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Okeenea Group
Disabilities around the World
Hearing disability
Visual disability
Inclusive Smart City
Accessible Pedestrian Signals
Wayfinding Solutions
Accessibility Data Collection: a Huge Challenge for Cities and Transit Networks
It has been around ten years since we massively adopted the use of GPS on our smartphones. But while this tool is extremely helpful for car journeys, it is much less efficient to calculate routes for pedestrians, and even less for wheelchair users.
Navigating urban spaces with different abilities requires having access to specific, standardized, and comprehensive data about pedestrian pathways. However, this data is often unavailable. And when it does exist, it is partial and lacks consistency between territories. Are there curb ramps? How steep is the slope? Are there accessible pedestrian signals?
Numerous projects around the world aim to collect and harmonize data on pedestrian routes and in particular accessible routes. Let us look at the main initiatives that will make it possible to create more inclusive maps, GPS navigators and journey planners for all in the future!
Why data collection is so important to enhance mobility for people with disabilities?
Data collection has long been prioritized for streets and cars. Facilitating the mobility of pedestrians, especially pedestrians with a disability, requires collecting data on sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and public transit networks.
People with disabilities need an accessible and seamless mobility chain to navigate independently. They need some specific features according to their mobility profile. Wheelchair users require wide pathways, lowered curb, and ramps or elevators to overcome grade breaks. Wholes or steps become intractable obstacles that ruin any attempt to move.
Pedestrians who are blind or have low vision need a breadcrumb trail to keep their direction, tactile warning indicators before hazards, auditory bearings, and accessible pedestrian signals.
People with an intellectual disability need safe and reassuring spaces, easy-to-read signage, pictograms, and colored markers.
If one of the links in the mobility chain is broken, getting around becomes impossible.
Today, navigation and routing applications do not take this data into account for the simple reason that it is insufficiently available. Therefore, data collection and harmonization are a major issue. How to describe accessible routes? What data to identify? How to avoid local variations? How to categorize it? How to make it available?
Another challenge is to define mobility profiles. Manual wheelchair users do not have exactly the same needs as power wheelchair users. People with low vision do not have the same needs as blind people. Every kind of disability has its specifications, and every person their preferences.
OpenStreetMap and accessibility data
OpenStreetMap is a worldwide initiative to create and provide free geographic data, such as street maps, to anyone. Data is collected and recorded by volunteers all over the globe and can be used freely by service providers. Every citizen has the power and the tools to create a high-quality feature-rich map of their country, their states, their communities, and their neighborhoods.
However, most maps do not contain relevant accessibility information. Tags and keys are missing. OpenStreetMap aims to be the best world map for disabled users – by keeping track of important tags like wheelchair accessibility with Wheelmap, and by creating accessible versions of the map. It is important that OpenStreetMap's data is open in full because it makes these things possible – to process a world map into a guidance app for the blind, or a map of only wheelchair-accessible places.
The OpenStreetMap Wiki page about disabilities shares advice and good practice to create accessible maps. It gives tagging principles for disabilities.
For blind or visually impaired people, mapping should include following information:
⊗ Tactile paving,
⊗ Accessible pedestrian signals (APS) with sound or vibrating indications,
⊗ Pedestrian crossings with islands,
⊗ Public transportation stops with platforms,
⊗ Audio signage,
⊗ Elevators with or without braille writing or embossed printed letters,
⊗ Handrails with braille writing or embossed printed letters,
⊗ Tactile maps,
⊗ Meeting locations of organizations of the blind and visually impaired,
⊗ Shops for optical glasses, eye doctors and hospital departments for eye diseases,
⊗ POIs that offer special products for the blind,
⊗ POIs that offer special accommodations for the blind like cinemas with audio description, museums with audio guides, restaurants with audio or braille menus, etc.
Keep in mind that accuracy is essential. If you indicate a public facility, precisely indicate the entrance and not the middle of the building.
For wheelchair users, people with reduced mobility or walking impairments or pushing strollers, mapping should include:
⊗ Access ramps,
⊗ Steepness of slopes and superelevation,
⊗ Accessible restrooms,
⊗ Handrails,
⊗ Elevators,
⊗ Accessible shops and businesses,
⊗ Accessible transit stations,
⊗ Accessible parking spaces,
⊗ Accessible accommodations: extra-wide cash desks, lowered counters, special shopping carts, fitting rooms, etc.,
⊗ Location of play equipment for disabled children, etc.
Keep in mind that wheelchair users have different abilities to go long distances and up slopes whether they use a manual or a power wheelchair. Information about distances and steepness of slopes should therefore be very precise. A user should have the possibility to avoid routes above a certain percentage grade.
For people who are deaf or have hearing impairments, mapping should include:
⊗ Induction loops,
⊗ Locations where there is sign language translation or cued speech,
⊗ POIs with special accommodations for deaf people: cinemas where movies are subtitled, theaters with special headphones, sound amplification systems, etc.
Maps designed for deaf people do not exist yet.
OpenSidewalks, a project to share data on the built environment in the US
Since 2015, Dr. Anna Caspi, director of the Taskar Center for Accessible Technology at the University of Washington (UW), and Nick Bolten, a Postdoctoral fellow in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, have been working with stakeholders on the OpenSidewalks project to improve the collection, organization and sharing of data on the built environment to promote equity and inclusivity in transportation. The project aims to establish consistent and detailed standards for monitoring data on pedestrian pathways and their connectivity within multimodal transport networks.
Using data collected from sidewalks, ramps, and traffic lights, Caspi and Bolten developed AccessMap, a web application launched in 2017 that provides personalized routes to pedestrians based on their mobility profile. Maps are available for three Washington cities: Seattle, Bellingham, and Mount Vernon, and Expansion is underway for Austin, Texas and San Jose, California.
The data collected as part of the OpenSidewalks project is not only useful for people with disabilities but also for city planners and mobility authorities who are responsible for ensuring fair mobility for all. This pedestrian-centric approach is part of a revolution in designing the city.
Pedestrians have a wide variety of needs and preferences. This is the reason the AccessMap application not only offers the choice of a static profile but also other characteristics specific to each of us. Labeling a path as "wheelchair accessible" would not make sense if we do not consider the variety of abilities among wheelchair users.
Because pedestrian data has typically been so neglected, the OpenSidewalks project needs to tackle many issues at once: defining data schemes, creating data organization and applications, and proving their utility.
NeTEx, a European standard for data about public transport networks
The accessibility data collection is indeed a global issue. Now let us look at how it is treated in Europe.
NeTEx stands for "Network Timetable Exchange." It is a European technical standard (CEN) for exchanging Public Transport Network, schedules, and related data. It covers three topics: the Public Transport Network topology, Scheduled Timetables, and Fare information.
NeTEx schema can be used to exchange Data about the Accessibility of services, stops and vehicles to passengers with disabilities or reduced mobility (passengers traveling with young children, elderly people, or passengers carrying heavy luggage).
The NeTEx public transport network model can be used to describe accessibility of all modes of transport: rail, bus (urban, suburban and regional), metro, ferry, etc. Accessibility data includes physical limitations, facilities, and assistance services. This data is aimed to enrich trip planners and offers the possibility to plan a route compatible with one's abilities. Some member countries of the European Union have mandatory requirements to collect and harmonize accessibility data.
The data can be classified into four categories:
⊗ Accessibility of sites, e.g., stations and stop places, including buildings and parking areas.
Data include for example elevator dimensions and controls, step heights, handrails, number of steps in a staircase, ramp gradients, etc.
⊗ Accessibility and connections: this set of data considers the fact that people with reduced mobility may need extra time to change services, either because they move more slowly, or because they must take a different path. This information is crucial for journey planners.
⊗ Accessibility of navigation paths: several navigation paths can be associated with the same connection. A navigation path is made of path links recording the characteristics of a path section. This can include elevators, tactile ground surface indicators, stairs, lighting, handrails, etc.
⊗ Accessibility of journeys: this category includes facilities and vehicles. Data related to vehicles are for example wheelchair access equipment such low floor access, on board wheelchair, and even assistance services.
In this article, we wanted to show you the initiatives in favor of the collection of accessibility data around the world. This is a major issue and that the standardization of data is crucial. But it is also a huge challenge for cities and transport networks to succeed in this collection. This must undoubtedly go through participatory solutions involving all citizens, as the mountain to be climbed is so high.
Want to know more about issues related to the mobility of people with disabilities? Check out these articles:
Removing Traffic Lights vs Pedestrian Safety: a Guide to Inclusive Streets
How Can Multimodal Transit Centers Be Accessible for People with Disabilities?
How to Maintain Pedestrian Accessibility When Carrying Out Street Works?
Published on 29th November, 2021
Manual wheelchair users do not have exactly the same needs as power wheelchair users. People with low vision do not have the same needs as blind people. Every kind of disability has its specifications, and every person their preferences.
Lise Wagner
Accessibility Expert
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SIERRA VISTA — The 21st annual Sierra Vista Municipal Airport Fly-In and Open House will be held on Saturday, Nov. 8 from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Sierra Vista Municipal Airport, showcasing the science of aviation and aircraft displays.
This family-friendly event is geared to kids ages 8-17, introducing them to aviation and providing an opportunity to fly in a private plane with local pilots free of charge. The limited free flights are offered to the first 200 youth on a first come-first served basis, and require signed permission slip from a parent/guardian.
More than 5,093 children have flown as "Young Eagles" with the Sierra Vista Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) since 1993. Kids are introduced into the exciting world of aviation through flights and aircraft displays, while also learning about the general aviation activities at the Sierra Vista Municipal Airport.
Aircraft displays featuring Military static will also be displayed at this EAA-sponsored event, and a pancake and Mexican breakfast will be available 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Cost for breakfast is $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12.
The Sierra Vista Municipal Airport is located three miles north of the Buffalo Soldier Trail and Fry Boulevard intersection, on the west side of State Route 90 at 2100 Airport Drive.
Contact Yvette Matthias at the Public Works Department at (520) 458-5775 or email Yvette.Matthias@SierraVistaAZ.gov for information.


