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disaster-prone areas, land restoration, migration, no-till farming, soil erosion, water resource management
(-) migration (163)
(-) land restoration (99)
(-) water resource management (30)
(-) disaster-prone areas (9)
How does the amount of land that youth stand to inherit affect their migration and employment decisions?
How does the amount of land that youth expect to inherit affect their migration and employment decisions? We explore this question in the context of rural Ethiopia using a 2014 cross-sectional dataset indicating whether or not youth household members from a previous 2010 survey had migrated by 2014…
Latin America Makes Headway Against Land Degradation
Two-thirds of the 33 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean have already submitted or are preparing to submit to the United Nations their land degradation goals, to combat a problem that threatens agriculture and the lives of their people. In 2015, the parties to the United Nations Convention…
To Save Indonesia's Carbon-Rich Peatlands, Start by Mapping Them
On World Wetlands Day on February 2nd, Indonesia's Geospatial Information Agency (BIG) will announce the winner of a competition to come up with the best method for mapping the nation's peatlands. The winning team will be awarded a $1 million prize. For the rest of us, the competition could help…
Security Council Presidential Statement Expresses Serious Concern over Security Situation in West Africa, Sahel
The Security Council today adopted a presidential statement that welcomed positive developments in several West African countries, but expressed its serious concern over the challenging security situation in the region and the Sahel.
EU Auditors work programme 2018 – audit priorities and expected reports. Desertification in the EU -among the priorities.
The European Court of Auditors published its work programme for 2018. As well as giving details of the special reports which the EU Auditors intend to publish in 2018, the programme provides information on the institution's annual reports and the work programming process. All in all, the auditors…
EU auditors to examine desertification risk in Cyprus
"The situation is most serious in a large part of Spain, southern Portugal, southern Italy, south-eastern Greece, Cyprus and areas of Bulgaria and Romania bordering the Black Sea." It added that research indicates that up to 44 per cent of Spain, 33 per cent of Portugal, and nearly 20 per cent of…
Migration as adaptation strategy to cope with climate change: A study of farmers' migration in rural India
This study aims to evaluate the link between climate/weather change and farmer migration in Bihar, India. The influence of cognitive conditions and climate-related stress on farmer migration decisions and the socioeconomic characteristics of migrating and non-migrating farm households are analysed…
Focus on Migration: Moving backward, moving forward?Great Insights Magazine - Volume 7, Issue 1. Winter 2018.
Focus on Migration: Moving backward, moving forward? – Editorial Anna Knoll, Head of Migration Programme and Noemi Cascone, Junior Policy Officer, ECDPM The migration situation has monopolized the agenda of European leaders during past years. The EU's external policies have been focusing on…
Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CCKP)
The Climate Change Knowledge Portal (CCKP) Beta is a central hub of information, data and reports about climate change around the world. Here you can query, map, compare, chart and summarize key climate and climate-related information.
Environmental Policymaking Needs to Factor In Balance of Biophysical and Socioeconomic Perspectives
By 2050 we would need to double global food production to keep up with the projected population increase. Meanwhile the land from which our food comes from is decreasing in quality. Land degradation is a major global concern as our demands for food, fodder, and fuel continue to accelerate. Drylands…
Migration Co-facilitators Issue Zero Draft
The co-facilitators of negotiations on the global compact on migration have presented the zero draft to UN Member States. They also updated delegations on plans for the first round of intergovernmental negotiations, convening on 20 February 2018. The Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular…
Land restoration in food security programmes: synergies with climate change mitigation
Food-insecure households in many countries depend on international aid to alleviate acute shocks and chronic shortages. Some food security programmes (including Ethiopia's Productive Safety Net Program–PSNP – which provides a case study for this article) have integrated aid in exchange for labour on…
A Meta-Analysis of the Literature on Climate Change and Migration
Recent surveys of the literature devoted to climate change and migration emphasize the important diversity of outcomes and approaches of the empirical studies. In this paper, we carry out a meta-analysis in order to investigate the role of the various methodological choices of these empirical…
Amplifying women's voices through radio in Malawi
As farmers, foresters and providers, women have a unique understanding of the ecosystems they live alongside. A pioneering radio programme in Malawi is tapping into this immense body of knowledge by creating a platform for women to engage in landscape restoration.
Worldwide Land Degradation and Restoration Assessment Report: A Primer
Land, air and water are the cornerstones of life on Earth. To sustain the vitality of our global ecosystem, we must understand the health of our natural assets and how to halt and repair damage done to them. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)…
Sourcebook: Valuing the Benefits, Costs and Impacts of Ecosystem-based Adaptation Measures
Even though ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) is recognised to hold considerable potential to strengthen climate adaption, it is still yet to be fully mainstreamed into development policy and practice. Valuation can provide convincing – and usually much-needed – evidence of the benefits of investing…
Just Published- Pathways for Peace: Inclusive Approaches to Preventing Violent Conflict
The resurgence of violent conflict in recent years has caused immense human suffering, at enormous social and economic cost. Violent conflicts today have become complex and protracted, involving more non-state groups and regional and international actors, often linked to global challenges from…
Water Stress is Driving Conflict and Migration. How Should the Global Community Respond?
Water insecurity has driven social distress throughout history, from the Mayan Empire to modern-day Syria. But global efforts to avoid crises have been inadequate. There's a better path forward. The Commentary by Charles Iceland Aqueduct Director discusses the state of current water hotspots, and…


I recently ran into Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, and had heard him say many anarchist sounding things so thought I would ask him if he was an anarchist.
He never actually referred to me by name. Only calling me "that guy" who is a "semi-celebrity".
"During the event, I was approached by a stranger who asked me if I was an anarchist. I informed him I wasn't, but he kept pressing the issue, eventually pushing me to the point of extreme irritation.
Turns out the man is a semi-celebrity in the anarchy circles and a self-described anarcho-capitalist. Not taking my answers at face value, he continued to try and fit me into a label, and I did not appreciate it. Nor did he appreciate my getting angry with him.
He then states, "I'm not political at all." Which is what an anarchist would say.
And said, "In the end, the only person that can save you is you." Which is what an anarchist would say.
He then went on to say that smart people find ways to not pay taxes. Which is what an anarchist would say.
I asked if he was an anarchist and he said no. I then asked if he believed in government and he said no. So, I said that if he doesn't believe in government it makes him an anarchist.
That is, after all, the definition of anarchy. No rulers. No government.
And this, I believe, is where we have the confusion.
Anarchy is not a "system". Anarchy is a belief that humans should not be enslaved.
It is the same question. This is the point I believe he is missing.
If you are not an anarchist you believe humans should be enslaved.
So, my question was no small one. It is perhaps one of the most important questions that can be asked about the beliefs of another.
He avoided that question and said he does not like to be "labelled". But, at the same time, he constantly labels himself as a capitalist. So, he obviously doesn't mind some labels.
So, then, let me ask you this one question, Robert. Do you believe humans should be enslaved or do you not?
You can answer that question without putting any labels on yourself if you so choose.
Do you believe a child born in a certain geographic region where a criminal entity has a monopoly on violence should be deemed subservient to this criminal entity, should take on their debts, which is over $250,000 today in the US and have to pay a certain percentage of all their earnings to this entity for life with or without their consent?
If you believe that is just and good then you are a statist and believe in slavery. If you believe that is unjust and immoral then you are against slavery… and are an anarchist.
If you don't like the word anarchist, for whatever reason, there are other words that have effectively the same meaning. One is "voluntaryist".
A voluntaryist believes that all interaction between humans should be voluntary. They should not be forced, or coerced, with violence or threats of violence.
You can again avoid the label if you so choose, Robert, but do you believe interaction between humans should be voluntary? Or do you think using violence against others to get your way is fine?
"I have spent my life learning the rules of money and putting them to use to get rich, and I have done so under both Republicans and Democrats.
He's made it clear that what is most important to him is money. He doesn't care nor want to change a system no matter how immoral it is.
I'm an anarcho-capitalist so I don't denounce his desire to produce wealth. But it sounds a bit like if Robert were living in Cambodia during Pol Pot's regime he'd be happy cutting deals to bury the bodies at a pretty penny.
Perhaps this is what angered Robert so much. Maybe he knows that he is profiting in many respects from an immoral system and has decided to turn a blind eye to it and just focus on making profits.
Perhaps after decades this is really taking a toll on his conscience. Not to mention how he had murdered people in Vietnam decades ago while not questioning or trying to change the system.
If this is the case I'd recommend Robert look seriously into some therapies. Ayahuasca is just one that works very well for PTSD. That may help you come to terms with what you did in Vietnam.


