Installations have a strategic importance in the life of various buildings, supporting human activities and having a major impact upon the quality of life.
Taking into account existing resources and costs and with a careful examination of each functional, technical, economic and environmental detail, we develop projects for a wide array of specialties in a flexible, complex and well-structured system: low and high voltage, power supply, remote power control, filter ventilation and air conditioning, sanitation, mechanic (elevators, civil defence gates), electric systems, catenary, both for underground and surface systems. All the above-mentioned documentations are in accordance with our design strategy in the fields of underground or surface public urban transport infrastructure, underground urban infrastructure, industrial civil and social-administrative civil engineering.
The Complex Installations Department avails of staff with a solid professional background, experienced and motivated by past accomplishments and current prospects. We are a young team, bringing forth new ideas, we stay up to date with the latest changes and developments in our field, thus aiming at satisfying our clients through high-quality services and creative spirit.
Through strategic thinking and teamwork, the ”turn-key” projects that we deliver in a full package of systems are effective and feasible solutions from both a technical and financial perspective, in line with the most modern projects carried out worldwide.
Our department provides an integrated package of services, starting with technical consultancy and assistance for all design stages. We provide modern solutions for mean and low voltage electric and power supply systems, control and monitoring through SCADA remote power control systems – automation and control/supervision and BMS of low voltage power supply and distribution systems.
We are able to quickly respond to all client needs through feasible solutions in terms of quality and price by selecting the best ambient and industrial lighting routes as well as systems and routes of filter ventilation, cooling and plumbing routes, always providing the desired solution, adapted to client needs.
Also, we are able to meet the needs of our existing and prospective clients through a diverse offer in terms of solutions of system routes and equipment procurement. Our mission is to provide each client with the best equipment procurement solution as regards the technical operating parameters, with an optimised dimension and location.


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Nephrology and Urology of Small Animals provides veterinarians with the knowledge needed to effectively diagnose and treat urologic diseases in canine, feline, and exotic patients. Serving as an easy-to-use, comprehensive clinical reference, the text takes an evidence-based approach to detailed coverage of specific diseases and disorders, including etiology and prevalence, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, prognosis, controversies, and references. Coverage also includes practical review of anatomy and physiology of the urinary system, fundamentals of diagnostic testing and therapeutic techniques.
This issue of Veterinary Clinics: Small Animal Practice, edited by Dr. Mary Anna Labato and Dr. Mark J. Acierno, focuses on current topics in Urology. Articles include: Urinary incontinence; Inappropriate urinations; Upper tract urolithiasis; Nutritional management of urolithiasis; Feline Idiopathic Cystitis (FIC); Urinary Tract Infection (UTI); Stem cell therapy; Importance of urinalysis; Urinary tract cytology; DI of the urinary tract; Interventional therapies of the urinary tract; Urologic oncology; and Nutraceuticals for urine tract use.
This two-volume masterwork offers explicit guidelines for evaluating patients, selecting the right operation, and implementing clinically proven procedures. It covers major topics relevant to the field such as oncology, ophthalmology, dentistry, the nervous system, the urinary and reproductive systems, and more. The up-to-date 3rd edition features an increased emphasis on decision-making algorithms and high-quality images that depict relevant anatomy, diagnostic features, and sequential steps in operative procedures. Expanded, detailed coverage assists the reader with learning and applying the latest surgical techniques. Contributors from three different continents and 17 countries, outstanding in their fields, lend a global perspective to the work. Extensive, high-quality illustrations aid the reader in clear visualization of techniques, instrumentation, and diagnosis. References for each chapter direct the reader to further sources of information. An appendix of normal laboratory values for the dog and cat put this essential information within easy reach. A cardiopulmonary resuscitation algorithm is printed on the inside front cover for quick and easy reference. A quick guide to evaluation and initial stabilization of life-threatening cardiopulmonary complications is printed on the inside back cover for immediate access to crucial information. The section on critical care has been expanded to include more complete information. 10 new section editors and 146 new contributors bring new insight to topics in their areas of expertise. 38 new chapters, including a chapter on arthroscopy, reflect current knowledge and advances. Detailed coverage of surgery techniques present explicit, easy-to-follow guidelines and procedures. An increased emphasis on decision-making algorithms makes the book even more clinically useful. Each chapter has been thoroughly revised, providing the most comprehensive scope of coverage for each topic.
This text begins with an orientation to the principles of surgical complications - which are often correctable or preventable. The authors move onto targeted discussions on the types of problems associated with different kinds of surgical procedures, organized according to region.
-- A revision of the Definitive diagnostic guide for practitioners and students!-- Approximately 80 new tests have been added.-- New Dynamic Testing section explores how this method of series lab evaluation can aid in the early detection of disease, monitoring response to therapy and disclosing age-based changes.
Dr. Joseph Bartges has assembled an expert panel of authors on the topic of Urology. Articles include: Urinalysis, Diagnostic imaging of lower urinary tract disease, Cystoscopy, Interventional urology, Congenital lower urinary tract diseases, Urinary tract infections, Feline idiopathic cystitis, Complementary and alternative therapies for lower urinary tract diseases, and more!

domain: library


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Petronas Chemicals saw its shares rise by 19 sen to RM8.56 while Sime Darby Plantation gained 18 sen to RM4.96.
The benchmark FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) increased 6.80 points or 0.41 per cent to end at the day’s high of 1,682.23 compared with Thursday’s close of 1,675.43.
The index opened 3.91 points weaker at 1,672.24 this morning and moved between 1,672.09 and 1,682.23 throughout the day.
Market breadth was positive with gainers trumping losers 474 to 338, while 403 counters were unchanged, 672 untraded and 22 others suspended.
However, turnover fell to 2.23 billion units valued at RM3.05 billion from 2.27 billion units worth RM2.28 billion recorded yesterday.
A dealer said the local bourse bucked the regional trend to finish higher, thanks to its abundant natural resources.
“While some of its regional peers are struggling to track Wall Street’s exuberance, Bursa Malaysia, as a defensive market, received buying support led by industrial products and services and plantation,” he said, adding that the last time the index hit the 1,682.23 level was in February this year.
Today, Brent crude rose 0.51 per cent to US$64.78 per barrel amid fresh worries over a military confrontation between Tehran and Washington.
On the home front, export duty on crude palm oil is being maintained at zero per cent for July in a bid to boost palm oil exports and expand into new markets.
Among the heavyweights, Maybank was flat at RM8.94, Public Bank went down two sen to RM23.06 while Tenaga improved two sen to RM13.90.
As for the active stocks, cleanroom gloves exporter CE Technology Bhd, which made its debut on Bursa Malaysia’s Leading Entrepreneur Accelerator Platform (LEAP) Market today, saw its shares increase by five sen to 29 sen, Iskandar Waterfront inched up six sen to RM1.10 and Ekovest was one sen better at 85.5 sen.
The FBM Emas Index appreciated 63.23 points to 11,849.51, the FBMT 100 Index increased 63.45 points to 11,704.01 and the FBM Emas Shariah Index advanced 77.66 points to 12,210.42.
The FBM 70 jumped 145.50 points to 14,699.10 and the FBM Ace went up 35.42 points to 4,397.34.
Sector-wise, the Financial Services Index rose 54.56 points to 16,746.56, the Industrial Products and Services Index edged up 1.6 points to 162.12 and the Plantation Index was 48.79 points higher at 7,019.54.
Main Market volume appreciated to 1.5 billion shares worth RM2.85 billion from 1.36 billion shares valued at RM2 billion recorded yesterday.
Warrants turnover fell to 450.77 million units worth RM98.29 million versus 540.16 million units valued at RM110.51 million.
Volume on the ACE Market decreased to 275.88 million shares worth RM96.62 million against 362.92 million shares valued at RM58.17 million.
Consumer products and services accounted for 214.87 million shares traded on the Main Market, industrial products and services (190.74 million), construction (171.34 million), technology (130.93 million), SPAC (nil), financial services (78.98 million), property (177.45 million), plantation (34.72 million), REITs (24.09 million), closed/fund (100), energy (299.76 million), healthcare (34.90 million), telecommunications and media (61.66 million), transportation and logistics (37.90 million), and utilities (38.60 million). — Bernama
Source: The Malay Mail Online

domain: news


. The head coach of the Russian national team Stanislav Cherchesov entered into a polemic with the commentator of "Match TV" Denis Kazansky. Cherchesov's negative reaction was caused by the question about the status of Krasnodar goalkeeper Matvey Safonov in the national team. So, Kazansky asked why Safonov and Spartak goalkeeper Alexander Maksimenko remain in the youth team. "Isn't it reasonable to call one in the main one for the position of the third, and leave one in the youth?" - Kazansky was surprised.


