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Edward Argar
Member of Parliament for Charnwood
About Charnwood
Local Surgeries
Contact Edward
Edward appointed as junior minister in the Ministry of Justice
Thursday, 14 June, 2018
The Prime Minister has asked Edward to join the Government, appointing him as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
Drowning Prevention Week: Edward meets RLSS UK in Parliament
Monday, 11 June, 2018
In advance of Drowning Prevention Week 2018, Edward has met with the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), the drowning prevention charity and leading provider of water safety education, to hear about their work & campaigns to help keep people safe around water, and prevent drowning.
Edward meets Guide Dogs charity in Parliament for an update on their work
Edward has met with supporters of the charity Guide Dogs in Parliament to get a further update on the charity's campaign to tackle pavement parking, and to express his continued support for the charity's work to ensure that blind and partially-sighted people can get along a pavement free from dan
British Red Cross Community Reserve Volunteers project: Edward shows his support
Tuesday, 5 June, 2018
Edward has joined representatives of the British Red Cross and Aviva to meet volunteers and support their new scheme called community Reserve Volunteers, which will create a national network of people ready to help in a local emergency.
Unite to Fix Dementia: Edward lends his support as Co-Chair of the APPG
Wednesday, 23 May, 2018
Edward has joined the team from the Alzheimers Society at an event in Parliament, where he added his support to their campaign to ensure we all 'Unite to Fix Dementia', and seize the opportunity offered by the Government's Social Care Green Paper this year.
Edward supports Parkinson's UK's calls to further improve Parkinson's mental health services
Edward has joined representatives of Parkinson's UK and fellow parliamentarians for the launch of a new report: Mental Health Matters Too on the care of people with Parkinson's experiencing anxiety, depression, and mental health issues.
Edward meets Wildlife Trusts to hear about their new 'Towards a wilder Britain' report
Tuesday, 1 May, 2018
Edward has met with representatives of the Wildlife Trusts in Parliament to discuss their work locally in the Midlands, and to hear from them about their new report, Towards a wilder Britain.
Launch of 'Bercow: Ten Years On' report on children's speech and language therapy provision
Tuesday, 20 March, 2018
Edward has joined the Speaker of the House of Commons, fellow MPs and supporters of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) and I CAN (the children's communication charity) for the parliamentary launch of their report: "Bercow: Ten Years On" on the state of provision for child
Launch of Kew Gardens' Science Collections Strategy
Thursday, 15 March, 2018
Edward has joined fellow MP, Zac Goldsmith, and scientists and staff from Kew Gardens for the parliamentary launch of their first ever Science Collections Strategy.
Edward meets apprentices from Severn Trent Water's award winning scheme
Monday, 12 March, 2018
Edward has met with local Severn Trent Water apprentices, and Severn Trent CEO Liv Garfield, at an event in Parliament to highlight the value and importance of apprenticeships as a route into an engineering career, and the company's award-winning apprenticeship scheme.
Edward Argar Member of Parliament for Charnwood
Promoted by Paul Taylor on behalf of Edward Argar both of Charnwood Conservatives, Suite 28, Unit 3, Q-Estate, 1487 Melton Road, Queniborough, Leicestershire LE7 3FP
About Edward Argar
Appearances and Speeches
Copyright 2019 Edward Argar Member of Parliament for Charnwood. All rights reserved.
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2019 Africa Cup of Nations daily fixtures schedule
MLS Power Rankings: Galaxy drop ahead of LAFC clash; San Jose, Minnesota rise
1dJason Davis
Sources: Neymar doubles down, wants PSG exit
17hJonathan Johnson and Julien Laurens
11hRob Dawson
Sources: Madrid will listen to €80m Bale offers
3hRodrigo Faez and Dermot Corrigan
Reports: Argentina request Messi red rescinded
4hAdriana Garcia
4hAndrew Cesare Richardson
Sources: Mexico's Alvarez nearing Ajax move
17hTom Marshall
LIVE Transfer Talk: Barcelona offer €40m, plus Coutinho and Dembele, for Neymar
6hNick Miller
Toe Poke Daily: Harry Redknapp becomes UK garage star for the day
3hChris Wright
The football has been thrilling, so why hasn't Egypt embraced the Africa Cup of Nations?
22hNick Ames
Nigeria exit Africa Cup of Nations due to a slow start and late inexperience
2dColin Udoh
What's next for the USWNT? NWSL is in full swing
4dMatt Eisenberg
USWNT's non-stop party, from NYC to the ESPYs
USMNT way-too-early look at 2022: Pulisic, Adams vital to future, but lack of depth remains a serious issue
7dJeff Carlisle
Balogun: Nigeria need to get back to being the best in Africa (1:50)
Nigeria's Leon Balogun believes Nigeria need to win the 2019 AFCON to prove they are the best team in Africa. (1:50)
The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on June 21 at Cairo International Stadium in Cairo, Egypt. The final takes place at the same venue on July 19.
Jump to: Ultimate Preview | Power Rankings | Star Players | All you need to know
Group Stage: June 21 - July 2
Group A: Egypt 1-0 Zimbabwe (Cairo International Stadium, Cairo; 10:00 p.m. CAT, 4 p.m. ET)
A: DR Congo 0-2 Uganda (Cairo International Stadium, Cairo; 4:30 p.m. CAT, 10.30 a.m. ET)
B: Nigeria 1-0 Burundi (Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria; 7:00 p.m. CAT, 1 p.m. ET)
B: Guinea 2-2 Madagascar (Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria; 10:00 p.m. CAT, 4 p.m. ET)
D: Morocco 1-0 Namibia (Al Salam Stadium, Cairo; 4:30 p.m. CAT, 10.30 a.m. ET)
C: Senegal 2-0 Tanzania (30 June Stadium, Cairo; 7:00 p.m. CAT, 1 p.m. ET)
C: Algeria 2-0 Kenya (30 June Stadium, Cairo; 10:00 p.m. CAT, 4 p.m. ET)
D: Ivory Coast 1-0 South Africa (Al Salam Stadium, Cairo; 4:30 p.m. CAT, 10.30 a.m. ET)
E: Tunisia 1-1 Angola (Suez Stadium, Suez; 7:00 p.m. CAT, 1 p.m. ET)
E: Mali 4-1 Mauritania (Suez Stadium, Suez; 10:00 p.m. CAT, 4 p.m. ET)
F: Cameroon 2-0 Guinea-Bissau (Ismailia Stadium, Ismailia; 7:00 p.m. CAT, 1 p.m. ET)
F: Ghana 2-2 Benin (Ismailia Stadium, Ismailia; 10:00 p.m. CAT, 4 p.m. ET)
B: Nigeria 1-0 Guinea (Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria; 4:30 p.m. CAT, 10.30 a.m. ET)
A: Uganda 1-1 Zimbabwe (Cairo International Stadium, Cairo; 7:00 p.m. CAT, 1 p.m. ET)
A: Egypt 2-0 DR Congo (Cairo International Stadium, Cairo; 10:00 p.m. CAT, 4 p.m. ET)
- The best players in Egypt this summer
- Who is on the plane: Confirmed 23-player rosters
B: Madagascar 1-0 Burundi (Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria; 4:30 p.m. CAT, 10.30 a.m. ET)
C: Senegal 0-1 Algeria (30 June Stadium, Cairo; 7:00 p.m. CAT, 1 p.m. ET)
C: Kenya 3-2 Tanzania (30 June Stadium, Cairo; 10:00 p.m. CAT, 4 p.m. ET)
E: Tunisia vs. Mali (Suez Stadium, Suez; 4:30 p.m. CAT, 10.30 a.m. ET)
D: Morocco 1-0 Ivory Coast (Al Salam Stadium, Cairo: 7:00 p.m. CAT, 1 p.m. ET)
D: South Africa 1-0 Namibia (Al Salam Stadium, Cairo; 10:00 p.m. CAT, 4 p.m. ET)
E: Mauritania 0-0 Angola (Suez Stadium, Suez; 4:30 p.m. CAT, 10.30 a.m. ET)
F: Cameroon 0-0 Ghana (Ismailia Stadium, Ismailia; 7:00 p.m. CAT, 1 p.m. ET)
F: Benin 0-0 Guinea-Bissau (Ismailia Stadium, Ismailia; 10:00 p.m. CAT, 4 p.m. ET)
B: Burundi 0-2 Guinea (Al Salam Stadium, Cairo; 6:00 p.m. CAT, midday ET)
B: Madagascar 2-0 Nigeria (Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria; 6:00 p.m. CAT, midday ET)
A: Uganda 0-2 Egypt (Cairo International Stadium, Cairo; 9:00 p.m. CAT, 3 p.m. ET)
A: Zimbabwe 0-4 DR Congo (30 June Stadium, Cairo; 9:00 p.m. CAT, 3 p.m. ET)
D: Namibia 1-4 Ivory Coast (30 June Stadium, Cairo; 6:00 p.m. CAT, midday ET)
D: South Africa 0-1 Morocco (Al Salam Stadium, Cairo; 6:00 p.m. CAT, midday ET)
C: Kenya 0-3 Senegal (30 June Stadium, Cairo; 9:00 p.m. CAT, 3 p.m. ET)
C: Tanzania 0-3 Algeria (Al Salam Stadium, Cairo; 9:00 p.m. CAT, 3 p.m. ET)
F: Benin 0-0 Cameroon (Ismailia Stadium, Ismailia; 6:00 p.m. CAT, midday ET)
F: Guinea-Bissau 0-2 Ghana (Suez Stadium, Suez; 6:00 p.m. CAT, midday ET)
E: Mauritania 0-0 Tunisia (Suez Stadium, Suez; 9:00 p.m. CAT, 3 p.m. ET)
E: Angola 0-1 Mali (Ismailia Stadium, Ismailia; 9:00 p.m. CAT, 3 p.m. ET)
Match 38: Uganda 0-1 Senegal (Cairo International Stadium, Cairo; 6:00 p.m. CAT, midday. ET)
Match 41: Morocco 1-1 Benin; Benin advance on shootout (Al Salam Stadium, Cairo; 9:00 p.m. CAT, 3 p.m. ET)
Match 42: Nigeria 3-2 Cameroon (Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria; 6:00 p.m. CAT, midday. ET)
Match 39: Egypt 0-1 South Africa (Cairo International Stadium, Cairo; 9:00 p.m. CAT, 3 p.m. ET)
Match 37: Madagascar 2-2 DR Congo (Alexandria Stadium, Alexandria; 6:00 p.m. CAT, midday. ET)
Match 40: Algeria 3-0 Guinea (30 June Stadium, Cairo; 9:00 p.m. CAT, 3 p.m. ET)
Match 43: Mali 0-1 Ivory Coast (Suez Stadium, Suez; 6:00 p.m. CAT, midday. ET)
Match 44: Ghana 1-1 Tunisia; Tunisia advance on shootout (Ismailia Stadium, Ismailia; 9:00 p.m. CAT, 3 p.m. ET)
Match 45: Senegal 1-0 Benin (30 June Stadium, Cairo; 6:00 p.m. CAT, midday. ET)
Match 46: Nigeria 2-1 South Africa (Cairo International Stadium, Cairo; 9:00 p.m. CAT, 3 p.m. ET)
Match 47: Madagascar 0-3 Tunisia (Al Salam Stadium, Cairo; 6:00 p.m. CAT, midday. ET)
Match 48: Ivory Coast 1-1 Algeria; Algeria advance on shootout (Suez Stadium, Suez; 9:00 p.m. CAT, 3 p.m. ET)
Match 49: Senegal 1-0 Tunisia (30 June Stadium, Cairo; 6:00 p.m. CAT, midday. ET)
Match 50: Nigeria 1-2 Algeria (Cairo International Stadium, Cairo; 9:00 p.m. CAT, 3 p.m. ET)
Third Place Playoff
Tunisia vs. Nigeria (Al Salam Stadium, Cairo; 9:00 p.m. CAT, 3 p.m. ET)
Senegal vs. Algeria (Cairo International Stadium, Cairo; 9:00 p.m. CAT, 3 p.m. ET)
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9780140022643 Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters…
9780553262551 Raise High the Roof (J.D. Salinger)
9780553125542 Raise High the Roof Beam, Caprenters…
9780434670017 Raise High The Roofbeam (J D Salinge…
Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters (Salinger, J.…
Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour a…
Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour:…
Raise high the roof beam, carpenters and Seymour (…
A9 Raise high the roof beam carpenters and Seymour…
Raise High the Roof Beam + Seymour: An Introductio…
[ Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour…
By Salinger, J D [ [ Raise High the Roof Beam, Car…
Salinger, Jerome D.:
Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters and Seymour - an Introduction - copertina rigida, flessible
2018, ISBN: 9781785152115
[ED: Buch, gebundene Ausgabe], [PU: Random House UK William Heinemann], AUSFÜHRLICHERE BESCHREIBUNG: A Note from the Author: The two long pieces in this book originally came out in The New Yorker - RAISE HIGH THE ROOF BEAM, CARPENTERS in 1955, SEYMOUR - An Introduction in 1959. Whatever their differences in mood or effect, they are both very much concerned with Seymour Glass, who is the main character in my series about the Glass family. Oddly, the joys and satisfactions of working on the Glass family peculiarly increase and deepen for me with the years. I can't say why, though. Not, at least, outside the casino proper of my fiction. 'The Glasses are one of the liveliest, funniest, most fully-realized families in all of fiction' Charles McGrath, New York Times BUCHBESPRECHUNG: "His work meant a lot to me when I was a young person and his writing still sings." Dave Eggers, DE, [SC: 0.00], Neuware, gewerbliches Angebot, H: 204mm, B: 138mm, T: 18mm, 160, [GW: 240g], Selbstabholung und Barzahlung, PayPal, offene Rechnung, Banküberweisung, Transporte marítimo internacional
Syndikat Buchdienst
Costi di spedizione:sem custos de envio. (EUR 0.00)
[ED: Buch, gebundene Ausgabe], [PU: Random House UK William Heinemann], AUSFÜHRLICHERE BESCHREIBUNG: A Note from the Author: The two long pieces in this book originally came out in The New Yorker - RAISE HIGH THE ROOF BEAM, CARPENTERS in 1955, SEYMOUR - An Introduction in 1959. Whatever their differences in mood or effect, they are both very much concerned with Seymour Glass, who is the main character in my series about the Glass family. Oddly, the joys and satisfactions of working on the Glass family peculiarly increase and deepen for me with the years. I can't say why, though. Not, at least, outside the casino proper of my fiction. 'The Glasses are one of the liveliest, funniest, most fully-realized families in all of fiction' Charles McGrath, New York Times BUCHBESPRECHUNG: "His work meant a lot to me when I was a young person and his writing still sings." Dave Eggers, DE, [SC: 0.00], Neuware, gewerbliches Angebot, H: 204mm, B: 138mm, T: 18mm, 160, [GW: 240g], Selbstabholung und Barzahlung, PayPal, offene Rechnung, Banküberweisung, International shipping
Costi di spedizione:Free shipping. (EUR 0.00)
Sallinger, J D:
Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters Seymour - an Introduction J D Sallinger Buch Englisch 2018 - copertina rigida, flessible
[ED: Gebunden], [PU: Random House UK Ltd], A Note from the Author: The two long pieces in this book originally came out in The New Yorker - RAISE HIGH THE ROOF BEAM, CARPENTERS in 1955, SEYMOUR - An Introduction in 1959. Whatever their differences in mood or effect, they are both very much concerned with Seymour Glass, who is the main character in my series about the Glass family. Oddly, the joys and satisfactions of working on the Glass family peculiarly increase and deepen for me with the years. I can't say why, though. Not, at least, outside the casino proper of my fiction.'The Glasses are one of the liveliest, funniest, most fully-realized families in all of fiction' Charles McGrath, New York Times, DE, [SC: 0.00], Neuware, gewerbliches Angebot, 152, [GW: 228g], sofortueberweisung.de, PayPal, Banküberweisung
preigu
Costi di spedizione:Versandkostenfrei, Versand nach Deutschland. (EUR 0.00)
[ED: Gebunden], [PU: Random House UK William Heinemann], A Note from the Author: The two long pieces in this book originally came out in The New Yorker - RAISE HIGH THE ROOF BEAM, CARPENTERS in 1955, SEYMOUR - An Intr, DE, [SC: 0.00], Neuware, gewerbliches Angebot, Hardcover, 160, [GW: 240g], PayPal
Moluna GmbH
J. D Salinger (author), J. D Salinger:
Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters - copertina rigida, flessible
in stock. Costi di spedizione:Usually dispatched within 24 hours. (EUR 0.00)
J. D Salinger (author), J. D Salinger
Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters
Informazioni dettagliate del libro - Raise High the Roof Beam, Carpenters
Editore: Random House UK Ltd
1-78515-211-4, 978-1-78515-211-5
"Franny And Zooey", di "J.D. Salinger" (9781785152122)
"Footsteps in the Dark", di "Georgette Heyer" (9781785152139)
"Chaos: Charles Manson, the CIA and the Secret History of the Sixties", di "Tom O'Neill, Dan Piepenbring" (9781785152078)
"Unto Us a Son Is Given", di "Donna Leon" (9781785152177)
"The Liar's Dictionary", di "Eley Williams" (9781785152047)
"Unto Us a Son Is Given", di "Leon, Donna" (9781785152184)
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A Basic Income trilemma: affordability, adequacy, and the advantages of radically simplified welfare
Luke Martinelli
As basic income (BI) has ascended the policy agenda, so proposals have come under increasing scrutiny for their affordability and adequacy for meeting need. One common objection to BI has been that it is impossible to design a scheme that simultaneously conforms to these two criteria. In this article, I develop a conceptual framework for analysing the trade-offs that afflict BI policy design. I suggest that while the idea of a policy dilemma between affordability and adequacy does indeed afflict ‘full’ BI schemes, it is possible to design an affordable and adequate ‘partial’ BI scheme. However, this comes at the cost of (at least partly) forfeiting some key advantages that motivate interest in BI in the first place, since these only arise as a consequence of the elimination of means testing and related conditionality from the welfare system. Thus, BI proponents face a three-way trade-off in policy design between affordability, adequacy, and securing the full advantages of BI as a radical simplification of existing welfare policy. The trilemma is illustrated with reference to original microsimulation evidence for the UK, which demonstrates that at most two of the three criteria can be achieved in a single scheme.
Journal of Social Policy
Welfare Benefits and Social Policy
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People > In the news
More reports on: Economy - general
Kejriwal plans nation-wide expansion of fight against graft
Fresh from the formation of the AAP government in Delhi, anti-graft crusader and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal today said he wanted to take the fight against corruption nationwide.
''Citizens of Delhi have given us an opportunity and we will keep fighting against corruption. We have to pass the Lokpal Bill and the Swaraj Bill. I now want to take this fight against corruption from Delhi to the entire nation,'' he said.
Kejriwal, who is looking to field AAP candidates in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, also stood by his earlier stance of holding an open session of Delhi assembly at Ramlila Maidan to pass the Jan Lokpal Bill.
The AAP, which has already stated its intention to fight the Jaipur municipal election, has also set up activist groups in most states with an eye on the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
The Aam Aadmi Party leader, however, downplayed the allocation of Toyota Innova cars to all other ministers, except himself.
A number of ministers, including Manish Sisodia, Rakhi Birla and Saurabh Bhardwaj, came to Delhi Assembly complex in official cars.
Kejriwal said his party never said its ministers will not use official cars.
"We never said anything about not using cars. We said we will not use red beacon cars," Kejriwal said.
The acceptance of official cars by the ministers came a day after the AAP government won a trust vote in the assembly with the Congress' support.
Kejriwal himself, who initially refused to accept a bungalow, finally decided to move into a five-bedroom duplex house in Delhi. ''Now, I will live with my family in the five-bedroom house. Earlier, I was living in a four-bedroom apartment, that's the only difference,'' he said.
Kejriwal further said he will use the other five-bedroom house offered to him as his office.
As a first step, the Dakshina Kannada unit of AAP has taken up the issue of the proposed projects such as the diversion of River Nethravathi from Yettinahole and the establishment of a thermal power plant at Niddodi in Moodbidri taluk of the district.
The AAP will oppose both, as according to spokesperson S Nandagopal, the proposed river diversion will cause depletion in the water level of River Nethravathi, which in turn will have an impact on the eco-systems in coastal Karnataka and the Western Ghats region.
The AAP unit is also challenging the mandatory Aadhar that some LPG agencies in the district are insisting for LPG connections to households despite a Supreme Court order that Aadhar is not mandatory for LPG connections.
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Doncaster teen's skydive for cancer charities
Caitilin Carroll’s 21st birthday was a milestone she feared she would never get the chance to celebrate after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer as a teenager.
By Kate Mason
Tuesday, 02 July, 2019, 14:05
Caitilin Carroll jumped out of a plane at 15,000 ft at the Brigg airfield, near Scunthorpe on Sunday June 23 with her boyfriend Robbie Foulds, also aged 21.
But Caitilin celebrated in dramatic style with a Summer Solstice Skydive in aid of Teenage Cancer Trust and CLIC Sargent, two charities that she credits with saving her life.
Caitilin jumped out of a plane at 15,000 ft at the Brigg airfield, near Scunthorpe on Sunday June 23 with her boyfriend Robbie Foulds, also aged 21.
The pair’s courageous skydive has already raised more than £800 for the charities with more continuing to come in.
Caitilin - from Conisbrough - was diagnosed with stage four ovarian germ cell cancer at just 17 when the doctors discovered a 23 centimetre tumour on her ovary.
Even though she had four out of the five top symptoms of ovarian cancer, she had to keep going back to her doctor for a year and a half before she was eventually diagnosed.
After the devastating diagnosis Caitilin started her treatment at Rotherham hospital, where she was the youngest person on the ward by 20 years.
Caitilin Carroll
Caitilin’s experience significantly improved after she was moved onto Teenage Cancer Trust’s unit at Weston Park Hospital in Sheffield. As well as being able to meet other young people her age, she had her own comfortable room with a TV, and was supported by a specialist teenage and young adult nurse, funded by Teenage Cancer Trust.
Caitilin said: “You never think at 17 that you are going to have one of your ovaries removed and only be left with one. That was the part I was most nervous about. That is the sort of thing you may associate with older age, so it felt quite hard.
“The whole time, I tried to keep a positive mindset. There were moments when I got upset and angry, but I just had to overcome it.”
So with her 21st birthday approaching Caitilin was keen to use her birthday as a catalyst to give something back to the charities that supported her during her life saving treatment.
Caitilin said: “I really want to give back to the two charities that pretty much saved my life!
“My experience would have been so different without the Teenage Cancer Trust nurses and the special care that they gave me, it helped so much with my wellbeing.
“Because I sometimes use a wheelchair now due to nerve damage, pain and fatigue I can’t do challenges like runs or bike rides – so a skydive seemed perfect.
“I was scared right before jumping but then realised it’s no different than facing an operation during cancer treatment, your life is in someone else’s hands. If I can do that, I can do anything.
“The dive was one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of my life.
“I’m putting all my birthday money towards my JustGiving page – I’d rather it go towards my fundraising.”
Teenage Cancer Trust is the only UK charity who provide specialist nursing for young people diagnosed with cancer. They fund 28 specialist units across the UK, like the one Caitilin was treated on in Sheffield.
Dale Tomlinson, Teenage Cancer Trust Regional Fundraising Manager, Yorkshire, said: “We’re so grateful to Caitilin for taking on this incredibly brave challenge!
“Her fundraising will make a real difference to other young people with cancer across the UK. Please get behind Caitilin by donating to her JustGiving page.
“Your support will help us get closer to our goal of reaching every young person diagnosed with cancer.”
CLIC Sargent is the UK's leading cancer charity for children, young people and their families. Its care teams provide specialist support across the UK.
Josanne Richardson, CLIC Sargent Fundraising Engagement Manager for South Yorkshire, added: “Caitilin and Robbie are volunteers for CLIC Sargent in the local area and have done some amazing work for us this year and now they have really gone above and beyond.
“We rely entirely on donations to fund our vital work and so we can’t thank them for their fantastic efforts.
“Thanks to Caitilin, Robbie and everyone who has donated, we will be able to help even more young people thrive not just survive after their cancer diagnosis.”
Every day seven young people aged 13-24 are diagnosed with cancer in the UK.
To donate to Caitilin’s page set up for the birthday skydive visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/21birthday
To find out more about the work of Teenage Cancer Trust do to support young people like Caitilin, visit: www.teenagecancertrust.org
To find out more about CLIC Sargent visit www.clicsargent.org.uk
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A Daily Overview of Human Rights Violations in Iran for January 6, 2019
Posted on: January 6th, 2019
The following is an overview of human rights violations in Iran on January 6th, 2019 based on the information compiled and verified by Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
(1) More than 32 Baha’i have been summoned and interrogated at Karaj Intelligence Office in the last two weeks. Their names are as the following: Saeed Vojdani, Tahereh Pashaei, Radman Foroughi, Sheida Motlagh, Taraneh Badiee, Sepehr Forouhari, Masoud Zakerian, Badiollah Tashakor, Parvin Tashakor, Farinaz Khosh Fetrat, Taranom Hashemi, Kambiz Safaei, Sarmad Sadeghian, Nahid Farhangi, Hasti Mandegari, Nasim Zabihi, Rohieh Anvari, Shole Emamverdi, Shirin Khales, Foroutan Baiani, Armin Rohani, Aydin Rohani, Nazanin Sharifi, Nima Sharifi, Ramtin Monzavi, Parnian Badiee, Mahsa Mokhtari, Arman Pourmoradian, Mahmoud Fashami, Samieh Ehsani, Pouya Eslami, and Delkash Behbahani.
(2) Two Kulbars (Kurdish back carriers), Nahv Ebadi and Ahmad Azizi, were injured by border patrol shots in the cities of Urmia and Sardasht. Another Kulbar, Yousef Mohammadi-asl died from hypothermia in Piranshahr.
(3) Issa Feizi, Hadi Kamangar, Amanj Ghorbani, Rashed Montazeri, and Hossein Kamangar have been arrested in the city of Kamyaran in Kurdistan Province. Their whereabouts are still unknown.
(4) Mohammad Rahmanian, a playwright and theater director, was arrested because of singing of a female solo singer in his play “Paykan Javanan”. He was released on bail on the same day.
(5) More than nine protests were organized all around the country on January 6, 2019. Farmers of Isfahan, retired personnel of Haft Tappeh Sugar Mill, butchers in Saqqez, contractors of municipality, the employees of Vahdat financial institute in Khorasan province, disabled and disability-rights activist in Tehran, and Keshavarzi insurance employees held separate protests nationwide.
(6) The sister of Sam Rajabi, one of the detained Iranian environmentalists, wrote an open letter to Javid Rehman, a Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Iran. She requested his intervention in her brother’s case. The environmentalists who were arrested last year are Houman Jokar, Sepideh Kashani, Niloufar Bayani, Amirhossein Khaleghi, Sam Rajabi, Taher Ghadirian, Abdolreza Kouhpayeh, Morad Tahbaz, Hasan Zareh, Aref Zareh, Morteza Aryanejad, Alireza Farhadzadeh, and Kavous Seyed Emami. Seyed Emami, an environmentalist and professor, was arrested as part of this crackdown and reportedly died in detention under unknown circumstances two weeks after his arrest.
(7) After one month of forced closure of 10 Baha’i-owned businesses in Omidiyeh, the closure order has been lifted. Baha’i citizens are having difficulty running their businesses in Iran.
(8) Narges Shahsavari and Ali Lorestani were arrested by the Intelligence Office agents in Kermanshah last month, but their lawyer has not been approved by the judiciary system. According to the so-called Article 48, only 20 lawyers can defend citizens accused by the country’s secretive and political charges.
(9) Siamand Shahsavar and Behzad Shahsavar who had been arrested last month, were transferred to the Intelligence Office in Urmia. They are charged with ‘cooperation with a Kurdish opposition group’.
(10) Four Baha’i citizens, Sohrab Naghipour, Mohsen Mehregani, Manouchehr Rahmani, and Farzad Homayouni, were sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment combined in the Isfahan appeal court.
(11) Esmaeil Arbabi was publicly flogged until he fainted and was transferred to a hospital in Iranshahr for the second time. He was charged with armed robbery.
(12) Ali Karouni, a singer, was summoned to the Ahvaz court for a complaint by the Khuzestan Culture and Islamic Guidance office. He is charged with ‘spreading lies and disturbing public opinion’.
(13) Seven citizens were sentenced to 590 lashes combined. Overall, 24 people who have been charged with financial crimes, were sentenced to imprisonment and lashes on January 6, 2019; Meisam Naraki and Alireza Panahpour were sentenced to five years and 74 lashes each, Nematollah and Elyas Tajoldini were sentenced to 74 lashes, Jafar Goharkani and Hamzeh Sisakhtinejad were sentenced to 110 lashes, Hamidreza Janghorban was sentenced to 20 years in prison and fines, Azadeh Javid was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment, Shapour Heibatieh was sentenced to 14 years imprisonment, Amin Sajadian faced 10 years imprisonment, Mohammad Javad Khosravi was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment and fines, Mohammad Kazem Ahmadzadeh faced 10 years imprisonment, Heibatollah Alavikhah and Bahram Rezaei were sentenced to three years imprisonment, Mohammad Hossein Najmzadeh was sentenced to seven years in prison. Ahmad Pasdar was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and fines, Mehdi Tayari was sentenced to four years and fines. Naser Mohammadinejad, Abbad Tarmalapour, Beniamin Golshanzadeh, Abdolrazagh Ghorbani, Soheil Azarpour, and Abdolkarim Abdolpour were sentenced to two years imprisonment and fines. Moreover, Ardalan Zeinalzadeh who was the mayor of Gachsaran city was sentenced to five years imprisonment and 74 lashes.
(14) Farhad Meysami, a detained civil rights activist, wrote an open letter to protest judicial system’s performance. He was arrested in July and went on a hunger strike to protest ‘unjustified accusations, the illegal procedure following his detention, and denial of his right to access an independent lawyer’. He was forced to end his strike.
(15) Nine businesses and factories that have polluted the environment have been shut down in Tabriz and Hamadan provinces.
(16) The United Nations has published the report of Michel Forst, the UN Special Rapporteur about human rights defenders. Based on this report, the oppression imposed on Human Rights defenders in Iran has been intensified in 2018.
(17) The mayor of the district 16 of Tehran municipality has confirmed that a city services worker was killed, and two others were poisoned by natural gas due to non-standard installation of a gas-burning heater.
(18) Two prisoners, Changiz Irani and Pejman Piri, who have earlier been sentenced to death, were saved at the gallows by the consent of the next of kin in the Urmia prison. Also, five other prisoners in Bushehr were saved from execution.
Tags: Abbad Tarmalapour, Abdolkarim Abdolpour, Abdolrazagh Ghorbani, Ahmad Pasdar, Alireza Panahpour, Amin Sajadian, Ardalan Zeinalzadeh, Azadeh Javid, Bahram Rezaei, Beniamin Golshanzadeh, Elyas Tajoldini, Farhad Meysami, Hamidreza Janghorban, Hamzeh Sisakhtinejad, Heibatollah Alavikhah, Jafar Goharkani, Mehdi Tayari, Meisam Naraki, Mohammad Hossein Najmzadeh, Mohammad Javad Khosravi, Mohammad Kazem Ahmadzadeh, Naser Mohammadinejad, Nematollah Tajoldini, Shapour Heibatieh, Soheil Azarpour
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K-POPPING
#THIRSTDAY
FAMOUSLY FIT
MOND DAYS
WHAT THE FAD?!
6 Things We Learned About Meghan Markle From CBS' Meghan and Harry Plus One
by McKenna Aiello | Fri., 17 May. 2019 6:35 PM
Members of Meghan Markle's inner circle, British journalists and royal historians painted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in a remarkably positive light during a CBS News special hosted by Gayle King and titled Meghan and Harry Plus One.
The hour-long feature delved into the former American actress' new life alongside Prince Harry, paying close attention to the negative (and arguably unjust) press she's become a subject of since joining the royal family. Meghan's close friends, makeup artist Daniel Martin and actress Janina Gavankar, shared their candid thoughts on the rampant rumors, and even revealed how the Duchess herself copes with the extreme highs and lows.
For even more insight into Meghan's whirlwind first year as a royal—including her reaction to that shoutout from Beyoncéand Jay-Z—keep scrolling!
Is There Any Truth to Reports of Meghan's "Diva" Antics?:
According to Daniel, absolutely not."What's so frustrating is that you hear these stories and there's no truth to them," he shared. "It's not the same person. In the years I've known her, the years I've worked with her, she's never had a diva fit. Never. I know she doesn't deserve all of this negative press." Janina added, "She doesn't read the bad or the good because she knows the metrics that you have for your own life cannot be based on a headline that somebody else wrote."
Where Meghan Markle Gave Birth to Baby Archie
The Love Between Meghan and Harry Isn't Just for Show:
As Daniel described, "They love each other so much. It's so sincere. The love is real." Reflecting on the royal wedding, which took place almost exactly one year ago, Janina noted, "I got to watch my friend look into the eyes of her soulmate and be blissfully happy." She later remarked, "She has a very solid sense of what her true north is. She has a priority to find ways to bring light to global issues, but she's not in it alone. She is with her soulmate. The two of them together are very powerful." Swoon much?!
Prince Charles' Gesture of a Lifetime:
As tabloid drama concerning Meghan's estranged father cast a shadow over her wedding day, many wondered who would walk her down the aisle in his absence. Prince Charles assumed the responsibility, a moment that while recalling how it went down caused Daniel to break down in tears. "The doors open up and I'm standing in the back," he shared. "I see her come down and I just saw how strong that she was and how poised. She kept her cool. She walked and [Prince Charles and Prince Harry] intercepted her. It was like, 'We got you. You're one of us.' She's home."
Thank you to the Brits for the award for Best International Group. I won this award back in 2002 with my besties, Kelly and Michelle. How lucky am I to have been in a group with my other best friend, the GOAT Hova. 🙌🏾 In honor of Black History Month, we bow down to one of our Melanated Monas. Congrats on your pregnancy! We wish you so much joy.
A post shared by Beyoncé (@beyonce) on Feb 20, 2019 at 2:48pm PST
Welcome to the Meyhive:
In a play on Beyoncé's fanbase known as the Beyhive, loyal followers of Meghan and her ideals have collectively dubbed themselves the "Meyhive." It's possible Queen Bey also considers herself a member, especially since she and Jay-Z included Meghan while accepting an honor at this year's Brit Awards. Daniel said he texted Meghan a photo of the epic moment, to which he said she responded with the "big-eye emoji."
Meghan and Harry's Parenting Style Is Surprisingly Relatable:
Though they've only been mom and dad for two weeks, Daniel has already predicted what baby Archie's future has in store. "I feel like Meghan and 'H' are really going to keep this kid real. I'm sure the baby is going to be raised clean and green. She loves to cook, eating organic whenever she can. I totally see her making her own food. Oh, yeah!" he mused. And from Janina's perspective, "She's going to be such a good mother. I think she'll be very low maintenance, hands on, the way she would've been had she not married into the royal family. I think Meghan is going to be strict. Not in some sort of strict way, but she's an incredibly practical person. She's going to run a tight ship."
So Who's Responsible for Meghan's Impeccable Wardrobe?:
As it turns out, she is! Daniel confirmed to Gayle that the Duchess doesn't have her own stylist and picks out all her ensembles on her own. "She's always had such an innate sense of her own style," he commented. "It's pretty incredible that she can manage all of this."
Meghan and Harry Plus One premieres Friday night at 8 p.m. on CBS.
TAGS/ Meghan Markle , Prince Harry , Gayle King , Royals , Apple News , Top Stories
New Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | © 2019 E! Entertainment Television, LLC. A Division of NBCUniversal. All rights reserved.
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Volume 14, Issue 10, 12/Mar/2009
Surveillance and outbreak reports Open Access
An outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, 2008
T Bruun1,2, G Sørensen3, L P Forshell4, T Jensen5, K Nygård1, G Kapperud1, B A Lindstedt1, T Berglund6, A Wingstrand3, R F Petersen7, L Muller7, C Kjelsø7, S Ivarsson8, M Hjertqvist8, S Löfdahl8, S Ethelberg7
Affiliations: 1 Folkehelseinstituttet (Norwegian Institute of Public Health), Oslo, Norway 2 The Norwegian Field Epidemiology Training Programme (Nor-FETP), Oslo, Norway 3 Fødevareinstituttet (National Food Institute), Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (Technical University of Denmark), Copenhagen, Denmark 4 Livsmedelsverket (National Food Administration), Uppsala, Sweden 5 Fødevarestyrelsen (Danish Veterinary and Food Administration), Copenhagen, Denmark 6 Mattilsynet (Norwegian Food Safety Authority), Oslo, Norway 7 Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark 8 Smittskyddsinstitutet (Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control), Stockholm, Sweden
T Bruun
Tone.Bruun fhi.no
Citation style for this article: Bruun T, Sørensen G, Forshell L P, Jensen T, Nygård K, Kapperud G, Lindstedt B A, Berglund T, Wingstrand A, Petersen R F, Muller L, Kjelsø C, Ivarsson S, Hjertqvist M, Löfdahl S, Ethelberg S. An outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, 2008. Euro Surveill. 2009;14(10):pii=19147. https://doi.org/10.2807/ese.14.10.19147-en Received: 23 Feb 2009
In November-December 2008, Norway and Denmark independently identified outbreaks of Salmonella Typhimurium infections characterised in the multiple-locus variable number of tandem repeats analysis (MLVA) by a distinct profile. Outbreak investigations were initiated independently in the two countries. In Denmark, a total of 37 cases were identified, and multiple findings of the outbreak strain in pork and pigs within the same supply chain led to the identification of pork in various forms as the source. In Norway, ten cases were identified, and the outbreak investigation quickly indicated meat bought in Sweden as the probable source and the Swedish authorities were alerted. Investigations in Sweden identified four human cases and two isolates from minced meat with the distinct profile. Subsequent trace-back of the meat showed that it most likely originated from Denmark. Through international alert from Norway on 19 December, it became clear that the Danish and Norwegian outbreak strains were identical and, later on, that the source of the outbreaks in all three countries could be traced back to Danish pork. MLVA was instrumental in linking the outbreaks in the different countries and tracing the source. This outbreak illustrates that good international communication channels, early alerting mechanisms, inter-sectoral collaboration between public health and food safety authorities and harmonised molecular typing tools are important for effective identification and management of cross-border outbreaks. Differences in legal requirements for food safety in neighbouring countries may be a challenge in terms of communication with consumers in areas where cross-border shopping is common.
G Sørensen
L P Forshell
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Volume 15, Issue 27, 08/Jul/2010
Human listeriosis in England, 2001–2007: association with neighbourhood deprivation
I A Gillespie1, P Mook1, C L Little1, K A Grant1, J McLauchlin2
Affiliations: 1 Health Protection Agency, Centre for Infections, London, United Kingdom 2 Health Protection Agency, Regional Microbiology Network, London, United Kingdom
I Gillespie
iain.gillespie hpa.org.uk
Citation style for this article: Gillespie I A, Mook P, Little C L, Grant K A, McLauchlin J. Human listeriosis in England, 2001–2007: association with neighbourhood deprivation. Euro Surveill. 2010;15(27):pii=19609. https://doi.org/10.2807/ese.15.27.19609-en Received: 30 Sep 2009
Listeriosis is a rare but severe food-borne disease that predominantly affects pregnant women, the unborn, newborns, the elderly and immunocompromised people. Despite the high mortality rate of the disease, its socio-economic determinants have not been studied in detail, meaning that health inequalities that might exist in relation to this disease are not apparent. Laboratory surveillance data on listeriosis cases reported in England between 2001 and 2007 were linked to indices of deprivation and denominator data using patients' postcodes. Incidence relative to increasing quintiles of deprivation was calculated by fitting generalised linear models while controlling for population size. Patient food purchasing and consumption data were scrutinised and compared with commercial food purchasing denominator data to further quantify the observed differences in disease incidence. For all patient groups, listeriosis incidence was highest in the most deprived areas of England when compared with the most affluent, and cases were more likely to purchase foods from convenience stores or from local services (bakers, butchers, fishmongers and greengrocers) than the general population were. Patients' risk profile also changed with increasing neighbourhood deprivation. With increased life expectancy and rising food prices, food poverty could become an increasingly important driver for food-borne disease in the future. While United Kingdom Government policy should continue to focus on small food businesses to ensure sufficient levels of food hygiene expertise, tailored and targeted food safety advice on the avoidance of listeriosis is required for all vulnerable groups. Failure to do so may enhance health inequality across socio-economic groups. .
I A Gillespie
P Mook
C L Little
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Campsites in Dorset
Ancient fossils, crooked thatched cottages and Iron Age remains
Dorset is a place of startling contrasts. The World Heritage-listed Jurassic Coast sweeps along the south-west edge of England, full of fossils and dramatic clifftop vistas. Wonders of all kinds crowd its shores, from Iron Age forts and chalk figures to castles straight out of a fairytale, built by wealthy dreamers drawn to Dorset’s charm. This is the country of Enid Blyton’s books, where British seaside sunshine is paired with smugglers’ caves, atmospheric moors and mysterious ruins. You never know what’s going to be around the corner.
Camping and glamping in Dorset are excellent ways to get to the heart of the region’s many sites, whether your taste draws you to elegant port cities, crumbling mansions, smooth-pebbled beaches or winding walks along some of England’s most famous coastline. Kids will love the place’s spooky, ancient history and jaw-dropping natural wonders, while adults can push themselves to explore new sporting challenges in the spectacular landscape, or simply relax and pretend to be lords and ladies in Dorset’s ornately decorated manors. Whether you’re going for a restful getaway or seeking fresh experiences, Dorset is a place for discovery.
Bridport Bingham Grange
Stunning coast and beautiful beaches surround this site, which is well-equipped and attractively landscaped, with pitches that are sheltered and private.
• Beach stays
• Nature lovers
• Fishing
Crossways
Located on the outskirts of Dorchester, Crossways is a pretty site with a natural feel and has good access to local transport for trips to Poole and Bournemouth.
• Active families
• Dog owners
• Walking
This laid back site on the edge of Wareham Forest has easy access to Dorset’s wonderful coastline and a host of family attractions.
• Family stays
• Cycling
• Bird watching
Reasons to visit Dorset
Whatever your age and interests, you'll find plenty to occupy you when camping in Dorset. From walking and cycling to ghost hunting and fossil finding, this is a county with lots on offer.
Spooky history
Dorset is the place to go if you like your history with a shiver. Haunted Knowlton Church is renowned as a place for ghost spotting, and the spooky Clavell Tower overlooks the white-capped ocean at a famously atmospheric site. Nothe Fort in Weymouth has been voted one of the most haunted places in Britain, while Corfe Castle is meant to have a woman in white stalking the battlements at night. The Dorset atmosphere is excellent for kids and adults with a taste for the creepy.
If toothsome ancient reptiles are more your style, some of Britain’s most famous dinosaurs have revealed themselves along the crumbling Jurassic Coast. The Dinosaur Museum in Dorchester has plenty for a dino-friendly day out, including hands-on experiences with bones and skeletons, while the Jurassic Coast Trust has several special coastal walks designed to showcase the beauty of the Dorset landscape — and let you do your own fossil-hunting.
Climbers love the cliffs of the Isle of Portland off the Dorset coast for their huge range of routes and climbs, particularly because it’s not just for experts. If you’ve never tried before, Portland is a great place to put on a harness and enjoy novice lessons for all the family.
If heights aren’t your thing, kayaking around the gorgeous Jurassic Coast is enduringly popular, for good reason. The cliffs are protected by World Heritage status, and pulling ashore onto a pebbled beach like Lulworth Cove may mean you discover a small fossilised shell to take home. But there’s plenty to see from the water too, including the world-famous Durdle Door, the hollowed-out arch suspended off the Dorset coast that looks too perfect to be real. Cyclists of all abilities will also adore Dorset’s many safe, family-oriented cycling paths, particularly Route 26, which takes in much of the stunning coast towards Weymouth.
Four-legged friends
Animal lovers of all stripes will find something to excite them in Dorset. Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre is an ape sanctuary that’s now home to many species of rare and endangered primate, while Abbotsbury Swannery, open from early spring to late autumn, is one of the only places in the world where kids can walk through tame crowds of swans and watch tiny cygnets learn to swim.
The Dorset landscape also offers amazing wildlife encounters. Brownsea Island is one of Britain’s biggest red squirrel habitats, which means there’s a high likelihood of spotting their rusty tails among the foliage. Durlston Nature Reserve, meanwhile, is an amazing place for wildlife-spotters; depending on the time of year, inquisitive kids might see seals, guillemots or fields of butterflies, and the site’s Durlston Castle has a full schedule of children’s events and guided trails to help you make the most of it.
Why choose Experience Freedom?
Whatever aspect of Dorset’s brilliant vistas and famous coast you’d like to explore, Experience Freedom camping sites offer the best positions and locations for access to Dorset attractions. Glamping with Experience Freedom can give your holiday a touch of luxury, while our camping spots provide a once-in-a-lifetime experience of the region’s famous natural landscape. Select a region to learn more about the sites available in that location, or use the Search and Book function to make a booking for a specific date at a particular site.
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Home Infocenter News
Company 03.2019
The view behind the facade: My internship in the Schwind production department
How a student from India experiences the working world at Schwind
My name is Rishabh Jain. I am from India and currently in my final year of manufacturing engineering at BITS Pilani, India.
How did you get the idea to do an internship in Germany? And why did you choose Schwind? Which requirements do you have to meet (visa, work permit etc.)?
My college has a program where students have to do an internship for six months in their final year. Since this would be my first exposure to the industrial field for such a long period, I wanted to pursue this with the best in industrial production. And so Germany was the easiest choice, known for its technical precision and work culture worldwide. I had previous experiences in manufacturing industries in India, but Schwind was in a completely different field than what I had experienced. Also, being one of the most successful in the field, Schwind was the best choice for me. The VISA category for an internship is not the standard student one, so I had to get a work permit which, thankfully was applied to and received by the helpful HR department at Schwind very efficiently, on my behalf.
How were the first days here? What did you like and what was especially difficult, at work and in general in Germany? What was particularly exciting?
Well, I had been to Europe for tourism purpose previously, but living here is a big change. But a welcoming one. Almost everything like the culture, food, working of transportation is different. You might as well think of it as a new world here. This pushes you out of your comfort zone, but to balance it, I had amazing colleagues at Schwind who made it feel like I belonged here. You can call the first 10-15 days a little difficult, but with time it just got easier. There was no difficult part as such to my work here since everyone made an extra effort to help me understand and work here. The exciting part was that Schwind was relatively new to Lean, so you might as well work as the pulling person here, which sure does come with the benefits and roadblocks together making it one of a kind experience.
What did you learn? What tasks did you have during your internship?
My work was to introduce lean with new ideas and activities related to Lean Manufacturing. To sum up my tasks throughout the work here, it was to improve the efficiency of the production processes. Learnings were quite a few. Beginning from the technical aspects, management styles, compartmentalization of work, how to take the work forward one step at a time to, most importantly the famous work culture here, which of course is a combination of a lot of things, are the gems I have added to my collection. One learning I will definitely take back with me and try to replicate wherever I go, is the cheerful and stress free working style and the humbleness. I might not have worked with more than 10 people a day here, but I was greeted every day by more than 30 in general. This itself gives a boost to work and perform your best each day. Also, irrespective of the workload, people always had a cheerful nature and gave time to every single person. I would like to specially mention here that the head of production department, used to daily put in long hours of work, but even then, he listened to every Idea or work that I had, similar goes for the assistant production head too. Even the COO, who again is wanted by many people throughout the company daily, took out time from his busy schedule to lend an ear to my ideas, an intern’s ideas. This only shows how much valued the employees here are. I think this is what makes Schwind so great. When you have such dedicated and passionate people in your team, you are bound to succeed.
What did you do in your spare time? Have you made new friends?
Spare time, mostly the weekends, I used for short road trips to different neighbouring countries. This in itself was a fun and learning experience for I was able to learn from people from various cultures and beliefs. The breathtaking beauty of Europe! As for friends, yes I did make a few great friends here, who again are wonderful people!
What do you think about German food? Do the Germans have qualities that you find curious, funny or admirable?
Being an Indian vegetarian, I did take the various options I had for food, and none of them disappointed me. The wraps and falafel were what stood out the most. The top on my list from admirable qualities would be the caring and helpful nature people in Germany have. Right from my first day in Germany, where a random lady helped me at the train station, to my very own colleagues in marketing and production department helping me - from searching for a good accommodation to suggesting places to visit, this had me awestruck from the very beginning. I wish this quality is propagated throughout people! Funny in terms of difference was that in India, generally, if a person is elder to you, as a mark of respect, you stand up if that person is also standing when talking to you. In Germany, it is not the same. I happened to confuse my senior colleague a good 2-3 times about me standing up every time he came to talk to me, after which he laughingly told me the way it is in Germany, following which I followed the law of the land!
What did you miss the most when you were here? What will you miss when you are back in India?
Family would be my very first word here, the second food! What I will miss the most is the Schwind family I have here now. It amazes me; the strong bonds I have made with my colleagues here in such a short time. They will be dearly missed.
How do you want to continue your career? Would you like to work in ophthalmology?
I will join my family business after returning to India, followed by an MBA down the line. Well, ophthalmology is now quite familiar to me but still different from my current line of work. But sure, if fate has it, I would love to work in ophthalmology or a related field.
Would you recommend others to do an internship at Schwind?
Definitely! The people, the culture, technical expertise all stand out here at Schwind. This internship did not only help me learn from a professional point of view but also helped me improve as an individual. Might as well call this a life-changing experience for me and likewise for anyone who might do an internship here! Thank You!
Team Meeting
First Meeting of German-speaking SCHWIND Users
Excellence on the spot
Become part of our network.
ESCRS Congress 2019 in Paris
38th Congress of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons
14.09. – 18.09.19 France
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Looks like you're covered by:
Clerks Award
Based on what you've told us, it looks like you're covered by the Clerks - Private Sector Award 2010 [MA000002].
The Clerks Award doesn't have an entitlement to accident pay. For information about payment on workers compensation, contact the workers compensation regulator in your state or territory.
To find out more about who this award applies to, go to the Clerks Award summary.
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GIANTS Software and Logitech announce enhanced partnership
GIANTS Software, creator of the well-known Farming Simulator Series, and Logitech G, the iconic gaming brand of Logitech, are excited to announce that the two companies are collaborating to enhance the Farming Simulator experience in 2019.
In 2019, GIANTS Software plans to build on the successful format of the first season of the Farming Simulator Championship by starting the second season.
The current Logitech G eco-system for simulation is designed to be modular and customizable, to meet the needs of gamers wanting to ride on a tractor and feel the thrill of cultivating land, nurturing livestock and selling their goods. This product is the perfect complement to those farming for competition or fun.
"We believe that 2019 is going to be an important year for farming sim gaming", said Vincent Borel, general manager of gaming simulation, at Logitech G. "By combining GIANTS Farming Simulator 2019 with our unique heavy equipment gear, players will get the ultimate sim experience. We’re excited to work together to bring gamers a realistic immersive experience."
By working together, the two companies hope to further promote Farming Simulation esports and to create a unique new experience for players of the well-known series.
"We are very proud to have found a partner that shares our vision for the future of sim farming in Logitech G," explains Christian Ammann, CEO of GIANTS Software. "Logitech G is known worldwide for its high-quality hardware, which our players already love. We are very excited to see where this takes farm sim in the future."
More details on GIANTS Software's esports plans for 2019 will follow in the coming weeks.
Did you know? Our friends over @realismusMods have an update about seasons. It's worth a read. https://t.co/kZli66RHrg
Wir starten in fünf Minuten! https://t.co/zfaZP5tZSL https://t.co/xBip8cYfuC
RT @FSLeSports: The Farming Simulator League is pleased to announce a new team for the FSL: the Trelleborg Team. @TrelleborgWheel https:/…
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Bing Explains Why Facebook’s Graph Search Is A Boon For Its Business
Bing VP of Search Derrick Connell and Director Stefan Weitz describe how their team worked with Zuckerberg’s team to make people “first class objects” on the web.
By Christina Chaey 1 minute Read
Today Facebook launched Graph Search, a search engine for the people, places, photos, and interests that make up your social graph.
But, as Mark Zuckerberg said at the press event today at Facebook HQ, “We wouldn’t suggest people come and do web searches on Facebook.”
For that, there’s Facebook’s search partner, Bing. When Graph Search doesn’t deliver the results you’re looking for, you’ll also get a list of Bing web results within Facebook.
Zuckerberg’s emphasis on Graph Search’s ability to deliver “answers” rather than “links to answers” makes it clear that Facebook and Bing are on the same page: The Bing team has long been working on a search solution that eschews “blue links” in favor of a search engine where people are as important as pages.
“We’ve been saying people are first class objects on the web, and more important than any page we could show you,” Bing Director Stefan Weitz told Fast Company in a recent interview. Before Facebook even announced its new search, Weitz said of the new social era: “This is the first time that anyone has considered people as a critical part to search.”
Bing’s VP of Search Derrick Connell explained the newly enhanced Facebook relationship in a blog post today about Graph Search:
“As part of this product, our two engineering teams worked together to advance a unified search experience. That means that when people want to search beyond Facebook, they see web search results from Bing with social context and additional information such as Facebook pages.”
Graph Search is also beneficial to Bing, who has made no secret of its belief that social data will be a key component of search. Bing Director Stefan Weitz recently told Fast Company that the majority of people doing research on the web–say, on a new product, or a potential vacation destination–won’t rely on pages alone. They’ll turn to friends and experts to get additional input before making a final decision. The more Bing bolsters its social sidebar with increasing amounts of social data, the less you’ll be likely to jump around to other sources while putting together your research.
[Image: Flickr user Darwin Bell]
Christina is an associate editor at Fast Company, where she writes about technology, social media, and business.
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Home / Cars / Plug-in Hybrids (page 5)
EarthSense data used to activate zero-emission vehicle
18th June 2018 Cars, EV News, Plug-in Hybrids, Technology 0
EarthSense’s data was to used to put a hybrid vehicle into zero-emission mode as they passed through some of the UK’s most polluted areas Air quality monitoring technology from EarthSense has provided real time data for trials into the use of low emission vehicles to improve air quality in polluted …
Mercedes-Benz prepares US suppliers for the next generation SUVs
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Mercedes-Benz will present plug-in hybrid SUVs later this year Purchasing and operation leaders of Mercedes-Benz Cars and Mercedes-Benz US International (MBUSI) met with representatives from 240 suppliers at the company’s annual Supplier Forum in June. MBUSI has held supplier forums such as this one to orient its suppliers to expectations …
General Motors outlines path to zero emissions in China
6th June 2018 Batteries, EV News, Plug-in Hybrids, Technology 0
GM wants to introduce 10 more new energy vehicles in the Chinese market between 2021 and 2023 On World Environment Day, General Motors mapped out its electrification path in China in support of its vision of a future with zero emissions. GM is on track to deliver 10 new energy vehicle …
Chrysler to provide 2,000 hybrid minivans to Waymo
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The deal will support Waymo’s self-driving ambitions Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) will provide 2,000 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans to Waymo’s self-driving fleet. In January, Chrysler agreed to provide thousands of vehicles to Waymo’s driverless ride-hailing service. The vehicles will be delivered later this year. Their partnership started in May 2016 …
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Efficient Drivetrains receives order for 30 PHEV bus drivetrain systems from Chinese city Kunming Efficient Drivetrains, Inc. (EDI), a global leader in advanced high-efficiency zero emissions hybrid and electric vehicle drivetrain solutions, announced that they have received a production order for PHEV bus drivetrain systems from the city of Kunming, …
BMW launches wireless charging
28th May 2018 EV News, Global Charging Network, Plug-in Hybrids, Technology 0
BMW’s new charging pad has an efficiency rating of 85% BMW i has launched a factory-fitted, fully integrated inductive charging facility for the high-voltage battery in a plug-in hybrid vehicle. Like many wireless charging solutions being developed by other companies, BMW’s wireless charging utilises a base pad over which the …
Volvo Cars to eliminate diesel from the new S60 sedan
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Volvo will offer its first car without a diesel powertrain in 2019 Slated for a global launch in 2019, the new Volvo S60 will be the first car from Volvo Car to be offered without a diesel powertrain. The new Volvo S60 sedan – to be launched later this spring – …
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The partnership offers a home edition of the InCharge charging network. Research shows that 90% of all charging takes place at work or at home An agreement was announced on May 3, effective immediately, that will see the new partnership offer “InCharge Smart home” to all of Volvo’s PHEVs customers in …
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PCB Boards: What makes a good fiducial mark?
Accountants may have a fiduciary responsibility, but that really has nothing to do with PC board assembly. Change the "ry" to a "ls", however, and you get fiducials, which does have something to do with PCB assembly.
A fiducial is essentially an alignment mark for surface mount assembly machines. High volume assembly requires them to ensure accurate registration and parts placement. Low volume assembly, like we do here at Screaming Circuits, doesn't necessarily require them. (Some low volume shops do, so ask before assuming). Even if they aren't required, they still help and are always a pretty decent idea.
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Reading: Morphological responses of the Wax Lake Delta, Louisiana, to Hurricanes Rita
Special Collection: Special Feature: Deltas in the Anthropocene
Morphological responses of the Wax Lake Delta, Louisiana, to Hurricanes Rita
Fei Xing ,
CSDMS, INSTAAR, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, US, US
James P.M. Syvitski,
Albert J. Kettner,
Ehab A. Meselhe,
The Water Institute of the Gulf, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, US, US
John H. Atkinson,
Arcadis, Broomfield, Colorado, US, US
Ashok K. Khadka
This study examines the morphodynamic response of a deltaic system to extreme weather events. The Wax Lake Delta (WLD) in Louisiana, USA, is used to illustrate the impact of extreme events (hurricanes) on a river-dominated deltaic system. Simulations using the open source Delft3D model reveal that Hurricane Rita, which made landfall 120 km to the west of WLD as a Category 3 storm in 2005, caused erosion on the right side and deposition on the left side of the hurricane eye track on the continental shelf line (water depth 10 m to 50 m). Erosion over a wide area occurred both on the continental shelf line and in coastal areas when the hurricane moved onshore, while deposition occurred along the Gulf coastline (water depth < 5 m) when storm surge water moved back offshore. The numerical model estimated that Hurricane Rita’s storm surge reached 2.5 m, with maximum currents of 2.0 m s–1, and wave heights of 1.4 m on the WLD. The northwestern-directed flow and waves induced shear stresses, caused erosion on the eastern banks of the deltaic islands and deposition in channels located west of these islands. In total, Hurricane Rita eroded more than 500,000 m3 of sediments on the WLD area. Including waves in the analysis resulted in doubling the amount of erosion in the study area, comparing to the wave-excluding scenario. The exclusion of fluvial input caused minor changes in deltaic morphology during the event. Vegetation cover was represented as rigid rods in the model which add extra source terms for drag and turbulence to influence the momentum and turbulence equations. Vegetation slowed down the floodwater propagation and decreased flow velocity on the islands, leading to a 47% reduction in the total amount of erosion. Morphodynamic impact of the hurricane track relative to the delta was explored. Simulations indicate that the original track of Hurricane Rita (landfall 120 km west of the WLD) produced twice as much erosion and deposition at the delta compared to a hurricane of a similar intensity that made landfall directly on the delta. This demonstrates that the wetlands located on the right side of a hurricane track experience more significant morphological changes than areas located directly on the hurricane track.
Knowledge Domain: Earth & Environmental Science
Keywords: sediment balance, hurricanes, vegetation, hurricane track, waves, Wax Lake Delta
How to Cite: Xing, F., Syvitski, J.P.M., Kettner, A.J., Meselhe, E.A., Atkinson, J.H. and Khadka, A.K., 2017. Morphological responses of the Wax Lake Delta, Louisiana, to Hurricanes Rita. Elem Sci Anth, 5, p.80. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.125
Accepted on 24 Oct 2017 Submitted on 13 Oct 2016
Domain Editor-in-Chief: Oliver Chadwick; University of California, Santa Barbara, US
Guest Editor: Fabrice Ranaud; United Nations University, Bonn, DE
Hurricanes are among the most severe hazards in coastal zones, imperiling coastal wetlands, properties and human lives (Huang et al., 2001; Li and Ellingwood, 2006; Michener et al., 1997; Pielke et al., 2008). Normalized hurricane damage for the continental United States is estimated to be $10 billion yr–1 over 1900–2005 (Pielke et al., 2008). This number is predicted to rise with increasing hurricane intensities (Emanuel, 2005; Landsea, 2005) and as the coast becomes more vulnerable by subsidence, sea level rise and population growth (Li and Ellingwood, 2006; Pielke et al., 2008; Syvitski, 2008; Syvitski and Kettner, 2011; Irish et al., 2014). Forming a coastal buffer zone, wetlands can effectively reduce damage from hurricanes by decreasing storm surges and wave heights (Smith et al., 2010; Wamsley et al., 2010; Gedan et al., 2011). Constant attenuation rate, such as 1 m reduction of storm surge per 14.5 km of marsh (The Corps of Engineers, 1963), are insufficient to represent the realistic surge attenuation by wetlands. Recent studies have shown that the effect of wetlands on storm surge during hurricanes is complicated, as influenced by both wetlands and hurricane properties, e.g., marsh health, tide height, groundwater level, storm intensity, track and forward speed (Wamsley et al., 2010; Loder et al., 2009; Resio and Westerink, 2008; Cahoon 2006). The availability of observational hydrodynamic and wave parameters during hurricanes have made it possible to develop more accurate numerical models to study the hydrodynamics during hurricanes (Dietrich et al., 2010; Smith et al., 2010). Applying numerical experiments, marsh morphology (e.g., horizontal extent of marsh, marsh vertical elevation, frictional characteristics, and degree of segmentation) has shown to significantly influence the surge height during hurricanes (Loder et al., 2009; Wamsley et al., 2009).
On the other hand, the impact of hurricanes on morphological changes of wetlands is less well studied, although hurricanes-driven wetland changes could have important ecological consequences (Cahoon, 2006). Most previous studies are based on field observations and analysis of satellite images before and after hurricane passages (Barras, 2006; Kiage et al., 2005; Howes et al., 2010). Barras (2006), by comparing Landsat images before and after the hurricane season, demonstrated that 15% of wetlands within Louisiana coastal plains were converted to open water due to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (2005). Jackson et al. (1992) stated that hurricanes cause erosion to coastal wetlands, and that the magnitude and extent of erosion are influenced by wetland properties. For example, broken marshes with a poorly consolidated substrate are more vulnerable to hurricanes. Hurricanes also bring sediment and nutrients to coastal wetlands and in aid of wetland maintenance, particularly for wetlands that experience subsidence and sea level rise (McKee and Cherry, 2009; Williams, 2009; Cahoon 2006; Horton et al., 2009). For example, Cahoon et al. (1995) and Guntenspergen et al. (1995) found that hurricane Andrew caused the short-term sediment deposition to increase by up to 3 orders of magnitude compared to pre-storm rates in Louisiana coastal wetlands. Furthermore, Cahoon et al. (1995) stated that a single low frequency, high magnitude storm can deposit more sediment on a marsh than an entire year of high frequency, low magnitude cold fronts. Williams (2009) observed a shallow marine sediment layer in coastal wetlands, and claimed that the marine sediment was deposited during Hurricane Rita. Observations of both sediment erosion and deposition during the same hurricane event demonstrate the complexity of morphological changes. However, systematic studies on the morphological changes of wetlands during hurricane events are still rare.
The wetlands along the Gulf coast are under threat from reduced sediment input, high rates of sea level rise and subsidence. Mississippi River Delta has lost 4,850 km2 of land in the past 30 years (Batker et al., 2010), and coastal Louisiana is predicted to lose 4,677 km2 of land in the next 50 years (Couvillion et al., 2013). Early studies indicated that the creation of new river outlets to force freshwater and fluvial sediments to shallow areas, such as the Wax Lake Delta, would reduce the land loss of coastal areas (Kim et al., 2009). As such, from 1973 to 1994, 84.2 km2 of land has been built at the Wax Lake outlet area (Roberts et al., 2003). The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority is implementing river diversions at Barataria and Breton Sound basins along the Mississippi River bank to replenish coastal wetlands with fluvial sediment, which has been considered as one of the major coastal restoration approaches of the coastal Louisiana Master Plan (Couvillion et al., 2013; Batker et al., 2010). Unlike coastal wetlands which are located more inland, these recently-built deltas are usually located in shallow bays, which makes them more susceptible to hurricanes induced current and wave energy to the deltaic area. However, the morphological responses of these recently-built deltas to hurricanes is not well understood.
In this manuscript, we applied the Delft3D model to explore the impact of hurricanes on the hydrodynamics and morphological changes of a recently-built delta, the Wax Lake Delta (WLD) during Hurricane Rita (2005). We described the patterns of morphological changes on the continental shelf line and coastal wetlands close to the hurricane track, and the detailed hydrodynamic and morphological changes of the WLD area in response to Hurricane Rita. We also evaluated the roles of waves, fluvial force, vegetation and hurricane tracks on determining the morphodynamics of the WLD during Hurricane Rita. The spatial and temporal uncertainty of modeled morphological changes in response to sediment properties were also discussed.
2. Regional setting
2.1. Wax Lake Delta (WLD)
The WLD is a relatively recently formed fluvial depositional lobe within the Atchafalaya Bay, along the Gulf of the Mexico in Louisiana. It was formed by rapid deposition of fluvial sediments following the construction of a canal (the Wax Lake Outlet, or WLO) in 1941, which connected the upstream Six-Mile Lake and the Atchafalaya Bay (Figure 1A). The accumulation of fluvial sediment near the mouth of the outfall canal led to the formation and progradation of the subaqueous delta. The delta became subaerial in 1973 after a large river flood (peak discharge of 20,000 m3 s–1 measured at Atchafalaya River (Simmesport, USACE station 03045, Louisiana), compared to the mean discharge of 5,781 m3 s–1 from 1935 to 2007) that transported significant amounts of sediment to the river mouth, both from fluvial sediments of the Mississippi River and from erosion of the sediments formerly deposited in the canal (Roberts et al., 1997).
Bathymetry and topography of the model domains. A) Shows the largest model domain: Gulf of Mexico (GoM). The dotted line displays the track of Hurricane Rita, and the colors demonstrate the hurricane intensity. Red dots show three National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) stations and one station from Wave Information Study for wave observations (significant wave heights, peak wave periods, and mean wave directions). Black dots show four NOAA tidal stations along the Louisiana and Texas coasts for storm surge observations. B) and C) Show detailed bathymetry and topography of the Atchafalaya domain and the Wax Lake domain. The numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4 in Fig. 1B are the four rivers that are included in the simulations: the Wax Lake Outlet, Atchafalaya River, Jaws River, and Vermilion River, respectively. I is Atchafalaya Bay, II is West Cote Blanche Bay, and III is Vermilion Bay. The solid grey line in Fig. 1C shows the deltaic area used to estimate the sediment balance. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.125.f1
Fluvial water and sediment discharges towards the WLD have strong seasonal variations, with annual river floods occurring in spring (Mossa and Roberts, 1990). The mean flood velocity is approximately 2–2.5 times higher than the non-flood velocity for an average-discharge year, and suspended sediment concentration during floods can be up to 20 times higher than during non-flood conditions (DuMars, 2002). The WLO transports approximate 30 Mt of sediment per year to the shallow Atchafalaya Bay (~2m deep, Kim et al., 2009), leading to yearly average subaerial delta growth rate of ~0.81 km2 (FitzGerald, 1998; Roberts et al., 2003). The mean fluvial sediment layer (topset) thickness of the delta is 2.4 m, of which approximately 70% is sand (Roberts et al., 1997).
