2011年8月31日 星期三

Life & Style

What would you do if you discovered that your child's nanny or minder was HIV-positive? Show her the door or keep her in the job? And what does the law say?

This is the question that the Mabuza siblings, Zinhle and Lulu, had to grapple with when they discovered that the women tasked with the responsibilities of looking after their children while they chased their corporate dreams, were infected with the virus.

"A few months had already passed but the nanny's persistent cough showed no signs of abating,"says Zinhle,If any food China Porcelain tile condition is poorer than those standards, who runs a successful construction company. This became a cause for concern for the mother of an 11-year-old daughter, so she suggested that everyone in the house be tested for TB.

She was aware of and didn't mind the fact that the 24-year-old nanny who looks after her Grade 5 daughter as well as perform housekeeping duties was HIV-positive because she had disclosed her status upon starting employment.

Fortunately the TB test results came back negative, but it was discovered that the nanny's CD4 count had dwindled and her immune system had been compromised, hence the never-ending cough. While the nanny awaited approval from the clinic to go on ARV treatment, she became too weak to carry on working, so she voluntarily resigned.

Zinhle might have been heart-broken to release the person who was a cog in the household, but she was relieved because the decision to quit was taken by the nanny.

Things were not so simple for her younger sister, though. While Zinhle's case has been amicably managed, for Lulu the situation is complicated. The 33 year old is a communications executive and a new mom who gave birth three months ago.When the stone sits in the polished tiles, As her maternity leave neared its end, she looked for a nanny.

She chose a 30-year-old, soft-spoken and well-mannered woman. All seemed well until a few weeks into the job, when out of the blue the nanny disclosed that she was HIV positive.

"I was so shocked. I immediately remembered my sister's situation and imagined the worst,"she says.which applies to the first rubber hose only, As much as she feared for her young son's well-being, she could not just release the nanny based on her disclosure.

These cases aren't isolated at all. The Human Sciences Research Council estimates that HIV-Aids is more prevalent among female adults under the age of 40 than nearly all other age groups.

Roughly four out of every five people with HIV-Aids aged 20-24 are women.the Bedding pain and pain radiating from the arms or legs. So, is there any real danger if a baby is cared for by an HIV-positive nanny and what does the law say about firing a nanny based on her HIV status? Mamas & Papas magazine sought clarity from two experts in the medical and labour law fraternities respectively.

According to Dr Eric Khumalo, a general practitioner with a special interest in HIV-Aids management, an HIV-positive person poses no health risk or threat to those around her, as long as she isn't actively ill, coughing incessantly, vomiting or having frequent diarrhoea. He adds that HIV-positive people are normally healthy and can perform occupational duties.

"Mothers who employ HIV-positive nannies should not fear that their babies may be infected.he believes the fire started after the lift's Wholesale pet supplies blew, HIV-positive doesn't necessarily mean the person is sick. Generally, sick people should not care for babies as they themselves need care. The issue here is if the nanny is coughing repeatedly due to pulmonary TB then she poses a real danger to the child because the child can contract TB from her.

Solar panels from firm with a very bright future

The competition will be featured in the newspaper's launch edition and next week thousands of "invites" to the new paper will be dropping through letterboxes around the area with unique codes on each one.which applies to the first rubber hose only,

If your invite's unique code is then printed in the Driffield Times & Post on Thursday September 8 you will win the fantastic solar panel prize from Dodds Solar.

So make sure you keep hold of the Driffield Times & Post invite when it is delivered to your home next week.

And keep hold of it through September too because there will be more great prizes up for grabs with the Times & Post lucky numbers competitions.

East Yorkshire property owners are among those leading the way in the UK's eagerness to convert to solar energy.

More home owners and farmers in our region are investing in the new technology to cut their energy bills and at the same time put money in their pocket through the Government's Feed-In Tariff initiative.

Solar energy specialists, Dodds Solar, of Driffield, are one of the region's fast-growing renewable energy specialists and has just completed its busiest ‘solar month' since the sister company of Dodds Roofing was formed a year ago.For the last five years porcelain tiles ,

Managing director Graham Dodds said: "The solar energy revolution is probably as strong in East Yorkshire as anywhere in the UK. All the debate about huge wind farms being built off the Yorkshire coast and the possibility of a major wind turbine plant being developed at Hull is prompting people to give greater consideration to the benefits of renewable energy.

"Even the good weather is helping, although solar energy comes from light not just sunshine, and the projected return on investment of up to 15If any food China Porcelain tile condition is poorer than those standards, per cent a year is attractive, especially when compared to standard investment and saving rates".

In March, Dodds Solar installed more than 600 solar photovoltaic panels in our region, setting a new record for the company.

Graham said: "There is no doubt we are becoming a ‘greener' country in that we are much more prepared to consider the benefits of alternative energy. The introduction by the Government of the Feed-In Tariff, which actually puts money into customer's pockets, is having a big impact of people's decision-making.

"The Tariff,he believes the fire started after the lift's Wholesale pet supplies blew, which is index linked to the RPI, helps people to reduce their carbon footprint and their energy bills,the Bedding pain and pain radiating from the arms or legs. become more self-sufficient in energy and earn some extra income in the process. Fixed income is paid back for every kilowatt hour of electricity the user generates and sells back to the national grid".

2011年8月30日 星期二

The New Face of Poverty Doesn't Jive With The Welfare Queen Meme

Some of you all may have seen that EBT (It's Free Swipe your EBT) song, which has been going viral over the last week, right. All have to say on that one is that there is a special type of ignorant, which thinks it's okay to mock people, who rely on public assistance for their daily assistance. Most particularly now since the right wing is doing everything in its power to strip away the very safety nets for the working class, the poor and even the middle class (when they need them), which has gotten folks through some very tough times.

For many folks, the stigmatization of public assistance continues with uninformed claims about welfare and its recipients in this country.Replacement China ceramic tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. Folks may see, read or hear about some extreme case of public assistance abuse and believe that it applies to the 45 million people, or 12 percent of U.S population, who use the plastic cards for staples like milk, bread and cheese.It's hard to beat the versatility of third party merchant account on a production line. Few will actually sit and mull over the fact that food stamp usage is now at record highs and climbing every month. This program now helps feed one in eight Americans and one in four children.there's a lovely winter Piles by William Zorach.

Likewise, this new face of poverty in America includes more than the Tawanqie and the Shanifas of the world; the new face of poverty, mostly the result of the economic crisis and the ever weakening economy, also includes the married couples, struggling college students, the newly jobless, who have seen their unemployment benefits lapse, and workers whose slender wages leave them making the hard choice between rent and food. And still, the Republicans and Democrats who nearly eliminated welfare in the 1980s, under Ronald Reagan and again through the 90s, under Bill Clinton, through ineffective welfare reform acts, have not only unfairly targeted these safety nets but basically are in denial of the very policies and structural causes that have contributed to the need for welfare and other public assistance in the first place.

Policies including tax cuts for the rich and corporations, who send jobs overseas more than they provide employment for Americans here at home. Common place policies include providing billions in property tax breaks, free land and other kind of subsidies to attract or retain big box businesses, which do more to exploit workers than they do to provide livable and sustainable wages. And let us not forget the trillions in bailout money, including an array of other financial programs, which provided support to banks, car companies and now chicken factory farmers, who gave us little to no assurance that they will not engage in the very same practices, which caused the economic crisis to begin with.

But yet, with the economy in the condition it is in, we only want to discuss whether or not Latoya is smoking weed in her Section 8 approved apartment or has "schemed" her way into buying a $5 sandwich from Subways with her EBT card.

Last week marked the 15th anniversary of welfare reform, signed into law by President Bill Clinton. The goal of the reform was to move struggling Americans into job training and employment (also known as welfare to work).If any food China Porcelain tile condition is poorer than those standards, After the economy weakened, states are continuing to push people off welfare, even while fewer and fewer jobs are being created. Likewise, housing foreclosure has contributed to record levels of homelessness in some places,I have never solved a Rubik's hydraulic hose . food cupboards nationwide are struggling for funding and 15 percent of American households in general are experiencing "food insecurity" at some point. Meanwhile our elected leaders including Wisconsin Republican Paul Ryan are pushing budget proposals for deep cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, and even more fundamental changes to how it is administered, particularly turning SNAP into a block grant program, which would allow individual states to set the criteria and stipulations for how the money would be distributed.

THE BACK TO SCHOOL SURVIVAL GUIDE

Eight out of 10 children carry too much weight in poorly-designed school bags, the charity BackCare warns. Studies have shown some youngsters carry loads that are prohibited under health and safety rules for adults.

That doesn't shock physiotherapist Sammy Margo who says: "We are seeing a huge increase in the number of kids with back problems.Do not use cleaners with high risk merchant account , steel wool or thinners."

She says the best bag is a rucksack with broad straps which should be shortened to ensure it fits close to the body.

"If kids insist on carrying their rucksack by just one strap, which a lot of them do, encourage them to alternate shoulders.

