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Dreamcloud Mattress Set Up
Customers and critics have praised this model for its outstanding comfort, impressive pressure relief and long-lasting durability. All of this at a competitively low cost. It looks great, but how durable does it last? Keep reading to check our findings from the series of tests that we ran on it, and stay til the end to find out if it's the right one for you!
The DreamCloud: A closer look Dreamcloud Mattress Set Up
The DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress stands out among the other luxury hybrid beds of today. It's made from the same high-quality materials as all other hybrid beds, but it costs comparatively less. Its comfort level is advertised to be near the medium firm range, though leaning a bit slightly firm. It's practically within the range an average person may look forward to sleeping on, but it could also be a concern for those who may not be built for that.
With a profile measured at 14 inches, the DreamCloud Hybrid may be a handy upgrade for people who may have been used to sleeping in lower beds, as its hybrid nature allows them to lay more comfortably with extra cushioning and layers underneath for support. And, considering its overall construction which we'll tackle later on, it allows folks with limited budgets to switch to a newer, better model from the old, worn-out one.
The product can cause a variety of reactions, which may be mixed depending on how long you use it. How much a sleeper weighs, how old they are, which climate they live in, and what type of position they prefer whenever they rest are among the major factors that will contribute to what they ultimately feel about this product. With that in mind, we can't fully guarantee that the DreamCloud Hybrid may suit all sleep types. We are certain that the DreamCloud Hybrid may be a good choice for those who want to sleep comfortably.
Firmness is one of the very first things you may need to check if you're looking for a new mattress. How firm or how soft it would turn out to be may either make you want to buy one or turn you off from it entirely. Although the DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress claims a comfort level of 6.5/10 on the firmness scale for its mattress, how accurate is that claim? To answer this, we tested out its overall firmness and feel to see for ourselves if DreamCloud is true to its word with its flagship mattress. Dreamcloud Mattress Set Up
The data collected over the last 14 days suggests that the majority of people could agree that the mattress can accommodate a wide range of body weights and positions. However, not all. We would give the DreamCloud Hybrid a solid 7/10 on the firmness scale, which is medium firm. It's plush enough to be comfortable, yet supportive enough to contour the body even in different positions. It's also worth noting that the mattress was comfortable for two of the three volunteers immediately upon contact. The other took them several days to adjust.
Average-weighted individuals may like the DreamCloud Hybrid best as it should give them the perfect balance of relief and hold. The coils beneath the mattress should support their hips and sink into the mattress. It should feel similar to heavy sleepers, although those who are 300lbs or more might not feel it. They may also experience pressure if they sink too deeply. Dreamcloud Mattress Set Up
Among the three weight groups, those of average weight are more likely to gain an upper hand when it comes to side sleeping on the DreamCloud Hybrid. People who weigh 130-190 lbs may find the DreamCloud Hybrid contouring support to be sufficient. However, the pressure on the hips, shoulders, and hips won't be as intense as they should. According to our 155-lb volunteer, the experience was worthwhile as they were able to rest well regardless if they switch to either side or stick to one. It's different for those who are 190 or more.
Our heavyweight and 225-lb reps both felt that the mattress was uncomfortable to sleep on their sides. Both have experienced frequent sinking in their hips and shoulders, creating pressure points that may lead to minor concurrent pains. As heavier individuals may find the DreamCloud Hybrid to be soft under their weight, those who are lesser than 130 pounds may find it a little bit firmer sometimes to be able to sleep properly. This is what our lightweight volunteer can attest: she found it uncomfortable to sleep on one side for long periods of time, but it was quite comfortable when she switched sides. At this rate, minor adjustments are more likely expected.
Based on what we observed, it's clear at this point that the DreamCloud Hybrid could create excellent pressure relief along the back for most sleeper groups. Most people, except for those who are over 300 lbs, will find comfort and relaxation right away. The bed's layers, which include the memory foam, are sufficient to support their weight and contour their bodies very well. This results in low pressure throughout the entire body. The mattress creates very few pressure points, which means that back pains are less likely to occur. This is especially important for seniors and people who have back problems.
The DreamCloud Hybrid will produce some pressure points in the stomach area, especially along the hips. Lightweight and average sleepers may be able to rest soundly without the imminent fear of pent-up pressure, but heavyweight ones, especially those whose structure is adjacent to 300lbs, may need to watch out as too much sinking may lead to an increase in pressure points. Dreamcloud Mattress Set Up
When it came to side sleeping, we spotted some significant pressure points on most body types. No matter how much you weigh, it's likely that laying sideways on the surface of the DreamCloud Hybrid may make you prone to varying degrees of discomfort, and it gets much worse if you're heavier. Lighter sleepers, for instance, may not enjoy the feel of the mattress in this position for long periods, while heavy-weighted ones may not like it equally as they tend to sink into it more to the point where they feel pain in their shoulders and hips. This is where the DreamCloud mattress can be a little bit of a problem.
What exactly is the DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress made of? Standing 14 inches tall, the DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress is packed with noteworthy qualities that help keep the sleeper relaxed and cool throughout the night. Like some of the top-performing hybrid models of today, it's equipped with outstanding cooling capabilities, warding off the body's heat to ensure better sleep.
The mattress cover is quilted so you won't be able to guess what material it is. Under the cashmere-blend mattress cover is a plush, soft, and supportive polyfoam that provides ample support for the body's weight. With 1 1/2 inches worth of material, this layer helps give off a pillow-top feel that users may likely experience upon contact with the bed – all without the worries about breaking the bank.
Since its inception, memory foam has been widely recognized to adapt and respond to the body's shape as fluidly as possible and provide much-needed relief from its pressure points. In the case of the DreamCloud Hybrid, it is placed conveniently underneath the quilted top layer. Measuring one inch, it's appropriate enough to support the sleeper well, but not enough to produce a familiar sinking feeling. Although this material is known for trapping heat well, DreamCloud has incorporated gel infusion to help cool the body.
A two-inch thick layer of firm polyfoam is found beneath the memory foam. It acts as a transitional layer between soft mattress and base foundation. It works in two ways: 1) to conform the body's shape and posture into perfect alignment, and 2) to keep it from further sinking into the mattress until it reaches the coils, which can oftentimes be highly inconvenient.
Situated beneath the coil set is an inch-thick layer of high-density standard foam. It acts as a foundation for the mattress and is thick enough to prevent the springs moving, but thin enough to allow airflow. Dreamcloud Mattress Set Up
They will bounce back. It won't feel as if it were there, but you will be able to appreciate the fact that it is there to prevent it from falling apart.
To cap it all off is a tufted cover to store all the layers within the DreamCloud Hybrid safely in place. It's not considered the bed's main layer, but it serves the sole purpose of protecting the foundation. The mattress's round borders are embellished with tufted decor. It also has four sides handles that are sewn into the side to make it easy to transport.
The perfect mattress should adapt to the individual's needs. Apart from accommodating their body type and preferred sleep position, other pressing factors should be taken into consideration – this includes a plethora of activities, habits, and even the climate that they are usually accustomed to. Within our two-week testing period, we got to run a series of performance tests to see if the DreamCloud Hybrid has what it takes as an integral staple in the bedroom.
The DreamCloud Hybrid is a rare exception. During our two-week test period, no one noticed any annoying squeaking from the bed. It may have been constructed in a way that makes noise, or how the oil is wrapped up. Dreamcloud Mattress Set Up
Being a medium-firm bed, partners who prefer to do one or three positions may not find enough hugging along the surface to keep them at least secure. The DreamCloud mattress is one of the best beds for sex. Dreamcloud Mattress Set Up
How long this durability could last may change depending on the sleeper's body type, how often they use it, or if they have one or two more persons who lay on its surface. After a two-week test period, we all agreed that the DreamCloud mattress was durable enough to continue providing comfort. That being said, we believe that it should stay this way for at least seven to eight years. Dreamcloud Mattress Set Up
The DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress is neatly packed and sealed in a box. How heavy it is will entirely depend on the size you may prefer, with the lightest being the twin and the heaviest the King and Cal King. We noticed that many of our team members found it too heavy to transport alone when we opened the Queen-sized version for our tests. So, we added an additional person to ease the burden.
Other than the mattress, the box also contains a booklet with instructions and a pocket knife. This is especially useful if you don't already have one. Once you roll it out from the box onto the bed frame where you'll place it and it's free from any form of packaging, you will need to wait between 24-48 hours until it's fully decompressed. Since you're going to encounter a fresh new mattress in front of you, expect it to emit a slightly off-putting odor.
Models made from synthetic foam layers are more likely to emit volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), which can be collected during manufacturing. Since the DreamCloud Hybrid's foam layers are all CertiPUR-US-certified, the amount should be much less. It is important to let it sit out so that the smell can dissipate after a few days. To speed this process up, we suggest that you do so in a well-ventilated environment by opening up all the windows and doors in the room.
DreamCloud Hybrids are currently available in six sizes with prices starting at $799. For more information, including pricing, dimensions and weight, please see the table below.
Want to consider some options? We can help! Although the DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress is the most popular luxury hybrid model on the market, there are two alternatives that offer the same comfort and have unique features that it does not. Let's take a look at each of them! Dreamcloud Mattress Set Up
The DreamCloud Hybrid's luxuriously crafted medium-firm surface may be inviting for anyone, but not exactly for everyone. The bed is not strong enough to support 300-pounds or more. Regardless, it's clear that it has what it takes as a welcoming staple for solo sleepers, couples, and even families!
Additionally, you have much less to lose if you decide to purchase it. DreamCloud offers a variety of discounts and has a responsive customer support team to help you. We give the DreamCloud Hybrid a solid 4.5/5 star rating due to all these great reasons. For what it is, it's surely worth the try… and the purchase! Dreamcloud Mattress Set Up
FAQ Dreamcloud Mattress Set Up
What is DreamCloud's warranty? And how does it work?
DreamCloud offers its customers a lifetime warranty period in which the company will shoulder the responsibility of replacing or repairing its mattress should it ever sustain significant damage years after purchase, completely free of charge. This can be utilized if the bed slowly compresses and forms impressions at least 1.5 inches deep, sustains material flaws, or comes with manufacturing defects immediately upon purchase.
All Authentic DreamCloud mattresses come with a 365-night Home Trial. Compared to other mattress specialists that offer shorter 180-night trials, DreamCloud encourages you to familiarize yourself and test the waters with your purchase for a full year, giving you more time to decide if it's the right fit.
What happens if I decide to return the DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress during the sleep trial period? What happens if I decide to return the DreamCloud Hybrid Mattress during the sleep trial period?
All DreamCloud mattress models are eligible to be returned within the 365-night trial. Should you ever feel unhappy and decide to return your purchase within the period, its Sleep Concierge team will be more than happy to assist you with what to do with the mattress, on top of being able to give you a full refund. You may also opt to exchange it with a replacement model once you receive your cash if you like. Dreamcloud Mattress Set Up
DreamCloud doesn't ship products to the United States from its website. This includes Puerto Rico, Guam, and other countries. It does have a Amazon.com certified storefront that allows you to ship any product internationally. Dreamcloud Mattress Set Up