Typically tides and waves are relatively mild, compared to fluvial forces in Atchafalaya Bay. The tidal range is around 0.3 m (DuMars, 2002), and the mean significant wave height is less than 0.5 m (Wright, 1977). The area is exposed to two major weather systems: winter cold fronts and summer and fall tropical storms. Cold fronts occur every 4–7 days from October through March, or 20–30 times per year (Chuang and Wiseman, 1983). During cold fronts, wind speed can exceed 10 m/s (Walker and Hammack, 2000). The high winds and wind-generated waves can effectively re-suspend and transport the bottom sediments, contributing to ~15% of the fluvial sediment being transported outside the bay system every year (Roberts et al., 1997). Tropical storms affect this area primarily in summer and fall, producing significant damage to coastal wetlands (Barras, 2006; Howes et al., 2010). Sixteen major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher on the Saffir-Simpson scale) have been recorded to impact the WLD between 1941 and 2008 (Bunya et al., 2010).
The WLD has been predominately colonized by freshwater species on the high-lying areas of the islands due to the freshwater sequestration in this river-dominated system. The plant community is in a dynamic early successional phase, and its composition is mainly determined by fluvial discharge, elevation, disturbance, salinity, organic content of sediment, and nutrient availability (Rejmanek et al., 1987; Shaffer et al., 1992; Holm and Sasser, 2001).
2.2. Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita was one of the most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded in the Gulf of Mexico (Beven et al., 2008). Rita initially formed as a tropical depression on September 17th, 2005 near the Turks and Caicos Islands, starting its path westwards through the Florida Straits. The system intensified over time but remained a Category 2 hurricane until it entered the Gulf of Mexico. Rita strengthened rapidly when it passed over the warm Loop Current during midday September 21st, reaching Category 5 at 18:00 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) with a minimum barometric pressure of 897 mbar and a maximum wind speed of 175 mph. The system weakened on September 23rd as it approached the north-central coast of the Gulf of Mexico (Figure 1A). Simultaneously, the track changed from westerly to northwesterly. Rita made landfall in western Cameron Parish, Louisiana, 120 km west of the WLD, on September 24th as a Category 3 hurricane, causing a storm surge of 4–5 m close to the landfall area (Williams, 2009). Significant inundation and wetland damage was observed along the Louisiana coast (Bunya et al., 2010; Howes et al., 2010; Rego and Li, 2010). High water mark data indicate the storm surge was more than 3 m in Vermilion Bay (Figure 1B, Rego and Li, 2010). After entering the inland area, Rita weakened, moving northward through Texas and western Louisiana, eventually turning northeastward and dissipating when it merged with a cold front on September 26th, 2005.
3. Methodology
3.1. Delft3D model
The Delft3D software package, a widely used computational fluid dynamics model (Lesser et al., 2004), is applied for this study. The Delft3D FLOW module uses a finite difference solution of the three-dimensional shallow water equation and the k-ɛ turbulence closure model (Rodi, 1980) to compute flow characteristics under the hydrostatic pressure assumption. The model uses a flooding and drying algorithm to determine the active computational grid cells: a cell is included in the calculation when its water depth increases to be higher than 0.02 m, and excluded from the calculation when its water depth decreases to be lower than 0.01 m. The Morphology module (MOR) allows suspended sediment transport (both cohesive and non-cohesive) to be calculated simultaneously with flow computation using the advection-diffusion equation. Bed level is updated every time step based on hydrodynamic results using the Exner equation (WL|Delft3D Hydraulics, 2011). The third-generation fully spectral wave module Simulating Wave Nearshore (SWAN) is coupled with Delft3D FLOW to calculate wave parameters with the discrete spectral action balance equation (WAVE|Delft3D Hydraulics, 2011). A vegetation routine that represents vegetation as rigid cylindrical rods is studied through sensitivity test to explore the influence of vegetation on hydrodynamics and morphological changes (Uittenbogaard, 2003). In the vegetation model, the rigid rods would add extra source terms for drag and turbulence to influence the momentum and turbulence equations. The vegetation approach has been tested in field observations to be effective for cohesive sediment transport in tidal marshes (Temmerman et al., 2005). A more detailed description of the model structure is given in Lesser et al. (2004) and Temmerman et al. (2005).
3.2. Model input parameter settings
The Delft3D FLOW, WAVE and MOR modules were coupled and applied to three nested domains with curvilinear grids in order to acquire a detailed hydrodynamic field for the WLD area. The grids have a varied spatial resolution, higher resolution close to the study area and lower towards the deep ocean. The largest domain (GoM) consists of a considerable part of the Gulf of Mexico with a resolution of 0.020 degrees; the second domain includes the coastal shallow areas of the WLD (Atchafalaya, Vermilion, and Cote Blanche Bay) and surrounding low-elevated wetlands with an average resolution of 200 m; and the third domain (WLD) includes the WLD and surrounding wetlands, with an average resolution of 50 m (Figure 1). The GoM model was initiated by: a) tides at the ocean boundaries which were extracted from the TPXO 7.2 Global Inverse Tide Model (http://volkov.oce.orst.edu/tides/TPXO7.2.html), b) equal-distance wind fields with a spatial resolution of 0.05 degrees and a temporal resolution of 15 minutes, achieved from the combination of NOAA Hurricane Research Division Wind Analysis System (H*WIND, Powell et al., 1998), and the Interactive Objective Kinematic Analysis (IOKA) kinematic wind analysis (Cox et al., 1995). Bathymetry was derived from the Louisiana Virtual Coast Data Archive (http://virtual-coast.c4g.lsu.edu/), in which NOAA’s bathymetry sounding database, the Digital Nautical Charts database, and the 5-minute gridded elevations/bathymetry for the world (ETOPO5) database were combined (National Geophysical Data Center, 1988; National Ocean Service, 1997; U.S. Department of Defense, 1999; Mukai et al., 2002). Three sediment classes: sand, silt and clay, were included in the model and seabed properties in the GoM domains were extracted from seabed sediment distribution map (dbSEABED) reported by Jenkins (2002). The bed roughness is parameterized using Manning’s n as calculated through an empirical equation:
n=0.015+0.01|depth|
M1 \documentclass[10pt]{article} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage[substack]{amsmath} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage[mathscr]{eucal} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pmc} \usepackage[Euler]{upgreek} \pagestyle{empty} \oddsidemargin -1.0in \begin{document} \[ n = 0.015 + \frac{{0.01}}{{\left| {depth} \right|}} \] \end{document}
Which has been validated in previous coastal hydrodynamic simulations (Xing, et al., 2012). The depth is in meters. For the WLD domain, a higher resolution bathymetry and island topography obtained from 1998 hydrological survey with an averaged resolution of 80 m was used, combined with a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) survey dataset for overbank areas that were not covered in the hydrographic survey (USACE, 2010). River discharges at fluvial boundaries were acquired from observed daily data at USGS Calumet station (Baumann et al., 2005), and sediment concentrations were set up with annual averaged values reported by Dumars (2002). The most significant morphological parameters used for the Atchafalaya and WLD domains are shown in Table 1 based on the study of Khadka (2013).
Morphological parameter settings for Atchafalaya and WLD domains. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.125.t1
D50 (m)
Clay (N/m2)
Bed layer thickness (m)
Bed roughness (Chezy: m1/2 s–1)
Bed sediment proportion (Sand:Silt:Clay)
CrERO
CrDEP
Channels, Ocean
Islands, wetlands
Channel, ocean
1.0E–04 3.0E–05 1.0E + 00 1.0E–02 20 5 100 40 4:1:5 7:1:2
CrERO: critical shear stress for erosion of cohesive sediment (clay).
CrDEP: critical shear stress for deposition of cohesive sediment (clay).
3.3. Residual currents
Residual currents provide insight into the net flows after removing the periodic effects of tidal currents, which predominately control net water and sediment transport in estuaries and coastal ocean (Dyer, 1973). The residual current could be induced by fluvial forces, winds, waves, baroclinic effects, and non-linear interactions of controlling forces with local topography (Tee, 1977). A widely-used, low-pass digital filter was used to eliminate the influence of tides, through which waves with periods longer than 12 hours were filtered from the simulated results (Walters and Heston, 1982; Thompson, 1983). In this way, we obtained the water level and flow velocity caused by interactions of the hurricane and rivers on the deltaic area. Residual currents (in m s–1) that are mainly composed of the hurricane and river-driven currents, excluding the effects of tidal currents, were calculated for each grid cell j on the WLD using the following equation for both x- and y- direction:
Rj= 1depj∑i=1i=nvi,j⋅di,j
M2 \documentclass[10pt]{article} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage[substack]{amsmath} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage[mathscr]{eucal} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{pmc} \usepackage[Euler]{upgreek} \pagestyle{empty} \oddsidemargin -1.0in \begin{document} \[ {R_j} = \frac{1}{{dep_{j}}}\sum\nolimits_{i = 1}^{i = n} {{v_{i,j}} \cdot {d_{i,j}}} \] \end{document}
Where depj [m] is mean water depth at cell j, vi,j [m s–1] is velocity at time step i, di,j [m] is water depth at time step i, and n [–] is the total number of calculating time steps.
3.4. Numerical experiments
To study the impacts of driving forces and model parameters on deltaic morphology during hurricanes, four experiments were designed. The numerical settings for Hurricane Rita were assigned as the base case, and four numerical models were set up to study the influences of waves, fluvial input, aboveground vegetation and hurricane tracks. Experiment 1 (EX1) was set up by deactivating the wave module from the base case so the influence of waves on delta hydrodynamics and morphology could be estimated. Similarly, Experiment 2 (EX2), experiment 3 (EX3) and experiment 4 (EX4) were set up by deactivating the fluvial input, recalculating the drag and turbulence terms in model equations to account for the influence of aboveground vegetation, and changing the direction of hurricane track so that the hurricane would make direct landfall at the Wax Lake Delta (moving the wind field by 120 km to the east) to study the influence of fluvial input (EX2), aboveground vegetation (EX3) and hurricane tracks (EX4) on delta hydrodynamics and morphology, respectively. Distribution of vegetation depends significantly on water depth (Shaffer et al., 1992). As such, the aboveground vegetation in the model was set to be uniform on the delta where water depth was lower than 0.2 m, with a stem height of 1.0 m (plants height varies from 0.3 m to maximum 3.4 m, but is mostly ~1 m (Carle, 2013)) and a density of 50 stems per m2 (stem density of the dominant species: S. platyphylla was estimated to be ~50 stems per m2 at the coast of Louisiana (Martin and Shaffer, 2005).
3.5. Model validation
The observed waves (significant wave height, mean wave directions and peak periods) and water levels derived from the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/), NOAA coastal tides stations (NOAA/NOS/CO-OPS), respectively, (Figure 1A) were used to test the model’s effectiveness. Wave data from the Wave Information Studies (WIS) was also extracted and compared with modeled results to evaluate the Wave model performance in the coastal shallow areas (Figure 1A, Hubertz, 1992; Komen et al., 1994). The comparisons between model results and observations (Figure 2) indicate that the modeled results match the observed wave dynamics for the deep ocean and the storm surges in the coastal areas during Hurricane Rita. The simulated wave heights have a RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) of 1 m (mean value of 3.2 m), and the simulated peak wave periods have a RMSE of 2s (mean value of 6s). The filtered water levels from simulation were overall smaller than what was observed but match well with the peak surges, with a RMSE bias of 0.16 m (mean value of 0.24 m) (Figure 3). The modeled maximum water level in Vermilion Bay also show great consistency with the high-water marks measured by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) during Hurricane Rita (modeled 3.6 m, compared to observed 3–4 m) (FEMA, 2006).
Comparisons of significant wave heights, mean wave periods and mean wave direction over time at selected stations. The selected stations for Fig. 2 include three NOAA buoy stations and one WIS stations (See Fig. 1A), demonstrating that the modeled results capture both the trends and the magnitudes of the observed wave parameters DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.125.f2
Comparisons of water levels and storm surges over time at four coastal stations. The locations of stations for Fig. 3 are shown in Fig. 1A, indicating that the model successfully simulates the water level rise during a hurricane event. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.125.f3
Because of data scarceness, the Delft3D MOR module could not be validated with field observations during Hurricane Rita. Instead, the parameter sets were derived from the study of Khadka (2013), in which these parameters have been validated against successive mapping of the WLD growth from 1998 to 2012 where the morphological evolution produced by the model compares favorably with the mapping data. Although no direct validation is available, the model results demonstrated a pattern of deposition in wetlands that are located inland along the coast of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama with a depositional layer thickness of less than 0.1 m (Figure 4A), which is within the same order with former observations (Horton et al., 2009; Williams, 2009). The simulated deposits located parallel to the Gulf shoreline with a thickness of ~0.2 to 0.3 m, is consistent with field observation from Guidroz et al. (2006), who stated that on average 0.25 m of deposits were observed parallel to the Gulf coast where the maximum flow depth was about 4 m. The consistency of modeled results with field observations ensured us that the model results are reliable to represent the general pattern of morphological changes along the Gulf coast during hurricane events.
Morphological changes of the continental shelf and coastal wetlands due to Hurricane Rita. A) Showed the morphological changes after the storm event (floodwater has receded from coastal areas), and B) Showed the morphological changes during the storm event (after surge water flooded the coastal area and before the surge water receded from coastal areas). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.125.f4
3.6. Uncertainty analysis
Applications of numerical models for making quantitatively accurate predictions for scientific or practical purposes are highly dependent on model uncertainty (Murray et al., 2016). Uncertainty of morphodynamical modeling can be caused by a lack of highly accurate input parameters, and the fact that the complicated interactions between hydrodynamics and morphological changes are not well understood. Delft3D software packages have been widely used in both scientific and engineering practices to provide quantitatively accurate predictions. However, the evaluation of its model uncertainty is extremely difficult as simulations are usually computational expensive (Brière et al., 2010; Plüβ and Kösters, 2014; Scheel et al., 2014). In this study, we initiated a quantitative uncertainty analysis of the morphology component of Delft3D during Hurricane Rita using the Dakota software (Adams et al., 2014). The parameters that were used for the uncertainty analysis include observational parameters (sand and silt grain size) and model parameters (critical shear stress for clay erosion and sedimentation) which are of significant importance to estimate morphological changes (WL|Deltares Hydraulics, 2011; Sanford and Maa, 2001; Grabowski et al., 2011). For instance, sediment grain sizes are critical to determine the transport patterns of non-cohesive sediment, while the critical shear stress predominantly determines the dynamics of cohesive sediment. As observations of these input parameters are not always available, most numerical studies use calibration or parameter estimation to determine these values, which vary significantly for different environments and models (Sahin et al., 2012; Xu et al., 2014; Wright, 1997). We applied a range of grain sizes with the largest possible range for two reasons. First, hurricanes are extreme powerful events which could suspend all classes of available sediments. Second, the offshore sediment in the bed layers covers a wide range of sand and silt which could be transported to the study area. The critical shear stresses for erosion and deposition were designed based on studies of Hanegan (2011) and Khadka (2013), which have been validated in studying the long-term evolution of the WLD using Delft3D (Table 3). Given the complexity of the Delft3D model and its high computational demand, we applied 3 samples for each of these parameters using the Latin hypercube sampling method (Stein, 1987), leading to 81 simulations in total. Comparing to the commonly used Monte Carlo sampling method which generates random values within the user defined range, requiring a large number of sampling points to produce accurate results; the Latin hypercube sampling method generates a near-random sample of parameter values from a multidimensional distribution, which could significantly reduce the number of sampling points. Thus, the number of simulations needed for evaluating model uncertainty analysis could be significantly reduced.
Numerical model settings of the experiments of this study. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.125.t2
Fluvial process (river)
Aboveground Vegetation
Base Side Y Y N
Wave-excluded (EX1) Side Y N N
Fluvial-excluded (EX2) Side N Y N
Vegetation-included (EX3) Side Y Y Y
Direct landfall (EX4) Direct Y Y N
N: Process excluded; Y: process included.
Uncertainties of major input parameters. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.125.t3
Sand Grain size (m)
Silt Grain size (m)
Clay CrSED (N/m2)
Clay CrERO (N/m2)
Uncertainty (62.5–200) × 10–6 (8–62.5) × 10–6 0.05–0.1 0.5–1
References (Wellner et al., 2005) (Pankow et al., 1993) (Hanegan, 2011; Khadka (2013) (Hanegan, 2011; Khadka (2013)
4. Results and discussion
4.1. Hydrodynamic and morphological changes caused by Hurricane Rita
Model results demonstrated that Rita formed a pressure deficit in the hurricane eye, leading to a water level rise of 1.0 m in the deep ocean. As the hurricane system approached shallow water, the reduction in water depth limited the strong vertical momentum diffusion, leading to a significant increase in storm surge because the conservation of the potential vorticity of the mound requires development of marked divergence (Jelesnianski, 1993). Combined with local bathymetric reflections and onshore-directed winds, surge height raised to 4–5 m when Rita made landfall (Figure 5A), which is consistent with findings of Williams (2009). At the same time, wave height decreased when Hurricane Rita approached the shallow continental shelf areas. The significant wave height, which was as high as 15 m in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico, decreased to ~6 m at the time Hurricane Rita made landfall in Texas (Figure 5B).
Spatial distribution of water level (left) and significant wave height (right) when Rita made landfall. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.125.f5
Hurricane Rita caused widely spread erosion when the system approached the Gulf coast (Figure 4B). Most erosion was observed on the right side of the hurricane track because the right side of hurricanes experiences the maximum winds and therefore the most significant morphological changes (Coch, 1994; Weisberg and Zheng, 2006). The continental shelf line with water depth between 10 m to 50 m was eroded by less than 0.2 m, while the shallow bay area was severely eroded by more than 0.4 m. Areas located on the left side of hurricane track experienced much less erosion comparing to the areas located on the right side, and the erosional layer thickness was less than 0.2 m for the coastal area. Deposition was rare and mostly occurred in wetlands that located on the inland side of the erosional area (Figure 4B). The recession of flood water towards offshore significantly changed the morphological pattern by depositing a lot of sediment along the Gulf coast (Figure 4A). A large of offshore area which was eroded when the hurricane system approached the coast converted to be depositional, e.g., the area close to the hurricane track. Deposition occurred in the inland wetlands, and a deposition zone developed on the offshore side of the barrier islands (Figure 4A), which was consistent with field observations (Horton et al., 2009; Williams, 2009; Guidroz et al., 2006). The total amount of erosion in the continental shelf area decreased relative to the flooding stage, demonstrating that some of the sediment that was moved from the continental shelf by surge water was carried back to the continental shelf during surge water recession.
Hurricane Rita drastically disturbed the hydrodynamic field in the WLD area. Before the hurricane eye approached the coastal zone, the anti-clockwise wind structure produced offshore-directed winds north of the hurricane system, leading to offshore-directed water flow. The offshore flow caused a significant drop of the water level in the WLD area (–2.0 m, Figure 6A). Water then flowed back towards the coastal area when wind direction changed southeast during the storm surge, resulting in a water level rise of 2.5 m (Figure 6B). The water level variations during Hurricane Rita were 4–5 times higher than the typical tidal range (+/– 0.5 m, Figure 6C), and flow velocities reached 2.4 m s–1, which was 5 times higher than that under non-storm conditions (0.5 m s–1). Hurricane Rita produced a maximum significant wave height of 1.4 m (Figure 6D), which was approximately 3 times higher than wave heights under normal conditions (0.5 m from Wright (1977), Figure 6E). Waves were higher in the river channels than on the submerged islands because wave energy dissipated in shallow areas (Figure 6D). Floodwaters spread beyond the channel banks and overtopped the islands and coastal wetlands. The flow velocities were higher on the island tops than within the channels during floodwater propagation because the floodwater propagating northward (upstream) counteracted with the fluvial discharge flowing southward (downstream) within the channels. The WLD was then dominated by a uniform flow towards the northwest, following the wind field (Figure 6B and 7A).
Simulated water levels, current directions, and significant wave heights for the WLD. A) Water level drops before storm surge; B) Water level rises at peak storm surge; C) Water level rises during high tides; D) Significant wave height distribution at peak storm surge; E) Significant wave height distribution during high tides. Water level drops significantly before the hurricane system approaches the deltaic area due to dominated offshore winds during that period. Water level then rises when the hurricane pushes water onto the delta. The water level rise caused by Hurricane Rita is ~5 times higher than that under normal conditions (dominated by tides). The significant wave height caused by Hurricane Rita is ~3 times higher than that under normal conditions. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.125.f6
The residual current was calculated, which flowed towards the northwest in most of the WLD area following the wind direction (Figures 7A and 8A), which was higher on the islands and lower in the channels. The highest residual current occurred on the eastern banks of the islands due to a significant decrease in water depth when floodwater moved northwest from the channels towards the islands (Figure 8A). Accordingly, erosion occurred on the islands and deposition occurred generally in the channels. Most significant erosion took place on the eastern banks of the islands, while highest accretion happened in the channels located on the west of the islands due to significant decrease in shear stress when floodwater moved northwest from the islands to the channels (Figure 9A). Similar patterns between residual currents and morphological changes revealed that residual currents are one of the major forces controlling sediment transport, leading to the pattern of erosion on islands and deposition in channels. The sediment budget was estimated for the WLD area (see Figure 1C), which indicated that Hurricane Rita produced a net erosion of 500,000 m3 in 100 hours (1600 UTC, September 21st to 1900 UTC, September 25th).
Time series of wind vectors in the center of the WLD. Time series for Fig. 7 was from 0000 UTC September 21st to 0100 UTC, September 25th, 2005. A) base case; B) Direct landfall scenario (EX4). The lengths of the lines show the magnitude of the wind speed. The base case is dominated by onshore-directed wind, and direct-track scenario (EX4) is dominated by offshore-dominated winds. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.125.f7
Simulated residual current distributions for the WLD. A): base case; B) Wave-excluded (EX1); C) Fluvial-excluded (EX2); D) Vegetation-included (EX3); E) Direct landfall (EX4), which applies a directly-landfalling hurricane track (See also Table 2). Waves and fluvial input have less impact on residual currents, but aboveground vegetation significantly decreases the high residual currents on subaerial part of the delta, and the high currents concentrate on the southwest side of the delta. Hurricane tracks significantly change the distribution pattern of residual currents on the WLD. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.125.f8
Simulated morphological changes of the WLD after hurricanes. A) base case; B) Wave-excluded scenario (EX1); C) Fluvial-excluded scenario (EX2); D) Vegetation-included scenario (EX3); E) Direct landfall scenario (EX4), which applies a directly-landfalling hurricane track (See also Table 2). The deltaic islands are dominated by erosion, and channels are dominated by deposition. Waves are the most critical factor contributing to net erosion on the WLD. The Fluvial inflow has a minor influence on deltaic morphological changes during Hurricane Rita. Aboveground vegetation dramatically decreases the erosion on vegetated areas. The shifts in wind patterns significantly change the pattern in morphological changes when a different hurricane track is applied. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.125.f9
4.2. Numerical experiments: influence of factors on morphological changes
4.2.1. Waves
Wave-induced bottom shear stress plays a significant role in sediment resuspension and transport during hurricanes (Stone et al., 1995; Wang et al., 2006). The impact of waves on morphological changes of the WLD during Hurricane Rita was evaluated by deactivating the wave module through numerical experiment (wave-excluded scenario: EX1). Results indicated that waves have a minor influence on the residual current pattern (Figure 8A, 8B), but significantly increase the amount of erosion (Figure 10A). When the wave module was deactivated, the areas where the erosional thickness of bed layer was larger than 0.2 m on islands decreased significantly and the maximum erosion reduced from 0.3 m to 0.2 m, compared to the base case (Figure 9A, 9B). The reduction of sediment erosion led to a lower suspended sediment concentration in the water column, and consequently deceased the amount of accretion in the channels when water flowed northwest from the islands towards the channels. The total amount of erosion in the WLD area decreased by 48%, and the total amount of deposition decreased by 8%. Consequently, the sediment balance in the WLD area changed from a net erosional system of 500,000 m3 to a net depositional system of 100,000 m3 (Table 4). The results from the numerical experiment demonstrated that waves played a dominant role in determining the sediment budget of WLD during Hurricane Rita.
Differences in simulated sedimentation and erosion patterns. A) differences between (Wave-excluded scenario (EX1) – base case), showing that currents induced by winds and waves are very critical factors contributing to erosion on deltaic islands and erosion in channels; B) (Fluvial-excluded scenario (EX2) – base case), showing that fluvial input slightly decreases sediment deposition in channels and enhances the erosion on islands; C) (Vegetation-included scenario (EX4) – base case), showing aboveground vegetation dramatically decreases both the erosion on vegetated areas and the deposition in channels. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.125.f10
Numerically simulation results of net sediment balance for the Wax Lake Delta. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.125.t4
Total change (m3)
Total erosion (m3)
Total accretion (m3)
Hurricane Rita Base Case –500,000 –1,400,000 900,000
Wave-excluded (EX1)a 100,000 –700,000 800,000
Fluvial-excluded (EX2)a –500,000 –1,400,000 900,000
Vegetation-included (EX3)a –300,000 –700,000 400,000
Direct landfall (EX4)a –200,000 –700,000 500,000
aSee Table 2 for a schematic overview of the scenarios.
4.2.2. Fluvial force
Similar as waves, the influence of fluvial forces on delta morphology during Hurricane Rita was evaluated through numerical experiment (fluvial-excluded scenario: EX2). Fluvial force has a minor influence on the hydrodynamics and the sediment transport pattern during Hurricane Rita, although in general the WLD is a river-dominated system. The only significant difference between the fluvial-excluded scenario (EX2) and the base case was the direction of residual current in the channels, which changed from downstream to upstream when fluvial input was not included (Figure 8A, 8C). The fluvial-excluded scenario (EX2) slightly increased deposition in the channels and erosion on the islands compared to the base case (Figure 10B), with total amounts of erosion and deposition increasing by 2% and 1%, respectively. The influence of freshwater flow is therefore mainly concentrated in the channels, and its influence on morphological changes of the WLD is minor under hurricane conditions. It is therefore reasonable to conclude that fluvial forces play a minor role on determining the morphological changes of the deltaic systems during hurricane conditions, even for a fluvial-dominated deltaic system.
4.2.3. Aboveground vegetation
Temmerman et al. (2005) state that aboveground vegetation increases the flow resistance of wetland areas, leading to flow amplification and erosion over unvegetated areas and flow reduction and deposition over vegetated areas. Aboveground vegetation also effectively attenuates waves, reduces surge height and decreases the area that is inundated (Augustin et al., 2009; Wamsley et al., 2010; Pinsky et al., 2013; Möller et al., 2014; Narayan et al., 2016). It has been observed that both deposition and erosion occur due to vegetation during hurricane events (Yang et al., 2003; Fan et al., 2006; Howes et al., 2010). A numerical experiment (EX3) was set up to study the mechanism how vegetation influences the flow and sediment transport patterns during hurricanes by uniformly distributing of plants on the high-elevated islands of the WLD and surrounding wetlands (water depth < 0.2 m) (vegetation-included scenario: EX3). Comparing to the base case, the vegetation-included scenario (EX3) produced a similar pattern of high surges in the northwestern part of the WLD, caused by the wind field and elevated coastal wetlands in the north of the WLD (11A, 11B). However, the expansion of inundation area was reduced by vegetation, leading to an increased high surge area on the WLD, compared to the base case at the same time step (Figure 11A, 11B). High velocities were mostly restricted to deeper waters in the southwest of the islands (Figure 11B). The existence of vegetation in the model did not change the distribution pattern of wave heights, but decreased the magnitude of significant wave height by 0.1 m on the islands and increased its magnitude by a maximum of 0.23 m in the channels (Figure 11C) during the flood wave propagation. Simulations revealed that vegetation also significantly decreased the magnitude of residual current on islands from 0.3–0.6 m s–1 to less than 0.1 m s–1 on the eastern banks, but increased the magnitude of residual current in channels by a maximum of 0.16 m s–1 (Figure 8A, 8E). The changes in both waves and residual current pattern were in favor of decreasing sediment erosion on islands and deposition in channels. When vegetation was included in the model, the maximum erosion on the eastern side of islands decreased from 0.3 m to 0.1 m, and channel accretion decreased from 0.1–0.2 m to less than 0.05m (Figure 9A, 9E). As simulations results demonstrated, the total amount of sediment that was eroded and deposited in the WLD area decreased by 50% and 51%, respectively (Table 4 and Figure 10A, 10C). Vegetation can significantly attenuate morphological changes on wetlands during hurricane events.
Tide-filtered storm surge and velocity distribution on the WLD. A) base case; and B) vegetation-included scenario (EX3), showing the vegetation reduces the progragation of flood waters, leading to a high water level on the high-elevated wetlands at the northwest of the WLD. C) shows the differences in significant wave heights between the base case and vegetation-included scenario (EX3), demonstrating that vegetation decreases wave heights on islands. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.125.f11
4.2.4. Hurricane track
Figure 4A demonstrates that coastal areas located on the right side of Hurricane Rita experience stronger hydrodynamics and more significant sediment transport, comparing to areas located on the left side of a hurricane. To study detailed morphological changes of the WLD correlated to the location of hurricane landfall, the direct landfall scenario (EX4) in which hurricane made landfall on the WLD was set up to compare with results from the original settings of Hurricane Rita. The magnitude of winds was kept similar for the base case and the direct landfall scenario (EX4), with a maximum speed of 30 m s–1 on the WLD area. However, the major wind direction during the storm surge changed significantly from southeast to northwest (Figure 7A, 7B), leading to dramatic differences in flow pattern and consequently morphological changes. Compare to the base case, the direct landfall scenario (EX4) generated smaller storm surges both on the islands (1.1 m vs. 2.0 m) and in the channels (0.3 m vs. 1.6 m) because the study area was dominated by strong offshore-directed winds, leading to less water and sediment transport towards the inland (Figures 7B, 8F and 9F). Changes in the wind and flow fields resulted in weaker residual currents in the direct landfall scenario (EX4) (0.1–0.4 m s–1 vs. 0.3–0.6 m s–1 in the base case), which directed towards the southeast with high values occurring on the western banks of the islands. Sediment transport was significantly weakened too, for both erosion and deposition. Erosion occurred on the western side of the delta with a maximum value of 0.05 m (vs. 0.3 m for the base case) and deposition occurred occasionally on the eastern side of the islands (maximum 0.1 m vs. more than 0.2 m for the base case) (Figures 7B, 9A and 9F). The total amount of sediment erosion and deposition was reduced to 50% and 47% of the base case, respectively. This analysis demonstrates the importance of the trajectory of hurricane tracks on morphological changes of coastal wetlands. From morphology point of view, a hurricane that has its track 120 km on the west side of WLD caused more sediment erosion to the deltaic system comparing to a hurricane with the same setting that made direct landfall on the WLD.
4.3. Uncertainty analysis of the modeled morphological changes
Using the Dakota software, the uncertainties of sediment properties (grain size and critical shear stress) result in the modeled morphological changes to vary from 200,000 to 3,800,000 m3 within 100 hours in the study area (1600 UTC, September 21th 370 to 1900 UTC, September 25th). Simulation results indicate that critical shear stress for clay erosion was the predominant factor determining the net sediment balance in the study area. Variations of critical shear stress from 0.50 N m–1 to 1 N m–1 led to a model uncertainty of 332,000 m3 (standard deviation), with the mean value of 889,000 m3. The areas having the most significant morphological changes also had the highest uncertainty (Figures 9A and 12A) for the reason that variations in critical shear stress greatly influenced areas that encountered strong flow and wave shear stress. The uncertainty of the model over time was also explored by computing model uncertainty over time during Hurricane Rita, demonstrating that the model uncertainty varied significantly with changes in hydrodynamics. The uncertainty of the model was much higher under intensive coastal hydrodynamics, such as hurricanes, compared to calm weather periods (Figure 7A (see wind speeds) and Figure 12B (see the standard deviation)). The intensity of storm event plays a significant role in determining the model uncertainty, as shown through the significant rise when surge water started to flood the WLD area. On the other hand, the parameters grain size (silt) and critical shear stress for deposition were more important during calm weather periods, rather than during the intensive events. Our study demonstrates that uncertainties in input parameters significantly influence model results, and need to be evaluated for specific environmental settings. The spatial and temporal variations of model uncertainty require careful explanations of modeled results.
Simulated spatial uncertainty (A) and temporal uncertainty (B) for the WLD during Hurricane Rita. Fig. 12 shows that the areas with large morphological changes also have large uncertainty (Figures. 3, 8), and that model uncertainty is highly correlated to the magnitude of an event. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.125.f12
4.4. Morphological responses of deltas to hurricane events
The morphological responses of deltas to hurricanes vary depending on delta’s geometric properties, receiving basin properties and hurricane properties (Fan et al., 2006; Turner et al., 2006; Barras, 2009; Tweel and Turner, 2012; Brownell, 2013). The WLD, which is predominantly controlled by fluvial forces, and located in a shallow bay area protected by barrier islands, may response differently to hurricanes compared with other river-dominated deltas. For example, the Mississippi River Delta experiences wide spread land loss during hurricanes (Barras, 2009), attributed to the strong waves and surges caused by hurricanes, and the deep receiving basin that favors wave progragation. Due to high percentage of organic matter compared to the WLD system, the mature vegetation and solid soil layer of the Mississippi River Delta, may reduce the sediment movement during hurricane events. The large magnitude of deltaic area of the Mississippi River Delta could cause some unique features of morphological changes compared with the WLD during hurricanes. For instance, there could be a transition pattern from coast to inland wetlands, and the spatial varied vegetation types may cause different spatial morphological responses to hurricane events (Howes et al., 2010); while the morphological changes pattern would be more uniform on a small delta, such as the WLD. Most former studies are based on observed morphological changes of deltas due to hurricanes (Turner et al., 2006; Barras, 2009; Tweel and Turner, 2012), but the mechanism on how hurricanes cause these changes has been difficult to deduce.
The study of the WLD offers significant insights to explain the mechanism how river-dominated deltas respond to hurricanes. Our model results indicate that the area located on the right side of hurricane track experiences more significant morphological changes due to strong wind and wave forces, and barrier islands are subjected to erosion in support of previous observations (Coch, 1994; Weisberg and Zheng, 2006; Horton et al., 2009; Williams, 2009; Guidroz et al., 2006). Our results demonstrate the roles of waves, fluvial discharge, and vegetation on determining morphological changes of the WLD during Hurricane Rita, and provide important insights on how these factors would influence the delta’s morphology during hurricane events.
5. Conclusions
The numerical simulation of the WLD during Hurricane Rita (2005) demonstrated that Hurricane Rita significantly influence the hydrodynamics and cause tremendous morphological changes on coastal wetlands in a relative short period. Hurricane Rita that made landfall 120 km west of the WLD as a Category 3 hurricane induced widely distributed erosion on the continental shelf and coastal areas when the hurricane system passed to proceed onshore. The areas located on the right side of hurricane track experienced more significant erosion than the areas located on the left side of hurricane track due to the wind-wave and surge fields. The recession of storm water from inland to offshore caused deposition in the inland wetlands and a band of deposition on the offshore side of barrier islands. As to the WLD area, the maximum storm surges was 2.5 m and maximum significant wave heights was 1.4 m on the delta, which was 3 and 5 times higher than that under normal conditions, respectively. Due to the dominant southeastern winds, the simulated residual currents directed towards the northwest, with maximum values occurring on the eastern banks of the islands (0.3–0.6 m s–1). Combined with higher wave shear stresses in shallow areas, high erosion occurred on the eastern banks of the islands (0.3 m), accompanied by high deposition in the channels located on the west of these islands (0.1–0.2 m). This was caused by a significant decrease in shear stress moving from the islands to the channels during the northwestern flow. In total, 500,000 m3 of sediment was removed from the WLD area during Hurricane Rita (base case).
Local topography and the flow field determined the main patterns of residual current and sediment transport, while waves significantly intensified erosion in the shallow areas, increasing the amount of erosion by 48%. Dense vegetation decreased the flow propagation as well as flow velocities on the island tops, leading to flow amplification in the channels. Both erosion on the islands and deposition in the channels was reduced by half when vegetation was included in the simulation. Fluvial force, although determining the local flow and morphology during normal condition, did not significantly change the sediment transport pattern during hurricane condition. The hurricane that made direct landfall on the WLD induced a smaller storm surge and less sediment erosion compared to Hurricane Rita that made landfall 120 km west of the WLD. The magnitude of residual currents decreased from 0.3–0.6 m s–1 to 0.1–0.3 m s–1 on the islands, and the amount of sediment that was eroded from the WLD area reduced to 56% of the original value. The influences of waves, fluvial forces, vegetation and hurricane track on hydrodynamics and morphodynamics of the WLD, all based on the study of Hurricane Rita are summarized in Table 5.
Summary of waves, fluvial forces, vegetation and hurricane track on determining hydrodynamics and morphodynamics of the deltaic systems during hurricane events based on the study of Hurricane Rita on the WLD system. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.125.t5
Morphodynamics
Waves Cause wave-induced current; increase bottom shear stress Significantly increase the amount of erosion on wetlands
Fluvial forces Highly control flow dynamics in upstream channels; less influence on wetland areas No significant changes on sediment transport pattern on wetlands
Aboveground Vegetation Reduce inundation; increase drag and turbulence Reduce both erosion and deposition on wetlands; significantly attenuate morphological changes
Hurricane track Change wind field and local flow and wave dynamics More morphological changes on the right side of hurricane track comparing to the direct landfall area
Sediment grain sizes, critical shear stress for clay deposition and erosion were selected for model uncertainty analysis. The results indicated that among the selected sediment properties, critical shear stress for clay erosion is the major factor contributing to high model uncertainty for the WLD during Hurricane Rita simulation. Model uncertainty under dramatic changes in hydrodynamic condition (like a hurricane event) is larger than that under comparatively calm weather conditions. Model uncertainty varies spatially i.e. areas on the island boundaries that encounter the strongest currents have the largest uncertainty, and also temporarily as the hydrodynamic conditions change.
All data are provided in full in the results section of this paper.
We respectfully acknowledge Stephanie Higgins, Gregory Tucker, Nikki Lovenduski, Susan Anderson, for the kind assistance in editing the manuscript.
This work was supported by NSF grant 1135457.
Contributed to conception and design: FX, JPMS, AJK
Contributed to acquisition of data: FX, JPMS, JHA, EAM, AKK
Contributed to analysis and interpretation of data: FX, JPMS, AJK
Drafted and/or revised the article: FX, JPMS, AJK, JHA, EAM, AKK
Approved the submitted version for publication: FX, JPMS, AJK, JHA, EAM, AKK
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Reading: Tropospheric ozone assessment report: Global ozone metrics for climate change, human health,...
Special Collection: Tropospheric Ozone Assessment Report (TOAR): Global metrics for climate change, human health and crop/ecosystem research
Tropospheric ozone assessment report: Global ozone metrics for climate change, human health, and crop/ecosystem research
Allen S. Lefohn ,
A.S.L. & Associates, Helena. MT, US
Christopher S. Malley,
Stockholm Environment Institute, Environment Department, University of York, York; NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Penicuik; School of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, GB
Luther Smith,
Alion Science and Technology, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC, US
Benjamin Wells,
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, U.S. EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC, US
Milan Hazucha,
Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, US
Heather Simon,
Vaishali Naik,
NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ, US
Gina Mills,
NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Environment Centre Wales, Bangor, GB
Martin G. Schultz,
Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, DE
Elena Paoletti,
Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research Council, Florence, IT
Alessandra De Marco,
Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Rome, IT
Xiaobin Xu,
Key Laboratory for Atmospheric Chemistry, Institute of Atmospheric Composition, Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences, Beijing, CN
Li Zhang,
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, CN
Tao Wang,
Howard S. Neufeld,
Department of Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, US
Robert C. Musselman,
USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fort Collins, CO, US
David Tarasick,
Air Quality Research Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Downsview, ON, CA
Michael Brauer,
School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, CA
Zhaozhong Feng,
Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, CN
Haoye Tang,
Institute of Soil Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, CN
Kazuhiko Kobayashi,
Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, JP
Pierre Sicard,
ACRI-HE, 260 route du Pin Montard BP234, Sophia Antipolis, FR
Sverre Solberg,
Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), Kjeller, NO
Giacomo Gerosa
Dipartimento di Matematica e Fisica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Brescia, IT
Assessment of spatial and temporal variation in the impacts of ozone on human health, vegetation, and climate requires appropriate metrics. A key component of the Tropospheric Ozone Assessment Report (TOAR) is the consistent calculation of these metrics at thousands of monitoring sites globally. Investigating temporal trends in these metrics required that the same statistical methods be applied across these ozone monitoring sites. The nonparametric Mann-Kendall test (for significant trends) and the Theil-Sen estimator (for estimating the magnitude of trend) were selected to provide robust methods across all sites. This paper provides the scientific underpinnings necessary to better understand the implications of and rationale for selecting a specific TOAR metric for assessing spatial and temporal variation in ozone for a particular impact. The rationale and underlying research evidence that influence the derivation of specific metrics are given. The form of 25 metrics (4 for model-measurement comparison, 5 for characterization of ozone in the free troposphere, 11 for human health impacts, and 5 for vegetation impacts) are described. Finally, this study categorizes health and vegetation exposure metrics based on the extent to which they are determined only by the highest hourly ozone levels, or by a wider range of values. The magnitude of the metrics is influenced by both the distribution of hourly average ozone concentrations at a site location, and the extent to which a particular metric is determined by relatively low, moderate, and high hourly ozone levels. Hence, for the same ozone time series, changes in the distribution of ozone concentrations can result in different changes in the magnitude and direction of trends for different metrics. Thus, dissimilar conclusions about the effect of changes in the drivers of ozone variability (e.g., precursor emissions) on health and vegetation exposure can result from the selection of different metrics.
Knowledge Domain: Atmospheric Science
Keywords: tropospheric ozone, ground-level ozone, metrics, ozone distributions, shifting ozone concentrations, trends
How to Cite: Lefohn, A.S., Malley, C.S., Smith, L., Wells, B., Hazucha, M., Simon, H., Naik, V., Mills, G., Schultz, M.G., Paoletti, E., De Marco, A., Xu, X., Zhang, L., Wang, T., Neufeld, H.S., Musselman, R.C., Tarasick, D., Brauer, M., Feng, Z., Tang, H., Kobayashi, K., Sicard, P., Solberg, S. and Gerosa, G., 2018. Tropospheric ozone assessment report: Global ozone metrics for climate change, human health, and crop/ecosystem research. Elem Sci Anth, 6(1), p.28. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.279
Published on 06 Apr 2018
Accepted on 29 Jan 2018 Submitted on 17 Jul 2017
Domain Editor-in-Chief: Detlev Helmig; Institute of Alpine and Arctic Research, University of Colorado Boulder, US
Associate Editor: Alastair Lewis; National Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of York, UK
Tropospheric ozone is a pollutant that is detrimental to human health and crop and ecosystem productivity (REVIHAAP, 2013; US EPA, 2013; Monks et al., 2015; CLRTAP, 2017). Data from widespread observational networks, operational since the 1970s, provide hourly average ozone data from thousands of surface monitoring sites across the globe, and vertical information is available from ozonesondes, aircraft, and satellites (Schultz et al., 2017, hereinafter referred to as TOAR-Surface Ozone Data-base). The data from these networks continue to increase our understanding of ambient ozone levels and their possible impacts on human health, vegetation, and climate change. In addition, this information provides a better understanding about tropospheric ozone distributions, their variability, and long-term changes which are also simulated by global chemistry models (e.g., Fiore et al., 2009; Young et al., 2013). However, uncertainty remains in the spatio-temporal distributions in many regions due to insufficient monitoring (Sofen et al., 2016). Consequently, we rely on global chemistry models to fill gaps in these areas to improve our understanding of long-term changes in tropospheric ozone (Young et al., 2018, hereinafter referred to as TOAR-Model Performance).
Since 1990, anthropogenic ozone precursor emissions have decreased in North America and Europe, while increasing in Asia (Granier et al., 2011; Cooper et al., 2014; Zhang et al., 2016). The geographic shift in emissions provides an opportunity to (re)assess the following important questions:
Which regions of the world have the greatest human and plant exposure to ozone pollution?
Is ozone continuing to decline in nations with strong emission controls?
To what extent is ozone increasing in the developing world? and
How can the atmospheric sciences community facilitate access to ozone metrics necessary for quantifying ozone’s impact on climate, human health, and crop/ecosystem productivity?
To assist in answering these questions, the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry Project (IGAC) developed the Tropospheric Ozone Assessment Report (TOAR): Global metrics for climate change, human health and crop/ecosystem research (http://www.igacproject.org/activities/TOAR). Initiated in 2014, TOAR’s mission is to provide the research community with an up-to-date scientific assessment of tropospheric ozone’s global distribution and trends from the surface to the tropopause. TOAR’s primary goals are to: 1) produce the first global tropospheric ozone assessment report based on the peer-reviewed literature and new analyses, and to 2) generate easily accessible, documented data on current ozone exposure and dose metrics as well as trends in these same metrics at thousands of measurement sites around the world (urban and non-urban).
1.1. Factors affecting ozone variability
Past assessment of data has shown that over the last several decades, changes in the distribution of hourly ozone concentrations have resulted from (1) the implementation of mitigation strategies aimed at reducing ozone precursor emissions (Gégo et al., 2007; Oltmans et al., 2006, 2013; Kelly et al., 2010; Lefohn et al., 2010a; Wilson et al., 2012; Seguel et al., 2012; Li et al., 2013, 2014; Sicard et al., 2013; Akimoto et al., 2015; Guerreiro et al., 2014; Zhang et al., 2014; Simon et al., 2015; Vedrenne et al., 2015; Lefohn et al., 2017), (2) human activities, which have increased emissions of ozone precursors (Huang et al., 2013; Lee et al. 2014), and (3) changes in meteorology associated with inter-annual variability and possibly climate change, stratosphere-troposphere exchange, and long-range transport (see extensive reviews of Jacob and Winner 2009; Fiore et al., 2015; Monks et al., 2015). Hourly ozone distributions in different locations of the globe will continue to change as a result of further changes in ozone precursor emissions, from further increases in urbanization (Seto et al., 2012), and as a result of changes in climate (von Schneidemesser et al., 2015; Monks et al., 2015). Changes in distributions of ozone concentrations influence the magnitude of specific ozone metrics used to assess spatial and temporal variation in the quantity of ozone relevant for specific impacts (e.g., human health, vegetation, and climate change).
The implementation of emission controls in urban areas, regions, and/or countries worldwide has resulted in a geographically heterogeneous impact on surface ozone levels over Europe and the United States (Sicard et al., 2013; Cooper et al., 2014; Monks et al., 2015; Simon et al., 2015). This is due to the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of emissions changes that have occurred in the past several decades, and to the variability in ozone chemical formation regimes. Emissions of the two major ozone precursors, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), can have varying impacts on ozone depending on the local conditions. In NOx limited conditions, increases in NOx emissions lead to ozone increases while increases in VOC emissions may have limited impacts (Sillman, 1999). These conditions often occur in locations with lower NOx emission levels (i.e. locations that are rural or downwind of urban plumes and major point sources) and at times of high photochemical activity (i.e., hot sunny summer days) (Sillman, 1999; Murphy et al., 2007; Duncan et al., 2010; Simon et al., 2013). In VOC- or radical-limited conditions, increases in NOx emissions may lead to localized ozone decreases, while increases in VOC emissions result in ozone increases (Sillman, 1999). VOC-limited conditions tend to occur in areas with large NOx emissions (e.g., urban core areas and power plant plumes) and under conditions of lower photochemical activity (e.g., nighttime hours, cloudy days, wintertime days) (Jacob et al., 1995; Sillman, 1999; Murphy et al., 2007; Simon et al., 2013). The NOx-limited conditions are conducive to ozone formation and consequently are often associated with times and locations of high ozone (Sillman, 1999; Simon et al., 2013). Conversely, VOC-limited conditions are sometimes, though not always, associated with lower ozone levels (i.e., due to NOx titration near large NOx emissions and/or low photochemical activity in winter or at night). As a result, studies indicate that the large NOx emission reductions that have occurred in the past several decades in the European Union (EU) and US have led to a compression of the ozone distribution, where the high levels shift downward (Butler et al., 2011; Cooper et al., 2014; Cooper et al., 2012; Derwent et al., 2010; Hogrefe et al., 2011; Koumoutsaris and Bey, 2012; Lefohn et al., 2010a; Munir, 2013; Sather et al., 2012; Sicard et al., 2013; Sicard et al., 2016a; Simon et al., 2015; Tripathi et al., 2012; EEA., 2013, 2014a) and the low levels shift upward (Simon et al., 2015; Jenkin et al., 2008; Sicard et al., 2016a). Modeling studies also indicate that decreases in peak ozone are the direct result of large NOx and VOC emissions reductions on both continents (Tagaris et al., 2007; Gilliland et al., 2008; Fiore, 2009; Xing et al., 2015; Jonson et al., 2006; Vautard et al., 2006; Solberg et al., 2005; Derwent et al., 2010; US EPA, 2014a). There is also both modeling (Jonson et al., 2006; Hogrefe et al., 2011; Simon et al., 2013; Downey et al., 2015; Simon et al., 2016; US EPA, 2014a) and observational evidence (Simon et al., 2015; Jenkin et al., 2008; Sicard et al., 2016a) that reductions in the frequency of low levels (i.e., shifts of the lower levels upward) are associated with emissions reductions resulting in less ozone titration by NO.
In addition to changes in local and regional anthropogenic precursor emissions described above, trends in surface hourly ozone distributions can be influenced by other factors. First, ozone may be impacted by changes in meteorology induced by year-to-year variations in weather conditions and by long-term changes associated with climate change. Relationships have been demonstrated between observed surface ozone and individual meteorological variables, such as temperature, humidity, cloud cover, wind speed, surface radiation, boundary layer depth, and boundary layer ventilation and stagnation (Camalier et al., 2007; Oswald et al., 2015; also see extensive reviews of Jacob and Winner 2009; Kirtman et al., 2013; Fiore et al., 2015). Modeling studies also indicate that future climate change may lead to both (1) increases in surface ozone, especially in polluted areas (Kirtman et al., 2013; Fiore et al., 2015), and (2) potentially some decreases in surface ozone levels through enhanced boundary layer ventilation (Trail et al., 2014). Such influences could impose either a climate penalty – an increase in surface ozone in the absence of changes in anthropogenic precursor emissions (Wu et al., 2008) or a climate benefit – a reduction in surface ozone (Trail et al., 2014). In addition, modeling studies suggest that climate-driven changes in stratosphere-troposphere exchange could influence surface ozone at a particular location (e.g., Zeng and Pyle, 2003; Hegglin and Shepherd., 2009). Second, changes in natural ozone precursors and/or their sources (e.g., wetland methane, biogenic VOCs, soil and lightning NOx, and wildfires) either from inter-annual meteorological variability, climate change, or land-use change can also influence surface ozone (e.g., Yue et al., 2015; von Schneidemesser et al., 2015). These changes can either shift the entire distribution of hourly ozone (e.g., from methane increases) or can contribute to discrete extreme hourly ozone events (e.g., from wildfires). Third, ozone levels and trends may be impacted by changes in long-range transport. For example, at Mace Head, a site located on the west coast of Ireland, observations of monthly averaged ozone concentrations associated with air masses that had minimal influence from European emissions were noted to have increased significantly between 1987 and 2008, before leveling off and decreasing (Derwent et al., 2013). Similarly, studies have shown that there has been an increase of ozone transported from Asia to the Western US over those last two decades, which appears to have lessened in the past several years (Verstraeten et al., 2015; Lin et al., 2015; Parrish et al., 2017).
1.2. Ozone metrics in the context of TOAR
A key aspect of TOAR is to produce an integrated, global assessment of ozone by extending analyses previously undertaken only in specific regions. TOAR has compiled the world’s largest database of ozone observations from sites around the world, and therefore facilitates the comparison of monitoring data on local, regional, national, and international scales. However, as indicated above, there are still many parts of the world which remain undersampled. The database contains several datasets that have been collected for scientific purposes, and TOAR applies globally uniform analyses to measurement series across the world. Most of the metrics described in this paper are available as online service from the TOAR database (Schultz et al., 2017). In TOAR, specific units are used when describing ozone observations and levels of exposure. When referencing an ozone observation, which is measured from moist, ambient air, TOAR follows World Meteorological Organization guidelines (Galbally et al., 2013) and uses the mole fraction of ozone in air, expressed in SI units of nmol mol–1. Ozone metrics (e.g., annual 4th highest 8-h daily maximum average ozone value) have typically been developed using the mixing ratio unit of parts per million (ppm) or parts per billion (ppb) which, in the case of ozone, refers to the number of ozone molecules per million or billion moist, ambient air molecules in a fixed volume. In reference to units of nmol mol–1 and ppb, Galbally et al. (2013) states: “For all practical purposes the two quantities can be used interchangeably and without distinction”. To maintain consistency with the ozone human health and vegetation research community, TOAR uses units of ppb or ppm (or ppb-hrs or ppb h for cumulative indices) when discussing ozone in terms of an exposure metric. Although the usage of the word “concentration” without specifying atmospheric conditions when referring to mole fraction (nmol mol–1) and mixing ratios (ppb) is technically incorrect, the vast amount of literature on ozone health and vegetation effects uses the conventional term “concentration” when referring to an ozone level. This common usage does not distinguish between mixing ratio metrics or true concentrations metrics such as μg m–3. To enhance the link to the health and vegetation effects literature and national and international policy, as well as to facilitate the understanding of this paper by health and vegetation effects scientists, the word “concentration” is used when appropriate. Here, we define ‘metrics’ as indices derived from hourly (or higher time resolution) ozone measurements and estimates, which are identified later in the paper to be relevant for assessment of the impacts of ozone on human health, vegetation, model-comparison, or characterization of ozone in the free troposphere. Metrics are calculated by averaging or aggregating ozone data over relevant time periods or as expressed as statistical descriptions of the ozone distribution (see Section 2.3).
The aim of this paper is to provide the necessary scientific background to understand the relevance of and implications for selecting a particular ozone metric to assess spatial and temporal variation in ozone relevant for a particular impact. To achieve this, prior to discussion of the 25 TOAR metrics themselves (4 for model-measurement comparison, 5 for characterization of ozone in the free troposphere, 11 for human health impacts, and 5 for vegetation impacts) in Section 2.3, the basic scientific information (Sections 2.1 and 2.2) underpinning of these metrics is provided. Specifically, we first discuss for human health and vegetation effects the concept of exposure and dose. After introducing these concepts, we describe the scientific evidence, based on controlled experimental studies, empirical observations, and epidemiological research, which provide the background on why specific ranges of ozone levels are associated with individual metrics and why at times the metrics behave differently under changing environmental conditions. In the TOAR effects papers (Fleming et al., 2018 (hereinafter referred to as TOAR-Health); Mills et al., 2017 (hereinafter referred to as TOAR-Vegetation)), only exposure metrics are applied to characterize present-day ozone observations and trends over time. Data for dose metrics were not available to use by TOAR. Metrics are also specifically defined that can be used to evaluate the ability of global models to reproduce observed patterns of ozone spatio-temporal variability.
Varying scientific rationales exist concerning which exposure and dose metrics are most helpful for assessing human health and vegetation effects (e.g., US EPA, 2013, 2014b; REVIHAAP, 2013; CLRTAP, 2017). As a result, in this paper, all exposure and dose metrics are discussed in an equivalent fashion with appropriate clarifications. A suite of metrics needed to evaluate global model results is also described. While we summarize model-measurement comparison metrics in this paper, more details are provided on different approaches for evaluating the models in TOAR-Model Performance.
Through the TOAR data portal (http://toar-data.fz-juelich.de), these ozone metrics are freely accessible for research on the global-scale impact of ozone on climate, human health, and crop/ecosystem productivity. The assessment report is organized as a special issue of Elementa (this issue). It is important to note that while the specific ozone-related metrics discussed in this paper relate to TOAR, there exist other metrics used for research and regulatory purposes. Some of these metrics relate to ozone radiative forcing, ozone production efficiency, and “design values” associated with the US EPA’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
As a part of the TOAR program, an important consideration is the selection of appropriate statistical tests that can be consistently applied across thousands of measurement sites to quantify changes in distributions and metrics. In Section 3, we discuss some of the statistical approaches available for characterizing trends, as well as the key assumptions associated with these approaches. The rationale by TOAR for selecting the nonparametric Mann-Kendall (M-K) test to identify significant trends and the Theil-Sen (T-S) estimator for estimating the magnitude of the trend is provided.
As described above, controlled experimental studies, empirical observations, and epidemiological research provide the underpinnings that determine the specific ranges of ozone levels associated with the individual metrics. In Section 4, we discuss the response of the various metrics to changes in the distribution of hourly average concentrations, which influence the magnitude of the metric, and the magnitude and direction of change in that part of the distribution. Trends in exposure metrics may change in the same direction as emissions change or may not (Karlsson et al., 2007, 2017; EEA, 2009; Tripathi et al., 2012; Li et al., 2014; Paoletti et al., 2014; Simpson et al., 2014; Malley et al, 2015; Sicard et al., 2016a; Lefohn et al., 2017). The extent to which a human health ozone exposure metric is influenced by low, moderate, or high ozone levels determines whether the metric has decreased, increased, or not changed. A common change in ozone concentration distribution can result in dissimilar trends in health and vegetation metrics because they may differentially emphasize low, moderate, or high ozone levels. It is in fact not uncommon for one metric to show a positive, statistically significant trend, while another shows a negative trend, also significant, for the same ozone time series.
Based on the metrics selected, the results in Section 4 provide a knowledge base from which it is possible to place into perspective the trend results described in TOAR-Health, TOAR-Vegetation, and Gaudel et al. (2017) (hereinafter referred to as TOAR-Climate). Section 4 provides insight into the implications of using specific exposure metrics for assessing potential changes in ozone relevant for human health and vegetation resulting from, or potentially achievable from the implementation of emission control strategies. Distributions and trends are an important aspect of understanding the behavior of exposure metrics as changes occur in emissions, as well as other drivers. It was anticipated that the development of the software and methodology used for quantifying the relationship between changes in distributions of hourly average levels and changes in the magnitude and trend patterns for the various TOAR metrics would be a lengthy process. To maximize the effort, prior to the completion of the TOAR database, a case study was undertaken in which the relationship between changes in the hourly ozone level distributions and a subset (14) of human health and vegetation metrics included in the TOAR database were explored at sites in Europe, the US, and China. The results from the case study (Lefohn et al., 2017) are succinctly summarized in Section 4.1 to introduce the reader to the concepts used throughout Section 4. In Section 4.2, a comparison between trend patterns described in the case study and patterns observed in the metrics using the TOAR database provides evidence that the conclusions from Lefohn et al. (2017) are relevant to the larger set of TOAR metrics. Hence in Section 4, the aim in integrating the results from Lefohn et al. (2017) with expanded analyses using the TOAR database, is to further explore why metrics developed to quantify the same impact (e.g., human health acute effects) provide different estimates of spatial and temporal variation in ozone for a particular impact.
2. Exposure and dose metrics
Evidence from different studies on ozone impacts or policy considerations between regions has resulted in a suite of metrics derived from human health and vegetation experiments, as well as developed for model comparison. Data for calculating various metrics may originate from ground-based monitoring networks, and ozonesonde, aircraft, lidar, and remote sensing (including satellite) measurements using different sampling time scales. The official list of TOAR metrics is described at http://www.igacproject.org/activities/TOAR, and a comprehensive list of the statistics calculated in the TOAR database, including the official TOAR metrics, are described in TOAR-Surface Ozone Database.
The observed quantification of ozone exposure and dose metrics and its application in human health and vegetation assessments forms the basis for the establishment of legislated air quality standards around the world (SANS, 2011; Kamyotra et al., 2012; dos Santos et al., 2014; McGarity, 2015; Qiao et al., 2015; US Federal Register, 2015; CLRTAP, 2017), and has facilitated regional cooperation in characterizing the transboundary ozone impacts, especially between EU Member States (European Council Directive 2008/50/EC; de Leeuw and Ruyssenaars, 2011) and between the signatories of the UN Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (CLRTAP, 2017). These standards provide a legal basis for requiring emissions reductions in areas where human health and vegetation are at risk (AQEG, 2009; EEA, 2014b; Vedrenne et al., 2015; US Federal Register, 2015). The calculation of exposure and dose metrics from hourly averaged ozone measurements across a measurement network provides a consistent method to assess the relative severity of the potential impact to human health or vegetation (US EPA, 2017; Gauss et al., 2014; Guerreiro et al., 2014).
The information in this section provides the (1) definition of exposure and dose, (2) scientific evidence based on controlled experimental studies and empirical observations for focusing on specific ranges of ozone levels for developing exposure and dose metrics, and (3) description and rationale for each metric, including how changes in a specific metric are linked to changes in the ozone concentration distribution. It is important to note that the TOAR database focuses on exposure metrics and leaves the calculation and application of dose metrics to others. Additional information on metrics is provided in Supplemental Material.
2.1. Definitions of exposure and dose
For both humans and vegetation, exposure can be defined as the ozone level near the person/plant over time. In some cases, exposure can be defined more specifically by ozone concentration multiplied by time. Dose, on the other hand, refers to the amount of ozone inhaled or absorbed. The next two sections describe how exposure and dose are applied for human health and vegetation.
2.1.1. Human studies
Human health responses are influenced by ozone concentration, duration of exposure, the rate of change of ozone concentration over a period of exposure, frequency of exposures, level of exertion during exposure, health, age, sex, and other risk factors (US EPA, 2013). Lung function and airway inflammation variables are the most frequently used measures to assess the effects of ozone exposure. The development and intensity of typical subjective symptoms, such as cough, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and throat irritation depend on the level of ozone exposure. Human laboratory studies frequently use the product of ozone concentration, duration of exposure, and minute ventilation (the amount of air inhaled or exhaled in one minute) as determinants of effective dose (Silverman et al., 1976). These authors already recognized that “for a given effective dose, exposure to a high concentration for a short period had more effect than a longer exposure to a lower concentration” stating indirectly that peak concentrations induce greater decrements in spirometric lung function effects. Minute ventilation, a product of breathing frequency and tidal volume (amount of air inhaled or exhaled in a single breath), reflects the intensity of physical activity. However, other dose metrics (e.g., impact, local, etc.) have been used to express exposure burden on the individual. In general, the health effects response of individuals to ozone inhalation are also influenced by demographic, physiological, exposure, environmental, and socio-economic factors with exposure and physiological factors being the main determinants of the magnitude of exposure-induced health effects. All these factors contribute to considerable inter-individual variability in health response to ozone, which is measured by a variety of physiological tests assessing inflammatory, immune, and symptomatic effects, as well as functional responses primarily of the cardiopulmonary system. Depending on the combination of the above factors during exposure, the response will vary in intensity from minimal respiratory function changes to clinically significant pathophysiological responses of the cardiopulmonary system. Sequential exposures will lead to attenuation of response in many health variables (Folinsbee et al., 1980; Hazucha, 1993). Co-exposure with or a sequential exposure to other air pollutants may have additive, synergistic, potentiating, or antagonistic effects on the extent of physiologic response as compared to the effects of ozone alone (Linn et al., 1994; Hazucha et al., 1994). The findings of human laboratory studies that control most of the above-mentioned factors and determinants of health effects response serve as a database for development of population exposure models. Depending on the objectives of the studies, the human health response may be assessed in terms of exposure-response, concentration-response, or dose-response relationships.
Epidemiologic studies generally use ambient concentrations as surrogates for exposure, and the health outcomes of epidemiological studies are assessed on a population scale (REVIHAAP, 2013; US EPA, 2013). Frequently used short-term exposure metrics are 1-h daily maxima, 8-h daily maxima, and 24-h average concentrations (Katsouyanni et al., 2009; Heroux et al., 2015). For long-term studies, seasonal (e.g., April–September) and annual averages of the above metrics have been used (Jerrett et al., 2009; Turner et al., 2016). Both time-series and cohort studies have shown positive associations between exposure to ozone and respiratory health outcomes (REVIHAAP, 2013). However, the strength of association between various exposure metrics, dosimetry, and health response is influenced by the same factors as the acute short-term laboratory studies. In addition, multiple confounding factors, such as temporal and spatial variation in ozone concentration, diverse environmental conditions in various locations and microenvironments, and the prevalence of other risk factors for the health outcome under study may substantially modify the relationship between ozone exposure and the particular health outcome. These factors are in many cases controlled for in the epidemiological models used to derive such associations. The epidemiologic studies also incorporate lag days into their structure to assess potential health outcomes since specific health outcomes need a certain period of time to develop. Similar to short-term laboratory studies, exposure models may be useful in assessing the overall ozone burden and the severity of health outcomes in a population.
2.1.2. Vegetation
For assessing the potential for ozone to affect vegetation injury, growth and/or yield, exposure is defined as the integral of the instantaneous level over the period the vegetation is exposed to ozone (commonly expressed in unit of mol m–3 h or ppm-hrs) (Musselman et al., 2006). Examples of exposure indices are the W126 and AOT40 metrics (see Section 2.3.4). Although not necessarily considered exposure, seasonal average levels (e.g., 12-h daily average values averaged over a specified period) have also been referred to as exposure indices (US EPA, 2013). In contrast, the ozone dose is determined by first calculating the stomatal flux, which is a temporally dynamic measure of the rate of entry of ozone into the leaf (nmol m–2 s–1). Dose is the total amount of ozone that is absorbed into the leaf through the stomata, in units of nmol m–2, over a period of time and is calculated by integrating over time the instantaneous stomatal flux (Fowler and Cape, 1982; Mills et al., 2011b). The flux is accumulated over a species-specific phenological time window and the vegetation-damaging ozone flux is expressed as the Phytotoxic Ozone Dose (PODY), where Y represents a detoxification threshold below which it is assumed that any ozone molecule absorbed by the leaf will be detoxified (Mills et al., 2011b).
2.2. Controlled experimental and empirical evidence for focusing on specific ranges of ozone levels for developing exposure and dose metrics
The magnitude of an exposure or dose metric may be impacted by a combination of high, moderate, or low concentrations. In this section, we discuss the evidence for specific concentration ranges within the distribution that are important for human health and vegetation. The specific form of metrics used to assess human health, and vegetation effects vary between regions and countries. Studies which investigate human health or vegetation impacts can reach different conclusions on the nature of exposure- or dose-response relationships because of different biological endpoints and processes. As a result, the metrics used for assessing human health and vegetation impacts provide varying degrees of weighting on the absolute values of the hourly average ozone concentrations that are related to exposure and dose (see description of individual metrics in Section 2.3). For both human health and vegetation, in some cases, there have been attempts to identify concentrations, exposures, and doses, below which no effects are observed (WHO, 2006; de Leeuw and Ruyssenaars, 2011; US EPA, 2013; US Federal Register, 2015; CLRTAP, 2017). There is no consistent evidence of a human health population cutoff for ozone below which no effect is measurable. Other approaches have also been used, including the use of a concentration weighting scheme (e.g., sigmoidal weighting), for assessing potential cumulative vegetation and human health impacts (Lefohn and Runeckles, 1987; Lefohn et al., 1988, 2010b; McDonnell et al., 2010, 2012).
