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Fort San Juan
Finding a Lost Spanish Fort (North Carolina’s Real First Colony)
by Dr. David G. Moore, Tar Heel Junior Historian Association, NC Museum of History, Fall 2007; Revised by SLNC Government and Heritage Library, May 2023
Reprinted with permission from the Tar Heel Junior Historian.
Few North Carolinians know the story of the first European settlement in North Carolina. Most people are surprised that it wasn't the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island but a small Spanish fort located in present-day Burke County near Morganton.
Captain Juan Pardo built Fort San Juan in 1567 at the Native town of Joara. American Indian soldiers burned the fort the next year, and its location was forgotten for more than four hundred years. Archaeologists working at what is called the Berry site—the site is named for the property owners—in Burke County believe that they have rediscovered Joara and found remains of buildings that may have been part of the fort. The fascinating story of Fort San Juan reveals the challenges to early European efforts at colonizing what is now the United States. It also shows the tragic effects that these attempts had on American Indians tribes and their people.
In the fifty years after Columbus's arrival in the Caribbean, many Spanish expeditions pushed along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and into the interior of what is now the southeastern United States. Spain hoped to discover a passage to the Pacific Ocean, as well as to exploit the land, the people, and its resources. The Spanish viewed the American Indian people as new subjects to be used and hoped they would lead them to gold and silver. Spanish conquests of Native societies in Mexico and South America had made the royal court very wealthy. However, over five decades, a series of failed attempts at exploration and colonization discovered no gold or silver. And settlement of North America would turn out to be more difficult than imagined.
For example, in 1521 Juan Ponce de Leon was the first to try and settle a colony in North America. Soon after landing on the southwest coast of Florida, his expedition was routed by American Indian tribes. De Leon and his 200 colonists retreated to Cuba. Five years later, Lucas Vasquez de Ayllón made another attempt, with 600 colonists, to establish the first European settlement in North America, probably somewhere along the coasts of South Carolina or Georgia in September 1526. This site, called San Miguel de Gualdape, has never been located. It was abandoned within a few months, after the colonists were unable to get food and began to starve. Internal mutiny and attacks by threatened American Indian tribes also disrupted the colony. Ayllón was among the many that died. Only 150 of those colonists survived to return to the Spanish colony on Santo Domingo.
Hernando de Soto's expedition of 1539 to 1543 was the most ambitious of the efforts— and the greatest failure. De Soto and an army of more than 600 men (with more than two hundred horses) spent four years traveling through much of the Southeast, from Florida to the southern Appalachians in North Carolina and west beyond the Mississippi River. However, the men found no gold or silver. They also abused many American Indian tribes; they often confiscated their food or enslaved their people. As a result, the tribes retaliated against De Soto’s men and attacked them frequently. De Soto died on the banks of the Mississippi, and at the end of the four years, what was left of his army (just over 300 men) retreated down the Mississippi in a makeshift flotilla.
Other attempts at settlement failed too. It was not until 1565 that Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded Saint Augustine on Florida's Atlantic coast. Menéndez planned to colonize all of the territory that the Spanish called La Florida, the land we know as North America. He knew that the French had built a fort nearby at the mouth of the Saint Johns River, in present-day Florida. The Spanish believed that this French presence threatened their plans, so Menéndez attacked and defeated the French there at Fort Caroline. He then sent men north to establish his capital city, Santa Elena, in Port Royal Sound on what is now the South Carolina coast.
Archaeologists working at Santa Elena—on the site of present-day Parris Island—have identified the remains of two forts associated with the town. The first was called Fort San Salvador. Some Spanish soldiers, unhappy with conditions there, mutinied, stole a ship, and returned to Cuba. Less than 40 soldiers remained at Santa Elena, short of food and arms, when Captain Juan Pardo arrived on July 18, 1566, with 250 men. Pardo and his soldiers built the second fort at Santa Elena, Fort San Felipe.
Governor Menéndez himself arrived at Santa Elena in August, and the town formally became the capital of Spain's colony. Supplies were limited at Santa Elena. Menéndez ordered Captain Pardo to take 125 soldiers and build a road to Mexico to help ease supply demands on the town. At this time, although the Spanish had thoroughly mapped the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, they did not understand just how far it was overland from the Atlantic Ocean to Mexico. Based on the reports of the de Soto and Francisco Vásquez de Coronado expeditions, they mistakenly thought that the eastern Appalachians and the western Rockies were parts of the same mountain chain!
Several documents record Pardo's two expeditions. (The first lasted from December 1, 1566, to March 7, 1567, and the second, from September 1, 1567, to March 2, 1568.) These include a short letter written by Pardo himself and a longer account written by the expedition's scribe, Juan de la Bandera. These and other sources tell us that Pardo followed trails created by American Indian tribes north from Santa Elena into North Carolina. Stopping at a succession of American Indian towns, he briefly traded with the chiefs (also identified as “Micos”)—and told them they were now subjects of the king of Spain. The documents usually list what types of items the Spanish gave to the people of the various towns: iron axes, chisels, wedges, or knives, glass beads and ornaments, and cloth. It is unlikely that the Native tribes understood Pardo's mission, or their new status with the Spanish crown. But they seemed to receive Pardo and his men peacefully, for the most part.
