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There can be no doubt, 2015 was an amazing year for solar. As we reach the end of the year, here’s our look back on the top five reasons solar soared in 2015!
While not the most important reason for solar overall, we would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge that thanks to our wonderful clients, 2015 was our best year by far! From our largest project ever for our favorite water company, to adding another school to our portfolio, to the many residential projects that we built all across Southern California, 2015 was a great year.
We took great pride in being recognized, for the third year in a row, as being one of the top Solar Contractors in the country by the wonderful folks at Solar Power World, and even more pride in the scores of referrals that we received from our ecstatic clients.
We can’t wait to meet and exceed our success this past year in the New Year ahead!
Political leadership on dealing with Climate Change was finally in evidence this year, and the resultant policies are, inevitably, pro-solar. Exhibit A was California Governor Jerry Brown pledging to have the state generate 50% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030, a mere fifteen years away! Said the Governor:
I envision a wide range of initiatives: more distributed power, expanded rooftop solar, micro-grids, an energy imbalance market, battery storage, the full integration of information technology and electrical distribution and millions of electric and low-carbon vehicles.
We are on board with that!
But political leadership extended far beyond the borders of our great state in 2015! More than 190 countries came together in Paris to agree to the most far-reaching accord ever to address Climate Change, and lots more solar was high on their list of ways to achieve a more sustainable planet.
To be sure, none of these actions were without their political opponents, but it is impossible to deny that 2015 marked a major turning point in the public’s perception of the need to act, and those views were increasingly adopted by the world’s politicians.
Ok, we have to give the man his due — Elon Musk’s outlandish PowerWall announcement changed the conversation around smart energy storage (and our blog post debunking his most outrageous claims became our most viewed post of the year!). Indeed, storage went from being a topic hardly ever mentioned by a potential client, to something that nearly everyone did after Elon did his thing.
Unfortunately, the hype still leads the market, and mature products are still not really available. But that is changing rapidly, and from our perspective that can’t happen soon enough.
There had been great angst in the solar community about the future of net metering — the means by which solar owners get compensated for excess energy that they put out onto the grid — in California (and elsewhere). Decisions about net metering in other states that bent over backwards to appease utility demands only ratcheted up the anxiety in California as the state’s Public Utilities Commission deliberated over competing proposals for Net Metering 2.0 - including utility schemes that could have gutted the market for solar.
Fortunately our fears were not realized and the preliminary decision — due to be made final in January — was quite solar friendly. Once we have a final decision we will report on it in depth, but for now this looks like one of the biggest pro-solar developments of 2015.
The number one, most amazing, and most amazingly unexpected development to boost solar in 2015 is unquestionably the major extension of the 30% federal solar investment tax credit (ITC).
Given that the ITC was previously scheduled to expire at the end of 2016, solar installers, potential clients, utilities, and building departments alike were all bracing for what could have been a hellish second half of next year as all involved scrambled to get systems commissioned before the deadline.
Instead, the full 30% will continue through 2019, 26% in 2020, 22% in 2021, and 10% thereafter. Moreover, the “placed in service” language — which required a project to be commissioned before the credit could be claimed, thereby leaving installers and clients at the not-so-tender mercies of the local utility — was replaced by the far more manageable, “commenced construction” requirement.
The net benefit of this will be a more orderly market, driven by rational purchasing decisions rather than a panicked stampede to meet an arbitrary deadline at the end of next year. And beyond that, keeping the ITC in place for many years to come will help to grow solar in ways that would not have been possible otherwise. The industry, the economy, and the environment were all winners here.
So that’s our wrap on 2015 — truly a great year for solar! But we are betting that 2016 — with your help, of course — will be even better! Watch this space!
Happy New Year!
Monday marked the onset of what may be the most important (and most exciting) gathering of world leaders in human history. From November 30 to December 11, representatives from more than 190 countries are coming together to reach agreement on global climate efforts at the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP21) in Paris.
There is a great deal of optimism around the world as national heads come together with commitments in hand. This is a huge step forward compared to past climate conferences which have failed to reach any target that the world could agree upon. It remains to be seen if this positive momentum will result in an accord with the power to spur change on a global scale.
In preparation for the conference, the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) evaluated the current research (over 30,000 papers) on the science of climate change. The key takeaway in their synthesis: Scientists are now more certain than ever that climate change is real; it’s caused by human activities – especially the burning of fossil fuels; and it’s already impacting people around the world, from rising sea levels to more extreme weather events. Hence the overarching goal in Paris this week is to frame a deal to prevent Earth from warming above the point of no return (more than 2°C).
In the months leading to the conference nearly every country on the planet submitted their commitments to reduce greenhouse gases based on the IPCC report, called Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). The United States’ INDC outlines a commitment to cut emissions by 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025, mostly by reducing CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants.
All 156 INDCs, representing 97.8% of global emitters, will be plugged into a final document crafted through the high level negotiations. The COP21 final accord will actually be divided into a “core agreement,” laying out the broad objectives for emissions reduction and how to pay for poor nations’ efforts, and “decisions” describing how these objectives will be achieved.
One hot issue to be settled in Paris is over the legal status of this document. A formal treaty would need the impossible approval of the Republican-controlled US Senate. Instead, President Obama will likely sign off on the accord as an “executive agreement.” There seems to be an understanding that the “agreement” would have more binding legal status than the “decisions,” which would include the national pledges and be subject to revision. The US has held that they will not sign any legally binding emissions targets.
While the commitments to cut emissions by the world’s countries is a great start, without legally binding targets and accountability, these promises hold little weight. It will also be interesting to see if, and how, leaders will establish a path forward with plans to reconvene and re-affirm their targets regularly.
The unfortunate reality is that even if every country followed through with their commitments, scientists estimate that global warming will be about 2.7 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Given that a 2 degree increase is the limit necessary to avert the worst impacts, we will still need to focus on adaptation as well as mitigation to climate change. But on the bright side, it’s a lot less warming than would happen if we continue the status quo without curbing any emissions at all!
This summit isn’t the end of the fight to limit climate change. But considering there has never before been international agreement on climate efforts - the Kyoto Treaty never got off the ground, due in large part to the failure of the US to join - it is a huge step to come together in the battle. As technologies such as solar improve and countries become more confident in their ability to transition to cleaner energy, they can step up their action over time.
Renewable energy stands out as the most common strategy for meeting targets out of all of the INDCs! This is a great sign of growing prospects for the solar industry. According to research by the World Resources Institute, if Brazil, China, the EU, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, and the United States follow through on their commitments, the amount of clean energy installed will more than double by 2030!
The US targets were largely based on the projected outcome of Obama’s Clean Power Plan, which limits greenhouse gas emissions from coal plants and aims to get 20% of electricity from renewables by 2030. The Clean Power Plan has yet to be approved by the Senate and has significant opposition. One can hope that the COP21 and international pressure to act will help on this front. But in a climate where federal tax credits are under threat and state-level clean energy incentives are rapidly drying up, the US commitments on an international stage could be an important backstop to helping the renewable energy sector grow.
Outside the negotiating rooms, thousands of business leaders, state officials, activists, scientists and others from the private sector are also holding events and meetings. The mere existence of the political agreements taking place will lead to increased investment in the renewable energy sector. While the value of political will to accomplish the enormous task of an energy transition shouldn’t be underestimated, the private sector is likely where the real growth will occur without the partisan challenges of the government.
On a final note, we at Run on Sun are thrilled about the events in Paris this week. As the international community finally comes together to tackle climate change our optimism about the world’s ability to act meaningfully is renewed! However, the work that must be done doesn’t end this week. Next week, next month, next year and on and on the fight will continue. Governments, the private sector, and even individuals must continue to act every day on behalf of the only planet we’ve got. Going solar is one of the best ways to reduce your emissions impact from your home or business. We look forward to doing our part!
Angelinos typically struggle with cloudy “cold” days more than those accustomed to less sunny locales. So after the last few months of gloom it was no surprise to hear the National Weather Service announce that it was in fact a very abnormal year for Los Angeles.
Temperature data from around Southern California showed that the region experienced a “reverse” meteorological spring, meaning average monthly temperatures decreased instead of increasing. Average temps for downtown Los Angeles in March, April and May were 68.2 degrees, 65.8 degrees and 64.2 degrees, respectively, according to NWS. The normal averages between 1981 to 2010 were 60.6 degrees, 63.1 degrees and 65.8 degrees. Since recordkeeping began in 1877 only three documented “reverse” springs have ever occurred. But this is the first in nearly a century!
While many Angelinos may feel as if it is colder than usual, these past three months have actually been warmer and drier than normal across Southern California. The difference is we have been experiencing a cooling trend overall since the warmer than usual February. April and May actually felt more like LA’s “June gloom", typical only for June.
For those fretting over low output from your solar system…don’t worry! Your system is NOT malfunctioning. We’ve just experienced a less productive than normal spring. I’m sure the sunshine will return and your solar meter will continue to spin in the right direction before you know it. In the meantime, be thankful for any precipitation we get, and maybe even get out and enjoy the grey days that are neither too hot nor too cold!
After 4 years of severe drought and this year’s winter snowpack at a pathetic 8% of typical levels, it’s obvious that California will have to find real solutions as populations rise and the effects of climate change worsen. We rely on the High Sierras’ snowmelt throughout the year for everything from our green lawns and fresh food (throughout the US) to our hydroelectric power.
Governor Jerry Brown’s recent mandate for cutting water use by 25 percent was overdue and necessary, but communities will have to step up conservation efforts in a big way. Ever since the Governor’s big announcement ideas for how best to curb water use have been flowing. So why should PV solar power generation be at the top of the list? What does water conservation have to do with solar?
Solar is an increasingly important solution to water scarcity as well as energy security. With no sign of a solar slowdown in California—we are the first state to get 5% of its energy from solar—strong generation records are likely in coming years. While solar has been included in some communities’ plans to reduce water use (such as in the Los Angeles “pLAn“), many people are unaware of this solution. Communities, individuals and businesses installing rooftop solar can make a real positive difference for California’s dire water situation.
Run on Sun has been following the exciting developments of Solar Impulse since it’s prototype began its groundbreaking test flight across America in 2013.
After the lessons learned from the American flight, an upgraded Solar Impulse 2 was developed with a wingspan wider than a Boeing 747, more than 17,000 solar cells and 1,300 pounds of batteries. Amazingly, the aircraft still weighs no more than an average car!
Finally, this morning, on March 9th, 2015, Solar Impulse 2 and her team were ready to embark on their record-breaking aeronautical journey around the world. The first leg officially departed from Abu Dhabi at 7:12AM UTC+4. Landing in Muscat, Oman at 20:13PM UC+4 pilots Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg rested for a few hours before continuing onward to Ahmedabad, India.
With a top speed of 50 mph, the entire circuit is planned to take four or five months before returning safely back to Abu Dhabi. You can follow their flight online as well as chat with the mission control center and view cockpit measurements like solar battery storage and pilot heart rate!
Solar Impulse is not only about accomplishing the first round-the-world solar flight. Behind the development of this technological feat lies a very powerful message. Piccard and Borschberg are using each landing as an opportunity to reach out to governments, NGOs, education centers, and the broader public to share what is possible with clean technologies.
“We shouldn’t be listing targets, but rather solutions – ways of meeting those targets. Because these solutions exist. Our society could already cut energy consumption in half by replacing old, outdated, polluting technology with clean technologies. Couldn’t we, all together, persuade governments to modify the legal framework so as to encourage the replacement of polluting technologies by cleantechs? That would at least make debates constructive and international climate conferences interesting.” - Bertrand Piccard
In conjunction with Solar Impulse’s round-the-world flight, the pilots started an online campaign called “Future is Clean”. In December 2015, they will share the largest collective voice in favor of clean technologies with global leaders at COP21, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris. You can add your pledge and share with your networks at www.futureisclean.org.


