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package com.dong.design.mediator;

public class List extends Component {

	@Override
	public void update() {
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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RESEARCH ARTICLE| 15 April 2004
Bumblebee search time without ultraviolet light
Adrian G. Dyer,
Adrian G. Dyer *
1Zoologie II, Biozentrum, Universität Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
3School of Orthoptics, Faculty of Health Sciences, La Trobe University,Bundoora Victoria 3086, Australia
*Author for correspondence (e-mail: a.dyer@latrobe.edu.au)
Lars Chittka
2School of Biological Sciences, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK
Accepted: 16 Feb 2004
© The Company of Biologists Limited 2004
https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.00941
Adrian G. Dyer, Lars Chittka; Bumblebee search time without ultraviolet light. J Exp Biol 15 April 2004; 207 (10): 1683–1688. doi: https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.00941
Bees often facilitate pollination of important greenhouse crops. Individual bumblebees Bombus terrestris were therefore tested in an indoor flight arena to evaluate whether or not search time to find flowers was influenced by the inclusion or exclusion of ultraviolet radiation. Plastic model flowers of similar spectral properties to flowers of tomato Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. were used to evaluate bee search efficiency. The results show that bumblebees perceive when ultraviolet radiation is either removed or added to an illumination source; however, the bumblebees rapidly learn to find model flowers with equal efficiency in either illumination environment. The behavioural results are interpreted in relation to a colorimetric analysis showing how bumblebees are capable of using their visual system to forage efficiently in environments that exclude ultraviolet radiation.
ultraviolet, vision, foraging efficiency, greenhouse, bumblebee, Bombus terrestris
Bumblebees Bombus terrestris are important pollinators of angiosperms and use their colour vision both to detect flowers(Spaethe et al., 2001) and to choose between flowers (Chittka et al.,1997). Hymenopteran insects including bumblebees perceive ultraviolet radiation (Kevan et al.,2001), whilst human vision is not sensitive to ultraviolet radiation because of the absorption of wavelengths shorter than about 400 nm by ocular filters (Muntz,1972; Dyer, 2001). The sensitivity of bees to ultraviolet radiation raises the question of whether or not illumination conditions that exclude ultraviolet might affect the efficiency with which bees can use their vision to detect flowers. For example, bumblebees are important pollinators of commercial crops contained within greenhouses (Banda and Paxton,1991; Kevan et al.,1991), and the ultraviolet transmission characteristics of different materials used to cover greenhouses are highly variable (Morandin et al., 2001c, 2002).
One important example of a greenhouse crop is the tomato Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. (Morandin et al., 2001a, b, c). The pollination of tomato plant flowers requires the agitation of flower anther cones to release pollen(Buchman, 1983) and efficient pollination is achieved either by the use of electronic vibrating systems (Picken,1984), or more recently by the use of bumblebees(Banda and Paxton 1991; Kevan et al., 1991; van Ravestijn and van der Sande,1991).
There is evidence that bees perceive changes in the ultraviolet content of illumination. For example, Morandin et al.(2001b) found that in commercial greenhouses fitted with ultraviolet-transmitting plastic the mean activity of individual bumblebees Bombus impatiens was 4.82±0.37 trips per day, whilst in commercial greenhouses that excluded ultraviolet radiation the activity averaged 2.37±0.37 trips per day. Increased activity in greenhouse environments that transmit more ultraviolet radiation has also been reported for several other species of insects(Antignus et al., 1996; Costa and Robb, 1999; Costa et al., 2002). However,in a study using miniature greenhouses in a tightly controlled environment Morandin et al. (2002) did not find that bumblebees were more active under high UV-transmitting coverings.
To estimate the number of bumblebees required to pollinate greenhouse crops efficiently it is important to understand the ability of individual bees to operate visually under conditions where ultraviolet radiation is excluded from the foraging environment. Spaethe et al.(2001) showed that search time is an important parameter for the efficiency with which the bees are able to make visits to flowers. For large flowers, search time correlated well with colour contrast, whilst for small flowers search time was more likely to be explained by green receptor contrast(Spaethe et al., 2001). The spectral signal reflected by a flower to a bee's eye is the product of the spectral properties of the flower's pigments and the spectral quality of the radiation source illuminating the flower(Kevan and Backhaus, 1998). It is thus important that bees are able to discount efficiently any effects of changes in illumination colour, otherwise the value of having colour vision could be compromised (Dyer,1998). It has been demonstrated that bees have the ability to make a correction for changes in illumination colour(Neumeyer, 1981; Werner et al., 1988), a phenomena termed colour constancy. However, it is likely that the mechanism(s)of colour constancy is imperfect in bees (Dyer, 1998, 1999; Dyer and Chittka, 2004), and it is important to understand how the bee's visual system might deal with the exclusion of ultraviolet radiation from an illumination source.
This study evaluates bumblebee efficiency at finding model tomato flowers in ultraviolet-rich (UV+) and ultraviolet-poor (UV–) illumination conditions, and the results are interpreted in relation to a colorimetric analysis of the experimental variables. Most commercial crops are planted with a single species in a greenhouse (e.g. Morandin et al., 2001a) and this study considers search efficiency for a single type of flower rather than the ability to choose between flowers of different coloration.
Foraging environment
Experiments were conducted in a controlled light laboratory in the Bee Research Station at Wuerzburg University (Germany). Bumblebees Bombus terrestris L. were housed in a two-chamber wooden nesting box (28 cm×16 cm×11 cm) connected with a Plexiglass tube to a flight arena(120 cm×100 cm×35cm). Pollen grains were provided directly into the nest. The flight arena had an ultraviolet transparent Plexiglass cover. Shutters in the connecting tube controlled bee movement into the arena. To allow familiarization with the arena the shutters were initially set to an open position and a glass feeder was placed at random coordinates within the arena. Bees were captured at the feeder and marked with a small plastic number on the thorax.
Illumination was provided by six Duro-test 40 W True-Lite tubes and one Osram 36 W Blacklight tube mounted 115 cm above the arena floor (tube frequency converted to 1200 Hz). Illumination was diffused by a Rosco 216 white diffusion (ultraviolet transmitting) screen (Rosco, Germany). For an UV+environment the illumination was not filtered, and for an UV–environment an Arri 226 (Munich, Germany) ultraviolet-blocking filter covered the illumination. Spectral irradiance of these the sources was measured with an Ocean Optics (Dunedin, FL S2000, Dunedin, FL, USA) spectrometer relative to a calibrated deuterium/halogen radiation source (DH-2000-CAL)(Fig. 1A).
Colour stimuli and illumination sources. (A) Spectral irradiance of the UV+(thin line) and UV–(bold line) illumination sources. (B) Spectral reflectance of a tomato plant flower (broken line), an artificial model flower(bold line) and the green foraging background (thin line). (C) Colour loci of stimuli in a colour hexagon assuming adaptation of the visual system to the green background colour in the UV+ and UV–illumination conditions. E,excitation; B, blue; G, green; UV, ultraviolet.
Flower colour for bumblebee vision
Spectral reflectance of a freshly opened tomato flower was measured using the Ocean Optics spectrometer (Fig. 1B). A variety of plastic yellow surfaces were also tested to find a surface that had similar spectral reflectance properties to the tomato flower. A plastic yellow flooring tape (Tape Pacific, NSW, Australia) had similar spectral characteristics to the yellow tomato flower, including ultraviolet reflectance (Fig. 1B), and was used to make model flowers. This was done by attaching the tape to a thin plastic surface and using a punch to make 15 mm diameter model flowers, or hand cutting starshaped model flowers with a maximum distance of 26 mm between the opposing points.
To represent the colour loci of the tomato and model flower in a colour space for the two illumination conditions a hexagon colour space was used(Chittka, 1992).
The relative amount of light absorbed by each photoreceptor class is given by P:
\[\ P=R{{\int}_{300}^{650}}S\mathrm{i}({\lambda})I({\lambda})D({\lambda})\mathrm{d}{\lambda},\]
where Si(λ) is the spectral sensitivity of the bumblebees'(ultraviolet, blue or green) receptor class(Peitsch, 1992), I(λ) is the spectral reflectance function of the stimulus and D(λ) is the spectral distribution of the illuminant when converted to relative photon flux.
The variable R is the adaptation coefficient, which assumes adaptation to the green painted background (IB),
\[\ R=1{/}{{\int}_{300}^{650}}S({\lambda})I_{\mathrm{B}}({\lambda})D({\lambda})\mathrm{d}{\lambda},\]
The transduction of photoreceptor absorption (P) into receptor excitations (E) is given by:
\[\ E=P{/}(P+1).\]
Coding is performed by two unspecified colour opponent mechanisms and colour distance can be calculated as the Euclidean distance between stimuli loci in colour space (Chittka,1992).
Loci were calculated considering that the bees' visual system was adapted to the green background such that E equals 0.5 in each photoreceptor(Equation 3). The excitation of each photoreceptor can vary between 0 and 1.0, and so the maximum contrast in the green photoreceptor is 0.5 (Spaethe et al., 2001). The colour contrast that a flower makes with the background ranges from 0 at the centre of the hexagon to 1.0 at the corners of the hexagon (Chittka, 1992; Spaethe et al., 2001).
Search time
To evaluate search time for model flowers we used a similar methodology to Spaethe et al. (2001), testing one bee at a time. Three model flowers were presented in the arena arranged in the corners of an equilateral triangle shape with a side length of 30 cm. In each foraging bout the triangle position was randomly located on the arena floor, and between each bout the flowers and floor were washed with 30%alcohol to eliminate any use of olfactory cues. A 15 μl drop of 2 mol l–1 sucrose solution was placed in the center of each model flower. A digital timer was used to measure the flight time from when a bee started foraging until a flower was landed on. Time spent on flowers drinking the sucrose solution was excluded. After a bee had visited all three flowers it was then fed using a micropipette at one of the model flowers until satiated, at which stage it returned to the nest box and the foraging bout concluded.
