 2014 )
15. Fistas Mixwell
13.Dr Smile Lex Leo
12. Melusi Gigaba
11 Sizwe Dhlomo
10. Tibz (showtibzlove)
9. Zakes Bantwini
8. DJ Sbu
7. Trevor Stuurman (Blogger and photographer)
5. Linda Makhaya
4. Black Coffee
2. Stoan Seate
1. Maps Maponyane
What do you make of the list? Let us know your thoughts below.


text: Holy cow!! Can you say torture? I was really excited when I took the Snell kids pictures. I knew from the beginning that they were going to be great, but as I went through trying to pick favorites it was soooo painful! I had a terrible time. The kids were so fun during their shoot. They did everything exactly as I asked and their personalities totally shined through. I loved their clothes, I loved their personalities, I loved the kids. So fun. I am so grateful I am not the people who have to choose which photos make it to the wall...I'm pretty sure they could make a wallpaper out of these.


text:
Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz had more than just his 29th birthday to celebrate on Thursday night — the rock star recently wed gal pal Ashlee Simpson and the pair recently confirmed OK!’s report that they will soon be expecting their first child together.
So to ring in Pete’s last year before turning 30 — and maybe his last big party before he has to start changing diapers — nightlife maven Brent Bolthouse arranged for a private party for the couple in the exclusive upstairs VIP area at his hot Hollywood club Foxtail, where the newlyweds — Pete in an all-black tuxedo-ish getup, Ashlee in a sleeveless ruffled dress and ankle boots — arrived around 9:45pm in a stretch limo.
Even though there was Secret-Service-style security on-hand, with bouncers laser-scanning VIP wristbands and extra muscle men circulating around the club, that didn’t stop the mom-and-pop-to-be from spending most of the party downstairs, away from their invite-only guests upstairs. "Pete and Ash worked the dining room," one clubgoer tells OK!. "They were walking from table to table, chatting and shaking hands." Maybe Pete is making a bid for the Vice Presidency?
Pete and his still-blushing bride eventually settled at a long table with eight friends who were eating and drinking the night away. "They didn’t sip a drop of alcohol," one insider says about Pete and Ashlee. "Though I can’t say the same for their guests!"
At the stroke of midnight, waiters brought out a birthday cake, with "Happy 29th Birthday Pete" written on it, to the table while the crowd sang "Happy Birthday." The pop-punker had a bit of trouble when he attempted to blow out his candles, requiring three attempts and accidentally dowsing the front of his suit jacket with icing.
Around 1am, it was time for the couple to call it a night, as they exited out the front door and into their awaiting limo, which took them back home.
By: Katie Rhames

domain: celebrity


text:
GRAND ISLE ART WORKS HOURS OF OPERATIONHOURS: Wednesday -Saturday, 10-4:00 pm with cafe, Later on Theme Night Thursdays, '6:00-8:30 pm, Sunday 9-3:00 pm 802-378-4591
Program of classesJoin us in one of our classes! http://grandisleartworks.com/programs/
Calendar of Events
CAFE at the GALLERY HOURS OF OPERATIONHOURS: Wednesday -Saturday, 11-3:00 pm, primarily lunch; Brunch on Sundays 9-2:00 pm, TNT!!! Theme Night Thursdays, 6-8:30 pm, Reservations: 802-378-4591
Tag Archives: grand isle county
Open Studio Weekend takes place Saturday and Sunday of the first weekend in October. Authenticity and quality are at the heart of the event.
Vermont Crafts Council members who are Vermont visual artists and craftspeople, galleries, educational sites, may participate.
Participants agree to open their studios to the public for the weekend, create an educational element to their event, and distribute promotional materials of their own and the Vermont Studio Tour Guide.
Most Vermont craftspeople work in studios located in or close to their residences. These are places of production and inspiration located in downtowns as well as at the ends of dirt roads. Wherever their locations, they are exciting places to visit because they reflect the dynamic yet organized process that is used to produce the finished work of art.
The studio itself is enormously informative because you can see at a glance how the artist works. You see the swatches that have not been chosen for the quilt or the work that is experimental or not serious enough for the gallery. Buying or ordering work during an Open Studio sale is a unique experience because you have the opportunity to speak to the artist directly.
Grand Isle County, Vermont, (July 14th & 15th, 2012) – Come to Grand Isle County, Vermont, located at the northern end of Lake Champlain, and discover the heart of the islands. Join us for the sixth annual Discover the Heart of the Islands: Open Farm and Studio Tour and visit vineyards, farms, art studios, galleries, and markets. Meet the artists, agricultural producers and their animals living and working at the edge of magnificent Lake Champlain.
The tour has become one of the premier summer events in the islands, with over fifty artists, artisans, and small farms opening their studio doors and swinging back the barnyard gates to showcase the variety, creativity and hospitality of Vermont’s archipelago—Grand Isle County.
This is a great way to get off the main road and truly “Discover” the heart of the islands. Watch demonstrations by potters, jewelers, painters, wood turners and paper makers. Sample savory delights from island producers and chefs at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday and at the Taste of the Islands food celebration on Sunday. Visit island farms and chat with the folks who provide the fresh meats, cheeses, and produce for our local markets. See angora goats, alpacas, llamas and sheep and get a chance to see how yarn is hand spun from these fiber animals.
The Discover the Heart of the Islands: Open Farm and Studio Tour is a great opportunity to buy items directly from the hands of the artists in their studios. You can visit fine art and craft galleries where work from island artists is featured. For those who are more adventurous plan to get your shoes dirty and learn how real farming happens. For more information visit the the website: www.openfarmandstudio.com


