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text:
Suits, overruns slow condo projects by Chinese developers in SF
Local // Bay Area & State
J.K. Dineen Feb. 9, 2019 Updated: Feb. 9, 2019 5:19 p.m.
The construction site located at 1554 Market St. on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, in San Francisco, Calif.
In 2014 and 2015, Chinese real estate development company Z&L Properties jumped into the California market with a splash, going on a buying spree that would eventually include 12 housing sites in the Bay Area and Los Angeles that, when built out, would yield 3,400 condos.
The portfolio of valuable land — most of the parcels had already been approved for development — included San Francisco sites in the Transbay area, Hayes Valley, Mid-Market and South of Market. It contained four sites in San Jose, including the 643-unit Silvery Towers development downtown and two high-rises with 708 condos on the former Greyhound bus storage yard.
There were additional sites in Los Angeles, Santa Clara and Marin County. Z&L Properties, a U.S. spin-off of the Chinese giant R&F Properties, was "destined to become California's premier condominium developer," the company website stated at the time.
That hasn't exactly happened. Instead, years after the sites were purchased, none of the projects has been completed, and several have been derailed by lawsuits, cost overruns and building code violations. One project has been delayed because it is no longer economically feasible. Another was started in September 2017 and then construction was abruptly shut down after the site had been excavated. Another has been under construction for five years — three times longer than it should have taken — and still is not finished.
At a time when the city is facing a historic housing shortage, the difficulties that Z&L Properties has encountered illustrate the challenges many developers are grappling with. Construction costs, which have doubled since Z&L acquired most of its sites, are too high to make some projects economically viable.
Lenders have become more conservative, requiring developers to invest a lot more of their own money before a loan is approved. San Francisco's permit process is notoriously slow, with projects stalling for months between the Department of Building Inspections and other agencies that must sign off on plans, including Public Works and the Fire Department.
But Z&L's rocky entry into the world of Bay Area development also shows the rude awakening that some Chinese developers have experienced in San Francisco, where the planning and building requirements are far more restrictive than in their home country boomtowns. The problem is made worse by government restrictions on investment money leaving China.
555 Fulton St., a 139-unit condo building in Hayes Valley, has been under construction for almost five years, three times longer than it would normally take to build four stories of condos above retail.
By Kathleen Pender
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During that time Z&L has run afoul of city planners, neighbors and elected officials. Dozens of buyers who had signed up for units walked away, as did its anchor retail tenant, grocer New Seasons of Oregon. Dozens of complaints about the project have been filed with the city's Department of Building Inspection, most of them alleging that the developer regularly started construction work as early as 5:15 a.m. — well before the city's legal start time of 7 a.m.
Much of the delay was caused by the developer redesigning the building's exterior, without city permission, after it had been approved. The builder was forced to go back to the approved — and more expensive — glass exterior, which caused more than a year of delays.
Robert Buckner, chief financial officer of Z&L Properties, said the project is "finalizing construction" and the developer hopes to get its temporary certificate of occupancy by the end of March, "weather permitting." He said Z&L is negotiating with a new grocer and that he expects a lease to be signed this quarter.
But in the demanding world of San Francisco politics, it may not be that easy. The new grocer will have to pass muster with the neighborhood and commit to the same requirements that New Seasons did — namely, offering what the city defines as affordable groceries — and also to hiring locally, District Five Supervisor Vallie Brown said.
Brown said the developer should not get its temporary certificate of occupancy until a lease has been signed for an affordable grocery store. Mayor London Breed, who represented the neighborhood before she was elected mayor, had worked to bring a full-service grocery store to the neighborhood, recruiting New Seasons to the site and sponsoring legislation that exempted the property from a law that bans retail chains in Hayes Valley.
Brown said that the exception granted to the ban on formula retail — in essence, chain stores — has expired and that she wants to see a grocery store lease and the project completed before it is renewed.
"They have been so hard to work with — the exemption (to the chain store ban) has been our bargaining tool," Brown said. "It's been a struggle, and we are waiting to see what happens."
Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association President Gail Baugh also said the city should not give the developer a temporary certificate of occupancy if there is no deal with a grocer. After more than five years of tolerating noisy construction and losing valuable street parking, the residents are not likely to give Z&L the benefit of the doubt.
"We have been advised a number of times of deadlines, and none of them are ever met," she said. "We were told the building would be completed by last September. We were told there would be a lease with a new grocery store. We don't believe or trust this developer to follow through on promises they make to the community."
Not far from 555 Fulton St. is another another Z&L-owned site: 1554 Market St., just west of Van Ness Avenue. There Z&L excavated a foundation in September 2017, only to abruptly halt construction because, the company now says, costs came in $10 million over earlier estimates.
"The project unfortunately became economically unfeasible, and no lender would fund it," said Buckner, who added that the group is in talks with a new contractor that "has come in with a more reasonable construction budget."
Construction costs in San Francisco have more than doubled in five years — the average cost of building a new home in San Francisco is now more than $700,000, and it is even higher for high-rise buildings like the 325 Fremont St. project, which is approved for 118 condominiums in 25 stories. While the building permit for that project was obtained in September 2017, it doesn't work economically now and there is no timetable to start construction, Buckner said. Currently, it's a vacant lot.
The significant increases in construction costs have far outpaced the amount that developers can pass on to people who buy the new units, Buckner said. "These cost increases have caused projects that once penciled out just a few years ago to be put on hold."
Darlene Chiu Bryant, executive director of ChinaSF, a group that works in partnership with city government to connect Chinese and American investors, said Z&L Properties' problems stem from a combination of bad advice, bad timing and cultural differences.
"The majority of the Chinese developers have been challenged in that they are taking whatever customs and methods they have in China and bringing them over here," she said. "That's been our biggest challenge: getting them to understand that business is done differently in S.F. and the USA. The ways of doing business in China don't work here. It's been a big learning curve, especially if they decide to be their own general contractor."
Problems are multiplying for other Chinese developers, who have been among the most aggressive purchasers of downtown urban sites on both U.S. coasts over the past half-dozen years. Chinese investment in U.S. companies and real estate soared from less than $1 billion per year before 2008 to $46 billion in 2016, according to a 2018 report from the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and the Rhodium Group, an independent researcher.
That number tumbled to $29 billion in 2017, and even fewer deals were announced in 2018. Meanwhile, with the Chinese government restricting investment in the U.S., companies invested in development deals here have been running into cash flow issues. Oceanwide, a developer constructing the largest projects under construction in both downtown San Francisco and downtown Los Angeles, recently shut down its $1 billion Oceanwide Plaza L.A. project temporarily because of a lack of liquidity.
Construction at the San Francisco development, the $1.6 billion Oceanwide Center at First and Mission streets, is still going on, although the developer has been looking for a short-term loan or a new capital partner, according to real estate sources.
Anchor Pacific Capital Managing Partner Anton Qiu, who works with many Asian investors, said he could not comment specifically on the Oceanwide or the Z&L situation. But he said Chinese government restrictions on money leaving the country over the past 18 months have forced some Chinese developers to sell sites outright or bring on new capital partners.
"Projects like these have long cycles and are financed with short-term loans," Qiu said. "It's a big problem. You have five-year projects, and the developers assumed the money would come out of China to support it. Now the money has been cut off.
"It's the opposite of four years ago."
J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen
J.K. Dineen
Follow J.K. on:
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J.K. Dineen joined the San Francisco Chronicle in 2014, focusing on real estate development for the metro group, a beat that includes land use, housing, neighborhoods, the port, retail, and city parks. Prior to joining The Chronicle, he worked for the San Francisco Business Times, the San Francisco Examiner, the New York Daily News, and a bunch of newspapers in his native Massachusetts, including the Salem Evening News and the MetroWest Daily News.
He is the author of two books: Here Tomorrow, about historic preservation in California (Heyday, 2013); and the forthcoming High Spirits (Heyday 2015), a book of essays about legacy bars of San Francisco.
A graduate of Macalester College, Dineen was a member of Teach For America's inaugural class and taught sixth grade in Brooklyn, N.Y.
New plan for old Macy's building: Condos atop Union Square icon
SFO passengers from Wuhan, China, screened for new virus
Oakland police search for 3 suspects in fatal hit-and-run
In SF, Pelosi calls on supporters for unity amid impeachment controversy

