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Does Russia's President Vladimir Putin have some secret weapon? It seems that, with a wave of his hand in the Kremlin, he can cause crowds of secessionists to gather on the streets of eastern Ukraine, crowds that somehow have enough local authority even to stop and disarm Ukrainian army units that confront them. One might wonder whether Putin has developed some mysterious ability to cause such crowds to materialize at his command from afar, while the leadership in Kiev seems helpless to respond.
Some have argued that Putin may be applying dark arts of espionage that he learned in his years as a KGB officer in East Germany before 1990. However instructive that experience may have been, let me suggest that it is a distraction from understanding the real secret to Putin's tactical mastery in the eastern provinces of Ukraine today. Secret agents and commandos cannot accomplish much without local political support.
Putin's ability to manage people in local government developed when he worked for the mayor of Saint Petersburg between 1991 and 1996. Then in 1997, most significantly, Vladimir Putin became President Boris Yeltsin's deputy in charge of relations with Russia's 89 regional governments. According to Andrew Jack (Inside Putin's Russia, 2006, p. 79), Putin has described this position of presidential deputy for regional-government relations as perhaps the most interesting job in his career.
For the better part of a year, it was Putin's job to negotiate political deals with locally elected leaders in all the provinces of Russia. Surely he then spent much time on the phone with local leaders, making promises and threats to win their cooperation in managing politics and public policy throughout Russia. In this work, he developed sinews of power that reached out from Moscow to every part of Russia.
Ukraine's provinces today have locally elected councils but, under Ukraine's constitution, a presidentially-appointed governor actually supervises the state administration in each province. Thus, without much effective power under the constitution, these provincial councilors have little stake in the political system of Ukraine. In a province where local voters did not support the current president or prime minister, nobody with popular support in the province may have any real stake in Ukraine's government at any level, local or national.
But in winning their local elections, the provincial councilors have proven their ability to mobilize thousands of local residents for political action. However minor their role may seem under the constitution of Ukraine, these locally elected councilors have power to make crowds materialize in their communities.
Surely Putin has long understood, better than anyone else, how a few calls and promises from the Kremlin could readily recruit many of these local leaders in eastern Ukraine to win their cooperation in organizing local residents for pro-Russian demonstrations. To an unappreciated provincial councilor who has gotten words of assurance that he or she would be warmly welcomed into Putin's party of power, the idea of secession from Ukraine into Russia could become quite appealing. No bags of cash would be needed.
We may wonder, did Putin leave these calls to his presidential deputies, or did he personally call many of these local leaders in Ukraine? We must also wonder, how many provincial councilors in eastern Ukraine have gotten any competing calls from any high-ranking leader of the current Kiev government?
Ukraine is considering constitutional reform proposals to decentralize power. A decentralization reform can strengthen Ukraine against the current threats to its sovereign integrity only if the reform can convince elected local leaders throughout the country that they will have some real power to serve their communities under the new decentralized system. National leaders of Ukraine should be actively discussing the details of such reform proposals with sympathetic members of the provincial councils in disaffected regions, to formulate a reform plan that can win the loyalty of popularly elected local leaders in every part of Ukraine.
Thus, Putin's secret weapon should not seem so mysterious. The deep question now is whether leaders in Kiev have realized the vital importance of negotiating with these locally elected leaders, to ask their support for preserving the sovereign integrity of Ukraine within its current recognized boundaries. Surely there are still some of these local councilors who would welcome such a call from Kiev.


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Construction Management
Boson is a Construction Manager at-Risk and General Contractor of worship, commercial, dairy and food, industrial and medical buildings. We tailor our thorough construction services to meet your specific project requirements.
As your Construction Manager at-Risk, Boson works with you to enhance the pre-planning, design, schedule, and cost, through collaboration. Our collaborative approach with the owner, architect, sub contractors, and suppliers is a difference maker.
Not only do we excel at managing your project, Boson is still capable of self-performing various aspects of the work as one of Wisconsin's longest tenured General Contractors. If we can improve your schedule, your quality, and your bottom-line, we will jump in with both feet and our experienced team will handle the most critical aspects of the work. Boson managers, superintendents, and tradesmen are second to none.
Some of our Construction Management at-Risk and General Construction services include:
Constructability AnalysisBack to Top
Boson will use our many years of experience and knowledge in building construction to help you make an informed decision on what's the "best" way to approach your new project, addition, or remodeling.
Lots of things look great on paper but does it make sense in the field? Is it practical? Are there more economical ways, means, or products that can attain the same goals? Should you build up or out? Are you planning properly for future expansion? These are some of the red flags that we can lend our experience and expertise to solving early in the planning process.
Detailed Budgeting and EstimatingBack to Top
There are many levels of budgeting and estimating. We can help provide preliminary cost information with very little design being done early in the planning process. We base the costs on our vast history of project cost data. These early preliminary costs can help guide you through the design process so that costs do not get out of control – and by having us update these preliminary estimates as the plans become more detailed you will have a better understanding and greater knowledge of what your project will eventually cost.
For the final, detailed estimate we bid your project out using our internet plan room to the thousands of subs and suppliers in our database to help you get the best value for your dollar.
Value AnalysisBack to Top
Bringing Boson into the project early can offer ideas that may provide greater value for your dollar either during the construction or over the life of your project.
We can also provide value analysis services to help reign in cost over-runs that have been designed into your project.
Preconstruction PlanningBack to Top
A lot of time and money can be saved with the proper preconstruction planning. From the earliest stages of a project, when we come on board, our team and your representatives will collaborate and coordinate the daily, weekly, and long-range items that will be critical to the success of your project.
During the preconstruction phase we will analyze subcontractor and supplier bids, costs, schedules, and hold planning meetings with all parties to assure the project gets off on the right foot - and in a timely manner that makes sense. Materials needed early in the process will be ordered and scheduled before mobilization so no time is wasted waiting for delivery. Long lead time items will be addressed to assure delivery to meet the schedule. All parties will be brought together and brought up to date on the expectations of the owner, architect, and The Boson Company to assure a successful project.
Project Scheduling and PhasingBack to Top
The Boson Company project manager assigned to your job will develop a schedule for approval and will monitor and update that schedule throughout the course of the work.
Your type of business, hours, shifts, production schedules etc will be taken into consideration to allow the least amount of disruption of existing processes and to ensure the safety of your employees and all construction crews. Scheduling of phased work is common today but none-the-less must be planned so that each step leads to the next in an orderly and timely manner.
Complete Project and Contract ManagementBack to Top
As your Construction Manager or General Contractor at-risk, The Boson Company will assign experienced team to oversee your project. Our team of project managers, field superintendents, and coordinators will handle preconstruction, procurement, planning, coordination, scheduling, quality control, accounting, and safety. Collaboration is the key ingredient and our team is the best in the business.
Supervision of Specialty ContractsBack to Top
As part of our management services specialty contractors will report and contract with The Boson Company. This allows you to focus on your business and the big picture, and not worry about the daily activities required to supervise multiple contractors involved in complex tasks on your building site.
Job Site SafetyBack to Top
The Boson Company has an outstanding safety record which is reflected in our low workman's compensation ratings. This provides value to you in both safety as well as economically through lower rates. Every job site is different and every Boson project will have a job-specific safety plan. Each job-specific safety plan will be broken down by task and each task reviewed before any work begins by all parties involved. Safety is a number one priority on every Boson Company site large or small. Hard hats, safety glasses, and hi-viz clothing are mandatory for all personnel and visitors to our site.
Contract Close OutBack to Top
At project completion it should be just that - complete. We will work to assure that any final items are taken care of expeditiously. We will be certain punch-list items are finished by all contractors and approved, final payment requests are submitted, warranty and maintenance schedules and manuals are delivered, and that we leave your place of business clean and ready for occupancy. Our promise is to not let things drag on and our goal is to be asked back for your next project.
Warranty ServiceBack to Top
You may have heard about companies that provide "tail-light" warranty's... where once you see their tail lights the warranty is over. At Boson we pride ourselves on detail and quality, and throughout our history have taken care of our customers needs long after we have left the site. We will help to assure all warranty's are honored and will assist you in every way.
Design/BuildBack to Top
The Boson Company, Inc. has been performing Design/Build construction services since the 1970's. Design/Build is a project delivery system that encompasses both the design and construction phases of the project - thus providing a single source of responsibility.
There are many advantages to Design/Build...
The experience of The Boson Company handling projects in this manner for over 40 years can be an asset to your building plans! We can work with your architect of choice, or bring one of our numerous industry relationships to the team to handle the design process that is especially well suited to your projects needs.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Standard Register Reports Q3 Loss of $34.5 million
Monday, October 25, 2004
Press release from the issuing companyDAYTON, Ohio--Oct. 22, 2004-- Standard Register today reported financial results for the 2004 third quarter ended September 26, 2004. Third Quarter Results of Operations Revenue for the third quarter was $218.7 million, compared to $222.1 million in 2003. Through nine months, revenue was $671.3 million, versus $691.2 million for the comparable period of 2003. "The quarter's revenue reflects a continuation of a relatively stable sales pattern established over the preceding four quarters that breaks markedly from the declining revenue trend of earlier periods," said Dennis Rediker, Standard Register's CEO. "Our third quarter revenue is traditionally the lowest of the year as a result of seasonal buying factors, while the fourth quarter is typically our strongest, and we expect that pattern to repeat this year. This view is reinforced by solid increases in our production backlogs during the third quarter." The Company also reported lower manufacturing and SG&A costs in the quarter and undertook new restructuring initiatives aimed at improving operating margins during the coming quarters. "Given our industry dynamics, we must continue to make productivity gains in order to remain competitive and improve our profitability and cash flow," said Rediker. During the quarter, the Company restructured its InSystems subsidiary, a provider of software applications for the automation of document intensive business processes. The subsidiary, acquired in July 2002, had experienced significant declines in its revenue and margins in recent periods and management elected to reduce costs and refocus attention on InSystems' key product lines. A pre-tax restructuring charge of $2.6 million was reported in the quarter and on-going cost savings are estimated at $4.0 million per year. In conjunction with the InSystems' restructuring, the Company recorded an asset impairment charge of $47.1 million to adjust the carrying value of the business. The non-cash charge, which eliminated InSystems' goodwill, was the product of a more modest growth forecast for the restructured business and a substantial reduction in prevailing market valuation multiples for software companies. The Company eliminated positions during the quarter at its headquarters and field operating units to reduce management layers and improve productivity. Pre-tax restructuring costs in the quarter were $3.8 million and on-going annual savings from these actions are estimated to be approximately $11 million. The $12.1 million in pre-tax restructuring costs incurred thus far in 2004 are estimated to produce annual savings of approximately $28 million. The net loss reported for the quarter was $34.5 million or $1.21 per share, compared to a loss of $1.6 million or $0.05 per share in the prior year. The year-to-date loss was $43.6 million or $1.53 per share, versus a loss of $14.7 million or $0.52 last year. The quarter and year-to-date results were significantly impacted by the restructuring and asset impairment charges. Higher pension costs have also adversely impacted the comparative results. Pension expense through nine months was approximately twice the level of the prior year. The significant increase relates primarily to weak stock market results in 2001 and 2002 that created actuarial losses being amortized over subsequent years. The effect of those items is illustrated in the table below. Operating margins were down slightly in the current quarter, as modestly higher unit sales and lower manufacturing and SG&A costs were overshadowed by lower average selling prices. Material costs were also higher in the quarter, reflecting paper price hikes in April and July of this year. A third increase is slated to go into effect in October, which reflects strengthened operating rates at paper mills. Despite the challenging price environment, the Company has raised its target selling prices in response to these cost increases. "Although we cannot guarantee success, the Company has generally been successful in the past in recovering industry-wide paper cost increases. Recovery ordinarily lags each increase by several quarters, however," said Rediker. Cash flow was positive in the quarter and the Company paid down debt. At quarter end, total debt was $85.0 million and cash was $17.4 million, representing a net debt position of $67.6 million. This compares to a net debt position at the end of June of $74.4 million, indicating positive cash flow in the quarter of $6.8 million. Over the past four quarters, excluding spending and asset sales related to the restructuring actions, the Company has generated $2.5 million of net positive cash flow after satisfying expenditures for pension funding, capital expenditures and dividends. Outlook At the end of the first half of 2004, the Company announced an objective to improve its cost and expense ratios over the next several quarters by a total of five percentage points in relation to revenue. "We have made good progress against this goal and if we are successful in recovering paper costs, we expect to achieve this objective by the second half 2005," said Rediker.
Industry News
Copyright © 2019 WhatTheyThink. All Rights Reserved