Implements the interventions defined in the plan of care so that desired outcomes can be achieved. The RN will ensure appropriate patient and health education. The RN will individualize interventions with consideration of patient's age; ensure the documentation of all interventions. The RN will delegate appropriate interventions to other team members.
Evaluates nursing outcomes and makes revisions to the nursing plan of care as required. The RN will ensure the reassessment of the patient in accordance with departmental policy.
Leads and participates in performance improvement initiatives for the unit.
Aggregates and analyzes information related to nursing practice to identify trends. Participates and performs in nursing peer review to evaluate quality of nursing care. Practices principle of risk management, safety and infection control.
Intervenes in and reports directly in situations which are immediately harmful to the patient. Ensures the completion of all required documentation related to incidents or situations in which an unusual event has occurred.
Works directly with the nursing supervisor to coordinate all patient care activities for the unit. Appropriately assigns patient care duties to staff based on patient acuity.
Utilizes appropriate interpersonal skills when collaborating with organizational health care team members.
Participates in utilization review, discharge planning and case management to ensure appropriate level of care and utilization of resources.
Accurately transcribes medical orders and ensures appropriate procedures are followed for transcription and verification of medical orders.
Establishes intra- and interdisciplinary collaborative relationships with all members of the health care team.
Serves as primary liaison with physicians related to the care of the patient.
Participates in orientation and continuing education of peers and other members of the health care team.
Responds to changes in the work setting and in the schedule in a collaborative and flexible manner.
Demonstrates accountability for professional practice as evidenced by: Initiation of plans to solve department level problems and to improve patient care. Professional practice within legal and regulatory parameters.
Participation in patient and healthcare committees.
Assesses needs of patients and delegates appropriately to team members.
Organizes and prioritizes elements of patient care for self and team.
Models professional behavior reflective of the nursing care philosophy of safe and compassionate care.
Ensures availability of adequate supplies and material resources to provide care for patient.
Maintains annual clinical and administrative competencies for nursing care.
Completed HIPAA training and maintains confidentiality of patient and employee information and records.
Maintains the image of the CCRS facility and work area as a safe, clean, efficient, caring organization by demonstrating a team approach which produces an environment conducive to patient, family and team well-being.
Demonstrates loyalty and commitment to the organization.
Understands that safe and compassionate care is the number one priority.


Harper single-speed fixed-gear is the next generation of commuter bike. It's built around a tig-welded steel frame and fork and top shelf componentry and is equipped with front and rear brakes. The hand-built track frame has bar-spin clearance, a flat top tube, no toe overlap, and horizontal dropouts. This is a bike designed for you and your city street adventures.
Harper Single-Speed / Fixed-Gear comes standard with a flip-flop hub. This means you can choose how you ride, whether it's single-speed with a freewheel or fixed gear. Harper SS comes with the freewheel single-speed side installed. A freewheel allows you to cruise without pedaling, as you would on a traditional bicycle.
You can also ride fixed with an easy switcheroo. All you need to do is remove the rear wheel, flip it around, and then remount it. With a fixed cog, the movements of your bike directly correlate to your pedaling. The faster and harder you ride, the faster and harder you'll go. The motion of the rear wheel relies on the motion of your feet. But remember, riding fixed is a choice you can make or reject.
A single-speed / fixed-gear bicycle is simple, lightweight, and requires almost no maintenance. There are fewer parts that make up this kind of bike, which means there are fewer parts to potentially damage. Riding fixed is also an efficient workout because you're always in motion and, therefore, always exercising. When you ride fixed, you are most at one with your bicycle. It doesn't move unless you move with it. One of the best parts about having a flip-flop hub on a bike is that you can choose which way you want to ride anytime. Riding fixed is a choice you can always say no to.
Harper single-speed / fixie is designed for longevity. The high-tensile strength steel diamond frame is hand-built and tig-welded for the commuter's lifestyle. Rest assured you'll be riding on your Retrospec frame for a long, long time.
Your safety is very important to us. We've equipped Harper SS with dual braking. You'll have more control over your commute and your stopping with a front and a rear braking system. The rims have machined braking surfaces for safer stopping.
We wouldn't say we're control freaks exactly, but we do like to be in control of our rides. That's why we put so much effort into making every part of our bikes the best it can be. VP freestyle pedals and KMC chain are long-lasting and hard-wearing while the 30mm Deep-V rims and thick, stable Kenda tires make for a softer ride.


"We can't continue to borrow." -- William D. Delahunt, cosponsor of the bill to raise $10 billion a year for water upgrades.
WASHINGTON — An effort in Congress to spend tens of billions of dollars to fix the nation's aging water systems is facing stiff opposition from soda and bottled water companies, which are major beneficiaries of publicly owned supplies but are fighting a proposal to tax them to pay for the upgrades.
The chief sponsor of the legislation said the catastrophic Massachusetts Water Resources Authority rupture in Weston on May 1, which affected 2 million people in Greater Boston for three days, could reshape the debate in Washington by highlighting the urgent need to find new ways to pay for improved pipelines, pumping stations, and backup systems.
"We're zeroing in on people who get a disproportionate benefit and rely on safe, secure water sources,'' said Representative Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat who introduced legislation that would raise $10 billion annually — including $3.5 billion for drinking water systems — through a tax on bottlers and other water-dependent industries.
The proposal has potentially far-reaching consequences because it would substantially increase the role of the federal government in financing repairs to municipal tap water systems, something advocates say is long overdue.
But soda and bottled water companies — already battered by attacks from environmental groups over their plastic packaging — said the cost of upgrading such components as reservoirs and aqueducts should be shared more broadly.
Tracey Halliday, a spokeswoman for the American Beverage Association, which represents big soft drink companies, said they also are opposed to the legislation.
Bottlers use municipal water for many drinks, including filtered and distilled water. Company executives contend that they are modest water consumers compared with farms and factories.
Brian Flaherty, a vice president of Nestlé Waters North America, the nation's biggest bottled water company, said its products account for about 0.001 percent of all water used in the United States. That includes bottled water from privately owned springs such as Nestlé's Poland Spring in Maine, which would also be taxed under the plan.
But Blumenauer and his allies maintain that the alternative to the proposed 4 cents-per-bottle tax would be to force the upgrade costs on all taxpayers. The proposed tax would exempt juice, milk, and alcoholic beverages.
There is little dispute that the country faces crumbling water systems in many cities. But while Congress has long recognized the problem, lawmakers have struggled to find a funding source as deficits balloon.
Late last week, Representative John F. Tierney, Democrat of Salem, joined Delahunt as a cosponsor. "It was only last year that Gloucester residents had to boil their water for weeks, which resulted in great cost to families and small businesses. The recent water main break in Weston only adds to the urgency to ensure that our nation's infrastructure is improved and modernized,'' he said.
Water systems across the United States face about $335 billion in repairs and other work over the next 20 years, according to a survey by the Environmental Protection Agency, including $6.8 billion in Massachusetts. About 240,000 breaks occur each year, and aging pipes leak about 7 billion gallons a day.
D. Wayne Klotz, a civil engineer in Houston and former president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, which backs Blumenauer's plan, said local authorities have been continually playing catch-up as a result of inadequate funding.
The broken clamp that caused the break in Weston was only seven years old, but in many parts of Massachusetts, pipes and pumping stations are decades old. The proposed money could also be used for backup systems, a spokeswoman for Blumenauer said. Massachusetts officials have said a backup system might have ameliorated the effects of the Weston pipe break.
Maintaining drinking water systems has traditionally been a state and local responsibility, said Tom Curtis, the deputy executive director of the American Water Works Association, which represents municipal tap water systems. Almost no federal aid was available until Congress set up a state subsidy program in 1996.
While not talking about Massachusetts specifically, Curtis said most of the blame for the decrepit state of water infrastructure nationwide belongs to local politicians who have been reluctant to risk voter ire by raising water rates.
Congress now provides about $800 million of the roughly $30 billion spent every year on clean water, Curtis said, with states and cities paying the rest. Massachusetts received about $70 million from Washington this year, but $52.2 million of that was one-time stimulus money specifically for drinking water projects.
Scott Jordan, the state's deputy secretary for capital finance and intergovernmental affairs, said Massachusetts was able to stretch those dollars by using them as collateral for water bonds. Federal funds had helped underwrite $908 million in drinking water infrastructure statewide since the program's inception, he said.
Ten projects overseen by the MWRA received federal funding through 2009, according to figures provided by the agency, including $2 million for the Quabbin Reservoir, $140.1 million for the Walnut Hill treatment plant in Marlborough, and $200,000 for the aqueduct supply mains in Weston. The MWRA is also seeking $34 million in federal funds to help build a UV disinfection system at the Carroll treatment plant in Southborough, and $40.4 million to complete a covered storage facility at Spot Pond in Stoneham.
Blumenauer's bill would also slightly raise tax rates for big companies and impose a tax on products designed to go down the drain — including toothpaste and toilet paper — to pay for waste-water system upgrades.
The prospects of Blumenauer's bill are uncertain. The Oregon representative acknowledged that persuading Congress to approve new taxes to help local water authorities would be an uphill battle.


