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Don't be surprised if, in fall 2015, you see Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra in a prominent role in Scandal, Modern Family, Agents of Shield or any other popular ABC show!
The Indian film actress and international singer has signed a talent holding deal with ABC Studios, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
"Under the one-year pact, ABC will either develop a starring vehicle for Chopra or cast the actress in an existing project set for fall 2015," states THR.
Talking about this latest career development, Chopra said, "To a storyteller, each platform of performance offers its own artistic challenges, and if you have a good story to tell, regardless of the platform, audiences will follow.
I've been a longtime fan of ABC shows, and an admirer of how the network has changed the landscape of TV through the diversity of their lead characters. As an intrinsic creative, I am drawn to opportunities that test me in new ways. I'm honored by the opportunity to share my talent with a game-changing network, and I'm very much looking forward to participate in this new endeavor."
ABC executive Keli Lee, who played a major role in casting Scandal's Kerry Washington, Modern Family's Sofia Vergara and Grey's Anatomy's Sandra Oh as part of the network's diversity push, closed the deal with Chopra.
Incidentally, this will not be Chopra's first association with the studio. The deal comes after she had voiced a role in Disney's 2013 animated feature - Planes.
Check out her first international music video Exotic ft. Pitbull:


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Welcome to 8th Grade, scholars!
Last year was full of laughter, challenges, and a lot of growth. While we know that you're excited (and probably nervous) about graduation in June, don't forget that we have a lot of work to do until then. We're excited for the year ahead! Let the good times roll! -8th Grade Teacher team

subset: commoncrawl


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All of the students in a single grade work on one folktale or story over the course of 4 days. Each day the students work for approximately 1 hour. The first three days involve getting to know the story, learning theater performance skills and practicing how to tell the story. The fourth day is the performance.
It is important to match the story to your curriculum. Our stories are drawn from around the world, from Massachusetts to Cairo to Beijing. Many of our stories come from East Asia, West Africa and Central America. If we don't already have the story that fits your curriculum, we can research one and prepare it to use as an In-School Adventure!
The program can be run in your school's gym, cafeteria and/or theater. The same space does not have to be used each day.
The benefits of one grade performing together include:
In our productions, every student has a role and characters do not simply stand about while a narrator tells the story. The students in these clever adventures - no matter how young - speak lines together. The Narrator keeps them on track, acting like a safety harness, letting them know it is impossible for them to fail.
Students work on the script, with expert direction, learning how to:
A song from the region (or inspired by the region) teaches performers how:
The dance accompanying the song has fun, easy-to-remember choreography reinforcing the ideas that:
Masks, costumes, set and props are the frosting on the cake that help the students' minds develop as they:
In-School Adventures is a cultural enrichment program that makes culture come to life through story, song and dance. It is a chance for an entire grade to work together and earn a deeper understanding of a region or topic in the curriculum. Through practicing the folktale, students come to know a region, its people, traditions, and challenges in a lasting and tangible way. By performing the story to other schoolmates, teachers and family, students become part of the narrative tradition of passing along history.
"Our featured performers, their families, and our staff members were totally engaged as your magical, musical folktale journey captured their attention and hearts. ...You bring out the drama from within everyone involved, even a typically reserved child... the unsolicited feedback was overwhelming... You were the talk of the school and town!"
— Margaret E. Donohoe, Principal, Fannie E. Proctor School


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A magistrate's court in Kiboga on Wednesday sentenced a total of 76 poachers to a fine of 100,000 shillings each or serving a four month jail term after they pleaded guilty to the charges of illegal hunting and being in possession of wildlife species.
The US ambassador to Uganda HE Scott DeLisi on March 14,2013 visited Murchison Falls National Park ad launched the USAID funded Tourism for Biodiversity Program implemented by African Wildlife Foundation.Below are his remarks he nmade at the launch held at Budongo Eco Lodge.
What a pleasure it is to be here this afternoon. Not only do I have the opportunity to launch our newest USAID partnership in Uganda, the Tourism for Biodiversity Program, but I get to do it here in one of the most beautiful regions of Uganda. All we have to do is look around us to know exactly why Uganda is called the "Pearl of Africa." From the awe-inspiring Murchison Falls and the park's abundant wildlife, to the diverse bird and primate populations of the Budongo Forest, you cannot help but be a bit humbled by the tremendous natural beauty of our planet and the richness and abundance that exists around us.
We all have different ways of enjoying that beauty. For some it is the grandeur of the Nile. For others it is the quiet beauty of the open savannah that I enjoyed so much in Kidepo National Park. Or perhaps it is the mystery and majesty of the lush forests teeming with birds, butterflies, and insects.
We all enjoy and treasure this beauty, no? We take pride in it, as if it were our creation. We nod our heads in approval when it is called the Pearl of Africa. But, my friends, what have we done to preserve what nature has blessed us with? To protect it. To preserve it for our children, and their children, and for those generations we will not be here to see?
The beauty and diversity adds richness to our lives and can add riches to the nation's purse but only if we ensure that we protect the heritage with which we have been blessed. And that is what today is about.
We're here to launch a new program that will help Ugandans to preserve their heritage so that it can be shared with all the nation's citizens and with the world. The Tourism for Biodiversity Project is a cooperative agreement with those who know first-hand Uganda's natural beauty and the urgent need to protect it: the Uganda Wildlife Authority, the National Forestry Authority, Nature Uganda, and the Uganda Community Tourism Association.
Their mission, to preserve Uganda's natural gifts, is also part of a global mission, and this second decade of the century has been designated as the United Nations Decade of Biodiversity. We want to do our part, and through the Tourism for Biodiversity program, the American people plan to provide up to 10 million dollars over the next four years for tourism and biodiversity conservation in Uganda.
Protecting biodiversity. Those are words we hear often, but what do they really mean? Simply put, it is about preserving and protecting the habitat and number of different species present in Uganda's ecology and ensuring that their natural range is not so limited and disrupted that their existence is put at risk.
It is a goal that is simple to state but infinitely complex in its execution. Think, for example about birds in Uganda. There are over 1060 species that have been recorded in this nation and, here in the Albertine Rift alone, there are over 37 endemic species that are found nowhere else on this planet. Then there are the mammals, reptiles, insects, trees, and plants, and a million other biological treasures that are unique to Africa, the region, and Uganda itself.
You may, however, still be asking "why?". Why should I care about a red-faced warbler when we struggle to educate our children? Why should I worry about protecting chimps when they raid the crops that feed my family? The answer that "it is important for global biodiversity" doesn't solve the challenges Ugandan citizens face. But if protecting bio-diversity puts money in your pockets, if it helps pay school fees, if it supports the health clinic or pays for the new road that gives you easier access to regional markets and services, then it makes sense not just globally, but locally. And the Tourism for Biodiversity Project, working through Ugandan partners, seeks to protect Uganda's natural heritage and make it accessible to the world in a way that enriches and strengthens local communities.
President's Obama's U.S. Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa emphasizes "boosting broad-based economic growth" as critical to Africa's development. And for Uganda, tourism is one of the least appreciated and most underdeveloped sources of economic growth. By preserving the natural world around us while making it more accessible to tourism, we can give Uganda a resource that will last for all time.
Our commitment to this effort is strong. Since the 1980's, the American people have provided over 100 million dollars in development assistance to support conservation in Uganda. We demonstrated to the Government of Uganda that tourism is an engine for economic growth through the recently-completed Sustainable Tourism in the Albertine Rift (STAR) project. We partnered with the Uganda Community Tourism Association and the Uganda Tourism Board and had he support of leading conservation agencies as we focused on benefiting communities. Results were promising, with participating communities seeing a 27 percent increase in their incomes as a result of the project. But we want to see more. Much more. We can do even better.
For example, one of the things we learned from past programs is the need to strengthen the links between tourism development and biodiversity conservation. Biodiversity conservation is now the primary goal of all USAID/Uganda's environmental activities. We also learned the importance of working with local communities to ensure they help in the protection of biodiversity for tourism while reaping the largest possible benefit from it.
The program we are launching today will use tourism to deliver conservation in selected protected areas and central forest reserves. It will increase the capacity of Ugandans to manage their nation's biodiversity. It will also improve the marketing of ecotourism and provide local communities with the opportunity to develop tourism businesses and services, giving them a stake in the preservation of their own country's natural resources, increasing the economic benefits they receive from living next to protected areas, and reducing the threats to Uganda's wide variety of wildlife and habitats across the landscape.
There was a time when Uganda was a prime tourist destination in eastern Africa, and tourism was one of the country's most important economic sectors. Sadly, that is no longer true and has not been true for decades. But we are making significant progress toward redevelopment of the national park infrastructure and recovery of its animal populations. We are engaging communities, giving them reason to invest in protecting biodiversity, and seeking to shape Ugandan tourism in a way that will benefit those who make that investment. It is a very exciting. and promising time and I believe that together we can shape a new narrative about Uganda's future.
The institutions and policies are in place. Uganda's natural beauty is unique, something people around the world are willing to travel long distances – and pay lots of money – to see. But, competition for those tourists is fierce, however, and to be successful, government, local leaders, park authorities, tour operators, and resort owners must work together to bring tourism infrastructure and services up to international standards while preserving biodiversity at the same time.
The U.S. Government will continue supporting the Government of Uganda in its endeavors on the road to economic development, especially in the tourism sector. As in any partnership, the Government of Uganda needs to do its part as well. The Government needs to recognize that biodiversity must be protected if long-term, sustainable development is to be achieved. And it must recognize that quality infrastructure must be developed to convince tourists to visit more parks, stay longer, and spend more money.
As I travelled through Murchison Falls National Park yesterday and today, I saw at first hand some of the other challenges facing us. Bush fires, poaching, population pressures, habitat destruction, and more, all pose threats to biodiversity. In addition, we need to ensure that such important development projects as oil drilling, or the Ayago power project, are managed in such a way that biodiversity is not irreversibly harmed. These are not easy issues and the temptation to seek "quick wins" or short-term economic benefits has to be rejected in favor of carefully considered and balanced long-term goals for development, resource protection, and preservation. The challenges ahead appear enormous, but they can be overcome.
To do so, partnership is critical. None of us alone can face all these obstacles. But together – as partners – our collective ingenuity, creativity, expertise and energy can tackle every one of them, and bring us to a day when tourism in Uganda will be a model for the world.
And so, let us begin this important work, right here, right now. It is with great pleasure that the U.S. Mission, in partnership with the Government of Uganda, launches the Tourism for Biodiversity program. I believe that together we can make a difference and I hope that someday your grandchildren, and mine, will be the beneficiaries of what we begin.
The Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Hon. Maria Mutagamba on Friday March 15, briefed the media on Uganda's participation at the just conclude International Travel Berlin. Below is her statement.
Laura Sonnino,94, from Italy on March 14,2013 became the oldest person to have tracked mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in South western Uganda . Born on 20/5/1919, Laura Sonnino successfully tracked the Nkuringo Gorilla Family where she viewed the playful apes.
Laura says she had tried to track Gorillas in Buhoma in 2002 but failed to see them because of the difficult terrain .Tracking Gorillas being her life dream, this time she had everything arranged in advance for her tracking to be a success.
She hired 12 strong porters who carried her on a stretcher to and from the Gorillas location at a fee of 300 US dollars. She did it in a record time because by 11.30 am she was already back from tracking. The last recorded oldest person to have tracked the much sought after gorillas was 82.Congratulations Laura for that feat.
Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) benefitted from another kind donation of two brand-new Yamaha DT125 motor bikes from the proceeds of 2013 Murchison Falls Invitational Fishing Tournament (MFIFT) which closed on March 9th at the Murchison River Lodge.
The motor bike donations came from Yamaha Uganda and SABMiller plc the parent company of Nile Breweries Limited which also produces the popular Rwenzori Mineral Water. The motor-bikes are to be used by UWA in stepping up patrols against illegal activities in Uganda's largest protected area.
RUHEMUKA, a subordinate Silverback in the newly habituated Kahungye Mountain gorilla family has passed on in a painful forest accident.
The robust silverback estimated to be slightly above 30 years old is believed to have fallen off a tree landing his head on the ground from a height of 20-30 meters on March 6th,2013.Rangers discovered that his mouth and the eyes had been hit and torn by a nearby tree. The sharp trauma/organ injury, with excessive bleeding into the brain is believed to have led to instant shock and resultant death.
The post-mortem and necropsy of the silverback and revealed that the SB who was the second in command after Rumanzi, had sharp trauma and deep injuries on the face, nose and mouth. One of the maxillary incisor teeth was broken.
The report further shows a deep brain injury from the fractured skull and neck. The vertebrae (neck bones) had protruded into the cranium/ brain. The diaphragm had been burst and abdominal organs were in the chest. Internal bleeding was massive in the chest region
The silverback died in the area of Kahunge hill on a steep side with Maesa plants (Omuhanga in Rukiga). In the morning of Wednesday, March 06th, the group was found in Kahunge area. The gorillas had been in Maesa plants feeding on fruits.
The deceased gorilla, Ruhemuka, had been with the group. He had been up in Maesa tree shortly before the arrival of trackers in the area. Ruhemuka was a healthy silverback without any injuries before his death. When trackers reached the place of death, Ruhemuka had fallen from the tree and had died shortly after. The body was still bleeding. It is always sad to lose a family member as evidenced by the sombre stature the group cut from that time.


