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The Quest for Purpose
The Collegiate Search for a Meaningful Life
Perry L. Glanzer - Author
Jonathan P. Hill - Author
Byron R. Johnson - Author
Release Date: September 2017
ISBN10: N/A
Release Date: July 2018
Available as a Kindle Edition.
Demonstrates how students and educators can resist narrow, utilitarian views of higher education's purpose.
While the search for meaning and purpose appears to be a constant throughout human history, there are characteristics about our current time period that make this search different from any other previous time, particularly for college students. In this book, Perry L. Glanzer, Jonathan P. Hill, and Byron R. Johnson explore college students' search for meaning and purpose and the role that higher education plays. To shed empirical light on this complex issue, the authors draw on in-depth interviews with four hundred college students from different types of institutions across the United States. They also analyze three sets of national survey data: the National Study of Youth and Religion, College Students Beliefs and Values, and their own Gallup-conducted survey of 2,500 college students. Their research identifies important social, educational, and cultural influences that shape students' quests and the answers they find. Arguing against a utilitarian view of education, Glanzer, Hill, and Johnson conclude that colleges and universities can and should cultivate and aid students in their journeys, and they offer suggestions for doing so.
Perry L. Glanzer is Professor of Educational Foundations at Baylor University and a Resident Scholar with the Baylor Institute for Studies of Religion. His books include Restoring the Soul of the University: Unifying Christian Higher Education in a Fragmented Age (coauthored with Nathan F. Alleman and Todd C. Ream). Jonathan P. Hill is Associate Professor of Sociology at Calvin College and the coauthor (with Christian Smith, Kyle Longest, and Kari Christoffersen) of Young Catholic America: Emerging Adults In, Out of, and Gone from the Church. Byron R. Johnson is Distinguished Professor of the Social Sciences at Baylor University and the author of More God, Less Crime: Why Faith Matters and How It Could Matter More.
Introduction Searching for Meaning and Purpose in College: A Dying Quest?
Part I: The Context of the Quest
1. Are Colleges Giving Up on Life's Meaning and Purpose? The Historical and Cultural Context
2. The Adolescent Journey: The Precollege Path to Finding Meaning and Purpose
3. Mapping the Presence of Purpose: How Identity, Social Context, and Education Matter
Part II. Figuring Out College Students' Quest
4. Developing Purpose in the Contemporary University: Four Stories
5. Mapping What Makes Life Meaningful
6. The Diverse Purposes of College Students
7. Is Purposelessness a Problem?
Part III. Questing in the University
8. Encountering Purpose in the Classroom
9. Looking for Purpose Outside of Class
Part IV. The Heart, Hope, and Soul of Purpose
10. Purpose with Soul: The Religious
11. Finding Purpose in a Universe without One: The Nontheists
12. How Does the Story End? Purpose, the Good Life, and the Future
Appendix A: Methods
Appendix B: Interview Guide: 110 Students at 10 Campuses
Appendix C: Statistical Supplement to Chapters 3 and 10
4-6685-9/4-6684-2(BB/DG/AV)
The Quest for Equity in Higher Education
Approaches to Administrative Training in Education
School as Community
At Home in the World
Iroquois Corn in a Culture-Based Curriculum
Expelling Hope
Interactive Technologies and the Social Studies
Adaptive Technology for Special Human Needs
Empowerment through Multicultural Education
Educating the Democratic Mind


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John Calipari drawing interest from Knicks for head coaching job
swipe team | July 5, 2020 July 5, 2020
It was initially difficult to have ever visualized a scenario wherein John Calipari would return to the NBA, and yet, that's what the rumor mill is indicating.
His tenure with the Nets was an absolute disaster, as Calipari went 26-56 in his first season with the team, back in 1996, and it didn't get much better after that. His Nets began the 1998-99 season 3-17, and that resulted in him getting fired.
To his credit, he's been great at the college ranks, and worked wonders at Memphis and Kentucky, completing rebuilding both programs, recruiting some of the best talent in the country. But there's a big difference between college and pros, as guys like Nick Saban from the football world have figured out.
But Calipari has hinted that he'd be interested in a potential return to the NBA, and the Knicks may be looking into possibly scratching that itch. Marc Berman of the New York Post reported that Calipari should not be counted out for the Knicks job, so it does appear that the team has been in contract with him, on some level.
This would be a very Knicks-like hire, as we believe that veteran coaches like Tom Thibodeau would be a much better fit to rebuild the team and its culture.
Categories NBA
Paul Finebaum believes Nick Saban will leave Alabama in near future
Jordan Spieth provides great quote about what golf is all about

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Is it small or big? Is it really black?
Let's start from the beginning. First of all we have to say that the native and antique Sicilian breed of black pig is resistant to disease and adverse climatic conditions. So the Nebrodi territory fits perfectly to its needs.
What about the size and the coat? The black pigs are small and have a dark coat, very similar to wild boar both in their features and habits. We bred Nebrodi Black Pigs in the wilderness and woods near Messina, in large areas of pasture, and they are fed with acorns and glands. Only when they give birth and during the last month of their lives prior to slaughter, their diet is supplemented with beans and cereals.
Its snout is long and the neck is strong because it has to dig deeply. Black pig has strong and thin limbs, in order to permit it to jump, to climb, to run and to walk for long distances. Its spiky hair protect it form sun rays and from bad weather.
Such meat, even if presenting a greater quantity of fat than that of the lighter pig, is of a highly superior quality. In particular, the meat contains a rich content of HDL cholesterol, the so-called "good" cholesterol that plays an important role in protecting the human body. In addition, the meat is richer in iron and you can see this from its deep red colour. It has a greater capacity for water retention which results in a better qualitative product in cooking and also in the preparation of the salami. Finally it has an excellent texture when cut.
The products of the black pig of Nebrodi have become a symbol of Sicilian goodness. The genuine quality of its flesh makes it a must on the table for those who love quality food.


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Easton father took porn magazines and plastic sheet to Bristol park and masturbated for over an hour
An office worker watched in horror as Alan McKenzie performed a sex act in Netham Park
A Bristol father-of-nine took pornographic magazines and a plastic sheet to a park and masturbated for more than an hour, a court was told.
When Alan McKenzie went to Netham Park, with petroleum jelly as well as the adult magazines, an office worker watched in horror as he performed a sex act.
McKenzie, 54, of Lena Road in Easton, was to face trial in January. But he pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply cannabis, outraging public decency and possessing a knife in September.
His Honour Douglas Field adjourned sentencing until January pending a report from the probation service.
Lifetime ban from keeping animals for man who beat dog so badly passers-by intervened
In January last year the Bristol Post reported how two women looking from their kitchen window in Clifton Down Road spotted a seemingly naked man sitting on a bench near Bristol Zoo Gardens.
They called police, who found McKenzie performing a sex act and wearing just a pair of women's knickers, Bristol Crown Court heard.
He told them "I'm really sorry" before denying all in interview.
McKenzie pleaded guilty to exposure and Judge Mark Horton handed him a 12 months' community order including a rehabilitation requirement for up to 40 days and 60 hours' unpaid work.
McKenzie was told to register as a sex offender for five years.
McKenzie was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court
The judge told him: "You have pleaded guilty to an offence which is completely alien to your previous life, and there has been and is no explanation given as to why you behaved in the way that you did."
Dog walker 'watched by man masturbating' in Bristol nature reserve
The court heard McKenzie didn't appear to approach anyone during the offence and there was no evidence he directed his activities to anyone or witnesses were damaged by what they saw.
As he left court McKenzie told the Bristol Post: "I wish it never happened, it was just an unfortunate incident.
"I've got some sexual psychotherapy appointments made. I have a lot of family support."
UK & World NewsPrimark has announced new store locations, but so far none of them are in CribbsThere has been demand for a branch of the budget fashion retailer at the South Gloucestershire shopping mall for years


Background: Urticaria is a common dermatosis affecting approximately 25% of the population. Childhood chronic urticaria is frequently encountered, however, epidemiologic data on pediatric urticaria are limited. Aim: The objective of this study was to study the clinico-epidemiological profile of children with chronic urticaria. Methods: A retrospective study including children less than 14 years with chronic urticaria was conducted from January 2010 to December 2015. Detailed history, clinical examination, investigation results, treatment taken, and follow-up details were recorded on a prefixed proforma. As per the practice of the urticaria clinic, the children were investigated only in case of inadequate therapeutic response or had features of atopy/autoimmune disorders. Results: Two hundred and ninety-six children (166 boys, 130 girls; mean age, 11.3 years) with chronic urticaria were included in the study. Urticaria was spontaneous in onset in 57.1% (169) children; precipitating factors were reported in 42.9% children, most common being physical factors, food allergy, drug intake and infections. Investigations were done in 48 (16.2%) patients; Antinuclear antibody was negative in all patients, raised serum IgE in 20/48 (41.6%), positive autologous serum skin test in 32/48 (66.6%) and raised anti-TPO titre in 10/48 (20.8%) children. A diagnosis of chronic spontaneous urticaria was made in 245 (82.77%) children, chronic dermographic urticaria in 35 (11.82%), cholinergic urticaria and drug-induced urticaria in 5 (1.69%) each, aquagenic urticaria in 4 (1.35%) and cold-induced urticaria in 2 (0.68%) children. Two hundred and fifteen (72.6%) children responded to nonsedating antihistamines alone, 61 (20.6%) required addition of a sedating antihistamine, 7 (0.02%) required addition of montelukast, 3 (0.01%) ranitidine and 10 (20.8%) required a short course of oral corticosteroids to control acute flare. None of the patients required any long-term immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive agent. The mean duration of treatment required was 3 to 12 months. Limitations: The main limitation is the study being retrospective in nature with associated drawbacks of data loss. In addition, we did not use objective scoring system such as urticaria severity score and not all children were extensively investigated. Conclusions: Chronic spontaneous urticaria is the most common type of chronic urticaria in children. Majority of these children can be managed conservatively with long-term antihistamines.


