I believe and actively practice, day in day out, these four timeless principles, that are to me, the four main pillars of our industry. They will stand the test of time - no matter how technological, connected and automated hospitality becomes. Actually, in this social media era where everyone acts as a publisher, there is additional marketing value to being remarkable.
I believe this to be the key of hospitality. Our business just naturally attracts a high percentage of people with a sense of urgency about them – there is just too much to be done! The truth is that guests staying in your hotel are counting on you and you should never disappoint them. A sense of urgency is an unrelenting push for results, or identifying matters of pressing importance and acting upon them immediately. You must avoid resting on the laurels of success. Everything in hospitality is designed to meet the discerning needs of our guests. Ultimately, it is what defines our operating standards – check out times, turn-down service, dining reservations and minutes to delivery quoted by room service, are all designed to meet guests' satisfaction. When practiced with a sense of urgency, our intention is to exceed guests' expectations. In hospitality, a "sense of urgency" is a good thing. Yet many hoteliers confuse this with a "sense of emergency", which insidiously saps the life from their operations.
I love the motto: Offer no excuses and accept no excuses. It tells you a lot about someone who makes excuses and tells you a lot about someone who refuses to. When we host a guest at our establishment, implicitly we make a promise. Delivering this promise should be done consistently at all times. There are no shortcuts in quality and we all learn from our mistakes. One often hears excuses from managers when they have a bad result from an inspection. The chef or the restaurant manager was off, the head housekeeper was on holiday, and so on. There are often legitimate reasons why these mistakes happen. You can explain to customers why things went bad, but what guests really want is the mistake quickly fixed on the spot, long before their stay is ruined. So forget the excuses, and have a plan in place to fix the problem – and I mean any problem that may arise. Speed and efficiency during a crisis saves the day. Most guests will deal well with a problem if they know you're doing your best to fix it. What they don't want to hear are excuses.
True hoteliers know that small details exemplify their service and make guests' stays more comfortable. There's a delicate balance between proactive and presumptive service. The guest should feel in command and not dictated to. Hoteliers should think things through, have a sense of priority and attention to detail, be practical and follow-through. Hoteliers should ask questions, give options, and the let the guest decide. No matter how elaborate your turn-down service is or how packed with technology your hotel rooms are, it's the staff that really make the difference. Engaged staff are intuitive to guests' needs and go out their way to help. They surprise the guest with their knowledge of their likes and dislikes ("Would you like a glass of the white wine you had last night, Mr Brown?"), open doors, and deliver service with an unwavering smile, no matter how tired, fed up, or busy they may be.
As well as focusing on the guest, hoteliers should trust, nurture and recognize the ability of every staff member. Empowering them and instilling a pride of ownership will make them go beyond their job tasks and adapt and modify their services to meet guest's needs. They will add those little touches that go beyond the usual, taking pride in their craft and giving that crucial, ultimate edge in the competitive hospitality business.
The bottom line: SNAP is simply the way to create a memorable experience and make a guest know great service when they do find it. It feels brilliant and rare, but at the same time completely natural. It is an experience guests will want to repeat and tell their friends, colleagues and online reviews about – the way things should be.
Rocco Santopietro is a mentor and coach who focuses on building new business, securing guest loyalty and forging strong relationships. Rocco has many years operational experience in five-star properties and a strong track record of providing excellent customer services improving quality scores and overall performance.


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Classy City cruise past West Ham
Manchester City ended their pre-season with a comfortable 3-0 win over West Ham United at the Laugardalsvöllur Stadium in Reykjavik. Goals from Gabriel Jesus, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling sealed the victory, adding further gloss to an excellent few weeks for Pep Guardiola's new-look squad. City again began with a back three of Vincent Kompany, John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi, with Danilo on the right and Leroy Sane on the left providing width ahead of them. Yaya Toure anchored the midfield, allowing David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne freedom to create in behind Aguero and Jesus up top. Ederson was again given the nod in goal after his fine performances on the Club's tour of the US, but new signing Bernardo Silva, given an extended summer break after his Confederations Cup exertions, was named on the bench having only joined up with his new team-mates on Tuesday. Another bold selection from Guardiola that suggests City will once again be committed to attacking football in the coming season. What happened? City started brightly, immediately looking sharper than their opponents, and they opened the scoring after eight minutes, Jesus finishing off a fine team move with a back-post tap in from De Bruyne's beautifully weighted delivery. The Belgian, in outstanding form during the tour of the US, was once again proving instrumental in City's best moments. Aguero forced a decent save from Joe Hart moments later after being put through by David Silva's incisive through-ball inside the box as City threatened to kill the game off early. Jesus' movement was beginning to cause West Ham real problems. He dispossessed Angelo Ogbonna inside the box and looked to square it but the ball scrambled clear. City had completely dominated the opening stages but were given a scare on the half hour mark. Pablo Zabaleta found himself clear down the right and his cross was headed over by Tony Martinez. City were quickly back in the ascendency, though. Sane, twisting and turning down the left, created a yard of space and flashed a shot wide of Hart's far post, before Danilo's shot was palmed away at the near-post by Hart. City were sharper on the ball than the Hammers and the only disappointment at half-time was that they weren't further ahead. And the second half followed much the same pattern: City in the ascendency and West Ham struggling to make an impact. Aguero doubled City's lead after 56 minutes, producing a simple first-time finish after Silva's ball across the area. It was the least the Blues deserved. Danilo blasted wide after some great passing between Silva, Aguero and De Bruyne, before Guardiola made seven changes at once, bringing on Raheem Sterling, Bernardo, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Phil Foden and Eliaquim Mangala, Fernandinho and Kyle Walker to freshen things up. Silva forced a wonderful save from Hart shortly after, before Sterling volleyed home first time from inside the area after Foden's effort was charged down. Youngsters Tosin Adarabioyo, Brahim Diaz and Patrick Roberts were given a runout with 20 minutes remaining – but even with a much-changed side City remained fluent and wonderful to watch. He's had a fine pre-season.
What's next Guardiola and the squad will now travel back to Manchester to begin their final preparations for the new Premier League season. City's first game is next Saturday away at Brighton, with kick-off at 5.30pm. You can enjoy minute-by-minute coverage of that game right here on mancity.com, with highlights of the win over West Ham available shortly. MATCH DETAILS: Manchester City (3): Santana de Moraes, Kompany (Adarabioyo 72'), Otamendi (Roberts 72'), Stones (Mangala 59'), Touré (Luiz Rosa 59'), Sané (Zinchenko 59'), Silva (Diaz 71'), De Bruyne (Foden 59'), da Silva (Walker 59'), de Jesus Veiga de Carvalho (Silva 59'), Agüero (Sterling 59') West Ham United (0):Hart, Zabaleta (Byram 45'), Ogbonna da Rocha, Fonte, Masuaku, Fernandes (Makasi 86'), Noble (Rice 45'), Obiang Ayew (Holland 86'), Arnautovic (Snodgrass 62'), Martinez (Lopez Hernández Balcázar 45') Goals: Jesus 8', Agüero 56', Sterling 71´ Referee: Thoroddur Hjaltalin