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Adams Drum Festival Announced!
The lineup for the 6th edition of the Adams Drumworld Festival has been released.
The festival, held on September 13 at Adams Drumworld in the Netherlands, will feature 6 different styles of musicians, including Jazz, New Orleans, Heavy Metal, World and Freestyle.
Adam Nussbaum will show why good "old" artist never die….there music will live for ever.
With Stanton Moore the people will understand more why his kind of music stays inside peoples mind..
Benny Greb will show why he is becoming one of the greatest drummers for the future. His DVD is even more then his live performance. It is the best selling at this moment, and why that is, you will see on stage at Adams Drumworldfestival.
Pete Lockett brings you to different countries, he will take you away, and you experience a trip around the world in 45 minutes.
With Russ Miller you get good and straight music from the heart. Andrea Borcelli choose him for his world tour!
Jeremy Colson …..hang on and keep you're earplugs at hand…Steve Vai's drummer will rock the place!
The Adams Drumworld Festival is held on Sunday September 13th. Doors open at 11.00.am, and each artist will play about 45 minutes.
In between performances, a small fair and exhibit hall will be available for festival attendees.
Last Year the Drumfest was nominated for the best festival in Europe and won the first prize.
More info: www.drumworldfestival.nl

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Snow tyres or snow chains?
Going skiing in Italy this winter ? Making your own way to the Italian ski property or hotel ? Hiring a car? If you answered yes to all these questions, then this article is for you!
I was on my way to the Italian dolomites sourcing Italian ski property and innocently just hired a car at Bergamo BGY airport and set off. Great weather, sun shining, 20'C in the last week of November...snow never crossed my mind, as it had been reported that recent snow falls had melted and no snow was due.
I was driving up to Arabba and had a meeting in the next valley in Alto Badia. It had started raining and slowly I was climbing altitude. Just before Arabba the rain changed to fine snow. Slush started to form on the roads and I continued to climb. I drove through Arabba, going fine and turned to take the Passo Campolungo (1875m) to Corvara. Five minutes out of Arabba the road had turned white. I was going quite slowly just to be safe and a few cars were overtaking. I started to think snow chains but I saw that the other cars didn't have them on so I kept on going. I came to a steep climb and my wheels started slipping. I pulled up to reflect as I had still quite a climb ahead of me and yet another car overtook me still with no snow chains and then it clicked, they must have winter snow tyres on.
Now back in Bergamo airport winter snow tyres were never mentioned, nor snow chains. So there I was stuck on the road in the snow. I gently reversed and turned round and went back to Arabba. Called my meeting contact and agreed that he came over to meet me in Arabba rather than me going to him. Pulled up in Arabba, now with a little snow on the roads, but nothing serious and parked up outside a bar. A quick cappuccino and my contact turned up.
We agreed to go over to his office in the next valley in his car fitted with winter snow tyres. During the journey he explained to me about winter snow tyres and how they have a special grip that heats up and grips the snow permitting you to drive over snow with an amazing control. Those hairpin bends covered in snow looked dangerous but we glided round them.
Three hours later after a successful meeting he brings me back to Arabba and to my surprise my car is now in half a metre of snow. My man suggests leaving the car where it is and staying in a local hotel as tomorrow the snow should disappear. Great thanks ciao. In the bar the locals had received the overnight weather forecast and more and more snow was forecasted. Everyone laughed at me for having normal tyres on the car and travelling without snow chains. From the bar window I could see vans pulling up and attaching their snow chains. I decided it was time to get out of Arabba, I had a plane the next day and I didn't want to remain stuck here.
The barman lent me two large spades and I started digging and clearing the road so I could reverse my car out, stupidly parked on a slope. I jumped in the car hot and sweaty, covered in snow and hit reverse and all I got was wheel spin. Oh no! Stuck in the snow. More digging a little grit and eventually I managed to move the car onto the thick snow covered road. Locals advised the local car mechanic for a set of snow chains. Snow chains have you ever used them ?? 100 metres down the road at crawling speed in 1st gear and I made it to the mechanic. 100 euros later I had a set of snow chains fitted to the front tyres. Yes 100 euros !! Amazing you can buy them in the supermarket for 35 euros. Pulled out of the mechanic's and on to the road. I could now drive in 2nd gear at 20mph . I was safe. 10 minutes later and the snow on the road started turning back into slush. I had made it...or so i believed!
Have you ever tried to fit and remove snow chains ?? Well I drove on the slushy road for about 5 minutes with the chains on, hoping to find a sheltered illuminated spot...no chance. I had been advised NOT to drive too far with snow chains on and with no snow on the road so eventually I stopped. Rain, wind and dark and my first attempt of removing snow chains. It's not easy. Instructions in hand, mobile phone trying to create some light and NO luck. They just wouldn't unhook. Like a damsel in distress finally some kind soul pulled over and asked if all was ok ? "Of course not i can't get these damn snow chains off" and in two seconds he slipped them off the wheels.
Snow chains are hassle. It is much easier to have winter snow tyres. Believe me. In Italy you are legally obliged to carry snow chains or have winter snow tyres when in the Italian winter mountains. You will see the road sign indicating where and when they are necessary. The police regularly monitor the roadside and pull you over for inspections. Fines vary from 100-300 euros if you are without either.
Yet NONE of the car hire firms in Italy hire cars with winter tyres !!! So either hire some snow chains, which is expensive, but less than a fine or buying them when stuck in the mountains and learn to fit and remove them in a dry warm garage and NOT on the roadside in the cold wet dark. Many Italians have a laugh at the foreigners stuck on the roadside fitting and removing snow chains. With wifes in the car shouting out instructions and incompetent husbands struggling. Don't worry you won't be the first or the last. Learn before you hit the snow!
If you know of any car hire firm in Italy that hires cars with winter snow tyres please let us know by submitting your comments. I have heard of some people who rent their car in France or Switzerland or Austria where car hire firms provide winter snow tyres and then drive into Italy. Have you done this? Remember if you are heading into the Italian ski resorts this winter to ski in Italy or to stay in your Italian ski property then be prepared. Moss Italian Property Consultants have a range of Italian ski property investments in Italy.