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The armed elements affiliated with the Shamia faction, led by the so-called Jumaa al-Jabali, known as Abu Ahmad (residing in the town of Mu'btli), who control the village of Aranda _ the Shieh district from 05/11/2019 until today
1 _ The armed elements affiliated with the Shamia faction, led by the so-called Jumaa al-Jabali, known as Abu Ahmad (residing in the town of Mu'btli), who control the village of Aranda _ the Shieh district from 05/11/2019 until today, are still sweeping the soil in Tel Aranda in search of antiquities and He met using heavy vehicles from docks and bulldozers in front of the Turkish occupation forces, so that the hill was completely eradicated and made flat and damaging the surrounding olive fields, which are estimated at more than 500 olive trees between the blocks and others that remain under the soil (buried). This, and we have pointed out in its history to those ongoing operations until now. Likewise, the elements of the same faction (the Shamia Faction ) on 15/03/2020 carried out drilling operations at the site between the villages of Shetka _ Kakra, called "Beri Tal" in addition to digging and bulldozing the soil on 05/25/2020 at the site called Tal Zarafka .
2 _ The armed elements of the Jaysh al-Islam faction controlling the village of Kafr Farnah in the Sharan district, on Saturday 20/06/2020, kidnapped the citizen Jamil Manan Hamdouche and took him to an unknown destination. According to what was leaked, the aim was to seize the tractor he had in exchange for his release. Note that the tractor was previously owned by Jamil, a member of the same platoon, after it was stolen from the residents in exchange for a physical commercial deal.
On Sunday 21/06/2020, we learned of his release after seizing the tractor.
Human Rights Organization in Afrin

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Channel your inner pastry chef and elevate your cake with these vibrant embellishments that are a cinch to make. Best of all, they are as tasty as they are beautiful, adding sweetness, texture, and whimsy. Make up to five days ahead, and layer between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container. Store at room temperature.
COOK AND DRAIN. Bring 1 cup water and 1 cup sugar to a boil in a large heavy-duty saucepan over medium-high heat. Add carrot strips, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer carrot strips 15 minutes. Drain in a wire-mesh strainer, and cool 5 minutes.
CREATE THE CURLS. Working quickly, wrap each carrot strip around the handle of a wooden spoon, forming curls. Gently slide off spoon. Sprinkle with sugar, if desired. Let curls sit at room temperature until completely dry (about 30 minutes).
I always make a recipe exactly as stated first time - but I was really skeptical about this one: summer for 15 minutes? Bake for 30? I'm SO glad I followed instructions - they are perfect! Light and airy, perfectly sweet. Will definitely be a step up from the carrot-shaped icing the grocery store uses on their cakes. They look so professional - thank you!


A couple of years ago, I wrote an article for the Writer magazine about query letters. It's now one of the most visited pages on my website. Since then I've read more query letters and learned to see them from a different vantage point through my work editing them for my book editing services. So I decided to take my new knowledge and write an updated article for my business blog.
These tips are mostly geared toward fiction writers. Note–there is overlap with my original letter.
TIP #1: Watch the Length.
A good rule of thumb is that your query letter should be in twelve-point font, single-spaced, and one page. Beginning writers commonly overwrite and lengthy query letters are the first hint that self-editing is tough for them.
Mentioning titles that your book resembles gives it a certain legitimacy. Right away, the agent can imagine your book on shelves alongside the illustrious company you've brought up.
Chances are that if you're querying an agent, you've done some research about their client list. Be sure to say if your book has anything in common with those the agent already represents. Showing that you've put thought into the agent's own work also helps create a sense of personal connection.
Every agency has specific guidelines. For example, some want to see no pages with a query, some want to see ten, some fifty. Some allow email, some don't. Not following proper protocol is a easy way to ruffle feathers or even get tossed in the reject pile. Send what they want, usually outlined on their websites or found in a reference book like Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents.
Often writers want to explain every twist and turn of the plot; drop the names in of all the characters they love; articulate the themes that are so close to their hearts. However, the query letter isn't the place to get every detail down. Stick to the main characters and most important plot points. The agent should finish reading your letter wanting to know more.
Every writer has a manuscript or two (or three or four) in the proverbial desk drawer, but just as you wouldn't mention past dates on a first date, try not to bring your discarded efforts up. What's important is what's happening now, not the past.
Agents are primarily interested in your book: the writing, the plot, the characters. They welcome learning of some credentials, but don't overdo it, especially if those credentials aren't writing related. Bring up points about career only if they're relevant to your writing–like if your horror novel is about zombie chimpanzees and you're a primate biologist.
A great opening can mean the difference between having the rest of your letter ignored, skimmed or read. Make sure you start off your query with a bang. Establish high stakes. Present a fascinating situation. Ask a tantalizing question.
Do your homework and make sure that the agent you're sending your query to is currently accepting new clients (best of all if they encourage new writers to contact them), confirm from multiple sources that they're still at the agency you have them at, and try to make sure that they are interested in books like yours.
Last but not least, proofread carefully. You want your final draft to look polished and professional. Consider giving it to a friend or fellow writer to go over. Fresh eyes can do wonders.
Like all tips, these aren't written in stone. Be flexible and don't get too caught up in trying to write the "perfect letter." If you feel your book necessitates a 1.5 page letter or that there are no comp titles, don't strain to push yourself in a box you don't belong in. Your query letter, like your book, should ultimately be an expression of yourself.


