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ILRI-led African Chicken Genetic Gains project is improving indigenous birds for better smallholder livelihoods

There is an ongoing interesting exchange of emails on dad-net (the Domestic Animal Diversity network—accessibility pending on membership), which followed the publication of a recent article on BBC regarding the involvement of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in poultry production.

The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) is fortunate to work with the foundation on a project of relevance here, the African Chicken Genetic Gains project (ACGG).

It is important to remember that ILRI as a CGIAR institute is governed by and adheres to all of the international conventions and treaties governing biodiversity. Our research on forage biodiversity is governed by the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Similarly, our research on conservation, utilization and promotion of indigenous livestock resources—part of our research mandate—is conducted within the relevant treaties and conventions and within the CGIAR policies and guidelines. Our research has helped to highlight the importance of indigenous livestock genetic resources. We fully recognize and value the communities and the farmers owning these livestock as the custodians of the livestock diversity—they are our partners in this research.

The ACGG project in this respect is a fantastic opportunity to document the importance of indigenous poultry and to examine them critically compared to exotic lines. Briefly, the project involves three countries: Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tanzania. It has multiple components including the testing in each country (productivity, resilience, survivability) of an improved local indigenous ‘breed’, as well as exotic ‘breeds’, on station and on farm. The project will generate a large amount of data which will allow the performance of both types to be documented. While this has been done on a limited scale in the past, to our knowledge it has not been carried out so extensively and in so many different agro-ecological zones. I invite you to visit the website for further information.

ACGG is also a catalyst for other poultry projects that the dad-net community may be interested to know about. Together with partners, we aim to test and further develop protocols for the collection and preservation of germ cells including from indigenous poultry populations. This activity is just starting, but in due course scientific outputs will be shared and made publicly available. It is an important element of our strategy for the conservation of indigenous poultry.

African livestock production systems are changing rapidly and there is no doubt this is impacting local livestock, it is threatening as well as it is creating new opportunities for indigenous livestock resources. It is our responsibility to capitalize on the latter while minimizing the impact of the former.

I hope this will bring some clarification on some important generic issues raised by some of you following the publication of this BBC article.

Kindest regards to all,

Olivier Hanotte, scientific advisor at ILRI, on behalf of the ACGG team and ILRI.

5 thoughts on “ILRI-led African Chicken Genetic Gains project is improving indigenous birds for better smallholder livelihoods

  1. This is a very good clarification that will be of immense benefit to the international audience. Please keep it up.

  2. Poultry keeping is a means of survival and economic activities of at least each African family,thus addressing challenges in the sub sector means addressing African livelihood and well being of a household.This is a great project which might comes with economical breakthrough for targeted community.Bravo

  3. Hey how are you dear friends. I’m a new young farmer from Africa live in Israel. But I wanna invest my poultry in Africa. Specially just kuroiler breeds. We are 2 people me and my partner he lives in us. So I may ask please to replay me and tell me how can we get pure kuroiler chicks. We both need 2000 chicks. =4000 chicks. We decide to have them from Uganda Coz the quility is Metter.
    I’m in what’s app. Viber too. 00972546899628

    • Dear Issiaka, this email is in response your post on ACGG website.
      Thank you for taking interest to invest on poultry production in Africa and writing to us.
      As you might have understood from our website, the African Chicken Genetic Gains (ACGG) project is evaluating (for a duration of 72 weeks) under farmers’ management and experimental conditions the egg productivity and growth performance of certain chicken strains/breeds.
      At this point in time, the test has not been completed and we are not confident to recommend any particular chicken breed or supplier for small scale producers.
      Yes, Uganda can be potential source for the Kuroiler breed.
      Please consider the biosecurity status of the farm supplying the chicks/fertile eggs, quality of their germplasm, and continuity of supply especially if your business is outside Uganda. Best

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Gap CEO exits office amid rising competition and dwindling fortunes

UNITED STATES – American apparel retail Gap Inc has revealed that its Chief Executive Officer Art Peck will leave the company at a time when the company is in the middle of a restructuring process aimed at cutting costs and increasing profit.

The announcement also comes at a time when the apparel retailer slashed its full-year earnings forecast, a move that sent its shares down by 7%.

Gap also now expects full-year adjusted earnings per share of $1.70 to $1.75, down from its previous forecast of $2.05 to $2.15.

Since taking the helm in 2015, Peck has tried to re-energize sales at the Gap brand which was once a trend setter with its casual logo emblazoned hoodies and Khaki cargos but is now struggling to keep pace with fast-fashion rivals such as Zara and H&M.

In early November, the company estimated a 4% drop in third-quarter same-store sales, with declines across all its key brands including Old Navy. The drop comes as the Gap brand also has heavily discounted in a competitive retail environment.

Camilla Yanushevsky, research analyst at CFRA, said “Gap’s whole portfolio is having a brand erosion crisis that we expect to only deepen with the current leadership vacuum.”

Earlier this year, Gap said it will separate its better-performing Old Navy brand and shutter about 230 stores of its namesake apparel business, a process likely to be completed by 2020.

Peck, who was to head the new Gap Inc, is credited with developing the company’s “omni-channel” strategy that uses its retail stores and its digital platform to fulfill orders. Many analysts are however of the opinion that the company’s dismal forecasts are an indicator that Peck’s efforts are yet to yield results

Gap said in a statement that Robert Fisher, a member of the founding family behind Gap and its non-executive board chairman, will become the chief executive officer on an interim basis, effective immediately

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DFC and African Development Bank partner to support development in Africa

AFRICA – Adam Boehler, Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) strengthening collaboration in support of development in Africa.

The MOU was signed at the Africa Investment Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa and is intended to leverage the collective resources of DFC and the African Development Bank to more effectively mobilize private capital to mutual development goals in Africa.

Through their collaboration, DFC and the African Development Bank will strengthen cooperation on business development, due diligence, and ongoing monitoring of jointly supported projects.

The collaboration will advance a private sector-led model that offers a robust alternative to unsustainable state-led investments that undermine long-term prosperity and stability in Africa.

“To tackle the multitude of urgent development challenges facing Africa, from infrastructure development to financial inclusion and food security, collaboration with like-minded partners is essential,” said Boehler.

“The MOU signed today will help harness the diverse strengths of DFC and the African Development Bank to make tangible progress on our shared goals across the continent.”

Mr Adesina said, “The partners will focus on priority sectors including critical infrastructure, power and energy, financial services, and agriculture, and prioritize investments that empower the region’s women.

“Through these efforts, DFC and the Bank aim to invest a combined US$2 billion, with a goal of mobilizing an additional US$3 billion from the private sector alongside their investments.

“Doing so would support total investment of US$5 billion in regional development projects. The partners will use debt financing, equity investments, political risk insurance, and other financial tools to meet these goals,” said Adesina.

The United States International Development Finance Corporation (USIDFC or DFC) is an executive agency of the United States federal government responsible for providing foreign aid through the financing of private development projects.

Its creation was mandated by the Better Utilization of Investments Leading to Development (BUILD) Act of 2018, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump on October 5, 2018.

The DFC consolidates the Development Credit Authority (DCA) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), providing US$60 billion in loans, loan guarantees, and insurance to U.S. companies that invest or operate in developing nations.

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Don’t you hate those days that just seem to rush by so fast with so little accomplished? I feel like life is short enough already without having to completely “lose” days. So today I wake up 10-ish, I get the urge for a walk, I travel the neighborhood, come back, do some computing, respond to some old e-mails (and lots more of those from way back when my article came out), read some of my summer reading book (Caucasia), and then spend 2.5 hours assembling my mom’s anniversary present, namely a ping pong table. Now, the German manufacturer calls it a “tt table,” and some people call it a tennis table or table tennis board, but i guess they’re going for the whole alliteration thing with the “table tennis table,” only abbreviated to tt for size. Kinda like the Audi tt. Guess those Germans like their “t”s.

Kinda reminds me of our current US President, who likes to have fun alliteration in all his programs, like the “Charge to Keep” (yeah, its a K, deal) and the “Communities of Character” and the “Reformer with Results.” Yeah, whatever.

On the same vein (and from the same Salon story I stole the alliteration thing from) comes this great quote from Bush on his first six months in office. Are you ready? Okay, here goes: “I know what I believe. I will continue to articulate what I believe and what I believe — I believe what I believe is right.” Well that just sums it up spot on, Georgie Boy!


