text:
MRI Web Clinic — September 2018
Salter-Harris Fractures
Martha A. Norris, M.D.
Clinical History: A 15 year-old male was injured 11 days ago performing a long jump. Coronal (1A) and sagittal (1B) fat-suppressed proton density-weighted images are provided. What are the findings? What is your diagnosis?
Coronal (2A) and sagittal (2B) fat-suppressed proton density-weighted images of the knee reveal high signal intensity at the mid to lateral growth plate (arrowheads) with a triangular fracture of the medial metaphysis (arrow), indicating a Salter-Harris type 2 fracture. The periosteum has been stripped from the metaphysis of the lateral femur (blue arrowheads). Posteriorly the periosteum is torn and displaced into the fracture at the growth plate (small arrows).
Salter-Harris 2 fracture of the distal femur with trapped periosteum.
Injuries to the extremities of children frequently involve the physis, partially because the ligaments and joint capsule can be 5 times stronger than the growth plate.1 About 15% of fractures of children involve the growth plate. These physeal injuries were first described by a French surgeon named Foucher in 1860. Multiple classification systems followed, leading to the Salter and Harris system in 1963 which was based on radiographic appearance and the prognosis for growth disturbance.2,3
The Salter-Harris system was expanded and modified by Ogden in 1981 to account for more complicated combination injuries as well as injury to other growth mechanisms including the metaphysis, diaphysis, periosteum, zone of Ranvier and epiphyseal perichondrium.3 The mechanism of injury is shearing or avulsive in about 80% of cases and splitting or compressive in the rest.1 The growth plate is made of several layers. The layer closest to the epiphysis is the resting/germinal layer which is responsible for bone lengthening. The next layer is the proliferative layer, followed by the hyperplasia and degenerative layer, which is the weakest. This is followed by the vascular invasion and calcifying layers.1
Type 1 (figs 3-5):
The Salter-Harris 1 (SH 1) fracture extends through the growth plate, leaving the resting and dividing cell layers attached to the epiphysis. The fracture is not always perfectly transverse but can undulate so that microscopic involvement of the metaphysis can occur. This is more common as the child ages. A larger ossification center increases the likelihood of metaphyseal involvement. Displacement is frequently prevented by an intact periosteal attachment into the zone of Ranvier, the region responsible for peripheral growth of the physis.3 Type 1 injuries are more common in patients under the age of 5 with the exception of the proximal humerus where the peak age is 10-12 (little league shoulder)(fig 5). Apophyseal injuries are a form of Type 1 injury.1 Subclass 1B occurs in children with systemic disorders affecting endochondral ossification in the metaphysis (myeloproliferative, thalassemia or neuromuscular sensory disorders) so that the fracture passes through the zones of degenerating cartilage and primary spongiosa.
Subsequent growth is generally normal in types 1A and B, as the germinal layer responsible for epiphyseal growth remain intact. An exception can occur in the proximal femur if the major blood supply to the epiphysis is disrupted which can lead to osteonecrosis, premature physeal closure and severe growth deformity.
Subclass 1C has associated injury to the germinal portion of the physis and is most likely at birth or in early infancy. This can cause formation of an osseous bridge after growth of the secondary center reaches the damaged area.3
A fat-suppressed T2-weighted coronal image of a SH 1 fracture through the distal femoral physis demonstrating increased signal intensity (arrowheads) in the growth plate relative to the tibial growth plate.
The distal fibula is a common site for a SH 1 fracture. Coronal proton density-weighted with fat-suppression (4A) and axial T2-weighted (4B) images demonstrate elevation of the periosteum, which helps confirm the diagnosis.
Widening and abnormal signal intensity across the growth plate of the proximal humerus, indicating little league shoulder, a variation of a SH 1 fracture.
Salter-Harris Type 2: (figures 6 and 7):
Type 2 is the most common variety of Salter-Harris fractures. It is frequent from ages 3-7 and is the most common type over the age of 10. It is similar to the type 1 but with a variably sized metaphyseal fragment. There is a compressive and a distractive side. The compressive forces redirect from the horizontal into the metaphysis, creating the metaphyseal fracture fragment (Thurston Holland fragment). The periosteum usually remains intact on the compressive side but is disrupted on the tension side. Periosteal tears occur at the metaphyseal attachment where it is more loosely attached. This torn periosteum can invaginate in the physeal gap and prevent healing.3 This may be due to the periosteum's propensity to produce bone rather than cartilage.4
Growth is otherwise usually not disturbed because the germinal layers remain attached to the epiphysis and circulation is maintained. Undulation of the physis can cause focal areas of more severe injury.3 Subclass 2B adds a free metaphyseal fragment on the tensile side, opposite the usual compressive side fragment and may require open reduction. Subclass 2C has a thin layer of metaphysis involved rather than the typical triangular fragment. This subclass is more common in slower growing sites such as the phalanges.3
Localized compression of the metaphysis into the physis can occur, especially in the distal femur and tibia, and can cause angular deformity.3 SH 2 fractures of the distal femur are associated with a high ( nearly 50%) risk of complications, particularly premature fusion. Entrapped periosteum is one cause. Other risk factors for premature fusion are high energy trauma, undulating growth plates and greater degrees of displacement. About 40% of the length of the lower extremity is due to growth at the distal femur.4
SH 2 of the distal femur with the Thurston Holland fragment (asterisk) created by a vertical metaphyseal fracture (large arrows) and a horizontal fracture through the physeal plate (small arrows). A tear of the periosteum (arrowhead) is present along the distraction side.
Sagittal MR image of the knee demonstrates a SH 2 fracture of the proximal tibia with displacement due to traction on the tibial tuberosity (asterisk). The physeal component (arrow) and the Thurston Holland fragment (arrowhead) are indicated.
Salter Harris Type 3:
The SH type 3 fracture is essentially a type 1 fracture with an additional epiphyseal fracture. This frequently occurs at a time of partial fusion of the growth plate and is common in the distal tibia (Tillaux fracture).1,3 (figures 8 and 9)
Coronal and axial CT and MR images of the ankle (different patients) demonstrate a Tillaux fracture with a sagittally oriented fracture through the epiphysis of the distal tibia (small arrow) and the axial fracture through the growth plate (large arrows). The displaced epiphyseal component (asterisk) is readily apparent. The coronal CT image demonstrates the fusing growth plate which is typical for this fracture.
Coronal fluid-sensitive MR image of the knee shows a SH 3 fracture with a sagittal fracture of the epiphysis (small arrow) and axial fracture of the growth plate (larger arrows). Mild angulation results in incongruity of the articular surface. The periosteum is elevated by hematoma (red asterisk).
Salter-Harris Type 4:
SH 4 is a longitudinal fracture extending through the epiphysis, physis and metaphysis. It is commonly seen in the medial and lateral condyles and epicondyles of the distal humerus and in the medial malleolus. Displacement can be caused by the original injury and by muscle pull. Local physeal fusion can occur despite anatomic reduction due to compression injury to the growth plate.3
The triplane fracture of the distal tibia is an example of a SH 4 injury. (figure 10)
Sagittal, coronal and axial CT (10 A, B and C) and coronal and sagittal MR (10 D and E) images of the ankle demonstrate a SH 4 fracture of the triplane type. A coronal fracture extends through the posterior metaphysis of the distal tibia (red line) with a horizontal fracture through the lateral growth plate (yellow line) and a sagittal fracture through the epiphysis (blue line). Subperiosteal hemorrhage is present (red asterisk).
Subclass 4B has an additional fracture across the physis and is more common near skeletal maturity. Subclass 4C is in a non-articular location such as the femoral neck. Subclass 4D has multiple fragments.3
Additional Salter-Harris Fractures:
Type 5 is a pure compression injury and is rare. The prognosis is poor and there is almost always premature fusion which can occur several years after the initial injury. In addition to physical trauma, these occur with thermal, frostbite, electrical and radiation trauma.1,3
Type 6 injuries are very rare and involve the peripheral growth plate in the zone of Ranvier, usually from focal contusion or avulsion. Peripheral osseous bridging frequently occurs, resulting in an angular deformity.1,3 This may also be a mechanism for osteochondroma formation.3
Type 7 is a completely intraepiphyseal fracture without involvement of the growth plate, such as osteochondritis dissecans.3
Type 8 is an injury to the blood supply of the metaphysis.3
Type 9 is a selective injury to the diaphyseal periosteum which affects the ability of the bone to remodel and grow circumferentially.3
Utility of MRI
MRI provides the most sensitive detection of radiographically occult fractures and proper diagnosis can alter staging and management.5,6 This is particularly true in the pediatric elbow which is difficult to evaluate radiographically man H and Eustace S. MRI of pediatric growth plate injury: correlation with plain film radiographs and clinical outcome. Skeletal Rbecause of the multiple ossification centers, many of which do not ossify until 11-12 years of age. The elbow is the site of the most frequent epiphyseal fractures after the distal radius and distal tibia. These fractures tend to be unstable and frequently require surgical fixation.6
Complications of growth plate injuries mainly involve growth disturbance. (figures 11, 12 and 13) Growth abnormalities are more associated with vertical interruptions of the growth plate than horizontal fractures.7
Sagittal T1-weighted MR image of the ankle demonstrates formation of a bony bar (arrowheads) across the growth plate 2 years after a SH 1 fracture.
A T2-weighted axial (long axis) view of the base of the 1st metatarsal reveals a growth disturbance (arrowhead) from a remote physeal injury.
Coronal fat-suppressed proton density-weighted (A) and sagittal T1-weighted (B) images and corresponding AP radiographs (C) of the knee show a chronic growth plate injury with mild growth disturbance (arrowheads).
Treatment options for growth arrest include physeal bar resection, epiphysiodesis, chondrodiastasis and limb lengthening and deformity correction.
Physeal bar resection is indicated if at least 2 years of growth is remaining and 25-40% of physis is affected, as patient prognosis is good if less that 10% of the physis is involved and poor if greater than 25% is involved.8 The bar must be completely resected and material interposed (cement, cartilage or fat). A fibrous bridge across the physis can only be seen on MRI but is difficult to differentiate from a bony bridge. Either may need to be resected, however.7
Epiphysiodesis is used for a bony bar affecting greater than 50% of the physis.
Chondrodiastasis or physeal distraction uses external fixation and progressive lengthening after breaking the physeal bar and is controversial.8
Failure of healing can be caused by entrapment of adjacent soft tissues. This can be the periosteum, tendons, ligaments, muscles or neurovascular bundles.9 (fig 14 and 15)
A fat-suppressed proton density-weighted coronal MR image of the knee reveals the periosteum torn and stripped from the femoral metaphysis and entrapped (arrowhead) in a SH 1 fracture.
Coronal fat-suppressed T2-weighted MR image demonstrating entrapment of the distal end of the torn tibial collateral ligament (arrowhead) in a SH 3 fracture of the proximal tibia.
Childhood fractures can frequently involve growth centers and are thus at risk for growth disturbances. Such fractures are commonly described using the Salter-Harris classification system. Most of the fractures will heal without complications but surgery may be needed to restore articular surface congruency or remove interposed soft tissue structures which could delay healing or cause premature fusion. In cases, where growth plate disturbances arise, MR provides critical guidance in the detection of disturbances and in the evaluation of the severity of growth arrest.
Ozonoff MB. Pediatric Orthopedic Radiology 2nd edition. W.B. Saunders Company. ↩
Salter RB, Harris WR. Injuries involving the epiphyseal plate. JBJS 1963; 45: 587-622. ↩
Ogden JA. Injury to the growth mechanisms of the immature skeleton. Skeletal Radiology 1981; 6, 237-253. ↩
Chen J, Abel MF, Fox MG. Imaging appearance of entrapped periosteum within a distal femoral Salter-Harris II fracture. Skeltal Radiology 2015; 44: 1547-1551. ↩
Carey J, Spence L, Blickadiology 1998; 27, 250-255. ↩
Beltran J, Rosenberg ZS, Kawelblum M, Montes L, Bergman AG, Strongwater A. Pediatric elbow fractures: MRI evaluation. Skeletal Radiology 1994; 23: 277-281. ↩
Jaramillo D, Hoffer FA, Shapiro F and Rand F. MR imaging of fractures of the growth plate. AJR Dec 1990; 155: 1261-1265. Growth arrest occurs in 5-10% of physeal fractures. ↩
Dabash S, Prabhakar G, Potter E, Thabet AM, Abdelgawad A, Heinrich S. Management of growth arrest: Current practice and future directions. Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma 20178; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcot.2018.01.001 ↩
Whan A, Breidahl W and Janes G. MRI of trapped periosteum in a proximal tibial physeal injury of a pediatric patient. AJR Nov 2003; 181: 1397-1399. ↩
Hereditary Multiple Exostoses
Accessory Muscles of the Hand and Wrist
Unstable Osteochondritis Dissecans of the Medial Femoral Condyle
Posteromedial Corner Injury of the Knee
Atypical Femur Fractures