Each bee was tested for a total of 20 bouts, ten bouts in one illumination condition and ten bouts in the alternative illumination condition. The illumination was changed at the completion of the 10th foraging bout when the bee had returned to the nest box. In each bout the search time for landing on the first flower, and then the search time to find subsequent flowers was measured. To exclude the distance variability introduced by the random positioning of triangle in the arena, the time it took from leaving the first flower until landing on the second flower was statistically evaluated(Spaethe et al., 2001).
Experiment 1: 26 mm star model flowers
Five bees were individually tested to evaluate efficiency at finding 26 mm star model flowers. Each bee was tested in the UV+ illumination for 10 bouts,and then in the UV–illumination for ten bouts. To measure search efficiency the flight times between the first and second flower within the equilateral triangle were compared for the UV+ and UV–illumination conditions. Data for search efficiency was analyzed for the last five bouts of each illumination condition, so that the bees had an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the condition.
To measure the bees' perception of illumination change, the search time to the first flower within the triangle was also evaluated. Whilst this introduces a variable of distance, search time for the first flower tests whether or not the bees perceive a change in flower colour when illumination conditions change.
Experiment 2: 15 mm model flowers
In this experiment we used 15 mm model flowers to evaluate the bees' search efficiency. Ten bees were evaluated and the sequence order of illumination conditions being tested was reversed for five of the bees. This tested if bees perceive an illumination change when ultraviolet was either added or removed from the lighting environment. The bees' perception of a change in illumination conditions was evaluated with the search time to find the first flower.
To measure search efficiency the flight times between the first and second flower within the equilateral triangle were compared for the UV+ and UV–illumination conditions. Data for search efficiency were analyzed for the last five bouts of each illumination condition, so that the bees had an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the condition.
Fig. 1B shows the spectral reflectance of a tomato plant flower, the painted green background and a model flower. The spectral characteristics of the model flowers are similar to tomato flowers in that both reflectance curves may be classified as reflecting ultraviolet radiation, absorbing blue radiation and reflecting green radiation. Fig. 1C shows the loci of tomato and model flowers under UV+ and UV–illumination conditions. There is a shift of 0.08 hexagon units in the loci of the model flower, predicting that the bees' visual system is not capable of fully correcting for the illumination change (see Dyer, 1998). Table 1 shows that both the colour contrast and the green contrast remain consistent for the model flower when ultraviolet radiation is excluded from the foraging environment. A similar result is obtained for the tomato flower, and this indicates that the ability of the bees' visual system to detect model and tomato flowers is predicted to be independent of whether or not the plastic covering material on a greenhouse transmits ultraviolet or not.
Colour contrast and green contrast of tomato and model flowers under ultraviolet rich (UV+) and ultraviolet poor (UV—) illumination conditions
Green contrast
Tomato .
UV+ 0.191 0.106 0.113 0.255
UV— 0.198 0.112 0.112 0.254
Ratio (UV—/UV+) 1.036 1.054 0.988 0.996
Five bees were tested for their ability to find flowers in a UV+environment, and then in an UV–environment. Fig. 2A shows the search time required to find the first flower in the equilateral triangle over the course of 20 foraging bouts. The bees also made a number of abortive flights (bees approached a model flower but did not land on it) immediately following the illumination change. In the five bouts before the illumination change there were no abortive flights by the five bees, but in the bout following the illumination change bees made several abortive flights (mean ± s.e.m. = 3.6±0.3, N=5). The reaction of the bees clearly shows that the change in illumination was perceived as there is a sevenfold increase in mean search time for the 11th foraging bout. This increase in search time for the 11th bout was likely to be mainly because of flights where bees approached flowers but did not to land. However, the increase in search time does not remain high for subsequent foraging bouts(Fig. 2A) and it appears that the bees quickly learn to find the model flower in the changed illumination conditions.
Search time for bumblebees to find the first flower in the flight arena during a 20-bout evaluation of foraging efficiency. Illumination conditions were changed just prior to the 11th foraging bout. Five different bees are used in each of the three test conditions; values are means ± s.e.m. (A) Mean data for five bees searching for 26 mm star shaped model flowers initially in UV+ and then UV–conditions. (B) Mean data for five bees searching for 15 mm model flowers initially in UV+ and then UV–conditions. (C) Mean data for five bees searching for 15 mm model flowers initially in UV–and then UV+ conditions.
To exclude the variability introduced by the random positioning of the first flower the search times between the 1st and 2nd flowers were evaluated(Spaethe et al., 2001). The search time in the UV+ environment (mean ± s.e.m. =3.3±0.2 s, N=5) was not significantly different from the search time in the UV–environment (mean ± s.e.m. =3.2±0.2 s, N=5) (paired samples t-test N=5, t=0.910, d.f.=4, P=0.414).
Five bees were tested first in a UV+ environment and then a UV–environment. Fig. 2Bshows the bees' search time for the first flower in the equilateral triangle over the course of 20 foraging bouts. There was a 13-fold increase in the mean search time for the first flower immediately following the switch from the UV+to UV–environment. However, the search time in subsequent bouts shows that the bees quickly learn to operate in an UV–environment(Fig. 2B).
A separate group of five bees was tested in the reverse order so that initial testing was in UV–illumination, followed by UV+ illumination. Fig. 2C shows that the bees also perceive this change in illumination conditions as the search time showed a sevenfold increase in search time for the UV+ environment. As with the results for experiments described above, the bees quickly learn to operate in the changed illumination conditions (Fig. 2C).
To compare the efficiency for finding the 15 mm flowers the search times in a UV+ environment were grouped (mean ± s.e.m. =4.3±0.5 s, N=10) and compared to the search times for finding flowers in a UV–environment (mean ± s.e.m. =4.6±0.6 s, N=10). These results were not statistically significantly different (paired samples t-test N=10, t=–0.487, d.f.=9, P=0.638). This is in agreement with the findings of experiment 1 that bumblebee search efficiency is not affected by the presence of a UV+ or UV–illumination environment, at least for the stimuli tested here.
Over the past decade the use of bumblebees has become important for facilitating the pollination of crops in greenhouses(Banda and Paxton, 1991; Kevan et al., 1991). Several studies have observed that insects appear to be less active when greenhouses are covered with a material that reduces the transmission of ultraviolet radiation relative to other wavebands of visible light(Antignus et al., 1996; Morandin et al., 2001b; Costa and Robb, 1999; Costa et al., 2002). Fig. 2 shows that bumblebees perceive a change in colour when the ultraviolet content of the illumination source is altered. This finding is consistent with studies on the perception of light environments that are UV+ or UV–for other ultraviolet-sensitive animals such as avians (Bennett et al., 1996, 1997; Church et al., 2001). For example, Church et al. (2001)report that zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata exhibit different foraging behaviour when ultraviolet is excluded from the available illumination and argue that this demonstrates that these birds must not have perfect colour constancy. In this current study the bumblebees perceived a change in the colour of the model flower when the ultraviolet content of the illumination was modified (Fig. 2), suggesting that bumblebees have imperfect colour constancy. There is also evidence that bumblebees can directly perceive differences in illumination conditions when UV is present or not, as Morandin et al.(2002) found that bumblebees showed a significant preference for the UV+ arm of a dual choice Y-maze.
The colour hexagon has a built-in assumption of adaptation to the background stimulus that simulates von Kries colour constancy. However, the von Kries model of colour constancy does not predict a perfect colour correction for bee photoreceptors (Dyer,1999). Indeed the colour hexagon predicts a colour shift of 0.08 units when the illumination changes from UV+ to UV–, and this is qualitatively consistent with the bees' change in behaviour(Fig. 2). When the ultraviolet content of the illumination was modified the bees initially made several abortive flights in which they approached flowers but did not land. This behaviour continued whilst the bees continued to search the arena, but eventually the bees did land on the model flowers. This behaviour might be explained by the bees eventually making a switch flight(Chittka et al., 1997) to a colour that they perceived as being different to the colour they had learnt in the initial stages of foraging.
Experiments 1 and 2 showed that bumblebee efficiency in finding model flowers was not influenced by the inclusion or exclusion of ultraviolet radiation. This result is consistent with the predictions that flower colour contrast and green contrast are similar in UV+ and UV–conditions(Table 1). A variety of studies have evaluated the merits of using greenhouse coverings that have the ability to transmit ultraviolet radiation. For example, Morandin et al.(2002) found that greenhouses with UV+ coverings were less likely to suffer from the loss of bumblebees through vents than greenhouses with UV–coverings. This is probably because when UV–coverings are used the UV+ vents make a higher colour contrast and the bees may exhibit positive phototaxic behavior towards the UV+(Morandin et al., 2002). There is some evidence to suggest that in UV+ environments bees are more active(Costa and Robb, 1999; Morandin et al., 2001b; Costa et al., 2002), although this was not found in the Morandin et al.(2002) study. The possibility that bees might not forage as efficiently in UV–environments(Morandin et al., 2001b) is likely to be because bees are attracted to any UV+ conditions, so in large greenhouses with UV–coverings bees seek out any UV+ illumination sources(such as vents). However, when UV is totally excluded from the foraging environment the ability of bees to use their visual system to find flowers is not adversely affected.
The results of the current study show that, whilst bumblebees perceive a change when ultraviolet radiation is either included or excluded from an illumination source, the efficiency with which bumblebees use their vision to find important greenhouse crop flowers is not affected by the type of greenhouse covering.
We are grateful for advice and technical assistance provided by J. Spaethe and K. Volkmann. A.G.D. is grateful to the Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation for support.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