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For Every Person, for Every Family —
Protection Under the Law from the
Psychological Abuse of Undue Influence and Predatory Alienation
Sample Letters to New Jersey Legislators
Contact your state legislators and the governor to urge them to develop legislation against undue influence and predatory alienation. You can use the sample letters/emails below as guides and tailor them to your own situation. If you live in New Jersey, you can find contact information for the legislators who represent your municipality by clicking on the name of your city at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/municipalities.asp.
Residents of other states can go to http://thomas.loc.gov/home/state-legislatures.html
Sample Letter to NJ Governor Phil Murphy
The Honorable Phil Murphy
Governor of New Jersey
RE: P.L. 2017, Ch. 64 calling for a study of the effects of predatory alienation on young adults and senior citizens
Dear Governor Murphy:
I applaud your energetic leadership in serving New Jersey's families. I am greatly concerned, however, that in most instances there is at present no mechanism for a family to safeguard its members over age 16 from predatory alienation and undue influence.
Terroristic extremists, human traffickers, abusive partners, gangs, swindlers, and other corrupt individuals and groups exert undue influence to exploit the trust, dependency, and fear of their victims to gain control over their decision-making. They isolate their targets so they can more easily manipulate and take advantage of them. Unfortunately, soundness of mind and body and age of majority do not guarantee immunity from undue influence.
As many families in New Jersey have had the misfortune to learn, current laws do not afford protection from the psychological and emotional abuse of predatory alienation and undue influence. Calling for a study of predatory alienation and its effect on young adults and senior citizens was a crucial start in addressing that gap, for those two populations are the most vulnerable. Now that a team of researchers from Rutgers University has issued its recommendations, I hope that you will lend your support to encourage further legislative efforts in this regard.
[Add any positive effects that further legislation would have on you, your community, your profession, etc., and why the governor should support it.]
Your leadership is essential to ensuring the well-being and security of every family in our state.
(Your Name)
(Address)
(City/State/Zip)
(Telephone with area code)
Sample Letter/Email to a NJ State Senator and/or General Assemblyman/Assemblywoman
RE: Need for protection against undue influence and predatory alienation
Dear Senator/Assembly Member [Legislator's last name]:
(Explain your title in your profession and/or area of expertise, if applicable.)
As a constituent in your district, I am writing to ask that you draft legislation to create a legal remedy in cases of undue influence and predatory alienation. At present, in most instances there is no mechanism for a family to safeguard its members over age 16 from such psychological abuse.
Since 2012, concerned citizens have been working through the nonprofit organization NJ Safe & Sound to raise public awareness of extreme undue influence and how to guard against it. Their educational resources have been embraced by a broad spectrum of teachers, guidance counselors, law enforcement agencies, clergy, mental health professionals, and community outreach organizations throughout New Jersey and beyond.
Education alone is not enough, however. Everyone deserves legal protection from malicious manipulation, and predators should be held accountable for their destructive actions. Many families in New Jersey have had the misfortune to learn, however, that current laws do not afford protection from the psychological and emotional abuse of predatory alienation and undue influence.
As a state legislator, you are in a position to remedy this deficiency by giving the people of New Jersey the right to recourse against such predatory behavior, regardless of the targeted victim's age. I encourage you to visit www.njsafeandsound.org to learn more about the importance of this issue.
[You can add more details on why you support this particular issue. Any local examples concerning the impact of this legislation would be most compelling. Be courteous and to the point, keeping your letter focused on the main issue.]
Thank you for taking the time to consider my opinion on this matter. I hope that you will work with your legislative colleagues to enhance the well-being and security of every family in our state by enacting legislation against undue influence and predatory alienation.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


The International Canoe Federation (ICF) has suspended teams from Romania and Belarus with immediate effect after additional evidence was heard at the ICF Executive Board meeting on the 13th July in Krakow, Poland.
The submitted evidence provided proof of systemic doping within the Romanian team with 11 of the nations athletes providing positive samples following out-of-competition testing in April 2016.
The majority of cases relate to the use of Meldonium after the substance was placed on the World Anti-Doping prohibited list on the 31st December 2015.
As part of the National Federation, the Romanian senior Canoe Sprint team and its entourage will now face a one-year ban from all International competitions including the Olympic Games. They could also incur a financial penalty for their actions or stiffer penalties if more evidence is uncovered.
The Romanian Anti-doping Authority (ANAD) will decide the individual fate of each athlete in the coming weeks.
In a separate case, the Senior Beloruissian Canoe Sprint team has been given the same punishment as the Romanians with five of their male athletes found guilty of breaking ICF Anti-doping rules. Additional evidence was submitted to support their use of banned substances at a training camp in France earlier this year.
The French police are also working with the French Nation Anti-doping Agency (AFLD) and the ICF on a criminal case against the Belorussian team. Should further evidence of doping arise from this case then the ICF are likely to give more sanctions to the Federation and those involved.
The ICF will now reallocate Olympic Quotas and is talking with National Federations, National Olympic Committees and the International Olympic Commitee to confirm the final athlete submission before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Monday deadline.
The ICF has also confirmed that four Kazakhstan athletes were banned for two years each after submitting positive tests for Methasterone, an oral anabolic steroid.
The banned substance was subsequently proven to have been consumed as part of a nutritional supplement, underlining the need for all athletes to be especially vigilant when consuming supplements.


No more than two incidents (moving violations or accidents) in the past three years and no more than one in the last 18 months.
Have had no major violations in the past three years.
Have had no alcohol or drug related violations in the past seven years.
When applicable, a cleaning fee will be charged at a rate of $95.00 per hour with a minimum of 1 hour.
Any accidents, dents, or scratches that remove paint or cannot be washed off, will be charged at actual cost and will be repaired at Westover Auto Rebuild or Auburn Collision Center. You are responsible for paying 100% of the actual cost either by means of your insurance or paid directly by you.
Tire repair or road hazards will be charged at actual cost of repair.
Windshield chips or damages will be charged at actual cost of repair.
Fuel used and not replaced by customer will be charged at $5.00 per gallon.
Loss of key will be charged at actual cost of replacement.
Locking keys in vehicle will be charged $74.00 for a service call.
Leaving lights on and needing a jump start will be charged $74.00 for a service call.
We believe that the MOTORPLEX Service Loaner will make servicing your vehicle more convenient, and we want everyone to be able to enjoy this great convenience. But this MOTORPLEX Service Loaner program has rules to make sure that everything runs the way it should. And we're only looking for people willing to follow those rules. Think of it like your friendly neighborhood association.
Before you drive away, inspect your MOTORPLEX Service Loaner inside and out. Report damage, a dirty car, or any other concern to your MOTORPLEX Service Advisor at 425.310.1100.
Take personal belongings with you when you go and throw away or recycle any trash. If you eat or drink in the vehicle, you will be charged a cleaning fee if food and beverage debris, stains, or any reminants remain in vehicle when returned.
Not even with all the windows down or all the doors open. The cars don't like it, and the next customer may not be a smoker.
Always leave as much fuel in it as when you received it. Out of convenience to the next customer, and to keep our prices competitive.
If you're late, you will get charged a late fee. Got an emergency? Call us or text to see if your MOTORPLEX Service Loaner can be extended.
Ask about our new service loaner program!
© 2018 Motorplex Auto & Heavy Truck Repair. All Rights Reserved.


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Bayer's Living Billboards donated to St. Louis foodbank
Image courtesy of Chris Paton, Bayer, Crop Sciences Communications.
Folks may remember the news about a month ago when two lush and leafy St. Louis Arch display were erected onto two billboards. Dubbed "Living Billboards," they were a first-of-its-kind concept put up by Bayer and adorned with actual crops that included kale, parsley, collards, and three varieties of chard — Swiss chard, white stemmed chard, and red stemmed chard. The message read, "St. Louis, let's grow together."
The billboards have now been harvested and the crops donated to the St. Louis Area Foodbank.
The billboards represented Bayer's new presence in the St. Louis region following the acquisition of Monsanto Co. (The site of the former agriculture company is now the headquarters for Bayer's Crop Science division.) The billboards were located on I-170 north and I-64 east , and each had its own irrigation system and was maintained by a horticulturist.
"The idea behind these billboards was about a year and a half in the making, and we were so excited to see them go up," said Ray Kerins, Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Affairs for Bayer. "But what we're even more excited about is to see these crops provide many local families access to a variety of freshly grown greens. We're proud to work with the St. Louis Area Foodbank on this effort, and we are especially proud to reiterate to St. Louis the message on these billboards: 'Let's Grow Together.'"
For many families, access to healthy nutritional meals can become a daily struggle. Feeding America, whose network includes the St. Louis Area Foodbank, estimates in parts of Missouri, one in three children face food insecurity on a regular basis; for adults, that number is one in five.
"Fresh produce is important for a well balanced diet. Unfortunately, such foods can be expensive for income challenged individuals who struggle with food insecurity, and based upon the communities where they reside, access may not be readily available," said Lenora Gooden, Vice President of Product Sourcing for the St. Louis Area Foodbank. "We appreciate Bayer's support of the St. Louis Area Foodbank. This donation of fresh greens and produce will help meet the needs of those we serve throughout the bi-state region."
In addition to the billboard crops, Bayer is supplementing its donation to the foodbank with apples, sweet corn, watermelon, sweet potatoes, squash and tomatoes. Also, more than a dozen Bayer employees are volunteering to help unload and sort the donated food.