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Home Lists Nursing Skills Your Complete Guide On Parenteral Fluid Administration
Your Complete Guide On Parenteral Fluid Administration
Parenteral fluid administration is a basic part of medical management in healthcare. It is used in supportive, therapeutic, symptomatic, and palliative treatment of patients. Nurses are responsible in starting and maintaining parenteral lines according to a doctor's prescription.
Why Is Parenteral Fluid Administration Important?
There are varied reasons why a parenteral IV supplementation is needed:
Hydration – This is the most common reason why an IV line is needed for a patient. Cases of severe fluid losses such as persistent vomiting, diarrhea, and diuresis require immediate fluid replacement. Patients who cannot tolerate oral fluid replacements are best managed with IV hydration.
Intravenous access – It is best to administer medications through IV when a rapid therapeutic action is needed such as in emergency life-threatening situations. The same is true for patients who are unable or restricted to take oral preparations.
Blood and electrolyte replacement – A patent intravenous line is critical in cases of blood loss and electrolyte depletion. Blood transfusion is only compatible with a Normal Saline Solution (NSS) IV line. Electrolytes administered intravenously is a rapid way of replacing electrolyte losses in the body.
See Also: How to Perform IV Insertion on Pediatric Patients
Understanding Movement of Fluids
Did you know that 60% of the body is comprised of water? 40% of that is intracellular fluid (within the cells) and 20% is extracellular fluid (outside the cells). 15% of the extracellular fluid is within the tissues (interstitial) and 5% is within the circulation (intravascular).
Water mover freely in and out of the cells. It can also pass through the semi-permeable membranes in the extracellular level. Small molecules like sodium and chloride can pass through the semi-permeable membranes along with water.
The main guiding principle behind the therapeutic use of parenteral fluid administration is osmosis. Osmosis is the movement of water through a semi-permeable membrane from a higher concentrated area to a lower concentrated area. Usage of parenteral fluids based on the principle of osmolality helps in the treatment of various diseases.
What are the Types of IV Fluids?
There are two main types of IV fluids:
1. Crystalloids – These are solutions made from crystal-forming substances. They pass through semi-permeable membranes. They are categorized by osmolality:
Isotonic solutions have the same osmolality as plasma. They do not promote the shift of fluids in and out of cells because of their equal tonicity with plasma.
Use: to expand extracellular fluid volume in cases of severe fluid loss such as dehydration.
Examples: 0.9% Sodium Chloride and Lactated Ringer's Solution
Hypotonic solutions have a lower osmolality than plasma. They cause water to shift from extracellular to intracellular level through osmosis.
Use: to correct intracellular dehydration in cases of diabetic ketoacidosis, hypernatremia, and hyperosmolar hyperglycemia.
Examples: 0.45% Sodium Chloride and 0.33% Sodium Chloride
Hypertonic solutions have higher osmolality than plasma. They pull water from intracellular to extracellular level through osmosis. Cell shrinkage happens when water is pulled back into the circulation.
Use: serve as "plasma expanders". They increase circulatory volume by attracting intracellular fluid into the intravascular space. They are also useful in cases of pulmonary edema and interstitial fluid overload.
Examples: 10% Dextrose in Water, 5% Dextrose in Lactated Ringer's Solution, 5% Dextrose in 0.9% Sodium Chloride and 5% Dextrose in 0.3% Sodium Chloride
Did you know? 5% Dextrose in Water is classified as an isotonic solution. It's quickly metabolized once infused and it transforms to a hypotonic solution.
2. Colloids – These are solutions that contain large insoluble molecules. They also act as "plasma expanders". The insoluble molecules in these solutions cannot pass through permeable membranes and they remain in the intravascular space. This causes the oncotic pressure to increase. They attract intracellular fluid into the intravascular space.
Use: to resolve hypotension in cases of severe fluid and blood loss.
Examples: Albumin, fresh frozen plasma, gelofusine, and blood products
Most Commonly Used Parenteral Fluids
0.9% Sodium Chloride
Also known as: 0.9% NaCl, NSS, PNSS
Type: Isotonic crystalloids
Use: commonly used in the immediate expansion of extracellular fluid in cases of hypovolemia and dehydration. It's also used in the management of mild metabolic alkalosis.
Dextrose 5% in Water
Also known as: D5Water, D5W
Type: Isotonic-hypotonic crystalloids
Use: it contains 170 calories per liter. It helps in renal excretion of solutes. It's not recommended for fluid replacement in cases of dehydration or hypovolemia.
Lactated Ringer's Solution
Also known as: LR
Use: fluid replacement for hypovolemia, dehydration, and burns. It contains sodium, chloride, potassium, and calcium in the same concentrations as in plasma.
0.45% Sodium Chloride
Also known as: 0.45% NaCl
Type: Hypotonic crystalloids
Use: management of hypertonic extracellular dehydration.
How to Calculate the Rate of Infusion
There are two ways on how to calculate the rate of infusion:
This method is useful when a doctor issues a standing order of infusion in terms of volume per hour. Otherwise, you should find out the volume per hour rate first before using this calculation.
Dr. Smith ordered Lactated Ringer's Solution to be infused at 120mL/hour for 36 hours post-surgery. Your hospital uses a macrodrip set with drip rate factor 10. Determine the rate of infusion.
You have a pending order to start an IV infusion to your patient. The doctor's order is 1000mL of 0.9% NaCL to be infused for 16 hours. You have a macrodrip set on hand with a drip rate factor of 20.
Determine volume per hour rate first:
Then calculate infusion rate:
Second Method:
This method is similar to the first method but you don't need to determine the volume per hour rate first.
Dr. Patel orders 500mL of 5% Dextrose in Lactated Ringer's Solution to be infused for 12 hours. You have a microdrip set on hand for the infusion.
Remember that the drip rate factor for microdrip sets is always 60.
Patient Lavoie has an order to change his IV infusion to 1000mL of 0.45% NaCl to be infused for 8 hours. He has a macrodrip set with a drip rate factor of 15.
Are you confident now to face parenteral fluid administration in your clinical rotations? Experience and practice are the keys to master IV therapy. Grab all opportunities to learn about it during your rotations.
See Also: 35 IV Therapy Tips & Tricks for Nurses
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Focus on Fleet Maintenance
By Peter Strozniak
The latest trends, technology advances, and simple best practices can cut costs by 30%.
Now, more than ever, it's time to take another look at how preventive maintenance can cut fleet-management costs. Though gas prices have dropped in many places to $2 or less a gallon in the last couple of months, don't expect them to stay that low. The long-term trend of rising gas prices is here to stay, and there's a looming possibility of a serious economic slowdown at the end of this year, and in 2007.
The U.S. Department of Energy expects the price of gas to jump back up to about $2.70 or more next year and to continue climbing as it has over the last decade because worldwide demand continues to outstrip supply. Just look back to 1996. At that time, a gallon of unleaded gas was $1.23.
In addition, some economists predict a full-blown recession next year, while others say we'll see a mild or moderate slowdown in some areas of the economy such as housing, manufacturing, and consumer spending. In September, Greg Hayes, vice president for finance at United Technologies Corp., told investors that the residential market for air conditioners has been hurt by the home construction slowdown.
While you cannot control the price of gas or the strength of the economy, you can control — and even significantly reduce — your fleet maintenance costs, which can help you remain profitable in the event of an economic slowdown. And if the slowdown never arrives, or is just a bump in the road, the money you save from a strong maintenance program can be used to capitalize on growth opportunities.
Diesel Comeback
With rising energy costs and fuel gobbling up an average of 30% to 35% of total fleet spend, hvacr contractors are looking for vehicles that can deliver high gas mileage and lower maintenance costs. For these reasons, diesel engines are making a comeback in the United States.
Thanks to technology advances, diesel engines are shedding their long-standing reputation as noisy engines that spew ominous black exhaust. Compared to the diesel engines of 10 years ago, today's diesels have 80% lower particulate emissions, 70% lower nitrogen-oxide emissions, and 15% improved fuel consumption, according to the Diesel Technology Forum, a Frederick, Md.-based non-profit group that promotes clean diesel technologies.
R.L. Polk & Co., a Southfield, Mich.-based automotive information firm, reports registration of diesel passenger vehicles — including cars, trucks, and SUVs — has grown by 80% since 2000, to more than 543,000 in 2005. Moreover, researchers at J.D. Power and Associates, a global marketing information firm in Westlake Village, Calif., predict that diesel sales will triple over the next 10 years, accounting for more than 10% of U.S vehicle sales by 2015, up from 3.6% in 2005.
Although technology has significantly reduced the pollution and noise of diesel engines, another reason sales are increasing is their gas mileage. They typically get 20% to 40% more miles to the gallon than a comparable gas-powered engine without sacrificing power or performance.
"There's been a resurgence of diesel engines in the light- and medium-duty trucks because they are generally cheaper to operate, and they can last for 200,000 or 300,000 miles if you have a good preventative-maintenance program," says Ronald G. Bredemeyer, a consultant in Abilene, Texas, who has 50 years of truck maintenance industry experience.
The drawback is that diesel vehicles are more expensive. The Dodge Sprinter van, which some hvacr operators are raving about, invoices in the range of $27,000 to $32,000. But it can get 24 miles per gallon (mpg) on the highway, and 22 mpg in the city, which is more than 40% more per gallon for gas-powered cargo vans sold by Ford Motor Co., GM, and GMC.
"Even though we don't love the price, we love them," says Hugh George, president of James River AC in Richmond, Va. "We're operating six of them right now, and two of my technicians like the vans so much that they've threatened to quit if we ever get rid of them."
In addition to higher fuel mileage, the Dodge Sprinter has fewer maintenance requirements. For example, the manufacturer says the Sprinter's standard oil change interval is 10,000 miles with normal driving conditions. The manufacturer also claims that its maintenance-monitoring system can extend the interval between oil changes to 20,000 miles.
GM, Ford, and Chrysler sell diesel-powered pickup trucks that get a respectable 18 mpg for highway and 13 mpg for city. Ford also offers a diesel option on its popular Econoline cargo van.
The increased demand for diesel trucks has automakers rolling out new models. GM recently unveiled a V8 diesel engine that reduces fuel consumption by 25%, produces 360 horsepower, and meets all upcoming emissions regulations. The engine will go into production on light-duty pickup trucks after 2009. Early next year, Ford will introduce what it calls its cleanest and quietest diesel engine ever for its 2008 F-Series super-duty truck. And the Chrysler Group's pickup-truck division announced it would introduce a turbocharged diesel for its Dodge Ram heavy-duty pickups in January.
Extending Oil Changes
For years, manufacturers have recommended an oil change every 3,000 miles. But those days are over. Mark Lange, customer service specialist for GE Commercial Finance Fleet Services in Eden Prairie, Minn., says GM and Chrysler have extended their oil-change intervals to 7,500 miles, while Ford will be making the same recommendation in 2008. That means fleet operators can reduce their oil-change cost by 50%. If your truck is equipped with an oil-monitoring system, you could save much more.
"The oil-monitoring system is standard equipment in most GM vehicles," Lange says. "What the oil-monitoring system allows you to do is ride the oil until the monitoring-system light comes on. GM is advertising that it would not be unheard of to drive 18,000 without an oil change under normal conditions."
A word of caution, however: Even with an oil-monitoring system, you still will need to check the oil regularly to ensure that the oil level doesn't fall so low that it hampers engine performance and fuel economy
Another way to reduce oil-change costs is to use synthetic oil, which generally provides advantages over conventional motor oils. Synthetic oil minimizes oil degrading, provides faster lubrication at engine start-up in low temperatures, keeps the engine cleaner, and improves engine efficiency.
"We used to change the oil on our 60-truck fleet every 4,000 miles," says Edd Hill, owner of HVAC Inc. in Bristol, Tenn. "When we switched to synthetic, we extended the oil changes to 8,000 and sometimes [to] 12,000, depending on the make of the vehicle and how hard it's driven." Even though synthetic is more expensive, Hill says his oil-change costs have declined.
Tire Technology
In August, Goodyear introduced a new generation of fuel-efficient tires — Fuel Max Technology — claiming they'll improve the fuel economy of your fleet. Test results conducted by the Society of Automotive Engineers show the new line of tires increased fuel economy by about 4% compared to standard Goodyear over-the-road tires.
In general, however, fuel-efficient tires will wear faster than standard tires, Goodyear admits. But over the past few years, improving technology has reduced the tread-wear gap between the two types of tires. Nevertheless, if you need to replace the fuel-efficient tires more frequently, that cost may be more than the fuel savings the tires reportedly provide.
Because oil is used to manufacture tires, replacement-tire costs have been rising. To address this issue with its maintenance-management clients, who include hvacr owners, GE developed an online purchasing tool that provides customers with lower-priced tire alternatives, while retaining high-quality safety standards. GE says it has increased customer savings by an average of 50% by leveraging its pricing knowledge in negotiations with tire vendors.
Inflating your fleet's tires with nitrogen is another way to reduce the cost of maintenance. Ingersoll-Rand Co., which manufactures nitrogen tire-inflation
systems, claims that nitrogen holds tire pressure longer than air. The company points out that the nitrogen molecules are bigger than air molecules, and so they leak out of the tire more slowly. That's important because maintaining tire pressure can boost fuel economy by as much as 6%.
Proponents also say nitrogen can extend the tread life of your tires and slow the aging of the tire's rubber components. Slower aging, in turn, lengthens the tire's core life, which can yield extra retreads and further cut your fleet maintenance costs.
Nitrogen has been used for years to inflate tires on commercial and military aircraft, racecars, and off-road equipment. However, a report by the Pacific Grove, Calif.-based Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIB), a non-profit industry association dedicated to the recycling of tires, suggests that using nitrogen to inflate tires on passenger cars and commercial trucks is an emerging trend. "More and more nitrogen-filling facilities are appearing nationwide as on-site nitrogen generators have become more affordable, and as more manufacturers of nitrogen generators have entered the marketplace," the TRIB report says. For example, customers of Costco wholesale retail centers, some car dealerships, independent auto shops, and auto retail stores can pull up to nitrogen generators to fill their tires. Reportedly, a nitrogen fill-up will cost you about $10 per tire.
If you operate a large fleet, it may be cost effective to buy a nitrogen generator. In addition to Ingersoll-Rand, Parker Hannifin and Branick Industries are among several companies that make nitrogen tire-inflation systems.
Of course, maintaining the proper tire pressure by filling with air also maximizes fuel efficiency. But it's only effective if your technicians check the tire pressure regularly, or every-other time they fill up the gas tank.
GPS Buying Basics
Hundreds of companies sell GPS solutions, each offering a bewildering array of capabilities at a variety of price points. Here are 8 capabilities to evaluate before you buy.
Taking Training To The Next Level
HVACR companies are using a variety of methods to build effective training programs. These methods sometimes involve in-house investments, hiring another company to train, or using free training resources from …
GPS Comes of Age
Global positioning systems enable hvacr contractors to save time, money, and fuel
Buy or Lease?
There's no right answer. The decision to buy or lease a fleet should be based on several things, including how you used your trucks and financial considerations.


