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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Sec. Marine Pollution
Volume 4 - 2017 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2017.00419
Microplastic Distribution at Different Sediment Depths in an Urban Estuary
- 1Oceans and Atmosphere, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- 2School of Social Sciences, College of Arts, Law and Education, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- 3Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
As plastic production increases, so to do the threats from plastic pollution. Microplastics (defined as plastics <5 mm) are a subset of marine debris about which we know less than we do of larger debris items, though they are potentially ubiquitous in the marine environment. To quantify the distribution and change in microplastic densities through time, we sampled sediment cores from an estuary in Tasmania, Australia. We hypothesized that the type, distribution and abundance of microplastics observed would be associated with increasing plastic production, coastal population growth, and proximity to urban water outflows and local hydrodynamics. Sediments ranging from the year 1744 to 2004 were sub-sampled from each core. We observed microplastics in every sample, with greater plastic frequencies found in the upper (more recent) sediments. This time trend of microplastic accumulation matched that of global plastic production and coastal population growth. We observed that fibers were the most abundant type of microplastic in our samples. These fibers were present in sediments that settled prior to the presence of plastics in the environment. We propose a simple statistical model to estimate the level of contamination in our samples. We suggest that the current trend in the literature suggesting very high loads of fibers, particularly in remote locations such as the deep seafloor, may be largely due to contamination.
Microplastics (plastics <5 mm, Arthur et al., 2008) have been observed throughout bottom sediments of marine and freshwater environments, including sediments in rivers (Casta-eda et al., 2014), estuaries (Thompson et al., 2004; Sruthy and Ramasamy, 2017), lagoons (Vianello et al., 2013), lakes (Corcoran et al., 2015), seas (Zobkov and Esiukova, 2017), and deep sea trenches (Van Cauwenberghe et al., 2013; Woodall et al., 2014; Fischer et al., 2015). Microplastics are commonly found in the environment in three forms; fragments which form from mechanical and biological fragmentation of larger plastic items (ter Halle et al., 2016), microbeads which are manufactured as abrasives in cosmetics and air-blasting (Fendall and Sewell, 2009; Mason et al., 2016), and microfibers from sources such as synthetic fabrics and ropes (Browne et al., 2011). Studies have shown multiple damaging effects of microplastics in the environment, including adsorption of toxic organic contaminants (Endo et al., 2005; Teuten et al., 2007; Rochman et al., 2013), ingestion by animals with implications for human consumption (Van Cauwenberghe and Janssen, 2014; Rochman et al., 2015) and changing the heat transfer and water movement of sediment (Carson et al., 2011).
Microplastics have been observed in benthic environments since the late 1970s (Gregory, 1977; Shiber, 1979) and sediments are suggested to be a long-term sink for microplastics (Morét-Ferguson et al., 2010; Cózar et al., 2014). Benthos is an important feeding environment for many marine species (Anderson and Lovvorn, 2008; MacDonald et al., 2012; Gittman and Keller, 2013) and a recent study has shown marine benthic species ingest microplastics (Courtene-Jones et al., 2017). Knowledge of the harmful effects of microplastics on benthic marine species and communities is growing (Green, 2016; Galloway et al., 2017), however, little is known of past microplastic accumulation in benthic environments.
Several studies have examined microplastics in sediments (Claessens et al., 2011; Corcoran et al., 2015; Klein et al., 2015). For example, Claessens et al. (2011) quantified the number of microplastics in 16 year old sediments collected at the intertidal and high water mark. However, there have been no evaluations of microplastic contamination in deep sediments with known age cores, allowing analysis of deposition rates and concentrations. To address this knowledge gap, we compared sediment cores taken from an urbanized estuary and asked the following questions: Do microplastic densities change in time (with known age of sediment cores)? If microplastics are present, do we detect different densities as we move further from areas of higher human population densities?
Materials and Methods
Sampling Location
Core samples were taken from Elwick Bay and Dogshear Point in the Derwent Estuary, Tasmania, Australia (Figure 1). The area is classed as urban/light industrial and the shoreline is partially reclaimed land. Surrounding land use includes residential areas, a horse race course and stables, low lying recreational areas, a high school and an entertainment estate. A major highway also runs adjacent along both shores. Two urban rivulets, Humphreys and Barossa, which exit at Elwick Bay, pass through urban areas in their lower reaches. Both have gross pollutant traps that trap anthropogenic debris that is larger than 10–15 cm in diameter. Sedimentation rates in Elwick Bay range from 0.4 to 0.5 cm per year, to a higher rate of 0.7 cm per year during a major flood or erosional event (Townsend and Seen, 2012).
Figure 1. Core sample locations in the Derwent Estuary, Tasmania, Australia. River flows north to south. Generated by Kathryn Willis using ArcGIS, [Desktop version 10.2], (https://www.arcgis.com/features/index.html). Bathymetry from Lucieer (2007), SeaMap Tasmania Bathymetric Data. Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute. Data accessed at http://metadata.imas.utas.edu.au/geonetwork/srv/eng/metadata.show?uuid=fa2dbc70-44ab-11dc-8cd0-00188b4c0af8 on 27/04/2017.
Cores were collected in November 2004 as outlined in Townsend and Seen (2012). Core A was taken from the middle region of Elwick Bay around 3 km upstream of a zinc refinery (Townsend and Seen, 2012). Core B was taken off Dogshear Point, 3 km north-east of core A. Each core was sliced into 2 cm sections and stored in sealed containers. Core samples were stored refrigerated upright until analysis. A total of seven, 2 cm section samples from each core were processed and analyzed. Samples were systematically selected at different depth intervals of the core, with a maximum sample depth of 104 cm. This allowed us to analyse the samples in a temporal fashion, as deeper samples are from older sediments.
Aging Sediment Core Samples
A duplicate of core A was aged using lead isotopes (Townsend and Seen, 2012). Using the sedimentation rates and ages calculated in Townsend and Seen (2012) the age of sediment sections analyzed in this study were inferred. Sediments between 0 and 10 cm took 21 years to settle at a rate of 0.48 ± 0.05 cm/yr−1 with sediments at 10 cm aged at 1983 ± 2. Sediments between 10 and 30 cm settled at a rate of 0.69 cm/yr−1 with sediments at 30 cm aged at 1954 ± 5. Sediments between 30 and 50 cm took 46 years to settle at a rate of 0.43 ± 0.07 cm/yr−1 with sediments at 50 cm aged at 1908 (Townsend and Seen, 2012).
Laboratory Analysis
Sample processing was adapted from Reeves et al. (2016). In brief, samples were processed using a stepwise approach include sieving, organic material digestion, density separation, centrifuging, and filtration to separate microplastics from the bulk sediment. All laboratory work was conducted under a vacuum hood and exposed samples and equipment were covered with foil to prevent contamination from airborne microplastics. Natural fiber clothing and laboratory coats were worn throughout the analysis to reduce microplastic contamination from synthetic clothing.
Each sample was placed in a beaker with deionized water and agitated with a metal spatula to disassociate large clumps of sediment. The contents of the beaker were then poured through a sieve stack. Sieves were stacked sequentially according to mesh size, with the largest mesh size at the top. Each sieve was rinsed with deionised water and left to dry.
Organic Material Digestion
Each dried sample was placed in a beaker with 20 ml of 30% hydrogen peroxide, 20 ml of 0.05 M iron (II) solution and a magnetic stir bar. The sediment solution was left at room temperature for 5 min, then was placed on a heating magnetic stirrer and heated to 75°C for 30 min. If organic material was visible after 30 min, 20 ml of hydrogen peroxide was added every 15 min and stirring/heating continued until all visible organic material was digested.
Density Separation, Centrifuging, and Filtration
Each digested sample was placed in a 50 ml centrifuge tube. Large sediment samples were split evenly between two tubes. Sodium iodide (NaI) solution (density 1.6–1.8 g.ml) was added to each tube until 30 ml of NaI was overlaying the sediment sample. Each tube was capped, shaken manually for 20 s and then placed in a benchtop centrifuge for 5 min at 3,500 revolutions per minute. Tubes were removed gently to minimize sediment re-suspension. The top 10 ml of supernatant NaI solution was poured off into a glass Büchner vacuum apparatus fitted with a 1.2 μm polycarbonate membrane filter. The remaining sediment in the tube was topped up with NaI, so 30 ml was overlaying the sediment. The sediment then underwent the previously described treatment of manual shaking, centrifuging, and filtering of supernatant, twice. A total of three supernatants, per sample, were poured into the vacuum apparatus and filtered. To ensure all possible separated microplastics were poured on the filter paper, on the last round of treatment (i.e., the third round), the total supernatant NaI solution was poured into the vacuum apparatus. The Büchner funnel and 1.2 μm filter were then rinsed with deionised water to capture any microplastics that may have adhered to the glass during filtration. All filtered samples were stored individually in sealed petri-dishes until microscope analysis.
Microscope Analysis
Filtered samples were analyzed for microplastic content using a stereomicroscope (magnification × 40). Each sample was divided into seven sorting sections using a fine-point metal probe. Samples were observed for 15 min using a constant magnification setting. Following the "Guidelines for Microscope Inspection" (Masura et al., 2015) an object was identified as plastic if it held shape or stretched when rubbed/pressed with a metal probe. Organic material would break a part under the above treatment. Positively identified microplastics were sorted into four categories according to their shape and texture (Table 1).
Deposition Trend
We tested whether the rate of micro fiber deposition observed in the cores correlated with plastic production using linear regression. We used the time trend in global plastic production values (PlasticsEurope, 2016) as a proxy for the relative time trend in production in the Derwent estuary. We used an exponential mode l to fit to the data available on global production to estimate the proportional change on an annual basis since plastic went into commercial production in the mid 1900s.
We adjusted our trend estimate for contamination by assuming the contamination rate was constant with respect to depth of the core slice. Based on this assumption the intercept term of the linear regression of microfiber concentration on plastic production change is an estimate of the contamination rate in the samples. The concentration of fibers in sediment slices from before 1950 serves as a second estimate of the contamination rate, as these sediments were deposited prior to the availability of plastic in the environment. The slope of the relationship between microfiber concentration and plastic production gives an estimate of the proportional increase in plastic in sediments, per unit of increase in production, which can be interpreted as the leakage rate from production.
We only used micro fiber values in the analysis as micro fibers made up nearly 90% of all microplastics in the cores.
Microplastics were observed in every sediment sample of both cores (N = 14). A total of 211 microplastics were observed in core A (N = 7), and 252 microplastics were observed in core B (N = 7). The mean weight of dry sediment samples was 63.36 g for core A and 52.36 g for core B with a mean of 2.43 plastic fragments per gram of sediment for core A and 4.2 plastic fragments per gram of sediment for core B. Microplastics mainly occurred as fibers (87% of total items observed), followed by sheet (9%), fragment (3%), and beads (1%) (Figure 2). A control sample, i.e., conducting the laboratory method without a sediment sample, presented a maximum of eight microplastic fibers (range = 0–8).
Size Classes of Microplastics Detected
In both cores, the frequency of microplastics increased with a decrease in size class. In core A, 137 microplastics were observed in size class 63 μm, 49 in size class 100 μm, 24 in size class 1 mm, and 1 in size class 4 mm (Figure 3). In core B, 132 microplastics were observed in size class 63 μm, 93 in size class 100 μm, and 27 in size class 1 mm (Figure 3). In core A an unusually high number of microplastics were observed in sample 7.
