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Michael & Son Helping Hands
Due to the overwhelming demand, our program is not currently accepting candidates. You may submit an application online and someone will be in contact once we're able to resume.
It Feels Good to Give Back! Our Michael & Son technicians come across some incredible people with heartbreaking stories. When they find they have nowhere to turn in a time of need, that's when we come in…to lend a helping hand!
With the frigid weather quickly approaching in Norfolk, VA, Cynthia Lopez and Ritchie Barnes will be one less family left in the cold.
Michael & Son is back this weekend with another episode of Helping Hands. This week, we meet a family in the making and a couple whose strong bond of over 40 years carried them through an unimaginable tragedy.
Michael & Son Helping Hands Provides Heat to Little Girl In Need
For all of us at Michael & Son who have worked with the Helping Hands Program, December 23rd is solemn day. Three years ago on that day, in the midst of all the holiday cheer, we lost someone who had a profound effect on all of us. Amanda Mahmood was a young, bright and inspirational young lady who suffered from congestive heart failure. We helped her with some home repairs and in return she inspired us to help more families and make a bigger impact.
Three years later, and just a week after that anniversary of Amanda's passing, a call comes across my desk from a single mother of a disabled child in Richmond, VA with a broken HVAC unit. Recently widowed Cari Browne and her daughter Savannah had been in the cold since Christmas morning and because Cari was providing 24 hour care for her daughter, she was unable to work and definitely couldn't afford the cost of replacing her homes HVAC unit.
Her daughter, Savannah, was born with a rare gene mutation that caused her to have heart failure as well. The cold temperature in her home was aggravating her condition and they were in desperate need of help. When I spoke with Cari and we talked about Savannah's condition, I immediately thought of Amanda. It gave the request even more of a sense of urgency and I called Michael & Son CEO, Basim Mansour, who was traveling but gave the green light to have the work done immediately. Within just two days of contacting Michael & Son Services, we were at the Browne's home installing a brand new HVAC system at no cost. Check out the news story for more details about the job. Also, stay tuned to our Facebook page for information on the new season of Helping Hands starting January 21st!
TV Schedule:
1/21: 9:30-10 AM
2/4: 9:30-10 AM
Fighting Sleep – The Patty Kinder Story
Fighting Sleep: The Patty Kinder Story
For many of people, sleep is hard to come by; whether it's because of our jobs or families, sleep can sometimes be elusive. For others, sleep is a curse that hangs over our heads morning, day and night. Narcolepsy is a disease that affects one in every 2,000 Americans and occurs when the brain is unable to regulate cycles of sleep and being awake. This results in excessive daytime sleepiness and intermittent, uncontrollable episodes of falling asleep anywhere and anytime.
Patty Kinder is a life-long resident of Virginia and over the last 20 years, Patty has undergone a great deal of hardship. When Patty was about 20 years old, she began having problems with maintaining her energy level and found herself needing to nap more and more during the day. Over the years, her symptoms have worsened and her ability to regulate her wake and sleep periods has gone progressively downhill. Because of the condition, Patty was barely able to keep her job as a licensed veterinarian technician. It became harder and harder to stay awake at work. Many times during her 15-minute drive to or from work, she would have to pull over to the side of the road to nap – sometimes taking as many as three naps on the way. She slept upright in a chair for more than four years just so she wouldn't fall into a deep sleep and not wake when the alarm went off.
When her house flooded, there was no money or energy for repairs. Patty had no choice but to pull the carpet up and live with bare concrete floors. Patty's house fell into disrepair. When she was awake, she would try to do things but since she couldn't regulate the amount of time she would be awake, she would start a project and leave it partially done. This happened over and over. Sleep overtook her life. Even during her waking periods, her thinking was foggy and her energy level was very low. Simple everyday tasks became a huge struggle.
More than four years ago and after the flood, the HVAC in her house stopped working. Patty could not afford to replace it so she took no action. When the cold weather came, Patty slept in a chair, surrounded by electric heaters. Due to her narcolepsy, there were times when she slept for three days in a row. Sleep and its unpredictability overcame her life. For Patty, it seemed there was no way out of her situation and she would simply have to suffer through it.
To make matters worse, about a year and a half ago Patty felt a lump in her breast. It took her weeks to see a doctor. She missed several appointments because of her inability to stay awake. She since has undergone a mastectomy, chemotherapy and is now enduring weeks of radiation for a cancer she hopes she can beat. Because she is not able to work right now, she has no income and is applying for assistance. She hopes to start receiving disability before her funds completely run out.
Recently, Patty found some hope and some help in the form of a local nonprofit called DeShong's Gift Back and the Michael & Son Helping Hands program. DeShong's Gift Back is the vision of Sterling residents Jane and Vini Short. Their nonprofit grows vegetables and gives them to food pantries; searches for funding; and forms groups of volunteers to help to repair homes for those in need like Patty. They are helping Patty to get her life back.
Recently, Patty found some hope and some help in the form of a local nonprofit called DeShong's Gift Back and the Michael & Son Helping Hands program. DeShong's Gift Back is the vision of Sterling residents Jane and Vini Short. Their nonprofit grows vegetables and gives them to food pantries; searches for funding; and forms groups of volunteers to help to repair homes for those in need like Patty. They are helping Patty to get her life back and are in the process of continuing the improvements. If you would like to make a
became a huge struggle.
Recently, Patty found some hope and some help in the form of a local nonprofit called DeShong's Gift Back and the Michael & Son Helping Hands program. DeShong's Gift Back is the vision of Sterling residents Jane and Vini Short. Their nonprofit grows vegetables and gives them to food pantries; searches for funding; and forms groups of volunteers to help to repair homes for those in need like Patty. They are helping Patty to get her life back and are in the process of continuing the improvements. If you would like to make a difference in the life of Patty or others like her, go to www.DeShongsGiftBack.org or email them at DeShongsGiftBack@gmail.com.
DeShong's Gift Back learned about the Michael & Son Helping Hands program and facilitated Patty's application. Patty was immediately approved and Michael & Son jumped right in to install a new heating and air-conditioning unit in her home and has pledged to continue helping Patty by installing new toilets and plumbing hardware in her bathrooms. To learn more about Patty and her story, view this episode of Helping Hands which aired recently on NBC 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na0SWq9rx9Q&feature=youtu.be
Anthony and Michelle Hinton paced the ER as they waited for an update from the doctor on call. Although nights in the hospital were becoming a regular occurrence, the Hinton family dreaded every second; but no one likes having their child in the hospital, especially for breathing difficulties. The main culprit behind their child's frequent asthma attacks was a faulty HVAC unit and filthy ducts. While it would seem that the problem would be easily remedied with a simple replacement unit and duct cleaning, for some families it's just not that simple.
Anthony Hinton had proudly served his country for many years in the US Military. Before entering the service, Anthony was an outgoing young man who loved spending time outdoors, family gatherings and live sporting events. However, upon returning from his second tour overseas, something had changed inside him. Anthony began having panic attacks when in wide open spaces or enclosed areas. As time went on, his conditioned worsened and soon he was not able to work. Around the same time, his wife Michelle was diagnosed with severe arthritis and fibromyalgia. With two serious conditions attacking her joints and muscles, Michelle began losing her ability to work full time and before long found herself laid off and unable to work.
As the families health problems mounted, so did their bills. Soon, they were only able to meet their most basic obligations and things like home repairs went on the back burner. As their son began to experience more frequent and prolonged asthma attacks, the family took him to see a specialist where they learned poor indoor air quality was triggering the episodes. With that news, the family knew they could not wait any longer and reached out to the Michael & Son Cares Program.
Want to find out what happened next? Tune into Helping Hands, Saturday at 7:30pm on NBC4 to see the whole story. Also, Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our Youtube page to find out about upcoming offers, special events and much more!
Living With ALS
Anyone with a Facebook account remembers the "ice bucket challenge", you may have participated yourself. Basically, it involved someone making a video of having a bucket of ice water dumped over there head and then challenging a friend to do the same. The whole point was to spread awareness about ALS but the sad fact is many people didn't really understand why they were doing it or what ALS actually is. Another important point missed during the entire challenge was the fund raising aspect; most people just wanted to make a fun video for their Facebook page. At the end of the day, the challenge raised awareness and a good deal of money but what about the people who suffer with ALS and their families? Before we go in to that aspect, let's cover some basics…
Before Facebook, ALS was widely known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease" and is a relatively rare disease with approximately 30,000 diagnosed people in the U.S. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a progressive degeneration of the nerve and brain cells that communicate with the brain and facilitate movement. As the disease progresses, patients began to lose muscle control and can eventually become totally paralyzed.
Challenges of ALS
ALS presents a myriad of issues for the patient and their families. Physical suffering, mental anguish and finical ruin are just some of the ways a disease like ALS can affect a patient and their family. As the disease makes its way through the nervous system, the patient begins to lose mobility and suffer excruciating pain. Day to day life becomes an ever growing challenge and the most basic human function, like taking a single step, becomes a monumental under taking. As the patient takes on these grim milestones, their homes need to be altered along the ADA (Americans with Disability Act) guidelines and that can be very expensive.
Everything from bathrooms, stairs, the kitchens, bedrooms and anywhere the patient frequents needs to be made accessible for someone with limited to no mobility. Without help from an outside organization, making a home accessible for someone with disabilities is nearly impossible for most families. Watching a loved one's physical health literally deteriorate is extraordinarily tolling on the family and can have a dramatic affect on young children. Coupled with finical stresses, the entire family must learn to adapt to significant changes that alter not only the patient's life but theirs as well.
Meet the Murray's
The Murray family is no stranger to the struggles of living with ALS. When Mike Murray received his diagnosis, he and his wife Dena knew their lives dramatically change. They also knew that they would need help. After meeting others families who were living with ALS, the Murray's learned the true extent of the finical cost they would incur beyond medical bills. When Michael began to require 24 hour a day oxygen, the family worried about losing during a storms, which frequently occurred in the rural area of Virginia where they live. Then, on an especially stormy night, the family's worst fear was realized. After a loud crash of thunder, the homes lights went out and a loud alarm rang out from Mike's monitors. Mike's oxygen was cut off and he was unable to breath, Dena dashed to call 911 as she prayed he would survive. Because of the distance from their home to the hospital, Mike was taken by helicopter to the emergency room.
As Dena watched her home disappear in the distance from the helicopter window, she began to wonder if Mike would come home, and if he did, would he survive the next power outage? Dena began investigating residential backup generators and quickly learned it was something the family would not be able to afford. She began to look for help and reached out to a dozen different not for profit organization and businesses but kept hitting brick walls.
After watching Helping Hands on NBC, Dena reached out to the Michael & Son Cares program. Find out what happened next by tuning into the upcoming season of Helping Hands. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our YouTube page to find out more information about the upcoming season of Helping Hands.
A Little Help From Our Friends
It's been said time and time again, the goal of the Michael & Son Cares Program is not only to help families with essential home repairs they can't afford, but to also inspire other businesses to do the same. To date, The Michael & Son Cares Program can proudly say our goals are being met. The type of support we receive from businesses in the community range from services that are beyond the scope of our expertise, products, and sometimes financial contributions.
For those of you who are not familiar with the Michael & Son Cares Program or the Helping Hands TV show that documents our work, here is a quick run down of how it works: Families who are in need of assistance with home repairs because of financial issues due to illness or disability send us an application detailing their situations. Every month we select a family and not only provide the services free of charge but also a special surprise for the family.
Because most of the families that we meet have children, their needs go beyond home repairs; after all, a new water heater or furnace is not exactly at the top of every kids wish list. With that in mind, we have always paid close attention to the interest and wants of the families children during the time we spend together. It's because of the generosity of our supporters in the business community that we are able to bring a little happiness into the lives of children who face such difficult circumstances. Here are some examples of how they help us make a difference:
Charlie Crohare suffers from an extremely rare brain disorder similar to Miller Dieker syndrome. At 6 years old Charlie is a quadriplegic and has the brain development of a 2 year old. He suffers from daily seizures that can last up to 45 excruciating minutes and has been air lifted from his home, to the hospital dozens of times. Because of his condition, when he is not confined to his medical crib or wheelchair, Charlie can safely relax in bean bag chairs to play with his toys, games and watch movies. When we heard about Charlie's love for bean bags, we reached out to local custom bean bag maker, Ahh! Bean Bags, who was more than happy to make Charlie an oversized, custom bean bag.
Monet and Greg Caldwell reached out to the Care's Program when their home heating system broke down during one of the coldest winters on record. Their youngest of two children, Skyler, had just been born 10 weeks earlier with a thyroid cyst that required surgery. Because the cyst was located in her throat and any infection could cause a complete blockage of her tiny airway, the Caldwell's could not risk bringing Skyler home to a cold home following the surgery. After resolving their heating issues, the Cares Program granted the Caldwell's wish for a couples night out and a family day out. After sending Monet and Greg to a night out in Old Town, the Baltimore Aquarium invited the family for an all access afternoon, including a dolphin show, feeding demonstrations and a meet and greet with the turtles.
As a teenager, Brandon Donaghy was involved in a near fatal car accident that left him in a coma for nearly a month. The subsequent brain injuries that resulted from the coma left Brandon with memory and anxiety issues that made it impossible for him to hold a job. When Brandon woke up one cold morning to a broken heating system and no way to pay for a replacement, he began to panic. He sent his four children to stay with his grandmother while he searched for a solution. The Michael & Son Cares Program stepped in and along with restoring heat to the home, our friends at the Verizon Center gave the Donaghy family a night they will never forget. Along with a fully catered suite, the Donaghy's sat court side during the Wizards warm up, met players and received bags of autographed merchandise.
One common theme throughout the stories above and many others is HVAC (heating and cooling) systems needing to be replaced. Most homeowners know that replacing them can cost thousands and repairs are usually band aids. Carrier is one of the worlds most well known and trusted names when it comes to HVAC, both residential and commercial. As top sponsor of the Michael & Son Cares Program, they are also one of the most generous. Today, over a dozen families have heat and A/C in their homes thanks to the community conscious people at Carrier.
You can see these stories and many more by visiting our website for a complete collection of past episodes of Helping Hands. Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to find out about the upcoming season of Helping Hands, special events and much more!
Season 4 Finale; Helping Hands
Over the past 5 years, I've had the privilege of working with families in our community as the head of the Michael & Son Cares Program. If you have not already heard of us, we are a local home improvement company that helps disadvantaged families with essential home repairs they cannot afford. From restoring heat to cold homes to surprise visits from celebrities; the Michael & Son Cares Program has brought smiles, tears and hope to dozens of recipients in the D.C., M.D., and V.A area. Not unlike Michael & Son Services, The Cares program has grown by leaps and bounds over the past 5 years. One of our proudest achievements regarding the Cares Program is the creation of the Helping Hands T.V. show, which documents the charitable work of the Cares Program.
The Cares Program, like Michael & Son Services, has modest beginnings. Today you can hardly drive a mile without seeing a signature blue Michael & Son truck. It was not always that way; in fact it all began with one van and a two man team. In 1968, Mousa "Mike" Mansour came to this country with a vision, to build a family business that his children could one day inherit. An electrician from an early age, Mousa's natural inclination towards the trade was apparent in his work and he landed a Union Electrician job. On weekends and nights Mousa worked side jobs with his 6 year old son, Basim, tagging along as his pint sized apprentice. It was during those impressionable years of watching his father work that Basim Mansour learned the meaning of hard work, dedication and punctuality. He also learned the importance of giving back to the community that kept him in business. Mousa was not a wealthy man but a generous man nonetheless. He would never leave a family without power on a cold night because they couldn't afford cost. To him, the smiles on the faces of those families he helped was worth far more than any amount of money. These instances that were witnessed by Basim left an indelible impression on him that would influence the way he would one day run his own business.
On June 1st 1990 Mousa "Mike" Mansour suffered a fatal heart attack, leaving his family and community devastated. At the young age of 19, Basim picked up where his father left off and began his own business, Michael & Son Services. Today the company has over 200 employees, offers comprehensive home services and spans four states and our nations capitol. As the business has grown, so has the number of Cares Program recipients. The CaresProgram reaches thousands of people each week through the local TV program "Helping Hands", however, we hope to inspire more businesses and individuals to give back to their communities in any way they can. If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, please visit michaelandsonhelpinghands.com for more information.
Early Retirement, Gone Wrong
On a rainy night in Madonna Maryland, Delano Draine was making his way home to his wife. Delano was full of optimism, he was six months into his retirement, and ready for some long overdue relaxation.
A hard working man from a young age, Delano spent years in the military, eventually settling into a job as a corrections officer. The hours were long, the work was dangerous and the stress was tolling; Delano was glad to be done with it. As Delano weaved down the wet and winding road, he had no idea is life was about to change forever. Out of nowhere, a deer appeared in the middle of the road, Delano swerved to avoid it, but it was too late – everything went black.
When Delano opened his eyes, he was upside down strapped inside his car. "I felt a tremendous amount of pain, but was still able to fish my phone out of my pocket". His first call was to 911, with the second being the hardest he's ever had to make. Forty minutes away from where Delano lay suspended in his car, Shelley, his wife, was preparing a late dinner for two. Around 9:15 Shelley received a phone call that left her pale and trembling. The voice on the other end was her husband, he was badly hurt and being rushed to the hospital. Shelley grabbed her bag and raced out her door; she knew it was serious, but she had no idea Delano would never walk again.
Delano had nearly severed his spine and there was no hope for recovery, he would require a lifetime of around the clock care. Because the VA and other government agencies could not or would not provide him with the care he needed, Shelley was forced into early retirement and began the painful vocation of caring for a suffering loved one. Because of the ever mounting medical bills, the Draine's were unable to afford home repairs that were essential to Delano's well being. One of those repairs was to the homes furnace, and as the winter grew colder, it became critical that the family had a reliable heating system. That's where The Michael & Son Cares Program stepped in. You can see the whole story this weekend, check the list below for show times in your area.
Washington DC WRC NBC4
3/14 10:00 – 10:30 AM
Norfolk: WVEC
Richmond WTVR
Baltimore WMAR
3/14 6:30 PM
Charlottesville WVIR
When Michele Pulaski gave birth to twins Josh and Sarah, she and her husband Jordan could only see a bright future for their family. A few weeks later, the clouds began to gather when Sarah was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis. Sarah's meningitis caused massive brain damage and as a result she is now left a quadriplegic. She also suffers from epilepsy, hypothermia and is vision impaired. Sarah's mother was told that she would never have cognitive functions beyond that of an infant. But against all odds, Sarah has defied her diagnosis and 8 years later she is learning to sing songs, play games, and brings a smile to everyone she meets!
Just when the family had begun to adjust to life with a disabled child, tragedy struck again. At the young age of 39, Jordan Pulaski was diagnosed with a rare neuromuscular disease that affects only 200,000 people worldwide. As Jordans condition progressed he began to lose mobility and today, like his daughter Sarah, is quadriplegic and confined to a wheel chair.
Sarah and Jordan worked hard their entire lives and excelled in both their educations and careers. Unfortunately, because Jordan and Sarah require a lifetime of costly medical care, the family is saddled with debt and with both parents only able to work part time, the family was unable to afford essential home repairs.
After watching the NBC program "Helping Hands" the Pulaski's reached out to the Michael & Son Cares Program for help with a broken water heater and alterations to make their bathrooms handicap accessible. Michael & Son Services stepped in and provide the family with the all the home repairs at no charge.
Along with providing families with free home repairs,The Michael & Son Cares Program also surprised the family with special gifts like floor seats to Wizards games, organizing special events and even hospital visits from celebrities. The Pulaski family surprised everyone when they requested that in lieu of a gift, the Cares Program make a donation to their favorite charity, The National Epilepsy Foundation. Needless to say, everyone involved with the program was deeply touched by the families generosity and concern for others.
Helping Hands documents the work of the Michael & Son Cares Program and their community service program which provides free home repairs to those in need, local showtimes listed below.
2/28 9:30 – 10:00 AM
Rescued from the harsh winter!
Betty Parker sits on her front porch as four puppies vie for her attention at her feet. "There is a lot of suffering behind close doors" she says, gazing off into the horizon, "you can only suffer for so long before its time to ask for help."
As a strong Boston-bred native living in Norfolk, Betty Parker takes great pride in her self reliance. "My father raised me to be independent; I can do anything a man can do" said Betty, "I can even make repairs around the house, to an extent." That extent was reached when her water heater began to fail and her furnace died. At 67 years of age, Betty suffers from Parkinson's disease; its slow, methodical march through her nervous system made even the simplest daily task a monumental undertaking. One of those tasks became boiling water multiple times a day for bathing, washing, and cooking.
Betty's hands trembled under the oppressive weight of the large, cast iron cooking pot she carried over to the sink. She began to demonstrate the agonizing, painful ritual of filling the pot with water and lugging it down the hall and to the tub. As the temperatures began to plummet, Betty was faced with a new tribulation, the prospect of a heatless winter. Wringing her hands beside a small space heater, Betty sighed then smiled. "I'm not gonna complain, there are people out there a lot worse off than I am".
Many people dismiss the idea of a guardian angel, but in todays cold and detached world, some just earn the title. Meet Sue, a life long native of Norfolk and friend of Betty. Sue has spent her life in service to those in need. Whether it was on an organizational level or personal, you're sure to find Sue at the helm. When Sue realized that Betty was living without essential services in her home, she immediately sprung into action and immediately starting hitting walls. "Everyone has an excuse about why they can't help but no one offers solutions." Sue called just about every state agency and private charity in search of help for Betty, and when those attempts were fruitless she began calling local businesses. After calling nearly every home improvement company in her area, Sue was ready to throw her hands up in defeat. At that very moment something fateful occurred; Sue looked out of her window, and noticed a Michael & Son Services truck pulling into her neighbor's driveway. She figured it was worth one last shot, and called the number on the truck. "I called on a Saturday and expected to just get a voicemail" said Sue, "but what happened next left me speechless," she continued.
Sue contacted Michael & Son on a Saturday morning, and by the afternoon had secured heat and hot water for Betty's home. "I've been dealing with not for profits and government agencies for decades now, and I've never seen a group work so fast" said Sue. "I knew right away that they genuinely cared about not only Betty, but the entire community around them" she continued.
Today, Betty Parker and her four dogs have a warm house with hot water, today there is one person suffering behind a closed door. The Michael & Son Cares Program is on a mission to not only help those in need, but to inspire others to do the same. We call upon every individual, business and organization with the means to make a difference to do just that.
If you would like to join us in our mission to make a difference, click here to find out how you can help. Also, if you or someone you know is in need of essential home repairs, visit us at michaelandson.com to learn how you can apply for the Michael & Son Cares Program. You can watch the Michael & Son Cares Program in action on the TV series "Helping Hands" every weekend, check below for local listings and air times.
February 21st 9:30 AM
February 22nd 11:30 PM
February 21st 6:30 PM
Michael and Son comes to rescue for single mom!
If you drive from the suburbs of D.C. and down through Northern Virginia, you'd hardly see any signs of the financial crisis that swept through the country. From the Mc Mansions of Fairfax and Arlington to the sprawling estates of Clifton; Northern Virginia has some of the wealthiest communities in the country. While there are many within those communities who are struggling, you could never tell from a glance. There is one place, however, that stands out among the upper class communities; Triangle. Over the last several years, Triangle, Virginia has become a virtual ghost town. Boarded up businesses and foreclosed homes fill the landscape of an area that was once a thriving part of Northern Virginia.
Just off the freeway in a dilapidated home lives a single mother named Mary and her son, Elias. Mary had to give up working to care for Elias who suffers from Spina bifida. Requiring, 24 hour care, Elias is confined to a wheel chair and unable to speak. That leaves his mother responsible for literally every single daily activity; from taking showers to brushing his teeth. Because of her inability to work, Mary could not afford the much needed repairs to her home. The list of repairs was a long one; a new roof, HVAC system and the most daunting of them all, repairs to the foundation. She had reached out to many different organizations for help but the scope and size of the job was always more than they could handle.
One Saturday morning, Mary had a rare opportunity to relax and watch TV. She caught an episode of Helping Hands and decided to send a letter requesting assistance. "When I saw the Helping Hands, I was amazed by the things Michael & Son was doing in the community" said Mary. "I just had this feeling that this was the answer" continued Mary. She was right, just days after her letter was sent the repairs on her home were underway. With the help of other local businesses, the family received all the repairs to their home at no cost.
If you or someone you know is currently facing a hardship and is unable to afford home repairs, please contact the Michael & Son Cares Team. Michael & Son Services established their "Cares" charitable campaign in 2010 providing essential home services to local families in need. To date, the program has assisted over 20 families in the area. They are also proud sponsors and supporters of Dreams for kids, Saltwater Soldiers and Susan G. Komen. Michael & Son Services has been serving the greater DC metropolitan area for over 30 years with electrical, plumbing, heating, A/C, construction and handyman services. Make sure you tune in this weekend to see this incredible story for yourself, showtimes listed below.
Our motto has always been, "If you can't, we can!" Visit us today, at www.michaelandson.com.
2/7 9:30 – 10:00 AM
2/7 9:00 AM
2/8 11:30 PM
2/7 6:30 PM

