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The Future of Higher Education: Creating Opportunity, Assessing Value
In the post-World War II era, higher education was expanded to meet the increasing demand for expertise in a changing American economy. American universities not only expanded to meet this need, but in the process provided a pathway to social mobility for millions of citizens. Through government investment, public colleges...
Europe Meets the Demolition Man: Atlantic Security in the Age of Trump (and Putin)
Josef Joffe is publisher-editor of the German weekly Die Zeit. Previously he was columnist/editorial page editor of Süddeutsche Zeitung (1985-2000). Abroad, his essays and reviews have appeared in: New York Review of Books, New York Times Book Review, Times Literary Supplement, Commentary, New York Times Magazine, New...
Harold Smith Seminar - Inman's View of the New World
Admiral Inman graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1950, and from the National War College in 1972. He became an adjunct professor at the University of Texas at Austin in 1987. He was appointed as a tenured professor holding the Lyndon B. Johnson Centennial Chair in National Policy in August 2001. He served...
The Future of Polling After 2016
After the unexpected results of Brexit and the 2016 presidential election, a continuing postmortem on public opinion polling and its seeming shortcoming is under way. This event brings together prominent practitioners and scholars of public opinion research to advance the discussion by reviewing the past, suggesting new...
An Election Like No Other and What Lies Ahead
Join Senator Barbara Boxer as she gives the inaugural lecture in the Barbara Boxer Lecture Series, sponsored jointly by the Institute of Govermental Studies and the Bancroft Library. Senator Boxer will reflect on the 2016 election and look forward to what lies ahead. A book signing will follow Senator Boxer's lecture.
Trumping Title IX? The Looming Battle over the Civil Rights State
The aggressiveness of the Obama Administration put Title IX and the Office of Civil Rights in the national spotlight, and the unexpected election of Donald Trump made regulatory retrenchment a very real possibility. A growing literature on retrenchment—that is, efforts to roll back previously established government...
Greater Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco: Understanding their Trajectories and Reflecting on their Futures
The Institute of Governmental Studies and the Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy invite you to join us for the next event in our California in the Global Economy program. Please join us on Thursday, February 9th at 4:00 PM in 109 Moses Hall for Greater Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco: Understanding...
American Justice on Trial: People V. Newton
On the 50th anniversary of the Black Panther Party, Lise Pearlman's new book, American Justice on Trial: People v. Newton, compares the explosive state of American race relations in 1968 to race relations today with insights from key participants and observers of the internationally watched Oakland, California death-...
The Fractured Republic: Renewing America's Social Contract in the Age of Individualism
In The Fractured Republic, Yuval Levin argues that this politics of nostalgia is failing twenty-first-century Americans. Both parties are blind to how America has changed over the past half century--as the large, consolidated institutions that once dominated our economy, politics, and culture have fragmented and become...
High Performance and Science Policy in a Small Country: The Case of Israel
Please join us for this stimulating presentation (with complimentary lunch to follow), by Dr. Meir Zadok, who holds a doctorate in Economics and Policy studies from Lancaster University in the UK, with a particular early interest in the financing of higher education. Israel is widely known as a country of science and...
The conference is sold out and registration has closed . Please see the conference page for additional information. Presented by: Berkeley Law School, University of California, Berkeley California Constitution Center UC Hastings School of Law In cooperation with the Institute of Governmental Studies
The New President's National Security Agenda: US Army War College Perspectives
Election 2016: California and the Country
Journalists, political practitioners, and scholars gather for an examination of the 2016 election and a look forward to the next stage in American politics, both across the country and in the nation's largest state. Registration is free and open to the public.
Harold Smith Seminar Series: Amy Zegart
The Neoliberal Origins of the New Progressive Politics: How Virginia, Chicago and Bloomington Shaped Clinton and Blair
Daniel Stedman Jones is a barrister, historian and political writer. He is the author of Masters of the Universe: Hayek, Friedman, and the Birth of Neoliberal Politics .
Election Night Party
Join your fellow political junkies to watch the returns from across the country.
Election Eve Update
Pollsters, political scientists and other experts gather on Election Eve for last-minute analysis and predictions. Speakers: Jack Citrin, Director, Institute of Governmental Studies Mark DiCamillo, Director, Field Poll Steven F. Hayward, Senior Resident Scholar, Institute of Governmental Studies Gabriel Lenz, Associate...
Baxter Master Class: Greg Lukianoff
Thursday, November 3, 2016 (All day)
Event time to be announced.
Sex, Violence, and Revolution: Academic Freedom and the Law of Free Speech on Campus
This year's Baxter Lecturer is Greg Lukianoff and the Respondent is Dan Farber. The lecture will be held 4:15pm - 6pm, with reception following from 6pm -7pm. The Baxter Liberty Initiative is a program in Berkeley's Charles and Louise Travers Department of Political Science, established by UC Berkeley Foundation Trustee...
Final Presidential Debate
Watch the two nominees square off in the final presidential debate of the year!
Vice Presidential Debate Watch Party
Watch the two nominees square off in the only vice presidential debate of the year.
Punching and Punching Back in Cyberspace
"Punching and Punching Back in Cyberspace: The Contours of Offensive Operations in Cyberspace as Instruments of National Policy." IGS and the Harold Smith Defense and National Security Series cordially invite you to attend the next event in the series, featuring Dr. Herb Lin on Thursday, September 29, at 4:00 pm.
First Presidential Debate Watch Party
Watch the two nominees square off in the first presidential debate of the year.
Data, Targeting and New Technologies in Election 2016
David Seawright joined Deep Root Analytics as its second employee in January 2014. He now serves as the Director of Analytics and Product Innovation and has overseen media analytics for clients like HBO, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY), Governor Greg Abbott (TX), Senator Steve Daines (MT) and more. Before...


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Up The Ante to Shut Down the Stampede – No More Dead Horses: Interview with Marley and Sam from VADL
by Comrade Black
· Interviews · News · PE Web Zine · Radness
On July 4, 2 activists from Vancouver Animal Defense League locked themselves down to the inner railing of the chuckwaggon race track at the Calgary Stampede. Marley Daviduk and Samantha Baskerville used bike U-locks around their neck, in this inspiring act of civil disobedience. PE took the opportunity to ask them more about what they did, why they did it, and what they hope to achieve.
This interview with Marley and Sam was conducted by Comrade Black
PE: Why are you targeting the Calgary Stampede? It seems far away from home for a Vancouver based group?
Sam: I lived in Calgary for about 7 years and have always thought poorly of the Calgary Stampede. When this opportunity was presented to me, I couldn't say no.
IMarley: I've been a horse person my whole life and my love of horses is what brought me to veganism and activism. Ever since I was young, the Calgary Stampede, specifically the Chuckwagon races, has been on my list of issues that needed to be dealt with. It came to a point where I felt that the Chuckwagon races were vulnerable and lacking public support. I hoped that an action like this would give us the opportunity to bring national media attention to the event and, for the first time, to their sponsor GMC. The Calgary Stampede may take place in Calgary but it's an event that puts Canada in the public eye.
Sam: Being the largest rodeo in Canada, we knew that this action would raise international awareness and really enlighten people on the deaths and risk of injury during the Chuckwagon races.
PE: Was this action pre-planned, or improvised based on opportunity?
Marley: We started planning this event more than two years ago. This event was actually supposed to take place last year until Calgary was hit with a devastating flood, and much of the downtown core was under water including most of the Stampede grounds. The Stampede adopted the slogan 'Come hell or high water' and the show went on. We decided it would have been an inappropriate time to address this issue, the media was rightfully wrapped up in covering the devastation of the flood. There was a MASSIVE amount of planning and preparation involved with coordinating a crew of more than 18 people in 3 locations. In the last two years we have had dozens of strategy meetings, training sessions and fu ndraising events. Sam and I had locked down to just about every basketball hoop, cat scratching post and fence post in East Van to train for this. We had to be able to get on the track, lock down and dispose of the key in less than 30 seconds, in full view of a crowd of 20,000 people. It would have been reckless to attempt this without serious preparation efforts.
PE: How did you get onto the chuck wagon track without being noticed or stopped?
Marley: All it took was a plaid shirt. Just joking. We paid for tickets to get into the venue and both Sam and I had our bags searched. Our bike locks were in our bags and we had prepared for the search by filling our bags full of tampons and pads knowing most people wouldn't dig through them. The security guard took one look inside our bags, and basically recoiled in horror and pushed us through. Once we were in the grandstands, all we had to do was hop over one small barrier and we were on the track.
Sam: It was pretty easy. We just ran from the beer garden down the inner track and locked down. It took several minutes before security reached us.
PE: You have a lot of firsthand experience with horses, yet I have read some people are trying to dismiss you by claiming you don't know what you are talking about…
Marley: It seems like the most common response from Stampede officials in response to opposition is that 'these dang city folk simply do not understand the ways of the horse'. I understand horses as much as any of them, but it doesn't take an expert to acknowledge the risk of injury and death associated with the Chuckwagon races. This years death makes it the 10th year in a row horses have died during the event. Denny was a 12 year old thoroughbred, he died of an aortic aneurism near his kidneys, resulting in massive internal bleeding.
Sam: My experience is minimal in comparison to Marley's but I did have a horse while growing up and took lessons as a child. Regardless, when one or more horses are dying every year from an event that only lasts ten days, you know that something is wrong and change is needed.
PE: Did you have any expectations of the outcome? Were you hoping this would shut down the race?
Marley: We were hoping that our actions would get national media attention and we knew that would happen even if we got tackled before we had a chance to lockdown. It would have been great to have prevented the races from happening that night, but due to unforeseen complications we had to lock down earlier than expected which gave them more time to locate a grinder to get us out.
PE: In the video, the officials with the stampede covered you with a black tarp. What's the significance of the black tarp?
Marley: They covered us with the black tarp, which is the same black tarp they use when a horse goes down on the track. They use it so the crowd cannot see what's happening.
Sam: I felt like we were that tragic mess that they were trying to hide from the public. Just like they do with the horses.
PE: Are you facing charges now? What are the repercussions?
Marley: We are facing mischief charges, our court date is on Aug 20th. We are banned for 99 years from the Stampede and we cannot approach within 3 blocks of the grounds.
PE: How can people help?
Sam: We need to keep this momentum going by sharing information, helping the Calgary activists, and by voicing their opinion to GMC to ask them to end their sponsorship of the Chuckwagon races.
Marley: People can help by contacting GMC the sponsor of this event, asking them to pull their sponsorship. @GMCcanada 1-800-263-3777 They can support our legal defense and the cost of this action by donating here. The cost of moving a crew of 10 people more than a 1000km's to Calgary was pretty expensive and we were not able to find a lawyer in Calgary who was willing to do pro-bono work for us.
PE: What other campaigns are VADL engaged in? Have you had much success?
Marley: For the last 1.5 years we have been targeting Canada Goose retailers with protest campaigns (Canada Goose jackets with wild trapped coyote fur). Our efforts have resulted in 2 (out of 14 Vancouver retailers) dropping the brand and adopting a fur free policy. For a more detailed list of our campaign history please visit www.vancouveranimaldefenseleague.com
PE: Some people feel the tactics employed by VADL are controversial and too confrontational; why do you choose these tactics? Are they proving effective?
Sam: Protesting outside the venue was no longer bringing the attention that we need (although I still appreciate their efforts and encourage them to continue) so we had to amp it up a bit. And look, people are talking and the support has been overwhelming.
Marley: Sometimes I think we get more criticism for our tactics from vegans in the movement than from the opposition we target, especially when it comes to those who are involved with large multi-national organizations. We choose these tactics (pressure campaigns) because they work, and they provide achievable goals; which keeps people involved and motivated. Civil disobedience, like a lockdown, is not something we see very often within the Canadian animal rights movement, and yet actions like this have been such a massive part of AR history. We hoped to inspire activists across Canada and show them that there really is a diversity of tactics available that go well beyond vegan outreach and we hope to see more actions like this happening within our movement.
PE: Where can people get updates on your actions? Is there a way people can get involved with this campaign or VADL in general?
Marley: People can get in touch with us via facebook or vancouveranimaldefenseleague@live.ca or www.vancouveranimaldefenseleague.com
PE: Is there anything else you want people to know about the stampede?
Marley: We want other activists to know that we chose the Chuckwagon races because we felt there was a tactical advantage to isolating this race, not because we are at all okay with any other rodeo events.
Sam: While Marley and I cannot participate in direct protests against the stampede, I strongly encourage Calgary activists to continue the fight. The rodeo consists of events that cause extreme stress to the animals involved and continuous action is needed to bring the abuse to light so that more people will raise their voice against the Calgary Stampede.
PE: Any last advice for other activists?
Marley: My advice to other activists would be to pick a tactic/tactics that you are comfortable with and work at them without condemning the actions of others. I see so much public criticism of campaigns and tactics, specifically coming from people with little or no knowledge of historical campaigns and what has worked in the past. All I can ask of people is to embrace a diversity of tactics, please challenge yourselves, and finally lets learn about the history of our own movement.
Sam: don't be afraid to push the limits a little bit, as long as it's done safely and you are prepared to face the consequences responsibly.
Alberta animal liberation Animal Rights By Comrade Black Calgary Calgary Stampede Civil Disobedience Comrade Black Horses Interview Interview by Comrade Black Marley Daviduk Samantha Baskerville U-Lock Justice VADL Vancouver Animal Defense League Vegan Veganism
Border trouble: Colonialism and repression on the unceded & occupied Coast Salish territories | The Bunny Alliance

