In this illuminating Q&A session, Sheriff John Boyd, a seasoned veteran with over thirty years of experience in law enforcement and correctional facilities, delves into the intricacies of prioritizing the wellbeing of correctional officers.
Drawing from his rich background, Sheriff Boyd offers invaluable insights into the multifaceted challenges faced by correctional officers and provides actionable strategies for enhancing their physical, mental, and emotional wellness. From the pressing need to create environments that foster staff wellbeing to the importance of addressing burnout and promoting a sense of community within correctional facilities, Sheriff Boyd’s expertise shines through as he navigates through the complexities of the corrections landscape.
Whether you’re a correctional officer seeking guidance, a facility administrator striving to improve staff morale, or an advocate for positive change within the corrections system, this blog promises to equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the challenges and prioritize the wellbeing of those working tirelessly to uphold safety and security within correctional facilities.
John sat with Utility’s Blog Editor to answer a few questions:
Q: What specific challenges do correctional officers face in prioritizing their own wellbeing within the corrections environment, and what strategies have you found effective in addressing these challenges?
A: Challenges that most correctional officers face are the lack of time or failing to prioritize their own well-being. They are accustomed to taking care of the needs of others and often neglect their own; or simply do not recognize the importance of their own wellness. It is important for administrators to create an environment that promotes wellness among staff and invest in the most important resource of the organization: Its employees.
Q: In what ways do you believe prioritizing the wellbeing of correctional officers contributes to a safer and more humane corrections environment for both officers and inmates?
A: Prioritizing physical and mental wellness is an investment that is noticed and appreciated by rank and file. This will help to improve morale and promote a more positive and service-oriented staff. Correctional officers who are positive tend to be more professional and attentive to their duties. Inmate populations sense the professionalism and positivity of staff and are treated more patiently and humanely which leads to more positive staff/inmate interactions and reduced adversarial relationships. Reductions in conflict promote a safer environment for staff and inmate populations.
Q: Can you share examples of initiatives or programs implemented within
correctional facilities aimed at supporting the mental and emotional health of
correctional officers? What measurable impacts have these initiatives had?
A: Examples of initiatives and programs implemented in correctional facilities that are aimed at promoting and supporting mental and emotional health of correctional officers include integrating faith-based volunteers and specially trained professionals during shift hours to work side-by-side with correctional staff during their everyday routine with the goal of building rapport and trust and help provide guidance for critical incidents and stressors brought on by work. Many agencies have introduced comfort animals in the workplace to reduce stress and anxiety. Comfort animals can help to improve correctional environments for employees and those who are incarcerated. Creating and promoting peer support groups for correctional employees is often utilized as it is important that employees have an opportunity to discuss their stressors. Of equal importance is for employers to destigmatize mental health conditions and promote mental health awareness and make help readily available and completely confidential.
Q: How do you balance the need for maintaining security and order within a
corrections facility with the goal of promoting the wellbeing and dignity of
A: Maintaining a balance and need for security and order within a correctional facility while maintaining a goal of promoting the wellbeing of incarcerated individuals should not be a fine line. It is difficult to have one without the other. Inmates can be treated with respect and dignity while acknowledging their potential for danger. Inmates who are treated with dignity and respect can be less volatile and less likely to act out toward staff or fellow detainees. Keeping them occupied and well-fed can be simple solutions to better behavioral management. The motto: “It is better to feed them than fight them” is so true and can keep administrators out of court, keep employees and inmates safer, and improve the overall morale of the facility.
Q: What role do you believe training and education play in fostering a culture of empathy and understanding among correctional officers towards the individuals they oversee?
A: Training and education are vitally important to the growth and professionalism of staff. Training in diversity, cultural awareness, de-escalation, conflict resolution, managing stress and anxiety and promoting resiliency are very important topics for continuing education. These example topics will help to build empathy among the work force and how to manage others and the stress that comes with dealing with problem individuals.
Q: How can correctional facilities better address the unique mental health needs of both officers and inmates, considering the stressful and potentially traumatic nature of the corrections environment?
A: Making mental health professionals, critical incident debriefing teams and supporting peer support groups for more readily available can help correctional facilities better address the unique mental health needs of officers and inmates. Where appropriate, the introduction of comfort animals can be beneficial to reduce stress and lower anxiety as well.
Q: What strategies or interventions have you seen implemented to mitigate the effects of burnout among correctional officers, and how effective have they been in improving retention rates and overall job satisfaction?
A: Several strategies have been introduced in correctional facilities to reduce the effects of burnout among correctional staffs and have aided in improving retention and job satisfaction. They include improving the work satisfaction of employees, improve and deminstrate the organizational commitment to the employee, improve the quality and opportunity of training for the employees, improve working conditions for the employees such as a lesser demand for more work hours,improving pay and benefits and increasing safety measures, and better screening measures for new hires.
Q: In what ways can correctional institutions promote a sense of community and support among staff members, fostering a work environment that values and prioritizes the wellbeing of all individuals involved?
A: Correctional facilities can promote a sense of community and support among staff members and foster a work environment that values and prioritizes the wellbeing of their employees by implementing several initiatives. They could include employee recognition and awards programs that highlight bravery, life-saving efforts, going above and beyond, achieving additional training and education, and maintaining positive and professional demeanors. Rewards could include news and social media releases highlighting exemplary employees, gift cards or compensatory days off with pay. Designating employees to serve as “ambassadors” to local service organizations can develop a sense of community involvement among staff while touting the organization from an employee’s perspective.
Q: How do you approach the challenge of addressing systemic issues within the corrections system that may contribute to negative outcomes for both officers and inmates, such as overcrowding, limited resources, and inadequate training?
A: It is important that correctional administrators and supervisors be visible and accessible to staff and the inmate population. Walking to halls, cell blocks, infirmary, kitchen and talking to the staff and population demonstrates that the leadership of the facility cares. Actively listening is one of the most empathetic things that an administrator can do. Ensuring that training in diversity, cultural awareness, de-escalation, conflict resolution and stress management is easily attained and provided is important as well as correctional officers must have access to training that enables them to more adequately deal with key issues pervasive within a correctional setting. For the inmate population, it is important to provide well balanced, nutritious food tastes good and is satisfying. Easy access to educational, legal and religious material is also very important, as is the access to professional medical care that satisfies the inmate’s needs (not their wants). Access to a reliable grievance system and communication with their family will also aid in quelling inmate complaints.
Overcrowding can create substantial liability and create stress for staff and inmates. While correctional administrators rarely have the luxury of reducing populations themselves, establishing a rapport with prosecutors, defense counsels and judges can be beneficial when a need arises to reduce the population. It is imperative that facilities not be overcrowded so that it is easier and safer to segregate, isolate and quarantine.
Q: From your perspective, what policy changes or institutional reforms are
necessary to further humanize the corrections environment and ensure the
wellbeing and dignity of all individuals involved?
A: Significant steps must be taken by federal and state governments to improve correctional facilities. Investments and access to additional funding must be made and become more available. Additional funding must be earmarked to reduce overcrowding, improve infrastructure, improve pay and benefits for correctional staff, improve and mandate their training, improve spaces for the incarcerated and improve access to quality medical care, legal and educational material, better quality of meals and communication with family. As a nation, we must ensure that inmates are released in better condition than when they were first incarcerated.