Traveling up the Catawba River valley, Pardo reached the town of Joara in early January 1567. This seems to have been the largest and possibly most powerful of the Native towns in North Carolina's western Piedmont. Joara also may have controlled important trading paths from the Piedmont into the mountains. Here, Pardo built his first fort, Fort San Juan, named after himself and because the Spanish arrived there on the Day of San Juan. (He renamed the American Indian town, Cuenca, after his hometown in Spain.) Thus, Pardo established the first European settlement in North Carolina. (We have no evidence that earlier expeditions into the interior built any intentional settlement. They only used American Indian settlements and scavenged from them for short times.)
Seeing the snow-covered Blue Ridge Mountains to the west, Pardo decided to go back to Santa Elena. He planned to return and make his way west (towards Mexico, he thought) in the spring. He left 30 men stationed at Fort San Juan under the leadership of Sergeant Hernando Moyano. Pardo stopped at several American Indian towns on his way to Santa Elena. The Spanish documents tell us that over the next few months, the Joara Mico and Moyano fought a series of campaigns in upper Appalachia against various other tribes that may have been enemies of the Joara. The motivations for the campaigns are unclear. They attacked tribes and villages identified as “Chisca,” “Maniatique” and “Guapere.” Maniatique was located near present-day Saltville, Virginia. Guapere was likely located in present-day east Tennessee. Moyano, the Joara Mico, and the soldiers remained in East Tennessee after Guapere. They arrived at the town of Chiaha and soon the company departed for the next tribe’s town. At the Olamico tribe's town, Moyano’s team built a fort and waited for Pardo to return. The aggressive behavior of Moyano and his team angered the area’s American Indian tribes. Spanish accounts document that the Native people surrounded Moyano and his group, “put them under siege,” and held them hostage until Pardo returned in the spring to save them.
Pardo then decided that the original plan to establish a road to the west was too hazardous and retreated to Fort San Juan. Again, we learn interesting tidbits about the American Indians from the Spanish documents. According to Bandera's account, Pardo met with more than twenty-four chiefs (probably representing as many towns) at Joara, and Joara Mico was the most powerful. The chiefs' names also reflect different American Indian languages. Based on phonology, or word sounds, the chiefs named Tocae, Atuqui, and Guanbuca were probably Cherokee speakers, for example. Guenpuret and Qunaha may have been Catawban.
Pardo went back to Santa Elena in March 1568. He left a total of 120 men stationed in five small forts (one in east Tennessee, two more in North Carolina, and two in South Carolina). Pardo never returned to his settlements. Spanish sources indicate that American Indian tribes and their soldiers destroyed the forts by May 1568. A single survivor, Juan de Badejoz, described American Indian soldiers luring the Spaniards from Fort San Juan and killing all except himself. He hid in the woods and spent thirty days walking to Santa Elena, hiding by daylight and moving in darkness. Badajoz was likely spared during the attack(s) because his wife, Teresa Martin, was a American Indian woman who could have negotiated his safety.
The reason for the attacks on the Spanish forts is not known. Historians allege that Spanish aggression and disregard for American Indian human rights were likely the causes. Spanish soldiers routinely looted American Indian towns for food. They also routinely took Native women from their villages. They imprisoned, enslaved, or married them. These behaviors likely caused the American Indian tribes to attack and destroy Spanish forts. The failure of the forts struck yet another blow to Spanish attempts to settle the greater Southeast. They made no further efforts to move into the interior. And facing poor resources and retaliating AmericanIndian tribes, the Spanish even took apart Santa Elena and moved their capital to Saint Augustine in 1587.
None of Pardo's forts had ever been located until recently. Now archaeologists from Warren Wilson College near Asheville, the University of Oklahoma, and Tulane University are studying the Berry site for clues to the fate of Fort San Juan. These researchers hope to find out more about how the Spanish soldiers interacted with their American Indian hosts. What is clear so far is that the arrival of the Spanish armies in the Catawba River valley changed the region’s American Indian cultures forever. It is thought that many of the Native people living in this region died from European diseases such as smallpox between 1568 and 1700. What had been a heavily populated valley was mostly abandoned, until new immigrants from the northern colonies began moving into the area in the late 1700s.
Beck, Robin A. “From Joara To Chiaha: Spanish Exploration Of The Appalachian Summit Area, 1540-1568.” Southeastern Archaeology 16, no. 2 (1997): 162–69. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40713105.
“Joara and Fort San Juan: A Summarized Look at the Juan Pardo Expeditions.” Swannanoa Valley Museum & History Center. Black Mountain, N.C. Accessed May 10, 2023 at https://www.history.swannanoavalleymuseum.org/joara/.
Rodning, Christopher B. David G. Moore. Robin A. Beck. Abra Johgart. “Fort San Juan (Burke County).” Ancient North Carolinians: A Virtual Museum of North Carolina Archaeology. Chapel Hill, N.C.: Research Laboratories of Archaeology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Accessed May 10, 2023 at https://ancientnc.web.unc.edu/colonial-heritage/by-time/early-colonial-period/fort-san-juan-burke-county/.
“The Berry Site. Exploring Joara Foundation. Accessed May 10, 2023 at https://exploringjoara.org/the-berry-site/.
“Unearthing Our Forgotten Past.” The History Museum of Burke County. Accessed May 10, 2023 at https://www.thehistorymuseumofburke.org/unearthing-our-forgotten-past.
De Soto Expedition. NCpedia. Accessed May 10, 2023 at https://www.ncpedia.org/de-soto-expedition.
Resources in libraries via WorldCat
"Helmet worn by Spanish explorers." NC Department of Cultural Resources. Accessed May 11, 2023 at https://www.ncdcr.gov/blog/2016/12/01/spanish-explore-interior.
Hernando de Soto (1791). Library of Congress and Claude Pepper. Photograph. Accessed May 11, 2023 at https://www.loc.gov/item/2004671914/.
1 January 2007 | Moore, David G.