Clinical laboratory studies of healthy volunteers, as well as those with pulmonary disease exposed to a wide range of ozone concentrations under a variety of experimental conditions, overwhelmingly employed a square-wave (i.e., constant exposure) ozone concentration profile. The main reason was simplicity of maintaining the exposure chamber atmosphere. However, as the atmospheric data across different regions of the world unequivocally show, at most sites a dominant daily ozone concentration profile varies from hour to hour and is not constant. Relatively few human laboratory studies have compared the pulmonary function and other endpoints response between the square-wave and more realistic exposure profiles. All such studies have been performed in the US.
Controlled human exposure studies that explore induced decrements in lung function indicate that the higher ozone concentrations should carry greater weight than the moderate and lower concentrations (Hazucha and Lefohn, 2007; Lefohn et al., 2010b). Such studies vary the (1) intensity, duration and frequency of exercise from light to very heavy load on a treadmill or a bicycle ergometer to increased minute ventilation, (2) duration of exposures over 6.6-h and 8-h periods, and (3) application of varying hour-by-hour concentrations versus constant concentrations. In the 1980s and early 1990s, US EPA investigators published the initial studies on the effects of 6.6-h exposures on healthy humans (Folinsbee et al., 1988; Horstman et al., 1990). In 1992, the first 8-h exposure study of ozone on lung function comparing the results using a constant concentration and variable concentration profile that mimicked typical diurnal patterns existing under ambient conditions was published (Hazucha et al., 1992). Both the constant and the variable concentration regimes used the same effective dose although the variable regime included exposure to high hourly average ozone concentrations. Compared to the square-wave exposure profile, the hourly lung function decrements in pulmonary function of subjects exposed to the variable concentration regime were substantially greater one hour after the peak exposure, with the conclusion that the higher concentrations should be weighted more than the mid- and low-level values. Several later studies (Adams 2003, 2006a, 2006b) employing either variable (continually changing) or stepwise (increasing or decreasing from one hour to the next) exposure profiles confirmed the results reported by Hazucha et al. (1992). These studies showed that equivalent doses (varying versus constant exposures) produced different responses which depended on the applied hourly ozone concentration pattern.
In contrast to the controlled human exposure study results, which indicate health impacts (lung function decrements in healthy adults) associated with the higher ozone concentrations, epidemiological results appear to indicate that a wider range of hourly average concentrations are important for assessing effects of ozone on premature mortality and morbidity. Bell and Dominici (2008) were unable to identify an ozone concentration below which no effects were observed for the association between short-term ozone exposure and mortality across 98 US communities. However, there is inconsistent epidemiological evidence on whether all hourly average concentrations play an equally important role in assessing epidemiological human health risks for short-term ozone exposure. Stylianou and Nicolich (2009) reported that no association was evident with mortality for values varying between below 10 and below 45 ppb based on analyses conducted on data from 9 US cities. In addition, no association with mortality was observed below specific concentrations in several other epidemiological studies (e.g., Gryparis et al., 2004; Pattenden et al., 2010). In the most recent analysis of the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study-II cohort, a threshold model with a cutoff at 35 ppb marginally improved association between long-term (i.e., annual daily max 8-h) ozone and respiratory mortality. In its decision to change the human health US National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone from 75 ppb to 70 ppb, the US EPA expressed its uncertainty concerning the public health implications associated with changes in relatively low ambient ozone concentrations compared to the higher concentrations (US Federal Register, 2015). The US EPA, while concluding that reducing the highest ambient ozone concentrations would result in substantial improvements in public health, including reducing the risk of ozone-associated mortality, noted that important uncertainties existed in its epidemiology-based risk estimates (US EPA, 2013). These uncertainties were associated with the heterogeneity in effect estimates between locations, the potential for exposure measurement errors, and uncertainty in the interpretation of the shape of concentration-response functions at lower ozone levels (i.e., equivalent to below 20 ppb) (US EPA, 2013; US Federal Register, 2015).
As discussed for human health effects, similar variations in the relative importance of averaging times and high versus mid- and low-level values exist for vegetation metrics. High ozone levels are an important factor when examining exposure indices and plant injury (Heck et al., 1966; Stan and Schicker, 1982). Controlled fumigation experimental results provide some of the evidence for emphasizing the importance of the higher concentrations in comparison to the mid- and low-level values (e.g., US EPA, 1986, 1992, 1996, 2013; Musselman et al., 1983, 1986, 1994; Hogsett et al., 1985; Nussbaum et al., 1995; Yun and Laurence, 1999; Lee and Hogsett, 1999; Oksanen and Holopaninen, 2001; Köllner and Krause, 2003). Using data from controlled experimental studies, evidence exists that cumulative exposure metrics that weight the higher concentrations more than the mid- and low-level values improve the explanatory power over seasonal (i.e., long term) mean metrics in predicting vegetation yield or growth (Lee et al., 1987, 1988; Lefohn et al., 1988; Musselman et al., 1988; Tingey et al., 1989; US EPA, 1996, 2013). However, this is not always the case for some vegetation (e.g., Hayes et al., 2010). In reviewing the existing literature on vegetation effects based on (1) controlled vegetation effects experiments and (2) empirical observations, the US EPA (US EPA, 2013; US Federal Register, 2015) concluded that (1) ozone effects in plants are cumulative, (2) higher ozone concentrations appear to be more important than lower concentrations in eliciting a response, (3) plant sensitivity to ozone varies with time of day and plant developmental stage, and (4) quantifying exposure with indices that accumulate hourly ozone concentrations and preferentially weight the higher concentrations improves the explanatory power of exposure/response models for growth and yield, over using indices based on mean and peak exposure values.
As indicated above, the US EPA based its recommendation on both controlled vegetation effects experiments and empirical observations. A key empirical observation was a multi-year field study conducted at the San Bernardino National Forest in southern California. In the study, forest health improvements were noted because of substantial reductions of the higher hourly averaged ozone levels. The frequency of mid-level concentrations did not substantially change (Lee et al., 2003; Musselman et al., 2006). There was a slow increase in the number of “mid-range” levels from 1980 to 1986, which corresponded to the period following implementation of the US ozone air quality standard. Because of its evaluation, the US EPA (US EPA, 2013; US Federal Register, 2015) recommended exposure indices that (1) accumulate and (2) weight higher hourly average levels more than the “mid-level” values for protecting vegetation from ozone exposure. The US EPA indicated that these exposure indices offered the most appropriate approach for use in developing response functions and comparing studies of ozone effects on vegetation. As part of its rulemaking review process, the US EPA (US EPA, 2013; US Federal Register, 2015) evaluated the use of flux-based indices (described below) and concluded at the time that the approach was less viable than utilizing exposure metrics. The Agency indicated that further research was required to clarify the temporal pattern of detoxification capacity; detoxification did not necessarily follow the same temporal pattern as stomatal conductance (Heath et al., 2009).
Flux-based metrics have been developed in Europe to quantify the accumulation of damaging ozone taken up by vegetation through the leaf stomatal pores over a specified time during daylight hours (Emberson et al., 2000); 21 flux-based critical levels for different responses have been established (Mills et al., 2011b; CLRTAP, 2017). The magnitude of a flux-based metric is dependent not only on ozone concentration variation, but also on the variation in the meteorological and plant conditions (e.g. phenology, soil moisture, temperature, light) that determine the stomatal conductance, thereby controlling the amount of ozone uptake (CLRTAP, 2017). The metric includes the partial closing effect of higher levels of ozone on stomatal conductance (Wittig et al., 2007; Li et al., 2017; Hoshika et al., 2012, 2015) but does not as yet include sluggish stomatal responses, characterized by delays to fluctuating environmental stimuli after exposure to ozone, that have been found in some species (Paoletti and Grulke, 2010; Mills et al., 2016; Mc Laughlin et al., 2007a). Further research is needed about the impacts of stomatal sluggishness on ozone uptake. For specific conditions, such as drought (Karlsson et al., 2007; Gao et al., 2017), a flux-based metric may accumulate less ozone, even during periods with high hourly ozone levels because plant stomata are partly closed to conserve water.
Flux-based indices have been shown to better represent the spatial pattern of ozone effects on vegetation across Europe, as compared to the exposure-based AOT40 metric (Mills et al., 2011a). Studies have shown that in locations in northern Europe, flux-based metrics can accumulate more ozone during moderate exposures if plant and soil conditions are conducive to ozone uptake than during periods of higher levels that coincide with hot, dry conditions (Karlsson et al., 2007; Malley et al., 2015). Grantz (2014) showed that variation in ozone flux explained a substantially greater proportion of variability (82%) in the effective flux (flux adjusted for diel variation in plant sensitivity to ozone) for Pima cotton compared to variation in ozone level (43%). Flux-based metrics involve accumulation above a fixed flux threshold which is included to represent the detoxification capacity of the plant that varies with vegetation type/species (Mills et al., 2011b). While it is recognized that detoxification should ideally be represented as a dynamic variable rather than as a fixed threshold, modeling approaches are not yet able to take this dynamic variation into account for exposure-based (e.g., AOT40 or W126) or flux-based metrics. Results reported by Wang et al. (2015) for the diurnal changes of ascorbate, a major detoxification agent in the apoplast and leaf tissues of winter wheat, provide evidence for the dynamic nature of detoxification.
Since the 1950s, ozone injury to vegetation has been investigated by plant pathologists using an epidemiological approach. They have used a range of metrics from which they focus on different parts of the ozone concentration distribution to quantify injury and damage effects; these different metrics provide varying relationships between exposure/dose and effects (US EPA, 2013). Epidemiological studies of vegetation have mostly used exposure-based metrics, which center on different parts of the concentration distribution, for deriving information on ozone impacts on vegetation under field conditions (Arbaugh et al., 1998; Karlsson et al., 2006; Fishman et al., 2010). As ozone levels typically increase in tandem with increasing water stress (Matyssek et al., 2007), these studies require sophisticated statistical approaches for separating the impacts of ozone from those of co-occurring factors (e.g., Braun et al., 2007; McLaughlin et al., 2007a, b). Several studies have also used stomatal flux, which incorporates the effects of environmental variables on the uptake of ozone by the leaves (e.g., Braun et al., 2014; De Marco et al., 2015; Sicard et al., 2016b). Based on stomatal flux, epidemiologically-based critical levels could be considered for the protection of wheat yield (De Marco et al., 2010) or visible ozone foliar injury on forest trees (Sicard et al., 2016b), although this approach has not been adopted by CLRTAP (2017). Furthermore, plant epidemiology has been used to test/validate other metrics (Baumgarten et al., 2009). For instance, the US 2008 ozone standard explained wheat yield decline better than AOT40-based EU standards (see Section 2.3.4) (De Marco et al., 2010), although the US standard (i.e., 75 ppb) protected fewer sites than the EU standards. Plant epidemiological studies of deciduous tree growth in Switzerland also correlated ozone flux with decreases in stem and shoot growth, with a critical level comparable to that derived above from exposure experiments (Braun et al., 2007, 2010).
2.3. Description and rationale for the TOAR exposure and dose metrics
A summary of the TOAR metrics is provided in Table 1. The table provides references to examples of how a specific metric has been used. The description and rationale for the TOAR exposure and dose metrics used for human health and vegetation characterizations are described in detail in Supplemental Material. An additional key component of TOAR is the assessment of modeled ozone levels, and spatial and temporal variability in ozone levels in the free troposphere from surface, remote sensing, and aircraft-based instruments. These topics are comprehensively discussed in the TOAR-Climate and TOAR-Model Performance papers for free tropospheric ozone, and modeled ozone levels, respectively. Supplemental Material also includes descriptions of those metrics used for global model-measurement comparison, and for free tropospheric ozone characterizations. This section provides a condensed description of the widely-used ozone metrics for assessing impacts associated with human health, vegetation, and climate change, including their focus on different parts of the distribution of hourly average ozone concentrations.
Summary of the metrics relevant for model-measurement comparison (Section 2.3.1), characterization of free tropospheric ozone (Section 2.3.2), human health impacts (Section 2.3.3), and vegetation impacts (Section 2.3.4). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.279.t1
Example Reference(s)
Monthly mean of the 24-h average values ppb Model-measurement comparison metrics Young et al. (2018) and references therein
Monthly standard deviation, median, 5th, 25th, 75th, and 95th percentiles of the maximum daily average 8-h (MDA8) ozone values ppb Model-measurement comparison metrics Fiore et al. (2014); Dolwick et al. (2015)
Monthly mean diurnal cycle (monthly average of 1-h ozone averages at 0100 h, 0200 h, 0300 h, etc.) ppb Model-measurement comparison metrics Schnell et al. (2015)
Monthly mean of daily minimum and maximum hourly average ozone values ppb Model-measurement comparison metrics Schnell et al. (2015)
Monthly, seasonal, annual and decadal means from ozonesonde, aircraft, and lidar measurements on pressure surfaces at intervals of 25 hPa from 1000 hPa to the tropopause. Standard deviations, median and 5th, 25th, 75th, and 95th percentiles are provided where sampling is sufficient. ppb Free tropospheric metrics Young et al. (2018) and references therein
Monthly mean diurnal cycle at hourly intervals with high frequency aircraft data (MOZAIC-IAGOS), and also lidar where data frequency permits. ppb Free tropospheric metrics Young et al. (2018) and references therein
Monthly mean tropospheric column ozone (TCO) from satellite instruments Dobson Units Free tropospheric metrics Young et al. (2018) and references therein
Monthly mean (Total Column Ozone (TCO) from ozonesondes Dobson Units Free tropospheric metrics Young et al. (2018) and references therein
Estimates of the annual cycle, at monthly intervals, averaged over each decade on 25 hPa pressure surfaces or for TCO ppb/Dobson Units Free tropospheric metrics Young et al. (2018) and references therein
The 4th highest MDA8 ozone value over the entire year (see text for specific calculation protocols). ppb Human health US Federal Register (2015)
Maximum daily 8-h average over the entire year ppb Human health European Council Directive 2008/50/EC; WHO (2006); Kamyotra et al. (2012); SANS (2011); Qiao et al. (2015)
Maximum daily 1-h average ozone value over the entire year. ppb Human health European Council Directive 2008/50/EC; Kamyotra et al. (2012); Qiao et al. (2015)
4th highest W90 5-h cumulative exposure index ppb-hrs Human health Lefohn et al. (2010b)
SOMO35: Annual sum of the positive differences between the daily maximum 8-h average ozone value and the cutoff value set at 35 ppb ppb-day Human health Amann et al. (2008); REVIHAAP (2013)
SOMO10: Annual sum of the positive differences between the daily maximum 8-h average ozone value and the cutoff value set at 10 ppb ppb-day Human health REVIHAAP (2013)
Number of exceedances of daily maximum 1-h average values greater than 90, 100, and 120 ppb per year number of hours Human health Qiao et al. (2015)
Number of exceedances of daily maximum 8-h average values greater than 50, 60, 70, and 80 ppb per year number of hours Human health US Federal Register (2015); WHO (2006); European Council Directive 2008/50/EC
Running mean of the 3-month average of the daily 1-h maximum ozone value ppb Human health Brauer et al. (2016)
Annual and summertime mean of the daily maximum 8-h average values ppb Human health Turner et al. (2016)
Annual and seasonal percentiles (median, 5th, 25th, 75th and 95th) of all hourly average values. ppb Human health Xu et al. (2008); Simon et al. (2015)
W126 for various months and daily time periods (see text) ppb-hrs Vegetation Lefohn et al. (1988)
AOT40 for various months and daily time periods (see text) ppb h Vegetation CLRTAP (2017)
Daily 12-h average for various months and daily time periods (see text) ppb Vegetation Heck et al. (1988); Jäger et al. (1992); Legge et al. (1995)
Seasonal percentiles (median, 5th, 25th, 75th, 95th, 98th, and 99th) of hourly average ozone values ppb Vegetation Xu et al. (2008)
Flux-Based Indices nmol m–2 Projected Leaf Area s–1 Vegetation Emberson et al. (2000); Mills et al. (2011b)
2.3.1. Model-measurement comparison metrics
Observational metrics calculated at individual sites can provide insight into the physical and chemical processes that determine ozone and its variations on different timescales (e.g., Logan, 1985; Oltmans and Levy II, 1994). Hence, comparison of these metrics calculated at surface sites with modeled ozone levels is one method used to evaluate the performance of global models in predicting tropospheric ozone. Besides uncertainties in observations, a major problem in the comparison of site-specific data with model output is the representativeness of the available measurements. Problems related to the comparison of spatially and temporally sparse observations with coarse resolution global scale models, discussed in more detail in TOAR-Model Performance, can be mitigated by comparing model output against globally gridded observational data products that have been aggregated based on site characterization (e.g., TOAR-Surface Ozone Database). Table 1 summarizes the TOAR metrics (http://www.igacproject.org/activities/TOAR) used for model-measurement comparisons (based on hourly average levels), which are:
The monthly mean of the 24-h average (MMEAN) (in units of ppb);
The monthly standard deviation, median, 5th, 25th, 75th, and 95th percentiles of the maximum daily average 8-h (MDA8) ozone values (in units of ppb);
The monthly mean diurnal cycle (monthly average of 1-h ozone averages at 0100 h, 0200 h, 0300 h, etc.) (in units of ppb); and
Monthly mean of daily minimum and maximum hourly average ozone (in units of ppb).
The MMEAN ozone at individual sites is commonly used to study surface ozone variability for global model-measurement comparisons (see TOAR-Model Performance). The magnitude of MMEAN depends upon the influence of precursor emissions, photochemistry, meteorology, and atmospheric transport on the shape of the annual cycle of ozone at individual sites. Comparison of simulated and observed MMEAN provides a first order estimate of the model’s ability to simulate the observed annual cycle as well as long-term trends and inter-annual variability. However, the MMEAN smooths the pronounced diurnal cycle observed at continental rural sites due to photochemical ozone production and/or enhanced nighttime surface ozone deposition or in-situ chemical loss under shallow nocturnal boundary layers. Global models at coarse resolution may have difficulty in reproducing these low nighttime values (e.g., Derwent et al., 2004) because of errors in representing the nocturnal boundary layer (Lin et al., 2008) and because many chemical processes are nonlinear and therefore may not be accurately simulated when spatially averaging sharp gradients over larger grid-cells. Therefore, global model evaluation against observed MMEAN at individual sites with strong diurnal cycles should be supplemented with comparison against metrics which characterize the observed diurnal cycle (discussed below) to estimate their ability in reproducing observations (see TOAR-Model Performance). The MMEAN exposure metric smooths the large day-to-day variability that occurs at many polluted sites.
The MDA8 exposure metric is an air quality metric used by the US EPA to assess compliance with the NAAQS for ozone to protect human health and vegetation. As a part of the development of the US NAAQS, global chemistry models, using the MDA8 metric, were applied in combination with regional photochemical models to estimate background (US EPA, 2014b) ozone to examine the influence of ozone formed from natural and international sources (e.g., Reidmiller et al., 2009; Zhang et al., 2011; Fiore et al., 2014; Dolwick et al., 2015). Comparison of observed to simulated MDA8 levels provides an assessment of the ability of models to reproduce the trends and variability in this metric used for assessing human health impacts.
The monthly mean diurnal cycle provides information on average daily fluctuations in surface ozone. Diurnal variations in surface ozone are driven by variations in photochemistry, boundary layer dynamics, surface dry deposition, and transport.
The monthly average of daily minimum and maximum of hourly average levels depend on ozone production and loss processes, and transport patterns occurring at a specific site. Comparing modeled and observed diurnal cycles and diurnal ranges is one means by which to evaluate model representation of the many processes that determine the simulated diurnal cycle (e.g., Schnell et al., 2015).
In addition to the metrics outlined above, other metrics have been defined, which similarly aim to evaluate the ability of models to represent measured ozone levels. Two alternative sets of metrics have been reported in the literature for global model-measurement comparison specifically related to assessment of long-term changes in baseline ozone (Parrish et al. 2014) and on the seasonal cycle of ozone at marine boundary layer sites (MBL) (Parrish et al. 2016) (See Supplemental Material for a more comprehensive description). The first approach calculated polynomial “shape factors” that define long-term trends of seasonally averaged, baseline ozone levels at relatively remote sites from the mid-20th Century to the present. The metrics produced to compare measured and modeled changes in baseline ozone at northern mid-latitudes are polynomial coefficients, shown in Supplemental Material, Table S-2), which characterize relative (to year 2000) ozone changes over broad regions of northern mid-latitudes. For application of these metrics, see TOAR-Model Performance). Secondly, Fourier series expansions of monthly average ozone levels at selected sites provide a series of comparison metrics (Parrish et al., 2016; Derwent et al., 2016). This method represented the seasonal cycle at marine boundary layer sites around the globe as the annual average plus two sine function terms – the fundamental (period = 1 year) and second harmonic (period = 1/2 year). Figure 1 illustrates one example. The parameters from this representation of the seasonal cycle provide metrics which have been shown to provide critical tests of the model treatment of some of the physical processes that control tropospheric ozone levels in the MBL (see TOAR-Model Performance).
Sine function fits to monthly average data from Mace Head, Ireland. The black curves give the least-squares regressions to the fundamental (upper black curve) and second harmonic (lower black curve) terms, and the blue curve shows their sum. The data points about the x-axis are the residuals between the measurements and the fundamental fit. The fit parameters with 95% confidence limits are annotated. A small, long-term trend has been removed from the monthly average data before fitting (data from Parrish et al., 2016). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.279.f1
2.3.2. Free tropospheric metrics
Multiple sources of data (e.g., ozonesonde, aircraft, lidar, and remote sensing) are used to assess ozone throughout the depth of the troposphere as part of the TOAR project. The purpose of free tropospheric metrics (Table 1) is to characterize temporal and longitudinal, latitudinal, and altitudinal spatial variability in ozone levels throughout the troposphere and provide additional insight into the physical and chemical processes occurring that may affect surface ozone. The metrics associated with characterizing the free troposphere are:
Monthly, seasonal, annual and decadal means from ozonesonde, aircraft, and lidar measurements on pressure surfaces at intervals of 25 hPa from 1000 hPa to the tropopause. Standard deviations, median and 5th, 25th, 75th, and 95th percentiles are provided where sampling is sufficient. (Units are ppb)
Monthly mean diurnal cycle at hourly intervals with high frequency aircraft data (MOZAIC-IAGOS), and lidar where data frequency permits. (Units are ppb)
Monthly mean tropospheric ozone column (TCO) in Dobson Units (DU) from satellite instruments (OMI/MLS, IASI, GOME, SCIAMACHY, TES) harmonized to a common horizontal grid (e.g., 1° × 1.25° as for OMI/MLS). A common tropopause definition is preferred but in any case, the tropopause definition must be specified (e.g., WMO, 1992; Tuck et al., 1985). For instruments with more than one degree of freedom in the troposphere, upper and lower tropospheric integrals, also in DU, are supplied.
Monthly mean (Total Column Ozone (TCO)) from ozonesondes: the integral in DU of ozone from the surface to the thermal tropopause (WMO, 1966).
Estimates of the annual cycle, at monthly intervals, averaged over each decade on 25 hPa pressure surfaces or for TCO. Decades defined as e.g. 1960–1969 inclusive. (Units are ppb/Dobson)
These metrics are intended for use in global chemical transport and climate model evaluation, trend analyses, climate studies, and studies of large-scale processes, such as long-range transport, stratosphere-troposphere exchange, and biomass burning. Note that while global model evaluations often compare metrics such as mean or ozone percentiles, regional photochemical model evaluations generally focus on whether ozone was predicted accurately at the right time and location and thus regional model evaluations look at bias and error in paired hourly or daily ozone levels matched in space and time (Simon et al., 2012). However, this straightforward approach may not fairly evaluate model skill, as modest forecast errors in, say, the time or location of an ozone plume may contribute excessively to the total statistical error, as the forecast is too low where the plume should be, and too high where the model placed it (Tarasick et al., 2007). The metrics described in this section aim to provide a general and versatile statistical description of the free tropospheric ozone field, from available measurement sources. All ozone values are in nmol mol–1, except for the integrated TCO values, which are given in Dobson units (DU). Because the frequency of observations varies over a large range (e.g., from typically 3–4 per month for ozonesonde data to as frequent as daily profiles during campaigns, or multiple daily profiles by commercial aircraft over some airports), the number of observations in each data sample is also provided to allow averages to be weighted, and/or evaluated for representativeness.
2.3.3. Human health exposure metrics
Exposure metrics used for assessing the potential impacts of ozone on human health focus on different parts of the distribution of hourly average concentrations. Some of the metrics focus on the relatively higher ozone values, while other metrics focus on a combination of the various parts of the distribution. Supplemental Material describes the exposure metrics in detail. Table 1 lists the various TOAR human-health exposure metrics (http://www.igacproject.org/activities/TOAR).
2.3.3.1. Exposure metrics that focus on higher ozone concentrations
The following metrics are influenced by ozone concentrations at the high end of the distribution and have been used for assessing ozone relevant for human health:
The 4th highest MDA8 ozone value (in units of ppb) over the entire year.
The maximum daily 1-h average ozone value (in units of ppb) over the entire year.
The number of exceedances of daily maximum 1-h values greater than 90, 100, and 120 ppb.
The 4th highest W90 5-h cumulative exposure index (ppb-hrs) as described in Lefohn et al. (2010b). and
The running mean of the 3-month average of the daily 1-h maximum (in units of ppb) is a metric that is based on epidemiology results.
Several exposure metrics have been defined which are associated with the 4th highest MDA8 concentrations. See Supplemental Material for additional details on various ways to calculate the 4th highest MDA8.
EU information thresholds have been established as hourly ozone concentrations ‘beyond which there is a risk to human health from brief exposure for particularly sensitive sections of the population’, and about which the public must be informed (European Council Directive 2008/50/EC). The following maximum daily 1-h average exposure index focuses on the higher values and is useful for comparing health-relevant ozone at a site with the EU ‘information threshold’, set at 180 μg m–3 (90 ppb). The directive also has an alert threshold of 240 μg/m3 (120 ppb).
The metrics representing the number of exceedances of daily maximum 1-h values greater than 90, 100, and 120 ppb focus on the high end of the distribution and are used in this assessment as ozone metrics for human health, together with other metrics. In 1979, the US EPA adopted the daily maximum 1-h value of 120 ppb as an air quality standard for ground-level ozone. This 1-h standard was revoked in 2005 by the US EPA, but some areas have continued obligations under this standard (http://www3.epa.gov/ttn/naaqs/criteria.html). The daily maximum 1-h value is still used in some other countries as the ozone standard. For example, Japan has been using the daily maximum 1-h value of 60 ppb as an ozone standard (http://www.env.go.jp/en/air/aq/aq.html). China has established ozone standards using both daily maximum 8-h (75 ppb or 160 μg m–3 at 273 K and 101.325 kPa) and daily maximum 1-h (93 ppb or 200 μg m–3 at 273 K and 101.325 kPa) metrics for both residential and commercial areas (http://kjs.mep.gov.cn/hjbhbz/bzwb/dqhjbh/dqhjzlbz/201203/t20120302_224165.shtml).
The 4th highest W90 5-h cumulative exposure index is an experimental exposure metric that weights the higher hourly average concentrations more than mid-level values and has been suggested as a relevant human health metric based on controlled human laboratory studies (Section 2.2.1). The rationale for this metric is derived from the analyses summarized in Lefohn et al. (2010b). The form of the W90 index is Σ wi × Ci with weight wi = 1/[1 + M × exp (–A × Ci/1000)], where M = 1400, A = 90, and where Ci is the hourly average ozone mixing ratio in units of ppb. The W90 index has units of ppb-hrs. The weightings for the hourly average values are shown in Figure 2 below.
The weighting applied to hourly average ozone values for the calculation of the W90 exposure index (see Lefohn et al., 2010b). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.279.f2
Finally, the running mean of the 3-month average of the daily 1-h maximum metric is used in TOAR because of its application to estimates of globally deaths attributable to long-term ozone exposure by the Global Burden of Disease project (Forouzanfar et al., 2015; Brauer et al., 2016). The Jerrett et al. (2009) study evaluated the risk of mortality associated with the average of the second (April through June) and third (July through September) annual quarterly averages daily maximum 1-h ozone concentrations. Since the ozone (summer) season varies throughout the globe, the Global Burden of Disease studies used, as the estimate of long-term ozone exposure, the annual maximum of running 3-month average daily maximum 1-h values (Forouzanfar et al., 2015; Brauer et al., 2016). The TOAR long-term trend results (1995–2014) indicate that this human health metric appears to be more associated with the higher hourly concentrations within the distribution than those values associated with the entire distribution (see Section 4). Coupled with this metric, TOAR reports the day of the year on which the 3-month maximum metric reaches its maximum value.
2.3.3.2. Exposure metrics that focus on the high and mid-level ozone concentrations
Exposure metrics that focus on both the high-, as well as at times the mid-level concentrations, are:
The number of exceedances of daily maximum 8-h values greater than 50, 60, 70, and 80 ppb per year which indicate yearly non-attainment occurrences for some air quality standards used around the globe (e.g., US Federal Register, 2015); and
The SOMO35 is defined as the annual sum of the positive differences between the daily maximum 8-h ozone average value and the cutoff value set at 35 ppb (70 μg/m3) calculated for all days in a year. The unit is ppb-day. The 8-h average values are determined as per EU protocols (European Council Directive 2008/50/EC). The metric is consistent with WHO recommendations for quantification of ozone associated with health impacts resulting from short-term exposure (REVIHAAP, 2013). The ozone value selected as the cutoff was chosen partly due to the more accurate modeled ozone values available above 35 ppb, but also due to the observation of a statistically significant increase in mortality calculated for short-term exposure to ozone values above 25–35 ppb (Gryparis et al., 2004).
2.3.3.3. Exposure metrics that focus on high-, mid-, and low-level ozone concentrations
The SOMO10 metric is the annual sum of the positive differences between the daily maximum 8-h average ozone value and the cutoff value set at 10 ppb (20 μg/m3) calculated for all days in a year. The unit is ppb-day. The 8-h average values are determined as per EU protocols (European Council Directive 2008/50/EC). The SOMO10 metric is calculated in the same way as SOMO35, but with the lower cutoff value and reflects the epidemiological evidence of associations between short-term ozone exposure and lower ozone levels (REVIHAAP, 2013).
2.3.3.4. Concentration-based metrics that include ozone concentrations from across the distribution
The following metrics are useful for assessing the distribution of hourly average concentrations:
The annual and seasonal percentiles (median, 5th, 25th, 75th and 95th) of all hourly average concentrations. Long-term changes in these percentile metrics facilitate the assessment of the impacts of the ozone level associated with different factors. Long-term changes in ozone precursor concentrations can cause trends for different parts of the frequency distribution of ozone concentrations (Lefohn et al., 1998, 2010a; Brönnimann et al., 2002; Xu et al., 2008; Simon et al., 2015), which are not necessarily consistent. Therefore, studying the long-term variations of ozone using these percentile metrics can help to avoid potential misinterpretation in a risk analysis using single summary statistics (e.g., the mean ozone concentration).
2.3.3.5. Epidemiological metrics that focus on chronic exposure
Short-term increases in ozone have been linked to a wide array of health responses, including increases in daily mortality (Thurston and Ito, 2001; Bell et al., 2004; Bell et al., 2007). Studies of the impacts of chronic exposure, which are generally thought to have the greatest population health impact, are less common (REVIHAAP, 2013). Chronic exposure can result from repeated elevated concentrations over time. The following TOAR exposure metric is used for characterizing chronic exposure:
The annual and summertime mean of the daily maximum 8-h values (in units of ppb) are metrics that were used as an estimate of long-term ozone exposure in an updated epidemiological analysis to the Jerrett et al. (2009) study performed by Turner et al. (2016). Turner et al. (2016) calculated significant association between annual and summertime (i.e., April–September) average daily maximum 8-h ozone values, and all-cause, respiratory, and circulatory mortality within the American Cancer Society Cancer Prevention Study-II (ACS CPS-II) cohort population.
2.3.4. Vegetation metrics
Exposure metrics used in assessing potential impacts on vegetation, similar to human health metrics, focus on different parts of the hourly average concentration distribution. Some of the metrics focus on the relatively higher ozone values, while other metrics focus on a combination of the various parts of the distribution. The Supplemental Material describes the vegetation exposure metrics in detail. Table 1 shows the various TOAR vegetation metrics (http://www.igacproject.org/activities/TOAR) and the parts of the concentration distribution on which they focus. The vegetation metrics are defined by growing season and climate zones (TOAR-Vegetation; http://www.igacproject.org/activities/TOAR).
2.3.4.1. Exposure metrics that weight the higher ozone levels and include mid-level values
The following vegetation exposure metrics focus on the higher levels but include the mid-level values:
The W126 exposure index (in units of ppb-hrs) is a non-threshold index that is described as the sigmoidally weighted sum of all hourly ozone values observed during a specified daily and seasonal time window, where each hourly ozone value is given a weight that increases from zero to one with increasing value. The W126 metric is identified by the US EPA for assessing risk to vegetation from ozone exposure (US EPA, 2013, 2014a; US Federal Register, 2015). The W126 exposure index has the form: W126 = Σ wi × Ci with weight wi = 1/[1 + M × exp (–A × Ci/1000)], where M = 4403, A = 126, and where Ci is the hourly average ozone mixing ratio in units of ppb. Further details about the index are available in Supplemental Material. The weightings for hourly average values are shown in Figure 3. For both this metric, as well as the human health (W90) exposure index mentioned previously, the sigmoidal weightings are similar except at the lower levels (compare Figures 2 and 3), where the W126 provides slightly greater weight than the W90 metric. In the TOAR program, the W126 exposure index is specified over the following time periods: (a) W126 (3-month, 24-h), (b) W126 (6-month, 24-h), (c) W126 (7-month, 24-h), (d) W126 (12-month, 24-h), (e) W126 (3-month, 12-h (0800–1959h) (monthly periods specified), (f) W126 (6-month, 12-h (0800–1959h) (monthly periods specified), (g) W126 (7-month, 12-h (0800–1959h) (monthly periods specified), and (h) W126 (12-month, and 12-h (for tropical or subtropical moist climate zones) (0800–1959h).
AOT40 is the sum of the difference between the hourly mean ozone value at the top of the canopy and levels above 40 ppb for all daylight hours over a specified time. The unit of the exposure index is ppb h and was originally derived because of a growing understanding that plants responded to accumulated ozone above a threshold rather than a long-term average (Fuhrer et al., 1997). As a threshold, 40 ppb was suggested as being relevant at the time when the contribution of baseline ozone to levels in Europe was thought to be relatively lower than current levels and to clearly separate out the peaks, which are of regional (i.e., European) origin (described in CLRTAP, 2017). In recent years, the CLRTAP has adopted the flux-based metric, PODY in preference to AOT40 as this metric has greater biological relevance and is better correlated with field evidence of effects (Mills et al., 2011a). The AOT40 is a threshold metric, which at times can be sensitive to small changes near its threshold value (Hollaway et al., 2012). AOT40 is used as the legislative standard in Europe (Directive 2008/50/EC), when accumulated over a standard time window (0800–1959 h) and a standard time period (May to July), although other periods are available in TOAR (Supplemental Material). It is also included in CLRTAP (2017) for daylight hours with vegetation-specific accumulation periods and timings. In the TOAR program, the AOT40 exposure index is specified over the following time periods: (a) AOT40 (3-month, 12-h (0800–1959h), (monthly periods specified according to crop type and growing season and does not apply to forests)), (b) AOT40 (6-month, 12-h (0800–1959h), (monthly periods specified and applicable to perennial vegetation including forests, grassland and perennial crops)), (c) AOT40 (7-month, 12-h (0800–1959h), (monthly periods specified)), (d) AOT40 (12-month, and 12-h (for tropical or subtropical moist climate zones) (0800–1959h)), (e) AOT40 (3-month, daylight over the period when clear sky radiation >50 W m–2), (f) AOT40 (6-month, daylight over the period when clear sky radiation >50 W m–2), (g) AOT40 (7-month, daylight over the period when clear sky radiation >50 W m–2), (h) AOT40 (3-month, nighttime over the period when clear sky radiation <5 W m–2), (i) AOT40 (6-month, nighttime over the period when clear sky radiation <5 W m–2), and (j) AOT40 (7-month, nighttime over the period when clear sky radiation <5 W m–2). The specific steps associated with calculating the AOT40 are provided in Supplemental Material. The threshold for daylight versus night is 5 degrees solar elevation angle, which is used as a surrogate for 50 W m–2 (TOAR-Surface Ozone Database).
The weighting applied to hourly average ozone values for the calculation of the W126 exposure index (see Lefohn et al., 1988). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.279.f3
2.3.4.2. Exposure metric that focus on the mid-range of hourly average ozone levels
The TOAR vegetation exposure metric that is focused on the mid-range of hourly average levels is:
The daily 12-h (0800–1959h) average exposure metric (M12) (in units of ppb) was widely used in the past to characterize crop exposures to establish crop-specific exposure–response relationships, which relate a quantifiable mean to a reduction in crop yield (Heck et al., 1988; Jäger et al., 1992; Legge et al., 1995). In post-experimental data analysis, cumulative metrics, such as the SUM06 (the accumulation of all hourly average values equal to and above 0.06 ppm) and W126 indices (US EPA, 2013; US Federal Register, 2015) better fit the yield loss observations for experiments conducted in the US, and thus have received greater focus than average metrics (Tingey et al., 1991; Lefohn and Foley, 1993; Mauzerall and Wang, 2001). Supplemental Material provides additional information on the 12-h exposure metric. In the TOAR program, the M12 exposure index is specified over the following time periods: (a) M12 (3-month, 12-h for wheat and rice), (b) M12 (6-month, 12-h), (c) M12 (7-month, 12-h), and (d) M12 (12-month, 12-h for tropical or subtropical moist climate zones) (0800–1959h).
2.3.4.3. Flux-based metric
Currently, flux-based metrics are not characterized in the TOAR database, but are discussed in this section for completeness. The flux-based metric is described as:
The accumulated Phytotoxic Ozone Dose (i.e., the accumulated stomatal flux) of ozone above a flux threshold of Y (PODY). The PODY is calculated for the appropriate time-window as the sum over time of the differences between hourly mean values of ozone stomatal flux (Fst) and Y nmol m–2 PLA s–1 for the periods when Fst exceeds Y during daylight hours, where PLA is defined as projected leaf area, or, the one-sided area of a leaf perpendicular to the incoming radiation. The DO3SE model (Emberson et al., 2000) was adopted by CLRTAP for calculating the accumulated stomatal flux of ozone from hourly values of ozone, together with the following stomatal conductance modifying factors: temperature, vapor pressure deficit (VPD), light (irradiance), soil water potential (SWP) or plant available water (PAW), ozone value, and plant development stage (phenology). The Y threshold varies between species as do the parameterizations for each of the flux modifying factors. Two types of PODY model exist: PODYIAM which has a simplified parameterization and is suitable for large-scale integrated assessment, and PODYSPEC, species-specific parameterization of the flux model. Local and regional parameterizations have been defined for PODYSPEC and PODYIAM in CLRTAP (2017) for a range of crops, tree and grassland species/species groups and used to define 21 critical levels, above which negative effects of ozone on crop yield, biodiversity and tree growth are expected. Further information can be found in summary in Mills et al. (2011b), and in more detail including response functions in Grünhage et al. (2012) for wheat, Gonzalez et al. (2014) for tomato, and Büker et al. (2015) for tree species. The PODY model has also been applied in China to derive flux-effect relationships for wheat (Feng et al., 2012) and poplar (Hu et al., 2015).
2.3.4.4. Exposure metrics that include ozone concentrations from across the distribution
For vegetation purposes, the TOAR metrics that focus on the entire distribution are:
The seasonal (i.e., December–February, March–May, June–August, and September–November) percentiles (median, 5th, 25th, 75th, 95th, 98th, and 99th) of hourly average ozone. The units are ppb. Trends in each percentile by season can provide information on specific changes that occur within the ozone distribution. These changes influence the magnitude of the exposure and dose metrics.
3. Statistical and methodological approaches available for TOAR analyses
Trends are defined as whether the data exhibit an overall increase, decrease, or no discernible change over the time period of interest. When testing for trends, normally one first proposes a null hypothesis (here, that there is no trend) and a threshold value, called the significance level of the test, which is traditionally denoted as α. The α value is supposed to be fixed in advance and thus part of the study design, whereas the p-value is a number computed from the data and thus, unknown until it is computed. If the p-value is less than or equal to the selected significance level (α), this suggests that the observed data are inconsistent with the null hypothesis, and the null hypothesis is rejected.
When the null hypothesis is not rejected, this does not prove that it is true. When the p-value is calculated correctly, this test guarantees that the Type I error rate is at most α. A Type I error (sometimes called a “false positive”) occurs when in fact the null hypothesis is true, but one declares that the data are not compatible with it. The p-value resulting from the test provides a quantification of making this type of error. For the TOAR trends analysis, a standard α = 0.05 cutoff has been selected (i.e., the null hypothesis is rejected when p ≤ 0.05 and not rejected when p > 0.05). By itself, the p-value does not support reasoning about the verisimilitude of the hypotheses; it is merely a tool for deciding whether to reject the null hypothesis.
A second type of error one may make in hypothesis testing is a Type II error (sometimes called a “false negative”). This occurs when the null hypothesis is in fact not true, but one fails to detect this. A Type II error may result for various reasons, and one may wish to collect more data and/or further examine the existing data in more detail in future research investigations. The ability to detect that the data indicate an incompatibility with the null hypothesis when it is not true is known as the “power” of the test procedure (in our case, the ability to find a trend when one does exist). The probability of a Type II error equals (1 – power). It is important to note that the power of a test depends on “how false” the null hypothesis is; for example, a test could have relatively low power and still identify a strong trend, but would need to have relatively high power to identify a slight trend. The power of a test is often a consideration made during the design phase of a scientific study, especially when choosing the sample size. However, the data in TOAR is limited to the time periods for which the monitors were operating, and thus power was not a major consideration.
The choice of an alpha of 0.05 as a significance level is arbitrary. TOAR selected this specific level because of the very large number of sites and metrics which were to be tested. Hence, a common point of reference was needed for summarization and comparison purposes, and the 0.05 level is quite common in the literature. However, TOAR is not wedded to a ‘Yes/No’ outcome based on a 0.05 level. TOAR retains the actual calculated p-values in its database. Thus, any researcher who prefers to use either a different level or, indeed, wishes to work with the individual p-values for an analysis has the opportunity.
For the TOAR assessment, the following terminology is used when describing trend results:
a trend result associated with a p-value of 0 to 0.05 is a statistically significant trend;
a trend result associated with a p-value of 0.05 to 0.10 is referred to as indicative of a trend;
a trend result associated with a p-value of 0.10 to 0.34 is described as having a weak indication of change; and
a trend result associated with a p-value of 0.34 to 1 is described as weak or no change.
The final two categories listed above are shown for informational purposes only, and researchers are strongly cautioned against associating p-values greater than 0.10 with statistical significance.
An important consideration in selecting tests for assessing trends in the TOAR program was the requirement that the same statistical methods be applied across the thousands of measurement sites in the TOAR database and the various metrics to be analyzed. The large amount of data to be characterized precluded a detailed review of the data from every site/metric combination to determine (1) an appropriate analytical functional form that fit the data and (2) whether a regression approach (either linear or nonlinear) would be appropriate. The nonparametric Mann-Kendall (M-K) test (to test for significant trends) and the Theil-Sen (T-S) estimator (for estimating the magnitude of the trend) were selected. The T-S and M-K methods require (1) no assumptions regarding functional form or statistical distribution for the data and (2) are resistant to outliers, and (3) do not require consideration of whether trends are linear or nonlinear.
For focused analyses involving subsets of sites, TOAR recognized that parametric statistical tests, such as linear regression, can be applied if the required assumptions were met. For example, standard linear regression necessitates: (1) a linear model is appropriate to describe the data and (2) the variable is normally distributed, (3) has constant variance, and (4) the data are independent observations. The assumption of constant variance may be inappropriate, especially for ozone data because the inter-annual variability tends to decrease as precursor emissions are reduced and levels approach background levels. Ozone time series, based on less than annual data values, can have significant autocorrelation and ozone metrics are often not normally distributed. Ignoring the above assumptions can lead to an incorrect conclusion about the statistical significance and the associated confidence intervals of the regression parameters, thus resulting in significant uncertainty regarding the conclusions for the trends analyses.
In this section, we discuss some of the statistical approaches available for characterizing trends. Both nonparametric and parametric approaches for assessing trends are discussed, including the advantages of the various approaches. Examples are provided that describe how violations of key assumptions affect the estimates of the significance of the trends, as well as the magnitude of change. Section 3.3 discusses data completeness criteria.
3.1. Statistical approaches for characterizing trends
Various statistical tests have been used to identify statistically significant trends and the rate of change associated with these trends (e.g., Oltmans et al., 2006; Sicard et al., 2009, 2013; Lefohn et al., 2010a; Cooper et al., 2012; Wilson et al., 2012; Derwent et al., 2013; Munir et al., 2013; Oltmans et al., 2013; Parrish et al., 2013; Parrish et al., 2014; Simon et al., 2015; Malley et al., 2015). Because TOAR is using the nonparametric M-K and T-S methods as the preferred approach for characterizing trends, they will be discussed first.
3.1.1. Nonparametric statistical tests
3.1.1.1. Testing for significance of a trend
The Mann-Kendall (M-K) nonparametric test (Mann, 1945) is utilized to test for a significant trend. Advantages of the M-K test are:
No distributional assumption is made;
No assumption of any specific functional form for the behavior of the data through time is made. Thus, the M-K test is universally applicable across all sites, seasons, and different continuous summary TOAR exposure metrics (e.g., percentiles, means, and cumulative indices, such as the SOMO10, SOMO35, W126, and AOT40 exposure metrics); and
The M-K test is resistant to the effects of outlying observations. The results are not unduly affected by particularly high or low values that occur during the time series.
Outliers are fairly common in air quality and other environmental data. Because the M-K nonparametric test targets the median instead of the mean, it is more robust to outliers than parametric tests. The M-K test requires fewer a priori assumptions about the data than the application of other statistical techniques. As indicated above, one advantage of using the M-K test is its universal applicability.
However, the M-K test, similar to other approaches, can be problematic when using count metrics, such as the number of days during the year equal to or above a specific value. Extensive ties in counts may cause problems. Tables exist for the M-K test in its exact form and an asymptotic version is also available (Hollander et al., 2013). The M-K test explicitly accounts for ties both in the test statistic itself and its variance (and hence the p-value). In the presence of ties, the test statistic is calculated to explicitly account for these. The exact version may be applied directly. The asymptotic version requires an adjustment of the variance of the test statistic to account for the tied values.
Another approach to analyzing count data might be, depending upon the specific question(s) under investigation, to convert each count into a value representing a fraction. A mathematical transformation might then be applied to the converted data points and an appropriate statistical approach used on the transformed data. Other options could include the use of logistic regression or Poisson regression.
The same characteristics noted above for the M-K test apply to a very similar nonparametric approach, the Daniels test, which can be implemented using the Spearman correlation coefficient (Daniels, 1950; Gibbons and Chakraborti, 2011). Direction of the trend is indicated by the sign of the correlation coefficient, and statistical significance is indicated by whether the correlation coefficient is different from zero. Simon et al. (2015) used this procedure to assess ozone trends in the 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 95th percentiles of mean daily maximum 8-h average ozone concentrations at US monitoring sites.
While these two nonparametric methods are similar, TOAR has selected the M-K test because the underlying statistic, Kendall’s correlation coefficient, has some slight advantages over the Spearman correlation coefficient in terms of interpretability, sensitivity to the distribution of the variable being analyzed, simplicity of the background theory, and faster asymptotic convergence (Kruskal, 1958; Kendall and Gibbons, 1990; Gibbons and Chakraborti, 2011).
3.1.1.2. Estimating the magnitude of a trend
For estimating the magnitude of a trend, the Theil-Sen (also called Sen-Theil, Theil, or Sen) estimator is used (Theil 1950a, 1950b, 1950c; Sen, 1968) by TOAR. It possesses the same attributes described above for the M-K test (i.e., there are no distributional or functional form assumptions and the estimator is resistant to outliers). The Theil-Sen (T-S) estimator, similar to the M-K technique, is also universally applicable. In cases where simple linear regression is appropriate (i.e., assumptions are met), the slope of the regression line and the T-S estimator are asymptotically equivalent.
TOAR’s approach of first testing for the existence of a trend with the M-K test and then estimating the magnitude of the trend with the T-S statistic will generally perform well. However, as suggested above, count data may yield somewhat problematic results for some data sets. For example, if one has counts which are all zero for the vast majority of the beginning or end of the time series and a few monotonically changing counts at the end or beginning, respectively, then the M-K test may yield a statistically significant trend, but the T-S estimator may be zero. It is possible to interpret such a counterintuitive result of a statistically significant trend that is estimated to be zero as indicating evidence of a trend that is very small. On the other hand, one can examine such a case further by using a different or modified estimator of the trend size (Lefohn et al., 2017).
3.1.1.3. Trends in data with seasonality
For examining trends in a time series that contains seasonality (e.g., winter, spring, summer, and fall; warm season/cold season), the seasonal Kendall test and its associated modified T-S estimator can be applied (Hirsch et al., 1982). Both approaches are modifications of the M-K test and the T-S estimator described earlier. To test for trend in individual seasons, the M-K and T-S methods can be used to yield results for each season. To account for seasonality, while testing for overall trend through the entire time period, the seasonal Kendall test can be used. For each season, one calculates the desired metric. Using the seasonal metric, comparisons are made within each season across the time period of interest and then the results are appropriately combined to provide one trend test and magnitude estimate over the entire time period. An advantage of using the seasonal Kendall test when seasonality exists is to improve one’s ability to detect an overall trend through the entire time period.
3.1.2. Parametric statistical tests
It is worth clarifying the distinction between a parametric linear regression approach and the underlying functional form of the data. For example, one might propose the following nonlinear functional form: Y = b0 + b1 x + b2 x2. This is a nonlinear function in terms of the predictor variable x, but it is linear in the parameters b0, b1, and b2, which are to be estimated. Linear regression could be used to estimate the parameters for this function. The model Y = b1 x/(b2 + x) is a case of a model which is nonlinear in both the predictor variable and the parameters.
The parametric linear regression approach for assessing the behavior of the data is familiar, widely known, straightforward to apply, and often used by researchers. The approach is readily available in almost all statistical packages. If the underlying functional form of the model is correct, the overall F test indicates whether some of the (non-intercept) parameters are zero, that is, whether the model has much explanatory power or not given the variability in the data; the coefficient of determination or R2 measures how much explanatory power the model has. The Student’s t test may be used to evaluate the significance of each individual parameter. However, while the F test and R2 can provide some guidance as to the appropriateness of the underlying model, neither a significant F test nor a large R2 can be taken as verification that the underlying model is correct. If the underlying functional form is a straight line, the trend is given by the slope of the regression line. If the underlying functional form is not a straight line, the interpretation of the result using this trend test may be unclear.
The use of linear regression to assess trends in observed values potentially can be problematic. As indicated above, it is important when applying the technique that the underlying assumptions for linear regression analyses are met. The specific assumptions of most concern are (1) the underlying functional form is appropriate to describe the data and (2) the errors are normally distributed, (3) the errors have constant variance, and (4) the data are independent observations. It is important that diagnostics (e.g., residual analysis, cross validation) be performed to confirm the validity of the method’s assumptions. When the number of observations is small, the assumption of normally distributed errors with constant variance becomes difficult to confirm. If the underlying data are not normally distributed about the regression line or are not independent, the statistical conclusions reached (i.e., either significant or not) are questionable.
Other parametric approaches also exist. For example, nonlinear regression of some form may be considered. However, the nonlinear regression approach generally entails the same difficulties as noted for the linear regression approach. In addition, nonlinear regression approaches are typically more complex and difficult to implement.
If the assumptions are met, a parametric approach will generally be more powerful than the nonparametric approach. However, similar to the M-K test, the linear regression test can be problematic when working with count metrics (e.g., the number of days during the year equal to or above a specific value).
3.1.3. Additional approaches
As noted in the introduction to this section, TOAR seeks to investigate trends at a very large number of sites across broad geographic areas and for a wide variety of exposure metrics. For these reasons, TOAR is utilizing the M-K and T-S nonparametric techniques. However, if one desires to examine trends in more depth at specific sites, different statistical methods may afford more power and/or allow more detailed analysis. For example, in cases when the data are either Gaussian or can be transformed to be nearly Gaussian (e. g., by taking the logarithm of the data), statistical approaches described by Box et al. (2015) may be used to derive trends in the presence of autocorrelation and estimate confidence intervals about those trends (Box et al., 2015; Weatherhead et al., 1998). Note, however, that the length of the annual time series considered by TOAR (e.g., 2000–2014) may make the reliable estimate of autocorrelation problematic (Box et al., 2015). Regardless of whatever methodology is chosen for a more detailed site-level analysis, it is important that the assumptions required by the technique(s) be met.
As indicated above, autocorrelation is a potential concern when conducting trends analyses. While autocorrelation is not generally anticipated to be a concern for trends based on annual metrics, an assessment was undertaken to identify the degree of autocorrelation that may be present in the trends analysis presented in TOAR. Trends computed using the T-S technique described above for 14 TOAR ozone exposure metrics at 196 US and 276 EU sites over the period 2000–2014 for the US and 2000–2013 for the EU were tested for the presence of lag-1 autocorrelation (Kendall’s Tau statistic) using data obtained from the case study (Lefohn et al., 2017) described in Section 4. At the 5% significance level, only 4% of the EU sites and 2% of the US sites exhibited autocorrelation statistically significantly different from 0. In addition, only 2% of the EU sites and 0.5% of the US sites had autocorrelation greater than 0.5, and no sites in either region had autocorrelation greater than 0.7. The level of autocorrelation present was fairly consistent across the 14 metrics. Based on this analysis, evidence of worrisome levels of autocorrelation for the annual metrics was not observed over the 15-year period used in TOAR.
For estimating ozone trends for the various metrics in their analyses, Munir et al. (2013) used a variety of methods including: quantile regression, T-S technique, changepoint analysis, and a generalized additive models approach that combined a smooth function of time with loess. Munir et al. (2013) illustrate the large number of approaches one may use for characterizing trends. However, several of these techniques are highly dependent on the specific data with which one is dealing. This dictates that the trend analysis must then be “fine-tuned,” potentially on a case-by-case basis. So while one may employ the same general approach for the analysis across all sites, the approach may have to be implemented differently from site to site. Thus, one loses the universal applicability of the M-K and T-S methods adopted for the TOAR analyses.
3.2. Examples of results that compare nonparametric and parametric statistical tests
Both the parametric and nonparametric approaches assume independent observations and can tolerate missing data within reason. For the purposes of TOAR, when comparing trends on a site-by-site basis, based on its universal applicability, the nonparametric approach is utilized. Assumptions required for using a parametric approach may not be met when assessing trends at each monitoring site, with the result that some sites would have to be rejected. This would result in compromising a comparison of trend patterns across sites. The nonparametric approach would likely apply at any site.
We have selected data from a site at Harwell, UK, and a site at Look Rock, Tennessee for comparing nonparametric and parametric statistical test results. For these illustrations, the metrics used are the annual fourth highest daily maximum 8-h average level for Harwell and the annual 95th percentile for Look Rock. The time series for both sites are displayed in Figure 4a and 4b.
Time series for (a) Harwell, UK (1984–2013) for the 4th highest MDA8 level and (b) Look Rock, Tennessee (1990–2013) for the 95th percentile. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.279.f4
For the Harwell site, data from 1984–2013 were tested for trend using: (1) the M-K test, and (2) by regressing a straight line through the data with the year as the predictor variable. For the nonparametric approach, the magnitude of the trend was estimated by the T-S estimator and for the parametric test by the slope of the regression line. In addition, 95% confidence intervals for the trend magnitudes were calculated. Over this 30-year time period, there were 27 years of valid data.
At Harwell, both methods yielded similar results. A statistically significant (p < 0.01) trend was found using each technique. Using the linear regression approach, the basic assumptions for the method did not appear to be seriously violated, although there was some evidence of higher variability for the larger values of the fourth highest daily maximum 8-h value. The lack of constant variance may have affected the significance level to some extent and may have contributed to the low R2. The results are summarized in Table 2 below.
Comparison of the Mann-Kendall and linear regression applied to annual fourth highest daily maximum 8-h level using data from a site at Harwell, UK. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.279.t2
Number of valid years
Trend estimate (ppb/yr)
Lower 95% conf. limit (ppb/yr)
Upper 95% conf. limit (ppb/yr)
R2 (%)
Mann-Kendall 1984–2013 27 –0.86 0.0005 –1.69 –0.36 NA
regression 1984–2013 27 –0.92 0.0010 –1.42 –0.41 36
Using the 95th percentile level, a similar statistical comparison approach was employed for a site located at Look Rock, Tennessee for the period 1990–2013 (24 valid years of data). Table 3 summarizes the outcome.
Mann-Kendall and linear regression applied to annual 95th percentile at the Look Rock, TN site. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.279.t3
Mann-Kendall 1990–2013 24 –0.31 0.0866 –0.84 0 NA
On their face, the nonparametric and the parametric methods yielded similar results for the Look Rock site. Neither method reported a trend significant at the 5% level (Table 3). However, the linear regression approach suffered from model mis-specification. That is, a straight line was clearly not the appropriate underlying functional form to use (see Figure 4b). The low R2 value reflected this. Therefore, the results associated with applying the regression approach were not reliable.
3.3. Data capture
Data capture (i.e., the amount of valid hourly data available in a given sampling period in which aggregation is applied) may have strong impacts on the derived metrics or trend estimate. It is easily seen that a measurement series consisting only of a few nighttime measurements during winter will not reflect photochemical ozone maxima which occur during daytime in summer. Consequently, any evaluation of metrics, which focus on the higher part of the distribution from such data series, would be meaningless. In reality, the vast majority of ozone measurement series are more or less complete so that the derived metrics and trend parameters can generally be assumed to be robust. However, there is a margin of uncertainty in this statement of “more or less”, and the reader should be aware of the possible implications of incomplete data series.
Typical examples of incomplete data are associated with many US regulatory monitoring stations, which are required to operate only during the so-called “ozone season” (i.e., a varying period of several months during the summer depending on state, but also varying over the years). Given the general tendency of ozone levels to be higher in summer than in winter, the evaluation of annual statistics at such sites would provide different results. This can be demonstrated by comparing for example selected percentile values evaluated during the summer months with those evaluated over the full year from a station with full annual coverage (Figure 5).
Comparison of selected annual percentiles of ozone levels at Look Rock, TN during the summer months (April–September) with the same percentiles derived from the entire annual data. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.279.f5
Data capture also matters if we want to assess the robustness of the extreme values in a data set. Our confidence in a reported 4th highest daily 8-hour maximum in a given year would obviously be greater if this metric were evaluated from a data series that has valid measurements every day rather than only every second or third day. The statistically interesting questions “How different (i.e., incorrect) is the magnitude of a given metric if x% of data are missing?”, or “What is the probability that the magnitude of a given metric is incorrect by a certain amount if x% of data are missing?” have not yet been addressed systematically for ozone observations, or, more generally, for environmental data sets.
Based on established practices and some tests on selected data series, a general data capture criterion of 75% was applied in all TOAR analyses. This data capture threshold is applied on various levels. For example, to calculate a valid 4th highest daily 8-hour maximum value in a year, there must be 75% of hourly values available in each (running) 8-hour averaging interval, then there must be 75% of valid 8-hour intervals during a day, and finally, 75% of valid days in a year. The data capture criteria for each of the TOAR exposure metrics are summarized in the supplement of TOAR-Surface Ozone Database.
If the data capture at a site is poor, the data should not be combined with another site’s data unless there are circumstances that can be well documented. For example, some time series consist of two or more partial datasets that are stored individually in separate networks. In these cases, the data series are combined. However, in other situations, such as when stations with long records are relocated, extensive statistical analyses should be undertaken to confirm that the merging of the datasets is appropriate. TOAR has made the decision to generally not combine data from different sites but a few exceptions were made and are noted in the TOAR database.
Performing trend analyses by season versus an entire year of data is an important consideration. Some states in the US are required to only monitor during the “ozone season”, which historically have been as short as June-September and as long as January–December. TOAR requires 75% of the full calendar year data for all of the annual TOAR metrics. For sites in the TOAR database that do not operate year-round, missing values are reported for annual exposure metrics. For TOAR metrics determined for a summer period, the 6-month April–September (Northern Hemisphere) and October–March (Southern Hemisphere) periods are used. The TOAR database produces daily and monthly exposure metrics and thus, users who wish to create their own season definitions have the ability to do so. A complete description of the data validation criteria is described in TOAR-Surface Ozone Database.
4. Response of exposure metrics to changes in ozone distributions
Hourly ozone levels are used to calculate the magnitude, spatial distribution, and trend for various exposure metrics associated with human health, vegetation, and climate change. Exposure metric trends are associated with changes in the frequency of hourly average levels across an ozone distribution. As indicated in Section 1, different metrics used for assessing human health or vegetation risks can have different long-term trends (i.e., different metrics can increase, show no change, or decrease) under identical changes in the ozone concentration distribution over time (Karlsson et al., 2007, 2017; EEA, 2009; Tripathi et al., 2012; Li et al., 2014; Paoletti et al., 2014; Malley et al, 2015; Lefohn et al., 2017). Besides estimating risk to human health and vegetation, this has significant relevance for assessment of how changes in emission controls have resulted in changes to ozone impacts on human health and vegetation.
As changes in emissions occur, concentrations within a specific part of a distribution can change at a different rate and/or direction than other parts of the distribution. This could result in different metrics providing different responses to emissions controls. An illustrative example for Glazebury, a rural site in the UK, shows that for a common trend across the hourly ozone concentration distribution (Figure 6a), both increasing and decreasing statistically significant trends in some exposure metrics at p < 0.05, and no significant trends in others are observed (Figure 6b). In this section, we discuss how several of the exposure metrics applied in TOAR papers (this issue) behave in response to changing ozone distributions over time. Assessment of temporal changes in the ozone distribution and related changes in the metrics described in this section use the Mann Kendall (M-K) and Theil-Sen (T-S) statistics as discussed in Section 3.
Theil-Sen (%/year) trend for a) hourly ozone levels in each bin, and b) 6 human health and 8 vegetation ozone metrics for a site at Glazebury, UK between 1989 and 2013, and c) hourly ozone levels in each bin, and d) 6 human health and 8 vegetation ozone metrics for a site at Yuen Long, Hong Kong, China between 1995 and 2015 (significance determined by the Mann-Kendall test at p < 0.05). (Data characterized as per Lefohn et al., 2017). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.279.f6
To further demonstrate the relationship between distribution changes and human health and vegetation metrics, in Section 4.1 we summarize the results from a case study (Lefohn et al., 2017). The study focused on assessing how changes in the ozone distribution profile in regions where emissions of ozone precursors have decreased (i.e., US and EU) and increased (China) influenced temporal trends in a set of human health and vegetation exposure metrics similar to those selected for use by TOAR at monitoring sites in these regions. For this purpose, trends in 14 human health and vegetation TOAR exposure metrics were examined at 276 EU, 196 US, 3 Mainland China, and 6 Hong Kong, China sites. We then extend the analysis of Lefohn et al. (2017) by comparing the trend patterns of other TOAR metrics between 1995 and 2014 with patterns observed in the case study for gaining insight about the relationships of TOAR metrics among one another (Section 4.2).
4.1. Summary of ozone exposure metrics trend case study
Figure 7 identifies the locations of the sites used in the case study. The subset of 14 metrics (Table 4) reflect the variation of some of the TOAR metrics in terms of their focus on relatively high, moderate, and low ozone levels.
Map of (a) EU, (b) mainland China and Hong Kong, China, and (c) US sites selected for the study (Lefohn et al., 2017). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.279.f7
List of the 14 exposure metrics from the case study influenced by different portions of the ozone distribution (Lefohn et al., 2017). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.279.t4
Exposure metrics influenced by high hourly average ozone levels
Exposure metrics influenced by moderate and high hourly average ozone levels
Exposure metrics influenced by moderate hourly average ozone levels
Exposure metrics influenced by low, moderate, and high hourly average ozone levels
Annual 4th highest daily maximum of the 8-h ozone level (A4MDA8) based on the US EPA protocol used in the 2008 8-h standard
Annual maximum of the daily 8-h ozone level (AmaxMDA8) based on the US EPA protocol used in the 2008 8-h standard
Annual maximum daily 1-h average level (AmaxMDA1)
4th highest W90 (A4W90)
SOMO35
12-h W126 3-month
12-h AOT40 3-month
Daily 12-h average (M12) averaged over 3-months
4.1.1. Identifying distinct hourly ozone distribution trend types
The case study identified changes in hourly average ozone distributions into ten distinct trend type patterns (Lefohn et al., 2017). These patterns were:
Trend Type 0: No trend.
Trend Type 1: Both ends of the distribution shift toward the center. (Decreasing frequency of high and low levels).
Trend Type 2: Low end shifts upward but high end does not change. (Decreasing frequency of low levels; increasing frequency of middle levels).
Trend Type 3: High end shifts downwards but no change at lower end (Decreasing frequency of high levels; increasing frequency of middle levels).
Trend Type 4: Entire distribution shifts downwards (Decreasing frequency of high levels, increasing frequency of low levels).
Trend Type 5: The distribution shifts from the center toward both the high and the low ends of the distribution. (Increasing frequency of high and low levels).
Trend Type 6: The middle of the distribution shifts downward but the high end does not change. (Increasing frequency of low levels, decreasing frequency of middle levels).
Trend Type 7: The middle of the distribution shifts upward but the low end does not change. (Increasing frequency of high levels, decreasing frequency of middle levels).
Trend Type 8: Entire distribution shifts upwards. (Increasing frequency of high levels, decreasing frequency of low levels).
Trend Type X: Complex trends that do not fall into any of the categories listed above. It is not possible to categorize portions of the ozone distribution into “low”, “middle”, and “high” for this trend type because the directions of the trends shift more than two times across the distribution.
For assessing the trend behavior of median concentrations, Trend Type 1 sites (i.e., compression from both ends toward the center) were grouped in the study into three subcategories: (1) “1a” sites had increasing median concentrations; (2) “1b” sites had no trend in the median; and (3) “1c” sites had decreasing median concentrations.