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Nudges Informed by Behavioral Economics to Increase Utilization of Higher-Value Cancer Drugs
Identifying effective ways to promote high-value, evidence-based prescribing is particularly important in cancer care, where spending is estimated to surpass $170 billion by 2020, driven in large part by prescription drugs. We found that nudges within the electronic health record directed at medical oncologists increased utilization of higher-value, lower cost cancer drugs by several fold among 115 medical oncologists treating 1,476 patients who received 4,567 prescriptions of bone-modifying agents at 5 hospital and 4 community outpatient treatment facilities in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
This study has completed. The impact has been reduced financial toxicity and reduced health care spending, with similar treatment effectiveness through efficient, scalable interventions within the electronic health record.
Departments of Medicine, Divisions of Hematology Oncology and General Internal Medicine, Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, Psychiatry, Lancaster General Hospital, the University of Pennsylvania Cancer Service Line, and the Abramson Cancer Center Cancer Control Program
Incentives to Change Behavior

domain: medical


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— The Tribune-Review, Pennsylvania, Nov. 3
Gun buybacks? They don’t work
A national gun buyback program would be worth considering, says Democrat presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton, extolling Australia’s and the United Kingdom’s firearm restriction and registration laws. But she comes up short in detailing their effectiveness.
John Lott, president of the Crime Prevention Research Center, fills in the blanks.
After the U.K. handgun ban in January 1997, its homicide rate rose by 50 percent over the next eight years; the firearms homicide rate almost doubled. Today, the rate is about where it was before the ban — after an 18 percent increase in the police force, Lott says.
Australia began a buyback program in 1996. The government banned automatic and semi-automatic rifles and shotguns. It also adopted a registration list.
“I do not know enough details to tell you how we would do it, or how it would work, but certainly the Australian example is worth looking at,” Clinton said. Never mind that the number of privately owned guns steadily increased and, by 2010, returned to 1996 levels.
That corresponds with a 2004 National Academy of Sciences study, which found the theory behind gun buybacks “is badly flawed.”
This and other confiscatory initiatives only benefit the thugs who don’t relinquish their weapons.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

domain: politics


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domain: travel


Former Indian and Baroda player Jacob Martun met with an accident recently and was admitted to a private hospital. He was put in ventilator. The sad news was that the family had no money to sponsor his treatment and they were clueless on what to do. Coming to now the situation, BCCI chipped in with help. Meanwhile former cricketers like Sourav Ganguly, Indian coach Ravi Shastri among others promised immediate help. The great thing was Chennai super Kings, the defending IPLchampions, immediately reponsed releasing Rs three lakh for treatment on their behalf.
Amidst such a scenario, India all-rounder Krunal Pandya made an impressive gesture. He gave a blank cheque to the family of Martin asking them to fill any amount nothing less than Rs one lakh. This gesture by Krunal Pandya has won appreciation for him in social media. With help pouring from all sides, one is confident that Jacob Martin will be back safe.


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Dating a tall woman has always been a problem for the average-size individuals. Taller women have sufficient options available to them; because of this they have frequently been lower than open about their affinity for a large man. However , if you choose to avoid dating a tall female, once more… you cut your alternatives back to absolutely nothing! To survive in the dating game is certainly difficult enough, but to stay competitive is even harder. If you’re an average-size gentleman or a tiny short woman who loves to date other shorter women, then you will feel better about yourself when you decide to try internet dating another taller woman.
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If you want to get along with a tall woman, the main thing to do is always to look for a prevalent ground. Large women just like tall guys because they may have more options available. They sometimes are interested in large guys just simply because tall fellas are usually more physically fit, thus assisting them in their internet dating. Remember that large women likewise tend to be on the heavy side, so that you can always work on losing weight in case you are too heavy to become attractive to her.

domain: sociology


McAlpine also looked after the UK interests of the Helio Aircraft Company, the American manufacturer of impressive STOL types such as the H-395 Courier, McAlpine’s own example of which, G-ARLD (c/n 522), is seen here after it had joined the fleet in 1961. It was later destroyed as a result of a ground-based engine fire in 1988.
Cessna 310 G-APTK (c/n 35453) in January 1964, with its stylish colour scheme emphasising the type’s attractive lines. It arrived in the UK from Belgium in 1959, where it had been OO-DST.
Another photograph of Cessna 310 G-APTK in its 1960s scheme. Sadly, this aircraft was destroyed in a fatal accident at Norwich in October 1974, when the starboard flap retracted uncommanded during the landing approach, causing the aircraft’s nose to drop and roll into the ground less than a mile short of the runway.
McAlpine Aviation operated a number of Piaggio P.166s, the first of which was G-APSJ (c/n 354), which was sold in 1963 to Air Charter of Perth, Australia. With its cranked gull-wings and pusher engines, the type was unusual - and popular with its pilots, despite being given the nickname “the Pig”.
McAlpine was the official UK agent for Piaggio aircraft, and the company used several examples of the P.166, including G-APWY (c/n 362), which went to electronics company Marconi in 1967, in whose colours it is seen here. This aircraft survives today and is kept in the Science Museum’s storage hangar at Wroughton, Wilts.


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Eggs-plore auction raises money for local non-profits
By Luke Putvin email@example.com
Over 100 people attended the Eggs-plore auction at City Hall on June 13. Among those in attendance included Mayor Nicola Smith, Council Vice President Christine Frizzell, Councilmember Ruth Ross and City Council Candidates Naz Lashgari, Nick Coelho and Ashkan Amouzegar.
“I want the community to have the sense that art is accessible,” said Councilmember Ross. “Anybody could come tonight, get a piece of original art for a good price and support a great cause.”
Last year, the Human Services Commission helped the Arts Commission decide to give the auction proceeds to the Lynnwood Food Bank and Trinity Lutheran Church’s “Neighbor in Need” program.
This year, the Eggs-plore auction raised $1960, about $100 more than last year. There was a total of 55 bidders at the auction. The Arts Commission will decide which recipient(s) will receive the donations at their next meeting.
“Art is a lot more than making something pretty,” said Elizabeth Lunsford, chair of the Lynnwood Arts Commission. “Art gives us a sense of place and community. The Arts Commission advocates for the value of art. This event also helps bring attention to the various non-profits around Lynnwood; one of my favorites is Clothes for Kids.”
Lynn Sordel, Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts, commended the hard work of all the local artists. He also spoke of the dual-purpose event, not only exposing local art to the community but exposing all of the local human services organizations at which the eggs were placed during the hunt.
Jane, a resident of Lynnwood, attended the auction with her son. “I had received an email saying I won a prize,” she said. “By hunting for these eggs, I learned a lot about the area of Lynnwood and about businesses and organizations I had never heard of.” She went on to say how she has lived in Lynnwood most of her life and spoke about how great of a city it is to raise a family.
“Events like this prove you don’t have to live in Seattle to experience art and culture,” Jane said.

domain: news


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If you’ve been arrested for a DUI, you’re far from alone. According to 2019 FBI estimates, about 1,024,508 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.
Facing DUI charges can be terrifying, but more terrifying is the idea of facing them alone. After all, when is it a good idea to put down money on an attorney, and when should you handle things yourself?
If you’ve been wondering, “Should I get a DUI lawyer?” we’ve got you covered. Here are five reasons you should absolutely hire an attorney as soon as possible.
1. DUI Laws Are Complicated
The legal system, in general, is very complex, and DUI laws can be difficult to understand if you don’t already have a legal background. Trying to teach yourself the ins and outs of legal nuances isn’t a good idea when your future is on the line, which is why it’s best to seek out an expert. An experienced lawyer can help you understand your chances of getting sentenced as well as the best course of action, from pleading not guilty to seeking a plea deal.
It’s also worth noting that there are subtle differences in DUI law from state to state, meaning that you should always hire a DUI lawyer with experience in your specific area.
2. You Can Save Time and Money
After getting a DUI, your first instinct may be not to hire a DUI attorney. After all, legal fees may seem like the last thing you need in this situation!
However, don’t forget to weigh the costs of legal aid against the cost of your time and (potentially) money if your case doesn’t go as you’d hoped. Hiring an expert can save you from both headaches and hefty fines in the long run.
3. You’ll Get a Lighter Sentence
This, of course, is the biggest benefit of working with an expert: with a strong case for your defense, you may see a lighter sentence than you would by working on your case alone. In some cases, your lawyer may even be able to obtain a complete dismissal of your DUI charges.
4. You May Get Your License Back
Depending on the circumstances of your DUI charge, you may be in danger of getting your license revoked or suspended. This, of course, can make your life difficult in the long term, and many people struggle with employment and social opportunities when they can’t get transportation. Fortunately, a DUI attorney can advocate on your behalf, meaning you may keep this source of personal freedom.
5. You’ll Have Peace of Mind
Having a DUI and dealing with it alone can be an incredibly isolating and stressful experience. With a DUI attorney in your corner, you’ll know that your case is being handled by an experienced professional with the expertise to defend you.
Invest in a DUI Lawyer Today
No matter the circumstances surrounding your DUI charge, investing in a DUI lawyer can earn you the strong defense you need in your case. And since partnering with an experienced professional can keep you from making missteps you later regret, it’s always a good idea to reach out to an expert to take your case. If you’ve been charged, contact a lawyer today to see how they can help!
For more of the essential legal tips you need in life, check out our other helpful guides.

