text:
Town Square
An Open Letter to the New City Council
Original post made by stephen levy, University South, on Nov 8, 2012
Companies are bidding up rents and building new office space in an attempt to keep pace with current and planned job growth. We see this also in downtown Palo Alto with rising rents, low vacancies and new buildings. Moreover, when Nancy and I walk and shop on University Avenue downtown, which we do often, the street is alive and jumping.
People want to be here, live here and work here. At the same time Stanford is building to meet new growth opportunities and keep pace with being competitive—on the campus, at the hospital and shopping center—all regional treasures that happen to be our neighbors.
One challenge you will face is deciding on the array of office, housing and transportation proposals that will come your way.
Based on the work I do, I offer some general themes for moving forward.
1) If I had to do the ABAG regional projections again this year, they would be higher. Stop trying to argue that ABAG regional projections are too high. Recent job growth is triple the average levels ABAG projected to 2040.
2) Business groups like the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. Joint Venture Silicon Valley and the Bay Area Council identify access to a skilled workforce, housing availability and transportation mobility for people and goods as the region's highest competitive priorities. Palo Alto has a role to play in meeting the region's housing and transportation challenges.
3) The composition of population growth and housing demand is changing within the region and nation. Most growth will be in older age groups (primarily active older residents) and young adults under 35. Moreover industry trends are exploring smaller units driven by the high cost of land in the region and supported by consumer demand.
The challenges of planning for housing and transportation are the challenges of competing for a prosperous region. The challenge for elected officials is that what some residents may not desire is exactly a critical part of maintaining the economic attractiveness of this world center of innovation.
As a resident and someone who lives and works downtown and also as someone who works with regional planning agencies here and throughout the state, my perspectives are
1) Growth can and should be centered in existing activity centers like downtown and transportation corridors
2) From a regional perspective Palo Alto does not have a compelling case to opt out of our fair share of meeting housing and transportation challenges.
3) The city's infrastructure investment is critical both to prepare for growth, to incorporate the latest technology and to give residents the best possible city we can in a period of growth pressures and constant change.
As to particular projects you will have to work out the difficult issues of obtaining appropriate public benefits when changes to zoning or floor space regulations are being considered. As you know better than I initial development proposals ask for more than applicants expect and opposing groups predict gloom and doom from changes that incorporate growth.
Amidst this, hard work can usually find a good compromise. But these proposals do come as a sign that the city you govern is a place people want to be, a sign that you and we are doing many things right.
Comments (45)
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Nov 8, 2012 at 4:15 pm
You seem to forget or ignore the fact that the people who are moving in great numbers into Palo Alto are families with school age children who are moving here for the schools.
Smaller units will not guarantee that those moving here will be single under 30s without children (DINKY (double income no kids yet) they were once called) or active seniors (empty nesters). They will be families cramming into the units being built regardless of size, and from my experience often 3 generations as they bring a grandparent to do the childcare.
I will remind the new city council that families like to be able to do their one stop shopping locally and affordably, and often spend a lot of time in their cars driving their kids from school to lots of after school activities.
a resident of Midtown
on Nov 8, 2012 at 4:25 pm
I tend to agree with you, we are headed to a much more intense center of economic activity, and I think this is good. Since we are constrained by the absence of open land, we will be builing up, not out. To think to the extreme, think Manhatten, not Bakersfield. Therefore, the current 50 foot height limits in Palo Alto need to be abolished.
My question for you: What should the next level of height limits be, in your opinion? Please do not punt on this, I am asking you for your considered opinion. 75 Ft? 100 Ft? 150 ft?...etc.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Nov 8, 2012 at 6:45 pm
My open letter:
ABAG requirements are ridiculous unless they are truly regional. Portola Valley, Los Altos Hills and Atherton should be included in the housing area for Palo Alto area since they are bedroom communities of Palo Alto.
A survey of Realtors in Palo Alto would reveal more accurately who is moving and shopping for housing in Palo Alto. This would be valuable information when realistically planning housing goals and locations.
Height of buildings not a huge issue if appropriately placed (think Palo Alto Commons vs. Old Palo Alto).
Developers should be required to provide realistic amounts of parking and true community benefits.
Non-essential services that do not serve a broad section of our population should be required to be largely self-supporting (Children's Theater, Junior Museum as examples)
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Nov 8, 2012 at 9:02 pm
Ducatigirl is a registered user.
Thank you for your letter, Stephen. I agree with most of what you have to say.
However, I have one big worry: it seems we may be living in another bubble here, in terms of employment opportunities and housing costs. What if we are hit by another Great Recession in the near future? Even I have seen some subtle signs that something is "rotten in Denmark". Also, even though we know better, people are still buying products from China. Even though the quality is inferior, the prices are irresistible, and we have very little other choices! Palo Alto and the Bay Area seem to be turning into little colonies of China as a result.
a resident of Barron Park
on Nov 9, 2012 at 4:59 am
As usual, Stephen Levy is spot on.
While I love it that Greg Schmidt continues to challenge ABAG methodologies, clearly the economy in and around Palo Alto is strong and growing. More than a century of Palo Alto history shows vitality is never a smooth line to the sky, hitches and setbacks temper improvements and make them stronger in the long run.
Focusing intelligent growth around transportation corridors has proven to be a wise choice for Palo Alto. Broad community discussion about the proposed Innovation and Arts Center located at a major transit hub, followed by a citywide vote, seems a smart way to go for our community. I'm looking forward to learning more about it, then voting my preference.
a resident of University South
on Nov 9, 2012 at 12:16 pm
stephen levy is a registered user.
In response to a few of the comments.
I don't believe in artifical height limits. My experience from living and working next to most of the high rise buildings in downtown PA is that height by itself does not ruin the view. I think these claims are not correct or experience based.
On the other hand all projects should be reviewed for access, proposed use and other considerations as well as public benefits.
Current planning thinking does favor height over sprawal both on cost and environemntal grounds but also on grounds of where new households want to live. I also favor up versus out as a general rule.
Smaller units do not by themeselves guarantee no increase in the school populaiton. On the other hand the fact that most HH growth is in households that do not have children is true.
But for me the idea of perventing growth in school enrollment is not a compelling case for restrictionist policies. I beleive the school system is here to serve current and future residents. Growth ocurs slowly over future years and if we have to put up more money for schools, that is not a reason for me to oppose our share of growth. To do so is simply to opt out of being a regional partner and asking neighbors to take on extra shares. As I said before I see no compelling case why we should be allowed to opt out.
I agree that the nation and region faces challenges in economic prosperity whether from China or our own gridlock and stupidity. Yet Palo Alto planning and city investments can be a positive force in meeting these challenges though the heavy lifting must come elsewhere.
a resident of Midtown
on Nov 9, 2012 at 1:56 pm
>I don't believe in artifical height limits
Stephen, finally a respected leader in Palo Alto has come out against hight limits! Thank you!
Now, can we get rid of the ridiculous 'no new net trips' into Stanford? Stanford is the center of economic growth in this area, yet so many people have decided to dump on it. Do you agree?
I don't think many people understand that economic GROWTH is the goose that lays the golden egg of widespread prosperity.
Your thoughts, Stephen?
a resident of University South
on Nov 11, 2012 at 11:08 am
stephen levy is a registered user.
Palo Alto is one center of innovation and entreperneurship in the world economy. To maintain this position I support the ability of private and nonprofit institutions to adapt to changing technologies and service delivery opportunities.
This support includes Stanford in its many dimensions. For full disclosure I have no financial ties to Stanford or any developers in Palo Alto. To the extent I have studied Stanford's plans, they and the people they hire seem designed to keep pace with changes in hospital design and usage, campus facilities and activities and the competitive pressures of managing regional shopping and research centers.
Our region will add 2 million people by 2040 and I expect there will be more trips taken as a result.
Just as I do not support artifical height limits, I see no reason for artificial trip constraints placed on any single party.
The city, county and Stanford have public processes to sort out reasonable responsibilites with regard to new projects and growth.
If I were to explore anything with Stanford, it would be to assess if there were more Stanford could do to address the regional housing pressures that its growth produces.
We want to manage but also to lead the growth that is coming. Denying the growth and the associated opportunities and challenges is to deny reality in the same way that deniers of climate change threaten a healthy future.
a resident of Midtown
on Nov 11, 2012 at 11:26 am
>Denying the growth and the associated opportunities and challenges is to deny reality in the same way that deniers of climate change threaten a healthy future.
Another wise comment from you, Stephen. Thank you.
Just to briefly mention the climate change analogy, climate change is a real danger to all of humanity. What I don't understand is why many who believe this (as I do), do not support nuclear power. I think new nuclear technologies are available that could make an enormous difference.
One thing at a time, though. Let's just get rid of the artificial height limits, as a first level of local decision making.
Again, thank you for your vision.
a resident of Midtown
on Nov 11, 2012 at 12:56 pm
>Business groups like the Silicon Valley Leadership Group. Joint Venture Silicon Valley and the Bay Area Council <
These are business organizations that make MONEY off of growth. For the people who live here Money is not our primary interest. Quality of life and quality of community are our values. Already traffic is unbearable and aggressive and unsafe. Don't make it worse.
a resident of Midtown
on Nov 11, 2012 at 6:00 pm
> For the people who live here Money is not our primary interest
Ask all those recent college graduates, who were raised here, if they like not having job opportunities.
a resident of Crescent Park
on Nov 11, 2012 at 6:29 pm
Stephen - sorry, but it is time bag ABAG. The reality is that some cities will have way more housing than business and vice-versa. You cannot blanket housing to job policy on a single city. It isn't reasonable or logical.
PA has a ton of jobs. MP, Los Altos, Atherton, etc. do not. Using your logic, instead of forcing PA to build more housing, we should force the other towns to rip out ther single family detached homes and build office parks. (sarcasm alert).
Time for PA to get out of ABAG. As part of the deal to build the Arrillaga Towers, have the developer pay the fines and get out.
a resident of Midtown
on Nov 12, 2012 at 12:51 pm
ABAG is an effective regional business group that understands the regional conditions. Palo Alto is the satellite of Stanford, and we need to accept our role, and responsibility, since we have gained so much by being next to Stanford.
Stephen Levy is right. We need to listen to him.
It is time to eliminate artificial height limits in PA. Stanford needs transportation access to its own lands. We need more intensive housing in PA and Stanford, especially along transportation corridors. There is no guarantee that PA can continue to be a leader in the world, unless we adapt. We are no longer a sleepy, and content, villiage. We need to fight for our own continued economic survival.
a resident of Barron Park
on Nov 12, 2012 at 1:56 pm
You say:
"From a regional perspective Palo Alto does not have a compelling case to opt out of our fair share of meeting housing and transportation challenges."
Perhaps from a regional perspective we don't have a case, but from a Palo Alto perspective we have an excellent case. If the residents of Palo Alto do not want more housing development, who are ABAG and the state to force us to? I'm not saying whether we do or not, but most residents I've talked to react most negatively to the idea that some outside group is trying to force these goals on us.
Unfortunately, the City Council is never going to bother to find out whether the residents want this or not, and even if we didn't, the Council certainly wouldn't forgo the grants available from ABAG. I hope the city puts together a plan and asks the voters whether to approve it, but I have no expectation that they would do such a thing. If they had done something like that, none of the big residential projects in the past five years would have been approved. And then how would the councillors fund their campaigns?
a resident of Midtown
on Nov 12, 2012 at 2:43 pm
Stephen Levy is correct. We need to listen to him. ABAG mandates are the future, especially when they are aligned around transportation corridors.
Stanford is our future, not our enemy. We need to realize that Palo Alto is a major growth opportunity, not a backwater. The 60's and 70's are over. Time to get over it.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Nov 12, 2012 at 2:47 pm