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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EY: 59% of executives looking to invest in acquisitions
02 November 2015 Consultancy.uk
More than half (59%) of executives are looking to invest in acquisitions, up from 56% in April, a recent EY barometer of industry finds. According to the firm, this increased M&A appetite follows the stabilisation of business confidence among top companies. As these companies are looking to secure their long term growth, executives are starting to leverage capital towards inorganic growth opportunities, such as expanding through acquisitions.
Since 2009, EY releases a biannual report, titled 'Capital Confidence Barometer Global', which surveys 1,600 senior executives from large global companies about their global and domestic economic outlook. The report gives insight into boardroom priorities and emerging capital practices.
The H2 2015 report finds that 83% of executives continue to believe that the global economy is improving, although the number that believes there is decline has grown by 5% since April. Compared to a year earlier, the belief in improvement is up 30%. In terms of possible risks to improvement, the highest level of concern stems from increased global and regional political instability at 29%, followed by increases in currency and commodity volatility at 24%. Euro zone economic concerns come in at number three (23%).
Since the financial crises, boards have tended to focus on share buybacks and other short-term measures, in many cases under pressure from large or institutional investors. In recent years, executives have returned to the adage that focus on short-term tactics can be at odds with building long-term value, and in a time of modest global economic growth, executives are taking extra care to balance their allocations to support long-term strategic goals. The availability of capital mixed with board desire to diversify strategies for long term growth has seen companies equally prioritise cost cutting, organic growth and inorganic growth.
Pip McCrostie, EY's Global Vice-Chair of Transaction Advisory Services, explains: "With modest increases in global GDP, organic growth alone is not enough for companies to expand and reshape at the pace they need. Technology and changing consumer preferences are disrupting business models and blurring sector boundaries. In that context, the search for growth is lifting deal-making to record highs – and executives are focusing on M&A to secure innovation, competitive advantage and market share for the foreseeable future."
The main observation the report made is that M&A appetite is running high among executives surveyed. 59% of the companies taking part are planning an acquisition in the coming 12 months – pushing appetite to their highest level in the six year history of the report. The appetite for deals is up slightly from April when it stood at 56%, and up considerably from 40% and 31% in October and April 2014 respectively. Not every market is the same however. Particularly oil and gas at 69%, consumer products and retail at 67%, mining and metals at 67%, and diversified industrial products at 66% are considerably optimistic about doing deals.
Not only is the appetite for deals on the increase, but the belief in the likelihood of closing deals is also up over the previous year, standing at 57%, from 37% in April and 44% in October last year. This may be partly due to the belief of 69% of executives that there are considerably more quality acquisitions on the market, a number up from 46% in April. Choice has also increased, resulting in a confidence in the number of acquisition opportunities of 76%, 10% higher than in April.
Future market expectations
The M&A market is expected to improve further according to 83% of executives, while 15% note that they expect it to remain stable. The trend is considerably higher than last year when only 60% expected the market to strengthen further, and 39% expected it to remain stable. A number of factors are playing on the prediction of executives, EY finds. Particularly the disruption of business models, the blurring of sector boundaries and the drive towards sector consolidation in search of growth are all combining to lift deal-making at or above record highs.
The majority (71%) of deals that companies enter into are less than $250 million in value. Deals worth $251 million-1 billion now make up 5% more of the total share compared to April and 12% more compared to October last year. Mega deals, those above $1 billion, have increased 1%.
Cyber security concerns
One factor the report highlights is that cyber-security concerns surrounding acquisitions have been pushed high up on board considerations about possible acquisition deals. 20% of executives see cyber-security as a significant risk, to their deal process. For more than half (56%) of companies, cyber-security due diligence has now become standard practice. Areas of concern relate not merely to the companies themselves, but also to include business relationships such as customers and vendors, as well as joint ventures and affiliates of the target company.
In conclusion, McCrostie says: "With all signs in the deal market pointing upwards, some question the trend and wonder if the market is overheating, however, executives are acting prudently as they look for growth. They are conducting more thorough due diligence and are prepared to walk away from transactions that do not meet their strategic goals. In short, M&A is becoming an essential tool for generating long-term value. It's a critical part of a sustainable strategy to build the next decade's platform for growth."
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text:
Jobless Claims Fell By 23,000 Last Week; Durable Goods Orders Rose
By Mark Memmott
Saul Loeb
A Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft at the company's factory in Everett, Wash. Orders for aircraft drove the increase in demand for durable goods last month.
The number of first-time claims for unemployment insurance fell by 23,000 last week from the week before, to 369,000, the Employment and Training Administration says.
Claims have bounced around in recent weeks, in part because of some changes in the way at least one state reports its figures.
But overall, as we've said before, claims remain in the range where they've been stuck for a year, between 350,000 and 400,000.
Also this morning, the Census Bureau reports that orders for so-called durable goods designed to last three or more years rose 9.9 percent in September from August — the biggest monthly increase in nearly three years, according to The Associated Press and a bounce back from the 13.1 percent drop in August. Much of the September rebound was due to an increase in aircraft orders.
Mark Memmott
Mark Memmott is NPR's supervising senior editor for Standards & Practices. In that role, he's a resource for NPR's journalists – helping them raise the right questions as they do their work and uphold the organization's standards.
See stories by Mark Memmott


If you want to improve your online presence through social media or the web, Powerhouse Videos can help. Whatever the size of your company, we'll create a compelling video to engage new customers and sell your brand.
We all want the very best for our loved ones and when the time comes to say goodbye, a short film filled with pictures of special occasions, happy memories and favourite moments with family and friends can provide a heart-warming, personal tribute at their funeral or memorial.
A website is one of the best professional platforms to show the world what you do, generate customer interest and conduct business transactions.
Many web-design companies charge continuing fees for site alterations but at Powerhouse, we believe you should be fully in control of your own website and be able to make changes whenever you want, at no additional cost.
Web and social media content are ranked by the major search engines "Google" and "Bing" or social media sites such as Facebook. In order to outstrip your competitors you need better content, so visitors will remain on your site longer. Google owns YouTube and it's a fact that websites or social media platforms with engaging video content rank higher than those with words.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Johnny Depp and Tim Burton Attached to DARK SHADOWS
by Americ Ngwije · July 15, 2010
Warner Bros. has finally taken a step forward on the film "Dark Shadows" by hiring scribe Seth Grahame-Smith to write the script. The film has been sitting on the shelf at Warner Bros. for three years now with a star, director, and producers already attached.
The film project has Johnny Depp attached to star in and produce the film with Depp's favored director, Tim Burton, expected to direct the film. In addition to Depp, Richard Zanuck, Christi Dembrowski and David Kennedy are set to produce the project as well. Depp purchased the rights to "Dark Shadows" from Dan Curtis' estate. Curtis created the vampire soap opera which aired 1,225 episodes on ABC between 1966 and 1971. There remains no official release date for the film.
Grahame-Smith is currently adapting his own novel "Abraham Lincoln: A Vampire Hunter." The history-horror book was published in March and the film adaptation is set up at Universal with Tim Burton and Timur Bekmambetov.
(Source: Variety)
Tags: Dark ShadowsJohnny DeppSeth Grahame-SmithTim Burton
Americ Ngwije
Americ's movie watching experience has to be entertaining, so mostly anything with explosions will do, and having Jason Statham in them is always a plus. Then there are the odd men out aka "Meet Joe Black" and "In the Land of Women," go figure…
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Aging skin, by surgical menopause at 34, I am struggling to keep moisturized. This would be a godsend!
Makes my skin feel soft & supple.
Sound greats.I would love to try this.
I would really love to try this one. It seems like my skin will love it!
I am addicted to the fragrance of Orogold products. The body mist is so refreshing, love the body cream.
I cannot wait to try this product out ..... it sounds like it is a great product.
I love this product after reading all of the information, I'm hoping to get some for my girlfriend.


Located on the San Gabriel River in Georgetown, the Blue Hole is a fun swimming hole used mainly by the locals and those summer warriors in the know! It takes a bit to find it, and parking can be a pain on summer weekends, but taking a dip in the cool water is worth it!
Use your GPS and find W. Second St., and Rock St., there is a small parking lots (handicapped parking) right by the river, and 2 more lots up the small hill. Walk down to the river and turn left. Follow the trail to tables and the bath house.
Admittance is FREE, and there is no gate, staff or life guards, so swim at your own risk.
There are a few picnic tables by the river, or bring a blanket to lay out under one of the trees. No glass, please.
Near the parking area are 2 restaurants, Hat Creek Burger Company and El Monumento.
Hat Creek Burger Company is across the river from the parking areas, but there is a pedestrian crossing right at the lower parking area. They have casual burger fare, gluten free options and fun fry sauces as well as ice cream shakes, but the BEST thing if you have kids is their HUGE play yard with slides and climbing equipment! They seem to think nothing of coming in right from the river, still a little wet and muddy. My kids love it!
El Monumento is located on the same side as the parking, and you can see their colorful patio umbrellas from the river. They offer a weekend buffet on Saturday and Sunday, and upscale menu fare. The patio has a great view of the river!
Once upon a time you could jump from the cliffs into the water below, but not any more. Posting signs that jumping wasn't allowed didn't seem to be enough, so now it's against the law to even climb on the cliffs. However, during our visits, the signs have never seemed to stop anyone except us.
The Blue Hole is located on the San Gabriel River, so the depth is very dependent on what time of year you are visiting and recent rainfall. It is safe to say that the closer you are to the cliffs, the deeper the water is, and it does get deep in some places. Below the waterfall (assuming there is enough water for the waterfall), you can wade and play in the shallower water.
I always see people fishing when we visit, usually further up the river from where people are swimming. I've never seen ANYONE actually with a fish on them, but maybe I'm just not there early or late enough….
Fishing license are required for fishing at the Blue Hole for anyone 17 or older.
Dogs are allowed at the Blue Hole, and should be kept on a leash. With that said, it's not uncommon to see someone with a labrador or two, chasing sticks in the water, especially when it's not very crowded.
The Blue Hole is surrounded by a limestone cliffs and base, so one minute you are standing on rocks, and then it just drops off several feet, so make sure little ones and weaker swimmers wear a life jacket. Further upstream it gets muddy with some vegetation.
It's a short walk down to the bath house from the small parking area, but it's a pain if you are carrying lunch, towels, sunscreen and tubes, so bring a wagon!
Don't forget any of the above either, especially tubes or something to float and play on!
If you have water shoes, bring them!
Inner Space Caverns lets you tour Texas from underground! This amazing network of caverns, which actually runs under I-35 has daily tours!
Visit Downtown Georgetown, walk around the historic Williamson County Courthouse Square, or borrow a bicycle from the Georgetown Visitors Center to explore the town's 9 miles of hike and bike trail along the San Gabriel River!
Georgetown Paddle Company offers stand up paddleboard and kayak rentals on Lake Georgetown. Click HERE to visit their website.
Cedar Breaks Park is one of the Army Corp of Engineers Parks on Lake Georgetown and offers camping, boat ramps and a sandy swim beach! Click HERE for more information or to make a reservation.
Take a tour of the famous Gault Archaeological Site, a dig site of prehistoric people located in Williamson County. Tours are held on 6 Saturday mornings a year. For more information, click HERE.
Looks like a cool place to enjoy during summer, or even sunny, warm early fall days!


