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Mattot begins with a discussion of the laws of vows. And the Hatam Sofer (Rabbi Moses Schreiber, 1762-1839 of Hungary), famous as a halachic authority and for his vehement opposition to the Reform movement, makes on its opening verse a comment that sounds like it could have been written last week.
The parshah begins: "Moses spoke to the heads of the Israelite tribes, saying … ."
The Hatam Sofer asks, "Why is it that this parshah — which deals with vows, oaths, and 'he shall not break his word' — is addressed to the heads of the tribes [rather than the usual Children of Israel]?"
His answer? Because the majority of leaders and politicians are quick to make promises, and also quick to go back on them.
I couldn't have said it better myself. Clearly, Kohelet was right when he said, "There is nothing new beneath the sun!" However, the medieval Spanish commentator Ibn Ezra suggests that the section on vows is actually addressed to the leaders of the tribes of Reuben and Gad in order to reinforce their obligation to keep the promises they had made to Moses.
After the war with Midian, Gad and Reuben come to Moses, Eleazar, and the chieftains of the community and say: "The land that the Lord has conquered for the community of Israel is cattle country, and your servants have cattle. It would be a favor to us," they continued, "if this land were given to your servants as a holding; do not move us across the Jordan."
Moses rebukes them, believing they are trying to avoid participating in the coming war of conquest of the Promised Land, and he compares them to the spies whose fear led to the death of the generation of the Exodus in the wilderness. But they explain that this is not their intention.
"We will build here sheepfolds for our flocks and towns for our children. And we will hasten as shock-troops in the van of the Israelites until we have established them in their home. … We will not return to our homes until every one of the Israelites is in possession of his portion."
Moses agrees: "Build towns for your children and sheepfolds for your flocks, but do what you have promised."
Also Quite Subtle
And here we learn that while the Torah is often quite heavy-handed when making a point –plagues, serpents, fire from heaven and the like — it can also be quite subtle.
The Tanhuma, as cited by Rashi, notes that Moses had reason to suspect the motives of Reuben and Gad because their initial appeal seemed to be concerned primarily with wealth and material possessions.
They speak initially about their cattle and the importance of good grazing land, and after Moses rebukes them they say, "We will build here sheepfolds for our flocks and towns for our children."
Rashi explains: "They showed more concern for their own money than their sons and daughters, as they placed their cattle before their little ones.
Moses said to them, "Do not do so. Put first things first and secondary things second. First, build cities for your little ones, and afterwards folds for your sheep."
Moses' message — reversing the order of their words — was subtle, but Gad and Reuben received it loud and clear. How do we know?
Because they responded to Moses: "Your servants will do as my lord commands. Our children, our wives, our flocks and all our other livestock will stay behind in the towns of Gilead while your servants cross over … to engage in battle."
It took some doing, but now they had their priorities straight.
After all, nobody ever said on his deathbed, "I wish I'd spent more time at the office."
Rabbi Joyce Newmark is a resident of Teaneck, N.J. She was a former religious leader of congregations in Leonia and Lancaster, Pa.


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Have a safe day!
Friday, Jan. 29
3:30 p.m.
DIRECTOR'S COFFEE BREAK - 2nd Flr X-Over
4 p.m.
Joint Experimental-Theoretical Physics Seminar - One West
Speaker: William Molzon, University of California, Irvine
Title: Status Report and First Results on MEG Search for µ → e V
Monday, Feb. 1
2:30 p.m.
Particle Astrophysics Seminar - One West
Speaker: Jennifer Siegal-Gaskins, Ohio State University
Title: Using Anisotropies to Identify Dark Matter and
Astrophysical Gamma-Ray Sources with Fermi
3:30 p.m.
DIRECTOR'S COFFEE BREAK - 2nd Flr X-Over
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All Experimenters' Meeting - Curia II
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HINS RFQ Accelerates Beam in MDB;
CMS/LHC Report
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Starting this week, all Fermilab employees are required to complete a one-time training on Integrated Quality Assurance. The online course, about 30 minutes long and developed by the Fermilab Office of Quality and Best Practices, is the next step in Fermilab's goal of improving quality and quality assurance for all work done at the laboratory. All employees need to take the course and complete an online test after viewing the course. The requirement to take the course and completion of the course will become part of the ITNA record of every employee.
In September, Director Pier Oddone devoted a large part of his all-hands meeting to Integrated Quality Assurance. The Department of Energy conducted an audit on the implementation of IQA at Fermilab that month. The DOE audit team commended the laboratory for its QA assessments and corrective action plans and the work done by the quality assurance representatives of each division and section. Now is the time to make sure that every employee has a basic understanding of IQA.
The course covers the basic definition of what quality is, provides a overview of what quality assurance is supposed to do, and explains how we at Fermilab can integrate quality assurance in our daily work by taking a moment to think about the requirements of the work at hand.
To take the training, go to the TRAIN class schedule page. Enter your employee ID, select the training category "General" and click "Submit." Next, click on the course "Introduction to Integrated Quality Assurance." Click on the button "Go to Online Test" and hit "Request Test." This will generate an e-mail message with a link to both the online course and the online test. Once you have viewed the course, take the test to complete your ITNA requirement. If you have further questions about IQA, please contact your quality assurance representative.
From PhysOrg.com, Jan. 28, 2010
One of the biggest goals of the LHC is to discover the Higgs boson, the only particle in the Standard Model that has not yet been observed. In general, physicists are pretty confident that the Higgs does in fact exist, although they have spent a lot of effort searching for the particle in less powerful accelerators without success. While patiently waiting for the LHC to reach its full energy and a Higgs particle to leave a signature in a detector, some physicists are investigating alternative scenarios. One of the most recent proposals is that the Higgs is not a particle, but an unparticle called the Unhiggs.
The Unhiggs idea was first suggested in a paper published in November 2009 by physicists David Stancato and John Terning of the University of California, Davis. The Unhiggs is not all that different from the Higgs, except that it demonstrates unparticle behavior and, subsequently, does not fit in with the Standard Model. While a particle has discrete parameters, the Unhiggs' parameters are continuous. In this sense, the Unhiggs is itself a continuum, and can be thought of as a collection of many Higgs bosons, each carrying a fraction of the Unhigg's total value.
Read more
Imagine you toss a football to your friend, but when it gets there, it's a baseball. Bizarre, right? Well, every time a neutrino of a particular flavor (electron, muon or tau) flies through space, there is a chance that it won't be the same flavor at the end of its journey. Studying this phenomenon, known as neutrino oscillation, yields new insight into the nature of nature.
In particular, measuring the probability that a muon neutrino will transition to an electron neutrino may help resolve the long-standing question of why there is far more matter than antimatter in the universe. This probability is measured by sending a beam of muon neutrinos to a detector and counting how many electron neutrinos appear. When electron neutrinos interact in the detector they typically produce a single electron, which starts an electromagnetic shower of photons, electrons and positrons. This shower is the smoking gun that indicates the presence of an electron neutrino.
However, one has to watch out for other particle interactions that can fake this signal. MiniBooNE is the first experiment to carefully determine the kinematics of one of the major background processes, π0 production. This measurement utilized the world's largest sample of neutrino-induced π0 events ever recorded.
Neutrinos of any flavor can interact in the MiniBooNE detector and produce a π0 through neutral current interactions. The π0 decays very quickly to two photons, which each produce electromagnetic showers, much like the electron. If one of the photons goes undetected, the event is indistinguishable from an electron-neutrino signature, creating a rather pernicious background.
The task of counting electron neutrinos, as Colin Anderson, a graduate student at Yale University and lead on the π0 analysis puts it, "becomes akin to being color blind and having to count the number of red jelly beans in a jar full of all colors."
PII training required for all employees
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subset: commoncrawl