In each core, we found more microplastics in the upper layer of sediments (more recent) than in the deeper (older) sediments. In core A, 38.9% of microplastics were observed in sample 1 and sample 2 depth classes, whereas only 26.1% of all microplastics were observed in the deeper layers (samples 6 and 7). In core B, we found 68.7% of microplastics in the upper, more recent layers (sample 1 and sample 2) whereas only 11.5% of microplastics were observed in the deeper layers (samples 6 and 7). Smaller microplastics were more common in shallower samples (i.e., there were more microplastics in the smallest size class (<63 μm−100 μm) in sample 1 than in sample 7 (Figure 3). In core A, 20.4% of all 63 μm microplastics were observed in sample 1 whereas only 11.7% in sample 7. In core B, 45.5% of all 63 μm microplastics were observed in sample 1 whereas only 3.0% in sample 7.
Deposition Trend
The number of micro fibers was higher in the shallower (younger) sediment samples. The rate of micro fiber deposition in the sediment correlated strongly with the expected change in production in the study region, based on the annual global plastic production (Figure 4; Table 2). The predicted accumulation model was a better model than the null (AIC: Predicted = 101, Null = 112). As global plastic production increased, the number of micro fibers deposited in sediments significantly increased (p = < 0.05).
Figure 4. The number of observed micro fibers in the sediment cores through time (black dots) (y = 0.6793x + 21.1055) compared to the predicted accumulation of micro fibers in the sediment through time (blue line) (y = 1.208x + 21.294). The predicted values are estimated from the global plastic production values. The red line is the constant level of micro fiber contamination throughout time (y = 21.294). As plastic production did not start until the 1950s, all observed micro fibers pre-1950s are considered contamination.
We observed more microplastics in the upper sediments. In core B there were six times more microplastics present in the top 15 cm (1976 and younger) than in the bottom 22 cm (1799 and older). In core A there were one and a half times the number of microplastics in the top 10 cm (1983 and younger) than in the bottom 22 cm (1799 and older). This observation is likely due to the exposure of upper sediments to a higher proportion of microplastics settling out from the water column. The production of plastics has increased from 100 million tons per year in 1993 to 322 million tons per year in 2015 (PlasticsEurope, 2008, 2016).
The environments for our sediment cores differed; core B was taken 150 m off shore from a relatively high energy position in a deep channel, whereas core A was taken 1,000 m off shore in a large shallow bay with low energy and more rapid sedimentation (Figure 1). Despite the normal low energy dynamics of site core A, it is occasionally subject to the passage of large floods. This scours the embayment with fresh water and greatly changes the potential sources of microplastic contamination for short periods of time. These differences in site conditions could explain the higher concentration of plastics at site B. The site is not subject to large scouring events, thus any deposition is likely to remain in place. In addition, the site is much closer to sewage and stormwater outfall drains, which we found to be sources of plastic pollution in previous work (Willis et al., 2017). This result is similar to those found in other studies, which found higher numbers of plastics at sites closer to storm drain outfalls (Duckett and Repaci, 2015; Horton et al., 2017).
Most microplastics observed were fibers (87%). This phenomenon has been observed in other sediment analyses (MONAS, 2014; Woodall et al., 2015; Zobkov and Esiukova, 2017). Browne (2015) suggests microplastic fibers found in marine habitats may be derived from sewage as consequence of washing clothes. Furthermore, up to 1,770 microplastics have been reporting to leave a waste water treatment plant in effluent water per hour (Magnusson and Norén, 2014). As many outflows enter the Derwent Estuary, they are a probable source for the large quantity of microfibers observed in the samples. Outfalls as a source of micro fibers in the marine environment also indicates the dispersion from source to point of deposition is relatively local.
The strong correlation between the observed micro fibers and the predicted change in plastic production (Figure 4) indicates there is a clear temporal trend in micro fiber deposition in sediments (Table 2). This suggests that as plastic production increases, microplastic pollution is increasing proportionately. This is likely due to an increase in plastic leakage from the waste stream, as has been reported elsewhere (Thompson et al., 2009). The increase in coastal populations has been observed to increase the amount of pollution entering waterways (Jambeck et al., 2015; Lebreton et al., 2017). For example, 40% of Tasmania's population lives around the margins of the Derwent Estuary, with the population doubling between 1950 and 2015 (Carver, 1954; Coughanowr et al., 2015). Hence, older deeper sediments were exposed to an environment with markedly lower population and plastic production rate and less opportunity for plastic contamination than the younger, shallower sediments. This pattern was also observed on Belgian beaches where plastic pollution in sediments had tripled over 20 years (Claessens et al., 2011).
Our results demonstrate micro fibers are present in marine sediments that settled pre-plastic production. Microplastics have been recorded in marine sediments since the 1970s (Gregory, 1977; Shiber, 1979). We expected to only observe microplastics in sediments shallower than 30 cm, as the sediments were aged to be younger than 1954 ± 5 years (Townsend and Seen, 2012). However, we observed micro fibers down to 104 cm. Sediment accumulation rates in Elwick Bay range from 0.4 to 0.7 cm per year (Townsend and Seen, 2012). Hence, sediment at 104 cm would have settled between 149 and 260 years ago (i.e., in 1855 to 1744). Observing micro fibers down to 104 cm does not indicate that microplastics have been settling in sediment for 260 years. Rather it raises concerns that the sediment cores were exposed to micro fiber contamination either during collection or analysis. We calculated the mean frequency of fibers in our samples pre-1950s (i.e., plastic production) to estimate the fraction of fibers from both field and laboratory contamination, which yielded an estimate of up to 17.2 fibers (~60%) per sediment sample due to contamination, which is in line with the estimate of 21 fibers per sample, based on the intercept term in our linear regression (Figure 4). As the exact date that plastic production commenced in the Derwent Estuary is not known the values from the predicted model will give a better estimation of past microplastic levels in the sediment of the Derwent Estuary.
The fine structure of microplastics could enable them to move deeper into the older sediment via mixing due to bioturbation or water flows e.g., storm/flood events and direct transport by animals. This downward transport should affect all microplastic types, however, we only found micro fibers in the older sediment. The high number of fibers observed in the laboratory blanks indicates that the preventative contamination measures employed during laboratory analysis were ineffective. As we were unable to conduct our microscope analysis under a fume hood, airborne fibers could be one point of sample contamination. It is also possible that contamination occurred during the field collection and slicing of the cores. The cores were not originally collected for microplastic analysis. Hence, methods to prevent microplastic contamination were not a component of the field sampling program. We suspect contamination from researcher's clothing and equipment (i.e., synthetic fibers from rope fragmentation; Thompson et al., 2004) or from airborne microplastics (Dris et al., 2015) as the most likely contamination sources. This points to a major issue with the common opportunistic use of sediment samples to look for microplastics in deep sea sediments and other places. The opportunistic nature of sampling questions whether adequate procedures to prevent microplastic contamination were undertaken. Samples in this study and others should be interpreted with contamination in mind as the results showed 20 micro fibers per 50 g of sediment can be due to contamination alone.
Considerably fewer sheet, fragment, and bead microplastics were observed than fibers (13% for these three categories combined). These non-fiber plastics were all observed in the upper sediment layers which suggests there was no contamination issue for these materials. The lower counts of non-fiber microplastics could indicate these microplastics are not a common contaminant in estuaries. However, observer bias is also a likely explanation. Microfibers may be more conspicuous under a microscope due to their unique irregular bent filament shape and commonly settling on top of the other filtered particles (i.e., sediment granules, undigested biological matter, diatom shells). Sheet, fragment, and bead microplastics may be harder to detect as their shapes were more similar to those of undigested plant material and sediment granules. Hence, they could be underrepresented in counts from sediment cores.
We found size class 63 μm had the highest count of microplastics in every sample but one. Eighty-five percent of sediments in Elwick Bay are <63 μm (Koehnken and Eriksen, 2004), reflecting a highly organically enriched depositional area. As both sediments and microplastics are a similar size, it can be inferred that the same forces act on sediment accumulations and microplastics accumulation (Vianello et al., 2013). The high frequency of 63 μm microplastics in sediments is quite different to the size distribution observed from net trawls of the ocean surface. In net trawls, small microplastics (i.e., 100 to 63 μm) are not observed even though they are likely present on the surface (Law et al., 2010; Eriksen et al., 2013). This discrepancy in microplastic sizes may be largely due to the difference in sample analysis (e.g., visual versus microscope identification) (van Sebille et al., 2015) as it would be unlikely or impossible to observe microplastics between 100 and 63 μm solely scanning with the naked eye.
Concluding Remarks
Our study shows that sediments are a useful record of past and present plastic leakage from the waste stream into the marine environment. This is not unlike samples from other parts of the marine ecosystems, including the water column (van Sebille et al., 2015), seabirds (Wilcox et al., 2015), and turtles (Schuyler et al., 2014). Microplastics were present in all samples, even in sediments dated from pre-plastic production. Based on our estimates, current microplastic concentrations in sediment are 115 microplastics, and are increasing at an accelerated rate of 1.208 microplastics per year. Generally speaking, however, the frequency of plastics corresponded with the increase in plastic production and coastal populations. The presence of microplastics in the older sediments indicates there was possible contamination during sampling or laboratory analysis, which is an element that must be carefully considered when estimating microplastics loads and their presumed ubiquity in the marine environment.
Author Contributions
BDH and CW: designed the study; KAW: completed laboratory work and wrote original draft, with contributions by other authors; BDH and RE: provided technical advice and support for laboratory work; RE: collected the samples; CW: completed data manipulation, statistical analyses, and provided technical expertise on manuscript.
All authors were funded by CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Tasmania, Australia.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
The sediment cores for this study were made available by the Derwent Estuary Program, as part of the Coastal Catchments Initiative, and we thank Christine Coughanowr and Mike Rushton. We would like to thank Simon Reeves for providing laboratory space and training researchers in the microplastics sampling methodology used in this work. We thank CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere for supporting this work.
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Keywords: core samples, estuary, microplastics, plastic fibers, sediment
Citation: Willis KA, Eriksen R, Wilcox C and Hardesty BD (2017) Microplastic Distribution at Different Sediment Depths in an Urban Estuary. Front. Mar. Sci. 4:419. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2017.00419
Received: 12 October 2017; Accepted: 07 December 2017;
Published: 19 December 2017.
Edited by:Francois Galgani, French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER), France
Reviewed by:Jongmyoung Lee, Our Sea of East Asia Network, South Korea
Mikaël Kedzierski, FRE3744 Institut de Recherche Henri Dupuy de Lôme (IRDL), France
Copyright © 2017 Willis, Eriksen, Wilcox and Hardesty. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Kathryn A. Willis, email@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