text:
At the occasion of his sixties birthday a selection of Filip Claus’ portfolio is on display in the city center of Ghent. 32 other Belgian photographers selected a picture out of Filip's portfolio and matched it with one their own. Today, Filip guided an interested crowd throughout the city center and provided insights on his pictures and shared with us the rational why the other photographer paired one of his or her pictures with his work. Sometimes the complementary picture was chosen based on colors, shapes, history, content or narrative… the stories were sometimes funny or controversial but at all occasions insightful. Thumbs up Filip! Thanks to all involved preparing this unconventional exhibition - Ghent, Belgium exhibition - Ghent, Belgium
Beautiful, defiant and intense, Argentina seduces with its street-side tango, incredible foods, gaucho culture and welcoming people. Explore the mighty Iguazu Falls, take in the colors of Buenos Aires. Then head into nature to explore Peninsula Valdes, Torres del Paine National Park and the humbling Perito Moreno Glacier. Reaching the end of the world at Ushuaia is just the tip of the iceberg of an incredible country. Argentina is one formidable cocktail of wanderlust!
"Photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place. It has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with how you see them."
I just like to take pictures, I just push the button. I never worked in the darkroom, I never studied photography or journalism; I’m just a passionate photographer.
"Success is the ability to go from failure to failure, without a loss of enthusiasm”
Sir Winston Churchill
Therefore, I Am A Believer Of "All Critiques Are Valid". Thank You!
©RudyMareelPhotography all rights reserved


text:
Helsinki, 1 March, 2006
The year's first Finnish Consumer Ombudsman's newsletter on consumer law issues has been published. The newsletter replaces Consumer Protection magazine and its language versions. The agency will continue to publish Kuluttaja magazine (in Finnish only), which offers useful information for consumers.
The newsletter is available via the agency's www site.


Project title: Auswirkungen der Nutzung des geologischen Untergrundes als thermischer, elektrischer oder stofflicher Speicher – Integration unterirdischer Speichertechnologien in die Energietransformation am Beispiel des Modellgebietes Schleswig-Holstein – Teilprojekt: Geochemische und thermische Prozesse
(Project title – English translation: Impacts of the use of the geological subsurface for energy storage in the form of gas and heat – integration of underground storage technologies in the energy transition based on the example of the model region Schleswig-Holstein – subproject: Geochemical and thermal processes)
Short project description:
The joint research project ANGUSII aims at developing methods for the dimensioning and the assessment of induced effects of geotechnical energy storage systems for hydrogen, synthetic methane, compressed air, and heat as well as the integration of the developed methods into concepts for subsurface spatial planning. Aims of the specific research of the UFZ are the simulation and the monitoring of processes in geotechnological systems for substantial or thermal energy storage as a contribution to the evaluation of potentials and safety of these facilities and their environmental impact, in particular, on protected natural resources (e. g., groundwater). Modelling is based on enhanced numerical approaches for the simulation of coupled physical and geochemical processes. An adequate biogeochemical monitoring is necessary, in order to ensure a sustainable operation of geological storage systems, and for the early detection of potential impacts requiring certain action.
The Department of Environmental Informatics will develop numerical methods for the analysis of large-scale geotechnological thermal energy storage systems for heating and cooling purposes. The developed models and algorithms will be implemented into the scientific open source software project OpenGeoSys, which ensures the direct and efficient access for all software developers based on a common software development of several project partners. Thermal-hydraulic-mechanical/chemical coupled models will capture impacts of cyclic processes during construction and operation of the considered systems. Scenario simulations will be focused on the evolution of local stress fields, on studies regarding the evolution of temperature fields, and on the analyses of reactive transport processes. Several measurement methods and monitoring strategies developed by the Department of Isotope Biogeochemistry will be evaluated regarding their applicability for the spatially and temporally adapted monitoring during the operation of shallow geothermal storage systems as well as pore gas storage facilities. The obtained results will be validated in field experiments on a pilot site. Existing guidelines for the utilisation of subsurface resources will be updated and extended based on the project results.
Project duration: 01/17 – 12/20
Funding organisation: BMWi
- Europa-Universität Flensburg
- Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ
- Flensburg University of Applied Sciences
- Kiel University Christian Albrechts Universität zu Kiel (CAU) – coordinator
At the UFZ, research for this project is also being conducted at the Department Isotope Biogeochemistry.
At the Department of Environmental Informatics, research for this project is being conducted at the workgroup Geothermal Systems Analysis.
Project website: www.angus2.de
This research was also part of the OpenGeoSys initiative (www.opengeosys.org).


text:
Let rains be a blessing not a curse
SEE ALSO :KeNHA drills tunnels to stem floodsYet the irony is that months from now, these areas will experience water scarcity and even drought. Already, there are warnings about cholera and other waterborne disease outbreak. Something needs to be done to reverse the trend, where rains become a curse rather than a blessing. With more houses and more roads, a lot of the water mass never percolates into the ground. Naturally, water finds its level. This calls for a good drainage system. Secondly, disaster response units need to be spruced up to minimise loss of life and property when calamity strikes. Ultimately, with better planning and management, all the rain water that is going to waste, causing death and destruction in its wake, could be harvested, treated and resupplied to address the water shortages in the country. In countries like Brazil, Argentina, Honduras and Costa Rica, to mention but a few, they have perfected the art of harvesting rain water from rooftops for use in the semi-arid areas of the countries.


