Why is the National Park Service concerned about noise?
Park visitors and wildlife interact with each other and park resources through their senses, including the sense of hearing. So, protection of natural sounds supports both ecosystems and quality visitor experiences. Additionally, there are laws and policies that require the agency to conserve acoustic environments "unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."
How does the sound map work?
Scientists made long term measurements of sound in parks as well as urban and rural areas across the country. This information helped predict current sound levels for the entire United States. A model was developed to understand relationships between measured sound levels and variables such as climate, topography, human activity, time of day, and day of year. The resulting geospatial sound model can also estimate how places would sound naturally, without human influence.
Download a high resolution version of the existing conditions map (png 12 MB).
The underlying resolution of these maps is a 270 meter grid. Most image software will allow you to zoom in to look at specific regions or cities in greater detail.
Download a high resolution version of the natural conditions map (png 13 MB).
Note that the numbers on the legend are different than in the first map, because it is so much quieter. The trend is higher sound levels in wetter areas with more vegetation. This is due to the sounds of wind blowing through vegetation, flowing water, and more animals (especially birds and frogs) vocalizing in more fertile locations.
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about the sound maps.
Geospatial sound modeling data is freely available. Download it here, and please give appropriate credit.
To learn more about how the National Park Service protects natural sounds and night skies in parks, please visit the Natural Sounds and Night Skies Division home page.


Natural gas prices declined last week as the Henry Hub price moved down to $4.61. That's a decrease of 25 percent. The price for US Natural Gas was also down. Gas extraction moved down below the 5-year average.
In fact, losses last week brought the monthly average down as well by 6.8 percent. Despite the recent losses however, the price for natural gas is still high seasonally. Shares in Chesapeake Energy were down by 2.5 percent.
Underground natural gas storage moved down by 95 bcf to 1348 bcf, this according to the EIA. Those are the lowest levels since May 2008. Current storage levels for the Lower 48 is currently 40.2 percent lower than at the same time last year.
Extraction rates for last week were also lower than the 5-year average, a good argument for further declines in the piece of natural gas.
As far a supply goes, gross natural gas production moved up by 1.5 percent last week. That's 4.3 percent higher than at the same time last year.
Imports from Canada saw declines of 14.4 percent last week. Supply here in the US moved up only slightly by 0.1 percent. If the trend continues, it should keep natural gas prices at current elevated levels.
The cold weather took a break last week, but forecasts show a return to cooler temperatures soon. Demand for gas in the residential/commercial sector should remain high compared to the same time last year. As long as temperatures remain cool, demand is expected to remain high.


At Wilson M. Beck, our employees take great pride in our community. Our goal is to make the community the best it can be. We do this through active and engaging volunteer work and financial support to many local non-profit organizations.
View more on our Volinspire page!


FORTUNA, Ca. (KIEM) – After a first reading, the Fortuna City Council will move forward with a second reading for its Freeway Commercial Zoning District Ordinance.
Two different zoning amendments are on the table. One of them is to allow a mix of Commercial Retail actives within the Riverwalk district.
The second one is to change the zoning designation from Freeway Commercial to Commercial Thoroughfare. This will allow a wider range of uses than those allowable in the Freeway Commercial Zone.
The Fortuna City Council meets Monday night at 6 in City Hall.


