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Sunday, 22 December 2013

Sean & Lisa's Early Bay(low light) Restoration works.

I was approached by Sean in late summer to undertake the metal work side of the restoration works on his Bus prior to The Paint Shop pros undertaking the painting side of the works, Unfortunately the bus had been in with another local VW restoration business and should have taken three months to be completed, seven months in and she was actually in a sorry state of repair, less than 1/3 of the planned works had been completed and this was of a very poor standard and despite the cost had to be redone due to the extremely poor standard.

It finally arrived in the Oil Droppers work shop on the 18th October, my self and Sean made an initial assessment of the works required and works already done, it was agreed that a meeting with Gavin of the Paint shop was required, the decision was made that the works done around the front of the van had to be re-done along with some additional unplanned works these being the inner front valance & some repair works to the chassis, inner sill & middle sill , the other planned works the inner and outer at the bottom of the sliding door outer sill, rear quarter, rear corner, battery tray three window frame repairs.

The following Photos show how she looked when she arrived and the works as they progressed through the  restoration.

From here the Photos indicate the quality of work that had been done prior to itsarrival with Oil Droppers, if you want to see more lookus up on Face book there plenty more on there to browse through, truly shocking.

Note how out of shape thr contours are on the valance, as this has now been filled one can only asssume there was going to be another Inch of filler to build it up.

And this is the company who say they dont like to use a lot of filler HHMM i will let you decide.

 From this point we start to finish what had been hacked at, and make the previous works back to how they should have been.

Here we have welded in place the inner sill Middle sill, Outer sill and the rear 1/4.

No over lap this was but welded.

C post as it arrived.

C Post after we had rebuilt it.

Closing Panel welded in place.

Rear corner section welded in place.

Battery tray and corner panel from inside.

Under side of battery tray.

All welded up and ready for some minor finishing before it goes.

Repair to the bottom of the sliding Door.

Welded up and back on the Van.

Inner front valance in Place, We had undertaken some pretty serious chassis repairs prior to this, Again check out the face book page it all on there.

The front valance put on by the other restorer was so bad and out of shape we had to be redone.

New front valance in place and done note the correct contour lines unlike the previous photos earlier.on this post.

Passengers side floor section in place.

Drivers floor panel in place.

Inner front windscreen panel was very corroded this we found under the new panels put in by the previous so called restoration company.

We removed the top section completely.

And replaced with new metal, prior to the new front panel and screen surround being replaced.

This was the final fit before welding.

Fully welded in place.

Front repair panel one of many trial fittings.

Front repair panel fully welded in place.

Please pay particular notice there is no filler at all at this point just polished weld.

Nice proper shape unlike when she arrived.

One light skim of filler prior to a coat of primer to protect it until she is painted.

Like wise the front, again please note how little filler there is used, the centre section was filled prior to her arrival with Oil Droppers.

We at Oil Droppers are a new small enterprise, we have a lot of room to grow we take serious pride in the services and works we provide, we undertake the tasks given us with diligence and customer satisfaction as the fore front of our business, We ensure we post regular updates of the works on our face book page enabling customers to track progress, and prove we hide nothing from anyone and cut No corners, if you like what you see check out the other posts on this site and click like on the Oil droppers Face book page and follow what we do. be a part of making us grow so we cam look after your pride and Joy.


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Chesterton Tribune

Thomas E. Willis dies at 67

Back to Front Page

Thomas E. Willis, of Chesterton, passed away December 18, 2008 at Porter Valparaiso Hospital Campus, Valparaiso. He was 67.

He was born October 2, 1941 in Chicago, the son of Wilcie and Emma (Scharf) Willis, both of whom preceded him in death.

On September 17, 1988 in Chesterton, he married Dianne (Zieman) Bernth.

He is survived by his wife of 20 years Dianne Willis; three sons, Thomas (Sheryl) Bernth of Bolingbrook, Ill., James (Carolyn) Bernth of Union Mills, and Scott (Heather) Bernth of Westville; 13 grandchildren, Christian and Kaitlyn Bernth of Bolingbrook, Donja and Shaina Johnson of Valparaiso, Jaimie, Grace, Moriah, Caleb and Joshalyn Bernth of Union Mills and Megan, Nicole, Nolan and George Thomas Bernth of Westville; three sisters, Patricia (James) Hayes, Sharon (Thomas) Wichert and Gloria (Leo) Murphy; sisters-in-law, Mildred Willis and Gladys Knop; many nieces, nephews, friends an neighbors.

He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Ann T. Willis; grandchildren, Jonathan and Bethany Bernth; three brothers, Robert, Richard and Donald Willis and brothers-in-law, Norman Knop James Hayes and Thomas Wichert.

Tom was a veteran of the US Army stationed in Germany 1964-1966. He lived in the Chesterton area since 1993 coming from Overland Park, Kan. Tom retired in 1997 from sales management for Navistar International Truck & Engine Corporation after more than 37 years of service. He was a very active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church where he served as an elder and a member of the fellowship board. He loved traveling with special friends and spent a lot of time manicuring his lawn.

Funeral services, the Rev. Erich Fickel officiating, will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 22 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 106 E. 1100N, with visitation one hour before. Interment will follow at Chesterton Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 2-8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21 at White-Love Funeral Home, 525 S. 2nd St., Chesterton. Memorials may be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church Sacristy Fund.

Posted 12/19/2008

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By Laurence Holmes

By Laurence Holmes-

(WSCR) Regular season games don’t get much bigger than this one.

This is the third in a series of games where the Bears will face a potential playoff challenger. They’ve won the last two vs. Tampa Bay and Philadelphia, but this one feels different. The game time moved from Noon to 3:15 — it’s divisional. Over the last year, it’s become a rivalry. I’m looking forward to this game and here are some of things I’ll be paying attention to:

Turnovers: The Lions have 18 takeaways this year. They rank No. 1 in the NFL for turnover margin (+13). Matthew Stafford does a good job of protecting the ball and throwing the ball away when under duress. The Bears want to take the ball away. It’s key to what they do defensively. The Bears have 14 takeaways this season and have done a great job over the last few games of jumping into passing lanes. That usually starts with pressure on the quarterback. They’ll need that to slow down the Lions offense.

Calvin Johnson vs. Charles Tillman: It was great to see the Bears be physical against the Eagles wideouts on Monday. Megatron presents a different set of problems. He’s bigger, stronger, has great hands and still has the elite speed of guys like Maclin & Jackson. I’m curious if the Bears will let Tillman jam Johnson at the line of scrimmage. I don’t expect they’ll play pure man. I expect the coverage would be bracketed with safety help over the top. Tillman loves to play the physical games and isn’t afraid to take on big receivers, we’ll see if the gameplan and flow of the game allows it.

Matt Forte vs. Lions run defense: The Lions don’t run the ball well and they don’t stop the run. Through their first eight games, Detroit is giving up an average of roughly 138 yards a game on the ground. As good as that defensive line is against the pass, and they are good, they don’t intimidate against the run. The Bears have been very successfull with a power run game in the last few weeks. Chris Williams and Chris Spencer have been great when they are on the move. Matt Spaeth has been really solid at setting the edge. The Lions play some Wide-9, similarly to the Eagles, there will be some big seams for Forte to bust. The challenge is that the Lions are more athletic in the middle of the defensive front than that Eagles are. Williams and Spencer will have to be quick and nasty.

Injuries: Jhavid Best has been hampered with a concusssion. He isn’t great, but he is capable of big plays, as he showed with his 88 yard scamper against the Bears on Monday Night Football. If he doesn’t go, that cripples the Lions already anemic run game. Kicker Jason Hanson has an injury to his plant leg. Julius Peppers is still struggling with the knee injury he suffered vs. Detroit, but he’ll be on the field Sunday afternoon.

The Revenge Factor: After the win Monday, Bears players quickly turned their attention to Detroit. In fact, it felt like the Bears lockeroom didn’t enjoy the win in Philly. There’s some legitimate anger towards the Lions. Lance Briggs told me this week that he doesn’t like the Lions and they haven’t handled their success well. There are questions about dirty play and hits after the whistle. The Bears have been looking forward to this rematch for a month now, but that’s all talk and I heard some of that before the game in Detroit. The Bears were embarrased at Ford Field and they didn’t like their “little brother” taking them out to the woodshed. They now get the chance for some payback. Detroit still has some things to prove and they need to show that the big moments aren’t too big for them. I question their legitimacy and a bunch of the Bears do, too. A win ties the two teams for second behind the Green Bay machine. Playoff implications? Yeah. So buckle up your chin straps, this one is going to be fun.

Make sure to follow me on twitter @lholmes670. We have big fun on gameday with instant analysis. Let me be your extra set of eyes during the game.

Watch & Listen LIVE


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CHICAGO (CBS) — How many times did you yawn today? It could be that you’re not getting enough sleep.

The culprit could be right in front of your eyes, CBS 2’s Kris Gutierrez reports.

Mommy blogger Titania Jordan tosses and turns for hours each night, and she thinks she knows why.

“From about 7 until midnight, I am in front of a screen. I’m on the computer; I’m on my mobile device,” she says.

She’s not alone. A recent poll revealed 95 percent of Americans watch a television or play a video game or use a computer or cell phone a few nights a week within an hour of bedtime.

“If it’s close enough to our eyes, that light may be bright enough to affect our sleep,” Dr. Phyllis Zee, director of Northwestern’s Sleep Disorders Center, says.

She says the problem is with the color of the light – blue — coming from those devices. It also is emitted by energy-efficient light bulbs.

“Blue light is a very powerful wavelength of light for the brain” Zee says.

Exposure during the day can actually help you fall asleep at night by stimulating a brain chemical called melatonin. But, exposure in the evening suppresses melatonin.

“It can make you, for example, go to bed later,” Zee says. “So, you’re more likely to get insomnia symptoms, difficulty falling asleep.”