ship out more food journals!
see Ina Garten at the Marin Civic Center!
Carrying on my Mom's tradition! We're making chocolate lollipops for classmates.
Ladies Craft Night- Valentine's Day Edition.
I made these for Cooper's class one year. We packaged them up with our Valentine's. They're so easy to make if you need to use up flour tortillas.
I put together a list of some cute/simple ideas to celebrate LOVE with your loved ones.
Have a great week! Don't forget to take good care of yourself. I'm rooting for you!
Can you share your pita chip recipe? Do you just toast them in the oven? I have several pitas about to go bad and would love to transform them!
Just click on the link and it goes to the recipe!
I've never blogged it before. It's just 350F cut pita up and toss in olive oil and some salt. bake for 15-20 or until crisp.
Reframing my "to do list" to my "intentions" is becoming a game changer. I thank you so much for this!
This Madonna song is one that is on the last "mixed cd" anyone ever made for me. I think I have it somewhere still and it has some other real gems as well. Might be worth digging out.


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Contra Costa Offers Required School Immunization at its COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics :: Press Releases :: Contra Costa Health Services
Posted by: admin Categories: Coronavirus
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COVID-19 vaccination clinics operated by Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) on school campuses this summer will now also provide no-cost immunizations for tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) upon request.
Tdap is a required immunization for students entering the seventh grade in California, and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) also recommends a Tdap booster every 10 years for adults. Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis are severe infections that, before widespread vaccination campaigns, would cause tens of thousands of deaths each year in the U.S., primarily in young children.
"With school-age students and their families now visiting our COVID-19 vaccination clinics at campuses around the county, now is the time to get ready for fall and make sure all of your required school immunizations are up to date," said Dr. Chris Farnitano, Contra Costa County's health officer.
Anyone who is 12 or older can receive a safe, effective, no-cost COVID-19 vaccine in Contra Costa County. The current health guidance from the CDC and CCHS supports patients receiving COVID-19 vaccine at the same time as other vaccinations, including children.
School-based vaccination clinics in the county are open from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Tuesday to Saturday and do not require appointments, though patients who wish to reserve a time can do so by scheduling on the CCHS appointment page or phoning 833-829-2626.
Patients younger than 18 do require consent from a parent or guardian to get vaccinated – more information and downloadable consent forms are available at the clinics or the CCHS Get Vaccinated page.
Tdap boosters are available at clinics staffed by Contra Costa Health Services, including:
June 1 to June 5: Acalanes High (Lafayette), Dallas Ranch Middle (Antioch), Kennedy High (Richmond)
June 8 to June 12: Antioch Middle, De Anza High (Richmond), California High (San Ramon), Las Lomas High (Walnut Creek)
June 15 to June 19: Dougherty Valley High (San Ramon), Helms Middle (San Pablo), Pinole Valley High (Pinole), Pittsburg High
June 22 to June 26: Acalanes High (Lafayette), Dallas Ranch Middle (Antioch), Kennedy High (Richmond), San Ramon Valley High (Danville)
June 29 to July 3: California High (San Ramon), De Anza High (Richmond), Las Lomas High (Walnut Creek)
July 6 to July 10: Helms Middle (San Pablo), Dougherty Valley High (San Ramon)
July 13 to July 17: San Ramon Valley High (Danville)
More information about coronavirus and vaccine is available at cchealth.org/coronavirus.
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DeMar DeRozan spent nine years in Toronto, where he was a four-time All-Star, one of the top scorers in the NBA, and, in 2018, a second-team All-NBA performer.
But the Raptors had to trade him.
That "top-five player," of course, is Kawhi Leonard, a former Finals MVP. Unfortunately for the Raptors, he could be a one-year rental.
Including good basketball. The Raptors went 59-23 last season, finishing with the best record in the Eastern Conference. The best part? They won't have to face LeBron James in the playoffs.
While there are a lot of great fan bases in the NBA, the Raptors are unique.
Even if Leonard walks in free agency, not all is lost for Toronto.


