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Yesterday and last night, the server was upgraded to hopefully put an end to the problems I have been having of late. Performance should be better. There is still work to be done to finish the setup, so if the site goes dark today, it is just maintenance. If you experience anything weird that is related to the site, I'm not interested in your fight with the mime at the dog park, post it up here so I can investigate. Otherwise, things should settle down today.
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Merry Christmas
The Hive
The late great Joe Sobran argued that modern American liberalism embraced abnormality as a replacement for the allegiance to international communism. The Soviet Empire was a murderous and nullifying creation, but the American Left simply ignored its reality and instead pretended it was the path to some glorious future. When reality made that impossible. The Hive was left without a queen and found a variety of causes like gay rights around which to organize.
Sobran was mostly right in his description of the post-Soviet Progressives, but I don't think he truly appreciated the nature of the American Left. As he wrote in one of his columns, for him the Left was an odor, something he could sense, but not fully describe. He was not alone. The Right was just as warped as the Left by the defeat of Nazism and the subsequent Cold War. It was the lens through which everything was viewed for half a century.
The big mistake, I think, is to assume the American Left is just a traveling partner of the European Left. The Right has turned "socialist" into an epithet that has no meaning. Calling Obama a socialist or his health care scheme socialism is just a way to lodge a protest. The Right and the Left have embraced the basics of socialism for close to a century now. The debate is over how far to go with it. The last serious politician to advocate the end of Social Security, for example, was Barry Goldwater.
When Christianity failed as a unifying force for Europe, nationalism filled the void. "If all of us can't be God's people, well, maybe some of us can be God's people" was what bound the people to each other and their rulers. When nationalism failed, various forms of socialism filled the void. Fascism, socialism and communism are European heresies, with communism as the first serious effort to unify Europe under a single religion since the Thirty Years War.
In America, what emerged after the Civil War was Public Protestantism mainly in New England and Private Protestantism in the rest of the country. The old Puritans had always believed that each person's salvation was predetermined. What mattered was carrying out God's work on earth. Put another way, you signaled your salvation status through public piety and working toward the perfection of society. That's why New England has always been the hotbed of utopian lunacy.
Private Protestantism is the mirror opposite, starting with the status of one's soul. Your garden variety Evangelical thinks the point of your life is to get right with Jesus in order to gain salvation. Since heaven on earth is not just an impossibility, but against the will of God, efforts to perfect society are pointless and possible evil. It's why populism, individualism and a fetish for individual rights is dominant in the South, Appalachia and the Southwest.
Now, it is certainly true that Jews and European immigrants of the 19th and 20th century brought socialism, fascism and communism with them. These ideas found a home in the Yankee culture of Public Protestantism. The philosophy of Wilhelm Emmanuel von Ketteler, for example, turns up in the Social Gospel movement of the early 20th century. Similarly, Reform Judaism of Abraham Geiger folded neatly into the American Progressive Movement, which has always been the technocratic arm of Public Protestantism.
The central defect the Puritans faced, the one they were never able to resolve, was that the human condition is immutable. They could kill as many Indians as they liked, but the nature of man was not going to change. Worse yet, Christianity was often at odds with utopian efforts to fix the world. In the 19th century Christianity, began to take a back seat to saving the world, but that created a new problem. If the purpose of God's anointed is to save the world, what's the point if there is no longer a God to do the anointing?
In the 20th century, Progressivism became Public Protestantism with a void at the core where God used to exist. Into that void first rushed an imaginary interpretation of Soviet Bolshevism that needed constant tending to avoid exposing the humanity crushing reality of it. Once that became impossible, what has rushed into the void is a series of vulgarities that serve no purpose other than to offend common sense. The God of the Left is now just the outrage of the decent.
It's why the Left appears to be racing to the abyss. Today they clamor for what was unimaginable twenty years ago. That means twenty years from now they will be clamoring for what commonsense today says is beyond absurd. In 1995 gay marriage was a joke and today it is required. Today pedophilia is a monstrous taboo, but already the Left is clamoring to normalize it. The debate amongst Progressives is never about limits. It is about how far beyond the limits they can go.
The race to pile on society every imaginable indignity has its limits. Pop music performers, for example, tried to replace talent with outrageous behavior. Finally, there was no one left to outrage. The logic of the Progressive faith will follow the same path, but the end is the obliteration of society. Open borders fanaticism, for example, is just passing out the Kool-Aid at a national scale. One can't help but wonder if Obama's urge to give Iran the bomb does not include the hope that they use it.
It will not end well.
Why Not Crazy Joe?
Supposedly, Joe Biden is now thinking about a run for President.
The super-PAC organized to encourage Vice President Biden to run for president released its first ad on Friday ahead of a "national day of action" to gather signatures for the push.
"Some people ask why Joe Biden," a young man in the ad says. "I turn back and ask them why not Joe Biden? He's been on of the most influential vice presidents that this country has seen. He's right now a part of one of the most successful administrations in recent history, and he's a big reason for that success."
Supporters in the ad praise Biden for being on the forefront of the gay rights movement, for working to stop violence on college campuses and for generally appealing to "the younger generation's beliefs."
Way back in the dark years, you know, before iPhones, I was struck by just how insulated the political class was from normal life. A story I'm fond of telling is about how the flunkies to a congressman were all befuddled by a lawnmower. The congressman was holding a party at his house and the gardeners forgot to cut the grass behind the patio.
Someone got the bright idea to get the mower out of the garage and quickly cut the grass. No one knew how the lawnmower worked so five adults stood around looking at it, trying to discover its strange secrets. I watched this go on for maybe fifteen minutes. It was not a lot different than the opening scene of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Eventually I had my fill and showed them how to start the mower. It was then agreed that they would most likely harm themselves or others trying to use it so I cut the bit of grass and put the mower away. There was a certain pride amongst them in not knowing how the tools of the lower orders worked.
This culture gap is much broader now. That Biden ad is so intensely stupid most people would assume it is a gag. Maybe something Team Cankles dreamed up to embarrass Crazy Joe. But, they really think it is effective. They also think the kids are all worked up about the homos and campus violence, which is imaginary.
That said, I'd love to see Biden run. I'd probably blow a funny fuse laughing at a race between Cankles, Bernie and Crazy Joe. If Saturday Night Live was still funny, the skits would write themselves. Even so, the comedy would be endless. There's also the possibility that the party would splinter with Bernie nailing down the crackpot vote and the less insane portion of the party splitting between Biden and Clinton.
Hillary Clinton remains the front-runner in the race for the Democratic nomination, but recent polling shows Biden would have an impact on the contest if he were to run.
According to a Monmouth University survey released earlier this month, Clinton takes 51 percent support nationally, followed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) at 17 percent and Biden at 13 percent.
But the poll found Biden's entrance would shake up the race.
In addition to Biden's 13 percent support, an additional 12 percent of Democratic voters said they'd be likely to support Biden if he took the plunge, and 31 percent said they'd be somewhat likely to support him.
Most of that additional support, 68 percent, would come from those who are currently Clinton supporters.
"Most people seem to be focusing on a Sanders surge among the liberal wing of the party," said Monmouth polling director Patrick Murray. "But the bigger threat to Clinton may come from a Biden candidacy, where the two would be fighting for the same voters."
The thing to watch in early states with open voting is how many unaffiliated voters will abandon the Democrats and vote in the GOP primary, where the action is this time. Those voters tend to be a little less crazy and most likely not Sanders voters. That makes Bernie more of a threat.
Message From Derb
John has left the island:
Yes, I have departed from Taki's Magazine rather abruptly. The departure was *my* choice, the result of some deliberations about better managing my time and workload, with no ill feelings towards TakiMag. The abruptness was *their* choice: I would have preferred a more graceful leave-taking, with proper notice to subscribers, but they decided otherwise.
My weekly column at the magazine will *not* be resurfacing elsewhere; that is part of my workload reorganization.
Radio Derb, however, *will* be back on the air August 1st, hosted by VDARE.com http://www.vdare.com/posts (but I believe there'll be a dedicated tab at the top of the VDARE page).
If we get all technical wrinkles worked out over these few days, the sound file will be available via iTunes and possibly also via YouTube, as well as on-site. As before, it will be archived, with a full transcript, at my own website http://www.johnderbyshire.com/Opinions/RadioDerb/page.html after a
two- or three-day interval.
Further information will be posted on my home page http://www.johnderbyshire.com/index.html as things get sorted out.
I apologize for the disruption. I hope you will continue to tune in to Radio Derb at the new host site. I hope too that you will continue to read Taki's Magazine, for whose hospitality and support I am for ever grateful.
I gather that John is scaling back his work. He is 70 now and probably thinking about how to best use the time he has remaining. He is still physically able to do the things he enjoys but at 70 you can never be sure that will be the case much longer so it is wise to knock as much off the list as quickly as you can.
Jerks Ruin Everything
I'm fond of pointing out that jerks and a-holes will ruin the best of plans. No matter how carefully you work out the details, some jerk will come a long and throw a wrench in your plans. It's just the nature of things in the modern world. Everyone is walking around with a sense of entitlement and no one wants to be the heavy so the jerks run wild.
It's a variation of the tragedy of the commons. In the standard model, individuals will figure out that it is to their individual advantage to take more than they contribute. This sets off a cascading effect leading to everyone taking and no one contributing.The most common examples are grazing lands or fisheries. Without regulation and policing, you get over grazing and over fishing.
The jerk variation is when jerks decide they have a right to do some activity simply because there is no explicit prohibition against it. Everyone will understand, for example, you should not let your dog poop on the bike path, at least without policing it. The jerk walks their dog on the bike path and let's the chips fall where they may, as it were. When confronted, they respond by saying there's no rule against it.
Another example of jerks make life hard for the rest of is right here on this site. Blogs and news stories invite comments. Jerks come along and fill the comments with work at home scams and penis pill ads. That means we have to have spam filters and police the comments sections. A good chunk of the code in a WordPress site is to fend off jerks trying to mess up a blog for no other reason than they are an asshole.
Anyway, the jerks are ruining the interwebs in a different way and that's with ads. There are some sites I don't bother to visit because they are so bogged down with popups, scripts and the worst thing of all, auto-playing videos. The guy who came up with that idea should be burned at the stake. There's nothing worse than having some nonsense come blaring through your PC speakers as you feverishly look for the source.
Like most everyone, I have ad-blockers, script blockers, flash blockers, pop-up blockers, you name it, on my daily browser. I use Chrome as my video browser so if I wished to see something on youtube I open it in Chrome. My Mozilla-based browser has a flash blocker. It's a bit ridiculous, but it is necessary to have a decent internet experience.
That is not without its consequences.
In coming weeks, a large analytic firm will release disturbing figures on the state of the ad blocking scene. According to someone who has advanced knowledge of the data, on desktop computers and on critical segments of the digital audience, the use of ad blocking keeps rising exponentially.
Along with The Netherlands, the German market is by far the most affected one by the ad blocking phenomenon. There, ad block use approaches 40% of the internet population. The reasons for the epidemic are unclear, but two elements are likely to play a role. First, AdBlock Plus (ABP), the most popular ad blocking software, has its roots in Cologne. Second, a cultural factor: German opposition to online advertising that manifests itself in the government's obsessive anti-Google stance pushed by large media conglomerates such as Axel Springer SE.
In France too, ad blocking use is on the rise: about 30% of Gallic internet users are said to have installed extensions that remove banners and other modules; and the Millennials segment (born in 1980-2000) is twice more likely to use an ad blocker. The worst hit are Gaming sites with 80% to 90% of their views deprived of ads. More broadly, the more technophile an audience is, the more likely it is to resort to an ad blocking product.
The US market seems the less affected with 15%-17% of the internet population, again on average, using an ad blocking extension. Among the Millennials, the share is said to be twice the average. The UK is said to experience the same pattern.
