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Exhibitions and Events
AX is pleased to feature established and emerging artists, and we exhibit works from our community and beyond.
See our Calendar of Events below for a snapshot of what’s coming up at AX. Visit our workshops page for a list of upcoming classes.
In the Gallery…
Kick AX 2019
AX Calendar of Events
Click on the event names for more information.
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Exhibiting at AX ~ General Proposals
In choosing exhibitions, AX seeks a balance of established and emerging artists.
If you’re an artist or a curator and you’re interested in exhibiting at AX, download our general AX Exhibition Proposal and Artist Agreement and send us your idea! Exhibitions are selected by a rotating panel of respected artists and art educators knowledgeable in the discipline involved.


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Another pilot getting ready for take-off noticed something was wrong. He radioed air traffic control, who in turn radioed Taylor.
Using the handle "mybrothermax," two brothers are using social media to raise autism awareness. Police recognized their efforts Wednesday.
The city is continuing to add art to beautify Detroit alleys.
Detroit police have released a sketch of a man they say dragged a Detroit woman out of her home and raped her. They believe he is in the area of the crime.
A man who has been in prison for more than seven years is finally home after evidence showed he did not commit the Macomb County robbery he was convicted of.
The family of Robert Ellis wants to see his killer brought to justice. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the culprit, and you will remain anonymous.
Michigan middle school students surprised their classmates as an early Halloween gift with a flash-mob dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

domain: law


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Huge Round of Euro Fixtures for Sports BettingPublished November 14, 2011 by OCR Editor
Portugal on verge of Euro 2012 qualification, while Germany face Netherlands in friendly.
The last weekend of European football action saw England upset world champions Spain, and Ireland virtually seal Euro 2012 qualification with a huge win over Estonia. Tuesday's matches will complete a huge week of action for online sports betting enthusiasts.International Fixtures
The last four places at Euro 2012 will be decided Tuesday, but only one game is really up for grabs. Portugal are 2/7 William Hill Online odds to get past Bosnia-Herzegovina, who are 5-2. The two tied 0-0 in the first leg. Montenegro, 10/1, is still considered some chance to overcome a deficit against the Czechs, but Ireland and Croatia are all but assured of progressing.
In the friendlies, Germany is evens to beat the Netherlands, 14/5, in undoubtedly the highlight of this round of fixtures. England is 4/5 to beat Sweden, 4/1, with William Hill offering 5/6 on John Terry to complete the entire match.Live Betting and Streaming
William Hill and bet365 both give you more bang for your buck, by allowing live betting on European football fixtures. So even if you miss the opening, you can still predict the eventual outcome of the match while it's being played.
Hill's live streaming features many top sporting events. The crucial Portugal vs Bosnia game has been included in Tuesday night's streaming schedule, as have big friendlies like Costa Rica v Spain and Asian qualifying fixtures like Thailand v Australia.

domain: game


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Chinese Hot and Sour Soup is one of the most delicious of the soups to come from China. Deep, rich flavor soothes and warms.
Chinese Hot and Sour Soup
Author: Epicurus.com Kitchens
Recipe type: Soups and Stews
- 6 Cups chicken broth
- 1 1/2 Cups fresh mushrooms; wiped clean, and sliced
- 1 1/2 Cups spinach; washed
- 3 Tablespoons light soy sauce
- 3 Tablespoons cider vinegar
- 3/4 teaspoons freshly-ground black pepper
- 2 1/4 Tablespoons sesame oil
- hot pepper oil or sauce, to taste
- 3/4 pound tofu; diced small
- 3 Tablespoons cornstarch; dissolved in
- 5 Tablespoons water
- 1 egg; beaten
- 3 Tablespoons finely-chopped cilantro
- 2 green onions; finely chopped
- Simmer chicken broth, mushrooms and spinach in soup pot over medium heat. Stir together soy sauce, vinegar, pepper, sesame oil and hot pepper oil to taste (about 1/2 teaspoon) in small bowl until well blended. Add mixture to broth.
- Taste and correct seasonings. Add tofu and cornstarch, stirring constantly until thickened. Pour egg into broth, stirring constantly until it forms ribbons. Add cilantro and green onions and serve at once.
Serving size: each of 6 servings Calories: 209 Fat: 12 g Carbohydrates: 10 g Sodium: 1,046 mg Fiber: 0.37 g Protein: 16 g Cholesterol: 36 mg

domain: food


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When a video game company creates a new console with the ability to play
games of an earlier game system, it is mostly planned that the console should be
Plus, Games with Gold titles for Xbox 360 are now playable on Xbox One, giving
you more free games to play every month when you own an Xbox One.
One of Microsoft's biggest announcements at E3 2015 was backwards
compatibility for Xbox One. Xbox One owners will be able to play Xbox 360
games on ...
3 days ago ... The Xbox One's backwards compatibility feature, introduced in November 2015,
lets you play Xbox 360 games on the new console. But what ...
This is the full list of backward compatible original Xbox games you can play on
the Xbox 360 listed in alphabetical order. Recommended games are in bold.
This list of 360 games playable on Xbox One records all backward-compatible
360 and XBLA games confirmed to function on current-gen hardware. Microsoft ...
Sep 14, 2015 ... Question: Can I Play OG Xbox Games on Xbox 360? Answer: The Xbox 360 is
backwards compatible with certain games that were released for ...
Jan 21, 2016 ... Xbox One has free Xbox 360 backwards compatibility. Here is our complete list of
every Xbox 360 game you can play on your Xbox One.
Nov 12, 2015 ... And, with it, the opportunity to rediscover a huge library of Xbox 360 games that
will now be available on the newer console. Games like Gears ...
4 days ago ... Xbox One Backwards Compatibility: A guide on everything you need to know
about backwards compatibility on Microsoft's console.


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Grandmother fears for her life
Henry Baptist, 25, of San Ignacio, the elder brother of Luis Espat, 23, also of San Ignacio, has been arrested and charged with aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, wounding, and threatening words against Doreth Wellington, 67, his grandmother, after he went into Espat’s room, in her house, and allegedly stabbed him in the head, lungs, leg and arm.
When Wellington intervened to save her younger grandson, Baptist stabbed her on her hand, which began to bleed, Wellington told police.
Baptist was taken to the San Ignacio Magistrate’s Court on Friday, and was released on bail of $3,000 and a surety of the same amount and ordered to return to court on May 28.
Espat is now suffering from five stab wounds.
Deputy Commander of San Ignacio Police, Inspector Reymundo Reyes, said that Espat refused to make a statement against his brother, Baptist, and did not report the stab wounds, so Baptist was not charged for the attack on Espat.
Wellington, of Santa Elena, is fearful that her older grandson, Baptist, will come and kill her, since he called her a “b—ch, and told her that she would be next.
Wellington told Amandala that she was at home sleeping with her husband and her other two grandchildren when, at about 3:30 Saturday morning, someone kicked in the door, forcing it to open, and her eldest grandson, Baptist, stepped in and demanded to know the whereabouts of Luis, his second brother.
When Wellington told him that his brother was not there, Baptist cursed her and went into the back of the house, where Luis was sleeping, but had not locked his door. The elder brother entered the room and stabbed Luis many times, telling him that he was going to kill him.
Luis tried to get away, but he was stabbed in his back.
Police took both victims to the San Ignacio Hospital. Wellington was treated and released, while Luis was admitted in a serious condition.
Wellington said that the hostilities arose between the elder brother, Baptist, and the two younger ones because they had refused to engage in wrongdoing with him. She said that he often beat his youngest brother badly, and when she had intervened, he threatened her.
She said that at the time he came to kill his brother, he was out on bail after he was accused of armed robbery, and she is fearful, because he is violent and she knows what he is capable of doing.
Wellington is calling on the police to arrest Baptist and return him to jail before they are killed. With him away in jail, she says, she may then sleep well in her house.
However, Inspector Reyes told Amandala that the matter of bail is a prerogative of the court and is out of their hands. He said that if Baptist is granted bail, there is nothing they can do. He said that the whole situation arose when Baptist’s house was burglarized and he believed that it was his brother, Luis Espat, who had done it. Baptist then went to their grandmother’s house, where Espat was sleeping, to find him.
Reyes said that in the struggle between the brothers, in the course of which Espat suffered the stab injuries, Baptist also suffered a wound to the forehead.

domain: news


Google has refuted claims from Epic Games, the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Australian Banking Association of alleged anti-competitive behaviour in the way it sells apps and prices commissions.
Google fronted a joint standing committee on Monday to discuss its position on mobile payments and digital wallets within the financial services sector.
During the inquiry, Labor Senator Deborah O'Neill questioned Google about various remarks alleging anti-competitive behaviour by the tech giant.
In a submission to the inquiry, Epic Games - which is suing Google Australia - stated the 30 percent commission that Apple and Google receive on purchases for in‐app content is around 10 times higher than fees charged through other platforms.
Epic Games branded Google’s 30 percent commission to use its payment services a "supra-competitive price".
Director of government affairs and public policy for Australia and New Zealand Lucinda Longcroft said Google “strongly refute the claims made by Epic" Games in its submission.
She added that Google would not comment further given the ongoing litigation.
Senator O'Neill also asked for clarification around remarks made by the RBA and the ABA in their submissions - that Google lacked transparency around its fees and charges.
The RBA wrote “there is a lack of transparency in relation to the fees and other arrangements associated with digital wallets” and that the central bank “is consulting on a number of initiatives to improve transparency in the payments system”.
ABA, meanwhile, stated, “Apple and Google’s significant market share raises a number of policy questions, relating to competition and access, data and privacy, regulation of payments providers and consistency of the application of regulation.”
ABA added it “believes there is merit in enforcing greater transparency and oversight of the terms and conditions of access to mobile devices … to enhance competition and foster innovation.”
Longcroft said “the issue or the claim that we are not transparent in the [fee] data is wrong.”
“Certainly when I speak to Google Play, the app marketplace, our fee data is transparent. In fact, 90 percent of app developers on Google Pay no fee," she said.
“There's only about three percent of apps that charge for digital content, which we charge a fee [on], and the fee structure is based on a revenue model and it is entirely transparent.
“The 2500-odd developers in Australia who make their apps available for a charge on the Google Play Store, 99 percent of them are charged a 15 percent fee structure. Less than one percent are charged a 30 percent fee structure and that is comparable or less than all other competitors vigorously competitive market rates.
“We do not prevent app developers from distributing their apps via alternate channels.”