Various shifts in ozone distributions occur as differing emissions changes occur. For example, Figure 6a illustrates the shifts that occurred between 1989 and 2013 as a result of emissions reductions in the hourly average ozone levels for the rural Glazebury site. Both ends of the distribution shift toward the center with decreasing frequencies occurring at the high end (55 to 85 ppb) and low end (0 to 10 ppb) of the distribution with increasing frequency of hourly ozone levels between 20 ppb and 45 ppb. This Trend Type 1 site is further designated as Trend Type 1a because the median concentration increased (data not shown for median increase). In contrast, Figure 6c illustrates the entire distribution shifting upwards (Trend Type 8) as a result of regional emission increases for a suburban site at Yuen Long, Hong Kong, China between 1995 and 2015.
The predominant pattern for the 276 EU and 196 US sites characterized in the case study was the shifting of high and low levels toward the center (Trend Type 1) (Figure 8). Seventy percent of the combined EU and US sites experienced this pattern and 71% of those sites had increasing median ozone levels (i.e., Trend Type 1a) (Figure 8). A higher proportion of US sites were classified as Trend Type 1 (81% of all US sites compared with 60% of all EU sites), and as the Trend Type 1a sub-group (61% of all US sites, 43% of all EU sites). As described in Section 1, this trend type is consistent with behavior expected in regions, such as the EU and US, which have implemented large decreases in regional NOx emissions. Because of precursor emission increases in mainland China, some sites in mainland China and Hong Kong exhibited the middle of the distribution shifting upwards but the low end not changing; for other sites in China, the entire distribution shifted upwards. All nine of the Chinese sites characterized in the case study were either Trend Types 7 (increasing frequency of high levels), Trend Type 8 (increasing frequency of high ozone, decreasing frequency of low ozone), or Trend Type X (complex trends that could not be categorized (Lefohn et al., 2017). The characteristics for the 9 Chinese sites are described in Lefohn et al. (2017).
Percent of combined EU and US sites that exhibited specific trend types that occurred. (Data results summarized from Lefohn et al., 2017). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.279.f8
4.1.2. Response of exposure metrics to changes in distribution patterns
Table 4 identifies the TOAR metrics selected in the case study for characterizing the relationship between exposure metrics and changes in distribution patterns. The metrics listed in Table 4 are a subset of the human health and vegetation effects metrics described in Table 1. Details about the months associated with the averaging or accumulation periods in the seasonal exposure metrics (i.e., 3- and 6-month periods) are found in TOAR-Vegetation and http://www.igacproject.org/activities/TOAR. The 3-month season is defined to be representative of the wheat growing season in different climate zones as specified in TOAR-Vegetation and http://www.igacproject.org/activities/TOAR.
The shifting concentrations within the distribution at EU and US sites resulted in varying trend patterns for the exposure metrics (i.e., some decreased, while others increased under the same change in ozone concentration distribution) (Figures 9 and 10). These patterns varied across sites. Analysis of the EU and US sites showed that for metrics determined solely by the highest ozone levels (e.g., A4MDA8), decreasing trends were calculated at the majority of sites at which the frequency of high levels decreased, regardless of changes occurring across other parts of the ozone concentration distribution. For example, at 70% of all sites assigned as Trend Type 1a, 1b, 3, or 4, A4MDA8 decreased (Figure 9a). The A4MDA8 showed no trend at the vast majority of the uncommon Trend Type 2 sites (i.e., low end shifts upward but high end does not change) (Figure 9a).
Percentage of EU and US sites combined in each trend type (e.g., 0, 1a, 1b, etc.) with trends in (a) A4MDA8, (b) 3-month 12-h W126, (c) SOMO35, and (d) 3-month AOT40. Summarized results from Lefohn et al. (2017). Trend Types 5, 6, and 8 did not occur and Trend Type X occurred infrequently. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.279.f9
Percent of EU and US sites combined in each trend type (e.g., 0, 1a, 1b, etc.) with trends in (a) 6-month 12-h W126, (b) 6-month 12-h daily average, and (c) SOMO10. Summarized results from Lefohn et al. (2017). Trend Types 5, 6, and 8 did not occur and Trend Type X infrequently. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.279.f10
Trends in metrics influenced by both moderate and high hourly levels were consistent with the trend types (Figures 9b, c, d and 10a). For example, the SOMO35 and 6-month W126 metrics decreased at a majority of Trend Types 3 and 4 sites (decreasing frequency of high hourly ozone levels), with no trend calculated at the other sites. Conversely, at Trend Type 2 sites (decreasing frequency of low hourly ozone levels), these metrics either increased or showed no trend. At Trend Type 1 sites, the opposing changes (i.e., high levels shifting downward and low levels shifting upward) resulted in a greater variety in the trends in these metrics. A small fraction of Trend Type 1a sites had increasing SOMO35 and 6-month W126 values, while a much larger number of these sites experienced decreases in those metrics. The fraction of decreasing trends within Trend Type 1 sites was larger for subcategories that had no trend in the median (1b) or decreasing median values (1c) than for Trend Type 1a sites which experienced increasing median values.
Finally, trends in the metrics influenced primarily by moderate levels (i.e., 3- and 6-month daily 12-h averages), and the metric determined by low, moderate and high levels (i.e., SOMO10), were similar to trends in the metrics that focused on moderate and high levels except that the relative proportion of decreasing, increasing, and no trends differed at Trend Type 1 sites (e.g., compare SOMO10 to SOMO35 in Figures 9 and 10).
For the sites in mainland China and Hong Kong, all the exposure metrics increased or showed no trend in the case study as a result of the upward shifts in either relatively high ozone levels or across the entire distribution (e.g., please see Figure 6c and 6d).
Identifying the influence of emissions changes on trends in various exposure metrics is not necessarily straightforward. The predominant pattern in the case study for the EU and US sites, where substantial reductions in ozone precursor emissions have occurred (EEA, 2015; US EPA, 2014b), was the shifting of high and low levels toward the center (Trend Type 1) with median concentrations increasing (Trend Type 1a) (Lefohn et al., 2017). Similarly, median concentrations increased at Chinese sites where emissions of NOx have increased until recently in mainland China (Duncan et al., 2016), while in Hong Kong, there have been large reductions in local emissions of both NOx and VOC since 1997 (http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/english/environmentinhk/air/data/emission_inve.html#emission_trends). This highlights the fact that ozone levels are the result of complex chemical and physical atmospheric processes and are impacted by spatially and temporally heterogeneous local, regional, and large-scale emissions changes.
4.2. Comparison between trends patterns described in the case study and trend patterns in the metrics in the TOAR database
In the TOAR-Health and TOAR-Vegetation, the metrics described in Table 4, as well as other metrics (see Section 2), are used to describe spatial variation and long-term trends over a fixed time period (e.g., 1995–2014 and 2000–2014) across sites globally. Using data from the TOAR database with appropriate data capture as specified by TOAR-Surface Ozone Database), we investigate whether trend patterns of human health and vegetation metrics associated with changes between 1995 and 2014 for all relevant TOAR sites were consistent with the trend patterns (at the p < 0.05 level) observed in the case study described in Section 4.1. Additionally, mean and median concentrations determined on an annual and summer seasonal (April–September NH; October–March SH) basis are included in the comparison. For each site, the trend direction for each metric was identified and compared among all the other exposure metrics. For each pair of metrics, Tables 5 and S-4 (in Supplemental Material) summarize the proportion of TOAR sites for which the trends in both metrics are in the same direction (i.e., both decreasing, both increasing, or both with no significant change at the p < 0.05 level) between 1995 and 2014. This provided quantitative information on which metrics behaved similarly and which metrics did not.
Percentage of sites included in TOAR for which the trends (from 1995 through 2014) in TOAR exposure metrics (columns) were in the same direction (i.e., decreasing, increasing, or no significant change) compared to a set of metrics (rows), which included those in Lefohn et al. (2017). The mean and median metrics are included for comparative purposes.* DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.279.t5
4th dma8epa summer
nvgt070 summer
3-month running mean
average MDA8 epax summer
3-month aot40 rice
3-month w126_12h rice
3-month M12 rice
median annual
meanannual
median summer
meansummer
4th W90 92% 83% 80% 67% 75% 80% 80% 63% 32% 38% 41% 48%
4th dma8epa 95% 84% 82% 70% 78% 80% 79% 65% 33% 39% 43% 50%
SOMO35 69% 74% 75% 86% 73% 71% 71% 80% 49% 57% 62% 71%
3-month aot40 wheat 58% 63% 65% 88% 66% 62% 62% 69% 56% 64% 65% 72%
6-month aot40 summer 79% 84% 80% 75% 83% 81% 82% 81% 43% 51% 51% 62%
3-month w126_12h wheat 65% 68% 71% 77% 72% 67% 69% 69% 51% 59% 60% 70%
6-month w126_12h summer 83% 88% 82% 83% 86% 85% 85% 82% 39% 46% 46% 57%
3-month M12 wheat 45% 48% 52% 65% 51% 49% 49% 58% 69% 74% 76% 77%
6-month M12 summer 60% 66% 66% 87% 71% 67% 68% 85% 56% 66% 70% 81%
4th dma8epa summer 100% 87% 84% 72% 80% 83% 82% 68% 33% 40% 39% 48%
nvgt070 summer 87% 100% 83% 77% 86% 87% 88% 78% 37% 44% 43% 53%
3-month running mean 84% 83% 100% 76% 77% 79% 79% 65% 37% 44% 43% 53%
average MDA8 epax summer 72% 77% 76% 100% 79% 76% 78% 88% 48% 58% 59% 71%
3-month aot40 rice 80% 86% 77% 79% 100% 94% 93% 82% 39% 46% 44% 53%
3-month w126_12h rice 83% 87% 79% 76% 94% 100% 96% 77% 35% 43% 41% 50%
3-month w126_24h rice 82% 88% 79% 78% 93% 96% 100% 79% 38% 44% 43% 51%
3-month M12 rice 68% 78% 65% 88% 82% 77% 79% 100% 54% 60% 60% 68%
* For two of the TOAR exposure metrics (i.e., AmaxMDA8 and AmaxMDA1) analyzed in Lefohn et al. (2017), trend analyses were not available in the TOAR preformatted files.
Those exposure metrics influenced by similar level ranges tended to have consistent trend patterns (Tables 5 and S-4). For example, the 4th highest daily maximum 8-h and 4th highest W90 exposure metrics, which are influenced by the highest hourly levels, exhibited trends in the same direction between 1995 and 2014 at 92% of sites analyzed in the TOAR database; neither of the two metrics exhibited a strong relationship with the annual/seasonal median or mean concentrations. On the other hand, the trends for the 4th highest daily maximum 8-h metric and the SOMO10 metric were only in the same direction at 55% of sites. While the 4th highest daily maximum 8-h metric is influenced by changes in the higher levels, the SOMO10 metric is influenced by changes occurring across low, moderate, and high levels. In contrast, between 64% and 83% of sites had trends in the same direction for SOMO10 and the various mean and median concentrations. Based on the results summarized in Tables 5 and S-4, all metrics included in the analysis were then grouped based on the similarity of trend patterns across the TOAR database sites (proportion of sites in agreement ≥ 80%). The groups of metrics with similar trends patterns to each other, and dissimilar patterns to metrics in other groups are as follows:
Human health metrics fell into two distinct groups:
The 4th highest daily maximum 8-h during the year (4th dma8epa annual), 4th W90 (annual), the 4th highest daily maximum 8-h during the summer (4th dma8epa summer), the number of exceedances of daily maximum 8-h values greater than 70 ppb during the summer (nvgt70 summer), and 3-month running mean (i.e., metrics influenced by higher concentrations).
SOMO35, SOMO10, and average MDA8epax summer (i.e., metrics influenced by a mixture of low, moderate, and high levels).
Thus, for the human health metrics, the analysis using TOAR data between 1995 and 2014 indicates that groups of metrics influenced by similar ranges of ozone levels within a distribution exhibit trending patterns which are generally consistent with those calculated in the case study (Tables 5 and S-4).
Vegetation metrics fell into three distinct groups:
3-month AOT40 wheat, 3-month 12-h W126 wheat, 3-month 24-h W126 wheat, and 3-month M12 wheat.
6-month AOT40 summer, 6-month W126 12-h summer, 6-month W126 24-h summer, 3-month AOT40 rice, 3-month W126 12-h rice, 3-month W126 24-h rice, and 3-month M12 rice.
6-month M12 summer, 3-month M12 rice, and mean summer.
Because the accumulation period associated with the 3-month period for the vegetation metrics are dependent upon global regions (see Section 2), no attempt was made to identify the ranges most influencing the individual metrics. For the 6-month metrics, a fixed set of months (April–September NH and October–March SH) was applied for the accumulation period and the ranges were identified. Also note that the 3-month wheat growing season tends to occur earlier in the spring compared to a summer rice growing season in most locations. Therefore, the 3-month rice metrics were more likely to have similar trend patterns to 6-month summer metrics than the 3-month wheat metrics.
For the 6-month vegetation metrics, similar conclusions to those from the human health metrics are reached. In most cases, the metrics associated with the moderate and high levels within the distribution influenced the distinct groups and this was generally consistent with those calculated in the case study.
4.2.1. Mean and median concentrations
Table 5 also compares the case study metrics with two metrics that have not been specifically linked to human health or vegetation impacts, but which are often used to characterize ozone trends and to evaluate global models, the annual and summer mean and median hourly ozone concentrations. There are varying levels of agreement between trends in mean and median concentrations versus different metrics relevant to human health and vegetation. Trends in the human health metric impacted by the high end of the distribution bear the least resemblance to trends in the mean and median values with generally less than 50% of sites having trends in the same direction. Of the human health metrics, SOMO10 had the most sites with trends in the same direction as mean and median trends (64%–83% of sites). Depending on the metric, between 39% and 81% of sites had trends in the same direction between the vegetation exposure metrics and mean/median ozone concentration metrics, with the best agreements occurring with the M12 vegetation metrics. Overall, trends in the four mean/median metrics were not representative of the trends behavior of most of the human health and vegetation exposure metrics. Therefore, modeling results indicating increases or decreases in mean or median concentrations may not reflect changes in health or vegetation impacts. In addition, median metrics showed less correspondence with the effects metrics than the mean metrics and the annual mean/median metrics showed less correspondence with the various effects metrics than the summer mean/median values. These findings are consistent with those reported by Lefohn et al. (2017) that trends in mean or median concentrations did not appear to be well associated with some of the exposure metrics applicable for assessing human health or vegetation effects. Figure 11 compares trend patterns for monthly average concentrations (another commonly used metric for global model evaluations), annual SOMO35, and annual 4th highest daily maximum 8-h concentration (A4MDA8) exposure metrics at a suburban site in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The monthly average concentrations significantly increased for seven of the 12 months, and were never estimated to decrease, while the SOMO35 and the A4MDA8 metrics significantly decreased.
The Theil-Sen (%/year) trend in monthly average ozone levels and the annual SOMO35 and 4th highest MDA8 human health metrics (A4MDA8) for a suburban site for 1980–2013 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (US EPA AQS ID: 421010024-1). The p < 0.05 value was used to determine significance using the Mann-Kendall test. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.279.f11
A key component of the TOAR project is the consistent calculation of a suite of ozone metrics across thousands of monitoring sites across the globe. Human health and vegetation metrics provide information for assessing spatial and temporal variation in ozone relevant to these impacts. In addition, these metrics, calculated at individual sites, provide insight into the physical and chemical processes that determine ozone and its variations on different timescales. Comparison of metrics calculated at surface sites to modeled ozone levels is one method used to evaluate the performance of global models in predicting tropospheric ozone. However, owing to different scientific evidence underpinning each metric, different policy considerations, or features of ozone variability that are of interest, multiple metrics with varying forms have been defined to assess ozone relevant for human health and vegetation impacts, and for model-measurement comparison purposes. This paper has provided the necessary information to understand the implications of selecting any one of these metrics for assessing spatial and temporal trends in ozone and describes the scientific rationale associated with the derivation of the metrics.
In addition to the consistent calculation of metrics across monitoring sites, a consistent approach was also required to quantify the magnitude, direction, and statistical significance of long-term trends in these metrics. To achieve this, the nonparametric Mann-Kendall (M-K) test was used to identify significant trends and the Theil-Sen (T-S) statistic to estimate the magnitude of the trend TOAR assessed over the specified period. There was no evidence of worrisome levels of autocorrelation for the annual metrics over the 15-year period (2000–2014) used in TOAR. In the calculation of the TOAR metrics, and the subsequent determination of trends, all hourly averaged ozone data are used subject to the data capture criteria as indicated in the database descriptive materials. TOAR made the decision to generally not combine data from different sites but a few exceptions were made and are noted in the TOAR database.
Hourly ozone values are used to calculate the magnitude, spatial distribution, and trend for various exposure metrics associated with human health, vegetation, and climate. Exposure metric trends are associated with changes in the frequency of hourly average concentrations across an ozone distribution. The results described in this paper underline the sensitivity of different metrics to different patterns of change across ozone distributions. For example, metrics which focus on the highest concentrations, such as A4MDA8, are sensitive to the magnitude of changes occurring predominately only at these peak concentrations, and independent of changes occurring across the rest of the ozone concentration distribution. In contrast, other metrics which focus on a wider range of hourly average concentrations (e.g., SOMO35, W126, AOT40, daily 12-h average, and SOMO10) are determined by the relative magnitude of changes occurring in different parts of the ozone distribution. Consequently, changes in the ozone distribution at a site may result in different trends in the different metrics used to assess human health and vegetation. Thus, understanding the relationship between trends in exposure metrics and ozone distribution changes is essential for predicting or evaluating changes in human health and vegetation metrics that result from the drivers of ozone variability, as well as assessing the effectiveness of control strategies.
General access to TOAR data is free and unrestricted through the JOIN web interface (https://join.fz-juelich.de/) and its associated REST service (see documentation at https://join.fz-juelich.de/services/rest/surfacedata/). The TOAR data portal (http://toar-data.fz-juelich.de/) contains ozone statistics (including metrics for assessing health, vegetation, and climate impacts), trend estimates, and graphical material. The TOAR data portal provides free and unrestricted access. All use of TOAR surface ozone data should include a reference to TOAR-Database (TOAR-Surface Ozone Database). All database metrics and figures have been uploaded to the PANGAEA data publisher, where the products are permanently archived. The URL is https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.876108.
The supplemental files for this article can be found as follows:
Supplemental Material. Additional text, figures, and tables. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/elementa.279.s1
Acknowledgements and Funding
One author (ASL) acknowledges A.S.L. & Associates for providing support. The author (XX) from the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences acknowledges the support from the National Science Foundation of China (No. 41330422). The ozone observations at Mt. Waliguan, Shangdianzi, and Longfengshan are supported by the China Meteorological Administration. The Hong Kong authors (TW and LZ) acknowledge the support from the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (PolyU 153042/15E). The ozone observations at Hok Tsui are supported by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Project No. G-S023). Two of the authors (HS and BW) wish to note that although this work has been reviewed for publication by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it does not reflect the views and policies of the agency.
Contributed to conception and design: All co-authors.
Contributed to acquisition of data: none.
Contributed to analysis and interpretation of data: all co-authors.
Drafted and/or revised the paper: all co-authors participated in the drafting of the original article, while a subset of the co-authors helped with revision of the various drafts of the manuscript.
Approved the submitted and revised versions for publication: all co-authors.
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International Brain Stimulation Conference
NeuroStar Advanced Therapy is the world leader in transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of major depression with over 1.5 million treatments performed.
NeuroStar has published the largest body of scientific evidence in support of this breakthrough technology, encompassing data from two large multisite randomized, controlled trials. NeuroStar has a unique contact sensing feature to confirm that the treatment coil is positioned accurately, delivering the right dose to the right location every time. Only NeuroStar includes TrakStar Cloud data management software that enables physicians to create and manage patient-specific treatment protocols, track patient treatment progress, and report on patient outcomes
Visit website: www.NeuroStar.com
Magstim
At Magstim®, we believe in developing optimum TMS solutions, enabling ground breaking neuroscience research & TMS Therapy.
As the Brains Behind TMS™, Magstim® stimulators have been used in research studies worldwide for more than 30 years. The Magstim® range of research tools provides cost-effective, innovative solutions for a variety of research opportunities made by pioneers, for pioneers.
Magstim® TMS therapy is an effective, non-invasive, outpatient treatment with very few side effects. TMS is currently prescribed for the treatment of depression and clinical Studies are on-going into other applications.
Find out more about TMS research & therapy at www.magstim.com
BrainsWay
BrainsWay is engaged in the research, development and sales and marketing of a medical system for non-invasive treatment of common brain disorders.
The medical system developed and manufactured by the company is based on a unique breakthrough technology called deep transcranial magnetic simulation (Deep TMS), which can reach significant depth and breadth of the brain and produce broad stimulation and functional modulation of targeted brain areas. The Company’s device has been FDA cleared for the treatment of MDD since 2013 and is now FDA cleared (De-Novo) for the treatment of OCD). The Company's systems have also received CE clearance and are sold worldwide for the treatment of various brain disorders.
https://www.brainsway-global.com/
MECTA
MECTA has set the standard, for over forty years, for unparalleled ECT innovation, based on peer reviewed, randomized, double-blind studies. MECTA's four modalities, Brief Pulse ECT, Ultra-Brief Pulse ECT, Optimized ECT and FEAST have spanned four generations of ECT devices used for the treatment of depression.
MECTA ECT research was initiated in 1973 at Oregon Health Sciences University which produced the first and only, monitored (EEG/ECG), brief pulse ECT devices - MECTA C and D. Subsequent research at Columbia University was implemented into the third generation, MECTA SR and JR digital devices, which were introduced in 1985, and they utilized the first RUL ECT, multiple dosing schemes and titration.
In 1998, controlled research from Duke University and Columbia University was integrated into the current MECTA spECTrum 5000®* and 4000™* devices, the first and only EEG Data Analysis feature, and spECTrum ULTRABRIEF©2003 ECT which dramatically minimizes cognitive effects. In 2011, Optimized ECT©2011 was introduced based on further research from Columbia University, ensuring robust efficacy and lower amnestic effects coupled with Optimized Titration Tables based on age, sex and gender. Ongoing clinical trials worldwide to achieve focality in brain stimulation, FEAST, are very promising. This level of innovation from MECTA has continued to lead the field of ECT.
For further information on MECTA products visit:
mectacorp.com
Brain Ultimate
Yingchi specializes in developing and marketing the non-invasive magnetic brain stimulation systems for depression treatment as well as clinical determination and research in the areas of neurophysiology, neurology, cognitive neuroscience, rehabilitation and psychiatry.
The main products include TMS, tDCS, robotic arm for TMS, neuronavigation system and so on. At the meantime, we market a series of accessories of TMS including more than 20 kinds of dedicated coils (enable to meet different requirements of clinic and research). The TMS are available to combine with EEG/ERP/EMG/MEP. More information please visit www.ying-chi.net
Mag Venture
MagVenture's mission is to be the most dynamic and innovative supplier of TMS solutions. Our ultimate goal is to help facilitate new treatment options for those who need it.
Within research, MagVenture is widely known and recognized for our MagPro product line, one of the most powerful, advanced and durable TMS solutions on the market. Many "first mover" features and improvements have been developed over the years in response to ideas and requests from our customers, including:
Multiple waveforms and pulse modes
TMS-fMRI, TMS-EEG, and navigation-guided TMS
Coils and software for true double-blinded trials
Specialized coils including a rat coil for animal model studies
Active cooling allowing for more aggressive rTMS protocols.
The MagVenture TMS Therapy System is FDA cleared and CE-approved for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in adults. For the same indication, the 3-minute TBS protocol, Express TMS® was also FDA cleared in 2018.
More info at www.magventure.com
Nexstim is a medical technology company focused on the development and commercialization of its world-leading SmartFocusTM TMS technology for both therapeutic (NBT® system) and diagnostic (NBS system) applications.
The SmartFocusTM TMS technology, with a highly sophisticated 3D navigation, is the only personalized, E-field navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) approach providing accurate targeting of TMS to a specific area of the brain. Nexstim’s NBS system is the only FDA-cleared and CE marked system based on navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (nTMS) for the pre-surgical mapping of the speech and motor. Nexstim NBT® system is FDA cleared for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and CE marked in Europe for the treatment of major depression and chronic neuropathic pain.
More information at: www.nexstim.com
Rogue Research
Rogue Research has been your partner in non-invasive brain stimulation for almost 20 years.
We pioneered neuronavigation for TMS with Brainsight and continue this leadership role by developing the most advanced TMS stimulator, the Brainsight cTMS. cTMS offers the ability to manipulate key parameters in the TMS pulse including pulse width and directionality and opens new avenues for stimulation research. Rogue Research also provides tools for basic science including our Brainsight-driven microsurgical robot and deep brain stimulator designed specifically for animal studies. We can also develop custom hardware solutions for your research needs.
https://www.rogue-research.com/
Rogue Resolutions
Rogue Resolutions specialises in combining technologies and services for neuroscience. We believe in the importance of developing and maintaining strong links between academia and industry and strive to improve and streamline knowledge transfer between those working in research and those working in the industry.
Our portfolio of services and products includes a range of high standard devices in the fields of:
Neuromodulation:
TMS, rTMS, cTMS, tDCS, tACS and tRNS
Neuronavigation:
TMS navigation and TMS Robot
Neuroimaging:
EEG, fNIRS, analysis software and fMRI compatible devices
Neurosensory Systems:
Eye-tracking, response devices, stimulus control software, projection systems and tactile stimulation
In collaboration with our technical partners and in conjunction with our research customers, we are able to remain at the cutting edge of research and product development both in techniques and technologies.
We believe that the key to development within our sector is through collaboration and we will continue drive progress through a collaborative and sharing approach.
https://www.rogue-resolutions.com/
Workshop Sponsors
Neuroelectrics
Neuroelectrics aims to create a new paradigm in the treatment and diagnosis of brain diseases. The company has developed the only system in the market capable of wirelessly stimulating the brain non- invasively through tCS (transcranial electric current stimulation) and monitoring the brain (EEG- electroencefalography) simultaneously. Additionally, the technology allows for telemedicine home monitoring & treatment to tackles challenging unmet medical needs.
Neuroelectics's devices are CE Medical Device approved in Europe for depression, chronic pain, addiction and stroke rehab and it is targeting the regulatory path in the USA. Out of Europe, the company is servicing the research community in the rest of the world, having sold in more than 35 countries and collaborating with some of the most prestigious research centres in the world.
Neurosoft is a global provider of devices for TMS. First TMS machine was developed in Neurosoft in 1998. Since that time 4 generations of machines were launched to the international market. The last model of device named Neuro-MS/D has 3 different variants and covers both clinical and research needs.
Short list of device features includes: up to 4 T intensity, up to 100 Hz frequency, biphasic stimulus waveform, theta burst mode (TBS). Device can be supplied with the most effective on the market cooling system which allows producing more than 7000 pulses at 75% of MO at 5 Hz frequency without any pause. Neurosoft is the only company on the market developing and producing both professional EMG and NCS systems and TMS systems. This brings the machine at unique mode of integration between TMS and EMG. Such tests as SICI, IHI, TST, etc can be done routinely without any integration or adjustment work. You just need to select test template from the list. Therapeutic version of device goes with Windows-based software Neuro-MS.NET. It is a treatment planner and patients’ database in one package. The software includes wide list of templates for most diseases cured with TMS: depression, tinnitus, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, etc.
More information at: www.neurosoft.com
Neuromodulation: TMS, rTMS, cTMS, tDCS, tACS and tRNS
Neuronavigation: TMS navigation and TMS Robot
Neuroimaging: EEG, fNIRS, analysis software and fMRI compatible devices
Neurosensory Systems: Eye-tracking, response devices, stimulus control software, projection systems and tactile stimulation
Soterix Medical
Soterix Medical is a global leader in non-invasive neuromodulation technologies. Soterix Medical introduced High Definition-transcranial Electrical Stimulation (HD-tES) which is the only targeted non-invasive sub-threshold Neuromodulation technology.
Coupled with Advanced Neurotargeting software which allows the design of optimized and individualized stimulation along with current flow visualization, HD-tES allows customizing stimulation for susceptible populations (stroke, pediatric, etc). Soterix Medical offers the most advanced platforms for non-invasive Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, Spinal Cord and Cranial Nerve Stimulation and pre-clinical Animal Direct Current Stimulation. Used in hundreds of research and medical centers around the world, Soterix Medical is the trusted leader for clinical and research grade noninvasive electrical stimulation. Soterix Medical is an ISO certified, FDA registered facility based in New York City with extensive regulatory agency approvals worldwide.
https://soterixmedical.com/
Vielight
Vielight Inc. leads in the application of photobiomodulation (PBM) to modulate mental performance. Our proprietary technology is affordable and designed for home-use
Data from early clinical studies for dementia have been very promising, leading to randomized controlled trials in progress now. In addition, recent investigations demonstrate that the effect on brain functions are also acute and immediate, as observed with EEG and cognitive performance measures. The ease of use combined with safety suggests that PBM delivered by Vielight is very promising as the next-generation non-invasive brain stimulation method, ideal for lay users, hackers and researchers.
Ybrain
Providing Innovative Brain Science Solution Services.
We are always looking for better treatment options for patients by working with health care professionals and investing in research and development.
http://www.ybrain.com/
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Johnny Mundo: Vampiro Is A Mark For Himself
It's been just under a month since the messy Taya, Johnny Mundo Vampiro started trashing her on Twitter; for some reason, he tweeted a bunch of stuff and called her 'a f------ mark', then blocked her on Twitter, then unblocked her on Twitter, then wrote an apology on his Facebook page, then deleted the apology on his Facebook page. When I saw all the things he was writing about my fiancée, I felt like I needed to say something. Vampiro preys upon people's dreams and lies to people, but he doesn't keep track of his lies. Ultimately, he's a mark for himself and AAA situation went down, and now Mundo is clearing the air.
During a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Mundo elaborated on the situation that ended up seeing both talents finish up with AAA.
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"I brought Taya's Reina de Reinas championships to Mexico because AAA supposedly needed it for a photo shoot. A few days later, it was announced that she was stripped of the title for using an illegal hold in a no disqualification match from a match in Tijuana when she won the belt. That made no sense, as the whole point of a no disqualification match is that there are no illegal holds. The real issue is that Taya has worked for that company for five years, done everything asked of her, and she would have agreed to whatever they asked. She's spent thousands and thousands of hours on the AAA bus, changed in bus stations and behind barns when there were no locker rooms, just to have the opportunity to work for that company. She thought being stripped of the title without even being informed was a huge slap in the face. All she needed was a phone call, but they didn't do that, so she got upset," said Mundo
Mundo then opened up about Vampiro, who had harsh words for Mundo's girlfriend in Taya.
"Vampiro started trashing her on Twitter; for some reason, he tweeted a bunch of stuff and called her 'a f------ mark', then blocked her on Twitter, then unblocked her on Twitter, then wrote an apology on his Facebook page, then deleted the apology on his Facebook page. When I saw all the things he was writing about my fiancée, I felt like I needed to say something. Vampiro preys upon people's dreams and lies to people, but he doesn't keep track of his lies. Ultimately, he's a mark for himself," Mundo said.
Make sure to check out Mundo's full interview at this link.
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College Student in Hot Water for Listing Dorm Room on Airbnb
By Robin Stein Published February 08, 2016 College PlanningCredit.com
There are a lot of creative ways to make an extra buck. Unfortunately for Emerson College sophomore Jack Worth, his way may have been a little too creative.
Hoping to help offset college expenses, Worth, 19, posted his dorm room on Airbnb, boasting the private room offered “sweeping views of Boston Common, right in the heart of downtown,” reports the Boston Globe.
At first, Worth’s enterprising plan worked like a charm. Last month, three subletters rented out his abode in Little Building, a 12-story dorm housing about 750 students, which, according to the college’s website is located “in the heart of Boston’s Theatre District.”
Disciplinary Action & Fines
But after two weeks on the market, college officials caught wind of Worth’s money-making venture and shut it down. Now he’s facing a disciplinary hearing and a $150 fine from Airbnb. School officials told the Globe Worth’s move violated the school’s housing and residency hall contract.
Apparently, Worth is not the only college student doing business on Airbnb, which has a page highlighting 46 dorm rooms available in New York City alone. An Airbnb spokesman told the Boston globe “all hosts are asked to follow local regulations when renting a room or property.”
Worth admitted that he violated school policies, which prohibit students from renting out rooms to protect residents from potential safety or security risks, but said he pre-screened renters, and accompanied them whenever they entered or left the building and got the OK from all his suite-mates.
Now Worth’s fate rests in the hands of the college’s disciplinary board, but his cause has made him into a virtual cause célèbre, inspiring a Twitter hashtag and change.org petition called “Free Jack Worth,” which has signed up nearly 500 supporters. (Emerson College and Airbnb did not respond immediately to a request for follow-up comment.)
While some on Twitter are slamming Worth for potentially endangering fellow students, others are praising his entrepreneurship. Many have echoed the sentiments of one #FreeJackWorth tweeter, who noted “Maybe Jack Worth wouldn’t have had to rent out his dorm room if college weren’t so ludicrously expensive.”
Certainly Worth’s story is testimony to the financial pressure college students face trying to stay afloat amid skyrocketing costs of tuition, books and living expenses. But for now, students might want to stick to less risky ideas— like these alternatives to debt-building student loans — or try their hand at one of these unconventional money-making ventures for college students.
For those taking out student loans, it’s good to keep in mind that your credit scores can drop significantly if you fall behind on paying them back. You can monitor your credit score once a month for free using Credit.com’s Credit Report Card. That way, you can see for yourself how student loan debt affects your scores.
More from Credit.comHow to Consolidate Student LoansCan I Pause My Student Loan Payments?Private Student Loans: What to Watch Out For
This article originally appeared on Credit.com.
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California woman gets 4 years in prison for trying to sell infant outside Walmart
SALINAS, Calif. – A California woman who tried to sell her baby outside a Walmart is going to prison for four years after she asked a judge to lock her up because she'd probably violate probation again.
Samantha Tomasini, of Salinas, was arrested in June 2010 after witnesses reported that she and her boyfriend Patrick Fousek were offering their 8-month-old daughter for $25.
Tomasini pleaded no contest to child endangerment, and she was sentenced to four years' probation and placed in a drug treatment program. But she was re-arrested last year for violating probation.
The Monterey Herald reports Judge Pamela Butler sentenced Tomasini on Wednesday after hearing her request for prison time.
Prosecutors say Tomasini and Fousek were regular methamphetamine users and appeared high when they were arrested. The child has since been adopted.
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<!- End DFP Code -->
Historic manor house with surrounding land and buildings, Mayenne, Pays de la Loire
€292,600 Guide price [convert]
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Property Details: Character Property, Ambrières-les-Vallées, Mayenne, Pays de la Loire
€292,600 Guide price
ASIIMMOBILIER
0033XXX XXX
Property Type: Character Property
Receptions: 2
Primary Energy Consumption Band: 151
€292,600 [convert] Mortgage calculator Part Loads & Removals
France Property Shop ID: 463650
Historic stone built manor house with original features, exposed beams and open fireplace. The property has been renovated over recent years and the owners have ensured the charm of the house has been retained. The kitchen has fitted units and a breakfast area,The lounge has a large fireplace within which is a substantial wood burning stove,The dining room also has a fireplace and door to the terrace, The bedrooms are located over two floors, the master having a stone surround fireplace dating back several hundred years. To ne side of the house is a terrace area with a hot tub. To the front of the property lies a courtyard area, within which are the outbuildings , one of which has been transformed into a splendid games room. The others are used for storage, a workshop and garage. The land surrounds the property and is good grazing land. The property has oil fired central heating, wood burning stoves, mains and well water,broadband reception and three phase electric supply.
To Arrange A Viewing
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Primary Energy Consumption (kWh/m2/year) For This Property
51 -90 B
91 - 150 C
151 - 230 D
231 - 330 E
331 - 450 F
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JAR FILLING SOLUTIONS FOR CONDIMENTS FROM RIGGS AUTOPACK
The Return of Garrett Ingredients
On Friday 15th October, Renshawnapier Thornbury, part of the Real Good Food Company Plc (RGFC), went back to its roots and rebranded as Garrett Ingredients, the company’s original family name when it was first formed in 1948.
The decision was made by the management team earlier this year following their desire to regain the company’s own identity and stand proud of its heritage. As Garrett Ingredients, the company will continue to help develop the UK’s food manufacturing industry and provide the technical expertise upon which it has built its long deserved reputation.
Garrett Ingredients was founded just after the Second World War when its founder, Alan Garrett, left the army to become an agent for several British food companies. He built the company on supplying raw materials to smaller businesses who were struggling to source them elsewhere; a service the company still prides itself on today. Garrett Ingredients changed hands in 1990 and developed into new areas to become part of the Real Good Food Company Plc as Renshawnapier Thornbury.
Trading Director of Garrett Ingredients, Tom Fowler who heads up the Thornbury business explains the reason for the name change:
“We have been a major player in UK food manufacturing for several years, initially as Garrett Ingredients for 42 years and more recently as Renshawnapier Thornbury. We are proud of our long heritage in the industry and we feel that the Garrett Ingredients name better presents the high level of technical expertise and customer service upon which we have built our reputation over the past seven decades.”
Garrett Ingredients will remain a division of Renshawnapier Ltd and part of the Real Good Food Company Plc (RGFC).
Tom continues,
“Our business has always been based on providing a big company service with a small company focus and Garrett Ingredients can continue to deliver this under the umbrella of the Real Good Food Company Plc. Maintaining the support of the Group will continue to provide assurance and additional trading benefits to all of Garrett Ingredients’ customers and suppliers.”
Today Garrett Ingredients is one of the foremost ingredients suppliers in UK, providing dairy, baking and sugar-based products to a large number of UK food manufacturers and suppliers.
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The Motley Fool Canada » Investing » Is Canada Goose Holdings Inc. Right for Your Nest Egg at These Levels?
Is Canada Goose Holdings Inc. Right for Your Nest Egg at These Levels?
Joey Frenette | March 29, 2018 | More on: GOOS GOOS
Canada Goose Holdings Inc. (TSX:GOOS) has arguably been one of the most promising Canadian growth IPOs in recent memory. The company has a ridiculously strong brand that has built a reputation for itself many years prior to going public. And unlike most other firms with strong, exclusive brands, Canada Goose hasn’t really needed to spend cash hand over fist on marketing initiatives to become a staple for consumers of conspicuous goods.
Increasing brand awareness remains one of the company’s top priorities. The most remarkable aspect of the company’s growth story is the fact that it has controlled its spending and has not loosened its purse strings to cover excessive ad expenses, like many other firms in its position would have. Canada Goose, once a firm that was anti-brand and anti-logo, now has one of the most recognizable logos in the fashion industry, which has allowed the company to command sky-high margins across its line-up of luxury outerwear items.
The iconic logo is now a status symbol thanks in part to the company’s growing role in the film industry. Over the years, Canada Goose has essentially become the unofficial outerwear brand of choice by film crews and some of the hottest stars.
Many consumers looking for a new pricey parka have been influenced by what their favourite stars have been wearing on various film sets in chilly locations. Daniel Craig wore the Canada Goose jacket proudly on the set of the last Bond film, Spectre, and anybody who viewed the well-publicized set photos may feel inclined to open their wallets a little wider to be able to dress like the much-idolized Bond. James Bond.
Canada Goose’s sponsorship of two major film festivals in Sundance and Toronto International Film Festival are ridiculously smart ways to promote its brand without breaking the bank. Dani Reiss is all about rampant growth in the most efficient way possible, making the stock a must-own for long-term shareholders seeking above-average EPS growth over the next five years.
Is the stock a buy today?
Canada Goose is definitely poised to be an earnings-growth king over the long haul. The company is putting its foot to the pedal on top-line growth initiatives, while simultaneously investing in margin-growth initiatives.
Although the growth ceiling is high, the stock is definitely not cheap, trading at over 83 times trailing earnings. Although it’s a compelling way to grow your nest egg over the long term, I’d recommend just adding the stock to your radar for now, as you wait for a more reasonable entry point that may present itself over the next few months.
Stay hungry. Stay Foolish.
Canada’s answer to Amazon.com
You've probably never even heard of this up-and-coming e-commerce powerhouse headquartered in Eastern Ontario...
But, despite coming public just last year, it’s already helping the likes of Budweiser... Tesla... Subway... and Red Bull move $9.9 BILLION (and counting) worth of goods online each year.
And now it’s caught the eye of the legendary investor who got behind Amazon.com in 1997 -- just before it shot up over 23,000% and made investors like you and me rich beyond their wildest dreams.
Click here to discover why this investor says it’s time to buy.
Fool contributor Joey Frenette has no position in any of the stocks mentioned.
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Home » Gary Cahill decides to step down from England duty
Gary Cahill decides to step down from England duty
Submitted by content on Sat, 09/08/2018 - 06:01
Chelsea captain Gary Cahill has decided to step back from England duty for the time being in order to concentrate on his club career. The centre-back was included in the Three Lions squad for the summer World Cup but he managed just one appearance for them during the group stage game versus Belgium which had no meaning.
Since returning to club duty, there have been suggestions that Cahill could be excluded from future squads with England with regular Premier League football but the 32-year-old has now taken the advance decision of stepping down with honour, he told Chelsea TV: “In terms of my international future, I think it is time I take a step back and now I feel that is the right moment. I have been hugely honoured to have played for my country and I would never shut the door if I was needed in the future. I had a good chat with the manager and he could see where I was coming from.”
Cahill’s decision comes at a time where he has struggled to make a mark under Maurizio Sarri. The new Blues boss has recently iterated the importance of Cahill within the squad ,but he has nevertheless urged him to keep patience with Antonio Rudiger and David Luiz for now being the preferred picks at the heart of the defence.
Meanwhile, talking about international retirements, Jamie Vardy has been another high-profile player who has stepped down from national team duty stressing that he wants to place more focus on his family and club football. The marksman only recently penned a fresh long-term deal with Leicester City and he is now prepared to concentrate on the Foxes, though he has not ruled out an England return until extreme situations. Vardy is presently serving a three-match ban after receiving a straight red card during the 2-0 triumph over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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Copyright © 2019, Football Is Coming Home //
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Borders Without Scruples
By Norman Ball | Aug 28, 2013 | Middle East, Viewpoints | 0 |
“International borders are never completely just. But the degree of injustice they inflict upon those whom frontiers force together or separate makes an enormous difference — often the difference between freedom and oppression, tolerance and atrocity, the rule of law and terrorism, or even peace and war.…Accepting that international statecraft has never developed effective tools—short of war—for readjusting faulty borders, a mental effort to grasp the Middle East’s “organic” frontiers nonetheless helps us understand the extent of the difficulties we face and will continue to face. We are dealing with colossal, man-made deformities that will not stop generating hatred and violence until they are corrected.”—from “Blood Borders: How a Better Middle East Would Look”, Armed Forces Journal (AFJ), June 2006”, by Lieutenant-Colonel Ralph Peters
What is a nation-state ever but a crude perimeter around a discrete subset of man and his manmade “deformities”? Both in her radically reconfigured 2006 map known as the New Middle East (such an Americanism not unlike New Improved Tide Detergent!) and her prescribed manner to achieve it (via ‘constructive chaos’ i.e. war; ah, the banal evil of euphemistic abstractions!), U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sought a solution to the problem of poorly-drawn, and thus violence-prone, borders through the violent imposition of new borders. Alas, when the cure is the disease, the syndrome is a circle. For whiter whites, rinse, wash, repeat.
Aptly timed and doubtless coordinated, Lt. Col. Ralph Peter’s (ret.) 2006 book (quoted above) echoes the non-virtuous circle that Rice’s fruitful chaos rushes to complete. Peters’ ‘ineffective tool’ of statecraft, war, can only be mitigated, it seems, by more application of same. That’s right, only war can stave off war. No doubt this cogent piece of Orwellian doublethink was music to the tanks of the military industrial complex. The fact is poverty, income disparity, sectarian and tribal divides, not to mention the West’s propensity for regional machinations (of which border-fiddling is one) form an underlying, indigenous and highly complex disease pattern to which border overlays are, at best, a surface irritant. Depending on the depths of one’s cynicism, it could be argued all those grinding and seemingly intractable social ills (has anyone ever really tried to render them more tractable?) promise a surfeit of what the West really seeks: prolific, inexhaustible and lucrative regional frictions.
If one looks even further between the lines, there lurks a more profound non-indigenous disease tracked in on the heels of arriving Westerners. This smallpox of the psyche, we might call Freudian transference. Indeed the planks in our own eyes never cease to amaze with their ability to parse the specks of sawdust in the eyes of our distant brothers. Though the western tendency to impose itself is historically disparaged under a host of socioeconomic terms—mercantilism, colonialism, cultural hegemony, the Crusades—(such macro deflections are routinely invoked by the aggrieved individual as a means to salvaging personal dignity and honor) what we really seek is an expunging of our sins on the backs of rude and swarthy savages. Furthermore the colonized, who must live the indignities every day, feel the shadowy impartation of which economic exploitation becomes but one lurid and visible feature. What were the Crusades after all but the Superego arrived to hunt down and redeem the Id? This oddest of maladies might best be called expansionist xenophobia as it involves quarantining ourselves from the imagined diseases borne by third-world strangers (or are they the personification of disease itself?), an especially tall order since it is we who have sought historically to inflict ourselves upon them. Ultimately then, the fault lies not within our lines, but within ourselves. Hence the Sunni ‘psychological warfare’ Conflict Forum’s Alistair Crooke refers to of exhausting and demoralizing the interlopers by creating an expansive mirror within which the latters’ inherent contradictions must be gazed at and ultimately retreated from. To the extent we are not who we think we are, we become even less self-recognizable (Conrad’s Kurtz might say) in the estranging embrace of faraway lands. Hegemony is an “elaborate mechanism” which, among other things, elaborates our alienation, itself the very animus fueling our escape to places unknown. (See ‘The Inevitable Has Happened In Egypt’; by Alastair Crooke, Al-Monitor; August 18, 2013),
Technology adds its own porosity to the business of borders. Affordable handheld devices are prying things open. Universally condemned and feared by the powerful, Wikileaks shines a light on the most verboten state secrets. Twitter is street-level spirit armed with global reach. As journalism expires in corporate gulags, citizen cellphones are inheriting the Fourth Estate. There are shards of light peeking through power’s shuttered corridors. The House of Saud is in conniptions over a blogger who offers detailed descriptions of one corrupt business dealing after another. Against these asynchronous eruptions, power does its frantic best at playing whack-a-mole. Whether in the form of suitcase nuke baggage handler or brave freedom fighter, one man becomes incalculably dangerous. While humanity fears the first, Power, it should be noted, can tolerate neither. All this has the potential of becoming good news for the People, except Julian Assange cautions about the digital footrace underway right now between state surveillance and the progressive cyberpunk culture. From one small room within London’s Ecuadorian Embassy, the future looks, let us say, very sanguine indeed. This over-here, over-there bifurcation creates a scattershot of Cartesian planarities and two-dimensional partitions: roadmaps to peace, arcs of influence, red lines, green zones, pre-1967 borders, 38th parallels, etc. If you listen closely you can hear the NFL trope of 1st and ten within the red zone rattling in amidst the geo-politesse. The home crowd wants to roar so badly its hurts. Alas the Middle East clock never runs down. It’s been fourth and inches for centuries. No less, the American mind yearns to trade pens on an aircraft carrier with a contrite foe. And should you fail to report to the main deck like a proper good sport by God we’ll send our own man and declare victory all by ourselves. America will not be deprived of its pomp. Hell, half the reason we do this shit is for the self-congratulatory pats on the ass at mission’s end. Such bad cricket that the world will not allow us to make a game of it!
Hubris as always is the team captain. One people cannot paint a line across another as no border can stand when the human spirit is so moved. Humanity conforms more to the wavelike spirit of quantum—wind, water, love, intentionality—whereas borders signal a departed world of Newtonian fixities: barbed-wire, gates, towers, checkpoints. Of course the world of fixed addresses provides at the very least devils we know, if not outright familiar comforts:
“We are no longer talking about a fight against groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, which have established addresses for an Israeli military response and discernible targets against which Israel could wage war. The new terror groups, collectively known as global jihad, are operating along the country’s borders as small autonomous cells without permanent addresses or a supreme leader.” — from “Israel’s New Adversary: Global Jihad”, Al-Monitor, August 23, 2103 by Shlomi Eldar
Birds of a feather prefer contending together. Nations seek the comfort of their own, the better to exchange their bombs and forge their alliances. How existentially vexing it becomes fighting a stateless foe especially when said foe is an infectious idea borne by men, one example of which Crooke has recently taken to calling the borderless ‘idea’ of Salafist Jihadism against whose main tactic of nation-state “vexation and exhaustion…Saudi Arabia now [seems most] ripe.” So much for the death of ideas, or at least their programmatic amalgams, ideologies; global jihadism ‘survives’ as an idea only because it is conceptually dead on arrival. Jihadism is the negation of thought. It is nihilism.
In that “colossally deformed” region (Peters), the Middle East, the nation-state constructs of Sykes-Picot did not pretend a social contract in any chaste Lockian sense. Everything about them screamed top-down imposition (not least of all the geographic composition of the Agreement’s signatories: Britain, France and Russia). In fact, they are overtly cynical ‘antisocial contracts’ established between a West eager for corruptible footholds and a Western-trained third-world elite only too eager to oblige. There’s never a shortage of well-heeled aspirants and latent megalomaniacs ready to take up the reins of reign. Who wouldn’t want to run a bleedin’ country? Think of the perks! Once statehood is assigned, a lockbox is opened to which IMF loans can safely be deposited; a national anthem’s composed, a nice flag’s stitched, a comfy chair at the UN is secured; then, photo ops galore with Leaders of the Free World, a state jet, deadly new toys and cooperative military exercises i.e. all the swank accoutrements of ‘Western arrival’. Corruption is the lingua franca of these contrived realms. Banish all talk of cleaning things up.
Borders are the common man’s trap whose jaws he eternally mistakes for a protective embrace. Marx was at his most adroit skipping over them entirely to address workers of the world. The nation-state makes the game a bite-sized, can-do business, each with a teller window (an IMF-approved Central Bank) complete with stateside on-the-hook peons surrounded by menacing border guards with strip search privileges demanding stamped travel papers—and that’s when you’re trying to leave! Defensible borders are an indefensible trope-made-flesh through the power of manipulated fear. Jingoism eats and sleeps borders. Ruinous national debt makes it bones in war which is the lucrative harvesting of the friction between borders. Driving through West Virginia recently, I encountered a billboard, God Bless Our Troops. They’re Fighting for Our Freedom to which I immediately thought God bless the mountain folk, my Scotch-Irish kin, decent to a fault, and to the children they unquestioningly offer up time and again. Yet, how much greater the chance of being taken out by a domestic drone patrolling Interstate-81 than the Charlestown arm of al Qaeda, much less an amphibious battalion of Taliban? For God’s sake, wake up Lil Abner! Map lines are not painted on the ground. They’re painted on the mind. So how do you perceive them, comrade—as a moat to lock invaders out or a wall to lock good people in?
But enough of Appalachian credulity and moonshine as a far better buzz can be had shuttling oil, guns and drugs around the world stage. There’s that cousin of Freudian transference, cognitive dissonance (itself a variant of doublethink), which allows newly constructed bridges in Bagdad courtesy of the Army Corps of Engineers to happen alongside crumbling infrastructure in Charlestown. Hegemony may be, as Zbigniew Brzezinski argues, old as man himself. But we must try to starve the beast at home, especially as it’s doing all it can to starve us out of house and home by indulging ruinous international (mis)adventure. What exactly is this unhinged will-to-power monstrosity that offers no clear benefit to either side? Localism hardly argues for the erasure of national borders but merely a right-sizing of them, i.e. returning the international stage to appropriate scale. The daily tenor of my life, your life, the average Egyptian’s life is most profoundly affected by local phenomena: weather, traffic, air quality, the safety of our streets and schools. Look at the massive commonalities that are being deliberately concealed from us, all to maintain a credible war footing. Frankly if Americans at-large have ever reaped the benefit of any of these hegemonic exercises, I am at a loss for them
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Tags: Egypt
Norman Ball
Norman Ball (BA Political Science/Econ Washington & Lee University; MBA, Geo Washington University) is a well-traveled Anglo-American businessman, author and poet whose essays have appeared in Counterpunch, The Western Muslim and elsewhere. His new book is Between River and Rock: How I Resolved Television in Six Easy Payments. Two essay collections, How Can We Make Your Power More Comfortable? and The Frantic Force are spoken of here and here, respectively. A collection of poetry Serpentrope is due out early 2014 from White Violet Press. He can be reached at [email protected]
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Why some devs partner with investment funds over publishers
September 13, 2018 | By Alissa McAloon
More: Indie, Business/Marketing
"There was a lot of new game ideas that popped up during our extended production period on The Last Guardian, and we really wanted to take our time to explore them — on our own and at our own pace."
- Fumito Ueda explores his studio's partnership with Kowloon Nights
Polygon has published an interesting dive into the investment fund Kowloon Nights, a company that notably made headlines recently for partnering with The Last Guardian director Fumito Ueda as his team works on prototyping its next project.
The story in full offers a look at how (and why) Kowloon Nights itself was created and outlines some of the goals the investment fund keeps in mind when signing developers. Polygon also spoke with a couple of the minds behind the 9 projects currently in development under agreements with Kowloon Nights to offer a look at why those devs went with the fund instead of a more traditional publisher.
Duelyst dev Counterplay tells Polygon, for example, that its next project, Godfall, wants to “nestle between that double-A and triple-A sort of status” and working with Kowloon night gives it both the budget and flexibility to comfortably pursue that goal.
Ueda says that he met with multiple publishers after The Last Guardian came out and could’ve easily, and rapidly, moved into development of the studio’s next game, but that signing on with Kowloon gives his team the freedom to explore new ideas through a longer prototyping period than other agreements would’ve allowed.
Hyper Light Drifter designer Teddy Dief explains that working with an investment fund instead of a publisher comes with a more simplified relationship, but with the added downside that “we’re taking it all on ourselves.”
"I think that there was a period a little bit earlier in indie games, maybe like 10 years ago or something, where the reaction against being involved with other organizations was so strong," explains Dief.
“I’m more of the mindset of, like, I, even if I could fully self-fund, I wouldn’t," he says. "If I had to, for the rest of my career, give someone a piece of the profits of the work to reduce risk, to make this a sustainable career, to keep getting, to make things that I want to make, I [would] happily do that every time.”
Of course, the full piece paints a more complete picture of how Kowloon Nights and investment funds differ from other funding options developers can explore and can be found over on Polygon.
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Doom Eternal News – Release Date, Trailer, Gameplay, Everything We Know
Chris Capel, Jason FaulknerTuesday, September 25, 2018
At Bethesda’s E3 conference this year, the publisher revealed Doom Eternal, the next game in the legendary Doom series, is on its way from original creators id Software. Since then we’ve also had a big gameplay blowout at QuakeCon last month, so now we know quite a lot about the game. So we thought we’d put everything we know about Doom Eternal in one place! We’ve got the Doom Eternal release date, what multiplayer has been revealed, gameplay, trailer, whether it’s coming to Switch, and more. Read on for all the important info on Doom Eternal!
Is it Coming to Switch?
Is it a Sequel to Doom (2016)?
Doom Eternal Release Date
Sadly the one piece of information that Bethesda has not revealed about Doom Eternal is its release date. The same E3 conference where Bethesda announced the game also included reveals for the publisher’s two big RPGs The Elder Scrolls VI and Starfield, and those games probably aren’t due for several years. However, we certainly don’t think Doom Eternal is as far off as those two titles, as the QuakeCon gameplay footage seemed very advanced.
Most likely Doom Eternal will land in 2019. id Software’s next game, Rage 2, a joint effort with Just Cause 4 developer Avalanche, has a release date set for June 2019. We certainly don’t expect another shooter from Bethesda close to Rage 2‘s release, and then of course we have Wolfenstein: Youngblood to consider. Bethesda confirmed that MachineGames’ next Wolfenstein would launch in 2019, so it’s possible Doom Eternal won’t appear until 2020. It all depends on whether Bethesda wants three FPSs out in 2019 or not.
Doom Eternal News - Release Date, Trailer, Gameplay, Everything We Know - GameRevolution
Is Doom Eternal Coming to Nintendo Switch?
At the moment Doom Eternal has not been confirmed for Nintendo Switch. However, it has also not really been confirmed for PS4 or Xbox One, so for all we know it could skip this console generation. If it does come out on current-gen systems, then it is definitely possible Doom Eternal will come to Switch. Both Doom and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus came out on Nintendo’s latest system, so there is certainly a good chance the next Doom will too.
Doom Eternal Trailer
There are currently two trailers for Doom Eternal. The E3 announcement trailer merely introduced the game, and revealed monsters returning from the original Doom games such as the Pain Elemental, Arachnotron, and Arch-Vile. The gameplay trailer, which you can see below, is the more exciting one. It shows off just how the game will play, as well as the new monsters, weapons, and power-ups in action. Exciting stuff.
Doom Eternal Gameplay
From what we’ve seen so far you can count on the same fast-paced shooter action that Doom 2016 had returning in Doom Eternal. Doomguy doesn’t need reloads, and you’ll be popping demons as long as you have bullets. Even after you run out of ammo, our hellish crusader keeps stomping mudholes as he rips eyes, throats, limbs, and pretty much any organ you can think of out of enemies.
Though the core concepts remain the same, Doom Eternal spices things up with a host of new weapons and new mobility options. Returning weapons get new upgrades, and Doomguy now has a little Predator cannon that pops up from over his shoulder that can be used as a secondary. You’ll also get the ability to climb some surfaces (no ladder required), and you’ll have a grappling hook to swing over large gaps.
Most importantly, Doomguy has a sword now.
Doom Eternal Multiplayer
In addition to the return of the multiplayer stylings of Doom 2016, Doom Eternal will feature a new invasion mode. If you’re thinking Dark Souls, you’re pointed in the right direction. Other players will get a chance to jump into your campaign either individually or as a party to try and take you on.
Of course, player controlled demons will be at a disadvantage compared to Doomguy, but in packs, or with stealth and guile, player-controlled enemies will be an exciting new threat. If you’re not into that kind of thing, you can always turn it off too.
Is Doom Eternal the Sequel to Doom?
Doom Eternal is to Doom 2016 as Doom 2 was to Doom, meaning it’s a direct sequel in which demons have begun an invasion of Earth. Since the events of Doom, the Doom Slayer has escaped back into our reality to find that the Earth is covered in demons.
Doom Eternal will take place on Earth, Hell, Phobos, and other locations that have only been hinted at. It’s said that this game will expand the lore of the Doom franchise, which means we may get more story behind the Doom Slayer’s eternal struggle against the forces of Hell.
Tags: Bethesda, Doom Eternal, doom eternal guide, Id Software, PC, PS4, Xbox One
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First Released Apr 4, 2006
Strike Force is a different take on a known conflict: the Second World War.
User Rating: 8 | Commandos Strike Force XBOX
By edubuccaneer | Review Date: April 6, 2006
Commandos: Strike Force seems like blasfemy. Making a first person shooter off a successful real-time strategy game, that featured an isometric perspective. Well, sorry to pop your ballons, but this game feels just like the old ones, as incredible as it might sound.
This time, you'll get to control a quarter-dozen team, that is, three members of the original Commandos team: Tiny McHale, the green beret, hero-type soldier who handles heavy weapons and firefights with ease; Duke, the sniper, an expert marksman with a deadly rifle and even colder blood in hot situations and the good old Spy, who uses his poison tipped throwing knives to silence German troops, and disguises himself as the enemy to gain the upper hand in battle. Each character plays differently, and you’ll often need to manage the three in the course of the game. For example, the green beret, in the first level, will be in the middle of a firefight in a crop-field while the sniper will be providing covering fire and taking out the lights than are helping the Nazis. But before that even happens, the spy will need to infiltrate the farm and open the way so that the meeting between comrades can happen. While you’re manning one guy, the other will take care of himself, but if he gets hurt, you’ll need to heal him if there isn’t a medic close by.
As said, the game plays a lot like its RTS cousins, because of the character management and the objective-based gameplay. The sneaking parts and taking out guards and sentries feels a lot before. If you’re a born FPS player, you’ll have a kind of a tough time here, since it’s not often the case of guns blazing that will save your tail… but if you are a Commandos veteran like myself, you’ll feel just like you’re at home here.
Graphics-wise, the game looks pretty good, all effects that are expected to be seen in a game like this are present and you won’t be blown away by anything. Strangely enough, the game is a system-hog if you happen to play it on a computer. My PC runs FarCry fun details flawlessly, but it burped a lot while playing this game… in consoles, it runs fine and it just feels better playing through a TV set since the PC version feels a ‘floaty’. None of the characters look like the RTS counterparts, but that isn’t really a problem, since the past games varied the looks from game-to-game themselves.
The ‘floaty’ business brings me to the controls. In the PC, you’ll have your normal FPS controls, mouse and keyboard. In the consoles, you’ll be facing a standard scheme that uses the triggers to shoot (in Xbox’s case) to fire your gun, and the face buttons for functions. For guns, you’ll use the directional pad. As a different feature that was kind-of seen in Thief III is the sneak-cam. You’ll get to see your position from the enemy from third-person, but you won’t be able to move. As a side note, you can’t see the enemy’s “sight-cone” as in past games, but come on, it’s 3-D, you can see where the guard is looking just by, well, looking at him!
As for the music, I follows the same style as Commandos 3, with orchestrated tunes and tension inducing pieces. The voice-work is done just as the past game, including the same narrator and some of the character voice actors. Each has its own accent and style.
The visual style of the menus take a cue from Commandos 3, as well, with an old movie grain filter on and the same fonts and selection sounds. It looks a little similar to the slew of WWII shooters, but it has its personality.
Unfortunately, as mentioned above, the game features only three Commandos, leaving out great personalities such as Fins, the diver and the Sapper, who is my favorite character in the series… a lot could have been gained from bringing them up to this game. Maybe if a sequel is made later on.
The game might be avoided by most Commandos veterans who thing Pyro is crazy for changing the formula, but if they take the time to ‘take-out’ this feeling, you’ll be in for a good game that feels a lot tike the series’ already established style. But for the nostalgic public that can’t let go from past games, there’s always hope Pyro and Eidos will keep a spin-off the series and keep making the old style games… but it’s a ten-mile windy drop shoot from a .9 mm that’ll happen soon!
Other Helpful Reviews for Commandos Strike Force
Commandos is not as bad as people make it out to be
By damned_beast | Review Date: Jul 12, 2006 | XBOX
Commandos is a very interesting game that has carried the ideas from the original commandos and brought them over to a FPS game. These ideas play for a more interesting world war 2 game. But some of little problems in th... Read Full Review
An awesome first person shooter with a few dissapointing parts.
By Andilliio | Review Date: Jun 10, 2008 | XBOX
Commandos strike force is a very fun game if you want a quick play. The missions are fun and engaging even if some of the mechanics of the game are only so-so. The stealth doesn't work as well as you would like but if yo... Read Full Review
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The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Legendary Edition
(10) Rate now!
Steam Account Required
Your game has to be activated, installed and downloaded via Steam. more information »
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dawnguard (DLC)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Dragonborn (DLC)
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - Hearthfire (DLC)
Activation Steam
Product type Special Edition
System Windows
Genre RPG
Availability Currently not available
Age rating PEGI Rating 18
SAFE SHOPPING Numerous payment methods and certified security - game on!
Your Game directly by e-mail Get your code or your download-link by e-mail just a few minutes after purchase.
play immediately After getting your game, you can activate the full version, download and play immediately.
Winner of more than 200 Game of the Year awards, experience the complete Skyrim collection with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim® Legendary Edition, including the original critically-acclaimed game, official add-ons – Dawnguard™, Hearthfire™, and Dragonborn™ – and added features like combat cameras, mounted combat, Legendary difficulty mode for hardcore players, and Legendary skills – enabling you to master every perk and level up your skills infinitely.
Live Another Life, In Another World
Play any type of character you can imagine, and do whatever you want; the freedom of choice, storytelling, and adventure of The Elder Scrolls comes to life in one legendary experience complete with added weapons, armor, spells, and shouts from all three official add-ons.
The Vampire Lord Harkon has returned to power. By using the Elder Scrolls, he seeks to do the unthinkable - to end the sun itself. Will you join the ancient order of the Dawnguard and stop him? Or will you become a Vampire Lord? In Dawnguard, the ultimate choice will be yours.
Purchase land and build your own home from the ground up - from a simple one-room cottage to a sprawling compound complete with an armory, alchemy laboratory, and more. Use all-new tools like the drafting table and carpenter’s workbench to turn stone, clay, and sawn logs into structures and furnishings. Even transform your house into a home by adopting children.
Journey off the coast of Morrowind, to the vast island of Solstheim.Traverse the ash wastes and glacial valleys of this new land as you become more powerful with shouts that bend the will of your enemies and even tame dragons. Your fate, and the fate of Solstheim, hangs in the balance as you face off against your deadliest adversary – the first Dragonborn.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim® Legendary Edition © 2011 - 2013 Bethesda Softworks LLC, a ZeniMax Media company. The Elder Scrolls, Skyrim, Dawnguard, Hearthfire, Dragonborn, Bethesda, Bethesda Game Studios, Bethesda Softworks, ZeniMax and related logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of ZeniMax Media Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All Rights Reserved.
Windows - Minimum
OS: Windows 8/Windows 7/Vista/XP PC (32 or 64 bit)
Processor: Dual Core 2.0GHz or equivalent processor
Graphics: Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 512 MB of RAM
Hard Drive: 6 GB HD space
Sound: DirectX compatible sound card
Windows - Recommended
Processor: Quad-core Intel or AMD CPU
Graphics: DirectX 9.0c compatible NVIDIA or AMD ATI video card with 1GB of RAM (Nvidia GeForce GTX 260 or higher; ATI Radeon 4890 or higher)
Reviews (10 reviews)
Best RPG!
Review by Dragonborn / (Posted on 01/07/2016)
I love to slay dragons in this open world. There is so much to explore and the mods are fantastic. Nude patch lol
Fallout®: New Vegas™...
Call of Duty®: Black...
The Crew - Season Pass
Civilization V -...
The Elder Scrolls V:...
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Young ideas wanted
Young people in Redcar and Cleveland are being encouraged to suggest ideas on how to spend grant cash.
Redcar and Cleveland Council has access to two separate pots of grant funding to help boost activities for 13 to 19-year-olds.
The Youth Opportunity Fund, with over £108,000, aims to involve young people in identifying positive activities.
The Youth Capital Fund, with just under £80,000 available over two years, aims to enhance existing provision or establish new youth provision. A panel of young people meets every month to assess fund applications in four areas - sport, culture, recreation or volunteering.
Councillor Steve Kay, cabinet member for education, said: "This is a fantastic opportunity for our young people to come up with some bright ideas."
* For more information, contact Aggie Scott on 01642 476367 or e-mail yof@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Durham Tees Valley Airport'Brilliant - and not before time': A sunny response on Stockton High Street to Majorca flights
A new service to Palma will be introduced from next summer - and people are pretty happy about it
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New Land Cruiser Prado rises up
There are very few vehicles that can compete in two segments simultaneously. Take Toyota’s Land Cruiser Prado as a prime example.