text:
Heintel Group
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Committed to stable, long-term partnerships.
https://acufirm.de/
Using modern and environmentally friendly production processes, the German company Acufirm has been producing surgical and hypodermic needles as well as custom products made to order for more than 120 years.
http://albynmedical.com/
Albyn Medical designs and manufactures high-quality systems and consumables for use in urology, gynaecology and gastroenterology. The product portfolio is continuously expanded and adapted to the latest market developments.
http://thestentcompany.com/
AMG International is a recognised specialist for high-quality products in the field of interventional cardiology. The company was also the first to release a bare metal coronary stent made of a cobalt-chromium alloy.
https://ampri.de/
Since 1994, AMPri has been the go-to specialist for medical disposables in the fields of occupational safety, hygiene and nursing care. AMPri's products have applications in occupational health and safety, in the food industry and in the fields of medicine, hygiene and nursing care. The assortment includes everything a modern company needs for its daily hygiene requirements, from gloves for all types of uses to head-to-toe protective wear to disinfectants.
https://angiodynamics.com/
AngioDynamics has been developing innovative medical devices since 1988 to deliver safe and high-quality care for chronic and acute disease states in vascular, peripheral vascular and oncology medicine.
https://becker-triftern.de/
Becker is a provider of modern and above all stable, clear and functional clinic and hospital furniture.
https://belmontmedtech.com/
Belmont Medical Technologies specializes in the manufacture of innovative medical device solutions that enable fluid and temperature management of critical care patients. A high demand for quality and patient safety, and the continuous pursuit of further development characterize the US medical technology company.
https://berner-safety.de/
Berner International specialises in high-quality protective systems for pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications. The product range includes safety cabinets, isolators, waste sealing units and complete personal protection kits including protective gloves and protective clothing for laboratory personnel and pandemic responders.
https://blackforestmedical.com/
The core product range consists of cranial stabilisation and retractor systems for standard neurosurgical applications and intraoperative imaging procedures. All products are manufactured with a focus on quality, innovation and expert technical support.
https://boso.de/
Boso has been producing top-quality blood pressure monitors for over 100 years. With good reason, the Boso company motto is "blood pressure monitoring is boso".
https://capsovision.com/international/
Founded in 2006, CapsoVision specialises in diagnostic imaging of the gastrointestinal system. The company's innovative capsule endoscope enables 360° panoramic views that provide a more comprehensive imaging solution.
https://convatec.at/
ConvaTec is one of the world's leading companies in the development of medical technologies. The product portfolio focuses on the fields of stoma care, wound care, faecal incontinence, intensive care and infusion therapy.
http://curas.com/
The company, incorporated in the UK, develops and produces hospital supplies as well as medical technology products for the urology, nursing and hygiene sectors.
https://dahlhausen.de
Dahlhausen, with origins dating back to 1854, is a leading single-source supplier of clinical accessories in Europe. With its extensive product range, the developer and producer serves the specialty fields of anaesthesia, surgery and patient care.
https://dispomedica.de/en/
Dispomedica manufactures high-quality medical disposables for use in cardiology and intensive care, cardiac surgery, gastroenterology and general surgery.
https://ecolabhealthcare.de/index.php
Ecolab specialises in comprehensive hygiene solutions for all kinds of clinical settings where hygiene plays a particularly important role. The products, which are also offered with the corresponding services, are primarily used in hospital wards, operating theatres, central sterile services departments and staff hygiene.
http://endoclot.com/
EndoClot is a California-based medical device company that has developed a breakthrough technology to control bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.
https://frankenman.com/
Frankenman has been founded in 2014 as a sales subsidiary of the Chinese parent company Suzhou Frankenman Medical Equipment Co. Ltd. which is one of the world's largest manufacturers of surgical staplers as well as minimally invasive instruments. For decades, Frankenman has been known for its high quality and innovative surgical solutions.
https://gemitaly.it/en/
GEM is an Italian manufacturer of surgical adhesive products. The company was founded in 1994 and continuously invests in research and product optimisation.
https://gke.eu/de/
German medical devices company GKE develops concepts for cleaning and sterilisation monitoring in the reprocessing of medical devices and produces corresponding biological and chemical indicators.
http://givas.it/
Givas has been manufacturing and supplying furniture for hospitals, medical clinics and nursing homes for over 30 years. The experience gained from years of research, innovation and technological progress enables Givas to deliver specialised products that are as solid as they are reliable. The medical furniture from Givas helps to promote the well-being of patients while simplifying the caregivers' work.
https://hso-solutions.at/
HSO – Hospital Supply Organisation – develops medical devices for hospital use. The company specialises in providing individual, needs-based solutions developed in close cooperation with the user and at times with the patient. HSO also optimises existing products in terms of user-friendliness and patient comfort.
https://inspiremd.com/en/
InspireMD's innovative stent designs and proprietary MicroNet technology contribute to embolic and neurovascular protection and stroke prevention following carotid stenting and surgery.
https://its-novo.de/
Novo Klinik-Service GmbH develops medical aids and medical technology solutions for the intensive care, anaesthesia and nursing sectors. The core competencies include airway management, infusion and surgical drain management, as well as fixation and pressure relief management.
https://kai-europe.com/medical/
Kai Medical's product range includes microsurgical knives for use in ophthalmic procedures, biopsy punches and curettes for dermatological applications and different models of scalpels and blades for general surgery.
https://kawemed.com/
KaWe offers a broad range of diagnostic medical equipment, including high-quality otoscopes, ophthalmoscopes and dermatoscopes as well as a wide selection of laryngoscopes, blood pressure monitors, metal instruments and medical equipment for general practice.
https://keysurgical.com/
A part of the Steris Corporation, Key Surgical is focused on the development and distribution of sterile processing, operating room and endoscopy products. Key Surgical currently supplies more than 10,000 hospitals and surgical centres around the world.
https://kimal.com/en/
Kimal is an innovative manufacturer and supplier of specialised procedural packs and vascular access solutions with worldwide distribution.
https://klsmartin.com/de/
KLS Martin is a specialist for the development and supply of medical technology solutions for almost all surgical fields. The portfolio is focused on implants and implant systems, high-frequency surgical devices, surgical lasers, sterilisation containers, surgical lamps, surgical instruments and customised surgery solutions.
https://medline.eu
Medline produces and distributes a wide range of surgical and nursing products for healthcare facilities and markets worldwide, covering almost all areas of daily hospital needs.
https://meding.com/
In the field of medical device production, Meding specialises in the manufacture of moulded plastic parts to the highest hygiene and cleanliness standards. The company's specialists provide support through an integrated, end-to-end productivity and workflow process: from product design to prototype and production.
http://medomics-dx.com/
Jiangsu Medomics Medical Technology was founded in October 2017. The Chinese company specialises in the diagnosis of microorganisms, tumours and several rare diseases and in 2020 developed an antigen test for Covid-19.
https://mehmamedical.com/
UK-based Mehma Medical Trading was founded in April 2020 to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
https://jnjmedicaldevices.com/en-US/companies/mentor-breast-implants
Founded in 1969, Mentor Worldwide LLC is a leading manufacturer and supplier of medical products for the global aesthetic medicine and reconstructive surgery market. The California-based company has been producing high-quality breast implants for over 30 years. Mentor received its first CE certification in 1995.
https://micro-tech-europe.com/en/
Micro-Tech Europe is a global distributor of therapeutic endoscopy solutions, continuously working to optimise its extensive product range.
https://ecolab.com/
Microtek Medical, a division of Ecolab, develops and manufactures high-quality infection and fluid control products.
MoveoMed GmbH is a personally managed healthcare company that offers needs-based hygiene solutions for medical facilities (hospitals, doctors' practices, nursing homes, etc.). The sanitary hygiene product area includes the production and marketing of the sonothermal disinfection device MoveoSiphon ST24 for use in the sanitary areas of hospitals.
nizell.ch
The Swiss-based company specialises in the production of needs-based hospital solutions. A part of the production is also carried out directly in Switzerland. Special advantages for Nizell's customers include the realisation of individual, low-volume orders as well as product repair.
https://obpsurgical.com/
The medical device company obp specializes in the development of single-use devices with integrated light sources that are used in minimally invasive procedures worldwide. The focus is on clinical efficiency, functionality and patient safety.
https://optimummedical.co.uk/
Optimum Medical is a UK-based manufacturer of inspired everyday healthcare products, including ultrasound gels.
https://orbusneich.com/
OrbusNeich has been developing, manufacturing and selling innovative medical devices used in the field of interventional cardiology for more than 20 years.
https://pdchealthcare.com
PDC Healthcare provides best-in-class identification solutions for safe and efficient patient management. The product range enables healthcare facilities to improve patient safety and care quality at critical points of care.
http://pmtcorp.com/
Since its founding in 1979, PMT Corporation has been dedicated to research and development of high quality specialty products, devices, and other medical instruments used primarily in the fields of plastic and reconstructive surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic medicine and gastrointestinal endoscopy.
https://reinmedical.com/de
Rein Medical is a system service provider that implements end-to-end IT solutions, from planning to handover, for clinics and doctors' practices.
https://ropimex.com/
Ropimex has specialised in privacy systems to protect the privacy of patients and care recipients since 1976.
https://samarit.com
Samarit Medical is dedicated to supporting caregivers and simplifying their work – both in hospital and home care.
https://sellution-medical.de/
Sellution Medical is a German specialist in gynaecological medical devices for hygiene and disinfection in doctors' practices and hospitals.
https://sfxray.com/
SFXray is a leading European manufacturer of X-ray protection garments and equipment to protect against scatter radiation.
https://smtpl.com/
SMT Medical specialises in the development and production of minimally invasive coronary stent systems and maintains a presence in more than 75 countries around the world. The company's innovative biodegradable polymer coating technology for coronary stents makes SMT Medical a market leader in its industry.
https://somatex.com/en/home/
Somatex Medical designs and supplies high-quality medical disposables worldwide. The portfolio includes biopsy, pulmonary intervention, foetal therapy and surgical lighting products.