Getting to bed late can lead to a host of other problems, too, including depression, high blood pressure and obesity. Research from Northwestern shows that it can even change what we eat.

Harvard University’s Dr. Steven Lockley says cancer is a real threat among some people whose body clocks are chronically out of whack.

How can you stay healthy?

Zee suggests turning down the brightness level on your device, and try to put your devices away two hours before bedtime.

Jordan cut back on screen time, and she says the results have been eye-opening.

“It was fabulous. I found myself feeling much more relaxed,” she says.

There are also some apps that allow you to change your device’s traditional blue light screen to a healthier red or yellow light.  You can also wear amber-tinted sunglasses while using your device at night.

Check out these apps and programs for a possible solution: NeyetLight; F.lux; and Lux.

Watch & Listen LIVE


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By Chris Emma

By Chris Emma–

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (CBS) — The end in Kansas City for Bears defensive lineman Jaye Howard was sudden, stunning and highly motivating.

He had proved to be a force up front for the Chiefs’ defense and was rewarded with a two-year deal in the 2016 offseason. It had seemed Howard would be a key piece for the defensive identity in Kansas City, but he was cut loose this past April with a failed physical designation.

Not only does Howard have to prove his effectiveness after dealing with a hip injury in 2016, but now he also needs to make an impact with the Bears, who were willing to take a chance on him.

“Bounce back and make them pay for it,” Howard said of the Chiefs’ decision to release him. “Every time they turn on the Bears film, they’re going to have to realize that they let go a great player.”

Added defensive lineman counterpart Akiem Hicks: “Now that he’s here, shoot, I’m excited. I look forward to playing across from him.”

Howard is now 28 and settling in with the Bears, having signed with the team in early May. It was an ideal match, with the Bears seeking another five-technique for their budding defense and Howard searching for a comfortable landing spot after being released.

Upon arrival for his visit at Halas Hall, the Bears presented film of Hicks and his breakout season, showing Howard the kind of impact he, too, is capable of with this defense and coaching.

Howard saw the potential of what this defense could become. After all, he was part of the Chiefs’ defense rising to be among the best in the game.

“I see the same thing on the defense that we had in Kansas City; I can see it here,” Howard said. “I came from a great front seven. Being able to come in here trying to get that here, I feel like it’s going in the right direction. I’m just excited to be a part of it.

“I feel like the sky’s going to be the limit for that defensive front. You got big Eddie (Goldman), Akiem and also you got Mitch (Unrein). … We’re going to set the tone for the defense.”

Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has been forced to utilize a nickel package instead of the 3-4 base look the majority of the time, in part because he hasn’t been given a more reliable third-down lineman. The team drafted Eddie Goldman in the second round of the 2015 draft and signed Hicks in 2016 while missing out on Howard.

The hope for Fangio and the Bears is that they can rely on three powerful pass rushers up front, which would lessen the burden on the next two levels of the defense and allow the linebackers to be more active too. The Bears believe they finally have the kind of front seven that fits the style of Fangio and envision having a a difference-making unit, with Howard as a missing piece.

He’s raring to go.

“I feel like we can be great,” he said. “Being able to come in and help be a playmaker, I think that’s really going to boost it. It can definitely be a top-10 defense.”

Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.

Watch & Listen LIVE


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Football Party EssentialsUnless you’ve got a killer Groundhog’s Day party planned, everyone knows that there’s only one fiesta to plan for in the early months – the big game. We’ve collected a list of must-haves for a successful party, as well as some favorite purveyors of each item.

Watch & Listen LIVE


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Home > Chico jobs > Chico sales & marketing

Posted: Friday, January 5, 2018 1:31 PM

Job Description We are looking for an Outside Sales Representative in your area. Whether you are a seasoned sales professional or an energetic performance-driven individual looking to start a fulfilling career in Sales, we want to hear from you! This is more than just a Sales position, you will be helping empower communities. Sponsorship (Ad-space) sales allow us to provide our materials to Law Enforcement and Fire Departments at no cost. Agencies use the materials for community outreach programs focused on everything from Anti-Drug Abuse to Disaster Preparedness. You will have a signed letter of introduction from the local Sheriff, Police Chief or Fire Chief to present when interacting with local business professionals. Duties: Present our materials to community business professionals Reach agreed upon sales/sponsorship targets  Qualifications: Strong interpersonal communication skills are a must, Willingness to travel within a 500-mile radius on a regular basis Company Description Since inception, the mission of LAW Publications has been to educate adults and children about the dangers of alcohol and other drug abuse. In recent years. We have expanded this to include education on other issues of public safety like disaster preparedness, Internet safety, bullying, domestic violence, and more. We accomplish our mission by working closely with law enforcement agencies to provide quality educational materials to communities and schools.

• Location: Chico

• Post ID: 8863762 chico is an interactive computer service that enables access by multiple users and should not be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider. © 2018


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Wednesday, May 27, 2015

How to get supervised visitation underway

One of the hardest things to do is to actually get the visits started.  As mentioned in other blog posts, a well crafted order can save hours if not weeks in terms of getting visits underway.

For Children First, we will need to see any court orders that address visitation along with the contact name, number and/or email address of the other party's attorney or if they do not have one, of the other party.  As with all agencies, we have forms to review, sign and return prior to visitation commencing.

Once we have received the above information, we will do a phone intake to learn more about the situation and allow you to ask any questions.  We do the same of the other party.

With Children First, a mutually agreeable location needs to be decided upon.  It is safe to say that this is likely the single most contentious issues we will deal with.  The most successful visit is at a location the child/ren is/are familiar with and comfortable in.  It typically is not the parent's home if the child has never been despite how excited you may be to show the home you are living in, especially if it is new.  Again a good court order will spell out days, times and locations that are prohibited or activities that are prohibited.  A good court order will also defer to the agency to make the final decision whenever parties cannot agree.

Once the paperwork has been turned in, an intake has been completed and the first visit has been lined up, payment is required 72 hours in advance to the agency.  Social workers do not handle financial affairs.

A confirmation email is sent out with all of the details of the visit (who, where, when and contact information for everyone).  We endeavor to have the same social worker supervise all of your visits, but sometimes that is simply not possible.

At a minimum, it takes 3-5 business days to line up visits.  A call Friday afternoon to start visits that Saturday will never work.  Taking the time up front to set up visitation pays dividends in the long run for all parties.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

An Attorney's Perspective

In addition to owning and operating Children First, I am a Seattle attorney who has been specializing in family law  matters since 1997. Between these two pillars of my professional background, there are a few observations about supervised visitation and exchange that I want to take a moment to share.

Court Orders:  There are two words that need to be kept in mind when writing a court order - clarity and precision.  Many court orders I review for supervised visitation or exchanges leave alot to be decided by the parties.  Generally speaking, this is not good.  The more specific you are in the order, the less opportunity there is for one of the parties to delay visitations/exchanges because of the lack of clarity or specificity.

In other words, be sure to answer where visits are to occur, specifically when they can occur (frequency and length), who can attend,  who pays, who gets to choose the agency that will supervise, etc.  There should also be an overriding sentence that addresses what will happen if there is an impass other than having to return to court.  Oftentimes, deferring to the supervising agency is a good way to resolve issues without having to go back to court.

Supervisor:  The purpose of having a supervisor for visitation is to ensure that the health, safety and welfare of the child/ren is protected.  Many parents believe that the supervisor is there to make judgments about one parent or if befriended, will help them in their case against their spouse/former spouse.  The supervisor is an objective third party whose job is to accurately report what transpired during the visit.

A good supervisor is like a referee you do not even know is present during a sporting event.  They are there in case something goes wrong, but otherwise they simply blend into the scene.

At Children First, one of the principle advantages we can offer is perspective.  As an attorney with 15 years of experience, I fully understand that supervised visits and exchanges are the place and moment when a series of personal, legal, and emotional decisions collide. That is why I am proud to work with a fabulous group of trained social workers who I believe are the truly the best in the business.

Friday, February 10, 2012

In the wake of the Powell tragedy

First and foremost, our hearts go out to everyone affected by this horrific event.  There are many questions that will never be answered and so many shattered lives and dreams.

For those left wanting to learn more about supervised visits than this blog has provided to date, I've provided this link to an Everett Herald article that helps explain the differences between DSHS supervised visits (dependency cases) and Family Law cases.

Our agency requires that both parties agree to use our service and abide by our rules.  As a community based agency, we offer visits in the community, at homes, in public places and the like.  The bottom line for Children First is that both parties have to agree upon the location.

Our agency realizes that supervised visits are frequently stressful for everyone involved. That is one of the key reasons that we only use trained, experienced social workers to conduct all of our supervised visits.  One of our primary goals, in addition to the health, safety and welfare of the child/ren, is to try to ease the stress involved in these situations and to provide a positive environment for the non-custodial parent and child/ren to visit.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Why Good Visitation Notes Matter

Our agency receives many questions about what services we provide in addition to the actual supervised visit.  Whether you go with our agency or somewhere else, we highly recommend that you inquire about what notes are kept of the actual visit, in addition to how and when they are made available. We suggest parents or guardians even request a sample of an agency's visitation notes so they can see what is reasonable to expect.

Children First, which only uses professionally licensed social workers for supervised visits, provides detailed notes of the visit to all parties within 48 hours.  The first page documents some of the basics. Examples include whether the parent and/or child arrived on time and stayed for entire visit, whether the social worker had to intervene in order to protect the health, safety or wellness of the child, and what activities occurred during the visit.

The second page of notes is a narrative from the social worker that gives all parties a more comprehensive report of what transpired during the visit.  Here the parent or guardian will read, with more details, exactly what the parent and child/children did for the duration of the visit. This section would include any concerns that did not require the visit to be immediately terminated, but rather issues that need to be addressed, and other notable activities that occurred during the visit.