Another victory for Amir Khan, after he won his fight against Paul McCloskey on April 16. The fight was stopped in the 6th round by the ringside doctor after the two fighters collided heads, opening up a gash on McCloskey's head. Now it appears Khan will face Timothy Bradley in the summer of 2011.


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Posts Tagged As: Centers for Disease Control
CDC Gets Behind PrEP
Randy Potts
The New York Times reports that the CDC is now advocating the drug regimen commonly known as PrEP:
Federal health officials recommended Wednesday that hundreds of thousands of Americans at risk for AIDS take a daily pill that has been shown to prevent infection with the virus that causes it.
If broadly followed, the advice could transform AIDS prevention in the United States — from reliance on condoms, which are effective but unpopular with many men, to a regimen that relies on an antiretroviral drug.
It would mean a 50-fold increase in the number of prescriptions for the drug, Truvada — to 500,000 a year from fewer than 10,000. The drug costs $13,000 a year, and most insurers already cover it.
Aaron Hicklin of Out picked up the thread, summarizing some of the thinking behind the CDC's new stance:
Although doctors advise patients to take the PrEP pill, Truvada, in conjunction with condoms, the move is an acknowledgement that after decades of public health education, condom use is in sharp decline among gay men. A C.D.C survey last November showed that the number of gay men reporting unprotected sex had risen nearly 20 percent from 2005 to 2011. Given the stigma around admitting to unprotected sex, that figure is probably much higher. Now, the hope is that by encouraging gay men who have unprotected sex to take Truvada, the number of new infections will continue to fall as scientists continue to hunt for a cure.
Even though PrEP as a regimen is not exactly new, Tim Murphy's piece in Out last September rekindled what's now a vigorous debate among gay men about whether or not PrEP should be offered more widely. Box Turtle's last post about PrEP, here, is now at a healthy 69 comments (yup) with two main threads emerging. One side, now joined by the CDC, essentially says that the status quo focusing on condoms isn't working and a new model which recommends both PrEP and condoms is needed. The opposing view, shared by Michael Weinstein of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, worries that advocating that gay men get on PrEP will not only lead to an explosion of other STDs but also to higher rates of HIV because gay men won't take the pill as directed and will use it instead as an excuse for unprotected sex:
"If something comes along that's better than condoms, I'm all for it, but Truvada is not that," said Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. "Let's be honest: It's a party drug."
Some of the concerns have been more directly pragmatic – many assume PrEP is too expensive and, also, many clinicians either haven't been on board or haven't been well-informed. Back to today's story in the NY Times:
Advocates said there were several reasons there had been little clamor for the drug regimen. First, while many doctors prescribe statins as prophylaxis against heart attacks, for example, only AIDS specialists are likely to prescribe AIDS drugs as prophylaxis. But uninfected gay men have no reason to see AIDS specialists, and usually see general practitioners if they see doctors at all.
Also, Truvada is expensive. However, private insurers and state Medicaid programs have thus far generally covered such prescriptions, and Gilead has a program covering co-pays and giving Truvada to the uninsured.
While many in the gay community still share Weinstein's fears, the CDC's new position is getting a lot of heavy-hitting support – today, 69 HIV/AIDS groups cheered the CDC's new guidelines calling them "a powerful additional tool in the AIDS response."
Tags: Centers for Disease Control, PrEP, Truvada
Fact Checking the Family "Research" Council Straw Man Argument
Jason Cianciotto
In response to a Washington Post article about the economic benefits of same-sex marriage in DC, the Family Research Council (FRC) provides a classic example of how right-wing organizations manipulate data and statistics to suit their anti-LGBT positions.
Here's the quote:
When same-sex weddings kicked off in D.C. yesterday, the city wasn't seeing anything but dollar signs. In an absurd article in today's Washington Post, reporters tried to argue that counterfeit marriage could be the economic salvation of the city's economy. In a region with 12% unemployment, local officials claim that redefining marriage "will create 700 jobs and contribute $52.2 million over three years to the local economy."
Not so fast, says FRC. The last census counted 3,678 same-sex partner homes in D.C. Assuming that number has stayed roughly the same, then the 150 who applied for marriage licenses yesterday would amount to a whopping four percent of the local homosexual population–hardly the stuff of economic recovery. For the Post's $52.2 million projection to come true, all 3,678 of those D.C. couples would have to get married and spend over $14,000 per wedding. (I don't know about you, but my wife and I spent a LOT less!) These "marriages" (which have yet to meet financial expectations in other states) may make a fast buck in the short term, but they will do nothing but drain the economy down the road. Consider the massive health care expenses incurred by taxpayers every year to cope with the diseases spread by homosexual behavior. According to the Kaiser Foundation, federal funding grew to more than $18 billion in 2004 to deal with the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Over half of all U.S. infections are in men having sex with men! That means taxpayers spend roughly $10 billion a year treating the diseases caused by a behavior celebrated in same-sex "marriage." So much for economic development!
Not so fast FRC.
Yes, according to the Washington, DC Census Snapshot published by the Williams Institute, there are an estimated 3,678 same-sex couple households in the district, and the Associate Press did report that 150 same-sex couples applied for licenses on the first day same-sex marriage became legal there. This is about all that is factually correct in FRC's statement.
FRC's claim that the 150 couples represent "four percent of the local homosexual population" is a classic manipulation used by the religious right and discredited "researchers" like Paul Cameron. They take an estimate of one portion of a minority population and pretend that it is generalizeable to the population as a whole. In this case, the number of same-sex couple households willing to self-identify in the Census is not equivalent to the total population of lesbian, gay, or bisexual DC residents, which according to the Williams Institute is approximately 33,000.
Even more importantly, it is laughable for FRC to base its argument on the number of couples who applied for licenses on the first day. The Washington Post article references another Williams Institute report, which estimates that 2,000 same-sex couple in DC would marry over the next three years. In addition, another 12,500 couples are expected to come from out of state to get married. This is a more complete picture of the estimates used to create the projection of 700 new jobs and $52.2 million in revenue, but FRC simply ignores this information.
Where to begin with FRC's last argument about same-sex marriage being a long-term drain on the economy because of "diseases spread by homosexual behavior?"
We could cite CDC data on transmission rates caused by "heterosexual behavior." We could also estimate federal funding spent on prevention efforts that address the damage caused by social, and familial environments created by FRC. As they say, so much for economic development!
However, it would be a waste of time to feed into FRC's "straw man" arguments.
They have no interest in examining real facts. Nor do they see the folly in their position against allowing same-sex couples access to an institution that fosters monogamy as well as mutual caring and support. As so many articles and special reports on Box Turtle Bulletin have illustrated, there is no place for scientifically supported facts in the anti-gay playbook.
Tags: Centers for Disease Control, Family Research Council, HIV/AIDS Research, Marriage, Surveys & Statistics, Tony Perkins, US Census, Washington DC
Infection rates in gay/bi men
This commentary is the opinion of the author and may not reflect that of other authors at Box Turtle Bulletin
Those leading the fight against AIDS and anti-gay activists sometimes have a common goal: portray the incidence of HIV in gay and bisexual men in the most frightening terms. This appears to me to be what is happening as the result of a presentation at the National HIV Prevention Conference (Southern Voice)
Gay and bisexual men account for half of the new HIV infections in the U.S. and have AIDS at a rate more than 50 times greater than other groups, according to Centers for Disease Control & Prevention data presented at the National HIV Prevention Conference this week in Atlanta.
That's a pretty frightening statistic. But perhaps the raw numbers give it some perspective.