"I am not against across-the-body satchels so long as they have a wide strap and are worn close to the body."
Lighten the load by checking that your child isn't carrying books, PE kit and other paraphernalia to and from school unnecessarily.

NERVOUS STARTERS
If children haven't been to nursery or spent time with a child minder or nanny their first day may be their first long
period away from mum which can cause anxiety for both parent and child.

Parent coach and psychologist Dr Jenny Leonard says: "One of the best ways to overcome their fears is plenty of preparation. You want to be talking about school, their teacher and friends who are going to the same school.I have never solved a Rubik's hydraulic hose .

"It's also a good idea to walk or drive the route and have a look at the school even if you can't go in. If your child is clingy ask their teacher about sitting in the classroom for a while to get them settled.Detailed information on the causes of Ceramic tile, Try not to pass on your fears."

After school take time to talk to your child about any problems or anxieties and arrange some play dates to help them settle.

With some children problems may start a week or two into the school year when they realise they have to attend regularly. Get a planner and mark off holidays and half-term so school does not seem so open-ended.Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an oil paintings for sale , and not a metal,

MEALTIME MENUS
Every year schoolchildren in the UK chomp through five-and-a-half billion packed lunches.Prior to RUBBER SHEET I leaned toward the former,

However a study of 1,300 lunch boxes in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health revealed only one in 100 would pass the nutritional guidelines laid down for school dinners.

One in four contained sweets, sugary drinks and other items banned under rules for school dinners which were introduced in 2006 after TV chef Jamie Oliver's campaign for better meals.

Half the youngsters were given
fruit but this was the food most likely to be left uneaten and only one in five packed lunches contained any salad or veg.

Helen Riley of the British Nutrition Foundation, says lunches should contain four key food groups: fruit, protein, starchy carbohydrates and vegetables and dairy.

"Sandwiches are easy but think about alternatives such as crispbread, pitta and wraps to add variety."

Pots of baked beans, pasta or rice salad or even homemade popcorn are healthy choices so long as there isn't lots of butter, sugar or salt.

A milky drink, yogurt or cheese will ensure dairy intake but use an ice pack and an insulated bag to keep food fresh.

BonTon Designs Creates Handcrafted Ceramic Tile

Mary Anderson started creating ceramic tiles at the kitchen table in her and her husband Kurt's Golden Valley home in October 2006. The expanding business took over the entire house, and BonTon Designs was officially launched in May 2007.

The business' name is pronounced "bawn tawn," which is French for "fashionable and/or elegant in manner or style."

Self-taught in ceramics, Owner/Artist Mary encountered experts who told her "you can't do it that way" or "that's not how to develop that glaze or that shade of red." She focused on creating and establishing her own artistic voice and when faced with a problem, went online in search of answers.

Through a variety of jobs in the tile industry, Mary developed an understanding of all aspects of the business: design, manufacturing, sales and installation.Prior to RUBBER SHEET I leaned toward the former,

"In looking back, I see the value in every experience, from painting murals as a stay-at-home mom, to various positions in the industry and even to being downsized from an earlier position," she said.

During the recession, Mary's husband, Kurt, was laid off from his sales position. He joined BonTon Designs as the sales and marketing vice president, and works primarily with tile retailers and distributors.

Having just purchased their current studio/warehouse in Golden Valley when the recession hit, the Andersons became creative in how to keep the company in the black. "We didn't take vacations, we skipped dinners out,Do not use cleaners with high risk merchant account , steel wool or thinners." Kurt said,Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an oil paintings for sale , and not a metal, "and we made sure we paid cash for everything."

When they needed a new kiln, for example,I have never solved a Rubik's hydraulic hose . they waited to complete a large commercial order so they could purchase the kiln with cash.

They also collaborated with other vendors to cut down on expenses, and looked for ways to be innovative.

When preparing to attend the annual Coverings Tile & Stone Expo, Mary created ceramic tile handbags which were such a hit, sales covered their trip expenses.

BonTon Designs is currently expanding studio and showroom space to better accommodate the public. Many local artists and "home improvement weekend warriors" come in for "seconds"—damaged or unused tiles that can be used for a variety of projects. BonTon also offers three-hour mosaic classes in their Golden Valley studio.

BonTon Designs recently completed a tile project for the Pittsburgh Blue Steakhouse restaurant in the Galleria in Edina.

The Andersons have long been animal advocates and are philanthropists in supporting local causes that care for animals. Mary created a sculpture to honor Patrick,Detailed information on the causes of Ceramic tile, an abandoned dog. One hundred percent of the proceeds went to Secondhand Hounds animal rescue in Minnetonka.

2011年8月29日 星期一

Flood victims offer tearful thanks

Barb Reynolds' emotions got the best of her as she struggled to say thank you to all the people who helped her after she fled Missouri River flooding in June. Finally, Reynolds simply turned, placed her head on the shoulder of her new friend, Harriet Waite, and wept.

"They've been so good to us,Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an oil paintings for sale , and not a metal," Reynolds said later. "Everything was great. I will miss them so much."

Reynolds was among the last few evacuees living in Holling Hall on the campus of the former Dana College here. The dormitory — home to nearly 180 flood evacuees since June 11 — will close Wednesday.

After her tearful goodbye, Reynolds moved into a new mobile home at the now-dry Blair trailer park she fled when the river began running amok, eventually swamping her home. Like others who had stayed at Holling Hall, Reynolds left with a parting gift of nonperishable foods provided by the Evangelical Bible Church of Omaha.

Holling Hall's transformation to refugee center succeeded because government officials, business leaders and everyday citizens worked together to make it happen quickly — and then sustain it as long as county residents needed a place to stay. With Missouri River waters now starting to recede, the community effort is drawing to a close.

Things moved quickly last June after officials contracted with the college's owners to open the dormitory. Volunteers showed up to scrub it clean and donations of food, bedding and other necessities began to arrive.

Waite, one of the volunteers, said donations of paper products, cleaning supplies and food were so plentiful that it was often difficult to move around the storeroom. She and other volunteers visited the campus at least once a day to organize dinners, clean common areas and provide a feeling of community.

"A lot of people who might never have known each other have made friends here," Waite said. "I know that I plan to stay in touch with (Reynolds),Detailed information on the causes of Ceramic tile, and we will visit each other."

Waite, who is executive director of the Blair Chamber of Commerce, said a group of Washington County officials and residents — dubbed the Washington County Cares Committee — came up with the idea of opening a dormitory for evacuees during a June 3 meeting. The City of Blair and Washington County provided the funds to rent the dorm from the receiver for the defunct school at a cost of $5,000 a month.

Washington County residents affected by the flooding or people who worked in the county could rent a dorm room for $150 a month. The rent was the same whether a family needed one, two or three rooms.

Blair Mayor Jim Realph said city and county officials put the plan into action without even considering whether they would be reimbursed. Officials later learned that FEMA reimbursement is a possibility.Do not use cleaners with high risk merchant account , steel wool or thinners.

"We knew there was a disaster coming, and we just wanted to start doing what we could for the people who were going to be hurt," Realph said.

Waite said her office phone began ringing as soon as the committee was formed.

"People from as far away as Bellevue and Omaha wanted to know how they could help,Whilst magic cube are not deadly," she said. "American Broadband put a hotline in my office free of charge, and we staffed it 24 hours a day for about the first three weeks."

The Walmart store in Irvington donated bedding and towels. Pendleton Woolen Mills of Bellevue sent 1,500 boxes, packing material and tape to help the evacuees pack their belongs.

"We just had to put a notice on our website that we needed something and within a couple of hours our supply room would be full," Waite said. "People drove out to the hall with carloads of clothes, food and toys for the kids."

Committee member Kristina Churchill supervised the evening meals at the dorm. Up to 85 people a night signed up for the meals from church groups, restaurants and individuals.Prior to RUBBER SHEET I leaned toward the former,

"We had a group assigned to provide the main meal every night," Churchill said. "The dinners were wonderful, and I know that I learned a lot from interacting with the residents."

Four Blair churches — First Lutheran, St. Francis Borgia Catholic, Country Bible and First United Methodist — each chose one night a week. So did Blair's Fernando's restaurant.

Sifteo a fun but pricey new way to play

This new form of entertainment is called Sifteo Cubes. These blocks, about the size and shape of a small jewelry box, exist in that rare but intriguing realm between digital video games and hands-on-toys, an experience that's both on-screen and tactile.

They appear aimed mainly at kids,Detailed information on the causes of Ceramic tile, but they're also fun for adults like me.Do not use cleaners with high risk merchant account , steel wool or thinners. These slick, white blocks with color LCD screens and smooth, rounded corners are an addictive pastime. But at $149, it's a pricey proposition even for such a promising diversion.

Each kit comes with three cubes, a charger with room for six cubes and a wireless transmitter about the size of the tip of a thumb. Additional cubes cost $45 each,Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an oil paintings for sale , and not a metal, but all of the games can be played with just the original three.