We are repeatedly told by parents on both sides of the supervision paradigm that these notes are extremely useful. Of course, they play a key role in learning what occurred during a visit, but they also are frequently reviewed by a court in the process of deciding the future of the case.  Our agency believes it is best to have notes completed immediately following the actual visit, as opposed to testing the memory of the visitation supervisor several weeks or even months later.

Again, whether using one of our professional licensed social workers or another agency, be sure to investigate what sort of documentation will be done for your visit.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Holidays and Supervised Visits - Exchanges

It is hard to believe the Holiday Season is almost upon us, but all you have to do is watch two minutes of TV commercials to know it's here! With that in mind, here are a few tips and reminders if you plan to have a supervised visit or exchange during these busy months.

First and foremost, we do book up early around the holidays, so please reserve your time now.

Second, there is a real abundance of great, child friendly activities in Western Washington during the holiday season... even better, most of them are free or very low cost. We urge our clients to take advantage of these opportunities to build some positive memories during visitation.  Below you will find a list of some of our favorite activities to engage in during supervised visitation.

Hoilday Parade - The Friday after Thanksgiving (11/25), the annual Macy's Day Parade in downtown Seattle is one of the most kid friendly parades around.  One great viewing spot is in front of the Grand Hyatt hotel as the parade assembles here and there is a nice large overhang to cover you in the event of rain!

Bellevue Botanical Garden - Garden D'Lights - an amazing use of lights that create garden scenes, animals, and other objects that children absolutely love.  Dress warmly and buy tickets in advance on-line to save time. Tickets used to be free... they aren't anymore, but they are very reasonably priced and this is a gorgeous spectacle that impresses every age group.

Christmas Ships - all around Lake Washington. Consult the schedule but these wonderfully decorated boats have choirs that belt out holiday music while you enjoy the show from the shore... both on the Seattle side and the East Side.  Some locations have bon fires to keep you warm.

Winterfest 2011 - Seattle Center - Holiday train display.  If you have a child who loves trains, this is the place to go! The down side is that lines can be long for those interested in controlling the train from the engineers booth.  The good news is it is all free!

Downtown Seattle - Be sure to hit the (free) Teddy Bear Suite and lobby display of festively decorated Christmas Trees at the Fairmont Hotel - a wonderful place for young children.  Go a couple blocks north and visit the (also free) incredible Gingerbread House display in the Sheraton's Lobby.  These are professionally designed gingerbread houses that kids love to see.  Depending on the weather and the lines, the annual Holiday Carousel at Westlake Park provides for a wonderful experience.

Downtown Bellevue - If the weather is cooperating, be sure to visit Bellevue Way which at this time of year is also known as Snowflake Lane. Soon after Thanksgiving, this is where it "snows" every night (7pm) and live drummer boys perform.  It is a wonderful sight, and if it is raining, the sky bridge that connects Bellevue Square to Lincoln Center is the perfect viewing spot.  If ice skating is your thing, there is also an outdoor rink set up with skate rentals available.  Weekends can be very crowded.

No matter where you go and what you do, the holidays are an important time to be with your children.  We do suggest booking your visit early.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Supervised Exchanges - How they work

Supervised exchanges comprise a significant portion of our business.  Oftentimes these are court ordered as a result of a no-contact, restraining or domestic violence protection order. However, on occasion, our services have been requested simply to ensure the safe and smooth exchange of a child or children during a particularly stressful or difficult time between parents.

Supervised exchanges are always done in public places, typically a coffee house, library or other facility that provides a safe and secure place for the children.

Our agency provides a supervisor who is well versed in the situation and is excellent with children as there is a generally a 10-15 minute period between the time the child is dropped of by one parent and picked up by the other.  Neither parent is to linger at the drop off location nor arrive early if they are the one receiving the child from the other parent.

Supervised exchanges can be tough on parents and children alike. Some of the stress for the children can be mitigated by explaining to them, before the first exchange, what is going to happen. We suggest that during the first exchange with a new supervisor, the parent who arrives with the child should plan to stay for 5-10 minutes to introduce the child to the exchange supervisor and help them feel comfortable. We also recommend that children bring a favorite doll, game or toy to help them feel more relaxed, and to help those 10 minutes or so without a parent feel a little shorter.

Shuttling between parents is seldom easy for children, even under the best of circumstances. Our goal at Children First is to help those more difficult exchanges occur in a safe, calm, and stress-free environment.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Commonly Asked Questions

For most people, having to have supervised visits or exchanges is an experience that is new and unexpected.  As with any new experience, there are many questions that need to be answered; here are a few of the most common questions and answers:

1.  How does this whole process work?
We try to keep things simple so that visits can get underway.  Over the phone we get a sense for the situation (e.g. frequency, duration and location of visits, how many children, what limits the court has on visits) and just how quickly parties can move forward.  All parties must review, sign and return our contract, provide copies of relevant court orders, and agree on a time/location for the first visit.  The process speed is really up to the parties involved.

2.  Who arranges and supervises the visit?
Our agency can make the arrangements for the visit (time and place) as it is often easier for a third party to make these arrangements.  A professionally licensed social worker will meet the parties at the designated time and location.  This social worker will arrive already briefed on the situation and aware of any restrictions.  It is the goal of the social worker to simply be present to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the child/ren, but not be a central part of the visit.

3.  Do you have a facility for visits?
No. We are a community based agency and therefore we do not have a facility to conduct visits.  We strive to supervise visits wherever parents can agree to have the visits.  Locations can range from a parent's home, to a park/playground, to the zoo/aquarium/movie theater/baseball game, or simply at one of the local beaches.

4.  What if there is a no-contact order, restraining order or domestic violence protection order in place?
Our agency takes these restraints very seriously.  If there are any restraints in place, there will need to be a 10-15 minute window of time between one parent dropping of a child/ren and the other arriving.  There shall be no lingering.

The process can be very simple and very fast when all parties are on board with getting visits underway.  Though a week or two may not seem particularly long to an adult, for a child waiting to see its mother or father, it can feel like a lifetime.


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What should I fill the counterweight bags with?

Due to shipping restrictions, Chimera Light Boom Counterweight Bags are delivered empty. They are sized to hold 15 pounds of lead shot as counterweight.

We have had success with 5, 6, or 7 gauge lead shot, available from many sporting goods stores that carry hunting supplies, or found online.

We have not had as much success utilizing sand in the counterweight bags, as it is less dense than the lead shot and may not provide enough weight.

Using a plastic funnel the counterweight bags can easily be filled.

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text:
Compiled from the following sources:

People's Daily Online

XINHUA Online (China View)

Revision History:

Biography Revised: 1/5/2018
Career Data Updated: 1/5/2018

PHOTO: Liu Guozhong
Liu Guozhong 刘国中
Member, 19th CPC, Central Committee; Governor, People's Government, Shaanxi Province
Born: 1962

Biography Highlight

Liu Guozhong, male, Han nationality. He is a native of Wangkui County, Heilongjiang Province. He was born in 1962, entered the work force in 1982, and joined the CPC in 1986. He was Secretary General of CPC Heilongjiang Provincial Committee from 2007 to 2011. From 2011 to 2016 he was Vice-Governor of Heilongjiang Province as well as deputy secretary of Leading Party Group of Heilongjiang Provincial Government.

Recent Career Data

2018— Governor, People's Government Shaanxi Province
2017— Member, 19th CPC, Central Committee
2017—2018 Governor, People's Government Jilin Province
2016—2018 Deputy Secretary, CPC, Provincial Committee Jilin Province
2016—2017 Acting Governor, People's Government Jilin Province
2011—2016 Vice-Governor, People's Government Heilongjiang Province
2011—2016 Deputy Secretary, People's Government CPC, Leading Party Group Heilongjiang Province
2008—2016 Member, CPC, Provincial Committee, Standing Committee Heilongjiang Province
2007—2011 Secretary-General, CPC, Provincial Committee Heilongjiang Province
2004—2007 Secretary, CPC, City Committee Heilongjiang Province, Hegang City

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Wednesday, 11 January 2012

Hunky Dory Cards

I have also started card making again - here are some examples of cards made using the freebies in the Hunky Dory magazine.
I just love the quality of Hunky Dory Card and Toppers.

Five Birthday Cards

Karenliz said...

Beautiful cards! I hope to see more of your creations this year!

travel shaving brush said...

I found your website the other day and after reading a handful of posts, thought I would say thank you for all the great content. Keep it coming! I will try to stop by here more often.


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friday , saturday

Friday : went to STARBUCKS with Chrissi who never tasted Starbucks before and after one swallow totally fell in love : D
we met at 6 pm and took the last train at about 11 pm. So many hours of talking has been such a good day.

Just a small post of my Outfit from Saturday.
I went to KÖVIT with some of my friends and my boyfriend who works there.
Unfortunately but as expected the 'convention' was very boring but hanging with friends is lovely.
even though .. I didn't fell well at all .. don't know why ..

Tomorrow I'll go to the beach with my mummy and my hunney xD (haha ..)

another hot day and I'm melting away ..
(btw. dress by GALFIT)

look what I found in my mom's cosmetics bag (´* A*)/ . .
such a lovely smell !

anyways ..

Just sitting on a wall next to the city where we met.

I don't really like the picture but the context is lovely ! x3

same here XDDDDD

it's been one year .. and I hope I can forget the downs and always remember our ups ! (^ 3 ^/)

I'm Homesick ..

and it's so terribly hard to stand it.