Dr. Amy Lansky of the CDC presented research at the Aug. 24 plenary in which the CDC estimated in the U.S. there were 692.2 new HIV cases in 2007 per 100,000 men who have sex with men (MSM).
In other words, the rate of new infections in the population of gay and bisexual men in 2007 was 0.69%. Or in 2007 one out of every 144 gay/bi men seroconverted.
That still is very high. And it is consistent with our calculations that about 12% of gay/bi men (or about 6% of all gay/bi people) are infected with HIV. (So play safe kids… or better yet, find someone to have and hold from this day forward.)
But, in those terms, perhaps it isn't quite as scary as the somewhat meaningless announcement that "MSM are 50 times more likely to have AIDS than women and non-gay or bisexual men." I think most of us already know that sexually active gay men, especially those unpartnered, are at a much higher risk of HIV than Grandpa Joe and Grandma Sally.
And I wonder at the wisdom of making announcements of such comparisons. Provided without context, this quote can seem counter-intuitive. A gay man with both gay and straight friends might think that such ratios do not reflect their observations. And using language that feels out of sync with the realities of the experiences of gay men will not encourage better behavior; rather it will cause the target audience to dismiss the information.
Further it may distract from the fact that HIV transmission is not homogeneous within the gay community; some age, ethnic, and geographic subgroups need and deserve much more attention and focus in our battle against HIV/AIDS. Making statement that sound as though "HIV is a gay disease" misses the picture and downplays the tragic way in which this virus has devastated some gay communities – especially minority and economically challenged subsets – far worse than the "Will and Grace" gay man.
Such declarations also run the risk of providing a false sense of security to others in the non-gay-male category who live in communities which are disproportionately impacted by this disease. And it may encourage those responsible for shepherding resources to overlook, for example, sexually-active single black women in specific urban settings.
So while I strongly support that accurate information be presented and disseminated as widely as possible, I'd caution those who make statements about this disease to consider that their words not only be factually correct but also convey messages that are not confusing or counter-productive.
Tags: Centers for Disease Control, HIV/AIDS, HIV/AIDS Statistics, Surveys & Statistics
Lack of Clarity in Reporting on HIV and Circumcision of Gay Males
Several studies have shown that in African and Asian nations heavily impacted by HIV, circumcision can reduce infection rates in males by 50 – 60%. Now a CDC doctor has announced that while circumcision is effective in reducing female to male transmission during vaginal sex, it does not assist in resisting infection between gay males during anal sex. (U.S. News & World Report)
Circumcision "is not considered beneficial" for gay men concerned about lowering their risk of becoming infected with HIV, Dr. Peter Kilmarx of the CDC told the Associated Press. He released the study findings at a conference on Tuesday.
The finding are at odds with some studies conducted in Africa, which have suggested that circumcised males may be less prone to HIV infection during heterosexual sex. But circumcision may not offer the same protection when it comes to anal sex, Kilmarx said.
In the study, the CDC team tracked the HIV infection rate of nearly 4,900 men who had anal sex with an HIV-infected partner. The researchers found an HIV infection rate of 3.5 percent — whether the men were circumcised or not.
While this may appear informative to a heterosexual, this reporting leaves more questions than it answers.
Were these 4,900 tops who engage in insertive sex only? Because if not, how could the circumcision of a bottom (passive partner) possibly impact HIV transmission?
Does the 3.5% infection rate reflect a bottom to top transmission? Was this 3.5% in a year, a decade, when?
Were these "partners" in relationships or just sex-partners?
Or did they just say, "Here are some cut men and here are some uncut men. Let's see to what extent they seroconvert"?
This story is but another illustration of why it is important that gay men and women are included in reporting stories that effect our lives. It would be interesting to know the extent to which bottom to top HIV transmissions occur and whether circumcision of the top could impact this transmission. But reporting like this tells us nothing of much use at all.
Tags: Centers for Disease Control, Circumcision, HIV/AIDS, Surveys & Statistics


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The Okefenokee Swamp Park can be found at the northern tip of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. This locally owned and operated park is filled with adventure for all ages.
The Wonderworld of Okefenokee is a significant part of America's heritage, a beautifully preserved segment of what was here when America began. Headwaters of the Suwannee and St. Mary's Rivers, Okefenokee is a National Wildlife Refuge and an impressive recent addition to the National Wilderness System. Okefenokee Swamp Park is a convenient point of entry and a magnificent show-window for this natural wonderland. The park lily-decked water trails, with their miraculously reflective waters mirroring overhanging beauty, lead to all points in this vast wilderness of islands, lakes, jungles, forest, and prairies.
Okefenokee Swamp Park is a rare experience for every member of the family. Extravagantly beautiful, the swamp, nearly a half-million acres, carries you back into the world's pre-history. Interpretive exhibits, lectures, wildlife shows, boat tours on original Indian Waterways, wilderness walkways, Pioneer Island, native animals in their own habitat, all combine to weave a spell of pioneer American life. You witness in real life the place where primitive man ruled the wilds, where Indians hunted and fished, where early settlers sought peace and communed with nature. You see, for real, how nature's balance assures the perpetuation of the flora and fauna and the swamp itself.
Its glory is its pristine beauty, making it a photographer's dream.
A number of the photographs used on this page have been used courtesy of Wayne Morgan a local photographer, please visit his site at: waynemorganartistry.com
Swamp Park Train
Guests that visit Okefenokee Swamp Park in Waycross, Georgia can step back in time aboard "The Lady Suwannee", the Okefenokee Railroad. The 1.5-mile railroad system at the Okefenokee Swamp Park serves as a mode of transportation for the park. The railroad track was completed in January of 1999 and train tours began in the Spring of 1999. The train tour will take you along the edge of a portion of the swamp through many points of interest, including a stop at Pioneer Island, a recreation of an early swamp homestead, which is rich in history.
The 1.5 mile railroad system at the Okefenokee Swamp Park serves as a mode of transportation for the park, circling part of the Great Okefenokee Swamp. The railroad track was completed in January of 1999 and train tours began in the Spring of 1999.
Adventure Walk to Observation Tower New Low Walkway
Nearly a half-mile round trip journey via one of the Park's newest additions takes you through the original path of our original boardwalk lost in the 2007 Big Turnaround Fire. Our new low walkway is right on top of the Okefenokee Swamp, giving guests a closer look at this unique ecosystem, and ends up at our 90-foot observation tower.
This is an educational opportunity of a lifetime. Participants will learn more about the native animals of the Okefenokee Swamp during a 20-25 minute program designed for all ages. Live native snakes and young alligators will be shown during this presentation.
Boat Excursion
Get aboard a unique and one-of-a-kind guided boat excursion into the Okefenokee Swamp. Your journey will take you down original Seminole Indian waterways, allowing the opportunity to see native plants and wildlife. For the adventurous, this trip will afford you the opportunity to climb the 90-foot observation tower for a panoramic view (not recommended for children 7 and under or individuals with medical conditions).
Oscar the Alligator
Was the Okefenokee Swamp's most popular resident until he died in the summer of 2007. But now, Oscar the alligator will be immortalized in the swamp he called home for nearly a century. Bone by bone, the aged star has been brought back to life, thanks to Don Berryhill, who, along with Jim Brewer and many others, volunteered his time, piecing the bones together like a massive puzzle.
Georgia's Natural Wonder Animals
The Okefenokee Swamp is a true wildlife refuge. The wildlife seen in the great swamp are in their natural surroundings. These are the natural inhabitants, the original inhabitants – now protected by law. Few places in America can offer as varied and extensive wildlife as this southeastern swamp. Over 200 species of birds have been identified by refuge personnel and visiting ornithologists. There are over 40 species of mammals, more than 50 species of reptiles, and 60 species of amphibians. The waters house an abundance of fish, 34 different kinds.
For information on special events and December Light Show, please follow the link to our website below.