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1893: Johnny Huffman thinks Yo Tambien should not have run against Lamplighter and Clifford

“Johnny Huffman, who until recently trained the famous Kendall stable for the noted Western race track plunger Chris Smith, is now racing his own string, which includes Ceverton, Van Buren, known in Chicago as the little “jack-rabbit,” Forest Rose, Voldora and others, at the course across the river. Huffman’s wonderful success with Yo Tambien, Maid Marian, Dollie McCone and the rest of Smith’s flyers established his reputation as one of the very best trainers on the Western circuit.

When he took charge of the Kendall stable the true merit of the great Yo Tambien was almost unknown, and he cannot be given too much credit for developing her. Yo Tambien’s magnificient pedigree, she being out of Marian, the acknowledged greatest broodmare in the world, makes her extremely valuable when her racing days are over. This was well known to Smith when he purchased her and he knew she was a safe investment whether she proved a breadwinner or not. It did not take Huffman long to demonstrate what a high-class mare she was.

If Smith had followed his trainer’s advice he would to-day be as well-fixed financially as he was when his stable was sweeping everything before it at Garfield Park a year ago. That year the Kendall Stable wound up the racing season at the head of the list of winning strings on the Western circuit. Smith’s gambling propensities were too much for him, however, and he had nothing to show for the $60,000 won by his horses. He then mortgaged the stable to Leo Mayer and Joe Ullman, the bookmakers, and their claims are to be settled with the sum received for Yo Tambien, who is now for sale.

Huffman separated from Smith because of Mayer’s interference in the management of the stable. When the settlement took place Johnny offered $3,000 for Maid Marian, after her racing days are over. Smith had soured on his trainer, however, and refused. Gen. W. H. Jackson of the Belle Meade stud made a deal recently with him for the mare on the same conditions, but paid only $2,500.

Huffman thinks Smith made a big mistake matching Yo Tambien against Lamplighter and Clifford. “The mare can defeat them both all right, but she should not have been sent against them after a hard season’s campaign and especially over the Hawthorne track,” said he yesterday. “She never did run well over the going at the Cicero course, while it has been just the opposite with Clifford. Then again, Doggett, who rode the mare, used spurs on her, which I never would allow when she was in my hands. They make her nervous and excitable and, as she is a very high strung animal, it can be imagined what a handicap it was to her, with Doggett continually, no doubt, digging them in. Yes, sir, under favorable circumstances I am positive Yo Tambien could show her hoofs to Tammany, Clifford, Rudolph and Morello in a match race. I may be mistaken, but I think she is the greatest performer of them all.”

Unlike Smith, Huffman is well fixed financially. He owns one of the finest farms around Greenville, Ill., and will divide his time between there and East Side this winter.”
(St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 11/18/1893)

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Erdoğan meets Qatari Emir in first visit abroad since COVID-19 outbreak

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has travelled to Qatar for a day of meetings on Thursday, and met with Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Presidential Communications Directorate said in a statement.

The two leaders were to discuss the “relations between the two friendly and brotherly countries” in “all aspects,” according to a previous statement.

In images released by Erdoğan’s office, the president was seen occasionally wearing a face mask, which he removed during the meetings.

Erdoğan left Turkey for the first time for the Doha meetings since the coronavirus pandemic took hold in the country in March.

Erdoğan is now in urgent need of more Doha money, and was looking to pressure Qatar’s ruling Al-Thani family today, Ahval Arabic editor Ghassan Ibrahim said, to finance his expansion program in the region - especially after he drained Turkey’s money in its military incursions, adding to the strain of the growing economic crisis threatening the country.

The Turkish president is trying to warn the Al-Thani family that Turkish military bases in Doha will become the only refuge to protect Qatar, especially since the United States is weighing the option to close its bases, Ghassan said.

It has been widely reported by international media that Turkey has turned to Qatar to finance Erdoğan’s foreign projects and wars in Syria, Libya, and most recently in Iraq.

Another reason for the visit is Erdoğan’s new financial and economic expectations from Qatar, journalist and Ahval contributor Zülfikar Doğan said in an Ahval podcast, adding that the move should be considered in the context of recent developments in domestic politics.

The Turkish government is pushing to take control of the last pieces of democratic grounds where Turkish society and the opposition can “take a breath of air,” Doğan said, as it “leaves Turkey breathless.”

These radical proposals aim to divert attention from the economic trouble in the country, Doğan added.

Erdoğan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has several highly-significant proposals in progress, to transform Turkey’s election system, bar associations, procedures for the employment of public servants, and freedom of speech via new restrictions on social media platforms.

Qatar is also suffering from a financial crisis, Ghassan said, as a result of low oil and gas prices in addition to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. “Qatar is in double trouble,” he added. “It is obliged to protect itself militarily, and thus finance Erdoğan's projects, but remains concerned about the absolute submission to Erdoğan's ambitions and his growing influence, even within Qatar.”

“The ruling family in Qatar knows that Erdoğan's foreign projects are aimed at enabling him in the upcoming Turkish presidential elections, but Qatar is concerned about the possibility of these projects failing in Syria, Libya and Iraq, consequently Qatar has a growing fear of becoming a pariah state not only from the neighboring countries but the entire Arab region,” Ghassan said.

There are apparent Qatari concerns that the United States will shut down the American base in Doha which is supposed to protect the country, in conjunction with Erdoğan's need for more Qatari funds to finance military intervention in Syria, Libya and Iraq.

Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al-Thani, Former Prime Minister of Qatar, in a tweet message, said, “The new policy by which the United States appears to be heading to withdraw from some regions of the world, or to reduce its military presence in it, may cost the world's greatest power a lot The Americans explain this trend with the economic burdens of having their military bases around the world.


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Watch Siren 2018 Online Free

Year: Duration: 42 MinView: 257 views
857 votes, average 7.7 out of 10

The coastal town of Bristol Cove is known for its legend of once being home to mermaids. When the arrival of a mysterious girl proves this folklore all too true, the battle between man and sea takes a very vicious turn as these predatory beings return to reclaim their right to the ocean.

Last Air Date:14 May 2020
Number Of Episode:36

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text:
Pediatric Airway Risks: Inefficient Mechanics of Breathing

Inefficient mechanics of breathing is one major risk factor for infants and young children because it increases work of breathing. In many ways pediatric anatomy and physiology predisposes a child to respiratory distress and respiratory failure. This article reviews the mechanics of breathing and discusses the differences in the pediatric airway that makes them more vulnerable to respiratory failure.

(Illustrations copyright Whitten, Pediatric Airway Management: A Step By Step Guide)

Mechanics of Normal Breathing

Normal quiet breathing is effortless. The rate is neither too fast nor too slow, however, rate varies greatly depending on age and metabolic rate. The chest rises and falls easily and symmetrically. Air flows into and out of the lungs through the open airway based on changes in air pressure.

Adult Chest Cavity Anatomy Makes Breathing Efficient

Let’s start by reviewing the adult mechanics of breathing. The angulation and rigidity of the ribs during the breathing cycle maximizes efficiency in the adult. The lungs are housed in a skeletal cage formed by the ribs. In order to initiate airflow into the lungs, pressure in the lungs must drop below atmospheric pressure. The body accomplishes this by expanding the airtight chest cavity, thereby decreasing the pressure inside. Two motions are involved:

  • expansion of the rib cage by contraction of intercostal muscles
  • contraction and descent of the diaphragm

The ribs form three functional groupings. The first rib attaches rigidly to the sternum to anchor the rib cage. It hardly moves during respiration.

The 8th through 12th ribs expand mostly laterally during inhalation. This effectively increases intra-abdominal space for organs pushed downward by the diaphragm. The motion is like a bucket handle, swinging up and down toward the side away from the centerline and expanding the width of the chest cavity.

The 2nd to 7th ribs flexibly expand mostly anterior-posterior with a little lateral motion. This motion is like a pump handle — mostly up and down in the front of the chest, expanding the depth of the chest cavity.

Illustration comparing the motions of ribs 8-12 to the motion of ribs 2-7. Each set has unique movements for expanding the rib cage.

a. Ribs 8-12 expand mostly laterally, like a bucket handle. b. Ribs 2-7 expand mostly anteriorly, like a pump handle.

Diaphragmatic Contaction Is The Bellows

The diaphragms are two large dome-shaped sheets of muscle separating the thoracic cavities from the abdominal cavity. As the diaphragms contract with each inhalation, they act like a bellows. During inhalation the bellows descends and flattens, increasing intrathoracic volume and decreasing intrathoracic pressure. This pulls air into the lungs as they inflate.

During exhalation, the diaphragm and intercostals relax. As a result, the diaphragms rise and become dome shaped again, decreasing intrathoracic volume and raising intrathoracic pressure. Lungs deflate. The patient exhales. Unless there is obstruction, exhalation is passive, requiring little energy.