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Adoption of Safer Enteral Connections Key to Patient Safety
Photo credit: Depositphotos
By Mike Cusack
These are challenging times for hospitals of all sizes. Due to the crush of patients suffering from COVID-19, caregivers are stretched thin and stressed out. The ripple effects are everywhere in the hospital system.
These heavy patient loads raise the risk that a busy caregiver might make an all-too-common medical error caused by tubing misconnections. An array of technology is used at the bedside – IVs, catheters, feeding tubes and more. These devices often have compatible connectors that make it too easy to send, for instance, medication meant for a feeding tube into the IV instead. This can result in tragic patient outcomes, such as:
A feeding tube was wrongly connected to a tracheotomy tube and delivered milk into an infant's lung, resulting in death.
An epidural infusion set was connected to a peripheral IV, delivering epidural medication to a patient's bloodstream, resulting in death.
A feeding tube was connected to an in-line ventilator suction catheter, delivering feeding contents into the patient's lungs, resulting in death.
These outcomes illustrate the importance of adopting solutions.
Improving Safety Through a Unified Global Standard
It's been 10 years since the New York Times first brought this issue to light. Yet the risk continues in U.S. hospitals. A Sentinel Alert from the Joint Commission states "Tubing misconnections continue to cause severe patient injury and death."
The Times article spurred groups of experts around the world to come together to develop new ISO standards for tube connections to prevent errors. An enteral feeding device, ENFit (ISO 80369-3), is a direct result of this collaboration.
The challenge now is to help hospitals around the world adopt the new ISO-compliant devices. European countries are doing quite well, with several countries approaching 100 percent conversion in only 20 months. The United Kingdom, France, Germany, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands and Italy are leading the way.
Australia and New Zealand have also jumped aboard and are almost completely converted. Japan has completed its transition to NRFit, which meets the ISO standard for neuraxial connectors, and will complete the switch to ENFit by November 2021. China and Brazil plan to begin converting in 2021.
How did healthcare providers around the world make the transition to ENFit? They recognized that converting to the new, safer ISO-standard devices is the right thing to do for patient safety. One near miss, injury or death that results from a legacy connector is one too many.
The results speak for themselves: There have been no reported adverse events as a result of misconnection in converted countries, even with the demands of the pandemic.
U.S. Hospitals Slow to Adopt
Meanwhile, only about 30 percent of American hospitals have adopted ENFit. On the positive side, U.S. leaders in patient-centric care are now using ENFit, including the Mayo Clinic, Sharp Memorial, Banner Healthcare and Kaiser Permanente. Nearly half of the top 25 hospitals in the U.S. have adopted ENFit.
But many more U.S. hospitals need to get started, recognizing that adoption of the standard complies with guidance from the Food and Drug Administration, the Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Now is the time to start the conversion process. To promote patient safety, legacy enteral feeding products will no longer be manufactured as of July 1, 2021.
The Global Enteral Device Suppliers Association (GEDSA), a nonprofit organizations, offers a comprehensive set of support tools that provide a starting point. We have guided many hospitals through the transition and have learned first-hand how to make a smooth transition.
First Step to a Safer Unified Standard
ENFit adoption is the first step for hospitals in a longer-term process of eliminating tubing misconnections by adopting a single global standard. The complete set of connectors is like an umbrella. While ENFit is the first panel, the umbrella won't keep you dry until all the panels are in place. Patients won't be completely protected until all the ISO 80369 connectors are in use. The next step, adoption of the NRFit device used for regional anesthesia connections, is already underway in some areas.
The demands of the COVID-19 pandemic have raised the stakes for patient safety. Adoption of the ISO-standard devices can be an important step in protecting patients.
Mike Cusack is Executive Director of the Global Enteral Device Supplier Association (GEDSA), a nonprofit organization that promotes patient safety worldwide through the adoption of the new ISO 80369 compliant small-bore medical connectors.
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Live Gig News Photos
Tesla – Alive and Still Kicking Ass live at PPL Center in Allentown, PA on May 17th, 2016
Comments Off on Tesla – Alive and Still Kicking Ass live at PPL Center in Allentown, PA on May 17th, 2016
Live Gig Review and Article Photos by: Robert Cavuoto
@RobertCavuoto
Tesla is currently opening for Def Leppard and REO Speedwagon on their 2016 Summer Tour. This tour will take the band across the US from May to October! Tonight they performed at the PPL Center in Allentown PA.
Hailing from California, Tesla has always been a solid rock band with roots in the blues and country. When speaking with guitarist Frank Hannon, I asked him about the band's unique sound, he told me; "Every CD has a little country, rock, and metal. They all have diversity. I don't think you can point to one of our CDs and say that's a metal CD or that's a country CD. We have always managed to merge an acoustic vibe with the electric guitar."
This is not Telsa's first trek with their friends, Def Leppard, as they have been around the global together for several tours dating back to the Hysteria Tour in 1987. With a live CD due out this summer called, Mechanical Resonance Live and a new studio CD in the works for a 2017 release, the band was fired up for tonight's show.
With only 30+ minutes, the boys had to work hard and fast to pound out their classic catalogue of songs. They blazed through eight songs, like a "Best of CD" on steroids. No filler or fluff only great rockers like; "Heaven's Trail," "Edison Medicine," "Hang Tough," and "Little Suzi" where guitarists Dave Rude and Frank Hannon take center stage perform with its dual acoustic into and "Modern Day Cowboy," with its double-barreled lead. As you would expect, "Signs" brought down the house. The band sounded on top of their game and played off each other extremely well!
Vocalist Jeff Keith is a fantastic frontman full of energy and humor. His soulfully voice provided the edgy bite to the songs that has kept the band alive and kicking for 29 ½ year as he jokingly pointed out from the stage. He clearly hasn't lost his trademark chops or his sense of humor. Bassist Brian Wheat and drummer Troy Luccketta did a tremendous job on working together and driving the songs home.
Just when Tesla had the crowd fired up and hanging on every song, the set was over. I look forward to when they come around for a full set, as this was just a tease of what they have to offer.
www.teslatheband.com
Tagged 2016, Frank Hannon, Jeff Keith, PA on May 17th, Tesla Live, Tesla – Alive and Still Kicking Ass live at PPL Center in Allentown
Album Releases Album Reviews News
Iron Mask – Diabolica Review
Diabolica is a great new release that should easily please existing fans of Iron Mask and Dushan Petrossi. It feels like a celebration of everything the band (and its leader) have done in the past
Live Gig Photos
Starset – Live at The KOKO, Camden Town, London, March 5 2015
Columbus based Starset delivered a thought provoking début and along with their smartly engineered back story and social media support, they now bring their energised, highly visual Sci-Fi (or is it Fact?) show to the UK for the first time, as support to horror metal stars In This Moment.
Vandroya – Beyond the Human Mind Review
Out of all metal bands to come out of Brazil, my favorite is progressive power metal band Vandroya
STONE FREE FESTIVAL, June 18th / 19th The O2, London… all you need to know
REO Speedwagon Keeps on Rolling live at PPL Center in Allentown, PA on May 17th, 2016


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Traveling While Abroad
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Category: Traveling While Abroad
Cost of Living in Ecuador
Written by: Cassidy Eastman Major: Speech Pathology and Audiology Program: Spanish in Quito, Ecuador One thing that I have noticed since being in Ecuador is that the cost of living is way lower than in Kalamazoo, with the exception of clothing, shoes and such (but that was mostly irrelevant to me). First, the food was…
Cash vs. Card
Kimberly Chong Electronic Business Marketing BI International Summer Programme (Norwegian Business School) Before I arrived in Norway for summer school, I spent three weeks travelling around Europe. I was travelling in the United Kingdom (UK), Scotland, and Sweden. Considering that I will be in different countries who use different currencies, the money situation wasn't as…
Weekend Adventures
Jacob Kubiak Global and International studies Qasid Arabic Institute, Jordan Most often on the weekends, my friends and I plan excursions in Jordan to venture out and explore the area. This past weekend, we visited Wadi-Mujib and the Dead Sea. Wadi-Mujib is a canyon with water running through the middle of the canyon. While at…
Comfort Zone? I don't know her!
Kathryn Elms Major: Organizational Communication Program: Spanish in Quito, Ecuador I waited to write this blog until after we returned from the Galapagos, and I am so glad I did. This weekend was a great opportunity to challenge myself and step outside my comfort zone. So, the theme this week is comfort zones: when to…
Conquering Fears One Adventure at A Time
Dana Waddell Major: Behavioral Science Major Program: Spanish in Quito, Ecuador Over my last two weekends abroad I was able to travel to two very different areas of Ecuador. During my fifth week of the program I traveled to San Cristóbal Island in the Galapagos with five of the girls on my program, and my…
A Reflection: Being Grateful For My Experiences Abroad
Dana Waddell Major: Behavioral Science Major Program: Spanish in Quito,Ecuador My time in Ecuador has impacted my life in numerous ways. I was completely immersed in the Ecuadorian culture the minute I was welcomed by my host family at the airport. They welcomed me with open arms and I spent a great amount of time…
Meeting the Genuine People of Jordan
Jacob Kubiak Majors: Global and International Studies and the Arabic language Program: Qasid Arabic Institute, Jordan Since I departed the United States to study abroad in Jordan, I have met the nicest people in both Dubai and Amman. Not only are the people I have met incredibly friendly and helpful, but they are so genuine…
To All of the places I Have Not Been Yet
Pamela Gudobba Majors: Japanese and Global and International Studies Program: Ritsumeikan University, Japan As of today, I have 45 days left in Japan until I return home to America. While I can't wait to see my friends and family again, I still feel like there is so much left for me to do here. One…
Hanna Fussman Major: Tourism & Travel Program: Religion and Culture in Japan Tokyo stole my heart. I've always wanted to go to Tokyo. It's a huge city with tons to offer. There's skyscrapers towering around you but then a temple or shrine that was built hundreds of years ago in the middle of it…
Learning to Navigate Public Transit: The Struggles of a Small Town Girl
Eden Vansicklen Major: Food and Consumer Package Goods Marketing Program: Business & Culture in Germany After about two weeks of being in Germany, I have had to use public transportation quite a bit. My program is faculty led, so public transportation is essentially written in the itinerary every day. I come from small town in…
Just a Tremor
Dana Waddell Major: Behavioral Science Major Program: Spanish in Quito, Ecuador "No worries, that was just a tremor," said my host mom after feeling my fifth one of the day yesterday night around 10 pm. If you are unfamiliar with the term, it is used for a non-earthquake seismic rubbing, and it feels like a…
Things To Do Near Daito Bunka University
Grace Gettig Majors: Japanese and Global and International Studies Program: Daito Bunka University When I was preparing to study abroad at Daito Bunka University in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, I had trouble finding any information on the area where the campus is located or what kinds of things there are to do. Well, now that I've…
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PEORIA, Ariz. (AP) The Seattle Mariners rounded out their bullpen Wednesday just before the start of the season by acquiring right-hander Nick Vincent from the San Diego Padres for a player to be named.
The Mariners announced the deal just before facing San Diego in a Cactus League game. Vincent is expected to pitch in a minor-league game for Seattle on Thursday and with the Mariners either Friday or Saturday. Seattle now has a full 40-man roster.
Vincent, 29, appeared in 26 games last season with San Diego in four stints. He was 0-1 with a 2.35 ERA and did not allow a run in 13 appearances in September. In parts of four seasons with San Diego, Vincent was 9-6 with a 2.63 ERA in 161 total relief appearances.
Seattle was seeking one more arm for its bullpen after injuries sidelined Evan Scribner and Charlie Furbush during spring training. The Mariners' bullpen now appears complete with Steve Cishek at closer, and Joaquin Benoit, Tony Zych, Joel Peralta, Vidal Nuno, Mike Montgomery and Vincent rounding out the group.


