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I’m doing a bit of traveling this week. My brother-in-law has a conference in San Diego, so my wife and I decided to drive down and hang out with him and his wife. Because we’ve been hoping to catch sight of the wildflower “super bloom” that some parts of California are just now beginning to experience, we decided to take a less-than-direct route that enabled us visit two of the more likely spots where the fields of California poppies should be blooming.
Our first stop was in a place I’d never heard of before: the Antelope Valley California Poppy Preserve State Natural Reserve, which is just west of Lancaster, CA. Although we were about two or three weeks too early to really catch the poppies in bloom, we paid the entry fee (a reasonable $10) and went in anyway. We ended up having a really nice hike on the trails throughout the 1,745-acre Natural Reserve, and saw plenty of poppies — although these were individual early blooms. We were told that if we came back in a couple of weeks the hillsides would be covered with the bright orange flowers, but I’m afraid we’ll have to miss that sight this year. (California poppies can be red, orange, yellow, and even pink; the ones we saw were pretty much all orange.) We did see a number of other interesting wildflowers, plus some birds, and a whole host of not-yet-dried tumbleweeds. The tumbleweeds were all bunched up, trapped at the head of a couple of small valleys. And their undried (or partially dried) colors — a host of blues and grays — were a beautiful contrast against the green grasses and other small plants:
The next day we stopped in at Lake Elsinore (on Interstate 15, due south of Riverside) where we had better luck. Although it was a cold, somewhat rainy day, and thus the poppies hadn’t fully opened when we were there, they looked pretty impressive nevertheless. These poppies are located within a Riverside County Wildlife Conservation Area (just to the east of I-15, at Lake Street, if you want to visit); no entrance is required. In fact, you could just drive by on the freeway and admire them. But to get the best views, you’ll want to pull off the freeway and take a walk up the dirt (muddy, in our case) road that winds up the hills and through the fields. I’m guessing that in another week or two these fields will be truly impressive, but we were happy enough with what we saw.
Although orange California poppies are the main attraction right now, there were plenty of other flowers mixed in as well. Yellow, white, and violet were the other predominant colors. We came around one bend in the road and discovered a large patch of violet flowers embedded within the poppies:
Absolutely beautiful, and well worth the drive.
This week the Planning Commission met and unanimously approved the latest proposal for a new hotel on Broadway at Beech Street. Currently home to the 18-room Garden Motel, the owners have been planning for a couple of years now to replace the old, tired, essentially single-level motel with a modern multi-story chain hotel. Their initial plans were for a four-story, 90-room Holiday Inn Express and Suites. That building would have had a two-level parking garage (with one level underground) that would have accommodated 80 cars and four motorcycles. After receiving Planning Commission approval for the design back in 2017, though, the hard work of crunching the numbers and drawing up the construction plans began, and apparently in the process the developer realized that things just weren’t going to pencil out. Accordingly, they reworked the design and came up with something that wasn’t too different from what was originally approved — but of course was different enough that it had to be re-approved by the Planning Commission.
The new design crams 90 cars (and four motorcycles!) into a single, ground-level parking garage. In order to make this work, they had to employ a high-tech solution: the garage utilizes 32 stackers to fit 64 cars into the space normally required for 32. To operate the stackers, and to fit the remaining vehicles into the somewhat tight garage, a 24-hour valet will be on site to ensure that cars can come and go as needed.
By not having to dig an underground parking level, the developer was able to cut costs. They were also able to improve the income side of the ledger by increasing the number of hotel rooms from 90, in the original design, to 112 in the current one. In order to accommodate the additional rooms the height of the building was increased from four stories to the present five. Otherwise, though, the two designs look somewhat similar — although at least one of the Planning Commission members noted that the new design looked even more attractive than the one that had been approved back in 2017.
Redwood City’s new hotel — which would be the first one built in or near downtown since the Downtown Precise Plan was approved — would be located about two blocks from the edge of the Downtown Precise Plan area, and about eight blocks from Courthouse Square. While that distance may be a bit far for some, the added foot traffic that such a hotel would undoubtedly bring would provide a badly needed boost to businesses along Broadway, especially those between Beech and Main streets.
Although many of Redwood City’s existing hotels are fine for leisure travelers, business travelers prefer to be near where they are working. Given the large number of companies who now have a presence in downtown Redwood City, we need a downtown hotel at which people visiting those companies would consider staying. And then there are conventions. Lately Redwood City has begun to attract a few conventions, such as the two-day Startup Grind Global Conference that recently took over Redwood City’s Fox Theater and Courthouse Square. A supply of nearby lodging is one factor that convention organizers consider when deciding where to locate, so if the city wants more such activities, a downtown hotel or two is a must.
Of course, the Transient Occupancy Taxes (TOT) that a new hotel would bring will be a welcome boost to a city budget that is projected to turn red in just a few short years. Redwood City expects to take in $6.7 million in TOT this fiscal year, about equal to what it took in last year — and this new hotel would add to that figure. Plus, some of the people who stay in this new hotel would shop and eat nearby, which not only would provide a small boost to our downtown restaurants and retailers, but would also generate additional tax revenue for the city.
Technically Redwood City already has two downtown hotels. One, the Pacific Euro Hotel, is a small “European style” budget hotel that requires many of its guests to use shared bathrooms down the hall, and thus is not what the typical business traveler is looking for. The other is the Sequoia Hotel. The Sequoia Hotel building is historic and has a beautiful façade, but serves more as a low-income housing option than as a conventional hotel. While that may change in the future, for now serious travelers don’t stay at the Sequoia Hotel.
Although I wish that this new hotel was going to be closer to the center of Redwood City’s downtown, it is a substantial upgrade to what is there today, and just may spark a revitalization of the section of Broadway between downtown and Woodside Road. Plus, it may well be close enough to downtown to serve as a proper downtown hotel, something that I believe the city badly needs.
Although I have yet to get downtown to see it, we apparently have a “pop-up” miniature golf course in Courthouse Square. Dubbed Putt’n Around…Downtown Redwood City, it will be open Tuesdays through Sundays for the entire month of March. It is located inside the giant tent, so we can enjoy it rain or shine. Eighteen holes of miniature golf for people aged 12 and older costs $9; ages 11 and under pay $6 to play. And that fee also gets you a discounted admission to the San Mateo County History Museum, which of course is located inside the historic courthouse. The web page devoted to this activity has a link that enables you to book a tee time in advance; I don’t know if that is necessary or whether you can just walk up and expect to be playing without too much of a wait. I’ll be sure and check it out at my next opportunity.
While I’m on the subject, I just wanted to highlight the irony of getting people excited about playing miniature golf in Redwood City when we once had a perfectly lovely miniature golf course over on Blomquist Street. Unfortunately, that Malibu Golf and Games (along with the next door Malibu Grand Prix go-cart track) was torn down more than four years ago, after the property was acquired by a developer hoping to build a large office complex on the property. The property has been pretty much empty and unused ever since, which seems to be a tremendous waste. The family fun center could have stayed in operation until the project is approved (if it ever is) and construction is ready to get underway, extending the life of the place by a good couple of years. Instead, we have to settle for a large empty lot along Highway 101, and a month-long “pop-up” miniature golf course on Redwood City’s Courthouse Square. Which is certainly better than nothing, of course, but a mere shadow of what we once had.
Front desk clerk at the Euro Hotel recently told me they have finished construction to give all rooms their own bathrooms.
That’s good to know! They should update their website to reflect that fact.
Correction: the renovation is ongoing, supposed to be completed in the fall.
I guess that would explain why they haven’t yet updated their website (they still list some rooms as having “shared bathroom”). For more money they advertise a larger room with a private bathroom, though, so you do get a choice.
Redwood City was once a family town – fun things for people to do together – all sold out for apartments, stack and pack condos, and hotels and office buildings – the soul of Redwood City has been sold to the highest bidder IMO
How far back are we talking? Before or after it was ubiquitously called Deadwood City (and rightly so)?
It had be called Deadwood City for decades EVEN when there were things to do for all ages!! Name calling is just what immature people do! But alas it really has become not a family friendly town! 😦 Thank goodness for our own Park & Recreation department for the fun activities they create throughout the year!! But it sure would be ideal for activities year round at local businesses!!