Full contraction of the intercostals and the diaphragm allows for much greater expansion of the chest cavity and produces a larger breath, assuming that air is free to flow into the lungs..

Illustration showing how relaxation and contraction of the diaphragm produces air flow into and out o the lungs by changing air pressure inside the thoracic cavity.

The diaphragm contracts and relaxes during breathing, expanding and contracting the volume of the thoracic cage. The associated air pressure changes inside the thoracic cavity cause the lungs to expand (a) and to deflate (b).

What Factors Affect Ease of Air Flow?

A variety of factors affect how easily that air flows:

  • breathing rate
    • too rapid or too slow a rate impairs air movement
  • inspired tidal volume
    • ventilating close to dead space volume causes CO2 levels to rise
  • airway resistance
    • smaller airways have higher resistance than larger airways
    • increased resistance impairs airflow
  • tissue resistance
    • increased frictional resistance of lung tissues and chest wall increases work of breathing and limits tidal volume
  • elastic recoil
    • with weaker elastic recoil, airways tend to remain partially collapsed on exhalation rather than passively reinflate to baseline
  • compliance
    • poor compliance makes it harder to distend the lungs, limiting air movement and increasing the work of breathing

Changes in any of these parameters can significantly affect adequacy of respiration and how hard it is to take a breath.

Anatomical Features That Increase Pediatric Work of Breathing

When the patient works hard to take a breath, for example against an obstruction, he generates a more negative pressure inside the chest cavity.  The intercostal muscles more fully contract. Retractions, noisy breathing, and a rocking chest wall motion are common. As respiratory failure progresses, the pattern of respiration becomes more and more inefficient and ineffective. Work of breathing increases.

In the patient exhausted to the point of respiratory collapse, or in the patient with respiratory depression due to altered mental status, there may be little effort to breathe. Hypoventilation worsens hypoxia, hypercarbia, and respiratory acidosis. Level of sedation increases, further depressing respiratory drive.

Normal infants and small children have significant anatomic predispositions to serious disruption of their mechanics of breathing if they become sick or injured.

Factors Increasing Infant Work of Breathing

The differences in the mechanics of breathing of small children compared to adults places them at much higher risk of respiratory failure.

Evaluating the degree of respiratory compromise is a judgment call. Mild or potential obstruction may have no signs or symptoms at all. In certain patients such as facial burn victims or patients having a severe allergic reaction, mild airway obstruction can convert to total obstruction quickly as edema forms. Constant reassessment is important so that you may intervene early if necessary — before the airway is lost.

The Infant’s Chest Wall Increases The Work Of Breathing

In the infant or small child, the chest wall is more box-like in shape compared to the adult’s. The ribs are more at right angles to the vertebral column and won’t be angulated like an adult until age 10 years. This makes the pediatric chest wall mechanically less efficient and limits potential lung expansion.

comparison infant vs adult rib angulation

The shape and flexibility of the infant chest, and the shape and immaturity of the diaphragmatic muscle both increase the risk of respiratory failure when the child is ill.

Babies “belly breathe”. To take a deep breath, the infant’s chest therefore expands a little and the abdomen rises a lot as the diaphragm descends, pushing abdominal contents down and out of the way.  Anything that interferes with descent of the diaphragm, such as a stomach or intestines distended with air or liquid, can seriously impair an infant’s breathing.

The infant’s chest wall is also more compliant than an adult’s, with an elastic recoil close to zero because of the lack of rib cage ossification. When the infant takes a breath against resistance, such as with airway obstruction or poor pulmonary compliance from pneumonia, the chest wall actually moves inward as the belly moves outward. The inward movement of the chest wall decreases the amount of air that enters. A rocking chest wall motion is very common in children with even partial airway obstruction.

Illustration showing the components of infant anatomy that make the mechanics of breathing inefficient, increasing risk of respiratory failure.

The inefficient mechanics of infant/toddler breathing increases the risk of respiratory failure.

Because chest wall structure and “belly breathing” limit the ability to increase tidal volume, the baby must rely on respiratory rate increases to compensate for stress. The harder a child tries to breathe, the less efficient and more labored breathing becomes.

You can see video of a toddler with croup and the signs of airway obstruction described above here.

Monitor Your Pediatric Patient Carefully

Watch for signs of airway obstruction.

chart listing the signs of airway obstruction

Infants and toddlers tire easily when they have airway or respiratory compromise. Respiratory distress can easily progress to respiratory failure. Assess your patients carefully and monitor for change. Always ask yourself: “How well is my patient breathing?”

Follow this link to my review article in Airway Management on common problems in pediatric airway management and how to fix them:

10 Common Pediatric Airway Problems— And Their Solutions

Follow the link below for discussions and video of recognizing and treating airway obstruction.

Recognizing Airway Obstruction May Save Your Patient’s Life

Click here see a video clip comparing the signs of airway obstruction in a pediatric patient with a more normal breathing pattern once the obstruction is relieved.

May The Force Be With You

Christine E Whitten MD, author:
Anyone Can Intubate: A Step By Step Guide
Pediatric Airway Management: A Step By Step Guide

Button to see inside or buy the book Pediatric Airway Management: A Step-by-Step Guide by Christine Whitten    Button link to see inside or buy the book Anyone Can Intubate, A Step By Step Guide to Intubation and Airway Management, 5th edition on amazon

Click on the covers to preview books at

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text:
Traveling in Morocco reminded me of the cliché that Japanese tourists constantly take pictures. That is still true, but the Japanese no longer stand out. Now all tourists are continually photographing with smartphones. But in the old days, the photographers snapped a picture of a person squarely facing the camera in front of some monument or other. Today many people, especially young women, have learned to imitate models when they are to be photographed—a hip jutted to the side, a leg slightly bent and in front of the other, full profiles with the nose aimed up at the trees, and practiced smiles or mysterious faces. Smartphones have not only made nearly everyone into a compulsive photographer; they have also made many into semi-professional posers.

I learned that Morocco is famed for fossils from the novel The Forgiven by Lawrence Osborne. In that book, a British couple hurrying in their rented car (or hired car since it is a British book) to a decadent party in the Moroccan desert hosted by a gay couple hit and kill a roadside collector and seller of fossils and subsequently get involved with the dead young man’s father.

 I am glad to say that we did not have this excitement, but we did see that Morocco is an important source for fossils. I learned on the trip that eons ago the Moroccan desert was under the sea and that many, many fossils became embedded in marble when the waters receded. A guide describing the painstaking work necessary to chip a fossil out of the marble said that those in the fossil trade had a saying: “Europeans have a watch, Berbers have time.”

The American writer, composer, and translator Paul Bowles, who wrote The Sheltering Sky and Spider House, both set in Morocco, lived in Tangier for more than a half century. Both he and his wife Jane Bowles might be described as having a fluid sexuality. They entertained many artists in Morocco, some of whom were gay, including Tennessee Williams, Truman Capote, and Aaron Copland. I asked our guide whether in Bowles’s day Morocco was accepting of gays. He said that Tangier was, but not elsewhere. He said that nowhere today were gays accepted in Morocco. Gay sex is outlawed.

On the other hand, we went to the Majorelle Garden in Marrakech. This was created in 1923 by the French painter, Jacques Majorelle and contained his residence. He died in 1962 and the garden and house deteriorated until they were bought by Yves Saint-Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé in the 1980s. After the deaths of these two, their ashes were scattered in the garden. A memorial to them and an Yves Saint-Laurent museum were created in the garden. The garden and house are now owned by the French nonprofit Foundation Pierre Bergé—Yves Saint-Laurent. The garden and its museums are a major tourist attraction. In this case, the Moroccans seem quite accepting of these gay men, or at least quite happy for their largesse to Marrakech.

Aspects of family law have been modernized in Morocco. The divorce laws, for example, have been reformed. A man can no longer divorce his wife unilaterally. A court proceeding is required to determine such things as child support and custody.

Polygamy is still permitted in Morocco, but the law now requires that a husband get the consent of all wives before he marries another. The guide said that fewer than one percent of marriages are polygamous. My reaction to polygamy has been to wonder why anyone would wish to go through a wife’s menopause multiple times.

The guide says that women, who can vote, have advanced in society and now hold jobs in the police and military and elsewhere that they could not have had twenty years ago. The majority of women I saw in Morocco had their heads covered, but only a few veiled their faces. The guide said, probably correctly, that more Muslim women in Belgium and the Netherlands cover their faces than in Morocco.

