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By Dale Sellers
I recently had a leader reach out to me at 95Network through our website who was in real need. His correspondence went something like this:
“I’m in a season where I’m dealing with feelings of being isolated and alone when it comes to being a pastor. I’m the only paid staff member. I get very little support or encouragement from the church elders. Everything church related falls on my shoulders. Not sure how much longer I can bear the weight of it. I’m just not in a very healthy place mentally right now.”
I’ve got to tell you his words broke my heart and stirred up some old memories. You see, I remember a time when I was pastoring our small church that I took a chance and reached out to one of our board members with the hopes of being able to share my heart with him. I was in a very discouraging place and thought it prudent to share about my struggles.
However, I was completely caught off guard by his response. He literally stopped me mid-conversation as I started down the path of what I was going through. He put his hand up in my face and said,
“Pastor, I don’t want to hear this. I don’t want to know what you are currently going through because my life is a disaster. I need your life to be perfect, so I can hope that things can get better for me.”
Wow! I remember thinking it was just one of the responsibilities of pastoring, never to acknowledge that you have any problems. Or at least not let anyone know you had issues. I didn’t think it was ok not to be ok.
However, I’ve discovered over the years that many teachers, professors, and spiritual leaders have taught us that it’s our responsibility as pastors to put on a happy face at all times. You’re never supposed to let people know you’re having problems or struggling in any arena. You’re not supposed to show a “chink in your armor!” Instead, the “calling” requires you to “suffer in silence” while you are everyone else’s problem solver.
How sad! It breaks my heart to think that there are thousands of spiritual leaders throughout America and around the world who believe in this nonsense. I guess the “gurus” of our day never really spent much time studying the life of Jesus. Or Paul. Or Peter. Or Stephen. Or any of the Church founders.
After I responded to this pastor, I received this reply to my offer to connect with him:
“I want to connect with a call, but I’m hesitant because that means I have to admit to myself that I could use some help. I’m supposed to have the answers. I’m supposed to be able to get through anything. I’ve always been able to do that. Just feeling mentally exhausted right now.”
I can’t tell you how much I appreciated this pastor’s honesty. However, his hesitancy to seek help affirmed what I’ve known to be true for many years now: Pastors are not ok!
It’s with this in mind that I want to share a few thoughts with you, hoping you can embrace that “it’s ok not to be ok . . . but it’s not ok to stay that way!” In other words, I think it’s time to address the internal barriers in the hearts of spiritual leaders that keep them from reaching out for help. I hope you can overcome them if I help you identify them in your heart.
Here are a few that I’ve experienced firsthand:
1 – Thinking that my life has to be perfect to set an example for those I lead.
Perfection is a heavy weight to bear. In my book “Stalled: Hope & Help For Pastors Who Thought They’d Be There By Now,” I address how I felt like a failure for most of my life because I could never seem to get there. The biggest problem for me was I couldn’t find where there was! I had created a false image of what success looks like as a pastor. You may have also allowed yourself to put unrealistic expectations on yourself over the years. I find it helpful to remind myself that there was only One person who attained perfection. And He gave Himself up so that we could live in His grace.
2 – Spiritual pride misleading me into thinking I’m doing better than I am.
The term “spiritual pride” sounds so carnal, doesn’t it? Yet, I’ve observed it to be one of the biggest stumbling blocks for those in ministry. Pride doesn’t always reveal itself as arrogant and conceited. I think the opposite is often true for those of us in ministry. We struggle with shame a lot of times, if we’re honest. Shame can easily slip into spiritual pride when it keeps us from being transparent or reaching out for help. This shame will eventually lead us to self-deception, the worst form of deception. Proverbs 16:18 is still valid, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
3 – Insecurity motivating me to spend excessive energy trying to cover up my failures.
I personally know the impact of insecurity. It will wear you down if you deal with it while trying to lead others. The energy drain comes out of the conflict within your soul. Leadership requires you to have your act together. When you don’t, your default is trying to cover up the insecurity to keep others from knowing the real you. I’ve heard that insecure leaders spend up to 75% of their time trying to hide their insecurities. While I’m not sure if this is scientific data, I can undoubtedly attest it to be true in my former ministry.
4 – Not having anyone in my life with whom I could be completely honest.
I must point out that I’m not referring to my spouse with this. You never want to keep secrets from them. Doing so will destroy true intimacy. However, I have also learned the importance of having a friend, mentor, or counselor with whom I can be transparent. I’ve observed many spiritual leaders who seemed paralyzed regarding this topic. The paralysis develops from the tension of wanting to be a great example versus needing a safe place to decompress. Once again, many of us learned to “never let them see you struggle” as a part of good leadership. If this is you, I can assure you that you’ll eventually search for ways to relieve the pressure that can be destructive to your life and ministry. We simply aren’t made to live every day in stress and tension.
5 – Experiencing a lack of training to do the job I was hired to do.
I don’t know of any other vocational field that produces more leaders who are unprepared for their role than ministry. So many pastors and staffers continue to express that their formal training did not prepare them for day-to-day ministry. As a general rule, most arenas of higher education successfully educate us on spiritual things and understanding the scriptures (which is a great asset, by the way!). However, the average pastor/leader often testifies of feeling unprepared for leading their ministry regarding practical things.
6 – Living in a perpetual state of exhaustion.
Without exception, every major mistake that I’ve ever made happened when I was exhausted. That’s a fact! I discovered how much easier it was to compromise or make excuses when facing an important decision if I was exhausted. A fellow pastor friend said, “I often found that my ‘give a darn’ was broken when I was tired.” You can probably attest to experiences in your own life where you made a different decision than you would have made if you were sharper. Lack of refreshment is when I see so much devastation resulting from leaders who refuse to practice a sabbath or take vacations. No one can experience a long life of success in ministry if they refuse to rest, replenish and refuel.
7 – Living every day with the feeling that I was a disappointment to Jesus.
This last point is very personal to me. I also recognize that you may not have felt this way before. However, I can’t talk about the subject of not being ok and fail to mention how I felt like such a disappointment to Jesus. I realize that we live in the residue of the seeker and attractional church movements where success was all about large gatherings. Therefore, when the small church I pastored never grew into a church of thousands, I felt I had somehow let Jesus down. I lived most of my days thinking He was constantly shaking His head in disappointment every time He thought of me. This feeling came from the fact that I hadn’t built a large church, so something must be wrong with me. The “large church” glitz, glamor, and hype of that era made me feel like I was “less than” what He created me to be. I often thought that He was wondering why I couldn’t get it together like so many others. It was a heavy burden to carry for sure.
There are obviously other things that I could add to this list. These are just some of the things that I was experiencing personally.
As I close today, let me ask you this question: “Are you ok???” I mean, really ok?” If your answer is “no,” let me offer you two simple solutions.
Secondly, please feel free to reach out to me or any member of the 95Network team. You can find a complete list of our team members here: Who We Are.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any needs at all. Remember that it’s ok not to be ok. But Jesus doesn’t want you to stay that way!
You can contact Dale at: Dale@95Network.org
Be sure to stop by our 95Network.org/online store to find helpful resources designed to encourage and strengthen your ministry leadership.


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2 edition of scheme designed for the classification of historical material relating to the City of Brighton, Victoria. found in the catalog.
scheme designed for the classification of historical material relating to the City of Brighton, Victoria.
|Statement||Devised and compiled for the Brighton Historical Society and Brighton Public Library.|
|Contributions||Brighton Historical Society., Brighton Public Library.|
|LC Classifications||Z697.B7 H6|
|The Physical Object|
|Number of Pages||69|
|LC Control Number||70510314|
Computer programs for thermodynamic and transport properties of hydrogen (Tabcode-II)
elements of medicine
William Faulkner, Gavin Stevens, and the Cavalier tradition
man with the black coat
Fundamentals of attitude measurement
Golf for beginners
Lithology, paleoecology, and paleontology of the Vernon shale (late Silurian) in the type area.
pupils class-book of geography.
The 2000 Import and Export Market for Vegetables and Fruit in Ghana (World Trade Report)
Gnathosonic diagnosis and occlusal dynamics
Oil and gas reservoir geology of rift basins in east China
The Highlands and islands of Scotland

domain: library


text:
★★★★ Play in the halloween version of Gloomy Dungeons 2 ★★★★
This oldschool 3D shooter is here to give you completely new levels, creepy monsters, many weapons and several hours of gameplay in dark tunnels with special secrets.
What’s new in Gloomy Dungeons Halloween:
★ Zombies and monster pumpkins.
★ Easy and comfortable control.
★ Automap with real-time hints.
★ Get “Doorkeeper”, “Ultimate ninja”, “My name is RentgenMan” and other achievements.
★ Choose your level: from easy to nightmare.
★ New better graphics, shadows, texture and music.
★ New weapons and monsters.
★ Global map and level progress.
Join the retro 3d shooter adventure!
Have fun! :)

domain: entertainment


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Oil over egg tempera on gessoed board ("Renaissance Panel")
25 1/16 x 16 in. (63.7 x 40.6 cm.)
Gift of the Free Library of Philadelphia
With the thoughtful insight of an outsider, Bloch expressed through his paintings and graphic works the divide between idealism and the reality of social injustice. The only son of a German-Jewish family, Bloch emigrated to Philadelphia at the age of five. He studied at the Pennsylvania Academy, responding particularly to the lingering influence of former instructor Thomas Eakins. Bloch was drafted into service during World War I and never fully recovered from the horrors he witnessed. His leftist politics dovetailed with the humanitarian aspects of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Depression-era government program for artists, for which Bloch created empathic works hailing the dignity of the individual. Bloch joined the Academy faculty in 1947.
Beginning in he 1930s, Bloch increasingly turned to African-American subject matter in his work. In 1935 he played an instrumental role in organizing the NAACP's exhibition "An Art Commentary on Lynching," protesting this atrocity that had come to be viewed as a prime symbol of racism in America. He explored the disturbing theme in a number of works, including "The Lynching," 1932, now in the Whitney Museum of American Art, a work that significantly enhanced Bloch's reputation.