Why You Should Consider an Upgrade
Advances in technology over the last 10 years mean that today’s higher efficiency HVAC equipment uses less energy, runs more quietly, and provides improved indoor air quality and comfort compared to the older models of air conditioners. By using less energy and improved refrigerants, your new HVAC equipment is much better for the environment. Most homeowners would like to reduce their energy bill with higher efficiency HVAC equipment. A Plus experts are here to make your initial investment affordable.
When deciding on the type of air conditioning that would suit your needs, you need to consider the sq. ft. of your house and the intense heat here in Vegas. You need expert guidance with these decisions or you could end up with an air conditioner that is inadequate for your needs and costs a lot of money.


text:
There's no shortage of controversial investment options in the market these days. Between cryptocurrencies, meme stocks, and valuations not seen since the dotcom bubble, everyone seems to have an opinion on why something is amiss in the financial markets.
To make an informed decision, it's important to understand what's behind the headlines. After all, it takes buyers and sellers to make a trade.
Digging into one of the more unlikely meme stocks -- Clover Health (CLOV 1.53%) -- shows why bulls and bears have conviction. Interestingly, they might not actually disagree on the facts.
1. Merging with Chamath Palihapitiya's SPAC
Clover was brought public through a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) owned by Chamath Palihapitiya. A SPAC is a shell company created when investors raise money with the intent of finding and acquiring another company.
The structure has come under scrutiny, as its popularity has exploded in the past two years. While it provides start-ups with a less-burdensome path to going public, it can also circumvent some of the regulatory checks during a traditional initial public offering. Also, it can leave the investing sponsors with as much as 20% of the acquired company's equity. For retail investors, it can be a little like buying $0.80 for a dollar.
Investing is often about narrative -- a story that explains why your money will grow. Few have been able to spin a more compelling tale in recent years than former Facebook executive Chamath Palihapitiya. His brash style and well-timed interviews on CNBC have gained him a large following.
He's bashed his former company, compared venture capital to a Ponzi scheme, and waxed poetic about inequality and climate change. Once, when Bitcoin reached $150,000, he claimed he would buy the Hamptons -- the oceanside community of eight-figure homes where rich New Yorkers vacation -- and turn it into a summer camp for kids and low-cost housing.
He also told a class at Stanford's business school that he wanted the money, and he would play the game to get it. Except he said it in much more colorful language. It's not hard to understand why controversy follows him around. In fact, he seems to cultivate it.
2. Allegations it withheld information from investors
When Chamath brought Clover Health public in January, the company was the subject of an investigation that investors weren't aware of. Management said it did not consider the investigation "material". It did officially disclose it one day after a short seller came forward outlining the allegations. Those claims ranged from illegal kickbacks to conflicts of interest with subsidiaries.
In just one of 12 items being investigated, a company called SeekMedicare was established to help seniors choose a Medicare Advantage insurer. Although it promoted itself as working for seniors rather than insurance companies, it was in fact owned by Clover. Shortly after this came to light, the company's website was changed in what may be a tacit admission of the conflict of interest. The tag line was changed from "We don't work for insurance companies. We work for you" to "We do the work. So you get the best coverage." It turns out, CEO Vivek Garipalli is no stranger to being under the regulatory microscope.
3. An investigation into hospitals the CEO used to run
Prior to co-founding Clover, Garipalli co-founded Carepoint Health. It was formed by purchasing three non-profit New Jersey hospitals. Garipalli and his partners took several steps to save the hospitals from bankruptcy, including converting them to for-profit entities. Next, they severed contracts with the largest insurers making the facilities out-of-network for all patients. The move left emergency room patients still paying in-network costs out-of-pocket, while allowing the hospitals to charge insurers as much as they wanted.
A 2013 New York Times investigation found that the hospitals were the most expensive in the nation for many of the most common procedures. In fact, prices were six to 12 times higher than surrounding hospitals. The organization also set up a series of shell companies that extracted $157 million in management fees from the health system in just three years. Although a state investigation found no wrongdoing, transparency laws were tightened to discourage the practice. For what it's worth, community leaders say the group was open about the tactics they planned to use to keep the hospitals open. As of early 2021, the system was dissolving and attempting to sell the hospitals.
It's all about perspective
Chamath might be brash, but his billionaire status doesn't get in the way of his anti-establishment message. And just because his SPAC brought Clover Health public doesn't mean that message or his personality have a bearing on the company and its prospects. In fact, the association is likely one of the main reasons many retail investors continue buying shares. It's a way to poke a finger in the eye of Wall Street.
Like Chamath, the company and its CEO are no stranger to controversy. Aggressive billing practices and related-party transactions may have lined the pockets of Garipalli and his co-founders, but three community hospitals that were headed toward bankruptcy were able to remain open. How an investor feels about these facts will likely determine whether they think Clover Health will make a good investment. That ermains to be seen. What is less certain is why the company is controversial.


The information flows circulating throughout an organisation have been shown to be a virtual manifestation of the organisation itself. And analysing this communication network produces insights that are impossible to achieve in other ways.
Every piece of communication is a ‘transaction’, and Transactional Analysis science shows it is possible to generate detailed insights by analysing the information flows themselves without analysing the content of any communication. In other words, what people do is as important as what people say.
FACT360 builds on this knowledge by applying Natural Language Processing techniques alongside Transactional Analysis to uncover more detail by grouping items, such as emails and messages, that share characteristics.
Applying our own Breakout Detection algorithms identifies any changes that occur and, uniquely in the market, we can identify anomalies and behaviour that differs from the historical norm.
Get in touch to see how we can work together.


text:
Srinagar, May 27 (Ajit Weekly News) Seven soldiers were killed and 19 others injured in a road accident in Ladakh on Friday, defence sources said.
According to the sources, 26 soldiers were injured in the road accident in Turtuk area of Ladakh.
“Seven soldiers died on the spot while 19 others were injured. The injured soldiers have been airlifted to military hospital in Chandigarh,” a defence source said.
–Ajit Weekly News


text:
Carrying heavy combat loads is taking a quiet but serious toll on troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, contributing to injuries that are sidelining them in growing numbers, according to senior military and defense officials.
Rising concern over the muscle and bone injuries -- as well as the hindrance caused by the cumbersome gear as troops maneuver in Afghanistan's mountains -- prompted Army and Marine Corps leaders and commanders to launch initiatives last month that will introduce lighter equipment for some U.S. troops.
Army leaders and experts say the injuries -- linked to the stress of bearing heavy loads during repeated 12- or 15-month combat tours -- have increased the number of soldiers categorized as "non-deployable." Army personnel reported 257,000 acute orthopedic injuries in 2007, up from 247,000 the previous year.
As injuries force more soldiers to stay home, the Army is having a harder time filling units for upcoming deployments to Afghanistan and Iraq, said Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, the service's vice chief of staff.
"There is no doubt that [in] our non-deployable rates, we're seeing increase," he said. "I don't want to see it grow any more."
The number of total non-deployables has risen by an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 since 2006, putting the current figure at about 20,000, according to Chiarelli. "That occurs when you run the force at the level we're running it now," he said.
"You can't hump a rucksack at 8,000 to 11,000 feet for 15 months, even at a young age, and not have that have an impact on your body, and we are seeing an increase in muscular-skeletal issues," Chiarelli told reporters last month.