I want to explain some of the reasons that I am supporting Sal Pace over Scott Tipton for the 3rd Congressional District. First, Tipton supported designation of Chimney Rock as a National Monument by President Obama under the president's authority under the Antiquities Act. Good for him. This Act has been used dozens of times by both Democratic and Republican presidents, beginning with Republican Theodore Roosevelt. However, at the same time that he encouraged President Obama to declare Chimney Rock, which he knows is very popular in his district, Tipton co-sponsored legislation to take away that very same authority from the president. He is one of 12 co-sponsors of House Resolution 817, which makes the president's power to declare national monuments under the Antiquities Act subject to approval by Congress. Congressman Tipton's resolution would essentially repeal the current federal law that authorizes the U.S. president to designate, for example, the Chimney Rock site a National Monument without getting Congressional approval for that declaration, certainly a political uncertainty. So, Chimney Rock is fine because it could help Tipton get reelected, but no other area of the nation should get that benefit. Hypocrisy?
Second, I want to highlight Tipton's last-minute flip-flop on a bill to help with wildfire prevention. This happened at the very same time Colorado firefighters were battling several major blazes, including the High Park Fire outside Fort Collins. Rep. Ed Perlmutter of Colorado offered a brief amendment to a Republican public lands bill to give the federal government authority to contract with states to remove beetle-killed trees. "We need to have that done to prevent forest fires in the future. It's as simple as that," Perlmutter said during debate in the House. The amendment failed on a near party-line vote. Coverage of the 15-minute vote on C-Span showed a handful of Republicans initially voting yes and then suddenly voting no. The Congressional Record showed that Tipton, along with Colorado Rep. Mike Coffman, switched their votes from yes to no with less than a minute left in the roll call. Tipton then derided the amendment as a cheap political stunt. However, this fails to explain why he was for it before he was against it. Are beetle killed trees not an issue in Colorado?
As minority leader in the State House, Sal has a proven track record of efficient leadership to get things done for the people of Colorado. He is running for Congress because he is tired of the partisan gridlock in Washington and wants to see something being done for the people of western and southern Colorado. I urge a vote for Sal Pace for Congress.


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An Act to diversify the use of the Workforce Training Fund to support the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund
By Mr. Gordon of Bedford, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3147) of Kenneth I. Gordon, Eileen M. Donoghue and Jose F. Tosado for legislation to provide grants for pipeline training for unemployed persons. Labor and Workforce Development.
Kenneth I. Gordon
Senate | House | Engrossed Bill
Displaying 0 House Amendment
The House has not filed any amendments for this bill or has yet to receive this bill from the other branch.
An Act to ensure funding for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund
An Act to increase contributions to the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund
S.1005 190th (2017 - 2018)
S.177 190th (2017 - 2018)


The License Manager Tool is a software tool that enables you to manage GRAPHISOFT product licenses on your Protection Key.
The License Manager Tool can be installed on 64‐bit operating systems. How to activate Protection Keys on 32-bit.
In case you control network communication by firewall/proxy etc., please make sure that License Manager Tool can communicate with the above hosts.
Both the CodeMeter and WIBU drivers will be installed along with the License Manager Tool.


River Murray icon the Proud Mary was crowned the State's best specialised tourism service at the 2017 South Australian Tourism Awards, last Friday.
To say everyone at Proud Mary Cruises is as proud as punch is an understatement. It's such a prestigious award and we were up against many other great entrants. Our elated managing partner Matthew Sims, sums up our win.
"This award is a true testament to all our staff and crew. Because together we've created a culture built on providing nothing but the most exceptional customer service. Every single person is totally committed to providing nothing but the best for our guests and this award is a result of that culture".
But here at Proud Mary Cruises don't think for one moment that we'll be resting on our laurels. Because in just a few weeks time, the beautiful Proud Mary will be slipped to receive a massive upgrade. All the cabins will be completely replaced. The main dining suite will receive a makeover. New air conditioning will be installed.
It's a major refit and when finished, we invite you to come cruising the River Murray with the best, and have the best time of your life onboard our gracious vessel.
You'll love the new cabins, the brilliant service, the delicious gourmet dining, the fascinating once-in-a-lifetime shore excursions and the intimate eco cruises aboard our smaller flat bottomed boat.
So we invite you to experience just how proud we all are of our beloved Proud Mary's exciting "Best Specialised Tourism Service" win and how that reflects in everything we do for you onboard.