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Deborah Ann Woll has revealed that she’s been finding it very hard to get a job in Hollywood after having starred in Netflix’s Daredevil series.
She is brilliant in the Marvel Netflix TV shows she starred in as Karen Page.
Woll was in Daredevil, The Punisher and The Defenders as Page.
She was one of the best things about both those shows.
Before appearing in these Marvel Netflix TV shows, Woll starred as Jessica Hamby in HBO’s True Blood.
However, she recently revealed she’s been finding it hard to get work ever since the Netflix shows ended.
That sounds so strange to me given how excellent she is in those shows, but it seems to be true.
She hasn’t appeared in much since those Marvel TV shows came to an end.
Woll’s been in two movies, Silver Lake in 2018 and Escape Room in 2019, but nothing since then.
Deborah Ann Woll can’t seem to get a gig after Daredevil
The actress recently appeared on Joe Q’s Mornin’ Warm Up show this week and that was when she revealed that she’s been struggling to get work ever since starring in Daredevil.
Here’s what she said in full on the issue:
I’m just really wondering whether I’ll get to work again, whether anyone wants to work with me again, and whether I still have it, all of those scary things. And part of my brain goes, ‘No, you’re just being crazy, calm down.’ But the part of me that loves [acting] and the problem with being an artist and an actor, and any of these professions where you put a piece of your soul into your work, is that it becomes a part of your identity… If I’m not acting, I’m not sure who I am. And since it’s been so long since I’ve really gotten to do it, I’m struggling a little bit with how to maintain my self-worth, my sense of my own value.
There doesn’t really seem to be a reason behind Woll’s lack of work since her time playing Page ended.
She’s a fantastic actress. Hopefully, given some time she’ll be getting lots of roles in Hollywood movies and TV shows again.
What do you make of this news?
Are you as surprised as I was to find out that Deborah Ann Woll isn’t getting any job offers after starring in Daredevil?
Let us know in the comments below.
And if you enjoy listening to film podcasts, why not check out Small Screen Radio wherever you get your podcasts!

domain: artistic


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The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) held its 48th general meeting in Sydney on 13 MARCH 2020. The discussion focussed on several key issues of national significance including a ban on the export of waste plastic, paper, glass and tyres.
The Communiqué released from the COAG meeting noted that:
“Leaders agreed to introduce a ban on the export of waste plastic, paper, glass and tyres, fulfilling the commitment they made in August 2019. The ban will be phased in, commencing from 1 July 2020. Leaders also agreed a national response strategy to drive implementation of the ban and help reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfill. In line with the response strategy, governments will expand on work with industry to invest in growing the Australian recycling industry and build markets for recycled products.”
Improving our waste and recycling performance is now being addressed on a national basis and with a higher degree of cooperation and coordination than previously experienced.
In particular, the Federal Government is taking a strong leadership role with commitments to review the used packaging NEPM while also investigating regulatory options and the possibility of co-regulatory or mandatory product stewardship schemes for tyres, solar panels and batteries.
Also positive, is a stronger position by all Governments to support procurement measures that can underpin recycling and recycled content in construction, manufacturing and infrastructure projects.
The COAG outcome is certainly trending in the right direction and represents noteworthy cooperation across Governments. It also signals a new level of accountability and transparency in policy setting, program delivery and measurable outcomes.
Effective execution and implementation of the COAG response strategy will be essential, as will timely deliver of programs and investment.
A copy of the response strategy can be downloaded here:
Do you have queries about the COAG response strategy?
If you have any questions about the COAG outcomes, please contact the Nick Harford at Equilibrium on 0419 993 234


City of Princeton
Princeton Police Department
Troy was happy to meet Princeton Police Officer Combs at this year’s Bike Rodeo. He sat in the SWAT Humvee and was given a “Police, Your Friends For Life” treat bag, before riding his bike through the obstacle course. By fostering positive interaction, Police will be his friends for life.
- In case of Emergency, Call 911.
- Non-emergency calls: 304-425-8911
- Police Department Telephone: 304-487-5000
- Police Department Fax: 304-487-5002
- Anonymous Tip Line
All applicants must have a High School diploma or GED. Applicants must have a valid drivers license. Applicants must meet or exceed minimum physical requirements. Applicants will be expected to attend West Virginia State Police Academy. Applicants must complete appropriate paperwork, including the city employee appplication, the medical release form, and the release of information form.


Ibrahim Shekarau, a former Governor of Kano State, has made up his mind to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
According to Sule Ya’u Sule, Shekarau’s media aide who spoke with Daily Trust and on Freedom Radio, the former Governor’s decision to dump PDP was reached after “heated debates” with his supporters.
“I want confirm to you that Shekarau has decided to defect from PDP to APC due to the injustice meted on him and his supporters by the PDP leadership,” he said.
“My boss has met with Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, in Abuja yesterday and concluded plans for our return to APC. He will meet with all the concerned stakeholders in Kano and then make his defection public.”
He said there was no way they could remain in PDP watching the national leadership of the party dance to the tune of Rabiu Kwankwaso, a presidential aspirant and former Governor of the state, at the expense of other leaders of the party.
He also complained about the dissolution of Kano State executives by the national headquarters of the party despite a court restraining order.
Shekarau, a two-time former Governor of Kano (2003 to 2011) and former Minister of Education (2014 to 2015), contested the 2011 presidential election on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).
He joined PDP in 2014


text:
Use mouse or Space button on keyboard
The most well known game for its difficulty - flappy bird unblocked offers you a wide range of difficulties including green pipes to overcome. The game puts your skills and abilities to test so fly through the labyrinth-like obstacles and see how many points you can get for the distance that you have covered.
Date Added: 2014-02-22
Played 3875 times

domain: game


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The cancellation of these changes was confirmed in the 2015 rate announcement and final call letter for Medicare Advantage and prescription drug benefit (Part D) programs released by CMS on yesterday. Rep. Kelly’s bipartisan letter – co-singed by 16 members of Congress – can be viewed here.
“Our nation’s seniors deserve the utmost comfort and peace of mind when it comes to their health. The cuts to Medicare Part D recently proposed by CMS would have jeopardized the success of that program in meeting the needs of the generation to whom we owe so much gratitude and who rely so dearly upon our care. I am heartened that CMS took our concerns into account when issuing the final call letter, I thank those who stood with me to protect our seniors, and I look forward to working with leaders in both parties to keep Medicare fully protected for those who depend on it.”
Copyright 2017 Nexstar Broadcasting, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Reports from British paper The Telegraph and CNN said apologies were offered by White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer and National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster.
Britain's intelligence agency had earlier dismissed as "utterly ridiculous" the claims.
The White House will not repeat again claims that British spies snooped on Donald Trump, Britain said Friday after the United Kingdom eavesdropping agency branded them "utterly ridiculous" in a rare public denial.
'That was a statement made by a very talented lawyer on Fox.
Mr Spicer quoted Mr Napolitano as saying: "Three intelligence sources have informed Fox News that President Obama went outside the chain of command".
Leaders from the House and Senate Intelligence Committees asked the Justice Department for evidence after Trump called for a congressional inquiry into his as-yet-unproven wiretapping claims.
White House press secretary Sean Spicer used the allegation in an effort to validate an as yet unproven claim by Trump's that Obama tapped his phones past year.
Mr Spicer's intervention came shortly after the US Senate Intelligence Committee released a statement saying it had seen no evidence to support the US president's claim - made in a series of Twitter posts earlier this month - that Mr Obama had bugged Trump Towers.
On Friday, the Justice Department said it had complied with requests from the Intelligence and Judiciary Committees in both houses of Congress for information related to surveillance during the 2016 election.
Manchester City confident over potential deal for Lionel Messi
While I wouldn't say it's a must win for Pep, it's certainly a "must not lose" for Liverpool . Liverpool finished eighth in the Premier League and without a trophy last season.
Ranking member Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, said he was "absolutely confident" the DOJ report would not back up Trump's allegation.
He added: "We have received assurances that these allegations won't be repeated and this shows the administration doesn't give the allegations any credence".
Spicer spoke to Darroch face-to-face at a White House St. Patrick's Day event, according to a British government official, who described the meeting as "serious" in tone and said it was not cordial. We aren't responsible for you believing them.
"We're talking about the president of the US". Mr. Johnson said he was one of the sources for Mr. Napolitano's claim about British intelligence.
Susan Rice, national security adviser in the Obama administration, said Spicer's claims put the intelligence-sharing relationship between the United States and UK at risk."The cost of falsely blaming our closest ally for something this consequential can not be overstated", she wrote on Twitter.
Trump has accused Obama of ordering wiretaps at his Trump Tower in NY, but two weeks after the extraordinary claim, he has not delivered any evidence. "Nothing found. This is McCarthyism!" he tweeted.
Fox News said it could not confirm the allegations.
"But wiretap covers a lot of different things. So you shouldn't be talking to me; you should be talking to Fox".


NOTICE: A representative from Colonial Pipeline joined us at our meeting and laid out plans for tree removal along the pipeline right of way. As of now, they are planning to remove only the pine trees along Andover Rd. near the athletic fields that are directly over the pipeline. These trees are endangering the protective coatings on the existing pipes. They plan to replace these trees with a different species that will be safer for the pipes and will also clear vines and other vegetation that are impacting other trees in that area. Nobody wants to see trees removed but this is being done to prevent a future problem for Linthicum and the pipelines.


COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - The head of Danish shipping and oil group A.P. Moller-Maersk (MAERSKb.CO) said the performance of its container shipping arm had been disappointing but the group’s strategy was paying off and the business should be better positioned a year from now.
Maersk, which operates the world’s biggest container shipping company Maersk Line, has been hit by losses in container shipping, as the global shipping market is now into a fourth year of a slump, though freight rates have risen this year, which analysts say has created prospects of a turnaround.
“Although we are not as well positioned as we hoped to be a year ago, the early signs are positive and I am optimistic that Maersk Line will be in a much stronger position in a year’s time,” Chief Executive Nils Smedegaard Andersen said in the company magazine Maersk Post, published on Friday.
He said the development in container freight rates and profitability for Maersk Line had been disappointing, but the company was working to restore rates to sustainable levels.
Maersk updated its strategy in August last year to focus on four core business areas: container shipping, oil and gas production, oil services and ports operations.
The group is also seeking to expand in emerging markets.
“In spite of the difficult short and medium-term outlook for world markets, I am convinced that our clear strategy and strong and consistent execution will enable us to strengthen our foundation and enable us to increase the Group’s results over the coming years,” Andersen said.
Since the launch of the updated strategy last August, the group has invested $12.23 billion in its four core businesses, with the most - $4.75 billion - going into its oil services business which includes oil rigs, drillships and offshore supply vessels, Maersk Post said.
The second biggest slice - $3.98 billion - has gone to the oil and gas business, with Maersk Line getting $1.90 billion and the ports arm APM Terminals $1.61 billion, the magazine said.
Andersen said Maersk Line now needs to squeeze out the last unnecessary costs and work to restore rates by expanding its fleet only as fast as the market.
A.P. Moller-Maersk, which is scheduled to report first-half results on August 14, has forecast a profit for 2012 slightly lower than the $3.4 billion it made in 2011, and a “negative up to neutral” result for Maersk Line this year.
Some analysts have said that recent freight rate increases could lead the group to upgrade guidance for Maersk Line.
Shares in A.P. Moller-Maersk were down 0.2 percent by 1206 GMT, against a 0.8 percent rise in the Copenhagen bourse’s benchmark index .OMXC20.
Reporting by John Acher; Editing by Susan Fenton


It’s the dream job of millions – and working in the belly of the music business can certainly turn up some spellbinding moments. It’s why we all do it. But what they don’t tell you in the dream factory is that nothing’s ever easy, and there are plenty of hard lessons to learn in this […]
Congrats Edward Newbon of London town!
What’s it like to work on the bleeding edge of dance music?
Why Wembley Stadium and getting sacked have been vital touchpoints in Geoff’s career


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Oct 21, 2012, 2:20 PM EDT
With the players’ locked out, the NHLPA has been working to surprise minor hockey players by attending their practices, according to a TSN report.
“Someone needs to gain by this work stoppage, and why not youth hockey?” said former NHL head coach and current Detroit Red Wings assistant Tom Renney. “I think players participating in youth practices as guest instructors or participants is wonderful. Also, I know of a healthy number of NHL coaches doing the same thing.
“Honest to goodness good intentions.”
One recent example is Daniel Alfredsson, who spent some time with the 16-year-old members of a Midget B team in Ottawa last week.
“It was a lot of fun,” Alfredsson told The Associated Press. “The surprise of the kids — they were just going to start scrimmaging when I stepped on the ice. And they said, ‘What are you doing here?’ They were so shocked.”
Alfredsson stayed after the practice to sign autographs and talk with the teens and plenty of other young hockey players have gotten similar memories over the past weeks.
Already, at least 75 players have combined to log more than 100 hours practicing with over 1,000 kids.
- Hawks’ biggest question: What happens with Patrick Kane? 61
- Hall of Famer Al Arbour passes away 21
- Poll: Who will be San Jose’s next captain? 24
- Mike Richards charged with possession of controlled substance 95
- Gio won’t go: Flames extend Giordano for six years, $40.5M 13
- Pens’ plan for now: Crosby starts as Kessel’s center 25
- O, Dear: Russia fined $85K for skipping Canadian anthem 31
- Kings ink Ehrhoff to a one-year, $1.5 million deal 27
- Quebec City, Vegas advance to final phase of NHL expansion process 50
- Here’s the full NHL 2015 preseason schedule, starting Sept. 20 5


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Alexander Gemignani is an American singer and actor and is part of the Chicago Cast, which took to stage on September 27. Gemignani currently plays the role of King George III.
Alexander Cesare Gemignani (born July 3, 1979) is a Broadway actor and tenor. Gemignani was raised in Tenafly, New Jersey and is a graduate of the University of Michigan's Musical Theater Department. He is the son of Broadway musical director Paul Gemignani and soprano Carolann Page.

domain: entertainment


Parents will always be the bad guys
[Original article here]
GILLIAN ANDERSON became an international star at 25 playing special agent Dana Scully in hit US television show The X Files.
Now 42, she spent her initial years in London before leaving for America, aged 11, with her parents, where she admits to having some wild teenage years.
Gillian now lives in London with daughter Piper, 16, from first husband Clyde Klotz, and sons Oscar, four, and Felix, two, with partner Mark Griffiths.
Having established herself as a top-notch actress in British films, Gillian has come in for high praise for her latest TV role as Wallis Simpson in Channel 4’s Any Human Heart.
“WHEN I moved with my parents from London to America at 11, I hated it.
There was part of me which wanted to put the brakes on and scream: ‘This is not happening.’
But it did happen and I had some difficult, rebellious teenage years. When I left high school my classmates voted me Most Likely To Be Arrested!
What I learned about those years is that I should have talked more about what I was feeling instead of behaving in a silent, resentful way.
Although I was born in America, I regarded London as home. But I then found myself living with my parents in the middle of Michigan.
What a culture shock.
Exactly the same thing happened, in reverse, with my own daughter Piper.
She was brought up in America and I brought her with me — aged 11 — when I moved back to London.
The biggest lesson I learned from being 18 is that I should have talked more about my feelings.
The result is that I now talk to Piper non-stop.
I have often wondered what the pay-back might be for my own adventurous teenage past.
Part of me thinks that the relationship between teenage girls and their mums is set in stone. The parent is always going to be the bad guy. There is a reason, in my opinion, why teenagers have to go through a tough time.
If they did not forcibly separate themselves by saying: ‘You are the enemy,’ there is no way kids would be able to leave home.
But I do think plenty of talking to each other — and talking through everything — is the way forward.
I have been given a chance to do things differently with my own daughter — and hope she comes away from it with positive memories.
She is curious about the fact that she has spent a good period of her life growing up on a film set.
That was just the way it had to be at the time.
I was in The X Files and working non-stop. It is not an ideal way to bring up a child. But I would not want to be a teenager again.
That is certainly one lesson I’ve learned. I have always felt older. Even in my twenties, I wanted to be 34 or 36.
Life goes at such speed, though, it is like a whirlwind and you don’t appreciate how quickly it will go by when you are 18.
I just spent my life showing up and doing what was in front of me, as an actress.
I remember getting The X Files, my first marriage, the pregnancy, my first baby and the divorce — all within three years. I was so wrapped up in the here and now.
The incredible work rate on the show made life more acute, in a sense.
I had all the advantages of a hit show and being able to travel comfortably.
But there were things I could never do, like hitchhike across Europe, which I wish I had done. I do not generally handle time off very well.
So a lot of the time off is spent with me trying to deal with it successfully.
Mark has helped. We met through mutual friends.
He has a very good head on his shoulders and part of me was ready to be grounded. I am able to do small-budget films which interest me, because earnings from The X Files have allowed me to do them. It is a lovely position to be in and I feel alive and creative, both as an actress and a mother.”


