The “Gone case” were the words used by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to describe the state’s Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC), for having been a loss-making entity since its inception. This amid the 52-day long strike by 48,000 employees of the TSRTC, the longest by any transport corporation in India.
Refusing to give in to the demands of striking employees of the TSRTC, KCR instead chose to deal a blow to the ailing transport corporation. On November 2, in the midst of the agitation, the Chief Minister proposed privatising 50% — or 5,100 buses. The TSRTC has a total of 10,460 buses, of which 8,320 were owned and 2,140 were hired as of May 31. Pointing to the mounting debt in excess of Rs 5,000 crore, KCR said the corporation has to be brought on the path to profits.
While the union leading the strike eventually relented on November 25, the ruling TRS has also softened its stance towards both TSRTC and its employees. On December 1, the Chief Minister announced that the government will allocate Rs 1,000 crore every year for the TSRTC from the next budget, among a slew of other promises.
For the moment, privatisation is also off the table, but the government still wants to make the corporation a profit-making entity as soon as possible. So the question is, should public transportation aim for profits?
Subsidy v/s investment
The narrative about public transportation being a loss-making entity and a burden on a state’s finances is not new. However, given the very nature of the entity, experts say that the only reason for a public transportation system to function cannot be profits.
Shreya Gadepalli, the Program Director at the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) says that typically, public agencies think of public transportation as a drain on the exchequer, but when the entire gamut of spending on infrastructure for transportation (roads, flyovers etc.) is taken into account, the view changes.
Citing an analysis that the organisation did in Chennai, Shreya says that when they divided spending on public transportation by the number of trips taken, the government was spending Rs 2 per passenger trip (the total number of passengers who board public transportation).
“This, we call a subsidy. What we do not acknowledge is that the government, which also spends money on roads and flyovers — does not view this as a subsidy, but as an investment,” she says.
In the same study, Shreya says that while the government was spending Rs 2 per passenger trip for public transportation, it was almost ten times on individual vehicles — nearly Rs 20 for every car trip.
Shreya points out that if one accounts for the fact that most vehicles get free parking on the street, even a very conservative estimate suggests that the total subsidy that cars effectively get is about Rs 80 per trip.
“On the one hand, the Rs 2 that is spent on public transportation is called a subsidy and is seen as a drain on the exchequer while the Rs 80 given to car users is not a subsidy, but it’s called an investment,” she adds.
Shreya says that this amount can be considered as a direct investment. In addition, other researchers also make the case that investing in a robust public transportation network helps the economy — as people can access places of work and education which may otherwise be beyond reach.
Profits when privatised
Hyderabad-based transport researcher GSR Chaitanya says that the motive for public transport should never be about profit or loss — and that the TSRTC does make profits on city routes and a few intercity routes where the fare is quite high.
“The nature of operations is that a lot of villages are connected by TSRTC buses, for which the fare is kept low. It is a bit inefficient if you look at it from a business point of view, but it does help people access education, healthcare and jobs. If TSRTC is enabling economy in the state, it makes sense for the state to support TSRTC even if it is incurring losses on a few routes,” he says.
When it comes to the private sector, Chaitanya says that they will not be willing to operate buses in these routes which obviously make losses.
At present, Chaitanya says, even Hyderabad city is under-serviced. He says that while there are about 3,800 buses for Hyderabad, the actual requirement is closer to 6,000. According to the TSRTC, 844 villages are yet to be connected by buses.
While the Telangana government has for now shelved its plan to partly privatise the TSRTC, the idea itself isn’t new. It was done in New Delhi, where the results were disastrous.
In 1992, the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) introduced Redline and Blueline buses, which came after employees went on strike, demanding that the Fourth Pay Commission be implemented.
These Redline buses were private, but the administrative control lay with the DTC. Anyone could apply for a permit, and once they received it, would be eligible to ply private buses. However, reckless driving and an increased number of road deaths due to these buses led to the government introducing Blueline buses in 1996.
This was supposed to be an improved, better version of the Redline buses — a public-private partnership where these private buses had to follow the DTC’s timetable, would have a DTC conductor on board and only the driver would be employed by the operator. For this service, the DTC agreed to pay a fixed amount per day on certain parameters.
Here is where the problems began — the need to turn a profit and also manage all expenses that arose with buses, and with the condition to follow a fixed route removed — means that there were no guidelines to govern drivers, who were made to achieve targets with no break. Profit margins had to be achieved by hook or crook, and this led to the buses being called a menace. So many people had been killed by these buses that they were even dubbed ‘killer buses’.
In 2012, following years of public outrage, these buses were finally removed.
Delhi currently has a cluster bus system after the failure of the Blueline buses — it has taken away the burden of fare collection from the owner, appoints the conductor. The bus owner is compensated based on cost per kilometre they quote at the time of bidding. “Our profit margins are very, very low,” one of the cluster owners told Business Standard.
Raising ticket fares
C Ramachandraiah, a professor at the Centre for Economic and Social Studies says that ticketing is the main source of revenue for the RTC, and a major chunk of the corporation’s expenses are salaries and diesel.
“Diesel prices have gone up by almost Rs 20-25 per litre in the last four to five years. The ticket prices haven’t changed, and salaries were revised once. If the price of the ticket had been moderately hiked, maybe there wouldn’t be as much loss. The government didn’t allow the TSRTC to hike the fare and government also won’t pay,” he points out.
He squarely places the blame for the TSRTC’s condition on the government.
After the strike ended, KCR gave the green signal for a hike in fares. On December 2, the TSRTC announced a hike in fares, effective from midnight of December 3.
As for KCR’s promise on Sunday that Rs 1,000 crore would be allocated to TSRTC in future budgets, a researcher who did want to be named says that while the government thinking about grants to the corporation is a step in the right direction, things need to move forward. Another aspect to consider is the government’s delay in reimbursements as well as amount disbursed to the corporation, which is lesser than the budgetary allocation.
“They’ve never kept their promise of releasing grants. I’m skeptical when they say they will release grants, but it’s a step in the right direction. However, I think more work needs to be done,” the researcher says.
The researcher adds that this allocation, however, won’t be enough as TSRTC requires help with clearing a few loans, as well as reduced tax burden. TSRTC is still looking at fares as the major source of revenue and has hiked fares now, but these ad hoc measures are not the way to go about it, the researcher says.
Are there other solutions?
Shreya from ITDP says that if the state actually doubles the little amount it spends per passenger on public transportation (Rs 2 in Chennai to Rs 4), thereby increasing the quality and quantity and even possibly getting people to switch over from cars — and in turn charge car users for the road space and stop spending on roads and flyovers, we can have better public services that have multiple positive effects.
Chaitanya, offers a solution in a similar vein, of increasing the fleet.
“Hyderabad’s ridership has stagnated at 33 lakh per day, but the population is going up. Bus ridership isn’t increasing because the fleet has stagnated. If you increase the fleet, the network, the ridership will come and eventually, you will make money on some routes but there will still be routes where you won’t make money,” he says.
Among the major cities in the country, Hyderabad has the highest average distance travelled by cars and two-wheelers, and the public transportation ridership was the lowest, according to an analysis by the Centre for Science and Economy.
“…given the growth trajectory and economic position of the city, it [Hyderabad] could become a highly polluted city in time. While the city has had a good bus system traditionally, it hasn’t kept pace with the city’s growth pattern in terms of fleet size and, therefore, the volumes of passengers it carries. The metro system, which has become operational recently and will expand in the near future, will help mitigate this situation, but only marginally,” the analysis stated.
Profit as a motive?
World over, Hong Kong’s Mass Transit Railway Corporation is one of the few public transportation systems that actually turns a profit — but its profits don’t entirely come from transportation. Hong Kong has capitalised on the land around a bus station or metro, and has deals with shop owners around these areas as the density of passengers is high. Sometimes, it owns the business around the station itself — effectively controlling the transportation system as well as the places people visit when they exit. This too, according to the Guardian, has led to issues with housing affordability and income disparity.
A viable public transportation model is difficult to achieve, as seen across the world. However, the effects in the event of a lack of such a system are even worse — not just economically and socially, but also environmentally. #KhabarLive


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Art of the State
My band has played with Quatre Tête a few times now. They share our taste for weird time signatures and, what’s the term, angular guitar riffs. They also have a taste for competent musicianship which my band has yet to acquire. Cover art by my friend Jay!