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US sanctions on Huawei hit chip supply and growth, exec says
Business_Finance
Technology_Internet
Richard Yu
Huawei Mobile Services
Visitors wearing face masks to protect against the coronavirus stand at a booth for Chinese technology firm Huawei at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) in Beijing, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2020. Recent U.S. sanctions on Huawei Technologies ... more >
By ZEN SOO - Associated Press - Thursday, September 10, 2020
HONG KONG (AP) - A Huawei executive says that recent U.S. sanctions against the company have caused a shortage of computer chips for the company, hurting the growth of its smartphone business.
Richard Yu, president of Huawei Technologies' consumer business, said at a company conference for developers on Thursday that the company has still managed to gain a 51% market share in the Chinese smartphone industry.
The U.S. has imposed various sanctions on Huawei, citing national security concerns. The latest, ordered in August, restrict foreign semiconductor companes from selling chips to Huawei that are produced using American technology.
'Never Trump' kingpin John Weaver admits uninvited gay sexting to multiple men: 'I am truly sorry'
"Even after this third blow, we still managed to achieve growth," said Yu, who acknowledged that growth had been impacted over the last month.
In May, the U.S. barred chipmakers that use U.S. technology and software to design chips from selling to the Shenzhen-based company without a license.
A year earlier, the U.S. government put the company on its trade blacklist, banning Huawei from doing business with U.S. companies after the Trump administration said Huawei was a national security threat.
The U.S. alleges that Huawei could conduct intelligence for the Chinese government and has urged its allies to exclude Huawei from its telecommunications networks. Huawei has vehemently denied these accusations.
This trade blacklist cut Huawei off from suppliers such as Google, which had supplied Huawei smartphones with the Android operating system and Google Mobile Services, such as Gmail and YouTube. Huawei then developed its own Huawei Mobile Services, including an app store, that it has rolled out for newer smartphone models.
Despite the troubles with Washington, in 2019 Huawei shipped over 240 million phones globally, and was the second biggest smartphone maker in the world. In the first half of 2020, the company generated revenues of 434 billion yuan (about $63 billion), up 13.1% from the same period a year earlier.
Yu said the company plans to make its proprietary operating system HarmonyOS available to devices including its smartphones, some of which still operate on the Android system. Earlier, the company had said HarmonyOS was meant for devices such as smartwatches and TVs, among others.


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The information contained in this article is current as at 29 July 2020 and may no longer be up-to-date. To view information on the latest coronavirus updates, please visit our COVID-19 Updates, Webinars and Resources page or alternatively contact us on (03) 9560 2922 for further information on any recent changes.
The Federal Government has announced its much anticipated plans for JobKeeper post-27 September 2020 when the scheme was originally scheduled to expire.
JobKeeper is the centrepiece of the Federal Government's economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and has been instrumental in supporting over 920,000 businesses and not-for-profit organisations, as well as around 3.5 million workers, face the challenges of COVID-19.
With the COVID-19 pandemic far from over, it is not a surprise that the Government is continuing to provide support to businesses and workers. However, the Government has been clear that the scheme is temporary, and we are seeing a gradual winding back of the payments and a tightening of eligibility criteria.
The key changes
The key changes to the JobKeeper scheme are as follows:
The JobKeeper payments will be extended for another six months, until 28 March 2021.
Employers will need to re-assess their eligibility for JobKeeper in each of the two quarters of the extended JobKeeper period. For businesses with less than $1 billion turnover, they will need to show that they have suffered a 30% reduction in turnover compared to their pre-COVID-19 turnover (15% for charities). Eligibility for the December 2020 quarter will depend on businesses showing they have suffered the required reduction in turnover in the June 2020 quarter, and the September 2020 quarter. A business's eligibility in the March 2021 quarter will depend on the business having suffered the required reduction in turnover in the December 2020 quarter.
There will be two classes of employees – those that worked 20 hours or more per week as at 1 March 2020, and those that worked less than 20 hours per week as at 1 March 2020. An employee's hours of work will be calculated by taking the average of the four weekly pay periods prior to 1 March 2020. Those employees that worked 20 hours or more will receive the full JobKeeper payment, while those that worked less will receive a reduced rate.
The JobKeeper payments are being scaled back from the $1,500.00 per fortnight per employee. The new pay rates will be as follows:
These changes need to be legislated, but we expect that the Parliament will approve the changes when it next sits.
We are waiting on some of the finer details of how the changes will work, including how an employee's pre-1 March 2020 hours of work is to be calculated if they were on leave or had an atypical pattern of work hours (e.g. fly-in fly-out workers). We expect the ATO will provide guidance in the near future.
One question that employers have asked us is whether the scheme will be extended to more employees, such as employees employed after 1 March 2020. At this stage, it appears that only existing employees that were employed at 1 March 2020 and are already eligible for JobKeeper will continue to be eligible from 28 September 2020.
Employers should start considering now whether they will meet the new eligibility criteria from 28 September 2020 and plan accordingly. Employers that do expect to continue qualifying will need to factor in the reduced rates that they will receive on behalf of their employees that are earning wages in excess of the JobKeeper payments.
If you have any further queries about JobKeeper and how these changes will impact your business, please feel free to get in touch. Contact our employment lawyers on 1300 205 506 and we will be happy to assist.


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Instagram Tops 500,000 Advertisers
Instagram announced Thursday that it now has more than 500,000 advertisers, and that more than 1.5 million businesses have converted to its new business profiles since that option was made available in June.
By David Cohen
Instagram announced Thursday that it now has more than 500,000 advertisers, more than doubling its total over the past six months, and that more than 1.5 million businesses have converted to its new business profiles since that option was made available in June.
david.cohen@adweek.com David Cohen is editor of Adweek's Social Pro Daily.


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Monday's Campaign Round-Up, 5.2.16
Today's installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* Indiana's presidential primaries are tomorrow, and the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll shows Donald Trump leading Ted Cruz, 49% to 34%. John Kasich is third with 13%.
* Among Democrats in Indiana, the same poll shows Hillary Clinton with a narrow lead over Bernie Sanders, 50% to 46%.
* In keeping with the recent pattern, Team Cruz easily outhustled Team Trump at a state convention, this time in Arizona, where Trump won the primary easily in late March.
* Sanders and Clinton each raised about $26 million in April, though for the Vermont senator, this represents a sharp decline from his extraordinary fundraising success in the first three months of the year. Last month, Clinton also raised an additional $10 million for national and state Democratic parties.
* After a lukewarm and widely mocked Cruz endorsement on Friday, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) wrote an op-ed expressing his support for the Texas senator in more enthusiastic terms.
* Thanks to a Friday court ruling, Jon Keyser (R) is back on the Republican primary ballot in Colorado's U.S. Senate race. Keyser apparently failed to submit the necessary number of ballot signatures, but a judge concluded his campaign's misstep was accidental, not an attempt at fraud.
* The latest Gallup poll shows Ted Cruz with a negative net favorability rating – among Republicans. The primary process has not exactly done wonders for the senator's reputation.
* As if things weren't bad enough for Rep. Marlin Stutzman's (R) Senate campaign in Indiana, the AP reports he paid his brother-in-law nearly $170,000 to oversee his congressional campaign's finances, despite the fact that the car salesman has no background in accounting or campaign financing.
* In a sign of things to come, former U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge (D), taking on incumbent Sen. John Boozman (R) in Arkansas this year, released a new ad this morning connecting the Republican incumbent to Trump. The campaign did not indicate where the spot would air, though it appears to be a web ad.
* Under pressure from progressive activists, Microsoft has decided not to offer any financial support to the Republican National Convention.
* And in case his troubled presidential campaign wasn't enough, former Gov. Jim Gilmore (R) tried to become a delegate to the Republican National Convention over the weekend, but party activists at the Virginia state convention rejected him.
The MaddowBlog
Maine lawmakers override LePage's...
Virginia GOP to sue McAuliffe over felon...
Monday's Campaign Round-Up, 5.2.16


Phase 2 of Jesper Olsen's plan to circumnavigate the world, North to South, began this summer in Nordkapp, Norway with fellow ultrarunner Sarah Barnett from Australia. Sarah has established her reputation as a determined and capable runner by performing well in New York winning the 2006 Self-Transcendence 10 day race in 2006 with 611 miles, winning the Toyota six day in South Africa this year with 632 km.
They began their mammoth journey on July 1st 2008 and have travelled through Europe and the latest daily post shows them in just outside of Ankara in Turkey.