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Shelter Projects
Turnover Program
Be a Builder Captain
Be a Trade Partner
Helping Hands Volunteers
Builder Captains
Building Hope Newsletter, May 2020
By Madeline WalkerMay 14, 2020 Building Hope, In the News, News
Executive Director & CEO Corner
Kristyn Burr and her daughter, Emery.
"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'"
Fred Rogers always knew how to say just the right thing, and his quote, I've noticed, has gotten a lot of attention over the last several years, as we as a country have together weathered heartbreaks and faced sometimes-frightening challenges. And it has never felt more applicable to what I've been seeing in the Northern Virginia service community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I've spent a lot of time over the last several weeks going to projects that are wrapping up, kicking off, or are in full swing. I've been in touch with a lot of our partner providers, and I've heard from many volunteers – some of whom are brand new to HomeAid – who want to help and give back. It has resulted in this quiet feeling that no matter where I look, I see beauty in the chaos. Homebuilders and trade partners showing up every day to ensure that homes for those who need them most aren't delayed. Companies that have continued to donate their expertise, labor, and materials no matter what might be affecting their own day-to-day businesses. Non-profits that are telling me that yes, it feels very dark right now … but that they're also seeing so many moments filled with light, as teams bond in new ways and find new strategies to reach those they serve. Staff have been redeployed as some aspects of their 'normal' jobs have become less critical while other needs have escalated, and they've reinvented themselves nearly overnight. People who learned about HomeAid from our interview with NBC channel 4 have called, asking how they can help. People are collaborating, adjusting, and evolving to tackle a challenge not a single one of us have ever experienced before. And out of all of it, I'm reminded how much we as humans really are all the same. We're strong, and together, we're better.
HomeAid Responds and Evolves to COVID-19
COVID-19 has brought new challenges to all of us, but it's also bringing out some of the very best in all of us. At HomeAid – and thanks to all of your support and generosity – we're seeing help come in new and inspiring ways. Thank you to everyone who has helped us "fill the gap" for our partners and for those who depend on us.
HomeAid Northern Virginia's Board of Directors may be on stay-at-home orders, but with their usual high levels of dedication, engagement, and can-do spirit, the entire Board held its first virtual Board meeting in April with our second on May 13th (left). It was great to see everyone, discuss the now, strategize for the future, and celebrate all that makes this important group of people such a strong backbone for the organization.
Construction and renovation are considered essential services, and HomeAid Northern Virginia's trade partners are continuing to help us move projects forward while also practicing safety protocols during the pandemic (right). We are so grateful to them for sticking by us and still giving generously of their time and talent.
Because of your generosity, we have been able to donate just under 10,000 diapers; 5,600 wipes; and $3,500 in gift cards to ten of our non-profit partners and individuals over the past few weeks! Some of our gift cards, like the Walmart card pictured here, were even attached to highly coveted packs of toilet tissue which were distributed to those living in tents.
"Windy Hill Foundation is so grateful for HomeAid's support now and throughout the past several years. The recent diaper donation has made a huge impact on our community. As Windy Hill community's families comply with Governor Northam's Stay at Home Order, many are faced with making hard decisions between buying diapers and paying rent and utility bills."
~ Claire Louis
Director of Programs, Evaluations, and Grants
Windy Hill Community
"HomeAid donated gift cards to ALIVE! House residents at a time when such kindness was much needed. The residents were not working due to the pandemic and, as a single mother, not having income to provide for your family the basic necessities is heartbreaking. The gift cards provided a means to fill a gap made by the loss of income."
~ Danien (Dee) Johnson, MS, QMHP, LPC-R
Director, ALIVE! House
New information is coming out daily, and in response, HomeAid has established an online COVID resource center including information about where to find emergency financial or food assistance; tips for managing your mental health, stress, and isolation; virtual AA meetings; who to call if you're dealing with domestic violence; resources and funding sources for our non-profit partners; and information about how this is affecting individuals experiencing homelessness.
In April, we celebrated National Volunteer Week. Did you know that in addition to the benefits to society, scientific studies have shown that individuals who volunteer enjoy psychological and physical benefits, including increased satisfaction, improved sense of belonging, lower blood pressure, increased protection from Alzheimer's, and decreased mortality?
Source: Journal of Health and Social Behavior
Construction in the Time of COVID-19
In-progress photo of our current project at The Closet of Greater Herndon. Click the image above for more photos!
COVID-19 has changed protocols for living, learning, and working worldwide. Here in Virginia, construction is considered an essential service, meaning that our homebuilders and trade partners are continuing to work on building one of humanity's most important needs – shelter. And while going to work may provide some sense of normalcy, the conditions under which our partners are working isn't the same. At HomeAid Northern Virginia, we too have made changes in how we conduct site visits and continue work on our shelter projects that are already underway.
"In normal conditions, we invite our Builder Captains and trade partners to tour a property at the same time, so we can together assess exactly what needs to be done," explained HomeAid Northern Virginia Executive Director and CEO Kristyn Burr. "Now, we're staggering the trades' arrival, scheduling each one independently for separate walk throughs so that there's never more than two of us in a property at the same time. We're distancing and taking every precaution to heart. Yet, at the same time, the generosity and spirit of the homebuilding community hasn't changed at all. Even in these times of crisis, our partners are continuing to put people in need first and moving forward with our projects. It's incredibly heartwarming to see."
Scott Alford, Miller & Smith's vice president of production, noted that during the renovation of a HomeAid project for the Cornerstones Housing Corporation – which continued in the midst of the coronavirus – builders and trade partners have felt more like family than ever. "We schedule the work carefully, and there's usually only one sub in the house at a time. No one is working on the same thing at the same time, so we're never in situations where they're on top of each other. With residential, social distancing is really a little easier – we can spread out and stay in different areas of the house. Commuting is probably the hardest part, since trades are so accustomed to riding together … but they've all become like a family unit, working together for so long. Working this way makes many of us feel like we're quarantining with our families."
"Everyone is full speed ahead with this project," he added. "No one has backed out, and everyone has continued to donate their labor and materials. We won't need to turn around and ask the shelter partner to cover any aspect of the budget, and that feels great."
People spend an average of 52 hours per year volunteering their time.
Source: Nonprofits Source
HomeAid, Miller & Smith Renovate Cornerstones Townhome
Cornerstones flooring before (bottom right) and after (left). Click the image above for more photos!
HomeAid Northern Virginia, Builder Captain Miller & Smith, and 16 trade partners have put the finishing touches on a $78,000 full renovation of a townhome owned by Cornerstones Housing Corporation (CHC), 100 percent of which was donated. The townhome is part of CHC's 60-home scattered-site program, which provides housing for very low-income individuals and families in Reston, Herndon, and Centreville.
"This property was pretty much a complete gut job," said Miller & Smith Vice President of Production Scott Alford. "On CHC's application it really wasn't – they didn't ask for this level of renovation – but when we see a property in rough condition, we don't feel good about just making surface repairs or simply painting and updating carpet; we want it to last for many more years, using more durable materials and replacing as much as we can with products that are easier to clean and will stay looking great. So instead of carpet, we installed vinyl planking. We also installed hardwoods on the stairs for greater durability."
Mike LoRusso, project superintendent with Miller & Smith, agreed that transforming the property rather than just giving it a facelift was the right thing to do, adding, "The project has come a long way, and it's so gratifying to see how this house started and how it looks today, knowing that it will be going to someone who really needs a new beginning. This is the first time I've worked on a HomeAid project, and it's been enormously gratifying."
Miller & Smith and trade partners also totally renovated all of the bathrooms and the kitchen, checked the roof and mechanical systems, upgraded the electric, replaced the exterior patio, and cleaned up the yard with new sod and landscaping.
"The need is so great – so many need so much – that it's hard to put into words how much this project means," said Michael Scheurer, CHC's executive vice president for housing & community development. "The people in our scattered site program all have incomes below the 30 percent median, and some of the clients moving into homes like this townhouse are coming straight from our shelter. There are a lot of challenges to get them established and stable, but through care managers, goal setting, and careful planning, most usually stay between three and five years before setting off independently. We are thrilled to have another townhome to help another family, and since the management costs of individual homes like this are much higher than in an apartment building, we really rely on this kind of generous assistance to supplement the grants and subsidies we get from the federal government and Fairfax County. Thank you, HomeAid and Miller & Smith!"
Thank you to Miller & Smith and the following trade partners for renovating and updating another beautiful home for CHC, where a family can now work toward their independence!
Augustine Plumbing
Bee & H Electric Company
C&R Construction
ECS Mid-Atlantic, LLC
Johnson Drywall & Construction, Inc.
KND Construction
Legacy Contractors Group, LLC
Robert Clean
S.B.S. Siding Company, Inc.
Signature Company
Stadler Nurseries
T.A.C. Ceramic Tile Co.
TW Perry
HomeAid's Turnover Program Refreshes Office Space for First Time
ACTS Case Managers Liselle Ascanio, Denise Anastasio, and Rachel Schellhammer (left to right) happily show off their newly refloored and repainted offices, before COVID-10 restrictions meant working remotely. They cannot wait to return to their freshened office space!
HomeAid Northern Virginia's Turnover Program, implemented in 2018, is designed to help organizations quickly prepare residential units that need new flooring and fresh paint before families can move in. The program – paid for by HomeAid – ensures long-term savings for HomeAid partners and dignified, healthy spaces for the clients they serve. Last month, however, HomeAid put a new twist on our Turnover Program when we replaced all of the flooring in ACTS' Emergency Assistance office.
The Emergency Assistance program was established to assist families and individuals in crisis with an immediate emergency, particularly when facing the disconnection of their power or water. During normal operations, ACTS helps up to 100 households a month, with clients all coming to the ACTS office to meet with caseworkers and get help.
The office space, unfortunately, was less than professional. "The whole building had old, ugly brown carpet throughout, with cheap tile in the lobby," said ACTS CEO Steven Liga. "It was really bad and, quite honestly, was demoralizing for staff and didn't make clients feel valued or respected. When COVID hit, a silver lining was twofold: evictions were suspended, making our assistance program less critical, and we needed to redeploy staff to other missions so that they could work remotely. With a completely empty office, it was the perfect time to replace the flooring, and Kristyn Burr at HomeAid jumped on the opportunity. There is no way I could have done it on our budget, and we are just so grateful. The crew did a fantastic job, it's beautiful, and it will be a gamechanger for our staff and our clients!"
ACTS' staff were so excited about the upgrade, they also all repainted their own offices. "The whole office space looks incredible," Liga added, "and everyone cannot wait to come back to work in our 'new' office. This is a real treat – thank you, HomeAid!"
The most recent Volunteering in America report (2018) found that 77.34 million adults, or 30.3%, volunteered in 2017. Americans volunteered nearly 6.9 billion hours, worth an estimated $167 billion in economic value. Millions more are supporting friends and family (43.1%) and doing favors for their neighbors (51.4%), suggesting that many are engaged in acts of "informal volunteering."
Source: Corporation for National and Community Service
Making It Count
Arts in the Park: HomeAid's Newest Way to Make Memories!
After nine joyful summers of treating families and individuals living in local shelters to a Night at the Ballpark – where we hosted hundreds at an evening baseball game at Pfitzner Stadium in Woodbridge – the team moved operations to Fredericksburg, effectively ending our ability to continue that tradition. But knowing how important it is to create family memories and eliminate the stress of "how will I pay for it?" for parents, HomeAid Northern Virginia is pleased to announce a new partnership with Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts! Our plan is to present our 1st Annual Arts in the Park event for our shelter partner staff and clients this summer, depending of course on COVID-19 protocols and re-openings.
All of our guests will be provided with admission tickets to a show at Wolf Trap's "Children's Theater-in-the-Woods," along with a boxed lunch that can be enjoyed in the beautiful park. In addition to introducing families to a featured musical group, we are excited to help welcome them to the National Park Service's only park dedicated to the performing arts while also celebrating a day of music, food, free parking, and the outdoors.
Our first Arts in the Park is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, July 18, featuring the Okee Dokee Brothers, an independent American bluegrass and American roots children's music duo from Minneapolis. We will of course keep you updated if we need to shift the date, but in the meantime, here's how you can help:
All questions and requests for tickets must come through Case Managers. Please let Cilda Pretorius (703-953-3525) know how many tickets your organization, along with family names, will need for staff and families that will attend – we want to avoid "no shows" as much as possible to give more people a chance to attend.
Your sponsorship can help send staff & families from local shelters to our 1st Annual Arts in the Park Event at Wolf Trap – and you will receive recognition on our event signage and on our website.
Supporter Spotlight
HomeAid Volunteers: Our Unmatched Heroes of Giving
In honor of #NationalVolunteerWeek, we wanted to take this opportunity to focus not just on one individual, but instead to recognize ALL of the volunteers who have generously donated their time and talent to us this year. We know it sounds cliché to say we couldn't do this without you … but truly, we couldn't. Every project, every event, every dollar raised, and every individual we help is the result of the time, love, and dedication of all of our supporters and partners. And while this year is presenting new challenges we couldn't have imagined even a few months ago, we are still completing projects and helping support those who need us most.
A special thank you to the following 2020 volunteers: Miriam Goldin | Patti Brownstein, PLB Promotions | Patricia Booker, KTGY Architecture + Planning | Kim Calavas, ABW Appliances A Better Way | Lesley Negri, K. Hovnanian Homes – Virginia | Shap Bashar, Wells Fargo | Lewis Lee, Luck Stone | Missy Elliott, Sherwin Williams | Karn Ford and Kim Fritts, Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. | Jenn Keesling, Van Metre Homes | Kristin Norris, John Marshall Bank | Scott Schunk and Tim Thompson, Reico Kitchen & Bath | Ray Lamberti, Wells Fargo | Todd Canape, Republic Distributing Company | Jana Gilbert, ENG Groupe | Tierra Faggins and Eunice Robinson, Cornerstones | Jana McDonald | Maryam Kaymanesh, Sight and Sound Systems, Inc. | Bob Narod, Bob Narod Photography | and last but not least, Emery Venus.
Next up, please put your hands together for the hardworking members of our Board of Directors and the companies they work for that make it possible for them to do what they do for us. Their dedication – and the commitment of their companies – is the foundation for all that we do, and they are the backbone of our organization. We are grateful today and every day. Thank you!
Stanley Martin Homes and GivingTuesday
Stanley Martin Homes, Northern Virginia has selected HomeAid Northern Virginia's "Builders for Babies" diaper and wipes collection program as the recipient of its Giving Back 2020 campaign. The company set up an Amazon wish list for items to be delivered directly to HomeAid's offices, which we will then distribute to our shelter partners for their clients in need. Thank you to all of our friends at Stanley Martin for thinking of us! Click here to donate today!
Mission Moment
At the start of every HomeAid America Board meeting, a chapter director is asked to provide a Mission Moment, and, in April, our very own Kristyn Burr was tapped for the second time in a year. She focused her comments on the impact COVID-19 has had on people in our community, especially those affected by domestic violence, as well as its effect on non-profits that work with those experiencing homelessness. Kristyn also shared insights into how HomeAid Northern Virginia is managing the growing need in our region.
Thank you, Bank of America for your generous donation of $25,000, $15,000 of which is going towards our current project with Operation Renewed Hope updating a home in Alexandria, VA to better house veterans transitioning out of homelessness; $5,000 to help fund our 2020 Annual Housing Forum in September; and $5,000 to help with the current crisis.
Homebuilding Leaders in the News
In April, Construction Junkie featured four construction humanitarian organizations that are making a serious positive impact during our country's fight against the coronavirus, and we were thrilled to see HomeAid America recognized!
Earlier this year, Taylor Morrison Home Corp. was named BUILDER's 2020 Builder of The Year; in March, Chairman and CEO Sheryl Palmer – who also currently serves as HomeAid America Board President – shared with BUILDER magazine what she views as "the power of her organization's – and our society's – shared purpose in prevailing. The other, simply, gratitude for the underlying meaning of what builders do for a living." Read the insightful and uplifting interview in the April issue of BUILDER.
Madeline Walker
Please join us in congratulating Madeline Walker, our former part-time programs and communications specialist at HomeAid Northern Virginia, for her promotion to a new full-time position as communications manager! Madeline joined our team in February 2019, after having worked within the marketing departments at several non-profit organizations throughout the DC and VA area.
"I'm blessed to have been given this opportunity to work with HomeAid full time," Madeline said. "HomeAid's mission speaks to my heart and soul as a person who wants to give back to the community and help as many people as I possibly can. The people I work for and with are indescribably amazing, and I went from working three part-time jobs to now having one full-time job which, in addition to the stability it provides, allows me to be home with my husband and two girls (29 months and 9 months) every single evening. I cannot wait to see the amazing work we will accomplish in the days and years ahead."
Brunch with Benefits – Presented in partnership with The Construction Management Podcast, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED – NEW DATE TBD, Lost Rhino Brewing Company, Ashburn, VA (10% of proceeds go to benefit HomeAid Northern Virginia!)
Women in Building Industry Spring Networking – NEW DATE: Thursday, June 25, 2020, Paradise Springs Winery, Clifton, VA (Collecting home essential items for HomeAid's Helping Hands program.)
1st Annual Arts in the Park at Wolf Trap – Saturday, July 18 2020, 10:00 a.m., Children's Theatre in the Woods at Wolf Trap, 1551 Trap Rd, Vienna, VA
11th Annual Builders and Friends BBQ – NEW DATE: Thursday, August 13, The Barn at One Loudoun, Ashburn, VA (Registration now open!)
Housing Forum – NEW DATE: Thursday, September 3, 2020 (This event is geared towards those who work in the field. FREE with registration.)
6th Annual Golf Tournament – Friday, September 18, 2020, Raspberry Falls Golf & Hunt Club, Leesbury, VA (Registration now open!)
SN Mortgage Benefit Trap Shoot – Friday, October 2, 2020, Bull Run Shooting Center, Centreville, VA (Details coming soon – proceeds to benefit HomeAid Northern Virginia!)
19th Annual Gala & Auction – Saturday, November 14, 2020, Lansdowne Resort & Spa, Leesburg, VA
In this newsletter:
Arts in the Park: HomeAid's Newest Way to Make Memories!
3684 Centerview Drive, Suite 110B, Chantilly, VA 20151
HomeAid Northern Virginia is a 501c(3) charitable organization and chapter of HomeAid America.
Federal Tax #30-0089379
© 2021 HomeAid Northern Virginia. All Rights Reserved. Site Designed by Grafik