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The cost of attending LADIS is as follows:
|On or before July 29
|After July 29
|LADIS Cruise (Sep 2)
Registration is open. Register now!
The site allows you to register for LADIS even if you are not attending VLDB.
LADIS Cruise
LADIS will continue its signature tradition of organizing a fun and fancy dinner for the attendees.
Join us on the Royal Argosy for a fabulous dinner-cruise on Elliot Bay and Puget Sound with breathtaking views of Seattle's skyline, mountain ranges and scenic islands. The cruise starts from Pier 56 on the historic Seattle waterfront. There is no better place to enjoy the Seattle summer-sunset than out on the water. For more details, visit the website.
The cruise will be from 6:30 to 9:30pm on September 2nd. You will need to show up at 6:00pm. Cruise tickets are separate from the workshop attendance fees. Additional tickets may be bought on the registration site.
Student Scholarships
We will be giving out a limited number of fixed-amount student scholarships to help defray the cost of attendance (such as the registration fee and accommodation) for full-time students. Priority will be given to student authors. To apply, please ask your adviser to send a short letter of support to Gregory Chockler (email@example.com) before September 15. We will respond to applicants as soon as possible. The grants will be administered by the VLDB after the workshop, so please keep all receipts!
We encourage students to also consider applying for the 2011 VLDB Travel Fellowship.


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RF Pollution from Powerline/
RTL-SDR has released a video showing the HF interference problem from Ethernet over Powerline Devices
Ethernet over Power, Powerline Networking, Powerline Communications or 'HomePlug' is a technology that allows you to use any of your household power outlets as an internet Ethernet port, completely eliminating the need for runs of Ethernet cabling. They are capable of high speeds and can be used anywhere in the house assuming the two plugs are on the same power circuit.
Unfortunately, these devices tend to wipe out almost the entire HF spectrum for anyone listening nearby. As household powerline cables are not shielded for RF emissions they radiate in the HF spectrum quite heavily
Full Story - http://www.rtl-sdr.com/showing-the-hf-interference-problem-from-ethernet-over-powerline-devices/