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Home » Metamorphosis: How the Expat Experience Changed Four Mums' Lives
Metamorphosis: How the Expat Experience Changed Four Mums' Lives
By Dr Deepika
Moving to a new country is one of the hardest decisions, but it can also be rewarding and transformative. Setting up in a new environment, learning more about yourself, and forming a community can only be described as metamorphic. So, on the occasion of Doha Family Magazine's 10th anniversary, here's a look into the journeys of four expat mums who turned their lives around and made a mark in the country they now call home
SHIMA SADAF: From Office Job to PhD
Shima strongly believes it is never too late to pursue your dreams and that when it comes to academics, age is just a number. Despite that, it hasn't always been an easy ride. "The journey is full of ups and downs for a professional and working mom to manage work and family at the same time and when your relatives are not around," she admits. Reflecting on her decade-long stay in Qatar, Shima believes that being an expat has pushed her to realise her goals.
Shima also considers the environment in Qatar to be progressive and empowering for women. With that in mind, she re-enrolled in university and started her path to a PhD. Her efforts came to fruition when she graduated earlier this year from Qatar university: "By the grace and mercy of Almighty Allah, I have been awarded distinction at the doctoral level [for my] PhD in Electrical Engineering." Additionally, Shima was honoured at a private graduation ceremony hosted by Her Highness the Wife of the Emir of the State of Qatar due to earning the title of Distinguished Female Graduate at the 45th Cohort: Class of 2022.
CHANDANA REDDY LOKA: From Stay-at-home Mum to Stage Performer
Chandana distinctly remembers her early days in Qatar, almost 10 years ago, when she moved here with her husband and two-year-old son. She recalls feeling uneasy while also having the urge to connect with others—a relatable experience for many newcomers. Plus, her passion for dance and stage performance only magnified her desire to express herself and connect with others on a similar wavelength.
Eventually, she discovered that Qatar was home to diverse communities and decided to explore different community groups. As a result, three years into her stay, she joined the Indian Cultural Centre and Telangana Jagruthi Qatar (an Indian socio-cultural organisation), which she says "turned into [her] extended family".
Since becoming an active member of these groups, Chandana has participated in several cultural dance performances and other stage performances at various events. These have included Passage of India by the Indian Embassy at MIA Park and the IAAF World Athletics Championship, to name a few. Dance has given her a sense of achievement and helped her make new friends and acquaintances. Reflecting on her accomplishments, Chandana says: "If not [for] the safe and secure environment of Qatar and the vast exposure it provides even for non-working mums, it would not have been possible for me to create my own name and mark in this new country, which is now no [longer] new for me."
It hasn't always been smooth sailing for Chandana, who admits having moments of "cluelessness and darkness" while trying to balance pursuing her passions with her role as a mother. Nevertheless, her stance on going after what you love is clear: "Existence does not just mean survival. It is beyond [that]."
NIMMI AFZAL: From School Books to Photo Studios
Nimmi reflects on her decade-long journey in Qatar with fondness. The former teacher believes that living here paved the path for her to follow her ambitions and transform into the person she always wanted to become. "It's a journey of change for the better—metamorphosis, you see," she says.
When Nimmi first resigned from her role in the classroom, food photography was mostly a hobby, and her clientele was limited. Today, it's a full-time job. The mother of one is now a successful freelance food and product photographer for several emerging food outlets across the country and is financially independent. "Risks are involved, but the sense of achievement makes the plunge worth it," she says. Additionally, one of her photos was exhibited in Katara this year throughout Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr—a feat that filled her with pride.
Nimmi has come a long way from her days as a food blogger, which is where she first dipped her toes in food photography. Her experiences now drive her to motivate others to believe in their dreams and work hard to achieve them.
SHALINI KAUSHIK KRISHNA KUMAR: From Employee to Business Owner
Shalini moved to Qatar after her daughter graduated from university and embraced the transition with hope and determination. Still, as a long-term corporate employee whose life followed a routine, the move and the changes that followed were not so easy for her.
When she arrived, she tried to find a purpose in her new environment, which her to work in a kindergarten. However, she soon realised that wasn't the answer and left a year later. So, after a period of introspection and a few ups and downs along the way, at 51 years old, Shalini found her new calling. So, she created her jewellery start-up, Al Saha – The Label.
Al Saha – The Label sells hand and machine-made jewellery fashioned from threads, beads, pearls, and stones. Shalini says that her jewellery enhances her customers' outer and inner beauty and boosts their confidence at an affordable price. "Though beauty is who you are, jewellery is simply the icing on the cake," she opines.
Shalini describes her decision to make such a drastic change to be a "leap of faith" that needed "immense trust". Moreover, starting her business has not just been life-changing for her. Shalini also employs many women in India, giving them a shot at financial independence, which she believes makes "everyone happy in this bargain".
Despite being born out of her love for jewellery, starting Al Saha – The Label has not been easy. Fortunately, she has found Qatar's e-commerce platforms to be extremely helpful. However, she still feels she has a long way to go. Starting up was difficult due to Covid, but she sees that things are falling into place slowly and steadily. Plus, she has found that her venture has helped her meet new people and build a community, which she says has brought her immense happiness.
So how does Shalini feel about her move to Qatar today? "Qatar grows on you, despite being a quiet and peaceful place. You adapt to the place and gradually fall in love with the country—and it's mysterious."
Qatar has evolved tremendously over these years, and so have its residents. Everyone here has a story, and many have overcome significant hurdles and used them to change their lives and inspire their communities. The accounts shared here exemplify that no matter what happens in our lives and how far along we are on a particular path, we can always start again. All it takes is resilience and zeal—traits that inevitably come with being an expat.


HVAC systems are an investment, which is why we provide several financing options that will match your budget.
From installation to maintenance, House of Heating Incorporated has all of your service needs covered.
Companies like ours need a good reputation to continue serving our community. If you think we did a great job, we would truly appreciate it if you would share your experience.
Many homeowners have their own plan for maintenance around the home every year. Clean the gutters in the spring before summer thunderstorms arrive, trim the yard while the weather is nice, clean the floors every week—you know the drill. Basic home upkeep is important, but it's just as critical to not forget about a part of your home you may not think about often: your heater and air conditioner.
Unlike a dirty floor or an unkempt yard, though, an unmaintained or neglected furnace or AC unit isn't immediately apparent if you haven't thought about it in a while. Some homeowners unknowingly go years without servicing or maintaining their HVAC systems. We're so used to AC in the hottest times of year and heat in the winter that it's easy to forget the systems in place that help bring those livable temperatures about.
The bad part is that putting off maintaining your HVAC system can cause serious trouble down the road. Anyone who's lived in their house for a day in the scorching heat of summer can tell you that! The good news is that, should you need emergency maintenance, our team here at House of Heating Incorporated is here to help.
With many years of experience under our belts, we have the trained eyes and skilled hands needed to quickly find and fix problems with your heater or air conditioning unit, large or small. Need your home's HVAC system repaired, and quickly? Give us a call at 888-384-3163 and we'll figure out a plan to take care of the problem.
If you can't recall the last time you had your home's furnace or air conditioner serviced, that's okay! Scheduling an appointment with the House of Heating Incorporated team will help get you back on track. Once we finish up our routine maintenance on your home's HVAC system, we'd also be happy to schedule an annual appointment to keep it running at peak condition. Scheduling this type of professional maintenance is the single best way for you to prevent serious problems down the road.
Of course, eventually, all units need to be replaced. If your air conditioning unit is in need of replacement or you just want to upgrade to something more modern, let us know! Our line of furnaces and AC units carries the important ENERGY STAR certification, paired with one of the best warranties in the business. Certain products also have other unique features like allergen filtration, humidity control, and quiet operation. Tell us what you think you want and we will be able to find something that fits your needs.
For all of your HVAC-related needs, there's no one better in Auburndale than House of Heating Incorporated. We value quality customer service and want to make sure we do everything we can to meet the needs of our customers. No matter whether you're scheduling routine maintenance, in need of emergency HVAC service, or just looking to replace or upgrade a unit, give us a call at 888-384-3163 and we would be happy to help.


This morning I walked into the kitchen to find a couple of girls from Moscow who were travelling to Azerbaijan and Georgia. We got talking and one of them told me she was also a biker, she had Triumph back in Moscow. She told me a couple of websites that are very active in the biking community in Russia, one of then to help bikers who have problems on the road, and gave me her number in case I needed anything for the trip. Nice girls.
I decided to spend the morning visiting the city and then go back to the hostel in the afternoon and write all the posts I had no written on the previous day. As it always seems to happen, Voronezh was a much nicer city than expected, I wandered around its streets, went down to the river, back to the center, found a place to eat and escape a bit of rain and back to the hostel.
When I got to the front door I found a GS with Serbian plates, It was a couple travelling east, with no fixed plans, possibly going as far as Vladivostok. We spend a long time talking bikes and travelling in the kitchen, and they gave me some advice about the route to the NordKapp, as some of their friends had been there. Then they went for a walk and I spent the rest of the evening writing, which took much longer than I thought.
This entry was posted in Stroming The World 2013, Travel and tagged adventure bikers, Voronezh by Kilian. Bookmark the permalink.


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The finance ministry on Thursday exuded "cautious optimism" about a rebound in as early as the third quarter and stressed that the economy was witnessing a V-shaped recovery, with a 23% quarter-on-quarter jump in gross domestic product (GDP) in the three months through September.
The assertion comes even as latest data show some of the high-frequency indicators, including manufacturing and services PMI, exports, fuel sales, auto sales and electricity consumption have somewhat lost momentum sequentially through November, stoking doubts about the strength of the recovery.
After a record slide of 23.9% in the June quarter, the year-on-year contraction in real GDP narrowed to 7.5% in the second quarter of this fiscal. This represents a quarter-on-quarter surge in GDP growth of 23%, the ministry said in a report.
"This V-shaped recovery, evident at the half-way stage of 2020-21, reflects the resilience and robustness of the Indian economy. The fundamentals of the economy remain strong as gradual scaling back of lockdowns, along with the astute support of Atmanirbhar Bharat Mission has placed the economy firmly on the path of recovery," the report said.
Moving deeper into the third quarter, there is "a cautious optimism that global economic uncertainty does not mirror itself in India notwithstanding moderation of a few high frequency indicators late in the month of November", the report said.
However, it also said any spread of a second wave of Covid-19 remains the downside risk. "However, there is a growing cautious optimism that the steep plunges of April-June quarter of 2020 may not resurface with significant progress in vaccines and contact intensive sectors increasingly adapting to a virtual normal," it said. "The need of the hour is to follow covid-appropriate behaviour and earnest observation of laid down standard operating guidelines (SOPs) till a vaccine is approved and a large section is inoculated."
Overall increase in rabi coverage with adequately filled irrigation reservoirs bodes well for growth of agricultural output in 2020-21. The additional allocation of Rs 10,000 crore, announced recently as part of the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Rozgar Yojana, would give a further boost to job creation in the rural sector and supplement rural incomes, the report said.
The farm and allied sector has been a key driver of GDP in the aftermath of the pandemic, having risen by 3.4%, y-o-y, in the July-September period, when the overall real GDP shrank by 7.5%. In an indication that the government is willing to boost productive spending, the report said, higher market borrowing so far this fiscal is "an ample demonstration of government's commitment to provide sustained fiscal stimulus through maintaining high public expenditure levels in the economy".
"The timely announcement of the third tranche of the Atmanirbhar Bharat package on the eve of Diwali is the most recent demonstration of the commitment."
As on November 20 this fiscal, the central government's gross market borrowing touched Rs 9.05 lakh crore, up 68% from a year before, the report said. Even state governments were forced to turn to the market; their borrowing surged by a half, year on year, to Rs 4.73 lakh crore until November 20.
Elevated liquidity continues to ease G-sec yields although corporate bond yields have witnessed some stiffening, resulting in a decline in the number of privately-placed issues between August and October. But enhanced liquidity has improved monetary policy transmission with continuous decline in MCLR, savings and term deposit rates.
Consequently, effective weighted average yield of commercial papers and rates of certificates of deposits have fallen below the repo rate of 4% and now closing on to the reverse repo rate of 3.35% as well. However, overall growth in bank credit remains sluggish, although the Rs 3-lakh-crore Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) continues to support credit disbursement to MSMEs.
The recent extension of the ECLGS to 26 stressed sectors identified by the Kamath Committee as well as healthcare may eventually go on to drive the overall growth of bank credit, the report said.
Source : Financial Express