If ABAG truly provided REGIONAL mandates, bedroom communities like Portola Valley, Atherton, Los Altos Hills and Woodside would be required to build their truly fair of housing.
If by "transportation corridor" you mean the Caltrain, we should be putting office space at Lytton and Alma, we should only build housing...
a resident of University South
on Nov 12, 2012 at 4:09 pm
stephen levy is a registered user.
To palo alto mom and crescent park dad,
ABAG housing targets ARE regioally based and consisent among communities. In fact the Palo Alto planning allocation is 3.6% of the county't target total while PA's populaiton is 3.6% of the 2012 county populaiton. So despote having an above average share of county jobs and being near transit our allocation is just proportional to our existing population. FYI, Mountain View had 4.5% of the county housing allocation with just 4.2% of the 2012 population.
In past practice the San Mateo allocations are decided by the cities themselves not ABAG so if you have a gripe about Woodside, Portola Valley, Atherton or Menlo Park, understand these allocations were determined jointly with all San Mateo cities.
The rant about ABAG forcing PA to build housing is backwards. The housing allocation targets are planning targets. For the most part cities do not build housing, developers do. If there is no demand no one has to build housing but of course there is high demand in PA.
So instead of ABAG forcing anyone to do anything it is the naysayers who want to prevent buyers and builders from connecting in PA.
a resident of Crescent Park
on Nov 12, 2012 at 5:41 pm
I am always open to getting educated...so help me with a perception that I've held about ABAG. My understanding is that ABAG has assigned a housing/job ratio to PA. If PA decides not comply, then there is a possibility of fines and/or the withholding of state funds?
I won't argue that there are many people who want to live in PA. Great location. Vibrant downtown. Easy to get to SF, SFO and SJC. Stanford. Great schools. Wonderful and beautiful neighborhoods.
I will argue, however, that people want to move to PA for the neighborhoods (beautiful and stately homes) and the schools (given their top scores and relatively decent student to teacher ratios). We all know that the school system is nearing full capacity. There is nowhere else to go. Further, high density housing eventually would have to replace single family homes - one of the leading and favorable attributes of the city. Eventually the charm and allure of PA fades with the high density urbanization of PA.
Not a good thing.
a resident of Midtown
on Nov 12, 2012 at 5:46 pm
>it is the naysayers who want to prevent buyers and builders from connecting in PA.
Yes, this is the situation of supply and demand in PA. The demand is very high in PA, but the supply is artificially constricted by city rules.
PA is constricting its own growth via overly restrictive zoning laws and other regulations.
We need GROWTH! We can no longer afford to sit on the anti-growth sidelines.
Stephen Levy is onto something. We need to listen to him.
a resident of Barron Park
on Nov 12, 2012 at 5:58 pm
Dave says: "We need GROWTH! We can no longer afford to sit on the anti-growth sidelines."
Perhaps you could articulate why you think PA needs growth? I'm very content with PA the size it is now. Not one resident I've ever talked to about this thinks that we need a higher population in the city, and none would like higher density either. Based on my admittedly unscientific discussion, I can only assume that the only ones who want growth are the developers and landowners with large parcels that could be rezoned into higher density housing.
To Stephen Levy, I think you're referring to my previous post when you say, "The rant about ABAG forcing PA"; thanks for the objective opinion. I certainly realize that ABAG is not 'forcing' us to build more housing in the literal sense of the word. But I believe they are offering large financial incentives for us to do so. If I offer you $1000 to eat an apple, I'm not forcing you to eat the apple, but the practical effect is the same.
There is certainly enough demand to support a higher population in PA. Perhaps we should get rid of zoning laws entirely, and let anyone build what they want? In general, I'm quite libertarian, but I will refer you to Houston to see why this is a bad idea.
All I'm saying is: if the residents of PA don't want higher density developments and more population, then that's the only thing that should really matter. Respect the desires of the residents. If they happen to be the "naysayers" you refer to, then so be it. Who are you to insist otherwise?
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Nov 12, 2012 at 8:12 pm
"Based on my admittedly unscientific discussion, I can only assume that the only ones who want growth are the developers and landowners with large parcels that could be rezoned into higher density housing."
I agree.
"Growth" per developers, is not the kind of growth residents want, and it's not the kind of growth that the world looks at when they think of Palo Alto (we are not famous for our buildings, unless they are garages). So, a discussion worth attention is the risk of letting developers mess with Palo Alto, in the name of the stuff Stephen Levy talks about.
Of the Stanford companies founded by alumni generating revenues of $2.7 TRILLION, how much was served by Palo Alto?
Stanford may want to take full credit, but doesn't Palo Alto deserve some credit? This town has added to the fabulous academic environment with its natural setting, ideal for families, good schools, green living - what Nobel laureate would not want to be attracted to live here?
Bottom line, Palo Alto will continue to generate more global growth out of Pizza my Heart, and University Ave as they are, than many gigantic cities in the world do with tall buildings.
Let's talk growth, and how Palo Alto should best serve growth and innovation.
Web Link
a resident of another community
on Nov 13, 2012 at 11:28 am
Time for my 2 cents of views.
Business groups supporting growth and wanted growth, that is what business does, it grows, they hire people, and people invest and make money. It seems most of the people here are somewhat connected with the Silicon Valley machine.
Stanford like the business groups want to see growth, they have to keep up with Harvard, Yale and all those who are seeking to be a major player.
Developer based housing or the other way. Most homeowners live in developer based housing, funny it might seem but developers have thousands of buyers willing to buy their homes. The other way, buy a lot, save up money and build yourself a home.
Cities other then Palo Alto have to do their fair share, can't expect one city to solve the bay area problems.
One last thing, I like height limits, smart growth.
a resident of University South
on Nov 13, 2012 at 12:14 pm
stephen levy is a registered user.
Palo Alto institutions including Stanford need to be able to change to stay competitive. Often that change includes adding additional facilities. It is a "keep pace or fall behind" world.
So while residents may not "need" growth near them, local companies and the univesity need to be able to change and grow to stay competitive.
The ABAG housing targets reflect expected job and household growth and access to transportation but also include collabroation with cities. The current housing allocations give Palo Alto a housing allocation that is nearly identical to our current populaiton share of the county.
The idea that PA is asked to do more than its share for any reason is not supported by the evidence. You can check with staff but I think they were successful in convincing ABAG (correctly) that not all housing associated with Stanford growth should be allocated to PA.
As to residents voting on how much growth to have, that is a values issues but it is also tricky.
First, I suspect most posters would not approve of residents voting on whether to allow African American, Jewish or gay residents to live here--all actions that have occurred in history in other communities.
Second, society must have some protection against actions, which if taken by all or most cities, would be against the public interest. That is why ABAG and similar regional planning agencies implement a state mandate to plan for adequate housing regionally.
So while if PA does not approve much housing, it would not cripple the regional economy, as I argue above I do not see any compelling reaons why PA should be allowed to opt out particualry since we are only asked to do our fair share while others are doing theirs.
Finally, the vast majority of housing is planned for neighborhoods like mine and not the single family neighborhoods in midtown or south PA. That sems reasonable to me both for where I live and for the city in which I live.
Downtown has been a vibrant university and innovation center since I started working here in 1969. Growth does not change the character of my neighborhood and the city should negotitate about new developments here as elsewhere in the city.
a resident of Midtown
on Nov 13, 2012 at 12:45 pm
I hope council ignores Levy's comments and appeals the ABAG numbers. The ABAG numbers were based on growth trends from the 1970s to the end of the 1990s. But in the 2000s, growth fell off. Yet ABAG's current numbers don't reflect the lower rate of growth.
a resident of another community
on Nov 13, 2012 at 1:28 pm
The Bay Area has lots of ugly single or 2 story rental buildings, strip malls, warehouses or other buildings that were meant for another era. 10, 20 or 30 years down the road, or we can open up some of the open space that is laying around
a resident of Barron Park
on Nov 13, 2012 at 2:14 pm
"So while if PA does not approve much housing, it would not cripple the regional economy, as I argue above I do not see any compelling reaons why PA should be allowed to opt out particualry since we are only asked to do our fair share while others are doing theirs."
Our "fair share" is only relevant if we as a community accept the overall premise that the region must grow according to ABAG's predictions *and* that we want to be a part of that. Perhaps we do. However, I'm not hearing that from the residents I talk to. All I'm saying is that I don't think we as a community have yet accepted 1) ABAG's growth projections, and 2) that we want to be a part of growth at that level. Until the community at large accepts those, people will feel like this is something that is being imposed from above.
The City has the tools to slow growth down if it so desires; it's not inevitable. Your comments seem to imply that this growth will happen no matter what we do. That is simply not the case. Through the zoning and planning processes, we can slow it down if we want, perhaps not in all cases, but in general. (It's harder to create growth where it doesn't exist)
If we slow down growth, there may be certain other effects on our local economy, community, etc. Those effects (positive and negative) should be explored, so that we know what we're getting into. We're starting to have that conversation (a bit), but I don't think ABAG or the City Council will wait.
As far as where the development will be located, I suspect few people would complain if it was to be mostly located with five blocks of the University Ave Caltrain station. But over the past few years a great deal of dense development has been located in other areas (the Elks Lodge, the bowling alley, Alma Plaza, the proposed Buena Vista mobile home park redevelopment, etc..), which definitely has an impact on quality of life in Midtown and South PA. So the suspicion probably exists among the populace that the city is not very good about resisting higher density development in general.
By the way, I don't think the ABAG projections are really out of whack in a huge way. I think the Palo Alto jobs number is 33% increase between 2010 and 2040; that's only 0.96% increase per year. However, it should be noted that the 30% housing increase represents an additional 19,320 residents (at current density per unit). Are we really going to be able to put an additional 19,000 residents in the downtown district without significant effects on the livability and character of the city? I certainly hope none of those new residents has a car...
That said, it does seem like the ABAG SCS Bay Area Plan focuses most of the growth on Santa Clara County. San Mateo County gets off relatively easily (housing increases of 17% for Menlo Park, 17% for Atherton, 20% for EPA, 9% for Portola Valley, and 5% for Woodside - compare to 30% for Palo Alto and 31% for Mountain View (although Los Altos gets off easy at 10%). And it seems to me that there's much more potential for job and housing growth in downtown San Jose and the south valley (Morgan Hill area) than in the PA-MV-LA area. San Jose could certainly be a lot more dense; it has less than a third of the density of San Francisco and two-thirds the density of LA. The plan has its housing growing by 43% (compared with 29% for SF), which will move its density from 31% of SF's to only 34%. That will make San Jose less dense than LA is today, and about where Seattle is today. Clearly, it could be a lot more dense.
But perhaps San Jose's residents don't want that either :-)
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Nov 13, 2012 at 2:49 pm
stephen levy,
With your moral premise, Venice Italy should look like a neighborhood in Milan. Actually even Milan has a compass.
Comparing building development issues, to voting hispanics, blacks or jews in/out is bizarre. I say this, being a combo of two of these classifications, and add some.
At some point residents of Palo Alto can decide to not be in complete tandem with Stanford or Corporate building growth, if for example, it means altering the historical character of the city, and breaking building height.
It's a choice to lose your character to "inevitability." Certainly Stanford itself prizes it's design. Architecturally, and historically, Palo Alto is as unique as Venice, and it carries more of it's share than neighboring cities.
What is a model city or comparable for your vision? Talking abstractly about growth, and fear of being left behind is not a case.
a resident of Midtown
on Nov 13, 2012 at 5:36 pm
Let us think about the dream of Harlem, back in the late 18th Century. Full of Dutch extraction folks. Manhatten island was a backwater farm community, just starting to develop. Once the island was recognized as a center of economic dynamism, it grew at a fast rate. Those people on the island complained about all the new fangled growth. They did not want growth. Sound familiar?
The reactionaries always want to block change.
We need to support Stephen Levy, because he can see the future, despite all the right wingers that want to block change.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Nov 13, 2012 at 8:07 pm
Au contraire,
You may be the one stuck in the 18th century idea that development has to be about shiny new big buildings, concrete, volume, and footprint.