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Parties agree that disputes can be resolved by either arbitration or litigation. Sometimes, the option is only given to one party, called one-sided optional arbitration clauses or asymmetric arbitration clauses. This kind of dispute resolution clauses gives the party who has the option a privilege to select between arbitration and litigation in the dispute resolution period.
This type does not give the parties the freedom to select between the two mechanisms but makes litigation as the final resort for dispute resolution. Parties agree that if they fail to refer disputes to arbitration or do not agree with the arbitration award, they could still file the claim in the court. This kind of agreements tries to override the principle that the arbitration award is final and binding.
then bring a lawsuit in the court. For more details, please refer to Labor Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Law of the People's Republic of China. This article does not deal with labor arbitration but only ordinary commercial arbitration.
Article 7 of the interpretation of the Supreme People's Court on the application of the People's Republic of China Arbitration Law states that "if the parties agree that a dispute may be referred to arbitration or be submitted to people's court, the arbitration agreement is null and void."
Article 9 of Arbitration Law of the People's Republic of China stipulates that "the arbitration award is final. After the award is given, if one of the parties re-refers the same dispute to the arbitration commission or files the same claim in the people's court, the arbitration commission/ people's court shall not accept the case".
It should be also noted that although the law expressly stipulates that an optional arbitration agreement is null and void, this does not mean that the whole dispute resolution clause is completely invalid. As confirmed by the Supreme People's Court in Jiangmen Jiangci Electrician Co., Ltd vs Yunnan Copper Co., Ltd , the agreement on choice of court jurisdiction is still valid as long as the choice complies with the mandatory law. Therefore, even though the part of the arbitration agreement under the optional arbitration clause is void, the rest part is still valid and the parties are still entitled to bring a lawsuit to the agreed court.
Article 14 sets up a new mechanism for judicial review on the validity of a foreign-related arbitration agreement — without a choice of governing law in the arbitration agreement, the people's court shall look at both the law of the place of the arbitration institution and the law of the seat of the arbitration. As long as one of the jurisdiction admits the validity of the arbitration clause, the people's court shall uphold the validity of the arbitration clause.
The above judicial interpretation came into force on 1 January 2018. Therefore, China has now adopted a more supportive attitude towards international arbitration.
Because of this new legislation, the people's court is more inclined to admit the validity of an optional arbitration clause in a foreign-related contract. i.e. If there is no choice of the governing law of the arbitration clause, then as long as one of the legal regime (the location of the arbitration institution or the seat of the arbitration) admits the validity of the clause, Chinese court will rule as the same.
Meanwhile, it should be noted that Article 14 does not apply to pure domestic arbitration. As for the pure domestic arbitration, both the governing law of the arbitration agreement and the substantive law of the contract shall always be Chinese law. In such situation, an optional arbitration clause is always invalid.
Previously published by Lexology on January 5 2018.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The Phylogenomics working group led by Darren Crayn has been meeting regularly to tease out the various approaches that can be undertaken by the project.
The Bioinformatics (pilot genomes) working group led by Anna Syme has been meeting once a month to discuss the tools and compute requirements for the 3 pilot reference genome projects. The long term compute requirements for the initiative and best sequencing approaches for the pilot reference genomes are also being considered.