text:
Talking about Brexit—how did we get to this point?
by Lancaster University
Are we facing a 'no-deal', 'cliff-edge' or 'clean' Brexit? When and where did the word 'Brexit' first appear in the media? And why has the voice of business been ignored for so long?
With Brexit getting very close indeed, a new book cuts through the cacophony of the debate and shows how the language of politicians, the media and voters brought us to this historic juncture.
The book is edited by Dr. Veronika Koller, of Lancaster University, Dr. Susanne Kopf, who has a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from Lancaster University, and Dr. Marlene Miglbauer from the University College of Teacher Education, Burgenland.
'Discourses of Brexit', published today, provides a kaleidoscope of insights into how Leave voters explain their choice, how people discuss Brexit on social media and why, from time to time, Jeremy Corbyn and Nigel Farage sound very similar.
The book looks at how communications and debate influenced the outcome of the EU referendum and at the language that has sprung up as a result.
Working with a variety of data, from political speeches to Tweets, and a wide range of methods, the book presents a thorough examination of the 'discourses' around the referendum and related events.
Chapters include the study of social media reactions to the vote, the voice of the people in the multitude of vox pops, and an investigation revealing how MPs of all stripes failed to make a positive case for EU membership.
"I was thrilled to edit this book on the voices around Brexit," said lead editor Dr. Koller, "because it was clear it was going to be something productive and cathartic amid all the current uncertainty."
"The book provides a longer term look at the language from the period before the Referendum right up to more recent debates and uncovers some fascinating trends."
"It was amazing to see what a big impact even a small and subtle change in wording can have on the political stage."
The book is published by Routledge.
Brexit has already cost the average worker a more than a week's wages, academic study shows
Provided by Lancaster University
Citation: Talking about Brexit—how did we get to this point? (2019, March 4) retrieved 20 January 2021 from https://phys.org/news/2019-03-brexithow.html
Purposes of physics
Can the human body affect a radio receiver?
Irreversible Isochoric Process in a Cycle
Can we ignite Jupiter?
Impact of the engine thermostat temperature setting on engine efficiency
The Simulation Theory and the dangers of pop-science
More from Other Physics Topics
Did the Brexit referendum politically disengage women?
Facebook: Russia spent 97 cents meddling in Brexit vote
Facebook accused of inaction over Russian ads in Brexit vote
Brexit echo chambers on Twitter reflect in-person conversations, study finds
Facebook hires British ex-deputy PM as global affairs head
Traditional stereotypes about masculinity may help explain support for Trump
College roommates found to have influence on first year students' political ideology
Extreme political advertising can hurt campaign efforts
Polarization increases with economic decline, becoming cripplingly contagious
Seizing military weapons does not increase violent crime nor risk police safety
New study shows real-time stress reaction to racism

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
The NSW Government manages softwood and hardwood plantations and native forests for multiple uses – this includes selling forest products like timber to industry to process and take to market.
NSW forests are made up of public and privately owned plantation and natural forests that are managed for economic (wood and forest products), social (jobs and recreation) and environmental benefits (carbon, biodiversity and soil and water conservation), and cultural heritage values.
For over a century, timber harvesting has occurred in NSW creating regional jobs and ensuring a supply of timber from sustainably managed sources. Find out more about the forestry industry.
Three government agencies share responsibility for the management of native forestry operations in NSW.
NSW Department of Primary Industries
leads forest policy and research and industry development providing evidence based information to forest managers and policy makers that underpins the sustainable use of forests
Primary Industries, Fisheries - regulates forestry operations under the Fisheries Management Act 1994
Forestry Corporation of NSW
the land manager of State forests and the only organisation authorised to remove timber from State forests and other Crown-timber lands
leads the operational management of around two million hectares of native forests for sustainable timber production, recreation and biodiversity
also manages around 200,000 hectares of softwood plantations and 35,000 hectares of eucalypt plantations
Forestry Corporation of NSW website
Environment Protection Authority (EPA)
responsible for the regulation of native forestry operations on private and public land in NSW
The NSW Department of Primary Industries, Forestry Corporation of NSW and the EPA are responsible for delivering the NSW Forestry Industry Roadmap released mid-2016. The roadmap is a strategic action plan to build a stronger, more competitive and ecologically sustainable forestry industry. It represents a clear statement from the NSW Government that it supports the NSW forestry industry, which is critical for many towns in regional NSW and the construction of new homes in Sydney.
Find out more about the NSW Forestry Industry Roadmap.