Harry & Izzy's Northside location on 82nd street is ideal for private parties and events. We have multiple menu options to accommodate various budgets and our dedicated private events manager will work with you to ensure your event is one to remember. Guests enjoy our Prohibition-era Indianapolis décor incorporating dark woods, lush fabrics and a deep color palette that creates a warm atmosphere. We have several room options and can accommodate luncheons, dinners & receptions for 8 to 100 guests.
Harry & Izzy's is the place to see and be seen enticing locals and tourists alike. From our lively bar centered in the restaurant to our unique dining rooms and broad menu, Harry & Izzy's is sure to please even the most demanding appetite.
Located on the main level & enclosed with glass doors. This room overlooks the outdoor patio and provides a private seating area for a small group.
Located on the main level & enclosed with glass doors, this room overlooks the outdoor family patio. This private room is equipped with built in A/V capabilities, including a 70in flat screen television.


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Playlist Archive
DJ HAPPY HOLLOW / 2018-08-18 21:06
21:06:06 Nicki Minaj Ganja Burnz Queen
21:10:34 Donna Summers Love Hangover The Best Of
21:18:21 Mos Def Ms. Fat Booty Rawkus Best of Decade I
21:22:47 Royce Da 5'9" Boblo Boat (feat. J. Cole) Book of Ryan
21:28:10 The Brothers Johnson Strawberry Letter 23 Right On Time
21:32:08 D'Angelo Untitled (How Does It Feel) Icon
21:40:56 Dej Loaf Try Me just do it
21:43:15 DJ Drama The Art of Storytellin' Part 4 (feat. Outkast and Marsha Ambrosius) Gangsta Grillz: The Album
21:48:47 Prince The Beautiful Ones Purple Rain
21:54:38 Jack U Where Are U Now Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack Ü
21:58:38 The O'Jays Back Stabbers Back Stabbers
22:01:27 Mary J. Blige Thick of It Strength of a Woman
22:05:31 Vince Staples Summertime Summertime '06
22:09:38 Hoodcelebrityy Walking Trophy Walking Trophy
22:13:10 Drake In My Feelings Scorpion
22:16:23 Bootsy Collins I'd Rather Be With You Back in the Day
22:21:26 Preme Hot Boy (feat. Lil Wayne) Hot Boy
22:25:54 Janet Jackson That's The Way Love Goes janet.
22:30:15 Teyana Taylor Gonna Love Me K.T.S.E.
22:33:14 Gifted Gab Come Correct (feat. Blimes Brixton) Come Correct
22:35:21 Pete Rock & CL Smooth They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.) Mecca and The Soul Brother
22:40:25 The Game Oh I (feat. Jeremih, Young Thug, Sevyn) Oh I
22:44:37 Rejjie Snow Egyptian Luvr (feat. Aminé & Dana Williams) Dear Annie
22:47:55 Nicki Minaj Bed (feat. Ariana Grande) Queen
22:49:51 Young Jeezy Vacation The Recession
22:53:30 G4 Boyz Patek Philippe Patek Philippe
22:56:51 Future HATE THE REAL ME BEASTMODE 2
23:00:25 Cam'ron Snapped (feat. 2 Chainz) 1st Of The Month: Volume 4
23:03:26 2pac do for love R U still down
23:08:07 Terrace Martin Poetic Justice (Live In New York) (feat. Kendrick Lamar) 3ChordFold Pulse
23:11:35 Queen Naija Medicine Queen Naija
23:15:15 PnB Rock Nowadays Nowadays
23:18:33 Travis Scott SICKO MODE ASTROWORLD
23:23:42 Mike WiLL Made-It Aries (YuGo) Part 2 (with Big Sean, Pharrell, Quavo, Rae Sremmurd) Aries (YuGo) Part 2
23:28:28 Meek Mill Dangerous (feat. Jeremih and PnB Rock) Legends Of The Summer
23:32:39 Nicki Minaj Barbie Dreams Queen


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Mini-Me Into Rehab Big-Time
Into Rehab
Austin Powers and Celebrity Big Brother star Verne Troyer says he'll be entering rehab for alcohol addiction. After a 2-week stint in the hospital, the 48-year-old actor has confirmed to fans he would soon begin treatment for what has been a long-time battle. Even if it costs him "one millllion dollars" it's worth it!
Troyer is beloved by fans around the world for his many roles in film and appearances on TV. At 2 ft 8 in Troyer is one of the shortest men in the world. But apparently he's not so short where it really counts, having dated a number of models and been the star of an infamous leaked sex video.
He has had a number of health issues in the past, including suffering a seizure. We wish him well and hope in his time in rehab he is finally able to break the alcohol addiction cycle so we can continue to see more of Verne Troyer... or as much as we can without our glasses.


americans appears turning attention processes treatment sugar.
Answer : americans appears turning attention processes treatment sugar.
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82015418/1884-02-23/ed-1/seq-7/ ...at right angles thereto.
These preliminary rolls as they rotate split the canes throughout their length and in directions presenting the form of a more or less elongated helix, according to the different speeds at which the iclls rotate, thus preparing the cane in such a manner that considerably less power will, it is said, be necessary for subsequently crashing them in the mill, whilst the ex traction of the juice will be facilitated and the Yield increased.
Another invention, also patented, is that in which the frame of the mills are to be of wrought iron or of iron and steel, instead of cast iron.
In a mill, according to this invention, a cane or trash guide of less than the usual width can be used, hereby reducing the friction resulting f rem the aso of cane through the ap paratus.
The can1, or trash guide is capa ble of adjustment whilst the mill is work ing.
Moreover, the frame, whilst of less vwight than with the ordinary eonstaue tion. is stronger, ind affords special faci lities for erection, Iran port, and maintc I nan1. An important feature ol the improved construction is that it allows of diminishing the distance apart of the two bottom rolls, or, other words, the angle formed by straight lines, uniting the axe; of thee rolls to the axis of the top roll, there, results a corr sponding reduction in the width o: th cane or trash guide, and consequently in the period of time which ; the partly crushed c nie ir trash lias to id. I over a lx surface that onvoses its ad An invexition which reei v d jr ii mil protect i only i; that for cuttint: or r. ing sugar cane by machinery.
According t this inv ntiou, one or mote piirs nf circular disc knives arc employed, which are revolved at high pt ed iu opposite directions by means of toothwheel or other gearing, the whole being mounted oi a carriage, which is arranged to lv pushed or drawn by animal or manual power, or. by steam or other power, ap plied in some cases in a nianntr similar to that of a steamplow. 1 notion or other clutch gear is provided for throwing the discs or saw s out of action when required.
Guard or guard are fitted to throw the cane or other crops off cle r of the ma chine.
The discs or saws may be made in segments, or paits, for the purpose of easily replacing damaged parts. I? rushes or equivalent means are provided for clearing or cleaning the sawteeth while at work.
The tests now in progress in Jamaica w ith the above process show that cylinders j other than leadlined can be adapted to it, i especially with a mollification of the chen icals to be used.
The Americans have, it appears, also been turning their attention to processes for the treatment of sugar canes bv which crushing shall b avoided, and we understand that certain machinery has been undergoing trial at Washington during the last four veari? with this object in view.
One ot their machines for cutting up the canes we re ferred to iu a recent number ; and we learn that several gentlemen from the United States, interested in the process, are now on their way to Loudon and Paris, lloth in their process, and in that of FryEkmanEspeut, it is desirable to have a machine for cutting up tho ennes which shall expose the material as little as possible to the atmosphere, and enable it to be plunged at once into the cylinders filled with the necessary chemicals.
The Cattle Plague in the United States, A meeting of the House Comiaittee ou Agriculture and the members of the com mittee of cattlemon appointed recently at Chicago, was held at the Capitol. A general discussion of contagious diaeaseK among cattle wan indulged in.
The com mittee of cattlemen, in answer to inquiries of representatives, said tho disease ex isted in Delaware, the District of Colum bia, Maryl and, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Connecticut, New York, and possibly other places.
In New York a few counties wen; reported infected.
Hunt, of New Jersey, said if Congress would appro priate, an adequate amount, payable to the order of the authorities of different Stntes, and protect New Jersey for sir months from the importation of diseased cattle, the State in six months would stump out pleuropnr umonia in ils terri tory. t Ir Law, one of the Cattle Com mission of the Treasury Department, said the dis ease was undoubtedly the result of impor tation, lie said that with plenty of money and Federal lew it could be eradicated iu twelve months.
New York City had, at one time, stamped it out in three months.
He advocated the burning of buildings where the disease occurred.
Jndgo Carey, of Wyoming, gave a history of the disease saying it was like the Asiatic cholera, spreading through Europe, Great Uritain, Australia, New Zealand and the United States.
All that saved the West from the disease was that there was no line of trans portation to that section.
Had it been otherwise the western plains would have been infected, and once it existed there iU spread over the entire coutry could not be stopped.
He said 100000, COO wus in vested iu the eattlo business in the Unitec!