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Qui Nguyen
Qui Nguyen is a playwright, screenwriter, and co-founder of the OBIE Award-winning Vampire Cowboys Theatre Company of NYC. His plays include Vietgone (2016 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award, 2016 LADCC Tim Schmitt Award, 2016 Edward M. Kennedy Prize finalist); War is F**king Awesome (Frederick Loewe Award); She Kills Monsters (2014 AATE Distinguished Play Award, 2012 GLAAD Media Award nom); Soul Samurai (2009 GLAAD Media Award nom), and the critically acclaimed Vampire Cowboys shows: The Inexplicable Redemption of Agent G, Alice in Slasherland, Fight Girl Battle World, Men of Steel, Six Rounds of Vengeance, and Living Dead in Denmark. Recent awards include a 2016 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Preschool Animated Program (Peg+Cat) and a 2015 New York Community Trust Helen Merrill Playwriting Award. He is proud member of the WGA, The Dramatists Guild, The Playwrights Center, Ensemble Studio Theatre, and The Ma-Yi Writers Lab. He's an alumni of New Dramatists and Youngblood. For television, he's written for PBS's Peg+Cat and SYFY's Incorporated. Currently, he's a screenwriter for Marvel Studios.
Perform Qui Nguyen
She Kills Monsters
She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers...
by Qui Nguyen
She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition
Six Rounds of Vengeance
Full Length Play, Dark Comedy
Vietgone
Shop Qui Nguyen