Real Madrid lost more ground in the title race on Saturday after a goalless draw with Athletic Bilbao, which saw Sergio Ramos sent off.
Ramos became La Liga's most sent-off player and joined Casemiro and Dani Carvajal out of next week's clash with Sevilla as Madrid ended the game outside the top three in Spain after at least 14 rounds of a League campaign for the first time in nine years.
The defender returned after having missed Los Blancos' last three games with a broken nose, while Keylor Navas ended his two-month break from La Liga between the sticks.
As for Athletic, their season reached a new low when they lost 1-0 at home to third-tier Formentera in the Copa del Rey midweek, adding to a run of five League matches without a win.
The Basques had also beaten Madrid just twice at home in 12 years, and that run looked like extending early on as a cross into the hosts’ box picked out Karim Benzema, who chested the ball down before firing a low volley onto the left-hand post, with Kepa Arrizabalaga nowhere near it.
However, Athletic hit back through Aritz Aduria, whose powerful header at goal from a free kick was pushed away by Keylor, and should’ve been awarded at least a penalty after Dani Carvajal had hauled down Raul Garcia and Ramos clipped Aduriz in the box.
Inaki Williams then angled an effort on target, but Keylor stuck his arm out to keep Madrid at 0-0, before Toni Kroos’ daisy-cutter swerves inches wide of the left-hand post.
Cristiano Ronaldo hoped to add to his return of just two League goals when he took down Marcelo’s deep cross, but he smacked his half-volley wide from a couple of yards out.
Markel Susaeta came into life on Athletic’s left flank in the second half as he forced Keylor into parrying away his low drive and attempted lob at the near post.
Antonio Mateu Lahoz had already been criticised for his inconsistent officiating at San Mames, and the World Cup referee came under more fire when he refused Ronaldo a clear advantage after having booked Xabier Etxeita for a late lunge on Luka Modric.
The Portuguese tried to put that disappointment behind him with a volley, but he sent it a fraction wide of Kepa’s right-hand post.
Madrid began piling on the pressure as Marcelo went on to blast a cross-shot on target, which Kepa pushed away.
Zidane threw down the gauntlet by replacing Isco and Karim Benzema – two of his most trusted lieutenants – with Borja Mayoral and Mateo Kovacic, but neither were able to make an impact.
Ultimately, Ramos’ elbow caught the face of Aduriz when a high ball came in, and he was quickly shown his second yellow card.
The incident took him up to 24 sendings-off for Los Merengues, which wasn’t only a club record and set a new, all-time record of 19 red cards in La Liga.
Casemiro and Carvajal rounded off a tough evening by picking up yellow cards to join Ramos on the sidelines against Sevilla next week as Madrid failed to capitalise on Barca’s draw with Celta Vigo earlier in the day.
Athletic Bilbao 0-0 Real Madrid
Ramos sent off 86 (RM)
Athletic Bilbao: Kepa; De Marcos (Lekue 72), Etxeita, Unai Nunez, Balenziaga; Iturraspe (San Jose 39), Mikel Rico; Williams, Raul Garcia, Susaeta; Aduriz
Real Madrid: Keylor; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Isco (Kovacic 82); Ronaldo, Benzema (Mayoral 82)
Referee: Mateu Lahoz


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Dude. I followed you now hook a friend & photog up. Seriously - super cute...I am in awe of your talented craftiness!
home girl! i follow you and this sea foam green camera strap cover has my name written ALLL over it.
Look at you, crafternoon queen! I'm all about the following, duh. I NEED this!
Holy love the green. I am so impressed you did this with baby underfoot. I need to get my craft on more often during the day. Love following.
what? you cant pick people to disqualify! thats against blogging rules or something...ruuuuuuuuuude. luckily you already bought me a strap.
i follow you!!! this is the cutest creation on the face of the earth, it would look SO good on my canon rebel!
duuude...i haveno objections to sea foam! unless it's like on a nasty old prom dress with huge poofy sleeves. otherwise, it's awesome. i follow you!
Hi, I'm a new follower! Love the strap, and the sea foam green is awesome... it looks yummy!
I read in Google reader, so that counts. Yes?
Um, ok I did NOT chastise the fabric. Quite contrary I praised it's glorious beauty. So i'm pretty sure I win.
im a new follower...i found you over at jamies.i love the foam green . it would be perfect on my new camera!
Following, and freakin love the strap!! booyah
i follow you and hook a sista in Christ up :)
Yay I am a follower and I would love to rock that amazing sea foam green!!! :)
Whoop I am a followah! And I never realized that camera straps could function as a fashion statement. Amazing. I need it!
Yay! I am a follower and I am in LOVE with that strap (especially the color... my FAVE). I am thinking that after you give it away you should show us all how to make one :)
Let's face it, I need that strap. I'd better win.
LOVIN it. LOVIN IT. Please, me.
Oh, I love it! I hope I win!Katekatew806@hotmail.com
I'm a follower. Love the blog. Love seafoam green. Pick me. End of story.
yes hello! i follow and i like seafoam green. does this strap come with magical photography skills as well? if that's included i want it!
I LOVE this. It's lovely! Great job! And GREAT color choice. ;-)I'm your newest follower! Thanks for the giveaway!
love it! i'm a follower. you should think about doing a giveaway that someone will win if they buy your condo. it's a great deal...buy a condo, get a free, cute camera strap.
I'm a follower & I LOVE the camera strap. You should see the hideous one I use now...if you saw it, pretty sure you would pick me...thanks for having a giveaway!
Oh good gosh, I love this strap. Too cute. :]
I'm a new blog follower. Thanks for sewing this up for us. I love the color even if Jamie doesn't! haha. I'm glad you decided to host this giveaway though so thanks!Jjones782 at verizon dot net
How does one sign up for the giveaway? I have no idea how this works.
Ha! Funny that you blogged this and I just now read it - 10 minutes after you left. It was great meeting you!
I need this strap!!! I became a follower. I'm not a professional photog, but i still need a pretty strap, right?!
I love your blog and actually think that strap would looks sooo lovely around my neck holdin my camera! :)
Jami told me she'll make sure I WIN.Just kidding..or am I..I love the sea foam green, and I'm camera strap-less like a big OL LOSER.xo and all that other junk.Rachelle
I love this and love the color regardless what Jami says! LOLthanks for the chance to win!
Love the strap!! You are so creative!
i follow your blog. my camera could use some sprucing. wish my sisters blogged.
i would be more than happy to win this fancy camera strap.thanks.starsanner23(at)yahoo(dot)com
Hahaha...love all your sisterly banter back and forth. Oh yeah...and its my birthday(Friday). So if I dont win, somebodys gonna pay big time! Just kidding! Its beautiful and Id love to win:)XO,Sarah
Lovin the strap color and could use a great accessories for my camera. I'm following too :)kcrfoster at yahoo dot com
super cute! officially following this blog even though ive been reading it forever!
So my camera really needs something girly on it since my husband is the one that is holding it most of the time. I LOVE it!! I so follow you.
I'll follow you anywhere, Audrey Baker.
I don't even have a camera with a strap... but I think Jami was wrong. I looove seafoam!
I am a new follower and new aspiring photographer, I would LOVE a beautiful new strap for my beautiful new camera! ps: i love your sisters blog so I am equally excited about your blog as I was about hers the first time I read it!
I follow you! I would love to win this camera strap for my friend who is a photographer! Check out her blog: http://www.framedliving.com/She is just getting into photography and is having so much fun with it!
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Imagine a 200-pound super snake stalking your backyard and threatening your small pets and children.
This nightmare scenario has been plaguing the Florida Everglades for 30 years. Burmese Pythons have overrun the Everglades in Florida. In 2009 a small child in Florida died when the family's pet Burmese python strangled her.
Spring time means that snakes are on the move again. In my opinion, these are the four common venomous snakes found in South Texas.
1. The Copperhead is the most prevalent in South Texas. If you happen to get close enough you can notice a pit located between the eye and the nostril on either side of the head. Thi...

domain: biology


It's been a while since we last heard from British girl group M.O. Their last single was the brilliant Dance On My Own, and today they've followed it up with the equally brilliant Preach. The video for the track is so on point with the girls channelling '90s nostalgia hard. It's a positive RnB anthem centring around the perfect harmonies delivered by the trio. It's time for some chart love for these three, they're far better than most girl groups out there.