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Following my north Batan tour from my recent blog post, the next day I decided to go to Sabtang island. I availed my solo Sabtang tour from Ysabelle Homestay for only Php1,300. It was quite reasonable because Kuya Mik, my tour guide, brought along his motorcycle with him up to Sabtang Island but we'll get to that later. The morning was frighteningly dark. From sunshine and clear skies the day I arrived, I finally saw the real Batanes weather. I thought that my Sabtang tour was going to get canceled because the sky looked like it was almost the end of the world. Ate Elma told me that it may still push through depending on the harshness of the waves we will be sailing through. Going to Sabtang, you need to start early in the morning because the boat going to the island leaves at around 7am everyday. After freshening up and eating the breakfast prepared by Ate Elma, me and Kuya Mik went on to our journey to the port.
The motorbike ride to the port was one of the best things I have experienced. The cold breeze and the dark clouds made it such a surreal experience. The huge cliffs and the mountains we passed by were so scenic that I felt so small and insignificant against mother nature.
It was still quite dark and rainy when we arrived at the port, but when they started giving out the life jackets, that's when we knew the journey would push through. The boat ride to and from Sabtang island will cost about Php 200. Kuya Mik's motorbike was then tied safely on the front part of the boat together with the other motorcycles. He told me not to sit on the front part if I didn't want to get wet from the splashing waves.
I can now say that I have experienced the real Batanes weather. It was so exciting for the waves were big and the skies were gloomy. The boat was kind of small and may tip over. It was awesome!
We arrived the Port of Sabtang, a line of tricycles and vans were waiting there for their guests. We only had a few hours to tour Sabtang Island but before that, we needed to go to their municipal hall and pay their municipal fee of Php 200. Kuya Mik started our tour at Chavayan Village, it was on the farthest part of the island. He said it's better to start there because the flock of tourists would most likely go there last.
The ride to Chavayan village was indeed majestic. Cliffs and rough roads before you get to the village. On our way there, we spotted a very rare bird called the Black-faced Spoonbill. Kuya Mik quickly stopped the motorbike as he saw the bird in its peaceful endeavor. I couldn't get a clearer picture though, but we were really lucky. I think we were the only ones who saw the bird that time.
Chavayan consisted of cute little stone houses which endure the wrath of typhoons in Batanes. I also got to try on a "Vakul", a head protection made by the Ivatan people to protect them from the rain and the heat of the sun. I was also shown how they clean the dry leaves used for the Vakul.
King Kong vibes in here. Reminds me of Skull Island.
Here in Batanes, the coconut crab is very common. I got to see one from a little shop that sells souvenirs. The coconut crabs are now actually endangered in Batanes as to why it's not allowed to bring them home back to Manila. I didn't try to eat one tho, for I didn't want to contribute to the decline of the species.
Next up, we headed to Chamantad-Tinyan viewpoint. I was out of words when I saw all the glory that is this place. It was so beautiful, it was a great place to have an existential crisis. One thing I was scared about though was the very very strong wind. It was literally blowing me away. Be careful when walking near cliffs while the winds are strong. Kuya Mik couldn't take a proper photo of me because of the strong winds.
We then went to Savidug Village. It was said that Yeng Constantino's music video for "Ikaw" was also shot here.
The very last stop of our Sabtang island tour was in Morong beach where we were scheduled to have lunch. In Morong beach, you will also find the Makabuang Arc.
Since I was traveling alone, I was reserved a solo seat when we had our lunch in Sabtang. When touring Sabtang, you will most likely be with other tourists or groups that are on tour that day. Also, there is only one place where guests have lunch and that is the one in Morong beach. I was pretty hungry as I was waiting alone for my food. Kuya Mik and the other tour guides ate at another area. I was not informed that it was going to be a set meal. When the 'Ate' came in with my food, I asked "Ate, sa akin ba to lahat?" (Is this all mine?) and she said yes, laughing at my reaction. Maybe she was also surprised that I was alone traveling. For all Sabtang tours, you only have a choice of a set meal which costs Php 300.
See the yellow rice right there? That's Turmeric rice and it is my favorite. The Ivatan people love to put turmeric on their dishes and I have no problem with that.
You may ask why is eating a set meal the only option? Why can't I eat at other eateries? What if I don't have a tour guide? You will most definitely have a tour guide. Unfortunately, doing a DIY solo trip and visiting sites in Batanes on your own is quite impossible now. They require visitors to have a tour guide. Yes, it's REQUIRED. If you're on a tour, everyone goes on the same exact tour and everyone eats at the same place. I'll get more to that later.
Thus concludes the end of our Sabtang tour. The boat ride back to Batan was quite bouncy. Much harsher than the ride to Sabtang. The waves were pretty high but the sun was already smiling at us.
When we arrived back to Batan, I still had hours to spare. I decided to go back to Fundacion Pacita and just spend the afternoon there. Cafe du Tukon is a little quaint cafe and restaurant with gorgeous views. Food prices are quite expensive because you are kind of paying for the view. I had pasta and an iced tea for a total of Php558.
On my last day in Batanes, I went on the South Batan tour. This time I wanted to get a feel of those little hut tricycles so I availed of a tricycle tour to avoid the heat of the sun. Again, I arranged my tour with Ysabelle Homestay. Kuya Tino was once again my tour guide for the day.
We started the South Batan tour at Chawa view deck. It was a view spot facing the ocean but the highlight of this place is the staircase down. Strong waves were crashing against huge rocks. I suddenly wanted to sing "The Winner Takes It All" just like Meryl Streep from Mamma Mia haha.
Kuya Tino mentioned that there were locals who already died here. They went down that rock platform unsupervised, not knowing that the strong waves could take them away. Please be do careful, those waves aren't weak.
Next, we went to Mahatao Boat Shelter Port. This is where fishermen boats are parked, as well as the coastal guard. I also got a chance to buy Taho from a very nice kuya.
We then went to Tayid Lighthouse. It was so beautiful that I wanted to spend like a few more hours there just sitting down and pondering about life.
Look at those cows there just chilling and living the life.
After the lighthouse, my most favorite part of the tour was Racuh a Payaman or the Marlboro Country. Vast rolling hills make me a happy child. The views are amazing as always! It was hard to take proper photos though because of the harsh wind. You can definitely sing "The Sound of Music" here.
After a very long tricycle ride down the hills, we arrived at the famous Alapad rock formation. It was saddening that I saw trash just right by the sea. Please keep your trash with you as you tour around.
You can see the famous "BLOW UR HORN" sign everywhere in Batanes where there's a sharp blind turn.
Next up, the famous Honesty Coffee shop. Now there was a word going on around that Honesty Coffee shop required an entrance fee before you can go in, but when I went there, no entrance fee was paid for I can assure that. I bought a few snacks to bring home such as the Bukayo.
From food to clothes and other souvenirs you can find them here in Honesty Coffee shop. You just need to write down the stuff you bought on the little notebook they have inside. This is for their inventory purposes. You pay by inserting your money on one of the boxes there. They do not have change so you really need to pay the exact amount.
We then on traveled to the House of Dakay. It is the oldest house in Batanes. You can see from the structure that it is the traditional Ivatan house that needed to endure the harsh weather.
Before we go to our last stop and end the day with lunch, we passed by the Spanish Bridge. It was built during the Spanish era and is still being used today by the Ivatan people.
Our last stop for the South Batan tour is the Homoron White Beach. It was a quiet beach with shallow waters perfect for swimming! We didn't get to go to the Spanish Lagoon because construction was ongoing.
Alas, we ended the day with lunch at Paulvanas. I ate with Kuya Tino because I couldn't possibly finish everything on the set meal. Everything was delicious or maybe I really was just hungry from all the touring.
I also loved the Nilagang Baka with seaweed. I'm not quite sure what kind of seaweed it was but it tasted really good and resembled a Miso soup.
Thus that ends my South Batan tour. I spent the rest of my night packing and chatting with Ate Elma back at the homestay. Getting back to requiring a tour guide in Batanes. Yes, unfortunately, it was recently approved by their municipality to require all visitors with tour guides. So to those wanting to go to Batanes and doing a DIY trip, you can't go alone for you need have a tour guide with you. There are several tour agencies around Batan which can help you with touring around. Though if you are a solo traveler like me, I highly recommend doing an "angkas" tour (motorbike tour) because it is cheaper and you can talk to your kuya tour guide on which places you want to go to first.
A short funny story just when I was about to leave Batanes. The morning of my flight was rainy. I woke up to the sound of harsh winds outside the homestay. The powerlines were also out. The winds were very strong and I feared that my flight might get cancelled. I ate my last breakfast at Ate Elma's with only a lamp infront of me. I started to get nervous that I might not be able to go back to Manila because I had work the next day. As always, the weather in Batanes is quite bipolar. I still went to the airport and the Skyjet people still pushed through with the flight, thank god!
That concluded my stay in Batanes. It was indeed something new for me. Traveling alone in my own country and immersing myself with the locals. The Ivatan people are genuinely nice. I've never felt more welcomed. I have nothing but nice things to say about my stay with Ysabelle Homestay. Ate Elma's family made me feel like I had a family in Batanes as well. Saying goodbye to this marvelous place is heartbreaking. If only I could stay a few more weeks or months just getting along with nature. I couldn't go to Itbayat Island anymore due to limited time. They say people get stranded there for a few days if the weather becomes bad.
If there was a place I'd like to live in here in my home country, it would be Batanes. Never mind the no internet part and the part where there are no commercialized areas. I would love to immerse myself in this kind of environment. I hope I could visit Batanes again soon. Hopefully to visit Itbayat this time. I still can't believe I went here alone. Just a dream once, a dream that someday you would be coming with your loved ones. But when people you once cared about start to leave you, that's when you'll have the drive to go. I still have my dream, even if I was left with nothing. 🙂
Until we meet again Batanes!
Total expenses:
- Skyjet Roundtrip Flight- Php 12,260
- Ysabelle Homestay 4 days and 3 nights with Breakfast- Php 1,350
- Batanes Eco Tourism Fee- Php 350
- Beehan Lunch Meal- Php 120
- North Batan Tour- Php 1000
- Beehan Dinner- Php 140
- Sabtang Tour- Php 1,300
- Boat ride to and from Sabtang- Php 200
- Sabtang Municipal Fee- Php 200
- Set Meal Morong Beach, Sabtang- Php 300
- Cafe Du Tukon Meal- Php 558
- South Batan Tricycle Tour- Php 1500
- Paulvana Set Meal- Php 300
- Beehan Dinner- Php- 100
TOTAL: Php 19, 678
If you would like to stay with Ysabelle Homestay in Batanes, check out their facebook page below. You may also contact them using the number below.
Ysabelle Homestay
Santana St. Brgy. Kaychanarianan Basco, Batanes
(+63) 928 234 2542


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The mother-and-son duo attend the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles
Chaz Bono was in good company at the GLAAD Media Awards on Saturday night.
His mom Cher showed up to support her son at the event in Los Angeles.
"So much fun at Glaad awards!" the singer Tweeted. "I really surprised Chaz! HE was adorable,Said wow mom i was so surprised i forgot what i was going 2say!"
Bono, who was the first transgender contestant on Dancing with the Stars, was honored for his OWN documentary, Becoming Chaz, and with the Stephen F. Kolzak Award, which is given by GLAAD to a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender entertainer for promoting equality.
Chaz's stepmother (and widow to his late father, Sonny Bono), Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack, was also at the ceremony.
"It was an amazing night to have my mother and stepmother present me with the award," Chaz told PEOPLE in a statement. "From a group I worked for 15 years ago; for Becoming Chaz to be honored as best documentary; and to be so enthusiastically received by my community. I was truly touched on so many levels."
Also at the ceremony, Modern Family's Jesse Tyler Ferguson accepted the award for outstanding comedy series; and The Hunger Games star Josh Hutcherson received the Vanguard Award for increasing the "visibility and understanding of the LGBT community" with the organization Straight But Not Narrow.