domain: law


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This article may contain improper references to user-generated content. (November 2021)
Railways of the World (originally Railroad Tycoon) is a railway-themed board game designed by Martin Wallace and Glenn Drover and published by Eagle Games. It is a simplified version of Wallace's earlier railway-themed game Age of Steam. The game, first released in 2005, was originally named Railroad Tycoon after the video game series of the same name, featuring box art based on the third entry in the video game series. After the license to use the Railroad Tycoon name expired, the board game has been published under its current Railways of the World title since 2009. It takes place in the eastern United States in 1830. Each player takes charge of a pioneering new railway company.
|Setup time||5 minutes|
|Playing time||120 minutes|
The hex-based gaming board depicts the eastern United States, and features cities, open terrain, hills and rivers. Players score victory points by delivering goods between cities, using their own railway links as much as possible. In order to do that, players must build railroad tracks between cities, upgrade locomotives and find the best delivery lines to get the right cargo to the right city.
At the beginning of the game each city is given a number of goods cubes (determined by its size). Each player draws a Tycoon card, which outlines a task they may fulfill by the end of the game to earn additional Victory Points.
Players begin the game without money. Whenever a player is short on cash they may issue a share certificate. These give the player a certain amount of money. Once issued by the player these certificates cannot be returned and at the end of each game turn, the player must pay 20% dividends on any shares he holds. Additionally, each share held by the player counts against his final score at the end of the game.
Each game turn is divided into 3 distinct phases:
- Auction to determine the first player - Players take turns to bid for the right to be the first player in the second phase.
- Player actions - Proceeding clockwise from the winning player from the Auction, players take turns performing 1 action of their choice. This process repeats until each player has performed 3 actions.
- Income and dividends - Players collect income based on how many goods cubes they have delivered and pay dividends on any shares they have issued.
During the player action phase, players may perform one of the following actions:
- Build Track - Place track tiles on the game board to connect two cities.
- Urbanize - Invest money in a small city to allow it to receive goods of a specific type.
- Upgrade Engine - Upgrade their fleet of locomotives, allowing goods to be hauled longer distances.
- Deliver Goods Cube - Transport a goods cube from one city to another earning victory points.
- Draw Railroad Operation Card - Draw a card from the face up pile, conveying some sort of benefit.
- Build Western Link - Establish a link between the eastern and western United States, providing access to additional goods cubes.
End game conditionEdit
The game ends when a number of cities (determined by the number of players) have no more goods cubes left. The winner is the player with the most victory points. In addition to goods cube delivery, victory points be earned by completing specific tasks detailed by action cards or by completing the task outlined on the players tycoon card.
After the English version of Railroad Tycoon went out of print, an international version was briefly made available, utilizing less important game elements from other language versions of the game. Since 2009 a newer edition with some small changes was published by Eagle Games under the name "Railways of the World". This new edition is considered to be an improved version of the game, and has effectively rendered the original Railroad Tycoon obsolete. A 10th Anniversary Edition of Railways of the World was produced in 2018.
Expansion maps produced for the game include Europe, Great Britain, Canada, and Japan.
- "The new reimplementation of Railroad Tycoon and how it compares with the original". (19 May 2010) BoardGameGeek. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- "The 10th Anniversary Edition of My Favourite Train Game". (30 August 2018) BoardGameGeek. Retrieved 31 January 2020.

domain: game


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The River Cottage Cookbook and the later is Tamasin's Kitchen Bible.) I haven’t purchased them yet because every time I go to one-click, a little voice pipes up in my ear whispering, “Another cookbook? You really need another cookbook?” The obvious answer is no, I do not. If (godforbid) my apartment were to catch fire, I could easily grab Deborah Madison’s Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone and The Joy, make a run for it and still live a long happy life at the stove, everyday a new tasty dish. The truth is, I have dozens of cookbooks on my shelves, not to mention a subscription to Gourmet and permission (from my own self) to purchase the occasional Food & Wine or Meatpaper. And when you add the Internet, well, it boggles. So, if cookbooks are merely utilitarian objects ferrying cold hard data in the form of recipes, then no, I don’t need another one. But for me they’re also a source of pleasure and harmless distraction, objects of beauty and inspiration and identity. They allow me to connect to history and culture (both my own and others) in a very immediate, tangible way.
When I page through Samantha Cook’s Moro books, for example, I’m immersed in the flavors and culture of Spain and for a brief moment this sense of belonging knits me to the people and history of that country. This is good. It’s good for me (and the friends I cook for) and it’s good for the planet in that it makes evident both our communally held imperative to fill the belly and the many interesting, different ways we go about doing just that. It’s also true that I can read a cookbook like a novel (Nigel Slater, Patience Gray) and that I have cookbook crushes (a very special one with Suzanne Goin’s Sunday Suppers at Lucques has been going on for over a year now.) There are even cookbooks in my collection that I haven't actually used but that I’ll never give away because their presence on the shelf still inspires, reminding me of possibilities not yet discovered.

domain: artistic


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Total # of Words: 396
Let Your Kids Develop Their Talents in Cooking at Culinary Arts Camp
Not every one is blessed with a talent in cooking department. In fact, most people would prefer to eat than prepare the food they'll eat. Those who are fascinated in the art of cooking, including the preparation and presentation, are most likely to study in culinary arts school. Some may settle to cookbooks on their cooking. However, for teens who want to learn more of culinary arts, there is a place for them. Since culinary arts schools have age requirements in accepting applicants to study in their institutions. Culinary arts camps are designed only for young teens to experience culinary.
If your child has a passion in culinary or shows interests in them and wishes to learn more or improve skills in cooking, your child should participate in culinary arts camp. Mostly, culinary arts camps are offered to teens with passion for cooking and want to do something more out of it than just loving it. No matter how much one likes culinary, but with no desire to improve skills, it's ineffective to attend culinary arts camp.
There's no better way to develop talent than starting early as soon as one feels an interest in culinary. At culinary arts camp, they focus on young teens. There is a lot of things to learn in Culinary Arts, like skill and hands-on experience in preparing culinary delights. This is exciting knowing that you will be among a crowd or individuals who share the same interests you do within your age level. Imagine spending a week in culinary arts camp having fun while learning the different ways of preparing and presenting food.
Basically, at culinary arts camp, you will learn the secrets of cooking and receive valuable insights into culinary arts. Some of the activities in which you will be a part of include orientation to equipment use, baking through good techniques, principles of sauces, preparation in cooking and banquet layout and display. After spending a week at culinary arts camp, you can go home and impress your family and friends with your newly found skills that will stimulate anyone's appetite and delight the eyes of those who get the chance to see your art of cooking.
During your stay at the culinary arts camp, you will enjoy the dishes you have prepared in your daily sessions.
Visit Our HomePage