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It is normal for a business owner to dream of success and expanding their business. However, just having a dream is insufficient. If you want to ensure that your firm succeeds, you must also engage in strategic business growth planning.
Unfortunately, many business owners believe that planning is something only giant corporations do. Many owners do not believe it is vital to have business planning abilities. What they don't grasp is that one of the most crucial things you can do for your company is to plan for development. Here are five compelling reasons for this.
You Can Make Better Business Decisions if you Have a Plan
There are decisions to be made, both large and small, from the minute you start your business and every day afterward. Something will frequently force you to make these decisions on the spur of the moment, without the opportunity to consider the benefits and drawbacks of each option.
It's easy to make poor decisions if you don't have a plan. Especially if you're expanding your company by opening additional locations and recruiting new personnel. However, having a sound growth-oriented business plan will lead you to the correct business decisions.
Budgeting is Easier with a Plan
To keep your business spending under control, you'll need a budget. There will be a lot of costs associated with business expansion. An effective strategy ensures that you have enough cash-flow to keep the firm running with the proper mix of income and expenses, even if you must make substantial changes.
You can't start a business without knowing where your money is going. Therefore, cost and budget planning in your firm should consider not just your current condition but also many prospective future possibilities.
Avoid Software Licensing Liabilities with Proper Planning
Today's business environment requires several types of software and licensing. Failure to abide by the terms and conditions of a software license might cause serious consequences. Therefore, it's critical that you have a grasp of software licensing and include it in your business strategy.
Much of the software that businesses use these days can be pricey. So, you should carefully prepare which one you will need for your office right from the start. Don't buy multiple types if you only use one or two.
Change is Easier with a Plan
In business, change is unavoidable and a sign of progress. When you hire new employees and expand your firm to more locations, your business structure needs to grow with everything else.
You might become lost among these changes if you don't have a well-thought-out plan. However, you will not be surprised by unforeseen events if you can establish good business planning tactics for managing whatever changes may arise. Instead, you'll be able to transition smoothly into the next phase of your company.
Planning Allows Your Company to Stay on Top of Infrastructure Changes
In this digital age, technology evolves at a breakneck pace. When running a business, be prepared to conduct periodic upgrades and updates. Being left behind by your industry means competitors will have a detrimental impact on your firm. So, you must devote a significant portion of your business strategy to infrastructure modifications.
The Importance of an MSP in Business Growth Planning
Nobody knows your firm and its goals better than you. But there will be moments when you need expert guidance. Especially in areas outside of your core expertise, such as IT or financial and legal concerns. As a result, partnering with a reputable managed services provider will be a great benefit. Especially if you have big ambitions for the future.
We have all the tools and information for business planning to help you make a smooth and structured transition to any new direction you're planning for your company. If you'd like to learn more, contact us to discuss business growth and the many ways we can help your company.