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Standard," meaning there's no touchscreen in the cards for Palm's latest and greatest device, a distinct departure from Treos of yore. So yeah, anyway, if this document turns out to be legit, the long-rumored Gandolf is going to end up christened as the Treo 500 when it's announced for Vodafone on the 12th. 3G data will thankfully be in tow, too, though there's no word on whether it'll be HSDPA or plain ol' UMTS. Not bad, but seriously, there are plenty of solid WM6 Standard handsets in the pipeline from manufacturers big and small. Best of luck, Palm.
[Via Boy Genius Report]


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Marvin Lurie
Letters To And From My Imaginary Friend
Letter To My Imaginary Friend
I didn't look for you.
I grew up with no father
in a house of shouting and recriminations.
I shrunk the space around me
so there was no room for anyone else,
not even for you.
I chose to have my shadow
as company,
leading me to school in the morning and home after,
lying next to me on the living room rug.
I thought that was all there could be
and enough.
Now I am old.
I wonder how you have aged.
Could I know you by naming you,
the way Adam named plants and animals?
Would you be a creature of my mind
so I have to think your every act and word?
Can I give you free will?
You might turn away or talk back.
You could be the resentful voice in my head
scolding me, reliving regrets.
Maybe it's still the wrong time.
If ever I am ever beguiled by dementia,
perhaps then we should meet
and keep each other company.
Letter From My Imaginary Friend
Dear Marv
Your letter really pissed me off. I'm not supposed to break the Imaginary Friend Code of Silence, but screw that. We're both 80. Who the fuck cares any more. Besides, you started it.
Your didn't have enough room for me? What a pathetic, self-involved asshole you are with your pity party excuses. I was supposed to get a few years of companionship and then disappear into the hereafter, or wherever. No body knows. Instead I wandered in some freaky brain freeze nowhere for 67 years until you retired. I woke up in this shit hole of a home with a bunch of other old fart IF castoffs. All I do is play pinochle all day with Grouchy, Cranky and Disgruntled and eat bad food. And there are no women here. Little girls know how to take care of their IFs. I'd like to see and talk to a woman now and then, even some ancient skank as decrepit as the limp dicks here. I'm old, not dead.
You want me to come and hold your hand while you wander in la-la land? No go boyo. Put your head back in your ass. I'd rather stay here and listen to some addled schmuck tell the same retard joke three times a day. Besides, I'm ahead in the card game right now.
So fuck off, Your IF
- Not Enough White People (2019)
- The Suitcase (2019)
- The Undesirables (2019)
- Birge's Western Sharpshooters (2019)
- Sacrifices (2019)
- Rifle (2018)
- Autobiography of The Great Leader (2018)*
- Caravan (2018)*
- The Closer (2018)
- The Builder (2018)
- Miriam's Well*
- Self Portrait in Letters and Stone
- In The Garden
- Unfinished Things
- It Happened In Amstibov (A very short story after Issac Bishevas Singer)
- Painting The Morning
- Drinking With The Moon
- Letters To And From My Imaginary Friend
- Chinese Plate


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MissPrint was created in 2005 by mother-daughter co-founders Yvonne and Rebecca Drury. The business developed organically after printing patterns and illustrations onto silk and making lampshades. This was often done on the dining room table! We found that people loved the products so we added cushions, wallpaper and fabrics shortly after.
We strongly believe that visual design has a huge part to play in our everyday well-being, particularly when used within the home. Every MissPrint pattern is hand-illustrated by co-founder Rebecca Drury; the non-perfect lines and non-uniformity are things we love. We like to remain honest to our roots and design using basic processes.
All aspects of the production process are carefully monitored to ensure a high quality standard. We carefully select and factory-proof all of our colours to ensure they are exactly how we like them.
Our entire wallpaper range is PEFC or FSC certified, which we feel is essential. Our wallpapers are printed with organic pigment inks, which are non-toxic, free of heavy metals and classed as non-carcinogenic. We try our utmost to support our local community and strongly believe in supporting the British manufacturing industry, therefore our wallpapers, cushions, fabric, lampshades are produced in Great Britain.
We also run a design consultancy service, currently collaborating with John Lewis Partnership and have previously worked with Apple Inc., Heals, Garden Trading and WHSmith.
We are always developing new ideas and refining our business. We would love to hear from you if you have any comments, feedback or questions.


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Microsoft Edge (EdgeHTML) extensions
Extensions are small programs that can be used to add new features to Microsoft Edge (EdgeHTML) or modify the existing functionality. Extensions are intended to improve a user's day-to-day browsing experience by providing niche functionality that is important to targeted audiences.
Microsoft Edge (EdgeHTML) supports a new HTML, JavaScript and CSS based extension model. This new model is Chrome-compatible which means that existing Chrome extension developers will be able to migrate their extensions to Microsoft Edge (EdgeHTML) with minimal changes.
To get an overview of the end to end journey of creating a Microsoft Edge (EdgeHTML) extension from development to publishing, check out the Getting started guide!
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Current Board of Directors
Charley Wilson
I joined the Jacksonville Woodlands Association Board of Directors in the fall 2004 and have served as the Association's President since 2006.
Jeanena and I were married in March of 2003, and sold our respective homes in Napa, California while transitioning to our home to Jacksonville. Like many newcomers to the City of Jacksonville, we were drawn by the City's small town charm as an historic pioneer town dating back to 1850's with many of the town's original buildings and historic neighborhoods preserved. Equaling drawing us to Jacksonville was the Jacksonville Woodlands Trail System.
In 2004, I retired from Napa County as the Napa County Planning Director following 27 years of public service with the County of Napa. Prior to Napa County, I was a Planning Assistant for the City of Chico for 3 years. Prior to that, I worked for the Wall Street Journal in Palo Alto, California as an Advertising Production clerk. Prior to that, I was living the 60's!!
Jeanena and I have three grown children and 5 grand children. We share a strong interest in community and family history with membership in the Jacksonville Boosters Club, Jacksonville Community Center, Southern Oregon Historical Society and the Rogue Valley Genealogical Society. I also enjoyed 20+ years hiking and pack-backing, primarily in the California Sierra Mountains, running & jogging including successfully running the Napa Valley Marathon, the Mt. Hood to Coast relay, and the local Pear Blossom Run.
Bob Budesa
Bob is retired from 38 years with Forest Service/Bureau of Land Management, wherein he was a falling/dozer boss in wildland firefighting (20 years), wild horse wrangler (5 years), Range Management Specialist (30 years), and also surveyed, worked in invasive species management, and timber contracting. Bob's hobbies include trout/steelhead fishing, fly tying, road cycling, playing the bagpipes, and cooking.
Bob has been married to Terri (avid quilter) since 1981, with whom he has one son, Geoff, who lives in Williams and works for Forest Farm Nursery.
Bob joined the Jacksonville Woodlands Association (JWA) and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) as a way of giving back to the community that he greatly appreciates. Bob's 38 year career lends itself to both these volunteer organizations.
John Isaak
John and his wife, Sue have lived in Jacksonville for 12 years. He is a former member of the Jacksonville Community Center Committee. John is a retired highway engineer, having worked as a surveyor, inspector and project
engineer for several public agencies during a 43 year engineering career.
John has been a member of the Woodlands Board for over 8 years and currently serves as the Treasurer
Kandee McClain
Kandee is a fifth generation Oregonian who has lived in southern Oregon for the past 32 years. She is a retired teacher, completing her career in the Central Point School District.
She is a long-time jogger and hiker and for years has been drawn to the Woodlands trails so becoming a Woodlands' Board member was a natural transition when she moved to Jacksonville with her husband, Mike, in 2011. Mike is also a retired educator and shares her enjoyment of the Woodlands trails.
Ray Foster
Ray Foster has been a Jacksonville resident for more than 30 years and is one of the founding members of the Jacksonville Woodlands. He's a retired high school art instructor, holding teaching degrees from Southern Oregon University and Portland State.
Foster is an practicing artist and has designed most of the Woodlands t shirt graphics. Ray recently built a pottery studio on a hillside that looks directly over much of the Woodlands trail systems. He was motivated initially to maintain the small town ambience afforded by saving undeveloped property.
A lifelong runner and hiker, he realized the trail system also greatly enhanced the joy of visiting and living in this beautiful town.
Mark Burkhalter
Mark Burkhalter is a retired attorney and current Jacksonville Municipal Judge. Mark was one of the early landowners in the area to transfer property to the Woodlands (Panorama Point area) and is a former chair of the JWA Board of Directors.
Gary Sprague
Gary Sprague is retired from teaching chemistry and astronomy for 35 years, mostly at North Medford H.S. His wife, Louise, an RN, is still actively working at Providence.
The two of them have lived here in the Rogue valley for 42 years and enjoy the woods and scenery of Southern Oregon. Their family includes three boys and their wives, and 6 grandchildren.
Gary joined the Woodlands Board at the same time as Bob Budesa and really appreciates the woodlands and trails surrounding Jacksonville.
As chairman of the Forest Park subcommittee, he is also a Jacksonville Forest Park volunteer.
Omer Kem
Omer Kem is a life long resident of Oregon, growing up in the Salem area before moving to Jacksonville in the fall of 2012 with his family. Omer's wife Becka introduced him to trail running and both Omer and Becka fell in love with Jacksonville and its trails. Omer owns a Sports Management and Marketing company based in Oregon and operating around the world.
Cliff Oakley
Cliff Oakley grew up in the Rogue Valley and has lived in Jacksonville for the past 6 years. He has a Masters degree in Biology from Southern Oregon University and worked as a wildlife biologist for the BLM before switching to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1999. He retired from the fish and wildlife service in 2006 and has ran a wildlife consulting business until this year.
I love to hike and be out in the woods be it fishing on some remote stream or camping in one of Oregon's beautiful wild areas. So when I moved to Jacksonville and found the Woodlands trails right outside my door I immediately started to hike, run and ride by bicycle on those trails. I also enjoy getting out to work with people and nature so it was a natural for me to get involved in the Jacksonville Woodland Association. I have been a Board Member since 2014.
Becka Kem
Becka Kem is a mother, wife and outdoor enthusiast living in Jacksonville. After six years of teaching public school, she settled with her young family in the Rogue Valley, choosing Jacksonville because of it's amazing people and network of trails. Her personal interests include being outside with her young son, hiking the amazing trails around Jacksonville and gardening. She is very excited about joining the JWA and focusing on development of the Beekman arboretum along with introducing new people to the amazing trails in Jacksonville.
Larry Smith
Larry and Linda Smith have lived in Jacksonville since 1973. Larry began his teaching career in 1966 when he began teaching 5th grade at Jacksonville Elementary School where he remained for 33 years. Presently Larry is semi retired from teaching and now works as a substitute elementary teacher for the Medford School District. Larry was a National Park Ranger at Crater Lake for 23 summers. He presently heads up Crater Lake's Winter Volunteer Ranger Program. Larry and Linda have 2 adult children and seven grandchildren.
Larry is a founding member of the Jacksonville Woodlands Association having served as a board member, vice president, president, and currently as Executive Director.