domain: artistic


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Beyond Buckskin Opens Retail Store
An Appeal to 'Indians' Team Sponsor
Congress OK’s NMAI Native Vets Memorial
The Perfect Native American Memorial Day
Cross-Border Indigenous Rights Organizer
Indigenous Mexicans in California
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Helly Luv and Her Revolution
Diary of a Colonized Heart - Jen Falcon
Trump Using Pocahontas Is Disrespectful
The Week That Was: May 29, 2016
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Environment officials are working hard to stop the Asian carp from making its way to the Great Lakes...
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On October 10, members of three Montana tribes— Northern Cheyenne , Crow and Gros Ventre and Assiniboine—filed a voting-rights lawsuit in federal court in Billings...
Elections 2012: Fact Checking, Tweeting, and Wearing Indian Lenses During Thursday’s Debate
A lot of the polling I’ve been reporting for Indian Country Today Media Network is about who’s winning the election. This is gossip of the first order. It’s human...
Alaska Republican Representative Don Young Endorses Hawaii Democratic Candidate Running to Fill Senator Akaka's Seat
Sometimes opposites do attract...
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Mitt Romney Answers Questions From Indian Country Today Media Network in Exclusive Exchange
Not willing to cede the American Indian vote in what promises to be a close presidential election this November, Republican candidate Mitt Romney agreed to discuss with Indian Coun...
Elections 2012: Vice Presidential Debate – Is the United States Doing Enough for Native Americans?
It’s too bad that Al Jazeera’s host of The Stream , Lisa Fletcher, is not moderating the vice presidential debate...
Elections 2012: Vice Presidents’ Footnote to Indian History – Feeding Peanuts to Pigeons and Squirrels
The office of Vice President may be worth at least a footnote in the long history of tribal, federal relations...
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There is a conflict that cannot be resolved at the ballot: The geography of tribal borders versus fair, democratic elections in the American system...
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Today is the last day to register to vote in 17 states and NativeVote.org is on the case. In Arizona, for example, registration forms must be postmarked by midnight tonight...
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Oddo Private Equity has led a €2.5m investment in ActivNetwork, a technology company, alongside Bouygues Telecom Initiative.
Parent company Reiff Group said in a statement that the sale is part of its ongoing realignment plan
Neil Bennett, previously of Beacon Rail Leasing, will be appointed executive chairman of the company
Healthtech-focused VC sees oppprtunities in the developing European market, managing director Christian Weiß tells Unquote
Paul Keen, previously CFO of ETC Venues, will join the board as a non-executive director

domain: economics


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You likely have heard about meal replacement shakes, and maybe you think they are similar to protein shakes. Well, they aren’t similar as meal replacement shakes are meant to provide you the same nutrition you would get by eating a full meal.
Meal shakes are available in different forms; some are bottled, while others are powdered and need to be mixed with water or milk. These shakes have become popular recently because they are low in calories and very healthy. Most contain between 200 and 400 calories and are rich in fiber, proteins and essential vitamins and minerals. However, you should know that depending on the manufacturer, the nutritional composition of meal shakes can vary.
Should You Start Drinking Meal Replacement Shakes?
Maybe you are on the fence about whether you should start drinking meal replacement shakes or not. We recommend that you start. This is because meal shakes have numerous nutrients and minerals that are hard to come by if you only consume traditional diets. Some of these nutrients and minerals are potassium, iron, vitamin D and calcium. Consuming meal shakes will enable you to fill your nutrient and mineral gap. As a result, you will be healthier.
Can Meal Shakes Help You Lose Weight Faster?
You have likely come across claims that consuming meal shakes can help you lose weight faster. These claims are true – if you are on a weight loss journey and you drink meal shakes, you will accelerate the rate at which you lose weight. This is because cutting down on your caloric intake is essential to losing weight. However, consuming traditional diets can make it difficult for you to track your caloric intake. As a result, you are likely to consume more calories than you intend to. This means that your weight loss journey will be shaky as best, and you won’t lose as much weight as you wish.
On the other hand, meal replacement shakes are low in calories. Moreover, the amount of calories they contain is clearly written on the package. This means that by consuming meal shakes, you would be consuming a fraction of the calories you would have by eating traditional meals. In addition to this, you can easily track the number of calories that you consume daily. This will significantly increase the weight you lose each week. The remarkable ability of meal shakes to help people lose weight is the reason they are sometimes referred to as weight loss shakes. Keep in mind that it’s best for you to consume meal shakes with the lowest number of calories if you want to lose the most weight each week.
Do You Want Healthy, Natural Foods in Poplar Bluff, Missouri?
If you are looking for healthy natural foods in the Poplar Bluff, Missouri, area, you should visit us at Bee Hive Natural Foods. We are a top-notch grocery store in Poplar Bluff on a mission to help our community live a healthier lifestyle. We have an unmatched selection of natural, organic foods and products like meats, soy products, wine-making supplies and dairy products. We also carry homeopathic supplies and lactose-free and gluten-free products. Call us now.

domain: food


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The Town of Huntsville is considering an application, which if successful, would enable the municipality to launch a home retrofit financing program for residents.
The program is offered through the Green Municipal Fund, delivered through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and funded by the Government of Canada. It is being lauded as a way to help communities of all sizes develop innovative financing programs to help homeowners cut their greenhouse emissions and reduce their energy bills while creating jobs in the community.
In order to access the program, the municipality would have to come up with 20 per cent of the total program cost as recoverable debt, according to a report presented to Huntsville’s general committee on June 29 by Julia McKenzie, Huntsville director of financial services/treasurer.
She recommended that the municipality apply to access the full amount available, which means it would have to come up with $2 million in recoverable funds.
“A loan contribution of $2 million will enable a full $10 million application from FCM. It is recommended that the full amount of the grant ($10,000,000) be applied for at this time to maximize the amounts available to Huntsville for this program under the current funding envelope. The $2 million in total of the Town’s contributions to the program, if approved by Council, will be included in the 2023 budget with the related funding source. It is important to note that the funds contributed by the Town will be recoverable as it will be in the form of debt and likely have a low chance of default as it will be placed for collection on the property tax account. In the event the property is sold, the debt will continue to be recoverable on that property tax account. In the event the property tax account is in arrears, the Town would work with that tax payer to get the payments caught up and as a last resort would more likely than not be recovered through a tax sale,” stated McKenzie.
She was also recommending that the loans be attached to the homes under a Local Improvement Change, not unlike a water and sewer connection charges. “Under this mechanism the loans would be attached to the property and not to the owner. This has two significant benefits; first it assists the homeowner with access to capital for high upfront costs of retrofits and secondly, it enables the transfer of the lien to a new owner in the event the applicant sells the home before the loan is paid back. This is particularly useful when there is a longer payback on the retrofit,” she added.
Third-party administration fees would be covered by the program and the idea is that eventually, it will become self-funded.
Deputy Mayor Nancy Alcock said the program makes sense and she supports it, while Huntsville Mayor Karin Terziano questioned whether a property might be harder to sell with a lean on it.
“From the point of view of the buyer, if you have a house that’s energy efficient, I think that would outweigh the fact that there’s a loan on it because your energy costs would be lower. So you may have a higher property tax bill that has that change on it but also have lower energy bills.” McKenzie also said an energy efficiency system is being mapped out which would put scores on homes and communities “so it’s actually more valuable if your house is one of these properties… it’s actually the real estate associations that are driving this in those communities.”
McKenzie also told committee she did not anticipate the retrofit loans would be for more than 10 years.
Councillor Jonathan Wiebe told committee that most parts of Europe have already implemented similar programs “and they’re seeing that the values of homes – it’s really becoming worth it and making a real impact on… how people shop for homes, etcetera.”
Committee approved the recommendation to move forward with the application. If approved, more details are expected to become available then including the proposed interest rates for the loans.
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There are numerous experts, at home and abroad, that have gone on record saying Geithner’s plan to revive the US economy won’t work, and even worse, that it will make matters worse. We know that in the short term, the magic drug of monetizing our debt can pump up the stock market. But it’s like a false adrenalin rush. We need to ask ourselves in the larger picture, can US equities build an intermediate or longer term bull market based on the rationale of massive government deficit spending supported by a Fed that will print money to fund that deficit spending? Can it really be that the key competitive advantage of the US is a printing press? Make no mistake about it, monetization can positively influence economic and financial market outcomes for a time. We need to respect this fact. Greenspan proved this in spades during the late 1990’s pre-Y2K liquidity extravaganza in the US. As you’ll remember, the NASDAQ doubled. Of course the aftermath was none too pleasant, and continues as such to this day. As I mentioned above, I believe the key to navigating the investment environment ahead is to anticipate the unintended consequences of current government spending and Fed actions. Over the years it has been my experience that the most important drivers of asset prices are not the outcomes that can be seen and/or anticipated by the many, but rather the unseen outcomes that only the few dare anticipate. I recommend staying out of equities and investing in hard assets that will increase during the coming hyperinflation.
In case you believe the worse is over, here is a mathematical dose of reality:
The U.S. budget deficit surged in March as tax payments by companies and individuals dropped and the government spent more to rescue banks and revive the economy.
The excess of spending over revenue climbed to $192.3 billion, compared with a gap of $48.2 billion in the same month a year earlier. Spending increased to $321.2 billion, and revenue fell 28 percent to $129 billion.
The deficit six months into the 2009 fiscal year already exceeds the record set in the entire previous year. Rising job losses and plunging corporate profits are cutting into tax receipts, while the government commits billions of dollars to bolster an economy in its second year of a recession.
“It’s going to be real ugly,” said Scott Anderson, a senior economist at Wells Fargo & Co. in Minneapolis. “We have just seen a collapse in revenue, and expenditures are up. Given the bailouts and the stimulus packages, that is likely to continue.” Anderson projected the deficit will jump to almost $2 trillion this fiscal year.
Economists surveyed by Bloomberg News forecast a March deficit of $165 billion, according to the median estimate of 28 projections. Projections ranged from deficits of $137.3 billion to $200 billion.
During the first half of fiscal year that began Oct. 1, the country’s deficit swelled to a record $956.8 billion, compared with a $313 billion shortfall during the same period a year earlier.
Corporate tax receipts totaled $56.2 billion through March, down from $129.5 billion in the first half of fiscal 2008, the Treasury said. Individual income tax collections are down 15 percent so far this fiscal year to $429.7 billion compared with $503.5 billion in the year-earlier period.
The deficit in 2008 totaled a record $454.8 billion. The Congressional Budget Office estimated on March 20 that the gap will swell to $1.85 trillion this fiscal year.
Almost half of the $94.2 billion, or 41 percent, surge in government spending last month compared with March 2008 reflected cash infusions to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two biggest mortgage underwriters. Fannie Mae received $15.2 billion last month and Freddie Mac got $30.8 billion, the government said.
The government spent $2.9 billion last month on its Troubled Asset Relief Program, the plan aimed at aiding banks, bringing the fiscal year-to-date total to $293.4 billion.
President Barack Obama in February signed into law a $787 billion stimulus program that he pledged will preserve or create 3.5 million jobs. Since then, the administration has also committed funds to help U.S. automakers and to spur investors to buy real estate assets that are clogging banks’ balance sheets.
Obama has signed a $410 billion spending bill to provide funding for most government operations through Sept.30.
The U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate last week approved drafts of Obama’s 2010 budget that largely adhere to the administration’s priorities. The House approved a $3.55 trillion plan on April 2 that echoes Obama’s calls for revamping the health-care system, rewriting education policies and reining in global warming.
Obama said last week the U.S. needs to reduce its deficit after the economic crisis passes.
“Once we have stabilized the economy, we are going to have to bring these huge deficits down,” Obama told reporters April 2 in Baden-Baden, Germany.
In other categories, spending by the Social Security Administration rose 7.3 percent to $324.2 billion for the fiscal year to date; spending by the Department of Health and Human Services, which administers the Medicare and Medicaid health programs, climbed to $156.2 billion from $137.6 billion and spending by the Defense Department increased to $331.7 billion from $308 billion.

