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Continuing a 32-Year Conversation With Myself

I’ve always been a fan of what I call “found object journaling.” While most of my journals use freshly purchased wirebound notebooks, I sometimes find and use notebooks discarded by others for my thoughts. Like a crab finding an abandoned shell, I move right in and make somebody else’s notebook my literary home for a few months. These notebooks are often from school classes, tossed away as soon as a class ends. They’re rare, but they exist.

My latest find is a real gem. I know, because it’s my very last class notebook from Princeton University, “Spring ’80” written on its yellow cover. After I graduated I held on to it as a record of my closing months at Old Nassau. I knew I had it, but never paid much attention to it until I finished up a volume and decided to use the 40 or so open pages in the massive 130-page, narrow-ruled notebook now. So the classes of the 22 year old me are mixing with the daily thoughts of the 54 year old me. I think of it as a single conversation with a 32-year gap in it.

My classes were the History and Philosophy of Science, English 313 on Literary Criticism (I would have been better off taken a plain old English course rather than one on the criticism of literature), and Religion 348 on Modern Judaism with Ellen Umansky, an excellent teacher who is now a professor of religious studies and the Director of the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Judaic Studies at Fairfield University in Connecticut.

My notes from Umansky’s class are riveting because the lectures and precepts marked my first rigorous, academic study of Judaism. Until that point, I had been completely self-taught as I meandered my way into some understanding of Judaism. Now, I had some badly needed guidance.

Writing in an impossibly compact handwriting I can’t duplicate now, I jotted notes on the rise of the Jewish Enlightenment. Haskalah, maskilim, the Besht (Isaac Baal Shem Tov), mitnagdim, the Mussar movement, Moses Mendelssohn — they were all covered in just one lecture. As the notebook rolls on, I can sense the solid organization and the enormous territory covered. A March 3 discussion covered “forerunners of Zionism,” going all the way back to the destruction of the first Temple in 586 BCE and marching ahead to the 18th and 19th centuries. Leo Pinsker, Herzl, Peretz Smolenskin, Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan, Ahad Ha-Am:  the names keep rolling on and coming in between other lectures and classes featuring Coleridge, Hazlitt, Chaucer, Dryden, Johnson, Baudelaire and scientific equations that are completely incomprehensible to me — did I actually understand them at one point?

The notebook marks my keen awareness of the closing of a tumultuous four years of college. I note the months and then days before my senior thesis was due on May 11, 1980. The inside cover has the phone numbers of publications to which I would apply for jobs — the New York Times, the Journal of Commerce, Fortune and Forbes. The inside cover also had the contact for an internship in the office of New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, where I indeed had an interview in Washington with his senior legislative assistant Chester Finn, Jr., now a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution focusing on K-12 education issues. He was baffled about why a guy from Texas wanted to work in the office of a New York senator.

Even my doodles are full of meaning, from a drawing I called the “Laughing Centaur” to Grateful Dead song titles “St. Stephen” and “Dark Star” to wistful scribbles of the names Christie, Esther and Barbara (my mind was wandering to romantic daydreams that 30 years later I would turn into a book). There’s even a thumbnail-sized sketch of Texas with dots indicating my home town of Mission, no doubt meant to show a classmate where I was from and where I really hoped I would not be immediately returning.

In May, I started the laborious handwritten process of composing “Modern Judaism paper (last one!)” that started with the line, “A hesitant mysticism pervades the Zionist thinking of Mordecai Kaplan and Ahad Ha-Am.” That essay concluded my undergraduate education on a high note.

The future relentlessly barreled down on me in the spring of 1980. As challenging as Princeton had been, that future would be even more chaotic when I plunged into the real world of New York life and high-stakes business journalism just days after graduating. The very last page of the notebook has notes on “apartment survival techniques” and hints like “check Salvation Army, places for clothing, furniture” and the almost-poetic “if trouble get lawyer.”

And now, 32 years later, I’m still doodling names in margins of notebooks, although I tend to do so in Hebrew and Russian. I still read about Judaism and build on what I learned in Religion 348, and I even attend the outstanding speaker series that Ellen Umansky organizes at Fairfield University. I still like the Grateful Dead and I’m not above picking up a good bargain at Salvation Army and Goodwill stores.

And I’m still writing in notebooks, although these days I prefer the wide-rule format — they work much better for 50-something handwriting.

Photography on the Border

A theme that cycles through my book, especially the earlier chapters, is life on the border between Texas and Mexico. I very rarely went to Mexico, and for the tamest of reasons. But others went for untame reasons and I heard their conversations growing up. Drugs, cheap liquor and Boystown — the name of the red-light brothel zones.

The rawest reason jumped out at me during a recent visit to, of all places, the International Center of Photography in New York, one of my favorite museums. The exhibit that caught my eye, and took me right back to the banks of the Rio Grande, was a look at the contact sheets of the Magnum photo agency. Contact sheets are direct prints from negatives on to  photo paper, how photographers used to assess their work, finding the best and weeding out the rest.

One of the Magnum contact sheets came from photographs for a book called “Boystown: La Zona de Tolerancia,” published in 2000 by Aperture in association with the Wittliff Gallery of Southwestern and Mexican Photography at what was then Southwest Texas State University, now Texas State University-San Marcos.

I have that book.

I have it, moreover, through a surprising process — an accident, a matter of a noontime trip to the Virgin Megastore in Times Square in 2004, before it closed. I worked in the Midtown and always enjoyed lunch breaks at the store, a sprawling multilevel cathedral of music, books and movies. The place had a bin for books that were damaged or unpopular. I glanced at the bin. The big-format book with the black spine and silver lettering that announced “Boystown” practically leaped into my hand. The spine was cracking, the edges were worn, but I didn’t care; I would have paid triple the price of $4.99 for this amazing window into the life pulsing on the other side of the river, a world I heard about, but never even got close to experiencing — not that I ever had a desire to visit the red-light districts of Mexico.

Eight years after getting the book, I saw one of the contact sheets at the ICP. The explanatory text filled in some of the gaps in the book, which kept its geographic details very vague. None of the essays give details about where on the border the photos of prostitutes with drunken gringo frat boys, aging ranch bosses and Mexican workers were taken. The black-and-white photos existed in a feverish neverland that existed somewhere but no place in particular. However, the text for the sheet identified the local as (if I recall correctly), Ciudad Camargo, across from Rio Grande City. The place immediately grounded itself just 30 miles from where I grew up, in Mission.

These days, I doubt too many lonely Anglo ranchers and drunken frat boys are yahooing it across the border for debauched fun as they did in the 1970s when these photos were taken by Mexican street photographers hustling for a buck. The places still exist, but I’m guess the clientele has radically changed. Still, the book captures a place in time, when I was taking notes and starting to write about what was going on around me, on the other side of the river.


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Health and Wellness Overview

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Name: Health and Wellness Overview
Date: September 12, 2017
Time: 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM PDT
Event Description:

360 Medical Weight Specialists offers comprehensive, physician-supervised, medical weight loss programs. We offer nutritional education, healthy meal programs, meal replacements, appetite suppressant medications, and supplements to help with weight loss. Our goal is to create a welcoming environment that invites all patients to begin living a healthier and happier lifestyle.  We offer monthly health and wellness overviews for those who would like to lose weight or maintain previous weight loss, as well as those who are simply seeking a healthier lifestyle in general.  Our monthly health and wellness information sessions include the following:

    •    Live demonstrations of InBody body analysis scan
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    •    Information about 360 MWS’ programs and classes

To learn more about how we can help you achieve your weight goals, attend one of our free info sessions. If you are unable to join us for one of our free information sessions, we invite you to schedule an initial consultation with one of our physicians at your convenience — also free of charge.

360 Medical Weight Specialists
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Tuesday, September 12,  7–8:30 p.m.
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August 14, 2008

Support the Valmont Bike Park!!

I bought a brick, you can too! The important thing right now isn’t the amount that you donate – the grant that BMA is hoping to get depends on widespread community support – so $5 will help just as much as $5k for the grant proposal. Donate a few bucks, Boulderites!

Here’s more info:

The future park is a partnership between the Boulder Mountainbike
Alliance and the City of Boulder Parks and Recreation Department.
Just recently the City Council unanimously approved the concept plan
and we hope to break ground second quarter 2009.

The city has budgeted to build the park, but we are raising more
money to make the park even better and to build bigger community buy-in.

We’re applying for a $200,000 grant from Great Outdoors Colorado,
and applications that have strong community support score higher. So
we need as many individual donations as possible, before AUGUST 15th when
the grant application is due. Your donation helps us win that grant!
Individual bricks start at $100 and corproate bricks cost $1,000.
There are other donation options online.

The park will include a 3-4 mile system of interconnected trails,
terrain parks, skills practice areas, a race venue, clubhouse, jumps,
technical features, kid’s zone, etc. It will be designed to host
cyclocross (yeah baby!) and mountain bike races, as well as clinics, group rides,
school events, and all-around great riding.

You can learn more about the park and donate online at:
there’s also a blog to keep folks updated:
Attached is a graphic with a bit more contextual info.

Please spread the word…..we’re trying to reach as many people and businesses as we can.


text:
The Boston Pops Brings Oz To Lenox

Aug 18, 2014

  The Wizard of Oz was a technical marvel for the MGM studio in the late 1930s. MGM has stunningly re-mastered this timeless classic, and in a version, produced by John Goberman, the brilliantly restored images are accompanied by a the Boston Pops playing entirely new transcriptions of Harold Arlen's brilliant lost scores.

The Boston Pops' conductor, Keith Lockhart, joins us to talk about the challenges and wonders of this special presentation which will be in The Shed at Tanglewood on 8/22.


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Dienstag, 23. Februar 2016

My Home On ... Vintage Berlin Guide

What I wore that day ... 40s blazer: School of Berlin // early 40s dress: Vintage Berlin Shop // shoes: eBay // 40s straw hat: thrifted in the USA // 50s straw purse: flea market ....