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Q: Injective frame homomorphism Let $A$ and $B$ be frames with bottom elements $\bot_A$ and $\bot_B$ respectively. Let $\phi : A \to B$ be a frame homomorphism such that $\phi(a) = \bot_B$ implies $a = \bot_A$ (that is, the kernel of $\phi$ is trivial).
Question: Does this imply that $\phi$ is injective?

A: The simplest counterexample is given by the map from the three element linear order $\bot < a < \top$ to the two element linear order $\bot < \top$ given by $\bot\mapsto \bot$, $a\mapsto \top$, $\top\mapsto\top$.
Note that this is a special case of Stefan Mesken's answer: The three element linear order is the frame of open sets of the Sierpiński space $S = \{0,1\}$, with open sets $\{\emptyset, \{1\}, S\}$, and the two element linear order is the frame of open sets of the singleton space $\{1\}$, with open sets $\{\emptyset, \{1\}\}$. Now $\{1\}$ is a dense open set in $S$, and taking preimages along the continuous inclusion $\{1\}\to S$ gives the map of frames I described above.

A: Here is a counterexample:
Let $(X; \tau)$ be a topological space with a dense open set $D \in \tau \setminus \{X\}$. Consider
$$
\phi \colon \tau \mapsto \tau \restriction D, a \mapsto a \cap D,
$$
where $\tau \restriction D$ is the subspace topology of $(X; \tau)$ induced by $D$.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Home » News » Public Notices » Notice of Board of Supervisors Public Hearing
Notice of Board of Supervisors Public Hearing
Added on March 4, 2019
Notice is hereby given that the Sussex County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 7PM
Notice is hereby given that the Sussex County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 7PM in the General District Courtroom, Sussex Judicial Center, 15098 Courthouse Road, Sussex, Virginia 23884 to consider passage of the following:
Conditional Use Permit Application #2019-01:
Pursuant to Section 16-22, subsection 17.2 of the Zoning Ordinance, the applicant, First Solar LLC (on behalf of Waverly Solar LLC) seeks a conditional use permit to construct and operate a solar energy facility on tax map numbers 28A10-A-20, 28-A-22, 28A11-A-3, and 28-A-25, 42-A-33, 27-1-A, 27-1-B, 28-A-20, 28-A-21, 28-A-24, 27-A-2, 27-A-3, 27-A-4, 27-A-5, 27-A-12, 28-A-17A, 42-A-6 consisting of approximately 2,000 +/- acres. The parcels in question are zoned A-1, General Agricultural District, which allows the proposed use with a conditional use permit. The proposed site of the project is generally situated between the Town of Waverly, VA to the northeast and the unincorporated community of Newville, VA to the southwest. It is bounded to the east by Coppahaunk Road (SR 654) and the north by the town of Waverly. Beef Steak Road (SR 626) traverses the western part of the project site and West Oak Dale Road (SR 655) traverses the southern part of the site. Sussex County Drive (SR 40) extends north to south through the eastern part of the site.
All persons desiring to comment on the proposed Conditional Use Permit Application should be present at the above stated time and place. Anyone needing assistance or accommodation under the provisions of the American Disabilities Act should call the County Administrator's Office at 434-246-1000.
A copy of the proposed Conditional Use Permit Application along with supporting documentation are available for review in the Community Development Office during regular business hours Monday thru Friday from 8AM to 4:30PM
Authorized by:
Vandy V. Jones, III
3/6/2019 & 3/13/2019
Click Here to View the Public Hearing in the Calendar >
Click Here to Download the Notice of BOS Public Hearing


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var express = require('express');
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exports = module.exports = passport = require ('passport');

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require('./settings').boot(app);        // Bootstrap application settings

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require('./error-handler').boot(app);   // Bootstrap custom error handler