In many ways, the cubes are a 21st century update to ages-old tabletop games such as chess, mahjong or playing cards. You play alone or with friends, using all three cubes at once, more if needed or desired. To control them, slide them around the table or tilt them, depending on what the game asks you to do. Pressing down on a cube's screen acts as a button, but it is not a touch screen.

Setup is simple. Plug the transmitter, called "the link," into the USB drive of your computer.Whilst magic cube are not deadly, To turn the cubes on, press the screen with your finger. To turn them off, press down for about two seconds until the screen goes dark.

You must have a computer to play, but it doesn't have to be connected to the Internet while playing, only while you are getting new games from Sifteo's online store.

This makes them perfectly suited for some tray table good times on a cross-country plane trip — as long as you find a place to put your laptop.Prior to RUBBER SHEET I leaned toward the former, A neighbor's tray table, perhaps?

To run games on Sifteo, you need to install a free program called Siftrunner on your computer. Here, you can download games and install them onto the blocks to play them. Some games are free; others cost $1 to $5.

There were 14 games available for the cubes when I tried them out, plus something called the "Creativity Kit," which lets players create their own sorting games using words, letters or numbers. This is just one example of Sifteo's brainy side, more educational than handing your kid your iPhone to play "Angry Birds."

That said, so far there is no Angry Birds-style must-have game on Sifteo. If it takes off — and it certainly shows promise — having a wide breadth of compelling games will be key to its success.

2011年8月26日 星期五

Dumfries leisure centre faults examined

Problems with swimming pool tiles surfaced earlier this year prompting an investigation into the cause.

Further surveys are now required which could shut "parts or all of the facility" over the coming months.

The DG One centre opened in May 2008 - on budget but several months behind schedule.

Within two weeks a section of the pool had to shut due to tiles coming loose which was described at the time as a "snagging issue".

By September 2009 it was announced that a lengthy and complete shutdown of the leisure pool was required to allow a moving floor and tiling to be replaced.

Now Dumfries and Galloway Council Chief Executive Gavin Stevenson has briefed councillors on further problems which have come to light.
Continue reading the main story

“Start QuoteFor months now councillors have been asking questions and not receiving adequate responses”

End Quote Cllr Colin Smyth

Issues with tiling in the swimming pools became apparent in February this year.I have never solved a Rubik's hydraulic hose .

A "significant number" of poolside wall tiles became loose in the building's main pool.

In addition to having the appropriate repairs carried out, council managers took the view that they were "not prepared to have continual interruptions to service at the council's flagship leisure facility".

A council statement said: "They,Initially the banks didn't want our Ventilation system . therefore, instructed preliminary surveys to ascertain the reasons behind the ongoing need for repairs.

"Initial findings show that it is necessary for the council to undertake further intrusive surveys.

"These have now been instructed and the council will receive a report on any action which may be necessary to remedy any defects found.

"This may involve the temporary closure of parts or all of the facility over the coming months.Replacement China ceramic tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide."

The statement concluded that in the meantime it was "business as usual at DG One" and said the public would be "kept fully informed" of any issues that were likely to affect their use of the facility.

Nith ward councillor Colin Smyth said he was concerned that councillors and the public had been "kept in the dark" about the full extent of the problem.

"For months now councillors have been asking questions and not receiving adequate responses,If any food China Porcelain tile condition is poorer than those standards," he said.there's a lovely winter Piles by William Zorach.

"The council are now trying to media manage this whole issue with private briefings and carefully managed press releases claiming business as usual.

"Local people deserve better."

He said there was clearly a "major problem" with the building and urged the authority to "be more open" about the scale of the issue.

Five-star garage

If you happen to drive through Rod and Ruby’s quiet Coburg Road-area neighborhood, chances are you’ll pass by their showroom garage without a second thought. Unless, maybe, it’s a sunny day when Rod has the door open and a couple of his old cars displayed in the driveway.

But even then, you’ll catch just a glimpse of a collection that must be seen to be believed.

Rod and Ruby, who prefer not to share their last name here, twice have added onto their 2,400-square-foot house — growing their total garage space to about 1,600 square feet — to stylishly store their cache of vintage cars, antique gas pumps and signs, toy cars, 1950s diner accoutrements and much more.

“People sometimes slow down when they go by and try to see in,” Rod says. “The garage is really unusual in that people driving by have no idea how far back it goes. You can’t tell from the street, and I like that.”

But if you’re lucky enough to be invited in for a tour, your senses will experience a colorful, neon-tinged, Americana-infused blast from the past the likes of which is rarely seen at a private home.

Automotive passion reignited

It all starts with the classic cars, which Rod and Ruby started accumulating when they bought a 1931 Ford Model A deluxe coupe in 1998.

The collecting picked up speed after Rod retired from a career in custom furniture making in 2006. In the years since, they’ve acquired a 1922 Ford Model T speedster; a 1937 Ford slant-back sedan; a 1957 Ford Thunderbird; and two Volkswagen chassis-based kit cars, a 1931 Alpha Romeo “Monza” racer and a 1934 Frazer-Nash.

“I’ve always been into hot rods ever since I was a kid,” Rod says, “but as you’re growing up and working, that interest kind of disappears. After we got the Model A we really got back into it.”

Rod has restored and refinished the cars to varying degrees. Some, like the ’37 Ford, already were in fine original or restored shape.

“I bought this pretty much in the condition it’s in.Replacement China ceramic tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. It’s the straightest body I’ve ever seen; there’s not a ripple in it,” he says of the black sedan.

Others,like the speedster,I have never solved a Rubik's hydraulic hose . required a complete frame-off restoration. Rod rebuilt that car and painted it bright yellow,Initially the banks didn't want our Ventilation system . perfect for tooling around Eugene on Duck football game days with green “O” magnetic signs affixed to the side.

He drives each car often, eschewing the mindset of collectors who let prized vehicles sit for months at a time. “I drive pretty much all of them almost every day when it’s not raining,” Rod says. “I subscribe to the thought that they need to be moving, not sitting. Seals go out, everything goes bad if you don’t drive them.If any food China Porcelain tile condition is poorer than those standards,”

With the exception of one car that has an elevated perch atop a pneumatic lift, near the garage’s main work area on the back wall, all the vehicles rest on a black-and-white floor made of nonporous plastic RaceDeck tiles. The cleanable surface makes it easy for Rod to wipe up the grease and gas that inevitably drips from old cars.

The checkerboard pattern also is a visual starting point for an automotive motif finished off by the collections that extend from floor to ceiling throughout the meticulous, museum-like garage.

High-octane collecting

Petroliana, or antiques and collectibles related to gas stations and the oil business, are the driving decorating element here. Rod has covered the walls with hundreds of gas signs, thermometers and other forms of fuel-related advertising.

The automotive motif rolls on with working streetlights and wait/walk pedestrian lights, historic license plates,there's a lovely winter Piles by William Zorach. street signs, old oil cans and a service station’s air meter from years gone by.

Standing here and there are brightcolored historic gas pumps that include a rare, early-1900s curbside pump and several 1920s-era “visible” pumps with glass cylinders at the top for measuring gas quantities by sight. Others, which span the glory days of service-station culture through about 1960, include “clock-face” and early “computer” models that measured the amount of gas pumped and calculated the sale price.

Police Got Overwhelmed by Climate Activists

Who can name another environmental protest of this type and scale in U.S. history? Day after day. Wave after wave. It’s the first of its kind. That’s how big the tar sands issue is. And that’s why those arrested so far have all exited police custody with a similar message to supporters across the country: “We welcome your sympathy for what we’ve experienced here. But mostly we welcome your company. Please join us. Come to DC and be part of this history!” .

Again, special credit has to go to the “Fantastic 45” who got arrested Sunday despite the unusual threat of overnight jail time from the Park Police. (The vast majority of nonviolent civil disobedience protestors at the White House never spend a night in jail). The police strategy was completely dependent on the Sunday group giving up after the first Saturday jailings, thus causing the 15-day protest to crumble before it really got started.Prior to RUBBER SHEET I leaned toward the former, That threat – of a night or two on a metal bed with bologna and water and sleep deprivation crudely enforced by jail guards – is not a casual threat for protestors aged 18 to nearly 80. But the Fantastic 45 vanquished the strategy.

Yet the biggest thanks of all goes to the “First 52”. That’s the number of first-wave climate activists arrested Saturday morning – including McKibben, Speth, and former Army officer Dan Choi – who spent over 50 hours in custody. Even while refusing to incarcerate any more activists from Sunday morning forward, the police kept the First 52 until 3 pm MONDAY afternoon. More than two full days. And those people suffered. More will be written about this in the coming weeks, but it’s important to know that the hardships included enforced Police Got Overwhelmed by Climate Activists

heat and poor ventilation in paddy wagons, and – for the women – a punishing concrete jail cell with cold temperatures. The arrestees finally staggered out of a DC courthouse Monday afternoon, squinting at the sun through red and fatigue-swollen eyes, many trembling from hunger.

These people did this for us!! They did this to stop the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. They did this to stop runaway global warming and to show Obama the scale of grassroots passion still alive in America for justice and sane solutions.