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Israeli and Palestinian negotiators are poised to resume indirect talks with Egyptian mediators today on reaching a more permanent ceasefire before a current truce expires at midnight tomorrow.
The Egyptian government persuaded both sides late Wednesday to adhere to a new five-day ceasefire, extending an earlier three-day agreement in order to allow more time to thrash out a longer-term truce.
It got off to a rocky start with Palestinian rocket attacks and retaliatory Israeli air strikes, but Saturday marked a sixth day of quiet following more than a month of fighting that has killed at least 1,980 Palestinians and 67 on the Israeli side.
Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams are expected back in Cairo for fresh talks, which the Palestinians said would begin today after consulting their political leaders over the weekend.
The European Union welcomed the ceasefire in Gaza and said it was ready to expand a police mission in Rafah, on the border with Egypt, and train Palestinian Authority customs personnel and police for redeployment in Gaza.
The EU said a durable ceasefire must be accompanied by lifting closures on Gaza and called on "all terrorist groups" in the territory to disarm.
The Israeli foreign ministry welcomed the call for disarmament -- Israel's main demand at Cairo truce talks.
Israel, under pressure from citizens who have endured more than 2,790 rocket attacks since July 8, refuses to countenance any major reconstruction effort without full demilitarisation.
Azzam al-Ahmad, who heads the Palestinian delegation at the Cairo talks, told AFP yesterday that he was quietly optimistic that an agreement for a longer-term truce could be reached.
"We have high hopes of reaching an agreement very soon, before the end of the truce, and perhaps even, very quickly, for a permanent ceasefire," he said.
But Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri struck a hardline note, insisting that there can be no return to peace without a lifting of Israel's eight-year blockade of the beleaguered coastal enclave.
Talks on Sunday are expected to resume on the basis of an Egyptian proposal, seen by AFP, which calls for a lasting ceasefire beyond Monday midnight, and new talks on the thorniest issues, including demands for a seaport and airport in Gaza, to begin in a month's time.

domain: news


West Thumb Rainbow
The stunning colors of the geysers in the West Thumb Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, 2011
The Falls in Big Cottonwood Canyon
Hiking off trial and bouldering through a huge granite field for a few miles resulted in a fantastic long exposure. Even met a bear along the way.
Great Sand Dunes National Park
Hiking the Great Sand Dunes National Park
Oh Hi There
White Tail Buck hiding in the Bushes, Garden of the Gods
The Orchard in the Desert
Gifford house and barn in Fruita. The orchards, all owned by the NPS, maintain approximately 3,000 trees. The historic gravity-feed irrigation works are still used today. Capital Reef National Park, 2013
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. 2013
Fall, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. 2013
Rams posing for the camera during a brief lull in the mating action. Waterton Canyon, Colorado. 2014
Stars Over Wild Rivers - Rukiya
Collection from Rukiya Camp in SA
Impala Male - Rukiya
Winter Hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park
Land and Sky
Exploring the Depth of the landscape at Capitol Reef National Park, 2013
The Little Things
Long Exposure Stream, Indian Peaks
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Journal of Health and Social Behavior
Опубликовано на портале: 23-03-2007Michael S. Goldstein Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1984. Vol. 25. No. 2. P. 211-229.
This is a study of physicians in Los Angeles who made the performance of abortions a major or sole component of their practice in the five years (1967-72) subsequent to the legalization of abortion in California. A semistructured interview was used to obtain data on the attitudes, values, and experiences of 42 such physicians. Four distinct career patterns (entrepreneurs, academics, workers, and community physicians) were found. As expected, the physicians tended to be specialists in OB-GYN, concerned about financial rewards, and influenced by past observation of negative consequences of illegal abortions. The major finding is the existence of a subgroup of physicians whose primary identity is businessman or entrepreneur; these fit into the pattern of "outsider entrepreneurs." Elements of this pattern were also found among other types of physicians to varying degrees. There is a need to recognize entrepreneurial elements as part of the conceptualization of physicians and other professionals.
A Critical Theory of Medical Discourse: Ideology, Social Control, and the Processing of Social Context in Medical Encounters [статья]
Опубликовано на портале: 23-03-2007Howard Waitzkin Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1989. Vol. 30. No. 2. P. 220-239.
The personal troubles that patients bring to doctors often have roots in social issues beyond medicine. While medical encounters involve "micro-level" interactions between individuals, these interpersonal processes occur in a social context shaped by "macro-level" structures in society. Examining prior theories pertinent to medical discourse leads to the propositions: (a) that medical encounters tend to convey ideologic messages supportive of the current social order; (b) that these encounters have repercussions for social control; and (c) that medical language generally excludes a critical appraisal of the social context. The technical structure of the medical encounter, as traditionally seen by health professionals, masks a deeper structure that may have little to do with the conscious thoughts of professionals about what they are saying and doing. Similar patterns may appear in encounters between clients and members of other "helping" professions. Expressed marginally or conveyed by absence of criticism about contextual issues, ideology and social control in medical discourse remain largely unintentional mechanisms for achieving consent.
Опубликовано на портале: 23-03-2007Diane Hayes, Catherine Ross Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1987. Vol. 28. No. 2. P. 120-130.
Most research on the determinants of protective health behaviors examines health beliefs as the major motivating force. Authors hypothesize that concern with appearance is also a motivating force in eating diets low in calories and cholesterol and high in fruits and vegetables. Using a representative sample of 400 adults in Illinois (collected in 1984), they find that both health beliefs and appearance concerns affect eating habits. Health beliefs are modeled as an interaction between concern with health and health locus of control, since it is expected that concern with health has the largest impact on eating habits for persons who believe they have some control over their health. This interaction term is significant. For the average person, appearance is as large a motivating factor in eating habits as is concern with health. The implications of this finding for the health of the population, especially women are discussed.
Опубликовано на портале: 04-03-2007Robert E. Clark, Emily E. LaBeff Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1982. Vol. 23. No. 4. P. 366-380.
This research focuses on the strategies used by various professionals in delivering news of death. The lack of well defined, normative guidelines for such deliveries adds to the problematic nature of the interaction. From in-depth interviews with physicians, nurses, law enforcement officers, and clergy, a loose framework based on common themes was generated providing a processual view of death telling. Five distinct strategies of delivery developed within the framework. Discussion of each strategy indicates the significance of situational and occupational factors in delivering news of death. This study, though exploratory in nature, clarifies some of the processes involved in the delivery of bad news, and identifies several important problems surrounding death telling, such as lack of training and preparation among professionals for this role and their dislike for this aspect of their work.
Explaining the Social Patterns of Depression: Control and Problem Solving - or Support and Talking? [статья]
Опубликовано на портале: 19-02-2007Catherine Ross, John Mirowsky Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1989. Vol. 30. No. 2. P. 206-219.
Research on the social patterns of depression in the community finds consistently that high levels of education and income, being male, and being married are associated with lower levels of depression. Authors attempt to explain these patterns as the result of two essential social perceptions: the sense of controlling one's own life rather than being at the mercy of powerful others and outside forces, and the sense of having a supportive and understanding person to talk to in times of trouble. In theory, the sense of control reduces depression because it encourages active problem solving, and the sense of support reduces depression because it provides others to talk to. They find evidence for the first proposition: persons who feel in control of their lives are more likely to attempt to solve problems. Perceived control and problem solving decrease depression and largely explain the effects of income and education on depression. At the same time they find, however, that support has mixed effects. Support decreases depression, but talking to others when faced with a problem, which increases with the level of support, increases depression. Support explains a small part of the effect of marriage on depression. Control and support have an interactive effect on depression, suggesting that control and support can substitute for one another to decrease depression: a high level of one reduces the need for the other, and a low level of one is remedied by a high level of the other.
Information Giving in Medical Care [статья]
Опубликовано на портале: 23-03-2007Howard Waitzkin Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1985. Vol. 26. No. 2. P. 81-101.
Information giving is a crucial element of medical care. This research project considered two theoretically grounded hypotheses: (1) Doctors may withhold information and maintain uncertainty to preserve power in the doctor-patient relationship, and (2) class-based sociolinguistic differences in language use may create further impediments to information giving. A multivariate research model was operationalized to study these hypotheses and to assess other associations between information giving and the characteristics of doctors, patients, and the clinical situations in which they interact. An analysis of a sample of 336 encounters recorded from several outpatient settings revealed that doctors spent little time informing their patients, overestimated the time they did spend, and underestimated patients' desire for information. Contingency-table analysis showed that information transmittal was associated with (1) doctors' income, social class background, political ideology, and perceptions of patients' informative needs; (2) patients' age, sex, social class, education, and prognosis; and (3) situational characteristics such as the length of acquaintance, numbers of patients seen per day, and the types of patients in the doctors' practices. Multiple regression analysis assessed the relative importance of these variables in explaining the variation in information transmittal. The findings did not clearly confirm a relationship among information withholding, uncertainty, and power but did clarify the importance of class-based sociolinguistic barriers to communication.
Опубликовано на портале: 19-02-2007Samuel W. Bloom Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1986. Vol. 27. No. 3. P. 265-276.
The emphasis of this analysis is on the social institutional history of medical sociology. This subfield is described as (1) closely connected with the patterns of development in its current discipline, (2) as containing a dual thrust between applied and basic science, and (3) as struggling with "insider-outsider" ambiguity involving the work of subgroups working either in medicine or from roles external to medicine but studying the sociology of medicine. Tracing a detailed historical fragment from the decade following World War II, it is predicted that the continuity of an accepted position for medical sociology is assured even though the style and quality of its professional life are full of uncertainty.
Опубликовано на портале: 23-03-2007David Mechanic Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1989. Vol. 30. No. 2. P. 147-160.
Why is it that quantitative and qualitative researchers on health issues often have divergent findings and conclusions? Exploration of such differences can be a useful way of bringing separate intellectual enclaves in medical sociology together and also can stimulate future inquiries. Some differences can be resolved by more precise definitions, by comparable frequency and timing of measurement, and by careful evaluation of meaning contexts. The triangulation of methods, using diaries as a bridge between surveys and qualitative measurement, offers particular promise. Improved theory on the relationships of method to data, and more attention to behavioral sequences and the social context of measurement, can serve as a stimulant to innovative solutions.
Опубликовано на портале: 23-03-2007Renee R. Anspach Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1988. Vol. 29. No. 4. P. 357-375.
This paper examines a segment of medical social life that has not been studied extensively: formal presentations of case histories by interns, residents, and fellows. Because they are presented by physicians in training to their status superiors, who are evaluating them, case presentations are exercises in self-presentation which serve as a vehicle for professional socialization. This analysis of the language of case presentation is based on case presentations collected in two intensive care nurseries and an obstetrics and gynecology service. Four features of case presentation are identified: 1) the separation of biological processes from the person (de-personalization); 2) omission of the agent (e.g., use of the passive voice; 3) treating medical technology as the agent; and 4) account markers, such as "states," "reports," and "denies," which emphasize the subjectivity of patients' accounts. The language of case presentation has significant, if unintended, consequences for those who use it. First, some features of case presentation eliminate the element of judgment from medical decisions and mitigate responsibility for medical decision making. Second, some are rhetorical devices which enhance the credibility of the findings that are presented. Third, the language of case presentation minimizes the import of the patient's history and subjective experience. Finally, case histories socialize those who present them to a culture or world view which may contradict the explicit tenets of medical education.
Perceptions of Patients by Emergency Room Staff: Substance-Abusers versus Non-Substance-Abusers [статья]
Опубликовано на портале: 23-03-2007Lois Biener Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1983. Vol. 24. No. 3. P. 264-275.
Studies suggest that health care providers' evaluation of patients is related to aspects of the presenting problem, i.e., its seriousness, curability, and rarity; the extent to which the problem was self-caused; and to aspects of the patients, i.e., their age, social distance from providers and cooperativeness. Analysis of 220 emergency room staff members' perceptions of 14 hypothetical patients showed that with the exception of rarity of problem and social distance, the tested factors were significantly related to ratings of rewardingness of patient encounters. Results indicated that predictors of reward derived from substance-abusing and non-substance-abusing patients were different. While seriousness of illness was the primary predictor with non-substance-abusers, perceived cooperativeness was primary with substance-abusers. Predictors of rewarding patient encounters also differed according to staff level. Implications of these differences for emergency treatment of substance-abusers is discussed.
Опубликовано на портале: 23-03-2007Mary Klein Buller, David B. Buller Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1987. Vol. 28. No. 4. P. 375-388.
Research has linked the communication styles of physicians to patients' satisfaction with health care. Recently Ben-Sira (1976, 1980) offered a social interaction model to explain this relationship; this model, however, focused on a single, narrow style of communicating and overlooked the broader spectrum of styles. This survey assessed two general communication styles: affiliation and control. It also examined eight social characteristics of medical interviews as possible mediators of the impact of the physician's communication style on the patient's satisfaction. Patients' evaluations of the physician's communication were associated strongly with patients' evaluations of medical care, suggesting that competence in communication may be a facet of medical competence. Affiliative styles were related positively to patients' satisfaction, whereas dominant/active styles had a negative relationship with satisfaction. Severity of the illness, physician's age, physician's specialty, and the number of prior visits affected the importance of the physician's communication in the patient's evaluations of care.
Опубликовано на портале: 23-03-2007Catherine Ross, John Mirowsky, Raymond S. Duff Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1982. Vol. 23. No. 4. P. 317-329.
Authors developed and tested a model of client satisfaction with medical care in which sociodemographic characteristics of the physician affect client satisfaction under conditions of unmet expectations and a lack of choice. They hypothesized that in small fee-for-service practices such as solo practice, where the client chooses his or her physician, status characteristics of the doctor would be unrelated to client satisfaction. Conversely, in large prepaid group practices where the client is assigned a physician, nonnormative physician status characteristics would create lower client satisfaction. Because expectations are based on statistical norms, it was hypothesized that clients in large prepaid multispecialty groups would be most satisfied with physicians who fit the norm-middle-aged white males from higher status Protestant or Jewish backgrounds. In a sample of pediatricians and their clients, authors found their hypotheses to be strongly supported, with one modification-the relationship between client satisfaction and the physician's socioeconomic background is parabolic. Furthermore, the negative effect of nonnormative physician religious status on client satisfaction in large prepaid groups is offset by the client-physician match and by experience with the physician.
Опубликовано на портале: 23-03-2007Marie R. Haug, Bebe Levin Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1981. Vol. 22. No. 3. P. 212-229.
Traditionally, the sociological concept of the relationship between practitioner and patient has been the sick role, in which the physician as practitioner is in charge, and the patient is obligated to cooperate with the physician's prescribed regimen. More recently, this power relationship has been redefined by some from a consumerist perspective, in which physician and patient bargain over the terms of the relationship. Although each brings different resources to the encounter, neither participant is automatically in charge. Data from a sample of 466 members of the public and 86 physicians are used to assess the extent of reported public attitudes and behaviors that challenge the physician's traditional power, as well as physicians' reported response to such attitudes and events, as evidence of the public's propensity to a consumerist relationship and physicians' willingness to accept it. Among both the public and physicians, substantial minorities express beliefs and report actions congruent with this consumerist perspective. However, different demographic and health belief variables emerge in the two groups as explanatory factors. Doctor-patient power relationships are seen to depend on characteristics of the actors as well as on the illness situation.
Returning to the Doctor: The Effect of Client Characteristics, Type of Practice, and Experiences with Care [статья]
Опубликовано на портале: 23-03-2007Catherine Ross, Raymond S. Duff Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1982. Vol. 23. No. 2. P. 119-131.
Although a number of policy-makers have suggested that previous experiences with medical care affect subsequent use of physician services, few researchers have examined the issue empirically. Authors divide the determinants of revisiting the doctor in pediatric practice into three categories: client characteristics, organizational characteristics, and characteristics of the doctor-client interaction; and we develop a causal model. Although race, income, and education have no direct effects on the frequency of returning to the doctor, they have indirect effects through the organization of health care and experiences within the health care system. Clients who are poorly educated tend to have consistently negative experiences with the health care delivery system. These experiences affect subsequent use of services. Positive experiences with the interpersonal, psychosocial aspects of the doctor-client interaction increase a client's proclivity to return to the doctor, while negative doctor-client interactions decrease the probability of returning to the doctor.
Опубликовано на портале: 23-03-2007William Cockerham, Guenther Lueschen, Gerhard Kunz, Joe L. Spaeth Journal of Health and Social Behavior. 1986. Vol. 27. No. 1. P. 1-14.
Data from the 1984 Illinois Comparative Health Survey are used to examine whether the poor have adopted a consumer orientation toward professional health services in view of the reduction of financial barriers and clear signs of increased physician utilization. It was found, however, that lower-status persons stand as more or less passive recipients of such services, with a significantly greater tendency to invest responsibility for their own physical health in the health-care delivery system itself. Yet there was a general lack of difference with respect to health lifestyles involving food habits, emphasis on appearance, sports and exercise, smoking, and alcohol use. A culture-of-medicine thesis was found to provide a stronger explanation of this situation than a culture-of-poverty perspective. Medicine and the mass media have promoted the practice of a healthy lifestyle, but have not encouraged consumerism in the physician-patient relationship. Consequently, it appears that where social institutions provide positive sanctions, self-management and consumerism seems to grow for the poor; but where negative sanctions exist, consumerism does not seem to flourish.

