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Records: Unnamed Plainview peanut official a co-conspirator in salmonella case
An unnamed operations manager at the defunct Peanut Corp. of America Plainview facility is listed as an unindicted co-conspirator in a 76-count criminal indictment unsealed Thursday morning against four top company executives.
The indictment says the operations manager from May 2007 to February 2009 directly reported to the Virginia-based company's owner and president, Stewart Parnell, who is one of four charged in the indictment. The Plainview plant closed in 2009. It had employed 30 workers.
The indictment stemmed from the release of salmonella-tainted peanut products into the market in 2009, and an extensive food recall effort involving products made with peanut paste produced at the company's plants in Plainview and Blakely, Ga..
And, the indictment alleges the Plainview plant's involvement in criminal activity included repackaging product made at the business' Blakely, Ga., processing plant and labeling it as made in Plainview, sending false certificates of analysis - the results of lab tests on batches of peanut product - to customers, and switching varieties of peanuts while filling orders without telling the customer.
The grand jury that handed down the indictments is in the Albany division of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia.
The accusations
Charges include mail and wire fraud, conspiracy, and introducing adulterated and misbranded food into the market with intent to defraud or mislead.
The four indicted were: Parnell, his brother and company vice president Michael Parnell, Georgia plant manager Samuel Lightsey and Georgia plant quality assurance manager Mary Wilkerson.
The Centers for Disease Control estimated the human toll at nine dead and nearly 700 sickened by peanut-borne salmonella in 46 states.
Federal officials also said a fifth person connected with the conspiracy had pleaded guilty to mail and wire fraud charges, introducing adulterated or mislabeled food into the market with intent to defraud, and conspiracy.
FDA inspectors found remarkably bad conditions inside Parnell's processing plant in Blakely, including mold and roaches, and the company went bankrupt after the recall.
Not all the allegations in the indictment deal with sanitation and the possibility of tainted product being shipped to customers.
The indictment notes the company provided a statement to one of its customers that all of its peanuts processed were grown in the United States, unless customers asked for peanuts from another source. On occasion the company used peanut paste bought in bulk from a Mexican plant and sometimes substituted peanuts grown in Argentina and China, according to the indictment.
The defense speaks
The indictment accused the Parnells and Lightsey of conspiring to defraud customers and obtain money through false and fraudulent pretenses. Wilkerson was charged with obstruction of justice.
Parnell's attorneys said in a statement after the indictment was unsealed that they are disappointed the government has decided to pursue the case after four years and charged that the Food and Drug Administration knew about the company's salmonella testing and had not objected.
"At this point, we will evaluate the charges that have been filed against Mr. Parnell and will prepare for a vigorous defense," said attorneys Bill Gust and Tom Bondurant in a statement. "There is little doubt that as the facts in this case are revealed, it will become apparent that the FDA was in regular contact with (Peanut Corporation of America) about its food handling policy and was well aware of its salmonella testing protocols."
Jim Parkman, a lawyer for Lightsey, said nothing in the indictment surprises him, and he is eager to defend his client.
Events in Plainview
Operations in Plainview occupy only a few paragraphs in the 52-page indictment, and most of those statements refer to mislabeling products or falsifying records. Only one deals with sanitary issues at the plant.
� Sometime in August 2006, Stewart Parnell ordered the operations manager in Plainview to fill a customer's order for 44,000 pounds of organic Valencia peanuts, with 50 percent Valencia nuts and 50 percent Spanish peanuts.
� In early March 2007, acting on a recommendation from company vice president Michael Parnell, the Plainview facility repackaged 40 cases of peanut product from the company's Blakely plant with Plainview labels. In addition, the instructions called for altering the production date on the labels and creating a new certificate of analysis to back up the changed production date.
� In April 2007, a company official looking for product to help fill an order suggested that totes of peanut meal at Plainview be used. In an e-mail, the unnamed company official said employees would "need to air hose the top off because they are covered in dust and rat (feces)." According to the indictment, Stewart Parnell concurred in an e-mail that said "Clean em all up and ship them."
� Also in April 2007, another unindicted co-conspirator, identified in the indictment only as the company's national sales manager, suggested that the Plainview plant use medium Virginia peanuts to fill all outstanding orders for jumbo runner peanuts. The Plainview operations manager objected. The indictment does not say if the exchange was made.
� On two occasions in June 2007, the operations manager in Plainview, working with Stewart Parnell, created false certificates of analysis for customers using data from peanut lots that had been processed earlier.
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LMS 14769 'Clan Cameron' at Oban in front of the Crown Hotel
PC_HRS_LOCOMOTIVES_009_752
South Lorn
ARGYLL: Kilmore and Kilbride
Highland Railway Society
railway locomotives
Highland Railway locomotives
The last class of locomotive built for the Highland Railway was the 'Clan' class of 4-6-0 passenger engines. Designed by Christopher Cumming, the first four (numbered 49, 51, 52 & 53) were delivered in 1919 and four more (numbered 54 to 57) were delivered in 1921. Built by Hawthorn Leslie & Co. in Newcastle, all members of the class survived into LMS ownership but only one was still working after the formation of British Railways.
This photograph shows LMS 14769 'Clan Cameron' (formerly HR 57) at Oban. The Crown Hotel can be seen in the background. The locomotive continued in service until being withdrawn in October 1943.
Highland Railway Society - Locomotives 5 (Cumming classes)
railway locomotives; Highland Railway locomotives
The last class of locomotive built for the Highland Railway was the 'Clan' class of 4-6-0 passenger engines. Designed by Christopher Cumming, the first four (numbered 49, 51, 52 & 53) were delivered in 1919 and four more (numbered 54 to 57) were delivered in 1921. Built by Hawthorn Leslie & Co. in Newcastle, all members of the class survived into LMS ownership but only one was still working after the formation of British Railways.<br /> <br /> This photograph shows LMS 14769 'Clan Cameron' (formerly HR 57) at Oban. The Crown Hotel can be seen in the background. The locomotive continued in service until being withdrawn in October 1943.
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For a Green Alga, Spotted Salamanders are Stressful Hosts main content.
For a Green Alga, Spotted Salamanders are Stressful Hosts
The spotted salamander fosters a unique relationship with a green alga during the early stages of its development.
© AMNH/E. Chapman
New research shows how two drastically different organisms—a green alga and the spotted salamander—get along as cellular roommates. Scientists at the American Museum of Natural History and Gettysburg College found that this symbiosis, the only known example that includes a vertebrate species, puts stress on algal cells, changing the way they make energy, but does not seem to negatively impact salamander cells. The work is published today in the journal eLife.
“Science shows us the many ways that life is interconnected, especially on the microscopic level, where we see how many organisms depend on close contact with or internalization of other species for food, defense, or reproduction,” said lead author John Burns, a postdoctoral researcher in the Museum’s Division of Invertebrate Zoology. “But the relationship between this particular alga and salamander is very unusual.”
Scientists have known for more than a century that a green alga (Oophila amblystomatis) grows in the egg cases of the spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum)—the strange pairing is visible to the naked eye in the green hue of salamanders’ eggs. The symbiosis was originally thought to occur only between the salamander embryo and the algae living outside it. The embryos produce nitrogen-rich waste that is useful to algae, and the algae increases the oxygen content of the fluid around the respiring embryos. But recent research has revealed that the algae are actually located inside cells all over the spotted salamander’s body. This cell-within-a-cell relationship can also be found in corals and in the guts of cicadas, but the green alga-spotted salamander interaction is the only known example of a symbiont entering the cells of a vertebrate species.
“This is really such a strange arrangement to think about, that the salamanders allow the algae to live in their egg cases. It would be like having a bunch of green algae in a womb,” said study co-author Ryan Kerney, an assistant professor at Gettysburg College. “What we set out to look at now is the kind of molecular change that happens when the salamander cells and green algae cells are together.”
Two spotted salamander egg masses at early (left) and late (right) stages of development. Initially the egg masses are clear or white without visible signs of algae. Later in development, the algae bloom gives the egg masses their characteristic green color.
In the new eLife study, the researchers compared RNA from the cells of five different groups: salamander cells with algae, salamander cells without algae, the algal cells living in salamander cells, the algae living in the egg capsules, and algae cultured in the laboratory.
They found that algae inside salamander cells are stressed and change the way they make energy. Instead of using light energy to produce food to support the salamander host, as happens in coral-algae interactions, the algae in salamander cells struggle to adapt to their new environment. Whether the algae benefits from this cell-within-a-cell interaction remains unclear. In stark contrast, affected salamander cells appear to recognize the alga as foreign but show no signs of stress during the interaction. The researchers found that the salamanders overexpress several genes that might suppress an immune response, suggesting that the host cell experience is neutral or beneficial.
“We are learning that these two fundamentally different cells are changing each other dramatically, and this might be relevant for other symbiotic systems, including human and parasitic microbe relationships,” said study co-author Eunsoo Kim, an assistant curator in the Museum’s Division of Invertebrate Zoology.
Other authors on this study include Huanjia Zhang and Elizabeth Hill, undergraduate students at Gettysburg College.
This work was supported, in part, by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the National Science Foundation, grant #s 1428065 and #1453639.
eLife paper: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.22054
For more information about this project, see this recent episode of the Museum’s Shelf Life series: http://www.amnh.org/shelf-life/episode-11-green-grow-the-salamanders
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Dating News
Couples Who Use Contraception Have More Sex
Trending News: A Very Pleasurable Reason To Support Contraceptives
IanLang
Would you use a male birth control pill if they invented one?
Because it's a great reason to support women's sexual health initiatives.
A new study has found that around the world, couples who use contraceptives have sex more frequently. The reasons for the link aren't yet entirely clear.
It's truly an amazing time to be alive, for so many reasons. When it comes to sex, though, one reason to celebrate is that we're living in the miniscule window of human history when unwanted pregnancies can be prevented with near-absolute certainty with contraceptives. As for the impact that has on people and their sex lives, you may not be surprised to learn that couples who take advantage of contraceptives do indeed have more sex.
Suzanne Bell, a doctoral candidate at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, realized that amid all the discussion of women's health topics like abortion, people seem to gloss over the importance of sex itself. In an effort to make sex a more prominent part of the conversation, she teamed up with one of her professors to see how the use of female contraceptives (things like the pill, injections, implants, IUDs, etc.) affected how couples who are married or living together have sex.
The researchers analyzed survey responses dating back to 2005, altogether collecting data from some 210,000 women from 47 low- and middle-income countries. The results were astonishing: 90% of the women using contraceptives reported having intercourse in the past month, versus just 72% of those that did not. Though the difference was larger in some countries than others, in no instances were the results reversed, and Bell has no reason to believe they wouldn't be the same everywhere else in the world.
The obvious explanation is that contraceptives lessen or eliminate the fear of unwanted pregnancies, and the researchers agree that's probably the largest factor. But they also caution that it's not quite that simple — different cultures have different attitudes and customs when it comes to sex. Some women have little say in when they have sex or if they use birth control, making the percentage of women who have sex without contraceptives higher in those countries than it would be elsewhere. Then again, some women's husbands aren't around that often, which would skew the percentage of women who use birth control but don't have as much sex.
Bell says more research is needed, but it's obvious that we need to stop avoiding the topic altogether. In developed nations, the most common cause of unwanted pregnancy is not failed contraceptives, but because the women didn't believe they could get pregnant in the first place. In 2016, there's no excuse for that kind of ignorance.
What's the most effective method of birth control to distribute to areas that need it most?
I'd use a male birth control pill if they invented one.
In the United States, only 62% of women of reproductive age use some kind of contraceptive.
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Support AJ
Aspen Journalism
Water Desk
Aspen History
Aspen Journalism (https://www.aspenjournalism.org/2013/02/13/trial-date-set-in-city-hydro-water-case/)
Colorado River information resources
Trial date set in city hydro-water case
By Brent Gardner-Smith | February 13, 2013
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Editor’s note: This story was published in collaboration with the Aspen Daily News.
A 15-day trial has been set for Oct. 28 to decide if the city of Aspen has abandoned its water rights to produce hydropower on lower Castle Creek.
The plaintiffs are five owners of land and water rights on either Castle or Maroon creeks: Bill Koch — through four corporate entities he controls — Kit Goldsbury, Dick Butera, Bruce Carlson and Maureen Hirsch.
All of the plaintiffs have either spoken out against a new hydro plant that had been proposed by the city or publicly aligned themselves with an opposition group led by Hirsch called Saving Our Streams.
The suit was filed in September 2011 and the group of plaintiffs was winnowed after the city successfully argued that only those who own water rights had standing in the case, which drew an amicus brief opposing the city’s view from Western Resource Advocates.
The city owns water rights to divert 65 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water from Maroon Creek and 160 cfs from Castle Creek for a number of decreed uses, including municipal, irrigation and hydropower. The city’s senior rights on Castle Creek date to 1885 and 1889, and on Maroon Creek to 1892.
The plaintiffs hold junior water rights either above or below the city’s diversion points and say their water rights will be diminished if the city begins diverting 52 cfs of its water from the two creeks to make hydropower.
But the plaintiffs stress that they don’t have to prove injury in the case, they only have to hold Aspen to a strict standard of proof of abandonment.
“Use it or lose it” is a maxim of Colorado water law and the city concedes it has not diverted water to make hydropower at a plant under the Castle Creek bridge for over 50 years.
But in an abandonment case, “intent to abandon” also must be proved, and the city firmly denies it intended to abandon its rights.
The plaintiffs say they are not trying to prove the abandonment of other aspects of the city’s water rights, just the right to use its water for hydro on lower Castle Creek.
In 2007, Aspen voters approved building a new hydropower plant in the same location on the banks of Castle Creek where one operated from 1893 to 1958. But in November 2012, Aspenites voted to suspend work on the project, which is still under review by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Post-election, city officials asked for suggestions on how it should best meet its renewable energy goals, but Aspen City Council has not otherwise taken action on the proposed plant.
Judge James Boyd of the 9th Judicial District is presiding over the case in Division 5 water court in Glenwood Springs, where the trial is slated to be held.
Paul Noto of Patrick, Miller and Kropf in Aspen is attorney for the plaintiffs. Cynthia Covell and Andrea Benson of Alperstein & Covell in Denver are representing the city.
The parties in the case must complete one session of mediation or other methods of dispute resolution by July.
Editor’s note: See also “A look at who is suing Aspen over water rights for hydro,” by Aspen Journalism.
Colorado Springs blocking donation of water to local rivers
Study documents ’12 drought conditions on Fork and Crystal
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© Copyright 2019, Aspen Journalism. The original work on Aspen Journalism is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
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by Mark West | Apr 19, 2019 | Bible, Christianity, Easter, Faith, God, Jesus, Salvation, Spiritual | 2 comments
Simon rolled over as he heard the rooster crow. It was still dark outside. He lay there recalling the dream from the night before. It was the same recurring dream he’d had over the last year, since the previous time he had visited Jerusalem. He had dreamt of the man they called Jesus, who had so captivated his attention. This man who attracted such large crowds, and was somehow able to heal the sick, give sight to the blind, and hearing to the deaf, had invaded his dreams. And just as all the other dreams, he would hear the voice of Jesus saying,
“If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?”
Through his dreams over the last year, those words from Jesus had become so familiar to him. But he wondered, what did they mean? Take up your cross? Follow Jesus? Give up your life? Good News? What good news? Gaining the world? Losing your soul?
He lay there pondering… wondering… and then the rooster crowed again.
He jumped up and hurriedly dressed. He had a busy day ahead of him. But as was his custom each morning, he opened his small scroll. On it he had written key passages from the prophets that had always been an encouragement to him. He skimmed down the parchment and read these words from the prophet Isaiah:
“He was despised and rejected— a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:3-7)
Some had told Simon this passage referred to Israel’s coming Messiah but he struggled to understand why He would be oppressed. If only Simon’s Messiah would come during his lifetime. What a joy that would be.
Simon reached for some bread as he left the small inn he frequented when visiting Jerusalem. He needed to take care of some business while in Jerusalem that day. Tomorrow he would visit the Temple for Passover before beginning his journey back to Cyrene the following week. He was eager to return to his family, and be reunited with his wife and sons, Alexander and Rufus.
The sun was shining through the clouds as Simon made his way into Jerusalem. While there were always many people coming and going, he detected that something was different. There was a huge commotion up ahead and he quickened his pace to draw closer to see what all the yelling was about. He rounded a corner in the road and all of a sudden he came face to face with a threatening group of Roman soldiers. They were stopped and screaming at a man who had fallen to the ground with a large wooden cross pinning him to the ground. The man hardly looked human, and his clothes were soaked in blood as he struggled and moaned.
As Simon took this all in, he heard the taunts and yells of many of the religious elite along the road. He recognized some of them from his time in the Temple. He wondered what would cause these men to express such anger and hatred towards the man who had stumbled and fallen beneath the weight of the large cross he was bearing.
As he was processing all of this, Simon was immediately jolted from his thoughts by one of the foreboding Roman soldiers, who grabbed Simon by the arm. The soldier’s grip was powerful. Simon was tempted to confront the Roman, but he quickly thought better as he counted the number of Roman soldiers that surrounded him.
The soldier barked out his order: “Hey! You! Get down there and pick up that cross. Give a hand to Israel’s King and Messiah,” the soldier mockingly jeered. The order was clear and threatening. Simon had no choice. It was either acquiesce or perhaps meet the same fate as this poor soul, who was clearly headed for his own demise soon.
Simon leaned down, pickup up the wooden cross, and began to heave it onto his broad shoulders. Simon was no small man, but the weight of the burden was a challenge, even for him. As he began to rise, he caught a quick glimpse of the disfigured and bloody man who was attempting to get back up to his feet. He looked familiar. Had Simon seen him before? How could he have?
Simon fell in behind the condemned man as the soldiers led the way up the hill. As Simon trudged along, all of a sudden the wounded, struggling man in front of him spoke out:
“Daughters of Jerusalem, don’t weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children…”
The man continued speaking but Simon was no longer listening to his words. Rather, he was trying to place where he had heard that voice before. The face was familiar. Now the voice was also. Simon struggled under the load of the cross…
The cross! That was it!
Those recurring dreams all of a sudden burst into Simon’s mind. The voice and face in his dreams. They were the same ones as the man struggling to walk in front of him. Could it be that this was Jesus, the one whom Simon had heard over and over in his dreams, yet he had never met?
As they turned a corner, the bloodied man in front of Simon turned ever so slightly and Jesus’ eyes caught the eyes of Simon for a brief moment. In that millisecond he knew that Jesus understood everything about him. The battered and bloodied man knew Simon’s innermost thoughts, secrets, struggles and failures. Simon shuddered. He felt ashamed. He felt needy. It was as if God Himself had just peered into the very recesses of Simon’s heart and soul. Yet, he also sensed a deep love from that glance from Jesus. But how could that be?
As Simon neared the hill that everyone knew as Golgotha, he realized that this was their destination. He wondered how it was that the man who had performed such wonderful deeds and miracles for so many could now be facing this brutal fate? What could Jesus have done that could have been worthy of death by crucifixion?
All of a sudden the soldiers barked out some orders and Simon’s thoughts were interrupted. They had arrived at their destination and he eagerly dropped the heavy load on the ground and carefully backed away from the soldiers. As he did so, the words of Jesus all of a sudden resonated in his thoughts: “Take up your cross and follow me.”
Simon fell back into the crowd of onlookers. His clothes were stained with the blood of Jesus that covered the cross. His body ached. His mind was swirling. He had literally taken up the cross of Jesus and followed him. But is this what Jesus meant when He challenged so many with those words a year ago and in his dreams so many times? As he continued to try to reconcile the events of the morning with the words of Jesus, Simon heard Jesus pleading from the cross,
“Father, forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing.”
By now it was midday, but for some unexplained reason, the sky was growing dark and black. It was as if night had descended on the world. Fear began to grip Simon, as did many others watching this gruesome execution. Simon could stand it no more. As the tears welled up in his eyes, Simon turned to go down the hill, and as he did, he heard Jesus cry out one final time,
“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
As Jesus’ lifeless body hung silent and still, it seemed as if the world was coming to an end. The ground began to shake and rocks on the side of the hill began to split and tumble down. People were running and screaming. Simon was terrified. He began to run as well.
Why was this happening? Did the death of Jesus cause all this? Simon ran back to his room at the inn where he had been staying. He was overwhelmed with emotion and his mind was swirling.
Simon entered his room and collapsed onto his bed, sobbing as if his own soul had been torn in two. As he lay there for what seemed like an eternity, Simon was processing the events of the day. He recalled the soldier mocking Jesus, referring to the bloody man as “Israel’s King and Messiah.”
Messiah?
The words from his scroll that morning came to mind.
“Despised. Rejected. Pierced. Crushed. Beaten. Whipped. The Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.”
Over the next three days, Simon remained close to the inn where he was staying. He was overwhelmed with the crucifixion and the role he had played in it. Yet, as he remained transfixed with the event, the mystery was becoming more and more clear to Simon, almost supernaturally.
Jesus was the Messiah! His coming as Israel’s Savior, and death as their Redeemer, was predicted 700 years earlier by Isaiah, the prophet. Jesus had willingly taken up the cross that He knew would ultimately bring His own death. But it was necessary because of Simon’s sins. That’s why he had felt so ashamed, and also loved simultaneously, when Jesus peered into Simon’s eyes along the road to Golgotha, the hill where Jesus died.
But how could a dead man be the Messiah? Jesus seemed to fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy perfectly, but if He was dead, what purpose did His death serve? How could Jesus be Israel’s Savior?
Simon decided to revisit the place that had caused his entire life to come to an abrupt pause. Perhaps by returning to the place of death he could make sense of life.
On his way to Golgotha, Simon’s route took him by a garden that he recognized as a place to bury the dead. As he passed the entrance, he tossed a quick glance into the lush garden. But what he saw next stopped him abruptly in his tracks. Just 30 feet away, he saw a large round tombstone rolled away from the entrance to a tomb. At the entrance, a man glowing in a radiant white was speaking to a woman who had fallen down at the man’s feet.
Simon recognized the woman as one of the ladies who had been at Golgotha just three days earlier when Jesus was crucified. She was shaking uncontrollably, but he wasn’t certain whether it was out of fear or joy, or perhaps both. As Simon’s eyes moved from the woman up to the man with the glowing face, he nearly collapsed. His heart stopped. His eyes were affirming that the man he was peering at was Jesus. But his mind could not process what he was seeing. How could this be? He had seen Jesus die. But now here He was… ALIVE!
And then, in a millisecond, Jesus turned his gaze to Simon and their eyes met. In that instant, Simon’s eyes, mind, and heart affirmed the truth of what he was seeing. The same gaze that three days earlier had looked deep into Simon’s soul as Simon bore the bloody cross of Jesus, was once again looking into Simon’s heart. Simon fell to the ground, in submission and adoration, and as he did he yelled out, “Jesus, my Lord and my Messiah!”
The dreams now made sense. Simon understood that following Jesus might mean losing his life, but his soul would be eternally saved. He knew that there was nothing more valuable than his soul… not his business, not the prestige he sought, not even his wife and children. He would pick up his cross from that day forward and follow Jesus, no matter what it might cost him. How could he do less when Jesus had given His all?
🔹Epilogue:
Years later, the Apostle Paul referenced a man named Rufus, and his mother, in Romans 16:13:
“Greet Rufus, whom the Lord picked out to be his very own; and also his dear mother, who has been a mother to me.”
Tradition suggests that this Rufus was the same Rufus that Mark described as the son of Simon, the Cyrene, who carried the cross of Jesus, in Mark 15:21:
“A passerby named Simon, who was from Cyrene, was coming in from the countryside just then, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. (Simon was the father of Alexander and Rufus.)”
So while much of this Easter story involves my own imagination, it’s entirely possible that the personal encounter between Simon and Jesus on the road to Golgotha may have in fact led Simon to “pick up his cross and follow Jesus.” And if so, his example likely led his wife and children to follow Christ as well.
So what about you? Will you this Easter make the greatest decision you will ever make, and choose to take up your cross and follow Jesus?
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Jo Kiser on April 21, 2019 at 5:35 am
Very touching & meaningful, Mark. Happy Easter to you & yours.
Mark West on April 21, 2019 at 1:50 pm
Thank you Jo. Have a blessed Easter! He is Risen!
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Penzone's first year: Shedding the Arpaio legacy in Sheriff's Office
Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone talks about his first year in office and escaping from the shadow of his controversial predecessor.
Penzone's first year: Shedding the Arpaio legacy in Sheriff's Office Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone talks about his first year in office and escaping from the shadow of his controversial predecessor. Check out this story on azcentral.com: http://azc.cc/2lXmp23
Megan Cassidy, The Republic | azcentral.com Published 6:00 a.m. MT Jan. 5, 2018
Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone(Photo: The Republic)
The relics of Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone's predecessor are inescapable: Civil-rights activists still take aim at the office, and taxpayers continue to foot the ever-mounting bill for a racial-profiling lawsuit.
But in the past year, Penzone said, he's worked to claw his office out from the shadow of Joe Arpaio, the six-term sheriff who became a national celebrity for his flamboyant policies and hard-line stance on immigration.
Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of Penzone’s swearing-in, which came two months after he defeated Arpaio in the general election.
In an interview with The Arizona Republic, the sheriff cited both the visible and perceived changes he has made to the organization, while acknowledging Arpaio's continuing impact.
The office released a video titled “Then and Now,” that aims to underscore the contrast between the two sheriffs. The video featured the closing of Tent City, Penzone’s engagement with the community, and Arpaio’s contempt-of-court case.
“We have to look at the past and see where we failed, so that we can determine if we truly have had success,” Penzone said in the interview. “I think it’s important that the community see the contrast so that they can see the work that is being done.”
Some civil-rights activists, however, say Penzone was slow in turning around what they say is a culture of racial bias at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, which not only oversees the county jails but also serves as the police agency for unincorporated areas and some smaller municipalities in the county.
Cecillia Wang, a plaintiffs' attorney in a decade-old racial-profiling case against the office, called Penzone's first year "rocky." She said Penzone failed to address major, lingering concerns regarding MCSO's internal investigations and race-related traffic stops.
Wang, deputy legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union, was one of the attorneys to help Latino plaintiffs win a landmark victory against MCSO. In 2013, a federal judge found that Arpaio's immigration policies violated the rights of Latinos, and ordered sweeping overhauls to the agency's policies. A monitor was appointed to oversee the compliance efforts, which are expected to last for years to come.
Wang said while Penzone is "certainly an improvement" from the Arpaio administration, there were initial missteps.
"It’s going to be a long road," she said. "These problems with the institutional-level bias, and the individual deputy-level bias, are things that are really going to take a lot of work."
Penzone ran his campaign — and won by double digits — on a promise to turn the agency around. In his first days in office, he made promises to be more fiscally responsible, to rebuild bridges with the community and to put an end to the media-hungry policies of the past.
Here's a roundup of what's changed and what hasn't in the past year, according to interviews, agency statements and previous reports.
What's changed
Tent City shut down: Three months into the job, Penzone announced he would be closing Arpaio's infamous outdoor jails. The jails for decades were criticized for inhumane living conditions, given Phoenix's scorching summers, and more recently for remaining open despite the nearly empty facility. The move, the agency said, will save $4.5 million annually. MCSO quietly shuttered the jails in October, and days later Penzone announced the space would be transformed into a rehabilitation center.
Tearing down Tent City Jail
Bunk beds sit exposed where tents used to shade them as a guard tower looms over the yard in the Maricopa County Tent City Jail on May 24, 2017, in Phoenix. Crews have started to dismantle some of the tents in the controversial outdoor jail complex that's in the process of being closed. Matt York/AP
Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone talks about tearing down Tent City Jail in Phoenix on May 24, 2017. Hannah Gaber/The Republic
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office is tearing down Tent City. Some items will be or have been auctioned off, some will be destroyed, and some stored. Hannah Gaber/The Republic
Maricopa County Sheriff Executive Chief of Custody Tracy Haggard talks about the tearing down of Tent City Jail in Phoenix on May 24, 2017. Hannah Gaber/The Republic
Workers and deputies with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office help tear down Tent City in Phoenix on May 24, 2017. Hannah Gaber/The Republic
During the process of tearing down Tent City, some items will be or have been auctioned off. Items such as torn canvas tents will be destroyed, and those in better shape will be stored. Hannah Gaber/The Republic
Bunk-bed frames sit in the sun as Maricopa County sheriff's officials tear down Tent City Jail on May 24, 2017. Hannah Gaber/The Republic
Workers and deputies with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office help tear down Tent City Jail on May 24, 2017. Hannah Gaber/The Republic
Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone speaks to the media in the day room of the Tent City Jail on May 24, 2017, in Phoenix. Matt York/AP
Maricopa County sheriff personnel break down a tent in the Tent City Jail on May 24, 2017, in Phoenix. Matt York/AP
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office personnel break down a tent in the Tent City Jail on May 24, 2017, in Phoenix. Matt York/AP
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office personnel break down a tent at the Tent City Jail, Wednesday, May 24, 2017, in Phoenix. Matt York/AP
Maricopa County sheriff personnel break down a tent in the Tent City Jail on May 24, 2017, in Phoenix. Crews have started to dismantle some of the tents in a controversial outdoor jail complex that's in the process of being closed by Sheriff Paul Penzone. Matt York/AP
Tent City, Maricopa County’s infamous outdoor jail, quietly closed for business the weekend of Oct. 7, 2017. Sean Logan/The Republic
The remaining inmates were taken from the 7-acre compound in southwest Phoenix late Saturday night, Oct. 7, 2017, and checked into the county's Durango Jail a few blocks away. Sean Logan/The Republic
What remains of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Tent City Jail is pictured on Monday, Oct. 9, 2017 in Phoenix. Sean Logan/The Republic
More compliance with court orders: In the first half of Penzone's first year in office, MCSO's compliance with the racial-profiling court orders has risen nearly 50 percent. Compliance includes orders on training, policies and data-keeping aimed to stamp out discriminatory policing.
"We’re trying to overcome challenges that went on for a quarter of a century," Penzone said Thursday. "So unfortunately, it will take some time, but I’m confident that because we’ve embraced it and worked with the Department of Justice and the ACLU and others, that the process is more streamlined and facilitated in a positive way."
No more black and white stripes: MCSO inmates got a new look for fall. In November, they began donning new, orange jumpsuits that replaced the black-and-white-striped ones of Arpaio's era. Penzone at the time said the orange uniforms will save 12 percent, or at least $22,000, each year. A uniform color code saves money on laundering, and the stripes were more expensive than orange jumpers, the agency said. The move followed a phase-out of the agency's infamous pink underwear, which began in March.
READ MORE: Sheriff: Orange the new black and white at jails
No more immigration holds in jails: After barely a month in office, Penzone announced he would be ending the jails' "courtesy holds" for federal immigration agents. Previously, the jail would hold inmates for up to 48 hours beyond when they otherwise would have been released if an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent flagged them for deportation.
The move prompted outcry on both sides of the immigration debate. ICE officials balked at being removed from the jails completely, saying it complicated their ability to perform their immigration duties. After a few days, they were allowed back in, but only for transfer purposes. MCSO still declined to hold individuals for longer than they would have been in jail, citing advice from counsel.
READ MORE: Activists want policy changes at county jails
Immigration-rights advocates have since argued that Penzone should have gone further, and removed ICE agents completely.
"Arpaio may not be our sheriff but Penzone has not made many changes that make a great impact in our communities," said advocates from Puente in a recent media statement.
Puente Arizona and supporters protest in front of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office headquarters in Phoenix on Dec. 11, 2017. (Photo: Ryan Santistevan/The Republic)
Red carpet: Penzone moved into the same downtown Phoenix office that Arpaio once occupied, but there's a notable difference in the decor. What was once a red carpet has been replaced with a shade of brown.
For Penzone, the change was symbolic.
"The red shag was flashy and outdated," he said. "I changed the carpet to reflect my personality: conservative and durable."
In general, Penzone said he's worked to showcase the office as a whole, rather than its sheriff.
"I want to show and lead by example that I am not the focal point," he said. "The focus is on the men and women who do the job."
Employee morale? Penzone cited improving employee attitude and morale as one of his biggest accomplishments since his time in office.
"I constantly hear that they feel more valued, they feel more empowered, they know that when they come to work everyone is a contributor," he said.
Brad Ruehle, president of the Maricopa County deputies' union, said he felt the community's respect for its deputies was high under both administrations. He said most employees view Penzone as a leader who is proactive with modern law-enforcement policies.
As far as employee morale, he said, some of the court's orders have lowered it slightly, but he doesn't blame that on Penzone. The order now requires deputies to track their perceived race of the people they pull over for a traffic stop.
"It’s not long," Ruehle said. "It just adds to the workload."
Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone and Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Denny Barney speak during a news conference, Oct. 13, 2017, in the dayroom of the former Tent City, about the controversial jail's closure. Mark Henle/The Republic
What hasn't changed
Taxpayers continue to foot racial-profiling bill: This one's not going away anytime soon. By August, taxpayers had poured about $70 million into the lawsuit over the last decade, and that figure is expected to near $100 million by 2018. The costs include attorneys' and monitor fees, salaries for employees devoted to compliance, and training and equipment.
To get out from the monitor's oversight, the agency must be in compliance with the court's order for three consecutive years. Given that the agency still isn't in full compliance, Penzone gave an optimistic target of four to five years before complete agency independence.
"But oftentimes, it's two steps forward and one step back," he said. "We’re trying to overcome challenges that went on for a quarter of a century."
Held improperly by Sheriff's Office under Arpaio? You could be compensated
Internal investigations: Wang said internal-affairs investigations continue to be a concern for plaintiffs in the racial-profiling case. A recent monitor report said the agency was missing its statutory deadline of 180 days for completing its internal investigations.
"That’s a big concern for us," she said. "And I think that Sheriff Penzone's administration now, a year into it, has got to see that these are very deep problems."
In general, a recent monitor's report commended Penzone and his staff for "their personal involvement in a myriad of issues that are central to this entire undertaking."
Culture of bias among deputies: In September, Arizona State University researchers released a study that found MCSO deputies had continued discriminatory patrols for years after a judge ordered reforms on the matter. The study was conducted in 2015 and 2016 — before Penzone took office — but plaintiffs' attorneys say Penzone has been slow to enact change.
In September, Penzone’s attorneys and plaintiffs’ attorneys from the ACLU agreed on goals such as an early identification system to flag problematic deputies.
READ MORE: Audit: MCSO still treats Hispanics differently
"The fundamental problem is that the data shows that racially biased policing continues to be a problem, and we haven’t seen an effective response from MCSO to uproot the racially biased policing," Wang said. "We have more and more concerns from the lack of internal accountability."
Wang cited a motion filed by Penzone's attorneys in June, which would have relieved the office of certain requirements pertaining to its community meetings.
"You can’t turn (the agency) on a dime, and change it overnight," Wang said. "He sought actions to try to seek relief from all the court compliance measures, when he should really be digging in."
Ducey: No job center on former Tent City site
Attorneys help people improperly detained by MCSO
Tent City to become opioid treatment center
Tent City jail officially closes
Maricopa County Sheriff Paul Penzone waves to people as he wears a Pat Tillman jersey during the Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 11, 2017, on Central Avenue in Phoenix. (Photo: Patrick Breen/The Republic)
Read or Share this story: http://azc.cc/2lXmp23
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Hanover College
USA ›
About Hanover
Nestled in 650 acres of a wooded campus and located on the banks of the scenic Ohio River, Hanover College is a private, liberal arts institution where brains and beauty truly intersect. Our rigorous interdisciplinary academic program with 33 majors attracts the best and the brightest from across the region and beyond.
Our students start companies, create social movements and examine wildlife in the wild – and that’s just while they’re here. After they leave, they join a powerful alumni network of high achievers with connections to jobs in every field.
A typical Hanover student is usually in the top 20% of their graduating high school class, with a well-rounded history of extracurricular activities in the service, sports, and academic arena. But their Hanover experience, however, is anything but typical college experience.
At Hanover, students can design their own major, start their own club or organization, and spend May Term immersed in a single course – often abroad. Hanover students leave here with a professional resume, already full of authentic work from their undergraduate internship, combined with practical meets technical experience in their chosen field.
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Hanover College is a challenging and supportive community whose members take responsibility for lifelong inquiry, transformative learning, and meaningful service.
Hanover College is dedicated to creating a distinctive intellectual community within which students are challenged and nurtured to take responsibility for their learning and their lives and to develop their unique abilities to their highest levels.
The achievement of these purposes requires personal commitment, a willingness to accept responsibility and discipline in exercising it. Academically, Hanover College emphasizes the importance of oral and written expression, intellectual curiosity and sound judgment.
Hanover is located just outside historic Madison, Ind., and is close to Louisville (45 minutes), Indianapolis (95 minutes) and Cincinnati (70 minutes).
Hanover College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Hanover's teacher-certification programs for elementary and secondary education is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) and the Indiana Department of Education.
33 majors offered in the liberal arts including a design-your-own major.
1,133 total enrollment
180 multicultural enrollment
565 Greek life enrollment
101 faculty (95% with a terminal degree)
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Hanover is situated just west of historic Madison, Ind. Once a major river port for the state, Madison (population 12,000) has maintained its sense of 19th-century heritage with 133 city blocks on the National Register of Historic Places, designating it as the state's largest historic district. Midwest Living magazine recently listed Madison as the 4th best small town to visit.
At Hanover, we are honored to be the oldest private college in Indiana.
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Bachelor in Engineering
From the Pyramids and Roman aqueducts to the steam engine, spaceship, and smartphone, engineering is how we have been applying science to create structures and machines a ... [+]
From the Pyramids and Roman aqueducts to the steam engine, spaceship, and smartphone, engineering is how we have been applying science to create structures and machines and transform the world around us. Engineering at Hanover offers you a rigorous and broad education, emphasizing both analysis and practical skills. You will learn in small classes, engage with supportive faculty members who are committed to your success, conduct research and present your results, gain work experience with our industry partners and have the opportunity to study abroad.
Learning Engineering at Hanover College Our mission: We offer an excellent grounding in the ideas, skills, and experience of engineering within a liberal arts environment so that students can succeed in their profession, function across disciplines, provide leadership, and make positive contributions to society. We emphasize critical thinking and creative problem solving that foster innovation. We challenge our students to collaborate, communicate effectively, complete research projects, and receive career training before graduation. We cultivate the love for lifelong learning as an essential means to thrive in a world of constant change. We encourage students to pursue further studies or careers with confidence and insight, a broad perspective, and a profound appreciation for what makes us human. Our strengths: You learn in small, dynamic classes one-on-one with experts who unlock your potential and develop your professional skills. You can join a research or work internship (or co-op), and receive academic credit. You expand your horizons through visits and guest lectures by our industry partners.... [-]
USA , Hanover
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John McIntyre
In a word: peruse
By By John E. McIntyre
Each week The Sun's John McIntyre presents a relatively obscure but evocative word with which you may not be familiar, another brick to add to the wall of your vocabulary. This week's word:
By now, if you have been perusing these dispatches, you know, or know more clearly, that English, an unruly child, just does what it wants. And sometimes it wants contradictory things, as we see with peruse.
The word (pronounced (puh-ROOZ) means either "to examine or consider with attention and detail" or "to look over or through in a casual or cursory manner." (Thank you, Merriam-Webster.) To peruse, then, means to study or to scan, and you have to divine the intended meaning through context.
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of English Usage traces the various senses. Most broadly, peruse has simply meant "to read." MWDEU also identifies a medium sense, "to read through or over" and a narrow sense, "to read thoroughly or carefully."
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Bryan Garner favors the narrow sense in the interest of precision, and Garner's Modern English Usage insists that the narrow sense is the traditional sense to uphold. The American Heritage Dictionary's usage panel also rejects the "skim" sense by 58 percent (but that number, from 1999, is down from 66 percent in the 1988 survey). Etymology, for what it's worth, suggests the narrow sense: the word is from Middle English perusen, "to use up."
Happily, MWDEU and Garner's have a point of agreement, the former calling it "a literary word" and the latter scorning it as "pompous and stilted in business correspondence." So if you don't shy away from peruse because of the potential for confusion, there's another reason to drop it from your register.
Top complicate matters further, there is an increasing frequency of use of the word in the sense of "to examine" or "to look at," without necessarily bringing reading in at all. Be careful out there.
Examples: "If these walls could talk of papal history: Vatican Secret Archives hold tales both mundane and fascinating," USA Today, 2010: "There, visiting historians peruse the indices to the archive records in a balconied study lined with computers, which has a modern appearance except for its namesake's portrait, looking down from the back wall." (The namesake is Pope Leo XIII.)
From Bill Keller, "It's the Golden Age of News," The New York Times, 2013: "I'll listen to NPR at the gym, then look at The Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times, peruse the websites of The Guardian and the BBC, check my AP mobile app."
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From "The challenges and rewards of dating as a Boomer," Charlotte Observer, 2017: "Peruse the Charlotte Regional Farmers Market as a fun daytime date."
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Everyone goes their own way
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Yusuke Fukuda
Guided by its vision of being “The Global Leader in Hobby Entertainment”
BANDAI SPIRITS CO., LTD. will strive to achieve further growth.
Yusuke Fukuda President and Representative Director, BANDAI SPIRITS CO., LTD.
BANDAI SPIRITS handles the Toys and Hobby business for the mature fan base. In April 2019, the company merged with BANPRESTO CO., LTD. with the objective of enhancing market initiatives and accelerating overseas business operations. On this basis, BANDAI SPIRITS is aiming to further expand its business. In this section, BANDAI SPIRITS President Yusuke Fukuda discusses management policies, focus products, and other issues.
Would you describe the major business activities of BANDAI SPIRITS?
Fukuda: The vision of BANDAI SPIRITS is to be “The Global Leader in Hobby Entertainment.” On that basis, we focus on products for the mature fan base, and we are active in a wide range of areas in the entertainment industry. Previously, our business activities were centered on the hobby business, where we rolled out Gundam and other plastic models, as well as the collectible items business, such as figures and robots, and the lottery-related products business, which handles Ichiban Kuji and other products. However, through the recent merger with BANPRESTO, we have now added the crane game machine prize business. Moving forward, in each of our businesses, we will aim to maintain and increase a No. 1 position in Japan, while taking steps to bolster our business activities in overseas markets. For example, the overseas action figures market is more than 10 times the size of the Japanese market, and the rate of growth is high. Accordingly, we can look forward to substantial growth opportunities. Moving forward, we will aggressively take on challenges in overseas markets. In particular, we have positioned China and North America as markets where we will target significant growth.
What are the strengths of BANDAI SPIRITS?
Fukuda: First, we can roll out new products, centered on IP, for a wide range of customer groups. BANDAI SPIRITS previously specialized in IP products for male fans, such as the Mobile Suit Gundam series, DRAGON BALL series, and ONE PIECE. On the other hand, the former BANPRESTO rolled out IP products that were also highly popular with female fans, such as Disney and Pokemon products. In addition, the lower-priced products handled by the former BANPRESTO were also added to our lineup. We have expanded our lineup to cover a broader range of prices, and as a result we are now able to develop products for all target customer groups, including a wide range of prices.
Our second strength is the ability to maximize our businesses by providing an integrated range of products and services, in Japan and around the world. For example, in the prize business, we are implementing overseas sales of crane game machine prizes originally developed for the Japanese market. In addition, in the collectible items business, our development of figure products reflects consideration for global markets from the planning stage. We are working to accelerate business growth by fostering a strong awareness on the front lines of business development with a worldwide viewpoint.
Our third strength is the speed with which we move through the cycle of product development, production, marketing, and sales. By increasing the speed of the so-called value chain cycle, we will not only be able to respond rapidly to changes in the times or in customers, but also be the first to notice issues with processes and to quickly implement strategic changes.
In addition, we are working to bolster our technical capabilities, our ability to deliver quality, and the brand strength of each of our products, and I believe that these initiatives are one of the major reasons why we are earning the support of the markets.
What specific approaches will be taken for Japanese and overseas markets?
Fukuda: The Japanese market has a high level of needs not only for tangible products but also for experiences. Accordingly, in the lottery-related products business, we are working to open up new business areas that combine products and experiences. To that end, for example, we have launched Mellowtrill Nail character nail seals, which enable customers to order products with a design that they like and a size that matches their own nails. In these ways, we are working to create a market for mature women fans, based on the experience-style business.
Overseas, we opened THE GUNDAM BASE SHANGHAI, a comprehensive facility centered on Gundam plastic models, in August 2018, and this facility has been successful. In China, we are rolling out Gundam plastic models connected with SD Gundam World Sangoku Soketsuden, an original IP that was developed with consideration for China and other Asian markets, based on comics and on-line distribution. In addition, in Shanghai we launched ULTRA HEROES TAMASHII, an Ultraman event for the mature fan base, in March 2019, and this event has been highly regarded. In addition, BANDAI NAMCO Toys & Hobby (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD., was established to strengthen the Toys and Hobby business, and moving forward we plan to start full-scale operations. We will aim to expand this business as we work to bolster our own capabilities and to establish partnerships with major media companies, such as e-commerce sites and video sharing sites that have substantial influence in local markets.
In Europe and the Americas, from summer to fall 2018 we worked together with rights holders to offer the DRAGON BALL North America Tour, which was held in seven sites in North America. This tour was a major success. This year, we will expand the tour to eight cities and will strive to communicate the appeal of DRAGON BALL worldwide. Moreover, in October 2018, together with a local partner, we established BANDAI NAMCO Collectibles LLC (known as BLUEfin), in North America. This new company handles sales and marketing of products for the mature fan base. Through BLUEfin, which has solid distribution capabilities and special strengths in the sales of goods at events, we will expand product roll-outs, implement promotional measures through event participation, etc.
In addition, PREMIUM BANDAI, the official on-line shop operated by the company, reached its 10th anniversary this year. We will leverage this opportunity by accelerating measures to build an e-commerce business overseas.
Plastic models for SD Gundam World Sangoku Soketsuden
©創通・サンライズ
Mellowtrill Nail Powered by YourNail
We are launching multiple new Gundam plastic models to create a buzz around Gundam, which will celebrate its 40th anniversary.
What products and services can we look forward to this year?
Fukuda: First, this year will be the 40th anniversary of the broadcast of the Mobile Suit Gundam TV series. In response, we have commenced a variety of commemoration plans that draw on Gundam plastic models. Specifically, in April, in collaboration with 12 professional baseball teams in Japan, we began to launch 12 Baseball Team Coloring Gundam Plastic Models (total of 12 types). In addition, in 2019 we plan to produce a special movie in which a Gundam appears. The Gundam in the movie will be designed by KEN OKUYAMA DESIGN, a company that is led by Ken Okuyama, an industrial designer who is known around the world. We will also launch a plastic model of the Gundam that appears in the movie. In April 2019, Gundam plastic models surpassed 500 million units in cumulative total sales, and in 2020, we will reach the 40th year since the start of sales of these products. Moving forward, we will strive to further invigorate the market. In the collectible items business, in which we have the No. 1 share in the Japanese market, we opened TAMASHII NATIONS TOKYO, a directly operated flagship store, in Akihabara, Japan in April. Through this store, we will communicate to the world the appeal of our collectible items for the mature fan base.
TAMASHII NATIONS TOKYO
In addition, in the prize business, we will step up the development of products for the crane game market in Asia, centered on mainland China and Taiwan.
What is your policy regarding work?
Fukuda: To accelerate the various cycles in the value chain, I would like to indicate the company’s overall direction while entrusting the employees with individual work responsibilities.
Moreover, as one part of activities to enhance communication with employees, when a new product is launched, I receive a presentation from the person in charge of planning/development. The purpose of these briefings is not for me to offer my comments on specific planning details. Rather, I want to sense the enthusiasm of the person in charge. I believe that the enthusiasm of each employee is the source of a company’s growth potential and competitiveness.
My motto is that “steady, daily efforts are important.” Formulas and ideas for success are not found in some special location. Rather, they are found in our ordinary, daily lives. If we can keep that in mind, work with enthusiasm, and give concrete shape those formulas and ideas, we will hold the key to success. We will strive to do our utmost as we always remain attuned to a wide range of environments and respond to a variety of encouragements.
This article is an extract from the Newsletter, BANDAI NAMCO News, which was published in June 2019 and partially re-edited.
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Do the Social Security math
Jennie Phipps @jennielp
August 21, 2013 in Retirement
In response to a retirement planning blog I wrote on my 62nd birthday saying that I wasn’t going to take Social Security until I’m older, Abe responded with his rationale for taking his benefits as soon as he could.
Abe provided some numbers in his post. He said:
“My Social Security at age 62 was $1,650 per month, for a total payout of $79,200 to age 66 (full retirement age). By waiting to age 66, I would have to live to age 78 to break even on return of cash, without any interest. By waiting, I am really buying an annuity with close to a zero rate of return. Actually, it’s much worse than that, in that none of my payouts in this ‘annuity’ created by waiting are guaranteed or insured. For example, if I died at age 66, I would have lost the entire $79,200 that I gave up. Even if I make it into my 80s, I still have an annuity with an interest payout at close to zero, as my contributions from age 62 to 66 would have gone 20 years without a dime of interest being paid. By waiting from 62 to 66 you are buying the rawest deal in annuities ever invented.”
Is there a ‘right’ time?
There is no right or wrong Social Security strategy. When to take it is a very personal decision, but there are some basic assumptions worth considering that argue for delay in Abe’s example.
Using the free AARP Social Security calculator, if Abe turned 62 this year, and he were entitled to $1,650, then working backward, his benefit at 66 would be $2,195 per month, plus the cumulative cost-of-living adjustments, or COLAs. By waiting until age 70, his benefit would be $2,897 per month, plus the cumulative COLAs.
I have access to Social Security Planner, software that allows purchasers to estimate the value of a Social Security benefit in various ways. I added a 2 percent COLA to Abe’s benefit and calculated the difference between the amount he would get if he claimed at 62 and what he would receive at age 66, full retirement age for him, and age 70, assuming that he would live no longer than an estimated life expectancy of 84, which the Social Security Administration and the U.S. Census say is average.
If he claims $1,650 at 62, with a 2 percent average COLA, he would get a total of $559,040 by the time he reached 84.
If he claims at full retirement age, 66, with a 2 percent average COLA, he would get a total of $620,958 by age 84.
If he waited until age 70, given the same circumstances, by age 84, he would have received a total of $666,840.
In this scenario, the difference between claiming at 70 and claiming at 62 is $107,800. Plus, the longer Abe lives, the more attractive delaying a claim becomes.
If Abe were married — or even divorced after 10 years of marriage — the claiming strategies open to him are more numerous. For instance, if he waits until age 66, he can claim a spousal-only benefit based on his current or former spouse’s income (as long as he remains single) and let his own benefit increase until age 70. That strategy could increase his total return significantly.
The bottom line: Deciding when to take Social Security isn’t a slam-dunk. Taking it at 62 is rarely the smartest strategy if you are able to continue working and you have every reason to believe you’ll live an average or longer lifespan.
Social Security up 1.5 percent in 2014?
Social Security recipients skunked in 2016
State of the chained CPI
Social Security going up 1.7%
4 ways to win at Social Security
Say ‘I support Social Security’
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Brexit: Sociological Responses
by William Outhwaite (Editor)William Outhwaite
Brexit traces the implications of the UK’s projected withdrawal from the EU, placing short-term political fluctuations in a broader historical and social context of the transformation of European and global society. This book provides a forum for leading Eurosociologists (broadly defined), working inside and outside the UK, to rethink their analyses of the European project and its prospects, as well as to reflect on the likely implications for the UK.
Anthem Press
Key Issues in Modern Sociology
Previously a professor at the University of Sussex, William Outhwaite is currently emeritus professor of sociology at Newcastle University.
Sociological Responses
By William Outhwaite
Wimbledon Publishing Company
Copyright © 2017 William Outhwaite
THE INCREASING INEVITABILITY OF THAT REFERENDUM
Martin Westlake
If the United Kingdom had responded positively to the 9 May 1950 Schuman declaration and if it had subsequently signed the Treaty of Paris establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (admittedly, two very big 'ifs'), there would surely have been no referendum. When, in May 1945, Winston Churchill, then prime minister, suggested that a referendum be held on whether to extend the life of the wartime coalition until Japan had been defeated, the deputy prime minister, Clement Attlee, refused, declaring, 'I could not consent to the introduction into our national life of a device so alien to all our traditions as the referendum which has only too often been the instrument of Nazism and Fascism' (quoted in Bogdanor, 1981, p. 35).
The same could surely have been claimed about the 25 March 1957 Treaty of Rome. Harold Macmillan had only taken over from Anthony Eden at the beginning of that year, but his Conservative government was still sitting on a 60-seat majority. The same, lastly, could surely also have been observed had the UK's 1961 application not been vetoed by President Charles de Gaulle. Following the October 1959 General Election, Macmillan had been returned with a 100-seat majority. Announcing the application to the Commons, Macmillan declared that 'no agreement will be entered into until it has been approved by the House' (1961). The subsequent vote was unambiguous: 313 votes to 4, with the Labour Opposition and some fifty Conservative Members of Parliament (MPs) abstaining. There was no mention of a referendum and no call for one. But that first 1961 move contained significant seeds of future complications.
First, the UK did not apply alone. The Danish and Norwegian economies were so closely tied to the UK's that they sent in their applications shortly after the UK's. Although never a European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member, Ireland's economy was so closely tied to the UK's that it anticipated the British application. When de Gaulle rejected the UK's application at the eleventh hour, the three other applicant countries withdrew their candidatures. A symbiotic relationship had been established – the four would always be seen as a bloc (de Gaulle later dismissively referred to the group as 'the British and their associates' (cited in George, 1994, p. 38)) – and all of them, with the sole exception of the UK, had constitutional provisions for the holding of referendums.
Second, any first application for membership of the European Economic Community (EEC) would have been significant. As a major economy and powerful country with a transatlantic tradition, the UK's application would have been additionally significant. But for it to bring three other candidate countries in its train would represent a major change. Third, as the July/August 1961 debate and vote in the House of Commons had demonstrated, the issue of the UK's relationship with the unfolding European integration process cut through both the main parties, as it has done ever since. This meant inevitably that any future referendum, were it to occur, would almost certainly have to be fought on a cross-party basis.
Lastly, the first application gave rise to a number of phenomena that would become increasingly familiar. A first was the organization of new groups seeking to mobilize public and parliamentary opinion against entry (Richardson , 2016). If the people had been irrelevant to the politicians' calculations to date, that would no longer be the case: 'It can [...] be safely said that it was with the application that the people came for the first time to be an influential factor in the United Kingdom's relationship to the Communities' (Milward, 2012, p. 341). A second phenomenon occurred on 22 November 1962 in the South Dorset by-election. A dissident anti–Common Market Conservative candidate, Sir Piers Debenham, denied the official Conservative candidate, Angus Maude, victory and gifted what had been a safe Conservative seat to the Labour candidate, Guy Barnett – a first example of what was to become a potent political force in the 1990s and again in the 2010s.
When the UK tabled a second application for membership (10 May 1967), the other three countries rapidly followed. These new applications were at first similarly vetoed by de Gaulle (27 November 1967). His successor, Georges Pompidou, had a change of heart, and a 1–2 December 1969 Summit of the Six agreed that negotiations should start. But when, in early 1972, those negotiations had been successfully concluded and the EEC stood on the cusp of its first enlargement, the French president announced he would hold a referendum on the enlargement package. Ostensibly, Pompidou felt the change to be of such momentous significance that the approval of the French people should be sought. However, 'it seemed like a political exercise for domestic consumption' (Berstein and Rioux, 2000, p. 66).
The referendum (23 April 1972), with 68 per cent of those voting in favour of enlargement, was duly followed by a referendum in Ireland(10 May), which approved the constitutional amendment necessary for the Republic to accede, with almost 84 per cent of those voting in favour. Next, on 25 September, Norway held a popular referendum in which, despite a large parliamentary majority in favour of joining, a 53.5 per cent majority voted to reject membership. Lastly, on 2 October 1972, the Danish people voted in favour of membership by a 63.3 per cent majority.
Meanwhile, in the UK, on 28 October 1971, after some six days and 300 hours of debate, the sovereign House of Commons voted in favour of accession, with 356 in favour and 244 against. Thirty-seven Conservative MPs voted against. Sixty-nine Labour MPs, led by Roy Jenkins, voted in favour. The official Labour Party line was to oppose entry 'on Tory terms'. Pro-accession Labour frontbenchers were instructed to remain silent during the debate – or toe the party line. In July, Edward Heath had rejected the need for a referendum, declaring that the House of Commons had the constitutional sovereignty to decide (Crowson, 2007, p. 38). But this position of insistence on parliamentary sovereignty as being sufficient was taken against a backdrop of apathetic, if not negative, public opinion.
In formal terms, no referendum was held in the UK in 1972 because of the doctrine of the absolute sovereignty of Parliament. But unlike in 1961, there were calls for one. Already, on 10 December 1969, a Conservative MP, Bruce Campbell, moved a bill arguing that the electors should have the right 'to decide by way of referendum whether Great Britain should enter the European Economic Community': 'The three major parties have all declared themselves to be in favour of this country joining the Common Market. It therefore follows that this question will never be an election issue and the people will have absolutely no chance of ever being able to express their views on it through the ballot box at a General Election' (Butler and Kitzinger, 1976, p. 10).
Fifty-five MPs voted in favour of the bill. Most notably, however, in April 1972, the anti-Market Conservative MPs Neil Marten and Enoch Powell tabled an amendment to the European Communities Bill calling for a consultative referendum on entry. Labour's Shadow Cabinet decided to support Marten's amendment. (Jenkins opposed the policy on principle and resigned as deputy party leader, and many Labour MPs abstained on the division.) Moreover, as has been seen, there were referendums elsewhere on precisely the same issue: in Ireland, Denmark and Norway, and 'even' in France.
This raises an interesting counterfactual question: what if the UK had joined alone, in isolation, and there had been no other referendum? There would, then, have been no possibility for the perception to arise that somehow the British people had been 'cheated' of their say. There would, in particular, have been no counterexamples of the Danish, Irish and Norwegian people having their say while the British allegedly could not. And there would have been no Norwegian counterexample of popular rejection of membership.
The absence of a written constitution did not help and, indeed, enabled those of that kind of a disposition to indulge in such arguments as that the subsequent 1975 referendum result could not be legitimate because the UK could not vote to stay in something that it had not, in constitutional terms, properly joined. In seeking to avoid such ambiguity, the 1997–2001 Blair administration would effectively entrench the principle of the referendum in British constitutional life.
The accession negotiations were tough, but from Heath's point of view there was no doubt that the prize was to be grasped. This determination was epitomized by his all-or-nothing, obstacle-clearing role in the 20 May 1971 Paris bilateral summit meeting with Pompidou(Margaret Thatcher Foundation, 2016). With this determined steer from above, the UK had acceded with a tacit acceptance among its negotiators that the entry terms it had been obliged to accept would have to be adjusted/renegotiated whenever that proved possible (Denman, 1997, p. 233 and pp. 243–244). Meanwhile, the Labour Party had remained badly split on the issue of membership, and now Harold Wilson, its wily managerial leader, was able to exploit both the manner of the UK's accession and the terms on which it had entered, to fashion election-winning party unity. The Labour Party's February 1974 General Election manifesto argued that 'a profound political mistake made by the Heath Government was to accept the terms of entry to the Common Market, and to take us in without the consent of the British people' (cited in Denman, 1997, p. 247).
The politicking and calculations that led to the holding of the UK's 5 June 1975 referendum are well known (see Butler and Kitzinger, 1976, pp. 12–20). But in the light of what has subsequently occurred, the importance of the 1975 referendum cannot be overestimated.
First, the referendum was the first-ever national plebiscite in British politics. The longstanding eschewal of direct democracy was no more. The principle that a referendum might be held had been acknowledged by Parliament, sovereign though it had always been and would always remain, through the Referendum Act 1975.
Second, no matter what the language used about the consultative nature of any referendum result, the potential for discordance between what a majority of MPs, on the one hand, and a majority of the people, on the other, believed had been irrevocably created. In 1975, those two majorities happened to concur. In 2016, they did not.
Third, more subliminally, because the first-ever referendum in the UK was a referendum about the UK's relationship with the European integration process, it created a sort of indelible link. Continued membership of the European Union (EU), it was implied, was an issue of such constitutional and political importance that it necessarily and quite logically could be addressed again by dint of a referendum.
Fourth, as one commentator has recently put it, 'the vast majority of modern national referendums are about undertaking a new project, whether joining the EU, approving a new constitution or constitutional amendments, becoming a republic or an independent state. In these cases, the referendums invited countries to take a step forward into a new future – one in which life would be better than it had been before' (Green, 2016). If such a presumption about referendums being perceived as opportunities to step forward were accepted, it would mean that any take-it-or-leave-it referendum about EU membership would imply that leaving might represent an improvement.
Fifth, the referendum device was not associated with accession per se but with the satisfactory nature of reform/renegotiation and subsequent continued membership. The UK had, for better or worse, already acceded to the EEC. Membership could thus be perceived as having been a fait accompli. The possible linkage of reform and a referendum, meanwhile, was a monster that would not raise its head with successful prime ministers enjoying substantive parliamentary majorities, but would inevitably haunt 'weak' prime ministers with small majorities.
Sixth, although there was a clear majority (67 per cent) in favour of remaining, the result was neither a strong one nor a particularly positive one: 'the verdict was not even necessarily a vote of confidence that things would be better in than out; it may have been no more than an expression of fear that things would be worse out than in' (Butler and Kitzinger, 1976, p. 280).
Lastly, the referendum and all that had preceded it had not only proven that 'Europe was now an issue for parliamentary rebellion' (Crowson, 2007, p. 43) but had legitimized it.
From 1979 until the mid-1980s, the UK's relations with the EEC were epitomized by Margaret Thatcher's combative attitude towards the EU and her determination to win the UK a proportionate budgetary rebate, culminating in the settlement reached at the June 1984 Fontainebleau European Council meeting. The subliminal impression given, once again, was of an unsatisfactory relationship arising out of unsatisfactory terms (unsatisfactorily renegotiated). Meanwhile, in its 1983 election manifesto, the Labour Party, under Michael Foot, pledged to begin negotiations to withdraw from the EU 'within the lifetime' of the following Parliament. (It was notably such policy stances that had led Jenkins (now a former European Commission President) and a number of other pro- EEC Labour MPs to break away, in 1981, and establish the Social Democratic Party.)
Thereafter, though Thatcher's combative attitude continued with the new French president of the European Commission, Jacques Delors, acting as sparring partner, it seemed that Thatcher's second administration might develop a more constructive role. After all, the 1986 Single European Act might not have been entirely to Thatcher's liking, but its core objective of creating a single market by 1992 was a project to which she and her government could not only enthusiastically sign up but also unashamedly champion. The Labour Party, too, under the reformist leadership of Neil Kinnock, was gradually converted to a pro-EU stance, not least through the creation of a flanking 'social Europe' that would lead to the 1989 signing of a social charter. But the latter was anathema to Thatcher. On 20 September 1988, she took advantage of a speech to the College of Europe to state, 'We have not successfully rolled back the frontiers of the state in Britain, only to see them re-imposed at a European level with a European super-state exercising a new dominance from Brussels' (Thatcher, 1988). Frictions steadily grew with her chancellor, Nigel Lawson , and foreign secretary, Geoffrey Howe, over policy towards Europe and particularly towards the European Exchange Rate Mechanism. Thatcher was increasingly sceptical about resurgent moves to create a European single currency. In protest at her interference, Lawson resigned on 27 October 1989, Howe on 1 November 1990, and by 22 November 1990, Thatcher was gone and, in retrospect, another subliminal message had been sent: 'Europe' had brought about the downfall of Margaret Thatcher – still a popular figure on the right and considered by many to have been the UK's greatest post-war prime minister after Churchill. More to the point, Euroscepticism now had a figurehead.
Although Europe had continued to be a source of division and friction within the two main political parties and between them, by the late 1980s membership was a given on both sides of the political divide. But by 1989, history was on the march. On 9 November 1989 the Berlin Wall fell, and it became apparent that Germany would unify and that Europe was about to undergo major geopolitical change. Momentum developed for the European project to respond through deeper political and economic integration. Space precludes a detailed account of the processes that led to the 7 February 1992 signing of the Maastricht Treaty (see, for example, Baun, 1996, and Dyson and Featherstone, 1999), which provided for both political and economic and monetary union (EMU). The Communities became a Union with citizens. Convergence criteria and a timetable were set for the EMU process. The Maastricht Treaty undeniably embodied a series of significant steps forward. The question was whether the UK would take all of those steps together with its fellow Member States. The pragmatic response of the new Conservative prime minister, John Major, was to stay on board as far as possible and to negotiate opt-outs, opt-ins and derogations where the UK could not take those steps. The most significant was the single currency. From the UK's point of view, there were two basic questions to be answered. Should it give its assent to the creation of a single currency? And, if so, should it be a part of it? The Labour Party's answer to both questions was 'yes' (as was that of the Liberal Democrats). For a long time, Labour had differentiated itself from the Conservatives by calling for ERM membership. But in 1990, Thatcher unexpectedly took sterling into the ERM. The party's leader concluded that differentiation could only be renewed through conditional support for membership of the currency union. Major's conclusion was, first, that he could not any more stand in the way of moves to a single currency (his proposals for a parallel currency had gained no traction) but should make sure that the envisaged EMU would be constructed on firm foundations, and, second, that the UK should adopt a wait-and-see attitude to membership for sterling, through an opt-out.
Excerpted from Brexit by William Outhwaite. Copyright © 2017 William Outhwaite. Excerpted by permission of Wimbledon Publishing Company.
Preface by William Outhwaite; Section 1. How Did It Happen? 1. The Increasing Inevitability of That Referendum - Martin Westlake; 2. Vox Populi: Nationalism, Globalization and the Balance of Power in the Making of Brexit - Jonathan Hearn; 3. Exit from the Perspective of Entry - John Holmwood; 4. Brexit, Sovereignty and the End of an Ever Closer Union - Stefan Auer; Section 2. The Politics of Brexit; 5. Populism, Nationalism and Brexit - Craig Calhoun; 6. A Tale of Two Constitutions: Whose Legitimacy? Whose Crisis? - Chris Thornhill; 7. Locating Brexit in the Pragmatics of Race, Citizenship and Empire - Gurminder K. Bhambra; 8. Globalization, Nationalism and the Changing Axes of Political Identity - Colin Crouch; 9. A Divided Nation in a Divided Europe: Emerging Cleavages and the Crisis of European Integration - Gerard Delanty; Section 3. Prospects For/ After Brexit; 10. The EU and Brexit: Processes, Perspectives and Prospects - Tim Oliver; 11. The Impossibility of Disentangling Integration - Antje Wiener; 12. No Exit from Brexit? - Simon Susen; 13. Critical Theory, Brexit and the Vicissitudes of Political Economy in the Twenty- First Century - Harry F. Dahms; 14. European Union versus European Society: Sociologists on ‘Brexit’ and the ‘Failure’ of Europeanization - Adrian Favell; Notes on Contributors; Index.
‘Although most of them were in favour of UK remaining in the EU, the social scientists invited by William Outhwaite to contribute to this book do not settle accounts with Brexiters. On the contrary, they offer a wide range of very persuasive explanations of the choice to Leave, explanations that are not ex post but based on significant previous research. They show that many of the difficulties and frustrations that resulted in Brexit have long been analysed and published.’
Sophie Duchesne, Research Director, National Centre for Scientific Recherché and Sciences Po Bordeaux, France
‘As Brexit was seen as unlikely to happen, it is also difficult to analyse and understand. In this book, sociologists accept the challenge to deal with the improbable rather than the predictable, with the sudden event rather than the ongoing trend. It demonstrates sociologists' engagement with key issues of our time.’
Peter Wagner, Professor, Social and Behavioural Sciences, Catalan Institute for Research and Advanced Studies and University of Barcelona, Spain
‘Only a stellar group of scholars can help us shed light on post-Brexit Europe. This volume features the pioneers of the sociology of the European Union who give us tools to understand the fragile social basis of the European project and the transnational dynamics set into motion over sixty years ago by the postwar integration process.’
Virginie Guiraudon, Research Professor, Sciences Po Center for European Studies, France
British Sociological Association
Culture, Practice & Europeanization
European Journal of Cultural and Political Sociology
"The book provides an excellent overview of current positions of British sociologists on the broader sociological implications of UK’s EU referendum and numerous inspirations for further reflections on current social trends both in Britain and Europe."
Sebastian M. Büttner, Culture, Practice & Europeanization, 2018, Vol. 3 , No. 1 , pp. 68-70
book by kenneth smith
book by keith linley
on beckett essays and criticism
book by robert neild
south asia 2060 envisioning regional futures
book by ranjeet s sokhi
A Guide to Marx's 'Capital' Vols I?III
This book provides a comprehensive guide to all three volumes of Karl Marx's 'Capital', with ...
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The Anthem Dictionary of Literary Terms and Theory
This Dictionary is a guide to the literary terms most relevant to students and readers ...
This Dictionary is a guide to the literary terms most relevant to students and readers of English literature today, thorough on the essentials and generous in its intellectual scope. With terms as wide-ranging in theme as 'emphasis', 'ekphrasis', 'ecocriticism' and ...
Capitalism and Freedom: The Contradictory Character of
This remarkable, expansive text, explores the impact and ramifications this domineering economic phenomenon has had ...
This remarkable, expansive text, explores the impact and ramifications this domineering economic phenomenon has had over our personal and social liberties. In this epoch of capitalist globalisation, Peter Nolan argues that capitalist freedom is a two-edged sword, and its contradictions ...
Chechnya: From Past to Future
'Chechnya: from Past to Future' creates a historical framework against which the most pressing issues ...
'Chechnya: from Past to Future' creates a historical framework against which the most pressing issues raised by the Chenchen struggle are considered, including the rights and wrongs of Chechen secessionism, the role of Islamic and Western international agencies in defending ...
Connecting ICTs to Development: The IDRC Experience
Over the past two decades, projects supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) have ...
Over the past two decades, projects supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) have critically examined the ways in which information and communications technologies (ICTs) can be used to improve learning, empower the disenfranchised, generate income opportunities for the ...
Edward FitzGerald?s Rub?iy?t of Omar Khayy?m: A Famous
The book presents the text of Edward FitzGerald's three main versions of the Rubáiyát of ...
The book presents the text of Edward FitzGerald's three main versions of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, together with non-technical commentary on the origins, role and influence of the poem, including the story of its publication. The commentary also addresses ...
FitzGerald's Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam: Popularity and Neglect
Edward FitzGerald's ‘Rubáiyát’, loosely based on verses attributed to the eleventh-century Persian writer, Omar Khayyám, ...
Edward FitzGerald's ‘Rubáiyát’, loosely based on verses attributed to the eleventh-century Persian writer, Omar Khayyám, has become one of the most widely known poems in the world, republished virtually every year from 1879 to the present day, and translated into ...
George Eliot's Grammar of Being
George Eliot's writing process was meticulous in all of its phases, from manuscript to published ...
George Eliot's writing process was meticulous in all of its phases, from manuscript to published text. Each of her extensive novels has a delicately crafted syntax, for she shaped her individual sentences as carefully as she wanted her public to ...
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Flitcroft 'Gutted' Reds Didn't Win
David Flitcroft caught up with Barnsley Player following tonight's 1-1 draw with Reading at Oakwell.
“I was gutted we didn’t go in at half time a goal to the good,” Flitcroft told Barnsley Player.
“We wanted a half time clean sheet which we got.
“The stadium drove us forward. They willed the team to go on. Chris O’Grady – who the fans love and he loves this club – got us the equaliser.
“They’re (fans) amazing and they’ve given me so much hope. We’ll ignite the fans, that’s our job to do that. It was an exciting team performance but one of steel, grit and determination.
“We’ve took them (Reading) on and deserved to win the football match.
“We’re going to try and evolve a different football team that’s got a passion about it, but it’s got to have a quality about it.
“I’m delighted with a lot of the aspects of tonight’s game. We’re going to grow into this season, there’s no doubt about that.”
Flitcroft had particular praise for Chris O’Grady who equalised for the Reds tonight with what’s becoming a trademark part of his game
“It doesn’t just happen,” said Flitcroft. “Chris O’Grady works and works and works, and demands me to ask for more from him.
“For a six foot two monster, he’s so athletic.”
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Entertainment & Arts selected
Where are the great new guitar bands?
By Ian Youngs Entertainment reporter, BBC News
Image caption Muse headlined Glastonbury and two nights at Wembley Stadium
From The Beatles to the Arctic Monkeys, Britain's great rock bands have belted out the soundtracks to our lives and carved a place at the heart of our culture.
So why have so few new bands broken through in the past couple of years? And what are new acts doing to keep guitar music alive?
There is a theory that says, almost 60 years since the birth of rock 'n' roll, all the great guitar riffs have been played to death.
All the great anthems have been written, every sound has been wrung from the instrument and every possible band line-up and look have been worn out.
In other words, it has all been done a million times before.
A glance at the singles charts, where rock and indie bands are an endangered species, makes that a persuasive notion.
Killers frontman Brandon Flowers and The Kings of Leon are the only such acts to have cracked the top 10 so far this year.
Two years ago, more than a dozen guitar-wielding bands - including Coldplay, Oasis, Razorlight, Kaiser Chiefs and The Kooks - reached the same heights.
But then the world seemed to get bored with the conventional guitar sound and the term "landfill indie" was enthusiastically wielded to beat down bands that sounded safe and stale - The Pigeon Detectives, The Fratellis, The Enemy, The View, Editors and The Courteeners among them.
This year, bands like Muse and Kings of Leon, with large fanbases built over long careers, have remained huge.
Mumford and Sons are the most successful new band of 2010 and The xx won the Mercury Music Prize. Both have had great years, partly because they have broken the conventional indie stereotype.
If you stop believing in a certain sort of music, it's going to take a lot for you to come back
Steve Lamacq, BBC 6 Music
There are still thousands of aspiring guitar bands under the radar - but it does not feel like many are threatening to grab the public's attention.
The disillusionment can be traced back to record labels chasing quick hits rather than acts with longevity, according to BBC 6 Music DJ Steve Lamacq.
"In this current climate, people are signing bands who have got one or two good tracks, hoping they can make one good album," he says. "And inevitably a lot of these bands are going to come and go.
"You end up ruining the sense of trust between tastemaker and audience, or record label and audience, or even musical genre and audience.
"If you stop believing in a certain sort of music, it's going to take a lot for you to come back."
Lamacq is 6 Music's arbiter-in-chief of good new guitar music, and has been casting a critical ear over new bands since hosting Radio 1's Evening Session in the heady days of Britpop.
If Radiohead emerged with their debut album today, it would be "unthinkable" that their long-term prospects would be recognised, he believes.
"It's the short term-ism coming home to roost, and that's a problem for the music industry and the media. But it's a problem that they've created for themselves in a lot of cases."
Steve Lamacq's favourite new bands
"The Crookes (above) are an incredibly erudite band with literary influences that make them stand apart from other people.
"The Heartbreaks have that romance, that faded glamour of the seaside town, which is really moving at times.
"Frankie & the Heartstrings are a great rock 'n' roll band who want to be Eddie Cochran."
Singer and songwriter Fran Barker cites Radiohead's second album The Bends as the record that "made me really want to pick up the guitar".
Her band Seerauber Jenny is "very much guitar-driven", she says, with an extra dimension added by bandmate Neil Claxton, who was behind dance act Mint Royale.
Artists cannot get away with simply playing traditional guitar music any more, Barker believes.
"People expect so much more from what they hear, and you've got access to so much more," she says.
"To be edgy you've got to try harder. You can't have a simple sound any more - it's got to be much more complex and instruments need to be used a lot more imaginatively."
A hospital heart monitor - used for beats instead of drums - is among the gadgets Seerauber Jenny have employed.
Many bands are going further in their quests for a fresh sound, taking them far away from their "landfill indie" cousins.