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Back to all Projects
Tequila Nightclubs
When Tequila Nightclubs of Saskatoon contacted our team about their sign requirements we immediately knew it would be a project to remember. The PM Signs Saskatoon team took the lead from Tequila's modern interior styling and ran with it. The totally unique concept for the sign design was composed of both halo lit and push-through acrylic letters.
The moment your eyes meet the sign, the stainless steel backing creates a modern impact. Thus setting the mood for entry into their sleek and sexy interior. Mission accomplished for this elated client.
LocationSaskatoon, Saskatchewan
ClientTequila Night Club


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I finished these nearly a week ago but it took me a while to get the camera and the socks together. Here they are!
I'm quite happy with how these turned out. Despite my best efforts, the two socks aren't identical. When turning the heel of #1, I figured out a better way to begin picking up the strands on sock #2. I took notes and followed them when I got to #2 – but it turns out that the change I made on the sole of #2 (which was to begin the round in the middle of the bottom rather than at one of the needle changes) affected the leg of #2 in such a way that the vertical stripes didn't match up any more. The soles are more or less identical, but can you see how the vertical stripes on the leg aren't quite the same?On the left sock, the vertical blue and green stripes are evenly spaced. On the right sock, there are 10 stitches between the green and blue stripes instead of 8. Let's look at the other side: Left sock: the space between the green and blue stripes is less (only 6 stitches). I know that no one will ever notice this when the socks are being worn, but it bugs me a tiny bit and I might reknit the entire pattern one day just to prove I can do it right.
Julie commented that these look really long in the leg. I think it's a visual trick that has to do with the heel. We're so used to seeing the heel flap come up the back of the heel, but here it's placed on the bottom. In this picture, the socks are on my feet. I actually think they fit me a bit better than S1. If I knit this style heel flap for her again, I will add 3 extra rounds in the sole.
These vertical climbing strands are really fun. I think one of my next socks is going to be another Lorilee Beltman pattern that uses this technique: the Our Paths Cross socks. Take a look. These are toe-up again, but the heel is totally different and unlike anything I've knit before. I wonder if I have anything in stash that will work? I need 100 g of the main color and it probably needs to be a light color. Hmmm.
Suggestions welcome.


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Golden Goose
Distressed cotton canvas Hanami slip on from Golden Goose. Tropical wave print with two inside metal rivets. Each shoe is one of a kind. Flower print will vary from shoe to shoe. Rubber sole.
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By Sonia Schnee | Posted Wednesday, May 22, 2019
From now until May 30th, the unmatchable Will Wood — artist, musician, performer, and more — will be unveiling an ambitious multimedia experience in Asbury Park, NJ, featuring never-before-seen works of art, a new concert film, and new music. Entitled "HEAD," this impressive exhibit is sure to be something you won't soon forget! Find our more from Will Wood himself in our interview below.
Tell us about Will Wood's HEAD. What is it, when is it, where is it? What can people expect to see, hear, and feel?
WILL WOOD: This May, I'm going to be taking over a historical building in downtown Asbury Park (529 Bangs Avenue) and turning by brain inside out in it. HEAD is a multimedia experimental art exhibit featuring music, film, intimate performances, and the first ever exhibit of my psychedelic visual art. It'll be running from May 13th till May 30th, it'll be completely unlike anything else I've ever done, and it'll be a landmark/milestone event for me as an artist.
Why Asbury Park?
Asbury Park is one of the cultural capitals of New Jersey, and a second hometown of mine. I spent a lot of my youth in Neptune, did a lot of my earliest art projects down by the boardwalk, and played a number of my early and most formative shows in Asbury Park.
Many people know you for your musical talent. What inspired you to finally showcase your visual art, and what is the inspiration behind your work?
In October of 2011, I took LSD. At the end of that night, toward the tail end of one of the most powerful experiences of my life, I sat at a bench on a college campus in upstate New York covered in ink, with a handful of markers, and began drawing. I haven't stopped. I had always hoped that my music career would get me to a place where I could find an audience for the other types of work I do, and I'm finally at a place where I have a platform for my art. Art inspired by altered states, surreal experiences, and visions I've had without the use of any substances.
Tell us about your concert film, The Real Will Wood. Where was it shot, what was the production process like? Do you have any other films in the works?
The Real Will Wood is the result of two years of confusion. Shot at some of the most iconic and bizarre places in New Jersey, and featuring never-before-heard or seen performances, TRWW is a feature-length concert film with a very unusual bent.
Will Wood's HEAD is an ambitious and impressive undertaking! What words of advice or encouragement would you give to other artists or entrepreneurs out there who would like to attempt something similar?
Thank you. HEAD is the inevitable culmination of the last two years of my career, I hope it's as impressive as it sounds. If you're hoping to do something similar, wait until I'm done first so I don't have to compete with you.
What advice or encouragement would you give to kids out there who are maybe afraid to share their creativity with the world?
Make something. Anything. Don't worry about whether or not it's any good – because odds are you don't know what's good. Your audience does. And if they say it's not good, ignore them and keep making things. Really good art happens by accident, when the results of your unfiltered creating meets the audience's unknown desires. When you stumble across the thing that people didn't know they wanted. I have no idea if it's ever come out of me. We're going to find out. If I can do that, you definitely can.
What's next on the horizon for you?
I'll be talking about it more at HEAD.
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
On May 25th and 26th (Memorial Day Weekend) I'm hosting a pair of special, intimate performances at HEAD featuring new music that I hope to be doing some very big stuff with soon. Tickets are limited, and on sale here: https://willwoodandthetapeworms.bigcartel.com/product/will-wood-live-head-the-multimedia-pop-up-gallery-asbury-park-beach
Finally, where can people find out more about you and Will Wood's HEAD (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, website, etc.)?
Follow me at @therealwillwood on Instagram to stay in the loop. If you wanna stay DEEP in the loop and on the inner circle, find me at patreon.com/willwoodandthetapeworms for exclusive videos, music, writing, art, and discounts on everything I do – definitely the best and closest way to experience my work.