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TRING, Wooster, bought by Pride of the Hills, Killbuck
WOOSTER -- Pride of the Hills Manufacturing, Killbuck, has done well working in the energy sector with its products for the gas and oil industry, but its leaders are taking steps to diversify the company, which led to the acquisition of TRING Corp.
Roger Rehm, who owned TRING, sold the company to Pride of the Hills, and it is now Pride of the Hills Manufacturing Wooster.
Dan Oliver, who oversees operations for Pride of the Hills, said the energy industry has been good to the company, "but we know energy is not always good."
Matt Bowling, who served as president of TRING, is now part of the ownership group, which includes Curt Murray Sr. and Curt Murray Jr., and he will handle the day-to-day operations of the company on East Lincoln Way in East Union Township.
There has been $2.8 million invested this year in new equipment, Bowling said, the latest piece, a laser cutter with full automation, delivered Nov. 4. The company also is adding a new, 350-ton brake press with a 15-foot bed to complement its 190-ton brake press with a 10-foot bed.
The Wooster operations will pursue contract manufacturing for other companies and handle some of the work from Pride of the Hills, Oliver and Bowling said.
Pride of the Hills Wooster makes products for the medical, oil and gas, transportation and agricultural markets. Most of the business is done within the state, however, Bowling said there will be an effort to expand sales outside of Ohio.
"We're aggressively going to grow this side of the business," Oliver said.
And grow Pride of the Hills has.
It finished a 10,000 square-foot addition at its Killbuck site, and the company is poised to break ground on a 72,000 square-foot addition, Oliver said.
The growth in Holmes County is being driven by the gas and oil business. The company manufactures gas production units, and Oliver said Pride of the Hills' technology will be able to help producers who engage in hydraulic fracturing to save money. The gas production units separate gas, oil, sand and water, and it reduces the pressure of the gas coming out of the ground. Because it separates the gas, drillers will be able to use the gas to power the engines that drive the fracking process.
"The gas is theirs; they pay for diesel" to operate the engines, Oliver said.
Since Bowling became president of TRING, the company added about 12 new employees, and he is hoping to add even more. He wants to expand the second shift and by the end of 2014, he would like to see 60-80 more people.
That kind of growth will require additional manufacturing space. The buildings in Wayne County are already at capacity, Oliver said. They are looking at their options for additional space.
All of the investments in new equipment has led to increased capacity and an ability to handle larger projects, Bowling said. One of the areas has been in welding equipment. Airgas of Canton is working with Pride of the Hills Wooster on setting up programmable, pre-set welders and training the workers.
Like other manufacturers, Bowling said finding skilled labor has been a little difficult, which is why some of the investments in automated equipment have been made. This makes it easier to get a worker up and running, he added. He also is trying to work with the Wayne County Schools Career Center to hire welders coming out of its program.
Bowling said he has a good group of workers who have enough experience to help the younger ones learn.
There has been an effort to cross-train the staff so when one market is down, they can work in another area, Bowling said. "People here are not dedicated to one machine."
With a focus on expansion, Oliver and Bowling said they will be working with Rod Crider and Shawn Starlin at the Wayne Economic Development Council to see what incentives are available.
Oliver, who was with another manufacturer before joining Pride of the Hills, worked with Crider on receiving a tax abatement to add a new powder coating line and add employees.
"We look forward to working with them and their expansion plans," Crider said.
Starlin worked with Pride of the Hills when it was looking to expand into Wayne County, before it ultimately purchased TRING.
"We wish them well on their new venture," Crider said.
Reporter Bobby Warren can be reached at 330-287-1639 or firstname.lastname@example.com. He is @BobbyWarrenTDR on Twitter.


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Partnership Advances Sustainable Science and Green Chemistry Education K-20
to Build a 21st Century Skilled WorkforceCapable of Green Technological Innovation
Wilmington, MA—Beyond Benign, a national nonprofit, established in 2007 to equip educators, scientists, and citizens with the tools to teach and practice green chemistry to achieve a sustainable society, just announced a strategic partnership with Flinn Scientific.
Beyond Benign and Flinn Scientific will co-develop products for use in high school chemistry and introductory college chemistry courses that provide science educators with green chemistry learning solutions.
Known as the science of creating safe, energy efficient and less toxic processes and products, green chemistry supports an important sustainability narrative that society may incorporate into action to benefit human health and the environment. With the global market for green chemistry projected in a Pike Research study to grow from 11 billion in 2015 to nearly 100 billion by 2020, there is a pressing need to advance this work as quickly as possible.
"Flinn Scientific is a well-respected and service driven company with a deep history in science education. Through this partnership, we anticipate bringing much needed green chemistry learning resources to an expansive audience of science educators that we may not otherwise reach. This is important because our educational pipelines are mostly void of sustainable science curriculum applied to chemistry and materials science. Green chemistry provides the opportunity to green the student pipeline from K through 20, giving students a grounding in the principles of and applications of chemistry for solving real-world problems. We couldn't be happier about the collaboration." said Amy Cannon, Executive Director Beyond Benign.
"Flinn is also extremely excited about our partnership with Beyond Benign. They are experts in the fields of green chemistry and green chemistry education. We look forward to working with Beyond Benign to provide high quality, engaging lab activities to support these growing areas of science education." said Mike Lavelle, Chief Executive Officer, Flinn Scientific.
The first four labs developed by Beyond Benign and Flinn include:
- Design and Function-Blackberry Solar Cell: Use fruit to build a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) and measure its electrical characteristics. This experiment, developed will bring chemistry from the abstract into students' everyday world. Concepts: solar cells, alternative energy, electrochemistry and nanotechnology.
- Ash Water Titration: Introduce acid-base titrations in a very unique way. This green chemistry version of a strong acid-strong base titration uses wood ash, a renewable source of base, instead of NaOH. Concepts: acids and bases, titration, catalysis, sustainability and indicators.
- Road Deicers: Learn a quick way to assess the relative toxicities of chemicals commonly found in road deicers. This lab has students examine the effects of aqueous solutions of sodium chloride, magnesium chloride and calcium chloride. Concepts: serial dilution, assays, ecotoxicity, environmental science.
- Making a Household Surface Cleaner: Convert a polylactic acid plastic cup into a household surface cleaner with chemistry while learning about Green Chemistry and polymer chemistry! Concepts: polymers, renewable resources, acids and bases and hydrolysis.
More information at Flinn Scientific: https://goo.gl/qct3vw
Teacher observations of green chemistry in their classrooms
"The students thought it was so cool that they could use blackberries to make a solar cell. I know that they will look for things in their lives to reduce impact on Earth's environment." Connie, Middle School Teacher.
"The students were impressed with the ability to rearrange the atoms into something completely different. It showed a practical application of chemistry, and how the knowledge of chemistry might lead to new technologies." Laurie, High School Chemistry Teacher.
About Beyond Benign
Co-founded by Dr. John Warner and Dr. Amy Cannon in 2007 as a 501c3 nonprofit, Beyond Benign develops and disseminates educational content that teaches green chemistry innovation and empower educators and students to learn how chemistry is central to innovating sustainable solutions. Beyond Benign's programs support an educational continuum from K-12 to higher education to industry. The organization works directly with educators and a network of strategic partners focused on science education, sustainability, innovation and initiatives supporting human and environmental health.
About Flinn Scientific
Flinn Scientific supports science educators in opening young minds to the challenges and joys of scientific discovery. Flinn understands that science is a primary source of America's unparalleled productivity, quality of life, and technological leadership. Through their unsurpassed customer service, they provide the science community with the very best education supplies, safety information, instructional materials and programs to facilitate their vital work. Flinn's respect for and loyalty to the science community is central to everything they do and their relationship with them is always their first priority.


text: Bottom line is this: The overwhelming majority of declining churches in North America are ineffective simply because they have lost their sense of desperation for Kingdom impact. Oh sure, every evangelical church (I would hope) will say that they want to see people saved, baptized and discipled. You will not find a minister or lay... Continue Reading →


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Facebook boasts 1.317 billion monthly active users, Twitter has 255 million active users, while Pinterest holds a respectable 70 million users.¹ We'll help you captivate your target sub-group within these audiences, using engaging content that translates into an effective marketing campaign. Social media networks offer a unique opportunity to display your company's personality, and connect with potential customers on an individual and emotional level.
With intriguing posts, appropriately aimed advertisements, and client reviews, we make sure that our clients stay relevant in today's constantly changing marketing environment. Our Power Placement method ensures that your company is listed in local and national search engines, including industry related "niche websites." Pairing social media marketing with other internet marketing strategies will support growth and awareness of your business in the tough online market.
We develop tailor-made strategies to meet your company's particular goals, needs, and concerns. Ensuring that all social media content have deliberate intents - whether to entice the reader to take action, evoke an emotional response, or just drive awareness - gives our clients the highest value for their marketing campaigns.
¹ http://expandedramblings.com/index.php/resource-how-many-people-use-the-top-social-media


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Solid Waste Inspections on Division street
On 10/27/2014 checkup no. 538816 was conducted. The Dept Of Public Health was asked for help due to solid waste inspections. The subject of this inspection was a building located at 4600 Division street. The detailed address of this place called Gen Iron West are: 4600 W Division St Chicago, Illinois (41 902452, -87 741612). The info about this investigation was last modified on 10/27/2014. An examinator responsible for this case left a note: this is a satellite site owned by general iron but not used for processing- only available for offsite parking of trucks, if needed no photos taken -none necessary .