domain: literature


Nigeria’s number Street diplomat, Small Doctor rushes to bounce on the inclining road “Japa” slang in light of prevalent request. “Japa” turned into an inclining slang few days back with numerous recordings circling via web-based networking media. Here is “Omo Iya Teacher”, Small Doctor’s free-form adaptation of it.
224hits personal dj present to you the best of davido 2018 edition which involves all davido hit songs of 2018 both callobos or single davido which have been known to have a great year and have been moving up the entertainment by his recent win in the bet award as best international act so guys download,enjoy,share and comment best of davido...
Off his recently dropped first studio collection “Osinachi” here is a track titled “Mama Africa” including Davido. Humblesmith 2018 new album download houses 22 finish track which highlight some best Nigerian artiste like Davido, Tiwa Savage, Flavor, Rudeboy of Psquare, Olamide, Harrysong and Patoranking.
T Classic’s rise to the music scene has been astronomical, following the release of his hit track Isabella at the end of 2017 which received various positive reviews & the cover of Adekunle’s Gold Ire. His fans and music lovers can’t help but want more. n T Classic is back with another hit titled ‘Fall In Love’ in which he...
Phenom Phyno Yem Ego Mp3 Download: Trap Billionaire act, Phenom initiates Penthauze general, Phyno for a fresh out of the box new single titled “Yem Ego”. A melody that talk about how the youthful rappers ran about with their flex way of life and how they burst cash.
The Ace producer Mystro is here again with a new music and now it’s a big tune alongside the legendary starboy “Wizkid“. This one is tittled Immediately, the sound is captivating and its surely gonna get you on your dancing feet immediately. Listen & Download “Mystro x Wizkid – Immediately” below:-


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A BLOG FOR THE CONSUMATE EATER
The Advantages of Dental Treatment
January 16, 2022
Practicing oral care can prevent illness as well as halitosis. It is very important...