Wednesday, 04 December 2013, 22:00
It manages the difficult task of taking on the likes of the BMW X5 in terms of urban kerb appeal while offering Mitsubishi Pajero levels of rugged off-road ability. Now in its fourth generation, the Prado recently underwent a mid-life refresh to help re-establish itself as a top multi-segment contender.
Changes include exterior enhancements such as a deeper front bumper, a redesigned grille that adds the new Toyota corporate identity to the off-roader’s visage and a new set of alloy wheels for both TX and VX variants. Alluding to the Prado’s off-roading pretentions are the new headlamp clusters complete with the Land Cruiser insignia that has been made higher so as to prevent damage when venturing off the beaten path.
Both the lower TX and flagship VX models have received new features and managed to increase in price by just 1% throughout the range. The TX model now gets heated outside mirrors, dual-zone climate control and new 17-inch alloy wheels while the VX adds blind-spot functionality, a tyre-pressure monitor and a set of 18-inch alloys. The blind-spot warning on the VX model alerts the driver of a vehicle on either side using millimetre-wave radars.
Both models also benefit from eight-way electrically adjustable seats on the driver and passenger side as well as Trailer Sway Control, which uses the vehicles’ electronic systems to prevent a trailer in tow from swinging side to side.
The interior is perhaps where the changes can be felt more easily. The materials have been upgraded, which adds the certain soft touch one expects from a vehicle costing upward of R600 000. The seven-seater now features a redesigned centre console that incorporates the new features. Good news for the passengers in the back is that legroom in the third row has been increased thanks to the floor being lowered by some 38,1mm.
The Optrition instrument binnacle on the VX model emits a blueish-white light that makes the speed and tachometer easier to read. In the middle of the new instrument cluster is a 4.2-inch colour TFT multi-information display that provides the driver with info such as wheel traction, steering angle and differential lock operation.
The dynamic-driving system’s interface has also received a more user-friendly makeover, with a redesigned dashboard as well as the seven-inch colour screen infotainment system, which on the VX model includes satellite navigation in addition to the standard reverse camera and multimedia functionality.
The Multi-Terrain Select system allows for the vehicle to be set up according to varying driving conditions. The system regulates wheel spin and also features multi-terrain ABS, which minimises brake lock-up to aid traction in off-road conditions. I can attest that the new system proved easy to use. The new dial configuration and large, clearly marked buttons mean that there is no confusion when it comes to selecting an off-road setting. Along with this comes the terrain monitor, which uses four cameras to relay imagery to the driver regarding what is happening around the front, rear and sides of the vehicle, which comes in handy when one is trying to avoid large rocks and obstacles.
Mechanically the Prado remains much the same as before, with a 4.0-litre V6 petrol and four-cylinder turbo-diesel making up the engine range. The former produces 202kW and 381Nm of torque. It is very refined affair piloting the V6. Watch out for the fuel consumption, however - the vehicle is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission and uses a claimed 11.5 litres/100km, but from my experience it can creep north of that figure quite easily.
The diesel is the one to have with a punchy 120kW and 400Nm of torque in combination with the same transmission. The claimed fuel consumption is 8.5 litres/100km, making the diesel a more realistic everyday option.
Pricing for the updated Toyota Land Cruiser Prado starts at R632 200 for the TX 4.0 V6 Auto and goes up to R742 400 for the VX 3.0 DT Auto Sunroof. Prices include a 5-year/90 000km service plan and 3-year/100 000km warranty.
Posted on: 22:00 Wed, 04 December 2013
I'm a 46 year old man looking to meet men between the ages of 30 and 65.
CowboyKate
QueenB264
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Hot-shot Allen stars in Italian job
WE'VE WON THE CUP - Reading Girls Ladies show off the trophy after their tremendous success in the San Marino Cup tournament. They defeated a Spanish side in the final
PHILLIPA ALLEN struck a superb goal to seal victory for Reading Girls Ladies in the final of the San Marino Cup tournament against a Spanish side.
It was a tremendous achievement as they remained unbeaten in all their six games on days when the temperature soared to 40C (104F).
They never looked back after getting off to a good start by beating Norwegian side Asil 2nd 4-0 with goals from Amy Watsham, Tracey Beales (2) and Hazz Fraser.
Their next match was much tougher as they were up against CFF Maritim, a Spanish Academy side. Reading went a goal down to a tremendous lob but Allen matched that with a superb equaliser just before half-time.
Reading also fell behind in their game against Como, a very good Italian academy side, and spent much of the first half on the defensive, with keeper Lauren Wells making some excellent saves.
The English girls upped the pace in the second half and surprised the Italians with their attacking play. Lian Ryan smashed home a free-kick to level the scores and Reading had chances to win the game.
This left Reading second in their group, with the Spanish girls finishing top on goal difference. Reading met New York Dragons in the semi-finals, with the Americans having won their group without conceding a goal.
The game was largely dominated by the midfielders and defenders, and so scoring chances were limited.
The tie went straight to penalties. After five kicks apiece, the score stood at 3-3, taking it to sudden death. Nikki Hipgrave kept her nerve to score before the American keeper fired her kick over the bar to give Reading victory in a great game.
The final was played in San Marino's Olympic Stadium where England men's team had played a World Cup qualifier in 1993.
It was a rematch with the Spanish team who had beaten Asil 1 in their semi final also on penalties.
This time Reading were ready for the skilful Spanish style of play and took the game to them.
Amy Watsham opened the scoring mid-way through the first half.
After the break, Reading maintained the pressure, only for Maritim to equalise with 10 minutes remaining and for the first time they looked dangerous.
So the teams were required to play 20 minutes of extra time with the temperature on the pitch up above 40 degrees.
Reading Girls were not going to be beaten, though, and during the first period of extra time the ball was passed to Allen, who produced a stunning strike which flew into the top corner of the goal.
Both teams continued to produce some fine football but Reading held on to seal victory and the championship.
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The Day After: Glenn rallies the troops; recaps 3.5 years of Obama’s lies
While most conservatives are throwing pity parties today, Glenn used this opportunity to rally the troops and gear up for November. The only way to rid America of the albatross that is Obamacare is through repeal - and the election in November. On radio, Glenn motivated the troops and also highlighted the most blatant Obama lies in the last 3.5 years.
"There's no way to reverse this machinery soon unless Mitt Romney wins and then Mitt Romney decides to actually dismantle it," Glenn said on radio this morning.
"Where do we stand after the Supreme Court hearing? There's been a battle going on for the hearts and minds of this country. Who has the credibility to win?"
"We're constantly accused of lying, of hating, of using unlimited monetary resources to reshape our every discussion. Well, let's make a quick recounting here of what has transpired over the last three and a half years, see who has credibility and, again, not our arguments but with audio."
Glenn then played some of the lies coming out of this administration over the past several years:
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Guantanamo will be closed by no later than one year from now.
GLENN: Okay. Is it one year yet? Who told the truth? Who lied? They said there would be no lobbyists in the White House. We said that would be great but it won't happen.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Tell the lobbyists in Washington that their day of setting the agenda are over. They have not funded my campaign. They will not work in my White House.
GLENN: Obama appointed 17 be lobbyists to high positions in his administration in the first 14 days. That's more than one lobbyist per day. Who told the truth and who lied? They said the stimulus spending would produce jobs. We said it would not.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: I think we can get a lot of work done fast. When I met with the governors, all of them have projects that are shovel ready.
GLENN: He met with the governors and all of them have projects that were shovel ready. We said that was impossible. What happened?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Shovel ready was not as shovel ready as we expected.
GLENN: Sure sounds funny. What a surprise.
PRESIDENT OBAMA: So, let me be absolutely clear. If you are a family making less than $250,000 a year, you will not see your taxes go up.
GLENN: Got it? Pretty clear. We said, among so many other problems with the healthcare bill, that this was a massive tax increase, possibly the largest in U.S. history. They were absolutely adamant that this was not a tax increase. They said it was ridiculous to even suggest that this was a tax increase of any kind.
"It's not about Barack Obama and bashing him. This is about presenting facts to the American people. They continually question our credibility and they can do it because the media does not do what we're doing right now. So, all we have to do is remind them of their own words, so people can compare their deeds to their words and then decide who told the truth and who lied," Glenn said.
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Amendment Of The Regulation To The Aid And Compensation Percentage, Which Are Applicable In The Context Of The Health And Social Aid Act
Original Language Title: Änderung der Verordnung zu den Beihilfen- und Ausgleichsprozentsätzen, die im Rahmen des Gesundheits- und Sozialbereich-Beihilfengesetzes anzuwenden sind
Read the untranslated law here: https://www.global-regulation.com/law/austria/2996759/nderung-der-verordnung-zu-den-beihilfen--und-ausgleichsprozentstzen%252c-die-im-rahmen-des-gesundheits--und-sozialbereich-beihilfengesetzes-anzuwenden-s.html
42. Regulation of the Federal Minister for finance, modifies the Ordinance of the Federal Minister of finance to the aid and compensation percentage, which are applicable in the context of the health and social aid Act (GSBG 1996),
On the basis of §§ 1a, 4, and 16 par. 3 of the health and social aid Act, Federal Law Gazette No. 746/1996, as last amended by Federal Law Gazette I no. 22/2012, is - in terms of §§ 1a and § 16 ABS. 3 - in agreement with the Federal Minister of health prescribed:
Ordinance of the Federal Minister of finance to the aid and compensation percentage, which are applicable in the context of the health and social aid Act (GSBG 1996), Federal Law Gazette II No. 56/1997, last amended by the regulation Federal Law Gazette II No. 90/2005 is amended as follows:
1. in the title eliminates the expression together with punctuation marks (GSBG 1996); in § 1 para 2, § 2 para 1, § 3, section 4, paragraph 1, 2 and 3 as well as article 5 the expression 'GSBG 1996' is replaced by the phrase "Health and social aid Act".
2. Article 1 is amended as follows:
a) paragraph 1 is as follows:
"(1) 24% of the flat-rate aid pursuant to § 1a health and social aid Act, Federal Law Gazette I are no. 746/1996, to pay the social insurance institution of the farmers."
(b) after paragraph 2, the following paragraph 3 is added:
"(3) under health insurance expenses the following way calculated base of aid under § 1 para 2 is I - by way of derogation from paragraph 2,-for facts and figures, which came to fruition after December 31, 2010 and before January 1, 2014 health and social aid Act, Federal Law Gazette No. 746 / 1996 as amended before Federal Law Gazette I no. 22 / 2012 to understand:"
Reduces the expenses according to the statements of income of social security institutions for the insurance class of insurance, as according to the § 444 para 6 No. 189/1955, issued instructions for the financial reporting and accounting for the social security institutions and the Confederation be created, ASVG, Federal Law Gazette to increase investment spending, then to the following positions are recorded and not reducing the expense recognised in the income statement :
a) expenses for their own health and spas including capital expenditure, b) non-deductible input VAT for investment in facilities, where they not already lit. eliminated were a c) cost dentures of whatsoever by other social insurance institutions, d) depreciation of fixed assets including book value disposals, e) depreciation of claims, f) written off receivables, as far as their loss as an expense was claimed, g) reserve additions, h) packages and individual discounts for remedy or therapeutic AIDS, i) discount income, j) that in the income statement under the item "Co-payments" amounts reported, k) dentures for wrongly provided legal services , l) expenses which are provided in connection with income from compulsory sales taxable activities, m) for death care expenses with the exception of funeral grants in accordance with § 116 paragraph 5 ASVG, n) expenses for purposes of mere asset management, such as in particular - for land, buildings, insofar as they serve other purposes than those of social health insurance, in particular the obtaining of income, - expenses for financial assets including valuation adjustments and losses on sale, o) expenses , which according to § 12 KStG 1988, BGBl. No. 401, not as operating expenses claimed must be.
Affect the provisions of § 2 5 health and social aid Act. As far as the instructions for financial reporting and accounting for the social security institutions and the Confederation are changed, they are amended to apply, which to be used was on the income statement 2011 to 31 December 2011."
3. in section 4, paragraph 4, the phrase "Tax Office for fees and transaction taxes" is replaced by the phrase "Tax Office for fees, transfer taxes and gambling". After the phrase "next month" is the phrase "to explain in writing and" inserted.
4. in paragraph 5, the phrase "Tax Office for fees and transaction taxes" is replaced by the phrase "Tax Office for fees, transfer taxes and gambling".
5. in article 6, the following paragraph 5 is inserted:
"(5) article 1, paragraph 1 1 March 2014 into force. § 1 para 1 in the amended Federal Law Gazette II No. 90/2005 still matters to apply, according to § 1 section 2 of the health and social aid Act, Federal Law Gazette No. 746/1996 as amended by Federal Law Gazette I no. 105/2004 are. § 1 paragraph 2 occurs with 1 January 2014 override. § 1 paragraph 3 is to apply retroactively to facts which were realized after January 1, 2011 and are been done until announcement this regulation not yet with residents notice."
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Service On The Creation Of Single National Emergency Call Number 112
Original Language Title: privind crearea Serviciului naţional unic pentru apelurile de urgenţă 112
Read the untranslated law here: https://www.global-regulation.com/law/moldova/5966919/privind-crearea-serviciului-naional-unic-pentru-apelurile-de-urgen-112.html
08.08.16 AMENDED of HG962, MO265-276 /
08.19.16 art.1046
Under the provisions of art. 4 (5) and 7 c) of Law No.174 of July 25, 2014 on the organization and functioning of the single national emergency call number 112 (Official Gazette of the Republic Moldova, 2014 nr.231-237, art.533), the Government DECIDES:
1. The service creates unique national emergency call number 112 as a public institution.
2. Ministry of Informational Technologies and Communication will serve as the sole founder of the National Service for 112 emergency calls
March. To approve: Regulation Service
single national emergency call number 112 in accordance with Annex 1;
Service Structure single national emergency call number 112 in accordance with Annex 2;
Completions operated in the Government Decision nr.389 of 17 May 2010 "On approval of the Regulation on organization and functioning of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, structure and personnel of the central apparatus thereof" under Annex No.3.
4. It sets the upper limit of the Service single national emergency call number 112 of 82 units.
May. The Government, within 3 months from the date of publication of this decision will ensure service single national emergency call number 112 spaces and technical infrastructure necessary to the performance.
June. Ministry of Information Technology and Communications, within three months from the date of publication of this decision, will develop and approve, in accordance with the Labour Code of the Republic of Moldova No. 154-XV of 28 March 2003, the State Personnel Service single national
112 emergency calls in July. Control over the execution of this decision is the responsibility of the Ministry of Information Technology and Communications.
Paul PRIME MINISTER FILIP
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Pressure mounting on Theresa May from Tory MPs
PA / The artist's new album Yandhi is due to be released on Saturday
Tory Brexiteers have told the BBC they are increasingly confident they will have enough support to trigger a no-confidence vote in Theresa May.
If 48 Conservative MPs write to senior backbencher Sir Graham Brady that they no longer have confidence in her, a leadership challenge will be launched.
Several sources, including a cabinet minister, have told the BBC they believe 48 letters have been submitted.
But there is no official confirmation that threshold has been reached.
The BBC has also been told that senior backbencher Sir Graham Brady has asked to see the PM on Wednesday.
Sir Graham, the chair of the backbench 1922 committee to whom MPs have to address their letters, would make no comment.
Downing Street sources are playing down an imminent move and say they have had no contact from him.
Kuenssberg: Is PM about to face a confidence vote?
Who has written no confidence letters?
Guide: Rules for any challenge to Theresa May
Mrs May has spent the day meeting EU leaders and officials in The Hague, Berlin and Brussels, in efforts to salvage her Brexit deal - which faces major opposition in Parliament.
Her decision to delay the vote on the terms of the UK's withdrawal from the EU, which had been due to take place on Tuesday, has caused anger across the party.
Read More (...)
Keywords: Brexit, EU, Theresa May
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Can I Play 3 of a Flip?
Yu-Gi-Oh!'s Goat Format has a lot of minor deckbuilding decisions that are seemingly inconsequential but can make a substancial difference in terms of a player's long-term winrate. While the consensus current format deckbuilding theory dictates that one should play three of all the good cards in order to maximize the chances of seeing them quickly, that rule of thumb does not apply especially well to Goat Format. Why? The fact that Goat Format games can last 20 turns rather than a few changes things a lot. This can be confusing to less experienced players in the format. Playing 3 copies of a flip effect monster in Goat Format presents a significant risk: Nobleman of Crossout.
Nobleman of Crossout vs Pot of Desires
Those who come from current format Yu-Gi-Oh! likely understand the risk/reward associated with Pot of Desires, a card that was initially released to great controversy. Depending on the circumstances, Pot of Desires is either free draw-2 or a card that loses you games. Although card advantage is not really a "fundamental" for current format, there was a great deal of silly debate regarding whether Pot of Desires was card advantage. While resolving Pot of Desires results in an increased hand size, your deck will also be depleted of 10 resources that cannot be accessed for the remainder of the game. This is huge. Recall from my "Who's Winning?" article that every game element can be considered a resource. The relative value of each of these resources is directly related to how that game actually plays out. Longer games that involve lots of searching will likely result in Pot of Desires hurting your chances of winning.
Nobleman of Crossout presents a similar dilemma. While Nobleman of Crossout will always be a 1-for-1 trade in terms of raw card advantage, there are certainly some Nobleman of Crossouts that can be much more painful than others. Consider the following scenario: Your opponent activates Pot of Greed and sets a monster on the first turn of the game. Next turn, you activate Nobleman of Crossout. It's a Magician of Faith. Your opponent banishes a second Magician of Faith from his deck. You banish 3 copies of your own Magician of Faith. On the one hand, you are certainly relieved that your opponent will not be recycling Pot of Greed. However, you have had to banish three key threats from your own deck, which could definitely impact your ability to play the late game. This is the risk of running 3-of flip effects.
Viable 3-Of Flip Effects
Other than Morphing Jar, Cyber Jar, and Night Assailant, every flip effect in Goat Format can be played as a 3-of, if you want to. These flip effects that are commonly played in the format are the following (in no particular order):
Magician of Faith
Magical Merchant
Dekoichi, the Battlechanted Locomotive
Mask of Darkness
Gravekeeper's Spy
Gravekeeper's Guard
Dark Mimic LV1
They all see play in different decks for different reasons, but the most commonly played one is definitely Magician of Faith.
Decks That Play 3-of Flip Effects
Most Goat Control decks do not play any 3-of flip effects, but some may take the risk of playing 3 copies of Magician of Faith. You can see this by comparing the two example decklists in our Goat Control deck guide. The second list plays a lot of 3-ofs in general and is more built around exploiting the deck's power cards, whereas the first list takes a more risk averse approach. The second list is not trying to reach the super-late game as often as a conventional Goat Control deck, so it makes more sense to play 3 Magician of Faith here. With the growing popularity of aggro and combo decks, it could be argued that this strategy makes a lot of sense in the present Goat Format metagame.
Flip Control is another deck that certainly could play 3-of flip effects, although our example decklist does not choose to do so. This deck is heavily under-explored, especially considering the good results that it put up in our last tournament. Interestingly, his list also does not play any 3-of flip effects, but some would make the argument that Mask of Darkness is too good not to max out on.
Lastly, historically speaking, some Thunder Dragon Chaos decks have played 3 copies of Magician of Faith or Dekoichi, the Battlechanted Locomotive, although many would argue that the risk/reward is not worth it in this particular deck. However, playing 3 Dekoichi in a chaos deck can be quite synergistic with Dimension Fusion or Return from the Different Dimension (if hit by a Nobleman of Crossout), so that is definitely something to consider.
Lastly, Gravekeepers will almost always play 3 copies of Gravekeeper's Spy due to the fact that it is the deck's best monster. It can protect them from Nobleman of Crossout through Compulsory Evacuation Device, Solemn Judgment, and sometimes Spell Shield Type-8 or My Body as a Shield.
Like many questions in complex strategy games, the answer to "Can I play 3 of the same flip effect?" is, "It depends." If the flip effect is a key piece of your deck and/or you have ways to hedge against Nobleman of Crossout, it's going to be a good idea to do so. However, you can't just throw 3 copies of Magician of Faith or Magical Merchant into a deck because they're generally good cards. You'll often get punished for doing so. Not only will Nobleman of Crossout hit you harder, but it'll also make your sets easier to read.
Some of the Goat Format fundamentals that I allude to in this article are discussed in more detail in "Who's Winning?" - Goat Format Fundamentals.
If you want to find more out about Goat Format strategies that are built around flip effect monsters, check out our Flip Control deck guide.
ACP is a co-founder of GoatFormat.com, along with Skully. He has been an active contributor to the revival of Yu-Gi-Oh!'s Goat Format from 2012 onward. In 2017, he created the Angel Chaos deck, a notable contender in the Goat Format metagame. He has a long history of being a TCG content creator, first for The Game Academy (now defunct) and later for GatheringMagic.com. He has placed in the top32 of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Championship Series three times. A mathematician by profession, he is known for his logical and analytical approach to gaming.
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Diplomats Take Two from Chargers
Lancaster Bible
Lancaster Bible (1-9) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3
Franklin & Marshall (9-5) 0 3 3 0 0 2 8 13 0
Lancaster Bible (1-8) 0 0 0 3 3 6 9 1
Franklin & Marshall (8-5) 1 0 2 6 7 16 13 1
2B: A. Morton
2B: Sarah Kirk; Megan Ryan
HR: Kaitlin Zampino
2B: A. Harris; R. Kane
2B: Alicia Kukoda; Caroline Abin; Megan Ryan
HR: Caroline Abin; Caitlin Brust
WILLOW STREET, Pa. – The Franklin & Marshall softball team's offense went on a tear on Friday afternoon in non-conference action, beating Lancaster Bible College (LBC) 16-6 in five innings in game one before blanking the Chargers 8-0 (Six innings) in game two of the doubleheader. The Diplomats' record improved to 9-5, while LBC fell to 1-9.
In game one, F&M struck early when Malorie Sassaman hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Alicia Kukoda in the bottom of the first to give the Diplomats a 1-0 lead. F&M got on the scoreboard again in the bottom of the third when Caitlin Brust singled to center field to score Sassaman and Kukoda and increase the lead to 3-0.
In the following frame, the Chargers' Richelle Kane hit a double to left field to score Kathryn Ritter and cut the Diplomats' lead to 3-1. Nicole Valinteno then laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Kane while a throwing error scored Emily Lloyd to tie the game at 3-3.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, F&M's offense exploded as a Rachel Laufer singled that scored Megan Ryan and Kaitlin Zampino gave the Diplomats a 5-3 lead. After a Liz Middleton RBI-grounded put F&M up 6-3, Caroline Abin belted a three-run homerun to center field to increase the lead to 9-3.
In the top of the fifth inning, LBC attempted a comeback as Ritter grounded out to second base to score Ali Morton and cut the lead to 9-4. After a Lloyd single scored Anna Harris to make the score 9-5, Kristen Hartline laid down a bunt to score Lloyd and make it a four-run game at 9-6.
The Diplomats extended the lead in the bottom of the fifth as Laufer singled to right field to score Sarah Kirk and Ryan to give F&M an 11-5 advantage. Abin then ripped a double to center field to score Laufer and make it a 12-5 contest. Later in the inning, with the bases load, Brust smacked the ball over the left field fence for a grand slam that forced the mercy rule as the Diplomats won 16-6.
Brust finished game one with three hits and six RBI's for F&M, while Abin and Laufer added two hits and four RBI's each. Justine Lohrey (5-0) scattered five hits through four innings to earn the victory.
In the nightcap, the Diplomats scored early again, this time in the bottom of the second inning when Zampino crushed a two-run homerun to left field to put F&M ahead 2-0. Kirk then doubled down the left field line to score Laufer to increase the lead to 3-0.
After the Chargers were held scoreless in the top of the third, the Diplomats got on the board again in the bottom of the inning as Zampino singled up the middle to score Sassaman and give F&M a 4-0 advantage. Laufer followed with an RBI-single to make it a 5-0 game before Ashley Hartshorn grounded out to score Kelly Van O'Linda and put the Diplomats up 6-0.
Later in the game, in the bottom of the sixth, Brust singled home Abin for a 7-0 lead and Laufer sealed the victory with a single down the right field line to make the score 8-0 and force the mercy rule.
Zampino led the offense with two hits and three RBI's for F&M, while Laufer added two hits and two RBI's. Zampino and Ryan combined to hold LBC to just two hits, as Ryan (3-1) earned the victory, pitching four innings and striking out four batters.
The Diplomats return to the diamond tomorrow when F&M opens Centennial Conference (CC) play at Washington. The first game of the doubleheader is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start.
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Macros vs VBA - What's the Difference?
Get the Microsoft Excel - Macros and VBA course for more great video tutorials.
A brief discussion about the differences between macros and VBA, and how this course covers both.
There are no related exercise files for this lesson.
What is the difference between Macros and VBA?
Terms clarification for users new to programming in Excel.
Term Definitions
A command launched from a single entry point
Allows replaying a set of actions typically recorded via the user interface
The programming language used to write macros
Programming in this language allows us to do things that can’t be recorded
Why VBA is important
Easiest way to learn to program in any language
Allows you to learn syntax by watching live as you record
Allows you to automate other applications
00:05 Before we dive into this course, what I wanna
00:08 cover first is just a little background on the difference between macros and VBA.
00:13 We tend to toss those terms out interchangeably, but
00:16 they're not exactly the same thing, and I wanna cover off why that is.
00:20 The first thing we wanna talk about is macros.
00:22 Now macros have existed for a long long time in lots of different applications.
00:27 They're not something that's specific to Excel.
00:29 Access has them,
00:29 and I worked with macros in a program called Act Pack Six which ran on DOS.
00:34 Basically what a macro is, is it's a pre-recorded
00:37 set of actions that we can use over and over again.
00:41 Typically what they do is, we'll go in and we'll record something to happen, and
00:45 then we'll be able to replay that from a specific single entry point.
00:49 By hitting that entry point, it allows us to replay those pre-recorded actions.
00:53 And the nice thing about it is that, typically,
00:55 it's actually something that we would record from the user interface, okay?
00:58 So, basically, a macro is just something that allows us to replay actions that
01:02 we've done at least once in the past.
01:05 When I think back to really old programs that I used to use, we actually had to
01:08 program these things a little bit through some scripting cells and whatnot.
01:12 But we could do something like, move through this cell,
01:15 arrow down a couple of times, hit enter, maybe pause for user input,
01:19 and then resume and stuff like that.
01:21 So, basically, steps that we've scripted to happen in a certain way.
01:27 VBA is a little bit different then that.
01:29 VBA is actually an entire programming language for scripting.
01:33 This is the language in Excel that we actually use to create our macros, but
01:38 the big difference here is it is a full language that we can work with.
01:42 And we can do things that you cannot record through the user interface as we're
01:47 working with it.
01:48 So this is a big, big difference here.
01:50 Macros are a pre-recorded set of actions.
01:52 VBA is an entire language that allows us to do all kinds of different things.
01:57 So why is VBA so important to us?
02:00 Well, the number one reason is that it's an easy language to get started with.
02:05 This is huge.
02:06 It's the lowest barrier to entry to learn programming on the planet, bar none.
02:11 Excel actually, if you have two monitors, will allow you to put the Visual Basic
02:15 editor on one monitor and your Excel on the other.
02:17 And as you start recording your macros,
02:19 you can actually watch it write the code for you as we go.
02:22 Now I'm not gonna do that in this particular course,
02:24 only because I don't have enough screen space to work with.
02:27 But if you've got two monitors at home, I highly suggest you try this.
02:30 Throw VBA on one monitor, throw Excel on the other, try recording a macro, and
02:33 watch as it writes line-by-line the stuff that you do.
02:36 It's very, very cool.
02:37 This is huge,
02:38 because it allows you to learn the syntax of the programming language as you go.
02:42 As you interact with Excel,
02:43 you'll see what's happening in the programming language.
02:45 The other really nice thing about VBA is that it actually teaches you
02:50 language concepts that are applicable to other languages' structure and
02:54 syntax, and how to actually work with something.
02:57 Now other programing languages have their own syntax and
02:59 their own way to work with things, that's always true.
03:03 But the beauty is that the concepts that you learn here are the same.
03:08 The first language I ever learned in programming was something called Basic,
03:11 back when I was in high school.
03:13 Way, way, way back when.
03:14 The second language I learned, and one we're actually really started to learn,
03:17 was actually VBA.
03:19 Today, I program in seven different languages, including C# and VB.NET and
03:23 a few others.
03:24 All of that language and all that knowledge that I got came from
03:27 working with Excel and learning to program through this particular user interface.
03:30 Will you get there tomorrow?
03:32 Absolutely not!
03:33 But will you actually be able to actually take that knowledge and
03:35 port it somewhere else?
03:36 If you want to, you absolutely will, and that's huge.
03:39 The other thing that I want you to be aware of with VBA is that it's much
03:43 bigger than just Excel.
03:45 VBA actually exists in every Office application.
03:49 This is really important.
03:50 Now, they all have their own object models,
03:51 and we'll talk more about object models a little bit later on in this course.
03:55 But the key part is that it's one common language frame
03:58 that's used throughout the entire Office suite.
04:02 This language has also been licensed by other companies and
04:04 is actually in use in some of their things.
04:06 AutoCAD has VBA in it, and
04:08 Corel had a few of their products that actually ported in some VBA as well.
04:13 So there's other programs that can actually make use of the same coding
04:15 structure, which is kind of nice.
04:17 Because once you start learning this, you can port it to other places.
04:20 But even bigger than that, as long as there's a library available to connect to
04:24 in Windows, even though this is outside the scope of this particular course.
04:29 If you learn VBA well,
04:30 you can actually control other Windows applications as well.
04:34 You can control things like Internet Explorer,
04:36 actually interact with the documents that you see on a web page and whatnot.
04:39 You can go and you control things like Access, that's an Office program.
04:42 But you can also start writing into other things where you're actually changing
04:45 the behavior of Windows as well, which is actually really kind of a cool thing.
04:49 So this is why learning VBA is so important.
04:52 Number one, it's easy as compared to any other programming language.
04:55 Number two, it's super powerful and it can allow you to do an awful lot of things.
04:59 I'm very excited to be bringing you this course, and
05:01 I hope that you enjoy it as we go through this.
Setting up the Macro Environment
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Police appeal to find hit and run driver who left Archway girl with horrific injuries
Naomi was run over near the junction of Ashbrook Road and St John's Way. Picture: Google
Police have finally issued an appeal to trace a hit and run driver who reversed over a 12-year-old girl, moved her onto the pavement and then sped off.
Parliament Hill School pupil Naomi Kim is still in hospital with a broken collarbone, broken leg, broken ribs and punctured lung and is expected to be there for weeks.
The horrific incident happened yards from Naomi's home in Ashbrook Road, Archway, at 4.50pm on June 20. Scotland Yard repeatedly said they could find no record of it until this newspaper provided a crime reference number this week. What's more, her parents say they haven't so much as heard from police since it was reported.
CCTV is now being analysed in the search for the driver of the black Range Rover, though the community is outraged it has taken so long and fear tapes could have been wiped as routinely happens after a set period of time.
Naomi faces "months of healing and recovery", according to parents of her friends.
One said her injuries are so severe she can still only move her head. She has been transferred to The Whittington where she is expected to remain.
"Her mum is sleeping by her side every night as she can't move," she added.
"She hasn't got out of bed for two weeks and it will be at least two more weeks before she can even go into a wheelchair.
"It's an outrage, launching an appeal two weeks after the event. What about CCTV?"
Naomi's femur, the large thigh bone, reportedly broke when the driver pulled her out from under the car.
Alison Holman, whose daughter was with Naomi moments before the incident, said: "Naomi is incredibly distressed. She is terrified this individual hasn't been caught. She wakes up sometimes saying: 'He's coming to get me.'"
Alison said get well soon cards have been taken to Naomi by schoolfriends, who are understandably distressed about the situation. The St John's Way Medical Centre has also sent their best wishes after staff tended to Naomi in the road.
Police offered no description of the driver, but Naomi has reportedly said he was white, in his 50s and had a "belly".
The community is furious that not so much as a poster asking for witnesses has been put up in the area.
Alison added: "It's absolutely shocking that an incident like this happened with no recourse from police, or acknowledgement, or even contact with the parents.
"We've tried contacting police ourselves on social media and it's almost impossible to contact them. This delay is atrocious. Somebody should have been at her parents' side saying: 'What can we do to help?'."
Witnesses of the crash told the Gazette at the time: "The car reversed into Ashbrook Road. The young girl was crossing the road. He knocked her down and then the car's back wheels drove over her.
"He jumped out and started to pull her out from under the car. I shouted not to move her and ran into the surgery to get help.
"As I came back he was putting her on the pavement, he then jumped back in the car and reversed at speed down the road."
Parliament Hill head Sarah Creasey said the thoughts of the school had been with Naomi and her family over the last fortnight.
She added: "We were distressed to receive news that Naomi had been hurt in this shocking traffic incident. Her friends, tutor group and our whole school community wish Naomi well in her recovery and look forward to being able to visit her.
"We would urge anybody who has information to respond to the police appeal."
Anyone with information or dash cam footage can call police on 101 quoting CAD 5954/20JUN or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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A Cup of Tea With... The ...
A Cup of Tea With... The Argument's Diana Hardcastle
Posted in: Hampstead Downstairs
We chatted to The Argument's Diana Hardcastle about life advice, Italian food and unfortunate wet floors. The Argument runs Downstairs until Saturday 2 April.
Welcome to Hampstead Diana. You’re now in the full swing of the run for The Argument – how’s it all going?
It's going well, I think. A beautifully written play, which is darkly funny, a fantastic director in Anna Ledwich, a great cast and audiences who seem to be enjoying themselves every night. All good.
Can you describe The Argument in a nutshell?
Well, as the title suggests, the play is a series of arguments which occur because a marriage is in crisis. Parents, daughters, friends and sons-in-law all get involved in scenes which are largely two handed.
And the arguments are sometimes full blown rows and sometimes heated discussions, and though they arise because of the marital crisis,they are often provoked and intensified on stage (as in life) by history. A great deal is revealed about the people having the arguments, how they relate to each other, how relaxed or not they are with each other, how well they know each other, how much they love each other and how secure they are with the other "rowee".
What first attracted you to The Argument?
I thought it was one of the best scripts I had read in ages. Completely compelling and truthful. And it was a great role too. So then I met Anna and thought she was amazing. So, all in all, lucky for me that it worked out.
Tell us a little more about your character Chloe.
She is bright and sharp and funny. Passionate I think. She seems cynical at times, but although she appears to pooh pooh the concept of happiness, she is obviously concerned in later on about the happiness of her daughter's marriage. I think she believes that if you love someone enough, you can achieve anything, make anything work. As she has in her own marriage. Which is not to say it's perfect or calm... but it works.
She is also irritatingly, perhaps, right about a lot. A good judge of character. Forthright.
I'd quite like to meet her.
Do you have a favourite line from the show?
'Never abandon the vehicle....the Highway Code of a marriage.'
Any embarrassing moments on stage?
Actually in this show. On our first show, I sat down in Scene 2 and could feel immediately that the carpet was wet. It had been cleaned that afternoon and hadn't dried off properly. Nothing I could do but carry on and hope no one noticed, only to be gleefully informed by my daughters afterwards that I looked as if I'd peed on stage. Great.
What was your first experience on stage?
I left drama school early to play Juliet. A voice teacher from the school made it publicly known that I 'was not one of nature's Juliets'. It haunted me and despite winning an award for it, it still haunts me. A bit, anyway. Or sometimes.
What would your dream role be?
Don't think I have one. Which is just as well as it avoids disappointment.
Where’s your favourite place in London?
Home? Though I love 2 Brydges, for its cosy ambience and also Vasco and Pierro's Pavilion... really fab Italian food.
And finally, what’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
I did a play with Adrian Noble (The Duchess of Malfi) when I was not long out of drama school and he said 'Don't demonstrate that you are thinking something before you speak. Just think and speak'. In other words, think quicker and get on with it.
Also, and I can't remember who it was... someone said always be rigorous about the truth on stage. Particularly in one of those 'marvellously flashy' acting moments that you are allowing yourself. Ask yourself is it true, do I really believe this?
And if you don't, ditch it. Fast. Cos you're probably just showing off.
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Route 66 Tour begins & Jean’s book launches!
Join us as we celebrate the amateur game—in all its forms, wherever in the world it is played—from stickball in the streets to Little League and high school teams, to Minor League players hoping for their big break. This is where dreams are born, and legends begin.
Grassroots Baseball: Route 66
From May to October we’ll be documenting the game from Chicago to Santa Monica, stopping in large cities, small towns, and everywhere in between.
Grassroots Baseball: the book!
BOOK TOUR DATES BUY THE BOOK
“…Jean Fruth has captured the multiple layers that make the game such a microcosm of society. Jean’s photographs are athletic symphonies.” —Peter Gammons
“Photography and baseball are both arts. Jean beautifully captures the youthfulness and charisma of the game of baseball.” —Ken Griffey, Jr.
“I share Jean’s love of photography. Baseball is a way of life in so many places, near and far. Jean’s photographs vividly capture the grassroots game and its many wonderful stories.” —Rod Carew
Stories and photography from the Route 66 tour. Baseball legends, cultural icons and local celebrities will visit our bus as we roll. Learn more about them and the grassroots game through the eyes of photographer Jean Fruth, and through the words of writer Jeff Idelson.
Coming April 2019: The Grassroots Baseball tour & book!
Beginning May 2019: The Route 66 tour
Grassroots Baseball
Grassroots Baseball: Where Legends Begin — The Book!
Stories and photography from the Route 66 tour
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U.K. Plug-In Electric Car Incentives: Why Haven't They Worked?
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield October 2, 2013 Comment Now!
Sales figures for plug-in cars in the U.S. crossed the 100,000 mark four months ago, but in the U.K., the government has announced that it will end plug-in car incentives.
Some point to poor sales and an apathetic buying public.
One trade organization claims existing grants of £5,000 ($8,100) per plug-in vehicle aren’t enough to entice fleet and private buyers from high-efficiency diesel alternatives.
But what really went wrong?
In reality, poor advertising, a lack of education, and a misinformed media are all to blame for low electric-car sales.
Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion (2015 VW Golf body style in U.S.)
Diesel’s market share
Unlike the U.S., where diesels account for only a tiny proportion of the market, sales of oil burners in the U.K. last year accounted for 50 percent of the new-car market.
Far cheaper to buy than a plug-in car, diesel cars are being marketed as cleaner, higher-mileage alternatives to gasoline vehicles. Add the ubiquity of diesel fuel at every filling station, and most new-car buyers automatically opt for a diesel if they want a high-efficiency, low-cost car.
Diesel’s hold on the marketplace is further strengthened by the presence of ultra-high-MPG cars like the Volkswagen Golf BlueMotion.
Designed and built specifically to offer low-revving freeway driving at high efficiency, these cars appeal to fleet buyers and commuters alike for their ability to go 500 miles or more between fill-ups.
Poor advertising
With diesel’s stronghold on the market, automakers would rather opt for the low-hanging, high-volume fruit of selling diesel cars than they would the tougher job of marketing plug-in cars to skeptical buyers.
As a consequence, very few automakers in the U.K. advertise their plug-in cars through traditional means: television, radio, or print media.
Nissan Leafs replace black cabs in London
Even Nissan and Renault, whose Leaf and Zoe electric cars are heavily targeted at drivers in London, have been lackluster about advertising outside of the capital.
The result is buyers who don’t consider electric cars because they're unaware of what models exist, and who makes them.
From conversations I’ve had at charging stations--when people stop to ask about my Leaf while it charges--very few ‘regular Joes’ know how electric cars operate, how far they can drive per charge, how much they cost, or even that the government offered incentives to buyers.
Poor education
Without proper advertising, the general lack of knowledge on the part of car buyers and even dealers results in only a handful of dealers throughout the U.K. where staff are well-versed and properly trained on plug-in vehicles.
Indeed, some dealerships with a plug-in car in the window or on the lot outside may have one on the premises, but don’t actively sell it.
Recently, I was told by a Vauxhall dealer that to get any information on the Vauxhall Ampera (a U.K. market Chevy Volt), I would have to phone the head office, some 300 miles away--even though a Vauxhall Ampera was sitting right there in the showroom.
A misinformed media
From the tabloid press to the BBC, very few established media outlets seem to like or understand electric cars. Even when positive stories are covered--the installation of new charging stations along a freeway, say--a negative spin on the story and the lack of sales is inevitably noted.
Smart ForTwo Electric Drive at Urban Stage, London
The BBC in particular seems to dislike and mistrust electric cars. Recently, a BBC reporter spent days contacting city councils across the U.K. in pursuit of a story suggesting that electric-car charging stations were not being used by drivers, and that they were a waste of taxpayers’ money.
Then of course, there’s BBC’s hugely popular Top Gear show, which takes great pleasure in creating showy stunts designed to send the message that electric cars aren’t ready for primetime.
On top of this, the poor reputation of plug-in cars from previous generations--like the tiny, diminutive low-speed vehicle known as the G-Wiz--and it's no wonder most new-car buyers steer clear of anything with a plug.
Sadly, until education improves--by both advocates and automakers--that seems unlikely to change.
Follow GreenCarReports on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
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Tesla CEO Elon Musk reveals talks with Saudi fund to take Tesla private, others express doubt
Tesla Model S Was Best-Selling Car In Norway For September
Sept Plug-In Sales, VW XL1, Credit-Card Charging Fees: Today's Car News
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield - Contributing Writer
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Home » Meet our Authors » Ricardo F. Munoz
Ricardo F. Muñoz
Ricardo F. Muñoz, PhD, is Distinguished Professor of Clinical Psychology at Palo Alto University and Emeritus Professor of Psychology at the University of California, San Francisco. His major areas of expertise include addictive behavior, the prevention and treatment of depression, and how depression affects substance use. He has published over 100 scientific articles and chapters and several books, including Control Your Depression and The Prevention of Depression.
All titles by Ricardo F. Muñoz:
Controlling Your Drinking: Second Edition: Tools to Make Moderation Work for YouWilliam R. Miller and Ricardo F. Muñoz
July 25, 2013Jul 2013$16.95 $14.41
Print + e-Book
Save 45%!$33.90 $18.64
Copyright © 1997-2019, Guilford Press
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6 out of 40 coal scam cases decided by special court
New Delhi | Published: November 30, 2018 10:01:59 PM
Of the 40 odd cases in coal blocks allocation scam that took place during the previous UPA regime, in which former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is also an accused, 18 people and six companies have been convicted in six cases till now by a special court.
As many as 18 people and six companies have been convicted in six cases till now by a special court.
Of the 40 odd cases in coal blocks allocation scam that took place during the previous UPA regime, in which former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is also an accused, 18 people and six companies have been convicted in six cases till now by a special court. While in the case of Singh criminal proceedings have been stayed by the Supreme Court, the trial court has been pressing ahead with other matters and has convicted former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, former coal secretary H C Gupta and two other bureaucrats among others.
The first conviction in the coal scam came on March 28, 2016 in a case pertaining to irregularities in the allotment of a coal block in Jharkhand to Ispat Pvt Ltd (JIPL). Its two directors, R S Rungta and R C Rungta, were awarded four-year jail term.
Read | Internet extravaganza for Reliance Jio users – Whopping 2GB/day free data up for grabs; here is how to avail
The second conviction followed four months later on July 26 that year in which Rathi Steel and Power Ltd (RSPL) and three of its officials — Managing Director Pradeep Rathi, Chief Executive Officer Udit Rathi and AGM Kushal Aggarwal — were held guilty by the court for “deceiving” the government by making false representation before Singh.
The third conviction took place on May 19, 2017 in the case involving Kamal Sponge Steel and Power Ltd (KSSPL), in which the firm and its managing director Pawan Kumar Ahluwalia were held guilty along with Gupta.
Also read | 2.0: Thalaiva fans dance video goes massively viral – film paused in theatre to let audience fans celebrate Rajinikanth’s entry
On December 13, 2017, Koda along with Gupta and three others was convicted in a case pertaining to irregularities in allocating allocating Rajhara North coal block in Jharkhand to the Kolkata-based Vini Iron and Steel Udyog Ltd (VISUL), which was also held guilty.
The conviction in the fifth case came on April 27 this year when Gondwana Ispat Ltd and its director were found guilty of cheating and criminal conspiracy to get the Majra coal block in Maharashtra allocated to it.
Follow financialexpress.com for all news and analysis on the Lok Sabha Elections 2019. Check Lok Sabha election 2019 schedule, Lok Sabha Constituency Details and updates on campaigning by Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter.
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Growth Potential For Cannabis Market In Canada May Just Be Underestimated
Palm Beach, FL – April 2, 2019 — A recent research article questions just how big the Canadian legal market cannabis market will be, but like most others it really means just how large it could be! The report stated: “On October 17, 2018, Canada became the first G7 nation to fully legalize recreational cannabis… As a massive, formerly black market transforms into an above-board one, companies from around the globe in a range of disparate industries—agriculture, yes, but also tobacco, beer, software, and even fashion and design—aim to cash in. But no one knows exactly how large this market will be. Both immediately and in the coming years, attitudes about marijuana in Canada inevitably will change. Meanwhile, the unknowns are impacting everything from share prices to government policies. As jurisdictions in the U.S. and around the world ponder changing their own cannabis laws, they’re watching to see how the numbers shake down in Canada. According to Stastics Canada, 4.9 million Canadians used cannabis in 2017, spending $5.7 billion Canadian dollars on pot, 90% of that on the illegal market. For context, Canada has a population of 37.1 million, which is about one-tenth of that of the U.S. It’s actually close in size, population wise, to California, which has 39.7 million residents. Active companies in the industry making moves to ready that include: IONIC Brands Corp., (CSE: IONC), SLANG Worldwide Inc. (CSE: SLNG) (OTC: SLGWF), Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) (TSX: ACB.TO), Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED: TO), Newstrike Brands Ltd. (OTC: NWKRF) (TSX-V: HIP.V).
In the wake of full legalization, estimates of the market’s potential vary. The Canadian bank CIBC predicts the market will grow to $6.8 billion CAD by 2020… Provincial governments, it speculates, will take in $3 billion CAD in earned profits and taxes.” The article revealed that: “Most researchers round up by a third when estimating true cannabis use, and even this method may be overly conservative.
IONIC Brands Corp., (CSE: IONC) BREAKING NEWS: IONIC Brands announces the commencement of trading on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the trading symbol IONC. IONIC BRANDS is led by a team of successful entrepreneurs, that are dedicated to building a multi-state, consumer focused portfolio of luxury cannabis brands. IONIC BRANDS’s flagship asset is their #1 vaporizer pen brand in Washington State under the branded name “Ionic”. The Company’s initial focus was to dominate the most competitive state in the US and focus on building a premium brand within the cannabis concentrate products segment of the market, currently the fastest growing segment of the legal marijuana industry. The Ionic vaporizer pen is currently the top producer of concentrates in Washington State and has experienced year over year growth. IONIC BRANDS is taking their team, proprietary techniques and blueprint for dominating marketplace, as evidenced in Washington State and is aggressively expanding via entrances into new markets (Oregon and California) and accretive acquisitions as outlined below. IONIC BRANDS’s strategy is to be the leader of the highest-value segments of the supply chain in the west coast markets and expand eastwards via acquisitions.
Highlights of IONIC BRANDS – Premium luxury portfolio of cannabis concentrate products: Established in 2015, IONIC BRANDS is an industry leader building a multi-state consumer-focused Brand portfolio consisting of award-winning premium and luxury brands in the concentrates space, the fastest growing segment of the legal marijuana industry. IONIC BRANDS has proven the ability to expand and operate multiple brands in multiple markets across the western United States, including California, Washington and Oregon.
Scaling Nationally and Integrated Operations: In 2018, IONIC BRANDS expanded their vaporizer pen business into Oregon and California. Continuing to deliver on our pillars of Quality, Responsibility and Respectability. The IONIC BRANDS strategy is to own the highest-value segments of the supply chain in the west coast markets and expand eastwards via acquisitions: Further discussed below, the Company most recently adding the desirable Nevada market with a binding letter of intent (“LOI”) to acquire of Vegas Valley Growers (“VVG”). In Washington State, the Company will acquire a 140-acre cannabis farm located in Eastern Washington to cultivate input material for extraction. In 2019, the Company will deploy an aggressive national expansion strategy into new geographic markets and new product segments
Disruptive entry into the cannabis-edibles and cannabis-infused beverage market via strategic acquisitions: Further discussed below, the Company entered into a binding LOI to acquire Zoots, a premium cannabis edibles company, and also acquired two of the very first cannabis-infused coffee patents granted by United States Patent and Trademark office from Canna Cafe. Together with Zoots and the coffee patents, Company will use its premium production touches and synergistically utilizing the IONIC brand name to disrupt the highly sought after cannabis-infused beverage market, valued at over $4 billion in Canada and the United States by 2022, according to a report by marijuan market research company The Arcview Group. Cowen and Company recently released a report in which it pinpoints Starbucks as the likely first major chain that will market products featuring cannabinoids (CBD). IONIC BRANDS plans on adding domain expertise and engaging various consultants to explore how to best monetize owning these critical patents. Read this entire announcement for IONC at: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-ionc/
Additional industry related developments from around the markets:
SLANG Worldwide Inc. (CSE: SLNG) (OTCPK: SLGWF) recently announced that co-founders Peter Miller and Billy Levy have been honored as High Times 100 Most Influential People in Cannabis for 2019 for their leadership in the cannabis industry. High Times 100 is recognized as the highest honor for a cannabis executive or entrepreneur.
In 2012, SLANG Worldwide co-founders Peter Miller (CEO) and Billy Levy (President) co-founded Mettrum Health Corp, a leading Canadian licensed producer that was acquired by Canopy Growth in 2016. An experienced entrepreneur with a decade of leadership in cannabis and a track record in agriculture, operations, tech, and clean energy, Peter is also the Chairman of the Canadian licensed producer Agripharm. Billy’s visionary leadership in consumer tech and marketing has resulted in a number of start-ups including Virgin Gaming (acquired by Cineplex Media 2015) and Virgin Mega (acquired by NIKE June 2016 ) with Sir Richard Branson .
Aurora Cannabis Inc. (NYSE: ACB) (TSX: ACB.TO) recently that the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary CanniMed Therapeutics, have added product information numbers (PINs) to 78 medical cannabis products to better facilitate and track insurance coverage for their Canadian patients. The products that received PINs include dried flower, capsules, soft gels, topicals and oils.
PINs help employers and insurance companies classify and incorporate health care products into benefit coverage plans. Patients submitting claims to their third-party insurer can now identify specific products and thereby speed up the adjudication and medical coverage process. MedReleaf, another wholly-owned subsidiary of Aurora, introduced PINs to 57 medical cannabis products in 2018.
Canopy Growth Corporation (NYSE: CGC) (TSX: WEED: TO) recently welcomed Houseplant, a new brand of Canadian cannabis, to the Canopy Growth family today. Founded by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg , Houseplant represents years of product expertise and an unmatched attention to detail within each strain that has been carefully selected and grown.
Commitment to cannabis quality begins with selecting the best genetics and doesn’t stop until the customer opens the jar. Canopy Growth has witnessed how carefully Houseplant has chosen each component of their offering to deliver the highest quality product to Canadians.
Newstrike Brands Ltd. (OTCPK: NWKRF) (TSX-V: HIP.V) recently announced that it is making a US$5 million investment in Green Tank Technologies (“Green Tank”), one of North America’s premiere manufacturers of cannabis vape hardware and technology. The investment by Newstrike strengthens the existing partnership between Newstrike’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Up Cannabis, and Green Tank, as both companies prepare for the legalization of cannabis oil vaping.
“In anticipation of revised cannabis regulations coming into force in late 2019, we are gearing up for the commercial launch of our full line of cannabis vape products.
DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates FinancialNewsMedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM has been compensated forty six hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press release issued above by IONIC Brands Corp. by a non affiliated third party. FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.
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Boardroom challenges – executive compensation and say on pay
May 2012 | TALKINGPOINT | BOARDROOM INSIGHT
FW moderates an online discussion on the boardroom challenges of executive compensation and say on pay between Ann Murray at McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP, John L. Anderson at Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC, and Simon Patterson at Patterson Associates LLP – a Pearl Meyer & Partners Practice.
FW: In general terms, could you explain the reasons behind the increased scrutiny and criticism of executive pay that we have seen in key markets around the world?
Murray: I don’t know that it’s necessarily that abuses in executive pay have gotten worse or didn’t exist before, but as with so much in our society today, the increased access of the media and the availability of the internet have brought alleged abuses to the attention of the public more quickly and with more detail than ever before. Add to that the economic turmoil in the US and other countries over the past five years, resulting in a widening gap between the haves and the have-nots. The general public is angry about the state of the economy and its position in it.
Patterson: Fundamentally, executive pay is seen by the investing public as too high relative to the returns that investors actually experience. The rewards of the most senior executives have been a longstanding area of debate in the UK, but the new ‘front’ opened up in the financial media here is the comparison to the pay of the ‘average worker’. This has been well publicised by the media, in a constant stream of articles and by a number of high profile reports. In the UK, this included a very critical report from the High Pay Commission. The situation has been further exacerbated by the lack of economic growth, with executive performance being ever more closely scrutinised by shareholders, employees and the media. The complexity of packages only serves to further confuse the situation, making it hard to compare compensation among different companies, and generating misconceptions about the actual value of pay packages.
Anderson: Executive compensation, especially CEO pay, has been a lightning rod for media and public reactions for the past few decades. Much of this is in response to some sensational examples of large compensation payouts not aligned with shareholder returns and excessive termination packages – ‘pay-for-failure’ and ‘golden parachutes’ – for exiting top officers. In recent years, increased visibility of executive pay globally has been enabled by more explicit disclosure of compensation schemes mandated for public companies, along with the adoption of say-on-pay voting. And, with even greater awareness, public outrage and scrutiny of executive compensation has intensified, fuelled by heightened institutional shareholder activism that followed the financial crisis and stock market losses of 2007-10, and the ensuing instability of the global economy. This scrutiny is especially high for the financial services sector due to its historical pay practices, implied involvement in the financial crisis and subsequent government interventions and ‘bailouts’. No doubt, executive compensation will continue to be a very sensitive topic around the world. Nevertheless, the ability to provide market-based executive compensation aligned with performance will continue to be a competitive advantage for companies as they compete for increasingly scarce leadership talent in the global market – and frankly many institutional investors understand that reality.
FW: In your opinion, are there material benefits to disclosing CEO versus median employee pay ratios? Are we likely to see more of this information released, going forward?
Patterson: This popular proposal stems from the difficulty in expressing executive pay as a simple number and the fact that compensation of senior executives has increased at a faster rate than the national average wage in recent years. However, defining and publishing a median pay ratio will not solve this issue or lead to meaningful comparison across companies. Acceptable ratios would vary across sectors and their interpretation would be subjective – consider a company with a small, highly skilled workforce against one with many unskilled, low-paid workers. Additionally, over several years strong company performance would result in a higher level of performance-based remuneration for executives compared to the rest of the workforce, resulting in a misleadingly high ratio. In the UK, such ratios have been excluded from ongoing consultations although the companies will likely be asked to demonstrate how they have taken employee earnings and pay differentials into account when setting pay.
Anderson: The central issue underlying any mandated proxy disclosure is whether investors will benefit from the disclosed information. The current proxy standards already provide investors with extensive disclosures on executive compensation matters at public companies, including: information about how and why compensation is set by the board, details about performance conditions and outcomes, and the relationship of pay schemes with market levels and practices. The CEO pay ratio would provide little added substance to these disclosures, and it seems very unlikely that institutional investors, other than union funds, will consider the disclosure of CEO pay versus median employee pay as meaningful in making investment decisions. Whatever limited benefit that may be derived from the CEO pay ratio disclosure is outweighed by the substantial administrative burdens that will be incurred by large multinational companies in accumulating the data necessary for making the disclosure. Unlike the disclosure of the absolute quantum of CEO pay, the ratio in itself is without proper context and easily misconstrued. As such, the pay ratio disclosure arguably would just serve to sensationalise and politicise pay differences when, in fact, pay levels are heavily driven by genuine labour/talent market differences. Nevertheless, we may see some companies providing this information voluntarily – but with added context and explanation.
Murray: As anyone who has been employed in the upper management ranks within a company knows, success is not driven solely by the CEO. Although one of the key attributes of a CEO is the ability to surround himself or herself with a quality senior management team, it is still this senior management team that does a significant portion of the hard work that leads to the success of the company. Thus, if the CEO’s compensation is disproportionate to the compensation of the lower senior executives, it could indicate that there is not enough in place to incentivise and retain these senior executives. I think there will be more of a push from shareholder groups to obtain information about how this compensation compares.
FW: What is your view of the regulatory changes that have been implemented to deal with executive compensation? What are the main objectives from a political standpoint?
Anderson: The substantial enhancement of proxy disclosure requirements is one of the most significant regulatory changes impacting executive compensation in North America in the past several years. The expanded disclosure requirements have provided investors with added meaningful information about how and why public companies compensate their executives and whether executive pay is adequately linked to company performance. And, this has prompted new, meaningful engagement between companies and their key shareholders regarding executive compensation matters. Companies also have been responding to increasing shareholder concerns about corporate governance by adopting compensation ‘clawback’ policies, executive share ownership guidelines and the engagement of independent compensation consultants to provide objective advice to boards. Additionally, with increased visibility, companies have been making significant changes to their compensation programs, including eliminating tax gross-ups and perquisites, increasing the use of performance-based equity grants, and moderating cash severance multiples. In turn, the principle objectives of the regulatory requirements are being achieved – that is, to improve companies’ accountability and increase responsiveness to shareholder concerns, as well as strengthen pay governance through increased transparency.
Murray: Unfortunately, many of the regulatory changes in the past 10 years are a political reaction to something bad happening and have resulted in too much complexity and penalties on the wrong people. For example, Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code was enacted in the wake of Enron and other high-profile scandals where executives cashed out their pay when they knew the boat was sinking and left little for remaining employees and retirees. Section 409A, however, has done little to take away the ability of executives to bail themselves out when times are tough – the prime example being the ‘take your money quick’ exception to the six-month specified employee delay rule. A top executive of a public company can easily avoid the required six-month delay by simply making sure that his or her package fits within the short-term deferral exception or one or more of the other exceptions under Section 409A. I don’t see a lot of push back on these types of provisions.
Patterson: Further regulatory changes are inevitable, because the free market has failed to regulate what is perceived as spiralling executive pay, creating pressure on governments to address the issue. Here in the UK, the government and investors are discussing a series of major new regulatory requirements, including a binding shareholder vote with a 75 percent threshold; votes on exit payments; and the restructuring of the Remuneration Report to increase transparency and simplicity. The 75 percent threshold proposal is very radical and its prospects are uncertain. In contrast, simplifying disclosure is generally a good thing, given the varying quality and clarity of information in today’s Remuneration Reports. However, increased regulation can also be onerous and expensive for companies, particularly when they must comply with overlapping regulations. Overregulation can also act as a damper on creativity, if companies shy away from innovative but unusual remuneration plans that would better reflect their strategy.
FW: In terms of clawback provisions on executive pay, the SEC is yet to clarify the rules in this area. What impact is this uncertainty having on the way businesses treat clawbacks, and is any predictability in sight?
Murray: At this point, I have not seen companies put this high on their list of priorities. Within a short time after Dodd-Frank was passed, we saw a few companies include catch-all language in their executive agreements and plans, usually giving the company a unilateral right to amend the applicable executive agreement or plan to the extent required to comply with Dodd-Frank’s clawback requirements, or providing that the pay would be subject to forfeiture as provided under Dodd-Frank’s clawback rules. I think there’s just so much uncertainty on how the clawback rules will actually apply and whether existing agreements will be grandfathered that it’s more of a ‘wait and see’ approach. There’s definitely no question that it will be a big deal when the regulations are finally issued.
Patterson: Clawbacks are often misunderstood as meaning that if it turns out the required performance conditions for a deferred bonus were not met, the bonus won’t be paid. Rather, in a clawback, a company seeks recovery of any bonus already paid out on the basis of performance that turns out not to be genuine. For example, profits at Lloyds Bank Group were retrospectively reduced due to subsequent penalties related to miss-selling of Payment Protection Insurance (PPI). This meant that executive bonuses previously paid out were actually based on an illusory level of performance. The bank subsequently ‘clawed back’ the bonuses already paid to senior executives. The uncertainty over this issue is leading most Remuneration Committees to delay or rethink development of policy on clawbacks. We expect the continued use of deferrals in remuneration packages to negate the need for clawbacks other than in exceptional circumstances.
Anderson: We will hopefully have more clarity later this year regarding clawback policies that US public companies are required to implement under Dodd-Frank. The SEC plans to issue proposed rules by 30 June and adopt final rules by 31 December of this year. Whether the SEC keeps to that timetable remains to be seen, as the agency has already delayed issuing other compensation-related rules several times over the past few years. The vast majority of large US public companies have already implemented some form of clawback policy. Today, many companies have a ‘triple-trigger’ clawback policy in place where they may recoup incentive pay if there is: a material restatement of financials; the restatement is due to noncompliance, misconduct or fraud; and, the compensation to be clawed back is significant. Dodd-Frank has acted as a catalyst for many companies to review and modify their current clawback policies. Not wishing to wait until regulations are issued, some companies are subjecting a wider range of incentive compensation to any future clawback rules adopted by the SEC. However, in the absence of SEC guidance, it is virtually impossible for a company to determine if its clawback policy will be compliant with future SEC regulations, so most companies are holding off on making major changes for now.
FW: Today’s public companies are expected to engage with shareholders and meet governance demands. How is this dynamic working in practice? What lessons can be drawn from the results of 2011 ‘say on pay’ votes in the US?
Patterson: At the largest companies, the investor relations function is more actively communicating with investors about executive remuneration, which has been sufficient for some. But other companies have had surprising defeats, including insurance company Aviva, where 58.6 percent of investors voted against or abstained in voting for the remuneration report, and Barclays, which got a 31.4 percent negative vote. The proxy voting agencies are now a powerful influence on shareholders. Their traditional ‘tick-box’ mentality very narrowly defines what is acceptable and many companies are reluctant to go against this standard. Remuneration committee should clearly explain how the remuneration plan supports their strategy and if the plan varies somewhat from the norm, good communication to shareholders and proxy voting agencies will usually mitigate any concerns.
Anderson: The impact of say on pay on corporate governance is not obvious from say on pay vote outcomes alone. In 2011, less than 2 percent of Russell 3000 Index companies failed to receive majority support for their say-on-pay proposals. We expect to see very similar results in 2012. However, the advent of mandatory say on pay in the US has heightened boards’ and senior managements’ sensitivities toward the concerns of shareholders about executive compensation. Companies are employing various strategies to directly respond to these concerns. Many companies are enhancing their proxy disclosures by adding executive summaries that showcase the relationship between executive pay and company performance. Some companies have made supplemental security filings to respond to negative commentary or vote recommendations by proxy advisory firms, especially ISS. Additionally, companies are more actively engaging proxy solicitors to gauge shareholder sentiment, to communicate the merits of their compensation programs and to attempt to secure favourable vote outcomes. Many companies are directly reaching out to major institutional shareholders to fully understand and respond to their specific concerns – clearly not a common practice several years ago.
Murray: So far, there has been less pushback on the company side than I had expected. Senior executives seem to have embraced (or at least grudgingly accepted) most of these new governance rules and recommendations and are working to better position their companies for approval. They are focusing on simplifying compensation programs, cutting out one-off or insignificant fringe benefits that might be more difficult to explain to shareholders. On repeated occasions, I have heard the company ask ‘why are we doing this?’ or ‘how would we explain this’ when faced with a compensation decision – this reflects more of an accountability mindset than before. The overwhelming number of ‘in favour’ votes in 2011 has definitely calmed the fears of many companies that the say on pay rules would create problems for them. While I don’t see companies backing down from their focus on simplifying and better explaining their programs, there is definitely less worry than in 2011. And, for those whose say on pay votes were strongly in favour, they are certainly making a note of this in their proxy statements.
FW: What advice would you give to companies on designing effective compensation strategies, in light of current market and regulatory pressures? How can companies align pay with performance? Are risk and sustainability important considerations in today’s compensation arrangements?
Anderson: Current market and regulatory pressures are leading public companies to provide more transparency to ensure that compensation programs are appropriate and linked to measurable results. Those companies that have effective and transparent compensation strategies will attract, retain and motivate top talent to help create sustained shareholder value through the achievement of the company’s short and long-term business objectives. And, shareholders respond favourably to companies that demonstrate strong alignment between pay and performance. Consequently, we regularly advise boards and senior management teams to actively monitor the relationship between pay and performance relative to peers, to more easily identify potential misalignments in their programs. Key principles for a strong pay-for-performance pay philosophy include the following. First, establish appropriate target compensation opportunities with fixed pay (for example, base salary) pegged to market median Second, provide incentives with reasonable, achievable but stretch performance goals. Third, use normal (not extreme) leverage curves on incentive plan payouts, with maximum upside payouts. Fourth, have a well-conceived peer group for benchmarking pay that considers similar size business and labour competitors, suppliers and customers, as well as companies used by advisory firms, stock analysts, investors and other critics in measuring the success of the company. Fifth, use industry-relevant performance metrics that support the short- and long-term business objectives of the company and creation of shareholder value. Sixth, have a discipline of well-communicated programs. Finally, to mitigate ‘risk’ and promote sustainability, compensation programs should consist of multiple incentive vehicles with varying time horizons, and contain several performance metrics that are based on a combination of absolute, internal goals as well as relative financial performance metrics.
Murray: Companies and their boards can’t simply rely on the ‘this is the way we’ve always done it’ or a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Nowadays, you have to not only focus offensively on whether you are incentivising a particular executive’s performance and creating adequate retention tools, but also act defensively in making sure you are considering what your competitors are paying for the same role and shareholder reaction. You also have more legal requirements than ever before – from 280G performance-based compensation requirements to 409A deferred compensation limits to Dodd-Frank clawbacks. And you have to make sure that enough flexibility is built into the arrangement to react promptly to ongoing changes in the law and environment. Unfortunately, this means that compensation programs for the executive team have become more expensive, with compensation consultants and specialised legal advisers involved, sometimes on both sides. This is, however, a necessary expense in order to keep the incentive value high, the risk low, and the flexibility needed to react to future changes.
Patterson: Executive pay is now one of the most intensely scrutinised and commented upon elements of management. It’s vital to think through the link between pay and performance and to tell that performance story to the market, including how it will pay out in a range of scenarios. An effective incentive program can motivate and reward short-term behaviours and actions that will drive long-term performance and shareholder value. So the starting point is to really understand company strategy and the key metrics that drive it. Design annual and long-term incentives to work together, set targets to reward only genuine long-term performance and therefore ensure sustainability. Avoiding one-off payments such as discretionary bonus payouts – particularly when the Long Term Incentives are underwater – is essential if the link between pay and performance is to remain crystal-clear.