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I checked my lipstick one last time and adjusted my cute strappy heels. Getting dressed up for a night out was a treat for this jeans-and-t-shirt-wearing mom of preschoolers! My salesman husband was entertaining clients and their wives for dinner, and I looked forward to lively conversation that didn't include detailed reports of somebody calling someone else "doodie breath" or complaining "he looked at me" over the mac and cheese.
Happily, I slipped into a chair next to another woman about my age and introduced myself. Her face lit up as she told me her name, and then she promptly asked me, "So, what do you do?"
"I'm a mom!" I shared excitedly.
"Ohhh, that's nice," she declared in her very best Judy Dench voice, before turning to the woman on her other side, both of them ignoring me for the rest of the evening.
That moment in time would forever be etched in my memory. It didn't matter that, besides being able to sing all stanzas of "There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed a Spider" while cleaning up a diarrhea mess without losing my composure, I was well-read, a sharp conversationalist, keen on current events, and held a college degree. I was even wearing cute shoes, for crying out loud! The fact that I was simply another human being worthy of respect had escaped her. And worst of all, in her eyes, choosing to define myself as "a mom" held no value.
Sadly, often we are the ones who are the worst enemies of godly motherhood!
The explosion of Pinterest and Instagram tempts us to compare ourselves to unrealistic standards. Homeschool mommy blogs make us tired and nearly defeat us. We become obsessed with the seemingly urgent, but non-essential, cares of life. And often the worst day of the year is Mother's Day, when well-meaning pastors extol the virtues of the Proverbs 31 woman while we interpret the story as though her lifetime achievements were a daily checklist.
Jesus had a friend who struggled in similar ways, and we see her story in Luke 10:38-42. One evening, when he was invited to her home, Martha was worried and distracted with making sure all the details of her dinner party were in order, and she began to complain. "Don't you care that my sister has left me with all this to do by myself?" she asked him.
Her sister Mary was sitting close to Jesus, hanging on every word of spiritual truth he had to offer. He replied to his dear friend, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:41-42)
What words of wisdom for every mama today! Jesus, in using the phrase "good part," made it clear that spending time with him, being attentive to his word, and not being distracted by the temporal cares of this world are what bring about an honorable, upright, excellent, and happy life. This is often so difficult, but here are some thoughts we must remember:
- As a mom, you are made in the image of God, infinite in value, chosen before the foundations of the world, and dearly loved by your Creator. God looks at your heart and measures your worth by what he has already done on the cross!
- As a mom, you are called to obey what Jesus told us are the two greatest commandments: to love God with your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself. Loving God means we will know and obey his word and seek to apply it to every aspect of our lives. Loving our neighbor means loving our children first, applying all the "one another" verses of Scripture as we build relationships with them.
- As a mom, you are called to rest in Jesus. He has a sovereign plan for each of you and your children, and he will bring it to pass in his perfect time! Like Martha, we are to stop worrying, fretting, and complaining and simply and fully trust Jesus!
Originally published in Family Magazine, 2015.


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Save your eyes and get them tested this Glaucoma Awareness Month
Glaucoma is a common eye condition where the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, becomes damaged. Glaucoma is usually caused by fluid building up in the front part of the eye, which increases pressure inside the eye. It can lead to reduced vision and even blindness.
There are no symptoms at the beginning as glaucoma develops slowly over the years and affects the edges of your vision first (peripheral vision) and for this reason many people do not realise they have it.
The condition if picked up early can be managed and it is recommended that people have their eyes tested at least every 2 years. The eye tests are painless and include measurements of the pressure inside your eye and tests of your peripheral vision.
Please seek urgent medical attention should you develop any of the following symptoms:
- intense eye pain
- nausea and vomiting
- a red eye
- a headache
- tenderness around the eyes
- seeing rings around lights
- blurred vision
Dr Rahul Thakur a local GP and clinical lead at the CCGs, said:
"Glaucoma can cause serious damage to your eyes and in worst case scenarios it can even lead to blindness. This is why it is important to diagnose the problem during the early stages of the illness and the best way to do this is have regular eye tests, at least once every 2 years."
"I would strongly encourage all patients to take part in their routine eye tests at least once every two years so if anyone does develop glaucoma it can be diagnosed early to prevent any long terms problems. If you are 40 or over and your mother, father, sibling or child has been diagnosed with glaucoma you are entitled to a free eye test."
If tests suggest you have glaucoma, you will be referred to an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) to discuss treatment.
There are a number of ways to treat glaucoma including taking eye drops to reduce the pressure in your eyes, laser treatment to open up the blocked drainage tubes in your eyes or surgery to improve the drainage of fluid from your eyes.
If you need any more information about glaucoma, or to find out what to do if you feel you are experiencing any symptoms visit:


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Click here for the Spring 1917 CEFSG ORBAT.
During this period we have also been working on some new initiatives that were not planned for the 2007 Matrix Year but just happened to arise out of the interest of the members. In particular, 2 of these were quickly developed as they were not only needed for the individual Matrix Pages but had developed a strong following on the Matrix. These are identified as follows:
- Distinguishing Patches: The patches were initially required to post on each of the Unit Pages in the Matrix. Initial plans to use the Nicholson images fell apart as they were too small when copied. That lead to the creation of a number of the simple patches by the Matrix Team and soon this became an "all out" adventure to create all of the patches in their most reliable form. Our special thanks to "Dr. Patch" for his guidance on that aspect of the Matrix Project. You can follow the discussion and progress at the Matrix Distinguishing Patches Topic.
- Unit Cap Badges: As the work to recreate all the patches moved forward, a member of the CEFSG graciously put forth excellent images of a great number of unit cap badges. These were also required to add to the individual unit pages, but to date we had been restricted by what was available from "off site" resources. We now have an excellent start to a CEFSG home-grown page for a great number of unit cap badges. I am sure this will grow quickly over the next few months. You can catch all the discussion about the development of this group at the Matrix Images Discussion. Take a look, the images are truly amazing!
- Troop Ship Embarkments: A special interest of one of the CEFSG members had been the identification of the transport ships that travelled from Canada to England with the troops. It was not too long before a spreadsheet started to take form, which was just as quickly forwarded to the Matrix Team and voila, a new Matrix Utility. As with all related utilities, this is a "work in progress" and we ask that if you have additions or corrections that you post them to the CEFSG Forum for Transport Ships so the Matrix can be updated.
- Great War Tributes: A less well known component of the early 2007 Matrix Growth was the addition of a page to record tributes in poem or song for the Great War. Although a "softer" side of the Matrix it is just as important as the "hard core facts" and so we are pleased to have added this as another Matrix Utility. If you are a fan of these tributes, some of which are absolutely amazing, please enter your suggestion at the CEFSG Forum Page for the Great War Tributes.
Lastly, there have been some recent additions from the CEFSG members for the Maps, Aerial Photographs and Satellites. If you are looking for something to "read and see" while enjoying your early morning espresso, then that is the page to visit. From there you can quickly move into the new age "Google Earth Community" where you will find a number of overlays of maps to the satellite images. We are looking forward to adding a number of new projects to this utility from the CEFSG members.
So for those of you that are wondering why the Fluid ORBAT is not finished, that is why - a few projects got the Matrix a "wee bit side-tracked", and that is just for our "fun time" projects. More to follow - stay tuned!


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Season 5 Episode 7
March 16, 2021
Zach Williams is a husband, father, recording artist, and songwriter, not to mention a two-time GRAMMY® winner (& five-time GRAMMY nominee), a radio chart breaker, and recipient of numerous other accolades. With his most recent release, Rescue Story, containing chart-topping singles like the title track, and There Was Jesus (featuring Dolly Parton), Zach has become world-renowned in both the Christian music world, and country music. Josh asks Zach about his relationship with Dolly, as well as the experience of hosting Drive-In concerts, as he gears up for his Spring Tour with Mac Powell, and Cain. Zach is raw, honest, and to the point, and this conversation did not disappoint.


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13 Style Tips for Building a Perfect Wardrobe
Every guy wants a versatile, easy, no-think wardrobe. The kind of closet that has everything you need for every occasion, whenever you need it. Here's a few tips to get there.
1.) Know where to spend and where to save
If you can afford the likes of luxury tees and socks, that's great. But for most basic items, you can usually get away with what J.Crew and Club Monaco are offering. Saving your money for higher impact wardrobe additions like footwear, outerwear, accessories, watches, and suiting is advised.
2.) Upgrade your accessories one at a time until you love everything in your arsenal
Get that Tudor watch now, Persol sunglasses later. Slowing building over time is always your best bet.
3.) You only need three belts
An everyday brown leather belt that looks good with a pair of jeans or chinos, a brown leather belt nice enough to wear with a suit, and a black leather belt you can wear with a tuxedo.
4.) Prioritize your purchases based on what you will wear more often
You're most likely to wear a watch and sunglasses every day, wear your outerwear and footwear by the season, and the rest of your wardrobe more sparingly. Cover your daily gear first, seasonal second, and so forth.
5.) Every few months replace all your worn out socks, underwear, and tees
It goes a long way.
6.) You only need three good white shirts
Unless you need to wear a suit and tie in the office each day, all you need is a white oxford cloth button-down you can wear casually or dressed up, a white linen shirt you can wear when the weather heats up, and a bulletproof white dress shirt that can go with any suit or tuxedo.
7.) You only need two good watches
An everyday watch that's versatile enough to wear to the office or with a tee, and a special occasion dress watch that's perfect for New Years Eve or a wedding.
8.) Every year for four years, buy one perfect pair of raw denim jeans
These four pairs of jeans will slowly become your perfect range of blues, from darkest to lightest. This is how the experts do it, welcome to the club.
9.) Don't impulse buy expensive items
Treat yourself to one perfect winter coat per year, not three. Same rule goes for shoes and all big ticket items. One at a time, quality over quantity.
10.) Visit a tailor often
If something doesn't fit perfect, take it to your tailor. Obviously suits and blazers are a must, but you'll be surprised what a big difference a good tailor will make altering things like polo shirts and chinos to perfection.
11.) Never overdue the pocket square
Simple, white, and hardly noticeable.
12.) Skip the black suit
Leave black for the tuxedo and opt for midnight navy or charcoal. It's far more flattering.
13.) You only need six pairs of shoes
Black dress shoes, brown dress shoes, slip-on loafers, white leather sneakers, white canvas sneakers, and quality running shoes.