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Fiduciary rule delay ‘a little too late’ for retirement planning industry to change course
Despite President Donald Trump’s order today delaying implementation of the Department of Labor’s fiduciary rules — which were set to take effect April 10 — many in the retirement planning and servicing industry say they are still moving forward with their plans to comply.
Industry insiders last week predicted that Trump would make it a priority to delay, modify or repeal the fiduciary rules. Experts say they probably won’t stop what they are doing now, despite many having railed against the rules, saying they were onerous for companies to comply with and would limit the investment choices available to middle class and low-income retirement savers.
The 180-day postponement “directs the DOL to undertake an updated economic and legal analysis of the fiduciary rule, including analyzing potential harm to investors, disruptions within the retirement services industry, price increases to investors and increased litigation,” says Erin Sweeney, member at Miller & Chevalier, who was formerly with the Department of Labor. “The Trump administration further directs the DOL to analyze the related prohibited transaction exemptions, ‘especially the best interest contract exemption’ to determine if the exemptions ‘substantially undermine the rule’s effectiveness at achieving its intended goals.’”
In the past, only registered investment advisers were considered fiduciaries, meaning they must make decisions in the best interest of their clients. RIAs typically charge a flat fee for their services. But broker-dealers followed a suitability clause, meaning they could suggest investments, even ones that benefited them with higher fees, as long as it was in line with other similar investment options on the market.
With respect to ongoing litigation, Sweeney says she believes that the DOL and the Department of Justice will “quickly move to stay all outstanding litigation pending over the fiduciary rule” because Judge Barbara Lynn indicated she would issue her decision no later than Feb. 10.
Robyn Credico, defined contribution consulting leader North America for Willis Towers Watson, says that for large employers who sponsor retirement plans, the delay of the fiduciary rule just means they don’t know what is going to happen. There is “nothing much to do, but they’ve been preparing for the event something will happen. They will just have to wait some more,” she says. “I don’t think any of our clients will be particularly upset if they have to wait longer.”
For record keepers, they are “in a bit of a conundrum. They changed their processes, changed their training and, certainly, their tools. Now the question is what do they do in the interim? It is going to depend on how long the rules are delayed,” Credico says. Most will probably wait to implement any changes. They will just continue business as usual until they see what happens with the rules.
Willis Towers Watson has encouraged its large employer clients to look closely at their agreements with their record keeper and sign off and confirm that they would allow the record keeper to be a fiduciary to their plan if the rules end up proceeding. The brokerage also suggests that employers review their government structure and committees to make sure they have the right people in place and the right delegations of authority.
Some large plan providers have already gone ahead with becoming fiduciaries to their plans and will offer more useful help to plan participants “so there’s a debate about that and whether or not clients will value that difference. There is value in being able to tell plan participants what they can do with their rollover money and what they can’t do with their rollover money. There is value to participants and to the employer if the investment structures are such that they are being monitored and the expense ratios are much lower than they would get on their own; there is big value to that and employers keeping more assets in the plan, it is more buying power,” Credico says.
Credico adds that she believes the delay came a little too late in the implementation process. Many corporations and service providers have spent millions already changing their business practices and updating their communications materials in anticipation of the April 10 implementation deadline, especially broker-dealers.
“If they already did that, set up fee-for-service agreements, I’m not sure they can change that readily either. Probably, nobody could do anything about it. The delay came a little too late,” she says.
Tim Pawlenty, CEO of the Financial Services Roundtable, says that the delay of the fiduciary rules is “a necessary step to ensure modest-income savers maintain choice and avoid higher costs and reduced services as they try to save for retirement.”
He adds that, “financial professionals should act in the ‘best interest’ of their customers but such a requirement should be implemented without miles of bureaucratic red tape.”
Meanwhile, the Financial Planning Coalition — comprising of the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc., the Financial Planning Association and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors — says the organization “strongly opposes the action taken today by President Trump to halt the Department of Labor’s final fiduciary rule that will protect millions of Americans saving for retirement. With just two months to go before its implementation date, the president has effectively given the green light to maintain the status quo of conflicted financial advice.”
It added that Trump’s directive will “likely lead to either a complete gutting of this thoroughly vetted consumer protection or lead to its outright demise. Either one is a bad outcome for American retirement savers.”
The Financial Planning Coalition applauded the firms that already acknowledged the rule’s benefit to consumers and have taken action to comply with the rule.
“Already we are seeing benefits for retirement savers in the form of lower fees, more options and firms developing additional ways to serve middle-income Americans,” the group stated.

domain: economics


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One man’s addiction is another’s cultural past-time. We’re talking about gambling and Filipino Americans.
Like many Asian American communities, such as the Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese, Filipinos are among the most serious gamblers. They rationalize that gambling is part of their culture.
“A sport for adults,” framed Dr. Fred Andes, dean of Sociology and Anthropology Department at the New Jersey City University (NJCU) and a substance abuse counselor. “As a matter of fact my grandmother was the one who taught me how to play blackjack when I was only 9 or 10.”
In the US, high-stakes betting on Internet gambling, casinos, or the race tracks can be lethal on personal finances, family relationships or physical health. In some cases, stressed Andes, who is also a long-time treasurer of the Council of Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey (CCGNJ), gambling becomes even more destructive than addiction to heroin or cocaine. Gambling, according to him, has the highest rate of suicide, “higher than drug addiction.”
He explained, “As an addiction, it has no saturation point. If I give $10K to an alcoholic, he stops after the money is gone. But to a gambler, he will continue to spend beyond that amount.”
Andes has appeared in public hearings in Trenton educating lawmakers on the social impact of gambling. He pointed out that the toll-free 1-800-GAMBLERS appears in all lottery tickets. That number goes to the nonprofit CCGNJ, and calls are handled by individuals who are recovering gamblers.
“We’re getting more and more Asians, and a lot more Filipinos are calling the number for help,” he disclosed.
Andes declared, “We’re not against gambling.” As a matter of fact, he said, New Jersey generates about $1 billion in net income from race tracks and casinos, which are a form of legalized gambling.
“It’s a lot of money for one state,” he said. “Look at all the billboards. That’s how they promote it.”
The council was created to provide “information, education and referral services for people affected by a gambling problem.” The helpline assists compulsive gamblers or those recovering from it, he added.
One cannot stop gambling, said Andes. “It’s as American as apple pie.”
Like some Asian communities, FilAms are not into counseling. They like to insulate their problems and keep them within the family to avoid shame or embarrassment. To get the confidence of a Filipino who needs help, Andes said he has to be “like a member of the family.”
“What I do is befriend the family until they are confident enough to call me uncle or ‘tito.’ Then they start opening up. That’s our culture,” he said.
Many, he noted, remain in a state of denial.
Andes came to the US in 1968 and settled in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He attended Rutgers University the following year. At the time, he was the only Filipino student. He earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Social Work.
He came to Jersey City in 1993 to work as a full-time professor at the NJCU. He is currently the chairman of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. An authority on substance abuse, he has done research on HIV transmission and drug use as well as trained clinicians who are doing counseling for parolees coming out of prison for mental health and substance abuse evaluation.
“I remember, my own mother in her 60s or 70s, would go to those gambling dens in the Philippines; they call it the ‘pangginge,’” said Andes sounding flippant that in his own kin in New Jersey, gambling is very much woven into the lifestyle. It could be a weekend trip to Atlantic City or several hours of mahjong. Or just the scratch lotto tickets.
“These are devout Catholics,” he said. “They look at gambling and see nothing wrong with it.” —The FilAm

domain: news


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Hallways as gallery walls. Another good use of space. White frames and gray walls look clean, contemporary. Contemporary Design Ideas, Pictures, Remodel and Decor on Houzz
Perfect design for small space. Lovely rustic wooden floor in kitchen could be relaid in lounge too to make the space flow better and seem bigger.
Pin 'Homes neon: White and minimal London flat - the dining table' z tablicy 'Dobry design' użytkownika maciek
Victorian front door | Take a tour around Agnieszka's eclectic Victorian home | housetohome.co.uk
Design Inspiration Monday by Dream Book Design-love the eclectic style