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Philips CPAP Recall May Have Been Incomplete and Probably Came Years Too Late, Per FDA Report
According to alarming findings from a recently released FDA inspection report, a massive Philips Respironics CPAP recall issued last summer may not have covered all of breathing machines with toxic sound abatement foam, and likely came years later than it should have, after the company repeatedly failed to investigate reports that clearly identified problems with CPAP foam deteriorating.
While initial media reports suggested that Philips Repsironics was recalling about 3 million DreamStation, CPAP, BiPAP and mechanical ventilators in June 2021, the FDA inspection report (PDF) issued late last week indicates that over 15 million devices have been recalled, and that may not include all CPAP machines that pose a health risk for consumers.
Did you experience problems with a Philips CPAP Machine?
Lawsuits are being pursued by consumers left with breathing problems, lung damage or cancer diagnosis.
What the FDA describes as “on-going, Class 1 medical device recalls” have been issued due to problems with a polyester polyurthane (PE-PUR) foam in the breathing machines, which may degrade during usage and release toxic chemicals or debris directly into the machine’s air pathways and users lungs.
As a result of the severe health risks from the CPAP foam, health officials immediately urged all owners of the impacted DreamStation, CPAP and BiPAP machines to immediately stop using them, unless they were necessary for life-sustaining therapy.
However, the FDA is now raising serious questions about whether other devices containing the same PE-PUR foam should have been recalled.
“There is no documented investigation, risk analysis, or design failure mode effect analysis to support your firm’s rationale for which polyester polyurethane foam-containing products were affected, included, or not included in your firm’s ongoing recalls,” according to observations made by FDA officials during a recently conducted inspection. “[T]herefore, you have not sufficiently demonstrated that other devices, also containing polyester polyurethane foam, should not be included in your ongoing recalls, as well.”
Recalling Philips CPAP Machines Came After Years of Safety Signals
When announcing a Philips CPAP recall repair and replacement program in September, the manufacturer indicated that more than 80% of the impacted devices were from the first-generation DreamStation family of products, which were launched with the PE-PUR sound abatement foam in October 2015. However, the FDA inspection report outlines a series of complaints, reports and emails that document the company was aware of issues with the foam degrading and continued to manufacturer and sell the CPAP, BiPAP and ventilators.
For years, DreamStation CPAP machines have been marketed for its quite operation due to the PE-PUR sound abatement foam, but the inspection report suggests that Philips Respironics was ignoring information that clearly established the CPAP foam was deteriorating and releasing particles into the machine air pathways that posed serious health risks for consumers.
Complaints of CPAP Foam Degrading and “Disintegrating”
Since 2008, the FDA indicates it identified at least 222,000 consumer complaints reported to Philips Respironics involving keywords that should have raised alarm about problems with foam deteriorating and releasing black particles or debris into the machine airways. However, no actions were taken to adequately investigate the problems or issue recalls until 2021.
Beginning in October 2015, the same month the popular DreamStation CPAP machine was introduced, the FDA indicates that there were emails between Philips Respironics and a raw foam supplier about the polyester polyurethane foam degrading. In August 2016, a subsequent email from the supplier implied that the CPAP foam degradation could occur in a very short amount of time.
The FDA also outlined multiple instances and field reports that found the PE-PUR foam degraded, with disintegrated pieces pulled into the patient’s tubing, face masks or air pathways.
Formaldehyde Released by Philips DreamStation
One of the instances described by the FDA investigators involved a Philips DreamStation 1 machine that failed emissions testing in early 2019, documenting that during initial operations the machine exceed the tolerable limits of formaldehyde, a probable human carcinogen that has been linked to a risk of myeloid leukemia and other cancers.
Other reports also identified the release of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from the PE-PUR sound abatement foam, and the FDA indicates that some affected foam was later found to be “mutagenic, cytotoxic, carcinogenic and non-biocompatible,” yet inadequate steps were taken to investigate the problems or warn owners of the CPAP machines.
“A risk analysis is inadequate or was not performed when appropriate or within an appropriate time frame of your firm becoming aware of potential polyester polyurethane foam degradation and/or Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emission concerns regarding various CPAP, BiPAP and ventilator devices,” the report states. “Specifically, there were at least fourteen instances, assessments, and/or test reports, dated from 04/01/2016 to 01/22/2021, where your firm was aware of issues and concerns related to potential foam degradation and/or Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions, with various Sleep and respiratory care devices…”
Philips CPAP Litigation
Thousands of individuals are now pursuing Philips CPAP recall lawsuits against the manufacturer, alleging that they developed cancer or other severe respiratory problems after exposure to the PE-PUR foam, and the FDA findings are certain to play a major role in the litigation.
“Management with executive responsibility has not ensured that the quality policy is understood, implemented and maintained at all levels of the organization,” according the FDA inspectors. “Specifically, firm management, including management with executive responsibility, were aware of potential foam degradation issues concerning CPAPs, BiPAPs and Trilogy ventilators since at least 1/31/2020, or earlier, and implemented no further corrective actions until April 2021… Additionally, your firm became aware of this issue and related field complaints in at least 2015 or earlier.”
Given common questions of fact and law raised in complaints filed throughout the federal court system, the Philips CPAP recall litigation has been centralized before U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Savage in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, for coordinated discovery and potential settlement negotiations.
Philips Respironics parent company, Koninklijke Philips, N.V., generated over $23 billion in revenue last year, and is expected to face massive liability over the next few years as a result of their apparent decision to place profits before consumer safety.
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domain: law


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In the UK, the capital is equal parts posh and artsy. From the snazzy restaurants in Mayfair, all the way east to the young-and-hip Shoreditch area, London has plenty to offer for the aficionado of design.
1. Dine at sketch
A destination for food, art and music, sketch, created by Mourad Mazouz and Pierre Gagnaire, is split into several areas: The Gallery, an all-pink tea room that is also David Shirgley’s gallery; The Lecture Room & Library, The Parlour, The Glade which is a bar straight off a Disney fairytale forest and The East Bar. The highlight, however, is the neon pink, spaceship-like bathrooms. sketch.london
2. Hip hotel
Not just for its eclectic industrial design, the Ace Hotel Shoreditch has become an iconic symbol for London’s young urban scene, especially due to its location in Shoreditch, a fashionable part of London that is brimming with tech and creative entrepreneurs developing offices and studios. acehotel.com
3. Brutalist Architecture
There are various walking tours arranged to visit London’s Brutalist-style buildings. Prior to joining one, check out UK-based photographer Darren Black’s Instagram dedicated to everyone’s favourite monuments to raw concrete. @konstructionhaus
4. What to Read
Jeremy Till, head of central St Martins and vice-chancellor of University of the Arts London argues in his intriguing book “Architecture Depends” that despite claims of autonomy, architecture depends on various factors (time, politics, ethics, etc.). Till suggests we bridge the gap between what architecture is and what architects want it to be.
5. On the Rise
Luxury label Phoebe English presented its Autumn/Winter 2017 collection at London Fashion Week, taking the catwalk by storm with a medley of wovensequins, tulle, silks and cotton arranged in unconventional designs. phoebeenglish.com
6. Design Icon
Have a taste of posh British life when staying at the Langham Hotel in London. Offering old-world Victorian charm with modern elegance in all its 300+ rooms, the Langham is a style icon that offers an unmatchable luxurious experience. langhamhotels.com/en/the-langham/london/
7. The Late Bloomer
Uncelebrated during her early career years, 73-year-old Phyllida Barlow constructs her artwork from leftover plywood, tinfoil and polystyrene. The works fill Hauser & Wirth gallery in London and most recently, the 57th Biennale di Venezia in Italy. hauserwirth.com
If you’re looking to freshen up your living space without making major changes, buy a few Beat or Mirror Ball lamps from Tom Dixon’s notoriously futuristic and minimalistic lighting collection. tomdixon.net

domain: geography


text:
Mustard Minute: Watch Rob Corddry’s first game of flip cup
Rob Corddry stopped by the Sports Illustrated studios recently to talk about the upcoming season premier of Children's Hospital and was promptly challenged to a game of flip cup by Tiffany Oshinsky.
Corddry revealed that this would be his first attempt at the popular party game, and joked that the show has been keeping any on-screen flip cup scenes in its back pocket for later seasons.
The game was played with water but the comedian promised he was already drunk, which may have cost him in a close match.
The Ballers star did not handle the loss well, trying his best to trash the set, before guessing that Lake bell would be the best flip cup player among his Children's Hospital co-stars.


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I believe we must step up our game if we are to make any progress in saving our built heritage.
Yesterday, the Globe and Mail reported that a committee of Toronto City Council had approved Ryerson’s request to not install the “Sam the Record Man” neon sign.
In the original agreement between the City and the School, Ryerson was required to restore the sign to its former location. Now they are being allowed to back out of this agreement.
The neon sign now sits in storage waiting to be displayed once again.
So, we keep fighting the same battles – over and over again.
It is my belief that heritage can only be protected if developers and city councils appreciate not only its aesthetic worth but its economic value as well.
Clearly we are not there yet!
In Hamilton, you just have to look at the following points (as reported by Raise the Hammer and other media sources):
- There has not been a single historical designation in the past 5 years.
- The City’s Heritage Planning Department lacks the staff to quickly process the required paperwork for designation.
- The media keeps promoting the view that we “can’t save everything.”
- There continues to be a lost of heritage worthy buildings to intentional demolition or neglect.
Yes, more heritage designations are part of the solution, but the real answer is a change of attitude by developers and city hall.
There must develop a consensus that heritage means jobs and economic growth.
As heritage advocates, we must make a strong and clear case to the community that heritage matters.
We can do this through organization and education.
Here are some simply actions we can take as first steps towards this goal:
1.) Use those chain emails that are circulating among some of us to alert people to positive and negative reports in the media.
2.) Take a few moments and a few words to comment on those articles in the media. How many articles in the press have not received a single comment? The larger community needs to know your views – it really does matter! Otherwise, you allow the anti-heritage to dominate the public discussion.
3.) If you belong to a heritage group then you should be at the forefront of the fight by writing to the media editors and politicians at the local and provincial levels. We are all in this fight together.
4.) If you love history, attend lectures, and read books about the past, then use that knowledge to save the history that still stands today. Why imagine how those early settlers steamed into Port Hamilton and pass the lighthouse (our version of the stature of liberty) to start a new life when you can actually visit it. Why imagine the store where they purchased all the things need for a new life when you see it today – The Kerr Buildings.
5.) Finally, use social media to spread the word about the value of heritage. By using our networks of friends, we can reach out to others and start to build a case. People who know you will value your opinion much more than anyone else.
We can save our heritage but we have to step up our game.