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Wise words for the season and beyond
Published Tuesday, December 22, 2015 in the New Brunswick Telegraph Journal and the Fredericton Daily Gleaner.
One of my most treasured possessions is a little journal of quotations I started keeping years ago. By now, it holds sippets of inspiration and wisdom drawn from sources as diverse as Gandhi, Einstein and Dr. Seuss.
Lately I've also started adding quotations relating to climate change and how we can solve it. Here are some of my favourites, presented with the hope that they may provide for a bit of year-end – and year-beginning – reflection.
"Man does not weave the web of life; he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. All things are connected." - Attributed to Chief Seattle, 1854
"No generation has a freehold on this earth. All we have is a life tenancy, with a full repairing lease." - UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, 1988
"Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist." – Economist Kenneth E. Boulding, 1973
"Perpetual growth is the creed of the cancer cell." – Author and Biologist Paul Ehrlich, 2011
"Climate change… is the greatest and widest-ranging market failure ever seen." – British Economist Sir Nicholas Stern, The Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, 2006
"Preservation of our environment is not a liberal or conservative challenge, it's common sense." – US President Ronald Reagon's State of the Union Address, 1984
"We need carbon prices to reflect the most limited resource of the 21st century – the limited disposal space for CO2 in the atmosphere." - Ottmar Edenhofer, Chief Economist, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, 2015
"Nobody talks about the cost of not fighting climate change. This cost is passed to citizens too, whether it's health care, coastal erosion or spectacular weather events. This is hugely expensive for our society." - Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard, 2015
"We are now in a race between climate tipping points and political tipping points" – David Spratt and Philip Sutton, "Climate Code Red", 2008
"We need to reach a social tipping point where people do not think it is okay to build another smokestack." - Professor Ken Caldeira, Carnegie Institution for Science, 2015
"Those who have the privilege to know have the duty to act." – Albert Einstein
"The greatest sin of our time is not {committed by} the few who have destroyed, but the vast majority who sat idly by" – US civil rights leader Martin Luther King, 1967
"You are what you do, not what you say you'll do." – Carl Jung, founder of analytical psychology
"What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains, and is immortal." – Albert Pike, American attorney, soldier and writer, 1874
"The ultimate test of a man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard." – Gaylord Nelson, founder of Earth Day, 1984
"The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children." – Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German pastor and theologian
"There is a good chance that one day, years down the road, someone will ask what you did about climate change. It could be your kid, your grandkids, maybe someone you don't know, maybe a whole generation. It will be one of those moments when you'll want to be standing on the right side of history." - Writer Karen Orton, 2015
"We are all joined together globally in ways we have never been joined before." – Author Margaret Atwood, 2015
"Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing." – Arundhati Roy, 2003


text: Spend a day with family & friends at Ned Houk Park! Located 7 miles north of town, the park has 3,200 acres of which 370 are developed. Ned Houk Park features 4 basketball courts, 2 ball fields, archery range, a motor sports race track, trails for ATV vehicles and horses,a disc golf course and a model airplane flying area. The park also has three lakes- with one being stocked with fish for recreational fishing. Several picnic areas with playground equipment and restroom facilities are available. There is also a large area with band shell and tables available for rental.


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Peter's Field
Peter's Field
Peter's Field, located between 20th and 21st Streets and First and Second Avenues, is named for two of the city's most prominent historical figures—Peter Stuyvesant (1610-1672) and Peter Cooper (1791-1905). Nearby Stuyvesant Town, located between Avenue C and First Avenues from 14th to 20th Streets, and Peter Cooper Village, located between Avenue C and First Avenues from 20th Street to 23rd Streets, also bear their names.
Peter Stuyvesant, a Calvinist minister's son, born in The Netherlands, joined the Dutch West India Company at the age of 22. After becoming the director of the company's Caribbean colonies of Curaçao, Aruba, and Bonaire in 1643, Stuyvesant led a victorious attack on the island of Saint Martin; he gravely injured his right leg and was forced to have it amputated. The wooden leg he wore from then on earned him the nickname "Old Peg-Leg." Stuyvesant arrived in New Amsterdam in 1647 as the Director General of New Netherland and quickly worked to limit the sale of liquor, enforce his own church's domination, and persecute Lutherans, Quakers, and Jews. Stuyvesant bought a farm, the Bouwerie (the namesake of the Bowery), in 1651, and built his home, White Hall, in 1655 at what is now the intersection of Whitehall and State Streets. Often remembered as a violent despot, Stuyvesant also encouraged commerce and helped form New Amsterdam's municipal government until the British seized New Netherland in 1664. Following his withdrawal from public life, he retired to his farm where he lived until his death in February 1672. Manhattan's Stuyvesant High School, located in Battery Park City, and Stuyvesant Square Park, from 15th to 17th Streets between Livingston Place and Rutherford Place, are named for him.
New York City native Peter Cooper, an inventor with little formal education, began his career as a cloth cutter during the War of 1812. After becoming a prosperous glue manufacturer, Cooper built the country's first steam engine, the Tom Thumb, at his Canton Iron Works factory in Baltimore. Deeply involved in New York City politics, he worked to disentangle the fire and police departments from their political connections, to supply better water and sanitation, to improve prison conditions and to provide the poor with public education. The namesake of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art (formed between 1857 and 1859), Cooper was an unsuccessful presidential candidate in 1876, when he ran on the Greenback ticket.
Peter's Field serves the children of M.S. 104, which replaced P.S. 50 in 1956 as part of a comprehensive plan to provide better school facilities for Manhattan's East Side between Houston and 34th Streets. The post-graduate hospital originally on this site was obsolete after Bellevue Medical Center on First Avenue was completed. The hospital's demolition in 1963 allowed room for the expansion of Peter's Field. The park officially opened in 1965, and is jointly operated by NYC Parks and the Department of Education.
In 1998, a renovation of this playground included the addition of tennis courts on the side bordering the school and replacement of basketball courts with more hoops bordering Second Avenue, as well the planting of several London plane trees. A variety of plants decorate the park today including meidiland roses, oakleaf hydrangeas, Japanese barberries, lady's mantle and a host of tulips.
A series of cast concrete plaques, placed in pairs along Second Avenue, depicts other famous Peters: Peter Pan; Peter Parker, Spider Man's alter ego, shown as half-man, half-spider; Peter Piper, picking pickled peppers; Peter Pumpkin Eater; Peter Rabbit; and Peter of Peter and the Wolf.


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The Global Epistemics Book Series – now launched, edited by Inanna Hamati-Ataya (Centre for Global Knowledges, University of Cambridge).
Global Epistemics is a transdisciplinary series established in partnership with Rowman & Littlefield International, that aims to foster, promote, and disseminate empirically grounded and theoretically ambitious research on knowledge as a cultural and natural phenomenon.
The series invites individual and collaborative works that efficiently transgress contemporary disciplinary boundaries across the historical, social, and natural sciences, to fruitfully advance our understanding of the nature, history, politics, pragmatics, and normative dimensions of human knowledges – their constitution, co-evolution, diffusion, cultural and material impacts, forms, and uses – as well as their relation to non-human knowledges and to evolving socio-ecological environments. We also invite approaches to animal (human and non-human) cognition that can redefine classical philosophical questions on knowledge and knowing, or delineate new areas and horizons for philosophical and ethical inquiry, on the basis of advanced empirical research and new research methodologies.
Grounded in an anthropologically holistic understanding of knowledge that encompasses its ideational, artistic, institutional, and material manifestations across history, as well as the full spectrum of historical modes of practical and intellectual validation (from 'prehistorical' to 'modern' paradigms, practices, and technologies and from 'ancient' to 'modern' science), the series also approaches globality simultaneously as totality, extension, and connectivity. It thus aims to advance naturalist, artisanal, and historical epistemologies beyond classical ontological and temporal divides; to explore the patterns of epistemic emergence, diffusion, and exchange across historical times, geocultural spaces, ecological contexts, and sociopolitical configurations; and to investigate modes of knowing and doing that illuminate human commonalities while making sense of our differences as manifestations of our cultural and behavioural plasticity.
The series welcomes empirically grounded and intellectually robust contributions that serve its mission, regardless of their methodologies, conceptual frameworks, levels of analysis, temporal scope, or specific objects of investigation. This includes investigations of contemporaneous natural and cultural structures, processes, actors, and media of epistemic activity, as well as studies inscribed in the longue durée or deep-historical time, or addressing past or present knowledge from a comparative perspective. We are looking for projects that can speak to audiences across academic specialties, whether they aim to initiate new transdisciplinary work, disseminate the results of such research, or develop ambitious syntheses.
In addition to its transdisciplinary ambitions, the series hopes to showcase, and facilitate access to, cross-sectorial contributions to the understanding of human and non-human knowledge, especially in domains wherein epistemic activity is strongly grounded in artisanal, social, and technical praxis. We therefore encourage the submission of projects that engage with, and include, epistemic actors beyond the community of academics, scientists, and scholars, without deviating from the series' commitment to robust research standards and clarity of scholarly communication. Such projects will be subjected to the same process and expectations of academic peer-reviewing.
Full details here.


