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Whether it's a bid, design/build or design/assist, the relationship you create with the builder determines how likely it is you will work together in the future. Responsiveness, a positive attitude and a sense of teamwork all are traits a general contractor (GC) appreciates from subcontractors and other construction stakeholders. Subcontractors appreciate the same from those they work with. Unfortunately, obstacles can emerge when attempting to build that good working relationship. Fostering open communication, preplanning and a mutual desire for a project well done smooths out the rough patches and brings out the best in everyone.
"Everyone has to feel a sense of responsibility on a project for teamwork to jell," said Paul McCluskey, president of Boston-based Edward G. Sawyer Co. Inc. "Project managers, mechanical and architectural trade foremen all have to work together. It's vital. Be smart, professional and prompt, and you'll win." Having been in business 142 years, Edward G. Sawyer is advertised as the "oldest continuously operated electrical contracting business."
Dan Schaeffer, president of Schaeffer Electric Co. Inc., a 70-year-old St. Louis contracting firm, added that there always is room for improvement in contractor relations. "Understand that while a GC works to be fair to all contractor parties, he has the client's interest at heart. If you earn the GC's confidence, your interests will not be neglected. Bend over backwards to get the project done right and on time. We keep letters that tell us we went beyond the call of duty. We may get the next job based on our performance with the last one."
Richard "Dick" Nogleberg and Lynne Harker formed Placer Electric Inc. in 1978. The electrical contracting firm outside Sacramento serves central California. For them, it cuts both ways when cultivating a working relationship between Placer and a general contractor.
"When we bid, we prefer a prior relationship with that GC," said Nogleberg, Placer Electric's president. "If not, we seek references or information from subs who may have worked with the contractor. … You soon learn who you want [or don't want] to work for." Nogleberg and Harker look for shared values between themselves, and the GC such as honesty, teamwork, respect and integrity.
"We value the GC who expects us to make a profit and appreciates business confidentiality," Harker said. "We do our homework, so we end up working with someone we want to work with."
Bringing value
"A strong relationship often comes from repeat business and years of working together," Schaeffer said. "Unfortunately, we are seeing lower dollar wins, and that's a tough fight. So we try to bring value. Sometimes we'll sit down with builders just to let them know what we're up to, be it new services or a project of note that speaks well of our talent. You want to be the first person that GC thinks of when they need an electrical contractor [EC]."
In design/build situations, Placer Electric presents its clients with a matrix of costs—a pie chart illustration. "We sit down with the GC, showing how we bid out electrical components (three bids), our costs, markup and labor," Nogleberg said. "We want to show the GC and their customer that we have everything covered down to miscellaneous materials. Our customers really appreciate this effort."
Nogleberg added that even in the case of the low bid (private work) where the firm came in second, the company often has gotten the work by showing how Placer Electric will look out for the client and the project's interests. Sometimes the company avoids bidding altogether.
"Often our work is negotiated with the GCs who know us and have worked successfully with us preceding any bidding," Nogleberg said.
"Because of the working relationships we've established, GCs come to us first because they know they won't be ripped off," Harker said. "We've built mutual respect."
Lead though preplanning
For ECs, the planning phase is a key opportunity to take the lead. "Mechanical contractors are central on a job site," Nogleberg said. "Try to identify conflicts on the drawings, things that don't make sense during the bid phase. Identify jurisdiction issues, so one sub is not stepping on the toes of another. Clarity upfront on who is going to do what can help avoid issues brought on by union business reps."
In a design/build situation, preplanning is a must.
"On a design/build project, we met months before with the GC, other subs and project superintendents to deal with material procurement, selection and coordination," McCluskey said. "Another project provided only 120 man-hours to complete, so we had every detail nailed down before we started. We worked 24 hours, seven days a week. The short timeframe required ultimate coordination between all of us. A fast track can strangely foster teamwork where everyone feels a sense of responsibility."
The growth in design/assist contract work is another leadership opportunity for electrical contractors.
"In design/assist, the owner retains an electrical engineer, but only provides an outline scope, not a full design," Nogleberg said. "The selected electrical contractor is expected to finish the design with engineers. Everybody is depending on each others' expertise to accomplish the job, but you can lead the effort with the expertise you provide."
Keeping up from office to job site
"Today, things can't sit on your desk for days at a time," McCluskey said. "If we get a phone call, we follow up in a timely way. We keep a record of all discussions. We don't want someone to say, 'We never heard from you,' or 'you didn't get back to us.'
"Additionally, e-mail, PDAs and other mobile devices drive instant response time," McCluskey said. "Communication is fast. The flow of information is quicker, and hopefully, we become more productive. A consequence is less and less time to bid and build. You really have to be on the ball."
Schaeffer added that the entire job site crew also needs to attend job site meetings to stay on top of things, and while documenting all communication, have all pertinent documents at your disposal.
All four contractors agree staffing a job site is part of it.
"It's critical to have a good, positive attitude," Schaeffer said. "We are picky about sending the right foreman and superintendent to the job. If we know the GC and his crew, we can avoid personality mismatches by selecting the right people from our house. Another thing we do is have a 'riding boss' that goes from job to job to check in and can sometimes serve as a buffer if problems arise. Try to avoid problems by establishing open communication with the site project manager."
"You have to take ownership of your own work and mistakes, and sometimes that means removing one of your people at the site," Nogleberg said. "Maybe it's your foreman not getting along with a key manager. Get the right person in there, so you don't sour the relationship with the builder."
Best practices
A well-managed job site doesn't just happen, but it can be organic. It begins with leadership from the general and subs.
"The superintendent of the site has to be well organized with a plan," McCluskey said. "He's the one that knows the milestones and broad strokes of the project. He also knows when each subcontractor has to be in place. If you have worked with that person in the past, you know how to work for them. Each job site is unique. An EC has to be prepared for any contingency. You need to be detailed, even if the plans you're looking at are incomplete."
McCluskey related that his project managers' shared experience have resulted in an informal code of best practices. "It's not a textbook but rather a collection of viable problem/solution guidelines we learned along the way that works for us. In addition, every one of my product managers has received training in project managing and scheduling through NECA."
Though many firms may have similarly unwritten best practices passed down from senior contractors to newly apprenticed workers, there are best practices put to paper that serve as a guide for the construction industry.
"Folks were and are looking for guidance," said Chris Monek, senior executive director for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) based in Arlington, Va. "That's why over the past 25 or more years, our organization, NECA and other subcontractor organizations have been putting best practices guidelines down on paper and making them available to the industry. The guidelines are an attempt to provide project and job site guidance before, during and at the completion of a project."
"Guidelines for a Successful Construction Project," located at www.constructionguidelines.org, were put together by three organizations: AGC, the American Subcontractors Association, Inc. (ASA) and the Associated Specialty Contractors (ASC). This document covers best practices as they apply to bidding processes, preconstruction planning and project execution.
Achieving contractual uniformity
According to Dan Walter, vice president and chief operating officer of NECA, "Guidelines for a Successful Construction Project" sparked a progression called ConsensusDOCS set to debut in September 2007. These 100-plus contract documents will be composed of construction contracts and forms pertaining to design/bid/build, design/build, and construction management at-risk. They also will address triparty collaboration and the use of building information modeling (BIM) (see sidebar on page 64 for more information).
"The point of the ConsensusDOCS is to provide the builder and all parties with more consistency and ultimately a more cost effective entry into project work and doing business with each other," Walter said.
A diverse sampling of other stakeholders involved in creating the documents include the Construction Industry Round Table (CIRT), Engineers Joint Contract Documents Committee (EJCDC), Mason Contractors Association of America, and the Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA), among 16 other construction organizations.
The ConsensusDOCS will go a long way in fostering and maintaining a healthy and productive relationship between two parties that need each other to succeed—the general and the sub construction contractor. EC
GAVIN is the owner of Gavo Communications, a marketing services firm serving the construction and the landscaping industries. He writes trend, design and other business articles.