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September 26, 2020

Family plans memorial service for murdered Alabama college student

Relatives have scheduled a memorial service for a slain Alabama college student whose disappearance prompted weeks of searches.

A service for 19-year-old Aniah Blanchard is set for noon Saturday at Faith Chapel Christian Center, a church in Birmingham.

An announcement posted on the church’s Facebook page says the event is open to the public.

Blanchard is from suburban Birmingham and she was the stepdaughter of UFC fighter Walt Harris. She was abducted from a convenience store in Auburn in October, and her remains were found weeks later in rural east Alabama.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against a man charged in Blanchard’s disappearance and slaying.


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AROME French Bistro at Wild Market offers good value French cuisine sans the fancy frills

AROME is an unassuming new French bistro at Wild Market that does brilliant set meal for around $15.90. For that un-princely sum, you get to choose a first course and a main entree.

There’s a good selection of appetisers and entrees. None cost more than $16.90 – the signature French Duck Confit with lentil de puy, braised purple cabbage and grilled pear, for example, is only $13.90. Appetisers are priced below $8.90 – including the pan seared Foie Gras with red wine apple and toast.

If you are willingly to pay a little more for a good steak, go for the Bavette ($19.90) with truffle pomme puree or take your French dining experience up a notch with chef’s choice of Grilled Black Angus Beef Ribeye ($29.90 for 200gm / $54.90 for 400gm).

AROME is conceptualised to offer affordable French cuisine made from fresh quality ingredients sans the fancy frills. Owner-chef Huei Oei takes a modern approach to the classic French fare and serves up his rendition of haute cuisine.

It gets a little difficult to suggest one dish that you must try at AROME, as there are simply too many favourites to mention. To name a few, the French Duck Confit; Salmon Risotto; Asian Braised Beef Short Rib; and the 36-hours cooked Mangalica Pork Belly are recommended and will certainly hit the spot.

Don’t be put off by the simple decor of the interiors at Wild Market, which is ultimately a relaxed food atrium – just wait till you taste the food. Diners may avail of the 2-course set menu from $15.90 nett, available daily from 11:00am till late.

If you are adventurous and building up your appetite, do check out the other food concepts such as Little Penang, Barnyard Servery, LoveBento, The Ceylonese Affair, Taman Manis, Wild Bar, and Everything Foods () – the Fried Carrot Cake is recommended and comes in a variety of flavours.

ARÔME French Bistro at Wild Market Food & Bar

Address: 100 Beach Road, #01-22 Shaw Towers, Singapore 189702

Opening Hours: Daily from 8am till midnight (AROME opens at 11am)

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7-day Seabourn Cruise Line

Take a memorable 7-day Alaska cruise adventure with Seabourn Cruise Line.

Seabourn Cruise Line 7-day Alaska cruise

Seabourn Cruise LineLooking for 7-day cruise with Seabourn Cruise Linein 2021? Discover best cruise vacations with Seabourn Cruise Line from any major cruise ports. These cruises are perfect getaway or last-minute cruise and offer great value over a typical cruise vacation. With accommodations, entertainment and meals included in your cruise fare, it’s easy to discover the meaning of true relaxation. Enjoy beautiful sceneries, spectacular mountains on your 7-day Seabourn Cruise Line Alaska cruise vacation.

7-day Alaska cruise with Seabourn Cruise Line


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CCTV Camera Installation Cork (Thermal Cameras also available)

Businesses and homes in Cork are suffering huge losses every year because of break ins & theft. It is for this reason there has been an increasing use of CCTV systems nowadays. With CCTV installed you can help prevent crime and protect your assets. So, CCTV thats closed circuit television has come a long way in a few years. The quality of the footage has just become outstanding these days and some cameras are now way better than your own eyes with zoom features and total darkness viewing ability. Let us help you with your CCTV installation.

Alert Alarms offer full CCTV installation services for businesses and homes in Cork City. Our CCTV installation service includes:

Covid 19 Thermal cameras.

We can offer detection of your staff & contractors temperature to a fine degree.

On-site survey:

We offer our clients with an on-site survey without cost. While surveying we find the weak points if any as well as the best places to position cameras.

After we receive an order, we would have your CCTV cameras installed quickly and at your convenience. There may be legal issues to consider with CCTV installations depending on where you wish to install it. Our qualified team is going to install the system keeping everything in mind and ensuring that all the areas are covered. We are installers of a wide range of CCTV cameras such as HD cameras, IP cameras, infrared cameras & day/night cameras cameras. Once we are done we will give demonstrations to help you become familiar with the workings of the system.

Maintenance and Upgrades:

It’s very important to service your CCTV system regularly if you want all the cameras, monitors, cables etc. to work in a proper way. We can help you keep your CCTV well maintained preventing any failure down the line. Our technicians can also help you if you need to upgrade your system. We will know at once what upgrades are necessary or possible if we inspect your CCTV system by visiting your business or home.

Contact us for your need.

Check out  for details on CCTV.

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Yoga at the Wall Workshop

March 14 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

jenny rhodes yoga instructor doing yoga

Refine your alignment while discovering your strengths & weaknesses in familiar poses as we use the wall to guide & support us in this informative 2-hour workshop. With each pose at the wall, you’ll enhance body awareness tuning into the muscles we over and underuse in familiar poses. In balancing postures the wall can help us truly “know where you are in space.” We’ll play with balance, inversions, opening, lengthening and strength-building with plenty of encouragement and feedback. Plan to work, and love what you learn about your body and your yoga practice. After hard work comes rest and restoration. Enjoy a blissful savasana and leave the studio feeling refreshed, stronger, wiser and fully alive!

$30 early bird
$35 day of the event, space permitting

Cancellation Policy: Refunds of 90% up to five days prior to the workshop. No refunds allowable after that time.

  • Snack and all props provided

aditi studio
1815 N 45th Street
Seattle, WA 98103
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From Cradle to Career: Connecting American Education from Birth through Adulthood

Jan 23, 2008

The latest in a series of Quality Counts reports that are published annually by Education Week, this report finds that children born in the South and Southwest are the least likely to succeed in life, while those born in the Northeast and North Central states are in a much stronger position.  The report bases its rankings on a Chance-for-Success Index that is based on thirteen different indicators—both economic and educational—that are grouped into three stages of life: the early years, the school-age years, and the adult years.

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Arctic Plants

The Arctic is the area around the Earth’s North Pole. The Arctic includes parts of Russia, Alaska, Canada, and others, as well as the Arctic Ocean, which is an ocean, but is always covered with ice. Trees will not grow in the Arctic because the temperatures get too cold. The forests stop when they get too far north or too high up a mountain. (Higher places are colder, too.) The place where the trees stop growing is called the tree line or timberline.

Map of Canada and Russia
The red line shows the Arctic’s border.

The area north of the tree line is not an empty ice field. In fact, the only large ice-covered land is central Greenland, which is covered year-round by ice. The land of the Arctic is around the edges of the Arctic’s border and is usually covered with moss and grasslike plants called sedges.

Sedge (source/license, Jason Sturner 72)
Arctic Poppy

(edited from: source)

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As a lifelong skier and nearly lifelong Vermonter, it’s natural to assume that I’ve traversed every ski area in Vermont. I grew up skiing at places like Stratton, Bromley, and Magic, and later spent many days at Stowe, Sugarbush, Smugglers’ Notch, Bolton, and Burke.

Until recently, I had never skied at Mount Snow. I’m not sure how that’s possible given that I grew up only an hour from the resort. But finally, after nearly four decades of living in Vermont, I had the pleasure of exploring the legendary slopes of Mount Snow during a family winter getaway.

The Mountain

mount snow
With a peak elevation of 3,600 feet—offering beautiful summit views of Somerset Reservoir in the Green Mountain National Forest—Mount Snow includes 85 trails, 20 lifts, a vertical drop of 1,700 feet, and 80 percent snowmaking coverage.

Located in southern Vermont, Mount Snow is named after Reuben Snow, who in 1953 sold 500 acres of land on Mount Pisgah to National Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame member Walter Schoenknecht. While Schoenknecht ambitiously planned to install 21 double chairlifts and devised a skis-on gondola in the 1960s, Mount Snow has more recently made its mark in the industry with sophisticated snowmaking capabilities and world-renowned freestyle skiing and riding at Carinthia Parks.

Equally impressive is Mount Snow’s ability to win the hearts of families with a fantastic lesson program, a nice selection of beginner trails, and family fun adventures such as sledding near the base area and swimming at the Grand Resort Summit Hotel pool.