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Written by Christopher Null on February 6th, 2004

Here’s how lame Barnes & Noble is. I had a book reading and signing at the Oakland B&N last February (a whole year ago), and after the reading, rather than send the unsold books back to me (who shipped them directly there), they sent them to a distributor from which they didn’t even order them. Now, I get a call from a library that bought some of those books from the distributor… well, one of them is autographed “To Jerry”. This is the guy who I GAVE a copy of the book and was running the signing. He sold his book back to the distributor, the book I gave him for free! Incredible. What makes this worse is that Barnes & Noble never even paid me for the books they did sell that night. Authors and small publishers, be warned. Personally, I’ll never shop at a B&N again.

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Sunday, November 28, 2010

From The Orchard 11 x 14 on Panel

This painting was hard to name for some reason. Sometimes when I name paintings its so easy its like the painting speak to me and sometimes its a struggle. The thing is this painting is one of my favorites. I like the dark against the oranges and just the overall old masters look about it. I will take the 2 paintings that I have posted today to Anne Irwin Fine Art for the Small Works Show that goes thru December 31st.

Evening Light 11 x 14 on Panel

After painting the dark whiskey bottle a few weeks ago I decided I would tackle this dark vase that I purchased a few years ago at Parson's. I love how the reflections of the lemons turned out and the look of the black vase. When I took my first workshop with David Leffel his setup had a black teapot. I painted from that still life and didn't know what I was doing with any of it. He came over and painted on the teapot bringing out different colors and then worked on some pears in the setup. After he finished with those I moved onto things he didn't touch so that I could always have what he worked on as a reference to me. It may be the closest thing to me owning one of his paintings.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Paintings SOLD

The following paintings sold the other night at the opening of the Small Works Show at Anne Irwin Fine Art. The show runs thru December 31st and I still have paintings available and will replenish them thru the month. It was nice meeting everyone the other night and I was able to meet two of the people that purchased my paintings. Many times during shows I never get to meet the people who purchase my paintings so I am always excited when I get the chance to meet the buyers. Thank you Warren and Thank you Kathy. It was nice meeting you and I hope you enjoy your paintings for many years.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Anne Irwin Fine Art Small Works Show Nov 19-Dec 31

I will be participating the Small Works Show at Anne Irwin Fine Art. The gallery is located at 25D Bennett St., Atlanta, Georgia 30309. 404-352-1855.

The Opening Reception is Friday, November 19th from 6-8:30pm with the artists. Please stop by during the season.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Paintings SOLD

The following 2 paintings sold this weekend - Vintage Bottle with Apples and Vase with Berries. Thank you for your purchases and I hope you enjoy them.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Vase with Berries 16 x 12 on Panel

I love painting this gold vase. I just love how it glows. I don't know why some of the other vases don't glow as much, but am trying to figure it out. These berries I think came from a Bradford Pear Tree. I took the clippers with me while walking around the block and got them from a neighbors yard. :) It was between to houses in the front next to the electrical box and it was overgrown so I don't think anyone would care. The sugar pears are so much fun to paint. I love the colors.

Vintage Bottle with Apples 12 x 16 on Panel

I recently found this old whiskey bottle on Ebay and it was just what I was looking for to paint. I plan on painting it again in the future and love the look of it. This is the first time I have painted the apples this season. I bought new ones, but still have the ones in the fridge from last year, which are fine. The white vase didn't photograph as well as I would like for it to. In fact this painting was really hard to photograph and I am not sure quite why.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Grapes with Cantaloupe 12 x 16 Oil on Panel

I decided to paint a cantaloupe again. They are so much fun to paint. They are one of my favorite things to paint. Also, I like putting the grapes coming out of vases because you can see the beautiful colors in the light. My Aunt Judy made the green piece of pottery. I have used this piece in a few paintings and really like the colors in the pottery.

Italian Bottle With Turquoise Vase 16 x 20 on Panel

I have been wanting to paint this antique wine bottle that I purchased at Scott's Antique Market years ago. It has been sitting in the corner of the art room for a few years. Now I see these bottles in the Pottery Barn catalog and other places. They say the bottles are from Hungary in the catalog, and I think I was told mine was from Romania. Since I wasn't sure I just decided to say it was an Italian Bottle. Mine is a little worn with some of the wicker coming off, and I love the character of the bottle. In the picture since I use a blue filter on my camera the blue eggs and turquoise vase didn't show up with the richness in the actual painting. You can see this painting at The Anne Irwin Fine Art Small Works show starting this Friday, November 19th through December 31st. I will post about the show tomorrow.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Home Sweet Home 9 x 12 on Panel

I love painting these nests. I know have around 6 or 7 nests that I have collected over the past year. I am still searching for them in the yard, but the last one I found fell apart. I think it was a mocking birds because I saw him in that area during the summer and he didn't like that my car was parked near that bush. Oh well :)

Expecting 9 x 12 on Panel

I will be participating in the Holiday Show at Anne Irwin Fine Art. This is a small works show. I think all of my current paintings qualify for that since I haven't really painted too many larger then a 16 x 20. I plan on it in the near future.

The nest paintings make a nice gift and I know at the last show the woman who bought one was buying if for a gift.


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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Roses 16 x 12 Oil On Panel

I have been teaching since the fall at The Art School in Sandy Springs owned by Donna Thomas. It is a beginning oil painting class with adults and is held on Thursday afternoons . One of the students wanted to paint roses so we painted roses and I have been practicing myself. I wanted to paint red roses for Valentine's Day. Flowers are a challenge to paint for me.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Grapes, Pears and Vases 11 x 14 Oil on Panel

I am behind in posting paintings and painting. I should start catching up soon.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Family 12 x 12 Oil on Panel

Today one of my students(Stephanie) brought in her birds nest and 2 of them were so different then the ones I own. One of them was a hummingbird's nest. It was more of an oval shape. It was small, but for some reason I thought it would be smaller. Then there was another one that looked like pine straw and then on the bottom layer had twigs. I liked that one. Also, she brought in 2 very small eggs and then a larger one. She knows so many things about birds and birds nests. I won't feel bad anymore about taking a nest or an egg. They are like chickens and lay eggs everyday. The thing is she won't sit on the nest until she has had all that she is going to and then she sits on the nest so that they hatch on the same day. Also, if birds decides they don't like the location of the nest they have built they will move on and make another one. Also, if they decide they don't want the egg they will throw it out of the nest. I thought they were families, but now it seems like its more of a production.

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Pink Rose with Jar and Vase 12 x 9 Oil on Panel

What a beautiful day it is today! I am having a hard time wanting to paint when it's 70 degrees out. I may have to postpone painting for this week.


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Monday, 22 July 2013

Hello everyone

It is amazing to be able to say we have had another great week of sunny weather.  I know it has been hot and often uncomfortable, but to be honest it has been missing in recent years so perhaps we should just enjoy it because I somehow doubt it will last much longer.

A fairly busy week making wedding stationery ranges for today's Wedding Fayre at Old Thorns Hotel.  A lovely venue with a great golf course too.  I used to play golf at least twice week up to several years ago and I do miss it, but don't seem to have time to fit in a round these days.  Isn't life supposed to slow down as you get older so that you can do all the things you have promised yourself you will do?

Back to the Wedding Fayre.  This was a really well organised event (thank you PMN Wedding Fayres), that was also well supported by the staff at Old Thorns - they kept us going with much needed tea, coffee and water.  This is a lovely venue for a wedding and it turned out that lots of the couples visiting the event had planned to book or had already booked their wedding at the hotel.  Lovely for all of us it was very busy and although there were two other wedding stationers taking part as they were not strictly handmade, I am hoping this in itself may bring forth some after-event interest.  I have three quotations to prepare, plus an order for the embellishments I use on one design - very unusual, but nice.  I really enjoyed the event and picked up some great ideas for the wedding side of my business.

It was a little dark where I was based, so not all of my photographs came out well, but here are a few of them:

A little late with my Sunday post, and today is apparently going to be very hot, so think it is time to get working before melting time hits.  have a great week everyone and don't forget to visit Handmade Monday to catch up with my fellow crafting bloggers - or is that blogging crafters?

  1. I love your handmade invitations, I'm sure lots of brides-to-be will too.

  2. Wedding Fayre sounds really promising. Great venue too x.

  3. I think that you should win hands down being handmade. It is lovely to hear that you had such a positive experience. xx

  4. Lovely invitations. I think your photos have come out quite well, even with a little bit of darkness.

  5. Glad to hear the wedding fayre went well. I hope it beings in lots of commissions.

    Hope your recovery is going well and that you're not over doing things xx

  6. your wedding stationary looks so beautiful on your stall, i'm glad to hear the event went well after all your hard work! x

  7. I hope you're feeling better now x
    The wedding fayre sounds great. Hopefully it will lead to more commissions for you.
    Ps you were right about the weather not lasting but personally i'm glad dor a bit of rain!

  8. Sounds like a wonderful venue for a wedding. I think handmade invitations look so much prettier and more personal than standard ones. I hope you get some orders.
    Ali x

Thank you for your comment - it is always lovely to have feedback and I hope you enjoyed my post.


text: The Sensorial materials include activities designed to refine and enhance the child's blossoming sensory awareness. Modern Research is proving that the senses help the brain to learn and discriminate. These include opportunities for each of the children's senses: seeing, hearing, touching, tasting and smelling. Our classrooms also include materials designed to enhance the child's stereognostic sense, that ability to identify an object by holding it in one's hand.


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Monday, March 31, 2008

Bush Administration Employs The Dilbert Strategy in Face of Mounting Economic Crisis

So Paul Krugman today made the astute observation that the huslte and bustle and bluff and moxie coming out of the mouth of the White House in regards to the current financial crisis quite closely resembles the famed Dilbert Strategy. When you have absolutely no clue how to fix a problem, just make some flow charts, a pretty colored pie chart, an org chart showing who reports to who, and possibly a graph or two, try to look busy, and hope the problem just goes away or someone else fixes it.

Except one little problem: this isnt a cartoon, a crappy middle management job, or a government simulation video game (developed by Will Wright and Sid Meier). Its our freaking National Economy. And it sucks. Its broken. Its like Humpty-Dumpty:

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Humpty together again.