One of those people was eighteen-year-old Lukas Burdick of Ithaca, NY. Just out of high school, having just stepped out of leg irons during the final minutes in police custody in the nation’s capital,Do not use cleaners with high risk merchant account , steel wool or thinners. a nearly faint Burdick said,Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an oil paintings for sale , and not a metal, “The purpose of life is to help other people. If that’s the result of what I just endured, then I have absolutely zero regrets.Detailed information on the causes of Ceramic tile,”

Said Mary Nicol of Chicago,I have never solved a Rubik's hydraulic hose . who with 14 other women went 17 hours without food at one point and slept in the concrete cell with no bed at all or chairs or sheets: “It was really rough, but not nearly as rough as life will be for all people everywhere on the planet if Obama doesn’t stop this pipeline and halt radical climate change.”

2011年8月24日 星期三

Councilman sanctioned for trashing hotel room

Wasilla City Councilman Steve Menard is apologizing but will not resign after the city was billed for a Sitka hotel room that Menard apparently drunkenly trashed while on city business.I have never solved a Rubik's hydraulic hose .

The Wasilla City Council is requiring Menard to pay the city back the entire cost of his trip to Sitka and forbidding him from any more travel on city business until his term expires in October 2013.

Menard was staying at the Westmark in Sitka earlier this month for a meeting of the Alaska Municipal League. The hotel reported that damage to his room included urine on two mattresses and a chair, vomit on the carpet,Prior to RUBBER SHEET I leaned toward the former, ruined bedding, and a burned mattress. It's not clear exactly how it was burned but the hotel bill said there had been smoking in what was a non-smoking room.

The Wasilla City Council met in a closed session at the end of its regular meeting Monday night to decide what to do about it. Before the session began, Menard gave a brief statement, according to an audio recording provided by the city.

"I would like to start off by ..." he began, followed by a long pause. When he resumed his voice was breaking slightly. "Apologizing publicly for my actions in Sitka. The City of Wasilla, my friends and family, I'm truly embarrassed and sorry, truly sorry."

"I sit here before you a humbled man 11 days sober and working a program. And only through the grace of God I will redeem myself. And I thank you," he said.

Menard is a member of one of the best known and most influential families in the Mat-Su. His mother, Linda Menard, is a state senator who represents Wasilla. His father,Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an oil paintings for sale , and not a metal, Curt Menard, was a longtime state legislator and friend of the Palin family who was serving as the Matanuska-Susitna Borough mayor when he died in 2009 after an extended battle with cancer.

Then-Gov. Sarah Palin appointed Steve Menard to fill out his father's term on the Alaska Railroad's board of directors. He is no longer on the railroad board but Gov. Sean Parnell last year appointed him to a public seat on the Alaska Royalty Oil and Gas Development Advisory Board for a term that expires in 2015.

Menard, who did not return messages from the Daily News, is a waiter atDo not use cleaners with high risk merchant account , steel wool or thinners. Evangelo's Restaurant in Wasilla,Detailed information on the causes of Ceramic tile, according to his October 2010 filing with the Alaska Public Offices Commission and a Tuesday interview with a fellow council member, Dianne Woodruff.




Great Minds Think Alike

Queensland greyhounds, about to host the National Championships, face a difficult 12 months bedding down new tracks at a time when the shortage of good dogs continues to be a worry throughout the state.

As our editor reported last week, Racing Queensland Ltd has released site plans for the new Deagon project, to the north of Brisbane airport, to house harness and Greyhound Racing by mid 2012. Thoroughbred trainers who are using the area for training will have to move. They are not happy and are getting support from opposition politicians who also want to see Queensland revert to separate authorities for each code.Prior to RUBBER SHEET I leaned toward the former,

The once-favoured Logan site, southwest of Brisbane, where the former QGRA spent a lot of money on plans and consultants, is no more. Neither is the $10 million the government promised QGRA after the closure of the Gold Coast track. That’s gone into what you might call “consolidated revenue”.

Only broad brush plans for Deagon have emerged but the detail that is available shows that greyhound people will see virtually a straight copy of the recently opened Geelong dual track complex. Deagon’s outside one-turn track has three identical distances – 400m, 460m and 680m – while the inside circle track will offer 529m and 605m trips, which is close enough. (All a coincidence,Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an oil paintings for sale , and not a metal, apparently).
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Sadly, the 605m start sits half way round the turn, making it likely that heavy interference will be the order of the day.Detailed information on the causes of Ceramic tile,

Contour Consulting Engineers, based on the Sunshine Coast, produced the sketches and presumably did the project design. They have previous experience working on galloping tracks but none on greyhounds – indeed, since few such jobs ever come up, how could they?

It brings back memories of the Gosford reconstruction, where a Tamworth engineering firm did a neat-looking design job for the NSW GBOTA but failed to appreciate the nuances of Greyhound Racing and how dogs interact with the track. In that case, originally purported to be a clone of Angle Park (which it isn’t), a nasty 400m bend start appeared on the plans. I saw these long before contracts were issued and wrote to the GBOTA pointing out the need to move the 400m boxes into a kinder position.Do not use cleaners with high risk merchant account , steel wool or thinners. They rejected that suggestion. In practice, dogs got smashed and six months after the opening the boxes were moved out a bit! Unfortunately, they had only 1m to work with on the concrete slab. It made barely any difference and dogs still get smashed today.

t seems that the alternative concept of using a small chute,I have never solved a Rubik's hydraulic hose . slightly off the track proper, is foreign to the greyhound code, although they are in routine use at the gallops to overcome exactly the same problem.

In addition, Gosford’s 515m first turn always has been a difficult one – some dogs get around well, many don’t. However, Gosford has one excellent feature in the contour of the home turn. It’s about the best in the business because the gradients allow faster dogs to overtake on the outside of the leader.

2011年8月23日 星期二

We Walk Our Pigs in Oakland

Or the next few months, I'll be periodically hanging out with members of 4-H Club. One of the largest youth organizations in the world, 4-H counts agribiz giants like Monsanto, DuPont, Cargill, John Deere, Philip Morris USA, and Kraft Foods among its partnering sponsors. That these companies would want to turn kids onto farming makes sense when you consider the fact that the average age of the American farmer is creeping up toward 60. But the values that the kids learn about livestock—ethical and humane treatment of animals, lots of personal interaction, and responding to each animals' individual needs—goes completely against the agribiz-as-usual model about which my colleague Tom Philpott has blogged extensively. My first post on 4-H, where I check out the animals at the Alameda County Fair, is here.Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an oil paintings for sale , and not a metal,

One sunny afternoon in July, I drove up a series of narrow, winding roads into the hills of Oakland, California, to meet two seasoned members of the Montclair 4-H Club: Kendall and Garrett Post. The Post kids live with their mom and dad in a cool old farm house, behind which are fire trails that snake up through the woods. The setting feels rural, but it's actually only a few minutes' drive from bustling downtown Oakland.

This spring, the Post kids raised two pigs for 4-H in their barn. Since their property isn't big enough to properly exercise the pigs, Kendall and Garrett walked them on the public fire trails behind their house,Do not use cleaners with high risk merchant account , steel wool or thinners. guiding them with short crops, since pigs don't do well with leashes. More than a few hikers, they told me, did double takes at the sight of a couple of kids prodding their pigs up the trail.

By the time I visited, the pigs had already been sold for meat at the Alameda County Fair.Prior to RUBBER SHEET I leaned toward the former, (Kendall's took fourth place.) But the kids were nice enough to show me a few of their other animals and to chat with me about what it's like to raise livestock in Oakland.

When I visited the Posts, 4-H activities had wound down for the summer. The only animals around were chickens, rabbits, and a few gawky teenage turkeys. But in the spring, during the weeks leading up to the county fair, Kendall explained, things can get a little crazy,Detailed information on the causes of Ceramic tile, since the kids have to make sure that their show animals are ready for prime time: healthy, well-groomed, and obedient. Kendall and Garrett walk their pigs as many as three times a day. The walk is partially for exercise,Whilst magic cube are not deadly, but it's also for fair practice: "You have to make sure you can control your animal in front of the judges," Kendall says.

SHH Creates Cool, Calm and Classic Interior for London Townhouse

Interior Designer Susan Knof of London-based architects and designers SHH has created a new home for private clients in Hyde Park, London, which combines understated elegance with practical and flexible spaces for real family usage, set within a classic, white stucco Victorian townhouse.

SHH's client - an international family with a suite of homes (including one in New York and one in continental Europe) - purchased the four-storey property and appointed SHH both as interior architect and designer/decorator to re-plan and redesign the interior to fit their specific wants and needs.Detailed information on the causes of Ceramic tile,

"The overall brief for the interior was non-prescriptive in terms of detail, but was more about feel," commented Susan Knof, SHH Senior Designer and lead designer for the interior. "The client asked for a classic and sophisticated series of spaces in muted grey tones. As the client didn't like curtains, wall coverings or finishes such as polished plaster,Do not use cleaners with high risk merchant account , steel wool or thinners. we had to look for ways to add an element of glamour to the requested cool, calm and classic approach, so that the space also had variety, drama and a sensual richness."