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Your donation will support the student journalists of Sunny Hills High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.
She has attended the Journalism Education Association- and National Scholastic Press Association-hosted spring and fall 2019 national conventions in Anaheim, Calif., and Washington, D.C., respectively; she received an honorable mention in commentary writing at the D.C. convention.
A piano player for over 10 years, Li is involved in Certificate of Merit. She enjoys telling puns to anyone listening.


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From the middle of the 19th Century public utilities (statutory undertakers) were given powers to break open highways and streets in order to lay their apparatus under the highway and to gain access to it for subsequent maintenance. Without clear statutory authority such interference with the public right of passage would amount to a public nuisance at common law.
The 1950 Street Works Code established under the Public Utilities and Street Works Act 1950 was used for over 40 years to reconcile the competing claims of highway authorities and statutory undertakers. That Act has been replaced by Part III of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA 1991) which attempts to achieve a level of simplicity and flexibility by setting out only the legislative framework and leaving detailed regulation in specific cases to regulations and code of practice. Part III of NRSWA 1991 begins by establishing a definition of the term 'street' which is to apply not only for the purpose of NRSWA 1991 but also for the Highways Act 1980.
A 'street' is defined as:
- the whole or any part of the following irrespective of whether it is a thoroughfare;
- any highway and any road, lane, footway, alley or passage;
- any square or court; and
- any land laid out as a way whether it is for the time being formed as a way or not.
NRSWA 1991 brought all works that may involve the breaking open of a street (other than road works carried out by or on behalf of the highway authority) under the same area of control. As a result persons or bodies who may be granted licences to break open the street by a street authority are required to follow the same procedures as undertakers acting under statutory powers.
NRSWA 1991 places a duty on each street authority (which is generally the highway authority) to co-ordinate street works of all kinds on the highway. Statutory undertakers were also placed under a duty to co-operate in this process. However, NRSWA 1991 failed to achieve the intended level of co-ordination having regard to the multiplicity of utilities which now have the right to open up the road. The Traffic Management Act 2004 sought to deal with the problem of failures in co-ordination by introducing a new permit system for the carrying out of work in streets.
Undertakers are placed under a clear duty under NRSWA 1991 to operate safety measures when carrying out their duties, to avoid delay and obstruction, to ensure proper supervision and to provide adequate facilities for inspection by street authorities.
They are also required to reinstate the street to a permanent standard and to a nationally accepted specification. Fees are chargeable for inspections by the street authority and the costs associated with temporary traffic regulation and the use of alternative routes are recoverable by the street authority.
Executive functions of the Secretary of State under NRSWA 1991 now vest in the Welsh Ministers in relation to Wales with the exception of the function contained in section 167(3).


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Spring 2021 Fellow: DeAndre Johnson, '24 (Undeclared)
Summer 2021 Fellow: Aditi Narayanan, '24 (Environmental Science and Economics)
Office Description
Established in the 1940s, the City of San Jose's Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department the department has provided traditional parks and recreation services for more than 75 years. Over time, it has grown to include nontraditional activities such as senior nutrition and transportation services; preschool and afterschool programs; and gang reduction, intervention, and prevention.
The department's mission is to build healthy communities through people, parks and programs. Its vision is to be a national leader of parks and recreation in cultivating healthy communities through quality programs and dynamic public spaces. To do so, it is guided by the principles of accessibility, inclusiveness, affordability, equity, diversity, sustainability, and flexibility. At a national level, parks and recreation professionals are guided 3 pillars: conservation, health and wellness, and social equity. The department strives to build community through fun, and make and activate quality places in San Jose where people want to live, work, play, and learn. Specifically, the department acquires, constructs, operates, and maintains parkland in 200 neighborhood parks, 9 regional parks, 3 public golf courses, and a host of unique facilities; provides recreational and community programs for youth, teens, adults, seniors, and people with disabilities by operating and partnering to run 50 community centers; and provides gang prevention and intervention services through the Mayor's Gang Prevention Task Force. Recently, it has also begun to offer "placemaking" events and programs that seek to connect diverse San Jose communities to our natural resources and facilities, and to each other.
Potential Projects
The San José Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department (PRNS) is the backbone of the Mayor's Gang Prevention Task Force (MGPTF), a 25-year old collaborative aimed at reducing gang violence. The fellow will be placed with the Strategic Partnerships Unit, the work team that manages the funding arm of the MGPTF and works closely with Community Based Organizations to deliver services to at-risk and gang-impacted youth. As the Strategic Partnerships Unit is housed in the Administrative Services Division of PRNS, the fellow will gain exposure to the breadth of local government work while helping PRNS improve the direct impact of its programs and services. The fellow will work with analysts to explore new strategies to determine how resources can be deployed most effectively. During this research, the fellow will:
- Support the Strategic Partnerships Unit in the research and development of a location-based analysis of community needs and resource allocation.
- Research existing federal, state, and local programs, identifying best practices and innovative approaches;
- Conduct phone interviews and site visits;
- Collect, evaluate, and interpret data, either through quantitative or qualitative analysis;
- Participate in Division and leadership meetings.
Desired Skills
- Demonstrated ability to work well in a team environment; professionalism and maturity for formal and informal situations
- Clear, concise, and convincing writing; ability to summarize complex ideas and data, and prepare presentations including appropriate graphic displays
- Ability to interview City staff and industry experts to gather information
- Comfort working in a variety of settings and with new and often complex government operations
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office
- Previous work experience in a professional/office environment
- Preference for rising juniors and seniors and for those with a career interest in government service


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Nationwide Car Shipping to Alaska is fairly a smooth process. As a consumer, do your due diligence by getting the right information, and choose the right shipping company. Nationwide Car Shipping LLC (NCS) provides auto transport to Alaska from anywhere in the country. Over 20 years experienced in connecting shippers and trucks to and from Alaska.
Our Alaska Car shipping expert can connect your transport from any city in the country. Simply provide the agent with the location of the vehicle been ship, and our partnered truck will pick it up and deliver it to the port. The vehicle will be shipped from the port to Alaska. If you have a question, and need a quote , just simply fill out the Free Quote Form.
How does car shipping to Alaska works with us?
- Door to Door service via our standard land truck services with one of our partnered car carrier all the way to your destination in Alaska.
- We also provide services from port to port, but the vehicle must be picked up at the port in Alaska. It is not a door to door transport service.
These services are popular among our clients. We can do both depending on your budget. Remember that the ground shipping can be a bit pricey because it is a door to door service. Which may also involve multiple carriers.
The popular method of transport is the door to door service where the carrier picks up the vehicle at your door steps and deliver it to Anchorage, AK. At that point, one of our local partnered carrier will pick it up and
deliver to your final destination in Alaska.
The maritime way via shipping through a vessel simply means that we
will deliver your vehicle to a port in the state of Washington. The maritime shipping company will then load it onto the
vessel. The final destination is Anchorage, Alaska, where the vehicle will be ready for pick up at the port.
Shipping your car to Alaska process by our transport specialists advise our customers to
schedule their transport as early as possible. The earlier the better is ideal due to the demand and pricing
Get Your free Car Shipping Quote here