domain: history


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In the study, people who took an eight-week class in mindfulness meditation training reduced their fatigue and depression and improved overall quality of life compared to people with MS who received only usual medical care. The positive effects continued for at least six months.
“People with MS must often confront special challenges of life related to profession, financial security, recreational and social activities, and personal relationships, not to mention the direct fears associated with current or future physical symptoms and disability. Fatigue, depression and anxiety are also common consequences of having MS.” said study author Paul Grossman, PhD, of the University of Basel Hospital in Switzerland. “Unfortunately, the treatments that help slow the disease process may have little direct effect on people’s overall quality of life, fatigue or depression. So any complementary treatments that can quickly and directly improve quality of life are very welcome.”
For the study, 150 people with mild to moderate MS were randomly assigned to receive either the eight-week meditation training or only usual medical care for MS. The class focused on mental and physical exercises aimed at developing nonjudgmental awareness of the present moment, or mindfulness. The training included weekly classes lasting two and a half hours, plus one all-day retreat and 40 minutes per day of homework assignments.
“MS is an unpredictable disease,” Grossman said. “People can go for months feeling great and then have an attack that may reduce their ability to work or take care of their family. Mindfulness training can help those with MS better to cope with these changes. Increased mindfulness in daily life may also contribute to a more realistic sense of control, as well as a greater appreciation of positive experiences that continue be part of life.”
Participants in the mindfulness program showed extremely good attendance rates (92%) and reported high levels of satisfaction with the training. Furthermore, very few (5%) dropped out of the course before completion. Those who went through the mindfulness program improved in nearly every measure of fatigue, depression and quality of life, while those who received usual medical care declined slightly on most of the measures. For example, those with mindfulness training reduced their depressive symptoms by over 30 percent compared to those with no training.
Improvements among mindfulness participants were particularly large for those who showed significant levels of depression or fatigue at the beginning of the study. About 65 percent of participants showed evidence of serious levels of depression, anxiety or fatigue at the start of the study, and this risk group was reduced by a third at the end of training and six months later.
The other benefits of the training were also still apparent six months after the training ended, although they were sometimes reduced compared to right after finishing the training. Reductions in fatigue, however, were stable from the end of treatment to six months later.
An accompanying editorial pointed out that because there was not an active control group (using a different type of intervention), it is unclear that the good results were specifically a result of mindfulness training. However, the editorialists noted that the present study was the largest of its type, and was well-conducted.
The study was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Stanley T. Johnson Foundation, the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Sanofi-Aventis, Merck Serono and Biogen Dompé.
The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 22,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Parkinson’s disease, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease), dementia, West Nile virus, and ataxia.
For more information about the American Academy of Neurology, visit http://www.aan.com.VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/AANChannel
Rachel L. Seroka | American Academy of Neurology
Improving memory with magnets
28.03.2017 | McGill University
Graphene-based neural probes probe brain activity in high resolution
28.03.2017 | Graphene Flagship
The Institute of Semiconductor Technology and the Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, both members of the Laboratory for Emerging Nanometrology (LENA), at Technische Universität Braunschweig are partners in a new European research project entitled ChipScope, which aims to develop a completely new and extremely small optical microscope capable of observing the interior of living cells in real time. A consortium of 7 partners from 5 countries will tackle this issue with very ambitious objectives during a four-year research program.
To demonstrate the usefulness of this new scientific tool, at the end of the project the developed chip-sized microscope will be used to observe in real-time...
Astronomers from Bonn and Tautenburg in Thuringia (Germany) used the 100-m radio telescope at Effelsberg to observe several galaxy clusters. At the edges of these large accumulations of dark matter, stellar systems (galaxies), hot gas, and charged particles, they found magnetic fields that are exceptionally ordered over distances of many million light years. This makes them the most extended magnetic fields in the universe known so far.
The results will be published on March 22 in the journal „Astronomy & Astrophysics“.
Galaxy clusters are the largest gravitationally bound structures in the universe. With a typical extent of about 10 million light years, i.e. 100 times the...
Researchers at the Goethe University Frankfurt, together with partners from the University of Tübingen in Germany and Queen Mary University as well as Francis Crick Institute from London (UK) have developed a novel technology to decipher the secret ubiquitin code.
Ubiquitin is a small protein that can be linked to other cellular proteins, thereby controlling and modulating their functions. The attachment occurs in many...
In the eternal search for next generation high-efficiency solar cells and LEDs, scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory and their partners are creating...
Silicon nanosheets are thin, two-dimensional layers with exceptional optoelectronic properties very similar to those of graphene. Albeit, the nanosheets are less stable. Now researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) have, for the first time ever, produced a composite material combining silicon nanosheets and a polymer that is both UV-resistant and easy to process. This brings the scientists a significant step closer to industrial applications like flexible displays and photosensors.
Silicon nanosheets are thin, two-dimensional layers with exceptional optoelectronic properties very similar to those of graphene. Albeit, the nanosheets are...
20.03.2017 | Event News
14.03.2017 | Event News
07.03.2017 | Event News
28.03.2017 | Life Sciences
28.03.2017 | Information Technology
28.03.2017 | Physics and Astronomy

domain: medical


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- winter 2022/2023
- summer 2023
Prices are in Euro per person per night including half-board. Not including local tax of € 3.00 per person/night (15+ years).
If you book a stay only with breakfast, we reduce the price by € 12.00. Fee for single occupancy of double room: € 19.00 per night.
We pamper you from morning till evening with the included services of Hotel Sonnenspitze. Indulgent, active, relaxing.
Apartment for 4 to 7 guests with anteroom, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, toilet, fridge, phone, TV, safe, hairdryer, radio and balcony.
As if by magic, two become one. Combining two rooms with an anteroom, we create a wonderful apartment, providing space for everyone – places to retreat and places to spend memorable time together. Additionally, you enjoy the magnificent view from the balcony. There is no place like this.