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Dr. Robert Kramm
Dieser Lebenslauf wird nicht mehr aktualisiert.
This CV is no longer updated.
From September 2015 to March 2016 Robert Kramm was a postdoctoral fellow at the Research Institute of Comparative History and Culture at Hanyang University.
In 2015, he earned his PhD in history at the Swiss Federal Institute for Technology (ETH) in Zurich, Switzerland, with a thesis titled Sanitized Sex: Regulating Prostitution, Venereal Disease and Intimacy in Occupied Japan, 1945-1952, where he was also a lecturer from 2012 to 2015.
From 2010 to 2012 he was a lecturer (wissenschaftlicher Mitarbeiter) at the Department for Chinese and Korean Studies at the Eberhard Karls University Tübingen.
2009 he received his M.A., also in history, at the University of Erfurt.
2008 he has conducted research at the Graduate Research Group "Media of History – History of Media" (Mediale Historiographien), Bauhaus-University Weimar, and at various Japanese universities (Yokohama National University, Gifu University, and Waseda University).
Research concentrations
Modern Japanese/East Asian History
Everyday History
Postcolonial Studies
Function within the Center
Fellow of the Institute for Advanced Study Konstanz (October 2016–September 2017)
Research project "Radical Utopian Communities: A Global History from the Margins, c. 1890–1950"
Sanitized Sex: Regulating Prostitution, Venereal Disease and Intimacy in Occupied Japan, 1945-1952, doctoral thesis, ETH Zurich, July 2015 (book manuscript under review).
Jessica R: Pliley, Robert Kramm and Harald Fischer-Tiné, eds., Global Anti-Vice Activism: Fighting Drinks, Drugs and 'Immorality' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2016).
Co-authored: "Introduction: A Plea for a 'Vicious Turn' in Global History," in Global Anti-Vice Activism, 1-29.
"'Hey, GI, want pretty flower girl?' Venereal disease, Sanitation, and Geopolitics in U.S. Occupied Japan and Korea, 1945-1948," in Global Anti-Vice Activism, 290-312.
"Reine Körper: Praktiken der Regulierung von Prostitution, Geschlechtskrankheiten und Intimität während der frühen US-Okkupation Japans," Geschichte&Gesellschaft 40, no. 4 (2014): 493-522.
"Sexualerziehung und Charakterbildung: Das Erbe der Moralreform während der US-Okkupation Japans, 1945-1952," in Biopolitik und Sittlichkeitsreform: Kampagnen gegen Alkohol, Drogen und Prostitution, 1880-1950, ed. by Judith Große, Francesco Spöring und Jana Tschurenev, 349-381 (Frankfurt/Main: Campus, 2014).
"Geschlecht und Sexualität," Einführungsartikel im Online-Dossier Globalgeschichte und Postkolonialismus, Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung, im Erscheinen 2016.
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During the formation of the solar system Earth underwent an event known as the late bombardment. This was a time of a high amount of asteroid collisions hitting the Earth's surface. These objects painted the surface of our planet with heavy elements such as gold, silver and titanium.
But how did these asteroids form and where do they come from? Scientists still don't know the full answer to this question. The issue here is that even our Sun can only produce up to a certain level of heavy materials. Star power works because atoms of hydrogen combine to form helium, but the size and density of most stars can only produce Iron until they lose power and collapse.
One theory is that the biggest stars in our universe live these short lifespans. When they die they explode and produce these very dense stars known as neutron stars. The explosion itself is known as a supernovae and in this event it is thought that there is enough heat to produce heavy elements.
However even with this scenario, the computer models are not completely conclusive and so Enrico Ramirez-Ruiz at UC Santa Cruz has been developing alternative theories.


text:
American Family First joins Climate Pledge
American Family First joins Climate Pledge The United States-based insurer American Family First has decided to sign the Climate Pledge.
The request from the Sununu Administration to use $252,000 in federal pandemic funding to offset the expense of premium hikes for birthing facilities and home birth midwives was granted by the New Hampshire Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee.
Increases in premiums are "putting the continued operation of the centers at risk," according to the state Department of Health and Human Services. This is because the facilities are required to have malpractice insurance in order to receive Medicaid reimbursement or enter into commercial provider contracts.
In addition to the fact that the existing Medicaid reimbursement rates are much lower than actual facility costs, state officials have stated that the rising cost of malpractice insurance causes a "major hardship to the centers and to at-home midwives."
Review of the iPhone 13 Pro: best phones ever made
The department noted one facility that reported an increase in its premium of 250 percent, which is equivalent to more than 40,000 dollars. It was stated that this increase, along with others, is related to increased utilization throughout the COVID-19 health crisis. This is due to the fact that more families are opting not to give birth in a hospital setting.
According to the plan, service providers would be eligible for a reimbursement of up to sixty percent of any increase in the premium they pay.
The state's portion of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding would be utilized to cover the costs of the program (ARPA). There would be no use of any public monies at all.
The funds, which would be accessible until June of the following year, is still awaiting the Executive Council's approval before it can be used.
Nexford offers Nigerians US-licensed degrees amid university strikes
A second bill to raise the Medicaid reimbursement rate for birthing facilities and midwives was signed into law by Governor Chris Sununu in the month of August. This was the first time in some years that this had occurred.
The New Hampshire Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee agreed to the Sununu Administration's request to use $252,000 in federal pandemic aid to cover the cost of premium increases for birthing centers and home birth midwives.
The state Department of Health and Human Services said that higher premiums are "putting the centers' ability to keep running at risk." This is because the centers need malpractice insurance to get paid by Medicaid or to sign contracts with commercial providers.
State officials said that the rising cost of malpractice insurance is a "significant hardship" for both centers and midwives who work in people's homes. At the same time, Medicaid reimbursement rates are much lower than the actual costs of running a center.
The department pointed to one center that said its premium went up by 250%, which is more than $40,000. It said that this increase and others are caused by more people using health care services because of the COVID-19 health crisis and the fact that more families are choosing not to have their babies in hospitals.
Uber is looking into a hack on its computers
Under the plan, providers could get up to 60% of their premium increase back.
The state's share of money from the federal American Rescue Plan Act would be used (ARPA). There would be no use of state money.
The money would be available until June of next year, but the Executive Council still needs to approve it.
In August, Gov. Chris Sununu signed a separate bill that, for the first time in a few years, raised the Medicaid reimbursement rate for birthing centers and midwives.
Tags: American Family First joins Climate Pledge
Byron Allen's $10B Discrimination Lawsuit Against McDonald's


The short explanation would be to call it a breakdance video. However that doesn't quite cover it. I'd rather say it's an artistic endeavor of remarkable visuals, set to enticing music.
There is breakdance, sure, but not the silly robot-moves you remember from the 80s. These guys twist their bodies in such impossible ways, they are often asked if there's any bone structure beneath their skin. You've seen one of the performers, who goes by the name David Elsewhere, on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Alice in Wonderland, Heineken and Volkswagen ads, as well as other viral videos.
But then, this is not merely a video showcasing dancing. Using out of the way locations in an unnamed metropol, the camerawork, editing and simple effects, create an immersive experience, that's somehow soothing, and perfect eye-candy to project on a wall at a party, or to keep you entertained on those days you don't have energy for thoughts.