Ann Murray is a partner at McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP. With a business-oriented and practical approach to the practice of law, Ms Murray focuses her practice on helping companies attract and retain their workforces by offering attractive benefits programs and rewards. She regularly assists clients with matters relating to their qualified retirement plans; health, life, disability and other welfare benefits; stock options and similar equity programs; and executive compensation. Ms Murray also advises buyers and sellers regarding their benefits risks and concerns in the sale of a business. She can be contacted on +1 (404) 527 4940 or by email: amurray@mckennalong.com.
John L. Anderson is a partner and lead senior executive compensation consultant at Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC. He has more than 30 years of consulting experience in all forms of executive and director compensation. John consults directly with senior leadership and compensation committees at a number of public companies in wide variety of industries, including manufacturing, energy, professional services, financial services, technology, and telecommunications. Mr Anderson has extensive background in executive total compensation strategy, analysis, design and valuation. He can be contacted on +1 (847) 235 3601 or by email: janderson@meridiancp.com.
Simon Patterson is a managing director at Patterson Associates LLP – a Pearl Meyer & Partners practice. He manages the firm’s London office and is a member of its Operating Committee. Before founding Patterson Associates, he served as a Worldwide Partner in Mercer’s London office and co-founded SCA Consulting in Europe. Patterson Associates focuses on delivering business results by linking remuneration and reward systems to business needs. Mr Patterson can be contacted on +44 (0)203 384 6712 or by email: simon@pattersonassociates.co.uk.
THE PANELLISTS
Ann Murray
McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
John L. Anderson
Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC
Patterson Associates LLP
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A Partnership Between The FCIA and The USDA/ARS
Identifying and preserving fine flavor cacao varieties for the conservation of
biological diversity and the empowerment of farming communities.
Protecting Fine Flavor Cacao through Species Identification and Preservation
The FCIA Board of Directors is proud to have nurtured and supported the creation of the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Fund (HCP) since 2011. In late 2015 the HCP Executive Committee was able to secure 501c3 non-profit status and now has its own website.
Consumers all over the world have enjoyed the increasing availability of fine chocolate, whether bar or bon bon. The FCIA and the USDA ARS participated in a test to identify fine flavor cacao populations, the cacao from which the fine chocolate industry draws its raw material.
Out of this work was born the Heirloom Cacao Preservation Initiative (HCP), a partnership between the FCIA and the USDA/ARS that is tasked with: identifying the finest flavor cacaos which become the most flavorful chocolate in the world; linking their flavor to genetics for natural reproduction rather than GMO; preserving and propagating them now and for future generations and recognizing and rewarding the growers who cultivate them.
PLEASE CLICK HERE TO GO TO OUR HCP WEBSITE
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Football • Sports
FA Cup: cup holder Chelsea clash at Manchester United in the fifth round, re-release final last year
In England’s draw for the fifth round of the FA Cup. Title holder Chelsea have the home record against Manchester United. This is a re-release of the final from last year, when won by Chelsea. Kevin De Bruyne with Manchester City on movement to the winner of the game between Middlesbrough and Newport County.
Draw in the fifth round (15 to February 18):
Bristol City of Shrewsbury – Wolverhampton
AFC Wimbledon Millwall
Doncaster Rovers – Crystal Palace
Middlesbrough or Newport County – Manchester City
Chelsea – Manchester United
Swansea – Barnet or Brentford
Portsmouth or Queens Park Rangers – Watford
Brighton & Hove Albion or West Bromwich – Derby County
World champion Valverde should be fit for Tour of...
Mathieu van der Poel after unlikely triumph in the...
Dane Tobias Lund Andresen wins E3 Binckbank Classic...
Flipkens and Bonaventure losing the decisive doubles...
Italian Fausto Masnada surprised the favorites in...
There is no size on Jakob Fuglsang: 34-year-old Dane...
The Start of the process against KV Mechelen and...
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south africa coal mine
Death toll rises to six at South Africa coal mine gas ...
11 days ago· Death toll rises to six at South Africa coal mine gas explosion The mine is owned by Tegeta Resources and Exploration, which is undergoing creditor protection after its owners, the Gupta brothers, found it difficult to continue doing business in South Africa …
Mining industry of South Africa - Wikipedia
South Africa is the world's third largest coal exporter, and much of the country's coal is used for power production. (about 40%) 77% of South Africa's energy needs are provided by coal. Gold
South Africa Energy Coal
The South Africa Energy Coal (SAEC) operations are located near the towns of eMalahleni (previously known as Witbank) and Middelburg, in the coalfields of Mpumalanga. Coal mining has long been part of this region, with the name eMalahleni translating to ‘place of coal’.
Home | Ichor Coal
Coal Commodity of the future. IchorCoal is an international mining company with a focus on thermal coal production in South Africa. Watch our Vunene mining video
South Africa: Gloria Coal Mine Body Retrieval Must ...
2 days ago· AllAfrica is a voice of, by and about Africa - aggregating, producing and distributing 700 news and information items daily from over 140 African news organizations and our own reporters to …
Death Toll Rises To Six, 22 Still Trapped At South Africa ...
Feb 12, 2019· The death toll from an underground gas explosion at Gloria Coal Mine in South Africa’s eastern province of Mpumalanga has climbed to six. 22 are still trapped underground. The explosion occurred on Wednesday when a group of suspected criminals were allegedly stealing copper cables at a shaft at an abandoned mine.
Five killed in South Africa coal mine blast, some trapped ...
11 days ago· JOHANNESBURG: South African police said Thursday that five people had died after trespassing into a disused mine, with local media reporting …
South Africa | History, Map, & Facts | Britannica.com
South Africa, the southernmost country on the African continent, renowned for its varied topography, great natural beauty, and cultural diversity, all of which have made the country a favoured destination for travelers since the legal ending of apartheid (Afrikaans: “apartness,” or racial separation) in 1994.
11 days ago· MIDDELBURG, South Africa (Reuters) – The number of people killed by a gas explosion in an unused coal mine in South Africa’s eastern province of Mpumalanga has …
Explainer: How South African mines cope with power cuts ...
1 hour ago· Explainer: How South African mines cope with power cuts. Tanisha Heiberg, Zandi Shabalala. ... South Africa is home to the world’s biggest platinum group metals deposits, accounting for just ...
South Africa: Court Refuses Appeal On Mpumalanga Coal Mine ...
The North Gauteng High Court has refused an application for leave to appeal its decision to overturn the government's hush-hush approval of a new coal mine in a critical biodiversity and water ...
Opinion: South Africa’s coal mining sector could shrink by 46%
Opinion: South Africa’s coal mining sector could shrink by 46% ... Close Embed Video. 5. Opinion: South Africa’s coal mining sector could shrink by 46%. Embed Video ... correctly being raised ...
manganese ore mines in south africa - icas2017conference.com
Manganese Mines, Hout Bay, Cape Town, Western Cape . Manganese Mines, Hout Bay, Cape Town, Western Cape Province, South Africa While exploitable manganese was known to have existed in the Cape from 1676, it was only in 1909 that the difficulties surrounding mining there had been overcome by a small company and ore was being
Anglo American South Africa
Anglo American is a global mining company that mines a diverse range of products in South Africa i.e. platinum, thermal coal, diamonds, and iron ore.
10 days ago· The number of people killed by a gas explosion in an unused coal mine in South Africa's eastern province of Mpumalanga has risen to six, and several others remain trapped, an official at the mine …
Coal Mining in South Africa - Projects IQ Homepage
Coal Mining in South Africa. Coal mining in South Africa plays a significant role in the country’s economy as it is responsible for nearly three quarters of Eskom’s fuel supply. The industry is also responsible for supplying the coal-to-liquids (CTL) industry, developed by the South African fuel company, , who produces around 35% of the country’s liquid fuel.
The best 10 Coal Mines in Mpumalanga 2019 - Africa
Find Coal Mines in Mpumalanga and get directions and maps for local businesses in Africa. List of best Coal Mines in Mpumalanga of 2019. Home ... Secunda, 2302, South Africa, Mpumalanga. See full address and map. Categories: Coal Mines. Delmas Coal. Address: Delmas, 2210, South Africa, Mpumalanga. See full address and map. Categories: Coal Mines.
South Africa Gloria coal mine explosion 'kills six' - BBC News
11 days ago· Six people have been killed by a gas explosion in an abandoned coal mine in South Africa, the national broadcaster is reporting. About 20 others are still trapped at the Gloria coal mine in ...
Coal Mines in South Africa Intelligence and Info | Africa ...
Africa Mining IQ, a leading mining information source on coal mines in South Africa, lists the New Largo Project surface mine, and the Mafube Colliery as the largest coal mines in South Africa. The Mafube Colliery supplies 1.1 million tonnes of coal yearly.
11 days ago· The number of people killed by a gas explosion in an unused coal mine in South Africa's eastern province of Mpumalanga has risen to six, and several others remain trapped, an official at the mine ...
South Africa's EFF party says in election manifesto to ...
13 days ago· South Africa's radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) will nationalise all mines by 2023 if elected this year, the party said in its election manifesto launched on Saturday. The party is ...
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Erving Goffman
Erving Goffman von Smith, Greg (eBook)
Decades after his death, the figure of Erving Goffman (1922-82) continues to fascinate. Perhaps the best-known sociologist of the second half of the twentieth century, Goffman was an unquestionably significant thinker whose reputation extended well beyond his parent discipline.A host of concepts irrevocably linked to Goffman's name - such as 'presentation of self', 'total institutions', 'stigma', 'impression management' and 'passing' - are now staples in a wide range of academic discourses and are slipping into common usage. Goffman's writings uncover a previously unnoticed pattern and order in the minutiae of everyday interaction. Readers are often shocked when they recognize themselves in his shrewd analyses of errors, awkwardness and common predicaments.Greg Smith's book traces the emergence of Goffman as a sociological virtuoso, and offers a compact guide both to his sociology and to the criticisms and debates it has stimulated.
Burns, Tom
e-Study Guide for: Human Resource Management by Greg Stewart
e-Study Guide for: Embedded Microcontrollers and Processor Design by Charles Greg Osborn
e-Study Guide for: Essentials of Marketing Management by Greg W. Marshall
Study Guide for Smith and Roberson's Business Law
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Center Ridge Funeral Homes
Funeral Homes in Center Ridge, AR
Below you fill find all funeral homes and cemeteries in or near Center Ridge.
Suburbs of Center Ridge: Catholic Point, Lick Mountain, Middleton.
Conway County funeral flowers can be purchased from one of the local funeral shops we partner with.
Clinton Funeral Service
Opened in August of 2013, we are family-owned. Clinton Funeral Service brings the most affordable services to all of Van Buren Co. and surrounding areas.
We are proud to bring our neighbors something they have not had, excellent service at an...
218 Hwy 65 B, Clinton, AR 72031 -
Roller Funeral Home
Denver Roller was a man of great vision. He established Arkansas’ first crematory and created the Assured Peace Funeral Plan, the leading prepaid funeral plan in Arkansas. As of March 2003, over 21,000 people have prearranged and prepaid over...
801 8th Ave, Conway, AR 72032 -
Vilonia Funeral Home
Vilonia Funeral Home located at 1134 Main Street in Vilonia, Arkansas is a family owned and operated funeral home that exists to provide affordable funeral services, memorial services, cremation services, monuments, and pre-arrangements at...
1134 Main Street, Vilonia, AR 72173 -
Nearby Funeral Homes for Center Ridge
Acklin Funeral Home
1151 Markham St
Bishop-Griffin Funeral Home
108 N Broadview St
Greenbrier, AR 72058
Bob Neal & Sons Funeral Home
5 Bruce St
Morrilton, AR 72110
Cleburne County Memorial Gdn
8701 Highway 110 W
Heber Springs, AR 72545
218 Hwy 65 B
Clinton, AR 72031
Harris Funeral Home
118 S Moose St
Larry G Acklin Funeral Home
307 N Saint Joseph St
Lemley Funeral Service
1401 N Church St
Atkins, AR 72823
Roller McNutt Funeral Home
1902 Highway 65 S
115 S Broadview St
Rosewood Cremation
301 E Broadway St
Vilonia, AR 72173
Wilson & Jarrett
106 E Elm St
Center Ridge is an unincorporated census-designated place in Conway County, Arkansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 388. Clifton Clowers lived in Center Ridge. He was the subject of the hit song \"Wolverton Mountain\", written by Merle Kilgore and Claude King, and released in 1962, selling over twenty million copies. The song was later recorded by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.
Center Ridge Obituaries
It was noted by Peoria Journal Star on December 21st, 2016 that Patricia "Ann" Yakle (Rhoads) passed away in Wasington, Illinois. Ms. Yakle was 69 years old and was born in Center Ridge, AR. Send flowers to express your sorrow and honor Patricia "Ann"'s life.
It was reported by Kalamazoo Gazette on October 4th, 2015 that Edward V Rossi passed on in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Rossi was 93 years old and was born in Center Ridge, AR. Send flowers to share your condolences and honor Edward V's life.
It was written by Arkansas Democrat/Gazette on April 21st, 2015 that Angelo Anthony Paladino passed away in Center Ridge, Arkansas. Paladino was 49 years old. Send flowers to express your sympathy and honor Angelo Anthony's life.
It was revealed by Arkansas Democrat/Gazette on April 5th, 2015 that Gaybra Karon Jones passed away in Center Ridge, Arkansas. Jones was 61 years old. Send flowers to share your condolences and honor Gaybra Karon's life.
It was reported by Arkansas Democrat/Gazette on February 24th, 2015 that Paul Bruce Wilson passed away in Center Ridge, Arkansas. Wilson was 82 years old and was born in Titusville, PA. Send flowers to share your condolences and honor Paul Bruce's life.
It was written by Arkansas Democrat/Gazette on January 28th, 2015 that Danny Gene "Pops" Long died in Center Ridge, Arkansas. Long was 74 years old. Send flowers to express your sorrow and honor Danny Gene "Pops"'s life.
It was noted by Arkansas Democrat/Gazette on March 21st, 2014 that Afton Huie Flowers perished in Center Ridge, Arkansas. Flowers was 93 years old. Send flowers to express your sympathy and honor Afton Huie's life.
It was reported by Arkansas Democrat/Gazette on February 25th, 2014 that Cameron Michael Chancellor passed away in Center Ridge, Arkansas. Chancellor was 17 years old. Send flowers to share your condolences and honor Cameron Michael's life.
It was noted by Arkansas Democrat/Gazette on February 25th, 2014 that Anna Mae Davidson (Hill) passed on in Center Ridge, Arkansas. Ms. Davidson was 74 years old. Send flowers to express your sympathy and honor Anna Mae's life.
It was written by Arkansas Democrat/Gazette on February 24th, 2014 that Minnie Bartlett Phillips (Cole) perished in Center Ridge, Arkansas. Ms. Phillips was 89 years old. Send flowers to express your sympathy and honor Minnie Bartlett's life.
Center Ridge is a small unincorporated area community in Conway County, Arkansas County, Arkansas, United States. The song was later recorded by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Clifton Clowers lived in Center Ridge, Arkansas. He subsequently left acting and became an airline pilot. Jones' (1960-1962) and the World War II television series 'Combat!' (1962-1967), both on American Broadcasting Company He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his role of "Doc" on 'Combat!'.
Funeral Homes in Clinton
Funeral Homes in Greenbrier
Funeral Homes in Morrilton
Funeral Homes in Little Rock
Funeral Homes in N Little Rock
Funeral Homes in Searcy
Funeral Homes in Fort Smith
Funeral Homes in Pine Bluff
Funeral Homes in Jonesboro
We work with local florists and flower shops to offer same day delivery. You will find budget sympathy flowers in Center Ridge here. Our funeral flowers are cheap in price but not in value.
The Environmental Impact of Cremation
One of the most common reasons to choose cremation over burial is because of the reputed environmental benefit. In an age when all of us are looking for ways to reduce our impact on the environment, cremation provides a quick and easy solution. Cheaper than a... more »
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Aahana Kumra: Prakash Jha made me feel uncomfortable while I was shooting an intimate scene
Lipstick Under My Burkha fame Aahana Kumra recently made a shocking allegation on Prakash Jha.
Darshana Devi May 15 2019, 10.44 pm
Alankrita Srivastava’s Lipstick Under My Burkha got mired in a series of controversies before its release. The film had its fair share of battles with the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) for its high dose of sexual content and abusive words. Despite everything, it did manage to leave an impressive mark at the box office. It went on to be one of the best Bollywood films of 2017, garnering a lot of positive reviews from both the audience and the critics. Two years after the film's release, an unfortunate story from the sets has caught attention.
The particular incident involves actor Aahana Kumra and filmmaker Prakash Jha. As per allegations, the latter allegedly passed a remark to Aahana which made her feel ‘uncomfortable’. Narrating her incident, she told Zoom TV, “I remember once Mr Jha walked in and there was a scene, where I am filming the sex that is happening. Then Mr Jha walked in on the set and he passed a remark and it was so uncomfortable to hear that from him.”
Prakash Jha made me feel uncomfortable while I was shooting an intimate scene: Aahana Kumra
“I just went to Alankrita (Srivastava) and said 'he is not my director why he is on the set and why I have to hear a remark from him, with all due respect he is a producer,” she added.
Adding on, she shared that Srivastava politely asked Jha to leave the sets. "Alankrita asked him to leave and he left. He understood that space. He understood the fact that we were not comfortable with him around. He just politely left and that's really nice of him,” she said.
Meanwhile, Aahana was last seen in The Accidental Prime Minister co-starring Anupam Kher as the titular character. She will next be seen in Shamshera, which also features Ranbir Kapoor, Vaani Kapoor and Sanjay Dutt.
Nandita Swetha is redefining bold and beautiful in fashion, see pics
Queen Elizabeth II sends her congratulations after England wins its first World Cup
Aahana KumraBollywoodBollywood. Ranbir KapoorEntertainmentLipstick Under My Burkhaprakash jhasanjay duttvaani kapoor
nextTiger Shroff believes he is ‘Gareebo Ka Hrithik Roshan’, here’s why
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INARA raises over $11,000 during Ramadan – enough to help two extra refugee children
We raised over $11,000 this Ramadan, beating our target and also doubling the amount of money raised last year during our Ramadan Appeal.
INARA hits target of raising $100,000 - with every single dollar doubled by The Secular Society
With your help we managed to raise $100,000 in less than five months. Every single dollar in that time was doubled by The Secular Society, meaning we have raised $200,000 to provide medical treatment for refugee children from Syria.
Arwa Damon honored at the second annual James W. Foley Freedom Awards
Our founder and CNN Senior International Correspondent Arwa Damon was honored at the second annual James W. Foley Freedom Awards on May 1 in Washington D.C.
INARA launches new project to help refugee children with orthopedic conditions
We are launching a new, time-limited project to help refugee children from Syria with clubfoot and developmental dislocation of the hip (DDH).
Our founder Arwa Damon receives first ever World of Children Crisis Award
Our founder Arwa Damon was awarded the first ever World of Children Crisis Award at a star-studded ceremony in Los Angeles.
INARA awarded over $500,000 by UNICEF
We have been awarded over $500,000 as part of our partnership with UNICEF in Lebanon.
Adnan completes Barcelona Marathon in just over four and a half hours
Adnan completed the grueling 42 kilometers of the Barcelona Marathon this weekend (Sunday, March 12) - taking just over four and a half hours to do it!
Adnan to take part in the Barcelona Marathon
Adnan will be taking part in the Barcelona Marathon this weekend (Sunday, March 12).
World of Children and US Fund for UNICEF team up to fund INARA
Our founder, Arwa Damon, has been named as the recipient of the first ever World of Children Crisis Award. Arwa will accept her award at the awards ceremony held on April 19 in Los Angeles.
Launching our new visual identity
We are pleased to launch our new visual identity today - we hope you like it!
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Please stop telling me to smile
Smiling is nice. Bossing people around isn't.
Please stop telling me to smile Smiling is nice. Bossing people around isn't. Check out this story on IndyStar.com: http://indy.st/T0EYBw
Leslie Bailey, leslie.bailey@indystar.com Published 12:00 a.m. ET June 22, 2014 | Updated 4:58 p.m. ET June 23, 2014
Star reporter Leslie Bailey doesn’t want to be told to smile by strangers, friends or anybody. She said many of her female friends feel the same way, especially if the request/order is coming from a man.(Photo: Star file)
"Smile!" the man said as I walked into the rest stop near the Michigan/Indiana border.
Perhaps if I weren't on a five-hour drive to see my mother, who had been rushed to the hospital that morning, I could have obliged. Perhaps had I relieved myself back in Fort Wayne, I wouldn't have been so annoyed. And perhaps, if this didn't happen so often, I could understand the gesture.
"Smile!" my co-worker said as I walked through the newsroom on a recent morning.
Twice in two weeks. "What's wrong with me?" I wondered. My mom is doing well now. I used the bathroom before I left for work this morning. Do I suffer from bitchy resting face and not know it?
Related: Ladies, do you suffer from 'BRF'? Send us photos
I suppose it's not the effort I mind as much as I detest the command. What's wrong with greeting a stranger with "Good afternoon!" or asking a friend if everything is alright? But barking an order to rearrange one's face disturbs me, especially coming from a stranger. Especially coming from a male stranger.
And before we cut to the "This is some uptight feminist rant," comments, let me say this. There's nothing wrong with smiling at a stranger. But as my friend Elaina put it, "If you would like a woman to smile, give her a compliment. Not a command." Because the fact is, when it comes to a man saying this to a woman, particularly followed by something like, "You're prettier that way," it makes many women feel uncomfortable, annoyed and angry.
Because I do not always feel the need to be more attractive. I don't always want to look approachable.
I am not here for you.
This is a theme that a Brooklyn illustrator/painter explores in her project, Stop Telling Women to Smile. In 2012, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh began wheat-pasting large-scale posters, featuring portraits of women with instructive anti-harassment captions, in public places. It's a reminder to us all that while one person's comment may be meant as nothing more than a friendly gesture, it's one of many unwelcome advances a woman might experience in a day.
I took to Facebook to see if anyone in my network had experienced this. Most of the nearly 40 comments were from women like Jenni Burton. She wrote: "I find it obnoxious: 'you should smile' or 'you are too pretty to not smile' ... thanks, but no thanks — perhaps, I am deep in thought or not in a smiley kind of mood. Anyway, I was not put here to look pretty and smile at you, dearest random stranger."
Another friend was more understanding. "I don't fault the messenger. I suffer from BRF (bitchy resting face) when I am in deep contemplation," said Kris Davidson. (Perhaps that really is my problem?)
It wasn't all women though. Jon Jenkins, organizer of the Indie Arts and Vintage Marketplace, said he's had the experience as well, although notably, never from a stranger.
"I've been told that many times, but always in work situations from people I know. Always appreciated the reminder, but if a stranger told me that I'd probably tell them I'll smile when I feel like it," he said.
In the situations where it is meant as a friendly gesture, I've noticed that being told to smile is often followed by something like, "It can't be that bad," or "It's almost over!" But let's be clear on something: Regardless of how good our intentions are, we have no idea how bad someone else has it. We don't know what's going on in their life. Worry about walking in your own shoes.
Please understand, I am not suggesting that smiling is a bad thing. It's good for the heart. It's contagious. It can make you feel happy even when you're not. And, of course, you will look more attractive, approachable and likable.
There's not much in life that we can control. But smiling? Male or female, let's leave each other to do it on our own terms.
INDYSTAR: Life coverage
Call Star reporter Leslie Bailey at (317) 444-6094 and follow her on Twitter: @Lesalina.
Read or Share this story: http://indy.st/T0EYBw
Anniversaries: John Phillips & Helen Phillips
Anniversaries: James Combs Combs & Gladys Combs Combs
Anniversaries: Reverend Thomas Paino & Lois Paino
Anniversaries: Kenneth White & Drew White
Engagements: Scott Munday & Olivia Mawi
March 31, 2019, 12:03 a.m.
Anniversaries: John Munshower & Marcia Munshower
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Court docs: Substitute teacher had sex with high school student
Kisha Nuckols, 38, admitted having inappropriate relationships with at least six students, according to court records.
Court docs: Substitute teacher had sex with high school student Kisha Nuckols, 38, admitted having inappropriate relationships with at least six students, according to court records. Check out this story on IndyStar.com: http://indy.st/1MHPVTW
Marisa Kwiatkowski, marisa.kwiatkowski@indystar.com Published 4:29 p.m. ET April 1, 2016 | Updated 9:17 p.m. ET April 1, 2016
Judge's gavel.(Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
A Mt. Vernon School Corp. substitute teacher is accused of having sex with a high school student.
Kisha Nuckols, 38, was charged Friday with felony counts of child seduction and dissemination of matter harmful to minors, according to records from Hancock Circuit Court in Greenfield.
In an interview with Fortville police, Nuckols admitted sharing explicit photos with a 17-year-old boy and having sex with him multiple times, including at her home while her husband and children were upstairs. She also admitted having inappropriate relationships with at least five other students, court records state.
Court records indicate Mt. Vernon school officials waited 17 days to report the allegations of sexual abuse to authorities — which would be a violation of state law.
Mt. Vernon High School guidance counselor Bronwyn Kotarski told Mt. Vernon Middle School Principal Scott Shipley on Saturday, March 12, about a rumor that an employee had sent inappropriate photos to a high school student.
Shipley contacted Derek Shelton, assistant principal of Mt. Vernon High School, on Tuesday, March 29, and "requested his opinion in the matter," Hancock Circuit Court records show. Shelton said he knew the high school student's brother and asked the brother whether the allegation could be true. The brother reached out to his sibling, who shared copies of the explicit photos, court records state.
Shelton contacted police on March 29, the same day he learned of the allegations, court records show. He told police he reported it as soon as he realized the photographs existed and were possibly of Nuckols, who was currently employed by the school corporation.
A school official also reported it to the Indiana Department of Child Services on March 29.
Indiana law requires certain school officials to immediately report suspected child abuse and neglect to DCS or law enforcement. And state law requires anyone who suspects child abuse or neglect to report it.
INDIANAPOLIS STAR
Marion Juvenile Court judge 'extremely disturbed' hospital didn't report suspected abuse
Nuckols' case appears to be the latest in a series of failures by school officials to immediately report allegations involving misconduct by employees. At Park Tudor, officials waited one day to report allegations against former basketball coach Kyle Cox. At Indianapolis Public Schools, it took six days for a school official to report allegations against former school counselor Shana Taylor.
Shane Robbins, superintendent of the Mt. Vernon School Corp., told IndyStar that his district went on spring recess for two weeks starting March 12, when the counselor told the principal about the allegations. He said they returned March 28, and the employees began their investigation.
Robbins said he is gathering information on the timeline of events before making a decision on whether to pursue any disciplinary measures against his employees. He said the school district's focus now is on gathering information for investigators.
Robbins said the district also is educating employees on their duties to report allegations of child abuse and neglect.
"We don’t want it to happen again," he said. "We met with our entire school district staff yesterday so we could prepare them for the release of this information. The message we left them with: When in doubt, report."
Robbins said it would be easy to focus on penalizing the employee and forget about the fallout to the students.
"There are kids involved here, and this employee has children in our school district, so we need to be prepared on how it affects students in our classrooms," he said.
IndyStar could not reach Kotarski, Shipley or Nuckols on Friday for comment.
In a written statement issued Friday, Robbins said Nuckols was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation. She also is prohibited from entering school grounds.
The district did not identify Nuckols in the release but described her as "a middle school non-certified employee." In court records, she is listed as a teacher's aide/substitute teacher. Nuckols has been employed with the district for about three years, police said.
Court records indicate she initiated the relationship with the 17-year-old boy in July by following him on Twitter. Their relationship later became sexual, according to Hancock Circuit Court records.
In a Facebook post, police said the investigation is ongoing and detectives are researching records to see whether "any additional inappropriate conduct had occurred since her employment" with the school district.
Nuckols had not been arrested as of early Friday evening. The Hancock County prosecutor's office and Nuckols' attorney have been in contact, Prosecutor Brent Eaton said.
When asked whether the prosecutor's office would file criminal charges against any school employees, Eaton said, “The investigation is active and ongoing.”
Call IndyStar reporter Marisa Kwiatkowski at (317) 444-6135. Follow her on Twitter: @IndyMarisaK.
Read or Share this story: http://indy.st/1MHPVTW
What we know: Indiana toddler dies on cruise ship
Police: Amber Portwood hit boyfriend in the neck with shoe
Daughter of South Bend police officer dies in cruise ship fall
'Flipping Exes': The baggage Bravo's not talking about
Carmel says no worries over City Center delays
4 school construction projects in Hamilton County
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Fear and Loathing in Hong Kong: writing when Big Brother is watching
Author: Michelle Ng | Publish Date: 15.02.19
The directive that those present at the Beijing-based Tsinghua University campus should gather for a physical workout seemed innocuous enough - this was back in 1951, when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had only reigned for two years and had yet to launch any nation-wide purge of intellectuals - but already, it instilled in literature professor Chen Mengjia（陳夢家） a sense of foreboding. "1984 is coming! So soon!" He angrily muttered to a friend upon receiving the order.
Chen Mengjia takes the picture during his teaching at the University of Chicago in 1940s.
As far as I know, there's no record of Chen alluding to Orwell again in the presence of others , but surely, in the years that followed - the party quickly showed its true colours and subjected the country to the 1984 treatment - privately, Chen must have often felt like a doomed character in Orwell's book. He finally snapped when the Cultural Revolution came in 1966: to cling onto what remained of his dignity, he hung himself. His last words were "no longer will I put up with being taunted like a circus monkey."
Normally, stumbling upon a writer who can uncannily illuminate one's reality for one is an uplifiting experience - Orwell himself was in such a state when he discovered Henry Miller and enthused "He knows all about me...he wrote this specially for me." But when one is living in troubling times, and when what an author gives one is a foretaste of even more troubling times ahead - how does one cope with such knowledge?
This is not a hypothetical question for me, now that the regime that had once tormented Chen Mengjia is reneging on its promise to grant Hong Kong the freedom enshrined in the city's mini-constitution. Instead, Beijing is setting the stage to give the former British colony the 1984 treatment too. The dictatorship has, among other things, kidnapped Hong Kong booksellers who had published books that offended it, barred foreigners whose past deeds it has deemed subversive from entering the city , monopolized the city's bookstore network and persuaded businessmen loyal to it to snap up the local media properties. For me, however, the most disturbing sign that Beijing is dead serious about intimidating Hong Kong into silence comes in the form of the weekly column penned by Tammy Tam, the chief editor of the South China Morning Post.
The paper's previous incarnation as venerated publication had a hand in making me the writer I am: in my teenage years in the 1990s, not only did I rely on it to beef up my vocab bank; through it I got my first exposure to the then-lofty world of adult writing. So, imagine my horror in discovering that the paper is now headed by someone whose grasp of the English language is dubious at best - read Tam's work, and you wouldn't brand as disgruntled that anonymous employee who, on the occasion of Tam's rise to her current position three years ago, described her to the press as someone who "struggles with basic English" . Some of her readers have also weighed in : "sounds like translate Google"; "she is effectively destroying my speed reading"- a group of expatriates in Hong Kong delivered their verdicts.
Those familiar with CCP history won't be surprised by Tam's appointment. It's a time-honored CCP tradition that, when selecting people for positions, loyalty to the party trumps other qualifications. In China's northwest region in the early 1950s, for instance, so many unlettered party stalwarts had their illiteracy overlooked and were made heads of counties that a practice emerged: to help them avoid the embarrassment of placing stamps on documents upside down, the lower corners of official chops were deliberately chipped away; the chipped parts could then guide the cadres in stamping documents correctly. So, whoever it was that installed Tam was still so enamoured of this "loyalty first" practice that they quickly dismissed concerns (if such concerns had existed at all) that her substandard English would erode the paper's reputation.
This is not to say SCMP hasn't made an effort to deny that CCP has laid siege to the paper - its chief executive Gary Liu, for example, assured The New York Times that "we are not here, certainly, to promote the views and wishes of Beijing." Tam, however, has proved herself to be ready to demolish in one blow the facade her colleague tried to maintain. Last year, she invited three officials from China's foreign ministry to sit in at an editorial meeting, not caring that doing so might provoke those employees of hers who regard editorial independence as sacrosanct into leaking the incident to the press. This one of them promptly did, and the next day, a story about the meeting appeared in the one remaining independent mainstream media in the city.
Photo: nextplus.nextmedia.com
I prefer to believe that, in making a show of letting Beijing officials intrude into her newsroom, Tam was blinded by her arrogance and therefore blindsided by the leak. But the truth is likely to be more sinister. In the past couple of years, CCP's influence on institutions in Hong Kong, previously kept under wraps, has been brought out into the open as though by design. Five percent of the city's listed companies have announced they are now answerable to the newly-established party cells within them; students who hailed from China studying law at a Hong Kong university openly attended on-campus party cell conferences, where they were exhorted to "wear politics on your sleeves". Tam's meeting was therefore probably convened out of cold calculation - she was simply doing her part in a large-scale ploy to spook Hong Kong people into accepting their lot as circus monkeys.
Last November, a scene that could have appeared in 1984 occurred in China: a woman in the southwest metropolis of Chongqing appeared at the city's People's Liberation Monument stark naked in broad daylight, yelling "down with the communist party, give me justice". She was quickly subdued by the police.
Even though I know nothing about her beyond what was shown in the video - I don't know what her grievance was or what has become of her since (the party has probably confined her to a mental hospital) - I feel I already know her, because as a writer who relish the release I get when I put Tam's likes in their place, I can imagine how empowered the woman felt when she channeled her loathing of the CCP into her grand gesture. And luckily for me, not all oppressed characters in 1984 are equal: unlike Chen Mengjia, I have a foreign passport, so, I can leave Hong Kong when the CCP becomes too impossible; unlike the Chongqing woman, whose dramatic undertaking is by nature a one-off act, I can mobilize my anger and write on an ongoing basis. Writers often complain about how hard writing is, but I can assure you that overcoming the fear of writing when Big Brother is watching is even harder than the act of writing itself! No matter how mighty the struggle, however, I'll soldier on. This is what I want for myself, and what Chen Mengjia and the Chongqing woman would have wanted for me and themselves, too.
譚衛兒
Blogger | Michelle Ng
Michelle Ng (吳若琦） is an Oxford-educated bilingual writer in Hong Kong. She also teaches English writing - she can give anyone the poise of a writer. She can be reached at [email protected]
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Home/Crescent Hotels and Resorts Appoints Theresia Kelly as Spa Director of Sheraton Bay Point Resort
admin|2018-08-07T11:38:48+00:00August 7th, 2018|
PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (Aug. 7, 2018) – Northwest Florida’s most celebrated resort nestled along the historic St. Andrews Bay, Sheraton Bay Point Resort proudly welcomes Theresia Kelly as spa director of the award-winning Serenity Spa. With nearly two decades of extensive experience in the spa and wellness industry, Kelly oversees all operational aspects.
“Theresia is a wonderful addition to our team at Sheraton Bay Point Resort,” says Jean Capps, general manager at Sheraton Bay Point Resort. “She has incredible knowledge of health and wellness, and through new services and programming, has elevated the level of service at the spa.”
Before joining the team at Sheraton Bay Point Resort, Kelly worked as a resort spa consultant offering expertise in all aspects of education and training, re-branding, operations and staffing, retail boutique design and production selection for multiple spa and wellness centers across the nation. Kelly began her career opening Wellness Store & Day Spa in Wickford Village, R.I., where she directed all operations over the course of a decade and expanded the business into three locations. Kelly taught education classes in wellness and lifestyle, yoga instruction and healthful lifestyle consultations. Kelly was born and raised in Heidelberg, Germany and made the stateside move to pursue her education at Eastern Oregon University, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology.
“I am proud to be part of the team at Sheraton Bay Point Resort,” says Theresia Kelly, spa director at Sheraton Bay Point Resort. “This area of the country is so peaceful and relaxing. To be able to add wellness teachings and a high-end spa experience is a true honor.”
Serenity Spa at Sheraton Bay Point Resort welcomes guests to step out of reality and into serenity in its 12,000 sq. ft. facility, featuring exclusive amenities from sauna, steam room, relaxation lounge and indoor whirlpool to the Reflection zero-entry pool offering calming vistas of St. Andrews Bay. With full-body wellness in mind, guests can participate in yoga classes, aqua aerobics and wellness workshops. In addition, Serenity Spa offers organic spa treatments from massage and facials to salon and nail appointments.
The only AAA Four Diamond Rated resort in Panama City Beach, Sheraton Bay Point Resort, is nestled along the historic St. Andrews Bay in Panama City Beach, Fla. Anchored by 36 holes of golf, including the only Nicklaus Design course in Northwest Florida, Sheraton Bay Point Resort creates a personalized coastal experience with the highest standard of hospitality. With a modern new design, more than 60,000 sq. ft. of group space and a full-service spa, the 320-room re-imagined, wellness-focused resort is rich with amenities, including a private bay beach, three pools, watersports, boating and tennis. The first Starwood Hotels & Resorts property in the region, Sheraton Bay Point Resort is managed by nationally recognized operator Crescent Hotels & Resorts.
For more information on Theresia Kelly or to book a memorable spa experience at Sheraton Bay Point Resort, call 866.912.1042 or visit SheratonBayPoint.com.
crescent hotels & resortsserenity spasheraton bay point resorttheresia kelly
Adam Mayo Named Director of Operations for the Sheraton Bay Point Resort, St. Andrews Bay, Florida
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Home/Crescent Hotels & Resorts and Aliz Group Appoints Management Team for Aliz Hotel Times Square
admin|2018-09-18T11:05:29+00:00September 18th, 2018|
Aliz Hotel Times Square | September 18, 2018
New York City (September 18, 2018): Aliz Group announced today the appointment of the new management team who will oversee day-to-day operations at the group’s flagship property, Aliz Hotel Times Square, which is managed by Crescent Hotels & Resorts.
Managed by 25-year hospitality veteran Nicole Hendrix, and award-winning and nationally recognized Management Company, Crescent Hotels & Resorts, Aliz Hotel Times Square will debut this fall at one of the most iconic intersections in NYC.
Joining as General Manager for the property, Hendrix will be an integral part of the Aliz management team. Her strengths in generating new strategies for operational productivity and developing talent allows for the hotel’s guest-centric philosophy to flourish. Hendrix has a unique understanding of core hospitality standards while elevating and accomplishing brand goals. Having advanced her career contributing to different hospitality leaders such as Kimpton Hotels, Marriott and Hilton, Hendrix will bring a seasoned and unique perspective to this new modern lifestyle property.
“We are confident Nicole’s management and operational expertise will be a great asset to Aliz. Michael will also be a great addition to the team, providing extraordinary customer service that will benefit our guests and clients. We are excited to welcome Nicole and Michael on board,” said Michael Sullivan, spokesperson for Aliz Group.
Aliz will feature an innovative design with 287 guest rooms, a two-story rooftop bar and lounge, stylish restaurant and lounge spaces, and luxury amenities – all within walking distance to Times Square, Hudson Yards and the Jacob Javits Center.
For more information, visit www.alizhotel.com. Follow us at @alizhoteltimesquare #BeAliz
About Aliz Hotel Times Square
Aliz Hotels is a new experiential, design-driven independent lifestyle brand making its signature debut this fall in New York City with its Times Square location. Aliz Hotel Times Square is owned by Aliz Group, LLC, a privately owned and operated property management, acquisition, and development company headquartered in New York City. Managed by Crescent Hotels & Resorts, Aliz Hotel Times Square is also a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts.
asedeno@ciicnews.com/845.358.3920 x24
About Crescent Hotels & Resorts
Crescent Hotels & Resorts is an award winning, nationally recognized, top-3 operator of hotels and resorts. Crescent currently operates over 100 hotels, resorts & conference centers in the US and Canada. Crescent is one of the few elite management companies approved to operate upper-upscale and luxury hotels under the brand families of Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and IHG. Crescent also operates a collection of legendary independent lifestyle hotels and resorts under the Latitudes Collection umbrella. Crescent’s clients include premiere REITs, private equity firms and major developers. For more information, please visit http://www.crescenthotels.com/ & http://www.latitudesbycrescent.com/ or connect with Crescent on LinkedIn.
alizaliz groupaliz hotel times squarecrescent hotels & resortsmichael ormondnicole hendrix
The Mayfair Hotel LA to Join Crescent Hotels & Resorts Latitudes Collection of Lifestyle Hotels
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Billyracxx's Latest Video is a Stunning and Unnerving Visual Experience
Loud and Proud: Black Joe Lewis Gets Real on The Difference Between Me & You
Upcoming: Yo La Tengo, Scott Weiland, Meek Mill, Shabazz Palaces, Transit, Etc.
Craig Hlavaty
Craig Hlavaty | February 19, 2013 | 10:00am
Alt-J: With Hundred Waters., Sun., March 10, 8 p.m., $15/$17. Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak, Houston.
Battery (Metallica Tribute): With Ozz (Ozzy/Sabbath Tribute)., Fri., March 8, 8 p.m., $10. Scout Bar, 18307 Egret Bay Blvd., Houston.
Billy Currington: Sat., March 9, 7 p.m., $35-$65. Nutty Jerry's (Winnie), 18291 Englin Road, Winnie.
Black Mountain: Fri., April 26, 9 p.m., $12/$14. Rudyard's, 2010 Waugh, Houston.
Boz Scaggs: Sat., April 27, 8 p.m., $49.50. Arena Theatre, 7326 SW Freeway, Houston.
Breathe Carolina: With Chiodos, Escape The Fate, Motionless In White, Chelsea Grin, Norma Jean, Attila, Betraying The Martyrs, Buried In Verona, Ice Nine Kills, Mouth Of The South., Sun., March 17, 1 p.m., $27.50-$37.50. House of Blues, 1204 Caroline, Houston.
Caspian: With Junius, Co-Pilot., Fri., Feb. 22, 8 p.m., $10/$12. Rudyard's, 2010 Waugh, Houston.
Chase Hamblin & The Roustabouts: Sat., Feb. 23, 5 p.m., Free. Cactus Music & Video, 2110 Portsmouth St., Houston.
Chase Hamblin & The Roustabouts: With Kiki's Sordid Sideshow, The Trimms., Fri., March 29, 8 p.m., $8/$12. Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak, Houston.
Cloud Nothings: With Fat Tony, B L A C K I E, Buxton, Teen Daze, Delicate Steve Featherface., Sat., March 9, noon, Free. Rice University, 6100 Main St., Houston.
Dave Matthews Band: Fri., May 17, 7 p.m., TBA. Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 2005 Lake Robbins Drive, Spring.
The Dead Rabbits: With DollyRockers, Cottonwood Blossom, The Tyburn Jig, The Dollyrots., Sun., March 17, noon, Free. Griff's Houston, 3416 Roseland St., Houston.
Ducktails: With Wild Moccasins, Yip Deceiver., Tue., March 12, 8 p.m., $7. Walter's, 1120 Naylor St., Houston.
Echo Temple: With Wellborn Road., Sat., March 2, 8 p.m., $10/$13. House of Blues, 1204 Caroline, Houston.
Espantapajaros: With The Analog People, Cosmic Serenity., Wed., Feb. 27, 8 p.m., $5/$10. Scout Bar, 18307 Egret Bay Blvd., Houston.
Josh Turner: With Holly Williams & Jody Booth., Fri., April 5, 7 p.m., $35-$60. Nutty Jerry's (Winnie), 18291 Englin Road, Winnie.
Kashmere Reunion Stage Band: Fri., April 12, 8 p.m., $14/$22. Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak, Houston.
Katchafire: Wed., May 15, 7 p.m., $12/$14. House of Blues-- Bronze Peacock Room, 1204 Caroline, Houston.
Kottonmouth Kings: With Deuce, Dizzy Wright, Snow Tha Product, Eskimo Callboy., Sat., April 13, 8 p.m., $22.50. Scout Bar, 18307 Egret Bay Blvd., Houston.
Kyle Hollingsworth: With Nigel Hall Band., Fri., March 1, 8 p.m., $20.00-$22.50. Last Concert Cafe, 1403 Nance St., Houston.
Life As Lions: With Life As Lions, Olivine, Soapbox Revolution, Handsome Ransom., Thu., March 14, 8 p.m., $10. House of Blues -- Bronze Peacock Room, 1204 Caroline, Houston.
Little Barrie: With Purple, New York City Queens, Springfield Riots., Thu., March 7, 9 p.m., $8. Walter's, 1120 Naylor St., Houston.
Los Bunkers: Sun., March 17, 8 p.m., $20/$25. House of Blues-- Bronze Peacock Room, 1204 Caroline, Houston.
Los Skarnales: With The Bandulus, Kumbia Sabanera, DJ Moonstomp, Rico Hooligan., Fri., March 1, 8 p.m., $12. Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak, Houston.
Lydia: With Indian Lakes, Sweet Talker., Sun., March 24, 6:30 p.m., $12/$14. Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak, Houston.
Mansions On The Moon: Thu., March 21, 8 p.m., $12/$15. Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak, Houston.
Meek Mill: Fri., April 19, 8 p.m., $32.50-$40.00. House of Blues, 1204 Caroline, Houston.
Murder The Stout: With The Grizzly Band, The Tyburn Jig, The Medicine Years., Fri., March 29, 8 p.m., $5/$10. Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak, Houston.
Obnox: With Black Congress, Unholy Two, Hamamatsu Tom & the Resigning Popes., Fri., March 15, 9 p.m., $5. Rudyard's, 2010 Waugh, Houston.
Otep: With One Eyed Doll, Picture Me Broken., Tue., March 19, 8 p.m., $16/$20. Scout Bar, 18307 Egret Bay Blvd., Houston.
Passafire: Fri., April 19, 8 p.m., $10/$12. House of Blues-- Bronze Peacock Room, 1204 Caroline, Houston.
Penguin Prison: Fri., Feb. 22, 9 p.m., $3/$7. Boondocks, 1417 Westheimer, Houston.
Rehab: Fri., May 3, 8 p.m., $13/$16. Scout Bar, 18307 Egret Bay Blvd., Houston.
Scott Rudd: With B.E. Godfrey, Adam Bricks., Mon., March 11, 9 p.m., $5. La Carafe, 813 Congress, Houston.
Scott Weiland: Tue., March 26, 8 p.m., $27.50-$50.00. House of Blues, 1204 Caroline, Houston.
Shabazz Palaces: With THEESatisfaction., Fri., May 3, 8 p.m., $14/$16. Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak, Houston.
Stone Foxes: Tue., March 19, 8 p.m., $10. Dosey Doe, 25911 I-45 N., Spring.
Strange Weapons: With Strange Weapons, The Ex-Optimists, Knights of the Fire Kingdom., Fri., March 1, 9 p.m., $5. Rudyard's, 2010 Waugh, Houston.
Tim Qualls: With Shellee Coley, James Caronna., Mon., March 4, 8 p.m., $5. Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak, Houston.
The Tontons: Sat., March 2, 3 p.m., Free. Cactus Music & Video, 2110 Portsmouth St., Houston.
Toology (Tool Tribute): With Alyson Chayns (AIC Tribute)., Sat., Feb. 23, 8 p.m., $10. Scout Bar, 18307 Egret Bay Blvd., Houston.
Trampled Under Foot: Fri., Feb. 22, 5:30 p.m., Free. Cactus Music & Video, 2110 Portsmouth St., Houston.
Transit: With Seahaven, Young Statues., Tue., April 16, 6 p.m., TBA. Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak, Houston.
Wheeler Brothers: With Wild Child., Fri., March 1, 8 p.m., $8/$11. Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak, Houston.
William Beckett: With Jillette Johnson., Fri., March 29, 8 p.m., $12/$14. House of Blues-- Bronze Peacock Room, 1204 Caroline, Houston.
Y&T: With Black Queen Speaks., Sat., March 9, 8 p.m., $15/$20. Concert Pub (North), 2470 FM 1960, Houston.
Yo La Tengo: Thu., May 2, 8 p.m., $16/$20. Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak, Houston.
Five years Strong: Splice Records Still Turns the World One...
Houston Concert Watch 7/3: Chicago and More
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Gulf Disturbance Expected to be a Hurricane at Landfall
Five Ways You Can Help Improve Houston Traffic
Unnamed Suspected Drug Dealer, Bayou Body Count No. 20
Chris Vogel
Chris Vogel | January 21, 2010 | 2:29pm
If there were a class for crooks, the message would be taught in Crime 101: Don't dare the cops to shoot you, because they probably will.
One suspected drug offender, however, apparently missed that little lesson. And not surprisingly, he paid for it with his life.
On Friday, Houston narcotics officer R. Massey went over to a house at 6710 Letcher near Settegast to serve a search warrant and look for drugs. As he entered the home and announced himself, police say, Massey was greeted by a man waiving a shotgun and daring the officer to "come and get him."
So he did.
Fearing for his life, police say, Massey shot the man, but not until after the man was able to fire at Massey. The suspected druggie's aim, however, was not as sure or true as the officer's. Massey, a nine-year veteran of the force, was unscathed, while the man died on the spot.
Massey later did find illegal drugs in the house, police say.
As with all officer-involved shootings, the case will be investigated by HPD's Internal Affairs and the Harris County District Attorney's Office.
Astros Have a Chance to Break Away with Spate of AL West Games
Four Keys to the Astros Second Half
Possible Gulf Disturbance Could Affect Houston Area Later in...
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12/31/2013 01:27 pm ET Updated Jan 23, 2014
The Best New Chicago Restaurants That Opened In 2013 (PHOTOS)
2013 was an eventful year in Chicago. As we look to 2014, we wanted to take this opportunity to look back on the year that was, including some of the incredible stories that helped make this year, for better or worse, so special. We reached out to some of the city's most respected trendsetters and influencers in music, food and drink and more to share some of their "year's best" picks, in addition to weighing in ourselves. We'll be rolling them out on the daily through New Year's Day.
Chicago's thriving restaurant scene continued to scale new heights this year with fresh helpings of cutting-edge cocktails, craft versions of comfort food and other epicurean delights.
In order to corral the best new restaurants the Windy City served up this year, we turned to the expert. Friend of HuffPost and the newly-minted editor of Tasting Table Chicago, Anthony Todd, shared his picks of the year with us, writing:
"2013 was a big year for the Chicago restaurant scene. We lost some pillars of the community (Charlie Trotter, Jean Banchet) and some great restaurants closed their doors. Luckily, some amazing newcomers popped up to take their places. Here, in no particular order, are my favorite openings of 2013. Don’t look for Eataly on the list – I’m waiting until the New Year to make my official visit."
Without further ado:
Three Dots And A Dash
Three Dots And A Dash Facebook
I lied. These may be in a particular order, only because Three Dots is the new place where I have spent the most of my own personal, off-duty, not-paid-for-by-someone else time and money. Paul McGee has created the consummate tiki paradise in a basement in River North, and, while it’s often a bit overrun, if you go at the right time of night you can almost pretend you’re on vacation in the South Seas. Rum haters, don’t fear; order a tiki cocktail made with scotch, rye or tequila and you won’t have to be left out of the party.
endgrain
endgrain Facebook
Endgrain had a rocky opening, with many delays – they only got their liquor license quite recently, and opening reviews were mixed. But I’m a sucker for their amazing biscuit sandwiches, and anywhere that serves a bacon-butterscotch donut is worth a visit.
Dusek’s Board and Beer
Dusek's Facebook
The Longman & Eagle team knocked it out of the park with this addition to the Pilsen restaurant scene. Between the warm, woody space, the delicious offal-filled menu and the huge beer list, there’s nothing about this place that isn’t perfect. Even better, the downstairs Punch House is worth its own entry on this list, with a 60s basement vibe that won’t quit and a selection of inexpensive, complex drinks sure to quench your thirst.
Fountainhead/Facebook
Ok, Fountainhead isn’t exactly new. But Chef Cleetus Friedman, darling of the local food set and former owner of City Provisions, took over the kitchen earlier this year. He has utterly transformed Fountainhead; previously a joint where the food was an afterthought tacked onto the huge whiskey list, now it’s a real destination restaurant.
Honey Butter Fried Chicken
Honey Butter Fried Chicken Facebook
Could any restaurant possibly live up to the hype piled on Honey Butter Fried Chicken? The answer is simple: absolutely, positively yes. Their addictive chicken is complimented by some of the best vegetable side dishes in the city, and the crowds at this Avondale spot helmed by Sunday Dinner vets Christine Cikowski and Josh Kulp show no sign of slowing down.
The Berkshire Room
The Berkshire Room Facebook
It’s been a hell of a year for the Fifty/50 group. First, they totally revamped Homestead (now under Chef Chris Curren) into a year-round restaurant. Then, they hired Boka group mixologist Ben Schiller and gave him a craft cocktail playground: The Berkshire Room. Hiding in the back of the Acme Hotel, the Berkshire Room is the coziest spot in town for a great drink. Plus, it’s the source of my favorite cocktail of 2013: Schiller’s “Weston,” made with coffee and pipe tobacco.
Sumi Robata Bar
Sumi Robata Bar Facebook
Sumi had the misfortune (at least for year-end lists) to open very early in 2013. But Chef Gene Kato’s tiny restaurant is worth a mention, if only for his amazing tiny meat dishes that kept us coming back for more. Grilled chicken gizzard, anyone?
Tanta Facebook
I was skeptical of this celebrity-chef-helmed outsider in River North – would the fashionistas force them to tone down the food? Happily, the answer was no. Just one sip of their traditional “leche de tigre” (a guaranteed hangover cure made of liquefied ceviche) and you know that Tanta isn’t playing around.
Nico Osteria
Nico Osteria Facebook
Nico has proven, once and for all, that it’s the restaurants, not the crowds, that make dining in the Gold Coast so permanently mediocre. While the Gold Coast dining scene has long been lame, the Paul Kahan-helmed Italian spot smack in the middle of the Viagra Triangle serves food that is light years ahead of its neighbors (and it’s packed all the time).
CH Distillery
CH Distillery Faceook
CH Distillery convinced me that drinking vodka wasn’t a waste of time. Try their ice-cold vodka with rye bread and pickles, and prepare to be astounded. Most people don’t realize that CH Distillery even has a menu, but they do – and it’s great, filled with Russian and Scandinavian inspired dishes.
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A MAN is counting his lucky stars this morning after his car collided with a passenger train at a level crossing just south of Scone. The incident occurred at about 6.30am on Wednesday and emergency services attended the scene. The man, who was driving a Jeep, and all 18 train passengers escaped the crash uninjured. The Kingdon Ponds Rural Fire Brigade was notified of the incident, however as no further information was available, crews were stood down. Trains were suspended between Scone and Muswellbrook with buses called in to replace those heading to Newcastle.
https://nnimgt-a.akamaihd.net/transform/v1/crop/frm/caitlin.reid%40fairfaxmedia.com./99a38dc3-15e4-46fc-8ec9-7bc17b2074e7.jpg/r0_168_471_434_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
July 10 2019 - 10:42AM
Man escapes uninjured after his Jeep collides with passenger train south of Scone
Caitlin Reid
Driver counts his lucky stars
Passenger train collides with car
Photos: Supplied
A MAN is counting his lucky stars this morning after his car collided with a passenger train at a level crossing just south of Scone.
The incident occurred at about 6.30am on Wednesday and emergency services attended the scene.
The man, who was driving a Jeep, and all 18 train passengers escaped the crash uninjured.
The Kingdon Ponds Rural Fire Brigade was notified of the incident, however as no further information was available, crews were stood down.
Trains were suspended between Scone and Muswellbrook with buses called in to replace those heading to Newcastle.
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MainAll NewsGush Etzion Regional Council
Gush Etzion Regional Council
Incumbent council head wins in Gush Etzion
Arutz Sheva Staff , 11/14/2018, 1:37 AM (צילום: הלל מאיר/TPS)
Meet Shlomo Neeman, the new Gush Etzion Regional Council Head
Shlomo Ne'eman elected head of Gush Etzion Regional Council
Arutz Sheva Staff ,2/14/2017, 11:26 PM
A new candidate for Gush Eztion Council head
Shlomo Neeman, resident of Karmei Tzur in Gush Etzion, declared his candidacy, pledged to try to implement sovereignty in the entire Gush.Arutz Sheva, 12/29/2016, 4:06 PM
Gush Etzion mayor: I never harmed a woman in my life
Davdi Perl, chief of the Gush Etzion Regional Council responds to charges of sexual assault.Arutz Sheva Staff, 9/21/2016, 9:57 AM
How to Build an Anglo Community in Israel: The Story of Elazar
It wasn't easy managing the bureaucratic snafus, but forty years later, it is all about nostalgia and fond memories.Arutz Sheva Staff, 10/9/2015, 1:14 AM
Ya'alon Offers Deal to Demolish Teens' Memorial Community
Ya'alon offers perks to get Gush Etzion council to dismantle community built in memory of three murdered teens.Ari Yashar, 8/17/2014, 6:00 PM
Embracing the Families Left Behind
Gush Etzion Regional Council reaches out to families affected by Gaza operation.Sarah Leah Lawent, 7/25/2014, 1:16 AM
Congressmen See Ancient Jewish History in Judea
US Congressmen Harris and DeSantis learn of 'thousands of years of Jewish history' in Gush Etzion, say US media misses reality.Yedidya Ben-Or, Ari Yashar, 5/13/2014, 7:10 PM
Thousands of Teenagers March in Gush Etzion
Demonstration, presentation on the IDF's role in the region draws thousands of high school students to learn about Gush Etzion's history.Hezki Baruch, 4/1/2014, 10:53 AM
While it Lasts: Snow Tourism in Gush Etzion
Gush Etzion region, which experienced record snowfall over the weekend, takes opportunity to boost tourism in the region.Arutz Sheva Staff, 12/18/2013, 9:05 PM
Deri: Promote Building Throughout Land of Israel
Shas chairman visits Gush Etzion region, declares that it is important to build, establish facts on the ground.Tova Dvorin, 12/5/2013, 3:44 AM
Gov’t Orders ‘Expulsion’ of Hundreds of Gush Etzion Trees
New “expulsion” orders: Uproot hundreds of Gush Etzion trees in Netzer, where Women in Green planted them to keep land in Jewish hands. Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu , 12/18/2012, 8:02 AM
US Visitors Rally for Shdema in Gush Etzion
A US-based pro-Israel lobby has brought visiting American Jews to the Gush Etzion site of Shdema, endangered by an Arab takeover. Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu, 11/13/2012, 9:41 AM
Etzion Bloc Renews Protest against Security Fence
Local residents say the fence, planned 10 years ago, is no longer necessary.Gil Ronen, 9/27/2012, 10:29 PM
Barak: Get Out of Most of Yesha or Accept PA Rule
Barak proposes telling all Jews outside of population centers in Judea and Samaria to leave or remain under a PA government. Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu, 9/24/2012, 10:43 AM
The ‘Golden Age’ Arrives in Judea and Samaria
The “Golden Age” is arriving in Judea and Samaria, where the first home for the elderly is to be built in Gush Etzion, south of Jerusalem. Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu, 8/13/2012, 11:47 AM
Senior Citizens Reform Program Launched in Gush Etzion
The biggest strategic plan for improving the quality of life of senior citizens in Israel was launched this week in Gush Etzion.Elad Benari, 7/20/2012, 6:46 AM
Minister Combines Visit To Tekoa School With Speech On Legality
Education Min. Gideon Saar lays cornerstone for new 12 classroom building in Tekoa's Jewish Unity School. "Achievement on the rise".Amiel Ungar, 6/25/2012, 6:03 PM
‘Everything Coming up Cherries' in Israel
Israel enjoys a bounty cherry season thanks to a frigid winter that helped trees “sleep” before waking up. Yield approximately 6,500 tons.Tzvi Ben Gedalyahu, 5/14/2012, 9:22 AM
Gush Etzion Welcomes Children from South
Gush Etzion invites children from rocket-battered south to a day of fun in the Judean hills.Maayana Miskin, 3/12/2012, 12:12 AM
Davidi Perl Wins Gush Etzion Elections
Davidi Perl wins 52.6% of votes in Gush Etzion Regional Authority elections, will serve as head for 18 months.Elad Benari, 2/15/2012, 1:13 AM
Etzion Bloc Elections End 9:00 P.M.
Arutz Sheva speaks with contenders Yair Wolf and Davidi Perl.Gil Ronen, 2/14/2012, 2:27 PM
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In ‘Check, Please!,’ WHYY’s latest TV show, locals review restaurants
by Allison Steele, Updated: May 10, 2019
Kae Lani Palmisano, host of Check, Please!
This winter, a new show will feature reviews of some of the Philadelphia region’s best restaurants — but the opinions will come from local residents, not food critics.
Check, Please!, which will launch on WHYY-TV in January, is hosted by South Jersey native Kae Lani Palmisano, a contributing food and travel editor with USA TODAY’s travel publication, 10Best. The show will explore the Delaware Valley’s changing food scene through the eyes of its residents, rather than food experts.
While new to Philadelphia, the Emmy award-winning food show began in Chicago in 2001 and has since been adapted in other locations, including Miami, Kansas City, and the Bay area.
In each episode, three locals pick their favorite restaurants and are then assigned each other’s choices. After dining anonymously at the restaurants, the guests come on the show to discuss and debate their experiences.
“This region has some of the best restaurants in the world and many of them are tucked into neighborhoods where only the locals know how good they are,” Palmisano said in a statement released by WHYY. “This show will be an essential resource for dedicated foodies and occasional restaurant goers alike.”
The first season of Philly’s Check, Please! will include stops at Bing Bing Dim Sum, Vernick, Little Fish, Sate Kampar, Hardena, Zeppoli, Victor Café, and Vedge.
To apply to be a guest on the show, go to support.whyy.org/checkplease.php.
Posted: May 10, 2019 - 1:17 PM
Allison Steele | @AESteele | asteele@inquirer.com
Newsletters: Let's Eat
Get tasty exclusives from Philly’s food scene
A Philly brewery is throwing a vegan beer fest. Here’s why not all beer is vegan.
How a glass of beer at TGI Fridays in South Jersey turned into a class-action lawsuit
Christian Hetrick
South Philly’s menu grows with Salvadoran flavors
Ninth annual Philly Burger Brawl has a new date and a new venue for 2019 contest
Why are nice restaurants pouring lukewarm water? | Craig LaBan
Ommegang to release ‘Game of Thrones’ beer, My Watch Has Ended
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Federation of Small Businesses backs tied pub protection bill
They are backing a bill to give tied pub tenants the same protections as their counterparts elsewhere in the UK.
Neil Bibby MSP with Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is backing proposals for tied pub tenants in Scotland to be given the same protections afforded to their counterparts in England and Wales.
Tied pub tenants are often required to pay rent to and buy supplies of beer and other products from their owners.
The FSB is backing Neil Bibby MSP’s Holyrood member’s bill to give Scotland’s 500 tied pubs similar protections afforded to counterparts in England and Wales under the statutory Pubs Code, introduced last year under the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015.
Healthy demand for office space in Scotland's biggest cities
The new Pubs Code also introduced an independent Pubs Code adjudicator to enforce the code, whose stated aim to ensure tied tenants in England and Wales are no worse off than if they were free of tie.
Mr Bibby is proposing to introduce a similar scheme in Scotland under the proposed Tied Pubs (Code and Adjudicator) (Scotland) Bill.
Neil Bibby is proposing the bill
The Bill proposes to give tied tenants the ability to opt out of tied arrangements, if they wish, and to pay a fair and reasonable market rent for their pub premises.
Launching a consultation on the proposals in February, Mr Bibby said: “My proposal does not force an end to tied arrangements in the pub industry. If some feel that the tie is working well, then nothing need change.
“However, those who feel it is not working for them or their business will have the option to do something about it.”
The FSB is now backing Mr Bibby's Holyrood member’s bill.
Andy Willox, Scottish policy convenor of the FSB, said: “Independent Scottish pubs showcase the best in food and drink that the country has to offer.
“But many are faced with punishing overheads and tough competition.
“Tenants of tied pubs can pay around two thirds more for a keg of beer.
“It is of little wonder, then, that three quarters of them say that they’re worse off as a consequence of the tie.
Two day 'Oktobeerfest' to take place at Stewart Brewing in Edinburgh
“South of the border, they’ve taken action to protect pubs – they called time on ineffective industry self-regulation and limited the Pubcos’ power.
“Scotland must introduce similar measures.”
In a submission on the Holyrood member’s bill proposal, the FSB said such a move could also help Scottish microbreweries by making it easier for pubs to stock their products and in turn benefit the consumer with a wider range of products on offer and “more affordable prices”.
Mr Willox said: “All Scottish small pubs should be free to support Scotland’s internationally renowned micro-brewing industry.
“A Scottish code could help to stimulate both choice and competition.”
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Phones 4U administrators close 32 Scottish stores with loss of 145 jobs
Sale of 13 Scottish stores out of administration and nine Curry's concessions saved a further 128 Scottish jobs
Pic: PA
Appointed administrators to mobile phone retailer Phones 4U have outlined a total 145 jobs are to go in Scotland after failing to attract a buyer for 362 remaining UK stores.
PwC said five stores had been acquired by EE, which are located in Kilmarnock, Inverness, Glenrothes, Galashiels and Airdrie, employing a total of 23 staff.
A further 46 Scottish jobs were saved with Vodafone agreeing to buy a further eight stores located in Cumbernauld, Motherwell, Overgate in Dundee, St Andrews, Ocean Terminal in Edinburgh, Ayr, Buchanan Galleries in Glasgow and Coatbridge.
In addition, nine concessions - employing 59 people – in Currys stores in Scotland are being taken over by Dixons Carphone, located in Kirkcaldy, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Hamilton, Livingston, Coatbridge, Dundee, Falkirk and Glasgow.
However, a total of 32 Scottish stores of a will close, resulting in 145 redundancies.
A total of eight stores will close in Glasgow, five in Edinburgh, two in Aberdeen, and stores in Livingston, Clydebank, Newton Mearns, Paisley, Greenock, Irvine, Hamilton, East Kilbride, Elgin, Dumfries, Berwick, Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, Dundee, Perth, Stirling and Falkirk.
PwC said the number of confirmed redundancies does not reflect the number of recorded employees in each store at the time of appointment due to some staff securing new jobs in the interim, voluntary resignation and staff being kept on to assist the closure programme.
Rob Hunt, joint administrator and PwC partner said: “It is with much regret that we have today made the difficult decision to close a large number of stores.
“It is a very sad day for the staff working at those locations and our thoughts are with them.
“We will make every effort to help the affected staff, working with the Phones 4u HR team over the coming days to support employees.”
PwC announced today it would close 362 remaining Phones 4U stores which hadn't attracted a buyer, with the loss of nearly 1,700 jobs.
Around 720 staff have been retained “in the short-term” to assist with the closure programme.
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Investigation and Analysis of Organized Crime
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InSight Crime
Home News Analysis Latin American Drug Traffickers Turn to Cults for Comfort
Latin American Drug Traffickers Turn to Cults for Comfort
Written by Escrito por
Elyssa Pachico
The ritual sacrifice of three people to Mexican drug cult figure Santa Muerte, and reports of Puerto Rican traffickers using a Caribbean faith to guide their shipments, call attention to the ways in which popular religions can interact with the drug trade.
Mexican authorities are investigating the deaths of three people in Sonora state who may have been sacrificed to a popular figure in Mexico’s folk culture, Santa Muerte (Saint Death). The victims, two young children and an elderly woman, reportedly had their throats and wrists cut at an altar dedicated to the saint. Eight people have been arrested in connection to the killings.