domain: travel


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SugarVeil¬ģ Icing Sunflower Cake Pops are so easy to make and even more convenient to make now that you can find¬†SugarVeil¬ģ Icing /mats at a¬†Michael’s Store near you!
To make these cake pops you will need:
- Doyle SugarVeil¬ģ Mat
- Cornstarch for dusting the mat
- SugarVeil¬ģ Icing packet
- SugarVeil¬ģ Icing Spreader
- Yellow food color
- Parchment paper
- Candy melt disks in chocolate at the color of your flower center
- Button mold (optional)
- Cake Pop Sticks
- Wax Paper
- Cake pop stand or Styrofoam to display
Lightly dust the mat with cornstarch
Next mix up the¬†SugarVeil¬ģ Icing per the instructions on the back. Then add the desired amount of food coloring
Spread a dollop on the mat
Use the spreader tool to push the¬†SugarVeil¬ģ Icing into all the incised lines of the design. ¬†Push it back and forth and up and down until the lace design is completely coated.
Once it is coated, taking more¬†SugarVeil¬ģ Icing make an even coat covering the entire mat.
Now you can let this air dry probably overnight or stick it on a cookie sheet and place it into the oven at the lowest setting for about 8.5-10 minutes. ¬†If you use the oven, with a damp paper towel lightly go over the dried¬†SugarVeil¬ģ Icing and leave it on the cookie sheet to completely cool. ¬†About another 10 minutes.
When you bend it back like this it should easily pull away from the mat.
Place it upside down on parchment paper and hold down the end with the spreader tool and lift the mat away from the dried¬†SugarVeil¬ģ Icing. Then move the spreader further up the¬†SugarVeil¬ģ Icing lace and pull back again, repeating until your edible lace is free from the mat.
Now cut out the doile shape!
Put them on a former to dry out a bit and place a candy melt in the center!¬† This is just resting on¬†a foam egg crate.
Let‚Äôs get on with the¬†Cake Pops!!
Bake your favorite cake recipe ‚Äď¬†If you are just making cake pops, one box of cake will make about 30 cake pops (all 1.25 inches in diameter ‚Äď think ping pong ball size.) You can also¬†take all the tops from a¬†decorated cake, yesterday‚Äôs cupcakes, or even a store bought cake! Just crumble¬†and knead it down until it is a pliable dough. ¬†(consistency of Play-Doh) ¬†You can do it by hand (you also will need a bit of frosting this way), but it is faster if you just put your cake into the mixer or food processor and leave it in there until it turns to dough (if you are mixing the cake this way, you only need frosting if you want to add some extra sweetness or¬†a special flavor).
Next take that dough and roll them into balls. ¬†We do this step¬†with the help of the Easy Roller! It can roll an entire cake in no time at all, since it rolls 21 cake balls at one time & they are¬†all the same size! Here is how it works if you haven‚Äôt seen or heard of it yet!
‚Ä¶if you don‚Äôt make cake pops often but you still would like to make them faster our¬†newest ‚Äúmini‚ÄĚ Easy Roller is now available ‚Äď it rolls 9 at a time! Once all your cake is rolled into balls dip them into¬†melted¬†candy melts (place the¬†candy melts in a microwave safe container and place it into the microwave¬†on 50% power (or defrost)¬†for 1 minute, take it out of the microwave and¬†stir. Put the bowl back in the microwave at 50% power, in 30 second increments until fluid)!
Tap off the excess and place them on wax paper until the chocolate sets.
Once it has set, you will have a nice little “shelf” to attach your new SugarVeil¬ģ flowers.
To attach¬†your SugarVeil¬ģ Icing¬†flower¬†just add a dollop of candy melts (Its like glue for cake pops!)¬†to the top of the cake pop, (right on that flat part)¬†and press your flower right¬†on!¬† You can decorate the centers of your flowers with candy melts formed in button molds like the picture below,¬†or just leave the candy melt disk right in the center!
If you liked this post, share it with your friends and family, it is how we keep them coming ūüôā

domain: food


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Metro Trains acknowledged in an emailed response that it was concerned about the gaps at some railway platforms, but conceded there were no uniform standards for the distance because of variations in carriages and platform design.
A Metro customer relations manager said in the reply, dated November 2013, that as a consequence the gap between trains and platforms – as well as the step up or down into a train – “varies across the network” and that “a maximum gap and minimum platform height have not been set”.
In the email, the Metro spokesman said the rail operator was working closely with Public Transport Victoria to measure clearance distances at platforms using laser technology, so as to prioritise works to rectify “substandard platforms”.
However, any works would be dependent upon State Government funding.
Figures provided by the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator show that there were 50 “slips, trips or falls” involving the gap between trains and platforms on Melbourne’s rail network in the 12 months to June 2015.
Commuter Gary Dellora, of Hughesdale, had contacted Metro after becoming concerned at the extent of the gap at Heyington, which is on the Glen Waverley line, and which he believed posed a serious hazard to passengers. The station services nearby prestigious schools St Kevin’s College and St Catherine’s.
“You sort of get used to normal gaps, but this one looked outrageous,” Mr Dellora told The Citizen.
Soon after his alert, in February last year, Glen Iris teenager Mitchell Callaghan died after falling between a train and the platform at Heyington while on a night out with friends.
Mr Dellora recalled: “It just gobsmacked me that the very [railway platform] I complained about was the one the tragic incident occurred at.”
Late last year, rubber edging was added along the length of the platform at Heyington and the track realigned after Mitchell’s family and friends petitioned to have the station made safe.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is conducting an investigation into the incident, while in December the 40-year-old train driver from Narre Warren is expected to face a committal hearing on charges of recklessly engaging in conduct that placed people in danger of serious injury and death.
Metro’s emailed response to Mr Dellora reinforces the findings of The Citizen’s investigation into gaps across the network, which revealed that outdated platform designs combined with modernised carriages had left a legacy of dangerous gaps at some older stations. These gaps – the so-called “stepping distance” – are widest at stations located on a curve.
The issue of safety is clouded by an array of groups with a stake in rail regulation and because there appears to be no uniform standard for the gap between platforms and trains.
In the November 2013 email, the Metro official explained that the rail fleet comprised four types of train: the older Comeng and Hitachi models, and the newer X’Trapolis and Siemens trains that are confined to specific lines. The latter two, introduced in 1999, were required to conform to “stringent specifications as defined by the State Government”.
Despite the variation in train-platform gaps, Metro reassured Mr Dellora that “a 300mm step is compliant under DDA [Disability Discrimination Act] requirements”.
However, the former Co-operative Research Centre for Rail Innovation, which was a Federal Government initiative, conducted a technology review in 2012 of the “Platform-Train Interface for Rail Passengers”, citing a standard of 40mm for the horizontal gap and 15mm for the vertical difference as per the Australian Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (2002).
The report also referred to a 2004 field study by industry consultants Atkins Rail for the “Significant Steps project”, which concluded that an acceptable stepping distance parameter – where the gap width and height were added together – should not exceed 200mm.
It stated specifically that “a stepping distance of 300mm is unacceptable”.
Public Transport Victoria – which oversees the metropolitan train, tram and bus network – says that the design standard for gaps at new and substantially upgraded stations is 100mm for the “horizontal offset” and between minus-50mm and plus-70mm for the vertical gap between the train floor and platform edge. A construction tolerance of plus-or-minus 10mm is permitted, and further tolerance allowed for curved platforms.
A Metro spokeswoman has previously told The Citizen that “the standards which were current as at the time of construction of the platform or at the time of any upgrade of the platform” were the standards that applied to the platform gap.
According to the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator, established by federal and state governments in 2012 to oversee and audit the activities of network operators, the responsibility for ensuring safety of operations – including mitigation of the risk posed by gaps between trains and railway platforms – falls entirely on the operator. However, it would not comment on whether it believed Metro was satisfying its compliance obligations.
Mr Dellora said that he had approached Metro again on learning of Mitchell Callaghan’s death, asking if anything had been done following his warning, but described Metro’s response as disappointing. He accused the operator of “passing the buck” to the State Government.
He added: “A man-trap’s a man-trap … It shouldn’t take someone’s death to address these issues”.
Metro declined to comment on the 2013 email. The office of the Minister for Transport and the PTV did not respond to requests for interviews.
Other relevant stories:

domain: news


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JF Hillebrand acquires Lagena Distribution
Wine logistics specialist JF Hillebrand said it has strengthened its capability to provide dedicated wine and beverage logistics services in Sweden with the acquisition of Stockholm-based Lagena Distribution AB, Sweden's leading distributor of alcoholic beverages.
Since its formation in 1994, Lagena has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Systembolaget AB, the Swedish alcohol retail monopoly. In April 2010, Systembolaget's board decided to sell Lagena, as part of an effort to focus on core operations.
Lagena will keep its current brand and management team and will continue to focus on warehousing and distribution in Sweden.
JF Hillebrand has a global network headquartered in Mainz, Germany, that moves about 1.4 billion cases of wine annually. It employs 1,650 people in 46 offices around the world.

domain: economics


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This study evaluates a technique to estimate cleft severity and tissue hypoplasia in patients with cleft palate. Current classifications are limited to the morphologic characterstics of the clefts. A new classification is proposed in relation to the palatal index, which allows more individualized surgical attention for the cleft palate.
To evaluate the relationship of palatal index and cleft palate repair surgical outcomes (palatal fistula and velopharyngeal insufficiency) in patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate.
Design, Setting, and Participants
Retrospective study performed by the Outreach Surgical Center Program Lima, Lima, Perú, of surgical outcomes of 152 consecutive pediatric patients, aged 12 to 15 months, with nonsyndromic unilateral complete cleft lip and palate treated during from 2001 to 2007. Findings were obtained at 1 to 5 years’ follow-up.
Palatoplasty using the 2-flap technique plus intravelar veloplasty. Palate index was measured preoperatively with the patient under general anesthesia.
Main Outcomes and Measures
Postoperative analysis via the χ2 test to assess the statistical significance of association between the palatal index and surgical outcomes.
Palatal fistula rates correlated directly with the cleft severity, as estimated by the palatal index (P = .01), but there was no association between postoperative velopharyngeal insufficiency and palatal index (P = .76).
Conclusions and Relevance
The palatal index was a good predictor of fistula development in the studied group. There was an association between the cleft severity and tissue deficiency (estimated using this index) and presence of palatal fistula. Further long-term study is needed to evaluate the relationship between the palatal index and maxillary growth.
Level of Evidence


The Best Heating Options For Your Climate
As winter settles in, plummeting temperatures outside mean it's time for households across the country to start firing up their heaters and furnaces. Since winter heating costs are usually the single largest expense on the average family's energy bills, it's important to look for the most efficient appliances you can find so you don't break your budget in the name of staying warm. However, keep in mind that winter warming requirements vary greatly depending on what region of the country you live in -- the best furnace option for a family in frigid Fargo, N.D., is not going to look the same as that for someone living in a more mild area like Arizona or New Mexico.
For guidance, look to Energy Star, the federal program that certifies high-efficiency appliances, which breaks its furnace rankings into two:
If You Live in the South
Since people who rarely experience freezing temperatures require dramatically less energy overall to stay warm in the winter, they don't have to invest in the most advanced heating models to get the federal thumbs-up. The 21 states with the mildest winters include most of the south and southwest and creep up the coasts as high as northern California in the west and Delaware in the east. Qualifying heaters in these areas get stamped with a “U.S. South” Energy Star Logo. To meet the standard, gas heaters must have an annual fuel utilization efficiency, or AFUE, of at least 80. The southern-specific certification promises that the appliances are up to12 percent more efficient than standard models.
People living in warmer states have other options, such as heat pumps, which can save a bundle in energy costs but don't work well when temperatures dip below 41 degrees.
If You Live in the North
In the rest of the country, where households require more heating power in the winter, standards are stricter. Look for the standard Energy Star label for furnaces that are as much as 16 percent more efficient than average models and have AFUE ratings of 90 or higher.
There are also other heating-related home guidelines that can vary depending on where in the country you live.
Of course, no matter where you live, you can save money and help reduce fossil fuel consumption by taking other measures to shore up your efficiency, like fixing drafty windows and using a smart thermostat. An HVAC professional can run an energy audit on your house to find places where you can realize savings and make sure you're getting the most for your money.
Contact your local One Hour Air Conditioning and Heating® technician for advice on choosing and maintaining your heating system and for more tips on heating your home efficiently.