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The Gene Illusion in Behavioral Research
Schizophrenia Genetic Research: Still Running on Empty
By Jay Joseph, Psy.D.
Awais Aftab's arguments in his 3/21/2020 post "Defending Aggregate Genetic Effects in Psychiatric Disorders" are based largely on his claim that the "high genetic heritability of schizophrenia" and other major psychiatric disorders "has been pretty consistently reported in [the] literature." Indeed it has, but the "literature" could still be wrong, especially when it is based on the acceptance of false assumptions, and on textbook and other authoritative authors' frequent failure to critically analyze (or even read closely) the original "landmark" studies they cite. Not to mention that, as a pair of critics wrote, "The term 'heritability,' as it is used today in human behavioral genetics, is one of the most misleading in the history of science." (See my description of the "heritability fallacy" HERE.)
Aftab then asked, in relation to Duncan Double's 3/20/2020 commentary "The Causes of Psychiatric Illness," whether Double can "cite even one good study which demonstrates that schizophrenia does not have a high genetic heritability?" A better way of posing this question is to ask whether the body of research that psychiatry currently cites as showing that schizophrenia has an important genetic component holds up under critical examination. As I have attempted to show since the late 1990s, it does not.
Psychiatric genetic arguments that important genetic factors underlie schizophrenia are based on twin studies that require the acceptance of obviously false assumptions, and on massively flawed and biased adoption studies. (Although most psychiatrists claim that "schizophrenia" is a valid medical disorder which they and others can reliably identify/diagnose, there is plenty of evidence that it isn't. Many critically minded authors now use the term "psychosis.")
In my 2017 e-book Schizophrenia and Genetics: The End of an Illusion, I examined in great detail the evidence that psychiatry puts forward in support of its "high genetic heritability of schizophrenia" position. I showed that the famous 1960s-1990s Danish-American schizophrenia adoption studies, performed by American psychiatric genetic researchers Seymour Kety, David Rosenthal, Paul Wender and their Danish colleagues, were flawed and biased to an extreme degree. It is only necessary to carefully read their original publications with a critical eye to see that these researchers manipulated diagnoses, data, and group comparisons in order to obtain the desired genetic findings. As Stephen Jay Gould showed in The Mismeasure of Man, human genetic research has a long history of investigators "shifting criteria to work through good data toward desired conclusions," and creating conditions in which "data" is not allowed to "overthrow…assumptions." The Danish-American adoption researchers continued this scandalous tradition—simply refusing to permit their data to overthrow psychiatry's need to establish "schizophrenia" as a valid genetic/biological medical disorder. The broad term now used to describe this practice is p-hacking, which includes various forms of scientific manipulation, misconduct, or fraud. (For an excellent description of these practices, see Chris Chambers' 2017 The Seven Deadly Sins of Psychology.)
Psychiatric twin studies are based on the utterly false assumption that reared-together MZ (identical) and DZ (fraternal) twin pairs grow up experiencing similar or "equal" environments, and it is likely that twin studies of schizophrenia and psychosis have recorded nothing more than research bias, MZ pairs' more similar environments and treatment, MZ pairs' higher levels of identity confusion and attachment to each other, and MZ pairs' greater tendency to experience "folie à deux" (shared psychotic disorder) compared with DZ pairs.
Aftab wrote in relation to molecular genetic research that although "there is no evidence of single genes of large effect sizes for schizophrenia or other major psychiatric disorders…the evidence…suggests [the existence of] multiple genes of very small individual effect sizes but a large aggregate effect." Psychiatric molecular genetic research dates back to the 1960s. Countless gene discovery claims have been published since then, especially since the late 1980s, only to be subsequently relegated to the ever-expanding psychiatric genetics "graveyard" of false positive results. The most recent claims of "multiple genes of small effect" are based on associations, not causes, and like previous claims it is extremely unlikely that they will hold up. Although we have seen many reports that various genetic variants are "associated" (correlated) with schizophrenia, decades of molecular genetic studies have failed to produce variants shown to cause it.
The evidence in favor of environmental causes, coupled with the lack of evidence in favor of biological and genetic causes, supports a psychological/sociological/political/environmental understanding of "schizophrenia" and psychosis. In support of this position, I highly recommend the book Models of Madness: Psychological, Social, and Biological Approaches to Psychosis (second ed.), edited by John Read and Jacqui Dillon. (See also Schizophrenia: A Scientific Delusion?, second ed., by Mary Boyle.)
Please see the following links to books and articles where I show that, based on a close examination of the original research publications, and building on the work of earlier pioneering critics (referenced therein), there indeed exists a literature "which demonstrates that schizophrenia does not have a high genetic heritability."
Schizophrenia and Genetics
The Gene Illusion: Genetic Research in Psychiatry and Psychology Under the Microscope (2004)
Quotations From the Genetics "Graveyard": Nearly Half a Century of False Positive Gene Discovery Claims in Psychiatry (2015)
Schizophrenia and Genetics: A Closer Look at the Evidence (2016)
Schizophrenia and Genetics: The End of an Illusion (2017)
Schizophrenia Genetic Research—Running on Empty (2017)
The Trouble with Twin Studies: A Reassessment of Twin Research in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (2015)
What Do Twin Studies Prove About Genetic Influences on Psychiatric Disorders? Absolutely Nothing (2018)
Bad-Science Warning: The "Minnesota Study of Twins Reared Apart" (2018)
It's Time to Abandon the "Classical Twin Method" in Behavioral Research
Note: Many more articles on twin research and behavioral genetics can be found at https://www.madinamerica.com/author/jjoseph/ . My 2020 analysis of reared-apart twin studies can be found HERE (First revision 8/17/2020. Second revision 12/23/2020, based on small stylistic changes, and adding a new introductory paragraph and a paragraph about a 2018 study by Segal and colleagues) By Jay Joseph, Psy.D. In this article I will argue that studies using the "classical twin method" should be abandoned in the social and behavioral sciences. I will attempt to show that the main assumption these studies are based on is false — an argument I have developed in books, peer-reviewed articles , and online articles since 1998 . Twin studies supply the "scientific evidence" most often cited in support of the claim that human behavioral differences are strongly influenced by heredity. Yet genetic interpretations of twin studies of behavior, including areas such as I
It's Time to Radically Reevaluate "Reared-Apart" (Separated) Twin Studies
Summary and Link to the Main Article It's Time to Radically Reevaluate "Reared-Apart" (Separated) Twin Studies By Jay Joseph, Psy.D. August 9th, 2020 (Link to the full-article pdf HERE ) The "validity of twin studies" question is very important because these studies supply the main "scientific" evidence in support of the "nature" (genetic) side of the long-running "nature-nurture" debate. The question of whether genes or environments are the main cause of human behavioral differences has profound implications for social relations and political policy decisions. In a previous article I summarized the critique of "twin method" studies, which use reared-together twins. I argued that the main assumption these studies are based on is false, and I concluded that the twin method should be abandoned as a tool for the detection of genetic influences on behavior. In the present article I summarize and add to the main arguments that I and other critics have made against gen
Jay Joseph, Psy.D. is a clinical psychologist practicing in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is the author of four books, most recently "The Trouble with Twin Studies: A Reassessment of Twin Research in the Social and Behavioral Sciences" (2015), and "Schizophrenia and Genetics: The End of an Illusion" (2017). Many additional articles can be found at his blog "The Gene Illusion" at the Mad in America website. A complete list of his publications can be found at his website http://jayjoseph.net/publications


LOURIE, ARTHUR (1903–1978), Israeli diplomat. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Lourie practiced as a barrister-at-law and lectured in Roman-Dutch law at Witwatersrand University. He served as political secretary of the Jewish Agency in London from 1933 until 1948, working under Nahum *Sokolow and Chaim *Weizmann. He spent most of World War ii in the United States, engaged in Zionist political work. In 1945 he was a member of the Jewish Agency delegation at the San Francisco un Conference and, from 1946 to 1948, was director of the Jewish Agency un Affairs Office in New York. From 1948 Lourie was a member of the Israel foreign service: from 1948 to 1953 he was Israel consul general in New York, from 1957 to 1959 he was ambassador to Canada, from 1960 to 1965 ambassador to the United Kingdom, and deputy director-general, Israel foreign ministry, 1965–72. A member of several Israel delegations to the un General Assembly, he was head of the delegation in 1959.
"Lourie, Arthur." Encyclopaedia Judaica. . Encyclopedia.com. 22 Apr. 2019 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.


Reign: Conflict of Nations is a large-scale real-time historical strategy game covering three centuries of medieval Europe. The player becomes a monarch testing their skills by controlling one of 26 unique factions as they develop smart economics, work political maneuvers, maintain thoughtful diplomacy, take care of resources and wage war. As the ruler players have absolute command and the ability to thrive or fail and die.


Impact rounds in 37/40mm are commonly used indoors at correctional facilities and in close quarter confrontations with small groups of violent protesters.
Our 37/40mm muzzle blast cartridges are mission specific to close quarter riot control on the street or indoors at correctional facilities.
MTS 37/40mm projectiles provide the tactical officer mission specific options in a range of irritant or smoke loads.


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HANSARD 1803–2005 → 1920s → 1920 → March 1920 → 1 March 1920 → Commons Sitting → TRANSPORT.
ROADS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
HC Deb 01 March 1920 vol 126 cc6-8 7
§ 17. Mr. MITCHELL
asked the Minister of Transport if the Ministry of Transport has refused representation on the Roads Advisory Committee to the British Rubber Tyre Manufacturers' Association; whether he is aware that the only part of a vehicle that comes in contact with the road surface is the tyre, and that therefore the chief possibility of reduction or aggravation of road wear lies in the construction and perfection of the various forms of tyres; and whether he will reconsider his decision in view of the importance of having the best technical advice on this important subject on the Roads Advisory Committee?
§ Mr. NEAL
The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The representation of bodies such as the British Rubber Tyre Manufacturers' Association on the Roads Advisory Committee is not provided for, or required, in Section 22 (2) of the Ministry of Transport Act, and I do not think it desirable that associations of this character should have direct representation on the Committee, though the Committee will doubtless take steps to make itself acquainted with the views of the traders affected.
§ Mr. PEMBERTON BILLING
What steps are being taken by the Government to ascertain the result of experiments in wheels and tyres as to the relative amount of road destruction occasioned by them?
If the hon. Member gives notice I shall be glad to answer.
§ 19. Mr. ROBERT YOUNG
asked the Minister of Transport what method is followed in selecting the personnel of the Roads Advisory Committees whether representatives of the rural district councils have, been selected: and, if not, will he favourably consider the appointment of such a representative or representatives, in view of the mileage of roads for which these councils are responsible?
23. Captain TUDOR-REES
asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that rural district councils control nearly 100,000 miles of roads, he will consider the advisability of including a representative or representatives of these councils on the Roads Advisory Committee appointed or to be appointed under Section 22 of The Ministry of Transport Act, 1919?
24. Lieut.-Colonel BELL
asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received a communication from the Rural District Councils Association, pointing out that no representative of the rural district councils has been appointed on the Roads Advisory Committee, formed under Section 22 of The Ministry of Transport Act, 1019; and whether he is prepared to consider sympathetically the question of appointing such a representative?
§ 46. Lieut.-Colonel HILDER
asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of there being nearly 100,000 miles of roads under the superintendence of the rural district councils, he can see his way to grant their request, made through the Rural District Councils Association, for a representative on the Roads Advisory Committee?
A representative of the Rural District Councils' Association has been nominated to serve on the Roads Advisory Committee. I am, waiting to hear from the gentleman so nominated whether he is willing to serve. The name of the representative of the rural district councils will be announced in due course.
Back to GOODS RATES (OWNER'S RISK).
Forward to LONDON TRAFFIC REGULATION.