On April 3, authorities in Puerto Rico arrested the alleged leader of a drug trafficking ring who was also a practitioner of Santeria, a mixture of West African and Roman Catholic beliefs and practices which is most strongly associated with Cuba. The suspect reportedly consulted a spirit about which days were best to transport cocaine shipments into Puerto Rico and onwards to the US, reports the AP.
One Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent told Puerto Rico newspaper El Nuevo Dia that it was far from unusual to encounter drug traffickers who practice Santeria or other syncretic Caribbean religions. What was unusual about this case is that the suspect was the leader of his own drug-trafficking ring which may have exported some 840 kilos of cocaine a year, the agent said.
These two incidents highlight how alternative religious practices, from Santa Muerte devotions to Santeria ceremonies, have penetrated the culture of drug trafficking in Latin America. Arguably, as the criminal underworld has become more violent in both Mexico and Puerto Rico, those involved in the drug trade have felt the need to seek extra protection — or, at least, reassurance.
The recent ritual killings in Sonora, a relatively calm part of Mexico, were described in the press as the first confirmed reports of sacrifices to the folk saint. According to R. Andrew Chesnut, chairman of Catholic studies at Virginia Commonwealth University and author of the book “Devoted to Death: Santa Muerte, the Skeleton Saint,” the past eight years have also seen many unsubstantiated reports of human sacrifices in Mexico.
These recent sacrifices, therefore, do not necesarily represent an escalation in devotion to Santa Muerte. And while the growth of the·cult may be related to the violent fracturing of the drug trade, Chesnut argues that the figure’s appeal as a religious icon goes beyond the threat of drug violence, describing her as a “powerful healer of illness and agent of prosperity.” Prison guards, municipal police, and federal agents are also known devotees, Chesnut told InSight Crime.
Similarly, Santeria holds a wide appeal outside of Puerto Rico’s criminal world. According to an investigation by El Nuevo Dia, there are more than 100,000 practitioners on the island, and just 5 percent of them are involved in the drug trade.
However, while drug dealers may be a minority of Santeria devotees, they are among the most zealous. One anti-narcotics agent told El Nuevo Dia that about 60 percent of those currently facing federal charges for drug trafficking also practice Santeria.
Part of the reason why criminals turn to alternative religions like Santa Muerte and Santeria is to seek protection and favors which are not offered by traditional religions. “The narco is fundamentally a client, not a devotee,” one Santeria priest, or Santero, told El Nuevo Dia. “They come looking for someone to protect them, because they would stop believing in electricity if they thought it would prevent them from getting killed.”
Both Puerto Rico and Mexico have seen dramatic increases in organized crime-related violence in the past several years. As the danger grows for those involved in criminal activities, there is an increased incentive to turn to other belief systems more compatible with a lifestyle that emphasizes money and materialism, and places little value on human life. Even as Santa Muerte and Santeria both have a wide appeal outside the criminal world, these cult religions are, in some ways, natural venues for those whose lives are violent and short.
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Son Gives Hardworking Dad Ultimate Gift After His Truck Breaks Down.
Parenting is by no means easy. It’s one of the hardest (though most rewarding) jobs many will ever take on in their lives.
That’s because raising kids means putting your needs aside for the good of your children. Those sacrifices haven’t gone unnoticed by Diantae Thomas, a Nebraska man whose biggest hero is his father. Recently, he had the pleasure of repaying his dad for everything in a huge way.
“Pops is a hardworking man,” Diantae explained. “If y’all seen him working, he falls asleep on the lawnmower under trees & leaning against the trees with the weed eater sleeping working to make ends meet.”
Unfortunately, work has been more difficult for the man after his truck broke down. Diantae’s mom has to drop him off and pick him up every day. That’s why Diantae’s been saving up for a while now — to surprise his dad with a well-deserved and much-needed gift.
In June, Diantae uploaded footage of the big reveal to YouTube, which shows him leading his blindfolded father out of his house and to a truck parked on the side of the road.
When Diantae takes off the blindfold, his dad immediately notices the truck.
“That’s your truck, boy?” he asks, clearly excited about what he assumes is his son’s new ride.
Then Diantae drops a bombshell. “It’s yours,” he says. His dad doesn’t believe it at first.
“Uh uh,” he insists. “No!”
But as Diantae hands him the keys, he realizes this is no joke. The truck is, indeed, his.
“This my truck?!” he practically shrieks. Then he does scream before literally jumping into his son’s arms, overcome with pure happiness and absolute shock.
It’s all the poor man can do to hold on as he sobs, completely overwhelmed by his son’s generosity. But to Diantae, it’s the least he could do to show his appreciation. Having such a wonderful father is a priceless gift, and much more valuable than a truck could ever be.
“You’re hardworking, Dad,” Diantae reassured his father, who was still too overcome with emotion. But after taking a moment to collect himself, he climbed straight into the driver’s seat for his first test drive.
Another man, Charles Chatman, gave Diantae the credit he deserved by sharing the video on Twitter. “He’s not an NBA or NFL, DR. or a lawyer, just a regular guy worked hard to get his dad a truck. This shows his appreciation. The gift just says THANKS DAD… I love you!” Charles wrote. Millions of viewers agreed.
Like father, like son! Not only will this gift make life easier for Diantae’s dad, but it will always serve as a reminder of his son’s love and appreciation. He sure raised a good man!
Share this beautiful surprise to spread the love for all the hardworking dads out there!
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Photography Frank Sun
It’s New York Fashion Week and Interview‘s seasoned gang of photographers are backstage and front row at our favorite shows. Check in daily and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for the latest updates.
In the world of Jenna Lyons, sparkles and prep abound, so it was no surprise to see plenty of pink, chambray, denim, and rhinestone-encrusted skirts, shirts, and dresses during J. Crew’s Fall/Winter 2015 presentation. Nodding to high fashion of the ’70s, however, the brand’s womenswear designer, Tom Mora, presented a drastic departure: various iterations of billowing, high-waisted trousers that dominated entire looks and assumed lives of their own. Not necessarily safe for suburbia, the pants echo Mora’s inspiration, which he found in the elegance often overlooked among the prevailing kitsch fashion of the ’70s. Turning through the pages of Checkered Past—Peter Schlesinger’s book that chronicles the looks of David Hockney, Paloma Picasso, Tina Chow, and other Londoners of the era—Mora channeled key elements, like sophisticated shapes and tasteful bright colors, throughout the collection. Our favorite look? A pristine white pantsuit onesie, complete with the label’s expert tailoring and a deep v neckline.
For more from NYFW Fall/Winter 2015, click here.
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EntertainmentGuardians of the GalaxyShareSubscribe
What If Rocket and Groot Ditched the Guardians for 'Vol. 3'?
Eh, who needs 'em?
By Caitlin Busch
Filed Under Avengers, Disney, Marvel Comics, Marvel Movies, Marvel Universe, Movies & Spoilers
When Guardians of the Galaxy premiered in 2014, five little-known Marvel characters were thrust to the forefront of the MCU franchise. It turned out that people really liked this swaggering, dysfunctional group of a-holes who were, to the confusion of many, somehow connected to the Avengers. But only one of the Guardians was loved, adored, and memorialized in fan art across the internet to a truly ridiculous level. His being miniaturized at the end of the movie didn’t help matters at all.
This post contains spoilers for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
The people want more Groot. Clearly, Marvel realizes this now, as the majority of their marketing for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has centered around Groot being a cute baby who needs to be coddled. The scene with Rocket trying to explain how the “death button” works to Groot while Groot keeps getting the instructions wrong? That’s pure understanding of Groot’s marketability on Marvel and Disney’s part.
He’s cute, he’s funny, and he’s easily 60 percent of the reason why people love Guardians so much (which is totally a scientific fact). So, where’s the Groot and Rocket origin story movie?
Vol. 2 is probably about 40 percent Groot (also a scientific fact). Rocket splits the responsibility of raising Baby Groot with the rest of the Guardians throughout the film, which has gotten relatively pleasant reviews so far. It’s just not as great as the original, so say the critics.
Maybe that’s because it’s not really an origin story anymore, which is exactly what the first Guardians was: an origin story about how the Andromeda galaxy’s greatest a-holes banded together. Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, and even Rocket Raccoon all got some backstories, no matter how frail, in Guardians. Groot did not. But Groot might have the most interesting origin story of all.
See, Groot is kinda-sorta a king. Maybe. In one version of Marvel’s comics, Groot comes from what’s described as an “Ennobled Sap-line.” But he also might just be pretending and impersonating the rightful monarch of his home planet, Planet X, which is where the giant, sentient tree species Flora colossus hails from. If he were king, his full title would be: His Divine Majesty King Groot the 23rd, Monarch of Planet X, Custodian of the Branch Worlds, Ruler of all He Shades.”
And that’s, like, a really interesting origin story. Rocket and Groot currently have their own comic series with Marvel, appropriately titled Rocket Raccoon & Groot, that details the duo’s adventures outside the realm of the Guardians. Rocket goes to the dark side for a while, they play around as Vikings, the two compete in an intergalactic football league, you get to meet Rocket’s former mentor, and they find themselves involved in the Civil War II storyline alongside Gwenpool. It’s still ongoing and, yes, it’s a lot, but it’s also prime for a goofy spin-off film for a talking tree and anthropomorphic raccoon.
So, even though Marvel already has, approximately, the next century of its movies planned out and James Gunn is already confirmed as returning for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 after the Guardians have participated in both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers 4, the franchise should probably consider a Rocket and Groot standalone movie. In fact, Vol. 3 should just be that movie. Because the world needs a Groot origin story for the big screen, and Groot sans Rocket just feels wrong at this point.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (with that aforementioned 40 percent Groot content) premieres in theaters May 5, 2017.
Media via Marvel Comics, onkelscrut/Deviantart, Marvel Entertainment
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EntertainmentThe FlashShareSubscribe
What Does Savitar's True Identity Mean for His Prophecies?
One shall fall. But who will it be?
Filed Under DC Universe, Spoilers, Superheroes & TV Shows
Savitar has been unmasked on The Flash, and it’s none other than (spoilers) Barry Allen from the future. Indeed, the God of Speed who’s run amok in Season 3 is a future version of Barry Allen, scarred and alone after losing everyone he’s loved due to still unknown events. But, Savitar’s “prophecies” are still looming over Team Flash, only they aren’t still prophecies as much as they are painfully and purposefully vague hints about the future. Now that we know the identity of Savitar, what do his prophecies really mean?
As a refresher, earlier this season Savitar ominously told S.T.A.R. Labs what awaits them: “One shall betray you. One shall fall. One will suffer a fate worse than death.” It’s no “democracy dies in darkness,” but it’s still pretty metal — and two of them have already come true.
Caitlin betrayed the team when she selfishly kept a piece of the Philosopher’s Stone, which she did on the off chance she could cure her Killer Frost alter ego. So much good that did: Killer Frost has now taken Caitlin Snow over completely, and it looks like there’s no turning back.
Wally West “suffered a fate worse than death” when he was temporarily trapped in the Speed Force, forced to relive his mother’s death for eternity. That really is a fate worse than death, even if it didn’t last. Barry Allen and Jay Garrick rescued Wally from the Speed Force, though Jay had to stay behind to take his place. So did Wally fall to the prophecy, or was it Jay Garrick? And is he even doing okay?
The one prophecy left is “One shall fall,” and that might have already come true. Maybe. While Savitar/Future Barry is in hot pursuit of Iris West and seems super intent on killing her, is Iris West the one who shall fall? Or is it going to be Barry Allen, who will “fall” from grace to become Savitar?
One thing is for sure. There’s still one more prophecy left to fulfill, and whoever will be the on to “fall” will change The Flash forever.
The Flash airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on The CW.
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Milwaukee-based subscription box online styling service Wantable raises $1.44 million in financing
Wantable raised $1.44 million to continue its efforts to gain more customers for its online styling service.
Milwaukee-based subscription box online styling service Wantable raises $1.44 million in financing Wantable raised $1.44 million to continue its efforts to gain more customers for its online styling service. Check out this story on jsonline.com: https://jsonl.in/2rWaULp
Sarah Hauer, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Published 11:48 a.m. CT May 17, 2018 | Updated 1:38 p.m. CT May 17, 2018
Jalem Getz is the president and founder of Wantable.(Photo: Mike De Sisti)Buy Photo
Wantable Inc., a Milwaukee-based online styling service, wants to be a bigger player in the subscription box market for fashion and fitness apparel.
To continue its effort to gain customers, Wantable raised $1.44 million in new equity financing, according to documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission this week.
The company has raised nearly $7 million since 2013. Wantable was founded by Jalem Getz in 2011.
ARCHIVE: Internet entrepreneur is ready to match women with just the right cosmetics
Getz, Wantable's CEO, said the company raised the round to fuel general growth, but for nothing in particular.
"It helps to have a little bit extra," Getz said.
Dozens of box services such as Trunk Club, Birchbox, Le Tote and FabFitFun are competing for customers. Some estimate box services account for roughly $1 billion of the $222 billion fashion industry.
One of the larger online personal styling services, Stitch Fix Inc., went public last year with a $120 million offering. The company, with its more than 5,800 employees, sells men's and women's fashions under the Stitch Fix brand.
Wantable has doubled down in the apparel market, winding down its makeup service at the end of November. Wantable launched styling boxes for men's fitness apparel a little over a year ago and has added extended sizing for women.
Wantable also started including fashions from its own proprietary label. Those items designed by the Wantable team account for around 20 percent of what the company sells. The Wantable branded items are produced in southern California, China and South America, Getz said.
Wantable views itself as a service, not a subscription. The goal is to build long-term business, not month-to-month requirements.
"At the end of the day, it's just about every single day building relationship with customers," Getz said.
Getz said the ideal customers for the personal styling service are men and women who have "more money than time." The algorithm used to match customers with clothes by Wantable sets the company apart from other services that sell a one-size-fits-all box.
The $1.44 million fundraising round was led by BrightStar Wisconsin and Cream City Ventures, a venture capital arm of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. focused on investing in Milwaukee companies.
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"The growth is definitely coming," said Craig Schedler who leads Cream City Ventures. "Wantable has been growing nicely. I think with this infusion of capital, we'll see it much bigger a year from now."
This is the third investment for the $5 million fund from Northwestern Mutual. It previously invested in Socialeads and Lumanu.
Wantable landed at No. 223 on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing companies in the country for 2017. The magazine listed Wantable's 2016 revenue at $14.1 million. Getz said the company almost doubled from 2016 to 2017 and dollars are up so far in 2018. Wantable has around 120 employees, Getz said.
Getz previously created and grew BuySeasons Inc., an online costume and party goods retailer. He sold it in 2006.
Sarah Hauer can be reached at shauer@journalsentinel.com or on Instagram @HauerSarah and Twitter @SarahHauer.
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Who we are. Where we go. What we need to know.
Each week in this newsletter, Sarah Hauer will serve as your city guide and share stories about Milwaukee, its people and what's happening around town.
Read or Share this story: https://jsonl.in/2rWaULp
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City Issues city issues city issues
- Updated08 May 2019
All line departments of Srinagar have been instructed to propose ideas and projects that will redress the city’s varied problems and bridge its shortfalls andasked to prepare themselves for what was described as determined efforts aimed at making Srinagar vibrant as it deserves.
This is a welcome initiative for multiple reasons and given that it pertains to Srinagar, which is the centre of gravity of Kashmir, it becomes all the more poignant and significant. Our city is beset by problems of a functional, practical and even conceptual nature which are becoming graver by the day. Congestion, density of various and assorted natures, lack of cleanliness, traffic issues, are some of the salient issues that are the most egregious ones. All these need redressal. Srinagar city is also facing underdevelopment at a range of levels that then redounds negatively to the inhabitants of the city. So, broadly speaking and in terms of the city’s needs, the administration’s initiative is a good, prudent and welcome one especially if it ameliorates the problems and issues of the people. But, the problem lies not in initiatives but also taking these to the conclusion in terms of bringing relief to the people. It has been observed in the past that while initiatives have been conceived and devised but these flounder on the rocks of corruption, lack of will and inertia. It is hoped that the initiative in contention does not go the same way. Srinagar city is facing massive issues of a structural and functional nature that is making it almost burst at its seams. If these issues fester and are left unattended, then the time might not be far off when the city will morph into a massive urban agglomeration resembling a dump. This alarming scenario needs to be pre empted and prevented from panning out. And it can be done not by mere piecemeal approaches but by a holistic, multidimensional approaches that focus on linkages between policies, issues and approaches. All this calls for a paradigm shift in urban planning, design and the leeway and latitude accorded to market forces. This, in turn, needs to be complemented by, prudent project management, clean execution and implementation, free from corruption and other blemishes. Srinagar city needs to and must be restored to pristine glory that reflects not only its essence but also reflects the pristine beauty of Kashmir itself. This needs to be done on an urgent and priority basis lest delay render the problem so acute that it becomes irremediable.
By K Reader
Last year, a 49 pages report was issued by the office of the United Na
History is a good source of knowing the crises of the present, and als
Srinagar is a historical City almost 2000 years old! It has been given
THREATS to journalism in Pakistan, and by extension freedom of express
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2020 Ford Explorer Review, Price, Photos
by Andy Bornhop | June 18, 2019 3:00 AM
Ford’s midsize 3-row SUV has been completely redesigned for 2020
Switches to a rear-drive platform with available all-wheel drive
First-ever Explorer Hybrid and high-performance ST models
Available powertrains: Turbo 4-cylinder, two turbo V6s, V6 Hybrid
Seats up to seven passengers
2020 Explorer prices range from $32,765 to more than $60,000 | Price yours
On sale now | Find a new Explorer for sale near you
While the Ford Explorer isn’t as significant to the automaker's bottom line as the almighty F-150, it’s an important player nonetheless. Look around; Explorers are everywhere. Consider this: The Ford Explorer is the most popular SUV ever sold in the U.S., with all-time sales rapidly approaching the 8 million. And sales of this perennially popular three-row midsize SUV undoubtedly will be helped by the all-new 2020 Ford Explorer, which is arriving at dealerships right now.
Like the outgoing model, the 2020 Ford Explorer is a unibody design featuring a chassis made of sheet metal stampings welded together to form the main structure of the vehicle. Whereas the old model was based on the front-drive unibody chassis of the Taurus sedan, the 2020 Ford Explorer’s new chassis has rear-wheel-drive architecture with a longitudinal engine and transmission. As such, this new 2020 Explorer represents a return to this model’s rear-drive roots, but without the truck-like body-on-frame construction.
Although this new 2020 model still clearly looks like an Explorer, the rear-drive architecture has allowed Ford to keep the overall length about the same while extending the wheelbase by 6.3 inches. By moving the front wheels forward, Ford has reduced front overhang and improved upon every important interior dimension in all three rows of seats. The suspension features MacPherson struts in front along with a multilink independent rear. For the record, the base 2020 Ford Explorer is a 7-seater with a second-row bench for three, while almost all the upmarket models are six-seaters fitted with second-row captain’s chairs.
How much does the 2020 Ford Explorer cost?
The 2020 Ford Explorer starts at $32,765 plus a $1,095 destination fee, and tops out beyond $60,000 when fully loaded. The lower half of that range is in line with other 3-row midsize SUVs, while the top end is getting into luxury-brand territory. A loaded Honda Pilot, for instance, doesn't even crack the $50,000 mark. But those higher prices bring with them higher levels of equipment...and power. Build and price your own 2020 Ford Explorer to calculate monthly payments and more.
What’s the fuel economy of the 2020 Ford Explorer?
A rear-wheel-drive 2020 Ford Explorer equipped with the 2.3-liter engine is rated by the EPA at 24 mpg city/highway combined. That same Explorer with all-wheel-drive is rated at 23 mpg combined. An all-wheel-drive Explorer Platinum, fitted with the twin-turbo 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 with 365 horsepower, is rated at 18 City/24 Highway/20 Combined.
According to Ford, one of the biggest complaints that customers had with the outgoing Explorer was that it needed to be refilled with fuel too often. As a result, every single new 2020 Explorer has a driving range in excess of 400 miles, with the Hybrid able to go more than 500 miles on a single tank. The Explorer Hybrid has an 18.0-gallon fuel tank, so that translates to about 28 highway mpg, impressive for a 4,970-pound vehicle with 318 combined horsepower.
Where is the 2020 Ford Explorer built?
The new Explorer is built alongside its equally new Lincoln Aviator counterpart at Ford’s factory in Chicago.
2020 Ford Explorer feature highlights
10.1-inch Vertically Oriented Touchscreen The 2020 Explorer’s optional touchscreen is the largest the model has ever offered, and can display multiple functions at once, and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability.
12.3-inch Digital Instrument Cluster On Explorer ST and Platinum, the standard instrument cluster is replaced with a 12.3” digital display. The display can be customized, including with a minimalist Calm Screen that shows only essential info and is supposed to reduce driver distraction.
400-hp EcoBoost V6 The new Explorer ST model’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 produces 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, figures that tower above most non-luxury competitors’. The ST can be further equipped with a Track Pack or a Street Pack, options that bring more robust brakes with red calipers and 21-inch wheels, the largest ever offered on an Explorer.
2020 Ford Explorer interior
The 2020 Ford Explorer comes standard with a third row of seats that accommodates two passengers. The base Explorer’s second row is a 3-person bench, making for a total seating capacity of seven. Higher trim levels have a pair of captain’s chairs in the second row, meaning they seat a maximum of six. Ford claims the new Explorer has a bit more hiproom and headroom than before, and the second-row seats now can slide fore and aft—a common feature that helps apportion space depending on requirements.
Cargo volume shrinks slightly in the 2020 Explorer, although the load floor now measures 48.1 inches in width between the wheelwells—its narrowest point—meaning that 4’x8’ building materials can lay flat (albeit sticking out the back by about a foot). The cargo floor is reversible, with carpet on one side and vinyl on the other. On some trim levels, the power liftgate can be opened by kicking a foot under the rear bumper, and power-folding of the third-row seats is available.
The top-spec Platinum ups its game with leather not just on the seating surfaces but also on the dashboard and the door panels—luxury touches befitting its lofty price. Other niceties include heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel.
2020 Ford Explorer technology
The standard infotainment touchscreen measures 8.0” with a 10.1” vertically oriented touchscreen available. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard as is Amazon Alexa integration. No family ride is complete without built-in Wi-Fi, and the Explorer now comes standard with 4G LTE Wi-Fi for up to 10 devices, plus an available Qi wireless-device charging pad. The Explorer offers as many as four USB ports (including type-C) along with three 12-volt outlets and a 110-volt outlet. Drivers also can use their smartphone to unlock and start the car, using the FordPass Connect app.
In addition to a 12.3” digital instrument cluster in place of traditional gauges on the Explorer ST and Platinum, both models come with Active Park Assist, which can, at the push of a button, park the Explorer into a parallel or perpendicular spot—operating the accelerator, brake, and steering wheel—and pull it out again. This represents an upgrade over the outgoing model’s Enhanced Active Park Assist, which handles the steering but requires the driver to work the pedals.
2020 Ford Explorer warranty
The Ford Explorer is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, which is the typical coverage offered by non-luxury brands.
2020 Ford Explore engine and transmission
The previous 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 base engine is gone from the Explorer lineup, as the turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder, previously the step-up engine offering, takes over as the standard powerplant for 2020. At the same time, it adds 20 more ponies for a total of 300 horsepower along with 310 lb-ft of torque, which is more than most competitors’ V6s. A 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 with 365 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque is exclusive to the Platinum. Powering the sporty new Explorer ST is a 400-hp version of the same engine, with 415 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers out-muscle everything in the 3-row midsize SUV segment save for the Dodge Durango SRT, with its 6.4-liter V8. Finally, an Explorer Hybrid joins the family for the first time, and pairs a 3.3-liter V6 with an electric motor. All engines use a 10-speed automatic transmission, up from the previous 6-speed.
The base, XLT, Limited, and Hybrid models are available with rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The Explorer ST and Platinum come standard with all-wheel drive. Ford’s Terrain Management System consists of a series of drive modes selectable via a knob on the center console, altering dynamics including accelerator sensitivity, transmission shifting, steering effort, suspension firmness, traction-control programming, and all-wheel-drive torque management. Available modes include:
Normal, which seeks to balance comfortable motoring with some driving excitement, is intended for everyday driving.
Sport, aptly named, sharpens the throttle response and steering while providing quicker shifts. The 10-speed automatic, also used in the Mustang and Ranger, holds gears longer for faster acceleration.
Eco, via throttle and gearbox adjustments, maximizes the fuel range of the 2020 Ford Explorer. This does come with a small sacrifice in performance.
Tow/Haul improves the action of the transmission while you’re towing with your Explorer. Upshifts occur at higher engine speeds to reduce the frequency of shifts, and more engine braking is allowed, making life easier for the Explorer’s brakes during descents. The amount of downshift braking is related directly to how much pressure the driver applies to the brakes.
Slippery makes continual adjustments to the Explorer’s throttle response, transmission shifting schedule and traction control to help this Ford SUV keep moving on wet grass, slushy roads or any surface that might be covered in, say, a thin layer of sand or gravel.
Deep Snow/Sand is what you’ll need if you’re trying to reach the office before the snowplows have cleared the roads. Via steady adjustments to the throttle, shift points and traction control, this mode keeps the 2020 Explorer going, even in deep sand.
Trail is intended for use in muddy, rutted, soft or uneven terrain. As in the Deep Snow/Sand model, the Explorer’s forward mobility is significantly enhanced via a shift schedule and traction control tailored specifically the given condition.
Note: Rear-wheel-drive (RWD) 2020 Ford Explorers also are equipped with the Terrain Management System, but it doesn’t include the Deep Snow/Sand mode. We hope a limited-slip rear differential, which would help make the RWD Explorer more capable in the dirt, becomes available.
How much can the 2020 Ford Explorer tow?
With its new longitudinal powertrain, the 2020 Ford Explorer can tow more than the model it’s replacing. When fitted with the optional towing package, the new Explorer with the 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine can tow up to 5,300 pounds. When Ford’s newest SUV is fitted with the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 in the ST and Platinum models, the Explorer can pull up to 5,600 pounds.
Even the new Explorer Hybrid is a capable tow machine. It’s rated by Ford at 5,000 pounds, which just happens to be the max towing capacity of the most powerful outgoing 2019 Explorer. Ford’s blind-spot warning system can detect vehicles in the blind spot behind the trailer you’re towing. Pretty nifty.
Standard Co-Pilot360 safety suite
All 2020 Ford Explorers are equipped with Ford Co-Pilot360, an extensive suite of safety technologies that includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning and dynamic brake support. Co-Pilot360 also includes a blind-spot system with cross-traffic alert, a lane-keeping system, a rearview camera (with a built-in lens cleaner) and automatic headlamps with automatic high beams.
Note: If you want a new with Active Cruise Control (with Stop & Go, lane centering, and Speed Sign recognition) it’s part of the Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ system, which also includes a voice-activated touch-screen navigation system and Sirius XM Traffic and Travel Link. Co-Pilot360Assist+ also includes Evasive Steering Assist, which dramatically reduces the steering effort needed in emergency situations, and post-impact braking, which lessens the chances of injury caused by a secondary crash event. Co-Pilot360 Assist+ is available on the Explorer XLT and is standard on the Limited, ST and Platinum trim levels.
Speed Sign Recognition is fascinating. When cruise control is activated, it will see (and read) roadside speed-limit signs and then automatically bring the 2020 Explorer down to the posted limit. But get this: If you set the cruise at a few mph above the posted limit (as many people do as a way of making good time but without attracting undue attention), Speed Sign Recognition will honor that request (up to a certain point).
Driving the 2020 Ford Explorer XLT
Just how does the turbo 2.3-liter 4-cylinder engine feel in this new longitudinal rear-biased application? In a word: fine. The new Explorer XLT felt amply powered, able to merge onto freeways with ease and sustain highway speeds without breaking a sweat. All the while, the 10-speed automatic upshifted with a metronomic regularity. Gears 8, 9 and 10, incidentally, are all overdrive ratios, so they rarely came into play anywhere but on the highway.
What’s more, the view out the new Explorer’s windshield was excellent, aided by what felt to us like a lower cowl, and the automatic start/stop system functioned so smoothly that I felt no need to shut it off (which I typically do in most other vehicles with this fuel-saving technology).
On some twisty roads north of the Columbia Gorge, in Washington State, the new Explorer acquitted itself well. Yes, this Ford SUV weighs nearly 4,500 ponds, but it felt composed in the corners, where body roll (or lean) never got excessive. Although the all-wheel-drive (AWD) system of the new Explorer SLT disconnects the front axle on the highway for improved fuel economy (and can send as much as 50 percent of the power to the front wheels in slippery conditions), the new Explorer didn’t reveal its rear power bias when accelerating out of corners. All we felt was good acceleration and excellent overall composure.
Driving the 2020 Ford Explorer Hybrid
We tested the new 2020 Ford Explorer Hybrid on a short off-road course and on public roads while towing a 4,500-pound boat on trailer. Our takeaway: The new Explorer Hybrid – our tester a luxurious leather-clad Limited model, employing a 3.3-liter V6 and an electric motor integrated into the front of the 10-speed gearbox – drives much like a standard Explorer.
RELATED: Our full review of this first-ever Ford Explorer Hybrid
As with a regular Explorer, you just get in the new Explorer Hybrid and drive. Since a Hybrid was part of Ford’s original plans for this new sixth-generation Explorer, no space compromises needed to be made. For example, the liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack fits perfectly beneath the passenger side of the rear seat, so interior volume has not been negatively affected in any way.
Note: The Explorer Hybrid is not a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, so the battery is smaller than you’ll typically find in PHEVs. The one in the new Explorer Hybrid, made by Ford, is good for about two miles of pure electric driving at 30 mph. Ford, as stated, hasn’t released any fuel economy figure for the new Explorer Hybrid, but the company did say it will have an impressive range in excess of 500 miles.
On the dirt, we climbed a steep grade with complete ease, then descended a different hill with our feet off the pedals using hill descent control to maintain control of the vehicle. All worked as advertised, and a bit father on, we negotiated a banked turn that put the Explorer Hybrid at a side lean angle of 25 degrees. While that may not sound like much, it was enough to make us nervous, although not as concerned as we were when crossing a 12-inch-deep pond in this first gas-electric Explorer.
Similarly, towing a trailer in the Explorer Hybrid proved to be a cinch. The Hybrid is based on the Limited model, so it comes with a trailer hitch as standard equipment and has enough power (319 combined horsepower, 322 lb-ft of torque) to tow a 4,500 boat with ease. There was no problem getting the rig up to highway speed, and although I occasionally could feel the trailer rocking forward a bit during mild throttle adjustments on the highway, it was too subtle to be bothersome.
Driving the 2020 Ford Explorer Platinum
With its 365-horsepower twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6, the Platinum is a hot rod, an Explorer that blends thrilling power with sublime luxury. Real wood trim graces the Platinum’s dash, whose stitched leather cover complements the fine hides on the seats.
The Explorer Platinum we drove had the optional Premium Technology Package, which includes massaging seats, a 980-watt Bang & Olufsen stereo and a 10.1-inch vertically-oriented touch screen on the top of its center stack. This touch screen looks like a permanently affixed iPad, replete with swipe and pinch-to-zoom capability.
RELATED: Our full review of the 2020 Ford Explorer ST
Turbo boost arrives quickly on the road in the powerful Platinum, which is also blessed with natural-effort steering, good brakes and a ride that’s comfortable without being wallowy. At a starting price of $58,250, the 2020 Ford Explorer Platinum is by no means inexpensive, but it’s well equipped with a twin-panel moonroof, LED headlamps and seemingly acres of interior leather. It also has Reverse Brake Assist, which will automatically stop the Explorer if it senses you are backing up into something.
2020 Ford Explorer vs. Chevrolet Traverse
The 2020 Ford Explorer is smaller than the Chevy Traverse, which is one of the largest vehicles in the segment. Compared to the Traverse, the Explorer’s wheelbase is nearly 2 inches shorter and the Ford is 5.5 inches shorter overall. That translates primarily into reduced cargo space: With all seats in place, the Explorer’s cargo capacity is nearly 5 cubic feet less than the Chevy’s. With the third row folded, or with all seats folded, the Traverse has about 10 cubic feet more cargo space than the Ford. Additionally, Chevy provides seatbelt for three (small) passengers in the third row, meaning the Traverse can seat up to eight passengers, or seven with second-row captain’s chairs. The Explorer third row seats just two, so maximum passenger count is seven with the second-row bench or six with captain’s chairs.
All versions of the Traverse are powered by a 3.6-liter V6, while the Explorer’s mainstay engine is a 2.3-liter turbo four. The Chevy’s V6 makes 310 horsepower versus 300 for the Ford 2.3L, but the Traverse’s 266 lb-ft of torque trails the Explorer’s 310 lb-ft. The Traverse does not offer more powerful engine options to compare with the Explorer’s 365-hp or 410-hp turbo V6s. The maximum trailer-tow rating for the Traverse V6 is 5,000 pounds. The non-hybrid Explorer tows up to 5,300 pounds with the 2.3-liter or 5,600 with the turbo V6.
The starting price of the base 2-wheel-drive Chevrolet Traverse is $31,125, which is some $2,000 less than the entry-level Explorer. The top-spec Traverse is the High Country AWD, priced at $54,395—that’s about $5k less than the Explorer Platinum.
Compared to the Honda Pilot, the 2020 Explorer rides on a 9.1-inch longer wheelbase but is only 2.3 inches longer overall, and the vehicles are nearly identical in width and height. Cargo volume and third-row-seat space are also very close. Honda rates the Pilot’s third-row seat for three passengers, which means that most versions of the Pilot are 8-passenger vehicles, while the top-trim levels equipped with captain’s chairs can seat seven. The Explorer’s third row accommodates two, and all Explorer trims save the base model have captain’s chairs, so the Explorer seats six or, at best, seven.
All versions of the Honda Pilot use a 3.5-liter V6 making 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with either a 6-speed or a 9-speed automatic. Both those output figures are below those of the Explorer’s smaller standard engine, a 2.3-liter turbo four that musters 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft oof torque. The Pilot’s maximum tow rating with all-wheel drive is 5,000 pounds, while front-drive models can tow 3,500 pounds. The Explorer with its 2.3-liter can tow 5,300 pounds, and 5,600 with its available V6, with either rear- or all-wheel drive.
The base, 2-wheel-drive Honda Pilot LX is $31,450 (plus $1,045 destination), while the Explorer’s starting price is about $1,000 higher. The Pilot Elite is the fanciest trim level at Honda and is priced at $48,020, about $10,000 less than the Explorer Platinum.
2020 Ford Explorer vs. Toyota Highlander
Like the Explorer, the Toyota Highlander has been redesigned for 2020, and not all of the new specs are available. But the Highlander isn’t quite as extensively changed, so there are several comparisons that can be drawn. The new Highlander is slightly larger than before, but it still is smaller than the Explorer. The Toyota’s wheelbase is 9.3 inches shorter than the Explorer’s, and the vehicle is about 4 inches shorter in length. Here again, the difference can be seen primarily in the cargo hold, where the Explorer has a 2-cubic-foot advantage with all seats upright, a 7-cubic-foot advantage behind the second row, and approximately 10 cubic feet more space with all seats folded. Whereas the Explorer seats six in a 2-2-2 configuration (with the base model offering 2-3-2 seating for seven), the Highlander’s three-passenger third row allows seating for seven with captain’s chairs or eight with a second-row bench.
All versions of the Highlander (except for the Hybrid) are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 with 295 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque. Despite the Toyota’s larger engine, its output is less than the Ford 2.3-liter turbo four’s 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft, and the Explorer further offers more powerful turbo V6 options. The V6 Highlander’s maximum tow rating is 5,000 pounds, versus 5,300 for the Explorer four-cylinder and 5,600 for the Explorer V6.
Toyota, like Ford, offers a hybrid powertrain, and is one of the only other models in the segment to do so. Unlike the Explorer, however, the Highlander Hybrid uses a 4-cylinder gasoline engine rather than a V6, and total output is 240 horsepower compared to the Explorer Hybrid's 318 horsepower. EPA fuel-economy ratings are not out yet for either hybrid, but given the engine differences, we expect the Highlander hybrid to return significantly better mileage at the expense of some performance. Toyota is estimating 34 mpg combined, which is outstanding for this class. Another hybrid difference is that Ford offers the Explorer Hybrid in a single trim level but Toyota offers the Highlander Hybrid in multiple trim levels.
Pricing for the 2020 Toyota Highlander has not been released yet, but using 2019 prices as a rough guide, the Highlander starts about $2k less than the Explorer, and the Highlander tops out just shy of $50,000, nearly $10k below the top-spec Explorer.
2020 Ford Explorer vs. Kia Telluride
Impressive new offerings, both. The Kia Telluride, a front-drive-based unibody SUV, has just one engine, a proven 3.8-liter V6 with 291 horsepower. The Telluride’s a couple inches shorter than the Explorer, with a wheelbase five inches shorter than the Ford. From the inside, the Kia feels very roomy, thanks to its boxy shape and an upright windshield that’s not unlike that of the Ford Flex. Max tow rating of the Kia Telluride is 5,000 pounds.
2020 Ford Explorer vs. Jeep Grand Cherokee
Like the new Explorer, the Jeep Grand Cherokee is a unibody SUV with a longitudinal powertrain. But the Jeep is 9 inches shorter overall than the Ford, with a wheelbase that’s down by about 5 inches. The Jeep seats a max of five in two rows; the new Explorer accommodates seven in its three rows. Both of these SUVs have diverse powertrains, the Grand Cherokee’s ranging from a 3.6-liter V6 and a diesel V6 to a 6.4-liter pushrod V8 and a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the super sporty Trackhawk. Besides the base turbo 2.3-liter 4-cylinder, the new Explorer is available with a twin-turbo 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 (365 or 400 horsepower) and a hybrid powertrain featuring a 3.3-liter V6 and an electric motor.
Prices, Trims and Packages
The 2020 Ford Explorer lineup offers no shortage of trims, features and packages.
2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine
10-speed automatic transmission
Rear-wheel drive (optional 4wd)
8-inch touch screen
Ford Co-Pilot 360 safety
40/20/40 second-row seat
18-inch painted alloy wheels
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility
Sync3 connectivity
2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder
Roof-rack side rails
4-way front passenger seat
Locking lighted glovebox
Rear bumper step pad
6.5-inch color LCD cluster screen
Dual second-row USB ports
Pushbutton start
Keyless-entry keypad
Available all-wheel drive
Hybrid starting price: $53,375
2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder or V6 hybrid
10-way power passenger seat
360-degree camera
Hands-free foot-operated liftgate
Heavy-duty rear brake calipers
Second-row heated seats
Power-fold third-row seats
Second-row sun blinds
12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system
20-inch alloy wheels
Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+
2020 Ford Explorer ST
3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 with 400 horsepower
Sport-tuned suspension
Black grille mesh, lower bodyside cladding
Class III Towing Package
12.3-inch digital instrument screen
Active Park Assist 2.0
Reverse Brake Assist
20-inch machined aluminum wheels (optional 21s)
Leather-covered sport bucket seats
Optional Street, Tech and Track packs
20-inch alloy wheels (Optional 21s)
Heated sport-style steering wheel
Heated, leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters
Tri-diamond leather seat trim
LED taillights with amber trim
Twin-panel moonroof
Leather-wrapped front console and door armrests
Leather-wrapped instrument panel and door rollovers
Wood interior trim
Adaptive headlamps
Satin-aluminum grille and lower bodyside cladding
Chromed quad exhaust outlets
Power-folding sideview mirrors
Notable 2020 Ford Explorer Packages
Class III Trailer Tow Package: This package includes a Class III chassis-mounted hitch, along with trailer connectors and an engine oil cooler. It also includes a cargo management system that provides extra pockets in the rear cargo area and sub-floor storage for smaller items. The Tow Package is a $710 option on the XLT and Limited, and it’s standard equipment on the ST and Platinum Explorers.
Comfort Package: This $715 option, available only on the XLT, really should be called the Winter Package. It includes heated first and second-row seats, plus a heated steering wheel and a windshield wiper de-icer.
High-Performance Package: Available only on the Explorer ST, this $1,595 option includes 21-inch aluminum alloy wheels and larger front brakes with red-painted brake calipers.
Premium Technology Package: Optional on the ST and Platinum, this technology package includes massaging multi-contour seats, a 10.1-inch vertically oriented touch screen (it looks like an iPad mounted atop the center stack) and a 980-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system. A bargain at only $995.
Is the new Ford Explorer the right SUV for me?
It’s impossible to say for sure, but the versatile new Ford Explorer will be more broadly popular because it shines brighter in multiple ways. Its roomier, more fuel efficient, and it’s equipped with many more standard safety features. Although it feels more like a high-riding wagon than before, the rear- and all-wheel-drive 2020 Ford Explorer has an inherent robustness we can all appreciate, along with a variety of powertrains to help this SUV meet various needs. And let’s not forget about the seriously sporty new Explorer ST, which replaces last year’s Explorer Sport.
Nor should we forget about the completely new 2020 Ford Explorer Hybrid, which is already proving popular with police agencies around the country because it’s significantly less expensive to operate. While the reduced fuel bill is paramount, the Hybrid Explorer, with its regenerative braking, also is much easier on brakes than a standard Explorer, so its pads will need to be changed much less frequently.
Whether your 3-row midsize SUV needs are rooted in soccer games, sporty driving or stakeouts, the 2020 Ford Explorer has a lot to offer.
2020 Ford Explorer First-Look Video
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Home » Uncategorized » No carbon emissions target to be preserved in UK law
The UK will preserve in law a long-lasting goal of decreasing its carbon emissions to zero, as called for in last year s historical Paris climate offer.
Reacting to former Labour leader Ed Miliband s call to put the target into law, energy minister Andrea Leadsom told parliament on Monday: The government thinks that we will need to take the step of preserving the Paris objective for net absolutely no emissions in UK law. The question is not whether however how we do it.
The UK is currently legitimately bound by the Climate Change Act to minimize emissions 80 % by 2050, but a law mandating a 100 % cut would mark a dramatic increase in passion. The last 20 % is viewed as the most challenging to cut, as it would need to originate from sectors such as farming, which are not as easy to decarbonise as power plants.
Miliband, who played a vital function in legislating the Climate Change Act and who required no emissions to be enshrined in law ahead of the Paris climate top in December, welcomed Leadsom s remarks.
It is the best thing to do because the science requires it, it makes financial sense and will construct momentum in the fight against climate change, said Miliband, who had tabled an amendment on absolutely no emissions to the energy bill that won cross-party support.
It is necessary we build on the success of the Paris agreement and do not misuse it, and I really hope other countries will now follow the example of the UK.
The announcement by Leadsom follows months of criticism of the federal government s green record by companies and civil society after a series of cuts to subsidies for renewable resource, the axing of no carbon houses regulations and a strong push for fracking.
At Paris, nearly 200 countries assured to attempt to bring international emissions down from peak levels as soon as possible. More considerably, they promised to achieve a balance between anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases in the second half of this century.
Specialists state that means getting to net absolutely no emissions in between 2050 and 2100. The UN s climate science panel states net zero emissions have to occur by 2070 to avoid dangerous warming.
The dedication by ministers today to legislating for such a target comes as a series of climate turning points were passed.
February was abnormally hot by a record amount worldwide, driven by climate modification and El Ni o, with scientists saying the abnormality was shocking and revealed there is a climate emergency situation that provides added impetus to the Paris deal. Last year also saw climatic concentrations of CO2 jump by the greatest amount on record.
Ministers later on this year will need to decide whether to accept the recommendation of the Committee on Climate Change, their statutory climate advisors, of a carbon cut of 57 % by 2032, the so-called fifth carbon budget. The setting of the fourth carbon budget stimulated a political row in 2011, with George Osborne and other ministers opposing it prior to David Cameron stepped in to accept the targets.
The Committee on Climate Change concluded in January that the Paris deal, which consisted of a tougher temperature target than previously concurred, did not warrant a change to the proposed 5th carbon budget plan, a choice branded frantically frustrating by green advocates.
Leadsom stated the CCC would be reporting back on the implications of the Paris arrangement in the autumn and said that before a zero emissions goal was made law there was an essential set of concerns to be responded to.
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Ulsom Wins Iditarod 2018
By David Dodman | March 14, 2018 | 1
Joar Leifseth Ulsom is the champion of Iditarod 2018.
The 31-year-old musher, who ran his first Iditarod only five years ago, pulled under Nome’s Burled Arch early Wednesday morning to claim first place in Iditarod 46. Ulsom’s win makes him the first Norwegian musher to win the 1,000-mile sled dog race since Robert Sørlie in 2005. Ulsom explained Sorlie’s huge influence.
“It’s been a dream for me. Since he won it, I’ve been watching him … it’s just, it feels good.”
Ulsom’s 2018 first-place title comes after an upset on Monday when Nicolas Petit, then in the lead, took a wrong turn down a stretch of trail on the Bering Sea coast between Shaktoolik and Koyuk. The mistake ultimately cost Petit about an hour and a half to get back on the right course and allowed Ulsom to take first position, which he maintained for the remainder of the 200+ miles to Nome. Ulsom says he didn’t know how close Petit was to him outside of Koyuk.
“When I left Koyuk, he was sleeping, or pretending to be sleeping, so I had no idea he was coming out right behind me there.”
Brutal winds and fresh snow slowed dog teams on the Yukon River, which contributed to what Ulsom describes as a challenging trail.
“It was a slow trail, a soft trail. We had wind and it was just, every leg was more challenging than the other legs.”
The trail took the southern route through the ghost town of Iditarod and Yukon communities: the first time the race has completed the trail in five years. Ulsom’s rookie year was the most recent running of the trail.
Ulsom’s rise to Iditarod champion has been swift since his 2013 rookie run. He took seventh place, and Rookie of the Year, in his first Iditarod in 2013; that year, he also set the record, which he still holds, for all-time-fastest rookie to finish the Last Great Race. Ulsom has placed in the top ten in all of his six Iditarod finishes, including two 6th-place finishes in 2015/2016 and two in 4th-place in 2014/2017.
Ulsom brought 8 dogs to Nome, arriving at 3:00am under the Burled Arch. He receives a check for at least 50-thousand dollars from a half-million-dollar purse and new truck.
Girdwood musher Nicolas Petit arrived into Nome at 5:15 this morning in second place. He says he wasn’t surprised at all that his run in from Safety was about an hour faster than Ulsom.
“My team’s been the fastest on the trail from Anchorage all the way to the wrong turn. We went fast on the wrong turn, and then we slowed down at the end of that because we went an extra 10 miles through some really soft, punchy, weird stuff looking for a trail.”
Defending champion Mitch Seavey arrived in third place at 8:11 Wednesday morning.
Davis M. Hovey and Ben Matheson also contributed to this story.
Image at top: Joar Leifseth Ulsom at the Unalakleet checkpoint on Sunday. Photo: Zachariah Hughes, Alaska Public Media.
2018 Iditarod champion Joar Ulsom speaks with Race Marshal Mark Nordman under the burled arch in Nome early Wednesday morning. Photo courtesy of Lia Nydes (2018).
Posted in Iditarod 2018 and tagged Joar Leifseth Ulsom, Joar Ulsom, Nicolas Petit
← When Will They Arrive? Look for Iditarod’s Top 3 Between Midnight and Sunrise WednesdayFat-Tire Biker Wins 1,000-Mile Race Among Mushers on Front Street →
Norway’s Ulsom Wins Iditarod – KNOM Radio Mission on March 29, 2018 at 4:26 pm
[…] 9.5 days on the trail, 31-year-old Norwegian musher Joar Leifseth Ulsom [YOUR LEAF-seth ULL-some] crossed under Nome’s historic “Burled Arch” in the wee morning hours of Wednesday, March 14. This was Ulsom’s sixth Iditarod; he first ran the race in 2013, when he took Rookie of the Year […]
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Lex Luthor's Wildest Plan Ever Is Finally Starting To Unfold
James Whitbrook
You know how shit’s real? Lex Luthor doesn’t even care about just going after Superman anymore. (Image: Jim Cheung, Tomeu Moray, and Tom Napolitano, DC Comics)
Lex Luthor is a planner. A schemer. He plots and he strategizes—that’s just what he does. But recently in DC’s comics, he’s been slowly building toward one of the most bonkers plans he’s ever had. And in the world of this week’s new comics, it finally kicked off.
If you’ve not been keeping up with either Lex or the DC Comics universe over the past year or so, then...well, you’re going to have a wild time picking up this week’s Year of the Villain Special, a 25-cent onboarding anthology comic the publisher is using to launch into the titular storyline.
It features stories from — deep breath — Scott Snyder, Brian Michael Bendis, James Tynion IV, Jim Cheung, Alex Maleev, Francis Manapul, Tomeu Moray, Tom Napolitano, and Joshua Reed.
Hail to the chief. (Image: Jim Cheung, Tomeu Moray, and Tom Napolitano, DC Comics)
Lex Luthor has been undergoing a transformative process at DC lately — when Superman died (long story), it was about him stepping in to fill the gap as a hero. But the fabric of the DC cosmic itself coming apart at the seams in the wake of events like Metal has pushed Luthor back into a place of familiar villainy, leading to the creation of the Legion of Doom for the very first time in the comics (Superfriends gave us the Legion, of course, but it’s taken until now to transpose the team itself to comic canon).
Year of the Villain Special marks the coming together of all these plot arcs as they have been playing out in the pages of the ongoing Justice League comics. But it also sets the stage for how other major events elsewhere in DC’s books will tie into the dramatic proceedings.
Most notably Leviathan, a sinister new presence Brian Michael Bendis has been quietly teasing in his Superman storytelling, but also Bane’s reckoning against Batman—an arc that has been simmering in the background of Tom King’s Batman run and explosively twisted into the foreground with that infamous Not-Quite-a-Wedding in Batman #50.
Even Brainiac is impressed by Lex’s masterstroke. (Image: Jim Cheung, Tomeu Moray, and Tom Napolitano, DC Comics)
So where does Lex find himself in all this? Well here’s the thing: he is and he isn’t at the heart of what Year of the Villain kicks off. He is, in that he finally reveals his plan to the world—starting with a brazen attack on the White House to grab the attention of the remaining superheroes on Earth (the main hitters of the Justice League are still off on the universe’s edge, trying to save planet after planet as the breaking of the Source Wall continues to eat away at existence.
Did I mention this saga was a whole dang lot?), before revealing to Brainiac the master stratagem he’s about to unleash: the might of his own rather significant financial assets.
Lex unveils that he has sent a message to the supervillains of Earth — his money, his technology, his research, his genius, all of it is now available to them so they can strike back at their archnemeses and rise at last as victors over the heroes of the world. But then he does something completely out of left field: when Captain Atom and a host of armed forces come to arrest him...he kills himself, blasting the top floors of LexCorp’s HQ with a fiery explosion. With his plan underway and his assets dissolved, Lex Luthor as we knew him is no more.
Bye bye, Mr. Luthor. (Image: Jim Cheung, Tomeu Moray, and Tom Napolitano)
But that’s not to say that Lex Luthor is dead dead. I mean, c’mon. It’s comic books. But the Lex that will move forward as part of Year of the Villain is not the same man we’ve seen plotting and planning for the best part of a year in DC’s comics. The one we meet in the final pages of Year of the Villain Special has been born for this moment.
What set Lex’s death and rebirth in motion is another thread that’s been lurking in the pages of Justice League in recent months: Perpetua, the ancient cosmic entity and apparent “mother” of the DC multiverse who had been imprisoned in the Source Wall until its destruction last year. Perpetua had, eons ago, been imprisoned for trying to fashion the prior multiverse into a cosmic weapon she could wield in a quest to dominate the wider omniverse—a sheer, unfathomable cosmic threat neither heroes nor villains are equipped to deal with.
But it was something that Luthor saw, so he decided to commit himself to Perpetua’s cause in the pages of Justice League, which is the real secret reason he’s given the villains of Earth access to his vast resources.
Perpetua witnesses the birth of a new Lex. (Image: Francis Manapul and Tom Napolitano, DC Comics)
What Perpetua wants is all-out war between Justice and Injustice. A cataclysmic quarrel that will not just level the playing field of people who could stop her from consuming the multiverse but act as a distraction—so the universe could fall apart piece by piece, like it’s been doing even with the Justice League’s attempts to staunch the intergalactic bleeding. It would restore her power so she can craft a new existence in her own image, one where Lex Luthor, her chosen vessel, will take a new form as seemingly one of the most powerful entities in existence.
It’s a wild move in what has been an equally wild game of chess across DC’s biggest superhero comics. Year of the Villain has had a build up quite unlike anything else the publisher has set the stage for in this Rebirth-era of comics—and while this week’s events are far from either the beginning or the end of it, the chance to hop on board at a lower barrier-of-entry with a special like this is one people should be taking.
namiwakiru @namiwakiru
Wow yeah, I really am out of the DC loop, I thought all the source wall stuff was done/got the flick
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Kindercare Learning Centres – Palmerston North
Do you need safe, loving childcare in Palmerston North? You’ll find it at Kindercare Learning Centres in Featherston Street, where we’ll treasure your child in our heart-centred, home-style care. Our capable and nurturing team, under the leadership of the centre director, Raewyn Richardson, recognise the trust you place in us when you choose Kindercare.
Web: www.kindercare.co.nz/our-childcare-centres/palmerston-north-childcare-centres/palmerston-north?utm_campaign=palmerston+north&utm_medium=google+places&utm_source=google&utm_content=&utm_term=
Location: 321 Featherston St, Palmerston North, 4410
Magic Sparks - Palmerston North
Magic Sparks have four child care centres where qualified teaching staff nurture children aged 0-5, as they learn and develop at their own pace. All our Magic Sparks daycare centres, two located in Palmerston North and two in Wellington - Petone and Paraparaumu, offer all the benefits of a traditional kindergarten and much, much more.
Web: www.magicsparks.co.nz/
Location: 198 Cuba Street, Palmerston North
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Our favourite destinations…
New Zealand’s economic heart and biggest city is also an exciting family visitor destination, situated on a sunny harbour with city beaches just minutes away from the CBD. Orientate yourself by heading down to Viaduct Harbour, wandering the waterfront, checking out the super yachts or enjoying the waterfront restaurants. Nearby is the must-visit Sky Tower along with excellent and kid-friendly museums and tons of exciting activities!
Wellington is New Zealand’s capital. Here you will find New Zealand's parliament buildings, including the 'Executive Wing', more well-known as 'The Beehive' due to its distinctive shape. Another icon to look out for is the Wellington Tram, which was the main means of public transport between 1878 and 1964.
With a population of around 400,000 Christchurch, in Canterbury, is the South Island ’s largest city, yet much of it has the feel of a small town. Perhaps that’s why it’s known as the Garden City but with the expansive Hagley Park, Botanic Gardens, Port Hills, River Avon and numerous beaches the city certainly has an open, relaxed feel that’s hard to beat.
With its well-deserved reputation as New Zealand’s activity adventure capital you’ll never run out of activities and things to do in Queenstown, but you may run out of time! With breathtaking scenery, activities and festivals, cafes and restaurants, skiing and snowboarding, shopping and wineries, this lakeside alpine resort rates as one of the world’s top vacation destinations for all ages and seasons.
Rotorua sits on the shore of Lake Rotorua, one of sixteen lakes in the area formed by hundreds of thousands of years of eruptions from the Taupo Volcanic Zone. The area is renowned for its geothermal activity and top of any activity list is to see the bubbling mud pools that are around the region for yourself. The Waimangu Volcanic Valley offers a first hand insight into the devastation caused by the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera and is a great place to discover steaming volcanic craters and bubbling, spitting pools of mud!
Nelson and Golden Bay
The Nelson and Golden Bay regions, at the top of the South Island, boast enviable sunshine hours, glorious sandy beaches, safe swimming spots, lots of wildlife to look out for, and Abel Tasman National Park - an absolute must to explore, on foot, by kayak, your own craft or watertaxi. Nelson is home to a vibrant arts and crafts community with a fabulous Saturday market, and is close to award-winning wineries and family-friendly bike tracks to take you around the coast.
Napier was rebuilt after the 1931 earthquake and is now known as NZ's Art Deco City. The Art Deco influence has created a unique city – nowhere else can you see such a varied concentration of art deco style. With over 2,200 sunshine hours a year, Napier is a year-round holiday destination with countless activities to entertain the kids – there's days of entertainment on Marine Parade alone, plus numerous other family-friendly trips and activities. Add to that the beaches, walks and flat cycle paths, outdoor cafes and entertainment, and you have a perfect holiday destination!
Beautiful, unspoiled beaches, fishing, historic gum fields, kauri forests – the Far North has it all. With subtropical temperatures, it's often known as ‘the Winterless north', with warm, humid summers and mild winters.
Gateway to the Bay of Islands, Paihia is a pretty, lively beachside town and a perfect base for your family holiday. It’s your start point for Bay of Island adventures including day cruises, sailing, kayaking, swimming with dolphins and reef or wreck diving.
Minding
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Home venue in Mullinavat not enough for Kilkenny handballers
On Saturday players from the province travelled to Mullinavat Community Centre, Kilkenny to contest a number of handball championships.
Kilkenny failed to secure any titles, but three players reached the final of their grade.
In boys 13 and under Harry Delaney continued his recent good form by reaching the Leinster decider against Mark Doyle from Wexford.
To secure his place in the decider the Kells player accounted for Evan Russell (Louth) in two sets, 15-10, 15-11.
Harry was playing in a grade where the age advantage was very much with Doyle. The Wexford player was in total control in the first set.
In the second game Harry put Doyle under pressure and more than made up for the two years age disadvantage. However the Wexford player did enough to close out the game 15-10 to claim the title.
In boys 17 and under Kyle Dunne from Clogh came up against the impressive Josh Kavanagh (Wexford) in another well contested final.
From the start Kavanagh controlled proceedings and made full use of the court with some excellent play.
In two hard fought sets the Wexford player just had too much skill and power for Kyle when winning 15-10, 15-7.
The men’s Open final involved Ciáran Neary, Talbot’s Inch as he attempted to defeat Ben Devlin, Louth.
To reach the decider Ciáran defeated Jerome Willoughby (Wicklow) in a tie break match, 11-7.
In the final against the Wall Ball specialist Devlin it was the Louth player held on to the crown he won last year. With an excellent display of serving and availing of most of the opportunities that came his way, the Louth player dominated and won 15-3, 15-3.
Other Kilkenny contestants were Gary Law (Mullinavat), who was beaten in the men’s C grade and Shane Dunne (Clogh), who competed in the men’s Open grade.
A big ‘thank you’ was extended to the host club, Mullinavat, and the Community Centre committee that provided a very warm and hospitable atmosphere.
Special thanks went to Denis Law, Joe Anthony, Sean Walsh and Gary Law, who ensured that the day was enjoyable for all the players and spectators.
On Sunday the attention switched to the Clough/Ballacolla Community Centre for the rest of the Leinster grades.
In the Masters championship, Eamonn Purcell (Windgap) was beaten in two games by Stuart Heslin (Louth), 15-5, 15-10. John Maguire (Galmoy) lost out to Offaly’s Declan Kilmurray in the Masters C grade, and in the men’s B championship Dan Breen (Kells) was unlucky to lose a tie break match to John Doyle, Louth, 15-12, 10-15, 11-6.
All the winners of these Leinster championship progress to the All-Ireland series which will be held in Mount Talbot, Roscommon on the June Bank Holiday weekend.
This Saturday the first of the 60x30 championships will commence for Kilkenny when Kilfane travel to nearby Garryhill to play Coolboy, Wicklow in the Leinster junior inter-club grade.
These championships will be completed over the next couple of weeks with the singles and doubles competitions starting in the middle of June.
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(-) Maternity services
(-) General election 2017
(-) NHS finances
Spare change: the public and NHS funding
Is the NHS adequately funded, and how should funding be raised? Harry Evans explores the findings of the British Social Attitudes survey on public attitudes towards NHS funding and taxation.
By Harry Evans - 2 May 2019
The NHS and climate change: a decade of distraction
As the realities of climate change become ever clearer, Chris Naylor explores how the NHS has responded to the challenge so far, and why it needs to do more to overcome the ‘tyranny of now’.
By Chris Naylor - 25 April 2019
NICE at 20: a cause for celebration
Nicholas Timmins celebrates the twentieth anniversary of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and considers the challenges ahead.
By Nicholas Timmins - 29 March 2019
Empathy and understanding in mental health: the role of a peer support worker
Emily, a senior peer support worker at Haven, explains the vital role peer support workers play in supporting people through mental health crisis.
By Emily, peer support worker - 27 March 2019
The NHS needs to be more productive – or is it more efficient?
Stop reading this and get back to work – you need to be more productive. Or is it more efficient? David Maguire explores the difference between productivity and efficiency in the NHS long-term plan.
By David Maguire - 12 March 2019
2019: handling the uncertainty
Richard Murray reflects on the opportunities and challenges that 2019 may bring, as well as the need for flexibility in the face of uncertainty.
By Richard Murray - 2 January 2019
Prevention is better than cure – except when it comes to paying for it
The government’s emphasis on prevention is welcome, but resources have not been following the rhetoric. David Buck analyses the latest data on local government public health spending.
By David Buck - 21 November 2018
Mental health funding in the 2018 Autumn Budget: the devil will be in the detail
While the additional funding for mental health services announced in this week’s Budget is welcome, it will take more than money to deliver parity of esteem.
By Helen Gilburt - 31 October 2018
A short history of NHS winter funding
The NHS relies on the reoccurrence of supposedly non-recurrent winter funding, but is still kept on its toes each year wondering how much money will be available and when it will be provided. Siva Anandaciva looks at how it works.
By Siva Anandaciva - 11 October 2018
From lab to bedside: ensuring new medicines are available in a cost-effective and timely way
David Omojomolo explores the challenge of offering new medicines within current financial restraints.
By David Omojomolo - 31 July 2018
The NHS 10-year plan: how much will be spent on NHS deficits?
Richard Murray calls for the reform of the NHS’s current Byzantine financial system.
By Richard Murray - 23 July 2018
The NHS 10-year plan: transformation holds the key to sustainability
Chris Ham calls for the NHS 10-year plan to outline realistic ambitions to transform health and care over the next decade, focused on improving population health and a new deal with the public.
By Professor Sir Chris Ham - 12 July 2018
The changing shape of NHS finances
As austerity and widespread staffing shortages began to bite over the past decade, the finances of NHS providers often took a familiar shape each year. But more recently this pattern of financial performance has been increasingly pulled out of shape and distorted.
By Siva Anandaciva - 10 July 2018
NHS funding: what we know, what we don’t know and what comes next
As the dust settles on the new NHS funding announcement, Richard Murray explores what to expect over the next few months.
By Richard Murray - 27 June 2018
How does the NHS compare internationally on its spending and key resources?
The UK health care system is not alone in the challenges it faces. What can we learn from how other countries have equipped themselves to deal with a growing and ageing population and changing health care needs?
By Siva Anandaciva - 5 May 2018
NHS medicines provision: a tricky balancing act
With medicines spending growing at a time of NHS funding restraint, difficult choices lie ahead for policy-makers. Leo Ewbank assesses the current situation and looks at what the future may hold.
By Leo Ewbank - 27 April 2018
Talking about the ‘return on investment of public health’: why it’s important to get it right
David Buck sets out concerns about how the ‘return on investment of public health’ is being widely misinterpreted and why we all need to be clearer and more consistent about what we mean when using that term.
By David Buck - 23 April 2018
Improving population mental health: five lessons from Liverpool
Chris Naylor shares key lessons from a recent event in Liverpool on better mental health programmes.
By Chris Naylor - 6 April 2018
Achieving a balance between quality, access and money
Focusing on just one of these priorities can seem more straightforward, but that is not the reality of life for NHS leaders and is not the right approach, says Matthew Kershaw.
By Matthew Kershaw - 8 March 2018
It’s not about the money: staff engagement comes first
Michael West explores the link between staff engagement, high-quality care and financial performance.
By Michael West - 7 March 2018
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Commissioning telecare and telehealth in 2011
The challenges for commissioners and providers of telecare and telehealth have never been so great, but there are some exciting fresh opportunities to be considered.
By Mike Clark - 22 December 2010
Telehealth monitoring in heart failure
Recently published trials on telehealth monitoring in heart failure
Avoiding hospital admissions: What does the research evidence say?
In order to successfully reduce avoidable emergency admissions, we need to fully understand which interventions are the most effective. The King's Fund commissioned this review of research evidence to establish which interventions work in avoiding emergency or unplanned hospital admissions.
By Sarah Purdy - 16 December 2010
Health policy priorities for Parliament
Contributed to by key health sector figures and commentators, this publication provides information on key health policy agenda priorities and how they can be addressed and advanced in the coming years.
By Professor Sir Chris Ham et al - 2 December 2010
Estimate of future social care funding gap following the Spending Review
Note prepared for the Health Select Committee Inquiry into public expenditure, giving an estimate of the future social care funding gap following the Spending Review 2010.
By Richard Humphries et al - 24 November 2010
Clinical and service integration: The route to improved outcomes
Our report on clinical and service integration focuses on examples that are most relevant to the NHS in England in the context of the coalition’s health reforms.
By Professor Sir Chris Ham et al - 22 November 2010
Choosing a high-quality hospital: The role of nudges, scorecard design and information
Choosing a high-quality hospital explores how information can help patients to make informed choices. It is based on a research study, which began with a series of focus group discussions, the results of which informed the design of an online experiment.
By Anna Dixon et al - 18 November 2010
Parliamentary briefing: The impact of the Spending Review on the Department of Health
Produced for the Westminster Hall Debate, this briefing considers the impact of the recent Spending Review on the Department of Health.
The quality of care in general practice: Capturing opinions from the front line
This paper offers a snapshot of health professionals' views and raises key issues for further debate, as part of our work on the quality of general practice in England.
By Nick Goodwin et al - 3 November 2010
Kent telehealth pilot study
Mike Clark describes the programme, set up by Kent County Council, to help 250 people with long-term conditions to live independently using telehealth.
By Mike Clark - 2 November 2010
Sustaining innovation in telehealth and telecare
This paper, the first in a series of WSDAN briefing papers, looks at how telehealth and telecare innovations are being used in health and social care.
By Nick Goodwin et al - 31 October 2010
Enhancing the Healing Environment: Midlands NHS Trust case study
A new low secure unit was able to significantly reduce incidents of violence and aggression through implementing The King's Fund's Enhancing the Healing Environment programme.
By James Dooher et al - 30 October 2010
Implementing the End of Life Care Strategy: Lessons from good practice
This report from The King's Fund is aimed at those responsible for commissioning and organising end-of-life care services at a local level.
By Shilpa Ross et al - 28 October 2010
Approaches to demand management: commissioning in a cold climate
This write-up summarises presentations made at a seminar, which brought together commissioners, policy-makers, providers and others to consider some of the available evidence about demand management.
By Candace Imison et al - 28 October 2010
Avoiding hospital admissions: lessons from evidence and experience
This paper summarises presentations made at a seminar that brought together case studies from the NHS in England, Kaiser Permanente and the independent sector.