domain: finance


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March 16, 2009
Intel warned AMD today that attempting to transfer their patent cross-licensing agreement to AMD's manufacturing spin-off, GlobalFoundries, was a violation. Intel considers GlobalFoundries a separate company. AMD owns a 34.2% share of GlobalFoundries, with 50% voting rights. This dispute, heading now for mediation, follows unsuccessful negotiation between the two, and should be viewed against the backdrop that AMD sparked multiple antitrust investigations of Intel, which are still ongoing.
Bruce Sewell, general counsel for Intel: "AMD cannot unilaterally extend Intel's licensing rights to a third party without Intel's consent."
AMD: "We believe that Intel manufactured this diversion as an attempt to distract attention from the increasing number of antitrust rulings against it around the world. With a ruling from the European Commission and a U.S. trial date looming, and investigations by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and New York Attorney General, the clock is ticking on Intel's illegal practices - and yet with its dominant monopoly position it still tries to stifle competitors."
Shareholders think Intel is trying to pull the wool. Monday, AMD shares leapt 5.6% (14¢), while Intel sagged 1.5% (22¢).
Posted by Patent Hawk at March 16, 2009 7:20 PM | Patents In Business
Love the robot pic ("Warning", "Warning") which I presume is from Lost in Space.
Posted by: EG at March 17, 2009 7:43 AM
You figure Intel didn't know enough not to include a foundry provision in their license? I'd be stunned if the license didn't restrict to AMD products, and specifically exclude foundry works, regardless of whether the foundry was owned by AMD or not.
Posted by: Judith at March 17, 2009 10:35 AM

domain: law


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By: Favour Mamudu, Sullivan Senior, and Olamide Olaleye, Sullivan Senior
The Black Excellence student committee in Sullivan High school created a documentary about being Black in Sullivan.
The Black Excellence student committee (BEC) was formed by some students and teachers at Sullivan High School. The last week of Black History month was full of different activities planned by the BEC. A very exceptional activity they planned was a documentary lead by some of the members of BEC. The documentary consists of Sullivan staff and students about their history about being Black in Sullivan High School. On Feb 27th, this documentary was aired at Sullivan High School.

domain: sociology


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Mona is the shopkeeper here at Mythical Crystals. She can see into her crystal ball and tell the future. (Although she may not be very good at it.)
Did you know?
Mystic Mona found the crystal egg that would later hatch and reveal Mythical. I guess she is a true mother of a dragon.

domain: literature


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Find Etoro Wallet Supported Coins
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For newbies, it is better if you pick a basic platform that enables for easy transactions. If you are familiar with the trading instruments that you are planning to trade, then you must select a trading platform that is compatible with the selected monetary instruments. Etoro Wallet Supported Coins


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A great collection for you today to mark the midweek…
Ricky Warwick – “Psycho”
Ricky’s recent (actually, February – doesn’t time fly?) double-album When Patsy Cline Was Crazy (And Guy Mitchell Sang The Blues) / Hearts On Trees is an absolute pair of classics. If you like mainstream rock, then they’re a must-buy. For no reason other than “hey why not”, he’s just dropped a live acoustic version of the song “Psycho”. Here’s a bit more about it from Ricky and the song itself.
I heard the song “Psycho” for the first time almost 30 years ago when I was playing guitar in New Model Army. It was performed by singer/songwriter Rev Hammer who was on the road with us. I feel in love with the song instantly and it has stayed in my psyche ever since. I found out sometime later that it was written by Texas songwriter Leon Payne. Payne is probably most well known for the song “Lost Highway” which was a huge hit for Hank Williams.
The twisted macabre excess and understatement of the lyrics set against the beautiful, haunting almost sugar sweet melody drew me in straight away and gave me a strange yet surreal sense of unease. There is no doubt about it’s a dark song about a dark day. Leon Payne famously said after he wrote it, “Don’t ever record this!”
Well… I did.
Iron Fire – “Among the Dead”
Veteran Danish power metallers Iron Fire have released an official video for the title track of forthcoming album Among the Dead. The band will release this, their eighth full-length album, on September 16 through Crime Records.
Eteritus – “End of Line”
Polish death metal commando, Eteritus, have recently released their debut album via Godz ov War Productions. Entitled Following the Ancient Path, it contains nine tracks of brutal, crusty and old-school European death metal. In support of the album and upcoming Polish dates, the band have released a video for the track “End of Line”.
The Creatures in Secret – “Texas Red”
Tennessee metalcore outfit The Creatures In Secret has released a new music video from their latest single titled, “Texas Red”. Produced by Yanic Bercier of WaveTransform Studios, “Texas Red” comes from their band’s debut full length The Gathering which dropped earlier this year. Guitarist Allen Cox has this to say:
We are very excited to be releasing this new music video for ‘Texas Red’ off of our debut album “The Gathering”. This song is about the struggle between an abusive father and his family, from the perspective of the son. He wishes to just hold a strong relationship with his father, but worst comes to worst, and he learns he needs to leave the situation. The lyrics discus the process of “hell” the young man goes through, while learning he can and will have a better life.
You can pick up The Gathering [amazon text=on Amazon&asin=B01BOF064E] and help finance this site!


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Big hearts and some chicken goes a long way, as a group of election staffers with the Colorado Secretary of State’s office found out when they volunteered at Judi’s House.
Minerva Padron, a voter registration coordinator, is also a bilingual grief counselor at Judi’s House, a nonprofit devoted to providing care for grieving children and their families. It was founded by former Denver Broncos quarterback Brian Greise and his wife. Padron visits middle schools in the Denver metro area and holds “grief groups,” group counseling sessions for students who have lost someone close to them.
Two years ago, SOS staffers served dinner at Ronald McDonald house in Denver so Padron suggested a similar volunteer opportunity at Judi’s House.
Deputy elections director Hilary Rudy jumped at the idea and sent an email to elections staffers asking if they could donate time or money to the cause. She said it wasn’t hard to find volunteers or donations because a lot of people were interested.
“I tried to make it clear I wasn’t pressuring them given my position,” she joked.
Once they had a group together and donations, the group bought deli chicken, mashed potatoes, fruit salad and rolls and served it to the 60 or so children and families at Judi’s House last Thursday.
“They make it easy for you to volunteer,” said Kris Reynolds, a campaign finance trainer for the SOS office. “I would do this again on my own since they made it so easy.”
The dinners are put on every week, Monday through Thursday, to take pressure off the caretakers who feed the children and families. Volunteers are welcome to provide a meal or even just come serve food and clean up.
Padron says that it is a “house” because that makes people feel more welcome rather than being in a clinical setting. She is earning hours to get her counseling license.
Griese and his wife, Dr. Brook Griese, a clinical psychologist specializing in childhood trauma and loss, founded the organization because Brian lost his mother, Judi, to breast cancer when he was 12 years old. “He found himself at a dangerous time in which his anger and profound sadness were coming out in ways that had the potential to be destructive. Along his path to healing, he realized that he wanted to give back to children and teens who were also grieving the loss of a parent, sibling, or other loved one,” according to the organization’s web page.