With a touch of pure drama, the inventive artist entwined twin cobras to meet at the crown of this breathtakingly dramatic, over foot-tall altar candlestick. Cast in quality designer resin and painstakingly hand-painted in tones of ebony and gold, this Egyptian Revival work of decorative art includes a black pillar candle stenciled with gold hieroglyphics. Beautiful alone, it is quite stunning paired on mantel, entry table or in a gallery. 4"dia.x11"H.


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(904) 683-0248 michaelsrugstudio@gmail.com
Jacksonville's Foremost Authority on Rugs for Over 100 Years
Michael's Rug Studio is the result of decades of experience and a life-long passion coming together to create the best hand made rugs in Jacksonville. Owner Michael Mussallem began his career in rugs at the age of 13, learning rug cleaning techniques passed down through his family for generations. Back in 1897, his great-grandfather established Mussallem Area Rug Specialists as the foremost rug cleaning company in the Jacksonville area. This innovative entrepreneur shared his knowledge and love for the craft with his descendants, and the business has been passed down from father to son for over a century.
Generations of Talent and Wisdom Behind the Superior Rug Studio of Jacksonville
Michael grew up surrounded by rugs, with his father and grandfather instilling in him the importance of a strong work ethic and a commitment to excellence. He carefully cultivated his skills over the years, and his dedication to the family craft grew ever stronger. In 2012, Michael became owner and president of Mussallem Area Rug Specialists, employing his knowledge and expertise to assist clients from Jacksonville and surrounding areas. An expert rug identifier, he can quickly determine the origin, age, and value of various rugs from around the world. He treats every rug with the utmost care as a treasured work of art. Each is hand-washed individually to preserve its beauty, vibrancy, and longevity.
Michael Mussallem
The Original Mussallem
For over a century in Jacksonville the family name MUSSALLEM has stood for high end quality and meticulous care. Michael Mussallem has stepped up to the helm of the family business, a process that has endured from father to son since 1897. Michael says this business is a collection of craftsmen knowledge passed down which is unsurpassable here in Jacksonville.
"We not only employ ancient rug cleaning techniques (we have many family secrets) yet we actively stay on top of every new discovery in the industry… testing it ourselves and making improvements," says Michael.
"My Great Grandfather taught us to be expert rug identifiers… meaning we can determine where they came from… the value and the age."
Michael also explains how his staff pledges to "do no harm!" to any client's rug. Each rug is hand washed individually no batch rugs. THey are guaranteed to be washed with approved products. Whether an exotic area rug or a family heirloom, every rug receives superior care to support its longevity.
"My father shared his passion for rugs with me when i was thirteen. I have been smitten by the immense beauty that each individual rug displays as unique art and the drama of determining and upgrading the true value of the piece."
Michael Mussallem has been a lifelong fan of San Marco. He lives in "The Marco Condos
South of San Marco Square. "I love this community," say Mike. "San Marco is full of nice, friendly people who share a love for the neighborhood. My favorite place to go is Taverna with friends and family."
BUY FROM THE BEST JACKSONVILLE RUG DEALER
Purchase Area Rugs from Experts at the Preeminent Rug Gallery in Jacksonville
Michael's decades of experience and mastery in rug cleaning prompted him to embrace a new business—selling rugs. Following in the footsteps of his father, Michael has imbued his rug gallery with the same level of professionalism and pride as was engendered in his family business. Just as Mussallem Area Rug Specialists is arguably the finest rug cleaning company in the area, if not the world, Michael's Rug Studio has endeavored to become the most beautiful rug showroom in Jacksonville. This growing company sells an impressive collection of contemporary, traditional, and transitional rugs, meaning you'll find the perfect piece at any style, preference, and price point. If the rug you desire can't be found, it will be custom created according to your specifications.
Traditional rugs refer to those with traditional Oriental, Persian, or Victorian designs that have been replicated throughout the centuries. They feature highly detailed, ornate patterns, often with a distinct border, numerous colors, floral patterns, and central medallions in shapes such as diamonds or hexagons. Kilims, soumaks, and dhurries are traditional rugs.
Contemporary rugs offer modern, less-intricate designs than traditional rugs. They include bold contrasts, bright colors, and free-form, geometric, or architecture-inspired shapes. Some have consistent patterns across the rug, while others have a single image in one area. This style is the most diverse and often lends a fun, playful vibe to the room.
Transitional rugs blend traditional and contemporary styles, often taking traditional patterns and giving them a modern spin. Usually, transitional rugs feature an all-over design but with less detail and no border or a traditional pattern in a modern color scheme. They combine the classic elegance of a traditional rug with the more casual, relaxed feeling of a contemporary rug.
Contact Us Today to Find the Perfect Rug for Your Home
A rug is the foundation of every room, connecting all the elements in your space to create a stunning, cohesive look. The right rug not only grounds your room stylistically but also elevates it to a higher level of timeless beauty. For an effortlessly chic aesthetic, you can easily design your entire room around the color scheme and shapes found within a luxury rug. Choosing a handmade rug of unsurpassed quality from Michael's Rug Studio guarantees your investment will remain an exquisite family heirloom for generations to come.
7999 Philips Hwy Suite 306, Jacksonville, FL 32256
Open Everyday 9am-5pm
michaelsrugstudio@gmail.com
© Michael's Rug Studio 2021
Website By Socially Bold