Watch out Tesla. Ford is investing $500 million in electric vehicle startup Rivian.
On Wednesday morning, the two companies announced that they have formed a strategic partnership,kicked-off by the aforementioned investment. In this newly formed alliance, Rivian will help Ford develop an all-new EV built on Rivian’s battery-electric skateboard platform.
“This strategic partnership marks another key milestone in our drive to accelerate the transition to sustainable mobility, RJ Scaringe, Rivian founder and CEO said in a prepared statement. “Ford has a long-standing commitment to sustainability, with Bill Ford being one of the industry’s earliest advocates, and we are excited to use our technology to get more electric vehicles on the road.”
Rivian is no stranger to receiving big investments. It recently received $700-million from Amazon. Presumably, Amazon will utilize Rivian for its future electric commercial fleet.
But why has Ford thrown its hat (and a good chunk treasure) in with Rivian? Simply, it can quickly utilize Rivian’s platform and battery technology to capitalize on the white-hot truck and SUV market.
Ford has earmarked $11 billion toward the development of future EVs. However, this additional half-a-billion-dollar stake in Rivian gets the blue oval a lot closer to getting new products on the road.
Ford recently revealed that it is developing an all-electric version of its best-selling F-150 pickup along with a Mustang-inspired all-electric crossover, which will be built in Mexico. The latter of which Bill Ford said will “go like hell.”
Likely, Rivian’s skateboard platform won’t be utilized for either of those products, as they’re too far along in their development cycle to make use of Rivian’s tech on such short notice.
Instead, Rivian’s skateboard platform, which includes the electric drive motors and batteries and underlying vehicle chassis in one unit (hence the ‘skateboard’ moniker), will be scaled to accommodate next-generation Ford trucks and SUVs. Imagine, for example, the next generation of Expedition, F-250 Super Duty pickup, or forthcoming Bronco off-road SUV being offered in all-electric.
Heck, Ford could even invent new all-electric truck and SUV models that could ride on the Rivian skateboard. Ford recently axed all of its car models in the U.S. So it could use a few more nameplates to fill out its showrooms.
What does this mean?
This investment has a lot of intriguing implications. Chief among them, if I am reading the tea leaves correctly, is that Ford’s battery-electric technology and platform development was considerably behind that of its competitors. This, despite its planned $11 billion EV bankroll.
General Motors engineers have long believed that Ford was neck and neck with them, in terms of battery cell development. Based upon this move by Ford, I am guessing GM engineers were letting the century-old rivalry between the two companies get to their heads. No automaker a decade into meaningful — or successful — EV development would throw $500 million at an unproven startup if it weren’t getting a bit desperate.
Yes, Rivian’s R1T and R1S truck and SUV models are impressive. So, too, is its patent on battery swapping. That said, Rivian’s vehicles have not yet gone into production. They’ve not sold any. And they’ve not been proven on the streets in the hands of customers. We don’t know how they’ll hold up.
Presumably Ford did its due diligence and reviewed the products themselves and whatever internal testing Rivian has done. Still, though, this move smacks of a carmaker keen to cut the proverbial EV development line.


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Chancellor presents Winter Economy Plan to support businesses and jobs
Date published: 24 September 2020
The Chancellor Rishi Sunak speaking in Parliament today
The Chancellor Rishi Sunak today outlined the government’s Winter Economy Plan (Thursday 24 September) to support businesses and jobs through the next stage of the coronavirus crisis.
During a speech in Parliament, the Chancellor announced a package of measures which includes a new Jobs Support Scheme to protect millions of returning workers, the extension of the Self Employment Income Support Scheme, the extension of the 15% VAT cut for the hospitality and tourism sectors, and help for businesses in repaying government-backed loans.
The announcement comes after the Prime Minster set out further measures to combat the spread of the virus over the winter, while preserving the ability to grow the economy.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said: "The resurgence of the virus, and the measures we need to take in response, pose a threat to our fragile economic recovery… Our approach to the next phase of support must be different to that which came before.
"The primary goal of our economic policy remains unchanged - to support people’s jobs - but the way we achieve that must evolve."
The package of measures in the Winter Economy Plan applies to all regions and nations of the UK.
Job Support Scheme
The current furlough scheme ends on 31 October and a new Job Support Scheme will be introduced from 1 November. The new scheme aims to protect viable jobs in businesses who are facing lower demand over the winter months due to coronavirus.
In order to support only viable jobs, employees must be working at least 33% of their usual hours. The level of grant will be calculated based on an employee’s usual salary, capped at £697.92 per month.
Under the scheme, which will run for six months, the government will contribute towards the wages of employees who are working fewer than normal hours due to decreased demand. Employers will continue to pay the wages of staff for the hours they work - but for the hours not worked, the government and the employer will each pay one third of their equivalent salary. The employer and government contributions will result in employees receiving the equivalent of 77% of their usual salary.
The Job Support Scheme will be open to businesses across the UK even if they have not previously used the furlough scheme.
Businesses using the Job Support Scheme can still benefit from the Jobs Retention Bonus.
Self Employment Income Support Scheme Grant (SEISS)
The existing scheme to support the self employed will be extended to cover the period from November to the end of January 2021. Claims can be made for the value of 20% of a person’s average monthly profits (up to a total of £1,875) by people who are continuing to actively trade but face reduced demand due to coronavirus.
An additional second grant, which may be adjusted to respond to changing circumstances, will be available for self-employed individuals to cover the period from February 2021 to the end of April.
Tax cuts and deferrals
As part of the package, the government also announced it will extend the temporary 15% VAT cut for the tourism and hospitality sectors to the end of March next year.
In addition, up to half a million businesses who deferred their VAT bills will be given more breathing space through the New Payment Scheme, which gives them the option to pay back in smaller instalments. Rather than paying a lump sum in full at the end March next year, they will be able to make 11 smaller interest-free payments during the 2021-22 financial year.
On top of this, around 11 million self-assessment taxpayers will be able to benefit from a separate additional 12-month extension from HMRC on the “Time to Pay” self-service facility, meaning payments deferred from July 2020, and those due in January 2021, will now not need to be paid until January 2022.
Business loan repayments
Business that took out a Bounce Back Loan will benefit from the extension of the length of the loan from six years to ten, which will cut monthly repayments by nearly half. Interest-only periods of up to six months and payment holidays will also be available to businesses.
The government will also give Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) lenders the ability to extend the length of loans from a maximum of six years to ten years if it will help businesses to repay the loan.
In addition, the Chancellor also announced he would be extending applications for the government’s coronavirus loan schemes until the end of November.
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domain: economics