Quite a few weeks back I got an exciting visit from the wonderful Miss Honey Lulu to talk a little bit about vintage shopping, vintage lifestyle and especially vintage interior for a little feature in Vintage Berlin Homes on the blog Vintage Berlin Guide. So if you like to see a little bit more of our place and read about my vintage hot spots - check it out!

Vintage Berlin Guide is the perfect online spot for vintage lovers based in Berlin and especially for Berlin visitors interested in everything vintage related. Next to links and adresses of vintage shops, beautiful bars or cafes, you can also book guided vintage tours!
Don't miss it!

Thank you so much dear Miss Honey Lulu for you lovely visit. I really enjoyed chatting with you... xx
Ms. Falcon

Montag, 22. Februar 2016

Pleats, Or Not To Pleats

Office Girl ... early 60s dress: Arkona Platz flea market // vintage belt: thrifted // 80s boots: thrifted // 1950s Amber cherry brooch: flea market // 50s purse: flea market ...

I handwashed this dress today and I just rememberd that I had forgot to post this outfit ... What do you thin about the pleats? A friend bought the same dress in a different colour and removed the seams of the pleats ... I'm unsure if I should do the same or if I stick to the more unusual look ( I never wear pleats that open up under the hips.

Dienstag, 16. Februar 2016

Office Girl ... Grey And Red

What I wore to the office one day last week ... cardi: Primark // 50s cotton dress: eBay // shoes: Clarks // 60s purse: flea market // 50s bamboo brooch: flea market

Dienstag, 9. Februar 2016

40s On The Outside - Early 60s On The Inside

This is what I wore to last Sunday's flea market adventures with the hub and a vintage loving friend ... 1940s faux fur cape: Arkona Platz Flea Market // princess coat: traditional turkish fashion store // 50s-60s wool dress: Made In Berlin Store // 90s boots: a shoe vintage store in Berlin-Kreuzberg // 50s purse: flea market // 40s hat: eBay // celluloid brooch: thrifted

I made a new experience the past few months ... people on the street started asking - especially when I'm out with my adorable vintage friend, who doesn't like to get pictured - what era we wear ... I'm for sure not a 'Miss Era Perfect', so I probably end up looking very 40s on the outside but wearing a different era under the coat ... so I never know what to answer those people. Mostly I - for sure make a funny face - and tell them that everything I wear is just *old*. I'm a vintage praline box.

This Post is linked to

Freitag, 5. Februar 2016

A Tip Of Green ...

What I wore to last sunday's flea market stroll ... 50s dress: Colours Store // 50s velvet jacket: Humana Thrift Shop // 90s does 50s boots: thrifted // 50s hat: Rocking Chair Store, Berlin Friedrichshain // vitnage purse: Arkona Platz Flea Market

This Post is linked to

Montag, 1. Februar 2016

The Leopard And The Toad

What I wore last Friday for my first stroll out after a week in bed with fever ... early 50s blazer: flea market // top: h&m // 40s-50s skirt: Made in Berlin Shop // vintage belt: came with a skirt // 90s boots: a vintage shop in Berlin-Kreuzberg // 50s-60s leapard faux fur purse: Mankii Vintage // 50s hat: thrifted // birds family sweater safer pin: flea market

Some of you might know, that I like to call this skirt 'the toad'. I can't help it, when I look at this skirt I have to think of the skin of a slimy huge toad.  ...and what was I thinking to pair my leopard purse with the toad?! Strange mix but it works ...

This post is linked to
over at Style Crone


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warez five

Post author: Evelyn
Post date: Nov 4 2010
Post category: Software
hp officejet 4215xi driver
Once cropped or zoomed, the image can be "dragged" to show the desired area. Borders can be added with a single click. The border size, curvature and fade can easily be adjusted. Borders can be plain (any color), or preset images can be used to create effective graphical borders. Custom borders can also be used to blend two images. Photo Finesse has three main effects. Sepia adds a warm reddish brown tint to create antique looking pictures, Hp Officejet 4215xi Driver adds a textured look to images. Cartoon converts photographs to cartoon images. Brightness and Contrast can be adjusted. Unlike traditional graphics editors, any change applied to a photograph can be modified or removed at any time. Photo Finesse ensures that your photograph will look great when framed. It prints photographs at exactly the required size, and also allows images to be saved at the correct aspect ratio for professional printing or displaying in digital photo frames. To access Wikitup, we clicked the W icon in our Windows notification area, also known as the system tray. We right-clicked the icon and selected Settings, which let us select languages, data sources, hot keys, and other options. Data sources are selected via the sort of add-and-remove tool that lists available resources in one panel and active ones in another; we simply added those we wanted to use and removed those we didn't. The available sources included various video and picture sharing sites like Hp Officejet 4215xi Driver and Hp Officejet 4215xi Driver as well as Google and Wiki sites. We could use the hot keys to look things up or open the Hp Officejet 4215xi Driver box and enter searches directly. This compact pop-up categorizes results into tabs labeled Words, Video, Pictures, and Sound. Pressing Ctrl and right-clicking any word in any program on our system initiated a Hp Officejet 4215xi Driver search, with results appearing in the appropriate tabs in Wikitup's display. We stumped Wikitup's resources with one search, but the program c
Related Posts:
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text:
Thursday, May 4, 2017

Did The Soviet Union Have Role In The Shooting Of Pope John Paul II?

Pope John Paul after being shot on 13 May 1981/Vatican photo

Kevin Mooney, The Daily Signal: CIA Confirmed Russians’ Role in Shooting of Pope John Paul II, Reagan Biographer Writes

Contrary to what “pragmatists” in U.S. government agencies concluded, top officials with the Soviet Union were behind the 1981 assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II, a biographer of Ronald Reagan told The Daily Signal in an exclusive interview.

Paul Kengor, a Grove City College political science professor and author, has acquired what he calls never-before-seen information about the Reagan administration’s “supersecret investigation” into the shooting and wounding of the pope.

The information details the role of the Soviet GRU, the Russians’ brutal foreign military intelligence unit, and KGB spy agency head Yuri Andropov in the attempt on John Paul II’s life, Kengor said.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Did Soviet leader Brezhnev and KGB head Andropov have a hand in the attempted assassination of Pope John Paul II? This is a story that has interested me since the beginning .... but as much as I love a good conspiracy story .... I have never come across any concrete evidence that proves this Soviet involvement.

Anonymous said...

@WNU of course you haven't. Otherwise you'd be dead and we wouldn't be reading your blog ;)

TWN said...

The guy that shot the Pope was a muslim, the anti Russian Propaganda is really becoming ridiculous, I wonder if the people running the anti Russian Campaign ever heard of the story the Boy That Called Wolf, because if this BS keeps up when they do finally tell the truth nobody will believe it. Not that the people behind this crap would recognize the truth if it bit them on the arse.

Anonymous said...

This is an old story. I am not one for believing conspiracies, but conspiracies make good stories nonetheless.

Blackdog said...

This is an old true story. The closest you can get to the true story with out reading the intelligence report is to read Tom Clancy's red rabbit. He was told the story and wrote about it.

Aizino Smith said...

The NAZIS used Muslims.

Why wouldn't the communists?

Aizino Smith said...


text:
Saturday, May 13, 2017

President Trump Has A 'Beef' With The Navy's Newest System For Launching Aircraft From Carriers

Virginia Pilot: President Trump says the Navy's newest system for launching aircraft from carriers is "no good"

President Donald Trump called for scrapping the Navy’s newest system designed to launch aircraft from flight decks of its Ford-class carriers, saying it costs too much and is “no good.”

In a Time magazine interview released Thursday, Trump said the Navy should revert to steam catapults – used for decades on Nimitz-class carriers – rather than use the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System, referred to as EMALS, and designed by General Atomics for use on the Ford-class carriers. He appeared to be recounting a recent interaction with someone who told him the system lacks the power of steam.

“It sounded bad to me,” Trump told Time.

But, Trump appeared to confuse the technology used in the launch system.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The US Navy is gung-ho for their new catapult system .... and they are not going to recommend going back to "steam" .... let alone redesigning the Ford Class carrier to accommodate steam. But it is fun to see how they are running around defending this system to a President who is not knowledgeable about it, but who clearly likes to see them explain themselves on why they want and need it. It is also fun to see the media going into contortions on reporting this story .... but I understand why President Trump raised this issue .... Trump is being Trump .... but the media is only use to Presidents who kept their views private and/or do not even bother to challenge the military heads on procurement decisions .... but were the first to complain when the foul-ups and the billions that are over budget make the news. Memo to the Pentagon and the press .... President Trump has shown himself more than once that is not that type of President. Then again .... maybe he wants to go back to steam .... and maybe there is a problem with the new system .... Donald Trump's Problem With the Navy's Electromagnetic Airplane Catapult, Explained (Popular Mechanics).

More News On President Trump Having A Beef With The Navy's Newest System For Launching Aircraft From Carriers

Navy should return to 'goddamned steam' on carrier, Trump says -- Navy Times
Trump prefers battle-tested old tech over new stuff when it comes to America's Navy -- CNBC
Trump wants 'goddamned steam’ catapults on new aircraft carriers -- The Hill
Trump Tells Navy To Ditch New Catapult, Babbles Incoherently About F-35 -- The Drive
President Trump Wants Gerald Ford Carriers to Use ‘Goddamned Steam’ Catapults Instead of ‘No Good’ Electromagnetic Launchers -- USNI News
‘You Going To Goddamned Steam’: Trump Rails Against The Navy’s New Catapult System -- Task & Purpose
Trump wants aircraft carriers to stop using 'the digital' -- Mashable
Trump Wants ‘Goddamned Steam,’ Not Digital Catapults on Aircraft Carriers -- The Atlantic
Trump May Have Just Derailed A Crucial Part Of America's Future Aircraft Carrier Fleet -- Foxtrot Alpha
A Few Words About Catapults -- Esquire
Everything You Need to Know About the “Digital” “Catapults” Donald Trump Thinks the Navy Doesn't Need -- Slate

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text:
Hi! I'm Kyle, and I use Warpspire to collect my thoughts about product design & development.