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Sufrãt Offers Traditional Mediterranean Meals in Pembroke Pines
Pani at Aventura Mall Offers an Enchanted Respite for Shoppers
Burger Beast Burgie Awards: Broward Restaurants Represent
Laine Doss
| Things To Do |
Laine Doss | November 19, 2011 | 11:33am
Sef Gonzalez has turned eating burgers into a mission and a career.
The man behind the popular food blog Burger Beast has become a food critic, blogger, food-truck-roundup promoter, and host of his own annual award, the Burgies.
The third-annual Burger Beast Burgie Awards is tonight at Miami's Magic City Casino.
South Florida's best restaurants and food trucks will submit their
hamburgers for judging by a panel of food experts, bloggers, and other
meat lovers (including yours truly) for the titles of Best Burger 2011 and Best Food Truck Burger 2011.
In addition, 40 food trucks and a host of restaurants will be set up
outside the casino, selling their food and burgers, in case you want to
try for yourself.
Several restaurateurs from Broward County will be making the drive down
to Miami to compete for the title. They will also have tents set up to
sell their wares.
Broward favorites include Charm City Burger Company (Deerfield Beach),
Georgie's Alibi (Wilton Manors),
Gilbert's 17th Street Grill (Fort Lauderdale), and
Quickie's Burgers & Wings (Hollywood).
The Burger Beast Burgie Awards are tonight, November 19, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Magic City Casino in Miami. Admission is free. (Facebook RSVP here).
Follow Clean Plate Charlie on Facebook and on Twitter: @CleanPlateBPB.
Laine Doss is the food and spirits editor for Miami New Times, covering the restaurant and bar scene in South Florida. She has been featured on Cooking Channel's Eat Street and Food Network's Great Food Truck Race. Doss won an Alternative Weekly award for her feature on what it's like to wait tables. In a previous life, she appeared off-Broadway and shook many a cocktail as a bartender at venues in South Florida and New York City. When she's not writing, you can find Doss running some marathon then celebrating at the nearest watering hole.
Facebook: Laine Doss
Twitter: @lainedoss
Unit B Eatery and Agave Bandido Come to Pembroke Pines
2021 Swank Table Schedule Is Loaded with South Florida...
Mai-Kai Abruptly Closes — Then Assures It Will Reopen UPDATED
Icebox Cafe Expands With Broward Restaurant and Upscale...


London & Regional Properties (L&R) and the Latin American firm Southstone Investment merged to create a sole entity London & Regional Panama (LRP). L&R offer real estate experience as the owner, developer, and manager of $20+ Billion USD in real property located in five continents. Southstone adds Latin American experience, financial backing and cultural insight.
The former U.S. Howard Air Force Base is being developed into a special economic zone (with special tax free benefits) for multi-national corporations and high technology companies. There are over 125 multi-national companies now established there, with over 50 more scheduled to come by the end of 2012.
The Panama Pacifico Special Economic Zone is a 1,400 hectare site with an 8,500 foot runway jet capable airfield. It will be a small city when completed including corporate offices, bank offices, call centers, logistics services, high tech products and manufacturing, offshore services, film industry, aircraft maintenance and repair services, transferring goods and services to ships and airplanes, and exporting goods. However, the residential housing supply is very limited in the areas inside of Panama Pacifico for the employees of these companies.
"Enter a new world that forms a bridge between tradition and innovation, country breathing space and big-city accessibility, private funding and government support. A true master-planned community that brings together people of all ages to live, work and play. A residential haven with a vibrant mix of walk able neighborhoods and smart homes. A global enterprise offering unprecedented business advantages. All set within a sustainable landscape linked by parks and trails.
Much of Panama Pacifico's infrastructure was already in place when it was the former Howard U.S. Air Force Base. Panama Pacifico connects to Panama's leading suppliers of public works operating out of the Panama Canal. From state-of-the-art roads, potable water works, electrical networks and modern technological capability from 5 major submarine telecommunications loops, Panama Pacifico's vigorous infrastructure accommodates present and future generations.
Panama Pacifico's onsite shuttle bus system began in 2011. In 2012, additional elements of the new Transportation Demand Management system begin, including commuter buses, available to onsite employees.
Plans are in place to ultimately take the entire infrastructure system underground to preserve the community's natural character and views.
They are currently in the process of delivering 2 new condo buildings of 1 and 2 bedroom condos, as well as a high end housing sub-division of single family homes. While the 1 and 2 bedroom condos are good rental units, the opportunity to buy at below market values was 2 years ago during pre-construction phases.
The single family homes are selling between $600K to $800K and are mainly being bought by wealthy Panamanians looking to escape the Panama City traffic and live near the beaches on the West side of the Panama Canal.
The best product in our opinion for a rental house or apartment is the River Valley sub-division, which will feature 3 to 4 bedroom single family homes, 3 to 4 bedroom town houses, and 2 to 4 bedroom garden apartments. Maintenance fees are minimal, property taxes are exonerated on improvements, and property taxes on the land value will be very low in comparison with other similar projects.
By the time this project is completed, they are estimating more than 200 multinational companies will be in Panama Pacifico. That will create a huge demand for rental properties, with limited supply. With these residential units it would be very reasonable to get an 8 to 10% CAP rate on your investment, plus the banks are financing right now at 4.5% interest rates, with as little as 10% to 20% down for locals, and 30 to 40% down for foreigners (depending on the banks risk assessment of the borrower).
Contact Us for all of your Panama Real Estate Investment needs.


Rural roads play a crucial role in the economic and social development of societies, linking rural communities to education, health services and markets. During the last decade, considerable efforts have been made to evaluate the benefits of rural road investment in developing countries. Although outputs of these studies have led to a global rethinking of traditional road appraisal methods, limited attempts have been made to integrate these findings to the rural road management process. For the sustainable management of rural roads, social, institutional, technical, economic and environmental aspects should be considered under a long term perspective. The current practice in developing countries is that only some of these key sustainable aspects are being considered in the management process. In addition, rural roads maintenance management is commonly performed under a short term basis, not considering the life cycle costs and benefits in the economic analysis and project prioritization. Available management tools and studies have essentially focused their efforts on improving technical and economic aspects of low-volume roads. Whereas, the common practice observed in face of limited resources and lack of technical skills is that decisions are made under a political short term perspective. This research is directed at the development of an applied and practical system for the sustainable management of rural road networks in developing countries. The approach considers the development of all components required by the proposed management system and their integration into a practical and easy-to-use computer tool. To achieve this goal a sustainable framework for rural roads management was first developed, where system components and modules were defined. A network level condition evaluation methodology was selected and validated. Long term condition performance models were calibrated from the probabilistic analysis of field data. Optimal maintenance standards were developed under a cost-effectiveness approach. A long term prioritization procedure was developed to account for sustainable aspects of rural roads in the management process. A computer tool was finally developed to integrate the system components and display them in a friendly interface for potential users. The tool was programed in Visual Basic, considering Microsoft Excel interface. The computer tool considers the four system components: Input Data, System Modules, Network Analysis Interface and Output Data. System Modules include Condition Performance Module, Network Maintenance Module and Long Term Prioritization Module. For each of the system components and modules a separate worksheet has been included in the computer tool. The tool is centered on the Network Analysis Interface, which interacts with the other three system components. The user enters network data in the Input Data interface and may adjust information in System Modules considered if the network under study has differences to predefined conditions of. Adjustments to System Modules can be performed by the user, however it is advised that prior calibration is required for the successful analysis of the network. The management system was applied and validated in two rural road networks in developing countries located in Chile and Paraguay. Sensitivity analysis was carried out to assess the impacts of input parameters in the performance of developed system. As a result of the research an adaptable and adoptable sustainable management system for rural networks was developed to assist local road agencies in developing countries.