Think iPhone, or Kindle - less is more.
a resident of another community
on Nov 13, 2012 at 8:19 pm
The idea is that growth should be well planned, smart use of design, not just a building tossed up on a lot of land. Harlem and other cities suffered also from being overbuilt.
a resident of Midtown
on Nov 13, 2012 at 10:42 pm
Remember all the fuss about the Transamerica pyramid in San Francisco? It was like the world was going to end in SF. Now the pyramid is an iconic symbol of the SF skyline. The reactionaries are always opposing progress.
It is the same in Palo Alto. The right wingers are continuing to oppose progress. The basic message is: I've got mine...to hell with everybody else.
Stpehen Levy is right. We need to listen to him.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Nov 14, 2012 at 10:55 am
"Stpehen Levy is right. We need to listen to him"
I hope Council is smarter than buying Levy's fear mongering about being left behind in "growth."
And the guilt trip that Palo Alto needs to carry it's fair share is wrong on so many levels.
Still waiting for the city comparables.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Nov 14, 2012 at 11:11 am
I have a comparable, is Palo Alto carrying its fair share in housing, and density, compared to San Jose or Woodside? I think it's doing fair compared to both.
WHat about compared to Los Altos, or Mountain View. Notice Los Altos is just now debating raising building height downtown to three floors?
A traffic study of all these combined would show that Palo Alto carries its fair share, above and beyond already.
Maybe Levy's comparables are not even in the Bay area. Still waiting.
a resident of Barron Park
on Nov 14, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Here's another data point: Atherton has a lower population now than it did in 1960 (6914 vs 7797). Now, I don't want to live in Atherton, and I don't want to convert Palo Alto into Atherton, but I'm sure it's a very nice place to live. And I think you'd have a hard time arguing that Atherton's opting out of growth over the past 50 years has really hurt the town. So perhaps growth is not inevitable, and non-growth is not necessarily bad?
The whole "fair share" argument is completely bogus. It's only our fair share if we agree to be part of the growth scenario. If I force you to join my club, and then tell you that your fair share of the dues is $100, is that really fair? If you have the option of joining my club, and your fair share of the dues are $100, and you decide not to join the club, are you being "unfair"? No, you're deciding not to join my club. You are neither fair nor unfair.
Levy's argument is essentially:
1- The growth will happen as ABAG predicts
2- The growth will be better for us than no growth or slow growth for some unrevealed reason
3- We need to do our "fair share"
4- If we allow the residents of PA to decide our own future, that will be bad for society at large, so we should let a bunch of regional bureaucrats and smart guys like him decide for us
5- It will all be downtown anyway, and won't have a big impact on the town
Stephen, if you would like to summarize your arguments differently, I'd be happy to respond to those.
Let's take these one by one:
1- Growth is to a large extent controllable. If the region (or any town) doesn't allow the new housing and offices to be built, the extra growth will take place somewhere else. This may or may not be desirable, but the growth is not inevitable
2- Maybe. My personal opinion is that some growth is desirable. I wouldn't recommend restricting Stanford too much for instance. But this is a conversation we need to have, instead of just accepting it blindly. There are counter-examples.
3- It's only our fair share if we accept the overall plan and targets and want to be part of it. If we don't join the club, it's not fair or unfair. We're just going our own way.
4- OK, so I was a bit mean in my characterization of this one. But really, this is a very dangerous argument to make politically. Voters tend to get very upset when you tell them they don't know what they're doing and that some agency knows better (even when it's true). Who is omniscient enough to judge whether such an action by the populace is really harmful to society at large? Maybe the courts, but certainly not ABAG or Mr Levy. They should make their arguments to the populace and try to convince them.
5- Does anyone really believe that downtown can take another 19,000 residents or so (plus the expected 29,000 person growth in jobs and commuting to some extent) and not change its character? That will boost Palo Alto jobs to 119,000 by 2040. By comparison, Oakland only has 190,000 jobs today, and San Jose has 375,000.
If we as a community agree that A) we want to have this amount and kind of growth, and B) we're understand the requirements and ramifications, and C) we believe that ABAG's allocation methodology is acceptable, than I'm OK with this. But I certainly don't think we're anywhere near that level of acceptance and understanding yet. And all I'm hearing from the pro-ABAG side is stuff like "we need to do our fair share!"
I look forward to some rational, well-thought-out, clearly explained reasons why we should do this.
a resident of Midtown
on Nov 14, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Throwing up a fence against economic growth is an historical loser. Reactionaries are alway opposed to growth that affects them in a less than desirable (in their view) way. The anti-growth, rightwingers in Palo Alto are going to be beaten, because they are part of the past, not the future. It is much better to get in front of the curve, before the economic damage is so large that we cannot dig ourselves out of it.
Stephen Levy can see the future, and we should listen to him. He understands that we can no more stop economic demand and supply, and human betterment, than we can stop sea level rise.
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Nov 14, 2012 at 6:04 pm
You've got it backwards. The facts about Palo Alto speak for themselves. It is one of the most diverse cities in the world with plenty of "forward" thinking people.
"Human betterment?" That would go with human scale, and looking out for the environment and the importance of not being pushed around by corporate interests - developers.
You seem to be afraid of reality, and the fact that people rightfully want o have choice.
a resident of Downtown North
on Nov 14, 2012 at 7:04 pm
KB makes a cogent case. Let's vote on whether Palo Alto should follow the ABAG requirements. The campaign will give all sides the opportunity to flesh out their arguments. If Levy's case is so strong, he and others should be able to convince the voters to support it. And if it does garner popular support with all the facts on the table, then it will be politically much easier to implement it.
Seems like a no-brainer to me: let's vote.
a resident of Crescent Park
on Nov 15, 2012 at 3:22 pm
PAUSD announced last night that the elementary schools will reach full capacity in 5 years. These numbers are based upon current housing figures, not what ABAG wants us to do. PAUSD is looking at re-opening an existing campus (e.g., Garland).
Of course the other shoes to drop are middle school and high school capacity issues.
You can't keep adding housing -- transit oriented or not, downtown or not --- if you have no place for the additional students that would come with the housing (that doesn't exist at this time).
Cubberly is the only other site available. The Pinewood site is no where near the population (Los Altos Hills) and is not a viable expansion site.
This is the chief reason I'm against the housing expansion (and the traffic impact as the other reason) --- we have no place to put the additional students. There is no land to build any future schools. We are built out.
a resident of Midtown
on Nov 15, 2012 at 3:50 pm
>You can't keep adding housing
Of course, we can. It is very important that we provide local housing for local workers. It is both a moral imperative and a practical one.
Housing, and schools, and business will need to build up, not out.
Stephen Levy has provided the correct vision.
Palo Alto needs to listen to him.
a resident of another community
on Nov 15, 2012 at 4:26 pm
Nothing against job creation or even going to build space for retail or offices. The only thing most places have fough to prevent any new housing projects and what gets built is a drop in the bucket. We had for at least 15 years plus housing battles, yet we create jobs on top of already crowded housing market.
a resident of another community
on Nov 15, 2012 at 4:35 pm
Also one more thing is this Palo Alto can help, but it can't house everyone nor should Palo Alto even try. We do have to think as a whole Bay Area.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Nov 15, 2012 at 8:08 pm
"It is very important that we provide local housing for local workers. It is both a moral imperative and a practical one."
It's a moral obligation to eliminate commuting?
I guess Stephen Levy is saying this too.
A simple solution to Dave's idea of mandated housing will be to not allow more office buildings - they are not worth the cost.
My vote is that Palo Alto stick to being a bucolic college town with great retail. Preserve all garages, the next invention would not be coming from a 10th floor anyway.
a resident of University South
on Nov 16, 2012 at 11:43 am
stephen levy is a registered user.
In response to a few recent posts.
Yes, I did know that the Bay Area and country had slow job growth in the past decade when I made the ABAG job projections. It is not ar argumetn that the future will also contain two recessions each decade, one of historic proportions.
As I said above, if I had to update the regional projections now they would be higher. For example, the Bay Area has added 93,000 jobs in the past 12 months with future expansions planned. Our average ABAG job growth was 33,000 a year.
As to whether growth is "inevitable" the answer is no. We can always muck up the region so badly that no one would want to come here. But as you see on the ground here and around the region, people and companies do want to come.
That ties into another issue--this "let's have a vote" rant.
The reason I wrote the blog is that we did just have an election. My post is directed to the NEW city council, the people we elected to make the decisions on office and hosuign projects.
On a related matter the idea that regional growth projections and planning targets are devised by "uncaring bureaucrats" I remind everyone that all of the ABAG work is the result of decisions by elected officials who were chosen by their jurisdiction to serve on the ABAG board and committees, including the fact that the criteria for housing planning allocations were determined by these same elected officials.
So there has been plenty of voting already supporting the growth planning for this region.
Here is the Merriam Webster online definition of bucolic.
: of or relating to shepherds or herdsmen : pastoral
a: relating to or typical of rural life
b: idyllic
That is not the Palo Alto I live in or the downtown and Stanford area I have inhabitied for 50 years.
Some posters are making exactly the same arguments that rural towns in Marin County are making to ABAG except they are not located next to a world-class university, medical center, research park and shopping center.
We should do the best planning and negotiating (with developers--public or private sector) but let's stop with this fantasy that Palo Alto is some sleepy little suburb.
Garrett raises some good points--1) PA is not being asked to do it all by ourselves. Our growth planning targets (that's what they are, not "mandates" are in line with our share of county activity and 2) we can think creatively about reuse of properties such as along El Camino that could absorb some of the growth and improve the hood.
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Nov 16, 2012 at 7:13 pm
Stephen Levy,
2b. Bucolic = Idyllic.
Nothing wrong with idyllic. Pastoral, I'm not sure, but there's a thread about donkeys on town square this week that may speak to the pastoral aspects of town.
Bucolic is not a bad word at all.
Especially if it can anchor a vision of growth that is healthier than the vision of developer's wet dreams. Growth may be inevitable, but constraints shouldn't be so lightly dismissed.
A video about Stanford Research Park mentions the following (includes cows at the end of the video)
"Through deliberate planning and strict design standards, as well as careful selection of long term lessees focused on research and development of technology, the (Stanford) research park became home to many pioneering science and technology innovators in an area that exhibited the look and feel of a bucolic college campus"
Web Link
The rest is history... this bucolic research "park" has been home to HP, Xerox, Lockheed Martin, Next, Facebook, Skype and much of the growth and jobs you brag about.
You shout out growth like Plastics!
and say stuff like "That is not the Palo Alto I live in or the downtown and Stanford area I have inhabitied for 50 years."
Basically disowning that Palo Alto's success goes hand in hand with bucolic.
a resident of Crescent Park
on Nov 18, 2012 at 6:08 pm
For both the current and next rounds of housing allocations for Palo Alto, I recommend to Council that scenarios be developed that "embrace" the allocations and then "mitigate vigorously." This could lead to a more substantial and concrete discussion. I appreciate that there are concerns over parking, traffic, school funding, etc. To me, the discussion will be more interesting when fully fleshed out scenarios with calculations of impacts are prepared. Such scenarios need to focus housing opportunity sites in locations that are best mitigated. Renderings of the growth areas will be helpful. There is plenty of talent in the area that can help put together such scenarios.
I don't think the effort on the current housing allocation has mitigated impacts as vigorously as all the contending sides would mutually like to see. We have some common ground.
Palo Alto is an innovative place, so it's natural to see innovative mitigations explored. If we're going to meet 2035 AB32 / SB375 climate targets, cities like Palo Alto are going to need to get much, much more innovative in reducing the impacts of growth.
Also, I recommend Palo Alto consider pooling financial resources with adjacent cities on portions of the comprehensive plan / housing element study and on portions of the upcoming University Avenue Specific Plan.
Per usual, kudos to Steve L for his gentle responses.
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Cherries and Berries
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Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength . . .
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One more week to vote!
Don't forget to cast your ballot online. Voting ends May 29th. Stay tuned for the results in the July 21st issue of the Palo Alto Weekly.