October 20, 2017

Your community is what you make it

How do you have a open community without nazis? You kick the nazis out.

March 24, 2017

So, what is it you do all day?

September 17, 2015

Ad Supported

In a few weeks time, iOS 9 will launch with Safari Content Blocker. This technology allows the general public to use content blockers (better known as ad-blockers) on their iPhones. It's kind of a big deal.

September 9, 2015

Lost in Your Vision

Dustin Curtis recently wrote about Fixing Twitter — most of which I can't say I agree with — but he did touch on an idea I like to call being Lost in your Vision.

August 26, 2015

Million Dollar Products

What would a family business look like in the software industry?

May 4, 2015

Measuring emotion

What happens when we stop trying to measure emotion and start feeling it instead?

The Moral Bucket List

As someone who’s recently struggled with the pace of my work and where to focus my energy, I really related to David Brooks’ recent essay The Moral Bucket List:

But I confess I often have a sadder thought: It occurs to me that I’ve achieved a decent level of career success, but I have not achieved that. I have not achieved that generosity of spirit, or that depth of character.

On passions:

Commencement speakers are always telling young people to follow their passions. Be true to yourself. This is a vision of life that begins with self and ends with self. But people on the road to inner light do not find their vocations by asking, what do I want from life? They ask, what is life asking of me? How can I match my intrinsic talent with one of the world’s deep needs?

Yes! I’ve struggled with how to describe this feeling for a long time — this feeling that while it’s probably good advice to follow your passions, you may find more fulfillment following where you’re most needed. This essay is based on his new book The Road to Character, which I’m pretty excited to dive into here soon.

Pairs well with this fantastic answer on How can I be as great as Elon Musk? by his ex-wife, Justine:

These people tend to be freaks and misfits who were forced to experience the world in an unusually challenging way. They developed strategies to survive, and as they grow older they find ways to apply these strategies to other things, and create for themselves a distinct and powerful advantage.

Do your priorities lean toward being as great as Elon Musk, or achieving a depth of character? I think it’s a good question to ask yourself, especially if you work in power-hungry environment like technology.

October 2, 2014

Taste and The Zen of GitHub

About two years ago, GitHub's product development team was growing fast and I found myself thinking about taste a lot. We were getting an influx of new points of view, new opinions, new frames of reference for good taste. But how do you ensure your organization has good taste?

September 4, 2014

I remember the first time Bitbucket straight up stole one of my designs. The layout. The borders. The shadows. The exact information on the page!

I was angry.

August 23, 2014

Tweet Tweet

As I sit in my apartment right now, I'm assuming what is effectively the entirety of the technology industry is managing the task rabbits packing their art cars, private chefs, fusion reactors, and backup iPads into their U-Hauls for the long journey to the Black Rock Desert. Oh — and drugs — lots, and lots of drugs.

Merlin Mann in 2011:

It’s now become unavoidably clear to me that I’ve been doing each of these things poorly. The job, the making, the pleasing, and, yeah, the being at home. And I can’t live with that for another day. So, I’ve chosen which one has to go. At least in the way it’s worked to date. Which is to say not working.

But, that part’s gone missing for just a little too long now. Certainly not missing from my handsome and very practical rhetoric–it’s been missing from my actual life and living. In a quest to make something that has increasingly not felt like my own, I’ve unintentionally ignored my own counsel to never let your hard work fuck up the good things. Including those regular people. Including, ironically, the real work. Including any good thing the crank is supposed to be attached to.

So, I’m done fucking that up. I’m done cranking. And, I’m ready to make a change.

I just found this old article from Merlin, and having recently made some pretty big changes in my own life, it sure hit pretty hard. For me? I’m done cranking for a while, too. I don’t really know what that looks like, but I’m excited to find out.

Hit the Reset Button in Your Brain

Daniel J. Levitin for the Sunday Review:

Our brains have two dominant modes of attention: the task-positive network and the task-negative network. The task-positive network is active when you’re actively engaged in a task, focused on it, and undistracted. The task-negative network is active when your mind is wandering. These two attentional networks operate like a seesaw in the brain: when one is active the other is not.

I love this explanation. I often find myself arguing for the power of not (as in, spending time purposefully not accomplishing tasks). American culture does not like this. It wants us to go faster, do more, always be on (why aren’t you responding to my text message???). As a creative professional, this pressure can be suffocating and damaging, especially as an organization grows. The worst part? I don’t think any of us really want to be this way.

If we can train ourselves to take regular vacations — true vacations without work — and to set aside time for naps and contemplation, we will be in a more powerful position to start solving some of the world’s big problems. And to be happier and well rested while we’re doing it.

I’d also add a vacation from social media. Take a break from your text messages, your Facebook feed, your Twitter feed, and your Instagram feed. Phone vacations are a real thing, and something we’re all going to have to master in our ever-connected world.

August 6, 2014

Investors of Secret: I have a favor to ask

Secret's champions claim the service will overcome the darker side of human behavior and won't become a tool for bullying and defamation. I'm not so sure, so I have a favor to ask.

Asmiov on style

Isaac Asimov on his writing style:

I made up my mind long ago to follow one cardinal rule in all my writing—to be ‘clear’. I have given up all thought of writing poetically or symbolically or experimentally, or in any of the other modes that might (if I were good enough) get me a Pulitzer prize. I would write merely clearly and in this way establish a warm relationship between myself and my readers, and the professional critics—Well, they can do whatever they wish.

The Ocean Cleanup

Last year, I watched Boyan Slat give a TEDx talk on the subject of plastics in our ocean: How the oceans can clean themselves. The idea was super interesting to me (I love simple solutions), but I had no idea how feasible it would be. On June 3rd, his newly formed foundation The Ocean Cleanup claimed they’ve proven it is indeed feasible.

They’re raising $2,000,000 to deploy a large-scale pilot in the next few years. And maybe it won’t work — but it sure feels like a no-brainer to donate some money and give them the chance to try.

The Internet With A Human Face

Maciej Cegłowski, creator of pinboard.in:

I’ve come to believe that a lot of what’s wrong with the Internet has to do with memory. The Internet somehow contrives to remember too much and too little at the same time, and it maps poorly on our concepts of how memory should work.

I can’t begin to explain how insightful and important this phrase is. We’ve been lazy. We haven’t treated backups, privacy, security, and data portability seriously enough as creators of software. It’s time we do.

If you build software for the web, you need to read the whole presentation.

Claude Shannon on accepting the Kyoto Prize

Claude Shannon, inventor of information theory:

I don’t know how history is taught here in Japan, but in the United States in my college days, most of the time was spent on the study of political leaders and wars—Caesars, Napoleons, and Hitlers. I think this is totally wrong. The important people and events of history are the thinkers and innovators, the Darwins, Newtons, Beethovens whose work continues to grow in influence in a positive fashion.

The more I learn of Claude Shannon, the more I like this guy. This is the future I want to build. The entire speech is worth a read.

The Revenge of the Nerds

Kottke, commenting on Steven Frank’s Dragon Lair story

The web has since been overrun by marketers, money, and big business, but for a brief time, the nerds of the world had millions of people gathered around them, boggling at their skill with this seemingly infinite medium. That time has come and gone, my friend.

And with two sentences, Kottke summarizes the feelings that have been welling up in me for the past four years. It’s a new world.

Anonymity: Lessons learned building an anonymous social network

Some great thoughts regarding the history of Formspring and purposefully designing an anonymous experience. I love this bit:

Investors will pass on your company, peers will criticize you, parents will yell at you. Maybe they’re right. And maybe not.

It’s so true. I’ve always considered people who visit GitHub in a logged out state to be a different type of customer — but a customer all the same. Every time I’ve brought up this idea to people outside of GitHub, it’s been met with a strange astonishment and a scolding for not sending them through the signup flow meat grinder ASAP.

Anonymous can be a part of your product. Design it.

The bug in Gmail that fixed itself

A couple of years ago I listened to Werner Vogels talk a bit about treating large computing systems like biological systems. We shouldn’t try and stop the virus — the predator — instead, we should design systems that can provide self-correcting forces against contaminated systems. Preventing failures and bugs was futile.

You may gather from my surprise that I’m not a distributed systems engineer — but the idea of accepting that you will purposefully allow bugs that will cause failure was kind of mind blowing. Before then, my mindset had always been to prevent bugs to prevent failure. I had a similar feeling when I first watched Dietrich Featherston talk about Radiology + Distributed Systems — a similarly alternate perspective on monitoring and measurement.

And so it made me incredibly happy to read this bit from Google’s post-mortem of Gmail’s outage:

Engineers were still debugging 12 minutes later when the same system, having automatically cleared the original error, generated a new correct configuration at 11:14 a.m. and began sending it; errors subsided rapidly starting at this time.

The system was able to fix the bug faster than the engineers. This isn’t anything revolutionary or mind blowing. But it’s kind of awesome to see it succeed in the real world.

Bullshit Overlays

Brad Frost with some real talk:

I’m sure they’re effective.

And I could get people on the street to take my survey by threatening them with a claw hammer. That would be pretty effective too.

If you use an overlay, you’re an asshole. Stop.

On Software Quality and Building a Better Evernote in 2014

It’s hard to admit you’ve made a massive strategic mistake in your company. Kudos to Evernote for facing quality issue head on.

Here’s to brighter, higher-quality future.

January 3, 2014

Product is the reason that I build software. I want to create things that bring people joy. I want to build things I can be proud of. Things that makes the world a better place.

Omakase Charity

My friend Theresa recently launched a new project — Omakase. The premise is pretty awesome: they pick excellent well-deserving charities, you subscribe at $10, $25, or $50 a month.

Simple subscription-based giving. My kinda joint.