Wiggle Chairs - Shawn Veitch – Dutton Elementary - $500.00. These special wiggle chairs were purchased to help support students who have a difficult time staying focused. The chairs help students control themselves and as a result can better engage in classroom learning.
Odyssey of the Mind Worlds -Stephanie Pearson – Emmons Lake Elementary - $500.00. Granted funds for the team to go to the World Final's Competition.
Odyssey of the Mind Worlds - Caryn Kersey -Kraft Meadows Middle School -$500.00. Granted funds for the team to go to the World Final's Competition.
LINKS Whitecaps Game -Jen Amorose – High Schools LINKS Programs - $500.00. Students with autism and cognitive impairments from the Caledonia High School LINKS/ MOCI Room will be working on social, independence, and communication goals while attending the Whitecaps game with their LINKS mentor.
Middle School Music Stands - Lynne Kotarski -Caledonia Bands- $497.00 - Music stands were purchased for use in the middle school band rooms.
English 12- Non-fiction Memoir - Beth Schuster - Caledonia High School - $439.25. A set of 35 copies of the book, "The Terrorist's Son" by Zak Ebrahim were purchased for use in the 12th grade English classroom.
Encore English 9-12 - Choice Reading - Deb Fisher - Caledonia High School Special Education - $2000.00. Purchased books to establish a foundational library of appealing texts for students at appropriate reading levels that will satisfy grade level core requirements and meet individual needs.
Daily Grind Update - Emily Westfall - Transitions Program- $2120.00 - Updated equipment and signage, uniforms, water dispenser and brewer as well as a donut machine were purchased for use in the Daily Grind Coffee Shop.
TV Pro Technology Update - Mike Wilson - Caledonia High School -$8383.94. Purchased equipment such as camcorders, RAM upgrade, memory cards, and memory card readers along with software in order to upgrade the TV Production equipment to high definition.
Caledonia Bands Baritone Saxophone Project - Valerie Gootjes - Caledonia Bands -$4321.00. A baritone saxophone was purchased for Caledonia Bands to be used by both middle schools to enable students to learn to play this cost-prohibitive instrument.
Caledonia First Lego League - Wendy Cammet -Caledonia Robotics - $2400.00. Grant funds purchased start up kits and equipment to support three new and seven existing Junior First Lego League teams at each of the districts five elementary schools- grades 2-3.
Auditorium Sound Upgrade - Jeff Jenkins - District Performing Arts Center/Fine Arts Center $7816.38. Upgraded the auditorium sound systems with a new sound board with digital mixer and 8 wireless microphones with battery packs.
Kettle Lake Outdoor Classroom & Learning Garden - Kettle Lake PTO -Kettle Lake Elementary - $15,000.00. Funds were used to create a "hands on" outdoor learning center featuring a raised reading deck, dry creek bed, native pine trees and flowers, and Michigan state symbols. Raised planting beds will allow students to plant and harvest vegetables and flowers.


text:
package com.landawn.abacus.util.function;

import com.landawn.abacus.util.N;
import com.landawn.abacus.util.Try;

/**
 *
 * @since 0.8
 *
 * @author Haiyang Li
 */
public interface DoubleBiConsumer extends Try.DoubleBiConsumer<RuntimeException> {

    @Override
    void accept(double t, double u);

    default DoubleBiConsumer andThen(DoubleBiConsumer after) {
        N.checkArgNotNull(after);

        return (t, u) -> {
            accept(t, u);
            after.accept(t, u);
        };
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


My intention was to make chocolate fondue for Valentine's dessert. Well, we were so full from our champagne + cheese fondue, we didn't get around to dessert. Now I have tons of strawberries, pineapple, raspberries, oranges & banana that were going to be dipped into dark chocolate. We've been munching on the raspberries, and today I decided to make a smoothie with the strawberries.
Instructions: Blend all ingredients & enjoy!
Because my strawberries were fresh, not frozen, it was a little more liquidy than icy. Feel free to add 4 to 10 ice cubes if you want that thicker consistency.
This entry was posted in Smoothies.


Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), a leading publisher of the World University Rankings, is going to end the the rolling year with consecutive educational fairs. After wrapping the ''QS World MBA Tour - Study in the US" in the month of August, QS is all set to host the ''QS World MBA Tour'' in the month of December where India is a part. As for now, the QS World MBA Tour is scheduled in the five major cities spread across the country between December 2 and 10, 2018.
The ''QS World MBA Tour'' is an event that provides aspirants an opportunity to meet with MBA admissions officers from the world's top business schools across the globe. Candidates who attend the event will witness advice on MBA admissions strategy and how to improve GMAT scores. Students who take part in the event will also be eligible to apply for a pool of QS scholarships worth $7 million. Here are the details of each city which will host the QS World MBA Tour.
Candidates who visit the event will get expert guidance related admission, snapshot presentation regarding the admission requirements, guidance on Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) by GMAC and eligible for the US $7 million scholarship. Aspirants will also receive application fee waivers from the participating and/or selected business schools.
The education fair in Mumbai provides an opportunity to meet face-to-face with admissions directors from top-ranked MBA colleges. Candidates who attend the event will gain insights regarding various institutes and schools.
One who attends the event will also have access to apply for the US $7 million exclusive scholarship. They can also meet York University and Schulich School of Business to gain insight into the school and programs offered.
Candidates who are aiming to pursue management programmes at foreign countries can attend the event which will provide an opportunity to speak with admissions directors to find the MBA program that's right for you.
Enthusiasts who join the education fair will get all the information regarding the admission requirements and programmes related to MBA.
The workshop will be hosted on how to ace the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) exam besides conducting sessions on studying in the US.


Keep these factors in mind when designing a sales/promotional brochure that is an effective direct marketing tool. Remember the brochure has to be able to convey all promotional and sales messages and offers without the other components in the mail package. The brochure needs to be able to stand alone and provide all the information the reader needs to take the action you want.
Is the brochure designed for the market you're trying to reach?
Is the presentation appropriate for the product and offer?
Is the design consistent with the other mailer components?
Is there a big idea behind the brochure?
Do the headlines stick to the key offer?
Is the product dramatized to its best advantage?
Does it show the product in use?
Does it follow a logical sequence?
Does it tell the complete story?
Does it state the price, offer, guarantee, etc.?
Can it be cut from regular size paper?
Is the paper quality in keeping with the presentation?
Is color used to show the product in its best light?


text:
Counting Down with 2021's Top 10 Stories (Conclusion)
See our most popular posts as we close the book on 2021
CHICAGO — For this, the final post of 2021, we're counting down our 10 most popular stories, based on page views, that we've run this year on the American Drycleaner website. We covered No. 10 to 6 in Part 1 on Tuesday, and today, we'll round it out as we open the book on 2022.
5. What Does the Future Hold for Dry Cleaning? (Part 1)
While there's no substitute for experience, the drycleaning industry has entered into an era when past lessons might not apply to future decisions as well as they once did. For this feature series in September, we examined some of the shifting demographics and evolving consumer behaviors that were supercharged by the changes brought by the pandemic and asked industry experts what they thought the future held for the industry.
As we continued this three-part series about what the future would look like in the next few months, we asked some owners who were new to the industry about their opinions and outlooks. For those who joined the industry in the depths of the pandemic, with no reference to "how things used to be," many found that they were free to design a business that would connect with today's customers, offering them the services they needed with the communication they'd come to expect from modern businesses.
3. Lapels Acquires Martinizing, 1-800-DryClean, Others
In a move that created the world's largest dry cleaning and laundry business, in May, Lapels Dry Cleaning and its equity partner, Greybull Stewardship L.P., announced the acquisition of Martinizing Dry Cleaning, 1-800-DryClean, Pressed4time, Dry Cleaning Station and Bizziebox.
With this merger, the new company — Clean Franchise Brands, LLC — had more than 500 stores in 40 states and nine countries. The new company, based in Tampa, Florida, offered multiple offerings for new and existing franchise owners, including, plants with retail stores, satellite stores, pickup and delivery, and the newly created Lapels Laundromat.
2. Supply Chain Reaction (Part 1)
As the pandemic receded and business started to pick back up, owners soon ran into a challenge many hadn't expected. The supply chain that cleaners rely on for the materials necessary to do their work had been strained to —and in some cases far beyond — the breaking point. Items that once took days to weeks to deliver were now taking months, if they're available at all, and cleaners and suppliers around the country felt the pinch (and many still do).
We spoke with dry cleaners and suppliers in this series from July on the reasons for the shortages and when they thought things might even back out.
1. DLI Names Board of Directors for 2021-22
In August, the Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) announced its board of directors for the 2021-2022 term. The board, made up of industry professionals who own and/or operate fabricare businesses and are members of the organization, are key to charting a course for the organization.
At the top of the list, Jess Culpepper of Culpepper Cleaners in San Antonio, Texas, was named chair, while Bobby Patel of Kona Cleaners in Costa Mesa, California, was named president.
As the new directors are sworn in, their predecessors move on to an executive position or become DLI Senators.
For Part 1 of this list, click HERE.