The island of Milos with the natural Adamas bay provides maximum safety and security. The ideal weather conditions and the unique waters make it the perfect destination for beginners wanting to learn windsurfing, for families with children, intermediate and advanced windsurfers to improve their skills.
The methods and equipment cover the needs of all from beginners to experienced windsurfers.
Send us your request to schedule your surf training session. We cannot be certain about availabilities, so we will get back to you as soon as possible.


Showing up makes a statement: Whether we're curious, angry, or hopeful (or all three), we care. Showing up forges a connection to a cause, an idea, and especially to other people. As Philadelphia Foundation's team crisscrossed the region visiting tables last week, we saw and heard these emotions play out. At a time when it's common to despair over divisions and rancor in our society, we were heartened to witness people from so many walks of life talking to each other with respect, optimism, and shared purpose — and enjoying the experience of exploring pathways to change.
You can get an overview of the spirit and breadth of On the Table Philly conversations by following @onthetablePHL on Twitter and Instagram using the search term #LetsTalkPhilly, or looking at the On the Table Philly's Facebook page. Standout highlights for me included: a table at the Philadelphia Free Library at 6th and Lehigh, where each participant was a testament to challenges, triumphs, and tenacity that regularly go unnoticed in the Fairhill neighborhood; a post-election breakfast briefing by Ed Rendell for municipal finance wonks hosted by PFM that was a workshop on civic engagement; and a gathering hosted by the AFL-CIO that identified the pressing need to increase career awareness and math skills in middle schools. In Chester, a table at the Boys and Girls Club discussed affordable housing and home ownership. At ACLAMO Family Center in Norristown, the focus was on strengths and needs of area youth. At Rutgers Camden, a group talked about bistate regional opportunities. Entrepreneurship, arts and culture, public transit, fellowship and loneliness, opioids, safety … we discussed them all and more. In the coming weeks, we will be publishing survey findings and analyses to give us all a complete picture of the day.
More broadly, we all need to encourage, expand, and support greater Philadelphia's pool of givers and doers. The extensive organizing that occurred for this year's elections, the high voter turnout, and the doubling of On the Table Philly hosts and participants tell me that we have tremendous energy and urgency to engage even more area residents in volunteerism, activism, and philanthropy. There is no shortage of work to be done to realize the opportunities and meet the challenges in our region.
It's never too late to get engaged. Libraries, Y's, schools, and community and civic organizations provide opportunities to get directly involved. Community foundations, civic, fraternal, and other organizations provide an array of options for collective impact. Decide what issues and ideas stir you and the kinds of activities and roles that suit your talents and time. Keep informed through a variety of media. Talk to your neighbors, friends, and colleagues about causes they support. Then contact one of these organizations for advice and introductions to help you connect. We all benefit when everyone pitches in.
The Philadelphia Foundation is proud to be completing a century of service to greater Philadelphia. We're even more excited to launch our second century of action early next year. This milestone comes at a time when a lot of our region is booming while too many people and places are still being left behind. We will mark the occasion with a series of initiatives designed to inspire and nurture civic action and leadership, giving and doing.
Thank you for showing up. Now let's step up into our future.


The University of Waterloo will be hosting Hack4Health (H4H) 2.0 from November 4 — 6, 2016 in partnership with the MS Society and Alzheimer Society. H4H 2.0 will provide an exciting space for the creation of practical applications (software, hardware, and social solutions) for people living with MS and Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. The event follows on the success of last year's inaugural event, in which team TeraBio Solutions (TBS) were awarded $15,000 from the MS Society to develop a wearable device for people living with MS to improve wellness and manage symptoms. Follow along on Twitter (@Dr_KarenLee), MS Society Facebook page and the research blog for updates at the event.
Last month, the MS Society of Canada launched a new funding competition that invites MS researchers to apply for funding for specialized services and experiments provided by contract research organizations (CROs), with the aim of advancing pre-clinical development of treatments for progressive MS. This is now an open competition with no set deadline. Interested candidates can submit an application at any time unless otherwise stated. For more information, consult the CRO Grant Request for Applications.
The National MS Society, in partnership with Can Do MS, are hosting a webinar and telelearning series on diet and MS with featured speaker Dr. Pavan Bhargava (John's Hopkins Medical School, Baltimore), a world-leading expert on the topic. Join the webinar on November 8 (8:00-9:15pm ET) to hear Dr. Bhargava explain the impact of diet on MS and offer evidence around some popular dietary strategies. Visit the event registration page to register for the webinar.
This year's American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine is being held in Chicago from October 30 — November 4. The conference is dedicated to serving people with disabling conditions, and will host rehabilitation professionals — a global community of both researchers and consumers of research — who support research promoting health, independence, productivity as well as quality of life. Visit the conference website for more details.
The results of the Canadian Bone Marrow Transplantation Trial were a significant milestone for MS treatments after demonstrating that rebooting the immune system with a combination of chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation could halt brain inflammation, and, for some, reverse certain MS-related disability. However, the procedure carries significant risk due to the high dose of chemotherapy necessary to destroy an individual's existing immune system. A team from Stanford University have experimented with a non-chemotherapy approach to this procedure that could one day make this stem cell treatment safer for a wider range of people living with MS.
The MS Society and its affiliated MS Scientific Research Foundation are currently funding another stem cell clinical trial: MEsenchymal Stem cell therapy for CAnadian MS patients (MESCAMS). The study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of mesenchymal stem cells as an experimental treatment for MS. For further information, please visit the Research Portal.
The dust may have settled from the 32nd European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis (ECTRIMS) Congress in London, UK, but the research blog has been a flurry of activity recounting some of the most significant updates from the conference. Check out Dr. Karen Lee's takeaways from the conference, including the latest breakthroughs in remyelination, wellness and symptom management, imaging, new biomarkers, real-world treatment comparisons, and clinical trial results.
Last week, Peter Schwarz-Lam from the research department sat down with Becky Mitts from the events team to talk about Tour of Champions and how the money raised by our generous supporters for events like MS Bike is making a difference in MS research. Check out their interview and other research content on the MS Society Facebook page.
A tool called Managing My MS measure (MYMS) has been developed by a team from Queen's University to evaluate the effectiveness of a self-management program for people with MS. The team is recruiting participants to the study to evaluate the validity and repeatability of the MYMS measure. Click here to read more about how to participate in the study.


On 12 September 2018, the Philippines acceded to the Apostille Convention, an international convention aimed at streamlining authentication of documents abroad by facilitating the circulation of public documents executed in one State party to the Convention and to be used in another State party to the Convention.
The Convention will enter into force between the Philippines and other State Parties on 14 May 2019.
The Convention reduces the authentication process to a single formality: the issuance of an Apostille, an authentication certificate issued by a competent authority designated by the country where the public document was executed, certifying the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the person signing the document has acted and, where appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp which the document bears. An Apostille authenticates the origin of a public document.
Once the Apostille Convention enters into force, public documents from State Parties shall be exempt from legalization and need not be authenticated abroad by the diplomatic or consular agents of the State Party where the document will be used. Authentication by Philippine Embassies and Consulates General will not be necessary for recognition and acceptance of the public document in the Philippines. Likewise, Philippine public documents to be used in other State Parties need not undergo diplomatic or consular authentication.
However, documents from foreign jurisdictions intended for use as evidence in Philippine courts would still be subject to the rules on authentication and proof under the Rules of Court.
Should there be any doubt regarding the admissibility of any document to be used as evidence in a judicial proceeding, it would be best to seek your counsel's legal advice.
 Hague Convention of 5 October 1961 Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents.
 The formality by which the diplomatic or consular agents of the country in which the document has to be produced certify the authenticity of the signature, the capacity in which the person signing the document has acted, and where appropriate, the identity of the seal or stamp which it bears (Article 2 of the Apostille Convention).


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La Scottish Rite Cathedral est un temple maçonnique américain situé dans le centre-ville d'Indianapolis, dans l'Indiana. Il est inscrit au registre national des lieux historiques depuis le . Il est conçu par  l'architecte George F. Schreiber et construit entre 1927 et 1929 pour un coût de  de dollars. Il appartient à un organisme maçonnique (Masonic bodies), portant le nom de

Historique

Notes et références

Liens externes

Temple maçonnique inscrit au Registre national des lieux historiques
Registre national des lieux historiques à Indianapolis
Registre national des lieux historiques en 1983

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The Battle of Dakar, also known as Operation Menace, was an unsuccessful attempt in September 1940 by the Allies to capture the strategic port of Dakar in French West Africa. It was hoped that the success of the operation could overthrow the pro-German Vichy French administration in the colony, and be replaced by a pro-British Free French one under General Charles de Gaulle. Using Admiralty and Cabinet papers, as well as private sources of information, Marder weaves a skilled course through all the complex material to produce a masterly case study of how an operation is mounted and how it can go disastrously wrong. It is a classic, tragi-comic illustration of the fog of war.
Continuing on from his study of the Oran operation of July 1940, when the French warships were destroyed at Mers-el-Kébir, the author investigates the allied expedition of September that year, with De Gaulle present, which unsuccessfully attempted to break the French at Dakar away from the Vichy Government. In addition, there is the story of the Admiral Sir Dudley Pound, Flag Officer Commanding at Gibraltar at the time, who was relieved from his post after allowing a French naval squadron to pass out of the Mediterranean and so jeopardise the Dakar operation. A pet operation of Prime Minister Churchill, it was undertaken against all advice, and it turned out to be a fiasco. In the author's words, Menace exemplified, in its genesis, planning, and execution, all that can go wrong in warfare; an operation fouled up by unforeseen contingencies, the accidents of war, and human error, and against a background of undue political interference, inadequate planning, and half-baked co-operation between Allies.