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CareBuilders at Home franchise partners join our brand because they want to have a positive impact on the most vulnerable members of their community. But, as you know from your franchise research, it is also extremely important to understand the numbers that make this franchise an attractive investment opportunity.
For more than 30 years, our founders have been providing unbeatable care to those who need it the most. In addition to offering services to seniors, our business model also includes new mothers, those with special needs, people with disabilities, and more.
When it comes to taking care of people, nobody can beat CareBuilders at Home. We pass along our decades of experience to each of our franchise partners for you to build upon. Launching your home care business is easier than you thought possible with the expertise of CareBuilders at Home.
$592,440 Average Gross Revenue*
Our average gross revenue of $592,440 is a testament to the dedication of our franchise partners and the quality of our franchise model. We have the systems in place to help you focus on gaining clients and strategizing for growth. These systems can help you get the most out of your CareBuilders at Home franchise and do the most for clients near you.
$98,200 $158,300 Estimated Initial Investment*
This range encompasses the franchise fee, licenses, training, security deposits, computer system, and grand opening advertising, among other costs of opening your franchise. This number is always expressed in a range because factors like leases may have different costs depending on city and location and other differences may arise in the creation of your franchise.
But overall, our estimated investment is kept so low, especially when compared to our average gross revenue, because we believe that business ownership should be as accessible as possible for those who want to make a positive difference in the lives of their clients. And if you have any concerns about our investment range, our corporate franchising team can answer any questions you might have about your franchise costs.
2035: The Year 20% of the Population Will Be 65+
Across the home care industry, 81.9% of home care patients are older than 65. And that’s a growing demographic. By 2035, 20% of the total United States population will be older than 65. These are the people who will require care so they can stay in their homes with dignity. By franchising with CareBuilders, you will not only be providing care to those who need it most, but you’ll also be capitalizing on a growing market.
Now that you know some of the numbers that make up the CareBuilders at Home franchise opportunity, you are ready to take the next step in your franchise journey: reaching out to get more information.
*Please refer to 2019 FDD for more information

domain: finance


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Consumer confidence edges slightly higher this month but remains close to rock bottom
Consumer confidence has edged higher this month but remains close to record lows.
The long-running consumer confidence index by research group GfK ticked up to minus 44 from minus 47 in October and minus 49 in September.
It stood at a better – but still gloomy – minus 14 a year ago.
The consumer confidence index by research group GfK ticked up to minus 44 from minus 47 in October and minus 49 in September
Analysts said that while the rise from September’s lows was welcome there was little to celebrate.
Joe Staton, at GfK, said: ‘This month’s fillip is likely to reflect nothing more than a collective sigh of relief as a new prime minister takes charge.
External factors have changed little and, with UK inflation recently hitting a new high, more bad news is inevitable.
‘Consumers are looking for a festive cocktail of certainty and optimism not this mishmash of austerity and pessimism.
Good news remains in short supply as many people struggle during this protracted and painful cost-of-living crisis.’


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Sheriff proposes police contract in Troutdale, Fairview
Details to come at April 1 worksession in Troutdale
Troutdale and Fairview officials will hear details of a proposal made by the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office to take over policing for both cities at two upcoming meetings in April.
Troutdale will host a worksession on Tuesday, April 1, and Fairview will follow with a meeting on Wednesday, April 16.
According to Fairview Mayor Mike Weatherby, who met with Sheriff Dan Staton earlier this month over coffee, Staton has proposed bringing deputies into Troutdale and Fairview. He makes the case that his agency would save taxpayers money and allow for more officers on the ground.
Travis Gullberg, fill-in spokesman at Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, said the Sheriff's discussions were too preliminary to talk about and declined to comment further.
Weatherby said the discussion is to transfer city officers from the two east county cities into the sheriff's department, where they would potentially receive pay increases and benefit from the wide range of specialty departments available.
Weatherby also said Troutdale and the Sheriff's office have been in talks for some time.
The discussion in Troutdale is the Sheriff's proposed plan to use the city's new police station, which voters approved to have built with a $7.5 million bond.
Troutdale's police chief and the mayor were unable to be reached for comment Friday, March 21.
Weatherby said he is open to the Sheriff's conversation, but wants to hear more details.
The major issue is how much it is going to save, if any, and the level of service they bring, he said.
Ken Johnson, Fairview police chief, has also expressed interest in hearing the Sheriff's proposal.

domain: law


text:
You have chosen to sponsor your bid up to a maximum amount of .
I have a small bug in a joomla hotel component on my site. If you look at the first link you will see that the webpage shows 4 hotels and some of them have packages as well as hotel rooms on offer: (Madison's hotel has a package for £79.99 per person).
If you click on Madison's hotel to view the hotel in greater detail you will now see that the price of the package is £0.00. For some reason the component is not carrying the price through to the next page.
I require this bug to be fixed as soon as possible.
So I know you have read the description please write BLUE RIBBON at the start of your reply.


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Arrest over Plymouth Argyle v Southend racism claims
Police have arrested a man over an alleged racist incident at Plymouth Argyle's Home Park ground.
Devon and Cornwall Police said a man at Saturday's match "allegedly shouted racial abuse comments towards the playing area".
A 33-year-old from Plymouth was arrested on suspicion of causing racially aggravated harassment during the League Two clash with Southend.
He was later released on bail until 8 March pending further enquiries.
Plymouth Argyle has launched its own investigation.
The club said in a statement: "We are proud to be a family club, where people of all abilities, ages, beliefs, genders, races, religions and sexual orientation can unite to enjoy 'the beautiful game'.
"As a club, we have always embraced players and supporters of many nationalities and creeds; this is our heritage and our legacy.
"Prejudice and hatred simply do not mix with supporting our team."
It added: "We have excluded people for racist behaviour previously and will have no hesitation in taking this action again.
"We urge supporters who see any signs of any form of anti-social behaviour to inform us immediately."
Argyle drew 2-2 with Southend, who say they will co-operate fully in any investigation Plymouth carry out.