https://wipak.com/de/medizinische-verpackungen
Steriking Wipak carries an extensive range of products for the central sterile supply departments of hospitals.
https://swann-morton.com/
Established in 1932, the company has made a name for itself around the world with its high-quality scalpels, scalpel blades and handles. The wide product range currently includes 70 different blade shapes and 30 different handles.
https://tokaimedpro.co.jp/english/
Tokai Medical is a Japanese manufacturer with a focus on the research and development of medical devices in the fields of cardiology, peripheral intervention, endovascular intervention, interventional radiology, neurointervention and paediatric intervention.
https://toray-medical.com/en/
Toray exports its high-quality medical devices worldwide. The company's products are mainly used in the fields of dialysis, critical care and interventional cardiology.
https://varian.com/
As a pioneer in radiation therapy, Varian has been fighting cancer for over 60 years. The company's innovative achievements, especially in radiotherapy and radiosurgery technologies, have earned Varian widespread acclaim throughout the oncology community.
http://vascocare.com/
VascoCare is a specialist for optimal and innovative patient positioning.
https://voe.es/en/home/
The Spanish company VOE specializes in the manufacture of compression garments used after plastic and cosmetic surgeries. The focus lies on producing garments with optimal functionality and maximum wearing comfort. The production site is located in Spain.
https://vygon.com/
The medical device manufacturer headquartered in France has many years of experience in an international environment. Thanks to its high standards of quality, the company has become a global market leader in the medical technology sector. The product range includes medical devices for vascular access, regional and plexus anaesthesia, pain therapy, respiratory care and enteral nutrition.
https://wiegand.ch/
For over 40 years, Wiegand AG has been developing innovative solutions for consumables and medication logistics, from central warehousing to the furnishing and equipping of ward rooms.
https://sterimed.fr/
STERIMED Infection Control has been involved in the manufacture of packaging materials for the medical industry for over 100 years. Their products serve as protection for packaged medical devices.
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E :medizintechnik@heintel.at
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
How Did AerCap Holdings N.V. (AER) Compare Against Top Hedge Fund Stocks in 2019?
Nina Todic
Insider Monkey January 8, 2020
It seems that the masses and most of the financial media hate hedge funds and what they do, but why is this hatred of hedge funds so prominent? At the end of the day, these asset management firms do not gamble the hard-earned money of the people who are on the edge of poverty. Truth be told, most hedge fund managers and other smaller players within this industry are very smart and skilled investors. Of course, they may also make wrong bets in some instances, but no one knows what the future holds and how market participants will react to the bountiful news that floods in each day. The Standard and Poor's 500 Total Return Index ETFs returned 31.2% in 2019. Conversely, hedge funds' top 20 large-cap stock picks generated a return of 41.3% during the same period, with the majority of these stock picks outperforming the broader market benchmark. Coincidence? It might happen to be so, but it is unlikely. Our research covering the last 18 years indicates that hedge funds' consensus stock picks generate superior risk-adjusted returns. That's why we believe it isn't a waste of time to check out hedge fund sentiment before you invest in a stock like AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER).
AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER) shareholders have witnessed an increase in enthusiasm from smart money lately. AER was in 28 hedge funds' portfolios at the end of the third quarter of 2019. There were 27 hedge funds in our database with AER holdings at the end of the previous quarter. Our calculations also showed that AER isn't among the 30 most popular stocks among hedge funds (click for Q3 rankings and see the video at the end of this article for Q2 rankings).
So, why do we pay attention to hedge fund sentiment before making any investment decisions? Our research has shown that hedge funds' small-cap stock picks managed to beat the market by double digits annually between 1999 and 2016, but the margin of outperformance has been declining in recent years. Nevertheless, we were still able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that outperformed the Russell 2000 ETFs by 40 percentage points since May 2014 (see the details here). We were also able to identify in advance a select group of hedge fund holdings that underperformed the market by 10 percentage points annually between 2006 and 2017. Interestingly the margin of underperformance of these stocks has been increasing in recent years. Investors who are long the market and short these stocks would have returned more than 27% annually between 2015 and 2017. We have been tracking and sharing the list of these stocks since February 2017 in our quarterly newsletter. Even if you aren't comfortable with shorting stocks, you should at least avoid initiating long positions in stocks that are in our short portfolio.
[caption id="attachment_735636" align="aligncenter" width="473"] Matthew Lindenbaum of Basswood Capital[/caption]
Matthew Lindenbaum Basswood Capital
We leave no stone unturned when looking for the next great investment idea. For example Europe is set to become the world's largest cannabis market, so we check out this European marijuana stock pitch. We read hedge fund investor letters and listen to stock pitches at hedge fund conferences. This December, we recommended Adams Energy as a one-way bet based on an under-the-radar fund manager's investor letter and the stock is still extremely cheap despite already gaining 20 percent. Now we're going to take a look at the fresh hedge fund action encompassing AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER).
How have hedgies been trading AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER)?
At Q3's end, a total of 28 of the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey were long this stock, a change of 4% from the previous quarter. Below, you can check out the change in hedge fund sentiment towards AER over the last 17 quarters. With the smart money's positions undergoing their usual ebb and flow, there exists an "upper tier" of noteworthy hedge fund managers who were adding to their stakes substantially (or already accumulated large positions).
Among these funds, Eagle Capital Management held the most valuable stake in AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER), which was worth $486.3 million at the end of the third quarter. On the second spot was Lyrical Asset Management which amassed $298.1 million worth of shares. Greenlight Capital, Basswood Capital, and GLG Partners were also very fond of the stock, becoming one of the largest hedge fund holders of the company. In terms of the portfolio weights assigned to each position Greenlight Capital allocated the biggest weight to AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER), around 13.72% of its 13F portfolio. Cobalt Capital Management is also relatively very bullish on the stock, earmarking 7.59 percent of its 13F equity portfolio to AER.
Now, key hedge funds were leading the bulls' herd. Perella Weinberg Partners assembled the most outsized position in AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER). Perella Weinberg Partners had $2.1 million invested in the company at the end of the quarter. Paul J. Isaac's Arbiter Partners Capital Management also initiated a $1.3 million position during the quarter. The other funds with brand new AER positions are Karim Abbadi and Edward McBride's Centiva Capital, Matthew Tewksbury's Stevens Capital Management, and Gavin Saitowitz and Cisco J. del Valle's Springbok Capital.
Let's also examine hedge fund activity in other stocks - not necessarily in the same industry as AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER) but similarly valued. These stocks are Levi Strauss & Co. (NYSE:LEVI), Qiagen NV (NYSE:QGEN), Tapestry, Inc. (NYSE:TPR), and James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE:JHX). This group of stocks' market valuations match AER's market valuation.
[table] Ticker, No of HFs with positions, Total Value of HF Positions (x1000), Change in HF Position LEVI,10,21784,-5 QGEN,22,277049,-3 TPR,24,385305,-8 JHX,2,6880,0 Average,14.5,172755,-4 [/table]
View table here if you experience formatting issues.
As you can see these stocks had an average of 14.5 hedge funds with bullish positions and the average amount invested in these stocks was $173 million. That figure was $1220 million in AER's case. Tapestry, Inc. (NYSE:TPR) is the most popular stock in this table. On the other hand James Hardie Industries plc (NYSE:JHX) is the least popular one with only 2 bullish hedge fund positions. Compared to these stocks AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER) is more popular among hedge funds. Our calculations showed that top 20 most popular stocks among hedge funds returned 41.3% in 2019 and outperformed the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) by 10.1 percentage points. Hedge funds were also right about betting on AER as the stock returned 55.2% in 2019 and outperformed the market by an even larger margin. Hedge funds were clearly right about piling into this stock relative to other stocks with similar market capitalizations. Video: Click the image to watch our video about the top 5 most popular hedge fund stocks.
5 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds
Disclosure: None. This article was originally published at Insider Monkey.
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Bell Tower Park offers two heated pools and spas, a clubhouse and three miles of winding walking trails. Bell Tower Park's convenient proximity to shopping and dining makes it a popular community. Its south Fort Myers location is also nearby the warm Gulf Shores, Naples and Bonita Springs.
Bell Tower Park's amenities are centered at their 6,200 square-foot clubhouse with a heated outdoor pool, fitness rooms, billiards and TV lounge. For outdoor recreation, enjoy a game of basketball or tennis on their outdoor courts. Outside of Bell Tower Park's clubhouse area, there is an additional outdoor pool and spa, complete with restrooms, chairs, tables, and gas fired grills.
Bell Tower Park is an upscale, gated community of 518 carriage and courtyard homes built from 2003 to 2008. Bell Tower Park was developed by Grosse Pointe Development and sits on a charming 136 acres. Majority of the resale homes offer lake views and feature large, open floor plans.
There are four floor plans offered with the carriage homes of Bell Tower Park ranging from 1,747 to 2,315 square feet. Carriage homes offer a first or second-floor residence that has at least two bedrooms and bathrooms, a covered lanai, and an enclosed garage.
For a larger option, courtyard homes are also offered in two floor plans ranging from 1,146 to 2,429 square feet. Courtyard homes offer a one-story floor plan or a two-story floor plan. Most of the courtyard homes feature swimming pools and two car garages, two or three bedrooms, and at least two baths.
The are three sub-associations in Bell Tower Park, and homeowners pay one low monthly fee to their neighborhood HOA to take care of community amenities and landscaping maintenance.
The residences at Bell Tower Park are conveniently located close to I-75 in south Fort Myers, Florida. Situated just off of US 41, Bell Tower Park's community is just south of the heart of shopping and dining at Bell Tower Shopping Center. Residents take advantage of sunny Fort Myers' beaches because they're just a short drive away. Sanibel and Captiva Islands and beaches are favorite daytrip locations for the residents of Bell Tower Park and trips to nearby Naples and Bonita Springs are also popular.
Posted on September 12, 2013, in Real Estate and tagged 33912, Bell Tower Park, Bonita Springs Realtor, Cape Coral Realtor, Estero Realtor, Fort Myers Realtor, Homes for Sale in 33912, Kristen Pell, Property Guiding, Real Estate Biz, SWFL Real Estate. Bookmark the permalink.	Leave a comment.