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St. Petersburg's Redevelopment Plans a Laboratory for Economic Inclusion Initiative
A mural depicting jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald at Lorene's Fish House in the Deuces neighborhood of south St. Petersburg, Florida. Photo by Ted Pio Roda
On a muggy July morning in St. Petersburg, Florida, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta president Raphael Bostic joined a couple dozen people in an unadorned space that once was the produce department of a Publix Super Market.
Far from the Reserve Bank's stately headquarters, Bostic and other Atlanta Fed officials mostly listened as community leaders opined on the state of inclusive economic growth in the Gulf Coast city of 260,000. Situated on a peninsula about six miles from Tampa across Old Tampa Bay, St. Pete maintains an identity distinct from its larger neighbor. Its palm-shaded core mixes sleek modern structures such as the striking Salvador Dali Museum with bungalows and remnants of old Florida, like walking mail carriers and the Sundaze Motel.
For all its charm, like most cities St. Pete has work to do to spread prosperity across its demography and geography, which is a major reason the city is launching an ambitious plan to redevelop its 22nd Street corridor, known as "the Deuces," and the Gas Plant District, a historic Black neighborhood gutted by construction of Interstate 275 in the early 1970s and a domed stadium in the late '80s. Tropicana Field is home of Major League Baseball's Tampa Bay Rays, but the dome was built years before the city had a team. The stadium plan materialized after a failed idea to develop an industrial park on the site.
The central bank team visited St. Petersburg in part because it is among 16 participants in the Southern Cities Economic Inclusion initiative, a program sponsored by the National League of Cities, the Kellogg and Annie E. Casey foundations, and the Atlanta Fed. The initiative is among the first to showcase the Reserve Bank's Community and Economic Development (CED) department's engagement unit. That group takes Fed research, data, and expertise directly to communities to use in real-world programs. Its mission positions the two-year-old engagement team as a key element in animating the Atlanta Fed's strategic priority to promote economic mobility and resilience.
St. Pete began its community redevelopment plan before the Southern Cities initiative began, but the project is an ideal opportunity for initiative backers to support a major effort to boost economic inclusion and to take lessons from St. Pete's work that other cities might apply. The Southern Cities initiative is designed to help midsized cities in the region learn from one another what's working, and what's not, in trying to spread economic growth and prosperity, particularly to historically underserved Black businesses and communities. David Jackson, head of the Atlanta Fed's CED engagement group, said research and frontline experience show municipal leaders in the South are more apt to embrace ideas from peers in the region than from cities elsewhere.
"The idea behind the Southern Cities Economic Inclusion initiative is we are a sort of clearinghouse for data and information. So, we might say, St. Pete, you may want to talk to the people in Knoxville. Hey, Knoxville, you may want to talk to people in St. Pete."
— David Jackson, Atlanta Fed CED engagement group
David Jackson. Photo by Ted Pio Roda
"The idea behind the Southern Cities Economic Inclusion initiative is we are a sort of clearinghouse for data and information," Jackson said. "So, we might say, 'St. Pete, you may want to talk to the people in Knoxville. Hey, Knoxville, you may want to talk to people in St. Pete.'" (Knoxville is another of the initiative's participant communities. See a complete list and background on the initiative.)
Ultimately, the aim is to bring together southern cities, develop southern strategies, and highlight southern successes to improve economic mobility and resilience in the region. The National League of Cities conceived the initiative to help cities devise and implement strategies to close racial disparities in economic outcomes and expand opportunities for residents and businesses of color. A particular focus of the initiative is helping cities craft programs to channel contracts toward women- and minority-owned firms and devise ways to provide incentives to larger firms to award business to local women and minority vendors.
In the initiative, mayors and city administrators from the various cities will spend two years building relationships. At the same time, Jackson explained, the Atlanta Fed will visit several of the participating cities and determine how to apply Reserve Bank research and convening power—the ability to gather experts—directly to projects like St. Pete's redevelopment program.
In several meetings with policymakers from the 16 cities, Jackson and senior CED adviser Charlene van Dijk have shared Atlanta Fed resources including the Small Business Credit Survey, the Small Businesses of Color Recovery Guide, and tools from the Reserve Bank's Advancing Careers for Low-Income Families initiative. The exchanges with Fed experts and counterparts from other cities can broaden the perspective of St. Pete officials, said Doyle Walsh, senior adviser to Mayor Ken Welch.
The Atlanta Fed's Charlene van Dijk. Photo by Ted Pio Roda
Cities in the inclusion initiative will partner with the Atlanta Fed on the next installment of the Federal Reserve's Small Business Credit Survey, a detailed nationwide report on the health of small companies. Working on the survey will offer local policymakers a rich pool of data and anecdotal information they can use to better understand the experiences of businesspeople in their own communities, Walsh pointed out. Officials may be intimately familiar with their own small business community, but the survey will allow them to compare how, for example, revenue and employment at those firms held up through the pandemic relative to businesses across the region and the country.
"This is an opportunity to reach small businesses that are underrepresented, and it will provide insight into how local businesses are faring in today's economy," Walsh said.
In some cases, van Dijk said, city officials can expand their vision simply by learning how counterparts elsewhere approached a project. For instance, when resources are scarce, rather than building a costly recreation center, perhaps developing less-expensive green space would improve health and well-being just as much while satisfying constituencies that might not have supported building a recreation center.
"The idea," said Jackson, "is not that the Fed is going to come in with definitive answers, but we do have research that illuminates potential answers. And we have friends who do this work. You know, just as important as pointing out what works is stopping places from doing stuff we know does not work." An approach that often does not work is carrying out elaborate plans without much input from those who will be directly affected or constructing infrastructure without a careful plan to ensure the surrounding community benefits. As Jackson points out, everyone enjoys shiny new objects, and they are not inherently bad. But context is critical.
"Are you creating jobs for the people who live there, jobs that pay family-supporting wages? Are you structuring requests for proposal and other plans to incentivize contracts to go to qualified minority and women-owned businesses?" he said. "Those are critical questions to ask up front."
Blunt feedback comes from caring and passion
In St. Pete, the big revitalization project aims to transform what's officially called the South St. Petersburg Community Redevelopment Area, which is home to about 37,000 people. During a bus tour, Atlanta Fed visitors see plenty of hopeful signs. A gritty warehouse arts district is maturing, boosted by the city's vibrant arts community. Bike and pedestrian paths thread throughout the redevelopment area. Plans call for affordable housing, including studio space for artists, parks, an incubator for creative and tech-oriented startups, event halls, and shared working spaces. A Healthy Corner Store Initiative aims to help existing businesses bring fresh produce to the neighborhood.
Uncertainties, like a global pandemic, have complicated St. Petersburg's redevelopment plans. Photo by Ted Pio Roda
However, Atlanta Fed officials saw both potential promise as well as concrete evidence of the challenges that confront sweeping redevelopment efforts. For example, the Healthy Corner Store Initiative will seek to improve several census tracts surrounding 22nd Street that are classified by the US Department of Agriculture as "low income and low access" to healthy food—food deserts. In that same area, two supermarkets have closed in a shopping center now owned by the city. Most recently, a Walmart Neighborhood Market shuttered in 2017.
Along with ample energy and optimism, Bostic, Jackson, and van Dijk also heard disillusionment from community leaders who have seen well-intentioned plans wither before. In the meeting at the converted Publix, a longtime community advocate said he is rooting for the redevelopment to succeed but expressed exhaustion from repeated "loud talk saying nothing." Another said the Gas Plant District, in particular, has endured "a long trail of broken promises."
While hope is essential for these kinds of projects to succeed, blunt feedback is valuable, Bostic explained, to fully appreciate the context on the ground. "One of the things I appreciate about visiting communities," he said, "is they all tell us exactly what they think because it comes from a place of caring and passion."
Redevelopment is a long arc
Inclusive economic development requires much to go right. And it might not always be immediately obvious whether you do get it right.
It requires planning, persistence, and perseverance. An undertaking like the St. Pete community redevelopment is complex and expensive in the best of circumstances. Uncertainties like a global pandemic, a worsening shortage of affordable housing, and the expiration of the Rays' lease on Tropicana Field in 2027 only add complications. In fact, citing changed circumstances, the city in late June announced it is reworking a 2017 master plan for the redevelopment of the Gas Plant district.
It's clear St. Pete's work will not bear immediate fruit. Revitalizing a seven-square-mile section of a city is a long-term commitment. Hence, Bostic stressed the importance of staying power, in part because bold projects that require significant capital and imagination often founder on the vagaries of election cycles that shape and disrupt public policy.
A longtime researcher of urban development, Bostic noted that agendas change with turnover among mayors and city councils. By contrast, sweeping efforts like St. Pete's revitalization proceed along "a 20-year arc," Bostic said. "It's not a four-year arc. It's not an eight-year arc."
Through knowledge sharing and other support, the Fed can help to bridge those two- and four-year time frames, he said, and thus help sustain momentum. In fact, Jackson had visited St. Pete three times as of early September, and he and van Dijk will bring a team of Fed experts to the city again this winter.
"We're not going to leave," Bostic said at the converted Publix, which serves as headquarters of the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg, Florida's largest philanthropy devoted to racial equity. "The whole point of what we're doing here is we are trying to do something different. I doubt you've had conversations with the Fed in the past where we're actually talking about doing things."
What he and Fed officials aim to do is improve communities by, in the Atlanta Fed's parlance, making the economy work for everyone. The better communities work, the easier it is to make monetary policy because the economy is stronger and more resilient, Bostic said. Thus, community development is firmly situated within the central bank's core duties of striving for maximum sustainable employment and price stability.
The Southern Cities initiative aims to bring additional intellectual energy to deep-seated challenges in St. Pete and places across the Southeast. The Atlanta Fed hopes to help that happen. "As a southern-based institution, we are proud to be part of an effort that helps national institutions invest and partner with southern cities to build networks of leaders from across the region," Bostic said. "We all realize the Southeast has considerable economic challenges. But we have vast opportunities because people across the region are deeply committed to the places they live and, like the Atlanta Fed, want to achieve an economy that works for everyone."


Licorice Swirl Opal Art System 96 is a satisfyingly sweet mix of licorice black and soothing white opal. Hypnotic OpalArt™ is created when contrasting glasses are stirred together onto an opalescent base. The resulting broad swirls of color are as unique as they are magnificent - every sheet is different. System 96® is a family of "Tested Compatible" glass specifically designed for fusers and other hot glass enthusiasts.


The purpose of this booklet is to give a brief background to enable the judicious use of seven widely performed serum cancer markers. The format used here is similar to that in previous editions. However, in this 4th edition, we provide for the first time, a section on the use of serum markers in the diagnosis of tumours of unknown primary origin.