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Winter Holiday Menu available in addition to our standard custom options through December 18th for pick up by December 24th!
When we realized just how hard it was to source premium, plant-based baked goods for our ice cream, we bought an oven and started baking! We received so many requests to make those baked goods available to customers, that we expanded our operation and introduced our in-store Bake Shops!
We take the same approach to baked goods as we do with our ice cream: real, from-scratch, plant-based ingredients in fresh and ever-changing variety. We aim to bake the tastiest treats with thoughtful preparation. We have allergy-conscious, gluten-free, nut-free, and soy-free options.
*Please note: All of our products are made in a facility that also processes peanuts, wheat, soy, and tree nuts.
Be sure to stop by our stores to taste our seasonal treats, or email firstname.lastname@example.com to place special orders (with 72 hour notice.)
@artsinfotos photography


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One of the latest in the new line of Funimation's Shaw Brothers catalogue releases, appearing under the Hong Kong Connection banner, Shaolin Handlock begins when a kung-fu master named Li Bai (Dick Wei) is killed by Fang Yunbiao (Chan Shen), a man he once considered a friend. Fang doesn't just beat Li up, however, he takes him out using the retractable blades that he has hidden under the sleeves of his shirt. Two of Li's students are also murdered by Fang, who believes them to be Li's children. Fang doesn't realize that Li's two children, Li Chengying (David Chiang) and Li Mengping (Chen Ping), are actually quite alive and more than a little unhappy that he's murdered their father. As such, they vow to avenge their father's death and when they learn that Fang has fled to Thailand, Li Chengying decides to follow him.
Li Chengying soon finds Fang hanging out at a brothel and bribes the madam to tell him which room he's in. He bursts and forces the assassin to tell him who hired him to kill his father and why, and Fang tells him that it was a martial arts teacher named Lin Hao (Lo Lieh). From there, Li Chengying decides to infiltrate Lin Hao's organization by stealing some of his gold and then returning it to him, just to prove how sneaky he is. This impresses Lin enough that he hires him to work with him. Lin's right hand man, Kunshi (Michael Chan Wai-man), however, is very suspicious of Li Chengying. When Li Mengping goes missing, however, Li Chengying realizes that all bets are off and that it's time to act, even if it means blowing his cover by using his family's secret kung-fu move.
Shaolin Handlock, named after the Li family's secret kung-fu move, isn't at the cream of the Shaw Brothers martial arts crop but it's a pretty entertaining film. The opening credits make use of some excellent color schemes and bizarre animation and they segue into the opening murder sequenced quite well, setting the film up in a very dramatic and exciting fashion. Chan Shen makes for a pretty fun bad guy as he makes his way from one murder to the next, stopping to hang out and make time at the local whorehouse once he makes his way to Thailand. The Thai settings are nice and offer something different to look at, though the use of some stock footage during what is essentially a scene in which some characters go sightseeing feels like nothing more than nicely shot padding - particularly when some stock footage inserts are used.
Directed by Ho Meng-Hua, a name that may be familiar to western audiences thanks to Tarantino's re-release of the director's bizarre King Kong knock-off Mighty Peking Man under the Rolling Thunder Pictures banner a few years back, the film works simply because it contains a few decent action sequences and moves at a good pace. It's got a few stand-out fight scenes and a novelty weapon thanks to Fang's extending elbow blades, and Lo Lieh's presence is always welcome and here he shows why he was one of the most popular bad guys in the Shaw Brothers stable. David Chiang does a fine job in the lead and he makes for a likeable enough hero, even if his actions don't always make sense and the story isn't always believable when following his character. The final fight, generally the high point of any martial arts film, is a bit of a let down here as it's over fairly quickly and doesn't top some of the earlier bouts but that complaint aside, Shaolin Handlock is pretty fun. The signature move which the film was named ever isn't nearly as cool as the bad guys' moves (though calling the film Deadly Sliding Elbow Blades probably would have been a bad idea).
Shaolin Handlock arrives on DVD in a progressive scan anamorphic 2.35.1 widescreen transfer this is generally a strong effort from Funimation. A little bit of print damage shows up here and there but otherwise the source material used for this disc has been very nicely restored. Colors are bright and bold and garish, just as they should be, and they really bring out the splendor of the various costumes used in the movie. What looks to be some mild edge enhancement pops up here and there but aliasing and compression artifacts are never a problem. Some mild blurring is evident during scenes of very fast motion but aside from that, there's not much worth complaining about here.
The Mandarin language Dolby Digital mono mix is well balanced and easy to follow since the optional English subtitles are easy to read and free of any typographical errors, though there are spots where the sound effects are a bit higher in the mix then they probably needed to be. The score sounds good, never overpowering the performers, while the sound effects are presented at the proper volume as well. It's not a track that will amaze you, but it definitely sounds as good as it needs to. A 5.1 track might have been fun, especially during the zany last half hour, but what's here is good. An optional English language Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo dub is also provided but it's of lesser quality and is a bit fuzzy sounding in spots - still, it's there for those who want it.
Extras are disappointingly light, limited to a few trailers for unrelated Funimation releases and a forced promo spot for their Shaw Brothers line that plays before you can get to the main menu screen (which also offers chapter selection).
Shaolin Handlock doesn't offer the best final fight in martial arts history but the rest of the movie works reasonably well even if the plot is more or less a standard revenge story. Funimations DVD release, like all of their Shaw Brothers titles so far, is disappointingly light on extra features but it does offer up the film in good quality and with both its original language track and the English dubbed track for those who want it. Maybe not an essentially Shaw title, but a fun one nevertheless - recommended.
Ian lives in NYC with his wife where he writes for DVD Talk, runs Rock! Shock! Pop!. He likes NYC a lot, even if it is expensive and loud.