TXU Energy Services (Dallas, TX) will operate and maintain a pair of 5.2-MW generators at the city’s Village Creek wastewater treatment plant, which treats 166 million gal per day. The turbines will use a “free” fuel source — the methane produced at the plant — to generate about half the electricity needed to operate the facility. Eventually, when power demand at the plant is low, it could sell electricity back to the local electric utility. A key element to the deal is that Village Creek is one of the few wastewater treatment plants in the nation able to interconnect with a transmission system.
The turbines replace 40-year-old internal combustion engines that had supplied about 30% of the plant’s power needs. TXU Energy Services, which will manage the new generators, guarantees that the turbines will operate 96% of the time.
In addition, a heat recovery system will capture the high-temperature exhaust from the turbines to ensure a constant temperature (95 to 100 degrees F) for the waste treatment process. The heat recovery system will also be used to heat the plant’s administration building during the winter.
Publication date: 04/01/2002


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Harris, Robie H., Emberley, Michael (Illustrator).
2 copies, 2 available
Patient or Public
BC Children's and Women's
Family Support & Resource Centre
- Call Number
JUNIOR GA 100 HAR 1994
In a warm and humorous manner, this book offers young people accurate, unbiased answers to nearly every conceivable question about sex, from conception to birth control and AIDS.

domain: library


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Arthur Bentley, Managing Director at Headwaters MB, represented H.J. Baker in establishing a joint venture with Multitecnica. Multitecnica will be representing the TIGER 90CR® Sulphur and the TIGER MICRONUTRIENTS® Fertilizers product lines in an exclusive territory in Brazil.
For more information about this transaction, click here.
*Transaction executed by Headwaters MB bankers at prior firms.


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OTTAWA — The power struggle between B.C. First Nations and the federal government over resource development in the B.C’s North escalated this week with both sides issuing public statements about who has the final say over major projects.
Tensions have been high since a Supreme Court of Canada decision in June ruled the Crown can only infringe on an aboriginal or treaty rights if it meets a tough test aimed at reconciling those rights with the broader public interest.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
The court ruling, which stressed the need for consent, has triggered lawsuits from First Nations challenging numerous proposed economic development projects.
A delegation of B.C. First Nations leaders travelled to Ottawa this week to warn the federal government not to approve the Site C hydroelectric project in northeastern B.C. They said the provincial and federal governments would have to choose between Site C and the liquefied natural gas developments that affect the Peace River in northeastern B.C.


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This question already has an answer here:
I have made a deposit of XMR at 16:29:50 CET on 2018-05-02 (Now almost 16 hours ago). I am using Monero GUI v0.11.1.0. The transaction id is e793d31e00250540da8a1edab7a2aab6f063767e1c604c6634c5b9e9f2c1afad. I have used the correct payment id and deposit adress but the XMR's are still not on my Binance account. The balance on my wallet is back to 0 and all transactions are confirmed. It seems I have done everything correct but my XMR's seem to be lost. Could you please hep me?


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- Do metal plates and screws need to be removed?
- Can surgical screws cause pain?
- What is the least painful bone to break?
- What is open and closed reduction?
- Does closed reduction hurt?
- Why do metal implants hurt when it rains?
- How is an open reduction of a fracture performed?
- What is an open reduction fracture?
- What is the difference between an open and closed reduction of a fracture?
- How can you reduce a fracture?
- Do metal plates hurt in the cold?
- How long does a closed reduction take?
- Is a closed reduction considered surgery?
- How do you ease the pain of a fracture?
- What are the 7 types of fractures?
Do metal plates and screws need to be removed?
After a bone fracture has mended, metal implants such as pins, plates and screws (usually made from surgical steel or titanium) are in fact no longer useful..
Can surgical screws cause pain?
While most retained hardware is asymptomatic, some patients will develop symptoms. The symptoms can be due to a screw or plate that rubs against a boot, or pain may be produced when the tendon or soft tissue structure rubs against the prominent screw or plate.
What is the least painful bone to break?
What are the Easiest Bones to Break in the Body?Clavicle. The clavicle or collarbone is located near the front side of the chest near the shoulders and can fracture when pressure or stress is placed on the shoulders or when the arms are stretched out. … Arm. … Leg. … Hip. … Wrist.
What is open and closed reduction?
Open reduction is where the fracture fragments are exposed surgically by dissecting the tissues. Closed reduction is the manipulation of the bone fragments without surgical exposure of the fragments.
Does closed reduction hurt?
The procedure is often painful. You will receive medicine to block the pain during the procedure. You might receive: A local anesthetic or nerve block to numb the area (usually given as a shot)
Why do metal implants hurt when it rains?
Changes in Atmospheric Pressure Create Changes in Your Joints. Changes in atmospheric pressure—which occur when the weather is changing—may cause pressure changes within the joints. This can make your nerve endings more sensitive and cause increased pain.
How is an open reduction of a fracture performed?
The first part is open reduction. The surgeon will cut the skin and move the bone back into the normal position. The second part is internal fixation. The surgeon will attach metal rods, screws, plates, or pins to the bone to hold it together.
What is an open reduction fracture?
During an open reduction, orthopedic surgeons reposition the pieces of your fractured bone surgically so that your bones are back in their proper alignment. In a closed reduction, a doctor physically moves the bones back into place without surgically exposing the bone.
What is the difference between an open and closed reduction of a fracture?
In closed reduction, the broken ends of a fractured bone can be reset without surgery. Open reduction requires surgery to return the broken ends of the bone to their correct anatomical position. A partial fracture would likely require closed reduction. A compound fracture would require open reduction.
How can you reduce a fracture?
Steps to prevent fragile bonesConsume adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D (see “Recommended Calcium and Vitamin D Intake” chart).Exercise several times a week.Ask your doctor about a bone mineral density test.Ask about medications to slow bone loss and reduce fracture risk.
Do metal plates hurt in the cold?
Guests who have metal implants might feel the cold more in the implant area during lower temperatures. The skin, body and brain are extra sensitive to heat loss and a cold, damp environment.
How long does a closed reduction take?
It usually takes 6 to 12 weeks for a fractured bone to heal.
Is a closed reduction considered surgery?
Closed reduction is a procedure to set (reduce) a broken bone without surgery. It allows the bone to grow back together. It can be done by an orthopedic surgeon (bone doctor) or a primary care provider who has experience doing this procedure. After the procedure, your broken limb will be placed in a cast.
How do you ease the pain of a fracture?
There are several pain management options for bone fractures. These methods include medication (such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen with codeine, and Vicodin) immobilization and stabilization.
What are the 7 types of fractures?
Types of FracturesGreenstick – Incomplete fracture. … Transverse – The break is in a straight line across the bone.Spiral – The break spirals around the bone; common in a twisting injury.Oblique – Diagonal break across the bone.Compression – The bone is crushed, causing the broken bone to be wider or flatter in appearance.More items…