Manchester gig promoters Now Wave say they showcase "the sounds of the near future", seeking bands that are alternative, exciting and original.
Now Wave's Wesley Jones is "a little bit bored" with the standard indie formula. "I think the public are as well," he says.
It seems really limited to just be making sounds with the guitar, when there's so much more you can do with a palette of sounds
Sean Adams, Drowned In Sound
He mentions Glasgow quartet Errors, who recently played a Now Wave night, as an antidote. "That's four guys with guitars in there - but also an array of other instruments," Mr Jones says.
"And it doesn't sound dissimilar to dance music. It's 120bpm, there are no vocals, there's no singing about having lost your girlfriend.
"But they're utilising guitars in a different way. Not strumming them. There are all sorts of different ways to play it."
Mount Kimbie, another forward-thinking bunch, play "post dubstep", Jones says, which would be "unrecognisable to most indie rock fans".
"And yet there's a guitar in there, both plucked and played with a violin bow. It is used more in a soundscape way, or played and then heavily processed through other instruments to give it a very different sound."
If you're a budding music-maker with home software to create and record all the sounds you need, who needs bandmates anyway?
Sean Adams, founder of the Drowned In Sound music website, says wryly: "If you're a solo artist, you can create your own drummer without having to deal with drummers.
Image caption Folk rockers Mumford & Sons are the best-selling new British band of 2010
"Because of the way you can now create stuff with Garageband or Logic, it seems really limited to just be making sounds with the guitar, when there's so much more you can do with a palette of sounds."
Mr Adams, who released the Kaiser Chiefs' first single, also believes fans find it unnatural to listen to something that is "attached to previous generations" on their ultra-modern devices.
So where will the sound of the near future really come from? Will one of the mega-hip, bleeding-edge experimentalists hit upon a formula that propels them into the big time?
Or will young fans get sick of the soon-to-be landfill R&B, hip-hop and dubstep, and look to something they have rarely heard before - four blokes (or girls) with guitars, bass and drums and a rebellious rallying cry that they can relate to?
'Second wind'
"Maybe the guitar isn't as exciting and dangerous and vital as it once was," Mr Adams says. "Maybe that's going to come in a second wind with a backlash against all the dancier sounds and getting bored of seeing a guy on a laptop."
"I think the next big thing that will come along will be like an Oasis," Lamacq concludes. "It will sound like something you've heard before.
"And I don't think we'd mind - if they said something about your life. If they were engaging and charismatic. If, when you listen to their song, you want to listen to it again. You want something to believe in."
Very few new bands have been "touching people in that way" in the last 12 months, the DJ says.
"I can't really put my finger on why bands aren't forming like this - apart from they just want to take a short cut to success.
"Trying to be different now will be a struggle. But it will be the bands that are prepared to struggle that will take us out of this mess."
Rock anthems vanishing from chart
Pop reigns over rock in UK charts
Is the internet stifling new music?
2009: 'The year British indie guitar music died'
The golden age of infinite music
Steve Lamacq on 6 Music
Seerauber Jenny on Myspace
Now Wave
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Note: Latest amendments, December 22, 2012 Amending O. Reg. 191/11
Part 1 – General Requirements
The General Requirements are those regulatory requirements that apply across all three standards in this regulation – Information and Communications, Employment, and Transportation.
Requirements under the Information and Communications Standard
Section 1: Purpose of the Regulation
Integrated Accessibility Standard
Ontario Human Rights Code
Section 2: Definitions
Section 3: Establishment of Accessibility Policies
Requirement as Stated in the Regulation Intent of this Requirement Implementing the Requirement Statement of Commitment Accessibility Policies Developing an Accessibility Policy Customer Service Standard Principles Content and Format of Policies Documentation of Policies Availability of Policies Maintaining Accessibility Policies
Section 4: Accessibility Plans
Requirement as Stated in the Regulation Intent of this Requirement Implementing the Requirement Accessibility Plans Developing a Multi-year Accessibility Plan Assessing the Organization Drafting a Multi-Year Accessibility Plan Making an Accessibility Plan Public Reviewing and Updating the Accessibility Plan Additional Requirements for Transportation Service Providers Additional Requirements for Designated Public Sector Organizations Consulting with People with Disabilities Preparing an Annual Public Status Update
Section 5: Procuring or Acquiring Goods, Services or Facilities
Requirement as Stated in the Regulation Intent of this Requirement Implementing the Requirement Accessibility Features and Criteria Determining Practicability
Section 6: Self-Service Kiosks
Requirement as Stated in the Regulation
Section 7: Training
Requirement as Stated in Regulation
Intent of this Requirement
Implementing the Requirement
Who Should Receive Training
Training Based on Duties
Training Formats and Methods
Timing of Training
Record of Training
Information for Educators and Transportation Service Providers
Section 8: Exemption from Filing Accessibility Reports
When do Organizations Have to Comply
Part 2 – Information and Communications Standard
The Information and Communications Standard outlines requirements for organizations to create, provide and receive information and communications in ways that are accessible for people with disabilities. This should help people with disabilities access sources of information and communications that many of us rely on every day.
For example, it will help people with vision loss access more websites using their screen readers, expand large print and digital collections in public libraries and provide students with course information and learning materials in accessible formats.
Accessibility benefits everyone. Making accessibility a part of the way organizations send and receive information and communications will help business tap into opportunities to attract more customers, build customer loyalty and improve services. Reaching out to customers with disabilities may enable business to tap into $9.6 billion more in revenue.
Section 9: Definitions and Exceptions
Application of Exception
Section 10: Application
Section 11: Feedback
Receiving and Responding to Feedback
Feedback from the Public
Feedback from Employees
Customer Service Standard Feedback Requirement
Creating an Accessible Feedback Process
Accessible Formats and Communication Supports
Section 12: Accessible Formats and Communication Supports
About Accessible Formats and Communication Supports
Consulting with the Person Making the Request
Unconvertible Information
Meeting Requests in a Timely Manner
Providing Information at No Additional Cost
Section 13: Emergency Procedures, Plans or Public Safety Information
Implementing this Requirement
What is Emergency and Public Safety Information?
What is “As Soon As Practicable?”
Current Practices for Emergency Plans
Section 14: Accessible Websites and Web Content
Implementing the Requirement Terminology
What is WCAG?
What does Level A and Level AA mean?
What does new website and content mean?
What does practicable mean?
Website Information Posted Prior to 2012
Website Information Posted After 2012
Availability of Commercial Software and Tools
Technological Capability
Projects Planned Prior to January 1, 2012
Staggered Timelines for Compliance
Section 15: Educational and Training Resources and Materials
Intent of the Requirement
Notification of Need
Student Records and Program Information
Section 16: Training to Educators
Accessibility Awareness Training
Training Record
Relationship with General Training Requirement
Section 17: Producers of Educational or Training Material
Section 18: Libraries of Educational and Training Institutions
Availability of Information
Section 19: Public Libraries
Special Collections, Rare Books and Archival Materials
Part 3 – Employment Standard
The Employment Standard, under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation, requires employers to provide for accessibility across all stages of the employment life cycle.
By pro-actively removing barriers across the employment life cycle, employers can help to create workplaces that are accessible and which allow employees to reach their full potential.
The Employment Standard applies to paid employees. This includes, but is not limited to, full-time, part-time, paid apprenticeships and seasonal employment. As good business practice, employers may apply the Standard to unpaid staff, volunteers and other forms of unpaid work.
The Employment Standard is a framework for integrating accessibility into regular workplace processes. Accessibility benefits everyone. Accessible employment processes mean that employers can access an untapped pool of talent. By providing accessible opportunities in the labour market, Ontario’s employment income may increase by $618 million.
Requirements under the Employment Standard
Section 20: Scope and Interpretation
Section 21: Schedule
Section 22: Recruitment General
Section 23: Recruitment, Assessment Or Selection Process
Section 24: Notice to Successful Applicants
Section 25: Informing Employees of Supports
Section 26: Accessible Formats and Communication Supports For Employees
Workplace Information
Documenting Accessible Formats and Communications Supports
Section 27: Workplace Emergency Response Information
When to Provide Individual Workplace Emergency Response Information
Developing Individual Workplace Emergency Response Information
When an Employee Needs Assistance
Reviewing Individualized Workplace Emergency Response Information
Documenting Individualized Workplace Emergency Response Information
Section 28: Documented Individual Accommodation Plans
Developing Individual Accommodation Plans
Why Reviews are Required
Additional Information for Individual Accommodation Plans
Section 29: Return to Work Process
Section 30: Performance Management
Section 31: Career Development and Advancement
Career Development and Advancement and Individual Accommodation Plans
Section 32: Redeployment
Redeployment and Individual Accommodation Plans
Part 4 – Transportation Standard
The requirements in the Transportation Standard will help transportation providers as well as municipalities, universities, colleges, hospitals and school boards make their services and vehicles accessible to people with disabilities.
Accessibility benefits everyone. Accessible transportation services will assist people with disabilities in being able to live, work and participate in their communities. It will not only assist persons with disabilities living in Ontario, but visitors, families with strollers, and seniors.
Requirements under the Transportation Standard
The Accessible Transportation Standard has 47 sections, which fall into seven categories.
Section 33: Definitions
Section 34: Availability of Information On Accessibility Equipment
Section 35: Non-Functioning Accessibility Equipment
Section 36: Accessibility Training
Training Records
Safe use of equipment
Barriers to accessibility or failure of accessibility equipment
Procedures for emergencies
Section 37: Emergency Preparedness and Response Policies
Developing Policies
Availability to Public
Section 38: Fares, Support Persons
No Fare Charged
Demonstrating the Need for a Support Person
Giving the Designation
Section 39: Transition “- Existing Contracts
Section 40: Transition “- Existing Vehicles
No Retrofit Requirement
Requirements Regarding Modifications/Upgrades
Section 41: Accessibility Plans “- Conventional Transportation Services
Providers of both Conventional and Specialized Services
Other Accessibility Plan Requirements
Section 42: Accessibility Plans “- Specialized Transportation Services
Estimating Demand
Reducing Waiting Times
Section 43: Accessibility Plans “- Conventional And Specialized Transportation Services
Section 44: General Responsibilities
Using Ramps, Bridge Plates and Lifts
Providing Adequate Time
Safe Storage of Mobility Aids and Mobility Assistive Devices
Allowing Medical Aids
Ensuring Safety
Providing Accessible Information
Section 45: Alternative Accessible Method of Transportation
Alternative Accessible Method of Transportation
Section 46: Fares
Accessible Fare Payment Options
Section 47: Transit Stops
Who Decides
What vehicles
Section 48: Storage of Mobility Aids And Mobility Assistive Devices
Storage in Passenger Compartments
Storing in Baggage Compartments
Charging Fees
Section 49: Courtesy Seating
Clearly Marked Seating
Communications Strategy
Section 50: Service Disruptions
Route Changes Known in Advance
Section 51: Pre-Boarding Announcements
Implementing the Requirements
Verbal Requirements
Electronic Requirements
Section 52: On-Board Announcements
Conventional Transportation Service Providers – Technical Requirements
Sections 53 – 62 relate to the technical requirements for vehicles regulated under the Accessible Transportation Standard.
Section 53: Grab Bars, Handholds, Handrails, Stanchions
The Intent of this Requirement
Vehicles Regulated under Ontario Regulation 629
Section 54: Floors and Carpeted Surfaces
Floor surfaces
Carpeted Surfaces
Section 55: Allocated Mobility Aid Spaces
Mobility Aid Securement Devices
Use by Other Passengers
Section 56: Stop Requests and Emergency Response Controls
Accessible Control Standards
Auditory and Visual Indicators
Tactile Information
Section 57: Lighting Features
Lighting Requirements
Ground Level Lighting
Protecting from Glare
Section 58: Signage
Signage Information
Signage Requirements and Characteristics
Signage must include all of the following components:
Section 59: Lifting Devices, Ramps, or Portable Bridge Plates
Lifting Device, Ramp, Portable Bridge Plate Requirements
Section 60: Steps
Heights and Depths
Section 61: Indicators and Alarms
Warning Indicators and Alarms
Warning Lamps
Using the Lights and Alarms
Section 62: Rail Cars
Mobility Aid Accessible Rail Car
Accessible Washroom
Section 63: Categories of Eligibility
Categories of Eligibility
Unconditional Eligibility
Temporary Eligibility
Conditional Eligibility
Offering Consistency
Denying Requests
Section 64: Eligibility Application Process
Application Waiting Period
Providing Accessible Formats
Re-assessing Eligibility
Appealing the Process
Deciding within 30 days
Upholding the original decision
Collecting Personal Information
Section 65: Emergency or Compassionate Grounds
Applying for Emergency or Compassion Grounds
Section 66: Fare Parity
Providing Fare Parity
Same provider
Different providers
Structuring Fares
Paying Fares
Section 67: Visitors
Eligibility for Service
Developing Criteria for Visitors
Section 68: Origin to Destination Services
Origin to Destination
Example of “feeder” service
Using what is available and accessible
Section 69: Coordinated Service
Coordinated Stops and Drop Off Locations
Section 70: Hours of Service
Separate Transportation Service Providers
One Specialized Transportation Provider for Several Municipalities
Same Transportation Service Provider
Section 71: Bookings
Next Day Services and Advance Bookings
Accessible Booking
Section 72: Trip Restrictions
No Restrictions on Requests for Trips
No Unreasonable Policies or Practices
Reasonable Limits on Use of Services
Section 73: Service Delays
Purpose of Notification
Defining a Service Delay
Unexpected delays
Predictable delays
Communicating a Delay
Section 74: Companions and Children
Travelling with Companions
Travelling with Dependent Children
Section 75: School Transportation
Providing Accessible Transportation
Alternative Accessible Transportation
Providing Transportation Supports
Identification of Students with Disabilities
Developing Individual School Transportation Plans
Section 76: Public Sector Organizations
Accessible Transportation Services
Section 77: Ferries
Implementing the Requirement Federal Code of Practice Requirements
Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation Requirements
Section 78: Duties of Municipalities – General
Planning for Accessible Bus Stops and Shelters
Third Party Contracts
Section 79: Duties of Municipalities “- Accessible Taxicabs
Progress and Steps
Section 80: Duties of Municipalities “- Taxicabs
Fees and Fares
Taxicab Information
Information on Bumpers
Information for Passengers
Glossary Purpose Terms and definitions
In 2005, the Ontario Government passed the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act to make Ontario accessible by 2025.
Accessibility standards have been created as part of theAccessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. These standards are rules that businesses and organizations in Ontario need to follow to identify, remove and prevent barriers so that people with disabilities have more opportunities to participate in everyday life.
The Accessibility Standard for Customer Service was the first standard to become law.
The next three standards -Information and Communications, Employment, and Transportation – have been combined under one regulation, the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation. This regulation is now law and the requirements currently in regulation are being phased in between 2011 and 2021.
An accessibility standard for the built environment (buildings and outdoor spaces) is in development and is not yet law.
Why Accessibility? It’s Just Good Business
By 2031, over 6 million people in Ontario will be either living with a disability or be 55 years of age and over, accounting for 40% of all income
As boomers age, it is expected that they will drive society to meet their needs and demands
This is a huge demographic that cannot be ignored
By learning how to serve people with disabilities, businesses may attract more customers, build customer loyalty and improve their services for everyone
With the aging population, consumers are increasingly represented by the disability community
Ontario businesses need to market to and develop products for people with disabilities in order to compete and succeed
But, beyond being good for business – it’s just the right thing to do
Accessibility Benefits Everyone
Accessibility not only helps people with disabilities, it also benefits:
families travelling with young children
visitors with luggage
Affected Businesses and Organizations
The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation applies to all Ontario organizations that provide goods, services or facilities to the public or to other organizations and have at least one employee.
The regulation divides organizations into five categories.
Government of Ontario and the Legislative Assembly
Large designated public sector organizations with 50+ employees
Small designated public sector organizations with 1- 49 employees
Large organizations (private and not-for-profit) with 50+ employees
Small organizations (private and not-for-profit) with 1-49 employees
An organization’s requirements and timelines for compliance depend on which of these classes it falls under.
How to Read this Guide
The guide is divided into five parts based on the parts of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation.
Part 1 General Requirements
Part 2 Information and Communications Standard Requirements
Part 3 Employment Standard Requirements
Part 4 Transportation Standard Requirements
It is recommended that all organizations read Parts 1, 2, 3.
Part 4 only applies to organizations providing transportation services.
Each part is divided into sections matching the section number in the regulation. Each section is a requirement of the regulation. In some cases a section addresses an exemption to certain organizations (e.g., Part 1, section 8). In others it provides information relevant to the regulation (e.g., Part 1, section 1).
The guide also includes a Glossary (Appendix A) .
This guide is intended to be read as a companion to, and in conjunction with, the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (Ontario Regulation 191/11).
Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation
The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation establishes accessibility standards and introduces requirements for Information and Communications, Employment and Transportation. The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation also establishes the compliance framework for obligated organizations.
The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation applies to all public, private and not-for-profit organizations, with at least one employee.
Organizations have current and ongoing obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code respecting non-discrimination. The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation does not replace or affect existing legal obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code and other laws in respect to accommodation of people with disabilities. Organizations must comply with both pieces of legislation.
The Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act both deal with accessibility, but are two very different pieces of legislation. The Ontario Human Rights Code is an individual, complaints-based legislation that addresses discrimination. The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation, created under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, applies to all organizations in Ontario and will increase accessibility for all.
The Ontario Human Rights Code requires organizations to accommodate people with disabilities to the point of undue hardship.
The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation does not replace or affect legal rights or obligations that arise under the Ontario Human Rights Code and other laws relating to the accommodation of people with disabilities. This means that the Ontario Human Rights Code or other applicable legislation may require additional accommodation measures that go beyond or are different from the standards established by the regulations of the AODA.
The terms identified and defined below are intended to provide assistance in understanding and implementing the requirements outlined in the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation.
accessible formats -formats that are an alternative to standard print and are accessible to people with disabilities. Accessible formats may include large print, Braille, and audio electronic formats such as DVDs, CDs.
communication supports -supports that individuals with disabilities may need to access information. Some examples include plain language formats, sign language, as well as reading out loud, captioning, or using written notes to communicate.
designated public sector organization – refers to organizations listed in Schedule 1 of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (Broader Public Sector). These organizations include hospitals, universities, colleges of applied arts and technology, district school boards and organizations that provide public transportation such as municipalities. Hereafter, also referred to as “public sector” in these guidelines.
Designated public sector organization also means every municipality and every person or organization listed in Column 1 of Table 1 of Ontario Regulation 146/10.
Government of Ontario -refers to the executive of the government and operational branches, including every ministry of the Government of Ontario and the Office of the Premier.
large designated public sector organization – refers to designated public sector organizations with 50 or more employees. Hereafter, also referred to as “large public sector” in these guidelines.
large organization -refers to a private or not-for-profit organization that provides goods, services or facilities to the public, or to other organizations, and has 50 or more employees in Ontario. See obligated organizations below. It does not include the Government of Ontario, Legislative Assembly, or designated public sector organizations. Large organizations are hereafter also referred to as “large private or not-for-profit organization” in these guidelines.
Legislative Assembly -refers to the offices of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario including all the offices of members of the provincial parliament (MPPs), their constituency offices in their ridings and the offices of those appointed on the address of the assembly, such as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
obligated organization -refers to the Government of Ontario, Legislative Assembly and designated public sector organizations, as well as the large and small organizations to which the standards of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation apply.
small designated public sector organization – refers to designated public sector organizations with at least one employee but fewer than 50 employees, to which the standards of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation apply. Hereafter, also referred to as “small public sector” in these guidelines.
small organization -refers to a private or not-for-profit organization that provides goods, services or facilities to the public, or to other organizations, and has at least one but fewer than 50 employees in Ontario. See obligated organizations above. It does not include the Government of Ontario, Legislative Assembly, or designated public sector organizations. Small organizations are hereafter, also referred to as “small private or not-for-profit organization” in these guidelines.
3 (1) Every obligated organization shall develop, implement and maintain policies governing how the organization achieves or will achieve accessibility through meeting its requirements under the accessibility standards referred to in this Regulation.
(2) Obligated organizations, other than small organizations, shall include a statement of organizational commitment to meet the accessibility needs of persons with disabilities in a timely manner in their policies.
(3) The Government of Ontario, the Legislative Assembly, every designated public sector organization and large organizations shall,
a) prepare one or more written documents describing its policies; and
b) make the documents publicly available, and shall provide them in an accessible format upon request.
The intent of this requirement is that all organizations establish policies on how they will meet their obligations under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation.
Ontario Government andLegislative Assembly January 1, 2012 Designated public sector
organizations with 50+ employees January 1, 2013
Designated public sector organizations with 1-49 employees January 1, 2014
Private and not-for-profit organizations with 50+ employees January 1, 2014
Private and not-for-profit organizations with 1-49 employees January 1, 2015
Statement of Commitment
All public sector organizations, as well as private and not-for-profit organizations with 50 or more employees must develop a statement of commitment.
Private and not-for-profit organizations with 49 or fewer employees are not required to develop a statement of commitment.
A statement of commitment establishes the vision and the goals for an organization. It is an important first step in the development of accessibility policies as it gives an organization purpose, clarity and direction.
Organizations must make their statement of commitment publicly available. This can be done in a number of ways, including posting it on the premises, such as on a bulletin board in a public area, or on the company website.
Organizations must also provide their statement of commitment in an accessible format on request. For example, a person with low vision may request the statement of commitment in large print.
Accessibility Policies
A policy is a formal organizational rule or principle to guide decisions and to achieve outcomes. A policy does not normally address how this rule or principle will be achieved.
Organizations must establish accessibility policies describing what they do, or intend to do, to meet the requirements of the regulation.
The statement of commitment described earlier establishes a goal for an organization to work towards. An accessibility policy states what rules or principles an organization will put in place to support achieving its accessibility goal(s).
Developing an Accessibility Policy
Customer Service Standard Principles
Under the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service, organizations are required to use reasonable efforts to make their policies consistent with the following principles:
integration, except when alternate measures are necessary to meet the needs of people with disabilities
Organizations may consider these principles to guide them in developing policies under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation and in fostering accessibility generally.
For more information on these principles, please see the Accessibility Standard for Customer Service: Employer Handbook
Content and Format of Policies
Organizations have the flexibility to create accessibility policies that best fit their existing organizational culture and business practices. They may choose to have one policy or a series of policies on accessibility. They may also choose to integrate the accessibility policy or policies into existing policies.
Organizations are only required to develop policies on the requirements that apply to their business.
For example, a grocery store or a print shop would not need to develop policies required under the Transportation Standard since they are not a transportation service provider.
Documentation of Policies
Public sector, as well as private and not-for-profit organizations with 50 or more employees must document their policies in writing.
Private and not-for-profit sector organizations with 49 or fewer employees are not required to put their policies in writing.
If an organization has existing written policies or codes of practice, a best practice may be to integrate their accessibility requirements within these existing documents for consistency purposes.
For example, an organization may already have in place human resources policies on recruitment or performance management. Instead of developing separate policies on accessible recruitment and performance management, principles of accessibility can be incorporated into existing policies.
Availability of Policies
Public sector organizations, as well as private and not-for-profit organizations with 50 or more employees must make their accessibility policies available to the public.
Organizations have the flexibility to meet this requirement in a way that considers their existing business practices. For example, organizations may post information about their accessibility policies on their premises, such as on a bulletin board in a public area, on their website or through other reasonable methods so that the public is aware the information is available.
Organizations must also provide a copy of their policies to any person who requests one. As well, the copy must be provided in an accessible format , if required.
Organizations must provide accessible formats of their accessibility policies to their employees. Organizations have the flexibility to determine how best to provide this information to an employee.
Maintaining Accessibility Policies
All obligated organizations must develop, implement and maintain their accessibility policies. Policies are living documents and should be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current practices of the organization.
4 (1) The Government of Ontario, Legislative Assembly, designated public sector organizations and large organizations shall,
a) establish, implement, maintain and document a multi-year accessibility plan, which outlines the organization’s strategy to prevent and remove barriers and meet its requirements under this Regulation;
b) post the accessibility plan on their website, if any, and provide the plan in an accessible format upon request; and
c) review and update the accessibility plan at least once every five years.
(2) The Government of Ontario, Legislative Assembly and designated public sector organizations shall establish, review and update their accessibility plans in consultation with persons with disabilities and, if they have established an accessibility advisory committee, they shall consult with the committee.
(3) The Government of Ontario, Legislative Assembly and designated public sector organizations shall,
a) prepare an annual status report on the progress of measures taken to implement the strategy referenced in clause (1)(a); and
b) post the status report on their website, if any, and provide the report in an accessible format upon request.
The intent of this requirement is that obligated organizations develop a multi-year accessibility plan, outlining their strategies to prevent and remove barriers to accessibility. Once developed, organizations must maintain their accessibility plan.
Ontario Government andLegislative Assembly January 1, 2012
Designated public sector organizations with 50+ employees January 1, 2013
Designated public sector organizations with 1- 49 employees January 1, 2014
Private and not-for-profit organizations with 49 or fewer employees are not required to prepare multi-year accessibility plans.
Accessibility Plans
An accessibility plan describes the actions an organization will take to prevent and remove barriers, and when it will do so.
An accessibility plan creates a road map for an organization to increase accessibility. It puts into action an organization’s commitment to accessibility (refer to the statement of commitment), and its accessibility policies.
Developing a Multi-year Accessibility Plan
Assessing the Organization
An assessment will help an organization determine where it currently stands with respect to accessibility for people with disabilities. An assessment will help determine what specific steps the organization needs to take to increase accessibility and how it can reach the goals in its accessibility policy.
The assessment will help an organization to better understand its readiness to meet its accessibility requirements. Further, an assessment will assist in developing an effective plan to prevent and remove barriers to accessibility.
An assessment could include a variety of existing organizational practices, such as business, operational, human resources, customer service, and others.
In order to get a broad perspective of existing barriers to accessibility within their organization, organizations could seek feedback from employees, clients, customers and people with disabilities.
Drafting a Multi-Year Accessibility Plan
The requirements under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation are being phased-in over several years to allow organizations the time they need to incorporate accessibility into their regular business practices.
In their multi-year accessibility plan, organizations can document the short and long-term requirements they need to meet.
The multi-year accessibility plan lays out how organizations will accomplish the following:
meet their accessibility requirements within required timelines specified in the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation
address any current accessibility barriers
prevent and remove future barriers
As well, when the accessibility plan is updated, organizations can highlight what they have accomplished and how they have successfully met the requirements in the regulation.
Making an Accessibility Plan Public
Organizations that are required to develop an accessibility plan must post a copy on their website, if they have one, and/or provide a copy to any person who requests one. Posting accessibility plans publicly gives organizations the opportunity to communicate their strategy for meeting accessibility, and sets expectations for the public.
Organizations must provide the plan in an accessible format, if requested.
Reviewing and Updating the Accessibility Plan
Accessibility plans are living documents. Organizations must review and update their plan every five years.
By updating their plan every five years, organizations can determine if they are on-track for meeting their requirements, highlight accomplishments that have been made, and make any adjustments needed in order to meet the timelines under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation.
Organizations have five years from their compliance dates to review and update their plan. For example, designated public sector organizations with 50 or more employees must have their initial plans developed by January 1, 2013, and review and update their plans by January 1, 2018.
Additional Requirements for Transportation Service Providers
Conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers have additional accessibility plan requirements outlined under the Accessible Transportation Standard .
Additional Requirements for Designated Public Sector Organizations
Consulting with People with Disabilities
In developing, reviewing and updating their accessibility plans, all designated public sector organizations must consult with people with disabilities.
If the organization has an accessibility advisory committee, this committee must also be included in the consultation process.
Consultations provide people with disabilities with an opportunity to participate and provide valuable feedback that should help organizations maintain an awareness of people’s accessibility needs.
Preparing an Annual Public Status Update
All designated public sector organizations must prepare annual public status updates on the progress of the measures they have taken to implement the strategies referred to in their accessibility plans.
These updates are not required to be submitted to government. They are distinct from the accessibility compliance reports that obligated organizations are required to file to indicate their compliance with the regulation.
In these updates, organizations can announce measures that they have put in place to reduce barriers to accessibility and to keep the public informed of their progress.
All designated public sector organizations must make their annual status update available to the public by posting it on their website, if they have one, and providing the update in accessible format , upon request.
Section 5: Procuring or Acquiring Goods, Services, or Facilities
5(1) The Government of Ontario, Legislative Assembly and designated public sector organizations shall incorporate accessibility criteria and features when procuring or acquiring goods, services or facilities, except where it is not practicable to do so.
(2) If the Government of Ontario, Legislative Assembly or a designated public sector organization determines that it is not practicable to incorporate accessibility criteria and features when procuring or acquiring goods, services or facilities, it shall provide, upon request, an explanation.
The intent of this requirement is that all designated public sector organizations incorporate accessibility criteria and features into their procurement practices so that goods, services, and facilities are more accessible to people with disabilities, unless it is not practicable to do so.
This requirement only applies to the Government of Ontario, the Legislative Assembly and designated public sector organizations
Affected Organization Compliance Dates
Government of Ontario and Legislative Assembly January 1, 2012
Designated public sector organizations with 50+ employees January 1, 201
Accessibility Features and Criteria
Accessibility features and criteria must be considered and incorporated, where possible.
Accessibility features include technical features (e.g., software), and structural features (e.g., physical design, including hardware or product specifications).
Organizations make decisions on what goods, services, or facilities they procure based on different criteria.
For example, they may consider quality, cost and delivery terms. Additionally, some organizations may consider environmental or manufacturing criteria, i.e., more value is placed on products that meet green initiatives or are made-in-Ontario products. Another criterion that could be included is accessibility training . This may be important for organizations when hiring another organization to provide services for them.
Accessibility must be incorporated into an organization’s process for procuring or acquiring goods, services or facilities except when it is not practical to do so.
Determining Practicability
Factors relevant to practicability may include:
availability of accessible goods, services or facilities
technological compatibility between older products and newer ones being procured
When requested, an organization must provide an explanation as to why it did not incorporate accessibility criteria and features when procuring goods, services, or facilities. The explanation must be provided in an accessible format or with appropriate communications supports, if necessary.
For more detailed information go to the Information and Communications Standard, Section 12 “Accessible Formats and Communications Supports”
6(1) Without limiting the generality of section 5, the Government of Ontario, Legislative Assembly and designated public sector organizations shall incorporate accessibility features when designing, procuring or acquiring self-service kiosks.
(2) Large organizations and small organizations shall have regard to the accessibility for persons with disabilities when designing, procuring or acquiring self-service kiosks.
(3) The Government of Ontario, Legislative Assembly and designated public sector organizations shall meet the requirements of this section in accordance with the schedule set out in subsection 5 (3).
(4) Large organizations shall meet the requirements under subsection (2) as of January 1, 2014 and small organizations shall meet the requirements as of January 1, 2015.
(5) In this section, “kiosk” means an interactive electronic terminal, including a point-sale device, intended for public use that allows users to access one or more services or products or both.
The intent of this requirement is that all organizations that offer services and/or products through self-service kiosks take steps to make them accessible, on a go forward-basis, to people with disabilities so they can be used independently and securely.
Ontario Government and Legislative Assembly January 1, 2012
The requirements are different for designated public sector organizations and private and not-for-profit organizations (see “Implementing the Requirement ” below)
About Self-Service Kiosks
In this requirement, kiosk is used to describe an interactive electronic terminal including a point-of-sale device that the public can use to access one or more services or products, or both.
People use self-service kiosks for various purposes including paying for fares and parking, as well as for validating tickets and checking prices. Kiosks are also used as self-service checkouts in many retail stores today.
Most self-service kiosks allow people to complete transactions through point-of-sale devices using a debit, credit or other electronic funds card.
Example: A self-serve kiosk that uses touch-screen technology may be difficult, or impossible, to use for people who are blind or have low-vision unless an alternate (non-visual) mode of operation, such as an accessible tactile keyboard, is made available.
Self-Service Kiosks Accessibility Features
When determining what accessibility features can be included in the design or purchase of a kiosk, organizations may consider technical features, structural features, and the access path to the kiosk.
Technical features – includes the colour contrast on the display screen and the options to increase font size, as well as allowing for extra time to complete tasks. Other technical features include voice activating equipment and visual and non-visual modes of operation, etc.
Structural features -includes the height and stability of the kiosk, headset jacks with volume control, and specialized keypads or keyboards, etc.
Access path -includes reach ranges for people using mobility aids, the proximity of the kiosk to other objects, etc.
Regulatory Requirement for Designated Public Sector Organizations
The Ontario Government, Legislative Assembly, and all designated public sector organizations are required to incorporate accessibility features into their kiosks.
Under this requirement, “to incorporate” means that organizations must implement accessibility features into the kiosks. While the requirement does not specify what features should be built-into the design or purchase requirements for the kiosk, public sector organizations should consider the needs of all their customers and clients to make them accessible to the widest range of users.
Regulatory Requirement for Private and Not-for-Profit Organizations
All private and not-for profit organizations are required to have regard to accessibility features for their kiosks.
Under this requirement, “have regard to”means that organizations must consider what accessibility features they could build-into their kiosks to best meet the needs of their customers and clients. Organizations should strive to include accessibility features where possible, and consider the accessibility needs, preferences and abilities of the widest range of users.
7(1) Every obligated organization shall ensure that training is provided on the requirements of the accessibility standards referred to in this Regulation and on the Human Rights Code as it pertains to persons with disabilities to,
(a) all employees, and volunteers;
(b) all persons who participate in developing the organization’s policies; and
(c) all other persons who provide goods, services or facilities on behalf of the organization.
(2) The training on the requirements of the accessibility standards and on the Human Rights Code referred to in subsection
(1) shall be appropriate to the duties of the employees, volunteers and other persons.
(3) Every person referred to in subsection (1) shall be trained as soon as practicable.
(4) Every obligated organization shall provide training in respect of any changes to the policies described in section 3 on an ongoing basis.
(5) The Government of Ontario, the Legislative Assembly, every designated public sector organization and every large organization shall keep a record of the training provided under this section, including the dates on which the training is provided and the number of individuals to whom it is provided.
The intent of this requirement is that all organizations train employees, volunteers, all those who participate in developing the organization’s policies, and all others who provide goods or services on behalf of the organization, about the requirements in the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation, as well as the Ontario Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities.
Organizations must provide training on the requirements in the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation and on the disability-related obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code (the Code).
The training should include information about achieving accessibility by 2025 and highlight the requirements of the three standards “Information and Communication, Employment, and Transportation “in the regulation as they apply to the organization’s business.
As well, organizations must understand their requirements under the Code and the differences between the Code and Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation, and provide training accordingly.
Please follow this link to more information about the Code as it relates to people with disabilities.
Who Should Receive the Training
The training must be provided to:
All employees and volunteers, including paid and unpaid positions
Anyone who participates in developing the organization’s policies, which might include managers, senior leaders, boards of directors, business owners and independent operating regulated professionals
Anyone who provides goods, services or facilities on behalf of the organization, which might include outsourced services, such as payroll, facilities management and contact centres.
Individuals should be trained as needed to perform the duties of their jobs. It is therefore important to assess the requirements in the regulation against the roles or duties of the person or people within the organization.
Job descriptions, if used, are a good place to start when determining what information a person should receive in a training session, considering at the same time what the person does in practice on a regular basis.
Organizations have flexibility to determine how best to provide the training. An organization may determine one training session is appropriate for various employees even though they perform different duties, e.g., hostess, busser, server, and bartender. In other situations, the training may vary. For example, a human resources manager will need different training than a cashier in the same organization.
Organizations have the flexibility to determine the best training method for their organization.
Training can be provided in a variety of ways. It can be a separate training program or included as part of an orientation session or a larger training program.
The training can also be delivered in different formats such as handouts or PowerPoint presentations at orientation sessions, or staff meetings, or as on-line training modules.
In addition to meeting the initial timelines requirement, organizations are required to provide training on an ongoing basis, such as when new employees join organizations, or when their accessibility policies change.
For example, some organizations have standardized training schedules. This allows them to build accessibility training into their regular training schedules, and train within existing business practices.
All organizations, with the exception of private and not-for-profit organizations with 49 or fewer employees, must keep records of the number of individuals who were trained, and the dates that the training was provided.
In addition to the general training requirement set out in this section, educators and transportation service providers have additional training requirements.
For more information on accessibility training for educators, please see Information and Communications Standard, Section 16, “Training to Educators”.
For more information on accessibility training for transportation service providers, please see Transportation Standard, Section 36, “Accessibility Training “.
8(1) Small organizations are exempted from the requirement to file accessibility reports under section 14 of the Act with respect to the accessibility standards in this Regulation.
(2) The following are the reasons for the exemption:
It is consistent with a phased approach to implementing the Act.
It allows the exempted obligated organizations to focus their efforts and resources on complying with the accessibility standards.
Organizations with fewer than 49 employees are exempt from the requirement to file accessibility reports.
This exemption reduces the regulatory burden for small organizations and allows them to focus their efforts and resources on complying with the accessibility standards and achieving results.
This exemption applies to private and not-for profit organizations with 1-49 employees.
All organizations with one or more employees must comply with requirements in the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
Under section 14 of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, organizations are required to file annual accessibility reports outlining the organizations’progress towards becoming accessible for people with disabilities.
This regulation exempts small organizations, those with 1 “49 employees, from filing accessibility reports.
These organizations, however, may be required to submit compliance-related information or other reports, and they may be subjected to compliance audits or inspections.
The government will continue to help small organizations comply with the regulation and become accessible by providing tools, resources and education materials.
The terms and exceptions identified below are intended to provide assistance in understanding and implementing the requirements outlined in the Information and Communications Standard.
communications -the term communications as it used in the Information and Communications Standard refers to the interaction between two or more people or entities when information is provided, sent or received.
conversion ready -refers to an electronic or digital format that assists conversion into an accessible format such as Braille, large print, audio cassettes, CDs, DVDs, etc.
information -the term information as it is used in the Information and Communications Standard refers to knowledge, data and facts that convey meaning and that exist in any format such as text, audio, digital or images.
These exceptions apply to all requirements within the Information and Communications Standard.
The Information and Communications Standard does not apply to the following:
Products and product labels, except as specifically provided by this Part.
Unconvertible information or communications.
Information that the obligated organization does not control directly or indirectly through a contractual relationship, except as required under sections 15 and 18.
If an obligated organization determines that information or communications are unconvertible, the organization must provide the person requesting the information or communication with:
an explanation as to why the information or communications are unconvertible; and
a summary of the unconvertible information or communications.
For the purposes of the Information and Communications Standard, information or communications are unconvertible if,
it is not technically feasible to convert the information or communications; or
the technology to convert the information or communications is not readily available.
The Information and Communications Standard requires people and organizations to provide accessible information and communications about the goods, services or facilities offered to customers, clients and others.
It is not about making products, e.g., cold medicine, DVDs, etc. and/or labels on the packaging of these products, accessible.
In the examples of cold medicine or DVDs, a drugstore would have to find accessible ways to inform customers about the cold medicine available on the shelves and how to safely use it. A video store would have to find accessible ways to inform customers about their DVD selection.
Education and training institutions (as defined in the regulation ) and their libraries, as well as producers of education and training materials and public libraries need to refer to their specific parts of the regulation (sections 15, 17, 18 and 19) to understand their obligations in terms of products.
The standard applies to information or communications an organization can directly control, meaning information an organization creates, owns or where a contractual relationship with a third party provider allows for modification. If an organization has control over the information or communications, they would have to convert it into an accessible format or provide it with appropriate communication supports, upon request.
For more information on accessible formats and communication supports, please see Information and Communications Standard, Section 12, “Accessible Formats and Communication Supports”.
Under the Information and Communications Standard, the following sections apply to all obligated organizations:
Definitions and exceptions
Emergency procedure, plans or public safety information
11(1) Every obligated organization that has processes for receiving and responding to feedback shall ensure that the processes are accessible to persons with disabilities by providing or arranging for accessible formats and communications supports, upon request.
(2) Nothing in this section detracts from the obligations imposed under section 7 of Ontario Regulation 429/07 (Accessibility Standards for Customer Service) made under the Act.
The intent of this requirement is that all organizations with a process(es) for receiving and responding to feedback make them available to people with disabilities in accessible formats or with appropriate communication supports, on request.
Note: The regulation only applies to organizations that have processes for receiving and responding to feedback. Organizations that do not have processes are not required to create such processes.
Many organizations have external and/or internal processes in place to receive and respond to feedback from their clients, customers or employees. Those organizations that have processes in place to receive and respond to feedback must make them accessible to individuals with disabilities, on request.
Note: The regulation does not require organizations to create feedback processes if they do not currently use one. Here are some of the ways organizations receive and respond to feedback.
There are many different ways for organizations to get feedback from the public, including the following methods:
Follow-up phone surveys, e.g., after customers purchase new vehicles, the dealership calls them to ask if they are satisfied with their purchase.
On-line questionnaires, e.g., a retail store sends its customers a survey asking them about their shopping habits and the types of stores they frequently visit.
Cards to complete, e.g., after finishing their meals at a restaurant, customers are given comment cards to rate the quality of their experience.
Many organizations have established feedback processes for employees to comment on their experience in the workplace. Larger organizations may use web-based surveys or emails to collect feedback, while smaller organizations may choose to meet and talk with their employees or provide them printed evaluation forms to complete.
Under the Customer Service Standard, obligated organizations must establish a customer service feedback process for receiving and responding to feedback specifically about the manner in which they provide accessible goods or services to people with disabilities.
Obligated organizations must also make the information about their feedback processes available to the public. The processes must allow for feedback in a variety of ways including in person, by telephone, by writing or via email. The processes must also specify the actions that the organizations are required to take when complaints are received.
Obligated organizations need to comply with this requirement within the timelines specified in the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service .
Providing accessible feedback processes may mean that instead of only one method for feedback, such as hand-written letters, organizations will need to be prepared to receive feedback in other ways such as over the telephone or by email, if requested.
When organizations provide customers with questionnaires or comment cards, they will also be required to provide the information in accessible formats or with the appropriate communication supports, on request.
Example: Some stores and workplaces have comment cards on which customers and employees can leave comments. These may be inaccessible to some people. If an individual requests an accessible way to offer feedback, the organization will have to develop another acceptable method such as verbal (over the telephone) or electronic (email) feedback.
Note: Lessons learned from implementing the accessible Customer Service feedback process may be applicable to increasing accessibility in all feedback processes the organization may have.
When making their feedback processes accessible, organizations are required to meet the requirements of Information and Communications Standard, Section 12 – “Accessible Formats and Communications Supports”. This section includes a list of accessible formats and communication supports.
12(1) Except as otherwise provided, every obligated organization shall upon request provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities,
in a timely manner that takes into account the person’s accessibility needs due to disability; and
at a cost that is no more than the regular cost charged to other persons.
(2) The obligated organization shall consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support.
(3) Every obligated organization shall notify the public about the availability of accessible formats and communication supports.
(4) Every obligated organization that is required to provide accessible formats or accessible formats and communication supports by section 3, 4, 11, 13, 19, 26, 28, 34, 37, 44 or 64 shall meet the requirements of subsections (1) and (2) but shall do so in accordance with the schedule set out in the referenced section and shall do so only to the extent that the requirements in subsections (1) and (2) are applicable to the requirements set out in the referenced section.
The intent of this requirement is that all organizations provide information and communicate in an accessible manner about their goods, services or facilities to people with disabilities, on request.
The information must be provided in a timely manner and at a cost that is no more than the regular price charged to others.
Organizations are not required to make products and/or product labels accessible. Please refer to Section 9 – “Application of Exception”for more information.
Some people use methods other than standard print to access information. Some communicate in ways other than the spoken word.
Alternatives to standard print are often referred to as “accessible formats”, and methods to assist communication are referred to as “communication supports”.
To be accessible to people with disabilities, organizations must be able to provide and to receive information and communications in an accessible manner.
There are many ways to do this, here are some examples:
accessible electronic formats such as HTML and MS Word
accessible audio formats
text transcripts of visual and audio information
reading the written information aloud to the person directly
exchanging hand-written notes (or providing a note taker or communication assistant)
captioning or audio description
augmentative and alternative communication methods and strategies such as the use of letter, word or picture boards, and devices that speak out messages
sign language interpretation and intervenor services
repeating, clarifying, or restating information
The requirement only applies to information and communications that an organization controls directly or indirectly through contractual relationships. The requirement does not apply to information one organization may be sharing on behalf of another organization.
Example: A hotel has information about its own facilities and also displays pamphlets on behalf of other organizations, such as local restaurants, in its lobby. The hotel is required to provide information about its own facilities in accessible formats. It is not required to provide the information about the restaurants (or the information from any other organization over which it does not have direct or indirect control of) in accessible formats.
Note: In the example above, the organization has obligations under the Customer Service Regulation to provide accessible customer service. For example, the hotel might ask staff to tell people with visual disabilities about the information contained in the pamphlets.
When an individual requests an accessible format or communication support, organizations are required to consult with the person to determine their accessibility needs. Consultation is important to make sure the appropriate support is provided, for example not all persons who are blind use Braille.
Once this is established, the regulation gives organizations the flexibility to decide on the most appropriate accessible format or communication supports, given the needs of the person and the organizations’ capability to deliver.
Example: A customer with a visual disability is unable to read a small retail store’s written return policy. The store is required to work with the customer to determine an acceptable way of providing this information, based on the individual’s needs and the capacity of the store to deliver certain formats and supports. In this situation, it may be acceptable for a store clerk to read out the store’s return policy to the customer with a visual disability.
Some forms of information may be difficult or impossible to convert into an accessible format. For example, the visual information in an x-ray or architectural blue-print may be lost in the conversion processes, or an organization may not have access to the technologies that convert documents into accessible formats.
Organizations will need to determine, in consultation with the person requesting the information or communications, if it is possible to provide it in an accessible format or with appropriate communication supports.
If an organization determines they are unable to convert the information or communications into an accessible format, they will need to explain to the person why they are unable to do so and provide a summary of the content.
Example: A customer with a disability has requested that a document containing complex charts is provided in an accessible format. The organization can convert the text in the document into an accessible format and provide it to the person; however they are unable to convert the information contained in the charts. The organization must let the person know why the charts couldn’t be converted into an accessible format and then provide a summary of the information in the charts.
Organizations are not required to have all types of formats or supports on hand or in stock. However, organizations must provide formats and supports in a timely manner.
In some cases, organizations will be able to provide the information or communications quickly. In other cases organizations may need more time for a variety of reasons, such as the availability of the format requested, the complexity and amount of information being provided, and the resources and internal capacity of the organization.
The regulation does not specify how quickly an organization should provide accessible formats or communication supports; however being prepared, where possible, will better enable organizations to respond to requests. Organizations have the flexibility to determine “timely manner”based on their ability to deliver the requested accessible format or communication support.
For example, when organizations have documents available in accessible electronic formats such as HTML or MS Word, it is easier to convert these documents to other formats such as Braille. These accessible electronic formats are also compatible with screen reading software. This means organizations can likely respond to requests quickly by emailing the documents to individuals with disabilities to use with their own assistive technology.
If an organization charges the public fees for the documents, it cannot charge higher fees for the same documents provided in accessible formats. Similarly, if an organization does not charge fees for documents, then it cannot charge fees for accessible formats of the documents.
Public Notification
Organizations are required to notify the public about the availability of accessible formats and communication supports. The information can be posted on their premises, such as on bulletin boards in public areas, on their website, or through other reasonable methods.
13(1) In addition to its obligations under section 12, if an obligated organization prepares emergency procedures, plans or public safety information and makes the information available to the public, the obligated organization shall provide the information in an accessible format or with appropriate communication supports, as soon as practicable, upon request.
(2) Obligated organizations that prepare emergency procedures, plans or public safety information and make the information available to the public shall meet the requirements of this section by January 1, 2012.
The intent of this requirement is that publicly available emergency and public safety information is provided in an accessible format or with appropriate communication supports, on request.
Organizations are not required to develop or create new emergency or public safety information. Further, organizations are not required to convert this information into accessible formats or provide communication supports if they do not share the information publicly. Some organizations have confidential internal plans, such as those for security lockdowns that are not shared publicly.
However, organizations may have requirements under the Accessible Employment Standard to provide individualized emergency information to its employees. For more detailed information, go to the Employment Standard, Section 27 “Workplace Emergency Response Information”.
This requirement applies to all organizations that prepare public emergency procedures, plans or public safety information and that make them available to the public.
Providing emergency and public safety plans in accessible formats or with communications supports, should enable people with disabilities to be prepared in case there is an emergency situation.
Prepared emergency and public safety information refers to the emergency plans and procedures that organizations develop before an emergency occurs.
This may include evacuation procedures and floor plans, information about alarms or information about other incidents that may threaten life, property, operations or the environment.
It does not include real-time emergency or real-time public safety information, e.g., a fire evacuation, or an emergency at a large public gathering.
Note: The Fire Code, a regulation made under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, requires that evacuation procedures include provisions for people requiring assistance.
As soon as practicable means as soon as possible given all of the circumstances after a person with a disability asks for the information in an accessible format or with communication supports.
Although organizations are not required to have accessible formats on hand, they should recognize the critical nature of emergency and public safety information.
Some people with a disability may need more time to plan for emergency situations; organizations should respond promptly to requests for this type of information.
For example: When booking rooms at a hotel, several individuals with disabilities ask for its fire evacuation procedures in accessible formats. The hotel consults with these individuals to learn what they need and provides the information when they arrive at the hotel. By doing so, the hotel gives its guests with disabilities the information in a timely manner and in formats that allow them to understand the evacuation procedures.
When providing emergency and public safety information in an accessible format or with appropriate communication supports, organizations are required to meet the requirements of the Information and Communications Standard, Section 12 “Accessible Formats and Communications Supports”.
For more information on accessible formats and communication supports, please go to the Glossary , which gives a general description. For more detailed information go to Information and Communications Standard, Section 12 “Accessible Formats and Communications Supports”.
Many organizations are legally required to share prepared emergency and public safety information with the public.
For example, the Fire Code requires some property owners to post their procedures for fire related emergencies in public places. These procedures are based on the types of buildings and the number of occupants permitted in them.
Many public sector organizations are required, under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, to have publicly shared emergency plans for a variety of events such as outbreaks of influenza and severe weather such as tornadoes and ice storms.
In some situations, organizations may not be legally required to share emergency and/or public safety information with the public but may choose to do so. For example, organizations may develop and implement emergency plans for blackouts and share the information with their customers or clients. Others may prepare emergency plans for chemical spills or natural disasters, such as earthquakes or floods.
Furthermore, the role of some organizations includes sharing public safety information. Police and fire departments share strategies for public safety and fire prevention with members of their communities. Similarly, medical offices often share public health information with patients.
14(1) The Government of Ontario and the Legislative Assembly shall make their internet and intranet websites and web content conform with the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, at Level AA, and shall do so in accordance with the schedule set out in this section.
(2) Designated public sector organizations and large organizations shall make their internet websites and web content conform with the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)2.0, initially at Level A and increasing to Level AA, and shall do so in accordance with the schedule set out in this section.
(3) The Government of Ontario and the Legislative Assembly, for both their internet and intranet sites, shall meet the requirements in this section in accordance with the following schedule:
By January 1, 2012, new internet and intranet websites and web content on those sites must conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA, other than,
success criteria 1.2.4 Captions (Live), and
success criteria 1.2.5 Audio Descriptions (Pre-recorded).
By January 1, 2016, all internet websites and web content must conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA other than,
By January 1, 2020, all internet and intranet websites and web content must conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
(4) Designated public sector organizations and large organizations for their internet websites shall meet the requirements of this section in accordance with the following schedule:
By January 1, 2014, new internet websites and web content on those sites must conform with WCAG 2.0 Level A.
By January 1, 2021, all internet websites and web content must conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA, other than,
(5) Except where meeting the requirement is not practicable, this section applies, to websites and web content, including web-based applications, that an organization controls directly or through a contractual relationship that allows for modification of the product; and to web content published on a website after January 1, 2012.
(6) In determining whether meeting the requirements of this section is not practicable, organizations referenced in subsections (1) and (2) may consider, among other things,
the availability of commercial software or tools or both; and
significant impact on an implementation timeline that is planned or initiated before January 1, 2012.
(7) In this section,
“extranet website”means a controlled extension of the intranet, or internal network of an organization to outside users over the Internet; (“French”)
“internet website”means a collection of related web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that are addressed relative to a common Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)and is accessible to the public; (“French”)
“intranet website”means an organization’s internal website that is used to privately and securely share any part of the organization’s information or operational systems within the organization and includes extranet websites; (“French”)
“new internet website”means either a website with a new domain name or a website with an existing domain name undergoing a significant refresh; (“French”)
“new intranet website”means either an intranet website with a new domain name or an intranet website with an existing domain name undergoing a significant refresh; (“French”)
“Web Content Accessibility Guidelines”means the World Wide Web Consortium Recommendation, dated December 2008, entitled “Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0”;(“French”)
“web page”means a non-embedded resource obtained from a single Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)and any other resources that are used in the rendering or intended to be rendered together with it by a user agent. (“French”)
The intent of this requirement is that the Government of Ontario, the Legislative Assembly, designated public sector organizations, as well as private and not-for-profit organizations with more than 50 employees make their websites accessible to people with disabilities by conforming to international standards for website accessibility.
Private and not-for profit organizations with 49 or fewer employees do not have obligations under this requirement.
Government of Ontario and Legislative Assembly
New internet and intranet websites and web content on those sites must conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA other than,
success criteria 1.2.4 Captions (Live)
All internet websites and web content must conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA other than,
All internet and intranet websites and web content must conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA.
Designated public sector organizations, as well as private and not-for-profit organizations with 50+ employees January 1, 2014
New internet websites and web content on those sites must conform with WCAG 2.0 Level A.
All internet websites and web content must conform with WCAG 2.0 Level AA, other than,
All obligated organizations’ websites, and the content on those websites, must conform with WCAG 2.0. This requirement applies to new websites first, and then over the next several years to all websites.
Many organizations control their websites and web content, including web-based applications, either directly or through a contractual relationship. That is, they may develop a website and web content in house or they may hire a consultant. In both cases, the organization has control of the functionality and the appearance of the website, as well as its content. Therefore, the organization has the responsibility and ability to incorporate accessibility.
Understanding the terminology is the first step to implementing this requirement successfully.
Organizations should refer to the definitions in Section 14 (7) in the Regulation for more information.
The following is an easy reference list of definitions for other key terms used in this section of the regulation.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 is an international standard for making websites and web content accessible to a broader range of users with disabilities.
WCAG was developed by a team of experts from around the world. The first version, WCAG 1.0, was released in 1999. WCAG 2.0 was released in 2008.
WCAG 2.0 Level A and Level AA refer to a series of technical checkpoints that make websites and their content increasingly accessible to a broader range of users with disabilities.
Level AA builds on Level A’s checkpoints.
A new website refers to a site with a new domain name “- a brand new web address. The term does not refer to a new page or new link on an existing site.
The term also refers to a site with an existing domain name that is undergoing a significant “refresh”. There is not an industry standard definition for significant refresh. In this context, “significant refresh”could include, but is not limited to, the following elements:
a new look and feel to the website
a change in how users navigate around it
a major update and change to the content of the website.
Content may include any information that may be found on a web page or web application, including text, images, forms and sounds.
Organizations are required to meet their WCAG 2.0 requirements, unless it is not practicable to do so. Under this requirement, practicability refers to the organization’s ability given all of the circumstances to modify their websites and web content.
Section 14(6) of the regulation states that when organizations are determining whether meeting the requirement is practicable, they may consider the following factors, among others:
the availability of commercial software or tools
the affect that the deadline would have on the implementation timelines for projects that were planned or initiated before January 1, 2012.
Additionally, transactional applications may have significant refreshes that are on a different cycle than the rest of the website. Organizations may take this into account when considering what is practicable.
Content published on a website before January 1, 2012 is not required to be compliant with WCAG 2.0. However, people with disabilities can still request information to be provided in an accessible format under the Section 12, “Accessible Formats and Communication Supports”.
Web content, including documents such as Word and PDFs, posted after January 1, 2012 will need to be accessible as per the regulation.
Some organizations may have used software, web applications and other tools that pre-date WCAG 2.0 to develop their websites and web content. These tools may have varying ability to create websites and web content that will conform with WCAG 2.0 requirements. As a result, organizations have until 2021 to comply as this will allow them to take advantage of emerging software, web applications and tools to make existing websites and web content accessible.
Some organizations may be limited by technological capability. For example, there may be technological software limitations in making online maps and complex diagrams accessible to people with visual disabilities. In such cases, an accessible alternate version can be provided if requested.
In determining practicability, the regulation allows organizations to consider projects planned before January 1, 2012 that may be significantly affected by implementing WCAG 2.0 requirements.
However, once updated, websites and web content would need to meet the WCAG 2.0 compliance dates set out in the regulation.
Some of the WCAG 2.0 requirements can improve the accessibility of an application and would not significantly delay implementation. Organizations are required to think about and take reasonable steps to overcome barriers that people with disabilities might encounter when using their websites.
The regulation has staggered timelines for designated public sector organizations, as well as private and not-for-profit organizations with 50 or more employees. These organizations must comply with WCAG 2.0, Level A and then with WCAG, 2.0 Level AA, excluding the requirements for live captioning and pre-recorded audio descriptions.
Staggered timelines allow organizations to build accessibility into their regular re-fresh cycles and to implement systematic approaches to increase their web accessibility and to meet the compliance dates. On average, organizations update their website every two or three years; the timelines will allow two or three opportunities for organizations to build accessibility into their regular website update.
By planning for accessibility in advance, organizations may be able to reduce their costs as well as to improve web-based experiences for people with disabilities.
15(1) Every obligated organization that is an educational or training institution shall do the following, if notification of need is given:
Provide educational or training resources or materials in an accessible format that takes into account the accessibility needs due to a disability of the person with a disability to whom the material is to be provided by,
procuring through purchase or obtaining by other means an accessible or conversion ready electronic format of educational or training resources or materials, where available, or
arranging for the provision of a comparable resource in an accessible or conversion ready electronic format, if educational or training resources or materials cannot be procured, obtained by other means or converted into an accessible format.
Provide student records and information on program requirements, availability and descriptions in an accessible format to persons with disabilities.
(2) For purposes of this section and sections 16, 17 and 18, an obligated organization is an educational or training institution if it falls into one of the following categories:
It is governed by the Education Act or the Private Career Colleges Act, 2005.
It offers all or part of a post-secondary program leading to a degree pursuant to a consent granted under the Post-Secondary Education Choice and Excellence Act, 2000.
It is a designated public sector organization described in paragraph 3 or 4 of Schedule 1.
It is a public or private organization that provides courses or programs or both that result in the acquisition by students of a diploma or certificate named by the Minister of Education under paragraph 1 of subsection 8 (1) of the Education Act.
It is a private school within the meaning of the Education Act.
The intent of this requirement is that all educational and training institutions, as defined in the Integrated Accessibility Standard Regulation, will provide students who have disabilities with the following in an accessible format:
educational and training materials and/or resources
course and program information.
For more detailed information, go to Information and Communications Standard, Section 12, “Accessible Formats and Communication Supports“.
For more information on the definition of educational and training institutions, please go to Information and Communications Standard, Section 15, “Educational and Training Resources and Materials “.
This requirement applies only to organizations that are educational or training institutions.
Students can notify educational or training institutions of their need for information in accessible formats. In certain circumstances, parents or legal guardians can also notify the institutions.
It is important for educational and training institutions to be responsive once they know of a student’s need and to work towards providing the appropriate accessible or conversion ready formats in a timely manner.
Educational and training institutions that use Individualized Education Plans (IEP), or similar plans, should indicate what types of formats and/or supports the student requires. This would be considered another form of notification of need. Similar plans dealing with the needs of students with disabilities may also constitute a notification of need.
Institutions will need to provide materials or resources in accessible or conversion-ready formats that take into account the accessibility needs of the student, when notified. The institutions can buy this material in accessible or conversion ready formats, procure it by other means, or arrange for a comparable resource.
Ideally, institutions will be able to provide accessible or conversion-ready versions of the same materials and resources used in the classroom. When this is not possible, institutions are required to provide students with similar resources or materials that will, to the degree possible, allow for the same or a comparable learning opportunity.
Example: An accessible version of a globe for a person with a visual disability could be a tactile world map.
Although a map is not the same resource as a globe, it would provide the student with a similar learning opportunity.
In many cases, the resources and materials used by educational and training institutions are developed and published by other organizations.
In such cases, the institutions do not have control over the content of the information or how it was published. Nevertheless, they are still required to provide all information used in the classroom to students who have disabilities in accessible or conversion-ready formats.
When it is not technically feasible to provide the information in an accessible or a conversion-ready format, the institution is required to provide a comparable resource. If an institution decides that the materials requested are unconvertible, then it must explain why and provide a summary of the information.
Example: An institution is asked to convert a medical textbook to an accessible format. Although converting the text poses no problem, the technology does not exist to convert the complex medical images. In this case, the institution is required to convert the text into an accessible or conversion-ready format, and where the images were found, to provide summaries or descriptions of them.
When an educational or training institution is notified of an accessibility need, they are required to provide student records, program requirements, course descriptions, and information on the availability of courses in an accessible format. Institutions will need to be prepared for requests from current and former students, as well as potential students.
Educational and training institutions are required to work with the individual to determine which type of format will be provided. For example, a student with a visual disability may prefer accessible documents that can be used with their screen reader technology. In many cases, educational and training institutions will have the capacity in-house to provide this information in an accessible format.
There may be occasions when educational or training institutions are unable to create an accessible format of the student’s records in-house. This may be because of the complexity of the record or the format requested. If an institution hires an external company to convert this information, then it should put in place measures to protect the privacy of the student’s personal information.
For more information on:
4accessible formats4
conversion-ready formats
the term unconvertible
Please go to the glossary, which gives a general description. For more detailed information, go to Information and Communication Standard, Section 12, “Accessible Formats and Communication Supports “.
16(1) In addition to the requirements under section 7, obligated organizations that are school boards or educational or training institutions shall provide educators with accessibility awareness training related to accessible program or course delivery and instruction.
(2) Obligated organizations that are school boards or educational or training institutions shall keep a record of the training provided under this section, including the dates on which the training is provided and the number of individuals to whom it is provided.
The intent of this requirement is that educators receive accessibility awareness training so they can create inclusive environments in their classrooms and increase the opportunities for learning for students with disabilities.
This requirement only applies to organizations that are school boards or educational or training institutions.
For more information of the definition of educational and training institutions, please go to Information and Communications, Section 15, “Educational and Training Resources and Materials” .
School boards as well as education and training institutions are required to provide training to their educators. In the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation, the term ‘educator’refers to any employee who is involved in designing, delivering or instructing courses. This includes teaching assistants, educational assistants, early childhood educators, and staff of school boards.
The requirement does not apply to parents who volunteer, students working in job placements, or other individuals who participate in classroom activities or act in a role of educator. However, when these persons are acting in an educator role, it may be helpful if the classroom educators passed on what they had learned during their accessibility training.
For example: A student teacher is developing a lesson plan. The classroom teacher can work with the student teacher to address the accessibility needs of students with disabilities in the plan.
The purpose of the training is to increase educators’awareness of accessibility needs in program or course delivery and instruction. Increasing accessibility in classrooms is important for student success and involvement.
Aspects of accessibility awareness training may include:
different types of disabilities
needs often associated with different types of disabilities
barriers students with disabilities encounter in schools
techniques that improve the learning environment for students with disabilities.
The training should encourage educators to consider a variety of learning resources and materials when developing their lesson plans and choosing their resources or materials.
Before using movies in classes, educators should consider if there are any students who are hard of hearing or deaf. If the movie has closed-captioning, then it may be suitable to use. When movies are not accessible to all of the students, the educators should consider other resources.
A student with a physical disability may not be able to participate in the dissection component of a biology class. The school could provide the student with a virtual program that would allow for a similar learning opportunity.
The regulation does not state how the accessibility awareness training should be provided. It is up to the institutions or school boards to decide on the best training methods for their educators. For example, it could be part of a larger training program, or it could be an individual course completed independently by educators. School boards or institutions could offer the training using handouts, on-line learning modules, or one-day workshops.
School boards and education and training institutions will need to keep records of the training. They must include the dates on which the training took place and the number of individuals who attended.
School boards and educational and training institutions still have to comply with the training requirements set out in Part 1 General Requirements, Section 7 , “Training”.
17(1) Every obligated organization that is a producer of educational or training textbooks for educational or training institutions shall upon request, make accessible or conversion ready versions of the textbooks available to the institutions.
(2) Every obligated organization that is a producer of print-based educational or training supplementary learning resources for educational or training institutions shall upon request, make accessible or conversion ready versions of the printed materials available to the institutions
The intent of this requirement is that producers of textbooks and print-based supplementary educational and training resources provide educational and training institutions with accessible or conversion-ready versions of these materials, when requested.
If producers make textbooks and print-based supplementary resources available in accessible and conversion-ready formats, then institutions will be able to provide them to students with disabilities in a timely manner.
All organizations that produce textbooks January 1, 2015
All organizations that produce printed educational or training supplementary learning resources January 1, 2020
In the context of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation, producers are organizations that provide textbooks and other print-based supplementary learning resources to educational and training institutions. In Ontario, universities, university presses, private publishing companies, and school boards, among others, produce these materials.
For more information of the definition of educational and training institutions, please go to Information and Communications Standard, Section 15, “Educational and Training Resources and Materials” .
In some cases, producers may be unable to convert part of the information in a textbook or supplementary learning resource to an accessible or conversion-ready format. If this happens, then the producer must explain the reason why and provide a summary of the information.
Example: A producer is asked to convert a medical textbook into an accessible format. Although converting the text poses no problem, the technology does not exist to convert the complex medical images. In this case, the producer is required to convert the text into an accessible or conversion-ready format, and where the images were found, to provide summaries or descriptions of them.
Producers should notify the requesting institution of any limitations that would slow them down or prevent them from providing conversion- ready or accessible formats. For example, the producer might not be able to convert a textbook because the organization does not control the content. If this happens, then the educational and training institutions are required to provide students with comparable learning resources or materials.
Please go to the glossary , which gives a general description. For more detailed information, go to Information and Communication Standard, Section 12, “Accessible Formats and Communication Supports” .
18(1) Subject to subsection (2) and where available, the libraries of educational and training institutions that are obligated organizations shall provide, procure or acquire by other means an accessible or conversion ready format of print, digital or multimedia resources or materials for a person with a disability, upon request.
(2) Special collections, archival materials, rare books and donations are exempt from the requirements of subsection (1).
The intent of this requirement is that, on request, libraries of educational and training institutions will provide accessible or conversion-ready formats of library materials when they are available. This requirement does not include rare books, special collections, archived materials, and donated books and other donated materials.
For more information about the definition of educational and training institutions, please go to Information and Communications Standard, Section 15, “Educational and Training Resources and Materials” .
Libraries of educational and training institutions
print resources and materials
digital or multimedia resources or materials
When requested, and where available, libraries of educational and training institutions are required to provide accessible or conversion-ready formats of print, digital or multimedia resources or materials to students with disabilities.
Print resources can include, but are not limited to, books, magazines, posters, journals, newspapers and newspaper articles. Digital or multimedia resources are usually a combination of text and audio and include, but are not limited to, materials such as films, videos, CD-ROMS and DVDs.
Under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation educational and training libraries are not required to provide accessible or conversion-ready formats of their special collections, archival materials, rare books and books or other materials that have been donated. However, these organizations do have requirements to accommodate students with disabilities under the Ontario Human Rights Code .
Even if they do not control the information, libraries of educational and training institutions are required to provide accessible or conversion-ready formats of resources and materials, where available. In some cases, the libraries may need to take additional steps to find the requested materials in accessible or conversion ready formats including contacting the publishers or asking for inter-library loans.
Example: A college library in a small city does not have a 19th century novel written in another language in an accessible or conversion-ready format. However, after a search, the librarians discover that a university library in another city does have the novel in a conversion-ready format, and they put in a request for an inter-library loan.
There may be times when a library is unable to provide the material in accessible or conversion ready formats. If a library learns that the requested materials or resources are unconvertible, then it needs to explain the reason why and provide a summary of the information. The summary must take into account the accessibility needs of the person who made the request.
Example: A student who has a visual disability has requested a book on the history of art. After an extensive search, the librarians conclude that they cannot obtain the whole book in an accessible or conversion ready format. They can provide the student with an accessible version of the text; however it does not contain the images. In this case, the library is required to explain the reason why and to provide the student with a summary of the images which could include the artists’ names and time periods or a general description of the images.
For more information on conversion-ready formats and accessible formats, please go to the glossary , which gives a general description. For more detailed information, go to the Information and Communication Standard, Section 12, “Accessible Formats and Communication Supports” .
19. (1) Every obligated organization that is a library board shall provide access to or arrange for the provision of access to accessible materials where they exist.
(2) Obligated organizations that are library boards shall make information about the availability of accessible materials publicly available and shall provide the information in accessible format or with appropriate communication supports, upon request.
(3) Obligated organizations that are library boards may provide accessible formats for archival materials, special collections, rare books and donations.
(4) Obligated organizations that are library boards shall meet the requirements of this section by January 1, 2013.
(5) For the purposes of this section library board means a board as defined in the Public Libraries Act, a public library service established under the Northern Services Board Act or a county library established under the County of Lambton Act, 1944, being Chapter Pr31 of the Statutes of Ontario 1994, the County of Elgin Act, 1985, being chapter Pr16 of the Statutes of Ontario, 1985 of the County of Lennox and Addington Act, 1978, being chapter 126 of the Statutes of Ontario, 1978.
The intent of this requirement is that, when requested, public libraries provide access to accessible library materials, where they exist.
All public library boards, as defined in the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation , are required to meet this requirement by January 1, 2013.
In the context of this requirement, “accessible materials”includes all works of literary, musical, artistic, draatic nature, in accessible formats such as, but not limited to, print, electronic, video, DVD, audio, braille, etc.
Library boards are required to provide access to, or arrange for access to, accessible materials where they exist. Under the Public Libraries Act, library boards are already accountable to their community in terms of provision of service, including access to works in the collection.
Some library boards will have extensive collections of accessible materials, while other library systems may have smaller collections. In some cases, library systems may want to consider using document-sharing systems such as the inter-library loan system in Ontario to provide accessible materials to their users.
When procuring new library materials, library boards are required to consider the accessibility needs of their users so that their collections are accessible to the widest range of people.
If possible, libraries may provide archival material, rare books and special collections in accessible formats.
Rare books, special collections and archival materials in public libraries are usually kept apart from the circulating collection. They may require special handling and treatment for conservation purposes, and may be in fragile condition and/or may be original works. The technology may not be available to convert some of these documents into accessible formats without damaging the documents or losing their meaning. In this case, libraries may choose to make the works accessible, if possible (e.g. technological solutions, or photocopying).
Library boards are required to tell the public about the availability of accessible materials within their library systems.
For example, the boards may choose to tell the public by posting the information on their websites, or on bulletin boards in their libraries, or in the boards’ publications that list events, classes and courses at the libraries.
When notifying the public, libraries may choose to explain what materials are available within the community’s public library system, including identifying accessible materials in the library’s on-line catalogue or what materials are available through the inter-library loan system. Library boards may also want to mention how long inter-library loans can take. They may also describe other materials that are available in accessible formats, e.g., information on community events.
Library boards are required to make sure that when they notify the public about the availability of accessible materials, they do so in accessible formats or with the appropriate communication supports, when requested.
This notification requirement only applies to information and communications that the library boards control directly or indirectly through a contractual relationship. This information includes pamphlets, newsletters, public library reports, etc.
For more information on accessible formats and communication supports please go to the glossary , which gives a general description. For more detailed information, go to Information and Communication Standard, Section 12, “Accessible Formats and Communication Supports“.
20(1) The standards set out in this Part apply to obligated organizations that are employers and,
apply in respect of employees; and
do not apply in respect of volunteers and other non-paid individuals. O. Reg. 191/11, s. 20 (1).
(2) In this Part, a reference to an employer is a reference to an obligated organization as an employer unless the context determines otherwise.
This section establishes that the requirements that employers have under the Employment Standard apply to paid employees.
The requirements that employers have under the Employment Standard apply to paid employees. This includes, but is not limited to, full-time, part-time, paid apprenticeships and seasonal employment.
As a good business practice, employers may apply the standard to unpaid staff and volunteers and other forms of unpaid work.
21. Unless otherwise specified in a section, obligated organizations, as employers, shall meet the requirements set out in this Part in accordance with the following schedule:
For the Government of Ontario and the Legislative Assembly, January 1, 2013.
For large designated public sector organizations, January 1, 2014.
For small designated public sector organizations, January 1, 2015.
For large organizations, January 1, 2016.
For small organizations, January 1, 2017.
This section establishes the compliance timelines that employers must meet for the Employment Standard.
Employers must comply with the Employment Standard as follows:
Please note that Section 27 of the Employment Standard, Workplace Emergency Response Information, has a compliance date of January 1, 2012 for all obligated organizations.
In addition, some requirements do not apply to private and not-for-profit employers with 1-49 employees. These exemptions are noted in the relevant section of the Employment Standard.
Employers should determine the type of organization they are, the requirements they must meet and the associated compliance timelines.
22. Every employer shall notify its employees and the public about the availability of accommodation for applicants with disabilities in its recruitment processes.
The intent of this requirement is that all employers will notify internal and external job applicants that, where needed, accommodations for disabilities will be provided, on request, to support their participation in all aspects of the recruitment process.
This requirement applies to all employers in Ontario with one or more employees.
Government of Ontario and the Legislative Assembly January 1, 2013
Employers are required to notify their employees and the public about the availability of accommodations for disabilities, where needed, to support their participation in recruitment processes.
By notifying potential internal or external applicants about the availability of accommodations, employers invite individuals with disabilities to participate in recruitment processes.
Employers, however, have the flexibility to consider their existing recruitment processes in determining how they provide notification.
For example, employers could use their websites or their job postings to notify potential applicants about the availability of recruitment-related accommodations for disabilities.
23.(1) During a recruitment process, an employer shall notify job applicants, when they are individually selected to participate in an assessment or selection process, that accommodations are available upon request in relation to the materials or processes to be used.
(2) If a selected applicant requests an accommodation, the employer shall consult with the applicant and provide or arrange for the provision of a suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the applicant’s accessibility needs due to disability.
The intent of this requirement is that all employers will notify job applicants who have been invited to participate in a recruitment, assessment or selection process that, where needed, accommodations for disabilities are available, on request, to support their participation in the process.
In addition, employers are required to consult with job applicants who request accommodations to support them during the process.
Employers are required to notify applicants who have been selected to participate in a recruitment, assessment or selection process that, where needed, recruitment-related accommodations for disabilities are available on request.
This requirement builds upon Section 22, “Recruitment General“, by requiring employers to notify all selected applicants about the availability of recruitment-related accommodations.
This requirement recognizes that recruitment practices vary from employer to employer and could include interviews, presentations, written assignments and competency assessments.
Employers may consider their existing recruitment policies and practices when deciding how they will notify the applicants selected for assessment.
For example, employers could notify applicants through a variety of means such as calling them on the telephone, speaking to them in person, writing them a letter or sending them an email.
If an applicant with a disability requests accommodations during the recruitment process, employers must provide or arrange for suitable accommodations.
Providing suitable accommodations means that an employer consults with an applicant with a disability to understand and take into account the individual’s needs so that the accommodations that are provided are effective.
24. Every employer shall, when making offers of employment, notify the successful applicant of its policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.
The intent of this requirement is that all employers will notify successful applicants of their policies for accommodating employees with disabilities when offering employment.
When employers make offers of employment, they must notify the successful applicants of their policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.
Employers have the flexibility to determine how they will notify successful applicants of their policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.