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Cracking cases quickly
Delaware State Police use the SAS® Memex Platform to identify suspects and solve crimes
It sounds like the opening minutes of a television police drama. Someone is preying on senior citizens, robbing them on the street and assaulting them. With no more to go on than a description of a suspect and a suspect vehicle, police are challenged with solving this violent crime with limited information.
Except in Delaware, police weren't discouraged. When this incident happened recently, the vehicle description was fed into the state police SAS Memex Platform and a possible link surfaced: A previously issued traffic ticket given to a person in the area of the assaults, driving a car with that same description. One click later, police knew the ticketed individual was on parole for street robberies. A picture of the parolee was matched to neighborhood surveillance video, and the case was solved.
It allows the rookie cop to have the same type of institutional knowledge as a 30-year detective.
Lt. William Crotty
Delaware State Police
"That never would have been possible years ago," says Lieutenant William Crotty of the Delaware State Police. "And with a criminal targeting older men, someone could have ended up dying."
The Delaware State Police department uses the SAS Memex Platform to pull in organizational records, collision investigation data, traffic citations, criminal incident documentation and calls for service from every law enforcement agency in the state. It makes these records searchable and indexable – even allowing visual display to search for patterns and proximity. Lt. Crotty calls it "Google for cops." It layers in additional information from the firearm forensic database, Department of Corrections information, statewide criminal intelligence records and carefully secured information from police informants. Structured and unstructured data can be searched using as little as the nickname of a possible criminal.
"Whether it is a structured data search or an unstructured text search, it gives a comprehensive view of what's going to identify persons, places and things pertaining to a crime," Lt. Crotty says.
Augmenting hunches and institutional knowledge
While police agencies have always depended on records to break open cases, often it was the institutional knowledge of seasoned officers that solved crimes. They know the beat, the people and the neighborhood. The system catalyzes information sharing, so departments are less dependent on what officers know. "It allows the rookie cop to have the same type of institutional knowledge as a 30-year detective," Lt. Crotty says. And that has helped law enforcement throughout the state quickly investigate cases and arrest perpetrators. A sample of some of the successes:
Busting a burglary ring. Over a three-week period, there were multiple burglaries reported in an area. Surveillance footage turned up a partial vehicle description. The database showed the vehicle belonged to an elderly man – not a likely robber. Police ran a query in the SAS Memex Platform on the address where the vehicle was registered, and discovered a domestic violence report, which occurred at the same address. The narrative of this report noted that a grandson lived at the address. The grandson's DMV photo was ultimately matched to the surveillance video. The case was solved 10 minutes after the car's owner was identified. In the past, the only option would have been a manual search of records for complaints from that address or a time-intensive stakeout to see if anyone else was driving the car.
Helping the federal government crack a case. The US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives had been trying to locate a suspect for five months with just a nickname. When the agency asked the Delaware State Police for help, the suspect was identified in less than a minute. The ability to search on nicknames is one aspect of the system that has been a huge help for law enforcement. "Cops are highly cynical people," Lt. Crotty says. "So when they search a database, they want to see things that they know exist. If they search on a prevailing nickname and can find something, it validates the system."
Gaining acceptance and growing usage
While every law enforcement agency in Delaware received training within a year of the system going online, acceptance grew gradually. Sometimes it came when traditional means led to a dead end. "We had a guy who ran a criminal investigative bureau. He was investigating a case where a burglary suspect injured a trooper while fleeing. All he had to go on was a partial tag and a partial vehicle description," Lt. Crotty says. "The investigator had 32 years of experience and brought in three of his best detectives. For four hours, they did everything they could to find the culprit. And then a guy with less than six months on the job identified the person in 15 minutes using SAS. That was a big win for us."
Solve crimes quickly by being able to access information faster.
SAS® Intelligence and Investigation Management
- Suspects are found in much less time.
- Human resources are maximized.
- Public safety is improved.

subset: commoncrawl


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Just Play Toys has plenty of "Vampirina" goodies to compliment the new Disney Junior series.
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The Toy Industry Association timeline delineates 100 years of service to the trade.
This week The Toy Industry Association, Inc. (TIA) celebrated it's 113th annual trade event, once again bringing together creators, vendors, buyers and press outlets to North American International Toy Fair.
Read the rest of this entry »
Designed by skeletonpete.


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DWTS Maks And Val Chmerkovskiy Promote Olay Body Wash At The Liquid Pool Lounge In Las Vegas
For fans of Maks and Val Chmerkovskiy, be sure to check Getty Images today!! They have pictures of the two brothers and dance pros of Dancing With The Stars arriving at the Liquid Pool Lounge at the Aria Resort & Casino at CityCenter on June 27, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada to help promote Olay Body Wash. The Daily Mail has a write up on the event as well with even more pictures, but, don't forget how they can sensationalize things as you read.
Stay tuned. We may have more with these two later.


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Access hundreds of videos, whitepapers and tips and tricks in the ProductivityNOW portal.
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Matthew Lane Skater Profile
Sponsors: Emerge Clothing, Guerilla Skateboards, Dakine, Boarder Tech
Hometown: Gander NF, Stance: ?, Age: , Status: Am
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Greenville Women at Work's Multicultural Panel Discussion
Tuesday, April 25, 2017on
Thought-provoking, interesting perspectives from multicultural women professionals.
Congratulations to 3Fold Creative, Our Small Business of the Month!
Thursday, April 20, 2017on
On behalf of the Greenville Chamber, congratulations goes out to 3Fold Creative for being selected as the April 2017 Small Business of the Month! The award was presented by Adam Drewes, representing the selection committee and our sponsor, Cheryl ...
Minority Business Accelerator Spotlight: Uniquely Virtual Owner Kenzie Biggins
Thursday, April 20, 2017on
"I love what I am doing for my business and really enjoy it," said Kenzie Biggins, Uniquely Virtual owner. Her company provides virtual executive assistant services to help retiring executives, small businesses, and nonprofit ...
Minority Business Accelerator Spotlight: MIX Salon Studios Owner Doris Haley
Thursday, April 20, 2017on
Doris Haley, who has been a president and owner at Professional Healthcare Services, LLC since 1998, never stops to develop her business ideas. This year, she created a brand new chapter in a different business venture, MIX Salon Studios. ...
In Business: MIX Salon Studios
Tuesday, April 18, 2017on
There's a brand new salon concept in Greenville....
Duke Brands returns to their roots
Thursday, April 13, 2017on
What Made the Cut? Crossover Update
Wednesday, April 12, 2017on
Crossover Day is the deadline for bills to be passed out of their chamber of origin to...
OUR INTERN'S PERSPECTIVE: 7 Reasons Recent Graduates Should NEVER Live in Greenville, SC
Tuesday, April 11, 2017on
In Business: Autumn Leaves of Greenville
Monday, April 10, 2017on
Congratulations to the team at Autumn Leaves of Greenville on their grand opening! We'd been eagerly awaiting the completion of the brand new assisted living memory care community since the groundbreaking in March of 2015! The talented and ...
In Business: Tropical Smoothie Cafe Five Forks
Friday, April 7, 2017on
Tropical Smoothie Cafe has (finally) made its way to the Upstate! The restaurant has a presence across South Carolina, but now has a location at 2815 Woodruff Road in Simpsonville. Tropical Smoothie Cafe's menu boasts bold, flavorful food and ...


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Martin Scorsese making a film from a children's book is as improbable as, well, Martin Scorsese making a film from a children's book. But with its beautiful panoramic shots of 1930s Paris, the director's visually thrilling "Hugo" has real moments of 3-D magic. Sadly, they aren't quite enough to make this adaptation of Brian Selznick's celebrated novel, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret," a wholly satisfying experience.
The director credits having a 12-year-old daughter with inspiring his desire to see the world through "the imagination and creativity of a child," but it's easy to understand how "Hugo's" protagonist must have resonated with the filmmaker, who famously grew up asthmatic and was often separated from other children.
A 12-year-old boy in 1931 Paris, Hugo (Asa Butterfield) lives by himself in the upper reaches of a massive train station, rushing around through hidden corridors like a boy Phantom of the Opera as he keeps all the station clocks wound and in good repair.
Still mourning the death of his clockmaker father (a cameo by Jude Law), Hugo tries to stay connected to him by searching for the spare parts necessary to animate a mysterious automaton his father rescued from a museum's neglect.
That obsessive quest for gears, which sometimes involves pilferage, leads to a head-on collision with the gruff and mysterious old man (Ben Kingsley in top form) who runs a toy shop in the train station and seems to live only to thwart Hugo's desires.
But the old man also has a ward, a girl named Isabelle who is exactly Hugo's age. Spiritedly played by the gifted and versatile Chloe Moretz ("Kick-Ass," "Diary of a Wimpy Kid"), Isabelle loves adventure, secrets and big words in equal measure, and she turns out to be the ideal comrade in arms for our young hero.
Given how inescapably bloody and violent so many of Scorsese's past films have been, it's something of an upset that "Hugo" is effective at all. The book Scorsese chose to adapt is out of the ordinary all by itself: A thumping 534 pages long, it combined extensive text with so many illustrations that it became the first novel ever to win the prestigious Caldecott Medal for picture books for children.
Scorsese, working once again with cinematographer Robert Richardson, was clearly stimulated as well by the creative possibilities opened up by working in 3-D.
"Hugo's" use of the third dimension is exceptionally well thought out and essential to the film's ability to make a children's vision of the world come to life. Making that world a Parisian one has also inspired "Hugo's" visual team, led by production designer Dante Ferretti, and the film's numerous shots floating over the rooftops of Paris are always fantastic. As with the original novel, the wordless parts of "Hugo," including a masterful re-creation of a famous train wreck, are very much its strength.
As written by John Logan, however, "Hugo's" story elements are fitfully problematical even though the film's trio of central actors are perfectly fine and do all that could be expected of them. Butterfield, best known for playing the lead in "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas," is first among equals as young Hugo, expertly capturing the wary, almost feral solitude of a classic street-smart urchin.
The original story in Brian Selznick's book is strictly serious, but the movie for reasons of its own has chosen to add a major slapstick element that does nothing but misfire. This problem coalesces around the character of the station inspector, greatly expanded from the book and played by Sacha Baron Cohen in a manner both weirdly menacing and slightly risque that clashes with the rest of the film.
As the instigator of a series of halfhearted, overly broad chases of Hugo through the train station that also involve characters played by Richard Griffiths, Frances De La Tour and Emily Mortimer, the inspector's malevolent antics undermine "Hugo's" other virtues and underscore how far from Scorsese's strengths this kind of farcical material is.
Coming to the film's rescue, fortunately, is one of Scorsese's great passions, his love for the early history of cinema. "Hugo" deals extensively with one of the movie's key pioneers, the great Georges Melies, whose 1902 "A Trip to the Moon" was one of the art form's first international sensations.
Scorsese's affection for this man and his work, which extended to building a replica of Melies' famous glass-walled studio and meticulously re-creating his gorgeously tinted "Kingdom of the Fairies," bring a vividness to "Hugo's" closing sections.
"Films have the power to capture dreams," Melies said, and the way they've captured Scorsese's can't be denied.
MPAA rating: PG, for mild thematic material, some action/peril and smoking
Running time: 2 hours, 7 minutes
Playing: In general release


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Sheet extrusion machinery maker Processing Technologies International LLC of Aurora, Ill., has been awarded a U.S. patent for its ratchet-activated height adjustment device that raises and lowers the cooling and polishing rolls relative to the sheet die exit.
Built into the roll stand, the mechanism is simpler, less time-consuming and less expensive than competing manual and motorized methods, the company said.
The patent—No. 8,240,180 B2—is the third patent that PTi has received for its G series liner bearing-mounted roll stand.
Tel. 630-585-5800, ext. 119; email [email protected].