Big Society: Political philosophy and implications for health policy
An overview of the Big Society and what it means for health care in England, this briefing raises a number of questions and issues, including nudging to improve public health, community empowerment and patient power.
By Beccy Baird - 26 October 2010
Impact of the health White Paper: what do doctors think?
The King's Fund and Doctors.net.uk have commissioned a survey to find out how doctors feel about the plans set out in the coalition government's health White Paper.
The Spending Review and Social Care
For adult social care, the Spending Review settlement is about as good as it could get. It promises allocates £2 billion a year of additional funding by 2014-15 to support social care, £1b of which sits within the NHS.
By Richard Humphries - 21 October 2010
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Home > Research > News and events > Research news archive > Research news archive
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Rehabilitation sciences expert Dr Iain Beith helps point way to better use of allied health professionals
A new report has recommended ways in which allied health professionals can be used more effectively to improve clinical outcomes as well as research, education and training.
Communicating risk can be a risky business, according to new Kingston research
Individuals whose job involves communicating risk need to be more aware of the different ways people may interpret what they say, new Kingston University research shows.
Researchers to investigate how satisfied carers of stroke survivors are with social care support
Experts from Kingston University and St George's, University of London, have launched a study to examine whether people caring for family members who have had a stroke feel the social care services designed to support them, work well.
Microbiology expert warns of the dangers of bacterial resistance
Expert in medical microbiology at London's Kingston University Professor Mark Fielder has welcomed the findings of a Government report on antibiotics by chief medical officer Professor Dame Sally Davies which was published this week.
Level of illegal badger killing probed
A Kingston University professor has played a key role in research exploring the estimated extent of badger killing carried out by farmers.
Research poised to lead to major advances in cataract treatment
A professor at London's Kingston University has made a discovery about the shape of the eye that could boost the effectiveness of man-made lenses used in cataract operations.
Unearthing Seething Wells' secret garden
Kingston University archaeology enthusiasts have been rolling back the turf to reveal the secrets of a 19th century garden.
Research reveals landing first job can be harder for nurses from ethnic minorities
Experts from Kingston University and St George's, University of London have discovered new nurses' chances of getting a job may be affected by ethnicity, the areas in which they specialise and which university they attend.
Experts warn red wine could mask testosterone levels
Researchers from Kingston University have discovered that red wine could help athletes up their game by giving them an extra dose of testosterone.
British Pharmacological Society honours professor's world-leading research
The Dean of Kingston University's Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing has received a prestigious prize recognising her lifetime's work on drug metabolism.
Vitamin D2 could hold vital key to arresting development of Alzheimer's disease
Scientists have uncovered evidence that lack of a particular form of vitamin D is associated with Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers challenge super food claims
Researchers are using an approach that allows them to delve deeper into the effectiveness of health-promoting 'super foods' and their elixir-giving ilk.
Letters reveal author Iris Murdoch's love for philosopher Philippa Foot
Kingston University has acquired a collection of 250 letters written by Iris Murdoch which shed more light on her friendship with philosopher Philippa Foot.
Expert hails exciting possibilities for space exploration after landing of NASA's Mars rover
Kingston University researchers and students who have been working on projects to develop a lighter chassis for Mars rovers have been buoyed by the success of the latest mission to explore the Red Planet.
Memorabilia from Hitler's Olympics –kept by the late Vane Ivanovic –on display at Kingston University archives
The Vane Ivanovic collection includes haunting mementoes from the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games including photographs and programmes.
New Dean urges politicians not to lose sight of impact of university education
A leading architecture expert is joining Kingston University's senior management team.
Academic calls for universities to join forces to boost research
Improved links across specialist subject areas will be crucial if institutions are to increase research output, according to the new Associate Dean at Kingston University's Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing.
Employees much less satisfied at work after major life event
Milestones such as marriage or the birth of a first child have a negative effect on job satisfaction, according to new Kingston Business School research.
True nature of staff motivation more complex than surveys reveal
High levels of staff engagement might not be all they seem and could actually damage an organisation, Kingston Business School research has found.
Study tackling taboos of incontinence and dementia wins category prize at RCGP research paper awards
The study co-authored by professor Vari Drennan and Laura Cole, was named the Dementias and Neurodegenerative Diseases category winner at the RCGP awards.
Secretary of State Ed Davey praises community's smart approach to tackling climate change
A Kingston University project that has prompted borough residents to become more energy efficient has been praised by MPs as it marks its first anniversary.
Clock-watchers more likely to suffer burn out than workaholics, study finds
Employees who keep a close eye on the time are more prone to stress than people who throw themselves into work, according to Kingston Business School researchers.
Sports science specialists put radio host Christian O'Connell through his paces
Absolute Radio breakfast presenters Christian O'Connell and Richie Firth have had their fitness levels put to the test at Kingston University.
Tear up the rule book to deal with climate change, says new professor
Action must be taken to meet climate change targets, according to the newly-appointed YTL Professor of Innovation and Technology Management at Kingston University's Business School.
Olympic authorities warned of potential doping loophole
Kingston University researchers have found that green and white teas could hide abnormal levels of testosterone in athletes.
Paedophiles' online chats become sexualised within two minutes, new study says
Online paedophiles are moving away from the traditional grooming process and starting highly sexualised chats with children almost straight away, according to new research from Kingston University
Mayor of London Boris Johnson applauds students' sustainable design
Students from Kingston University have scooped the Mayor of London's low carbon prize after designing a device packed full of eco-friendly information for people moving house.
A world of sustainable materials at the click of a mouse
Kingston University has unveiled an online library categorising more than 1,000 materials used in ecologically-responsible design.
Kingston University acquires archive of talent scout Cary Ellison - the Simon Cowell of his era
Detailed notes on some of the world's biggest stars feature in a collection of vintage theatre programmes that form part of a new Kingston University archive collection.
Kate Moss and Vivienne Westwood's biographer awarded PhD by Kingston University
A Kingston University academic who has written prolifically about some of popular culture's biggest names has been awarded a PhD.
Professor scrutinises link between job and life satisfaction
According to new research long hours in the office can't make up for unhappiness at home.
Scientists pinpoint potential to fight back against secret killer
Kingston University researchers have uncovered evidence that shows white tea, witch hazel and the simple rose could all play a crucial part in tackling inflammation.
Judges are more ordinary than we imagine, new research suggests
New Kingston University research shows the traditional image of judges as distant, out-of-touch and pompous is no longer warranted.
Geographers to collaborate on landscape database for Britain
Kingston University geographers are playing a key part in a pilot project pulling together data on Britain's diverse landscapes.
Gay people risk going back into the closet in old age, sociologists find
Fears over going into care later in life are among the concerns highlighted in a new study looking at the needs of older gay, bisexual or transgender men and women.
Student harnesses power of Facebook for green research
A Kingston University student has designed a Facebook application called iGreen to help with her research into sustainable behaviour.
New approach to tracking dangers of designer drug meow meow
Experts from Kingston University have devised a new questionnaire to detect behaviour such as mephedrone use.
Generous donation enables Kingston to establish chair in enterprise and technology management
Kingston alumnus Tan Sri Dato' Francis Yeoh is giving the University £500,000 to bring business management and engineering together.
Intelligent CCTV technology could help bring future rioters to justice
Experts from Kingston University are devising new sophisticated surveillance systems with the potential to bring rioters and looters to justice in the future and reduce privacy concerns.
A life less angry - positive impact of hospital scheme to reduce London's gang and knife crime
Academics from Kingston University are analysing a project underway at St Thomas' hospital in central London to tackle the growing trend of young people caught up in violent incidents.
Showbusiness memories from composer David Heneker go on display
A new archive housed at Kingston University will preserve a slice of musical theatre memories.
Cutting-edge research and closer ties to industry critical for economy, new Dean says
Kingston University's new Dean of Science, Engineering and Computing, Professor Edith Sim, says universities must have closer links with industry to improve graduates' job prospects.
Strings on screen – Arditti Quartet reveals tricks of the trade
A Kingston music expert has revealed the secrets of the world-renowned Arditti Quartet in a free documentary available on iTunes U.
Academic brings acclaimed war artist back to public attention
A Kingston University art historian is staging the first ever exhibition of renowned painter Eric Kennington's World War II work.
Getting enough vitamin D may not just be about seeing enough sun, new blood test reveals
A new blood test developed by a Kingston University professor can accurately reveal the different types of vitamin D the body absorbs from diet and sunshine.
Study to reveal magic of modernist architect Kenneth Wood
A Kingston University researcher is set to produce the first study of architect Kenneth Wood whose designs helped shape suburban southern England.
Kingston researchers say supermarkets could freshen up their home delivery services
Research by Kingston University suggests that supermarkets are failing to retain their online customers – and need to find more imaginative ways of trying to appeal to them.
Living with dinosaurs – oral history project preserves Natural History Museum memories
Experts on dinosaurs, butterflies and whales are among staff who have recorded their memories of working at London's Natural History Museum in a project being conducted by Kingston University researchers.
Film sheds new light on WWII operation that changed history
A new documentary by a Kingston academic reveals the true story behind one of World War II's lesser-known operations, which played a crucial role on the Eastern Front.
Researchers devise new technique to help rescuers communicate after terrorist attacks
A new app, designed by Kingston University experts, is set to help rescue workers communicate better in the aftermath of terror attacks and natural disasters.
MP Zac Goldsmith launches research to help families go green
Borough school children are learning to become energy-efficiency enthusiasts courtesy of a project devised by researchers at Kingston University.
Academics predict a bright future for arts and humanities research
Newer universities have a vital role to play in the research game, Kingston University professors say.
Research reveals keys to quality of life in old age
Resourcefulness, staying active and a busy social life play vital roles in helping people cope with the challenges of old age, research from Kingston University and St George's University of London has found.
Government warned about dangers of changing employment regulations for outsourcing
Research shows it is important that managers understand the range of emotions experienced by staff when they are outsourced.
Athletes taking banned drugs try to cover their tracks
A Kingston University study has found athletes who take prohibited substances are more likely to manipulate answers on questionnaires to fit the image of a 'clean' sportsperson.
Are you sitting comfortably? Professor looks at chair design through the ages
A Kingston University professor has delved under the upholstery to discover how the chair has shaped and reflected society.
Royal seal of approval for Kingston professor
Kingston professor Robert Blackburn is preparing for a trip to Buckingham Palace to receive the Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion.
New professor to champion changing face of nursing
Ruth Harris, recently appointed as the Faculty's first Professor of Nursing Practice and Innovation, is set to spearhead new research aimed at improving nursing practice and patient outcomes.
Course to help curb violent incidents on mental health wards
A course developed by a leading mental health specialist from Kingston Unversity and St George's, University of London could soon be rolled out across Europe.
Historic church's subterranean secrets revealed
Experts from Kingston University have delved beneath the surface of the borough's All Saints Church to find out more about its history.
Older workers a new and unique resource says Kingston professor
Research by Kingston University shows that older workers could be a valuable asset, but are are the jam in an inter-generational sandwich, at risk of being squeezed by multiple pressures.
Spirituality on the slopes - vicar gains PhD in snowboarding
A vicar from Canada has just completed research specialising in spirituality on the slopes.
Study sheds light on online groomers' different methods
Young people could be unwittingly acting as a magnet for online sexual offenders by using sexual screen names and images, new research by Kingston University shows.
Researchers put physician assistants under the spotlight
A team led by Kingston University and St George's, University of London, is investigating physician assistants' contribution to healthcare in England.
Hand-held device to help dodge hazards
A Kingston University expert is developing a tool to help older people and the disabled find their way around unfamiliar city centres.
Research to help toddlers reach full potential
Early years' education specialists from Kingston University are taking part in a European study that aims to ensure youngsters get the best start in life.
A matter of respect
Dr Andy King has received funding for a project that will help older lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people receive equal access to services and be treated with respect.
Ecobuild 2011
Kingston University will be showcasing Rematerialise, a unique sustainable materials library and online resource at Ecobuild 2011.
Kingston acquires Orange Prize archive
A collection of documents charting the rise of leading literary award the Orange Prize has come to Kingston University.
Abuse and trauma centre opens at Kingston University
The UK's only multi-disciplinary centre for research and training on abuse and trauma has opened at Kingston University.
Kingston database of rare hospital records
The lives of poor, sick children in Glasgow during Victorian times are revealed in a new online database developed by Kingston University.
Leading expert joins Faculty of Health and Social Care Sciences
Acclaimed social scientist Professor Ann Bowling has taken up a new role at Kingston University and St George's, University of London.
Historian seeks public perspective on post-war era
Historian David Kynaston will be gathering material for his latest book when he hosts a discussion on post-war history at Kingston University.
DNA barcode professor awarded doctorate
A professor who has helped launch the DNA 'barcode of life' – a huge project cataloguing every species on earth – has been named an Honorary Doctor of Science by Kingston University.
Kingston research gives small firms positive prognosis
Britain's small businesses are in good health and set to make a strong contribution to the economic recovery, according to research from the Faculty of Business and Law which has been hitting the headlines recently.
Business School wins major award for local energy research project
The Faculty of Business and Law have received a award from the RCUK Energy Programme for a three-year study in north Kingston of how a community can work together to reduce energy usage.
Kingston joins European research into improving toddlers' lives
A team from Kingston's School of Education will be conducting a three-year cross-European study – thought to be the biggest of its kind – that will examine how toddlers can be given the best start in life.
Philosophy centre comes to Kingston
The Centre for Research in Modern European Philosophy (CRMEP) has a new home at Kingston University.
Green champions and eco-refuseniks quizzed about recycling behaviour
Kingston University scientists are taking part in a three-year project to get a better understanding of people's attitudes towards recycling and household waste.
Buffy expert appointed to new professorship
Television favourite Buffy the Vampire Slayer and one of the world's foremost philosophers are among the wide-ranging interests of Kingston University's new professor of contemporary popular aesthetics.
Nurses' voices reveal St George's history
Military matrons, dogs on the ward and starchy uniforms are just a few of the memories of life at St George's Hospital recorded in a new book telling nurses' first-hand accounts over the last 80 years.
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Apps Hike
Peter Molyneux’s studio 22 Cans’ next game, The Trail, has appeared on the App Store in the Philippines. Via Kotaku, according to YouTube videos that have since surfaced, the free-to-download title ap.
Spring has sprung—get outdoors and explore some fun activities with the help of your smartphone, like hiking, biking, and walking. Take a hike! Pocket Ranger can guide you through state parks with com.
The Good Hike: A Story of the Appalachian Trail, Vietnam, PTSD and Love – Kindle edition by Tim Keenan. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading The Good Hike: A Story of the Appalachian Trail, Vietnam, PTSD and Love.
Smart Phone Apps for Hikers A large number of hikers now carry smart phones while hiking. There are beginning to be a number of hiking related applications that might increase your hiking enjoyment and safety (but beware the.
Most people know the privacy risk of Web cookies—the bits of data that Web browsers store and return to websites to help them keep track of your credentials, where you are in an application, and other.
Mackinac Island Hotel Reviews Mackinaw City Hotels Official Hotel Guide. Information about Mackinaw City Hotels, Mackinaw City Hotel Reviews, Hotel and Motel Accommodations, Mackinaw
CAMDEN, Maine — When 28-year-old Ryan Linn was growing up in Belfast and Unity, he hated hiking and being outside. Instead, he whiled away the hours playing video games or messing around with computer.
In the North Vancouver neighbourhood that sixth-graders Eleni McLaughlin, Saoirse Pontin and Madeline Williams call home, helicopters heading out into the mountains to search for lost hikers are a nea.
Now that it’s (technically) spring, you’re probably ready to get outside and soak up some vitamin D — I know I am. The iOS App Store(s AAPL) is filled with sports and activity apps, but these are thre.
We’re all familiar with ephemeral messaging, but how about password-protect chats? That’s a new feature that has been added to Indian chat app Hike, which announced that it has passed 20 million regis.
Pacific Hotel Yeppoon Results 1 – 22 of 22. Find your perfect accommodation choice in Yeppoon with Stayz. The best prices, the biggest
Those looking to experience the vast array of craft beer breweries in Windsor-Essex, don’t have to look further than the cell phone in the palm of their hand. Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island has pa.
Hike Messenger, an Indian app that allows users to exchange texts and images via the Internet on their smartphones, has bought U.S. startup Zip Phone, which allows users to make and receive calls thro.
This item has been corrected. We reported earlier this week that WeChat has its eye on India. On the face of it, that would seem to make sense—WeChat, owned by China’s Tencent, is the world’s biggest.
The best National Park apps to help boomer travelers explore America’s national treasures. We’ve included apps for planning your trip, hiking, making the most of your National Park trip and apps to keep you safe. From stargazing to audio guides, check out our comprehensive list of apps for National Parks travel.
The federal funds market consists of domestic unsecured borrowings in U.S. dollars by depository institutions from other depository institutions and certain.
Indian popular instant messaging app ‘Hike Messenger’ which works much like the IM giant WhatsApp is now testing a web app for its service. Yes. This seems quite similar to the WhatsApp Web which was.
Do you like hiking in the mountains, exploring new trails or knowing where you are at all times? If so, you are probably a big fan of GPS units.With all the different options available on the market, sometimes it’s hard to find the best GPS for hiking that suits your preferences and budget.
GPS hiking app developers tend to make things a little more complicated than necessary with geeky GPS coordinates features, difficult-to-navigate menus, and sometimes odd feature sets. The free AllTrails app is.
One pro-business group is hoping technology can help thwart the “Fight for $15” campaign. Looking to “make it easier for small businesses to add their voices to the minimum wage debate,” the Employmen.
The East Coast Trail is located on the North-East & Eastern portion of the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland, Canada. With a current length of just over 300km, it’s the perfect project for a first time thru hike.
Earlier this week, App State released a preseason prospectus, featuring an updated roster and a depth chart that showed how position battles were trending by the end of the 15 spring practices. The Mountaineers are replacing a few major contributors ( Taylor Lamb, Colby Gossett, Beau Nunn, Eric Boggs, Devan Stringer, A.J. Howard, among.
Aug 16, 2016 · There’s a huge challenge though. Facebook-owned WhatsApp is the dominant chat app in India, with more than 100 million active users in the country, around one-tenth of its total userbase. Hike.
Inspired by growth in the county’s craft beer industry, Howard County Tourism & Promotion is using modern technology to prompt beer lovers to do some exploring. The state’s first regional beer trail a.
Download GPS route information and coordinates, and use interactive features like elevation profiles and trail photos to properly track your hike while out of cell range. Functioning like a guidebook, the app provides expert commentary on trail highlights, challenging features on the route, and planning recommendations.
“All apps will be dead in five years.” At the helm of Hike is 28-year-old Kavin Bharti Mittal—the son of Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises and the 13th richest man in the world.
In this travel app let down, mobile supporters can focus on the fact that the climbers used their smartphones to call for help, while cartographers have a new anecdote for why maps are still relevant.
American lawyers are heading into the busiest time of the year for divorce filings. Big Brother is watching your every move — and so is your spouse. As global positioning systems improve, so do.
This app offers some of the best topographical maps for really exploring. Like other hiking apps, it tracks distance, time and elevation. Maps also note surrounding features like peaks, waterfalls and campgrounds. A built-in compass is a bonus.
Winter Vacation Sale This funky little houseboat spent a lot of time as a vacation rental before being put. Two fireplaces keep the
We believe in the power of the outdoors—which usually means putting your phone down and getting out there. But sometimes, your smartphone is your window into a better time in the wild. These are the top eight hiking apps that will help you get out safer, smarter and speedier.
Jun 20, 2017 · India-focused mobile messaging service Hike landed funding from Tencent last year, and today it took a major step to emulating the Chinese firm’s WeChat app with the introduction of mobile payments.
The app takes advantage of the built-in GPS in the new Apple Watch Series 2. You can choose a hike of your desired length from a range of nearby routes, get route guidance (including warnings if you.
Plaszow Concentration Camp Location Schindler employed the workers under an arrangement with brutal SS Commander Amon Goeth, who ran a concentration camp at nearby
The tombstone of Sikh martyr Bhai Maharaj Singh Ji, housed at the Silat Road Sikh Temple, holds special significance to the community. The late Maharaj Singh is revered for his bravery and for plannin.
Here’s what I discovered along the way. Advertisement Advertisement Kamino (iOS; free), an urban hiking app that debuted earlier this year, says it’s all about user-generated walking tours which can h.
The first small steps have been in offering an Illinois-based guided hike application for smart phones. The Prairie State Hike App is available for download at the iTunes store for 99 cents. It is pub.
The best way to find bike trails, walking trails and other outdoor activities. Find trail maps, photos, reviews, driving directions and hotels on TrailLink.
Meet Hike, a four-year-old messaging app, that is now valued at an impressive $1.4 billion following its latest $175 million round of funding.
Apple (NasdaqGS: AAPL – news) has backed up last year’s 20% hike in laptop and computer prices with a sharp rise in app costs. The move will mean – for the first time – that there is price parity betw.
App State’s showdown with No. 10 Penn State ended with four fourth-quarter Mountaineers’ touchdowns, an overtime and a game-clinching interception in the Nittany Lions’ 45-38 victory. One word made a constant appearance in the postgame press conferences: respect.
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UPDATES from the campaign trail in Hyndburn ...
00:00, 5 APR 2005
'Don't waste your vote' is parties' united plea - published 29 April
HYNDBURN'S five General Election candidates have entered the final week of campaigning and given electors a united message ... get out and vote.
Although the nominees stand for a variety of clashing policies, they all urged Hyndburn residents to play their part in the democratic process on Thursday.
Labour's Greg Pope, who described the seat as "always very close", said: "Turnout is the key to the election. Last time it was 59 per cent. Very early on in this campaign people were undecided about who to vote for, but that is changing as we get closer to election day. The vote for Labour seems to be firming up but we aren't taking it for granted. We are fighting for every single vote."
Conservative James Mawdsley does not believe voters will show apathy. He said Hyndburn residents know a lot is at stake.
"Both nationally and in Hyndburn, residents understand there are many things to fight for," he said.
"I've been pleased with the feedback on doorsteps. My campaign has gathered its own momentum and many have said they'll vote Conservative. People have generally been very supportive, even approaching me in the street to wish me good luck. The three main issues I have been asked about are health, pensions and pensioners, and education."
Liberal Democrat Bill Greene said disenchanted Labour voters were likely to stay at home, losing their chance to have their say.
He said: "Voters have been impressed with our plans to reform council tax and there have been many positive comments. But I noticed, where voters seemed negative, they were frustrated Labour supporters who probably won't vote.
"I have fears about the safety of postal votes, as have many people, but that wasn't a concern that voters aired during my canvassing."
Chris Jackson, of the BNP, said he was sure Labour would be punished in Hyndburn for the Iraq war.
He said: "The Lib Dems will get the best vote they've ever had here because of the war. We have had good feedback from a lot of people but others swore at us when we spoke to them. But it is important people vote for what they believe in."
Dr John Whittaker said no-one but his own Europe-blasting UK Independence Party had really addressed the issues that matter.
He said: "We've had no negative reaction. Voters know that Europe is the only big, single issue to matter. The other parties have just argued about the tiny things."
The hot potato of immigration - published 22 April
THE hot topic of immigration has made daily headlines since the General Election was called.
With parties embroiled in bitter rows over the issue, we approached all five candidates for their views. Is the current asylum system "out of control" as the Tories have claimed. Or are they merely stoking the flames and trying to capitalise on what has become an emotive issue for many voters?
Labour's plans include the introduction of controversial identity cards, ending the automatic right to bring relatives to the country and implementing an English language test for anyone wanting to live in Britain.
Greg Pope said: "I've been shocked by the way some politicians have sought to play on people's fears about immigration. They are playing with fire because the subject requires a calm, rational debate. The key to good race relations is having a sensible policy."
Conservative proposals include limiting the number of immigrants, processing asylum claims from abroad, setting up 24-hour surveillance at major ports and subjecting immigrants to health checks.
"If immigration is properly controlled it is a win-win situation," said Tory candidate James Mawdsley. "We welcome people who will work and pay tax, and they benefit from the availablility of jobs. In Hyndburn race relations are generally good thanks to the commitment of certain individuals and agencies.
"However, some people are genuinely distressed because it can appear that immigrants receive priority with grants and benefits. Where this is happening, it must stop. And where it's not happening, that message needs to be clearly communicated. I support the policy of an upper limit to immigration."
Liberal Democrat Bill Greene said: "I support the country's tradition of allowing those fleeing persecution into the country. There has been a move to right-wing policies, appealing to the lowest common denominator, and that's a dangerous situation."
Far-right candidate Chris Jackson, of the BNP, said: "The public were never asked if they wanted a multi-racial society. Our policy is a blanket repatriation and for all criminals in jail to be deported as soon as possible. Second and third generation immigrants wouldn't be exempt from deportation. We are victims of social engineering gone wrong."
Dr John Whittaker of UKIP said: "Immigration is out of control. No government will be able to do anything about it unless we withdraw from the European Union."
'OAPs hold the key to victory' - published 15 April
PENSIONERS hold the key to who becomes Hyndburn's next MP.
That is the claim from Age Concern's chief officer, Patrick Collister, who this week urged OAPs to question the borough's four parliamentary candidates about their policies on pensioner poverty, age discrimination and public services.
So we asked the men who will be hoping for your vote on Thursday 5 May for their views.
Labour's Greg Pope, 44, said: "Average pensioners are £29 a week better off since we came to power, and the poorest are £39 better off.
"The £200 allowances for winter fuel and help with council tax are now going to stay in place. There are free TV licences for the over-75s, free prescriptions, which the Tories scrapped, and free off-peak bus travel for the over-60s.
"Taken as a package, pensioners will share in the country's rising prosperity. Pensioners make up more than a quarter of Hyndburn's electorate. We've already done a lot for them but we can do a lot more."
Conservative James Mawdsley, 31, said the party's policies on law and order and juvenile nuisance would benefit the elderly.
"Every group is key to the electorate, but pensioners in particular need our protection and respect," he said.
"Elderly people are fed up with council tax rises and taxes on savings. Pensioners should have an elevated place in society because of their lifetimes of experience and hard work. We shouldn't simply value everything in terms of economic worth and output."
Liberal Democrat Bill Greene, 58, said: "I would want to go further than my party's policies to replace the council tax with a fairer local income tax and fairer pensions.
"There is a real problem with elderly women who have spent time out of work bringing children up and aren't treated fairly through pension provision. Their work as mothers is undervalued. All pensioners deserve to be treated fairly."
British National Party candidate Chris Jackson, 37, said: "We would put pensioners before immigrants. Those who have worked all their lives would get the first crack at the pot. Our policy would be tied in with those on law and order and crime and punishment. We want pensioners to walk the streets feeling safe."
Election fight begins at last - published 8 April
THE countdown to the General Election has finally begun.
This week Prime Minister Tony Blair confirmed the worst-kept secret in politics, that the election will be held on Thursday 5 May.
So the starting pistol has been fired in the race to form the new Government - a race that promises to be one of the closest in years. And with the gloves coming off between the national leaders, campaigning looks likely to be as vicious as ever.
But not so among Hyndburn's three main candidates.
Labour MP Greg Pope said: "It will be a good clean fight about issues that matter to residents. We have agreed as much. It will be amicable.
"A key issue is the economy, which is stable, with unemployment right down and inflation at its lowest for a generation. It's a huge contrast to the boom and bust years of the Conservatives.
"Hard-working families in Hyndburn are better off under Labour and don't want to put that at risk with the Conservatives."
Mr Pope said Labour would deliver a "world-class health service", focus on education and provide more police.
But he acknowledged the controversial war in Iraq, which he voted for, might cost him votes. He said: "It was far and away the most difficult decision I have ever had to make."
Conservative candidate James Mawdsley, 31, promised to shout loud and long for Hyndburn if elected.
He said: "My first role in Parliament would be to fight for Hyndburn residents, whether a Labour or Conservative Government was in power.
"I don't think Hyndburn has had the representation and attention it deserves, it has been overlooked. I am campaigning hard on education, pensions and health issues.
"The feedback so far has been good. Two ladies who used to vote Labour have been handing out my leaflets. But we can take nothing for granted. Anything could happen in this election."
Bill Greene, whose Lib-eral Democrat Party is campaigning for a fairer alternative to the council tax andstressing that it opposed the Iraq war, said: "There is enormous wealth in this country and the right, fair amount isn't coming to Hyndburn.
"The borough has been let down by Labour. I want to improve the chances of everyone in Hyndburn, especially youngsters and pensioners who have contributed so much to society but aren't being repaid."
Nominations for the election close on Tuesday 19 April.
British National Party candidate Chris Jackson said he would be protesting about the loss of manufacturing jobs in Hyndburn.
He said: "It's comparable to Burnley, where people have left and houses are boarded up. I will also be campaigning on immigration, asylum and crime and punishment."
He added that the BNP believed in bringing back capital punishment.
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Home / Daily Briefs / 2019 / 16 / Fonplata approves infrastructure funding for Argentina
Fonplata approves infrastructure funding for Argentina
May 16, 2019 | Toni Baini
Regional development bank provides $120m for hospital and road projects in the country's provinces
Loans Project & Infrastructure Finance Economy & Policy Funds Argentina
Fonplata has approved $120m in financing for a regional infrastructure program in Argentina, the country's finance ministry said in a statement.
The Argentine government will use the money to build a new hospital in the city of Chilecito in the province of La Rioja and also add nine operating rooms to the Hospital Escuela General José F. de San Martín in Corrientes.
It will also use the money to build a new access road to the Puerto de Barranqueras in Chaco and add access roads to Ruta Nacional No. 7 in Rivadavia, Junín and San Martín.
The loan will go to a government-run fund for infrastructure investments in the provinces. The fund has now received $1.02bn Fonplata, CAF and the IDB, according to the finance ministry.
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Contact Made: Liverpool in talks to sign 'outstanding' £10m star who rejected 'Man Utd'
Liverpool are reportedly in transfer talks with one of Klopp's long-term left-back targets.
According to Italian newspaper Corriere Dello Sport today:
"Liverpool want Schalke left back Sead Kolašinac, and the Reds are in contact with Koplasinac over a possible transfer in the summer".
Liverpool have been linked with Kolasinac several times in recent months, but according to Schalke director Christian Heidl this week:
"Nothing changed from some days ago. Sead is still on a deal with us. We want to keep him with us, he's not going anywhere else before June, so there's nothing more to say about it".
Some info about Kolasinac, hailed as 'outstanding' by ex-Schalke boss Jens Keller:
* Left-back, who can also play as a DM, and a centre-back. Played alongside Liverpool defender Joel Matip at Schalke.
* Apr 2014: Kolasinac admitted that he he had an 'offer from Man Utd' (which he rejected).
* Apr 2016: Talksport claimed: "Kolasinac has been watched several times by Liverpool and an offer is expected".
Klopp is well aware of £10m-rated Kolasinac from his Bundesliga days, and given the fact he played alongside Joel Matip for 4 years, a transfer appears to make sense. It's also not beyond realm of possibility that Matip has recommended Kolasinac to Liverpool.
Schalke lost millions by allowing Matip to leave for free, and if Kolasinac leaves in the summer, history will repeat itself. Can Liverpool beat out Man City, though, who are also reportedly interested? The lure of Guardiola is undeniable, but Kolasinac will (arguably) have more chances of regular game time at Anfield.
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When the stakes are high, 21’ folds
Nick Rogers
Mar 26, 2008 at 12:01 AM Mar 26, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Casual, cool and compelling in its first hour, “21” adapts the story of real-life college mathletes counting cards at Las Vegas blackjack tables. (It’s based on Ben Mezrich’s nonfiction book “Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas For Millions.”)
Reducing gambling to mathematical mechanisms that beat blackjack is an idea clearly illustrated with wry humor from Peter Steinfeld and Allan Loeb’s script. Also, director Robert Luketic (“Legally Blonde”) glides his camera through Sin City’s glitz with a breezy confidence.
Yet “21” could use a shot of urban-legend oxygen that casinos pump on the floor in its dragging second half. It’s stacked with switcheroos that can be seen as far away as the old Strip, idiotic strategies spurred only by product placement and the usual sudden stupidity of smart people.
Ben Campbell (Jim Sturgess) is a star senior at M.I.T. with a lifelong dream of attending Harvard Medical School, but with the inability to bankroll the $300,000 it will take. To get a crucial scholarship, Ben must go beyond his dime-a-dozen academic career to really jump off the page.
The previous year, the scholarship Ben seeks went to a one-legged Korean student. He’s not the only Asian character “21” cuts off at the knees. The real-life students mostly were Asian-Americans, but “21” whitewashes its cast and disappointingly lumps its only major Asian actors (Aaron Yoo and Liza Lapira) into one-note designations as the team’s kleptomaniac and a slot-playing “loser.”
Following his role in last year’s “Across the Universe,” the British-born Sturgess has a leading man’s looks (Tobey Maguire meets Ewan McGregor) but not much of an insistent presence. He has the wide-eyed simpleton routine down cold. Yet his breathy, jittery voice often feels more like a Bobcat Goldthwait warm-up than the realistic nervousness of a man struggling with his future.
So what is Ben, a meek 21-year-old working at a menswear shop and building a self-driving car with nerdy pals (Josh Gad, Sam Golzari), to do in his attempt to dazzle? Leave that to Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey, also a producer), a persuasive professor who brings Ben to a backroom club where he’s teaching students the how and when of which blackjack tables are hot enough to rake in cash. It’s not illegal, only discouraged, and it’s illustrious, but only if cool heads avoid detection.
Ben sees a get-in, get-out fix to his cash-flow woes and becomes the team’s new “big player,” a main moneymaker who scopes out signals from spotters to pilfer a table for all it’s worth. He also finds a romantic in with Jill Taylor (an underused Kate Bosworth), a hot teammate he’s pined for.
Yet it’s not long before the allure of anonymity and the natural high of winning clouds Ben’s focus. Soon he’s alienating his friends, losing his command at the tables and landing on the radar of Cole Williams (Laurence Fishburne), a Vegas vet of loss prevention not above using his fists for work.
Part of “21’s” problem as it ups its stakes is that it’s about as dangerous and sexy as a $1-minimum keno game. When Ben and Jill get busy, it’s timid, with silly Bellagio fountain symbolism. Both Cole and Micky (whose nasty side comes out) feel like autopilot characters from Fishburne and Spacey, neither working to his top level. And the only conceivable reason the team goes to Planet Hollywood so often (even after being burned) is that the casino ponied up tie-in money.
Just approach this mildly tantalizing timewaster about wish fulfillment with the same cautions and expectations as a blackjack table at the Palms: Know the returns will be impossibly high before they gradually drag down and expect that breaking even is about the best result possible.
2 ½ stars
Nick Rogers can be reached at nick.rogers@sj-r.com. Read his blog, Unpainted Huffhines, at blogs.sj-r.com/unpaintedhuffhines.
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iOS 10 Carrier Updates Causing Issues for T-Mobile Users in U.S., Telstra Users in Australia
Thursday September 15, 2016 6:50 AM PDT by Joe Rossignol
The combination of upgrading to iOS 10 and installing the latest carrier updates appears to be causing issues for some T-Mobile and Telstra customers in the United States and Australia respectively, crowdsourced information suggests.
A number of T-Mobile and MetroPCS customers claim that once their iPhone loses service temporarily, the device is unable to reestablish a cellular connection unless it is fully restarted or network settings are reset. The issue appears to have started after the latest 25.1 carrier update on iPhones running iOS 10.
MacRumors reader GCHASE1995:
Anyone on T-Mobile that has done the carrier update to 25.1, have you been getting no service? I can't get service at all. I can get it, if I reset network settings. Then if I lose service I can't get it back.
Reddit user Hitokill:
I am in the same boat as many others. If I can stay connected to the LTE network the 25.1 update is fine. However, I work in a building with certain areas that have no coverage. Once I walk in those areas and lose signal, then walk to an area where I normally have full bars I can't get it back on no matter what I do (hard reset, Airplane Mode, etc...) The only fix I found was going into settings and Reset Network Settings. Totally sucks but that is basically what I have to do. T-Mobile rep said he did something on his end too, but didn't fix the issue when it came back.
Meanwhile, several Telstra customers in Australia report that Visual Voicemail no longer works after updating to iOS 10 and installing the latest carrier update. "I have no indication that a voicemail has been left and nothing shows up in the voicemail section," wrote one user. "Voicemails are definitely being left though."
It is unclear if Apple is aware of these issues, but they will likely be resolved in a future software or carrier update.
Tags: T-Mobile, Telstra
ovo6
That's why I have att :p
Makosuke
Now who's to blame here?
Apple is probably already "investigating". As usual. Something they prefer over testing prior to rollout.
T-Mobile is to blame.
Of all the things on an iPhone, the only part that Apple doesn't have control of is the carrier. If T-Mobile pushes out bad settings and there's something wrong with them, that's no more Apple's fault than an app in the app store being buggy. Less than even most there, in fact, since the bug only appears when interacting with an external piece of hardware (the cell tower), at that.
That said, it certainly isn't everyone--I'm on T-Mobile and both of the phones in my house seem fine.
BeauGiles
A Telstra employee replied ('http://whrl.pl/ReIo1X') in that Whirlpool thread, confirming they are aware of it, and it's not limited to iOS 10.
Just a update – we've narrowed the issue down and it is not specific to iOS 10, we've found it on users with iOS 9 as well. Still working to address it.
willdude
Finally acknowledged by T-Mobile, fix on the way...
https://twitter.com/TMobile/status/776466023193030657
sbailey4
This is happening to me. It won't automatically reconnect to the network after losing signal. I also updated through iTunes. I'm hoping T-Mobile rectifies this soon. I don't want to have to revert to 9.3.5.
Reverting to 9.3.5 will not resolve it. Its a carrier update not iOS.
TMRJIJ
And they will claim that only a tiny insignificant amount of users were affected. As usual.
Carrier update not Apple update. It's T-mobile's burden to fix.
CEmajr
Randomly happened to me yesterday. Just totally lost cellular connectivity. It came back on after a phone call though.
Did you stop to think that iOS10 may not be handling new carrier settings correctly? Not sure if any other carrier has pushed new settings since iOS10 or if T-Mobile is the first to do so. But please, continue with your absolute statement.
It's certainly possible, but seems unlikely, since it would mean that iOS10 was able to read and apply the new carrier settings, but somehow goofed them up during installation such that they still function but have bugs.
More to the point, I would hope that T-Mobile actually tests new carrier setting rollout before making them live, so even if that were true I would expect them to have caught this and reported it to Apple while testing these new setting pushed out to iOS10 during the GM period, and held off making it live to everyone in their customer base until the bug was fixed.
It doesn't matter whether the actual bug is in iOS or the settings, T-Mobile is responsible for making sure those settings are going to work with whatever OSes they're pushing them to.
Now, maybe I'm wrong and Apple doesn't let major carriers test OTA settings rollout until they're pushing them live to several million customers, but that would kind of surprise me.
Or maybe they don't let carriers test OTA settings rollout on beta OSes, but in that case I don't see why T-Mobile wouldn't have waited until the OS was released and they could test it properly before pushing it to all customers.
Or, heck, maybe the carrier settings are entirely done in-house by Apple. That would make it Apple's fault, not T-Mobile's, although again, it would surprise me.
And I say this as a T-Mobile customer. If it's an uncommon bug maybe they just didn't stumble upon whatever combination of local and cell tower hardware and software triggers it, and I'm not going to get too worked up if they resolve it quickly, but it's their responsibility to make sure it works.
[Edit: Although T-Mobile seems to be claiming that the problem is universally with iOS10 and has nothing to do with the carrier update, which would be a different situation. Still a weird situation, though--why wouldn't they have caught this bug with the GM unless it's extremely rare, and why would Telstra be claiming that it's universally a problem with the settings, not the OS, unless their problem is completely different and just has coincidental timing?]
Tubamajuba
Many issues usually do only affect a small amount of users, but either way- it's all Apple's fault. Because everything bad that's ever happened anywhere is Apple's fault.
dominiongamma
T-Mobile definitely affected - have major issues even texting, hugely disappointed.
Really? My service is working just fine, wonder if it's area thing?
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Lawyer: 17 wounded in prison where US-Nicaraguan man killed
MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) — Seventeen people who were arrested in previous anti-government protests were wounded in a prison disturbance in which a 57-year-old Nicaraguan-American dual national was shot dead, a lawyer for several inmates said Friday.
Provided by the Nicaraguan National Police, prisoners detained and imprisoned during the recent uprisings against the government of President Daniel Ortega, are shown to the press in Managua, Nicaragua. At left is Eddy Antonio Montes Praslin, who was killed on Thursday, May 16, 2019, by a bullet in a prison north of the capital amid disturbances that left six prison officials injured, Nicaragua's interior ministry said. (Nicaraguan National Police via AP)
Attorney Yonarqui Martínez also said three student protest leaders were among those hurt, and alleged that Eddy Montes Praslin was shot in the back and "murdered." "There is proof of this, no legitimate defense exists," Martínez said via Twitter.
Nicaraguan authorities have accused the inmates of causing "a serious disturbance" Thursday at La Modelo prison north of the capital, Managua. President Daniel Ortega's government reported Montes' death and said six prison workers had been injured, but did not say anything about inmates being hurt.
U.S. Ambassador Kevin Sullivan expressed sadness at Montes' death and said he met with his family Friday and conveyed the U.S. government's condolences. "They deserve a comprehensive and credible account of this unjustifiable use of lethal force against an unarmed political prisoner," Sullivan said via Twitter. He met with Nicaragua foreign minister Denis Moncada and demanded a full investigation into the incident.
A U.S. State Department official reiterated the government's call for the release of all political prisoners. "The lack of justice for these prisoners and for the hundreds of innocent civilians killed by Ortega's security and parapolice forces show the regime's utter disregard for human life and democratic freedoms," the official said.
Worried family members gathered outside La Modelo on Friday seeking information about their loved ones. "They tell us everything is calm, but we cannot believe that when there was a death," said Jacqueline Valdivia, mother of student leader Nahiroby Olivas, one of those listed as wounded.
Authorities later allowed a group of mothers inside. Emerging they described finding their sons bruised, wounded and broken, and said they had not been hospitalized. "All the boys are totally wrecked," said Yesenia Estrada, the mother of Byron Corea Estrada, another student leader. Estrada alleged that guards used not only bullets but rifle bayonets against the prisoners.
The government has said prisoners rushed guards inside the facility and struggled with one of them "with clear intentions of taking away his service weapon," and Montes was shot in the melee. Contradicting that account, Valdivia said the disturbance started when guards insulted several prisoners in the recreation yard. In the exchange of words, a guard fired from a tower which led others to attack the prisoners, she said.
Corporacion radio, a station critical of Ortega's government, said four people were in serious condition from gunshot wounds and attributed the injuries to armed police and guards. Corporacion published photos apparently taken in the prison yard showing bandaged men with bruises, welts, black eyes and cuts on the head, face, arms and back, as well as spent shell casings and used tear gas canisters.
Martínez said the disturbance took place in a section of La Modelo that holds hundreds of people whom the opposition and human rights groups say are political prisoners who were arrested for opposing the government. Ortega officials allege that opposition protests were tantamount to an attempted coup and have called the demonstrators "terrorists."
The International Committee of the Red Cross, which had personnel inside the lockup at the time, confirmed the existence of wounded prisoners but has offered few details about what happened. The ICRC said that prison officials had asked it to mediate a problematic situation in several cellblocks, and that it had facilitated the exit of wounded prisoners who were treated by prison medical staff.
Montes, a U.S. citizen, was arrested last November and accused of terrorism, aggravated robbery, illegal possession of weapons and disruption of public order. According to Nicaraguan local media, authorities alleged he had looted a police clinic and robbed and burned city hall in the northern city of Matagalpa.
La Prensa newspaper said Montes was known to fellow prisoners as "the pastor" for performing nighttime religious services. Some young people staged a small protest on property of the Managua Cathedral; police deployed patrols and riot officers around the area.
The incident is the latest chapter in over a year of political crisis. Protests against social security reforms began in April 2018 and grew in scope to demand Ortega's exit from office and early elections. The demonstrations were put down forcibly by security forces and armed, pro-government militias, with at least 325 people killed in the crackdown, more than 2,000 wounded and over 52,000 who fled the country, according to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
The government and the opposition opened talks on resolving the crisis in February, but those have stalled and there has been little consensus on issues such as the release of jailed protesters.
Shootings,
Violent crime,
Kevin M. Sullivan,
Nicaragua,
Central America,
Latin America and Caribbean,
U.S. Department of State,
Megan Rapinoe Equal Pay
Storm Area 51
AOC vs. Nancy Pelosi
Savannah Spurlock Case
Nicaragua releases 50 prisoners to house arrest
Nicaragua talks on crisis begin, dozens of prisoners freed
Mothers of slain Nicaraguan students unite to seek justice
APNewsBreak: US condemns 'broken' Alabama prison system
Ortega rep: 'Every effort' being made in Nicaragua talks
Pokémon Go New System
Qualcomm Smartphone Chip
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Review: Hammers Of Misfortune - The Locust Years
www.hammersofmisfortune.com
The Locust Years
Label: Cruz Del Sur Music
Genre: Unclassifiable
Review online: October 24, 2010
Reviewed by: Adam Kohrman
Rated 3.81/5 (76.25%) (16 Votes)
Hearing Mike Scalzi's voice is like home. It's comforting in an odd, relaxing way. In the same way that returning home eradicates worry from your mind, Scalzi's gnarling squeal does the same. Even if he isn't the main creative force behind the project, like on Hammers of Misfortune's third album The Locust Years (where, as always, fellow Slough Feg axeman John Cobbett handles the inspiration), hearing him wail is a calming force after a tough day at work. Once again, on The Locust Years, Hammers of Misfortune make an engaging and unclassifiable album. It's far out in left field, but undeniably HoM.
Like the previous albums, The Locust Years a collection of songs that feel loosely connected, either in sound or theme. Many of these songs are about power and how those in power treat the "common people." The album alternates between twangy distorted guitar parts fronted by Scalzi to softer, acoustic passages led by the voices of Jamie Myers and Sigrid Sheie. This is where HoM avoid the pitfalls that so many other bands fall into. These transitions from eclectic, eccentric heaviness to soothing, almost wondrous passages are never jarring or awkward. They pull it off with ease. It's this meshing together of styles, --and often styles that are already unique to Hammers of Misfortune-- that makes them such a great band.
Some of the songs on The Locust Years rank among the best of the band's career. "Trot Out the Dead" is the immediate standout, as it's catchy and straightforward. As good as it is, there is a lot of stuff going on on this album. "War Anthem" is a groovy, space rocky tune that almost sounds like Manilla Road met Pantera, with a dash of Jimi Hendrix. Then there's the complex instrumental "Election Day" with its countless crescendos and diminuendos, all backed by the album's ubiquitous but tastefully used church organ. Each song here is connected to every other song, all coalescing into one very strong and quirky album.
This may not be as powerfully enigmatic as the rest of Hammers of Misfortune's catalogue, as it becomes slightly limp or shapeless every once in a while. Though you cannot deny the prowess of the bold instrumentation and experimentation with genre.
2010 re-issue on Metal Blade Records reviewed here.
Review: 17th Street (reviewed by Christopher Foley)
Review: Fields/Church of Broken Glass (reviewed by Adam Kohrman)
Review: Fields/Church of Broken Glass (reviewed by Hermer Arroyo)
Review: The August Engine (reviewed by Adam Kohrman)
Review: The August Engine (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Review: The Bastard (reviewed by Adam Kohrman)
Review: The Locust Years (reviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
Interview with JC on February 28, 2004 (Interviewed by Sargon the Terrible)
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Makeup & Male-To-Female Transition: A Look At How Beauty And Gender Coincide
Marlyn Alarm is a singer from Miami, Fla., undergoing formal gender transition after living a full year living as a woman. But her struggle with identity is not a new one.
“Today I was asked when I realized I was in the wrong body. As much as it took me a really long time to come to terms with it, I think I have known since I can remember—since I could even think about gender or notice it. I was thinking about when I was in pre-K ,and I would dress up as Cinderella and do girl things. If I decided to wear a dress or roleplay as a princess, my teachers would tell me I couldn’t do it because I was a boy. So when you have everyone in your life telling you that you’re a boy, you kind of start to believe it, even though none of it comes naturally to you.
It’s been a journey in many ways impacted by her experience with and use of makeup along the way.
My transition has been a very gradual, very cerebral process. For a lot of people, it’s very easy to reduce gender to bodies, and that’s terrible. So to answer that question that I was asked today, I realized I was a woman after I was already living as a woman for about a year or so. Before that, I had this platinum blond hair, acrylics, and would dress in skirts, and wear purses—but I still identified as male. I was open-minded enough, growing up, to think that even if my outward appearance was female, I could still be male. If you read enough queer theory, you realize any sort of conjunction is possible. There are boys who want experience life as women but still be boys, and that’s valid.
I never understood why people would think that men couldn’t be as beautiful as women, so for a long time I didn’t have a word for myself. I was like, ‘I’m not a boy but I can’t let myself be a woman.’ So at the time I was like, ‘OK, I’ll be something else.’ It was weird for me, and in some ways, my thinking allowed me to keep putting off how I felt inside by just covering it up with this cerebral explanation.
[blockquote author=”” pull=”normal”]There is a lot of psychological tension in trying to discuss anything with gender identity.[/blockquote]
I used to wear a lot more makeup. I fucking love Boy George, and I would put on that amount of makeup—like Boy George amounts of makeup. My eyeliner would like reach my hairline. I would go really crazy with it. I would try to overcompensate. Now I’m much more toned down, but I feel like all girls have that phase when experimenting with makeup for the first time. Though, if I started off putting on the amount of makeup I wear now, I knew I would just look like who I really am, and I think I was just not ready for that.
I was 14 years old when I got my first taste of makeup. I was in a band as the lead singer and we were playing one of our first shows. At that point all I could get away with was straightening my hair maybe once a month. So yeah, I was at my first show, and I remember finding a Revlon retractable black eyeliner in the bathroom. I put it on my waterline, not even thinking about the fact that I could get an eye infection as I picked it up off the floor—it was disgusting. I guess the cool thing about being in a band is that there is so much more freedom. There’s the classic ‘Dude (Looks Like A Lady)‘-feel. I felt like I could wear the eyeliner, and no one would care because I was at a rock show. Then I wore it again to a crowd that was more of a hardcore scene, and it wasn’t a cool experience. They were screaming at me to get off the stage and calling me the F word. I was just like, ‘Wow, OK.’ I was 15 at that point. It was a terrible wake up call to me, all because I was wearing eyeliner—it’s not that big of a deal, and yet, people are already policing me for not performing this gender that I’m pretending to be. Obviously I was doing a shitty job at performing male. Sometimes I tell people that I really feel like I was in drag for over a decade, in the sense of performing male gender roles. I’d end the night and make sure to wipe off my eyeliner before I got home.
I had really bad acne in high school, so I’d get away with wearing coverall and that’s it. Still, my mother would look at me from her bed—I did, and still do, my makeup in her room because it has the best lighting—and be like, ‘What are you doing?’ I used to tell my mom like, ‘Don’t worry! I’ll never wear mascara!’ But it all happens…100 YouTube tutorials later you emerge in full face [Laughs].
I always admired makeup. I’d watch my grandma doing her makeup, and she’d always be put together. She would tell me that photos are forever, you can’t take it lightly, and you have to perfect it. Little things like that really stuck with me. Without my mother’s permission, I dyed my hair platinum blonde as a teenager. Having white hair changes your life, regardless of gender identity. It is a really crazy experience. You learn about so many different sides of people and how they perceive you—it’s crazy. It was motivation, I guess, and it was the first instance of feeling like I can’t hide myself.
I was really obsessed with Final Fantasy at the time, especially the Final Fantasy villains. If you really look at a Final Fantasy villain and analyze it, it’s a female head on a male body. I felt connected to the possibility of being really pretty, even if my body didn’t match up—there was a chance for the head portion to be on-point and consistent with how I view myself. After that, I started really diving into makeup as identity. Beauty can be a big deal for all girls, but beauty for a trans girl could be life-or-death. There’s moments when you could be placed in danger for not passing as a woman convincingly enough. One time I was walking with my friend and a guy was trying to holler at me, then he took out a knife. Makeup is much more serious to trans women. Even cis girls can relate—they get attacked and bullied in schools, growing up, because they’re not pretty enough.
I really feel bad for a lot of trans people and trans women who don’t have the experience [with makeup] before they come into themselves and have to learn to do their makeup in no time. They’re 35, they have kids, and they need to transition then—that’s the bravest thing ever. That’s not to say that I think people transitioning later in life necessarily need to wear makeup to be who they are. I just identified with it. The way I did it was just like how every girl picks up makeup skills—where your mom is like, ‘You can only put on lipgloss.’ You need time to practice, so it looks good. I used to just have these Zen three-hour makeup sessions. Of course, during the day I just wear tinted moisturizer, concealer, and maybe mascara. Sometimes I’ll do a wing, but just a little bit on the outer edge. But at night…at night is when I’d really take my time. I’d do my makeup from 7pm to 10pm and go out at midnight.
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Remember These 16 YouTubers — They're the Celebrity Superstars of Tomorrow
By Sophie Kleeman and Jack Smith IV
Forget Beyoncé and Taylor Swift — their fame is old news. The next generation of celebrities are springing forth from YouTube, and they're bringing their massive fanbases and endorsement deals with them.
YouTube stars have managed to turn the seemingly monotonous and banal — video diaries of their daily lives, makeup tutorials, comedy routines — into viewership gold. Personalities like Jenna Marbles, PewDiePie and Smosh are taking over, complete with big-budget movies coming out this summer.
Those guys have already arrived. Their names are on the tip of every teen's tongue. But what about the up-and-comers? The stars who are just beginning to blow up? We put together a guide to the next generation of celebrity, the superstars of tomorrow. Remember their names, because you're going to be seeing a lot more of them.
1. Hartbeat
Hart is a brash and boldly funny comedian who vlogs about being black, gay and excellent. She's been at it for years, and has slowly amassed a following that shows for her everywhere she goes — even when she's spending her off-hours streaming on Twitch and YouTube, going one-on-one with commenters and fans, or wearing nothing but a watermelon. Yep, you read that right.
Watch her if you like: Outspoken comedy paired with serious topics
2. Anna Akana
Anna Akana is a comedian, filmmaker and vlogger who's running a whole host of hustles. Not only does she produce short films, run a clothing line and host live events, but Akana also does the diligence of recording her feelings about her own fame, including a breakdown of how she makes her living as a YouTube personality and a video turning the tables on those who've called her a sellout.
Watch her if you like: When Comedy Central's select skits show up incidentally on in your Facebook Timeline
3. and 4. A Gay in the Life
A Gay in the Life is an attempt by two guys named Will and R.J. to show that being in a gay relationship isn't the hyper-sexualized drama the media wants it to be. They update their channel daily, pulling in an enormous number of viewers for what is essentially a day-in-the-life comedy with very long episodes.
Watch them if you like: Dispelling Hollywood stereotypes
5. Meghan McCarthy
Meghan McCarthy may have the most memorable voice on YouTube. She sounds like Tinkerbell on acid, and listening to it is eerily addictive — you can't stop, because you want to see if she keeps it up. (As her website notes, "I'm older than I sound.") She's also big on Vine, and she's appeared in numerous commercials, including ads for Coca Cola and Pringles. Her videos are of the comedic, light-hearted variety — reading mean comments or things that make her happy, or palling around with HGTV's Property Brothers.
Watch her if you like: Laughing as your friends inhale helium
6. Skylynn Floyd
Part of the illustrious Grier clan, Skylynn and her brothers Nash, Will and Hayes have become something akin to YouTube's First Family. Skylynn is the youngest of the bunch by far, but she's already climbing her way up to the level of her brothers: The 6-year-old has almost 200,000 YouTube subscribers and more than 9 million views. Her videos touch on about what you'd expect a small child's would: a "throwback Thursday" post of her trying her first lollipop, having fun with chickens and holiday greetings. (Her breakout video also featured her making some bizarrely uncomfortable comments about women, but let's hope she grows out of that.)
Watch her if you like: Any of the other Griers, because they make frequent appearances in her vlogs
7. Thomas Sanders
You've probably seen Sanders from the many compilations of his Vine pranks, but like any enterprising multiplatform Internet Brand, Sanders is also building out his YouTube presence. Though he's far more Vine-famous, we'll see if he can translate those brief comedic flourishes into a longer format.
Watch him if you like: Watching never-ending strings of Vine compilations on YouTube
8. Akilah Hughes
Hughes brings together social commentary, Q&A sessions and humorous takes on current events, like her "2015 Flu Review," in a channel called Smoothiefreak. She's also an active writer and tweeter — she blogs for Fusion, Femsplain, HelloGiggles and Refinery29 — and a comedian to boot. But she's been on YouTube since its early days in 2006.
Watch her if you like: Sharp, funny observations about hot topics, or tipsy book reviews
9. Matthias
"I make videos to make you laugh," Matthias says in his introductory trailer. With over 500,000 subscribers and 61 million views and nearly $900 per month in Patreon funding alone, the blond, bespectacled performer is doing his artistic family proud. His videos run the gamut from sketches, comedy and music videos to "epic" parodies, and he also co-hosts another channel, called Matt & Amanda, with his wife — you guessed it — Amanda.
Watch him if you like: Your friendly neighborhood hipster doing standup at the coffee shop
10. Strawburry17
Strawburry17 is like taking Epic Meal Time and trading out the biceps, bacon and booze for emojis, gummy candy and video games. She's got a small team behind her working on the Strawburry17 channel and the Lifeburry, her more personal video blog.
Watch her if you like: Attack of the Show, if G4 had ever really worked out
11. Casey Neistat
Casey Neistat is a vlogger and creative producer whose work has pulled in headline after headline — like when he purposefully rode his bicycle into cars and trucks in NYC's bike lanes, or spray-painted his Apple Watch gold, or took a hatchet to his least-favorite camera, or announced his wife was pregnant. Up next: an app.
Watch him if you like: Bam Margera, minus the violence, plus a little design brilliance
12. and 13. Allison Raskin and Gaby Dunn
Dunn and Raskin answer all your questions, covering everything from anal sex to life goals. These best friends are refreshingly frank: "How do you become happy? That's not a tangible goal," Dunn laments in one. "God, I'd love to be a basic bitch. They seem happy," Raskin says shortly after. They're like the girls from high school you wished you were friends with but were also slightly intimidated by — because they were always funnier than you.
Watch them if you like: Amy Poehler and Tina Fey
14. Brodie Smith
Smith's videos are bro catnip: crazy ultimate frisbee moves in various bro-friendly settings, like sand dunes and football fields, and compilation videos of crazy "trick shots" (and kissing hot girls for good measure). These viral videos helped catapult Smith from Internet dweller to real-life athlete, but his YouTube channel is still going strong. With over a million followers, he's on his way to the level of fellow athletic stuntmen Dude Perfect.
Watch him if you like: Asking your friends, "Have you seen this?"
15. Fun for Louis
Louis is a YouTube travel vlogger and dreadlocked globetrotter who shows off foreign countries and exotic destinations "not as a tourist, but a nomad, an explorer, a global citizen." Louis mixes FOMO-enhancing adventurism with Casey Neistat's jazzy, hand-held style. He's like a "not all who wander are lost" Instagram earth-porn meme come to life.
Watch him if you like: The Amazing Race, or the golden days of Survivor.
16. Peakmill
Peakmill is a frequent YouTuber whose videos focus on beauty, hair and fashion. She also runs a website for where customers can order wigs. Many of her videos are set to music and coach viewers on how she gets ready; they also include product descriptions for easy access. Her vibrant and dramatic eye makeup might throw some shrinking violets for a loop, but by the end of her videos she'll have you convinced that you too can pull off electric-blue eyeshadow.
Watch her if you like: Makeup tutorials that feature good tunes — and more interesting things than simple contouring
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Publish Date May 9, 2019
Five Star CEO: Restructuring is ‘permanent solution’
Five Star Senior Living President and CEO Katie Potter.
The restructuring agreement signed in April with Senior Housing Properties Trust “is a permanent solution” to the financial woes of Five Star Senior Living, President and CEO Katie Potter said Wednesday during the company’s first-quarter earnings call.
“We will be one of the most financially stable senior operators of size in the country and without the cloud of financial uncertainty under which we have an operating,” she said. “We’ll be able to focus on providing an exceptional experience for our residents, clients and team members and evolving our service offerings to meet the changing needs of older adults.”
The agreement in part will see Five Star and Senior Housing Properties Trust entering into new management agreements for 261 senior living communities that Five Star leases and operates. (Read more about the agreement here.)
Five Star shareholders will vote on the deal “before the end of the summer,” Potter said, adding that Senior Housing Properties Trust, ABP Trust, Five Star and RMR Advisors, collectively representing more than 50% of shares, plan to vote in favor of it.
In the meantime, she said, Five Star has seen improvements in year-over-year occupancy and average rates as well as a decrease in turnover.
Eight communities received the J.D. Power Senior Living Community Certification in the first quarter, bringing the total to 11 Five Star communities that have earned it, Potter said.
“While our goal is to continue to add to the number of Five Star communities that receive its valued certification, our primary focus is to drive operational excellence consistent with the over 170 J.D. Power operational best practices,” she said.
2019 will be a “transformational year” for the company, Potter said.
“While the restructuring of our business arrangement with SNH is the long-term solution to our financial challenges, it is only the first step in our transformation,” she said.
Five Star agreement is ‘best possible solution’ to financial issues, SNH says
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Close more info about Five Star CEO: Restructuring is ‘permanent solution’
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Kansas AG appeals Shawnee County District Court decisions stalling telemedicine abortion ban
Tim Carpenter TimVCarpenter
Attorney General Derek Schmidt moved to appeal Friday a district court judge's ruling on telemedicine abortions that intertwined three state laws enacted years apart and a pair of lawsuits filed by different plaintiffs.
The Republican attorney general took aim at Shawnee County District Court Judge Franklin Theis' decision to block implementation of a 2018 statute intended to prevent physicians from remotely prescribing by video conference the pills required by women to end pregnancies.
In that same Dec. 31 decision, the judge said an injunction issued in 2011 in an earlier lawsuit also prohibited enforcement of a 2015 state law designed to inhibit telemedicine abortions in Kansas. The judge said he was unmoved by work of the 2018 Legislature, and referred to the new version as an "air ball."
Schmidt appealed the judge's response to the 2018 statute and filed a motion to dissolve the injunction tied to the ongoing 2011 lawsuit. In documents filed by the attorney general, he said the state "does not believe, and has never agreed, that the 2011 injunction applies to the 2015 statute."
"In our view," Schmidt said, "the 2015 statute that passed the Legislature with overwhelming bipartisan majorities has never had its proper day in court, yet the court has now concluded that statute is enjoined from operation. We are perplexed how the court reached this conclusion in a case challenging the 2018 law."
The attorney general said unusual circumstances led to a plea for the Kansas Court of Appeals or the district court, or both, to sort through the legal quagmire.
In 2017, about 4,000 medication abortions were reported to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
The Center for Reproductive Rights on behalf of Trust Women Wichita, which operates a clinic that performs abortions and provides other health care services, filed the lawsuit contesting the 2018 telemedicine ban. The clinic began offering clients telemedicine abortions in October.
In the lawsuit, the Center for Reproductive Rights argued the Kansas ban on telemedicine abortions was contrary to the Kansas Constitution.
Bills restricting access to abortion adopted by the GOP-led Legislature and signed by Republican governors had the blessing of Kansas for Life, which expressed frustration with Theis' rulings on telemedicine abortions.
Read more here: https://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article223810200.html#storylink=cpy
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U.S. & Canada
Market Extra
Dow sees important change to how it’s calculated
Published: Sept 6, 2017 2:20 a.m. ET
The new Dow divisor is now 0.145233969
This isn’t how the Dow’s average is calculated.
MarkDeCambre
The owner of the 121-year-old Dow Jones Industrial Average has tweaked an important component of the blue-chip gauge on Friday: its divisor.
The so-called divisor, or in this case multiplier, is the figure used to determine the influence of any of the 30 components that make up the price-weighted Dow industrials DJIA, +0.10% The Dow isn’t exactly an average of its components, as its name might imply; instead, the value of the Dow is determined by calculating the sum of the prices of its components using a divisor that factors when a company splits its shares. Stock splits can swing the balance of influence for any one blue-chip component.
The new divisor is now 0.145233969 from 0.146021281 In other words, a $1 price move in any Dow component translates to a price swing of 6.8854 from 6.8483 points.
Read: NYSE seeks delay in filing market-moving information after market close
On Friday, the divisor changed for the first time in about two years because of the consummation of a “merger of equals” between Dow Chemical Co. DOW, +2.45% and DuPont & Co. DD, +0.59% which is a Dow component. That combination wrapped up Thursday, with shares of the new entity, DowDuPont US:DWDP trading on the New York Stock Exchange Friday under the ticker symbol “DWDP.”
S&P Dow Jones Indices said the change was intended to not “cause any disruption in the level of the index. S&P Dow Jones Indices is a joint venture of S&P Global and CME Group CME, -0.70%
The last time the divisor was changed was in December 2015, when Dow component Nike Inc NKE, +0.40% completed a 2-for-1 stock split.
On Friday, the Dow was trading 0.3% higher, up 0.3% at 22,016. The S&P 500 SPX, +0.02% and the Nasdaq Composite Index COMP, +0.17% also were trading in the green, near record territory for the both benchmarks.
Here’s when some past divisor changes have occurred:
· Jan 1, 2002: 0.144521
· June 3, 2002: 0.14445222
· Aug. 21, 2002: 0.14418073
· Nov. 19, 2002: 0.14585278
· Feb. 18, 2003: 0.14279922
· Sept. 30, 2003: 0.13500289
· April 8, 2004: 0.14090166
· June 13, 2005: 0.13033708
· July 14, 2005: 0.12560864
· Oct. 3, 2005: 0.12493117
· April 2, 2007: 0.123051408
· June 13, 2007: 0.123017848
· Feb. 19, 2008: 0.122834016
· Sept. 22, 2008: 0.125552709
· June 8, 2009: 0.132319125
· July 2, 2010: 0.132129493
· March 19, 2015: 0.14985889
· Dec. 24, 2015: 0.146021281
· Sept. 1, 2017: 0.145233969
See: August jobs data is crucial test for U.S. dollar
Dow sinks 602 points as the stock market contends with a fresh threat: a rising dollar
Aurora stock falls as earnings show cannabis company’s investments are still the big earners
Mark DeCambre
Mark DeCambre is MarketWatch's markets editor. He is based in New York. Follow him on Twitter @mdecambre.
NY Stock Exchange
+27.13 +0.10%
Dow Jones Industrial Average Dow Jones Global: DJIA
Volume 199.7M
Open 27,365
High 27,365
Low 27,294
Dow Inc. U.S.: NYSE: DOW
Div Yield 5.5
DuPont de Nemours Inc. U.S.: NYSE: DD
CME Group Inc. Cl A U.S.: Nasdaq: CME
Nike Inc. Cl B U.S.: NYSE: NKE
NASDAQ Composite Index U.S.: Nasdaq: COMP
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