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Trip Start May 22, 2009
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Also saw several clusters of homeless people (not begging) but living under some bridges along the canal. As I passed by them, I began to wonder about how life can take a turn this way. Here were people without a set address living their lives out in the open (like us). They had meager belongings (all we have fits in a few bags), but they were taking care of everything. Newly washed clothes (although worn) were hanging out to dry. Here I was with a pair of shorts that I'd washed last night drying on the back of my bike
Other than Paris, we haven't been to any bigger centers in France, and nothing with our bikes. Luckily, the canal and river paths helped us through most of the way. That is until giant staircases blocked our way, and the river route was under construction: route barrier, interdit au public. We tried several times to navigate away and catch it further along in hopes that the construction would be over, but with no luck.
Up into the land of the automobile with cars whizzing by us. KFC's and McDonald's made me forget where I was. Weaving our way along, it was town after town with no countryside in between. No towns seemed to offer any campsites or accommodations (other than hotels). After about 90km I was done. We'd done so much yesterday I was starting to feel it. So tonight, our bed is in a ditch in the middle of a cloverleaf joining several roads together. Perhaps I have more in common with the people in Tolouse than I thought.

subset: commoncrawl


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I have a science student teacher that looked both. Apparently it was a she. She has dredlocks, and eyebrow ring, and 3 earrings on each ear. We seriously didn't know whether it was a guy or a girl so we came to the conclusion that is was bigenderous.
by Jan May 07, 2005
The vengeful act of crapping on a lover's chest while they sleep.Buy the plush


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mix fresh baby spinach with 1 can of drained mandarin oranges, 1/4 cup sliced almonds and 1/4 cup golden raisins.
mix in a container that you can close and shake, 1/4 cup canola oil, 1 tbl. parsley flakes, 2 tbl. vinegar and 2 tbl. honey.
shake the mixture, drizzle over the salad and toss! Yum!