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Former Vol Antonio "Tiny" Richardson to coach OL at The King's Academy
"It'll be a good fit," TKA head coach Matt Lowe said Monday about having Richardson on his staff.
Former Vol Antonio "Tiny" Richardson to coach OL at The King's Academy "It'll be a good fit," TKA head coach Matt Lowe said Monday about having Richardson on his staff. Check out this story on knoxnews.com: https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/high-school/2016/02/08/former-vol-antonio-tiny-richardson-to-coach-ol-at-the-kings-academy/90845138/
the Knoxville News Sentinel Published 1:45 p.m. ET Feb. 8, 2016
(Photo: Michael Patrick)
Former Tennessee offensive tackle Antonio 'Tiny' Richardson has been hired as the offensive line coach at The King's Academy, TKA coach Matt Lowe announced on Monday.
'I've known him from being around some camps,' Lowe told the News Sentinel. 'I got a phone call saying he was going to be back in town finishing up his degree at Tennessee. I got him on campus a few times, and basically as excited as I was and as excited as he seems to be, it will be good fit.
'He'll be on staff as the offensive line coach, but he'll be a non-teaching (or classified) coach.'
Richardson was a two-year starter for Tennessee, twice earning All-SEC second-team honors.
He declared for the NFL draft after his junior season in 2013.
He retired from football last May after being released by the Minnesota Vikings. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the franchise in 2014, but spent most of his rookie season on injured reserve because of two knee surgeries.
'He met with the headmaster last Tuesday,' Lowe said. 'And then with signing day, we waited until (Monday) to announce it.'


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Business Outreach Tip: STOP Doing the Same Old Things
I saw a blog the other day and after taking a course at a Community College years ago, I found my copy of Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson.
It's a story about two mice and two "little people" who are the size of mice, but who are human and have human brains and emotions. The mice, on the other hand, act like mice – they act on instinct and are always in hot pursuit of cheese.
They're all camped out on Cheese Station C, enjoying their vast supply of cheese. Until it runs out one day.
The mice, being mice and unemotional, simply put their running shoes on and scurry back into the world, in search of new cheese.
The little people, being unemotional humans, whine and complain. They yell and huff and puff, "This isn't right" and "We want our cheese back!"
It takes them a long time, but finally one of the of little people gets out into the world, searching for new cheese. It's not easy, it's discouraging at times, and takes time. But eventually he finds his new cheese, and it's bigger and a more delicious pile of cheese than he'd ever seen before.
The moral of the story? Do something different, be persistent and Don't Give Up!
Are YOU Doing Something Different? Or are YOU Doing the Same Old Things?
One of the biggest areas where change is happening is in Higher Education. Twenty years ago, no one predicted that the Internet would be play a prominent role in enrollments and online learning. And as little as five years ago, few people anticipated that you could do business using online integrated marketing (SEO, blogs, social media, etc.) generating interests and enrollments in your institutions.
Yet, despite all that, many colleges are still resistent and are doing what their predecessors did years ago, traditional marketing (TV, Print, Radio) with an informational website.
By doing the same old things, will your supply of proverbial "cheese" run out as more students and adult learners build college relationships, via social media and other Information Age avenues?
So do this right now. Try something new. It's time for change by adapting to a new generation of learners before your "cheese" runs out!
Jeff Roth, www.thelearningstrategy.com
Business Outreach Tip: STOP Doing the Same Old Thi...
Healthy Tips!
Competing with For-Profits in Attracting Businesse...
Health Tips!
Amanda Palmer: The art of asking


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Fermi and the Great Filter. Or, Some Thoughts on Why We Haven't Heard from Aliens (Yet!)
storiesbywilliams	in Uncategorized	 October 23, 2020 November 1, 2020 1,590 Words
In recent weeks, I've been writing a lot about Fermi's Paradox ("Where is everybody?" aka. where are all the aliens?) As you can imagine, this has involved a lot of research! So much has been said and so much ink has been spilled on the potential reasons why humanity has not found evidence of cosmic counterparts, despite seventy years of looking and the sheer vastness of the Universe.
Today, I thought I might share some of my own thoughts and speculations on that front. In terms of which hypothesis is the most likely, my thoughts are pretty simple and straightforward. But in terms of which hypothesis I think is the coolest and most mind-blowing (in part for the sake of science fiction writing), that's where things get a bit crazy!
Most-Likely Scenario:
I think that Robin Hanson summarized it best with his Great Filter Hypothesis. Basically, if the ingredients for life are everywhere and there's no shortage of places for it to have emerged – and enough time has passed that some of it ought to be colonizing entire galaxies! – then there must be something that in the evolutionary process that keeps life from reaching advanced stages.
According to Hanson's theory, the evolution of life on Earth can serve as a template for addressing Fermi's big question. If we assume that life follows a similar course in all parts of the Universe, then we can boil that down to a multi-step process that might look something like this:
A star system with potentially habitable planets and organic molecules
Reproductive molecules (e.g. RNA)
Single-cell life
Complex single-cell life
Sexual reproduction
Multi-cell life
Tool-using animals with intelligence
An advanced, technologically-dependent civilization (we are here)
Colonization of space
As the argument goes, wherever you place the filter in this process will have inevitable implications for humanity and life on Earth. If the filter is at an early stage, it means life has beaten the odds just by getting this far. If it is at a later stage, it means humanity could be nearing a precipice. Neither of these scenarios is particularly cheery because they mean that we're either likely to die soon, or we shouldn't be here in the first place!
Given the challenges and existential threats that life on Earth is facing today, there are many theorists who argue that the filter belongs between steps 8 and 9. As intelligent species grow and multiple, so will their dependence on technology and their impact on their natural environment. Eventually, they will reach a bottleneck, where they will either get off-world, or they will collapse before they get the chance.
Now for the Crazy Stuff!
Hands down, my favorite proposed resolution to the Fermi Paradox is the Transcension Hypothesis. This theory has deep roots but owes its existence largely to cosmologist and theoretical physicist John D. Barrow – who passed away on Sept. 26th, 2020. In 1998, he published a study called "Impossibility: Limits of Science and the Science of Limits" where he proposed a revised version of the Kardashev Scale.
For those unfamiliar, Kardashev proposed that civilizations could be divided into one of three categories based on how much energy they could harness:
Type I civilizations could to harness the energy of an entire planet
Type II civilizations could harness the energy of their entire sun
Type III civilizations could harness the energy of an entire galaxy
In contrast, Barrow observed that humans have benefitted far more from extending their abilities into increasingly smaller scales rather than larger ones. Therefore, he proposed a scale that extended downward, where civilizations would be capable of manipulating matter from the scale of objects, down to the genetic, atomic, subatomic, and finally, space and time itself.
By 2002, John M. Smart, the CEO of Foresight University and founder of the Acceleration Studies Foundation, synthesized Barrow's work and the increasingly-popular theory of the Technological Singularity to propose another resolution to the Fermi Paradox. In a paper titled "Answering the Fermi Paradox: Exploring the Mechanisms of Universal Transcension," he claimed the "Great Silence" could be explained by technological evolution.
He updated these arguments in a 2011 essay titled "The transcension hypothesis: Sufficiently advanced civilizations invariably leave our universe, and implications for METI and SETI." In summary, Smart argued that the process of evolutionary development (evo-devo) will inevitably guide species to optimizing their space rather than attempting to expand and fill more of it.
Rather than trying to colonize more star systems, they will be more likely to convert matter within their own system. This could include disassembling planets to create clouds of computronium, shedding their physical bodies to live out their lives in simulations, and soaking up all the energy they need from their sun. Or, as Smart offered, they might relocate to live around the Event Horizons of black holes!
Black holes could be the ultimate source of energy since matter that falls into rings around them is accelerated to relativistic speeds (near the speed of light) and they also emit energy in the form of Hawking Radiation. Beyond that, black holes allow for all kinds of revolutionary physics that only a super-advanced species would be able to harness.
Bottom line, a species that has reached this state of evolutionary development would likely be "radio-quiet" and undetectable by conventional SETI means. Moreover, they would likely lose interest in broadcasting their existence to the outside Universe and would prefer to observe it passively.
If you really want to get into the weird and scary theories that make you paranoid and want to question everything, there are few theories better than the Planetarium Hypothesis. This theory states that the reason there's the "Great Silence" is that humanity is living inside a simulation or engineered environment (that would be the "planetarium") built by a super-advanced species.
This species could have emerged millions (or billions) of years before we did and is making sure we're unaware of their existence by making sure the simulation presents us with no evidence of intelligent life beyond Earth. And all the while, they are watching and studying us, maybe for the sake of research, maybe for entertainment, maybe because they created us, or maybe just to keep us controlled so we never threaten them.
It's like a cross between the Truman Show, The Matrix, and 2001: A Space Odyssey. It's also akin to the Zoo Hypothesis, which states advanced civilizations are avoiding contact with humanity (and any other less-developed species) out of some version of the law of non-interference (think of Star Trek's "Prime Directive".) You could say the Planetarium Hypothesis is the Zoo Hypothesis' evil sister!
Some theorists have raised the question of how we might test this hypothesis. It's been suggested that the physics of a simulated universe would have tell-tale signs of structure ("lattices") that would indicate that it's artificial. This theory takes its cue from the concept of Lattice Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD) environments, where quantum-level interactions are harnessed to create artificial environments (think of a "Holodeck").
However, this approach is based on the idea that the physics model that is used in the simulation would be reliable – or at least the same as what exists in the real Universe. An inevitable counter-argument arises from this: if the laws of physics (as we perceive them) are part of our simulated reality, how can we trust them to reveal that it's just a simulation?
That's what makes this hypothesis so intriguing, as far as I'm concerned. If the very laws of physics were written as part of the simulation, it would make sense that those laws would be in place to prevent us from ever finding out. Even more mind-boggling is the idea that they could be specially-tuned to limit humanity's growth.
When it comes to becoming an interplanetary and interstellar species, there are two forces that are holding us back: Gravity and Special Relativity. To break free of Earth's gravity, one needs to generate an escape velocity of 11.19 km/s (6.95 mi/s), which takes a LOT of energy. As for Relativity, it establishes that the speed of light (299,792,458 m/s) is constant and a physical absolute.
One of the consequences of this law is that the faster an object gets, the more massive it becomes. As a result, it takes progressively more energy to accelerate the closer you get to the speed of light. In order to actually reach it, you'd have to generate an infinite amount of energy. Because of all that, traveling to even the nearest star is prohibitively expensive and could take many decades (at least).
That's what makes this hypothesis interesting to me, from my perspective anyway. If I were a super-advanced species and in the habit of keeping less-advanced species confined in an artificial environment, I would include a physics model that imposes these very kinds of limitations. In other words, I am intrigued by the Planetarium Hypothesis because it's exactly what I would do!
No spoilers, but all this research also gave me some big ideas for future novels. I would preview what these are, but I prefer to do that when the idea is in the works, and that won't happen for a long time! I got a few standalone books to finish in the meantime, a trilogy that's waiting on the release of the third installment, and then a second trilogy to prepare for.
Speaking of which, more new on that front will be coming soon! Stay tuned!
storiesbywilliams Matt Williams is a professional writer, science fiction author, and science communicator who currently writes for Universe Today, Interesting Engineering, Stardom Space, and Stellar Amenities. He is also the Director of Media Communications for Mars City Design and a member of Enterprise in Space and Explore Mars. His novels, The Formist Series, are available at Amazon.com and through Castrum Press. He lives with his wife and family on Vancouver Island in beautiful British Columbia.
Some Thoughts on the 2020 Election and the Future – Part the First
5 thoughts on "Fermi and the Great Filter. Or, Some Thoughts on Why We Haven't Heard from Aliens (Yet!)"
Derek Allen says:
Remarkable story Matt, thanks again. I enjoy sharing lots of stories on my blog. Maybe I can send this out to my audience as well, with your permission of course. Great work!
Totally! Let me stand before your audience! 😀
JWM says:
George Loyer says:
Checkout Ciuxin Li's Three Body Problem trilogy and the Dark Forest Hypothesis that is core to the story and very related to the ideas you write about here.
I'm working my way through Li's trilogy, actually. I need to get my hands on a copy of Dark Forest, but I plan to 🙂