For example, employers could notify applicants through a variety of means such as calling them on the telephone, speaking to them in person, sending them an email or including it in the offer letter.
This requirement applies to all successful applicants. Its purpose is to make sure that they know the employer’s accommodation policies when making career decisions.
25.(1) Every employer shall inform its employees of its policies used to support its employees with disabilities, including, but not limited to, policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’saccessibility needs due to disability.
(2) Employers shall provide the information required under this section to new employees as soon as practicable after they begin their employment.
(3)Employers shall provide updated information to its employees whenever there is a change to existing policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’saccessibility needs due to disability.
The intent of this requirement is that all employers will inform new and existing employees of their policies for supporting employees with disabilities, including providing employment-related accommodations for disabilities.
Employers are required to inform all employees of their policies for supporting employees with disabilities. This includes their policies on providing employment-related accommodations that take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities.
Employers have the flexibility to inform employees about their policies in a way that best fits their existing organizational culture and business practices. Many employers may already have processes in place to provide information to their employees including the following:
staff memos
staff meetings.
Employers are required to inform their employees of their policies for supporting employees with disabilities as soon as is practicable after they begin their employment, or as this requirement comes into effect.
In addition, employers must inform their employees whenever there is a change to their policies for supporting employees with disabilities.
It is important for employees to be kept up-to-date and aware of their employer’s policies because individuals can acquire disabilities at any point in their lives, which may require employment-related accommodations.
26.1 In addition to its obligations under section 12, where an employee with a disability so requests it, every employer shall consult with the employee to provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for,
information that is needed in order to perform the employee’sjob; and
information that is generally available to employees in the workplace. O. Reg. 191/11, s. 26 (1).
2. The employer shall consult with the employee making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support.
The intent of this requirement is that all employers will consult with their employees who have disabilities in order to provide them with the accessible formats and communications supports they require to do their jobs effectively and to be informed of information that is generally available to all employees in that workplace.
On request, employers are required to consult with employees with disabilities to determine which accessible formats or communications supports they require. Not all accessible formats or communications supports are helpful to all persons who have disabilities. The accommodation need is as individual as the person is.
Once the employer and employee have determined what the needs are, then the organization must work out how to accommodate the person.
This requirement gives the employer the flexibility to decide on the most appropriate accessible formats or communications supports for the employee. That will depend on the needs of the employee with the disability and the capacity of the employer to provide the support.
For more information on accessible formats and communications supports, please go to the glossary , which gives a general description. For more detailed information, go to Information and Communication Standard, Section 12, “Accessible Formats and Communications Supports“.
This requirement applies to information that employees with disabilities need to perform their jobs effectively. For example, managers usually need to have a good working knowledge of their organizations’human resources policies to hire, train and support staff.
The requirement also applies to information that is generally available in a workplace such as company newsletters, bulletins about company policies and fact sheets on health and safety information for workers. These may be provided in a variety of formats including the following:
staff notice boards
verbally
If an employee has an individual accommodation plan, then the accessible formats and/or communications supports that will be provided to the employee should be included in the plan.
For more information on individual accommodation plans, please go to Employment Standard, Section 28, “Documented Individual Accommodation Plans “.
27.(1) Every employer shall provide individualized workplace emergency response information to employees who have a disability, if the disability is such that the individualized information is necessary and the employer is aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’sdisability.
(2) If an employee who receives individualized workplace emergency response information requires assistance and with the employee’sconsent, the employer shall provide the workplace emergency response information to the person designated by the employer to provide assistance to the employee.
(3) Employers shall provide the information required under this section as soon as practicable after the employer becomes aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’sdisability.
(4) Every employer shall review the individualized workplace emergency response information,
when the employee moves to a different location in the organization;
when the employee’soverall accommodations needs or plans are reviewed; and
when the employer reviews its general emergency response policies.
The intent of this requirement is that all employers will prepare for the specific needs that employees with disabilities may have in emergency situations.
Designated public sector organizations with 50+ employees
Designated public sector organizations with 1-49 employees
Private and not-for-profit organizations with 50+ employees
Private and not-for-profit organizations with 1-49 employees
Employers are required to prepare for emergency situations by providing employees with disabilities with individualized workplace emergency response information. This will help employees with disabilities, and the employers that they work for, to prepare for a range of potential emergencies including, but not limited to, the following:
security incidents
Employers are required to provide individualized workplace emergency response information under the following conditions.
When the employee’sdisability is such that the information is necessary; and
The employer is aware of the need for accommodation because of the employee’sdisability.
There are several ways that an employer may be made aware of the need to provide individualized workplace emergency response information:
A new employee may have requested accommodations during the recruitment process. For example, an applicant with a learning disability, such as dyslexia, who requires more time to read interview questions.
Existing employees tell their employers that they have a disability. For example, an existing employee who develops vision loss and requests screen reader software for his/her computer.
An existing employee who develops a temporary disability such as a broken leg.
Employers are not expected to provide individualized workplace emergency information for employees with disabilities of which they are unaware.
In most cases, employees with disabilities will tell their employers that they have a disability that requires accommodation. However, there may be other times where an employer may initiate a dialogue to offer assistance and accommodation to an employee who is clearly unwell or perceived to have a disability.
It is important that employers recognize how an individual’sdisability, as well as the physical nature of the workplace, may create unique challenges in emergency situations. For example:
An employee who has a hearing disability may not hear an alarm and may need to be notified by other means, such as a visual alarm with flashing lights.
An employee with a visual disability may be unable to identify the escape routes, or obstructions to the escape routes.
For these reasons and others, employers should consult with employees who have disabilities, so that the individualized workplace emergency response information meets the employees ‘needs.
Employees with disabilities may require assistance when evacuating the workplace in emergencies.
In these cases, and with the employees consent, the employer is required to provide the employees’ individualized workplace emergency response information to the designated individual(s).
Employers, however, need to respect their employees’ privacy. For co-workers to provide assistance, they do not need to know the details of the employees’ disabilities.
For example, an employee with limited mobility may need assistance walking down stairs. The person designated to help only needs to know the individual requires help walking down stairs. In other words, it is important to not include personal medical information in the individualized workplace emergency response information.
Employers are required to review the individualized workplace emergency response information to make sure it remains effective and up-to-date.
Employers must review this information under the following circumstances:
When the employee moves to a different physical location in the organization.
When the employee’soverall accommodation needs or plans are reviewed.
Employers may choose to review the information at other times. For instance, an employer may review the individualized workplace emergency response information if the existing response information was put to the test during an evacuation drill or a real emergency.
If an employee has an individual accommodation plan, then the individualized workplace emergency response information provided to the employee should be included in the plan.
For more information on individual accommodation plans, please go to Employment Standard, Section 28 “Documented Individual Accommodation Plans” .
28.(1) Employers, other than employers that are small organizations, shall develop and have in place a written process for the development of documented individual accommodation plans for employees with disabilities.
(2) The process for the development of documented individual accommodation plans shall include the following elements:
The manner in which an employee requesting accommodation can participate in the development of the individual accommodation plan.
The means by which the employee is assessed on an individual basis.
The manner in which the employer can request an evaluation by an outside medical or other expert, at the employer’sexpense, to determine if and how accommodation can be achieved.
The manner in which the employee can request the participation of a representative from their bargaining agent, where the employee is represented by a bargaining agent, or other representative from the workplace, where the employee is not represented by a bargaining agent, in the development of the accommodation plan.
The steps taken to protect the privacy of the employee’spersonal information.
The frequency with which the individual accommodation plan will be reviewed and updated and the manner in which it will be done.
If an individual accommodation plan is denied, the manner in which the reasons for the denial will be provided to the employee.
The means of providing the individual accommodation plan in a format that takes into account the employee’s accessibility needs due to disability.
(3) Individual accommodation plans shall,
if requested, include any information regarding accessible formats and communications supports provided, as described in section 26;
if required, include individualized workplace emergency response information, as described in section 27; and
identify any other accommodation that is to be provided.
The intent of this requirement is that employers will develop written individual accommodation plans for employees with disabilities.
This requirement applies to employers, except small private and not-for-profit employers with 1-49 employees.
Small private and not-for-profit employers are still required to accommodate the needs of employees with disabilities, to the point of undue hardship, under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Under the Ontario Human Rights Code, employers are already required to accommodate the needs of employees with disabilities to the point of undue hardship. As a result, many employers may already have similar processes in place and can build on them to meet this requirement.
More information on accommodating employees with disabilities under the Ontario Human Rights Code can be found at: http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/issues/employment
Under the Employment Standard, obligated employers are required to develop individual accommodation plans for employees with disabilities of which they have been made aware. In most cases, employees with disabilities will tell their employers that they have a disability that requires accommodation. However, there may be other times where an employer may initiate a dialogue to offer assistance and accommodation to an employee who is clearly unwell or perceived to have a disability.
Individual accommodation plans are a formal way of recording and reviewing the workplace-related accommodations that an employer will provide to an employee with a disability. Accommodation plans are living documents. They are reviewed and updated so that they remain effective and up-to-date.
This section requires obligated employers to develop a process to determine and document the accommodation needs of employees with disabilities.
By establishing a process for developing individual accommodation plans, employers should have in place a clear and consistent approach for accommodating employees with disabilities within their organization.
Under this requirement, employers have the flexibility to work with the employees in order for the employer to find appropriate accommodations.
There are several steps to take when developing individual accommodation plans. These are a few of the key points to consider when developing them.
How employees with disabilities can be involved in the development process of their plans
How employers can seek outside medical or other expert evaluation so that they can provide effective supports
What steps employers will take to protect the privacy of personal information
How frequently individual accommodation plans will be reviewed and updated, and how this will be done
Important – Employers must remember that the information they collect to develop individual accommodation plans is private.
Reviewing individual accommodation plans will allow employers to consider what adjustments, if any, to the plans are required when changes occur. These changes could include the following:
An employee changes jobs within the organization
An employee’sneeds for accommodation change because of a recurring or sporadic illness
An employer’spolicies and practices change
If applicable, individual accommodation plans must also include the employee’sworkplace emergency response information and the accessible formats and communications supports that the employee requires. The plans must also include any other accommodations that the employee needs to do their job.
For more information on accessible formats or communications supports, please go to the glossary , which gives a general description. For more detailed information, Information and Communication Standard, Section 12, “Accessible Formats and Communications Supports“.
For more information on workplace emergency response information, please go to Employment Standard, Section 27, “Workplace Emergency Response Information“.
29.(1) Every employer, other than an employer that is a small organization,
shall develop and have in place a return to work process for its employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and require disability-related accommodations in order to return to work; and
shall document the process.
(2) The return to work process shall,
outline the steps the employer will take to facilitate the return to work of employees who were absent because their disability required them to be away from work; and
use individual documented accommodation plans, as described in section 28, as part of the process.
(3) The return to work process referenced in this section does not replace or override any other return to work process created by or under any other statute.
The intent of this requirement is that employers will have in place a documented process for supporting employees who return to work after being away for reasons related to their disabilities.
If an individual’sillness or injury is covered by the return to work provisions of the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, then that Act’sreturn to work process would apply.
This requirement applies to all employers in Ontario, except small private and not-for-profit employers with 1-49 employees.
Employers are required to develop return to work processes that document the steps they will take to help employees to return to work when:
they have been absent because of their disability; and
they need some form of disability-related accommodation to return to work.
Return to work processes may be appropriate for employees who have permanent, recurring or temporary disabilities. For example, return to work accommodations may be appropriate when an employee:
has a broken leg as a result a recreational accident
is undergoing treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy
has episodes of mental illness
has a disease that results in an evolving or worsening disability, such as multiple sclerosis
It is important is to determine whether some form of employment-related accommodation is required to allow the employee to effectively return to work.
Obligated employers are required to document their return-to-work processes so that they become part of their business practices and are applied consistently.
Employers have the flexibility to create return to work processes that best fit their existing organizational culture and business practices. For instance, some employers may already have return to work policies in place, which may meet this requirement or can be built upon to meet this requirement.
If an employee requires disability-related accommodation to effectively return to work, employers must develop an individual accommodation plan for that employee.
30.(1) An employer that uses performance management in respect of its employees shall take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, as well as individual accommodation plans, when using its performance management process in respect of employees with disabilities.
(2) In this section, “performance management”means activities related to assessing and improving employee performance, productivity and effectiveness, with the goal of facilitating employee success.
The intent of this requirement is that all employers that use performance management processes will take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities.
This requirement applies to employers with one or more employees that have performance management processes in place.
Designate public sector organizations with 1-49 employees January 1, 2015
Employers that have performance management processes in place are required to consider the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities in these processes.
Performance management processes may be informal or formal and will vary from employer to employer. For instance, small employers may engage in informal conversations with employees about their performance on the job. Larger employers, however, may have human resource departments that develop and oversee formal performance management processes.
There are many ways in which employers can take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities in their performance management processes. For example, employers can:
Review an employee’individual accommodation plan to understand the employee’s accommodation needs and determine whether it needs adjusting to improve his or her performance on the job.
Have documents related to performance management, such as performance plans, available in accessible formats, such as large print for individuals with low vision.
Provide informal and formal coaching and feedback in a manner that takes into account an employee’s disability, such as using plain language for an individual with a learning disability.
Many employers have annual performance reviews or other performance management processes, which can result in an employee’s responsibilities changing. If the employee has a disability, then the employer must revisit the employee’s individual accommodation plan to see if any adjustments are required.
For more information on individual accommodation plans, please see, Employment Standard, Section 28, “Documented Individual Accommodation Plans“.
31.(1) An employer that provides career development and advancement to its employees shall take into account the accessibility needs of its employees with disabilities as well as any individual accommodation plans, when providing career development and advancement to its employees with disabilities.
(2)In this section, “career development and advancement”includes providing additional responsibilities within an employee’s current position and the movement of an employee from one job to another in an organization that may be higher in pay, provide greater responsibility or be at a higher level in the organization or any combination of them and, for both additional responsibilities and employee movement, is usually based on merit or seniority, or a combination of them.
The intent of this requirement is that employers that provide career development and advancement opportunities will take into account the accessibility needs of their employees who have disabilities. This may provide employees with disabilities with the opportunities to advance within their organizations.
This requirement applies to all employers with one or more employees that provide career development and advancement to their employees.
Although an employee with a disability may be accommodated to perform a specific role, the employer may have other opportunities for which the employee may be well-suited.
When providing career development and advancement opportunities, employers are required to take into account what accommodations employees with disabilities may need to succeed elsewhere in their organizations or to take on new responsibilities in their current position.
For example, an employee may receive a promotion, which includes new responsibilities. In this case, the employer and employee may review the individual accommodation plan to learn what adjustments may be needed for the new responsibilities.
When employers provide career development and advancement opportunities to their employees, they must take into account the individual accommodation plans that are in place for their employees with disabilities.
For more information on individual accommodation plans, please see, Employment Standard, Section 28, “Documented Individual Accommodation Plans “.
32.(1) An employer that uses redeployment shall take into account the accessibility needs of its employees with disabilities, as well as individual accommodation plans, when redeploying employees with disabilities.
(2) In this section, “redeployment” means the reassignment of employees to other departments or jobs within the organization as an alternative to layoff, when a particular job or department has been eliminated by the organization.
The intent of this requirement is that all employers that use redeployment processes will consider the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities when moving them to other positions, so that employees can continue to have their accommodation needs met.
Employers that use redeployment are required to take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities.
This includes reviewing individual accommodation plans when moving employees with disabilities to other jobs within their organizations.
Large employers that have restructured, downsized or merged with other employers often redeploy their employees to other jobs. Many of these employers have redeployment policies in place and human resources departments to oversee them.
The regulation does not require employers to create new processes for redeployment. It does require employers that redeploy employees to consider the accessibility needs of individuals with disabilities and, if required, adjust their supports to fit their new roles.
By considering the accessibility needs of individuals with disabilities when redeploying employees, employers may help these employees continue to contribute effectively.
For example, if an employee with a disability has a modified cubicle or special software on their computer, then these accommodations may follow the employee to the new position or are reassessed to determine if they still meet the employee’ disability-related needs.
When organizations redeploy employees, they must take into account the individual accommodation plans that are in place for their employees with disabilities, they should refer to their Individual Accommodation Plans and determine what modifications may be needed to accommodate them in their new jobs.
Some of the terms defined here are in the Integrated Accessibility Standard Regulation. Others are not, but have been included to help organizations understand and implement the requirements in the Accessible Transportation Standard.
accessibility equipment – equipment intended to remove barriers for people with disabilities. Accessibility equipment includes lifting devices, power lifts, power ramps, mobility aids, securement devices, etc.
accessibility features – features intended to remove barriers for people with disabilities. Accessibility features include signage, accessible washrooms and automated communications systems, such as stop announcements on vehicles, etc.
accessible taxicab – a taxicab as defined in section 1 of Regulation 629 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 (Accessible Vehicles) made under the Highway Traffic Act.
allocated mobility aid space – refers to a portion of a vehicle that is specifically designed and designated for the use of people with disabilities who use mobility aids.
bus – refers to a motor vehicle designed to carry 10 or more passengers and used for transporting people.
commuter rail – is a class of rail-based, multi-unit transportation. Commuter rail is used for public passenger transportation between urban areas and their suburbs and is provided on designated lines between stations.
conventional transportation service provider – refers to a designated public sector transportation organization as described in paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 of the Integrated Accessibility Standard Regulation. These organizations provide conventional transportation services that operate only within Ontario.
conventional transportation services – refers to public passenger transportation services on transit buses, motor coaches or rail-based transportation that operate only within Ontario. These services are provided by designated public sector transportation organizations described in paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation.
fare – is the fee paid by passengers allowing them to use public transportation such as a train, bus, ferry etc.
fare structure – refers to the fare price. It is determined by the fare media such as cash, tickets, passes and bulk quantity discounts and by the fare category such as adults, seniors and students. A fare structure does not include promotional fares, which transportation service providers may offer from time to time.
ferry – refers to a vessel that weighs 1000 gross tonnes or more and provides passenger transportation services only within Ontario. Ferries are used by the general public and may carry only passengers or passengers and motor vehicles.
grab bar – refers to any device on board a vehicle that is designed to allow passengers to grip or hold onto it while they manoeuvre through the vehicle. Grab bars are also designed to provide passengers with more stable rides while on board a vehicle.
handhold – refers to any device on board a vehicle that is designed to allow passengers to grip or hold onto it while they manoeuvre through the vehicle. Handholds are also designed to provide passengers with more stable rides while on board a vehicle.
handrail – refers to a narrow rail, which may be horizontal, vertical or angled that may be grasped as a support. A handrail is designed to allow passengers to grip or hold on to it while they manoeuvre through the vehicle or to provide a more stable ride while on board the vehicle.
inter-city rail – is a class of rail-based, multi-unit transportation that operates between cities or towns and is used for public passenger transportation. Inter-city rail is intended for express service that covers long distances with routes connecting two or more distinct or major locations.
lifting device – is a platform that moves between a lowered position that is usually level with the ground and a raised position that is at the height of the floor inside the vehicle. These are generally used on motor coaches, located in the middle of the vehicle.
light rail – is a class of rail-based, multi-unit transportation that is used for public passenger transportation. Light rail transportation is provided on designated lines between stations and is intended for light loads and fast movement.
medical aid – refers to an assistive device, including respirators and portable oxygen supplies.
mobility aid – refers to devices used to facilitate the transport, in a seated posture, of people with disabilities.
mobility assistive device – refers to a cane, walker or similar aid.
motor coach – is a class of bus of monocoque design, which provides intercity, suburban or commuter passenger transportation service. A motor coach has baggage storage areas that are separate from the passenger cabin.
personal information – refers to personal information within the meaning of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
portable bridge plate – is a device with a flat surface that spans the short distances between railcars and loading platforms.
rail-based transportation – refers to any single or multi-unit passenger transportation vehicle that operates exclusively on rails. Rail-based transportation includes streetcars, subways, light rail vehicles, commuter rail and inter-city rail. Rail-based transportation is operated by a public transportation organization as described in paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation.
ramp – refers to a sloped surface that moves between a retracted position to an extended position by flipping or sliding the extension. Ramps are generally located at the accessible entrance door of a vehicle.
riser height – is the space between the rear base of a step and the top front edge of the next step.
school board – refers to a “board” as defined in subsection 1(1) of the Education Act.
specialized transportation service provider – refers to a designated public sector transportation organization, described in paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation that provides specialized transportation services that operate only within Ontario.
specialized transportation services – refers to public passenger transportation services that are designed to transport people with disabilities and that operate only within Ontario. These services are provided by designated public sector transportation organizations as described in paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation.
specialized transportation services – conditional eligibility – refers to the designation given by specialized transportation service providers to people with disabilities who are unable to consistently use conventional transportation services because of physical or environmental barriers.
specialized transportation services – temporary eligibility – refers to the designation given by specialized transportation service providers to people with temporary disabilities that prevent them from using conventional transportation services.
specialized transportation services – unconditional eligibility – refers to the designation given by specialized transportation service providers to people with disabilities that prevent them from using conventional transportation services.
stanchion – refers to a horizontal or vertical pole designed to be used as a handhold. It may be padded to reduce or cushion the impact of any accidental contact.
step nosing – is the outward tip of a step that is intended to assist with gripping and seeing the steps.
streetcar – is a class of rail-based transportation designed to operate on a highway, as defined in the Highway Traffic Act.
subway – is a class of rail-based transportation, which is multi-unit and provides service on designated lines between stations. A subway is designed to operate on a grade separated from highways, as defined in the Highway Traffic Act.
support person – refers to a person who accompanies a person with a disability to help with communication, mobility, personal care or medical needs, or with access to goods, services or facilities.
taxicab – is a motor vehicle as defined in the Highway Traffic Act that is licensed as a taxicab by a municipality and has a seating capacity of not more than six people, not including the driver. A taxicab is hired for one specific trip to transport one person or a group of people for which only one fare or charge is collected or made for the trip. A taxicab is not a car pool vehicle.
transit bus – is a class of bus that is designed and intended to be used for passenger transportation. Transit buses may be operated on highways, as defined in the Highway Traffic Act.
tread depth – is the horizontal stepping surface of a step.
34 (1) All conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers shall make available to the public current information on accessibility equipment and features of their vehicles, routes and services.
(2) Conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers shall, upon request, provide the information described in subsection (1) in an accessible format.
(3) Conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers shall meet the requirements of this section by January 1, 2012.
The intent of this requirement is that all conventional and specialized transportation service providers provide the general public with current information about their accessibility equipment and the accessibility features of their vehicles, routes and services.
This requirement applies to conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers. Both must meet these requirements by January 1, 2012.
Conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers are required to make publicly available their current information on the accessibility equipment and accessibility features of their vehicles, routes and services.
When requested, conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers are required to provide the information on their accessibility equipment and the accessibility features of their vehicles, routes and services in accessible formats.
For more information on accessible formats, please go to the glossary , which gives a general description. For more detailed information, go to Information and Communications Standard, Section 12, “Accessible Formats and Communication Supports “
35 (1) If the accessibility equipment on a vehicle is not functioning and equivalent service cannot be provided, conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers shall take reasonable steps to accommodate persons with disabilities who would otherwise use the equipment and the transportation service provider shall repair the equipment as soon as is practicable.
(2) Conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers shall meet the requirements of this section by July 1, 2011.
The intent of this requirement is that all conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers will accommodate people with disabilities when the accessibility equipment on the vehicles breaks down.
Further, conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers must repair accessibility equipment that is broken as soon as it is practicable.
All conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers must meet these requirements by July 1, 2011.
When the accessibility equipment on a vehicle is damaged, not working properly or not working at all, conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers must repair the equipment as soon as is practicable.
They must also take reasonable steps to accommodate people with disabilities who would otherwise use the equipment.
36 (1) In addition to the training requirements set out in section 7, conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers shall conduct employee and volunteer accessibility training.
(2) The accessibility training shall include training on,
the safe use of accessibility equipment and features;
acceptable modifications to procedures in situations where temporary barriers exist or accessibility equipment on a vehicle fails;and
emergency preparedness and response procedures that provide for the safety of persons with disabilities.
(3) Conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers shall keep a record of the training provided under this section, including the dates on which the training is provided and the number of individuals to whom it is provided.
The intent of this requirement is that all conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers will provide transportation-specific accessibility training for employees and volunteers, as it relates to their positions.
This training is in addition to the general training required under the General Requirement part of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation. For more information on this training, please go to General Requirement, Section 7, “Training” .
Conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers must meet this requirement by January 1, 2014.
Conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers must conduct accessibility training to their employees and volunteers.
Under this requirement, conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers can build their accessibility training into their existing policies and cycles.
Further, transportation providers have the flexibility to decide what type of training is required (e.g., classroom, e-learning, etc.) and when they will offer it. They can, for instance, build the training into their existing training processes and schedules, including their “refresher” training.
Transportation providers are required to keep records of the training that is provided.
These records must include the dates that the training is provided, as well as the number of individuals that receive the training.
Accessibility training must include training in the following areas.
Training should include how to safely use the accessibility equipment and features on vehicles. This could also include the safe handling and storage of mobility aids such as wheelchairs, and mobility assistive devices such as walkers.
Training should include what modifications to the regular procedures are acceptable when the accessibility equipment fails or when temporary barriers to accessibility arise. This will help operators to manage those situations when unplanned procedures or processes are necessary to assist people with disabilities properly and safely.
Training should include information on how the transportation provider has prepared for emergencies and what the procedures are to help people with disabilities in those situations. This will help operators to manage and respond appropriately to the needs of people with disabilities in emergency situations.
37 (1) In addition to any obligations that a conventional transportation service provider or a specialized transportation service provider has under section 13, conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers,
shall establish, implement, maintain and document emergency preparedness and response policies that provide for the safety of persons with disabilities; and
shall make those policies available to the public.
(2) Conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers shall, upon request, provide the policies described in subsection (1) in an accessible format.
The intent of this requirement is that conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers will have emergency preparedness and response policies that will provide for the safety of people with disabilities.
Conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers must meet these requirements by January 1, 2012.
Conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers must establish, implement, maintain and document emergency preparedness and response policies that provide for the safety of people with disabilities.
These emergency policies will offer greater accountability to people with disabilities as well as to other passengers when emergencies arise. This is in addition to the requirements for plans for emergency procedures and for information about public safety, which are described in the Information and Communications Standard of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation. For more information about those plans and procedures, please go to the Information and Communications Standard, Section 13, “Emergency Procedure, Plans or Public Safety Information“.
Conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers must make their emergency preparedness and response policies available to the public.
Further, when requested, these emergency preparedness and response policies must be provided in an accessible format.
For more information on accessible formats, please go to the glossary, which gives a general description. For more detailed information, go to Information and Communications Standard, Section 12, “Accessible Formats and Communication Supports” .
38 (1) No conventional transportation service provider and no specialized transportation service provider shall charge a fare to a support person who is accompanying a person with a disability where the person with a disability has a need for a support person.
(2) It is the responsibility of a person with a disability to demonstrate to a transportation service provider described in subsection (1) their need for a support person to accompany them on the conventional or specialized transportation service and to ensure that the appropriate designation for a support person is in place.
The intent of this requirement is that no conventional transportation service provider or specialized transportation service provider will charge a fare to a support person who is accompanying a person with a disability on a transportation vehicle when the person with a disability has a need for a support person to travel with them.
All conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers must meet these requirements by January 1, 2014.
Conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers cannot charge a fare to a support person who is accompanying a person with a disability, when the person with a disability has a need for a support person to travel with them.
This requirement recognizes that a person with a disability may require the assistance of a support person while travelling. For example, the support person may help the person with a disability board the vehicle, pay the fare or provide personal care when travelling.
A person with a disability who requires a support person while travelling must demonstrate the need to the conventional transportation service provider or the specialized transportation service provider. How the person with a disability demonstrates this need is at the discretion of each provider.
The designation that allows a support person to travel without paying a fare is given to the person with a disability. It is not given to the support person.
This provision recognizes that a person with a disability has the need for a support person, not the need for a specific support person. Further, a person with a disability may use more than one support person for travelling over the course of a week, a month or a year.
Example: A woman with a disability may require the help of a paid support person to travel to work. In the evenings and during the weekends, however, her partner may be able to act as her support person.
Section 39: Transition – Existing Contracts
39. Where a conventional transportation service provider has, on June 30, 2011, existing contractual obligations to purchase vehicles that do not meet the requirements of sections 53 to 62, the transportation service provider may honour the existing contract.
The intent of this requirement is to permit conventional transportation service providers to honour their existing contracts to purchase vehicles that do not meet the technical requirements of this regulation.
The requirement recognizes that conventional transportation service providers may be penalized if they ask for changes after contracts have been signed.
This requirement applies to all conventional transportation service providers. It is a transitional requirement and does not have a date for compliance.
Conventional transportation service providers may honour a contract signed on or before June 30, 2011 to buy vehicles that do not meet the technical requirements outlined in Sections 53 to 62 of this regulation.
This requirement recognizes that conventional transportation service providers could be penalized for requesting changes to a contract after it has been signed, payment has been made or production has begun.
Any contracts signed on or after July 1, 2011 must include the requirements of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation, subject to certain exemptions where the structural integrity of the vehicle may be impaired.
For more information about the technical requirements, please go to Transportation, Sections 53 to 62 “Technical Requirements”.
Section 40: Transition – Existing Vehicles
40 (1) Conventional transportation service providers are not required to retrofit vehicles that are within their fleet as of July 1, 2011 in order to ensure that the vehicles meet the accessibility requirements of sections 53 to 62.
(2) If a conventional transportation service provider modifies a portion of a vehicle to which subsection (1) applies in a way that affects or could affect accessibility on or after July 1, 2011, the transportation service provider shall ensure that the modified portion meets the requirements of sections 53 to 62.
(3) Where subsection (2) applies and the modification is with respect to matters referred to in section 53, 55, 57 or 61 or subsection 62 (2), the conventional transportation service provider does not have to meet the requirements of those provisions if the modifications would impair the structural integrity of the vehicle or the mobility aid accessible rail car.
The intent of this requirement is to exempt conventional transportation service providers from retrofitting their fleet while ensuring that new acquisitions meet the technical requirements of this regulation.
This requirement applies to all conventional transportation service providers. It is a transitional requirement, and does not have a compliance date.
Conventional transportation service providers are not required to retrofit the vehicles that are in their fleets as of July 1, 2011 to meet the technical requirements in the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation. The regulation applies on a go-forward basis to purchases of new and used vehicles.
A vehicle is considered to be in the fleet of a transportation service provider if the vehicle was owned by the provider on or before June 30, 2011.
On or after July 1, 2011, if a conventional transportation service provider modifies or upgrades a portion of a vehicle, the new features must meet the accessibility requirements outlined in the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation.
This requirement applies to any modifications or upgrades to the vehicles or their equipment that fall under the technical requirements of the regulation.
Example: In September 2011, a conventional transportation service provider decides to upgrade its bus fleet by replacing all the signage. These new signs must meet the requirements for signage outlined in the regulation. The conventional transportation service provider, however, is not required to retrofit other parts of the bus fleet such as the steps or lighting to meet the requirements of the regulation. Only those parts of the bus fleet that the provider changes have to meet the requirements.
Conventional transportation service providers are not required to meet the technical requirements in the regulation under the following circumstances:
When upgrades to the requirements in the regulation compromise or harm the structural integrity of a vehicle.
When upgrades to the requirements in the regulation compromise or harm the structural integrity of a rail car that is accessible to people with disabilities who use mobility aids.
Example: A conventional transportation service provider has decided to upgrade the grab bars, handholds, handrails and stanchions in all its commuter trains. The upgrade will replace the worn padding. The provider is not required to meet the accessibility requirements for the placement of handrails, grab bars, handholds and stanchions if doing so would harm the structural integrity of the vehicles.
There are five requirements that are eligible for the structural integrity exemption:
grab bars, handholds, handrails and stanchions
allocated mobility aid spaces
lighting features
indicators and alarms
mobility aid accessible washrooms on rail cars
For more information about these requirements, please go to Transportation:
Section 53, “Grab Bars, Handhold, Handrails, Stanchions”
Section 55, “Allocated Mobility Aid Spaces”
Section 57, “Lighting Features”
Section 61, “Indicators and Alarms”
Section 62, “Rail Cars”
Section 41: Accessibility Plans – Conventional Transportation Services
41 (1) In addition to the accessibility plan requirements set out in section 4, in their accessibility plan, conventional transportation service providers shall identify the process for managing, evaluating and taking action on customer feedback.
(2) Every conventional transportation service provider shall annually hold at least one public meeting involving persons with disabilities to ensure that they have an opportunity to participate in a review of the accessibility plan and that they are given the opportunity to provide feedback on the accessibility plan.
(3) If the provider of conventional transportation services also provides specialized transportation services, the transportation service provider shall address both types of transportation services in its accessibility plan.
(4) Transportation service providers shall meet the requirements of this section by January 1, 2013.
The intent of this requirement is that conventional transportation service providers will identify in their accessibility plans, their processes for managing and acting on the customer feedback they receive about their services for people with disabilities.
In addition, conventional transportation service providers must hold at least one annual public meeting to give people with disabilities a chance to participate in reviews of the accessibility plans.
This requirement applies to conventional transportation service providers. They must comply by January 1, 2013.
Conventional transportation service providers must identify their processes for managing, evaluating and acting on customer feedback.
Customer feedback gives the conventional transportation service providers the chance to learn about the concerns of people with disabilities and about the obstacles they face when using transportation services.
The feedback also allows people with disabilities to respond to advances and improvements in accessibility.
Determining customer satisfaction will help conventional transportation service providers to steadily improve their equipment and services for people with disabilities.
Conventional transportation service providers must hold at least one annual public meeting that includes and involves people with disabilities.
These meetings will give conventional transportation service providers opportunities to receive customer feedback on their accessibility plans.
The meetings will also make sure that people with disabilities can participate in the annual reviews of accessibility plans.
There is no requirement that these meetings must be for the sole purpose of receiving feedback on accessibility plans. Conventional transportation service providers may also choose to seek feedback on other issues relating to accessibility during the meetings.
If the conventional transportation service provider also provides specialized transportation services, then it must address both types of transportation services in its accessibility plan.
This recognizes that one accessibility plan for both types of services benefits staff members and people with disabilities.
Conventional transportation service providers have other accessibility plan requirements under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation.
For more information on accessibility plans, go to General Requirements, Section 4, “Accessibility Plans“.
Section 42: Accessibility Plans – Specialized Transportation Services
42 (1) Specialized transportation service providers shall, in their accessibility plans,
identify the process for estimating the demand for specialized transportation services; and
develop steps to reduce wait times for specialized transportation services.
(2) Specialized transportation service providers shall meet the requirements of this section by January 1, 2013.
The intent of this requirement is that specialized transportation service providers will identify, in their accessibility plan, how they will estimate the demand for specialized transportation. They will also outline what steps they will take to reduce the waiting times for their services.
This requirement applies to specialized transportation service providers. They must comply by January 1, 2013.
Within their multi-year accessibility plans, specialized transportation service providers must identify the processes they plan to use to estimate the demand for specialized transportation services in their jurisdictions.
Estimating demand will assist specialized transportation service providers to align their services to better match the demand.
Within the multi-year accessibility plans, specialized transportation service providers must outline the steps they will take to reduce the wait times for their services. This is the time that people with disabilities spend waiting for scheduled pick-ups by specialized transportation vehicles. It does not refer to waiting times during the process to determine an individual’s eligibility for specialized transportation services.
Specialized transportation service providers have other accessibility plan requirements under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation. For more information on accessibility plans, go to General Requirements, Section 4, “Accessibility Plans “.
Section 43: Accessibility Plans – Conventional and Specialized Transportation Services
43 (1) Conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers shall, in their accessibility plans, describe their procedures for dealing with accessibility equipment failures on their respective types of vehicles.
The intent of this requirement is that conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers explain in their accessibility plans what they will do when their accessibility equipment on their vehicles fails.
This requirement applies to conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers. They must comply by January 1, 2013.
In their accessibility plans, convetional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers must explain how they will deal with failures of the accessibility equipment on their vehicles.
This requirement means that the people with disabilities will know what to expect when the accessibility equipment does not work.
Conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers have other accessibility plan requirements under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation.
44 (1) Conventional transportation service providers shall,
deploy lifting devices, ramps or portable bridge plates upon the request of a person with a disability;
ensure that adequate time is provided to persons with disabilities to safely board, be secured and deboard transportation vehicles and that assistance be provided, upon request, for these activities;
assist with safe and careful storage of mobility aids or mobility assistive devices used by persons with disabilities; and
allow a person with a disability to travel with a medical aid.
(2) Conventional transportation service providers shall, upon request, make information on the matters referred to in subsection (1) available in an accessible format.
(3) Conventional transportation service providers shall comply with the requirements of this section by January 1, 2012.
(4) In this section, “medical aid” means an assistive device including respirators and portable oxygen supplies.
The intent of this requirement is that conventional transportation service providers will assist people with disabilities.
Conventional transportation service providers are required to assist people with disabilities in the following situations.
When requested, operators must deploy or put in place the ramps, portable bridge plates or lifting devices that are used to help people with disabilities board or deboard vehicles.
This requirement does not apply to those vehicles, such as subways, that do not have lifting devices, ramps or portable bridge plates.
Operators must provide enough time for people with disabilities to safely board and deboard the vehicles, as well as to secure mobility aids. Operators must also provide assistance for these activities, when requested.
For those vehicles with no securement devices, such as subway cars, the requirement to secure mobility aids does not apply.
Note: This requirement does not exempt operators from any other specific responsibilities required by conventional transportation service providers as outlined in other legislation or policies regarding safety.
Operators must help safely store the mobility aids or mobility assistive devices used by people with disabilities.
This is required when storage space is available on the vehicle, and if the person with the disability does not require the mobility aid or the mobility assistive device while on the vehicle.
Mobility aids and mobility assistive devices are safely stored when they are secure and cannot move in such a way that they would be damaged or that they trip or harm other passengers.
Operators must allow people with disabilities to travel with medical aids such as respirators and portable oxygen supplies.
The requirements outlined in this section do not supersede the rights of operators regarding their personal safety or the safety of other passengers as outlined in the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
If requested, conventional transportation service providers must provide information about the responsibilities of their operators in accessible formats.
45 (1) Except where not practicable to do so, a conventional transportation service provider that does not provide specialized transportation services shall ensure that any person with a disability who, because of his or her disability, is unable to use conventional transportation services is provided with an alternative accessible method of transportation.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply where specialized transportation services are provided by a specialized transportation service provider in the same jurisdiction where the conventional transportation service provider provides transportation services.
The intent of this requirement is that conventional transportation service providers offer people with disabilities an alternative accessible method of transportation if they cannot use conventional transportation services as a result of their disability, and if there is no specialized transportation service in the area.
Conventional transportation service providers that do not provide specialized transportation services must provide people with disabilities, who cannot use the conventional service, with an alternative accessible method of transportation. This requirement applies under the following circumstances:
When there is no specialized transportation service available in the area.
The person with a disability cannot use the conventional service because of his or her disability and not for other reasons, such as lack of adequate funds or the schedules are inconvenient.
This requirement does not mean that conventional transportation service providers must create a separate and dedicated specialized service. The requirement means that people with disabilities are provided with alternative accessible transportation.
In some cases, there may be a specialized transportation service available in the municipality or region. In this situation, the conventional transportation service provider does not have to offer an alternate accessible method of transportation as an accessible service is available from another source or provider.
In other cases, it may not be practicable for conventional transportation service providers to provide alternative accessible transportation to people with disabilities. In these cases, the provider is not required to do so.
Example: A person with a disability is discharged from the hospital and requires transportation from the hospital to his home. His disability requires that he be transported on a gurney. In this situation, the conventional transportation service provider may not be required to provide an alternative accessible method of transportation as even a typical specialized transportation vehicle cannot be used to transport a person on a gurney.
What is being requested here is a special type of trip, not a comparable accessible alternative. In this case, it is the responsibility of the person with a disability to arrange transportation that accommodates his or her unique needs.
46 (1) No conventional transportation service provider shall charge a higher fare to a person with a disability than the fare that is charged to a person without a disability where the person with a disability uses conventional transportation services, but a conventional transportation service provider may charge a lesser fare for a person with a disability.
(2) Conventional transportation service providers that do not provide specialized transportation services shall make available alternative fare payment options to persons with disabilities who cannot, because of their disability, use a fare payment option.
(3) Conventional transportation service providers shall meet the requirements of subsection (1) by July 1, 2011 and the requirements of subsection (2) by January 1, 2013.
The intent of this requirement is that no conventional transportation service provider will charge people with disabilities more than people without disabilities for the same trip.
In addition, conventional transportation service providers must offer accessible fare payment options.
Conventional transportation service providers must comply with the fare portion of the requirement by July 1, 2011.
Conventional transportation service providers must comply with the requirement for accessible fare payment options by January 1, 2013.
A conventional transportation service provider cannot charge people with disabilities higher fares than it charges people without disabilities for the same trip. Conventional transportation service providers, however, are allowed to charge people with disabilities lower fares than those charged to people without disabilities.
Conventional transportation service providers that do not provide specialized transportation services must have alternative accessible options for paying fares for people with disabilities, who because of their disabilities cannot use the commonly used methods for paying fares.
Example: Some people with disabilities may have trouble placing coins or tokens into fare boxes, while others may have problems with the machines used for purchasing tickets. Conventional transportation service providers must remove these barriers to their services by offering accessible options for paying fares.
47(1) Conventional transportation service providers, in respect of transportation vehicles to which this section applies, shall ensure that persons with disabilities are able to board or deboard a transportation vehicle at the closest available safe location, as determined by the operator, that is not an official stop, if the official stop is not accessible and the safe location is along the same transit route.
(2) In determining where a safe location may be situated for the purposes of subsection (1), the conventional transportation service provider shall give consideration to the preferences of the person with a disability.
(3) Conventional transportation service providers shall ensure that operators of their transportation vehicles promptly report to an appropriate authority where a transit stop is temporarily inaccessible or where a temporary barrier exists.
(4) This section applies in respect of the following:
Transit buses
(5) Conventional transportation service providers shall meet the requirements of this section by January 1, 2012.
The intent of this requirement is that when official stops are not accessible, conventional transportation service providers will allow people with disabilities to board and deboard the vehicles at safe locations that are not official stops.
Conventional transportation service providers.
Applies to the following vehicles:
When official transit stops have barriers or are not accessible, conventional transportation service providers must allow people with disabilities to board or deboard their vehicles at the closest safe location.
It is the operators of the vehicles who will decide what is the closest and safest place to stop, taking into consideration the preferences of the person with the disability.
Operators must also take into account two other factors:
The unofficial stop must be on the same transit route.
The operators of the vehicles must be able to safely operate any accessibility equipment required by people with disabilities to board or deboard the vehicles.
This requirement only applies to conventional transportation service providers that operate transit buses, motor coaches, and streetcars.
These vehicles, unlike subways, are not required to stop at every official transit stop. Streetcars, transit buses and motor coaches only stop when there are people waiting at the stops who want to board or people on the vehicles who want to get off.
Conventional transportation service providers must make sure that their operators of transit buses, motor coaches and streetcars report transit stops that are temporarily inaccessible.
Operators must promptly report inaccessible transit stops, to the appropriate authority when they determine that there is a barrier at a stop. For example, they may call over the radio, or they may tell their supervisors at the end of their shifts or when they return to their stations. The appropriate authority could be, for example, the transportation service provider or the municipality.
Example: An operator of a transit bus notices a large crack in the sidewalk in front of the transit stop. The operator decides to stop the bus several metres away from the official transit stop so that people with disabilities can board and deboard safely.
48(1) Every conventional transportation service provider shall, if safe storage is possible, ensure that mobility aids and mobility assistive devices are stored in the passenger compartments of its transportation vehicles within reach of the person with the disability who uses the aid or device.
(2) If safe storage of mobility aids and mobility assistive devices is not possible within the passenger compartment and the vehicle is equipped with a baggage compartment, a conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that mobility aids and mobility assistive devices are stored in the baggage compartment of the vehicle on which the person with the disability is travelling.
(3) Every conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that operators of its transportation vehicles secure and return mobility aids and mobility assistive devices in a manner that does not affect the safety of other passengers and does not cause damage to the aid or device, where the mobility aid or mobility assistive device is stored in the baggage compartment of the vehicle.
(4) No conventional transportation service provider shall charge a fee for the storage of a mobility aid or a mobility assistive device.
Inter-city rail
(6) Subject to subsection (7), conventional transportation service providers shall meet the requirements of this section by January 1, 2012.
(7) Conventional transportation service providers shall comply with subsection (4) by July 1, 2011.
The intent of this requirement is that conventional transportation service providers will store and return mobility aids and mobility assistive devices to people with disabilities who use them.
This requirement does not allow conventional transportation service providers to charge fees for storing mobility aids and mobility assistive devices.
Requirement concerning storage by January 1, 2012.
Requirement concerning fees for storage by July 1, 2011.
In some vehicles, the passenger compartments have areas where mobility aids and mobility assistive devices can be stored safely. If this is the case, then conventional transportation service providers must make sure that mobility aids and mobility assistive devices are stored within reach of the people with disabilities who use them. For example, a walker may be placed beside the passenger who uses it or at her feet.
In other vehicles, the baggage compartments are the only places where mobility aids or mobility assistive devices can be stored safely.
In these cases, conventional transportation service providers must make sure that mobility aids and mobility assistive devices are stored on the same vehicles on which the people with disabilities are travelling.
When conventional transportation service providers use the baggage compartments to store mobility aids or mobility assistive devices, they must be safely secured. Further, they must be returned to the people with disabilities in a manner that does not affect the safety of the other passengers or damage the aids or devices.
Note: This requirement does not require a dedicated location for storage. Conventional transportation service providers are not required to have or to dedicate separate storage areas if the vehicles do not have them already. Safe storage could simply involve placing the devices beside people with disabilities or at their feet.
Conventional transportation service providers cannot charge fees for storing mobility aids or mobility assistive devices.
This applies when mobility aids or mobility assistive devices are stored in passenger compartments or in baggage compartments.
49 (1) Every conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that there is clearly marked courtesy seating for persons with disabilities on its transportation vehicles and that the courtesy seating meets the standards set out in this section.
(2) The courtesy seating for persons with disabilities shall be located as close as practicable to the entrance door of the vehicle.
(3) The courtesy seating for persons with disabilities shall be signed to indicate that passengers, other than persons with disabilities, must vacate the courtesy seating if its use is required by a person with a disability.
(4) Every conventional transportation service provider shall develop a communications strategy designed to inform the public about the purpose of courtesy seating.
The intent of this requirement is that conventional transportation service providers will have seats that are designated for people with disabilities and are located as close as practicable to the entrance door.
Further, conventional transportation service providers will develop communications strategies to inform the public about the purpose of these seats.
Conventional transportation service providers must make sure that each of their vehicles has seating that is clearly marked as intended for people with disabilities.
The style or symbol used to mark the seating is up to the conventional transportation service provider. But, they must make sure that the signs for the seats tell people without disabilities that they have to leave these seats when they are needed by people with disabilities.
Operators are not required to ask people without disabilities to vacate seats for people with disabilities.
Note: Some conventional transportation service providers may have “courtesy” or “priority” seating for seniors, expectant mothers, or passengers with small children. These providers are not required to eliminate this seating for other passengers in need, but are required to have seating specifically designated for people with disabilities.
Seating for people with disabilities must be accessible and located as close as practicable to the entrances of the vehicles.
If the closest seats to the entrance door are not accessible or would pose a barrier to people with disabilities then they – the seats – are not practical and should not be designated as seating for people with disabilities. Instead the conventional transportation service provider should designate seats which are accessible and as close as practicable to the entrance doors.
Conventional transportation service providers must develop a communications strategy to inform the public about the purpose of this seating for people with disabilities.
50 (1) Where a route or scheduled service is temporarily changed and the change is known in advance of the commencement of the trip, conventional transportation service providers shall,
make available alternate accessible arrangements to transfer persons with disabilities to their route destination where alternate arrangements for persons without disabilities are inaccessible; and
ensure information on alternate arrangements is communicated in a manner that takes into account the person’s disability.
(3) Conventional transportation service providers shall meet the requirements of this section by July 1, 2013.
The intent of this requirement is that when conventional transportation service providers know of a service disruption in advance, they will make alternative arrangements for accessible transportation for people with disabilities.
The providers will also make sure the arrangements are communicated to people with disabilities in an accessible format.
When conventional transportation service providers know of a route or scheduled service change in advance of the start of the trip, they are required to arrange for accessible transportation to get people with disabilities to their route destinations if the alternative arrangement for people without disabilities is not accessible.
The following are examples of temporary route or scheduled service changes that are known in advance.
A bus detours because streets have been closed for a summer street festival.
Repairs at a subway station mean the subway will not stop there for a day.
The commuter train will arrive on Platform B instead of Platform A.
The following are examples of temporary route or scheduled service changes that are unexpected:
A car accident means that buses must take a detour and miss four official transit stops on the regular route.
A flood from a water-main break requires the subways to run through a station without stopping.
Rail blockade requires commuter trains to stop and stay put on route.
In the event of a service disruption, this requirement does not guarantee that people with disabilities can get to a specific location at their intended destination. For example, if a section of a road is closed down because of a police investigation, then the conventional transportation service provider cannot guarantee that a person with a disability will get to a bank that is located in the blocked off area.
Conventional transportation service providers are required to make sure that the information on alternative arrangements is communicated in a manner that takes into account the person’s disability.
For more information on accessible formats, please go to the Glossary , which gives a general description. For more detailed information, go to Information and Communications Standard, Section 12, “Accessible Formats and Communication Supports” .
51(1) Every conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that there are, on request, pre-boarding verbal announcements of the route, direction, destination or next major stop.
(2) Every conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that there are electronic pre-boarding announcements of the route, direction, destination or next major stop on its transportation vehicles and that that these announcements satisfy the requirements set out in section 58.
The intent of this requirement is that conventional transportation service providers will make sure that information about the route, direction, destination or next major stop is provided to people with disabilities before they board the vehicles.
Requirement concerning the spoken pre-boarding announcements by July 1, 2011.
Requirement concerning the electronic pre-boarding announcements by January 1, 2017.
When requested, conventional transportation service providers will provide spoken pre-boarding announcements of the routes, directions, destinations or next major stops of their vehicles.
Conventional transportation service providers must provide electronic pre-boarding announcements of the routes, directions, destinations or next major stops of their vehicles.
This information must be electronically announced at the boarding point.
All electronic announcements must meet the requirements for signage in the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation. For more information on the requirements for signs, please go to Transportation, Section 58, “Signage“.
52(1) Every conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that there are audible verbal announcements of all destination points or available route stops on its transportation vehicles while the vehicle is on route or while the vehicle is being operated.
(2) Every conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that all destination points or available route stops,
are announced through electronic means; and
are legibly and visually displayed through electronic means.
(3) For the purposes of clause (2) (b), visual displays of destination points or stop information shall satisfy the requirements set out in section 58.
(5) Conventional transportation service providers shall meet the requirements of subsection (1) by July 1, 2011 and the requirements of subsections (2) and (3) by January 1, 2017.
The intent of this requirement is that conventional transportation service providers will make sure that all the destination points or stops are announced on all vehicles while they are travelling along their routes or being operated.
Requirement concerning audible on-board announcements by July 1, 2011.
Requirement concerning electronic on board announcements by January 1, 2017.
Conventional transportation service providers must make sure that all destination points or stops are audibly announced on board their vehicles while they are travelling.
This requirement does not apply if the vehicle is empty or if the information is provided electronically through automated announcements.
Conventional transportation service providers must make sure that all destination points or stops are electronically announced on board their vehicles while they are travelling.
The information must be announced over automated announcement systems, and legibly displayed electronically.
For example, the next stop of “Queen Street” must be audibly communicated through an electronic system, as well as legibly displayed on an electronic system. This means that passengers have the option of reading or hearing “Queen Street”.
Electronic announcements must meet signage requirements outlined in the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation. For more information on the requirements for signs, please go to Transportation, Section 58, “Signage” .
53(1) Every conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that all of its transportation vehicles to which this section applies that are manufactured on or after January 1, 2013 are equipped with grab bars, handholds, handrails or stanchions that are provided where appropriate at,
locations where passengers are required to pay fares;
each mobility aid securement position;
each courtesy seating area intended for use by persons with disabilities; and
each side of any entrance or exit used by persons with disabilities.
(2) With respect to all transportation vehicles to which this section applies, every conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that grab bars, handholds, handrails or stanchions located at an entrance or exit used by a person with a disability are accessible from ground level and are mounted so that they are inside the vehicle when the doors are closed.
(3) Every conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that all vehicles to which this section applies meet the following standards:
The location of grab bars, handholds, handrails or stanchions must be distributed, as appropriate to the vehicle’ design, throughout the vehicle to support independent and safe boarding, on-board circulation, seating and standing assistance and deboarding for persons with disabilities.
Grab bars, handholds, handrails or stanchions must not interfere with the turning and manoeuvring space required for mobility aids to reach the allocated space from the entrance.
Grab bars, handholds, handrails or stanchions must be high colour-contrasted with their background to assist with visual recognition.
Every grab bar, handhold, handrail or stanchion must,
be sturdy, rounded and free of any sharp or abrasive element,
have an exterior diameter that permits easy grasping by the full range of passengers and sufficient clearance from the surface to which it is attached,
be designed to prevent catching or snagging of clothes or personal items, and
have a slip resistant surface.
Where grab bars, handholds, handrails or stanchions return to a wall or floor, they must do so in a smooth curve.
Brackets, clamps, screw heads or other fasteners used on grab bars, handholds, handrails or stanchions must be rounded or flush with the surface and free from burrs or rough edges.
(5) Despite subsection (4), this section does not apply to vehicles regulated under Regulation 629 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 (Vehicles for the Transportation of Physically Disabled Passengers) made under the Highway Traffic Act.
(6) Despite subsection (1), where a conventional transportation service provider enters into a contractual obligation to purchase new or used vehicles of a type referenced in subsection (4) on or after July 1, 2011, the transportation service provider shall ensure the vehicles meet the requirements of this section.
(7) Subsection (6) does not apply if the installation of the grab bars, handholds, handrails or stanchions would impair the structural integrity of the vehicle.
The intent of this requirement is that grab bars, handholds, handrails or stanchions are located throughout vehicles to assist people with disabilities.
Applies to vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 2013.
The general rule for the technical requirements is that they apply to vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 2013.
However, the technical requirements also apply to vehicles manufactured before January 1, 2013. If a conventional transportation service provider enters into a contract to purchase a vehicle on or after July 1, 2011, then that vehicle must also meet the technical requirements of the regulation.
Conventional transportation service providers must make sure that any vehicle manufactured on or after January 1, 2013 is equipped with grab bars, handholds, handrails or stanchions.
Conventional transportation service providers must make sure that where appropriate, based on the structure and type of vehicle, grab bars, handholds, handrails or stanchions are provided at the following locations:
where passengers pay their fare
at each mobility aid securement location
at each courtesy seating area intended for the use of people with disabilities
at each side of any entrance or exit used by people with disabilities.
Grab bars, handholds, handrails, and stanchions that are located at an entrance or exit must be accessible from ground level and mounted so that they are inside the vehicle when the doors are closed.
As well, grab bars, handholds, handrails or stanchions must meet the following standards:
They must be distributed throughout the vehicle, as appropriate to the vehicle’ design, so that they assist with independent and safe boarding, moving on the vehicle, sitting down, standing up, and deboarding for people with disabilities.
They must be positioned so they do not interfere with the turning and manoeuvring space needed to allow people with disabilities using mobility aids to reach the allocated space from the entrance.
They must be high colour-contrasted with their background to assist with visual recognition.
They must be sturdy, rounded and free of any sharp or abrasive element.
They must have an exterior diameter that permits easy grasping by a full range of passengers and that has sufficient clearance from the surface to which it is attached.
They must be designed to prevent catching or snagging of clothes or personal items.
They must have a slip resistant surface.
Where grab bars, handholds, handrails and stanchions return to a wall or floor, they must do so in a smooth curve. Brackets, clamps, screw heads or other fasteners used on these supports must be rounded or flush with the surface and free from burrs or rough edges.
Conventional transportation service providers who purchase a new or used vehicle (to which the general rule respecting the January 1, 2013 manufacture date does not apply) on or after July 1, 2011 do not have to meet the requirements pertaining to grab bars, handholds, handrails and stanchions if their installation would impair the structural integrity of the vehicle.
Vehicles regulated under Ontario Regulation 629 “Accessible Vehicles”, under the Highway Traffic Act are not subject to this section. This is intended to eliminate duplication of requirements between the two regulations, and to recognize the existing inspection and enforcement capabilities under the Highway Traffic Act.
54(1) Every conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that all of its transportation vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 2013 to which this section applies,
(a) have floors that produce a minimal glare and are slip resistant; and (b) any carpeted surfaces have a low, firm and level pile or loop and are securely fastened.
The intent of this requirement is that floors and floor surfaces on vehicles produce minimum glare, are slip resistant and are securely fastened.
Conventional transportation service providers must meet the following requirements for the floors and carpets in their transportation vehicles.
Floor surfaces must produce minimal glare, and they must be slip resistant.
Note – Slip-resistant surfaces offer a level of friction that allows people with disabilities, particularly those who use mobility assistive devices, to travel safely in the vehicle.
Carpeted surfaces must have low, firm and level pile or loop and be securely fastened to reduce the risk of a passenger tripping.
Note – The term “securely fastened” means the surface must be stable, firm, and slip-resistant and not pose a tripping hazard. The term does not mean that the entire carpet or pad must be adhered to the floor surface.
have two or more allocated mobility aid spaces, with each space being a minimum of,
style=”list-style-type: lower-roman”>1,220 millimetres by 685 millimetres for vehicles designed to have a seating capacity of 24 passengers or less, and
1,220 millimetres by 760 millimetres for vehicles designed to have a seating capacity of more than 24 passengers; and
are equipped, as appropriate, with securement devices.
(2) Spaces on transportation vehicles that are allocated as mobility aid spaces may be used for other passenger purposes, if not required for use by a person with a disability who uses a mobility aid.
(4) Despite subsection (3), subsection (1) does not apply to vehicles that have two or more allocated mobility aid spaces and that are regulated under Regulation 629 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 (Vehicles for the Transportation of Physically Disabled Passengers) made under the Highway Traffic Act.
(6) Subsection (5) does not apply if the installation of mobility aid spaces would impair the structural integrity of the vehicle.
The intent of this requirement is that two or more defined mobility aid spaces are provided on conventional transportation vehicles to accommodate people with disabilities using mobility aids.
This requirement also includes having devices available to secure mobility aids, as appropriate.
The regulation requires conventional transportation vehicles to have two or more spaces allocated for mobility aids.
Generally, allocated spaces for mobility aids are located at the front of the vehicle, near the entrance. However, the spaces could also be located in the middle of the vehicle. Often, their location will depend on the location of the lifting device or ramp on the vehicle.
Allocated mobility aid spaces are not required to be side by side.
In some vehicles, the allocated mobility aid spaces are clearly recognizable because they are located where there are no seats for other passengers. In other vehicles, the allocated mobility aid spaces may not be clearly recognizable because they are covered by passenger seats that can be flipped up when required by a person with a disability using a mobility aid.
For vehicles with a seating capacity of 24 passengers or less, each allocated mobility aid space must be at a minimum 1220 millimetres by 685 millimetres.
For vehicles with a seating capacity of more than 24 passengers, each allocated mobility aid space must be at a minimum 1220 millimetres by 760 millimetres.
Vehicles must be equipped with devices to secure mobility aids in each of the allocated spaces, where they are appropriate.
A securement device is designed to prevent mobility aids from tipping over or from rolling or sliding out of the allocated spaces.
Securement devices can include wheel clamps and floor or wall mounted straps that secure the mobility aids.
Other passengers may use the mobility aid securement locations, when they are not required by people with disabilities who use mobility aids.
Conventional transportation service providers who purchase a new or used vehicle (to which the general rule respecting the January 1, 2013 manufacture date does not apply) on or after July 1, 2011 do not have to meet the requirements pertaining to allocated mobility aid spaces if their installation would impair the structural integrity of the vehicle.
Vehicles regulated under Ontario Regulation 629 “Accessible Vehicles”, under the Highway Traffic Act, and that have two or more allocated mobility aid spaces, are not subject to this section.
This is intended to eliminate duplication of requirements between the two regulations, and to recognize the existing inspection and enforcement capabilities under the Highway Traffic Act.
56(1) Every conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that all of its transportation vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 2013 to which this section applies are equipped with accessible stop-requests and emergency response controls that are located throughout the transportation vehicle, including places within reach of allocated mobility aid spaces and courtesy seating locations.
(2) Accessible stop-requests and emergency response controls must meet the following standards:
They must provide auditory and visual indications that the request has been made.
They must be mounted no higher than 1,220 millimetres and no lower than 380 millimetres above the floor.
They must be operable with one hand and must not require tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist.
They must be high colour-contrasted with the equipment to which the control is mounted.
They must provide tactile information on emergency response controls.
(3) With respect to stop-requests, this section applies to the following:
(4) With respect to emergency response controls, this section applies to the following:
(5) Despite subsection (1), where a conventional transportation service provider enters into a contractual obligation to purchase new or used vehicles of the type referenced in subsection (3) or (4) on or after July 1, 2011, the transportation service provider shall ensure the vehicles meet the requirements of this section.
The intent of this requirement is that appropriate stop-request controls and emergency response controls are installed on all conventional transportation service vehicles.
Stop-Request requirements apply to the following vehicles:
Emergency Response requirements apply to the following vehicles:
Under the regulation, conventional transportation vehicles must be equipped with accessible stop-requests and emergency response controls, as appropriate.
Accessible controls must be located throughout the vehicle, including places within reach of allocated mobility aid spaces and courtesy seating locations.
It is not necessary to have a control for each seating location and standing location. However, the controls must be within reach of allocated mobility aid spaces and courtesy seating locations. This will allow people with disabilities, whose ability or range of motion may be limited, to reach the stop request buttons and the emergency response controls more easily.
Both stop requests and emergency response controls are not required in all vehicles. For example, a subway does not require stop request controls, as a subway must stop at all stops, whereas a streetcar does require a stop request control. Additionally, a transit bus does not require emergency response controls, as operators are easily notified of emergencies on board.
Accessible stop-requests and emergency response controls must meet the following standards.
They must provide both auditory and visual indications that the request has been made so that people with a range of disabilities are aware of the request.
They must be located no higher than 1220 millimetres and no lower than 380 millimetres above the floor to allow for access and to allow people with disabilities to independently activate the controls.
They must be able to be operated with one hand, and not require tight grasping, pinching or twisting of the wrist, to assist people with disabilities who have difficulty with arm or hand movements.
They must be high colour-contrasted with the equipment on which the controls are mounted so that they are easily identified from the surrounding material, or the objects on which they are placed.
Emergency response controls must include tactile information. Tactile refers to raised lettering or Braille, used to communicate the purpose of the control to people with visual disabilities or low vision.
57(1) Every conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that all of its transportation vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 2013 to which this section applies are equipped with lights above or beside each passenger access door that are constantly lit when the door is open and that illuminate the lifting device, ramp, portable bridge plate or step nosings, as the case may be.
(2) The light above or beside each passenger access door must,
(a) when the door is open, illuminate the ground surface for a distance of at least 0.9 metres perpendicular to the bottom step tread or lift outer edge; and (b) be shielded to protect the eyes of entering and exiting passengers.
(5) Despite subsection (1), where a conventional transportation service provider enters into a contractual obligation to purchase new or used vehicles of the type referenced in subsection (3) on or after July 1, 2011, the transportation service provider shall ensure the vehicles meet the requirements of this section.
(6) Subsection (5) does not apply if the installation of the lights would impair the structural integrity of the vehicle.
The intent of this requirement is that passenger access doors on all conventional transportation vehicles are equipped with lights and that illuminate in a way that allows passengers to board and deboard the vehicle safely.
Conventional transportation service providers
Conventional transportation service providers must make sure that all of their transportation vehicles are equipped with lights above or beside each passenger door.
The lights must be lit constantly when the doors are open, and illuminate the lifting devices, ramps, portable bridge plates or step nosings, as the case may be.
Some vehicles will have none of these assistive devices, and some vehicles may have more than one of them.
When a passenger access door is open, the lights located above or beside each door must illuminate the ground surface for a distance of at least 0.9 metres perpendicular to the tread on the bottom step or the outer edge of the lift.
Ground surface could be the road, sidewalk, station platform, or whatever surface a passenger would deboard onto.
The ground level lighting will help passengers see the bottom step or the edge of the lift when they are boarding a vehicle, and to see the ground in front of them when they are exiting a vehicle.
The lights located above or beside each passenger access door must be shielded to protect the eyes of passengers as they enter and exit the vehicle.
When lights are not shielded, passengers can be temporarily blinded as they board and deboard the vehicles, which could cause disorientation, tripping, etc.
For example, a light located on or near the floor should not be angled upward in a way that it is a hazard to passengers. An overhead light should not be angled so that it is at eye level when passengers are exiting the vehicle.
Conventional transportation service providers who purchase a new or used vehicle (to which the general rule respecting the January 1, 2013 manufacture date does not apply) on or after July 1, 2011 do not have to meet the requirements pertaining to lighting if their installation would impair the structural integrity of the vehicle.
Regulated under Ontario Regulation 629
Vehicles regulated under Ontario Regulation 629 “Accessible Vehicles”, under the Highway Traffic Act are not subject to this section.
58 (1) Every conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that all of its transportation vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 2013 to which this section applies display the route or direction of the transportation vehicle or its destination or next major stop.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the signage displaying the route or direction or destination or next stop may include pictograms or symbols, but the signage must,
be visible at the boarding point;
be consistently located;
have a glare-free surface; and
be positioned to avoid shadow areas and glare.
(3) Every conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that the signage displaying the route or direction or destination or next stop,
is consistently shaped, coloured and positioned, when used in the same type of transportation vehicle to give the same type of information; and
has text that, is high colour-contrasted with its background, in order to assist with visual recognition, and
has the appearance of solid characters.
The intent of this requirement is that signage identifying the route, direction, destination, or next major stop is displayed on all conventional transportation vehicles.
All conventional transportation service providers must make sure that all of their transportation vehicles display the route or direction of the vehicle or its destination or next major stop.
#36 North
Queen Street to King Street
Ottawa Express
Consistency in signage will help people with disabilities recognize the transportation vehicle they are looking for or intending to board. This is especially important along routes served by more than one vehicle, which travel to different destinations.
The signs must be visible at the boarding point.
The boarding point refers to the area on a vehicle where passengers board and deboard.
Signs at the boarding point alert people with disabilities of the route or direction of the vehicle.
The signs must be consistently located.
The signage may be to the right, left, or above the boarding point, as long as its location is consistent among those types of vehicles.
When signs are placed in the same place, people with disabilities know where to look for and to find the information.
For example, the local city bus service has electronic signs displaying bus destinations above the window adjacent to the passenger access door on each vehicle.
The signs must have a glare-free surface.
A glare-free surface is a surface that does not easily reflect light from the sun or artificial lights which can make it difficult to see or read a sign.
A glare-free surface makes it easier to see and read what is written on it.
A glare free surface is based on the material used or how the surface is treated.
The signs must be positioned to avoid shadow areas and glare.
The exact position of a sign to avoid glare and shadows will vary depending on the type of vehicle.
Avoiding shadow areas and glare on the signs will help people with disabilities to properly identify the information on the sign, regardless of the time of day or weather conditions.
The signs must be easy to find and to read.
Signage must be consistently shaped, coloured and positioned, when used in the same type of transportation vehicle to give the same type of information.
For example, all commuter trains in a fleet have a horizontal sign above each entrance door that tells of the final destination of the train, and include a yellow text over a black background.
The text must be high colour-contrasted with its background, such as the wall or the frame on which the sign is mounted, or in the case of electronic signage, the background would be the screen colour as distinct from the text colour.
The text must be in solid characters. Solid characters means that the letters and numbers are filled in, as opposed to hollow, and do not have shadows.
Pictograms or symbols
Signage may include pictograms or symbols, in order to provide greater clarity to people with disabilities.
A pictogram refers to a pictorial resemblance to a physical object, for example, a picture of a ferry with an arrow, indicating the entrance to the ferry.
Section 59: Lifting Devices, Ramps or Portable Bridge Plates
59(1) Every conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that all of its transportation vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 2013 to which this section applies are equipped with lifting devices, ramps or portable bridge plates and that each of them has,
a colour strip that runs its full width marking the bottom edge and that is high colour-contrasted with its background to assist with visual recognition;
a slip resistant platform surface; and
raised edges of sufficient height to prevent a mobility aid from rolling off the edge of the ramp during the boarding or deboarding of passengers.
(3) Despite subsection (2), this section does not apply to vehicles that are equipped with lifting devices, ramps or portable bridge plates and that are regulated under Regulation 629 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 (Vehicles for the Transportation of Physically Disabled Passengers) made under the Highway Traffic Act.
The intent of this requirement is that all conventional transportation vehicles are equipped with lifting devices, ramps, or portable bridge plates to help people with disabilities board and deboard the vehicles.
Conventional transportation service providers must make sure that all of their transportation vehicles are equipped with lifting devices, ramps, or portable bridge plates.
Lifting devices, ramps, and portable bridge plates are pieces of equipment that help people with disabilities to safely board and deboard vehicles.
Each lifting device, ramp, or portable bridge plate must have the following:
A Colour Strip
The colour strip must run the full width of the bottom edge of the lifting device, ramp, or portable bridge plate.
The strip must be high colour-contrasted with its background. A high colour-contrasted strip will assist people with disabilities in distinguishing where the edge of the lifting device, ramp, or portable bridge plate meets the ground, or the transition from a sloped surface to a flat surface.
A Slip-resistant Platform Surface
A slip-resistant surface is one that even when wet provides friction between the surface and a person’s footwear, mobility aid or mobility assistive device. This reduces the risk of slipping.
Raised Edges
The raised edges must be high enough to prevent or hinder a mobility aid from rolling off the edge while boarding or deboarding the vehicles.
Vehicles regulated under Ontario Regulation 629 “Accessible Vehicles”, under the Highway Traffic Act, and that have lifting devices, ramps, or portable bridge plates, are not subject to this section.
60(1) Every conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that where transportation vehicles are equipped with steps, the steps meet the following requirements:
The top outer edge of each step is marked by a colour strip that is high colour-contrasted with its background, to assist with visual recognition, that runs the full width of the leading edge of the step, excluding any side edge mouldings, and can be viewed from both directions of travel.
The steps have surfaces that are slip resistant and that produce minimal glare.
The steps have uniform, closed riser heights and tread depths, subject to the structural limitations of the vehicle.
(4) Conventional transportation service providers shall comply with the requirements of this section in respect of its vehicles to which this section applies that are manufactured on or after January 1, 2013.
The intent of this requirement is to make sure that the steps on all conventional transportation vehicles include consistent accessibility and safety features.
Conventional transportation service providers must make sure that all transportation vehicles that have steps meet the following requirements for them.
The top outer edge of each step must be marked by a colour strip. The colour of this strip must be high colour-contrasted with the colour of the background to help people with disabilities distinguish the edge of the step.
The colour strips must run the full width of the leading edge of the steps, excluding any side edge mouldings. Generally, side edge mouldings are small and raised above the level of the step itself, often for safety reasons, and cannot be effectively marked with a colour strip.
The colour strips must be visible from both directions of travel when passengers are walking up the steps to board the vehicles and walking down the steps to deboard.
On some vehicles, for example motor coaches, the centre aisle may slope slightly upward from the front entrance toward the back of the vehicle. This requires a step (of varying heights) to access some front row seats. These steps are not considered in the path of travel and are therefore not required to meet the colour strip requirement.
The steps must have slip-resistant surfaces and produce minimal glare.
A slip-resistant surface is one that, even when wet, provides enough friction between the surface and a persons’ footwear, mobility aid, or mobility assistive device to reduce the risk of slipping.
A minimal glare surface is one that, under normal circumstances, reduces the glare from the sun or from artificial lights. This makes it easier for passengers with disabilities to see the steps when boarding or deboarding the vehicles.
The steps must have the same closed riser heights and same tread depths, subject to the structural limitations of the vehicle.
Consistent height and depth of steps will assist people with disabilities when using the steps.
The risers of the steps must be closed. This refers to the back vertical portion of the steps. Open riser heights can be a tripping hazard for a foot or mobility assistive device.
Requirements as Stated in the Regulation
61(1) Every conventional transportation service provider shall ensure that where its transportation vehicles have a ramp, lifting device or a kneeling function, each of them is equipped with a visual warning lamp indicator mounted on the exterior near the mobility aid accessible door and with an audible warning alarm.
(2) The visual warning lamp indicator and the audible warning alarm must function when the kneeling function, ramp or lifting device is in motion.
(3) If a ramp or lifting device is being manually operated, no warning lamp indicator or warning alarm is required.
(6) Conventional transportation service providers shall comply with the requirements of this section in respect of its vehicles to which the section applies that are manufactured on or after January 1, 2013.
(8) Subsection (7) does not apply if the installation of the warning lamp indicator or warning alarm would impair the structural integrity of the vehicle.
The intent of this requirement is to make sure appropriate visual and audible warning indicators and alarms are installed on conventional transportation vehicles to indicate movement of a ramp or lifting device or that the “kneeling” function is operating.
However, the technical requirements may apply to vehicles manufactured before January 1, 2013. If a conventional transportation service provider enters into a contract to purchase a vehicle on or after July 1, 2011, then that vehicle must also meet the technical requirements of the regulation.
Conventional transportation service providers must make sure that the vehicles with ramps or lifting devices or which “kneel” are equipped with warning lamps and alarms.
The lamps and alarms will provide visual and audible alerts when the ramps or lifting devices are being used or when the bus is kneeling down to let passengers on or off. The warning alarms and lamps indicate that movement is, or will be, happening outside of the vehicle and warn of a potential hazard.
This is intended to assist with the safety of both people with and without disabilities who may be outside the vehicle.
Warning lamp indicators are usually amber in colour and flash on and off to warn those in the vicinity that a ramp or lifting device is moving or that the vehicle is kneeling. However, there is no specific colour or flashing requirement.
The warning lamps required by this regulation serve a different function than other standard lights, such as hazard lights, that may be required on other vehicles.
The visual warning lamp indicator must be mounted on the exterior of the vehicle, near the mobility aid accessible door.
There is no specific tone or sound required for warning alarms.
The visual warning lamp indicator and the audible warning alarm must function when the ramp or lifting device is moving or when the bus is kneeling down or rising.
The visual and audible alarms are only required when the ramp, lifting device and kneeling function are being used. The visual and audible alarms are not required during regular door opening and closing where these devices are not in use.
On some vehicles, such as subways, visual warning lamp indicators and audible warning alarms are used when the doors open and close. These continue to be permitted.
A warning lamp indicator or warning alarm is not required when a ramp or lifting device is being manually operated. This could be because it is not electronic, or because it is not working properly. In these cases, the person operating the ramp or device can tell people who are in the vicinity about the potential hazard.
Conventional transportation service providers who purchase a new or used vehicle (to which the general rule respecting the January 1, 2013 manufacture date does not apply) on or after July 1, 2011 do not have to meet the requirements pertaining to indicators and alarms if their installation would impair the structural integrity of the vehicle.
62(1) Every conventional transportation service provider whose transportation services include light rail, commuter rail or inter-city rail shall ensure that at least one rail car per train is accessible to persons with disabilities who use mobility aids.
(2) Every conventional transportation service provider whose transportation services include light rail, commuter rail or inter-city rail shall ensure that where washrooms are provided on the rail cars there is at least one mobility aid accessible washroom on the mobility aid accessible rail car.