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Gritty Crime Anthology set in the Warhammer 40,000 city of Varungantua.
Vast, ancient and crumbling, the city is a breeding ground for crime and corruption. Gangs and criminal cabals rule over massive, lawless territories, and many who claim to enforce the Lex are complicit in allowing this rot to spread.
The labyrinthine bureaucracy of the Imperium strangles those few idealists who seek to bring order, and all the while deadly, forgotten things lurk in the dark corners of Varangantua’s decaying districts, just waiting to be unearthed…
This Warhammer Crime anthology contains the novella Bleedout, along with six short stories concerning the dogged probators, brutal sanctioners and ruthless gangers that call the crime-riddled urban sprawl of Varangantua their home.
Keep up to date with related content where you see this icon.
Click to Watch and get regular updates… find out more

domain: geography


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3 investment moves a 31-year-old made with her $40,500 down payment after twice being rebuffed on home offers
Anita Garcia split her down-payment savings between index funds, I bonds, and a high-yield savings account after two failed attempts at buying a home.
A couple who retired in their 40s only made their first $100,000 after firing their financial advisor and rewriting their investing strategy
Kiersten and Julien Saunders fired their financial advisor and decided to manage their investments independently after joining the FIRE movement.
A couple on track to retire in their 30s share their top 3 strategies for achieving financial freedom, including their house-hacking tactics
"You can reach big goals if your salary is not super high or if you have tons of debt," says Ali Lupo, who is on track to retire early. Here's how.
Several people who've become financially free and retired early share the details of how they made it happen, including investments they made.
3 expenses to cut right now to start saving and retire early, from the Netflix documentary 'Get Smart With Money'
In the new Netflix doc "Get Smart With Money," personal finance influencer Mr. Money Mustache helps a couple work towards their FIRE goal.
For those who want to achieve financial independence and retire early, there are many ways to go about planning for it. Here are the 4 most popular flavors of the FIRE movement.
Growing in popularity, the FIRE movement has splintered into several categories based on individual FIRE adherents' specific needs and budgets.
A 37-year-old who quit her job in 2021 explains how she used the last 7 years of her career to invest enough to retire decades early.
She didn't want to be in a stressful job forever so she began changing her financial habits and investing to build an early retirement fund.
Kiersten and Julien Saunders spent the first five years aggressively paying down debt and changing their mindset about wealth.
A couple who retired in their 40s says there are 3 types of spenders, and the key to building real wealth depends on which one you are
Fast spenders and financially insecure people can be high earners, but they still have trouble keeping cash in their bank accounts.
I flirted with the FIRE movement, but I dropped it when I realized there was a better option for my family
Writer Kelly Burch says the FIRE movement wasn't for her because it would take away from enjoying her kids while they're young.
Here's how much you need in your portfolio right now to retire in 5 years, based on your annual spending
The amount you plan to spend every year while retired matters a lot in terms of how much you'll need.
A 40-year-old software developer who built a hugely popular early-retirement calculator says 2 'boring' tips are helping her reach financial independence
Lauren Boland, the creator of early-retirement simulator cFIREsim, said the path to achieving FIRE is simple but requires a lot of patience.
A father who retired at 36 after amassing $1.28 million shares his top 7 investing tips for retiring early
To retire early, consider certain asset classes, types of accounts, and allocation rates based on target number and years to retirement, Quan says.
If you want to keep more of your paycheck, use these tried and true savings tactics, from house hacking to tracking your spending.
Julien and Kiersten Saunders say there's a "Black tax" in the FIRE movement that ignores individuals who don't come from generational wealth.
A 29-year-old who built up a net worth of more than $1 million and quit his day job shares the savings and investing strategies he used
Tyler Wright went from making $30,000 a year his first year out of college to building a seven-figure net worth before 30.
Financial freedom doesn't mean kicking back on a beach starting at 30 — in fact, 2 FIRE devotees say that's a bad plan
Early retirement sounds great, but the allure of relaxation can wear off. You're still going to need to find a reason to wake up in the morning.
6 years after retiring at 34, a man who achieved financial freedom after years of penny-pinching outlines his biggest struggle on the other side
What do you do with all the money you've meticulously saved for decades to retire early? The Mad Fientist is finding out it's not so simple.
6 years into early retirement, a man who achieved financial freedom at 34 outlines his investing philosophy: Keep it simple
Many investors want to beat the market, but a man who successfully invested for early retirement cautions that it's exceedingly difficult to do.
3 things a 36-year-old retiree wishes she'd done differently after leaving a $200,000 a year job in advertising
Mallory Solomon left a six-figure salary and long workdays in advertising to pursue purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Here's how she did it.

domain: news


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Genetically modified food should be labeled genetically engineered food and i 522 labeling images are from google images and may be genetically modified foods labeling requirements. Genetically modified food should be la.
Why should gmo foods be labeled european non gmo labels gmo food labeling numbers. Why should gmo foods be labeled gmos should be properly labeled we have the right to know what we are eating genetically modified food la.
Do genetically modified foods have to be labeled vermont house judiciary committee pass h112 to require labeling of genetically modified foods genetically modified food labeled. Do genetically modified foods have to be l.
Should gmo foods be labeled people want gmo food labeled which is pretty much all they know about gmos genetically modified food labeling us. Should gmo foods be labeled whether to require labeling on gmo foods should be.

domain: biology


BUSINESS + ECONOMY
Ticktock: US steps closer to debt default
May 11, 2023, 5:30 PM
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
SALT LAKE CITY — The president wants Congress to increase the debt ceiling without conditions. However, House Republicans want to hold the line on federal spending. Right now, neither side is willing to blink, but come early June, the nation runs out of cash.
Robert Spendlove, senior vice president and economic and public policy officer at Zions Bank, joins Dave & Dujanovic to explain what would happen to the economy if the US defaults on its debt.
Aug. 18, 2023, is the date the United States government would default on its debt, according to Moody’s Analytics, and be forced to impose budget cuts.
In January, the total national debt and the debt ceiling both stood at $31.4 trillion, which is is about 120% of GDP, according to government figures.
On Tuesday, President Joe Biden met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy at the White House to negotiate the debt ceiling, but a source told CNN no new ground was breached and neither side would budge.
Also attending the meeting were Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
If a deal on the debt ceiling isn’t reached by early June, the United States will default. An economic and fiscal upheaval would then be unleashed, warned Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
“Early June is when we project that we will run out of cash,” she said.
Ask the expert
“How does not raising the debt ceiling or defaulting on loans, how does this trickle down and affect me?” Dave asked.
“When you get a Treasury bond, you’re essentially investing in the full faith and credit of the United States,” Spendlove said. “And so if we don’t pay back those debts, if we don’t have the ability to have that spending at the federal level, it starts to reduce the full faith and credit of the United States.
“But then everyone else below. So whether it’s a state bond or a municipal bond or businesses or banks, it kind of ripples throughout the entire economy. So it would have big impacts throughout the entire country,” he said.
Spendlove said if the US government passes over the deadline without action, Social Security could be affected.
“If we reach that deadline. . . it could be repayment of the bonds that people have borrowed. It could be military. It could be Medicaid and Medicare. . . They’ll also say, ‘Which is the least destructive decision’ as they roll into this scenario between June and August,” Spendlove said.
He said the United States lost its triple-A bond rating in 2011 over the same negotiations of raising the debt ceiling.
From Aug. 6, 2011:
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s on Friday downgraded the credit rating of the United States, stripping the world’s largest economy of its prized AAA status.
“Congress and the [Obama] administration couldn’t come to a resolution until two days before the deadline,” Spendlove said. “But even after they [Congress and the White House] came to a resolution, that bond rating of the United States was downgraded, and so what it means is it just costs more to borrow.”
It’s like a credit card, he said. The more you keep charging, the more expensive the monthly payments become.
Dave & Dujanovic can be heard on weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon. on KSL NewsRadio. Users can find the show on the KSL NewsRadio website and app, as well as Apple Podcasts and Google Play.
We want to hear from you.
Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.
Today’s Top Stories
- Pride-wrapped UTA bus pulled from downtown Pride Parade
- Two people killed in road rage crash near Eagle Mountain are identified
- Kouri Richins family satisfied with partial gag order issued in case, says spokesman
- Gov. Cox says he’s willing to call a special session to change Utah special election law
- Utah House leader signals change to special election law to fill Rep. Stewart’s seat
- Teenager drowns at Palisade State Park after getting caught in storm, officials say
- Witnesses report motorcycle passenger firing at silver car on NB I-15
- Salt Lake City police investigate after fatal overnight shooting outside of New Yorker night club
- Man nearly drowns at Gunlock Falls
- Four killed, including toddler, after plane crashed in Virginia