So what did all the King's horses and all the King's men do instead? They created a few org charts, realized they were out of glue, made a huge egg and cheese sandwhich and called it a day.

Unfortunately for President Bush and his cadre of economic advisers, our economy isnt made out of eggy goodness that can be spread upon a buttered roll (OK enough, Im hungry now). Its made out of dollars and cents and when they go down in value everyone loses - even the "winners" on Wall St., as a friend of mine recently found out.

Evil Max, Bejeweled master jewler and numero uno de Uno, who works more hours a week at his job than all my other friends combined, recently decided that it might be nice to buy a gift for our good Dutch friend Darth Mikal who has been stuck in a rut of masochistic XBLA titles like Metal Slug 3 and N+. The last actual game Darth bought was Halo 3 if I am not mistaken, and he claims to despise that game, at least the multiplayer portion.

Darth is a person who enjoys hardcore, solipsistic Japanese games such as the Final Fantasy series, Ninja Gaiden Black, Sexy Beach 2, and pretty much anything by Nintendo or Bioware. If he plays multiplayer online games, he wants to spoon feed you your own sphincter so this results in a very small group of multiplayer games that he focuses on exclusively, like Burnout 3, Gears, and Worms (hes that guy ninja flipping the rope across the ceiling to drop dynamite on your head).

Max decided that a good game for Darth would be Mass Effect. Its Bioware, first and foremost, and its sci-fi, and its not online, so the game gets a +3 bonus to its Charisma vs. Dutch Homunculoids. The only problem was that Max didnt know the game was region free, and didnt take the time to look on or Max could have also sent him his own personal copy, which was inserted and removed exactly one one time from his Xbox 360, destined to the massive pile of games he buys and plays for 5 minutes and then retires, never selling or trading them in. Just in case, or something. So, Max bought the game off, and then had it shipped to Holland, to the tune of $135, all while used copies were floating around for 35 euros (with free shipping). Nice one, Max.

How does a $60 game end up $135? I could blame Max for not shopping around, or I could blame the criminally high rates FedEx and DHL charge, or the semi-legal import fees and taxes on gifts (GIFTS!), or I could takle the softest and most likely target: the superweak US dollar, and the crumbling US economy. Seeing as though I dont play the stock market or own a home, the impact of our weak economy on my day-to-day life is somewhat mitigated. I think for many Americans the case is similar; aside from skyrocketing gas and home heating bills, the precipitous decline in the dollar has for the most part been insulated by the stable cost of other goods, so its imact on our day to day day life is mitigated. But if you try to book a vacation to Amsterdam, or buy something outside of the US, prepare for some serious sticker shock.

The federal government has basically defaulted on its agreement to keep Americans safe from shady banking techniques and unsafe lending processes. Its took some 80 years, but the regulations and limitations that were placed on banking institutions after the Great Depression were slowly but surely wriggled out of by the free market. Speaking as a poker player, and not a financial analyst or economist, it appears to me that banks such as Bear Stearns werent actually gambling on all these marginal lending practices after all - they were freerolling, because if they busted out, the fed would bankroll them with a rebuy loan through JP Morgan Chase. If The Fed is going to come bail out these non-regulated firms anyway, its doesnt take a Karl Marx to figure out that these institutions should be regulated from the get-go as well.

So what does the Bush administration propose in its new guidelines? " '[R]egulation... limited to institutions that receive explicit federal guarantees' - that is, for institutions that are already regulated, and have not been the source of today’s problems. As for the rest, it blithely declares that 'market discipline is the most effective tool to limit systemic risk.' ”

Basically, make a huge org chart, eat an egg sandwhich, and hope the storm passes.

Students at University of Texas Draft Honor and Ethics Code from Plagiarised Sources

From The San Antonio Express-News:

"It seemed like an honorable goal: Draft an honor code for University of Texas at San Antonio students to follow, exhorting them not to cheat or plagiarize.

But when students threw a draft of the new honor code onto the Internet for feedback, some noticed a problem: Parts of the code appeared to have been lifted word for word from another school’s honor code, without attribution. Even the definition of plagiarism was, well, plagiarized.

Akshay Thusu, the student in charge of the honor code effort, said it was an oversight, the result of a draft that was crafted five years ago and passed through different students and faculty advisers before landing in his lap.

'We believe there might be a citation page,' Thusu said. 'We are still looking for it.' "

Thusu later mentioned the citation page was last seen near the food bowl of his dog, who hadnt been fed in a couple of days due to her owner being so busy drafting the new proposal.

Like the moon over
the day, my genius and brawn are lost on these fools.
-Bowser, Super Mario RPG (SNES)

Thursday, March 27, 2008

The Scam

Polyphony Digital's 800lb gorrila of console sim racing is taking a unique turn during its latest go around the track, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue. Whereas previous iterations of the series promised gamers a full and complete feature set, with dozens and dozens of customizable cars and tracks, the newest version cant quite go the distance, and provides the buyer (uh, you do have money, right?) with 6 (six) tracks.

Yes, thats SIX as in S followed by I and then X in direct succession.

Total tracks.

And we thought Motorstorm's 8 launch tracks was a rush job. At least they were huge, and the crashes were totally sweet, and we could fight on motorcycles, so we didnt really mind. But GT5P features the same lame physics as the last few GT games, where to get the fastest possible lap, you must corner by ramming one of the others cars - which does not produce a crash, just a dull thud. This is Sony's idea of a racing sim in 2008 (GT5 wont come out till 2009). Did I mention that you have to spend real money on this game, and that it costs more than 6 (six) dollars, which is probably what Gran Turismo Prologue is really worth. They charge $40 at the store though, and well, they hope you're OK with that. Im not.

You see, Sony's internal developer, Polyphany Digital, has finally figured out the secret that so many other developers, like Nintendo, Ubisoft, and D.I.C.E. mastered long ago: that they can essentially keep remaking the same game over and over with minimal changes, and so long as the formula is not tinkered with too heavily, the sales will keep racking up and the share price will keep on climbing.

But Polyphany Digital has taken it a step further. They couldnt even quite muster the firepower to get a complete new update of the GT franchise out the door in time for a much needed boost to Sony's shareprice, so instead of delaying the game again, and possibly pushing the development costs into the realm of near unprofitability, which would make Sony's shareholders even more unhappy, they comprimised and decided to just make Gran Turismo 4.5 Online instead. Oh, but you already bought Gran Turismo 4? Well, that wasnt ONLINE, now was it? How passe. Cool kids only play online, dont you know? $40 please. Oh, and when we finish the actual GT5, we will be expecting another $60 from you as well, and by then the trade in value of GT5P will be $6, so, start saving.

Oh, and you might want to also start saving for that Rainbow-Recon Ghost-Cell Splinter-Six Tom Clancy MMO that Ubisoft is currently developing. You see, Ubisoft, which is currently trading at close to $55 a share after acquiring the all rights to the Clancy name, has finally gotten really wise. Not content to keep churning out tired rehashes of the same 3 games year after year, such as the utterly lacklaster effort that is Rainbow Six Vegas 2, or the supremely disappointing Splinter Cell Double Agent, Ubi has decided the best way to keep its share price-a-climbin' is to develop a subscription based MMO set in the Clancy universe at a cost of roughly $50M, and get gamers on the $15 a month plan. That measly $15 a month is $180 a year guaranteed, which is the same as if you bought one copy of each of the Clancy franchise staples once a year. But the catch is, you can't resell a subscription like you can a used game, so 100% of the profit goes to the developer and publisher.

And on the other side of the price gouging coin, we have EA, the biggest gaming company in the world, recently making the decision that many of its future upcoming releases will not be compatible across all regions. That is to say, if you buy a European copy of an online EA game, that game will not be compatible with the US version of the same game. This was recently discovered by a friend of mine on Xbox Live when we attempted to play EA's Army of Two.

umopapisdunpuaq, aside from having one of the longer and more unique gamertags on Xbox Live, and holding several Burnout 3 World Records, is a big fan of shooting the men on the TV with the R trigger and making them fall down. He also happens to be British, and finds living in Britain quite charming. Being of a like mindset in regards to shooting digital bullets at digital people, it only makes sense that we would pair up and go after the evil doers of the world (disturbingly, they all happen to be portrayed as non-white ethnicities) as a tandem in a game specifically made for playing coop online.

But, EA had different thoughts. They thought, in a game thats built from the ground up as an online coop game, lets make how the VS mode plays online determine how we will integrate the online experience for the entire game. That is, if the VS mode is laggy for some international connections, well, the only logical thing to do is to disable all international play for every game mode. This arrangement also provides the bonus to EA of forcing European and Asian customers to buy the game for Euros and/or some other form of real currency, rather than paying in the Monopoly Money that is currently the US Dollar.

A producer from EA Montreal, who made the game, explained to that becauase of the mere potential for a laggy online VS mode experience, they decided to completely scrap all inter region play. Are you buying this explanation? Im not. Who buys Army of Two to play the stupid freaking versus mode?!?!?! Who?!?!? Find me this person, and I will retract any and all criticisms of this game, because the coop campaign is actually a marginally fun stop and pop shooter experience. Its no Gears, but it can chew up some hours with a(region locked) buddy over Live effectively enough.

But how did we get to this point? How did we get to the point where the developers are just crapping out the same game over and over, while making less and less of a game, taking away whole modes (no more 4 person story coop in Vegas2, no SWAT in Halo3, no Road Rage in Burnout Paradise), tracks, and features as if gamers wouldnt even notice or care?