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Professional Wrestling: WWE Monday Night RAW: 08/26/2013
Posted: August 27, 2013 in Professional Wrestling
Tags: A.J. Lee, Alberto del Rio, Antonio Cesaro, Arizona, Brad Maddox, Brie and Nikki Bella, Brie Bella, Cadillac Escalade, Cameron, Christian, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Curtis Axel, Damien Sandow, Daniel Bryan, Darren Young, Dean Ambrose, Des Moines, Dolph Ziggler, E! Entertainment Network, Eva Marie, Fandango, Gauntlet Match, Honda, Iowa, Jack Swagger, Jerry "The King" Lawler, Jo-Jo, John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL), John Cena, Josh Matthews, Los Matadores, Michael Cole, Naomi, Natalya, Natalya Neidhart, Nikki Bella, Paul Heyman, Phoenix, Professional Wrestling, Randy Orton, Renee Young, Ricardo Rodriguez, Rob Van Dam (RVD), Roman Reigns, Rosa Mendes, RyBack, Seth Rollins, Summer Rae, The Attitude Era, The Bella Twins, The Funkadactyls, The McMahon-Helmsley Era, The Miz, The Prime Time Players, The Real Americans, The Shield, The US Airways Center, The Wells Fargo Arena, Titantron, Titus O'Neil, Total Divas, Triple H (Hunter Hearst Helmsley), World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), WWE App, WWE Championship, WWE Divas, WWE Divas Championship, WWE Hall of Fame, WWE Intercontinental Championship, WWE Monday Night RAW, WWE Tag Team Championship, WWE United States Championship, WWE Womens Division, WWE World Heavyweight Championship, WWE.com, Zeb Coulter
Hosted by John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL), Michael Cole and WWE Hall of Famer Jerry "The King" Lawler.
This week begins with The Shield (WWE United States Champion Dean Ambrose and WWE Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns) standing guard outside the ring as Triple H (Hunter Hearst Hemsley) reminding everyone that what he did last week was good for business. He informed Daniel Bryan that he deserved to be assaulted last week, and summoned WWE Champion Randy Orton to congratulate him. Hunter praised him on breathing new life into the championship, and the company by giving him a brand new Cadillac Escalade. As Orton was about to look at his new truck, Daniel appeared, labeled it nicer than his Honda and thanked the fans for their support. He also thanked John Cena again for last week's match, and he thanked Hunter for showing his true colors by labeling him a sellout in a suit.
Daniel vowed that at Night of Champions, the face of the company will be rearranged. Hunter stated that Orton is an "A Player" and that Daniel is a "B", and booked him in a Gauntlet Match against The Shield.
1. Cody Rhodes vs. Fandango with Summer Rae.
THE WINNER: CODY RHODES!!!
NOTE: The Miz alongside Rosa Mendes, wearing one of Fandango's outfits, caused the distraction which led to the victory. After that, Fandango and Damien Sandow attacked Cody Rhodes and Miz ran in to stop it. RAW General Manager Brad Maddox booked all four men into a Tag Team Match.
2. TAG TEAM MATCH: The Miz and Cody Rhodes with The Returning Rosa Mendes vs. Fandango with Summer Rae and Damien Sandow.
THE WINNERS: THE MIZ AND CODY RHODES!!!
Fandango and Summer Rae left in the middle of the match (AGAIN).
A video of the new tag team named Los Matadores aired.
INTERVIEW: Christian.
Josh Matthews asked Christian for his thoughts on what Triple H is doing to the company, and stated that the answer is sketchy because he has the scars from The Attitude and McMahon-Helmsley Eras to prove it. He also mentioned the old saying that "If you turn your back on history, you're doomed to repeat it". He was interrupted by Orton, who felt that he was being threatened and a challenge for a match was issued, an accepted.
3. A NON-TITLE MATCH: WWE Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel vs. CM Punk.
On the WWE App, the fans and viewers were asked to vote for one of the following stipulations:
1. Paul Heyman banned from ringside.
2. Paul Heyman as the Special Guest Referee.
3. If CM Punk defeats Curtis Axel, he will face Paul Heyman.
THE WINNER: CM PUNK!!!
After the victory, Paul Heyman tried to escape, but security and the referees stopped him and hauled him to the ring. Punk's fight against Heyman didn't go over well.
This match went into the first three minutes of Hour 2.
4. A DIVAS MATCH: Natalya Neidhart with The Funkadactyls (Naomi and Cameron) vs. Brie Bella with Nikki Bella and Eva Marie.
THE SPECIAL GUEST RING ANNOUNCER FOR THIS MATCH: Jo-Jo.
THE WINNER: BRIE BELLA!!!
NOTE: After the match, WWE Divas Champion A.J. Lee insulted the whole cast of E!'s Total Divas, which nearly led to them attacking her.
5. A NON-TITLE MATCH: Rob Van Dam (RVD) with Ricardo Rodriguez vs. WWE World Heavyweight Champion Alberto del Rio.
THE WINNER: ROB VAN DAM!!!
INTERVIEW: RyBack.
Josh Matthews asked RyBack about him intimidating and assaulting people, and that interview didn't go over well.
INTERVIEW: WWE Intercontinental Champion Curtis Axel and Paul Heyman.
Renee Young asked Paul Heyman if he saw what was coming next. Heyman stated that he didn't and labeled CM Punk a "prodigal son who needed to be punished".
6. A NON-TITLE MATCH: Christian vs. WWE Champion Randy Orton.
THE WINNER: RANDY ORTON.
NOTE: After the match, Daniel Bryan appeared on the Titantron seated on top of Randy Orton's brand new Cadillac Escalade after spray painting "YES" on it numerous times!!!
7. Titus O'Neil with Darren Young vs. Jack Swagger with Zeb Coulter and Antonio Cesaro.
THE WINNER: TITUS O'NEIL!!!
An exclusive video from WWE.com featuring The Wyatt Family (Bray Wyatt, Erick Rowan and Luke Harper) aired.
8. A MAIN EVENT GAUNTLET MATCH: The Shield vs. Daniel Bryan.
MATCH #1: WWE Tag Team Champion Seth Rollins vs. Daniel Bryan.
THE WINNER: DANIEL BRYAN!!!
MATCH #2: WWE United States Champion Dean Ambrose vs. Daniel Bryan.
THE WINNER VIA DISQUALIFICATION: DANIEL BRYAN!!!
MATCH #3: WWE Tag Team Champion Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan.
After the match, Randy Orton RKO'ed Daniel Bryan as he was held by The Shield.
Match #'s 3, 6 and the main event are the highlight matches of the night!!!
Curtis Axel, CM Punk, Christian, Randy Orton, Seth Rollins and Daniel Bryan are the wrestlers of the night!!!
The return of Rosa Mendes was the highlight of the night!!!
ANALYSIS: A little bit better than last week.
Next week, RAW will be live from The Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines, Iowa.