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GSSM Receives $5,000 Grant from Duke Energy to Provide Scholarships for Summer Programs
June 19, 2023
HARTSVILLE, S.C. (June 19, 2023) – The South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics (GSSM) is pleased to announce the receipt of a $5,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation. This gift will support scholarships for students in surrounding areas to attend GSSM's summer programs.
Duke Energy's commitment to education and community development plays a vital role in empowering young minds to pursue their academic interests. The grant will support students in Darlington, Dillon, Chesterfield and Marlboro counties who want to attend GSSM’s summer camps.
“STEM based learning is important to stimulate the minds of our future workforce,” said Lauren Baker, Community Relations Liaison for Duke Energy. “Advancing opportunities to allow all students, regardless of socioeconomic background, to further explore fields of science, technology, engineering, and math is a critical investment in tomorrow’s leaders.”
GSSM's summer programs offer students a unique opportunity to engage in hands-on educational experiences across a wide range of subjects. Through these programs, students are exposed to innovative teaching methods and cutting-edge technologies, fostering their curiosity and passion for science, mathematics and engineering.
“Learning should never stop, regardless of age or time of year,” said GSSM President Danny Dorsel. “The GSSM summer camps provide hands-on educational experiences that inspire and enlighten students during a time of year that too often is not fully utilized for personal growth. The summer camps also provide talented and motivated students insight into what life at GSSM might be like as a high school student.”
The grant from Duke Energy will enable GSSM to offer scholarships to deserving students who may not otherwise have the means to participate. By removing economic barriers, Duke Energy's support ensures increased access to GSSM's transformative summer programs.
“For 24 years, GSSM has been blessed with the support of Duke Energy in providing students of all ages with exciting opportunities for STEM education,” said Randy LaCross, GSSM SVP for Outreach & Global Initiatives. “We are grateful for this $5,000 award from the Duke Energy Foundation that enables students from Darlington, Chesterfield, Marlboro, and Dillon Counties to receive scholarships for GSSM residential, day, and virtual STEM summer camps.”
Duke Energy’s gift and ongoing partnership with GSSM highlights the mutual commitment to equipping the next generation with the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in STEM fields, to contribute to community growth and to foster a bright future for South Carolina and beyond.
For more information on GSSM, please visit www.scgssm.org or call 843-383-3901.
- GSSM -
About the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics
One of the few specialized public residential high schools of its kind, the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics (GSSM) exists to push motivated young learners beyond their perceived levels of academic ability. Founded in 1988 under the leadership of the late Governor Carroll Campbell, GSSM has consistently raised the bar for STEM education in the Palmetto State. GSSM’s two-year residential high school program—as well as its virtual high school programs, summer camps, and outreach programs—all invite young people to explore the subjects they love in a diverse, inclusive, and uncommonly supportive academic environment. Here, challenge is viewed as a gateway to opportunity. GSSM students embrace the school’s rigorous approach to education and in so doing begin to realize their full potential. Learn more by visiting www.scgssm.org.


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Iconic UK Skateboard Brand Lost Art has launched a unique collaboration with globally revered performance poet John Cooper Clarke to coincide with the release of his autobiography ‘I Wanna Be Yours’. COLLABORATION Working with long time Lost Art Collaborator, illustrator, Skateboarder and John Cooper Clarke Fan, Sketch Stance, The collection Continue reading JOHN COOPER CLARKE BOOK TOUR AND MERCH
We’re very active on social media, especially on Instagram with updates to the official feed for @TheJournalix but also my own feed of ideas and inspirations – which is where I stumbled across the amazing art of Beth Simpson and her shop It’s Dark In There! It’s an eclectic mix Continue reading IT’S DARK IN THERE…
WELCOMING AUDIENCES AND ARTISTS BACK HOME SOON Manchester’s HOME have announced that they are targeting 4th September to reopen their cinemas, bars and restaurant to the public. Engagement and Talent Development work will also return to the building from September, with the HOME gallery and theatre programme following shortly after. Continue reading BACK HOME SOON
Sony’ has revealed it’s next-generation PlayStation 5 console. And GlobalData have predicted that leading in gaming services will help Sony control the next-generation console market. EXTENSIVE GAMES PORTFOLIO Rupantar Guha is the Senior Analyst of Thematic Research at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. He shared his views with Continue reading SONY’S NEXT-GEN PLAYSTATION 5 CONSOLE
The question still simmers away in my mind some 4 years after I first asked it, having just eagerly consumed my first novel of his… “How have I not heard of Neil Gaiman?” Having been provided a well-loved, well-worn copy of Neverwhere by my father, I ravenously devoured it whilst Continue reading HOW HAVE I NOT HEARD OF NEIL GAIMAN?
THE SMASH HIT DINO SHOW COMES TO LIFE IN THE FRANCHISE’S FIRST EVER VIDEO GAME FEATURING 1-4 PLAYER ADVENTURES AND RACING ACTION FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO ENJOY TOGETHER GIGANTOSAURUS: THE GAME LAUNCHES TODAY! Leading animation entertainment company Cyber Group Studios, worldwide family entertainment publisher Outright Games™ and Bandai Namco Continue reading GIGANTOSAURUS: THE GAME – OUT NOW
As we approach the year 2020, we asked artists from the world of music, art, writing and film to give us their verdict on the previous 10 years. So much has happened but the question is simply… “How do you sum up the past decade?” THE WORLD OF MUSIC SUM Continue reading HOW DO YOU SUM UP THE PAST DECADE?
In the run up to the Manchester Film Festival 2020 we are going to be spotlighting some of the filmmakers who are going to be attending, getting them to talk about their films and filmmaking. Up first is Katharine O’Brien, director of the LOST TRANSMISSIONS starring Simon Pegg and Juno Temple. Continue reading NEW SIMON PEGG FILM AT MANIFF 2020
On the night Brexit finally came to pass The Journalix danced the night away with French electronic group Caravan Palace at a glorious venue named after a German prince who had a huge influence on British culture. It was a bit of an unusual start to the night with no Continue reading CARAVAN PALACE AT THE ALBERT HALL
“And now, the end is near…” Well it’s already passed but we still need to make time for our annual look back on the previous 12 months! That’s right – our writers Una, Alix and Joni have finally agreed on what our top 30 songs of 2019 looks like. The Continue reading TOP 30 SONGS OF 2019

domain: artistic


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Cancer is a disease of abnormal cell growth and proliferation, which are dependent on extracellular nutrients and instructions. While metabolites serve as nutrients, they are foremost small molecules that are capable of directly regulating protein function thereby serving as instructional signals. We hope to provide insight into cancer biology and immunology by studying how small molecule metabolites directly regulate cellular growth, proliferation, and signal transduction.
Our question: how do small molecule metabolites regulate cell biology?
1) Understanding how metabolites allosterically regulate mitochondrial function including biosynthesis and innate immune signaling.
2) Characterizing novel functions of bacterial metabolites as signaling molecules that regulates cellular proliferation, differentiation, and signal transduction.
Our approach: from bench to bedside, guided by clinical questions
We use a combination of tissue culture, biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, and mass spectrometry assays to interrogate metabolic signaling in cells.

domain: medical


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There has been widespread publicity this week about aspirin – and amazing research which shows it can help prevent so many cancers.
Taken with food or milk, the simple pill first discovered a century ago seemingly has amazing qualities other than curing a headache.
Many doctors in Donegal prescribe aspirin to heart and stroke patients because of its benefits in preventing further attacks.
Professor Jill Belch was part of a research team which found that taking an aspirin and drinking a glass of milk very day for at least five years could reduce death rates from cancer by 60%.
Aspirin is already taken by patients at risk of heart attack or stroke and the study has now revealed it could also help ward off some forms of cancer.
However, because aspirin can cause internal bleeding scientists are not calling for healthy people to begin taking it every day.
Professor Belch said: “We know already that aspirin prevents people from having further heart attacks or strokes and there had been a suspicion that it might protect those folk from cancer but nobody had ever proved that before.
“This study has taken eight studies involving a huge number of people — 25,000 — and has looked at the cancer deaths between those who took aspirin every day and those who didn’t.
“It has shown that it does decrease cancer risk if it is taken for five years or longer but we don’t know if it prevents it or just delays it.”
Professor Belch added that although the benefits of taking aspirin appear to outweigh the risks, more research has to be done before a daily aspirin is recommended for everyone.
She said: “The big question is, should everybody over the age of 50 take an aspirin every day? This is such a big area of interest that experts need to start looking at it straight away.
“There are some side-effects from aspirin, like stomach bleeding, but even taking that into account the death rate will still fall.
“It is a big study and nobody could really question the results because they are so powerful.”


Radiohead have said that although they gave their new album away for free – they went to unusual lengths to stop it leaking unofficially.
Because every album of theirs since ‘Kid A’ has leaked online, this time around they were determined to take control of the release of ‘In Rainbows’ themselves.
They even went as far as making up different band names when recording the tracks onto early CDs so nobody knew what was contained on the discs.
Bassist Colin Greenwood revealed: “It felt like a gigantic risk. Like Mission Impossible, almost. We destroyed all CDs after every day of recording. And on the master we’d always write a name which probably nobody would listen to if we had lost it; ‘Eagles: Greatest Hits’, ‘Kula Shaker demos’, ‘Phill Collins hip-hop covers’.”
According to Belgian publication Focus Knack, when it came to the download of ‘In Rainbows’ in October, Italian fans paid the most for the album, while German fans paid the least.
Radiohead are the cover stars of this week’s NME, which is out now. Inside there is an exclusive interview with singer Thom Yorke, where he discusses ‘In Rainbows’, in-depth, for the first time.