There's a moment in one of my favorite films, Searching for Bobby Fischer, where 7-year-old chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin's chess teacher knocks all the pieces off his chess board, in an effort to get him to concentrate deeper on the way the pieces on the board were strategically aligned.As the pieces go flying, scattering noisily about the room, Josh is at first stunned that his teacher would have done such a thing.
I wish you never have to go through that kind of pain!Last week, I was on the breath-taking island of Puerto Rico at a resort on the beach enjoying the crashing waves of the ocean and the cool breeze. If you don't know by now, I am an observer.
Maybe can be a great place. It's full of possibility, it can feel like there's an escape hatch available at all times.
Who's World Is It?Who's world really is it? Is it a man's world? There is a song by James Brown. "This is a mans world" is the chorus.
What is Desire? Let us see! Webster tells us that it is:"The natural longing to possess any seeming good; eager wish to obtain or enjoy," or in its abnormal or degenerate sense:"excessive or morbid longing; lust; appetite. "Desire" is a much-abused term - the public mind has largely identified it with its abnormal or degenerate phase, just mentioned, ignoring its original and true sense.
This is a story about a woman we will call Anne, a thirty-five-year-old woman who concluded that she could never find a man. She determined that loneliness was her fate and thus went as far as accepting it as fact.
�??The snow goose neednot bathe to make its self whiteNeither need you do anythingto be yourself.�?? Lao-TseIn Corrogue it is snowing and I am sending valentines.


text:
Q: Python - Loop through User input number, calculate and output the entered values I have been learning Python for nearly 6 weeks now and below is my first program.
What I would like to get are user input for patient no, carb, protein and fat requirement.
With the below code, I get the output that I want. However, I feel that it is not DRY at all. I am repeating a lot of things.
I want to modify this code to enable users to enter as many patients as they like. Currently, I specify patient_no1 and patient_no2. I am going to revise for loop and code this problem with for loop. If you could give me a bit guidance on how I could refactor this current code, it would be greatly appreciated.
 Thank you!
def diet_log():

    ################################ Patient 1 ##########################################
    # Request User input for patient numbers, Handle non-positive integers and other invalid user input error for patient numbers
    while True:
        try:
            patient_no1 = int(input("Enter a patient number to determine the dietary requirements : "))
            assert(patient_no1 > 0), "The patient number entered must be a positive integer."
            break
        except:
            print("The patient number you enter must be a positive integer. Please try again.")

    # Request User input for protein, Handle non-positive integers and other invalid user input error

    while True:
        try:
            diet_protein1 = float(input("Amount of protein required: "))
            assert(diet_protein1 > 0)
            break
        except:
            print("The protein amount must be a non-negative integer.")

    # Request User input for carbohydrates, Handle non-positive integers and other invalid user input error

    while True:
        try:
            diet_carb1 = float(input("Amount of carbohydrates required: "))
            assert(diet_carb1 > 0)
            break
        except:
            print("The amount of carbohydrates required must be a non-negative integer.")

    # Request User input for fat, Handle non-positive integers and other invalid user input error

    while True:
        try:
            diet_fat1 = float(input("Amount of fat required:  "))
            assert(diet_fat1 > 0)
            break
        except:
            print("The fat amount must be a non-negative integer.")

    print("-----------------------------------------------------")

    ########################## end of Patient 1 ##############################################################

    ################################ Patient 2 ##########################################
    # Request User input for patient numbers, Handle non-positive integers and other invalid user input error for patient numbers
    while True:
        try:
            patient_no2 = int(input("Enter a patient number to determine the dietary requirements : "))
            assert(patient_no2 > 0), "The patient number entered must be a positive integer."
            break
        except:
            print("The patient number you enter must be a positive integer. Please try again.")

    # Request User input for protein, Handle non-positive integers and other invalid user input error

    while True:
        try:
            diet_protein2 = float(input("Amount of protein required: "))
            assert(diet_protein2 > 0)
            break
        except:
            print("The protein amount must be a non-negative integer.")

    # Request User input for carbohydrates, Handle non-positive integers and other invalid user input error

    while True:
        try:
            diet_carb2 = float(input("Amount of carbohydrates required: "))
            assert(diet_carb2 > 0)
            break
        except:
            print("The amount of carbohydrates required must be a non-negative integer.")

    # Request User input for fat, Handle non-positive integers and other invalid user input error

    while True:
        try:
            diet_fat2 = float(input("Amount of fat required:  "))
            assert(diet_fat2 > 0)
            break
        except:
            print("The fat amount must be a non-negative integer.")

    ########################## end of Patient 2 ##############################################################

    # Create list of protein, carb and fat for patients

    total_patient_num = [patient_no1, patient_no2]
    diet_protein = [diet_protein1, diet_protein2]
    diet_carb = [diet_carb1, diet_carb2]
    diet_fat = [diet_fat1, diet_fat2]

    # Calculate average for the lists created above by using statistics
    import statistics

    average_protein = statistics.mean(diet_protein)
    average_carb = statistics.mean(diet_carb)
    average_fat = statistics.mean(diet_fat)

    # Calculate average kilojoules

    kilojoules = 4.18 * ( (4 * average_protein) + (4* average_carb) + (9.30 * average_fat))

    # Display the output to the users
    print("===================================================")
    print("Total number of patients entered: ", len(total_patient_num))

    print("Patient %d" % patient_no1)
    print("\n","   Amount of protein (g) required: ", diet_protein1, "\n","   Amount of carbohydrates (g) required: ",diet_carb1 ,"\n","   Amount of fat required: ", diet_fat1)

    print("Patient %d" % patient_no2)
    print("\n","   Amount of protein (g) required: ", diet_protein2, "\n","   Amount of carbohydrates (g) required: ",diet_carb2 ,"\n","   Amount of fat required: ", diet_fat2)

    print("-----------------------------------------------------")
    print("Averages: ", "\n",
        "Protein (g): ", format(average_protein, ",.2f"), "\n",
        "Carbohydrates (g): ", format(average_carb, ",.2f"), "\n",
        "Fat (g): ", format(average_fat, ".2f"), "\n",
        "Kilojoules (kJ): ", format(kilojoules, ",.2f"), "\n")

if __name__ == "__main__": diet_log()
    # print(diet_log("patient no"))

A: Start by looking for code that looks really similar.  For instance the while loops that you are performing around input statements look a lot alike.  Try turning these into functions with parameters for the parts that make them different.

A: You could start by defining your lists in a generic way:
total_patient_num = []
diet_protein = []
diet_carb = []
diet_fat = []

Currently, you would have to repeat the same code n times if you were to add n users.
When you see patterns like this, it hints you towards the fact that you should be abstracting your code.
To fix this you could simply get the code into a function as such:
def get_user_input():
    while True:
        try:
            patient_no_value = int(input("Enter a patient number to determine the dietary requirements : "))
            assert(patient_no_value > 0), "The patient number entered must be a positive integer."
            total_patient_num.append(patient_no_value)
            break
        except:
            print("The patient number you enter must be a positive integer. Please try again.")

    # Request User input for protein, Handle non-positive integers and other invalid user input error

    while True:
        try:
            diet_protein_value = float(input("Amount of protein required: "))
            assert(diet_protein_value > 0)
            diet_protein.append(diet_protein_value)
            break
        except:
            print("The protein amount must be a non-negative integer.")

    # Request User input for carbohydrates, Handle non-positive integers and other invalid user input error

    while True:
        try:
            diet_carb_value = float(input("Amount of carbohydrates required: "))
            assert(diet_carb_value > 0)
            diet_carb.apend(diet_carb_value )
            break
        except:
            print("The amount of carbohydrates required must be a non-negative integer.")