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The firm is organized so emphasis is placed on direct principal involvement in all phases of the work. All project
teams are organized around three primary individuals in the firm, Robert Coffee (Principal and Lead Designer),
Reginald Wilson (Project Architect) and Laura Converse (Project Manager/Designer). Additionally, each project
team includes in-house technical and management staff as well as the appropriate outside consultants to provide
the total range of experience necessary to service the client's needs and goals.
Robert Coffee, Principal-in-Charge: Robert R. Coffee has over 45 years experience in all phases of architecture,
interior design and planning. He has been Senior Designer, Project Architect and Principal-in-Charge of various
project types from office buildings to educational and municipal buildings. He has had extensive experience in
the design of civic and community buildings, particularly libraries and senior/community centers. He is known
for his ability to work with community citizen groups and managing the public consensus building process for
creating responsive community buildings.
Reginald Wilson, Project Architect: Reginald A. Wilson has over 36 years experience in all phases of architecture
with emphasis on the preparation of construction documents, project management and construction administration.
Mr. Wilson's attention to detail is invaluable to the development of the bid documents required by the competitive
bidding process of public projects. During the Construction Administration phase, Mr. Wilson's efforts are focused
on the contractor's correct interpretation of the construction documents and minimizing change orders.
Laura Converse, Project Manager/Designer: Laura Converse has over 19 years experience in all phases of architecture,
interior design, planning, and construction document preparation. Ms. Converse's combination of design and management
skills enables her to function in different roles depending on the size and the type of project. Her ability
to see the big picture, evolve design ideas, manage schedule and budget and keep the focus on detail makes her
an invaluable team member throughout the entire design and construction process.
Our studio is a small close family. We all share a passion for architecture and a desire to always look for ways
to improve ourselves. We understand that our individual talents and interests complement one another and in the
"team" lies our strength. We are all personally committed to exceeding our client's expectations and we take
immense joy in the creative relationship we are able to share with them.


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How Much Will It Cost and How Long Will It Take?
Full Service and Overhaul reseal pressure test with 12-month guarantee
Single Function (time date only)from £175
Chronographfrom £195
Full Service and Overhaul reseal pressure test with 12-month guarantee
Simply come into our branch and we will carry out the battery, resealing and pressure testing within 1 hour.
RWR is the first company to offer door to door watch collection service. This is for those who do not have the time to travel to get their watches professionally repaired.
As some of you are aware, if you take your watch to jewellers or send it direct to manufacturers, you will be waiting around 4 weeks for completion.
So, for those who are not local to our branches, you can send the watch directly to us for repair. Our turnaround time is second to none and we even offer free return postage.


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From Erin Lowry / Bloomberg opinion
Lie down. Credit cards. Installment Loans. We have been "buy now, pay later" practices for decades. The latest model actually bears the title. Startups like Affirm Holdings Inc, Klarna, Afterpay Ltd, and even popular names like PayPal Holdings Inc, dubbed the fintech hottest thing, offer their customers the ability to spread the cost of a purchase across smaller, affordable monthly payments.
Millennials and young Gen X shoppers are flocking to buy apps now and pay later, with Gen Z not far behind. Are these just the next innovations in consumer culture? Or should we worry?
My knee-jerk reaction to slick offers of "interest-free" and "fee-free" funding is skepticism. There is certainly a catch.
Photo: Bloomberg
In general, with free services, you are the product – regardless of whether your data is used or you are forwarded to another company. Many buy now, pay later, or BNPL services have secured partnerships and integrations with well-known retailers such as Amazon.com Inc, Walmart Inc, Macy's Inc, and Bed, Bath & Beyond Inc. Why? Because buy now, pay later Tools encourage people to spend money.
It's the same behavioral statement that we see with credit cards: you have the option to make the purchase now, even if you can't afford it. Studies over the decades have shown that those who use credit cards are more likely to over-spend compared to their cash counterparts. Granted, the relationship between overspending and intangible currency could change as money becomes more digital.
In addition to partnerships and integrations, BNPL Services may also receive a commission from partner distributors for every sale. Some BNPL models have loan offers that charge interest, so it is important for consumers to understand when interest and fees will apply.
The BNPL model certainly also has positive aspects. If you want to make a large purchase without tying up too much cash flow, you can benefit from the option of paying in installments. A friend of mine mentioned that he has to buy now and pay later to buy a crib. Could it have prepaid? Yes sir. Was she going to spend $ 1,200 at a time when she had many other expenses? Nope.
It is worrying, however, that these services are often not used for high-priced items. Electronics and clothing / fashion are the most common purchases made through a BNPL service, according to a survey by Ascent. For example, on Affirm's website you will be asked whether you are "looking for an outfit that inspires". Afterpay's, the fast fashion companies Shein, Old Navy and Crocs are currently among the most popular categories.
It is not necessarily wrong to split the occasional purchase in several installments or to defer payment until later.
However, it is worth questioning the message and integrations targeting younger generations to buy more of what they may not be able to afford.
If these services persist, which is likely, it is wise to consider the most responsible ways of using them.
For those looking to avail of a BNPL loan, the behavior should be similar to that of using a credit card properly. Pay this bill on time and in full every month. Don't buy anything you can't afford when the bill is due. Just because you have access doesn't mean you can actually afford the item.
Even if a BNPL company says they will send SMS and email reminders when an invoice is due, consider setting up your own to make sure there is enough money in your monthly budget to keep your payments under control to keep.
It probably makes the most sense to use a BNPL service for the occasional high volume item, rather than funding impulse purchases or cheaper purchases.
If you plan to use BNPL to make multiple purchases in a short period of time, make sure you keep track of how much of your monthly budget you have already set aside for these installment loans to avoid over-spending.
Even if the service says "no charge" in large letters, be sure to read the fine print and understand what happens if you miss a payment and what interest will be charged on your purchase.
One of the biggest warnings, remember what is funding your BNPL purchase. If you choose to pay by credit card, you can create yourself high-interest credit card debt if you fail to make payments on time. You wouldn't be better off than if you had written everything on the card from the start.
Basically, just because you can buy now, pay later – should you? You can only answer that for yourself, but if you have obsessively overpayed or misused credit cards in the past, be careful with the advent of these services.
Erin Lowry is the author of Broke Millennial, Broke Millennial does the investing and Broke Millennial Talks Money: Stories, Scripts, and Advice to Use on Uncomfortable Financial Conversations.
This column does not necessarily represent the views of the editors or Bloomberg LP or their owners.
Comments are moderated. Keep comments relevant to the article. Comments with offensive and obscene language, personal attacks of any kind or advertising will be removed and the user blocked. The final decision is at the Taipei Times' discretion.