domain: design


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My Lords, not only was my noble friend Lord Forsyth an admirable chairman of our committee but he also introduced the report in his opening speech in such a way as to cover all the salient points. Since then, other members of the committee have emphasised different points, with the result that if I gave the speech I had prepared, I would simply repeat what other people have said. Therefore, rather than do that, I will just pick out a couple of nuggets that I think have not received as much attention as some of the other points in the report.
Before doing so, however, I pay tribute to the contributions of those who were not members of the committee and who have greatly enriched the debate. Nearly all of them have spoken on the basis of considerable practical experience. In particular, I pay tribute to my noble friend Lord Baker. Whereas we have been reporting on problems, he spends much of his life seeking to resolve them. It is very fortunate that in this House we have people who are still engaged in practical work of that kind.
I should also like to take up the point raised by my noble friend Lord Willetts when he talked about the diverse missions of different universities. Certainly, I agree with what he said about that and I suspect that all the members of the committee agree with him as well. I do not see a disconnect between what we have written in the report and what he said.
I also agree very much with the noble Lord, Lord Burns, about the success of the university sector. I have had some personal experience of it. At different times, I have been chairman of the development committee of my Cambridge college; I have been on the council of Imperial College with the noble Lord, Lord Kerr; and, for many years, I was chancellor of the University of Bath. So I know very well how successful British universities have been and I pay tribute to that. None the less, looking at the university sector at the moment, it is difficult to escape comparisons with the financial sector in the run-up to 2008; there is the same feeling of a runaway train. The evidence is clear; there is the high proportion of graduates leaving university who are unable to get graduate-level jobs and the extraordinary grade inflation to which attention has been drawn. I was at university a very long time ago but, in those days, first-class degrees were in low single figures. I remember when my noble friend Lord Howell got a first in economics in a department headed by Professor Kaldor; it was something that everybody commented on and has led me to admire him ever since.
Then of course we have universities offering places to those with quite inadequate qualifications, a point on which the universities’ union recently commented. In addition there is, on the one hand, a mad scramble for income, reflected in what I have just said, and, on the other, the phenomenon of universities getting ever deeper into debt. There was an estimate in the Times recently that the total debt of the sector is over £10 billion. One small, unnamed institution has already had to be bailed out; I hope it will not turn out to be the Northern Rock of universities. These are worrying aspects, which perhaps did not attract as much attention in the debate as other points.
The shortage of people with sub-degree craft and technical qualifications on the one hand and the superabundance of people with honours degrees on the other, while a matter of economic consequence, is not only that. It leads to disappointed expectations, frustrations and unemployment among young people. This in turn gives rise to a variety of social problems; we should see the mismatch in that context, as well as in respect of the economic waste.
Finally—this also bears on the point I have just made—I should like to emphasise the need, to which we drew attention in the report, for young people to receive good advice on whether they go into one form of higher education or another, which courses they should follow and which institutions they should try to get into. This is a terribly difficult problem, for which schools do not adequately provide at the moment and where there is, perhaps, an opportunity for outside help. I hope our report will have drawn attention to some of the issues that schools need to take into account in advising those going on to the next stage of their lives.

domain: politics


text:
Ten years of daily photos. Ten years of so many connections - tiny and enormous - and each one special in its own way:
From encounters with wildlife to interactions with blippers and chance conversations with strangers. Or today and right in this spot, a cheerful wave from a friendly motorcyclist. Little lifts that all enhance my day.
I’ve been a very quiet blipper for a number of years but the Blipfoto community is no less important.
Today, I connected up a few roads from Rosedale Abbey on a very chilly but sunny and thankfully, less windy day than yesterday!
The ride up to Rosedale Head warmed me up nicely and the swoop down to Castleton was beautiful. The heather burning filled the valley and skies as I took the higher lanes north of the main road from Danby to Egton. This linked up with a long and ever wilder incline to Egton High Moor. Here the blue sky was starting to dapple with clouds and I found this view to acknowledge my decade of blipping.
Thank you for dropping by, regularly or occasionally, visiting the world according to WharfedaleBex and being one of my special connections.
What a decade! What a ride!

domain: geography


text:
By Gustav Holst, dates of arrangement unknown, probably 1913-1916. Arranged for SSA.
Words by Cliford Bax.
1. Scores for 'Among rosebuds slept a bee', 'I have proved with all my skill' and 'Thou shepherd whose intentive eye', autograh manuscripts [5pp]. Originally by Henry Lawes.
2. Score for 'Come forth you ladies', non-autograph manuscripts [3pp]. Originally by Francis Ireland.
3. Score for 'In the bay', non-autograph manuscript [4pp], Originally by Luffman Atterbury.
4. Score for 'Fallen Summer', non-autograph manuscript [4pp]. Originally by Samuel Long.
5.Score for 'The Picnic', non-autograhp manuscript [2pp]. Originally by Gioacchino Cocchi.
6. Note in Gustav Holst's hand, possibly with some words for another air [1p].

domain: literature


Chemistry and Biochemistry
Bayer School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
Diamond-like semiconductors, crystal structure, semiconductors, high-temperature solid-state synthesis
Diamond-like semiconductors are compounds that possess bandgaps in the visible to near-infrared and crystallize in structures derived from that of cubic or hexagonal diamond. The compositions of quaternary DLSs are predictable and flexible, which allows for the tuning of physicochemical properties for technological applications. Chapter 1 provides an overview of DLSs and potential applications for which they are useful. In this work, diamond-like semiconductors (DLSs) of the family I2-II-IV-VI4, namely, Cu2ZnGeSe4 and Cu2MnGeSe4, were prepared via high-temperature solid-state synthesis Investigations to prepare Cu2ZnGeSe4, led to the serendipitous discovery of a new compound, Cu4ZnGe2Se7. To better understand the relationships between these compounds and their potential for applications, crystal structure, electronic structure, and physicochemical characterization were performed. Chapter 2 details the synthesis and characterization techniques implemented for these compounds.
Chapter 3 describes the relationships between these I2 II IV-VI4 and I4-II-IV2-VI7 compounds, specifically Cu2ZnGeSe4 and the Cu4ZnGe2Se7, along with the differences in the resulting physicochemical properties. Single crystal X-ray diffraction was used to solve and refine the structure of Cu4ZnGe2Se7, which was found to crystallize in the monoclinic C2 space group. Rietveld refinement of synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) data for Cu4ZnGe2Se7 confirmed the structure and indicated ~ 95 wt. % phase purity with ~ 5 wt. % of Cu2ZnGeSe4 present as a secondary phase. Rietveld refinement of synchrotron XRPD data for Cu2ZnGeSe4 confirmed the previously reported stannite structure in space group I 42m. Cu2ZnGeSe4 and Cu4ZnGe2Se7 both were found to be direct-gap semiconductors by optical diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, with bandgap values of 1.38 eV and 0.91 eV, respectively.
The discovery of the new compound, Cu4ZnGe2Se7, prompted further research into the family of materials having the formula I4-II-IV2-VI7, specifically Cu4-II-Ge2-Se7 where II = Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni. This investigation was successful by leading into the discovery of more new I4-II-IV2-VI7 phases as described in the Appendix. Due to relatively lower bandgaps, a more distorted diamond-like structure, and a chemical formula naturally containing more copper, these compounds may be even better candidates for thermoelectric applications.
Sinagra, C. (2015). Crystal Structure, Electronic Structure, and Physicochemical Characterization of I2-II-IV-VI4 and I4-II-IV2-VI7 Diamond-Like Semiconductors Prepared by High-Temperature Solid-State Synthesis (Master's thesis, Duquesne University). Retrieved from https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/1510