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Being fast growing sometimes doesn’t guarantee that it can survive in your goldfish tank. Even with its rapid regeneration rate, this might not even be enough to fill your goldfish’s appetite. In order to counter this, what I usually do is to ensure that my pets are well fed and this means that they would be less likely to chew on the plants to fill their stomach. Thus you might want to ensure that you do not skip any day without feeding your pets or else your plants might suffer the consequences. I had a bad experience once when I actually miss the normal feeding schedule for my fish and ended up losing the whole stalk of fresh leaves getting eaten up, leaving nothing except the branches! Don’t say I don’t warn you.
After all the fiasco and trouble, you might be asking why would you want to have the water sprite inside the tank in the first plane and create all the problems. Well for me, with presence of plants, first your goldfish will fell more secure and with the dense vegetation, they won’t get stressed and startled easily. Second, as we all know, plants are known to improve water quality and the remove the excess of nitrate present in the water. With it around, you will notice your pet goldfish are usually more active and display vibrant colors. Finally you will also need plants to induce goldfish to spawn and provide a hiding place for their fry. Find out more about goldfish reproduction.

domain: biology


“Property Brothers” stars Jonathan and Drew Scott are known for their impeccable eyes for home renovations. Riding a wave of popularity, the HGTV stars have extended their brand into home furnishings and a decor line known as Scott Living.
They’re now attempting their most ambitious project yet: a branded move into bespoke luxury design and construction. Their first effort has hit the market with a list price of $4,995,000.
Under the auspices of Dream Homes by Scott Living, the brothers have partnered with Las Vegas architecture and construction firms to create designs for ultraluxe homes. Ground has been broken on the first home, and although it’s not expected to be finished until early next year, it’s available for sale.
The planned 8,600-square-foot home with five bedrooms and 8.5 baths is underway in a new gated community known as MacDonald Highlands. Located in Henderson, it’s about 20 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip. However, residents will be able to soak in views of the bright lights—this home is being built on an elevated half-acre lot.
An additional perk? Jonathan and Drew were on hand for the groundbreaking, and they will also be present at the official housewarming for whoever buys the home, according to listing agent Kenneth H. Lowman of Luxury Homes of Las Vegas.
“The floor plan is magnificent,” says Lowman. The floor-to-ceiling, disappearing glass doors are conducive to indoor-outdoor living and make the home seem more spacious than it is, he adds.
Renderings of the home show an elevated pool and spa, an abundance of uniquely shaped windows, and plenty of sheltered entertaining space outdoors. These elements create a sleek look that’s anything but cookie cutter.
Although no interior renderings are available, buyers are promised a chef’s kitchen, a climate-controlled wine room, a generous master suite with a luxurious bath, a game room with a wet bar, an elevator, and covered accommodations for 11 cars.
One of those garages is a two-story, air-conditioned space that could easily accommodate a sport court. Lowman says if a buyer chooses to finish the space, it will add 1,900 square feet to the home’s total.
There will be a covered, outdoor movie theater, he adds. And that sounds like a signature design feature the fun-loving brothers would concoct.
They have also selected high-end fixtures and finishes. Flooring, tile, cabinets, and hardware selections are available for interested buyers to peruse. The planned palette is neutral featuring modern desert colors.
The Scott brothers “have a flair for what’s popular and in style, and not only what will sell, but what will last,” says Lowman.
But if you’d like a greater say in a Scott brothers’ project, a quicker purchase means you’ll have more say in the finished product. The builders are willing to make allowances tailored to buyers’ tastes.
The warm, dry climate and the lack of state taxes make this buying opportunity extremely appealing, says Lowman, who has seen the inflow of buyers headed east on Interstate Highway 15.
“Many luxury home buyers are coming in from California,” says Lowman.
There are several home plans in the Scott Living portfolio, ranging in size from 5,500 to over 10,000 square feet. Buyers purchase a plan and a lot, and the brothers can adapt the homes to specific locations in the community.
However, buyers will have to do their own negotiations to secure the brothers for a housewarming appearance. Their first project is the only purchase where their presence is a given.
The post First Look! Property Brothers Selling $5M Dream Home Near Las Vegas appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.


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Peel schools can access new education platform to combat Islamophobia
The Muslim of Association of Canada (MAC) has launched an education platform to combat Islamophobia that can be used in Peel schools, and the rest of Ontario.
The association, headquartered in Mississauga, received a $225,000 grant in June from the Ontario Ministry of Education as part of the government’s plan to invest in countering Islamophobia and ensuring classrooms are free from discrimination. The impetus to fund the program also became more apparent after the fatal attacks against a Muslim family in London, Ont.
MAC is a Canadian, independent, faith-based charitable organization that provides spaces, services and programs for Canadian Muslims. The association operates 10 accredited full-time independent day schools, 20 weekend schools, and four child-care centers. In all, MAC serves more than 150,000 community members across the country.
The education platform was spearheaded by Minister of Education Stephen Lecce and Associate Minister of Digital Government Kaleed Rasheed who collaborated with community groups to provide resources and educational modules to train educators and students.
“It is unacceptable that many Muslim students continue to face discrimination in our schools, on our playgrounds and in communities across this country,” Lecce said in a statement. “That is why we are investing and partnering with community leaders — who are leading this effort — to counter racism and better support Ontario’s Muslim students and their families.”
Rasheed also said the platform showcases the importance of utilizing digital technology and creative content that is “accessible to students, parents, and educators in combating hate to foster an environment of tolerance and understanding.”
According to MAC, 46 per cent of Canadians have an unfavourable view of Muslims and Islam in Canada, which has played a role in rising hate crimes, with Canadian Muslims witnessing a nine per cent increase in anti-Muslim attacks in 2019 compared to 2018.
Memona Hossain, one of the creators of the platform, an instructor, as well as a member of national executive council and board of directors for MAC, said the platform is important because it “bridges a gap” in educators’ understanding of the Muslim community.
“It brings a lot of information together in a digestible, usable and engaging format,” she said. “Teachers often say they’re very busy, so this is a way for the information to all be in one place that can be accessed any time.”
The information is divided into three main categories, the first being Islam for educators, which provides a foundational knowledge of the core principles that guide the “mental, spiritual, and physical spheres of a Muslim’s life.”
The second category is dismantling Islamophobia in schools, offering educators information on how to understand the scope of Islamophobia and how systems enable it.
The third category is Islam awareness and anti-Islamophobia resources, which offers workshops on the topic.
Hossain said there are six hours of recorded video which translate to 50 “bite-size” clips with input from scholars, academics, and community groups — it was also a diverse group of people from the Muslim community who contributed.
She noted the platform is important for educators because they can have any level of understanding on the subject to access the material.
The platform offers foundational knowledge by exploring what the difference between Muslim and Islam is, or what Muslim’s believe in. It gradually builds to evaluating how Islamophobia contributes to mental health strain and how Islamophobia has been enabled in society.
The soft launch of the platform took place on Nov. 17 and was attended by Lecce and Rasheed. According to MAC, the platform received a positive reception from governmental and societal stakeholders, educators, and students. The platform officially launched on Dec. 2, with all content available on the website.
Hossain added it’s important the education on the topic starts early. “When you look at implicit biases and structural Islamophobia, if you won’t address it at this level (in education), it will be too late. We are empowering educators and the non-Muslim community.”

domain: sociology


Nolan and Bond – Was Oppenheimer’s creator supposed to make a 007 movie?
Bad News. Although in October the director’s fans went into a state of euphoria after rumors that the director was the lead Advanced talks with series producer and trademark rights holder Barbara Broccoli, who was scheduled to direct “two or three” Bond films.And now the creator has put all speculation to rest in an interview with the Associated Press. Let us remind you that it all sounded too good to be true. The films were to nod to the 1960s Bond tradition, be hyper-realistic and set back in the world of Cold War espionage.
good news. Of course, this does not mean that we have to say goodbye to this perspective forever. Nolan has repeatedly expressed interest in the James Bond character and is known to be in constant contact with Broccoli. In July, he said on Happy Sad Confused: “There’s no getting away from it. I love these films. Their influence on my filmography is absolutely clear. It would be an honor to make one.”. Later in his statement, he touched on the issue of absolute control over the artistic form of the work, which will of course be the subject of difficult mediation with the production management. In 2017, in an interview with Playboy magazine, he also expressed his desire to make a movie and said that he loved the series like no other.
For now, we’ll have to be patient, as the director is promoting Oppenheimer’s film in the home cinema market. However, nothing is known about his new project.
“Oppenheimer” – What is Nolan’s new film about?
The main character of the film is physicist Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy), who led the famous Manhattan Project during World War II. The goal of the secret US government-funded program was to create the first fully functional and controllable nuclear weapon. For this reason, Oppenheimer, who died in 1967, is sometimes called the father of the atomic bomb. The basis of the screenplay written by Nolan himself is the book “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of Robert Oppenheimer” by Kay Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.
Aside from Murphy, the film’s cast also included Matt Damon and Robert Downey Jr. Emily Blunt, Josh Hartnett, Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, Gary Oldman, Casey Affleck, Penny Safdie, Dean DeHaan, Jack Quaid, Matthew Modine, Alden Ehrenreich, David Dastmalchian, and Kenneth Branagh.
Listen to the podcast about the film “Oppenheimer”
“Amateur social media maven. Pop cultureaholic. Troublemaker. Internet evangelist. Typical bacon ninja. Communicator. Zombie aficionado.”