The HR Department works hard to find superb candidates and conveys the benefits, bonuses, positive culture, career growth, etc. of working for ABC Company. The HR Representative offers the best candidate a position; and the candidate accepts and signs the offer letter. While some may view this as mission accomplished, it is just the beginning.
Demonstrating to the new hire how important and valuable he/she is goes a long way. Employee and Employer is a two way relationship especially for those highly sought-after individuals. While many companies officially use probationary periods with new employees, new hires may unofficially put the company on probation. After all, from the new hire's job search, his/her resume is most likely still being circulated.
Here are some low-cost suggestions to maintain the new hire's enthusiasm.
Mail or give the new employee a "Welcome" card that communicates "Glad to have you on our Team" with the company's logo on it.
Prior to the new employee's first day of work, set up his/her computer log-ins and permissions. Find out what software the new employee will need instead of giving him/her the minimum. From personal experience, it is frustrating to be excited about solving problems and making a positive impact—only to be sitting at a computer—either unable to log-on or not access applicable files. The longer this drags on, hours, days; this communicates that the employee's job (and the person?) is not that important.
In addition to having a company list with titles and phone numbers, provide a "Go-to" list.
While the list may eventually become second nature to employees, until that point, it saves time, energy, and frustration.
Ask the new employee to set up meetings and interview 6-7 current employees. Interviews last between 15-30 mins and shall be conducted within the first month of hire. Ideally, the list includes a broad range of people with different expertise.
What are some helpful hints to navigate the company's culture?
What do you wish you knew when you were first hired?
What is the best thing about working for ABC Company?
or while someone is driving/sitting in traffic?
Remember that on-boarding does not stop after the first day or first week. Set up official meetings for one month, three months, and six months after the new employee's first day and check in with him/her. Inquire about the company's culture and morale, not only about his/her job.
Companies spend a lot of time and money recruiting, paying referral fees, holding company functions (e.g. picnics, holiday parties); proactively taking care of small things can make a huge impact which ultimately raises the company's profitability.
Streamline Government Contracts can set your company up with a solid new hire plan that can help keep their enthusiasm high.


Arrests in Hawai'i began as soon as martial law was declared, hours after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. A full-scale evacuation of all people of Japanese descent wasn't practical in Hawai'i—they comprised nearly 40% of the population and over half the skilled labor force. But the FBI had compiled a "custodial detention list" of people to be arrested in case of war with Japan. They were almost all males, mostly leaders of the immigrant community—volunteer agents for the Japanese Consulate, Buddhist and Shinto priests, Japanese language school officials, and newspaper editors. Commercial fishermen were also targeted.
Otokichi Ozaki, a volunteer for the Japanese Consulate in Hilo, was among those promptly picked up by authorities. He was immediately taken to the Kilauea Military Camp.
The next morning, December 8, we went through a second search, and even though it was raining, we were ordered to line up in front of the barracks. Dozens of armed soldiers surrounded us, and their guns glittered ominously in the rain. It flashed across my mind that they were planning to execute us.
When Sand Island closed, the remaining prisoners were transferred to Honouliuli camp, in central O'ahu.
In all, about 1,200 Japanese and Japanese Americans from Hawai'i, as well as about 100 Germans and Italians, were arrested and incarcerated. Most were eventually sent by ship to mainland concentration camps. At that time, the wives and children of incarcerated men were given the option to accompany them.
The number of Japanese and Japanese Americans from Hawai'i who were detained during World War II was relatively small, less than 1% of the total Japanese population. Yet the impact on Hawaiian culture was significant. Japanese customs and traditions abruptly vanished. No one knew who might be arrested next, and people feared that practicing Japanese culture would make them a target.
Torazo Sugita, "An Evening On Sand Island" Naniwabushi, Internee recollections of 37 Years Ago. December 5, 1978.
George Hoshida, Kilauea Military Detention Camp, 8-25-42. Gift of June Hoshida Honma, Sandra Hoshida and Carole Hoshida Kanada. George Hoshida Collection (97.106.1AC).


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Was Street Fighter 4's Omega Mode a test bed for Street Fighter 5? Combofiend answers this speculation, and talks purpose behind recent SF5 changes
Posted by John 'Velociraptor' Guerrero • December 10, 2015 at 3:27 p.m. PST • Comments: 72
In the winter of 2014, not long before we first caught wind of Street Fighter 5, Ultra Street Fighter 4 developers surprised us with Omega Mode.
Seemingly just for fun, Omega granted the entire cast a collection of super powered moves. Ken received a brand new fireball, Zangief could combo into his command grabs and Ryu gained a Third Strike-esque parry.
Omega excitement was perhaps a bit short lived as evidence of Street Fighter 5 soon surfaced, stealing much of the spotlight. As the community ate up any and all new SF5 info, some observant players began noticing parallels between SF4's Omega Mode and SF5.
At the PlayStation Experience, we were able to catch up with Street Fighter 5's Associate Producer, Peter "Combofiend" Rosas, and ask him about any connections between the two games. Many have speculated that Omega Mode was a test bed for SF5, and now we get an answer from inside Capcom.
Hit the jump to see Combofiend's answer.
Omega Mode
In our interview with Combofiend, we asked directly, "To what extent was Omega Mode a test bed for Street Fighter 5?"
"It wasn't really a test bed, it was more proof of concept. We have a team in Japan who really wanted to get into the Street Fighter 4 guts and make their own thing. That was kind of proof that they could do it," explained Rosas.
"There were some ideas that were imported over early on just to see how they would fair in the SF5 world, because we're trying to make the game as different from SF4 as possible. There was Zangief's hit grab, also Ryu's parry from the Omega edition. Ultimately, we want SF5 to be its own game."
This departure from SF4 seems to be a major theme in a lot of the decisions the dev team has made. You'll see why in the next section.
No More Lights into Mediums
Trying to gain the best understanding of Street Fighter 5 possible, we've been paying close attention to global changes. One of the more enticing of these was the removal of light into medium attack combos.
We wondered why the team at Capcom chose to do away with this aspect of the game, and Combofiend had a very direct answer.
"We wanted to make the game feel different than Street Fighter 4," Rosas told us. "We noticed that basically all players do is press lights, because they're fishing into mediums. That makes the game a bit slower, and combos start off extremely scaled.
"We wanted the game to be more pressure-intense, and for players to really understand the buttons of their character, not just press jab or short."
Taken from this point of view, we imagine most players are on board for this change. Even those who have done well utilizing the SF4 system will often admit to it being somewhat cheap.
This is yet another way players will have to earn their wins in the next Street Fighter, and hopefully feel more of a satisfaction when they do so.
Nerfed Back Dashes
Recently, back dashes lost their invincibility in Street Fighter 5, and hitting a back dashing opponent grants a counter hit. Why such a drastic change, especially when back dashing was so strong in the previous game?
"When you back dash right now, it's throw invincible, so it's how you get out of throws. In SF4, back dashes served a specific purpose in that they were a way to avoid a level three Focus Attack. In SF5, you back dash to avoid throws," said Rosas.
Back dashing will likely become more prominent in SF5, as it's even more so part of the rock, paper, scissors game of block, tech or avoid. The developers seem to want to make sure that no one option shines above the others. Bottom line: if you're outsmarted by your foe, it's going to hurt.
It appears as though the SF5 team is succeeding in their quest to build a game that favors reads over autopilot set ups and situations. What do you think of the direction of SF5?
Other Exclusive Capcom Interviews About Street Fighter 5
• Combofiend: Fireballs are a casual killer in Street Fighter 5, but players like Choi or Bonchan will still beat you with them
• Not sure which Street Fighter 5 character you want to play yet? Combofiend's advice can help you pinpoint your perfect match
• Matt Dahlgren opens up about Street Fighter 5 character leaks
• Cheaters will have a hard time hacking into Street Fighter 5's all new leader board and ranking system
• Capcom speaks out on changing Street Fighter 5's risqué visuals


Decked out in brightly coloured Medieval style garb, Jesters will take guests on a trip back in time to Ye Olde England whilst bringing a great deal of fun and tomfoolery to any occasion!
Delighting guests with their verbal wit and physical humour our extraordinary Jesters are perfect for one of a kind promotions, events and functions that are looking to entertain with a combination of cirque style acts, comedy and audience interaction.
Providing great walk about and mix and mingle entertainment, Jesters will combine juggling, acrobatics, hula hooping, unicycle tricks, afro-balance, stilt walking, close up magic, and strolling musical entertainment to entertain the masses.
Also highly skilled in the art of mime and improvisation, they will quickly turn any situation into a comical one, engaging guests of all ages with their quick witted humour.
Ideal for a range of events, especially themed functions, family events, medieval events, children's parties, and festivals, our Walk Around Court Jesters will certainly not disappoint!