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Author Glennis Browne shows why immigrants moved to Australia in the 1800s through her novel, The Fortune Seekers.
Did they possess the unsettling wanderlust gene? As not all Australian settlers were shipped as convicts to the young Australian colony.
After a life-time of informal writing, and a decade researching her ancestry, a story birthed, bringing history back to life. It is a work of fiction based on certain real happenings.


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AFG has identified three important gaps in the African business service sector that we aim to fill for enabling the growth of local companies into global champions.
The AFG Research Desk addresses the pressing demand of investors and international partners for reliable, readily analyzed market data to make well-informed financing decisions. We leverage excellent partner organizations in the local markets to provide both primary and secondary data research services.
Our AFG Think Tank aims to create more visible platforms for the international promotion of local African champions by publishing reports about their business stories, private-sector related national policies and new investment opportunities.
To render direct support to local mature companies who aim to grow into global champions, the AFG Business Advisory service line offers the opportunity to work with teams of experienced advisors.
All of the above services are primarily focused on the following industries:
Consumer Goods
Financial Services


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Here is a link to the Architect's Journal article on sustainable design in 2011. Lots of interesting projects to look at and a useful reminder that the Government appears to have failed to live up to its "greenest government ever" claim.
by Hattie Hartman, sustainability editor
2011 can be characterised by the number of initiatives gathering momentum under the umbrella of what can be termed sustainability. Below are my top 10 issues for the year.
Quality retrofit
Retrofit may be an unsexy buzzword, but a number of refurbishments completed this year demonstrate that design flair can transform a building, while also achieving an environmental makeover. 3R Award winner 5th Studio applied what it terms 'fabric therapy' to Churchill College's brutalist Wolfson Flats at Cambridge University. Using timber, brick and render, the units were extended and reclad, eliminating thermal bridges and increasing floor space by 10 per cent. The design excellence of AHMM's Angel Building earned it a place on the Stirling shortlist. While another 3R Award winner, Penoyre & Prasad demonstrated that even the residents of a modest terraced house – with the introduction of a well-designed lightwell – can gain more than insulation and increased comfort during retrofit, making the disruptive process worth enduring.
London 2012 Olympic Games
Next year will be the year of London's Olympic extravaganza, but already the ecological design of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and the oda's challenging sustainable design targets have had a knock-on effect on other projects. The Velodrome's integrated design has been deservedly much lauded. Concrete mixes with high levels of recycled aggregate and cement substitution, trialed at the Aquatics Centre, were later employed by Zaha Hadid Architects at the Evelyn Grace Academy. Likewise LDA Design's revamp of Southwark's Burgess Park, currently on site, builds on the design principles of the Olympic Park.
Greening the RIBA
Headed by Sheppard Robson partner Alan Shingler, the RIBA's Sustainable Futures Group recently released the Green Overlay to the Plan of Work to be followed early next year by Tooling Up, a guide to how practices should organise their workflow to produce more sustainable buildings, by Lynne Sullivan of Sustainable by Design.
A review of the sustainability criteria for the 2012 RIBA Awards is another welcome initiative. Revised criteria that would ensure that sustainability is central to the judging process are currently under discussion. Other RIBA Futures workstreams include retrofit, led by ECD's Mark Elton, and 'smart communities', which examines energy opportunity mapping in the broader context of sustainable placemaking and transport infrastructure with a view to developing local authority guidance.
It may be wishful thinking to connect the dots between the ecological design of the Olympic Park and the reconsideration of British horticulture suggested by Piet Oudolf's garden at the Serpentine Pavilion, but other projects this year also hint that landscape design is gaining a seat at the top table. Studio Engleback's creative work at Glenn Howells' Triangle in Swindon is one. The Landscape Institute launch of a Local Green Infrastructure guide for local councils is another.
Towards Passivhaus
In 2011, the UK Passivhaus movement solidified its presence with more completed projects, the growth of the Passivhaus Trust and a major conference at the Barbican in London. More training courses have led to more qualified designers, as well as numerous architects who use Passivhaus as a design tool and benchmark, regardless of whether a project will be certified.
Water – either too much or too little – is increasingly on the radar, both in terms of how to manage it and how to treat it. Currently out for consultation, the Thames Tunnel, a proposed mega-sewer under the river, has many critics, who claim a smaller tunnel combining engineering with other water mitigation strategies could be equally effective. Old Ford Water Recycling Plant, a joint Thames Water/ODA project located just south of the Olympic Stadium, opened last month and is the UK's largest black water recycling plant. Its recycling of water from the Northern Outfall Sewer is predicted to reduce water demand in the Olympic Park and venues by 40 per cent.
Alliance for Sustainable Building Products
Launched last month, this fledgling organisation aspires to provide a transparent platform for alternative building products, using Natureplus, a European green product labelling system. One to watch.
Building performance monitoring
Despite excellent monitoring work enabled by Technology Strategy Board funding and continued work by Aedas and others on the anonymous RIBA/ CIBSE Carbon Buzz platform, no progress had been made on the thorny question of who will fund this work so it becomes firmly embedded in industry practice.
Infrastructure buildings
Though numerous waste-to-energy plants are under construction across the ukto meet the shortfall in landfill capacity, the pipeline of new plants has dried up, according to Thomas Bender, of Design Council cabe. This is primarily due to cuts in PFI funding, exacerbated by an uncertain planning climate. Backing for Thomas Heatherwick's ambitious Teesside biomass plant, approved for planning in 2010, was withdrawn this summer.
'Greenest Government Ever' is far from Green
The reduced ambition of recent government announcements, from the National Planning Policy Framework to the Autumn Statement, from the non-implementation of Display Energy Certificates on all non-domestic buildings to the adjustment of feed-in tariffs, has started to undermine industry confidence. The immediate implication is that the innovation and up-skilling that has taken place over the past four years is being eroded. Multidisciplinary thinktank the edge eloquently summarised these concerns in an open letter to the press in December.
The fact that my first seven highlights are positive, and far outnumber my last three negative predictions should not be a cause for optimism. Exemplary sustainable projects, even for leading green practices, remain the exception rather than the rule. The vast majority of clients have to be persuaded of the value – and the value for money – of sustainability. Clients like the Olympic Delivery Authority, Siemens, Derwent and the Woodland Trust are leading the way, as are the universities.
Two projects worth noting are currently on site. Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios' Worcester Library, which is targeting breeam Outstanding, will complete next month. Parametric modelling was used to optimise the building's structural and environmental requirements, replacing 250 tonnes of steel in the roof with laminated timber and saving two months on the programme, an approach familiar from the Velodrome. Targeting LEED Platinum, the highly insulated and airtight envelope of Sheppard Robson's Siemens Middle East Headquarters at Masdar City in Abu Dhabi is enclosed in a lightweight aluminium screen which provides different degrees of shading on each elevation to suit the orientation.
The work of 00: Architecture offers a radically different take on sustainable design. 'The sustainability discussion in this country needs to be rebooted. It's not only about carbon,' 00:'s Indy Johar told me recently. We were at The Winch, a youth club in Swiss Cottage, north London, where the practice is helping nurture a 'cradle-to-career' approach to youth services provision. Johar's work is as much concerned with social enterprise as it is with physical space. Likewise, at the practice's recently completed Westminster Hub at 80 Haymarket, the cheerful 1,100m2 space provides state-of-the-art workspace and meeting rooms, a 100-person café/lounge, a lecture theatre and a workshop. Hub users can access a £3million social investment fund.