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Free Will Astrology - October 2020
Photo credit: Adobe Stock/ksysha
By Rob Breszny	Wednesday October 7, 2020 04:27 pm EDT
The Scales - Sept. 23-Oct. 22
In her high school yearbook, Libra-born Sigourney Weaver arranged to have this caption beneath her official photo: "Please, God, please, don't let me be normal!" Since then, she has had a long and acclaimed career as an actor in movies. ScreenPrism.com calls her a pioneer of female action heroes. Among her many exotic roles: a fierce warrior who defeats monstrous aliens; an exobiologist working with indigenous people on the moon of a distant planet in the 22nd century; and a naturalist who lives with mountain gorillas in Rwanda. If you have ever had comparable fantasies about transcending normalcy, Libra, now would be a good time to indulge those fantasies—and begin cooking up plans to make them come true.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): Scorpio-born Prince Charles has been heir to the British throne for 68 years. That's an eternity to be patiently on hold for his big chance to serve as king. His mother Queen Elizabeth just keeps going on and on, living her very long life, ensuring that Charles remains second-in-command. But I suspect that many Scorpios who have been awaiting their turn will finally graduate to the next step in the coming weeks and months. Will Charles be one of them? Will you? To increase your chances, here's a tip: Meditate on how to be of even greater devotion to the ideals you love to serve.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Inventor Buckminster Fuller was a visionary who loved to imagine ideas and objects no one had ever dreamed of before. One of his mottoes was, "There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly." I recommend that you spend quality time in the coming weeks meditating on butterfly-like things you'd love to have as part of your future—things that may resemble caterpillars in the early going. Your homework is to envision three such innovations that could be in your world by October 1, 2021.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): During World War II, Hollywood filmmakers decided it would be a good idea to create stories based on graphic current events: for example, American Marines waging pitched battles against Japanese soldiers on South Pacific islands. But audiences were cool to that approach. They preferred comedies and musicals with "no message, no mission, no misfortune." In the coming weeks, I advise you to resist any temptation you might have to engage in a similar disregard of current events. In my opinion, your mental health requires you to be extra discerning and well-informed about politics—and so does the future of your personal destiny.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): "Pretending is imagined possibility," observes actor Meryl Streep. "Pretending is a very valuable life skill and we do it all the time." In other words, fantasizing about events that may never happen is just one way we use our mind's eye. We also wield our imaginations to envision scenarios that we actually want to create in our real lives. In fact, that's the first step in actualizing those scenarios: to play around with picturing them; to pretend they will one day be a literal part of our world. The coming weeks will be an excellent time for you to supercharge the generative aspect of your imagination. I encourage you to be especially vivid and intense as you visualize in detail the future you want.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): "My own soul must be a bright invisible green," wrote author and philosopher Henry David Thoreau. Novelist Tom Robbins suggested that we visualize the soul as "a cross between a wolf howl, a photon, and a dribble of dark molasses." Nobel Prize-winning poet Wislawa Szymborska observed, "Joy and sorrow aren't two different feelings" for the soul. Poet Emily Dickinson thought that the soul "should always stand ajar"—just in case an ecstatic experience or rousing epiphany might be lurking in the vicinity. In the coming weeks, Pisces, I invite you to enjoy your own lively meditations on the nature of your soul. You're in a phase when such an exploration can yield interesting results.
ARIES (March 21-April 19): "I am, indeed, a king, because I know how to rule myself," wrote 16th-century author Pietro Aretino. By January 2021, Aries, I would love for you to have earned the right to make a similar statement: "I am, indeed, a royal sovereign, because I know how to rule myself." Here's the most important point: The robust power and clout you have the potential to summon has nothing to do with power and clout over other people—only over yourself. Homework: Meditate on what it means to be the imperial boss and supreme monarch of your own fate.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): "The basic principle of spiritual life is that our problems become the very place to discover wisdom and love." Buddhist teacher Jack Kornfield made that brilliant observation. It's always worth meditating on, but it's an especially potent message for you during the first three weeks of October 2020. In my view, now is a highly favorable time for you to extract uplifting lessons by dealing forthrightly with your knottiest dilemmas. I suspect that these lessons could prove useful for the rest of your long life.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20): "My business is to love," wrote poet Emily Dickinson. I invite you to adopt this motto for the next three weeks. It's an excellent time to intensify your commitment to expressing compassion, empathy, and tenderness. To do so will not only bring healing to certain allies who need it; it will also make you smarter. I mean that literally. Your actual intelligence will expand and deepen as you look for and capitalize on opportunities to bestow blessings. (P.S. Dickinson also wrote, "My business is to sing." I recommend you experiment with that mandate, as well.)
CANCER (June 21-July 22): "I'm the diamond in the dirt, that ain't been found," sings Cancerian rapper Curtis Jackson, also known as 50 Cent. "I'm the underground king and I ain't been crowned," he adds. My reading of the astrological omens suggests that a phenomenon like that is going on in your life right now. There's something unknown about you that deserves and needs to be known. You're not getting the full credit and acknowledgment you've earned through your soulful accomplishments. I hereby authorize you to take action! Address this oversight. Rise up and correct it.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): The author bell hooks (who doesn't capitalize her name) has spent years as a professor in American universities. Adaptability has been a key strategy in her efforts to educate her students. She writes, "One of the things that we must do as teachers is twirl around and around, and find out what works with the situation that we're in." That's excellent advice for you right now—in whatever field you're in. Old reliable formulas are irrelevant, in my astrological opinion. Strategies that have guided you in the past may not apply to the current scenarios. Your best bet is to twirl around and around as you experiment to find out what works.
More By This Writer
FREE WILL ASTROLOGY - November 2020	Article
Monday November 9, 2020 11:53 am EST 11/09/2020 11:53 am
The Scorpion - Oct. 23-Nov. 21
"At every crossroad, be prepared to bump into wonder," wrote Scorpio poet James Broughton. I believe that's perfect advice for you to keep in mind during the coming weeks. Broughton's words inspired me to come up with a corollary for you to heed, as well: "At every turning point, be ready to stumble into an opportunity disguised as a...
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Free Will Astrology - September 2020	Article
Thursday September 3, 2020 04:16 pm EDT 09/03/2020 4:16 pm
The Maiden - Aug. 23-Sept. 22
Virgo poet Mary Oliver was renowned for giving herself permission. Permission to do what? To become a different person from the self she had been. To shed her familiar beliefs and adopt new ones. To treat every experience as an opportunity to experiment. To be at peace with uncertainty. I think you'll be wise to give yourself all those permissions in...
Free Will Astrology - August 2020	Article
Thursday August 6, 2020 04:07 pm EDT 08/06/2020 4:07 pm
The Lion - July 23-Aug. 22
At times in our lives, it's impractical to be innocent and curious and blank and receptive. So many tasks require us to be knowledgeable and self-assured and forceful and in control. But according to my astrological analysis, the coming weeks will be a time when you will benefit from the former state of mind: cultivating what Zen Buddhists call "beginner's...
Free Will Astrology - July 2020	Article
Thursday July 9, 2020 03:58 pm EDT 07/09/2020 3:58 pm
The Crab - June 21-July 22
Some readers wish I would write more like Cormac McCarthy or Albert Camus or Raymond Chandler: with spare simplicity. They accuse me of being too lush and exuberant in my prose. They want me to use shorter sentences and fewer adjectives. To them I say: It ain't going to happen. I have feelings similar to those of best-selling Cancerian author Oliver...
Free Will Astrology - June 2020	Article
Thursday June 4, 2020 03:47 pm EDT 06/04/2020 3:47 pm
The Twins May 21-June 20
I've got a message for you, courtesy of poet Lisel Mueller. I think her wisdom can help you thrive in the coming weeks. She writes, "The past pushed away, the future left unimagined, for the sake of the glorious, difficult, passionate present." Of course, it's always helpful for us to liberate ourselves from the oppressive thoughts of what once was in the...
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Home Disney Morimoto Asia opens at Disney Springs in Orlando, debuts new Pan-Asian Menu
Morimoto Asia opens at Disney Springs in Orlando, debuts new Pan-Asian Menu
Ricky Ly of TastyChomps.com
Morimoto Asia, the highly anticipated collaboration between Chef Masaharu Morimoto and Patina Restaurant Group, officially opens for dinner this Wednesday September 30th, 2015 as part of The Landing, one of four neighborhoods in the new Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort.
It is the Japanese master chef's first pan-Asian dining experience and showcases flavors from across the Asian continent with an emphasis on China, Korea, Japan and Thailand.
The menu is an eclectic take on some of Chef Morimoto's favorite Asian flavors including L.A. BBQ kalbi ribs, moo shu pork, Morimoto Peking duck, lobster chow fun, sweet and sour crispy whole fish, pho ga, pad Thai, sticky ribs and Singapore laska noodles. Chinese dim sum includes items such as dumplings, shumai, shrimp har-gao and grilled chicken bao.
In addition, the 14-seat sushi bar offers pristine sushi and sashimi options from around the world. Items include toro, kanpachi, Japanese red snapper, uni, sea eel, hamachi, fluke, and salmon, as well as more ocean delicacies. A variety of specialty sushi rolls and selections from the raw bar are also offered to the guests not seated at the sushi counter.
Chef Masaharu Morimoto, most known for his role as Iron Chef Japan, originally began his life as a baseball catcher in Japan before a shoulder injury ended that career and he began his second life by studying sushi in his hometown of Hiroshima.
He quickly grasped the technique of this exacting food art and, at age 24, opened his first restaurant. Five years later, he moved to America to expand his culinary repertoire and explore the opportunities and possibilities he saw for a cuisine that would combine the best of both continents.