text:
A Guide to Choosing the Right Physical Therapist
In the journey towards optimal health and recovery, the role of a physical therapist cannot be overstated. Whether you’re rehabilitating from an injury, managing chronic pain, or aiming to enhance your overall well-being, selecting the right physical therapist is a crucial step. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to help you make an informed decision and embark on a path to recovery with confidence.
Credentials and Qualifications:
The first and foremost aspect to consider when choosing a physical therapist is their credentials and qualifications. A licensed physical therapist should hold a degree from an accredited physical therapy program and be registered with the appropriate state board. Additionally, certifications in specialized areas, such as orthopedics or neurology, demonstrate a commitment to continued education and expertise in specific fields.
Experience and Specialization:
Every individual’s condition is unique, and it’s essential to find a physical therapist with experience in treating your specific needs. Whether you require post-surgical rehabilitation, sports injury recovery, or assistance with chronic pain management, seeking a therapist with a relevant specialization enhances the likelihood of a successful treatment outcome. Look for professionals who have successfully treated cases similar to yours and inquire about their experience in the specific area of your concern.
Communication and Rapport:
Effective communication between you and your physical therapist is vital for a successful rehabilitation journey. During the initial consultation, pay attention to how well the therapist listens to your concerns and explains the treatment plan. A good therapist should be able to convey complex concepts in a way that is easy to understand, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. Building a strong rapport with your therapist promotes trust and can positively impact the effectiveness of the rehabilitation process.
Treatment Approaches and Techniques:
Physical therapists employ a variety of treatment approaches and techniques based on their training and experience. Before committing to a therapist, inquire about the methods they commonly use and how these align with your preferences and comfort levels. Whether it’s manual therapy, exercise prescription, or the integration of advanced technologies, understanding the proposed treatment plan helps you make an informed decision about the compatibility of the approach with your goals and expectations.
Accessibility and Location:
Convenience plays a significant role in the consistency of your physical therapy sessions. Consider the location of the therapist’s clinic in relation to your home or workplace. Accessibility is crucial, especially if you anticipate multiple sessions per week. Additionally, inquire about the therapist’s scheduling flexibility and whether they offer telehealth services, which can be particularly advantageous for individuals with busy lifestyles or those facing mobility challenges.
Patient Reviews and Testimonials:
The experiences of previous patients can offer valuable insights into the effectiveness and quality of a physical therapist’s services. Online reviews and testimonials provide a glimpse into the therapist’s reputation and success in helping others with similar conditions. While individual experiences may vary, consistently positive reviews can be a reassuring indicator of a therapist’s competence and commitment to patient satisfaction.
Cost and Insurance Coverage:
Understanding the financial aspect of physical therapy is crucial for a stress-free rehabilitation journey. Inquire about the therapist’s fees, payment plans, and accepted insurance providers. Additionally, clarify any potential out-of-pocket expenses and whether the therapist offers discounted packages for multiple sessions. Being transparent about financial considerations upfront allows you to focus on your recovery without unexpected financial burdens.
Choosing the right physical therapist is a pivotal decision that can significantly impact your journey to recovery. By considering credentials, experience, communication, treatment approaches, accessibility, patient reviews, and cost, you can make an informed choice aligned with your specific needs and goals. Remember that an effective partnership with your physical therapist is not just about addressing your current condition but also about empowering you to lead a healthier and more active life in the long run.

domain: medical


text:
AFSCME Local 1733 on Monday endorsed Democratic candidate JB Smiley Jr. to be the next Tennessee governor.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is the largest trade union of public employees in the United States. The group “believes that every person working to sustain their community deserves respect.”
“Councilman Smiley will continue the efforts that the sanitation workers of AFSCME Local 1733 started in 1968. During that year, we went on strike and Dr. King lost his life fighting for improved wages, fringe benefits, and better working conditions,” Adrian Rogers, president of AFSCME Local 1733, said in a statement. “Councilman Smiley understands there is much more work to be done in order to truly live out the dream that Dr. King started. We believe he will carry that commitment to the governor’s office.”
AFSCME Local 1733 has continued to work to create change in our communities for civil, labor and human rights. I am humbled by their support and the confidence that they placed in me to carry the banner for working men and women throughout the state of Tennessee.#unionstrong pic.twitter.com/imtkcWhU0U
— JB Smiley, Jr., Esq. (@jbsmileyjr) June 20, 2022
“AFSCME Local 1733 has continued to work to create change in our communities for civil, labor, and human rights,” Smiley said. “I am truly humbled by their support and the confidence that they placed in me to carry the banner for working men and women throughout the state of Tennessee.”
In addition to the local union’s endorsement, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris also recently endorsed Smiley.
The Tennessee Star previously reported Smiley announced he was running for governor in September. As a member of the Memphis City Council, Smiley is the chair of the Public Works, Solid Waste and General Services Committee and the vice chair for the Economic Development, Tourism & Technology Committee. He also serves as the council liaison for the Urban Art Commission and the Memphis and Shelby County Film and Television Commission.
Republicans have held the Tennessee gubernatorial seat since 2012. The GOP also controls both Tennessee U.S. Senate seats, the majority of the congressional districts, and a supermajority in both chambers of the General Assembly.
Tennesseans will vote on November 8th to elect the next governor of Tennessee.
– – –
Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network.
Photo “JB Smiley Jr.” by DeMarris Manns.