Here is Mariel's speaking event line up from in person events to online webinars with the most prestigious industry organizations.
You can also find the A4J Team at Xero Accounting Conferences, JCK Las Vegas, the Tucson Gem Show, and more! We look forward to connecting with you.
Have questions or would like to inquire about Mariel speaking at your event? Email support [at] accountingforjewelers.com for more information.
Interviewed by Nan Palmer of Facets Jewelry Consulting for JIS. Topics include Reports, Budgeting, why Cash is King, Inventory Management and more!
Last year's US Supreme Court decision in South Dakota vs Wayfair has major implications for online and traditional retailers. Following up on our webinar from last fall, this session will provide important updates for online and out of state sellers.
Presenter: Mariel Diaz. Learn how to create an annual budget from the bottom up using the Break Even Point and then create annual Sales Goals with relative increased expenses.
Presenter: Mariel Diaz. Learn how to easily interpret critical financial information for your company so you can focus on making money!
Presenter: Mariel Diaz. Guided session on how to create a profit, pay yourself and manage cash flow.
Presenters: Mariel Diaz, Accounting for Jewelers; Patrick Riley, TaxCloud. With the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision to overturn the 1992 Quill v. North Dakota judgement this past June, jewelers that sell remotely to other states will need to be clear on how the new sales tax rules apply to them. In this webinar you'll learn what is required of you, plus when and how to comply. We will cover the rules as they apply specifically to jewelers as you approach the holiday selling season and the long-term awareness needed.
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How It Works - Think Ten!
SATURDAY, MAY 7 TH 2016, 8:30 A.M.
A Team Leader is responsible for recruiting a minimum of 10 walkers. Each walker recruits a minimum of 10 sponsors who donate a minimum of $10 dollars each. The registration fee covers your Promotional Gift and lunch. Team Leaders will collect registration forms, registration fees and sponsorship from the walkers on their team. Team Leaders will provide Walkers with personal contact information. Your walkers need access to you for questions and concerns.
A Walker recruits a minimum of ten sponsors who donate a minimum of $10 dollars each. The registration fee covers your Promotional Gift and lunch. Walkers will collect registration forms and sponsorship from the sponsors that you recruit.
A Sponsor is someone who donates a minimum of $10 dollars. The registration form helps Side By Side keep the sponsor informed on the progress of the event. Sponsors will submit a registration form and sponsorship directly to their Walker .
For questions, contact Kevin Bowers at (909) 641-3945. Register at www.SBShumanitarian.com or send all registration fees and sponsorship to Side By Side Humanitarian, 1096 Calimesa Bl #222, Calimesa, CA 92320.


Arcadia Engineering has been appointed as the architectural and structural designer of CTP warehouse of approximately 70,000 sq. m. The contract was awarded in November 2017. The warehouse is situated in a logistical hub at km 23 on the A1 highway that connects Bucharest to western Europe. As the first collaboration between CTP and Arcadia, the market-leading company opted to work with Arcadia based on its extensive experience crafting efficient and effective logistical solutions, with more than 1.5 million sq. meters of design in its portfolio.


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CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY
DONKEY'S PLACE
1223 Haddon Avenue
1223 Haddon Avenue does not appear as a bar in the 1918-1919 Camden City Directory. The building appears to have operated as a speakeasy during the Prohibition years, 1919 through 1933. A private club called the Parkside Athletic Association had space in the building, and an elaborate system of alarms and bells was installed, which is still in evidence today.
By 1939 the bar at 1223 Haddon Avenue had been acquired by Charles E.A. "Pop" Mathews, who had operated bars, taverns, and hotels throughout the city for many years. By 1939 Mr. Mathews was living above the bar. Mr. Mathews resided at the bar until his passing on July 6, 1942. After his death, his wife and sons took a shot at operating the establishment, as the bar appears in the 1943 Camden City Directory under the name of Mrs. Ada Mathews, his widow. By 1947 the Mathews family had sold the property to Leon Lucas, who had been the on the United States 1928 Olympic boxing team as a light heavyweight, in the early 1940s.
Leon Lucas renamed the establishment Donkey's Place, and the bar soon gained a reputation for it's delicious steak sandwiches, served with fried onions on a poppy seed roll. The bar remains in the hands of the Lucas family, with son Bob Lucas operating the business since his father's passing in 1971.
Donkey's place remain open in as of the fall of 2005, known far and wide for delicious food and drink. In 2003 Bob Lucas opened a second location in Medford NJ, and in 2005, a third Donkey's Place opened up, at 1018 Asbury Avenue in Ocean City NJ.
Banquet Program Advertisement
Veteran's Boxing Association
Ring No. 6
Donkeyt's Place at 1223 Haddon Avenue - March 16, 2003
Donkey's Place is a Stubborn Survivor, and so is its Cheesesteak
by Rick Nichols, Inquirer Columnist
It is a bit of Camden in amber now, Donkey's Place is, or maybe a shrine - the dingy bar hung with photos of the founder, his dukes perpetually up; the grill steaming with steaks and onions; the back room still swathed in the original tobacco-colored mural, a sweep of Sahara, its palms chipped and faded from 60 years of wear.
This was his father's brainstorm, his idea of subliminal suggestion, owner Robert Lucas tells me: a parched desert scene calculated to drive his patrons to drink.In fact, the only major change at Donkey's is that while it looks like a bar (circa 1943) and feels like a bar, it is really more a cheesesteakery these days, the Lucas family's magnificent version of the sandwich having triumphed over the booze (especially since the place now closes at 6 p.m., though an adjoining take-out window cranks out the steaks until midnight).
The old-timers have faded into the woodwork. Once upon a time during Prohibition, this was a speakeasy serving a Jewish clientele, its secret bell system still visible along with its name above the basement stairs: Parkside Athletic Club. Later its stools were graced with Polish shipyard workers and assemblers from the RCA plant and Campbell's soup-makers dressed in telltale whites, their hair neatly netted. There were lean years after the factories left. Then came the latest wave - African American staffers from three burgeoning hospitals nearby and from City Hall.
Not a thing has changed the sandwich, though, a reshaped vision of the South Philly classic. It is as close to taking a bite of 1943 Camden as you'll likely get. The meat is still a block of thin-sliced ribeye folded on the grill, poked at with the corner of a spatula to loosen the texture - but never chopped. The hot, chopped red pepper relish is from K&Z, the Camden pickle maker. The rolls are, yes, round, their tops set on the sizzling steaks to breathe their steam and give them character. They are the same oversize poppy-seed kaisers, baked to Donkey's specs by Del Buono's Bakery in Haddon Heights, just as they have been since opening day. Finally, there are the sweet onions. They were delivered in a little red wagon years ago by a vendor who lived two blocks away. Now it is his son who delivers them. They are ordinary onions. But they become special on the grill, mounded up and around the steaks for close to an hour, sucking up the beefy juice, seasoned with secret seasoning (garlic? paprika?), furrowed and plowed until they are as tender and caramelized as the onions in French onion soup, which is what Lucas' wife, Lisa, sometimes makes from the ones left over.
It is big helpings of those onions that give the steak its personality. They're more the signature than the steak, turning the thing into a soupy, gooey, hugely flavorful handful - the beef informing the onions and vice versa, the red pepper relish tangy against the sweet and salt and cheese, the perfect counterpoint.
It is so good - and the round roll so intriguing - that after wolfing his first one in 1998, Philadelphia's then-Mayor Ed Rendell wrote to Lucas, urging him to move across the river. It is so good that two years ago, a Jersey expat copied it right down to the double-waxed-paper wrapper in New York's Greenwich Village (at a place called BB Sandwich Bar) that still cranks it out seven days a week. It is so good that Lucas' three children have opened a branch of their own in Medford. But this is the mother lode, where Haddon crosses Liberty - where the cooking is slow, and take-out orders are tucked under the grill, and hallowed boxing gloves dangle over the sands of the Sahara.
Lucas' late father, Leon, was a fighter - a champ in his unit in World War I and, in the 1920s, U.S. amateur light-heavyweight champ. Had a punch like the kick of a mule, they say. Gave him his nickname. Left a lasting impression, that's for sure.
Camden Courier-Post - December 3, 2004
Camden landmark does one thing - and does it right
Owned by one family for 61 years, Donkey's Place sticks to cheesesteak
Eileen Stillwell
Courier-Post Staff
Donkey's Place, a bar and cheesesteak landmark on Haddon Avenue, is alive and well after 61 years of operation by the Lucas family.
Located on the corner of Haddon Avenue and Liberty Street, the weathered, tan brick building with a green wraparound awning catches the eye because its front door is angled in a way that is unique to commercial corners in northeast cities.
Inside, Bob Lucas, 64, wipes the bar, greets old friends and makes new customers feel welcome. His low-key presence is a safe harbor in an oft-troubled neighborhood.
"There's no pool table, no dartboard or jukebox in here because my customers eat and leave," Lucas said. "Never any drunks or underage kids because they know it's just not the place."
A heavy smoker, Lucas doesn't worry about the possible impact of pending no-smoking legislation on his business.
"My customers don't stay much more than 20 to 30 minutes," he said. "Anybody - even me - can last that long without a cigarette."
Lucas grew up in an apartment over the bar in the days when it was open six days a week until 2 a.m. Today, it's open Monday through Friday until 6 p.m. Lucas lives in Medford, where his children are running a Donkey's Too on Tomlinson Mill Road.
"My dad was a boxer and his nickname was Donkey, because he was told he had a punch like a mule," said Lucas about the bar's name.
The walls are covered with photos of Leon Lucas, a light heavyweight who went to the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam along with Jim Thorpe. His boxing gloves are behind glass in the bar, next to a piano, that is next to a broken neon sign and a pile of clutter.
Downstairs is a former speakeasy with a secret door that was a hot spot during Prohibition under a previous owner.
"This bar hasn't changed a bit and I've been coming here for almost 50 years," said Ivan Cantiant, 67, while sipping a Coors Light at the 12-stool bar.
"The neighborhood has changed, but I come for the food and because it's a cheerful place," said Cantiant, a retired tractor-trailer driver from Stratford.
The menu is limited to cheesesteaks sandwiches with or without cheese, with or without onions; french fries or potato chips are on the side. Round sesame rolls from DelBuono's in Haddon Heights are steamed closed before delivery on a paper plate.
No soup, no chicken, no tofu. Not even a Tastykake. Just 400 steak sandwiches on a good afternoon.
The Donkey steak is so beloved that Lucas fills orders from homesick people, sending partially cooked sandwiches via UPS as far away as Hawaii.
"It's a nostalgic place that has a very loyal following," says Randy Primas, chief operating officer for the city of Camden and former two-term mayor. "I was raised on those sandwiches. Recently, Sen. (Wayne) Bryant and I stopped for lunch, and we bumped into a couple of Camden judges."
An East Camden native, Primas also is nostalgic for the days when Haddon and Kaighn avenues were safe and prosperous shopping streets.
"Despite that statistic that called Camden the most unsafe city in America, I don't feel it," Primas said. "It is our hope that places like Donkey's will last until there are no longer any issues about safety on Haddon Avenue."
Lucas says he has no plans to retire or sell the business. He remains one of about 90 barkeepers in a city that 40 years ago had 200 bars.
"We're doing well. We really are," Lucas said. .
Bob Lucas
Drink Up!
The Bars, Taverns, and Clubs of Camden