In 1994, Morimoto was recruited to join the team at the original Nobu restaurant, and in 2001, he opened his first eponymous restaurant in Philadelphia. He debuted Wasabi by Morimoto at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai in 2004, followed by a second Wasabi at the Taj Palace Hotel in New Delhi in 2008.
Morimoto has received numerous accolades for his cuisine and aesthetic, including several appearances on San Pellegrino's "Top 100 Restaurants in the World" list, a James Beard Foundation Award for "Outstanding Restaurant Design" for Morimoto New York, and in 2010, Morimoto Napa was named one of Food & Wine magazine's "Best U.S. Restaurant Openings."
Today, there are additional Morimoto restaurants in Honolulu, Mexico City, and Maui, a Morimoto Sushi Bar in Boca Raton, Japonais by Morimoto in Chicago and Morimoto South Beach in the Shelborne Wyndham Grand Hotel in Miami. In 2015 and 2016 a few more restaurants will be open in Bangkok, Las Vegas and Toronto.
Patina Restaurant Group (www.patinagroup.com) has a portfolio of restaurants including Tutto Italia Ristorante and Via Napoli at the Epcot World Showcase, as well as Michelin-starred Lincoln Ristorante, STATE Grill and Bar at the Empire State Building, Stella 34 Trattoria at Macy's Herald Square, The Sea Grill at Rockefeller Center, Brasserie, Brasserie 8 1/2, The Grand Tier Restaurant at the Metropolitan Opera, La Fonda Del Sol at Grand Central, and The Rink at Rockefeller Center.
On the West Coast its portfolio includes the renowned Los Angeles Times' four-starred and Michelin-starred Patina Restaurant in Walt Disney Concert Hall, Café Pinot, Ray's & Stark Bar, Catal and Naples in Anaheim's Downtown Disney District, Leatherby's Cafe Rouge, and catering and food service in museums and cultural centers throughout California.
Morimoto Asia's 36-foot tall, two-story layout has been designed by STUDIO V Architecture, including an exhibition kitchen that allows guests a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the culinary action. The second-level sushi bar and lounge have a separate entrance and is known as the Hidden Lounge.
"This has been a project of passion for our team and Chef Morimoto. We can't wait to open our doors to everyone visiting Disney Springs this fall and beyond," said Nick Valenti, restaurateur and CEO of Patina Restaurant Group.
The beers will feature mostly Asian varieties in both bottle and on draft, including the Morimoto signature beer by Rogue Ales. In addition to the collector's edition Imperial Pilsner and Morimoto Soba Ale and the highly coveted Black Obi Soba will also be available by the bottle.
The restaurant will also offer an assortment of sake, including the Morimoto signature line, plus a wine list showcasing wines of the world, signature cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks.
"I am excited to create a menu that allows so many of my favorite Asian flavors to come alive all in one place," said Chef Masaharu Morimoto. "I hope the guests at Morimoto Asia have as much fun eating this food as I have creating it."
We had the opportunity to interview Chef Morimoto via e-mail this week ahead of the opening.
TastyChomps: Chef Morimoto, what are you most excited about for the new Morimoto Asia at Disney Springs?
Chef Morimoto: This restaurant has a completely new culinary theme; for the first time I created the menu of Asian cuisine, not just Japanese. As a Japanese, I grew up with eating many different types of Asian cuisine. So I always had all kinds of ideas about Asian cuisine. I am very excited about the new challenge.
TastyChomps: What is your favorite dish so far for the new Morimoto Asia?
Chef Morimoto: I cannot pick a dish, just like you cannot pick your favorite child among your children. All these new dishes are my favorite!
TastyChomps: How did the vision for Morimoto Asia come to be?
Chef Morimoto: It is in Disney, so the target guests are different from those of other Morimoto restaurants. There will be a lot of kids. People will come from all of the world, expecting first-class entertainment. People love Asian food because it's approachable, delicious, and fun, so I thought the theme would be perfect for the location.
TastyChomps: What is your favorite dish to cook at home?
Chef Morimoto: I never cook at home because my wife does. She cooks mostly vegetables thinking about my health.
TastyChomps: What was your most challenging experience in your cooking career and how did you overcome it?
Chef Morimoto: I enjoy cooking for the guests at the restaurant. However, when I cooked at the Kitchen Stadium for the judges in the original Iron Chef, I was extremely stressed out and nervous. But of course, becoming an Iron Chef changed my career completely.
TastyChomps: Where are your favorite places to visit in Asia and why?
Chef Morimoto: I would like to visit Southeast Asia because there are a lot of interesting and delicious street food. Those dishes inspire me in many ways.
TastyChomps: What do you eat when you are traveling and working?
Chef Morimoto: I try to eat the local food wherever I visit because that's the best food. If I don't have the time to eat out, I eat simple food, such as onigiri (rice balls) and miso soup, at my restaurant.
Morimoto Asia will be open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 a.m. serving lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch with dim sum. www.morimotoasia.com
Menu and Photos – Courtesy of Morimoto Asia
Sticky Ribs Half Rack
Singapore Laska Noodle
LA BBQ Kalbi Ribs
BowWow Kids Meal
MochiMochi Annin Tofu
click to zoom: https://tastychomps.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Morimoto-Asia-DINNER-Menu.jpg
Morimoto Asia – Disney Springs – Orlando – Lunch Menu – OCT 2015
Scenes from the Grand Opening event at Morimoto Asia
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Ricky Ly founded TastyChomps.com in 2008 as a local Orlando food blog dedicated to finding the tastiest bits and pieces of Orlando as well as around the world. His first book, Food Lovers' Guide to Orlando: The Best Restaurants, Markets & Local Culinary Offerings (Food Lovers' Series) is available now on Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com. Photography is taken using a Canon EOS 6D and a Sony Nex-3. In 2017, he was inducted into the Orlando Sentinel's Culinary Hall of Fame. He is also featured in the Orlando Sentinel's Central Florida 100, a weekly opinion column featuring 100 of the most influential people in local government, politics and culture. In 2018, he was chosen by the Orlando Weekly as one of the "Ten People Making Orlando a Better Place to Be." E-mail him at tastychomps(at)gmail.com. Google
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It's certainly been a while since my last post here. Considering I should be towards the peak of marathon training, that means something must be wrong, right?
Unfortunately, yes. Without wanting to turn this into a long self-pitying post, Boston isn't going to happen this year. My knees have failed me again, and a last-ditch plan of resting for six weeks followed by an abbreviated training schedule aimed at just finishing the marathon didn't work out. The final straw was losing a week of training not to injury, but to a particularly aggressive cold virus that had me confined to the house for four days.
I had been prepared to go ahead and run Boston just as long as I could have a positive experience, which in my mind I'd defined as "slow but not too painful". With four weeks to go I know that's not possible, so it's time to draw a line under this cycle and prepare for the future.
Any positive spin? Well, thanks to a few sessions with a physical therapist I have a better understanding of the biomechanical issues that affect my running. That should help me improve my cross-training regimen when I resume training.
The biggest positive by far is not having any pressure on me to go out and run in pain any more. A couple of weeks ago during a particularly terrible run I came up with the particularly self-wallowing phrase "I'm in a prison of my own making". Which is completely overdramatic, but it is going to be good to relax, return to full fitness on my own schedule, mix up my activities, and hopefully run pain-free before too long.
Despite this setback, Boston is still top of my running goals, though given my experiences these last twelve months, I'm not making bold promises or guarantees of re-qualifying on the first try. But it will happen, eventually.
To my fellow Staten Islanders running Boston: I've so appreciated your support during the weeks I've tried to get ready for this race. I'm inspired by you all and wish you all the most wonderful experience next month. If there's one thing I enjoy almost as much as running races, it's tracking them, so you all KNOW that I'll be urging you on all the way from Hopkinton to Copley Square.
This entry was posted in general, injuries on March 22, 2014 by admin.
Well that's a relief. Now the training starts for real.
This entry was posted in general on September 11, 2013 by admin.
I know. Sorry. I'll be honest, part of the reason I'm putting this site together is to scratch an itch. I find myself with a lot to say on running topics, but there's often a lack of a suitable outlet for it. My running friends are almost exclusively on Facebook, but then so are my non-running friends, and I'm sufficiently self-aware to know that we can be a little insufferable when we DON'T. STOP. TALKING. ABOUT. RUNNING.
But on a broader level, I think of how much valuable information I've read on running sites on the web. If I have something good to share, then it's a shame to keep it locked up in the Facebook walled garden.
The ups and downs of my preparations for the 2014 Boston Marathon. There'll be stories about training runs and races and injuries and shoes (I love my shoes) and everything you'd expect from the blog of a semi-competitive runner.
But that's not all! Because if this were all about my running, it would be boring. 17 months is a long time. A non-marathon year provides opportunities to try new experiences. Vary my training. Be a spectator and cheerleader, return some of the support that I've received in the past. I'll write about that too.
Commentary on the pro running scene. I'm been a fan of the sport of track and field ever since I was a child, watching Coe, Ovett and Cram battling it out on the track, with David Coleman, Ron Pickering, Brendan Foster and company doing the BBC commentary.
A focus on the Staten Island scene. This is a great borough for running, with a number of long-standing road races, a thriving trail running community, and several active clubs with growing memberships. Yet despite this, the sport finds itself increasingly squeezed out of the local media coverage. I'd like to use this site to bring attention to the great opportunities we have as Staten Island runners.
A training advice manual. I'm not a certified trainer or coach. I've had some success as a new runner, I feel like I've learned a few secrets which I'm sure I'll share, but I have no illusions about my level of experience. I'll frequently link to those whose advice I respect and trust.
A reliable source of positive daily inspiration. There are many fine running blogs that have that area covered, but it's not my natural personality. I'll do my best to keep things light, but you're probably not going to be thanking me for getting you out the door for your daily run.
All about me. I promise.
This entry was posted in general on April 27, 2013 by admin.