domain: politics


text:
Teal Tulips: Art Glass Earrings. Ready To Ship.
The silver line, dipped into sunlight, delineates a sensuous space within which our desire of beauty and color moves (with) us.
Romantic and contemporary, these earrings are light and invite attention...
Made in their entirety by hand from colorful glass rods and silver wire, as if following the contours of petals and leaves with my gaze, I shape each component with care and love.
Length: 35mm (1.4")
Width: 14mm (.5")
Let me know if you have questions.
Thanks for stopping by.
Note: The white color on the tulips in the photo is a result of lighting/photography. I did my best to create a photographic representation of what these earrings look like.
1 in stock


From the small to the massive; barrel-vaulted and high ceilinged apartments, defined in the sales brochures by type, bespoke fittings from the eponymous Barbican sink to the Garchey waste disposal system signify architects Chamberlin, Powell & Bon’s attention to detail as well as and comprehending the raising of concrete apartment blocks weighing tens of thousands of tons on soaring columns, all fastidiously dimpled like a skin by bush hammering.
The year that marked the 50th anniversary of residents first moving into the Barbican Estate in the City of London. The venerable Corporation of London, the world’s oldest local authority, conceived in its plans during World War ll and its aftermath to reconstruct the blitzed centre of the historic City of London.
With a nod to its Roman and medieval past, a bold strategy to bring people back to live in the Square Mile whose residential population had declined and declined for decades as the city became home to mighty financial institutions, banks and brokers, insurers and law firms and accountants.
Chamberlin, Powell & Bon
And these worthies of the establishment, of course, they were all male – doubled their boldness by selecting the designs of Chamberlin, Powell & Bon. Those designs were for great blocks of concrete, tower blocks and low-rise apartment blocks and a handful of terraced houses, set in a landscape of water and lawns occupying 40 acres just on the northern fringe of the City. 2000 homes clustered around an arts centre (which grew in size as the Corporation’s ambitions grew to deliver world-class theatre), the essential cars banished to sprawling underground car parks while pedestrians would stroll on high walks.
These patrons of a Modernist masterpiece then rested from their work and spent the following decades hating what they had done. Of course, that couldn’t be admitted but the Corporation in a very British way was, well, embarrassed. Instead of bruiting their Brut, they just made the best of it they could.
I suppose that’s the point at which we arrived on the scene. We wanted to live right in the middle of London and loved the split-level sitting room and light flooding in. We knew precious little about architecture and, if anything, sort of agreed with the heir to the throne of Great Britain about the modern, finding it carbuncular.
It’s wrong to say that an estate so young, compared to much else of Britain’s built environment, can work magic but that’s what the Barbican did for us. So much quieter than we expected, somehow the busy traffic noise hardly penetrates. So bucolic with gardens and a lake and remnants of the ancient city walls alongside the concrete ramparts.
We began to take pleasure in that we liked the place and could find our way around, travelling along the routes and paths, through the gates unlocked with one’s front door latch key, inaccessible to the puzzled visitor trying to follow the obscure yellow lines around the estate.
That people we knew had no hesitation to tell us that they couldn’t bear the place and wondered how we could live in a soulless, concrete jungle, actually pleased us. Our knee jerk inner conversation went along the lines of well this is your problem, not ours – can we help it if you can’t see something which is simply brilliant?
We began to notice a change, a softening of language instead of the anti-concrete dialectic. The groups joining the Barbican Centre’s architectural tours seemed to be getting larger and livelier. They were getting it, all those amazing up shots of Lauderdale, the semi-circular sweep of Frobisher Court. And it’s infectious, we decided to post some pictures of the Barbican on Instagram, about which we knew very little. That is how www.Instagram.com/barbican_city_of_london/ started.
The reaction surprised us. We were not alone, there are a lot of people who love poured, unadorned concrete architecture, brutalism, modernism and if we are deep diving, constructivism. Gradually what we posted went beyond the Barbican.
A Developing Conversation
We were learning about the history of buildings, having a developing conversation, we loved understood and sometimes misunderstood. This was taking us further and further afield. As we read and found out the stories of the buildings and their architects, in the context of the last century’s turbulent history, we shared the stories that struck us as interesting and compelling.
Instagram attracted more and more followers. We were so pleased when we got to 1000 and then 5000. It continued to grow and still does. At the time of writing, @barbican_city_of_london has over 32K followers and they are the Concrete Community because they comment, they tell us stories, explain why they like buildings and send us pictures, amazing photos from their global home towns, to post.
There are people all over the world who love the Barbican. People who adore the work of Le Corbusier and a cohort of other ground-breaking architects and artists who sought to render in solid, usable form buildings to live in, to work in, to be happy in.
Instagram is a great medium, we aren’t naïve about its dark underbelly but the Concrete Community is polite. Very rarely someone will re-post one of our pictures without first asking and without giving credit. A perfect and somewhat bizarre example involves a Moscow building company. They have re-posted our video of the apartment blocks in Creteil outside central Paris, claiming it as an estate in Moscow.
The next step for us has been to find a way of posting photo essays by us and those sent to us. Hence www.GreyScape.com, which sits alongside the now, two, Instagram sites. We’ve added @greyscapeworld as a second Instagram site. This allows us to feature more modernist and constructivist artefacts as well as buildings and monuments. We are still on a journey. We don’t know so much but we are finding out and we are doing it in good company.
The buildings we love
They are about the future, a future that was conceived by revolutionaries, by groundbreakers. They are all about how people should live in the future.
Many love architecture because of the past. Whether it’s a 14thcentury cottage or a castle, they love the continuity. The sense that generations have lived there before them and more will do so. But our interest lies in the future. How designers want people to live in the modern world. How they want to shape how we live and work and create. And make it better than what has gone before.
Shop the essentials from Greyscape