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8 Reasons Houston Will be America's Startup Hub
Edgy Universe Nov 11, 2016 at 12:06 pm GMT
Edgy Universe
Nov 11, 2016 at 12:06 pm GMT
Edgy Labs recently sat down with award-winning entrepreneur Tri Nguyen to discuss marketing trends and business development opportunities for 2017.
Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Marketer of the Year startup TKM Labs, Nguyen's success personifies why Houston has all of the ingredients to be America's next Startup Hub. We'll be exploring why the "Space City" is positioned for Next-gen growth in our three-part collaboration with the Houston-based digital marketing entrepreneur.
Houston is one of the largest metropolitan cities in the nation, and is arguably set up to be one of the most successful startup capitals in the world.
Despite the recent recession, they city is still surrounded by deep pockets from the energy moguls of the century before. We are deemed the "Energy Capital of the World" for a reason, and we have the largest medical center in the nation for a reason.
To build a large, fast-scaling company that doesn't play to the strengths of the city, however, is simply not efficient.
Therefore, we need to focus on our strengths – enterprise, medicine, aeronautics, energy, and Houston's booming cultural appetite.
Although we may not hear a lot about the success stories of Houston, they are definitely there. Lots of them, in fact: Onit, LiquidFrameworks and Assemble are all examples of successful companies that played to Houston's strength.
AlertLogic and LiquidFrameworks, for example, focused on enterprise software and with so many oil and gas companies in the city, they easily found a client base to build their revenue.
CS Disco found the same in enterprise legal teams.
Upstarts like Caphin, MYLK, Buff Brew, Assemble and Zodist (tiny plug), have figured out the consumer marketplace.
Whether it's using Houston as a testing ground for consumer appetite (Caphin, Buff Brew) or as a base for international operations (Zodist), Houston has been a city that's helped nurture these companies.
Collaboration, as well as centralizing resources, improves business development efficiency exponentially by more quickly validating hypothesizes and reducing the time to market.
If this model were adopted and replicated by older industries in the city, Houston would be the defacto city for starting a company in any of the aforementioned industries. And that's precisely what we want.
Just like the social media platforms might go to San Francisco to start a company, the human innovation startups focused on solving real world problems would come to Houston.
Let's look forward to see why Houston is positioned to become a startup capital in its own right – if it focuses on the areas where it is most likely to thrive:
1. Cost-Effective Work Space
Let's talk about space. Houston has one of the cheapest real estate markets to start a company, and one of the lowest cost of living to support a family.
The city makes starting a business much more cost efficient, with lower salary averages than tech hot spots like San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York and Austin.
From co-working options like Station Houston to private offices with full amenities like Headquarters to full warehouse spaces – there are plenty of options for any company in this city.
Starting a manufacturing company in LA or SF would require raising money to pay for the space alone.
With less focus on paying for the workspace, entrepreneurs can focus more on allocating it toward product development, staff, booze, or whatever floats your startup boat.
With many more options for workspaces popping up each month, the challenge will be for these spaces to curate both the tenant and the community that reside in the spaces.
In my opinion, the spaces that focus on a specific niche of tenants will prevail, rather than being a space for everyone and anyone. Each industry and each company will require different amenities that the space can more easily and effectively provide if it has similar tenancy.
"We all have strengths and weaknesses. The best advice is to embrace, focus on, and nurture our strengths." – Charles F. Glassman
And while service-based companies aren't often considered "startups" by startup standards (says who!), they play an important part in the ecosystem, which will be discussed later on.
2. Education
While tenacity and hustle are likely innate traits in most entrepreneurs, nobody is born with the education to be an entrepreneur.
Of course, having the education alone doesn't make one an entrepreneur, it's the application of the knowledge in the real world that separates the successful from everyone else.
Building a company from the ground up is never easy, no matter how many times you do it, but the education component reduces the pain of going through it.
Therefore, having two of the most prestigious entrepreneurship programs give the framework, knowledge, and skill sets that help individuals make the proper considerations in building a successful company.
At the undergraduate level, the University of Houston Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship led by Ken Jones is one option, and at the graduate level, the Rice University Education Entrepreneurship Program led by Andrea Hodge is another.
3. Access to High-Quality Research
The Commercialization of IP is one of the coolest and most valuable byproducts of Houston being home to two of the most world-renowned research universities in the world (University of Houston, Rice University).
Tri Nguyen and his most recent startup, TKM Labs, were recently awarded the American Marketing Association's Marketer of the Year award for the company's mini-startup, LureDeals. Just 2 weeks after launch, the experiment had acquired over 4,500 user signups, 250 business leads, and a valuation of $250,000 in immediate revenue.
With patents and decades of industry knowledge backing them coupled with the researchers and experiments supporting the findings, many startups would need to spend millions – if not tens of millions – in R&D to get to the same results.
Often, the problem with research is that it can be too specific or too specialized; one focus can get so deep in a specific space that the solution only solves 0.00001% of a global problem. That's where Commercialization comes in.
Having been fortunate to be part of the second class at the University of Houston Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship's Commercialization of IP Program, we got access to patented technology, and worked with our researchers to find a commercial application for the technology.
If successful, we were able to license the technology from the university, which goes back to supporting additional research.
REECycle, Wavve, and Sensytec are all examples of successful Commercialization efforts at the University of Houston.
Across the Bayou City, we have Rice University with their own commercializationfforts more oriented towards student research. The university supports students through providing them with legal advice, support and guidance with the patenting process.
4. Talent
One of the biggest complaints from Houston's tech community is that there isn't enough tech talent here, but I believe it's because we're not looking in the right places.
If ChaiOne can build one of the largest development agencies in Texas, in Houston, then the question is, where should we be looking for talent?
In building teams, you're often looking at a compromise between skill, experience, and passion.
Shops like the Iron Yard are producing young tech talent with sufficient skills to become an asset, but will need more experience to become deadly enough to become a senior CTO. Entrepreneurs on the hunt for hungry talent will, therefore, likely need to dig deep to find a combination between the two in order to create opportunities to young talent to gain experience.
5. Capital
Like the city's talent, some have expressed their frustration that Houston is a dry well where no capital flows, and while a big focus of the conversation goes to addressing the flow of more venture capital into the city.
Again, I personally don't think that people are looking in the right place.
The issue may lie in the expectation that capital flow in Houston should resemble flows through SF or NY, where million dollar valuations of seed companies are raised overnight. However, as addressed earlier, the type of companies that should be in Houston don't necessarily need that kind of capital.
If you're starting a company with the sole purpose of raising a round to continue it, then you have the wrong mindset.
Houston is notorious for weeding out non-revenue generating companies very quickly. Therefore, we need to look for capital methods that are conducive to the types of company that would thrive with starting and staying in Houston.
NextSeed, for example, is one of the early innovators on the equity crowdfunding methods that is based in Houston, and has done tremendous work in supporting companies that are ideally suited to be in Houston.
With every single deal that they have fully funded, they've set an interesting course for both the future of Houston and the companies we will see emerge.
Other "go-to" Houston-based capital initiatives specializing in local startups include Mercury Fund and incubator RedHouse Associates.
Houston is the type of city that wants you to have skin in the game to play the game.
You don't get the luxury of raising a round, burning it all on parties, and then call it a wash with your investors like in other cities. That's exactly why our entrepreneurs work so damn hard.
Getting capital in this city is hard, yes, I won't disagree with that. But if you do, it means you've figured out everything else and likely will have a higher probability for long-term success.
The Redhouse near Midtown, Houston serves as the main office for angel investor and startup community supporter RedHouse Associates. Image courtesy of RedHouseAssociates.com
6. Third Party Support
When you're a one-man team or a small group of talented individuals, you each possess a talent that brought you together to execute on a vision.
But, despite how talented each individual is, and collectively as a whole, there will still be many (unanticipated) gaps in the skill set that need to be filled.
Even with the ideal three startup composition of 'hustler', 'designer', and 'hacker', you'll likely to only fill 80% of the skill gap.
The purpose of the startup triumvirate is to validate an idea and bring it to market as fast as possible. As you grow and scale, however, this isn't the most sustainable team composition.
This is where you can bring Third Party Support, such as a marketing agency or other companies that focus solely on executing on a competency that you deem missing.
A third party should not replace your core competency, but it should help support it.
For example, don't try to build an app-driven company by outsourcing your technical expertise to a firm. Instead, third parties can be extremely helpful in bringing expertise that you may not have to shorten the gap to market versus trying to do it yourself.
And, Houston has a strong network of third parties that focus on helping companies and startups in competencies that they shouldn't necessarily be spending all their time on.
The tradeoff of the monetary cost is that you focus on what your strengths are. Firms like Aleberry Creative (focuses on developing decks for fundraising), TKM Labs (experiential and strategy oriented marketing), Edgy Labs (VR / AR / IoT development), and many others provide the expertise where entrepreneurs may not have.
7. Mentorship with Deep Industry Knowledge
We don't underestimate the value of having good mentors in this city.
Most of the leaders in the community are more than happy to give advice if you ask the right question, or connect you to the right person that can help if needed. With such a diverse group of individuals with unique industry expertise, there's likely someone who can help guide you to make smarter decisions and who would be happy to do so.
8. Community Support
Of course, an individual can only do so much without the support of the community.
Similar to how individual development is influenced by a combination of internal and external factors, startups also fall very much in line with the "nature versus nurture debate".
As an individual, regardless of if you think you have all the resources and skills to create a thriving startup, the community around you plays a tremendous role in helping you succeed or causing you to fail.
Unless you're creating a company in a vacuum, you will need the support of your community to build the thousands of different components that a sustainable, long-term company requires.
Houston is filled with an extremely diverse group of talented people that spans many different industries and all tackles very different problems. And, despite how big the city is, the community that supports businesses is actually quite small and connected.
We are essentially one or two people away from knowing everyone in the city. As long as you prove to be a hustler constantly working at building a company and not as a "wantrepreneur," people are more than happy to extend a helping hand however they can.
But, that doesn't mean there's not room for improvement. While the community itself is very connected, there's certainly silos that can be better connected.
Creating a Startup Culture by Connecting the Dots
Bridging the gap between the corporate enterprise community and the startup community will be a big part in spurring further innovation.
And, further connecting the two major feeder institutions – the University of Houston and Rice University – to non-affiliated entrepreneurs will also play a big part.
Awareness and dissemination of information about the amazing things that are going on here in the city has been a challenge, but there this is actively changing.
Angela Shah with Economy and Joey Martin with BizJournal have been instrumental in tackling this challenge over the last few years, as well as other journalists who focus specifically on the startup and technology sector.
We need more of these champions that connect the dots and spread awareness.
Stay Tuned for the Part III: How to Create a Startup Culture in Houston
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text:
Q: Joining Pandas Dataframes on Column Name Matches Row Value (with same index) I have data that looks like this:
              ID     Col1    Col2
2018-06-01    'A'     10     100
2018-06-02    'B'     5      25
2018-06-03    'A'     25     25

and another dataframe that looks like:
               A      B        C
2018-06-01    0.5     1.1      1
2018-06-02    0.75    2.1      1
2018-06-03    0.6     0.3      0

and I want to merge them in pandas where the indices (dates in this case) match, and the values in the rows under the ID column match the column names in the second dataframe. Easier to just show it, it would look like this:
              ID     Col1    Col2     NEW
2018-06-01    'A'     10     100      0.5
2018-06-02    'B'     5      25       2.1
2018-06-03    'A'     25     25       0.6

I'm sure there's a simple way to do this in pandas, but I can't think of what it would be.

A: Using lookup
df1['New']=df2.lookup(df1.index,df1.ID)
df1
Out[14]:
           ID  Col1  Col2  New
2018-06-01  A    10   100  0.5
2018-06-02  B     5    25  2.1
2018-06-03  A    25    25  0.6

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Introduction: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases (NOX) are frequently deregulated in several human malignancies, including gastric cancer (GC). NOX-derived reactive oxygen species have been reported to contribute to gastric carcinogenesis and cancer progression. However, the expression and prognostic role of individual NOX in GC patients remain elusive.
Methods and materials: We investigated genetic alteration and mRNA expression of NOX family in GC patients via the cBioPortal, Human Protein Atlas, and Oncomine databases. Furthermore, we evaluated prognostic value of distinct NOX in GC patients through "The Kaplan–Meier plotter" database.
Results: Our analysis demonstrated that mRNA deregulation of NOX genes was common alteration in GC patients. Compared with normal tissues, NOX1/2/4 mRNA expression levels in GC tissues were higher, while NOX5 and DUOX1/2 expression levels were lower. Importantly, our results indicated that high mRNA expression of NOX2 was associated with better overall survival whereas NOX4 and DUOX1 were correlated with worse overall survival in all GC patients, particularly in intestinal-type GC patients. In addition, our data also shed light on the diverse roles of individual NOX members in GC patients with different clinicopathological features, including human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status, clinical stages, pathological grades, and different choices of treatments of GC patients.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that individual NOX family genes, especially NOX2/4, and DUOX1, are potential prognostic markers in GC and implicate that the use of NOX inhibitor targeting NOX4 and DUOX1 may be an effective strategy for GC therapy.


text:
. ./include.sh

${examples_dir}/eccodes_f_grib_precision > /dev/null
rm -f ${data_dir}/regular_latlon_surface_prec.grib1