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'Attitude' gets sixth-grader handcuffed
A Colorado sixth-grader was handcuffed and taken to a juvenile holding facility for disobeying an assistant principal and being "argumentative and extremely rude," according to an incident report.
"She told me that I need to quit giving her my attitude," Yajira Quezada was quoted by NBC affiliate KUSA TV as saying of the administrator at Shaw Heights Middle School in Westminster, a suburb of Denver. Read more from msnbc.com.
Jeffco teacher accused of sexual assaults passed state background check
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colo. — A Jefferson County substitute teacher charged with sexually assaulting a 6th grade girl, had a long history of sexual assault accusations FOX 31 Denver has learned.
But 47-year-old Vincente Vitela passed a Colorado Department of Education background check, despite several complaints filed with the state by Denver Public Schools. Read more from the CW at KWGN.com.
Bullying prevention on educators' minds
THORNTON, Colo. — To date, more than 9,000 educators, school mental health professionals and safety teams have been given training in how to identify bullies and their victims.
"We want to give these folks the educational tools they need to help carry out the new laws relating to bullying," said Christine Harms, of the School Safety Resource Center. "House Bill 1254 strengthened Colorado's bullying prevention efforts by protecting students from attacks based on disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, ancestry or the need for special education services." Read more from Fox 31 Denver at KDVR.com.
My View: It's time to change schools' culture of misery
Misery has become the norm for young people in school – the Ohio school shooting last week and the case of the Rutgers University cyber-bullying suicide are only the most high-profile of recent related fatalities.
Such despairing actions like suicides and shootings aren't aberrations. Kids across America are distressed and crying out for help in different ways. When they abuse substances, cut themselves, sink into debilitating depression and paralyzing anxiety, become truant, drop out of school or commit suicide or school shootings, they are saying the same thing: It is too much to bear. Read more from CNN.com.
Justice Department hails Minn. school settlement
MINNEAPOLIS—A settlement with Minnesota's largest school district over the harassment and bullying of students who are gay, or perceived to be gay, should serve as a model for other schools in the U.S., federal officials said Tuesday.
The Anoka-Hennepin School Board agreed Monday night to strengthen the district's efforts to prevent sex-based harassment. Assistant U.S. Attorney Greg Brooker told reported during a conference call Tuesday that several provisions that are part of the settlement shouldn't cost much for other school districts to adapt, such as conducting anti-bullying surveys; creating a committee of students, parents and teachers to discuss what's working and what's not; identifying "hot spots" on school grounds and on buses that need better supervision; and peer leadership training. Read more from the Boston Globe.
Black students face more discipline, data suggests
Black students, especially boys, face much harsher discipline in public schools than other students, according to new data from the Department of Education.
Although black students made up only 18 percent of those enrolled in the schools sampled, they accounted for 35 percent of those suspended once, 46 percent of those suspended more than once and 39 percent of all expulsions, according to the Civil Rights Data Collection's 2009-10 statistics from 72,000 schools in 7,000 districts, serving about 85 percent of the nation's students. The data covered students from kindergarten age through high school. Read more from the New York Times.
About our First Person series:
First Person is where Chalkbeat features personal essays by educators, students, parents, and others trying to improve public education. Read our submission guidelines here.


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If a patient has been diagnosed with an inherited clotting disorder such as factor V Leiden, his or her family members might also be affected and should be tested. Testing of family members allows for appropriate preventive healthcare management and for individuals to make informed decisions about their healthcare. This information may be helpful in medical decision making in certain circumstances, such as pregnancy, type of birth control utilized, and surgery.
Family members who might be at risk for these conditions may visit a hematologist to have this testing performed. Many hemophilia treatment centers provide this testing and education for affected individuals. In addition, the IHTC also has a genetic counselor who can explain this testing and the test results to patients and their families.
The IHTC has an expert medical team with years of experience in the diagnosis of clotting disorders and anticoagulation management. The IHTC's registered dietitian provides information and advice on diet-related issues that affect anticoagulant medications, particularly warfarin.
Warfarin requires frequent laboratory testing to check to see if your blood thinner is working correctly. The IHTC can coordinate this with your local physician's laboratory and contact you with recommendations based on the results.
The IHTC offers international normalized ratio testing by fingerstick at our office. We also have coordinated home monitoring for patients on long-term warfarin.
The IHTC regularly works with surgeons, dentists, and any other provider to develop a plan for stopping and restarting your blood thinner before and after the procedure.
The IHTC provides pregnancy plans for the management of labor and delivery for women who are using blood thinners. We coordinate the plan with your OB/GYN to help you have the best outcome.


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12 December, 2019
On December 5, the Department of Criminal Cases of the Supreme Court (Senate) upheld the judgment of the Riga Regional Court, which found the accused guilty and convicted for participating in the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine by training young soldiers. The Senate acknowledged that the appellate court has examined the evidence obtained in the case, assessed its relevance, admissibility, and reliability in accordance with the requirements of the Criminal Procedure Law. The appellate court based its findings on regulatory enactments and evidence evaluated in detail, including the finding that the accused "as a member of an armed military unit, using firearms, trained new participants in the armed conflict on the construction and use of a firearm, is to be assessed as active and unlawful participation in an armed conflict directed against the territorial integrity of another state".
In the decision, the Senate indicates that it has no legal basis to question the lawfulness of the judgment of the appellate court in the part regarding the acquittal of the accused under Section 891, Paragraph two of the Criminal Law, namely for leading a criminal organization or participating in war crimes committed by such an organization. The appellate court, examining the evidence obtained and verified in the case, agreed with the first-instance court's opinion and rejected the prosecutor's opinion, which was repeated in the cassation protest, recognizing that no competent international institution had established and recognized legally binding that any the groups involved in the conflict are considered to be criminal groups. The decision of the Senate is not subject to appeal.
By the judgment of the Riga Regional Court of February 11, 2019, the accused was sentenced to 5 years' imprisonment and 2 years' probation supervision. In accordance with Section 52, Paragraph five of the Criminal Law, the time spent in detention from February 3, 2016 to August 4, 2017 has been included in the term of the sentence.
Baiba Kataja, the Press Secretary of the Supreme Court
Tel.: +371 67020396; e-mail: email@example.com


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Boston's nonprofit institutions need to pay their fair share.
The Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program is supposed to make that happen as nonprofits do not currently pay property taxes and 49 percent of city land is occupied by non-taxable entities.
It is not a new problem, but as the Herald's Brooks Sutherland reports, the PILOT Action Group says its new report shows that the 49 largest institutions in the city have failed to pay over $77 million in promised payments under the PILOT program. The report states that in fiscal 2018, only 26 percent have paid the promised amount.
According to the report, educational institutions are among the biggest culprits. The report states that under PILOT, Harvard was requested to pay $6,091,588 for 2017 but actually contributed only $3,201,702. Boston College paid $335,252, which is $1,410,098 less than the requested amount in 2017; while $8,052,510 was requested from Boston University and $6,100,000 was received. Northeastern University paid $1,300,000, which was reported to be $4,181,710 less than the requested PILOT amount.
Enid Eckstein, who co-authored the report, said these are all institutions that can afford to pay.
"We believe very much that these institutions have a responsibility in our city," Eckstein said. "We believe the PILOT program was a start when it was established seven years ago to look at what is the responsibility of these institutions to our city."
It is ridiculous that these institutions are not meeting their obligations and thus depriving Bostonians of valuable city services and opportunities. It is unfair on its face.
It's even more outrageous that the universities benefit from all the resources the city has to offer without paying a dime in property taxes in the first place.
City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George told the Herald the issue is a "fairly significant challenge that the city is facing."
"Our residents across the city regularly have their tax value reassessed," Essaibi George said. "We should hold institutions accountable. These are institutions with very successful business models, but because of their label, they're avoiding taxes. These are dollars that could contribute to the city."
Mayor Martin J. Walsh must do more to compel these institutions to do the right thing. Smaller businesses and private citizens deserve some relief, and our universities can certainly afford to contribute their due amount.
In a related note, perhaps it's time to rethink the concept of "tax-exempt" institutions. Our universities are colossal businesses, and they charge monstrous tuitions. According to a 2017 Boston Business Journal article, Suffolk University's endowment is $232 million, Boston University's is $1.9 billion and Harvard's is $37.1 billion.
Sounds like a NINO (Nonprofit in Name Only) situation if there ever was one.
Things are good on campus. Now it's time to pay for the various city services and resources that keep it that way.