    # Request User input for fat, Handle non-positive integers and other invalid user input error

    while True:
        try:
            diet_fat_value = float(input("Amount of fat required:  "))
            assert(diet_fat_value > 0)
            diet_fat.append(diet_fat_value)
            break
        except:
            print("The fat amount must be a non-negative integer.")

    print("-----------------------------------------------------")

Each time you call that method, it'll create a new entry on each of those lists.
You could also think about using a class to represent your user.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Pastors react to appeals court ruling that would affect N.C.'s Amendment One
Jackie Bridges / Staff Writer
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' decision Monday to strike down Virginia's same-sex marriage ban will also affect North Carolina's Amendment One. To what degree and when, we're still waiting to find out. Monday's 2-1 ruling applies throughout the circuit that also includes West Virginia, Maryland, and the Carolinas and adds to the growing list of decrees on a hot-button issue that will likely end up being decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. Two years ago on May 8, 2012, the controversial Amendment One passed in North Carolina with about 61 percent of the vote, defining marriage between one man and one woman as the only legal domestic partnership recognized in the state. And in Cleveland County, 80 percent of the people who voted that day voted for the amendment and to specify that marriage is only between a man and a woman. Allowing same-sex marriage goes against the Bible and America's founding principles, said the Rev. James T. Lochridge Jr., pastor of Second Baptist Church in Kings Mountain. "It is not up to us to question what God defined as marriage in Genesis, Chapter 2," Lochridge said in an email to The Star on Tuesday . "If our elected officials will not stand up for the Christian principles on which this country was founded, then we, the voters, need to elect those who will. America has been a great nation in the past because we have stood on God's word from the beginning." The Rev. Dr. Valori Mulvey Sherer, rector at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Shelby, said the ruling doesn't make some winners and some losers. "It simply prohibits one group of people from discriminating against another using the force of law," she said in an email to The Star . "Churches and Christians who believe gay marriage is wrong will not be forced to marry gays. Churches and Christians who believe in marriage equality will soon no longer be inhibited from living out our beliefs and conferring this sacramental grace on all who seek it." The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., is the second federal appellate court to overturn gay marriage bans, after the Denver circuit, and is the first to affect the South, a region where the rising tide of rulings favoring marriage equality is testing concepts of states' rights and traditional, conservative moral values that have long held sway. Dr. Bo Wagner, pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Mooresboro said the recent decisions signal how far Americans, religious or not, are straying from the government structure established by the country's founding fathers. "Hamilton, in Federalist Paper number nine, said 'The proposed Constitution, so far from implying an abolition of the State governments, makes them constituent parts of the national sovereignty, by allowing them a direct representation in the Senate, and leaves in their possession certain exclusive and very important portions of sovereign power,'" Wagner said in an email to The Star . "The 10th Amendment states so very simply and clearly, 'The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.' "The people of the State of North Carolina spoke overwhelmingly, legally, clearly and rightly," Wagner said. "When the federal government steps in and waves all of that away with a judicial wand, the spell it casts is one that removes power from the people to whom it belongs, and renders them subjects of a judicial oligarchy." However, Sherer - whose church hosted the county's first gay pride picnic last month - and others see the court's decision as a positive one for North Carolina. "I am witnessing so much joy and hope from the LGBTQA community since news of the ruling hit yesterday," she said. "Neighbors who have been excluded from marriage because of their sexual orientation and who experience discrimination on a regular basis, now express renewed hope. Some of my LGBTQ friends are contacting me to begin discussions about getting married." North Carolina's top lawman, Roy Cooper, quickly announced that he will stop defending his state's ban, but a spokesman said South Carolina's attorney general, Alan Wilson, sees no need to change course. Maryland already allows same-sex marriages. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, for his part, said he's reviewing the decision and won't comment until it's final. Gay marriage proponents have won more than 20 legal decisions around the country since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act last year. Most are still under appeal. More than 70 cases have been filed in all 31 states that prohibit same-sex marriage. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia allow such marriages. The U.S. Supreme Court could have at least five appellate decisions to consider if it takes up gay marriage again in its next term, beginning in October. The Associated Press contributed to this report. We asked our Facebook fans about Virginia's ruling and its implications for North Carolina. Here's a sample of the response. Want to chime in? Find 'The Shelby Star' on Facebook and click like. Unfortunately, NC's Defense of Marriage Act will be overturned because the number of Americans who hold to traditional Christian values are diminishing. "Marriage equality" is a false issue as all people have the same right to marry a person of the opposite sex, which is the definition of marriage. If homosexuals want to join in 'civil unions' or whatever they want to call it, go ahead, but don't try to change the definition of marriage. Mark Brooks And now we can finally see what a futile exercise "Amendment One" really was. Tony Brown Finally, equal opportunity for gay/lgbt people to marry. I would be able to marry my partner of 24 years. Judy N. Disguise It means the beautiful state of N.C. will get to keep the money I use to pay for the wedding to my long term partner. Rather than Maryland benefiting of the thousands of dollars I will spend this fall. Allison Kennerty Why do we even bother to vote when the will of the people can be overturned by some judge? Alena Fortenberry Waxter It means to me that my beloved state of N.C. is going to Hell in a hand basket and the liberals have a torch to burn the basket. Van Hoyle Another example of judicial activism. Doug Smalley


Grief Beyond Belief is a labor of love. It was born of the love of a grieving mother, grew through the immense kindness and compassion of the secular community, continues to thrive through the day-to-day work of a handful of volunteers, and is expanding with the help of those who contributed to its resources.
Without Nita-Jane Grigson, Grief Beyond Belief might not have survived the inevitable burnout of its founder, Rebecca. Nita defends the original Grief Beyond Belief Page at Facebook against evangelism and religious, spiritual and woo content like an atheist paladin. While secular celebrities get the attention in our community, it is people like Nita who are the unsung heroes.
The wonderful volunteers who co-moderate the Closed Grief Beyond Belief Group at Facebook — the primary space used for day-to-day grief support by our community — are Kristi Hein, Ian Hepworth and Dawn Duhon-Kosmakos who have all served as group administrators for over a year, and Melanie Riecke Hiller, Sherry Thompson and Catherine Mustico, who joined in the effort this summer. Their labor, particularly their dedication to reviewing the over 100 requests to join the group we receive every month, is what maintains GBBGroup as a safe space.
Of course, griefbeyondbelief.org went live this year. The website was designed with the support and untiring work of Nicola Ginzler and Mark Hulings. This year, we have hosted some awesome bloggers, including longtime Grief Beyond Belief member William Cain, Kate Sirls, and Humanistic Rabbi Adam Chalom. Hopefully next year the blogging will be more consistent. Turns out that it is hard to maintain a blog and earn a living at the same time. Props to all the people who do. And thank you everyone who made griefbeyondbelief.org a reality, rather than a plan.
A number of other anonymous donors gave as well; I tried to contact them all to ask if they could be listed, so if you don't see your name here, please get in touch at griefbeyondbelief@gmail.com so I can list you on a thank you page I will be adding to the site.


SSSP conferences are biennial. These focus on up-to-date research in the field of psychopathy and include a broad range of issues. They are designed to encourage and facilitate discussion with other researchers, legal professionals, and clinicians.
Click to see information about Upcoming SSSP Conferences.
Click to see information about Past SSSP Conferences.


This morning (for me, afternoon in the U.K.), Ananyo Bhattacharya offered up a very frustrating opinion piece at the Guardian, arguing that the inherently flawed practices of mainstream science journalism are ideal, because journalists apparently know better than scientists. Excellent responses have already been posted at geologygeek and Southern Fried Science, but I figure there's still room to jump into the fray.
My first concern with Dr. Bhattacharya's editorial is his assumption that science and scientists are fundamentally boring, and it is up to journalists to liven things up. Even if it means spinning the original paper beyond recognition, fabricating an irrelevant hook, dropping quotes out of context, or inventing controversy where none exits. Now, Dr. Bhattacharya's background is in physics and protein crystallography, so maybe he has a point about that being dry. However, he is drawing on the myth that all scientists are stodgy boffins incapable of expressing anything without the jargon of their own esoteric specialty. Such people exist, but in my experience many, if not most scientists are engaging and skillful communicators. I dare anyone to hear a public lecture by Matt Carrano and not be impressed. Scientists have to be able to communicate to a wider audience; these days it's a requirement for getting grants. Science is already interesting, and there is no more engaging source of information than a passionate and knowledgeable expert. As such, it is condescending for Dr. Bhattacharya to imply that scientists need journalists to "contextualize" the story (read: miss the point of the paper entirely in order to make it palatable). In particular, I must take issue with the assertion that journalists know better than the scientists who did the research which caveats are critical to understanding the issue being discussed.
There's a fundamental misapprehension among many in the scientific community that the principal job of science journalists is to communicate the results of their work to the general public. It's not.
I think that's the problem in a nutshell. Actually communicating (accurate and reliable) information is not the media's concern.
This comment sums it up very nicely.
"There's a fundamental misapprehension among many people that the principal job of journalists is to communicate the facts to the general public.