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


21:51 Almost home. Drove 4 hours to Reus, Spain last night to get our flight home in the morning. It's been great!
11:40 Magic Carpet in the Vallnord slope. Starting off is pretty tough. Progressed a lot in two days though!
19:19 The price of alcohol here is insane. In. Sane.
06:51 Pre flight coffee. Here we go!


text:
using System;
using NodaTime.Calendars;
using NUnit.Framework;

namespace NodaTime.Test.Calendars
{
    [TestFixture]
    public partial class IsoCalendarSystemTest
    {
        private static readonly DateTime UnixEpochDateTime = new DateTime(1970, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc);
        // This was when I was writing the tests, having finally made everything work - several thousand lines
        // of shockingly untested code.
        private static readonly DateTime TimeOfGreatAchievement = new DateTime(2009, 11, 27, 18, 38, 25, 345, DateTimeKind.Utc) + TimeSpan.FromTicks(8765);

        private static readonly CalendarSystem Iso = CalendarSystem.Iso;

        [Test]
        public void FieldsOf_UnixEpoch()
        {
            // It's easiest to test this using a LocalDateTime in the ISO calendar system.
            // LocalDateTime just passes everything through anyway.
            LocalDateTime epoch = NodaConstants.UnixEpoch.InUtc().LocalDateTime;

            Assert.AreEqual(1970, epoch.Year);
            Assert.AreEqual(1970, epoch.YearOfEra);
            Assert.AreEqual(1970, epoch.WeekYear);
            Assert.AreEqual(1, epoch.WeekOfWeekYear);
            Assert.AreEqual(1, epoch.Month);
            Assert.AreEqual(1, epoch.Day);
            Assert.AreEqual(1, epoch.DayOfYear);
            Assert.AreEqual(IsoDayOfWeek.Thursday, epoch.IsoDayOfWeek);
            Assert.AreEqual(4, epoch.DayOfWeek);
            Assert.AreEqual(Era.Common, epoch.Era);
            Assert.AreEqual(0, epoch.Hour);
            Assert.AreEqual(0, epoch.Minute);
            Assert.AreEqual(0, epoch.Second);
            Assert.AreEqual(0, epoch.Millisecond);
            Assert.AreEqual(0, epoch.TickOfDay);
            Assert.AreEqual(0, epoch.TickOfSecond);
        }

        [Test]
        public void FieldsOf_GreatAchievement()
        {
            LocalDateTime now = Instant.FromTicksSinceUnixEpoch((TimeOfGreatAchievement - UnixEpochDateTime).Ticks).InUtc().LocalDateTime;

            Assert.AreEqual(2009, now.Year);
            Assert.AreEqual(2009, now.YearOfEra);
            Assert.AreEqual(2009, now.WeekYear);
            Assert.AreEqual(48, now.WeekOfWeekYear);
            Assert.AreEqual(11, now.Month);
            Assert.AreEqual(27, now.Day);
            Assert.AreEqual(TimeOfGreatAchievement.DayOfYear, now.DayOfYear);
            Assert.AreEqual(IsoDayOfWeek.Friday, now.IsoDayOfWeek);
            Assert.AreEqual(5, now.DayOfWeek);
            Assert.AreEqual(Era.Common, now.Era);
            Assert.AreEqual(18, now.Hour);
            Assert.AreEqual(38, now.Minute);
            Assert.AreEqual(25, now.Second);
            Assert.AreEqual(345, now.Millisecond);
            Assert.AreEqual(3458765, now.TickOfSecond);
            Assert.AreEqual(18 * NodaConstants.TicksPerHour +
                            38 * NodaConstants.TicksPerMinute +
                            25 * NodaConstants.TicksPerSecond +
                            3458765,
                            now.TickOfDay);
        }

        [Test]
        public void ConstructLocalInstant_WithAllFields()
        {
            LocalInstant localAchievement = new LocalDateTime(2009, 11, 27, 18, 38, 25, 345, 8765).ToLocalInstant();
            long bclTicks = (TimeOfGreatAchievement - UnixEpochDateTime).Ticks;
            int bclDays = (int) (bclTicks / NodaConstants.TicksPerDay);
            long bclTickOfDay = bclTicks % NodaConstants.TicksPerDay;
            Assert.AreEqual(bclDays, localAchievement.DaysSinceEpoch);
            Assert.AreEqual(bclTickOfDay, localAchievement.NanosecondOfDay / NodaConstants.NanosecondsPerTick);
        }

        [Test]
        public void IsoCalendarUsesIsoDayOfWeek()
        {
            Assert.IsTrue(CalendarSystem.Iso.UsesIsoDayOfWeek);
        }

        [Test]
        public void IsLeapYear()
        {
            Assert.IsTrue(CalendarSystem.Iso.IsLeapYear(2012)); // 4 year rule
            Assert.IsFalse(CalendarSystem.Iso.IsLeapYear(2011)); // 4 year rule
            Assert.IsFalse(CalendarSystem.Iso.IsLeapYear(2100)); // 100 year rule
            Assert.IsTrue(CalendarSystem.Iso.IsLeapYear(2000)); // 400 year rule
        }

        [Test]
        public void GetDaysInMonth()
        {
            Assert.AreEqual(30, CalendarSystem.Iso.GetDaysInMonth(2010, 9));
            Assert.AreEqual(31, CalendarSystem.Iso.GetDaysInMonth(2010, 1));
            Assert.AreEqual(28, CalendarSystem.Iso.GetDaysInMonth(2010, 2));
            Assert.AreEqual(29, CalendarSystem.Iso.GetDaysInMonth(2012, 2));
        }

        [Test]
        public void WeekYearLessThanYear()
        {
            // January 1st 2011 was a Saturday, and therefore part of WeekYear 2010.
            LocalDate localDate = new LocalDate(2011, 1, 1);
            Assert.AreEqual(2011, localDate.Year);
            Assert.AreEqual(2010, localDate.WeekYear);
            Assert.AreEqual(52, localDate.WeekOfWeekYear);
        }

        [Test]
        public void WeekYearGreaterThanYear()
        {
            // December 31st 2012 is a Monday, and thus part of WeekYear 2013.
            LocalDate localDate = new LocalDate(2012, 12, 31);
            Assert.AreEqual(2012, localDate.Year);
            Assert.AreEqual(2013, localDate.WeekYear);
            Assert.AreEqual(1, localDate.WeekOfWeekYear);
        }

        [Test]
        public void BeforeCommonEra()
        {
            // Year -1 in absolute terms is 2BCE
            LocalDate localDate = new LocalDate(-1, 1, 1);
            Assert.AreEqual(Era.BeforeCommon, localDate.Era);
            Assert.AreEqual(-1, localDate.Year);
            Assert.AreEqual(2, localDate.YearOfEra);
        }

        [Test]
        public void BeforeCommonEra_BySpecifyingEra()
        {
            // Year -1 in absolute terms is 2BCE
            LocalDate localDate = new LocalDate(Era.BeforeCommon, 2, 1, 1);
            Assert.AreEqual(Era.BeforeCommon, localDate.Era);
            Assert.AreEqual(-1, localDate.Year);
            Assert.AreEqual(2, localDate.YearOfEra);
        }
    }
}


text:
Mr. Dettmer is a partner in the law firm of Krasny and Dettmer, Melbourne, Florida. Mr. Dettmer's practice is concentrated in the areas of business law, estate planning and real property law. He is board certified in taxation by the Florida Bar Board of Legal Specialization and Education and is "AV" rated by Martindale Hubbell, the highest rating for legal ability and ethics.
He received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University; a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Florida Institute of Technology and a Juris Doctorate with honors from the University of Florida. He is a member of the University of Florida Law Review.
Mr. Dettmer is a member of the Florida Bar and the Brevard County Bar Association. He is admitted to practice in the United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, and the United States Tax Court. He is also a member of the Tax Section and the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar.
He is past Chairman and a member of the Board of Trustees of Florida Institute of Technology; a member of the Board of Trustees of Health First Health Plans; past member of the Board of Trustees of Health First, Inc.; past chairman and a member of the Board of Directors of Health First Foundation, Inc., past Chairman and Director Emeritus of the Community Foundation for Brevard, Inc., and past member of the Board of Directors of the Central Florida Kidney Centers, Inc.
Mr. Dettmer was a founding shareholder and later Chairman of the Board of The Bank Brevard, Inc. when it merged with and into BankFIRST. He served as Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of BankFIRST and a member of the board of directors of The BANKshares, Inc., a bank holding company, which subsequently merged with and into Seacoast National Bank.
Mr. Dettmer has practiced law in Melbourne, Florida since 1974. He is married to Pamela Joan Dettmer and has three children. He enjoys cycling, traveling and reading.