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Unemployment rates: new graduates to be on the dole after Covid-19 pandemic
Warning Signs of Insolvency
Unemployment among young people in Britain will reach the one million mark over the coming year unless the government provides job guarantees or incentives for school leavers and graduates to stay on in education.
The number has already exceeded 800,000 and the fact that thousands more people will soon be graduating from secondary school and university, the figures will unfortunately quickly rise while ever the country continues to suffer from coronavirus.
Unemployment figures for young people to sky rocket
The Resolution Foundation has stated that during the absence of action, at least 600,000 more people under the age of 25 will be added to dole queues, with a risk of long-term damage to their career and pay prospects. This is extremely harsh news for people looking to kick-start their careers after finishing a high degree of education, such as going through three to four years at university.
The 800,000 school leavers and graduates due shortly to join the labour market – was the most exposed age group to the likely unemployment surge caused by the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.
The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics showed that 408,000 people in the 18-24 age group were currently unemployed. This could be argued that it's because that's the kind of post education age where individuals are deciding what to do or which career paths to pursue. But, it is worrying that younger people, such as new graduates seem to have a great deal of difficulty in finding jobs, and this pandemic will have only added to those worries.
The Covid-19 crisis has posed particular problems for young people. Ministers will need to respond with the offer of guaranteed jobs, or at least jobs that are much more achievable than we've seen in recent times, focusing apprenticeship opportunities on young workers and introducing new maintenance grants to encourage the under 25s to extend their education by a year. Or at least offer some kind of solution that creates more opportunities for people within that age group to obtain.
The Resolution Foundation said a short-term lack of job opportunities would lead to long-term scarring of young people. Its report said employment rates of graduates entering the labour market during this crisis were projected to be 13% lower in three years' time than they would have been if the pandemic had never taken place.
Employment rates for mid and low skilled workers risked falling even further (by 27% and 37% respectively). Though they're only categorised as such because Boris Johnson decided to claim anyone earning under £25000 a year is unskilled, which includes many people currently doing a fantastic job in our NHS. He may well have privately changed that definition after his recent experience with coronavirus and how he was helped through it by the very same staff he previously brought down with his mindless comments.
Low paid starts
The Resolution Foundation also stated that the young people who manage to find work will be low paid. A year after leaving education the pay of graduates is projected to be 7% lower, and between 9% and 19% lower for mid- and low-skilled workers. This is disheartening, but finding a job will become a major task in itself soon enough, so getting on the career ladder at all will unfortunately likely be seen as quite an achievement within the next few years, even if you have to start your climb from a particularly low point.
Over the past 10 years one in three non-graduates, and one in five graduates, got their first post-education employment in sectors such as retail, hospitality, travel and leisure – the sectors hardest hit by the lockdown. This means that even those filling the job roles that aren't exactly what they were aiming for, will now likely become a rarer find, making the entire post-lockdown job search quite barren in comparison to how it was before.
The Guardian have reported that, "Kathleen Henehan, a research and policy analyst at the RF, said: "The 800,000 young people set to leave education this year amid an unprecedented economic crisis are facing huge immediate unemployment risks, and longer-term damage to their careers.
"The 'corona class of 2020' could face years of reduced pay and limited job prospects, long after the current economic storm has passed, unless the government provides additional support, and fast. A new maintenance support scheme could help thousands stay in education and build up their skills, while those entering the labour market for the first time should be supported by a job guarantee offering critical employment experience."
Meanwhile, a separate report highlighted the fragility of Britain's companies affected by an extended lockdown. The fortnightly tracker from Opinium, a strategic agency, and the consultancy CEBR, found that more than a quarter of a million businesses would not be able to survive if trading conditions remained as they were for another month."
Insolvencies inbound
If we are to be eventually hit by a second wave of coronavirus at some point in the future, it could be fatal for the business community, as a subsequent lockdown would once again have to likely follow. One in ten British businesses have already said there was a high risk they would enter the insolvency process due to the knock-on effects of this terrible disease, which is currently damaging our society in more ways than one.
For those businesses that are set to embark on an insolvency journey, it doesn't have to be the end of the road for your business. You can use it as a turnaround procedure and come back stronger than you ever were before. At Business Insolvency Helpline, it is our sole focus to help business owners, directors and entrepreneurs restore and turnaround the fortunes of their companies. As leading consultants in our field we provide a complete business rescue and turnaround service. We aim to ensure our clients get a second chance and are well equipped to make the right decisions for their business ventures in the future.
The new era for job seekers
If you've ever searched for a job before, you'll understand it can be a tedious, pressure-filled situation, though it is certainly one that many of us have to take part in. Job searching will definitely be an increasingly popular activity after the pandemic is finally over, because unfortunately many people have lost their jobs due to the spread of the virus.
Though the future may appear bleak at the moment for young people all over the United Kingdom, it is important to remain optimistic and hopeful wherever you can. Search online job boards and look for new opportunities that are arising on social media: a searching platform that is becoming increasingly popular for companies that are looking for new employees.
Work is drying up thanks to the lockdown and the government have recently stated that they won't be able to continue with their furlough payment schemes, as it is simply too much to be paying the majority of the country a wage while they're having to be away from work. This is causing all sorts of troubles with the British economy, and will clearly take us quite some time to recover it to a respectable level.
The jobless rate will only increase while ever we remain in lockdown, because it ultimately puts a stop to the large majority of job roles. Though, the government will soon have to act to get people to return to work in order to establish some level of economic recovery. We cannot allow the number of unemployed people to rise up too much, or it will be increasingly difficult to turn that around.
Young people in unemployment is a trend we need to change over the next few years, but we'll only be able to do so by creating more opportunities and finding new ways to incorporate post-education job roles to people in and around the UK. If you have an innovative, from-home business idea you've been waiting to execute, now may just be the perfect time for you to strike that match.
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Vonage, VoIP and the value of virtual working
Johna Till Johnson
The folks at Vonage just can't seem to figure out how to make a profit. They've tried everything, including suing customers and stealing technology.
Yes, that's right. After suing customers for failing to buy stock following last summer's IPO, the VoIP provider got whacked with a US$58-million punitive judgment — plus ongoing 5.5 per cent royalties — for swiping VoIP patents from arch-rival Verizon. Last June, Verizon sued Vonage for infringement of seven VoIP patents; the recent judgment found Vonage in violation of three of them. Verizon continues to seek a permanent injunction to stop Vonage from using the technology altogether; for its part, Vonage is appealing.
But no matter what the outcome, despite its best slash-and-burn tactics, Vonage is still losing money hand over fist. Its US$269 million losses in 2005 increased to US$281 million in 2006. That's on twice the revenues, so presumably there's some point at which Vonage actually delivers an ROI — but don't hold your breath.
Can you tell I'm amused? Vonage fundamentally misrepresents the value of VoIP, and in doing so, does a disservice to enterprise IT managers. The value of VoIP is not, as Vonage's ads imply, inexpensive voice service. The real value is that it provides a foundation for what I'm calling the virtual workplace: Being able to reach your colleagues anywhere, any time, with the right context.
What's the value of doing that? Plenty.
It enables people to respond in real time and make decisions more quickly, and with a better base of information. Although it's difficult to affix an exact price tag to that ability, any business executive worth his or her salt knows that making fast, effective decisions ahead of the competition pays off.
Eighty-three per cent of the companies we spoke with recently said they're enabling virtual workplaces, compared with 57 per cent in 2005. And the use of real-time tools has leapt from 75 per cent to 93 per cent over the same time.
In other words, the virtual workplace enabled by unified communications in general, and VoIP in particular, enables companies to do business faster, better and more economically. That's a whole lot more important than inexpensive voice — though it's still not worth suing your customers, or stealing technology.
Quicklink 078530
Johnson is senior founding partner at Nemertes Research. She can be reached at [email protected]
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Elsevier Announces the Health of Populations, Four Additional Public Health Books
The Health of Populations seeks reordering of healthcare priorities to achieve optimal health worldwide
Cambridge, MA, July 29, 2016
Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services, today announced the publication of The Health of Populations: Beyond Medicine by Jack James. This book provides a carefully constructed and thoroughly evidence-based critique of the limitations of conventional biomedical healthcare. Elsevier also introduced four new public health books published this year.
The Health of Populations uses current research and in-depth analysis to provide insights into the issues and challenges of population health -- a subject of increasing concern, due largely to rapid population growth, population aging, rising costs and diminishing resources, health inequality and the global rise in noncommunicable diseases. It is divided into three sections that focus on the science of health, the harm of medicine, and how to achieve optimal health. By highlighting the benefits of preventing incidence of disease, the book illustrates how biomedicine needs to be repositioned from the dominant approach in healthcare to an adjunct to behavioral, legislative, social and other preventive means for optimizing population health.
Read a blog post from Dr. James about how changing behavior saves lives.
Professor of Psychology at Reykjavik University in Iceland, Dr. James studied psychology, biology and social sciences, trained and practiced as a clinical psychologist, and completed a Ph.D. in experimental clinical psychology. He has been employed at several universities in Australia and Europe as a professor of psychology, responsible for teaching and research in basic and applied multidisciplinary aspects of health. Dr. James has been principal investigator of health-related research projects funded by the European Union and public bodies in Australia, Ireland and Iceland.
Learn more about the current challenges in optimizing health in this Q&A with Dr. James.
The five new public health books are:
The Health of Populations: Beyond Medicine by Jack James
Friends and Partners: The Legacy of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Basil O'Connor in the History of Polio by David Rose
Participatory Health through Social Media edited by Shabbir Syed-Abdul, Elia Gabarron and Annie Lau
Informed and Healthy: Theoretical and Applied Perspectives on the Value of Information to Health Care by Maria Musoke
Medical and Health Genomics edited by Dhavendra Kumar and Stylianos Antonarakis
In order to meet content needs in public health, Elsevier uses proprietary tools to identify the gaps in coverage of the topics. Editorial teams strategically fill those gaps with content written by key influencers in the field, giving students, faculty and researchers the content they need to answer challenging questions and improve outcomes. These new books, which will educate the next generation of public health advocates and provide critical foundational content for information professionals, are key examples of how Elsevier is enabling science to drive innovation.
Note for Editors
E-book review copies of the new books are available to credentialed journalists upon request. Contact Robin Hayward at R.Hayward@elsevier.com.
Pam Foote
Publicity Team, Science & Technology Books, Elsevier
footep@reedelsevier.com