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app.listen(port);
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Credit Cards »News & AdviceNews»Credit Scores and Reports»Special report: Do credit cards offer health care Rx?
Credit Scores and Reports
Special report: Do credit cards offer health care Rx?
by Connie Prater
Borrowing to pay for basic health care needs is fast becoming a way of life for many Americans and mounting medical debt may be threatening to bankrupt more families. A CreditCards.com poll found that nearly two out of three Americans say they or their family could face hard financial times if they experience a serious illness.
Special report: Health care and credit
Poll: Two out of three Americans say medical debt could cause financial hardship to their families. (poll data)
The problem: As out-of-pocket costs for health care skyrocket, Americans are forced to go into debt to fill the gap.
What's new: Banks, health insurance companies and credit card issuers are launching new options for borrowing to pay medical bills.
More coverage of health care and credit:
15 tips for paying high medical bills
Compare health care credit options
'MedFICO' score: Good medicine or bad?
No credit card, no medical service?
Blog: Americans worried about health care
Bankruptcies near record levels as economy sours
Study: 79 million struggling to pay medical bills and debt
How are you coping with medical bills, high deductibles and debt? E-mail us at Editors@CreditCards.com.
The poll, created by CreditCards.com and conducted by GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media, surveyed 1,004 American adults in random telephone interviews Jan. 18-20, 2008. The results shine light on a growing problem facing the country, health care advocates say. Far too many people — even those with health insurance coverage — could not cope financially with a medical emergency. Many don't even realize their precarious situation until it's too late.
"The insurance available to many people is this Swiss cheese coverage," says Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, co-author of a 2005 Harvard University study that found nearly half of all personal bankruptcies filed in 2001 stemmed from medical debts.
"Unfortunately for many people, they only discover after they get sick that they're not covered and facing financial ruin," says Mark Rukavina, executive director of The Access Project, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit organization that sponsors a medical debt resolution program to help consumers negotiate out of mountainous medical bills.
False sense of security
Out-of-pocket health care costs — those not covered by health insurance — have been rising in recent years. Experts warn that many families today may be lulled into a false sense of security if they have employer-sponsored health insurance. Increasingly, this coverage requires consumers to pay a greater share of the cost. This may mean higher co-pays for doctors' office visits, higher monthly premium payments or $1,000 or more in deductibles.
How are families coping with these costs? Banks, health insurance companies and credit card issuers have stepped up marketing efforts to offer financing methods for cash-strapped families in need of medical care, but who are unable to afford their share of the health care costs. Special health care debit cards, gift cards, credit cards and installment loans — which feature lower or 0 percent interest rates and "friendlier" terms — are being launched to fill the gap. (See Borrowing to pay for health care.)
The CreditCards.com survey found:
• If hit with medical bills greater than $1,000, nearly half (49 percent) of Americans say they would tap savings or checking accounts to pay their debts. There were stark differences, however, between wealthier respondents earning $75,000 or more a year and their lower-paid counterparts. Only a quarter (26 percent) of those making less than $20,000 a year would pay medical bills with savings — perhaps because they are less able to save while struggling to pay basic living costs. Two-thirds of the wealthier respondents had savings to buttress medical expenses.
• More than a third of respondents (38 percent) would resort to some form of borrowing to pay medical debts, either through an installment payment plan (10 percent), a credit card (9 percent), borrowing from friends or relatives (8 percent), a short-term loan from a bank or credit union (8 percent) or borrowing from 401(k) retirement accounts (3 percent).
• Only 3 percent say their health insurance will cover the expense; another 8 percent have no clue how they would pay the medical bill.
• When asked if they know how much their current health policy's annual deductible is for medical expenses, four in 10 (40 percent) say they know the amount while half (50 percent) don't know. The rest say they don't have a deductible.
• Nearly two-thirds of Americans (62 percent) agree that either they or their family would face a financial hardship if they experienced a serious illness. Women (66 percent) and lower income families earning less than $30,000 (73 percent) are even more likely to feel this way.
The results "point out loud and clear that people feel insecure about their health insurance protection," says Rukavina.
Costly dog bite
Even a minor illness can put you in financial trouble. Ask Gary Gimble. The 63-year-old mink farmer from rural Minnesota was bitten by a dog in December 2006. "It was fine for a while, then all of a sudden I wasn't feeling well," Gimble says. The injury became infected and developed an abscess.
Medical complications from a dog bite cost Gary Gimble, 63, of Minnesota, nearly $3,000 in out-of-pocket costs. He put some of it on a credit card.
Photo by Heather M. Gray
"The whole thing cost about $6,000 to $7,000," says Gimble, whose out-of-pocket costs included a $1,500 deductible plus 20 percent of the bill (about $1,100) and the full cost of antibiotics ("a few hundred dollars"), which were not covered by his health insurance policy.
Gimble, who is self-employed, has health insurance through Blue Cross and Blue Shield. He pays $560 a month in premiums — $6,720 a year.
"I didn't have the money to pay for it," recalls Gimble, who says farming has high operating costs and unsteady income. He paid a little here and there on the bill, but struggled with the payments. "I got it down to $1,800 that I owed the hospital. I was paying a little each month." For four straight months, the hospital's accounting office called about payments. "They said, 'How much of a payment can you make?' They kept saying put it on my credit card. They wanted that money if they could get it."
Finally, after they threatened to send his account to a collection agency, Gimble says he gave in and put the remaining $300 on a MasterCard with a 17.9 percent annual interest rate. "I didn't want it to go to a collection agency. That's not only humiliating, that's not good for your credit."
"I wound up paying 17.9 percent interest on top of the medical bill," he says. "I didn't have any money. It's like strangling a person if you don't have a good income."
Health care credit cards
Specialty health care credit and debit cards launched in 2007 are "an early indication of the direction the whole market will head," predicts Ben Slen, director of product strategies for Humana Inc., a health insurance company that started a Visa health credit card in October 2007 with Republic Bank. The card, available only through an employer-sponsored health plan, carries 0 percent financing for health-related expenses and requires borrowers to repay the charges in six months through automatic payroll deductions.
"We're looking at other financial services products, creative ways to solve health care out-of-pocket problems for consumers," Slen says." There will be a growing need to have health care financing products for consumers."
Critics, however, say credit card issuers — which have come under fire for hiking interest rates and other industry tactics — should be a last resort for families. Even easy-credit terms that force repayment in six months or other short-term installment loans may not be reasonable for families facing medical crises, says Jose Garcia, senior policy analyst for Demos, a nonpartisan public policy research and advocacy group. "Let's say you have cancer treatment and you have a bill of $2,000. I don't think six months is a reasonable amount of time to repay the money."
Demos co-published "Borrowing to Stay Healthy: How Credit Card Debt is Related to Medical Expenses." The January 2007 report detailed some of the problems that can arise when patients put medical debt on standard credit cards, chiefly, that it becomes invisible when lumped in with other purchases and is subject to penalty fees and interest rate hikes.
'A horrible thing'
"I think it's a horrible thing," Garcia says of the burgeoning trend toward health care credit cards. "The market has created tools to benefit economically from our health … This is a growing business and big banks are talking about getting in."
Garcia contends the quest for profits — not altruism — is driving the movement. He cites projections from the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that out-of-pocket health care expenses will rise to nearly $300 billion by 2009 — up from $265 billion in 2007. Providing health care credit cards could be a significant source of revenue for banks and other institutions entering the market.
Says Garcia: "The main issue here is, how can we fortify our health care system so people don't have to resort to credit to cover medical expenses?"
There's no question that portions of the American health care system are broken and in need of repair. All the major candidates for president have proposals for "fixing" health care, which now leaves an estimated 45 million to 47 million Americans uninsured. The problem is that just having insurance isn't enough anymore, health policy analysts say.
Medical bankruptcy
The 2005 Harvard bankruptcy study noted that three out of four of the people citing medical reasons for bankruptcy had health insurance at the start of their illnesses. Woolhandler, the study's co-author, says the research team is preparing a follow-up study that examines 2007 bankruptcy filings. Those results may paint an even bleaker picture because U.S. bankruptcy laws were revised in 2005 — shortly after the first Harvard study's publication.
"The law has made it much more expensive to file for bankruptcy," Woolhandler says. "It seems likely that people would be struggling much longer with debt and amassing higher debt before they can file for bankruptcy."
At GreenPath Inc. in Farmington Hills, Mich., one out of five clients currently enrolled in the nonprofit counseling agency's debt management programs cite medical debt as part of their financial woes. In 2007, just under 7 percent of its nearly 120,000 clients had health-related financial difficulties.
The recent housing slump and looming economic recession likely haven't improved the medical debt outlook, health industry observers say.
$50,000 in credit card debt
Pam Maloney, a 47-year-old Massachusetts mother, says she never considered bankruptcy, but cashed out the entire value of her retirement account to pay off $50,000 in credit card debts.
Maloney knows firsthand how fragile that health insurance parasol can be. She and her two children live off of her husband's income from an information technology job. They have full health insurance from Massachusetts provider Harvard Pilgrim Health Care. The family's problems started nearly eight years ago when the Maloneys discovered that their son, now 10, has autism — a developmental disorder that causes difficulty socializing and communicating.
The best health insurance didn't prevent the Maloneys from amassing nearly $50,000 in credit card debt. "We ended up with incredible bills," Maloney recalls. "It just snowballed into this huge thing."
More debt than income
The family of four paid $245 a month (nearly $2,900 a year) in health insurance premiums and had no deductible on the policy. Out-of-pocket costs were $20 for office visits to in-network doctors; prescription drugs ranged from $10 to $40, depending on whether they were generic or brand name.
Co-pays for office visits for occupational, physical and speech therapists, pediatricians, neurologists and other specialists and a battery of prescription medications to treat his condition accounted for a lot of the debt. At the height of their problems, the family's income fell $180 short of their $4,400 a month debt obligations. They had three credit cards — one from Bank of America and two from Chase. One of the Chase cards had a 29 percent annual interest rate and a $390 a month payment — hiked after they logged more than a few late payments.
Pam Maloney says she wrote checks to pay the co-pays and her husband got cash advances from credit cards to make ends meet. They cashed in equity in their home, downsized to a smaller house, got a second mortgage and she pulled $50,000 from her Individual Retirement Account to pay down the debt.
Pride and embarrassment kept her from asking family members for loans, she says. "They had no idea how far in debt we were, no idea. It was the big secret."
She sought debt counseling from The Access Project and from a financial planner at her local bank branch.
"Today, we've paid off everybody except one credit card that gives us 2 percent interest. We will never have a credit card again," Maloney says. Her son, who has mild autism, is thriving. "Where he is today is phenomenal and it's because of what we did."
Hospitals changing routines
Around the country, hospitals are beginning to feel the pinch of the rising health costs and many are beginning to change the way they do business, says Carmela Coyle, senior vice president for policy at the American Hospital Association (AHA) in Chicago. The industry group represents about 5,000 hospitals, health care systems and networks across the country.
According to the AHA, bad debts and charity care (referred to as uncompensated care in the industry) nearly doubled in the 10 years between 1996 and 2006 — from $18 billion to $31.2 billion. Says Coyle: "We see that problem getting worse before it gets better."
"With more employers and insurers who are actually requiring employees pay more of the costs, there are more and more costs that are really left to the hospital to work out payment for with the individual patients," Coyle says.
Some hospitals are now moving toward collecting deductibles at the time of treatment rather than waiting weeks later to bill patients, Coyle says. Others are making financing mechanisms, including credit cards, available to help patients pay their medical debts.
"I see wording on just about every hospital, doctor and ambulance bill that comes my way that says you can pay this with a credit card," says Andrew Cohen, a counselor at The Access Project medical debt counseling service.
Payment crops up earlier
Another hospital trend: shifting staff resources to address the growing volume of patients with outstanding balances and adding more financial services counselors who discuss costs and ability to pay for services before treatment. Five years ago, those kind of discussions were primarily back end functions — after care was rendered, says Suzanne Lestina, manager of patient financial services for the Healthcare Finance Management Association, a trade group of finance and accounting managers for hospitals and medical providers.
Patients having more knowledge on the front end is a positive development for consumerism, Lestina says. "You would never purchase a washer and dryer without knowing what the cost is or put up with Sears saying 'We'll tell you when we deliver it.' "
Upfront discussions may prompt patients to return to their doctors with questions about alternative treatments that are less expensive, Lestina says.
Emotional decisions
Consumer advocates argue that patients and their family members are being asked to make decisions about complex financial matters at times of crises, when they may be under tremendous stress.
"It's not the best time to be making a financial decision," says Rukavina from The Access Project. "It's especially not the best time to make a financial decision when you really need to pay attention to the fine details. It's a highly pressured situation. Most people come to regret those decisions."
He adds: "We talk to people who are on cancer treatment and these are very emotional situations and people's primary concern is on getting treatment and on healing. It's not on making a financial decision. When you go to a bank to talk about a mortgage, that's a financial decision."
Lestina, the health finance association spokeswoman, counters: "There is never a good time to tell a patient that they have a $10,000 bill. The question is then when is it at least the best time. We believe the best time is when they still have an opportunity to participate in the decision-making process."
She adds: "What kind of mental and physical state am I going to be in after the service is provided when I get a $10,000 bill because nobody talked to me ahead of time?"
Budgeting for the unexpected
Unlike many purchases consumers make over their lifetimes, medical expenses from sudden illness can be unexpected. Both the Harvard and Demos studies make note of the connection between illness and income loss. Financial planners recommend families have short-term disability coverage — which pays part of your salary while you are sick and unable to work — as a hedge against financial ruin.
"It's important for people to plan for the expected and the unexpected," says Karen Riedel, a product development vice president for AFLAC, a health insurance company specializing in supplemental insurance coverage that picks up where typical major medical plans end. That includes short-term disability, cancer plans that cover transportation and lodging if you must travel for treatment, and hospital plans that cover in- and out-patient procedures and diagnostic testing.
Says Riedel: "Most U.S. workers do not have the recommended three months' savings in their bank accounts. When there is a loss of employment, there is a financial impact."
Michael Burdette, police officer
Michael Burdette, a police officer in Union City, Ga., is thankful he had supplemental insurance in 2005. He was hit by a vehicle while on an off-duty assignment directing traffic near an expressway construction site.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield medical insurance "covered some of the ambulance bill, but it didn't cover all of it," Burdette says. He lost three weeks of work and ran out of paid sick leave time while recuperating from the accident. AFLAC's supplemental coverage saved him. Short-term disability checks of 60 percent of his salary helped keep him afloat financially while he was out of work, he says.
"If you've never gone to the hospital or you've never had some event like that happen to you, you assume that your major medical plan will cover you," Riedel says.
Solutions and protections
What can or should be done to help families? Garcia, from the Demos public policy group, says regulators should look at reining in the banking industry — perhaps by putting limits on the amount that interest rates can increase for medical debt.
Another solution might be requiring that medical-related debts are flagged or treated differently by credit reporting agencies as a consumer protection measure — and to keep as many families as possible from sliding into bankruptcy after an illness.
Should a person facing a medical crisis be expected to understand a complex financial transaction? Will they sign anything under emotional duress to secure adequate care for a loved one?
Adds Garcia: "It has such repercussions on people's lives and the impact is so large that there should be some protections around this type of debt."
See related: Health care credit cards rise to fill insurance gap, 15 tips for paying high medical bills, Compare health care credit options, CreditCards.com poll results: Credit and health care costs, 'MedFICO' score: Good medicine or bad?, Study: 79 million struggling to pay medical bills and debt, No credit card, no medical service?, Blog: Americans worried about health care, Bankruptcies near record levels as economy sours
Credit Card Help
Credit Card Glossary
The Best Credit Cards
About Connie Prater
Personal Finance Writer
In Credit Scores and Reports
Health care credit cards rise to fill insurance gap
As the ranks of the uninsured soar and medical costs rise for those with insurance, a new generation of health care cards is emerging on the market, but not everyone is cheering their arrival.