Hej! Jeg heter Tom och jag är 21 år gammal. Jag kommer från Melbourne, Australien.
For those non-Swedish speakers, my name is Tom and I am a 21-year-old from Melbourne, Australia.
I have recently arrived in Sweden as part of the Border Crossings exchange project. From La Trobe University in Melbourne, I have ventured halfway across the world to study at Malmö högskola. I will continuing my studies in International Relations at Malmö and am extremely excited about the upcoming semester. My semester at Malmö will be the last semester of my bachelor's degree so I am looking forward to using it to explore the opportunities Sweden, and Europe as a whole, offer.
My first impressions were not what I expected. I had imagined a sleek, simple Scandinavian city (maybe I had let IKEA shape my expectations too much) but arrived in a sunny, vibrant and distinctly European city. Coming from the relatively young country of Australia, it is always amazing to be in a place that has nearly 800 years of history. Everything from the mix of old and new architecture, the canals, the cobblestone streets, the multiple city squares and the literally thousands of cyclists are so very different from anything in Australia. After arriving at Malmö centralstation I had to navigate my way to the accommodation I had booked. I will admit, I did get lost however all the Swedes I asked were very helpful and accommodating.
Arrival Day at Malmö högskola was the beginning of some exciting times! Something I had been working towards for months was finally here! From the moment I met the Malmö representatives at Centralstation I felt at home. The people were friendly and welcoming and perfect role models for the myth of Swedish efficiency. I cannot speak more highly of the whole introduction programme organized by Malmö högskola. Hats off to the International Office who ran a serious of interesting lectures on all things Swedish and combined these with some great social events. Highlights included the ESN Games (where my team won the tug-of-war; I'm kind of a big-deal in Sweden now), the World's Biggest Kräftskiva, or Crayfish Party (a giant party in the biggest square in Malmö, celebrating the recent crayfish harvest), the Malmöfestivalen (a massive free festival which included free concerts including the Hives and some other amazing Swedish artists I'd never heard of prior such as Hoffmaestro) the walking tour of Malmö and the bus tour of Österlen (where we finally caught our first glimpse of non-Malmö Sweden! We were shown the Glimmingehus, the best preserved castle in Scandinavia, and Ales Stenar, which is Sweden's take on Stone Henge). I have never done another exchange, so I don't have much to compare against, but I'm fairly sure the team at Malmö högskola run a world-class introduction program for their international students!
One of my biggest regrets so far in life is that I never learnt a second language. It angers me that the Australia doesn't value multilingualism as much as countries in Europe and Scandinavia. As such, I jumped at the opportunity of a free Swedish language course at Malmö. Whilst, with all due respect to the Swedes I'll be living with for the next 6 months, Swedish is probably not the most useful language, it is the first step towards bigger and better things. The two weeks of Swedish language classes was a challenge that I found extremely beneficial and that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was a great feeling the first time I conducted a coherent conversation with a Swede without having to revert to English. I intend to continue with part-2 of the language course and hopefully can improve my language skills (it is always a challenge to practice Swedish with a Swede, as they always want to practice their English with a native English speaker!).
I had my first day of actual classes today, which was certainly a struggle after the amazing two weeks of fun and partying. So far so good, but be sure to check out my next blog for further updates!
Hej då och stanna säkert!
This entry was posted in Malmö and tagged crayfish, latrobe, malmö, öresund, orientation, skåne, Sweden, swedish. Bookmark the permalink.


How much will a new deck cost?
To have a deck professionally built including materials starts around $15.00 a square foot, whereas an elaborately built deck using hardwoods or composite materials start around $30.00 per square foot.
This varies a great deal by the complexity of the project including any mishaps and weather conditions but in general a 12 x 24 foot elevated deck with a staircase and railing should take a carpenter and a laborer about one week to build (many times it is much quicker if the weather is nice).
One of the least costly and most used materials for building a deck is Pressure Treated Lumber. If you're looking for a low maintenance deck then man-made materials may be best for you. Azek and Fiberon decking are popular products with a large variety of colors and styles to choose from. Trex Transcend and TimberTech are also two others worth mentioning. All low maintenance decks come standard with white vinyl rails and composite skirting, meaning all materials exposed to the elements are covered.
Because of our understanding of the permit application process, we will obtain the permits for the homeowner.
How do I care for a deck?
If you have a wood deck it should be periodically cleaned and sealed to prevent the wood from splitting and degrading. Virtually maintenance free decks will need to be cleaned periodically to remove any stains and dirt.
When it comes to deck builders: it is all in the name.
Specialized deck construction. We strive to stand above other Baltimore deck contractors by providing excellent customer service and top-quality craftsmanship. Beginning with a Free Deck Audit, and throughout the construction development, we stand by your side and are devoted to your total satisfaction.
Should there be a step down to the deck from my house?
In most cases it's a good idea to have the deck installed a couple of inches lower than the house floor. This helps prevent rain, snow and ice from backing up under the door threshold and into the house. Decks with swing doors may have more of a step down particularly if you are in a snow region with no awning overhanging the door.
What deck plans will work best for my home?
A good starting point in plan decision making is to measure the proposed deck area and then measure some other spaces such as rooms to get a feel for the size deck appropriate for your home and liking. An average size deck is approximately 12 x 20 feet whereas a 16 x 26 foot deck is considered large in comparison to most deck projects. The larger the deck and more difficult in construction equates into more cost.
Is pressure Treated Lumber safe?
There was some health concerns related to pressure treated lumber that contain copper arsenic as a preservative. This preservative has already been phased out and replaced with a safe alternative.
What should be done with the exposed ground under the deck?
How many years will a deck last?
Pressure treated lumber last 50 years or longer if treated and maintained properly. Composite materials come with their own limited warranties which can range anywhere from 25 to 100 years, please see the website of whatever decking and railing system you have to see warranty information.


I want to buy a scope and I found a really really good, offer for a tektronix 465b.
Do you have tested and used some other scopes, are you satisfied or not?
Anyone with previous experience on the tektronix 465b?
Re: Some ideas on oscilloscopes?
Are you sure you need an oscilloscope and not a USB logic analyzer?
I've noticed the USB oscopes/analyzers are starting to get good enough for what we need to measure, and are cheaper for what you get, too.
My complaint about the traditional scopes is that they are really large and heavy - annoying to take with you to competitions and uses up all your lab bench space. Porting data from an analog scope to a PC can only be done with a digital camera, and many digital scopes aren't friendly with PCs either.
If you are interested in a benchtop scope, Tektronix makes one of the best. We use their scopes in our electronics lab, and they have never been any problem.
P.S. They only weigh 4.4lbs!
If the price is good and you only need basic analog features then buy it.
The Tektronix 465b is a good analog scope of 1980's vintage. I've used this model scope more than any other scope in 20+ years of electronics.
The new small Tek's are great scopes (we have a bunch at work). If you need a digital scope and $1-2k is not too much I would recommend them.


Quoine, which operates the cryptocurrency exchange Quoinex, is looking to enter the Russian crypto market, CEO Mike Kayamori told Russian news outlet Ria Novosti in an interview at the company's headquarters in Tokyo this week. The exchange currently supports BTC, BCH, and ETH. At the end of September this year, the company became one of the first eleven in Japan to receive approval by the Financial Services Agency (FSA).
I would like to work with someone in Russia, where we can also provide technology and a platform. Demand is huge.
The exchange has been actively expanding its operations of late. According to the CEO, the company is in talks with a number of foreign exchanges and financial institutions in countries such as the Philippines, South Korea, and China. Recently, Quoine partnered with fintech startup Blockwave to start cryptocurrency operations in Canada.
The Russian authorities and Russian institutions should simply look at Japan, on the existing guidelines and regulations, and then transfer them to Russia. Singapore is also looking at how it is done in Japan, because Japan is one step ahead.
Kayamori is not the only one suggesting looking at Japan as a model. In July, news.Bitcoin.com reported on Russian politician and the Presidential Commissioner for Entrepreneurs' Rights, Boris Titov, proposing for the central bank to follow the Japanese model in regulating cryptocurrencies.
Currently, the Russian government is working on a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings (ICOs). The regulations need to be implemented by July of next year, according to a mandate by president Vladimir Putin. This week, the Deputy Finance Minister announced that the bill should be ready by February.
Do you think more Japanese exchanges will want to expand into Russia? Let us know in the comments section below.