domain: medical


text:
The pilot approach rewards health services that are already digitally mature, which widens the digital divide.
Implementing pilot projects for digital health solutions in healthcare is hard.
There are myriad complex considerations that impact adoption, ranging from funding, incentivisation and motivation through to the digital literacy of patients and health providers. As a result, many projects, even those that show reasonable results, never make it beyond pilot stage. The “digital health pilot” is where many good ideas, implemented poorly, go to die.
And if implementing pilot programs for digital health solutions in healthcare is hard, then taking solutions from pilot project to systemic, large-scale adoption is harder still. Turning a successful pilot project into a widely adopted, sustainable, digitally enabled model of care is an art that few have truly achieved. The huge variety of current state infrastructure, digital literacy, clinical workflows and organisational cultures make implementation on a large scale extremely challenging.
One of the great risks in the “pilot” approach to driving adoption of digital health solutions is that it rewards health services which are already mature. Digital health maturity is a quantitative and qualitative measure of the extent to which a health organisation has already adopted, and is positioned to adopt, digitally enabled models of care in the future.
Therefore, organisations that are progressively minded and have had previous success are more likely to put their hand up to implement new digital health solutions. And whilst this is not inherently a bad thing, it risks exacerbating the “digital divide” between health services. The already mature become more mature. Those without digital confidence get left behind.
This is also a problem for patients. A growing digital divide between health services creates a postcode lottery. If you’re lucky to be in the catchment area of a digitally progressive health service then good for you. But what about those patients, particularly in regional and rural areas, who aren’t as lucky? It is imperative that digital health plays a key role in improving access and equity in healthcare. If we’re not careful, it can do the opposite.
So how do we lift the capability of all health services, whilst recognising that many are at different points on their digital health maturity journey?
The start of a more successful, repeatable approach to implementing digital health-related change begins with measurement. It’s important to understand what digital health technology and infrastructure is in place, and how it is being used. And beyond that, what do health services believe and understand about digital health and the role of data? What is their readiness for digital change? What gaps do they have in their digital literacy? What clinical leadership is in place to support and drive the change?
Only through a detailed understanding of these and other factors can we build resilient digital health change programs that cater for the wide range of needs at different points on the maturity spectrum.
Semantic Consulting has been working with health organisations for the past three years to develop and refine a methodology and tools for measuring digital health maturity in healthcare, with differing baselines across general practice, allied health, aged care and secondary/acute care. The purpose of these tools is not to reward those already doing well, or to punish those who are lagging behind. The aim is to support the systemic implementation of digitally-enabled models of care through a flexible change approach that can adapt to the specific needs of health services, depending on where they are at on the digital health maturity journey.
The results of measuring digital health maturity in this way have been fascinating. As the process has matured, the hypothesis that different health services need different things has been validated.
Results have shown that health organisations that are at the mature end of the spectrum are usually already motivated, and tend to have a focus on “how?” questions. “Explain how it works.” “Give me the quick reference guide.” “Give me some short training videos.” Contrast that with health organisations at the other end of the spectrum, who are usually more focused on the “why?” questions. “Why should I care about digital health?” “Why does high-quality data matter?” “Why is it my job to do this?”
The maturity assessment process gives us an increasingly scientific and repeatable basis on which to help all kinds of health organisations on their digital health maturity journey. Sometimes this has involved developing different communications and training materials for different health services implementing the same digital health solution, referred to as a digital health change toolkit. Sometimes it has involved advising health services that they’re not yet ready to implement a new digitally-enabled model of care, and that they should channel their energy into strengthening the foundations first.
Regardless of the outcome for individual health organisations, the conclusion is clear. Achieving the systemic adoption of digital health requires a more nuanced approach to change based on a deeper understanding of digital health maturity.
A more flexible approach would support greater success and sustainability in the systemic rollout of digital health, and ensure that digital health pilot programs don’t flounder when they move beyond the first set of (already mature) health organisations. In fact, maybe a greater quantitative understanding of digital health maturity will give us the confidence to pilot digital health solutions at less mature organisations, creating models of care that are more likely to work for the average health service.
Tim Blake is managing director at Semantic Consulting.
If you’re interested in the topics of health reform and new models of care, Early Bird tickets for Wild Health’s next event No better time to align our digital health strategy with our health reform agenda are available till 1 September. Book now to ensure you don’t miss out on discounted tickets.


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Ukraine protesters stand ground as European, U.S. leaders discuss sanctions
KIEV, Ukraine (CNN) — Protesters stoked fires along barricade lines as night fell Wednesday over Kiev’s Maidan, or Independence Square, a day after 26 people died in violent clashes that have drawn reproach from Western leaders.
An opposition leader said the situation was precarious, but despite the burning fires and police lines, a strange calm pervaded central Kiev — even as security officials rebranded the protesters as terrorists and announced a nationwide security operation to restore order.
Meanwhile, European and U.S. leaders threatened quick sanctions against the Ukrainian government over what French President Francois Hollande called “unspeakable, unacceptable, intolerable acts.”
British Prime Minister David Cameron agreed.
“The violence on all sides is completely unacceptable and President Yanukovych has a particular responsibility to pull back government forces and de-escalate the situation,” Cameron said Wednesday.
The European Union “will respond to any deterioration on the ground” in violence-torn Ukraine, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Wednesday. “We therefore expect that targeted measures against those responsible for violence and use of excessive force can be agreed by our Member States as a matter of urgency, as proposed by the High Representative/Vice President.”
The foreign ministers of France, Germany and Poland will travel to Kiev on Thursday morning to collect the latest information on the Ukraine crisis before going to Brussels and presenting their findings to their European Union counterparts later that day, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius told reporters Wednesday.
The German foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned that “anyone who at this time is responsible for decisions which lead to further bloodshed, must also be aware that Europe will certainly reconsider the restraint it has shown in deciding whether to impose sanctions on individuals.”
Thousands of demonstrators have packed Independence Square since November, when Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych reversed a decision to sign a trade deal with the European Union and instead turned toward Russia.
The unrest intensified after an anti-protest law went into effect, and erupted into outright violence Tuesday night. CNN reporters saw protesters clawing paving stones from the streets and firing Molotov cocktails attached to fireworks from an improvised air cannon.
U.S. Sectretary of State John Kerry said he was “deeply disturbed” by events in Kiev.
“President Yanokovich has the opportunity to make a choice, a choice between protecting the people that he serves — all of the people — and the choice for compromise and dialogue versus violence and mayhem,” Kerry said during a visit to Paris. “We believe the choice is clear and we are talking about the possibility of sanctions or other steps with our friends and Europe and elsewhere in order to create the environment for compromise.”
U.S. President Barack Obama also was expected to address the issue later Wednesday while on a trip to Mexico, National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters aboard Air Force One. He said a “full toolkit” is available to the United States to respond to the Ukrainian violence, including sanctions.
U.S. officials have already revoked the visas for Ukrainian government officials linked to the violence against protesters, senior U.S. administration officials told CNN.
iReporter Volodymyr Solohub, a corporate lawyer, was among hundreds who came to Independence Square to support protesters battling police.
He watched Tuesday as demonstrators rushed injured people from the front lines to medics.
“Some of them had broken hands, and blood was flowing down their faces,” he said Wednesday.
Barrages of stun grenades shattered the air around him through the night, he said.
Police and protesters were among Tuesday’s dead. A journalist and a government employee died, too.
More than 240 others were hospitalized, Ukraine’s health ministry said.
Police said more than 77 protesters had been detained.
The head of Ukraine’s Security Service, Oleksander Yakimenko, accused protesters of taking over government offices across the country and looting 1,500 weapons and 100,000 rounds of ammunition.
“These are concrete acts of terror,” Yakimenko said in a statement announcing an anti-terrorism operation apparently targeting protesters. “Radical and extremist groups are now a real threat” to millions of Ukrainians.
Opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk denied that demonstrators had attacked police, blaming instead government “provocateurs” for inciting the violence.
“We are determined to have only a peaceful rally,” he told CNN. “No violence, no force, no weapons.”
Even as the European Union scheduled a meeting on Ukraine for Thursday and the leaders of France and Poland called for sanctions over the violence, Yanukovych fired fresh vitriol at his opposition.
He pinned blame for the violence exclusively on protesters, but he would have none of it himself.
“This is my life principle — no power is worth a drop of blood spilled for it,” he said in a statement.
Yet he issued a veiled threat to protesters.
Opposition forces should “disassociate themselves from the radical forces that provoke bloodshed and clashes with law enforcement,” he said.
Otherwise, admit to supporting them and be treated accordingly, Yanukovych demanded.
Opposition leaders pointed the finger back, painting their supporters as the victims, not the aggressors.
Neither side seems to have a monopoly on the use of violence, and in the mayhem, it is sometimes hard to tell who is carrying it out.
The journalist who died Wednesday was shot the night before, after a group of masked people stopped a taxi he was riding in, according to a statement by his newspaper Ukrainian Vesti.
They wore camouflage clothes and threw Molotov cocktails. They also beat other passengers in the car, the paper reported.
Hopes dashed hard
Tuesday’s violence followed what seemed like a rare breakthrough.
The government had said it would drop charges against those arrested in the political unrest.
After holding Kiev’s City Hall for three months, protesters pulled back Sunday and unblocked streets in the city center.
But hope died Tuesday, when the speaker of parliament refused to allow amendments that would limit the president’s powers.
Opposition anger reignited and poured into the streets.
The government’s prosecutor general accused the opposition of breaking “the truce,” thus setting the stage for the security crackdown that ensued.
Riot police plowed into the crowd with water cannons, stun grenades and night sticks. Some demonstrators fought back, swinging what looked like baseball bats.
Protesters set fire to the headquarters of the ruling Party of Regions. But the opposition’s headquarters, the Trade Unions House, was also smoldering at daybreak Wednesday.
Authorities accused protesters of firing guns at security forces. An armored personnel carrier charged barricades but was quickly inundated and set alight.
Kiev was the center of the action, as in the past.
But police said the unrest has spread to western Ukraine, with protesters attacking police and local government offices in a number of regions.
Political fuel, spark
Flaming barricades have been a constant for three months all around Kiev’s Independence Square.
But Tuesday’s bloodshed marked a decided escalation.
Though the strife started over a trade pact, protesters’ anger was fueled by underlying sentiments in favor of the West and against Russia.
Their initial call for Yanukovych to reverse his decision on the EU trade deal avalanched over time into an attack on the President’s power base.
Yanukovych and his allies responded with some concessions, offering places in government to opposition leaders.
But on-again, off-again talks have gone nowhere.
Both sides have demanded that the other back down first, and neither is budging.
Yanukovych and opposition leader and famed boxer Vitali Klitschko played another round of the you-first game in an overnight face-to-face meeting.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Klitschko said there effectively was “no discussion.”
The President demanded the protesters back off first. Klitschko threw the demand back at him. “I told Yanukovych this,” he said. “How can we negotiate when there is blood being spilled?”
West vs. Moscow
EU leaders condemned the violence and waved the possibility of sanctions at Kiev’s government, placing most of the responsibility on its shoulders.
Barroso threatened “targeted measures against those responsible” in a statement.
But Russia is also waving money, standing by with billions in economic aid for Ukraine’s economy.
Since political tensions began, Washington and Moscow have weighed in on opposite ends and kept doing so Tuesday.
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden called Yanukovych to press him to stop the violence, placing the responsibility to de-escalate mainly with government.
Russia accused Washington of meddling in Ukrainian affairs.
Washington is trying to tell “the authorities of a sovereign state what they should do next and how they should do it,” an article in Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti’s read.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the clashes in a statement late Tuesday and called for them to stop.
“He reiterates to all sides that the use of violence is unacceptable,” it read.
Ban said preventing more bloodshed is a “paramount priority.”
But in Kiev, the call may be falling on the deaf ears of embittered rivals.
By Phil Black, Michael Pearson and Victoria Butenko
CNN’s Phil Black and Victoria Butenko reported from Kiev, while CNN’s Michael Pearson reported and wrote from Atlanta. CNN’s Elise Labott, Jake Tapper, Greg Botelho, Ben Brumfield, Michael Martinez, Neda Farshbaf, Larry Register and Radina Gigova contributed to this report.