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[special]Book Blurbs is a segment on the blog where I list books I’m reading along with a brief blurb about each book. The aim is to help you identify new authors and potential books of interests. Maybe I didn’t read every word of every page, but I read enough to mention them. You can find what I read in September-December of 2018 below. You can find all the Book Blurbs posts here.[/special]
Another round of Book Blurbs. I dabbled with more books than what’s mentioned but these are the noteworthy ones.
1. Old Testament Ethics for the People of God by Christopher J.H. Wright – I love Christopher J.H. Wright’s writing. This book is super long — and admittedly, I didn’t even get close to reading the whole thing — but I loved what I read, and I want to introduce more Christian readers to Wright’s work, even if you don’t agree with everything he says.
2. When Life Goes Dark: Finding Hope in the Midst of Depression by Richard Winter – Super helpful book on the emotions we face. Made my top 10 Books of 2018.
3.Pastoral Epistles, Volume 46 (Word Biblical Commentary) by Bill Mounce – The format of this commentary series is cumbersome to access. The font, the font color, and the lack of spacing — it’s hard to read. But Mounce’s actual work is helpful, despite reading challenges of the book format.
4. An Introduction to the Old Testament Prophetic Books by C. Hassell Bullock- A book that helpfully walks you through the prophetical books, some of the hardest parts of the Bible to understand.
5. The Interpretation of Prophecy by Patrick Fairbairn – Old school. Very hard to read and understand. Probably only worth it if you’re serious about studying the Old Testament.
6. Strategic Pastoral Counseling: A Short-Term Structured Model by David Benner – I’m now an advocate of this method — a short-term (five or six weeks) of concentrated pastoral counseling, as opposed to just counseling someone for an indefinite time period. I’ve found great value in this methodology. May be helpful for those of you who do pastoral counseling to check out.
7. The Politics of Ministry: Navigating Power Dynamics and Negotiating Interests by Bob Burns, Tasha Chapman, and Donald Guthrie – Hasn’t even released yet (but it will be out soon). It was eye-opening and sad to read about the politics that happens in ministry.
9. Letters to the Church: A Survey of Hebrews and the General Epistles by Karen Jobes – I’ve mentioned before that I enjoy Jobes’ writing. Here is a book on the general epistles and Hebrews. More intense than a Bible study but lighter than, say, a commentary.
10. Reasons of the Heart: Recovering Christian Persuasion by William Edgar – a book on apologetics that speaks about engaging the heart.
11. Christ-Centered Worship: Letting the Gospel Shape Our Practice by Bryan Chappel – Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon has been massively important to me. Here, Chappel takes on the subject of worship. While there’s some room for disagreement on how we lead worship today, it was helpful for me to see how various Reformers led worship services in the past.
12. Apologetics and the Christian Imagination: An Integrated Approach to Defending the Faith by Holly Ordway – Always a special delight to read a good book by an author and publisher I had not previously heard of.
13. Descriptions and Prescriptions: A Biblical Perspective on Psychiatric Diagnoses and Medications by Michael Emelet – Very much on the technical side. Was eye-opening in many ways, and should prove to be a useful tool for pastors and ministry leaders, especially in the area of mental health.
14.The Theology of the Book of Revelation by Richard Bauckham – The cover of this book looks scarier than a cover from a Stranger Things episode. Bauckham is a revered New Testament scholar in my circles. I very much enjoyed what I read. I would commend this work highly to pastors who are preaching through the book of Revelation, of for those of you that want to better understand the book. Revelation is easier to understand than you might think. Or at least parts of it are, anyway.

domain: library


text:
Finished reading For a Few Demons More (The Hollows, Book 5) by Kim Harrison. For a Few Demons More is about the Cincinnati based bounty hunter and spell caster still possesses “the focus,” a 5,000 year old demon crafted Were artifact. With the help of her pixie partner Jenks and the human Detective Glenn, Rachel must deal with demons, the elf Trent Kalamack, and master vampire Piscary. Along with angry Weres, they are all in a struggle for of the artifact. A serial killer is on the loose and Rachel’s alpha werewolf pal, David, becomes the prime suspect of the FIB.
This book is another excellent story in the Hollows Series. Harrison continues to twist an entertaining tale. For some reason she continues to build more romance and sex into the series. The series must be written with a primarily female audience in mind.


Flowtech 49-State Legal Header for 4.6L 3-Valve 2005-06 Mustang
Flowtech is proud to announce the availability of their 49-state legal (E.O. Pending) Header for 4.6L 3-valve 2005-06 Mustang GT, P/N 91671FLT.
The 91671FLT header is constructed from 16 gauge mild steel tubing for durability and strength. The 1-5/8” mandrel bent tuned length primary tubes decrease back pressure, improve throttle response and increase the exhaust velocity for more mid-range horsepower and low-end torque. Thick 3/8” machined flanges result in a perfect leak free seal against the cylinder heads and a 3” 3-bolt O.E. style collectors ensure a leak free bolt-in installation with the factory exhaust. All necessary hardware and instructions are included to ensure the installation goes smoothly.
Flowtech’s 91671FLT header comes finished with a baked on high heat resistant black paint or for a show look Flowtech also offer’s the 91671FLT header with a Metallic Ceramic Thermal Barrier Coating, P/N 91671-1FLT. This coating provides improved thermal stability reducing the possibility of header cracking. The high luster finish is rust resistant and acts as an insulator resulting in higher exhaust temperatures within the system to increase performance while lowering the under-hood temperatures.
For more information contact Holley Tech Service, P.O. Box 10360, Bowling Green, KY, 42101-7360, Telephone 270-781-9741. For nearest dealer: 1-800-HOLLEY-1. Or visit us on the web: www.flowtechheaders.com.
New Full Line of Hooker BlackHeart Exhaust Systems for Toyota FR-S and Subaru BRZ| 01/13/2017
Lighter, stronger, and more corrosion-resistant than ordinary OE exhaust systems!
Flowtech Releases '60s-Style Ram Horn Exhaust Manifolds| 09/07/2017
Available in four different looks – natural finish, chrome, heat-resistant black, and ceramic-coated
Save Money and Time With Mr. Gasket Releases Cam Change Gasket Kits| 02/21/2018
Three different kits are available – one for LS1/LS2/LS6 engines, one for LS3/L92s, and one for LS7s.
How to Use Mr. Gasket's GM LS Alignment Tools| 02/19/2018
Three versions are available – one for timing covers with a seal, one for timing covers without a seal, one for and rear covers.


Royal Mail has also trialled the first inter-island drone flights with a smaller vertical take-off and landing drone.
The trial will see the company use uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) flights to deliver personal protective equipment (PPE), COVID testing kits and other mail to the Isles of Scilly.
Royal Mail has also become the first to execute inter-island parcel deliveries across the Scillies, as part of the trial.
The government-funded project, which has been developed in partnership with DronePrep, Skyports, Consortiq Limited, University of Southampton, Excalibur Healthcare Services and Windracers Limited, will initially have a particular focus on helping to fight the pandemic by delivering crucial PPE and testing kits to the islands’ most vulnerable and remote communities.
Parcels will be flown to the islands’ airport in St. Mary’s, by a UK-built twin-engine Windracers UAV, which can carry up to 100kg worth of mail at a time – equivalent to a typical delivery round. A smaller VTO drone, operated by Skyports, will then be used to transport items to a number of delivery points throughout the islands.
The autonomous flight route that the UAV takes involves being roughly 70 miles out of sight before it reaches its destination.
Charles Scales, chief executive officer at Windracers, said: “This project has proven the efficiency and robustness of ULTRA, with each round trip being 211km and being completed in less than two hours. With our unique CAA permissions, this will be the first time a large, economic, load carrying UAV is used between the Isles of Scilly and mainland Cornwall in a month-long trial.”
The UAVs will complement existing forms of transport for mail to the Isles of Scilly. They are able to fly in poor weather conditions – including fog – as they are uncrewed and not dependent on tides. This could potentially make them well-suited to help Royal Mail better service remote island communities.
If the trial is successful, the technology will be considered by Royal Mail to help identify opportunities to support postmen and postwomen in delivering to very remote areas and addresses across the UK.
In December, Royal Mail became the first nationwide UK parcel carrier to deliver a parcel for recipients via drone to a remote lighthouse on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. In coming months, a consultation will be undertaken with residents on the use of drones to deliver to rural communities on the island.


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Enabling of Alcoholism / Addiction Questionnaire During the past 12 months how often have you; Given money to your partner thinking he/she might buy alcohol or drugs with it? Purchased alcohol or drugs for your partner? Taken over your partner’s typical chores and responsibilities neglected because of his/her drinking or drug use? Lied or made …∞
Recovery Is Sexy.com is a work of gratitude for 28 years of sobriety and fellowship.
Please donate to help continue this work for those struggling with the program and those yet to come.

domain: sociology


text:
Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:
200 x 149 mm. A photograph showing a group of Aboriginal Australians (in European dress) with two hunting dogs, holding spears and standing in front of wooden cabins, with the river in the background.
188 x 144 mm. A view of the quartz crushing machines, with the watersluices in the foreground which separate the crushed rock from the gold. The photograph is in fact taken in Bendigo by N.J. Caire and also occurs in Y3087/C5.
200 x 145 mm. A more exact title for this print, which is by N.J. Claire, is ‘Bendigo Flat as seen from Wattle Hill’ and was taken around 1875. See Y3087C/34 for a note on the picture and another print of the same photograph.
Album of albumen prints, each photograph is mounted on a card with letterpress description on the back, headed 'Views of Victoria (general series)', though the front cover of the album is lettered 'Victorian scenery.' The state Library of Victoria contains a copy of 'Views of Victoria 1877-1879', which contains 60 photographs. This RCS collection, though numbered up to 37, has five gaps (15, 16, 19, 27, 34).


The successful candidate will have knowledge of transport compliance. You will ensure the smooth running of all transport matters in relation to HGV and LCV fleet, promoting and ensuring compliance with procedures and legislation with transport policies, VOSA, FORS, Tachograph/CPC regulations. The office is based in the Wakefield region.
Ensure compliance with legislation and advise on implementing changes required to the fleet
Organising all the deliveries and collection of plant machinery.
Ensure that the vehicle fleet and documentation records are correct and up to date at all times.
Complying with Health & Safety
Previous experience on Heavy Haulage is a necessity for this role.
National CPC Holder would be an advantage.
An understanding of transport issues.
A creative approach to problem-solving.
Good time management/organisational skills.
Excellent communication skills.
PC Literate with a good knowledge of route scheduling packages.
Accommodation, Capital Equipment, Construction Plant, Fleet Management, HVAC, Non Mechanical, Plant Hire, Tool Hire, Traffic Management
PATH is a specialist recruitment agency for the Specialist Hire Arena working within Plant or Tool Hire, Powered Access, Power Generation, Pumps, Rail, Lifting/Materials Non Mechanical Specialist related sectors.
Please Note: Not all Vacancies are advertised on our www.PlantAndToolHireJobs.com Website. If you would like to be considered for other opportunities, please visit our Candidates page where you shall see the option to Register and Upload your CV. A member of PATH Recruitment Ltd will be in touch if your Skills/Experience matches the Criteria.
Talk to a consultant!
Talk to Tyler Cooke, our specialist consultant managing this position.