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THIS ITEM SHIPS FREE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES.
**For inquiries/orders outside the USA, please contact us for a shipping quote at JackWagonOverlanding@gmail.com to complete your order**
*Sold in pairs. Wiring Harness included.*
The LP9 Sport is perfect for enthusiasts that want a full size light with modern styling and advanced features. The Sport model still includes all of the technology that makes the LP9 series so popular, from Direct Ducted Cooling - that keeps your light cool under stress - to the Integrated Peripheral Technology (IPT), which produces an incredible 200° spread of usable light.
We don't see a need for over designed mounts for these. We recommend the use of this bar mount (or similar) for mounting onto the bull bar/brush guard of your G:
The LP9 Sport utilizes 9 forward projecting LEDS to produce 6,500 Lumens at 61 watts, and 6 LEDs for Integrated Peripheral Technology (IPT) which produce 2,280 lumens at 21 watts.
As with all of our LED offerings, this light features uService technology - allowing customers to change the lens pattern and color depending on driving conditions, or simply when they want to refresh the lens.
Note: The LP9 Sport is simple on/off (no hi/lo) and does not include the amber backlit feature. These features are available on the LP9 Pro and Racer Editions.
Wiring Harness included is 2 light max. Features simple on off switch.
Forward Projecting Lumens: 6,500 Utilizing 9 LEDs
Forward Projecting Wattage/Amps: 61W / 4.6A
IPT Lumens: 2,280 Utilizing 6 LEDs
IPT Wattage/Amps: 21W / 1.52A
Dimensions: 8" Diameter/ 3.25" Depth
LED Life Expectancy: 49,930 Hours
Front Lens: Hardcoated Polycarbonate
Housing: Hard Anodized Aluminum
Hardware & Bracket Material: Stainless Steel
Exceeds MIL-STD810G (Mil-Spec Testing)
Built-In Overvoltage Protection
IP69K (Waterproof up to 9ft & Pressure Washable)
IK10 Compliant (Mechanical Impact Testing)
Driving/Combo: Maximum trail coverage in a single light. The Driving/Combo pattern is equipped with both Wide Driving (42°) and the spot (6°) optics to provide you with a smooth blend of light for both near field applications and distance (Lighting Zone 3)
High Speed Spot: A longer and narrower 6° beam focus for illumination further down the trail or road. The Spot pattern is designed to be used in conjunction with additional Wide Driving and/or Driving/Combo beam lights. (Lighting Zone 4 & 5)

domain: hobby


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Prices are based on availability and subject to change.
Antigua Reef Riders
hrs Estimate Duration
Captain your own 2 seater inflatable motorboat on a guided tour of Antigua’s south coast and discover the exciting underwater world of Antigua and discover a sea teeming in marine life!
Board your air-conditioned transportation and ride through Antigua’s countryside, rich in daily West Indian life, local villages, old churches, that exemplify West Indian culture, to Jolly Harbour.
You will be met by an experience guide at Jolly Harbor who will give you a safety briefing on how to operate your 2 seater inflatable with 30hp engine safely and time to acquaint yourself with the boat. Follow your guide out of the harbor and enjoy your spectacular adventure along Antigua’s south coast in and out of bays and around reefs to Antigua’s premier snorkeling area, Cades Reef.
Here you will be given expert instruction in snorkeling before you put on your mask, fins and buoyancy belt and set out, explore and enjoy the home to the colorful Caribbean marine life including parrotfish, damselfish, grunts and angelfish amongst many others. Or you can simply take a swim or relax and soak up the sun in the idyllic location onboard the boat. The time is yours to enjoy the fantastic scenery.
You will be guided back to Jolly Harbour along the shoreline seeing dozens of beaches through the crystal clear Caribbean waters and have another opportunity to soak up the Antiguan sun and see the Antiguan south-west coast line before returning to the pier.
And don’t forget your swimsuit, towels and a camera to record wonderful memories!
Pricing is per boat. For 2 people on the same boat, only one person needs to book.
Need to Know:
Note: Snorkeling equipment includes safety buoyancy waistband, mask, snorkel and fins; professional instruction and supervision by PADI trained guides. Minimum age to participate is 5 years old. Guests must be 18 years of age to drive the boats. Maximum weight of combined participants is 400 pounds. The tour is not suitable for guests with back problems, guests who are pregnant or non-swimmers.
Check Out the
Tours with this activity level involve a considerable amount of physical activity such as substantial walking over cobblestone streets, uneven or steep terrain, climbing stairs, or extended periods of standing. Not recommended for guests with physical limitations. Comfortable, sturdy shoes are recommended.
Have Questions About Your Shore Excursions?
We're here to answer them. Call us at the number below to speak with a Shore Excursion Specialist.

domain: travel


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“That would be nice.” June said giving Becky a ‘Please, say Yes’ look. All eyes were now on Becky. She was furious that June was encouraging this Dan guy. She locked gazes with Dan and could almost smell his pride and lust. She knew his kind – good looking, smooth, cocksure, out for the hunt. They got their kicks off the chase. Once the thrill was over, she knew he’d move on to a fresh challenge, a conqueror once again. She held her smile still as she replied “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I’ll pass. Thanks for the offer.” Then to the others “Have fun, guys.”. And with that, she turned and left. Dan was caught off-guard, unprepared for the answer he was just handed. He had been certain of a positive response and was planning his next words; something about a suitable outfit.
“Oooookaaaayyyy. Shall we leave, then?” Tari said trying hard to keep an unamused expression on his face. “I guess.” June said. She’d been surprised herself. There was nothing wrong in the choice of words, but there was a way they had come out – cold. Very cold. Dan recovered but Becky had already left the room. There was no point in speaking in hopes she’d hear and respond. He’d only look stupid. “Sure, guys. Let’s roll.” he said leaving the house ahead of the others. He’d been in a few awkward situations with the ladies, but unless he turned this around somehow, this would be very high up the list of slams he’d ever gotten. Tari got the front passenger door for June and shut it after her. He looked over at Dan in the back seat, he knew what he was thinking – Another play.
When she heard the car drive off, Becky walked back to the living room and locked the door. She knew she had disappointed June, but her reasons were solid. She was about settling before the TV when she heard her phone ring. She rushed to it. Her heart sank when she saw it was Sope, Alfred’s eldest sister. A paediatrician who was married to a politician, they had 3 kids and lived in Calabar. There was only 1 reason why she could be calling. “Hello, Ma!” she answered, trying as much as she could to sound cherry. The conversation began as usual; talk about work, family and all, then it veered suddenly to what the actual purpose of the call was when Sope said “Have you heard from Alfred?”. There was no point denying it. Becky knew Sope knew it all.
“He’s been calling me” Becky replied flatly. “So, you guys have spoken?” Sope asked. “Not exactly, Ma.” Becky replied, “How exactly is it, then?” Sope pressed, “I didn’t take his calls, Aunty Sope.” she replied in what she hoped was a firm tone. “Why, dear? Won’t you even hear what he has to say?” Sope asked, “No, Ma. I and Alfred are done. There’s nothing to say.” Becky said. Now her voice was cracking and she hated herself for it. “See, Becky, you are a younger sister to me. I won’t purposely push you into fire. Why don’t you hear him out first, at the very least? And if you still want to go on with the break up, then let him know. The silence is not good. He’s worried out of his mind about you.” Sope said, trying to make Becky see reason. Becky sighed, she felt drained. “Ok, Ma.” She said.
A few more words of encouragement and Sope had rung off. Whatever happened, Becky was determined she was not going back to Alfred. She would take his call and hear him out. But it was a little late for sweet, rational words now. As Becky put the phone down, she saw she had a message. It was June,
“So wah r u doin @ home nw?”
it read, with a ‘straight face’ smiley. Like that was not enough already for one night, the next thing she saw was Tochi’s call coming in. “No way!” Becky yelled, hung up the call and switched her phone off. She knew what Tochi was calling for. He was going to come sob to her about how June had stood him up again. She was almost sorry for him. Becky knew June could have her pick of 10 guys but he would never make the list. Never.
Tari pulled up at June’s place. “Thank you. I had fun tonight.” June said and actually meant it. Since she came to the FCT, she’d been dined and wined by more willing guys than she could remember. There was hardly a weekend she didn’t have a date, unless she was working on something for the Morning Show. Most of the guys were still on her case, but June had perfected the skill of sizing up a man pretty quickly. She also never went on more than 1 date if he didn’t score at least 80%. In her books, Tari was a solid 90%, she’d known that for a while. “I had fun myself. Thanks for coming out with me.” Tari said. An awkward silence descended. June knew what was coming next and welcomed it in her heart. “I’ll walk you to your door.” Tari suddenly said and got out of the car surprising her.
Tari got her door open and helped her out of the car then walked her to the flat in silence. At the door, June remembered the discussion she’d had with Becky earlier and said “Tari, about the language thing, I think Becky can be of help. She teaches French here and also does private coaching on other languages.” “Really? How about Portuguese?” Tari asked. “Yes. I asked her. She also does Portuguese coaching.” June said, “You are in luck, Mr. Whiteriver.” she added, stroking Tari’s tie which hung loosely around his neck. “It seems. So, would she be willing to take me on?” He asked, slowly sinking both hands deeply into his pockets. “I’ll talk to her.” She replied, tugging slightly on the tie. “Please. Its pretty urgent as it is.” Tari said. “Ok.” June replied patting his chest twice with her palm.
“When will I see you again?” June asked. “Let’s plan that later today, eh?” He replied. “Thanks, again, June.” Tari added. “You’re welcome.” June said looking into his eyes. “Maybe now?” she thought. But Tari only said “Good night.”, walked to his car and drove off. June was taken aback. “What is it with this dude?” she said. She had expected he’d at least make a move to kiss her. If he’d come part of the way, she would have met him, well….not halfway, but somewhere just before the halfway mark from her end. ‘Why is he such a drag?’ she thought. She unlocked the door to find Becky watching TV. “Witch! You continued without me, abi?” She said throwing her purse at Becky who ducked it. “We’ll go back to episode 6 together.” Becky said.
“What’s wrong?” June asked sitting beside Becky. “Alfred’s sister called.” Becky said. “What did she say? That you should answer Alfred?” June asked, knowing what the call could only have been about. Becky nodded. “Becky, if you want change, you have to take responsibility for it. You are already making progress, don’t get derailed now.” June said. “Yeah. I know. I’ll talk to him and tell him off for good.” Becky replied. “Ehen! Now, girlfriend, snap out of it!” June said getting up “I’m off to bed.” she added. “Ok.” Becky replied curling up on the sofa. “So, why did you shoot Dan down like that? Not like you had anything else doing.” June asked. “I’ll rather watch TV than go out with Dan.” Becky replied making June laugh. “Whatever. So long as your mind is not on Alfred.”
June lay in bed awake longer than she had expected. It had been a very fun night – lots of designs, models, designers, music and dance. Drinks had been on demand and Tari had her covered. Dan didn’t seat with them, he was all over the place taking shots with his 2 cameras. Sadly, he had no Becky to ‘assist’ him. He’d requested for Becky’s number from her but she had taken his’ instead, promising to send him Becky’s digits if she agreed to it. With Becky’s current mood, she’d skipped asking her. She thought of Tari, “Why was he holding back?” she thought. It was almost as if he didn’t like her. But she knew better. She had seen how he looks at her when he thought she was not aware of it. Like when she had gotten up to dance, though he’d kept his seat, his eyes had never left her. Still….
Becky sat up. The TV and DVD had been turned off and her blanket spread over her. She’d slept off watching her series. Her thighs ached, she knew what was coming. She went into the bathroom. On her way back, she saw her face and hair, she was a mess, sleeping in the couch too had not helped. She found her phone and turned it on, walking out of the room as she dialled her stylist’s number so as not to wake June. The number was switched off. She made a mental note to try later. As she lay back in the sofa, the phone rang. She looked at the screen, “Alfred” she said. Suddenly her heart rate picked up. She answered the call and brought the phone to her ear. “Hello.” came his familiar voice. “Hi.” she replied. “How are you, Becky?” he asked. “I’m fine.” she replied coldly.
Becky sat up slowly, waiting for him to speak. “Hello, are you there?” he asked. “Alfred, I can hear you.” she said. “Ah, Ok. So, how have you been? How’s work and -” he was saying but she cut in: “Alfred. You didn’t call to chit-chat with me. And honestly, its too early in the morning for all of this.” She was getting angry now. “Becky, do you have to be rude?” he asked, “I’m not rude, Alfred. You have been calling me non-stop for days. Can we get to the reason for that? If my work and life were important to you, you would not wait 5 months to ask.” Becky poured. “See, I’m sorry, right? I truly am. And I swear by our unborn kids – ” he was saying, “STOP!” Becky yelled, “Please, don’t say that anymore. I’m sick and tired of hearing that. Unborn kids, Alfred? We killed them all. And we are done!”
Now, Becky was standing. “Becky, please, I am sorry. Just forgive me. I’m a better man now. I have changed. I came to abuja to see you. You just give me a time and place and I’ll be there. If I’m 1 minute late, never speak to me again. If I don’t make any sense when we are done talking, I promise to let you be and never come back.” Alfred begged. Becky paused. She’d never heard these lines before. Alfred promising to be punctual and giving her a way out? Where was the possessive Alpha-male who was always right? “Hello?” he added when she made no response. “What do you want, Alfred?” Becky asked. She needed to think. He had a brand new tact, she needed to respond appropriately. She didn’t believe he had changed as a person, but clearly his methods were new.
Alfred went on for another 11 minutes and the recurring point was that this was his last shot. All she had to do was agree to a meeting and then she was free to make up her mind. “Let me think about it.” Becky replied when he finally asked again. “Just tell me yes, Becky. You and I -” he was saying. She hung up. She slowly lay back in the couch and began to cry quietly. She could feel herself being sucked in again. Although she’d never spoken to him this way before, he had kept his cool and that had rattled her. She dismissed 2 call attempts from him while she lay there crying. He sent an SMS:
“Just let me know whr & when. I’ll b there”
She dropped the phone as a fresh wave of tears burst forth. She wanted to pray, to ask for strength and wisdom, but “Oh my God! Oh my God.” was all she could manage.
Becky filled the visitors’ form and took a seat in the reception. It was comfortable and cool. She had come straight here after school. June had made this happen. Tari had requested she come see him at the office so they could discuss the terms of the language coaching. She was pretty glad for the opportunity and had thanked June severally. Her youngest sibling had called a few days ago in need of money, the burden was not getting any lighter. Hopefully, her immediate younger sister would get a job soon and pitch in with upkeep of the others. When she’d agreed to take the job, June had asked how much she was going to bill Tari. “Double it!” June had said when Becky revealed her figure. Looking around the office now, she understood why – Tari could well afford it.
“He’ll see you now.” the Receptionist said, breaking into Becky’s thoughts. She got up, listened to the Receptionist’s directions and got on the elevator. She could not help wondering how much the lady was paid. “More than I earn, I’m sure.” she mumbled as the elevator began its ascent. On the right floor, she got off the elevator and spoke with another Receptionist who led her to Tari’s door, knocked and opened it to let her in. Tari was standing before a wall covered with maps and other documents stuck on with colourful push pins. “Hello, Becky, please have a seat.” Tari said without taking his eyes off what he was studying. He had his sleeves rolled up, a marker in one hand and pair of compass in the other, a slight scowl on his face.
Becky took a look around, there were lots of books and documents all over, she slipped on her glasses and focused on what he was looking at, it was a map of Mozambique. “Thanks for your patience.” Tari suddenly said after a few minutes, turned around and took his seat across from her. “So, you speak Portuguese?” He asked. “Yes. French and German as well.” Becky replied. “Hmmm. Impressive.” he said, “Would you like something to drink?” he added. “No, I’m fine.” Becky replied automatically. She noticed the mini-fridge in the corner and regretted not asking for a drink. She realised she was curious to see what the contents were. “Ok! In that case, shall we get down to business?” Tari asked. Becky led as they discussed how to go about the training.
Because time was of the essence, Becky had suggested an intensive course. There would be books, tapes, online tests as well as lectures on Saturdays and Sundays. All of which he agreed to. “So, what would all of these cost me?” Tari asked, “I’ll check for the books and tapes and get back to you with the prices.” she said. “And your fee?” he asked. She had rehearsed this moment severally on the way here, still she was unsure if she should ask for so much, it was a record-high for her. The figure rolled off her tongue nicely. She almost repeated herself, thinking he had not heard her but she noticed he had raised his eyebrows slightly; clearly, he’d heard her. He kept quiet for what seemed like a whole minute then uttered a simple “Sounds fair.” She almost sprang out of her chair.