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Bewildering Reflections and Perspectives Shift in the Hyperrealistic Oil Paintings of Nathan Walsh
In his intricate oil paintings, Nathan Walsh captures the textural sheen of rain on city streets and luminescent reflections in cafe windows. The artist has previously explored different vantage points in elaborate cityscapes, rendering the corners of buildings, corridors of skyscrapers, and expansive bridges in detailed, two-point perspective. Recently, he has further honed ideas around perception and the way the built environment presents uncanny optical illusions in the interplay of people and objects, light, and reflections.
The ideas for Walsh’s compositions often form as he wanders the streets of cities like New York and Paris, making sketches and taking photographs that he brings back to his studio, a converted Welsh Methodist chapel. “Up until last year, my work had been exclusively devoted to the urban landscape,” he tells Colossal, sharing that various objects like those spotted in an antique shop window in Paris’s 7th arrondissement signaled new references to his ideas around place and familiarity. He says:
I would travel, collect information, then return to my studio to respond to that material. “Metaphores” started in the same way: a trip to Paris, wandering aimlessly around the streets looking for ideas. On my return to the U.K., I realised a lot of the photographs and drawings I’d made were touching on similar subject matter to [my] home environment.
Pieces like “Metaphores” or “Rue de Saints” represent a shift in Walsh’s understanding of the urban landscape or more concisely, of how it is experienced. Elaborate window reflections warp our sense of space and fuse realism with imagination, such as in “Monarchs Drift,” in which the artist has spliced together scenes of Chicago and San Francisco. Walsh imbues the works with what he describes as a “hallucinatory quality which is ‘neither here nor there,'” embracing notions of transition, global connections, and his own memories of trips he has taken.
Walsh’s paintings will be featured in a forthcoming book published by Thames & Hudson dedicated to urban landscapes, and you can find more of his work on his website and Instagram.
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City Lights Cast an Aura of Anonymous Mystique Over Keita Morimoto’s Streetscapes
In Keita Morimoto’s paintings, soft yellow streetlights, LED shop signs, and clinical beams of a public transit stop expose the discomfiting nature of perpetual surveillance. Working in acrylic and oil, the Japanese artist explores the scenes of daily commutes, walks with friends, and trips to a vending machine. He shrouds his streets with shadows that add a mysterious aura to the works, a feeling bolstered by the anonymity of the places and people.
Morimoto refrains from incorporating distinct symbols, markings, or features that would identify and situate the locations within a specific cultural and geographical context and prefers, instead, to consider how many of the ails of modern life are ubiquitous. “In today’s society, many people suffer from the difficulty of living,” he says. While issues of surveillance, consumerism, and a desire for fast-paced production often dominate today’s world, the artist focuses on the pockets of calm, beauty, and magic to be found around every street corner.
Currently, Morimoto has works on view at Powerlong Museum in Shanghai and will be included in upcoming shows with Kotaro Nukaga in Tokyo and The Hole in New York. Find more of his enigmatic pieces on his site and Instagram. (via This Isn’t Happiness)
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Neon Lights and Urban Loneliness Shroud Cities After Dark in Liam Wong’s Panoramic Photo Book
The foundational idea behind Liam Wong’s new book is that “real life is just as potent, bizarre, and interesting as things we can imagine.” Released by the crowd-sourced publisher Volume, After Dark is a follow-up to the Edinburgh-born photographer’s first monograph, TO: KY: OO, which captured the empty Japanese streets under the glow of neon lights. Now Wong similarly documents city life with his signature cinematic style, although he ventures beyond Tokyo to unveil the nightlife of Osaka, Kyoto, London, Seoul, Paris, and Rome in wide, gleaming panoramas.
The 176-page book pinpoints instances of urban solitude and reveals a universal sense of loneliness that falls on a city when most of its residents are asleep. Wong (previously) tends to frame temporarily abandoned pockets of a business district or bustling neighborhood that will likely be chaotic with passersby in a few hours, giving his shots a futuristic bent that’s more evocative of a cybernetic video game than typical street photography. After Dark captures “the eerie emptiness of London’s Piccadilly Circus at 4:00 a.m., Seoul’s late-night taxi drivers moving along hushed roads, two birds sharing the warmth of neon sign in Hong Kong’s TSM District, and a salaryman waiting on an empty subway platform in Tokyo’s Akihabara district,” a statement says.
Signed and collector’s editions of After Dark, including one packaged with print, are available to fund now on Volume’s site. You also can purchase prints in Wong’s shop, and find more of his photos on Instagram. (via It’s Nice That)
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Clever Paper Cutouts by Paperboyo Transform Architecture and Landmarks into Amusing Scenes
Rich McCor (aka Paperboyo) has a way of imagining the potential for quirkiness and whimsy in existing architecture. Using tourist attractions, landmarks, and urban settings as his backdrops, the Brighton-based artist and photographer (previously) dreams up amusing scenes that he fashions with precise angles and black paper cutouts: the Arc de Triomphe playfully morphs into a massive LEGO figure, an upside-down shot of Regent Street becomes a boat canal, and the King’s Place facade functions as individual swimming lanes. McCor tends to travel widely to photograph his temporary silhouettes, although he’s focused on local regions in recent months. The Netherlands, New York, and Taipei are next up on his list, so keep an eye on Instagram for dispatches from those spots and add one of the clever collages to your collection by picking up a print in the Paperboyo shop.
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Urban Centers Undergo ‘Guerilla Greening’ in GIFs that Reimagine Cities with Lush Vegetation
The team over at WATG reenvisions some of the most iconic corridors in major cities in what the global design firm aptly describes as “guerilla greening.” Through a series of GIFs, streets in London, New York City, and Honolulu are transformed into lush, garden-like enclaves teeming with trees, new landscaping, and thick vegetation wrapping around the existing architecture. WATG poured years of research into the short animations, which visualize practical and viable adjustments that would improve air quality, promote bicycle and pedestrian traffic, and make the traditionally concrete-and-brick locales more ecologically diverse.
Read more about the ongoing project on the firm’s site, and keep an eye out for future transformations on Twitter and Instagram. (via Core77)
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Katsumi Hayakawa’s Congested Cities Are Constructed with Scrupulously Cut Paper Buildings
Meticulously cutting each piece by hand, Katsumi Hayakawa crafts dense cityscapes and urban districts from white paper. The Japanese artist assembles towers and various cube-like structures that are positioned in lengthy rows, resembling congested streets. Dotted with primary colors and metallic elements, the sculptures evoke electronic equipment like microchips and motherboards, which references the relationship between modern cities and technology. Hayakawa’s use of an ephemeral, organic material further contrasts the manufactured nature of both urban areas and technological inventions.
To explore more of the artist’s projects that are concerned with the complexity of modern life, head to Artsy.
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Listening to this non-stop today, to work, during work, from work, after work. Funny but reggae always seems to sound better when the sun is shining, it seems to make no sense in the winter. I suppose Joy Division always seems to sound better when it is raining.
I was walking to work listening to this today and during the track Private I (Dub) I really had to concentrate on my steps. I started to walk in time to the beat and I am sure it must have looked a bit odd. In the end I had to skip to the next track just so I could walk normally.
Hidden gem; Hey, Geoff
Standout; Rat Race, fantastic, turn it up!!!