2/23/2013 1:03:00 PM Guest Commentary: Our water management choice is clear
By Tom O’Halleran
Every once in a while all the dots connect and we have a clear vision of what the image looks like. In regards to the water resources in the Southwestern United States the dots are lining up and our water-resource future is clear.
The conclusions and recommendations from a series of studies and reports on future water availability in the southwest puts into perspective the critical need to change how we manage our water supplies as a region and locally. It is critical that our water-resource managers use all the management tools available in order to maximize and sustain the resource. The Northern Arizona Regional Groundwater-Flow Model is one of those tools.
In 1950 the Verde Valley had a little over 250 groundwater wells; today we have over 6400 wells. The effects of our past water-management decisions are clear, they just have not worked. The choice for the future, as indicated by resource experts throughout the Colorado River Basin, is clear. Understand the extent of our water resources, plan and manage regionally for the future today, identify options available and potential cost, acknowledge that population growth and water-resource management are linked, that although conservation is a very important option it is not the total answer and that our precious groundwater and surface waters are interconnected.
The regional and local studies and reports that have been released demonstrate that water-management experts, hydrologists, geologists, and government agencies are now realizing that our current water resources will not be adequate. As the population of the southwest continues to expand the entire Colorado River Basin will require new management techniques and expensive additional water to augment our current supplies. This need represents the combined opinions of water-resource management professionals represented in three different reports. The Verde River Basin, which is a sub-basin of the Colorado River Basin, includes all of the Verde Valley and Sedona areas which are impacted by the results of these reports.
In December 2012 the Bureau of Reclamation in collaboration with the seven states, that included Arizona, that are members of the Colorado River Compact released their Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study. The experts in this study used various modeling tools including computerized groundwater-flow models. The study highlighted that currently the surface waters and groundwaters of the basin supply water to at least 40 million people and that in the next fifty years that number could be as high as 78 million; then the basin will require an additional 3.2 million acre-feet (an acre-foot is 325,841 gallons) of water.
The report states: “The study confirms that the Colorado River Basin faces a range of potential future imbalances between supply and demand. Addressing such imbalances will require diligent planning and cannot be resolved through any single approach or option.” The study went on to highlight that under every computer scenario considered they used, the Lower Basin states, Arizona, California and Nevada, will require additional supplies.
In October of 2011 the Arizona Water Resources Development Commission released its final report. Members of the commission represented a broad spectrum of water- resource experts, government agencies and interested stakeholders. The commission’s consensus report evaluated all of Arizona’s water resources including its allocation of Colorado River water.
The Commission report stated: “The current challenge facing Arizona is that, although the state has a solid water foundation, future economic development is anticipated to increase demand for water. Arizona is not unique among the arid states in facing this challenge to identify water supplies to meet future demands. The inherent diversity, variability and complexity within Arizona make meeting this challenge difficult.”
The report estimated that the state’s population will grow from its current level of just over 6.4 million to 12 million in 2035 and over 18 million by 2110. This will require development of additional water supplies while other regions of the southwest are also seeking water to meet their growing demand. It also comes during a period during which shortages are expected on the Colorado River high cost augmentation projects will be necessary. Concerning availability of water from the Colorado River a report footnote states: “Actual development (of the resource) is unlikely unless flow of river is augmented.”
The report identifies the Verde River Basin as a basin that may require development of additional water supplies. Potential future water supplies available for the basin are: “In-Basin Groundwater, In-State Surface Water, Reclaimed Water, Development of Other Supplies-Unknown.” Each of these concepts has an economic and environmental impact that requires our attention now.
The final study by the Bureau of Reclamation in collaboration with the Yavapai County Water Advisory Committee is the Central Yavapai Highlands Water Resource Management Study. The study is ongoing but preliminary data gives us some insight into our future water demand by 2050. Due to increased population growth there will be an unmet water demand by 2050 of over 45,000 acre-feet within the Verde River Basin. Finding solutions to this unmet demand will require a level of cooperation and vision that we have not seen to date.
Based on the findings of the reports cited above our water management course should be clear. We share a common resource and that resource cannot be managed in a fragmented process. These reports dispel the notion that we have a lot of time. Although we have water resources for today’s population we clearly must plan for the future. Coordinated planning on a regional basis is the only way we will be able to meet unmet water demands and sustain our valuable surface waters.
The Verde River Basin Partnership invites you to join them as they release the groundbreaking USGS model-based report on the implications of human activity in a changing world on Thursday, April 11, 4-6 p.m. at the Camp Verde Multi-Use Complex Auditorium. For additional information please email firstname.lastname@example.org or visit the website at www.vrbp.org.
Tom O’Halleran is chairman of the Verde River Basin Partnership
Posted: Monday, February 25, 2013
Article comment by:
Regional control of the water takes control of the water out of your hands and puts it into the hands of unelected bureaucrats over which you have no control. What is the bottom line here? Well, Mr. O’Halleran never gets to the point. That is until a purported reader comment which seems to be an extension of Mr. O'Halleran's commentary. It is right at the end of the comment: "we will inevitably at some point have to limit population growth". This is all about population control. Getting people off the land and pack them into small areas and control how many children they can have. This is about BIG government and government control of every aspect of our lives through "smart growth". That is, no growth. It is a Utopian society in which the government controls everything. It is a socialist agenda. Water control is all about population control. It is the New World Order coming in through the back door to get control of the water so they have control of you. ******************************************** The opinions expressed above are the opinions of the author and are not the opinions of the Verde Independent, its staff or management or its parent company.
Posted: Monday, February 25, 2013
Article comment by:
Elect Responsible Local Officials
As the article states: " Finding solutions to this unmet demand will require a level of cooperation and vision that we have not seen to date."
And: "We share a common resource and that resource cannot be managed in a fragmented process."
Finally: "Although we have water resources for today’s population we clearly must plan for the future. Coordinated planning on a regional basis is the only way we will be able to meet unmet water demands and sustain our valuable surface waters."
Several Verde Valley communities have elections underway. This issue should be at the top of the list of questions for candidates. Every Mayor and Council Member in the Verde Valley should be united on the need to come together and plan for our water resources regionally.
Ask the candidates where they stand. Ask your current Mayors and Council Members where they stand. If they are protecting their turf on this issue, there is something wrong. This water issue is a Verde Valley wide issue, and deserves regional cooperation. If our current elected officials can't cooperate, find new officials that can.
Posted: Sunday, February 24, 2013
Article comment by:
Thanks to the VRBP
These people are finally saying the kinds of things everyone already knows but our political leaders don't seem to have the capacity and/or courage to address.
I would respectfully correct the good Mr. Halleran on his once-in-a-while comment. We've known about water challenges for far longer than he describes, not only for our local area but for the west in general.
In the 1870s Major John Wesley Powell was one of several working in federal government that were quite aware that what worked east of the 100th meridian would not work west of that line, primarily due to the lack of rainfall.
Powell proposed a number of water management strategies, many of which were resisted, but many of which were adopted.
One of the best of those strategies came to fruition at the turn of the 20th century and is known today as the Salt River Project. SRP is a cooperative that today provides one of the world's best water management and delivery services.
That they're capable of providing water in that dry hot desert for 4 million people, some 200+ golf courses, cotton fields, citrus orchards, etc., is just amazing. Plus they now have CAP Colorado River water to use.
However, what's more important for us here locally in the Verde is the fact that we have no SRP to take care of us. We have no CAP.
We have a few small ditch cooperatives here locally in the Verde, and that's about it. The rest of our little Verde River water heading downstream is in fact SRPs by legal right.
And instead of cooperating politically, here in Yavapai County we fight among ourselves. Upstream the users around Prescott ally themselves against us here in the Verde Valley. It's us vs. them.
That's too bad, because our solutions are much more limited without an SRP or CAP.
So it's about time for our political leaders to grasp this and once and for all. They must understand we will inevitably at some point have to limit population growth to live within our means. The sooner we begin planning intelligently for this, the better for us and future generations.


PYRAMAZE sign with AFM Records & release first video for single ‘A Stroke Of Magic’
Danish Progressive Power Metal group PYRAMAZE has just inked a record deal in order to put out their next full-length studio album called ‘Epitaph’ via AFM Records. The album will be released on November 13th.
Both AFM Records and PYRAMAZE are extremely happy about the deal and are looking forward to a strong, professional and hopefully long partnership. This new musical union offers good prospects for both parties – while PYRAMAZE found a partner that has great expertise working with a lot of successful Progressive and Power Metal artist such as Evergrey, Orden Ogan, Redemption, Brothers Of Metal and many more, the band offers a tremendous amount of musical and technical craftmanship and quality to add to the labels roster.
This album being the third one with their current lineup, PYRAMAZE continues to fuse their signature meld of memorable melodies, powerful riffs and soaring catchy vocals to keep listeners coming back for more – pleasing both old and new PYRAMAZE fans alike. This upcoming release will prove to be their most melodic and accessible creation to date, featuring guest appearances by Brittney Slayes of Unleash the Archers, and former PYRAMAZE singers Matt Barlow and Lance King.
With their majestic a clearly progressive first single ‘A Stroke Of Magic‘ released today, PYRAMAZE show that they belong to the top of the European Progressive Power Metal Genre!
‘Epitaph’ is available here: https://afm.fanlink.to/PyramazeEpitaph


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Well, this is, without a doubt, the Poppiest thing that Dreamwave OG Touch Tone has released to date. The LA based producer get’s right involved with the catchy sing-a-long anthem Modern Living from Philadelphia Indie outfit Work Drugs and delivers a full on ElectroPop, one which could quite easily chart.
Pairing up Touch Tone’s Robo-Pop with Work Drugs whimsical, typical, Indie vocals seems like a match made in heaven. With it’s saccharine, sin-a-long chorus (and lot’s of ‘”yeah, yeahs”) it;s the kind of tune that begs for waves of pin sharp arpeggios and comforting pads. Mash it up with a solid Disco beat and you have the recipie for Pop greatness. Alright, so the original song might be one of the most irritating things we’ve heard in a while, but in Touch Tone’s skilful hands you’ve got an ElectroPop juggernaut.
Buy Work Drugs’ music from:

domain: entertainment


Millennials have risen to become the largest demographic section in North America.
With more and more millennials approaching the age of 40, this section of the population is ready to take the world by storm. Whether it’s business, sports, or politics, millennials are everywhere.
However, for a generation that’s prone to instant gratification and online shopping sprees, speed is the norm rather than the exception. And for most millennials, the comfort and opportunities offered by cities are more suited to their ambitions and life goals.
So, does this practically mean that areas outside of urban centers are not fit for millennial occupation? Are North American Municipalities at all ready to make Generation Y feel welcome? That’s precisely what we’re going to explore today.
Before we try to understand whether municipalities are ready to serve the millennials, let’s first gain a brief understanding of who these millennials are. Put simply, the term ‘millennial’ refers to the generation that’s born between the early 1980s and late 1990s.
There is some contradiction regarding this time limit, as certain literature also considers children born in the early 2000s as millennials. Millennials are also known as Generation Y, as they come after Generation X (people born between 1960 and 1980).
Critics enjoy characterizing millennials by many different traits, ranging from speed-loving to narcissistic. While there’s bound to be controversy regarding these attributes, the one sure thing is that millennials are a generation that’s enraptured with technology.
After all, these are the people who grew up along with the Internet as we know it today. Fueled by technology, this generation has learned to accept the fast-paced life as a norm. And they expect the rest of the world to follow in their wake.
Anyway, that’s enough about the generation itself. The question that we intend to answer today is whether North American municipalities are ready to host millennials or not. And the answer, sadly, is a resounding no.
We’ve already seen why the millennials prefer to live and work in city centers as the conditions there are more conducive to their aspirations. That apart, there are several other reasons why municipal areas are not fit for the millennial population. The following sections explain some of the major ones.
If we consider cities to be closely-knit networks of human habitation, then municipalities are synonymous with space. In any municipal area, the residents respect each other’s private space, making the creation of public transportation facilities financially infeasible.
Now, millennials are not a generation to shy away from vehicle ownership, but they do appreciate and prefer the convenience of public transportation. Since cities offer these benefits to a greater degree than municipalities, millennials are more likely to gravitate towards the former.
We can remedy this, however, through a few different means. First, we can establish connections between urban centers and municipalities by light-rail. Countless North American cities, Vancouver and Toronto, to name a few, have had success in connecting their non-urban residents to the urban areas.
Another solution is building active transportation infrastructure that appeases more types of commuters. Tie this into a light-rail or bus infrastructure and the resilience of each increases tenfold. Along with that, an abundance of shelter vegetation and scenic pit stops will also appeal to the millennial generation.
As we’ve already seen, millennials are a generation that thrives on technology. With a majority of millennials hooked onto and dependent on the internet for their daily lives, fast connectivity is a must for them.
And this is another area where municipalities lack behind the city centers. Municipal areas usually have slower and low-quality internet connectivity as compared to cities. The limitation of connectivity leaves millennials, who communicate through emojis and selfies, rather in the lurch.
Therefore, if municipalities are to attract the millennial population, they need to up their connectivity options. We can achieve this by putting pressure on provincial and federal governments for creating satellite connectivity and more cell towers. This, in turn, will lead to better internet connectivity and hence attract a greater number of millennials to these areas.
One of the significant negative characteristics that critics attribute to millennials is a fear of commitment. While we don’t need to argue how true this is in the realm of personal relationships, it is nevertheless true in the case of professional ones.
Millennials are notorious for job-hopping and are known to stay away from long-term workplace commitment. As a result, they prefer to reside in areas where they can access greater and more varied employment opportunities, making cities, which are areas of high business density -the perfect hotspots for housing millennials.
Moreover, this naturally translates to the fact that if municipalities are to attract more millennials, they must first attract more businesses. We can't expect millennials to live in suburban centers which require them to commute to work daily.
That’s why one of the major solutions to the above conundrum is to build business centers close to municipal areas. This kind of planning can lead to a significant decrease in commute times, thus appealing to and attracting a more substantial number of millennials.
Before we take our leave, we must acknowledge one thing: there are exceptions to every generation. In every batch of millennials who choose the city life, there will be a few who are attracted to the serenity and space offered by municipal areas.
Some millennials still prefer to live within the stronger sense of community feeling and bonding that exists in suburban areas. For these representatives of the millennial flock, municipalities can form suitable dwelling places.
However, their numbers are few, and until municipalities can offer the required amenities to the members of this generation, we can't expect millennials to flock to these locations. Better living conditions and fulfillment of generational needs are bound to take center-stage in the millennials’ choice of dwelling location.


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Federal legislation introduced last year that would prevent local governments from seizing underwater mortgages packaged into private-label residential mortgage-backed securities was reintroduced, Mortgage Daily reported July 22.
Rep. John Campbell, R-Calif., originally introduced the Defending American Taxpayers from Abusive Government Takings Act in September 2012.
The proposed law would amend the charters of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to prevent them from guaranteeing or buying loans secured by residential properties in areas where eminent domain has been used to seize mortgages during the last 10 years. It also would amend the National Housing Act to prevent the Federal Housing Administration from insuring such loans and prevent the U.S. Department of Agriculture from making loans in those areas, Mortgage Daily reported.
Campbell noted that local governments have once again started to entertain the idea of using federal taxpayer dollars to seize distressed home loans, although profits would be accrued by private entities.
He said that reintroducing the bill is an attempt to “stop reckless city and county governments from enacting profiteering schemes that seek to cash in on the plight of underwater homeowners through the arbitrary seizure of private home loans,” Mortgage Daily reported.
Campbell added that “These schemes pose a critical threat to recovery of the housing sector, as lenders and investors, which a sustainable housing finance system relies on, would not have any faith in the durability of contracts. Moreover, the savers and retirees who own these mortgages, many of them through their pension funds and 401(k) accounts, would be exposed to serious losses,” Mortgage Daily reported.
The congressman also worried that eminent domain programs could result in cities valuing properties as low as possible in order to increase their own profits while wiping out private lending.
The bill currently is awaiting consideration by the House Committee on Financial Services.


The sheer number of abuse allegations that Arizona Child Protective Services revealed it did not investigate — at least 6,500 — obscures a more revealing fact, one that should make us realize we aren’t grappling with the real problem yet.
The CPS employees who set aside those reports, categorizing them as “Not Investigated,” were working for special teams intended to clear up the backlog of child-abuse or neglect allegations.
In other words, the CPS solution to the crisis of a backlog of cases led to a new crisis of uninvestigated allegations.
The Legislature and governor are reacting as you would expect: They’re asking how this could have happened.
In a written statement, Gov. Jan Brewer called it an “inexcusable failure” and said “there must be accountability in this matter and I will insist on further reforms to make sure that it cannot happen again.”
State Senate President Andy Biggs told Capitol Media Services he’s not interested in increasing CPS’ funding after approving a boost last year: “That’s everybody’s response to everything — we need more government money.”
But the fact that CPS’ solution led to a new crisis of the same sort should be telling us something. Even after increasing funding for CPS last year, we as a state, through our Legislature, still have not appreciated the magnitude of Arizona’s child-welfare problem. No matter how much we cajole and reform the agency, CPS cannot, figuratively, drink from a fire hose.
CPS caseworkers have overwhelming case loads — 75-80 percent higher than federal standards recommend — which, along with low pay and draining work, leads to high turnover rates of about 30 percent per year. New caseworkers make roughly $33,000 per year, and experienced specialists make about $39,000, low in my view for keeping people in these difficult jobs.
It’s unrealistic for us to expect caseworkers to solve hard-to-crack cases of children who drop off the map, like the three sisters discovered by Tucson police imprisoned in their home last week, if the agency is unable to deal with the cases it knows about or investigate all the calls that come in.
“This is not a new issue,” Dana Wolfe Naimark, president of the Children’s Action Alliance, told me. “There are 10,000 cases staff hasn’t touched.”
She’s referring there to cases labeled “inactive” because they haven’t been looked at in months. Some are left over from caseworkers who left the agency for other jobs. Others are simply sitting on a desk waiting for an overwhelmed caseworker to get to them.
“We have thousands of investigations that stay open for months,” Naimark said. The recent discovery of the thousands of files labeled Not Investigated “is a new piece of the same puzzle. We need to address the whole puzzle.”
The director of the Arizona Department of Economic Security, of which CPS is a part, has asked the Legislature for $115 million in additional funding to hire 444 new employees, including 394 additional caseworkers.
To reduce the fire-hose effect, we not only need to continue to build a bigger, more capable Child Protective Services, but also to restore funding for the services that used to keep kids out of the CPS system. In our state, which leads the nation in the growth of its foster-care population at the same time fewer people are stepping up to be foster parents, we must also raise the stipends for foster parents back to their pre-2009 levels, if not higher.
While Arizona’s child-welfare system never was ideal, before the recession we taxpayers paid for services that helped keep children out of the CPS system. In 2009, as state tax revenues were dwindling, the Legislature slashed funding in key areas:
• Parental training, counseling and other preventative services for families;
• Substance abuse treatment services for parents of vulnerable kids;
• Child-care subsidies for working parents;
• Temporary cash assistance for needy families.
This funding has not been restored.
“The bottom line is, we had a better system where we were providing services at the community level. Many of the services are gone,” said State Rep. Debbie McCune Davis, the Democrat who co-chairs a special legislative committee overseeing Child Protective Services.
At the same time these and other cuts were taking place, the same economic pressures were increasing the need for those services, she said.
“What the caseworkers said in our first hearing is that because of economic pressures and other things going on in the community, families are under a high degree of stress,” she said.
State Sen. Nancy Barto, a Republican who co-chairs the CPS committee, did not return my calls seeking comment.
In one year, from fiscal years 2011 to 2012, the number of children entering foster care in Arizona went up by 2,165, a 26 percent increase. Almost all of the increase was due to parental neglect, a problem that is more easily remedied by social services than abuse is.
None of the longer-term, systemic problems mean there isn’t also a short-term management problem. Arizona Department of Economic Security Director Clarence Carter announced a plan last Monday to review within one week all 6,000 cases labeled “Not Investigated” and resolve them all by January — a plan that had the air of another rushed solution that would lead to another crisis.
Carter’s job, and those of others more directly implicated in the shelved cases, should be on the line now. But it would be foolish to think we keep unluckily hiring incompetents or uncaring people for the jobs. Perhaps the job is just too big.
Solving the bigger problem is a duty that belongs, perhaps unfortunately, to our Legislature.
“We are now in a political environment where money will only be applied when there is a case made for it,” McCune Davis said, noting she too is unwilling to blindly funnel money to CPS.
That’s as it should be — we want our legislators to be responsible stewards of tax money. But the case for increased, targeted spending on child welfare is not hard to make, though perhaps Carter no longer has the credibility to make it.
Spending more on prevention efforts, foster care and lowering CPS caseloads should go a long way toward resolving Arizona’s child-welfare crisis.