Scintilla: a spark, a glimmer, a particle of fire, a glittering speck. Carrie Fertig's handmade, flame-worked glass instruments were the starting point for this piece. Sounds from these fascinating, oddly shaped objects create a dense, powerful, resonant texture, but at the same time we sense their fragility and vulnerability.
Scintilla was realized in 2013 in the studios of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and premiered on February 11, 2013 in the Alexander Gibson Opera Studio in Glasgow (Scotland, UK).


text:
Piedmont Exedra (https://piedmontexedra.com/2020/07/california-book-awards)
California Book Awards
By Sue Gilmore | Bay City News | July 10, 2020
For an amazing 89 years, the San Francisco-based California Commonwealth Club has been assessing the work of the Golden State's authors and conferring annual awards upon the best of them. It's no great surprise that John Steinbeck was a three-time honoree, but more modern recipients have included many Bay Areans – San Francisco's Adam Johnson and Andrew Sean Greer and Berkeley's Michael Chabon among them.
This week, the Club – the oldest and largest public affairs forum in the country – has announced the nominees for the 2020 California Book Awards in six categories, its panel of judges having deliberated for the first time on Zoom instead of voting in person at the Commonwealth Club headquarters. The winners, whose works were published during 2019, will be announced July 24 by jury chair Peter Fish.
NONFICTION NOMINEES
Mark Arax
for "The Dreamt Land"
(Vintage, $17, 577 pages)
This journalist from The Central Valley traversed the state to explore how our water management – and mismanagement – systems have shaped the land and agriculture, for better and worse.
Anthony McCann
for "Shadowlands"
(Bloomsbury, $30, 448 pages).
This published poet and creative writing teacher has given us a probing account of the issues that arose with the 2016 federal standoff in Oregon when religious right wingers led by Ammon Bundy occupied the Maheur National Wildlife Reserve.
Chanel Miller of San Francisco
for "Know My Name"
(Viking, $28, 367 pages)
The courageous sexual assault survivor victimized at Stanford by Brock Turner has produced a forthright, thoroughly moving memoir that won the National Book Critics Circle Award for best autobiography of 2019.
Julia Flynn Siler
for "The White Devil's Daughters"
(Knopf, $28.95, 448 pages)
Siler, a resident of Ross in Marin County, unearthed the amazing story of Donaldina "Dolly" Cameron, who worked tirelessly in early 20th-century San Francisco to liberate girls and young women who were conscripted into sexual slavery in Chinatown.
David Treuer
for "The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee"
(Riverhead, $17, 526 pages)
This sweeping account of Native American life from the famed 1890 massacre of the title to the present day was written by a Southern California anthropologist and creative writing teacher who is himself an Objibwe from a Minnesota tribe.
FICTION NOMINEES
Steph Cha
for "Your House Will Pay"
(Ecco, $26.99, 320 pages)
Los Angeles in the tumultuous 1990s is the setting for this taut tale of two families, one Korean-American and one African-American, who must come to grips with their shared histories as more racial violence threatens to erupt.
Carolina de Robertis
for "Cantoras"
This new novel from the Oakland-based author of "The Gods of Tango" revolves around five lesbian "women who sing" who find each other while seeking refuge from the brutal military dictatorship in 1970s Uruguay and covers half a century of their intertwined lives.
for "The Other Americans"
(Pantheon Books, $16, 300 pages)
A love story, a murder mystery and an immigrant's tale, the novel by the American Book Award-wining author of "The Moor's Account" spins off in several interwoven directions after a Moroccan store owner becomes the victim of an apparent hit-and-run late in the night.
Margaret Wilkerson Sexton
for "The Revisioners"
(Counterpoint Press, $25, 288 pages)
Opening in modern-day New Orleans with a biracial single mom who has just lost her job, the Oakland author's novel arcs back in time to an ancestor of her character's – a former sharecropper who now owns her farm – and traces how their lives intersect across the generations.
FIRST-FICTION NOMINEES
Mimi Lok of San Francisco
for "Last of Her Name"
(Kaya Press, $16.95, 192 pages)
Jamil Kochai
for "99 Nights in Logar"
(Viking, $16.78, 279 pages)
Shannon Pufahi
for "On Swift Horses"
(Riverhead Books, $27, 320 pages)
Xuan Juliana Wang
for "Home Remedies"
(Hogarth, $25, 240 pages)
Ruchika Tomar of San Jose
for "A Prayer for Travelers" (Riverhead Books, $27, 351 pages)
JUVENILE CATEGORY NOMINEES
Cynthia Kadohata
for "A Place to Belong"
(Atheneum, $8.99, 432 pages)
Sandy Stark-McGinnis
for "Extraordinary Birds"
(Bloomsbury, $8.99, 240 pages)
Raina Telgemeier of San Francisco
for "Guts"
(Scholastic, $24.99, 224 pages)
Jen Wang
for "Stargazing"
($21.99, 224 pages)
YOUNG ADULT CATEGORY NOMINEES
Dana L. Davis
for "The Voice in My Head"
(Ink Yard Press, $18.99, 320 pages)
Morgan Parker
for "Who Put This Song On?"
(Delacorte Press, &18.99, 325 pages)
Randy Ribay of Stanford
for "Patron Saints of Nothing"
(Kokila, $17.99, 352 pages)
for "Frankly in Love"
(G.P. Putnam's Sons, $18.99, 432 pages)
POETRY NOMINEES
Brent Armendinger
for "Street Gloss"
(The Operating System, $18, 125 pages)
Gillian Conoley of Corte Madera
for "A Little More Red Sun on the Human"
(Nightboat Books, $19.95, 296 pages)
Harmony Holiday
for "A Jazz Funeral for Uncle Tom"
(Birds, LLC, $18, 56 pages)
Kenji C. Liu
for "Monsters I have Been"
(Alice James Books, $16.95, 100 pages)
for "Magical Negro"
(Tin House Books, $15.95, 112 pages)


Today, I finished up my last group of kids coming through the library for Freshmen Library Orientation and it was a huge success. When I started two years ago, the kids were doing their library orientation on paper and it required a lot of paper grading. I decided last year I wanted to keep up the scavenger hunt aspect, but I wanted to make it a little more fun and digital. We did a scavenger hunt with a prize for the first person to finish. The kids definitely had fun, but they didn't really learn much about the library because they were rushing through the tasks. This time, I did a good bit of research on what school librarians in my PLN were doing and I found a nice compromise between the two. Before I map out how I did this, I'll admit that I completely forgot to take pictures. I'm so bad with taking pictures in the library and I hope keeping up this blog will help me with that.
I began by using a presentation to introduce myself, the library spaces that weren't covered in the scavenger hunt, the library website, and the book club. Talking about myself was one of the best decisions. I had never done that before and it was a spur of the moment decision the night before I met my first class. I told them about being a band nerd in high school, my music degree, my obsessions (Harry Potter, Hamilton, and Pokemon Go), and my deep love of reading. It helped me build a little rapport with the kids and many of them had common interests. I even had a few kids who loved every single thing I did. It gave them such a positive experience with me and in the library and I hope it made them feel welcome. I also really loved showing them the website. Now, they all know how to get here, what's available, and how to search for books in the library. I had a good deal of interest in book club. I was so excited about that. I haven't been the best at publicizing out book club so it hasn't grown very much. I think introducing it to my 9th graders every year will help. You can click the image below to see my presentation.
Once we pushed out the scavenger hunt, the students paired up and worked together to complete each task. I gave them tasks that would take them to each area of the library, introduce them to books they might like, and have them go through the printing process. Doing all of this made them familiar with where things are and how the library operates. I also think they had fun doing it. I set it up so that there was only one question per section so they could focus on answering each question before moving onto the next one. I walked around and helped students with their tasks, as needed. Their last task was to ask me a question so I had a good idea of when everyone was finished. Most of them asked me my favorite book or color, but some came up with really interesting questions. Click the link below to see my form. I've removed the required questions so you can click through without answering anything.
I tacked a little survey on at the end to see what students thought about the library in general and during Husky Hour.
Let's take a look at the survey results!
My first question was whether or not the student felt they had learned something from the scavenger hunt. Hopefully, they were honest. Almost 90% said they learned something. Several of the students had already been visiting the library, so they might not have learned much from this activity since they'd already figured much of it out. A few things they said they learned were how to print, how to find books, where certain sections are located, that there are comics, and that there are group room they can use. Many also took note that they now know there is a library website. My favorite response was this one: "[I learned] where I can find the best book ever and the best librarian." It's always nice when a kid makes you smile!
I asked the students to rate the library on a scale of Meh to Awesome (0-5). I mostly got some great ratings, so it's looks like a good first impression for these guys. When asked if there was anything that would improve the library I got some silly responses and some great ones. Students suggested I buy more sports books, horror books, and graphic novels (I'm working on it). There were a lot of suggestions for things that are out of my control like open wi-fi and coffee in the mornings. I was happy to see a few requests for more study tips and help. I'm hoping I can provide that on this website.
I'm not going to post the data for Husky Hour attendance because I think it will change a lot in the coming weeks. A little over half of the students said they had been in the library for Husky Hour. I had plenty of good feedback (it's a good place to hang out, they come to print things, they come to check out books). I also had a great deal of back feedback (it's too loud and crowded). It's true that, up until today, it was loud and overcrowded. We were trying an open door policy where kids could move in and out of the library as they pleased. It became too much pretty quickly and after a lot of student complaints we decided to turn the library back into a quiet space. We had our first successful lunch this way and we still had a full house. Many of the students who were looking for quieter places to work on things found it in the library and it seemed to work really well.
The examples for the weekly activities were coloring, board games, and card games. There are other makerspace type things I've seen librarians do with time like this, but I figured the kids wouldn't know what that meant. It's pretty split down the middle on this. With our new quieter atmosphere, the games might not work. There is a larger group room that would be good for small groups playing games. It also has storage that we could use to store any games or supplies, as well. Coloring I think might be nice to offer so I'm going to look into that.
I asked for Husky Hour suggestions and got more students mentioning the need for quiet. I also got some club/activity suggestions like tabletop gaming, roleplaying games (think Dungeons & Dragons), and card games. Lots of people seemed to like the idea of coloring and suggested a coloring club. These all sound awesome and we might be able to utilize one of the group rooms for those activities.
This was truly the best library orientation I've done since I've started working in the library. I can't think of anything I would change about it. Most of the students were engaged and learned something from it. All of them had the opportunity to meet me and learn who I am and what I do. I even had a parent send me a note to tell me how much her child loved learning about me and the library. That one email was enough validation. I can't wait to work with these funny, sweet students more this year!
Previous What's Up in September!