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Home Article Chopping Unions
Chopping Unions
To nobody's great surprise, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the Teamsters have left the AFL-CIO, and at least two other unions may soon follow.
In part, this schism reflects rivalries of turf, personality, pride, and money -- the ambition of new challengers versus the self-interest and dignity of the existing leadership. The challengers didn't have the support to vote John Sweeney out, so they walked.
As my friend Marshall Ganz, former organizing director of the United Farm Workers, observes, this schism is also about principled differences of how to rebuild a struggling movement. Organize by trade, industry, or community? Build a centralized movement or a popular, democratic one? These differences have echoes in the history of the labor movement, going back to the 19th-century Knights of Labor, the "Wobblies," and the Committee for Industrial Organization (CIO).
Ironically, Sweeney himself is a militant at heart. As the anti-establishment candidate in 1995, he made some of the same demands as today's insurgents, and he implemented many. It's a tragedy for the labor movement that Sweeney and his spiritual children could not have brokered a compromise allowing him to take a final bow and then bless the next generation of activists.
At the level of strategy, many unions that emphasize organizing -- notably the SEIU and the merged textile, hotel, and restaurant workers union (UNITE HERE) -- want the AFL-CIO to rebate half of the member contributions to constituent unions, to the extent that they spend that money on organizing. They want to slash the AFL-CIO's headquarters staff and reduce its spending on politics. Sweeney met their demands halfway, but the walkout movement had its own momentum. The Teamsters, who haven't done a lot of organizing lately, and whose connection to the AFL-CIO has been intermittent, went along mainly for the dues money
In the end, does this split portend a stronger or weaker labor movement?
For now, it's a real setback. Even a weakened AFL-CIO is still a crucial voice on pro-worker legislation and for the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. It's one more progressive institution that seems on the ropes.
Below the national radar, the AFL-CIO has done important work helping to create local and state labor councils, which often become key players in local politics. In Los Angeles, the local labor federation was a major factor in the rise of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. This may be jeopardized.
But the longer-term picture is more complex. If real resources are indeed shifted to organizing, that's a plus. There was hand-wringing in the 1930s when labor radicals founded the CIO, outside the established (and enfeebled) American Federation of Labor (AFL). It was CIO unions that organized new industries like autos and steel, where earlier efforts by craft unions had failed.
The AFL-CIO has certainly been a mainstay of grassroots progressive politics. But individual unions and union members are the foot-soldiers. And in 2004, the AFL-CIO's role was partly supplanted by independent, so-called "527" voter mobilization groups like America Coming Together (ACT), which happened to be run by the AFL-CIO's former political director.
With a rival federation, there could be new jurisdictional battles between AFL and non-AFL unions fighting to organize the same workers. The AFL has not been all that effective at preventing fierce battles between member unions, but with a rival federation, these battles could worsen, diverting precious resources from both sides.
In this period of conservative ascendancy, American progressives face agonizing reappraisals and tough choices that sometimes turn fratricidal.
When Ralph Nader ran for president, it was out of sheer frustration that progressive politics was almost totally blocked by the influence of big business on both parties. The move did not exactly prove helpful to his larger cause, but you can understand the exasperation.
Last year, two young environmentalists published a paper titled "The Death of Environmentalism," which rocked that movement. Their contention was that the coalition of mainstream, Washington-based environmental groups was spending hundreds of millions of dollars, and losing every major battle. Better to blow it up, they urged, and start over with a broader, fresher coalition.
Looking at American history, from the civil-rights movement of the 1960s to the industrial labor movement of the 1930s and the agrarian revolt of the 1880s, one can never predict where the next movement for social justice will break out. But you can safely bet it will be led the young and the radical.
It's one thing when Martin Luther King Jr. and student civil-rights workers are up against brutal, racist sheriffs; it's far more painful when it's a fight within the progressive community.
It is always risky to tamper with liberal institutions when they are under assault, as the Naderites found out. It's also better to break some china than to slowly fade into irrelevance. One can only hope for solidarity, reconciliation, and a more powerful movement once the dust settles.
Robert Kuttner is co-editor of The American Prospect. A version of this column originally appeared in the Boston Globe.


Piaggio, the Italian scooter manufacturer, has launched online pre-orders for its first all-electric scooter. Priced at 6,390 euros ($7,350).
The scooter that has the famous Vespa design, doesn't produce noise, has a 2 kW motor with 4 kW power, has a Lithium battery and a range of 100 km. It can be charged in 4 hours.


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Find out all the latest news and activities from Clinical Solutions.
New semantic search portal, powered by Elsevier's Entellect™ platform, will lead to better patient outcomes by providing clear, scientifically accurate data to healthcare professionals.


Are you looking to cure your winter blues? Look no further.
At 13 tracks and 41-minutes in length, Into the Spider-Verse OST features notable appearances from Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Vince Staples, Jaden Smith, Post Malone, Juice WRLD, Ski Mask The Slump god and XXXTENTACION, among others. Marvel is back after The Album's incredible success, this time with another authentic recipe of rap and underlying themes pressed into a unique superhero cinematic experience.
Kendrick Lamar streamed The Album, putting his super-human musical capabilities on the world's radar, and spear-heading the 14-track and 49-minute album as curator, producer and frequent feature across tracks.
Much like that of the actual cast in Black Panther, Kendrick amalgamated a rare and remarkable range of talents from around the globe, crossing continents, mixing genres, and altering perspectives. These included local friends from Los Angeles that have established their name in the rap genre (Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul), southern-rap and trap-influenced hit-makers (Future, 2 Chainz, Travis Scott), neo-soul trailblazers (The Weeknd, Anderson.Paak), and South African artists (Babes Wodumo, Saudi, Sjava and Yugen Blakrok).
Kendrick Lamar reigned king of The Album as he seemingly and omnisciently narrated the Pan-African soundtrack that is both applicable to the movie's plot and the theme of reclaiming one's heritage, specifically African diaspora and the effects of this in Marvel's first black rendition of a pride-filled superhero account.
If Black Panther The Album's theme is pan-African pride, then Into the Spider-Verse is flooded with the emotional toil of fulfilling human expectation, mixed with the supernatural ability to stand up and fight for what is right internally and externally.
Although there is no headliner artist across tracks like The Album, Into the Spider-Verse's OST hits home in an unforgettable blend of up-and-coming artists paired next to tried-and-true veterans.
On "Scared of the Dark" the late XXXTENTACION, Ty Dolla $ign and Lil Wayne deliver an exclusive combination of rare talent. In the chorus, Ty Dolla $ign raps, "I'm not scared, not scared at all / Why would a star, a star ever be afraid of the dark?" What is incredible about this collaboration is how each artist's take on being afraid of the dark is conveyed differently from the other, explicitly demonstrating how everyone's fear of the dark is distinct in its own way.
Post Malone and Swae Lee's collaboration in "Sunflower" provide nice R&B-like transitions, as Blackway and Black Caviar's "What's Up Danger" and Jaden Smith's "Way Up" provide the listener with instant head-nodding beats accompanied by passionate lyricism. The scope of flavors conferred in each track is satisfying to say the least.
On "Familia," Nicki Minaj joins forces with Bantu and Anuel AA, delivering an authentic Latin-trap experience. The song's main theme is loyalty, and how those who are close to you are worth more than anything else. This is a theme that is innate to Spider-Man, especially with the death of Peter Parker's uncle Ben, paying tribute to the original series fans know and love.
Rounding out the tracklist, Vince Staples' "Home" will invariably hit home for most listeners, as Staples raps, "this morning I woke up in a fortress of distortion / I'm at war with my emotions." Released right before Christmas, Staples culminates Into the Spider-Verse's OST by relating to everyone who will return home for the holidays, while also relating to Spider-Man's super-human feeling of nostalgia for being different in world where normal is comforting.
Entirely, Marvel's Into Spider-Verse's OST provides another stellar mix of hip-hop combinations that are uplifting, empowering, and powerful. The tracks come together unexpectedly and delightful at times, and confer the emotions and confrontations a teenage boy faces in understanding both himself and others in his supernatural abilities.
Although comparing it to Black Panther The Album doesn't seem fair due to Kendrick Lamar's genius that shines through across the tracks, Spider-Verse is sure to make your Spidey-senses tingle with its unique and ever-changing blend of modern rap.