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How to build a natural home legally.
A superbly useful interview with Kim Siu of the charity Get Rugged.
There are two ways of building yourself a natural home, no matter which country you are in: The unofficial way. And the official way.
The unofficial way involves skirting round the edges of the system, finding loopholes and sliding deftly through them. (I've seen this done in every country I've been to so far, though while entirely possible generally appeals to more risk-taking type of personalities).
Then there's the official way. This costs more money, but may buy some peace of mind...in the end:)
Kim Siu, who runs the self build charity Get Rugged up in Scotland, built her beautiful straw bale house the official way. I was lucky enough to stay in that house, and talk to her. Here's what she had to say:
Atulya: What do you think is the most important thing you need to build a house to code?
Kim: Sheer bloody-mindedness, and determination. That's the number one thing you need. You mustn't get ground down, and always keep telling yourself there is a way. Because there usually is. Even if you have to compromise. And sometimes we have to compromise in life. It's just like that.
Atulya: I completely agree. You need determination no matter how you build. There's always a way. There's no problem without a solution. And sometimes you might have to change your vision slightly, but the basic core of it remains.
Kim: Yes. We kept our vision strong, but we just had to do little pivots every now and again. We found that working with the system, rather than trying to go against it really helped. We got the planners in from the very first stage, before we even parted with a penny. And then we did a staged approach, so every time we got some designs I'd go and speak to the planners, and show them what we were doing. Now we're doing another build, so we're doing exactly the same. I spoke with the planners. She came on site. I've showed her the early stages of the concept. And again, every time we develop the designs, we'll take it to her, and she'll give us her feedback. It's actually really good, because you get a lot of foresight, which you don't have to use as hindsight:) She's not worrying us. She's making us aware of things. Like road access, and different conditions. So we're not surprised later on.
Atulya: Yes and you're not forking out loads of money first, and then regretting it. So let me just clarify. It is totally legal to build a straw bale house in the UK, right?
Kim: Oh yes. Absolutely.
Atulya: So what did you have to compromise on?
Kim: We had to compromise on window sizes . They wanted the larger ones on the bottom. They wanted everything to be symmetrical, and didn't like anything too quirky, because it has to fit in with the local vernacular. If you were somewhere else, like Findhorn where there are more alternative buildings, you'd have more freedom It's very area dependent.
Also planners need to be dealt with on an individual basis. You've really got to develop a good relationship with them.
Atulya: Yes. That is the same everywhere. Relationships are key.
Kim: There are two government bodies you have to deal with: planners and building control. Planners deal with things like local vernacular, and you have some flexibility here. You can appeal their decision too. But building control is different. It's the nuts and bolts of the build, your house's sustainability principles, it has to meet various regulations. They want engineer's certificates and things.
Atulya: Did you have to make compromises there too?
Kim: Oh that was the worst bit! In our build, there was an architect, a builder, and an engineer all talking to building control. This meant it turned into a very complex process. It could have been simplified by using a design and build company, because they design the building they're going to build. Then you know exactly how much it's going to cost, and it's easier.
Eventually, I went to the building control officer and asked, "How can I make this easier for you to put us through building control," and he said, "Get your architects and get your builders, and get them all sat round this table." Really clear communication is essential.
Atulya: Does building control happen while the building is being constructed? Or before or after?
Kim: You can't even dig a hole until you have a building warrant, and it took us about 18 months to get through both planning and building control.
Atulya: What advice would you give to anyone wanting to build a natural home the official way?
Kim: Either get a design and build company (the easy option), or if you're going to build it yourself get a team you can work with, get people (engineer/architect) who know the codes and can help you get through planning.
Atulya: And the cost?
Kim: The charge is dependent on the cost of the build or the cost of the site. It's proportional. So you're talking several thousand pounds before you've even broken the ground.
Atulya: Which is more than my whole house cost! But there are advantages to doing it this way. What are they?
Kim: They're not going to pull your house down. Mine is a family house. I've got four kids. I'm on a B road. People drive past us, so we'd have got told on before long. You have more security this way. In truth though, the main thing was to get a mortgage. We couldn't have got a mortgage any other way.
Atulya: There you go. I didn't know that. So you can get a mortgage even on a self-build natural home project?
Kim: Yes. Though only certain places. We got ours at the Ecology Building Society.
Atulya: And any last tips to close on?
Kim: Create decent relationships with everyone. Planners and building code officers are human beings too. Don't annoy everyone too much. It's OK to dig in sometimes for something you really want, but treat people kindly, and with respect. It goes a long way.
Getting permission to build a natural home in the UK. What you have to do:
1. Get planning permission. Call in a planning officer at the beginning to look at your site, and make sure you're able to build on it. Some tests (drainage) are done at this stage.
2. Gather an experienced team (design and build company, or an architect/builder who knows the ropes). Go for your building warrant through a building control officer. (You can apply for planning and a building warrant together.)
3. Once you have a warrant, start building. Building control will turn up at intervals to check things.
For more information go to GET RUGGED, and pick up the free self build PDF. Or connect on Facebook.
IN THE USA? It's a very similar story. Here's an article by Sigi Koko on how to build to code in the US.
Do you find these posts valuable? If so please consider supporting me on Patreon so that The Mud Home can continue. You can give as little as $1 a month (less than half a cup of coffee). Many thanks to those who are already Mud Patrons!
In France we found that keeping the living space of the building below 125sqm avoided expensive architects. We were looking at a log-build so this was quite easy.
Keep people (mayor, planners etc) informed, cooperate, and be flexible. You might think your log cabin/yurt/mud house an ideal addition to the local countryside - others may well not.
Atulya
Ah thanks for adding that Tim! Very useful.
Hugh Morshead link
My earth bag hobbit house (315 sq.ft) cost Can$56. The walls and roof are covered with worm compost. I grew kale on the roof, the deer ate it during the winter, it is now a tangle of wild weeds and grass. I've been living off the grid for seven years and the money saved has given me the option of buying another property and doing it all again if I ever have problems with officialdom. My viewpoint is to open source info on DIY ultra low cost housing so that the codes will have to be changed to accommodate us all. When the people lead, the leaders follow.
I completely agree. Your strategy was exactly my strategy. If you enjoy the building process, and are comfortable with risk, it makes financial sense just to wing it, because the permits cost more than the house itself (though depending on where you live, if you are unlucky and get a demolition order, it may cost a lot lot more). Everyone is different though. Building to code costs more money, but the more folk who do it, the more mainstream it becomes.
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Did the Virus Kill Helsinki? I Don't Think So.
September 18, 2020 Timo H.	2 Comments
Debating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cities has occupied the urban discussion airspace across the globe. Finland is no exception. The mainstream narrative, also boosted by the media, is that people are fleeing cities in search of a healthier life in the exurbs, if not venturing even further to the solitude of the countryside. And they might not be returning, we're warned. Migration data from the worst lockdown months hints that increasingly many are preferring to look at cities from the rearview mirrors of their cars. Helsinki and other urban hotspots have lost their allure. The fear of the virus has killed the city.
Well, hello from the graveyard.
I've spent most of the time since Finland's "lockdown" measures were announced in late March in the Kallio district of central Helsinki. I thought, perhaps, someone might fancy some insider experience from the struggling urban heartlands during the extraordinary past few months.
Normally, we like to bring up Kallio in urban debates all the time. So, why not now also? Kallio's magic is that it's not only the most densely built and populated environment in Finland, but it is also the most youthful area in Helsinki, with a large population of young adults. Appropriately, Kallio is sometimes said to be a lens into the future — an intriguing idea for imagining the post-corona city.
Kallio just before the restrictions were starting to roll out.
Life in the "lockdown city" began in mid-March when the pandemic triggered a national state of emergency. Schools, libraries, and many other public services were closed, and soon also bars and restaurant dining rooms. Events were all cancelled. The entire Helsinki region was even separated from the rest of the country for two and a half weeks.
Us Kallio residents, along with the rest of Helsinkians, suddenly found ourselves stuck at home with nowhere to go. It didn't take long for the first commentators to declare the end of urbanism as we know it.
Indeed, the escalation of the emergency was a blow to the belly for a neighborhood known as the place where it's always happening. Real-life encounters became dangerous overnight. The trajectory for everyday life threatened to narrow to nothing more than sitting at home in our small apartments from morning until evening, surviving the work day on the couch or at the dining table, and then switching to social Zoom calls to grieve about how much we all wanted things to get back to the way they were.
If you follow the let's-ditch-cities storyline, that's what really happened. End of story.
But from here, it sure didn't look like as if it were the end. More like the beginning of a new chapter.
A spring walk in Mustikkamaa, outside of the rush hours. Photo: Monica Vaccari
Just a couple of days in, it seemed that hardly anyone was going to quarantine themselves indoors. It was as if people stayed in only long enough for them to dig out their winter sportswear, before wandering out to meet friends for a walk, run, or bike ride.
Around where I live, people gravitated to the recreational areas of Mustikkamaa and Töölönlahti, making them popular destinations of the corona spring. They and other routes were so popular that it became a public health talking point whether people should actually be strolling in such crowded areas. It could be an easy opportunity for the virus to spread. I don't know if anyone ever caught it this way, but it sure was an opportunity to do things with others, be seen, and run into familiar faces.
In the old pre-corona days, we'd often be doing all of that in restaurants, bars, and cafés. Habits that were all now very much erased. Bars and nightclubs were shut down entirely in early April, and restaurants didn't have it much easier either. They could keep their outdoor seating areas open, but this wasn't worth much, as it was way too cold to sit outside. Restaurants were only left with the option of serving takeout.
I like to think that I'm a fairly average Kallio resident when I admit to being a fan of eating out. There's the occasional dinner with friends, and I always enjoy stepping outside for lunch. It's the perfect break in the workday and always a neighborly occasion of sorts — even those times when you eat alone. In a neighborhood composed of many small apartments, people are likely to form emotional bonds with the various venues that offer additional living and dining spaces in their life.
Coffee and snacks, only to go.
Suddenly, the corona restrictions were about to tear these bonds apart. The worst-case scenario was a wave of bankruptcies, meaning losses for everyone, and possibly irreversible changes to the neighborhood's character.
Campaigns were started to help restaurants survive the turmoil. I also wanted to do something and came up with the idea of compiling an online list of restaurants that bravely kept their kitchens open to serve takeout despite the difficult circumstances. I hoped that a single interface would make it easier for people to support their local businesses.
I thought I could build up the list in no time, anticipating I'd only find a handful of open doors here and there. How wrong I was.
"Thank you for your order".
It turned out that most Kallio restaurants chose to remain open for takeout. And not only because of economic necessity. I had underestimated the strength of the bonds between us residents and our beloved restaurateurs.
The takeout business breathed more life into the early weeks of the lockdown city. There were now people lingering on the streets waiting for their orders. Sometimes you'd share a laugh with other patrons or bump into a friend passing by. During one memorable takeout wait, the restaurant owner's preschooler entertained us with vivid stories of his marvelous adventures.
People in line for their bakery treats.
I soon learned that there was more I had been wrong about with my restaurant project. I had assumed the number of open venues would decrease as weeks went by. Quite the opposite happened.
While updating my list, I discovered that some initially closed restaurants didn't stay that way for long. After a week or two, they were back in business. Others expanded their opening hours. Some cooked up interesting new concepts and service models. One Chinese restaurant, for example, introduced a monthly lunch subscription and 10 lunches pass. There were also experiments with restaurants opening takeout service at addresses other than their own premises. New restaurants and cafes even opened during the lockdown or soon after it. The restaurant apocalypse many had feared was nowhere on the horizon.
During the lockdown, food trucks and other mobile food vendors parked along the popular recreational routes. This one is a new boat cafe that found a good (and otherwise underperforming) spot in Kalasatama, on the route between Kallio and Mustikkamaa recreational island.
An amusing detail was that during the bars-strictly-closed-and-takeout-only weeks a couple of bars figured out they could stay open by declaring themselves shops where you could buy bottles of beer. It was a sight for sore eyes to see people hanging out sipping beer at the doorstep of a pub, almost as if they'd never closed at all.
This bar didn't only settle for "takeout beer", they also expanded to beer shlushies.
Sadly, they really did close until June. Kallio wouldn't be Kallio without its wide variety of lively bars. They function as natural meeting places for the young residents and have also made Kallio the entire city's favorite place to grab a drink. But besides those one or two quasi-open bars serving takeout beer, they were all now deeply asleep in a corona coma.
People, however, found no time to rest. The first warm days of April saw the neighborhood's parks spotted with picnic groups, continuing the tradition of meeting over social drinks. At any park you visited, you could watch flocks of picnickers coordinately inch along the fresh green grass and barely warm rocks, the sun's rays their compass. Someone seemed to always have handily brought a portable speaker to maintain the merry atmosphere with a steady stream of energetic tunes.
By late May, you could smell summer in the air, and, contrary to popular belief, Kallio was still alive. Certainly crippled, but by no means the kind of corpse that corona-ridden cities were often portrayed as.
The most intense lockdown period wasn't, in fact, that bad at all. All the shops I needed remained open, and so did other services I rely on like my local gym, barber shop, and dry cleaners. Other services began bouncing back in May and June. The local library opened in early May. Kallio's art galleries began opening their doors in June and so did the public saunas. The first courses, workshops, and hobby activities were also reintroduced in June. The traditional flea market in the park just down my street grew week by week, from the first handful of vendors in early May to shortly become the sprawling trading festival it always has been.
Every Sunday, Dallapé park transforms into a fantastically chaotic fleamarket.
Of course, things weren't exactly as they'd been before. The lockdown weeks proved to be highly toxic for the entertainment and cultural activities scene. Kallio is an urban-culture epicenter in Helsinki, with activities ranging from club concerts and DJ acts, to resident-organized block parties and blockbuster festivals like Flow. Pretty much everything in the eventscape was canceled and things haven't fully recovered as event restrictions are still in place today. There have been heart-warming community-led initiatives, such as crowdfunding, to support Helsinki's cultural actors, but the urban-culture industry will indisputably still need heavy economic support to pull through this mess.
Art isn't typically sold on the street like this in Helsinki. A symptom of the hard times within the arts & culture community, or just corona-inspired action for using public space in a new way? Or both?
But while at the industry scale things seem foggy at best, it's worth noting that the hard times didn't stop people from organizing events and cultural activities.
While the news about Italians singing on their balconies was circulating the world, in Helsinki we were playing Darude's "Sandstorm" from ours. In Kallio, this was soon followed by a saxophonist jumping on a rooftop to play "Careless Whisper" for the neighborhood. This spontaneous concert went on to evolve into a series of rooftop concerts with visiting artists.
The first in a series of Axel Kalland's rooftop concerts. Photo: Axel Kalland
Things, of course, jumped to a whole new level at the start of June when the bars and restaurants were carefully allowed to open their doors again. This immediately, or at the latest by mid-July, brought smaller club gigs back to traditional concert venues.
By June it was also warm enough to stay outside late. This was fertile ground for the mushrooming of all types of informal events and parties in Kallio's parks, adjacent recreational areas, and brownfields. The phenomenon eventually got so big that, by August, the media reported some residents were fed up with the "loud and late" techno parties.
The tip of an old cargo harbor just next to Kallio was one of the stages for the blossoming informal nightlife.
Sompasauna, another popular venue, also re-opened in early June, a move that was welcomed with open arms. The place became so popular that you sometimes had to stand in line to enter any of the saunas. The late weekend hours were especially busy as the newly opened bars closed by 11pm, leaving the rest of the night for informal afterparties and activities.
During the summer months, public events also became somewhat legal again, resulting in the reintroduction of larger outdoor concerts and non-underground parties, like the series of popular techno picnics in local parks.
And while we're at this, I also must add that the impact of the virus hasn't been entirely negative. The side effects of Finland's strategy for reopening bars and restaurants was a win for public life and the liveliness of Kallio's streets. At the beginning of June, bars and restaurants were allowed to open 50% of their indoor seating capacity, moving to 75% three weeks later. In mid-July, most restrictions were lifted completely. But from day one, there were basically no restrictions on outdoor seating (apart from opening hours), which inspired many restaurateurs and bar owners to make sure they had as much terrace space as possible.
This corner in Karhupuisto park has always been greatly underused, but this summer it's been taken over by a terrace.
When the bars were back in business, Vaasankatu, the well-known bar street at the corner of my building, immediately turned into an outdoor living room of sorts, its sidewalks lined with groups of people and a soundscape of happy conversations and laughter. The same happened throughout Kallio. The virus brought more terraces to the neighborhood and more people to enjoy them than ever before.
Day one of the bars and restaurants reopening across from my building. There are plenty of more terraces on the street.
Coincidentally or not, the corona-summer terraces have also made the streets of Kallio — and in central Helsinki more broadly — much greener than they were before. The trend has been to creatively include plants and colorful flowers into the street furniture settings, all adding up to pleasantly soft streetscapes.
As I write this, I can't help but wonder where I might find the off-putting city we hear so much about. The past months in Kallio have demonstrated a fascinating story of adaptation and resilience, ending with today's life being not much different than the days before the pandemic. The neighborhood has remained lively, sociable, constantly interesting, and is clearly packed with people who won't let one virus get in their way of having a good time.
When returning back home on a late Thursday evening in June, I ran into a terrific spontaneous street concert. Another wonderful Kallio surprise.
This is not to undermine the severity of the pandemic or to suggest that there aren't many pressing urban problems that need to be solved, such as the difficult situation vulnerable and marginalized people are facing in the midst of rising unemployment and diminished access to social services. Or figuring out how to keep public transportation alive when riders are still sticking to their districts or choosing other means of travel.
Yes, difficult questions about where cities are headed remain.
But the death of cities is not one of them.
CitiesCOVID-19HelsinkiUrbanism
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2 thoughts on "Did the Virus Kill Helsinki? I Don't Think So."
Kimmo Lapintie says:
As you know, one of the most famous fallacies in the theory of argumentation is the straw man, and this blogpost represents exactly that. There has been no narrative of the death of cities – to the contrary, everybody seems to feel it necessary to emphasise that urbanisation cannot be reversed. Instead, multi-locality can increase, as people also see the danger inherent in urbanisation and want to increase the flexibility in their living. It cannot be denied, however, that the pandemic has hit the very essence of urbanity: density, diversity and connectedness. It remains to be seen how cities will cope with this new situation that has made ideologists like Glaeser sound utterly naive.
Timo H. says:
Kimmo, I'm glad you enjoy my writing! I completely agree that the real impact of the pandemic remains to be seen. Until then, we'll have to cope with laying out different ideas and observations about any possible changes to the pre-virus urbanization pattern. Perhaps we'll see people adopt new lifestyles, perhaps not. I see no shortage of stories and commentators humoring the idea that they might.
Guardian Cities Global Voices The Guardian has selected my blog among the best city blogs around the world. Check out the rest.
Urban Helsinki I'm a member of Urban Helsinki, a group of Helsinki-based urbanists determined to create better cities. See what we've been up to and like us on FB!
Reinventing the Finnish City
Kallion "Luuppi" ja Fleminginkadun kävelykatukokeilu
The Rise of the Parklet
Inspiration for a "15-Minute City" Action Plan
Kallion noutolounaat – Take-Out Lunch Options in Kallio
The Power of DIY Urbanism: How a Group of Skateboarders Changed the City
'This Waterfront Needs a Highway': The Huge Mistakes Cities Keep Making
Contrasting Smart City Approaches: Dubai vs. Vienna