Altogether, 300m people in the world have downloaded an ad blocking extension and about half have actually installed it.
This may not seem like a big deal, but ads are based on site views and site views assume the embedded ads are being seen.
For publishers, ad blockers are the elephant in the room: Everybody sees them, no one talks about it. The common understanding is that the first to speak up will be dead as it will acknowledge that the volume of ads actually delivered can in fact be 30% to 50% smaller than claimed — and invoiced. Publishers fear retaliation from media buying agencies — even though the ad community is quick to forget that it dug its own grave by flooding the web with intolerable amounts of promotional formats.
One of the comments gets it right:
There are sites that I don't block ads at. They usually ask me not to block ads. They also treat me with respect. No pop-ups. Not autoplaying video or sound. Good privacy policies.
Sites that respect me, earn my respect in return. All other sites earn blocks instead.
If this drives them out of business, I'm good with that. What would be better is if they learned to treat their readers with respect.
And that would be a win win too. Not only would they not be blocked, but since blockers like adblock often slow the browser down, I would see ads and have a faster browsing experience.
I don't solicit Breitbart because it is infested with ads created by the nation's dickhead community. Loads of viruses are spread through embedded ads as well. If a site has no choice but to go the jerk route with their ads, then they should go out of business. The world has plenty of jerks. We're full.
Greek Drama
I often wonder what it was like to live in third century Italy, say a city like Milan. For the first half of the century or so, emperors were a dime a dozen. A general would win a battle, his men would proclaim him emperor and he would go kill the the current emperor. This went on for roughly half a century from the death of Severus Alexander. There were 22 emperors between him and Diocletian.
There were also endless wars, invasions and re-invasions during this period. Most people find this period of Roman history dull, but the fact that the Western Empire did not collapse in the third century is one of the great lessons of history. Human societies have great momentum that can carry even the most inept ruling elites along for generations before the energy of society is drained.
There's also the fact that without a plausible alternative, people tend to bugger along as they have always done, despite their terrible rulers. This is true of the ruling elites as well. Rome stuck with the old ways long after those ways no longer made any sense. The cost of maintaining domination of Gaul and Germania far exceeded the benefits, but that's all they knew so they exhausted themselves maintaining it.
That came to mind when reading this story about the latest act in the Greek drama. This thing is now in its sixth year and no one has the slightest clue as to how to resolve it. The Euros are stuck in a mode of thought that says the Greeks must be brought into alignment with the Frankish core of Europe, no matter the cost to the Greeks. The Euros will consider no other option, because they can imagine no other option.
The Greeks, to their credit, understand that this can never happen. But, they are locked into a mode of thought that says they must have their debts forgiven so they can start over, while maintaining their traditional social welfare state. In other words, they will be Greek and there's no other alternative they can imagine, much less consider.
This stand-off will eventually reach some sort of conclusion. The betting seems to be that the catalyst will be a default and then either the Greek people yield and submit to their European rulers or the Germans yield and let the Greeks walk away from some or all of their debts. Strangely, no one ever discusses a middle option between the two. The only alternative mentioned is catastrophe, however you wish to define it.
That's the stuff in the news. On the street, Greeks go about their lives, arranging their affairs around the machinations of their rulers, real and de facto. That means moving money into foreign accounts, hiding it under beds and scheming around the tax system. In other words, Greeks go on being Greeks, regardless of what the people in charge have to say about it.
That, I suppose, was the way thing were in the third century, to circle back to where I started. The average guy in a town on in the fields was largely immune to what was going on in imperial politics. Young men joined the legions because that was what you did. It afforded a chance at a better life than as a peasant in the fields. Then as now, people choose from the options available to them and live their lives accordingly.
That's not without consequences. Once people stop caring about the legitimacy of their rulers or even the identity of their rulers, there can be no law, just the strong ruling the weak. The Western Roman Empire collapsed when there was no one left to defend it. Once being a Roman went from being an asset to being a liability, the die was cast, so to speak.
Something similar seems to be happening in Greece. Being a citizen has no benefits. Being in the Euro, a citizen of Europe, still has value because the money has value, but how much longer that remains true is open to debate. Whether or not the Greeks have the will to riot, much less revolt is the big question.The evidence suggest they lack the will to govern themselves so revolt does seem unlikely.
That's what brings me back to thinking what life was like in third century Italy. Did the average person suspect the end was near? Did they know their culture was in decline? Was there a pervading sense of foreboding that haunted the people? The evidence suggest not. Just as today, it appears the people just went about their business and the rulers did as they always did, trying to keep it all together.
Penal Colonies
I've long been an advocate of bringing back penal colonies. At any one time American has about 1.5 million people in prison and about 150,000 of those are serving life sentences. Then you have a greater number serving long sentences of 15 years on more. There's probably about a third of our prison population who will spend most of their lives in jail. Many will be released eventually, but as old men.
At the same time, the vast majority of prisoners are doing short stints on minor crimes. Drugs probably make up the bulk of it, but many of these cons pleaded down to the drug charge so it is not a good assumption to make. Libertarians always get this wrong. The guy doing time for weed is often there as result of a plea, where the more serious charge was dropped.
Anyway, having a million low-level offenders in with a population of hard core criminals in for serious violent offenses is crazy. States and the feds try to segregate the prisons, but it is not always practical. Of course, the expense of maintaining cages for violent lunatics is higher when you choose to put those cages close to population centers. The result is a terrible prison system that costs a lot of money.
There's another piece. Many of these people will never be able to live as normal people. Call it evil. Call it bad wiring. They are just incapable of living a civilized existence. Former football star Lawrence Phillips is a great example. This guy was given every chance to avoid a life of crime, but he just liked hurting people too much. In prison serving 30-plus years, he is a menace to his fellow prisoners now. Why put him near people you intend to release one day?
We have lots of small islands we could use for penal colonies. Guys like Phillips could be shipped off to these places with other violent lunatics. Yeah, they will probably kill each other, but so what? Why spend billions stopping nature from taking its course? Stick them on the island and let them sort it out on their own. That way, they cause no more harm to decent people.
I'm not suggesting we maroon them on an island without supplies or medical care. A facility to distribute food and basic health care would be necessary. Shelters would be provided, but if they destroy their housing then that's on them. This is not supposed to be Club Med, just a place for them to live out their lives in the degree of peace they choose, away from civilized society
Similarly, an island for sex offenders makes sense. These people are never going to be cured. Stick them on an island to themselves. You drop in food and supplies, but otherwise they are on their own to make their structures, organizes themselves and so on. Maybe a government run medical facility can be maintained on the island to handle the basics.
It sounds cruel, but is it more or less cruel than putting them into these sadistic hell holes we call prisons where more men are raped than women in the whole country. That's right. More men are raped in prison than women are raped outside of prison. At least on the island, you have some chance to save yourself from that horror.
That's the other part of it. Libertarians bitch about the cops, but there are no worse humans than prison guards. If your dream job involves looking up another man's ass for contraband, you're a man with problems. Stories like this are far more common than people probably realize.
We'll have to have jails. Locking up drunks and thieves is a necessary part of society. Maintaining cages for hyper-violent lunatics we never intend to let free only makes sense if there are no other options. Hanging them used to be the solution, but that's no longer possible. Putting them in a penal colony is possible and more humane. This is basically what Russia has always done, sending prisoners to Siberia.
The one other change that would have to be made is in sentencing. Sending a weed dealer off to jail for 15 years is crazy. At the same time, giving a violent repeat offender 15 years is just as crazy. Penal colonies have to be forever punishments so giving out terms of 15 – 30 years would have to end. Punishments would be two tracks. One for those who can rejoin society and one for those who cannot.
How Come These White Bigots Won't Talk Race With Me?
After an Uneasy Start, Finding Common Ground to Discuss Race Relations at Work
Carl Jones brought it up over lunch in the company break room: the news of the shooting death of an unarmed black man by a white police officer. "Did you read about it?" Mr. Jones, a software engineer who is black, remembers asking his colleagues. "How could this happen?"
He told his white and Asian-American co-workers about his feelings of outrage as they ate Korean takeout at the lunch table at their technology company in Manhattan. He described the waves of anger and anxiety sweeping over him.
Mr. Jones, the only black employee in his department, had always talked with his work friends about sports, movies and current events. But this conversation last summer was different. One white colleague challenged him, asking: "How do you know the shooting wasn't justified?" Others averted their eyes and finished the meal in silence.
He knew then that he had crossed an invisible line. The discussion of race that day changed the social dynamics at the table, chilling his co-workers' camaraderie.
"Everyone did their best to avoid the conversation," Mr. Jones, 33, recalled last week as he described the day that he discussed the shooting in Ferguson, Mo. Race is often the elephant in the room, he said, and "a lot of times people feel uncomfortable talking about it."
The reason they are uncomfortable would have nothing to do with the fact you can quickly get fired, if you are white, by talking about race. It has nothing to do with how guys like Razib Khan get sacked by the NYTimes for talking about race. Nope. Nothing to see here.
The universal attribute of all cults is a lack of self-awareness. The Times enforces a strict and ruthless set of speech codes at its offices. It works hard to enforce those codes outside its offices, by slandering people who violate those codes. Yet, they run stories like this one, totally unaware of how ridiculous it makes them look.
Licencia y Registro Por Favor
A couple of years ago I was pulled over on way to the office by a cop who resembled an extra from a Sabado Gigante skit. He crept up on me with his hand on his gun and when he got to the window, he asked for my license and registration in broken English. I was tempted to just drive away, thinking it was some sort of new way of car jacking. But, the middle of the afternoon in a business park is not time for car jacking.
Eventually, my weak Spanish and his poor English allowed us to communicate. He was, in fact, a local cop doing traffic duty. I guess they figured having a Spanish speaker was necessary. I think he forgot what he was doing or simply got confused, but he handed me back my stuff and I went on my way without him telling me why he pulled me over.
It looks I was encountering a new trend.
Law enforcement agencies struggling to fill their ranks or connect with their increasingly diverse populations are turning to immigrants to fill the gap.
Most agencies in the country require officers or deputies to be U.S. citizens, but some are allowing immigrants who are legally in the country to wear the badge. From Hawaii to Vermont, agencies are allowing green-card holders and legal immigrants with work permits to join their ranks.
At a time when 25,000 non-U.S. citizens are serving in the U.S. military, some feel it's time for more police and sheriff departments to do the same. That's why the Nashville Police Department is joining other departments to push the state legislature to change a law that bars non-citizens from becoming law enforcement officers.
Department spokesman Don Aaron said they want immigrants who have been honorably discharged from the military to be eligible for service.
"Persons who have given of themselves in the service to this country potentially have much to offer Tennesseans," he said. "We feel that … would benefit both the country and this city."
Current rules vary across departments.
Some, like the Chicago and Hawaii police departments, allow any immigrant with a work authorization from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to become an officer. That means people in the country on temporary visas or are applying for green cards can join.
Colorado State Patrol Sgt. Justin Mullins said the department usually struggles to fill trooper positions in less populous corners of the state, including patrol sectors high up in the mountains. He said immigrants from Canada, the Bahamas, the United Kingdom, Mexico and Central America who are willing to live in those remote places have helped the agency fill those vacancies.
"People that want to live there and build a family there and work there is a little more difficult to find," Mullins said. "People moving from out of state, or out of the country, if they're willing to work in these areas, then that's great for us."
This will not end well.