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I bricked my UNO by uploading the DigitalReadSerial example (Ubuntu 10.10, IDE 21)! I have tried all the suggestions listed here, and have even tried Windows to restore it (by uploading a sketch without serial print), but without success.
Is this a compilation error with linux avr-gcc?
/* DigitalReadSerialvoid setup() { Serial.begin(9600); pinMode(2, INPUT);}void loop() { int sensorValue = digitalRead(2); Serial.println(sensorValue, DEC);}


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Bahrain medics jailed for treating protesters
Issued on: Modified:
First, we bring you an exclusive interview from Bahrain with one of the 20 medics sentenced to prison for treating protesters. Next, our correspondents in Yemen meet with soldiers who have defected to join dissident forces. Finally, with women in Saudi Arabia being granted the right to vote, we ask how the Arab spring has affected women's rights across the Middle East.


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Accenture is a strategic partner of the World Economic Forum. For the past 18 years, Accenture has worked closely with the World Economic Forum and the other strategic partner organizations to advance the Forum's goal of driving positive change and improving the state of the world. Through this relationship, Accenture participates in a year-round program of speaking at the Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland and regional summits in Latin America, China and India, and attends the many regional meetings around the world. Accenture also collaborates with the World Economic Forum through joint-research projects and communities and initiatives.
World Economic Forum Initiatives
Industry Partnerships
Through the World Economic Forum Industry Partnerships, CEOs and senior leaders from top companies collaborate with the Forum on its mission at the industry level. Together with the Forum's multistakeholder networks and experts, Accenture identifies and assesses key issues in specific industries. Currently, Accenture is a member of the Information Technology and Professional Services Partnerships.


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Tag: faceted search
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Categories: animals | >clothes< | food | hobbies | household | medical | military | naturalforces | people | plants | seasonal | space | sports | symbols | town | vehicles |
Show up to: 10 25 50 100 per page.
Note: If you want to download the stamps, do that from the Download page!
|Path & Description
|clothes/ hats/ feathered_hat.svg
A feathered hat.
scale 25%
|clothes/ hats/ green_fedora.svg
A green fedora.
scale 25%
|clothes/ hats/ greenhat.svg
A green Irish hat.
|clothes/ hats/ hardhat.svg
A yellow hard hat.
|clothes/ hats/ mortarboard.svg
A hat worn by a university student.
|clothes/ hats/ propeller_hat.svg
A propeller hat.
scale 25%
|clothes/ hats/ purplehat.svg
A purple hat.
|clothes/ hats/ sombrero.svg
A sombrero.
scale 25%
|clothes/ hats/ tophat.svg
A top hat.
scale 25%
|clothes/ hats/ wizardhat.svg
A wizard's hat.
To-Do: Display translated strings, too. Display links to descriptive sound files, and translated descriptive sound files.
Options Key:
- colorable
Work muchs like brushes - you pick the stamp to get the shape, and then pick the color you want it to be. Nothing about the original image is used except the transparency (from "alpha" channel). The color of the stamp comes out solid.
- noflip
The stamp cannot be flipped upside-down.
- nomirror
The stamp cannot be mirrored left-to-right.
- scale
If the full-sized image for a stamp is initially sized too large or small, a scale factor may be specified. (Scale option may be in a percentage (e.g., "scale 50%"), a fraction (e.g., "scale 2/1" or "scale 1:2"), or a ratio (e.g., "scale 2"). An equal ("=") can be included.)
- tintable
This alters the hue of the stamp. (Similar to "colorable," but keeping the detail of the shape.)
- tinter=normal (default)
This is the normal tinting mode. (Hue range is +/- 18 degrees, 27 replace.)
- tinter=anyhue
This remaps all hues in the stamp. (Hue range is +/- 180 degrees.)
- tinter=narrow
This is like 'anyhue', but a narrower hue angle. (Hue range is +/- 6 degrees, 9 replace.)
- tinter=vector
This maps 'black through white' to 'black through destination'.
- tinter=normal (default)
Did you know? Adults enjoy Tux Paint, too!


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FORT SMITH — Education and job creation go hand in hand, but it all starts with education, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mike Ross said Thursday when he unveiled his detailed 46-page Jobs First economic development plan at Chaffee Crossing.
FORT SMITH — Education and job creation go hand in hand, but it all starts with education, Democratic gubernatorial nominee Mike Ross said Thursday when he unveiled his detailed 46-page Jobs First economic development plan at Chaffee Crossing.
Ross said his plan will improve education, cut taxes, reduce government regulations and improve the economy for everyone.
"By prioritizing education and workforce training, tax cuts, government efficiency and economic development, my job creation plan outlines my positive vision for the future of this great state," Ross said.
On education, Ross previously announced a plan to make pre-kindergarten education available to all 4-year-olds by 2025, and on Thursday proposed the creation of the Innovative Laboratory Fund, aimed at kindergarten through 12th grade.
Under the plan, $5 million in surplus funds would be set aside to provide small grants to educators to implement "innovative, yet proven strategies, projects and programs that are aimed at reducing the education achievement gap in our schools."
Ross said he would also fully fund the Arkansas School Recognition and Rewards Program, which rewards schools based on a combined performance and improvement rating, and Governor's Distinguished Scholarship. He would also reform the ASRR so that it recognizes performance and improvement separately.
Ross said he would also encourage public/private partnerships to renew the focus on career and technical education and workforce training for people who don't go to college but still have a proven ability for a good-paying job.
In addition to his previously proposed income-tax cut, which would be phased in over time, Ross proposes phased-out elimination of the manufacturing sales and use tax on partial replacement and repair of manufacturing machinery and equipment for existing business, to encourage expansion and modernization.
Based on his own experience as a small business owner, Ross said he also recognizes the need for cutting red tape and government regulation to encourage private-sector job growth.
"While government can help, it doesn't have all the answers, and it can't solve all our problems. Government should help where it can, and it should get out of the way where it can't," Ross said.
Ross proposes creating a central business licensing system to streamline the process, publishing all agency, board and commission rules and regulation in centralized online location and establishment of a task force to review all rules and regulations in place for more than three years, and make recommendations for repeal and/or revision.
Ross also reiterated his intention to create a cabinet for economic development, which would be chaired by John Burkhalter, Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor; his promise to fully fund the Governor's Quick Action Closing Fund; and his plan to provide grants to communities and other organizations to encourage and support entrepreneurship and/or innovation.
Burkhalter, who spoke briefly before introducing Ross, said he stands ready to help lead the effort laid out in the Jobs First plan, which he described as "bold, comprehensive and visionary."
Republican gubernatorial nominee Asa Hutchinson said Ross has zero credibility on job creation and reducing the burden of government and wasteful spending, in an email from his campaign.
The Hutchinson campaign claims unemployment grew by 50 percent during Ross' time in Congress representing the 4th District, that 40,000 new rules were published during the same time period and cited his votes for the "cash for clunkers" and stimulus programs.
Hutchinson, himself a former congressman, served as administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration and undersecretary for Border and Transportation Security at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in the Bush administration.
"When it comes to job creation, there are fundamental differences between myself and my Democratic opponent, Mike Ross. Job creation is so vitally important that, as governor, I will lead our economic development and not delegate it to another office. Mike Ross wants his running mate, John Burkhalter, to lead his effort," Hutchinson said in a news release. "I have said from the beginning that my top priority is job creation and economic growth. I will be the jobs governor; Mike Ross is not sure what his priority will be. Last month he claimed that he would be the education governor and that was his top priority. This month he says "jobs first". What will his top priority be next month?"
A copy of Ross' Jobs First plan can be viewed at his website, MikeRoss.com.
Hutchinson's plan "The Asa Plan," can be seen at AsaForGovernor.com/asa-plan.