domain: sociology


OptiFlow Technology (OFT)
R53 bespoke technology enabling smooth and highly efficient flows. Turbulent and laminar flows fully controlled for an optimal pressure balance distribution on the damper. Computation Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools are extensively used to develop our dampers.
Dual adjuster (low and high speed)
Adjuster technology that combines 2 adjusters on the same cartridge for a very efficient package. R53’s dual adjusters have 32 clicks for low speed and 32 clicks for high speed. Very compact and great clicks feeling.
Corner Weight Adjuster (CWA)
Technology enabling adjustments of corner weights without the need of changing spring preloads.
· Simple adjustment with vehicle on the ground or in stands.
· 15mm of adjustment.
· Available on TR35 range (Possible to implement on other platforms).
Hydraulic Adjustable Bump Stop (HBS)
Technology for the end of compression stroke energy management. The HBS is a hydraulic system which replaces conventional hard bump stops with hydraulic cushion. This technology allows to absorb high energies in short travel in a progressive manner. The HBS is a speed and position dependant technology.
· Fully Tuneable (Load, Engagement and Progressivity).
· Available on the ST46 and ST60 (Adjustable option).
· Provides progressive and smooth increase of end-of-travel load.
Hydraulic Rebound Stop (HRS)
Technology for the end of rebound stroke energy management. The aim of this technology is to dissipate the energy progressively and reduce the chassis acceleration at the rebound end-of-travel. HRS is adapted to each application.
Twin Tube Pressurized Technology (TTP)
The twin tube pressurized technology is a design that allows the gas pressure to always backup the low-pressure side of the piston, to keep pressure at a controlled level. This ensures consistent damping performance on all types of terrain and improves damping response to give outstanding control of the car and tire movements.
Twin tube design allows higher levels of adjustability (Low and high speed compression and rebound).
Twin tube technology available on thru-rod and Non thru rod versions platforms.
External Adjustable Blow Off System (BOA)
Technology developed for optimal kerb riding as peak loads are reduced, which makes driving over curbs smoother and also reducing the risk of punctures.
· Externally adjustable activation load.
· Tuneable load range.
· Tuneable blow Level and severity.
Roll and Pitch Control
Available for factory programs.
Circlip Fixed Seal Head
Robust Technology for seal head fixing that allow the damper to always stay connected to the car even in the event of accident or loss of oil as the sealhead used is non threaded so cannot come loose. Our Safety and Reliability enabling Technology.
Roll Valve Technology
Technology enabling the change of damping depending on lateral or longitudinal accelerations. The RVT allows using softer springs and roll-bars for higher grip and traction levels.
Available for factory programs (customer version avaialbe in 2021).


text: Smaller than an inch, but thick with meaty detail. The Ankor cross has a surface 7 heavy relief ingot like shapes. the size and form of this cross make it an ideal piece to layer with. We like it on a chain with one of our St.Christoper medals. Solid stainless. Ships with a 24" rolo chain.

domain: design


A hot piece of celebrity wedding news for our "Arrested Development" fans!
Hilarious comedian David Cross, 48, got lucky this weekend, tying the knot with the gorgeous, talented, and nearly 20 years younger actress, Amber Tamblyn (from the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants")! The quirky couple have been together for three years, and made it official with a low-key rustic ceremony in upstate New York.
Amber’s 'Traveling Pants’ co-stars America Ferrera and Blake Lively were there to witness the vows, plus Blake’s new husband, Ryan Reynolds. Other famous and funny celebrity guests included Amy Poehler, Will Arnett, and Kristen Schaal of "30 Rock".
The bride arrived to the ceremony barefoot and in a canoe, accompanied by her father. She wore a stunning curve hugging yellow dress (instead of traditional wedding white) and carried a bouquet of sunflowers. Cross wore a relaxed three piece suit. The foliage was just begining to turn from summer's fresh green to fall's rich hues and provided the perfect backdrop for the intimate ceremony.
You know you’re cooler than cool when the only photos of the event available to the general public were Tweeted from the Instagram account of Questlove (of The Roots)! Indie rock superstars Yo La Tengo performed while the couple did an “interpretive” first dance.
Still can’t get over that bad a*s dress! I think Amber just invented a new bridal category, indie bombshell. But, my favorite detail is probably the cuter than cute stuffed animal wedding cake topper on what looks like a cake made of cheese. Yum!
What do you think about this quirky celebrity wedding? Would you want guests Instagramming your wedding? Let us know in the comment section below!


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This hand carved 2 tier wooden earring stand is a great conversation starter because of its simple details and design. Organize an otherwise tangled mess of jewlery and enjoy how beautiful it stands with the 18 pairs of earrings that fit on it. The earring display stand also has a dished base for studs and other small items.
This product is made by HSSS, a non-profit organization that works for the uplifting and development of underprivileged artisans. It is composed mainly of male artisans who suffer educational, training and health related issues.
Bright Hope 20017
Made in India
Sold Out - $14.99
This is a finely carved wooden sculpture that neatly holds your glasses. It is the shape of a nose and a mouth that stands on its own. The glasses rest...
Gorgeous bright soft patches are hand sewn together to make this lovely embroidered quilt. In Guatemala they call this an Amantes Quilt, or lovers' quilt. The artisan women begin the...
Mixed rose pastel colors patchwork quilt, beautiful and soft to the touch! Made of Cotton with a Poly backing, this quilt is to love for its colors and cozy feel. This...