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There are lots of neat things going on for kids in addition to the daily learning in our classrooms. Elliott has a number of clubs that participate in state and national level activities. We also have a variety of special activities which occur on a weekly and yearly basis. Choose a link below to learn more about each activity.
Outdoor Classroom
Elliott has a unique resource in our Outdoor Classroom located in the northeast corner of our playground. Teachers and students have worked to create an environment for nature studies. Previous work has included two Eagle Scout projects where local scouts installed a bench and observation platform for nature study. The second project involved the planting of a wild flower meadow. Elliott students planted a butterfly garden, over 50 native-species of trees, and created pathways for walking the area. Major plantings are identified by their common and scientific names. Students and teachers have created a small pond to study aquatic ecosystems.
Safety Patrol
Our fourth grade students have an opportunity to join the Safety Patrol. Students are trained to help supervise younger students on their way to and from school. This experience helps students become more responsible and helps the younger students stay safe.
Elliott students participate each year in the ACES program. ACES stands for All Students Exercise Simultaneously. One special day in the spring, the whole school participates in exercise together. The kids enjoy the program and the knowledge that they are participating in something at the same time as kids nationwide.

subset: commoncrawl


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Disclaimer: The contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government or the Peace Corps.
Almost one year ago, when I first arrived in South Africa, the cows scared me. Not just like a minor freak out, rather a desire to walk a completely different path going way out of the way to where I was going in order to avoid the cow kind of a big deal. Growing up in the suburbs my limited experiences with cows extended to the times that my mom called animal control as cows streamed down our street after escaping from a local farm with a broken fence. So upon arrival I really didn't know what to make of these guys, they're loud, large, and horned- a combination that doesn't typically bode well. One year later, I barely give the free roaming cows almost any thoughts, except that as they pass by their cowbells contribute beautiful chimes to the background rumble of the village.
One year ago my idea of a fabulous Saturday night wasn't handstands and solo dance parties in my long underwear as a means to keeping warm. One year ago I freaked out about cockroaches, pit latrines, and bucket baths. One year ago I didn't consider a trip to the grocery store with a friend to be the highlight of my week(end). One year ago, cows scared me.
Last week as I was on my evening walk around the track, listening to NPR's Invisibilia, a herd of cows moseyed through, splitting my route in half. I paused with a group of girls as we got caught in the midst of this dusty, stomping horde, which could clearly care less about us. And in the middle of this swirling, mooing, clanging chaos, I realized that I'd made it. Two weeks out from beginning my second year in South Africa I've banished my fear of cows.
Life's still tough. Living in a village comes with a certain dose of monotony, bucket bathing will never be fun, and yes roaches definitely suck- but cows, cows now mark the passing of time- a year, a day, a lap around the track.


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Terence Coventry
Sculpture Print Drawing
"The sculptural work of Terence Coventry is rooted in a strong figurative tradition, and his distinctive works expore a fundamental relationship with his environment and the familiar forms of his life on the rural Lizard Peninsula.Trained at the Royal College of Art in the late 1950s, Coventry later turned his back on the art worls and spent a quarter of a century farming near Coverack in West Cornwall before returning to sculpture in 1985. Regarded as one of the country's foremost contemporary sculptors, he exhibits regularly at Gallery Pangolin, London, and as far away as New York. This 2013 New Craftsman exhibition is the first showing of Coventry's sculpture within his home county of Cornwall for over twenty years.His powerful and often huge scale, faceted sculptures of human figures, couples, horses, goats, birds, dogs, boar and cattle are works of extraordinary presence. With an eye for the essence of shape, movement and poise unique to any one creature, Coventry is able to distil his observations into pure and utterly convincingforms. Whether in motion or stillness, his sculptural works and exquisitely rendered drawings capture a visual moment that the rest of us may only register unconsciously. Constructued in steel, Cor-ten steel and bronze, both the material and subject of Coventry's sculpture are expressive of the agricultural history of both our past and present, and are a reminder of the previous relationship we hold with each other, our fellow creatures and our rural environments. "


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Couture Vampire Costume Photo 3 of 5
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This homemade costume for girls entered our 2018 Halloween Costume Contest.
A word from Kristin, the 'Couture Vampire' costume creator:
My daughter, 5yrs, loves to be something beautiful but different every year! She usually chooses a Disney princess, but this year, she wanted to be different and unique, scary yet beautiful! So we decided to... Read more »


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Junior Etskovitz Awarded Beinecke Scholarship for Postgraduate Study in English Literature
April 14th, 2016
by Jamie Saxon, Office of Communications
Princeton junior Joani Etskovitz has been awarded a Beinecke Scholarship, which supports promising students in their graduate studies in the arts, humanities and social sciences.
Etskovitz, who is from Wayne, Pennsylvania, is an English major who is pursuing certificates in humanistic studies and European cultural studies. She plans to pursue a Ph.D. in English literature and a career in academia.
She is one of 20 students from around the country to be awarded 2016 Beinecke Scholarships, which provide each winner with $4,000 immediately prior to entering graduate school and an additional $30,000 while attending graduate school. The awards were established in 1971 and are administered by the Sperry Fund.
Read the full story here.