The holiday star located at the intersection of Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue in Downtown Orlando, Florida, in 2007. The holiday star tradition was started in 1955 by two department stores: Ivey's and Dickson & Ives. The stores hung a large gold-colored star from the southwest corner of Central Boulevard and Orange Avenue to the southeast corner. Wilson Reed, owner of Dickson & Ives at the time, is credited with the idea. The star used since 1984 measured 13 feet in diameter and weighed over 500 pounds. In 2005, the original was replaced by a more ornate star, which can be seen in this image.
Original color digital images by Thomas Cook, 2007: Private Collection of Thomas Cook.
Dickinson, Joy Wallace. "Orlando History Shines in Orange Avenue Christmas Star."The Orlando Sentinel, November 28, 2010. http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2010-11-28/news/os-dickinson-florida-history-112810_1_peggy-reed-mann-orlando-proclamation-orlando-history.
Cook, Thomas. "Orange Avenue Holiday Star, 2007." RICHES of Central Florida accessed April 20, 2019, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/2174.


After T199133: Find top 15 target projects that could use Selenium tests to prevent incidents is resolved, select 5 repositories and work with maintainers to create the first Selenium test.
Contact owners of selected repositories (see Prioritize Repositories section) and offer help in creating the first test.
Add results from Incident Documentation tool to incident reports as a new Related Repositories section. The section will link to the tool and explain how it got the data. It will also ask for edits if the data is not correct.
Reach out to people that created (or edited) incident reports and ask them to populate Related Repositories section. This might have mixed results. For best results, the section will already be populated with the data from Incident Documentation tool.
Add Related Repositories section to the incident report template.
zeljkofilipin added subscribers: Ryasmeen, Esanders, brion.
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zeljkofilipin removed subscribers: Arrbee, • Nikerabbit, Amire80, Etonkovidova.
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zeljkofilipin added subscribers: cwdent, AndyRussG, Ejegg.
zeljkofilipin removed subscribers: Ejegg, AndyRussG, cwdent, Daimona.
zeljkofilipin added subscribers: Ladsgroup, • Addshore.
zeljkofilipin removed subscribers: • Addshore, Ladsgroup.
zeljkofilipin added subscribers: kostajh, SBisson, Etonkovidova, Catrope.
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zeljkofilipin added a subscriber: Mooeypoo.
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In discussion with @greg decided not to continue working on this. Already created sub-tasks will be resolved.
zeljkofilipin changed the status of subtask T214480: The first Selenium test for TimedMediaHandler from Open to Stalled.