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If I rent an audio book from the library can I put it on my iPod? Are there any special settings needed that are different than putting on music?
post #1 of 1
1/28/11 at 5:05am
MacMall is offering AppleInsider readers an additional 3% off all MacBooks & iMacs with Promo Code: APPLEINSIDER02

domain: library


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Cybersecurity platform provider Uptycs announced that it has added an agentless scanning function to its product, according to Security Boulevard.
The platform, which already leverages a cloud-native application protection platform together with extended detection and response capabilities in one product, now gives enterprise cybersecurity teams the freedom to either use an agent-based approach suited for malware remediation and blocking tasks or an agentless process that allows them to fully scan unmanaged cloud workloads for misconfigurations, exposed sensitive data, policy violations, vulnerabilities, malware and other risks, according to Jack Roehrig, technology evangelist for Uptycs.
Roehrig adds that the update makes it easier for information security,IT operations and DevOps teams to collaborate because the Uptycs platforms ability to gather normalized telemetry data whether or not an agent has been installed reduces friction that teams commonly experience when they try to work together. All the while, enterprises are given one fewer cybersecurity vendor to tap because of the CNAPP and XDR capabilities already employed in the Uptycs platform, which enables continuous monitoring of endpoints, cloud resources and server fleets, according to Roehrig.
Wiz has reportedly entered a $350 million deal to purchase cloud cybersecurity startup Gem, which Forbes notes could be the first of many acquisitions of the IT security firm this year, according to SiliconAngle.


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Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disorder which affects women with child bearing potential. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the successful pregnancies in patients with lupus in the past 10 years. Women were followed up at the 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, University of Debrecen. Results: During this investigated period, 26 patients became pregnant. Seven patients had a positive history for lupus before the pregnancy. A total of 29 children were born. The mean gestational age was 35 weeks. The average birth weight was 2415 grams. Toxemic pregnancy was the most common complication found in 9 patients. Lupus nephritis activity occurred in 2 patients, and 1 of them had it for the first time during the course of her disease. Conclusions: In the past years, the number of pregnancies in patients with lupus has been increasing. Due to proper patient care and education, the outcome is more favourable.
|Translated title of the contribution||Successful completed pregnancies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus|
|Number of pages||7|
|Publication status||Published - Mar 1 2012|
ASJC Scopus subject areas


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Summer Camps 2023
Star Kids - 1 week Summer camps
"Around the world " with SCTS
Come with us as we discover songs and scenes from Disney’s favourite shows all based on the theme “Around the world”.
Star Kids - 9 day Summer Camp
Disney's "The Aristocats Kids"
Spotlight - 1 week Summer Camp
Spotlight 1 week intensive - Grade 7-12
July 22 - 26, 2024 - Registration OPEN
Spotlight - 2 week Summer Camp
Spotlight 2 week camp - Grade 7-12
July 8-19 2024 - Registration OPEN
Spaces limited – don’t miss out on your spot!
Despite all the changes what has not changed is our commitment to deliver the same SCTS camp experience that you have all come to love and expect from us. More than ever, we are reminded that relationships are everything in theatre and education!
Do you have an actor, singer or dancer in your family? Let them put these talents and desires to the test and join us as we reach for the stars in working towards a specially adapted theatre extravaganza, which in response to the present Covid protocols and Provincial rules at the time of camp, will be recorded for you to watch and rewatch with friends and family.
From creation through to performance, we take your actor on a journey of imagination, creativity and fun through the Performing Arts.
Join us, other like minded students and inspirational teachers as you make the stage your world for a memorable week(s) of laughter and friendships!
“Put on a Happy face”
– Bye Bye Birdie


Woori Card outside hitter Kim Ji-han, 24, has become a fixture on the roster.
After showing promise last season, he has become the team’s main offensive threat this season, replacing the departed Na Kyung-bok (KB Insurance).
In a season where he has become the centerpiece of the team’s offense, it’s hard not to be excited for the team’s run to the top of the standings.
“I don’t feel nervous or pressured against Korean Air or any other team,” Kim said after the Korean Air game at Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul on July 7. Rather, I look forward to the match and think about how to make it more fun.”
On the day, Woori Card defeated Korean Air 3-1 in straight sets to maintain its lead in the men’s volleyball standings.
Woori Card cemented its nemesis status by winning the best-of-three series against Korean Air, a ‘favorite’ to win its fourth consecutive title this season.
“It’s good in the long run that we won three straight against Korean Air,” said Kim Ji-han, who scored 19 points in the win. “I think we’ll meet Korean Air in the playoffs or the championship. It’s good for our confidence to win like this.”
“Compared to last season, I can feel myself improving my vision and movement. It’s fun because I can feel my skills improving,” he added.
Kim has a close friend and “rival” of the same age in Lim Sung-jin (KEPCO).
Lim, who has gone on to represent South Korea in men’s volleyball, was named the men’s round-robin Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his second-round performance.
His friend’s honor is a source of joy and motivation for Kim.
“I’m in the same position as my best friend (Lim Sung-jin). He was the MVP of the second round, so I feel like I should be the MVP of the third round.” “I’m not jealous, but I’m motivated by his good performance. I feel like I shouldn’t lose.”
Kim Ji-han said that one of his challenges is to coordinate with Woori Card’s starting setter Han Tae-joon.
Han, a second-year high school player, made the leap to the starting lineup this year and is developing at a rapid pace.
“My chemistry with Taejun is not perfect yet,” Kim said. He doesn’t say, ‘Give me the ball a lot,’ but I know he’s getting better and better. If we do this, I think we’ll be a perfect fit within the third round.”


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Employees’ Perception towards Softcore CSFS of Six Sigma [An Empirical Analysis in Foreign Banks]
Most quality initiatives are based on systems and techniques with the aim of improving quality and productivity. Often, newly developed techniques such as ISO-9000, process reengineering, and Six Sigma etc. become the focus of the quality program. It is assumed that once the system and procedures for the selected techniques are in place, the desired results will follow. What is not realized is that the systems and procedures are implemented by people, and the effectiveness of the program therefore is largely dependent on the capability and motivation of these individuals.
Though Six Sigma was pioneered in mid 80s, it was mainly adopted by banks during or after 2000. Further the major force for Six Sigma implementation is a need for change for continuous improvement, competitors’ pressure, and poor customer satisfaction. Thus these factors have been considered as critical success factors for successful implementation of Six Sigma in banking sector. Fourth, most of the organizations had implemented ISO 9000, TQM or BPR before embarking on implementing the Six Sigma program.Although Six Sigma Critical Success Factors have been amply researched in the global context, in this paper a maiden attempt is made to identify Soft Core CSFS for Six Sigma, through extensive literature review, prioritization using primary data collection from foreign banks and to identify gap between importance & practice of soft core CSFs.
Coronado RB, Antony J. Critical Success Factors for the successful implementation of Six Sigma projects in organizations. The TQM Magazine, 2002; 24(2): 92-99.
Rust RT, Danaher PJ, Varki S. Using service quality data for competitive marketing decision. International Journal of Service Industry Management 2008; 11(5): 438-69.
Evans J, Lindsay M. An Introduction to Six Sigma & Process Improvement: A Roadmap. Cengage Learning Indian Ed., 2011: 17-24.
Adams CW. The Influence of Traditional Service Quality Factors on Customer Satisfaction: A Practical Study within the Context of Banking sector. The Business Review, Cambridge, 2011.
Schrge M. Six Sigma; process & improvement: A Practical Approach. Cengage learning, 2011.
Chakrabrty S, Whitten D, Green K.
Understanding Service Quality and Relationship Quality in IS Outsourcing: Client Orientation and Promotion, Project Management Effectiveness, and the Task-Technology Structure fit. Journal of Computer Information Systems 2010; 48(2): 1-13.
Gupta NS, Valarmathi B. Total Quality Management. 2nd ed. The McGraw-Hill Companies, 2009: 22-23.
Menge J, Elliott MK. A Gap Analysis of Professional Service Quality. Journal of Marketing: An approach towards hotel industry 2009; 56(2): 57-71.
Lal H. Organizational Excellence Through Total Quality Management: A Practical Approach. New Age International Publishers, 2008: 207-209.
Bahia K, Nantel J, Quintana A. A model of customer loyalty in the retail banking market. European Journal of Marketing 2007; 38(1/2): 253-75.
Kwak YH, Anbari FT. Benefits, obstacles, and future of Six Sigma approach. Technovation 2006; 26(5-6): 708-15.
Bendell T, Hyman J. Quality Planning and Analysis. 4 ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006.
Banerjee A. Creating Organizational Excellence. The Journal of Quality Participation Nov 2006: 58-62.
Feo JAD, Barnard WW. Juran Institute’s Six Sigma Breakthrough and Beyond. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2004.
Brodie CH. A Polaroid Notebook: Concept Engineering. Center for Quality of Management 2005; 3(2).
Brady. Benefits from Six Sigma Manufacturing Engineering 2005; 130(4).
Antony J. Successful implementation of Six Sigma projects in organizations. The TQM Magazine, 2004; 14(2): 92-99.
Agarwal R, Deo A. The Six Sigma Revolution: A Journal of Operation Management. ICFAI Press, 2004.
Brue G. Design for Six Sigma. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2003.
Smith GF. Too Many Types of Quality Problems. Quality Progress Apr 2003: 43-49.
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domain: literature


text:
I volunteered at the Herrick District Public Library Used Books Store today. I brought home these used books from the book nook to Add to our library-
"The Wanting Seed" a novel by Anthony Burgess
"The Longest Road: Overland in Search of America, from Key West to the Arctic Ocean" Travel Memoir by Philip Caputo
"Lullaby" a novel by Chuck Palahniuk
"Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey" a novel by Chuck Palahniuk
"The Flame Throwers" a novel by Rachel Kushner
"YALLAH" Text by Paul Bowles Photographs by Peter W. Haeberlin
The library used books store was very quiet today so I read "Romans 9-16" New Testament VIII Reformation Commentary On Scripture and wandered the store. Now I am home waiting for life to return to normal. I am tired and still feeling sick inside.
I suppose I will close. Last night I read "Casanova: The World of a Seductive Genius" biography by Laurence Bergreen and went to bed around 9 o'clock PM. I got up this morning around 6 o'clock AM and left for the library around 9:50 AM.
I got to close to drift and wait to see what comes in the mail this afternoon. Carol usually calls me around 3 o'clock PM from the Southwest.