Robbie Williams recently experienced one of the ''happiest moments'' of his life, watching televised soccer highlights with his baby daughter.
Robbie Williams is selling his Beverly Hills mansion for $3.6 million.
The Candy hitmaker has decided to put his Los Angeles home up for sale and move back to Britain with his wife Ayda Field and two-month-old daughter Theodora 'Teddy' Rose the US actress loves the UK and he wants his little girl to have a "European" accent.
Speaking to The Evening Standard newspaper, he said: "Ayda loves it here [in Britain]. I can't stand the weather here but I love the people, I love our sense of humour, I love our culture.
"We are buying in London, so Teddy will definitely have a European accent of some sort. It's going to be in the Holland Park or Chelsea area."
His 4,659 square foot home on exclusive Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles features its own soccer pitch, five bedrooms, a separate guesthouse and a swimming pool that looks over stunning canyon views.
Although Robbie, 38, is worth £100 million and already owns an £8m mansion in Wiltshire, South West England, he is still shocked at the "astronomical" prices of property in the UK capital and wonders how so many people can afford to live there.
He added: "Prices are astronomical. I don't know how anybody can afford to live in London full stop. It's all gone oligarch-kind-of-cash. It's all unrealistic.
"Everything's like a two-million add-on. 'That's two million, that's half a million.' I just want to park outside the house, but you can't get anywhere. It's frightening. Even garages are going for £500,000. Parking spaces are £250,000."