A number of Wall Street compliance and regulatory folks have contacted me about the supposed secret talks rumored to be ongoing between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Although I cannot vouch for the authenticity of this video, an anonymous source sent me this tape, which the source says shows how the SEC and FINRA are attempting to grapple with the FocusShares mini-Flash Crash and the David Sokol / Lubrizol / Berkshire Hathaway situation.
Again, I cannot verify the authenticity of the tape. If you watch and listen carefully, you may be able to understand how regulatory organizations monitor Wall Street and you may gain some insight as to their plans to better regulate the securities markets.
It's another day and, not surprisingly, another erstwhile wirehouse brokerage firm asks a court for a temporary restraining order ("TRO") against one ... Read On
It is always disconcerting when elderly customers change their wills in order to leave eye-opening bequests to their stockbrokers or financial advisor... Read On
A Bankruptcy, a Voluntary Dismissal, and a Death (BrokeAndBroker.com Blog)http://www.brokeandbroker.com/6244/finra-arbitration-death/As Woody Allen so... Read On
Securities Industry Commentator: A legal, regulatory, and compliance feed curated by veteran Wall Street lawyer Bill Singer http://www.rrbdlaw.com/625... Read On


The business case for big data has been clear for quite some time, but in the last few years, we have seen major strides in how companies are putting big data to use to better understand their own processes and how they interact and sell to customers. From a B2B standpoint, big data has already proven to be a driving force in the advancement of e-commerce practices and platforms. It’s paved the way for businesses to not only understand the vast amounts of data they are collecting – but also how to better understand what their customers are looking to get out of the digital channels they are building.
IDC forecasted in a 2017 study with Seagate that by 2025, global data will grow to 163 zettabytes – which is about 326 billion years’ worth of available data. Everything customers do and participate in serves as a source for data – specifically when it comes to how they behave, interact and buy online. As engagements continue to increase online between businesses and their customers, many industries are inundated with data and struggle with a lack of ability to sift through it intelligently.
The infusion of big data has supplied businesses with an intuitive way to discover the actionable insights from within their data sets that will make business efforts, such as e-commerce strategies, more successful. Tapping into big data gives businesses a quick and simplified way to focus on actionable pieces of data – which can then be used to improve customer experience across the entire buying journey, making insightful recommendations and simplifying paths to purchase, while keeping transactions more secure. Stemming from this, here are three key benefits businesses can capitalise on by applying big data to e-commerce strategies.
Increased analysis and discovery of actionable insights
Big data helps break through the overall clutter of customer data that companies are collecting, honing in on the key pieces of information that tell businesses what they need to know about spikes in demand, customer preferences, changes in buyer behaviour and more. Understanding buyer behaviour and their specific preferences when making a purchase is essential for continued sales and overall success.
Businesses can use the key insights from big data analysis to update offerings to better serve customer needs, make meaningful recommendations specific to a particular customer and innovate new products based on customer wants and needs as well as search and purchase data. For example – if a business is able to see that various customers are searching their website for a product or offering they don’t have, it gives them the actionable insights needed to decide whether they should expand on a current product or look into building something new. Businesses can use these insights to better inform their research and development strategies as well as give renewed direction to how they interact with and tap into their partner ecosystems for solutions.
A company may not have a certain offering that customers are searching for in their own product set, but there may be partners within their ecosystem who possess the necessary apps and extensions that do. Big data helps businesses understand what they need to take action on, based on what customers want and are looking for. When analysed in real-time, action can be taken immediately, which can be the difference that makes or breaks a sale.
Improved customer experiences and buyer journeys
In a U.S. study done by Help Scout, it was found that more than half of Americans have abandoned a planned purchase due to poor service. This same study also reported that companies lose more than $62 billion each year because of poor customer service and experience. Clearly, customers are looking for positive experiences and unified buying journeys that take the friction out of purchasing online – prioritising this will be highly valuable to a business’s bottom line. Customers that can find what they need, when they need it are happy customers who become repeat ones – especially when the things they need are all in one place with a clear path to purchase.
Big data uses predictive monitoring to supply businesses with more in-depth ways to track customer journeys and improve customer experience – increasing the ability to personalise a specific buyer’s journey. Using big data helps to tailor customer experiences based on insights from historical transactions, bringing targeted options and recommendations to customers up front, rather than requiring them to scroll through a long list of things they don’t need, or navigate through multiple web pages before finding the right offerings.
Through the use of big data to track various types of customer experiences, businesses can identify potential problems that could arise – resolving risks and issues before customers even get involved in the process.
Easier and more secure ways to discover and pay online
Businesses can use big data for a myriad of improvements in how customers pay online and how these transactions are kept safe. This includes detecting fraud in real-time as well as money laundering scams that appear as though they are legitimate transactions. Since big data integrates different payment functions into one central platform it helps reduce the risk of fraud while also making transactions easier for customers.
Having personal information stored in one place, while a convenience for both a business and its customers, can draw in online fraudsters looking to access this information. Advanced analytics from big data are not only able to discover fraudulent activity in real-time but can also use the data to provide businesses with proactive solutions for how to identify and address future risks. This also opens up more opportunities for companies to figure out the best strategies for cross-selling and upselling through their e-commerce platforms.
Combining and packaging data for more simple, quick and insightful analysis, big data has paved the way for businesses to grow their customer base while also scaling specific strategies, like e-commerce, for increased successes. As both the business and consumer worlds continue to create more data, it’s increasingly important for companies to stay ahead of how they track, analyse and put this data to proper use. For B2B e-commerce to continue growing, it will require moving beyond simply looking at the data available – advanced technologies and analytics strategies will need to be deployed to fully reap the benefits and support long-term success.
Bertram Schulte, Chief Digital Officer, SAP
Image source: Shutterstock/wk1003mike


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Why Contemporary Queer?
We stand on the shoulders of giants, but we never look past their heads. We never envision how it would be to exist in–dare I say it?–Utopia. A perfect future. A perfect now.
Contemporary Queer is about envisioning and working toward those visions we hold–not global (singular) but globals (plural). It asks us to take a moment to center our identities and embody them and not justify them.
As a platform, we seek to provide our readers with cultivated stories that are important to them but that don’t ask them to segregate parts of themselves to consume and enjoy them. From lifestyle to personal to arts to community, we try to reach our readers a step ahead of where they are.
For more information, check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

domain: literature