German Mauser Sporter 7x57 Modelo Espanol 1893 Mfg. in Berlin Germany.
This is a nice example of Custom Gun Work. This Sporter Rifle is in great condition from end to end. It was Sporterized sometime during the mid to late 1930’s and features a Lyman front site and a Redfield peep rear site. The Rifle is Not Drilled or Tapped for a scope. This would make for a great back up rifle on deer hunts where freezing rain, fog, or thick timber can make a scoped rifle useless.
The Hardwood Stock is in Excellent Condition with a few faint handling marks. NO Cracks or Splits, and the LOP is 13 3/4". The Classic Inlaid Diamond Design and Nose are of Beautiful Tiger Maple. The 22" Barrel Shows some fading consistant with age but still 85%. In addition, the Receiver, Trigger Guard and Floor Plate Bluing are in Very Good Condition (95%) with No Rust and the Bore is Bright with Sharp Rifiling.
The 7x57mm was developed by the famous German firm of Mauser in 1892, and adopted by the Spanish Government in 1893. This rifle model (M-1893) was the new and improved Mauser. Adopted by Spain it became the primary rifle used during the Spanish-American war in 1898. The 7x57mm Modelo Espanol 1893 began the evolution of the Mauser rifle which became the most desired military arm for over 50 years. This rifle was manufactured for the Spanish Government by Loewe & Co. of Berlin Germany.
Asking $495. All reasonable offers will be considered.
Additional pictures at your request.
$35.00 For Shipping To Your FFL. Please send Postal Money Order or Certified Check with FFL Copy of License to my PO Box


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Most folks think of December as the holiday season, but it appears to be kitten season at New Hope Animal Rescue Center.
The Henderson rescue group has about two dozen kittens available for adoption just in time for Christmas, said New Hope volunteer Paula Hawkins.
"Most of them were bottle-fed," Hawkins said, noting that group members have been nurturing several litters of kittens whose mothers died before the kittens were weaned. "Now they're eating on their own and are all healthy."
Because the group has so many kittens, along with about 10 adult cats, the feline adoption fee has been lowered to $10 this month. That fee includes the spaying or neutering of the cat and vaccinations.
"We'd like to give these little things a Christmas present -- a home for Christmas," Hawkins said of the playful kittens and cats.
The group also has about a dozen dogs and puppies available for adoption. The adoption fee for adult dogs is $25, while the fee for puppies is $50.
In addition to finding homes for as many of the cats and dogs as possible, the group is hoping to collect other gifts for their furry friends this Christmas.
Collection boxes have been set up at several locations in Henderson -- including D&M Foods, Kritter's Korner, Green Street Car Wash and the rescue center at 3143 U.S. 41-North -- for members of the public who would like to donate treats, food, toys or other goodies for the animals, Hawkins said.
The group is also seeking donations of money or materials to continue winterization efforts on their outdoor pens.
Several igloo-style dog houses have been donated, and the group members have put out straw and tarps to help keep the dogs warm.
"We've winterized as much as we could," Hawkins said. "The dog houses have helped a whole lot."
But more dog houses are needed for the group's ever-expanding population.
Right now, the puppies are housed inside the center at night, but "we don't have room for all of them (adult dogs) to sleep indoors." During really cold days, the adult dogs are all brought inside for a few hours at a time, Hawkins said.
Donations of cat and dog food, along with supplies such as cat litter, would also be appreciated, she said.
Since the group was organized in July, Hawkins said last week that it has adopted out 119 animals and completed more than 200 low-cost spayings and neuterings.
The main goal of the group, she said, is to help lower Henderson County's euthanasia rates.
Sometime soon their efforts should start showing up in fewer animals being taken to the Humane Society of Henderson County, she said, and "over the next few years we hope to make a really drastic difference" in how many animals are euthanized at the animal shelter.
New Hope also hopes to educate the public about the need to provide pets with regular medical care and the importance of having pets spayed or neutered. That's why the group offers low-cost spays and neuters.
And, Hawkins said, "we want the public to know we are here and an alternative" to the shelter, where many animals are eventually euthanized.
For more information about New Hope, call 826-2331, 860-5871 or 454-0938 or visit www.newhopeanimalrescuecenter.com.

domain: pet


text:
If you’ve seen a news headline recently, or ventured online at all, you’ll know that artificial intelligence is here to stay.
It’s certainly not a new thing. For years now, AI has been removing inefficiencies and helping teams become more effective and you might not have even realised the part it’s been playing. Whether that’s from automating customer interaction, reducing the burden of repeatable tasks, forecasting sales, the list goes on…
But recently, it’s been thrust into the limelight and this has prompted a series of questions from employers and employees alike on just how this technology is going to shape the future of work.
BrightHR’s Chief Technology Officer Alastair Brown believes AI is something to be embraced in the world of work, and its many successes have already been highlighted by its use within the Finance, Marketing, IT, and Customer Service sectors. “But,” Alastair stresses, “AI must be adopted correctly.”
We sat down with Alastair to answer some of those burning questions employers have on the trending topic.
*How is AI impacting the workplace? *
“A 2021 report by the UK Government concluded that AI has the potential to boost the country's economy significantly, perhaps by as much as 10 per cent by 2030. But this comes with a host of concerns, like whether it can lead to significant structural labour market change. An earlier report by the World Economic Forum estimated the amount of work done by machines will increase from 29 per cent (in 2017) to more than 50 per cent by 2025, but that this shift will be accompanied by new labour market demands which will result in more jobs.
“So, the simple answer here is that we don’t actually have a firm answer on what the extent of the changes that AI will have on the workplace will be. Its rapid rate of development has taken much of the world by surprise and with technology evolving exponentially, it’s going to be a challenge to stay on top of it all. But to stay compliant, productive, and competitive, we need to rise to that challenge.”
*So, does AI mean that we will lose jobs? *
“There’s a train of thought that the widespread adoption of AI will have negative consequences on some types of roles, in that machines will replace humans. But don’t forget: the industrial revolution might have introduced machines to replace a proportion of the manual labour force, just as AI replaces some menial processing tasks. However, more people were needed who could operate those machines, and many of those labourers who were replaced, were redispersed – fast forward to today and we have a reasonably healthy labour market, rather than millions of people displaced by machines and unemployed. So, it’s not a case of having to protect jobs necessarily – rather how to utilise the technology to enhance them.”
*Should my workplace be utilising AI? *
“We recently issued a survey at BrightHR asking clients about their AI usage—and more than a third reported to be using it. Of that group, the top three functions it was used in was admin (40%), creative writing (35%) and internal comms (22%).
“My advice would be that if you felt there was a significant benefit, use it, but in moderation as an assistance tool rather than an end-to-end work tool. And don’t forget: mass adoption of widely available AI carries significant risks. It can be useful and beneficial, but there are often pitfalls.
“It would be easy to become dependent on something like ChatGPT, which would in time erode skills or practice of writing. Use like you would use any research tool by making sure you understand it and adjust where appropriate. Ownership is really important: make sure you always own your work. Use the AI but make sure it’s not using you.”
*What risks do I need to be aware of? *
“BrightHR’s survey data shows that around three in 10 employers bill security risk as their key concern when using AI.
“Beware of breaching copyright too. After all, you don’t know where on the internet the information is being pulled from.
“The second biggest concern was margin of error as cited by one in five employers. Using information created by AI will likely contain some errors, so make sure you understand it and make sure everything produced or refined using these tools is true and thoroughly checked to be factual and well-researched.
“Here’s an interesting case where we see these pitfalls in play: in New York earlier this year, an experienced attorney of 30 years, Steven A Schwartz, used AI to conduct legal research in a case where a man was suing an airline. It was discovered that six of the cases which had been cited to persuade a judge to move the case forward were in fact completely bogus… ChatGPT had made them up.
“If you’re thinking of using external AI platforms to provide clients with legal expertise or advice, think again. There are too many risks and not enough controls.
“Advice-centred AI-powered tools are great for saving time and stress – take our own tool BrightLightning for example. But as is the case with our Lightning tool, all legal information should still be sourced through qualified professional experts.”
*How can I reduce these risks and stay on the ball when it comes to AI? *
“Firstly, assess your tech providers. With any technology you adopt within your organisation, you must carry out due diligence in terms of data protection protocols – both from the perspectives of data management to security. You can’t afford to get this wrong.
“Consider your internal security and protection from cyber threats. Like with any new tool, website, or provider you’re bringing into your organisation, it’s important to have robust policies and processes in place to ensure not just “any” tool is being accessed within your business network.
“Next, understand that legal expertise still should be people driven. There are still many inaccuracies in public chat tools when it comes to providing legal advice in areas like employment law. Be mindful of this and the source of information. Remember: AI powered advice is great for speed, but the information must receive validated checks by qualified professionals.
“Employers will benefit from carrying out regular assessments of their work processes to identify whether AI could be utilised for efficiency and productivity. Where there is an opportunity though, you’ll need to assess and control any associated risks.
“In all scenarios, pay attention to the areas and industries which are being disrupted, be alert of the changes and what’s coming, train where your discipline is vulnerable, and be aware of how your job may be affected.
“Reading the tech press is by far the best way to stay informed. But be sure to use trusted, reputable sources known for reliable coverage, disregard speculation and sensationalism, especially on social media, and seek to understand what’s changing.”
*What should an AI policy entail? *
“It’s best practice, given that AI is certainly not going away, to introduce an "AI in the workplace" policy. It should give consideration to the ethical and legal implications of using such technologies, and clearly outline the roles and responsibilities of all employees when it comes to working with AI systems, including guidelines for data privacy and security.
“Additionally, the policy should address the potential impact on job roles and the need for retraining or upskilling. It is also important to establish a process for monitoring and auditing the use of AI systems to ensure they are being used ethically and fairly. Lastly, the policy should address any potential biases in the AI systems being used and establish a plan for addressing and mitigating these biases.”
*So, what’s the take-home message? *
“The point is – AI, like many technologies, isn’t going anywhere. And though many are uncertain about how it will impact the world of work, employers should indeed embrace it… but they must: • be responsible, • use it ethically, • exercise caution, • protect sensitive information, • steer clear of taking results on face value, instead making sure any information is checked by experts.”