You've no doubt seen the television ad or heard the radio version: The silver haired 60-something looks into the mirror and sees their youthful, vigourous 30-something self.
If only real life retirement planning was that easy.
October 31st is the self-assessment deadline for making contributions into a pension fund in order to reduce your 2013 tax liability and benefit from either 20% or 41% tax relief.
- have been discouraged by the pension levy confiscation since 2011.
While fees, charges and commissions do still exist, they are lower and more transparent. More people are now dealing with fee-based advisers, who strip out commission, but if not, they demand a written comparison of the potential impact of the commission on their investment fund in the short, medium and long term.
Pension returns have been strong over the last few years (recovering and exceeding the 2008-9 losses for those who didn't panic) but the bull market may have come to an end say many commentators.
Getting urgent, impartial advice if you are starting a pension or a review of an existing one is recommended.
Complex as pensions are – and there is no getting around that – best practice hasn't changed, and the number one rule is to start saving and investing as soon as possible.
So what action should a young person take as a first pension step (or to maximise their tax relief for 2013) before the end of this month?
- First, join your company pension or group PRSA – by law your employer must offer the latter if they don't operate the former.
- Next, start paying in at least 10% of your gross salary and keep it at that percentage as your wages rise. By making automatic monthly deductions from salary your lifestyle costs, which might some day include a mortgage, child-care costs, etc can be more easily absorbed.
- Make sure you understand the assets in your pension: the younger you are, the more risk you can take in the guise of a well-diversified selection of global stocks and shares.
- As you approach retirement you should consider lowering your exposure to riskier assets like stocks and shares and increase your fixed asset funds, like deposits, short-term bonds, property and even precious metals.
Time is running out to not just claim 20% or 41% tax relief on your pension contributions by the October 31 (or November 14) deadline but also perhaps in taking steps to safeguard the pension gains of the last few years.
No one can accurately predict market performance but corrections happen and many cautious commentators believe we might be at the early start of another one.
Review your pension now with an experience adviser.
Staring at yourself in the mirror and doing nothing, will certainly not produce a happy retirement outcome.
What is certain, is that there was both good and bad news last week from two other state institutions – the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) and the Central Bank.
It has taken them longer than it should have, but the ISI last Tuesday has finally admitted that their own fees have been discouraging people with serious debt issues from coming forward for help.
So from now until the end of 2015 its €100 fee to apply for a Debt Relief Notice certificate, €250 for a Debt Settlement Arrangement certificate and €500 for a Personal Insolvency Arrangement certificate will be waived.
Meanwhile, in an effort to address another problem – that of Personal Insolvency Practitioners (PIPs) rejecting many seriously indebted clients because they were afraid they would be left empty-handed should their debt settlement proposal to creditors (especially the bank mortgage lender) be rejected – the ISI has agreed to compensate PIPs for such rejections with a payment of up to €750.
The upshot of both of these moves, and the new ISI nationwide information campaign (see www.backontrack.ie) should be to encourage many more people tois come forward if they cannot cope with their debts.
Last Tuesday's bad news came from the Central Bank: from next January, bank mortgage lending will be restricted to no more than 80% of the purchase price of a domestic property and to 70% for investment properties.
Borrowers will not only have to find 20% (or 30%) of the cost of the property but loans can be no more than a multiple of 3.5 times annual earnings. There is some flexibility permitted, but for the most part, buyers who, for example, want to buy at €250,000 house, will need a €50,000 down-payment and an income of at least €57,000.
The purpose of these lending restrictions says the bank is to protect banks and buyers from the risk of over-lending and negative equity if there is another price downturn. It predicts that the tighter lending conditions will dampen down surging property prices in Dublin especially but end any risk of another boom and bust.
What the Central Bank has underestimated – and this continually happens when government agencies interfere in the property market – are the unintended consequences.
First, some context: high down-payments are commonplace on the Continent and this move originates in the EU, where efforts are underway to standardise all banking activity. The Central Bank appears to be following that dictat.
In countries like France, Germany, Italy, there is a highly regulated property sector, especially for rentals and for house building. Property is more reasonably priced than here mainly because supply and demand issues are better monitored and acted upon.
Second, while a 20% down-payments is the norm in those countries, it has never been so here. In pre-Tiger days, a 10% down-payment was the norm, along with lending limits of three times the first income and half the second. Mortgage indemnity bonds, which effectively insured mortgages greater than 75% of the purchase price, were also commonplace.
An unintended consequence of the 20% down-payment rule will be to force first time buyers with 10% savings to buy in haste – before January 1.
It will force others to abandon their plans to buy this year and keep renting. This will push up demand further for rental properties, causing rents to rise.
Renters will find it difficult to save the additional 10%, prices may keep rising, albeit more slowly, and some people will undoubtedly try to get around the new rules by surreptitiously borrowing the extra 10% from other banks, credit unions or their families.
Buyers with better off families who can lend (or give) them the higher down-payment will enjoy a market advantage over those who don't.
There is also a concern that builders – already short of credit– may not be able to build houses cheaply enough, especially on expensive Dublin land-banks – to meet the tighter credit restrictions that will apply to first time buyers.
The supply problem is also unlikely to be relieved in the capital – if anything, the new rules will give a boost to cash buyers and investors who will relish the higher rental yields.
What a mess. And a hard one to sort out even for someone buying their first home outside Dublin.
WATER CHARGES ARE HERE – HOW MUCH DO YOU USE?
Well, thanks to the final decision of the Commission for Energy Regulation last week, we now know exactly what Irish Water will be charging us for water, at least from October 1, 2014 to until nine months after our homes are metered..
After this flat rate charging period is over, the size of your household bill will depend on how much water your household uses over and above the 30,000 litres worth of free water every household will receive and the 21,000 free litres for every child multiplied by €4.88 per 1000 litres.
- Water charges started racking up last Wednesday, October 1, whether your household (whether you are an owner or tenant) is metered on not.
- A flat rate charge will apply to every household for up to nine months after your meter is installed. If you have an Irish Water meter installed now, you will still receive three, flat-rate, quarterly bills that record your water usage since October 1. The first quarterly bill (Oct-Dec 2014) arrives in January, 2015.
- Un-metered households will pay the flat rate charge until they are metered, plus another nine months, that is, three metered, billing periods.
- The flat rate period charge is: €176 for a one-adult household and an additional €102 for every extra adult: €278 for two adults, €380 for three adults, €482 for four adults, €584 for five adults, etc.
- Children under 18 go free during the flat-rate billing period.
- Every household will get a 30,000 litre allocation of free water a year worth €146.40 based on a price of €4.88 per thousand litres. Each child under 18 will be allocated 21,000 free litres which is worth €10.25.
- Once the entire flat-rate billing period is over – that is, nine months after your household is metered, you will pay €4.88 per every 1,000 litres of water consumed, less the free allocations that apply to your household.
- Households with their own water supply or a septic tank will only pay €2.44 per 1,000 litres used, less the free allocations. If you provide your own water and wastewater disposal, you are not an Irish Water customer and will have no bill.
- Holiday homes will be billed a flat €125 a year.
- If your household is metered, and during the nine months billing period in which you still pay the flat charge a review of your bills show that you have consumed less water than is represented by the flat rate bill, you will be entitled to a refund of the difference.
- There is no "standing" charge on bills, and unlike your electricity or gas bill, Irish Water bills are not subject to any VAT.
- Households on boil water or water restriction notices will not pay for their water.
- People with medical conditions that result in high water consumption can apply for a subsidy but there is no list of qualifying medical conditions.
- People in receipt of the Household Benefits Package will receive an additional €100 (€25 x 4) payment towards their annual bill.
To claim the free water allocations, the householder – the person to whom the bill will be addressed – is required to supply their PPS number and that of any children under age 18. Without the PPS number, the suggestion is that the free water allocation will not be given, even if the rest of the form is filled in accurately, and the bills are paid.
What is not entirely clear is how Irish Water have established the flat rate, assessed, pre-meter bill. In many other European countries the bill includes the price of the actual water (typically under €2 per 1000 litres in the UK), a standing charge and VAT. Here, the price of the water - €4.88 per 1000 litres - is the only base price we will get on our bill.
For the assessment, flat rate period my family of three adults will be charged €380 a year. After that, if we only use 110 litres each a day, we will pay €441.40 (that includes the free allocation). If we use a more likely 140 litres each, the bill will be €601.70.
The important thing is to try and accurately monitor your daily use multiply it by 365 days, subtract the annual free allocations and then multiply however many thousand litres used by €4.88.