text:
Margie is originally from Cuba and joined the Studio Gabriel team in 2006. She is highly experienced in manicures, pedicures, nail art, and paraffin hand and feet treatments. She attends continuing education classes every year in Orlando. She specializes in acrylic and gel nails. Margie is also fluent in English and Spanish.
|Monday:||9:00 am to 5:00 pm|
|Tuesday:||9:00 am to 5:00 pm|
|Wednesday:||9:00 am to 7:00 pm|
|Thursday:||9:00 am to 7:00 pm|
|Friday:||9:00 am to 6:00 pm|


text:
The purpose of the E-conference is to gather requirements for further AGROVOC enhancement directly from the AGROVOC user community, in order to analyze and incorporate those needs in the medium to long term plan and strategy, for the most used Agricultural thesaurus since 1980. AGROVOC is one of the resources that FAO are using in the NeOn Over-fishing Alerts Case Study.
The E-Conference has been a great success. A total of 43 countries are represented in the Conference. From the list of those who registered, over 55% are from Asia and the Pacific, Africa and Central and South America.
Read a recent article about the Conference on the NeOn Website.
Full report will be made available to everyone via the AIMS website.

domain: geography


Emerald Initiative recently broke ground on a new McKinstry Fabrication and manufacturing facility in Spokane. The new 68,000 Sq Ft. facility is on a 5 acre parcel close to Flint Rd, nearby Spokane International Airport and near the edge of the City of Airway Heights.
The state-of-the-art fabrication facility will serve all McKinstry locations nationwide and house an Overcast Innovations manufacturing facility. McKinstry is a national leader in designing, constructing, operating and maintaining high-preforming buildings and Overcast Innovations is a McKinstry-owned subsidiary that "liberates construction projects from productivity traps and systemic waste". Overcast primarily focuses on cloud based above-ceiling equipment and plug and play architectural appliances.
The new Spokane shop will produce prefabricated sheet metal, piping and plumbing materials and systems by Union professionals. Production will be improved with the addition of new prefabrication technology including a new fiber laser for galvanized metals and a mist system to keep clean-up to a minimum for pipe cutting needs. Additionally, the new facility is designed around McKinstry's zero-carbon future goal.
In addition to the updated prefabrication layout, the new space will include an updated area for detailers to sit closer to production, a new break room space that is designed to double as a safety training area and separate manufacturing area that will be leased to the above-mentioned Overcast Innovations.
Construction on the new facility is already underway and is currently planned to begin operation in late 2023.


Danbury Radio Show Breaks Down Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class
This week, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2023 was announced.
The list was an eclectic mashup of personalities from all over the music landscape. That said, it is not perfect and we discussed our many issues with it on the I-95 Morning Show. These are the artists who had their names etched into history:
Rage Against the Machine
Musical Influence Award
DJ Kool Herc
Musical Excellence Award
Ahmet Ertegun Award
Each year, we lean on the knowledge of Sal Sirrincione to help us navigate the nominees, the inductees and the media buzz surrounding the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sal is the Senior Director of Rock Programming for Premiere Radio Networks and has covered the Rock Hall and it's ceremonies for years. Cirrincione joined us on Wednesday, you can listen to that conversation below.
We carried that dialogue over into the Thursday (5/4/23) edition of the I-95 Morning Show
Here's my stuff:
I don't care that they allow rappers in the hall, I'm a rap fan and they belong alongside their musical counterparts and deserve recognition. However, they need to change the name to the Music Hall of Fame. People get so carried away trying to define lines between these genres and wasting time on what is and what isn't that we never get to the good stuff. I love discussions, debates or banter about inconsequential matters. Arguing about music, film and sports is fun but this particular dialogue is stuck in park on Rap isn't rock Boulevard.
I completely disagree with Sal, he thinks Jimmy Buffet is an innovator, I think he's a booze bag that needs to buy a mirror.
Sal thinks Sheryl Crow didn't change the game so she does not belong, I don't believe that. Steph Curry changed the NBA forever, it certainly does not make him a better basketball player than Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant or Lebron James. It just means he made kids want to shoot from mid court instead of driving the lane.
What do you think?
Hall of Fame


Byon July 10, 2012
There are a million different ways to make a breakfast sandwich, and it can feel like almost all of them have been done, or at least attempted. But for those who like to go Leslie Knope or Ron Swanson on their first meal, Jack in the Box has a new way to cushion your eggs, cheese, and sausage between two waffles. The fast-food chain is offering its new Breakfast Waffle Sandwich ($2.79 plus tax) for a limited time. It sort of looks like a McGriddle except it's not a McGriddle, because, well, that actually appears to be a waffle atop its crown. It does have 33 grams of fat, but that may be a small price to pay for breakfast bliss, especially when you consider that it's offered all day long. No more missing breakfast by thirty minutes and four seconds. [Foodbeast]
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This is a food blog for everyone, not just men. Even if you're not a man or you don't eat like one, we welcome you. It's just that there are foods that men love and there are ways that men eat that are just different, and we celebrate that. Every day, you'll find a mix of ideas, interviews, opinions, wisdom, tips, news, and recipes. For everybody. Especially men. And, very often, a drink.
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text:
Clarkstown dedicates butterfly garden to 13-year-old girl killed by drunk driver
People in Clarkstown came together Tuesday to rededicate a garden in honor of a teen killed by a drunk driver eight years ago.
Larisa Karassik, 13, was upstate with family Memorial Day weekend 2015. She and her dad were getting ice cream with a friend when a drunk driver hit their car.
Her friend, Anastasia Khilko, is alive nine surgeries later. She says it is still difficult to talk about the incident.
"Not even being a teenager yet, I laid in that field watching black smoke fill the air above me and consciously prepared myself for the feeling of death I thought was coming” she says.
Larisa’s friends say they are always thinking about her as they grew older without her, including when they graduated.
"This has still been haunting us for eight years and it haunts me every day,” says Cassie Blotner, Larisa’s friend. “Everyone at my school knows about Larisa. I talk about her every day.”
Anastasia Karassik, Larisa's mom, adds, “There's always that empty seat in every milestone that we go through…Her life was cut short, and she was robbed of all these opportunities due to one person making a poor choice."
Ever since the incident, Karassik has advocated against drunk driving.
The rededication of the garden serves not just as a memorial, but a mission to honor Larisa by keeping other young people safe during the 100 deadliest days-- the period from Memorial Day to Labor Day when more kids die from drunk and distracted driving than during any other time.
"It's the greatest single cause of death for teenagers in the U.S.,” says Clarkstown Town Supervisor George Hoehmann.
The group is asking for the community to take the pledge, sign a ribbon for Larisa and keep her memory alive by keeping others safe on the road.
Larisa's family asks residents to make a plan before a night out and that with technology like Uber, there's no excuse to drink and drive.


text:
📚 REVIEW | Spellslinger – Sebastien de Castell
“First thing you learn wandering the long roads, kid. Everyone thinks they’re the hero of their own story.” Although the storyline is pretty dark, this was quite a fun read. I went in with zero expectations, hell, I didn’t even read the blurb. The cover drew me in and I’d heard it was meant to… Continue reading
Books and food enthusiast. I discovered a love for reading in my late teens, so you’ll see me catching up on older series quite often. I also love to travel around the UK, where I live, and picking up some crafty hobbies – I hope to share snippets of this amongst all the book content. Other interests include gaming, podcasts, drinking too much tea, and trying to personify autumn.
thebookwormsfeast has reviewed 593 books with an average rating of 4.139 out of 5.
494 people have found thebookwormsfeast's written reviews to be helpful on Goodreads.
Top 10% in Epic
Top 10% in Dark
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Top 20% in Historical


text:
Other systems and methods for providing an enhanced head up display are also disclosed.
Systems and methods for providing an enhanced head up display to an aircraft pilot are disclosed.
The invention also relates to a corresponding detection method and display, in particular a head-up display, provided with said device.
A display system useful as a head-up display for vehicles, such as aircraft, automobiles, trucks, etc., includes a fluorescent material that can be carried on a support (12).
The invention further relates to a head-up display (10) with a combining optical system (18) and an image generation device (15).
When head-mounted displays are connected to the USB terminals of a PC, a terminal ID is acquired from each head-mounted display (S11).
One embodiment of the invention comprises a simplified light-weight head mounted displays comprising an off-axis combiner and imaging optics defining an optical path.
A head mounted display device includes a structural frame arranged generally along a X-axis and a Y-axis for viewing along a Z-axis, the X, Y, and Z axes being mutually perpendicular.

domain: design


text:
Isabel Marant's black Taj bag is shaped to slouchy proportions that convey a free-spirited mood. It's crafted from suede with leather tasselled drawstring ties and whipstitching, then lined in twill. Adjust the cross-body strap to personalise the length.
Isabel Marant is the cool girl's go-to for Parisian insouciance. Effortlessly hip with a touch of bohemian chic, her signature trophy jackets, laid-back knits and striking accessories are the uniform of models, fashion editors and style-setters alike. See the looks in the pages of Harper’s Bazaar, Glamour and Grazia.