My Photos on Exposure

The fine folks from Elepath recently launched their newest venture, Exposure. I don’t really tend to pimp services too much, but I really like Exposure. Here’s a story I published from a recent hike through Marin.

The combination of words + photo groups is perfect for telling a story. I’m looking forward to seeing where they take this.

January 28, 2013

Pixels don’t care

There's plenty of discrimination and intolerance in our world, but never forget that pixels don't care.

January 4, 2013

Patent reasoning

In which the entire situation is just fucked. Let's make it better.

Jigsaws are better

On the subject of repair scheduling:

Repairs scheduling is fundamentally flawed. Maintenance companies try to shoehorn irregular shaped jobs into nice, standardised boxes and it leads to appointments being missed and repairs left unfinished. The company wants its’ customers to be compliant and flexible, but customers need the opposite to be true. So how do we fix the system?

Great article on systems design. The system is more efficient and it makes customers happier. The end result is even simpler than it started:

We ask the customer when they want us to turn up and we give operatives all the time and materials they need to complete the right fix.

Love it.

December 3, 2012

Dumb software

An ode to dumb software, my favorite kind.

August 2, 2012

I want to spend more time conscious of the pace of my life.

Peepcode Play by Play

I sat down for a while with the excellent PeepCode folks and recorded a Play by Play — a real time video of me solving a design problem. A bit terrifying, a bit fun. Check it out if you’d like to see me bumble around.

Choose Your Adventure! slides

Slides from my presentation I gave at Úll - Choose Your Adventure!

December 5, 2011

Knyle Style Sheets

Documentation for any flavor of CSS that you’ll love to write.

November 7, 2011

Knyle style recruiting

A better way to hire people.

October 17, 2011

Mustache, ERB and the future of templating

The best of mustache, all in ERB.

Brew Methods

A wonderfully simple site dedicated to the art and style of creating fine coffee. Learn how to use that Chemex properly!

Design Hacks for the Pragmatic Minded Video

The Ruby on Ales folks got around to publishing the video of my Design Hacks talk. The audio is a little weird in the begining, but hang on — it clears up a few minutes in.

August 25, 2011

Relentless Quality

Musings on a culture of relentless quality.

August 2, 2011

Deploying: Then & Now

Of deploying a major feature on a stage and my love for Hubot.

June 28, 2011

Designing GitHub for Mac

An analysis of my process.

Excellent embedding markup

I was playing around with Twitter’s new Follow Button and I couldn’t help but notice that the embedding markup is some of the best I’ve ever seen.

Follow @kneath

I love the idea of using regular HTML with feature-flags in data attributes combined with a common script. Can’t wait to play around with this style on Gist.

June 14, 2011

Build your business around an idea

Infinite Scroll + HTML5 History API

Something I’ve been meaning to do for a while — here’s a little experiment using the HTML5 History API and infinite scrolling to kill off “next page” links and still maintain real URLs that persist across page views.

In my perfect world, this is how Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr’s infinite scrolling would work.

March 30, 2011

Product design at GitHub

An inspection into the product design process we've carved out.

Design hacks for the pragmatic minded

Slides and references links from my presentation I gave at Ruby on Ales - Design hacks for the pragmatic minded.

Documentation is freaking awesome

Slides and references links from my presentation I gave at Magic Ruby - Documentation is freaking awesome. Check it out if you’re curious.

Speaking at Magic Ruby

I’ll be giving a talk about documentation (no, not just code comments and RDoc) at Magic Ruby February 4th-5th. Oh, did I mention it’s in Disneyworld? And it’s free?

December 28, 2010

URL Design

A pragmatic approach to designing the glue of the web.

My TextMate Snippets & Triggers

A while ago I put up a collection of some of my handcrafted TextMate snippets. mostly focused on front-end stuff: HTML shortcuts, CSS gradients, jQuery plugin bases, commenting helpers, etc.

The Geek Talk Interview

A quick interview I did over at The Geek Talk. Mostly covering my daily routine and whatnot.

RSS Feeds for Warpspire

I was going to try and fix some bugs in GitHub Pages (that’s how this site is hosted) — but I think I’m going to give up that fight. If you’d like to subscribe to Warpspire, you can find the feeds at http://feeds.feedburner.com/warpspire

August 1, 2010

Rethinking Warpspire

March 29, 2010

What's your focus?

Optimizing asset bundling and serving with Rails

I wrote up a pretty lengthy post over at the GitHub blog explaining how we do asset bundling and serving. Well worth the read for anyone who’s interested in front end performance and works on ruby apps.

October 11, 2009

It's not about how many hours you work

October 1, 2009

Joining GitHub

May 3, 2009

Installable apps

February 23, 2009

Xcode window management sucks

May 12, 2008

Top reasons your CSS columns are messed up

August 17, 2007

Why I don't use CSS Frameworks

July 16, 2007

MooTools Javascript Classes

June 25, 2007

Using TextMate's TODO bundle

January 13, 2006

Predictions for the future

I thought it might be fun to say where I think the web, technology, and music are going in the next few years.


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Thursday, September 5, 2013

Thank You Mr. Featherstone

I was saddened to read that Donald Featherstone passed away last Tuesday (reported here). While certainly not a household name, he was a giant who had a remarkable influence on modern gaming culture. As I mentioned before, he helped popularize wargaming, turning the childish activity of playing with toy soldiers into a hobby for adults. Dungeons & Dragons would evolve out of this hobby (one of D&D's creators, Gary Gygax, started as a wargamer; he even published Chainmail, a set of rules for medieval wargames). Of course, D&D would essentially spawn the entire role-playing industry, including video and computer games like World of Warcraft.

On a personal note, Featherstone certainly influenced my gaming life. On his bookshelves, my father had a copy of Featherstone’s War Game Campaigns.

I repeatedly and excitedly read the battle reports and pored over the pictures of hordes of figures marching across the table top. I even tried to play one of the campaigns. Unfortunately, this book is actually for advanced wargamers so it doesn’t have all the rules and guidelines a beginner would need to get playing. Still, this book fired my imagination and spurred my interest in wargaming. For that, I owe Mr. Featherstone a great big thank you!

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Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Status Update

Well, January has ended and it has been very productive.

Six by Six
One month in and I have completed 7 games (complete list here), far more than I expected.
(Note that Kaptain Kobold's list is missing my latest 4AD adventure, which I posted on Tales of the Templars)

I'm not going to get too excited. I have a history of starting strong in January then petering out, as shown by this graph of average blog posts per month.

I'm not sure why there is such a lull in August. Summer in South Florida is when one wants to be inside, away from the heat and humidity. I would think that the weather would promote more games.

Portable Wargame
One reason for my success in playing games is my boxed portable wargame project. Inspired by Bob Cordery, I am endeavoring to put together games that can fit into a plastic box. I have found that I often will not play a game, even if I have time, because I don't feel like setting it up. A portable wargame makes set-up a snap, so I am more motivated to pull one out.

To fit it all in a box, I had to shrink down the battlefield (along with the armies, terrain, etc.). In a fit of madness, I made 4 boards - grass, desert, sea, and space. I'm still compiling components so I don't have one completed one yet. Still, I have made progress.

New Forces
I was concerned that I would not have room in the box for my current 3mm armies so I decided to put together some new forces specifically for my box.

I started by ordering some Irregular 2mm. Here are the (rather blurry) new armies:

A medieval fantasy one for the southern kingdom of Presteria (inspired by Prester John).

Ironically, I had the idea for the Presterian army but shelved it. Then Kaptain Kobold posted about his HoTT version which piqued my interest again. Then, when I decided to go with 2mm, I thought it was a perfect opportunity to create my own Prester John army.

And here is their sworn enemies, the desert barbarians of Swartheria.

I still have some touch-up to do and there are some archers still on the painting table. But these armies are close to done.

As I waited for these troops to arrive, I began building my battle boards. I made ones for sea and space, even though I didn't have miniatures that would fit the smaller board. I decided to rectify that situation, starting with my space fleets. Here is the result so far (another bad picture):

The blue ships are from the Federation fleet (the good guys). I chose to use the same paint scheme as their ground forces. The big ship (bottom of the picture) was meant to be a battleship but now I'm calling it a cruiser. It is about an inch long. I had some small wooden circles and ended up making some flaying saucers (with the help of some lentils). The smaller saucers are just lentils. I also started an Imperial fleet (the red ship). I recently got these ships into action and will post the report tomorrow.

  1. "Note that Kaptain Kobold's list is missing my latest 4AD adventure, which I posted on Tales of the Templars"

    It's hard enough tracking sixteen blogs without you doing your reports on another :)

  2. Understood, sorry about that. I'll do a monthly overview on this blog of any RPG sessions that I do on my other one.

  3. Regarding Bob Cordery's Portable Wargame he's now released a book. See
    I think I'll be getting a copy with my next Amazon order.

  4. Sorry, I thought the link would copy correctly. I guess I'm missing something. Sadly I'm new to all this and don't know. Anyhow - search Amazon and I'm sure you'll find it.

  5. I just got Portable Wargame on my nook and am reading it. Good stuff!


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Salvation in Jesus Christ!

What comes to mind when you hear the name Jesus Christ? It's safe to say that almost everybody in our culture has heard the name Jesus and has at least some impression or thoughts about who he is, what he said, and why he lived. Depending on the way we have been raised, the people we know, and our experiences in life, we each respond to the name Jesus Christ in some way, whether positively, negatively, or indifferently. Some have called him the Son of God, a good teacher, philosopher, prophet, social revolutionary, and even a fraud. I don't know what has shaped your understanding about Jesus Christ, but I would like to invite you to honestly consider what Jesus has said about himself, and determine whether your understanding is consistent with the truth.