We politely request that you take a moment and fully read the following.
The 51st Regiment is a serious and committed regiment, with a high standard of discipline and respect for one another. By joining our ranks you acknowledge that you have familiarized yourself with the below and that you agree to follow its terms and remember the information provided.
The 51st Regiment of Foot is structured around British Army organization - meaning that we have a Chain of Command in which you will come to be a part. We expect every member to follow and respect this chain.
For a more detailed overview, please visit the forums here.
If you have any questions, concerns or information during training or events, that you wish to discuss with a Commissioned Officer (CO) or high command, you will not go directly to them, but instead, you will talk with your assigned Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO), who will then advance the subject if required.
During events we run a "permission to speak" system or PTS for short. When "PTS is in effect" it is required that all members remain completely silent and listen to the instructions given by either the COs or NCOs, absolutely no talking is tolerated during this period. If for whatever reason should the need arise that you need to communicate something to a senior staff member you can do so either by saying "PTS" or typing "PTS" in team chat. If permission is given by a CO you may "break PTS" and speak. By joining you agree to obey by this system!
Outside of organised events any query or problem you may have can be addressed to any veteran member of the Regiment. Ask and they will do their very best to help you.
Being a tightly structured and disciplined regiment, we adhere to a military style of ranking.
Promotions are handled by officers during and after trainings, and they will eventually go your way if you show commitment and improvement.
Promotions are handled by officers during and after trainings. Promotions are earned not given, if you show commitment and improvement your efforts will not go unnoticed.
If you are able, you must participate in any scheduled trainings or events. While real life commitments take precedence over activities, we frown upon members playing other games during trainings and events.
We take attendance during both events and training. If we find you to be consistently absent without reason you will be considered inactive, you're of course welcome to rejoin at any time.
The training and event schedule can be found above.
Non-weekly events will be announced on the main page.
When you first enlist in the regiment, you will go through a 2-4 week introductory period, in which you will be instructed in the rules of Napoleonic warfare, the game itself and how we do things in the 51st.
Completion of this trial period will result in enlistment wherein you shall be considered an official member of the 51st Regiment.
Represent the 51st in the best possible way inside and outside of the game.
More information will follow during trainings and battles. You will be given a detailed explanation of these rules and more during your time in boot camp.
We hope that you take on board all of the above and that you become an active, mature and productive member of both the Regiment and wider community.
Welcome to the 51st Regiment of Foot!


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Small Private Aircraft
In the past several decades, the number of private and recreational pilots across the country has plummeted, as has the number of small aircraft being manufactured — trends that some say have been accelerated by increasingly strict federal regulations.
If the decline continues, it will spell trouble for entrepreneurs such as Austin Heffernan, who runs an aircraft maintenance and repair company in Hagerstown, Md. He was one of several small-business owners asked to testify last week during a congressional hearing on the state of the general aviation industry.
"We see many more pilots leaving general aviation than we see new pilots getting started, " Heffernan told the House Small Business Committee, later adding that those pilots "are the main market for many of the on-airport small businesses that make up the general aviation industry."
In addition to maintenance firms such as Heffernan's, which employs 14 people, the industry includes thousands of flight training schools, parts manufacturers and air cargo companies, the vast majority of which are small firms, according to data collected by the Small Business Administration. Those businesses depend on pilots to buy their products and services — and that has become a serious problem.
Since 1980, the number of pilots in the country has nosedived from about 827, 000 in 1980 to 617, 000, according to the Frederick, Md.-based Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. During about the same period, data from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association in Washington show that production of single-engine planes plunged from 14, 000 per year to fewer than 700.
Some have attributed the declines to rising fuel prices, waning interest and heightened flying restrictions following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Others say the recent economic downturn has left fewer people with discretionary income, further accelerating the decline in the past few years.
But at the hearing last week, Heffernan and other employers pinned the blame largely on federal regulators, who they say have built a complex maze of red tape and bureaucratic hurdles that deter pilots from obtaining and renewing their licenses, which hurts small businesses like theirs and the broader aviation industry.
"One of the biggest problems facing us is the pilot population, and putting more requirements in front of people that stop them from flying is a real problem, " John Uczekaj, chief executive of Aspen Avionics, a small aviation electronics firm in Albuquerque, said during the hearing. Among the most onerous hurdles for pilots, he said, is the Federal Aviation Administration's medical certification requirements.
Under the current rules, private and recreational pilots under age 40 must pass a comprehensive medical exam every five years. Once they hit 40, the renewals are good for only two years.
The requirement is "a definite detractor to business, " Heffernan told the committee. He and several lawmakers noted that the closest individuals come to a medical exam when obtaining a driver's license is usually a vision test. Meanwhile, most boat operators do not need any medical certifications.
Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.), a pilot himself, called the rules an arbitrary intrusion into the lives of private pilots. Collins recently sponsored legislation that would allow many non-commercial pilots to use their driver's licenses in lieu of medical exams, as long as they fly small planes, carry fewer than six passengers and stay below certain speed and altitude limits. A similar proposal was submitted directly to the FAA two years ago by aviation groups, but the agency has not issued a response.
While FAA officials did not reply to requests for comment, the agency's administrator, Michael P. Huerta, last month apologized in a letter to AOPA for failing to take action yet on the proposal. He did not, however, set a date to address the matter, and he emphasized the importance of ensuring "that such an unprecedented change will not result in any adverse impact that could lead to degradation in safety."
Kenneth Button, a professor and director of the Center for Transportation, Policy, Operations and Logistics at George Mason University, issued a similar safety warning during his testimony last week. He argued that an accident in the air generally leaves pilots in a more precarious position than those on the road.
"One involves two-dimensional safety, one involves three-dimensional safety, " Button said. "Have a heart attack in an airplane, and you're coming down. Have a heart attack in a Winnebago, and you drive to the side of the road."
Le site « Le Monde des Voitures » est créé pour aider les propriétaires des autos et tous ceux qui aiment les voitures et qui voudraient en savoir plus. Beaucoup de conseils sur l'entretien et le tuning des voitures, sur de petites réparations que vous pouvez faire chez vous, sans emmener votre bagnole au garage… N'hésitez pas à visiter le site.
Source: www.washingtonpost.com
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Memorial Golf Tournament
"The Paul McGrath Memorial Fund was established in 1998 as a way for my family to give back to our local community in memory of my brother, Paul McGrath, who died on Christmas Day 1998. He was just 31 years old."
– Troy McGrath
Paul was born on April 13, 1967 at Loring Air Force Base, Limestone, Maine. The McGrath family moved to Amesbury, Massachusetts when Paul was two years old and except for short periods of time, Paul spent all of his life in Amesbury. He attended Amesbury schools, from Kindergarten through High School.
Paul started Amesbury Youth Hockey at the instructional level at age 5. He was a little, freckled faced kid with the map of Ireland all over his face. He took to hockey like a fish to water and played for 15 years, from Mites through High School. Paul continued his love of hockey at North Country Community College in Lake Placid, New York. He was also an ardent Bruins fan and enjoyed going into the city for live games.
Paul's love of life and ability to live life to its fullest every minute of his brief time here will forever keep him in our hearts. We miss him terribly.
The McGrath Family
The Paul McGrath Memorial Fund was established to commemorate Paul McGrath, a long time Amesbury, Massachusetts resident who passed away on Christmas Day, 1998 at the young age of 31 from injuries sustained on a family skiing trip. When he died, we tried to help others by asking that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Amesbury Youth Hockey League. Those donations alone raised over $2,500 and the Paul McGrath Memorial Fund, a 501c(3) nonprofit organization, was founded.
In each of the previous Paul McGrath Memorial Golf Tournaments, we have attempted to raise significant funds and apply them where we can help to enrich the lives of our local youth. We have donated our proceeds to local youth sports organizations, and others who aim to help improve the lives of our youth, including:
The Haiti 180 Fund
Amesbury High School Sports Boosters
Amesbury Youth Hockey League
Amesbury Youth Rotary League Basketball
Amesbury Little League Baseball
Amesbury Youth Soccer League
Big Brother / Big Sister
Class of 1985 Jeff Sanborn Memorial Scholarship
Farrell Children SMA Fund
LUNGSTRONG, Inc. - Funding Innovative Lung Cancer Research
Tough Ruck Boston Marathon Walk
Jack Morrill Memorial Scholarship Fund
Great Tournaments
Players Served
2 Whitewood Circle
Amesbury, Massachusetts 01913
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All rights reserved
Follow this link to contact us.


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The Greatest Real Estate Deal in History
By Kristin Sawyer
See all Articles by Lindsay EngleSee Lindsay Engle's Expert PageGet Updates on TravelGet Updates on Lindsay Engle
I read an article this week dubbed "The Greatest Real Estate Deal in History". Any clues to what that might be? Well, what was known as the Louisiana Territory (a whopping 828m square miles) was sold to America from its' French owners in 1803 for a mere… $15m! That's a few cents an acre! So why did they sell it so cheap?
Since around the 1780s, the Mississippi river and the port of New Orleans had become increasingly important to America in order to thrive as a country. Now at this time in France, Napoleon was in all his glory and naturally, the Americans were sceptical. France hadn't paid any attention to their land here but Thomas Jefferson was quoted saying, "The day that France takes possession of New Orleans… we must marry ourselves to the British fleet and nation." Yikes!
In January 1803, Jefferson sent James Monroe (the ex Minister to France) to Paris to negotiate for this huge vast piece of land. Monroe was sent with instructions to buy New Orleans and parts of Florida for no more than $10m. But when the negotiations started, Frances' Foreign Minister stated they were willing to sell all of the territory for the bargain price of $15m.
So why sell land of that proportion so cheap? It would mean doubling the size of the United States. Well Napoleon's army sent to Saint Domingue (what we now know as Haiti) had been struck with yellow fever. He was also expecting a new war with Britain in his quest to re-establish France in the New World.
He thought, if anyone tried to claim the Louisiana Territory, would he really want to defend it? Was it worth it? He deemed it not. So that's why America got a cracking deal! Even then, $15m was too steep for America and they were forced to loan the money from two European banks.
The purchase of the Louisiana Territory was noted as one of President Jefferson's greatest achievements. In 1812, 9 years after the Louisiana Purchase agreement was made, the US shaped their first state from the territory: Louisiana. This was the 18th state for the US and from there, America expanded westward into the new lands. The rest is history as they say.
Kristin Sawyer is a world traveler who loves gaining new experiences. After working in the healthcare industry for many years, she decided to start traveling the world and even started her own blog, Visions of Romania, where she shares some of her adventures.
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text:
Q: in Java, how to delete all 0s in float? I'd like to change float like this way:
10.5000 -> 10.5
10.0000 -> 10
How can I delete all zeros after the decimal point, and change it either float (if there's non-zeros) or int (if there were only zeros)?
Thanks in advance.