Last year, the Education Foundation awarded over $20,000 in grants to teachers through this program. The Foundation is looking forward to teaming with you again this year to benefit the students of Lowell Schools through creative and innovative educational activities. The Lowell Education Foundation Board wants to especially thank the grant writers and encourage all staff to pursue grant requests in the areas of core curriculum enrichment, arts and music enhancement and technology enhancement.
Each teacher is eligible for up to $1000. Groups of teachers collaborating on a grant project are eligible for their combined total.
This grant is for new ideas and materials. The grant is not intended to purchase general supplies or to fund regular classroom requirements.
The Foundation does not fund grants for food or t-shirts.
If you are unsure about your idea for a grant project, send it in anyway. The Education Foundation wants to support and encourage our teachers however it can. We want to give you our money.
If you have questions about this grant process, please email Valerie Behm at the Central Office and she will forward your questions to the Grants Committee.
Some previous years' grants are featured on the Foundation here.
– If you have questions about this grant process, please email us.


With a sprinkle of sparkle dust, a pinch of magic and dash of colour, Australia's favourite brand of shoes for baby are proud to bring you our range of Baby and Toddler Baby Ballet Slippers.
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text:
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FSBA Session Spotlight — April 10, 2019
FSBA Session Spotlight — April…
2019 Legislative SessionAccountabilityAdvocacyAssessmentsCharter SchoolsCurriculumEarly LearningElectionsExceptional StudentsFacilitiesFSBA Session SpotlightHealth & SafetyHigher EducationIn the NewsLegislationPersonnelPublic RecordsRetirementSchool ChoiceTeachersVoucher
Today's agenda includes both Senate committee meetings and House and Senate floor sessions. Bills of interest under consideration today include bills relating to term limits for school board members, parental rights, school choice, local referenda, career education, public records, and government accountability. Today's schedule is posted below and will be updated to show the outcome on these bills after each meeting concludes.
[toggle title="Committee/Subcommittee Meetings and Floor Sessions – April 10, 2019"]
Please note that all of the meetings listed below may be viewed in real time via live webcast on the Florida Channel or may be viewed later in the Florida Channel Video Library. Also note that clicking on the Committee/Subcommittee names linked below provides access to membership, meeting packets, and other committee information; clicking on the bill numbers linked below provides access the bill summary, analysis, related bills, and other information.
In the Senate Rules Committee:
SB 354 – Immunization Registry by Montford – PASSED
The bill:
Directs certain health care practitioners to report vaccination administration data to the Department of Health (DOH) immunization registry when vaccinating children up to 18 years of age or college or university students at a college or university health center who are 19 to 23 years of age.
Permits a parent or guardian of a child up to 18 years of age or a college or university student 19 to 23 years of age to opt out of being included in the immunization registry and, if so, requires DOH and the healthcare practitioner to remove all records regarding the child or student from the registry.
Directs school boards and private school governing bodies to establish and enforce a policy requiring that before a child may attend a public or private school, the child must have on file a Florida Certification of Immunization (FCI) with the DOH immunization registry.
Provides that any child who does not participate in the immunization registry must present or have on file with the school an FCI form, which will be a part of the student's permanent record and be transferred with the student if the student transfers.
Provides that school boards and private school governing bodies must establish and enforce a policy requiring appropriate scoliosis screening at the proper age.
SB 7048 – Disclosure of Confidential Records by CFEA – PASSED
The bill requires that, when a patient communicates a specific threat against an identifiable individual to a mental health service provider, the provider must release information from the clinical record of the patient sufficient to inform the threatened individual. The provider must also inform law enforcement of the threat. The bill provides immunity from civil or criminal liability to the administrator of a mental health facility, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and other treatment providers who disclose information conveyed to them by a patient communicating a threat to a specific, readily identifiable third party.
In the Senate Education Committee:
SJR 274 – Limitation on Terms of Office / School Board Members by Baxley – PASSED
This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Florida Constitution that would make district school board members subject to an 8-year consecutive service term limitation. The provision would operate prospectively beginning with the 2020 general election. The likely earliest date that any currently serving school board member could be "termed-out" would be in November 2028. The joint resolution requires passage by a 3/5ths vote of each chamber in order to be placed on the ballot for the general election in November 2020 (unless the legislature authorizes an earlier special election for that specific purpose), and then must be approved by 60% of voters voting on this proposal.
SB 382 – Teacher Scholarship Program by Montford – PASSED
The bill establishes, subject to appropriation, the Teacher Scholarship (scholarship) Program to encourage students who exhibit academic excellence to pursue a career in education. The bill:
Provides eligibility criteria for undergraduate and graduate students in a teacher preparation program to qualify for the scholarship as follows:
An eligible undergraduate student may be awarded a scholarship of up to $5,000 per semester, not to exceed $10,000 per year, for 2 undergraduate years or for a maximum of 3 years for a program that requires a fifth year of instruction to obtain an initial teaching certification.
An eligible graduate student may be awarded a scholarship of up to $5,000 per semester, not to exceed $10,000 per year, for up to 2 years.
Provides requirements for the FDOE and public postsecondary education institutions with teacher preparation programs approved by the DOE.
SB 1726 – Parental Rights by Gruters – AMENDED; PASSED WITH A COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE (CS)
The bill establishes the "Parents' Bill of Rights" and declares that it is a fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, and care of their children. To safeguard parental rights, the bill:
Reserves certain rights to a parent of a minor child and prohibits any person or entity from infringing upon those rights without demonstrating that the infringement is reasonable and necessary to achieve a compelling state interest, is narrowly tailored to achieve the interest, and is not otherwise served by a less restrictive means.
Requires each school district to adopt a policy to promote parental notification and involvement in the public school system and provides requirements for the policy.
Establishes parental consent requirements for health care purposes and provides for disciplinary action against health care practitioners who violate parental consent requirements.
SB 7106 – Risk Protection Orders by Education – PASSED
The bill expands the definition of a petitioner for purposes of a risk protection order petition to include, in addition to law enforcement officers and agencies, certain family members, thus allowing these family member to petition the court for a risk protection order without the assistance of law enforcement.
In the Senate Governmental Oversight & Accountability Committee:
SB 602 – Public Records by Perry – AMENDED; PASSED WITH A CS
As amended, the bill provides that, if an agency files an action for declaratory judgment for a declaration that certain public records are exempt, or confidential and exempt, from public review and access, and the court determines that the records are either not exempt or not confidential and exempt, the court must assess the reasonable costs of enforcement, including reasonable attorney fees, against the responsible agency for the benefit of the named respondent.
SB 784 – Retirement by Gruters – AMENDED; PASSED WITH A CS
The bill provides a minimum annual 2% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for a retiree who was a member of the Special Risk Class on June 30, 2011, is a member of the Special Risk Class on the effective date of retirement and retires on or after July 1, 2011 and has service credit earned before July 1, 2011. This minimum COLA for eligible retirees will be applied prospectively for retirement payments beginning on or after July 1, 2019.
SB 1224 – Charter Schools by Farmer – AMENDED; PASSED WITH A CS
As amended, the bill:
Requires each charter school principal, charter school governing board member, and charter school chief financial officer to hold a credential, which must certify the individual's core competence in the administration of a charter school.
Requires the FDOE to approve one or more third-party credentialing entities to establish and administer the credentialing process.
Eliminates the requirement that an applicant submit an application by February 1 to open a charter school eighteen months later at the beginning of the school year. The bill allows an applicant submitting an application by February 1 to open a charter school at the beginning of the next school year.
Prohibits specified charter school entities and employees and their relatives from submitting an application to open a charter school for 5 years if specified acts of misconduct caused the termination or nonrenewal of the charter.
Authorizes a virtual charter school to provide part-time instruction and be a virtual instruction program provider if approved by the DOE.
In the Senate Innovation, Industry, and Technology Committee:
SB 770 – Alternative High School Graduation Requirements by Hutson – AMENDED; PASSED WITH A CS
As amended, the bill addresses both secondary and post-secondary career education and readiness opportunities. Of particular interest to school districts, the bill:
Creates an alternative pathway, namely the career and technical education (CTE) graduation pathway option, for students to earn a standard high school diploma that maintains requires students to successfully complete at least 18 credits to receive a standard high school diploma under the CTE graduation pathway option.
Exempts a charter school that exclusively offers the CTE pathway option from application requirements related to district school boards but specifies that such charter schools must comply with the application requirements relating to the DOE.
Modifies the 24-credit pathway for earning a standard high school diploma by revising computer science credit substitution for mathematics or science credits, and creates a mechanism for the review of the sufficiency of career education course standards to meet the Algebra I credit requirement.
Revises the acceleration mechanism component for the school grade calculation for high schools by specifying that dual enrollment courses include career clock-hour dual enrollment courses.
Creates the Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant Program to enable high school and Florida College System institutions to offer applied learning opportunities for students in high-demand career pathways linked to occupations that will provide students with middle-level and high-level wages.
Increases from 15 to 30, the limit on the number of CAPE Digital Tool Certificates that must be identified annually.
Restores middle grades career education and planning course requirements which were eliminated in 2017, with some modifications.
Requires district school boards to declare a "College and Career Decision Day" to recognize high school seniors and encourage them to prepare for college and pursue advanced career pathways.
Requires the DOE to provide assistance to specified entities when notifying students, parents, and members of the community about apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship opportunities.
Authorizes school districts to issue an adjunct teaching certificate for a full-time teaching position, but specifies that such certificates are valid for a period of three years and are not renewable. Specifies reporting requirements for school districts.
In the Senate Session:
SB 292 – Education/Graduation Ceremony by Lee – READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/17/19
The bill prohibits a district school board from barring a student from lawfully wearing to his or her graduation ceremony a uniform of any of the Armed Forces of the state or of the United States.
SB 318 – Child Abuse, Abandonment, and Neglect by Montford – READ 2ND TIME; AMENDED; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/17/19
The bill expands the public records exemption that protects the name of a reporter of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect to also include other identifying information. Such information would be confidential and exempt, and would only be released to specified persons, officials, and agencies specified in law. The exemption provided in this bill are subject to future legislative review and repeal.
In the House Session:
HB 203 – Public Records/Personnel Employed by Law Enforcement by Zika – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 248; HB 203 LAID ON THE TABLE
SB 248 – Public Records/Personnel Employed by a Law Enforcement by Hooper – SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 203; READ 2ND TIME; PLACE ON 3RD READING FOR 4/11/19
The bill revises public records exemptions for home addresses and various other information identifying specified agency personnel and their families to create a new public records exemption for:
Home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, and photographs of active or former civilian personnel employed by a law enforcement agency;
Names, home addresses, telephone numbers, photographs, dates of birth, and places of employment of the spouses and children of such personnel; and