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Last week Adobe released the APSB12-17 Flash Player update. The update patches two critical security flaws — CVE-2012-0772 and CVE-2012-0773 — in the Adobe Flash player, and also, for the first time ever, introduces auto-patching mechanism. The update affects the following operating systems – Windows, Mac OS X, Linux and Solaris.
More details:
By default, all users are opted-out of the auto-patching mechanism. Webroot highly recommends that users opt-in, and start taking advantage of the feature in order to ensure that the latest security updates are automatically pushed by Adobe in a timely manner. For the time being, the feature is only available to Windows users.
End and corporate users can download the latest version of the Adobe Flash Player from this web site. Users of Google's Chrome, which includes the Flash Player plugin by default, can take advantage of the latest Flash Player update, in Chrome's latest update, version 18.0.1025.142.
You can find more about Dancho Danchev at his LinkedIn Profile. You can also follow him on Twitter.


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The Nation's Longest Running Green Living Event Makes Anticipated Return to the Bay Area
San Francisco, CA (November 2009) – Green Festival, the nation's largest green consumer living event will make its eighth annual trip to San Francisco this year on November 13, 14 & 15, 2009 at the San Francisco Concourse Exhibition Center. At this time of unprecedented focus on the economy, the Green Festival is offering a wide array of speakers, ideas, workshops and exhibits to show ways that everyone from corporations to the individual can go green on a tight budget.
A joint project of Global Exchange and Green America (formerly Co-op America), two leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to environmental and social justice for more than twenty-five years, Green Festival is a forum to explore and build sustainable solutions that will equally benefit communities and the environment. The San Francisco Green Festival expects more than 40,000 participants to mingle with 125 visionary speakers amidst over 350 green exhibits. All exhibitors must meet strict standards set by Green America, guaranteeing the highest level of social and environmental responsibility over everything that enters the festival.
San Francisco is the birthplace of the Green Festival that now travels to five cities nationwide. New to this year's show is the Geo-Frequencies Eco-Art Pavilion where local art activists will discuss the environment as an inspiration for their work, shedding light on the crisis of climate change through eco-art education. Saturday will also kick off exciting new programming as acclaimed chefs from the Bay Area, including Ani Phyo of the award-winning Ani's Raw Food Kitchen show and Mike Kanoe, Chef at Brown Sugar Kitchen in Oakland, demonstrate the preparation of delicious, simple, sustainable food at the Green Festival's Soul Kitchen.
As social media becomes a greater influencer and catalyst for the green movement and American life, Green Festival is working to stay ahead of the curve. During Friday's programming Joey Shepp, CEO of Earthsite, will address social networking, blogs and online video in the eco marketplace. To further illustrate this dialogue, this year's Green Chat Space will allow visitors to see live social media demonstrations while connecting offline with like-minded social networkers and online to spread the word of the festival through Twitter and Facebook.
For three days, Green Festival attendees will explore the best green has to offer, including the latest in clean technology, green building, socially responsible investing, eco-fashion, renewable energy, green careers/green collar jobs, natural foods, groundbreaking films and ecotourism. In addition to the wide array of lively presentations and discussion topics, the crowd pleasing favorites are joined this year by prominent advocates of change. Award-winning journalist Amy Goodman of Democracy Now! will discuss "Standing up to the Madness: Ordinary Heroes in Extraordinary Times." Nutrition writer Marion Nestle will speak on the politics of food safety and the safety of global food systems. World renowned mushroom expert and author Paul Stamets will unveil his plan for how "Mushrooms Can Save the World." Regardless of your shade of green, Green Festival has something for everyone.
For the first time in Green Festival history, the San Francisco event will conclude with culturally conscious "Soul of Green," a closing ceremony on Sunday, that will feature a panel of hip-hop leaders discussing how they are helping generation "Y" become a generation of "Why Not's?" A knockout array of panelists will include rap sensation SPEECH of Arrested Development, dead prez, a leading voice in progressive hip hop, Hard Knock radio host Davey D and Climbing Poetree, a singing duo with a mission to challenge injustice through their spoken-word poetry.
Since the first event in 2002, Green Festival has created a model of environmental and social leadership, consistently providing authentic information for consumers on every aspect of green living. A stringent screening process ensures all exhibitors and sponsors meet the best practices and highest standards for environmental integrity and social responsibility. While many events and tradeshows are notoriously wasteful, Green Festival demonstrates an unmatched commitment to reducing environmental impact by walking its green talk and reusing, recycling, or composting 97 percent or more of show waste. Green Festival was referenced as a model for "how it should be done" by USA Today for the festival's commitment to producing a reduced carbon footprint experience. To further lower the impact of the event on the environment, those who arrive by bicycle are offered reduced admission along with valet bike parking. Green Festival also provides carbon offsets for the entire event and its participating staff and organizers.
Green Festivals take place in San Francisco, Chicago, Seattle, Washington, D.C. and Denver and saw over 100,000 guests in 2008.
San Francisco Green Festival Highlights Include
- Green Building Pavillion
- Fair Trade Cafe
- Geo-frequencies Eco-art Pavillion
- Green Building Pavillion
- Organic Valley Kids' Zone
- Community Action Booths
- Organic Beer & Wine Garden
- Eco-tourism and Eco-fashion
- Green Film Festival
- Community Action Center
- Green Home Pavilion featuring hands-on workshops
- Bike Valet
- Live Music
- Yoga and Movement Room
Event Details:
San Francisco Concourse Exhibition Center, 635 8th Street (at Brannan St.) and the Giftcenter Pavilion Theater, 888 Brannan Street, November 13, 14, & 15, 2009.
Friday 12PM - 7PM
Saturday 10AM - 7PM
Sunday 11AM - 6PM
$15 per person: all-access for one or all three days.
$10 per person ($5 off admission): students with ID, seniors over 62, bike riders with a ticket from the Green Festival Bike Valet, Public transit riders with a fare card or pass
$29 Special Festival Pass: three day pass for 2 people with FREE Green Festival t-shirt
FREE: Green America and Global Exchange Members, Green Festival volunteers and youths under 18.
For more information on San Francisco or any other Green Festival event visit: www.greenfestivals.org
About Green America:
Green America (www.greenamericatoday.org) is a national nonprofit organization founded in 1982, providing the economic strategies, organizing power and practicing tools for businesses and individuals to address today's social and environmental problems. Its Green Business Network is the largest national network of businesses screened for their social and environmental responsibility.
About Global Exchange:
Global Exchange (www.globalexchange.org) is a membership-based international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world. Since its founding in 1988, Global Exchange has successfully increased public awareness of root causes of injustice while building international partnerships and mobilizing for change.


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Louise Petschler
Treasurer - Customer Owned Banking Association
Louise Petschler, Treasurer of World Council of Credit Unions' board of directors, represents the Australian credit union movement as a delegate from the Customer Owned Banking Association. Headquartered in Madison, Wis., USA, World Council is the leading international trade association and development agency for credit unions. Worldwide, 60,000 credit unions in 109 countries serve 223,000,000 people. The regional and national credit union and financial cooperative associations affiliated with World Council represent [STATS_REPRESENT] countries around the globe. Petschler joined World Council's board in 2009.
Abacus is the industry body for Australia's 163 credit unions and mutual societies. Collectively, the country's mutual financial sector serves more than 6 million members nationwide.
Prior to her current appointment as chief executive officer of the Customer Owned Banking Association, formerly known as Abacus Australian Mutuals, Petschler led the organization's public affairs team, overseeing its representation, advocacy and media relations. Petschler previously worked on financial services issues for the Australian Consumers' Association and held postitions with the New South Wales (NSW) Cabinet Office and with Chemical Bank. She holds memberships in Australasian Mutuals Institute and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.