Lessons, Skiing & Sledding at Mount Snow

mount snow

During our weekend visit, our daughter, Phoebe, participated in Mount Snow’s all-day Ski Camp for kids ages 4-6. The program, which also offers a Snow Riders snowboarding camp, helps kids improve their skiing and riding skills. Kids are placed in small groups based on their ability with a focus on technique and fun. The personal attention Phoebe received from instructors in the program was beyond impressive, and I was thrilled to experience first-hand the ski school’s efficient drop-off and pick-up system at the Discovery Center.

For those of you with younger or older kids, Mount Snow offers a variety of lesson programs, including Cub Camp for three year olds, Mountain Camp and Mountain Riders for ages 7-14, and single and multi-day learn to ski options for ages 13 and up.

A day in lessons for Phoebe meant some alone time with my husband, Dave. We explored blue trails like Ego Alley, South Bowl, and Upper Exhibition. While skiing with Phoebe on Sunday morning before heading back to home to Burlington, we took her over to the Tumbleweed Lift (located on the south side of the Grand Summit Resort Hotel), which services beginner trails like Cooper’s Junction and Long John.

Another perk of spending a weekend on-mountain at Mount Snow is the base area tubing park, which features up to eight sledding lanes. Located between the Main Base Lodge and the Grand Summit Resort Hotel, the Mount Snow Tubing Hill is one of the largest in Vermont and features its own covered bridge magic carpet lift.

Where to Eat

dots mount snow

Dot’s of Vermont

3 West Main Street/Route 9
Wilmington, Vermont

Located 15 minutes from Mount Snow in the heart of downtown Wilmington, Dot’s of Vermont serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. A favorite among locals and visitors, the restaurant has been owned by John and Patty Reagan for more than 30 years. Dot’s was knocked off its foundation and destroyed by the rising Deerfield River during Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. Thanks to fundraising, grants, loans and donations, Dot’s reopened in 2013 and shows no signs of slowing down. If you’ve never been, put Dot’s on your must-list.

Harriman’s Farm to Table

Grand Summit Resort Hotel
39 Mount Snow Road
West Dover, Vermont

Harriman’s Farm to Table isn’t the most inspired dining room in terms of décor, but the food, service, and drinks make up for the restaurant’s lack of atmosphere. Dinner entrée selections include locally sourced beef burgers, homemade manicotti, and maple roasted chicken. Grown-ups will find an impressive craft beer selection, and I might add some of the best margaritas around. A kids menu is available, and guests can enjoy live music from 8-11.

Cask and Kiln Kitchen

4 North Main Street/Route 100
Wilmington, Vermont
802-464-CASK (2275)

Just around the corner from Dot’s is the Cask and Kiln Kitchen, which offers a delicious seasonal menu, creative cocktails, and a sophisticated yet cozy vibe. The restaurant, located in a building that dates back to the 1930s, includes finer dining on the first floor with a casual lounge upstairs. Reservations are recommended, and plan to make reservations well in advance of your trip if you’re visiting Mount Snow on a busy weekend.

The White House Tavern

178 Route 9 East
Wilmington, Vermont

Perched on a hill overlooking Route 9 is the stately White House Inn. A tip from a local resident turned me on to the inn’s tavern last summer while we were mountain biking at Mount Snow. Owned by The Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain, the White House Tavern offers an impressive dinner menu, including smoked pig ears, short rib gnocchi, and burgers. While we couldn’t snag a dinner reservation in the main dining room, we were lucky enough to enjoy a relaxing meal in the tavern’s bar and lounge.

Where to Stay

family winter getaway at mount snow

Grand Summit Resort Hotel

39 Mount Snow Road
West Dover, Vermont

The Grand Summit Resort Hotel at the base of Mount Snow offers a comfortable slope side lodging options with 196 rooms, studios, and multi-room suites with kitchenettes. Hotel amenities include a heated outdoor pool and hot tub—perfect for aprés ski—an arcade with games for all ages, and a spa and fitness center. A convenient ski and snowboard check makes it easy for guests going to and from the slopes.

Finally, after all these years, we made it to Mount Snow in the winter. I wish it hadn’t taken us so long for us to plan this family winter getaway. But this remarkable mountain was very much worth the wait.

For more information, visit

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All Saints' Church

Working Together

During the school year the children at All Saints' enjoy the enrichment of their curriculum brought by activites run in conjuntion with All Saints' Church.  Here are some of the activites they have to look forward to

  • Church Week
  • Harvest Festival
  • Christmas Celebrations
  • Easter Celebrations
  • Collective Worship Assemblies

Thankfulness, Trust, Peace, Forgiveness, Friendship and Hope.

Christian Values

All Saints’ is a voluntary controlled Church of England School which means that whilst Stockport MBC own the buildings the school has strong links with the Church.  Christian values should play a large part of the day to day life within the school, primarily led by the staff. Christian values should also be evident in policies and guidelines.  They are encouraged through teaching and the conduct of all within school.  As decided by our Ethos Group through whole School pupil Voice our values are

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DIY E-Liquid Recipe

Simple no-frills base for a fried banana ice cream treat, for the DoD weekend mixing assignment.

TFA Banana cream / FW white chocolate - these two combine to create a sugary cooked banana flavour.
This creates an effect like the natural caramelisation of the sugars in the banana when fried.
Needs a couple of days for this effect to blossom.

VBIC/Meringue - the ice cream base. Meringue adds some nice additional sweetness and texture.

Strawberry Ripe - contributes a jammy quality to the cooked banana and is also used in place of sweetener.

I could see some caramels or nuts (almond, peanut butter, walnut) as well as spices like cinnamon being nice additions to the base.

% Vendor Flavor
(TPA) Banana Cream
(FA) Meringue
(TPA) Strawberry (ripe)
(TPA) Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
(FW) White Chocolate
Total flavoring: 12.0% Steep Days: 4 (SNV) Best VG: 60% Temperature: 0
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Casa Serrano Ii: Property for sale in Cantoria

Open to offers! Beautiful independent three bedroom villa for sale in the Almería region, situated on a large plot of 7,000 m2 with a construction area of 145 m2. There is currently no pool, but an above-ground pool can be placed.
The front door opens onto a bright and spacious lounge-diner with pre-installation for air conditioning, a fireplace, patio doors to a solarium. To the left of the entrance, a corridor leads to the rest of the rooms.
First you have a large kitchen that still has to be equipped with built-in appliances. The hallway leads to a guest bathroom equipped with a large bath, separate shower, sink and toilet.
There are two double bedrooms with fitted wardrobes and a large master bedroom with fitted wardrobes and a private shower room. The three bedrooms have pre-installation for air conditioning.The outside is currently a blank canvas, but can be transformed into a beautiful garden. If necessary, there is enough space for an above ground pool.
Located just a five minute drive from the picturesque town of Cantoria, with all necessary amenities.

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Casa Serrano Ii — APS 1192

Villa for sale in Cantoria, Almeria

Detached — Newly Built

€123,000 ~ £112,299 *

  • 3 bedrooms
  • 2 bathrooms
  • Total Rooms: 7 rooms
  • Land area 7,000 m²
  • Floor area 145 m²
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Cooped Up? Try Our Strain Recommendations for DIY Projects!

While it’s safe to say that no one is happy to be in self-quarantine, we want to gently point towards some of the positives about the current situation. Besides just making good sense from a health perspective, staying at home is allowing many of us to pull over, to reassess our daily practices, and to dive into some truly inspiring and surprising DIY projects we might otherwise never make time for. And now more than ever, we think cannabis has a role to play in helping you drop even deeper into these fun and engaging pastimes.

Things to Do While High: The Joy of DIY

DIY projects are one of our favorite things to do while high! From engaging our minds with new creative problems to calling upon our native skills to make things by hand, there’s so much to be learned from the world of DIY.

What does DIY mean to you? It could mean anything from learning to bake—possibly the #1 pandemic pastime of all!—to doing essential home maintenance like cleaning the gutters or even some incredible creative projects that can transform the way you see your home.

But whatever kind of project you decide to take on, remember to plan ahead, gather all your supplies, and only then get yourself in the right mindset to create. And that’s a great segue into some specific strains of premium cannabis to get those creative juices flowing!

Things to Do While High: Strain Recommendations for DIY Fun

We love all kinds of cannabis, of course. But when we’re looking for creative inspiration, we usually lean towards sativa and sativa-dominant hybrids. Why? Unlike indicas, sativas are associated with a special cerebral stimulation, a gentle energetic buzz that helps stimulate creativity. Here are a few of our current favorite offerings.