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To benefit from our expertise, obtain an estimate, a budget report or receive more information on our services and products, please contact one of our estimators.


This is my daily commute on the Tunnelbana's Green Line, taken one sunny morning in late October, starting at the very end of the line and continuing until the line heads underground at Thorildsplan.
Where even 7yos know that Vampires live. Mostly because of Let The Right One In, set here. Much of it was filmed in the far north for reliability of snow during filming, but the housing and jungle gym is spot on.
Crossing over this arm of Mälaren fills me with joy every time I do it. The view southward is even more lovely but hard to capture from the train. On this particular day, it was a mirror.
Take their shoes off when entering your house.


text:
C.C. Spaulding Gym
BEARS EDGED BY SAINT AUGUSTINE'S, 76-74
Saint Augustine's
Saint Augustine's 32 44 76
Shaw (8-9, 3-5 CIAA) 23 51 74
Pts: GATHRIGHT,Tyre - 20
Reb: TEAM - 9
Ast: GATHRIGHT,Tyre - 5
Pts: Amir Hinton - 23
Reb: Alex Owens - 11
Ast: Amir Hinton - 3
RALEIGH, N.C. – The Shaw University men's basketball team fell in the final seconds of regulation to the visiting Falcons of Saint Augustine's University 76-74 inside an over capacitated C.C. Spaulding Gymnasium Saturday afternoon in Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Southern Division action.
The top scorers of the evening featured junior Amir Hinton (Philadelphia, PA) with 23 points, five rebounds and three assists while junior DaVaughn Kelsie (Richmond, VA) scored 17 points and sophomore Alex Owens (Brandenton, FL) chipped in 11 points and a team-best 11 rebounds. Junior Derrick Randolph (Chicago, IL) finished with 10 points rounding out the double figure scoring for the Bears.
Shaw dropped to 5-4 at home this season and are now 2-2 in the Southern Division. SAU (6-12, 3-7 CIAA) now improves to 2-3 in the division.
Free throw shooting put a damper on the Bears offensively as Shaw connected only 18-of-26 from the charity striped compared to the Falcons who hit 22-of-28. The Bears led in every other category including points in the paint (22-8), points off turnovers (21-18) and second chances (12-4).
The Bears held an 11-5 lead over the Falcons after punching an 11-0 run in the first seven minutes of action. The Falcons came flying back with 16-4 run to take a 16-15 lead at the 10:04 mark. The lead changed four times until two free throws from the Falcons led to a scoring margin of 12-2 for a 32-23 stand over the Bears at halftime.
The Falcons led by as many as 13 points in the second half capped off by a 3-pointer from Hirk Williams but a determined Bears squad stayed the course and continued to claw its way back to rattle off the double digit deficit by scoring 14 unanswered points that regained the lead with 5:35 left in regulation.
Shaw kept the lead for over two minutes but back-to-back 3-pointers from the Falcons gave SAU the lead they would not relinquish. Facing a five-point deficit, Hinton hit a 3-pointer with 18 seconds remaining to give the Bears hope but the Falcons hit the free throws they needed down the stretch to ice the game.
Tyre Gathright was the leading scorer for SAU with 20 points, five rebounds and five assists while Rashad George and Mel'Quan Ames tallied 19 and 17 points, respectively. Ames also had a team-high seven rebounds.
Shaw will return to action Monday, Jan. 28 with a home contest against Livingstone College for Vitilgo Awareness Day. The game is scheduled to start at 8 p.m.
For the most up-to-date information on Shaw women's basketball and its 13 varsity sport teams, please visit www.shawbears.com.


Returning after their LDIF18 debut, Urban Jazz Dance Company will present a mixed bill of work exploring issues affecting the international Deaf community.
The company interweave American sign language with urban jazz rhythms to create thought-provoking performances that capture the imagination.
Deaf's IMPRISONED explores what it means to be living in a "prison within a prison" as a D/deaf person in the criminal justice system. The evening will explore the tension between Deaf utopia and Deaf diaspora.
The company, featuring Deaf and hearing dancers, is led by award-winning African-American Deaf choreographer, Antoine Hunter, who has been featured in DeafLife Magazine, Dance Spirit Magazine and has been featured on CCN's The Great Big Story. Antoine will be joined by Zahna Simon, the company's assistant director; together they are the driving force behind Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival.


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College Basketball Analysis: Louisville Falls to WVU
We all know Louisville and West Virginia are bound by law to play extremely close games with crazy finishes, but this one may have been the craziest of them all.
With just under two minutes to play, the Cards took a 67-62 lead after a Preston Knowles jumper. WVU cut the lead to 67-64 with about thirty seconds left, but Chris Smith sank two free throws to extend the lead back to 5 at 69-64. Then things started to fall apart for Louisville.
West Virginia inbounded the ball with a half minute to play and no timeouts. Joe Mazzulla threw a lazy pass to Casey Mitchell on the left wing. However, Kyle Kuric was playing well off Mitchell and not only could Kyle not intercept the pass, but was left in poor position to challenge the Mitchell shot, which he sank to trim the Louisville lead to 69-67.
After a Cardinal timeout, UofL got the ball in to Peyton Siva, who was quickly fouled with 17 seconds left. Peyton, a 69% foul shooter on the year, was only able to make one free throw and West Virginia got the ball back with a chance to tie the game.
The Mountaineers got the ball up the floor and on the left wing, ran Mitchell off a screen. Both Louisville defenders mixed up their responsibilities and got caught underneath, thus leaving WVU's leading scorer with another open look from three which he again buried to tie the game at 70-70.
No problem, the Cards now had the ball with 8 seconds left and at worst, was heading to overtime in Morgantown. That's when the sh*t really hit the fan.
Preston Knowles brought the ball upcourt and got a decent look from three on the top right. He missed and on the ensuing chaos of the rebound, ran into WVU's Truck Bryant resulting in a foul call with 0.6 seconds left. Bryant sank both free throws and after an unsuccessful Chris Smith heave, the Cards drop the regular season finale in heartbreaking fashion.
Ok, let's address the biggest issue. What was Preston Knowles doing and was it a foul? Second part first, in my opinion, it was a foul. I understand the argument of based on how much physical play is allowed during the course of the game, and the entire Big East season for that matter, the official should probably let it go and let the teams decide the outcome in overtime. I get it and generally agree with it.
However, you simply cannot give the refs the option of calling a foul there. If Bryant makes an 80 foot, one handed shot, you live with it and move on. You just CANNOT do anything that resembles a foul.
In boxing, there's a saying if you don't want to get screwed out of a decision, don't leave it up to the judges. I think the same logic applies here. If you don't want to lose on a bad call, or anything that could be construed as a bad call, don't put the officials in a spot where they may blow their whistle. The bottom line is Preston did not need to be that close to Mitchell in that situation and as much as it sucks, I think the correct call was made.
Another issue that will probably get more attention in the basketball offices in the defensive breakdowns resulting in the two Casey Mitchell threes. Those were two fundamental mistakes made that led to this defeat as much as Preston's foul. The one thing UofL cannot allow to happen with a five point lead is three point shots.
On the first Mitchell three, Kuric got caught playing well off him. The part of that particular play that really bugs me, and was the key element, is the fact is if Kyle is on him a step closer, he either steals the pass or Mazzulla doesn't even make the pass. Instead, Kyle sagged too far off and by the time he realized he could steal the pass, he was late with the steal attempt and gave Mitchell the open look.
On the second three, Siva and Knowles got caught in poor position defensively. When West Virginia ran Mitchell off a screen on the left wing, Siva, who was switching onto Mitchell, failed to get out in enough time and the result was another open look. This breakdown to me was more a lack of proper mentality.
In that situation, with Louisville holding a three point lead, you can give up a backdoor cut, a drive to the basket, or even a foul inside, but you must defend the three point line. With a screen and switch coming, Peyton has to get out there and be sure to not allow an open three point attempt.
UofL did not defend correctly in those situations and it burned them.
Now, having said all that, let's not lose sight of the big picture. Yes, this loss was crushing and immensely disappointing. However, Louisville is still the #3 seed in the Big East tournament, which is what they were going to be win or lose. The only thing today's loss does is change the Cards' record from 24-7 to 23-8 and their conference record from 13-5 to 12-6.
It's perfectly fine to be ticked off about this game and dare I say it's not the absolute worst thing that could happen going into the Big East tourney. But, Louisville must channel this emotion in the right way. They can use this as motivation to be sure to never make those mistakes again and make a run during the tournament. Or, they can let this demoralize them and they'll get bounced early in New York.
Whatever the case, we'll find out Thursday around 9:45 when the Cards take the floor again.
Oh, and by the way, Kyle Kuric is really good. It's his world, we're just living in it.
Buzz up!
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College Basketball Analysis: Louisville Falls to Villanova
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College Basketball Analysis: Louisville Plays Poorly, Falls to Drexel
College Basketball Analysis: Louisville Dismantles Chattanooga
College Basketball Analysis: Louisville Defeats UNLV
College Basketball: Louisville Mounts Comeback vs. Marquette