Names and locations of schools and day care facilities attended by the children of such personnel.
The bill provides that those persons whose information is protected by the public records exemption may, in writing, request that information be released.
HB 407 – Pubic Records by R. Rodrigues – READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/11/19
The bill prohibits an agency that receives a public record request to inspect or copy a record from responding to such request by filing a civil action against the individual or entity making the request.
HB 547 – Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Program by Clemons — READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/11/19
Authorizes a state university to transfer Stanley G. Tate Florida Prepaid College Program related Dormitory Residence Plan funds to a qualified nonprofit organization.
Requires that the amount transferred may not exceed the average fees charged for state university or FCS institution dormitory fees.
Revises the membership of the board of directors for Florida Prepaid College Board's direct-support organization.
HB 741 – Anti-Semitism by Fine — READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/11/19
The Florida Educational Equality Act (FEEA) requires equal access to, and prohibits discrimination against, any student or employee of the state's K-20 public education system on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability, or marital status. The bill:
Amends the FEEA to add religion as a protected class with regard to discrimination against students and employees in Florida's K-20 public education system.
Requires a public K-20 educational institution to treat discrimination by students or employees or resulting from institutional policies motivated by anti-Semitism in an identical manner to discrimination motivated by race.
Provides a definition of anti-Semitism similar to the definition adopted by the U.S. Department of State's Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism.
Provides the legislative intent that the new law defining anti-Semitism may not diminish or infringe upon any right protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution, or the Florida Constitution, and prohibits construction of the law in conflict with federal or state discrimination laws.
Adds religion as a protected class in all K-12 education programs, activities, and opportunities, in accordance with the provisions of the FEEA.
HB 349 – Students with Disabilities in Public Schools by DuBose — READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/11/19
Defines terms related to seclusion, physical restraint, and mechanical restraint, and instructs when such techniques may be used.
Prohibits placing a student in seclusion.
Provides that physical restraint may be used only to protect students or school personnel, but not for disciplining a student and provides that a student may only be physically restrained for the time necessary to protect the student and others.
Prohibits straightjackets and restraint techniques such as obstructing or restricting breathing or blood flow or inflicting pain to induce compliance.
Requires school districts to adopt policies and procedures related to positive behavior interventions and supports and identify all school personnel authorized to use the restraint.
Requires each school district to report to the FDOE approved procedures for training.
Requires the Commissioner of Education to develop recommendations to incorporate instruction regarding autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, other developmental disabilities, and emotional or behavioral disabilities into continuing education or inservice training requirements for instructional personnel and requires that these recommendations must address the use of restraint techniques, positive behavior interventions and supports, and effective classroom behavior management strategies.
HB 1027 – Office of Early Learning by Aloupis — READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/11/19
Codifies early learning professional development standards and career pathways in law.
Requires the Office of Early Learning to develop early learning professional development training and course standards for school readiness program providers and identify both formal and informal early learning career pathways with stackable credentials and certifications, which allow early childhood teachers to access specialized professional development.
Requires the established credentials and certifications to align with the training for K-12 teachers, reading coaches, and school principals to the greatest extent possible.
HB 7035 – Government Accountability by OTPM – READ 2ND TIME; SUBSTITUTED FOR SB 7014; HB 7035 LAID ON THE TABLE
SB 7014 – Government Accountability by GOA – SUBSTITUTED FOR HB 7035; READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/11/19
The bill amends various statutes to enhance government accountability and auditing processes based on recommendations noted in recent reports by the Auditor General. Of particular interest to school districts, the bill:
Authorizes the Governor or Commissioner of Education, or designee, to notify the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee if an entity fails to comply with certain auditing and financial reporting requirements;
Provides definitions for the terms "abuse," "fraud," and "waste;"
Requires each agency, the judicial branch, the Justice Administrative Commission, state attorneys, public defenders, criminal conflict and civil regional counsel, capital collateral regional counsel, the Guardian Ad Litem program, local governmental entities, charter schools, school districts, Florida College System institutions, and state universities to establish and maintain internal controls designed to prevent and detect fraud, waste, and abuse;
Provides that the Department of Financial Services may request additional information from local government entities when preparing its annual verified report;
Revises the membership, and restrictions thereof, for an auditor selection committee of a county, municipality, special district, district school board, charter school, or charter technical career center;
Specifies that the definition of fraud, waste and abuse apply to s. 1001.42, F.S., relating to the powers and duties of the district school board;
Requires completion of an annual financial audit of the Florida Virtual School; and
Requires the Florida College System and Florida State University System to comply with statutory provisions relating to employee background screenings.
HB 15 – Local Government Fiscal Transparency by Burton — READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/11/19
The bill creates the Local Government Fiscal Transparency Act (Act), providing for increased fiscal transparency for local governments, including school boards. The bill requires:
Easy public access to voting records of local governing body members as related to tax increases or the issuance of tax-supported debt;
Easy online access to truth-in-millage notices and a four-year history of property tax rates and total revenue generated by each local government;
Additional public meetings and expanded public notice requirements for local option tax increases and the issuance of new long-term, tax-supported debt;
Local governments to conduct a debt affordability analysis prior to issuance of new long-term, tax-supported debt;
The chair of the local governing body to sign an affidavit of compliance with the Act; and
The Auditor General to request evidence of corrective action from local governments found not to be in compliance with the Act and reporting those who fail to do so to the Legislative Auditing Committee.
HB 5 – Local Tax Referenda by DiCeglie — READ 2ND TIME; PLACED ON 3RD READING FOR 4/11/19
Requires any referendum to levy a discretionary sales surtax be held at a general election and requires approval by two-thirds of the electors voting on the ballot measure.
Provides that, upon adoption of an ordinance or resolution by a county or school district to hold a discretionary sales surtax referendum on or after January 1, 2020, the county or school district holding a referendum must notify the OPPAGA of the proposed referendum and provide a copy of the final ordinance or resolution calling for the referendum at least 180 days before the referendum is held.
Declares void any discretionary sales surtax referendum if the county or school district fails to provide notice to OPPAGA or fails to publish the results of the performance audit.
Provides similar requirements for a proposal to adopt a discretionary sales surtax is by initiative and provides that the failure of an initiative sponsor to comply with these requirements renders any referendum held void.
Categories: 2019 Legislative Session, Accountability, Advocacy, Assessments, Charter Schools, Curriculum, Early Learning, Elections, Exceptional Students, Facilities, FSBA Session Spotlight, Health & Safety, Higher Education, In the News, Legislation, Personnel, Public Records, Retirement, School Choice, Teachers, VoucherBy fsbawp April 10, 2019
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text:
The Platform Office Building / Space Encounters
© Lorenzo Zandri
Curated by Paula Pintos
https://www.archdaily.com/932368/the-platform-office-building-space-encounters
Architects: Space Encounters
Photographs :Lorenzo Zandri, Peter Tijhuis
Manufacturers : Atlas Schindler, Boon Edam, Dibotherm, Lensvelt, Platowood, Qbiq Systeemwanden, Siersema, WV Stairs
Lead Architects : Gijs Baks, Joost Baks, Remi Versteeg, Stijn de Weerd
Design Team : Vincent van Leeuwen, Bram van den Heuvel, Carlos Callejo, Agatha Popieluch, Clara Jansen, Matilde Scali
Client : Schipper Bosch
Structural Engineer : Van Rossum Raadgevende Ingenieurs
Landscape : VIC Landscapes
Mep Consultants : Hiensch Engineering
Contractor : Van Bekkum
Graphic Design : Sanne Beeren
City : Amersfoort
Country : The Netherlands
© Peter Tijhuis
Text description provided by the architects. Mid 2017 Schipper Bosch Development commissioned Space Encounters for the design of a new office building above the former Prodent warehouse in De Nieuwe Stad (The New City) in Amersfoort. The new building is located on the south side of the central space which has been designed by ZUS [Zones Urbaines Sensibles, Rotterdam] as a forest, square and charging station for electric vehicles. Typologically a new public space. This renewal in form and use is characteristic of De Nieuwe Stad. With respect for the past, the future is being built in an innovative, sustainable and dauntless manner.
The new office space concerns two floors added to the existing building. The existing warehouse below is a relatively anonymous building. Characteristic is the concrete cassette facade showing the rhythm of the construction. The building used to serve as a storage shed for a toothpaste factory. Currently, it houses the online supermarket Picnic and the pop venue FLUOR.
Because the new building is constructed separately over the existing hall, the clearest and most conceptual choice is made. The ambition to create a flexible, non-conventional office layout also results in innovative choices in the field of construction methodology. The Platform was built over the hall by means of seven steel trusses. These frames each span thirty-four meters and stand heart to heart more than fourteen meters apart. Constructively it is as much like a bridge than a building. A typological crossover.
Quality and interconnection are core values for the developments in De Nieuwe Stad and thus also for The Platform. The way in which the old shed and the new building just don't touch each other and are nevertheless interconnected shows itself cause the columns of the new building to follow the rhythm of the old building. On the square side, The Platform protrudes three meters from the shed. On the ground floor, this creates a covered entrance area with space for bicycle parking places. On the first floor, this three-meter zone results in a generous balcony. It is the entrance balcony for the offices and an outside workplace with a view of the forest in front of the building. This space is connected to the square with a three-meter wide concrete staircase. The stairs invite. The balcony has a pink strip steel balustrade. The grand industrial gesture of the building becomes friendly and soft here.
The office connects with the square through the balcony and the stairs. Inside and outside. The size of the balcony can be felt again on the ends. Closing the depth of the balcony here on the second floor creates an imaginary vertical line that continues into the old building. It goes without saying that The Platform is over the former warehouse. Old and new have been integrated, by continuing the architectural characteristics of the existing into the new building. The connection between old and new is also reflected in the finish, on the outside of the Het Platform. The white glazed ceramic tiles are traditionally used in industrial interiors because of the resilience. By placing them on the facade, the enormous scale of the building becomes tactile and connects with the history of the place. At the same time, it is a reference to the superstructures of Superstudio. The avant-garde architects collective that was the perfect example of counterculture in the service of freedom.
The interior is completely in the service of the building. The same no-nonsense service. Functional necessities have been clustered to keep the size of the large office floors tangible. The boring collection is used to make room. Color clusters with pieces of furniture on which consultation or relaxation can take place fill the space in a natural and fresh way.
The building connects the past, the present and the future. In form, in materiality, in meaning, in use, in energy. The trees on the square give the building context, both on the ground and in the sky. This quality is continued in the patio that fits in with the scale of the building. The green of the trees, the yellow crosses on the square, the red frames in the shed, the pink fencing and the blue sky. The white tiling works like a canvas that connects everything.
Address:Amersfoort, The Netherlands
Space Encounters
ProjectsBuilt ProjectsSelected ProjectsOfficesOffice buildingsAmersfoortOn FacebookThe Netherlands
Cite: "The Platform Office Building / Space Encounters" 22 Jan 2020. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/932368/the-platform-office-building-space-encounters> ISSN 0719-8884
想阅读文章的中文版本吗?
The Platform办公楼,空间与时空的桥梁 / Space Encounters