(3) Conventional transportation service providers shall meet the requirements of subsection (1) by July 1, 2011.
(4) Conventional transportation service providers shall meet the requirements of subsection (2) by January 1, 2013 with respect to trains that are using rail cars manufactured on or after January 1, 2013.
(5) Despite subsection (4), where a conventional transportation service provider enters into a contractual obligation to purchase new or used rail cars on or after July 1, 2011, it shall ensure that trains that are using such rail cars meet the requirements of subsection (2).
(6) Subsection (5) does not apply if the installation of the mobility aid accessible washroom would impair the structural integrity of the mobility aid accessible rail car.
The intent of this requirement is light rail, commuter rail or inter-city rail trains have a car that is accessible to people with disabilities who use mobility aids.
In addition, on those light rail, commuter rail or inter-city rail trains that have washrooms, there will be a washroom that is accessible to people with disabilities who use mobility aids.
One mobility aid accessible rail car requirement – July 1, 2011.
Accessible washroom requirement applies to rail cars manufactured on or after January 1, 2013.
The general rule for the technical requirements is that they apply to rail cars manufactured on or after January 1, 2013.
However, the technical requirements also apply to rail cars manufactured before January 1, 2013. If a conventional transportation service provider enters into a contract to purchase a rail car on or after July 1, 2011, the rail car must also meet the accessible washroom requirements set out for light rail, commuter rail or inter-city rail cars.
Conventional transportation service providers that operate light rail, commuter rail or inter-city rail must make sure that at least one rail car per train is accessible to people with disabilities who use mobility aids.
The allocated mobility aid spaces must meet the requirements in section 55, and must be located on the rail car that is accessible to mobility aids. For more information on spaces for mobility aids, please go to Transportation, Section 55, “Allocated Mobility Aid Spaces” .
Conventional transportation service providers that operate light rail, commuter rail or inter-city rail must make sure that where washrooms are provided on the rail cars there is at least one washroom that is accessible to people with disabilities who use mobility aids.
The mobility aid accessible washroom must be located on the rail car that is accessible to mobility aids.
Conventional transportation service providers are not required to install mobility aid accessible washrooms on trains that do not have washrooms.
Conventional transportation service providers who purchase new or used light rail, commuter rail or inter-city rail cars (to which the general rule respecting the January 1, 2013 manufacture date does not apply) on or after July 1, 2011 do not have to meet the requirements pertaining to accessible washrooms if the installation of the accessible washroom would impair the structural integrity of the mobility aid accessible rail car.
63(1) Every specialized transportation service provider shall have three categories of eligibility to qualify for specialized transportation services,
unconditional eligibility;
temporary eligibility; and
conditional eligibility.
(2) For purposes of eligibility for specialized transportation services, specialized transportation service providers shall categorize persons with disabilities as follows:
A person with a disability that prevents them from using conventional transportation services shall be categorized as having unconditional eligibility.
A person with a temporary disability that prevents them from using conventional transportation services shall be categorized as having temporary eligibility.
A person with a disability where environmental or physical barriers limit their ability to consistently use conventional transportation services shall be categorized as having conditional eligibility.
(3) A specialized transportation service provider may deny requests for specialized transportation services to persons who are categorized as having temporary eligibility or conditional eligibility if the conventional transportation service is accessible to the person and the person has the ability to use it.
The intent of this requirement is that specialized transportation service providers will establish three categories for eligibility and use them consistently when people with disabilities apply to use the services.
Every specialized transportation service provider must develop and use three categories of eligibility: unconditional eligibility, temporary eligibility and conditional eligibility.
People with disabilities that prevent them from using conventional transportation services shall be categorized as having unconditional eligibility.
Example: As a result of a developmental disability, Stephen cannot safely board, travel on, and deboard conventional transportation services. Other methods of accommodating him, such as travel training, have been unsuccessful.
People with disabilities that are temporary but prevent them from using conventional transportation services shall be categorized as having temporary eligibility.
Example: Mary was in a car accident and because of her injuries cannot access conventional transportation services for three weeks.
People with disabilities who are unable to consistently use conventional transportation services because of physical or environmental barriers, such as the winter weather, shall be categorized as having conditional eligibility.
Example: During the spring, summer and autumn, Henry is able to get to the bus stop to wait for #406 transit bus, which takes him to work. In the winter, however, he cannot manoeuvre his wheelchair through the snow and ice to the bus stop.
When applying the criteria for the three categories of eligibility, specialized transportation service providers should not base their decisions solely on the type of disability. They should also consider the person’s ability to use the local conventional transportation services and in what circumstances the person is able to use those services.
The three categories of eligibility for specialized transportation will be consistent across the province.
Every provider of specialized transportation services will use these three categories; however, the providers will apply the criteria for the three categories based on the facts of each situation.
Specialized transportation service providers may deny requests for specialized transportation to people who have been categorized as having temporary or conditional eligibility, if the local conventional transportation service is accessible, and the person can use it.
This provision recognizes that some people with disabilities are able to access and use conventional transportation services.
Example: Mary was categorized as having a “temporary disability” as a result of her short-term disability. She lived across the street from a bus stop and the buses serving that route were accessible. However, the stop where Mary had to get off the bus for her job was not accessible. Consequently, for her journey to and from work, Mary was provided with specialized transportation.
On the weekends, Mary shopped at the local mall. She used the subway system, which she was able to access from the street and was connected to the mall. In this case, Mary did not encounter any barriers to the conventional transportation service. Consequently, the specialised transportation service provider denied service to Mary for that purpose.
64(1) If a person has completed an application for eligibility for specialized transportation services and the person’s eligibility has not been determined within 14 calendar days after the completed application is received by the specialized transportation service provider, the person shall be considered to have temporary eligibility for specialized transportation services until a decision on his or her eligibility is made.
(2) A specialized transportation service provider shall not charge a fee to persons with disabilities who apply or who are considered eligible for specialized transportation services.
(3) A specialized transportation service provider may require a reassessment of the eligibility of temporarily eligible registrants at reasonable intervals.
(4) A specialized transportation service provider shall, upon the request of the person requesting specialized transportation services, make available to the requester all of his or her specialized transportation services eligibility application and decision information in accessible formats.
(5) A specialized transportation service provider shall establish an independent appeal process to review decisions respecting eligibility.
(6) A specialized transportation service provider shall make a decision on an appeal with respect to eligibility within 30 calendar days after receiving the complete appeal application, but if a final decision is not made within the 30 days, the applicant shall be granted temporary eligibility until a final decision is made.
(8) A specialized transportation service provider shall have policies respecting the collection, use and disclosure of personal information collected for purposes of determining eligibility under this section.
(9) In this section, “personal information” means personal information within the meaning of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
The intent of this requirement is that specialized transportation service providers will meet standard service requirements for people with disabilities during the application and appeals process for specialized transportation services.
Specialized transportation service providers may not charge an application or assessment fee to people with disabilities who apply to use specialized transportation services.
This is separate from the fares the providers charge for use of their specialized transportation services.
Once specialized transportation service providers have received a completed application for eligibility, they have 14 calendar days to make a decision. If they have not made a decision on an application by the end of the 14 days, they must give the applicant temporary eligibility until a decision on the eligibility is made.
This is intended to help people with disabilities who need specialized transportation services in two ways:
First, it tells applicants how long they will wait before they will hear about their applications for specialized transportation services. The provision lets them know that their applications will not be held up for weeks because of backlogs or administrative issues.
Second, the provision encourages specialized transportation service providers to process the applications quickly and to reduce the waiting times for people with disabilities who have applied for the services.
When requested, specialized transportation service providers will give the person who is requesting specialized transportation services all of the information relating to his or her eligibility application, including the decisions, in accessible formats.
Specialized transportation service providers may re-assess, at reasonable intervals, the eligibility of people with disabilities who have been given temporary eligibility.
This recognizes that people with disabilities who have been given temporary eligibility to use the specialized transportation services may no longer need it at some point.
Example: A person who breaks both legs in an accident may require specialized transportation services for several months. Once his legs have healed, however, he may begin to use conventional transportation services once again.
Specialized transportation service providers are required to establish an independent appeal process to review their decisions on eligibility.
It is at the discretion of the specialized transportation service provider how the individuals or boards responsible for reviewing appeals will be selected or appointed.
Specialized transportation service providers are required to make decisions on appeals with respect to eligibility within 30 calendar days after receiving the completed appeal applications.
If final decisions are not made within the 30 calendar days, the specialized transportation service providers will grant applicants temporary eligibility. The applicants have temporary eligibility until final decisions are made.
If appeal decisions are in favour of the people with disabilities, then they will receive specialized transportation services according to the providers’ standard practices and procedures.
If appeal decisions uphold the original decisions of ineligibility for specialized transportation services, then the people with disabilities appealing the decision will not be eligible to receive specialized services.
If these people with disabilities were granted temporary eligibility because no decisions on their appeals were made within 30 calendar days, then they would no longer be eligible for specialized transportation services.
Specialized transportation service providers must have policies on the collection, use and disclosure of personal information gathered for purposes of determining eligibility for specialized transportation services.
“Personal information” refers to personal information within the meaning of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
65(1) Specialized transportation service providers shall develop procedures respecting the provision of temporary specialized transportation services earlier than in the 14 calendar days referred to in subsection 64 (1),
where the services are required because of an emergency or on compassionate grounds; and
where there are no other accessible transportation services to meet the person’s needs.
(2) A person shall apply for the services described in subsection (1) in the manner determined by the specialized transportation service provider.
The intent of the requirement is that specialized transportation service providers will develop procedures to respond to people with disabilities who need specialized services – because of an emergency or on compassionate grounds – earlier than the standard application timeline of 14 calendar days.
Under normal circumstances, when people with disabilities apply for eligibility for specialized transportation services, the specialized transportation service providers have 14 calendar days after receiving the completed application forms to make their decisions.
Under this requirement, the specialized transportation service providers must develop procedures for granting temporary eligibility earlier than the 14 calendar days when the applicant needs specialized transportation services because of an emergency or on compassionate grounds.
These procedures would come into effect when there are no other accessible transportation services available to meet the individual’s needs.
For more information on the eligibility application process, please go to Transportation, Section 64, “Eligibility Application Process“.
Example: The husband of a woman with a disability is her primary caregiver and driver. When he has a heart attack, his wife is unable to visit him because she cannot drive herself, and there are no other accessible transportation services (such as an accessible taxicab) in the area that she can access in order to get to the hospital.
In this situation, it would be appropriate to allow her temporary use of the specialized transportation services earlier than the standard 14-day waiting period.
Note: The need for specialized transportation services because of an emergency or on compassionate grounds is separate from a medical emergency or the need for an ambulance to bring a person to a hospital for medical attention. People who require urgent medical attention should call 9-1-1 or contact their local emergency service.
People with disabilities who need specialized transportation services because of an emergency or on compassionate grounds must apply in a manner determined by the specialized transportation service provider. This could include, for example, an abbreviated application form.
Specialized transportation service providers have the discretion to determine what criteria are developed to provide the service for emergencies or on compassionate grounds.
The providers will also decide what parameters to put in place when temporary specialized transportation services are granted for emergencies or on compassionate grounds. These parameters could include the number of days that service may be provided.
Specialized transportation service providers should consider the confidentiality of personal information and develop policies respecting the collection, use and disclosure of personal information collected for purposes of determining eligibility for specialized transportation services based on emergency or compassionate grounds.
66(1) Where conventional transportation services and specialized transportation services are provided by separate transportation service providers in the same jurisdiction, the specialized transportation service provider shall not charge more than the highest fare charged for conventional transportation services in the same jurisdiction.
(2) Specialized transportation service providers shall meet the requirements of subsection (1) by January 1, 2017.
(3) Where a transportation service provider provides both conventional transportation services and specialized transportation services, the transportation service provider shall ensure that there is fare parity between conventional transportation services and specialized transportation services.
(4) Transportation service providers to which subsection (3) applies shall meet the requirements of that subsection by January 1, 2013.
(5) Where a transportation service provider provides both conventional transportation services and specialized transportation services, the transportation service provider shall ensure that the same fare structure is applied to conventional transportation services and specialized transportation services.
(6) Where a transportation service provider provides both conventional transportation services and specialized transportation services, the transportation service provider shall ensure that the same fare payment options are available for all transportation services, but alternative options shall be made available to persons with disabilities who cannot because of their disability use a fare payment option.
(7) Conventional transportation service providers and specialized transportation service providers shall meet the requirements of subsections (5) and (6) by January 1, 2013.
(8) In this section, “fare structure” means the fare price determined by fare media, such as cash, tickets, passes and bulk quantity discounts and by fare category, such as adults, seniors and students, but does not include promotional fares that a transportation service provider may employ from time to time.
The intent of this requirement is that specialized transportation service providers charge people with disabilities fares that are consistent with those charged on conventional transportation services.
The requirement also makes sure that people with disabilities who use specialized transportation services have the same fare structures and fare payment options as those offered on conventional transportation services.
Organizations that provide both conventional and specialized transportation services, January 1, 2013
Must comply with fare parity requirement
Must comply with fare structure and fare payment options requirement
Organizations that provide specialized transportation services only (i.e., do not provide conventional transportation services), By January 1, 2017
Transportation service providers that operate both conventional transportation services and specialized transportation services must make sure that there is fare parity between the two services.
Specialized transportation service providers that do not provide conventional transportation may not charge people with disabilities more than the highest fare charged by the conventional transportation services in the same area.
This is intended to make sure that the fares paid by people with disabilities to use specialized transportation are similar to what they would pay if they could travel on the conventional transportation services.
Providers that operate both conventional transportation services and specialized transportation services in the same area must make sure that the same fare structure is applied to both services.
Fare structure refers to the fare price, which is determined by fare media and fare category.
Fare media can include cash, tickets, passes and bulk quantity discounts.
Fare category can include adults, seniors and students.
From time to time, some transportation service providers may offer promotional packages and fares. In these circumstances, these promotional packages and fares are not considered fare structures.
This provision recognizes unique circumstances, such as conventional transportation service providers offering free travel on a new conventional route for promotional reasons, or conventional transportation service providers offering reduced fares for people with disabilities who can use the conventional services.
Providers that operate both conventional transportation services and specialized transportation services in the same area must make sure that the same fare payment options are available for all passengers.
For example, if tokens are accepted on the conventional transportation service, then tokens must be accepted on the specialized transportation service.
However, alternative options must also be made available to people with disabilities, who because of their disabilities cannot use commonly used fare payment option.
For example, some people with disabilities may have difficulty depositing coins or tickets into fare boxes. Other people with disabilities may experience problems with the complexity or inaccessibility of the machines for paying fares. Transportation service providers must address these barriers by providing alternative fare payment options.
67(1) Every specialized transportation service provider shall,
make specialized transportation services available to visitors; and
consider as eligible,
visitors who provide confirmation that they are eligible for specialized transportation services in the jurisdiction in which they reside, or
visitors who meet the specialized transportation services eligibility requirements of the specialized transportation service provider.
(2) Every specialized transportation service provider shall develop criteria to determine who falls into the category of visitor for the purposes of this section.
The intent of this requirement is that specialized transportation service providers make their services available to visitors with disabilities.
Specialized transportation service providers must make their transportation services available to visitors with disabilities.
Specialized transportation service providers must allow visitors with disabilities to use the services if they meet one of two conditions:
The visitors are able to confirm that they are eligible for specialized transportation services in their home jurisdiction.
The visitors meet the eligibility requirements for specialized transportation services of the provider of specialized transportation service in the area they are visiting.
It is at the discretion of each specialized transportation service provider to develop a definition of the term visitor, and to develop criteria to determine who falls into the category.
In addition, it is at the discretion of each specialized transportation service provider to decide whether or not there are time limits for visitors to remain eligible to use the services.
68(1) Every specialized transportation service provider shall provide origin to destination services within its service area that takes into account the abilities of its passengers and that accommodates their abilities.
(2) Origin to destination services may include services on any accessible conventional transportation services.
(3) For the purposes of this section, origin to destination services refers to the overall package of transportation services that allows a specialized transportation service provider to provide, in a flexible way, transportation services in a manner that best meets the needs of persons with disabilities.
(4) Specialized transportation service providers shall meet the requirements of this section by July 1, 2011.
The intent of this requirement is that specialized transportation service providers provide origin to destination transportation services to eligible people with disabilities.
Providers may deliver this service by using specialized transportation services only, or a combination of specialized and conventional transportation services.
The requirement applies to specialized transportation service providers. They must comply by July 1, 2011.
Every specialized transportation service provider must provide origin to destination services within its service area.
Origin to destination services refers to a package of transportation services that allows people with disabilities to travel from their points of origin to their destination points.
Origin to destination services must take into account the abilities of the people with disabilities. This requirement recognizes that some people with disabilities are able to use accessible conventional transportation services, but may also require specialized transportation services for portions of their trips.
In some cases, origin to destination services could include door-to-door or curb-to-curb service, if applicable and required by the person with a disability. In other cases, origin to destination services could include both specialized transportation services and accessible conventional transportation service routes – the specialized service acts as a “feeder” service to the accessible conventional services.
A person with a disability requires specialized transportation services for only a portion of his commute to work each day. The other portion of the commute is accessible on conventional transportation for him because the subway station at the end of the trip has an elevator.
This requirement recognizes that there are often various types of vehicles and services available in a jurisdiction, including accessible conventional transportation services.
This requirement gives specialized transportation service providers the flexibility to use accessible conventional transportation services for portions of trips, recognizing the abilities of the people with disabilities.
This allows specialized transportation service providers to deliver service to people with disabilities, while enabling those people with disabilities who are able to use accessible conventional transportation services to do so when and where this is possible.
69 (1) Where specialized transportation services are provided in adjacent municipalities within contiguous urban areas, the specialized transportation service providers shall facilitate connections between their respective services.
(2) Specialized transportation service providers to which subsection (1) applies shall determine the accessible stops and drop off locations in the contiguous urban areas that have specialized transportation services.
The intent of this requirement is that specialized transportation service providers will make it easier for people with disabilities to make connections between their services and the specialized transportation services that are provided in adjacent municipalities.
The requirement applies to specialized transportation service providers. They must comply by January 1, 2013.
Specialized transportation service providers in adjacent municipalities in contiguous urban areas, such as the Greater Toronto Area, must facilitate connections between their services to help people with disabilities make connections.
Adjacent municipalities within a contiguous urban area are two municipalities whose borders are noticeable only by the signs announcing that individuals have left one municipality and entered another. The roads, houses, stores, and office buildings continue in an unbroken strip from one municipality to the next.
By requiring specialized transportation service providers to coordinate their schedules, people with disabilities will be able to travel to adjacent municipalities to work, attend school, or visit friends or family in a more coordinated manner and without worrying about being stranded.
Specialized transportation service providers shall determine the accessible stops and drop off locations in the adjacent urban areas that have specialized transportation services.
This is intended to reduce confusion and support a seamless transition from one specialized transportation service provider to another.
70 (1) Where conventional transportation services and specialized transportation services are provided by separate transportation service providers in the same jurisdiction, the specialized transportation service provider shall ensure that it has, at a minimum, the same hours and days of service as any one of the conventional transportation service providers.
(2) Where a transportation service provider provides both conventional transportation services and specialized transportation services, it shall ensure that the specialized transportation services have, at a minimum, the same hours and days of service as the conventional transportation services.
(3) Specialized transportation service providers to which subsection (1) applies shall meet the requirements of subsection (1) by January 1, 2017 and transportation service providers to which subsection (2) applies shall meet the requirements of subsection (2) by January 1, 2013.
The intent of this requirement is that specialized transportation service providers provide, at a minimum, service during the same hours and on the same days as the conventional transportation services.
Organizations that provide specialized transportation services only (i.e. do not provide conventional transportation services), by January 1, 2017
Organizations that provide both conventional and specialized transportation services, By January 1, 2013
Specialized transportation service providers that do not provide conventional transportation services in the same area must offer, at a minimum, service for the same hours and on the same days as any one of the conventional transportation services in the area.
This requirement recognizes that people with disabilities have commitments and responsibilities that require travel and need to be able to travel at the same times as people who use conventional transportation services.
In some parts of the province, there may be one specialized transportation service provider that provides service for several municipalities. Each of the municipalities, however, may have their own conventional transportation service provider. In such cases, the specialized transportation service must operate during the same hours and on the same days as any one of the conventional transportation service providers.
For example, “A” is a specialized transportation service provider that provides service in three separate municipalities, “X”, “Y”, and “Z”. Each of these municipalities has its own conventional transportation service provider.
Under this requirement, specialized transportation service provider “A” must provide the same hours and days of service as any one of conventional transportation service providers “X”, “Y”, or “Z”.
When a transportation service provider provides both conventional and specialized transportation services, it shall make sure that the specialized transportation service operates, at a minimum, for the same hours and on the same days as the conventional transportation service.
71 (1) Every specialized transportation service provider shall, where the specialized transportation services require reservations,
provide same day service to the extent that it is available; and
where same day service is not available, accept booking requests up to three hours before the published end of the service period on the day before the intended day of travel.
(2) A specialized transportation service provider to whom subsection (1) applies shall provide accessible means to accept reservations.
The intent of this requirement is that specialized transportation service providers will provide same day service, to the extent that it is available, and accept bookings for service as close as possible to the date requested.
Specialized transportation service providers that require eligible people with disabilities to make reservations are required to provide same day service to the extent that it is available.
Example: A person with a disability calls his local specialized transportation service provider at 11:30 a.m. to book transportation for a 3:00 p.m. appointment that day. The provider must provide specialized transportation, if available.
When same day service is not available, specialized transportation service providers are required to accept booking requests up to three hours before the published end of their service period on the day before the intended day of travel.
Note: In this case, the term “service period” refers to the hours of the day during which transportation services are offered. The term does not refer to the general office hours – e.g., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. – of the providers of specialized transportation services.
Example: Sarah plans to meet friends and go to the 1:30 p.m. matinee of a movie on Friday, June 3rd. Her local specialized transportation service provider offers daily service from 6 a.m. to midnight. The specialized transportation service provider must accept Sarah’s booking request by 9 p.m. (three hours before midnight) on Thursday June 2nd.
Specialized transportation service providers must provide an accessible means to accept reservations.
This will make sure that people with disabilities can make bookings for specialized transportation services. For example, specialized transportation service providers may offer the options of making a booking online and over the telephone.
72(1) No specialized transportation service provider shall limit the availability of specialized transportation services to persons with disabilities by,
(a) restricting the number of trips a person with a disability is able to request; or (b) implementing any policy or operational practice that unreasonably limits the availability of specialized transportation services.
The intent of this requirement is to prevent specialized transportation service providers from limiting the availability of their services to people with disabilities.
Specialized transportation service providers may not limit the availability of specialized transportation services to people with disabilities by restricting the number of trips people with disabilities are able to request.
For instance, they may not restrict the number of trips people with disabilities may request using specialized transportation to ten trips a week.
Example: Lucy can request travel on her local specialized transportation service to go to and from work, Monday to Friday. On the weekends, she can request additional trips to go shopping, to visit friends and to attend concerts.
Specialized transportation service providers may not put a policy or operational practice in place that unreasonably limits the availability of specialized transportation services to people with disabilities.
For example, a specialized transportation service provider cannot develop a policy that states if a person misses two trips without cancelling in advance, then that person would no longer be eligible for specialized transportation services.
This provision removes unreasonable and unfair barriers that people with disabilities would not face if they were able to use conventional transportation services.
Specialized transportation service providers may develop policies or operational practices that place reasonable limits on the use of their services. The intent of such policies would be to prevent the misuse of the services.
For example, a specialized transportation service provider could institute a policy to make sure that people with disabilities do not use the service to support their jobs as couriers.
Or, they may develop policies to address people with disabilities who consistently book the services and then, without cancelling, miss the trips.
Note: Consistently missed trips would not mean occasionally missing two trips in a row. Two missed trips would not be considered consistent or regular. A reasonable policy would be one that addresses consistent cancellations or no-shows.
74(1) Every specialized transportation service provider shall allow companions to travel with persons with disabilities if space is available and will not result in the denial of service to other persons with disabilities.
(2) Every specialized transportation service provider shall allow dependants to travel with a person with a disability who is the parent or guardian of the dependant if appropriate child restraint securement systems and equipment are, if required, available.
(3) Specialized transportation services providers shall meet the requirements of this section by January 1, 2012.
The intent of this requirement is that specialized transportation service providers allow companions and dependent children to travel with eligible people with disabilities, when possible.
Companions may include the spouses, partners or friends of the eligible people with disabilities. A support person is not considered a companion.
Specialized transportation service providers are required to allow companions to travel with people with disabilities when there is enough space available. Companions may not accompany people with disabilities if it results in other eligible people with disabilities being denied service.
When companions travel with people with disabilities on specialized transportation vehicles, they – the companions – pay the fares they would pay if they were travelling on the conventional transportation system.
Specialized transportation service providers are required to allow dependants to travel with people with disabilities who are the parents or guardians.
Note: If dependent children require child restraint systems while travelling, then they may only accompany the eligible people with disabilities when the needed restraint systems are available.
75 (1) This section applies to every school board that provides transportation services for its students.
(2) School boards to which this section applies shall,
ensure that integrated accessible school transportation services are provided for their students; or
ensure that appropriate alternative accessible transportation services are provided for students with disabilities, where in the opinion of the board integrated accessible school transportation services are not possible or not the best option for a student with a disability because of the nature of the disability or safety concerns.
(3) School boards to which this section applies shall, in consultation with parents or guardians of students with disabilities,
identify students with disabilities before the commencement of each school year or during the school year, based on the needs of the student with a disability;
develop individual school transportation plans for each student with a disability that,
detail student assistance needs for each student with a disability, and
include plans for individual student boarding, securement and deboarding; and
identify and communicate to the appropriate parties the roles and responsibilities of the transportation provider, the parents or guardians of the student with the disability, the operator of the vehicle used to transport the student, appropriate school staff and the student with the disability.
(4) School boards to which this section applies shall meet,
the requirements of subsection (2) by July 1, 2011; and
the requirements of subsection (3) by January 1, 2014.
“school board” means a board as defined in subsection 1 (1) of the Education Act; (“conseil scolaire”)
“transportation provider” includes an entity or person that has entered into an agreement with a board for the transportation of students under subsection 190 (6) of the Education Act; (“fournisseur de services de transport”)
“transportation services” means transportation that a board provides under section 190 of the Education Act. (“services de transport”)
The intent of this requirement is that school boards provide accessible school transportation services or accessible alternative transportation to students with disabilities.
All school boards that provide transportation services to their students
By July 1, 2011
Provide integrated accessible or appropriate alternative accessible transportation services
By January 1, 2014
Consult with parents or the guardians of students with disabilities
These requirements apply to school boards, meaning a district school board or a school authority (as defined under the Education Act), that provide transportation services to its students.
Under the Education Act:
A district school board means
English language public district school board
English language separate district school board
French language public district school board
French language separate district school board
A school authority means
a board of a district school area
a board of a rural separate school
a board of a combined separate school zone
a board of a secondary school district established under section 67 of the Education Act
a board established under section 68 of the Education Act
a board of a Protestant separate school.
School boards that provide transportation services to their students must provide integrated accessible school transportation services or appropriate alternative accessible transportation services for their students with disabilities.
Integrated transportation means that all students, including students with disabilities, travel on the same school transportation vehicles.
This is intended to recognize the value of integrating transportation for students.
School boards are not required to provide integrated accessible transportation if, in the opinion of the board, integrated accessible transportation services are not possible or not the best option for a student with a disability because of the nature of the disability or safety concerns.
In these cases, the boards must provide appropriate alternative accessible transportation services for the students with disabilities, such as providing service on mobility aid accessible taxicabs.
Example: Alternative accessible transportation services may be appropriate if there is no lifting device on a school bus to board a student who uses a mobility aid, if a student with a disability cannot safely travel with the other students, or if a student with a disability requires door-to-door service at the beginning and end of the day.
The school board makes the final decision about whether or not to provide integrated school transportation for students with disabilities.
School boards must consult with the parents or guardians of students with disabilities to identify those students who have disabilities before the school year begins, or during the school year if the needs of the students change.
This provision recognizes that much can change for students over the course of a school year, including the following:
a student can develop a disability
a student’s disability can change
a student can move from one jurisdiction or school board to another.
Each school board is responsible for identifying its students with disabilities. The boards remain responsible for developing the processes used to determine whether or not students with disabilities are eligible for school transportation services.
School boards are also required to develop individual transportation plans to support students with disabilities.
Note: The individual school transportation plan is a separate document from a student’s Individual Education Plan (IEP), which is also prepared by a board and required by the Ministry of Education.
A school board must consult with the parents or guardians of students with disabilities when developing individual school transportation plans.
Individual school transportation plans are required for students with disabilities who use school transportation services, whether that service is provided on a regular school bus or an alternative accessible transportation vehicle.
This includes students with disabilities who use the regular school buses and for whom no formal disability accommodations are required.
This provision is intended to be proactive and prevent barriers related to transportation from arising in the future. Although some students with disabilities may not require support or accommodation most of the time, their disabilities must be noted in their individual school transportation plans. This may consist of simply indicating the student has “x” disability and that there are no transportation-related accommodation needs at this time. The intent is to make sure that there is a record of students’ disabilities in case the circumstances pertaining to the disability change.
An individual school transportation plan is not required for students with disabilities who do not use school transportation services.
Individual school transportation plans must explain in detail what assistance students with disabilities require, including plans for when they board the vehicles, for securement, and when deboarding the vehicles.
Example: Stephen uses a wheelchair and requires a mobility aid accessible vehicle. Paul does not need help climbing the steps when he boards the school bus but does need help going down them when he leaves it. Janey has low vision and needs someone to walk with her to her school bus.
School boards must consult with the parents or guardians of students with disabilities to identify and communicate the roles and responsibilities of the following people and organizations:
transportation provider – usually school bus companies that have contracts with the board
parents or guardians of the student with the disability
operators of the vehicles used to transport the student (i.e. the driver)
appropriate school staff
students with a disability.
This will make sure that all persons and parties are aware of their roles and responsibilities as well as those of the others who are involved.
This also helps to create a seamless process and to promote a greater understanding and awareness of the needs of the students with disabilities.
For the purposes of this requirement, the following definitions apply:
Transportation provider – this includes an entity or person that has entered into an agreement with a board for the transportation of students under subsection 190 (6) of the Education Act
Transportation services – this means transportation that a board provides under section 190 of the Education Act .
76 (1) Designated public sector organizations described in paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of Schedule 1 that are not primarily in the business of transportation, but that provide transportation services, shall provide accessible vehicles or equivalent services upon request.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), transportation services do not include campus security services provided by a designated public sector organization described in paragraph 3 or 4 of Schedule 1.
(3) Designated public sector organizations referred to in subsection (1) shall meet the requirements of this section by July 1, 2011.
The intent of this requirement is that hospitals, colleges and universities that provide transportation services will provide accessible transportation to people with disabilities.
If their general transportation services are not accessible, then they must provide an equivalent service.
Every hospital as defined in section 1 of the Public Hospitals Act
Every college of applied arts and technology established under the Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Act
Every university in Ontario, including its affiliated and federated colleges, that receives annual operating grants from the Government of Ontario
The term “hospital” refers to a hospital as defined in section 1 of the Public Hospitals Act.
The term “college” refers to a college of applied arts and technology established under the Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Act
The term “university” refers to a university in Ontario, including its affiliated and federated colleges that receives annual operating grants from the Government of Ontario
Hospitals, colleges and universities can offer transportation services in either an integrated manner or through an equivalent service.
If requested, all hospitals, colleges and universities that provide transportation services are required to provide accessible transportation vehicles to people with disabilities who are eligible to use the services.
If a transportation vehicle is not accessible to people with disabilities, then the organization is not required to make modifications or to retrofit the vehicle. However, the organization is required to provide an equivalent service to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities.
Equivalent service means that the transportation service is of similar quality to that provided to others using the organization’s transportation services. The equivalent service would have the similar fares, schedules and routes.
Note: Transportation services offered by college or university campus security does not have to meet the requirements of this regulation.
Accessible vehicle – A college shuttle bus transfers students from one campus to another or from the local train stop to the campus. This shuttle bus is equipped with two spaces for people with disabilities who use mobility aids, and the service is available at all campus stop locations.
Equivalent service – A hospital shuttle bus drives individuals between two affiliated city hospitals. This shuttle bus cannot be retrofitted to be accessible for people with disabilities. As a result, the hospital must provide an equivalent method of transportation on request, such as contracting with an accessible taxicab.
77 (1) Designated public sector organizations that operate ferries that are under provincial jurisdiction shall do so in accordance with the Code of Practice entitled “Ferry Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities” (“the Code”).
(2) Designated public sector organizations that operate ferries to which this section applies shall meet the requirements of sections 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.11, 2.12, 2.13 and 3 of the Code by July 1, 2011.
(3) Designated public sector organizations that operate ferries to which this section applies shall ensure that its ferries that are manufactured on or after July 1, 2013 meet the requirements of sections 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8, 2.9, 2.10, 2.14, 2.15, 2.16, 2.17, 2.18 and 2.19 of the Code.
(4) The following sections apply, as of the date set out in the sections, with necessary modifications, to ferries to which this section applies:
Section 34 (Availability of information on accessibility equipment, etc.).
Section 36 (Accessibility training).
Section 37 (Emergency preparedness and response policies).
Section 38 (Fares, support persons).
Section 44 (General responsibilities).
Section 46 (Fares).
Section 48 (Storage of mobility aids, etc.).
Section 50 (Service disruptions).
“Code of Practice” and “Code” mean the document referred to as a Code of Practice entitled “Ferry Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities”, published by the Canadian Transportation Agency and dated 1999; (“Code de pratiques”, “Code”)
“ferry” means a vessel providing passenger transportation services solely within the province of Ontario, transporting passengers only or passengers and motor vehicles, that may be used by the general public and that weighs 1,000 gross tonnes or more. (“traversier”)
The intent of this requirement is that ferries, as defined by the regulation, will provide accessible transportation services to people with disabilities.
The requirement applies to designated public sector organizations that operate ferries that are under provincial jurisdiction. Ferries must meet the following requirements by the date indicated:
Code of Practice Requirements – to be met by July 1, 2011
2.1 Signage
2.2 Means to Communicate Verbal Messages
2.3 Supplemental Passenger Briefing Cards
2.4 Lighting
2.11 Operator-provided Wheelchairs
2.12 Telephones
2.13 Alarms
Code of Practice Requirements – for ferries manufactured on or after July 1, 2013
2.5 Stairways
2.6 Handrails
2.7 Corridors and Passageways
2.8 Floors
2.9 Doorways and Doors
2.10 Counters
2.14 Elevators
2.15 Vehicle Decks
2.16 Passenger Lounges
2.17 Cafeterias
2.18 Cabins
2.19 Washrooms
Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation requirements – to be met by the dates set out in the regulation.
Section 34 (Availability of Information on Accessibility Equipment)
Section 36 (Accessibility Training)
Section 37 (Emergency Preparedness and Response Policies)
Section 38 (Fares, Support Persons)
Section 44 (General Responsibilities)
Section 46 (Fares)
Section 48 (Storage of Mobility Aids)
Section 50 (Service Disruptions)
For more information on Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation requirements and dates, please go to the above sections in this Guide.
For the purposes of this regulation, a ferry is a vessel that weighs 1000 gross tonnes or more, is used by the general public and operates only within Ontario. A ferry may carry only passengers or passengers and motor vehicles.
Currently, this definition only captures the MS Chi-Cheemaun, operated by the Owen Sound Transportation Company.
Federal Code of Practice Requirements
Designated public sector organizations that operate ferries that are under provincial jurisdiction are required to do so in accordance with the Code of Practice, entitled Ferry Accessibility for Persons with Disabilities .
The Code of Practice is published by the Canadian Transportation Agency and dated 1999.
Requirements and dates related to the Code of Practice are noted above in “When Do Organizations Have to Comply”.
The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation includes additional accessibility features and requirements that are not addressed in the Code of Practice.
As a result, designated public sector organizations that operate ferries that are under provincial jurisdiction are also required to meet the specific Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation requirements and dates noted above in “When Do Organizations Have to Comply”.
78 (1) Any municipality that provides conventional transportation services shall consult with its municipal accessibility advisory committee, where one has been established in accordance with subsection 29 (1) or (2) of the Act, the public and persons with disabilities in the development of accessible design criteria to be considered in the construction, renovation or replacement of bus stops and shelters.
(2) Every municipality to which subsection (1) applies shall identify planning for accessible bus stops and shelters, including any steps that will be taken to meet the goal of accessible bus stops and shelters, in its accessibility plan required under Part I.
(3) Where a municipality has entered into arrangements with a person respecting the construction of bus stops and shelters in its jurisdiction, the municipality shall ensure that the person participates in the consultation and planning as described in subsections (1) and (2).
(4) Municipalities shall meet the requirements of this section by January 1, 2013.
The intent of this requirement is that all municipalities that provide conventional transportation services will consult on and plan for accessible bus stops and shelters in their communities.
All municipalities that offer conventional transportation services must meet these requirements by January 1, 2013.
Any municipality that provides conventional transportation services must consult with the public and people with disabilities in the development of accessible design criteria to be considered in the construction, renovation or replacement of bus stops and shelters.
Municipalities with an Accessibility Advisory Committee established in accordance with subsection 29 (1) or (2) of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act must also consult with the committee.
All municipalities that provide conventional transportation services must identify planning for accessible bus stops and bus shelters.
This planning must include the steps that will be taken to meet the goal of accessible bus stops and shelters.
All the planning, including the steps that will be taken, must be included in municipalities’ Accessibility Plans, as outlined in Section 4.
For more information, please go to the General Requirement, Section 4, “Accessibility Plans” .
Note: The Integrated Accessibility Standard Regulation does not set a specific timeline for all bus stops or shelters to be made accessible.
Some municipalities contract out the responsibility for bus stops and shelters to a third party, such as the local conventional transportation service provider or a private business.
In such cases, the municipality must make sure that the third party participates in the consultation and planning as described above.
In some municipalities, several organizations may have responsibility for different bus stops and shelters. In these situations, it is important that municipalities provide clear public communication about who is responsible for specific stops and shelters. This will make it possible for the general public including people with disabilities to contact the right organization with concerns, questions and comments.
Section 79: Duties of Municipalities – Accessible Taxicabs
79 (1) Every municipality shall consult with its municipal accessibility advisory committee, where one has been established in accordance with subsection 29 (1) or (2) of the Act, the public and persons with disabilities to determine the proportion of on-demand accessible taxicabs required in the community.
(2) Every municipality shall identify progress made toward meeting the need for on-demand accessible taxicabs, including any steps that will be taken to meet the need, in its accessibility plan required under Part I.
(4) In this section, “accessible taxicab” means an accessible taxicab as defined in section 1 of Regulation 629 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 (Vehicles for the Transportation of Physically Disabled Persons) made under the Highway Traffic Act.
The intent of this requirement is that all municipalities will consult on and take steps to meet the need for on-demand accessible taxicabs in their communities.
All municipalities must meet the accessible taxicabs requirement by January 1, 2013.
Accessible Taxicab – The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation uses the same definition of “accessible taxicab” as Section 1, Regulation 629 “Accessible Vehicles” , under the Highway Traffic Act.
In general, an accessible taxicab is a vehicle which can safely and comfortably transport a passenger with a disability who needs to remain seated in his or her mobility aid for the duration of the trip.
On-Demand – The term “on-demand” refers to taxicabs that are available on request in the same way as people who do not need accessible taxicabs may request a taxicab, e.g. by telephoning for one or by hailing one on the street.
This is an important distinction, as many accessible taxicabs are subcontracted to specialized transportation service providers, or are otherwise booked in advance, and are not available to the general public on demand.
All municipalities must consult with the public, including people with disabilities to determine the proportion of on-demand accessible taxicabs required in the community. The proportion of on-demand accessible taxicabs means the number of on-demand accessible taxicabs compared to the number of regular taxicabs.
Municipalities with an Accessibility Advisory Committee, established in accordance with subsection 29 (1) or (2) of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), must also consult with the committee.
All municipalities must identify what progress they have made in meeting the need for on-demand accessible taxicabs, including any steps that will be taken to meet the need. This information must be included in municipalities’ Accessibility Plans.
For more information about accessibility plans, please go to General Requirements, Section 4, “Accessibility Plans” .
Note: The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation does not state that a certain proportion of the taxicabs licensed by a municipality must be accessible, nor does the regulation set a timeline.
Section 80: Duties of Municipalities – Taxicabs
80 (1) Any municipality that licenses taxicabs shall ensure that owners and operators of taxicabs are prohibited,
from charging a higher fare or an additional fee for persons with disabilities than for persons without disabilities for the same trip; and
from charging a fee for the storage of mobility aids or mobility assistive devices.
(2) Any municipality that licenses taxicabs shall ensure that owners and operators of taxicabs place vehicle registration and identification information on the rear bumper of the taxicab.
(3) Any municipality that licenses taxicabs shall ensure that owners and operators of taxicabs make available vehicle registration and identification information in an accessible format to persons with disabilities who are passengers.
(4) The information in subsection (2) shall meet the requirements of subsection 58 (3).
(5) Municipalities described in this section shall meet the requirements in this section,
by July 1, 2011, in respect of subsection (1); and
by January 1, 2012, in respect of subsections (2) and (3).
The intent of this requirement is to prevent owners and operators of taxicabs from charging people with disabilities more than they would other passengers.
In addition, taxicabs will display their vehicle registration and identification information and make it available in accessible formats when requested.
Municipalities that licence taxicabs
Requirements regarding fares and fees by July 1, 2011
Requirements regarding taxicab information by January 1, 2012
Municipalities that licence taxicabs must make sure that owners and operators of taxicabs do not charge a higher fare or an additional fee to people with disabilities than they would normally charge people without disabilities for the same trip.
Further, municipalities that licence taxicabs must make sure that owners and operators of taxicabs do not charge a fee for the storage of mobility aids or mobility assistive devices.
Example: An operator of a taxicab cannot charge a person with a disability a fee for collapsing a mobility aid, such as a manual wheelchair, and placing it into the trunk.
Municipalities that licence taxicabs must make sure that owners and operators of taxicabs display vehicle registration and identification information on the rear bumper of their taxicabs.
For consistency, and to allow for easier recognition for people with disabilities, the information must meet the requirements for signage, outlined in section 58 (3) of this regulation.
For more information on signage, please go to Transportation, Section 58, “Signage” .
Having registration and identification information on the rear bumpers will help people with disabilities to identify taxicab operators that have not treated them properly or fairly. For example, if an operator refused to pick-up a person with a disability who used a mobility aid because of the extra time required to provide service, then using the identification information, the person would be able to report the incident to the responsible municipal licensing body.
Municipalities that license taxicabs must make sure that owners and operators of taxicabs make vehicle registration and identification information available in an accessible format to people with disabilities who are passengers.
How this accessible vehicle registration and identification information is provided to passengers is at the discretion of the municipality.
Example: A municipality could require the information to be translated into Braille and placed on the plastic sleeve located on the back of the seat that holds the taxicab information. Or, the municipality may require operators to have business cards with their taxicab information printed in large print or Braille.
Providing vehicle registration and identification information in an accessible format is not only for “complaint” purposes. It will help people with disabilities who wish to re-book with considerate or pleasant operators. It will also help those who need to complete a “taxi-chit” and therefore require the taxicab information.
This glossary provides a one-stop place to find meanings of key words and phrases used in the Policy Guidelines to support the Integrated Accessibility Standard Regulation.
Many of the terms are also defined in the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation. In the event of a conflict, the regulation prevails. Other words and phrases that are not defined in the regulation have been included in this glossary to help organizations understand and implement the requirements of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation.
In some cases, links are provided for more detailed information.
accessibility features — features intended to remove barriers for people with disabilities. This can include signage, accessible washrooms and automated communications systems, as well as technical features (e.g. software) and structural features (e.g. physical design, including hardware or product specifications)
accessible formats — formats that are an alternative to standard print and are accessible to people with disabilities. Accessible formats may include large print, Braille, recorded audio and electronic formats such as DVDs, CDs, screen readers, etc.
accessibility plan — a plan that describes the actions an organization will take to prevent and remove barriers and when it will do so.
accessible taxicab — a taxicab, as defined in section 1 of Regulation 629 of the Revised Regulations of Ontario, 1990 (Accessible Vehicles) made under the Highway Traffic Act.
bus — refers to a motor vehicle designed to carry 10 or more passengers, and used for transporting people.
communications — the term communications as it is used in the Information and Communications Standard refers to the interaction between two or more people or entities when information is provided, sent or received.
communication supports — supports that individuals with disabilities may need to access information. Some examples include plain language, sign language, as well as reading the information out loud to a person with vision loss, adding captioning to videos or using written notes to communicate with someone who is hard of hearing.
conventional transportation service provider — refers to a designated public sector organization as described in paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 of the Integrated Accessibility Standard Regulation , that provide conventional transportation services that operate only within Ontario.
conventional transportation services — refers to public passenger transportation services on transit buses, motor coaches or rail-based transportation that operate only within Ontario. These services are provided by designated public sector organizations as described in paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 of the Integrated Accessibility Standard Regulation , but does not include specialized transportation services.
conversion-ready formats — refers to any electronic or digital format that facilitates conversion into accessible formats, such as Braille, large print, audio cassettes, CDs, DVDs, etc.
Designated public sector organization — refers to organizations listed in Schedule 1 of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (Broader Public Sector). These organizations include hospitals, universities, colleges of applied arts and technology, district school boards and organizations that provide public transportation such as municipalities.
Designated public sector also means every municipality and every person or organization listed in Column 1 of Table 1 of Ontario Regulation 146/10 of the Public Service of Ontario Act, 2006.
documented individual accommodation plan — a plan developed by an employer, in consultation with an employee with a disability that documents the accommodations that will be provided so the employee can do his/her job. These plans are living documents. They are to be reviewed regularly.
education and training institutions — refers to the following organizations:
all educational or training organizations including private schools that are governed by the Education Act or the Private Career Colleges Act , 2005
all organizations that offer all or part of a post-secondary program that leads to a degree under a consent granted through the Post-secondary Education Choice and Excellence Act, 2000
all universities in Ontario as well as their affiliated and federated colleges that receive annual operating grants from the province and all colleges of applied arts and technology that were established under the Ontario Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology Act , 2002.
all private and public organizations that provide courses or programs that offer diplomas or certificates named by the Minister of Education under paragraph 1 subsection 8(1) of the Education Act .
Extranet website — is an extension of an organization’s intranet website or internal network. The extranet website allows outside users with internet connections controlled access to an organization’s internal network usually for specific business or educational purposes.
fare — is the fee paid by passengers allowing them to use public transportation such as a train, bus or ferry.
fare structure — refers to the fare price. It is determined by the fare media such as cash, tickets, passes and bulk quantity discounts, and by the fare category such as adults, seniors and students. A fare structure does not include promotional fares, which transportation service providers may offer from time to time.
Government of Ontario — refers to the executive of the government and operational branches, including all the ministries of the Government of Ontario and the Office of the Premier.
individualized workplace emergency response information — refers to the information prepared by employers, in consultation with their employees who have disabilities, to help them prepare for emergencies such as fire, severe weather and power outages.
information — the term information as it is used in the Information and Communications Standard refers to knowledge, data and facts that convey meaning and that exist in any format such as text, audio, digital or images.
internet website — an organization’s external website that is available to the public and contains a collection of related web pages, images, videos and other digital assets. It is accessible through an Internet address known as a Uniform Resources Identifier (URI).
intranet website — an internal website that allows an organization to share its information or network operating system securely with other members of the organization, and includes extranet websites .
large designated public sector organization — refers to designated public sector organizations with 50 or more employees.
large organization — refers to a private or not-for-profit organization that provides goods, services or facilities to the public, or to other organizations, and has 50 or more employees in Ontario. See obligated organizations below. It does not include the Government of Ontario, Legislative Assembly, or designated public sector organizations. Large organizations are hereafter also referred to as “large private or not-for-profit organization” in these guidelines.
Legislative Assembly — refers to the offices of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario including all the offices of the members of provincial parliament (MPPs), their constituency offices in their ridings and the offices of those appointed on the address of the assembly, such as the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
library board — refers to a board as defined in the Public Libraries Act . It also refers to a board established under the Northern Services Board Act or a county library established under the County of Lambton Act, 1994, the County of Elgin Act, 1985 or the County of Lennox and Addington Act, 1978.
lifting device — is a platform that moves between a lowered position that is usually level with the ground and a raised position that is at the height of the floor inside the vehicle. These are generally used on motor coaches and located in the middle of the vehicle.
motor coach — is a class of bus of monocoque design, which provides intercity, suburban or commuter passenger transportation service. A motor coach has a baggage storage area that is separate from the passenger cabin.
Obligated organization — refers to the Government of Ontario , Legislative Assembly and designated public sector organizations as well as the large and small organizations to which the standards of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation apply.
rail-based transportation — refers to any single or multi-unit passenger transportation vehicle that operates exclusively on rails. Rail-based transportation includes streetcars, subways, light rail vehicles, commuter rail and inter-city rail. Rail-based transportation is operated by a public transportation organization as described in paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation .
school board — refers to a “board” as defined in subsection 1(1) of the Education Act .
self-service kiosk — refers to those interactive electronic terminals, including point of sale devices that allow the general public to independently access one or more services or products or both.
small designated public sector organization — refers to designated public sector organizations with at least one employee but fewer than 50 employees to which the standards of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation apply.
small organization — refers to a private or not-for-profit organization that provides goods, services or facilities to the public, or to other organizations, and has at least one but fewer than 50 employees in Ontario. See obligated organizations above. It does not include the Government of Ontario, Legislative Assembly, or designated public sector organizations. Small organizations are hereafter, also referred to as “small private or not-for-profit organization” in these guidelines.
specialized transportation service provider — refers to a designated public sector transportation organization, described in paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation that provides specialized transportation services that operate only in Ontario.
specialized transportation services — refers to public passenger transportation services that are designed to transport people with disabilities and that operate only within Ontario. These services are provided by designated public sector transportation organizations as described in paragraph 5 of Schedule 1 of the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation .
specialized transportation services conditional eligibility — refers to the designation given by specialized transportation service providers to people with disabilities who are unable to consistently use conventional transportation services because of physical or environmental barriers.
stanchion — refers to a horizontal or vertical pole that is designed to be used as a handhold. It may be padded to reduce or cushion the impact of any accidental contact.
transit bus — is a class of bus that is designed and intended to be used for passenger transportation. Transit buses are operated on highways, as defined in the Highway Traffic Act,
unconvertible material — refers to any information that cannot be converted into accessible formats. For instance, some sectors or organizations might not have easy access to technology that allows them to convert some material into accessible formats. In other cases, certain information such as that in a textbook might be difficult to convert into accessible formats or conversion ready formats without losing the meaning of the material.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) — is an international standard for making websites and web content accessible to people with a wide-range of disabilities. A team of experts from around the world developed WCAG.
The first version, WCAG 1.0, was released in 1999. WCAG 2.0 was released in 2008. More information on WCAG development and website accessibility can be found at http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/wcag .
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 Level A and Level AA — refers to different conformance levels in WCAG 2.0. To meet conformance Level A all Level A success criteria need to be met; to meet conformance Level AA all Level A and AA success criteria need to be met
More information on WCAG development and website accessibility can be found at http://www.w3.org/WAI/intro/wcag .
web page “” means a non-embedded resource obtained from a single Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) using Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and any other resources that are used in the rendering or intended to be rendered together with it by a user agent.
workplace emergency response plan — please see individualized workplace emergency response information.
Revised, Edited and condensed from http://www.mcss.gov.on.ca/en/mcss/programs/accessibility/other_standards/iasr_2012/toc_iasr.aspx
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senior pics
Jadon Taylor
Photography and Film in Corpus Christi, Tx
The History, From Chemical to Digital. Prt 1 of 3
jadon taylor February 2, 2017
Part of the reason I became interested in photography is the science of it and the history that has accompanied the process of going from chemical to digital photography. The first year that photography became viable commercially was in 1839, It was the development of the deguerreotype process by Louis Deguerreo that truly made photography doable and repeatable as before this process it was a hit and miss science. With the D.P. process it only took minutes to process a exposure and it was surprisingly clear and crisp for the time all things considering.
"To make a daguerreotype, the daguerreotyp-ist would polish a sheet of silver-plated copper to a mirror finish, treat it with fumes that made its surface light sensitive, expose it in a camera for as long as was judged to be necessary, which could be as little as a few seconds for brightly sunlit subjects or much longer with less intense lighting; make the resulting latent image on it visible by fuming it with mercury vapor; remove its sensitivity to light by liquid chemical treatment, rinse and dry it, then seal the easily marred result behind glass in a protective enclosure." (excerpt from Wikipedia).
This process actually created in a sense a 3-D image as the picture appeared to float on the surface of the of the metal creating a feeling of realism that is hard to capture even now. For more then twenty years this process was the only way to make photograph reliably.
Daguerreotype of Louis Daguerre in 1844 by Jean-Baptiste Sabatier-Blot
The next real innovation in photography was actually several hundred years in the making. Angelo Sala in 1614 observed that silver nitrate blackened when exposed to sunlight but was dismissed by his peers. It wasn't until 1717, 103 years later, that Johann Heinrich Schulzes a professor accidentally learned about making a image imprint when he left a piece of silver nitrate on his window seal and observed a white line surrounded by blackened silver nitrate. Upon examination he found a thread hanging in his window that would have cast a shadow effectively not exposing part of the silver nitrate. William Henry Fox Talbot would be the man to harness this process to create what we know as a calotype.
"The light-sensitive silver halide in calotype paper was silver iodide, created by the reaction of silver nitrate with potassium iodide. First, "iodised paper" was made by brushing one side of a sheet of high-quality writing paper with a solution of silver nitrate, drying it, dipping it in a solution of potassium iodide, then drying it again. At this stage, the balance of the chemicals was such that the paper was practically insensitive to light and could be stored indefinitely. When wanted for use, the side initially brushed with silver nitrate was now brushed with a "gallo-nitrate of silver" solution consisting of silver nitrate, acetic acid and gallic acid, then lightly blotted and exposed in the camera. Development was effected by brushing on more of the "gallo-nitrate of silver" solution while gently warming the paper. When development was complete, the calotype was rinsed, blotted, then either stabilized by washing it in a solution of potassium bromide, which converted the remaining silver iodide into silver bromide in a condition such that it would only slightly discolor when exposed to light, or "fixed" in a hot solution of sodium thiosulphate, then known as hyposulphite of soda and commonly called "hypo", which dissolved the silver iodide and allowed it to be entirely washed out, leaving only the silver particles of the developed image and making the calotype completely insensitive to light. The calotype process produced a translucent original negative image from which multiple positives could be made by simple contact printing. This gave it an important advantage over the daguerreotype process, which produced an opaque original positive that could only be duplicated by copying it with a camera." (Excerpt from wikipedia)
The calotype could have been far more popular then it was at the time but due to Talbot's patent on the process it slowed down adoption very drastically as he would sue willly nilly anyone who used the same process. Even with his legal aggression the calotype still forms the basis for modern film photography.
Willy smiling by Mary Dillwyn
The desire for pictures arose in the Industrial age from middle class workers and from the rich and wealthy who didn't like to wait or have the time for a oil painting to be completed and delivered. With a photo using the daguerreotype method the picture could be had in just a few hours with prices ranging from 50 cents to over 10 dollars. Doesn't sound like much but if you factor in inflationthat would be 15 dollars to almost 300 dollars per shot. Since it was so hard to produce and store daguerreotype prints eventually people started to turn to calotype photography due to the fact that negatives could be used to produce multiple prints.
That is all for today guys, tomorrow I will discuss how color came into popular use and how the first transportable cameras came about. But as for today have a wonderful evening and a great day !
Sincerely, The BIrd.
In photography, gear, art, reviews, science, history Tags photography, history, science, art, reviewblog, birdisthename
Sigma Sd Quattro H Review- MegaPixel Monster or Mess
The History, From Chemical to Digital, Prt.2
Start of a Journey
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{ "453248": { "url": "/place/Peru-Indiana", "shareUrl": "https://www.britannica.com/place/Peru-Indiana", "title": "Peru" ,"gaExtraDimensions": {"3":"false"} } }
Alternative Title: Miamisport
Peru, city, seat (1834) of Miami county, north-central Indiana, U.S. The city lies on the Wabash River near its juncture with the Mississinewa, midway between South Bend (70 miles [110 km] north) and Indianapolis. Founded in 1829 as Miamisport on the site of a Miami Indian village and renamed in 1834 for the South American country, Peru is now a transportation, industrial, and agricultural trading centre. Its manufactures include electrical and heating equipment, plastics, food, paper, and wood products. Pioneer, circus, and Indian relics are displayed in the Miami County Museum. Songwriter Cole Porter was born and is buried in Peru. The Circus City Festival Museum and the International Circus Hall of Fame commemorate Peru’s former fame as one of the nation’s foremost circus winter quarters. Grissom Air Reserve Base and Mississinewa Lake are nearby. Inc. town, 1848; city, 1867. Pop. (2000) 12,994; (2010) 11,417.
Peru: Miami County MuseumMiami County Museum (right), Peru, Ind. Derek Jensen
This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen, Corrections Manager.
circus: History
…the American Circus Corporation of Peru, Indiana, a syndicate comprising five of the largest circuses in the United States. With this purchase Ringling owned almost all the major American circuses, thus ensuring his supremacy in the field. Such attempts at monopolies were never the case in Europe, however, where most…
Frank Albert Fetter
Frank Albert Fetter, American economist who was one of the pioneers of modern academic economics in the United States. After an interruption of university studies because of illness in his family, Fetter graduated from Indiana University in 1891 and from Cornell University in 1892. He subsequently…
Cole Porter, American composer and lyricist who brought a worldly élan to the American musical and who embodied in his life the sophistication of his songs. Porter was the grandson of a millionaire speculator, and the moderately affluent circumstances of his life probably contributed to the poise…
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Ameren Corp (AEE) Covered Calls
Ameren Corporation through its subsidiaries operates rate-regulated electric generation, transmission and distribution businesses, rate-regulated natural gas transmission and distribution businesses and non-rate-regulated electric generation businesses.
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76.71 -0.45 76.70 76.73 262K 22 19B
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Ameren Corp. operates as a public utility holding company that provides electric and natural gas services. The company operates its business through two segments: Ameren Missouri and Ameren Illinois. The Ameren Missouri segment operates a rate-regulated electric generation, transmission and distribution business, and a rate-regulated natural gas transmission and distribution business in Missouri. The Ameren Illinois segment operates a rate-regulated electric and natural gas transmission and distribution business in Illinois. Ameren was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in St. Louis, MO.
Want more examples? ADXS Covered Calls | AEG Covered Calls
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"A Quiet Place" Oil Paintings by Anne Wickham Smith
Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary
Money Icon Free
Location Icon Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary
10 Juniper Rd
Exhibits at Habitat
"A Quiet Place"
Oil Paintings by Anne Wickham Smith
Artist's Biography
Based in Belmont and Lenox MA, Anne has been developing her oil painting since 2005. Prior to painting, she wrote, produced, and directed videos and films for more than 20 years. Initially trained in classical studio painting for the first five years, she went on to training with some of the best painters throughout the US, developing a style that expresses her attachment to the beauty and serenity of the natural landscape.
She has painted all over the US, Europe and Guatemala. Anne
is currently a member of The Berkshire Artists Guild, and an associate member of Oil Painters of America. Her work has been in a number of solo and group shows in Lenox and Stockbridge MA. She has been in shows at the Belmont Gallery, Twist Gallery in Lexington, MA, and the Canal Street Gallery in Vermont.
I am inspired to capture the mood of a place, whether it's the quiet found in the subtle tones and shifts of color or the vibrant energy in a scene with its sharp, contrasting patterns of lights and darks. When I was producing a film, I was working under tremendous pressure of time, working with a group of artists developing one scene at a time with multiple elements. For me painting is the opposite, a slow and solo journey of deleting some or most of the details and creating a single frame to tell a whole story.
Habitat Contact
Website: https://www.massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/habitat/exhibits
Email: habitat@massaudubon.org
Trending Near Belmont
"Our Place in the Country - Five Decades in Woodstock, New York" Phot...
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Starts & Stops
Uber, Lyft state fees will help expand wheelchair-accessible vehicles for disabled riders
By Adam Vaccaro Globe Staff,Updated April 2, 2019, 4:53 p.m.
The state’s first use of the money raised from fees on Uber and Lyft rides will be spent on public transit services . . . and, ultimately, back to Uber and Lyft.(Christie Hemm Klok/New York Times/File 2017)
The state’s first use of the money raised from fees on Uber and Lyft rides will be spent on public transit services . . . and, ultimately, back to Uber and Lyft.
The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority on Monday announced a new program to increase the number of wheelchair-accessible vehicles that ride-hail companies have for passengers with disabilities who are eligible for the T’s door-to-door service, the Ride.
Uber and Lyft began working with the T in 2016 to serve Ride passengers, and the service has grown popular because riders can book at short notice rather than the traditional system where they have to schedule a pickup in advance. They are also less expensive on a per-ride basis for the MBTA.
But one issue has been a shortage of wheelchair-accessible vehicles.
“People have tasted this, and they want more of it,” said Bill Henning, executive director of the Boston Center for Independent Living. “But there are real challenges around wheelchair accessibility and having drivers who know how to work with people.”
However, trips on these vans come at a higher cost for Uber and Lyft, who have contracts with transportation providers but have been criticized for not deploying enough of the vehicles.
The state’s new plan is to pay Uber and Lyft $24 for each hour a wheelchair-accessible vehicle is in service. The goal is to quadruple the amount of vehicles available to passengers in wheelchairs, at a cost to the T of about $2.4 million a year.
The money would come from a so-far untouched pot of $3.2 million state transportation officials have collected as a share of the 20-cents-a-ride fee on each ride-hail trip in Massachusetts.
That means Uber and Lyft will be paid by the state to improve their wheelchair services, through the fees those same companies pay to operate in the state. And the move comes as transit activists, some state lawmakers, and the Massachusetts Port Authority are pushing for higher fees on ride-hail trips to help fund public transit.
James Aloisi, a former state transportation secretary who has called for a fee increase, said the new wheelchair program will improve the transit system for riders with disabilities. He likened the use of the ride-hail fees as an incentive for Uber and Lyft to a tax break.
“It’s like, ‘You give us this money for a fee. We’ll give that back to you, but you must use it this way,’ ” he said. “It’s another way of encouraging the private sector to do what it won’t do on its own.”
Adam Vaccaro can be reached at adam.vaccaro@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter at @adamtvaccaro.
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3 members of family contract Ebola in Liberia
New cases found two months after outbreak waned
By Helene Cooper and Sheri Fink New York Times,November 20, 2015, 7:39 p.m.
A family member of a boy, 10, who contracted Ebola in Liberia had her temperature taken at a clinic Friday.(Abbas Dulleh/AP)
NEW YORK — Three members of a family in Liberia have contracted Ebola, two months after the country was declared free of the virus, health officials said Friday.
The first documented case in the family was a 10-year-old boy who started showing symptoms last week, said a Liberian health official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
After attending school Monday and Tuesday, the boy was admitted to a hospital and was transported to an Ebola treatment unit Wednesday, the official said.
The boy's test came back positive Thursday, as did subsequent tests for his father and a sibling, the official said, adding that at least seven health care workers may have treated him without the protective equipment essential for Ebola cases.
The World Health Organization declared Liberia free of Ebola on May 9, but a resurgence of the disease the next month made four people sick, two of whom died. The country was declared Ebola-free again on Sept. 3.
In Geneva, Dr. Bruce Aylward, the World Health Organization's special representative for the Ebola response and deputy director general for outbreaks and health emergencies, told officials that the new case had not dimmed hopes that West African countries might still be moving toward eliminating the original outbreak.
The boy's case appears to point to the persistence of the virus among survivors, which can result in occasional resurgence of the disease, Aylward said, adding that flare-ups are expected to be less common and to end in 2016.
Aylward said the boy had no known contacts with a survivor or a history of travel that might have put him at risk. "The investigation is ongoing," Aylward said. "The country has moved extremely quickly."
He said the latest developments were the seventh time the WHO suspected that a flare-up was related to the persistence of the virus in the population of survivors. For example, scientists have shown that the virus remains present for months in the semen of some men who recover from the disease, and could, in rare cases, be transmitted through unprotected sex.
In all cases, however, transmission has been stopped quickly, with a low number of subsequent cases. New tools include an experimental vaccine that can be given to those who come into contact with patients.
Aylward said the new case highlighted the importance of maintaining strong surveillance programs. A slow initial global response to the outbreak has been blamed for the scale and length of the epidemic, which killed more than 11,000 in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
On Sunday, a committee appointed by the WHO's director general called for overhauls at the agency in the wake of the epidemic, including integrating emergency response and outbreak control functions, with oversight by an independent body.
Three other panels, including one convened by Harvard and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and another by the National Academy of Medicine, are expected in the coming weeks to release recommendations on preventing and controlling future pandemics.
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Kalter: Another Rob Gronkowski concussion could…
Kalter: Another Rob Gronkowski concussion could be dangerous
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski collides with Jaguars strong safety Barry Church during the AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, January 21, 2018.
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski collides with Jacksonville Jaguars strong safety Barry Church and was taken off the field during the second quarter of the AFC Championship game at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, January 21, 2018. Staff photo by Matt Stone
ALL CAPS LEAD-IN: Xxxx xxxxxx x xxxx xx xxxxx xx. Xx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx xxx xxx xxxxx. Xx xxxx xxxx xx x xxxx xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx xxx xxx xxxxx. Xx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx x xxxx xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx xxx xxx xxxxx.
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is walked off the field after he was hit by Jacksonville Jaguars strong safety Barry Church during the second quarter of the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, January 21, 2018.
By Lindsay Kalter |
PUBLISHED: January 23, 2018 at 12:00 am | UPDATED: November 17, 2018 at 12:00 am
Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski has two weeks until the Super Bowl to recover from Sunday’s concussion — but head injuries can take months to heal, and a second blow to the head could have dire consequences.
“Here’s the deal: If you have had one of these injuries, you are at greatly increased risk for a second injury, and those are the ones to be very concerned about,” said Dr. Lee E. Goldstein, neurologist and associate professor at the Boston University School of Medicine.
“It can take weeks, a month or much longer to heal.”
Goldstein said he cannot comment on Gronkowski’s specific case. But last week, the doctor published a ground-breaking study showing that even mild head trauma — less severe than a concussion — can lead to the brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.
As the first half of Sunday’s game against the Jaguars came to a close, Gronkowski suffered a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jacksonville safety Barry Church.
Gronkowski is now on concussion protocol. But Goldstein said there is simply no way to know for sure if a brain injury is fully healed.
“I can tell you if the brain is not healed from the first injury, and one sustains a second injury, the injury can be greatly exacerbated. And how do you know? There is no way to know yet,” Goldstein said.
“Just being cleared by a protocol doesn’t tell us anything.”
But as far as concussion protocol goes, the NFL’s is intensive and includes daily check-ups to monitor symptoms, said Dr. Douglas Comeau of the Ryan Center for Sports Medicine at Boston University.
Patients are evaluated based on a 22-symptom list that includes headaches, vision changes, difficulty concentrating and sensitivity to light.
Though some of it is self-reported, patients are also given balance and eye-tracking tests.
Comeau added that if someone suffers another head injury while still experiencing symptoms, it could lead to “second-impact syndrome” — which, in some cases, can cause death.
The upside is that most concussions heal within seven to 10 days, he said — though it varies based on the person.
“Sports medicine physicians, we don’t know on an individual basis when someone is going to be symptom-free,” he said.
“But fingers crossed.”
Lindsay Kalter
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Cherries are top of the league (when it comes to business)
Cherries top of south west business league
AFC BOURNEMOUTH has been declared the fastest-growing business in the South West.
The football club is a new entry in the Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100 of companies with the most rapid growth in sales.
The distinction comes barely a decade after the club was plunged into administration and almost went out of business, dropping down to League Two and barely avoiding the Football League trapdoor.
Sales for the Cherries have risen over the past three years by an average of 138 per cent a year, reaching £136.5million annually.
The period surveyed by the Fast Track 100 covers AFC Bournemouth’s debut in the top flight of English football. The team finished ninth in the Premier League at the end of their second season and are currently eighth.
Earlier this year, the club reported profit after tax of £14m for the year ending June 30 2017, compared with £3.4m the previous year.
Turnover rose from £87.9m to £136.5m, which the club said was almost entirely due to the boost from a three-year broadcasting and sponsorship deal brokered by the Premier League.
AFC Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake said then: “The club is in a more secure position than it has ever been, with significant recent progress made regarding infrastructure and facilities to ensure that it continues to build on its success.”
With the smallest stadium capacity in the Premier League at just 11,360, AFC Bournemouth reported a match income of just £5m – a tiny fraction of the money brought in on matchdays by the league’s giants.
AFC Bournemouth employed 575 staff as of June 2017, the Fast Track 100 report says.
The club is also counted as the oldest business in the Fast Track 100, having been founded in 1890 – although a new company was formed to take the club forward after the business fell into administration in 2008.
Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, which has supported Fast Track 100 for 22 years, said: “Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of UK business and have always been the beating heart of positive change. In a climate of uncertainty, it’s more important than ever to recognise those entrepreneurs, like those of this year’s Fast Track 100, who are making the world a better place for everybody.”
The full table is published in the Sunday Times in print and and online this weekend, and at fasttrack.co.uk
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<<Prev Day <Wk <Mo <Yr
>Yr >Mo >Wk >>Next Day
TD Title (Click to View) Studio Daily Gross Theaters / Avg Screens / Avg Shows / Avg Gross To-Date Day
1 The Other Guys Sony $4,767,588 3,651 $1,306 4,900 $973 21,100 $226 $45,290,082 5
2 Inception WB $2,622,043 3,418 $767 4,700 $558 15,900 $165 $232,790,746 26
3 Step Up 3-D BV $2,201,655 2,435 $904 3,000 $734 13,700 $161 $20,029,133 5
4 Despicable Me Uni. $1,689,505 3,413 $495 4,000 $422 16,500 $102 $212,444,440 33
5 Dinner for Schmucks P/DW $1,618,499 3,004 $539 3,500 $462 14,700 $110 $49,825,833 12
6 Salt Sony $1,579,869 3,317 $476 3,700 $427 16,100 $98 $94,739,450 19
7 Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore WB $1,338,425 3,705 $361 4,900 $273 20,300 $66 $28,822,737 12
8 Charlie St. Cloud Uni. $913,005 2,725 $335 2,800 $326 12,400 $74 $25,240,750 12
9 Toy Story 3 BV $593,930 1,714 $347 1,800 $330 6,500 $91 $397,518,546 54
10 Ramona and Beezus Fox $398,055 1,478 $269 1,500 $265 4,300 $93 $21,795,064 19
11 The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Sum. $386,851 1,704 $227 1,704 $227 5,000 $77 $293,877,997 42
12 The Kids Are All Right Focus $385,406 994 $388 1,050 $367 4,520 $85 $14,740,521 33
13 The Sorcerer's Apprentice BV $376,122 1,766 $213 1,800 $209 5,700 $66 $57,767,776 28
14 Grown Ups Sony $340,842 1,769 $193 1,800 $189 5,700 $60 $156,319,776 47
15 The Last Airbender Par. $105,114 639 $164 650 $162 2,020 $52 $129,171,377 41
- Shrek Forever After P/DW $95,033 308 $309 370 $257 1,390 $68 $236,722,479 82
- Hubble 3D WB $81,401 53 $1,536 53 $1,536 150 $543 $12,958,672 145
- Middle Men ParV $67,769 252 $269 260 $261 1,220 $56 $453,270 5
- Predators Fox $59,355 454 $131 460 $129 1,350 $44 $50,617,339 33
- Knight & Day Fox $49,060 336 $146 340 $144 1,030 $48 $74,946,644 49
- Winter's Bone RAtt. $39,226 141 $278 141 $278 490 $80 $4,554,391 61
- The A-Team Fox $35,237 241 $146 241 $146 740 $48 $76,589,574 61
- Iron Man 2 Par. $35,097 224 $157 230 $153 740 $47 $311,870,609 96
- Flipped WB $27,512 45 $611 51 $539 276 $100 $280,492 5
- Marmaduke Fox $26,204 170 $154 170 $154 590 $44 $33,198,697 68
- Under the Sea 3D WB $23,581 15 $1,572 20 $1,179 40 $590 $23,536,480 544
- Twelve Hann. $17,808 231 $77 231 $77 1,060 $17 $144,919 5
- Sex and the City 2 WB (NL) $17,421 200 $87 200 $87 620 $28 $95,271,083 76
- Cyrus FoxS $15,907 132 $121 132 $121 380 $42 $7,170,606 54
- Killers LGF $14,620 172 $85 172 $85 520 $28 $46,889,424 68
- Get Him to the Greek Uni. $13,755 110 $125 110 $125 290 $47 $60,950,265 68
- Letters to Juliet Sum. $13,617 103 $132 103 $132 280 $49 $52,920,973 89
- The Concert Wein. $9,220 19 $485 20 $461 80 $115 $120,912 12
- Solitary Man Anch. $7,185 45 $160 50 $144 130 $55 $4,224,404 82
- Date Night Fox $6,339 46 $138 50 $127 140 $45 $98,620,513 124
- 71 Into the Fire JS $5,474 12 $456 n/a n/a n/a n/a $167,727 12
- The Disappearance of Alice Creed Anch. $4,258 10 $426 10 $426 47 $91 $49,444 5
- City Island Anch. $2,362 7 $337 10 $236 20 $118 $6,660,016 145
- Jonah Hex WB $1,677 25 $67 30 $56 70 $24 $10,543,603 54
- Princess Kaiulani RAtt. $410 1 $410 1 $410 2 $205 $862,461 89
Note: Screen and Showing Counts are estimates made by Box Office Mojo based on showtimes tracking information. To read more about box office tracking and terminology, click here.
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The 11 Best History Books of 2011
Lost in Learning: Celebrating the Art and Spirit of Discovery
The Virtuous Cycle of Gratitude and Mutual Appreciation: The Letters of Hermann Hesse and Thomas Mann
1493: An Uncommon History of How Columbus Changed the World
What events from half a millennium ago can teach us about the globalization debate today.
In 2005, 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann came to be regarded as the most ambitious and sweeping look at pre-Columbus North and South America ever published. This month, Mann is back with 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created — a fascinating look at one of the lesser-known, lesser-considered aspects of what happened when Columbus and his crew set foot on American soil: the environmental upheaval that began as they brought plants, animals and diseases that forever changed the local biosphere, both in America and in Europe once the explorers returned to the Old World. Known as The Columbian Exchange, this process is considered the most important ecological event since the extinction of the dinosaurs, and the paradoxes at its heart echo today’s polarized views of globalization as either a great cross-pollinator or a great contaminator of cultures.
From the outset globalization brought enormous economic gains and ecological and social tumult that threatened to offset those gains. It is true that our times are different from the past. Our ancestors did not have the Internet, air travel, genetically modified crops, or computerized international stock exchanges. Still, reading the accounts of the creation of the world market one cannot help hearing echoes — some muted, some thunderously loud — of the disputes now on the television news. Events four centuries ago set a template for events we are living through today.”
Mann illustrates the fascinating interplay of organisms within ecological systems and the intricate yet powerful ways in which it impacts human civilization. For instance, when the Spaniards brought plantains to South America, they also brought the tiny scaling insects that live in their roots, which turned out to be delicious new food for the local fire ants. This led to a plague-sized explosion in fire ant population, which forced the terrified Spaniards to live on the roofs of their ant-infested houses and eventually drove them off the islands.