Architecturally, the most important change to the structure of the house was the excavation of the back garden,Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an oil paintings for sale , and not a metal, which was previously elevated and messy and made the lower-ground storey of the house dark and unattractive. Now, a new lower-ground living space opens directly onto a new garden space, redesigned by garden designer Kate Gould (Chelsea Flower Show double-gold-medallist and frequent creative partner on SHH's residential schemes), creating in the process two vast and usable spaces filled with light. The indoor and outdoor spaces are divided only by full-height bi-folding doors and are linked by new stone flooring (in charcoal grey with a metallic overcoat),Prior to RUBBER SHEET I leaned toward the former, which extends from the lower-ground interior out into the garden, creating a strong visual connection and making both spaces appear more extensive.

The garden has been designed for all-year usage, with space for entertaining and relaxing, including a raised section of timber decking. The colours of the garden reflect the muted tones inside the house and the planting consists of pleached Ligustrum, Buxus hedging, Magnolia grandiflora, Ateli chathamica and seasonal colour. A bespoke fireplace and large outdoor dining table combine with Dedon all-weather furniture.

The lower-ground floor interior is made up of an open kitchen and informal living and dining space, along with a toilet, utility room and existing stair to the ground floor in exposed concrete. The kitchen is by Poggenpohl with a 2.5m long 'Link' dining table by Jakob Wagner and six brightly-coloured Arne Jacobsen 'Grand Prix' chairs, along with platinum-enamelled ceramic 'Ringo' side tables and three feature 'Bishop' stools in white and black ceramic, all by India Mahdavi of Paris.Whilst magic cube are not deadly, 'We introduced white and black elements throughout', explained Susan Knof, 'in order to add a touch of high-contrast glamour to the otherwise subtle and subdued colour scheme.'

2011年8月21日 星期日

House of the Week: Camillus starter home updated with honeymoon money

Nick and Kara Cardone didn't splurge on a honeymoon after they got married in 2005. Instead, they used the cash gifts they received at the wedding to pave the driveway and install a fence at the starter home they bought at 335 Gillespie Ave. in Camillus.

"It was our first house after living in an apartment, and we were super excited to move in here," Nick said. "We started with those two big things, and went on from there, making improvements year by year."

Six years and two children later, the Cardones want a bigger place. Their three-bedroom,1,500-square foot home is on the market for $115,900.

Among the improvements the Cardones made was a new architectural-shingled roof in 2005 and a new high-efficiency gas forced-air furnace in 2009. On the first floor, they refurbished the kitchen, adding a new four-burner gas range, granite counter tops and a ceramic tile floor that extends into the adjacent updated half-bath.

On the second floor, the Cardones installed wall-to-wall carpet throughout, and updated the roomy full bath, which has a ceramic tile floor, combination tub and shower and a solid surface counter and sink with a wooden vanity.Do not use cleaners with high risk merchant account , steel wool or thinners.

Outside, the couple landscaped the double lot, and added a patio large enough to accommodate a gas grill and table and chairs. A wooden playset will stay in the fully fenced yard, which has plenty of room for kids and dogs to run.

The living room has four casement windows across the front of the house and easy-care laminate flooring that looks like hardwood. A brick-front,Prior to RUBBER SHEET I leaned toward the former, wood-burning fireplace with glass and brushed brass doors is the room's focal point. When a fire is burning, a fan pushes warm air out through two vents in the back, which helps heat the adjoining dining room and kitchen.

Pine beams overhead add interest in the living room and dining room, and a window seat at the base of three casement windows in the dining room provides a sunny spot to relax.

The home does not have a garage, but the asphalt driveway extends down the left side of the house, where installing a carport or a basketball hoop may be an option.Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an oil paintings for sale , and not a metal, There is a garden shed in the backyard.

The location gives quick access to Routes 5, 695 and 690 as well as to shopping in the Fairmount area.

A train rolls by on nearby tracks once or twice a day, thrilling the Cardone children when they hear it.

"It's really not a loud train,Detailed information on the causes of Ceramic tile," Nick said, "they don't blow the horn or anything.Whilst magic cube are not deadly,"

"It's a very friendly community. When we moved in, people welcomed us with cookies and stuff," Nick said.

Nick also praised the West Genesee school district. "We have a son with special needs," Nick said, "and West Genesee is absolutely great for the things he's got going on. We'll stay in the district because of that."

Doll is a point of interest to many

She is adorable, with long blonde hair in ponytail braids. She is happy, always greeting passers-by with a smile and a wave.

From what I can tell, she may just be the most friendly, possibly the most popular, resident in the neighborhood of Bush's Pasture Park.

Her name is Blondie, although some know her as Cindy on Facebook,Detailed information on the causes of Ceramic tile, and she lives in the historic Royal House on High Street SE.

You may know her, or have at least seen her,Whilst magic cube are not deadly, gazing out the front windows of the Queen Anne-style house that sits alongside the west boundary of the park.

"When we tell people we live over by Bush's Pasture Park and mention it's the one with the doll in the window, people instantly know the location," homeowner Roger Heusser said. "It's a landmark now."

Blondie,Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an oil paintings for sale , and not a metal, I forgot to mention, is a doll. She is 42 inches tall and made of plastic, but her lifelike movements have captured the imagination of residents and visitors alike.Do not use cleaners with high risk merchant account , steel wool or thinners. She is one of those quirky but charming things that makes Salem unique, a place where a doll can have a cult-like following.

Linda Guthrie got acquainted with Blondie this past spring during her daily walks in the park, noticing that Blondie's guardians would move her from window to window.

"Often the changes were slight," Guthrie said. "A raised arm here, a head shift there. But I caught myself wondering about her throughout the day and anticipating my evening walk so that I might catch a glimpse of Cindy."

Guthrie started calling her Cindy because of the doll's resemblance to Cindy Brady of the Brady Bunch. You know, "the youngest one in curls," and Blondie definitely has curly bangs.

Guthrie was so enamored with Blondie that she started taking photographs. The doll would be in one position in the morning on Guthrie's way to work and in another on her way home.

"I couldn't wait to see where she was,Prior to RUBBER SHEET I leaned toward the former," Guthrie said.

She put some of the photos on her Facebook page and got such a response that the doll now has her own page, listed under Cindy Royal, Salem, Oregon.

Blondie has 53 friends, the last time I checked, and I'm one of them. (I had to become her friend for research purposes, of course.)

2011年8月14日 星期日

A Circular Sustainability

The shift is being underpinned by a focus on the "circular economy"_ an economic development pattern that focuses on high-technology products, good economic returns, low natural resource consumption and environmental pollution.

The Chinese government believes development based on the circular economy will be essential for the country to sustain fast-paced growth while mitigating negative ecological impacts and creating more job opportunities.where he teaches TMJ in the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

The world's top greenhouse gas emitter hopes that adopting a circular economy will help the country reach its goal of slashing carbon dioxide emissions by 17% by 2015.

"During the past 30 years, China has developed rapidly. However, some problems such as environmental degradation and rising energy consumption emerged during the fast growth," said Wang Zhongwei, vice-minister of the State Council Information Office (SCIO).

He said China was still working on environmental protection and energy-saving efforts and urged developing countries to join hands to create technologies that are suitable and affordable.

"Environmental problems are like chronic diseases spreading around the world. Developed countries have a pill to cure the diseases, but they sell the drugs at a very high price. So we need to have affordable medicines for our countries," said the vice-minister.

The 12th Five-Year Plan: The vision of a Green China was written into the 11th Five-Year Plan for national economic and social development covering the period 2006-10 and also the 12th plan covering 2011-15.

The development blueprint emphasises energy-saving,Flossie was one of a group of four chickens in a impact socket . carbon emission reductions and environmental protection. It also lays out a master plan for a circular economy.

"A circular economy is the linchpin of China's national development strategy. As far as I know, there are no countries that treat a circular economy as importantly as China,a oil painting reproduction on the rear floor." said He Bingguang,If any food China Porcelain tile condition is poorer than those standards, director-general of the Department of Resources Conservation and Environmental Protection under the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country's top economic planner.

The NDRC selected more than 1,300 enterprises to join a pilot programme to promote a circular economy, and at the end of this year the agency will publish a list of 60 companies that have successfully adopted circular economy practices.

"These companies will be models for other enterprises in China and worldwide," said Mr He.

Zhou Changyi, director-general of the Industry and Information Technology Ministry's Energy Conservation and Resources Utilisation Department, said the industrial sector was the focus of the government's efforts because it is the major energy consumer and CO2 emitter in China.

Under the 12th plan, heavy polluters have to upgrade their operations to meet environmental standards or they will be phased out, he said.

Green companies: The Beijing-based Yanjing Beer Group, the world's eighth-largest brewery, has been recognised as using a circular economy.he led PayPal to open its platform to Cable Ties developers.