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Home GENERAL NEWS Sata 'tutors' opposition on what government is
Sata 'tutors' opposition on what government is
President Michael Sata has said some opposition political party leaders that are criticising his decision to appoint opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) to serve as deputy ministers lack understanding of what government was all about.
And President Sata has dismissed allegations that the Patriotic Front (PF) government was obliterating opposition political parties in the country.
He said those criticising the appointment of opposition Members of Parliament lack the understanding of what government was and the concept of inclusivity in the governance of the country.
"They must know that government is the instrument by which people cooperate together in order to achieve the common good. And an authority is needed to guide the energies of all towards the common good," President Sata said.
Mr. Sata further explained that his administration will endeavour to have a government where all patriotic Zambians can participate in the governance and development of the country regardless of their political and other affiliation.
The President wondered why some opposition political party leaders were against his appointment of opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) to serve in the Patriotic Front (PF) government even when these parliamentarians were Zambians.
This is contained in a press statement released to the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Lusaka today by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations, George Chellah.
"Why shouldn't we appoint them to government positions when this government is also theirs? It is a government of all Zambians," he said.
President Sata explained that the Patriotic Front was not an ordinary political party hence it was called a "Front" and not a party.
"And the rationale was that we wanted to create a front in which all Zambian patriots can participate in the governance and development of their country," he said.
He added that, "for us, it doesn't matter where one comes from, which organisation he belongs to, which political party he is registered with; as long as he is a patriot and wants to come to the front and serve the country and the people, they are welcome. We have many people in government who were politically not with us but are patriots and have joined to serve their country and their people".
"So why should we prevent these MPs from coming to serve their country and their people?
If these MPs are patriots who want to serve their country by joining government, why should somebody have a problem with that? If you are not a patriot, then you won't understand what they are doing and you'll have a problem with it," he said.
He said people must know that government is an instrument by which people cooperate together in order to achieve the common good.
"Those holding their members captive by stopping them from serving their country are failures at leadership and do not have the interest of Zambians at heart," he said.
And President Sata dismissed allegations that the PF government was obliterating the opposition political parties in the country.
"As government, we find such claims to be misplaced and deceitful. For example, when MMD decided to join forces with more than 15 'rebel' PF Members of Parliament, did the opposition in Zambia die? The opposition in general and PF in particular never died on account of the MMD's decision to collaborate with a large number of our MPs," President Sata said.
He explained that it was in fact from that state of affairs that the PF emerged to form government in 2011.
"Let our colleagues in opposition pick a leaf from our vast political experience and become conscious to the reality that it is their responsibility to put their house in order and not the government's," he said.
President Sata has since thanked all political stakeholders who have chosen the interests of the Zambian people ahead of meaningless partisanship.
Since coming to power, President Sata has appointed a number of MMD and UPND Members of Parliament to serve in his administration as deputy minister in an effort to promote inclusiveness in the running of the country.
I have no intentions of turning the country into a one party state - Sata
Chief Macha tells men with extramarital affairs to marry their girlfriends as well
Lubinda temporarily off hook
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Rick Gunn photoGary Somers, sales representative for Tum-A-Lum Lumber Co., formerly Copeland's Lumber, stands in the indoor ara of the Carson City lumberyard on Tuesday afternoon.
The change is barely noticeable. The Copeland Lumber sign still towers above Stewart Street. The staff hasn't changed and neither has the service.
What has changed is the owner. Copeland Lumber in Carson City is now owned by Bend, Ore.,-based Tum-A-Lum.
Tum-A-Lum has been leasing Copeland Lumber stores in Carson City and Susanville, Calif., for three years. Last year, the company bought the Susanville store outright, following it with the Carson store last month.
"We hired most of the established people that were there when we initially (leased) the store and the equipment," explained company President James Crawford.
According to outside salesman Gary Somers, who has been with the store for seven years, 21 people work at the Carson City lumber store.
"Ninety percent of the people have been here since I was here," Somers said.
Crawford's family started out in the lumber business in 1906 in eastern Washington. They named their company after a nearby river, Tum-A-Lum, which is the Indian name for spreading water.
Tum-A-Lum lumber now has six stores in the Northwest.
For now, the Copeland sign will remain, but eventually, as people get used to the new name Copeland will give way to Tum-A-Lum, Crawford said.


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Robert Frank (13 February 1902 – 22 June 1975) was a Swiss sculptor. His work was part of the sculpture event in the art competition at the 1936 Summer Olympics.

References

1902 births
1975 deaths
20th-century Swiss sculptors
Swiss sculptors
Olympic competitors in art competitions
Artists from Basel-Stadt
20th-century Swiss male artists

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Need to get away?
Start exploring magnificent places with our weekly travel newsletter.
Go away with … Catie Li
Jae-Ha Kim, Tribune Content Agency
Model Catie Li picked Palm Springs as her favorite weekend getaway.
Lucas Suchroab
Jae-Ha Kim.
Catie Li kicks off 2022 with her fashion line for Amazon's The Drop collection. "New collaborations drop with little notice and are only available to shop for 30 hours," said the Los Angeles-based model. "Clothes are made on demand once orders are placed so fabric and material are never wasted! My collection consists of great statement staple pieces that can be for all seasons. (They're) made to be forever in your closet and wardrobe rotation. Since I travel often, I like to travel light, so staples that can be styled multiple ways are a win for me." Li stays in touch with fans on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/catieli/).
Q: As a Chinese American woman, did you feel extra pressure to look a certain way?
A: I think for me, I put a lot of pressure on myself as well. With being Asian, there has always been a thing about being skinny and lighter skin. But since I'm half, there is definitely a pressure of not being Asian enough. Because I am half, some people believe I know nothing about my culture, which is false. I grew up eating Chinese food every day and only spoke Chinese with my grandmother.
Q: Do you miss all the traveling you did pre-pandemic?
A: When I first started modeling, it was very exciting for me. I would be traveling two to three times a week. When COVID hit, everything stopped, but it was much needed for me. Traveling can be very exhausting and I needed the break. I am a homebody, so it hasn't bothered me much until a few months ago. I have been dying to get out and just relax!
Q: How have you been spending your free time during this pandemic?
A: I recently got engaged and bought a home, so most of my time currently is spent at home in renovations with my fiancé. We're focusing all our time on preparing for our wedding and renos. We also have two lab puppies, so we do take lots of walking adventures with them.
Q: If you had to cancel travel plans due to the pandemic, where were they to?
A: I was lucky enough I didn't have to cancel travel plans, but I did have to change my wedding venue and put my wedding on hold a few times.
Q: What has been your favorite vacation destination?
A: The best relaxing vacation I went to was St. John (U.S. Virgin Islands). The water and scenery are breathtaking. Just going to all the beaches is what makes the entire trip. It's a part of the U.S., so traveling is a bit easier.
Q: What was the first trip you took as a child?
A: My dad insisted on doing a Disneyland and Las Vegas trip every year since I graduated from college. I guess it was killing two birds with one stone – Disney for the kids and Vegas for the parents. (Laughs) Looking back, I love that we did that. But growing up going to the same place every year was boring as a teen. I guess our parents spoiled us too much, because looking back, that was a luxury.
Q: What's the most important thing you've learned from your travels?
A: Travel as light as possible! One time, I brought two suitcases to Venice (Italy) and had to drag them through stone walkways! (Laughs) Also, invest in great suitcases and organizational pieces. I love CalPak for that.
Q: If you could only pick one place to eat, would you choose a casual meal at a street cart or fine dining at a nice restaurant?
A: I mean, if you are traveling in Italy, literally any pasta place is chef's kiss. But in L.A., I like going to Newport Seafood Restaurant in San Gabriel for my Chinese food fix. The lobster noodles are to die for! When traveling, I think you have to read about the scene. Some cities are known for carts and some for their restaurants. I try to do what the place is known for.
Q: Where is the most romantic destination?
A: Italy!
Q: Do you speak any foreign languages?
A: I lightly speak Cantonese. I did study abroad in France but lost all my French-speaking skills. I have a harder time picking it up.
Q: What are your five favorite places?
A: Miami, Paris, St. John, Playa Del Carmen, Rome.
Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?
A: My packing cubes, my backpack and electronic organizer.
Q: What would be your dream trip?
A: I would love to do a safari adventure in Africa. Crossing my fingers I can do it for my honeymoon.
Q: What is your guilty pleasure when you're on the road?
A: Flamin' Hot Cheetos!
Q: What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?
A: The best vacations have always been with my fiancé. We have so much fun. The worst was being sick in London with no family and friends there for support!
(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and travel writer. You can respond to this column by visiting her website at www.jaehakim.com. You may also follow "Go Away With…" on Twitter at @GoAwayWithJae where Jae-Ha Kim welcomes your questions and comments.)
Easytravel101
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How to Travel to Super Bowl LVI on a Budget
The Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events each year. While most Americans watch the big game with family or friends, some devoted football fans attend in person.…
Ed Perkins on Travel: Travel in 2022: My fearless forecast
When I look back on 2021 and consider the outlook for this year, my primary focus remains "caution." You'd think that 2022 must almost certainly be an improvement over last year, but the old aphorism comes to mind: "Cheer up," they said; "things could be worse. So I cheered up. And, sure enough, things did get worse." I'm not that pessimistic about 2022 — at least not yet — but I'm also pretty sure 2022 will still be a long way from "normal."
Here Are the Most Valuable Hotel Rewards Programs in 2022
Navigating hotel rewards programs can be a daunting task. From point-earning promotions to elite status upgrades and thousands of other factors, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Yet, for most travelers,…
The world's most powerful passports for 2022
There's a widening gap between the global north and the global south when it comes to travel freedoms, says the first 2022 report by London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners.
Go away with ... Will Clinger
"I thought Sasquatch was a creature primarily of the Pacific Northwest," said Will Clinger, the Chicago-based host of the PBS series, "Wild Travels." "But in a segment we shot for (the PBS series), we were surprised to hear from members of the Sasquatch Outpost in Bailey, Colorado, that there have been hundreds of Yeti sightings in that neck of the woods — even more surprising when you consider that on our 2-1/2-hour drive to Bailey, we didn't even see a squirrel."
Ed Perkins on Travel: Air travel consumer protections: What to expect
This year, I fully expect to see a Department of Transportation (DoT) ruling that airlines must assure that any minor traveling with a family be seated adjacent to an adult family member without requiring either to pay an advance seat selection fee. But I wouldn't be surprised if that turns out to be the year's only important new consumer protection.
Half of Travelers Have the Same New Year's Resolution
As another year greets us, people around the world have started finessing their New Year's resolutions. Here's one surprising resolution, reported by an AmEx Trendex travel trends poll conducted in…
CDC distributing free COVID-19 tests at several major airports
The CDC announced it has started distributing free COVID-19 home test kits to international travelers arriving at airports in America.
Go away with … Tetona Jackson
"Before having a child, traveling for work was a lot of fun," said Tetona Jackson, who stars as a journalist in the TV film "The Housewives of the North Pole" streaming now on Peacock. "But now – having a baby – I feel like working locally is a lot easier for me, especially having my family here and having them help with her. But there is a part of traveling I do miss – hopping on a plane without thinking of COVID-19, the pandemic and testing – and going somewhere really cool for work." Fans may stay in touch with her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/itstetonajackson).