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Latest News in Buckeye, AZ
'All groundwater is spoken for': New West Valley construction can no longer rely on groundwater after release of new report
Recently released research shows there isn't any more groundwater new developments can claim in the West Valley. Here's what that means for the area's future growth.BUCKEYE, Ariz. — The middle of Arizona is turning grey.The brown desert landscape has been sprawling into a metropolitan expanse for decades, spreading outward in every direction from central Phoenix. The Valley welcomes a new resident every six minutes, and with them come new development.That spread may greatly slow or even stop in the West Valley afte...
Recently released research shows there isn't any more groundwater new developments can claim in the West Valley. Here's what that means for the area's future growth.
BUCKEYE, Ariz. — The middle of Arizona is turning grey.
The brown desert landscape has been sprawling into a metropolitan expanse for decades, spreading outward in every direction from central Phoenix. The Valley welcomes a new resident every six minutes, and with them come new development.
That spread may greatly slow or even stop in the West Valley after the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) released a new report on Monday.
All of the groundwater in the nearby Hassayampa sub-basin is spoken for, the report found. Any new home builders in the area who haven't already been approved will have to bring in their own source of water.
Developers looking to break ground in the area are now scrambling to conjure water in one of the driest places in the world.
As more people buy up portions of groundwater around the Valley, how much more grey growth can our groundwater reserves withstand?
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The report's release came after Gov. Katie Hobbs' State of the State address, when she claimed the "drastic announcement" was kept from the public by former Gov. Doug Ducey.
"I do not understand, and do not in any way agree with, my predecessor choosing to keep this report from the public and from members of this legislature," Hobbs said during the State of the State. "However, my decision to release this report signals how I plan to tackle our water issues openly and directly."
The report found numerous alarming findings about the groundwater sub-basin's status over the next 100 years, including:
ADWR released the following in response to Hobbs' speech:
“ADWR previously worked with stakeholders in the West Valley that are subject to the Assured Water Supply program to seek solutions to the shortfall projected in the Hassayampa model. As Governor Hobbs signaled today in her State of the State speech, it is time to include legislators, the business community and all constituencies to address the challenges attendant to the Assured Water Supply program in the Hassayampa Basin and for all the water management challenges facing Arizona.”
Buckeye, a city that "relies almost entirely on groundwater," said it had not been made aware of the report's findings until they were released to the public on Monday.
"Since the ADWR report was just released and consists of nearly 300 report pages, plus various files, we are not able to provide any feedback at this time," a Buckeye representative said. "Once Buckeye has the opportunity to fully review the ADWR report, we will be able to respond and provide our input.
Records indicate that ADWR has at least partially known the report's findings since 2021, when the department told a West Valley retirement community there wasn't enough groundwater in the area for a planned expansion.
Sun City Festival, a "premier 55+ Active Adult community," was planning two expansions in north Buckeye in early 2021. Before it broke ground, the community had to prove its new expansions would have enough groundwater to last 100 years.
State law requires home builders to provide this century-long proof through an Assured Water Supply (AWS) certificate. The requirement only applies to residential subdivisions being built where groundwater is protected, called Active Management Areas.
If residential developers can't prove they have a 100-year-long water supply in these areas, they can't start building.
The retirement community sent two request letters to ADWR hoping to get that proof. Five months later, the department dashed the community's expansion dreams due to all of the Hassayampa's groundwater already being owned by other entities.
"The Department is finalizing a numeric groundwater flow model and model report for the Hassayampa sub-basin. Although the model and model report have not yet been finalized, the Department has information indicating that the proposed subdivision’s estimated groundwater demand for 100 years is likely not met," ADRW's response to Sun City Festival said.
12News reached out to Sun City Festival and its parent company, PulteGroup, multiple times for comment. They have not returned our request for comment as of the publication of this story.
The AWS program was created to push home growth toward renewable sources of water, like rivers or reclaimed water, rather than unsustainably draining the state's groundwater reserves.
It was also made to stop a very real problem in Arizona's history: Scammers selling people land that didn't have a water source.
"There was a period in the 70s in Arizona where there were swindlers who would sell land to people from the Midwest ... those people would get here and realize their land didn't have any water," said Kyl Center for Water Policy Director Sarah Porter.
This exploitation was so prevalent in Arizona that legislators feared it would become the national narrative of the Phoenix and Tucson areas. The AWS program, and the larger Groundwater Management Act of 1980, was legislators' attempt to stop that story from being written.
"Part of the reason for all of these rules is to ensure that never happens again," Porter said. "Growing on a finite supply of water is not a wise strategy."
That unwise strategy has been gaining popularity over the past few decades as builders have moved further westward from the Valley. The megadrought-fueled dry up of other water sources, including the Colorado River and local rivers, has only made groundwater more appealing to prospective builders.
Construction won't stop in the West Valley immediately. ADWR approved numerous AWS certificates for developments that may not be built for years.
But, now that groundwater in the area has been closed off to new construction, builders without the certificate must find a new water source for their developments.
That's harder than ever in Arizona's current climate, a fact Porter believes builders in the area have known.
It's been a year and a half since Sun City Festival was given the news about the lack of groundwater. Since then, teh community hasn't brought another source of water forward to ADWR, the department's database of pending AWS certificates shows.
"People who have been paying attention to this have been expecting an announcement. This shouldn't be a surprise to people in the West Valley," said Kyl Center for Water Policy Director Sarah Porter.
"All of the groundwater is spoken for. What really needs to happen is that people who want to develop need to bring in a new water supply."
FILE -This photo shows Colorado River water running through farmland on the Colorado River Indian Tribes reservation, Feb. 19, 2018 in Parker, Ariz. President Joe Biden has approved three bills that will improve access to water for three tribes in Arizona amid an unrelenting drought. One of the measures that Biden signed Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023 settles longstanding water rights claims for the Hualapai Tribe, whose reservation borders a 100-mile stretch of the Colorado River as it runs through the Grand Canyon. Hualapai will have the right to divert up to 3,414 acre-feet of water per year, along with the ability to lease it within Arizona. (AP Photo/Felicia Fonseca, File)
The AWS program was meant to specifically deter home builders from using groundwater.
The certificate, however, isn't required for other types of development, including build-to-rent communities.
"The standard only applies to for-sale housing," said Spencer Kamps, vice president of legislative affairs at the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona.
"[Other] developments can still mine groundwater and there are no assurances that the well they use will pump for 100 years, nor are there assurances that the well they're using would impact adjacent wells."
The loophole allowing build-to-rent homes to continue pumping groundwater will be a problem that cities like Buckeye, Palo Verde and Tonopah have to grapple with in the near future, the same kind of problem that Casa Grande is facing now.
ADWR announced a similar cut-off for Pinal County in 2021. Since then, there have been more than 700 built-to-rent units approved in Casa Grande alone.
The spike in build-to-rent developments shows that ADWR's cutoff won't change builders' habits immediately and the pumping of groundwater will continue, at least in the short term.
"We can't rely on groundwater forever," said Doug Maceachern, ADWR's communications administrator. "The days of relying exclusively on groundwater extraction are coming to an end."
Water levels are dwindling across the Southwest as the megadrought continues. Here's how Arizona and local communities are being affected.
Arizona says developers lack groundwater for big growth dreams in the desert west of Phoenix
A newly released state report on groundwater supplies under the desert west of Phoenix signals difficulty ahead for developers wishing to build hundreds of thousands of homes there.It also signals the start of an effort by Arizona’s new governor to shore up groundwater management statewide.Gov. Katie Hobbs released the modeling report Monday afternoon, and it shows that plans to add homes for more than 800,000 people west of the White Tank Mountains will require other water sources if they are to go forward...
A newly released state report on groundwater supplies under the desert west of Phoenix signals difficulty ahead for developers wishing to build hundreds of thousands of homes there.
It also signals the start of an effort by Arizona’s new governor to shore up groundwater management statewide.
Gov. Katie Hobbs released the modeling report Monday afternoon, and it shows that plans to add homes for more than 800,000 people west of the White Tank Mountains will require other water sources if they are to go forward.
The Arizona Department of Water Resources had developed the model showing inadequate water for much of the development envisioned as far-west suburbs, but had not released it during then-Gov. Doug Ducey’s term. Hobbs mentioned it during her State of the State address, along with other initiatives, including a new council dedicated to updating the state’s 1980 groundwater protection act for a new era of scarcity.
Hobbs also announced a new Governor’s Office of Resiliency, coordinating agencies, tribal governments and experts in finding land, water and energy solutions for the state.
“We must talk about the challenge of our time: Arizona’s decades-long drought, over-usage of the Colorado River, and the combined ramifications on our water supply, our forests, and our communities,” the governor said.
In the case of development on the western edges of the urban area, the information her team released makes clear that developers who own desert expanses largely in Buckeye’s planning area north of Interstate 10 and west and north of the White Tank Mountains will need more water to make their visions come true.
The report, called the Lower Hassayampa Sub-basin Groundwater Model, finds that projected growth would more than double groundwater use and put it out of balance by 15%. The state’s groundwater law requires developers in the Phoenix area to get state certificates of assured water supplies extending out 100 years before they can build.
Arizona Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke on Monday said he would not issue new certificates for the area unless developers find secure water sources in addition to the local groundwater.
New homes will need new water sources
Some of the Buckeye subdivisions in the area already have certifications for homes that Buschatzke estimated number in the thousands, and that will combine to add 50,000 acre-feet of demand in a basin that already uses 123,000 acre-feet. The aquifer apparently can bear that amount, but not the 100,000 acre-foot demand that department analysts have attributed to hundreds of thousands more homes envisioned for the zone.
The Howard Hughes Corp. is a major player in the area, with 100,000 homes planned on 37,000 acres in the Teravalis development, formerly called Douglas Ranch.
The question of where developers might get the water to support such vast housing tracts has previously presented a mystery, with some developers merely saying they were confident in their prospects. The report the state released this week provides an initial answer: They won’t be finding that water solely in the aquifer below the land. Instead, they will have to find new ways of importing and possibly recycling water if they want to build out the property.
“Some of the big plans that are out there for master-planned communities will need to find other water supplies or other solutions,” Buschatzke said.
Contacted on Tuesday, Howard Hughes Corp. did not respond to an interview request, but did provide a statement from Phoenix Region President Heath Melton: “We support the Governor’s initiative to proactively manage Arizona’s future water supply and will continue to be a collaborative partner with our elected officials, civic agencies, and community stakeholders to drive forward the most modern water management and conservation techniques and help ensure a prosperous and sustainable future for the West Valley, Arizona, and the greater Southwest.”
For now, the groundwater deficiency could stall much building on the Valley’s far west side. But it also could foreshadow a push for big new infrastructure projects, such as an ocean desalination plant and pipeline proposal that a state water finance board has agreed to evaluate. That proposal, led by an Israeli company that has built or operated desalination plants around the world, would pipe water north from Mexico and through Buckeye on its way to the Central Arizona Project canal.
Other options include moving water from other areas, such as the Harquahala Valley to the west, or recycling wastewater, Buschatzke said. Those options could take years, though.
Buckeye officials sent a statement to The Arizona Republic saying they need time to study the report but will work to ensure sustainable growth: “Buckeye is committed to responsible and sustainable growth and working to ensure we have adequate water for new businesses and residents, while protecting our existing customers.”
Researcher: Finding water won't be cheap or easy
Arizona State University water researcher Kathleen Ferris had called for the groundwater report’s release, and on Tuesday said she was delighted that Hobbs made it public. Ferris, with the school’s Kyl Center for Water Policy, is a past director of the Department of Water Resources and helped craft the 1980 groundwater law that requires a 100-year supply for new development.
“It’s a hugely important step,” Ferris said. “As the governor said, It’s about transparency and knowledge. We should not be allowing this growth to occur when the water isn’t there.”
Ferris said she counts herself among skeptics who don’t believe a desalination plant will come online quickly. The Colorado River’s drought-reduced storage means it can’t provide excess water to soon fill the gap in groundwater supplies, either. It doesn’t mean Buckeye can’t grow, she said, but finding the water to do so won’t be cheap or easy.
She cautioned, too, that other cities with stronger water portfolios are also on the lookout to snap up new water to secure their own futures.
Beyond Buckeye, Ferris said, Hobbs is right to push for better groundwater management statewide. The 1980 law applied mostly to urban areas, leaving vast areas of rural Arizona unregulated. The whole state doesn’t necessarily need the same 100-year-supply rule, Ferris said, but groundwater users everywhere should be responsible for tracking and reporting what they use. That would help the state know when it must act to conserve stressed aquifers, as it did this winter by halting expansion of irrigated farming around Kingman.
Any effort to address rural groundwater with statewide regulations is bound to face resistance in the Arizona Legislature, where lawmakers for several years have declined to extend state regulations to areas including Kingman. Voters in Cochise County approved a limited management area in November for one groundwater basin.
Whatever happens, Ferris said, the state is due for an honest conversation about where and by how much it can grow. She hopes the governor’s announcement is the start of such a reckoning. “We just can’t have subdivisions approved (solely) on groundwater,” she said.
One advocate for updating and strengthening groundwater protections around the state says she is encouraged that Hobbs has started her administration with moves to do just that.
"We are really encouraged and grateful that water is a top priority," said Haley Paul, an Audubon Society regional policy director who co-chairs the Water for Arizona coalition.
The Hassayampa groundwater report demonstrates that Arizona needs to do something different now that it can't rely on excess Colorado River water to backfill pumped groundwater, Paul said. Following a similar finding that has led groundwater depletion to limit Pinal County growth, she said, the report is "a reality check" on unlimited growth in the desert.
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Hobbs reveals West Valley current water supply cannot support planned development
Copy This Embed Code: Ad Every new home built by a developer in Arizona must be able to show that it has 100 years of assured water supply.On Monday, in her State of the State address, Governor Katie Hobbs revealed a large area of the far West Valley is far short of that requirement and accused former Governor Doug Ducey's administration of keeping the information secret from the public.The area is the Hassayampa sub-basin which sits underneath much of the Buckeye city planning area about 50 miles west of Phoenix....
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Every new home built by a developer in Arizona must be able to show that it has 100 years of assured water supply.
On Monday, in her State of the State address, Governor Katie Hobbs revealed a large area of the far West Valley is far short of that requirement and accused former Governor Doug Ducey's administration of keeping the information secret from the public.
The area is the Hassayampa sub-basin which sits underneath much of the Buckeye city planning area about 50 miles west of Phoenix.
It's also where the city gets all of its water.
A study conducted by the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) released on Monday concluded that the sub-basin is 4.4 million-acre feet short of water for future development.
For context, a one-acre foot provides a year of water for three families.
Kathleen Ferris of the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University told ABC15 the report confirmed something she has long suspected and worked to convince stakeholders to act on.