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So, the restrictions for poultry have increased to full containment from the 14th December. This is problematic for me as I rely on ranging as the birds' outdoor area and many of my coops – although they have runs attached – are not big or secure enough to house the occupants full time. Hens do need a remarkable amount of exercise and fresh grazing and mine are used to being out for at least a few hours every day, with some of the younger pullets being out the whole day. I have 3 cockerels and a youngster too – who is just starting to crow:
As you can see, he and his sister are in a very small bantam coop but as they just use it to sleep and have their breakfast, it doesn't matter. You can see I have put the coop up on legs, or rather, chopped up pallet surrounded with chicken wire. This is a really good way to make more space as it uses the same footprint but means there is a dry area under the house for bathing and feeding, and you can put a perch as I have done to allow them to sit off the ground. The weight of the the coop keeps it in place so this is something I will be doing to my other bantam coop. Don't worry about the height: remember chickens like to roost in trees, and I have seen a coop where it was 8′ off the ground sitting atop a telegraph pole, with a tiny spindly ladder leading to the pophole and that was enough to keep them safe from foxes. One needed a stepladder to clean them and collect the eggs but it's a thought.
This youngster, who is called Nelson, can go in with my 3 Light Sussex hens as Robert their original cockerel sadly died, although having spoken to the vet we decided it was a heart problem rather than avian flu. One of the hens is rather mean though, and I am concerned that the little ginger pullet might get picked on. My cockerels all get on pretty well but some of the hens really hate each other! It's probably quite surprising to people who simply regard chicken as something to eat just how sophisticated their flock dynamics and personalities can become. They definitely have best friends as well as ones they dislike and avoid, or dislike enough to pick a fight.
I have 6 coops to house my 23 chickens, so that's 20 hens of various ages, and 3 boys. My coops hold up to 6 large fowl, apart from the bantam coop I have which holds 3 bantams but is currently the roosting spot for 4 pullets…hmm, that will certainly need to be dealt with.
I bought really good coops when I first started keeping poultry from a company who construct them here in the UK as the build quality is essential – don't be fooled by some of the cheaper coops. They are meant to either be moved around or kept on sleepers to prevent rot to the bases, but mine sit on the ground and stay put, so the bars have rotted. I am hoping that if I shore up the runs and add perches, and add some extra support to the coops, I will be able to move them around. The alternative is to sit them up either on a structure (as seen above with Nelson), or on pallets or sleepers so I can sit wood chip in the recess and keep the substrate clean and the wood protected from the mud.
Poultry are inquisitive and intelligent, and if they are being confined, they need plenty of entertainment to stop them becoming depressed or bickering amongst themselves. Thankfully this is a time of year when there are plenty of tasty treats such as brassicas and squashes to give them things to peck at, which not only replaces some of the greenery they would naturally have, but also provide them with stimulation. If you are digging over your compost heap, throw a few spadefuls in to their run for them to find insects and worms.
Keeping their bedding fresh is also important as they may end up roosting earlier, and soiled shavings are unpleasant and can cause respiratory problems – and makes the eggs mucky too (if you're lucky enough to still be getting eggs at this time of year!).
I do need to find a way of containing the chickens as I have sacrificed my garden to them for the last 10 years, and having a solution which solves the problems of keeping chooks healthy and happy, but also allowing me to grow some plants to maturity would be wonderful! This is the second time in my chicken keeping journey that the birds have been required to be confined by law and given that our demand for cheap food doesn't seem to be going anywhere, it will likely become a regular occurrence. Interestingly I was reading about avian flu, and apparently it was THIS which was assumed to spark the next flu pandemic according to this 2007 article in the AJHP.
Consequently, in spite of the inconvenience, I will be putting measures in place so that I can keep me, my poultry, and my wild bird community safe, but surely the time to address the industrial faming of poultry – for so many reasons – has come?


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Jimi IoT announced the third device launched in Q1, 2021, the 4G LTE Vehicle Tracker JM-VL03. The JM-VL03 adopts LTE Cat 1 technology, which is one of the most widely used communication technologies in IoT industry, and has formed an impressive coverage all over the world with its wider bandwidth, faster peak rate, and competitive cost-performance.
This device supports 9-90V input voltage, making it compatible with a variety of vehicles including car, bus, truck, trailer, as well as diverse heavy equipment such as excavator, loader, tractor, and more.
Depending on a specific program helping monitor the status of battery, this device can prevent your vehicle battery from failure or draining out – when battery anomaly is detected, you will get quick notification of the emergency.
Featuring black appearance, small size, and high concealability, JM-VL03 is suitable for automotive risk control, vehicle supervision and anti-theft campaign.
Source: jimilab.com


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We know already that Bath was THE place to be seen in – in Georgian England but – for the well-to-do who flocked here – there was more to 'the season' than just bathing and balls.
Away from the thermal waters and the glitter of the Assembly Room gatherings – and if gout or the dropsy wasn't getting you down – there were the city's pleasure gardens to enjoy.
Forget the prim and proper parks of the Victorians, these were private grounds that offered everything from outdoor dining to fireworks, music and even the odd balloon ascent.
All for the price of an entry ticket.
Local author and publisher Kirsten Elliott has spent years researching the Bath acreage dedicated to the pursuit of pleasure for her new book No Swinging on Sundays – The Story of Bath's Lost Pleasure Gardens – published by The Akeman Press.
I met up with her in Sydney Gardens – itself the sole survivor of a Georgian 'Vauxhall' or pleasure garden – and a public green space about to be transformed with the aid of Lottery Fund money.
Just how popular were these amusement parks for adults?
Find out more about this book – and others regarding local history – via https://www.akemanpress.com


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text: Neck Exercises–Part 2 September 15, 2012September 9, 2012 | Amy Ever have one of those days where you've justbeen at the computer too long. Your neck and shoulders are stiff and sore? Maybe it's time for a few exercises. Ready? 1 and and 2 and 1 and 2 and rest. Better? Yeah I thought so. AdvertisementShare this:ShareEmailLinkedInTwitterFacebookPinterestLike this:Like Loading... Related


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Oh say, what is truth?
I'll Be Back When
Progress is the process and completion is the goal. Sometimes quitting is progress.
Taking a Break from Public View
To Give You Words
It won't be terribly obvious because it is still the longest blog name you've ever forgotten over and over, but I now own a domain. I can now perch atop my throne of words and look over my kingdom with an air of superiority like the cat my family just adopted. Ah, taking in my … Continue reading To Give You Words
A Little Bit's Enough
Where sexual struggles meet personal revelation. [Mature Content for a Mature Audience]
Boy, You're Gonna Carry That Weight
The kids think it's three stories tall, but this home has only one story. Here it is.
The Right Words
A word in the abstract doesn't mean much until you've experienced it in the concrete. "Political correctness" can help you appreciate the difference by simply believing another's experience.
So Pay Attention Now
The difference we make starts with paying attention.
Make It Go Away
If you think the ship of racism has sailed, think again. There's a reason anti-racism keeps resurfacing. Its song sounds louder and louder because we haven't listened
Every Generation Blames the One Before
Criticism may seem helpful, but is just another form of blame, and it can tear you to shreds.