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PHOENIX, Sept. 30, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Grand Canyon Education, Inc. (Nasdaq:LOPE) announced today that it will report its 2013 third quarter results after market close on Tuesday, October 29, 2013. The Company will host a conference call to discuss the results in more detail at 1:30 P.M. (4:30 P.M. ET) the same day. Dial-In Numbers: 877 445-3230 (Domestic) 708 290-1158 (International) Conference ID: 72617623 Please dial in at least five minutes prior to the start of the call. Journalists are invited to listen only. Webcast and Replay: Investors, journalists and the general public may access a live webcast of this event by visiting the Grand Canyon Education, Inc. website at: www.gcu.edu. A webcast replay will be available approximately two hours following the conclusion of the call at the same link. Telephone Replay: A telephone replay will be available approximately two hours following the conclusion of the call by dialing: 855 859-2056 (Domestic) 404 537-3406 (International) Conference ID: 72617623 About Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Grand Canyon Education, Inc. is a regionally accredited provider of postsecondary education services focused on offering graduate and undergraduate degree programs in its core disciplines of education, healthcare, business, and liberal arts. It offers programs online as well as ground programs at its 115 acre traditional campus in Phoenix, Arizona and onsite at facilities it leases or those of employers. For more information about Grand Canyon Education, Inc. visit the Company's website at www.gcu.edu.
CONTACT: Grand Canyon Education, Inc. Investor Relations: Dan Bachus, (602) 639-6648 firstname.lastname@example.com


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Wang Xiangcheng, a chief technologist at Shandong-based Inspur Group Co Ltd, has devoted 40 percent of his work time to Guiyang, the capital of Southwest China's Guizhou province, more than 1,800 km away from his company headquarters. He is helping local officials leverage big-data technology on poverty alleviation.
Since December, Inspur, the country's largest server manufacturer, has been working on a big-data platform, designed to regularly pool and update information about locals living below the poverty line, and help Guizhou officials aid poverty-stricken families in innovative ways.
"Currently, the platform is keeping track of 6.23 million low-income people's personal information, such as educational background, occupation, and income," said Wang, who is in charge of Inspur's big-data poverty alleviation department.
By following and analyzing the data, officials can zone in on the kind of subsidies and assistance people in poverty need, and offer more precise and targeted help, Wang said.
Inspur and Guizhou's efforts are part of a big-data boom sweeping across China as the country is initiating moves to upgrade enterprises and governments with information technology.
The favorable policy environment is encouraging companies to bring cutting-edge technology into areas ranging from manufacturing, food delivery, and medicine to government affairs, analysts said.
Last month, Premier Li Keqiang said at the China Big Data Industry Summit that big data and cloud computing have penetrated every aspect of human production and daily lives.
"The new generation of technology puts all countries at the same starting line. China should pounce at the strategic opportunity to gain a leading position," Li said.
To achieve that, it is important to cultivate both new and traditional industries. By incorporating new technologies, such as big data, into production, enterprises can offer better products and services, Li added.
Zheng Weimin, an IT professor at Tsinghua University, said China has an edge in developing big data, a technology that is only possible when a huge amount of data is accessible online.
"China, as the world's second-largest economy, generates and processes a vast amount of data every day. More importantly, the country's internet boom has put most of such data online, which has laid down a solid foundation," said Zheng, former chairman of the China Computer Federation.
Also, compared with other tech sectors which have long been dominated by foreign enterprises, the big-data industry chiefly relies on open-source software, which gives every country free and equal access to state-of-art technology.
"China has introduced far stronger policy supports to big data than other countries, which are galvanizing both enterprises and local governments into quick action," he added.
To facilitate companies unlocking the potential of big data, Premier Li also promised last month to release more government information, except that concerning areas such as national security and sensitive business.
"The government controls roughly 80 percent of data and information generated in China. If enterprises can access this data which, of course, first needs to be scrubbed to remove personal references, it will spark a new round of innovation and create a level playing field for all companies," said Zhang Xu, a researcher at Beijing-based internet consultancy Analysys International.
If, for instance, the China Meteorological Administration can share more real-time and region-specific weather information, food delivery companies can leverage big data to predict which food is most popular when a city is hit by a heavy rain at 30 degrees Celsius, Zhang said.
But so far, big data is still in its infancy, and many companies are trying to figure out how to link it with their core businesses, analysts said.
Mei Hong, vice-president of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, said many just use the technology to count and accumulate data. Some focus on trend analysis.
"Few apply big data to predict what is likely to happen, make decisions and evaluate possible consequences," Mei said.
Still, entrepreneurs are eager to enter the sector, which they believe will be an important engine of China's economic growth.
Wang Jun, former CEO of Beijing Genomics Institute, one of the world's largest genome sequencers, believes the era of big data is coming. He set up a big-data based healthcare company, iCarboX, last year.
The mission is straightforward: leveraging big data technology to offer precision medicine or personalized healthcare services.
"Big data is the future and we can't miss it," Wang said.


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Michael Kennedy
Daily Telegraph
"distinguished trombone playing"
Gerald Larner
The Guardian
Mike came to prominence winning the first ever BBC TV Young Musician Of The Year Competition in 1978 and has since led a versatile career as a trombonist, valve trombonist and composer/arranger.
He has been in demand as a jazz and studio musician. As a jazz artist he began his career with The National Youth Jazz Orchestra and has since worked with Stan Sulzmann, Tina May, Guy Barker, Mark Lockheart, John Parricelli, Gwilym Simcock, Alan Barnes, Andy Panayi, Steve Waterman, James Watson, Richard Edwards, Mark Nightingale, Malcolm Edmonstone, Alec Dankworth, Steve Sidwell, Martin Shaw, Henry Lowther, Jim Rattigan, Julian Joseph and Pete Hurt amongst others. In 2006 he was featured in BBC Radio 3's Jazz Line Up performing the music of Mark Lockheart and Richard Rodney Bennett.
He has recorded two jazz albums on the Mainstem label. The two albums, 'Menagerie' and 'Mr OK" received much critical acclaim and have been broadcast in both the UK and the USA. The proceeds of the sales of these CDs are sent to the cancer charity http://www.headstartcancersupport.org.uk/
As a studio musician he has played on over two hundred film soundtracks including The Mission, Gladiator, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Bridget Jones, The Fifth Element, Shrek and The Golden Compass. He has recorded with a number of artists including Joni Mitchell, Elton John, Bryan Adams, Mariah Carey, Tom Jones, Paul McCartney, Julio Iglesias, Cliff Richard, Jarvis Cocker, Missy Elliott, Englebert Humperdinck, Elkie Brooks, Kylie Minogue, Jeff Beck, John Barrowman and Oscar winning film composer and pianist Stephen Warbeck.
As a classical musician he has held positions with the Halle Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra and is currently in the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden. In 2005 he was selected to play with the World Orchestra for Peace under Valerie Gerghiev at the BBC Proms. As a chamber player he has been a member of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble and the contemporary music group the Fires of London. He has had pieces written for him including a concerto by the English composer Edward Gregson published by Novello.
He is also active as a composer and arranger. His compositions have been played and recorded extensively and in 2003 he composed the soundtrack to the film Hunters of the Lost Sun. He has also been a Professor of Trombone at the Royal Academy and the Royal College of Music.
Mike with Mark Lockheart (Sax), Nick Rodwell (Sax) and the Malcolm Edmonstone Trio painted by the artist Frances Burges in September 2008.