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Adult Basic and Secondary Education and Literacy Teachers and Instructors - 25-3011.00
O*NET-SOC Description
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Swim Deep
She'd made a career out of studying light, but now she's entered a seductive, dangerous world of shadow and lies . . .
Anna Solas, poor artist working two jobs, is swept away by Evan Halifax, his charm and his good looks, and marries too quickly for her family's comfort.
Evan takes Anna to his stunning lakeside mansion, the North Twin on the Les Jumeaux estate, where she discovers he lived with his first wife Elizabeth until her disappearance and presumed death. He says they can live anywhere Anna wants to, but his explanations unravel bit by bit.
Anna is increasingly uneasy, wondering what really went on in the decadent home theatre, who is watching her from the South Twin—the matching home on Lake Tahoe's shore, and the identity of the nightmare woman who appears to her at night, whispering a message she dreads hearing.
She becomes determined to uncover the truth behind Elizabeth's life in order to save her own sanity.


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- About ECE
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Privacy-Preserving Data Analytics for Big Data Applications
Wednesday, February 10, 2016 - 3:00pm to 4:00pm
Refreshments and discussion following. Public is welcome.
Speaker: Yanming Gong
Abstract: Big data has driven innovation, productivity, efficiency, and growth in many domains, creating enormous benefits for the global economy. However, with massive data and advanced data analytical techniques, far more information can be inferred than most people have anticipated at the time of data collection/publication. Traditional privacy-preserving techniques are either insufficient against such new privacy attacks or preventing reasonable data usage. We need a secure and privacy-preserving solution which allows people to learn information as it was intended and stops people from learning information in ways it was not.
In this talk, I will first describe privacy challenges in current big data applications , and then focus on protecting the privacy of biomedical "big" data in healthcare systems. Our work attempts to design a practical, secure, and privacy-preserving framework for utilizing healthcare data which are distributed among multiple parties. Our framework is general and can be used for multiple learning algorithms. Moreover, I will briefly introduce my work on security and privacy in other big data applications such as mobile computing and smart metering.
Yanmin Gong received the B.Eng. degree in electronics and information engineering from Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, and the M.S. degree in electrical engineering from Tsinghua University, China, in 2009 and 2012, respectively. She is currently a PhD candidate in electrical and computer engineering at the University of Florida. Her current research interests focus on security and privacy in big data with applications in healthcare, mobile computing, and cyber-physical systems.


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If you're looking to buy an apartment in Chicago, you may even not know where to begin your search for the perfect place. Chicago is a big city–the third most populous in the United States. Many refer to it as a world class city. The sheer number of different neighborhoods, opportunities and events that it has to offer probably have you dizzy with both excitement and with uncertainty as to exactly which part of town is best for you. Below are short descriptions of what you might expect living in each of the following parts of town.
The attraction of living in downtown Chicago is probably obvious. Downtown rests at the heart of the city, and is in many ways its cultural and economic center as well. If you like living amidst the action of the city, seeing the sights, visiting museums or art galleries, or going to theatres or clubs, downtown is for you.
South Side
The Southside of Chicago is brimming with life. Featuring numerous music and art venues, churches, parks, universities and public art pieces, the South Side offers a little bit of everything. From the upscale to the affordable, you'll find it all!
West Side
If you're looking for cultural diversity, you've come to the right place. The West side is home to historic Italian, Greek, Mexican and Puerto Rican neighborhoods (just to name a few), each with its own distinct restaurants, stores and landmarks. Enjoy the sights, sounds and cuisines of dozens of cultures without ever leaving the comfort of your own neighborhood!
North Side
Among other things, the North Side of Chicago is known for the live music and theatre of the Near North Side, Lincoln Park and Old Town. And let's not forget Wrigleyville! Watch a Cubs game or party with the fans on a game night at a restaurant or bar near the field. There's no doubt that the North Side is an exciting place to live!
Let Realty & Mortgage Co Help You In Your Apartment Search!
Visit the Realty & Mortgage apartment finder to check out the hottest new real estate in Chicago! We look forward to hearing from you!


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Copper Cowgirl
$ 100.00
Gorgeous natural Arizona turquoise nugget is the centerpiece to this attention grabbing copper cuff.
I did a simple texture on the cuff and used 2 traditional southwest conch designs on either side of the nugget.
The cuff is tapered with a maximum width of 1.75 inches, narrowing to 1.25 inch. I used a dark patina to highlight the texture and give the entire piece a weathered, antique look.
This cuff and large turquoise nugget is a real show stopper!


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Don't ignore your dog's training because you think you lack the ability to make a success of it. They just don't know the right methods. If you want to train your dog well, you must study proven training methods. Keep on reading to get some great training tips.
By giving your dog the proper amount of rewards, you'll have an easier time training. Giving you pet treats in a timely manner is very important. Unless you administer praise and treats as soon as the dog exhibits the desired behavior, he will not be able to connect the behavior to the treat.
Establish a quiet environment when you go into a room your pet is in. During playtime allow your dog to be feisty, but teach him to remain calm when someone enters a room. Calmly enter the house and ignoring your dog until you are ready to interact with him.
Regulate your dog's feeding time if you want to regulate his "potty" times too. Feed your puppy three times regularly each day. That way, you will know when the dog likely needs to go out and can prevent accidents.
Don't waste your money on cruel, ineffective gadgets such as shock collars. Most of the time these don't function as they should and can cost quite a bit of money. Plus, shock collars are not positive reinforcement when your dog is exhibiting proper behavior. Generally, techniques such as these actually produce negative results.
Choose an easily teachable action to train your dog with in the beginning. This will cause you to get your dog to learn its first trick quickly, which is rewarding. It will also show your dog what training is all about. This gives you greater results when training.
Mastering the "leave it" directive is an excellent starting point for your training sessions. This command instructs the dog to release an object and then retreat from it. This simple command is beneficial in making him stop on chewing furniture inside the house.
If you want to make sure your dog will behave throughout life, it's important that you always train them. Dogs do not cease learning after puppyhood. Your dog will continue to be obedient if you use reinforcements. Continuing discipline with them will reduce the chances of bad behavior appearing.
Be patient when you are training your puppy, there is no doubt that accidents are going to happen. Clean accidents as quickly as you can. You pet will smell the urine and try to urinate there again. Look into different cleaners, especially enzyme cleaners, available at any pet store.
After reading this article, you should have more confidence in your ability to train your dog. Use these tips and continue learning as you embark on your lifelong journey of discovery with your dog.


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|more useful options
2009 QA Hackathon - The Datesby barbie (Deacon)
|on Dec 05, 2008 at 08:10 UTC ( #728223=perlnews: print w/replies, xml )
|Need Help??
Following the initial announcement at YAPC::Europe, Birmingham Perl Mongers are pleased to announce that the 2009 QA Hackathon will be held over 3 days from Saturday March 28th to Monday March 30th 2009.
Our wiki - http://qa-hackathon.org - is now live, so please feel free to sign-up and add details about yourself if you want to be involved, suggest projects or people for the event. We are hoping to attract about 15-20 people with plans to hack on various QA/testing projects, so if you think you can contribute something, or would like to nominate someone, please feel free to update the Attendees page with contact details, etc. Also if you think a particular project should be covered, please add a page for it and tell us about it.
We are also looking for sponsors for the event, and although we have already contacted a few, we are eager to have more in the event we are able to provide funding for more attendees, particularly from overseas. If you have a contact for us, please send an email to email@example.com with details. We are delighted to have $foo Magazin sponsor us, as well Birmingham Perl Mongers, who are underwriting the complete event.
Negotiations for venue and accommodation are ongoing, so we'll make those known once they are finalised. We would like to have everyone together, so if you're planning to bring your partner/family with you, please add a note to your entry in the Attendees page, so we can make sure we allocate rooms for everyone. Expect more news regarding the venue and accommodation in the new year.
Back to Perl News


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Mr. Arun Kumar Jain
Managing Director
Mr. Arun Kumar Jain is the promoter of the company with a good experience of more than 25 years in the business activities. He controls the administrative, human resource activities of the company. With his continuous efforts he has contributed to take HIL to greater heights. Mr. Jain embedded a culture of customer focus and innovation in the company.
Mr. Anoop Agrawal
Whole Time Director
Mr. Anoop Agrawal is the promoter of the company with experience of more than 16 years in the business. He is expertise in operation and project management. He is associated with HIL as one of the founder member. Over the years, he has been handling various operational activities of the company and at present he heads the team working on various sites as per the work order received.
Mr. Daljeet Kharbanda
Independent Director
Mrs. Bhavana Pujara
Independent Director
Mr. Omachyutam Singh Chauhan
Independent Director