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Welcome to the world of unusual hotels! If you’re a traveler who’s looking for an unforgettable experience, go no further. From ice hotels in Sweden to an underwater room in Zanzibar, these are some of the most unusual hotels in the world. These hotels are not only unique in terms of their design and decor but also offer a range of activities and amenities to make your stay even more memorable.
1. Ice Hotel, Sweden
The Ice Hotel is an exclusive hotel located in the remote village of Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, which is constructed entirely out of ice and snow. It is reconstructed annually, featuring a wide range of rooms and suites designed by artists and architects from across the world. The hotel provides several activities, including snowmobiling, dog-sledding, ice fishing, and an opportunity to witness the spectacular Northern Lights. The hotel’s Ice Bar serves drinks in glasses made of ice. The Ice Hotel offers guests the opportunity to submerge themselves in a world of ice and snow and experience the remarkable beauty of Sweden’s Arctic landscape.
2. Propeller Island City Lodge, Germany
Propeller Island City Lodge is a hotel situated in Berlin, Germany. Each room is exclusively decorated and themed by musician and artist Lars Stroschen. With over 30 rooms available, guests can experience a range of designs such as the “Mirror Room” with its reflective walls and ceiling, the “Flying Bed Room” with a bed hanging from the ceiling, or the “Padded Cell Room” that resembles a psychiatric ward. The hotel aims to create an immersive and surreal experience that challenges guests’ perceptions of reality. Despite the unconventional decor, the rooms are furnished with all the necessary amenities, including comfortable beds, bathrooms, and heating. The lobby of the hotel is also decorated with oversized sculptures and furniture that are sure to surprise and entertain guests. Along with these unique rooms, the hotel also offers several services such as tours of Berlin, live music events, and a breakfast buffet served in a vintage bus. Propeller Island City Lodge is an exceptional choice for travelers seeking an unconventional and memorable experience.
3. Magic Mountain Lodge, Chile
The Magic Mountain Lodge, located in Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve, Chile, is designed to resemble a volcanic mountain with waterfalls and vegetation. The hotel features 9 uniquely decorated rooms, connected by winding staircases and walkways, with stunning views of the surrounding forest and waterfalls. The hotel offers various outdoor activities, including hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, fishing, and horseback riding. Guests can also visit the nearby Huilo Huilo Falls or Valdivian rainforest. The hotel’s restaurant serves traditional Chilean cuisine, while the bar offers Chilean wines and cocktails. Outdoor hot tubs, situated on the side of the mountain, provide a spectacular view of the surrounding forest and waterfalls.
4. Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Finland
Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort in Finnish Lapland offers luxurious accommodations, including glass igloos and log cabins, allowing guests to witness the Northern Lights from their rooms. The resort also provides unique lodging options such as Kelo-Glass igloos and Snow igloos. The hotel offers a sauna, ice bar, and ice sculpture gallery, in addition to traditional Finnish cuisine at the West Village Aurora Restaurant. It is an ideal destination for guests seeking a unique and luxurious escape in the midst of natural beauty.
5. The Manta Resort, Zanzibar
The Manta Resort is a luxurious and secluded retreat situated on Pemba Island, Zanzibar. The resort’s most unique feature is an underwater room located offshore and surrounded by a coral reef, allowing guests to have a truly immersive underwater experience. In addition to the underwater room, the resort also offers private villas and suites with stunning ocean views. Guests can enjoy various activities, including snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, and deep-sea fishing, or indulge in treatments at the resort’s luxurious spa. The resort’s main restaurant serves a diverse menu of international and African cuisine made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The Manta Resort is an ideal destination for honeymooners, couples, and those seeking a luxurious and secluded retreat surrounded by natural beauty.
6. Null Stern, Switzerland
Null Stern is located in the Swiss Alps, and provides a one-of-a-kind, minimalist experience to its guests. The hotel repurposes former nuclear bunkers and turns them into comfortable and cozy rooms, where guests can enjoy a stripped-down atmosphere with just the essentials, including a queen-sized bed and lighting. The hotel’s main aim is to let guests fully immerse themselves in the natural surroundings by eliminating any unnecessary distractions. The hotel provides additional services such as a personal butler and a unique breakfast service, which is served in a restaurant carved into the mountainside nearby. The hotel is situated in a picturesque location, offering stunning views of the Alps, and nearby hiking trails and other outdoor activities. Overall, Null Stern is a perfect choice for people seeking a unique and minimalist retreat in a beautiful natural setting.
7. Hotel Costa Verde, Costa Rica
Hotel Costa Verde is located in Costa Rica’s rainforest, offering unique accommodations such as a refurbished Boeing 727 airplane converted into a luxury suite with a deck providing stunning views. The resort also offers other options, including bungalows, villas, and studios. Guests can enjoy various outdoor activities near Manuel Antonio National Park, including hiking and surfing, while the hotel features a swimming pool, spa, and restaurant serving fresh, locally sourced Costa Rican cuisine. One of the resort’s main focuses is environmental sustainability, using sustainable materials for construction, solar energy, and a wastewater treatment system.
8. Astarte Suites, Greece
Astarte Suites is located in Akrotiri on the island of Santorini in Greece. The hotel features nine spacious suites, each with a private Jacuzzi or plunge pool, and a private balcony that overlooks the Aegean Sea. The suites are designed with a combination of traditional and modern elements, and are equipped with modern amenities like flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, and free Wi-Fi. Astarte Suites also has a spa that offers a range of treatments, as well as an outdoor infinity pool with panoramic sea views. The hotel’s restaurant serves a delicious breakfast buffet and Mediterranean cuisine made with locally sourced ingredients. Overall, Astarte Suites is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a getaway in a beautiful and peaceful location.
9. The Liberty Hotel, USA
Imagine staying in a luxurious hotel that was once a historic jail! That’s the experience you’ll get at The Liberty Hotel in the United States. This unique hotel located in Boston, Massachusetts was transformed from the Charles Street Jail, a 19th-century prison. The hotel’s design blends modern elegance with historic elements, creating a truly unique atmosphere that pays homage to its past. With comfortable and stylish rooms, gourmet dining options, and top-notch amenities, the Liberty Hotel offers an unforgettable stay that’s both luxurious and steeped in history.
10. La Balade des Gnomes, Belgium
La Balade des Gnomes is a quirky hotel located in Belgium that features 10 themed rooms. From a Trojan horse to a moon landing, each room has its own story to tell and immerses guests in a whimsical and magical atmosphere. The hotel’s owner, a former set designer, has created each room with great attention to detail, incorporating unusual elements like a tree trunk bed or a bathtub shaped like a giant champagne glass. The hotel also has a restaurant that serves gourmet meals made with locally sourced ingredients, and guests can enjoy a range of outdoor activities like hiking and cycling in the surrounding countryside. Overall, La Balade des Gnomes provides a truly unforgettable experience for guests who want to escape reality and enter a world of fantasy and creativity.
From sleeping in an airplane to staying in a room made of ice, these hotels offer some of the most unusual and unforgettable experiences one can have while traveling. The unique designs and immersive experiences make these hotels a great choice for those seeking a memorable and extraordinary stay.
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VfL women lose 0-1 to Polish champions.
The VfL women were back for their first training session on Elsterweg.
Alexandra Popp amongst the ten candidates for the title.
Schult, Peter, Goeßling, Kerschowski and Popp nominated for the Olympic Games.
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Truck Platooning Market: Summary
The Global Truck Platooning Market is estimated to reach USD 3.3 Billion in 2024 at a CAGR of 39.8%, Observe by Forencis Research (FSR). Increasing need for fuel consumption, growing need for reducing CO2 emissions, and increase in road safety are some of the factors which are expected to drive the truck platooning market during the forecast period. However, high cost of platooning technology and impact on infrastructure migration are expected to restrain the market during the forecast period. Demand in automated driving and smart mobility is expected to become an opportunity for truck platooning system market.
To gain more insights around the Truck Platooning Market: https://www.forencisresearch.com/truck-platooning-market/
Truck platooning allows two or more trucks travel together through connectivity technologies such as automated driving support systems. These vehicles automatically maintain a specific distance between each other. The leader truck acts as the head of the convoy, guiding the movements of the vehicles behind requiring little or no action from the follower trucks. Some key players in truck platooning are Peloton Technology, AB Volvo, Daimler AG., Scania, Navistar, Inc., and WABCO among others.
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Truck Platooning Market: Report Synopsis
This market research report offers a comprehensive analysis of key market trends in the global truck platooning market. It includes detailed discussion on historical market trends, current market dynamics, consumer landscape, growth opportunities and challenges backed by factful feedbacks.
- On the the basis of type, the truck platooning market is segmented into driver assisted truck platooning (DATP) and automated truck platooning.
- Based on hardware type, the truck platooning market can be segmented into forward-looking camera, system display, platooning control unit, driver controls, speaker, push-to-talk pedal, radar-based collision mitigation, sensors and others.
- Based on technology, the truck platooning market can be segmented into automatic emergency braking (AEB), adaptive cruise control (ACC), blind-spot collision warning (BSW), forward collision warning (FCW), lane keeping assist (LKA), human machine interface (HMI), lane departure warning (LDW) and others.
- Based on connectivity, the truck platooning market can be segmented into global posting system (GPS), dedicated short range communications (DSRC), celluar, Wi-Fi antennae, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication and others.
- The regional analysis is covered under five major regions such as North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa and South America with individual country-level analysis.
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Truck Platooning Market: Report Segmentation
For the scope of report, In-depth segmentation is offered by Forencis Research
Truck Platooning Market by Type
- Driver Assisted Truck Platooning (DATP)
- Automated Truck Platooning
Truck Platooning Market by Hardware Type
- Forward-Looking Camera
- System Display
- Platooning Control Unit
- Driver controls
- Push-To-Talk Pedal
- Radar-Based Collision Mitigation
Read Press Release of Global Truck Platooning Market for More Information: https://www.forencisresearch.com/truck-platooning-market-to-reach-usd-3-3-billion-in-2024/
Truck Platooning Market by Technology
- Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Blind-Spot Collision Warning (BSW)
- Forward Collision Warning (FCW)
- Lane Keeping Assist (LKA)
- Human Machine Interface (HMI)
- Lane Departure Warning (LDW)
Truck Platooning Market by Connectivity
- Global Posting System (GPS)
- Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC)
- Wi-Fi Antennae
- Vehicle-To-Vehicle (V2V) Communication
Truck Platooning Market by Region
- North America
- Middle East and Africa
- South America
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Some of you may recall the umbrella protests in Hong Kong a few short years ago concerning the rapid erosion of freedoms there as the People’s Republic of China accelerated its walk away from its promise to Great Britain to respect Hong Kong liberties after the island city was surrendered to the PRC.
Joshua Wong, one of those protesters, sentenced to jail for participating and speaking his mind, is out of jail pending his appeal. Hong Kong Commissioner Clement Leung had a Letter to the Editor of The Wall Street Journal earlier this week objecting to a WSJ piece decrying the whole sorry charade that is the current Hong Kong judiciary.
US District Judge Nicholas Garaufis, of the Eastern District of New York, blatantly and zealously does not like President Donald Trump, as many folks do not. However, the judge is hearing a case concerning whether to block Trump’s withdrawal of ex-President Barack Obama’s (D) unconstitutionally applied DACA protections, and that overt bias may well feed into his ruling on what should be an open and shut question: the DACA protections were illegally applied, and apart from that, they were applied by DHS Memorandum, and so even were Obama’s DACA legal, the protections can be removed by Memorandum or by a President’s Executive Order.
A murderous felon in Alabama was, on conviction in 1994, sentenced to life in prison by his jury, and that sentence was overridden by the presiding judge, who ordered his execution. The man was scheduled to be executed Thursday, but the Supreme Court has stayed the execution pending its decision on whether to hear the man’s appeal of his execution.
The stay is consistent with the Court’s prior rulings striking State laws that allow judges to overrule juries and to impose death sentences where the juries decided otherwise. In this regard, I agree: the jury is the proper sentencer where a man’s life is in the balance.
North Carolina’s Congressional districts are illegally drawn, says a special three-judge court.
A special three-judge court invalidated the North Carolina map after finding Republicans adopted it for the driving purpose of magnifying the party’s political power beyond its share of the electorate.
I’ll leave aside the disparate impact sewage that local districts must reflect the larger State’s electorate “demographics.” The larger problem is with the underlying premise of gerrymandering: that some groups of Americans need their political power enhanced relative to other groups of Americans because some groups are, in some sense, fewer in numbers than other groups.
DACA was implemented by Department of Homeland Security memorandum—not even through Rule Making—and it can be removed by the same process or by Executive Order. There is no legislation being ignored or abused here; this is purely and solely an internal Executive Branch affair. Alsup is nakedly insinuating himself in what is only—can only be—a political matter and not a judicial one in a blatant violation of Constitutional separation of powers.
Even ex-Progressive-Democratic President Barack Obama (D) confessed he had no Constitutional authority to order the things DACA orders—before he had his DHS Secretary issue her memorandum.
The Louisiana court system, all the way up to the State’s Supreme Court, has upheld police denial of a (black) defendant’s demand for a lawyer during a police interrogation. At one point during the interrogation, the suspect said, quite clearly IMNSHO,
If y’all, this is how I feel, if y’all think I did it, I know that I didn’t do it so why don’t you just give me a lawyer dog ’cause this is not what’s up.
The Supreme Court said the suspect’s statement was too ambiguous to constitute a demand for a lawyer. Justice Scott Chrichton, in concurring, actually wrote in all seriousness,
Special Counsel Robert Mueller revealed some indictments and charges, and he “accepted” a guilty plea deal from George Papadopoulos, a volunteer associate of the Trump campaign.
I’ll leave aside the indictments (which charges are wholly unrelated to the Trump campaign or the Trump administration or anything related to them, anyway); what’s interesting is Mueller’s plea deal with Papadopoulos.
Mr Papadopoulos is continuing to cooperate in the investigation, according to his plea agreement.
And that’s what’s key:
Papadopoulos’ cooperation is central to his plea. The plea agreement provides that the government will bring his cooperation to the Court’s attention at sentencing and that sentencing will be delayed until his cooperation is complete.
Judge Andrew Napolitano thinks the reason Special Counsel Robert Mueller has convened a grand jury as part of his “investigation” into alleged Russia collusion by members of President Donald Trump’s campaign staff is so Mueller can use the jury’s subpoena power to compel testimony and the delivery of documents. Napolitano also said, in FoxNews insider‘s paraphrase, that the jury’s convening is
a sign that Mueller has found something from some source….
The DC Circuit Court stacked by President Barack Obama (D) seems to be iffy on the thing. In an appeal concerning whether the monies the Federal government pays to health care plan providers as subsidies so the plan providers will hold down premiums and deductibles can actually be paid—the funds never were appropriated by Congress, so the payments aren’t legitimate, ruled the trial court—the Circuit Court ruled in part:
The States have shown a substantial risk that an injunction requiring termination of the payments at issue here…would lead directly and imminently to an increase in insurance prices, which in turn will increase the number of uninsured individuals for whom the States will have to provide health care[.]
France wants to enforce a “right to be forgotten” law (recently enacted by the EU that allows persons to demand publicly available information about them to be erased from links in search engine results) inside other nations than the EU membership—inside the United States, for instance. Google, et al., is demurring, and France has taken the matter to the EU’s highest administrative court, the Court of Justice.
The case will help determine how far EU regulators can go in enforcing the bloc’s strict new privacy law….