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Chances Of Deer Collisions While Driving In Georgia
Your chances of hitting a deer or other animal while driving on a U.S. road jumped by more than 7 percent in the last year, State Farm found in its 19th annual animal collision study released this week.
Motorists collided with animals an estimated 2.1 million times between July 2020 and June 2021, according to the analysis. Crashes happened in every state and peaked in October, November, and December.
Historically, November is the most dangerous month for deer and other animal collisions, according to State Farm.
Where you live also plays an important role in how likely you are to drive your car into a deer or other animal.
In the 12 months examined by State Farm, Georgia motorists had a 1 in 83 chance of colliding with an animal. State Farm marks the Peach State as high risk, making it more likely to hit an animal while driving.
State rankings are determined by taking the number of licensed drivers in a state and comparing it to the total number of animal collisions there, according to State Farm. The company also ranked states based on the number of collisions involving animals where an insurance claim was filed.
Which animals are we hitting? Deer are reported most frequently — an estimated 1.4 million collisions were with deer, according to State Farm. Next on the list are more than 189,000 collisions with "unidentified animals," followed by rodents, dogs and raccoons.
While not in the top five, State Farm said, the range of other animals involved in collisions is "extremely diverse." The company's claims database includes reports of chickens, alligators, bats, cows, pigs, armadillos, bears, donkeys, eagles, horses, coyotes, owls, and cats
Tips to avoid hitting deer:
Slow down, particularly at dusk and dawn.
If you see one deer, be prepared for more deer to cross the road.
Pay attention to deer crossing signs.
Always buckle up — every trip, every time.
Use your high beams to see farther, except when there is oncoming traffic.
Brake if you can, but avoid swerving, which can result in a more severe crash.
Remain focused on the road. Scan for potential dangers, including animals.
Avoid distractions. Devices or eating might cause you to miss seeing an animal.
Do not rely on products such as deer whistles. They are not proven effective.
If riding a motorcycle, always wear protective gear. Keep focused on the road ahead.
The same safe driving practices that are taught in A-1's Defensive Driving Class can apply to be a safe driver in a car and on a motorcycle.
Hit-and-Run Crash Killed UGA Student


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[unable to retrieve full-text content] The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Housing Market Index (HMI) is a gauge of builder opinion on the relative level of current and future single-family home sales. It is a diffusion index, which means that a reading above 50 indicates a favorable outlook on home sales; below 50 indicates a negative outlook. The latest reading of 62 is unchanged from last month.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Housing Market Index (HMI) is a gauge of builder opinion on the relative level of current and future single-family home sales. It is a diffusion index, which means that a reading above 50 indicates a favorable outlook on home sales; below 50 indicates a negative outlook. The latest reading of 62 is unchanged from last month.


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Driving a motorcycle is like flying. All your senses are alive. When I ride through Beverly Hills in the early morning, and all the sprinklers have turned off, the scents that wash over me are just heavenly. Being House is like flying, too. You're free of the gravity of what people think.
Hugh Laurie's quotes
To be able to pretend to be something that I'm frankly not is very liberating and exciting.
I couldn't imagine what Fox thought they were doing, contemplating such a jagged protagonist for a prime-time drama. I only knew that I wanted the role very much.
I never was someone who was at ease with happiness.
I'm finding it increasingly difficult to simply walk down the street. In New York, I dashed in to buy a big pair of sunglasses to conceal myself, but the guy behind the counter shouted 'Hey! It's Dr. House.'
I feel like I'm working on an oil rig right now. I'm away from home a lot.
I didn't realize House would be the central character, more the bitter comic relief appearing occasionally. I relish his wounded nature - the lameness, the scarred Byronic hero.
As a real person, he wouldn't last a minute, would he? But drama is about imperfection. And we've moved away from the aspirational hero. We got tired of it, it was dull. If I was House's friend, I would hate it. How he so resolutely refuses to be happy or take the kind-hearted road. But we don't always like morally good people, do we?
I have been instrumental in banning bottled water on the set. It hasn't gone that well with the crew... so I replaced it with tequila.
I have my moments. Ever since I was a boy, I never was someone who was at ease with happiness. Too often I embrace introspection and self-doubt. I wish I could embrace the good things.
My dad gave me my first bike at 16. I soon fell off and was in a wheelchair for weeks. I haven't fallen since.
I don't have a single complete show or movie or anything else that I could look at and say, "Nailed that one." But endless dissatisfaction is, I suppose, what gets us out of bed in the morning.
I run six-to-eight miles a day, plus weights and aerobics in the lunch hour. I also lie a lot, which keeps me thin.
Seems to me that this business, for actors anyway, is not so much about whether or not you do good work. It's about whether or not you get the chance to do good work.
I feel like a hostage to fortune. Not that I am complaining. I wanted to play the role. But in truth I didn't think the show would be such a success. OK, I thought it would fail. Not because it was bad. I was confident it was good, but plenty of good things just sort of wither on the vine.
I don't talk like House, or walk like him. I certainly don't think like him. I don't like to think for more than 15 minutes at a stretch actually; I am a fragile flower.
One of the principal goals in my life has been to avoid embarrassing my children by doing the job I do. I hope I've managed to do that, and I hope that, with the job I'm in now, they are, if not proud, at least unembarrassed by it. I must say, my three are most agreeable children, who do nothing but delight me.
Acting is largely about putting on masks, and music is about removing them.
Believe it or not, perhaps I don't show it much, or well, but I think I like people.
Celebrity is absolutely preposterous. Entertainment seems to be inflating. It used to be the punctuation to your life, a film or a novel or a play, a way of celebrating a good week or month. Now it feels as if it's all punctuation.
Clive Dunn, as I understand it, retired to the south of Spain, where he worked extensively in watercolours. I don't own any of Clive Dunn's watercolours. I loved him in 'Dad's Army,' loved him. But not enough to actually seek out his watercolour work.
Directing is the best job going. I don't understand why everybody doesn't want to direct. It's an absolutely fascinating combination of skills required and puzzles set on every level - emotional and practical and technical. It calls up on such a wide variety of skills. I find it completely absorbing. I just love the whole process.
Even the greatest poets, I think, cannot quite get to the places that music can get to in the human - I was gonna say mind, but it's actually the entire body. It somehow seems to infuse the entire body.
Girls are complicated. The instruction manual that comes with girls is 800 pages, with chapters 14, 19, 26 and 32 missing, and it's badly translated, hard to figure out.
Humility was considered a great virtue in my family household. No show of complacency or self-satisfaction was ever tolerated. Patting yourself on the back was definitely not encouraged, and pleasure or pride would be punishable by death.
I admit I can't shake the idea that there is virtue in suffering, that there is a sort of psychic economy, whereby if you embrace success, happiness and comfort, these things have to be paid for.
I am a coffee fanatic. Once you go to proper coffee, you can't go back. You cannot go back.
I do actually like Los Angeles. Partly because I was told I wouldn't.
I don't have a single complete show or movie or anything else that I could look at and say, 'Nailed that one.' But endless dissatisfaction is, I suppose, what gets us out of bed in the morning.
I don't like the act of talking; it makes me slightly light-headed.
I don't really understand why everybody doesn't want to direct. It's an absolutely fascinating combination of skills required and puzzles set on every possible level, emotional and practical and technical. It calls upon such a wide variety of skills. I find it completely absorbing.
I don't think of myself as funny. I think of myself as rather grave, actually. And I'm suspicious of fun. I never quite know what that is or how to deal with it or how to generate it. That's my fault. I know it's a burden on the people I'm with. It's tiresome.
I feel when acting, I am sometimes overly self-conscious; I think, 'Going, no, don't, put your eyebrow back where it was and, you know, turn to the left.' You know, I'm sort of very consciously adopting this character. But with music, I don't know. I found it was a question of just closing my eyes and just sort of letting things come out.
I get anxious about a lot of things, that's the trouble. I get anxious about everything. I just can't stop thinking about things all the time. And here's the really destructive part - it's always retrospective. I waste time thinking of what I should have said or done.
I grew up with an impatience with the anti-scientific. So I'm a bit miffed with our current love affair with all things Eastern. If I sneeze on the set, 40 people hand me echinacea. But I'd no sooner take that than eat a pencil. Maybe that's why I took up boxing. It's my response to men in white pajamas feeling each other's chi.
I hate menus, I hate choosing food. I just want to be brought. Bring me dinner!
I have always stuck up for Western medicine. You can chew all the celery you want, but without antibiotics, three quarters of us would not be here.
I have resolved to pick one novel and just read it over and over again for the rest of my life, because I cannot remember anything anymore.
I just read an 800-page history of the Scottish Enlightenment and, honestly, I may as well just start it again now, because I cannot remember a single thing. I can barely remember where Scotland is.
I never went to drama school, I don't have any certificates saying: 'He's a qualified actor.' But I did think that 'House' was something I didn't have to apologise for. It was something I was really proud of and it was sort of... whether you liked it or not, it was undeniable.
I personally believe that the iPod is a frankly corrosive device because it encourages you to surround yourself with your favorites. The whole idea of a playlist is to surround yourself with your favorite things, and the interesting thing is that when you do that, they cease to be your favorites.
I really do believe the camera steals the soul. But that may be because I'm worried about my soul. I don't have much of a soul to begin with; I can't afford to lose much.
I think actors are attracted to the idea of other identities and concealing themselves behind some other identity.
I think good-looking people seldom make good television. And American television studios almost concede before they start: 'Well, it won't be good, but at least it'll be good-looking. We'll have nice-looking girls in tight shirts with F.B.I. badges and fit-looking guys with lots of hair gel vaulting over things.'
I think maybe even one of the reasons I became an actor was actually to hide. I mean, it sounds paradoxical because, of course, people are standing up in a public place and encouraging other people to look at them. So that's not the conventional definition of hiding.
I think my father gave me a great reverence for medical science. He was about as opposite to the personality of House as one could imagine. He was polite and easygoing, and would have gone to great lengths to make his patients feel attended to and heard and sympathized with.
I think of House as a deeply moral character, though some would no doubt argue with me. He does not judge. Beyond his normal tetchiness, there were no more than a half-dozen moments of actual condemnation from him. He understood lies and also why you lied, and there was an absolution there that is very, very appealing.
I think pain is a very - it's an extremely hard thing to empathize moment to moment. And you often don't remember your own pain, you know, that moment that you broke a limb or you burned yourself or, I think, this is a common thing that women talk about with childbirth, that the memory of the pain is hard to summon up and relive, thankfully.