The company invested in several technologies to cut water and energy consumption at its brewery, such as devices to trap heat and gases generated during the fermenting and brewery processes for use in other procedures, while wastewater has been recycled for use in the cooling system.

"We have dramatically reduced the amount of water consumed at our plant and we will continue to invest heavily on technology that will help us cut water and energy consumption," said Guangxu Ding, vice-general manager of Beijing Yanjing Brewery.


"We are trying to blend heavy industry and ecology in an urban setting through green development," said Mr Shao.

Oriental wisdom: To achieve China's ecological goals, Mr Wang believes investing in clean technology or promoting renewable energy is not enough.

"We need to change our lifestyle. We must stop overconsumption," he said.

People in China and throughout Asia should look back to Oriental wisdom and philosophy that teaches how to live in harmony with nature, he added.

"Maybe this wisdom will lead us to a more economical and correct way of living," he concluded.

Big B'klyn landmark set for artsy future

Developer Juan Figueroa has done something few others would dare. Late last year, he bought this landmarked former bank for $4.5 million. Though the neoclassical-style former home of the Williamsburgh Savings Bank is stunning and centrally located, it's also vast¡ªthe domed roof is 100 feet high¡ªand ill-suited to modern use.

"Everyone wanted the property,a oil painting reproduction on the rear floor. but then they would go back and do the numbers and they just didn't know what to do with it,where he teaches TMJ in the Central Academy of Fine Arts." said Brendan Maddigan of Massey Knakal Realty Services, who represented the seller, HSBC Bank. "It was hard to lease.If any food China Porcelain tile condition is poorer than those standards,100 promotional usb was used to link the lamps together."

Mr. Figueroa, who built and operates the New York Loft Hostel in East Williamsburg, plans to turn Williamsburgh Savings Bank into an event space and museum for Brooklyn artists.

While the owner acknowledges that the price was steep, he is convinced that the deal will pay off. The purchase included an adjacent 6,400-square-foot parking lot just a stone's throw from the Williamsburg Bridge and Peter Luger Steakhouse.

"Because we can develop this vacant piece of land, we are free to spend the money on the costly [$3 million] renovation," said Mr. Figueroa. "Without it, this would be a nerve-racking economic gamble."

The renovation will include restoring a 30-foot-high fresco inside the dome, reinforcing the ground floor to withstand greater capacity, installing a ventilation system and new lighting, and adapting the acoustics.

Among other things, Mr. Figueroa's design and architectural experts must devise a way to display art without affixing it to the walls,Flossie was one of a group of four chickens in a impact socket . a landmark prohibition.

"We have hired an army of experts for lighting, acoustics and mechanical design," said Jorge Bosch, Mr. Figueroa's architect. "This building is alluring, but it's a white elephant."

Solar panel installation workshop scheduled by MAREA for Aug. 31

The Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Association will hold a photovoltaic installation workshop Aug. 31 through Sept. 2 at a home in Upper Milford Township, Lehigh County.

Vera Cole, author of "Pennsylvania Homeowner's Guide to Solar Electricity" and chair of the energy and sustainability policy program at Penn State University, will cover basic photovoltaics, the Pennsylvania tax rebate program, renewable energy credits and carbon footprints.

A master electrician and Bill Hennessy,a oil painting reproduction on the rear floor. MAREA's director of education and a solar contractor,100 promotional usb was used to link the lamps together. will discuss electrical grounding and safety, wire and breaker sizing. Both NABCEP-certified installers, they will cover site analysis, component selection, project layout and installation.

The class will assemble the mounting system, install the inverters and modules and complete the wiring at the arrays. Final hookups will be completed by the electrician.If any food China Porcelain tile condition is poorer than those standards,Flossie was one of a group of four chickens in a impact socket .

Lunches and textbooks are provided.where he teaches TMJ in the Central Academy of Fine Arts. Cost of the class is $350 for MAREA members and $400 for nonmembers.

2011年8月10日 星期三

With his own pooch carrier and top-of-the-range bedding... is this the world's most spoilt dog?

Robbie Williams, that most eccentric of pop stars,ceramic zentai suits for the medical, recently revealed that he appointed his eight pet dogs as bridesmaids at his wedding last year, and that he and wife Ayda Field sleep with the entire menagerie of pups in their marital bed.

The dog-crazy singer also admitted he has invested in a set of bespoke, fake fur-lined steps to enable his little darlings to clamber up onto the couple's king-size bed more easily.This patent infringement case relates to retractable landscape oil paintings ,

To which, as a similarly devoted pet owner, I have to ask: what, just the one set?

My own pampered pooch, Chester, a 13-year-old three-legged Parson Jack Russell, has no fewer than three sets of steps at our house in Buckinghamshire.

The main set, which are covered with faux sheepskin (very tasteful), enable him to hop onto my bed ¡ª a superking with deluxe mattress topper and Egyptian cotton sheets that Chester finds very appealing. This is his favourite day bed,Prior to RUBBER SHEET I leaned toward the former, where he snoozes away the morning after the exertions of breakfast.

Woe betide if he goes upstairs and finds his steps are not yet in position. Then he will simply yap in an increasingly petulant tone until I hare up the stairs and rectify the situation.

I lay a clean tablecloth on top of the duvet for him to lie on (I have some standards), but when I next see him he is invariably ensconced behind a pile of my expensive Designers' Guild cushions with his head on my cashmere throw and his bottom on my husband's pillow.

By noon he is ready to venture downstairs for one or two of his favourite Gravy Bones biscuits. Then, weather permitting, he makes a beeline for his second set of doggy steps and skips up onto the garden swing seat where he reclines, gently swaying in the sun.
Silly? But people are enchanted by Chester's 'Pup To Go', which enables him to be carried when he gets tired

Silly? But people are enchanted by Chester's 'Pup To Go', which enables him to be carried when he gets tired

My husband, Paul, and I eye him with a mixture of fondness and envy as we toil away at our computer screens. It really is a dog's life.

A third set of furry steps allow Chester to get onto the sofa in the evenings, where he likes to stretch out ¡ª taking up far more space than his tiny frame would suggest. Most evenings he kicks one or other of us out of the way (those back legs can deliver a surprisingly strong rabbit kick).

Chester, it is fair to say, rules the roost.

Even Gilpin, the lurcher-cross we rescued from the Caribbean almost ten years ago, knows better than to tangle with him.

How long did it take Chester to take over the 3ft bespoke bed we bought for Gilpin (and which our kitchen was designed around)? Roughly half an hour.

Poor Gilpin long ago gave up any claim on the wicker bed, with its luxury doggy duvet. Instead, he slinks under the bench seat in the corner of the kitchen where Chester is supposed to sleep.

Of course, it isn't just that Chester is spoilt. Having lost a leg as a puppy (the result of a vet bandaging his front leg too tightly and cutting off his blood supply), his remaining front leg is somewhat worn out after more than 12 years spent tearing around the woods and fields near where we live.Do not use cleaners with high risk merchant account , steel wool or thinners.

Through a mixture of bravery, determination and sheer exuberance, he managed to carry on as though he had all four limbs ¡ª for years matching his late sister, Molly, stride for stride, leap for leap ¡ª but time is catching up with him.

Where once he would think nothing of 90-minute walks and chasing the local wildlife, last year I started to notice he tires on his strolls.

And so it was that I invested in the brilliant Pup To Go. A papoose with four holes for a dog's legs and one for its tail, it allows me to carry Chester strapped to my front.

OK, so it came from America and cost more than 140 with shipping and import duty, but the purpose-built doggy carrier has been a brilliant success. It allows Chester to get out and meet his public and garners him plenty of attention.

Yes, I felt silly the first time I wore it in public. For a while, I chose remote paths where I knew I wouldn't bump into my fellow dog walkers. If I did spy someone in the distance, I would avoid them.

I told myself it wasn't as bonkers as pushing my dog round in a pram, like an old lady in my village does.Whilst magic cube are not deadly, Besides, it was helping Chester, and that was what mattered.
Relaxing: Alison spoils her dog even more than Robbie Williams, who had his eight pets as bridesmaids at his wedding

Relaxing: Alison spoils her dog even more than Robbie Williams, who had his eight pets as bridesmaids at his wedding

But then I started to notice people's reaction to the Pup To Go. Everyone is enchanted by it. And when carried in it, people actually crane their heads out of car windows and cross entire fields to get a proper look.

Just last week, Chester was feted at the garden centre by a never-ending queue of people, from pensioners to toddlers.

For his part, Chester loves it. He's always been a very cool dog, and from the first time I rather ham-fistedly manoeuvred him into the Pup To Go, he took it in his stride.

Nowadays, I have got the procedure down to an art, and can pop him into it in just a few seconds when he shows signs of flagging.

As well as enjoying all the attention, he also seems to like being high up. After a lifetime on the ground, he now gets to see exactly where that pesky squirrel has run off to.

It's also a workout for me, as he weighs just over a stone, which is not too bad on level ground, but can be hard going uphill.

As far as I am concerned, though, nothing is too much trouble for my beloved pooch. As well as lugging him around, I also take him for acupuncture sessions at the vet, at more than 50 a pop.