Enticed by the promise of billions of dollars in savings and production uplift, the oil and gas industry has paid heavy attention in recent years to the fast-paced development of big data and artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Budgets for this area of advanced computing software have exploded since the onset of the downturn, and now industry professionals want to know more than ever what success really looks like.
To share views on how the industry's digital transformation is shaping up, top executives from Google, Shell, Encana, and Schlumberger will take the stage for the opening session of the SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE) in Dallas, 24–26 September.
This kickoff discussion will focus on the culture shift required to adopt big data tools, and how to effectively leverage a new workforce of digitally-enabled engineers and scientists that is beginning to fill the industry's rank and file.
Darryl Willis, the newly appointed vice president of Google Cloud's oil and gas unit, is a trained geologist who spent more than 2 decades in senior positions at BP. From the podium, he plans to share perspectives on the digital challenges and opportunities the upstream sector is currently faced with.
"Machine learning, data analytics, and AI thrive on lots of data," and while the industry has plenty of that data, "it only uses a fraction of it," he explained.
To start unlocking the value of this information, he said that companies must do things that include "liberating" data from their traditional silos while also ensuring they are in fact capturing high-quality data from their wells and rigs. These are just two of the big steps required to take advantage of the power of cloud computing, and by not taking them, future profits are at risk.
"Companies will either be a catalyst for change, or they will be a casualty of change," said Willis, citing projections that say many of the globe's largest firms are poised to be surpassed by newcomers as technological and economic disruption continues.
ATCE's opening session will provide attendees a chance to hear about where the industry is making the right moves and seeing positive returns on its recent investments in digital technologies. One place that fits the bill is the Wamsutter tight-gas field in Wyoming, an asset that Willis used to be in charge of during his tenure at BP.
But business-as-usual changed last year when BP hooked 180 of those wells up to an AI program developed by a Silicon Valley startup called Kelvin Inc. The success metrics from the pilot were highly encouraging: operating costs dropped by 22%, production increased by 20%, and gas venting was cut by a whopping 74%.


text:
Tiffany Haddish Confirms She's Dating Common
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Everybody who is anybody was there.
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This guy Drake needs to be stopped before he starts a world war or something.
Serena Williams And Common Sit Down For ESPN…
The former couple who still remain friends sat down for a one-on-one interview for ESPN.
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A 30-inch minimum space between the wall and the unit is required.
1 How Close Should Walls or Fences Be to HVAC Units?
2 How Far Away Should Plants Be Around an A/C Unit?
The central air conditioner is a condensing unit placed outside of the home. The unit has a metal grate on top and grill slats along the sides to allow air to be pulled inside to cool the condenser. These slats must be afforded enough room for adequate air circulation or the condenser may overheat and become ineffective.
A 30-inch minimum distance between the condenser and the wall must be maintained for effective cooling of the unit. If this minimum distance is not adhered to, unless the placement is authorized by the parent company, the original warranty of the product will be voided. Although there is no maximum operating distance required between the wall and the condenser, that distance is ascertained by hose length and the footing placement on where it will stand. However, just like a wall, weeds, bushes, shrubs and other plants must not be allowed to block the cooling slats, and any new wall or fence that is built must also maintain the required 30-inch minimum space around the unit for effective use and to keep the warranty intact.
Yalanovsky, Dale. "How Far Should a Central Air Conditioner Be Placed From a Wall?" Home Guides | SF Gate, http://homeguides.sfgate.com/far-should-central-air-conditioner-placed-wall-84027.html. Accessed 19 April 2019.


text:
The Alzheimer's epidemic: an update
If the numbers can be trusted -- and I take nothing for granted anymore, but they're all we have to work with -- Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia are on a pathway to destroying us all.
Consider just a few of the most recent statistics:
Alzheimer's disease is the 6th leading cause of death in the U.S., killing more people than breast and prostate cancer combined.
Between 2000 and 2018, deaths from Alzheimer's rose by 146%, while deaths from heart disease decreased by 7.8%.
One in three seniors dies with (although apparently not necessarily from) one form of dementia or another.
Today, more than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's; by 2050, the experts expect the number to rise to as many as 14 million.
By 2050, Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia are predicted to cost the U.S. up to $1.1 trillion per year.
Yet just 50 years ago, this disease (along with others related to the brain) was almost unknown. What's going on?
In some cases, the disease can be genetic. (So much for evolutionary improvements due to positive, additive genetic changes. How can anyone be deluded enough to believe in evolution?) But otherwise, the experts appear to be stumped.
Could it be environmental? Aluminum has apparently been ruled out as a cause, but could it be something else that we're willingly ingesting? Could it be related to vaccines?
Until questions like these are answered, and Alzheimer's is on the wane, let's hope that our leaders are making plans for caring for the victims of this nasty disease. And let's hope that words like "euthanasia" and "Thailand" are nowhere to be found in their proposals.
Great post Kitty. I have long suspected that the chemicals we ingest into our bodies play some part in Alzheimer's. My own mother for example smoked for over 40 years(nicotine), drank moderately(alcohol) for at least that long, and consumed mass quantities of coffee(caffeine). Add to these the preservatives in our food supply, and a poor diet altogether, and you have to wonder if all of this was too much for her body to overcome. After watching her fade away due to Alzheimer's one thing was clear, I wouldn't wish that on anyone.
It really does make you wonder, Ron. I'm so sorry you all went through this!
Three Links link
Alzheimer's is a global crisis that requires a global solution. It is a grave threat to the world's health and finances if not stopped.