text:
Penn State beat Pittsburgh, 33-14 at Beaver Stadium, as the Nittany Lions avenged a 2016 loss to the Panthers.
Here’s our live updates and analysis from the game.
Penn State-Pitt live updates, score
Final: Penn State 33, Pitt 14.
Penn State 33, Pitt 14 (Q4, 3:38): Penn State gets 2 points on a safety and 24-yard field goal from Tyler Davis to add on to the lead. This one’s almost over.
Penn State 28, Pitt 14 (Q4, 10:09): Five minutes into the fourth quarter of Penn State’s second game, the Nittany Lions surrendered a touchdown for the first time this season. Backup Pitt QB Ben DiNucci rushed three yards for the score, then tossed a shovel to Qadree Ollison on a two-point conversion attempt. The Panthers needed that one badly and now have some life.
Penn State 28, Pitt 6 (Q4, 14:54): Saquon Barkley caught fire in the third quarter, accumulating 104 offensive yards and a touchdown reception. He reached the end zone again on Penn State’s first play of the fourth quarter, powering through three tackle attempts for an eight-yard score. Barkley now has 4 touchdowns in less than 2 full games and the Nittany Lions are in full control.
Penn State 21, Pitt 6 (Q3, 6:03): Pittsburgh continues to control time of possession but points remain elusive for the Panthers. For the second time today, Pitt entered the Penn State 10-yard line but failed to produce a touchdown. The Nittany Lions defense held strong, and still hasn’t surrendered a touchdown this season, as Pitt settled for a 24-yard field goal from Alex Kessman.
Penn State 21, Pitt 3 (Q3, 10:32): After a quiet first half, Penn State RB Saquon Barkley just busted the lead open. He caught an intermediate toss from QB Trace McSorley in stride, surging away from a Pitt defender en route to a 46-yard score. Barkley had just 22 total yards in the first half but his latest highlight reel will be added to early-season Heisman Trophy credentials.
Penn State 14, Pitt 3 (Q2, 1:12) – Penn State faced its first major defensive test in the red zone this season, facing first-and-goal from the 10-yard line for Pitt. The Nittany Lions stood tall and didn’t surrender a single yard from that point. The Panthers settle for a 28-yard field goal courtesy of Alex Kessman.
Penn State 14, Pitt 0 (Q2, 8:35) – The Nittany Lions have made life difficult for Pitt QB Max Browne during the first half, recording 2 sacks and 2 interceptions. The latest pick occurred on a long-distance pass attempt along the left sideline. Penn State safety Troy Apke showed excellent range tracking it down, recording his second career interception. The Nittany Lions take over at their own 41-yard line.
Penn State 14, Pitt 0 (Q2, 12:18) – Penn State continues its strong defensive play, forcing Pitt’s third punt of the game. The Panthers drive extended into Nittany Lions territory for the first time, and included a fourth-down conversion. Senior safety Marcus Allen delivered a well-timed hit on a third-down pass attempt to break up the play and force a punt.
Marcus Allen has big hit to shut down Pitt's best drive. pic.twitter.com/a6wlil5Ii8
— Collegian Football (@psufootblog) September 9, 2017
Penn State 14, Pitt 0 (Q1, 5:20) – For a second straight game, Mike Gesicki has two touchdown receptions. This one comes from 10 yards out, as McSorley found him on the left side and Gesicki followed a lead block toward the pylon. McSorley set up the score with a 36-yard touchdown run, the longest of his career. Penn State has started even sharper than it did against Akron last Saturday.
Penn State 7, Pitt 0 (Q1, 8:03) – Nittany Lions cornerback Grant Haley is having himself a game here early. Following his interception on Pitt’s first offensive series, Harley comes up with a sack to end the Panthers’ third possession. It was his first career sack. Penn State takes over at its own 37-yard line.
Penn State 7, Pitt 0 (Q1, 12:53) – Penn State strikes early, scoring one play into its first offensive play of the game. QB Trace McSorley faked a hand-off to RB Saquon Barkley before finding a wide open Mike Gesicki for a 9-yard score. It was set up by a Grant Haley interception off Pitt QB Max Browne the play before. McSorley has thrown a touchdown in 17 straight games, while Gesicki has reached the end zone in five consecutive contests.
Pregame – Penn State just unveiled it’s commemorative “2016” emblem in honor of the Big Ten championship. The Nittany Lions won the coin toss, but will defer to the second half and start on defense.
Pregame – The Nittany Lions and Panthers are on the field for warmups as Beaver Stadium continues to fill up. The scoreboard shows 23 minutes remaining until kickoff, so we’re looking at a 3:40 kickoff between these in-state rivals.
Pregame – In cased you missed our Facebook Live session, here’s the conversation from Penn State press box. I previewed this matchup, gave my prediction and discussed which recruits are in attendance.
Penn State-Pitt game time, information
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
Date: Saturday, Sept. 9
Location: Beaver Stadium at University Park, Pa.
Weather: Temperature will be in the low-60s with partly cloudy skies
The line: Penn State -21
How to watch on TV: The Nittany Lions and Panthers are playing on ABC.
How to watch online: The game can be watched on WatchESPN.
How to listen: The game can be heard on the Penn State Sports Network. You can listen to the game here.
Penn State-Pitt preview
A rivalry that spans three centuries resumes Saturday afternoon. Penn State leads the all-time series, with a 50-43-4 record. However, Pittsburgh presently has bragging rights.
The Panthers defeated Penn State, 42-39, last September. It was the first matchup between these programs since 2000, and the outcome ultimately prevented Penn State from reaching the College Football Playoff. Pitt also went on to defeat eventual national champion Clemson last fall.
The Nittany Lions handled business Sept. 2 in a season-opening victory over Akron. QB Trace McSorley collected 280 passing yards, 48 rushing yards and 3 total touchdowns, while RB Saquan Barkley established himself as an early Heisman Trophy candidate with 226 offensive yards and 2 scores.
Pitt dealt with quite a scare in its opener, heading to overtime against FCS opponent Youngstown State. The Panthers prevailed in overtime, 28-21, rushing for more than 200 yards in the process.
Penn State enters this rematch as a heavy favorite and fans hoping for revenge could make life difficult on Panthers QB Max Browne. The Lions will have a student section White Out for the game.
Nittany Lions coach James Franklin addressed this matchup during his weekly media conference, illustrating his team’s week-to-week approach this season.
“This is the Super Bowl for us because it’s the game we play Saturday,” Franklin said Tuesday. “Last week, our Super Bowl was Akron. I think when I say these things, people act like I’m trying to say the Pitt game is not a big game. It’s a huge game. It’s the most important game we have on our schedule. Last week, [Akron] was the most important game that we had on our schedule. That’s just how we’re going to approach it.”