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So, how much did you measure for the top rails on the brake? We have one in the shop I work at but to be honest I have never used one much. How much do you allow for the slight radius for the bend?
Printable View
So, how much did you measure for the top rails on the brake? We have one in the shop I work at but to be honest I have never used one much. How much do you allow for the slight radius for the bend?
I measure out to .20, scribed a line. When it was installed in the brake, I more or less eye balled how thick the front edge of the brake was, I then set it back approximatly that far back to make up for the radius. My scribbed line was as close to the center of the radius as I guess it can be.
I am no machinest by any means, just fly by the seat of my pants most times...:rofl:
Hope that helps.
This jig should work great with the new Tapco flat since the top rails are pre-bent. I made a jig using grass hoppers plans. It works. It is slower than my dph jig, but it is doable.
Thanks for the info!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, have you bent the entire flat with a break yet????? I've seen the Ace template and it has a grey area for the radius so is that what you would bend by????. So, if one where to bend the entire flat with a break you would start with the top rails????? and then bend the 90s????
I believe, and someone feel free to correct me if I am wrong, that brakes are used for just the top rail bends.
Is this because that is an easy bend?.....Yes!!!
Looking at a flat, and then looking at a brake shows that the Mag dimples would be the major reason that brakes are not used for full bends.
A brake would work fine if the Mag dimples were not there. The fingers on the brake would need to be modified to accomodate for the dimples, which most shops would not do just to bend a few flats.
Not sure if anyone here has modified a brake finger, but it does not look like an easy job.
Why not just follow this thread, and build the "Poor man's Jig"? It would probably take less time to build it than modifiy a brake finger.
Just my humble opinion.
thanks for the pointers on the break the mag dimples had not occurred to me but now I see what you mean.
No problem.
Build this Jig, and have some fun:thumbup1: :thumbup1:
Built mine this week. I tried bending a few flats I purchased from Tapco a year or two ago. Very easy to bend and came our OK. My only problem were the sides of the flat were bowed in about 3/16 of an inch in the center of the flat. I imagine I am not taking enought time to slowly go back and forth as I press the flat into the fixture. I will keep trying.
Got the steel for a 555th jig just never got around to it (newly married with a 5 yr old runnin around and working 55-60 hrs per week) I gotta get it done.
I had already built the poor man's jig, before I found plans for the 555th. I think doing it over again, I would build the 555th. Not that the poor man's does not work fine, I just think it would eliminate having to press to the final 90 degrees in the vice.
If you have the materials for the 555th build that one, either way, you will see how fun it is to bend...even if you screw one up:wink:


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Grzegorz Bierecki
Chair - National Association of Cooperative Savings and Credit Unions (NACSCU)
Grzegorz Bierecki, chair of the World Council of Credit Unions' board of directors, represents the Polish credit union movement as a delegate of the National Association of Cooperative Savings & Credit Unions (NACSCU). Headquartered in Madison, Wis., USA, World Council is the leading international trade association and development agency for credit unions. Worldwide, 60,000 credit unions in 109 countries serve 223,000,000 people. The regional and national credit union and financial cooperative associations affiliated with World Council represent [STATS_REPRESENT] countries around the globe.
Bierecki was first elected to the World Council board in 2000 through "Operation Open Up," an initiative to expand representation at the board level. He currently serves on the board of World Council's Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions.
Since 1992, Bierecki has been president of NACSCU, Poland's national trade association for savings and credit unions. He is a founding member of the Cooperative Research Institute in Poland and is board chairman of the Cooperative Savings and Credit Union Mutual Insurance Society (TUW SKOK) and Credit Union Life Insurance Society.
In 2007, Bierecki, who pioneered the revival of Polish credit unions, was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of the Rebirth of Poland, honoring his participation in the fight for Poland's independence. Bierecki played a key role in the rebirth of Poland's genuine cooperative sector in the form of credit unions, which in the course of 15 years became the largest non-bank financial network serving nearly 40 million Polish citizens. In 2002, Bierecki was recognized as "Businessman of the Year" in his native Poland, in appreciation of his business and entrepreneurial activities in fulfillment of that role.
An expert in "Solidarity," Bierecki was director of the National Executive Commission for Poland's famous Solidarity Trade Union Office and managed contacts with the government and other social organizations. He has authored numerous publications on credit union management and operations and co-authored the Polish credit union model legislation.
Bierecki received his master's degree from the University of Gdańsk and has pursued post-graduate studies in law and business administration. He is a recipient of the National Credit Union Foundation's Herb Wegner Memorial Award and was awarded the Civil Service Medal by the president of Poland.
Installation Speech by Chair Grzegorz Bierecki — Ottawa, Canada, July 16, 2013


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In the shorthand of the internet (where this group gave away their first two EPs) this is "for fans of Interpol, Bauhaus, Placebo" which is helpful but doesn't explain everything about this four-piece rock outfit from Germany. Although their debut sometimes seems more alt.New York/New Wave or angsty-Anglo rock than hip 'n' happening Berlin, they have a pared-back approach which doesn't discount a sense of widescreen grandeur (A Feast is a Feast, For the Very First Time), and though they sometimes work repetitious melodic figures that add to the intensity (the slow-burning With Love).
Museum aren't short on pop (the chipper-sounding but dark And Now like mid-era Blur, the sonically manipulated ballad The Have or To Be) or averse to nodding towards slashing electronica (the brooding The Law) and even come off a little like Kraftwerk with guitars.
After about eight of these 11 songs their reach for the grand gesture gets a little wearisome, although, as its title suggests, the penultimate Midwinter changes the mood towards the Smiths.
Overall, like the car on the cover, finely tooled but damaged.
Stars: 3/5
Verdict: An interesting throwback from the music city of the 21st century
- TimeOut / elsewhere.co.nz


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Home › Forums › General Forums › General Lightweight Backpacking Discussion › Tahoe – Yosemite Trail
Nov 18, 2013 at 4:37 pm #1309979
I don't see a lot about the Tahoe – Yosemite Trail. I've hiked the JMT 3 times & have run around in the Desolation Wilderness. Was thinking the TYT might be nice. We'd probably be going late July / early August, which, being that the TYT is a bit lower than the JMT, could be hot, no? Bugs? Water issues? Scenery? Any general or specific thoughts about the TYT?
I have been poking around on tahoetowhitney.com, which has TONS of info.Nov 18, 2013 at 5:00 pm #2045981
Late July/early august = buggy most years, so aiming for high elevations/breezy spots to camp is a good idea in that area. Scenery generally less grand than further south but very nice still. I wouldn't worry about heat – yeah, might be a little warmer than on the JMT but not much, and lots of lakes and streams for a cooling dip when needed.
Slight variation from the semi-official TYT or the PCT route:south of Sonora Pass, either scramble to the top of Leavitt Peak, or for an easier viewpoint, take the trail that goes right over the top of Big Sam (also known as Peak 10825). Nice views.Nov 18, 2013 at 7:26 pm #2046023
Bruce LaBelleBPL Member
@blabelleLocale: Davis, CA or on an adventure
Peter – There's an interesting alternative if you have some friends willing to help: It's possible to run from Tahoe to Yosemite as a four-day (or longer) stage run. I did it 34 years ago, and did major sections of it again a few years ago. Each day ends at a campground or trailhead. It doesn't always follow the true TYT, but makes for a nice adventure. The way we did it in 1979: First day – Emerald Bay to Blue Lakes. Second day – Blue Lakes to Sonora Pass. Third day – Sonora Pass to Twin Lakes. Fourth Day Twin Lakes to Yosemite Valley. For shorter runs it can be divided into additional sections such as Emerald Bay – Echo Lakes; Echo Lakes – Blue Lakes; Blue Lakes – Ebbetts Pass; Ebbetts Pass – Sonora Pass; Levitt Meadows – Twin Lakes; Twin Lakes – Tuolumne Meadows; Tuolumne Meadows – Yosemite Valley. Early August or later is a good time if you don't want any snow. Snow tends to linger on the climb to the high point on the north side of Sonora Pass.
BruceNov 21, 2013 at 9:00 am #2046854
Thanks for the feedback. This route seems "flexible". I don't have the book, but anyway there seem to be many options. It does look better to avoid the long road walk to Kennedy Mdw & go via Sonora Pass instead. (Resupply at Lake Alpine only.)
So, here's another Q for Yosemite experts: Coming into Yosemite from the N the TYT follows the PCT. From Kerrick Canyon, it goes over Seavy and Benson Passes, and crosses Matterhorn, Spiller and Virginia Canyons (etc.) on the way to Glen Aulin. Another option would be to head south out of Kerrick Canyon, thru Bear Valley and down Piute Creek into the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne, then up to Glen Aulin. The distances look similar. I've heard the GC of the T is not to be missed. ? Any comment on which route would be "better"?Nov 21, 2013 at 11:21 am #2046907
Paul WagnerBPL Member
@balzaccomLocale: Wine Country
Depends on what time of year. GCT is something that is spectacular earlier in the season, when the waterfalls are booming. Less so later on.
I usually choose the high country over deep canyons, though. Matterhorn Canyon is one of my all time faves….but the upper end. Your trail doesn't get up the canyon that high.Nov 22, 2013 at 2:43 pm #2047240
Do you want to stay on trails or are you up for some XC? If so there are great options to go from Sonora to Tuolumne that I'd prefer to the PCT route.Nov 22, 2013 at 5:31 pm #2047276
Happy to go off trail to find more interesting & scenic areas. I've done the Sierra High Rte so am familiar with off trail travel in the area. I'd be quite interested to learn about options! Thx.Nov 23, 2013 at 9:23 pm #2047564
First off, let's just agree that there is no way you can walk from Sonora Pass to Tuolumne and not have it be tremendously scenic. So any route you take will be gorgeous, it's just a matter of taste.
So, here's what I would do starting from Sonora Pass – not that i've done all this route, but I'd sure like to:
PCT from Sonora pass; drop pack and quick scramble to the top of Leavitt Peak as you pass by. At the saddle at teh head of Kennedy Canyon, leave the PCT and take the trail that goes south out of the saddle and takes you over the top of Big Sam (peak 10825)and down in the High Emigrant Lake. Head off-trail southeast to Grizzly Lake and from there up to the top of the plateau (point 10434). Nice views here; head back north just a bit and then drop down an easy chute towards Stella Lake, Ruth Lake and Lake Helen. Up and over a saddle to Tower Lake. Drop down the trail that follows the outlet just a little bit then leave the trail and work your way over towards point 9422 and head up the canyon between Hawksbeak and Ehrnbeck peaks to a saddle that takes you over to Thompson Canyon. Down the canyon to the south a little ways then east over a saddle that takes you to Kerrick Meadow/Rancheria Creek. Pick up the trail going south, follow it overRock Island Pass, past SNow Lake, down to a junction, left there up to Mule Pass and stay on the trail over Burro Pass. From here you can stay on trail down Matterhorn canyon to the PCT, or if you are up for a moderate scramble, go over Matterhorn Pass (and maybe tage MAtterhorn peak on the way, why not?)and into Spiller Canyon. Work your way to Spiller Lake, cross its outlet, then up to the top of the ridge and over to Soldier Lake, then REturn Lake and down to Return Creek where you pick up trail again, down the canyon and you'll reach teh PCT. But soon you head off on the trail to McCabe Lakes. From the lower McCabe Lakes contour west and southwest at first, then keep going around the corner and up to Roosevelt Lake, then to Young Lakes, where you'll pick up trail that will take you into Tuolumne.
That's what I'd do.Dec 2, 2013 at 1:46 pm #2050041
Finally got an opportunity to look into your off-trail suggestion in detail. Very cool – thanks! I have more route planning to do, but will give this serious consideration.
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text: GalleryBack Save Matt Adams facebook SHARE twitter TWEET email google-plus linkedin reddit More Illustrations and cartoons by Matt Adams. Previous slide Next slide of More Galleries Previous Next New Canberra trend- Goth lattes The National Library's latest exhibition, Melodrama in Meiji Japan. Funeral for former ACT parliamentarian Jayson Hinder. New Torres Strait exhibition launched in style at the National Museum Opening of sensory garden at Charles Conder Primary School. Justice Richard Refshauge retires from the ACT Supreme Court 2018 National memorial service for firefighters Canberra's ANZAC day 2017 dawn service