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Historically, sex has been subject to strict personal and religious rules. Just 50 years ago, a person's sex life was thought of as a direct reflection of moral standing and character. Food, on the other hand, was a matter of personal choice. People ate what they were going to eat, and it wasn't a matter of public concern.
Today, however, the societal rules surrounding food and sex have switched, Mary Eberstadt writes for the Hoover Institution Policy Review. Proper food consumption has become a moral imperative, with vegetarians, vegans, and locavores playing the roles of ethical evangelists. Sex has become a matter of personal choice, one that is best left to the people involved. This dynamic, according to Eberstadt, has resulted in a the popularization of "mindful eating, and mindless sex."
The problem, Eberstadt writes, is that both food and sex, "if pursued without regard to consequence, can prove ruinous not only to oneself, but also to other people, and even to society itself."
Image by Jutta, licensed under Creative Commons.
Source:Hoover Institution


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By Ashley Mertel
Lighting up a Christmas tree today consists of simply plugging it in, but in back in the day it was not that simple.
The tradition, which originated in Germany, started in the 17th century and later spread to Eastern Europe, and eventually came to America. The lighting of Christmas trees (which was previously just the lighting of a single Yule log) was created by those who believed to celebrate Yule. The tradition started because during the dark days of December and the winter solstice, people lit candles and logs to welcome light back into the days. Also, it was a way of summoning the return of the sun and warding off evil spirits.
Eventually, the churches adopted the tradition. The burning of Yule logs was then said to represent Jesus being the light of the world. The burning of Yule logs morphed into the lighting of a Christmas tree, but not without a few problems first.
Back before the invention of the light bulb and electricity, people found stone-age ways to light a Christmas tree. They would glue candles to the branches or place them all around the tree to illuminate the area. People would only light the trees for a few minutes a night due to fire hazards. It was common to find buckets of water next to a Christmas tree in case of emergency. Though there was the risk of fire, people lit their trees so much that insurance companies stopped covering house fires caused by Christmas tree lighting.
In 1882, Thomas Edison's friend, Edward Johnson, lit the first electric Christmas tree in New York City. There were only 80 bulbs on the string of lights. The intention of this lighting was actually an advertising tool to open up the market for Christmas lights. Their selling point was to excite and heighten the holiday season. The price for Christmas lights back then was equivalent to $300 in today's dollar value.
Today Christmas lights are now more affordable and common. They help enhance the holidays and are part of the excitement of the season. Many people who hang their holiday lights this season probably will not realize the Christmas lights they are putting up originated as the burning of one Yule log.
Email Ashley at:


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Características• Pro-Ject LP-Bag Tasche
• Vinyl-Audiophile-Spectrum
• Vinyl-Essential-Test-Rec
• Strobe-it
• Adjust-it
• Level-it
• Measure-it 2
• Grease-it
Audiophile pressing:
• 180 gr. Virgin Vinyl
• Direct from the analogue master-tape
• Reference test record
• Limited edition
• Luxury gate-fold cover
• Made in Austria
- On Broadway Pusching/Swallow/Alias/Lewis- Besame Mucho Linda Sharrock/The Chants Band- Fracanapa Preinfalk/Schmid/Paier/Mathisen- Rölmo Melo X- Smoke Sabina Hank Trio- Golden Moments Vienna Art Orchestra- Air, Love & Vitamins Muthspiel/Johnson/Blade- In A Sentimental Mood Pusching/Swallow- Call & Response Gansch & Roses- Lucky Southern Rudy Linka
=> Stage feeling
=> Dynamic range
=> 3D positioning
=> Timbre
=> Transparency
=> Bass resolution
Thrilled by the idea of Heinz Lichtenegger from Pro-Ject Audio this sampler starts a series of analogue re-releases, "The audiophile
spectrum" perfectly combines terrific jazz music and outstanding sound quality and can also be used as test record!.
Austrias leading jazz musivians around the famous "Vienna Art Orchestra" took part in this "live in the studio" recordings. The
music on this album is vivid and dynamic and shows all facetts of modern jazz music with loads of groove and drive, but also
delicate and gentle melodic. All recordings are totally analogue using the best microphones and analogue tape recorders.
*• Adjust-it
• Suitable for all Pro-Ject tonearms
• Allows fine adjustment of bearings, if misadjusted
• Caution: for qualified personnel only
• Includes 2 inserts for different bearings
• Full metal (aluminium & brass)
Precision machined tonearm bearing fine adjustment tool!
Fits all Pro-Ject tonearms and allows qualified personnel to optimise bearing adjustment,when bearings are misadjusted, because of unassured transport of a turntable. If you are not sure about correct adjustment, please contact your local dealer!
CAUTION! Misuse of this adjustment tool may damage tonearm bearings!
*Electronic stylus balance
• 4 digit LCD-Display with backlight
• Capacity 0 - 5g
• Variance ±0,002g
• Auto calibration function
• Auto off after 120 seconds
• Replacement batteries supplied


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We love unusual friendships, and these two friends share an unexpected but beautiful bond. Masik is a squirrel, and Pyotr Pankratau is a a former Belarusian army soldier, and the two friends spend all their time together.
1 | 5A kind-hearted soldier rescued a baby squirrel on the verge of death and then nursed him back to health by feeding him every four hours. Warrant officer Pyotr Pankratau was serving in the Belarussian army when he discovered the tiny baby squirrel under a tree. Despite his military duties, Pankratau took him back to base and managed to squeeze in feeds of milk every four hours around his busy schedule.
2 | 5Adorable: Warrant officer Pyotr Pankratau was serving in the Belarussian army when he found the baby squirrel under a tree. Best friends: Pyotr Pankratau and his squirrel Minsk are now inseparable after he nursed the sick animal back to health. Yum: Pankratau fed Minsk with baby food and milk every four hours until he got better.
3 | 5Incredibly, the baby squirrel made a full recovery and stayed with Pankratau throughout his two years of service in the army. Pankratau named the squirrel Minsk – after the Belarus capital – and he now never leaves his side. Minsk even accompanies Pankratau, now a taxi driver, as he drives passengers around the city. He told Euro Radio: 'He was lying unconscious under the tree. There were worms in his mouth and right eye so I took them out. Two weeks later everything got back to normal.
4 | 5'I fed him with baby food and milk through a syringe every four hours. 'Then his teeth came out and he started eating himself. 'Half a year later I vaccinated and registered him.' These adorable pictures show Minsk on his rounds with Pankratau who says he is well trained and sticks to certain parts of the taxi so he doesn't disturb the customers. He added: 'I don't show him to everyone. Why disturb him all the time? I show him to kids.' Hats off: One of Minsk's favourite places to have a nap is in Pankratau's military caps. Sleepyhead: Minsk is also happy to use Pankratau as a pillow if there aren't any hats around.
5 | 5ackseat driver: Pankratau left the army and now works as a taxi driver – with Minsk by his side. Kicking back: Minsk is well-trained and stays in his designated areas of the car. Kicking back: Minsk is well-trained and stays in his designated areas of the car. Popular: While Minsk mainly keeps out of sight of customers, the friendly squirrel is a favourite with children. Furry pals: The squirrel Minsk shares a snack with a feline friend.


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Camden County Prosecutor Mary Eva Colalillo reported a non-fatal police-involved shooting in Camden on Tuesday evening, August 7, 2018.
Preliminary investigation indicates that at approximately 8:30 pm, two plain clothes Camden County Metro Police Detectives were in an unmarked vehicle that was stopped at a red light at the intersection of Broadway and Walnut Streets. The Detectives were sitting in their vehicle when they were fired upon by two unknown males. One of the Detectives returned fire. The individuals who shot at the Camden Metro Detectives fled the area and have not yet been apprehended.
The Detectives, whose identities will not be released at this time, were both injured and taken to Cooper University Hospital for treatment. They have both been placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.
When a municipal police officer is involved in a shooting, the Camden County Prosecutor's Office conducts an investigation into the incident, as required by the New Jersey Attorney General's Office guidelines. The local police department is not involved in the investigation into the officer involved shooting.
If anyone has any information regarding the incident, please contact Camden County Prosecutor's Office Sergeant Vince McCalla 856-225-8569.
Released Wednesday, August 8, 2018.


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coupon to Macys
How to Use the Internet to Get Macy's Quality at Bargain Prices
For decades shoppers have relied on retailers such as Macy's for quality merchandise. They were willing to spend a little more in order to get what they wanted. Thanks to the Internet, shoppers can now buy the same quality goods at prices that rival those of discount stores. They simply visit sites like red star coupons, which explain how to find and use online coupons and other discounts.
Internet Sites Offer Many Promo Codes
Unlike bricks-and-mortar stores that accept paper and digital coupons, online shopping deals require promo codes. These codes consist of a short series of numbers and letters. When they are typed in at checkout, they automatically reduce prices. Stores often include codes in their online promotions. Coupon websites not only list a variety of these discounts but also explain how they can be used and maximized to get the lowest prices.
Websites Explain How to Check Out
Internet savings sites like Macy's coupon are especially valuable because they walk viewers through all the steps necessary to get deals. These typically include the following:
Once all shopping is completed, the customer is directed to the checkout area. There they see a small box asking whether they have a promo code. All they have to do is type the code in and the site applies it to their purchase, which reduces the total.
Websites usually remind customers that they can get free shipping when they spend a minimum, such as $75.00. No cost shipping may also be part of a promotion like a Macy's coupon. Shipping charges are zeroed out when the coupon code is applied. If retailers have size or weight limits on free shipping offers, they include the fact in their sale information.
Free Returns Are Becoming Common
Some retailers now allow customers to process returns online at no charge. This is especially convenient for those who live far from stores. There may be size limitations on this money-saving option, but it is ideal for clothing and other average-sized merchandise.
The Internet now makes it possible for customers to enjoy huge savings on quality merchandise that they buy at fine retailers' websites. Clients can use online promo codes and free shipping offers to reduce costs dramatically. Stores also keep costs down with free returns.