domain: hobby


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Sports News of Monday, 17 December 2018
Nigeria has won the team events in both the male and female U-19 category of the ongoing 2018 Africa Badminton Schools Championship in Ghana.
South Africa, who are only competing in the female category, could not much the strength of the Nigerians as they lost all three final games to Nigeria.
In the men’s event, the story was not different, as the Nigerians brushed aside Cote D’Voire, Niger and Benin to win the men’s U-19 category.
Ghana only managed the third position in the men’s competition, whilst female team, which was introduced to the sports, six months ago, failed to make an impact.
The 2018 championship, which is currently being hosted at the Team International School, has eight countries vying for the sole slot to represent Africa in both team and individual events at the World Badminton Schools Championship next year.
Mr. Yeboah Evans, President of the Ghana Badminton Association (GBA), praised the coaches and players of the schools representing Ghana in the tournament, for their hard work, with just six months of introduction to the sport, in some schools representing Ghana in the tournament.
Mr Simon Mugabi, Vice President and the Chairman of Events Committee for the Badminton Confederation of Africa, praised Ghana for her continues effort in hosting major Badminton competition as he recounts the Ghana International Badminton championship, which brought ninety players from over twenty countries across the world to Ghana.
The week long tournament, which started from December 13, would end on December 20.

domain: sports


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If you are in need of an efficient and reliable Churro Makers, you have come to the right place. Here, we understand the hustle, stress, and time used reading through hundreds of reviews. We have included a comprehensive guide below to give you a clear understanding of the steps involved when choosing the best Churro Makers available in the market. We have also listed the top 10 Churro Makers.
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- Empanada Maker- Use your own favorite fillings to make 2 large empanadas in minutes
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2 items from 2015
Idw Publishing has announced that it is set to hit the sun-bleached streets of L.A. this summer with a comic book adaption of James Sallis’ modern noir classic Drive, which served as the inspiration for director Nicholas Winding Refn’s acclaimed film starring Ryan Gosling. The four part comic book series will be adapted by writer Michael Benedetto and artist Antonio Fuso; here’s the official description:
Drive follows a young man who escapes to L.A. to do one thing, drive. That’s all he does, and he’s the best. Whether on studio lots as a stunt driver or in high-speed chases evading the cops, there’s no one better behind the wheel. That kind of expertise comes with a hefty price tag and allows for a strict set of principles: “I don’t sit in while you’re planning the score or while you’re running it down… »
- Gary Collinson
Idw Publishing has announced a Drive comic at WonderCon 2015.
The publisher teased the comic based on James Sallis's novel at the Anaheim, California event (via Cbr).
Idw assistant editor Michael Benedetto will write the series with art by Antonio Fuso.
The publisher is yet to announce any more details about the project.
2005's Drive centres around a stunt driver who drives getaway cars for criminals by night.
2 items from 2015
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text:
The finalists have been unveiled for this year’s Electronics Industry Awards.
The Electronics Industry Awards, organised by Components in Electronics (CIE) publisher Datateam Business Media, celebrate the very best professionals, products, projects and companies from across the electronics sector.
This year saw more entries and nominations submitted than ever before. The standard has also been exceptionally high and the organiser’s are thrilled to see new innovators and emerging technologies being included in the list, as well as industry giants showcasing their solutions for a wide range of applications.
There are three different types of awards up for grabs – Product, Business and Individual Awards.
Following on from the success of previous judging panels, the organiser’s decided to include contributory scores from an extended group of industry insiders to help decide the Product and Individual Awards. Their results have been combined with an online industry vote but the Business Awards choice remains solely in the hands of the public.
To find out who has made the shortlist please visit: Finalists | The Electronics Industry Awards


text:
On November 9, 2015, Kathleen Wynne’s government announced that $498-million would go towards:
- 30 new schools
- 26 major additions and renovations
- 122 safe, high-quality licensed child care rooms, resulting in 2,135 new licensed spaces for infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers.
In the 2014 budget, the provincial government committed $11-billion in capital grants to school boards over 10 years. This $498-million investment is a part of that $11-billion commitment and is certainly great news for the communities who will benefit.
However, with $15-billion of disrepair in Ontario’s public schools, this recent announcement is really just a drop in a very large bucket. With this level of investment, the disrepair in our children’s schools will continue to worsen and the urgency of repair items will increase.
The Province must commit to ensuring that public schools benefit from the promised new federal infrastructure funding. If you agree, send this letter to Premier Wynne and your local MPP.

domain: economics


text:
Skip to content
by Shambala Farm » July 13th, 2012, 5:54 pm
Fresh Camano Island-made sprouted sourdough wheat bread from Wild Patch!
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domain: agronomy