domain: medical


Knowing the main parts of an air conditioner comes with its own benefits. While it is not necessary to have an in depth know how on the matter, an overview of aircon parts and function is of practical use. The potential to notice early signs of failure is greatly boosted if you know ac unit components. Therefore, you can do a self-assessment and know when to call for aircon servicing in good time.
The basic parts of an ac unit are: –
In this case, we focus on a split ac unit only. The split aircon unit is the most common type of aircons in South Africa. Additionally, it is easier to understand the link between ac replacements parts on a split system. Other ac unit types will also have these typical ac parts, but will vary in arrangement and other support structures. Ducts for instance, are common components of central air conditioning system.
The components of an ac unit in a split unit are in two main sections. First, the outdoor ac unit parts and then the indoor ac unit parts.
The Main Parts of an Air Conditioner Found Inside
The indoor parts of an air conditioner.
First, the evaporator. This unit enables the liquid refrigerant (coolant) to turn into a gas. As air from the room passes this unit, the refrigerant absorbs the heat very fast. The liquid coolant then turns into gas. The gas coolant is then sent to the compressor. Meanwhile, the room gets cooler as more heat from room temperature air is being used up to heat the coolant and boil it into gas.
Second, the refrigerant (coolant) is a special fluid that moves round the system in a loop. It is responsible for absorbing heat from room air and to release it outside. The coolant has good quality in terms of the ease to convert from liquid to gas and back again. Therefore, it is a chosen medium of heat transfer in air conditioning units. Heat transfer is the main activity in the air conditioning and refrigeration services.
Filters – the indoor unit also contains filters and the display functions of an air conditioner are on the indoor unit. The unit is usually a wall mount or a ceiling mount position. Filters help trap dust and therefore are vital for making sure that the air is fresh. Furthermore, dust hinders the spread of cool air, and end up compromising the cooling ability of the unit. Additionally, filters also aid in keeping the ac drain clean, a blockage in the drain will strain the compressor. Consequently, this will cause the pump to over work and run down.
Outdoor AC Unit Parts
Let us look at the outdoor parts of an air conditioner.
The compressor receives the coolant from the evaporator in gas state, and turns it into liquid by pressing it. As the pump presses the gas, its turns to liquid and is sent to the condenser. The liquid coolant is then sent to the condenser coil.
Condenser Coil – By the time the refrigerant gets to the condenser coil, it is already hot and at high pressure. As it passes through the condenser coil, it releases heat and becomes cooler. The cool liquid is then taken back to the evaporator where it absorbs more room temperature air and the cycle continues.
This ac unit part used to be in the indoor, but now commonly found outdoor. Although the coolant leaves the condenser in its liquid state and cooler state, it is still too hot to enter the evaporator coils. The expansion valve is a main part of the air conditioner for this work, and it further lowers the heat levels of the refrigerant to levels that the evaporator can accept.
These three parts, together with the electrical components supplying the compressor, are the main parts of an air conditioner on the outside.
Samsung Wind-Free aircon South Africa, a product for better air quality and safer environment.
Many aircon installers will be happy to install this model of air conditioner.
The wind free air conditioners cool the room with no discomfort of direct cold airflow, by making use of thousands of tiny openings to spread the air around.
Additionally, the tiny particles are also said to filter tiny unwanted dust particles.
The wind free cooling is made possible in two ways
First, it lowers heat levels to the setting of choice.
Then after that, the unit then maintains the pre-set heat level.
The air spreads gently, so that there is no draft or cold air blowing into your face. That is why the air is rightly termed “still air”, due to its gentle movement around the room.
Therefore, wind free aircon is ideal for both home and business use.
It comes with fast and wide cooling capabilities as well as with smart Wi-Fi capability.
Additionally, the new blade design gives a more powerful and rapid air cooling.
Apart from ability to purify air and dehumidify it, the wind free aircon is stronger, cheaper and more energy efficient.
The environmental benefit is that wind-free air conditioners use R32 refrigerant.
R-32 refrigerant is the latest product that offers the most efficient and safest cooling properties.
Samsung Wind-Free Aircon South Africa R32 Gas and History of refrigerants
The Wind Free’s R32 Refrigerant comes after a series of improvements of air conditioning refrigerants over years.
Air conditioning refrigerants has been constantly improving over the years, towards a greener and environmentally safer product. First, the R12 which was phased out in 1994 due to environmental concerns relating to ozone layer depletion. Then next came R22, which was slightly better than R12 but still had a high level of damage to the atmosphere. After that came R410, which is the most common refrigerant in use today.
R32 is the most recent and most advanced refrigerant today, with the highest energy efficient rating and lowest global warming potential.
Summary of R32 Refrigerant Benefits
In Summary, this is what the R32 gas offers: –
30% lower Global Warming Potential than that of R410A
More efficient and less costly – R32 systems use 20% less refrigerant
Ozone Depletion Potential of 0
Easier to recycle than R410A
Samsung air conditioners remain one of the most wanted aircon brands in South Africa for users and air conditioning companies alike.
Thinking of buying a fridge in South Africa? Here are tips on buying a refrigerator in South Africa. But first, some basic information about fridges in general.
Especially bigger fridges, which tend to use more energy than smaller ones.
Thankfully, recent milestones in the industry in areas of insulation and compressor technology, there is much less energy usage than before.
We look at what to consider when buying a fridge.
Think about the space available when buying a fridge
The size of your desired fridge should fit into the space you have available.
It is therefore important to measure the dimensions of your old unit, if you are looking at replacement. If it is a completely new buy, measure the space where you need to place your cooling unit. In the case of a kitchen island, measure how much clearance you have to open the fridge doors or walk past the fridge.
As you take the sizes, also think about the path a delivery person will take in order to get to the location of choice. This will prevent any unexpected issues in moving from vehicle into the kitchen. Make sure the door won’t hit an island or a wall. Some might find it useful to take a picture of existing space and compare as you open the doors in the shop.
Brands To Consider When Buying a Fridge
Consider brands that offer energy saving models
Brands and models that have an energy rating will help you save on energy.
If maintenance cost is a huge factor as it normally is, then you definitely need to check energy rating.
Also, freezer location may also influence the energy usage of a fridge.
Because storage space is one of the factors to consider when purchasing a refrigerator, it is important to consider the position of the freezer, which has an impact on storage space.
Top freezers – They have less storage space and are usually basic in function. They are cheaper and quite ideal for small kitchen and tight budget.
Bottom freezer – slightly larger sizes than top freezers. These are more modern, stylish and have bigger space. The downside is that one has to bend down to reach for food in the freezer.
Although more expensive than the top freezer, they are still cheaper than French door models
Side-by-side – The two qualities of space and extra features share the limelight on side-by-side fridges.
Their doors are narrower and longer and they bring in the convenience of an eye level platform to use.
Clearly, if you have a narrow kitchen this is definitely an option
French door – A mix of side-by-side and bottom freezer models which can be found in many colors and finish options
French doors offer more space and have a very pleasant eye appeal. If you looking for extra features and large size, this one is ideal for you. Good things come at a cost, so the French door fridge will take more from your pocket than the other options.
Extras can include ice makers, water dispensers, flex drawers, dual evaporators and smart home applications
Style and finish for your home’s décor
Finish options for refrigerators are:
Black stainless steel
Plain black or white – these basic colours are cheaper and easy to blend with most home décor’.
SMEG also brings in other colour variations, and as a matter of fact, SMEG appliances are trending these days.
- Space available
- Style and finish
- Budget allocations/constraints
- Food storage space you need
- Choice of features
- Defrosting options
Air conditioner sanitizing and servicing is become more necessary as business returns to normalcy. Most organisations are now engaging air conditioning companies in Gauteng to sanitize and service their units. Air conditioning contractor includes sanitizing in their aircon servicing package
Air conditioning cleaning and sanitizing is necessary to prevent your air conditioners from spreading any virus. Therefore chemicals that kill bacteria are used in this case. Sanitizing of air conditioners can be loosely referred to as air treatment or “air repair”. This is because the air coming from the cleaned unit is free of virus, hence higher quality air circulates within a room
Air conditioner treatment will become more frequent and cheaper as contractors adjust the pricing to ensure client affordability. The basic rule of quantity vs pricing will naturally bring air conditioning service price down
Sanitizing gets rid of allergens, dust, pollen and mold
Air Conditioning Sanitizing and Servicing Checklist
Both the minor and major air conditioning and sanitizing service will include the following areas
Replacement/repair of air conditioning compressor
Inspection of air conditioning condenser unit repairs and replacement
Cleaning and inspecting air conditioning fan and air conditioning gauges
Examining and repair & service of air conditioning vacuum pump
Cleaning of filters
Examining and repair of air conditioning circuit board if needed
Inspection and testing of controls and safety
Refrigerant change where necessary
Inspection and cleaning of relays and contractors
Recording temperature and pressure
Tightening any loose unit wiring
Checking thermostat, motors, condensate drain, belts and pulleys
Lubricating all rotating elements


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AMC's stylish period drama " Mad Men" is poised to make history at the 60th annual Emmy Awards.
If it wins in the best drama category, "Mad Men" will be the first basic cable show to receive such an honor.
However, the show that earned a total of 16 Emmy nominations -- and won four in the Creative Arts Emmy Awards doled out last week -- still faces an uphill battle both on and off screen. Emmy votors are notorious for shying away from period-based series, and the audience for the acclaimed show is small, even by basic cable standards.
The show -- set on Madison Avenue in the advertising world of the 1960s -- faces its stiffest competition in the drama category from popular broadcast shows such as ABC's " Lost" and Fox's "House."
Other races to watch:
Best Comedy series: NBC's low-rated but acclaimed " 30 Rock" aims to pick up its second consecutive Emmy in this category.
Competitive reality show: Will TV's most popular series -- Fox's " American Idol" -- finally snatch the award from CBS' "Amazing Race," which has won the honor every year since this category's inception?
Best Miniseries: HBO's historical miniseries " John Adams" could make history of its own. The lavish production starring Paul Giamatti as the second U.S. president was nominated for a total of 23 Emmys, and won eight during the Creative Arts Emmys.
Also watch for Christina Applegate to make her first public appearance since undergoing a double mastectomy since she was diagnosed with breast cancer earlier this year. She is nominated for best lead actress in a comedy for " Samantha Who?"
The three-hour show will air on ABC at 8 p.m. from the Nokia Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
Hosting the event will be all five nominees in the best reality TV show host category: last year's host, Ryan Seacrest from "American Idol"; Tom Bergeron from ABC's "Dancing with the Stars"; Heidi Klum of Bravo's " Project Runway"; Howie Mandel of NBC's "Deal or No Deal"; and Jeff Probst of CBS' "Survivor."
email@example.comCopyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times

domain: news


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Here is what I do know, I will be staying at the Dolunay Aparthotel, which I understand is about 10 minutes walk from the centre (although looking at the map I would probably say its a leisurely 20 minutes stroll in the heat!) so any bars and restaurants (especially turkish ones) you can recommend would be gratefully received.
I understand I wont have a problem finding a supermarket, as there seems to be ample for me to buy thngs I may need for breakfast and light snacks. I will be packing plenty of mosquito sprays and repellants to keep the pesky blighters away. Am I advised to bring a torch in case of power cuts?
There seems to be a few travel companies that offer trips such as the 12 island and white water rafting, any thoughts on which ones to do, not too interested in the mud baths as I have already partaken in that experience.
Also, it is my daughter’s birthday while we are there, and I was wondering if there is a confectioners where I can buy a cake from in the village, or will I have to go further afield for it.
Thanking you in advance for any advice and recommendations given. Can’t wait to visit.