A: This handles it with two different formatters:
double d = 10.5F;
DecimalFormat formatter = new DecimalFormat("0");
DecimalFormat decimalFormatter = new DecimalFormat("0.0");
String s;
if (d % 1L > 0L) s = decimalFormatter.format(d);
else s = formatter.format(d);

System.out.println("s: " + s);

A: java.math.BigDecimal has a stripTrailingZeros() method, which will achieve what you're looking for.
BigDecimal myDecimal = new BigDecimal(myValue);
myDecimal.stripTrailingZeros();
myValue = myDecimal.floatValue();

A: You just need to use format class like following:
new java.text.DecimalFormat("#.#").format(10.50000);

A: Why not try regexp?
new Float(10.25000f).toString().replaceAll("\\.?0*$", "")

A: Well the trick is that floats and doubles themselves don't really have trailing zeros per se; it's just the way they are printed (or initialized as literals) that might show them.  Consider these examples:
Float.toString(10.5000); // => "10.5"
Float.toString(10.0000); // => "10.0"

You can use a DecimalFormat to fix the example of "10.0":
new java.text.DecimalFormat("#").format(10.0); // => "10"

A: Format your numbers for your output as required. You cannot delete the internal "0" values.

A: Try using System.out.format
Heres a link which allows c style formatting
http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/java/data/numberformat.html

A: I had the same issue and find a workaround in the following link:
StackOverFlow - How to nicely format floating numbers to string without unnecessary decimal 0
The answer from JasonD was the one I followed. It's not locale-dependent which was good for my issue and didn't have any problem with long values.
Hope this help.
ADDING CONTENT FROM LINK ABOVE:
public static String fmt(double d) {
    if(d == (long) d)
        return String.format("%d",(long)d);
    else
        return String.format("%s",d);
    }

Produces:
232
0.18
1237875192
4.58
0
1.2345

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: What is the rule that causes the -ti in rectilinear to be pronounced with a short i? So, I have always pronounced rectilinear with a long i sound (recteelinear), until the other day when, much to my embarrassment, I heard it pronounced with a short i (rectuhlinear). How would I prevent this pronunciation mistake in the future? What rules are there regarding the long/short i in cases like rectilinear vs rectify?

A: Well, the official answer to "How do I prevent mispronunciation?" is to check to see how things are pronounced using either a dictionary (online dictionaries often allow you to simply play an audio file of the word rather than figuring out the phonetics) or Youglish. That seems a lot of effort for every word.
Given that English is spoken widely, often as a second or "official" language, and has a variety of accents and therefore a variety of valid pronunciations (and these also change gradually over time), I wouldn't feel any shame in mispronouncing words. Take the lesson, not the shame. Many people read words on a page and never hear them said before they pronounce them, too, so even native speakers have often been known to mispronounce words (like "hyperbole"!). It might even be that your pronunciation becomes the mainstream pronunciation in time.
With regards to a "rule", The free dictionary lets you look up words containing a specific combination of characters. As you can see in the link, I searched for the combination "ecti". Discarding any "tio" combinations, it seems more common to pronounce these four letters with a short "i" sound:

retrospective, rectify, effective, directive, pectin

In fact, if you narrow down the search to "recti", I cannot see a word that I would pronounce with an "ee" sound. So for "recti", I would say the rule is short "i" and would welcome any words that contravene this in the comments!


text:
NCLEJ and Empire Justice Center Challenge Unlawful Delays in Processing Emergency Assistance Applications in Long Island, New York
Doe v. Blass, a class action filed in September 2009, challenges delays in providing emergency assistance for costs such as rent arrears, security deposits, broker fees, and avoiding utility shutoff. People are losing their housing as the result of such delays, and are often forced into homelessness. While the law requires that the agency provide a same-day interview and prompt and complete action to avert the emergency, benefits are being made available after one or more months, often far too late to preserve or obtain housing.
The named plaintiff was receiving unemployment benefits to support herself and her two children. Despite the fact that she had obtained an order of protection against the children's father, the father was arrested after banging on her apartment door. After she located a safe place to live and applied for emergency assistance to make the move, the agency dragged its feet. NCLEJ and the Empire Justice Center, co-counsel in this action in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Suffolk County, allege that these delays are widespread. Discovery and a motion for class certification are pending.
For further information contact Tedde Tasheff (tasheff(at)nclej.org) or Laura Redman (redman(at)nclej.org). Co-counsel are Linda Hassberg (LHassberg(at)empirejustice.org) and Saima Akhtar (SAhtar(at)empirejustice.org) of the Empire Justice Center in Central Islip, New York, and Albany, New York respectively.


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text:
SF's car smash-and-grab reality even worse than count
Omicron may have peaked in parts of the Bay Area as California COVID...
Matier & Ross
Sep. 25, 2017 Updated: Sep. 25, 2017 6 a.m.
Statistics don't count all break-ins because police don't respond if a smash-and-grab isn't in progress.courtesy La Porte Police Dept.
San Francisco's epidemic of car burglaries may be spreading even faster than the already alarming 28 percent increase reported by police this year.
Statistics obtained from the city's 911 center show it received 25,031 calls about auto break-ins during the first six months of 2017 — 7,061 more than the 17,970 reported by police.
The difference is that car-burglary victims' first reaction is often to call 911 — but they don't always follow through by filing an online report, and the cops don't send anyone to the scene unless a smash-and-grab is in progress.
What goes into the official crime stats? Police responses and victims' reports. A 911 call with no follow-up doesn't count.
Police spokesman Michael Andraychak cautioned that 911 calls could include reports from several witnesses of a single break-in. But there's no doubt some burglaries simply aren't registering in the stats.
Supervisor Hillary Ronen, whose district includes the Mission, ground zero for the break-in explosion, said she "wouldn't be surprised if the number (for the year to date) is even higher than 25,000."
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Ronen said she's talked to several people who have stopped bothering to file police reports.
"I've had people tell me this being their third or fourth break-in," Ronen said. "It's like a tax for living here."
In fact, after five break-ins, Ronen said, "one woman in Bernal Heights put a sign out saying, 'F— you. The car is unlocked. There is nothing in the car. Nothing in the glove box.'"
Tony Ribera, a former San Francisco police chief who now teaches criminal justice at the University of San Francisco, said cops tell him auto break-ins are often done by petty criminals working in teams. With auto burglary classified as a nonviolent crime, and citations issued for possession of stolen goods worth less than $950, those arrested often roll in and out of the court system.
Police reported making 303 arrests in the first six months of the year.
"Some of them have been arrested 15 to 20 times," Ribera said. "I mean, it is ridiculous."
Tower talk: Millennium Tower condo owners say they've got proof that planners of the next-door Transbay Transit Center ignored their legal obligation to prevent the residential high-rise from sinking.
Lawyers for 250 Millennium homeowners who are suing the Transbay Joint Powers Authority, the public agency building the mega bus station, have filed a freshly amended complaint pointing to the transit center's pre-construction environmental impact report. The document said the authority was required to do prep work to "protect existing structures from excessive ground movements during construction" and "monitor adjacent buildings for movement."
If any buildings were indeed moving — like, sinking into the ground or leaning to one side — the transit center's builders would "take immediate action to control the movement," the report said.
Despite the monitoring, none of the other steps happened, and the consequences were disastrous, said David Casselman, lead attorney for the homeowners.
In fact, the Millennium had already sunk 10 inches by time the digging began for the $2.4 billion bus and rail hub in 2010. Casselman said "the bulk of that was expected building settlement" and it had all but stopped before transit center construction began.
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As of July, the skyscraper had sunk another 7 inches and was tilting nearly 14 inches to the northwest at the roofline, increasing "the likelihood that it will become impossible to return the building" to its original upright position, the lawsuit says.
Transbay authority officials are sticking to their defense that the Millennium was sunk by a bad design, one that didn't provide for pushing the 58-story building's pilings to bedrock.
"Taxpayers should not be on the hook for the developer's shortcuts," the authority's lawyers said in a statement.
"The Millennium Tower had settled twice as much as the developer and its geotechnical consultant had predicted before (the authority) began its excavation ... and is continuing to sink and tilt at about the same rate even after (the authority) stopped digging," the lawyers said.
There are practical reasons that the homeowners are suing the public authority and not Millennium Partners, the building's developer: If they win, they keep the entire judgment — with their attorney and expert witness fees charged separately to the transbay agency, under laws designed to protect private property owners from public excesses.
Not to mention that the transbay authority would have an easier time paying up — because, unlike the developer, it's a public entity and can float a bond to pay for the judgment.
San Francisco Chronicle columnists Phillip Matier and Andrew Ross appear Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays. Matier can be seen on the KPIX TV morning and evening news. He can also be heard on KCBS radio Monday through Friday at 7:50 a.m. and 5:50 p.m. Got a tip? Call (415) 777-8815, or email matierandross@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @matierandross
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Whether writing about politics or personalities, Phil Matier and Andy Ross informed and entertained readers for more than two decades about the always fascinating Bay Area and beyond. Their blend of scoops, insights and investigative reporting was found every Sunday, Monday and Wednesday in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Phil is also a regular on KPIX TV and KCBS radio.