"There is not enough, not nearly enough groundwater in the Hassayampa sub-basin to support the massive level of homebuilding that people want to go on there," she said.
Ferris, one of the architects of Arizona's 1980 Groundwater Management Act, has been sounding the alarm over the past several years about the growth and groundwater in the Buckeye area.
She said she is happy the information is being brought to light.
"I am thrilled that Governor Hobbs has recognized right out of the box, the need to really be transparent on groundwater issues. And this Hassayampa sub-basin model report needed to be released," Ferris said.
But during her State of the State address, Hobbs said former Governor Ducey's office instructed ADWR to keep the report under wraps from the public.
"I do not understand, and do not in any way agree with, my predecessor choosing to keep this report from the public and from members of this legislature. However, my decision to release this report signals how I plan to tackle our water issues openly and directly," Gov. Hobbs said.
In a press conference after the address, Hobbs speculated as to why the report had not been made public.
"There are a lot of developers who don’t want that information to come out because it will affect the projects that are in the pipeline," she told reporters.
ADWR Director Tom Buschatzke who served under Ducey and will continue the role under Hobbs, told ABC15 the department was "directed to work with the stakeholders to try to find solutions, and to release the report, essentially at that point in time when a solution set was available to us, but we didn't get there before the end of the Ducey administration."
Now he says the department is following the directive of Gov. Hobbs who he said, "wants to expand the conversations on those potential solutions to a broader group of constituents, legislators, the business community, the development community, all the stakeholders in Arizona that are involved with looking at a resilient, sustainable water future for the state."
Regardless of the timing of the release of the report, the director said as it stands now "few 1000s of homes" will have the water supply certification to be built, "but new approvals will not be forthcoming until those solutions arrive. Those solutions need to include things like new water supplies, new water supplies from outside the active management areas."
A task he says will be difficult, but not impossible.
"It will certainly cost money. But...money itself isn't going to solve the problem. You've got to find the water supplies, you have to move them to the right place in the right time," Buschatzke said.
Annie DeChance, spokesperson for the City of Buckeye says, "since the report was just released yesterday (Monday), and is nearly 300 pages, we need time to review it before providing any input." DeChance added that "any current or new development underway has a guaranteed 100-year water supply. Buckeye remains committed to responsible and sustainable growth and working to ensure we have adequate water for new businesses and residents, while protecting our existing customers."
In October 2021 the Howard Hughes Corporation purchased 37,000 acres of desert west of Buckeye for $600 million. Originally called Douglas Ranch, Teravalis is a master planned community that could grow to 100,000 homes. Currently, HHC has secured 100-year assured water rights for 7,500 homes.
Heath Melton, the President of the Phoenix Region for the Howard Hughes Corporation said, “We support the governor’s initiative to proactively manage Arizona’s future water supply and will continue to be a collaborative partner with our elected officials, civic agencies, and community stakeholders to drive forward the most modern water management and conservation techniques and help ensure a prosperous and sustainable future for the West Valley, Arizona and the greater Southwest.”
Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
20 Years of Severe Drought Impede Huge Developments in Southwest
By Keith Schneider Circle of BlueBUCKEYE, AZ. — The White Tank Mountains were the backdrop in October when senior executives of the Howard Hughes Corporation broke ground for Teravalis, the largest planned community ever proposed in Arizona. Hughes’ plan is to turn 37,000 acres of Sonoran Desert west of Phoenix, nearly 60 square miles, into 100,000 homes and 55 million square feet of commercial space where 300,000 people will live and 450,000 will work.Modeled after Irvine Ranch in California, the l...
By Keith Schneider Circle of Blue
BUCKEYE, AZ. — The White Tank Mountains were the backdrop in October when senior executives of the Howard Hughes Corporation broke ground for Teravalis, the largest planned community ever proposed in Arizona. Hughes’ plan is to turn 37,000 acres of Sonoran Desert west of Phoenix, nearly 60 square miles, into 100,000 homes and 55 million square feet of commercial space where 300,000 people will live and 450,000 will work.
Modeled after Irvine Ranch in California, the largest planned community in the United States, Teravalis is seen by local and state elected leaders as a crowning achievement in a booming real estate market. Jay Cross, the company’s president, assured gathered guests that Teravalis “will provide an exceptional quality of life and opportunities for growth.”
But Teravalis also expresses the intensifying challenge in Arizona and four other fast-growing desert Southwest states to build huge mixed use residential projects in an era of water scarcity. Persistent dry conditions are driving up the cost of water and prompting more resistance from government and citizens to new development. Those trends, in turn, also are prompting innovations in community design and installation of expensive infrastructure to use less fresh water and recycle more wastewater.
The source of concern, confrontation, and new practices is the deep drought that has settled on the Southwest since 2000 that is exacerbated by climate change. Water flow has dropped precipitously in the Colorado River and other surface water supplies that serve Arizona and its neighboring states. That is putting more pressure to supply homes and businesses from finite water reserves held in aquifers.
The consequences are being felt across the arid West. In Arizona, groundwater levels are falling so fast that thousands of residential wells are going dry all over the state. In 2021 the Arizona Department of Water Resources halted new residential home construction in Pinal County, south of Phoenix, because groundwater pumping exceeded the supply.
Impediments to New Development
Because of scarcity it now costs $65,000 to $75,000 to connect new homes on Colorado’s Front Range to water suppliers, according to home developers. In New Mexico, two proposals for big planned communities outside Albuquerque have languished due to concerns over available water.
Campbell Ranch proposed more than a decade ago to build 4,000 residences for 12,000 people, a commercial and retail center and two golf courses on 8,000 acres in the mountains east of the city, according to planning documents. Groundwater use will total about 400 million to 500 million gallons annually, and local governments and citizen groups have objected.
The Office of the State Engineer also objected because it found that Campbell Ranch would not meet a New Mexico requirement for developers to demonstrate that their projects have a 70-year supply of water. “It’s fundamental. You’re not doing that development without water,” said Kathy Freas, co-founder of East Mountain Protection Action Coalition, a citizens group.
Similar concerns are buffeting Santolina, a 13,700-acre planned development proposed in 2014 by Western Albuquerque Land Holdings. Located between the city and the Rio Grande River, Santolina is the focus of active public opposition because it would need 7.3 billion gallons of water a year to serve its 90,000 residents. Bernalillo County required the developer to install expensive wastewater treatment and recycling infrastructure to reduce water use and waste. The developer has submitted a new development plan that would convert hundreds of acres from housing to solar energy development, a change that significantly reduces water consumption but could also require WALH to restart the planning process.
“In the West water has always been an issue, right? People are just much more alert now,” said Enrico Gradi, deputy county manager for Bernalillo County, who is overseeing the review of the Santolina project.
Neither Campbell Ranch nor the Land Holdings company responded to interview requests.
Developers Respond With New Designs For Growth
Another unmistakable result of water scarcity is the changing design of Southwest’s planned communities. They no longer feature big lakes, irrigated lawns, golf courses, and open drainage canals. One example is Sterling Ranch near Littleton, Colorado. Under construction since 2015, the 3,400-acre project is spending $350 million for a closed-loop water supply system that collects, treats, and recycles wastewater for over 12,500 residences that are planned, plus commercial and retail spaces. The development has no golf course because of the 130 million gallons Front Range courses typically use each year. Its roads and parks are designed to collect and store stormwater for reuse. The developers, Harold Smethills and his son Brock, are studying how to most efficiently collect and use rainwater from rooftops.
“Until there’s scarcity most developers aren’t incentivized to conserve water,” said Brock Smethills. “For us, the incentives were aligned day one to use less water and conserve as much as possible.”
Another example is Verrado, an 8,800-acre planned community 25 minutes south of Teravalis in Buckeye. Opened in 2004 by DMB Associates, an Arizona-based developer, the community has 60,000 square feet of office and retail space in a town center, and is permitted to build 14,000 residences. Just over 6,000 are completed and house 16,000 residents. Along with 30,000 trees for shade and to slow evaporation, Verrado features a water recycling system that collects all of the wastewater from homes and businesses and directs it to a treatment plant capable of recycling 1.5 million gallons a day that is stored and used to irrigate two golf courses.
“Every responsible developer in Arizona knows water is a constraint,” said Dan T. Kelly, DMB’s chief operating officer and general manager. “It’s the first question you deal with.”
Photo © Keith Schneider / Circle of Blue
Path Forward is Tricky For Hughes
The intensifying attention to water supply is especially relevant to the Teravalis project. Hughes paid JDM Partners and El Dorado Holdings $600 million to purchase the property. The previous owners proposed to build Trillium West, a 3,000-acre planned community that would rely on the Hassayampa Basin, an aquifer beneath the project, to supply water. In 2006, the Arizona Department of Water Resources issued two certificates for 4,228 acre-feet of water – 1.35 billion gallons — to build 7,000 homes. The certificates are still valid so long as Hughes adheres to its terms.
But Hughes does not have access or certificates to supply water to the other 34,000 acres – 90 percent of its property. The Department of Water Resources has put the Hassayampa Basin off limits to new development while it studies how much water the underground reserve actually holds. It’s such a sensitive topic that Hughes cancelled a scheduled interview about the project and its water supply.
Arizona’s development community is confident that Hughes Corporation has the capacity to build Teravalis. The company, which developed six other big planned communities in four other states, has 32 years of experience in managing water for a big desert community. Its first planned project is Summerlin, a 22,500-acre development with 100,000 residents outside Las Vegas.
Hughes water supply options for Teravalis, some available now, others that will require a change in state law and regulation, include tapping another aquifer and delivering water by pipeline. It could lease water from one of Arizona’s Native American tribes that have extensive water rights.
Hughes also could buy rights to Colorado River water. Queen Creek, a Phoenix suburb, secured state permission and is preparing to spend $27 million to draw 2,000-acre feet annually from the river– nearly 750 million gallons – for its 66,000 residents. Whatever the company decides, the cost of water for Teravalis, typically a few hundred dollars an acre-foot in Arizona (nearly 326,000 gallons) will be much higher than it is today.
The adage in the West that “water runs uphill to money” applies. Earlier this year Arizona lawmakers approved a $1 billion, three-year appropriation, essentially a down payment to secure stable water supplies. “We’re at the very start of a new era of innovation and investment,” said Greg Vogel, founder and chief executive of Land Advisors Organization, a national brokerage and development consultancy based in Scottsdale. “Teravalis will be in the making for 50 years, maybe 70 years until buildout. They’ll have enough water.”
By no means, though, is that a consensus view.
The city of Buckeye, where Teravalis is located, uses 11,000 acre-feet of water annually – nearly 3.5 billion gallons — for its 115,000 residents. At current rates of use in Arizona, Teravalis’ water consumption could amount to three times as much.
In 1980, Arizona enacted a groundwater conservation law that requires developers to assure buyers that their homes and businesses have a 100-year water supply. The law also requires developers to replenish aquifers with the same amount of water that they withdraw.
Bruce Babbitt, who in the first of his two terms as Arizona’s governor signed the 1980 groundwater law, is not reticent. He asserted that Teravalis will not meet the 100-year water supply requirement. Nor will it be able to replenish the aquifer with the billions of gallons of water it will use annually. “My conclusion, based on a lot of analysis, is the project is not viable on the scale they are talking about,” Mr. Babbitt said.
Featured image: Water scarcity is intensifying the challenge in Arizona and four other fast-growing desert Southwest states of building mixed use residential projects, like this one south of Phoenix. Photo © Keith Schneider / Circle of Blue
Parents, Education Association speak on Buckeye Elementary District superintendent overcompensation
Copy This Embed Code: Ad BUCKEYE, Ariz. — Nearly $2 million. That’s how much extra pay the Arizona Auditor General said the Buckeye Elementary School District Superintendent received in extra pay.Just last week, former Attorney General Mark Brnovich filed a lawsuit against the school district and its Superintendent, Kristi Wilson, for overcompensation.It stems from a report from the auditor in 2022, saying that Wilson was paid more than $1.7 million in additional compensation over the last five years. ...
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BUCKEYE, Ariz. — Nearly $2 million. That’s how much extra pay the Arizona Auditor General said the Buckeye Elementary School District Superintendent received in extra pay.
Just last week, former Attorney General Mark Brnovich filed a lawsuit against the school district and its Superintendent, Kristi Wilson, for overcompensation.
It stems from a report from the auditor in 2022, saying that Wilson was paid more than $1.7 million in additional compensation over the last five years. According to the lawsuit and the state audit, Wilson made about 100% more than the state’s three largest school district’s average compensation for its superintendents.
“Something has to change. I’m not sure if it’s the board that needs to change, she needs to go in my opinion,” Shannon Hiner, a mom of BESD students, said of Wilson.
Hiner is frustrated with the district and was shocked to find out about the lawsuit. She feels the pay for Wilson is not justified and feels her kids are not getting the education she believes they deserve. She is thinking about pulling her kids out of the district and wants to put them in a micro-school.
The lawsuit is demanding that Wilson returns all money that was “illegally paid.” Since the audit was released, the district has maintained that it does not agree with the findings.
“What we want is accountability for the entire system. So, 360 accountability. If we're going to be held accountable which we are, we understand that's part of our job, then so should our employers,” said Marisol Garcia, the president of the Arizona Education Association.
Garcia said it’s “disappointing” and “disheartening” to see the audit findings
ABC15 reached out to Superintendent Wilson and the school board for further comment about the lawsuit but did not hear back. However, the district responded:
“The District is aware of a lawsuit filed by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. However, until the complaint is served, and the Board has been afforded an adequate opportunity to review it with the assistance of its legal counsel, providing a public comment would be premature.”
It’s important to note, the lawsuit was filed by former Attorney General Mark Brnovich. With Kris Mayes taking over as attorney general in 2023, the office tells ABC15 all cases under the previous administration will be reviewed.
ABC15 also reached out to the Arizona Department of Education to see if anything else would be done with the district, and a spokesperson said the department does not plan on any additional action and that “the matter is already being handed in the court system.”
You can read the lawsuit and the full audit here.
Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Tammy Moorer files motion requesting speedy trial in Elvis murder case
HORRY COUNTY, SC (WMBF) - The attorneys of Tammy Caison Moorer, one of the two accused of the kidnapping and murder of an Horry County woman missing since December 2013, have filed a motion for a speedy trial.
The three-page motion filed by Moorer's attorneys on September 19 requests a hearing within 10 days for a judge to hear arguments for a speed trial, and for the judge to set a date for a jury trial.
The motion cites the right to a speedy trial in both the U.S. and South Carolina constitutions, stating the guarantee is afforded to every defendant to minimize lengthy incarceration of the accused prior to trial.
The motion concludes: "Based on the aforementioned authorities and given the prejudicial effects that Defendant may encounter considering the increased media surrounding Defendant's case, Defendant hereby invokes all of her speed trial right as guaranteed by both the United States and South Carolina Constitutions. Such request is made in an effort to avoid these negative effects."
Solicitor Jimmy Richardson says he expects the trial to begin this winter, sometime between December and February.
On September 5, the attorney for Sidney Moorer, Tammy Moorer's husband and the other person accused in this case, requested evidence from the state. Kirk Truslow filed the motion for a judge to move an order "compelling the state to produce evidence," the document states.
Heather Elvis, 21, went missing in December 2013. In February, Sidney and Tammy Moorer were arrested at their Horry County home and charged for allegedly kidnapping and murdering Heather Elvis. Bond was denied for both of them, and they have remained incarcerated since. In March, Judge Steven John signed a gag order in the case, preventing attorneys and other involves parties from releasing information to the media, or discussing the case.
Click here for a timeline of events leading up to the arrests of the Moorers:
Copyright 2014 WMBF News. All rights reserved.