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Q: How to read a section of a file using python? I am currently trying to create a python program that prints out specific sections of a file. I tried using file.read() and file.readline() but I can't seem to get an exact position, just either full lines or bits. Is there a better function to be using or an import I can use?
The problem I am running into is my files output reads
facet normal 0.00000e+00 0.00000e+00 0.00000e+00

I want to take the values and put them into a variable. I would like to create an if statement that takes those three values and adds them to different variables however I don't know of a function that does that. Should I be trying to parse the file first?
My code to provide the output is
f = open ('/pycharm/sphere.stl')
for line in f:
  print(line)

I would like to have an if statement along the lines of
f = open ('/pycharm/sphere.stl')
for line in f:
  if line == "facet normal"
    a = nextFloat()
    if a == true
      b = nextFloat()
      if b == true
        c = nextFloat()
      if c == true
        d = a + b + c
        print (d)

I am trying to solve for d but I can't find a way to use the output of the file in order to input for d.

A: I think what you are looking for is something like regular expressions. However you can in principle do something like split:
for line in f.readlines():
  if line.split()[0] == 'fact normal':
    a = nextFloat() ## the rest of your code...

hope that helps you.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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text:
QT offers over 9,500 rooms for World Cup
Joey Aguilar Last Edited November 18, 2022 | 01:57 AM
QT chief operating officer Berthold Trenkel at the media roundtable yesterday. PICTURES: Thajudheen.
Iris Wagner
Denisa Spinkova
Qatar Tourism (QT), in collaboration with booking platforms Expedia, Airbnb, and Booking.com, has issued licences to more than 3,500 properties under its Holiday Homes initiative, offering over 9,500 rooms for the FIFA World Cup 2022 visitors.
Launched in 2021, Holiday Homes aims to add more accommodation options and promotes a safe, as well as an enjoyable experience, for visitors. "We are looking forward to an amazing tournament, to an amazing experience for every visitor that is coming to Qatar," QT chief operating officer Berthold Trenkel told a media roundtable yesterday.
According to QT, sun and sea enthusiasts will enjoy the numerous offerings and family-friendly beach club experiences such as all-day dining, purpose-built fan zone, culinary grab & go services and live entertainment, among others, at three newly-opened beaches at West Bay: B12 Beach Club, Doha Sands and West Bay Beach.
In addition, QT's Service Excellence focused segment witnessed the revamping of its call centre, setting up more than 60 information centres and over 10 virtual concierges, and the training of thousands of frontline service professionals under its Qatar Host programme. "I'm pleased to say that leading up to the major event... we got 550-plus licenced tour guides in the country. We have the right level of language expertise. We needed to make sure that we have plenty of German-speaking, Italian-speaking tour guides, and so on," Denisa Spinkova from the Tourism Marketing and Promotion Sector said.
QT also partnered with Vodafone for an SMS campaign to welcome visitors, encouraging them to use of the mobile app and get information about Qatar's curated experiences and events. The app is live in eight languages. Visitqatar.com features "Shaheen" – a visitor chatbot that allows real-time conversation with a customer service agent on the ground.
"I am really proud to say that we have managed to cover all main visitor touch points. Anyone who is starting to plan their travels to those who actually arrive in the country and until the moment they leave, we have them covered with information and inspiration and everything they need to know," Iris Wagner from the Tourism Marketing and Promotion Sector said. Qatar Tourism added that around 500,000 copies of Qatar Now guidebook and 1mn copies of Qatar Map (pocket fold), featuring key tourism sites and event information during the tournament, will be printed and distributed at key locations. Digital versions can be viewed through Qatar Airways, digital kiosks, and Visit Qatar app.
Visitors will also have the opportunity to ride 40 newly renovated Dhow boats, supported by new pontoons built by QT's partner at Ashghal.
World Cup lifts Qatar's hotel rooms' yield about 300% in December


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Concept Cars ALT
Go back to the future with an auction of wildly imaginative cars and sculptural art from the Estate of John Bucci, a visionary artist whose work was decades ahead of its time. The auction includes two of his Space Age vehicles, the 1962 car known as La Shabbla, which was the rage of the 1964 New York World's Fair and The Trieste.
John Bucci grew up in Italy, in an area that became part of Yugoslavia after World War II. After immigrating to Chicago in 1959, he worked at Radio Flyer, Zenith and Sun Electric. But his true gift was being able to visualize the fantastical and then create it out of fiberglass. He became renowned for his spectacular replicas of the Trevi Fountain, which he supplied to trade shows and Italian festivals around the country.
In 1962, Mr. Bucci found himself without sufficient funds to buy a car for himself, so he made a car of the future "La Shabbla", meaning "Sword". Its futuristic fiberglass body sits on a Fiat chassis with an Arbath 750 engine. It features retractable headlights, a working steering wheel, electrically powered hood cover, oscilloscope, and blue woven leather seats. The car was displayed at the Calvacade of Custom Cars at the 1964 World's Fair in New York City where it caught the eye of singer Paul Anka, who hopped inside for a photo opportunity.
liveauctioneers.com
Wed, Oct 14, 2020 11:00 AM EDT