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- UNDP around the world
Many of UNDP's relationships with countries and territories on the ground exceed 60 years. Find details on our successes and ongoing work.
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- Angola
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Regional PresenceMuch of UNDP's work is administered through 5 regional bureaus.
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International Technical Advisor and Team Leader
|Location :
|Application Deadline :
|20-Mar-18 (Midnight New York, USA)
|Additional Category :
|Climate & Disaster Resilience
|Type of Contract :
|Individual Contract
|Post Level :
|International Consultant
|Languages Required :
|English Russian
|Starting Date :
(date when the selected candidate is expected to start)
|Duration of Initial Contract :
|April 2018 – December 2018
|Expected Duration of Assignment :
|120 consultancy days, 90 days of which must be based in Ashgabat
A nation of approximately 5.3 million citizens, Turkmenistan is in southwestern Central Asia, between the Caspian Sea and the Amu-Darya River. Turkmenistan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the northeast and east, Afghanistan to the southwest, and Iran to the south.
The population of Turkmenistan is growing by approximately one percent per year. The country is also undergoing a steady shift toward greater urbanization, with an increasing proportion of citizens living in cities.
The most notable recent urban growth in Turkmenistan has taken place in two distinct locales – the capital city of Ashgabat and the new resort zone of Awaza on the Caspian Sea. Ashgabat's population has increased by about 70 percent in the last 15 years, from about 524,000 in the year 2000 to more than 900,000 in 2014. This population growth has triggered the creation of several new developed areas, many major new public and residential building projects, and expansion of associated infrastructure. Notably, the city created facilities and upgraded infrastructure for hosting the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in September 2017.
Just eight years ago, Awaza was a modest beach town with minimal infrastructure or services beyond rest and recreation for local residents. Then, President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedow articulated his vision for creation of a world-class tourist resort at Awaza. Since being designated in 2007 as a national tourist zone, Awaza has undergone rapid development, with the construction of more than 30 hotels and other lodging facilities, parks, recreation facilities, and accompanying infrastructure, including roads, a new gas-fired power plant, a desalination plant on the Caspian Sea, a sewage treatment plants, water supply networks, and a full renovation of the airport at the nearby city of Turkmenbashi. Awaza is also being promoted as a potential spot for headquarters for corporations seeking to establish economic bases on the eastern shore of the Caspian.
Ashgabat and Awaza occupy a special place in Turkmenistan's development, not only for their sheer scale, but also for their representation to Turkmen citizens and the whole world of the country's pride, ambitions, and potential. To date, development of these two cities has emphasized a grandeur consistent with the nation's rapid rise to prosperity and its high aspirations for future growth. But the Government also recognizes that these two showcase cities could win the respect and good will of the international community (as well as tourism revenue and investment) by demonstrating Turkmenistan's responsible citizenship in the global community of nations, as well as its readiness to implement smart, technically sound best practices in urban planning and management.
In Turkmenistan as in all countries worldwide, the development of cities has led to increased negative environmental impact – resource consumption, waste, local air and water pollution, and emissions of GHGs. The sources of these impacts are varied, including rising use of private motor vehicles, expansion of public lighting, and consumption of resources and generation of waste by increasing numbers of increasingly affluent residents and tourists.
Ashgabat and Awaza have already embraced some measures aligned with world best practices to manage this impact, such as replacement of all spent street lamps with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in Ashgabat and limitation of private car traffic in Awaza. But there remains much untapped technical potential to decrease the volume and impact of private vehicle traffic in all cities, further expand efficient street lighting, reduce waste and increase recycling, and introduce "green" practices to hotels. Meanwhile, other cities in Turkmenistan, which do not have the special status and investment priority of Ashgabat and Awaza, have arguably greater need for sustainable urban planning, practices, and infrastructure in all these areas.
Fulfilling this potential – thereby measurably reducing the impacts of urban growth in Turkmenistan while also advancing social and economic development goals – is the development challenge of the project. To this end, the project foresees several integrated activities in planning, investment, data collection and analysis, and promotion of behavioral change among citizens, starting in Ashgabat and Awaza and extending across all the major cities of Turkmenistan.
The objective of the project is to promote and implement integrated low-carbon urban systems in Ashgabat and Awaza, thereby reducing GHG emissions and creating other environmental, social, and economic development benefits.
The project will lead to several general outcomes in Ashgabat, Awaza, and other cities across Turkmenistan:
Nationwide replication and scaling-up of results of first project two components, enhancement of capacity of agencies and managers, and adoption of policies and regulation.
To achieve these outcomes, UNDP, the Government and its partners in Turkmenistan have defined outputs and activities across three components – with the first focusing on Ashgabat, the second focusing on Awaza, and the third seeking scale-up via policy and regulations at the national and municipal level throughout Turkmenistan.
Component 1: Sustainable urban development in Ashgabat:
This component has two targeted outcomes:
Component 2: Sustainable Tourism Infrastructure and Management Practices in Awaza:
This component has two targeted outcomes:
Component 3: Municipal and National Policy:
This component has one broad targeted outcome:
For more detailed information about this project as well as other UNDP Turkmenistan environmental projects please visit: www.undptkm.org.
Duties and Responsibilities
The objective of the assignment is to provide strategic guidance and support to UNDP and the project management in roll-out and inception stage of the project and its different sub-components and build the capacity of the project manager and local experts working for the project to successfully implement the project activities, ensuring that they comply with the agreed benchmarks and success indicators of the project as well as international best practices and lessons learnt. The expected level of involvement will be up to 120 days within this assignment, of which 90 days must be based in Ashgabat. In his/her methodology, the consultant should clearly elaborate his/her approach to fulfilling this assignment, including his/her proposal for a number of missions and a proposed plan/timeline for implementing the required deliverables.
Under the direct supervision of Project Manager and overall supervision of UNDP Programme Specialist on Environment, the consultant's specific responsibilities include the following actions:
Planning and advisory support to the project inception:
A. Prepare a detailed plan based on the submitted methodology, clearly defining the actions to implement the assignment and required deliverables, number and schedule of proposed missions as agreed with project manager and cleared by UNDP:
B. Guide and lead the local project management and expert team in organizing the roll-out and implementation of the project's different sub-components at the inception phase, including support to the project manager in the preparation of the project inception report and update of the annual plan, identifying project staffing requirements, especially for the project technical components, then drafting relevant Terms of Reference for the local and, as needed, additional international experts and subcontractors, required tender documents etc:
C. Lead in the preparation of the agenda, presentations and other relevant material for both internal and external inception meetings in close collaboration with Project Manager:
D. Guide the project manager and project team in facilitating the inception meeting by preparing and making the key presentations with specific focus on the project technical components and outlining the project's strategic vision to implement those:
E. Lead in the preparation of an inception report and revision of the logical framework in close collaboration with Project Manager:
F. Contribute to the consultations with stakeholders and internal specialists and understand where the project needs to be adjusted:
G. Support Project Manager in arranging co-operation with the already identified key stakeholders and, as applicable, support the identification and establishment of new national and/or international partnerships and to support the project goals and objectives:
H. Propose possible adjustments and necessary amendments, support the preparation of the overall Project Work Plan until Dec 2019, evaluation plan, monitoring plan, sustainability plan, communication strategy/action plan, and all other documents requested by the Project Document (different reports, work plans, etc.):
I. Provide inputs for establishment of effective proactive risk management strategy:
J. Facilitate the capacity development of project manager and project experts by identifying capacity development needs and preparing individual capacity development plans for the project staff, with a specific focus on innovations and efficient solutions to implement the project goals and components:
Specific technical tasks:
Component 1. Sustainable urban development in Ashgabat.
K. Guide the project manager by leading the development of a road map or a plan for piloting of EE lighting linked with smart-grid feedback and dispatching and LED street lamp performance, including the use of renewable energy or other innovative solutions for EE street lighting:
L. Lead the development of project activities on design and construction of dedicated bus and bicycle lanes, improvement of e-passes, map updates, and a mobile app for riders:
M. Guide the project manager by leading the development of a project plan for piloting of sorting of recyclable household waste in Ashgabat to be based on the most advanced global waste sorting practices and innovations:
N. Provide technical inputs and support Project Manager and UNDP communications staff in development and launch of public information campaign to reduce solid waste:
Component 2. Sustainable Tourism Infrastructure and Management Practices in Awaza:
O. Guide the project manager and project team in the development of a project strategy for development and implementation of green standards for hotels, taking into account the existing international best practices for green hotel management and containing innovative solutions that can be adapted to Awaza conditions:
P. Guide the project manager and project team in the development of a project road map for piloting of solar-powered charging stations for electric vehicles in Awaza and Ashgabat:
Component 3. Municipal and National Policy:
Q. Provide advisory support to the project manager and project team in the institutional assessment of Ashgabat municipality, relevant policy and laws to serve as the baseline for further project interventions on enhancing national policies and budgets in support of scaled-up urban sustainability practices:
R. Guide the project manager and project team in the preparation and launch of a project strategy for development and implementation of fuel economy standards and incentives for use of fuel efficient motor vehicles, based on the latest international fuel efficiency and efficient vehicle use trends and practices:
In addition to the aforementioned outcomes and the above 'regular' Project support duties, and in close communication with the Project Manager, the Consultant as part of the Project Team will be responsible for delivering the following main results in order to successfully accomplish project objective and envisioned project results:
S. Ensure provision of relevant technical inputs during Implementation phase, work closely with the Project Team and final beneficiaries, preparation of materials and/or inputs for various trainings, workshops, meetings, etc., and preparation of all necessary Project reports, Terms of References and adequate plans;
T. Undertake monitoring and progress controls: the consultant will be responsible to provide regular reports in writing to the Project Manager. The report is to contain sufficient detail and information that would allow for the appraisal of the effectiveness to date of the project's activities, as well as further direction of the project.
U. Act the project champion on innovations and demonstrating the "thinking out of the box" approach given the innovations focus of the project by providing tailor-made recommendations and inputs on how the project can develop and promote innovations across all the project technical components and project management approaches.
Deliverables and timeframe:
Deliverable 1: Plan for implementing the assignment, Mission report and products as described under Task Deliverables 1, 2, 3, 4, 19, 20, 21.
Deadline: May 2018, 40 consultancy days (including 30 days in Ashgabat).
Deliverable 2: Inception Report, Mission Report and products as described under Task Deliverables 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 19, 20, 21.
Deadline: July 2018, 40 consultancy days (including 30 days in Ashgabat).
Deliverable 3: Mission and products as described under Task Deliverables 8, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.
Deadline: October 2018, 40 consultancy days (including 30 days in Ashgabat).
Payment conditions:
This is an installment-based contract that should cover the costs of consultancy required to produce the above deliverables. The final schedule of payments will be agreed upon in the beginning of consultancy. The calendar of deliverables and schedule and number of associated payments is subject to changes and revisions based on the consultant's proposed methodology to implement the assignment and the assignment action plan to be agreed and cleared by UNDP.
Time duration:
The consultant will be engaged under the Individual Contract, immediately after the completion of the selection process. The contract will be issued until 31 December 2018. The expected level of involvement will be up to 120 days within this assignment, of which 90 days must be based in Ashgabat.
The consultant will be expected to provide long-distance advice and in-country consultations. Therefore, the consultant is expected to be able to travel to Ashgabat and project sites, pursuant to the work plan of project's activities. During the assignment, the consultant is expected to undertake missions to Ashgabat and project sites. 90 days (out of 120) must be based in Ashgabat.
Corporate Competencies:
Functional Competencies:
Required Skills and Experience
Languages requirements:
Submission of applications:
Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:
All experts applying for this position are required to provide:
Evaluation of proposals:
Individual Consultants will be evaluated based on the combined scoring methodology. When using this method, the award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:
Out of the maximum score, the score for technical criteria equals 70% - maximum 70 points, and for financial criteria 30%.
The technical evaluation will take into account the following as per the scoring provided:
Financial proposal – 30% of total evaluation.
Additional requirements for recommended contractor:
Recommended contractors aged 62 and older, and if the travel is required, shall undergo a full medical examination including x-ray, and obtain medical clearance from the UN-approved doctor prior to taking up their assignment. The medical examination is to be cleared by the UN physicians, and shall be paid by the consultant.
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.
If you are experiencing difficulties with online job applications, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com.