text:
The Garden Diary 2008
September (part 1)
2 September - The first two days of the month have had a decidedly autumnal feel to them. Yesterday it was bright and sunny, but not particularly warm at around 16C. Today started off wet. It brightened up by the afternoon but a stiff breeze made it feel quite chilly at times. I resorted to socks and a warm top when I spent time out the garden!
This morning I was sorting something out under the caravan shelter when I noticed what looked like dust fall from one of our bee-hotel logs. It seemed that something was busy extending a hole in the log.
The left-hand image shows the wood chips that were pushed out at around 11.30am. I set up a tripod for the camera and settled down to photograph the inhabitant. After an hour and a half, and without a glimpse of the insect I had to give up as we needed to go out for a while.
When I was able to resume the vigil at around 5pm it was obvious that work in the hole was continuing, only now the wood chips were darker and much smaller. The right-hand, blurred image was the nearest I got to photographing the insect responsible. I caught sight of another, all black insect entering a hole lower down on the log - I wonder if they are the same species?
I've left the tripod in place to try again tomorrow morning.
Perhaps it was coincidence, or maybe the activity in the holes attracted this ichneumon fly which moved around the log, waving its antennae with particular enthusiasm each time it came across a hole.
It stayed around for quite a while, although it didn't find anywhere suitable to insert its long ovipositor.
My attempts to identify it haven't been successful tonight.
While I was waiting for the wasp(?) to appear, it was interesting to see how the ratio of bumblebees visiting the garden seems to be changing. Today I saw just one Garden Bumblebee, as opposed to several dozen Carder Bees.
There seemed to be very few hoverflies. There were more about during yesterday's sunshine, and there were quite a few visits by this female Volucella zonaria (Belted Hoverfly).
While most of its visits were to the mint flower heads, this was the only time I saw it visit a Cosmos bloom. To give an idea of its size, the centre of the flower measures about 13mm across.
Tonight While the Cosmos flowers are popular with bees and hoverflies during the day, tonight has been the first time that I've seen a moth on one - I have just found what I thought was a Common Quaker (Orthosia cerasi) taking nectar on one. However, Tim Norriss has let me know that it is in fact a Vines Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) - the Common Quaker usually has only one generation in March-May.
Here you can see how it probes down inside the ring of tiny petals that surround each floret.
Turning to the bird in the garden - over the last few weeks things have been very quiet. We have only a small flock of House Sparrows at the moment, and Blackbirds are only occasional visitors. One day last week there were two Dunnocks under the Hawthorn for a short time but I haven't seen them since. Before our holiday there were two juvenile Robins making frequent visits. Now I just see a single Robin in adult plumage. While I was watching the bee hotel this morning I saw a House Martin, and possibly a second one flying over, so I guess there has been a late brood somewhere in the local area.
This afternoon there must have been at least twenty Goldfinches around the feeders and the Hawthorn. Not only are the sunflowers being consumed rapidly but they have also started on the Thistle seeds again having ignored them through the summer. While Sheila and I had a meal outside, one Goldfinch juvenile decided that the feeders were too much like hard work and spent more than five minutes feeding on the ground, along with the Robin and some Sparrows!
While the Blue and Great Tits usually feed at either the bird table or the Sunflower feeders, this afternoon I watched a Blue Tit picking seeds out of Nipplewort (Lapsana communis) seed heads. It seemed to have quite a tough time pecking the seeds open but kept going back for more, so it must have decided they were worth the effort!
9 September - Over the last week the thought of an 'Indian Summer' has retreated way into the realms of wishful thinking as the skies have remained largely grey, with the promise of rain never far away. For me it hasn't helped as I continue to combat my constant weariness. Today I'm been using a daylight lamp next to my computer - I'm beginning to think that I shouldn't have put it away for the summer this year!
Yesterday the forecast promised some sunshine. It failed to materialise but at least it remained dry and a breeze made it the first good drying day for a week or more! Today started dry, but it didn't last, becoming wet in the afternoon. However, after not taking any photographs for a week I've managed to make up for lost time over these last two days.
The weather has not been kind to the garden. Heavy rain showers have tended to cause some plants to flop over. That, along with me not doing any trimming at the moment means that it is looking a bit straggly.
There are clear signs of Autumn around the garden. The Hawthorn berries are now bright red and next to it the Elder has its dark purple berries, although many of these have already disappeared. The Rowan has several small bunches of berries for the first time, and its leaves are starting to change colour.
The Burberris bush has lots of berries, but the Pyracantha near the house has just a handful of orange berries despite having lots of flowers in the Spring.
The Ivy tree has flower buds now. However, after the drastic trimming that I gave it I don't expect many berries on it in the new year.
Fungi are only just making themselves visible in the garden this Autumn, and these small fruiting bodies are the largest to appear so far, tucked into the base of a clump of rushes (Hard Rush - Juncus inflexus, I believe).
Some of the leaves on the Birch are starting so show signs of mildew development, which should be good news for the Orange Ladybirds, although besides the larvae that I reported on at the end of August I have seen only one or two this last week, with just two pupae seen, and no adults.
The ends of some of the branches on the Birch have over-wintering catkins on them and last night I found that a couple of them were the roosts for these Mirid bugs. Despite the variation in colour, I think that they are the same species, although I have yet to identify them - thanks to Philippe Moniotte for suggesting that the species is Pantilius tunicatus, a bug found not only on Birch but also Alder and Hazel.
Tonight I found eight of them in exactly the same circumstances.
I think that it may be an Ant Damsel Bug (Himacerus mirmicoides). Even if that ID is incorrect it is a first for the garden.
There was no sign of it on the Cosmos tonight.
There are far fewer hoverflies about at the moment, and over the last two days, the only ones that I've seen visiting repeatedly have been Syrphus ribesii (seen more yesterday that over the previous couple of weeks),
and this one that I'm having trouble identifying tonight. This species seems only interested in the Water Mint. Thanks again to Philippe who suggests that it is probably Syritta pipiens.
Despite the miserable weather the Common Carder and Garden Bumblebees continue to visit.
However, even they can be caught out by the weather. I found this Carder Bee stretched out on the Cosmos flower this morning. The flower was facing east and I assume that it was trying to absorb a bit of solar energy. Despite the cloud it must have been somewhat successful as eventually it started moving about before feeding and flying away.
The solitary bees also found it necessary to stop for long periods. Like the Carder Bee, this little bee spent over two hours on a petal.
You can see that the pollen brush under its abdomen is almost clear of pollen grains. This individual also had only one antenna.
Later, I found what I assume to be the same bee feeding on the same flower. I'm certain that it is Heriades truncorum (sometimes refered to as the Daisy Carpenter Bee). The species has been far less active this year, perhaps reflecting another poor year for the Ragworts.
On another Cosmos flower was another solitary bee which remained stationary for even longer.
Its longer antennae, lack of pollen comb and different abdominal details suggest that it is a different species.
While those bees spent just a part of the day 'doing nothing' on a flower, this bee spent all of last night on a flower.
Completely torpid when I took this picture at just before 10pm. It was still in this state at 9am this morning but had flown by 10am.
I photographed two other examples of solitary bee yesterday. This first one has quite distinctive red markings on its abdomen.
It could be Lasioglossum calceatum (Slender Mining Bee), although I'm confused as to whether it would the the male or the female. It seems that the amount of red varies between the sexes, but I haven't been able to decide which sex this one is
The second one, which I only see visiting the Water Mint, is very similar but lacks the bold red banding - could I have been looking at the male and female of the same species?
As long as the bees and hoverflies keep on visiting, the crab spiders are still hopeful for a meal. However, this individual remained on the same Cosmos flower even as it withered away, not moving to another bloom until the shrivelled petals were falling off.
While trying to photograph that last bee (it was moving about too quickly!) I managed to grab a couple of pictures of this small ichneumon fly as it hunted around flower buds. Was it searching for moth eggs?
And finally, just one moth. I'm afraid that I haven't been watching out for moths over the last week, but I had to take notice of this one when it appeared in the house.
While its head has a bright orange 'plumage', its wings have an impressive metallic sheen and it wasn't a surprise to identify it as a Burnished Brass (Diachrysia chrysitis). While it is a common moth, it is another first for me.
10 September - A mixed sort of a day. It started off quite bright but turned wet for a while, improving again in the late afternoon.
I didn't spend much time with the camera today, although I did get another chance to photograph the hoverfly with thin orange bands on its abdomen that I recorded yesterday (L. calceatum).
This time I had just enough time to get this one shot of it as it prepared to leave a Cosmos flower.
There was very little activity around the few Water Mint flowers still open, and I had to look below a flower head to spot this rove beetle (similar to a Devil's Coach-horse).
12 September - A grey start to the day, but I'm hoping that it will stay dry so that I can complete a task I started yesterday.
With dry weather promised (and delivered!), I spent much of yesterday dismantling a 'temporary' wood store that I put up on the West Wing last year so that I can replace it with a more permanent structure. I completed most of the framework by the end of the day, and the roof should be on by this evening.
Doing that work meant that I didn't take any photographs during the day, but I did record another example of a solitary bee spending last night on a Cosmos flower (photographs taken at 10pm).
This time it was a L. calceatum.
At 10am this morning it was still there, now tucked up against the centre of the flower and covered with dew, a drop of water combining with the ringflash to give the impression of a large, simple eye.
By 10.45am, while it wasn't sunny a breeze was well on the way to drying the bee and it was starting to become more active. This close-up taken then shows the eye clear of water droplets,
and a close look at the front leg reveals a spur on the tibia.
The Cosmos plants are starting to look a bit sorry for themselves now - I guess that their season is coming to an end.
While I was at work yesterday the garden was visited twice by a Sparrowhawk which caused chaos amongst the birds that were here. There were Sparrows diving into any small space they could find and a Collared Dove left a dusty impression on our patio window. I found that bird looking as though it might have broken its wing. However, I decided to leave it along for a while and sure enough after some twenty minutes or so it flew off again, hopefully fully recovered.
An update at 3.30pm - I've been forced indoors by an unexpected thunderstorm, complete with hail, and with the skies a dark grey all around us I may call a halt to the work out in the garden. The roof panels are cut to size, and I'd just put them in place to start fixing them when the rain started. At least it gave me a chance to stand underneath and think about how to utilise the water that runs off it. There isn't room for another water butt, so I'll be using guttering to direct the water towards the line of bamboos at the side of the West Wing.
14 September - After a dry and bright day yesterday, it looks as though we are in for another one today.
And it will be a day of rest after I more or less completed the log store yesterday. There are a few bits and pieces to be fiddled with, but it's ready for use, and in the meantime we can still use it as a place to sit and watch the garden.
The original, and much smaller log store is just visible at the left of the photograph.
I did that for a short while in the afternoon while clearing up and saw a puzzling bit of behaviour. Some Long-tailed Tits arrived in the garden (I could hear them more than see them). Then, all of a sudden, one of them flies into the Birch, being chased by a Collared Dove. There was no doubt about the chase as they moved in a loop between the lower branches of the tree. Why on earth would a Collared Dove want to chase a Long-tailed Tit?
Talking of Collared Doves, yesterday, one spent much of the day down on the ground in the garden. Although it seemed to be ok, moving freely, stretching its wings and feeding, I'm wondering if it is the bird that flew into the window. There was no sign of it at the end of the day, and I cannot see it this morning, so I assume that eventually it did fly away. There was no sign of the Sparrowhawk during the day.
I've largely ignored the pond this year, but it's not possible to ignore the frogs. Either they appear as you move a stone, log or flower pot, or you hear their croaking from all corners of the garden. That certainly was the case as I worked on the log store these last few days.
However, while the frogs let you know of their presence, the newts, whilst also active in the garden, remain silent and secretive, and about the only time you get to spot them is when their hunting takes them up into the foliage.
This individual was photographed at around 10pm last night on the slope up to the West Wing as it moved very slowly between leaves.
As usual, there were also were a couple of hedgehogs hunting here last night, one was a large adult and the other, less than half its size. They do not react well to being disturbed, so I rarely take photographs of them at night.
I know that I was 'distracted' by the log store yesterday, but I don't think there were many bumblebees about, despite the brighter conditions.
15 September - The summer weather continues! The morning was spent 'on the road' and then this afternoon I spent a couple of hours on the first stage of an experiment that will continue once we start using our wood burning stove this winter. We have decided to find out whether it will be worth making our own paper/card 'briquettes' to supplement the wood that we burn. over the last couple of weeks we have started turning newspapers and packaging into papier-mâché and using a metal press to turn them into briquettes. So far, so good - all we need now is for this good drying weather to continue!
Making the briquettes this afternoon was a slow process, not because it was difficult, but because I'm somewhat shattered by the log store construction (my tree surgeon son came for a meal yesterday afternoon and brought some oak logs to start filling it!). During one of my frequent pauses I was thankful to a spider web for distracting me. It wasn't the web itself that caught my eye, but the fine, and fresh 'sawdust' that covered it. The web was directly below the log where I had tried, unsuccessfully to photograph a solitary wasp back on the 2nd (top of this page).
It was soon very clear that there were three wasps active in the afternoon sunshine, so I washed away the papier-mâché from my hands, set up my camera and kept my fingers crossed - which I didn't need to do for long as a wasp emerged form a hole which measures about 7mm across. I estimate that the wasp is almost 12mm long.
For this wasp the digging phase was complete, and over the next hour I watched as it made sorties to collect aphids. During that time I saw it return ten times, although some of the time was spent with it resting just inside the entrance, usually when the sun had disappeared behind a cloud.
In photographic situations like this I have to try to predict how the insect will approach (or leave) the burrow and preset the focusing - the depth of field is so shallow, and the insect moves so fast that auto focus is useless. It can work well if the insect uses the same route each time, but in this case the wasp wasn't particularly obliging and many shots were completely out of focus.
However, It's always worth keeping those shots just in case there is something useful somewhere in the frame, and that was the case with this next picture.
While the body of the wasp, and the aphid are hopelessly blurred, I had caught the wasp just before it folded its wings, and the wing venation enabled me to decide that the species is Pemphredon lugubris. It is also known as the Mournful Wasp because of its all-black colour.
I read that it uses small beetle holes in dead wood that has lost its bark. When it has finished supplying a supply of paralysed aphids, it will lay an egg and then cap the hole with mud - perhaps tomorrow.
While I sat watching the wasps I was treated to a close encounter with a Speckled Wood which landed on the side of the log and spread its wings flat to soak up some sunshine.
I couldn't photograph it then, but I had captured this picture of the same individual earlier in the day as it sunbathed on a bamboo leaf.
Turning back to wasps, over the last few days I've started seeing social wasps hunting in the garden, after being largely absent throughout the summer.
17 September - A fairly bright day with periods of hazy sunshine - an improvement on yesterday when we had grey skies apart for a minute or two of sunshine around breakfast time. There hasn't been any rain over these two days.
Just a couple of items for this entry. Back on the 9th I mentioned the appearance of just a couple of small fungi. Over the last couple of days two of our decaying logs have yielded much larger gilled fungi (neither of which I'm going to attempt to identify tonight).
This first picture shows three fruiting bodies on a log at the bottom end of the garden. Two of the bodies have completely emerged from the decaying wood,
while the third has opened up while still half embedded.
The caps have a slightly hairy appearance.
The second fungus is growing in and in the ground around the base of a log near the house. As you can see, unlike the first fungus it has produced a large number of fruiting bodies.
There is now going to be another one of those gaps in my diary - hopefully to be filled soon!
Click on images to see larger versions