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ESI Announces Orders From Infineon Technologies for Six Laser Processing Systems
Mai 8, 2002 April 9, 2016 Machine Vision 577 Views
"ESI Announces Orders From Infineon Technologies for Six Second Generation Laser Processing Systems\r\n
\r\n… precision laser and mechanical drilling systems for electronic interconnection; and machine vision systems….";"PORTLAND, Ore.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–May 8, 2002–Electro Scientific Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq:ESIO – news) today announced purchase orders from Infineon Technologies for six Model 9820 semiconductor laser processing systems.\r\n
\r\nThe systems are to be installed at the Infineon Technologies plant in Dresden, Germany and in Richmond, Virginia. Delivery of the first three systems took place during ESI's third fiscal quarter, ended March 2, 2002. The remaining systems will ship during ESI's fourth fiscal quarter, ending on June 1, 2002. This order is in addition to a multiple system order announced during ESI's second fiscal quarter, ended December 1, 2001.\r\n
\r\nThe 9820 laser systems will be used in the production of Infineon's most advanced DRAM products, on 200 mm wafers in Richmond and on both 200 mm and 300 mm wafers in Dresden. The systems are designed to be upgradeable in order to give Infineon the ability to process future generations of DRAM and logic devices. The 9820 laser system is ESI's second-generation 300 mm system. The first-generation 9800 system won the Editor's Choice Best Product Award for 2000, presented by Semiconductor International Magazine.\r\n
\r\n\"ESI is an industry leader in laser fuse processing technology and remains one of our key suppliers,\" said Peter Kuecher, vice president and managing director of Infineon Technologies SC300. \"We depend on ESI's enabling technology to meet our ambitious production goals.\"\r\n
\r\n\"We are pleased to meet Infineon's requirements and remain their supplier of link processing tools,\" said Keith Taft, ESI's semiconductor products business unit manager. \"With the complexity of advanced devices, the technology that ESI provides continues to be essential.\"\r\n
\r\n\"The current climate in the semiconductor industry drives demand for equipment that can reduce manufacturing costs and allow production of more complex, higher value parts,\" added Taft. \"ESI provides systems that meet or exceed the industry's device production roadmap requirements, with throughput to keep the cost of ownership at a minimum. The value that the 9820 provides to our customers has resulted in a continued demand for this system.\"\r\n
\r\nThis press release includes forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to materially differ, either better or worse, from those discussed. Such risks and uncertainties include ESI's ability to meet its production schedules and the overall state of the semiconductor industry, as well as other risks identified in the ESI's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.\r\n
\r\nsource: yahoo";0;65;3;"Webmaster";"";0;"";0;0;0;0;0
← Microvision and Robotic Vision Systems Team to Market Mobile Biometric Info-Sys.
DALSA Corporation and Photonfocus AG enter cooperative agreement →


Food grown in community gardens can be given back to community members who need it, or donated to local food banks.
As the holiday season arrives, most of us prepare to be overwhelmed with festive parties and family dinners. For millions of people, though, the holidays just mean more hunger. The USDA estimated that "11.8 percent (15 million) of U.S. households were food insecure at some time during 2017." The very real and preventable existence of hunger in America — and worldwide — is something that should be on the forefront of everyone's minds, not just during the holidays, of course, but especially now.
Helping others doesn't have to be hard; it can be as easy as clipping coupons, using certain apps, or purchasing things you would buy normally like cereal or holiday gifts. There are also more ambitious projects to become involved in, like leading a grocery store tour or creating a community vegetable garden.
This list is meant to be a jumping-off point to get your ideas flowing. We'd love to hear your feedback and learn about the organizations you're involved with, or let us know if there are unique opportunities in your town.
At the end of the day, we are all connected. Let the approaching holiday season be a turning point — a reminder that hunger is a year-round issue. When it comes to making a difference, every little bit helps.