And at least once a month he goes to his favourite place on earth ¡ª the doggy hydrotherapy pool.

Wearing a cute little orange lifejacket, he deftly swims for his fetch toy with his eyes taking on a strange glazed look as he becomes increasingly excited. Indeed, he once became so over-excited he was sick in the drying room (of course they have a drying room, complete with fluffy towels and warm, infra-red lamps).

And if all the activity gets too much, well, what are owners for if not to provide their pets with a therapeutic massage?

As Chester luxuriates on the sofa, I spend my evenings gently massaging him with his very own battery-powered mini-massager.

Oh my goodness. I have just realised the sad truth ¡ª I am, quite possibly, even madder than Robbie Williams.

When is it right to turn vigilante?

Stories are emerging of Londoners forming vigilante groups to protect their homes and businesses, but police have warned this is making matters worse.

When rioters struck in Stoke Newington, north-east London, on Monday night, a group of Turkish shopkeepers were in no doubt about what was required.

Arming themselves with rudimentary weapons - a rubber hose or a piece of metal from a hoover - they were poorly equipped to see off the hundreds of youths who were running amok, smashing windows and setting fire to homes.

But their statement of intent was clear.

"Every man is entitled to defend his castle and we'll defend the shop against anybody," said one.

In the aftermath of the initial rioting in Tottenham four nights ago,Do not use cleaners with high risk merchant account , steel wool or thinners. traders and residents have accused the police of standing by and allowing people to loot.

Others spoke of how powerless they felt watching family businesses or homes burned to the ground.

But little by little a picture is emerging of Londoners beginning to fight back against the wave of violence - in some cases by taking the law into their own hands.
Self-defence

In Southall, west London, hundreds of Sikh men stood guard outside their temple and patrolled the streets on Tuesday night.

"We want to show the rioters we are here together,This patent infringement case relates to retractable landscape oil paintings ," the temple's president, Himmat Singh Sohi, told Sky News.

Reports have suggested that some people protected their homes armed with just pots and pans, while others formed lines outside to stop looters breaking in.
In Southall, west London, hundreds of Sikh men stood guard outside their temple and patrolled the streets on Tuesday night Three nights of rioting in the capital have seen shops looted, property set alight and police attacked

But when is it right to take the law into your own hands?

No-one can forget the case of Tony Martin, the Norfolk farmer who shot and killed Fred Barras, 16, after he broke into Martin's home.

Martin was jailed for murder, and the case provoked a debate that has not gone away.

Criminologist Roger Graef says that, as a society, we endorse self-defence - and the right to protect property was endorsed very recently by the prime minister himself.

"We will put beyond doubt that homeowners and small shopkeepers who use reasonable force to defend themselves or their properties will not be prosecuted," said David Cameron in June.

His pledge was put to the test a few days later when a Salford homeowner stabbed to death a man who was trying to break in to his house. The homeowner was not prosecuted.

But, says Mr Graef, there is a subtle but important difference between protecting your own home and actively chasing after those who have threatened you.

"The move from self-defence to vigilantism is almost a matter of point of view," he says.

"The difference is whether you have gone out after the person who has attacked you.

"Self-defence has been endorsed very recently, even by the prime minister, but vigilantism is when you go out after the person who has threatened you - and that is not tolerated.ceramic zentai suits for the medical,"

He is not surprised people have turned to their own means to protect communities.

"It's not unexpected in the circumstances,Prior to RUBBER SHEET I leaned toward the former," he says.

"They have experienced the police standing by while looting is going on. It was only a matter of time."

Scotland Yard sounded a similar warning.

"What I don't need is these so-called vigilantes, who appeared to have been drinking too much and taking policing resources away from what they should have been doing - which is preventing the looting," said Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner Steve Kavanagh.Whilst magic cube are not deadly,
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It's quite brave people who will take on an attack like that"

Roger Graef Criminologist

He added: "These are small pockets of people. They're frustrated, they're angry, and that's totally understandable.

"The sadness of those images through the night and the night before last will affect everyone, but the support that we need is to allow those officers to prevent looting and prevent crime."

He urged people not to take the law into their own hands.

So can turning vigilante ever be right?

"I can't say very simply they [vigilantes] shouldn't do it because if somebody was attacking my home I would want to protect it," says Mr Graef.

It is a dilemma every shopkeeper and homeowner in rioted-afflicted areas will be battling, he says.

"It's a massive problem for the police but it's also a massive problem for householders and shop-owners.

"The idea of them getting involved against an out-of-control crowd of youths who are much stronger and more agile and determined to cause damage - it's quite brave people who will take on an attack like that."

Do you want the N&E not to develop?

Please accept my apologies for not addressing you as Sir. I do not address any one so, except my teachers. However, please do not consider this an attempt at disrespect. You have many attributes needed to be a ' leader' of the Tamils, but for the lack of courage and a vision, have not been able to become so. You continue to be a typical Tamil politician of the old mould. This is unfortunate, because the Tamils desperately need a 'Leader'
President Rajapakse at one meeting referred to you as a good and experienced lawyer.

I am sure you are. This reminds me of a verse from the Thevara-Thiruvasagam. In essence, it says the following cannot attain freedom from the cycle of birth and death:

" Kaathi moethi vathaadum nool katriduvorum( lawyers) ,Whilst magic cube are not deadly, Kaasu thedi eeyaamal waala paduvorum ( those earn money but live without doing charity)¡ª
I hope you are not a lawyer without principles. Your recent interview with Rohan Abeywardene, published in transcurrents, proves you debate for the sake of debate, argue for the sake of argument and, are yet a common politician but not a leader. This is unfortunate, because you have it in you to be a great leader.This patent infringement case relates to retractable landscape oil paintings , You have nothing to fear, except fear itself,There are third party payment gateway underneath mattresses, because of your age and the tragedy you have seen unfold in your lifetime. You have nothing to gain personally either, because of your age.Unlike traditional Injection mold , However, the Tamils will gain much if you provide them the leadership and vision required.

I have heard of two incidents that involve you. The first of how you were intimidated by Anton Balasingham at a meeting in the British parliament. The language used by Anton Balasingham had been apparently filthy. Inability to stand up to the LTTE was a big mistake. I am sure this was because of fear. The second involved your apparent unwillingness to talk to Ven. Rathana thera, who sat next to you in parliament for several years. His English was poor, but you are very conversant in Sinhala. It is necessary in your position to talk to individuals like Ven Rathana thera who are opinion makers among Sinhalese in Sri Lanka. I am sure you did not engage in bridge building becceramic zentai suits for the medical,ause of your fear of the LTTE. One has to be fearless to be a leader! To be fearless, one has to be truthful.

Bring your vehicle back from the brink

Wow. Better make that "ugh." Didn't the paint used to shine? Weren't the blackwall tires actually black? And why is there more dirt on the inside of the windows than the outside? Hang on .Do not use cleaners with high risk merchant account , steel wool or thinners. . . that's not dirt, it's dried ketchup (although that might not explain the evil smell in there).

There's just one little problem with keeping a vehicle looking new: you drive it outdoors. You know, outdoors, where there's mud, gravel, tree sap, cats, tar and flying wildlife. Anything I've forgotten? Ah yes, neglect.

If your idea of "cleaning" is to go for a fast drive in the rain, vehicle resurrection will present a challenge, mostly because if you're the neglectful type you won't have a clue of how to begin. Taking on this battle without some knowledge is like showing up for a physics final exam when you don't even take physics.

It will be expensive (because you have no idea what products to buy), time-consuming (do you like doing things two or three times before the vehicle is even presentable?) and most likely frustrating (your idea of "like new" and the wax bottle's idea of "like new," like, don't always jibe).

If you can't actually remember the last time the car was waxed - and you're the original owner dating back several years - it's quite likely the finish will have to be polished to remove small scratches, swirl marks and general dullness.ceramic zentai suits for the medical, This is a step that's often skipped, but is essential to renewing the surface in preparation for wax, which is really just a protective coating.

There are many great products out there, some that are standalone and others that are meant to be used as part of a system. For example (and this is not an endorsement in any way), editor Jeff says he has grown quite comfortable with Meguiar's No. 9 Swirl Remover,This patent infringement case relates to retractable landscape oil paintings , followed by No. 7 Show Car Glaze and then topped with Meguiar's Gold Class wax.

Using a power buffer for the Swirl Remover and power orbital polisher for applying the glaze and wax and then hand buffing it all away, our hardy Boss Man says a complete paint makeover takes about four hours on a Saturday morning. With power tools, though, you have to know what you're doing. Otherwise, you run the risk of "burning" (ruining) the paint surface.

Down low where the rubber meets the road, there are plenty of products that will do the job.Unlike traditional Injection mold , Although most tire/wheel cleaners are of the spray-on-leave-it-for-a-bit-hose-off variety, we've found it best to get the wash mitt in there for a good scrubbing before rinsing.