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A version of this article is published by the Financial Times.
There were three separate occasions when as a restaurateur at L'Escargot in Greek Street in Soho during the 1980s I was concerned for my business.
The first was when Alastair Little, my initial chef, opened his own restaurant round the corner. The second was when several hitherto loyal customers combined to open the Groucho Club two streets away. The third and potentially the most dangerous was when Peter Boizot, the man who created the hugely successful Pizza Express chain, bought Kettner's a few doors down from L'Escargot on the corner of Greek Street and Romilly Street.
This was potentially a threat because Kettner's had everything: an impressive entrance; a glorious champagne bar; a piano bar; a restaurant that boasted a racy past; and a suite of cabinets particuliers, small private dining rooms upstairs that have just been transformed into 33 bedrooms by the new owner, Soho House. This surely should have been a winning formula for the 1980s. Happily, for me at least, Boizot knew only about pizza and we continued to flourish.
By 2012 Kettner's had become an anomaly in the holdings of the Gondola Group, the owners of the Pizza Express brand, and they had entered into negotiations with a Chinese restaurant group when word that Kettner's was on the market reached Nick Jones, the CEO of the Soho House Group. Jones was in an ideal position – his original Soho House on Old Compton Street backed on to Kettner's, as did his French café, the now revamped Café Boheme. Jones also felt that he had a right to it. From the days when they were neighbours, Jones remembers with a laugh, 'If I were to put a bucket down that was slightly on Kettner's side, Peter would ask me to move it.'
Spurred on, Jones took over the lease and invested heavily. The corner site was covered in scaffolding for two years until December 2017 when it was removed to allow several private events. Jones, who was not pleased with the interiors, then made some radical changes before finally allowing Kettner's to reopen on 10 January 2018.
This personal touch, as well as the care and attention of the team that Jones has pulled together, was obvious from the moment I walked in. The champagne bar was to the left, where an imposing barman – bald head, white jacket and bow tie – was setting up the bar for a leaving party. On the right was the piano bar (below) with its comfortable low seating and the restaurant straight ahead. Everything appears to be as it ever was when Kettner's first opened its doors in 1867.
That is the impression that has so carefully been created. There may be a rabbit warren of small corridors, typical of the building's age and the locality, but that does not seem to bother any of the staff.
The seating is low in the restaurant too. The lighting, from one particularly impressive chandelier, is flattering. The flowers and plants that dot around the room give it a deliberately old-fashioned air, as do the uniforms of the waiting staff. The waitresses in particular, in their close-fitting black dresses complete with a rather sexy long black scarf, add to the slightly louche atmosphere that is, and I hope always will be, Soho.
That the restaurant, whose kitchen is now in the basement whereas Kettner's when it first opened boasted an open kitchen to which customers were given a guided tour (very twenty first century, in fact), has found its confidence so quickly must have quite a lot to do with the fact that it is in the hands of general manager Conor Sheehan and chef Jackson Berg. Having grown up as friends in Liverpool, the pair turned their hands to restaurants, and pop-ups where the physical challenges were even greater. They moved their initial restaurant from Margate in Kent to Liverpool, and Berg obviously finds the prospect of cooking in a basement not too onerous.
His menu is ultra-modern in its layout, starting with bites such as gruyère gougères and smoked cod's roe served with a potato cake. Berg obviously anticipates his customers' search for a good time by offering 30 g of Exmoor caviar at £80 and Perigord truffle to be sprinkled on any main course at £50 for 10 g.
But we were here to test the cooking rather than the shaving and found ourselves impressed. Two fish first courses, cured sea bream with clementines and purple basil and my thin slices of raw Gigha halibut, farmed off the Kintyre peninsula in western Scotland, were the perfect foils for the warm Parker House rolls and good butter which the waiters offered with enthusiasm.
This was followed by Toulouse sausage served with well-prepared pomme aligot (£15) that satisfied Jancis's penchant for melted cheese, and roast Banham chicken with equally good pommes Anna (£24), a mousse au chocolat with pistachio ice cream and set buttermilk (panna cotta to you) with Yorkshire rhubarb (£8 each). Only the wine list presented a problem as in the restaurant's low lighting it is impossible to read the vintages of the wines, printed in such a tiny font.
But we enjoyed what we drank from the well-chosen selection offered by the glass as much as we enjoyed Berg's cooking, and wallowed in Soho nostalgia as we observed a room full of obviously happy, and loquacious, fellow diners.
Kettner's Townhouse 29 Romilly Street, Soho, London W1D 5HP; tel +44 (0)20 7734 5650


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"Whenthedayof Pentecosthad arrived, they werealltogetherinoneplace. Suddenlya soundlikethat of a violentrushingwindcamefromheaven, andit filledthewholehousewherethey werestaying. Andtongues, likeflames of firethat were divided, appearedto themandrestedoneach oneof them. Thenthey were allfilledwith the HolySpiritandbeganto speak indifferentlanguages, astheSpiritgavethem ability for speech. There wereJewslivinginJerusalem, devoutmenfromeverynationunderheaven. When thissoundoccurred, a crowdcame togetherandwas confusedbecauseeach oneheardthemspeakingin his ownlanguage. Andthey were astoundedandamazed, saying, `Look, aren'tallthesewho are speakingGalileans? Howis it that each of us can hearinourownnativelanguage? Parthians, Medes, Elamites; thosewho livein Mesopotamia, in JudeaandCappadocia, PontusandAsia,PhrygiaandPamphylia, Egyptandthepartsof LibyanearCyrene; visitorsfrom Rome, bothJewsandproselytes,CretansandArabs—we hearthemspeakingthe magnificent acts of God in our own languages.' They were allastoundedandperplexed, sayingtooneanother, `Whatcould thisbe?' Butsomesneeredand said,`They'refullof new wine! '" (Acts 2:1-13)
"But Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and proclaimed to them: `Men of Judah and all you residents of Jerusalem, let me explain this to you and pay attention to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it's only nine in the morning. On the contrary, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:
And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out My Spirit on all humanity; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. I will even pour out My Spirit on My male and female slaves in those days, and they will prophesy. I will display wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below: blood and fire and a cloud of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and remarkable Day of the Lord comes. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
`Men of Israel, listen to these words: This Jesus the Nazarene was a man pointed out to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did among you through Him, just as you yourselves know. Though He was delivered up according to God's determined plan and foreknowledge, you used lawless people to nail Him to a cross and kill Him. God raised Him up, ending the pains of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it. For David says of Him:
I saw the Lord ever before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. Moreover, my flesh will rest in hope, because You will not leave me in Hades or allow Your Holy One to see decay. You have revealed the paths of life to me; You will fill me with gladness in Your presence.
`Brothers, I can confidently speak to you about the patriarch David: He is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Since he was a prophet, he knew that God had sworn an oath to him to seat one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing this in advance, he spoke concerning the resurrection of the Messiah:
He was not left in Hades, and His flesh did not experience decay.
`God has resurrected this Jesus. We are all witnesses of this. Therefore, since He has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you both see and hear. For it was not David who ascended into the heavens, but he himself says:
The Lord declared to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool.
`Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!'
When they heard this, they came under deep conviction and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: `Brothers, what must we do?' `Repent,' Peter said to them, `and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call.' And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, `Be saved from this corrupt generation!'
So those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day about 3,000 people were added to them. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to the prayers." (Acts 2:14-42)
"Thenfearcame over everyone, andmanywondersandsignswere being performedthroughtheapostles. Nowallthebelieversweretogetherandheldallthings in common. They soldtheirpossessionsandpropertyanddistributedthe proceedsto all, asanyonehada need. Every daythey devotedthemselves to meeting togetherinthetemplecomplex, andbrokebreadfrom houseto house. They atetheir foodwitha joyfulandhumbleattitude,praisingGodandhavingfavorwithallthepeople. Andevery daytheLordaddedto themethosewho were being saved." (Acts 2:43-47)
"But how can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the gospel of good things! But all did not obey the gospel. For Isaiah says, Lord, who has believed our message? So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ." Romans 10:14-17


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Do I Need Life Insurance?
Securing the right life insurance policy is critical in planning for the future of you and your loved ones. Life insurance can help ensure your family's protection when you are gone.
The right life insurance policy will be unique and dependent on your personal and financial needs. As your life changes, your coverage may need to change to adapt to your current situation.
Types of Life Insurance
There are several different types of life insurance products available. The most common are:
Term Life Insurance: Provides protection for a specified period of time. It's generally less expensive than permanent (whole) life insurance, and is available in varying time periods with fixed premiums from a one-year to 20-year period.
Whole Life Insurance: A form of permanent life insurance that remains in force for your entire lifetime, provided premiums are paid as specified in the policy. Whole life insurance can be an investment opportunity, as many whole life insurance policies also build cash value over time.
Universal Life Insurance: A form of permanent life insurance characterized by its flexible premiums, face amounts and unbundled pricing structure. Universal life can build cash value and earns an interest rate that may adjust periodically, but is usually guaranteed not to fall below a certain percentage.
Advantages of Life Insurance
Not only can life insurance provide assurance for your family after you are gone, but many life insurance options also offer other benefits and investment opportunities to take advantage of while you are living.
Life Insurance Death Benefit provides income (tax-free) to your named beneficiary or beneficiaries when you pass way. The income can be used to pay funeral expenses, debt, tuition, estate taxes, or virtually any financial need.
Living Benefits are the cash value growth of a permanent (whole) life insurance policy and are tax-deferred, meaning you do not pay taxes unless money is withdrawn. Loans or withdrawals can be taken against the cash value of a permanent life insurance policy to help with expenses.
Questions to Ask
Here are a few questions to consider when looking for life insurance:
- Does a permanent or term life insurance policy make sense for me?
- What are my goals? How many family members need to be supported if I pass away?
- What are the policy's benefits and exclusions?