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Latest update : 2013-06-18
A fresh take on the news big and bizarre in the newspapers, on websites, blogs and social media. From Monday to Friday at 8.45 pm Paris time.
2017-05-22 Donald Trump
Trump's visit to Israel in key images
We take a look at some key images from Donald Trump's visit to Israel - not all of them flattering for the US president. Also, TV presenter Cyril Hanouna has become the most...
2017-05-19 Saudi Arabia
Saudi authorities to serve Trump 'steak and ketchup' on first official visit
In today's show, we look at how Saudi Arabia is rolling out the red carpet for Donald Trump's first foreign trip as US president. Meanwhile, Trump has been railing that a...
2017-05-18 Iranian elections
Short 'reprieve' on social media ban ahead of Iran's election
We look at the impact of social media among candidates and electors on the eve of Iran's presidential election. We also look at reactions to the deaths of Soundgarden frontman...
2017-05-17 Emmanuel Macron
Macron's cabinet draws some criticism on social media
Some felt Emmanuel Macron's cabinet did not live up to campaign promises - we take a look at some points of criticism as his team of ministers is unveiled. Elsewhere, changes are...
2017-05-16 Donald Trump
Trump 'may have breached oath of office'
As Donald Trump admits he did share classified information with Russia, the internet grapples with the question of whether or not the US President has just committed an...


text: Hey Everyone! I am a proud owner of of a Chevy Astro Van 2003. I have not been on the site much as I am doing a lot of traveling. Currently had to replace the differential and ABS Power Booster. Also on track to replace both water pump, radiator, and timing chain. It be a rare beast it is. I am looking for a new Grill assembly and with light holders. Could be custom. Small budget. Still one of the disenfranchised in the job market that seems tragically age prejudice in Orlando. Currently visiting Motor City State. STEVE:glasses:


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Separate names with a comma.
Universal Fit item created by jacksonchansf, Jul 16, 2012
Pros - Superior clarity. Defined, present bass.
Cons - Seal (hard to get sometimes), slight adverse affect on bass
After my CX300II's broke it became a frantic search of a replacement that'll provide me the same kind of quality and bass that I loved from my previous pair. I ended up deciding between antoher pair and the Sennheiser IE60. I havent regretted my choice.
I used my COWON J3 with no amp.
I use a custom equalizer (found here on head-fi).
The music I listen to is pretty much anything:
Dance, Rock, Hip-Hop/Rap, Classical.
The first thing I noticed in these from my previous ones was this. I thought my previous pair had good quality audio, but I was amazed by the sound that these gave me. It feels like I was right there beside every guitarist, every singer; it was such a huge jump from one to another. The low end and mid range quality was on par with some of the best I've tried. The high ends, I feel, can still be greatly improved but the fact that the super high ends (that I have on some of my songs) weren't distorted at all made it all that much more satisfying.
The bass that these provided were just as good, if not better than my previous pair. The definition was still amazing and it somehow improved on what I felt was 'perfect bass'. The only complaint I had with the bass was the fact that I felt a lot was lost when I didn't have a perfect seal. I tried all the different tips and had some success with getting that magical seal.
Build Quality:
The seal was very hard to get perfect. I felt it could've been easier to get. I may try ComplyTM tips.
Another gripe I had was the cable material. It was plastic instead of being the fabric like material that the CX300II's had. The reason I liked the fabric like material over plastic is that it freezes. Being in canada it gets quite annoying and causes a lot of cable noise during winter.
That said, the cable is reinforced in the parts that matter. There are great stress reliefs in places that need it to help slow the wear and tear.
I'd definitely recommend these to anyone. They provide amazing clarity and deep, dynamic bass that I've grown to love. For the price paid it's definitely worth buying if you see it. You won't be disappointed.


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Noted business writer and former Microsoft executive Collins Hemingway will speak at Pulaski Technical College on Aug. 13.
The lecture begins at 7:30 p.m. in the R.J. Wills Lecture Hall, located in the Campus Center on the college's main campus, 3000 West Scenic Drive, North Little Rock. A book signing will follow.
Hemingway's talk is titled "Good Business and Good Life: How Meaning and Profit Intersect at Work." The lecture is free and open to the public.
Hemingway, a Little Rock native, has more than 30 years' business experience. As a Microsoft director of business development and international marketing for Microsoft's fastest-growing division, he was an integral part of the company that virtually defined the Digital Revolution. He was responsible for co-marketing programs with computer manufacturers and major software developers and traveled around the world to launch Microsoft's high-end business system products. Between 1987 and 1994, he was involved in the introduction of every Microsoft systems product.
He is best known for partnering with Microsoft founder Bill Gates to co-author the best-selling book Business @ the Speed of Thought. Hemingway also co-wrote Built for Growth, a book on retail strategies, and What Happy Companies Know, a book on the way in which positive culture creates success and generates profits.
Before joining the high-tech industry, Hemingway worked 13 years as a journalist at newspapers including the Arkansas Gazette, the Arkansas Democrat, and the Springdale News. As assistant news editor of the Register-Guard in Eugene, Oregon (1976-80), Hemingway was responsible for the newsroom adoption of the first all-electronic news operation in the world.
Hemingway is a 1968 graduate of Little Rock Central High. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Arkansas in 1972 and a master's degree in literature from the University of Oregon in 1979.
Through his own company, Escape Velocity Ventures, Inc., he now consults with businesses on marketing and technology and lectures and writes on topics as diverse a management, aviation, medicine, technology futures, and the importance of conscience in creating profitable enterprises.
Pulaski Technical College