domain: sports


text:
Return 2 Earth Compost quality, is assured through the diversity of materials used, the monitoring of the processes used and finally screening through a 14 millimetre mesh to maintain consistent aggregates in the end product.
Quality control is an important part of Return 2 Earth’s process, so as rows of compost reach maturity, samples are taken from them and both germination and early growth tests are conducted in seed trays using radish, lettuce and a brassica. Regular laboratory testing and field trials will also be undertaken in the future. In the final process materials are screened through a 14 mm screen to provide a consistent aggregate yet maintain smaller wooden particles to allow for on going biological breakdown and a continuing food source for the biology that is delivered within the product.
Provided that finished product is kept reasonably dry it spreads very well through bulk trucks fitted with wide belt systems and if dry storage is unavailable then specialised compost spreaders handle damper product with ease.
Return 2 Earth is continuing to grow and develop with assistance from qualified advisors and very much appreciates any feed back whatsoever from customers and service providers. This is considered very important to us as company so we can learn and improve our services.

domain: agronomy


Full Sail Stories
Published Nov 20, 2012
Three Grads Credited on 2012 Latin Grammy Winners
Full Sail graduates Samuel Allison, Dustin Higgins, and Ronald Sharpless were credited on winning projects in six different categories.
The 13th Annual Latin Grammy ceremony was held in Las Vegas last week, recognizing many of the genre’s most popular artists, as well as some exciting newcomers. Looking at the winners, we were proud to see that Full Sail graduates Samuel Allison, Dustin Higgins, and Ronald Sharpless were credited on winning projects in six different categories – including Album of the Year.
Ron Sharpless (Recording Arts, 2004) worked as audio technician on the Juanes hit MTV Unplugged, which walked away with Album of the Year. The record also netted two additional awards, including Best Long From Music Video and Producer of the Year for industry vet Juan Luis Guerra. MTV Unplugged has had a strong chart presence since its release this summer, reaching number one on Billboard’s Latin Albums chart.
Best Latin Jazz Album and Best Engineered Album went to Arturo Sandoval’s Dear Diz (Every Day I Think of You). Recording Arts grad Dustin Higgins (2005) was engineer on the album, and also contributed guitar work. Sandoval has been a fixture in Latin jazz for nearly four decades, and has collaborated with other artists like Frank Sinatra, Celine Dion, Alicia Keys, and Justin Timberlake.
Finally, 2005 Recording Arts grad Sam Allison was Assistant Engineer on Luis Enrique’s Soy Y Sere, which was the winner for Best Salsa Album. The record was the follow up to Enrique’s popular 2009 release Ciclos, a previous Latin Grammy winner.
We’d like to congratulate these three grads, as well as the additional alumni who worked on this year’s range of Latin Grammy nominees. In total there were 14 graduates of our Recording Arts program credited on 14 artist releases nominated in 15 total categories.


text:
The developers and owners of the Fashion Mall in Plantation said Tuesday that they intend to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
"The purpose of the bankruptcy filings is to place the assets in the hands of professional fiduciaries in order to maximize value for all concerned," according to a statement released by U.S. Capital Holdings, its parent and a subsidiary.
U.S. Capital, a Chinese investment firm, has said for years that it planned to redevelop the shuttered mall on Broward Boulevard near University Drive. The 321 North project was to include a mix of offices, shops, apartments and restaurants.
But the vision was hampered by a series of financial problems and delays related to the recession.
Brett Lieberman, a Fort Lauderdale-based lawyer for the developers and owners, said his clients intend to bid on the property at a public auction. He said plans for the redevelopment have been approved, so he expects the eventual buyer to continue the project.

domain: finance


text: This is something I've never seen before today. The dust jacket to the 1924 second impression of Rolfe's In His Own Image. This is only described in Woolf's bibliography as a "White art-paper jacket lettered and decorated in blue and black." In actual fact it was illustrated by one of the early 20th Century's most prolific illustrators, Frank C. Pape, and one who lived through the 1890s as a teenager and whose early work has been 'accused' of being a little too influenced by that period. Fortunately, I don't have to tell you his life-story because there's a brilliant introduction to his life and work right here.


text:
MANHATTAN, Kan. — On Dec. 7, the Kansas Corn Growers Association responded to EPA’s announced ethanol volumes. After months of delays, EPA released the proposed biofuel blending volumes for the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in its Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) proposal. The statutory level for conventional ethanol is 15 billion gallons per year. The proposal was a mixed bag in which EPA set the 2022 volume level at 15 billion gallons for 2022, but set the 2021 RVO at 13.32 billion gallons.
Then, in an unprecedented move, EPA revised the finalized 2020 RVO level of 15 billion gallons, reducing it to 12.5 billion gallons. The RVO sets the yearly level for renewable fuels required by the RFS, the mechanism that provides market access to renewable fuels.
“Cuts in the ethanol RVO mean cuts in corn demand. EPA’s volume levels for conventional ethanol over those three years destroy demand for over 1.5 billion bushels of corn,” KCGA CEO Greg Krissek said. “We do appreciate EPA meeting the statutory level for ethanol in 2022. But we see a cut in 2021 volumes, and we are alarmed that they would reopen the 2020 RVO, a rule that was already finalized.”
EPA said the retroactive 2020 cut was based on reduced fuel consumption. However, the RFS is already designed to respond to reductions in demand.
Kansas Corn was pleased with the announcement of $100 million toward ethanol infrastructure projects from USDA, also announced. Kansas Corn has been a leader in utilizing previous USDA funds for adding infrastructure to help retailers offer higher ethanol blends. KCGA was also pleased that EPA agreed to deny the 65 pending small refinery exemption requests.
KCGA President Brent Rogers of Hoxie said the Biden Administration should not lower ethanol levels because ethanol plays a major role in meeting climate goals.
“EPA should increase, not decrease ethanol volumes. Ethanol is the fuel that is being used nationwide today that is actually achieving climate goals in a big way,” Rogers said. “When you’re looking at achieving carbon goals, ethanol continues to be the answer. It is already blended in 96 percent of our nation’s gasoline supply and ethanol continues to have the greatest impact on lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, it’s renewable, domestic and lowers fuel costs for consumers.”
The Kansas Corn Growers Association represents its members in legislative and regulatory issues and promotes Kansas corn and its products.
— Kansas Corn Growers Association