Jesus said that he is the Christ or Messiah prophesied about in the Old Testament scriptures. The Greek word Christ and the Hebrew word Messiah both mean Anointed one and refer to a great king and deliverer about whose coming men of God had spoken since the beginning of human history. It's written that this King would be our Creator, God Himself, who would dwell amongst us by taking on human flesh, being born of a virgin and called Immanuel which means God with us. This Creator-King would come to establish a new and eternal kingdom, judge evil and restore peace and righteousness to the earth. The Christ would take away the curse brought by our sin and prideful rebellion and reunite fallen man with his God to live again in fellowship, bringing great joy to the people of every tribe, tongue and nation. Jesus said He is that King.

* John 4:25-26 * Micah 5:2 * Isaiah 7:14 * Daniel 7:13-14 *

Jesus said that He is the Savior of the world. It's written that all sin is lawlessness before God, that everyone is guilty of dishonoring Him by breaking His holy law and that the righteous punishment of sin is eternity in hell. It's also written that a Savior would come to rescue us from the condemnation and guilt of our rebellion against God and provide a way for sinners to be reconciled to Him. He would satisfy the demands of God's justice by humbling Himself to suffer and die on the cross as a criminal, willingly standing in our place of judgment under His law and sacrificially taking upon Himself the penalty of our sins. Having removed the cause of enmity between us by righteously judging and paying for the crimes of His enemies, the Savior would declare peace and call all men to draw near to God, offering mercy, forgiveness and eternal life as a gift of His grace, instead of the judgment, wrath and hell we all deserve. Jesus said He is that Savior.

* Matthew 1:21 * Matthew 20:28 * Isaiah 53:5-6 *
 * Galatians 3:10, 13 * Romans 3:23-28 * Ephesians 2:8-9, 13 *
* Colossians 1:21-22 *

Jesus said that he would rise from the dead. In order to justify both Himself and those who have believed in Him, it's written that the Savior would not only die for sinners but also rise from the dead. He would prove, by showing that death had no power over him, that He is both Lord and Savior; that He will return again and that the power and right to judge and give eternal life belong to him. After he was dead and buried, on the 3rd day he rose from the dead and was seen by his apostles and then by more than 500 men at one time, many of whom, for proclaiming the reality of Jesus' resurrection would later lose their lives. The resurrection itself and the testimony of countless martyrs say that Jesus is alive and that He is in fact Lord over all and Savior of the world.

* Mark 9:30-31 * Romans 4:25 * Acts 2:32-36 * Romans 1:4 *
* Acts 17:30-31 * 1 Corinthians 15:3-6 * Psalm 15:10 *

Jesus today is calling all men everywhere to repent of their rebellion, and to believe the good news of His salvation. To repent means to literally change our thinking and way of life. It means with God's promised help we confess and actively turn away from our conscious rebellion, acknowledge our guilt and need for mercy, and turn to God in humility and obedience, submitting to His authority over us as King of our lives. It's written that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. To believe means to fully trust and rely on the truthfulness and authority of what Jesus has said and the sufficiency and power of His life, death and resurrection as the sole basis for our salvation, righteousness and peace with God. It is written If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus (repentance), and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

* Mark 1:14-15 * Luke 24:46-47 * Isaiah 55:6-7 * 1 John 1:9 *
* John 5:24 * 1 John 5:13 * Romans 10:9-13 *

Jesus offers deep and satisfying hope to those who come to Him, both in this life and the one to come as well as awesome responsibility to those who reject Him as Lord and Savior. Jesus death on the cross was intended to convince you of His love and desire that you would not perish, but live forever with Him; that it is joy, peace, freedom and life to know such a beautiful and loving Savior and to worship and serve such a good and humble King. Having read what Jesus Himself has said, how are you going to respond to His life, death and resurrection? My sincere desire is that you would not harden your heart to the truth, but see that Jesus Christ Himself is your greatest need today and that you would turn to Him and find that God Himself is the greatest and most satisfying Treasure you could ever possess.

* Romans 15:13 * John 3:36 * 2 Thess. 1:6-10 * Romans 5:6-11 *
* 2 Peter 3:9 * Matthew 11:28-30 * John 6:35 *


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James Helsby

To boldly go where no theme park has gone before…

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Some where within the nation of Jordan, (middle east) someone has managed to secure the rights to and funding for a Star Trek theme park. I didn’t know that the middle east was that into Gene Roddenberry.

Somewhere to the tune of $1.6 Billion US dollars in funding have been secured to build the 74-hectare amusement park. The  Rubicon Group Holding, who are also a CGI/Animation production group out of Amman, have secured the funding to build the theme park.

Construction work on the 74-hectare Red Sea Astrarium project in Aqaba, which will include four hotels and 17 entertainment developments, is expected to start early next year, The National reported.

But before you go off thinking that this is just some arrant venture,

The “Star Trek” attraction is being creatively developed by Paramount Recreation

….The Star Trek-themed centre will deliver a variety of multi-sensory 23rd-century experiences, culminating with a state-of-the art space-flight adventure that takes real-time immersive entertainment experiences to bold new heights.

That’s right. This is real, and really being created with the assistance of Paramount. The project is supposed to be started next year (2012) and is expected to be completed by 2015

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  • To sign up for the Care2 Tool Bar go to -->

Thursday, October 4, 2012

It is About Support--It is Indeed better to give than to receive--IF Possible and When ever Possible as much as Possible--Because Sometimes We have Needs too.

Dear Readers, I am passing this e-mail on, because whether we agree or disagree on either of the Wars in Afghanistan or Iraq--that does not matter--what does matter is that we Americans owe our Troops our support, who deserve the support of their Government for which they have served;
For those of you who signed my petition "Jobs for Veterans,"  people are posting new petitions for those of you from:
      North Carolina - "Senator Burr don't abandon veterans"
      Florida               "Senator Rubio Why did you abandon veterans?"
      Arkansas            "Senator Boozman voted to block veterans bill"
      Arizona              "Have Senator Kyl explain his vote against veterans"

Let's create a grassroots movement to make all these Senators who voted "NO" be accountable to their constituents!

Also consider signing: "Let's Fight for our Veterans"
                                "Navy Veterans denied Care"

Thanks, Brenda

And Speaking of Support--We also need to Support PBS-->

Laura Gottesdiener, AlterNet
You know electoral politics have reached a new low point when the only thing to talk about post-election is an oversized yellow fowl. READ MORE»

My sons are now 23 and 21 years old, but when they were little. I remember when PBS was their favorite channel. I remember when they watched Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow, Wishbone, Arthur, and of course there was Lamb Chop Play-a-Long with the late great Shari Lewis. I remember when she did the origami, I was handed a piece of paper and expected to do as well as she did, but I always cheated with tape.
Now it is another generations turn--they should not get cheated out of PBS--They deserve to grow up with PBS as much as any and every generation did, even though I confess that I did not. After all, PBS is on UHF and when I was growing up we had an old black and white television which only had the old channels and by the time that we got a new tv with the new channels--I had already out-grown Sesame Street--BUT MANY WHO ARE YOUNGER THAN I AM DID GROW UP WITH THESE SHOWS AMONG MANY OTHERS--AND WITH CONTINUED SUPPORT--MANY MORE GENERATIONS TO COME.


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Property Details

309 Edgewater Crescent, Kitchener, Ontario, N2A4M1

309 Edgewater Crescent, Kitchener, Ontario
Wayne Kuhn portrait
Wayne Kuhn
RE/MAX REAL ESTATE CENTRE INC. Brokerage - Kitchener
Cell: 519-240-1741
Tel: 519-741-0950

$945,000 - For sale

Spectacular home on a quiet crescent. Inviting front porch, newer triple-wide concrete driveway, pathway to yard, front steps, and landscaping. Corner lot, all fenced in. Impressive and elegant rooms. 5th bedroom or office on main floor. Diagonal planked dark acacia hardwood floor, tray ceilings, custom California shutters (2016). Fresh paint throughout. The kitchen is a chef's dream! Newer breakfast island seating 6, custom cabinetry, pantry, granite counters, SS appliances. Large dinette w/ sliders outside and overlooking the bright Family Rm with a white quartz wall and matching floor-to-ceiling fireplace! The main fl 5th bdrm could also be a guest room or den, having a newly-updated 4-pc bath w/ bidet, glass shower and cool, textured white walls! On 2nd floor there are 4 bright & large bedrooms + 3 Ensuite baths! The master bdrm is enormous, w/ spa-inspired Ensuite bath with 2 vanities, huge soaker tub, & glass shower! All bedrooms are bright and large, each with Ensuite or 2 of them sharing a bath. The convenient laundry room w/ newer washer and dryer is also on this floor. The basement is all divided, studded, insulated, electrical done and RI plumbing for one full bath! Lots of room to grow. Great location close to the Grand River, trails, Chicopee Ski Club, & highway! (id:2471)

Property Details
  • Property Type:Single Family
  • Acreage:under 1/2 acre
  • Sewage Type:Municipal sewage system
  • Water Type:Municipal water
  • Driveway:Attached garage
Structure Details
  • Structure Style:House
  • Building Age:2006
  • Bedrooms:5
  • Bathrooms:4
  • Square Footage:3849 sqft
  • Heating Type:Natural gas, Forced air
  • Exterior Type:Brick, Vinyl siding
Amenities Double width or more driveway, Paved driveway, Automatic Garage Door Opener
Type Level Dimensions
Laundry roomSecond level8' 9'' x 8' 1''
4pc Ensuite bathSecond level14' 4'' x 14' 1''
4pc Ensuite bathSecond level11' 3'' x 9' 11''
BedroomSecond level17' 6'' x 14' 9''
BedroomSecond level19' 5'' x 15' 11''
BedroomSecond level14' 4'' x 14' 0''
Master bedroomSecond level22' 6'' x 14' 11''
5pc Ensuite bathGround level17' 10'' x 11' 10''
BedroomGround level15' 2'' x 10' 1''
4pc BathroomGround level10' 0'' x 5' 5''
Mud roomGround level7' 7'' x 5' 1''
Family roomGround level15' 2'' x 13' 6''
DinetteGround level16' 0'' x 15' 1''
KitchenGround level15' 11'' x 11' 4''
Dining roomGround level14' 4'' x 12' 4''
Living roomGround level14' 1'' x 11' 7''
FoyerGround level8' 1'' x 6' 7''
Wayne Kuhn portrait
Wayne Kuhn
RE/MAX REAL ESTATE CENTRE INC. Brokerage - Kitchener
Cell: 519-240-1741
Tel: 519-741-0950
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Note: All calculations for informational purposes only, and should be verified.
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The listing content on this website is protected by copyright and other laws, and is intended solely for the private, non-commercial use by individuals. Any other reproduction, distribution or use of the content, in whole or in part, is specifically forbidden. The prohibited uses include commercial use, "screen scraping", "database scraping", and any other activity intended to collect, store, reorganize or manipulate data on the pages produced by or displayed on this website.
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Home > Uncategorized > Self-Insured Groups: A Country of Their Own?