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Texas Tech overcomes shaky starts to win both Las Vegas Invitational campus games
The Red Raiders were challenged by Tennessee State and LIU before pulling away late in both games
By Emory Lyda@Eracer41 Nov 26, 2019, 12:34pm CST
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It's been a while since there's been a team this young in Lubbock, and it showed this past weekend. The last four years have featured at least two senior starters on every team, and this is the first time we've seen a freshman start from game one at Tech since Norense Odiase in 2014. Obviously Jahmi'us Ramsey and Terrence Shannon have started every game thus far, however the bigger factor in this team's inexperience is arguably the lack of experience from the upperclassmen on the roster. Chris Clarke and T.J. Holyfield haven't played since the end of 2018, while both Kyler Edwards and Davide Moretti spent their freshman years as spot rotation members. The result is a team that still plays with some disconnect, however the team is going to be lethal when everything clicks.
On to the recaps:
Since I was unable to write a recap for the Tennessee State game, I will start with a brief overview of that game. Specific game notes can be found here
Texas Tech initially looked like a team that was going to dominate against Tennessee State. They opened on a 10-1 run, however that was stunted due in large part due to two early T.J. Holyfield fouls. Tech struggled to get anything going in the motion offense without Holyifeld, and only put up 17 points over the final 15 minutes of the half. TSU briefly had a chance to take the lead on two separate possessions early in the second half, however Davide Moretti went on a personal 8-0 run (reminiscent of Matt Mooney in the Final Four vs. Michigan State) to give the Red Raiders a double digit lead that they would never relinquish. Tech won 72-57, with a 45 point second half explosion being in large part due to Moretti's 19 points. Tech had only ten assists on 17 made baskets, meaning ball movement was not at the level we saw in the first three games.
Jahmi'us Ramsey went 0-6 from behind the arch and only 4-13 overall, making it easily his worst game as a Red Raider. Kyler Edwards struggled shooting but was an integral part of the success on both ends, as I mentioned in my game notes. Ultimately, Tennessee State was a really gritty team that gave Tech some fits, but the weaknesses exposed in the TSU game (mainly over-rotation on defense and settling for off-dribble looks on offense) will play dividends going forward.
LIU game:
Long Island came out scorching from deep, led by former child prodigy Jashaun Agosto. Tech matched the Sharks, but that wasn't enough for Red Raider Nation. The early part of the game featured a lot of interior motion cut based schemes, which were effective but also caused some messy possessions and turnovers. Davide Moretti was an extremely smooth presence, as he put up eight in the first half despite being the focal point of LIU's aggressive perimeter defense. LIU kept hitting shots that were mainly off skip passes and pull up looks, and the result was a close game towards the end of the first half. Jahmi'us Ramsey missed the back end of a trip to the free throw line, which let LIU have a chance to take the lead into half. They did just that off another long three from Agosto, making them 7-12 from long range (58%) in the half.
Then the freshman took over.
Jahmi'us Ramsey had the best half of his young Tech career, with Terrence Shannon and Kevin McCullar also coming alive. The trio had 38 of Tech's 55 second half points, led by Ramsey scoring 18 of his 27 in the half. Long Island went cold from deep, making just three of their 12 attempts in the second half and only scoring 24 points in total. The Red Raiders gradually pulled away to the point where they somehow covered the 24 point spread in a 96-66 win. The 55 point second half marked the second 50 point half of the year. The 96 points was the third highest point total in the Chris Beard era. The win moves Tech to 5-0 on the year and sets up a four game stretch in which the Red Raiders will be playing away from Lubbock on national tv, starting in Las Vegas with the Iowa game on Thanksgiving.
Game Stats and Storylines (LIU game)
I made this point in my Twitter notes after the Tennessee State game, but Kyler Edwards is so important to this team's success. His poor shooting has caused some fans on social media to discuss possibly benching him, however in watching film of the offense you'll realize that Edwards is a major catalyst on both ends. Offensively, he is easily the best primary ball handler in P&R sets, which is a large part of the action that Beard wants to run with Holyfield and Shannon being great cutters. Defensively, his defensive rotations and quickness make him our best passive defender. Passive defender sounds like a bad term, but in reality it's a valuable piece in the Mark Adams philosophy. He doesn't create havoc like Jahmi'us Ramsey, but he's constantly in the right spot to seal off drives and prevent open lanes. If you want quantifiable justification as to how Edwards has been important: just look at his A/TO ratio and net rating. Edwards has a 4.4/1.8 ratio, which is the best on the team, and his NET RTG is in the same category as Ramsey, Moretti, and Clarke.
Davide Moretti scores 12 points on six shots and we act like it's an average display for the man. Carry on. Davide will keep dropping performances with a TS% higher than most free throw percentages around the country, and will do so without ever breaking out of the flow of the offense. The man is incredible. His ORTG over the last 30 games is now over 130, which means he's gone an entire season with an average game in the 99th percentile for offensive efficiency. That's pretty good for a player who is still not considered one of the best offensive players in the nation.
This shot went in.
They always do.
Tech 38, LIU 33 (1H, 2:02)
#4To1 | #WreckEm⚫ pic.twitter.com/QELmvXvdyE
— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) November 24, 2019
I'm beginning to think Jahmi'us Ramsey is one of the best PLAYERS in the nation, not just offensively but also defensively. People will naturally compare him to Jarrett Culver but Ramsey is completely different. His defense is much more havoc based, a la Matt Mooney, and his offense is reliant on athleticism to some degree. Ramsey's shooting has been a huge surprise thus far, as he's hit over 50% of his threes and has a TS% of 63. The easiest comparison to make for Jahmi'us would be Keenan Evans, however he has generational athleticism that Keenan did not have. Stylistically speaking their games are very similar. Ramsey will need to improve his playmaking ability to compensate defenses taking away his off-dribble game, which will happen at times. You can't teach natural talent, and Jahmi'us has that in bunches.
Right back at ya.
@newanimprovedJR | #WreckEm⚫ pic.twitter.com/P6cWFwg1i3
Terrence Shannon has really improved his cutting in the last three games. His slashing ability will never be questioned, but it's the off-ball ability that will give him consistent touches in this offense. As time goes on I expect Shannon to really grow as a facilitator due to his natural ability as a primary ball handler, however right now he's essentially the fourth or fifth best passer on the team, which will inherently limit his opportunities off the dribble.
TO THE RACK
@Sn1per_T | #WreckEm⚫ pic.twitter.com/9FhjM3kgok
With that being said, Shannon is on the court a lot for his defense. His ability to defend 1-4 has not gone unnoticed, and his lateral quickness is very similar to what we saw from Zhaire Smith. He does not have the vertical of Zhaire, but his well-rounded athleticism allows him to have both the quickness to stop point guards in on-ball defense, and the leverage to defend inside against taller players. He makes some typical freshman mistakes on rotations, but by the end of the year I will not be surprised if Terrence Shannon becomes our most well rounded defender.
Chris Clarke is currently the player that I have the most trouble figuring out. His playmaking is a huge positive, as he's shown an ability to make some really creative passes from the interior. That fits the perimeter oriented personnel that Beard has, and against teams such as Baylor that run a zone it will be vital to have someone in the middle that can make plays. His defense has also been solid, if unspectacular. The flip side is his aggressiveness and style on offense. Clarke has struggled to get his own shot, and his turnovers are a huge issue for how often he handles the ball. His turnover percentage (28%) is higher than any rotation player Beard has used in his four years at Tech, and most of his turnovers come from defenses simply funneling him into a situation where he has to make a tough pass or risk getting his dribble stolen. It will be fascinating to see how Beard utilizes him this year.
Kevin McCullar played his best game as a Red Raider. I'm high on his defense and ball handling, both of which will earn him an easy rotation spot as a wing/guard hybrid.
The unselfishness of this team is a breath of fresh air from the early parts of last year. Tech is averaging the most assists per game in the country right now. While this is partially due to an increase in tempo from the past few years, it also has to do with the performance of players in the motion offense. The ball movement is largely stemming from guys getting easier opportunities off ball, which is sustainable going forward. This offense probably won't have many games scoring under 65 like last year's team.


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Серпово — деревня в Никольском районе Вологодской области.

Входит в состав Кемского сельского поселения (с 1 января 2006 года по 1 апреля 2013 года входила в Верхнекемское сельское поселение), с точки зрения административно-территориального деления — в Верхнекемский сельсовет.

Расстояние по автодороге до районного центра Никольска — 56,5 км, до центра муниципального образования посёлка Борок — 6,5 км. Ближайшие населённые пункты — Княжево, Демино, Борок.

По переписи 2002 года население — 19 человек.

Примечания

Ссылки
 Серпово в реестре населённых пунктов Вологодской области

Населённые пункты Никольского района (Вологодская область)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Skills and training in Ukraine stands on the threshold of historic change with the potential to bring profound social and economic benefits to the eastern European country. Last week, the #ETFTRP blog reported on how the education reform agenda is helping to increase the attractiveness of vocational education and training (VET). This week, we … More Devolution Ukraine: Pt 2.
Leave a comment Devolution Ukraine: Pt 2.
The Ukrainian national parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, recently adopted a new framework law on education that brings the system closer to European standards. The European Training Foundation (ETF) provided advice and support on key aspects such as the decentralisation of vocational education, lifelong learning and quality assurance. The ETF's roving reporter, Nick Holdsworth, … More Devolution Ukraine: Pt 1.
Leave a comment Devolution Ukraine: Pt 1.


Videographer/Photographer Valentina Quijada perfectly captures the languid leisure of youth in her beautifully styled fashion spot 'FAKE'.
Yo Vo tells DN how Jonathan Glazer, Yorgos Lanthimos and dual cinematographers helped shape his fashion film takedown of influencer culture, 'Copycat'.
Director Amber Grace Johson explores how our hairstyles define us in her pulsing, hypnotic fashion film 'Fades & Braids'.
Daniel Iglesias Jr. tells DN about the creation of his enthralling fashion film meets nature documentary hybrid for Vogue China, 'Death Head Sphinx'.
Spanish filmmaker Rafa G. Arroyo explains how he and his team found the beauty in simplicity for their stripped back THSHT fashion film 'FREEDOM'.
A girl takes a contemplative journey into the pulsating heart of Berlin's techno community in Arthur Valverde's doc collaboration with Nakt 'Rave'.
Stefan Pflug & Nicklas Hemming's 'Beyond Borders' celebrates 4 Denmark artists who create work which exceeds the traditional limitations of geography.
A boy struggles with the emotional debris of relationships as he navigates Athens' exotic streets in Jordi Estrada's fashion short for Hercules Universal.
Daniel Iglesias Jr. explores the concept of 'what makes iconography?' in this fun living magazine promo for exclusive boutique agency Margaux the Agency.
Alexan Sarikamichian pushes back on those whose judgements are quickly formed at surface level in new fashion short 'Love Is Love'.
Enrico Poli's has created a tender, intimate and nostalgic look at the journey from childhood to adulthood his new fashion film 'Not(e) For a Dreamer'.


I'll definitely be doing some heavy kits for the 50 pack.
Awesome! I'll be buying up whatever I can from your site when I get my set.
How long till we see (estimate) the next td50 sound pack? Gona need some serious rock/metal sounds as my new td-50k set is coming my way this Tuesday!
Yeah I caved in and decided to stick with the original order for the td-50k for $3900. Figure it will be a great first ekit to break the edrum cherry. Can make changes as I learn what I like or dont like later on.
Forsure be buying up your 2 sets then to get me started hehe.
I'm shooting for Black Friday. Not sure I'll hit it. That's why I put Christmas in the newsletter. I don't like rushing myself. Heavy is definitely on the list. Actually, lots of requests are on the list.
In the meantime, you should be very happy with Studio X. Both packs have some harder stuff in them... but are diverse at the same time.
I have Studio and Foundations- looking for more gigging kits for TD50. I am sure its been asked 1000 times, but a great Def Leppard Hysteria kit would be awesome. Or even some older Ratt & Dokken stufff is in the same arena. Thanks guys. A pack of Rock wav samples / keys, guitars, effects, etc would be great. I have all the old TD12 kits you offered. Love them. Need to get some of those into the TD50 now that I have upgraded.
Regarding previous posts in this topic, we will be delaying the 50 packs till spring. Just FYI. Chris and I are both working on stuff. Not sure what we'll end up with. With the limited sounds, I'm finding it hard to create a third pack. I'm starting with more clean and realistic acoustics at this time. I will be moving through to other styles as I progress.
Haven't been active on here in awhile - was rebuilding and rocking my acoustic kit - but finally updated my TD50 to v1.07 this weekend and also downloaded VEX Infinity. Alan, you keep making this better! This set is for me the most useful (and best sounding) of all of the packs for the 50 so far. I just love how its organized and the set up of the kits makes so much sense. You obviously put a lot of time and effort into "getting this right" Also enjoyed watching your video and found that really helpful as well. Love the dropped stick! LOL. Will provide even more feedback once I've had more time to work with these, but so far fantastic.
Thank you for the very kind words. Feel free to join us in the Infinity thread.
Last I checked, ALL modules had the amount of I/O the 50 has or less. Have a bigger kit? Buy another module. If you're referring to the ability to model sounds to match perfectly; well, once again, just about NO module can do that perfectly. Hell, VSTs can't even do it.
I don't see the point of the snide comment either... aside from trying to derail and take the topic off course. That's fine. I'll just close it.