domain: literature


Completion of a 90-day pay-by-license-plate visitor parking pilot project
The Jefferson and Maple Park visitor parking lot
June - August 2016
The Department of Enterprise Services (DES) has switched from a pay and display parking system to a pay-by-license-plate system to better manage visitor parking on the East Capitol Campus. A 90-day pilot project ending Aug. 31 has collected data using license plate readers to monitor parking trends like high utilization times. The data collected by this technology will help DES Parking Services monitor parking availability during the day and ensure the lot is available to visitors, including visitors to the Capitol Campus and employees who work off-site but have business on campus. Employees who work off campus and have an agency parking permit can use visitor parking at no charge to the employee.
Parking Services staff will analyze the data to determine cost effectiveness of the technology and the potential for integration and expansion to other campus lots. They will also explore additional technologies such as mobile applications and hand-held license plate readers to modernize and improve parking on the Capitol Campus.
Beginning in June, parkers who use the Jefferson and Maple Park visitor parking lot will use a key pad to enter their license plate number in the lot’s pay station at the time of payment. Now, instead of walking back to their car to place a receipt on their dashboard, parkers can simply enter their license plate number into the pay station, pay and go. Employees who work on the Capitol Campus may not use visitor parking between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. See WAC 200-200-188 for complete conditions and rules.
If you have questions about the pilot project or parking on the Capitol Campus, email email@example.com or call (360) 725-0030.


People with disabilities in other nations may not have the same protections that we do here, and that can lead to tragic circumstances. We have an example from Japan. Mainichi reports.
For a free legal consultation, call 1-800-222-9529
In Japan, getting into a good high school can have life-long benefits. But one man with cerebral palsy was rejected 27 times from entering a high school due to his cerebral palsy and care requirements. Schooling is only compulsory through junior high in Japan, but access to good jobs and status runs through attending high school.
Sadly, the man died at age 21 before he was able to finish his schooling. Now his mother is lobbying the government to change the rules so that people like her son, Jun Watanabe, can get the education they want.
Jun had special care needs. He needed his nose suctioned and he had to use a wheelchair to get around. When he was in junior high, he had access to a nurse to care for him and didn’t have to work separately from other students.
After graduating from junior high in 2013, he tried to apply to 27 different high schools and got turned down every time. Two of those were for legitimate reasons. They were full. But the other 25 rejected him even though there were places available.
When questioned by his mother about the rejections, they would repeatedly say that it was not because of his impairment and that they couldn’t provide a specific reason for the failure.
Birth Injury Lawyer Near Me 1-800-222-9529
Till the end, he never gave up applying even as he aged well beyond the range of high school attendance. But when his condition suddenly worsened this year, he died. Fortunately, there are politicians in Japan who are taking notice of cases like these and are trying to improve education access for the disabled in Japan.