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» Main
Mending a broken heart
Tom Feilden | 08:57 UK time, Tuesday, 1 February 2011
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Take a look at this short film made by Dr Nadire Ali at Imperial College London. It shows a cluster of beating heart cells made form embryonic stem cells.
It's a remarkable scientific achievement, and one that has helped convince the British Heart Foundation that regenerative medicine - stem cell technology - could hold the key to mending broken hearts.
The charity, which is already the biggest contributor to medical research into heart disease in the UK, is launching an appeal to raise an extra £50m for stem cell research over the next five years. Money the BHF says could make recovering from a heart attack as simple as repairing a broken bone.
While conventional medical treatments have improved dramatically in recent years, with over 750,000 people now living with heart failure, they're essentially palliative - allowing patients to live with the damage caused by heart disease. Stem cell therapies offer the prospect of repairing that damage, returning the patient to full health.
"We've made great strides in medical research to diagnose and treat people with all kinds of heart problems," says Professor Peter Weissberg, the medical director at the BHF.
"But the biggest single issue that still eludes us is how to help patients once their heart has been damaged. Mending human hearts is an achievable goal".
Somewhat surprisingly the TV ad promoting the "Mending Broken Hearts" campaign features a talking fish. But this is not just any fish. Along with amphibians the Zebrafish has retained the ability to regenerate damaged heart tissue in adult life.
It's a technique professor Paul Riley at University College London is keen to understand, and exploit. "The whole point of studying the Zebrafish is to understand how it does this, both at a cellular and a molecular level, and to translate that to humans. We want to understand what we need to do try and make a human heart more like a fish heart".
By understanding how the Zebrafish regenerates heart tissue we could learn how to re-awaken the same developmental processes in humans, stimulating the body to heal itself. Then we really would be able to mend a broken heart.
« December 2010 | | March 2011 »
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Insulating properties of draping curtains combined with the practicality of the blinds mechanism.
Roman blinds are an extremely versatile window blind. With a wide variety of colors and designs, from total blockout to light filtering fabrics, there really is no limit to the styling potential of our Roman blinds.
With roman blinds you get the luxurious appearance and insulating properties of draping curtains combined with the practicality of the blinds mechanism.
They come in a diverse range of fabric options when selecting roman blinds.
From total blockout to light filtering fabrics, we cater for your personal preference.
The primary attractive quality of our custom roman blinds is that you can have fun with different patterns since the main material is fabric.
With a massive range of different colors and styles to choose from, Werribee Blinds ensures that you will find a color and style that will best suit the design of your room.
Our sales team will help you create a very elegant look to your home. With right selection of fabric, our roman blinds give a look of classical elegance.
The flexibility in range of materials offered by us also creates flexibility in your budget. With our roman blinds, you are able to choose a fabric that not only suits your home décor but also your pocket.
Roman blinds are excellent for keeping out the heat and for insulating your room on a hot summers day, while in the winter, they help retain heat by covering windows entirely thus not allowing heat to escape.
Our roman blinds are all operated with a cord and lock system or chain control mechanism. This makes our roman blinds practical and easy to operate.
Cleaning of roman blinds is effortless since most fabrics used are washable. But although roman blinds are washable, there is barely a need to wash the blinds unless they are heavily soiled. Vacuuming and spot cleaning are typically the standard cleaning method.
To see our massive range of roman blind materials, styles and fabrics at Werribee Blinds please visit our showroom in Railway Ave Werribee, Victoria. We have a highly skilled sales team that is ready to assist you in making the right choice in shutters or blinds for your business or home.