domain: travel


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Named one of the "Top 25 Municipal Lawyers of California" by the Daily Journal in December of 2011, Joan has practiced in the field of municipal law for nearly 40 years with Hanson Bridgett.
Joan is the General Counsel for the San Mateo County Transit District, the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board (commonly known as "Caltrain"), and the San Mateo County Transportation Authority. These agencies provide public transportation services and infrastructure on the Bay Area Peninsula, including a $1.7 billion project to electrify the Caltrain right of way from San Francisco to San Jose.
Since 1989, Joan has served as the City Attorney for the City of Millbrae. In addition, Joan is General Counsel for the Peninsula Traffic Congestion Relief Alliance, a transportation demand management joint powers authority of 17 cities and the County of San Mateo, and is the General Counsel for the Mid-Peninsula Water District. Joan has also served a number of cities and public agencies as special counsel, including San Carlos, Costa Mesa, Brentwood, San Luis Obispo, Berkeley, San Mateo County Mosquito Abatement District and the Woodridge School District. She is one of the Evaluators for the City of San Jose Elections Commission and in that role recommends disposition of complaints alleging ethical violations under the San Jose Municipal Code.
Joan understands the art of serving a client as General Counsel and she understands how local government agencies function. She is often called upon to provide guidance as special counsel when crises occur, such as employee embezzlements. Joan has expertise in a wide spectrum of issues including election law, environmental and real property matters, railroad operations, purchase of service and franchise agreements, public works projects, municipal finance, and government reorganization matters. She has represented both public and private entities in government proceedings involving all aspects of development, contracts, procurement, and bid protests.
Joan serves on the Board of Trustees of UC Hastings Law School. She was a founding member of the San Mateo Foster City Education Foundation and she has served on the Board of Trustees of Samaritan House which provides medical services, shelter, food and clothing assistance to those in need in San Mateo County, and serves on the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo.
City of Millbrae. As the City Attorney since 1989, she oversees all legal work and managed the real property acquisition and eminent domain cases for the Millbrae Overpass Bridge, a multi-million dollar railroad grade separation project.
Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board. Oversees and manages the legal services for the Caltrain commuter train operations capital improvements including an $800 million design build project to electrify the right of way, a $600 million electric vehicle procurement and attendant real property acquisition to implement project.
City of San Jose. Serves as the Evaluator for the Elections Commission. Recommends findings for all complaints alleging ethical violations under the San Jose Municipal Code.
Mid-Peninsula Water District. Serves as General Counsel to the Mid-Peninsula Water District.
"New Brown Act Reporting Requirements," co-author, Public Agency Law Alert (March 2014)
"Declaring a State of Emergency: What You Need to Know," co-author, Western City (May 2011)
See All Publications
"Legal Counsel's Role in Hiring a GM," APTA Legal Affairs Conference (February 2016)
"Local Government in a Brave New World: Law Enforcement, Code Enforcement, and Public Agency Liability," Municipal Law Institute Symposium (February 2015)
“Brown Act Compliance – Traps for the Unwary,” Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University (October 2014)
"We Had No Idea We Were Being Ripped Off! What Every Manager Needs To Know About Internal Controls and Fraud," co-speaker, MMANC Region 1 Event (June 2014)
"A New Look at Design Immunity: Expanding Protections for Public Entities," IMLA Conference (October 2013)
"Municipal Restructuring: Discussion & Dialogue with Key Players," Turnaround Management Association Northern California (June 2013)
"Selecting an Operator for Caltrain: The Procurement Experience and Lessons Learned," APTA Legal Affairs Conference (February 2012)
"Legal Authority of Cities to Outsource and Share Services," Hanson Bridgett Municipal Law Institute (February 2012)
"Outsourcing and Shared Services," Hanson Bridgett Public Policy Forum (January 2012)
"Navigating the Labor Laws in a Time of Scarcity: RIF, Furloughs and Other Cutbacks," Hanson Bridgett Seminar (April 2011)
"November Ballot Propositions," San Mateo County Council of Cities Meeting (August 2010)
"Contractual Risk Transfer" (August 2010)
"The Investigatory and Reporting Authority of Civil Grand Juries Acting in Their 'Watch Dog' Capacity" (June 2010)
"Controlling Public Employment Costs in Challenging Times," Hanson Bridgett Workshop on Public Employee Benefits (May 2010)
"Keeping it Legal: The What's, Why's and How's of a Utility Rate and Connection Fee Ordinance," Bay Area City Attorneys Association (March 2010)
"From Grease to Energy – The Legal Challenges with the Millbrae Co-Generation Facility," Bay Area City Attorneys Association (July 2008)
"The Governor's Commission and OPEB Strategies," OPEB Workshop (March 2008)
"Arranged Marriage: Water Supply and Land Use Planning," Contra Costa County City Attorneys Association (August 2007)
"The Creep of Casual Corruption" (March 2006)
"Joint Powers Authorities: Opportunities and Challenges," League of California Cities (September 2003)
See All Presentations
Top 25 Municipal Lawyers of California, Daily Journal (2011)


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(Reuters) - The father of the man suspected of killing 26 people at a Connecticut elementary school said on Saturday he was in a “state of disbelief” and was fully cooperating with law enforcement officials investigating the massacre.
Peter Lanza, father of 20-year-old Adam Lanza, who law enforcement officials have said burst into Sandy Hook Elementary School on Friday and killed 20 children and six adults, said: “We are in a state of disbelief and trying to find whatever answers we can. We too are asking why.”
“We have cooperated fully with law enforcement and will continue to do so,” Peter Lanza said in a statement. “Like so many of you, we are saddened, but struggling to make sense of what has transpired.”
Reporting by Dan Burns; Editing by Eric Walsh


The young astronomy enthusiasts from Highland Village, Texas, will have a 20-minute window today to send their most burning questions out into space.
At exactly 1.10pm EST (6.10pm GMT) the group will reach out to Expedition 54 astronaut Joe Acaba, to ask about life onboard the ISS.
Thanks to NASA, the entire Earth-to-space call will stream live online on NASA TV and the space agency’s NASA LIVE website.
You can also watch the conference call in the embedded NASA YouTube live feed above.
The downlink call will take place at Briarhill Middle School, where a thousand students are expected to grill Mr Acaba about his life and deep-space research in zero-gravity.
The American space agency teased: “Students have been preparing for this downlink by studying the solar system, universe, gravitational effects on plants and animals, plotting space station coordinates, calculating distances to various planets, planning what to pack for a journey to Mars using surface and volume formulas, and using ratios/proportions to paint a life size version of the International Space Station on their football field.
“About 1,000 students and teachers are expected to be at Briarhill for the downlink.”
NASA added: “Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station provides unique, authentic experiences designed to enhance student learning, performance and interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
NASA live stream: A group of students will contact astronauts onboard the ISS
NASA astronaut Joe Acaba will answer questions from 1,000 students and teachers
“This in-flight education downlink is an integral component of NASA’s Year of Education on Station, which provides extensive space station-related resources and opportunities to students and educators.”
Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station provides unique, authentic experiences
Mr Acaba, who arrived on the ISS on September 12 for his this third mission to space, will return to Earth next month.
He has been a NASA astronaut candidate since 2004 and has logged more than 130 days in space on his first two missions alone.
Onboard the impressive ISS, the astronaut and hydrogeologist was responsible for lubricating one of the space station’s robotic arms in October last year.
The ISS constantly circles above the planet at breakneck speeds, some 240 miles above ground.
The space station orbits Earth roughly every 90 minutes, completing up to 15 full trips in a day.
Astronauts from all over the globe stationed at the ISS carry out crucial scientific research about life in space.


text: The Five Star Gold Award wininning farmhouse B&B is situated 8 miles from the historic market town of Brecon. The traditional Welsh farmhouse is full of character and charm, offering king-size en-suite bed rooms with all facilities providing a unique blend of comfort and luxury. Delicious farmhouse breakfast or something lighter if prefered is served in the dinning room on individual tables. In addition Blaencar has a luxury self contained stable with the option of being self catered or bed and breakfast. The stable retains much of its original character with a king-size four poster bed, bathromm and cozy lounge with television adjoining a well equipped oak kitchen.


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I am so glad you're here! This is my little corner where I get to share some of my most favorite images from engagements, weddings, births, my travels and my own little family from time to time. Hang out, look around, and please reach out to say hello!
Bettina had been an exchange student in Greenville when she was in high school, so when one of her friends was getting married, she flew to Greenville for the weekend just for the wedding. And that’s where I met her! So when we posted that we’d be in Paris and available for photo sessions, Bettina emailed me pretty quickly and I was so excited to see her again!
She and Thomas flew to Paris for the weekend from Germany, met us at the Eiffel Tower at sunrise, and completely rocked their session… even though it was absolutely freezing that morning!
They had their city hall wedding this past summer and are gearing up for their church wedding next summer. So while they haven’t been married for very long, it’s a perfect reason for doing an “anniversary session” no matter how long you’ve been married! And I loved every minute of working with these two. They were so excited to be there, to be together, and to be in front of my camera!
So enjoy MANY of my favorites and some tidbits about our morning in Paris together along the way. The morning wasn’t perfect by any means, but one road block we ran into led us to some of my favorite images from the day!
It really was a PERFECT morning! And their smiles only confirm that :-)
I adore this shot of them… their love, the sunrise, la Tour Eiffel and the Parisian bird flying by at this precise moment.
There was a marathon happening under the Eiffel Tower so the roads we were going to take to Pont Alexandre III were blocked, which “forced” us to walk along the Seine next to these amazingly colorful trees!
And this?? We never would have known this spot existed otherwise!
Most definitely a favorite…
This is my favorite bridge in Paris… just walking on it makes me feel like I’ve stepped back in time.
When Bettina and I were emailing about their session, she had a few spots on her list of locations they wanted to try and get to. And I knew we were going to get along so well when her top locations were the same as my favorites! We ended their session up on Montmartre and even though I lost my breath walking up the 1 million stairs, it was worth the hike!
PS – way to go, Bettina, on coordinating your colors with the changing leaves! Gah! So lovely!
This one of them laughing is another favorite!
You guys… I hope you love these as much I do!