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Draft executive order would enhance high-deductible coverage for chronic disease care
While all eyes were on Senate Republicans last week as they rushed to assemble their bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, a draft version of a White House executive order surfaced that would allow patients enrolled in high-deductible health plans to access care for chronic conditions before they meet their deductible.
Patients enrolled in high-deductible plans linked to tax-exempt health savings accounts must spend hundreds or often thousands of dollars to meet their annual deductible before benefits kick in. Under Internal Revenue Service rules, only preventive services, like mammograms and blood pressure screenings, are covered pre-deductible. Federal rules bar health plans from covering clinically recommended services for people already diagnosed with a chronic illness until the deductible is met.
But the draft executive order would change IRS rules so that healthcare services and drugs used to manage chronic diseases would also be covered pre-deductible. Supporters say expanding the IRS' "safe harbor" would remove a barrier that leads chronically ill patients to put off necessary care for fear of racking up high out-of-pocket costs. It's also likely the change will boost enrollment in high-deductible plans, which studies show can save costs for employers and health plans.
"A lot of times, patients delay care because the deductible is so high. This is a common-sense policy to ensure that individuals in these arrangements get the care they need," said Andrew MacPherson, a principal at lobbying firm Healthsperien and co-director of the Smarter Health Care Coalition, a group of health plans, pharmaceutical companies and employer groups that have been pushing for the change.
In recent years, the number companies offering high-deductible health plans linked to an HSA has ballooned as employers and insurers looked for ways to rein in rising healthcare costs. The plans usually have lower premiums, which experts say makes them attractive to younger, healthier enrollees, but they often come with higher out-of-pocket expenses.
About 29% of workers enrolled in employer-sponsored health coverage were enrolled in high-deductible plan in 2016, up from 25% in 2015, according to employee benefits consultancy Mercer. And 61% of employers offer such plans, while 9% offer it as the only choice.
Health policy experts have touted high-deductible health plans with HSAs as a way to cut down on healthcare spending. These plans, defined as having a deductible of at least $1,300 for single coverage and $2,600 for family coverage, put more of the burden of paying for healthcare on the consumer, who generally must pay for most services at full cost until the deductible is reached.
The idea is that by giving consumers more "skin in the game," they will make smarter decisions when shopping for healthcare and avoid seeking unnecessary care, which will save money for employers, insurers and the healthcare system as a whole. The plans do save costs: a 2016 Mercer survey found that the plans coupled with HSAs cost 22% less on average than coverage in a traditional PPO plan.
But a chief criticism is that people often delay or skimp on necessary care to avoid spending lots of money out of pocket. Experts warn that skipping needed care can lead to worsening health conditions and higher costs down the road. A 2011 RAND Corp. study, for example, found that while healthcare spending did decrease among individuals enrolled in high-deductible plans, those enrollees also skimped on both unnecessary and necessary care.
While high-deductible plans may attract young, healthy enrollees who don't need much care beyond preventive services, the plans don't do much for the chronically ill. The inflexible, one-size-fits-all nature of high-deductible plans is one reason consumers are slow to enroll in them, said Dr. Mark Fendrick, director and co-founder of the University of Michigan Center for Value-Based Insurance Design, who has long advocated for value-based insurance design, or VBID. VBID plans waive or reduce out-of-pocket costs for services and drugs that are considered effective treatments for patients with chronic health conditions such as diabetes.
Fendrick said the change to the IRS rules included in the draft order would make the plans more attractive to a broader range of consumers and boost enrollment in plans that ultimately "lower deductibles, enhance coverage and lower healthcare costs in the aggregate."
The change is also a welcome one for employers, who have been pushing for prescription drugs for chronic conditions to be covered pre-deductible, said Tracy Watts, a senior partner and U.S. health reform leader at Mercer.
"Employers don't want cost to be a barrier for members with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, to be compliant with their condition management plans," she said.
This isn't the first time supporters of HSA reform have made some headway. Last year, U.S. Reps. Diane Black (R-Tenn.) and Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) introduced a bipartisan bill that would allow first-dollar coverage of exams, prescription drugs and other services for people who have chronic conditions and are enrolled in a high-deductible health plan. That bill is set to be reintroduced in the next several weeks, MacPherson said.
As written, the draft executive order contains no details about which drugs and services to manage chronic diseases would be included in the IRS' safe harbor provision. That would be left up to the IRS, MacPherson said.
The Trump administration and congressional Republican leaders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, have championed HSAs as a way to expand consumer choice in healthcare. A draft of the Senate healthcare bill, the Better Care Reconciliation Act of 2017, released last week would nearly double the amount of money consumers can put into their HSAs tax-free to $6,650 for individuals and $13,300 for families. Currently individuals can contribute up to $3,400 to an HSA, while families can contribute $6,750.
But the bill does nothing to make high-deductible plans work better for those who enroll in them, Fendrick said. "As long as you need a high-deductible health plan to open an HSA, we need to make high-deductible health plans more attractive to a broader population."
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domain: medical