domain: biology


text:
The poetry group I help co-organize, Living Poetry, just celebrated its 8th anniversary this month. With more than 700 members, you can imagine I meet a number of interesting people. Last year I met a new member who had just relocated to North Carolina from New Jersey. (Like me, she moved south on purpose and didn’t know anyone when she arrived! She explains more below.) Jane Seitel quickly became a regular at our group events. I love hearing about her life, including a few stints at the illustrious Bread Loaf Writers Conference, an MFA in poetry, and launching and running a non-profit press. Jane founded QuillsEdge Press, a chapbook press for women poets over 50. The press started in 2015 and runs a highly selective contest to publish two books annually: One selected by a guest judge and one selected by the editor. One of the unique features of this press is the collective nature in representing the voices of writers: Each chapbook contains a poem from the Top 10 finalists in the contest. This year the press is doing something a bit different by publishing an anthology. What amazes me about Jane is that she only started writing poetry about a decade ago. Two years after she started writing poetry she was accepted in Drew University’s MFA program, and she’s been lighting up the world with poetry and related endeavors since then. In between running the press, the madness of the holidays, helping her son plan his wedding, and hosting family at her home here in the Raleigh area of North Carolina, Jane made time to answer my questions below and even squeezed in time to stop by the Living Poetry anniversary party earlier this month. I hope you will be as inspired by Jane as I am.
200 Words With Poet and Publisher
Jane Seitel of QuillsEdge Press
Write Naked: How many manuscripts do you review annually for QuillsEdge Press submissions? Had you ever been involved with publishing before? If so, in what way(s)?
Jane Seitel: The first year  we received 150 manuscripts for a contest judged by Barbara Crooker. In 2016, we received more than 200 manuscripts, which is a good amount since we did limited advertising. We do not look at what our writers have published and read as blind as we can. This way, both new and more established poets have a more level playing field. For the first contest, I read all of the manuscripts [before the board and judge made selections]. Starting a press was a bootstrap enterprise, and there has been quite a learning curve. I had done editing, and bookbinding, however the whole process of getting a book to press was new to me. Luckily, I had excellent resources and friends who generously shared their knowledge. Still, it was and is an ongoing challenge. This year, with a more savvy Executive Editor on board (Ann Davenport) I feel we really got a leg up.
WN: If someone came to you today and told you they were going to launch their own press, what advice would you give them?
JS: Many presses fail. It is hard to sustain them, to get people to contribute and do the work. There is a scenario also for burnout if the work is not spread out. In our case there are challenges because the economy for older people now is tight and there is so much need in the world at present that to donate to a press may be lower on the totem pole. Originally, I put up the start-up money. I did so gladly, because this had turned into a mission for me. To succeed, however, you must develop a plan with forward vision. You need to focus on those moments of satisfaction between the frustrations. The potential and creativity of women and my work as an expressive therapist propelled me to start the press, to create a safe space for women to share their most intimate expressions. And every time I read a manuscript, this awe allows me to do the rest.
WN: You’ve been in North Carolina for one year – were you expecting to find a thriving poetry community here?
JS: I knew no one when I moved here. I moved here because I did my homework and knew of the poetry community, and it has proven to be an energetic and dynamic one. And I am experiencing, here in the South, new expressions which I delight in, and the famous southern hospitality and poetic kinship.
WN: You’ve been to Bread Loaf a few times. How many times have you been and how can writers benefit the most from it?
JS: I have been to Bread Loaf three times as well as smaller conferences and courses. My favorite was with Jean Valentine at the 92nd Street Y in NYC. At Bread Loaf, which draws a mix of ages and diversity of genre writers (fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry) it is a good time to interact and hear what is going on in the other worlds of creative writing. I have been to Bread Loaf in Vermont and in Sicily, which is in a breathtaking place with a more laid-back tempo and small group atmosphere. One thing about this conference is the magnitude of the teachers and many of the students. Many of the younger writers use it to network and screen publishers since many notable ones are present. Among the older writers, it is a great time to experience fine readings, lectures and to talk poetry over some fine food. It was, for me, an experience or three of a lifetime.
WN: What profession would you not like to do?
JS: Not that I don’t love honey, but I could never be an apiarist because a bee sting could see me to my next incarnation—not that that wouldn’t be, perhaps, interesting. And, being a Gemini, the other thing I could not possibly be is a dog catcher since undoubtedly all those strays would wind up in my living room.
WN: Funny enough – I’m enrolled in beekeeping school right now!
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domain: literature