Self-Insured Groups: A Country of Their Own?

September 23rd, 2013

Here at the humble blogger institute, the humble voices inside your humble blogger’s head try to humbly keep our beloved readers up to date on the latest legislative developments.   How, of for all you small businesses out there, the ones who watch the dealings of the G-ds moving legislation this way and that, you may want to keep an eye on a certain bill: Senate Bill 487, introduced by Senator Ron Calderon.

The issue came up at the recent California Self-Insured Association Conference in Walnut Creek (thanks to my beloved readers who stopped by to say hello).  During the presentation by Jon Wroten, Chief of the Office of Self-Insurance Plans, when he discussed the benefits of the Alternative Security Program, which allows larger self-insured employers to retrieve their security deposits for use in operating funds.  Here’s the catch: smaller self-insured employers and self-insured groups are not welcome at the ASP party, and the cold shoulder is truly felt when those smaller self-insured employers and groups have to compete with the big-boys for low prices.

The concern, generally, is that self-insured groups can collapse much faster than large, self-insured employers, and thereby shift liability to all the other members of the Self-Insured Security Fund.  Also, with so many small members and a constantly changing membership, it’s hard to tell just how much the group could pony up in a pinch through the assets of its members.  So, what’s the solution?  I think Mr. Bender put it best:

SB-487 would allow self-insured groups to set up their own security fund, which would not burden the big-boy self-insurers with group defaults, and would also help the groups avoid forking over cash when Safeway and Grimway Farms go belly up (I wouldn’t sell your stock just yet… your humble blogger is just providing an example).

The bill was introduced in February of 2013, and appears to have gone no-where yet.  The bill itself would directly create a Self-Insured Group Security Fund, but rather declare that it “is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to establish a Self-Insured Group Security Fund for purposes of workers’ compensation insurance.”  If passed, it would basically be a pre-engagement (“will you someday intend to marry me?”)

Let’s keep an eye on this one, and if you’re an employer who would like to a bit more bite in your self-insured group, maybe you ought to give your elected representative a call on this one too.

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17 year old killed in power outage crash

Friday, January 26, 2018 17:01 PM
Written by Stan Maddux
Category: Local News

One person was killed in a single vehicle crash that resulted in a

major power outage in Michigan City last night.

The victim was 17 years old and a student at

Michigan City High School.

Police say his name is not being released at the request of the

According to police.....he was traveling at a high rate of speed....on Pahs Rd..when

he veered off the shoulder and struck two NIPSCO utility poles in front of

Michigan City High School.

The car also hit a brick pillar before coming to a rest.

Police say the boy was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene.

The cause of the crash was still being investigated.


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Home > Cpu Usage > Firefox Using Too Much Cpu Mac

Firefox Using Too Much Cpu Mac

Click the menu button , click help and select Troubleshooting Information. Also, this freezing will not occur when Firefox release e10s. Flash block 3. JBuilder works.

Next I restarted Firefox in safe mode and had no high CPU usage. lolTech hey, stopped back to provide further info on that "phone home" activity w/ Firefox and add-ons. Repeat for some of the plugins in your list. Moses Moderator 381 solutions 3161 answers Posted 5/31/14, 5:09 AM Looks like I gave you the wrong link.

Firefox Using Too Much Cpu Mac

if you do that then you won't be able to buy anything that requires you to add products to carts etc! Thank you very much for your assistance, Jake Next 447 posts Page 1 of 30 • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 30 Return to Firefox Bugs Jump to: Select a The screenshot for disabling Java shows JavaScript disabled.

  • You can visit our other posts, i hope you find them informative.
  • I agree that Chrome and Safari go like rockets in comparison, but I don't like them.
  • Reply Corky April 8, 2015 at 7:14 pm # Isn't it better to be using more RAM and not less, the last thing i want is for a program to be
  • I guess I could get down to 1000.

This generally works as intended on Firefox, but it can backfire on certain websites or on computers with an older OS or graphics card.[4] Try a day with hardware acceleration and reverting to a working previous version isnt such a bad thing in the end. Oh, and I am a Firefox Hello user. Firefox Plugin Container High Cpu The browser then becomes irresponsive to the mouse wheel.

A lot of people care where their tabs will open(next to current, on the right/left, open in empty tab, how to handle bookmark links, protected tabs and so on.) 2)Add Bookmarks Firefox Cpu Usage 100 Percent Enter about:addons in the address bar to visit the Add-Ons Manager. Chances are if you do not have Adblock,AdblockPlus,AdblockEdge/TabmixPlus/GoogleTranslate(and similar)/Additional Toolbars(even addonbar) than you do not have most of RAM problems and bugs in Firefox. Definitely when experiencing this problem checking the task manager is the first thing I do.

all drives smooth and quiet and showing no wear. Firefox High Cpu Usage Youtube If somebody has Javascript on their site doing anything flashy, in Firefox, that will cause the CPU usage to spike awfully close to 100%. No problem when doing similar operation with Netscape 7.1 browser. Reply pd April 10, 2015 at 5:11 pm # Disappointing to see articles like this which, I would like to think, are just propagating an outdated view.

Firefox Cpu Usage 100 Percent

I've had the same problem for ages. exrelayman April 9, 2015 at 9:34 pm # Windows 8.1 64 bit 6GB memory, Firefox with extensions: better privacy, bit defender, bluhell, clearly, dictionary extension, gmail notifier, google reverse image search, Firefox Using Too Much Cpu Mac Heck, I've been monitoring my FF lately, and I've noticed that a page with Javascript constantly animating something will leak memory. Firefox High Cpu Usage Windows 10 Why doesn't the Amazon Echo respond to advertisements or reports about Alexa?

If you are interested in providing a website example this could help create a bug. No matter if I have only a couple or lots of windows open, as time goes on, the RAM hogging steadily increasing, until it becomes unresponsive, or very, very slow, especially It works great when I restart my computer, but for some reason it seems like it never really closes any tabs or something since it happens after I browse for awhile. To determine if an extension or theme is causing Firefox to use too much CPU, start Firefox in its Safe Mode and observing its CPU usage. Firefox Cpu Usage Per Tab

Content available under a Creative Commons license. If you've already updated, download the Firefox Beta instead. And very significantly. Usually nothing using much disk access but of course I don't blame Firefox if it turns out Windows Update is currently maxing it out.

i had this page open and youtube playing a track for a test. Flash Player Cpu Usage Firefox Ad block plus 2. In the Add-ons Manager tab, select the Plugins panel.

Fingerprinted in Dusseldorf on exit.

Check your Firefox version to automatically update to the latest version. britesprite Tried Andy's fix (or rather Vic's variation) … doesn't work. So I've gone back to iexplorer/ Another issue (i guess because it resets my settings), is that my privacy is gone out the window. Firefox Uses Too Much Memory don't use Firefox Yes; FireFox is used for the free extra's if we can't use those extra's then there maybe no point in using FireFox at all.

Starts at 700MB, goes fast to 1.4Gb and gradually slowing to 3.7Gb (not very responsive above 2.5Gb). WebGL is a similar hardware acceleration technology, mostly used for graphic-intensive uses like 3D browser games. my extension list : 1. This solved it for me: Uncheck Options > Advanced > General > Browsing > "Check my spelling as I type" share|improve this answer answered Nov 1 '16 at 16:38 Anton Flärd

It's NOT my firewalls. I like using FF, but this is getting really old, and as seeclear's posts reveal, the usual fixes don't seem to do anything, and it's been doing this for too long... I am finding my battery worn out from all this crap. I would guess a lot of the web uses Javascript code in their web pages.

Killing the Plugin Container process and reloading the tabs or just restarting usually makes it better but only for a while. It has since then become one of the most popular tech news sites on the Internet with five authors and regular contributions from freelance writers.InformationAbout Contact Disclaimer Rss Feeds Privacy Policy The list is not complete or up to date, but it's a good starting point. For myself, closing out the entire browser instance is generally far too impactful to my workflow, so I can only use Firefox as relief for when my Chrome tabs become too

Please try the fixes there to see if it resolves your issue https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/firefox-uses-too-many-cpu-resources-how-fix Try disabling Hardware Acceleration. We are year 2016 and still NO ONE at MOZILLA is capable of fixing that. Here's the correct one. With so many regular updates I hope that the Firefox community works together to focus on improving performance and getting it back up to first place where it has been.

this cpu usage only started to happens after updating to 29 and then later 29.0.1, it doesn't happens on previous version. I mention it now on the off chance someone in this thread is using at Itanium or Athlon 64 processor... I have tried Reset, safe mode, no adds-on, you name it.. Reply Boris April 9, 2015 at 4:54 pm # I just tried Adguard and it is unworkable with multiple filter list.

Another non-answer on the Internet. It's okay on my Macs, but it locks up and hogs CPU way too often. Just thought I'd pipe in . Apparently it's possible manually "reduce" memory usage by going to about:memory.

Reply Boris April 8, 2015 at 6:41 pm # There was period of time of couple of years that Firefox did not have this problem.


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June 6, 2009

The Mysterious Person At The Door!!!