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The Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit parent company of Wikipedia and its anyone-can-edit brethren, announced on Monday that it has begun its annual fund-raiser. The organization has said that proceeds from the fund-raiser, which runs through December 22, will be used to pay for technological and corporate improvements as well as program development--specifically expanding its operations to global regions and languages that are currently underrepresented.
"We believe that everyone in the world should have access to education, regardless of race, nationality, gender, age or economic background," Wikimedia Foundation founder Jimmy Wales, who also started a for-profit spin-off, Wikia, said in a statement. "We also believe that everyone has knowledge to contribute. Through the public's support and the Foundation's continued efforts, we expect to have a similar impact on communities in the most remote areas of the world as we have in more developed parts of the globe."
For example, the Wikimedia Foundation--which recently relocated from St. Petersburg, Fla., to San Francisco--will hold an event in South Africa in November with the aim to expand Wikipedia's reach among African languages.
Exact data from last year's Wikimedia Foundation fund-raiser is not yet available because the organization does not expect its audit for the 2006-2007 fiscal year to be finished until late November. The Wikimedia Foundation is not announcing a target for this year's fund-raiser but has stated that its 2007-2008 operating budget is $4.6 million.


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The Survival Podcast Forum is now a READ-ONLY ARCHIVE
No, especially if it's a Muslim name.
Here's one of the Australian arsonists being arrested.Looks a little middle eastern to me.https://twitter.com/i/status/1215997903396728833
...Michael Truong, 36, of no fixed address, was apprehended by Johnsonville locals - about 20 kilometres east of Bairnsdale in Victoria's fire-torn east - last week. ...Truong was approached by suspicious residents, including a Country Fire Authority captain, after they saw the New South Wales-licensed vehicle loitering in bushland. On closer inspection, the residents claimed that Truong had set fire to pieces of paper in thick scrub.Their response saw the fire quickly extinguished and Truong was taken into custody by police. ...Detective Sergeant Margaret Schulz [said] 'It was a very small fire and it's certainly not linked to what's going on in relation to all the other fires. All our fires have been started by lightening strikes.' ...Despite widespread rumours within the fire-weary community, Detective Schulz said Truong was only suspected of lighting that one fire. 'There is no information at this point that he has been responsible for anything else. Obviously he's got some issues,' she said. ...


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At a time when fair use practices, technology, and communication strategies are changing at a dizzying pace, the topic of ethics in content marketing seems to elicit more questions than answers.
However, adequately addressing these important questions, let alone developing a thoughtful protocol for ethical content marketing, is nearly impossible unless you are monitoring discussion on the issue.
So, on this week's #ContentChat, we decided to give the community a chance to sound off on the topic.
We've attempted to keep the different conversation threads easily discernible so you can get an idea of some of the different arguments surrounding content marketing ethics and responses to them.
If you have thoughts on this topic, we'd love to hear them in the comments below.
photo credit: phauly via photopin cc


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In 1998, Peninsula Light Co. collected interviews with early customers, including these two. Some are no longer with us, but we thought our readers would appreciate this bit of local history.
Don and Shirley Olson
For Don and Shirley Olson, Peninsula Light is a family affair. Don's father, Elmer, and Shirley's uncle, Albert Rickert, were founding members of the board. They helped wield the shovels and machinery that brought power to the Key Peninsula.
The Rickerts lived at Devil's Head. "I don't ever remember not having electricity, but my dad helped dig a lot of the holes for the poles," Shirley said. Her father was a logger.
Don, too, grew up with electricity. His family ran the Sunnycrest hatchery and dairy in Key Center. They were among the first on the Key Peninsula to buy a refrigerator and an electric clothes iron.
Don's mother also had a vacuum cleaner with galvanized pipes. His enterprising father blew air through the pipes into a hole in an old stump, to burn it out. "Of course, he also blew the vacuum cleaner out," Don said.
"We didn't have an electric refrigerator—just an icebox for quite a while," Shirley said. "But we were one of the few with running water and electricity, and I thought we must have been pretty modern."
"Every spring, we went out and cut cedar poles for replacement poles," Don said. "We'd put out about 50 of 'em. We got about $5 apiece..."
As trunk lines extended farther down the peninsula, there was "a great exodus from the back country," Don said. "Everybody moved close to the power lines. That was the advice I gave everyone: see if there's a power line and how deep the well is. If you don't have those two, you won't be in business long."
Paul and Helen Alvestad
When power first arrived at the Alvestad home on Crescent Drive, the family was raising chickens by the light of white gas lanterns. The lanterns were lit early in the morning and burned until 8 or 9 at night.
"Chickens produce more eggs with more light, so you can imagine the impact on that when we got electricity," Paul C. Alvestad said. His father, Peter Alvestad, bought the 184th membership in the young power company.
"My mother was real happy, because having electricity meant she could get a washing machine," Paul said.
Helen Murray, whose family had a dairy farm near Horseshoe Lake, knew who Paul was in high school. The couple's courtship began years later at the local VFW hall. When they married Feb. 5, 1950, Helen was working as a Peninsula Light company clerk.
Helen's father had helped bring in the Cushman line, using a team of horses to pull the equipment. She remembers a family camping trip to visit her father at work.
The arrival of electricity had a huge impact on the Murray family dairy, which had about 100 cows. Milking machines replaced hand milking, though refrigeration had not been a big problem for the dairy; the milk was kept cold running over a system of tubes that constantly circulated cold water.
Paul was elected to the Peninsula Light board and would become the longest-serving board member in company history. Among the highlights he recalls were the break from Tacoma City Light; the sale of Mason County's system to the local public utility district; the addition of new substations; and, of course, the advent of the Washington Public Power Supply System, or WPPSS, better known as "WHOOPS."
Although local customers felt the impact of the WPPSS default through higher rates, the members escaped a lot of legal costs because the board had chosen not to accept power from the two power plants that eventually were not built.
"Maybe it was good judgment—and maybe it was luck," Paul said.


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Chief Justice John Roberts's dramatic decision to cast the deciding vote to uphold President Obama's Affordable Care Act was a relief to millions of uninsured Americans and a surprise to almost everyone.
Since taking the reins at the Supreme Court in 2005, Roberts had developed a reputation as perhaps the most consistently right-leaning member of the Court.
In a 2009 New Yorker profile of the Chief Justice, Jeffrey Toobin described him as a "doctrinaire conservative" who voted to uphold entrenched interests even in cases where Justice Antonin Scalia displayed more libertarian instincts.
Roberts's ACA decision is a reminder that even judges with the most consistent ideological commitments sometimes do unexpected things. In the ACA case, it appears Roberts's concern with the institutional standing and public perception of the Court overcame (at least in part) the Chief Justice's own conservative predisposition.
As the Court's final decision before its three-month summer recess, the ACA decision offers a fascinating backdrop as the Court prepares to consider two of the most important cases the LGBT community has ever brought before it.
Among the first decisions the justices will have to make when they return this October will be whether to review the decisions of two federal courts of appeals, one that overturned the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and the other that invalidated California's Proposition 8.
DOMA forbids the government from providing federal spousal benefits to legally married same-sex couples, while Prop 8 amended the California Constitution to prohibit same-sex couples from marrying in that state.
Roberts's surprise vote in the ACA case is a signal that no one can definitively count out his vote—or that of any other justice—as the legal battle for marriage equality goes forward.
The Court has not decided a major case involving government discrimination against LGBT people since Roberts took over as Chief Justice. The Roberts Court cases that have touched on LGBT issues offer few clues to how the Chief Justice might approach such a case.
Roberts refused to join the majority in a 2011 decision in which the Court held that a public college can deny funding and other benefits to a religious student group that forbids LGBT or non-Christian students to be members. But that case involved First Amendment issues that have little to do with the constitutional questions in the DOMA and Prop 8 cases.
He joined an unsigned opinion of the Court blocking the posting of videos of the Prop 8 trial on YouTube. And he authored a 2010 decision rejecting a request by the supporters of Washington's anti-gay Referendum 71 to prevent the public release of the names of people who had signed petitions to put the measure on the ballot.
Roberts's decisions in these cases provide almost no hints about his attitudes toward the LGBT rights issues the Court will take up in the fall.
Roberts's conservative bent may — or at least should — cause him to consider declining to hear the Prop 8 case at all. That would let the lower court's decision stand and pave the way for the restoration of marriage equality in California later this year.
Traditionally, the Supreme Court only accepts cases when different federal appellate courts have reached opposite conclusions on the same legal issues, or when a decision has broad national implications.
In overturning Prop 8 earlier this year, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals crafted a careful decision that was narrowly focused on the circumstances that led to the imposition of marriage inequality in California.
Roberts's clear concern for the traditions and institutional stability of the Court should naturally predispose him to let that decision stand and leave for another day the broader question of whether the Constitution requires all states to grant same-sex couples the freedom to marry.
And in the DOMA challenge, which most observers believe is quite likely to be accepted by the Court this fall and decided by mid-2013, Roberts's newly-displayed independent streak could lead him to strike down the law.
It's very conceivable that Roberts, along with Justice Anthony Kennedy, will view DOMA's denial of Social Security benefits and federal employee health insurance for what it is—a pointless and mean-spirited law that violates the most basic constitutional norms of equal protection.
For a Chief Justice who cares about how history will view the Supreme Court, few decisions could be easier.