Lamb’s Bread by Sticky Fingers

things to do while high 1
Source: Leafly

One of our all-time favorites for creative uplift and energy, Lamb’s Bread is a bright green and deliciously sticky bud with its origins on the island of Jamaica. If you’re feeling stressed, this peppery-flavored sativa will have that frown turned upside down in the wink of an eye.

Blue Dream by Farmer and the Felon

things to do while high 2
Source: Weedmaps

This sweet and fruity hybrid is a classic “daytime strain.” Known for imparting a calming and relaxed euphoria and creative lucidity, Blue Dream will balance these cerebral effects with full-body relaxation. In other words, pair this strain with safe indoor activities rather than ones that involve chainsaws.

Infused Pre Roll by Space Coyote x Utopia

things to do while high 3
Source: Weedmaps

The product of an intriguing partnership between two leading producers, this potent pre-roll combines 90% premium sativa flower with 10% live resin for an incredibly flavorful and full-flavored high. Prepare yourself to become a creative whirlwind with this unusual and delicious offering!….

Jack Herer Cartridge by AbsoluteXtracts

things to do while high 4
Source: Leafly

We love AbsoluteXtracts products, a line of premium concentrates crafted right here in Northern California without any additives or dilutants. Their take on the classic Jack Herer strain delivers all of its clear-headed uplift and creative inspiration in a standard vape pen cartridge. They’re a great way to help you dive into a deep and engaging DIY project today!

You can order from our Santa Rosa dispensary for curbside pickup using our online menu. Try these products or grab your faves today!

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"Piazza" Bifocal Sunglasses Color: Dark Blue & Purple w/ Smoke Lens, Power: 1

Piazza fashion bifocal sunglasses from Ritzy Readers are encrusted with dozens of genuine Austrain crystals, perfect for women who like a little glitz and bling when they go out. These high-fashion readers are made for women who like to read outdoors and show the world they have a great sense of style. With crystals that shine and glitter in the sunlight and tons of colors to choose from, you're sure to look glamorous in whatever outfit or bathing suit you choose while reading by the pool, on the beach, or just at your favorite outdoor cafe. You'll never be annoyed by the hassle of switching back and forth between your readers and sunglasses again. Perfect for any outdoor activity where you might need to read your phone, GPS, map directions, gardening instructions, or just a good old-fashioned novel. Piazzas are an excellent choice for women who want to look their best but don't want to spend hundreds on a pair or prescirption reading sunglasses.

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Open Water Scuba Instructor

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Energy Transfer: The Defendants Give In (NYSE:ET)

Energy Transfer: The Defendants Give In (NYSE:ET)

The Army Corps Of Engineers will now do an environmental impact study as ordered to by the district court.

The district court will review the remedies available during the time period that DAPL will be without the required permit.

Emptying the DAPL pipeline is the usual remedy in established law cases.

The fact that this management completed a pipeline and operated it before the permits were properly issued does not make this a ground-breaking case.

The appeals court is likely to send a discouraging message to keep other operators from trying to operate before permits are properly issued and disputes settled.

The last few articles have evoked a lot of comments on the correctness of Energy Transfer’s (NYSE:ET) management and the activism and political orientation of the judge. However, now that the Army Corps of Engineers has now agreed to do an Environmental Impact Study (EIS), it now appears that the judge was on far stronger legal ground than many comments would have indicated. This new development implies more risk for Energy Transfer holders than commenters were sure about just one week or so ago.

The usual remedy when an Environmental Impact Study needs to be done is to refuse to allow the pipeline to operate because there is not a valid permit for the easement where the pipeline is located. Maybe this is not normal for the midstream industry in general. But then again, this is the first time that a pipeline was completed (and began operations) before all the permit issues were resolved. The appeals court will probably want to make it clear that this situation is unacceptable so that no operator will ever be tempted to try this method of completing a pipeline again.

As noted before, the appeals court did allow the pipeline to continue operating. But that continue part came with a warning:

Source: District Of Columbia Circuit Court Of Appeals September 2020

Evidently the defendants now agree that an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) is now the best course of action. It has taken the defendants four years of wrangling to finally see things the way the court has been ruling for some time. This will considerably dim the hopes of all those who think this is headed to the Supreme Court of the United States for a showdown.

The fact is that the law being applied here has ample precedent in other areas. There is nothing new about the ruling or the solutions applied here. The only thing new was that Energy Transfer management completed and began operating the pipeline before the permit issues were settled. Energy Transfer has been shown as a defendant on these legal proceedings from the start. Therefore, the assumption that management knew the risks it was taking is not exactly a giant legal leap of faith.

That means the very much feared ruling of “empty the pipeline” is probably not out of line either. Such a ruling is only a first for this industry because Energy Transfer management made it a first by backing the courts into a legal corner. As the appeals court noted, the defendants have been trying for four years without success to alter the original 2017 order. The latest change in stance by the Army Corps of Engineers is the first indication that the courts have the legal rulings on sound ground. Chances are excellent that the rest of the ruling stands.

So many do not realize that judges do not want to be overruled. It is not very good for one’s professional reputation to be repeatedly corrected upon appeal. Therefore, the judge will do a fairly good job on any decision before defendants appeal. The fact that successful appeals make it into the newspapers indicates how seldom a successful appeal is.

One thing the appeals court did ask the judge to do is review the options during the time period for which the Army Corps intends to do the EIS. Supposedly those options were submitted. One of those options clearly is to allow the pipeline to continue to operate without the proper permit. But against this option is the actions of the defendants to not only complete and operate the pipeline, but also to delay doing an EIS for four years. Therefore those hoping that Energy Transfer can continue to operate the pipeline without some “remedy” to encourage the Army Corps to get this EIS study done may be hoping for an unlikely outcome. No court wants repeated trips to the court for more wrangling. Most courts are very busy and therefore look to minimize the required amount of work on any case.

The good news is that the shareholders should at least begin to know the penalty phase of this dispute within a month or two. The bad news is that once the liabilities of the Dakota Access Pipeline begin to be valued, the partners are likely to consult their lawyers next. The result is that Energy Transfer could have to resolve this dispute over the next several years (probably by using money that would have gone to common unit holders and maybe by also using money that would have gone to preferred holders). At this point the maintenance of the investment-grade rating for the debt appears to be problematic.

Source: Energy Transfer Investor Presentation September 4, 2020

The bulls will point to the adjusted EBITDA outlook shown above as proof that the company can handle whatever happens to the DAPL dispute. However, one needs to consider that the liabilities have little or nothing to do with the EBITDA contributed by the pipeline partnership to Energy Transfer. The liabilities and remedies will be calculated according to law with the potential to far exceed the income generated by the pipeline so far.

There is also the consideration that the Army Corps now admits it allowed this company to operate in essence without a permit. You can just bet the plaintiffs will be screaming for compensation for that.

Furthermore, the Army Corps Of Engineers also admits that it broke its own established procedures by allowing the protestors access to some places without a permit. The state of North Dakota is now suing to recover $38 million of costs as a result. In short those protests were disruptive because the Army Corps of Engineers allowed the disruption. People have the right to protest. But it was the Army Corps that needed to enforce the appropriate guidelines and rules. Really the Army Corps is now appealing while having to stay it followed virtually none of its established procedures for anything related to this dispute.

But that does not allow Energy Transfer management to escape liability for taking advantage of this mess. Any of us dealing with government have long known the “ignorance of the law is no excuse”. We have also been caught in it a few times and that does not at all feel good. The only time you can sue the government for damages (as a general rule) is when the government allows you to sue for damages. Most know that suing for damages in a private industry situation is entirely different.

What also makes this a problem is that most states have a “comparative liability” law. Therefore, plaintiffs only have to prove that Energy Transfer at least was partially at fault to be liable for the damages incurred. It may not appear to be fair, but the law has worked this way for a long time.

Therefore, one would have to conclude that Energy Transfer could pay a lot of money to settle the DAPL dispute. It is still possible for the company to escape with some “scrapes and bruises”. But the change in the stance of the Army Corps of Engineers appears to make that less likely. If the Army Corps thought that it could still escape an EIS, then it would still be fighting hard in court. But that also means the Army Corps and Energy Transfer have now wasted about four years of taxpayer money and court time. The remedies knowing of that delay will be interesting to hear when the court determines those remedies.

Disclosure: I/we have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Additional disclosure: Disclaimer: I am not an investment advisor (or a lawyer), and this article is not meant to be a recommendation of the purchase or sale of stock. Investors are advised to review all company documents, and press releases to see if the company fits their own investment qualification.