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"When you have more than you need, build a longer table, not a higher fence."
What is Karma Care?
Quite simply, Karma Care is all of us, caring.
The Karma Care program operates on the belief that money should not be an obstacle to health. In order to provide services to every client, regardless of their financial status, a donation pool exists to help sponsor treatments for those who otherwise could not afford care. Delphine's integral belief is that just as the body, emotions and spirit are connected, so are we all as a community. Your kind donations improve the quality of life for another patient.
How Do I Donate?
At the office: include your donation as a tip with your payment and it will automatically be transferred to Karma Care.
Etransfer: direct your etransfer to email@example.com, using the password: Karmacare.
How Do I Apply for Karma Care?
Contact Delphine to introduce yourself, and include a synopsis of your current health goals and financial need. Karma Care exists to take care of the portion of the fees that you cannot afford. Applicants are accepted depending on the resources available and every effort will be made to provide health support to you.


text: In a move intended to help clear enough cap space to enable the Knicks to sign free agent Tyson Chandler, big man Ronny Turiaf has been sent to Washington, most likely for a future Draft pick. The team is also expected to waive point guard Chauncey Billups via the amnesty clause, after which the Chandler signing will be finalized. Here's the report, courtesy of the NY Post: "The Knicks are in the final stages of sending Ronny Turiaf's $4.2 million contract to Washington and could be completed tonight, according to sources. That would complete the Tyson Chandler bonanza as the Knicks would have enough room to move under the salary cap after waiving Chauncey Billups by the amnesty clause. The Turiaf trade was the holdup to the deal being official. It does not appear the Knicks would receive anything in return and will likely have to give the Wizards cash to pay for part of his pact. Though the Knicks could get back a trade exception."


text:
Striving to improve
Help keep our school safe.
Parents are reminded of the importance of sending children to school every day.
Download the QSchools app to receive the latest news, events and newsletters from our school.
View the current annual report
© The State of Queensland (Department of Education) 2019


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Events for January 9, 2019
Events Search and Views Navigation
January Intensives Session 1
SANCA's January Intensive Program is a series of immersive training sessions geared towards physically fit individuals who are interested in expanding their knowledge of acrobatic and/or aerial circus arts. Lean more here: https://sancaseattle.org/classes/intensive-study/january-intensive-program/Find out more »
1:30 pm
Handstand Jam
This jam is for students who have recently been or are currently enrolled in a handbalancing class (or coach approval). The jam session is for reviewing known skills with a focus on good form, strength, mounting, dismounting and injury prevention. Students interested in joining the jam should email the front office to confirm their spot with payment at least 48…Find out more »


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The real questions are: Does it solve a problem? Is it serviceable? How is it going to look in ten years?
Arne Jacobsen Ant Chairs
Curtis Jere Raindrops mirror
Pape-Johansson lamps
When I design something, I think of it as a gift to somebody else.
Hans Olsen dining set
Glenn of California dresser
Gustavsberg Spissa Ribb
Eames chair


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MEXICO CITY — We saw his kids first and broke out laughing. You couldn't look at their angelic, chubby, giggling faces without smiling. They could barely see over the dashboard of the red truck they were driving.
And yet these two boys, José Santiago Perez, 16, and Bernabe Perez, 14, were the emissaries the ex-drug cartel henchman had sent to fetch us.
Dominic Bracco, a photographer, and I met the kids last month in a dirt lot outside a corral in the Mexican state of Michoacan. We were there to write about a citizen militia that formed to drive out a drug gang but was turning into something more sinister.
Their father, José Santiago Valencia Sandoval, had experienced both sides of this conflict. He had worked for the Knights Templar cartel, then defected to join the militia when it started in the little hillside town of Tepalcatepec more than a year ago. He agreed to meet.
After so many years and tens of thousands of deaths, the drug war still casts a long shadow over Mexico. Whole swaths of the country — the states of Michoacan and Tamaulipas, the cities along the U.S. border — live by the rules of cartels that now do far more than transport drugs. There is the anxiety of random violence, the frustration of forced cartel taxes, the fear of kidnapping or worse.
In his first year in office, the new president, Enrique Peña Nieto, wanted to change Mexico's image from a country at war to a rising economic power. But it wasn't long before he reverted to deploying soldiers to patrol streets where the main authority has been the mafia's teenage spotters with their two-way radios. In these places, where the police can be more dangerous than the outlaws, and politics and crime go hand in hand, there is little hope that Mexico's enduring curse is ending. In this world of shifting alliances, it is hard to know what to believe or whom to trust.
Like his kids, Valencia was not what I was expecting. He was training a prancing horse and listening to ranchero music when we pulled into his yard. In his living room, decorated with his hunting trophies, he cracked open beers and told amazing tales in his breezy way: how he faked his own death by pouring red paint down his neck to elude an assassin. How he recorded himself in a video tell-all he planned to have sent to the Drug Enforcement Administration in the event of his murder.
Last week, that day arrived.
Valencia and his wife, Blanca, the two boys and his 11-year-old daughter, Bianca — who had all fed us tacos and hosted us generously at their home — were stopped while they were driving in their red truck in the neighboring state of Jalisco. The YouTube videos taken later show the vehicle littered with bullet holes. The attorney general's office reported that there were signs of torture on the corpses. Nobody survived.
When we met him, Valencia had not seemed fazed by the dangers he faced, but he was serious about the problems in his home town. He felt the militia movement that has spread across Michoacan — supported by the Mexican government — was being corrupted by the New Generation drug cartel out of Jalisco. The group he had joined, he said, was becoming a front for criminals and could end up as rotten and abusive as the cartel he had left.
"I do not tolerate injustice, and I am not going to represent something that I am fighting," he told us. "I want to send that message through the media."
He knew he was a target.
"We feel threatened by certain people within the movement," he told us.
About three weeks after we published our story about him, Valencia called our office in Mexico City. By then, I had become Facebook friends with his sons. I noticed that their hobbies and photos reflected the environment that had raised them: José's profile picture was a black SUV with tinted windows, his younger brother's a high-powered rifle.
Both Dominic and I were traveling, and Valencia left messages that he had something "good" to show us. When pressed for details over the next few days, he mentioned he had a recording of the mayor of his home town, Tepalcatepec, that showed all the "trash and corruption of the government." The next time we went to Michoacan, he told our office manager, we needed to visit him.
We called him back when we returned to Mexico City. He didn't answer his phone. And then we noticed his name.
The killing of Valencia and his family merited barely a blip in the news of Mexico. But for us it felt tragic and disorienting. Had the article put him in greater danger? Had he been killed because of the recording he was trying to release? He had betrayed a drug cartel (one he told us he served against his will) and presumably had many enemies. Had his luck simply run out?
And why kill the children?
Dominic wrote in an e-mail to me after this that "the real tragedy is that it had seemed he was finally escaping this life through the self-defense groups, but it turned out that they were becoming their own mafia — or well on their way. Later he set out trying to let people know, as a way to fix this place."
Most murder cases in Mexico are not solved. Relatives of the victims must live with their questions. On his couch at home, with his sons tumbling all over him, Valencia told us that he hoped speaking out would make people "correct their ways." If they didn't, he said, "I'm going to call you and give you first and last names, to send into the light of the world."
Now his name is in the sunlight. And theirs live on in darkness.
Dominic Bracco and Gabriela Martinez contributed to this report.