Mostly Canadian hip hop this week.
Typical Fat Beat Diet mixed bag; a little of this, and a little of that.
Fun little show this week as we kick off with some classic acid jazz and then start winding things up with some dance floor heat from a few years back, eventually busting out a set of classic Baltimore Club beats. I used to bust this stuff out all the time at my weekly night back then, and I guess I was feeling nostalgic.
Hip hop hip hop hip hop hip hop hip hop hip hop hip hop hip hop, nawwhatamean?


This episode is the very first interview for the podcast. I chatted with Vanessa Levin from Pre-K pages all about her rise to success through blogging.
Ever wondered how to strategize your keywords for any search engine? This episode will teach you how to reach for the stars.
We're bringing blogging back, YUP!
This podcast episode is all about how to bring blogging back or get blogging started in your business now.
Check out my tips and tricks for being authentic in your business.
Learn how to develop your brand and try to embody certain characteristics to help market your business.
Find out how we plan to find the inner go-getter in you!


Unbeatable Rates. Unbeatable Course. Unbeatable Food.
Driving Range is officially open from 12-7pm every day!
We are an 18 hole, full facility course located in the rapidly expanding and vibrant city of Winkler, Manitoba.
The club is semi private, with a strong membership that welcomes all visitors. The course offers a challenge to golfers of all skill levels.
Whether you are wanting to play a leisurely round of golf, bring a small group out, or stage a large tournament, we encourage you to try our facility, we are sure that you will enjoy the experience!
Check out our new plans for our club house proposal!


text:
Q: Custom UITextInput implementation not showing multi-stage input suggestions I have a custom UITextInput-based text editor. It works very well, except for multi-stage input via marked text.
My marked region renders correctly, and marked text is inserted, but the candidate list above the keyboard is blank.
For example, here is the Japanese (Kana) keyboard showing suggestions on a standard UITextView:

And here is my custom editor displaying the same marked text:

I have spent several days debugging this issue and have found that the cause is private class UIKeyboardImpl returning NO for the method delegateSupportsCorrectionUI
If I override this method in a category on UIKeyboardImpl and return YES instead, then multistage input suggestions correctly display for my text editor. However this does not address the underlying cause of the problem (and it's not usable).
I have also looked very closely at Apple's SimpleTextInput sample code. This implements a basic Core Text editor. SimpleTextInput correctly displays multistage input suggestions, however I cannot seem to find a single difference in its implementation of UITextInput that causes it to work and mine to break.
(In fact, I am unable to "break" the SimpleTextInput sample's ability to display multi-stage input. Which leads me to think that my focus on the UITextInput implementation is the wrong track. And it is something else altogether.)

A: Okay, this is a bit embarrassing. I just now noticed:
@property(nonatomic, readonly) UIView *textInputView

Discussion
The view that both draws the text and provides a coordinate system for
  all geometric values in this protocol. (This is typically an instance
  of the UITextInput-adopting class.) If this property is unimplemented,
  the first view in the responder chain is selected.

In the documentation.
I had stupidly @synthesize'd this property and forgot about it, meaning my UITextInput implementation was returning a nil textInputView. Simply leaving it unimplemented chooses the first view from the responder chain as described, which provides the text system with the necessary coordinate system to handle auto-correction and multistage input suggestions.
This was after three days of debugging. Now I feel stupid.

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