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Greetings everyone! We are happy to announce that we have decided to reach audience on Twitter, the best ever social network, and for such end as well as for holidays season we will be giving away a $2 coupon on any order to anyone who follow and mention us. More information from time to time at https://proxy.sh/twitter aka @proxysh. Stay tuned!
Holidays Season on Twitter - $2 Coupons Giveaway
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The Campus Chat (Denton, Tex.), Vol. 50, No. 58, Ed. 1 Friday, June 9, 1967
Description: Semi-weekly student newspaper from North Texas State University in Denton, Texas that includes local, state, and campus news along with advertising.
Date: June 9, 1967
Creator: Ahrens, Billy
Item Type: Refine your search to only Newspaper
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections


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A Seattle native who resides in Los Angeles, recording and performing. In 2014 Choice co-wrote Fergie's hit single "L.A. Love (La La)", (released on Interscope Records). The song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 97, peaking at number 27. Fans saw Choice perform on Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs' Revolt TV network, and his appearances on SWAY's Universe and Funkmaster Flex's radio shows, spitting freestyles for listeners worldwide. Starting 2015, Choice collaborated with LA rapper RJ on the mixtape "Rich Off Mackin", showcasing the chemistry between the two rappers. 2015 also brought the release of "10 Summers: The Mixtape Vol. 1" filled with numerous hits, including Choice's solo track "I Be Wit".
In fall of 2015 Choice dropped, "By Choice Not Force", receiving insider praise and fan response with coverage on XXL, HotNewHipHop.com, plus other industry outlets. WorldStarHipHop gave us the exclusive premier of the video for his single, "I Be Wit".
He has spent 2016 on the road & working on his next project scheduled to drop the top of 2017.
Choice is leading a new generation of talented, innovative, fresh, and exciting new artists. That's as he would say,


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In 2014 ….. Walk with Me. Exercise your mind with Me. Get stronger with Me. That's what will happen when you Work with Me. Please join with Me in meaningful conversation right here ….. scroll down page to 'Expression Session'.
- Choose your best direction.
- Imagine what the finish line will look and feel like.
- Have a Mentor.
- Draw up a Life Plan.
- Motivate yourself to take each step.
- Take action and follow through on your previous steps.
There, I've given away the post already. Blown my cover so to speak. But it's that important, so I don't want you to wait.
Each of these steps can be commenced at any stage of your life. They can be put into action when previous strategies have failed. They can be put into place when the circumstances in your life alter and you need to start again. [like a new/fresh direction]
They are adaptable to a wide range of circumstances. They work the best when kept as a 'boxed set'. Each step anchors the others.
It's easy to get out of step in life. I've tripped up a few times and each time I struggled to determine how "to put it all back together".
Stepping out is the best feeling. Knowing [as much as possible] which steps to take, adds to your belief. The support of a mentor who can spark or add to your own motivation will help you take the right action and keep you following through if you are unsure of your direction.
If at the moment, your steps are a bit unsure or wobbly, have a close look at the 6 steps above. See if they can work with and for, You.
I'm not going to give you short cuts and generalisations. Each of these steps is there for a reason.
Each step also has steps within the step. You can tailor them to suit or seek out someone to guide you through the process.
Next week I will go through each of these steps in more detail. If you want to know earlier than next week, please Contact me for a meaningful conversation Today. I am here to help You.
Be good to yourself
Listener. Motivator. Life Coach.
Making Your 40's & 50's Shine
# Join me for coffee, fresh thoughts & tips each week. Sign up for my Newsletter & we'll enjoy coffee together!


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Church Leadership
Congregational Care
Schedule an Event
Christmas Eve, December 24, 20173:30-4:30pmFront of Vail Mansion, Morristown
Caroling, good cheer, hot chocolate, potato latkes and apple sauce to benefit the Community Soup Kitchen and the homeless, in honor of the memory of Marla Drury.
Jockey Hollow RestaurantMayo Performing Arts CenterMorristown and Morris Township LibraryThe Presbyterian Church in MorristownSt. Peter's Episcopal Church
Can't make it Christmas Eve? Donate on crowdrise.com.


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The Journal of Forensic Behavioral Health (JFBH) is a free electronic peer-reviewed journal for articles that examine behavioral and mental health issues in the criminal justice, forensic, and legal systems (e.g. law enforcement, case management, child protective services, domestic violence, first responders, and community supervision). Focus is on those populations who have a history of offending or are at risk for offending along with victims and family of those who offend. Within this broad framework, the mission of JFBH is to present innovative research and informative reviews in an accessible and adoptable format for practitioners and professionals. Published annually, articles that emphasize behavioral and mental health as it relates to criminal justice, forensic, and legal systems will be prioritized. Unless otherwise noted, JFBH publications will be peer-reviewed by two or more independent reviewers with relevant expertise.
Disclaimer. The content may or may not reflect the views of the editor and publisher. Further, the editors and publisher are not responsible for any mistakes made by authors. The journal cannot be held liable for losses or claims resulting from the use of any content.


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If your book arrives damaged or with a manufacturing defect, we will replace it free of charge. Please let us know within 14 days of receipt of your book.
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- Order and review a single printed copy before placing a large order or before making your book available for sale.
Want more info? Complete details are in our full Return Policy.


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Euler Multiples Summed up
If you've been to the euler project you know how fun it can be. There are many solutions to the plethora of problems presented on the site. However, mine are not the most elegant but they get the job done as a non-verbose overly engineered self contained program. Essentially, I was focusing on good object oriented (OO) design and less on beautification. Below is the source code and if downloaded it should work as a self contained C++ program, albeit you can definitely trip it up if you're trying.
"If we list all the natural numbers below 10 that are multiples of 3 or 5, we get 3, 5, 6 and 9. The sum of these multiples is 23.
Find the sum of all the multiples of 3 or 5 below 1000."
Leave a Reply.


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Whether you are visiting family, traveling for business, or simply enjoying a vacation, finding a high-quality hotel in Topeka, Kansas can help ensure that you have a great trip.
After all, if you don't get a good night's sleep, you won't be able to enjoy yourself as thoroughly as if you are well rested.
A good place to start is by thinking about the type of experience that you want to have on your trip. If you are traveling for business, you may just need an inexpensive place to stay that doesn't have a lot of frills. If you are going on vacation, on the other hand, you may want to look for a hotel that has a pool, spa, or other amenities that can help enhance your trip.
Next, you should visit several different hotel comparison websites to see what all of your options are. Search for hotels that fall within your price range. On some sites, you may even be able to limit the search based on the amenities that you want the hotel to have. After a few minutes of searching, you should have a fairly good idea of which hotels will meet your needs. Make a list of several of your favorites.
The next step is to read reviews for each of the hotels on your list. If possible, try to find photographs of the rooms that were taken by guests rather than just relying on the promo photos that are published by the hotels themselves. This can give you a much better idea of what the rooms are really like.
After gathering all of this information, you should be able to make an informed choice when it comes to selecting a hotel in Topeka, Kansas, improving the chances of having a great time on your trip.


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|metal bedroom which inspired my bathroom mosaic
|bullet shell soap dish
|dan wanted the white tiles for the floor and i like the contrast
|the main 'jaded' cross with 10 small crosses on sides and bottom
|cut riff raff tile floor
the first photo shows the bedroom that neko did. the walls have galvanized steel all around them and i wanted the tile to first and foremost bring out the bullet shells and then blend with the bedroom. its a manly bedroom. i wanted us to make the ceiling a decoupage of nude women (i dont think thats gonna happen hahaha). just feels like a gritty room that seedy writerly thoughts would occur in. and it is dark so i'm happy that when you stand in the bedroom doorway you can see the bathroom and get that hit of color.
now on my plate, i have the front outdoor porch entrance to mosaic. this time i have a more limited choice of tile and was given the chance to use some pebbles which i think i will try to do. i dont have time to make this elaborate and truth be told right now i can't even think how i'm going to do this. i kinda need to just go there and start cutting or breaking up tiles. i will probably skip out on doing some obvious design. i can't really know how it will turn out until i just begin. right now the front porch area gets for cutting things and is heavy traffic with the other workers. its a challenge for me to think and work but i know i have to just go there and do it and push that ego aside and let it be simple and even a bit boring. who knows. i've had 2 days to try to come up with something and so far i come up blank. the house has so much going on inside that i'd like to make this mellow. given the bland tiles i get to use not sure how it could stand out. time to turn the brain off and let it happen.
it's been fun to share this project with you guys. thanks for being interested!