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It may not seem like it, but it is possible go to through life without using a credit card. That being said, when used responsibly, credit cards offer numerous advantages over other payment methods. They're convenient, they protect you against fraud and theft, and they offer cash back and other rewards. They can also help you build the credit history you'll need if you want to borrow money to buy a house or a car. If you think paying with plastic might be the way to go, here are some points to consider in deciding when to get that first card and why.
High SchoolWhy you shouldn't wait:"Credit cards are a reality," says Anisha Sekar, VP of Credit and Debit Products at the card comparison website NerdWallet.com. "By introducing the idea of a line of credit early on, parents can teach their kids responsible card use in a safe environment," she says.
A credit card shouldn't be a high schooler's introduction to personal financial management, however.
"I'd recommend opening a youth checking account when the child is in middle school, so that he can get into the habit of balancing the checkbook and using plastic, and also because debit cards are safer than cash," Sekar advises. "From a checking account, a reasonably mature child could open a low-limit credit card, co-signed by a parent, when he is 16 or 17."
"Having your child use a credit card for one or two years before he leaves for college allows you to teach him responsible use while you're still available to guide him," she says.
Why you should wait:High schoolers could succumb to the same tendency that adults have to spend more on a credit card than they can pay back.
"A parent can guard against this, however, by setting a low credit limit on the card and reviewing each monthly statement with the child," Sekar says.
This advice assumes that parents are responsible users of credit.
"Credit cards can quickly turn into destructive financial products when parents fail to properly teach their children how to use them," says Justine Rivero, a credit advisor at CreditKarma.com.
"While parents might have the greatest intentions of giving their children a convenient way to spend, more often than not, parents won't step them through how to properly use a credit card: to spend conservatively, watch their credit use and, most importantly, pay their bill on time and in full," she says.
Rivero also points out that parents may not teach their children how credit card use affects their credit score or why their credit score matters. She says young consumers may see a credit card as an easy way to spend money, and not as a financial tool to be responsibly managed.
CollegeWhy you shouldn't wait:If you don't have a credit history yet, the sooner you establish one, the better.
"Having a credit card allows kids to build up their credit history and score. This will be immensely helpful when they apply for their own credit cards, student loans, mortgages, and even jobs and apartments," says Sekar. "There are a number of student credit cards, almost all of which have no annual fee," she adds.
Sekar thinks one of the best cards currently available is the Citi Forward card for college students, which has generous cash-back rewards on textbooks and other purchases, and offers incentives to encourage responsible use. She also likes the Capital One Cash card for its 1.5% rewards on all purchases. Neither card has an annual fee.
Why you should wait:Rivero says she would recommend giving young consumers a credit card in college, when they are primed to learn how to manage their money and build credit.
A debit card linked to a parent's checking account might be a good first step, though.
"Most student cards have high interest rates, so before you hand plastic over to your child, be sure to explain the expensive consequences of charging more than they can afford to pay off at the end of the month," Rivero says. "Giving your child a credit card is an important opportunity to teach your child smart financial basics, so start it off on the right foot."
In addition to high interest rates, parents can't easily supervise their children's credit card spending habits when they're away at college, so it might be a bad place for them to experiment with credit for the first time.
Wouldn't it be worse to wait until after graduation? Maybe. But in college, expenses are constant, while income is irregular or nonexistent. College students can find it difficult to manage their irregular cash flow to pay off a credit card bill on time. Paying with cash or debit will keep them out of trouble. Starting out adult life with high-interest consumer debt puts recent grads at a major disadvantage.
Recent College GraduateWhy you shouldn't wait:
Still don't have a credit history? Getting a credit card is an easy way to establish one.
If you don't like the idea of using credit, you don't have to make the card part of your regular spending habits. You can use it to make one automatic bill payment per month and set up a second automatic payment to pay off your credit card bill. Yes, this is an unnecessarily complicated way to pay a bill, but it's an easy way to establish a credit history.
It's also a good way to build a high credit score. By making one small charge a month, you keep your credit utilization ratio low. Your credit score will benefit when the amount of credit you use is low compared to your credit limit. Using your credit card in this way also establishes you as someone who pays the bills on time, which is another important component of a high credit score.
Even if you don't have any plans to take out a mortgage, an auto loan or another form of debt for which a good credit history is essential, your plans could change one day. Think of establishing your credit history as a free insurance policy that only requires a small investment of your time.
Why you should wait:If you know you won't be able to resist the temptation to spend yourself into debt, don't take out a credit card. Yes, it will be more difficult to lease an apartment, take out a mortgage or secure a loan to buy a car. But at least you won't have an unmanageable mountain of credit card debt. Credit card companies aren't going anywhere. You can always change your mind later and decide that you're financially responsible enough to start managing credit.
The Bottom LineCredit cards are ubiquitous, and for many people, the benefits of using them outweigh the drawbacks. Learning how to use credit responsibly early in life can set you up for decades of convenient spending, rewards and a high credit score that will let you borrow money at the lowest available interest rates. But no convenience or reward is likely to outweigh the drawbacks of carrying around high-interest debt, so if you don't think you or your child is ready for a credit card yet, it's OK to steer clear of credit cards for as long as you need to.
The Best Time For Young People To Get A Credit Card
It may not seem like it, but it is possible go to through life without using a credit card. That being said, when used responsibly, credit cards offer numerous advantages over other payment methods. They're convenient, they protect you against fraud and theft, and they offer cash back and other rewards. They can also help you build the credit history you'll need if you want to borrow money to buy a house or a car. If you think paying with plastic might be the way to go, here are some points to consider in deciding when to get that first card and why.


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Citing a need for more time to make "specific tweaks and improvements," Irrational Games Creative Director and cofounder Ken Levine announced today that Bioshock Inifinite is slipping from a planned October 16 release to a new target of February 26, 2013.
The four-month delay means the game will avoid direct competition with a holiday season filled with other big-name first-person shooters, including Halo 4 on November 6 and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 on November 13. The first quarter of the year is traditionally less packed with high-profile releases, though EA recently announced that Crysis 3 would be released during that time frame.
Levine pointed out that the original Bioshock was similarly delayed by several months before its 2007 debut to get everything looking and feeling just right. 2K Marin's Bioshock 2 was also delayed from a planned November 2009 release into 2010 to add more polish.
While Infinite has been shown in numerous hands-off demos at previous industry events, Levine said the team will hold off on showing the game at summer conferences like E3 and Gamescom. This will prevent the team from wasting time creating specific demo builds, and ensure that "the next time you see our game, it will be essentially the product we intend to put in the box," he said.


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Gwen Stefani has revealed a few details about her forthcoming second album, the follow-up to her successful Love, Angel, Music, Baby debut.
Let's hope this new album has a better title, though, eh?
The former No Doubt singer will work with The Neptunes' Pharrell Williams on the new album, as well as high-pitched R&B fella Akon and some dude called Swizz Beatz. We're guessing that's not the guy's real name. Stefani has called the new material "ear candy". Which is slightly more appealing than ear wax. Cotton buds are awesome.
The as-yet-untitled album may be released before the year is out, as a number of tracks are approaching finalisation. Titles include 'Candyland', 'Orange County Girl' and 'Wind It Up'. If the latter's a cover of The Prodigy's hit of 1993, I'll eat my hat.
I'm not wearing a hat...


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Dungeon Adventure
Play as the mystical Wizard Merlin and scour the haunted dungeons for ancient potions. Be careful to avoid the ghosts of former prisoners as you seek to collect all the gems and race for the exit. Playable using the keyboard on desktop or touch screen on mobile phones.
Skill, Action Games, Arcade Games


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The 'prime minister' of R&B, DJ HB Smooth has recently teamed up with DJ Doop, the number one mixtape DJ in kanasas city and one of the first DJ's to start pushing Indie artists in the Kansas City area. Having produced several successful gigs and mixtapes, HB Smooth has now collaborated with another talented and popular DJ to release multiple mixtapes.
They both have done 3 mixtapes together namely, KC to the Chi mixtape, college freak Jodi playlist edition chapter 4 and college freak 46, an all Indie edition mixtape.
Shortly after the above, college freak mixtapes was dropped back to back until the 14th and suddenly, HB Smooth stopped dropping tapes. However, people could only wonder if this was a one-time event or there will be more tapes that will be dropped. DJ HB Smooth is constantly getting popularity online which is evident from his 800k followers, making him only 200k away from hitting a million followers.
DJ HB Smooth is known for his constant search for new and talented artists and giving them a push into the music industry. He has also produced Chicago Juke remixes and Chicago juke/footwork music. In an exclusive interview with times of youth, he revealed that he chose 'DJ HB Smooth' as his name to be different, by adding his own twist to 'Smooth'.
DJ HB Smooth has been producing juke music for many years and now and his songs are specially said to be popular among the ladies. Climbing the ladder of success he also became the first DJ to own a Vevo account which allowed him to popularize his juke/footwork music. Let's hope he drops his new tape soon to bring much relief to his fans.
For more information, visit: http://www.timesofyouth.com/2015/04/exclusive-interview-of-dj-hb-smooth.html
Media Contact
Company Name: DJ HB Smooth
Contact Person: Marco
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: (312) 841-7124
Country: United States
Website: http://facebook.com/hbsmooth


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Getting married in Formby and looking for something to help the celebrations go off with a bang? Our Prom Car Hire packages could be exactly what you're looking for!
Getting the right wedding car is an important part of your big day, so you'll want to make sure that your choice is everything that you've dreamed of. Luckily, the team at weddingtransport.co.uk is here to help. As the experts in luxury vehicle hire, we've helped hundreds of couples across Merseyside find the perfect transport - and we'd love to do the same for you.
Of course, we know that all brides and grooms are different - and that's why we've curated a wide selection of vehicles for you to choose from. But if you want style, sophistication and effortless cool, our prom transport Hire are the one. From sleek Ferraris and classic Jaguars to top-of-the-range supercars, we've got something to suit everyone. And whichever you choose, we'll provide everything you need to feel like a celebrity from the moment you step on board.
At wedding transport we offer our customers a choice of Prom Limos for Hire options, so we're confident that we can tailor our packages to suit your individual requirements. Keen to find out more? Speak to our team about Prom Car Hire in Formby today.