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Health|Antibiotics Weren't Used to Cure These Patients. Fecal Bacteria Were.
Antibiotics Weren't Used to Cure These Patients. Fecal Bacteria Were.
In a small study, doctors used so-called fecal transplants to treat a serious gut infection in patients. The transplants, from healthy donors, were as effective as antibiotics.
By Gina Kolata
C. difficile kills 14,000 people annually in the United States. A new study finds that transplanting healthy bacteria into a person's intestines is just as effective antibiotic treatment.CreditLouise Murray/Science Source
The bacteria can take over a person's intestines and be difficult to eradicate. The infection causes fever, vomiting, cramps and diarrhea so severe that it kills 14,000 people a year in the United States alone.
The first line of treatment for the attacking microbes, called Clostridium difficile, is antibiotics. But a group of Norwegian researchers asked if something more unusual — an enema containing a stew of bacteria from feces of healthy people — might work just as well.
The answer, according to a report today in the New England Journal of Medicine, is yes.
Until now, there has never been a clinical trial conducted in more than one medical center that has investigated so-called fecal transplants as a first therapy for C. difficile infections, said Dr. Michael Bretthauer, a gastroenterologist at the University of Oslo and lead author of the new study.
The Food and Drug Administration permits fecal transplants and professional societies endorse them, but only a last resort for treating C. difficile infections after antibiotics have failed, said Dr. Alexander Khoruts, a gastroenterologist at the University of Minnesota.
"The F.D.A. and all the professional societies are in full agreement on this point," he said.
Several small clinical trials and doctors' clinical experience have shown that a fecal transplant can help in that desperate situation.
"It's definitely a paradigm shift to use it earlier rather than later," Dr. Nasia Safdar, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Wisconsin — Madison.
The study, conducted in Norway, was small — just 20 patients randomly assigned to get the fecal bacteria or antibiotics. That's not enough to determine whether transplants are better than antibiotics.
Instead, the research was intended to show that treatment with fecal bacteria is no worse.
Five out of nine patients who received fecal bacteria were cured immediately of their infections, compared to five of 11 in the group getting antibiotics. Three of the four remaining patients who got fecal bacteria then got antibiotics; two were cured within days.
None of the antibiotic patients whose symptoms persisted after their first round of treatment were cured with a second round of the drugs.
Although the results seem to favor treatment with fecal bacteria, the difference was not large enough to say fecal transplants were actually superior to the drugs.
The researchers are planning to start a more definitive study with 200 patients this summer.
The idea behind fecal transplants is to provide a dose of healthy gut bacteria that multiply and crowd out the dangerous germs making patients ill. The bacteria can be extracted from feces and supplied as an enema or in a capsule that patients swallow.
A small company also grows fecal bacteria in a lab and freezes them for transplants. The Norwegian study relied on that company to supply fecal bacteria, but the investigators say the company had no other role in the study.
Researchers are exploring the use of fecal transplants for a variety of conditions, Dr. Bretthauer said, ranging from bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis "to more far-fetched things, such as multiple sclerosis."
So far, he added, the most promising evidence for the fecal transplant's effectiveness is in ulcerative colitis.
One problem with using fecal transplants as a treatment of last resort for C. difficile infections, Dr. Khoruts said, is that it can be a long time before it's clear that drugs have failed. On average, he said, these patients struggle through ten months of futile antibiotic treatments before they try a fecal transplant.
Still, some patients newly diagnosed with C. difficile ask Dr. Khoruts why can't they just get a fecal transplant right away. Their reasoning makes sense, he added. Antibiotics that destroy the normal bacteria that protect against C. difficile are the main reason patients developed the infection in the first place.
Transplants, Dr. Khoruts said, "are trying to repair what was broken in the first place, rather than perpetuate the damage."
But when Dr. Bretthauer and his colleagues proposed a study testing fecal transplants compared to antibiotics in newly diagnosed patients, other doctors were not enthusiastic.
"Using feces is a little taboo," Dr. Bretthauer said. "If you are putting someone else's feces into a patient, there has to be a good reason."
And, he said, antibiotics are an approved treatment. Doctors are familiar with the drugs. The ethics board that had to approve the clinical trial suggested a small pilot study instead.
The trial was difficult to set up. The challenge was to get to patients before they were given antibiotics.
"We made friends with the hospital lab which did the C. difficile fecal testing," Dr. Bretthauer said. The laboratory technicians agreed to alert the researchers to new C. difficile cases.
The researchers then rushed to the doctors and asked them to delay giving antibiotics until the patients were asked to enter the study.
The results of the study, Dr. Bretthauer said, "speak for themselves." But not until a larger trial is completed will he have convincing results that could change clinical practice.
Dr. Khoruts said that in he will wait for the large clinical trial before using fecal transplants as a first-line therapy against C. difficile.
But "if you asked me what if my mother had it?" Then, he said, "I wouldn't wait" to offer her a fecal transplant.
Correction: June 4, 2018
Because of an editing error, an earlier version of this article referred imprecisely to the reason that many patients with C. difficile infection do not receive fecal transplants for several months. According to Dr. Alexander Khoruts of the University of Minnesota, it is because it can take months to ascertain that antibiotics are not working, not because patients are averse to the idea of a fecal transplant.
Gina Kolata writes about science and medicine. She has twice been a Pulitzer Prize finalist and is the author of six books, including "Mercies in Disguise: A Story of Hope, a Family's Genetic Destiny, and The Science That Saved Them." @ginakolata • Facebook


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The University of Arizona Chooses Solar Gard Panorama Window Film to Reduce Energy Costs
The University of Arizona in Tucson is committed to "Greening the Campus," a campus-wide initiative to minimize the ecological footprint of the university. Like many other schools nationwide, the University of Arizona strives to develop sustainability practices despite challenges including old construction, aging utility systems and a lack of financial resources. In addition, the university is also challenged with the high cooling costs associated with Arizona's hot climate and renovation standards set forth by the University of Arizona's Historic Preservation Plan.
When confronted with soaring energy costs and unstable temperatures in classrooms, facility management officials needed to solve the problems in a way that would stay true to their mission of ecological responsibility while keeping costs down and adhering to building restrictions. Facilities Management Director Al Tarcola thought that retrofitting the university windows with window film might provide a solution.
Local Solar Gard Elite dealer, Tim Burns of Sierra Sun Control, installed virtually invisible Solar Gard Panorama Hilite 70 film on the windows in the university's Bio-Sciences East building. Using Solar Gard's energy analysis tools and mounted temperature gauges, he was able to record actual temperature reduction and energy savings. Once the film was installed throughout the building, students and faculty immediately felt its cooling effects. Temperature peaks fell significantly. The maximum inside temperature before the installation was 119.5° F, which dropped to 85° F after the film was installed.
Utility usage fell drastically because the Solar Gard Panorama film reduced the need for air conditioning. In the month after the installation, energy use fell by 30% compared to the same month the previous year, according to preliminary data.
The initial results of installing Panorama film were a dramatic success, significantly lowering energy use, cutting cooling costs and increasing the comfort of students and faculty. Electricity use fell sharply because the window film reduced the need for air conditioning. The table below shows savings in energy use after installing Solar Gard Panorama film.
Because Solar Gard Panorama window film better regulates internal temperatures by preventing heat infiltration, energy use fell as the number of cooling degree days – those days when it was hot enough to require the use of air conditioning – leveled out.
To determine the effect of Solar Gard Panorama window film, cooling days were reviewed for both 2008 and 2009. This effect is analyzed by reviewing BTU (the amount of heat needed to raise
the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit), energy used (mmbtu), and the number of cooling degree days (CDD). Cooling degree days are the number of degrees at which cooling must occur multiplied by the number of days, so the function is weighted (two days at one degree is the same as one day at two degrees). By dividing energy use by the number of cooling degree days, the amount of energy used per CDD is given.
Installation Summary
High energy costs associated with air conditioning
Heat gain
Solar Gard Panorama Hilite® 70
Lower energy costs
Lower temperatures inside classrooms
Complied with renovation standards set forth by the University of Arizona's Historic Preservation Plan
Posted in Architectural Window Film, Success Stories