Charleston is preparing to drop a plan to buy 16 townhouses in West Ashley with federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds, after city officials learned there would be legal hurdles to clear involving the title to the property and other ownership issues.
The city had planned to buy two vacant eight-unit buildings off Rice Drive using $500,000 in federal funds, and planned to turn the townhomes into rental units for people with low incomes.
However, it turned out that those two buildings are listed in county real estate records as a single property that includes two other buildings that the city didn't plan to buy.
Then, it became clear that the units the city planned to buy had more than one owner, and there were additional complications with a homeowners association.
Charleston City Council's Real Estate Committee recommended walking away from the deal at a meeting Monday afternoon, and City Council is expected to ratify that decision at a meeting tonight.
Geona Johnson, director of the city's Department of Housing and Community Development, said the city has until June 15 to find another appropriate use for the federal funding.
The city has $670,000 in Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding, which is meant to help acquire foreclosed-upon or blighted properties in order to keep them from dragging down the surrounding neighborhoods.
Charleston's funding comes from $7.4 million for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program in Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties, which flowed from the federal government through the state government and then the Lowcountry Housing Trust.


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Dear Governor Cuomo,
We thank you for your leadership at this very difficult time. With New York’s number of coronavirus infections now exceeding 250,000, with 57,000 New Yorkers in the hospital and almost 15,000 deaths, we are facing the worst disaster in the state’s recent history and we don’t know when it will end.
People old and young are fighting for their lives. Hospitals are overloaded and people are dying because of difficulty breathing and lung failure. Your battle to procure ventilators and PPEs for hospitals will help save lives but there is something else important you can do to not worsen the impact of this already disastrous pandemic.
You can exercise your executive power to suspend the closure of Indian Point. We, the undersigned and those who have signed onto this enclosed Change.org petition, urge you to stop this poorly-timed closure and keep New York City’s 2-gigawatt, zero-emission, zero-air pollutant clean energy generation facility operational.
Postponing the shutdown of Indian Point and preventing a surge of new, toxic fossil fuel pollutants from spewing into the air while people are perishing from respiratory failure, is probably the most critical, preventative thing you can do to ease suffering and additional deaths. We already know for sure that air pollution is linked to higher coronavirus death rates, as this Harvard study found.
Furthermore, closing Indian Point now adds unnecessarily to New York City’s vulnerability, just as state resources are stretched thin dealing with the pandemic. Do you really want to add grid fragility and unpredictability to the current crisis, when summer is rapidly approaching and the whole city may have to continue sheltering-in-place indoors? What if there is an extreme and prolonged heat wave?
Wall Street Journal columnist, Peggy Noonan, who is sick with COVID, said it best: “Everything works—and will continue to work—as long as we have electricity. It’s what keeps the lights on, the oxygen flowing, the information going. Everything is the grid, the grid, the grid.” With millions of New Yorkers’ lives dependent upon air-conditioners and/or ventilators, do you really want to arbitrarily shut down our most reliable, clean power source? Extreme weather impacts are already baked in, so chances are days will be hotter this coming summer than any prior year. How much hotter, we don’t know.
Last summer, you oversaw the passage of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. You set New York on a path to reduce emissions by 100 percent—a highly celebrated achievement for you. With your planned, early closure of Indian Point, however, you are replacing New York’s largest source of clean energy with dirty fossil fuel generated power, not renewables. Frankly, this is not the deal that New Yorkers want. You are arbitrarily wasting an asset worth 10s of billions of dollars, shutting off 80 percent of New York’s clean energy, and adding more polluting energy and carbon emissions to boot. This would move us further away from your 0 percent emission vision.
If you want the credit for committing New York to meaningful emissions reduction, you have to do the hard work to prevent the closure of a safe, working, clean power plant. Shutting down Indian Point will reverse decades of progress in both clean air and carbon emissions and violate the vision you signed into law with the CLCPA. It also contravenes the latest scientific findings showing that nuclear power is utterly crucial to our decarbonized future and, frankly, sets another terrible example for the world, which for too long has ignored the scientists’ warnings about the urgency of emissions reductions.
Views about nuclear power have shifted dramatically since the deal to close Indian Point was inked. Germany’s failed and expensive efforts to shutter its nuclear plants and replace them with renewables forced Merkel to have to chop down ancient forests and arrest protesters to dig coal just to avoid blackouts. More scientifically-minded environmental leaders are recognizing that nuclear power is necessary in our fight to address climate change. The Union of Concerned Scientists, The Nature Conservancy, World Resources Institute, National Geographic and others have published revised recommendations regarding nuclear power within the last few years. Nuclear has moved from being viewed negatively to being seen as vital clean technology without which we cannot quickly or cost-effectively eliminate our addiction to fossil fuels. While anti-nuclear rantings may still help groups like NRDC and Riverkeeper raise donations, they reflect obsolete views not supported by the best science or scientists.
You have repeatedly stressed that you listen to healthcare experts to learn how to lessen the spread of Covid-19. We are asking you to also listen to leading climate experts, embrace the latest knowledge and work to bring science laggards along with you. Fortunately, in this instance, doing the right thing for climate aligns with doing the right thing to fight Covid-19 deaths.
Dr. James Hansen, the renowned climate scientist at Columbia’s Earth Institute who first testified to the Senate about the warming impacts of polluting emissions on the climate, recently wrote: “Coronavirus and human-caused climate change are both characterized by a delayed response which makes the problem and its solution more difficult. With the virus the delay time is of order weeks; with climate change the delay is of order generations. In both cases, by the time the effects become obvious, there is a much larger response ‘in the pipeline.’ We are in a race to find remedies in both cases, but the near-term focus on the virus provides a moment to assess the [near-term] actions needed for climate.”
The near-term action we need right now is protecting all sources of clean, reliable energy. As scientists, engineers, doctors, lawyers, environmentalists, businesspeople, mothers and fathers, we urge you to set an example for the whole world by recognizing the need to preserve all of New York’s nuclear power—as critical sources of carbon-free, pollutant-free baseload power. A pandemic is clearly the wrong time to fire up new polluting fossil fuel power but, given the climate crisis, no time is a good time to backtrack on your climate commitments.
We applauded your achievement with NY Renews to put New York on a path to a zero carbon future but New York’s failure to build the new renewables needed to replace Indian Point should have paused the plan to shutter Indian Point, not given life to new sources of fossil fuels. You need to keep your eye on New York’s long-term sustainability—which is deeply threatened by sea level rise and extreme weather events—and allowing fossil fuels to replace Indian Point’s clean generation digs a deeper hole. There is no excuse for this.
Governor Cuomo, you have the executive power to postpone the planned closure of Indian Point and we strongly urge you to do so. We think this issue is of such a critical nature to the long-term health and safety of everyone, that resolving it properly must supersede politics. Given the personal concerns you’ve expressed, we recommend that you impanel a scientific commission of experts to conduct a thorough review of the environmental risks and impacts of shuttering Indian Point and increasing gas usage. We welcome an opportunity to help you better understand the real impacts of closing Indian Point and the scientific and economic bases for nuclear’s critical role in resilient, cost-effective, decarbonized grids that do not take over all our open spaces and also have the juice to power the carbon sequestration New York will need to go from 85 to 100 percent carbon neutral by 2050.
This decision is a matter of life and death for New Yorkers today as well as for billions of people and species already direly impacted by climate change. You say you are a leader that listens to scientists. Millions of New Yorkers—and others around the world—need you to be just that: a leader with the courage to resist business as usual and embrace the scientific knowledge that enables you to protect people and the planet for real. You have the political capital, the talent and the smarts to be that leader. We’re counting on you.
[The Undersigned Parties: includes those with whom we were in direct contact and additional signers displayed as Commenters below]
UPDATE: EARTH DAY, April 22, 2020
Our letter was delivered to Governor Cuomo with well over 200 signers listed directly on the letter, along with a copy of the petition and a link to a page with the PDF print-out of over 5,600 petitioners’ names and more than a dozen pages of petitioner comments. The petition now has nearly 8,000 signatures, which you can access through our Petition page. We are still accepting signatures and comments below. You can find Press information here. Thank you everyone for your help supporting New York’s largest source of clean energy.