The most striking impact of The Columbian Exchange, however, comes from epidemiology. Because pre-Columbus America had no domesticated animals, it also had no animal-borne diseases. But when the Europeans came over, they brought with them enough disease to wipe out between two thirds and 90% of people in the Americas over the next 150 years — the worst demographic catastrophe in history by a long stretch. While early diaries mentioned these epidemics in describing life in the 1500s and 1600, it wasn’t until the 1960s that epidemiologists and historians realized the true scale of the death toll in the decades following Columbus’s arrival.
NPR’s Fresh Air has an excellent interview with Mann.
From how tobacco became the world’s first global commodity to how forests were transformed by a new earthworm, 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created will change the way you look at ecology, economy and epidemiology, and radically shift how you think about “local” and “global.”
Images via Wikimedia Commons
https://www.brainpickings.org/2011/08/24/1493-charles-mann/
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How We Use Maps and Globes: An Illustrated Guide from 1968
Urbanism Patron Saint Jane Jacobs on Our Civic Duty in Cultivating Cities That Foster a Creative Life
How Our Government Helps Us: A Charming 1969 Illustrated Primer
How People Live In The Suburbs: A Vintage Illustrated Gem
“Swinging is a good time to close your eyes and make-believe.”
Much has been written about what makes a great city, with recent theories placing walkability atop the list of favorable assets, deeming suburbs among the least desirable, most unsustainable, most culturally insular places to live. In fact, every week from now until 2050 more than a million people are being added to our cities. But the city-suburb relationship didn’t always skew this way — in the first half of the 20th century, suburban sprawl was hailed as a pinnacle of industrial progress and by the 1950s, more Americans lived in suburbs than anywhere else.
Last week, while researching the lovely vintage gem The Little Golden Book of Words, I came upon another out-of-print treasure: How People Live In The Suburbs (UK; public library) by Muriel Stanek, originally published in 1970 as an educational supplement teaching primary school children about the basics of social studies. Through a mix of vibrant illustrations by Bernadine Bailey and photographs by Philip Gendreau, the slim 48-page book captures the golden age of utopian visions for suburbia, a bittersweet memento from one of history’s greatest failures of urban planning.
How People Live In The Suburbs was published as part of a Basic Understanding series of primary school supplements, also including How People Earn and Use Money, How Farms Help Us, and How Our Government Helps Us — all, sadly, out of print but delightful if you’re able to secure a copy.
https://www.brainpickings.org/2012/12/27/how-people-live-in-the-suburbs/
bookschildren's bookscitiesculturehistoryillustrationout of printvintage
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The Book about Moomin, Mymble and Little My: Tove Jansson’s Playful and Philosophical Vintage Masterpiece
Own a Warhol for $5: Warhol’s Obscure 1959 Children’s Book
How Arthur Rackham’s 1907 Drawings for Alice in Wonderland Revolutionized the Carroll Classic, the Technology of Book Art, and the Economics of Illustration
A charming and unexpected adventure story by one of today’s most extraordinary young comic artists.
Much has been written about what makes a great children’s book, but at the end of the day, it’s like porn — you know it when you see it. That’s precisely what The Night Riders (UK; public library), the picture-book debut of comic artist Matt Furie, presents — the whimsical, imaginative story of a night frog and a mouse, who encounter a cast of wild and colorful characters on a dirt bike adventure.
Images via 50 Watts
https://www.brainpickings.org/2013/01/15/the-night-riders/
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How much has Citrix really changed in the last 5 years?
In 2012, I wrote an article speculating what Citrix might look like in five years. With the anniversary of that post approaching, let's revisit what I got right (not much), and wrong.
Gabe Knuth
Independent industry analyst
Five years ago, on November 15, 2012, to be exact, I wrote an article asking the question "In 5 years will we even recognize Citrix?" It was so long ago that I'd forgotten about it, but yesterday Scott Cutter reminded me via twitter. It seems Scott had set a calendar reminder way back then, and I'm glad he did because revisiting that article has led to some interesting insights about the state of Citrix today.
@GabeKnuth Set this calender reminder 5 years ago. #Citrix pic.twitter.com/zMd2Mfjorr
— Scott Cutter (@scottjcutter) November 1, 2017
The 2012 article was written shortly after Citrix Synergy Barcelona, back when they had more than just one event. I actually enjoyed having an event in the Spring and Fall because it gave some insight into the progress Citrix was making every six months, rather than having to wait an entire year. At this particular event, former Citrix CEO Mark Templeton started the keynote talking about Citrix CloudGateway and Citrix Online. He referenced the "post-PC era," and their acquisition of Virtual Computer, as well as ShareFile and Podio.
What was missing from the keynote, and what became the idea behind the article, was that there was no mention of XenApp or XenDesktop right off the bat. Previous events talked about new features, number of customers, licenses, use cases…basically how Citrix was crushing it. The fact that Citrix was talking more about other areas besides those classic products was noteworthy all by itself.
I left with the impression that Citrix was hedging their bets by acquiring Virtual Computer (which was rolled into XenClient), making sure they could deliver and manage Windows desktops and applications in any virtual form factor. It made sense at the time, but when you looked beyond Windows things seemed a little more disorganized. From the article:
"So, Citrix in five years will still have a focus on Windows desktops, but they're more than aware of the fact that the future lies somewhere else. That's why we see Citrix doing so much with Citrix Online, Podio, and CloudGateway. THAT is the future of Citrix, and as I was told at Synergy, you should get to know CloudGateway as well as you know XenApp and XenDesktop."
"Now add Podio to the mix, which I'm still trying to find a reason to love. Still, the fact that Podio is a platform on which enterprises can easily build applications means that Citrix is giving companies the ability to abandon legacy Windows applications in favor of a web-based approach. Not only can Citrix deliver native applications to users, but they can help you develop new ones that are accessible from anywhere without having to remote entire OSes to the users. I may not love it today, but I can see it coming around in the future."
I wrapped up the article saying that:
"The future Citrix will be all-in on these technologies, and while I don't believe they'd ever abandon the Windows-based technologies that they own (at least not in that time frame), I do see Citrix moving them further back from the main stage as time goes by. I suspect we'll see the same out of VMware, but that's not as shocking since their Windows desktop focus only dates back as far as 2008. It should be fun to watch."
Looking at things today, I'm pretty sure the only thing I was right about was that the Windows-based technologies Citrix owned would still be a big part of the company, but that they'd be publicly focused on the next thing. That's not much of a stretch, so I don't really want any credit for that.
The most interesting takeaway from that article is that here we are five years later, and the only thing that's changed about Citrix's situation are the names. Citrix is still looking for the next thing, only this time it's with a different set of products and different leadership. They're still talking about things other than XenApp and XenDesktop, even though that is the main reason anyone deal with Citrix.
It starts at the top. Since 2012, CEO Mark Templeton retired, came back, then was forced out. Citrix replaced him with Kirill Tatarinov, who was then replaced by COO David Henshall. That's three CEOs in five years, with a bonus CEO search in there between Mark's first retirement and the comeback.
Now let's look at the products Citrix was focusing on back then. It's safe to say none of them feature as prominently as they used to, if they're around at all.
Citrix had just acquired Podio earlier in 2012, so they were happy to promote it as the next great thing from Citrix, allowing you to build applications and workflows for the browser-based workforce. Here we are in 2017, though, and the only time I use Podio is when someone from Citrix forces me to use it, presumably because they themselves were forced to use it. I'm not entirely sure how it escaped the cutbacks that Citrix went through in 2016 when it was isolating "core" products, or why Citrix feels it's important to be in the "Flexible Project Management" space. Podio might still be around, but it's not the platform of the future that it once appeared to be.
Cloud Gateway
When Cloud Gateway was first announced, it was an identity management tool that we thought would integrate with on-premises and SaaS applications, making it possible to provision and de-provision user accounts across multiple providers. It was the "gateway to the cloud," and it sure looked like a lifesaver. Then, Citrix transformed it into a Mobile Application Management tool, at least until they bought Zenprise a few months later. Now, whatever is left has been rolled into XenMobile.
This is ironic, given the fact that Identity and Access Management is a huge deal today. Citrix could have been at the forefront of it all, but got out of it too soon.
Citrix Online
We all know what happened to Citrix Online. One of Citrix's most valuable assets, with no direct ties to the other "Core" products, it was sold off as part of the restructuring that followed Elliott's involvement with Citrix in 2015.
Virtual Computer (XenClient)
Though Citrix already had XenClient, they acquired Virtual Computer in 2012 to add some management functionality. The two platforms were somewhat similar (both used the same hypervisor and had compatible VMs), but both lacked certain management features. Combining everything gave Citrix the best chance of gaining some traction with the client hypervisor.
Citrix ended up killing off XenClient (a Type-1 client hypervisor, in that it ran directly on the hardware instead of on top of a host OS) in October of 2015, instead choosing to do any client virtualization on their Type-2 client hypervisor, DesktopPlayer. DesktopPlayer is still around, but it's by no means the same as XenClient, and gets very little attention from anyone other than existing customers.
That's kind of a dreary list, right? Should we add in all the other things that have come and gone at Citrix in the same span? Octoblu, for example, was going to enable a whole new world for Citrix until it was shut down last month. Remember WorkspacePod? What about Sanbolic?
Each of these things has been lauded as the next step for Citrix, and each of them has fallen by the wayside for one reason or another. I was wrong on all of them, but there's one more thing I couldn't have been more wrong about: VMware.
I predicted that VMware would do the same thing as Citrix, focusing on newer platforms rather than investing more into Windows. For context, at the time, VMware was only focused on VDI, and didn't show any interest in applications at all. Windows was still something they thought was on death row, so it really did look like they were going to go all-in on something other than Horizon.
In reality, VMware put their foot on the accelerator, adding support for applications, and even breaking into Windows management. The fact that VMware caught up to Citrix is amazing all by itself, but when you add in the complete reversal of their approach to Windows, I couldn't have been more wrong. In fact, now VMware is in the driver's seat in a lot of ways, and we're increasingly asking Citrix what they're going to do about things like Unified Endpoint Management.
In reality, Citrix and VMware are pretty much even from a desktop virtualization perspective, but all signs point to AirWatch having the lead (or at least the most mindshare) in the EMM space. Will Citrix respond, or will they continue to stay focused on whatever is next?
What is "next," anyway?
I'm in no position to make a prediction right now. In fact, if you asked me to project what Citrix would look like five years from now, I don't know that I could. In November 2015, Brian gave Citrix "exactly zero chance of being a company by the end of 2017," and, well, let's just say the year isn't over yet.
With that in mind, I think I'll sit this one out and see what happens. Citrix is a state of flux right now, focusing on things like making ShareFile more enterprise-focused while also trying to become a cloud-first security and analytics company (though that message was delivered by former CEO Kirill Tatarinov, so who knows how that will turn out under new leadership). They have desktop virtualization solutions built for Azure, which is cool even though it's not really helping the bottom line.
The primary takeaway from this is that here we are in 2017, and Citrix is still in the same situation as they were in 2012: trying to find the next new thing while leaning on their existing XenApp and XenDesktop customer base. No matter what Citrix has done to set themselves up for the next phase, they’re still a desktop virtualization company. It’s not that they haven’t seen success in other areas, but they haven’t been able to land on a technology that can propel them into the future. The result is that the company’s revenue is flat, the shareholders are unhappy, and they’re in the situation they’re in.
The Future of Desktop Virtualization, Chapter 4 –SearchSecurity.com
BYOD 101: Combat the Phenomenon’s Top Challenges –SearchSecurity.com
Expert Tips on Getting Mobile Securely with Virtual Desktops –SearchSecurity.com
Desktop virtualization: Streamline deployment without extra costs –SearchDataCenter.com
Citrix looks to 2011 to boost VDI uptake, update ...
Acquisition explosion: VDI vendors beef up virtual ...
Citrix announces XenClient 2 (with video demo from ...
farsyd1 - 6 Nov 2017 3:11 PM
Citrix' new plan seems to be to milk the user base via transitioning further to subscription. I get that the former CFO is well qualified to engage what seems a financial strategy. Not sure I understand the long term technology goals like the above writer. Goldman Sachs is a believer.
RetroRob - 12 Nov 2017 10:47 PM
Citrix has become Novell.
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in News by
Boating Under The Influence Law
SECTION 50-21-112. Operation of moving motorized water device or water device under sail while under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol; offense; penalties.
(A) It is unlawful for a person to operate a moving motorized water device or water device undersail upon the waters of this State while under the:
(1) influence of alcohol to the extent that the person’s faculties to operate are materially and appreciably impaired;
(2) influence of any other drug or a combination of other drugs or substances which cause impairment to the extent that the person’s faculties to operate are materially and appreciably impaired; or
(3) combined influence of alcohol and any other drug or drugs, or substances which cause impairment to the extent that the person’s faculties to operate are materially and appreciably impaired.
For purposes of this section “drug” means illicit or licit drug, a combination of licit or illicit drugs, a combination of alcohol and an illicit drug, or a combination of alcohol and a licit drug.
(B) A person violating this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, must be punished:
(1) for a first offense, by a fine of two hundred dollars or imprisonment for not less than forty-eight hours nor more than thirty days. However, in lieu of the forty-eight hour minimum imprisonment, the court may provide for forty-eight hours of public service employment. The minimum forty-eight hour imprisonment or public service employment must be served at a time when it does not interfere with the offender’s regular employment under terms and conditions, as the court considers proper. However, the court may not compel an offender to perform public service employment instead of the minimum sentence;
(2) for a second offense, by a fine of not less than two thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars and imprisonment for not less than forty-eight hours nor more than one year. However, the fine imposed by this item may not be suspended in an amount less than one thousand dollars. Instead of service of imprisonment, the court may require that the individual complete an appropriate term of public service employment of not less than ten days upon terms and conditions the court considers proper. Upon imposition of a sentence of public service, the defendant may apply to the court to be allowed to perform his public service in his county of residence if he has been sentenced to public service in a county where he does not reside;
(3) for a third offense, by a fine of not less than three thousand five hundred dollars nor more than six thousand dollars and imprisonment for not less than sixty days nor more than three years.
(C) Any person convicted of operating a water device in violation of subsection (A), in addition to any other penalties, must be prohibited by the department from operating any water device within this State for six months for the first conviction, one year for the second conviction, and two years for the third conviction. Only those violations, which occurred within ten years including and immediately preceding the date of the last violation, shall constitute prior violations within the meaning of this section.
A person whose privilege is suspended under the provisions of this section must be notified by the department of the suspension and of the requirement to enroll in and successfully complete an Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program certified by the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services prior to reinstatement of the privilege. An assessment of the extent and nature of the alcohol and drug abuse problem, if any, of the applicant must be prepared and a plan of education or treatment, or both, must be developed based upon the assessment. Entry into and successful completion of the services, if such services are necessary, recommended in the plan of education or treatment, or both, developed for the applicant is a mandatory requirement of the restoration of privileges to the applicant. The Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program shall determine if the applicant has successfully completed the services. The Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services shall determine the cost of services provided by each certified Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program. Each applicant shall bear the cost of services recommended in the applicant’s plan of education or treatment. The cost of services must be within the limits set forth in Section 56-5-2990(C). No applicant may be denied services due to an inability to pay. Inability to pay for services may not be used as a factor in determining if the applicant has successfully completed services. If the applicant has not successfully completed the services as directed by the Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program within one year of enrollment, a hearing must be provided by the Alcohol and Drug Safety Action Program and if further needed by the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services.
The department and the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services shall develop procedures necessary for the communication of information pertaining to reinstating the privilege, or otherwise. The procedures must be consistent with the confidentiality laws of this State and the United States.
A person convicted under this section, in addition to any other penalties, shall be required by the department to attend and complete a boating safety education program approved by the department. The person required to attend the program shall reimburse the department for the expense of the program. The person’s privilege to operate a water device within this State shall be suspended until successful completion of the required program.
(D) The suspension penalties assessed under this section are in addition to and not in lieu of any other civil remedies or criminal penalties which may be assessed. No part of the minimum sentences provided in this section may be suspended.
(E) For the purposes of this chapter any conviction, entry of a plea of guilty or of nolo contendere or forfeiture of bail, for the violation of any law or ordinance of this or any other state or any municipality of this or any other state that prohibits any person from operating a vessel or water device while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or a combination of both constitutes a prior offense for the purpose of any prosecution for any subsequent violation of this section. Only those offenses which occurred within a period of ten years including and immediately preceding the date of the last offense constitutes prior offenses within the meaning of this section.
HISTORY: 1991 Act No. 138, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1269; 1999 Act No. 124, Section 2.E.
Did You Know? Seatbelt Edition
Where to Stop at a Stop Sign
Reduce Your Summer Crash Risk
Faces of Distracted Driving
Disturbing Distracted Driving Trends that Kill
Cam Newton’s Success Secret: From Car Accident to Super Bowl
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You are here: Home / Blind Citizens News / Report from the President
Report from the President
By John Simpson
It has been an exciting and productive time for BCA recently. On Saturday, 1 December, we held our 43rd Annual General Meeting in Melbourne. We were delighted to have over 50 members attend and participate in Melbourne and Sydney, and that more than 20 people joined us via the live stream as observers.
Our CEO, Emma Bennison, and I reported on a very successful year for BCA, and Treasurer Dan Stubbs reported on BCA’s financial position. Both reports can be found on the publications page on our website, and are available in a range of formats upon request.
The results of elections for the President, Directors, and National Policy Council representatives, notified to members previously, were formally announced, and Bill Jolley, Chair of the Jeffrey Blyth Foundation, provided a comprehensive report. Sincere thanks to members for their participation in our AGM, whether in Melbourne, in Sydney or via the stream.
The Board also met face-to-face in Melbourne, on Sunday 2 and Monday 3 December. The first order of business was to fill the casual vacancy for a Director, following the election process. I am delighted to advise that Rocco Cutri, from Sydney, accepted the Board’s invitation to fill this position.
Office holders for the coming year were also elected, so the current BCA Directors are:
John Simpson, President
Helen Freris, Vice-President
Dan Stubbs, Treasurer and Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee
Fiona Woods, Chair, National Policy Council
Mick Baker, Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee
Stephen Belbin, Branch Liaison, Chair, NSW/ACT Coordinating Committee and Diversity Committee
Joanne Chua: National Policy Council, Communications Committee and Diversity Committee
Rocco Cutri, Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee
Prue Watt, Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee and Communications Committee.
The meeting also included board induction; ratification of a number of operational policies; discussion of how the board can better contribute to BCA’s communications mechanisms; and strategic planning, with a particular focus on broadening our reach and membership. If you’d like to know more about the board’s deliberations, you can listen to New Horizons, Episode 583, which is available via our website, as a podcast or through the Vision Australia library.
I have been honoured to serve as your President for the last two years, and I am delighted to now have your support to continue to serve members and people who are blind or vision impaired more generally. Thanks to the commitment of members, board and staff, BCA has made significant progress towards rebuilding its reputation as the united voice of Australians who are blind or vision impaired, but there’s much still to do.
At the AGM, I indicated that my focus over the next three years would be on continuing to ensure BCA delivers on its mission, particularly in five areas:
Building on the success of BCA’s work in relation to leadership development, to ensure that at all levels of the organisation, we support and nurture current and aspiring leaders.
Ensuring we engage more effectively with diverse communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, young people, women and people living in regional and remote Australia.
Maintaining and increasing communication and consultation with members and stakeholders to ensure BCA represents the interests of all Australians who are blind or vision impaired.
Ensuring BCA remains sustainable and growing into the future.
And above all, doing all I can to ensure that one or more of our aspiring leaders is fully prepared to take over in this role when my term ends in three years’ time.
As always, I welcome the opportunity to talk with members about the work of our organisation, and their aspirations and concerns for our future.
Back to BC News main page
Filed Under: Blind Citizens News
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Welcome to BCTTNS, a non-profit organization dedicated to the practice of Therapeutic Touch!
BCTTNS Board
Volunteer/Job Opportunities
Membership Renewal Form
Online and Printable Forms
Achieving Recognized Practitioner Status (TTRP)
Achieving Recognized Teacher Status (TTRT)
Maintaining TTRP and TTRT Status
Curriculum Outlines and Guidelines
Teacher Code of Ethics
Recognized Practitioners
Blog Dr. Dolores “Dee” Krieger August 1, 1921 – June 16, 2019
Dr. Dolores “Dee” Krieger August 1, 1921 – June 16, 2019
BCTTT2019 June 19, 2019 News
Dr. Dolores “Dee” Krieger, PhD, Professor Emerita, New York University Division of Nursing, age 97, crossed over at 12:50pm on Sunday, June 16, 2019 at her home outside Columbia Falls, Montana. She was born to Maurice and Mary Krieger at Paterson, NJ on August 1, 1921. Dee earned her Nursing Diploma at Westchester School of Nursing, Grasslands Hospital, Westchester, NY in 1955 and continued her education at New York University (B.A., 1960; M.A., 1962; Ph.D., 1967). As a Professor of Nursing, Krieger developed innovative curricula. Her graduate course, Frontiers in Nursing, became a model for many other groundbreaking classes in the field of healing.
While in her late 20’s, a ‘chance’ discovery of books tucked into an obscure nook led Dee to Theosophy, and this guided her to Dora Van Gelder Kunz, a medical clairvoyant. In 1972, with Dora, she co-founded Therapeutic Touch (TT); the first healing method taught within a fully accredited university. Her work as a pioneer and innovative thinker in post-modern professional nursing focused on a holistic perspective, giving health professionals a broader view of the potential for human wellness. In 2010, Dr. Krieger extended the concept of Therapeutic Touch to include the idea of Therapeutic Touch Dialogues which explores in depth the future consciousness of the TT process, research and theory.
Dr. Krieger garnered many awards and honors in her life. Among those are NYU’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 1982 and the Alice and Elmer Green Award for Excellence from the International Society for the Study of Subtle Energies and Energy Medicine in 1997. She was a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the honor society of nursing. In 1979, she established Nurse Healers Professional Associates (NHPA) which eventually became known as Therapeutic Touch International Association. And in 1981, she received the Renaissance Nurse Award from NHPA for her courage, compassion, and vision.
She traveled internationally as a teacher and speaker and her many books have been translated into at least nine languages. Thousands of people spread around the world have learned to practice and teach Therapeutic Touch in order to bring this compassionate work to those in need. Her work is carried on by a cadre of professionals who will extend Therapeutic Touch into the future both theoretically and in everyday healing interactions. She will be missed by healers all over the world. Her legacy is a living one.
Dee was preceded in death by her parents, Maurice and Mary and her siblings Grace K. Brings, Dorothy Balk and Charles Z. Krieger. She is survived by three nieces; Hope R. Rosenberg of Miami, FL, Ellen Krieger Ratner of McLean, VA, and Tammy L. Klein of Coral Gables, FL, and numerous great and great-great nieces and nephews. Memorial plans are pending. In lieu of flowers, mourners may contribute to TT Dialogues at P.O. Box 393, Whitefish, MT 59937, or to their favorite charity
Tags:Dee Krieger, Dolores Krieger, Therapeutic Touch
Therapeutic Touch® is a registered trademark in Canada.
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Theresa May pushes on with Brexit agenda after tough EU summit
PM insists further talks will take place in the coming days.
Theresa May is expected to make astatement to MPs on Monday (Victoria Jones/PA)
Theresa May is set for another tough political week as she battles to keep her Brexit plans on track after a bruising EU summit in Brussels.
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/theresa-may-pushes-on-with-brexit-agenda-after-tough-eu-summit-37628548.html
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/uk/article37628544.ece/2efb7/AUTOCROP/h342/bpanews_3944ffc0-165e-4db2-b9de-934358fa20e1_1
Ahead of an expected statement to MPs on Monday, the Prime Minister is assessing her EU withdrawal agenda in light of a tense showdown with European leaders.
The Times reported that a number of Cabinet ministers now consider the Withdrawal Agreement to be dead in the water, and are reluctantly considering the prospect of a new referendum to settle the question.
Nigel Farage said he believes the UK may face a second referendum in the coming months and urged Brexit campaigners to “get ready for every situation”.
My message, folks, tonight is, as much as I don't want a second referendum, it would be wrong of us on a Leave Means Leave platform not to get ready, not to be prepared for a worst case scenario Nigel Farage
Speaking at the Leave Means Leave rally on Friday, the former Ukip leader said: “My message, folks, tonight is, as much as I don’t want a second referendum, it would be wrong of us on a Leave Means Leave platform not to get ready, not to be prepared for a worst case scenario.”
Senior Tories such as former chancellor Ken Clarke urged Mrs May to reach out to Labour MPs to try to find common ground to move forward.
It was also reported that Mrs May told EU senior figures she might as well put her Brexit deal before MPs next week if no further reassurances on the controversial Irish border backstop measures would be coming from Brussels.
The PM cancelled a Commons vote on her Brexit deal scheduled for last Tuesday after she admitted it faced a “significant” defeat.
The Financial Times quoted a close aide to the PM saying: “At the point where there is no prospect of getting anything more from the EU, that’s when you would have to put the vote.”
However, Government sources made it clear to the Press Association that there was unlikely to be a Commons vote on the Withdrawal Agreement next week.
Mid-January has been suggested as a more likely date for such a showdown.
But, Mrs May, who survived a bid by backbench Brexiteer Tories to topple her, could face a no-confidence vote from Labour.
However, the Labour leadership has made it clear it will only strike when it considers the Government to be at its most vulnerable.
Meanwhile, CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn expressed concern about the consequences of a no-deal Brexit, saying it could lead to food shortages.
She told Channel 4 News: “We need to find a way not to have no deal.
“Because the damage to jobs, and employment, and growth will be very significant indeed.
“So, we know that we would have delays at customs. We know that there could be a reduction of capacity of up to 80% at Dover.
“This means that businesses will not be able to get their parts. It means that food will not be on shelves.”
Theresa May has appealed to the other 27 leaders to help her to get the deal through Parliament (Alastair Grant/AP)
A combative EU summit left Mrs May insisting she was still on track to win assurances on the controversial Irish backstop proposals.
Putting a positive gloss on the EU summit, the Prime Minister said further talks would take place in the coming days on measures she hopes will persuade MPs to back the Brexit agreement in Parliament.
EU leaders acknowledged the need to “bring down the temperature” after appearing to rebuff her calls for assurances on the Northern Ireland backstop.
Many Tory Brexiteers, and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) that Mrs May depends upon for a Commons majority, have rejected the backstop proposals.
The backstop would see the return of a hard border in Northern Ireland avoided by the UK remaining under EU customs rules if no trade agreement is struck with the EU after a Brexit transition period.
The Prime Minister appeared infuriated by Jean-Claude Juncker’s remarks (Geert Vanden Wijngaert/AP)
EU tensions erupted into public view when a visibly angry Mrs May was seen berating European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker over remarks he had made during the press conference in the early hours of Friday.
The Prime Minister was apparently infuriated after he described the British negotiating position as “nebulous and imprecise”, and called on the Government to spell out exactly what it wanted from the talks.
Mr Juncker said he had been able to convince her that his remarks had referred to the wider Brexit debate in the UK, joking: “After having checked what I said yesterday night, she was kissing me.”
The kaleidoscope of umbrellas was as varied as the accents beneath them as fans from around the world braved the rain on the second day of The Open’s return to Northern Ireland.
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Teen thug's sentence quashed
PUBLISHED: 12:58 03 December 2009 | UPDATED: 17:23 25 August 2010
A TEENAGE gangster handed an indefinite sentence for his part in an attack which left a 16-year-old close to death had his sentence overturned by top judges. Another teenager involved in the violence, Ikechukwu Nwaimo, 19, of Edington Road, Abbey Wood,
A TEENAGE gangster handed an indefinite sentence for his part in an attack which left a 16-year-old close to death had his sentence overturned by top judges.
Another teenager involved in the violence, Ikechukwu Nwaimo, 19, of Edington Road, Abbey Wood, stabbed Mohammed Falah 17 times outside the Mermaid nightclub, in Woolwich, on June 23, 2007, during an attack by members of the T-block gang.
The court heard that the two 16-year-old victims were standing outside the club, having been refused entry, when 10 to 15 members of the gang rolled up in various cars and launched the terrifying assault.
David Wright, also 16, was kicked and beaten by other members of the gang, including Gabriel Uyiekpen, 19, of Pembroke Road, Erith, who has now had his open-ended jail term quashed on appeal.
Nwaimo was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent while Uyiekpen pleaded guilty to conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm at the Old Bailey. On February 23 this year, each defendant was sentenced to indefinite detention for pubic protection (DPP) - almost identical to a life term. But, last Tuesday Lord Justice Moore-Bick, sitting with Mr Justice Griffith Williams and Judge Elgan Edwards at London's Criminal Appeal Court, quashed Uyiekpen's indefinite sentence and replaced it with a conventional five-year detention term.
That means he will serve just two and a half years before he is entitled to automatic release.
Nwaimo's appeal was rejected and he will not be released until the authorities are convinced he no longer poses a public danger.
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The forum in Rome was the very heart of the ancient Roman Empire, a testament today to her former greatness. It was first paved in the late 7th century BC and drained of stagnant waters a few decades later by the Etruscan king Servius Tullius. It began as a rectangular square of several structures, including temples, but was eventually divided into three parts: the Comitium (political center), the Regia (religious center), and the Forum proper (commercial center). As the population of Rome grew, the forum was continually expanded, with new emperors building their own structures.
Arch of Severus
Built in AD 203, this arch commemorates the campaigns of Severus and his sons (Geta and Caracalla) in Parthia (modern Iran), as depicted on the arch’s reliefs. The triple archway stands 74 feet (23 m) high, 80 feet (25 m) wide, and 38 feet (11.85 m) deep, and is constructed entirely of white marble. The dedicatory inscription originally had gilded bronze letters, but the bronze was taken, and Geta’s name was replaced with Caracalla’s after Caracalla murdered Geta in 212. The arch was restored in the late 20th century.
Temple of Saturn
One of the oldest temples in Rome, the Temple of Saturn was first built in 497 BC in honor of Italy’s fabled god-king. It served as the State treasury and the site of an annual festival, called the Saturnalia, held on December 17. For the Saturnalia, slaves would be free to do as they wished and gifts were exchanged; the festival later came to be associated with New Year’s Day and Christmas. Lucius Munatius Plancus reconstructed the Temple of Saturn in 42 BC, and it was again restored in AD 283 and 400, following fires. After the latter reconstruction, an inscription was added to the architrave, reading: “Destroyed by fire, restored by the Senate and People of Rome.”
Temple of Mars Ultor
This temple was dedicated to Mars Ultor (the “Avenger”) by Octavian in 42 BC, following the battle of Philippi, in which Caesar’s assassins, Cassius and Brutus, were defeated and Caesar was “avenged.” Many relics from ancient Rome were stored within the temple, and an underground chamber may have served as a treasury. The building was central to foreign policy and closely associated with the military. It was here that the Senate met to discuss the prospect of war and boys coming of age were acknowledged. The structure took more than two decades to build, but it was well preserved into the Middle Ages; since then it has fallen into significant disrepair.
Julia Curia
Julius Caesar rebuilt Sulla’s (80 BC) earlier building on this site when it was destroyed by a fire in 44 BC. Upon Julius’s assassination Augustus finished the work and dedicated the structure to Julius in 29 BC. He also moved the meeting place of the Senate to this location. The Julia Curia included a statue of the goddess Victory. The building which is visible today dates to Domitian, a structure Diocletian restored after a fire in AD 283, and was used as a church in the 7th century. In the early 20th century, Alfonso Bartoli returned it to its condition under Diocletian.
Basilica of Maxentius
The Basilica of Maxentius has also been called the Basilica of Constantine and the Basilica Nova. Maxentius began construction on it, but when Constantine defeated him in AD 312, Constantine finished it, adding a portico and a second apse. The structure likely served as the meeting place for the tribunal. Its arches are enormous, measuring 66 feet (20.5 m) wide, 56 feet (17.5 m) deep, and 78 feet (24.5 m) high. Impressive and skillful, the Basilica of Maxentius was inspiring to Renaissance artists like Michelangelo, particularly during his painting of the dome of St Peter’s.
Download all of our Rome photos!
Roman Forum (History.com). A succinct summary of the Forum’s basic history and major features.
Forum Romanum (Khan Academy). A longer and nicely-illustrated overview. The other lessons are also worth looking at for their information about Roman art and architecture in general.
An Overview of Buildings in the Roman Forum (ThoughtCo.). This list is not exhaustive, but it does offer helpful information on some of the major structures.
The Roman Forum (James Grout). This page offers a basic map of the site and links to several pages dedicated to individual structures in the Forum.
Arch of Septimius Severus (Livius). This page offers extensive information about the arch, including photos and descriptions of each relief.
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Photo Companion
Ruth: All Photos
Esther: All Photos
Psalm 23: All Photos
Daniel: All Photos
Matthew: All Photos
Mark: All Photos
Luke: All Photos
John: All Photos
Acts: All Photos
The Raising of Lazarus and the Resulting Conflict with the Jewish Leaders
Tomb of Lazarus
Jesus . . . came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it (John 11:38). The traditional tomb of Lazarus has gone through so many alterations over the centuries that it’s hard to get a sense of what it looked like originally. This entrance isn’t even the original one—it was carved out by the Franciscans in the 16th century after the first entrance became blocked by a mosque. Fortunately, the original antechamber and burial chamber are still accessible.
Funerary Wrappings
The man who had died came out, bound hand and foot with wrappings (John 11:44). Lazarus had evidently been wrapped up almost mummy-like in preparation for burial. This wouldn’t be too helpful in the process of escaping his own tomb, but the fact that he could make it to the entrance under such restrictions only proves the power of Jesus’s miracle; Lazarus was not only resuscitated, but returned to full strength.
Conquest of Jerusalem
The Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation (John 11:48). The Jewish leaders thought that if Jesus became too popular, the Romans would respond with military action and remove them from power. And while they were wrong about the reason, they were right to fear this; that exact thing happened a few decades later, in AD 70. The Romans laid siege to Jerusalem, and once they breached the walls, they utterly destroyed the temple, carrying off the sacred objects as spoil—effectively ending the sacrificial system and orphaning the priests involved. This relief, etched into the Arch of Titus in Rome, memorializes this event.
That He might also gather together into one the children of God who are scattered abroad (John 11:52). The death of Jesus, as unintentionally prophesied by Caiaphas, led to the formation of a body of Christ-followers in Israel and around the world. Jewish people were exiled all over the place in the Roman world; and while most of them rejected Christ, some embraced him and were joined together with Gentiles in the church. This 4th-century synagogue was found in Sardis, a city which hosted one such group of Jewish and Gentile believers (Revelation 3:1-6).
Jesus . . . departed from there into the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim (John 11:54). Because the Jewish leaders were beginning to threaten Jesus in earnest, he decided to retreat to a more remote area. It’s likely that the modern village of Taybeh can be identified as Ephraim, as well as the Old Testament village of Ophrah. About 20 miles (32 km) north of Jerusalem, Taybeh is a quiet place, removed from denser civilization—which makes it an ideal place to retreat from a calculated plot against your life.
Ritual Purification
Many went up from the countryside to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves (John 11:55). The washing of hands is a traditional part of the Passover observance, but for those in Jerusalem when the temple was still standing, the purification was a bit more involved. Pilgrims were required to immerse themselves in a ritual bath, also called a mikveh. This bath found south of the Temple Mount is quite unusual in its size and shape, with stairs on all four sides. This may have served to accommodate some of the crowds mentioned in this verse.
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of Caravaggio
Boy with a Basket of Fruit, 1593
The Cardsharps, 1594
Bacchus, 1596
Basket of Fruit, 1596
Medusa, 1597
Jupiter, Neptune and Pluto, 1597
Penitent Mary Magdalene, 1597
The Rest on the Flight into Egypt, 1597
John the Baptist, 1598
The Fortune Teller, 1599
Judith Beheading Holofernes, 1599
The Calling of Saint Mathew, 1600
The Conversion of Saint Paul, 1600
Martyrdom of Saint Matthew, 1600
The Crucifixion of Saint Peter, 1601
The Taking of Christ, 1602
Youth with a Ram, 1602
The Entombment, 1603
The Sacrifice of Isaac, 1603
The Death of the Virgin, 1603
The Incredulity of Saint Thomas, 1603
The Madonna of the Grooms, 1605
The Seven Works of Mercy, 1607
The Crucifixion of St. Andrew
The Decapitation of Saint John the Baptist, 1607
Salome with the Head of John the Baptist, 1607
Christ at the Column, 1607
The Flagellation of Christ, 1607
The Adoration of the Shepherds, 1609
Reclining Baptist, 1610
David with the Head of Goliath, 1610
Selected Paintings
The magdalen in ecstacy- by Caravaggio
Courtesy of www.Caravaggio.org
Caravaggio probably painted The Magdalen in Ecstasy after he had killed Ranuccio Tommasoni on 29 May and while he was staying in hiding on the estates of the Principe Marzio Colonna, either at Zagarolo, Palestrina or Paliano. The present picture is the best of eighteen known versions but has only recently been claimed as the lost original by Marini - a view now supported by a number of others.
Although the sources refer simply to a Magdalen, Caravaggio has almost certainly depicted one of her rapturous visions or ecstasies. According to The Golden Legend Mary Magdalen, the penitent sinner, retired after Christ's death to a cave at Sainte-Baume near Aix-en-Provence to live as a hermit; she ate nothing, her only nourishment being the food of the spirit, for she was transported by angels seven times a day into Heaven where 'she heard, with her bodily ears, the delightful harmonies of the celestial choirs'. It is clear from her abandoned posture and such a carefully revealed detail as the ear, indicating that she is listening to the heavenly music, that Caravaggio has depicted such a moment, although in doing so he was predictably original. In earlier art the ecstasy had usually been shown as an actual levitation, or assumption, with Mary floating up to Heaven and always accompanied by angels; and while later artists such as Rubens or Vouet adopted Caravaggio's earth-bound interpretation they did not dispense with the angels. Nevertheless, if less literal, Caravaggio's painting is more convincing than these later works, for while he deliberately, and influentially, expressed the parallel between mystical surrender and erotic love, implied by the Magdalen's posture and her bared left shoulder, he did not pruriently and inappropriately emphasize her sexuality by uncovering her breasts.
The Sacrifice of Isaac
Judith Beheading Holofernes
Inspiration of Saint Matthew
Martyrdom of Saint Matthew
The Crucifixion of Saint Peter
The Cardsharps
Contact Us | Terms of Use | Links
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Stony Brook Sees Similar Success in Bermuda
It is no surprise that Stony Brook University finished strong in the 2017 Ariel Re Bermuda 7s. Stony Brook University has participated in many URugby events such as the Bowl Series and the ACRC 7s but this trip will be one that they remember for a long time.
Besides the results of the games, players Rob Maloney and Jedediah Hendrixson reflected on the opportunity to be able to play rugby somewhere they have never been before. "The pitches at the Bermuda National Stadium were some of the nicest we've played on," said Jedediah Hendrixson. "The tournament was well run with beautiful fields," senior forward Rob Maloney added. They both commented on the perfection of the low cut grass and how easy it was to make quick moves on the pitch.
Stony Brook University took advantage of their experience in the Bermuda 7s tournament, competing in 2016, to complete their trip with a 4-2 record. Their tournament started with an easy win over Rowan University, 33 to 0. "We came out on fire and ready to run in our first game against Rowan in which we were firing on all cylinders," Rob Maloney said about their first match up. They would have continued success with a 31 to 5 victory over St. Joseph's Second Side. Their day would conclude in an exciting match against Iona College, but resulted in an upset 19 to 12 loss to the Gaels, giving Iona the #1 seed in the Pool results.
The second day of competition started off with a tough loss to a strong Kutztown University Second Side by a score of 19 to 17. After moving to the plate competition, another easy victory awaited the Seawolves as they defeated the West Chester Black Foxes by a score of 33 to nil. In the plate final, Stony Brook would get their revenge over Iona College where they come out victorious with a score of 12 to 7. "[It was a] Very physical game and we were proud of our grit to come out on top," Maloney said about their last victory of the tournament.
Besides the overall success of their trip and the opportunity to play in beautiful weather, Stony Brook also took full opportunity of the surrounding attractions during their free time. The team really enjoyed staying in the Warwick Camp barracks, bonding as a team. They also spent a lot of their free time hanging out in the coves by Horseshoe Beach and climbing the rock formations. Considering the barracks was only a five minute walk from many different attractions, they were able to see some of the most beautiful places on the island. The entire team also took a day trip to the zoo and aquarium which is more than just fun as their are several exhibits outlining the history of the island and the incredible array of wildlife both on land and underwater that the unique island of Bermuda provides.
Hendrixson concluded, "We enjoyed the tournament last year, even more this year, and look forward to having an even better experience next year."
All Results from 2017 Ariel Re Bermuda 7s »
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Foundation backs SOGH
Colin Dacre - May 15, 2019 / 6:47 pm | Story: 256393
Photo: SOS Medical Foundation
The South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation has thrown its support behind the upcoming renovations in the emergency department at South Okanagan General in Oliver.
Residents are invited to an info session May 29 at 2 p.m. at the Oliver Community Centre to learn more about the upgrades.
“What was originally a $970,000 upgrade has been bolstered by the Medical Foundation’s commitment to raise $280,000 for additional equipment and enhancements suggested by hospital staff,” the foundation said in the news release Wednesday.
Medical staff will at the info session to fully explain the improvements, which include a separate ER entrance, new waiting and triage areas, a quiet room for families, the relocation of admitting and administration services and other upgrades.
The renovations will begin soon and should be complete by the end of the year. The emergency department will remain open throughout.
#15 2775 Westside Road
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News / Catholic Living / Back to School
Student takes second in national pro-life oratory contest
Special to the Catholic Herald
Grant Joseph Mantooth, a recent graduate of Seton School in Manassas, won second place in the 2017 National Right to Life Jane B. Thompson Oratory Contest.
Grant Joseph Mantooth, a recent graduate of Seton School in Manassas, won second place in the 2017 National Right to Life Jane B. Thompson Oratory Contest held at the organization’s annual national convention in Milwaukee June 29-July 1.
“The contest strives to encourage high school juniors and seniors to share their pro-life views with others. Although speaking ability is important, this contest also seeks to help teens organize and express their pro-life views,” according to the organization’s website.
Mantooth represented Virginia at the national competition after winning the May 13 statewide Alex and Geline Williams Pro-Life Oratory Contest sponsored by the Virginia Society for Human Life (VSHL). Seton students have won the VSHL Oratory Contest in 2005, 2008, 2015 and 2016.
Mantooth’s speech described his grandfather, Col. William Houston Mantooth’s 11-year struggle with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body disease, a rapid form of dementia. His essay detailed examples of his grandmother’s unwavering devotion to his care, despite her diagnosis of inoperable lung cancer eight years into her husband’s illness.
Col. Mantooth served in World War II, the Vietnam War and the Korean War — for more than 30 years in the military — yet fought his greatest battle after his diagnoses. On numerous occasions, physicians were reluctant to treat simple illnesses such as pneumonia. Rehabilitation facilities to which he was discharged temporarily after hospital stays failed to feed or hydrate him, causing bed sores and return trips to the hospital. Mrs. Mantooth, with the support of her family, took on medical personnel and refused to allow her husband to be forgotten or neglected.
“It was a tremendous honor to represent Seton School and the Commonwealth of Virginia and to tell my grandparents’ story. My grandfather’s life exemplified love of God and love for one’s fellow man, and my grandmother’s devotion to her husband stands as a shining example of speaking for the voiceless and protecting life,” Montooth said.
Montooth is attending the University of Virginia in Charlottesville this fall. While at Seton, he was an officer in the Student Government and Service Committee and the National Honor Society. He was a varsity swim team co-captain and played varsity soccer and JV basketball. He expects to attain rank of Eagle Scout, having completed his Eagle Scout project in June. Mantooth was also a finalist for five of his six years at Seton in the school’s annual persuasive contest, and he won second place overall his freshman year.
Faith-filled videos for the classroom
Diplomat program offers a little magic
Keeping Catholic schools affordable
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Ericsson, Vodafone claim world’s first Machine vision 5G PoC
European Commission pledges $450m investment in cyber security fund
Uber rival Grab expands rapidly in Southeast Asia
News: A report showed that Grab’s app surpassed Uber’s in first-quarter downloads.
Grab, a ride-hailing startup, has witnessed fast growth in Southeast Asia, posing challenges to the established player Uber Technologies.
Compared to Uber, the startup has presence in more cities in the region, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing a study by mobile-app analytics firm App Annie.
The ride-hailing market in Southeast Asia is expected to grow over five times to $13.1bn by 2025 from $2.5bn last year, accroding to a recent report on Southeast Asia’s internet economy conducted by Alphabet’s Google and Singapore state-investment firm Temasek Holdings.
Launched in 2012, Singapore-based GrabTaxi Holdings provides services such as motorcycle taxis, package deliveries and cash payment, which are tailored to fit the local needs in the region.
The company is also experimenting with a carpooling service in southern Malaysia, enabling people to share rides.
Grab’s valuation reached $1.6bn in its last round of funding in 2015 and it currently operates in 30 cities in Southeast Asia, employing 1,600 peoples.
However, competing with Uber is a not an easy task for Grab, as the former has massive resources to expand globally. Uber has raised funds worth $14bn in debt and equity.
In June, Bloomberg reported that Uber was planning to raise as much as $2bn through leveraged loans.
An Uber spokesman was quoted by the publication as saying that the company is "part of everyday life for millions across Southeast Asia."
Grab has attracted funds from some of the major global investors such as US hedge fund Coatue Management LLC and Tiger Global Management. It has also raised funds from Didi Chuxing Technology, which is Uber’s biggest competitor in China.
The startup has also become a member of a global alliance of Uber rivals which include Didi, ANI Technologies’ Ola in India and San Francisco startup Lyft.
Grab’s co-founder and chief executive Anthony Tan said: "We don’t think only about transport."
Tan’s vision to expand the company beyond rides to offer other services such as digital payment.
He said that the startup is making profits in some cities but declined to estimate the year when it will become profitable overall.
Grab recently introduced motorbike taxis in cities like Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta to help commuters to overcome traffic problems. Uber also launched such services later.
The company also has a package-delivery service aimed at assisting online retailers in the region.
According to App Annie, Grab’s app surpassed Uber’s in first-quarter downloads for both Android and Apple smartphones in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
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Payments Industry Warns of SCA “Disaster” – Pleads for 18 Month Extension
Microsoft Launches Public Preview of Security Key Support: Password-Free Life Creeps Closer
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Biden, Pointed and Off Script, Gets Loose and Loud
By Ryan Corsaro
September 5, 2008 / 5:17 PM / CBS News
From CBS News' Ryan Corsaro:
(LANGHORNE, PA.) - "I know that Joe and Barack are going to work to end this war in Iraq!" yelled Jill Biden to a crowd of over a thousand in an oven-temperature auditorium.
Dressed in a buttercup-yellow skirt suit, Biden introduced her husband to a sea of waving palms and clapping hands.
Joe Biden's town hall event was admittedly off-script at times and intermittently sentimental, though he allowed himself bursts of rage as he railed against Republicans.
"Last night we heard my friend, and I really mean this sincerely…" he said calmly.
"John McCain is my friend. I know of no man or woman I've met that has more personal courage than John McCain."
Biden went at length to describe the closeness between McCain and his family, saying that when traveling together once, he came upon his spouse and McCain – a story he said his wife would not want him to tell.
"Jill and John are standing up on the tables, drinking Ouzo, dancing, and I'm thinking, I've never trusted him since then, Jillie!"
All joking aside, Biden insisted, "My argument is not with John the man, my argument is with John's ideas."
Reflecting on the Republican National Convention he was able to catch on television, Biden began a slow boil.
"It's not so much of what I heard, when I heard John speak last night, or what I heard when the Governor of Alaska speak the night before," said Biden, but more of what he did not hear – "the middle class".
"The silence of the Republican party was deafening -- was deafening!" he bellowed. "My God."
Biden said all he did hear was "boy she's good," referring to Gov. Palin, and "how a left jab can be stuck pretty nice."
"They had great quips," Biden said of the Republicans, which reminded him of teasing schoolchildren.
"That's what this reminded me of. Oh I love that dress, is that your mother's? You know what I'm talking about."
Talking directly to middle-class voters, Biden asked, "How many of you sweated bullets figuring out how they're going to get tuition so they can start in August?" asked Biden, pointing his finger. "That's what middle class people think about!"
On the day new unemployment figures were released, Biden made a focus of his speech on labor in America.
"We have lost 604,000 jobs in America this calendar year," said Biden, pointing out that 6.1 percent of the American workforce being idle.
For those citizens recently added to the figure, Biden said, "It's not merely a lost job. It's a lost sense of identity that occurs."
Getting into specifics, Biden promised that an Obama administration would give families making $75,000 a year or less a tax rebate to help pay for the rising costs of gas.
"People say that's gimmicky…[but] you need help now. We're going to give you a thousand dollars now."
Standing in a high school gymnasium, Biden said "any country that out-teaches us will out-compete us."
"It really is a national security issue, I know it sounds stupid to say that. It really is a national security issue."
Biden's temper flared as he told the crowd that McCain would give $4 billion to oil companies to "explore off-shore drilling."
"[Oil companies] earned six hundred billions dollars…since 2000," shouted Biden. "This isn't theater here. This is real! It makes me angry!"
After several moments of emotion and outrage in his delivery, Biden acknowledged his tone and directness, saying, "I am told I should not say things as straightly as I do."
On the Iraq war, Biden said it was example of Sen. Obama having a sense of good judgement in foreign policy when he pushed for a timetable – one that Biden expects to receive on his desk from the president with the next month as part of an agreement with the Iraqi government. It's a plan he says Obama has been calling for years.
"The only guy that doesn't get it is John McCain. Barack Obama gets it. John McCain doesn't."
The crowd was receptive to Biden's shrieks of disgust and moments of calm inflection. After over an hour in the steamy field house, Biden sensed its time to wrap it up.
"The staff's gonna kill me. The Secret Service's gonna arrest me. By the way, I never had Secret Service before. It's really nice not going through metal detectors anymore. They asked me why I agreed to run for vice president. The plane waits till you get there unless you're getting on with the president, you know?"
First published on September 5, 2008 / 5:17 PM
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Device makers pay high-volume spine surgeons consulting, design fees
By Ben Eisler
May 12, 2014 / 6:00 AM / CBS News
Spinal fusion is one of the most common surgeries in America, with more performed than even hip replacements. For medical device companies, it is also one of the most profitable. The procedure joins adjacent vertebrae, often with metal rods and screws. A spinal implant maker can earn tens of thousands of dollars from a single fusion.
Many of these companies also pay surgeons to promote and develop new products. Those involved say the arrangements fuel innovation. Medical ethicists contend that they can also create conflicts of interest and influence a doctor to use a certain company's products.
Data obtained by CBS News identifies the surgeons that performed the most spinal fusions on four or more vertebrae on Medicare patients from 2011-2012. Fusions on large portions of the spine tend to require more hardware.
CBS News cross-referenced this information with financial disclosure records and legal depositions and found that some of these same doctors received hundreds of thousands of dollars from spinal implant makers. The money was for helping to promote and develop new products, according to the surgeons and device companies involved.
Dr. W. Blake Rodgers spinemidwest.com
The Medicare data shows Dr. W. Blake Rodgers of Jefferson City, Missouri performed 110 fusions on four or more vertebrae from 2011-2012 - the second most in the country (see how the data was compiled below). He has also appeared in promotional materials for NuVasive, a maker of spinal implants.
NuVasive does not disclose payments to physicians and would not return repeated emails or phone calls for comment. But in a recent legal deposition Dr. Rodgers recalled receiving more than $600,000 from the company in 2011. He said the payments were for consulting, teaching, and helping design dozens of device systems.
Dr. Rodgers would not agree to an interview for this story. His attorney said he is "focused, as always, on helping his patients."
Dr. Kade Huntsman sloc.org
The Medicare database indicates Dr. Kade Huntsman of Salt Lake City, Utah performed 107 fusions on four or more vertebrae, the third most in the country. He performed them on 17% of patients he saw, almost the highest rate nationwide.
At a conference in 2011, Dr. Huntsman disclosed receiving between $126,000 and $560,000 for royalties, consulting, and speaking from NuVasive. His resume states that he has advised at least two other companies.
Dr. Huntsman also would not agree to an interview but his attorney provided a statement.
"Dr. Huntsman does not receive financial compensation for cases involving Nuvasive implants - that is, there is no financial correlation between Dr. Huntsman's work with Nuvasive implants and his individual patient cases," it reads. "Attempts to draw connections between the two would be fundamentally false."
His attorney added that Dr. Huntsman's patients sign a disclosure form that informs them of his financial relationship with NuVasive. The form does not state how much money he was paid by the company, but his attorney said the "patient certainly can ask questions if they desire to know more."
Last year in a regulatory filing, NuVasive revealed that it was being investigated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for possible false claims submitted to Medicare and Medicaid. No other details of the probe have been made public, including whether any doctors are under investigation.
The data also indicates Dr. Richard Hynes of Melbourne, Florida performed 107 fusions on four or more vertebrae - tied for the third most in the country. Medtronic, another spinal implant maker, paid Dr. Hynes and his LLC $767,000 over just the twelve months ending in June of 2013. The money was for helping to design new products, training, and other services, Medtronic's website says.
Dr. Richard Hynes thebackcenter.net
Medtronic began disclosing payments to doctors after coming under scrutiny from U.S. Senator Charles Grassley. Two separate whistleblower lawsuits filed by former employees had alleged that the company paid surgeons sham consulting and royalty fees for implanting its devices. In 2006, the company settled one of the suits for $40 million, while denying wrongdoing. The other suit was dismissed.
Dr. Hynes would not agree to an interview or provide a statement, but Medtronic insisted that its consulting and royalty arrangements are vital to innovation and advancing patient care. The company added that surgeons are not paid royalties for devices they implant during their own surgeries to avoid conflicts of interest.
"Our current agreements contain required disclosures by our consultants to ensure transparency," a spokesman wrote, "and we have a rigorous process to ensure our consulting relationships are proper."
Medical device companies are not yet required by law to disclose financial relationships with doctors, but later this year, all payments larger than $10 will be made public under the Physician Payment Sunshine Act. The first release of that information is expected in September, and it will cover the period of August to December 2013.
Dr. Charles Burton, President of the Association for Medical Ethics, has been an outspoken supporter of the law. "In my opinion, the importance of the Physician Sunshine Act will be its continuing role as a visible reminder to physicians that the patient's best interests should always come first," he said.
How the Medicare data was compiled
We asked Medicare for details on the billing codes for spine surgery and the agency referred us to the American Medical Association, which forwarded us to the North American Spine Society (NASS). One of NASS's billing experts helped us identify the codes most commonly used for spinal fusions that treat degenerative conditions that cause lower back pain. Experts told us to focus on this subset of fusions because it is more controversial, and there is a debate over whether some of them are necessary.
NASS's expert then helped us develop a methodology for counting these surgeries. When fusing more than two vertebrae, there are separate "add-on" codes to be billed once per additional vertebra, according to NASS. Any time CPT code 22585, 22614, 22632, or 22634 was duplicated (billed twice) on the same procedure, it was counted as a fusion on four or more vertebrae.
We did not count surgeries where the physician was described as an assistant or team surgeon, or didn't finish the procedure, by excluding codes with modifiers 53, 55, 66, 73, 74, 80, 81, 82, AK, or AS. Doctors that did not have the specialty codes for neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, or physical rehabilitation specialists were also removed from the dataset.
We sent the instructions to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Michael Marquis, Christopher Powers, and Stephanie Bartee at CMS compiled a large spreadsheet of fusions. No patient information was disclosed, and counts between 1 and 10 were redacted to protect patient privacy. Fusions on beneficiaries in Medicare's Part C program were not included as those plans are run by private insurers.
Limitations to the data
The billing codes used to compile this database describe a technique - not a diagnosis. According to NASS, they are most commonly used for treating degenerative conditions, but may also be used for other purposes.
The billing codes do not indicate whether a fusion was inappropriate, and some widely accepted fusions (like those for spondylolisthesis, or a slipped disc) are billed for using these codes.
Billing can be confusing and there may be inconsistencies among surgeons in terms of the codes they use for fusions. There may also be billing errors.
Some surgeons may get more referrals, see more complicated cases and do more fusions as a result. These numbers do not take into account the severity of the conditions the surgeon is treating.
Since this just covers Medicare patients, physicians in areas with large elderly populations have higher numbers.
Some of these fusions may include the mid-back or neck, as some of the codes used extend up to that area.
Some surgeons often perform "360 degree" fusions, which involve two surgeries (through the front and back). Their total number of fusions may be higher as a result.
Residents, physician assistants, and others under a surgeon's supervision can file claims under that doctor's name. While this is not done for spinal fusion surgeries, it may artificially decrease the percentage of patients that some doctors performed fusions on.
As with all large datasets, there may be miscellaneous errors.
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Drexler Quits As Houston Coach
By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff
March 30, 2000 / 3:02 PM / CBS/AP
Clyde Drexler ended a two-year stint as coach of the Houston basketball team Thursday, returning to private life after an all-star career as an NBA player.
Drexler said he made a difficult choice between basketball and parenting.
"It could not get any harder. You just can't do both," he said. "Because coaching is a challenge, it makes you want to come back. But if you do, you know you're going to be negligent in other areas.
"I don't want my kids to grow up and not have an active part in their upbringing, and that's what it comes down to," Drexler said.
Drexler acknowledged he has thought about leaving almost since he started coaching almost immediately after his retirement from the NBA.
"Because of the time that it takes in the coaching profession, in the first week I was thinking, `Boy, this is going to be a little bit more difficult than I thought'," Drexler said. "But in an effort to try to help out and get it back, I hung in there, stuck with it and did as well as I could."
Drexler came to Houston in 1998, hoping to take the school back to the basketball prominence it enjoyed in the early 1980s when Drexler was a member of the famed Phi Slama Jama teams that went to the Final Four three straight years. Drexler was a member of the first two of those teams.
In two seasons, Drexler's teams had records of 10-17 and 9-22.
Chet Gladchuk, Houston's athletic director, said he couldn't blame Drexler for leaving.
"He jump-started some things we asked him to do," Gladchuk said, crediting Drexler with bringing alumni back to the campus and improving recruiting.
"We were very competitive this past year," he added. "We've taken a giant step forward. We had a great recruiting class this year. What we've got to do now is capitalize on that and make sure it moves forward."
Gladchuk said it was too soon to comment on who might replace Drexler.
Houston loses five seniors, including point guard Gee Gervin.
Drexler leaves behind an outstanding recruiting class led by forward-center Alton Ford of Houston Milby. Ford was last season's Greater Houston high school player of the year and will give the Cougars a much-needed big man.
"All of the guys I recruited, I am going to strongly advise that they continue to be Cougars," Drexler said. "It was great for me and I would highly recommend it for any student-athlete."
Drexler played most of his 15-year pro career with Portland. He was traded to Houston in February 1995 and was instrumental that year in leading the Rockets to their second consecutive NBA title.
He ended his pro career after the 1998 season as one of three players in league history with 20,000 points, 6,000 rebounds and 6,000 assists.
"He's been soul-searching snce the end of the season," Gladchuk said. "I thought it had stabilized. He said everybody asked how he was feeling about the job and it's been fine."
©2000 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed
First published on March 30, 2000 / 3:02 PM
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Africa: India’s Shift to Inclusive Innovation Is ‘A Model to Follow’
By Munyaradzi Makoni
More women are entering the field of science.
Photo: Zahur Ramji/AKD
Cape Town — A leading Indian scientist and policymaker is calling on developing countries to adopt an “emerging paradigm” of affordable, less complex and inclusive innovation to promote development and cut poverty.
Raghunath Mashelkar, former director-general of India’s Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, and now president of the Global Research Alliance, an organisation that promotes the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), says India has good models for innovation which are reducing complexity and the cost of goods, and which are leading to social inclusion and access to economic opportunities.
In a keynote presentation, he told the Conference on Innovation for Inclusion Development, organised alongside the 6th Conference on Micro Evidence on Innovation and Development (21-23 November) in Cape Town, South Africa, that the benefits of science must reach the poorest people as part of new thinking to help tackle poverty.
“Getting improved goods for less cost to more people while eliminating social disharmony is key to achieving the MDGs,” said Mashelkar, who also chairs India’s National Innovation Foundation.
He added that the paradigm shift must avoid technologically advanced products with many features, and instead focus on efficient, high-quality products that create livelihood opportunities for excluded populations.
An example he gave is 3nethra, an eye-testing device developed in India that can detect conditions such as cataracts, diabetes and glaucoma.
“If we provide a hepatitis B vaccine that is 40 times cheaper, cataract eye surgery 100 times cheaper, open-heart surgery 20 times cheaper and an artificial foot 300 times cheaper, wealth and health for all can be a reality,” said Mashelkar. All these are not dreams and have been done, he told the conference.
Parveen Arora, an advisor to India’s department of science and technology, said innovation that supports local enterprises with skills development and finance is critical to innovative products for low-income customers.
He noted India’s launch of the US$1 billion Inclusive Innovation Fund, aimed at researchers who consult poor citizens on innovations that could transform their lives. Aroraadded that putting inclusive innovation in educational and research training could be beneficial.
Anupam Khanna, chief economist at India’s National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM), said that technology could transform his country’s ability to provide basic services to the poor, such as healthcare, education and banking.
For innovations to work, excluded people must be involved in their development, stressed Fernando Santiago, senior programme at the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Canada.
“Rural people are smart and we do not engage them enough,” he said.
Esperanza Lasagabaster, manager of an innovation, technology and entrepreneurship global practice at the World Bank, added that although companies in large emerging markets are beginning to develop innovations for low-income markets, these are not yet aimed at the very poor.
She said research institutes should target the poor while encouraging more private sector investment in innovation programmes.
The conference was run by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and South Africa’s department of science and technology
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Chiratae News
Enterprise security firm Aujas Networks raises Series B funding from IDG Ventures, IvyCap & Rajastha
VC Circle
Sainul K Abudheen
The firm claims to have more than 300 clients across 23 countries.
Aujas Networks Pvt Ltd, which offers risk management, data protection and identity & access management solutions to enterprises, has raised an undisclosed amount in Series B funding from IDG Ventures India, IvyCap Ventures and Rajasthan Venture Capital Fund (RVCF). The capital will be used to strengthen its presence in existing markets that include North America, South Asia and the Middle East. As part of the deal, RVCF’s CEO Girish Gupta will join the board of Aujas.
“The funding will allow us to continue to invest in technology and our global operations,” said Srinivas Rao, co-founder and CEO, Aujas.
Aujas was founded in 2008 by Rao, along with Navin Kotian (CMO) and Sameer Shelke (COO). Prior to setting up Aujas, Rao was a director at Cisco Systems. In the past, he had worked at companies like Network Solutions, Microland and Sonata Software. He is currently an independent director at 24×7 Learning Pvt Ltd. Kotian was CMO at Phishnix prior to co-founding Aujas, and has also served as the country business manager at IBM India. The other co-founder Shelke was director (service development & solutions) at Fidelity Investments, and had also worked at Cisco, HP and Microland.
An information risk management (IRM) solution firm, Aujas helps enterprises mitigate risk and enhance information value. It provides technology life-cycle services, including strategy and design, control integration, sustenance and optimisation services in the area of information risk. The firm claims to have more than 300 clients across 23 countries, and has witnessed over 100 per cent growth year-on-year.
The company was incubated by IDG Ventures as part of its Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) programme, and had also received seed funding from IDG. Aujas has offices in Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi-NCR in India; New Jersey and California in the US, and an office in Sharjah (UAE).
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Opinion: how academic blogs can help civil servants create evidence-based policy
Written by Colin Talbot on 2 October 2017 in Opinion
Recent years has seen a rise in the number of academic blogs that analyse government plans. How can they help make better policy?
Photo: Pixabay
Much academic research, and probably even more academic expertise, is helpful to devising and implementing public policy.
In recent years there has been a determined effort on both sides of the academic-policymaker divide to bridge chasm that sometimes seems to exist between them.
On the ‘demand’ side the movement towards “evidence-based policy”, or more realistically “evidence informed policy” has been a international trend, but especially prominent in rhetoric, if not always practice, in the UK at all levels of government.
On the ‘supply’ side academics, universities and their various funding bodies, driven by pressures to show their relevance and contribution to society, have developed what is generally called the ‘impact’ agenda. Individual researchers, teams and universities are expected to demonstrate their economic and social benefits and of course their contributions to ‘evidence based policy’.
Government “must up its game” on evidence-based policymaking
UK statistics chief pledges to make case for evidence in policymaking
What's the secret behind effective policymaking?
One result of all this has been a minor explosion of academic-driven blogging on public policy issues – we have identified around three dozen sites so far (for a partial listing of UK sites see here).
(As a health warning, I started one of these initiatives at Manchester.)
The Conversation (2013)
The first online platform for academic output most people would come across is probably The Conversation, which is not actually a blogsite.
Laura Hood, their assistant editor and political editor, says “we’re a news and analysis website” and “we refer to our output as ‘articles’ because of the amount of editorial effort we put into them”.
The Conversation first emerged in Australia. According to Hood it is about “trying to get evidence-based research into journalism”. This covers the whole range of academic output, including themes on arts and culture, business and economy, cities, science and technology and more.
Obviously many of the research that is reported on The Conversation has public policy implications, although Hood says not a “huge amount” of their output is directly about such issues.
Although The Conversation’s Australian parent started out with some government support, the UK off-shoot relies almost entirely for funding from the ‘stipends’ provided by some 70-odd Universities (who in return get privileged access for their output). They have also had support from HEFCE, UKRI, and some charities.
A founding principle of The Conversation is to make their output not only freely available, but subject to ‘Creative Commons’ licensing – which means anyone can reproduce their material.
The results are impressive. Their own site gets almost one and half million unique views a month (in August 2017) but they get between 8 and 15 million views through re-publications of their blogs on a host of other sites in the UK and internationally.
LSE (2010)
In terms of individual universities seeking to promote policy-relevant research to wider audiences, the London School of Economics has clearly led the charge.
According to Jane Tinkler, who was one of the moving spirits behind the initial LSE blogging enterprise, it came about almost by accident.
In the run-up to the 2010 general election an LSE team including Jane Tinkler, Dr Simon Bastow and Professor Patrick Dunleavy, had been working on a major project on the “impact of the social sciences” (later published as a book).
They wanted to make LSE research on politics and public policy “more visible” during the election. Initially, they wanted to do this via a website but ran into problems and a member of the team with some personal experience of blogging suggested it as an answer. So the LSE British Politics and Policy blog was born.
According to Jane Tinkler they were also lucky because the BBC, under political pressure to scale back its ambitious online presence, started cutting back on its own politics and policy coverage online just as the LSE blogsite launched.
The LSE was also helped by being fairly open to contributions from other, non-LSE, academics – according to Tinkler only about a third of posts came from the LSE’s own staff.
The success of the initial blog led to the LSE hierarchy making substantial funds available for a 5-year program of activity which led to the spawning of a whole suite of LSE policy and politics blogsites.
University of Manchester followed the LSE’s lead and set up Manchester Policy Blogs in 2013. Funded by some strategic investment from the university this was part of wider initiative to promote and co-ordinate public policy activity across one of the UKs largest institutions.
I was involved in this site and, like the LSEs first efforts, there was something of a gamble involved in setting up Manchester’s policy blogging effort – we weren’t sure if we’d get anyone to write for it. In the event we were inundated with contributions. Over four years around 700 posts have appeared, by over 500 academic authors (mostly from Manchester). The most popular of these usually get between 5-6,000 views each, with a lot of government, public bodies and media outlets picking them up.
Professor Francis Livens, director of Dalton Nuclear Institute at Manchester commented that “our Euratom/Brexit blog post worked well, apparently – over 1,200 views and on average over 5 mins reading time so people really are reading it.
What Impact? What Use?
What’s the evidence that any of this activity is having any impact on policymakers? Early evidence wasn’t encouraging. When we conducted a survey of senior civil servants, in March 2014, academic blogsites were the least used by them as a means of accessing academic research and expertise - only 9% compared to 79% for ‘research reports and papers’ and 61% for newspapers and magazines. But at that point there were very few blogsites – they have mushroomed mainly since then.
The Conversation’s huge viewing numbers include lots of popular science and other articles. The LSE and Manchester sites don’t usually get such large numbers, but given the size of the public policy community in the UK (probably around half a million in total) very large audiences on specific issues aren’t really to be expected – it is more the quality that counts.
A Brighton academic's research on earthquake-proof building technology cited in European Parliament debates, while one article from a University of York researcher on African air pollution, republished in Guardian and BBC World Service, was subsequently cited in an OECD report. Conversation articles have also been cited in evidence submitted to parliament on topics such as digital democracy, welfare reform, criminal justice, reform of the Mental Health Act, and women in parliament. Articles were also cited in select committees discussing Brexit, fisheries, restoration of the Houses of Parliament, EU-Russia relations
For the LSE, Jane Tinkler says their blogs have had significant impact in the media coverage of various politics and policy issues. Both Manchester and The Conversation also have cases where parliamentary select committees have picked up and used evidence from their blogs.
The Manchester site published as PDF a collection of posts on ‘DevoManc’ (the Manchester devolution deal) in June 2015 that was downloaded 11,000 times, cited in a House of Commons Briefing, and was sent to every leader of public services in the ‘Northern Powerhouse’ area.
Also a Manchester blog post on TTIP (the proposed Transatlantic Trade & Investment Partnership) led to a whole series of outcomes including evidence to a select committee and one of the authors jetting off to the USA.
Certainly readership numbers are impressive and media impact is undeniable. What we don’t know for sure is how much of this is getting through to policymakers? It would be interesting to hear from CSW readers about their experiences with accessing academic expertise and research via blogs?
Author Display Name
Colin Talbot
Policymaking
Colin Talbot is professor of government (emeritus) at the University of Manchester and research associate at the University of Cambridge
Read more about Collaboration
Read more about Media Info
Read more about Policymaking
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Millennial & Other Genres
Classical Music Daily
Everyday Rather Live in Classics Eras
Life is like composing forward, anytime starts a new bagatelle.
Applications are now open for the classical competition of BBC Young Musician 2014
The search for the next BBC Young Musician has launched and for the first time the competition will also include a Jazz Award. The format for the five classical competitions – Brass, Keyboard, Percussion, Strings and Woodwind – is the same as in previous years. The former winner of BBC Young Musician, Violinist Nicola Benedetti said: ‘I’m hugely excited to be returning to the familiar environment of the BBC Young Musician, which holds such extraordinary memories for me. Most exciting for me will be to hear new young musicians perform.’ She is to be an ambassador for the competition.
The Silver Violin
20 used & new available from $5.75
Cellist Laura van der Heijden who’s winner of BBC Young Musician 2012, said: ‘BBC Young Musician has changed my life, me as a musician and as a person. It has given me the most unbelievable start to me career! Immediately after the final I started to have new expectations of myself.’
The applications’ closing date is 26 July 2013. The final for the 2014 competition will be held in Usher Hall in Edinburgh.
17-year-old pianist wins BBC Young Musician of the Year 2014
Six young musicians announced as BBC Radio 3 2013 New Generation Artists
Join to choice the triumph of 30th BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition
Romanian 19 years old Cellist Andrei Ionita Wins the 9th Aram Khachaturian International Competition
Applications are now open BBC Young Musician 2014 the classical competition
An abridged of Wagner’s Ring, The Colón Ring directed by Valentina Carrasco released → ← Claudio Abbado’s ealy recordings for Decca, 7 CD box-set of Decca Years
https://www.classicaldaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Antonio-Vivaldi-The-Four-Seasons-Winter-1.-Allegro-non-molto-Herbert-v....mp4
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https://www.classicaldaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Ave-Maria-Schubert-by-Janinto.mp4
https://www.classicaldaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Chopin-Nocturne-20-C-Sharp-Minor-.mp4
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ASHRAE Congratulates Senate on Passage of Energy Policy Modernization Act
ASHRAE is pleased to see the passage by the U.S. Senate of the Energy Policy Modernization Act, marking an important step toward making buildings in all sectors more energy efficient.
The Senate passed the Act by a vote of 85 to 12. The bill contains numerous building energy code provisions that were supported by ASHRAE.
“The passage of the Energy Policy Modernization Act demonstrates the power of persistent bipartisan leadership by many leaders throughout the Senate. Each of these senators understands the need for reform and the dangers that lie ahead if we do not change,” ASHRAE President David Underwood said. “This accomplishment is shared by hundreds of stakeholders who have connected with members of Congress, helping them understand the complexities and likely impacts of legislation on the building and many other industries. ASHRAE congratulates the Senate on this accomplishment and stands ready to assist as leaders in both chambers work to produce a final bill that the President can sign, and which truly advances the arts and sciences of HVAC&R to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world.”
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Mallon: Fianna Fáil takeover of SDLP is ‘unthinkable’
By Hugh O'Connell Sep 2, 2018
Seamus Mallon
Mallon, an architect of the Good Friday Agreement, said he wanted the SDLP to become 'much more relevant and stronger'
The North’s former deputy first minister Seamus Mallon has warned against a complete takeover of the SDLP by Fianna Fáil.
Mallon’s intervention comes as Fianna Fáil and the SDLP continue to discuss a possible merger that could see the SDLP eventually being wound down. Mallon, an architect of the Good Friday Agreement, said he wanted the SDLP to become “much more relevant and stronger”.
He...
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The Brightline™ Initiative, led by Project Management Institute, to Support The Economist Davos Panel
Event will focus on harnessing the power of people to adapt and implement corporate strategies in a world with disruptive technologies
January 17, 2019 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
PHILADELPHIA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Brightline™ Initiative, a coalition dedicated to helping executives bridge the gap between strategy design and delivery, along with Project Management Institute is hosting The Economist Events panel discussion entitled “Humans 2.0: Designing and Implementing a Future Proof Strategy.”
In line with Davos’ overarching theme, “Globalization 4.0: Shaping a Global Architecture in the Age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” panelists will discuss how business leaders can harness the power of people to adapt and implement corporate strategies and grapple with the effects of disruptive technologies. This topic is of particular interest to PMI, the leading member of Brightline, given how this wave of disruption calls for organizations to rely on successful implementation of new strategies at unprecedented scope and speed to meet market demands.
“As a coalition committed to moving from idea to strategy implementation to results, we’re delighted to partner with The Economist Events to bring this discussion to the forefront,” said Brightline™ Initiative Executive Director Ricardo Vargas. “We’re excited by the prospect of helping organizations develop and deliver strategies for the future based on the ideas discussed at Davos.”
“We’re proud to present a platform for these industry leaders to share their expertise on implementing well-constructed strategic plans aimed at leveraging the power of ever-evolving technological advances,” said PMI’s Senior Vice President, Administration and Interim Executive, Joseph Cahill. "This panel is designed to provide critical insights on how leaders are articulating and implementing their strategy to address disruptive technologies.”
The panel will be introduced by PMI’s Senior Vice President, Administration and Interim Executive, Joseph Cahill and moderated by Patrick Foulis, Business Affairs Editor, The Economist. The confirmed panel speakers will bring their perspectives from a variety of backgrounds and industries. They include:
Ann Cairns, vice chairman, Mastercard
Rainer Strack, senior partner and managing director, Boston Consulting Group
Bernadette Wightman, president global resources, manufacturing & logistics, BT
Christophe Catoir, global executive committee member and CEO of France, The Adecco Group
As civilization, society and technology continue to advance, executives must learn to manage the influence of disruptive technologies. No organization can prepare for every possibility, but they can sharpen their ability to respond to the inevitable challenges that will arise. While organizations may be able to articulate their strategy for dealing with disruptive technologies, it is essential that they are successful in executing against that strategy. To this end, the Brightline Initiative commits itself to developing a holistic knowledge and networking platform that helps organizations bridge the gap between strategy design and strategy delivery, and in so doing bring positive benefits to society.