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by Carrie
Homemade Sally Costume
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|Costumes for Girls
This homemade costume for girls entered our 2012 Halloween Costume Contest.
A word from Gianna, the 'Sally' costume creator:
My daughter Anastasia LOVES The Nightmare Before Christmas and wanted to be Sally. You can buy baby, toddler and Adult Sally costumes but no little girl ones. We took a sundress she was about to grow out of and added patches to it. Then I added "scars" by taking a white shirt and white tights and sewed black yarn into it. Striped socks and Mary Janes finished out the costume. The wig is made by latch hooking red yarn into a foot of queen sized fishnet tights. We used eyelash glue to put the black yarn on her face.
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As much as I cook with beans and lentils, and love them, I had never before tried canary beans, although I'd seen them often enough at the grocery store.Canary beans, I'm guessing, are so called because of their lovely yellow color. I used these to make a curry, Maharashtrian style, with coconut milk.
I must say I loved these beans. They hold their shape beautifully when cooked, but dissolve creamily in your mouth. They were perfect in this curry, but doubtlessly I will be looking for more recipes to make with these in the future.
I've been having a busy weekend, so I'm just going to get on with the recipe. Sometimes, I guess, you deserve a break from my babble. Enjoy the last few hours of the weekend, everyone!
Canary Beans Curry
- 1 cup Canary beans , soaked and boiled until tender
- 1 tbsp canola oil
- 1 large onion , chopped
- 1 tbsp coriander seeds , powdered
- 1 tsp cumin seeds , powdered
- ½ tsp turmeric
- 5 cloves garlic , minced
- 1- inch piece of ginger , chopped.
- 2-3 green chillies
- 2 tbsp jaggery (available in Indian stores. You can substitute with 2 tbsp sugar)
- Juice of ½ lemon
- ½ cup minced coriander leaves
- ½ cup coconut milk (I use canned)
- Heat the oil in a saucepan.
- Add the onions and saute until translucent, about five minutes on medium heat.
- Grind together the ginger, garlic, green chilies and the coriander and cumin powders into a fairly smooth paste.
- Add the paste to the onions and saute until the mixture is rather dry and does not smell raw, about 5 minutes.
- Add the beans and turmeric. Add salt to taste and a cup of water and bring to a boil. If the curry gets too dry at any time, add more water, a little at a time.
- Simmer on low heat about 5 minutes.
- Add the coconut milk, jaggery and lemon juice and heat through.
- Turn off the heat and garnish with coriander leaves.
- Serve hot with rice.


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The iconoclastic and industry disrupting course material on Winning Every Aspect Of The Aftermath
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Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Prosciutto Cotto
I made this back in October. I had to hold back on posting while waiting for Jason to post his. I won't drag this on because this is, for all intents and purposes, HIS recipe, which was developed by Alessandro Morreale. Jason was nice enough to draw it up for me to try. The only difference with mine is in the cooking process. I don't have access to sous vide equipment, so, I had to improvise. I placed the ham in a baking dish and weighed it down. I set the oven to 200 degrees F and brought it up to 155(about 5 hours) and removed it. I allowed it to sit in the fridge overnight for flavor development. I was pleased all the way around with the taste. The only thing I would do differently next time is attenuate the amount of allspice I used. I do admit to having something of an allspice aversion, however. If you have the patience to make brine, subsequently inject, then spend several hours cooking it, I recommend trying this.
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Personalised Name Alphabet Letter R Baby Grow
This personalised baby girls / boys romper suit with letter R and rhino design from our babygrow range is designed and printed by Tiger Prints UK.
Available in various colours and sizes including bubblegum pink, powder pink, blue and white. This unisex baby grow is available in sizes 0-3 months, 3-6 months, 3-12 months and 12-18 months.
Just add the name you'd like printed and we'll make it for you!
Our exclusive babies romper is hand-printed onto a quality soft and stretchy baby bodysuit with short sleeves and envelope neck for easy dressing and 3 poppers. It is 100% cotton making it soft and kind on your baby's skin.
This would be a beautiful new baby gift or Christening present.
Cotton weight: 200 gsm


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Nearest Starbucks Hong Kong
Simply launch the application and see your nearest Starbucks.
* See the nearest store immediately after launch.
* Complete list of all Starbucks around Hong Kong.
* Complete store details including address, phone and map location.
* Store list is sorted by distance from your location.
* No internet connection required for store location.
* Open store location on Maps and get your route.
* Content get updated automatically.
* Search for any store you want.
DISCLAIMER: This application is not affiliated with or endorsed by Starbucks.


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Islamic State Claims Killing of American Journalist James Foley
Video Released by Islamist Militants Appears to Show Beheading of Foley, Kidnapped in Syria
WASHINGTON—Militants from the group Islamic State released a video Tuesday that appeared to show the beheading of American journalist James Foley in an act of retribution for U.S. airstrikes on the group in Iraq.
The graphic video, which U.S. intelligence agencies were trying to verify, raised new dangers for President Barack Obama's Middle East policy. It showed a masked militant, speaking in British-accented English, threatening to kill more Americans if the U.S. military campaign continued.
To Read the Full Story


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A typical formal statement of the Axiom of Replacement is (leaving out some technical details about extra "parameter variables" that $\phi$ sometimes takes.)
$[\forall x,y,z\ (\phi(x,y) \wedge \phi(x,z) \implies y=z)] \implies [\forall X \exists Y \forall y\ (y \in Y \iff (\exists x \in X)\ \phi(x,y))]$.
The hypothesis "$\forall x,y,z\ (\phi(x,y) \wedge \phi(x,z) \implies y=z)$" states that the relation $\phi$ defines a function: to each $x$ that is related with some $y$, it is related with only one $y$. One tempting revision to express that hypothesis more succinctly is as $\forall x \exists ! y\ \phi(x,y)$. However, this implies something stronger about $\phi$, namely, that it relates every $x$ to some (unique) $y$, whereas the first formulation allows that for some $x$ and all $y$, $\phi(x,y)$ is false.
Can one safely replace the original hypothesis by the revised one, using the following argument? Suppose $\phi$ is not defined for some values of $x$. Then pick some "dummy" $y'$ (such as $\emptyset$) and let $\phi(x,y')$ be true. Then apply the revised axiom to conclude the original version of the axiom, with some technicalities to handle the fact that $Y$ might now include an extra element $y'$. I don't really do set theory, so it's not clear to me exactly what technicalities would pop up and whether they can be handled, possibly using the other axioms.
I've read a lot about different ways to define the Axiom of Replacement, and the related Axiom of Collection, but no one ever seems to state the hypothesis in exactly this way, so I'm wondering if something goes wrong if you try to use this formulation of the axiom.
(Update: question after here answered in comments)
For that matter, is the uniqueness of $y$ even required, or could the axiom be revised to $[\forall x \exists y\ \phi(x,y)] \implies [\forall X \exists Y \forall y\ (y \in Y \iff (\exists x \in X)\ \phi(x,y))]$?


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Check out the 3rd - 5th grade students' Book Character Pumpkins! Students will vote on their favorite pumpkin.
Our staff loves to have fun!
In the fall of 1978, Fulbright Elementary School opened its doors to serve the educational needs of families living in West Little Rock. The school, named for Senator J. William Fulbright, proudly continues to provide a stimulating, nurturing learning environment for students in Pre-K through fifth grade. At Fulbright, students and their families experience a high standard of learning with varied opportunities to ensure the growth of all students. Fulbright's building design is unique. Each grade level is housed in modular pods of four classrooms with common work areas for teachers. This encourages teacher collaboration and builds a strong sense of community with the students.
Fulbright students have access to the latest technology trends and products in the school's computer lab which has 28 updated computers as well as a SMART Board. In addition to the lab, students have access to computers in their classrooms. Each classroom is equipped with a digital projector and SMART Board. Most classrooms also have document cameras and projection systems.
Fulbright Elementary faculty and staff invest a great deal of time in professional development, workshops, book studies, etc. in order to provide students with the most up-to-date educational opportunities. These include a gifted enrichment program for all students in kindergarten through fifth grade, a separate pull-out program for gifted and talented students in third grade through fifth grade, Spring Training for ACTAAP for students in grades three through five, teachers trained in the latest trends in technology, a well-rounded special education team (speech therapists, occupational therapist, special education teachers, and resource teachers), an active fine arts program that showcases student talent throughout the year (the Joy Choir performances and auctions and galleries on Arts Night), an after-school tutoring program in literacy and math, a dynamic student council association, well-trained student ambassadors, a cheerleading squad that competes locally and cheers at area sporting events, competitions such as Mathletes, Spelling Bee, National Geographic Geography Bee, Quiz Bowl, and Science Fair, and an on-site after-school care program. Fulbright counselors are dedicated to helping students develop emotionally, socially, and intellectually, while the coaching staff works on the physical needs of the students. Fulbright's Media Center is a place where students are inspired to read, research, and explore! Dedicated to cultivating life-long learners and readers, the media specialist works with students on the production of the morning news which streams into the classrooms each day, boosts reading through the Accelerated Reading program and quarterly AR Store, and encourages exploration by aiding students with research on the media center's computers. These are but a sampling of the rich, comprehensive learning opportunities available at Fulbright Elementary.
As evidence to their dedication, the teachers, support staff, and volunteers at Fulbright have earned district, state, and national recognition and awards, including the Marian G. Lacey Educator of the Year award. Several teachers hold National Board Certification for Professional Teachers. Many have been recognized for their exemplary work in various facets of education.
Fulbright's PTA is an organization whose members' efforts are vital to the everyday workings that are necessary for a smoothly running school. The PTA sponsors a number of events throughout the year, such as Grandparents Day, Book Fair, Field Day, Fifth Grade Celebration, Kindergarten Social, Fall Carnival, and Teacher Appreciation Week to name a few. Members volunteer in the AR Store, pop popcorn, and make snow cones for the After-the-Test party, help display artwork for the Arts Night, and much more.
To insure the students' safety, security cameras are located both inside the school building and outside at all crucial areas. New safety systems are in place which further protect the students.
Fulbright Elementary School proudly celebrates thirty-seven years of service to the families of West Little Rock. Students attending Fulbright can expect consistent, focused lessons and experiences in an environment conducive to learning.