PORTSMOUTH � Seacoast Rotary Club of Portsmouth announced its 2019 grant application will go live Feb. 15.
In its 10th year, the Seacoast Rotary Allocations Program is open to 501(c)(3) organizations serving Greenland, New Castle, Newington, Portsmouth and Rye. New this year, organizations that received funding in 2018 are ineligible to apply for funding until 2020. Information is at www.seacoastrotary.org and applications must be submitted online by March 31 at 4 p.m.
Seacoast Rotary each year allocates funds raised from its annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot race to community organizations. Last year, $25,000 was awarded to more than a dozen Seacoast nonprofits. Grant awards typically range from $1,200 to $5,000. Through this process, Seacoast Rotary also selects two beneficiaries for its 5K Turkey Trot. Veterans Martial Arts and Seacoast Pathways in 2018 received 100 percent of race sponsorships amounting to a donation of $12,200 to each organization.
Seacoast Rotary is a welcoming and diverse group of 35 individuals who primarily support the local community through hands-on projects, local scholarships and charitable grants, and also participates in international service projects. The club meets each Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at Caf� Espresso in Portsmouth and is open to community members interested in learning more.


I have never proclaimed to have all the answers to Ghana's problems, but I do have ideas and if you humbly permit me I would like to share one with you. My fear however is how it will be received and the possible repercussions. Although I have since 1996 spoken out about Ghana's many social ills, including the state of our tourism and creative arts sectors, lately it seems my opinions and views are taken as personal shade! And it saddens me. Anyone who visits the archives of New African Magazine for example will discover that for the 7 years whilst I was a regular columnist, a common and recurring theme in my writings was to highlight an issue in Ghana and offering my ideas.
So please kindly permit me to share an idea I have for the Full Circle Festival which was recently launched in Accra. I share this ideas simply because I think it will benefit Ghana and because after leaving the press launch, the only information I and many people left with was that Hollywood celebrities would be coming to Ghana in 2019, as part of the celebrations to mark the start of the transatlantic slave trade 400 years ago. Although a press conference, the media people and bloggers were kept in the dark as to what these celebrities would be doing for or as part of the Full Circle Festival; how it will benefit Ghana's tourism, arts and culture; how the festival will be monitored in terms of the number of tourists who come to Ghana. I sat at that press conference and all I could think about was how Ghana could benefit from the relationship between these African-American celebrities and The Year of Return.
Ghana wants Diasporas to return home in 2019. The Full Circle Festival is a good vehicle with which to draw in tourists whilst improving tourist sites and the creative arts. Imagine this… in 2017 / 2018, the full programme for The Full Circle Festival is drawn up and worldwide advertising starts. The celebrities will be hyping it on their social media all year. By the time the launch takes place, a full programme line-up would be made available.
January 2019: Family Day with Boris, Nicole and their kids. Co-hosted by Okyeame Kwame and his family.
Workshop by Blair Underwood on stage production.
Fundraising dinner for a school of performing by Jessie Williams etc.
February: Story telling with Rosario Dawson at Fort Dixcove / Fort Metal Cross.
Ghana Culture Day for children hosted by Abraham Attah and a Hollywood celeb etc.
March: Ghanaian naming ceremony hosted Akosua Busia.
Mountain climbing with Dolvett etc.
August: All roads lead to Assin Manso for Big Emancipation Day event. Interactive activities which sees visitors having the chance to engage with a number of Hollywood stars.
Round table discussion between Diasporas and relevant Ghanaaians as to how to successfully execute the return home agenda etc.
November: Stage play featuring Hollywood and Ghanaian cast. This stage play would then be taken international to market Ghana, just as the Lion King markets South Africa so beautifully.
Before I left the press conference, I had ideas for each month of 2019 that would see Ghana using the Hollywood celebrities in a practical way that would draw in both domestic and international tourists and have a positive impact on the creative arts industry. If an itinerary was published early enough, people would be able to save money and plan which month of 2019 they wanted to make the return home.
But I attended a press conference of a launch with no content. In the past, I would have asked questions at the press conference. This time however I had to think over it more than 100 times simply because I'm tired of something I have been doing for over 20 years now being interpreted as shade. Ghana had international visitors. I did not want to be the one to start any wahala by asking legitimate questions at a press conference. I am learning. Small small. So I sat quietly at the press conference.
But the ideas are still in my head and one of the reasons I started blogging was so I could have a space to share the many things on my mind. Some people have told me not to put my ideas out as they will be stolen. I say every second I have a fresh idea. People can steal. People can choose to contact me and say hey we wanna buy your idea. People can hire me to implement my ideas for them. I don't mind because truly, I am the ideas woman and the ideas keep popping.
Look, if these high profile celebrities have shown interest in doing something with / for Ghana, it would be a wasted opportunity for them to come and simply go. I appreciate Ghana gained a great deal of attention on social media. I am not for one minute saying anything negative about the recent visit of celebrities to Ghana. I am simply suggesting that once they have shown the commitment, Ghana must find a practical way to use their services, to the benefit of Ghana's tourism and creative arts. Visiting tourist sites and taking pictures will not grow our industry. How many tourists visited Ghana as a result of seeing live footage of former President Barack Obama in Ghana??? The idea of celebrities visiting automatically improving Ghana's tourism and arts has not worked for us. It is perhaps time to think of alternative ways of using the relationship between Ghana and high profile celebrities.
2019 is The Year Of Return. Aside the Full Circle Festival, what other activities and events have been planned from January to December 2019 to entice visitors or returnees? How prepared is Ghana? According to Catherine AFeku, Hon. Minister Tourism, Arts and Culture "we need in excess of one million African Americans to respond and come to Ghana." (https://citinewsroom.com/2019/01/02/ghana-4th-on-cnn-travels-list-of-places-to-visit-in-2019/?fbclid=IwAR1HVgCw8HUwi60W113nq7S2Yt6LEr2-uu-nb_a0wWlsvTEzhA4lsuWuZc8). Add to this "in excess of one million African Americans" those from Surinam, Jamaica, UK, etc. etc. etc. and Ghana should see millions of people trooping into the country in 2019. How prepared are we? Playing with 1 million as a minimum number of people expected, that would mean on average 83,000 African-Americans arriving in Ghana each month. Imagine if even a quarter of these, coincidentally decided to visit the same tourist site, on the same day, leaving Accra at the same time. Imagine over 20,000 people urinating on the road between Accra and Wli Falls, or Accra and Kumasi or Accra and Tamale.
Close to 100 high powered, wealthy people were in Ghana for the Full Circle Festival. And although many have enjoyed touching African soil, many more have left Ghana with more questions than answers as to what exactly there were doing here. They are not the only ones. Ghana has a wonderful opportunity to grow her tourism and creative arts by working with these high profile Hollywood names. Let us not waste the opportunity and be excited and satisfied to take pictures with our favourite stars. Ghana must grow beyond that.
This is not a personal shade against anyone. It is me doing what I have done for over 20 years… seeing a loophole and suggesting the opportunity it brings. How can our tourism, culture and arts grow if we are silenced? If we are all scared to bring out the ideas in our heads, ideas which could benefit Ghana, how will this lead to our progress?
Although I say otherwise, it is obvious that I do infact care about Ghana, very much. Hence the constant sharing of ideas. As I always say, my ideas may not be the answer, but I hope they lead to empowering discussions that bring the right answers. If I seem to be all over the place "talking", please forgive me. I do so out of love for Ghana. I do so as a deeply concerned citizen and not a spectator.
Child Labour or Child Slavery?