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Located close to the busiest airport in Canada (Pearson International Airport), Brampton is a major transportation hub, with rail, highway and air links to the GTA and North America. A billboard claiming that "All Roads Lead to Brampton" states a fact: with highways 401, 403, 407, 409, 410, and 427, Brampton is surrounded by major roadways.
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Saraki said that Magu's appointment may have been confirmed but for the failure of the Presidency to explore the established channel of lobby.
The Senate President spoke at the orientation programme organised for Senators-elect and House of Representatives members-elect ahead of the inauguration of Ninth National Assembly in Abuja.
He was forced to respond when the question was asked repeatedly. Saraki said that it is left to the Executive arm of government to find a replacement of any ministerial nominee rejected by the Senate.
He, however, noted that "in cases like the EFCC chairman, there is always the need for political solution and dialogue to solve such issue. But to say whether the Senate has the power to confirm, the Senate has power to confirm. The power of confirmation is there even in America which we copy.
On the election of presiding officers of the Ninth National Assembly, Saraki advised senators-elect and members-elect that they should be in the chamber on the day of inauguration.
He insisted that the inauguration and election of presiding officers only take place on the floor of the two chambers of the National Assembly.
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, who opened the orientation, gave an overview of the National Assembly, including structure, functions and inter-parliamentary relations.
In the course of his presentation, Sani-Omolori said that one of the functions of the Senate is the confirmation of nominees from the executive arm of government.
The power of confirmation of nominees prompted questions on the confirmation of Magu and why he is still serving as Acting Chairman of EFCC when he was denied confirmation.
Sani-Omolori said that he was not in a position to answer political questions and referred the question on Magu to Saraki.
Saraki noted that the options are that the President can lobby the legislature or present someone else at the event of rejection of a nominee.
On non-confirmation of Magu, Saraki said: "The truth really is that the issue of confirmation whether ministerial or other appointments, is done by the entire Senate. Generally, we have an unwritten practice that we would get the input of senators from the state where the appointee hails from before we start the screening process in the Senate. By the powers of the Senate, if such a nominee is rejected, then it is upon the executive to find a new replacement. The issue really is that the Senate has the powers to reject a ministerial nominee.
In the case of the appointment of the chairman of the EFCC, the powers of the Senate are very clear in the constitution. For any nominee, we are guided by the constitution. It is an appointment made by Mr. President, subject to the confirmation of the Senate, which means the Senate has the powers to either say yes or say no.
"In a situation where the Senate rejects, it is up to the executive at that time to send in a replacement or in some cases, when we have appointment rejected and the executive will re-present before the Senate but if the senators again, took a decision to reject the nominee, the appointment stands rejected.
"On getting judicial interpretations of their roles, there are 17 cases in court that have been on now for two years and for one reason or the other, those cases have not moved. I cannot explain what happened.
"In things like this in a democracy, there must be a political solution, there must be dialogue. I think that is the most important thing. The Senate has the power of confirmation. It is how to manage those issues that are the challenges.
There will be many like that in the Ninth Assembly. The question is how the executive and the legislators will work together and find a solution. It is how the relationship between the two arms of government.
"There is also a wrong perception that the leadership of the Senate has those powers. The powers of the presiding officers are in the members. It is the members that decide the leadership of the National Assembly.
The post Why We Didn't Confirm Magu – Senator Saraki Finally Speaks appeared first on Naijaloaded | Nigeria's Most Visited Music & Entertainment Website.