text:
by MATTHEW NASH
Aspiring comic book artist Per Berg, 25, created a different man of steel over the past six months in Carlsborg.
Dave Brasher, owner of High Energy Metals, commissioned Berg to plan and piece together an intricate metal man for a display at the custom parts shop.
Berg hosts a party there on March 10 (see box) as an informal gathering to share his efforts.
Brasher said he’s been thinking about a project like this for a long time and figured Berg would be a good fit.
“It turned out pretty much as I hoped,” Berg said.
Brasher suggested a few ideas and phrases and they agreed upon the topic of exploding things together, similar to what the business does with explosive welding by forcing dissimilar metals into a bonded joint to make specialty parts.
Berg, a sculpture, writing and comic book art graduate from Evergreen College, created pages of sketches for Brasher to approve, for example, a man with an anvil head hitting his own head.
At one point, Berg sketch-ed a friend’s back because he wasn’t too familiar with back anatomy. They narrowed the sculpture to three ideas using clay models and another out of paper and straw as prototypes.
Berg worked on the metal man in the business’ off hours along with a few commissioned art pieces in his free time.
Construction involved a lot of piecework, including a wire framework. He marked individual pieces so that he’d know where each one would go in the end.
In the week leading up to the unveiling, Berg plans to finish the final piece that the metal man appears to strike.
Brasher said some of the final sculpture’s parts were created using explosives from the business’ bonding operations. He described a final piece of Berg’s sculpture as an abstract exploding sun.
Once finished, the metal man will weigh upwards of 300 pounds and be welded into an even heavier base for support.
Brasher said he’s not sure where the metal man will go. It might serve as a sign, but the business hasn’t had a sign in 10 years, he said.
After the unveiling, Berg said he’ll go back to drawing comics, working on a commission and possibly take up a seasonal job soon. He recently lived in Austin, Texas, for a year to connect with some comic book writers. In his free time, he works on various comic projects.
Berg is a 2005 Sequim High School graduate. His parents are Brian, a teacher at Sequim High School, and Trina, owner of Fiddleheads in Port Angeles.
Berg isn’t sure he’ll do a similar project again because of the expense and time involved, but he is considering graduate school in sculpture and might use the metal man for his portfolio.
Contact High Energy Metals at 683-6390.
Reach Matthew Nash at email@example.com.


27 passenger trains cancelled due to closure of Yamuna bridge
Meanwhile, due to less availability of shelter homes, families that are residing near the old Yamuna Bridge in the national capital are allegedly forced to stay on roads as they were evacuated from their homes due to high water levels in the river
The Indian Railways on Monday announced that the old Yamuna Bridge also known as the 'Loha Pul' has been temporarily closed for rail traffic as the water level reached around 205.53-meter mark. The decision has been taken as a precautionary measure after the river crossed the danger mark. Due to the closure of the Yamuna Bridge, at least 27 passenger trains have been cancelled while seven have been diverted.
At 12.20 a.m., the old Yamuna Bridge (Loha Pul) was temporarily closed for rail traffic as the water level has reached 205.53-meter mark," a Northern Railway official told IANS
Meanwhile, due to less availability of shelter homes, families that are residing near the old Yamuna Bridge in the national capital are allegedly forced to stay on roads as they were evacuated from their homes after the water level of the river crossed the danger mark.
On a related note, the District Magistrate (DM) of East Delhi, K. Mahesh earlier on Sunday ordered the closure of traffic on the old Yamuna Bridge with immediate effect after flooding in river Yamuna crossing water level crossed danger mark.
On Sunday, the water level touched 205.46 metres, reaching beyond the danger mark of 204.83 metres.
With inputs from PTI AND IANS
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
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Lesser known facts about the Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar


WILSON, N.C. (WNCN) — A young man died after his home in Wilson caught fire and burned early Sunday morning, officials say.
The incident happened around 5 a.m. at 2005 Noland Road, according to Wilson Police Sgt. Steven Stroud.
Jamie M. Hill, 25, died as a result of injuries from the blaze, Stroud said in an email.
Hill leaves behind a wife and a 5-year-old boy, who were both out of town at the time of the fire.
“As officers were arriving, Wilson Fire/Rescue Services and Wilson County EMS personnel were providing lifesaving aide to a male victim related to the fire,” Stroud said.
Images from the scene showed heavy flames coming through the roof of the home and reaching dozens of feet into the air.
The Wilson Police Department and Wilson Fire/Rescue Services are actively investigating the incident
“Preliminary investigative results show no foul play and that the incident could be accidental,” Stroud said.


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Altimmune Receives $120.2M Contract for Anthrax Vaccine Candidate
News Aug 02, 2016
Altimmune, Inc. has announced that the Company was awarded a contract valued at up to $120.2 million over five years from the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to fund the clinical development of NasoShield, its first - in - class anthrax vaccine candidate. Under BARDA contract HHSO100201600008C, Altimmune has been awarded $14.3 million under the base contract to fund its Phase 1 trial for NasoShield, and options to receive up to an additional $105.9 million to fund further pre-clinical, clinical and manufacturing development activities.
NasoShield has been supported by BARDA as a development stage medical countermeasure product and is designed to provide rapid, stable protection after on e intranasal administration. In a head-to-head comparison with the existing approved anthrax vaccine in a gold-standard animal model, a single intranasal dose of NasoShield showed complete protection from inhalation anthrax and was non-inferior to multiple doses of the existing approved anthrax vaccine while providing for a more rapid and stable immune response.
Bill Enright, Chief Executive Officer of Altimmune, commented, “We are pleased to receive this continued validation of our RespirVec platform and BARDA’s support as we advance NasoShield into clinical development. Our anthrax vaccine candidate has the potential to provide more rapid, stable and durable protection from a single intranasally administered dose based on preclinical studies. We remain on track to file an IND with the FDA and commence a Phase 1 trial in the second half of 2017.”
The initial award under the BARDA contract will cover the GMP manufacture and the Phase 1 trial. The remainder of the five-year contract is expected to encompass a dose-selection Phase 1b study ; scale-up in manufacturing ; non-clinical studies ; Phase 2 studies for immunogenicity, effectiveness and interactions with antibiotics; regulatory efforts ; and formulation development to improve stability.
Horizon Enters into Partnership with Pirbright Institute to Improve Vaccine YieldsNews
Extends Horizon’s biomanufacturing capabilities into vaccine manufacture. Research supported by a grant from the Canadian International Development Research Centre, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation.READ MORE
Personalized Tumor Vaccine Shows PromiseNews
A new type of cancer vaccine has yielded promising results in an initial clinical trial. The personalized vaccine is made from patients’ own immune cells, which are exposed in the laboratory to the contents of the patients’ tumor cells, and then injected into the patients to initiate a wider immune response.READ MORE
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World Congress on Advanced Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering
Jun 20 - Jun 21, 2018