Well its OUR fault, the gamers faut, because we buy this crap and let them get away with it. Well you know what? That it for me. NO MORE. I refuse to buy more of this half-baked, regurgitated roadkilled buffalo ass that they keep forcing down our throats. And if this is all they are gonna release, I will either just rent the crap for a week, or just not buy it at all and go back to playing older games, like Chaos Theory and Burnout 3. Either that, or I'll just give up gaming altogether (hmm) and just go start investing in the stock market instead. First stop: EA games. Next stop: Ubisoft....

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

3 Days Ammunition

Thats how little force it would take from a US led attack to disable the military forces of the Sudanese government, predicts Mark Helprin, a conservative commentator, in an op-ed piece in the New York Times. But that would be a worst case scenario, where we park a couple aircraft carriers off the coast of Sudan in the Red Sea, and the Sudanese government actually refuses to meet international demands to lay down its arms, cease its support of the janjaweed militias, and allow UN peacekeeping forces into areas controlled by government military forces where dire humanitarian conditions persist. The most likely scenario is that just the threat of complete military annihilation and subsequent replacement of leadership with democratically elected officials would be enough to convince the Sudanese that complying with peacekeeping forces is in their best interest.

I am not a pacifist, but the use of military force for anything less than the most dire of circumstances has always struck me as irresponsible, such as the current US occupation of Iraq. But the conflict in Darfur is serious enough, so many innocent peoples lives have been lost and are still in jeopardy, that to stand idly by and do nothing is morally reprehensible.
If the current leadership in The United States is unable to measure the gravity of the situation in Darfur and react appropriately, they need either immediate attitude adjustment or replacement - no different than their counterparts in the Sudan.

Monday, March 24, 2008

N+ Digital Masochisim

I remember some games from my childhood that were truly impossible to beat. NES games, mostly. Ghosts n Goblins comes to mind particularly. Maybe some of the Ninja Gaiden sequels where you had limited continues.

The memories of playing these games and never conquering them haunts me to this day, and those memories came flooding back when I downloaded N+ from the Xbox Live Arcade.

This game makes Super Mario: The Lost Levels look like Barbie Horse Adventures.

The game popped up on the Arcade at around 3 am one night a few weeks ago. In a bleary eyed haze, I downloaded the trial and started wall jumping around.

"This looks fun!!!" I texted to Darth Mikal. "MEGA-FUN" he texted back, an obvious reference to the Mega-Man series we both hold dearly and play regularly. So I dropped the 800 points and started cracking.

The first few levels were great. Just some casual platforming, coin collecting, anything anyone who likes Mario would enjoy. I got a bit farther, and the gaps to jump started to grow, the mines became plentiful, and missles began chasing me non-stop. "That stupid %$#@*& mother-loving missle!!!!!!" I yelled out loud as I stood up and tossed the controller in disbelief. My cats looked at me like I was insane. This little arcade game was actually going to be challenging.

Little did I know, not only would the game become increasingly difficult, it would reach a level of near impossibility quite rapidly. Not just hard, as in, your skills are not up to par hard (Ninja Gaiden). This is masochistically hard. And another, dirty little word: Cheap. Finding the right path to the exit becomes not simply a test of skill, but one of luck and patience. Because, there is only one possible route to take through that field of chain guns, missles, mines, and sentry drones, and if you dont hit the exact right combination of pixels at the exact fraction of a split second, you die instantly. And you will die. Constantly. Actually, there is an achievement in the game for dying 1,000 times. I earned it quickly.

A few days later I received a text from Darth, master of Ninja Gaiden, Mega-Man, Omega 5, and all things hard. "AGAGHAGHAGHAUUAGAGHAGHA" He was playing N+, and it was slowly driving him insane.

An hour later: "Noooooo! nononononono NO NO NO!!!!"

Two hours later: "This game is not good for your health man."

He was right, as I had long since given up on beating it. I got the acheivement for completeing the first set of levels, which was hard enough, and after doing that, I could tell what the game was devolving into, and wanted no part in it. I really hope that one day Darth beats it, but for his sanity's sake I sincerely hope he nevers tries, and just goes back to Ninja Gaiden on Master Ninja. At least that game is fun.

Woman Complains to Cop About "Bad Crack"

Dontcha just hate it when this happens?

"A 50-year-old woman walked up to a sheriff's deputy last week and complained that a drug dealer had just sold her "bad crack," according to Florida's WJXT-TV.

Eloise Reaves "told the deputy that a man in the parking lot had sold her bad crack. [Police] said Reaves then took the crack from out of her mouth and placed it on the trunk of the deputy's patrol car," the station reports. (Here's her mugshot.)

When a field test identified the substance as cocaine, "Reaves complained that it was wax and cocaine mixed, and that she wanted the deputy to make the man give her her money back," police said.

The man was searched and released. Reaves was charged with drug possession."

Hipocrisy and The New York Times: Dog Fighting vs Bull Fighting

Whats the difference?

So The New York Times has this article about a prize bull from Spain. His owner, who is a famous bull breeder, has decided that he wants to clone him to preserve his investment. Well enough, people do all sorts of bizzare things. But how can The Times, the same paper that condemned Michael Vick's dog fighting operation, treat bull fighting as a legitimate sport, and cover this story as newsworthy?

By sending a reporter to visit and interview the owner the paper accomplishes nothing more than cementing the guise of legitimacy this barbaric activity needs to be stripped of, and reinforces a double standard for the abuse and torture of animals. What is the moral difference between breeding dogs and fighting them to the death, and breeding bulls for the sole purpose of having them elaborately and slowly executed in front of a cheering crowd? None.

The New York Times eviscerated Michael Vick in a series of articles detailing his brutal exploits with canines and every step of the subsequent police investigation, and then finished up with a feel good interactive media story called Another Chance for Vick's Dogs about how some of Vicks dogs were rescued by a group in Utah that specialized in rehabbing abused animals. Apparently, for the paper, dogs count almost as people, and bulls, well, they are something you just eat.

I am not a member of PETA and I have never claimed to be an animal rights activist. I am a well established carnivore who loves to eat beef. But bull fighting is just SICK. It is no different than torturing a cat or a dog then killing it, or forcing them to fight each other to the death, and would be identified by most psycologists as psychotic behavior. That it is a historic part of Spanish culture does not imbue it with moral supremacy. Its terribly unfortunate that The Times would consider newsworthy the use of new cloning technology to further this barbaric "sport," in which the only competition is to see how long the bull fighter can keep the crowd engaged in what is a certain, grim, bloody fate.


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Friday, July 2, 2010

On my mind ...

I finally have snippets of time to gather my thoughts, write articles and finish a few drafted posts which have been cooking for a while.  Hopefully something I write will inspire, help or amuse someone!

Some of the things I'm thinking about:

 • Collating my jumbled records and plans for our upcoming Home Ed registration interview.  I'm sorting out my ideas and paperwork on everything to do with it ... why, how, what etc.  Loving the choices and freedom I have, and enjoying getting organised, but nervous about getting it right (note to self: there is no RIGHT!)  My biggest battle is to keep it simple instead of doing mountains of unnecessary work!

•  Health, mostly mine, which is mostly fine.  I've finally seen a doctor after putting it off for ages.  I had an ECG which was clear, as expected.  There is something odd about my heart which showed up, but it's not dangerous or the cause of recent chest pain.  A personal issue was discussed, but it's not life threatening and having read about the tests, treatments and undesirable side effects, we are committing it solely to prayer.  And I'm considering doing a simplified elimination diet.  I know I'm dairy intolerant, but cutting that and other known irritants from my diet hasn't fixed everything.  On the up side, I'm glad my problems now are only physical, and also pretty minor compared to many people.

 Stuff.  School stuff, clothing, linen, books, mending, hobbies, digital photos.  I do pretty well at keeping down the clutter, but it's a battle.  Our belongings need a bit of attention and sorting.  Now that I have time I'm industriously sifting, storing and Op Shop bagging.

 Home, study, job and travel choices.  We're blessed to have choices at all, and sometimes wonderful possibilities, but it can be hard to decide what to do when, and how the finances will all work out.  As always, we simply need to trust in the Lord for provision and direction, and it will all work out for the best.

 Computer time.  I've been researching a few things online and my eyes haven't coped well.  My seldom-worn glasses are more of a hindrance than a help, so I guess it's time for another eye test.  I also worry that I might spend too much time on here, and ought to be productive in other ways.  Finding a balance is tricky sometimes.  What do you do??

 Personality types.  I read another couple of books and confirmed I am an INTJ.  Introverted, iNtuitive, Thinking, Judging.  Depending on the book I may be called a Logical Visionary, Scientist, Strategist, Rational Mastermind, Perfectionist.  It all sounds pretty fancy and la-di-dah, but really they're all just words and I'm just ME.  Out of curiosity I did find an online INTJ discussion group, but as fun as it is to meet like-minded people (we're rare, just 2-3% of the population), it's not high on my list of priorities.

•  PLUS cooking for a fussy eater, sewing, home education philosophies, science topics, kids toys, book ideas, keeping warm, mindful parenting, cleaning, art projects, upcoming holidays ...

Whew!  That's enough babble from me.  It's more of a diary entry I suppose but somehow these thoughts jumped onto a blog page today.  Perhaps it'll help you get to know me better!

1 comment:

  1. That's a worry about the health issues. Good thoughts coming your way! Love the photo btw!

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Who We Are

Serving the Community

The library building was opened in August, 2002. Puyallup has a long and rich history of providing its citizens with a public library. The Puyallup Public Library serves residents living within the city of Puyallup, as well as neighboring communities through reciprocal agreements.

The library collection includes:
  • Books
  • Electronic resources
  • DVDs
  • Music
  • Newspapers and magazines
  • Audiobooks
  • Spanish language materials

Resources and Assistance

We also provide resources to the community such as computer terminals with word-processing software and internet-access, free Wi-fi service, self-checkout machines, meeting rooms, as well as programs and classes for all ages.

Our staff is happy to help you with any questions you have.