text:
The Moultrie County Health Department (MCHD) is hosting Moderna Covid-19 Vaccination Clinics the week of April 5th.
Moultrie County Health Department
202 S. Main
Vaccination Clinics Dates & Times
Monday, April 5th – 1:30 – 4 p.m.
Wednesday, April 7th – 1:30 – 4 p.m.
These are NOT Walk-in Clinics.
You must make an appointment.
[button color=”custom” bg=”#37a807″ bg_hover=”#000000″ text=”#ffffff” text_hover=”#ffffff” include_bg=”true” include_border=”false” link=”/april-1-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-plan-in-moultrie-county/” size=”x-large” icon_after=”fas fa-arrow-right” target=”_self” block=”false”]View Available Dates and Times[/button]
NOTE: When you complete your 1st dose of the Covid-19 Moderna Vaccine at our clinics, you will be scheduled for your 2nd dose four weeks later.
Use the GREEN BUTTON above below to find an available appointment time and date.
Those receiving the vaccine must be 18 years or older. Participants will be expected to produce a photo ID along with proof of residency or Moultrie County workplace identification before checking into the clinic.
Vaccines will be given by appointment only.
In order to provide safe physical distancing, entrance to the clinic is restricted to vaccine recipients and personal care assistants only. Participants are requested to wear short sleeves. Masks are required while in the clinic.

domain: health


In contrast to the detailed surface images, MOC's wide- angle, global monitoring mode will use a "fish-eye" lens to generate spectacular panoramic images in color spanning from horizon to horizon. These pictures will resemble weather photos of Earth commonly shown on late-night news broadcasts. NASA will release many of these images on a public access, "information super-highway" called the Internet almost as soon the radio signals carrying the pictures reach the Earth.
Using hundreds of these panoramic photographs, scientists all over the world will be able to play them like a motion "flip- book" or a film. This ability will allow them to see the life history of Martian weather phenomena such as dust storms, cloud formations, and the growth and contraction of the polar ice caps. In addition, these time-lapse animations will allow scientists to keep track of surface features that get blown by the wind, such as dust streaks and sand dunes.


text:
Explore by Topic
Latest Annual Gardening stories on ABC Gippsland Vic
Latest Annual Gardening stories on ABC Online
- Saturday 20 September 2014
- Cairns residents and visitors were this week treated to the rare blooming of a two metre Titan Anum or 'corpse plant' at the Cairns Botanic Gardens....Tuesday 10 December 2013
- As the days get shorter and cooler in central Queensland, some gardens may be lacking their spring-time lustre....Friday 14 June 2013
- Every city has its competitive Christmas lights cluster; the one street or suburb that goes all out to draw spectators from around town in the weeks leading up to the festive season. Darwin is no different....Friday 7 December 2012
- Get your garden to grow the right way and have a laugh while you're at it with the Perth Gardening Roots and Shoots podcast. ...Monday 22 October 2012
Explore ABC Gippsland Vic by Topic
- Gippsland dairy farmers say they are at risk of missing the benefits of genetically modified pastures
- Cheesemaker Barry Charlton and dairy farmer Paul Pangrazzi have teamed up to increase gourmet cheese production in Gippsland
- Buffalo farmer Brian Jans on buffalo milk production.
- David Shaw from Shaw's Butchers in Stratford in Gippsland on meat prices.
- Rains hit Gippsland dairy pastures

domain: agronomy


text:
9 Shenhong Road, Hongqiao Cbd, Minhang, Shanghai, China
Payment & Cancellation
Front desk number
In Shanghai, the average nightly rate for 4 stars hotels is $117. The expected nightly rate for Hyatt Place Shanghai Hongqiao Cbd is around $110; a price that is 6% cheaper than the city average. HotelsCombined considers Hyatt Place Shanghai Hongqiao Cbd to be a good deal if you’re looking to stay at a 4 stars hotel in Shanghai.
With no traffic, the 1.4 mi drive between Hyatt Place Shanghai Hongqiao Cbd and Shanghai Hongqiao Intl Airport (the nearest airport) will generally only take about 0h 02m. If you’re staying in a metropolitan area, you may see your drive time increase due to busy roads.
For the most freedom while visiting Shanghai, consider renting a car for about $68/day and parking it at Hyatt Place Shanghai Hongqiao Cbd where they offer parking spaces to hotel guests. Taking a taxi or rideshare service from the nearest airport, Shanghai Hongqiao Intl Airport, to your hotel is often the most cost effective transportation solution.
Yes, Hyatt Place Shanghai Hongqiao Cbd has a pool for hotel guests. Generally, hotel pools have opening and closing times so be sure to speak to the front desk before using the pool.
Hyatt Place Shanghai Hongqiao Cbd is just 3.7 mi away from the center of Changning, Shanghai. From Hyatt Place Shanghai Hongqiao Cbd you can easily get to other popular landmarks such as Lu Xun Park and Memorial.
For questions regarding your hotel or your stay, call +86 213 329 5588.
Yes, Hyatt Place Shanghai Hongqiao Cbd has Wi-Fi available to hotel guests.
Yes. You should consider staying at Hyatt Place Shanghai Hongqiao Cbd if having access to a fitness center on-site is important.
12:00 PM is the check-out time at Hyatt Place Shanghai Hongqiao Cbd. Late check-out may be available, but needs to be agreed with the hotel.
Usually Hyatt Place Shanghai Hongqiao Cbd room prices are around $110/night, with the cheapest deals starting from $75/night. Prices vary based on many factors (e.g. dates, time of year, room type etc.) so use the form above to see deals for your intended stay.
There is a restaurant located in Hyatt Place Shanghai Hongqiao Cbd. Please contact them for kitchen hours. They also have a bar service for drinks.
If you need to have clothes washed during your stay, you can take advantage of the laundry facilities and service at Hyatt Place Shanghai Hongqiao Cbd. No need to pack a travel iron either, as the accommodation can provide one.