Originally published on Seeking Alpha

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Powerful design is consistent thoughout each turn and transition. Tour-friendly, underfoot cable exit points create neutral flex with progressive power. Variable-height toe box design reduces unwanted tip pressure. Easy to adjust cable system fits any size tele boot.

Tech Specs

Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 1 inches; 0.3 pounds


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40 - 44 Pinjarra Road

Mandurah WA 6210

For Lease

Lease price Multiple Options - Please Contact Agent

retail Floor Area: 33m2 - 55m2
33-55 m2 Tenancies Available
Zoned For Retail Use
Incredible Main Road Exposure

- 18,750 cars passing daily on average (2016 statistics) - 33-55 m2 tenancies available - Currently zoned for retail use - Onsite customer parking - Incredible advertising potential - Opportunities available from April 2020 Take advantage of the prime exposure this site has to offer to one of Mandurah's busiest roads. Elevate your brand and join the established mix of retailers including the Boathouse Tavern, A1 Locksmiths, Ocean Glass & Glazing and more. If you would like additional information on this opportunity, please call Patrick Heenan of Altegra Property Group.

Parking Comments

Parking On Site

Patrick Heenan

Sales and Leasing Executive

Primary Agent

Patrick Heenan

Sales and Leasing Executive


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Traveling to some of my Happy Places

Andy’s school year officially ended on June 13 when he played viola with his high school Chamber Orchestra at graduation. We wasted no time getting out of town! On the 14th we drove out to Miles End Lodge in Kingston in central NV for a two night stay. We brought the side by side and dirt bikes. Our friends Alice and Chuck and Steve and their friend Gary were out there too with dirt bikes for the guys. So Alice and I had fun taking turns driving the side by side up Kingston Canyon and down the other side. We had some fun water crossings.

We loved seeing everything so green after the abundant snow year.

Andy and Stan accompanied us on dirt bikes.

our group: Gary, Chuck, Alice, Ann, John, Steve, Stan, Andy

I love that place so much that we will be back in two weeks.

Then we left the next day in our motorhome for a trip to Portland, Oregon to visit my sister Catherine and her family. Andy and his cousin Sam would be taking a sailing class on the Wiillamate River. It was two days of long drives with beautiful views of snow covered volcanoes, including Mt. Shasta from the south, east, and  north! We camped the first night at Sunset Campground at Lake of the Woods.

It was the only reservation I could find on short notice and it worked out well. It was a great campground with a beautiful lake and a beautiful snow covered volcano, plus it was 45 minutes from the only entrance to Crater Lake National Park that was open because of snow removal continuing on most of the roads in the park. So after a lazy Father’s Day morning at the campground, we drove to the south entrance of Crater Lake National Park. There was a long line of vehicles waiting to turn in from both directions. We finally made it up to a ranger taking money standing in the road before the pay station. We asked if it would be reasonable to drive our motor home up to the rim with our tow vehicle and he said, “No problem, there is oversize vehicle parking up there.” So we drove up to the very crowded Rim Village – lunch time on Father’s Day with perfect weather. There were cars parked everywhere, including in all of the RV/Bus sites. So we waited for someone to leave. The problem was with 6 RV/bus sites that meant 12 cars and we would need to have two in the same site leave at the same time. When one car left I got out to save the place. Then another car left in another spot. So now I was saving two places. Then another motorhome arrived towing a Jeep. The couple was from California and they joined us in the effort to keep cars out of the RV sites. I had my Boogie Board and it was perfect!

I blocked cars from turning into the area and felt very powerful with my Boogie Board! There was one car I blocked from turning into an empty spot and they drove around and started to turn into an empty spot on the other side so I ran over there again with my sign (and the handkerchief in my mouth!) and held up the sign again. There were also plenty of people from other countries who looked like they didn’t know what my sign said so I had to point to a motorhome. It was actually kind of fun and definitely camaraderie with the other motorhome people. A third motor home had joined us in our effort. Even after we finally got parked I felt like I should stay out there all afternoon enforcing, but Stan pointed out that it was no longer our battle. He was right of course. Stan and Andy had sandwiches during the hour this took. But I still had to eat and I got to have lunch with a great view.

The lake was a mirror, and the snow was beautiful. More family photos:

It was worth the wait for such beauty. Andy also had fun shoe skiing down from the Rim Lodge roof.

After that we continued to Portland, arriving around 9 P.M. Because it was late, we decided to meet my sister and nephew at the sailing class at 9 A.M. the next day. We got all checked into our RV Park and got to bed.

On Monday we got Andy to the Willamette Sailing Club at 9:05 A.M. becasue of traffic. But he only missed a little bit of the Safety Introduction and he had done this camp before. Andy is sailing with the teens in Lasers and Sam is with the younger kids in Optis. We stayed through their swim tests.

They had to don their life jackets in the water, but ony got them after telling a joke or a riddle.

Then my sister Cath, Stan and I went to a nearby Starbucks to chat. We looked up at the bulletin board and at first glance  it looled like it said Welcome to Stan Macdonald.

Actually it says Welcome to Starbucks on Macadam.

There is a climbing gym right in the same area so Andy and Sam spent parts of the afternoons climbling.

We had a nice bbq dinner on the new deck at Cathy and Rick’s house. This was in the waning twilight between 9 and 10 P.M.

On Tuesday Stan and I had a lazy morning, then met Cath and the boys for a Taco lunch then more climbing.  On Tuesday night we went to dinner at their Jewish Community Center – it smelled so good.

Cath, Rick, Sam, and Andy walked the few hilly blocks from their home to the center, while Stan and I drove.

Wednesday brought more of the same. The boys had plenty of wind for sailing and got to cover quite a bit of that lovely part of the Willamette River with bridges and an island. And then more climbing gym. On Wednesday night we got together with Stan’s cousins David and Dana and their families at a Cambodian Sports Bar. It was so much fun, and wonderful to connect with family we hadn’t seen in a long time.Almost the whole group, missing only Dana.

On Thursday, Rick, who is an Emergency Room doctor, was off work. I asked if it would be possible to go to Mt. St. Helens in Washington, about an hour and a half north of Portland. It turns out to be one of their favorite places. Could we do it in half a day, after sailing ended at noon? We decided we could because it was one of the longest daylight days of our year.

So the geology-loving part of me was fulfilled. I had been in Geology 101 at University of Illinois in May of 1980 when the big eruption occurred. It was REALLY cool at the time to have a professor explain the geology of an active volcano on the west coast of my own country. And now I got to see it!

It was another perfect weather day. We stopped at an overlook on the way up, and there was a guy there with a spotting scope focused on three elk.There are three elk on the right side of this photo on the little hill, but without the spotting scope we would not have known.

The wildflowers were beautiful.

We made it to the Johnston Observatory just in time for the last movie of the day.

 Cousins after the movie.

We attended the last ranger talk of the day, standing outside. It was time for me to do my meds, including grinding them. My sister was so kind that she got me a wheelchair to sit in during the talk so I could get meds done. The talk was given by a Forest Service Intern from Germany and his presentation was superb.No the man in the background is not standing on the table!

Then we walked up a trail that went up and around the hill on the left side of the photo.

There was a memorial for all the people who died on that Sunday morning in May 1980 when the volcano erupted.

This day ended with dinner at Lucky Dragon Chinese restaurant on the way back to Oregon. Rick’s fortune cookie said “You have great patience” which is true and he also has great patients (veterans). Stan’s fortune said “You will soon meet an old friend” which also was true.

On Friday I met my sister at the Hoyt Arboretum. She likes to hike there as often as she can. I met her after her hike and we found a shaded picnic table and sat and had a sisterly chat. It was nice to see that part of Portland. Then Cath showed me around downtown Portland, including this actual city park.

On Friday night, we went to a play. It was called The Pianist of Williston Lane and was a beautiful yet sad story of a woman saved by the kindertransport during the World War II holocaust which moved Jewish children to England, which is Rick’s mother’s story too. And after the play,  Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream.

Then on Saturday, the day we had to leave, Cathy, Rick, and Sam came to our motorhome for brunch.

Then we headed south on I-5 and went to visit old friends in Trail, Oregon.

Linda and David retired from Desert Research Institute 14 years ago and moved to Oregon and are now living on a beautiful farm.

Stan and David talked for hours about their shared technological and other interests. Andy helped Linda build a dam on the creek to make a swimming hole for their dogs. Linda and I talked about knitting and yarns. She spins her own yarn. They were wonderful hosts, and it was wonderful to catch up with old friends.

On the way home today we will meet another old friend in Klamath Falls.

These have been great trips of love and connection.