John Roser began hearing the stories shortly after he moved to Los Osos, San Luis Obispo County, on the shores of Morro Bay in the mid-1990s.
Longtime birders, waterfowl hunters, biologists and other coastal residents were all saying the same thing: It seemed fewer black brant were showing up on the bay each winter.
The coastal sea goose is a cultural icon of the area, the signature species of the Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival and a temporary visitor welcomed by locals as the geese arrive each fall from their summer breeding grounds in the Arctic. When the geese are present in big numbers, you can hear their cacophony almost anywhere on the bay from November through April or until the warm environs of Baja California lure the birds farther south on their migration.
Roser's initial efforts in 1997 focused on reading and reporting bands on individual birds with the help of a high-powered telescope. He has recorded more than 4,000 bands, including one affixed by a Russian ornithologist to a bird in Siberia some 5,000 miles away from Morro Bay where Roser spotted it. In addition to counting individual birds, Roser developed a formula – in consultation with brant biologists – to calculate the number of "brant use days" in Morro Bay each winter.
Roser's retirement project has led him on a brant-like odyssey.
He banded brant one summer in Alaska, worked in Humboldt Bay with leading brant researcher Jeff Black and his Humboldt State University graduate students, and traveled to Baja California to help biologists read bands on birds at the extreme end of their southern range. Much of Roser's winter observations take place at CDFW's Morro Bay Wildlife Area.
The data Roser supplies are incorporated into CDFW's Mid-winter Waterfowl Survey, which is used to set hunting regulations for the following waterfowl season.
What attracts brant to Morro Bay is the same thing that prompts the birds to stop at other coastal bays along their southward migration: eelgrass. The underwater seagrass grows in shallow marine environments and is the birds' primary food source.
Roser's initial research in 1997 confirmed the reports he was hearing: The wintering brant population in Morro Bay had declined significantly and corresponded with a crash in eelgrass acreage in the bay.
While CDFW surveys from the 1930s through 1960s documented Morro Bay's wintering brant population as high as 11,800 birds, Roser's first survey in 1997 recorded a population high of fewer than 700 birds.
The eelgrass crash in the mid-1990s was temporary and well-understood, caused by an influx of sediment from a fire-ravaged landscape, a deluge of freshwater from a rainy year and warming El Nino ocean conditions. As environmental conditions normalized in subsequent years, the eelgrass rebounded, and the brant returned. Roser counted a population high of 4,600 birds in Morro Bay in 2001.
The story since then, as told in Roser's annual reports to CDFW, is of another dramatic crash in eelgrass acreage in Morro Bay and a corresponding drop in the numbers of brant wintering there. Unlike the eelgrass crash of the mid-1990s, the latest decline has been more persistent and perplexing.
Biologists measure Morro Bay's eelgrass acreage each year. Eelgrass spanned 344 acres as recently as 2007 but had dwindled to just 14 acres by 2017. Not surprisingly, Roser's 2016-17 brant survey recorded a population high of just 319 birds and a low of 43. Roser's brant-use-day metric has fallen by 90 percent since the nearly 500,000 brant use days he recorded in 2001. In the past five years, brant use days have measured around 50,000 a year. Money from the purchase of the California duck stamp-validation, required to hunt waterfowl in California, is funding research into the eelgrass decline along with restoration efforts.
In addition to fewer numbers of brant frequenting Morro Bay, Roser has noticed behavioral changes in the birds that still show up. Increasingly, the brant are foraging on secondary food sources that include salt marsh vegetation and green algae species such as sea lettuce with eelgrass in short supply.
Roser takes some solace that the overall Pacific Flyway brant population is holding steady if not increasing, estimated between 130,000 to 165,000 birds. Roser says waterfowl biologists are seeing flyway-wide changes in brant behavior that they suspect may be linked to climate change.
Fewer brant are migrating to Mexico for the winter. More are remaining in Alaska and their northern range throughout the year as warming Arctic conditions require fewer calorie demands and less ice exposes more eelgrass. Ten years ago, less than 10 percent of the population wintered in Alaska. By 2017, almost 40 percent of the Pacific Flyway population spent the winter there.


Stunning 4 bedroom 2.5 bath pool home on wide freshwater canal. Over 2400 sq ft living area - So much room to live & enjoy! Huge family room with tray ceiling & wall of windows to soak in the water views! Gorgeous kitchen w/island,granite counters, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, breakfast bar & walk in pantry -sure to please the every day cook to the true gourmet! Nice tile floors; formal dining, formal living (or makes great play room too!) Spacious master suite with high ceilings, french doors, and sizzling master bath with large soaking tub & separate tiled shower, double sinks, two walk in closets; decent size guest bedrooms; and inside laundry room. Sparkling solar heated pool with mansard cage, large lanai under cover and even a pool bath! Child safety fence an added benefit! Plenty of room to soak in the sun, swim in the pool and savor the serentiy! Wide 120 canal leading to lake - kayak, boat enjoy! This home has been well cared for: new SS appliances & granite (2017); New AC & ductwork (2016); new hot water heater (2018); new solar heat (2015); new well pump (2018); exterior painted (2018) landscape (2018)- So much to offer - see for yourself!
I was searching for a Property and found this listing (MLS® #219008639). Please send me more information regarding 1210 Nw 9th Ave, CAPE CORAL, FL, 33993. Thank you!
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Color blindness, in the true sense of the word, is very rare. Color blindness is a condition where a person is not able to detect any colors other than black and white.
Poor color vision, on the other hand, is a comparatively common and appropriately named condition. In this case, a person is unable to detect well a few basic colors like blue, green, yellow, and red.
The human eye has a part called as the retina which is responsible for vision. The central part of the retina is made up of several cone cells, together called as the macula. The cone cells are of three types and each one is responsible for the detection of blue, green, and red lights.
Color blindness happens when you don't have any of these cone cells or if they don't work right.
The symptoms of color blindness may vary from person to person depending on the cells affected.
One may be unable to detect red and green shades but has no problem with yellow and blue colors.
All the colors can be identified but all the shades of each color may not be appreciated. So if one sees thousands of colors, you may see only a few hundreds.
In rare cases, one may not identify any color at all. The world remains black, white, and grey for them.
The red-green poor vision is found only in men as the faulty gene that causes it is found in X chromosome. Women, who have 2 X chromosomes, do not usually get this form of poor vision as the other stronger X chromosome takes precedence!
Blue color poor vision is extremely rare and is found only in 5% of sufferers and the chances of getting affected remain equal in men and women.
Color blindness can be diagnosed by 2 simple eye tests. In one, you will be asked to identify a number or a letter in a maze of dots and circles of close color shades. The other test consists of arranging several chips on the basis of their colors and shades.
People with normal color vision can easily accomplish both feats quite easily. Having poor color vision will make it difficult.
Because color vision loss can have a big impact on your life, doctors recommend eye tests as early as possible i.e. around 3-5 years of age. All children should ideally get their vision tested before entering school.
Poor color vision can be a disease that sets limitations to certain things in life; you may not be able to get a driving license, learning and reading may become difficult.
Color vision problems cannot be cured. One has to find a way to work and function with the limited abilities.
Using anti-glare glasses helps to a certain extent as one can differentiate colors and shades when the brightness is reduced.
Wearing colored lenses remains an option.
Learning the patterns and color codes also can be helpful. For example, memorizing the order of the lights at traffic signals.
The red-green poor vision is found only in men as the faulty gene that causes it is found in X chromosome.


This ongoing series explores the borderline moments between dreaming and waking as they exist during the r.e.m phase when one is dreaming. Wandering around with my camera in the here and now I am in a constant dialogue. Sometimes not sure if I am dreaming or awake.
After developing the images, I recall a reflective moment or pathway into the unknown. I want the images to look like memories for the futures, feeling of time or period should not exist.