Those not attending the panel on Tuesday, January 22nd can join via livestream on The Economist Events’ Facebook page or follow @EconomistEvents or @PMInstitute for live tweets using the hashtag #EconBusinessCase from 7:30-8:30am CET.
About The Brightline Initiative
The Brightline™ Initiative is a coalition led by the Project Management Institute together with leading global organizations dedicated to helping executives bridge the expensive and unproductive gap between strategy design and delivery. Learn more at www.brightline.org.
About Project Management Institute (PMI)
Project Management Institute (PMI) is the world's leading association for those who consider project, program or portfolio management their profession. Founded in 1969, PMI delivers value for more than three million professionals working in nearly every country in the world through global advocacy, collaboration, education and research. We advance careers, improve organizational success and further mature the project management profession through globally-recognized standards, certifications, communities, resources, tools, academic research, publications, professional development courses and networking opportunities. As part of the PMI family, ProjectManagement.com creates online global communities that deliver more resources, better tools, larger networks and broader perspectives. Visit us at www.PMI.org, www.projectmanagement.com, www.facebook.com/PMInstitute and on Twitter @PMInstitute.
About Boston Consulting Group
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global management consulting firm and the world's leading advisor on business strategy. We partner with clients from the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors in all regions to identify their highest-value opportunities, address their most critical challenges, and transform their enterprises. Our customized approach combines deep insight into the dynamics of companies and markets with close collaboration at all levels of the client organization. This ensures that our clients achieve sustainable competitive advantage, build more capable organizations, and secure lasting results. Founded in 1963, BCG is a private company with offices in more than 90 cities in 50 countries. For more information, please visit bcg.com.
Mary Ortega, PMI Public Relations
Mary.Ortega@pmi.org
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How To Watch DeRay McKesson Arrested Via Periscope Video & See It For Yourself
By Cate Carrejo
Joe Kohen/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
Black Lives Matter activist DeRay McKesson was arrested in Baton Rouge on Saturday night while protesting against the officer-involved shooting death of Alton Sterling, and thanks to social media, the whole ordeal was broadcast to the world. You can watch DeRay McKesson's arrest via Periscope, where the activist filmed and broadcast the video live, and see the divisive recording as it happened.
About 1,000 protesters showed up to march alongside Airline Highway, a major road that runs through the city, including McKesson and fellow activists Brittany Packnett and Johnetta Elzie. McKesson was filming a Periscope video of the police presence at the demonstration, which had been "assigned to provide security for the planned, peaceful protest," according to McKesson's court documents. The protesters had walked less than half a mile from their starting location, the convenience store where Alton Sterling was killed, before McKesson was arrested on camera (although the camera was not facing the officers when the arrest was made).
McKesson was officially charged with simple obstruction of a highway of commerce Sunday morning according to court documents. The arrest paperwork shows that McKesson was issued two verbal warnings to stay out of the road by police officers before he was taken into custody. The second of those warnings is shown on McKesson's Periscope video.
"You with the loud shoes, if I get close to you, you're going to jail," an unidentified police officer shouts at McKesson from down the road just a few moments before his arrest (McKesson was wearing bright red shoes at the time of his arrest). A protester tells McKesson to show the line on the road in the video, showing that McKesson with standing within the shoulder and not in the road. McKesson then stops, turns around to film the police, and is seemingly tackled by the officer who placed him under arrest, according to witnesses. An affidavit filed by the police said, "During the protest, the defendant entered the roadway and was provided another verbal order to exit the lanes of travel. Moments later, the defendant entered the roadway again and was taken into custody by officers on scene without incident."
A photographer for the Associated Press captured some images of McKesson's arrest, which briefly show him on his knees presumably after he was pushed to the ground during the arrest. Those pictures quickly went viral, providing a powerful image to symbolize the recent unrest and the experience many protesters across the country had Saturday when they were arrested by local law enforcement officers.
The next step for McKesson will likely be fighting the charge in court. McKesson may be able to use the Periscope video to prove that he was not obstructing the road, as the video does seem to show that he was not standing in the street. The maximum penalty for the crime under Louisiana state law is a $200 fine and six months in prison.
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19Brad Schneider
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9Steny Hoyer
Brad Schneider Doris O. Matsui
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House Ceremonial Swearing-In
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Under Water: How Rising Waters Cost Us All
Cochin, India
In the morning, before she left for work, Ambika Thankappan called her son Arun to tell him their world was about to drown.
“Da, it’s already flooded to the nearby villages,” she told him in a calm voice, using an affectionate Malayalam word for boy. “And it’s starting to reach our village.”
“I’ll be there in an hour,” he replied.
Arun jumped on his motorbike and set off through the rain toward their home. But the water was already a foot and a half deep. And it was rising fast. If he didn’t get there in time, it would swallow everything they’d worked their lives to build: their home and everything they loved, including Messi, their tail-wagging, face-licking yellow dog.
On a normal day, Arun would be working at a shop at the Cochin International Airport, in India’s southwestern coastal state of Kerala. Ambika would be working at the same airport, collecting trolleys and lining them up for travelers; a man named Wilson Perez would be picking tomatoes in Immokalee, Florida; and in Toronto, two men named Klever Freire and Gabriel Otrin would be doing something that 81 million people do, every day, without expecting to fight for their lives: taking an elevator.
But August 15, 2018—India’s Independence Day, as it happens—was not a normal day for Arun and his mother. That morning, after three days of nonstop heavy rain, the water began to rise. And rise.
“I can never forget the 15th of August,” Ambika said later. “We never expected the water to rise this high.” And then she began to sob.
It took Arun a frantic two-and-a-half-hour ride, over flooded roads, to reach home. He was relieved to find their house still dry and Messi safe in the yard. So he went to check on their neighbors in the lush, green, low-lying acres behind the Cochin airport—the first airport in the world to be fully powered by solar energy.
But inside the airport, the water was rising. It was already flooding the solar panels. At around noon, it started to surge through the wall behind the runway with the force of water exploding from a dam.
Arun climbed up on the wall to get a better view. He stood for a long time, mesmerized by the violent, muddy rush of water.
Suddenly, panic kicked in: The water would reach their house within minutes. Messi, and everything they owned, would be swept away.
Until now, scientists have often framed climate change in terms of the future: cities that will be underwater by the year 2050, the year 2100 or the next 50, 100 or 200 years. But for a growing number of people across the globe, that watery future is already here.
A landmark report issued by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change on Monday, October 8 pointed out that our world has already warmed by one degree more than pre-industrial levels. Without “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society,” the world’s top climate scientists warned, our world will exceed 1.5°C much sooner than we think—as early as a dozen years—which will increase the likelihood of floods, heatwaves and droughts.
“One of the key messages that comes out very strongly from this report is that we are already seeing the consequences of 1°C of global warming through more extreme weather, rising sea levels and diminishing Arctic sea ice,” said Panmao Zhai, co-chair of the IPCC’s Working Group on the physical science of climate change.
One of the most immediate, concrete consequences of those changes is flooding. As higher temperatures lead to sea level rise and more extreme rainfall, more and more people are already learning to live with catastrophic flooding. Many find creative ways to adapt. But it comes at a cost—first and foremost to them, but in the end to all of us.
Economists are still trying to calculate the long-term effects of our drowning world on global trade chains, national GDPs, household income and inequality. Emerging research suggests that the human and financial costs of flooding are already much higher, and much longer-lasting, than ever suspected. One recent study found that without large-scale structural adaptations, the total economic losses from river flooding alone will increase by 17 percent globally, thanks to climate change, over the next 20 years.
“If we’re only adding up the direct cost of a flood on the houses that were inundated, and the price it took to bail those out, and the price it takes to repair infrastructure, and other things like that, then we’re potentially missing large hidden costs associated with those floods,” said Amir Jina, a University of Chicago professor who works with Climate Impact Lab, a collaboration between climate scientists, economists, data engineers and risk analysts that is attempting to comprehensively quantify the impacts of climate change.
Four years ago, Jina and another researcher, Solomon M. Hsiang, looked at the effects of hurricanes—of which flooding makes up a major part of the cost—on national incomes. “We found something which I think surprised a lot of people, even us,” said Jina. “Even 20 years into the future after a hurricane hits, you see a decline in their GDP.”
The people who live in the path of a flood, like Arun and Ambika, are often those who would normally be carrying out the small, everyday tasks that keep the global economy in motion.
Because floods tend to hit them the hardest, it can take these families decades to recover. The damage to them will cost us all—even if we don’t live anywhere near the sea.
“It’s not just a coastal problem,” pointed out Jina. “It’s an everybody problem.”
2. CASCADING ECONOMIC EFFECTS
There is a saying in Malayalam about Onam, the annual harvest festival: prepare your Onam feast, even if you have to sell next year’s seeds to do it. The meal marks the end of the monsoon season—characterized by scarcity—and the return to a good life.
In a normal year, the Onam feast would be dozens of Kerala’s famous dishes, served on a banana leaf with a pappadam and payasam, a ceremonial sweet pudding with nuts. Kerala suffered catastrophic damages during the flood. But one of the most significant losses was something intangible: Onam.
Aside from the immediate damage, each flood has a series of long-lasting and far-reaching effects—what risk analysts refer to as “cascading costs”—that ripple outward through geographies, economies and lives. Some costs are tangible, and may be recovered in time; but the less tangible costs are often irretrievable.
“It’s not difficult to replace a building or dry it out or do what you have to do,” said Tania Caceres, a Toronto-based risk analyst who consults with large institutional real estate owners, investors and developers. “But the downtime and the loss of productivity that the operation in that facility generates could have global impact.”
The Cochin airport is one such example. When Ambika found out her house was flooded and everything in it destroyed, she handled the overwhelming pain by going back to work.
For six days, starting on August 18, Ambika and hundreds of others—about 800 regular airport workers, she estimates, and 400 from other parts of India—worked continuously to clean the Cochin airport. It took 200,000 man-hours—about 833 people working around the clock for ten days—to fix it all.
By August 22, a week after the flood, the Cochin airport was mostly ready to go. But all the people who keep an airport running, like support staff, were not. With people’s lives still in chaos—living in camps because their houses were uninhabitable, roads washed out, diseases like rat fever (leptospirosis) beginning to spread—the airport estimated that 90 percent of the airline and ground handling staff wouldn’t be able to make it to work. After meeting with airline and ground handling agencies, the airport announced that it would remain closed for another week.
The Cochin airport estimated the cost of closing for two weeks at 2 billion rupees, or $27 million. But it will probably take months or years to calculate the impact of the lost Onam holiday season on the local economy. Normally, thousands of Keralites fly home from all over the world for Onam. But with the airport closed for two weeks, the entire tourist season was gone.
“Onam is the trademark celebration of Kerala,” said Prasanth Nair, Deputy Secretary to Government of India in the Ministry of New & Renewable Energy. “It’s also the biggest shopping season. All the shopkeepers take advances and they buy more stock. Most of them would have stocked up in anticipation of a huge business, and you have this flood taking out everything. And unlike huge business concerns, these people wouldn’t have insured.”
Even a relatively small flood can have unexpected costs months later. In the United States, the heavy rainfall from Hurricane Irma in September 2017 caused severe flooding in Immokalee, Florida. That happens to be where much of the country’s winter fresh-market tomato crop is grown—and where Wilson Perez, one of the farmworkers who pick those tomatoes, happens to live.
Perez and his four-year-old son, José, spent a week huddling in a local high school with hundreds of others until the floodwaters went down.
Afterwards, they faced the kind of devastation that is becoming more and more familiar across the globe: wreckage and muddy, garbage-laden waters that left the whole area smelling foul for weeks.
Perez and his neighbors all got sick—especially the children. After being cooped up inside a shelter for what would normally have been their first week of school, the kids wanted to play outside.
When Immokalee’s tomato pickers finally returned to the ramshackle, overpriced trailers where they live, it was impossible to stop their children from jumping in the dirty water. “They thought of it as the sea, a lake, or a swimming pool,” said Perez. “I told them it could make them sick. But they played; it’s part of being a child.”
Most of the physical damage to fields and farmworkers was eventually repaired. But the disruption to fields and to farmworkers’ lives delayed the winter planting season. Two months later, that resulted in a shortage of tomatoes—and that, in turn, led prices to go up as high as double across the country, from California to Illinois. “All of a sudden by mid-November the market spikes up real high, because there’s not as many tomatoes as the market was expecting,” said Michael Schadler, Executive Vice President of the Florida Tomato Exchange, whose membership represents about 95 percent of the tomatoes grown in Florida. “Pretty soon you go from a market that was maybe $10 a box, to $15, then $20, and then by mid-December, late December, it was up above $30 a box.”
As Jina, the economist, points out, the biggest loss from any catastrophic flood even to both businesses and people is simply what never happened—what economists call opportunity cost, and the rest of us might call the future: degrees never earned, savings never invested, small businesses that lost their chance to grow and thrive.
Ten days after the Kerala flood, on August 25, Arun and Ambika celebrated their Onam feast with two bottles of water and a packet of bread from a relief camp. “I felt like crying,” said Ambika.
Their house was full of mud. At least 483 people were dead. Rat fever was beginning to spread. Arun and his brother Abin spent days rescuing people from the water on homemade boats, then came home to find three blue kraits, a poisonous snake whose bite can be fatal, in their yard. Arun’s brother lost his engineering textbooks—and his chance to study for his upcoming exams. When he saw the books destroyed, he burst into tears.
Collectively, Ambika and her sons had lost 18 days of work and $1,500 worth of goods: beds, printer, computer, washing machine, sewing machine, stove, motorbike, food processor, soda maker, radio and television.
Worst of all, their beloved dog Messi was gone. Since he never left the yard, he had to have drowned. “We all were sad that he left us,” said Ambika.
“Our hearts were broken,” said Arun. “Everything is gone.”
3. WHY DO WE GET MORE SEVERE FLOODING?
In Toronto, on August 7, Klever Freire and Gabriel Otrin were working late at the office when they did something that is normally perfectly safe: they took the elevator to the basement parking garage to check on Freire’s car.
But this was not a normal day. A sudden, violent rainstorm had dumped up to 72 mm (2.8 inches) of water on downtown Toronto in just two hours. The elevator sank into the water with a whoosh and stopped responding. The emergency phone shorted out. The ceiling hatch wouldn’t open. No matter how much the men pounded, the doors stayed sealed shut—ironically enough, a safety measure in cases of fire.
They couldn’t get out; but the water could get in. It gushed into the elevator and started to rise. When it reached the top, they would drown.
A flood is nothing new; it is one of the oldest human stories. But in recent years, flooding has become more severe and catastrophic than ever before. Worldwide, floods are the most frequent form of natural disaster. And natural disasters have increased dramatically in our lifetime, thanks to changing weather patterns.
Nobody knows this better than reinsurers, the companies that underwrite risks—like earthquakes, floods, volcanoes and other natural disasters—that are too big for individual insurance companies to absorb on their own. According to analysis by Munich Reinsurance Group (Munich Re), the frequency of “relevant loss events”—events that caused loss of life or a certain threshold of property damage, adjusted to the country’s income level—has increased by a factor of three to four since 1980. Last year, 2017, was the second most expensive on record.
“We clearly see an increase in the number of natural disasters worldwide,” said Ernst Rauch, Chief Climate and Geo Scientist at Munich Re. “And almost all of this increase is coming from weather-related disasters.”
As the earth’s temperature increases, its atmosphere can hold more water vapor. More moisture in the air means more sudden, violent rainfalls—and, paradoxically, more droughts. “When you do have a rainfall, it’s more intense, because there’s more moisture in the air,” said Andrea Dutton, an Associate Professor of Geology at the University of Florida and expert on sea level rise.
Warmer temperatures are also causing sea levels to rise. One main driver is thermal expansion—warmer water expands and takes up more space—especially since the ocean absorbs most of the earth’s increasing heat. The other main factor is the increasing rate at which glaciers and ice sheets are melting into the sea. A recent study, conducted by 80 scientists from around the world, found that ice is being lost to the ocean at a much faster rate than ever thought before. By modeling data from satellite surveys over the region, they discovered that the rate of ice-shelf collapse had tripled between 1992 and 2017, setting off a kind of feedback loop that is expected to raise sea levels even faster than previously thought.
In cities by the sea, both of these changes—sea level rise, and more extreme precipitation—can combine to create even greater floods. Higher sea levels mean higher water tables; when heavy rains come, the rain falling from the sky cannot soak into the ground, because soil already saturated with seawater cannot absorb more water. “In coastal zones where you’ve had sea level rise, the water table is higher,” said Dutton. “And so the water, instead of being able to percolate into the ground, is now being forced to sit on the surface or try to run off the surface.”
Today, 40 per cent of the world’s population lives within 100 kilometers (63 miles) of a coastline. And that number is increasing—also, in part, thanks to climate change. Increasingly, droughts are driving people in the countryside to migrate to the outskirts of the world’s major cities, many of which—eight out of the world’s top ten—are located on or near coastlines.
The people who migrate to coastal cities often end up living on the outskirts, like the area behind the Cochin airport where the Thankappan family and other airport workers live. These areas tend to be more vulnerable to flooding.
Increased urbanization, combined with climate change and outdated infrastructure, all compound each other to make floods more intense and damaging. Much of the globe’s infrastructure was designed for a world before climate change.
Kerala’s Idduki Dam was built in 1976. Parts of Toronto’s storm water removal system was built as long as a century ago. But even the systems built in the past half-century didn’t account for how much, or how quickly, the water would rise.
“They assumed that the storms of 2018 would look like the storms of 1970,” said J. Marshall Shepherd, director for Program in Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Georgia, and an expert on weather and climate. “And they don’t.”
In Toronto, Freire and Otrin watched as the water in their office elevator reached their waists and kept rising. They stood on the railings. The railings broke. They treaded water and prayed and shouted for help.
Finally, they managed to pry a tiny opening in the metal sheets of the ceiling. It was enough to stick a cellphone through and get a signal to call for help. The two officers who responded swam through the flooded basement and pried open the elevator door with a crowbar just as the two men inside had a foot of air left to breathe.
Luckily, the two men were healthy enough to swim back out through the flooded garage. But Freire was so drained that despite his lifeguard training, he couldn’t make it out without help.
Freire and Otrin survived. But the image of two men almost drowning inside an elevator upended everything we think we know about safety. Building owners and municipal governments prepare us with safety protocols for fire, or acts of terrorism; but not, until now, for a more watery world.
“We teach them how to exit a building when it’s on fire, but we don’t talk to people about what to do when the building is flooded,” said Caceres, the Toronto-based risk analyst. “If there was a bomb threat, they would know what to do. And we’re less likely to have a bomb threat than we are a flood these days.”
Some cities do plan for flooding. As waters rise, one way to prepare is simply to accept that they can’t be stopped—perhaps even to embrace them. Since King Canute, Northern Europe’s port cities have had a long history of accepting the inevitability of water.
In Hamburg, the port city and shipping center in northern Germany, the River Elbe overflowed its banks and broke its levees in 1962, killing more than 300 people and destroying 6,000 homes. Since then, Hamburg built a massive, improved system of levees around the city. It also invested € 3 billion in HafenCity, a mixed-use redevelopment of the old harbor areas right along the riverfront.
By the end of this century, according to current projections, climate change could expose as many as 5 million Europeans to so-called hundred-year floods every year. In 2012, Hamburg’s municipal government began to raise the height of the riverfront promenade from 7.2 meters to 8.6–8.9 meters, in order to protect against the storms of the future. At $86 million, the project will be expensive—but cheaper than the destruction caused by a flood.
“Compared to the cost of a city flooding, definitely,” said Jan Hübener, an architect who has been working on the flood wall for 12 years, first at the world-famous Zaha Hadid Architects firm, which leads the project, and now as partner at studioH2K Architekten. “I think for a city like Hamburg, especially downtown Hamburg—for such a densely-populated area, with all the infrastructure, with subways and lots of office spaces—I think that it’s not an option to accept flooding here.”
Of course, it shouldn’t be an option anywhere. Three weeks after the Kerala flood, on Friday, September 7, Ambika was still scrubbing mud out of her family’s clothes by hand. Books on science and engineering basked in the sun on a woven straw mat. “We’re hoping that we can save them,” said Arun.
But there was one small, good thing: Messi the dog. He lay stretched out, luxuriating in the shade underneath a table, wagging his whole body and scratching in the dirt.
Ten days after the flood, a nephew found Messi, half-starved and traumatized, and brought him home. He didn’t recognize his family at first. But then Ambika called out his name, and he bounded over and jumped up on his hind legs to greet them. “After he came back, everyone was happy,” said Ambika. At first, he was so emaciated that he couldn’t eat without whimpering. So, they fed him biscuits until he could eat solid food.
“Now he’s fine,” she said, smiling, setting a plate of rice and fish on the ground for him to eat. “He needs a share of everything we cook. A slight hint of smell and he’ll start barking.”
They found out later that the neighborhood children rescued Messi when the water came. The children carried the dog on their shoulders to higher ground. They brought him food until the water covered that area too, and then he disappeared.
If a flood can be said to do one good thing, it was this: everyone helped each other.
Hundreds of Kerala’s coastal fisherfolk turned their boats into rescue vessels and saved thousands of people from drowning. They tied ropes between electrical poles for the elderly and children to hang on to so they wouldn’t get washed away in floods.
In Immokalee, Florida, people from all over the state cooked hot food and brought it to those trapped in shelters.
Meanwhile, 6,000 volunteers all over the world, many of them diasporan Keralites, were working around the clock to coordinate rescue operations remotely. From call centers in Cochin, Bangalore, Chennai and elsewhere, they identified and geo-tagged locations where people were trapped on rooftops or inside their homes, and dispatched rescue workers on the ground.
In disasters, people invent informal, temporary networks for helping each other. These outpourings of generosity are extraordinary, but they are not unique.
Social scientists who study disasters find that people are actually more likely to help each other when disaster strikes than to look out for themselves. Social distinctions become, for a moment, unimportant. “Flood has no caste,” pointed out Prema Kumari, a handloom weaver from Kerala.
When the crisis is over, most people go back to their everyday lives, and these fleeting experiments disappear. But maybe they don’t have to. Nair, of India’s Ministry of New & Renewable Energy, is hoping to harness the momentum of those thousands of volunteers to build a more sustainable, compassionate version of his hometown.
“You had the tendency to go and fill up a bit of the river, even encroach upon a bit of the river, build your huge mansion there, and you thought that you did a smart job,” said Nair. “That’s not the way we should be rebuilding here. You had even major projects being announced without giving much thought for the environmental impact. Let’s not do that again.”
By Annia Ciezadlo and Preethi Nallu
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Floods Hit Parts Of Lagos After Heavy Rains
29 Killed, Several Missing In Indonesia Floods
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JOHN EVELYN BRYANT
Regiment: 6th Bn. Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Killed In Action Friday 4th August 1916 Age 34
Commemorated\Buried SUCRERIE MILITARY CEMETERY, COLINCAMPS
Grave\Panel Ref: I.I.66.
John was born in Runcorn, Cheshire in 1881. He lived with his father James, a clergyman, & mother Evelyn at Whitley Vicarage, Whitley Inferior, Cheshire. He had 3 brothers, Henry, Alfred & Guy, and 5 sisters, Edith, Joan, Dorothy, Alice & Marjorie. By 1905 he was a cleric in Holy Orders. By 1911 they were living at Cliveden House, Rhyl, Flintshire.
On the outbreak of war he was commissioned as Lieutenant in the 6th Battalion Oxford & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. He entered France on the 10th October 1915. He was promoted to Captain the following year.
John was killed in action on the 4th August 1916. He is buried at Sucrerie Military Cemetery, Colincamps, France.Plot 1, row 1, grave 66.
The North Wales Chronicle reported:
Captain J E Bryant Killed
Mrs Bryant, Cliveden House, Rhyl ( widow of the late Reverend John Jones Bryant of Whitley Vicarage, Northwich) has been notified that her eldest son, Captain John Evelyn Bryant, Ox & Bucks Light Infantry, has been killed in action. Captain Bryant served in the Boer War. At one time he was tutor to the nephew of the King of Serbia. Among his decorations were the French Legion of Honour and one conferred by the King of Serbia. He was a grandson of the late Canon Barclay of Runcorn.
Researcher: Darryl Porrino
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RICHIE RICH RESIDES AT SOME ORPHANAGES
Joe Cappo
I'm not sure how Newt Gingrich would take this news, but four of the top five "least needy" charities in the U.S. are orphanages.
This is not my evaluation, but that of the American Institute of Philanthropy (AIP), a watchdog organization that recently published its rating guide to charities.
This doesn't mean that the orphanages cited are irrelevant, wasteful or inefficient. In fact, it indicates just the opposite, that they have been very successful in raising and conserving money.
But a charity can have too much money on hand, according to the AIP. A charitable organization should have reserve funds, but it frowns on those that have reserves that would allow them to operate at current levels for more than three years without any fund-raising.
Mr. Gingrich's favorite, Boys Town/Father Flanagan's Boys Home, is one of those. It has available net asset reserves of more than $500 million, which would allow it to operate for 5.8 years without raising any more funds.
While it has more dollars than any other orphanage, three others can operate for longer periods on their reserves. They are Omaha Home for Boys (13.5 years), Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Girls Camp (10.8 years) and Cedars Home for Children Foundation (6.4 years).
Outstripping all of the orphanages, however, is the least-needy charity of all, Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children. According to the AIP, the hospital has asset reserves of nearly $4.3 billion, enough to keep it running for 14.4 years.
The AIP's definition of available net assets, by the way, does not include the value of land, buildings or equipment used in operations, nor does it include donor-designated endowments in which only investment income may be spent.
In another area, perhaps the least efficient charities rated by AIP are those in the crime prevention category. Of six charities listed, AIP has given grades of "F" to four because less than 60% of the funds they raise goes to charitable purposes and too much (more than 35%) goes to fund-raising.
The flunkees are the Chiefs of Police National Drug Task Force, National Assn. of Chiefs of Police, National Assn. of Police Organizations and National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
One unanswered question remains.
The AIP is a charitable organization itself, but it isn't included in its own rating guide. We don't know how much it maintains in available assets or what percentage of its revenues goes to fund-raising. Just curious, that's all.
Fan No. 1: "Nothing could be more exciting than the prospect of Michael Jordan returning to the NBA."
Fan No. 2: "I dunno. How about O. J. Simpson returning to the NFL?"
Jerry Herr of Reliable Graphics Inc. in Park Ridge was a little put out because the U.S. Postal Service this year "backed down on printing a postage stamp with the A-bomb on it because it was not politically correct."
He points out, however, that the USPS has issued four stamps since 1990 commemorating U.S. military defeats, including the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
Although it can't issue postage stamps, Reliable Graphics can provide commemorative envelope seals. Its latest issue is a seal that represents two historic events: the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima.
Curmudgeons who tend to pooh-pooh the increasing importance of computer technology in our lives might well take note of a factoid that NBC President and CEO Bob Wright pointed out at an advertising conference in New York last week: For the first time in history, U.S. consumers will buy more personal computers than television sets this year.
Priceless headlines compiled by the Columbia Journalism Review:
"Prince Charles backs bicycles over cars as he opens world talks," Daily News (Ludington, Mich.)
"October is national breast awareness month," Madigan Mountaineer (Fort Lewis, Wash.)
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Poll finds Chicagoans willing to pay more for clean electricity
I'd take it all with a grain of salt, but a new poll from a local environmental group says Chicagoans are more than willing to pay more for electricity if comes from clean sources like wind and solar power.
Asked if they'd favor or oppose "receiving your electricity from clean, renewable sources if your electric bill would rise by approximately $2 a month," 73 percent replied yes. (The average Chicago residential bill is about $80 a month.)
That's according to a survey of 600 registered Chicago voters conducted for the Environmental Law & Policy Center by GBA Strategies, a pollster that has worked for Mayor Rahm Emanuel and others.
Just 23 percent disagreed — only 13 percent strongly — according to the poll.
Voters also indicated they're inclined to go a little higher than two bucks, though by a lesser margin.
Asked if they'd be willing to pay an extra $7 a month, 57 percent said yes, and 39 percent no. According to the ELPC, the poll was conducted by phone — 15 percent to cell phones — and included a representative sample of Chicago neighborhoods. It has an error margin of plus or minus 4 percent
The context of the survey is an upcoming November advisory referendum question on whether voters want the city to get into the electricity business by purchasing it in bulk and acting as a wholesaler — a move that, in the short term, might cut prices some.
Most Chicagoans seem unaware that the bulk "aggregation" question is on the ballot. Nearly half, 44 percent, said they know nothing at all about aggregation, and 25 percent said they know just a little. When a follow-up question provided some background, 48 percent said they were prepared to vote for the measure, which the ELPC supports.
ELPC chief Howard Learner noted that 89 percent of those surveyed said it is at least somewhat important that the city "purchases at least some of its electricity from clean, renewable sources."
Overall, the survey "tells you that clean energy is a very high value for Chicagoans," Mr. Learner said.
I agree. The survey does seem to suggest that. But I'm not sure that it means Chicagoans want City Hall to do it.
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Loyola nontenured faculty members stage one-day strike
By Dawn Rhodes and Nereida Moreno
Members of Loyola’s nontenure-track faculty protest on campus April 4, 2018, after two years of negotiations failed to produce union contracts. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
Members of Loyola University Chicago’s nontenure-track faculty staged a one-day strike Wednesday, frustrated that more than two years of negotiations have yet to produce the union’s first contract.
Instructors in the College of Arts and Sciences and the English Language Learning Program started picket lines Wednesday morning at the Rogers Park campus and held a rally in the afternoon to support efforts to secure better pay, health benefits and job security.
The two sides last met for negotiations in a marathon session Monday. Representatives for the union and the university said there has been significant progress in recent weeks but ultimately an agreement could not be brokered before a union deadline.
Sarita Heer, a nontenured instructor who teaches art history, said that walking out for one day was a “tactical” decision to show the administration that the instructors are serious.
“Don’t make us shut the university down for a week,” said Heer, who has taught at Loyola since 2010.
Adjunct and nontenured faculty voted in January 2016 to form a union and to be represented by Service Employees International Union Local 73.
The union represents 350 part-time and nontenured full-time instructors in the College of Arts and Sciences and another 10 instructors the English Language Learners Program. The ELLP group won their union bid later in 2016 and the two groups have been negotiating together.
Including Monday, there have been 29 negotiating sessions, according to Loyola’s website
Alyson Paige Warren, an adjunct instructor in the English department, said Loyola’s bargaining team showed little urgency to work out a contract agreement until the union announced a potential strike date in February. Since then the two sides have met four times.
“We would have loved to have gotten this done quietly and we would have loved if we could have gotten this done in under two years,” Warren said. “But we can no longer afford to wait, we can no longer afford to be patient.”
The Rev. Tom Regan, arts and sciences dean, and Patrick Boyle, vice provost of global initiatives and academic centers, said in a statement on the university website that the administration had met many of the union’s demands and called the faculty’s decision to go forward with a strike “puzzling and disappointing.”
Regan said Wednesday morning it was too early to assess what impact the strike had on classes.
“We’re very disappointed that they would move in this direction,” Regan said. “We really value the university’s mission to educate our students. In our last session we saw incredible movement and we were hoping all this could be avoided. We would like people back in the classroom tomorrow and the bargaining unit back at the table.”
Nontenured faculty primarily teach core curriculum courses at Loyola.
Warren said adjuncts at Loyola are paid between $4,000 and $4,500 per course and it is common for such instructors to have appointments at other universities or other jobs to make ends meet. Adjunct instructors are employed by contract on a semester-to-semester basis, making it impossible to plan for long-term work and income.
“Last year we didn’t find out until May whether our appointments would be renewed,” said Heer. “By May, jobs (at other schools) are already gone.”
Regan said he agreed that many instructors do not have enough employment security and that in his time as dean dozens of adjunct faculty members have been granted longer, multiyear contracts. He also said he felt the two sides were close to reaching an accord on compensation but there remained disputes on hiring practices. He said if a full-time position were to become available, union leaders are seeking to require that a current Loyola part-time instructor be hired for the job.
“We’ve already agreed at the table that we will give an interview to the people who are already here,” Regan said. “But at the end of the day one of our core values is to hire the best possible people and that may not be someone who is already here.”
About 300 people gathered at the Mundelein Center for the Fine and Performing Arts on the lakeshore campus for the rally.
Supporters linked arms and prayed for management to “open their hearts and mind to make this right.” The crowd sang “Solidarity Forever” and marched around campus holding a large orange banner that read “Uniting for the future of higher education.”
Hugh Miller, an assistant professor of philosophy, said he canceled two classes Wednesday to join the rally. He said he supports the union because his nontenure-track colleagues work under “very difficult and harsh working conditions” with poor salaries.
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“They should settle this contract soon and not throw in last-minute poison pill provisions that essentially block the negotiations,” Miller said of the administration. “Get the contract done. Do what it takes. Invest the effort, make the compromises.”
Loyola’s administration objected to the 2016 union election petition and appealed the vote, arguing that the National Labor Relations Board had no jurisdiction over the university because it is a Jesuit institution. Granting the NLRB authority was an unconstitutional violation of religious freedom, the university argued.
In a split decision in March 2017, the NLRB denied the university’s appeal but excluded members of the theology department from the bargaining unit.
The next negotiating session is scheduled for April 20 but Regan and Boyle said in their statement they are willing to meet sooner to reach an agreement.
Chicago Tribune’s Nancy Stone contributed.
drhodes@chicagotribune.com
nmoreno@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @rhodes_dawn
Twitter @nereidamorenos
Loyola faculty votes to unionize »
Grad students, U. of I. reach tentative contract agreement to end strike »
Loyola University New Orleans
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Farhan Latif
El-Hibri Foundation
Foundation Farhan Latif is a philanthropic leader, social entrepreneur, and cross sector mobilizer on inclusion. He is the President of the El-Hibri Foundation, a private foundation that empowers and equips leaders to build thriving, inclusive communities. Prior to joining the Foundation, he led the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding to conduct research that contributes to democracy and pluralism in the US.
He spent over a decade in higher education focused on inclusion of underrepresented, low-income, and first-generation students. As a social entrepreneur, he founded Strategic Inspirations, a social impact consulting firm. Farhan serves as an advisory member on the Council on Foundations Public Policy Committee and the Executive Committee of the MGP Fund that was launched at Stanford University's Hasso Plattner Institute of Design (d.school). He is also a fellow of the American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute. Authors Genieve Abdo and Akbar Ahmad have chronicled Farhan’s journey in combating extremism and working towards inclusion in their books Mecca and Mainstreet: Muslim Life in America After 9/11 and Journey into America: The Challenge of Islam.
Mr. Latif received an MA from Harvard University, where he completed a specialized interdisciplinary program on Social Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy and Education.
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Square wins new patent for a cryptocurrency payment network
Digital payments firm Square has successfully been awarded a new patent for a cryptocurrency payment network.
Written by Bryan Smith Published on August 30, 2018
Square – the company headed by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey – has successfully been awarded a patent by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) which details a new payment network that would enable merchants to accept payments in any currency – including the likes of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies – and then withdraw their currency of choice following a transaction.
The patent elaborates that:
“The disclosed technology addresses the need in the art for a payment service capable of accepting a greater diversity of currencies…including virtual currencies including cryptocurrencies (bitcoin, ether, etc.)…than a traditional payment system in a transaction between a customer and a merchant, and specifically for a payment service to solve or ameliorate problems germane to transactions with such currencies. Specifically, the payment service described herein can facilitate real-time (or substantially real-time) transactions, allowing a customer to pay in any currency of their choice, while the merchant can receive payment in a currency of their choice.”
The patent describes methods through which a point-of-sale (POS) system could eliminate latency in cryptocurrency transactions to the point that both cryptocurrency and credit card transactions could process at the same speed.
The system would make this claim a possibility through managing a private blockchain that could record transactions from Square wallets. While this approach does not eliminate the potential for double-spend attacks, it does eliminate that risk from a merchant and places the onus on itself, instead.
Square CEO Jack Dorsey has previously gone on record as a Bitcoin supporter – noting that Bitcoin could become the world’s foremost means of exchange within the next ten years.
At the time, Dorsey quipped that Bitcoin’s market emergence will “probably take over ten years”, and went on to say that “The world ultimately will have a single currency, the Internet will have a single currency… I personally believe that it will be Bitcoin.”
Written by Bryan Smith
South African technology journalist, podcaster, photographer and filmmaker. Hodling - BTC, NEO, ETH.@bryansmithsa
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Corey Smith Releases "Halfway Home"
June 29, 2018 Lisa Peterson
Georgia-based singer/songwriter Corey Smith shows off his sentimental side with the release of his new song “Halfway Home” from his unfolding project, the Great Wide Underground. On the heels of his middle-finger-waving single, "Empty Rooms," “Halfway Home” makes a 180 degree turn and dives into the struggle of being a full time touring artist, husband, and father of two. With touching lyrics and a production that sounds like a Sunday drive, "Halfway Home" is now available at smarturl.it/CSHalfwayHome.
This might seem like my choice to you
But leaving’s something that your dad has gotta do
And it’s nothing we can’t make it through
“In my experience, I’ve found that the most meaningful songs are usually the easiest ones to write,” says Smith. “They reveal themselves quickly, as if the words are there waiting to be given voice. Creating them feels more like remembering than inventing and their completion comes with a powerful sense of euphoria, as if a weight has been lifted. That’s how “Halfway Home” was. It was the easiest song I’ve written in a long time and, not coincidentally, it’s a song that will mean a great deal to me and my family for years to come. Now that it’s out in the world, I sincerely hope others find meaning in it as well.”
Listen now: smarturl.it/CSHalfwayHome
← Sara Evans Performs at Volunteer Jam XX: "A Tribute To Charlie" Premiering On AXS TVSara Evans Joins President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to Celebrate the Fourth of July at the White House →
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There are schools offering animation programs in Colorado!
Click to browse online animation schools >
Schools Offering Animation Programs in Colorado
Animation Schools in New Mexico
Animation Schools in South Dakota
Animation Schools in Nebraska
Animation Schools in Kansas
Animation Schools in Utah
See All Schools in Colorado
Schools in CO
Around 0.1% of Colorado's graduates graduate from animation degree programs every year. Thus, Colorado's 11 animation schools put out approximately 130 animators each year.
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, which was ranked 39th nationwide in 2010, is the top-ranked school in Colorado that has a animation program. It is located in Denver. 15 students graduated with a degree in animation from Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in 2010. The tuition rate at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design was $26,832 per year.
The Art Institute of Colorado, which is located in Denver, is the second-ranked school in Colorado that has a animation program. It received a ranking of 75th in the country in 2010. 38 students graduated with degree in animation from The Art Institute of Colorado in 2010. Students at The Art Institute of Colorado paid $17,532 per year in tuition fees.
Trinidad State Junior College, which is located in Trinidad, is the third-ranked school in Colorado that has a animation program. It received a ranking of 79th in the country in 2010. 1 students graduated with degree in animation from Trinidad State Junior College in 2010. The tuition rate at Trinidad State Junior College was $3,378 per year.
If you choose to attend a Colorado animation school, average tuition will be $8,049 per year. However, tuition at your particular institution may range from $2,068 per year to $26,832 per year. The highest tuition rates in 2010 at Colorado animation schools were charged at the following schools:
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design - located in Denver, students are charged $26,832 per year
The Art Institute of Colorado - located in Denver, students are charged $17,532 per year
Westwood College-Denver South - located in Denver, students are charged $14,227 per year
The animation schools that charged the lowest tuition rates in Colorado were:
Aims Community College - located in Greeley, students are charged $2,068 per year
Red Rocks Community College - located in Denver, students are charged $2,625 per year
Front Range Community College - located in Westminster, students are charged $2,625 per year
An animation degree from a Colorado school... what next?
The highest percentage of animation graduates in Colorado pursue careers as an animator. 190 animators were working in Colorado in 2010. The Colorado counties with the largest populations of animators are:
Adams County - 140 animators
Projected Growth
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that by 2018, an estimated 1,140 animators will be working in Colorado state. This would require the number of animators to grow by 14%.
An animator in Colorado makes an average of $54,270 per year. In 2010, however, some Colorado animators earned as little as less than $37,160 per year or as much as more than $74,010 per year. An animator in the following Colorado counties makes the highest salaries on average:
Adams County - $54,920 per year
Take a look at the graphs and charts below for additional Colorado statistics regarding a career in animation and to compare salaries with a variety of related fields such as computer animation or design.
Associate's Degree in Animation in Colorado
Bachelor's Degree in Animation in Colorado
Certificate in Animation in Colorado
Curious what studying Animation gets you?
Check out the different options and how they're looking in Colorado
Graphic Designers 3,800 $44,190 22.2%
Multimedia Artists and Animators 190 $54,270 -32.1%
Fine Artists, Including Painters, Sculptors, and Illustrators 100 $49,250 -41.2%
Below are animation related jobs in Colorado
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Part-time Michigan Legislature ballot drive moves ahead
LANSING — Advocates wanting to make Michigan's Legislature meet part time instead of year-round got the green light Thursday to begin collecting signatures in an attempt to qualify their measure for the November statewide ballot.
The constitutional amendment would limit lawmakers to meeting in a regular session for 60 days starting in early January. The governor could call them back for special sessions not exceeding 30 days, and their pay would be capped at $35,000 a year to start instead of the $71,685 they make now.
Michigan is among four states with a full-time legislature, though six others are considered near full time because their lawmakers spend at least 80 percent of their time being legislators, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
Matt Davis, the lawyer for the Committee to Restore Michigan's Part-time Legislature, said the change would let people become lawmakers without having to give up their career and make the House and Senate more efficient.
"You're going to diversify the type of lawmakers you get — real people with real-world experience," he said.
The group has until July 7 to collect roughly 322,000 valid signatures. It could gather signatures with volunteers and paid circulators, Davis said.
The Michigan Chamber of Commerce's board voted last week to oppose the part-time Legislature initiative, saying it would tip the balance of power to "bureaucracy" within the executive branch. Other critics have warned of more conflicts of interest with citizen legislators working multiple jobs.
"Imposing a part-time requirement on top of the most severe term limits in the country would seriously weaken the legislative branch of state government," said president and CEO Rich Studley.
Lawmakers had more than 100 session days last year, though they also typically meet with constituents, attend speaking engagements or conduct other business. They gathered for more than 80 session days in 2012, an election year.
The proposed amendment also would change a rule so bills modified by one chamber could not be adopted by the other chamber until the new version is posted online for five days, regardless of whether an earlier version had won approval. No more than 250 staff members could be hired to assist the 148-member Legislature.
Efforts to make the Legislature part time have failed in the past, including two separate drives in 2008 that never reached a statewide vote. Various efforts by lawmakers to make the switch also have fizzled.
Also Thursday, the Board of State Canvassers approved the form of a petition turned in by Put the Citizens in Charge, which wants to amend the constitution in November to ease the signature-gathering process for ballot initiatives.
The proposal would keep intact the ability to pay people per signature collected, let them circulate petitions regardless of residency and prohibit signatures or proposals from being tossed because of "inconsequential" technical defects such as the wrong paper size.
A key change would permit signatures to be collected within an 18-month period instead of the current six-month window.
"It's about strengthening people's access to the initiative process. It's there as a voice for the people," said Scott Tillman, the committee's treasurer who also is a national petition drive specialist with the conservative Liberty Initiative Fund. "Too often we see that the restrictions are increased in the name of preventing fraud and abuse, but all it does is make it more difficult and costly for people to use the process."
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The Impact of Digitalisation on Employment in the Oil and Gas Industry: Event Summary
Valentina Dedi, 24 October 2018
As part of its energy talk series, Access for Women in Energy (AccessWIE) organised a seminar on the impact of digitalisation on the oil and gas industry, with a special focus on employment, on 11 October 2018. S&P Global Talent Acquisition hosted the event at their offices in Canary Wharf in London.
The digital revolution has entered every sphere of modern existence, and the oil and gas sector is not an exception. Powerful new technologies have upgraded or overtaken old ones, opening out new opportunities and improving operational efficiencies, barely imaginable a few decades ago. The entire hydrocarbon industry, like many others, is adapting and innovating at a breath-taking rate and many argue that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), in particular, are going to exceed everyone’s expectations in the next five years.
The seminar gathered leading experts in this field, from the industry, academia and technology providers, namely:
Ron Beck, Industry Marketing Director at Aspen Technology, who covered the most important digital technologies transforming the operations of the oil and gas industry and what they mean for organisations and employment.
Linda van Leeuwen, Analytics Lead, Lubricants Supply Chain at Shell, who shared the experience of Shell with digital technologies.
Lydia Rainforth, Managing Director, European Energy Equity Research at Barclays, examined productivity in the energy sector and the potential impact of digitalisation in this sphere.
Paul Markwell, Vice President, Upstream Oil & Gas Research and Consulting at IHS Markit, discussed the emergence of advanced analytics and how low carbon solutions can help attract new talents to the industry.
Dr Clare Bond, Senior Lecturer at School of Geosciences, Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology, University of Aberdeen, talked about how the university is adapting to the digital needs, by developing new programmes and tools tailored to graduate skilled data managers.
The speakers – Top from left to right: Ron Beck, Linda van Leeuwen and Lydia Rainforth. Bottom: Paul Markwell and Dr Clare Bond.
The discussion started with welcoming remarks from David Ernsberger, Global Head of Energy Market Reporting at S&P Global, who highlighted the commitment of S&P Global to diversity, adding that the digital innovation in energy raises critical questions as the industry keeps on reinventing itself and the impact of such technological changes on employment has drawn a major interest from various stakeholders.
David Ernsberger, Global Head of Energy Market Reporting at S&P Global.
Dr Carole Nakhle, CEO of Crystol Energy and Director of AccessWIE, chaired the discussion, making timely observations such as more and more students and professionals are moving into the renewable sector as they perceive the oil and gas industry as outdated and dying. She added, however, that if one looks at the investments oil and gas companies are making in developing and applying latest technologies, including digitalization, one can see that the industry is not going anywhere anytime soon.
Dr Carole Nakhle, Director of AccessWIE, and Lord David Howell, Co-Chairman of AccessWIE.
Lord Howell, former Secretary of State for Energy in the UK and co-chairman of AccessWIE, concluded the discussion, stating that the energy industry has an image problem. He asked whether AI and analytics will help not only in changing this perception but also in attracting both new talents and investments. Lord Howell concluded that it is critical for the energy sector to be part of the digital transformation but cautioned against the vulnerability of the industry to cyberattacks especially that energy is seen as central to national security.
To read the summary of the discussion click here.
The Q&A session
The networking reception
Related Analysis
“The Digital Energy Company: An Evening at Canary Wharf in London Provides Insight”, Ron Beck, Oct 2018
“Technological Innovation Creates New Opportunities in Oil & Gas”, Dr Carole Nakhle, Oct 2018
“New Technological Frontiers in the Oil & Gas Industry”, Dr Carole Nakhle, Sep 2018
Categories: Industry | Technology
← New Technological Frontiers in the Oil & Gas Industry The Impact of Digitalisation on Employment in the Oil and Gas Industry: Event Summary →
▼Market
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Chuck Rose croseiv
Greetings folks! Here is my latest guitar cover of one of my favorite bands. It is the first track on their third album. I had fun learning the different parts, and I hope you enjoy the effort. Thank you for watching.
I am only covering this song for learning and entertaining purposes. I do not own the song or have any special privileges.
videoAuthor.getCity() United States
Iron Maiden - Invaders
Rock cover by Chuck Rose
Chuck Rose
North America 268 United States 222 Mississippi 7 Cover 638 Iron Maiden 3 Rock 172 Instrumental 114 Man 214 Electric Guitar 71
Guitarist Composer
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Simple Man
Thin Lizzy - The Boys Are Back In Town
Stevie Ray Vaughan - Life By The Drop
Van Halen - Light Up The Sky
Black Sabbath - Into The Void
Ratt - Lay It Down
Ratt - Lack Of Communication
Def Leppard - Switch 625
Ghost - Mummy Dust
Mastodon - Sultan's Curse
Motley Crue - Live Wire
Michael Schenker - Captain Nemo
Rush - Tom Sawyer
Iron Maiden - The Duellists
Rush - Yyz
Motley Crue - Looks That Kill
Iron Maiden - King Of Twilight
Judas Priest - Bloodstone
Def Leppard - Bringin' On The Heartbreak
Def Leppard - Foolin'
Metallica - Helpless
Iron Maiden - To Tame A Land
Def Leppard - Too Late For Love
Black Sabbath - Sweet Leaf
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band formed in Leyton, East London, in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. The band's discography has grown to thirty-nine albums, including sixteen studio albums, twelve live albums, four EPs, and seven compilations. Pioneers of the new wave of British heavy metal, Iron Maiden achieved initial success during the early 1980s. After several line-up changes, the band went on to release a series of UK and US platinum and gold albums, including 1982's The Number of the Beast, 1983's Piece of Mind, 1984's Powerslave, 1985's live release Live After Death, 1986's Somewhere in Time and 1988's Seventh Son of a Seventh Son. Since the return of lead vocalist Bruce Dickinson and guitarist Adrian Smith in 1999, the band has undergone a resurgence in popularity, with their 2010 studio offering, The Final Frontier, peaking at No. 1 in 28 countries and receiving widespread critical acclaim. Their sixteenth studio album, The Book of Souls, was released on 4 September 2015 to similar success. Despite little radio or television support, Iron Maiden are considered one of the most successful heavy metal bands in history, with The Sunday Times reporting in 2017 that the band have sold over 100 million copies of their albums worldwide. The band won the Ivor Novello Award for international achievement in 2002. As of October 2013, the band have played over 2000 live shows throughout their career. For 40 years the band have been supported by their famous mascot, "Eddie", who has appeared on almost all of their album and single covers, as well as in their live shows.
Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast
Live cover by Joel Schlecht
The Followers - Antimarxista
Vocal original by The Follower
Instrumental cover by dirk
Instrumental cover by Chuck Rose
Iron Maiden - The Trooper
Instrumental cover by Cole Rolland
Iron Maiden - When The Wild Wind Blows
Live cover by Missing Link
Live cover by theabijimband
Iron Maiden - The Evil That Men Do
Vocal cover by Danycovers
Iron Maiden - The Fallen Angel
Vocal cover by Eric Pina
Iron Maiden - The Wicker Man
Iron Maiden - Aces High
Iron Maiden - Rainmaker
Iron Maiden - Moonchild
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Police: Girl's actions caused her to fall from NY park ride
QUEENSBURY, N.Y. (AP) - A teenage girl's actions, not mechanical malfunctions, caused her to slip under a restraining bar on an amusement park gondola ride before falling into the arms of bystanders below, police said Monday.
Warren County sheriff's Lt. Steven Stockdale told The Post-Star of Glens Falls (http://bit.ly/2s9pG46 ) that "human error" on the part of the 14-year-old Delaware girl caused her to slip out of the two-person gondola while riding with her younger brother Saturday at Six Flags Great Escape. The ride was stopped, and the girl dangled briefly before dropping about 25 feet (about 8 meters) into a crowd poised to catch her.
Onlookers, many of them recording the incident with their cellphones, broke into cheers when the girl landed in the arms of several people. She was taken to Albany Medical Center for unspecified injuries.
In this June 24, 2017, image made from a video provided by Leeann Winchell, a 14-year-old girl falls from an amusement park ride at Six Flags Great Escape Amusement Park in Queensbury, N.Y. After she lost her grip on the slow-moving gondola ride Saturday she fell into a crowd of park guests and employees gathered under the ride to catch her before she hit the ground. The teen, from Greenwood, Delaware, was taken to Albany Medical Center in stable condition with no serious injuries, the Warren County Sheriff's Office said. (Leeann Winchell via AP)
Stockdale said in an email that the girl, whose name hasn't been released, "looks like she's going to be OK."
Authorities said further investigation was being done to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the fall.
State inspectors cleared the Sky Ride for resuming operation, but officials at the park 55 miles (88 kilometers) north of Albany said the gondolas would remain idle for at least a second day Monday, pending an internal review.
Dennis Speigel, president of International Theme Park Services, a Cincinnati-based industry consultant, said he was familiar with the Sky Ride from previous visits to the park.
"It's not something that you could just slip out of," Spiegel said. "If a rider wants to circumvent the safety stipulations, they can do it. It wouldn't surprise me at all if they put additional safety restrictions on this ride, maybe safety belts."
After the girl began dangling from the gondola, word was relayed to the operator to stop the ride. As the teen helplessly flailed her legs, people on the pavement below yelled for her to let go and they would catch her. Matthew Howard Sr., a contractor from Schenectady visiting the park with his family, was among those who broke her fall.
"I couldn't let that little girl die," Howard told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Information from: The Post-Star, http://www.poststar.com
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Home/From The Paper/Dan Rattiner's Stories/Teaching Aliens To Take Over The Earth
Dan Rattiner's Stories
Teaching Aliens To Take Over The Earth
Dan Rattiner June 2, 2011
We’ve all seen these movies. In it, a horrible looking alien lands from outer space, finds a sleeping human being or—alternately—kills one, then while it is lying there, places a tentacle on top of its head and in about 15 seconds, right before your eyes, the horrible alien reconfigures itself into this very pleasant human being, with all its quirks, smiles, jokes and intelligence.
Then it walks off. And for the rest of the movie, until the very end, we are all in very, very deep trouble.
Now you would not tend to think that any humans on the planet today would want to create such a monster with these abilities. But you would be wrong.
In a laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University out in Pittsburgh, scientists are actually getting paid to teach a robot to do exactly that. They are deluding themselves into thinking that what they are doing is an advancement in science that will greatly benefit mankind, but they do, and so they are pressing on.
Their delusion is based on semantics. They are not using words such as aliens and monsters. They are using words like computer and software and mainframe. They are about to kill us all.
I read all about this in an article in The New York Times, which appeared on October 4 last fall. It was headlined AIMING TO LEARN AS WE DO, A MACHINE TEACHES ITSELF. Yes, this machine, or whatever it is, has been given some tools that enable it to “learn.” And, day by day, in a sort of very slow-motion version of that horrible scene in many science fiction movies, it is moving along. [expand]
As we know from the sci-fi movies, what is slow motion today is, in just a very short time, a procedure that can be shortened to just, say, 20 seconds. Watch.
The people working on this project seem very satisfied with themselves. They are doing good work. According to the article, the team is headed up by Dr. Tom M. Mitchell, who is a computer scientist and chairman of the Machine Learning Department of Carnegie Mellon University.
“Our computer is called NELL,” he says. “NELL stands for Never-Ending Learning System.”
He might have said robot. Or alien. But he says computer.
NELL is, in fact, a silver-grey metal computer that is calculating, analyzing and soaking up billions and trillions of bits of information 24 hours a day and is working feverishly to understand the scientists who are feeding it not only information but ‘right’ answers so as to teach it to think like a human being.
The key to it, Dr. Thomas explains, is that NELL has been programmed to gather in information, process it, think about it, build upon it and put the pieces of it together. It does not act upon it. Yet.
It is programmed to do this relentlessly, non-stop, and when something doesn’t seem quite right, it is programmed to go back and do it again until it does get it right—or at least nearly right.
“NELL is operating with 85% accuracy,” Dr. Thomas says. “It has the ability to go back and fix itself, but then it goes forward with 85% accuracy again. If left alone, she can go off on a tangent in some direction from which it cannot recover.”
Dr. Thomas gave an example of this. NELL was loaded with information about food. Within this category were sub-categories such as vegetables, meats, foul and baked goods. Under baked goods, it was asked to accept such things as pies, cookies, cakes, breads and muffins.
“We left NELL alone with all this stuff for the six months,” Dr. Thomas said, “and when we came back we found NELL had most of it right, but had created a blind loop when it encountered the phrase ‘internet cookies.’ It put this into the category of baked goods. And that led it off into all these mistakes. For example, it decided that ‘file’ was baked goods, since it was used in the phrase ‘internet file.’ We had to go in and find the original error and fix it. After that it re-set itself and began again to move forward without this mistake.”
NELL is also being provided with emotions. She learns that “anger is an emotion.” She learns that “bliss is an emotion.” She tries to relate this category of things with other things.
She is slowly succeeding at this.
The scientists have also seeded NELL with a group of ‘truths.’ NELL can compare things to those ‘truths,’ and if they match up, add her ‘truths’ to the database too. And then she can use that in other ways.
I really should at this point explain how the scientists came to teach NELL in this unique and unorthodox new way. They’d concluded, correctly, that much human learning is connected to semantics and probability. Humans interpret words with other words. Then they make decisions about them.
The scientists mimicked this ability to interpret within NELL. For example, they put a category into NELL called ‘mountain.’ With ‘mountain’ in there, they tried through trial and error to get NELL to understand that Pike’s Peak is a mountain. NELL went through its vast database and noted that the word ‘peak’ very often appears with the word ‘mountain.’ Then it perceives that the word just before ‘peak’ had an apostrophe ‘s’ at the end, which indicates possession or ownership. Thus it concluded there was some probability that ‘Pike’s Peak’ was the name of a mountain. And it could move on from there. Soon, NELL was putting things into context.
Until now, computers have just been task oriented. The data goes in. Certain behavior comes back out. It’s been known for quite awhile, for example, that a computer could best a human in chess. Chess involves the study of variables. The amount of variables are finite, too vast for a human, but not too vast for a computer. A computer can memorize tons of them. Thus computers beat humans at chess.
But computers, until now, could not think. Dr. Thomas gave as examples the two phrases “the girl caught the butterfly with the spots,” and “the girl caught the butterfly with the net.”
A human knows from his experience that the spots belong with the butterfly and the net belongs with the girl. But a computer does not. It gets confused, or the metallic equivalent of confused.
The key therefore was semantics and probability. NELL would every day scan and re-scan words and phrases putting them into its hard drives and memory chips in different categories or relationships to one another. NELL has begun to learn to make judgments about them. That’s because the scientists not only seeded NELL with about 150 categories and relationships, they seeded NELL with things that were ‘right.’ NELL keeps trying to link things up, over and over and over. And, ultimately, it gets them ‘right.’
“It learns that saying ‘I climbed Pike’s Peak’ relates to a mountain. And it learned ‘I climbed the stairs,’ relates to building parts,” Dr. Mitchell said.
NELL is by trial and error developing reason. She can speculate that something is related to something. And then, after scanning its database over and over billions of times a day, she can move it from speculation to probability and then to almost certainly. Eventually, with a little help from the scientists who shove NELL back onto the track when she makes a mistake, there comes certainty. And after certainty—well we are not there yet.
But NELL is getting help with all this not only from Carnegie Mellon University, but from several other giant organizations which are joining in. They include Yahoo, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and Google.
“This technology is really maturing and will soon grow into understanding,” said Alfred Spector, who is the vice president of Research at Google, about NELL.
“What’s exciting and significant about NELL,” said Oren Etzioni, a computer scientist at the University of Washington, “is the continuous learning, as if NELL is exercising curiosity on its own, with little human help.”
The scientists say there is soon going to be a very big payday for the first company that can harness NELL and make use of her in the area of personal assistants, advanced data searches and shopping, just to name a few.
The scientists really have no idea what they are on track to create, in my opinion. They are on track to create a monster, one with enormous intelligence and emotion, who could push us aside and take over the world.
And no doubt run it far better than we. I just hope I live to see the day. [/expand]
Bad Outcomes
Silverware from the 17th Century Worth $19 Million
Carp Attack: This Invasive Fish Has Been Found in Mill Pond in Water Mill
Long Fourth: The Five-Day July 4 Holiday & What We Did in the Hamptons
20 Years Later: Nathaniel Rogers House Restoration Nears Completion
Hamptons Parking Madness: Viciousness Behind the Wheel on July 4 Weekend
Bay Street Theater summer camp: Greek Mythology
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The Jewish Ghetto is one of Rome’s oldest and most distinctive neighbourhoods.
It dates back to the 1500s when the Catholic Church created a specific walled suburb in which the Jewish Community of Rome were physically forced to live.
Prior to that, the Jews had lived wherever they wanted to and the community is known to have been in Rome long before the time of Julius Caesar, most of whom they supported.
In 1555 Pope Paul IV Carafa passed the papal bull or law called Cum Nimis Absurdum which forced the Jews to live in the area between modern day Via del Portico d’Ottavia, Lungotevere dei Cenci, Via del Progresso and Via di Santa Maria del Pianto.
The Ghetto had a wall all the way around it with gates which were locked at night time. The Jews could move about Rome during the day but had a curfew one hour after sun down. This area of Rome was chosen to be the ghetto due to its proximity to the Tiber River; the river flooded frequently making the region the most undesirable suburb of the city in which to live.
ghetto neighborhood
Life was harsh for the residents of the ghetto. They were not permitted to own property and they were forced to go to Catholic mass services on the Jewish Sabbath. There were laws banning Jews from doing qualified jobs meaning unskilled labour was the norm. When they were allowed to leave the ghetto, Jews had to wear yellow clothing as a sign of their religion; yellow being the colour of cowardice and betrayal, a direct insult. Having a defined area and not being allowed to live outside it meant as the population expanded the residents of the ghetto had to build upwards. This caused cramped conditions and increased the spread of disease.
ghetto jewish
Finally every year the Jews of Rome had to swear an oath of allegiance to the Pope, who was the king of the Papal States where Rome was located, at the Arch of Titus in the Roman Forum. Titus was the general who defeated the Jewish Revolt against the Romans in 70 A.D. and indirectly caused the demolition of the second Jewish Temple. Coupled with this was a tax of every Jewish person for the right to live in the ghetto.
During the Papacy of Pius IX the restrictions on the Jewish people were slowly relaxed.
In was in his pontificate that the Papal States were abolished by the new Kingdom of Italy. Rome was seized and proclaimed the new capital of the new country. All sectarian and racist laws against anyone became illegal and the Jews became full citizens of a United Italy.
jewish quarter rome
This scenario remained until Mussolini took power in the 1920s.
Initially he had no problem with Jews, many of his party were Jewish as was his mistress who lived with him in Palazzo Venezia. As Hitler, who admired and copied Mussolini, gained increasing influence he forced Mussolini to pass a law against the Jews of Italy, which Mussolini acquiesced to and eventually enforced. The Jews would not be victims of murder until the Germans took Rome in the 1940s and did indeed deport many Jews to concentration camps. Rome would be liberated by the Americans and Italian partisans and the Jews of Rome went back to being normal citizens of Italy.
Pope John Paul II officially apologised to the Jewish community of Rome for the actions of the Catholic Church and he worked for greater relations between the two faiths. Prior to his death he was visited by the Chief Rabbi of Rome who commended his efforts of reconciliation.
Once the Jews became citizens of Italy in 1870, they started planning to build a synagogue in the Ghetto.
Apartment blocks were demolished to make way for the new building which was intentionally eye catching, a mark of pride and liberation after years of oppression. Finished in 1904 after 4 years of work, the temple was the work of Vincenzo Costa and Osvaldo Armanni, two Italian architects. As well as a functioning temple, it is also houses the Jewish Museum of Rome and visits by the public are permitted.
jews and romans
The Portico of Octavia was a temple built by Rome’s first Emperor Augustus in honour of his sister Octavia Minor.
Built shortly after he became effective Emperor of Rome in 27 B.C., it joined other honorific edifices to the imperial family such as a library, voting building or curia and training school for civic guards. These buildings may have been joined together by a colonnade, parts of which remain below the portico.
Like many buildings in Rome the Portico of Octavia burned in the fire of 80 A.D. and was repaired by Domitian, the last emperor of the Flavian family. Another fire in the early 3rd century forced restorations to be carried out by Septimius Severus and Caracalla as had been the case with the Pantheon.
The Theatre of Marcellus
The Theatre of Marcellus was built in 13 B.C. in honour of Marcus Claudius Marcellus who was the nephew of Augustus. The son of the emperor’s sister Octavia Minor, whose portico is beside, Marcellus was Augustus’ designated successor as Emperor. Augustus sponsored Marcellus’ career but unfortunately the young man died aged 19 and never saw his theatre completed. The emperor may have chosen the young man as besides being his closest male relative, he was also his nephew; Caesar had similarly chosen his nephew when he designated Augustus, then Gaius Octavian, as his successor.
The original space for the theatre was cleared by Julius Caesar.
When he died in 44 B.C., Octavian Caesar, later known as Augustus, continued his building works.
The building is primarily made of tuff stone and concrete with the outer layer faced with travertine marble. A network of arches provide access to the seating inside where plays and concerts would have been held. The theatre would have extended around in a full semi-circle or 180° and the steps would have reached the top level as with all Roman theatres. On the bottom level the outside columns were Doric or simple, on level two ionic or containing a scroll at the top, and on the third level Corinthian capitals showing acanthus leaves were used. The third level has not survived and has been replaced by modern day apartments.
After the fall of the Roman Empire the theatre of Marcellus became a fortress owned by noble families who competed for the dominance of Rome. These were the Fabii, the Savelli and most famously the Orsini who had the top level converted by Baldassare Peruzzi who had been an architect of St. Peter’s Basilica.
The Theatre of Marcellus, with its many arches on the outside, was a direct inspiration for the Colosseum or Flavian Amphitheatre. An amphitheatre is two theatres, or semi-circles put together to create a stadium or double theatre with increased seating capacity. The Colosseum would keep the order or doric, ionic and Corinthian for its outside columns and added a fourth level with shields and windows.
ghetto tours
The Jewish Ghetto of Rome is a great place to take a stroll, have an amazing dinner or lunch, see the ancient Roman ruins or medieval fountain in an off the beaten track of Rome.
If you would like to take a tour of the Jewish Ghetto of Rome as part of the squares of Rome tour, you can send me an email via the link in the menu.
Rome Tours Dara was Great
Dara was great. We had to leave the tour early because our ship changed the departure time from the port city – move it up 1 hour. Dara gave us great directions on where to go to see what we wanted to see since we couldn’t stay with the tour. He also was very informative while the hour or so we were with the tour.
5.0 Stars Jerry Parche
5.0 Stars Mike Howard
Rome Tours Dara was Fantastic!
Dara was fantastic! Not only very informative but funny as well. He kept the group together well, he frequently asked if everyone was okay and we stopped for toilet breaks. The tour was so interesting and well paced. It was also great that Dara was able to talk and walk at the same time unlike the guide the following day!
5.0 Stars Natasha Thomas
Rome Tours Helpful and Informative
Dara was very helpful and informative. He knew each room and detail and I am glad that he was our tour guide. He had a nice personality and I was amazed with his ability to keep counting our group to make sure all were together before we moved forward. I have already recommended your tour to other people as I traveled in other parts of Italy.
5.0 Stars Audrey Ferrante
Rome Tours Perfect Balance of Wit and Knowledge
He was the perfect balance of wit and knowledge – was amazed at the depth of his knowledge and he has ability to communicate the facts in an interesting manner – also gave us a good selection of the things worth seeing – I have recommended the tour on our expedia review of Rome
5.0 Stars David Garwood
Rome Tours Wonderful Job
Dara did a wonderful job. I wish we would have had him as our tour guide the entire time we were in Rome. He made the tour wonderfully entertaining and very educational. He placed just enough detail in the explanation to teach us but not bore us. He did an outstanding job. Thank you Dara!
5.0 Stars Rebeka Carter
Rome Tours Dara’s Tour was Fantastic.
Dara’s tour was fantastic. He made 2000 years of history much more fun than expected. I would certainly take his tour again when I next visit Rome. I learned so much and had a great time. Thanks!
5.0 Stars Melinda
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Tag: Water Crisis
Former Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Lands Fellowship At Harvard, He Was The Main Player in The Flint Water Crisis
Organizational Misbehavior July 3, 2019 by Keka Araujo
Former Michigan governor, Rick Snyder, will not be remembered for being an exemplary leader while he was in office. The two-term former governor of Michigan who many felt was responsible for the Flint water crisis was in the bottom ten on the list of the worst governors in the country,…
Prosecutors Drop Charges in Flint Water Investigation, Promise New Probe
News Organizational Misbehavior June 14, 2019 by Keka Araujo
In a surprising twist of events, prosecutors are dismissing all criminal charges against the eight people implicated in the water crisis scandal in Flint, Michigan. They do plan to relaunch the investigation. The water crisis has been documented as one of the worst environmental disasters caused by man ever in…
Corruption in Michigan: Deplorable Conditions of Detroit Public Schools
Uncategorized January 22, 2016 by Kaitlyn D'Onofrio
As Flint struggles with its toxic water crisis, the Detroit Public Schools system is facing a major crisis of its own — and the two issues share a common link: The Detroit Public Schools’ emergency manager was formerly Flint’s emergency manager who had praised the decision to tap into the…
Valerie Castile, the mother of Philando Castile who was murdered by a Minnesota police officer in 2016 during a tra… https://t.co/0t8xPnyBh3 2 hours ago
Wendy Brilowski, a teacher at Highland Park Middle School in Minnesota, is seen in a viral video using the N-word r… https://t.co/KUIVKLgdyo 3 hours ago
In 1978, the first six women joined NASA’s team of astronauts. Today, women comprise 34 percent of active NASA astr… https://t.co/IbcvDqGhKl 20 hours ago
I have ADD and as a mother of a child who was diagnosed at the age of 10 with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and… https://t.co/56mnX13Vdr 22 hours ago
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit against the FBI on Thursday to gain access to classified… https://t.co/1yTq7vdDTv 23 hours ago
A man was caught on camera in a profanity-filled rant against a couple protesting in front of a Confederate monumen… https://t.co/PML4xwtJTo 24 hours ago
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Linda Ann (MacAllister) Bachand
April 2, 1947 ~ March 11, 2019 (age 71)
Linda Ann MacAllister Bachand was born April 2, 1947 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Menominee, Michigan. Her mother is Corinne Adele Guy from Rochester, Minnesota and her father was Ray James MacAllister from Menominee, MI.
Linda graduated from Fond du Lac’s Goodrich High School in June of 1965. She then attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison where she met and married her surviving husband Clyde Bachand and graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Music Degree in education.
In the fall of 1969, she began teaching music in the Lake Geneva School System and taught there until 1973. She also taught piano and voice in the lakes area and served as the organist for Holy Communion Episcopal Church where she also taught Sunday School, served as treasurer, and served on the Vestry.
In 1992 Linda earned a Master of Arts in European history from UW Milwaukee. Beginning in 1995 She began lecturing at Covenant Harbor, Lake Geneva, for Elderhostel, now Road Scholars. She specialized in sharing her love of Broadway musical theater and considered it to be the best of all her jobs.
Linda is survived by her husband, Clyde, her daughters, Rebecca Van de Ven of Sewanee, TN and Emily Baerbock of Menomonee Falls, WI, and grandchildren Tobias Van de Ven, Madeline Van de Ven, and Gabrielle Baerbock. She is also survived by her mother, Corinne MacAllister, Neenah, and sisters Debbie Brotz, St. Paul, MN, Melissa Baldwin, Appleton, WI and Suzanne Barnett, Magee, MI, and nieces Ashley Barnett of Atlanta, GA and Rachel Baldwin of Madison, WI.
Linda loved her cats, her house, her music, her garden, her church, her community and her family. A visitation will be held at Holy Communion Episcopal Church, 320 Broad St. Lake Geneva, on Friday March 15thfrom 3 until 5PM followed by a memorial service at 5 PM. There will be a light supper immediately following the service.
L’Chaim!
In Lieu of other expressions of sympathy the family has asked that you make a donation to the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion. There mailing information is below.
Derrick Funeral Home is more then honored to be assisting the Bachand family.
Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion
320 Broad Street, Lake Geneva WI 53147
Web: http://holycommunionlakegeneva.com/
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Western Trust lays out plan for coming years
Altnagelvin Hospital.
Brendan McDaid
Mental health among local people has been deemed “considerably worse” than is the case across Northern Ireland as a whole.
The Western Trust’s new Corporate Plan for the next four years states that this was partly due to levels of anxiety and depression.
The report states that cancer remains the number one cause of death among local people. Around three in 10 people are dying from cancer each year locally, with the most common cause being lung cancer.
The new plan aims to provide “high quality, people-centred services through highly valued and engaged staff.”
It identifies seven outcomes the Trust wishes to achieve - giving every child the best start in life; an engaged workforce with high morale; modern environments; collaboration; person-centred health and well-being; financial sustainability and ‘valuing every person.’
The report states: “These are broad, high level outcomes which will shape the work of the Trust over the next four years. Each outcome is supported by a number of actions which set out the main ways in which the Trust willl work towards achieving the desired objectives.
“The outcomes and associated actions will provide the framework for the development of annual business plans and directorate plans which willl detail specific work programmes and actions to be taken forward each year.”
These actions include simplifying patient pathways and reducing complexities in the system, while giving patients and families their say in designing the care they receive.
The Trust said it also aims to “learn from our mistakes, accept responsibility for our actions and act with openness and transparency.”
Trust bosses work with different sectors and communities and the Public Health Agency to develop initiatives aimed at preventing illness and promoting health and well being.
The Trust said it has a “very complex and diverse” estates portfolio, working out of 130 sites, and plans to “ensure that our facilities are modern and fit for purpose and that we keep abreast of the latest advances in technologies and equipment.”
In terms of staff, the Trust will aim to “recognise and reward” staff achievements and recognise and work in partnership with trade unions.
Trust bosses said they will also build on staff care and well being initiatives, provide confidential counselling and ensure employees are given clear objectives.
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Des Moines 2035: Charting Our Course for a Sustainable Future
The City of Des Moines is updating its Comprehensive Plan in accordance with the Washington State Growth Management Act (GMA) governed by RCW 36.70A. Des Moines will take about one year to complete its review and update which is due to the state in June 2015. The update will include:
A Vision of how we want to grow/develop over the next 20 years;
New estimates of population and job growth;
More information about how the Plan relates to other City and regional plans/regulations;
New Economic Development Element; and
A more clear, concise and accessible document.
The Des Moines Comprehensive Plan serves as a roadmap that expresses our community’s goals and aspirations for how we want to grow and prosper into the future. It is the City’s official policy guide that defines—through goals, policies and implementation strategies—how Des Moines should best accommodate forecasted household and job growth, manage traffic, and provide open space and recreational opportunities and other vital services. The plan is "comprehensive" in both scope and coverage. It addresses the use of land and buildings, the movement of traffic and pedestrians, the provision of parks, schools, and public facilities, and protection of the environment. It also addresses residential neighborhoods, commercial areas, public and institutional lands, and public rights-of-way. The plan also provides a guide for public investments and capital improvements, and can help to ensure that local public dollars are spent wisely. Finally, the comprehensive plan can serve as a marketing tool to promote Des Moines's unique assets, and help to attract new families, businesses, investment and development to the community.
On June 25, 2015 the city council approved the new
Comprehensive Plan.
By clicking on the links below, you will learn a great deal of detail about the City’s Comprehensive Plan and Update Process:
Current Land Use Map
Framework for the Comprehensive Plan Update
050815 Council Review Draft 2015 Comp Plan Update (Redline Version)
050815 Council Review Draft 2015 Comp Plan Update (Clean Read Version)
You are encouraged to learn more and become engaged in shaping the future of your city. Share your ideas and get involved at by contacting us.
Denise Lathrop
Planner Manager
SMP Periodic Review
Pacific Hwy Planning
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Did He Like It
OFF-BROADWAY REVIEWS
To Kill a Mockingbird BROADWAY REVIEWS
Photo: Julieta Cervantes
AMNY
Opening Night:
Closing:
Open Ended
Theater: Shubert Theatre / 225 West 44th Street, New York, NY, 10036
The world premiere of Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin’s new play, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher (Oslo, The King and I), comes to Broadway in a production starring Jeff Daniels, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Will Pullen, and Gbenga Akinnagbe. Published in 1960, Harper Lee’s debut novel To Kill a Mockingbird was an immediate and astonishing success. Now, for the first time ever, Harper Lee’s open-hearted dissection of justice and tolerance in the American South will be brought vividly to life on the Broadway stage.