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This book is incredible. It explains so many of the things you look at but don't really understand when you drive around the world, presented in clear, immensely enjoyable text written for the literate layman.
Everything is written from the viewpoint of the observer, so that explanations of the purpose of an object are accompanied by descriptions of how to recognize it and spot it "in the field". The chapter on the power grid, for example, covers so much of "Things on telephone poles", that I now have trouble driving a straight line down a road that runs near a power line because my eyes are drawn upward trying to spot pieces of equipment. He even includes a box explaining the telephone pole itself.
The author has basic, easy to read explanations of any science or technical information that may be helpful in understanding the function of objects. The explanations of items and places are clear and easy to read, never bogging down for even the most technical of items. His photography provides clear examples of what is mentioned in the text. International examples abound, and make interesting comparisons to U.S. standards. Also, a fascinating introduction and many points in the text raise and discuss interesting questions about the impact of the often large-scale infrastructure on our environment and society.
This book is like a huge jar of peanuts: so much that you would never be able to complete it in a few sittings, but once you start it is hard to put it down. And whenever I pass by it on the table, I always want to read a section or two. It is a fantastic reference, inspiring moments of "aha, that's what that is" at every turn.
The author's bio mentions that he has been working on it for 15 years, and this dedication shows. It is hard to imagine how one man can accomplish such an encyclopedic work as this, even in 15 years. Clearly, a labor of love that has produced a terrific volume that I'm sure I will enjoy for years.


Global Air Conditioning System Market- Snapshot
Rise in population with increasing disposable income across Asia Pacific is driving the demand for air conditioners. This is encouraging global air conditioner market players to shift production of air conditioners close to consumption markets. For example, Japanese air conditioner manufacturer Daikin Industries, Ltd. has set up air conditioner manufacturing plants in Thailand, Malaysia, and India which experience high demand for air conditioners. In May 2018, Daikin started operation of a new air conditioner manufacturing plant in Vietnam to meet the increasing demand for air conditioners in Asia Pacific. Daikin established the new plant in Vietnam due to rise in residential air conditioner demand in the country.
Globally, rising demand for VRF systems led to Japanese air conditioner manufacturer, Mitsubishi Electric Corp. to shift its production of VRF indoor units from Japan to Thailand in October 2014. Similarly, in October 2014, Mitsubishi Electric shifted production of residential air conditioners for the U.S. market from Thailand to Mexico. Thus, localizing AC production is increasing the demand for air conditioners.
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Rise in smart, connected air conditioners is a good opportunity for market players. Internet of Things (IoT) has influenced all industries including consumer durables. Rise in IoT-enabled smart, connected air conditioners present a good opportunity for global air conditioner market players. For example, Swedish appliance manufacturer, Electrolux AB which had launched connected air conditioners in August 2015, expanded its smart appliances collaboration with U.S. based software giant, Google Inc. in August 2018. Google will help Electrolux in developing connected air conditioners that work with Google Assistant and the air conditioner can be controlled by voice command. Electrolux AB is expected to launch voice based, connected air conditioners in early 2019.
In August 2018, Japan based consumer goods company Panasonic Corp. announced a pilot project with Vodafone Group plc to utilize Narrowband-IoT (NB-IoT) for IoT-based home appliances. The project includes home appliance products such as air-conditioners. Thus, growth of smart, connected air conditioners present a good opportunity to air conditioner manufacturers across the globe.
The study provides a conclusive view of the global air conditioning system market by segmenting it in terms of product, application, end-use, and distribution channel. In terms of product, the global air conditioning system market has been classified into split AC and window AC. Based on application, the market has been segmented into RAC (Room Air Conditioners), PAC (Packaged Air Conditioners), and VRF (Variable Refrigerant Flow) air conditioners. VRF air conditioner systems are also known as VRV (Variable Refrigerant Volume) air conditioners. Based on end-use, the market is segmented into residential and commercial. In terms of distribution channel, the global air conditioning system market is segmented into online and offline.
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Low penetration of air conditioners presents a good opportunity for market players. Compared to developed regions, in developing regions, penetration of air conditioners is low compared to other household consumer durables such as refrigerators. In 2017, in Western Europe, with a population of 450 million, and an urban population rate of 78.0%, the penetration of air conditioners was~10.0%. In 2017, North America with a population of 362 million, with an urban population rate of 82.0%, had penetration of air conditioners at just above 20.0%. In 2017, in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan having a population of 157 million, with an urban population rate of 93.0%, the penetration of air conditioners was below 40.0%. In China and Southeast Asia, having the largest population of 4,113 million, with an urban population rate of 44.0%, the penetration of air conditioners is less than 40.0%. This presents a huge opportunity for growth of air conditioners across the globe.
The report highlights major companies operating in the global air conditioning system market including Daikin Industries, Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Midea Group Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Electrolux AB, Panasonic Corporation, United Technologies Corp., Hitachi, Ltd. Sharp Corporation, and Lennox International Inc.
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Former ADK president admits to bribery charge in ongoing Tokyo Olympics scandal
The former president of Japan’s third largest advertising agency ADK Holdings has admitted to bribing a Tokyo Olympic organising committee executive.
The Tokyo Olympics bid-rigging scandal continues / Image by Vik M from Pixabay
Shinichi Ueno appeared in Tokyo District Court where he admitted to paying ¥14 million ($104,000) to Haruyuki Takahashi, the former Olympic organising committee executive and former Dentsu executive, who has been indicted for receiving bribes in connection with events for the 2021 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Ueno, who was ADK’s representative director, president & group CEO resigned from his position on 19 October and was arrested the same day.
According to media reports, Ueno had been warned by ADK corporate lawyers that the payment to Takahashi would be the equivalent of bribery.
The indictment claims Ueno colluded with former senior ADK Holdings officials Shigeharu Hisamatsu and Toshiaki Tada and asked Takahashi to select their company as a marketing agent to solicit sponsors for the event.
ADK Holdings was appointed as a marketing agent for Tokyo-based parking service operator Park24, which became an Olympics sponsor. In return, the ADK executives sent payments to a consulting firm headed by Takahashi.
Japan's three largest advertising agencies, Dentsu, Hakuhodo and ADK, have confessed to a role in an industry-wide bid-rigging scandal that also involves ad firm Tokyu Agency and three event production companies Cerespo, Same Two and Fuji Creative.
A total of 15 people have been indicted in the case, according to The Japan News, and the agencies could face criminal charges.


#3. Google Pixel 3
The Pixel 3’s camera already makes it a standout but useful Google software elevates the phone even
more. The Pixel 3 takes brilliant photos, even in super low-light, with its single rear lens and it can capture wider selfie photos. It’s water resistant, has wireless charging and it can screen unwanted calls. If you do want extra storage though, things get more complicated. The S9 ends up being the better value since it can hold up to 400GB of extra data, and the 256GB iPhone is actually cheaper than the Pixel 3 at any capacity in terms of price per gig.


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Off Road Rims
This wheel set is designed for the Carisma GT24B.
Spare part for the Apache C1 Flux desert racing buggy, also an optional wheel for the Apache SC short course racing truck. The orange wheel rim really makes this wheel stand out in a crowd!
These wheels have a standard 17mm hex size which means they can be fitted to any 1/8th buggy that uses a 17mm hex hub.