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What is on your Holiday Wishlist?
My friends and family shy away from getting me makeup as gifts (because I honestly need nothing else), but that doesn't stop me from wanting it. Not only do I love makeup, I love jewelry and shoes as well. Here are the things on MY wish list.
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The first thing that has been on my wish list for some time now is actually the Hourglass Cosmetics Ambient Lighting Palette. I have the single powder in Dim and it is amazing. The fact that you can get three shades for little more than the cost of one just leaves me amazed. I don't know why I didn't pick it up for myself in the Friends and Family or VIB sale from Sephora… should have!
Next up is the Sydney Evans Love Ring. It has been something I have wanted for a couple of years now. I never mentioned to anyone I wanted it before because I typically don't ask for such expensive gifts, but my husband saw me looking at it the other day and he said he liked it and asked me to text him a link to it! EEEEEP! Hope I get it! :)
Chanel gets me every time… The beautiful Ombres Matelassees (Charming) Eyeshadow Palette is on my must have list. I know that it looks like an ordinary neutral palette but the shades in it look like it will create the perfect seductive smoky eye! So beautiful.
Marc Jacobs is a new to the beauty world and I haven't tried anything from them yet. The Showstopper 7 Piece Set is a great way to sample multiple features from the brand. It includes eyes, lips, perfume and a beautiful bag. Really pretty affordable too at $89 when you consider all you are getting!
Last but not least are the Ariat Fatbaby boots. I am not a super "country" girl but I am full-on southern. Nothing looks better with a pair of jeans than a good pair of boots, in my humble opinion. These boots are so pretty to wear with your jeans year round, and you can because they don't go all the way up your calves which would make them too warm. They honestly look like a nice pair of shoes instead of the traditional cowboy boot feel.
That was my wish list. What is on your Holiday Wishlist? Also, check out what the other Makeup Wars ladies are wanting this Holiday season!
My Newest Addiction at times reviews products provided by PR companies. This is disclosed at the top of those posts. We also use affiliate links. For more, please see the disclosure page.


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Sunday, December 13, 2009
HRT Changes
Physically, I can't say I've noticed any changes. It's only been about 2 weeks, so that's understandable. However, emotionally, I definitely have experienced some change. I can remember 2-3 times where I got rather annoyed with someone over something simple and stupid. I also remember 6-10 times where I started crying and the tears were free flowing. This could've been from hearing a meaningful song, reading someone else's life story, thinking about the loss of my family, or other things. I've had periods of a sense of complete and utter joy...in the middle of a meeting at work (LOL weird, I know) and then within that same 30 minute meeting, a sense of despair.....all of this of course nothing to do with the meeting at hand.
This last week, I also talked with a couple of other pre-op girls who are much farther along than I am and they both talked a lot about their boyfriends. I had new feelings flow up from inside me during this time, something I don't think I've ever experienced before. Whereas before, when this would happen, I'd find myself mostly unable to relate....this time, I found myself desiring what they described.
Relationship with a man? Really? I mean I had read about the possibilities of HRT changing your orientation (in some people) but knowing about it and being open to it, is quite different from actually experiencing it....even if only a small part. I began experiencing a desire that I had never had before....a desire to be held in strong arms, to feel flirty, sexy, feminine and appreciated for being all of those things by someone. There's just an indescribable feeling that floats up from within me when I think of those kinds of things...and yet it's still rather confusing because for the most part, I'm still not attracted to men physically or facially. Men have been smiling at me when I'm out and about since I began transition and when it happens, I usually am too surprised to smile back before they move on.....it's interesting that recently I smiled back and turned a couple shades more red! hah.
Anyway, the process continues and I choose to embrace my true self even as those around me cut me out of their lives completely. More to come!
4 comments:
- Sophia Athena Farren said...
I never had many mood swings actually. What I did have though was some soreness in the chest after about a 3-4 weeks on hormones. Unfortunately that seemed to be a big tease and nothing has really come of it 8 months later lol (12 months on Estrogen alone).
With my orientation, it has shifted slightly but not a ton, there is only one guy I'd want to be with and besides him, I really am not interested. Most guys bother me, and I think another part of it is that I'm tired of experiencing their world, and just don't trust most.
- December 13, 2009 at 5:43 PM
- Debra said...
Sophia, I can't wait till I feel some soreness in my chest! haha
Rebecca, I am on a low dose still, it will be creeping up in January and probably again in March. Was I expecting to have my orientation changed? Not necessarily...but I've been open to the possibility of it.
As for the holidays, I should be ok. The festivities have already started with my family and I cannot join in of course. But I have lots of friends and people from church who have made it clear I'm very welcome to spend holidays with them and I'm very thankful.
- December 14, 2009 at 1:54 PM
- Treacle said...
I can't stop reading, so I've added you to my blogroll. I hope that's all right. :-)
- December 20, 2009 at 1:25 AM
- Debra said...
Of course that's alright girl =) Thanks.
- December 20, 2009 at 8:14 AM


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Posted by Mike Field on June 13, 2018 at 14:17:04
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How to Get Past Writer's Block: 10 Simple Methods
Robert Sullivan is a self-published author, blogger, social media manager, and more.
If you have to do a lot of writing, or even just want to do it for fun, then there's probably a good chance you've hit the wall. Don't be discouraged though, because I'm going to tell you how to get past writer's block once and for all! I'm going to save the best for last though, but it's also takes the longest to get used to doing.
1. Take a break
When I say take a break I mean a real break, go close your eyes, and try to relax without stressing over anything. 15 minutes of that can really perk up you mood, not to mention that it will also bring the creative juices back. Heck there's even more and more scientific evidence pointing to frequent breaks increasing productivity.
The takeaway is that you'll be calmer and more focused, which is sometimes all it takes to get things moving again.
2. Write about something else
You may have gotten yourself in a little too far, and it can feel like you are in a rut, and one of the best ways to get out of that is to do something new. Writing about another topic, even just for a little while can get your brain moving enough to bring you back to the other things which you want to write. It's also a great way to experiment on new writing styles, without fretting too much about whether or not you are doing it right. Just try to enjoy the ride, and in the end you'll be more likely to pick up where you left off on your first project.
3. Read something
Reading is a great way to mix things up. The more you read the more diversity in writing that your brain picks up. This can be enough to jar you back into the writing mood, and even if it doesn't at least you got to read something you liked.
4. Crank up the music
I find that if I am having a little trouble focusing on writing, that I can turn on some music and it helps to drown out the rest of the world. It makes it just me and the page, which can really speed things up. I would recommend more of an ambient music as opposed to a song, as the lyrics might encourage you to sing along. Which can really distract you from getting pen to paper.
5. Go for a walk
I love going for a walk. It's funny I started walking to lose weight, and wound up becoming addicted to just walking around my neighborhood. I would spend hours a day just walking, listening to music, and thinking about things I wanted to write. It's a great way to get your blood flowing, and come back refreshed. Also… I lost over a hundred pounds! But I changed the way I ate a lot too. Still, that's what I call a bonus.
6. Plan out what you need to write
Sometimes it's good to go with the flow of writing, but when you really need to get things done, and you just don't know where to start, it's a good idea to break it down into manageable chunks. Remember the movie "What About Bob?" Just think baby steps. It's a lot easier to get started when you only have to focus on writing one sentence, rather than a whole book. Sometimes our ambitions can be less than motivational when we realize the size of the mountains we're trying to climb. So slow down, and try it one step at a time.
7. Flip a coin
Here's an odd one, but in the past I noticed that a lot of time I had the capacity to write, but just wasn't deciding to do so. I took choice out of the equation and flipped a coin. Heads I write, tails I do something else. Hey it works 50% of the time, which is better than nothing at all.
8. Create a schedule and stick to it
Here's a meat and potatoes kind of tip for this. If you can create a schedule then you can really start to see some progress. It may be slow at first, but eventually things will get moving. Also if you can get someone you know to hold you accountable, it can work wonders. It's one thing to say you are a writer, it's another to have to show someone how much you did each day. The guilt of not getting it done can push to you do some amazing things.
9. Can the perfectionism
If you are having a terrible time getting some piece of work "just right" then stop it. It's way easier to edit something later than to try and get it perfect right off the bat. And not only that, but you're going to have to edit it anyway, so you might as well just get the part you're working on over with. Try to shift your focus from writing perfect, to writing well and you'll have a much easier time.
Alright are you ready for the last tip? This is the big one, I've been using this for years, and it really works. Here we go.
10. Sit down and write for five minutes.
Hold on because there's more to it than just that, but I am going to have to break into a story here. When I was in high school, I didn't get along too well with most of the teachers. But, there was one teacher who gave me this lesson. He was my English teacher, but before that he was the editor of a magazine. He worked with tons of professional writers who frequently got you guessed it writer's block, and he shared his solution for that problem.
Every day we would come into class, he would force us to write for 5 minutes straight. He would have some daily topic, but you didn't have to write about it if you didn't want to. The whole point was to write, he didn't care what it was about. You could just yammer on about what you had for breakfast, or even just what you were thinking at the moment.
The first thing this does for you is awesome. It makes your brain realize that "We are writing now" and typically within two to three minutes you start to write coherently about something. Once you get to that state you can easily transition to writing about what you should be writing.
Now the second thing it does is even more amazing, but it take a couple of months to get the benefit. When you force yourself to write for five minutes each day, you essentially rewire you brain. Instead of thinking about it as a struggle, you're brain just clears up and you can write. I don't have to think for hours about what to write, or how to say something anymore, instead I can just let the words flow.
The hard part is forcing yourself to do this every single day (or at least five a week) for about three months. It worked well in class because it was a part of our grade, and he would sit there and make sure we were writing, but the adult world is a little harder. You're going to need some self-discipline. If you can do it though, it helps so much it's insane.
I hope that helps you.
Do you have any tips or tricks to overcome writer's block? I'd like to see what others have to say about this in the comments.