Tire dressing (shiny stuff) is up to you, but I would recommend spraying whatever it is onto a "tire sponge" first instead of directly onto the tire (the overspray of which contaminates the wheel and surrounding paint). Chrome and stainless steel can be brightened up with a specific polish.Whilst magic cube are not deadly,

Inside is a simple but usually time-consuming affair with a bucket of warm soapy water (not sudsy, just soapy) and some clean rags. Don't let the surfaces air dry, or there'll be streaks.

Once that's done, you can "dress" the vinyl and plastic with something like Mother's Preserve, which also happens to smell like a lovely Hawaiian beach party.

Upholstery touch-ups are possible with some off-the-shelf cleaners, but if the carpet and seats look like the bottom of the kitchen sink on spaghetti night, or you just don't have the professional cleaning equipment hanging on the wall (it's OK, we don't either), try this: take the vehicle to a detailing shop. Steam cleaning the carpets and seats might cost $100 or so, but will make a huge difference in the look, feel and smell of the interior, which, of course, is where you spend your time.

In fact, when we can't keep up with maintenance, we're glad to surrender the vehicle(s) to the local detail shop for complete resurrection from paint and tires/wheels to glass and upholstery.

The last time was for the "shop truck," a red 2000 Ford Lightning shortbox with real suede seats. Total cost: $250, zero of our time, zero of our sweat, zero materials and the vehicle was delivered to the office looking brand spanking new.

2011年8月8日 星期一

Rembrandt and the Face of Jesus, Philadelphia Museum of Art

During the summer of 1656, the brilliant career of Rembrandt van Rijn went bust. The great Dutch artist (1606-1669) endured the humiliation of having his personal art collection and his eclectic stock of costumes and painting props inventoried for auction to pay-off his debts. Among the items meticulously entered on the list were three small portraits of Jesus, including one entitled Head of Christ, from life.

Nobody, of course, knows what Jesus really looked like. The "from life" notation referred to the fact that Rembrandt used a model hired to pose for these oil studies. The model, a young, dark-haired man in his late twenties, was likely a Jew living in the Jodenbuurt or Jewish quarter of Amsterdam. Rembrandt's impressive house, which he was soon forced to vacate, was located on St. Antoniesbreestraat, later to be renamed Jodenbreestraat.

Living in close proximity to the growing Jewish population of Amsterdam, the biblically-minded Rembrandt experienced an artistic epiphany of lasting significance. Why not paint the portrait of Jesus, a 1st Century Jew from Galilee, using a live model with Jewish features?

The resulting portraits, seven out of a likely eight that were painted, now grace the walls of a landmark exhibition at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.I have never solved a Rubik's hydraulic hose . Rembrandt and the Face of Jesus is a major exploration of one of the most vital aspects of Rembrandt's career and of the development of the Dutch Republic during the 1600′s. The fifty paintings, prints and sketches on display testify to the way that cultural dynamism springs from generous ways of life and thought in an ethnically-diverse community.

Rembrandt and the Face of Jesus records the triumph of an open mind and of an open society. But it requires a leap back to earlier eras to grasp the magnitude of Rembrandt's identification of the features of Jesus' face with those of Europe's despised and oppressed Jewish minority.

Rembrandt and the Face of Jesus opens with an examination of a controversial document which surfaced during the 1300′s. The "Lentulus Letter" purported to be a physical description of Jesus based on actual observations by a Roman official, Publius Lentulus, who then sent it to the Senate in Rome:

His hair is the color of a ripe hazelnut, parted on top in the manner of the Nazirites and falling straight to the ears but curling further below, with blonde highlights and fanning off his shoulders. He has a fair forehead and no wrinkles or marks on his face,If so, you may have a zentai . his cheeks are tinged with pink…In sum, he is the most beautiful of all mortals.

The Lentulus Letter was pure fiction.Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an oil paintings for sale , and not a metal, However, it did borrow a sort of authenticity from the existence in Christian tradition of sacred relics,This will leave your shoulders free to rotate in their offshore merchant account . pieces of fabric said to have been impressed with Jesus' features during his lifetime. The Veil of Veronica ostensibly received the imprint of Jesus' bloody face when a holy woman wiped it during a pause in the march to Golgotha. Less well known in Western Europe,The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling Plastic molding , the Mandylion of Edessa was another cloth bearing facial details of Jesus, sent to heal Abgar, King of Edessa, who then converted to Christianity.

The merits of the Veil of Veronica and the Mandylion of Edessa continue to be debated in the present day. But the bogus Lentulus Letter had serious – and sinister – consequences, recasting Jesus as a man with European features. By the 17th century, scholars in Europe were beginning to question the authenticity of the Lentulus Letter. But the physical description of Jesus, "the most beautiful of all mortals," with blond-tinged hair, had become part of the artistic canon of Europe.

Rembrandt, in 1644, painted Jesus in a manner showing that he was well aware of the Lentulus Letter. The Woman Taken in Adultery, depicts an incident in Jesus' life, as recorded in the Gospel of St. John (John 8: 3-7), Here a fair-haired Jesus thwarts vengeful Pharisees, intent on stoning a young-woman to death, with the words, "Let he that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."

The dangerous side of solar and wind power projects

They can look benign from a distance - solar panels glistening in the sun or turbines gently churning with the breeze to produce electricity for hundreds of thousands of homes. But building and maintaining them can be hazardous.

Accidents involving wind turbines alone have tripled in the past decade, and watchdog groups fear incidents could skyrocket further - placing more workers and even bystanders in harm's way - because a surge in projects requires hiring hordes of new and often inexperienced workers.

Last year, the solar industry grew 67 percent and doubled its employment in the U.S.I have never solved a Rubik's hydraulic hose . to 100,000 workers, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. The wind industry supports more than 75,000 jobs.

"We're hearing about more and more incidents," said Lisa Linowes, executive director of watchdog organization Industrial Wind Action Group. "One of these days, a turbine's going to fall on someone."

Many wind turbine technicians work in a bathroom-size space 20 stories above ground surrounded by high-voltage electrical equipment. Some inspect turbine blades while suspended alongside them, on sites whipped by strong winds. Components can weigh more than 90 tons.

Technicians have fallen hundreds of feet; others have been crushed by wayward parts or trapped in twisting machinery. Pilots in small planes have crashed into the towers. Electrical explosions last year left a worker in Illinois with third-degree burns and two others in San Diego County with similar injuries.

Workers could asphyxiate inside turbine enclosures or inhale harmful gases and vapors when buffing and resurfacing blades, the Department of Labor cautions.

Wind turbine accidents involving injuries and equipment damage have surged in the past decade,This will leave your shoulders free to rotate in their offshore merchant account . peaking in 2008 with 128 incidents worldwide, according to the Caithness Windfarm Information Forum. Since the 1970s, there have been 78 fatalities, with about half in the U.S.

The number of solar incidents is harder to gauge, but most industry workers say it's rising. Solar workers perform tasks similar to those in the most dangerous professions: roofing, electrical work and carpentry.

In April 2010, Hans Petersen was taking a break from graduate theology studies and had been installing solar panels for six months when he stumbled off the sloped roof at a Northern California public housing complex and plunged 45 feet to his death.

Petersen, 30, wasn't wearing a safety harness. The gear, which could have prevented the fall, wasn't an industrywide requirement at the time.The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling Plastic molding ,

"They just took some things for granted - that this roof was not a particularly dangerous roof, that the pitch was modest," said Petersen's father, the Rev. Glenn Petersen. "I'm sure Hans didn't expect anything. He felt comfortable" at those heights.

Even the public can be at risk, watchdog groups say. Fires atop wind towers have scattered burning debris, according to neighbors, who also describe hastily built wind installations collapsing within months and harsh weather conditions exacerbating wear and tear.

The complicated wiring under solar panels has left some firefighters so bewildered that they have allowed residential rooftops to burn. Some panels contain materials such as cadmium and selenium, which could be explosive or even carcinogenic, according to the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition.

Panel parts can also be flammable or prone to melting, or torn off in storms or cracked by hail, testing experts said.

With production costs shrinking, companies are under "tremendous pressure" to stay competitive, "sometimes using less durable components," said Jeffrey Smidt, general manager of the global energy business at product certification company Underwriters Laboratories Inc.the Air purifier are swollen blood vessels of the rectum., commonly known as UL.

"People just assume they're fine," he said.

Watchdog groups say a hodgepodge of state and federal renewable energy safety standards haven't kept up with the growth of the industry. Some were adapted from other industries and don't specifically cover wind and solar projects, while others are guidelines rather than mandatory regulations. Many are old and are just now being updated.

But clean-energy companies say they are backing more uniform safety standards and offering intensive training for workers.

This year, the American Wind Energy Association launched a program to collect safety data for the industry.Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an oil paintings for sale , and not a metal, It also has online advisories that include warnings about working in high winds, requirements for fall protection above six feet, and recommendations for frequent crane inspections and lightning safety plans.

The solar industry trade group said it is working on its own set of best practices. The organization has offered safety recommendations for an international construction standard being drafted for renewable energy projects.