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Despite the presence of an alligator on stage, this new ENO production of Handel's 1724 opera gets off to a rather slow start, quite an achievement when it features Anna Christy's Cleopatra singing her first aria while sitting astride the alligator's back, pulling shiny wet eggs out of it and passing them around. In fact, giant alligator aside, it feels like we might be in for a long night.
This collaboration with Michael Keegan-Dolan of Ireland's Fabulous Beast Dance Theatre is an odd union and one which doesn't always work. In some of the early scenes, the performers, dressed as ravens and clad in spangly leotards with enormous black wings, most closely resemble Top of the Pops' backing dancers, their sequins looking cheap compared with the theatre's ornate interior. Then Caesar enters sans trousers, carrying a bunch of helium balloons. While Lawrence Zazzo is a renowned and skilful counter-tenor, he has a way of jerking and shivering as he sings which is jarring to watch; fortunately Keegan-Dolan's production allows for and anticipates audience laughter.
The comedy of the piece feels deliberately awkward. It plays on the constant threat, inherent in all opera, of becoming a parody of itself; if anything the production seems to relish this potential. Tim Mead, as Ptolemy, Cleopatra's brother and Caesar's sworn enemy is magnificent; a deranged dandy, he drags a dead giraffe's severed head across the stage and removes its tongue, forcing Cornelia, his prisoner, to eat it. The alligator eggs reappear as croquet balls, to be placed in his victims' mouths as he prances about, decadent and evil, singing about hatred with a delighted smile.
Keegan-Dolan's visual confidence is invigorating. Act Three opens with every prop seen so far scattered across the stage to create a menacing looking nursery. The tableaux is rich and impressive, with Cleopatra's floor-length tutu making her appear doll-like, as she sits tied to a chair in the centre of the stage. The dancing ravens even make a return, but this time the offending leotards are gone, and they are slumped around the stage, their make up smudged, suffering in the aftermath of a tragic fancy dress party. In contrast with their awkward earlier appearance, they flock towards their despairing Queen with perfect choreography as she sings, covering her with their wings. These dancers also steal the final scene, performing a nuanced enactment of falling in love as Cleopatra and Caesar sing.
Yet despite its energy and visual invention, the production is not without problems. The numerous power struggles and erotic maneuvering which this opera is famous for are almost entirely absent and the use of guns and cowboy outfits – perhaps intended to draw a parallel between this Roman superpower and the US – all feels a little like knock-off Baz Luhrmann.
That said the production contains moments of delicious battiness. As Sesto, here played by Daniela Mack rather than a male performer, swears to avenge her father, the dancers pull stockings over their faces and perform a kind of surreal gimp dance. It's the contrast of this lunatic imagery with the earnestness of the music that really sticks in the memory.


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Newsletter June '10
As many of you know this month saw the release of WordPress 3.0. In addition we at Tribulant also managed to get out a major release with Newsletters 3.8 besides the heightened excitement over the FIFA World Cup, life has progress as normal for us at Tribulant. Other news includes the updating of documentation for […]Continue Reading
Ticket System
The ticket system is up and running. Please use this for help and support requests. Please do not use the forum as it has been discontinued for the moment and users will be redirected to the ticket system. If you have any old or outstanding queries that we posted on the forum, please open a […]Continue Reading
Support and things to come
Antonie has asked me to start contributing to the blog. In this, my first post, I want to deal with a number of pressing issues: Support Firstly support has become a problem. The following will be implemented to improve matters. I will be dealing with support queries. A support ticket system is to be implemented. […]Continue Reading
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Soccer Players
The Civil Police closed a luxury casino in São Paulo in the early hours of Sunday and arrested 200 people. In addition to being illegal, the establishment disrespected the state decree that prohibits parties and agglomerations during the pandemic.
The Flamengo soccer player, Gabriel_Barbosa (Gabigol) was among the detained.
This Sunday's edition of the newspaper El Mundo exclusively unveils Leo Messi's contract with FC Barcelona. The contract dates to 2017, covering four seasons for a total of 555 million euros and it is "the sum of a fixed salary, image rights, a series of multi-million euro bonuses unheard of to date, allowances and a string of variables depending on various objectives".
According to the newspaper, Messi has already secured 92% of the contract, despite the team's setbacks in the Champions League's recent seasons, the competition that has the highest bonuses.
Barcelona denied "any responsibility for the publication of this document".
Japanese soccer legend Kazuyoshi Miura is set to play another season after extending his contract with Yokohama FC. Miura will be aged 54 when the season starts.
The striker is one of the most revered sportsmen in Japan and was at the forefront of the country's football boom in the early 1990s when he was the poster boy of the newly launched league in 1993.
The Guinness World Record for the oldest professional footballer is held by Israeli Isaak Hayik, who played in goal last April for Israel's Ironi Or Yehuda, aged 73.
Poland and FC Bayern München striker Lewandowski was named The Best FIFA Men's Player for the first time in his career.
Likewise, defender Lucy Bronze is also a maiden recipient of The Best FIFA Women's Player Award after rounding off an impeccable spell with Olympique Lyonnais in style before returning to England to play for Manchester City WFC. 12).
Jurgen Klopp was declared the winner after a close race with Hans-Dieter Flick (FC Bayern München), with the outcome, decided on voting by the national team coaches.
France Football announced Monday its all-time Ballon d'Or soccer Dream Team after voting by 140 journalists:
- Lev Yashin
- Cafú
- Paolo Maldini
- Franz Beckenbauer
- Lothar Matthäus
- Xavi
- Diego Maradona
- Pelé
- Messi
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Ronaldo
According to the new FIFA regulations, professional female soccer players worldwide should be able to take paid maternity leave. For at least 14 weeks, two-thirds of the salary will be paid, and discrimination based on pregnancy will be prohibited. Also, clubs will be obliged to reintegrate the players after their return and to provide medical support. Now the FIFA Council still has to approve the new regulations.
The soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona died on Wednesday morning at the house in the San Andres neighborhood, in the city of Tigre, where he lived for some days after having been operated on the head. Maradona has died at the age of 60 after suffering a cardiac arrest.
Maradona, regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, helped Argentina win the World Cup in 1986, the pinnacle of an illustrious career.
Argentina football legend Diego Maradona underwent successful brain surgery for a subdural hematoma on Tuesday after he was admitted to a hospital a day earlier.
"I was able to evacuate the hematoma successfully, and Diego tolerated the surgery very well," Leopoldo Luque, Maradona's neurosurgeon and personal physician, told reporters outside the Olivos clinic in Buenos Aires province where dozens of fans were gathered.
Santos and striker Robinho announced on Friday the suspension of the contract between the club and the player, who had agreed his return on October 10.
The decision comes after pressure from advisers, sponsors and the disclosure by the Brazilian media of excerpts from the Italian court sentence that sentenced Robinho and a friend to nine years in prison for group sexual violence against a young woman of Albanian origin.
Former Brazilian International, Robinho also played for Real Madrid, Manchester City, Milan and, most recently, İstanbul Başakşehir.
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski was named Europe's best male footballer of 2020 on Thursday by the UEFA, European football's governing body.
The 2019/20 season was one of the greatest in Bayern's 120-year history, and no player contributed more to it than Lewandowski. The Poland striker scored in every game en route to the UEFA Champions League final in Lisbon, picking up 15 goals and six assists as well as the trophy he had coveted for so long. He also hit 34 goals in 31 Bundesliga matches and six in five German Cup games.


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February 22, 2016
Peace in our Thyme All is tranquil and quiet inside our spice cabinet.
Posted by: The Brickmuppet at
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Elsewhere however:
Iran is preparing to launch another satellite. This is, of course, impossible, since such activities were forbidden by the recent nuclear agreement. Oddly enough, the Simorgh launcher seems to be very close design-wise to the North Korean Unha launcher that launched a similarly forbidden payload into orbit earlier this year. That could indicate close cooperation with the DPRK on weapons development, which would mean that Iran might be continuing its nuclear program abroad. That's silly of course since such an unlikely development would render the whole Iran agreement nothing more than...
In what is surely unrelated news, North Korea seems to be readying another nuke test.
All evidence points to a Chinese crackup, or an explosion of violence against its neighbors and the United States, or both
Meanwhile, Here is a map of all the cultural heritage sites that have been razed or attacked by ISIS and its affiliates.
This Foreign Policy Article is behind a paywall, but its headline gives a short, but comprehensive overview of the world situation.
That piece does cover everything but I prefer to leave on an upbeat note and one bright side to all this is that the disappearance of dangerous nuclear material in Iraq is actually pretty low on the threat list.
UPDATE: As Steven pointed out in the comments section, that missing nuclear material was found...in a gas station in Iraq.
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Post contains 253 words, total size 4 kb.
1 They found that radioactive material in Iraq. Whew!
Posted by: Steven Den Beste at Mon Feb 22 16:03:58 2016 (+rSRq)
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