domain: geography


Video: Adrian Dix answers reader question on what he learned working for Glen Clark Add to ... The Globe and Mail Published Wednesday, Oct. 17 2012, 11:21 AM EDT Last updated Wednesday, Oct. 17 2012, 4:12 PM EDT B.C. Opposition leader Adrian Dix visited The Globe and Mail's studio to discuss the state of affairs in his province. Watch More Video: Adrian Dix answers reader question on what he learned working for Glen Clark Ikea breastfeeding controversy takes another twist Officers curb Montreal protest against police brutality Search shifts in missing plane investigation Tensions high ahead of Crimea referendum Gorilla baby on the mend, following collapsed lung Russian observers arrive for Crimea referendum Malaysian PM says lost plane's movements indicate a deliberate act On third anniversary of Syrian war, residents yearn for peace Peladeau, Quebec Election & Foreign Investment Pistorius trial hears of bloodstained bathroom from police at the scene Doug Saunders: Why mayors should not rule the world Facts to know before the Crimean referendum Plane nose gear collapses on Philadelphia runway Crimea prepares for referendum whether to join Russia Kerry says U.S. and Europe will respond if Crimea referendum occurs What Syria looks like as its civil war moves into fourth year Colorado holds first marijuana job fair Money for Ukraine will come with strict conditions: Baird South by Southwest carries on after deadly crash Tangled up in garbage, sea lions rescued near Vancouver Comments AA More Related to this Story Transcript: Your top-voted question for B.C. NDP Leader Adrian Dix answered Video: Adrian Dix outlines his economic priorities for B.C. Globe editorial Adrian Dix: Welcome repositioning for NDP in B.C.


text:
You’ve probably been noticing me talking a lot about books on the blog lately. I’m going through a bit of a book-obsessed phase.
I’m not complaining.
I’ve mentioned it before, but reading allows us to transport ourselves into a completely different world. I can’t get enough of it.
In honor of reading, here are some of my all-time favorite book quotes!
- “I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.” – John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
- “If people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane.” – John Green, Looking for Alaska
- “The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive.” – John Green, Looking for Alaska
- “I have a theory that selflessness and bravery aren’t all that different.” – Veronica Roth, Divergent
- “Like a wild animal, the truth is too powerful to remain caged.” – Veronica Roth, Insurgent
- “We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.” – Veronica Roth, Divergent – from the Dauntless Manifesto (look it up. read it)
- “Human beings as a whole cannot be good for long before the bad creeps back in and poisons us again.” – Veronica Roth, Divergent
- “One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince
- “Men have no more time to understand anything. They buy things all ready made at the shops. But there is no shop anywhere where one can buy friendship, and so men have no friends anymore.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince
- “I will be my undoing, if I become my obsession.” – Veronica Roth, Abnegation Manifesto
- “‘After all this time?’ ‘Always,’ said Snape.” – J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
I’m sure you can sense the Young Adult theme in the books and the authors! #noshame
I hope I hope I hope that you will look into some of these books! They are truly fabulous and I cannot recommend them enough.
Have you read any of these books?
What are your favorite books?
What are your favorite book quotes?
Who are your favorite authors?


text:
I provide a wide variety of services to our business clients, from assisting in selecting the type of organizational entity under which to operate, preparation of agreements, sale and purchase of businesses, obtaining financing and funding for business operations, and employee relations, to dissolution.
The type of entity chosen for a business potentially affects every aspect of its operations. I assist my clients in formation and business planning in deciding whether they want to operate as a closely held business, limited liability company, partnership, or corporation. I advise our clients about directors' and officers' liability, dissolution, reorganization, trade association membership and activity, joint ventures, divestitures, business successions, and shareholders' rights.
I have experience drafting, negotiating, and reviewing all types of contracts, whether commercial or private. I have experience with contracts involving: sales, leases, real estate, and personal services. An experienced attorney can help you avoid future legal problems through proper drafting and help explain your contractual rights and duties.


text:
Learning about SELF at an early age, helps prepare teenagers for life's challenges. Social conditioning has made our children forget who they are.
The WHO AM I program helps teenagers 13+ years find purpose and clarity. I teach teenagers the tools they will need to become balanced and happy adults.
With an increase of 76,900 children being turned away from specialist mental health services since 2017 according to the education policy institute, I am stepping up to provide support for our younger generation, one to one or online.
If you would like to discuss in house programs at your school, please contact me to discuss this further.
I am passionate about helping our next generation of adults break the cycle of depression, anxiety and disconnection.
No one need be depressed in this day and age when the educational medicine needed is available.
Learning to control the mind and to live in the present moment is vital to our mental wellbeing.
Parental consent must be obtained for me to work with teens under 16 years old.
"Before I did the course I was afraid that it would change me into a completely different person that I wouldn’t be happy with, but having finished the course, I have changed, but I like the person I am now much more. "
Cody. Age 13

domain: psychology


text:
This collection of 25 science fiction and fantasy tales represents the cream of the entries for a short story contest run by Fantastic Books. The stories included are the contest winners plus a couple from professional writers, invited by the organisers. 10% of sales receipts will go to cancer charities.
Anthologies are sometimes patchy affairs, but not this one. The quality of the writing is pretty consistent and all the stories are well told (I must add here that I contributed one of the tales). But consistency doesn’t mean similarity. There’s great variety here. Some humour, some darkness and something for younger readers. All speculative fiction, the stories entertain, amuse, inspire and make the reader think.
There are characters of every sort lurking in this selection and plots to suit all tastes. This is a collection you can read at one sitting, as I did, or dip into for those short breaks over coffee, when a longer piece must be interrupted. I enjoyed all the stories but I don’t intend to describe them in this short review. All are different and all demonstrate the imaginative power of their creators, the skill of these writers as storytellers. I thoroughly recommend the book to all who love their fiction with a twist of the unexpected.
To buy for Kindle through Amazon UK, click here.
To buy for Kindle through Amazon USA, click here.
To buy for all ebook formats through Smashwords, click here.