Soviet-era unique T-72M1 tank was spotted near Camp Dodge, Iowa
A unique Soviet-era Czech T-72M1 tank was spotted being transported in the vicinity of Camp Dodge, Iowa. This was reported by Ronkainen on his Twitter account, which tracks the transportation of the tank.
- 10 more Caesar 8×8 howitzers ordered from the Czech Republic
- Watch: Czech inflatable decoys confusing the Russian attackers
- Oshkosh M1070 truck transports another captured modern T-90 tank
Where is the final destination of the tank is not reported. It is also not known if the tank is being transported to be tested. Ronkainen says on Twitter that the tank came from the Nevada Automotive Test Center to the Aberdeen Test Center, MD. However, the photos were distributed on the 16th and 17th of May on the web.
The T-72M1 is a unique tank. It is a Czech production developed based on the Soviet tank T-72. According to information from open sources, this tank was produced in extremely small quantities. Some suggest that only 30 units were produced by him. Only 10 of them were [are still] used by the Czech Army, while the other 20 were cannibalized for spare parts.
However, according to others, this information is incomplete and even contradictory. They [the other sources] say at least 36 units were produced from the T-72M1 upgrade. A part of them was donated to Ukraine after the beginning of the Russian invasion. Along with them, the Czechs have donated a T-72M4CZ upgrade as well.
The T-72M1 tank is an export version of the T-72A. It is also known by the Czech designation Ob’yekt 172M-E5 and was developed in the mid-1980s.
What makes this tank even more unique is that it is equipped with DYNA reactive armor. This armor is produced by the Czech company Excalibur Army. For the first time, this modification of the T-72M1 with DYNA armor was presented to the public nearly four years ago, in 2019. This modification is also known as the T-72 Scarab.
It was the T-72 Scarab lying on top of the American truck trailer spotted near Camp Dodge. According to open sources, not only the jet armor distinguishes Scarab from other T-72s.
The T-72 Scarab is equipped with a much better power pack. Its armor is said to provide better protection against weapons of mass destruction. Sources say the Scarab is equipped with an advanced optical and targeting fire control system. This tank features remote control of the external 12.7mm machine gun as well as an advanced communication system.
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Will Storr£20.00 £19.00
I’ve raved about Will Storr for a long time: his talent as a writer and a journalist is truly remarkable, and he deserves every accolade. His byline on one of his signature long-form newspaper or magazine articles guarantees a fascinating read and new insights, even if the subject at hand isn’t something that appears immediately interesting. It’s therefore no surprise at all that I loved this recently published book of his about social status and how it drives human psychology. His argument is that the acquisition of social status drives everything we do, without our realisation, and even when we believe we are acting altruistically. We all want to be heroes. As in all of his writing, Storr takes a broad view of his topic. His discussion encompasses serial killers, social media ‘celebrities’, the history of religion, and (slightly less convincingly) the rise of the Nazis. He writes very interestingly on psychology, and how each person’s perception of the world differs markedly. Storr’s storytelling style holds the text together, with an appreciable dash of wry humour. Storr’s insights always live long in my memory, perhaps because I enjoy his writing so much, and perhaps because of his memorable storytelling style. While I loved this book, I’m not sure it’s the first I’d recommend to people new to Storr’s writing as his central thesis (while convincing to me) might prove a bit of a barrier: I’d perhaps suggest that "Selfie" is the best starting point (or his reams of journalism).
Just out in hardback, this is John Boyne’s new comedic novel which skewers society’s obsession with social media. The epigraph is from Umberto Eco, and summaries the thesis succinctly: "Social media gives legions of idiots the right to speak when they once only spoke at a bar after a glass of wine, without harming the community. Then they were quickly silenced, but now they have the same right to speak as a Nobel Prize winner. It’s the invasion of the idiots." The plot is centred on the Cleverley family, all five members of whom are irredeemably awful people. George, the patriarch, is the host of a BBC TV chat show which has been running for decades. Beverley, his wife, is nominally a writer of romance novels, though makes extensive use of ghost writers. Alike with their three young adult children, the two hold themselves in unfathomably high esteem. Each member of the family makes use of social media for self-promotional purposes. As with Boyne’s last novel, The Heart's Invisible Furies, the plot is fairly ridiculous; yet, where in the previous novel an outlandish plot was used as an opportunity to string together a series of moments of high emotional drama, here it strings together a series of laugh-out-loud satisfying set pieces in one long downward spiral of farcical consequences. This is a very funny book, with lots of satirical contemporary references. (And, to note, Maude Avery—one of my favourite literary characters after her introduction in the previous novel—is referenced a number of times in this one.) While this is a skewering of social media, it’s hard not to notice that social media delivers justice in the book, albeit by perverted misguided means. Through that authorial decision, Boyne leaves some interesting questions to ponder, rather than just writing off the whole medium. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
Jonathan Calvert and George Arbuthnott£20.00
As COVID-19 has consumed almost all of my working life for the past nineteen months, I've been somewhat loath to read even more about it in my spare time. Yet I found this recently published book by two investigative journalists from The Sunday Times extraordinary, gripping and devastating—and the experience of reading it, mildly reassuring. The book starts with fifty pages on the history of coronavirus outbreaks around the world, and the likely sources of COVID-19, before launching into 350 pages covering the response of (mostly) the UK Government to the pandemic up until the end of 2020. People often characterise NewsUK journalists as being supportive of Conservative governments, yet this book, which sticks to a mostly straightforward timeline of events, could not be more damaging to the Government's claim to have handled the pandemic well. Perhaps most damning of all is the section at the end where the authors explain that the Government's response to their criticisms was to deny any errors in their handling of the crisis. It was this book's elucidation of clear errors and lessons for the future that I found oddly reassuring: reflection, learning and continuous improvement is a cornerstone of any medical practice, and an explicitly routine part of health protection practice, and acknowledgement of errors felt like a bit of a return to normality—even where those errors have been on a unrecognisable scale. Calvert and Arbuthnott include harrowing individual patient stories from the pandemic, which are tough to read. Its also hard—as they themselves acknowledge—to be certain of how representative of the wider response each of these stories can be. Yet their inclusion feels important to contextualise decisions and illustrate their human impact. No work of journalism will ever be perfect, or fully reflect the truth of any situation: the blameless can be blamed, decisions made with the best available information at the time can look foolhardy in hindsight, and the real villains can go without mention. Perhaps Arbuthnott and Calvert are completely wrong on key facts, or on where decisions were made, or on where they place the blame. But, right or wrong, this book feels like the first draft of the history of the UK Government's response to the first part of the COVID-19 pandemic.
SOPHIE HARRISON£16.99 £16.14
Sophie Harrison was an editor at Granta magazine before she decided to retrain as a doctor. She started medical school in 2003—the same year as me—and this memoir of her time at medical school through to her early career as a GP has just been published. I picked this up as I was aware of Harrison's background and thought it was likely that she would write well about her career, which I thought would be quite fun to read. I've somehow never really clocked her pieces in the LRB or the Financial Times Weekend despite regularly reading both. I though this book was wonderful: warm and witty, exactly the tone I would like to strike if I had enough talent to write about my own medical training. The fact that Harrison is a contemporary of mine meant that her story brought back a lot of memories from my own training, moreso than the many medical biographies from different eras. Harrison's background also gives her a literary appreciation for medicine, and there are lots of references to medicine in literature contrasted with her own experiences. I enjoyed this enormously, more even than I expected. The combination of great writing and the reminisces it engendered as I read made this a real pleasure.
Jeffrey Eugenides£9.99 £9.49
This 2002 novel by Jeffrey Eugenides won the Pulitzer prize—and in my view, entirely deserved it. I thought this was brilliant. The plot is focused on Calliope Stephanides, an intersex man who—despite a XY chromosomal pattern—has a genetic disorder which causes him to be born with feminine genitalia, and to be raised as a girl. The condition reveals itself as Calliope reaches puberty. But this isn’t just a novel about an intersex man, or even just about gender identity: most of the previous paragraph makes up only the final third of the novel. The rest explores Calliope’s family history, commenting on the immigrant experience for his grandparents moving from Greece to Detroit, and telling a compelling set of stories of consanguinity. The narrator is also witty, and this book made me laugh. I thought this was brilliant, both in terms of its telling of the broad canvas story of immigration and social change, and of the specific plot and the gender issues caught up in it. It is a real page-turner of a story, as well as having a lot to say.
Richard Powers£9.99 £9.49
Richard Powers’s much-acclaimed 2019 novel which is broadly about humanity’s relationship with trees, and the way in which deforestation is effectively harming (ending) the human species. The structure of this book is used in part to reflect its message: Powers makes the point that trees which appear to be separate are essentially all part of one big interacting forest organism. The first section of the book (“Roots”) introduces a set of nine distinct characters in separate chapters, and then sets about demonstrating how they all interact in one big story (“Trunk” onwards). This is all very well in theory, but I found that first quarter of the book deathly dull—though I note that one of my Goodreads friends found it to be the best bit. I wasn’t really invested in the characters, and contemplated giving up on the book. However, from “Trunk” onwards, I thought this was exceptional. It had a combination of first-rate prose, a number of driving plots, and an interesting and well-argued thesis about our relationship with nature which Powers drives home. It was so good, in fact, that this has become one of my favourite books of the year so far, despite the rocky start.
Jhumpa Lahiri£8.99 £8.54
This is Jhumpa Lahiri’s debut collection of nine short stories of about 20 pages each about experiences resulting from a meeting of Indian and (mostly) American culture. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000. I picked it up mostly on a whim because I fancied reading some short stories and this caught my eye, and I’ve ended up very much enjoying it. I liked every one of the nine stories, and found them all engaging and surprisingly powerful. Lhari grounds each of the stories in everyday life, and the power comes from the close observation of common experiences. The prose style feels spare, simple and exact. I also felt that I gained new insight into what it is like to be a cultural outsider on a day-to-day level, and the internal conflicts and misunderstandings it can create. This element of the book felt relevant and current. I’d certainly recommend this one.
Ivan Illich£12.95 £12.30
I dug this 1976 book out of the library in response to my Goodreads friend Richard Smith re-posting his 2002 piece about it. I’d never heard of it before, but blimey its force of argument blew me away. Illich’s central argument is that “the medical establishment has become a major threat to health … A vast amount of contemporary clinical care is incidental to the curing of disease, but the damage done by medicine to the health of individuals and populations is very significant.” Some of the specific arguments and statistics Illich uses show their age, but it is hard to substantially disagree with most of his central points. Illich’s lengthy arguments about the various forms of iatrogenic harm lead him to argue for keeping most of the population away from the medical establishment and instead bolstering the ability of communities to maintain their health and cope with ill-health. “The level of public health corresponds to the degree to which the means and responsibility for coping with illness are distributed among the total population … A world of optimal and widespread health is obviously a world of minimal and only occasional medical intervention. Healthy people are those who live in healthy homes on a healthy diet in an environment equally fit for birth, growth, work, healing, and dying.” For me personally, this book has come at the perfect time. I have been worrying about the extent to which the response to the covid-19 pandemic has emphasised a professional / medical model of healthcare to an extent that I have never before seen in my medical career. Even at the ‘slightest symptom’ the population is encouraged to engage with the ‘establishment’ via formal testing. I worry that we will struggle to put the genie back in the bottle. The age-adjusted mortality rate for the most deprived quintile of the UK is a multiple of that for the least deprived quintile, yet—at least from what we have heard to date—the mainstay of the plan for future pandemics appears to be to beef up the medically driven response (people like me) rather than doing anything meaningful to tackle the underlying social issues. This book was a timely reminder of the limits of the medical approach to health that articulated much of what I’ve been worrying about. I’m not sure I would go as far as Illich in arguing against medicine, but having a polemic like this certainly stimulates thought.
Carlo Rovelli£20.00 £19.00
Published in English last year, this is physicist Carlo Rovelli’s collection of newspaper and magazine articles, mostly from Italian publications over the last decade and translated here by Erica Segre and Simon Carnell. As the author says in his preface, the pieces collected here are like brief diary entries recording the intellectual adventures of a physicist who is interested in many things and who is searching for new ideas—for a wide but coherent perspective. I thoroughly enjoyed this, from the columns on (what seem to me to be) minutiae of physics to the wider social and cultural commentaries, though the latter held more appeal for me. Rovelli writes engagingly and insightfully on everything from the covid pandemic to activism, and from his experiences taking LSD to his atheism. There is always something interesting about hearing people with a huge amount of knowledge and understanding of one area of life applying their perspective and approach to something different… though the three-part essay on black holes also sparkles and his tribute to Stephen Hawking moves. I haven’t read any of Rovelli’s books before now (despite them selling in their millions), but the quality of his writing and the clarity of his imagery has got me adding them to my “to read” list.
Julian Barnes£9.99 £9.49
This is Julian Barnes’s 2013 genre-defying short book. It consists of three essays which are thematically connected in myriad unexpected ways: ‘The Sin of Height’ is a biography of the first aerial photographer, Nadar; ‘On the Level’ is a fictional romance between adventurer Fred Burnaby and actress Sarah Burnhardt; and ‘The Loss of Depth’ is memoir, dealing with Barnes’s experience of grief following the death of his wife. Altogether, this makes for an exceptional portrait of love and grief. It is deeply moving and feels at times painfully honest, and even has the occasional sparkle of humour. It feels both raw, yet also thoughtful and considered. It deepened my understanding of both love and grief. It’s no secret that Barnes can write, but it is almost impossible to grasp how he covers such expansive territory with such emotional depth in only 128 pages. Exceptional.
Kazuo Ishiguro£20.00 £19.00
This is Ishiguro’s recently published novel set in the near future (or perhaps an alternative present). It is narrated by an “AF” called Klara, a solar powered artificially intelligent robot of sorts who is bought to be a companion for an unwell child, Josie. Like all of the Ishiguro novels I’ve read, I absolutely loved this. As in Never Let Me Go, Ishiguro makes deft use of science fiction themes to explore universal experiences and emotions, and avoids getting drawn into the “science” bit (we don’t really know what sort of technology powers AFs, for example). This novel explores all sorts of questions: the universal aspects of the life course; the nature of religion; the meaning of service; the lifelong impact of childhood inequality; the fundamentals of the human condition; the meaning of friendship and love. As with his other novels, Ishiguro explores all of this gently rather than forcefully. Honestly, to me Ishiguro is one of those authors who could spin a thoughtful and spellbinding novel out of a telephone directory. This was brilliant.
Barack Obama£35.00 £33.25
This first part of Obama’s Presidential memoir covers his political life up to the point of election to the Presidency, and his first term through to May 2011. For me, it was a Christmas present from mum and dad. It is nothing short of exceptional. Obama has a rare talent for prose that is both readable and elegant: quite apart from his extraordinary experience, he is a truly gifted writer. He deftly combines everything from personal anecdote to political theory and from introspective reflection to lessons on statecraft to essentially spin a really gripping yarn, which also provides deep insight into what it is like to be a President of the United States. Obama’s much-expressed and clearly deeply-felt frustration with the Republican Party and the early ascendency in the political sphere of Trump portends a rather darker second volume. As I will definitely be reading it, I’ll be interested to see whether that can be as inspiring and hopeful as this volume, despite the different circumstances.
Douglas Stuart£14.99 £14.24
The 2020 Booker Prize winner was, for me, a Christmas present from Wendy. It is one of those books so universally praised that it doesn’t really matter what I write about it, because the tonne of critical and popular opinion far outweighs the thoughts of a person on the internet. For what it’s worth, I thought it was brilliant. It is the story of the relationship between young Shuggie Bain and his alcoholic mother Agnes. It follows them while Shuggie is growing up, from the age of five to fifteen, against the backdrop of impoverished Glasgow in the 1980s. It has everything: deep characterisation, moving plot, social commentary, beautifully lyrical writing, profound insight, and more. It is superb. I’m reminded of Jeffrey Archer whinging through one of his characters that literary prizes are never given to “storytellers”: this book conclusively proves him wrong.
John Boyne£9.99 £9.49
It takes a certain pluck to choose as an epigraph a quotation from a fictional work ‘written’ by a character you created, as Boyne does for this exceptional 2017 novel. His quote is from Maude Avery who, a novelist and adoptive mother to the protagonist, proved to be a new addition to my list of favourite literary characters. Characterisation is at the heart of this book. The book follows the life of Charles Avery from his birth in the months after the Second World War, through seven-year intervals to his seventieth year. Charles is Irish, but spends parts of his life in a number of different cities. This book reminded me a little of opera, in that the plot is faintly ridiculous and jam-packed with slightly absurd co-incidences, but this didn’t really matter. The plot served only as a device to allow for deeper characterisation and to string together moments of high emotional drama, all set against the accelerated pace of change in social values which characterised the second half of the twentieth century. Boyne deftly moved between very funny passages (even a little slapstick at times) and deeply moving scenes in a way that never jarred. I feel like I’ve made this sound terribly dry, whereas (more than anything else) it was riotously good fun.