domain: health


text:
Diving Under The Sea : ARP Axcidora Exploration
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By Zaim Arif bin MD Hamdi
Under the sea! Just recently, batch Axcidora completed their Duke of Edinburgh activity in the skill category of scuba diving, the venue, Perhentian Island off peninsular Malaysia in the Besut district of Terengganu. As it was our first activity going out in a while thanks to the pandemic, everyone was excited to take part in the menu of our scuba journey
On the first day, we started off with only one activity per group as we had only just arrived at the island at around 10 a.m. after a 16-hour long trip from Malacca. After lunch at 12 noon, we set off by 2 p.m. to our respective locations to begin our own ventures.
Although our main goal was scuba diving, we also did a plethora of activities that helped us strengthen our bonds with each other and prepare ourselves for more vigorous trials to come.We were split up into six individual groups and cycled between performance practise, beach volleyball, coral propagation, beach cleanups, kayaking, snorkelling and the main event, scuba diving.
On our last day, we watched the performances of each group which were the fruits of the five days of our efforts and labour during activities. Unfortunately, it rained heavily on that day which resulted in an impromptu stage being made in the dining area which ended up allowing for better views!
Right after the shows from our beloved batchmates, a fireshow was held by some locals on the beach. Pictured is one of the displays of skill by these masters of flame-wielding. After all is said and done, we were on our way back to Malacca and embarked on another 16-hour trip. Exhausted and restless, we slept like babies the moment we arrived in KYS. Truly, this was a trip we won’t forget.


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Last year, Bixby Bridge was backed up going south, all the way back to Palo Colorado. This year, much of Big Sur is still closed, but some people are violating the SIP orders anyway.
Just a reminder: People often confuse Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day. On Memorial Day we honor those who gave their lives in the fight for our country. We honor our dead. Veteran’s Day, we honor the living.
This post is dedicated to all of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation and for us…In memory of all of them, regardless of who they were.


Greenstreets developed GRIPS™ to supplement the work of our team of data analysts. This allows us Greenstreets’ to offer a comprehensive and robust data reporting service.
This sophisticated data management systems enables us to:
- Quickly upload packaging specifications from clients’ ERP/MRP systems
- Apply rules to packaging specifications, linking these to reporting criteria
- Accurately calculate your packaging obligation fees
- Produce compliance reports in required reporting formats
- Provide a clear and accurate audit trail in the event of regulatory audit
- Offer a secure storage repository for client data
The big advantage for clients is that the software can provide much enhanced data analysis, identifying high-cost products, departments, regions or suppliers. It is also used to enhance the data collection process, which can be slow and arduous.
GRIPS can also manage other EPR waste streams such as Electronic Waste (EEE), Waste Batteries and Textiles and additional functionality has recently has added to capture and retain sustainability reporting data such as packaging recyclability and recycled content
Why was GRIPS™ developed?
Managing data correctly is critically important for Greenstreets and a fundamental element in ensuring peace of mind for clients. Having reached the limits of other affordable technology options, a decision was taken to develop a solution specific to the needs of the company and its clients.
This played an important part in differentiating Greenstreets from other service providers as the software was designed specifically for the purpose of capturing and reporting packaging waste. This allowed Greenstreets to deliver value for money for its clients, significantly reducing the time taken to prepare accurate data submissions.


Tube Core Packing
The braid incorporated tube core offers the packing highest flexibility and recovery in dynamic and static applications.
Tube Core packing is produced from 14 mm and above and full elastomer core packing is made from 8 mm cross section and above.
Material variation of external braid and / or elastomeric core material are available on request.
P 5 SKE Flexibel
PTFE fiber packing with mechanical reinforcement, PTFE Impregnation, Run-In Lubricant and elastic EPR Tube Core
A 19 SKV
PTFE-fiber with PTFE Impregnation and elastic Viton Tube Core
S 6 SKV Flexchem
PTFE-fiber with PTFE Impregnation, Run In lubricant and elastic Viton Tube Core
S6 SI SKS Blue
PTFE fibre with Special PTFE Dispersion and FDA conform Run In lubricant impregnated and Silicon Tube Core in food grade quality.
P 619 SKS Blue
Heat conductive ePTFE Yarn, PTFE fiber, Run-In Lubricant and elastic Silicon Tube Core


In her "State of Europe" address in Berlin, the former German defence chief reminded the audience that "soft power" was a way of spreading a nation’s influence through culture, something she said was a "costly" project.
"Soft power alone is now not enough. If we Europeans want to assert ourselves in the world Europe must also learn the language of power".
Von der Leyen said Europe needed to "grow our own muscle where we have long relied on others, for example in security policy."
Secondly, Europe needs to use the force it had for "targeted engagement" where it best served European interests. She cited China as a country where the EU was in a position to influence bilateral trade.
Von der Leyen — a Brussels-born German politician and a mother of seven — was expected to assume office on 1 November, but the start date was pushed back by a month after the European Parliament rejected several of her nominees.


text:
Indigenous Education Strategy - Issue 19
FaFT Family Portraits On Display
A photo exhibition featuring 29 beautiful portraits that capture Yolngu families living in North-East Arnhem Land was on display at the Live DARWIN Hub in Smith St Mall last month.
The project - Gurrutu'mi Mala Wungili - Family on Country Portrait Project – is an initiative of the Yirrkala Families as First Teachers (FaFT) program and showcases the communities pride in country culture and family.
Yirrkala FaFT educator and project coordinator Belinda Moreton worked with Nhulunbuy photographer Leicolhn McKellar to capture the images of families on country.
“During the portrait sessions, stories were told and precious memories were shared,” she said.
“We walked on ground where babies were birthed, where young people fell in love, and where people lived before a mission, a mine and a town came to change life and Country forever.
“We saw tears fall – for people and ways of the past that are now gone, but also tears of pride and love for babies in arms that are the future.”
Yirrkala School Council Chairperson and Senior Yolngu woman Yananymul Mununggurr, said that for her the exhibition was about the strong connection between family and country and the deep love that Yolngu parents have for their children.
“We had to choose a particular place we knew. For my family, it was at Shady Beach because we have connections to Shady Beach; it was my mother’s country,” she said.
“Family coming together on country. I think that’s the story these pictures tell.”
Last updated: 11 September 2018
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Philly was born during the golden era of hip-hop. By the age of four his older brothers had a huge collection of music and all he’d ever hear was hip hop music. The first song he could remember was Naughty by Nature’s ‘Hip Hop Hooray’ – Philly’s destiny was set. He began writing rhymes & rapping in public and soon became a hip hop sensation in his hometown Mildura which sits on Latje Latje country; near the banks of the Mighty Murray River.
“I feel like I’m obligated to use my music to make change for the better and to use my craft to teach. Through music I have always wanted to voice my opinion; weather it be about Aboriginal issues or to bring positive messages for Aboriginal youth, I understand that I have been given an opportunity to inform.”
He won triple j’s Unearthed NIMA Competition in 2014 earning him a performance slot alongside Briggs, Jimblah & The Last Kinection. The following week his debut single We On shot to No.5 on iTunes Hip Hop charts.
He was the winner of the National Indigenous Music Awards ‘New Talent of the Year’ category, he performed a breathtaking rendition of Bob Marley’s Three Little Bird for triple j’s Like a Version, and he released his first E.P – Dreamchaser.
After some time to take stock, breathe and grow, he was signed with Briggs’ all Indigenous record label – Bad Apples Music. Philly has since taken a step back from Bad Apples Music but the young MC is determined to continue to use his voice to make change and inspire young people.