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Nov 15, 2018 (Euclid Infotech Ltd via COMTEX) -- Heads of State, presidents of Development Finance Institutions (DFIs), global and regional investors, business moguls and other A-list attendees are lauding the recently concluded inaugural Africa Investment Forum as an unprecedented game changer for Africa.
South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa has described the Forum, convened by the African Development Bank, as an innovative implementation platform that lays the ground work for a new era of working together that will propel us towards our goal of a more prosperous, united and integrated continent.
The Forum is a co-financing and de-risking platform, bringing together DFIs, Multilateral Development Banks, investors, project sponsors and the private sector to help bridge Africas investment financing gap.
Ethiopias first female president, Sahle-Work Zewde, was among several African presidents and prime ministers in attendance. Looking at Africa only through the lens of peace and security is not getting us anywhere. We have to address perceived risk (on the continent) and have to change this mindset, she said.
Emma Wade-Smith, British Trade Commissioner for Africa told participants in a session that the UK wants to become the leading investment and trading partner with Africa among the Group of Seven (G7) countries. The Minister also announced that the British government is putting significant effort into reducing risk and the cost of business across the continents borders.
Wolfgang Schmidt, Federal State Secretary for Germanys Ministry of Finance attended the Forum, as did ministers from Canada, Norway and the USA.
For Gauteng Premier Makhura, the forum surpassed expectations: the good thing about this conference is that it is an implementation conference. We are actually signing deals here, which is a marked difference between this conference and any that has held anywhere else in the world, as a matter of fact, he said.
Addressing the closing ceremony, African Development Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina, convener of the forum said: This is an incredible outcome for a first-time event.
This is just the beginning and a preview of what is still potentially possible to advance increased investment on the continent, the Bank President noted.
The Africa Investment Forum, helped advance strategic partnerships. On November 8th, day two of the Forum, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, BADEA ratified an agreement for the Arab Banks acquisition of an equity stake in the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank(TDB).
BADEA CEO Sidi Ould Tah and TDB President Admassu Tadesse inked the accord. Tadessa hailed the signing as a historic milestone that takes us to a higher level of strategic partnership," adding that the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank also had 22 sovereign shareholders. "We are delighted to welcome BADEA as our thirteenth institutional shareholder."
If we really are determined, we can make Africa great. The potentials are there, but you know unless somebody now makes sure this potential becomes reality, they would be there forever, Dangote said.
"This project will show the potential and ability of Africa to produce high quality and affordable smartphones in Africa, by Africans, for Africans and for the rest of the world. We are extremely grateful for the African Development Banks push in this sector which greatly encouraged our progress," Thakkar said.
To the organizers, I say do not change a thing. Keep doing exactly what you are doing, he said.


I wanted to share something different today! I recently posted on Facebook about wanting a pressure cooker... I've actually been thinking about it for a while. Now, don't get me wrong, I LOVE my slow cooker! I use it at least a couple times a month. But, to be honest, things that cook in a slow cooker tend to start feeling the same after a while. While everything DOES taste delicious, I always feel like the meat tends to have the same texture every time.
Enter my quest to find a pressure cooker!
It arrived on Monday, and I did a practice run with it - just heated water in in it like it said to do in the instructions and it wasn't so bad.
I cooked it on the poultry setting for 35 minutes. It gets a little confusing because the instructions and other reviews make you think it's going to be DONE in 35 minutes and that's not the case. It takes time to get to the pressure level, THEN it cooks for 35 minutes and then it takes time to de-pressurize, although you could do this manually (per the instructions).
So, all in all, it took about an hour. But that's not bad considering the chicken was FROZEN. And that's always my problem - having the forethought to defrost meat to PLAN a meal. I always get caught with the 4 o'clock hour and not knowing what to make.
recipe share: corned beef and potatoes.
I know the thought of meat from a can makes a lot of people queasy, but this meal is considered comfort food for me. As a kid, this was one of the meals my mom made for our family when she was tired from a long day at work as a seamstress at The North Face. And now as an adult this is one of the meals I make when I don't know what else to cook for me and the hubs and we don't want to eat "kid food" like frozen dino chicken nuggets or Easy Mac.
I posted this pic on Instagram and braced myself for possible negative comments, because, let's face it, this is NOT high class dining! It IS however, super easy and I received a lot of awesome "likes" and comments when this went live on my IG feed. Even from THE Amy Tangerine.
2. When the onion is translucent, sautee one potato, diced, in the same pan until cooked.
3. When cooked through, transfer to a bowl, add a couple tablespoons of oil to the pan and saute your corned beef. Continue to break apart the meat with the back of a wooden spoon while cooking.
4. After a few minutes, the corned beef will be warmed through and you can add the onions and potatoes you just fried up.
This is the corned beef we use. The trick is to get the one with the KEY to open up the can. For some reason, my Costco doesn't sell it anymore - they only sell the one with the pull-tab opening. Those cans have a different consistency of meat. And it doesn't taste the same. (we tried to like it, but we couldn't!).
This meal screams comfort food to me. Growing up, we didn't have a lot of money so my parents, especially my mom, made do with what we had. When it was nearing payday and our family bank account was getting thin, our food consisted of pork and beans from a can, a steak (ONE) to feed a family of 4, cup o'noodles, etc. My kids don't realize how lucky they have it!
This dish always humbles me. It reminds me of simpler times. And it makes me appreciate my life as I know it today.
I hate not knowing what to cook for dinner. And I hate when I don't have the forethought to plan our dinners. I'm usually so busy during the day that I forget to take meat out of the freezer the night before. Ugh. Eating out can be so expensive!
One of our favorite places to eat is Rubio's. They have the BEST fish tacos. Unfortunately, the closest one to us is about 35-40 minutes away. Fortunately, though, we save a lot of money because it's so far. It would be so easy (and tempting!) to eat there frequently if there was one close to us!
Frozen fish sticks + corn tortillas + diced tomatoes + shredded lettuce + sour cream.
Nothing really fancy. The kids in my house don't eat it (vegetables, are you kidding me?), but they'll eat the fish sticks with rice. So with this meal, at least I'm not cooking TWO meals, technically. Just making a variation on one general protein.
And that's a win-win for me.
I've decided to resurrect my recipe shares on my blog. I've been trying to get better at meal planning and I've found a ton of new-to-me food blogs that I've bookmarked. I still have my cupboard of cookbooks and binders full of recipes.
Nothing fancy. Just mashed up some avocado with a tiny bit of salt and pepper. And sliced up some hard boiled eggs on top of toasted sourdough wheat toast. So yummy!
Hope you enjoyed todays recipe share. Have a wonderful weekend!
I've been a HUGE fan of The Pioneer Woman since a friend told me about her blog in 2007. Her blog is awesome - she's witty, she takes fabulous pictures, and she cooks food that I want to eat!
I have both of her cookbooks and have made a handful of her recipes. I watch her TV show on the Food Network and have it set on my DVR to record.
A couple weeks ago she made something so delicious looking, so fabulous, so ME, that I had to try it out!
For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Crush the cookies until they're fine crumbs. Pour the melted butter over the top and stir with a fork to combine. Press into a pie pan and bake until set, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
For the filling: Beat the peanut butter with the cream cheese until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Add in the thawed whipped topping and beat until smooth, scraping the sides as needed.
Pour the filling into the crust, evening out the top with a knife or spatula. Chill for at least an hour before serving.
Anyway, this pie was SOOOOO good. And VERY easy to make. As a warning, though, it's super rich, so one slice will do.
I thought I'd try and get this blog moving again. I'm realizing that I have a ton of pictures of the food I've been cooking on my Instagram, but I haven't linked them up here yet. I might as well start now, right? I've got a lot of catching up to do!
Anyway, here's another cookie recipe I discovered. It's one that I found on a friend's blog. Find the original recipe HERE.
Sift together the flour and baking soda, set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter, peanut butter, brown sugar, and white sugar.
Beat in the instant pudding mix until blended. Stir in the eggs and vanilla.
Finally, stir in the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.
Edges should be golden brown.
This recipe was AWESOME! I made them for our nephew's birthday party a few months ago and they were a hit! I mean, come on. Who doesn't love a good peanut butter cookie?
Peanut butter cookie + Reese's Peanut Butter Cup = total WINNER!
It's been a while since I've shared a recipe, but I thought I would today! This one is super easy and it's great for snacking, munching, or as an appetizer at your next party!
I found the recipe by googling "Dill Pretzels" - I first heard it from a friend's FB post but I also heard about it from one of Arlene's YT videos.
1 1oz packet Ranch Dressing/Dip - I used the DIP.
Mix oil, dressing, dill, garlic & lemon-pepper in small bowl.
Pour over pretzels, mix well.
Bake in 325 degree oven for 20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes.
The Verdict? Delish! I brought it to my parents' New Year's Eve party and it was a hit! I also made it for another recent holiday party and brought some to work where my co-workers TORE IT UP. *lol* Seriously, though, if you're going to a party and you're at a loss for what to bring - this is AWESOME since it's quick and easy.
recipe share: Peanut Butter Cup Cookies!
In a large bowl, cream butter, peanut butter, and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beait in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips and peanut butter cups.
Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350degrees for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are lightly broned. Cool for 2 minutes before removing to wire racks.
If you try this recipe out, I'd love to know what you think!
No scrappy Saturday post from me today, but I do have a recipe to share with you... COOKIES & CREAM CUPCAKES! And this is the easy version!
Mix cake mix and ingredients according to package directions. Crush up some Oreo cookies (I used about 8-10) and add to the mix.
Meanwhile, mix frosting with 6 crushed up oreos. After cooling the cupcakes, frost them, and then top them with a halved Oreo cookie.


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