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chevron_leftBack to What's on
Headline Of The Week: Kinky Hong Kong Fire Service Mascot Causes a Stir
By Sarah Moran 9 November 2018
Another day, another series of nauseating news. We get it, it's difficult to keep up with all the information out there. Sometimes you watch the news and it feels like the world is spiralling out of control (kind of like a bad hangover) and you end up walking away from the TV with a banging headache. That's why we're launching our weekly fun news column, where we give you a breakdown of the strangest and craziest headline from the past week in Hong Kong. You're welcome!
Fame is a strange thing, and the Hong Kong Fire Service Department just learned the first rule on how to claim it – you've got to do something either really stupid or incredibly weird. Well this time, they opted for the latter, with the launch of their weird and (arguably) wonderful new mascot – Anyone. Instead of opting for the obvious 'hot firemen posing shirtless' display at its press conference on Monday, the Hong Kong Fire Service Department instead gave the spotlight to an obscure blue character who proceeded to demonstrate life-saving techniques to the crowd. Although the mascot was first created in August this year, and launched onto our screens in his own music video (watch below), it wasn't until this elaborate public display that he shot to fame and went viral on the net. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=107&v=P9mWj-QMc10 Despite the bizarre appearance of the blue mascot, Anyone actually carries a serious message: that any member of the public can help in times of danger (even if that means being taught how to perform CPR from a feisty grandma. The Fire Department even made sure that Anyone carries a little extra weight to make him more relatable to the masses. Hong Kong netizens, however, are not buying it. People online have been quick to point out the resemblance between Anyone and several characters from Japanese porn, including Doctor Manhattan from the DC Comics and movie Watchmen (only not as buff), and in our opinion, the rubber suit guy from American Horror Story. We wonder if any members of the public would actually want to receive a CPR from Anyone. Hmm ...
Read More! Learn some Cantonese slangs, or explore the rest ofour Local News section.
Sarah Moran
Former staff writer
Born and raised in Hong Kong to expat parents, Sarah grew up as your typical third-culture kid, caught between two worlds. As someone who is nosy (or just curious) and loves the written word, there was never any other career that appealed to her as much as journalism. When she's not busy on her mission to find the line between not enough coffee and too much coffee, you can find her exploring the city or getting stuck in a good book.
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Oh, adobo—the staple in many Filipino households. Some would argue it's the national dish of the Philippines. I love all it's salty/sweet/sour goodness — what a "homey" dish, especially paired with steaming white rice covered with the "sabao" (sauce) that results from the cooking. If you go Filipino-house hopping and try their chicken adobo, I can guarantee you that no two are alike. Some like their adobo on the sour side, others like a soy sauce-forward flavor. Some, like my family, like a touch of sugar to cut into the tartness of the vinegar. Plus, my dad adds whole cloves to his dish which gives it almost a Chinese five-spice essence.
The problem with chicken adobo is that it's very high in fat and sodium, much like other Filipino foods. Most members of my family suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart problems. It's all due to the traditional Filipino diet. We love our food and we love it flavorful — even if it means the addition of MSG, sugar, fat and lots of salt.
My mom had a health scare last week. My dad, sister and I spent three hours in an ER waiting room with mom. My mother's spirit was pretty low at that moment. This was her second visit to the ER in 6 months, for possibly the same reason — ulcers. The last time she visited she needed a blood transfusion. Thankfully, through many prayers and diligence on her part to get to the hospital early, she didn't need a blood transfusion.
Mom has diabetes, along with a list of other ailments. She doesn't take her prescribed medication because she thought that she could manage it through diet and some of her own herbal concoctions. Truth is, she hasn't changed her diet much. She eats healthier than how she used to eat but it all boils down to the Filipino food that my dad typically cooks or that she enjoys from the restaurant (or outings with friends). The doctor made it clear that she needed to take her medication because what she was doing wasn't working and it's causing complications with her organs.
This was a point of inspiration and a wake-up call for me. Maybe mom can have the food she enjoys, but a healthier version of it. So I started with one of my favorite dishes — chicken adobo. I swapped out the traditional ingredients of soy sauce and white vinegar for coconut aminos and organic, unrefined apple cider vinegar (with The Mother).
Coconut aminos is a great lower-sodium and gluten-free substitute for soy sauce. It has the overall essence of soy sauce but it's milder and a little more mellow in flavor. Yes, you can taste a hint of coconut but it's not the main flavor. You can find coconut aminos online or at most health food stores. More stores are starting to carry this product as the popularity of paleo diets and the need of gluten-free options are growing.
Coconut Secret shows that chicken skin has a higher amount of monounsaturated fat than saturated fat so it's not all that bad for you. Also, in my opinion, eating animal fat is more satisfying than refined oils and I tend to eat less of it.
Not a fan of chicken? Substitute pork shoulder or pork belly. The cooking time may be a bit longer, but that could be a good thing to let the pork braise and simmer in the sauce to get all that excellent flavor.
Next are the spices. Typically, it's just whole peppercorn and bay leaves. My dad adds whole cloves to boost the flavor. I only had ground cloves and it did the job. Also, as much as I admire the ease of throwing in whole peppercorns, I hated eating them. There's nothing like enjoying a juicy piece of chicken then suddenly chomping into a whole, pungent peppercorn. Talk about NOSE BURN! It really takes away from the experience. So I used freshly ground pepper instead.
So far this dish is gluten-free on it's own. Even white rice is gluten-free so you're good-to-go. If you're going paleo with this dish, you could eat it with some cauliflower or taro root that has been riced and steamed. Or just have it on it's own!
So how does it taste? It's not a dead-ringer but it's pretty close. I think it all depends on the brand of coconut aminos that you use. It is definitely an acceptable and healthier option than the traditional chicken adobo. Now on to more Filipino food experiments!
Have you converted a favorite traditional dish into a healthier version? How did it turn out? Comment below!
The traditional Filipino dish with healthy ingredient substitutions to make it paleo-friendly and gluten-free.
Add coconut aminos, apple cider vinegar, bay leaves, pepper and cloves and bring to a boil.
Lower the temperature, cover and simmer for 25 minutes.
Uncover and allow the sauce to reduce by 1/3.
You may choose to skim the fat before serving.
This can be made with pork shoulder or pork belly. Increase the simmer time to 35-40 minutes.
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