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Sunday, December 20, 2009

Sekuntuk Bunga Mawar di Taman Opah

He He He..cantik tak bunga kat atas tu? striking kan warna dia...

I went back to Perak last Saturday to attend a wedding (Shuk's side). As usual, Shuk's sibling will create activities to fill up the time, and therefore, the whole ceremony ended only before 8.p.m. Luckily Shuk and I could stop by at Opah's house and spent the night there. In fact I was so ready to retire for the day after I had my bath. Anyway, my abang misai would still want some hot nescafe so I prepared some. I ended up eating my mom's bread and biscuits stock. Hmmm, dekat kg semuanya sedap kan.

The next day we woke up early and as usual Shuk went to his favorite coffee shop to have his breakfast and read the newspaper. He spent almost two hours there but finally came back with nasi lemak for mak and I.

We went back after having lunch. We reached home at around 4 p.m. and start to rest. We will start our holiday on Wednesday but before that we have loads of work to complete. Please Allah, please let us finish our work on time so that we can have a jolly good time in JB..

Ehh, fasal bunga kat atas tu, lupa la plak, taken from my bedroom in Chemor..Opah's garden, Opah must be very proud of it..

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Kip Knight

Kip is a proven leader based on results achieved at eBay, Procter & Gamble, and PepsiCo in key marketing and general management positions for US and international markets. He is widely recognized as innovative, creative, and champion for his team members. Results-oriented visionary in e-commerce, restaurant and consumer package goods categories. Kip has successfully led global strategy and business-building initiatives. He has a strong track record in business turnarounds as well as launching new brands in new markets. Kip has flexible interpersonal skills with ability to establish rapport, build teams and foster relationship across different cultures and backgrounds.

Consulting Expertise

  • International Marketing – Experience in working in over 80 countries with eBay and PepsiCo, including successfully launching new products and services in numerous markets.
  • Integrated Marketing – Responsible for integrating multi-million dollar budgets that included a variety of marketing channels, including paid search, direct marketing, television advertising, PR, etc.
  • Web 2.0 Marketing – Experience in crafting, executing and measuring the impact of marketing strategies and plans designed to leverage new marketing communication channels, including social media, online communities, branded websites, etc.
  • Foodservice Marketing – Deep expertise in creating and managing foodservice brands (i.e., KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut) in a variety of distribution channels and markets. – Experience in creating and managing franchisee business models.
  • Net Promoter Score (NPS) – Experience in developing, testing, and rolling out dynamic loyalty measurement system

2008 Vice President of Marketing (North America), eBay
2005 Vice President of International Marketing & Category Management, eBay
2003 Regional Vice President, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, eBay
2002 Chief Marketing Officer, Taco Bell Restaurants
1999 Vice President, Marketing, KFC International, PepsiCo Restaurants
1990 Associate Advertising Manager, Food/Beverage, P&G

  • Board of Directors for Netbase Solutions (Internet sentiment analytics)
  • Board member of CEO Women (non-profit helping immigrant women start their own business)
  • Dean of US Marketing College, working with US State Department
  • Board of Advisors for Yottamark (product authentication and traceability)

MBA, University of Cincinnati

BS, Business Administration, LSU


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Friday, June 2, 2017

BreakoutEDU on Thinglink 360 pictures

Thank you @algebrasfriend on Twitter for asking me to write a blog post on how I created my reviews on Thinglink 360 pictures. I should have done this months ago.Here goes…...

I first saw a breakout EDU at an conference last year. But It wasn't until I saw Dan Gallagher's post on Twitter about the ThingLink 360 breakout challenge that I decided to dive in. I signed up for the two week challenge in March which gave me access to Thinglink’s premium features to play with over spring break. I wanted to create a final exam review, so I did it a little differently than the usual break out.

This is how I did it:
  1. I didn't have any 360 pictures, so I joined a few groups on Flickr. I  joined “ 360 images for schools ” a Creative Commons teacher group. I also joined the “Equirectangular group” . People from all over the world share their 360 pictures with varying licenses. I've asked several people in the group if  I could use their pictures for a lesson.Once I told them I was a teacher, they had no problem letting me use their pictures.
  2. I used a review I already had from last year. It was already digital on a Google form. I broke it up into five parts. Note: You only want to have five sets of problems, to open the five different locks. If you try to do more than that, the students won't finish in 45 minutes. Keep in mind the complexity of the problems, and be creative on how they open the locks.
  3. I decided which problem set would go to which lock. Because it's math, the number locks were easy to do. But I had to be creative to come up with word answers for the letter locks.I looked on the website to see what other teachers had done with the letter locks. That really helped!
  4. I chose music for the breakout that went with the 360 pictures. You can use music you already own and digitize it, or download Music off the Internet. I used Amazon Music. Most of the songs I bought were $.99
  5. I had my tutor, and other colleagues work through the breakout. This is a very important step because it's easy to miss a mistake . There also can be issues with Apps and permission settings sometimes.
  6. If you want to make this type of breakout . I suggest you Sign up for the Thinglink summer challenge. Starting on June 23rd for $25 you can have access to Thinglink’s premium features for a year.
  7. This is a video of my 5th period engaged in the Final exam review.
 Click here to see my Geometry Final Exam Review breakout

Links to ALL my breakouts are on my resource website:

Email me at : for the keys to the breakouts.

  1. Well thorough!! You have had a very productive have your students!! Can't wait to see what else you have "up your sleeve" for next year.

    1. Thanks Coach! I'm really interested in Virtual reality right now. Thinking about ways to use it in my math classroom.


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Movie Birthdays: November 16

Birthdays today start with the late, great character actor Burgess Meredith, who will always be the Penguin to us and who was born way back in 1907. Speaking of character actors, one of our favorites — Missi Pyle — was born today in 1972. Noted Goonie Martha Plimpton was born in 1970, and the irrepressible Maggi Gyllenhaal was born in 1977. Best wishes, one and all!

maggie-gyllenhaal-488924 missi-pyle-8c6804aaf6f55c5bc8cd8983513a46dc-big-201789

Martha Plimpton

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Here is a simple Electronic Switch which can be operated by any Magnetic Field.  It can serve purpose of REED Switch with little modification using a relay because it can not directly drive electrical loads as their output drive capabilities are very small around 10 to 20mA. You can also use  transistor as current amplifier.
For the simplicity of the circuit I have used few components. In this circuit I have used Hall Effect Sensor, one LED and a 9 Volt battery. 5 Volt is enough for the circuit to operate. In market you will find two types of Hall Effect Sensor, Latching and Non-latching Sensors. In Latching type sensor, output state does not change even when you pull magnet away. In this project I have used Latched Hall Effect Sensor US1881. A electromagnet can also be used to control the circuit from a remote point.
Magnetic Switch                                                                                Picture of Magnetic Switch
Application of Hall effect Sensor

  • Speedometer
  • Space Technology
  • Proximity detector
  • Brush-less DC Motor Communication

View video of our experiment


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Gold Member Since 2015
Audited Supplier
Luoyang Zhongtai Industries Co., Ltd.

Zinc Oxide Rotary Kiln, Zinc Kiln, Rotary Kiln for Zinc Oxide Ore Calcining manufacturer / supplier in China, offering Zinc Oxide Rotary Kiln&Zinc Kiln, Oxidized Pellet Rotary Kiln, Citic Hic Rotary Kiln for Refractory Brick and so on.

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Supplier Homepage Product Rotary Kiln Metallurgy Rotary Kiln Zinc Oxide Rotary Kiln&Zinc Kiln

Zinc Oxide Rotary Kiln&Zinc Kiln

FOB Price: US $1,000,000 / Set
Min. Order: 1 Set
Min. Order FOB Price
1 Set US $1,000,000/ Set
Get Latest Price
Port: Qingdao, China
Production Capacity: 500PCS/Year
Payment Terms: L/C, T/T, Money Gram

Request a custom order and have something just for you!

Send Customized Request
Basic Info
  • Model NO.: Zinc Oxide Rotary Kiln
  • Certification: ISO
  • Output: 80-100 T/H(Roasted Sand)
  • Model: 5.2X118m
  • Kiln Supporting: 5
  • Slope: 3.5%
  • Sealing Mode: Flexible Sealing
  • Transport Package: 3.5%
  • Origin: Luoyang, Henan
  • Type: Iron-Making Equipment
  • Rotary Kiln: Zinc Oxide Rotary Kiln&Zinc Kiln
  • Application: Roasting Laterite Ores
  • Driving Type: Double-Driving, Double Hydraulic Thrust Rollers
  • Rotating Speed: Main Driving: 0.2 ~1.233r/Min; Auxiliary Driving
  • Kiln Head Cooling: Air Cooling
  • Trademark: ZTIC
  • Specification: Lateritic Nickel Rotary Kiln
Product Description
Zinc Oxide Rotary Kiln&Zinc Kiln
Product Description
ZTIC  Zinc oxide rotary kiln technical characteristics:
1. Kiln body is made of high quality composed of carbon steel or alloy steel plate and automatic welding;
2 .Tyre,Support Roller,Open gear adopts alloy cast steel;
3 .Sliding bearing with large gap not scraping tile bearing;
4.Transmission device adopts hard tooth surface reducer, flexible diaphragm coupling, dc motor;
5. Adopts hydraulic gear wheel;
6. Preheater scales were used respectively to veiw of kiln head, and cylinder pressure tight seal;
7 . A slow drive device.
Zinc Oxide Rotary Kiln
Zinc oxide is used in rubber industry, mainly used for natural rubber, latex and rubber active agent compound using. Secondly it is used as intensifier and coloring agent. It is widely used in coatings, printing ink, paper making, medicine, chemical industry, ceramic, and glass, match, cable and cosmetics industries.
Features and usages of zinc oxide rotary kiln
1,Making the rubber more abrasion resistance,tear resistance ,more flexible;
2,Reducing the cost of production,stable curing performance;
3,Production can be widely used in paint,ink,Qibu shading,printing the dye;
4,As the raw materials of rubber adhesive plaster in the pharmaceutical industry,also used to paint.
 Process of zinc oxide rotary kiln
First, crushing and milling
The dry crude material will be crushed and milled first.
After milling, the materials would enter the kiln outlet( high end of the cylinder) through the preheater, and then are fed into the kiln by the tremie pipe. Meanwhile, The heating source is sprayed into kiln by burner barrel in the head of the kiln. Due to the inclination of the cylinder and slow rotation of the cylinder, the materials roll in hoop direction. During this process, They will be calicinated, reacted, decomposed in succession through the calcinating section, reaction section, decomposition section,
Then the materials are discharged from the head of the kiln and enter the cooling device and be cooled.
At last, screening
Then they will go through the screens and final products will be conveyed to the yard. The big size materials will be sent back and processed.
Parameters of  Zinc oxide rotary kiln