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Storage Emporium of Medford Oregon is Located in Central Point which is just outside of Medford. We offer everything for your storage needs from Mini Storage Units to Portable Storage Units delivered to your site.
We make storage easy! What sets us apart from everyone else? Our Portable Storage units (PSU) come in 3 standard sizes, 8×12-8×16 and 8×20. Once you have determined which size suits your needs, we will deliver the Portable Storage Unit (PSU) to your location and you will sign a month to month contract with us. Our units are easy and hassle free to acquire utilizing our rent / rent to own, purchase or 6 months same as cash options to get you the storage that you need. When you are ready for delivery, we will bring the unit to your location. Please ask about available options for customizing your Portable Storage Unit to completely fit your needs.
Call us or email us today!
Our Portable Storage Units are
- Constructed in Oregon by Oregonians. All of our materials and supplies are purchased locally from American manufacturers and suppliers. Made in America.
- Aesthetically and visually pleasing to the eye. Our customers routinely tell us how great they look.
- Durable wood construction that is coated with rubberized elastomeric coating for the ultimate in exterior moisture protection.
- Built so that the interior is resistant to moisture, mold, mildew, condensation, and of course leak free.
- Constructed with "radiant barrier siding" that helps the unit acclimate to just a few degrees below or above outside ambient temperature.
- Customized easily by you or us to meet your desired specifications for your particular needs. All you need are simple carpentry tools.
- Roofed with a seamless single ply roofing membrane that carries an energy star rating for its reflective properties. No roof leaks!
- Easily moved. Whether in your driveway or in a field, your PSU can be placed anywhere you like.
- So durable that they can withstand a roll over at 55 miles per hour on i-5 over the Siskiyou summit. We have the unit on display at our facility and with exception to the roll up door, the unit it completely intact and serviceable.
- Easy and hassle free to acquire utilizing our rent / rent to own, purchase or 6 months same as cash options to get you the storage that you need. Call or email us for more information.
Their Metal Shipping Containers are
- Constructed overseas with all materials and labor originating from china or other areas outside America.
- Are paint scraped, chipped, scratched, faded, dented, rusted and who knows what color you will get…burnt orange, blue, yellow, red or ????
- Prone to all of the problems listed above in #2, plus possible punctures & gouges that require thin gauge welding skills, not an easy job.
- Very prone to moisture, mold, mildew, condensation and leaking. In fact, they "sweat like a sauna" in the winter.
- A big steel box (like the oven in your kitchen) so "it bakes like an oven" in the summer reaching temperatures above 130-140+ degrees depending on outside temperature.
- Hard to customize unless you are very comfortable working with sheet metal and have plenty of band aids and gauze on hand and possibly tetanus shot for rust cuts.
- Stacked high on ships compromising the roofs integrity possibly resulting in punctures, weld and seem fractures and you will never know for sure until the first rain.
- Cumbersome and very costly to move. In fact, if it is full… You will have to empty it before you can move it unless of course you have a 25+ ton fork lift.
- Durable yes, but if you damage it call your local body shop to fix it…you can guess how much that might cost.
- Expensive to rent and move and if you want to buy one…get out the checkbook to pay for the whole unit up front.
For more information call (541) 664-7676 or email us.
News from Storage Emporium


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Keith Haring Collaborator and Art in the Streets Contributor, Angel Ortiz, Sentenced to 45 Days in Prison for Graffiti-Related Charges
Yesterday when we wrote that we might have to start up a feature reporting on the recent arrests of artists or the people connected to them, we maybe should have talked about it being more regular than on a mere weekly basis. Following the previous nabbings of Space Invader and Revok, another street artist whose work is currently showing as part of Los Angeles' Museum of Contemporary Art's controversial Art in the Streets exhibition has been arrested. This time around, it was Angel Ortiz, also known as LA II. However, differing from the previous two, who were caught tagging in LA, Reuters reports that Ortiz was in New York and had already been detained by police at the time of the exhibition's opening, after having been caught for the third time in March for vandalism. This week, the friend of LA MoCA's director Jeffrey Deitch and former collaborator with the likes of Keith Haring and Basquiat, was sentenced this week to 45 days in prison for his offending graffiti. If there's any light at the end of the tunnel, at least the sentence includes "the month already served," giving Ortiz ample time to catch the exhibition baring his work out in Los Angeles.