Once the figurine is reconstructed, the decoration process starts. In compliance with the sculptor's instructions, and the surface of the piece –so far smooth– it is carved with delicate motifs that will give it its final appearance. It is at this point that the face on the sculpture gets its expression and the tiniest details are delicately crafted. In addition, the figurine is painted and if it requires a glossy finish is later covered with a coat of varnish, which grants it that crystalline look that is so characteristic of Lladró.
Many Lladró sculptures display one of the most valued and differentiating features of the brand: flowers. Each one is fully made, petal by petal, following a very delicate process in order to obtain unique, unrepeatable creations.


Possible Worlds: A Refutation of Support for Molinism?
A Refutation of Support for Molinism?
Here is an interesting article by a self-described former Molinist; he takes the tactic of granting that God has middle knowledge of libertarian actions, but as a matter of fact, there is no good reason to think we have libertarian freedom (I am summarizing quite a bit, but this appears to be the chain of reasoning). As such, he does not want to be a Molinist. I think the article is worth responding to in a few key points.
First, while he pits Molinism vs. determinism as contenders of explanation for data, this isn't a symmetrical comparison. Interestingly, this is recognized when he locates the issue of contention as one of freedom of the will (specifically, libertarian freedom). Whether or not libertarian freedom is present (as it is in Molinism and is not on determinism) just dictates which data set is under consideration. If it is present, then determinism is manifestly false. If it is not present, then Molinism is false.
Now he recognizes that there is another option: compatibilist freedom. So it actually comes down to whether or not there are any good reasons to think that we have libertarian freedom. He says no. Why would he do that?
Well, he says, the argument for libertarian freedom is one's intuitions, and these are properly basic. But, he claims, sometimes "our immediate desires override what we want." While I don't really know for sure what this means, it turns out it's irrelevant. Libertarianism is not the thesis that "all of my decisions are libertarianly free," but rather "at least some of my decisions are libertarianly free," so that this consideration does not lower the plausibility of libertarianism by one iota: any plausibility that is gained from intuitive considerations should remain.
The second reason he gives is as follows: "The fact that we chose A when B was a valid option does not necessarily mean that we could have chosen B." Once again, I frankly do not know what this means. What does he mean here, then, that B was a valid option? If he means we could have chosen B, then, yes, we necessarily could have chosen B. The world-indexed proposition "Randy could choose B in circumstances C in world W" would be true in all worlds, even deterministic ones. But regardless, he goes on to say that advocates for intuitive support for libertarianism have to argue that agents in a deterministic world would not have the intuition that they are free, which we (supposedly) do not know. I think the point here is supposed to be that this renders the intuitive support for libertarianism equivalent with support for determinism.
But I don't see that we have to argue that, "In all deterministic worlds, no determined creature has the intuition that he is indeterministically free." First, it may be that we do have reason to think creatures in such a world would not have such an intuition: namely, God is not a deceiver. Most people would be overwhelmingly deceived about their everyday actions. But let that pass (it is not essential to the response). Second, the mere possibility that we are mistaken in our intuitions is not enough to render these intuitions just as likely as not to be false. Why think that our intuitions need to be incorrigible in order to provide sufficient source for particular beliefs? Finally, he may be undermining his own later responses to other, relevant issues. If he thinks the possibility of intuitions going wrong is enough to nullify their use, and if he thinks that it's just as likely (by implication) as not that we have determined, massively false beliefs about our everyday experiences and our roles in choosing them, then he has a 50-50 shot at thinking that any given belief he holds is false. But no one should hold any 50-50 belief as true. Therefore, he has acquired a defeater for literally any belief he holds, including his belief that libertarian intuitions are undermined.
Additionally, he seems unaware of the fact that there are indeed positive arguments for incompatibilism, and by a slight extension, libertarianism. This extension involves both intuition and moral reasoning. For example, certain versions of the consequence argument entail that incompatibilism is true, and that entails that one of two options is true: hard determinism and libertarianism. Most determinists do not accept hard determinism; the overwhelming number accepts soft determinism, also called compatibilism. But compatibilism is ruled out by the consequence argument. But what if he decides he will in fact be a hard determinist? Well, aside from ruling out biblical discussions of freedom, we can suggest: God would be acting against his character in forcing unfree creatures to do actions that are evil; in other words, God would be performing these evil actions alone, as the agents involved would be no more free than a child's GI Joe action figures are. The intuition is that we are not so determined, and God is not of such poor character. The moral argument is that "if we are not free, we are not responsible; we are responsible; therefore, we are free." If this is so, this leaves us with libertarianism. He will have to address both the consequence argument and its implications in order to move forward, unless he does embrace hard determinism.
A few other notes: first, he writes that, "The argument from the explanatory power of Molinism requires that determinism cannot account for human freedom." Strictly speaking, this is not correct. Explanatory power is typically used to refer to the idea that the best explanations make the evidence we do see more probable than if the explanation was not correct.
Suppose determinism could account for human freedom. Why would it follow that Molinism's explanatory power falls below that of determinism? Just run the (admittedly made up) "numbers" in your head: if Molinism were true, would we expect to see the evidence we do see or infer (human freedom, God's omniscience, the seeming truth about counterfactuals, our intuitions that we are libertarianly free)? Sure. What about if Molinism were false? Is it just as probable? Well, pretty plainly, no. Now what about determinism? Without begging the question as to which type of freedom is true, would we expect to see the data we do see (human freedom, God's omniscience, the seeming truth about counterfactuals, our intuitions that we are libertarianly free) on determinism? Surely not; even if possible, I doubt it's even 50-50. But let's say it is. In this case, then, Molinism emerges the clear winner in this category.
He offers Frankfurtian compatibilism as an alternative, but there are two issues worth addressing. First, as to this contention—"if God were to determine you to do precisely what you would have freely chosen, then perhaps freedom can be preserved"—this is what is called "overdetermination," and counts against explanations when all else is equal (a permutation of Ockham's razor). Second, his Frankfurtian example doesn't actually show that freedom is preserved in this scenario. Indeed, Frankfurt examples just are examples of the lack of determination in a case where some agent chooses a particular way, and the other way is not actually open to him after all; they are not examples where a causally determined action is itself deemed free.
While there is much more that can be said, the point of my article is to suggest that the original author has not shown that there is no good reason to think we have libertarian free will, and has not shown philosophically that libertarianism and compatibilism are equally plausible.
Arguments for incompatibilism are not necessarily arguments for libertarianism. A determinist could be an incompatibilist.
Hi Richard, thanks for commenting! Yes, I did account for that possibility in the article above!