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Today modern production plants are no longer defined by the manufacturing of products, but instead by their customer orientation and the resulting service features such as faithfulness to deadlines, flexibility, delivery time and product variety.
Above all, product diversity and the shorter product life cycles result in complex processes. To achieve competitive advantages, production companies must structure the efficiency of their internal processes as close to optimal as possible and continually improve it, which is nothing less than lean manufacturing. Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) can help here by contributing to increased transparency, responsiveness and economy.
Figure 1: Process control
Figure 1 shows the MES as a measuring chain in process control. Malfunctions lead to deviations from the planned sequence. Examples of these kinds of malfunctions, which are detected by the MES, are missed deadlines, machine downtimes, missing materials, sick employees or sudden quality shortcomings.
The MES is assigned to the Production Management department within the company (Figure 2) and, as a link between the company management and the Production department, for a continuous vertical integration.
Figure 2: Vertical Integration
Orders for a certain period are transferred to the MES from the ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning System). The orders contain data necessary for execution. These include the lot number or the minimum expiration data of the product.
The MES plans all processes in detail while taking the current production status into account. Before the start of a production order, data are passed on to machines, quality sensors, marking devices and other devices, as well as working instructions to employees.
After completion of an order, feedback to the ERP is carried out with processed information like the actually produced quantity, waste quantities and material consumption.
An MES ideally provides the Production Management department with all functions it requires. These functions can be divided into the three function groups of Production, Quality and Personnel (see Figure 3).
Figure 3: MES functions
The unification of all functions in a software system and the connection of all elements involved in production to the MES enable horizontal integration. Unnecessary double data acquisitions and interfaces are avoided.
An escalation management system is assigned to the function groups, which quickly indicates faults via operating terminals, by phone or with instant messaging.
From industries in which MESs are already used in all areas, it is known that the effectiveness of the processes can be increased with MESs by 7 to 10%. Our customers will therefore increasingly focus on Manufacturing Execution Systems in the years to come.
With its own line management system and the line cockpit, Gerhard Schubert GmbH offers outstanding software tools which can be developed further to obtain a customized MES system.
Schubert Group


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Corbin returns to site of first big league win
MIAMI -- For D-backs left-hander Patrick Corbin, Marlins Park will always be a special place.
It was there April 30, 2012, that Corbin made his big league debut, a 9-5 win in which he allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings.
"Your first game in the big leagues is probably one of the most exciting moments in your life," Corbin said. "I just remember my parents being here and being able to watch me throw. I remember getting the win that day, too, so that was awesome."
Corbin had arrived in Miami the day before his start and spent that night sitting in the stands behind home plate with general manager Kevin Towers as Wade Miley pitched.
"Looking back, I was nervous as can be and really excited and happy to be here," Corbin said.
Corbin has certainly come a long way in a little more than a year. Entering Saturday's game, he was near the top of the National League leaders in ERA (1.52) and wins (a perfect 6-0).
"Now, I feel like I belong here and can go out there and be myself and know I can get these guys out," Corbin said. "I'm a lot more comfortable."


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Asian Studies is an interdisciplinary major which allows students to focus on a particular area of interest in Asian Studies while gaining an overall knowledge of the area.
With increasing globalization, Asia's political, economic, and social roles have become increasingly important to the world and to the United States. In the United States our knowledge of the area lags far behind our need for understanding. Not only is there a need for greater knowledge of the Asian in our contemporary world, but also a better acquaintance with the region's century old traditions. These traditions give us a fresh perspective on the diversity and genius of human achievement and are indispensable keys to understanding modern China, Japan, and the entire Asian region. This major is will be particularly valuable to those who wish to pursue careers in International Business and/or International Politics. California, living on the Pacific Rim, makes knowledge of Asia an area imperative study for those who want to be successful in business and international relations.
Students studying Asian art, music and/or literature will also find this to be a valueable major for gaining the historical and political knowledge necessary to pursue their areas of interest. UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Davis, and San Jose State University all offer programs in Asian Studies.
|Asian Studies Department
|Dr. Rory O'Brien
|Room 434 D