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X02.3.1 Requirement for accessible street furniture.
X02.3.1.1 General. Where provided for pedestrian use or operation, street furniture installed on or adjacent to a public sidewalk and accessed from the public right-of-way shall be provided in accordance with Section X02. This section excludes fixtures in the public right-of-way that are not intended for use by the public , such as traffic control cabinets, and items that can be accessed only from private property, such as fenced-off sidewalk cafe tables.
Advisory: When replacement of an existing item of street furniture with a new, fully accessible item of street furniture is beyond the practicable scope of the public sidewalk alteration, it is recommended that a sign indicating the location of the nearest fully accessible item of furniture should be affixed to the existing (unmodified) facility. Such a sign would comply with Section X02.3.8. This recommendation is similar to requirements for on-site furnishings in ADAAG.
Discussion: Street furniture tends to be scattered unevenly throughout the public right-of-way, and may be widely spaced and unpredictably located. It is more difficult, especially in inclement weather, on poorly maintained sidewalks, or in crowded conditions, to seek out furniture that is accessible. Each cluster of street furniture, therefore, must contain accessible units. The scoping level for the public right-of-way is thus higher in concentration than what is required for on-site facilities.
X02.3.1.2 Connection to the pedestrian access route. Street furniture required by X02.3 to be accessible, shall be accessible from the pedestrian access route.
Discussion: This section is analogous to proposed ADAAG Section 206.2.2, which requires that at least one accessible route shall connect with all accessible spaces and elements that are on the same site or building. The intention is the same, that any elements provided for use by the public in the public right-of-way shall be accessible to persons with disabilities. While the entire public sidewalk and all of its street furniture may not be accessible (e.g., due to excessive cross slopes, changes in level, or obstructions), each fixed item of street furniture required to be accessible must tie into the pedestrian access route.
X02.3.1.3 Clear floor or ground space and related provisions. Street furniture intended for public use by pedestrians, and required by Section X02 to be accessible, shall comply with proposed ADAAG Section 305 (Clear Floor and Ground Space), Section 306 (Knee and Toe Clearance), Section 308 (Reach Ranges), Section 309 (Operable Parts) and other sections as applicable. For all street furniture, the clear floor or ground space shall not encroach into the 60-inch (1525mm) wide pedestrian access route by more than 24 inches (610mm).
EXCEPTION: Clear floor and ground space for push buttons may encroach entirely into the pedestrian access route.
Advisory: Wherever possible in the case of alterations, the floor or ground space should be placed entirely outside of the through pedestrian traffic circulation. If there is not enough room for a front approach clear floor or ground space separate from the through pedestrian traffic, consider providing a side approach clear floor or ground space.
Discussion: The clear floor and ground space encroachment is a compromise that allows wheel chair users to use fixed street furnishings undisturbed while still allowing passage by other pedestrians. When a stationary wheel chair encroaches 24 inches into the 60 inch wide pedestrian access route, there still remains 36 inches (915mm) of clearance.
Frontier issue: The committee discussed the fact that larger wheelchairs and electric scooters are used more frequently in the outdoor environment and that the clear ground space of 32 inches by 48 inches provided in proposed ADAAG Section 305 is a leftover standard developed for returning veterans during a certain era that may not accommodate these larger mobility aids. Members felt it is not an appropriate standard for the ADA, which embraces the rights of the entire disability population. In some sections of this report, such as for the approach to push buttons, the committee recommended a larger clear ground space. The committee suggests future work to establish a uniform recommendation on these dimensions for outdoor environments.
X02.3.2 Drinking fountains and water coolers.
X02.3.2.1 General. Where drinking fountains and water coolers are provided, they shall be provided in accordance with Section X02.
X02.3.2.2 Multiple installations. A minimum of two drinking fountains or water coolers is required in any one location. Fifty percent of all drinking fountains and water coolers in a cluster shall comply with proposed ADAAG Section 602.1 through Section 602.6. The remainder of the drinking fountains and water coolers in the cluster shall comply with Section 602.7.
EXCEPTION: Single installations of "hi-lo" type drinking fountains or water fountains complying with proposed ADAAG Section 602 shall be considered as meeting the requirements of minimum number of fixtures.
Figure X02.3 Hi-Lo Drinking Fountain
Plan, side and front elevation views of an accessible hi-lo drinking fountain. Fountains are mounted on a short wall that turns a 90 degree corner at the end by the high fixture, forming a cane detectable barricade adjacent to the fixture group. The low fountain has its bottom edge at 27" above grade and does not have a barrier wall.
EXCEPTION: Where an odd number of three or more drinking fountains or water coolers are provided, fifty percent shall be permitted to be calculated to be fifty percent plus or minus one.
Advisory: In order to avoid creating a situation where people with disabilities have to travel inordinately long distances between drinking fountains or water coolers, all drinking fountains and water coolers should be accessible to individuals who use wheelchairs, as well as to individuals who have difficulty bending or stooping. This will have the added advantage of making drinking fountains and water coolers accessible to children and people of short stature.
X02.3.3 Public telephones.
X02.3.3.1 General. Where public telephones are provided within the public right-of-way, they shall comply with the provisions of this section.
X02.3.3.2 Single unit. Where a single public telephone is provided, it shall comply with proposed ADAAG Section 704.2, Section 704.4, and Section 704.5.
X02.3.3.3 Multiple units. Where two or more public telephones are clustered together, such as in a bank of telephones, at least one shall comply with proposed ADAAG Section 704.2, Section 704.4, and Section 704.5.
X02.3.3.4 Volume Controls. All public telephones shall provide volume controls in compliance with proposed ADAAG Section 704.3.
Discussion: Volume control is especially important in the public right-of-way, where the ambient noise level tends to be much higher. The committee also discussed the need for telephones to accommodate people of different heights and the possibility that telephones could be designed with either dual or adjustable keypads or that possibly the keypad could be on the handset.
Recommended question: The committee heard comments that the function of the text telephone (TTY), when placed on the wheelchair-accessible telephone, may be problematic for two reasons. First, the installation of the lowered phone may interfere with the ability of a wheelchair user to make a forward approach to the phone with appropriate knee space; second, the use of the TTY by a standing person is ergonomically inappropriate, requiring bending or stooping while typing. Thus, the committee recommends that the Access Board ask a question whether an exception should be allowed for the TTY features to be placed on a higher phone when multiple phones are provided and that the Access Board seek input from users regarding the most usable location for the TTY features to be provided.
X02.3.4 Public toilet facilities.
X02.3.4.1 General. Where permanent public toilet facilities are provided in the public right-of-way, they shall comply with Section X02.3.4.
(A) Toilet compartments. Where toilet compartments are provided, at least one shall be a wheelchair accessible compartment complying with proposed ADAAG Section 604.8.1. Where six or more toilet compartments are provided, an ambulatory accessible compartment complying with proposed ADAAG Section 604.8.2 shall be provided in addition to the compartment complying with proposed ADAAG Section 604.8.1
(B) Water closets. Water closets in a wheelchair accessible toilet compartment or an ambulatory accessible compartment required by X02.3.4.1 shall comply with proposed ADAAG Section 604. Where water closets are provided, but not in toilet compartments, at least one shall comply with proposed ADAAG Section 604.
EXCEPTION: Toilet facilities in the public right-of-way shall provide a minimum of 48 inches (1220mm) in front of the water closet.
Discussion: This change is to clarify the requirements for water closets in toilet compartments. Without this change, the NPRM requirement appeared to require accessible water closets in locations other than in toilet compartments due to the references.
(C) Urinals. Where urinals are provided, at least one shall comply with proposed ADAAG Section 605.
(D) Lavatories. Where lavatories are provided, at least one shall comply with proposed ADAAG Section 606. Where only one accessible lavatory is provided, it shall not be located in a toilet compartment.
(E) Mirrors. Where mirrors are provided, at least one shall comply with proposed ADAAG Section 603.3.
(F) Operable parts and dispensers. Where operable parts, dispensers, receptacles or other equipment are provided, at least one of each type shall comply with proposed ADAAG Section 309.
Frontier issue: The reach ranges specified in proposed ADAAG Section 308 (referenced by Section 309) accommodate people in wheelchairs who have the upper body abilities necessary to raise their arms over their shoulders or move their upper arms away from their body. These reach ranges do not accommodate people with limited upper body abilities. The vast majority of people can reach between 40 and 42 inches. Some committee members felt that the highest operable parts of accessible controls and dispensers should be between 40 and 42 inches above the finished floor. The committee did make such a recommendation for push buttons and parking meter controls, but did not extend to the controls for toilet facilities in the public right -of-way. The committee suggests future work to establish a uniform recommendation on reach ranges that accommodate a broader range of persons with disabilities.
X02.3.4.2 Permanent toilet facilities. Permanent public toilet facilities in the public right-of-way shall be accessible in accordance with proposed ADAAG Section 603 and shall provide a minimum of 48 inches (1220mm) clearance in front of the water closet.
Figure X02.3 B Clearance at Public Toilets
Plan view of a toilet stall with 48-inch clear space shown between the center front of the toilet bowl and the wall opposite.
Discussion: The committee intends that the toilets in the public right-of-way exceed toilet size in on-site facilities to allow scooter and larger power chair users to use these toilets. People with disabilities and people who are among the aging population use electric scooters more often in the outdoor environment than they do in the indoor environment. The 48-inch clearance in front of the toilet allows for an even longer clearance when the toilet is approached diagonally. This 48-inch clearance in front of the toilet is in addition to the clear floor or ground space required in front of the door to the toilet enclosure.
X02.3.5 Fixed tables, counters and benches.
X02.3.5.1 General. Fixed tables, counters and benches shall comply with Section X02.3.
X02.3.5.2 Number and type of units to be provided.
(A) Tables and counters. Where fixed tables or counters are provided in a single location, at least five percent but not less than one, shall comply with Section X02.3.5.3 for clear ground space and Section X02.3.5.4 for table and counter height.
(B) Benches. Where fixed benches are provided without tables, at a single location, at least 50 percent, but no less than one, shall have a back and armrests.
X02.3.5.3 Clear floor and ground space. For benches without tables, a clear ground space complying with proposed ADAAG Section 305 shall be provided at one end of at least one bench at each location where a single fixed bench or cluster of benches are provided. The clear ground space shall be positioned to allow a wheelchair user to be seated shoulder-to-shoulder with an individual seated on the bench. A clear floor or ground space, where required at tables and counters, shall be provided for a forward approach to the table or counter, with required knee and toe clearance, in accordance with Section 306.
EXCEPTION: When tables are provided for children's use, a clear floor or ground space complying with proposed ADAAG Section 305, positioned for a forward approach, shall be provided. Knee and toe clearance complying with proposed ADAAG Section 306 shall be provided, except that knee clearance 24 inches (610mm) minimum above the floor or ground shall be permitted.
Discussion: The committee discussed the need for larger clear ground space in the public right-of-way. See discussion at Section X02.3.1.3.
X02.3.5.4 Height of tables. The tops of tables and counters required to be accessible shall be 28 inches (710 mm) minimum to 34 inches (865 mm) maximum above the floor or ground.
EXCEPTION: When accessible tables are provided for children's use, the tops of tables shall be 26 inches (660 mm) minimum to 30 inches (760 mm) maximum above the floor or ground.
Figure X02.3 C Bench with Adjacent Clear Area
Bench with adjacent clear area for wheelchair user (plan view).
Figure X02.3 D Bench with Arm/Backrests
Side view of bench with arms and back.
Discussion: The committee agreed that there can be design solutions to the competing constraints of the maximum height of a leading edge detectable by cane and the minimum clear space a wheelchair user requires for knee room, and recommends future work on this issue . See frontier issue under Section X02.2.4.
X02.3.6 Bus stop pads and shelters.
Bus stop pads and shelters shall comply with proposed ADAAG Chapter 10.
Discussion: A route to and into a shelter and the size of a bus stop pad for the deployment of onboard lifts and ramps are already covered by existing regulations of the US Department of Transportation, the title II regulations of the US Department of Justice, and proposed ADAAG Chapter 10.
X02.3.7 Depositories, vending machines, change machines and trash receptacles.
X02.3.7.1 General. Depositories, vending machines, change machines, trash receptacles and similar fixed equipment with operable parts shall comply with Section X02.3.7.
X02.3.7.2 Fixed equipment. Where provided at a single location, at least one of each type of fixed depository, vending machine, change machine, and trash receptacle provided shall comply with proposed ADAAG Section 305, Section 308, and Section 309. The clear ground space shall not encroach into the 60-inch (1525mm) wide pedestrian access route by more than 24 inches (610mm).
EXCEPTION: Drive-up-only depositories shall not be required to comply with this section.
Advisory: Depositories include, but are not limited to, night receptacles in banks, post office mailboxes, video stores, and libraries.