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A senior class for the ages.
Tonight, Indiana fans say goodbye to a class that will long be remembered.
By John M. IU Mar 5, 2013, 9:25am EST
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Tonight is Senior Night. IU's three seniors--Christian Watford, Jordan Hulls, and Derek Elston--will take the court at Assembly Hall for the final time. As freshmen, those three endured a 10-21/4-14 season. As sophomores, they were 12-20/3-15. All three of them, along with Maurice Creek, who is a junior thanks to a season missed because of injury, were thrown into the mix immediately. They didn't have the opportunity to work out the kinks of their game only in practice, or in mop-up time, or as complementary players on an experienced team. They had to adjust to college basketball in front of all of us. Obviously, they experienced little success in their early years. There were occasional successes: the win over Pitt at Madison Square Garden and a Big Ten opening win over Michigan when they were freshmen, wins over Minnesota when they were freshmen and sophomores, the win over Illinois when they were sophomores. Unfortunately, those years are remembered more for the losses to the likes of Loyola Maryland, Boston University, four losses to Iowa over a span in which the Hawkeyes won only eight Big Ten games, etc. Still, while it wasn't always obvious to those of us on the outside, the entire team, led in large part by these current seniors, continued to work and improve. By the time Hulls, Elston, and Watford were juniors, the program exploded back onto the national scene with a 27-8 season, including a Sweet 16 appearance and wins over top 5 teams Kentucky, Ohio State, and Michigan State.
Following that surprising resurgence, the Hoosiers entered the 2012-13 season facing higher expectations than had any IU team in decades. IU was ranked number one in both the AP and coaches' polls, and while the Hoosiers have now dropped to #2, they have lived up to the hype. Two years ago, on senior night, Jeremiah Rivers said goodbye after a ten point loss to Wisconsin that was the seventh loss in a nine-game losing streak to end the season. Tonight, the Hoosiers can clinch the Big Ten title outright with a win over the Buckeyes. It's an amazing turnaround for a senior class that endured so many losses and humiliations in their first two years on campus. Of course, I hope that IU never has to go through anything remotely like the three years of hell that followed the Sampson debacle. But (and this isn't an original thought) it seems likely that the experience of losing like that has helped forge this senior class in particular. What is so refreshing about this team is its total lack of selfishness. It's extremely rare to think of any guy on this team, "oh, he's trying to get his." This class deserves much of the credit. Unquestionably, IU's talent level is on the rise, seemingly with each recruiting class. Hopefully, the underclassmen who remain when these seniors (and likely Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo) depart will show the sort of leadership that these seniors have provided.
Jordan Hulls. Hulls is one of 26 Indiana Mr. Basketball recipients to play at IU, but one of only two to hail from Bloomington and stay home for college. Hulls won the award without putting up gaudy scoring numbers, but as the do-it-all leader of an undefeated state champion. It must have been a tough transition to endure the sort of losing that these seniors faced during their first two years. Hulls, for most of his career, was pressed into point guard duty despite not being a great fit for the position at the collegiate level. Over the past two seasons, he has emerged as one of the nation's best three point shooters, shooting 50 percent from deep over the past two seasons. IU fans love a hometown hero, and it is fitting that the grandson of a former IU assistant is now IU's all-time leading scorer among Bloomington natives.
Christian Watford. Watford was a top 50 recruit who chose to play for Tom Crean and a decimated IU program despite offers from Alabama, Louisville, and Memphis. Anyone remember the Paint Crew chanting "transfer, transfer" at Watford when he was a freshman? Thankfully, he didn't. Watford's scoring average hasn't changed much since his freshman year. He averaged 12 points per game then and 12.7 now. But he has become an incredibly efficient scorer, and makes nearly half of his three point attempts, in addition to contributing down low. Of course, his buzzer-beater against Kentucky, the greatest regular season moment in the history of Indiana basketball, assures that he will be remembered forever.
Derek Elston. Elston, after spending his first three seasons as a solid role player, has had his senior year derailed to some extent by injuries. Elston is averaging only 7 minutes per game and 1.5 points per game. Still, Elston has been at his best recently. He's scored in only six games this season, but that includes the last three, and he played meaningful minutes in IU's win at Michigan State. An emergent Elston would be huge for IU's title hopes. Elston originally committed to Kelvin Sampson, and stuck with the Hoosiers as the program went through a coaching change and into decline. As with all of his classmates, he had other options, decided to be a Hoosier, and has been rewarded.
This class probably won't be considered the best senior class in IU history, but has an excellent chance to be the most beloved. No matter what happens in March (and hopefully April), this class has made its mark on IU history. But hopefully they will be permanently commemorated with a banner in the south end of Assembly Hall. Either way, thanks for everything, guys.


The Science team undertakes research in native plant biology, underpinning conservation and ecological restoration of Western Australia's unique biodiversity.
Dr Ben Anderson publishes a new paper that identifies recent range expansion for spinifex in response to increasing aridification.
Dr Alison Ritchie publishes new research showing that wide outcrossing and pollination by nectar-feeding birds provides functional connectivity for new and old Banksia populations within a fragmented urban landscape.
PhD student Jessica Huss publishes a paper detailing the remarkable insulating capacity of Banksia seed pods and their role in protecting seeds against fire. This is the third and final paper of Jessica's thesis and forms part of a collaborative project between Dr David Merritt and Dr Ben Miller and the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces in Germany.
PhD student Nicole Bezemer was awarded best student paper in 2018 by the Australian Journal of Botany for her sole-authored paper 'Wild seedlings of a tree endemic on granite outcrops show no evidence of inbreeding depression'.
Digging deeper into the formation of Australia Fairy Circles. Dr Stephan Getzin and colleagues, including Dr Todd Erickson and Dr Miriam Muñoz-Rojas from Kings Park Science, publish a new paper in Ecosphere providing new evidence on the cause of this unique, large-scale hexagonal pattern of Pilbara spinifex.
PhD student Laura Skates awarded the Australian Flora Foundation prize for her poster 'Carnivorous plants: capturing prey and imaginations', presented as part of the Communicating Ecology in the Anthropocene symposium at the Ecological Society of Australia conference held in Brisbane, Queensland.
PhD students Bronwyn Ayre and Laura Skates awarded the inaugural InterAction Media Mentoring Program Awards at the Ecological Society of Australia conference held in Brisbane, Queensland.
Dr Alison Ritchie with support from Dr Todd Erickson received the Quarry Life Award, a scientific and educational contest run by Heidelberg Cement. The award was in recognition of Dr Ritchie's latest research into 'Evaluating seed enhancement technologies for use in biodiverse Banksia woodland restoration' and builds upon work by Dr Todd Erickson and Vanessa Brown (UWA PhD student).
Together with colleagues from the University of Arizona, Murdoch University, Edith Cowan University, CSIRO, DBCA, and the UWA Oceans Institute, Dr Katinka Ruthrof co-authored a paper on the impacts of the 2011 heatwave on a broad range of taxa.
Drs Todd Erickson, Miriam Muñoz Rojas, and David Merritt attended the National Conference on Ecosystem Restoration, New Orleans, 26 – 30th August, along with UWA engineering colleague Dr Andrew Guzzomi and US collaborator Dr Mathew Madsen, as part of the Kings Park Science project on eco-engineering to improved seed technologies and mechanised delivery systems for large-scale restoration.
A new paper by Dr Siegy Krauss and colleagues highlights the effectiveness of camera traps for quantifying daytime and nightime visitation by vertebrate pollinators.
Dr Katinka Ruthrof, as part of a team from Edith Cowan University, and Murdoch University, co-authored a paper on how drought-induced forest mortality changes rhizosphere communities.
PhD student Laura Skates awarded the Friends of Kings Park Vic Galea Scholarship, allowing her to take part in the Carnivorous Plants exhibit to be held at the Calyx exhibition centre, at the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney.
BGPA won the 2018 Premier's Science Award in the category of science engagement for Rio Tinto Naturescape and Kings Park Education. The Awards cover all fields of science, and recipients exemplify the outstanding scientific research and engagement taking place in Western Australia.
PhD student Olga Kildisheva publishes her paper with Kings Park Science colleagues Drs Todd Erickson and David Merritt, detailing the seed germination and dormancy traits of forbs and shrubs important for restoration of North American dryland ecosystems.
As part of a team from Murdoch University, and the University of Arizona, Dr Katinka Ruthrof co-authored a paper on the interaction between chronic and acute drought.
Together with colleagues from UWA and Edith Cowan University, Dr Katinka Ruthrof co-authored a paper on a study examining the endemic microbial activity on Christmas Island.
Dr Ben Anderson wins a BioOne Ambassador award for excellence in communication by an early career researcher. These international awards spotlight rising scholars and generate a wider interest in the recently published research on spinifex taxonomy.
Drs David Merritt, Emma Dalziell, and Wolfgang Lewandrowski attended the 2nd ISSS Seed Longevity Workshop meeting in Ft Collins. Dr Dalziell talked on her work developing respirometry techniques to predict seed longevity. Dr Merritt provided a keynote presentation highlighting the work of Kings Park Science in seed conservation and ecology.
Dr Elizabeth Sinclair co-authors two chapters on connectivity and restoration in a new book 'Seagrasses of Australia: Structure, Ecology and Conservation'.
Dr Emma Dalziell and Dr David Merritt publish a paper with colleagues describing the type of seed dormancy in water lilies.
As part of a team from Murdoch University, the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Edith Cowan University, Dr Katinka Ruthrof co-authored a paper on a study examining the impacts of digging mammals on rhizosphere fungi.
PhD student Nicole Bezemer wins the Ecological Society of Australia Wiley Fundamental Ecology Award for her research on the ecological genetic consequences of bird pollination in Eucalyptus caesia.
Sadichhya Adhikari awarded Masters at UWA for her research on seed sourcing for restoration under climate change, finding climate relevant provenance effects on germination responses to temperature and water variation for Stylidium hispidum.
Dr Hongyuan Ma, alongside Drs Todd Erickson and David Merritt, publishes a paper from her work completed during a sabbatical at Kings Park Science on how dormancy regulates the germination of the kanagaroo paw, Anigozanthos viridis.
PhD student Laura Skates awarded 1st prize for her poster presentation 'How carnivorous are carnivorous plants?' at the 11th International Conference on the Applications of Stable Isotope Techniques to Ecological Studies.
Dr Jason Stevens has been appointed as Kings Park Science Program Leader, within the Biodiversity and Conservation Science Directorate of DBCA, which is led by Executive Director Dr Margaret Byrne.
PhD students Lauren Svejcar, Simone Pedrini and Susan Whiteley, and Dr Adam Cross, were this year's successful WA Fresh Scientists. These early-career scientists took part in media and communications training that culminated in a public presentation challenge where they showcased their research.
Susan Whiteley awarded a PhD for her research on ex situ conservation of the threatened Androcalva perlaria (Malvaceae s.l.) and implications for in situ restoration.
Dr Siegy Krauss co-authors a paper that identifies priority actions to improve decision making around the provenance of seed for restoration.
Dr Katinka Ruthrof with colleagues from UWA and Murdoch University co-authors a paper about how mammal diggings help seedlings grow.
Dr Katinka Ruthrof and colleagues from Murdoch University publish a paper on transitioning mining to agriculture, focusing on the responses of sorghum to nitrogen.
Dr Carole Elliott, Kylie Wilkinson and Dr Shane Turner published their case study on the translocation of a threatened species Ricinocarpos brevis in Bulletin of the Australian Network for Plant Conservation, 26(4):12-15.
Dr Thomas Robson, Dr Peter Golos, Dr Jason Stevens and Dr Nathan Reid publish a paper that examined the effect of a shallow sandy topsoil cover overlying mildly reactive, circum‐neutral copper ore tailings on seedling emergence, growth, and root development.
A paper published by Drs Miriam Muñoz-Rojas, Todd Erickson, David Merritt, and international colleagues demonstrates that cyanobacteria inoculation can rapidly modify properties of reconstructed soil substrates, including through increasing soil carbon 4-fold, underpinning the potential key role of these organisms as bio-tools to initiate recovery of soil functions in infertile, reconstructed soil substrates.
Kate Stanbury, Dr Jason Stevens and Dr Alison Ritchie publish a paper in Land Degradation and Development which identifies factors in a post‐pine (Pinus pinaster) plantation ecosystem that could limit successful restoration of highly biodiverse Banksia woodlands.
Dr Katinka Ruthrof and colleagues from Murdoch University and Edith Cowan University published a paper on the tripartite relationship between a digging mammal, mycorrhizal fungi and tree seedlings.
Dr Katinka Ruthrof and colleagues from Murdoch University and Edith Cowan University published a paper on the nitrogen requirements of Sorghum bicolor when grown in post-phosphate mining substrates on Christmas Island.
Dr Katinka Ruthrof co-authored a paper with a large group of forest ecologists highlighting priorities for research for drought-induced forest die-off.
Susan Whiteley submits her PhD on conserving Androcalva perlaria (Malvaceae): the implications of life history and the use of ex situ conservation methodologies.
Vanessa Brown was presented with the Curtin University Head of Department Honours Award for outstanding performance by a full time student completing a Bachelor of Science (Honours) for her research on protecting native seed with activated carbon for Banksia woodland restoration.
Simone Pedrini was presented with the Curtin University Graeme Robertson Award for an outstanding research publication for his paper 'Seed coating: Science or marketing spin?'.
Dr Todd Erickson and Dr Alison Ritchie recently attended the Society for Range Management Annual Meeting in Sparks, Nevada. The focus of the visit was to meet-up and work with our three US collaborators on the recently funded Global Innovation Linkages Project and learn from some of the US-based restoration approaches (e.g. exotic weed management and restoration seed strategies). Todd also presented some of the Pilbara restoration approaches developed in recent years in a symposium focused on 'moisture availability effects on rangeland restoration strategies, constraints and success'.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: How to pass variable holding a value to groovy eq query? How can I pass variable holding a value instead of passing a value directly to groovy search criteria?
for (def payee in payees)
{
    def results = resp.cases.find("eq 'hrid','7547') // hard code values work
    def results = resp.cases.find("eq 'hrid',??????) // how can I pass payee
}