They share a child and recently split after nearly a decade together.
And Rachel Bilson, 36, and Hayden Christensen, 36, were pictured for the first time together since news of the break-up as the exes met up to drop off their daughter Briar Rose to the other.
The former couple were spotted outside a hotel in Los Angeles on Sunday, as it's been reported that Hayden's Little Italy co-star Emma Roberts may have been a contributing factor in the split, as Rachel allegedly found text messages between the 26-year-old and the actor before their break-up, according to The Blast.
The outing comes just two days after burglars reportedly ransacked Rachel's home and stole upwards of $50,000 worth of belongings from her home, according to TMZ.
Doting dad Hayden watched as his little girl walked towards her mother while clad in a summery blue dress, pink hat, and sipping on a cool drink.
Rachel crouched down as she approached her daughter, no doubt to chat with her at eye-level.
The actress kept it casual in jeans, an embroidered blouse, and her hair slicked back into a bun.
Recently, the pair have been living in separate lives, sources close to Rachel revealed.
Meanwhile, it's been reported that Emma Roberts may have played a role in the surprise split between long-time couple Hayden and Rachel, according to a shocking new report.
But now Hayden's co-star Emma may have been a contributing factor, as Rachel allegedly found text messages between the 26-year-old and the actor, according to The Blast.
Emma and Hayden recently filmed the upcoming movie 'Little Italy' together, which could have sparked an inappropriate relationship.
Meanwhile, Rachel's appearance with Hayden comes after the actress had '$50,000 worth of jewelery, shoes and handbags' stolen from her home.
While the former The OC star and police are working together to determine the exact value of the stolen goods, it's believed the total is in the region of $40,000 to $50,000.


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Modeling Agent Suspected of Procuring Girls for Jeffrey Epstein Found Dead in Paris Prison
Outside view of La Sante prison in Paris, France May 2020. (Clotaire Achi/Reuters)
A French modeling agent investigated over suspicions he procured girls for convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his prison cell in Paris, prosecutors confirmed on Saturday morning.
Jean-Luc Brunel, 75, was initially arrested in December 2020 before boarding a flight to Dakar, Senegal. Paris prosecutors said at the time that Brunel was arrested on suspicion of "rapes, sexual assaults, the rape and sexual assault of a minor aged 15, the rape and sexual assault of a minor over 15 years, sexual harassment, association with criminals and the trafficking and exploitation of minors."
Prosecutors also said Brunel was arrested as part of a probe into "events of a sexual nature thought to have been committed by Jeffrey Epstein and other accomplices."
Brunel was reportedly found hanged, according to The Guardian.
"It almost seems like the entire ring of people who were doing this that their conscience is getting the better of them now that they are being held accountable for their actions," Spencer Kuvin, a lawyer who has worked with Epstein victims, told the The Miami Herald. "Of course, the alternative conspiracy theory is that it's like someone is trying to clean up shop."
Brunel was a longtime associate of Epstein, who gave him $1 million line of credit to start a modeling agency in Miami. Brunel's former bookkeeper Maritza Vasquez told the Herald in 2019 that "the only reason Mr. Epstein was involved was because of the girls, I think, because it was not a profitable business."
Epstein was arrested and charged with sex-trafficking and conspiracy in 2019, before hanging himself in jail. Epstein's his partner Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted on sex-trafficking charges, including the trafficking of a minor, in December 2021.
Virginia Giuffre, who has accused Epstein of sexually abusing and trafficking her, accused Brunel in 2015 of funneling young girls to Epstein. Giuffre settled a lawsuit with Britain's Prince Andrew on Tuesday, after accusing Andrew of sexually abusing her.
Zachary Evans is a news writer for National Review Online. He is also a violist, and has served in the Israeli Defense Forces.
Agent, dead, Epstein, Girls, Jeffrey, Modeling, Paris, Prison, Procuring, Suspected
Oath Keepers Leader Stewart Rhodes To Remain In Jail Until Capitol Attack Trial
When to pivot your product, and a tale of two earnings calls
The Jan. 6 committee begins hearings with a big challenge: Capture public attention
Madeleine Albright had a lot to say about Putin — and she didn't mince words
South Korea Presidential Race Too Close to Call


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Dr. Brent Woodfill discovered the largest known figurine workshop in the Mayan world while working in Guatemala. His discovery was featured in Science Magazine, April 2019.
Congratulations to Senior Joey Jennings, for receiving Winthrop's top honor a student can receive, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan award! Joey was also accepted into the University of Maryland. If you see him around campus, be sure to say congratulations!
Wiley Sociology named their most popular article of 2018 titled, "Does Undocumented Immigration Increase Violent Crime?" co-authored by Ty Miller, Ph.D. and Michael T. Light.
Dr. Chris Gillam recently traveled for his ongoing research on Ice Age cultures of northern Mongolia. Dr. Gillam and his international colleagues, has led to the discovery of 95 archaeological sites dating to the Upper Paleolithic Period, ca. 45,000-12,000 years old, along the tributaries of the Selenge River.
Dr. Rick Chacon collecting ethnographic data on secret societies from a Haida leader named Christian White, at Haida Gwaii, British Columbia.
In fall 2017, the students of Anthropology 345, Fieldwork in Archaeology with Archaeologist Chris Gillam, discovered the location of field slave quarters at Historic Brattonsville. This is a very exciting and exceptional contribution to the history of the site.


Avocado is our trending fruit and we've covered a lot about Avocado. Just the other day, we shared this Avocado Pasta recipe and we plan to share much more recipes featuring this absolutely delicious fruit.
Did you know that avocado provides potassium, Vitamin C and antioxidants to the body? But it's also super rich in folic acid. As a matter of fact, avocado contains more folate per ounce than any other fruit, which makes it a fabulous choice for pregnant women. It is also a great choice for babies once they can handle solid food.
But this post is about Avocado for skin.
Full of healthy fats, vitamins and several minerals, when used on the skin, avocado has moisturizing properties. Also rich in antioxidants, it prevents aging, restoring natural nourishment to your skin. Below are some amazing benefits of avocado for skin.
Avocado is filled with natural oils which are really great for moisturising your skin. It conditions the skin leaving it softer and more hydrated. When used as a face mask with some other ingredients, such as lemon, honey or egg whites, you get tighter pores, smoother skin and better hydrated skin than any chemical formula can deliver.
Avocados are one of the most unique foods for antiaging, mostly because of their high antioxidant levels. When you use avocado on your skin, it reduces the wrinkles and gives you smooth, young-looking skin. Using this powerful fruit regularly as a face mask is a really good idea.
If you are searching for natural sun screen, look no further. And don't think that because your skin is melanin packed, that it can't get sun burnt; it can. So it is important to protect the skin from sun damage, which is a cause for so many skin problems, including skin cancer. Avocados have a lot of protein-packed oils which work really well as sun block.
When used on a wound, avocado has great healing powers. Rich in Vitamin K, which is important for blood clotting, and Potassium, which helps to form and transfer cells, and Vitamin B6, which helps the immune system to produce antibodies, not to talk about Vitamin C, applying avocado topically on a wound soothes and promotes healing.
Acne. Just the mention of the word can spark unpleasant memories, particularly if you've had to deal with the stuff before. Ther eare many reasons why a person could be struggling with an acne breakout, some are hormonal. The best treatment is to focus on good nutrition. Avocado has many properties that are great for controlling and even preventing acne. It fights bacteria, which is one of the causes of acne, and the healing properties can soothe the breakouts.
Don't just focus on eating the delicious avocado fruit – although that's okay too – but try using avodado for skin. The rich pulp and the fleshy part of the peel on your skin will deliver amazing results.


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Independent Consultant, Overseas Development Institute
Ben Ramalingam is an independent researcher, consultant and writer specialising on international development and humanitarian issues.
He has worked with and advised leading development and humanitarian organisations including UN bodies, NGOs, the Red Cross movement, and government agencies. He is Chair of the , the first mechanism dedicated to supporting innovation in international disaster response, which he designed and co-founded.
Ben currently holds honorary and visiting positions at the London School of Economics, the Overseas Development Institute, the Institute of Development Studies at Sussex University and the Royal Veterinary College.
Ben is author of Aid on the Edge of Chaos: Rethinking International Cooperation in a Complex World (Oxford University Press, October 2013)


A neighbour of Hamfast Gamgee in Bagshot Row beneath Bag End, Daddy Twofoot appears to have lived in the middle of the three Hobbit-holes that made up the Row. These neighbours were also patrons of the Ivy Bush inn on the Bywater Road. Daddy Twofoot does not seem to have ventured much further away from home than the inn: he seems to have considered even Buckland, just forty miles away, as a land of peculiar strangers and mysterious tales.
In this context, the name is probably meant to indicate that Daddy Twofoot was a fairly old Hobbit (the name is comparable with the 'Gaffer' in 'Gaffer Gamgee'). On that basis, 'Daddy' was probably not this Hobbit's given name, but rather a title or nickname earned in later life.