Knock knock. Who could that be at this time? Vikram wondered. Cautiously, he peeked through the spy glass on the door. He could see a woman carrying a briefcase, but her face was not close enough to be seen. "Who is it?" asked Vikram, being careful not to push the door open. "It's Sally!" the person, called Sally said. "Oh!" Sally was Vikram's wife. "But why are you home now? I thought you were coming back tommorow morning! And why are you carrying a briefcase?" Vikram questioned. "Vikram! Just open the door. It's freezing out here!"

Vikram, or Vik as Sally called him sometimes, smiled. He had thought that his own wife was a crazy murderer or something! Vikram opened the door. At the door was none other than Sari, his ex-wife. "You rascal!" Sari screamed, shoving a knife in Vikram's throat.

  1. ewww... brutal...
    I take it back... u r not a kiddish writer.. :-p

  2. the shortest story i had ever read. u could have worked better on the plot.

  3. oh My.......!!!

    the plot could be better...but to make such a short story its all fine..!!!

Comments are sexy.


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show me anybody who located

Featured on Sep 05, 2011

charity: water

"Water Changes Everything."

Five years ago, charity: water founder, Scott Harrison decided to ‘give up’ his birthday for clean water. Since then, thousands of people have asked their friends and family for a donation to charity: water instead of another T-shirt or iPad. In two years, the birthday idea has grown to raise over $10 million and our supporters included notables like Jack Dorsey, Sean Parker and Dennis Crowley.

To date, charity: water has provided clean, safe drinking water to 2 million people in 19 countries. We use 100% of public donations to directly fund sustainable water solutions in areas of greatest need.

Right now, almost a billion people on the planet don’t have access to clean and safe drinking water. That’s one in eight of us.

Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of diseases and kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. Children are especially vulnerable as their bodies aren’t strong enough to fight diarrhea, dysentery and other illnesses.

Just $20 can give one person access to a clean water project.

  • Title: charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations.
  • Location: Tribeca
  • Contact: @charitywater, charity: water

September Campaign
This September, we’re asking everyone we know to ‘give up’ their birthday and help us buy a drilling rig fleet for our partners in Ethiopia. The new drilling rig can dig 80 new wells a year -- that's 40,000 more people getting access clean water each year! We’ll also mount a GPS device to the rig so donors can track its progress for years to come. Keep on top of our progress here >

Turning Five
It’s our 5th anniversary on September 7th and to celebrate we’re holding a huge party at The Park on 18th Street! Everyone’s invited so if you’re in the city, make sure to grab your ticket here >


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weCREATE accommodate all types of music video, from straight up performance to story driven narrative. Our work has appeared on various well known music outlets such as; SCUZZ TV, NME, RockSound and Blank TV to name a few.

We are fully qualified, licensed and insured for aerial cinematography so the sky is no longer the limit! Click here for more information.

To get in touch, feel free to drop us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.

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David Bugher (253) 983-7739 • Fax (253) 512-2268 • Assistant City Manager for Development/Community Development Director

Help Chart the Course for Lakewood!

Beginning in mid-2014, the Lakewood community came together to create a shared vision and develop a set of goals for the future of our city. The process built on past accomplishments and evaluated new priorities to determine what is relevant now. Through a comprehensive public outreach process, members of the Lakewood community had many different opportunities to share their thoughts about what the future of Lakewood should look like and how best to get there. The outcome of this process will be a Community Vision Plan that will serve as a roadmap for the future and will address a range of topics such as community image, economic development, and improvements in public facilities and infrastructure.

Update: As of early April 2015, the City and its visioning consultant are working to present the results of the visioning prcoess to share with the public. Check back soon.

What is the Visioning Process?

Lakewood’s visioning process takes into account input received from the community. From this, priorities will be developed and plausible alternatives for Lakewood’s future will be explored. These alternatives will test how decisions made today may drive outcomes in the future and will help expose opportunities and challenges, identify key variables of success, and recommend proactive strategies to achieve a successful outcome. As part of the process, a visioning workshop was held in September 2014 to bring the community together to build consensus about what the future of Lakewood can and should look like.

Contact Information


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Categorized | Wedding Planning Tips

Ashley & Nathan’s Hillsboro, OR Barn Wedding by Powers Photography Studios

For Ashley and Nathan, getting married in a century-old barn added a sense of history to their rustic wedding event. This virtual “woodland wonderland” was all about celebrating not only the bride and groom’s relationship, but also all the other treasured relationship in their lives. Guests were treated to cupcakes and cocktails, and the couple […] | Articles & | Articles & Advice

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wedding venues tampa - An Overview

Depending on experience, education, custom and old-fashioned instinct, Marriott Accredited Wedding Planners may help you establish an overall eyesight on your wedding and assist you execute Each individual depth. That features location an party budget; choosing on a menu; arranging desk settings; and obtaining florists, photographers, a band along with other entertainment for the massive working day. Flooring Plans

The Kipton Mason and Rook Lodge is the divine area for people who want a sophisticated wedding with all of the thrills, but don't want to generally be overworked creating it. These dapper downtown digs can host weddings of approximately 100 company furnishing delectable catering, adaptable outdoor and indoor spaces, fantastic visitor rooms and suites, and signature amenities. Couples can Select from their three venues, a contemporary ballroom with intimate skylights, a rooftop oasis with picturesque skyline views, or a shocking cocktail bar with hooked up outdoor patio.

Is usually a wedding coordinator present the working day on the wedding? Of course, your catering manager will be existing the working day from the wedding to ensure that the Lodge's operations staff follows the timeline and prepares the selected menus appropriately.

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Dumbarton Residence sits on one.25 acres featuring breathtaking grounds and gardens ideal for stylish and passionate weddings. official site Built in the 1800s, it really is among the finest samples of architecture through the Federal interval and features a set of outstanding attractive art. This acclaimed venue has long been showcased in a number of magazines, such as Wedding Model, where by it continues to be of their 5-star Listing.

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Numerous states have 'four seasons in an hour' temperature, which may be difficult to forecast, especially if you're getting married away from home.

Toolbox is nestled in the middle of Dupont Circle, a boutique-fashion Room that seamlessly blends regular with modern day. The interior utilizes purely natural elements like brick partitions and Wooden flooring and brings together them with distinctive accents which include their glass staircase railing, substantial spherical window, enormous purple front door, and abstract artwork items. They aspect two flooring that may be fully transformed into any design, from rustic countryside to typical class; accommodating between one hundred thirty to 250 friends.

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Will we reach sample the foods before sites the tasting? Certainly, a tasting for around four folks is A part of the wedding deal. This needs to be scheduled together with your catering manager at the least 2 months upfront.

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Friday, April 1, 2011

The Elephant and Owl are flattered!

Imitation is common in the design world, but somehow one is never prepared for it. The shock at seeing someone else openly proclaiming your work as her 'original' designs leaves you speechless. Earlier this week my sister called to let me know someone in Bangalore was selling products with copies of my animals on them. I went to her Facebook page, and saw them displayed - slightly modified versions of the Owl and Elephant printed in black on bright silk cushions. Then I found a video interview which she did for the local press, and that was the icing on the cake.

All our Wee Gallery designs are protected by worldwide copyright, and the law clearly says that if you don't defend your copyright, it is rendered meaningless. Therefore Aditi Banerjea is being served a Legal Cease and Desist letter from our lawyer, fined, and been asked to remove her products using the fake Owl and Elephant from stores.

While she will not get away with this, it is frustrating is that she probably didn't think twice, and just did it on a whim. Wee Gallery is our livelihood and we support our family on it. When one's family and means of living are compromised, one is forced to get agressive to defend it.

The video is here in case you are interested.

Another request - all Bangaloreans reading this are requested to keep an eye out for the fake Owl and Elephant, and if you see them in a store, please report them to the store staff. Thank you!

Honey said...

Oh...I'm sorry! At first I thought a momma had made pillows for her house and sent you the picture....

It's horrible that people take others works and steal them. I'm a visual person and always envision all these craft people who steal earn a special reincarnation package.

They come back as pincushions and are poked repeatidly. Apparently her pinchusion will be made of bright silk.

Again...sorry I hope it doesn't stop you sharing your lovelies with the world.

GB said...

This is terrible Surya, and I'm glad that you stood up for yourself! Hope she now does the right thing and retracts her cushions.

It's good that we live in the internet age; crimes like these may have slipped past unnoticed if it weren't for the internet.

La Chili said...

This is just terrible, I'm very sorry.

Wee Gallery said...

@Honey - Thanks for the smile and words of encouragement! It has taken me a week to be able to post this, but now I feel calm with how we decided to handle it.

GB - You are right, I couldn't have done it without the internet, and the help of my watchful friends and family.

La Chili - Thank you for always being there to show your support. I truly appreciate it.

Elaine said...

Sorry this happened to you. I hope everything resolves quickly. You are very talented and I can understand how much it must hurt to see your hard work stolen.

Lil Muse Lily said...

Good for you to go forward and fight for your rights.
They always say that copying is a form of flattery but I always feel robbed.

Wee Gallery said...

Thanks everyone, for your kind comments and support. I truly appreciate it.