Discussion: The committee discussed the need for larger dimensions in the public right-of-way. See discussion under Section X02.3.1.3.
X02.3.8 Street identification and other pedestrian signage.
X02.3.8.1 General. Street identification and other pedestrian signage shall comply with proposed ADAAG Section 703, except as noted in Section X02.3.8.3, Section X02.3.8.4, and Section X02.3.8.5. Braille signs shall comply with proposed ADAAG Section 703.5.
Discussion: The committee is recommending some provisions for tactile signage which are more stringent than in proposed ADAAG Section 703 because, in outdoor environments, touch is frequently less sensitive due to cold. The intent is to maximize legibility of tactile signs in adverse conditions.
X02.3.8.2 Types of signage
(A) Street Identification. Street signs shall comply with requirements of Section X02.3.8.5. Where an Accessible Pedestrian Signal is provided, visual and tactile street identification complying with Section X02.3.8.3 and Braille complying with proposed ADAAG Section 703.5 is required above the push button.
(B) Bus route identification. Where bus route identification signs are provided in the public right-of-way on or adjacent to a public sidewalk, they shall comply with the provisions of this section for visual characters, tactile characters and Braille. Signs providing the route number and route name shall be provided. Raised print is required for route number identification only. If a variable message sign is used at a bus stop or shelter, an audible equivalent shall be provided.
Advisory: Where street identification and other pedestrian signs, including bus route identification signs, are provided in accessible format, remote audible signs may be more easily located and more usable than tactile signs. Remote infrared audible signs (RIAS) are an excellent means of making all kinds of information accessible to persons who are blind or who have print disabilities. Requirements for RIAS are provided in Section X02.3.8.8.2.
Discussion: Bus stops and shelters are covered as transportation facilities in accessibility guidelines adopted by DOT as part of the title II regulation (49CFR Parts 27, 37 and 38). Bus route identification signs must comply with specifications for visual characters. DOT's ADA regulations do not require tactile signs at bus stops and shelters. DOT's ADA regulations do require, however, that bus stop locations be audibly and visibly announced on the vehicle.
Research need: The committee believes that a system of remote audible signage utilizing emitters that can be scanned and read through personal receivers offers the greatest opportunity for making pedestrian information available to people who have vision impairments. Research in the area of accessible signage, geographic information systems, and global positioning systems is encouraged, which may result in the development of other methods of street identification and bus and bus route identification.
(C) Informational and warning signs. Informational and warning signs shall comply with requirements of Section X02.3.8.5.
Research need: While the committee believes that informational and warning signs in the public right-of-way should be provided in an accessible format, there were concerns regarding methods of making that information readily accessible to individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Signs at construction barriers were of particular concern to the committee. Research is recommended to determine whether audible and/or tactile signage is appropriate, or what other methods can be used to make informational and warning signs accessible. Research in the use of geographic information systems (GIS) should include consideration of the needs of pedestrians who are visually impaired or blind and the collection of data that could provide orientation and wayfinding information.
X02.3.8.3 Characters that are both tactile and visual.
(A) Finish and Contrast.Eggshell finish shall be used for street identification and other pedestrian signage. A minimum 70 percent visual contrast is required.
Advisory: Research indicates that signs are more legible for persons with low vision when characters contrast with their background by at least 70 percent. In general, the greater the contrast, the greater the legibility, regardless of visual acuity. Seventy percent contrast is not an optimum; it is the minimum contrast for good legibility for readers with unimpaired vision.
(B) Character width. For pedestrian access signage, character width shall be 60 percent minimum and 100 percent maximum (3:5 minimum and 1:1 maximum) the height of the character, with the width based on the uppercase letter "O" and the height based on the uppercase letter "I." Pedestrian signage shall be based upon the intended viewing distance in accordance with proposed ADAAG Section 703.
(C) Character height. The character height measured vertically from the baseline of the character shall be 5/8 inch minimum and 2 inches maximum based on the height of the uppercase letter "I."
(D) Stroke thickness and cross section. Characters shall have a rounded or trapezoidal cross section. The stroke thickness of the uppercase letter "I" shall be 10 percent minimum and 30 percent maximum of the height of the character measured at the base of the cross section. Stroke thickness at the top of the cross section shall be 15 percent maximum of the height of the character.
(E) Sign Corners. All signs intended for touch reading shall have rounded corners.
Discussion: The above requirements are in addition to, or instead of, the requirements in proposed ADAAG Section 703. Some of the requirements are more stringent than those in proposed ADAAG Section 703. Tactile characters that are rectangular in cross section tend to be sharp and uncomfortable for touch reading. Characters that are intended for both visual and tactile reading are likely to use the widest permissible stroke width for greatest visibility, which will be less legible for touch readers than narrower stroke widths. Characters having rounded or trapezoidal cross sections are narrower at the top (tactile reading) surface than at the bottom, making them more legible to touch readers. Proposed ADAAG Section 703 permits characters that are rectangular in cross section. They are not recommended here because they are less comfortable and less legible.
A sign usable for touch reading should not have sharp corners that can injure the fingers that must find and read them. A requirement for rounded corners was also not previously addressed in ADAAG.
X02.3.8.4 Tactile characters.
(A) Character width. Character width shall be 60 percent minimum and 100 percent maximum (3:5 minimum and 1:1 maximum) the height of the character, with the width based on the uppercase letter "O" and the height based on the uppercase letter "I."
(B) Character height. Character height measured vertically from the baseline of the character shall be 5/8 inch minimum and 3/4 inch maximum based on the height of the uppercase letter "I."
(C) Stroke thickness and cross section. Characters shall have a rounded or trapezoidal cross section. The stroke thickness of the uppercase letter "I" shall be 10 percent minimum and 30 percent maximum of the height of the character measured at the base of the cross section. Stroke thickness at the top of the cross section shall be 15 percent maximum of the height of the character.
(D) Sign corners. All signs intended for touch reading shall have rounded corners.
Discussion: The committee agreed with most of the requirements in proposed ADAAG Section 703.3 for tactile characters. They recommend the substitute requirements above for Section 703.3.2.3, Section 703.3.2.4, and Section 703.3.2.5, as discussed above. They added a requirement regarding rounded sign corners.
Figure X02.3 E Tactile Character Section
Diagrammatic section of a tactile character illustrating rounded and trapezoidal edges.
X02.3.8.5 Visual characters. Visual characters shall comply with proposed ADAAG Section 703.4, except the requirement in Section X02.3.8.5 (A) shall replace the requirement in proposed ADAAG Section 703.4.1.
(A) Finish and contrast.Eggshell finish shall be used for street identification and other pedestrian signage. A minimum 70 percent visual contrast is required
(B) Character height. The height of characters used in street identification and other pedestrian signage shall be based upon the intended viewing distance in accordance with proposed ADAAG Section 703.
Advisory: This section pertains to signage that may be intended to be read from the far side of the intersection. Use of larger signs and shapes than those required in ADAAG Table 703.4.2.4 is encouraged.
Discussion: Requirements of proposed ADAAG Section 703 for visual characters, except for those for finish and contrast, were considered appropriate by the committee. Viewing distances in the public right-of-way may be further than typical indoor situations, accordingly, character height may need to be larger to result in equivalent legibility.
X02.3.8.6 Sign mounting locations.
(A) Mounting height. Mounting height for all signs that include tactile characters shall be 60 inches (1525 mm) above the finish floor to the centerline of the sign.
(B) Locations.
- Bus shelters. Bus shelter signage shall be mounted on the shelter wall closest to the front of the bus, as close to the street as possible, at 60 inches (1525 mm) above the adjacent clear landing.
- Bus stops. Bus stop signage where no shelter is present shall be mounted on the pole at 60 inches (1525mm) above adjacent grade.
Figure X02.3 F Bus Shelter Signage
Isometric view of a bus shelter indicating the location of accessible signage at the leading (front) end of the side wall at the end where the front of the bus will stop.
X02.3.8.7 Changeable message signs.
(A) Viewing distance.Changeable message signs presented using LED, LCD, flip-dot or other means shall be legible from the same distance as conventional print signs.
Advisory: The information in this section is provided in an effort to improve the readability of changeable or variable message signs for pedestrian users of the public right-of-way. Character height for changeable message signs should be about 35 percent greater than character height for conventional print signs in order to have equal legibility at the same distance. Characters should be uppercase, and in conventional form. Characters should not be italic, oblique, script, highly decorative, or of other unusual forms. Character width should be no less than 60 percent the height of the character. Characters having a single stroke width have been found to be more legible at 2-inch character height than characters having double stroke width. Characters having a double stroke width have been found to be more legible at 4-inch to 8-inch character height. Spacing between individual characters should be 1.5 to 2.0 times stroke width for greatest legibility.
(B) Message flow. Messages that are short enough to fit within the length of a changeable message sign should be static. Where messages are too long to fit within the length of a changeable message sign, messages shall stream with a dwell time of 2.74 seconds. Paging messages are not permitted.
Advisory: Static messages have been found to be more legible than dynamic messages to readers having visual acuities from 20/20 to 20/200. They are also greatly preferred. Dynamic messages that stream from right to left have been found to be significantly more legible than messages that page up from the bottom.
Research need: Research is needed to determine specifications for changeable message signs that will result in equivalent legibility for readers having visual acuities from 20/20 to 20/200, in outdoor situations. Technical specifications are needed for changeable message signs of different types and colors, in situations in which messages are either static or dynamic, and in situations in which either the viewer or the sign are in motion.
X02.3.8.8 Audible Signs.
(A) General. Where there are audible signs, a visual equivalent shall be provided.
(B) Requirements for Remote Infrared Audible Sign (RIAS) Receivers.
- Where personal receivers are used to make information on signs accessible to persons who are blind or who have print disabilities, basic speech messages shall be frequency modulated at 25 kHz (+/- 10 percent deviation), and shall have an infrared wavelength from 850 to 950 nanometer (nm).
- Receiver shall produce a 12 decibel (dB) signal-plus-noise-to-noise ratio with a kHz modulation tone at +/- 2.5 kHz deviation of the 25 kHz subcarrier at an optical power density of 26 picowatts per square millimeter measured at the receiver photosensor aperture.
- The audio output from an internal speaker shall be at 75 dB(A) minimum at 18 inches with a maximum of 10 percent distortion.
- The receiver photo sensor aperture shall be 80 degrees in acceptance angle.
- The receiver shall be designed for a high dynamic range and capable of operating in full-sun background illumination.
(6) Capture of the receiver by the stronger of two signals in the receiver field of view requires a received power ratio on the order of 20dB for negligible interference; adjacent transmitter frequency tolerance of 50 Hz to 100 Hz improves the intelligibility of interfering signals.
Advisory: Transit stations and platforms are routinely used by persons who are blind. Tactile signs do not necessarily help persons who are blind to locate station entrances and exits, fare gates, fare machines, stairs and escalators, platforms, and other amenities, because tactile signs cannot be located consistently enough for persons who are blind to find them efficiently. Remote infrared audible signs are suggested as a wayfinding system because, like vision, they enable users to scan the environment (using a personal receiver) and "read messages" from a distance. They are able to provide directional and informational messages in a way that enables persons who are blind to travel as independently as persons who can read print signs.
Discussion: Remote infrared audible signs (RIAS) have been found to be a particularly effective means to make wayfinding information accessible to persons who are blind or who have print disabilities. Many transmission media are potentially available for use in communicating wayfinding information to people with print-reading disabilities (e.g., blindness, low vision, dyslexia, and mental retardation). A key concern at this stage of technology development is the possibility of blocking the development of new technologies by inadvertently limiting compliance to existing technologies.
Discussion: Currently, there is a need to provide a uniform protocol for communication of information by RIAS so that:
- Users will not be required to carry more than one receiver (one for each wayfinding application) to acquire basic wayfinding information;
- Users will be able to use the same receiver in any location (within or between cities) so that the wayfinding environment is "seamless";
- Manufacturers will be able to design basic functionality around a single communication protocol. Additional enhancements would be permitted.
- Manufacturers and users will be able to take the protocol specifications to national and international standards groups. Registering the protocol would help provide a clear channel (free from interference from competing communication technologies and interfering signals from other electronic devices and systems).
- Protocol must be coordinated with existing assistive listening device systems to ensure simultaneous systems operations without disruption.