text:
Cnoc Fillibhir Bheag
Cnoc Fillibhir Bheag consists of two concentric circles of stones. The inner ring has 4 erect stones standing on a diameter of around 8.5m, while the outer ring has 8 erect and 5 prostrate stones and measures around 16m in diameter. The inner stones are the largest, measuring between 1.40m and 2.10m in height, while the outer stones are quite a bit smaller, measuring between 1.00m and 1.80m in height.
Callanish and the “Sleeping Beauty” range of hills are both visible from this circle, as is the nearby Cnoc Ceann a’Gharraidh stone circle, closer to the loch. A path leads to the latter circle.
Alternative names for Cnoc Fillibhir Bheag
Calanais; Callanish III; Cnoc Fillibhir Bheag; Knock Mhelivir
Where is Cnoc Fillibhir Bheag?
Cnoc Fillibhir Bheag is in the parish of Uig and the county of Ross and Cromarty.
Grid reference: NB 22517 32712
Lat / long: 58.19586167, -6.723342858
OS Map for Cnoc Fillibhir Bheag
Weather at Cnoc Fillibhir Bheag
max 9°C / min 8°C
Weather observed at Stornoway at 02:23


text:
Beautifully engraved antique stock certificate from the Seneca Copper Mining Company dating back to the 1920's and 1930's. This document, which is signed by the company Vice President and Assistant Secretary, was printed by the American Bank Note Company and measures approximately 11" (w) by 7" (h).
This certificate's vignette features a pair of miners working a drill.
You will receive the exact certificate pictured.
The Seneca Mining Company was organized in Michigan in March of 1860.
The company was dissolved on October 10, 1918, and all of the company's stock was was conveyed to the Seneca Copper Corporation - which had been incorporated in 1916.
The mine closed in 1924. However, the Seneca Copper Mining Company was incorporated on February 27, 1925, to take over the mine and work resumed in November of that year.

domain: history


text:
Join me in Telluride!
One of my favorite places on earth is Telluride, CO, and it never fails to inspire me! I am debuting a new Telluride painting this month and I am honored to say it will be featured in the latest exhibition at Slate Gray Gallery, "From Darkroom to Digital", along with my new painting, Bliss, and the Everest Original (which you HAVE to see in person!).
What makes this even more special is that I'll be sharing the spotlight with the late Jerry Uelsmann, affectionately known as the "Father of Photoshop," and the imaginative and unexpected digital collages of Maggie Taylor. Our three distinct styles come together to create a captivating exploration of photography's influence on fine art.
The show is up until the end of the month - be sure to stop in if you are in Telluride! The gallery is located at 130 E Colorado Ave in downtown Telluride.


text:
The word has gotten out: I am a certified decoupage addict! The nice thing about this being public is people have brought me things out of the goodness of their heart for me to use for decoupage: scrapbook paper, fabric you name it! I always appreciate when someone takes the time to pass something along they can’t use to someone else, as is the case with these really neat bird paper cut outs a friend at work passed along to me.
There were three just like this, and I couldn’t wait to use them. They were very pretty, but very delicate and I was nervous handling them outside their plastic sleeves.
I had some left over tiles from my DIY Kitchen Backsplash, and thought they would make great coasters. I also had some packing foam material, that came with a package that would work great when attached to the bottom of the coasters.
I placed the tiles on the foam and cut the foam to fit the bottom on the tile, I applied Mod Podge to the bottom of the tile and adhered the foam to prevent scraping and skidding while using the coasters. You can also use felt if you have it handy. I applied the Mod Podge to the top of the tile. I used outdoor Mod Podge, so it would be tougher if exposed to moisture from a sweaty drink. This is where things started to go terribly wrong. The cut outs were very delicate and I had to be extra careful when placing on the tile. I tried to apply the Mod Podge carefully with a soft brush. Despite this, the cut out’s ink ran and smudged the entire first tile, which could not be saved. Crafting is like life, it is unpredictable at times and does not always go according to plan.
And then there were two…
Now, I was really nervous! Looking back, It would have been better to use a spray adhesive instead, which Mod Podge makes. I didn’t have this handy, so I tried very gently, and quickly to apply the Mod Podge. Despite a slight change in the color, it didn’t smear this time and neither did tile # 3. Phew!! Once it was dry, I applied another coat, and no smeared color this time! I was so glad these turned out and I was able to salvage this project. I would have been disappointed if I didn’t get to upcycle these tiles!


Cunningham resigning as Alva city attorney
April 17, 2022
Longtime Alva City Attorney Rick Cunningham is submitting his resignation. The Alva City Council will discuss that resignation and a replacement during an executive session Monday night. The executive session will also include discussion on contract negotiations with the firefighters’ union. When they return to open session, the council members may vote on the employment of a new city attorney and on the firefighters’ union contract.
The Alva City Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall.
After a vote on the consent agenda and reports, time will be allowed for any members of the public who are present to speak to the council. Speakers must identify themselves and limit remarks to two minutes per person.
The council will discuss and vote on Ordinance 2022-002 amending the employee retirement system. To ensure the plan meets legal requirements and complies with the Internal Revenue Code, the Oklahoma Municipal Retirement Fund is required to submit plan document changes every six years for IRS review and/or approval. The changes in this ordinance include IRS required changes, state law changes and possible clarification and clean-up of language.
In other action, the council will discuss and vote on approving the water well REAP grant project as complete and authorize the mayor to sign the affidavit of completion. Closing out this grant will reimburse the city $55,000 in grant funds toward the project.
Recently the city council viewed a presentation about the iWorq Systems. During Monday’s meeting, they will discuss and vote on authorizing the mayor to sign an agreement with the company to provide community development and public works software to the city. The total cost for the first year including setup would be $22,000, with the subscription dropping to $16,500 annually in subsequent years.
The council will also discuss and vote on electing two members to the Board of Trustees of the Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group for three-year terms.
The Alva Utility Authority and the Alva Economic Development Authority meetings will follow to pay bills and approve minutes.