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In Honor of Nina Simone: Why Black Women Must Re-Frame the Conversation about Racism in Hollywood
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the internet's sensationalized debate over Zoe Saldaña playing Nina Simone in a Hollywood biopic: How the Light- vs. Dark- Skinned Debate Misses the Point about Black Women in Media.
In summary, my post called for marginalized communities–especially, in this instance, black women– to be more aware of the way the mechanism of racism and colorism in Hollywood too often keeps us sensationalizing debates about Hollywood's perception of our beauty (and even, as in this case, pits us against each other), rather than embracing the opportunity for us to affirm our collective power as both media producers and consumers.
For me, this debate was yet another moment in the cycle of abuse between the black community and the gatekeepers that control white media; the fact that Zoe Saldaña, another woman of color was getting a lot of backlash (via comments that suggested she was hijacking a role meant for black women, dismissing her self-identification as a Black Latina, not to mention personal attacks against her character etc), was discouraging, to say the least.
It's one thing to criticize the white supremacist media machine that is Hollywood; it's another thing entirely for us to let that criticism distract us from seeing how that machine is designed to keep us fighting each other over scraps (e.g. debating over who gets the few lead roles written for women of color) more often than we brainstorm how we can work together to grow and harvest enough seeds to keep nourishing us all.
As long as we keep Hollywood and mainstream media at the focal point of our discussions (and criticisms) around media representation, we will remain stuck in a very unproductive cycle.
Same Ole' Mainstream Media vs. Nuanced Alternative Media
Case in Point: The New York Times published a story this week, summarizing the debate around Zoe Saldaña's casting for the lead role of Nina Simone. (Please note: My comments are based on the article published online, and not what made it into print, as I'm currently in South Africa).
Despite being interviewed by the reporter, and sharing my thoughts about the importance of black communities recognizing the ways in which alternative media–and initiatives to produce more black-owed and -directed content–could lead to better representation in the future, the article didn't do much at all to move the conversation forward. In fact, it maintained the status quo.
The NYT article's framing of the issue was barely nuanced. In a nutshell, here's how it went: black people are angry because Zoe Saldaña doesn't look like Nina Simone, here are other examples of black people protesting the casting of light-skinned actresses, Hollywood is racist and will always prioritize profit, oh well.
Conversely, Huffington Post Live was able to expand the conversation beyond the sensationalized polarity because black women actually led the conversation.
The segment, titled "50 Shades of Black," featured an impressive panel of five black women commentators, including Ann Daramola, Michaela Angela Davis, Salamisha Tillet, Tiffani Jones, and Gayla Burks.
Further, this lively panel was facilitated by Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, an academic, activist, journalist, and television personality (i.e. the male version of my idol Melissa Hill Perry). Hence, the collective response to the messy biopic debate was way more nuanced, poignant, and thought-provoking.
In this case, black women's voices didn't just play a supporting role; the panelists had more control over the conversation, the media through which they were sharing their perspectives, and thus, the outcome.
Even though I wasn't particularly thrilled with the way the conversation was framed (or even the way it ended), the segment, for me, proved that the more ownership we take of media, the better we have of ensuring that our stories and perspectives are authentic, complex, and representative of the plethora of issues we care about.
Black Women Must Re-frame (Then Lead) the Conversation
In the NYT piece, Cynthia Mort, the director, of the biopic is quoted as dismissing the historical implications of her casting choice by stating, "It's a Biopic, not a Documentary," and thus, a creative take on Nina Simone's life. Her response offers more proof (as if we needed any at this point) of how rampant white privilege is in Hollywood; that a white director gets to use an African-American socio-political icon as formidable and celebrated as Nina Simone as creative fodder with no consequence should be scaring folks into finally moving beyond these cyclical conversations that aren't getting us anywhere.
So, for instance, instead of a segment titled "Why Does Hollywood Light-Wash Blacks?" ('cause, seriously, we already know the answer to that), how about we as media professionals and activists get into the habit of tackling more action-elicit questions e.g. "How Can Black People Combat White-Washing of Our Images in the Media?", especially when we have five brilliant black women social commentators on standby? Just a thought.
When I was interviewed by the reporter for NYT, she revealed that she'd spoken to a high end stakeholder in the biopic, who said, and I quote, "Listen, Zoe is hot right now," as justification for the casting decision.
Need I elaborate? This is — and always will be — about money. This movie will be made, online petition or not. Per my rant on Tumblr, Hollywood will not suddenly wake up one day and prioritize our authentic histories over their capitalist projects. The situation is not going to change. So, we need to change our strategy. Thankfully, there are others in the media sphere calling for this as well.
Yaba Blay, Africana Studies teacher, scholar, and consultant to CNN Black in America recently commented:
… although I think casting Zoe is a bad move (and disrespectful to Nina's image and estate), I also think we have to hold "us-folk" accountable. Why haven't any Black filmmakers made a film about Nina yet? Doesn't the late, great High Priestess of Soul deserve more than one movie? Or is it only now that a White filmmaker is doing her own thing with Nina's image that we recognize/remember her legacy? Rather than (or in addition to) complaining, we need to be creating.
Similarly, amidst the familiar stagnant critiques of racism and colorism in Hollywood that were saturating the Huffington Post Live segment, Ann Daramola , stated repeatedly, "Why are we surprised? Why should we continue to expect that Hollywood will tell our stories for us?"
In her post, Zoe Saldaña as Nina Simone is a Reminder to Keep Telling Your Story, Ann offers more than just a fluffy call to action, but calls for strategic investment in black media infrastructure that will give us more autonomy over the creation, curation, and distribution of our stories.
we have so much work to do to get our stories spread. We need to build a media infrastructure as formidable as Hollywood's that can distribute these stories and support those at the margins who are telling and creating them. We need to create platforms that we own, community-owned media centers that are not at the mercy of funding cycles or internet service providers.
To Ann's point, if we can accept that we are actually not surprised, and we know that Hollywood won't change, I think we'd naturally focus more of our efforts on highlighting and supporting solutions, of which there actually are many.
We Need More Than Black Media Producers; We Need Black Media Consumers, Too
During the Huffington Post Live segment, Michaela Angela Davis highlighted a few of these solutions: AFFRM, an African-American film distribution company dedicated to diverse cinematic images; Image Nation, a film production company nurturing a strong local film industry in the United Arab Emirates; Nollywood, Nigeria's thriving film industry (and the 3rd largest in the world), which produces and distributes films made with very small budgets.
Still, what good are black-owned film production initiatives if we as a community don't call for more strategic consumption and critique of the media produced by them? What value are we assigning these solutions in the media if we ourselves reduce them to being one-off mentions, tangents in the larger conversation about racism and colorism in Hollywood?
In a 25 minute segment, a total of about 3 minutes (yes I timed it) was dedicated to highlighting solutions already in place, before getting right back to criticizing Hollywood.
It isn't enough to simply mention that there are minority film professionals already contributing to part of the solution (i.e. by creating more media). We need more discussions around their work's value and potential to subvert the power structure in the film industry.
I don't doubt for one second that criticism of Hollywood plays an important role in keeping Hollywood accountable. I just question how often that phrase ("keeping Hollywood accountable") keeps our voices restricted to being reactive, when we are way more powerful when we use our voices in service of others; young black women, for instance, who need to know that there is hope for them to have flourishing careers in film and media; older black women who are tired and frustrated with Hollywood's chronic appropriation and alteration of our histories.
We owe it to each other to more frequently use our voices to highlight our resistance, and use our collective power to increase support and visibility for the projects that will get us closer to the future we wish to see, because it is possible. Here's how:
- Black People Are Repeat Consumers of Blockbusters, Why Not Redirect the Dollars?: A quick scan of this study on black movie-goers from BET Networks shows that the black community has way more power than it's using e.g. African-Americans go to the movies 13.4 times a year vs. 11 times for general market, they're repeat movie-goers for films they like, and are heavy consumers of alternative media. However, in this same study, when listing the top films supported by black audiences, only 3 out of 19 films featured a prominent African-American character. What would happen if we changed that? What would happen if made it a priority to only support the films we want to see? Think on that.
- Hollywood Taps into Their 1% and So Should We: When I published my call for more creation and support of black media, the most popular attack at the plausibility of profitable black media infrastructure was limit to capital. That is certainly an obstacle to contend with, but from the recent successes of the Tyler Perry franchise, Steve Harvey's Think Like a Man, and other projects, not one that's insurmountable. There is a black middle class and elite in the entertainment industry, creating and leading their own projects, raising millions of dollars for Obama. Let's not erase their accomplishments by continually perpetuating the idea that there is no capital for projects we'd like to see at all.
- The Groundswell of Community Support Bolstered Indie Flick, Pariah, into the Mainstream: Pariah, a film about a young queer woman of color growing up in New York, was catapulted into mainstream media by all the buzz coming from grassroots community who supported it. Now, Dee Rees is reportedly working on a project with HBO, and Adepero Oduye, post-nod from Meryl Streep, is pursuing new opportunities in Hollywood as well. Alternative media may not ever replace the mainstream, nor Hollywood, but it certainly works to even out the playing field for black media professionals with notches on their belts.
There are so many other avenues to explore when it comes to black alternative media, even if for the purpose of mainstreaming that media eventually. So why do the most vocal commentators on this issue keep reverting to the same old conversation i.e. the "problematicness" of Hollywood?
As one of the panelists, Michaela Angela Davis noted, the colorism evident via this casting decision is very triggering for black women, who constantly have to defend their right to feel beautiful, appreciated, and respected. I imagine that's part of the reason it's been so challenging for us to break this cycle; our feelings regarding the media's (mis)representation of our beauty and aesthetics have been either continually invalidated, or worse, ignored.
Still, we cannot let our pain keep us lingering outside of Hollywood's gates, hoping for an apology, expecting retribution, or worse, throwing stones at the few of us who have managed to make it inside. We must embrace the idea that we can be gamechangers, that our collective power is formidable, that we can create media that's better and more representative of who we are, for the sake of young black girls everywhere, for the sake of Nina Simone herself. Time to change the game.
Food for Thought: When the facilitator stated that he didn't want his daughter growing up to think Nina Simone looked like Zoe Saldaña, it would have been incredible to have all those brilliant minds put their heads together and offer, from their various perspectives, ways in which we as community could ensure such a thing never happens.
Instead, via a vote about who each panelist would have liked to see play Nina Simone, the conversation ended with these black women on the bench as spectators of Hollywood's game.
After such a lively conversation, I couldn't think of anything more disempowering to end on a note that ultimately suggests to young black girls that Hollywood will always be upheld as the ultimate validation of their voices, their stories, their work. Can we please change this?
Here lies an opportunity for us to commit to handling the next conversation like this differently, to frame future conversations around racism, colorism, and media around solutions, which tap into our power as a community, and send the message to future generations that change is indeed possible.
Even though we have very far to go, I believe this conversation was a solid start. Take a look. And let me know what you think.


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10. San Antonio Spurs (30-18)
Tag Archives: Clippers
NBA Top Ten Recap
10. San Antonio Spurs (29-17)
Western Conference Preview
Western Conference
Pacific Division
The Kings brought in Darren Collison to run the point and Nik Staukas to contribute from the perimeter. Ben McLemore needs to take that next step and DeMarcus Cousins needs to dominate and behave. Kobe returns to a team with Carlos Boozer in the low post and Jeremy Lin running the point. Nick Young needs to be a spark plug off the bench for new coach Byron Scott. Isaiah Thomas will back up Goran Dragic and the front court will consist of youngsters Miles Plumlee and Markieff Morris. Alex Len needs to improve and Eric Bledsoe needs to dominate the Suns scoring. Steve Kerr will try to improve a high speed, high scoring offense. The Warriors will need the front court of David Lee and Andrew Bogut to stay healthy. Steve Balmer takes over ownership from Donald Sterling in Los Angeles. The Clippers need Chris Paul to run the show, Blake Griffin to dominate the boards and Jamal Crawford to light it up off the bench. The winner of the Warriors-Clippers battles will take home the Pacific.
NBA Free Agency
NBA Clips Sterling For Life
2014 NBA Playoff Schedule/Results
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10. Phoenix Suns (46-31)
NBA Top Ten Recap
10. Dallas Mavericks (34-23)
NBA Top Ten Recap
10. Dallas Mavericks (31-21)


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Guest blogged by David Edwards
Last November, The Daily Mirror published details of a "top secret" U.K. memo revealing that President Bush wanted to bomb headquarters for the al-Jazeera news network. At the time, The Mirror quoted its' source saying:
"There's no doubt what Bush wanted to do - and no doubt Blair didn't want him to do it."
While the story has gone largely unnoticed in the U.S., British media and al-Jazeera have continued investigating. Check out this earlier Brad Blog report for more backstory.
Political pressure to release the memo increased this week when British lawyers retained by the al-Jazeera network announced a lawsuit filed against the U.K. that requests the leaked memo be made public. Soon after, Downing Street officially denied that the memo has anything to do with the bombing of al-Jazeera. But the Downing Street spokesperson would not reveal what the memo did say.
In the following video, Sky News reports on the new lawsuit and the mounting political pressure.
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Now showing items 1-1 of 1
Health and lifestyle inequalities: the emerging Ireland.
(Cambridge University Press, 2002-09)
The level of health inequalities has developed in Ireland in a similar way as in other Western developed countries. Socially disadvantaged people suffer worse health outcomes, some dietary related, throughout life compared ...