Model(m)Drawing       No.basic parameterMain ReducerMain MotorCatch wheel typeSupport bearing

Incline   %

Φ3.45×52J9680.35 ~0.85350Worm gear reducer A=450,i=1275 hydraulicrolling412.5
2Φ4×58J9780.35 ~3.55400 250 hydraulicsliding341
3Φ4.15×58.2J9750.35 ~0.75756 55 ×2 hydraulicsliding637

Note: Parameters should refer to the specific contract.
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One day last fall a work crew in Syracuse accidentally struck a water main, sending water gushing into the air like a geyser. A worker operating an excavator scrambled to fill the hole, and then the workers quickly resumed their work.

The occurrence is not unusual in Syracuse. Any time city workers dig up the streets or sidewalks to repair underground water lines, they run the risk of making the problem worse. Many of the pipes that carry the city’s drinking water have not been maintained or updated since they were installed decades ago, and some have shifted their position and become unstable, leaving workers to operate blindly while trying to patch the city’s crumbling infrastructure.

The problem isn’t unique to Syracuse, either. A report by the state comptroller’s office estimated that the state would have to invest $535 million annually to maintain the water systems across the state. In 2012, however, New York spent only about $88 million on such infrastructure.

Syracuse has become the poster child for upstate New York’s the severe infrastructure needs. According to state figures, the city experienced a 42 percent increase in the number of breaks involving its drinking water infrastructure in the first five months of 2014 compared with the same period in 2013. Last year alone, Syracuse recorded 372 water main ruptures, an average of more than one a day.

“These numbers are growing and growing and growing. We’ve started to have water main breaks in the spring and summer and (are) pulling up pipes from, you know, the 1800s,” Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner told City & State. “We’ve started to see our infrastructure – our water mains – really suffer under the fact that for the past 20 years, the federal government and the state government have cut back funding to allow us to keep our infrastructure in a state of repair.”

"We’ve started to have water main breaks in the spring and summer and (are) pulling up pipes from, you know, the 1800s.”
- Stephanie Miner, Syracuse mayor

Water flows freely after a repair crew accidentally struck a water main on South Avenue in Syracuse. (Heather Ainsworth)

Since taking office, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has tried to spur economic development in upstate cities, and his administration has helped bring large high-tech plants to Albany and Utica, where two nanoscale plants have been built, and Rochester, where a new photonics center will open.

Syracuse officials argued that they had been overlooked, but the region scored a win in December when it garnered one of the three $500 million awards as part of Cuomo’s $1.5 billion Upstate Revitalization competition – also known as the “Upstate Hunger Games.” Though the award is sure to help Syracuse, the funding is slated for economic development projects like the Inner Harbor project, and not for infrastructure.

The Inner Harbor project envisions a mixed-use space for residential, retail, educational, hotel and community facilities, although it has become bogged down by a spat over tax exemptions pitting Miner against Onondaga County Executive Joanie Mahoney.

Even if the Inner Harbor and other projects do move forward and spur job growth, officials worry about constructing new buildings and developments on top of old infrastructure. But a major challenge in trying to identify funds to make needed repairs is the city’s shrunken tax base. Syracuse, like many other cities, experienced a decrease in population decades ago amid a nationwide exodus from cities to the suburbs. Syracuse was built for a population of about 250,000 people, Miner said. Currently, there are about 148,000 residents.

“What are you going to do about that?” asked Mahoney. “We can’t just keep going the way we were going and try to fill the budget gaps that exist because of that decrease. It’s not working. You have to do something different. When you saw in the 1960s the flight to the suburbs, anybody involved in city government in those days should have foreseen the erosion of the tax base.”

Mahoney said the city needs to find a better way to fund government besides through property taxes. For example, one of her first acts as county executive was to rearrange the way Onondaga County allocates sales tax revenue to cut funding to towns and villages while reducing city and county property taxes.

Mahoney also warned that those who live in the suburbs and travel into the city for work should be careful not to ignore the infrastructure issues in the urban core.

“If you think it’s not your problem, you’re sorely mistaken, because the jobs are going to leave,” she said. “If you want to fix the water mains in Syracuse, then you should be encouraging economic development.”

“If you think it’s not your problem, you’re sorely mistaken, because the jobs are going to leave.”
- Joanie Mahoney, Onondaga county executive

The Onondaga Creekwalk under the Evans Street Bridge in Syracuse. The bridge, with numerous sizable cracks, needs major infrastructural updates. (Heather Ainsworth)

Miner agreed, saying that more investment is critical to helping the city rebound economically. “People believe that government should take care of their infrastructure,” Miner said. “That’s the history of how we built up our economy and became the Empire State, whether it’s the subway system in New York, the Erie Canal or the bridges on the road to Canada. That’s what has built economies.”

Miner, however, has put more emphasis on the need for more funding from the state and federal governments. The mayor has estimated the cost of replacing Syracuse’s 550 miles of water pipes at about $726 million. Cuomo has said upstate cities need to focus on economic development so that the urban centers can fix themselves, telling the Post-Standard that he has no plans to provide new funding to Syracuse or other upstate cities for water infrastructure. Instead, he told Syracuse officials to propose economic development plans, like the Inner Harbor project “on steroids.”

The mayor suggested that different strategies – in addition to extra funding – would help.

“I think we have a real opportunity to have a ‘dig once’ philosophy, where we as a society say we should dig once, modernize our water mains, sewer lines, use technology to modernize it and then cover it all up and put a brand new road on it,” Miner said. “We’ll be getting a five-for-one hit on that.”

In recent years, Syracuse has experienced an influx of young adults who appreciate the perks of living in urban centers, reversing the flight from cities in the 1960s. As a result, Syracuse’s downtown area has had an economic rebound, spurring new housing.

“We’re doing these great developments in, for example, the Inner Harbor or downtown, where you have these burgeoning developments, business and great projects,” Miner said. “Yet, we’re putting them on a foundation of infrastructure that is rotting out.”

On a road near a newly revitalized area in the city, above the new Onondaga Creekwalk, is the Evans Street Bridge. The timber-decked bridge, which has cracks in its pavement and wood so large that the water flowing underneath is clearly visible, is one of the five off-system bridges in the city that are rated as deficient by the state Department of Transportation. Despite the rating, the bridge sees active traffic each day.

As Miner sees it, one of the problems with securing funding for infrastructure is that people don’t think about it until something goes wrong.

“When you wake up in the morning – and it’s happened to me – and you go to brush your teeth or take a shower and nothing comes out of the sink, you think, ‘How can I function?’ ” Miner said. “Because of the age, because this is such an important foundation of economic development, because it’s such an important part of New York’s history – and Syracuse’s history – I think the time is ripe and people understand that infrastructure is a fundamental mission of government.”

Click here to read part five of our saga: Binghamton.


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Princes’ Islands

Princes' Islands

During the summer months the Princes’ Islands are popular destinations for day trips from Istanbul. As there is no traffic on the Islands, the only transport being horse and cart, they are incredibly peaceful compared with the city of Istanbul. They are just a short ferry ride from Istanbul, with ferries departing from Bostancı, Kartal and Maltepe on the Asian side, and from Kabataş on the European side. Most ferries call in turn at the four largest of the nine islands: Kınalıada, Burgazada, Heybeliada and finally Büyükada. Ferry and ship services are provided by 6 different companies. In spring and autumn the islands are quieter and more pleasant, although the sea can be rough in spring, autumn and winter, and the islands are sometimes cut off from the outside world when the ferry services are cancelled due to storms and high waves. During winter, with the addition of the biting cold and the strong winds and the resulting ferry cancellations, the islands become almost deserted. As for cultural tourism, Büyükada happens to have the first and only city museum in İstanbul, the Museum of the Princes’ Islands in Aya Nikola Bay.

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Wednesday, 21 July 2010

Elle Magazine - "Shopgirl To Stylist"

Having previously mentioned Elle's shopgirl to stylist competition, I was very excited to see these photographs on style bubble. Susie went to one of the semi finals of the competition on monday (19th July) where 4 contestants presented their double sided moodboards for a high street A/W '10-11 shoot, including details of hair/makeup/mood/trends etc. to Natalie Wansbrough - Jones and Donna Wallace from the Elle team.
Lauren McBride proposed an all-black, shape and texture driven shoot, Ellie Wilcox proposed an outdoorsy "Woman on a Mission" shoot, centered around knits/layers/shearling/a deliberately chunky effect, Emma Molyneax proposed another outdoors inspired shoot, which was a much dreamier and more delicate affair and Lucy Kenny presented a shoot inspired by the anarchic layers of John Galliano and Vivienne Westwood, a particularly high end look for a high street shoot. These were only 4 of the 25 semi finalists, and the judges now have to choose the final 2, so it will be really interesting to see if any of these girls make the final.

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