Opposition legislators say they are unhappy with the mid-year budget statement presented by Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Development Goodall Gondwe on Friday last week.
During presentation of the budget statement in the august House, Gondwe singled out constant changes in policies as one of the emerging challenges affecting the country`s economy.
Malawi Congress Party (MCP) spokesperson on finance Collins Kajawa said the minister did not provide detailed information on the changes of expenditure made to the 2018/2019 national budget.
“There are major movements which cannot be explained and you really wonder because this is the final review in this tenure of office.”
Kajawa said expenditures in the budget are not improving the living conditions of people in the country.
“There is very little we are doing in the country so why should we continue supporting that when we know that lives are not changing,” the Lilongwe Mpenu Nkhoma Parliamentarian said in an interview with the press.
On his part Peoples Party (PP) spokesperson on finance John Chikalimba questioned the allocation of money to youth related programmes in the country.
“The Youth Tree Planting programme has performed badly the money that was budgeted for the youth, what has been spent is 77 percent,” he said.
Chikalimba said the government has also failed in the implementation of the Youth Internship Programme.
“We said all the graduates probably about 5,000 we should be able to accommodate them through the internship but what has happened is that about 3,850 graduates are the ones that were included in the programme.”
Source : Yoneco Fm


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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has anticipated that the nation’s economy will rise by 5.5 per cent in this financial. The attitude set by the international organisation is, though, a full percentage point lower than the government’s aim of 6.5 per cent progression in 2016-17.
The IMF operation managed by Geert Almekinders said that economy of Nepal will jump back in this fiscal in arrears to regulation of economic actions, improved agriculture productivity due to positive monsoon, accommodative monetary strategy and enhanced post-earthquake restoration. Most significantly, the base-effect (low base of economy due to low progress) of last fiscal will be helpful for the budget to attain the aforementioned growing rate, as per IMF.
The nation had accomplished economic growth of 5.1 per cent in 2013-14, but the growth had been lagging in the following years and stood at mere 0.77 per cent in the last fiscal. The main reason behind economy suffering was earthquake in April 2015.
Focussing on the reform initiatives taken by the government to regenerate the economy, the IMF mission stated that the main challenge for the government now is to put the strategies into implementation. This would cover the cyclic recovery into a sustained era of a high and wide-ranging growth. The main risk to the outlook concerns to falling of the implementation of capital budget, according to IMF.
IMF emphasised on the necessity to bring a realistic financial plan that effectively arranges spending with the major growth payments, containing in social spending parts of maximum importance, for complete development.


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1 the african commission human and peoples' rights information sheet no2 guidelines for the submission of communications organisation of african unity. Technology and human rights the social and cultural implications of information & communication technology (ict) on human rights, humanitarian action, and social change. 31 freedom of expression in human rights the freedom of political communication found by the high court to be implicit in the constitution is unlikely to. We invest in the human and intellectual communications that enable individuals verizon promotes human rights and helps improve society wherever we do. Read about microsoft's human rights policy and discover how we're working to understand the impact & role technology plays globally in advancing human rights. Human rights committee session 2 a et al v s, communication no 1/1976 (26 august 1977), un doc ccpr/c/op/1 at 3 (1984. Human rights this section provides links to formal human rights instruments and to informal right to communicate resolutions perspectives on communication rights.
Communication and human rights aimée vega montiel editor universidad nacional autónoma de méxico centro de investigaciones interdisciplinaras en ciencias y humanidades. Csu's act human rights film festival, focusing on human rights throughout the world, to return for the third year. Communications special procedures mechanisms can intervene directly with governments on allegations of violations of human rights that come within their mandates by means of letters which. Human rights ngos and global communication “may we have your attention please human-rights ngos and the problem of global communication”. Human rights defenders and new technologies: the challenging impact of information and communications technology on human rights protection introduction.
Communications as a human right several regional and international treaties define freedom of expression as a human right1 access to communication human rights. Information and communication technology (ict) has proved to be a key enabler of many human rights but there are profound questions about how to respect and protect human rights in the.
The human rights act allows you to defend your rights in uk courts and ensures that public organisations respect and protect your human rights. Internship description: the communications division at human rights watch (“hrw”) is currently seeking a student with experience and an interest in media and communications to intern in its. Human rights treaty bodies - individual communications 23 faq about treaty body complaints procedures procedure for complaints by individuals under the human rights treaties.
The seven united nations human rights treaties to which australia is a party set out the australian government’s obligations to act or to refrain from certain acts, in order to promote and. Any communication surveillance is an interference with human rights and so international human rights law applies communications share necessary and proportionate.
Page 1 this article was first published on lexis®psl public law on 6 january 2015 click for a free trial of lexis®psl human rights and the interception of communications. Communication represents an essential and very important human need as well as a basic human right the right to communication should be considered in the framework of the freedom of. Hrea offers a range of e-learning courses and training workshops related to communications and advocacy courses and workshops include: human rights advocacy. Anyone may bring a complaint to the attention of the african commission on human and peoples' rights alleging that a state party to emergency communications. Human rights are moral principles or norms that describe certain standards of human behaviour information and communication technologies in october. Explore unesco's board fight for human rights on pinterest | see more ideas about human rights, communication and freedom.
The universal declaration of human rights the universal declaration of human rights (udhr) is a milestone document in the history of human rights. Human rights in communication policy we are committed to respect basic human rights we believe that the freedom to access information, the freedom to communicate and the respect for. Communication and human rights offers a conceptual scheme for understanding the dynamic interrelationship between communication and human rights claims that communication is a basic right. International principles on the application of human rights to communications surveillance final version 10 july 2013 as technologies that facilitate state surveillance of communications. Communication rights as human rights for instance in thailand jan servaes university of massachusetts, usa patchanee malikhao university of queensland, australia thaniya pinprayong. Land, molly k and meier, patrick and belinsky, mark and jacobi, emily, #ict4hr: information and communication technologies for human rights (november 20, 2012. Check out our top free essays on human rights and communication to help you write your own essay.
All Rights Saved.

domain: law


Engineered for high-volume shooting and extra durability, our Tac Pro includes enhanced features of: all-metal construction; quick 2-pin take down; rear-mounted buffer spring for reliable cycling at high temperatures; unique hybrid gas/inertial action for reliable cycling with a wide range of loads and under heavy use; adjustable front sight, fully adjustable and removable rear sight; quad Picatinny rail; adjustable comb; and sling attachment points. Flip-up sights available. Ships in hard case with 2- and 5- shell magazines. Barrel is threaded for Beretta Mobil Chokes, and ships with IC choke tube installed (Additional tubes available on this site and from after-market manufacturers).
Note: in accordance with ATF import restrictions, butt stock is fixed-position. Magazines guaranteed compatible with Rock Island Armory VR80, VR60, VRBP-100, Panzer Arms AR-12, AR-12 PRO and BP-12, MKA 1919, BR-99 and FR-98/99 Shotguns.
*This is a refurbished model, guns are fully functional with slight cosmetic issues. Very good condition.


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Green nails are so awesome nail color design this year 2021! When we think of spring nail design, we think of red and gold nail polish. These sunglasses are the most traditional and classic, and for a reason, they are timeless and elegant. However, this year, we want to make some changes. What we are interested in Spring nail art is to blend into another most popular nail color of this season: green nail. Because whether it is mint, emerald, or olive green, green nail art is as festive as traditional red, and it is fresher and more unexpected. Keep scrolling on Instagram to see our 33 favorite designs. These will inspire you to go to the salon.
This asymmetrical green nail design looks like a modern artwork. We like the complementary combination of two shades of green. If you want to reshape yourself, the best way is to paint a light green background first, and when your hair is dry, use an ultra-thin striped brush to dip it in lime green.
The new spring season means that all the brands you love will launch many new shades, and there are some you may not know yet. When you see the picture below, you will immediately realize that spring nail polish colors are not limited to beautiful pastel colors and subtle, neutral colors-although they are trendy at spring nail polish parties. This season’s most popular hues include dark shades that continue from winter, rainbow colors and holographic potions, unexpected classic colors, and all imaginable green versions.

domain: artistic


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Visit or write to us:1 Bridge Street West
- County Court location code:
- 724783 Manchester 44
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update
This court or tribunal is open
Our courts and tribunals are open and have social distancing measures to protect you, the judiciary and our staff. Your hearing notice will inform you whether it is taking place in person, by video or by telephone. If you are self-isolating and cannot attend in person, please contact the court or tribunal immediately so they can consider alternative arrangements.
Due to the coronavirus, we’re taking longer to answer calls and emails. Please only contact us if necessary.
If you have a disability and need help coming to a hearing, please contact the court or tribunal to make sure the facilities meet your specific needs or to discuss a reasonable adjustment you need.
There are no parking facilities at this building.
There is an NCP car park available on Bridge Street or for alternative car parking in the city centre please see the following link: www.manchester.gov.uk/homepage/915/car_parking_in_the_city_centre
This building has a ramp to the building entrance, a lift between the ground floor and the first floor, and level access in to court rooms and hearing rooms.
Parking spaces are available for blue badge holders. Please contact the court for more information and to obtain a space.
Assistance dogs are welcome.
This court has loop hearing facilities and a portable hearing enhancement system available by prior arrangement.
For safety and security, all users and their possessions will be searched by security when they enter this building. We have a security arch. Please alert the security officer if you have a pacemaker.
Lifts are available in this building to access all floors.
Public toilets are available on all floors.
Accessible toilets are available and are located on all floors. Lifts are available to these floors.
The cafeteria is open Monday to Friday (except Public and Bank Holidays) 8:30am until 2pm. Chilled water is available.
Interview/consultation rooms are available at this court.
This building has a public waiting area on the ground floor and a separate witness waiting area. Please ask for details. This building has a public waiting area outside each court or hearing room.
A separate waiting room is available for people who have had to bring children with them. Children must be supervised at all times.
Baby changing facilities are available and located on the ground floor.
A quiet room for prayer or contemplation is available at this court.
Court/hearing room video conferencing facilities and prison to court video link facilities are available (by prior arrangement).
Wi-Fi is available in all areas of the building. Please see the notices and follow the link.
Cases heard at this venue
- Information about adopting a childAdoption
- Information about applying for bankruptcyBankruptcy
- Information about getting a divorceDivorce hearings
- Domestic violence
- Information about forced marriage protection ordersForced marriage and FGM
- High Court District Registry
- Information about evicting tenantsHousing possession
- Information about the Immigration and Asylum TribunalImmigration
- Information about making a court claim for moneyMoney claims
- Information about the Social Security and Child Support TribunalSocial security