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Last Minute Gift Idea
Sitting Pretty Calendar from Blue Tricycle With Christmas being just a couple days away, the time crunch is REALLY upon everyone picking up last minute gifts. And who wants to go out in the frantic hustle and bustle of the malls at this time of year? Not me- and I don't have to because there … Continue reading
Postage Stamp Gift Wrap
If you haven't noticed, I am completely obsessed with the gift wrapping tutorial guest posts from Laura of Lupin. Here's another one for you to enjoy. And as always, please make sure you check out the Lupin shop and Laura's blog. —————— If you're attracted to the "brown paper packages tied up with string" look … Continue reading
Guest Post from Lupin…
Here is our first installment of guest posts from Laura of Lupin! Laura has the most innovative gift wrapping ideas and this one is my favorite so far. Be sure to check out Laura's shop right here and her blog here. Take it away Laura… Today's gift-wrap idea is sweet and simple – decorate your … Continue reading
Shop of the Day…Weekend Edition
Walk Through The Woods – Spring Colorway – Whats Buzzin Cuzzin Collection from Cicada Studio Cicada Studio has wonderful printed linens and various paper goods available in their shop. Make sure you check it out. And if you mention papernstitch with any order you make with Cicada Studio, they will toss in a free gift. Awesome! … Continue reading
The Art of Packaging a Present
Everybody loves receiving gifts, and if you are like me, you really enjoy a gift that is nicely packaged. There is something about it that just makes unwrapping something all the more exciting. 1. Tiffany Wrap Collection from Shop Heidi 2. Nouvella Wrap Collection from Shop Heidi 3. Luxy Wrap Collection from Shop Heidi But, … Continue reading


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The ground floor of De Meelfabriek is where it all happens. A lively square, shops and galleries, a pleasant place to have a lunch or a coffee. In addition, you can walk towards the historic city of Leiden. The inner city of Leiden offers a wide range of shops, restaurants, courtyards and historic old streets. A comfortable bicycle is a must.
Fotograaf: Arthur Wieffering


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|Dario Nardella, the new mayor of Florence
Florentine people voted for the new mayor of Florence and for the European Parliament on Sunday 25 May.
The European Parliamentary Elections 2014 took place from 22 to 25 May, 2014 where 751 deputies should be elected. Voting started on Thursday in the UK and the Netherlands, with Latvia, Slovakia and Malta all casting their votes on Saturday. The final day of polls - 25 May- was closed with Italians voting for their preferred candidate.
Next day on 26 May, the results of the election show that the Democratic Party of Italy is the second largest national group in the European Parliament by number of seats after the German CDU/CSU's coalition.
According to the official results, the Democratic Party won the election, with 40.81% of the votes. The second is the Five Star Movement with 21.15% and Forza Italia third with 16.81%. of the votes.
The Democratic Party (PD) of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is now celebrating the victory in both local elections and European Parliamentary Elections.
Dario Nardella was born in Naples in 1975 and has been living in Florence since 1989. He is a French- Italian political analyst who is now a prominent entrepreneur in children's education services. He got his PhD in Constitutional Law and Environmental Law at University of Florence where he is currently Cultural Property Law professor.
In 2004 he was the youngest councilman elected for the Democratic Party, with the highest number of preferences in the Florence City Hall.
His vocation for politics and institutions can be expressed through his favorite quote by Lord Robert Baden Powell: "Try to leave this world a little better than you found it, feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best ".
Contact us! firstname.lastname@example.com - www.istitutoeuropeo.it
Like us! Facebook Istituto Europeo


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Tuesday, April 23, 2013
APS CSWP Climate for Women in Physics Site Visit Program
Posted by Joan Schmelz
This week's guest bloggers are Susan Blessing, CSWP Chair and chair of the Site Visit Subcommittee, and Deanna Ratnikova, CSWP staff liaison and administrative coordinator for the Site Visit Program. CSWA is proposing to implement Climate Site Visits for Astronomy Departments, and Susan and Deanna were kind enough to write this description of the highly successful and much in demand CSWA program.
Since 1990, the American Physical Society (APS) Committee on the Status of Women in Physics (CSWP) has conducted site visits to physics departments at research institutions and national laboratories to assess and improve the climate for women. Through the Climate Site Visit Program, a team of physicists visits physics departments or labs to catalogue the problems that women face and to suggest potential improvements. The site visit program has been heralded for leading the physics community to a deeper understanding of the climate for women physicists in academia.
CSWP conducts site visits at the request of a department chair or lab director. The site visit team leader assembles a team of physicists from a variety of subfields. Teams consist of typically three to five members for academic visits and six to nine members for national lab visits, and starting in 2012, men are allowed to serve on teams (but not as the team leader). The team and host coordinator decide on a date and work together on travel and lodging arrangements (which are covered by the host facility).
Prior to the visit, the team asks students and employees to complete a confidential survey for the team's use only. On the day of the visit, team members meet with individuals and groups: the physics department chair or lab director, physics faculty members, research staff members, administrators responsible for faculty appointments or hiring, postdocs and graduate and undergraduate students. The goal of these meetings is to provide the team with the quantitative and qualitative information they need to assess the climate in the host facility. At the end of the visit, the team makes a preliminary report to the department chair or lab director as part of an exit interview.
After the visit, the team writes a report for the department chair or lab director, detailing its findings and offering simple, practical suggestions on improving the climate for women and others at the facility. The team encourages the chair or lab director to share the report with the rest of the department or lab. Approximately 18 months after the visit, the department chair or lab director is requested to submit a written report to CSWP, describing actions taken to improve the climate.
After several years of the program, the CSWP compiled a list of best practices that can lead to more welcoming and female-friendly departments. The list is available for free download at here. To date, nearly 60 site visits have been conducted. A list of these site visits, as well as further details on the program, can be found here.


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It is tough to decide what you will do with all of your wonderful research. Sometimes no one in your family is interested. Are you afraid they will just toss it out?
Well, there are steps you can take to ensure your research will not be tossed out by your family or executors. Amy Johnson Crow at the Ancestry.com blog has some good ideas here.
I think one of the best ways to ensure your ancestor's story continues for your family is to create something that is lasting--something your children will WANT to keep. This can be as simple as writing short vignettes and saving photos and documents in sheet protectors which you then put into well-labeled binders. Family is less likely to toss binders with stories and pictures than file drawers full of file folders. Also you could photocopy the pages and have a printer/copy place spiral bind them. Create an attractive cover that is enticing.
Hope the article gives you some food for thought!
Copyright © 2014 by Contra Costa County Genealogical Society.
Our Library Collections: North Dakota
3 days ago


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Will Creasy
Analyst & Creative Director
Will Creasy has worked for Norfolk Southern Railway, the City of Radford, the City of Roanoke, American Electric Power and Roanoke Memorial Microbiology Lab (Solstas Lab Partners). He has worked on projects such as the Radford Green Infrastructure Analysis, Norfolk Southern Testing & Research Map Display, Phoenix Urban Heat Island Analysis, the Radford Architecture Dept. Tiny House LiDAR project, and the Humanitarian Open Tasking Malaria Project.
Will graduated magna cum laude from Radford University. He was an eagle scout, and plays seven instruments. In his spare time he enjoys making historical maps and digital art.