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NEW YORK TIMES REVIEW OF To Kill a Mockingbird
Review: A Broadway ‘Mockingbird,’ Elegiac and Effective
Jesse Green
December 13, 2018: As this is a trial, let’s have a verdict: “To Kill a Mockingbird,” which opened at the Shubert Theater on Thursday, is not guilty. Evidence shows that it does not deface the Harper Lee novel on which it is based, as the Lee estate at one point contended. And far from devaluing the property as a moneymaking machine, it has created an honorable stream of income that should pour into the estate’s coffers for years to come. But as any reader of the novel knows, to say something is not guilty is not the same as saying it’s innocent. And this adaptation of “To Kill a Mockingbird” — written by Aaron Sorkin, directed by Bartlett Sher and starring Jeff Daniels — is hardly innocent. How could it be? Every ounce of glossy know-how available at the highest echelons of the commercial theater has been applied to ensure its success, both on Lee’s terms and on what it supposes are ours.
READ THE REVIEW
DEADLINE REVIEW OF To Kill a Mockingbird
‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ Broadway Review: Aaron Sorkin, Jeff Daniels Deliver An Atticus For Our Times
December 13, 2018: When Scout, Jem and Dill take the stage in Aaron Sorkin’s To Kill a Mockingbird, they’re not rolling a tire down the sidewalk or peering into the knothole of some old oak tree. The children – played, with no excuses offered or needed, by adults – appear in what seems to be an empty, dilapidated building, maybe an old courthouse fallen into neglect. Justice itself has become a thing of memory, its paint peeling. What really happened that night Bob Ewell died, wonders Scout (Celia Keenan-Bolger), the most inquisitive and persistent of the three? Could a man really fall on his own knife? Something about the grim story of that harvest night doesn’t add up, no matter what Atticus or the local newspaper said, and young Miss Finch (is she still young?) wants her brother, her best friend and the audience at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre to reconsider. Everything. The set-up is a Sorkin masterstroke, perfectly executed by director Bartlett Sher, a dreamy gambit that justifies every liberty this simultaneously revisionist and faithful Mockingbird will take over the next two hours-plus. When, exactly, are the young Finches and their beloved childhood friend reuniting for this exorcism? How long has Scout been pondering that grim evening, when she and her brother were viciously attacked, when their attacker died, when one neighborhood mystery emerged from the shadows and another took its place among the secrets? Weeks? Months?
VARIETY REVIEW OF To Kill a Mockingbird
Broadway Review: ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’
Marilyn Stasio
December 13, 2018: Against all odds, writer Aaron Sorkin and director Bartlett Sher have succeeded in crafting a stage-worthy adaptation of Harper Lee’s classic American novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The ever-likable Daniels, whose casting was genius, gives a strong and searching performance as Atticus Finch, the small-town Southern lawyer who epitomizes the ideal human qualities of goodness, tolerance and decency. Celia Keenan-Bolger, best remembered for “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” but grown up now, is smart, funny, and entirely convincing as Scout, Atticus’s precocious 6-year-old daughter and the narrator of the story. The rest of the large and very fine cast perform their parts with all their hearts, under Sher’s impeccably fine-tuned direction.
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER REVIEW OF To Kill a Mockingbird
'To Kill a Mockingbird': Theater Review
David Rooney
December 13, 2018: "We can't go on like this," urges Jeff Daniels as Atticus Finch toward the end of Aaron Sorkin's fine-grained stage retelling of To Kill a Mockingbird. "We have to heal this wound or we will never stop bleeding." Those plaintive words, spoken about the cancerous racial inequality in 1930s Alabama, land with a visceral gut punch in 2018, all too clearly reflecting the ugly rise of the alt-right across a nation bitterly torn by the political dissemination of fear and hatred. It's to Sorkin's credit that he lets the contemporary parallels emerge naturally, without hitting us over the head, in a transfixing act of theatrical storytelling graced by exceptional ensemble acting. Perhaps the most notable achievement of this thoughtful adaptation, and Bartlett Sher's meticulously calibrated Broadway production, is that it takes Harper Lee's 1960 novel — a modern American classic that pretty much all of us know either from studying it in high school or watching the outstanding 1962 film version — and makes us hang on every word as if experiencing the story for the first time.
AM NEW YORK REVIEW OF To Kill a Mockingbird
'To Kill A Mockingbird' review: Aaron Sorkin delivers with new play
Matt Windman
December 13, 2018: Had things turned out differently, one of the best plays in town might have debuted at a downtown courthouse instead of Broadway. Soon after it was announced that a new stage adaptation of Harper Lee’s seminal 1960 Southern Gothic novel “To Kill a Mockingbird,” penned by Aaron Sorkin (“The West Wing,” “The Newsroom”), was heading straight to Broadway, Lee’s estate sued the production, arguing that Sorkin’s adaptation was not true to the spirit of the book and its characters. After some additional legal drama (including a transfer of venue from Alabama to New York and an offer to present the play live in court), the parties settled, and the high profile production (which has direction by Bartlett Sher and stars Jeff Daniels as attorney Atticus Finch) has come to Broadway, where it is already proving to be a box office hit.
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Appellate Panel Sustains Domina Law Group pc llo's Position
By David A. Domina
The United States Court of Appeal for the Eighth Circuit's Bankruptcy Appellate Panel rejected cattle scam perpetrator George L. Young's attempts to avoid a series of Bankruptcy Court Judgments against him. The Appellate Panel's decision sustains Domina Law Group pcllo's efforts for victims of the scam. Those efforts span nearly four and one-half years.
Young closed his businesses in August, 2001. His fraud was revealed when the businesses closed. More than $180 million were lost because investors, who thought they owned cattle purchased through Young, found their cattle were non-existent and Young, or his accomplices, with him took the money. David Domina served as counsel for more than half those who sustained losses in the Young matter.
Young tried to avoid Bankruptcy Court Judgments against him claiming he was a farmer who could not be forced into bankruptcy. But Young's claims were made too late.
The Appellate Panel held one's status as a farmer, or other party who may not be forced into involuntary bankruptcy, must be raised affirmatively as a defense. Young failed to do so several times, and his original lawyer actually filed a pleading consenting to the bankruptcy proceedings.
"This interesting chapter of the Young matter now closes," Domina said. "We are pleased to have our clients' positions sustained."
Domina Law Group pc llo is a firm of trial lawyers. We specialize in complex litigation on a national basis. Our lawyers are ethical, aggressive, and committed to providing spirit and vitality to the judicial system and our client’s legal rights.
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Top Gear TV Filming Cancelled
We have been notified by the BBC at 17:00 today that the filming of this week's Top Gear, scheduled to take place tomorrow (Wednesday 11th March 2015), has been cancelled.
All ticket enquiries should be directed to the Applause Store by clicking here.
Development Options at Dunsfold Park
The owners of Dunsfold Park have long felt that residential development at the aerodrome would be appropriate. We were, therefore, pleased that Waverley Borough Council included the aerodrome as a potential site for a housing allocation in its recent consultation.
Wings & Wheels 10th Show a sell-out success
The 10th Wings & Wheels Show basked in sunshine over the weekend as more than 40,000 visitors turned up on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th August to enjoy the event.
The Red Bull Air Race will be stationed at Dunsfold Park for their event at Ascot. Practice sessions will be undertaken and the Aerodrome used as a base for the teams from Thursday 13th August until Sunday 16th August.
Solar Independence Day - Open Day Video
Dunsfold Park to open up its solar farm on 4th July to celebrate Solar Independence Day
Dunsfold Park Solar Farm will open to visitors from local homes, schools, businesses and community groups as part of the nationwide Solar Independence Day on July 4th. The event will be held, from 10am until 4pm, at the solar farm at Dunsfold Park, Cranleigh, Surrey.
A Rally to Remember Heroes sets off from Dunsfold Park
The famous 'Top Gear' track at Dunsfold Park, near Guildford in Surrey, will be the start point for this year's 3,000 mile Rally for Heroes event, which aims to raise £100,000 for the UK's longest-serving military charity, SSAFA.
Surrey Street Rodders Wheels Day
On Friday 18th April 2014 (Good Friday) Dunsfold Park hosted the Surrey Street Rodders' 40th Annual Wheels Day. The team of volunteers from the Surrey Street Rodders have a long, successful track record of organising the event which has historically been held at Rushmoor Arena in Aldershot.
New partnership ensures Dunsfold Park's future
The Rutland Group is pleased to confirm that it has entered into a long-term partnership with Trinity College Cambridge to ensure the future of Dunsfold Park.
Jigsaw gains an “Outstanding” from Ofsted
Jigsaw CABAS® School, specialists in educating children with an autism spectrum disorder, have received a formal "Outstanding" Ofsted report following their recent inspection, with the note that "pupils make outstanding progress in relation to their individual starting points and capabilities."
For press enquiries please email or call Nancy Edwards on 01483 542207
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Liverworts, not moss, dominated Earth's early terrestrial ecosystems
Moss, the springy green plant that blankets forest floors, has been heralded as the generator of large amounts of oxygen to Earth’s atmosphere during the Paleozoic. In a new study, however, researchers suggest that it could have been the overlooked relative of moss — liverworts — that dominated early terrestrial ecosystems and thus had more to do with reducing high carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere at the time and cooling climate globally.
Full content for EARTH is available to subscribers. If you would like to gain access to the full version of this article, as well as all EARTH content, please subscribe today.
If you are connecting using a Library (IP-based) Subscription, please access full issues of the magazine through our Library Access portal.
Bethany Augliere
Augliere is a freelance writer and photographer and a former editorial intern with EARTH. She is a graduate of the science communication program at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and holds a master’s degree in marine biology from Florida Atlantic University. For more of her work visit http://www.bethanyaugliere.com.
early earth
Wednesday, February 8, 2017 - 06:00
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Who’s afraid of 138?! An exclusive interview with Aly & Fila!
During ASOT600 in Den Bosch we had the honor to interview some of the artist in the pressroom. One of them was Fadi Wassef Naguib, beter known as Fila of the Egyptian Trance duo Aly & Fila. We had an very pleasant conversation with him, and he took a lot of time to talk with us. We asked him about his set earlier that night, his musical career and much more.
Enjoy! 😉
Fila, you played at the ‘Who’s afraid of 138?!’ Stage tonight. How did it go?
It was really good! There was a big hype about this stage, and everybody was talking about it. So, I was very happy to be part of it. It’s our trademark sound, the banging, uplifting stuff. When I started the place was full and people were getting crazy. There was a great vibe!
Did you prepare anything special for tonight’s set?
Yes, I didn’t want to play the same tracks every station is playing, or other artists on the stage were playing. So, I played a lot of new tracks that we signed to SFOE, and new stuff from our forthcoming album ‘Quiet Storm’ to make it a more exclusive set.
Is there communication between the DJ’s about what you’re going to play?
Actually no, but there are some kind of common rules. I will never play a track of someone who’s playing before or after me. For example if I play before or after John O’Callaghan, I won’t play his big tracks like ‘Big Sky’.
How did you prepare yourself for tonight? Are there any rituals you go through?
I have my lucky sleep, take a shower and that’s it. I do this every week. So, I’m used to it!
Armin played a lot of your tracks in his radio show. What did this mean to your musical career?
Armin helped us a lot. Let’s say we thank 30 to 40 percent of what we are to Armin. He is the one that promoted us and showed us to the world. A State of Trance 300 was the first time we played on one of his ASOT events, and ever since we’re playing with him. He’s always supporting us. To be honest without him we wouldn’t be the same.
And your own radio show ‘Future Sound of Egypt’?
It’s growing now! And I’m happy to see there are more and more listeners every week. It’s on more FM radio stations right now all over the world. So, it’s getting bigger and we are excited to see what the next few years are going to be like.
You’re a duo together with Aly. But you’re touring alone. Can you tell us why?
Aly has a problem with his ears since 6 years, and he cannot be exposed to this kind of loud music. We work together easily in the studio, that’s no problem because we control the sound.
Who/what inspired you two to become DJ’s/Producers?
The movement of trance in 1997 and 1998 with Paul van Dyk, Thrillseekers, Chicane, Armin and Tïesto. The Magix CD’s where absolutely magical back then, and we loved this music. Especially Paul van Dyk, After seeing him live we got so inspired by his music. And we said: Let’s start doing it for fun. Just for fun!
Can you tell us something about your first gig together with Aly? Where was it and how did it go?
Our first international gig was at A State of Trance 350. Because Aly couldn’t make it to ASOT 300, he didn’t get the visa on time. People still say: ‘We saw you together at 350. Why can’t we have that anymore?’. We’re very sorry, but it’s out of our hands! It was great to tour together, and it was also a lot of fun to play b2b with Aly. I miss that time!
What are your favorite tracks at the moment, and most important did you play them tonight?
Yes, one of our favorite tracks is from a new duo from Egypt called Fady & Mina. I played it tonight. It’s called ‘Ninja’. And it’s a rockin’ track! One of our other favorites is a track by ourselves, from the new album. It called ‘First Sun’ and it’s pure melodic, and I can say it’s a proper follow up for ‘Lost Language’. I’m sure all of our fans will love this one.
What can we expect from the new album?
The new album is very varied. The BPM of the tracks is between 128 and 140 and the album even contains some chill out tracks. It has a big diversity, and that’s exactly what I like about the new album.
How long did it take to produce this album, And when can we expect this album?
The first album ‘Rising Sun’ took us 1,5 years. This new album took us almost 2,5 years. It will be released Mid-June!
Did you produce this new album together?
We worked a lot separate in the past. Because I have a studio, and Aly has his own studio. But for this album we moved together to the same studio. Before we were sending each other messages like ‘Listen to this’ on Skype. While we both live in the same city! So we said: Let’s make one studio for us together to work on the album. And every week when I came back from the weekend, I went to the studio all the week days to work on the album.
What is your favorite part during the production of music?
Installing a new VST, Synthesizer or plugin. After that trying the presets and find a cool sound! It even gives us ideas for the melody, new sounds inspire us. I really love new gadgets and it makes me feel like it’s Christmas. I always check the new stuff, and when I find something cool I can’t wait to buy it!
How would you describe the unique Aly & Fila Sound, and what makes it so unique?
It has two sides. 1. It’s very melodic. We always make sure we compose a really strong melody. 2. We mix it with strong beats and bass line. Not to dreamy, just a good balance between melodic and banging! I think that’s the special thing about our sound.
And what are your musical influence?
Aly and I have almost the same background. We both learned to play the piano when we were kids. When I was 17 I started learning music theory. After that I got my sound engineering diploma. That was my study.
Aly’s grandfather is a great and famous musician in Egypt. So, it’s in his blood!
What do you see as the highlights of your musical career?
I would like to say this year! A new album coming up, and off course the FSOE 300 tour. I can’t wait for the summer!
What’s next for Aly & Fila?
Well first of all the release of our second album Mid-June! Beside that the FSOE 300 celebrations. We already announced Prague, Amsterdam and Mexico. And we will announce more cities soon. Maybe we will release the third part of our compilation series “Future Sound of Egypt” by the end of this year. But only if we have time, and enough special track. If we don’t have special tracks we won’t do it. I has to be special for the collectors!
https://twitter.com/alyandfila
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TAGS » 2013, A State of Trance, Album, Aly & Fila, ASOT, ASOT600, ASOT600DB, EDMupdate, episode, Exclusive, INTERVIEW, Who's afraid of 138?!
POSTED IN » Interview
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Study: Key to boosting student outcomes might be emphasis on cultural learning
Shalina Chatlani @chatlanis
Preliminary data from a San Francisco State University evaluation study demonstrates that students in ethnic studies majors graduate at approximately 20% higher rates than nonmajors. At the same time, students enrolled in at least one ethnic studies class also graduated at a higher rate than students not taking the class. According to a press release from the university, ethnic studies majors maintained a six-year graduation rate of 77.3% compared with a rate of 52.3% for nonmajors.
The results suggest that cultural education via courses like ethnic studies enhance student outcomes and ability to persist, as Ken Monteiro, the acting director of the César Chávez Institute at the university told Inside Higher Ed. He said faculty members in that major spend more time advising their students and helping alleviate emotional stress. At the same time, the courses "teach [students] how to relate the information to them even if it's not literally related" along with "critical thinking strategies" to help them see ideas from multiple perspectives, Monteiro added.
The caveat to the study, as a professor at the institution told Inside Higher Ed, is that the results don't demonstrate causation, but rather some correlation between ethnic studies courses and graduation. However, other studies have shown such courses do improve outcomes not only at the higher education level but also for at-risk high school students.
The idea that culturally relevant teaching materials can help students connect better with the curriculum is not a new one. Experts across K-12 and higher education have shown, for example, when it comes to the types of texts instructors use, those with characters and plots directly relevant to students tend to be more understandable.
English professor David Kirkland, the executive director of the NYU Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools, told Education Dive, tools like literary fiction that embedded in cultural education help students develop broader critical thinking and human interaction skills that translate to other areas of their professional and academic careers.
“When we flush literature down the toilet, we also flush opportunities to enhance our humanity, to prepare people to participate in a multicultural global democracy in ways that might heighten our level of human participation in the larger project of humanity, said Kirkland. "School is beyond career and college training. We are preparing people to interact in a multicultural democracy."
“We don’t quantify what happens to us when you read Richard Wright and begin to transform. While you benefit in career and college, you also become a more enlightened human being. There's no aptitude test for that," he said.
The results of the San Francisco State University study suggest that administrators may want to consider the impact cultural education may have on student outcomes, particularly at-risk students seeking ways of connecting to their educational experience. More industry experts are recognizing now that completion is not simply a matter of grades or data collection, but can be impacted by external factors like whether students feel excluded on campus.
Inside Higher Ed The Benefits of Ethnic Studies Courses
Follow Shalina Chatlani on Twitter
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Don't Worry, Witches - Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Has Already Been Renewed For Season 3
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is back and witchier than ever in its second season, which is now streaming on Netflix. Over the course of the brand new nine episodes, we see Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka) battle everything from a plague demon to Satan himself, all while trying to make sure she makes time for her mortal friends as her involvement in the Academy of the Unseen Arts grows larger (and darker).
There's also the love triangle between her and high school sweetheart Harvey Kinkle (Ross Lynch) and new warlock love interest Nicholas Scratch (Gavin Leatherwood). In short: everyone's favorite bleach blonde witch deals with a LOT in season two. Given how the second season wraps up, though - with an emotional cliffhanger - it made us wonder: will Chilling of Adventures of Sabrina be back for season three?
Chance Perdomo Confirms Ambrose "Gets Into Some Sh*t" in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Season 2
Thanks to Netflix, yes - it's definitely returning for a third outing! The show was actually renewed for both seasons three and four back in December, making it clear that the series has cast a spell not only on audiences but on Netflix executives as well. The streaming platform announced that the dark teen drama was renewed for 16 more episodes, which will be split between the next two seasons (officially called "parts three and four.").
Series creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa celebrated the initial news saying, "Praise Satan! I'm so grateful to my partners at Warner Brothers, Netflix, Berlanti Television, and Archie Productions for supporting this darker vision of the world's most famous teen witch. And I'm thrilled to be continuing to tell Sabrina's chilling adventures with our incredible cast and crew, led by the unstoppable Kiernan Shipka."
From POPSUGAR Celebrity http://bit.ly/2G21yWH
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This Stirring "Shallow" Dance Video Will Remind You of the First Time You Watched That Scene
A Star Is Born may have come out long ago, but Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's widely adored song "Shallow" still hasn't quite overstayed its welcome. (In fact, just refer to the Billboard Hot 100 chart, where it's spent 26 weeks.) It only seems right, then, that "Shallow" receive the dance video treatment.
At the Millennium Dance Complex in Los Angeles, Rudy Abreu recently put together some stirring choreography for the Oscar-winning song. Rudy's choreography, performed by many of his students in the video, manages to match the tone of "Shallow" in that it's deeply expressive and soul-baring. Watch the moving dance video above, and prepare to get the song stuck in your head once again.
From POPSUGAR Celebrity http://bit.ly/2UnDy93
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Enel closes sale of 540 MW of renewable capacity in Brazil
Published on Friday, 31 May 2019 17:58
· The assets sold to Chinese company CGNEI for 2.9 billion Brazilian reais are solar plants Nova Olinda (292 MW) and Lapa (158 MW) as well as the 90 MW Cristalândia wind farm
· The transaction is aimed at freeing up resources that can finance Enel’s further renewable development in Brazil, while the company will continue plant management activities on the assets sold
Rome, May 31st, 2019 – Today, Enel S.p.A. ("Enel"), acting through its renewable subsidiary Enel Green Power Brasil Participações Ltda ("EGP Brazil"), closed the sale of 100% of three fully operational renewable plants totalling 540 MW to Chinese company CGN Energy International Holdings Co. Limited (“CGNEI”). The overall consideration of the transaction paid to Enel upon closing is equal to the assets’ enterprise value and amounts to approximately 2.9 billion Brazilian reais, equivalent to around 660 million euros at current exchange rates.
The three renewable assets that were just sold are the solar plants Nova Olinda (292 MW), located in the north-eastern Brazilian state of Piauí and Lapa (158 MW), situated in the north-eastern Brazilian state of Bahia, as well as the 90 MW Cristalândia wind farm, also in Bahia. The consideration paid to Enel for the sale of these three assets is subject to adjustments in line with the standard market practice for this type of transaction.
In line with the Group’s 2019-2021 Strategic Plan, this transaction aims to maximise and accelerate value creation by rotating assets to free up resources that can be invested in new projects, while Enel will continue plant management activities on the assets sold. The Brazilian renewable market is rich in opportunities for the Group, which wants to keep growing in the country, including by financing its new investments through the Build, Sell and Operate (BSO) model.
All three plants have long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) in place. Lapa and Nova Olinda are supported by 20-year supply contracts that provide for the sale of specified volumes of energy generated by the plants to the Brazilian Chamber of Commercialisation of Electric Energy (Câmara de Comercialização da Energia Elétrica or CCEE). Cristalândia is supported by 20-year PPAs with a pool of Brazilian electricity distribution companies.
Nova Olinda is located in the municipality of Ribeira do Piauí. The facility, which is comprised of around 930,000 solar panels in an area of 690 hectares, can generate over 600 GWh per year. Lapa, which is located in Bom Jesus da Lapa, is composed of two facilities, Bom Jesus da Lapa (80 MW) and Lapa (78 MW). The park, which is comprised of about 500,000 solar panels, is able to generate around 340 GWh per year. The Cristalândia wind farm is located in the municipalities of Brumado, Rio de Contas and Dom Basilio. The wind farm is capable of generating around 350 GWh per year.
In Brazil, the Enel Group is active in the generation, distribution and transmission sectors through Enel Brasil and its subsidiaries. In the renewable generation sector the Group is the country’s largest solar and wind player in terms of installed capacity and project portfolio with around 2.4 GW (1,269 MW of hydro capacity, 752 MW from wind, 370 MW from solar), and has approximately 1.9 GW of capacity (wind and solar) in execution. Furthermore, in the country’s conventional generation sector the Enel Group operates around 320 MW from CCGTs. In the distribution sector, the Group is the largest player in Brazil with over 17 million end users served by its subsidiaries in São Paulo, Ceará, Rio and Goiás. Enel also owns and operates two transmission lines with a total capacity of 2,100 MW connecting Brazil to Argentina.
Enel Green Power is the Enel Group’s business line dedicated to the development and operation of renewables across the world, with a presence in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa and Oceania. Enel Green Power is a global leader in the green energy sector with a managed capacity of more than 43 GW across a generation mix that includes wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower, and is at the forefront of integrating innovative technologies into renewable power plants.
NEW Price Sensitive | May, 31 2019
Enel S.p.A. provides for the dissemination to the public of regulated information by using SDIR NIS, managed by BIt Market Services, a London Stock Exchange Group's company, with registered office at Milan, Piazza degli Affari, 6. For the storage of regulated information made available to the public, Enel S.p.A. has adhered, as from July 1st, 2015 to the authorized mechanism denominated “NIS-Storage”, available at the address www.emarketstorage.com, managed by the above mentioned BIt Market Services S.p.A. and authorized by CONSOB with the resolution No. 19067 of November 19th, 2014. From May 19th 2014 to June 30th 2015 Enel S.p.A. used the authorized mechanism for the storage of regulated information denominated “1Info”, available at the address www.1info.it, managed by Computershare S.p.A. with registered office in Milan and authorized by CONSOB with resolution No. 18852 of April 9th, 2014
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E. Mediterranean Oil, Gas Belong to All Cypriots
Πεμ, 4 Ιουλίου 2019 - 20:18
Hydrocarbon resources in the East Mediterranean belong to both Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots, the deputy premier and foreign minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) said in Geneva on Wednesday.
US Crude Oil Inventories Fall for W/E June 28
U.S. crude oil inventories decreased last week, according to data released by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Wednesday.
Eni Awarded New License in Ghana’s Offshore Fields
Eni is expanding its presence in Ghana with the company's and partner Vitol's winning bid in Ghana's first international bid round in which five offshore blocks have been put on offer in water depths ranging from 100 to 4,400 meters.
Turkey's Licensed Power Generation up by 0.02% in April
Turkey's licensed electricity production increased by 0.02% in April compared to the same month of 2018, according to data revealed by the country's energy watchdog on Monday.
Scotland's Green Economy Gets £10 Million Boost
A total of 21 projects in Scotland have been awarded a share of £10 million (71.8 million Turkish liras) by electricity transmission and distribution network operator ScottishPower Energy Networks on Monday.
Iran Exceeds 300 Kg Enriched Uranium Limit
Δευ, 1 Ιουλίου 2019 - 19:57
Iran has breached the 300-kilogram limit of the low-level enriched uranium in the 2015 nuclear deal, the semi-official Fars news agency reported on Monday.
Turkey's Crude Oil Imports up by 60.94% in April
Turkey's crude oil imports rose by 60.94% to 2.37 million tonnes in April 2019 compared to the same month of 2018, according to a report released by the country's energy watchdog on Monday.
Romania to Allow Investors to Trade Electricity From Projects Under Development
Πεμ, 27 Ιουνίου 2019 - 20:38
Romania’s legislation will be amended to allow investors in energy projects to trade electricity to be generated by projects under development, in order to enable them to raise financing for their investments, Romania Insider reported.
Kenyan Court Blocks East Africa's First Coal Plant
A top Kenyan court on Wednesday blocked the East African country’s hopes of becoming the first coal-powered nation in the region.
EBRD Loans €18 Million for Kosovo’s First Wind Farm
Τετ, 26 Ιουνίου 2019 - 20:02
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has lent €18 million to finance the 32.4-megawatt (MW) Kitka Wind Farm in eastern Kosovo, the bank announced in a statement on Tuesday.
CO2 Emissions From New Cars and Vans Increases in 2018
The average carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from new passenger cars registered in the European Union (EU) in 2018 reached 120.4 grammes of CO2 per kilometer (CO2/km), up 1.6% on 2017, the European Environment Agency said on Monday.
Until June 13, Bulgarians Can Apply For Replacement of Old Stoves with New Heating Systems
Τρι, 25 Ιουνίου 2019 - 20:36
All Bulgarians using solid fuel for heating can apply for replacement of old stoves with environmentally friendly heating systems. The next Thursday is the deadline for application under the Green Sofia program, which aims to improve green areas in inter-block spaces and local gardens.
Wales Turns Wood to Energy Via £160M Power Station
Up to 75,000 homes in South Wales will be powered by a new £160 million (approx. 1.2 billion Turkish Lira) plant generating electricity from waste wood, project owner Glennmont Partners announced on Monday.
Canete, Altmaier to Finalise German Integrated Energy and Climate Plan
Δευ, 24 Ιουνίου 2019 - 20:13
European Climate Action and Energy Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete and Germany’s Economic Affairs and Energy Minister Peter Altmaier on 24 June exchanged views on climate neutrality objectives and discussed growth opportunities arising from the modernisation and transition towards a climate neutral economy
Swedish Forsmark Nuke Plant: Safe for 10 More Years
Sweden's Forsmark nuclear power plant has been deemed safe to continue its operations for another ten years, according to the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority on Monday
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Home › About › News › Canadian mortgage debt rises to over $1 trillion on high prices, low interest
Canadian mortgage debt rises to over $1 trillion on high prices, low interest
Nov 09, 2010 - Sunny Freeman
Low interest rates and a hot housing market helped push Canada’s total residential mortgage debt to a record $1 trillion this year, but a cooling real-estate market is expected to slow further accumulation, says the chief economist of Canada’s mortgage industry association.
The value of outstanding mortgages is now 7.6 per cent higher than it was last year, the Canadian Association of Accredited Mortgage Professionals said in its annual report released Monday.
“We’re still seeing a lot of movement into home ownership and that’s what’s driving the growth of debt,” said Will Dunning, CAAMP’s chief economist.
“The growth will gradually decelerate but we’re still looking at rates of six and a half per cent or so, so still fairly rapid,” Dunning said.
This year’s growth was higher than the average annual increase is around 7.1 per cent. However, it is still much lower than it was in the early 2000s, when debt growth hovered closer to 10 per cent year over year.
Higher home prices drove many Canadians to borrow heavily to finance-purchases, while a low interest rate environment encouraged others to refinance loans and consolidate debt, the CAAMP report said.
The low interest rate environment has enabled some consumers to take on bigger mortgages than they might otherwise have been able to carry, while it has encouraged others to borrow against their homes.
Recent housing market data points to a massive downshift in housing market activity.
Less activity in Canada’s resale home market and moderating housing starts will mean fewer people taking on new mortgages, Dunning said.
“That (slowdown) now and in the near future going to result in less mortgage takeout as those sales get closed,” he said.
Canada’s housing market has been on a tear for much of the past year after the Bank of Canada sent its trend-setting policy rate to an emergency low of 0.25 per cent to stimulate borrowing and consumer spending.
Buyers, spurred by easy access to relatively cheap borrowing, rushed into the market and competed aggressively for homes, which drove prices to record highs.
The market has been cooling in recent months as many sales were pushed ahead to the beginning of the year in advance of tighter mortgage qualification rules, a new tax regime in B.C. and Ontario and higher interest rates.
Meanwhile, the Bank of Canada’s policy rate has been hiked three times to one per cent, still historically low. The central bank is expected to take a pause on rate hikes until the middle of next year, giving mortgage holders more time to refinance at low rates.
Most Canadians have heeded warnings from economists — including the Bank of Canada — about growing debt levels and took advantage of low interest rates to refinance and pay off other debts, CAAMP said.
The report found 18 per cent of mortgage holders have taken equity out of their homes to free up extra cash. Almost half of mortgage holders who borrowed against their homes cited a need for “debt consolidation or repayment” and the average amount borrowed against home equity was $46,000.
The association said that most mortgage holders appear to be comfortable with their debt levels and that the vast majority — about 84 per cent — said they could afford at least a $300 or 30 per cent increase in their monthly mortgage payment, Dunning said.
The association asked approximately 2,000 Canadians surveyed how much of an interest rate hike they could withstand. The average Canadian monthly mortgage payment is about $1,025 and the average homeowner has room for $1,056 per month on top of current costs, the report found.
However, about 350,000 out of 5.65 million, or about six per cent of Canadian mortgage holders, would be challenged by rate rises of less than one per cent, CAAMP said.
“Most of the people who have low tolerances for increased payments have fixed-rate mortgages,” the reports said. (So) by the time their mortgages are due for renewal, their financial capacity will have expanded and their mortgage principal will have been reduced.”
Canadians continue to favour fixed-rate mortgages and a five-year fixed-rate mortgage remains the most popular option despite the fact that variable rates have become much less expensive than fixed rates, the report found.
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Dealing With Job Loss
When Parents Lose A Job: Talking To Kids About Layoffs
by: Katy Abel
Learn what to say to your child when you or your spouse has been laid off.
Pink Slips and Blue Moods Affect Children
Stock market meltdowns, dot-com deflations, bull and bear markets -- it's all lost on kids. But as America'slong-running period of prosperity loses steam and reports of layoffs make headlines, the term "economic downturn" is literally brought home.
John Q. couldn't bear to tell his teenaged son about being fired. For days he got up, put on a suit, left the house, and drove around until after his son had left for school.
On the day Jennifer L. was laid off, she went home and made paper-bag puppets with her toddler and preschooler.Once the art supplies had been cleared away, the single mother found herself fighting back tears. Sitting alone at the kitchen table, she began scribbling numbers on the back of a puppet, looking for ways to cut household expenses.
When Catherine B.'s six-year-old son learned that she'd lost her job, he asked a friend in kindergarten if his family could move in to her house, "because we won't have any money to live in our house anymore."
What to Tell Kids
Job loss creates anxiety and economic hardship for families. For advice on how to talk with kids about layoffs, we consulted three experts -- here's what they have to say:
Carolyn Hoyt, editor at Working Mother magazine: Telling them proactively what's happened is probably thebest thing to do, because they're going to see that Mommy's not getting up and going to the office, or Mommy's mad at Daddy. What happens when you say nothing's wrong is that they'll perceive the truth anyway, and then they won't trust you at exactly the point they need to.
Ellen Galinsky, president and founder of the Families and Work Institute in New York: If there's something going on but it's not being talked about, then it's a whole lot scarier. Bring up how you feel about it -- I'm upset, I'm angry --- but also say what you're going to do about it, what your coping strategies are.
Robert Waldinger, M.D., child psychiatrist on the staff of Boston's Judge Baker Children's Center and Harvard Medical School : I think the child sees work through the parent's eyes. When the parent conveys the message,"these things happen, people change jobs, we'll be okay," that's what the child needs to hear. Try to present things realistically:"While I'm looking for a new job, we'll have more time to do things together, but then when I get a job things will go back to the waythey used to be."
What Not to Tell Kids
Ellen Galinsky: Little kids misunderstand much of the language. "Fired" -- that's with a gun. "Laidoff" -- it just doesn't make sense.
Robert Waldinger: Cross bridges when you come to them, not before. I wouldn't say, "We may have to sell the house." Only share the uncertainty the child needs to hear about. Don't put the child in the positionof having to worry about losing his bedroom.
Carolyn Hoyt: You need to have important conversations out of kids' earshot. You don't give a childspecific financial information he's not requesting, so it's important not to say things like "We don't know wherewe're going to get next month's paycheck."
How to Make Kids Feel Secure
Robert Waldinger: The best thing parents can do for their child is to take care of themselves, because the mainquestions for children are: Are my parents okay? Is my life going to be able to go on? Alcohol abuse and domestic violencego way up when people become unemployed. It's those things that tend to make a child anxious, more than the loss of a job,which tends to be a more distant thing.
Ellen Galinsky: It could backfire if you are overly positive about a job loss, saying things like "Now I havemore time to spend with you." We tend to think in either/or terms -- job or family. "You're important to me whether I'm workingor at home" needs to be the message.
Carolyn Hoyt: Don't make important changes, like potty training or moving to a "big girl" bed because such transitions may cause a child to feel insecure.
Life Lessons Learned
Carolyn Hoyt: Losing a job is never a good thing, but this is a chance for children to learn what resiliencylooks like, how a family sticks together in hard times. Kids may want money to go to the mall. You can say, "Things have changed and we can't buy that right now."
Ellen Galinsky:Whether we're heading into a downturn or a recession, that's not a bad message for children -- not being able to buy, for example, PlayStation 2. It teaches an important lesson about money.
Robert Waldinger: Concretely, the best way to address this is to let your child know that you think he's wonderful, by offering love, affection, and consistent limits. Consistency is probably the most reassuring thing for them. Making things predictable, keeping the family dinners or the Saturday activities you always enjoy, will help children cope with change.
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Natural Menopause Relief Secrets
Natural Female Hormone Balance Program
By Alice Dalessio on Sat, 13 Jul 2019
Joan Atman with the help and inspiration from Dr Stephanie put down this book. Dr Stephanie is the mastermind behind this helpful guide. He is a nutritionist and a medical practitioner who has been very active in this case. Joan Atman is an international Life coach and Energy medicine specialist. The Natural Female Hormone Balance program is a 28 day Hormone reset Detox program for female. It is a very easy and gentle program that is designed by the author to support the female body detox and eventually regain the normal hormonal balance. All the tips and the dietary changes discussed in the program will kick start the body's natural ability to balance hormones. This eventually helps your body look and feel incredible. The full program contains 6 modules designed to lead you step by step through the Hormone reset Detox program. This program is available in PDF formats. The author has also included some video and audio tutorials. You can download the program and print or just download the PDF file, the Videos and the Audio. More here...
Natural Female Hormone Balance Program Summary
Contents: Ebooks
Author: Joan Atman
My Natural Female Hormone Balance Program Review
This is one of the best e-books I have read on this field. The writing style was simple and engaging. Content included was worth reading spending my precious time.
All the testing and user reviews show that Natural Female Hormone Balance Program is definitely legit and highly recommended.
Signs of Natural Menopause
Last Updated on Wed, 23 Oct 2013 | Thyroid
The three classic short-term symptoms of menopause erratic periods, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness are caused by a decrease in estrogen. The emotional symptoms of menopause, such as irritability, mood swings, melancholy, and so on, are actually caused by a rise in follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). As the cycle changes and the ovaries' egg supply dwindles, FSH is secreted in very high amounts and reaches a lifetime peak as much as fifteen times higher it's the body's way of trying to jump-start the ovarian engine. Every woman entering menopause will experience a change in her menstrual cycle, discussed later. However, not all women will experience hot flashes or even notice vaginal changes, particularly true if a woman is overweight. Estrogen is stored in fat cells, which is why overweight women also tend to be more at risk for estrogen-dependent cancers. What happens is that the fat cells convert circulating male sex hormones into estrogen, creating a type of estrogen reserve that...
Management of Premature Menopause
Last Updated on Wed, 23 Oct 2013 | Adolescent Cancer
Female survivors who develop premature menopause should be referred to a gynecologist for management and consideration for hormone replacement therapy. The decision to proceed with hormone replacement therapy, and the form that it should take, involves a careful evaluation of many competing healthcare factors, a subject that is beyond the scope of this chapter. However, it is imperative that patients be managed by a team of physicians who are well versed in this area and can assist in carefully weighing the risks and benefits of various hormonal replacement strategies.
HRT Menopause and Thyroid Disease
The average woman will live until age seventy-eight, meaning that she will live one-third of her life after her menopause. Since thyroid disorders affect women so much more frequently, particularly as they age, balancing thyroid hormone replacement with the confusion surrounding traditional estrogen and progesterone hormone replacement is challenging. Since heart disease can be a major complication of hypothy-roidism or thyrotoxicosis, in the 1980s and 1990s, women with thyroid disease were encouraged to seriously consider hormone replacement therapy after menopause, In July 2002, a study by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, part of a huge research program called the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), suggested that HRT should not be recommended for long-term use in fact, the results were so alarming, the study was halted before its completion date. It was found that Prempro, a combination of estrogen and progestin, which was a standard issue HRT formulation for...
Natural Dietary Supplements
When menopause occurs naturally, it tends to take place anywhere between the ages of forty-eight and fifty-two, but it can occur as early as your late thirties or as late as your Menopause or Thyroid The following menopausal symptoms may also be signs of hypo- or hyperthyroidism mid-fifties. When menopause occurs before age forty-five, it is technically considered early menopause, but just as menarche is genetically predetermined, so is menopause. For an average woman with an unremarkable medical history, what she eats or the activities she engages in will not influence the timing of her menopause. However, women who have had chemotherapy or who have been exposed to high levels of radiation (such as radiation therapy in their pelvic area for cancer treatment) may go into earlier menopause. In any event, the average age of menopause is fifty to fifty-one. Other causes that have been cited to trigger an early menopause include mumps (in small groups of women, the infection causing the...
LH or FSH Deficiency
Last Updated on Sun, 16 Jun 2019 | Adolescent Cancer
Bertal hormones in a short or slowly-growing adolescent can cause fusion of bony growth centers and shorter-than-expected adult height. Such therapy should be provided only in coordination with the pediatric endocrinologist after an assessment of growth potential and treatment of GH or thyroid deficiencies. Initiation of sex steroid therapy in a short adolescent may be delayed until age 15 years to permit response to GH or thyroid hormone therapy and taller adult height. In short adolescents with delayed puberty, a few years of therapy with low-dose sex steroid therapy is preferable to full replacement. Such doses simulate the sex steroid levels observed in the first year or so of puberty and are less likely than full sex steroid replacement to cause inappropriate maturation of bone age. Girls can be treated with the conjugated estrogen tablets Premarin (0.3 mg every other day) or ethinyl estradiol (5 mcg daily, one quarter of a 20-mcg tablet daily) 47 . Menstrual spotting can be...
Allowing Graves to Run Its Natural Course
Many with Graves' disease have mild symptoms and wonder whether they should refuse active therapy and allow Graves' disease to run its natural course, which might normally result in the thyroid gland burning out and failing on its own, leaving you hypothyroid anyway. This approach is commonly recommended for the small group of people who have such low degrees of thyrotoxicosis that ablative therapy with RAI, surgery, or risks of drug effects of antithyroid medications seem unnecessary. These people often do well with beta-blockers however, they must be carefully monitored since thyrotoxicosis may worsen without warning. Also, the risks of worsening of osteoporosis and chronic effects of excess thyroid hormone on the heart should be considered. For these reasons, post-menopausal women with brittle bones (see Chapter 14) and people with irregular heart rhythms (see Chapter 25) are appropriately directed toward RAI treatment.
Regulation of ER Function
Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Cancer Handbook
In normal nonpregnant, premenopausal human breast, only about 5-10 of the total luminal epithelial cell population expresses ERa, and this expression tends to be highest in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. The highest percentage of ERa-expressing cells are found in undifferentiated lobules type 1 (Lob1), with a progressive reduction in the more differentiated Lob2 and Lob3 types. The highest level of cell proliferation is also observed in Lob1, but expression of ERa occurs in cells other than these
Transcriptomic Approaches
Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Therapies in Cancer
Analysing messenger RNA (mRNA) has always been an important and technology-enabled approach to examine the expression of genes. As an alternative to classical low-throughput Northern technologies, different high-throughput processes such as serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) and microarray analysis have been developed to analyse global gene expression at the transcriptomic level (Velculescu et al. 2000 Schena et al. 1998). Both screening techniques provide the possibility to simultaneously evaluate the relative expression levels of large numbers of different mRNA transcripts in a panoramic view. Thereby, entire expression profiles themselves become a tumour marker that mirrors the polygenic nature of carcinogenesis. The increasing list of microarray experiments published each month reflects the straightforwardness of this technology, which is based on relatively inexpensive and easy-to-synthesize but sensitive and specific nucleic acid sequences. These can be arrayed into...
Prediction of ovarian damage
Last Updated on Fri, 04 Mar 2016 | Fertility Issues
Young ovary can be lost as a consequence of treatments without unduly compromising the future fertility of the individual. In support of this concept, there are numerous reports ofyoung women who suffer a transient loss of reproductive cyclicity following cancer treatment before their hormonal and reproductive cycles are re-established and their natural fertility is restored (Meirow 2000). The ability to assess accurately the ovarian reserve in these individuals, both before and after their cancer treatment, would provide these patients with reassurance that their cancer treatment has not induced a premature menopause.
Few Words About the Dangers of Alcohol
Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Heart Surgery
I am not suggesting that all non-drinking women should rush out and start consuming alcohol. Because other studies have shown an increase in risk of breast cancer from even moderate drinking, younger women and women who may be at increased risk for breast cancer should discuss their decision regarding drinking with their own doctors before making changes in their lifestyle. We must keep in mind, however, that a post-menopausal woman in the United States is much more likely to die from heart disease or stroke diseases for which she would be at a lower risk if she consumed a little alcohol than she is to die of breast cancer.
Female Sexual Arousal Disorder
Last Updated on Sun, 16 Jun 2019 | Mental Health
Female sexual arousal disorder (FSAD) is operationalized as the difficulty in reaching and maintaining vaginal lubrication or genital swelling until the completion of the sexual activity (ApA, 2000). Recently, theorists have argued that diagnosis of FSAD should consider not only the physiological dimension of sexual arousal (i.e., lubrication) but the psychological experience as well. Women of all ages may experience difficulty lubricating, although it tends to be more of a problem in later life, typically after menopause. Female sexual arousal disorder is generally assessed and treated in conjunction with female orgasmic disorder or HSDD. To date, there are no validated treatments that focus exclusively on treating female arousal problems, although a number of pharmacological agents for enhancing vaginal engorgement and lubrication are currently under investigation. Techniques are often employed to help the patient become aware of her anxiety or her sexual turn-off thoughts,...
Personal Characteristics
Last Updated on Fri, 04 Mar 2016 | Cancer Handbook
Because the incidence of most cancers increases rapidly with age, exceptions to this pattern may have aetiological significance. Acute leukaemia, for example, shows both an early and a late peak, which led investigators to consider intrauterine carcinogenesis. The subsequent discovery that intrauterine exposure to ionizing radiation may increase the risk of childhood leukaemia provided empirical support to this hypothesis. Similarly, the bimodal incidence pattern of Hodgkin disease in many countries (Figure 5) led to the prevailing hypothesis that the early peak is due to an infectious agent. Finally, the slowing of the rate of increase of the incidence of breast cancer after menopause has underlined the importance of ovarian oestrogens in the aetiology of this disease.
How Much RAI Is Used for Graves Disease
Last Updated on Sun, 16 Sep 2018 | Thyroid
Different methods are used to decide upon the dosage of RAI. Some physicians give arbitrary doses of I-131, knowing that most people will have some good results as long as the dose is reasonable (often around 10 millicuries). I (Ken) prefer to make measurements that permit the dose to be individually adjusted. It is nearly impossible to reliably give such a precise dose of RAI that a person ends up with normal thyroid gland function and, ultimately, the ongoing autoimmune processes of Graves' disease usually cause the thyroid gland to eventually fail anyway, resulting in hypothyroidism. For this reason, I feel that it's better to aim to give enough RAI to make a person hypothyroid reasonably soon, so that thyroid hormone replacement therapy can be started, which will allow that person to resume his or her usual quality of life faster. First, I estimate the size of a person's thyroid in grams, knowing that a normal-sized thyroid weighs around eighteen to twenty grams. Then I obtain the...
Belief Versus Knowledge in Healthcare
Last Updated on Wed, 23 Oct 2013 | Clinical Trial
Notion that the interventions we have developed for the benefit of our patients can do harm. Nevertheless, harm is often done. Well-meaning physicians, through ignorance, injure their patients commonly. The administration of cutting and bleeding in earlier centuries, and the use of strong purgatives in this century are only two of the most notorious examples. The administration of potent hormone replacement therapy for menstrual symptoms, and the use of surgical lavage and debridement as palliative therapy for osteroarthritic knees are only two of the most recent examples of the well-meaning community of physicians treating patients under mistaken and untested assumptions. What will they say 200 years from now about our current oncologic treatments
Hearing about the diagnosis
Last Updated on Sat, 08 Sep 2018 | Fertility Issues
The following account is based on semi-structured discussions with the six individual hospital endocrinologists and one gynaecologist with whom I work. Girls are referred to the paediatric endocrinologist with symptoms such as puffy hands or feet in infancy, short stature in childhood, or delay in signs of puberty in teen years. The degree of focus on fertility in the initial appointments depends on the reason for the referral, the age at diagnosis, and whether or not there are other serious health features that need immediate treatment. In childhood, the medical focus is usually growth hormone treatment through daily injections to increase height, which is monitored by measurement of linear growth every three months. The mean untreated Caucasian adult height is 143-147 cm, approximately 4 ft 9 in (Elsheikh et al. 2002). With treatment many girls grow to a height in the low normal range. From around the age of puberty, the medical focus turns to the use of sex hormone replacement...
Postoperative Estrogen in Women Patients
Women undergoing CABG are likely to be postmenopausal because coronary artery disease is more prevalent in post-menopausal women (young diabetic women are the exception). Many studies suggest that women at high risk for coronary artery disease or those who already have the disease will benefit from estrogen therapy. This group includes women who have undergone CABG or angioplasty. Another large study is currently testing these results, but, in the meantime, physicians should strongly consider treating all of their postmenopausal CABG patients with estrogen unless they are at very high risk for breast or uterine cancer.
Case study continued Investigating sources of heterogeneity
Last Updated on Wed, 23 Oct 2013 | Health Care
Several of the studies include women who were receiving hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The Littenberg-Moses summary ROC curve method can investigate whether the diagnostic accuracy of EVUS is similar in studies that did or did not include women receiving HRT. A hypothesis of equal diagnostic odds ratios can be tested formally by adding a term to the weighted regression indicating which studies included women receiving HRT
Effects of Radiotherapy on Ovarian Function
Last Updated on Tue, 11 Jun 2019 | Adolescent Cancer
In considering the risk of ovarian failure related to radiotherapy, other fields than the abdomen and pelvis must be considered. Direct or scattered irradiation from the spinal component of craniospinal radiotherapy may also produce ovarian damage 6,17 . With the expanded use of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in pediatric oncology, it is important to recall that total body irradiation (TBI) utilized in the conditioning regimen is commonly associated with primary ovarian failure or premature menopause, with prevalence rates as high as 90-100 18-22 .
What Causes Bone Loss Anyway
Our bones are always regenerating (known as remodeling). This process helps to maintain a constant level of calcium in the blood, essential for a healthy heart, blood circulation, and blood clotting. About 99 percent of all the body's calcium is in the bones and teeth when blood calcium drops below a certain level, the body will take calcium from the bones to replenish it. But by the time we reach our late thirties, our bones lose calcium faster than it can be replaced. The pace of bone calcium loss speeds up for freshly postmenopausal women (three to seven years beyond menopause). One of the most influential factors on bone loss is estrogen it slows the loss of bone mass by directly affecting cells that make bone (osteoblasts) and cells that digest bone (osteo-clasts). In men, testosterone does the same thing, but unlike women, men never reach a particular age when their testes stop producing testosterone. If they did, they might be just as prone to osteoporosis as women.
Thyroid Disease and Osteoporosis
Once your thyroid hormone levels are restored to normal, the risk is gone. But, as discussed in Chapter 10, finding the right dosage can be tricky. Women who have had a thyroidectomy to treat thyroid cancer or for other reasons need to be on a slightly higher dosage of thyroid hormone to suppress all thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) activity. So they may live in a state of mild thyrotoxicosis. Essentially, postmenopausal A long list of other factors affect bone loss. One of the most obvious contributing factors is calcium in our diet. Calcium is regularly lost to urine, feces, and dead skin. We need to continuously account for this loss in our diet. In fact, the less calcium we ingest, the more we force our body into taking it out of our bones. Exercise also greatly affects bone density the more we exercise, the stronger we make our bones. In fact, the bone mass we have in our late twenties and early thirties will affect our bone mass at menopause.
Other Potential Roles As A Neuropeptidase
Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Alzheimer Disease
It has been long known that estradiol plays a very large role in neural remodeling and cognition. Studies of post-menopausal women who are given estradiol exogenously routinely fare better on tests for cognitive function and decline. Pertinent to our own research in AD, women who received estradiol post-menopausally demonstrated an increased age of disease onset and a slower rate of progression towards dementia89. The role of estradiol is still unclear but the effect is pronounced.
How Much Calcium Do You Need
According to the National Institutes of Health Consensus Panel on Osteoporosis, premenopausal women require roughly 1,000 milligrams of calcium a day for peri-menopausal or postmenopausal women already on HRT or ERT, 1,000 milligrams and for peri- and postmenopausal women not taking estrogen, roughly 1,500 milligrams per day. For women who have already been diagnosed with osteoporosis, the Panel recommends 2,500 milligrams of calcium a day. Foods that are rich in calcium include all dairy products (an eight-ounce glass of milk contains 300 milligrams calcium), fish, shellfish, oysters, shrimp, sardines, salmon, soybeans, tofu, broccoli, and dark green vegetables (except spinach, which contains oxalic acid, preventing calcium absorption). It's crucial to determine how much calcium you're getting in your diet before you start any calcium supplements too much calcium can cause kidney stones in people who are at risk for them. In addition, not all supplements have been tested for...
Staying Alert About Heart Disease
If you are past menopause, you must educate yourself about the signs and symptoms of heart disease, since you are at higher risk. Other risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, can be reduced with lifestyle changes. For example, women who are physically active have a 60 to 75 percent lower risk of heart disease than inactive women. Heart disease is currently the number-one cause of death in postmenopausal women more women die of heart disease than lung cancer or breast cancer. Half of all North Americans who die from heart attacks each year are women.
Prevention and Treatment
Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Back Pain
Nonpharmacological therapy for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis includes adequate dietary intake of calcium and vitamin D, weight-bearing exercise, fall precautions, no smoking, and avoidance of excessive alcohol intake. These steps should be started early in life and continued through menopause because BMD peaks at about age 35 and then begins to decline with accelerated bone loss after menopause. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Consensus Development Conference, the optimal recommended dose of elemental calcium is the amount that each person needs to maintain adult bone mass and minimize bone loss later in life (Table 8.3). The recommended dose for postmenopausal women < 65 years old who are on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is 1000 mg day and 1500 mg day for all other postmenopausal women.27 Calcium supplements are advisable if diet cannot supply the recommended amount necessary. Calcium citrate should be taken between meals while calcium carbonate...
Evaluation of Nutritional Status using Biochemical Assessment
Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Quality of Life
Assessment of serum lipid is strongly recommended in subjects that practice fitness regularly 1,32,33 . Prior to assessment, it is important that subjects abstain from alcohol for a 48-h period and from food for 12 h, and it is suggested that they abstain from strenuous exercise in the 48 h preceding the measurement 1,3,32,33 . Finally, factors that must be taken into consideration when interpreting the results include medication use, menopausal status, age, and smoking status 33 .
Obstructive sleep apnoeas and gender
Last Updated on Tue, 02 Jul 2019 | Sleep Medicine
Obstructive sleep apnoeas, upper airway resistance syndrome and snoring are all at least twice as common in men as in women. The risk in women is five times greater after the menopause and twice as great while taking hormone replacement treatment, compared to before the menopause.
Sexual Steroid Hormones
Last Updated on Sun, 16 Sep 2018 | Restless Legs
Several epidemiological studies have shown a higher prevalence of RLS in women than in men (59,62,207). Elderly women seem to be particularly affected (207), which points to the postmenopausal hormonal status as a possible cause. Prospective (208,209), concurrent (210,211), or retrospective assessment (18) of RLS occurrence during pregnancy consistently indicates that approximately 25 of females will experience RLS symptoms, with the highest prevalence during the last trimester (see Chapter 20). In many females, RLS symptoms during pregnancy are mild and infrequent (18,208,210) and disappear shortly after delivery (18,208-210). Hormonal changes during pregnancy predominantly manifest by increases in plasma estrogen, progesterone, and prolactin. A recent study (212) that followed pregnant women with and without RLS from the 35th week of gestation to approximately 12 weeks postpartum has found markedly elevated estradiol levels in pregnant women with RLS during late-term pregnancy but...
Obstructive sleep apnoeas in the elderly
Snoring is less commonly reported in the elderly, possibly because of the partner's deteriorating hearing, because the partner is in a separate bed or bedroom, or because the snorer lives alone. Obstructive sleep apnoeas, however, appear to become progressively more common in older age, although over the age of 60 the gender difference between males and females is less than in younger adults and obesity is less important. The familial association of OSA persists into old age. In women there is an increased prevalence of OSA after the menopause.
Promotion of Physical Activity in Adults
Overall, available evidence discourages educational interventions on the general adult population to prevent obesity through the increase of physical activity. In fact, although several governments have launched mass media campaigns, it is unlikely that these will produce any relevant results. It would be more rational to invest available resources in community and workplace facilities for physical exercise, while concentrating educational interventions on specific groups with a greater awareness of benefits of weight control (e.g., first-degree relatives of patients with diabetes or cardiovascular disease). Some groups of subjects with a high risk for weight gain (e.g., menopausal women, or patients treated with antipsychotic drugs) could be the target of more complex, and expensive, programs for weight control.
Further Comment on Risk Factors
Last Updated on Sun, 16 Sep 2018 | Venous Thrombosis
Hormones There is a very substantial literature on the relationships between hormone levels and thrombosis. The vast majority of this literature pertains to sex hormones used e.g. for oral contraception or hormone replacement therapy, and this matter was discussed briefly in Chapter 3. However, perturbed thyroid hormone levels also appear to increase the likelihood of DVT (as well as atherosclerosis) the mechanisms remain elusive (Squizzato et al. 2005), but protein C levels may be abnormally low (Nagumo et al. 2007). According to an intriguing recent paper, leptin increases TF production by peripheral monocytes, suggesting a possible reason why obesity is a 'risk factor' for DVT (Napoleone et al. 2007).
Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder
There are currently no empirically validated treatments for HSDD. Sex therapy techniques generally consist of 15 to 45 sessions of cognitive therapy aimed at restructuring thoughts or beliefs that may adversely impact sexual desire (e.g., women should not initiate sexual activities, sex is dirty) and to address negative underlying relationship issues. Behavioral approaches are utilized to teach patients to express intimacy and affection in both nonsexual (e.g., holding hands, hugging) and sexual ways, to incorporate new techniques into their sexual repertoire that may enhance their sexual pleasure, and to increase sexual communication. Testosterone is effective in restoring sexual desire in women with abnormally low testosterone levels (e.g., secondary to removal of the adrenal glands, bilateral removal of the ovaries, menopause).
Sexual Pain Disorders Dyspareunia
Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Mental Health
Dyspareunia refers to genital pain associated with intercourse (ApA, 2000). Vulvar vestibulitis is the most common type of premenopausal dyspareunia, whereas vulvar or vaginal atrophy is mostly reported by postmenopausal women. Women with these types of dyspareunia complain of pain in the vulvar area or anterior portion of the vagina upon penetration. The assessment of the type of dyspareu-nia should include information on the location, quality, intensity, time course, and meaning of the pain. The few studies that have examined treatment efficacy showed a moderate success rate of cognitive-behavioral techniques and biofeedback. The cognitive-behavioral approach includes
Who Is Most Likely to Suffer from Dry Eyes
Last Updated on Fri, 21 Sep 2018 | Thyroid
Dry eyes are often a woman's problem since so many autoimmune diseases, which plague women in particular, are associated with dry eyes. Aside from Graves' disease, women can also be plagued with Sjogren's syndrome, which impairs lacrimal gland function and the formation of watery tears (90 percent of Sjogren's syndrome sufferers are women). Hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause can also cause dry eyes, while in the general population asthma, glaucoma, blepharitis (chronic inflammation of the eyelids), cornea surgery, and corrective surgery for nearsighted-ness are other causes.
Years old ten weeks into my fourth pregnancy
Last Updated on Sat, 22 Jun 2019 | Fertility Issues
Early menopause is now becoming a recognized long-term complication of chemotherapy given in adolescence (Marsden and Hacker 2003). Young adult cancer survivors are often advised to wait two years following the completion of treatment before trying to conceive, when health prospects become brighter. There is also evidence to suggest that teen-cancer-survivors exhibit delayed sexual maturity and first sexual experiences occur later than their peers (Kokkonen et al. 1997). These factors combine to limit duration of potential childbearing years. Communication concerning a shortening of reproductive years could serve to decrease psychological distress in the future by giving a survivor the correct facts to make an informed choice.
Complications with Amiodarone
On the other hand, there is an unusual situation when the amiodarone seems to poison the thyroid gland, causing an intense irritation that releases stored thyroid hormones from the gland. Many medical treatments have been tried, most to no avail, to alleviate this problem. If this occurs, most of the time, the two treatment options are to either provide sufficient beta-blockers and medical support for the person to survive the thyrotoxicosis or to have a surgeon remove the thyroid gland, then start thyroid hormone replacement therapy. Determination of the proper approach requires the consultation of expert thyroid specialists and cardiologists.
Night sweats sleep hyperhidrosis
Night sweats may be a physiological response to a rise in temperature, but many normal subjects complain of excess sweating at night without any demonstrable fever. This is probably due to an increased sympathetic stimulation of sweat glands and is often related to anxiety or stress, or is a response to sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnoeas. Menopausal night sweats are related to fluctuations in blood oestrogen levels. Night sweats also occur in thyrotoxicosis, with infections such as pulmonary tuberculosis, in lymphomas, particularly Hodgkin's disease, and occasionally in hypothalamic lesions. Sweating at night can lead to frequent awakenings from sleep. Treatment is unsatisfactory, except for the sweats related to the menopause which respond to oestrogen replacement treatment. If night sweats are drenching and require frequent changes of night-clothes, either extensive tuberculosis or a lymphoma, such as Hodgkin's disease, should be suspected.
Building on enthusiasm while avoiding duplication
Last Updated on Thu, 11 Feb 2016 | Health Care
Because it is unlikely to make sense from the perspective of someone using a review to make a practical decision. For example, someone deciding about hormone replacement therapy is likely to be interested in all its important effects, including possible benefits, such as reducing the risk of fractures and cardiovascular disease, and possible adverse effects, such as increasing the risk of breast cancer. From this perspective, it would be unhelpful, as well as inefficient, for each of the many review groups with an interest in this intervention to focus only on the outcomes that they consider within their scope.
Genital Tract Infections
Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Herpes Simplex
The normal anatomy, physiology and microbial etiology of the vagina are age-dependent (Cruickshank and Sharman, 1934). There are also obvious age-dependent differences in the source of vaginal infections. These factors account for different etiologies of vaginitis in neonates, infants, prepubertal girls and pre- and postmenopausal adults (Table 3.1). TABLE 3.1 Etiology of lower urogenital tract sexually trans' mitted diseases in adult premenopausal women.
Types of cardiovascular disease
Last Updated on Fri, 09 Feb 2018 | Heart Disease
Blood clots in the leg veins, which can dislodge and move to the heart and lungs. Riskfactors Surgery, obesity, cancer, previous episode of DVT, recent childbirth, use of oral contraceptive and hormone replacement therapy, long periods of immobility, for example while travelling, high homocysteine levels in the blood.
Localized pruritic dermatoses
Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Skin Diseases
It is very common to see localized neurodermatitis of the posterior neck in menopausal women. Other clinical types of neurodermatitis are seen in any age. VULVAR PRURITUS. Etiologically, vulvar pruritus is due to candida or trichomonas infection contact dermatitis from underwear, douche chemicals, contraceptive jellies, and diaphragms chronic cervicitis neurodermatitis menopausal or senile atrophic changes lichen sclerosus et atrophicus or leukoplakia. Pruritus vulvae is frequently seen in patients with diabetes mellitus and during pregnancy.
Pathophysiology of DHEA deficiency
Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Erectile Dysfunction
More recently, a DHEA deficiency state has been reported in young, healthy, regularly menstruating premenopausal women presenting with decreased libido 297 . The regular menstrual periods support normal cyclical ovarian function and ovarian testosterone production. However, since adrenal DHEA contributes to almost half of a premenopausal woman's circulating androgens, such a deficiency
Screening for late onset hypogonadism LOH
In women, age-related hormonal changes are well recognized, generally with a rapid onset and progression, leading to the characteristic menopausal symptoms. In males, the changes in the hypo-thalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in general have an insidious onset and a slow progression, do not have clinical manifestations in all men, have a great variability from man to man with the clinical picture of hypogonadism being mild or even nonexistent in many of them 159 .
Abnormalities of Secretion by the Ovaries
Wed, 20 Apr 2016 | Medical Physiology
When the ovaries of a fully developed woman are removed, the sexual organs regress to some extent so that the uterus becomes almost infantile in size, the vagina becomes smaller, and the vaginal epithelium becomes thin and easily damaged. The breasts atrophy and become pendulous, and the pubic hair becomes thinner. The same changes occur in women after menopause. Hypogonadism. As pointed out in the preceding discussion of menopause, the quantity of estrogens produced by the ovaries must rise above a critical value in order to cause rhythmical sexual cycles. Consequently, in hypogonadism or when the gonads are secreting small quantities of estrogens as a result of other factors, such as hypothyroidism, the ovarian cycle often does not occur normally. Instead, several months may elapse between menstrual periods, or menstruation may cease altogether (amenorrhea). Prolonged ovarian cycles are frequently associated with failure of ovulation, presumably because of insufficient secretion of...
Initiation of treatment and followup
Sat, 23 Apr 2016 | Erectile Dysfunction
The second annual Andropause consensus meeting recommended performing DRE and serum PSA before treatment, at three and six months, and yearly thereafter 215 . In addition to that recommendation, a PSA level could be obtained one month after initiation of therapy to capture the patient with a previously undiagnosed prostate cancer that may be behaving in a very aggressive fashion following T-replacement. ISSAM and WHO guidelines also recommend periodic hematologic assessment, i.e.
Diagnosing Thyrotoxicosis andor Hyperthyroidism
The challenge for diagnosing either hyperthyroidism and or thyrotoxicosis is similar for hypothyroidism the symptoms can overlap with stress, anxiety, panic disorder, low blood sugar, and cardiovascular diseases. For women, PMS and perimenopause can mask, or be mistaken for, thyrotoxicosis miscarriage or infertility can also result from thyrotoxicosis.
Normal Organ Development
Hormonal function and potential for fertility are synchronous in females, as the ovary both produces oocytes and secretes steroid hormones. Prepubertal females possess their lifetime supply of oocytes with no new oogonia formed after birth. Active mitosis of oogonia occurs during fetal life, reaching a peak of 6-7 million by 20 weeks of gestation, and then rapidly declining to 1-2 million at birth. At the onset of puberty, only 300,000 remain 1 . The cortices of the ovaries harbor the follicles within connective tissue. These follicles arise from the germinal epithelium, which covers the free surface of the ovary. Through involution, atresia and, to a much lesser extent, ovulation, the follicles disappear entirely at menopause. The normal pre-menopausal ovary contains degenerating ova and follicles in varying stages of maturity. Ovarian hormones also have critical physiologic effects on other organs and bodily processes, including the stimulation of libido, the maturation and function...
Table 9 Aspects of chemoprevention at major cancer target sites3
Thu, 12 May 2016 | Cancer Handbook
Age > 50 years, familial history of breast cancer or genetic syndrome (e.g. Li-Fraumeni, BRCA1), previous breast, endometrial or ovarian cancer, atypical hyperplasia, DCIS, LCIS oestrogen exposure (e.g. early menarche, late menopause, late age at first full-term pregnancy) life-style factors (e.g. diet)
Felida x 1887 Azam 1892
Last Updated on Thu, 21 Mar 2019 | Multiple Personality
Now in 1891, Felida is forty-seven years old. Her general health is bad, for she has an ovarian tumor. Her intellectual condition at present is as fol-lows -For the last nine or ten years the periods of the second condition have diminished in time of duration to lasting a few hours only, and appearing only every twenty-five to thirty days. So that Felida is almost cured, and will be perfectly so at the epoch of the menopause.
Thyroid Hormone Replacement
Since we are all individuals, dosing may vary greatly from one person to the other. Indeed, people of the same gender, age, and weight may require different doses. The goal of thyroid hormone replacement therapy is to restore thyroid hormone levels to a level that results in a normal TSH value. That said, some pharmacologic studies to date indicate no significant differences between the four most commonly dispensed brands of levothyroxine. In clinical speak, they were found to be pharmacologically equivalent (absorbed in the blood in precisely the same way) and are considered equivalent under current FDA guidelines. This means that the brands studied were found to be interchangeable in the majority of patients receiving thyroid hormone replacement therapy. But disagreement persists regarding bioequivalency among thyroid brands. This is because many thyroid experts believe that bioequivalence requires comparing TSH responses, rather than just T4 levels. One manufacturer had to recall...
Prevention Strategies
A critical component to prevention is health counseling for females at risk. For females treated during the prepubertal period, parents should be counseled regarding the risk of primary ovarian failure. Normal gonadal development should be reviewed with recommendations for monitoring of growth and development. Reproductive counseling should be made cautiously and preferably, in conjunction with a specialist in reproductive endocrinology. The effects on the female gonadal system from radiotherapy and chemotherapy may demonstrate significant inter-individual variation, even with identical exposures at identical ages. Post-pubertal females who have normal menstrual function should be counseled about appropriate contraception should they currently not wish to conceive a child, and they should also be made aware of their potential risk for premature menopause. Not inconsequential for young adults is the impact of ovarian failure or impending failure in sexual drive or libido, an effect...
Cardiovascular function
Steroids and vascular risk factors Premenopausal women suffer significantly less from cardiovascular disease than men, and traditionally it has been thought that the relationship between sex steroids and cardiovascular disease is predominantly determined by the relatively beneficial effects of estrogens, and by the relatively detrimental effects of androgens on lipid profiles 101 . Nevertheless, the vast majority of cross-sectional studies in men are not in agreement with this assumption they show a positive correlation between FT levels and HDL cholesterol 111-113 , and a negative correlation, with fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 105 , and insulin levels as well as with coronary heart disease 115,116 , but not with cardiovascular mortality 117-119 . Low testosterone level in coronary artery disease Premenopausal women, in comparison to men, are felt to be protected against cardiovascular disease by estrogens. It is then paradoxical that in cross-sectional studies of...
The Female Athlete Triad
Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Stress Fractures
Disordered eating, estrogen deficiency, and menstrual dysfunction predispose women to the third component of the triad, osteoporosis 89 . Reduced BMD in premenopausal women appears to be irreversible, despite weight gain, resumption of menses, or estrogen replacement 6,7 . One study found that, with the resumption of menses, there was a significant increase in vertebral BMD. However after 2 years of normal menses, BMD remained below the age-normative level. Slemenda and colleagues 97 have shown that the low estro-genic state associated with amenorrhea has a more profound effect on cancellous bone than on cortical bone. Cancellous bone is found in a higher percentage in the pelvis, sacrum, and femoral neck areas where female athletes tend to have a higher occurrence of stress fractures. These factors put the female athlete who is experiencing the triad complex at a significant risk for stress fractures. Although some investigators have found that weight-bearing exercise has a...
Effect Of Botanicals On The Breast
Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Breast Cancer
The role of food in health and disease is of immense and ongoing interest. One of the most studied botanicals is soy. Soy has been reported to have protective effects against breast cancer in Asian women. At least two studies have evaluated the effect of soy isoflavones on the breast using NAF, one (Hargreaves et al., 1999) short term (2 weeks) and the other (Petrakis et al., 1996) for a longer duration (6 months). The short-term study administered 45 mg soy isoflavones to 84 healthy premenopausal women. They found that the isoflavones genistein and daidzein were concentrated in NAF compared to matched serum, both before and after soy supplementation, and that apolipoprotein D (apoD) levels were significantly lowered and pS2 levels were raised in response to soy ingestion (pS2 levels rise and apoD levels go down in response to estrogen Harding et al., 2000). NAF cytology did not significantly change. In the longer-term study, which evaluated both pre- and postmenopausal white...
Two Dimensional Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis
Were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a high-throughput method of evaluating protein concentration. Considering all subjects, GCDFP-15 levels were significantly lower and AAG levels significantly higher in breasts with cancer. This was also true in pre- but not postmenopausal women. GCDFP-15 levels were lowest and AAG levels highest in women with DCIS. Menopausal status influenced GCDFP-15 and AAG more in women without than with breast cancer. ApoD levels did not correlate significantly with breast cancer.
Initial Studies Of Naf Focus On Feasibility
In order for NAF to be useful as a screening tool, it is essential to collect a sample in the vast majority of women. As a result, increasing the success rate continued to be an important area of investigation for the next 30 years. Early studies indicated that the ease of collecting NAF was related to the ethnicity of the individual, with NAF being more difficult to collect from Asians than African Americans or Caucasians (Petrakis et al., 1975). This was presumed to be due to the physiology of the breast, a modified ceruminous gland and is probably related to the secretory pattern in the breast and other ceruminous glands, which provide less secretions in most Asians (Petrakis, 1971) and American Indians (Petrakis, 1969) who are thought to have come from Asia than in Caucasians and African Americans. Other variables (Petrakis et al., 1975) found linked to success in NAF collection included age (late premenopause had the highest yield) and menopausal status (premenopausal subjects...
Effects of Chemotherapy on Ovarian Function
Sat, 03 Dec 2016 | Adolescent Cancer
Due to improved survivorship from childhood cancer noted as early as the 1970s to 1980s, large cohorts of female survivors have reached the 3rd and 4th decades of life, where the risk for infertility and premature menopause has been examined. Two large studies of these survivors demonstrated elevated risks for infertility and premature menopause 9,24 . A study of 2,498 female survivors, treated between 1945 and 1975, showed a 7 deficit in fertility, compared with siblings. Between ages 21 and 25 years, survivors had a risk of premature menopause four times greater than that of siblings. Treatment-related risk factors included radiotherapy alone (RR 3.7), alkylating agents alone (RR 9.2) or a combination of both (RR 27). By age 31,42 of these women had reached menopause, compared with 5 of siblings 9 . In a study of 719 survivors treated between 1964 and 1988,15.5 of women were unable to conceive. Women treated with abdominopelvic radiotherapy alone had a fertility deficit of 23 ,...
Life stages and the skin
Last Updated on Sat, 28 Jan 2017 | Skin Diseases
Common physiologic changes in the skin of women during menopause include hot flashes, increased perspiration, increased hair growth on the face, and varying degrees of scalp hair loss. Other skin conditions associated with menopause are chloasma, pedunculated fibromas (skin tags), lichen simplex chronicus, vulvar pruritus, keratoderma climacterium (palmar psoriasis), and rosacea.
Last Updated on Sun, 16 Sep 2018 | Endocrinology
The potential of HSCT for treatment of autoimmune diseases is dependent on both the pathogenesis and severity of the underlying disorder. For example, hormone replacement therapy is both effective and well tolerated in patients with thyroiditis and (after destruction or removal of the thyroid gland) Graves' disease. Prognosis for these diseases is excellent, and complications related to hormone therapy are minimal therefore, HSCT for these diseases cannot be justified. Moreover, HSCT is effective only for diseases in which the primary defect is expressed through hematopoietic stem cells. For example, autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 results from a defect in central (thymic) toler
Endogenous Substances Single Protein Analysis 9411 Hormones and Growth Factors
Leptin is a hormone that plays a central role in food intake and energy expenditure (Macajova et al., 2004). Systemic levels of leptin are increased in obese individuals, and have been found to stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells in vitro. Leptin levels in NAF were more readily measured in post- than in premeno-pausal women and were significantly higher in postmenopausal women with a body mass index (BMI) < 25 (Sauter et al., 2004a). While NAF leptin levels were not associated with pre- or postmenopausal breast cancer, they were associated with premenopausal BMI.
Why Do I Still Feel Hypothyroid
Other potential causes of these ailments include physical and emotional stress, sleep deprivation, normal aging (including menopause), sedentary living (the older we get, the less active we become), poor diet, obesity or obesity-related diseases (such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease), and other diseases we should be managing. Remember, too, that bouts of hypothyroidism seriously interfere with your normal activities. Many people become more sedentary, gain weight, and may consequently feel bad even after their thyroid hormone levels are restored. Bouts of hypothyroidism can leave us out of the loop at work and socially, and we may feel the consequences of having to catch up or the long absence of engagement in our community or our social network, in turn, that can trigger real depression. (See Chapter 24.) In that way we can feel worse or unwell in spite of normal thyroid hormone and TSH levels.
Organ Damage Induced by Cytotoxic Therapy
Radiotherapy and chemotherapy each may cause transitory or permanent effects on hormonal function, reproductive capacity and sexual function. Primary ovarian failure, impaired development of secondary sexual characteristics, menstrual irregularities, including oligomenorrhea and amenorrhea, or premature menopause may occur. The menopausal state, when it occurs prematurely, is associated with the same physical symptoms as are seen with normal aging,including hot flashes,loss oflibido and osteoporosis 2,3 . Such effects are not simply physically bothersome to survivors, but adversely impact their quality of life 4 . The specific effects are dependent on the ovarian dose of radiation and the chemotherapeutic agents and their doses. They also depend on the developmental status of the patient at the age of treatment.