Live Mint, June 18, 2019
- Prime Minister says both Houses of Parliament must function smoothly to ensure the passage of key bills
- The first day of the monsoon session saw leaders such as Amit Shah and Rahul Gandhi take oath
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to opposition parties on the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament on Monday, saying that they should actively participate in House proceedings. “The opposition need not bother about their numbers. I hope they speak actively and participate in House proceedings,” Modi said.
Addressing the media before the commencement of the session , Modi said an active opposition is important in a parliamentary democracy.
This is not the first time that Modi has tried to gain the confidence of opposition parties after winning the Lok Sabha elections by a huge margin. During a meeting of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in Varanasi in May, he had said that it was the constitutional responsibility of the Union government to listen to the concerns raised by the opposition.
Modi had pointed out that it was important for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to listen to the opposition even if the opposition had just one member. Modi had also said that it was the duty of the opposition parties to try and win the trust of people.
“When we come to Parliament, we should forget paksh (treasury) and vipaksh (opposition). We should think about issues with a nishpaksh (impartial) spirit and work in the larger interest of the nation,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi said the first Parliament session of the 17th Lok Sabha is an opportunity to work for the aspirations of the people and both Houses must function smoothly to ensure the passage of many important bills.
“My experience also suggests that when Parliament functions smoothly, we are able to fulfil numerous aspirations of the people of India. I am happy that this new House has a high number of women MPs (members of Parliament),” he said.
Modi also said that the first-time MPs brought new aspirations and a determination to serve the people. Out of the 542 MPs elected in the 2019 general elections, 265 are first-time MPs, while 46 are women. “Today marks the start of the first session after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. I welcome all new MPs. With them comes new hopes, new aspirations and new determination to serve,” he said.
The first day of the session saw several leaders, including Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, take oath as members of the 17th Lok Sabha.
Gandhi, who had been a three-time member of the Lok Sabha from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh but was defeated by Union minister Smriti Irani by more than 50,000 votes this time, took oath on Monday as an MP from Wayanad, Kerala. “My 4th consecutive term as a Member of the #LokSabha begins today. Representing Wayanad, Kerala, I begin my new innings in Parliament by taking my oath this afternoon, affirming that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India,” Gandhi said on Twitter after taking oath.
The session, which is scheduled to end on 26 July, will see the Lok Sabha elect a Speaker on 19 June, President Ram Nath Kovind will address both Houses on 20 June and finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the budget on 5 July. Modi will hold meetings with the heads of political parties on 19 June to discuss simultaneous elections and with MPs on 20 June on the issues to be raised in the House.
This session will likely see discussions on key legislation, including the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, and the Indian Medical Council Act. Opposition parties are also likely to aim to corner the government on unemployment, farm distress, the violence in West Bengal, and assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
This news can also be viewed at: https://www.livemint.com/


text:
Securus is a company that is a major part of many prisons. They provide kiosks that allow inmates to do different things. In most prisons, inmates can use the kiosks that are provided by Securus for everything from talking to their loved ones to getting the commissary products that they need to be able to have a more comfortable experience. This is something that has allowed Securus the chance to make things better for prisoners and for the people who love people who are in prison. The company is intended for the convenience and safety of everyone.
When a prisoner wants to get something from commissary, they only have to go to the kiosk. From there, they can see how much money they have to spend, what they can purchase and even what they have purchased in the past. This gives them the chance to make sure that they are doing things right and that they are able to get what they want from the commissary system.
Securus not only gives people the chance to order things from the kiosks, but they can also communicate with their loved ones from the kiosk. Securus makes sure that they are able to provide things like email and video chatting to inmates. The number of ways that someone can communicate on the Securus kiosk is determined by the jail. Some prisons choose to use all of the features that the kiosks offer while some of them only want a few of them for the inmates to be able to use because of the different policies that different prisons have for their inmates.
When it comes to video chatting, Securus knows that the holidays are one of the biggest times that people would want to video chat. This is something that has been able to help people during the holidays. Inmates can make video calls to the people who they love when they are in prison. This gives them the chance to make sure that they are doing things right and that they are able to talk to their family members. It is especially helpful for people who are in jail and whose family cannot come visit them because of different reasons that make it inconvenient.


text:
High booze prices hitting bar patrons in the wallet
Published 4:32 pm, Saturday, June 16, 2012
Tucked away on Capitol Hill, nestled within the nooks and crannies of a dark wooden interior, 1,300 bottles of booze beckon customers to Canon.
Owner Jamie Boudreau created the Seattle bar and restaurant to be a cocktail capitol; a destination for fine drinking, where rare whisky and seldom-found scotch share shelf space in the dimly lit, diminutive joint.
The vast selection of imbibing options even led to Canon's recent nomination for "World's Best Cocktail Bar."
Despite critical acclaim -- and less than a year since opening -- the local hotspot is one of several Seattle bars mixed up in a predicament.
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"We're not raising prices to be greedy. We are just trying to survive," Boudreau said, "and if we get charged more, we can only soak up so much of it."
It's been two weeks of soaking up -- and stirring through -- new prices on alcohol, since liquor sales became private in Washington state. The sticker shock that hit customers in grocery stores and wine shops is now becoming tough to swallow for bars and restaurants as well.
"Unfortunately for the most part, everything's going up, and going up substantially," Boudreau said, referring to the price he pays for many spirits. "A lot of my mid-range pours are going up -- up $5 a shot more, which is kind of outrageous. As soon as you start getting into more interesting spirits, more diverse selection, then you're seeing big jumps in prices."
Boudreau says some bottles more than doubled in price - and, in at least one case, reached nearly triple what he once paid (in the case of a Japanese whiskey). Anticipating a bit of sticker shock, he stocked up on thousands of dollars' worth of alcohol before privatization took effect -- as other Seattle bars have reported doing -- but says he has no choice but to pass some of the increased cost on to the customer.
"If it's specialty stuff, I have to raise my prices, or I'll end up having to shut my doors," he said.
Bar patron Barbara Gregg of Seattle said increased costs wouldn't prohibit her from a night out, but said she could see how others might deal with it differently.
"I'm able to go out and enjoy and pay the price, but certainly it is a big difference," she said, while sipping a cocktail Thursday night. "I enjoy the ambience and the nice people that I meet so I guess I'm willing to pay the price."
Friends Angela Pasquale and Jamie Barton -- who were enjoying Thursday evening happy hour -- agreed.
"I have other expenditures, but I have more disposable income, so the impact for me is maybe minor to moderate, versus someone else," Pasquale said.
"I think about (the price)," Barton added. "When you see drinks getting into the $15 dollar range on a nice cocktail, I'd say that's a little on the pricey side."
Boudreau said he expects to raise some prices as early as this weekend.
"Prices are going up. That's the sad reality. There's really no way around it at this stage of the game," Boudreau said. "Right now it's just a little frustrating. It's disappointing. We'll see how this pans out."


text:
Looking for Mamon in the Kabacan area?
Lady Lee’s Mamon in Kabacan is the best in town.
Want to know how to make Mamon?
Check the steps below:
Line the bottom of Mamon tin molds with a parchment paper, so it is easier to remove once baked. No need to grease. Preheat oven to 170°C/350°F.
In a mixing bowl, beat egg whites using a hand or stand mixer at low speed until foamy (about a minute). Add the cream of tartar and continue beating at medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add granulated sugar (a spoonful at a time) and beat until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
In a larger mixing bowl, add the egg yolks, oil, milk and vanilla extract. Mix using a hand or stand mixer until frothy.
Place the cake flour, powdered sugar, baking powder and salt in a strainer or sifter. Sift the dry ingredients into the egg yolk mixture in 3 to 4 parts interval mixing it with a spatula or spoon after every addition. After all the dry ingredients are added to the egg yolk mixture, beat together at medium speed until the texture becomes lighter and the color lighter (approx 3-4 minutes).
Now gently fold in the meringue (egg whites) into the egg yolk and flour mixture in 2-3 parts until well combined.
Fill up about 3/4 of the prepared Mamon tins with the cake batter. Gently tap each tin to move air bubbles and to level off the batter. Arrange them on a large baking tray.
Bake them for 25-30 minutes or until tops turn golden brown and inserted toothpick come out clean.
Immediately invert the tins onto a wire rack lined with parchment paper. Tap the tins to release the cakes. Turn them topside up.
Brush the tops with melted butter while warm. Sprinkle with granulated sugar and grated cheese.
No time to bake and want to taste the best Mamon in town, but it now. Just add to cart.
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domain: hobby


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The Illinois Legislature on Dec. 2 will consider a bill that would allow the Chicago Board of Education to skip its annual contribution to the Public School Teachers' Pension & Retirement Fund of Chicago if the funded ratio reaches 90%, which it is expected to do this year. As of 1996, the fund was at 83.5%.
The bill, being considered in a special legislative session, would allow use of the money withheld from the city teachers' fund, along with money from ``sin taxes,'' to fund schools.
The $8.2 billion fund will lose $380 million in contributions over 10 years if the bill becomes law, according to an actuarial analysis. The fund's board of trustees opposes the proposal.
Washington State Investment Board, Olympia, allocated money to two U.S. real estate managers and is considering investing in international real estate.
TA Associates was allocated an additional $200 million for U.S. industrial and suburban office properties, bringing its total portfolio to $400 million. Hearthstone Homebuilding Investors was hired to manage $50 million in residential real estate. Both will be funded from cash. Pension Consulting Alliance assisted.
Staff likely will do due diligence on international real estate, a new asset class for the fund, in the next few months, said James Parker, executive director for the $40 billion fund.
The fund also renewed Barclays Global's contract to manage $4.7 billion in passive U.S. equities.
Orange County Employees' Retirement System, Santa Ana, Calif., plans to add small-cap value stocks as a new asset class next year, said Ray Fleming, retirement administrator. He said the amount and source of funding have not yet been identified.
The $3.6 billion fund's consultant, Callan Associates, is expected to direct a search in 1998.
United Asset Management is acquiring 49% of Integra Capital Management, a Canadian manager of managers. Terms were not disclosed.
Integra currently works with two firms, Lincluden Management and Gryphon Investment Counsel, which manage Integra's $3.9 billion in assets on a 50/50 basis. UAM bought 49% of Lincluden in July.
The owners of Integra currently are the firm's principals as well as Lincluden and Gryphon. UAM executives won't say whose ownership is being purchased