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Mayoral candidates clash on all city financial issues
Dallas Cook on Finance & Infrastructure
The mix of beer and tax incentives has produced varied results in Belleville.
Aldermen have approved incentives for the Hofbräuhaus German restaurant and brewery under construction off Illinois 15 and 4204 Main Street Brewing Co.'s new brewery that is scheduled to open soon off West Main Street.
Construction on the Hofbräuhaus began in late 2015 but an opening date has yet to be announced. However, 4204 Main Street Brewing Co. expects to begin brewing its lineup of diverse beers in the former Mad Pricer grocery store in mid-April as part of a $3 million renovation.
The two candidates running for mayor give voters a clear choice on April 4 on tax incentives: Mayor Mark Eckert supports the tax incentives for businesses such as the Hofbräuhaus and 4204 Main Street Brewing Co., and City Clerk Dallas Cook opposes all incentives.
Eckert, 61, has been mayor since 2004, and Cook, 31, has been city clerk since 2013. Cook is the son of former Mayor Rodger Cook.
Eckert said he looks at tax incentive requests on a "case-by-case basis."
"My belief is that when a business cannot get started or cannot grow without some assistance, then I believe it is the city's responsibility to sit down at the table and see how we might get involved," Eckert said.
Cook said government should not be involved in private business.
"I think we can make our streets safe, fix our sidewalks, fight crime as best as we can and then businesses will want to be here because the type of people who want to live in this town will then shop and enjoy living here and working here," Cook said. "I feel like the most important thing you can do to get business in town is to have a safe town."
Along with the issue of tax incentives for businesses, the BND also talked to Cook and Eckert about other financial issues, including the expiration of the city's 0.25 percent sales tax this year; the expiration of TIF 3 in 2021; and street repairs. Cook and Eckert, have differing viewpoints on how to handle these topics.
Here's a closer look on where they stand:
Tax incentives
Belleville businesses have been offered various tax incentives in recent years, including property tax breaks, TIF grants, a share of hotel tax revenue, funding from an extra 1 percent sales tax in selected shopping centers, and an exemption from state sales tax on construction material.
"I oppose tax incentives. I really don't believe that your tax dollars should be used in private business. I do not find it necessary," Cook said.
"I know that a lot of people like to say, 'Well everybody else is doing it and if we don't do it, then we're going to lose out.' I don't agree with that model in life, that just because everyone else is doing that means you have to," Cook said. "I think we can do better than that."
Eckert said the incentives are needed for economic development.
"My opponent has said he doesn't want to give any business any tax incentives and I disagree with him, respectfully, because I believe ... we're going to be missing out on some great opportunities to fill some spaces, create some jobs and increase our sales tax," Eckert said.
"Many people, including my opponent always talk about hiring more police officers," Eckert said. "If we don't grow our sales tax, that is impossible to do."
My belief is that when a business cannot get started or cannot grow without some assistance, then I believe it is the city's responsibility to sit down at the table and see how we might get involved.
Mayor Mark Eckert
Developers of the $12 million Hofbräuhaus project also have proposed a $28 million Hyatt Place hotel, a conference center and restaurant. Another developer proposed a soccer park but none of the businesses have opened on the land across from the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows.
The City Council in 2015 approved about $38 million in tax incentives for the complex valued by developers as worth up to $100 million. The Keller family of Effingham is eligible to receive about $32.36 million in incentives while developers of a soccer park would be eligible to get $5.5 million in incentives.
But the incentives are based on city tax revenue generated at the site so no one has received any rebates to date.
Belleville agreed to spend $2.3 million to extend sewer lines to serve the Hofbräuhaus site and surrounding area. This work is about 99 percent complete, according to the city.
Ron O'Connor, a spokesman for the Keller family said he did not have an opening date to announce for the Hofbrauhaus.
"You see a lot of things around the St. Louis metro area that (have) gone up in the last three months, they have no problem with construction," Cook said. "However, for some reason out there, they're not able to complete the first part of their project."
"I'm not sure what's going on," he said. "I think the people in the city would like to know more because we are heavily invested and we are heavily excited, both the same. However, when you make a deal with the city, you need to hold up your end of the bargain because the city has held up theirs."
I oppose tax incentives. I really don't believe that your tax dollars should be used in private business.
City Clerk Dallas Cook
Eckert said the Hofbrauhaus may be open this summer, which would be over a year later than the developers first expected to open the restaurant and brewery.
"I believe we did the right thing," Eckert said. "They're back working again. I'm very optimistic that when spring is officially here, that they're going to be working very aggressively.
"I'm not happy (with) the fact that it's not open but I will tell you that I still very much believe in the project. It's going to be good for the Shrine. We need this project to be successful, so that the Shrine remains successful."
Eckert said tax incentives have helped 4204 Main Street Brewing open at its original site and then expand with a new brewery, tap room and banquet hall at 6435 W. Main St., where a grand opening is planned for 5 p.m. March 25 to show off the bar and banquet room. The brew house and canning operation is expected to open in mid-April.
"So there's an example where the incentives, I believe, truly paid off," Eckert said.
He also said The EDGE expansion at 701 South Belt West, the opening of Ruler Foods at 1703 North Belt West and the Belleville Crossing and Green Mount Crossing shopping centers have benefited from tax incentives from the city.
City sales tax expiring
While St. Clair County and local school leaders are asking voters on April 4 to approve a 1 percent sales tax referendum for public safety and a 1 percent referendum for school facilities, Belleville leaders have to make a decision on whether to continue a 0.25 percent municipal sales tax that is scheduled to expire this year.
Belleville receives about $1.2 million a year from this sales tax.
Cook believes the tax should be allowed to expire while Eckert says if re-elected, he would urge the City Council to vote to continue the tax.
Eckert said the tax was needed to replace about $750,000 in state funding that was cut.
A 0.25 percent municipal sales tax in Belleville is scheduled to expire this year. The city receives about $1.2 million a year from this sales tax.
"That was a major chunk of revenue," he said.
"Unless people want to see some drastic cuts in essential service, unfortunately, it's going to have to stay," Eckert said. "And if somebody says they're against it, then don't talk out of the other side of your mouth and tell me you want to hire more police officers, and you want to see more officers on the street. You can't have it both ways."
Cook said if he wins the mayor's seat, he'll ask aldermen to let the tax expire.
"I will do whatever it takes to make sure that we do not have to continue that," Cook said. "I know how difficult it will be to lose out on that much money for city operations.
"I think we've gone in the wrong direction with government when we think we can just continually add taxes and taxes and then we add a tax on people and we tell them it's going to sunset and then it never sunsets. I just feel like, hey, enough is enough. No more taxes."
Street repairs
Bernie Depper, who has lived on South Church Street near East Van Buren Street for over 20 years, takes a pragmatic view of whether he would want the city to smooth the bumpy streets near his home.
"I would in a way, but then again here I am, my taxes go speeeeeeeewww and they're already pretty high," he said with a laugh as he pointed his thumb to the sky.
Depper said the city would have to look at what could be done and weigh that against the cost to the taxpayers.
He said the city's snowplows damage the pavement laid on top of bricks, which are exposed in spots near his home.
Cook and Eckert were asked about their plans for street repairs.
"We have a five-year plan and each year we look at how much money is available and we prioritize based on safety issues," Eckert said. "A project will move up to the top of the list if it becomes a dangerous situation."
Eckert said the city takes traffic counts and receives input from aldermen about streets that need repairs. He said about $80 million has been spent on roadwork and sidewalks in the city since he became mayor in 2004.
Eckert also said roads and sidewalks near schools receive a priority.
"We want the walkability of the sidewalks for the young moms and the grandparents that are taking the kids to school," he said.
He said the city has plans to work on East A Street from Oak to Illinois streets and on West Main Street from Sixth to 17th streets.
It doesn't scare me that it expires.
Dallas Cook said of TIF District 3
When asked about Church Street, Eckert called it "one of the biggest washboards in town."
"I am committed, if I'm elected for another four years, we have got to get Church Street and we've got to get Mascoutah Avenue repaired. They both need it bad.
"This is the dilemma we're in," Eckert said. "There's only so many dollars these days and there are a lot of streets in Belleville that need attention."
Cook said he would scrap the current method used to determine which streets to fix.
"I demand a new process," he said.
Cook promises to eliminate the positions of city engineer and GIS planner/coordinator and instead hire an outside engineering firm "to do a better job for less money."
"I think if you go downtown, you'll say, 'Wow, really nice.' But then if you go into some of the neighborhoods around downtown, you'll think you almost hit a war zone where you can barely drive down the street," Cook said.
"You can't even walk down some sidewalks in my neighborhood. It's in deplorable condition.
"Then if you keep going around town, there are some streets that have been repaired but the question you should ask is 'Who lives on that street?' And you'll find someone that lives on that street who is part of the club and that's the way it's done right now."
TIF 3 deadline
Belleville's tax increment finance, or TIF, District 3 brought in $10.8 million in property taxes and $458,000 in other revenue for a total of $11.2 million in the last fiscal year. Local school districts received about $4.3 million from TIF 3.
In a TIF district, property values in the district are frozen at their current levels for a 23-year period and any additional revenue generated by a rise in property values is channeled into a special fund earmarked for infrastructure improvements and economic incentives in the district. It is intended to help property that would not develop on its own, property that would not see new growth without the public investment.
TIF District 3 covers most of the city and was established in 1986. The life span was extended for 12 years and the district is scheduled to expire in 2021. The total amount you pay in city property taxes doesn't change whether you live in the TIF District 3 or out of it.
"It doesn't scare me that it expires," Cook said. "I'm actually looking forward to the TIFs all expiring."
"All the city has to do is levy for those taxes," he said. "If you pay $100 into it now, that $100 will no longer say TIF 3, you'll still be paying the same amount of taxes.
"The thing about TIF is that the monies that are raised through TIF are a little bit more discretionary how you can spend those," Cook said. "You know you can use those on different projects and incentives that tend to not be spent with the regular general fund. So with my attitude towards government, I do not fear losing out on TIF 3."
It's a very serious matter. We're going to have to take a serious look.
Mark Eckert on TIF District 3
Eckert said of the $80 million spent on roadwork during his tenure, most of the funding came from TIF 3.
If he is re-elected, he said will organize a committee or task force "to talk about what happens after the end of TIF 3."
State lawmakers last year approved a second 12-year extension for a TIF district in Springfield, according to local media reports. In the past, TIF districts have only been allowed to have one extension. Eckert said he's not saying that's what Belleville would seek but it is something that would be researched.
"It's a very serious matter," he said. "We're going to have to take a serious look."
Mike Koziatek: 618-239-2502, @MikeKoziatekBND