text:
Vancouver Art Deco Buildings 5: Vancouver City Hall
Vancouver City Hall, constructed in 1936, was designed by the architectural firm of Townley and Matheson. It features an elegant, tiered appearance, a stepped in mini-skyscraper which reaches 12 storeys. A decision was made to shift City Hall away from the city centre and so it is located at West 12th Avenue at Cambie Street. Aside from its classic form derived from pre-Columbian architecture there is a large, stone relief above the main entrance. There are also simple Art Deco motifs present on the façade which consist of a wing and a spiral together.
Vancouver Art Deco Buildings 6: Vogue Theatre
The 1940 Vogue Theatre was designed by Toronto-based architects Kaplan and Sprachman. Their client was George C. Reifel, who was known as a brewer in Vancouver, and legend has it that during prohibition he was also a rum-runner. The Vogue Theatre was originally constructed as a cinema, but in more recent times has been used as a live venue. Located on Granville Street on Vancouver’s “Theatre Row” it is an elegant, symmetrical streamlined Art Deco building topped by the figure of the ancient Roman goddess of the hunt Diana. In 1990 the Vogue was listed as a National Historic Site of Canada.
Vancouver Art Deco Buildings 7: Empire Granville 7 Cinemas
Another Art Deco cinema, this time a theatre in its initial incarnation as the Globe Theatre, was constructed 1912-1913 on Granville Street. It was modified into an Art Deco building known as the Paradise Theatre in 1938 by the architect Thomas Kerr. The Paradise was modified into a cinema and renamed the Coronet Cinema in 1965. Its interior was further renovated in 1986 and renamed the Empire Granville 7 Cinemas, but the exterior is still essentially that of the Paradise Theatre with its distinctive, sculpted motif of a dancer. Unlike the Vogue, the Paradise has no listing as a National Historic Site of Canada.
Vancouver Art Deco Buildings 8: Lions Gate Bridge
Majestically traversing the waters between central Vancouver through Stanley Park and over to the communities of the North Shore, the Lions Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge with three lanes for crossing traffic. The Art Deco lions of the Lions Gate Bridge are on either side of the southern approach. They are monumental beasts made of cast concrete and were created by Italian-born Vancouver sculptor Charles Marega at the end of the 1930s. The heads and bodies were cast separately. They are old world lions and have wonderful jagged manes. Sadly, Marega passed away just a short time before the official opening of the bridge on May 29, 1939 by King George VI during a royal visit.
Vancouver Art Deco Buildings 9: Burrard Bridge
On the other side of central Vancouver, connecting it with the western suburbs of Kitsilano and Point Gray, is the 1932 Burrard Street Bridge, often abbreviated to just the Burrard Bridge. This is a steel truss bridge with space for four lanes of traffic. Its span is less than that of the Lions Gate Bridge but it has two covered crossings that have excellent Art Deco details on them, all of which were also created by Charles Marega. Among them are some evenly spaced lion heads, four along each upper space of the crossings, totalling sixteen. These are also old world lions, but their manes have been clipped down to almost nothing in contrast to the Lions Gate Bridge pair.
Vancouver Art Deco Buildings 10: Labour Temple of the Trade Labour Congress
This 1949 two-storey building on East Broadway is not massive, however, proportionally the stone relief mural above its entrance certainly is. At six feet high and thirty feet long it was entirely created by British Columbia born sculptor Beatrice Lennie and took her eight months to complete. The main theme of this work is raising labour to a heroic status. It also was intended to show solidarity between the Canadian Trade Labour Congress, the TLC, on the left, and the American Federation of Labour, the AFL, on the right. There is a sub-theme of transport with planes, parachutists descending and a zeppelin, along with a ship and a streamlined steam train.
©Gregory Edwards and Global Art Deco 2020. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this website/blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Global Art Deco with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only. The information is provided by Gregory Edwards and Global Art Deco and while we endeavour to provide correct information, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.
Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly. However, Gregory Edwards and Global Art Deco take no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.

domain: history


text:
52" multilevel cat tree cat tower with scratching posts and cat bed, beige cat condo
Your kitties and cats love this multilevel condo-style cat tower with multiple scratching posts cats love! Provides privacy and comfort for multiple cats, or ultimate luxury for just one or two cats! Sturdy; Fits in the corner of any room. Keep your beloved kitties right next to you in your home office!
High-quality rope for scratching!
Let your kitties hang out with you in the bedroom or in your home office!
52" multilevel cat tree cat tower with a scratching post, beige cat condo Features:
Material: Natural Sisal Rope & Soft Plush & Flakeboard.
52 inches tall.
Superior material ensures good quality, stability, and safety.
Entertainment space for cats.
Plush makes this cat tower soft and comfortable.
A color favorite, beige makes this cat tower cool and stylish.
Base Board Dimensions: (20.08 x 20.08)"
Easy to assemble with clear instructions.
- 1. Dimensions: (20.08 x 20.08 x 51.97)" / (51 x 51 x 132)cm (L x W x H)
- 2. Color: Beige
- 3. Size: 52"
- 4. Material: Natural Sisal Rope & Soft Plush & Flakeboard
- 5. Weight: 539.69oz / 15300g
- 6. Base Board Dimensions: (20.08 x 20.08)" / (51 x 51)cm (L x W)
- 7. Cave Dimensions: (18.5 x 10.5 x 10)" / (47 x 26.67 x 25)cm (L x W x H)
- 8. Perch Diamter: 11" / 28cm
- 9. Ladder Dimensions: (12 x 9)" / (30 x 23)cm (L x W)
- 1 x Cat Climb Trees Cat Toys
- 1 x Package of Screws
- 1 x Installation Instruction
Free shipping on all orders in the USA.
Our amazing support team is here to help.
Simply return it within 30 days for an exchange.
We ensure secure payment and accept Stripe, Visa, Mastercard, Amex & Paypal.

domain: pet


text:
A few words first.
Growing up transgender in the late 90’s and early 2000’s, I never had a fictional character I could relate to on that particular level. I didn’t even know trans people were a thing until much later.
It’s probably a bit strange that my debut novel doesn’t feature a trans guy. After all, I’m the first to say we need more representation. I even wrote a trans woman before I dared approach the whole trans guy deal. Guess it hits a bit close to home, you understand.
A few days ago, I finally felt I was ready to give it a shot, and… well. A lot more came pouring out than I was expecting.
Meet Felix, your friendly neighbourhood trans 20-year-old. And meet Mohammed (“Mo”), your narrator. I rather like them already.
This is a very first draft, unedited, of a scene between two queer youths who found each other after being thrown out of their respective homes. I’m expecting a full novel to develop out of this sooner or later. Hopefully you’ll be interested in that!
Content Warning: dysphoria, explicit sex, homelessness brief mentions of religion.
Moving up along the lines of his ribcage, I hit the hem of the binder. It was biting into his skin, more so at the sides, and I thought nothing so soft and fragile should ever be bitten into like that. A confused impression of inadequacy came over me. Felix was graceful. He was refined. Those hands were a pianist’s hands. That skin deserved bedsheet and pillowcases. Real ones. Hundred percent cotton, organic or fair trade or some shit.
The old mattress barely felt like anything between our arses and the floorboards. And me? I was rough and clumsy. I was gangly, all edges and angles.
I fumbled as I touched him, but I must have been doing something right, because right then, right as I was thinking all that, he shivered into my mouth.
“Mo . . .” he said.
I felt goosebumps and, as my body braced, the tips of my fingers — dirty fingernails and all — dipped below the hem. And yeah, it wasn’t on purpose, but at the same time, fuck. I really wanted the bloody thing off.
Felix pulled away. The kiss broke.
“You know I don’t care,” I said.
“But I care,” he said.
I nodded, “Okay,” and stroked around his hips instead. “Is that okay?”
He was smiling again, so I kept at it. I enjoyed his fingers in my hair and his tongue in my mouth. He moaned, and repeated my name. It made my cock twitch in my pants.
“I’m really turned on right now,” he said, which caused a stronger twitch.
“Me too,” I said. I let one hand hover near his crotch. “Have you ever . . .?”
“I can never really get into it.”
“Do you want to try?”
His breath caught and he looked me in the eye. “‘Kay.”
I closed the gap. Heat seemed to emanate from him in waves, and there was definitely something in his eyes. When I slid my hand inside his jeans, it was all wet.
“I’m gross,” he said.
“Bullshit,” I said.
“‘Kay, but I stink, though,” he said.
“Bullshit,” I said.
I removed the bunched up sock he puts in there. That’s gonna need a wash, I thought. Then I started thinking about the laundromat, and Mrs Pike scrunching up her nose at us from behind the Daily Mail, which is no good. My brain went to the big machines, vibrating hard during the spin cycle. Better. I pictured Felix sitting on one of those. Kinda hot. Really hot. Okay, here we go.
My middle finger teased him down there, in the damp hair. He tensed up, breathed harder.
“Is that good?”
“Yeah, it’s good, it’s . . . I’m just concentrating.”
He chuckled. “You.”
I grinned, but then he frowned and said “Can’t think of myself too much, you know,” and my heart broke a little.
“You look good,” he said.
“So do you,” I said.
He looked me up and down. “You’re so hot.”
I opened my mouth to reply, but he was having none of it.
“So hot, Jesus, and you’re hard.”
“Yeah,” I said stupidly.
“I’m a bit jealous,” he said.
That set the gears in my brain in motion.
“I’ve got an idea,” I said.
He whined when my hand left his pants. Then I yanked down my own jeans and briefs, and he gasped and stared and mumbled “Jesus” again. I’m still not sure what Jesus has to do with any of it.
“Can I touch?” he asked.
I took his wrist and guided him to my cock, and the pianist fingers wrapped neatly around the shaft.
He squeezed too hard.
“No, you’re fine, you’re fine! Just . . . easy. Like it’s made of glass.”
He tried again. “How’s that?”
It was good. It was bloody good, let me tell you.
“Perfect. Close your eyes.”
He did, without question.
Slowly, I touched him again. Just a little, then a bit more. I shuffled closer, adjusted the position.
“Jerk me like it’s you,” I murmured.
He didn’t move for a second. Don’t push it, I told myself. No rush. No rush.
When he started, I started too.
I copied his movements, mirrored his strokes, and suddenly there was a lot more moaning. His expression transformed completely. He looked almost in shock, in awe, with his eyes still lightly closed and his body heaving into mine.
We fell into the rhythm, the call and response. Somehow it reminded me of that time I convinced him to take me to church. When the priest said “in faith we pray” and the congregation replied “we pray to you our God”. I don’t know. Maybe that’s where the whole Jesus thing comes into it.
“Oh, Jesus!” Felix called, like he could hear my thoughts.
“Jesus!” I called back, experimenting a bit.
He groaned from somewhere deep in his chest. Deeper than I’d ever heard his voice go.
“Oh, wow, do that again,” I said.
The low growl sounded again and I had to start thinking about baseball.
“I’m getting bloody close,” I said.
He jerked hard and fast. Through the haze, I did my best to match his pace, his intensity. I was seeing stars.
“Felix, I’m about to come.”
“. . . Me too.”
“I’m–” I couldn’t finish. I shot my load with a strangled cry right as he began to spasm.
“Yes!” he shouted. “Jesus, yes!”
We collapsed on each other. My forehead fell on his shoulder. His on mine.
Yes, I thought. Yes.