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Social Science for the C21st
Workshop on the State
Restructuring the state: Reading the government programme
This invitational workshop gathers together five research projects based at different universities in Finland. The projects share in common a concern with the restructuring of the Finnish state. The projects focus on different policy sectors: social policy, gender equality policy and employment policy. At this workshop researchers from the projects will consider the gender dimensions of the restructuring and reform of the state. They will do so via focusing on the most recent set of reforms to the Finnish state, especially the reforms embedded in the current government's programme 'Finland, a Land of Solutions'.
DATE 11.4.2017 VENUE: University of Tampere, Linna Building Rm 5016.
10.00-10.30 Coffee, welcome, introduction
Anna Elomäki, Johanna Kantola, Anu Koivunen & Hanna Ylöstalo (Tasa-arvovaje/The Gender Equality Deficit project)
Feminist resistance in the "strategic state"
Tasa-arvovaje/The Gender Equality Deficit is a project funded by Kone Foundation (2016-2017) which aims to popularize scientific knowledge on gender equality and to bring it into public debates on economics and austerity politics as well as to political decision-making.
Our more theoretically focused aim is to explore the changing Finnish state from the perspective of gender and feminist resistance. We are particularly interested in how gender equality can be promoted in the era of neoliberalism and right wing politics. In the current context, new forms of governance and ideological shifts influence public governance. We look, on the one hand, at the changing conditions of state gender equality policy in what we call the "strategic state". On the other hand, we study how the new forms of governance that emphasize "strategic" management practices and the new ideological context change the conditions of feminist resistance within the feminist movement.
Lena Näre, Tiina Vaittinen & Minna Zechner (Vaiva collective)
Worthy of Care: Ailment in the Heart of Society
Our presentation builds on a recently published monograph Hoivan arvoiset: Vaiva yhteiskunnan ytimessä, coauthored by a transdisciplinary collective of care researchers, the Vaiva-collective. Focusing on the Finnish elderly care from the micro to the macro level, from history to the present, from the household to the transnational commodification of care services, the book argues that our ailments, bodily fragility and existential care needs are generative of social orders and political economies, rather than burdens to be erased and denied. We make the ethical argument that ailment is part of human life at all times and in all societies, and thus the politics of care should begin with a politics of ailment. This perspective radically challenges the ethics of treating care as a tradeable commodity, and a vehicle for capital accumulation.
LUNCH 12.30-13.00 (in seminar room)
Helena Hirvonen & Eeva Jokinen (Lean)
Gendered processes of modern organizational models: Lean production in the Finnish public service sector
Lean production has emerged in the 21st century as one of the modern organizational models of public service management for governments who struggle to do more for less. Originating from automobile industry in Japan, Lean production has gained growing popularity in human service industry, and also in the management of health and social care services. The female-friendly Nordic welfare states have been in the forefront of applying Lean in public services. Yet, rather few studies have looked at how Lean production affects the state-bound, feminine (semi-)professions in health and social care services.
Our paper presents a framework for a qualitative study that examines the employee effects of Lean in the Finnish public service sector. We ask: How does Lean encourage and enforce reformulation of care practices, relations of power and professionalism in public service organizations? Theoretically, the study is premised on an intersectional and multi-dimensional viewpoint and understanding of gendered processes in lean production. These are the systemic, the performative and the subjective dimension.
Anna Elomäki, Johanna Kantola, Paula Koskinen-Sandberg & Milja Saari (GePoCo):
Labour market organisations filling the void in governmental gender equality policy
The research project GePoCo is funded by the Academy of Finland (2016-2020) and the University of Helsinki Research Funds (2015-2017). By exploring the nexus between corporatism, power and gender our project provides insights into the challenges that surround the tripartite cooperation between trade unions, employers' organizations and the government.
In the seminar we present ongoing work that addresses the transformations of the state and the corporatist system in Finland through an analyzing gender equality positions of Finnish trade unions and employers' organisations. More specifically, we analyse the gender equality performances of labour market organisations, in other words, how the organisations represent themselves in the field of gender equality policy. We explore whether the labour market organisations have taken a more active role in advancing gender equality policy under the current government – i.e. filling the void left by the lack of effective governmental gender equality policies. Our research material covers all the statements, press releases, studies gathered from the websites of the six key organisations and the timeframe extends from 2010-2016.
Coffee 15.00-15.15
Lisa Adkins, Mona Mannevuo & Hanna Ylöstalo (Social Science for C21st):
Neuroeconomics Meets the Workfare State: The Case of UBI in Finland
Social Science for the C21st (2015-19, funded by Academy of Finland) considers shifts in the economy-society relation in post-Fordist capitalism. It is concerned in particular with the complex process of economization, that is, with the process of the folding of the economy into society.
Our presentation considers the ongoing two-year experiment with universal basic income (UBI) in Finland. According to the Finnish Government's Strategic Programme (2015) UBI is part of a wellbeing and health project set to encourage citizens to take better control of their lives. Despite this positioning we suggest that UBI should in fact be located in terms of the politics of workfare and in particular as the latest stage of workfarism in Finland. What is unique in this experiment is how UBI connects neuroscience, behavioural economics and social psychology with workfare politics. Despite widespread international support, we suggest therefore that the UBI experiment in Finland should be understood as concerning a restructuring of the workfare state which while removing conditionality and sanctioning attempts to promote and embed proactivity, self-care and individual decision-making in regard to work and working.
16.15-16.30 Discussion: Plans for the future
18.00 Dinner at Restaurant Tampella


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Church of the Holy Trinity getting a new rector
Published 7:00 pm Saturday, December 8, 2018
By Jan Griffey
Rev. Andy Andrews will become rector at Church of the Holy Trinity in Vicksburg in mid-February.
Shortly after the Rev. Andy Andrews began work as dean of the cathedral at St. Mary's Episcopal Cathedral in Memphis, that city's newspaper ran a story headlined, "Is the Cathedral Dying?"
"Eleven years later, it is thriving, a beacon of light for its parishioners — who have doubled in number — and for the unhoused in the church's neighborhood," said Vicksburg's Ray Hume.
In mid-February, Andrews, a native of Greenville, will become rector at Church of the Holy Trinity in Vicksburg.
After a process that lasted more than seven months, the 10-member search committee from Holy Trinity and Andrews think they are "a match made in heaven," Hume, a member of the committee, said.
"Andy Andrews is one of the most spiritual people I've ever met. At the same time, he's one of the most down to earth people I've ever known. That makes for an amazing combination," he said.
The Holy Trinity search committee met with Andrews in Memphis the second week of November.
"When we went up there and met him, we fell in love with him," Hume said. "When you talk with Andy, you feel as if he is totally centered. He listened. He was focused. You knew he was catching every word and nuance."
An unlikely match
The match up from the beginning was an unlikely one.
"In Memphis, Andy is the leader of the church that serves as the home church for the West Tennessee diocese of the Episcopal Church. There are two other ordained priests there and 15 staff members. We have three staff members, and Andy will be the sole priest at Holy Trinity," Hume said.
Andrews' name was thrown in the hat along with the names of other potential rectors by a couple of Holy Trinity parishioners. That list was forwarded to the Bishop Brian Seage of the Mississippi Episcopal Diocese, who culled that list and produced a shorter list, which was presented to the church's search committee back in July. Andrews' name was on it.
"When we saw where he was after 22 years as a priest, we thought to ourselves, we can dream, but surely he isn't really serious," Hume said. "The more we talked, the more we learned his interest was genuine."
He said Andrews work in Memphis involved spending much of his time on administrative matters.
"His love is pastoral care, working with people, getting to know them, helping them grow spiritually and helping with their life decisions. Helping them become the people and individuals that God wants us to be," Hume said.
The process was like a courtship, he said.
"The entire search committee and Andy came to realize we are a match made in heaven. I know that sounds kind of corny.
"I know people get scared or uneasy when people hear you talking about the Holy Spirit. Many think of some kind of out there, other worldly sort of thing. I am here to tell you (during this search process) the Holy Spirit was absolutely floating around us tangibly. If you can touch something that is only there in spirit, we were touching it. It was with us and led us to listen and not just listen to where we were being led, but to listen to each other and to Andy and our hearts and our minds," Hume said. "If you talk to any of the 10 people on this committee, every one will tell you this has been the most profound religious experience any of us has had. We are changed."
A welcome change
Mindy Giambrone, a senior warden at Holy Trinity and a member of the search committee agreed.
Giambrone moved to Vicksburg when she was two years old when her father, the Rev. Clifton McInnis, became the 11th rector to serve Holy Trinity. He was also the longest serving, from 1969 to 1992.
"I grew up at Holy Trinity," Giambrone said. "My dad was rector. My father was my father."
Giambrone said she is confident Andrews will be the shepherd Holy Trinity needs.
"When you meet him, you know he is just so full of the Holy Spirit. He is genuine, and I think he is going to be a priest for every age, every situation. He's going to bring not just a puff or wind, but a gust of wind. He's going to bring energy not only to Holy Trinity but also to all of Vicksburg."
Giambrone said, after receiving permission from the bishop, she and Hume met at the bell tower at the Church of the Holy Trinity and rang the bell 15 times for Andrews, who will be Holy Trinity's 15th rector.
"We were so excited. We videoed it and sent it to Andy," she said. "I am one of those weird people who love change. It has never scared me. It's just something new. It means life is moving on. I know Andy was that change for our search committee. He is not only going to touch Holy Trinity and the lives of the congregation, but the lives of anyone who will open themselves in the community."
His best era
Andrews said what Holy Trinity in Vicksburg has to offer was very attractive to him and his family.
Andrews and his wife, Anne, originally of Laurel, are the parents of three children, ages 16, 13 and 11.
"These are an engaged group who want to deepen their bonds of affection and want to help met the 21st century needs of Warren County," Andrews said.
He earned his undergraduate degree from Ole Miss, his master's in divinity from The Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas, and his doctor of ministry from the Episcopal Divinity School of Cambridge, Massachusetts.
He said as a native Mississippian, he is "spiritually and physically tied to that land. I never thought I would be in Vicksburg and I sure am grateful for this opportunity."
Andrews said St. Mary's Cathedral in Memphis is a "large, dynamic, exciting place to work. I have been here 11 years and I really feel in my heart that I don't want to hog this privilege to work in this fine place. This community is ready and I'm ready.
"I honestly feel like my best era of ministry and being a human being are ahead of me and I come humbly and I am at everyone's service in the name of love."
More Faith
Mississippi Symphony to perform Mozart at Sunday concert
Epiphany: Church of the Holy Trinity service closes out Christmas season
Hawkins UMC drive-thru prayer service changes time
Warren County churches prepare for Watch Night service
Progress continues on Sports Force Parks on the Mississippi


Nizwa is the largest city in the Ad Dakhiliyah region, and is also one of the oldest cities in Oman. This means that it is left with much historical heritage to marvel at! In particular, there are many mosques that embellish the landscapes with their spiritual beauty.
Some of the most famous include the 'Sultan Qaboos Jama', the 'So'al Mosque' and the Ash-Sharja Mosque, and visiting these makes for an inspiring day out that will leave you feeling a connection with Oman's traditions and past.
Nowadays, Nizwa has many modern facilities, with colleges, a university, a hospital and hotels. Known as a centre for growing dates much of the environment is very green and vibrant, with a refreshing atmosphere. A main attraction in the area is a lavish souq that sells a plethora of handcrafts and fresh produce. Of all the things Nizwa creates however, their silver jewellery is supposed to be the best in the country!
Nizwa is a main gateway to many places around Oman, with nearby old villages like Tanuf worth a visit to see some of the magnificent seasonal waterfalls. Nizwa mainly stands on its own though as a peaceful retreat in the middle of the country, with a warm and welcoming vibe.
Looking for a holiday to Nizwa in Oman? Book a cheap holidays to Nizwa Oman with Direct Traveller.