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Category Archives: Blogs
New Year, New Life
A new year has begun, 2015 is here to stay (until next year). By this time, you may be sick of hearing other's new years resolutions, possibly already slacking with your "get in shape" goal and what not. Don't worry, this isn't a post that'll make you want to gouge your eyes out (hopefully) with resolutions and what not so read on good reader, read on.
It seems as we get older, time moves rapidly and years pass by within a blink of the eye. If you think about it, every day is just another day where the sun rises and sets over the Earth, life begins and ends. But come January 1st, we as humans view a new year as a new beginning. Most of us see it as a reset, a fresh start and so we begin again, continuing life with a refreshed approach to each year hoping it ends up better than the last. (Unless of course you had one kick-ass previous year and it may seem impossible to achieve a much better year, right on!)
Most people make lists of goals to reach throughout the year and let's be honest, they end up being half assed or forgotten. Why? Half the time it's a lack of motivation, we lose ambition or just end up getting too busy with other things. Life happens and that's okay.
So what can we do to ensure we have a good year and achieve goals? How does one approach a new year 'hitting the ground running'?
Don't plan for anything other than self-growth, prune out the negative, and say yes more often.
Now I'm not saying to not have goals, goals are great to have, but don't go in telling yourself "Oh I want to do this, I want to do that", go in saying "I will do this. I will do that". What you do with your life is completely determined by you and your approach.
Something that I'm still learning is not everything will go as planned. You can spend hours, days, weeks, months, years planning for something and come the time of it actually happening, it will most likely not go exactly as planned. It's fine for you to have
Winter Love
The cold that's occurring here is awfully, well, cold, but I absolutely love when it snows around this time of year. I'm currently visiting family back home in New Jersey and within the first few days of being here, there was a light snowfall. Of course, my ass was out bright and early snapping some photos. Here are a few of my favorites, along with the full album below :)
Depression is hard to simply explain. Depression is something that casts a dark cloud that will block any view that may be ahead. It will consume your mind, your each breath and drain you of any energy you once had. Depression throws you down a deep dark tunnel with no food, water, barely any air to breathe and closes off the only exit with a mountain of darkness leaving you no escape. It will have you feeling as though you're the only person on an island far from civilization. And I'm not talking some sweet get-away island. I'm talking a place where it's constantly cold, dark, rainy and horrid.
Living with depression is something that I wish no one ever had to do. As someone who lives with it, I know how hard each day can be. For years, I have had no drive, no vision of anything in my life. I have absolutely no clue what may be before me for this cloud has consumed me and doesn't allow me to see ahead. And once you slip into this dark hole, it's hard to hold yourself up, and extremely hard to come completely out of it. There are days, there will always be days, that are good where you can laugh and smile but then there are days that are awful leaving you curled up in your bed wanting to die.
When you see others happy and out living, you can't understand why you feel so drained and weighed down, unable to get up, move, and be happy too. Laughing at little things is a difficult without faking it. Genuinely smiling from happiness seems foreign and it's not something you choose. Sure, you can tell yourself to be happy and smile but with depression inside, everything, every thought, every breathe, you're hearing things that tell you otherwise. "You're pathetic, there's nothing good about you, no one really loves you, why are you even breathing…"
Endless Love
Love is a truly beautiful thing. There are so many types of love, it grows in so many different ways, hits you at the most random times, and swoops you off your feet in a matter of seconds. Here's a beautiful story of a time I encountered my first love while on a vacation with my parents and family. Let me tell you the story of my first love.
The oceans mist brushed across my face as the wind picked up, blowing my hair wildly. My fingers wrapped around the bannister of the hotel balcony as I gazed out toward the ocean. I'm finally here. An escape from reality and time to just be me. No responsibilities, no worries. The sun was beginning to set due west, casting a gorgeous light across the sandy beaches and ocean beyond. Relaxation mode, engage.
In the distance, I could hear skateboards heading in my direction. I looked over to see two boys skating towards the park, a distance away to my left. One of them glanced up, catching my eye and slowed down as he came near the balcony. I was only up a tiny distance from the street, being on the first floor, so we had a clear view of one another. He smiled up at me as the second boy slowed down, following the firsts gaze up at me. They walked passed with their boards in hand toward the park and both smiled up to me. I blushed, smiling back, then looked back towards the ocean as they passed. A breeze picked up, giving me a chill and I returned inside my families hotel room. My parents were unpacking and getting ready for a night out with the rest of our family that were staying at the hotel with us. This was the one time throughout the year we all were able to get together, the one time
My First Yankee Candle Haul
While shopping around NorthLake Mall here in NC, I decided to stop into Yankee Candle as I recently received two wax warmers for Christmas. Excited, I rushed in and started going smelling crazy. The man in there was extremely helpful and helped me find quite a few different scents to try out. Here are some of the ones I ended up purchasing, though I know I'll be going back to buy a few more or multiple of my favorites soon!
For those of you who don't know about these adorable little guys, they're Yankee Candle wax tarts. You can burn these in electric or candle lit wax warmers (NOT candle warmers that warm up candles). They're awesome to have an I'm so excited to have two now in my life. These little wax guys can burn for up to 8 hrs of fragrance.
I'm currently burning/melting – I'm not quite sure what the verb is, but I'm doing it – Golden Sands in my bedroom and Sun and Sand in my kitchen. I also purchased Orange Dreamsicle for my boyfriend but I'm not an orange kind of girl.
I'll be honest, as of right now I'm not crazy about Golden Sands, but just from looking at my little collection, I know I'll like a lot of these no matter what. I mostly got a lot of beachy-type scents. I absolutely love everything about the beach thus, want to be reminded of it while I'm so far away from it.
As I may update my little collection and purchase new tarts/waxes, you'll most likely notice a theme. I like to keep scents very soft, clean, and natural/nature like in my house and in general. I'm excited to discover new scents that I love.
Oh, and I'll probably end up buying larger candles of the scents I really love. I'm excited!
Jan 1, 2014
The first day to a new year which I was incredibly lucky to spend with some of my family. 2013 was a rough year for all of us and there are some rough battles to get through with some deep scars that may never heal…
In 2013, my family lost the greatest man we know; an amazing father, husband, friend, brother, and all around person. I feel like every time I mention my dad, people assume I'm pulling out the "dad passed away" card for sympathy points (which sounds absolutely awful to even say) but sincerely, he has affected me in so many ways throughout my life and thus, his passing was incredibly hard on me. Out of everyone in my family, I feel like he was the only person who really understood me and that I could connect to on a much deeper level
There's been a lot going on in my life. More so that I'm dealing with mentally and emotionally on top of personal situations. I know there isn't an excuse as to why I haven't been posting videos – I'll explain everything in a video eventually once I build up my confidence to do so.
I lost my dad back in July and since then I've been having a really hard time coming to terms with everything that's currently going on in my life. He was the one person in my life that I truly looked up to and went to whenever I needed help or guidance. He understood me on a level not many can and ever will. So it's been incredibly hard, especially in a time when I feel I need the most guidance about a lot of things that are going on within my life and mind. Thus, I've been regressing and curling into a shell that I've been forming over the last three years for other reasons and it's just not good. I know most of this may not make sense and I'm just babbling at this point, but I hope that in some way you can understand. I don't think I'd be in such a great place if it weren't for some amazing people, you, who support me and remind me of who I am. So thank you.
For those of you who watch my personal videos, things are going to be changing along with me. I know I haven't posted in a while, but it'll hopefully be worth it once I am able to feel remotely put together to record a video. Thank you for supporting me through everything, putting up with my weird ways, and being so patient as I make my way through this path in my life. Thank you.
Heal, Repair, Restore.
There has been a lot going on in my life right now. Almost 2 months ago, my dad passed away. Losing someone you love and someone who was your father your entire life is absolutely horrible. It's something that will take a lot of time to get through and honestly time doesn't heal; time only numbs me.
My dad had been in the hospital numerous times within his life, but within the past two years, he had lived in a hospital or rehab center longer than he had been out. Living in the hospital for months because of his health. My dad fought for 69+ years, he would have been 70 this year, to live and keep going but unfortunately, his body couldn't handle anymore and it was his time.
15 Facts About Me
Though I'm on the internet and post pretty often, there's still so much you may not know about me. Well, there's definitely a lot you just can't learn about a person through the internets. So I felt it'd be fun to post some facts about myself so you can get to know me a bit better! It'd be awesome to read about YOU as well, so post some facts about yourself in the comments or feel free to make a video telling me your facts and make it a video response to my "7 Facts About Me" video :D
Let's dive in!
1. Growing up, all I wanted to do was play videogames, collect worms, and play baseball with my little brother and dad in the street.
2. I used to film my friend and I dancing and random skits as a kid. We would set up a camera and choreograph dances to try and make a music video. We, at one point,
Being "Popular"
I always see people changing themselves to fit in with crowds, to try and be what people classify as "popular" and or try to find ways to get attention from others. Why? I can understand some of the reasonings but ultimately, why? Why change who you are to get a better social status among those who think they're so high and mighty? Don't let them decide who you get to be.
Everything in life is the way it is because we perceive it to be that way. If a certain group of people are classified as "popular" because they look a certain way or act a certain way, why not see each of them as they really individually are instead of allowing them to be perceived in a silly cliche society tends to brand others with.