text:
Fig. 1: Childhood obesity
The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines obesity as ‘‘abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to health’’. A child is said to be obese when s/he is significantly overweight for his or her age.
Childhood obesity is a public health concern because it puts children and adolescents at risk for poor health. It is continually affecting many low and middle-income countries, mostly in the urban settings. In 2016, the prevalence of overweight children under the age of five, was estimated to have been over 41 million globally and about half of the children under 5 lived in Asia and one quarter in Africa (WHO, 2020).
The Body Mass Index (BMI) is commonly used to measure obesity. The normal range for BMI in children varies with age and sex. While a BMI above the 85th percentile is defined as overweight, a BMI greater than or equal to the 95th percentile is defined as obesity (CDC, 2020).
Fig 2. Body Mass Index (BMI) for age percentiles: Boys, 2-20 years and Body Mass Index (BMI) for age percentiles: Girls, 2-20 years
Source: Centre for Disease Control (CDC)
Causes of Childhood Obesity
Fundamentally, an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended causes children to be obese (WHO, 2020). Other causes of childhood obesity include:
- Genetic factors
- Lack or low level of physical activity
- Unhealthy eating patterns, or a combination of these factors.
- Hormonal problems: this medical condition can only be seen in rare cases (Schwartz, 2020).
Health Consequences of childhood obesity
Childhood obesity is associated with a higher chance of premature death and disability in adulthood (WHO, 2020). It predisposes to glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, liver and renal disease, and reproductive dysfunction. This condition also increases the risk of adult-onset obesity and risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at a younger age (Schwarz, 2020). Other health consequences, according to the CDC include:
- Breathing problems, such as asthma and sleep apnea.
- Joint problems and musculoskeletal discomfort.
- Fatty liver disease, gallstones, and gastro-esophageal reflux (heartburn)
- Psychological problems such as anxiety and depression.
- Low self-esteem and lower self-reported quality of life.
- Social problems such as bullying and stigma.
Prevention of childhood obesity
One of the best strategies to reduce childhood obesity is to improve the eating and exercise habits of the whole family. Other strategies recommended by the WHO include:
- Consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts
- Consumption of unsaturated fat other than saturated fat
- Limit the intake of sugars
- Physical activities, such as 60 minutes of regular, moderate- to vigorous-intensity activity each day that is developmentally appropriate.
Children and adolescents require special attention in order to fight the obesity epidemic because they do not get to choose what they eat and the environment they find themselves in (WHO, 2020).
Most people think it is evidence that a child is feeding well when s/he is fat, what are your thoughts on this? How best do you suggest childhood obesity should be curtailed in society?


text:
One of the best things to do with friends is to go on a road trip. There will come a […]
Traveling the world to find luxury travel destinations is a dream for many. You search for luxury travel magazines to
Second in size to only Asia, Africa is a continent brimming with life-altering experiences. If you are looking for ones
Are you going on a trip someplace exciting and are hoping to record lots of great videos while you’re there?
Everything about Paris speaks volumes about its elite nature. It’s one of those rich brats in your group of friends
October is already here and we are just days away from getting a spooky knock of Halloween on the door.
The Hamptons may have a reputation for being a playground of the rich and famous, but you don’t actually need
So you want to sunbathe and take advantage of NYC summer days but don’t want to spend your entire weekend


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New Open Space Acquisition Will Connect to the Angeles National Forest
East Walker Ranch | Photo via city of Santa Clarita
In Los Angeles, new taxes, assessments and fee increases tend to fund a basic municipal services, such as growing a police force or renewing an aging power infrastructure. In smaller and younger cities, however, voters sometimes allow such monies to be directed elsewhere.
Case in point, an assessment passed by Santa Clarita property owners in 2007 (a similar measure failed in 2005) created the Open Space Preservation District, which gives the city money to purchase land, within and outside city limits, in an effort to preserve wildlife connectivity and a greenbelt buffer. The spacious city, the fourth largest by population in L.A. County, and its surroundings are always a target for major development projects.
Although the city has acquired over 3,000 acres of open space prior to the new funding source, today the first purchase with money from the annual assessment will be unveiled. 140 acres of Walker Ranch is now public property that will connect to the Angeles National Forest via Golden Valley, another piece of city land dedicated to open space.
Property owners currently pay $26 a year per parcel into the fund. In general, 90 percent goes to open space and up to 10 percent can go for parkland. Still, the Walker Ranch property was only partially bought with assessment money--about $250,000 came from Los Angeles County and close to $1 million came from, interestingly enough, Pardee Homes, a development company.


text:
Norton library budget being cut
Employees of the Norton Public Library will try to save their budget when they meet with the town finance committee Monday night.
“We have not been slashed like this ever,” said head librarian Elaine Jackson.
Under the proposed 2009 budget, the nearly century-old library faces a 35 percent cut in funding, causing reduced hours, layoffs, and loss of certification.
The library budget has endured minor reductions in recent years, but the current proposal would cut the funding from $448,214 to $295,314.
“The library will not be able to keep its certification because the town will not meet its state-mandated funding requirement,” Jackson said in a prepared statement.
Town manager James P. Purcell called the cuts “a painful choice,” but it was a matter of priorities. “Because I have to bring my budget in below the current year.”
Under the current budget draft, fire and police budgets rose about 1 percent, but contractual increases in other departments are forcing the library to endure the brunt of the fiscal belt tightening.
“I’ve been saying since last fall we’re anticipating trouble,” Purcell said.
Norton’s library is the latest in a string of libraries around the region to be ravaged by reduced funding. In February, the Bridgewater library lost state certification and shortened its hours of operation to 15 per week after their budget was almost halved. The public libraries in Dartmouth and Saugus faced similar challenges after massive budget cuts last year.
Purcell, who has held his post in Norton for five years, and has been a town administrator for 33 years, said revenues are down while expenses, such as energy costs are skyrocketing. So far, he has cut $300,000 from the 2009 budget while trying to hold town spending flat.
“This is as bad as I’ve seen it,” he said.
The public is welcome to attend the hearing with the finance committee and library administrators Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the Norton Town Hall.


text:
My audio work aspires to create otherworldly soundscapes using elements captured from the surrounding environment. I incorporate videotaped screen grabs and still photographs that I transfigure into the sonic realm, using the computer to manipulate and transform them. The new sounds created by this process originate in the natural world, but are far removed from our direct experience or recognition of them. I then employ a wide palette of sonic materials which are assembled into layered compositions that resonate as both familiar and alien. All of my compositions include some element of chance or indeterminacy, either through use of a graphic score, or within the genesis of the source material itself.
Musician and composer Lin Culbertson’s experience as an improvisor greatly informs her sound work. Her compositions are comprised of synthesized sounds, field recordings, and conventional instruments, and incorporate aspects of indeterminacy in their arrangement and performance. The influence of her graphic design background is evident in the use of graphic scores and visual translation software to include non-musical elements in the sound creation process. She is a founding member of the improvisational unit WHITE OUT, and has performed and recorded with a wide range of artists including Tom Surgal, Jim O’Rourke, Thurston Moore, Nels Cline, William Winant, Zeena Parkins, Mike Watt, C Spencer Yeh, Carlos Giffoni, Marina Rosenfeld, Andrea Parkins, and David Linton among many others.
Lin earned a Bachelor of Music degree in composition from the University of Wisconsin, where her studies focused on Contemporary Composition, Electronic Music Production, Javanese Gamelan Performance, Ethnomusicology, and Studio Art. Additional studies included photography with Roy DeCarava at Hunter College, and graphic design at The School of Visual Arts SVA and Pratt Institute.
You can also visit whiteoutinc.com for more information on WHITE OUT’s activities.
If you have something you would like to discuss, please get in touch.