Inhibitors of Bone Resorption
Last Updated on Tue, 11 Jun 2019 | Back Pain
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) In the PEPI trial, HRT increased BMD at the hip by 1.7 and at the spine by 3.5 to 5.0 over a 3-year period compared to placebo. HRT inhibits bone loss for the duration of the therapy, which recurs once therapy is discontinued. In premenopausal women with osteoporosis secondary to hypoestrogenic stages, early intervention with estrogen to achieve return of menses, is critical since bone loss may be irreversible. Observational studies consistently suggest that postmenopausal HRT reduces the risk of hip and other types of fractures.30 Evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs), especially for vertebral fracture prevention, is less available. In a Danish RCT, HRT reduced forearm fracture incidence in recent postmenopausal women.31 In another randomized trial, HRT and vitamin D prevented nonvertebral fractures in postmenopausal women.32 A meta-analysis published in 2001 suggests that estrogen reduces risk of nonvertebral fractures by 27 . Estrogen...
Neurotransmitter Correlates
Last Updated on Tue, 11 Jun 2019 | Biological Psychiatry
Another means of making inferences about brain serotonin in humans involves neuroendocrine challenges. For example, researchers have infused serotonin agonists such as fenfluramine into subjects' veins, which bind to serotonin receptors in the hypothalamus and cause release of the hormone prolactin from the pituitary gland into the peripheral circulation. Thus, the prolactin response to d,l-fenfluramine is thought to provide an index of brain serotonergic function. A number of studies conducted on this topic (but not all) have revealed inverse relationships between fenfluramine-induced prolactin release and indices of behavioral aggression and hostility in personality-disordered patients. Studies utilizing other serotonin agonists such as meta-chlorophenylpiperazine and ipsapirone have also revealed inverse associations with prolactin release and ratings of hostility in personality disordered subjects (Coccaro, 1998). Although comor-bid alcoholism was a potential confounding factor in...
Human Studies of Behavioral Effects of Androgens and Estrogens
Estrogen also affects behavior later in life. Cognition changes with variations in estrogen levels resulting from the menstrual cycle, oral contraceptives, menopause, and estrogen treatment. Estrogen facilitates aspects of motor function, perhaps by modulating left-hemisphere regions involved in praxis. Estrogen also facilitates memory, so that postmenopausal women receiving estrogen supplementation have better memory than women not taking estrogen. There are associated changes in brain activity, especially in regions involved in memory, including frontal lobes and hippocampus.
Last Updated on Thu, 07 May 2015 | Cancer Handbook
The third phase of mammary development occurs during pregnancy and lactation and at this stage the breast can be considered to be morphologically mature and functionally active. The alveolar buds and lobes subdivide further, giving rise to large clusters of alveolar lobes. During lactation, the clusters of alveolar lobes become distended and form secretory alveoli lined with alveolar cells which produce milk. After cessation of lactation, involution of the breast occurs where the secretory cells of the alveoli degenerate and disappear. Similarly, after the menopause, there is progressive involution of the ductal and glandular components of the breast. The connective tissue supporting the breast also degenerates with loss of stromal cells and collagen fibres.
Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Surgical Oncology
D profile and is administered orally at a dose of 20 mg day. It improves survival in postmenopausal and premenopausal patients whose tumors are estrogen receptor positive. Tamoxifen has also been shown to decrease further the recurrence rate in patients receiving chemotherapy. There may be a small benefit for women with estrogen receptor negative tumors. Tamoxifen should be given for at least 2 years and is usually given for 5 years. Studies indicate no survival benefit for use of Tamoxifen beyond 5 years.
Hypothyroid people often have high cholesterol that can lead to a host of other problems, including heart disease. This should be controlled through diet until your thyroid problem is brought under control. It's generally recommended that anyone with high cholesterol be tested for hypothyroidism. Cholesterol-lowering medications should not be started unless the high cholesterol levels persist a few months after sufficient thyroid hormone replacement therapy. We discuss cholesterol more in Chapter 25.
Last Updated on Sun, 16 Sep 2018 | Adolescent Cancer
Unlike primary hypothyroidism, it is not useful to monitor TSH in patients with central hypothyroidism. In a prospective study of 37 patients with central hypothyroidism, free T4 and free T3 were monitored during therapy and adjusted to achieve free T4 in the midnormal range without free T3 elevation and without symptoms of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism 14 .We usually adjust thyroid hormone replacement therapy in patients with central hypothyroidism to maintain the level of free T4 just above the middle of the normal range (for example, free T4 of 1.4-1.6 ng dl if the normal range is 0.781.85 ng dl).
Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Salivary Gland
The factors of age group and gender are also important, for several diseases are often related to age or gender. The autoimmune disorder known as Sjogren's syndrome, for example, is common in menopausal women, while mumps, parotid swelling due to paramyxoviral infection, usually occurs in children between the ages of 4 and 10 years.
Silent Thyroiditis
This kind of thyroiditis was not discussed until the 1970s and was possibly mistaken for transient Graves' disease before then because of thyrotoxicosis. Again, the thyroiditis runs its course and the thyrotoxicosis clears up. In the course of the diagnosis, a silent thyroiditis sufferer may be given a radioactive iodine uptake test, showing almost no uptake, to distinguish it from Graves' disease with high uptake. Often, no treatment is necessary, and the condition clears up by itself. At other times, beta-blockers provide relief from some thyrotoxic symptoms. If a period of hypothyroidism follows the transient episode of thyrotoxicosis, it may require thyroid hormone treatment unless it is very brief. Some people with this thyroiditis become permanently hypothyroid, requiring lifelong thyroid hormone replacement therapy.
Another new scarring hair loss reported in Australia termed postmenopausal frontal fibrosing alopecia may in fact be a frontal variant of lichen planopilaris (Kossard, 1997). This was described as progressive, asymptomatic, marginal scarring hair loss extending to temporal and parietal areas in menopausal women.
Struation (menarche) at about age 12, although between 10 and 14 years is normal. Menstruation continues cyclically for several decades until the final menstrual period at an average age of 51. A woman is menopausal once she has had a year without menstrual flow. The menopause transition (or perimenopause) occurs during the final years of menstruation and lasts about four years from the start of irregular periods. Perimenopause is a time of change with high or variable estrogen levels, ovulation disturbances, and consequent changes in flow, unpredictability of menstrual cycles, and more intense premenstrual experiences. between the LH peak and flow or fewer than 10 days between temperature rise and the next menstruation. Short luteal phase cycles are associated with early miscarriages and infertility. In addition, short luteal phases are associated with risks for low bone density (and subsequent osteoporosis). Short luteal phase cycles are common during the first 12 years following...
Mood swings can be an especially tricky symptom of both menopause and thyroid disease. While irritability and depression can be symptoms of menopause, they may also be signs of thyroid disease. The following menopausal symptoms can also be confused with symptoms of hypo-or hyperthyroidism
Postmenopausal women are at highest risk of developing osteoporosis (bone loss), which can be aggravated by thyrotoxicosis (see further). Eighty percent of all osteoporosis sufferers are women as a direct result of estrogen loss. Maintaining bone mass and good bone health is your best defense against osteoporosis. Although osteoporosis can be disfiguring, it is a relatively silent disease in that there are often no immediate symptoms, pain, or suffering that occur with it. The problem is not osteoporosis itself but the risk of fractures. One out of two women over fifty will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in her lifetime. If you have osteoporosis and fall down, a fracture can dramatically affect the current and future quality of life. If you've ever experienced reduced mobility, or you've been dependent on someone else to prepare meals, shop, or run errands, you may have some idea as to how debilitating being bedridden and immobile can be. A full 70 percent of all hip fractures...
Last Updated on Mon, 10 Sep 2018 | Adolescent Cancer
Both chemotherapy and radiotherapy can affect ovarian function in female survivors of childhood cancer. The effects are varied and dependent on the chemotherapeutic agents and doses, radiotherapy doses,techniques,volumes and fields and the age and pubertal status of the female. There is also considerable individual variation, the reasons for which remain largely unknown. Problems may include primary ovarian failure, reduced libido, pregnancy complications and premature menopause. Preventive strategies remain limited. Avoidance or reduction in the dose of gonadal toxic therapies should be attempted where possible. Where this is not possible, advances in reproductive medicine may ultimately allow for ovarian cryopreservation and similar techniques. Survivors should receive health counseling about risks, annual physical examinations with attention paid to endocrine and reproductive function, close monitoring of gonadal function and referral to pediatric endocrinologists, reproductive...
The prevalence of osteoporosis varies by sex, ethnicity, and race.12 Decreased bone density is more common in women of Northern European or Asian descent. Women and men experience age-related decrease in bone mass density starting at midlife, but women experience more rapid bone loss after the menopause.13 Genetic syndromes like Turner's (45,X0) syndrome patients have streak ovaries and decreased estrogen production leading to the early development of osteoporosis.14
To prevent osteoporosis, the physician should attempt to establish early detection of low bone mineral density (BMD). Currently there is no accurate measure of bone strength, but BMD is the accepted method to establish a diagnosis of osteoporosis and predict future fracture risk.22,23 The World Health Organization (WHO) defines osteoporosis as a BMD 2.5 standard deviations (SDs) below the mean for young white adult women. This definition does not apply to other ethnic groups, men, or children.7,24 The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force suggests that the primary reason to screen postmenopausal The most thoroughly studied and most widely used technique to measure BMD is the dual-energy x-ray absortiometry (DEXA) scan. This is considered to be the gold standard screening test to measure the BMD of the hip and spine. It is less expensive and involves less radiation exposure than the quantitative computed tomography (CT). Since some patients don't respond to therapy for osteoporosis, the...
Last Updated on Wed, 06 Apr 2016 | Stress Fractures
And magnesium disrupt the normal metabolism of bone, which has significant effects on the internal structure and strength of bone 41 . Part of this treatment option is determining the appropriate use of hormone replacement therapy in amenorrheic females. A critique of the athlete's diet is also important to ensure adequate caloric intake and appropriate vitamins and minerals to maintain adequate bone density. Psychologic assessment may be needed in athletes with eating disorders. A supervised, graduated physical therapy program is required to define and control the duration, frequency, and intensity of activity as the athlete moves closer to full competition. The correction of training errors that led initially to the stress fracture is essential to the rehabilitation process. Athletes are allowed to continue conditioning exercises such as swimming or cycling during the period of rest for their injured femur. In some patients, the use of unloader braces may be appropriate to decrease...
Estrogens
Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Essential Drugs
17 -Estradiol is the main estrogen synthesized and secreted by normal female ovaries. Its oxidized analog, estrone, is secreted to a significantly lesser degree by premenopausal ovaries. The hormonal effect of estrogens on target tissues is based on a complex mechanism that includes their reaction with specific estrogenic cytoplasmic receptors. After binding with these receptors, a conformational change occurs, which results in the estrogen-receptor complex penetrating into the nucleus, where it disassociates and returns to its native condition. Estrogens are used for insufficient ovary function. Estrogen replacement therapy is used in agonadal, menopausal, hypothalamic, and amenorrheal conditions (i.e. in cases of primary hypogonadism and hormone therapy in postmenopausal women). Estrogens are also recommended for other clinical endocrine diseases if hypoestrogenism has been established. Estrogens are most widely used in combination with progestins in a number of oral contraceptive...
Alendronate Fosamax
Alendronate was approved by the FDA in 1995 for treatment of post-menopausal osteoporosis. It reduces the risk of vertebral fractures by 30 to 50 and increases the BMD at the spine and hip.35 Alendronate also reduces the risk of fractures in men and women with osteoporosis secondary to the chronic use of steroids.36 One study evaluated the addition of alendronate to HRT in the treatment of postmenopausal women with low BMD despite ongoing treatment with estrogen.37 Compared with HRT alone, at 12 months alendronate plus HRT produced significantly greater increases in BMD of the lumbar spine (3.6 vs. 1.0 , p < .001) and hip trochanter (2.7 vs. 0.5 , p < .001). This study suggests that alendronate may be beneficial when added to HRT in postmenopausal women with low BMD despite ongoing treatment with HRT. However, it should be noted that the outcome measured was BMD and not fractures. The recommended starting dose for postmenopausal osteoporosis prevention is 5 mg day with a...
Risedronate Actonel
Risedronate is a newer biphosphonate approved in 2000 by the FDA for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. While the indications are the same as alendronate, it has fewer gastrointestinal side effects. Both agents cost over 50 a month. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 2458 ambulatory postmenopausal women younger than 85 years with at least 1 vertebral fracture at baseline, risedronate decreased the relative incidence of new vertebral fractures by 41 over 3 years. The absolute risk reduction was from 16.3 to 11.3 . The cumulative incidence of nonvertebral fractures over 3 years was reduced by 39 (5.2 vs 8.4 ). The overall safety profile of rise-dronate, including gastrointestinal safety, was similar to that of placebo. The most effective dose was 5 mg day.39
Battling the Bloat
Good sources of soluble fiber include oats or oat bran, legumes (dried beans and peas), some seeds, carrots, oranges, bananas, and other fruits. Soybeans are also high sources of soluble fiber. Studies show that people with very high cholesterol have the most to gain by eating soybeans. Soybeans are also a phytoestrogen (plant estrogen) that is believed to lower the risks of estrogen-related cancers (for example, breast cancer), as well as lower the incidence of estrogen-loss symptoms associated with menopause.
Another international study of 3,817 women diagnosed with HD before age 30 reported that 105 developed breast cancer at a mean of 18 years after diagnosis and at a mean age of 40.7 years 57 . Increased risk of breast cancer was observed in patients who had received more than 40Gy to the chest, and there was a dose-response relationship. Overall, women who became menopausal before age 40, either as a result of radiation or alkylating agent chemotherapy, experienced significant reductions in risk, compared with women who retained ovarian function. Among those patients who did not become menopausal, the number of alkylating agent cycles received was inversely related to the risk of breast cancer, also implying decreased risk when ovarian function is lost. Regarding the possible role of genetic susceptibility in survivors of HD, Nichols et al. found that TP53, BRCA1 or BRCA2 were not frequently mutated in a cohort who had developed SMNs 44 . Many reports have documented that the risk of...
Last Updated on Tue, 27 May 2014 | Erectile Dysfunction
Late onset hypogonadism (LOH) is the term recommended by the International Society for the Study of the Aging Male (ISSAM), the International Society of Andrology (ISA), and the European Association of Urology (EAU), to replace the previous terminology of andropause, androgen deficiency of the aging male (ADAM), and partial androgen deficiency of the aging male (PADAM) 2 . It is a clinical and biochemical syndrome associated with advancing age and is characterized by typical symptoms and a deficiency in serum T levels. It may result in significant detriment in the quality of life and adversely affect the function of multiple organ systems.
Cost-effectiveness scenario analysis for a proposed trial of hormone replacement therapy. Health Policy 1997 39 181-94. 19 Smith TJ, Hillner BE. The efficacy and cost-effectiveness of adjuvant therapy of early breast cancer in pre-menopausal women. J Clin Oncol 1993,11 771-6.
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Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Medical Physiology
Months to a few years, the cycle ceases altogether, as shown in Figure 81-10. The period during which the cycle ceases and the female sex hormones diminish to almost none is called menopause. The cause of menopause is burning out of the ovaries. Throughout a woman's reproductive life, about 400 of the primordial follicles grow into mature follicles and ovulate, and hundreds of thousands of ova degenerate. At about age 45 years, only a few primordial follicles remain to be stimulated by FSH and LH, and, as shown in Figure 81-10, the production of estrogens by the ovaries decreases as the number of primordial follicles approaches zero. When estrogen production falls below a critical value, the estrogens can no longer inhibit the production of the gonadotropins FSH and LH. Instead, as shown in Figure 81-9, the gonadotropins FSH and LH (mainly FSH) are produced after menopause in large and continuous quantities, but as the remaining primordial follicles become atretic, the production of...
Psychic functions
Last Updated on Thu, 11 Jul 2019 | Erectile Dysfunction
The assumption that postmenopausal women enjoy protection from Alzheimer disease when they receive estrogen replacement therapy has been challenged by the recently discontinued Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study. The WHI Memory Study showed that the combination of conjugated equine estrogens and progestagens increased the risk of probable dementia in postmenopausal women aged 65 years or over 149 . This could be due to the antagonistic effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate on the positive effects of estrogens on cognitive functions 150 , and not to estrogenic effects per se. There is evidence that androgens confer protection from Alzheimer disease in their own right 151 . So there may be an advantage in supplementing androgens in aging men whose T levels have fallen below a certain limit, thereby in fact substituting both androgens and estrogens. Not all studies in aging men are in agreement, however. A recent study 152 found only a link between cognition and estrogens in...
The best treatment for osteoporosis is prevention. Preventive measures include hormone replacement therapy, exercise, alendronate, increased calcium intake, and calcitonins (see Reference 56, Chapter 122). Recently, combination therapies of estrogen and alendronate have yielded even greater increases in bone mineral density and are tolerated quite well.5 Certain facts are important to remember when considering the prescription of preventive measures short-term intervention late in the natural course of osteoporosis may have significant effects on the incidence of hip fractures 6 hip fracture may be associated with reduced muscle strength rather than reduced body mass or fat 7,8 long-term heavy activity reduces the risk of hip fracture in postmenopausal women 9 and height appears to be an important independent risk factor for hip fracture among American women and men.10 Factors that are protective relative risk (RR) < 1 against hip fracture in the elderly are an increase in weight...
Last Updated on Sun, 16 Jun 2019 | Erectile Dysfunction
DHEA is one of the most abundant circulating hormones. DHEA has been shown to exert its effects via downstream conversion to the steroid sex hormones, neuromodulation, improvement in en-dothelial function, and perhaps by means of action on a cell membrane-bound receptor. DHEA deficiency has been correlated with various endocrine, age-related, and other non-hormonal medical conditions. DHEA supplementation has been shown to be beneficial in patients with primary and secondary adrenal insufficiency. However, studies looking at the effects of DHEA supplementation on well-being, metabolism, and sexual function, in euadrenal subjects (including premenopausal and post-menopausal women with androgen insufficiency) have been inconsistent to date. Further research, in the form of randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled studies, is needed to better elucidate the efficacy and safety of DHEA supplementation for the treatment of androgen insufficiency in women.
Androgens
Methyltestosterone is a synthetic analog of testosterone that possesses all of the properties of testosterone, exhibiting stimulatory action on the development of male sex organs and secondary sex characteristics, although it is not degraded by enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract, and therefore it can only be taken orally. It is used for the same indications as testosterone for sexual underdevelopment, functional problems of the reproductive system, and the vascular nerve disorders associated with climacteric problems in men. It is also used for dysfunctional uterine bleeding in premenopausal and menopausal women as well as for breast and ovarian cancer. Synonyms of this drug are androral, testoral, oraviron, and others.
Sleep and obesity
Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Sleep Medicine
The control of sleep is closely linked to feeding behaviour and energy expenditure. These determine the body weight and in particular the body fat and lean body mass. Body weight and body mass index (weight in kg height in m squared) are only indirect indicators of obesity because they do not assess body composition. Other measures, such as the waist to hip ratio and collar circumference, give an indication of the distribution of body fat and in particular whether it has a central rather than a peripheral location. Central fat deposition is more common in males and post-menopausal females, and peripheral fat is more common in pre-menopausal females.
Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Genetic Engineering
Osteoporosis is most typical in post-menopausal women, who have low blood levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Men can get osteoporosis, too, but their testosterone supports building greater bone mass. Though their risk is less than women's, men can get osteoporosis as their testosterone levels decline with age.
Iron Losses
Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Restless Legs
The low solubility of iron at physiologic pH precludes urinary excretion as a major mechanism of maintaining iron homeostasis. Thus, in contrast to most other trace minerals whose homeostasis in maintained by excretion, the primary mechanism of maintaining whole body iron homeostasis is to regulate the amount of iron absorbed so that it approximates iron losses. Iron losses can vary considerably with the gender of the individual. In male humans, total iron losses from the body have been calculated to be 1 mg day. For premenopausal female humans, this loss is slightly higher. The predominant route of loss is from the GI tract and amounts to 0.6 mg day in adult males (28). Fecal iron losses derive from shed enterocytes, extravasated red blood cells, and biliary heme breakdown products, which are poorly absorbed. Urogenital and integu-mental iron losses have been estimated to be greater than 0.1 mg day and 0.3 mg day, respectively, in adult males (27). Menstrual iron loss, estimated from...
Last Updated on Wed, 24 Oct 2018 | Stress and Hypertension
As discussed in Chapter i, incidence of hypertension is influenced by gender. Basically, males exhibit higher incidence rates of essential hypertension than females until menopause. Following this stage in life, females' incidence rates increase and actually exceed incidence rates for males (Wolz et al., 2000). Naturally, this has alerted researchers to the importance of the menstrual cycle in protecting women from onset of In a meta-analysis of 12 studies that compared cardiovascular responses to stress between males and females, Stoney, Davis, and Matthews (1987) found evidence to support gender differences in acute physiological response to stress. Males, in contrast to females, exhibited significantly higher SBP and epinephrine responses, but lower heart rate responses to stress. Measurement of hemodynamic responses of males and females using impedance cardiography has also revealed consistent gender differences, with males showing more of a total peripheral resistance response to...
Sat, 03 Dec 2016 | Fertility Issues
Most research on fertility and pregnancy outcomes after treatment has reported primarily on the risks for infertility in cancer survivors. Current knowledge regarding reproductive effects in young adult survivors of adult-onset and childhood cancer focuses primarily on treatment-related risk factors for infertility and other reproductive organ gonadal effects, including early menopause (Byrne 1999a Kwon and Case 2002). Fertility preservation and pregnancy outcomes, including effects of treatment on progeny of childhood survivors and risks for congenital defects and cancer, also have been evaluated (Aslam et al. 2000 Blatt 1999 Byrne 1999b). Some reports go as far as to mention artificial insemination, in vitro fertiliza-
Last Updated on Fri, 12 Oct 2018 | Fertility Issues
There are a number of incidences where young patients may wish to protect and or preserve their future fertility. Fertility preservation may, for example, be advocated in girls and adolescents undergoing surgical interventions where the ovaries must be removed as a consequence of abdominal trauma. For adolescents and young women who have a familial history of premature ovarian failure, it may be foolhardy to delay child-bearing (Conway 2001 Davis etal. 2000). These patients may elect to preserve their oocytes or ovarian tissue to prolong their reproductive lifespan. Girls with Turner Syndrome have a very high risk of premature menopause or, in the most severe cases, they may be permanently sterile. The former group of individuals may elect to cryopreserve their ovarian tissue during their pre-pubertal or early teenage years before their ovarian reserve is completely lost and menopause ensues (Hreinsson etal. 2002 Saenger etal. 2001). The overwhelming application of fertility...
Puberty and Menarche
Tue, 07 Feb 2017 | Medical Physiology
Total rates of secretion of gonadotropic hormones throughout the sexual lives of female and male human beings, showing an especially abrupt increase in gonadotropic hormones at menopause in the female. Figure 81-10 shows (1) the increasing levels of estrogen secretion at puberty, (2) the cyclical variation during the monthly sexual cycle, (3) the further increase in estrogen secretion during the first few years of reproductive life, (4) the progressive decrease in estrogen secretion toward the end of reproductive life, and, finally, (5) almost no estrogen or progesterone secretion beyond menopause.
Iron Metabolism
Last Updated on Mon, 03 Sep 2018 | Sports Nutrition
Blood loss in the menses is a major source of iron loss in females between menarche and menopause. Average iron loss in the menses is 0.6 mg d.6 However, about 10 of women lose more than 1.4 mg of iron per day in the menses.6 Total iron loss in menstruating females averages 1.4 mg d. It is estimated that the mean iron loss in men and in women who are postmenopausal is 0.9 mg d.1
Surviving Perimenopause
Natural Cures For Menopause
Are Menopause Symptoms Playing Havoc With Your Health and Relationships? Are you tired of the mood swings, dryness, hair loss and wrinkles that come with the change of life? Do you want to do something about it but are wary of taking the estrogen or antidepressants usually prescribed for menopause symptoms?
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The Value of Automating CPE
Michelle Walsh
Vice President of Client Services, XCM
The old process, we really handled it manually, so we handled it by having the manual sign-in sheets. What that meant is prior to the conference, preparing those, so making sure that each classroom had a folder that included that sign-in sheet. It had all the information that was there, and then physically needing a person or several people to be in the room to facilitate that to make sure that it got around the room, that every single person signed in, and then also made sure that they signed out or if a person came in late. Physically, on-site, that was a huge challenge. Also just making sure that in each room that the right folder was in the right room at the right time. As you know, it’s not unusual that we might end up moving a room because we’ll find out [that] this room’s not big enough and this has to happen on the fly, so now that folder is also flying around the conference center. On-site there was a lot of chaos with the CPE process, and then subsequently, when you get back to the office, it’s making sure [that we did] get every one one of those folders? Do we have all of them? Without a doubt, there’s always going to be one or two people that “I forgot to sign in,” or “I didn’t sign in,” or “the sign-in sheet never got to me.” You now have all that follow-up as well that you’re handling. When we get back to the office is really when the real effort came into play because now you had to find a way to consolidate all of these pieces of paper. What we would end up doing is really creating this giant spreadsheet with all of the attendees names and then being able to mark off what session did they attend, did they sign in, did they sign out, did they do an evaluation for that session. The reconciliation of that was just an enormous task. It really required one to two, sometimes even three people to just be heads down working on that. It could take anywhere from a month to maybe a month-and-a-half to get all of that done because once you reconcile it all, you then have to go and actually prepare their certificate. Take that information, transferred it into a certificate. Once the certificate is complete, now you have to find a way to distribute it. We would distribute it by email, but again, doing that 250, 300 times, it’s just an incredibly timely process. For us, Eventur has been a huge help to be able to handle this and to get it done so quickly. For us, a big challenge that we had is that many people would be looking to renew their license just shortly after the conference. We would, without fail, have 10 people that would come to us the very next week and say, “Hey, I need my CPE certificate.” Now you’re doing a separate process for these 10 people because they need them right away. That was a huge effort that went into it. Another challenge that we have around that is that people, without fail, they are going to lose their CPE certificate. We have folks that it’s only every two years that they have to renew their license, so they’ll two years later say, “Hey, I don’t have my certificate for this.” Now we’re digging through and sending files. It may only happen a dozen times, but every time that you do that, it’s just an extra effort that we have to do. Really, having all of this consolidated into the technology, it helps us, one, to just be more efficienton our end and reduce the amount of time on my team, but also it provides a better value to the attendees. Letting them get that right away, they’re happy to see, “Oh, I’ve got it. It’s all set. I don’t have to keep looking for it. I know where it is.” That’s been a huge difference for us.
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Commisso ups his offer and gets to take Mediacom private
Mediacom founder, chairman and CEO Rocco Commisso can add one more title to his resume: owner. The MSO has agreed to accept Commisso's latest offer of $8.75 a share--significantly more than the $6 a share he proposed and withdrew in May--and acquiesced to a $600 million purchase of all the company stock he didn't already own.
Commisso is really only applying the finishing touches. He already owns 40 percent of the company's equity and 87 percent of its voting stake. Now, sometime in the first half of 2011, he'll own it all and Mediacom will join Cox Communications in the ranks of privately held cable companies.
The MSO's stock closed at $6.86 per share on Friday, so Commisso is paying a bit of a premium but not quite what analysts thought the company might be worth.
"Our various valuation metrics could suggest a mid-teens per share value in a couple years," said David Joyce of Miller Tabak, who, nevertheless, called Commisso's offer a "more palatable premium to recent trading prices."
- see this story
Commisso withdraws bid to buy out stock, take Mediacom private
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Queen's birthday honours for those committed to the fire and rescue services
A top honour awarded in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list has been dedicated to staff in West Sussex Fire Service and West Sussex County Council.
West Sussex Fire Chief and Acting Chief Operating Officer at West Sussex County, Sean Ruth, was awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal.
Sean, 49, said: “This award is a reflection of the hard work and commitment of staff across West Sussex Fire Service and West Sussex County Council. “I have been fortunate to lead great teams and I would not have received this award without their hard work, dedication and support.
“Every day of the year they serve the residents of West Sussex and I am incredibly proud of the work they do together, making a difference to local people’s lives.”
Sean said he had been inundated with message of congratulations since news of the honour was revealed. He said: “I'm really proud to have been given this honour and I've been incredibly humbled by the hundreds of messages of congratulations I've received.”
Sean is one of only four people in the country to have been awarded the Queen’s Fire Service Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
The award recognises Sean’s ‘distinguished service’ to the Fire and Rescue Service. He will receive the decoration at a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Below is a full list of other members of the country’s Fire and Rescue Service honoured in the Queen’s Birthday Honours
Queen's Fire Service Medal
Ms Sally-Anne Jane Harper, Station Manager, London Fire Brigade.
John Pattison Mills, lately Deputy Chief Fire Officer, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Peter Terence O’Reilly, County Fire Officer and Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.
Sean Patrick Ruth, Acting Chief Operating Officer, West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.
Paul Connelly, Deputy Assistant Chief Officer, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
Bryan Cuthill, Watch Manager, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
Other honours awarded
Steven Cameron Torrie, Q.F.S.M., lately H.M. Chief Inspector, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. For services to Fire and Rescue in Scotland.
Robert Thomas Carlson, Road Safety Manager, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. For services to Road Safety.
Laurie ADAMS, Group Manager, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. For services to Flood Capability Policy and Rescue Services.
John Charles Ball, Technician, Urban Search and Rescue, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service. For services to National and International Search and Rescue.
John Stephen Bostwick. For services to Education and the
community in Barnsley and charitable services to the Fire Service Benevolent Fund.
Mark Nigel Evans, Watch Manager, Stratton Fire Station, Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service. For services to Disadvantaged Young People and Community Relations in Wiltshire.
Councillor Mark Healey, Chairman, Devon and Somerset Fire Authority. For services to Fire Safety and Fire Service Reform.
Miss Angela Leonora Joseph, Community Fire Volunteer, Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. For service to Fire Safety.#
Charles McGill, Retained Watch Manager, Hardley Fire Station, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service. For services to Fire Operational
Michael Rodden, Officer, Arson Taskforce, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service. For services to Community Safety and the community in Northamptonshire.
Albert William Edward Garrett, Fire Safety Officer, Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service. For services to Fire and Rescue and the community in Norwich.
Paul Edward Lillycrop, lately Watch Commander, Buckinghamshire, Fire and Rescue Service. For services to Fire and Rescue.
Antonio De Matteis, Chief Volunteer Fire Officer, Peterborough Volunteer Fire Brigade. For voluntary service to Fire and Rescue, Services in Peterborough.
Anne, Mrs. Metcalfe, Community Fire Safety Advocate, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. For services to Fire Safety and Young People.
Christopher Nutall, Retained Firefighter, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service. For services to Community Safety.
Thomas James Paterson, Retained Firefighter, Cleveland Fire Brigade. For services to Fire Safety and the community in Saltburn, North Yorkshire.
Alan Peter White, Community Safety Officer, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service. For services to Fire Safety.
Charles Greville Williams, Watch Manager, Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service. For services to Fire Safety and the community in Burford, Oxfordshire.
Changing Tone - Dr Dave Sloggett
And what do the manifestos have to say about fire?
Contact Blue Sky Offices Shoreham, 25 Cecil Pashley Way, Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5FF, UNITED KINGDOM
Email: info@fire-magazine.co.uk
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Behind Japan's Big Arms Buy
How Washington Is Militarizing Its Asian Ally
By Humza Ahmad
HUMZA AHMAD is the speechwriter at the Consulate General of Japan in New York and a Nonresident Fellow at Asia Policy Point. The views expressed here are his own and do not represent the views of the Japanese Government.
Read more by Humza Ahmad
Yuri Gripas / Courtesy Reuters
Last December, Tokyo announced that it would purchase Lockheed-Martin's F-35 Lightning II as its next-generation jet fighter. In doing so, it disappointed BAE Systems, the European maker of the Eurofighter Typhoon, which had hoped to win the $4.7 billion contract itself. For a while, it seemed as though it might. The Lockheed deal had its downsides: Initially, Japanese firms would have played no role in producing the new jets; likewise, they would not have had access to the secret technologies used in the F-35's design. It was not until Lockheed agreed to allow domestic contractors to participate in building the new jets and share some top-secret technologies that Japan decided to make the deal. In retrospect, that move should never have been in much doubt. The contract closely follows Japanese defense policy precedent: acquiring the most advanced American military hardware available under licensing agreements, producing that hardware in Japan to boost the economy, and keeping the U.S.-Japan alliance tight, positing Japan as a buffer between the United States and the region's major powers.
Japan has filled this role for decades. In 1946, during the United States' postwar occupation of Japan, General Douglas MacArthur, the supreme commander for the Allied Powers, insisted that the country's new constitution include a clause barring Japan from maintaining war-making capabilities. In return, Washington would protect Japan from outside attack and maintain a sizeable military presence there to do so. When the Korean War broke out, the number of U.S. troops in Japan dwindled as soldiers were moved from Japan to fight on the Korean peninsula. Realizing that the force it could afford to retain in Japan was not sufficient for maintaining order or fending off a communist infiltration, the United States pressured Japan to relax the ban on maintaining military forces. Under the guidance of the U.S.-dominated Allied General Headquarters, the country created a paramilitary force, the National Police Reserve (which gradually morphed into the Self-Defense Forces, or SDF, Japan's main military
Japan Arms Control & Disarmament
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FWCS preschools earn national accreditation
Displayed from: Aug 26, 2008 , until: Sep 26, 2008
Six of Fort Wayne Community Schools' Title I preschools at Bloomingdale, Fairfield, Nebraska, South Wayne, Study and Washington Elementary Schools are among the first early childhood programs in the nation to earn accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) � the nation's leading organization of early childhood professionals. We're proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC, and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards, said Barbara Roberts, Title I pre-k instructional facilitator. NAEYC Accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our programs are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible. In the 20 years since NAEYC Accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. FWCS' programs will be among the 8 percent of preschools and early childhood programs nationally that have earned this prestigious designation. To earn NAEYC Accreditation in the new system, all six Title I preschools went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the 10 new NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than 400 related Accreditation Criteria. The program received NAEYC Accreditation after an on-site visit by NAEYC assessors to ensure that the program meets each of the 10 NAEYC program standards. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years. More information on the standards is available at www.rightchoiceforkids.org/docs/NAEYC_Accreditation_Brochure.pdf. The new NAEYC Accreditation system raises the bar for preschools, child care centers and other early childhood programs, said Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., executive director of NAEYC. Earning the NAEYC Accreditation is a sign that Fort Wayne Community Schools is a leader in a national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education, and to help give all children a better start. The NAEYC Accreditation system has set voluntary professional standards for programs for young children since 1985. As of September 2006, the Association's revised program standards and criteria have introduced a new level of quality, accountability, and service for parents and children in child care programs. The new standards reflect the latest research and best practices in early childhood education and development. NAEYC is committed to utilizing the newest studies and analysis on positive child outcomes to ensure young children continue receiving the highest-quality care and education possible.
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Ex-Chesapeake CEO McClendon Dies in Oklahoma City Car Wreck
Published March 02, 2016 Business LeadersReuters
Aubrey McClendon, the co-founder of Chesapeake Energy Corp who led it to become one of the world's biggest natural gas producers before he was tarred by federal anti-trust charges, died on Wednesday in a car accident in Oklahoma City, police said. He was 56.
McClendon died one day after the U.S. Department of Justice indicted him for allegedly violating antitrust laws by colluding to rig bids for oil and gas acreage while he was at Chesapeake, which has been a central player in the U.S. fracking revolution of the past decade. He denied the charges.
McClendon resigned from Chesapeake in 2013 after a corporate governance crisis and investor concerns over his heavy spending.
He went on to start American Energy Partners, and with the help of private equity funds, made huge bets on vast oil acreage around the United States and Australia.
Police said they were investigating the cause of the crash that occurred when McClendon was driving his 2013 Chevy Tahoe. Police said the vehicle was so badly burned they were unable to tell if McClendon was wearing his seat belt.
A native of Oklahoma, he attended Duke University before starting Chesapeake with his friend Tom Ward, who went on to lead SandRidge Energy Inc for a time.
"Chesapeake is deeply saddened by the news that we have heard today and our thoughts and prayers are with the McClendon family during this difficult time," a Chesapeake spokesman said in a statement.
(Reporting by Liz Hampton, Jessica Resnick Ault and Ernest Scheyder; Writing by Terry Wade; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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Rapinoe hopes to be ready for final despite hamstring strain
AP Jul 2, 2019 at 6:53p ET
LYON, France (AP) — A minor hamstring strain kept star forward Megan Rapinoe out of the United States‘ nail-biting 2-1 win over England in the Women’s World Cup semifinals Tuesday night.
It didn’t stop her from pouring off the bench with the other substitutes to congratulate their teammates, and Rapinoe is confident it won’t rule her out of Sunday’s final against either the Netherlands or Sweden.
Rapinoe was injured late in the second half of the 2-1 win against France last Friday.
“It just tightened up a little bit toward the end. Just wasn’t going to be ready for today,” Rapinoe told reporters after the victory against England moved the U.S. closer to a fourth World Cup title. “But it’s feeling much better and I expect to be ready for the final.”
When asked how confident she was, she replied: “It’s a combination of how it feels and how it looks and what I can do. I expect (with) how it feels now to be ready. As is with these things, you just have to go day by day and see how it is.”
Rapinoe watched nervously from the bench as England had an apparent equalizer by its own star forward Ellen White ruled out for offside and, with just a few minutes remaining, watched goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher save a penalty kick by England.
There was widespread elation at the end, but for Rapinoe it was torture to watch.
“It’s terrible. It’s so stressful,” she said, breaking out into a smile of relief. “It’s hard. You put everything into this game … You have everything invested in it and no way to get rid of your anxiety.”
At the final whistle, she jumped into the arms of her teammates, embracing them one by one.
When she finally reached goalkeeper Naeher, she bear-hugged her first and then lifted her off her feet.
Rapinoe joked that she could have injured her glutes in the process, and then praised her ice-cool teammate.
“That was a huge performance from her, to be in that moment,” Rapinoe said. “It’s one thing to take a penalty, it’s another to save one and keep your cool. To make a save like that is just fantastic for her.”
Naeher was not the only one making a big impact.
Rapinoe’s replacement, Christen Press, opened the scoring in clinical style, heading Kelley O’Hara’s pinpoint cross from the right powerfully into the top left corner after just 10 minutes.
“Maybe they don’t need me for the final. Maybe I just got pushed right to the side,” Rapinoe said. “It’s ridiculous, we’ve talked about our depth for a long time now as something we’re going to need throughout this tournament … and it was on full display tonight.”
Rapinoe had scored four goals in the past two games, and five overall during the tournament.
On Sunday night, she would love to cap off an intense tournament in style — a high-profile tournament where she has stood out with her goals, her pinkish-purple hair and also by standing by her opinions.
In the days leading up to the quarterfinal against France, video surfaced of her saying she wouldn’t visit the White House if the team won the World Cup — and she accompanied it with an expletive.
While the interview was from January, it attracted President Donald Trump’s attention and he tweeted: “Megan should never disrespect our Country, the White House, or our Flag, especially since so much has been done for her & the team.” Trump added that he would invite the team to Washington, win or lose.
Rapinoe, who is currently in a relationship with WNBA star Sue Bird, stood by the statement — except for the coarse language she’d used.
Megan Rapinoe
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Lord & Miller: 'Jump Street' & 'Men in Black' Crossover Still Possible
You may remember that one of the stories that came about due to the leaked documents from Sony Pictures being hacked was a wild, but maybe not too crazy idea to have the 21 Jump Street franchise crossover into the world of Men in Black for the next sequel in the comedy series starring Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill. Despite the out of left field nature of the idea, the concept tickled my fancy, and would open up the meta, self-aware humor to even more material ripe for lampooning. And guess what? Writers and directors Phil Lord & Chris Miller have confirmed that the crossover idea is still a real possibility. More below!
Speaking with MTV, Lord & Miller said that there's nothing new to say, but the idea is on the table:
“Nothing’s changed. It’s still a crazy idea, and we only do things that seem like they’re going to be terrible… We’re really focusing on what’s a great story for Schmidt and Jenko and how to tell the next chapter in their lives. And perhaps use creatures from another world at the same time!”
However, they also caution that it's just an idea, and they're not sure what will or will not move forward. After all, they were also asked about any potential with the future of Spider-Man at Sony Pictures, and to that Miller says, "We’re developing a lot of things, you know. And they may or may not all happen, but that’s how the business works.” So at the same time, this Men in Black crossover may just be one option that Lord & Miller will pursue for 23 Jump Street, but there might be some other story options on the table too. Anyway, we've got awhile to wait before we see what sequel come to fruition anyway. Thoughts?
I'm in. Let's see it get done.
Franklin Carpio on Jan 14, 2015
This needs to happen, this odd mashup is so crazy that it just can't fail! Says my logic.
mooreworthy on Jan 14, 2015
The movie industry has turned to shit.
Jason Scarpelli on Jan 14, 2015
this realy realy stupid!
ari smulders on Jan 14, 2015
Just a couple of bad asses over here.
So, so stupid. What's next? A Jar Jar Binks cameo in the new Terminator movie? "Mesa be back!"
Jbob on Jan 15, 2015
Still saying the best would be to also throw in Eddie Murphy and Nick Nolte with Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker and you have "Jump Street 48 - Rush Hour in Black"
DJROBL on Jan 15, 2015
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By Bethany Gleave
International Women's Day 2019: Celebrate with film
Today is International Women’s Day and is a day for all females to be proud of their achievements while educating others about the amazing progression women have made in all aspects of society.
It’s a day for men and women to celebrate the achievements of women across the globe whether it be social, economic, cultural or political.
There are plenty of ways to applaud women around the world with marches taking place in almost every city you can think of.
But, if you want a more low-key way of celebrating we’ve got a list of films you can watch that star some powerful female characters and actresses.
Bend It Like Beckham
Not only does this film star a kickass woman it was also directed and written by a woman which makes this the perfect film for a dose of female empowerment. The film follows Jess Bhamra, played by Parminder Nagra, a young woman living in London who dreams of being a professional footballer like her idol David Beckham.
Although there is no professional women’s league in Britain Jess doesn’t let that tiny detail stop her. Smashing stereotypes and historic sexist expectations of women Bend It Like Beckham is bound to make any female feel inspired.
We all love a female superhero and let’s be honest Wonder Woman is the ultimate female hero. She looks fierce but doesn't use her looks to get what she wants- she uses her strength. Originating as a DC comic character in 1941 the character has been an iconic symbol for women around the world for a long time and the 2017 film cemented that.
During the film Wonder Woman, aka Diana, a warrior in training leaves home to fight a war and if you’re looking for a female-led action film you won’t be disappointed.
Bear with us on this one. Although at first glance you might think this film is definitely not going to empower women- this is where you are wrong. The character of Elle Woods is the exact reason why we should never judge a book by its cover.
After being dumped by her boyfriend she applies to Harvard Law School to get back at him and well simply bosses it. Played by Reese Witherspoon, Elle is bound to make you feel powerful whether you’re male or female.
Yes, Disney can still be empowering. If you look past the (catchy) songs there is actually a very strong message in this film. When Mulan poses as a male soldier to stop her father having to join the Chinese army she is first seen as being weak but still an equal.
Mulan proves herself (as a man) but when her real identity is revealed she continues to be indispensable and highlights the issue of women being able to do whatever men can.
Now that you’re feeling all empowered and strong why not treat yourself or the women in your life to something new- you deserve it. Visit our new in women's collection and our range of women's trainers.
Meet the Team: Catherine Frame
Launch: Nike Air Max 270 React
Launch: Converse Renew
Launch: adidas X Danielle Cathari
adidas Originals Yung 1 Feat. NSG
Brand Focus: NICCE
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Activision Says 'Destiny 2' Is Underperforming, What Happens Now?
Paul Tassi Contributor
News and opinion about video games, technology and the internet
Activision shares are down once again after a less-than-rosy earnings call which dealt with many issues, but one that stood out more than most. Call of Duty sales are relatively flat, Diablo Immortal drew enormous fan backlash, but Activision specifically called out Destiny 2: Forsaken as underperforming its expectations.
“Some of our other franchises like Destiny are not performing as well as we'd like," was the exact quote, followed up by a promise to create more content and pursue additional forms of monetization. “We have not yet seen the full core re-engage in Destiny,” said Activision COO Coddy Johnson, “which has led to the underperformance against expectations to date. Some players are in ‘wait and see’ mode. If you’re in, you’re deeply engaged. If not, we think now’s the time to bring players back.”
While this is not great news for those “deeply engaged” current players, most of whom would agree that Destiny is in the best place it’s ever been in the wake of Forsaken, this is not that much of a surprise, given recent developments. It only took a month for Bungie to bundle Forsaken with its other season pass DLC, which was proving a barrier to entry for many. Then this past week at BlizzCon, it was announced that Destiny 2 would be free to download and keep in the next two weeks on PC. These are not signs of a super healthy game.
So what’s going on here? And what happens next? Both are long and complicated questions, but since I write long and complicated Destiny articles, here we go.
Much of the failure of Forsaken is due to the launch of Destiny 2 itself, which spent the first six months of its lifespan being relatively useless with problems in both the vanilla launch and the first quite bad DLC, Curse of Osiris.
While I do maintain that Activision’s punishing “you must release enormous expansions/sequels every fall” contract is partially to blame, with Destiny 2 not getting as much time in the oven as needed, I can’t pretend that Bungie didn’t also make some just flat-out bad decisions. Activision was not forcing them to do dual primaries or consumable shaders or create a lackluster endgame, which were all core problems with D2 at launch.
Destiny 2 did not really start to improve in any meaningful capacity until Warmind, its second DLC which launched in the spring, but by then many players had fled. And the problem with Destiny’s model is that when you got all the way to Forsaken, a content expansion that almost every agrees is pretty fantastic, the way Destiny is set up requires players to own Destiny 2, Curse of Osiris and Warmind in order to even start playing Forsaken. Yes, Bungie put together deals that bundled them all together for $60, and eventually made the season pass DLC free, but often times it’s as much of a psychological hurdle as it is a financial one. Players simply feel too “behind” to get back into Destiny 2, and even if Bungie does have items that can rocket you up to the proper power level to start Forsaken, many players A) don’t know that and B) have felt burned out by Destiny sometime in the last four years when it wasn’t as good as it is now.
The truth is that we are now entering what is essentially Year Five of Destiny with the launch of Forsaken, so no, I’m not all that surprised that many people have dropped out by now, no matter how good things may be. The Walking Dead is having an incredible season 9, but after many missteps and nearly a decade on the air, ratings are a third of what they used to be. It’s often just how things go.
Part of this may also be an Activision expectations problem, a company that doesn’t feel like it can celebrate a $500 million opening salvo for Black Ops 4 because that wasn’t as much growth as they wanted to see. We know that Forsaken brought in more digital revenue than any other title on the market in its launch month of September, yet it’s still being viewed as this failure. And for all the complaints about Destiny 2 at launch, it was still the third best-selling game of 2017, behind only Call of Duty and NBA 2K. It seems possible that a series like Destiny may never meet the kind of lofty revenue expectations a megacorp like Activision has for it.
The monetization problem is an interesting one, and one that’s going to be very, very hard to solve. Destiny has essentially the same problem as Diablo. How do you monetize a looter in a way that doesn’t defeat the entire purpose of the looter itself? Destiny has tried this with the Eververse store in the past, where its ultimate low point was the release of Curse of Osiris when there were more new items in the Eververse store than loot you could find in the world as that DLC launched.
Since then, fan complaints have effectively nerfed Eververse into irrelevance. It still exists in the game, you can still buy what are effectively loot boxes in the form of Bright Engrams, but these days you earn them so often just by playing that there’s practically no reason to actually spend money at Eververse, and holiday events which used to be designed to sell microtransactions have relented and allowed things like banning duplicate drops, so most players can easily assemble collections just through playing. This is great news for the player, bad news for revenue, and yet it’s not like when Eververse was greedier, that was any better.
This exact same thing happened with Diablo, though mercifully Destiny didn’t have to suffer through anything as bad as the auction house. The only DLC that really makes sense for Destiny are these paid content expansions, but those are known to sell less and make far less revenue than say, battle passes or loot boxes. I am slightly worried about this fact because Diablo 3, a game that sold something like 30 million copies, effectively had its second expansion canceled and broken up into a mishmash of free content as the game went on life support, as Blizzard never figured out how to “properly” monetize it. Diablo 4 is coming, but in a different effort to monetize the IP, well, that’s how we got Diablo Immortal. In a parallel universe I think that once upon a time, Destiny might have actually worked on a subscription MMO model like WoW, though obviously that’s out of the question now.
All of this leads to a question: what changes now if an expansion like Forsaken is a disappointment to Destiny’s overlords?
I doubt that we will see Year 2 (Year 5) plans change, and we’ll still get our three smaller content additions in the form of Black Armory, Joker’s Wild and Penumbra, as surely development on those is too far along to change. Though if Forsaken has sold poorly I’m not sure how much faith I have in sales of the annual pass. We may once again get another big fall expansion, though I doubt one as big as Forsaken, similar to Rise of Iron.
After that? I’m not sure. Even if Bungie’s deal with Activision was supposed to be a decade long, I’m not sure that we’re guaranteed a Destiny 3 at this point, and we know that Bungie is starting to look at developing other games as well. I would say that despite DLC sales, Activision and Bungie would be crazy to drop Destiny as it’s home to one of the most passionate, engaged core fanbases in gaming, and yet I just watched one misstep from BioWare essentially put the similarly beloved Mass Effect series on ice indefinitely.
I think the community can at least convey the message to Bungie that they should keep doing what they’ve been doing in the Forsaken era, as from lore to content production to gameplay, the game is in a nearly perfect spot (though the Destiny community will always find something to complain about). The problem is now not a quality one, but a marketing one, getting people back into the game again, which is why you're seeing things like it being given away for free on PC and PS Plus. As for monetization, that remains a difficult problem to solve. I have previously suggested a ton of cosmetic stuff Bungie is leaving on the table, as they could be selling character re-designs, new haircuts, face paints, etc. I’ve suggested ship interiors, where players could pay to display their guns and armor in some sort of achievement room. But again, unless you are practically designing your entire game around getting player to shell out cash regularly, Fortnite, Hearthstone, GTA Online, that kind of serious revenue generation will probably forever be elusive. Getting some fraction of playerbase to pay for new story DLC is just not good enough for most corporations these days, Activision included, which leaves a game like Destiny in a tough spot.
All I can do is keep telling people “Destiny is good now, you really should give it a shot.” I don’t work for Activision or Bungie, but I do love this series, and I don’t want to see it wither because of past mistakes and a greedy market model that seems to have no place for it.
Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Read my new sci-fi thriller novel Herokiller, available now in print and online. I also wrote The Earthborn Trilogy.
Paul Tassi
I write about video games, television, movies and the internet.
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Gods of our age: Mars (War and Conflict)
July 31, 2015 August 13, 2015 by Ian Paul
At Lee Abbey and New Wine this summer, I have been leading a series of sessions on ‘Gods of Our Age’. (I did the teaching myself last week; this week I am hosting a series of contributors.) It struck me some time ago that the gods of the ancient world were not merely the equivalent of our soap operas (though they might have functioned like that to some extent). Rather, they expressed the hopes, fears, aspirations and anxieties of people within those societies—often offering a way of dealing with powerful forces, both within and without, in a way which made them manageable. The first was on Mammon, the god of wealth, money and possessions. This second is on Mars, the god of war and conflict.
Mars in the ancient world
Roman Mars (the equivalent of the Greek Ares) was god of war and farming. Combining two aspects of life into one god was not uncommon, and for the men in any society, it was common to be farmers in the key seasons of sowing and soldiers in the season for fighting. (If you went to war in the seasons for sowing crops, you effectively made war against yourself. For ancient common on the spring as the time for making war, see 2 Samuel 11.1.)
Mars as original marginal to Roman identity, but gradually became absolutely central. The Wikipedia entry on Mars notes:
Mars was a part of the Archaic Triad along with Jupiter and Quirinus, the latter of whom as a guardian of the Roman people had no Greek equivalent. Mars’ altar in the Campus Martius, the area of Rome that took its name from him, was supposed to have been dedicated by Numa, the peace-loving semi-legendary second king of Rome. Although the center of Mars’ worship was originally located outside the sacred boundary of Rome (pomerium), Augustus made the god a renewed focus of Roman religion by establishing the Temple of Mars Ultor in his new forum.
Within the founding myths of Rome, Mars became the father of Romulus and Remus, the brothers who established the city.
It is striking that the Romans had a very different view of Mars from the Greek view of Ares:
But the character and dignity of Mars differed in fundamental ways from that of his Greek counterpart, who is often treated with contempt and revulsion in Greek literature…Although Ares was viewed primarily as a destructive and destabilizing force, Mars represented military power as a way to secure peace, and was a father (pater) of the Roman people.
This destructive and destabilising force became for Rome the way it secured its peace, its pax Romana—though I daresay that the nations who were conquered by Rome would have views Mars in a more Greek way than Roman.
The symbol for Mars was its spear, and Mars was so deeply associated with masculinity that our modern symbol for ‘male’ (a circle with an arrow) derives from Mars and his spear, and is the astrological symbol for the planet Mars.
Mars in the Modern World
Western culture seems to be deeply committed to violence as the way of resolving differences and conflict. How does Popeye rescue Olive Oyl from the power of Bluto? By eating spinach which then allows him to win by force. How does James Bond defeat the global conspiracy of his enemies? With the help of intelligence and gadgets from Q—but in the end by brute force. We are deeply committed to conflict as the thing which creates narrative tension from the biggest budget film to the most popular TV soap opera. There is a constant correlation between might and right.
But conflict has a central place in other aspects of Western culture too. In the UK and US, the system of justice is adversarial rather than inquisitorial, and probably derived from the mediaeval practice of trial by combat.
The application of a market model in healthcare and education has put hospitals and schools in competition with each other for patients and students respectively. The school for which I was a governor had to become an academy because other schools around were doing so, and they were our competitive rivals.
At the 100th anniversary of the start of WWI we have been recalling the devastating destructive power of war. But this is no new thing. Genghis Khan‘s onslaught in the 13th century was so destructive that it is possible today to measure the ecological impact as whole tracts of farming land fell into disuse and went back to wilderness. He slaughtered 40 million people—one tenth of the entire world’s population at the time. Chinese census data from the time record the loss of 11 million Chinese lives. (He also encouraged religious freedom, and sired so many children that, today, 0.5% of the global population can trace their direct ancestry to him.)
The Thirty Year’s War in the 17th century was Europe’s longest and most destructive war. Parts of modern-day Germany lost 70% of their population. War is extraordinarily destructive of human life, resources and culture.
There is a fascinating episode at the end of the second Sherlock Holmes film with Robert Downey Junior Sherlock Holmes: a Game of Shadows. Holmes is trying to prevent his nemesis Moriarty from provoking war between the great powers. But Moriarty counters him: even if he succeeds now, war will come, since men are addicted to conflict.
Alan Storkey has argued cogently that armed conflict is inevitable as long as there is an arms industry who have a vested interest in seeing their products sold and used. Here we see the meeting point between Mars and Mammon—in the States named as the military industrial complex.
What Scripture has to say
One of the contemporary challenges of our age in relation to violence and religion is to ask whether ‘X is a religion of peace.’ This has mostly been claimed in relation to Islam, but it is a pertinent question for Christians too. There is plenty of violence in the Old Testament, and this causes (or should cause) problems for Christians. (On this, see Philip Jenson’s excellent Grove booklet The Problem of War in the Old Testament.) And yet there is, through the OT, glimpses of a vision of global peace and the end of warfare: ‘Nation will no longer war against nation…’ (Isaiah 2.4).
There are three key passages in the New Testament which have a bearing on this
Jesus’ apparently pacifist teaching in Matt 5 ‘blessed are the peacemakers… you shall not resist the evil person, but turn the other cheek…’
Paul’s language in Romans 13 on our obligation to ‘obey the powers that be’
The alternative vision in Revelation 13 of state forces as agents of Satan ‘do not follow the beast’
It is interesting to note that, as far as we can tell, all Christians were pacifist until the early fourth century and Constantine’s dream from God that ‘Under this sign [of the cross] you will conquer…’
Christians have tried to resolve the tensions in these perspectives by means of Just War theory—that war should only be prosecuted by a just authority, with a just cause, to attain likely success, by just means, and when there is no other option.
But there is a further issue to be considered. I have argued elsewhere that reconciliation is a central idea in the NT’s understanding of what God has done in Christ for us and for all humanity. If reconciliation is of central importance in understanding what God has done, we might then expect peace (the result of reconciliation) to have similar importance. It is striking that in all his letters, Paul modifies the tradition greeting from ‘grace’ to ‘grace and peace.’ Michael Gorman thinks this is no accident:
For Paul, the prophetically promised age of eschatological, messianic peace has arrived in the death and resurrection of Jesus the Messiah, an age characterized especially by reconciliation and nonviolence.
Alan Spence, in his fascinating study of the atonement in Paul, also puts peace at the centre of Paul’s theology:
[I] offer a provisional, highly condensed answer to the question: Why did God become man? It takes the shape of a master-story, presenting in narrative form the concept that Jesus is Mediator: The Son became as we are so that he might, on our behalf, make peace with God. This is more than an account individual forgiveness. It summarises God’s gracious intention to reorder and reconstitute around himself the broken relationships of his suffering and alienated creation through the death of his Son and by the work of his Spirit.
This perspective must fundamentally affect the way we view violent conflict as a way of resolving differences.
This first appeared on Ian Paul's blog, Psephizo, and we are grateful for permission to reproduce it here.
Ian Paul
Categories Articles Tags Discipleship, Ethics Post navigation
Patrick Sookhdeo: Why the Barnabas Fund’s founder should keep silence – Christian Today
Songs of Praise from Calais
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LGBT Group Movie Night
A screening of Pride by BBC Films
The forth event of the Chiang Mai LGBT Social Group will be a movie night showing the highly acclaimed 2014 movie “PRIDE” on 27th Feb – See details of the movie night on Chiang Mai Gay Events Calendar
Movie Synopsis
Here is a brief the synopsis for the movie, courtesy of the BBC:
“It’s the summer of 1984 – Margaret Thatcher is in power and the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) is on strike. At the Gay Pride March in London, a group of gay and lesbian activists decides to raise money to support the families of the striking miners. But there is a problem. The Union seems embarrassed to receive their support.
But the activists are not deterred. They decide to ignore the Union and go direct to the miners. They identify a mining village in deepest Wales and set off in a mini bus to make their donation in person. And so begins the extraordinary story of two seemingly alien communities who form a surprising and ultimately triumphant partnership.”
Nominated for 3 BAFTA awards; Outstanding British Film, Imelda Staunton for Best Supporting Actress, and Outstanding Debut by a British Writer, Director or Producer for Stephen Beresford (Writer) and David Livingstone (Producer). Winner of Best British Independent Film, Best Supporting Actress for Imelda Staunton and Best Supporting Actor for Andrew Scott at the 2014 British Independent Film Awards.
“PRIDE on the BBC website”
For full details of the LGBT Group Movie Night “Pride” see our events calendar
Categories : Events
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Japanese PM emerges from green pipe as Super Mario in Rio closing ceremony
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a spectacular entrance during the Rio Closing Ceremony, emerging as gaming icon Super Mario from a green pipe.
Before he emerged a short video played showing Mr. Abe in Japan, concerned about not getting to Rio in time. He then transforms into Mario and uses a tunnel through the Earth as a shortcut.
It was a supremely Japanese moment of showmanship, ahead of the nation's own hosting of the Olympics in 2020.
Nintendo's Super Mario is one of the most recognisable characters in gaming history.
Later, the Olympic flag in Maracana Stadium was lowered, before the Mayor of Rio de Janeiro gave the flag to the head of the International Olympic Committee, who handed it over to the Tokyo Governor, Yuriko Koike.
Tokyo is one of the world's richest, most recognisable and most cosmopolitan cities, raising expectations that the 2020 Summer Games will run more smoothly than Rio's.
via Newshub.
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RI Injury Law Firm Releases New Cerebral Palsy Infographic About Birth Injuries
Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects the brain and nervous system. It can occur during fetal development, during birth, or through an injury during infancy. This condition can cause a number of disorders but most frequently it is associated with lack of muscle control and coordination. About 70% of the time this condition is caused by insufficient development in the womb, about 20% suffer this condition due to a brain injury during the birth process, and the remaining 10% suffer this condition due to a brain injury during infancy (i). People who suspect that their child developed cerebral palsy as a result of medical malpractice or another person’s negligence should talk to an attorney about investigating the matter. In some cases, injuries may have been caused by mistakes during birth or an accident during infancy such as a car crash.
According to CDC statistics, cerebral palsy is often linked to a variety of physical problems. For example, 41% of children with this condition are limited in their ability to crawl, walk, run, or play and 31% of these children need special equipment to move. Additionally, 40% of these children have a cognitive disability, 35% have epilepsy, and 15% have impaired vision. The government also estimates that the lifetime cost of care for an individual with cerebral palsy is approximately $1 million (ii).
View the Full Cerebral Palsy Infographic Here
Attorney Paul d’Oliveira stated, “Cerebral palsy can lead to substantial healthcare and living costs. If this condition was caused by the negligence of another, such as the doctors and nurses overseeing the birth, then the family should not have to pay the costs associated with additional care. We work with lawyers who can look into the cause of this condition and who will advocate on your behalf.”
The cerebral palsy infographic provides general information about the condition and warns that in some cases this condition can be caused by medical malpractice. d’Oliveira & Associates handles personal injury and disability cases in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The law firm works with medical malpractice lawyers, who handle these types of lawsuits, and there are no legal fees unless a settlement or award is obtained. To contact the firm call 1-800-992-6878 or submit a contact form online.
(i) United Cerebral Palsy of Rhode Island.
http://www.ucpri.org/what-is-cp
(ii) Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/cp/data.html
By Paul d'Oliveira|August 28th, 2013|Personal injury Blog|0 Comments
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Good Beer Hunting
Sorry for Partying by Michael Kiser
Banquet and Chill by Kyle Kastranec
Ferments at Low Temps by Stephanie Byce
Electing to Drink
Boss Barista
Into the Wild with New Belgium Brewing
Mother of Invention with Guinness
Beer is Labor with East Brother Beer Co.
Coming to America with Guinness
Fervent Few Community sponsors
Message in a Bottle with Brewery Ommegang
Uppers & Downers
Olly Olly
Cider/Food
Signifiers
At the Intersection of Black Metal and Economic Suicide — Jester King has the Last Laugh
There’s a new term in craft brewing — artisanal. You’ve seen it in cheese, woodworking, bread, and wine. But until now, it hasn’t been used to describe beer all that often. And that’s because we already had the word “craft.” But in recent years, you’ve probably heard more about the craft industry — a bit of an oxymoron — than the craft of small batch beer-making itself. That’s because craft beer is quickly becoming the new default — somewhat disregarding the craft of beer-making in any meaningful sense of the word. Most of the attention on the definition of a craft brewery is focused on size and ownership structure more than the process or artistry itself. Larger craft brewers are still making amazing beers with the same original intent, utilizing many of the same ingredients as they did when they were small. But with all the growth in the craft sector, a new niche has emerged that has little chance of ever becoming industrialized, or defined by objective metrics. And that’s artisanal brewers.
The term artisanal can be bastardized like anything else, but so far it’s most often used to describe a brewer who’s making small batches, often aged or fermented in wood, and otherwise incorporates natural elements like yeast, bacteria, and ambient temperatures into the brewing process through wild and spontaneous fermentation. It takes time, sometimes a lot, and a healthy sense of humility in the brewing process. Where industrialization, even on the level of craft, reduces beer-making down to a series of weights and measures and chemistry, the artisanal process does the same, but then releases that beer into the wild. And from that moment on, it’s a matter of balancing the brewer’s intent with nature’s will.
Much of the success of craft brewing this time around is due to an increase in quality, consistency, and quantities. These are important elements to supplying and competing in a consumer market. In the 90s, craft producers, save a few, were not prepared to meet these demands, but in the most recent wave of last 10-15 years, craft beer has earned and protected its market share this way. And it’s because of this foundation that some brewers are deciding to open things up a bit, and try something new. In fact, some newer breweries are staking their future on it. Artisanal brewing is replete with risks. It’s far more likely that your beer will stray from your intent than it will ever behave. But to the artisanal brewers like Jester King, that’s the whole point.
"This process is integral to who we are,” says Jester King’s Ron Extract. “Making beer that’s tied to the land with a sense of place — not constrained by time or production deadlines. In farmhouse brewing the product drives the process rather than the other way around.”
Located about an half hour west of Austin’s city center in Texas, the Jester King brewery is situated on some dusty, scraggy land in the midst of half-green rolling hills, farms, and a serpentine system of creeks. The metal and wood shed-like buildings form the brewery grounds — picnic tables here and there. It’s a decidedly lazy place. The windows are all open, the Texas breeze is flowing through, but invisibly, the natural microflora of the region are busy working on the beer. Barrel program manager Adrienne Ballou, with her background in the wine industry, explains: “We use a lot of cultures that are native to the ranch and we have a spontaneous program with our coolship. Those cultures have become an integral part of our barrel aging program. All the barrels we’re doing are using a very unique set of yeast and bacteria you wouldn't be able to find anywhere else in the world.”
Most traditional beer styles can be made anywhere on the planet. All you need is access to the basic ingredients, preserved and delivered in a timely manner, and a means of production. That’s what makes beer a manufactured product more than an agricultural one in most people’s minds. But breweries like Jester King are changing that. They’re incorporating hyper-local ingredients, often seasonally, and taking advantage of free resources like bacteria and wild yeast to complete the picture. It’s more akin to cider and wine making than beer production — and Jester King doesn’t just do this for the special stuff.
"All of our beer now contains native yeast and bacteria,” explains Extract. “It’s an impression of where we are, a sense of place. Wildflowers, berries, the air, and our land. Take that and mix the organisms into to a new environment, and the equilibrium and flavors will change. Let it ferment for as long as it needs to ferment, to a complete dryness. We like dry beers and the flavors theses yeasts produce when they run out of sugar to eat and start to wind down, kicking out other flavors and aromas. From kettle to glass the quickest we can make beer is about three months. They could just as easily take six months or more if they need to. It takes a long as it takes. It’s ready when it tells us it's ready. Our spontaneous fermentation program with the coolship, in the winter we’re making beer that goes from kettle to coolship, cools overnight, starts off with 100% native airborne yeast, and ferments several years in oak barrels until it’s ready — or it doesn’t and we dump it. For us, it’s about embracing nature and taking risks.”
Indeed, at the cross-streets of “black metal and commercial suicide” this team has been hard at work finding ways to off-set the feasibility problems faced by many of their ideas. The costs of sourcing grains from a local malster, water from a well, fruits from local farmers, and waiting — so much waiting — adds up fast. And then there’s the strain on their infrastructure. “We brewed a bière de garde with hay in the mash,” recalls brewer Garrett Crowell. “It's going to be aged in some brandy casks starting next week.” What does hay do in a mash? "Mostly it breaks the rakes in your mash tun,” explains Crowell. “Word to the wise — 80lbs of hay in the mash is a terrible idea. But you can get some minuscule amounts of sugar from it. Used properly, it can aid in run-off like rice hulls. And the aroma comes through in the wort.”
A brewery that ages hops open-air in the barn and tosses 80lbs of hay into a mash isn’t the kind of place that barrel-room manager Adrienne Ballou thought she’d find herself. She studied wine fermentation at UC Davis where according to Ballou, "they drill into your head that you have to have as clean a fermentation and sterilized an environment as possible.” But following her studies, she worked at a winery in France. “That really opened up my eyes to a different world of fermentation. I didn’t see santiizer used at all. They just sprinkle some water on it. And this is some of the best wine in the world. You don’t have to have this sterile environment using one strain of yeast to make a good product. You can make much more interesting things and kind of let loose and embrace your environment. That’s when I started looking into Jester King.”
Similarly, Crowell had been pursuing the outer edges of home brewing at the time Jester King was opening. He came out to the brewery a couple times a week to help clean and bottle, and he brought his homebrews along to share. “I was making beers in the same vein. I’d been homebrewing for about six years off and on but those two years I was exclusively making wild and sour beer, experimenting with different bottle dregs. At the time you couldn’t go to the homebrew store and get these, so I just used bottles of Orval or I’d special order brettanomyces — they would explain that this "brett bacteria" would really mess up my beer. I didn’t correct them at the time and tell them it was yeast.”
Needless to say, the Texas market is a long way from being primed for Jester King’s offerings. Historically, it hasn’t been conducive to craft or small producers at all. The laws are holdovers from a bygone era, as they are in much of the US, but with some unique quirks that kept most of the world’s greatest beers out of reach. Extract, who came from the distribution side, knows all to well how frustrating the Texas laws are for beer. From the point of view of Shelton Brothers, the importer he worked with at the time, Texas was impenetrable.
“I was importing for seven and a half years with Shelton Brothers, which gave me the opportunity to work with some of the best artisan brewers in the world — understand what they were doing, their philosophy, the rationale behind choices that were different than other breweries — that all sunk in. When Jeff and Michael the original founders were planning the brewery, they were inspired by some of the same breweries that I worked with. We spend a lot of money moving liquid and glass overseas and there’s no reason those beers couldn’t be made right there. Even then, Shelton Brothers didn’t have a high profile in Texas because of regulations in the state, which made it difficult to sell the portfolio. Wine and spirits is fine, but when it comes to beer in Texas, each importing brewery is required to carry their own license, which is over $6,000 a year. For places like Texas, it doesn’t make sense for Shelton Brothers to pay that when they can’t supply the markets consistently anyway.”
Brewers in Texas also had to deal with some screwy labeling laws. Anything over 4% by weight couldn’t be labelled “beer.” So the majority of beers were actually being mis-labelled as “ales” (whether they were ales or not) with unique labels being produced just for the Texas market. Brewers also weren’t legally allowed to inform their customers where they could buy their beer. Not on the website, not at the brewery, nowhere. Consumers had to fish for it themselves. And most recently, Jester King has helped fight for the ability to sell their beer directly on-premise in their own taproom, and for brewpubs to distribute. Now, Jester King taps kegs from exceptional breweries they feel a kinship with (made possible by switching to a brewpub license) as well as cideries nearby. “We think our customers will better appreciate what we’re doing by understanding the influences behind our work, explains Extract. “They’ll promote the category rather than seeing us as a off-ball brewer. That we’re not alone in our philosophy. We can showcase the things we think are special in addition to what were making on-site. It paints a bigger picture of what artisan brewing is all about.”
In addition to the barrel-aged, wild, and sour beers, Jester King makes a “table beer” — a very low abv, full-flavor beer with a tradition of serving farmers and workers throughout the day. Also known as “small beer,” these super-sessionable beers are the counter-trend to the hops race and the monster chasers. They’re quietly showing up in the portfolios of craft brewers around the country, such as Penrose’s Proto Gradus, a 4% Belgian single, and Crooked Stave's Petite Sour at 4.5%. Jester King’s Petite Prince comes in at an astonishing 2.9% while retaining that light, fluffy saison flavor full of citrus and a balanced bitterness.
"Table beers are about flavor,” explains Extract. “Enjoying what’s in the glass. Beer is always my first choice of a beverage. I don’t like soda — I drink coffee, water, and beer. Most of us are like that here. So if we want a beer during the day while were working, having a beer that’s 2.9% and has the flavors we like, doesn’t load us up and allows us to do our work is nice. We feel that’s the default. Beer was conjured originally as beverage. This escalating abv content among some styles is weird for me, for people that like beer. Bigger isn’t always better. It’s not a mark of artisanship.”
Words, Michael Kiser
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Charlotte Hudson Artist Series — 16oz Willi Becher
All content ©2018 Good Beer Hunting. "Good Beer Hunting®" is an international registered trademark of Good Beer Hunting LLC.
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How to Buy a Discontinued iPhone 5 and Save Some Serious Cash
Craig Lloyd
The iPhone 5 is no more; Apple replaced the year-old smartphone with the iPhone 5c instead of keeping it around and discounting it as their older model. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t get an iPhone 5 anymore. Many carriers are discounting the phone in order to get rid of leftover inventory, and many individuals are selling their iPhone 5 units in order to get the iPhone 5s successor, which means there are a lot of iPhone 5 devices for sale right now.
If you’re looking to save some cash, but still want one of the latest iPhones, getting the iPhone 5 is a really smart move right now, and here are a few places that you can look to find a discounted iPhone 5 with your name on it.
Apple is selling off its remaining stock of the iPhone 5 starting at $99 for the 16GB model. Each version is getting a $100 discount, including the off-contract models, which now start at $549. However, if you want to buy the older model directly from the source, you’ll have to hurry, as these things will probably sell off fast and be gone in a week or so.
Verizon is discounting the iPhone 5 down to just $99 for the entry-level model while supplies last. The 32GB and 64GB units have also seen $100 price cuts, as have the off-contract versions. This price is the same as the iPhone 5c, which is technically the same phone internally, but comes with an inferior (arguably) plastic body instead.
AT&T is still selling the iPhone 5 at $199, but they do offer a refurbished model for $149. There’s no word on whether or not Ma Bell will chop the price in half like Verizon did, but if you’re set on remaining at AT&T and want to buy directly from the carrier, the $149 refurbished model is your best bet right now.
Sprint has discounted the iPhone to $99 for the 16GB model, as well as tacking on a $100 discount to the 32GB and 64GB models. However, there’s no word from Sprint as far as limited supply, but we can guess that the carrier will eventually run out.
T-Mobile has not discounted its iPhone 5 yet, but the 16GB model in both black and white are sold out, with only 32GB and 64GB models left. If you’re set on T-Mobile, we’d recommend waiting until the device is discounted.
Walmart‘s website has the iPhone discounted to $98 after signing a two-year contract with either Verizon, AT&T or Sprint, but store representatives tell us that you can pick it up for $79 in-store. However, an off-contract iPhone 5 on Walmart’s Straight Talk network is still priced at the regular $649.
Best Buy hasn’t discounted its iPhone 5, and it seems that every version is still in stock and available to order. However, we would be surprised if they didn’t offer a discount on the phone eventually.
RadioShack‘s website doesn’t list the iPhone 5 as being discounted (and they don’t show a price), so you’ll have to contact a location nearest you to see how much they’re selling it for. We gave one of their stores a quick call, and they’re still selling the device starting at $199, or $700 off-contract.
Target‘s website also doesn’t list pricing for the iPhone 5, so you’ll have to call your local store to get a price. However, calling the location nearest us, they said they’re selling the iPhone 5 starting at $99, but the off-contract price remains at $700.
eBay can be a gold mine for buying a used iPhone 5; you can easily find used models for as low as $300 off-contract. Granted, they may not come with the original packaging and might show a little bit of wear and tear, but as you’re careful and know what you’re buying, you can get a great deal on an iPhone 5 on eBay. It’s also a good idea to confirm that the IMEI and serial numbers aren’t blacklisted, which could mean it’s a stolen device if they are. Most sellers are willing to hand over this info to a potential buyer who asks for it, but if the seller is hesitant, there’s a possibility that the phone might be stolen.
As with eBay, Craigslist can also be the jackpot for buying a used iPhone 5 on the cheap. Many users are trying to sell their models, which means that you’ll get tons of listings in your search results. Obviously, pricing varies depending on location, but the nice thing about Craigslist is that you can negotiate on the price and possibly get it for cheaper than you would have if you bought it on eBay. As with eBay, you’ll have to be careful about buying a fake or a stolen model, but as long as you ask a lot of questions and get a feel for the seller, you should be okay.
Related Topics:AppleiphoneiPhone 5shopping
John Jo
Sprint customers, it’s worth noting that the $99 deal is only good for new lines of service. I went into the Sprint store today and they wanted to charge me $199 to get the iphone 5.
At the Apple store however, the 5 actually costs $99 (with 2yr contract).
10 Things to Do Before the Galaxy Note 10 Release Date
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