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Aquariums are popular and widespread aquatic art, beautiful pets and an engaging hobby, but what do you really know about aquarium history? These great displays have been around far longer than most people realize, and used to look far different than today's designs.
Ancient Aquariums
The first recorded instance of aquariums was in the Roman Empire (approximately 37 B.C. to 400 A.D.). Ancient Romans used to keep freshwater barbels – carp relatives – in marble boxes in guest bedrooms, likely to represent the fresh fish their guests could enjoy at elaborate feasts. In China's early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), goldfish were kept in porcelain bowls as elegant decorations. In other civilizations, there may be similar instances of fish kept as decorative objects, and many cultures have early instances of aquaculture similar to aquarium keeping, proving that fish have been close companions of humans for millennia.
Nineteenth Century Aquariums
It wasn't until the 1800s that aquarium keeping became more popular, particularly in Europe. Naturalism was of tremendous interest during the nineteenth century, and many researchers as well as interested hobbyists experimented with keeping live fish, corals, snails and similar aquatic creatures in primitive aquariums.
Because complicated pumps, filters, lights and heaters had not yet been invented, balanced aquariums were the most successful style in use in the 1800s. These were often wooden boxes sealed with pitch or similar materials, with a glass front for easy viewing. The bottom was typically made of slate, and could be gently heated through the stone if necessary. A balanced ecosystem of plants and animals in the water kept the aquarium active, and sunlight was essential to keep the aquarium healthy.
In 1853, the first public aquarium opened at the London Zoo, and the popularity of aquariums continued to grow throughout the 1850s, particularly in the United Kingdom, Germany and United States.
Twentieth Century Aquariums
The first major technological advances began to impact aquariums in the early twentieth century. The first water pump was designed in the early 1900s, and as electricity became more widely available after World War I (1914-1918), easy aquariums were even marketed as living toys for children. In the 1950s, developments in plastic shipping bags and efficient air transport allowed more exotic fish species to be kept in aquariums – until those innovations made shipping fish possible, only native fish were possible in aquariums.
From the 1960s to the 1980s, additional developments came with increasing speed – filters, lights, skimmers and other gear that made it possible to keep ever more complex aquatic systems thriving and healthy in a wide range of circumstances.
Aquariums Today
Today, there are always more developments in aquarium care, and it is possible for even novice hobbyists to enjoy a beautiful aquarium. In recent years, it is has become less accepted to use captured fish in an aquarium – many nations have outlawed importing wildly harvested fish – and captive-breeding programs have become far more widespread, giving aquarium lovers many wonderful options for their tanks. In addition to fish, coral reef aquariums are also growing in popularity, focusing on corals rather than fish in the aquarium.
In the United States alone, more than 10 million homes have at least one aquarium or fish tank, and while freshwater setups are far more popular because of their relative ease to establish and care for, more and more people are discovering the joy and beauty that any type of aquarium can bring to their home.


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Gaultheria macrostigma (Prostrate Snowberry)
Kingdom: Plantae
(Unranked): Angiosperms
(Unranked): Eudicots
(Unranked): Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Ericaceae
Genus: Gaultheria
Species: G. macrostigma
Binominal name: Gaultheria macrostigma
Synonyms: Pernettya macrostigma, Gaultheria depressa var. microphylla.
Common name: Prostrate Snowberry
Gaultheria macrostigma is a prostrate herb of montane to lower sub-alpine (500- 1500m) opens grasslands and rocky places in North, South and Stewart Islands from 39° latitude southwards.
It grows to a height of about 50cm. The hard narrow serrated leaves are widely spaced and are of a green/bronze colour. It has small white to pink flowers during April to May and these develop into pink fleshy 6mm fruits. These fruits are edible raw or cooked.
This plant crosses easily with other Gaultheria so only the plants with narrow-leaved plants with pink fruits are likely to be the true species.
Photographed at Mavora Lakes, Southland.
Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
Previous page: Snowberry (Gaultheria depressa var. novae-zelandiae)
Next page: Gentianella corymbifera subsp. corymbifera (Grassland Gentian)


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Sue Rose is the principal of Rose Public Relations. Her experience spans over twenty years in marketing, advertising and public relations.
As principal of an advertising agency in Florida, Sue won an Addy award for her "Jungle Club" marketing campaign for the Vero Beach Health and Country Club, which moved the club from the number three market position to number one. Sue later served as Marketing Consultant for Frank N. Magid Associates, the world's most influential broadcast marketing research and consulting firm.
Sue led the previously ailing Utah Opera Company to sellout status, and was instrumental in the drafting of legislation that protected the rights of breastfeeding women in Massachusetts while serving as Public Relations Director for Motherwear. Previous to launching Rose Public Relations, Sue headed the PR arm of Nehlsen Communications, a marketing firm specializing in the building trades.
Today, Rose Public Relations specializes in media relations, in-depth case studies and feature articles, strategic content creation, functional website design and expert SEO for the construction, manufacturing, energy and greentech sectors.


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Lots of talk about the right-hand first turn causing trouble off the start, but most of the high-profile crashes took place after the start in the first rhythm lane. That section was tricky even when it wasn't part of the start, and track builders even made a few changes to the first jump in the section between practices. What started as a regular double jump changed a bit, as a double lip was added to it. It only took a few practice laps for riders to get it down and jump it anyway, hitting the first lip and wheel tapping the second to get over the double and into the section. That rhythm lane was especially tough when the riders had to get through it together after the first turn, and that section claimed Ryan Villopoto in the heat race and James Stewart in the main event.
Stewart crashed with Ti-Lube Kawasaki's Matt Goerke, who looks to have broken his wrist in the crash. Tough year for Goerke, who was already nursing ankle injuries. Hard to put blame on anyone for the crash, as it happened when the entire pack was jumping through the section off the start.
Rumors spiraled all over regarding Stewart's condition—everything from a broken femur, to a ruptured spleen or broken vertebrae. But his San Manuel Racing Team tweeted this morning that James will be okay and will race this weekend in Toronto.
The right-hand first turn did claim a victim in Blake Baggett, who was second in Lites East points coming into the race. According to Kawasaki's Mike Fisher, Baggett locked up his front tire in the first turn of the LCQ, which led to a crash (riders often grab too much front brake in right hand turns because they can't reach the back brake pedal in mid corner). Baggett didn't qualify for the main.
Baggett was in the LCQ because he tangled with Justin Barcia in his heat race, trying a hard block pass than sent both riders down. Barcia managed to get going and qualify through the heat by finishing fifth, but was later penalized three positions for skipping the whoop section after he got up and actually passed two riders while doing so (the three positions due to passing two riders, and then losing an additional spot as a penalty). With the penalty, Barcia had a bad gate pick for the main, but he made it work and pulled the holeshot anyway.
Lost in all the missing-the-main-event commotion was Rockstar Suzuki rookie Jason Anderson. Anderson started second in his heat race and was taken out by DNA Star Racing Yamaha's Gannon Audette. He finished 17th, then went to the LCQ and was taken down by Baggett in the first turn. He missed the main.
Dean Wilson said he was so depressed after two tough races that he took a day off, went to the ocean and just listened to the waves.
Dean Wilson (15) was happier after at least getting back on the box with a second. Not as good of a night for Blake Wharton.
Andrew Fredrickson photo
The Red Bull KTM teamed proved the power of its 350s by nailing each holeshot that they raced for. Mike Alessi nailed one in his heat and the main, and Andrew Short got one in his heat. It's been a long time since Alessi grabbed one of his once-patented holeshots. Said Mike, "I haven't gotten one since Hangtown last year. That's almost a year. Longest drought of my career." Alessi admitted arm pump got to him when he was leading races for the first time in awhile.
As strong as the starts made the 350 look, Alessi says he didn't make any changes to his bike. In fact, he didn't even ride a 350 all week, instead putting in laps on a stock 450. He will probably race the 450 in AMA Motocross. Short, meanwhile, also rode a 450 during the week, but has elected to stay on the 350 for AMA Motocross.
A much needed good weekend for the Dodge Motorsports Hart and Huntington Team, which placed both Ivan Tedesco and Chris Blose into top ten, with Tedesco sixth and Blose tenth. Last week Blose and Tedesco finished 18th and 19th.
On the inverse, the Muscle Milk Toyota JGR team had a terrible night. Justin Brayton crashed in his heat race and hurt his knee, then came back for the LCQ and tangled with Villopoto, missing the main himself. Davi Millsaps looked very fast in his heat race, as he was the only rider besides Stewart to triple the end of rhythm section. In the main, he was battling with Mike Alessi early, but lost the front end and crashed. Late in the race he crashed again and hit his head, taking him out of the race.
The Rockstar Suzuki Lites Team Manager and Owner Bobby Hewitt had good news regarding injured rider Ian Trettel. Over the weekend, Trettel, who is in an induced coma after a crash in Daytona, squeezed the hand of his nurse when asked to. Definitely a good sign.
Hewitt's son Hunter, now a privateer Suzuki rider, had another good ride going in the main until a crash dropped him to ninth. Other fast riders in the Lites class has problems, including Malcolm Stewart, who went down in a first turn crash in the main and finished 20th. Blake Wharton won a heat race on his GEICO Honda and was running fourth in the main when he crashed in the whoops. Wharton was credited with 17th.
Darryn Durham returned to the scene after breaking his foot while leading the first East Lites heat race of the year. He was fast, but his endurance suffered. He finished a solid sixth in the main.
Andrew Fredrickson photo
Injured Monster Energy Kawasaki rider Jake Weimer is back on the racing scene. He has rented a place in Florida so he can ride at teammate Ryan Villopoto's house. He has begun riding, with hopes to be back sometime around the St. Louis round in a few weeks.