text:
ObeliskEl Greco
Laocoön
See Laocoön in the Kaleidoscope
Laocoön is a Spanish Renaissance and Mannerist Oil on Canvas Painting created by El Greco from 1604 to 1614. It lives at the National Gallery of Art, Washington in the United States. The image is in the Public Domain, and tagged Fear, Death in Art and Greek and Roman Mythology. Download
The gods don't screw around.
The Laocoön is a recurring theme among renaissance painters, combining Greek high-drama and violent death. The scene depicts the death of the Laocoön, a Trojan priest of Posidon. During the Greek seige of Troy, it was the Laocoön that mistrusted the now infamous Greek horse. But the god's were on the side of Greece, and the Laocoön's warning earned him and his sons a cursed death by sea-snake. Rough.
El Greco's depiction is a dark one, less classically influenced and trapped by the low clouds he often depicted over his adopted city of Toledo, Spain. The men's contorted bodies are radically stretched in the Mannerist form, their faces tortured. The Laocoön was El Greco's only painting of a mythologial theme, and its violence and vengeful gods may have been a reference to the ravages of the Inquisition, which gripped Spain in the early 1600's.
Reed Enger, "Laocoön," in Obelisk Art History, Published November 25, 2015; last modified May 19, 2021, http://arthistoryproject.com/artists/el-greco/laocoon/.
Further reading atwikipedia.org
headforart.com
nga.gov
More Greco
Spanish Renaissance Artwork
The Nobleman with his Hand on his Chest
View of Toledo
Composition with Figures
Liubov Popova, 1913
The Grand Canal from San Vio, Venice
Canaletto, 1723-1724
Sleeping woman
Pierre Bonnard, 1928
View and Plan of Toledo


text:
Bell Bowl Prairie Provides Habitat for Rare and Threatened Species of Wildlife and Nature for Birders Across Illinois
Birds in This Story
Latin: Lanius ludovicianus
Bobolink
Latin: Dolichonyx oryzivorus
Female Bobolink
Female Bobolink Photo: Lynn Cleveland/Audubon Photography Award
Tell Ohio Lawmakers to Repeal House Bill 6
HB6 has been called the worst energy policy in the country. Tell Ohio lawmakers to do the right thing and repeal HB6.
The statement from Daniel Suarez, Conservation Manager, Illinois/Indiana is in response to the proposed destruction of the Bell Bowl Prairie as part of the Chicago Rockford International Airport expansion plan that would mark an irreversible ecological and cultural loss for the State of Illinois.
"Bell Bowl Prairie is a remnant prairie, providing habitat for rare and threatened species of wildlife and creating wellbeing for the thousands of birders and prairie enthusiasts across the state. Today, there is less than one-hundredth of one percent (0.01%) of original, remnant prairie remaining in the state of Illinois, approximately 2,500 acres. Of these 2,500 acres, only 148 acres across the state are remnant gravel hill prairies like Bell Bowl. This permanent loss of Illinois' natural heritage must not be exacerbated by the continued destruction of the few prairie acres that remain.
Bell Bowl Prairie, while small, is a reminder of what Illinois once was: a vast expanse of prairies, savannas, wetlands, and woodlands as far as the eye can see. These connected habitats provided opportunities for thousands of species of plants, birds, insects, mammals, fungi and more to prosper for thousands of years. Today, however, wildlife faces a fragmented landscape that provides more barriers and obstacles than opportunities for species to thrive. Over time, we've compressed that vast expanse into a few, tiny remnants where species suffer and their populations decline. Just this past week, 23 species of birds and wildlife were removed from the endangered species list and officially declared extinct by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The grassland birds that call Bell Bowl Prairie home are amongst the fastest-declining suite of birds in North America. Grassland dependent bird species have lost 53% of their population over the past 50 years. (Rosenberg et al. 2019). These species have suffered due to conversion to agriculture, urban development, and habitat fragmentation. Grassland birds build their nests directly on the ground, and benefit from large-acreage prairies where predators have more difficulty in finding them. During the day, these birds quietly forage for insects along the ground. Remnant prairies like Bell Bowl often have higher plant diversity and presence of rare plant species that in turn harbor rare insects, securing a diversity of food options for birds who undergo some of the longest migrations in the western hemisphere. When a remnant prairie is destroyed, there is no scientific way of replicating that assemblage of plants, animals, and soil biota anywhere else.
Grassland dependent bird species like the Bobolink, a long-distance migrant that spends its winters in the grasslands of Argentina, Uruguay, and Brazil, rely on prairies in Illinois and the upper Midwest for their breeding habitat in the summer. A Species in Greatest Need of Conservation in Illinois, Bobolink have been declining at an alarming -6.76% average annual rate across their range since 1966 (Sauer et al. 2016). However, at northeastern Illinois prairies that are effectively protected and managed, Bobolink are actually increasing at a rate of 2% annually over the past ten years (Bird Conservation Network, 2013). Sites like Bell Bowl Prairie, which has been managed by staff and volunteers for years, need to be protected to ensure a future for rare birds like Bobolink and the Illinois State Endangered Loggerhead Shrike, another resident of Bell Bowl Prairie. Because they only live in Illinois during the breeding season, it is our responsibility to all of the Western Hemisphere to ensure the remaining habitats of threatened grassland birds are preserved and enhanced, not destroyed.
The proposed development of this prairie would jeopardize the existence of one of the most threatened ecosystems in the world and by default the rare flora and fauna contained therein. Audubon Great Lakes, a regional office of National Audubon Society, and our 52,000 members in Illinois support halting construction until a more thoughtful plan can be developed that best represents the interests of all stakeholders.
As residents of The Prairie State, protecting the remaining acres of this crucial ecosystem is essential to ensure the survival of our precious remaining prairies and prairie birds."


This month's theme is out of the box. I am offering a class using this adorable Sincerely Santa Project Kit for tags and this awesome tin. I love tins. Sorry for this photo but I took a quick snapshot of my tags I made to send to a team mate and shared my samples with her for her class this weekend. You have supplies to make 30 tags in this kit. If you are loving it as much as I am you can order it on my on line store using the item number 148029. At your class I will have my stamp set and ink pads for you to use.
My team mate Karel Standish and I just got back from a 7 day Carribean Cruise and we had a blast. I am going to show you some fun photos taken on our Stampin' Cruise.
These day of the week signs were in the elevators each day!
This was the first day from our balcony. This is my cabin mate and team member Karel.
This was taken in the craft room (conference room) Here I am making a fun framed project.
Karel and I at one of the fun, yummy dinners.
This was a fabulous excursion. I have always loved the TV show amazing race (this is as close as I will ever get) we had such a fun time.
This was one of our clues to find this statue of Christopher Columbus at a church (who discovered St Maarten in 1493) I believe after we found the statue we had an eating challenge- it turned out to be a local fruit that tasted a lot like a fig but it didn't look like a fig (I wish I had taken a picture of it) I forgot the name of it but it was reallllllllllllly interesting to look at.
This was my new friend Cathy Malago a Stampin' UP! demonstrator. We took the tour together. Here we are taking a break.
I will add the next segment of our cruise soon. If you would like to go on a fun cruise with us make sure to check out our Stamp "N" Sail Carribean Cruise HERE.
Check out the rest of this month's fabulous blog hoppers.
Some of you know I am going on a stamping and scrapping cruise this coming Saturday for a week. While I am gone I am offering this special below. I am working hard to reach a sales goal before September 30th ($200K in career sales!!!) If you are loving the holiday catalog like I do you will want to get your new products in your hands as soon as possible so you can start working on your fall and Christmas projects. Contact me if you have any questions. Thank you so much for supporting my Stampin' UP! business. Please use Host code YEZFA6S4 when ordering.
This is my favorite suite in the catalog but I have a lot of close seconds. Check the catalog out to see what your favorites are.
ok I could not let the opportunity go by without posting this amazing buffalo check plus the Farmhouse set for this sample I made recently. See my list keeps getting longer for my favorites. I used the truck from the Farmhouse set.
This was a fun z card I saw on FB and can't remember who made it I changed it a little but that little fence is so stinking cute.
Wishing You Well is so versatile. You get Thoughts and Prayers, Get Well, and Christmas, plus that ribbon looks so real.
I love making tags and I used the same set except for the Thank You Stamp.


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More police to be trained in Taser use
MORE police officers are to be allowed to use the Taser weapon which fires high voltage into people. Hertfordshire Constabulary has revealed it plans to extend the availability of Taser beyond its specialist firearms team from this week. As part of the Ho
MORE police officers are to be allowed to use the Taser weapon which fires high voltage into people.
Hertfordshire Constabulary has revealed it plans to extend the availability of Taser beyond its specialist firearms team from this week.
As part of the Home Office's commitment to providing officers with the tools they need to meet the demands of modern policing, the roll out of Taser to non-firearms officers has been authorised to all forces across the country.
Taser has been in use in Herts since June 2005, with its use limited to specialist firearms officers.
Now the use will be extended to specially selected and trained non-firearms officers and will be restricted to a limited number of officers from intervention teams.
It will be available for use in those situations where officers face violence or threats of violence of such severity that they need to use force to protect the public, themselves or the subject.
"Just as in firearms incidents, authorisation will still be required," said Supt Andrew Ewing, from the Constabulary's operational support department.
"However, once this has been given, officers will be able to use the most appropriate response - be it conventional resources such as officer presence, communication or PAVA spray, or the new option of Taser, according to the gravity of the situation and their threat assessment.
"Each officer (selected) will receive intensive and rigorous Taser training.
"It is crucial that the right officer, with the right training, uses the right procedures."
Temporary deputy chief constable Heather Valentine said: "We remain committed to using appropriate force only when necessary.
"While violent crime in our county is low, our officers do on occasions need to deal with individuals who threaten violence to both police and members of the public.
"In those situations, we need the ability to bring these incidents to a quick and safe conclusion and Taser is one of a number of ways that our officers can achieve this."
Taser will be rolled out in the eastern area of the county - which includes North Herts - by the end of March.
The actual use of Taser in the county remains very low.
Between April and November, 330 Taser-only authorisations were given.
Of those, it was deployed on only 12 occasions, and actually discharged just once.