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In 1947, Both India and Pakistan were given independence from Britain. India was able to establish Hindi as its national language with minimal problems. Pakistan on the other hand, was created with mutual understanding between East and West, (Muhammad Ali Jinnah was from West Pakistan and Sir Nawab Salimullah, the founder of Muslim League was from East Pakistan). However, in 1952, when Pakistan declared Urdu its national language, a language mainly used by the people of West Pakistan, it was hugely opposed by the people of East Pakistan, who spoke Bengali.
My question is, why did the people of East Pakistan decide to revolt so early while Indian people successfully embraced Hindi? Was it an Indian conspiracy to agitate the people of East Pakistan or was it the East Pakistani population failing to understand the value of keeping the country united?


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Bitz: 1 Part,
Type: Special Unit,
Unit: Warhammer Fantasy Dark Elves - Executioners / Black Guard,
This is the back part of a body out of the Warhammer Executioners / Black Guard of the Dark Elves box.
Suitable for tabletop armies and miniatures in 28 mm scale.
The Executioners of Har Garneth and the Black Guard of Naggarond are among the most experienced fighters of the armies of the Dark Elves. The Black Guard is under the command of the Witch King Malekith. Their indomitable will makes these warriors formidable adversaries, because they lead their halberds with unswerving perseverance and never retreat. The executioners are from the Dark Elf city of Har Ganeth where they watch over the Temples of Khaine. As followers of the cult of Khaine they train constantly dealing with the two-handed sword. When they liquidate their opponents they strike mercilessly and with determination.
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Kids Welcome: Kum Gang San
Kum Gang San
138-28 Northern Blvd, Flushing Queens 11354; map); 718-461-0909; kumgangsan.net
Kids' Amenities: High chairs, stroller storage, gardens, fish ponds, waterfalls
Best Dishes for Kids: Bibimbap, Jap Chae, Hae Mul Pa Jul, Bugolgi
Cost: entrees $12.95-18.95, barbecue $26.96-28.95
Serious Eats: New York has been on a Korean food kick lately, and while there may be other restaurants in Flushing, Queens offering extraordinary renditions of particular Korean dishes, Kum Gang San (in Flushing, with a second branch on 32nd Street in Manhattan) is an excellent choice for parents searching for a solid Korean meal with their children. The restaurant is large (with gardens, fish ponds, and waterfalls); the food is delicious, plentiful, and easily enjoyed by children; and the service is extra-attentive to the little ones.
The restaurant was nearly full on a Saturday at 6:00pm, with many families with kids already having their dinners (Kum Gang San is open 24/7, and has parking). We were welcomed by a couple of very sweet hostesses, who accompanied us to the table and sat my daughter on her high chair. They brought hot tea for the adults and cold water for her, as well as a "special" spoon (I think it was a sugar spoon).
I asked the hostess what kids usually like to eat at the restaurant, and was pleasantly surprised to hear "everything": she explained that the food is made to be shared and parents and children enjoy the same dishes; and that children are introduced to all different tastes and spices from this experience. I was smitten right away by the warmth of the service, which remained excellent, fast, attentive, and full of smiles throughout the meal.
Korean meals start with series of Banchan dishes, a large (and complimentary) assortment of small vegetables, fish, tofu, egg and seafood sides. I was very happy with Yoengeun jorim, the lotus root simmered in soy sauce and sugar, while my daughter especially liked the Gyeran-jjim, a dish of steamed, seasoned eggs, and the grilled fish. Kum Gang Sam offers both hot and mild versions of their famous Kimchi, but my daughter doesn't seem to be ready for it yet.
The Banchan is only a teaser—eat too much and you'll spoil your appetite for the bounty of food that follows. Soon arrived the Hae Mul Pa Jul ($16.95), the ubiquitous rice-flour, scallion pancakes with seafood, crispy on the outside and edges, and soft on the inside; followed by the Bibimbap ($14.95)—steamed rice topped with sautéed vegetables, beef, and a fried egg. It promptly disappeared between adults and child.
The Bibimbap is a great dish for kids as it contains everything you want your child to eat in a meal—vegetables, proteins, carbohydrates. You stir all Bibimbap ingredients together before eating it, adding hot sauce as you wish, so we separated a portion of the mix for my daughter before adding the sauce. She loved her plain version and we adults loved it even more with the added heat.
Jap Chae ($18.95) and Duk Mandoo Guk ($12.95) came next. Kids tend to like noodles and the cellophane noodles in the Jap Chae, stir-fried with vegetables and eggs and seasoned with soy sauce and sugar, were a great hit with my daughter and everyone else.
Eating a big bowl of hot, brothy soup might prove challenging to kids, but my daughter also enjoyed the rice cakes and meat dumplings we fished out of the Mandoo soup.
A Korean restaurant experience is not complete without the barbecue. We ordered Kalbi ($28.95) and Bul go ki ($26.95)—marinated short rib and rib eye steak, grilled right before your eyes on the table (nervous parents might opt to have the meat grilled in the kitchen and then brought to the table; we just placed the highchair strategically far from the grill). The server places the slices of meat on the slightly domed hot plate of the built-in gas grill on the table. When the beef is cooked, you place it atop a crunchy red leaf lettuce leaf, and top it with thinly sliced scallions, jalapeno peppers, garlic and a miso sauce, then you roll it up, and eat it. While kids might object to the toppings and lettuce, the meat by itself, sweet and salty from the soy sauce, sugar, sesame oil, and garlic marinade, is irresistible.
After such a bountiful meal I was looking forward to the fresh fruit that comes as a courtesy dessert in Korean restaurants, but this time around we had a sweet potato frozen yogurt, to my daughter's delight. We left Kum Gang San wanting to come back, perhaps in the summer, for a late, leisurely lunch on a weekend, to take advantage of the gardens and waterfalls—always a great distraction for kids who don't want to sit still on the table.
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oPt: Fighting the scourge of open sewers in Gaza
TitleoPt: Fighting the scourge of open sewers in Gaza
On 6 December 2011, two children drowned in a sewage cesspool in the Qatatwa neighbourhood of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip.
Wesam Abu Sahlouh, 4, and his sister Malek, 2, lived in a small refugee house nearby the cesspool. They managed to crawl through a hole in the fence surrounding the cesspool while playing outside. Their bodies were found by a relative several hours later.
Their deaths were a horrifying reminder of the conditions faced by hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza, as they struggle to survive a blockade that denies them access to basic goods, and the wherewithal to create a healthy living environment.
Across Gaza, nearly a third of households are not connected to a sewage network, and they rely on self-installed and unregulated cesspits. Large amounts of partially treated sewage are discharged into the sea daily.
The Qatatwa neighbourhood, located in the area of a former Israeli settlement, forms an extension to a nearby refugee camp. It has expanded significantly over recent years, but a lack of infrastructure and construction materials means it has not been able to connect to the sanitation network.
Some residents have taken the initiative and installed their own sewage systems, which drain into a 2,500 m2 cesspool in the adjacent sand dunes. A weak fence had been installed around the cesspool, but it failed to stop children from getting inside. Another child had fallen into the cesspool in August, but was rescued.
Following the tragic deaths in December, OCHA visited the site with water and sanitation aid experts, and brought together community leaders to find a solution. A local Palestinian NGO has installed a new fence around the pool, but a longer-term solution is needed.
OCHA is working with health and sanitation organizations that form the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) Cluster. They will start a project with money from the Humanitarian Response Fund (HRF) to improve sanitation.
The sewage network in the Khan Younis governorate has the lowest coverage rate in the territory, connecting to only 40 per cent of households.
The region also depends entirely on a temporary wastewater plant installed by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in 2007. But the plant is now at full capacity. The governorate is waiting for a more permanent UNDP project to be implemented.
Back in Qatatwa, Ahmed and Fidaa, the distraught parents of Wesam and Malek, said they had waited many years for children and underwent extensive treatment to fulfill their wish.
"Eleven years of pain and discomfort were wasted the minute I saw my children being pulled from the pool," said Ahmed. He said he could not bring himself to sleep at home anymore, preferring to sleep nearby at his in-laws' house.
"The children's milk is still in the house."
More >> OCHA oPt


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Distribution and through-loading trailers enable you to easily combine loading capacities and separate them into two independent units as needed. This advantage makes them extremely flexible - for refrigerated and fresh produce logistics and in the general cargo business. The Schmitz Cargobull modular system enables you to configure your vehicles to match your needs: Space for up to 38 Euro pallets, full-length stacker access or folding wall box bodies for trucks and trailers are only a few of the features. The transport quality and the safety standards of the new FERROPLAST boxes guarantees you satisfied customers.
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