Related Posts with Thumbnails
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Kenya's Most Authoritative Political Newspaper

Citizen Weekly

Sunday, 26 April 2015

Kidero now changes tact in city politics

Nairobi governor Evans Kidero has of late changed tactics in Nairobi politics as he works to honour the election pledges to city voters in the last general elections and ahead of 2017.
Aware of the fluid and the sensitive nature of Nairobi politics, where tribalism, opposition politics, service delivery, working with the government in power and above all,   aware the instrumental slum vote matters, Kidero has gone back to the drawing board and worked on new mechanism to endear himself to voters across the board.
Kidero initial troubles in office had to do with an election petition filed by his opponent and former Nairobi deputy mayor and assistant minister, Ferdinand Waititu, challenging his win on ODM ticket, a party allied to Cord. The court case that eventually landed in the Supreme Court that eventually declared him the eventual winner is said to have eaten his first years in governorship almost rendering him irrelevant.
In fact, it is said after the High Court ruling that favoured Waititu, Kidero started working on a plan B incase of any eventuality. The plan B was to face Waititu in a by-election or any other candidate.
It is this by-election factor that occupied his mind for sometimes forcing his opponents and critics labelling him a failure and ineffective.
Informed sources say, using their connection at City Hall, Kidero opponents embarked on sabotaging events and development projects at City Hall, anticipating for a by-election. The idea was to label him a total failure who could not deliver to Nairobi residents. The moribund CCTV project was initiated by the Metropolitan ministry during the Kibaki era and which he inherited during the transition period.
As Kidero was running up and down in courts, his opponents using cartels at City Hall were busy trading and exchanging documents which mostly originated from then Nairobi City Council to score goals. The cartels that had entrenched themselves in procurement, supplies and finance offices, were worried of their future. They were fighting back using political connections.
It is not only in City Hall that Kidero opponents perfected their art. Information we have is that they planted spies on the governor to get briefs on his plans, close business associates and his investments.
The said spies would during the day pretend to be close to Kidero, running his errands for his future political plans but come night, the would enjoy drinks and brief his opponents on who the governor met, what he plans and how to counter.
Perfecting the art of being close to Kidero, the spies moved from one office to another, accessing documents in the name of helping to streamline activities at City Hall with full blessings of Kidero only to deliver them to his opponents.
They compiled a list of perceived corrupt officials stationed at City Hall, accessed payments and procurement process. They threatened to block payments if not paid protection fee. The so-called corrupt staff had to part with money for survival. The threats being they will be reported to Kidero and be sacked. The scheme was to cause tension between the governor’s office and a section of senior staff putting the two on collision course. To survive, the managers started leaking out confidential documents as a fight back.
We have information conmen who used the governor’s name for survival have since been sidelined and are no longer close to him. Our source revealed they are not allowed in his office as before. They used to enjoy unlimited access to Kidero and even boasted to be able to fix issues.
For almost a month now, Nairobians have been discussing a new-look and rebranded Kidero who was accused of spending time in his office at the expense of service delivery. He is now rarely found in office but out addressing matters on the grassroots.
Whereas his handlers earlier argument was the governor was working on modalities and laying ground on what need to be done, his critics did not spare him but bayed for his political blood.
One area that occupied the governor first days in office was how to cut City Hall coming year’s wage bill.
Due to his bold move that led to retirement of over 1,000 workers City Hall has cut its coming financial year’s wage bill by Sh1.6 billion. No other county has managed to do so.
Going by the proposed budget, Nairobi will spend Sh11.6 billion on wages in 2015/16. In the current year Sh13.2 billion was allocated.
The prudent move will see the money saved used to pay debts that have almost brought the county to its knees. The creditors will be paid Sh1.54 billion. Sh600 million was allocated to pay debts in the current budget. Debts payment has been the issue many which was inherited from the county council.
One area that has paid dividends is the decision to transfer trainee doctor’s payroll to national government. The county reasons doctors pay was not its function but that of national government. This has seen county health wage bill down from Sh4.4 billion to Sh3.4 billion.
For now, Kidero is pushing for retirement of nearly 4,000 workers aged over 51 years at their own wish. It is imperative to note, currently, only 263 workers are below 30 years. With the majority of the youth being locked out of employment at City Hall, Kidero team has been forced to work on how effectively to engage them hence his continuous push of Ward Development Fund to employ them.
City Hall much cherished wish for establishment and provisions for the Ward Development Fund is a headache. It has failed to start as a result of legal petitions initiated by controller of budget and Charles Nyachae led Commission for the Implementation of Constitution.
Despite the ups and downs while at the helm of the richest county, Kidero of late has hit the road running.
To prove his critics wrong and address traffic jams that deny the country earnings due to wasted time, the governor for almost three weeks has personally been involved and chairing meetings day and night on how to solve the crisis. On a rare day that is Sunday, April 19 2015, when people were busy with their families attending church services, Kidero opened the Southern by-pass to be used by trucks weighing above eight tonnes. He had attended a church service in the morning and then headed to function.
In an effort to reduce traffic congestion, trucks will divert at Ole Sereni Hotel connect Lang’ata Road near Uhuru Gardens and head to Waiyaki way at Kikuyu.
Since he opened the by-pass, traffic flow along Mombasa road, to Uhuru Highway all the way to Waiyaki Way has drastically improved.
Sources say Kidero and his team from January to now, are out to make Nairobi “a moving city”.
The opening of Southern by-pass has unlocked the traffic jam. Motorists in Westlands are enjoying the fruits of blocking Westlands round about and other initiatives made by county transport ministry headed by Mohammed Abdullahi involving roads in the area.
The flow at Bunyala and Nyayo round abouts is being worked on after drums and a bid to reconfigure it was suspended. Plans to put in place civilised junctions in three months is bubbling in top gear.
Expansion of Enterprise Road, Lusaka Road, Likoni Road and Mumias one is on. The dual construction at Outering Road is part of the plan.
To reach and address Nairobians directly, Kidero was last week down town Nairobi River road areas. He easily intermingled with commoners as he walked along the streets. He launched LED lights on Accra Road. This left many questioning if the governor was playing his cards close to his chest and has decided to release them one by one.
To decongest the ever busy downtown streets, a move to have public service vehicles plying upcountry routes operating outside central business districts is being evaluated.
The county transport executive is to meet PSVs operators from Kisumu, Kakamega, Busia, Homa Bay, Mombasa, Bungoma, Mbita, Siaya, Kisii, Kericho, and Migori to work out accommodative formula. To avoid politics taking centre stage, the stakeholders are to air their views freely.
However, as Kidero tries to decongest the city, he needs to address the filthy Muthurwa market and the marauding street urchins that snatch valuables from unsuspecting residents.
According to Julius Mutumbayi, a university don, Kidero’s change of tactics is bound to bear fruits if he decides to engage in hands-on management not hands-off.
To the don, Kidero needs to move swiftly in the environment department and see happenings in garbage collections, street cleaning and estates at large. CBD alleys are in bad state. Mutumbayi further wants Kidero to visit Muthurwa market and see for himself the plight affecting those operating from there. The environment is not friendly.
On security, he says, Kidero should establish a team to operate along Kahawa House-Haile Selassie Avenue and Uhuru Highway from Nyayo House to Harambee Co-operative House to arrest muggers and snatchers.
“Kidero’s initial days in office were consumed by court cases and eyes on paper works on what to implement. For now, he cannot excuse himself but deliver what he promised Kenyans and Nairobians and it is not late at all,” the don said.
When asked about city politics, the political science doctorate holder was quick to say, “As an incumbent governor of Nairobi, he has a headstart if he decides to defend his seat come 2017.”
He gave various reasons. First, within the opposition Cord, nobody has the financial muscle and political network to rival Kidero. Analysts say, it is only Kidero who can finance campaigns within city county wards. It is imperative to note, nobody within Cord has come out openly to declare he or she will oppose Kidero on ODM ticket for now.
“What happened during his grilling at Integrity Centre by EACC when accompanied by supporters who forced him to walk send signals,” said the don.
Analysts say with the nature of city politics, Kidero needs to deliver and entrench himself in Cord and the rest will be left to voters.
Aware he is the formidable candidate in Cord, those eyeing governorship on Jubilee side have directed all missiles at him ahead of 2017. Some are even said to be willing to cross to Cord and get the ticket if Kidero is not running.
Propaganda wars have been waged against him and even word he will not defend his seat is being whispered in certain quarters. One of his opponents is said to have hatched a plot to scare Kidero from 2017 race by forcing him to chicken out. Whether the scheme will work time will tell.
Those out to oppose Kidero come 2017 are Senator Mike Sonko who will face the monied Dagoretti South MP Dennis Waweru. The two will battle for Jap nomination. Waweru convinced Waititu to shift base to Kabete by-election and run for Kiambu governorship, come election time.
Waweru has managed to bring to his side all Kikuyu MPs in parliament and a number of MCAs allied to TNA.
He is inheriting Waititu vote block and has Starehe MP Maina Kamanda on his side. Kamanda has no time for Sonko. The MPs say Sonko has no money compared to Waweru who is the brains behind Faida Bank.
The anti-Sonko MPs are Yusuf Hassan of  Kamukunji, Benard Mutara, Makadara, Waihenya Ndirangu, Roysambu, Gakuya Mwangi, Embakasi North, John Ndirangu, Embakasi Central and Kamanda. According to Waweru side, no serious MCA is fully behind Sonko.
They have been moving across the county selling Waweru as State House preferred candidate for governorship. They say Sonko used the Kikuyu community to win senatorship and has failed to deliver two by-elections that of Mathare North and Kajiado Central to Jubilee despite being facilitated with millions.


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Kenya's Most Authoritative Political Newspaper

Citizen Weekly

Thursday, 16 April 2015

A Mutasa man who last year circumcised his two sons using a nail cutter has been sentenced to a four-month jail term for assault.
Peter Nyachega (33), of Tengwe village under Chief Muparutsa, was convicted and sentenced yesterday when he appeared before Mutare magistrate Sekai Chiundura charged with physical abuse under section 3 (1) of Domestic Violence Act chapter 5.16.
The court heard that sometime in November last year, Nyachega circumcised his two sons aged two and four years using a nail cutter.
“I think these children will be better off without you. You circumcised them with a nail cutter, so you are bad father. So I am sending you to jail so that you will come back a good father,” Chiundura said.
In his defence, Nyachega told the court that his father had also circumcised him using a nail cutter during his childhood, so he did not see anything wrong with that.
Shepherd Chivarika prosecuted.


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Monday, December 15, 2008

The Titans Curse by Rick Riordan

With out reading the first 2 books in the series I found myself not needing to read because the author does a good job of filling the reader in on what has happened. It is about the son of Poseidon going out on a limb trying to find his best friend. A good and exciting read.

Preston H.

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