6 thoughts on “Traveling to some of my Happy Places

  1. It gave me great pleasure to read about your trip. Beautiful sights, loving family, happy boys doing fun things together – life can be so very good. I am a friend of your step mother, Anita. A friend of mine also has ALS so I have double interest in your journey.

    Liked by 2 people

  2. Thanks Meg for writing such a nice recap of our great visit together during Samuel’s first week of summer vacation! What a treat it was for all of us to spend a late spring week in Portland with you, and for the boy cousins to share sailing camp and climbing fun! Mt.St.Helens is my favorite Pacific NW mountain site and I loved visiting it again with you as a newbie and a geologist. As I said on my early birthday card for you, knowing that this next birthday on June 30 will be a one-year ALS diagnosis anniversary, this past year you have shown with all your energy that Love, Connection and Hope are much stronger than any disease symptoms. Would that your choice of positive focus lead to treatment and recovery by some miraculous intervention!

    With love and Happy Birthday wishes for this Friday, your sister, Catherine

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Thank you for inviting me to view your blog which to me is your LIVING LIFE adventures. I can’t wait to read more and catch up on the others I have not read yet. Your family is incredible. Love and connection… isn’t that what life’s about? Much love to you, Meg. ~ melissa faith

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Meg, I love these pictures and the fact that you can get to these fabulous places relatively easily. The Hackett family and some friends (15 of us) just got back from an Alaskan adventure on June 29th. Your pictures are very similar to what we saw, which was my 1st time in that kind of rugged terrain with the snow capped mountains and cool temps. It was totally awesome and we all came back refreshed and energized. I hope you can keep having these outdoor experiences, its good for the soul. BTW, Janine and family had a nice short visit with Cathy when they were in D.C. recently too. My best to you!

    Liked by 1 person

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ALTO Double Event London

Date: Monday, 4 September 2017

Venue: Queen Elizabeth II Centre

ALTO was proud to present their free professional development and networking event for ALTO member organisations in London, England.

This was a double-event with one track designated for senior management and another track more suitable for middle managers.

  • Leaders’ event
    09:30 – 16:00
    Members were encouraged to send 2 senior managers to the Leaders’ session.
  • Managers’ event
    09:00 – 12:30
    Members were advised to send 1 mid-level manager to the Managers’ session.

See the event details below or read our blog post to learn more about what attendees learned in London.

Leaders’ Event – Full Day

09:00-09:30 – Registration and networking

09:30-13:00 – Morning session

13:00-14:00 – Networking lunch

14:00-16:00 – Agent and School Zone

Following up on members’ requests to learn more about risk management, we invited Anthony Fitzsimmons to join us in London, an expert keynote speaker on reputational, behavioural and organisational risks. This event was free for two senior managers from each ALTO member organisation.

Morning Session: Rethinking Reputational Risk: How to Manage the Risks that can Ruin Your Business, Your Reputation and You

During this workshop attendees learned how and why respected organisations unexpectedly fail despite the best efforts of diligent, intelligent leaders. The workshop began with a lecture which was followed by a case study during which attendees dissected a crisis to identify its root cause risks. The workshop concluded with a discussion of how to uncover such risks in your own organisation.

Speaker: Anthony Fitzsimmons

Anthony read engineering at Cambridge University before becoming a solicitor specialising in international liability and insurance law. During two decades as a partner in one of the leading legal specialists in the handling of international disasters, he refined strategies to prioritise and reconcile the reputational, humanitarian, commercial, legal and insurance issues arising in crises. He also advised major brands in the wake of severe adverse events.

Following his retirement from law, Anthony founded Reputability, of which he is Chairman. Anthony is a co-author of “Roads to Ruin”, the seminal Cass Business School report for Airmic and, with the late Professor Derek Atkins, of “Rethinking Reputational Risk: How to Manage the Risks that can Ruin Your Business, Your Reputation and You”.

Afternoon Session: Agent and School Zone

The morning seminar was followed by a networking lunch and a split-group discussion where ALTO created an Agent Zone (moderator Scott Wade from Study Travel Magazine) and a School Zone (moderator James Love from ICEF). In close-knit groups with fellow leaders and owners, participants discussed best practices, concerns, and hot issues.

Managers’ Event – Half Day

08:30-09:00 – Registration and networking

09:00-12:30 – Morning session

ALTO offers an extra CPD session to member organisations’ mid-managers once a year as part of our Developing the Leaders of Tomorrow project.

Morning Session: Recipe for Resilience

Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of stress, either from short term intensive experiences such as deadlines or reaching set targets, or from the less-obvious gradual accumulation of pressure over time.

This interactive workshop provided:

  • Understanding of the science behind why employees get overwhelmed;
  • Awareness of the most common ways overwhelm is mismanaged and misunderstood;
  • Tools to intervene and prevent overwhelm; integrating 4 resilience strategies which will help you maintain the optimum state for achieving your personal goals.

Speaker: Hannilee Fish, iKan Health

iKan Health was founded on the idea that to build resilience, handle stress and perform at your highest, workplace wellbeing should be considered seriously. iKan Health take a 360 degree look at your health and has a reputation for providing the highest standard of service. With their team of global experts in Emotional Resilience, Social Intelligence, Clinical Psychology, Nutrition, Fitness, Mindfulness and more, they guarantee to make a difference to any individual and organisation.

Don’t miss our next event!

See our Events listings and join us for the next opportunity to network and learn valuable leadership skills.

go to events


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Always Judge a Book by its Cover

Some books win awards, some win our heart, and others... only serve to confuse.

Crafting with Cat Hair: Cute Handicrafts to Make with Your Cat

Have you been storing your cat’s hair, waiting for your moment? Well, your moment is now.

Crafting with Cat Hair is the kind of page-turner that keeps you up at night. Not only will do I love it, but my Cat (always loving the brush) also can’t put it down either.

Kaori Tsutaya goes above and beyond in the hunt for literary perfection, covering the topic from the garden of Eden (gathering the cat’s hair) right through to the completion of the world (crafting cats from your cats).

The Huffington Post says: “It caught our attention.” … and that’s all you really need to know before you take the leap and join the immensely immense world of crafting with cat hair.

Crafting with Cat Hair on Amazon


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BI101.3: Pentateuch 3 credit hours

An analysis of the content of the first five books of the Bible, with special attention given to creation, the fall of man, the flood, and the tower of Babel, along with a brief refutation of the critics’ arguments. The historical development of the Jewish nation from Abraham until the end of the wilderness wanderings is emphasized.


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Sunday 27 September 2020
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Make Your Career Reflect Your Life Achievements

It’s not enough that you’ve been in the same company for years. If you’ve been working the same job for a long time, you may feel stuck and stagnant. Meanwhile, your life has continued to move forward. You now have your own family, and you’ve managed to afford a home. All that’s left is for your career to reflect these achievements.

Here are some ways to improve your career situation:

Ask for a Promotion

You’re already in the company and your years of loyalty can help you get promoted–but only if you ask. If you’re not exactly the most visible and the best member of the team, it can be hard for your supervisor to see your individual achievements. Take the initiative and list the important contributions you’ve made to the company. Look the part, too. It’s easy enough to buy all you need, from hair care products to eyebrow makeup online, so spend some time on your appearance, especially if your promotion will involve customer-facing tasks. Your image and confidence will help you land the new position, and you’re more confident when you know you look good.

Prioritize Your Family

You have a loving partner and obedient children. You have a happy home. Now, what you want is to devote more time to them as you grow older. You love your job, but if there’s a way for your career to involve more downtime or perhaps some flexibility when it comes to remote work, take it.

For younger couples, it might be hard to get promoted after you’ve been gone for personal reasons. However, this shouldn’t discourage you from prioritizing the needs of your family. Take advantage of your parental leaves when you’ve welcomed a new baby in the family, and prove to your managers that you’re even more productive when you get back to full-time work.

Leave Room for Yourself

You’re content with your career’s growth and you’ve been working hard for your savings goals. But are you working too hard? If you haven’t used your leave credits for a while, now is the time to do so. No matter how successful you are at work, you’ll never feel fulfilled as an individual if you don’t give yourself a break to take a look at how much you’ve achieved.

Work will still be there when you come back, but for now, give yourself the much-needed break. No matter how valuable you are in the company, they can survive without you for a couple of days or weeks. And no, you shouldn’t continue to check up on work while you’re supposedly on vacation. You’re on a break to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Don’t turn it into work too.

The society we live in dictates that your success is anchored to a high salary and a prestigious lifestyle. However, it’s not fulfilling to simply let money decide how happy you should be. You can have a happy life and let your career catch up to it. This way, you never lose sight of your priorities.

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