domain: artistic


Louisiana Water System Grades
By Murray Wennerlund published 7-27-2019 updated 1-15-2022
All comments need to address HUD about the state of Louisiana OCD-DRU Action Plan Amendments 10, 11 and 12 and all SBA Loan issues covering all income brackets.
How to send your comment to the state of Louisiana OCD-DRU for Action Plan Amendment 12 and the SBA DOB fix issues.
Email to: firstname.lastname@example.org
SUBJECT: Public Comment APA 12 by [ENTER NAME First, Last]
Copy between the "Start Comment and End Comment" then send.
You can send as often and as many different comments as you would like.
You can send multiple comments in one email.
All comments will be addressed by the states Communications Press Media persons.
Comments are in no specific order and address all concerns in APA 12 published here.
Start Comment 1.
Please force the State of Louisiana OCD-DRU to return the $171 million identified in APA 11 to the Homeowners Assistance Program grant fund for homeowners. It is clear the State OCD-DRU and grantee for the 2016 floods did not follow its public statements made in July 2018 and in Sept. 2018 stating &ldquoThe OCD-DRU would wait for the HUD guidance to be published&rdquo. At that time the State OCD-DRU indicated there was a total of $ 683 million, which would cover the cost of EVERY SBA loan. Today, the State OCD-DRU has now said they do not have enough money to cover all SBA loans, as publicly stated in July and September 2018.
I am requesting that you investigate the issue and please force the State of Louisiana OCD-DRU to return $171 million to the Homeowner&rsquos Assistance Program which would then be balanced to provide relief for all of those that have and were forced to take SBA loans to cover the cost of this tragedy that befell us here in Louisiana in the year of 2016. The State of Louisiana acted prematurely in diverting funds out of this program, forming and funding additional programs before all LMI, unmet needs and urgent needs were addressed.
End Comment 1.
Start Comment 2.
Comment on APA 12
From July 2018 budget of $683 million to Oct 2018 budget of $245.5 million. There was a decrease in funds, in Oct. 2018, to $245.5 million. Where did this money go? Even after removing the funds for Comite project, there is $427 million left, however the Oct. 2018 budget shows there is $128 million unaccounted for, according to the State of Louisiana public press releases. Will anyone make this state accountable for the missing dollars?
End Comment 2.
Start Comment 3.
Solution 3 100% Reimbursement program was closed Dec. 31, 2018 which means they wouldn't have known the full amounts of actual distributed money. Keeping the budgets talked about in the Management meeting Oct. 10, 2018 and closing the Governors Reimbursement programs there is a shortage of funds once promised in July 2018 in the amount of $128 million. To reduce further issues the state now is blaming HUD's 55% goes to LMI as the excuse the program is short by $124 to $128 million, according to the state&rsquos pipeline reports of 2019. The need for > 120% is $129,074,719 The Budget for > 120% is now cut in half to fit at $64,537,360. The numbers reference come from the $309 million the Congressman asked for in July 2018.
Taking the $309 million and apply the $5 million from APA 10 and the $171 million from APA 11 there is roughly $133 million which is close enough to say it's the $129,074,719 that was budgeted. With basic data factored in, the state had budgeted for 100% of the SBA loans to be paid off, however they 100% forgot that a balance between LMI and >120% was not factored into the budget the full year of 2018. That is the same year the State OCD-DRU began dropping LMI households for any possible reason but not with SBA interests in mind, no way, it was Comite, Watershed, Economic Development, and Infrastructure. It is documented that the Director of OCD, Patrick Forbes, in Dec. 2017 was asked if he felt the Stafford Act Amendment by Graves would have any help to SBA loans. His reply was "No", from that moment on every politician and task force member was looking for and using their words, "Creative ways" to use HUD CDBG-DR funds for other projects. The 18 months of researching and following this program proves that budget and management issues were not followed correctly.
End Comment 3.
Start Comment 4.
In 6 days, the state will terminate grants allocated to homeowners of all income ranges, however those homeowners aren&rsquot able to come up with the recapture amounts the state is asking for. Instead of helping homeowners&rsquo budget and save over the next 2 years they are simply terminating their grants. The unallocated grants then become property of the state and are not used in the same program to which they were first allocated. This means more to Watershed, Infrastructure, Economic Development and more Louisianans homeless. This is a massive budgeting mistake on the part of the state of Louisiana and they are covering it up by blaming the homeowners, which in this case are mostly all Low to Moderate Income. There is more than 1 year for the SBA Loans to the > 120% but less than one week for 1,565 homeowners that could be part of $58 million in repair money.
End Comment 4.
Start Comment 5.
APA 12 Page 2: "This APA 12 is considered substantial per guidance issued in 84 FR 28836. However, APA 12 proposes no programmatic budget changes nor does it propose new eligible activities within programs established in previous action plan amendments. This APA 12 does not propose additional applicants as a result of the DRRA. Regarding the programs referenced expected to be impacted by the DRRA, all intake periods have closed and will not be extended as a result of the DRRA."
"However, APA 12 proposes no programmatic budget changes nor does it propose new eligible activities within programs established in previous action plan amendments."
Note: APA 12 in it's current form shows no program budget changes which is true, but, because it shows no program budget changes the current program is not funded enough to cover all the eligible applicants. This is evident in APA 12 on page 18 "LMI Phase II Adjustments (>120% LMI)"
"...APA 12 proposes disbursing funds to populations with incomes in excess of 120% AMI using a multiplier of 0.50"
The 50% reimbursement instead of 100% reimbursement appears to be related to an over spending in the Solution 3 Reimbursements program when it changed from 50% to 100% July 2018 under Governor Edwards request. The Task Force questioned the state about SBA DOB funding and the state assured the task force that all SBA DOB will be covered. The task force voted unanimously for the Solution 3 Reimbursements increase from 50% to 100%.
The program was correct, it did have the budget balanced up and to APA 10 for $5 million and APA 11 for $171 million. Taking the figures provided by the states policy makers in APA 12, it is clear that the state of Louisiana required $129,074,719 at a minimum to cover all income groups under the SBA DOB changes in both Public Law 115-123 and 115-254. To balance the budget, the state reduced SBA DOB offerings that impacted a single income group, the >120% AMI households which is shown in APA 12 on page 18. The state did not restrict Solution 3 Reimbursement homeowners to a multiplier of 0.50 as it is doing in APA 12. This type of housing discrimination has been addressed in other storms and other programs when one group or class of citizen is given a higher award amount based income or geographical location. In this case it appears the discriminating factor is those accepting a federal disaster loan from SBA compared to those that accepted traditional lenders and bank loans in Solution 3 Reimbursements program which closed Dec. 31, 2018.
End Comment 5.
START COMMENT 6.
Grant Closing Deadline July 31, 2019
State of Louisiana OCD-DRU sent out a RLHAP email asking select applicants awarded grants but have not closed on the grant award a survey to complete in June 2019.
June 12, 2019 a policy notice to select grant recipients was emailed notifying the applicant of a July 31, 2019 deadline. I believe an estimated 1,565 homeowners granted nearly $58 million were put on notice by the state of Louisiana OCD-DRU.
The email notice dated June 12, 2019 read as follows:
You are receiving this notification because you have not closed on your grant award offered by Restore Louisiana.
Please note that you MUST execute your grant agreement by Wednesday, July 31, 2019 or the grant offered will be rescinded and you will no longer be able to participate in the Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program.
Please reach out to your assigned Case Manager as soon as possible to schedule your closing:
Case Manager Name: Name
Case Manager Email: case manager restore-la.org
Case Manager Phone: 225-555-xxxx
The Restore Louisiana Homeowner Assistance Program "
End Email Notice June 12, 2019
No additional information was offered in this email
Applicants were not aware nor were they informed of any right to appeal or how to request additional time.
When OCD-DRU Director Patrick Forbes was asked why homeowners were not given more information on asking for an exceptions board review he stated that all case managers were made aware of the process to request additional time. Homeowners found no information like this was offered in writing or by case managers.
This notice caused panic among homeowners still working on satisfying recapture amounts and other requirements the grantee has put in place over the last couple of years in several versions of documents and action plans.
Many of these homeowners are LMI households and many of them come from condemned and substantially damaged homes. These homes uninhabitable or demolished will never be rebuilt or repaired for the original families. These families will be forever homeless especially those below 50% AMI that were sons and daugthers of parents that saved their money and paid off the home so their children would not be homeless. In a day, they lost their home to floods. With a 45 day notice they lost their dreams of returning home.
In APA 12 the state of Louisiana identifies a group of grant recipients that have not closed on their grant awards. The state made no public statement about the July 31, 2019 grant closing deadline that was clear and without doubt not related to hundreds of homeowners. Even on the states official Restore.LA.Gov website the bottom line: "This deadline may not apply if you have SBA DOB. Please reach out to your assigned case manager for any questions." This was ambiguous to hundreds of homeowners that called and emailed case managers. Those that received the letter from June about the deadline of July 31, 2019 recieved information from case managers that they could not ask for additioanl time while others were simply told it doesn't apply. This type of communications has happened often in the program and without policy published in a scheduled and with advanced notice and given reasonable time for homeowners to comply with the new policy many simply feel the state has all the control over their grants awards and they can't say or do anything to secure their recovery.
The deadline for new applicants announced July 13, 2018 during the task force meeting was Dec. 31, 2018.
I ask HUD to instruct the OCD-DRU to reinstate the households who had the July 31, 2019 deadline to close on their grants and give all the homeowners in this group 180 days to make financial arrangements or construction arrangements for them homes.
END COMMENT 6.
START COMMENT 7.
RESTORE LOUISIANA TASK FORCE
July 13, 2018
Louisiana State Capitol House Committee Room 5 900 North 3rd Street Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70802
GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS ADDRESS:
"RESTORE is mandated to operate in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, which provides the federal funding to operate the program. And I want to stress to everyone here today, and those watching online, again, the expansion of reimbursement funds will not jeopardize any potential grant funds available in the future to homeowners affected by Small Business Administration loan duplication of benefits. Should HUD tell us that the program no longer needs to consider declined SBA loans as a duplication of benefits, either because their interpretation of federal law changes, or because the law itself changes."
Dear HUD, Force the state of Louisiana and it's Governor to keep its promise we have waited years on and trusted our Governor to keep. Force the state to repeal the sections in APA 11 that transfer $171 million out before waiting on the guidance as promised by Governor Edwards July 13, 2019 during the public task force meeting at the state capital.
END COMMENT 7.
START COMMENT 8.
Is it possible to end the programs for hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, Ike and Isaac officially and allocate the undistributed funds to the 2016 floods Homeowners Assistance program directly assisting homeowners financially?
New programs approved by HUD such as the Cost Share payment program for homeowners elevating could be a great benefit to the Great Floods of 2016 programs. More funds to homeowners would allow more assistance and greater assistance. From cost share programs with FEMA HMGP and FMA to soft second mortgages for those in need of assistance managing their recapture payment. The hardest hit in any disaster recovery is those that have no means of financially surviving the disaster. Since the hurricanes I have listed no longer assist homeowners directly wouldn’t it be logical to move the money assigned to those programs to the most active program and most current program to assist more homeowners? Having 25% of FEMA costs paid by HUD CDBG-DR grants would impact more homeowners after the 2016 floods waiting for elevation grants than any past storms.
END COMMENT 8.
SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT TO US TO SHARE WITH OTHERS!
It's all about common goals.
If you have comments and group resources please use the "Submit your story" page to send them to us tap or click here.
Other Public Comments from past Action Plan Amendments
Comments from Louisiana Disaster Victim Facebook Groups and in collaboration with TruckAndTools.Com sponsor of LouisianaRecoveryAuthority.Org we offer the following prepared public comments for you and your household to use in part or whole without copyright restrictions. We also ask that you share with us your comments so we can have others supporting your cause, your household and your disaster recovery.