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Next in our series of posts on soil health, we want to explore soil pH and its importance to garden food crops. This involves remembering some of your high school chemistry so grab your cup of coffee to get the brain waves working.
pH is the measure of hydrogen ion activity
Soil acidity is a chemical factor that can affect food crop growth. Soil pH, the measure of hydrogen ion activity in a solution, is important for soil nutrient availability.
Think back to high school chemistry and that daunting Periodic Table. The element hydrogen (H) is located in the upper right hand corner and is carries a +1. That +1 means it can easily interact with elements with a -1 or a -2. Remember water is H2O. Two hydrogen +1s and one oxygen -2. Sound familiar?
The pH scale is graduated from 0 to 14. The midpoint (7) separates acid from alkaline. Any number below 7 is acidic—the lower the number, the more acidic. The lower the number the increased H +1 activity.
A soil pH above 7 denotes alkaline soil conditions. The higher the number the increased OH -1 activity. The pH scale is logarithmic; a soil with a pH of 5.0 is 10 times more acidic that one with a pH of 6.0 and 100 times more than a pH of 7.0.
pH affects nutrient availability
This activity of H+1 and OH-1 can bind up nutrients that plants need by bonding with other soil ions. This is a very simplistic explanation and true soil chemistry is much more complicated. But, I think this gives you an idea of how pH is can be very important to plant growth. For example, at a soil pH of 5.0 much of the nitrogen fertilizer you add to the soil won’t be available to be absorbed by your plants!
Correcting soil pH
A soil pH that is too low or too high can decrease the amount of nutrients absorbed by plant roots. Lime can be used to increase the soil pH, while sulfur can be used to decrease it. An accurate measure of soil pH is needed before corrections should be made.
Soil pH also influences other reactions in soil, such as microbial activity. Most food crops grow best in soils with a very slightly acidic pH, close to a neutral pH of 7. Most soils in Georgia, however, are too acidic, and lime is often needed to maintain ideal growth conditions.
Winter is a great time to have your soil pH tested. Contact your local UGA Extension office for assistance. To find out how to properly collect your soil for testing see Soil Testing for Home Lawns, Gardens, and Wildlife Plots.
Happy Gardening and congratulations on making it through the chemistry lesson!

domain: agronomy