Having been in Bordeaux in the first week of April to taste the new vintage, we are delighted to report that 2018 is a VERY GOOD to OUTSTANDING vintage. Whilst not perhaps as homogenous as some of the really great recent vintages, the better wines are at least their equals in terms of ripeness, power and potential longevity.
2018 was a 'game of two halves', the first of which had record amounts of rain leading to severe problems with mildew at many properties. While this drastically reduced the crop the unaffected grapes were perfectly healthy, and on the day (coincidentally?) that France won the world cup the weather changed and the region experienced a long and glorious summer with above average temperatures. In many places drought conditions resulted in thick-skinned, tiny berries, that further reduced the yield. Across the piece production was approximately 30% below average but the quality of the vintage had been transformed from disaster to potential triumph.
In 2018 great wines are to be found in all areas and communes across Bordeaux. On the Left Bank we found the quality to be most consistent in the northern Médoc, particularly in Pauillac and St Estèphe, with a number of great wines in St Julien, and a few further south in Margaux. On the Right Bank the properties in and around the Pomerol plain made exceptional wines, as did many of the top châteaux on the côtes of Saint Emilion. The low yields in 2018 have resulted in big powerful wines with concentrated fruit and strong tannins. In addition, crucially, the early season rainfall and cool summer nights have given the wines wonderful fresh acidities. They are hard to compare with those of previous vintages, but for us, if anything, the best have a combination of the depth and richness of the 2010s and the silky fresh tannins of the 2016s.
Please e-mail your advance expressions of interest for particular wines, or the vintage in general to sales@richardkihl.ltd.uk.
You can read a report on the 2018 growing season on our blog here.


text:
module Mailchimp
  class CreateListFromContactsWorker
    include Sidekiq::Worker

    def perform(lab_id, list_name, contact_ids)
      lab      = Lab.find(lab_id)
      contacts = lab.contacts.where(:id => contact_ids)

      ContactsService.new(lab).create_list_from_contacts(
        list_name: list_name.strip,
        contacts:  contacts
      )
    end
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Jorge Klor de Alva
University of Phoenix (Ret.) and Nexus Research and Policy Center
Jorge Klor de Alva is former president of the University of Phoenix, board member of Apollo Group, Inc., and Chair and CEO of Apollo International, Inc. He is currently president of Nexus Research and Policy Center, an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan research and policy studies center focused on student access and success in higher education. Prior to joining the Apollo Group, Jorge was Class of 1940 Professor at the University of California-Berkeley, and before that he was a professor of anthropology at Princeton University. Jorge is co-author or author of two dozen books in the social sciences. He has served on the advisory council of the Smithsonian Institute, as a board member of the American Association of Higher Education, and on the Advisory Council on Education and Human Resources of the National Science Foundation. He was a Fulbright Scholar, John Simon Guggenheim Fellow, Harry Frank Guggenheim grantee, and Getty Scholar at the Getty Center for the History of Art and the Humanities. Jorge earned his J.D. from the University of California-Berkeley and Ph.D. from the University of California-Santa Cruz.


I heard about this escapade on the radio and had to find it on YouTube. It happened in the early morning of January 15th, 2018, on the 5200 block of Rising Sun Avenue. Unfortunately the video does not capture the part where, as the van goes up Rising Sun Avenue, the ATM is lost and lands in the middle of the street.


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Film >
Review >
Follow Dylan O'Brien
The Maze Runner Review
By Rich Cline
There's nothing particularly original or insightful to set this teen-dystopia thriller apart from the crowd, but strong characters will build some anticipation for the next instalment in the franchise. Unusually for the genre, the film also has a remarkably masculine tone, centring on boyish jostling for control while leaving the women in just two small-but-pivotal roles. On the other hand, it's to thinly plotted that it's pretty forgettable.
The story opens in a scene of disorientation, as teen Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) emerges into the Glade, unable to remember anything about himself or his past. He's the monthly arrival to a community of boys anchored by Alby (Aml Ameen) and the runners who dash into the maze beyond the four tall walls that close in their isolated world. But the maze is full of dangers, and paranoid leader Gally (Will Poulter) thinks Thomas is jeopardising the status quo with his curiosity, bravery and desire to get out. As divisions appear in the community, the game itself seems to be changing as monsters called grievers become more aggressive. Thomas finds allies in Gally's second-in-command Newt (Brodie-Sangster), the lead runner Minho (Ki Hong Lee) and cheery youngster Chuck (Blake Cooper). Then a girl (Kaya Scodelario) arrives carrying a note that says, "She is the last one EVER." And now everyone knows that nothing will be the same again.
Essentially this is Lord of the Flies with the nasty bits taken out, as these boys create a relatively peaceful society until Thomas' arrival signals an apocalypse within the post-apocalypse. Through it all, Thomas has dreams revealing snippets of information about what's really going on here and who's pulling the strings (the fabulous Patricia Clarkson). Meanwhile, he has to learn the mythology of the Glade, which is carefully explained in painfully obvious dialogue ("That's what we call 'the changing'").
Thankfully, O'Brien is a charismatic presence at the centre of the story, not only is it obvious why most of the boys want to follow him into the maze and possible freedom, but the audience is happy to follow him into future episodes. His chemistry with the characters around him is exactly what it's supposed to be, and nothing more, leaving hope for a bit of relationship-building in the sequel. Hopefully the sidelined women in the cast will get more to do as well.
Oddly this film never seems to have anything to say about present-day society. Nothing really resonates; even the final explanation about what's happening beyond the maze seems relatively simplistic, merely designed to set up future twists and turns. It doesn't even get very deep into the whole "teens discover who they are and what they're good at" theme that dominates most of these franchises. But aside from the incoherently shot and edited action sequences, the film is sharply designed and directed. And the rising-star cast bodes well for whatever's coming next.
Genre: Sci fi/Fantasy
Run time: 113 mins
In Theaters: Friday 19th September 2014
Box Office USA: $100.1M
Box Office Worldwide: $166.9M
Budget: $34M
Distributed by: 20th Century Fox
Production compaines: Temple Hill Entertainment, 20th Century Fox, Gotham Group
Contactmusic.com: 3 / 5
Rotten Tomatoes: 63%
Fresh: 89 Rotten: 53
IMDB: 7.3 / 10
Director: Wes Ball
Producer: Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Lee Stollman, Lindsay Williams
Screenwriter: Noah Oppenheim, Grant Pierce Myers, T.S. Nowlin
Starring: Dylan O'Brien as Thomas, Aml Ameen as Alby, Ki Hong Lee as Minho, Blake Cooper as Chuck, Thomas Sangster as Newt, Will Poulter as Gally, Dexter Darden as Fry Pan, Kaya Scodelario as Teresa, Chris Sheffield as Ben, Joe Adler as Zart, Alexander Flores as Winston, Jacob Latimore as Jeff, Randall D. Cunningham as Clint, Patricia Clarkson as Ava Paige, Don McManus as Masked Man
Also starring: Dylan O'Brien, Wyck Godfrey
The Maze Runner Movie Site
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Samuel J. Persons, 69, of East Jordan, died Monday morning, March 15, 2004, surrounded by his family after a two-year battle with cancer.
Samuel was born Sept. 24, 1934, in East Jordan, the son of Lyle G. and Esther (Piggott) Persons.
Samuel will be sadly missed by his sons, Samuel L. Jr. (Pat) Persons of Grand Rapids and Bruce (Pam) Persons of East Jordan; one daughter, Sherry (Dan) Van Slyke, of Grand Rapids; seven wonderful grandchildren who meant the world to him, Scott Persons, Jason, Jacob (Emma) and Justin Persons, Tricia (Dennis) Poll, Dan and Mark (Dawn) Van Slyke; three great-grandchildren, Bryant and Bryce Poll, and Cameron Persons; one brother, Jim Persons, of Florida; and many nieces and nephews.
He is also survived by the love of his life, who he met again five years ago, Shirley, and her four children, 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, whom he loved and also will miss. Samuel will also be missed by many friends and fishing buddies.
Visitation will be held 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 17, at Stackus Funeral Home in Boyne City.
Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, March 18, at Boyne City United Methodist Church with the Rev. Carl Litchfield officiating. Burial will take place in Sunset Hill Cemetery in East Jordan.
The family would like memorial contributions directed to Hospice of Michigan, 128 North Court St., Gaylord, Mich. 49735.


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Q: sort NSArray alphabetically, but local language should be first and then all other I need to sort my array sectionIndexTitlesForTableView on next rules: first sort using local alphabetic (german, france or some else - current user interface) and then english sort and at the end all other symbols in section #.
I'm tried to make this using sortedArrayUsingSelector:@selector(localizedCaseInsensitiveCompare:) method, but they don't help (the sort english first and then local strings). How to do this?

A: I'm not sure any of the standard comparators will do what you're asking for, but you can always write your own.
(And if you don't want to have to make a category on NSString for implementing your own comparison selector, you can always use -[NSArray sortedArrayUsingComparator:] which lets you pass a block.)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


for the remainder of the summer.
Our family will be spending ALOT of time at the lake this year.
Looking forward to the new ADVENTures that God has in store for us.
as I feel God calling me to an extended 'alone' time with Him.
on Empowering Christian Women's Facebook page.
If you haven't already connected, I would love to see you there!
p.s. - Would love to hear what you are doing to unplug this summer!
Feel free to share in the comments!
ALWAYS love hearing from my faithful friends!!
I am a new Christian and this blog looks like a great place to sit and visit.
Enjoy your time away. It is amazing how renewing it can be.


The PRCA has welcomed the Government's plans to create three million apprenticeships but called on it to focus on quality rather than just quantity.
During today's Queen's Speech, it was announced that legislation will be brought forward to help achieve full employment and provide more people with the security of a job.
"New duties will require my ministers to report annually on job creation and apprenticeships. Measures will also be introduced to reduce regulation on small businesses so they can create jobs," the Queen told Parliament.
Francis Ingham, director general of the PRCA, applauded the announcement but said that the Government should also focus on quality apprenticeships.
Ingham said: "We strongly support the Government's initiatives to create three million apprenticeships and to encourage young people to earn while they learn. The PRCA has had a longstanding commitment to providing young people with access to the PR industry via the PR Apprenticeship, which has helped employers diversify and grow their own talent.
"However, the Government should strive to provide quality apprenticeships rather than merely focusing on quantity. A high quality apprenticeship system can combat youth unemployment and make our economy more productive. For this reason, the PRCA has launched a masters-level degree apprenticeship in the PR industry in order to provide quality apprenticeships and to cultivate fresh talent in a way that meets the industry's needs."


Kronos was the first piece designed for Griffin Modern. Style inspiration came from a support I beam on a subway platform. It's very believable.
The clock movement is a simple and reliable battery operated movement. The clock face is held very securely in place by (4) rare earth magnets in the I-Beam body. The bolts in the base are functionally adjustable as leg levelers. Wrench is provided.
This clock is almost six and a half feet tall.