Professor Jan Copeland, author of Quit Cannabis, is director of the National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre (NCPIC). Professor Copeland has brought her long-standing professional expertise to this handy manual, which offers an effective guide to quitting cannabis.
Knowledge and experience guide Copeland as she outlines the harms of cannabis use. After three decades, the scientific research has testified to the significant detrimental effects of cannabis on the brain, motor skills, lung function and IQ of users. The work is punctuated with relevant and telling personal accounts from users who have worked at quitting.
Copeland points out that a well-financed normalisation campaign pushing for legal change consistently trumpets the no-harm mantra to counter these findings. This is misleading, particularly for youth, many of whom think cannabis is safe.
Scientific discussion about cannabis can be difficult due to the aggressive marketing of the drug. Legalising it would allow for a profitable commercial industry that would target the young, while selling the story that cannabis does no harm.
Cannabis produces more than a hundred cannabinoids that are known to date. The main ingredient is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This produces the high and is believed to be responsible for the feelings of anxiety and paranoia that can be experienced when using the drug. The second most common ingredient is cannabidiol (CBD). This part of the plant has the most potential as a medicine. It is known to reduce anxiety and paranoia. Cannabis can be used as a whole plant, resin and oil, smoked, as tobacco, inhaled or in foods.
Copeland outlines the scientific facts about cannabis, which prove false the commonly held view that cannabis is harmless. Cannabis acts as a mood-altering drug, producing feelings of euphoria but also of anxiety and aggravation of psychotic states. It affects mental performance and judgement, leads to memory loss and impaired performance, and is addictive on long-term use. The science is new and rapidly developing on the effects of taking in high levels of THC on the short and long-term functioning of the two major body systems, CB1 (brain and nervous system) and CB2 (receptors abundant in the immune and reproductive systems).
Recent studies have shown that regular long-term use of cannabis does appear to damage the brain and impair cognitive function. To give the example of cannabis use and driving: cannabis slows the reaction time to the point where even driving more slowly will not compensate for the reduced ability to respond rapidly to a traffic situation. At least six hours after smoking should be the amount of time allowed before driving.
More controversial is the part cannabis in producing depression and anxiety. Cannabis users who are suffering from depression are advised to seek treatment through their family doctor. In developed countries, suicide is now the second leading cause of death among 10–24 year olds, so any preventable risk factor is potentially of great importance to public health.
Cannabis use has been shown to be an important risk factor for suicidal behaviours. In trials, cannabis use at three times per week led to higher rates of developing suicidal thoughts – though only among males. Cannabis was also shown to increase feelings of stress and anxiety. It is estimated that cannabis use is implicated in 8 to 14 per cent of psychosis cases.
As cannabis is part of a culture that promotes it as harmless, it can be alarming for a user to be told that they are addicted to cannabis and will suffer withdrawal when reducing or stopping use. Little is known of cannabis dependence. Activation of the brain's reward system, inducing feelings of pleasure or euphoria, is central to problems arising from drug use. People who use cannabis are at a higher risk than non-users of short-term memory impairment, mental health problems and respiratory diseases.
Withdrawal from cannabis is the most controversial topic of cannabis use. The real value of this text is Copeland's strategy for those attempting cannabis withdrawal along the path to quitting and sets out pointers: access the correct information; look at the timing; contemplate the change; prepare and plan for change. Action: the start of the change; then maintain the change until it becomes the norm.
Language, Copeland says, is important in working towards quitting. Change is difficult and supportive language around those embracing change is important. Language that is non-confrontational, non-adversarial and non-judgemental has proved more effective in supporting people adjusting to a non-cannabis lifestyle.
Copeland includes warnings for those supporting users who are quitting: be genuine and be prepared for defensive responses; be prepared for the discussion on the cost of cannabis but do not blame the user, rather concentrate on your concern, thereby shifting the focus from the user to you.
Quitting cannabis is not easy but is certainly achievable. Plan for success and beware excuses to have a smoke. Quitters can have a sense of loss as they change friendship groups or activities they enjoyed as smokers.
This book is a gem, not only for cannabis users who are considering quitting, but also those who support them. Long overdue!


I so appreciate my time as the senior designer at Consort. Founders Brandon and Mat have such a great sense of style and are experts at mixing furniture forms, materials, and textures in all of their designs. The guys both have eyes that tend to skew more modern than my own so when we were asked to design the interiors of a five-bedroom traditional family home in LA's Pacific Palisades neighborhood, it only made sense for me to come inject a little east-coast trad into the classic-style dwelling. I created a traditional-with-a-twist foundation with timeless furniture forms like a tufted midcentury-style sofa in the living room, saddle armchairs in the master, and sleek Windsor chairs in the breakfast nook. Materials like burlwood, sisal, linen, and leather provide visual interest. Adding a layers of fun colors and patterns helped to keep the space from getting too stuffy and a final layer of funky art, accessories, and lighting gave this home the Consort-feel. Keep scrolling to see some of my favorite angles from this fun project and to see the rest of the space, head over to this Consort Design feature.


Motivate your workplace to become physically active and cultivate healthy communication together- for your mind, body, and spirit.
Answer big questions like: How does inspiration move through your workplace? What makes you thrive and come alive? How can you share your gifts with the world?
When I come to Katie B's class, I find my inner strength. Some days I forget it's there, but Katie B has this uncanny way of always reminding me it's always been inside of me. The B Inspired practice is like a spiritual reset. I enter class knowing I'm going to be challenged to open my mind to broader perspective about the power of self love, my endless opportunity in this life. We feed off her energy because it's genuine, no matter the message or theme, there's consistently a mixture of laughter, smiles, and 'aha' moments.


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Messi gets 2-game ban
Oscar Pistorius suffers bruise in prison fight over phone usage
by Jaafar Jaafar
Jailed South African track star, Oscar Pistorius has suffered a bruise in a fight with another inmate, a prison spokesman said on Tuesday.
The fight was over the use of a phone in prison where he is serving a sentence for murdering his girlfriend.
Fellow prisoners were angered by a long phone call he made and it led to a fight, local media reported.
Read Also: Lebanon plans to charge for WhatsApp usage
"Oscar sustained a minor bruise. It was so minor it didn't need any form of treatment," said Singabakho Nxumalo, a spokesman at the Department of Correctional Services.
He however said authorities were investigating last Wednesday's incident.
Mr Pistorius is serving 13 years and five months after the Supreme Court last month more than doubled his sentence for the murder of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in 2013.
Mr Pistorius won six Paralympic gold medals and was known as the "Blade Runner" for his use of carbon-fibre prosthetics.
Reuters/NAN
Tags: injured in prisonlong phone callOscar Pistorius
Mata rallies United in wake of Mourinho defeatism
Nigeria, Libya seek to boost oil output in 2018, despite OPEC's stance
Iraq postpones parliamentary elections to October 10


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You are here: Home / News / Council sends discussion surrounding regulating Airbnbs back to committee
Councillor Nancy Alcock discusses one of the concerns to be revisisted regarding short-term rental accommodations.
Council sends discussion surrounding regulating Airbnbs back to committee
By Tamara de la Vega On November 28, 2019 News
Although a plan to regulate short-term rental accommodations such as those listed on Airbnb was passed by Huntsville's Development Services Committee at their last meeting, two of its members asked that it be put on hold when it went before council.
Councillor Jason FitzGerald who sits on the committee said he's given the proposed regulations a lot of thought and heard from constituents "regarding some minor issues with some of the wording and some of the background presented in the report," he said, adding that there may still be room for some fine-tuning before a final decision is made.
Councillor Nancy Alcock who is chair of the Town's Development Services Committee concurred. "First and foremost I still support the proposed bylaw that was presented to our committee but as Councillor FitzGerald has said, there have been some issues raised with respect to the restrictions that we're imposing on the secondary suites for a lot of good reasons."
The proposed regulation would not allow self-contained apartments in dwellings to be rented on a short-term basis. The rationale given by staff is that such accommodations would compete with long-term rental accommodations, which Huntsville does not have enough of.
Alcock noted that staff did propose some amendments to the bylaw but she told council that she preferred to have the recommendation kicked back to committee for further discussion "to get this particular bylaw right. It's a very important one, and a lot of people are waiting for it, and I just think that's the appropriate place for the discussion on it."
While Councillor Brian Thompson said he agreed with the process, he asked either Alcock or FitzGerald to elaborate further about "what your misgivings are at this point, like what's missing, and maybe what should be included."
Alcock said committee members have heard from people who have secondary suites currently being rented on a short-term basis on platforms such as Airbnb. She said while they understand that under the proposed regulation they could seek an exemption and a zoning amendment, they argue that the process would be costly. "And maybe that's the right way to go but I think we need some more conversation around that. That was a fairly specific issue and it might come back just the same but I think that we need to have a more fulsome discussion around that."
Council agreed to send the recommendation back to the Development Services Committee for further discussion.
Related story: New plan to regulate short-term rentals gets committee approval
Waldi Frankiewicz says
*First and foremost I still support the proposed bylaw that was presented to our committee….*Councillor Nancy Alcock. This lady spoke in a similar tone about Treasure Island two weeks ago…What will happen in the next two weeks?
ed grucyk says
What happens if someone sues the Airbnb owners for negligence such as a wild party going terribly wrong and there is not enough insurance or even the correct insurance in place by the homeowner? If the Town is licensing and following up with the homeowners does it not mean that the Town will also be named in the lawsuit?
Diane Norman says
I am very glad to hear they will revisit the issue of not allowing secondary units to be rented out part-time. Does Town Council not understand that this is the only reason some people can afford to keep their home? Full time rentals are not the answer for many people who wish to keep their extra space for when family and friends visit. As a former landlord myself, I can fully sympathize with those who do not wish to rent full time. It is very stressful when people do not pay their rent, abuse the rental space and cannot be evicted in short order. I am hoping this part of the bylaw will be changed.


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