Scapes Villa Graca (Villa 4) is a perfect luxurious haven. Located minutes away from an array of culinary delights, a short drive away from the ebullient beaches of Vagator, Anjuna and Morjim, it is set in the North of Goa. The villa is designed over three floors with unperturbed views of the Marna forest. The deck area around the pool with an outdoor dining area and a lush green lawn on one side is the perfect place to relax. Our well-furnished villa exudes an aura of a casual living space engulfed in warm, tropical tones in and around the housing with comfortable soft linen and cotton fabrics.


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Nanny does know best
VICTORIA MACDONALD | At a recent lunch for journalists in the House of Commons, Health Secretary Alan Johnson joked that under the new NHS Constitution 'the broccoli police' would not be sent in to monitor what people were eating.
At a recent lunch for journalists in the House of Commons, Health Secretary Alan Johnson joked that under the new NHS Constitution 'the broccoli police' would not be sent in to monitor what people were eating.
It was a quip that went down well with the assembled guests, striking as it did at the very heart of that dreaded nanny-state Britain. After all, nobody wants to be told what to do or how to lead their lives, do they?
Politicians are especially conscious of this. The memories of Nanny Virginia Bottomley are still alive in the Department of Health after she presided over a document setting out, among other things, how many potatoes to eat each week and what size they should be.
On the other hand, another former health secretary, John Reid, struck a chord when he expressed sympathy for single mothers on council estates who chose to smoke.
Nevertheless, it is the duty of the government, and the DoH in particular, to disseminate the good living message. In this spirit, it kicked off the new year with a massive cross-sector anti-obesity drive — Change4Life — which warned that by 2050, four out of ten children and nine out of ten adults would be overweight or obese.
But in the DoH headquarters, there is a constant balancing act between wanting to be tough on public health issues, and the fear that the media will deride them for nannying.
This has meant that the power of the Change4Life anti-obesity message has been somewhat diluted by ministers going into partnership for the campaign with a number of food, supermarket and advertising companies.
What ministers could have done instead is told them to get their houses in order once and for all, stop adding so much sugar and salt to their products, stop targeting children with their advertising and lose the trans-fatty acids.
Just two weeks after the campaign was launched, it was revealed that children as young as two were receiving NHS treatment for severe weight problems. A dietician blamed parents for allowing small children to pick their favourite sugary and fatty foods rather than giving them a healthy range of food.
So when is the time to send in the broccoli police? Healthy eating used to be one of the subjects passed down through families, from grandmother to mother to daughter. There were domestic science classes. Now, young families do not always have access to that information, they are not taught how to produce a balanced meal and so begins a vicious cycle. Yet someone has to tell them and why not start at the top? Why not some nannying? After all, this is the country that grew up on 'nanny knows best'.
It is not just eating. Last week it was revealed that pregnant women in Essex are to be offered £100 of shopping vouchers to give up smoking. Critics who attacked the pilot scheme failed to discuss the cost to the NHS of babies born underweight and asthmatic — £100 seems a small price to pay.
Then it was revealed that despite more money being put into services to help people stop smoking, there had been only a small increase in the number of people giving up cigarettes. The response of the TaxPayers' Alliance was: 'The nanny state is becoming more expensive and less effective by the day. If the authorities stopped heckling people so much, they might get a better reception.' Where was the heckling? The scheme offered anti-smoking help, people did not take them up on it. Surely a failure to heckle?
Then there was the Daily Telegraph headline 'Health police target evening tipple' — over a report of a survey that found that one in four middle-class drinkers was drinking double the recommended daily limit.
With headlines like these, it is easy to see why health ministers are unlikely to say: 'Yes, there is a problem, let's regulate the alcohol industry.' Yet, once again, there is equal outrage when there are reports of children needing liver transplants because they have boozed too long and too hard.
The cannabis reclassification from Class C to B is another example. Ministers, contrary to expert advice, said it must be reclassified largely on health grounds. Yet the punishment is a three-strikes approach, with the culprit going to court only for the third offence. Yet for every other Class B drug, the first offence results in an immediate court appearance. It is all so contradictory.
This week, England's chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, is expected to take a hard line against parents allowing children under the age of 15 to drink. At the time of writing it was unclear how many ministers would publicly back him. The fear, according to the Observer, is that it would make Labour 'appear out of touch and lead to claims of nanny-state interference'.
It is inconsistency at best or hypocrisy at worst that means the right message never gets across to the very people who need it — and usually that is not the middle-class comment writers in the nation's media, except for those who are binge-drinking, of course.
Victoria Macdonald is political correspondent for Channel 4 News
Efficiency savings 'will not harm policing'
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Harman confirms senior public pay restraint


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Home - Bedtime Blog - LOCAL TREASURES - RICHMOND YORKSHIRE
LOCAL TREASURES - RICHMOND YORKSHIRE
Everyone seems to be coming out of hibernation. So we thought it was a perfect time to get out and see what's happening in our local area. We put a Saturday morning aside to have a bit of an explore of what's going on right on our doorstep. Here are three of our favourite finds, and all just a stone's throw away from Kiss the Moon HQ.
The George & Dragon, Hudswell, North Yorkshire
Perched on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the George & Dragon isn't your average local. It hit the headlines in 2010 when it became one of the first pubs in the country to be bought by the people who drink there - a group that includes William Hague and most of the regulars in the tiny village it sits in. Add to the fact it also houses the village shop, a library and community allotments and you'll start to see that this place is prepared to be resourceful to keep its heartbeat alive. Taken over by new owner, Stuart Miller and his family in 2014, they are bringing their own bit of hipster cool to proceedings (think Kinfolk crossed with All Creature's Great and Small). Walk there from Richmond, through ancient woodlands (and a bloody great hill) and you'll have earned yourself a pub lunch or at least a roast beef and horseradish sandwich with homemade bread and a generous helping of crisp salad on the side. If beer is your thing, come prepared to explore. There's always something new and interesting waiting to be sipped and debated, Yorkshire style. The George & Dragon, Hudswell Lane, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL11 6BL TEL: 01748 518373
Lost & Found, The Station, Richmond, North Yorkshire
It's been 46 years since the train line at Richmond Station stopped serving passengers, but the place has never been busier. These days it's packed full of shoppers, diners, art fans and cinema goers rather than travellers. If it's a lovely day, go for a walk around the ancient ruins of Easby and follow the train line until you see the stone building inviting you in. If it's raining, just head straight there and see what's going on. There's a regular run of exhibits and two screens of films so you won't have to wait very long before something catches your imagination. Whatever draws you there, we bet you won't be able to resist having a look round Lost & Found. Part vintage finds, part nostalgic new stuff, there are tables piled up with all sorts of things. Every time we go there's something new we drool over (this time it was a shelf full of brass opera glasses; last time it was a set of gorgeous glass beads which we could't bear to leave behind). Profits go back to support the upkeep of The Station, so really, you have a perfect excuse to indulge. Lost and Found, The Station, Station Yard, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 4LD: 01748 850123 E: lostandfound@thestation.co.uk.
The Angel's Share, Richmond, North Yorkshire
Hungry? Keep walking. Just down the platform at the Station, is a corridor designed to lead you in to temptation. Just follow the smell of warm fudge (made on the premises and really not fair for those trying to avoid sweet stuff), and choose which of the local artisans you want to give your pennies to. There's local brewer, a cheesemaker, an ice cream store. Seriously - don't expect to get out without giving in. Our favourite though is Angel's Share - bakers with flair (they were runners up on ITV's Britain's Best Bakery last year) and with a ready smile. The cooking happens where you can see (and smell) it. And next door is the shop which looks like the store cupboard of your dreams - part deli, part just baked goodies. Whether it's an impromptu picnic you are after, or some treats to take home, Angel's Share has it covered. The Angel's Share, Richmond Station, Station Yard, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 4LDT: 01748 828 261 E: theangelsshare@btinternet.com


From 2010 a new registration system has been in force, which meant that health and adult social care providers, which includes EPUT, must be registered with the Care Quality Commission. This is to show that we meet a wide range of Fundamental Standards (DoH) and Key Lines of Enquiry (CQC). These standards are to the healthcare services provided are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.
The Care Quality Commission is the health and adult social care regulator, and they are responsible for making sure that providers continue to meet the Fundamental Standards and Key Lines of Enquiry. They do this by analysing and inspecting services, by asking providers to assess themselves and by collecting information to help them monitor how they are performing. They undertake reviews and inspections of healthcare services on an ongoing basis to ensure they remain compliant with the standards.
EPUT was registered with the CQC in April 2017 as a new organisation to provide healthcare services. The CQC were satisfied the Trust had provided sufficient assurance of meeting the Fundamental Standards and Key Lines of Enquiry.
Ongoing compliance is assessed and monitored by the Compliance Team. The Trust uses an internal intelligence based system to collect information on all our services to provide assurance that all the standards are being met. The Trust has also developed self-assessment handbooks for services to understand how they meet the standards and what they are doing if there is any slippage. The Compliance Team also undertake a program of internal inspections to mirror those undertaken by the CQC which provides further assurance on the quality of services provided.