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text: Toxoplasma gondii is one of the leading foodborne pathogens in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that T. gondii accounts for 24% of deaths due to foodborne illness in the United States. Consumption of undercooked pork products in which T gondii has encysted has been identified as an important route of human exposure. However, little quantitative evaluation of risk due to different pork products as a function of microbial quality at the abattoir, during the production process, and due to consumer handling practices is available to inform risk management actions. The goal of this study was to develop a farm-to-table quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) model to predict the public health risk associated with consumption of fresh pork in the United States. T. gondii prevalence in pigs was derived through a meta-analysis of existing data, and the concentration of the infectious life stage (bradyzoites) was calculated for each pork cut from an infected pig. Logistic regression and log-linear regression models were developed to predict the reduction of 7: gondii during further processing and consumer preparation, respectively. A mouse-derived exponential dose-response model was used to predict infection risk in humans. The estimated mean probability of infection per serving of fresh pork products ranges from 3.2 x 10(-7) to 9.5 x 10(-6), corresponding' to a predicted approximately 94,600 new infections annually in the U.S. population due to fresh pork ingestion. Approximately 957 new infections per year were estimated to occur in pregnant women, corresponding to 277 cases of congenital toxoplasmosis per year due to fresh pork ingestion. In the context of available data, sensitivity analysis suggested that cooking is the most important parameter impacting human health risk. This study provides a scientific basis for risk management and also could serve as a baseline model to quantify infection risk from T. gondii and other parasites associated with meat products. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.


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For some weeks now on the ISO27k Forum we've been vigorously and passionately debating whether an Information Security Management System should, or should not, include the organization's compliance with "information security-related" laws, regulations and other obligations such as contractual clauses specifying compliance with PCI-DSS.
The issue arises because:
- The relevant infosec compliance section is tucked away at the end of ISO/IEC 27001 Annex A, which has an ambiguous status with respect to '27001 certification. Although Annex A is discretionary rather than mandatory, certifiable organizations must use Annex A as a checklist to confirm that their ISMS incorporates all the information security controls necessary to address the information risks within scope of the ISMS. Interpret that paradox as you will ... and hope that the certification auditors take the same line;
- It could be argued that, in a very broad sense, all the laws, regs, contracts, standards, ethical codes etc. which apply to the organization are "information security-related". The requirements are all forms of information with associated information risks. Therefore, they fall at least partially within the remit of an ISMS;
- Likewise, "compliance", as a whole, could be seen as an information security control, a suite of organizational activities and measures to both satisfy and be able to demonstrate conformance with requirements, plus the associated assurance, reinforcement (awareness, acceptance) and enforcement aspects. In philosophical terms, compliance is an integrity issue, and integrity is part of information security, therefore compliance is part of infosec;
- However, most organizations either fail to identify and manage some of these risks and opportunities, or choose to manage them in other ways, for example through Legal and Compliance or Internal Audit departments. In practice, compliance with, say, the accounting and tax laws, or the health and safety regs, falls largely to the respective departments, teams and individuals who specialize in those areas. There is limited involvement of the information risk and security pro's, for example advising on the need for integrity, access and backup controls for the financial systems. In the event of conflict among the specialists, issues should be escalated to management, hopefully without blood being drawn, even if heads need to be knocked together to get things resolved.
The "mandatory ISMS documents" paper in the free ISO27k Toolkit draws distinctions between documentation that is:
- Formally and explicitly required by '27001 - the documentation that is clearly mandatory for certification, reading the standard as strictly as I guess a lawyer might read it [IANAL!];
- Informally implied by '27001 - additional evidence that, in practice, is typically used to demonstrate to the certification auditors that all the standard's requirements are fully satisfied;
- Potentially required by the organization, not by the standard as such, to direct, operate and control the ISMS according to business objectives.
At one end of the scale, the 'keep it simple' approach to designing and implementing an ISMS emphasizes (1): if 'being certified' is the prime focus, the purpose of having an ISMS at all, then doing the absolute bare minimum to achieve that with as little as possible of (2) and (3) helps achieve that specific aim as quickly and cheaply as possible. The end result, as I see it, is a minimalist ISMS that satisfies the standard but only just. The business value to the organization arises more from having the compliance certificate than from the ISMS itself. For some organizations, that's good enough, job done. Well OK it's a starting point: it may evolve from there.
At the other end of the scale, the pure 'business-driven' approach emphasizes (3): regardless of what the standard demands or expects, the purpose of a business-driven ISMS is to support and enable the business to manage its information risks and security controls. The end result, as I see it, could be a bloated ISMS, bigger and more complex than the minimalist version.
There are risks associated with both approaches:
- An extremely minimalist ISMS might run into trouble with certain certification auditors who interpret the standard differently and hence demand more of (2) and (3) than what the organization believes it needs to do for compliance. It also might not earn its keep and fail, for example if the compliance certificate turns out to be an asset of little value, perhaps even a liability if the limitations of the extreme minimalist approach come to light. It could be a dog!
- A bloated ISMS might experience conflict between 'doing what's best for the business' and 'doing what is demanded by the standard', and hence might not be certifiable. Being bigger and more complex also implies greater risks: the ISMS might lose focus and direction. It too might fail. It could be a monster!
So, personally, I prefer an approach part way between those extremes: do whatever the standard requires or implies, plus whatever extras suit the organization's objectives and can be justified on business grounds. It seems to me a pragmatic ISMS should:
- Sail through the certification audit, since it more than satisfies the mandatory requirements;
- Exploit the sage advice offered by '27001 and other standards (ISO27k plus whatever);
- Exploit and supplement/support the expertise elsewhere in the organization, building effective working relationships with assorted experts and managers on compliance and other matters;
- Incorporate joint rather than sole control in areas where the ISMS scope overlaps other functions, working collaboratively together towards shared business goals, addressing the bigger picture (a governance issue);
- Have a long-term future, since it also addresses broader business objectives relating to the systematic management of information risk and security;
- Do all that in a businesslike manner - cost-effectively, with strong governance and priorities that align with the organization's objectives and values.
Business alignment is, as I see it, key to the long-term success of the ISMS and, naturally, I have plenty more to say on that!
For now I'll end by mentioning three other specialist areas that intersect the ISMS scope: IT, risk and business continuity. The issues are much the same as with compliance.


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I'm not much of a 'recreational listener', unless it's eighties pop. Talk-back radio drives me crazy and I've never been one for having the television on for 'background noise'. Give me Culture Club or silence. That was until I discovered podcasts. Continue reading
Monthly Archives: June 2017
A is for Achievement
On Thursday 15th June Kew Primary School celebrated C.A.R.E. Day. We focused on A for Achievement.
We sat in the gym and listened to Don Elgin our guest speaker. He spoke about his achievements and even though he was born with one leg, a heart condition and fingers that were clutched and stuck, he never gave up. As a kid he loved playing footy and riding a motorcycle. Later he became a great athlete and went to many Paralympic Games. He showed his prosthetic leg. One of his greatest achievements was when he learnt to skip when others doubted he could ever do it. Continue reading
Yum, yum, yum.
As a seven year old I clearly remember the excitement of lining up on canteen days and waiting and waiting (it would feel like forever) to buy two pieces of delicious raisin toast for 5 cents! Even now that golden butter smell wafting off the toast still brings back happy memories…memories of when I was a little girl at primary school. Diamanto Pantazis Continue reading
And they're racing…
At Hays Paddock on the 25th May eight schools competed at the Kew District Cross Country. It was a calm, cool day with no rain, prefect conditions for running. This event was a great celebration of endurance running and sportsmanship. All competitors shook hands at the start of the race and wished their rival runners all the best for the run.
Parents from all schools were dotted around the course at checkpoints. This ensured that the runners were safe and cross country rules are enforced. The parents cheered all the competitors along, which I am sure helped spur on a few runners through some tough moments of their race. Well done to Kerry Lomas who was on the bike for all races, leading the runners around Hays Paddock. Continue reading