I'm new to this. Please help. thanks

A: Basing on examples, check it:
def results = resp.cases.find { case -> case.hrid == payee }

A: GORM criteria queries are quite different than your example. Let's say you have a Payee domain class with a property named hrid:
grails-app/domain/com/something/Payee.groovy
class Payee {
    String hrid
}

To get a list of all the Payee instances with an hrid of 7547, you'd run a criteria query like this:
String hridValue = '7547'

List payees = Payee.withCriteria {
    eq 'hrid', hridValue
}

I explain Grails GORM queries in depth in a series of articles starting right here.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Description: White metal struck medal with obverse showing full-length female figure facing right, standing in front of table with open book and portfolio beneath, all surrounded by ornate fruit, flowers and laurel wreath; legend: "REMEMBER THY CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF THY YOUTH." Reverse contains inscription with laurel wreath above, all within floral surround: "REWARD/OF/SUPERIOR/MERIT."
Marks: Inscription: obverse, at lower right of field: "ALLEN/&MOORE"


Eye On The World: Somalia: Terrorist extortion attempt sees 13 of them killed.
Somalia: Terrorist extortion attempt sees 13 of them killed.
(Mogadishu) Al Shabab terrorists bit off more than they could chew on Saturday when villagers refused an earlier order by the Islamic terrorists where they demanded the local pastoralists to hand over some of their livestock as a zakat demand, or religious tax,"
So at 7am local time the terrorists attacked Halfoley, a rural village near the town of Jalalaqsi, in the Hiran region. in which to express to everybody how unhappy Allah was with them regards how they had refused a religious demand. However the villagers were having none of this 'We are all Muslims crap' and met the pious terrorists with gunfire, they in turn were reinforced by a detachment of the Somali military and 5 hours later, 13 terrorists were pushing up daisies .


text:
Contact Mayor and Council
Council Member Julie Pace
Council Term: 2021 - 2024
Previous Term: Town Council 2017 - 2020
Email Council Member Julie Pace
Councilmember and former Vice Mayor Julie Pace is a proud 4th generation Arizonan and attorney who has lived in Paradise Valley for 20 years. Julie has a passion for preserving our Town's iconic mountains, open space and desert ambience. She is focused on our Town's quality of life in residential living and responsible resort development that fits the character of our low-density community. Julie created the digital newspaper "Preserving Paradise Valley" to celebrate our unique Town and keep residents informed.
Julie's priorities on the Town Council are public safety, fiscal responsibility, resident concerns, and preservation of the unique, low-density quality of life in Paradise Valley. Julie worked diligently on updating the Hillside Safety Improvement Ordinance and drafted the Hillside construction staging plan. She is currently working with residents to beautify the front of Camelback Cemetery across the street from Kiva School.
Julie served for two years as Chair of the ACOPS Committee that works in cooperation with the PV Police Department to strengthen the public involvement, education, and security of residents. Julie initiated and established the Houses of Worship committee. Recently Julie worked with the Historic Committee on PV's 60th Anniversary Celebration.
Julie worked with the Trustees to reinvigorate the Paradise Valley Mountain Preservation Trust (PVMPT) to rebrand the name and website, developed a First-Ever Recognition Event, obtain new donations, and initiated with our Stone Canyon neighborhood the conservation children's book called "The Story of Camelback Mountain." Over 2,000 book sold with 100% of the proceeds donated to the Trust.
Julie has practiced law for more than 30 years representing companies in employment, construction and OSHA. She previously worked in investment and insurance sales management. She earned a B.S. in Business, magna cum laude, and J.D., cum laude, from Arizona State University. She has served as a Judge Pro Tem on the Arizona Court of Appeals.
Julie has held leadership positions in many professional and civic organizations, particularly in the construction and service industry. Arizona Business Magazine named her as one of the 10 most influential lawyers in Arizona in 2008. She is named in Best Lawyers in America for Construction and is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. Julie is regularly quoted in local and national media on employment law and other issues, including Forbes, Business Week, The New York Times, L.A. Times, NPR, CNN, FOX News, CBS News, Associated Press, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Arizona Republic, Daily Independent, Tucson Daily Star and more.
Prior to moving to Paradise Valley 20 years ago, Julie has been an active volunteer in civic affairs in the East Valley, including serving 12 years as a member and Chair of the Mesa Redevelopment Commission (handling one-stop shopping of planning and zoning, board of adjustment, and design review), worked closely under 5 mayors on various project to benefit the city, and served on the general plan committee. Julie's past involvement includes Soroptimists, Mesa Leadership, and serving on the Board of the East Valley Partnership as Vice President of Economic Development and co-founding the East Valley Economic Forum. She co-founded the Southwest Shakespeare Company and has served as pro bono legal counsel for the Phoenix Symphony for over 20 years.
Julie was honored to receive the Rio Salado Chapter of the American Institute of Architects Community Vision Award for her "Contributions to the Built Community," recognized as Mesa's Young Women of the Year and awarded Mesa's Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Spirit of Unity award.
Her law practice focuses on representing businesses in a wide variety of employment and commercial law matters, including OSHA, I-9 and E-Verify immigration compliance, handbooks, drug and alcohol policies, confidentiality and restrictive covenant agreements, executive employment agreements, investigations, training, counseling, contracts, acquisitions, and litigation. She leads a team of a dozen professionals in the Phoenix office of Messer Reeves, a national law firm.
Julie's hobbies include being an avid and award-winning photographer, traveling to 90 countries. She is also certified by the Desert Botanical Garden in desert plant forms and maintenance.
Mayor Jerry Bien-Willner
Vice Mayor Scott Moore
Council Member Ellen Andeen
Council Member Christine Labelle
Council Member Mark Stanton
Council Member Anna Thomasson


I'm not all that familiar with the digital models. If the damage is as severe as I think it is, you should contact Bradley.
If you go under the feedback and help tab I posted a fix for the broken door mod. I have a 6 rack digital. I see it has the third party hosting problem but not sure if you can get that to work or if it is something I would need to do?
I hear you. I hope you get the door fixed and you are up and running soon.
Onefish, would you be good enough to bring back the info of what your fix ends up being? The door on my 4 rack digital is beginning to do what your has done, a little piece has broken off the bottom. Things are ok now but from what you say i might be on borrowed time. Your experience sure would go along way for a fix for mine.
I have the same thing with my 4 rack, I always attributed it to a plastic door on a oven, but I have always been able to repair mine.