Besides oxygen, water is a human's most essential element in life. It's important that the water you drink, bathe and cook with is safe and free of impurities, such as coliform bacteria, lead, nitrates and nitrites.
Many state and federal authorities recommend having your water tested annually for coliform bacteria and nitrates. Other contaminants should be tested for at least once every five to 10 years.
Tim Wiggins Inspections takes water samples on site and delivers them to an EPA-certified lab for analysis results. Homeowners are given their test results as a written report.
Complete our online form to schedule your water test.


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The Value of a CFP
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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which passed more than 30 years ago, made it illegal to deny job opportunities to people based on their disabilities, mandated "reasonable accommodations" to make buildings accessible, and required most private businesses to offer equal service to disabled customers. About 61 million people in the United States — one in every four adults — live with a disability.1
While government enforcement of the ADA tends to be weak, a disabled person who is negatively impacted can sue a noncompliant business. ADA lawsuits are on the rise, with some disability activists reportedly becoming serial litigants.2 When an ADA claim is legitimate, the court can order that the violation be fixed and that the plaintiff's substantial legal fees be paid in full by the defendant. Some state laws allow for financial damages.
If you are notified of an alleged violation or served with a complaint, don't hesitate to consult a qualified legal professional. However, the threat of legal action is not the only reason to be aware of the accessibility requirements and guidelines that may apply to your business. Striving to better serve individuals who face immense challenges in their daily lives is simply good business practice.
Here are several facts about the Americans with Disabilities Act that may help you work toward compliance.
ADA requirements are complex and depend on the specific business and industry. The law includes more than 279 pages of precise standards for accessible design — the grade of a ramp, width of a parking space, and height of a service counter, for example.3 An experienced ADA inspector (certified access specialist) can help identify compliance issues so they can be remedied.
Percentage of Adults with Functional Disabilities
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020
Website accessibility matters, too. Some businesses have been targeted over websites that don't accommodate the blind, who often use screen-reading technology, or the deaf, who may rely on closed captions to follow video content. Though the specific requirements for website compliance are not set by law, many organizations use Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) as a helpful reference for improving digital accessibility.
There's a tax credit to help offset compliance costs. Small businesses that earn $1 million or less or have fewer than 30 full-time employees may qualify for a nonrefundable tax credit (max. $5,000) for each year they spend money for the purpose of providing access to persons with disabilities. The credit is equal to 50% of eligible expenses between $250 and $10,000 incurred during the taxable year.
1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020
2–3) The New York Times, July 21, 2021


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(Image: The Colombian Way)
Honda, Tolima: from colonial trade hub to sleepy river town
by Adriaan Alsema February 20, 2019
Honda is a town on the road from Bogota to Medellin that is easily overlooked, despite the fact it is considered one of Colombia's prettiest towns.
Its original inhabitants, the Ondaima and Gualie people, and their settlement were discovered by Spanish conquistadors in 1539 while they were traveling up the Magdalena river, Colombia's largest.
Archaeologists have found ceramics indicating that people had been inhabiting the area for at least 800 years before year.
The Spaniards initially founded a settlement, Villa de San Bartolome, next to the natives' village and were able to grow it into a significant trading hub that allowed trade to Bogota via Colombia's largest river.
The town was renamed Honda after its original inhabitants when it was formally recognized as a municipality in 1643. By then, it had not just became an important trading hub, but also the safest way to travel from what is now Colombia's capital to the Caribbean coast.
The town didn't really begin developing the architecture it is now famous for until the second half of the 18th century. Before, Spanish chroniclers wrote, the town consisted mainly of huts with a thatched roof.
Much of the town, however, was destroyed in 1805 when an earthquake hit.
Honda became independent of Spain in 1814 when it became the capital of the Mariquita province. The independence was short-lived however, and Spain reconquered Honda two years later.
It wasn't until after 1819, when Gran Colombia as a whole became independent of Spain, that Honda became part of the Cundinamarca province of which Bogota became the capital.
With the country's independence, Colombia entered a long period of political instability and war. In 1861, Honda became part of the Sovereign State of Tolima as part of the United States of Colombia of which Ibague, the current capital of Tolima, became the capital.
Following the constitution of 1886, Honda became part of the Tolima province to which it has belonged since.
heritage tourismTolima
Colombia's Guatavita Lake: how a suicide myth led to an endless gold rush
Digging into Colombia's history at Bogota's oldest cemetery
Giron: Colombia's heritage town that almost didn't happen


Christmas will be here before you know it. And this year, as always, lots of communities around the nation will hold Christmas lighting contests.
It's become a very popular Christmastime tradition.
And though there's only one first-place winner for each contest, it's a win-win for everyone involved - the participants, the spectators, and the community at large.
But if you're going to get in the game, you might as well play to win. Here are a few tips for upping your game and crushing your enemies, er…well, let's make that outshining your neighbors!
Instead, create a site plan. Make it detailed, and lay it out on paper (or in pixels if you prefer).
Your site plan should detail your overall creative approach for colors and themes. But it should also include details such as what type of lights to use where, attachment hardware you'll use, accessories that'll be needed, etc.
Your site plan will serve as a road map during the installation process, keeping you on course to achieving your vision while you're dealing with the details of the installation process.
But use caution: when creating your site plan, it's really easy to go overboard with the design. Don't fall into a Clark Griswold mindset, thinking that more is always better.
Elegance of design, color-coordination, and creative themes are far more likely to impress judges than over-the-top, garish displays.
Install your light strings with the best precision you can manage. It truly does make a major difference.
When you're wrapping trees, for example, keep the wrap tight and evenly spaced. When you're installing perimeter lights along driveways, walkways or property borders, keep the lines laser-straight (using proper clips and stakes is a must).
Be careful about the length of the light sets you use. People often have a tendency to use the longest light strings they can find for large installations. On the surface, it might seem to make sense to use long light strings when you have lots of ground to cover.
In reality, though, shorter strings are much easier to control. And the extra time required to install many short strings vs. a few long strings is minimal. An overall look of precision will be much easier to achieve with shorter light strings.
In general, sets that are no longer than 50 to 70 bulbs will be your best bet.
Using the right equipment for your project really will make a difference - both in ease of installation and appearance. And that applies to everything: lights, clips and stakes, and installation hardware.
Use the philosophy of always choosing quality over quantity. Commercial-grade LED Christmas lights, for example, will outshine and outlast the lower-priced retail lights typically sold at big box stores like Walmart.
Using the best equipment might cost more in the short-term, but will likely save you money in the long-term.
Don't Let Injury Take You Out of the Game!
Clark Griswold suffered several hair-raising close calls while installing his lighting in the popular movie Christmas Vacation. It ended well, of course, and he emerged from the project unscathed.
But that was a movie.
In real life, the risks that may be involved with undertaking (no pun intended!) your dream Christmas lighting project are all too real. And not the least bit comical.
After all, climbing ladders and scampering around on steep-pitched, ice-slicked roofs can pose big-time risks for the unwary and the unprepared.
It's also important to be sure that you don't overtax your home's electrical system. Modern LED Christmas lights are much more energy-efficient than the old incandescent lights, but you'll still want to keep an eye on electrical loads. You can do that with tools such as a Kill A Watt Meter.
If you want to get in the game, but don't want to endure the risks or tedium of performing the installation yourself, hire a pro to design and install your display (if your community's rules permit - most do).
And if you just need some tips or advice in designing or installing your display, we'll be happy to help.
Community Christmas lighting contests are great fun for everyone involved. It's a wonderful way to spread the cheer and joy of the Christmas spirit.
And some communities have developed quite a reputation over the years for always having lots of breathtaking, awe-inspiring displays. Countless visitors travel many a mile to view these vaunted displays year-in and year-out.
It's all about the fun, the sense of community, and the sharing of the Christmas spirit. So whether you win or lose, just getting in the game will be lots of fun, and will do great good for your community.
But that first-place trophy sure would look good on your fireplace mantle!


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Hulta is a settlement in Kronoberg County, Sweden.

References

Populated places in Kronoberg County


Welcome to Nacional (Portugal - Liga ZON Sagres) statistics. Below you find a lot of statistics for this team. Last and next matches, top scores, best players, under/over stats, handicap etc.
Nacional is currently on the 17 place in the Liga ZON Sagres table. Last game played with Sporting CP, which ended with result: Win Sporting CP 0:1.In this season games all leagues the most goals scored players: Bryan Rochez 13 goals, Joao Camacho 8 goals, Witi 5 goals, Brayan Riascos 5 goals, Giorgi Arabidze 5 goals, Vitor Goncalves 5 goals, Okacha Hamzaoui 4 goals, Sardor Rashidov 3 goals, Diego 2 goals, Aleksandar Palocevic 1 goals. They will have to be well guarded by defense .
Streaks for for all matches played in Liga ZON Sagres is undefeated from 4 matches in a row.
Streaks for for matches played only at home in Liga ZON Sagresfrom recent 4 matches in a row can't win a match.
Statistics of matches that the team Nacional won or lost with a particular goal difference.