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Compiled by ETIG Database A look at how Bollywood and Hollywood flicks fared at the Box Office between April 19 - April 25, 2013. Source: Inox, Fun Cinemas, PVR Cinemas, Cinemax & Satyam Cineplex
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In his CM: the Next Generation series, Joe Farah gives us a glimpse into the trends that CM experts will need to tackle and master based upon industry trends and future technology challenges.
The two biggest gains of an agile development process, in my opinion, are continuous integration, which when properly administered leads to greater product quality, and the interactive customer feedback loop, which helps to get the requirements right before development is over. These are huge advantages. So, how can we extend the agile advantages to the configuration management function?
A tool-centric view of agile CM will not lead to agile CM because, for the most part tool makers worry about their own little world, and when all of the little worlds that make up the ALM function are put together, they fall short. If you want agile CM, start off with a good, agile process. If your CM tools can't support the process, look around for more flexible ones.
Achieving an Agile CM Process
What is an agile CM process? If you said it's one that doesn't get in the way, you're only partially correct. CM adds a critical capability to a project. This capability is even more critical in an agile environment. CM helps the agile process keep rolling. But it also provides the information required to make decisions with good judgment and timing. An agile process is about good communication. Your CM tools should be your central communication point. All project-specific information should reside there. I should have to go to people for judgment and for skills, but not for information.
An agile CM process is one that supports all team members, making them more productive and simplifying their management tasks. If your developers need to perform tedious labeling, merging or check-in tasks, odds are that the quality of these tasks will degrade over time. If on the other hand your developers add information to the CM vault as a side effect of their work or in order to realize productivity improvements, the opposite with hold true.
Automation is a key for agile CM, but automation that pervades the process, not just one that does a build. Tell me when I violate a dependency. Let me know when a new branch is required. Let me see my prioritized to-do list. Give me a single click to review my change, or any other change for that matter. Eliminate the need for me to label things. Make my life easier while helping me to make everyone else's job easier.
If you're looking for a quick fix to your current CM process to make it agile, forget it. If you want an agile process, you'll have to remove the road blocks all the way through. Just as the weakest link in a chain determines the strength of the chain, all parts of the process have to be agile to attain an agile process. If you can't easily roll back a change, you'll hit road blocks. If you can't automate your build procedure, you'll introduce costly, time-consuming problems.


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Classic Cape Cod
Bayside Resort • West Yarmouth, MA
Escape Kit
- A One-Night Stay for Two on Sundays through Thursdays in a Jacuzzi Suite, Including a Chilled Bottle of Champagne, Chocolates, and Rose Petals, from Now to June 14, 2012 ($109)
- Or, a Two-Night Stay for Two on Sundays through Thursdays in a Bay View Room, Including a $50 Dinner Credit for Five Eighty Six Bistro & Bar or Yarmouth House Restaurant, from Now to June 14, 2012 ($174)
- Or, a Three-Night Stay for Two in a Bay View Room on Any Day of the Week from Now to May 17, 2012 ($252)
- Daily Continental Breakfast
Cape Cod getaways and Otis Redding have one thing in common: They bring out your romantic, relaxed side. Whether you want to sit on the dock of the bay or stroll the shore, an Escape to West Yarmouth, Massachusetts, is an oldie but goodie.
This classic New England town on the edge of Lewis Bay is only about 80 minutes from Boston and steeped in history. Leave everything else in your wake and retreat to the Cape and, more specifically, the Bayside Resort, named the top Mid Cape Resort/Hotel by Cape Cod Life.
A one-night stay for two on Sundays through Thursdays in a Jacuzzi Suite, including a chilled bottle of champagne, chocolates, and rose petals ($109), will make you feel like a regular Don Juan; just as the two-night stay for two on Sundays through Thursdays in a Bay View Room, including a $50 dinner credit for Five Eighty Six Bistro & Bar or Yarmouth House Restaurant ($174), is fit for friends and foodies. And for those who want to linger a little longer: a three-night stay for two in a Bay View Room on any day of the week between now and May 15, 2012 ($252).
The location is prime for exploring the Cape or hopping on the ferry to Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard. Bike the Cape Cod Rail Trail; paddle the Bass River in a canoe or kayak rental from Cape Cod Waterways; swing away at one of the 20 nearby golf courses; and pop into Yarmouth Port for some shopping (home décor at Design Works) or Hyannis for some tasty seafood (clam chowder at Naked Oyster Bistro & Raw Bar).
Of course, a Cape trip wouldn't be complete without a whale-watching excursion—luckily, Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises departs daily from Barnstable Harbor.
Back at the resort, ease into the evening with a quick stint in the sauna, followed by a dip in the indoor pool and a cocktail from Moby Dick Pub. If the kids are along for the ride, gather your quarters and check out the family game room, complete with a pool table, foosball table, and vintage arcade games.
After all, you'll always find the best hits in your oldies collection.
"The Bayside [Resort] overlooks pristine salt marshes and, beyond them, Lewis Bay. Many members of the staff have worked here for years, which helps to explain the resort's family friendly vibe."-- Fodor's
escapes 30-day promise
LivingSocial gives you up to 30 days to return your unused voucher for a full refund. Once you've made a reservation, you are subject to the merchant's cancellation and refund policy. If you want to secure your preferred dates of travel, we strongly recommend that you complete reservation with the merchant within 30 days of your purchase—after that, LivingSocial will not issue any refunds.
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For the last couple years, I have been having a hard time keeping the wax moths out of my hives. I extracted my honey last Saturday. I had a few honey supers with wax moth damage and wax worms. The most severe frames were laid outside for the robber bees to have their way with. Some made it into the dumpster which was a robber bee heaven until the garbage man took them away. I extract directly into 5 gallon buckets with no filtering so there are some cappings in each bucket. I warm the honey to around 100 degrees and run it through a double nylon strainer that I bought from betterbee about ten years ago. It works well and keeps the "raw"ness of the honey. I opened one of the buckets yesterday to bottle and there were a lot of wax worms swimming in my honey. I thought they would die there. I skimmed off the cappings last night and this morning found a couple more swimmers. Needless to say, this grosses me out, severely. I am sure my customers would not be happy either.
I have two questions...
1, Will the double nylon strainer filter out any wax moth eggs?
2, is it possible eggs are hatching in my 5 gallon honey pails? some of the worms were very small.
Thanks for looking,
Tom in Michigan


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Stay connected with us to get the latest health and fitness news, innovative workouts, healthy recipes and wellness tips.
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Muddling is is a traditional bartending technique where herbs and/or fruit are crushed, releasing their full flavor into a cocktail. Here we muddle blueberries and ginger with sugar and lemon to add another dimension to our take on a bellini.
Nutrition Profile:
Gluten Free Diet
Heart Healthy
Low Calorie
Low Cholesterol
Low Sat Fat
Low Sodium
Serves 4
Prep Time 10 min
Total Time 15 min.
Step 1
Mash blueberries with ginger, sugar and lemon juice. Add blueberry juice and let steep for at least 5 minutes. Strain; divide among 4 champagne flutes. Top each with 1/2 cup sparkling wine.
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This workout provides a challenging total-body workout that can be done from the comfort of home with no equipment other than bodyweight and space.


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Setting up a Information Security Company?
Just a few questions about setting up an Information Security Company.
What goes into setting up an Information Security Company?
In general how much would a Penetration Test cost?
How many employee's would be on a team?
and anything else that one would need to setup.
The reason im asking is, i'm doing a collage project on setting up a company.
Thanks again.


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Exciting but risky player looks promising as a potential game changer.
First impressions can be lasting ones and there are three that stick in the mind since I've been covering sport at the New Zealand Herald.
One came at Carlaw Park, when Tawera Nikau played his first game for Otahuhu. One of the Herald's Waikato contributors wrote a small piece announcing Nikau's move to the famous Auckland league club, but most of us were none the wiser apart from noting an interesting name. Just a few touches heralded that a new star had arrived as Nikau unveiled his ball playing ability to a smattering of people at the dilapidated ground.
Another occurred at Eden Park, the first time I clapped eyes on Sione Lauaki. The memory says he was much leaner than the gigantic figure which came to elicit such hope and disappointment. Lauaki is the rugby world beater who never was. Perhaps the illness revealed this year affected his fitness all along.
By far the most impressive first impression, though, was delivered by Keven Mealamu, again at Eden Park, in a late 1990s game for Auckland where this Atom Ant of a tight forward zoomed around like a pinball on a bowling green.
There had never been a front rower who could accelerate that quickly.
You assumed, however, that hooker Mealamu was too small for the All Blacks' tight five. Mealamu thought otherwise. Having been farmed out by the Blues to the Chiefs, Mealamu made it clear via his humble manner - during a Herald interview in Hamilton - he had no intention of taking up Samoa's offer of a test career.
As it turned out, the sceptics among us were about 100 All Black tests wrong, and happily so. Mealamu had to gain bulk, of course, and modified his game a touch, but what a career it has been.
There is a modern equivalent named Dane Coles, the Hurricanes' hooker who is either a test star or trivia quiz sensation in the making. The 25-year-old Coles was indeed a bolter, a shock selection, because his way of playing hardly whispers, let alone screams, test front rower.
For starters, Coles is a little small by top test standards - he looks half the size of Tatafu Polata-Nau, and that's before you take the Aussie hooker's hair into account.
Coles looks as though he could fit in Bismarck du Plessis' pocket.
Added to that, top test rugby involves brutal trench warfare whereas the Coles' calling card is left in the open - he was even used as a loose forward by Wellington during a match this year.
To carry on the first impressions theme, a colleague who covered Coles' NPC debut reckoned he burst out laughing when a little baby-faced hooker ran on the field as a replacement against Otago in 2007.
Two tries and a dynamic performance later, the laughter had subsided. Hika Elliot, the Hawkes Bay tornado who blows hot and cold, was formerly the flamboyant hooker in waiting. His non-selection for this European tour is a slap-down, because with Mealamu and Andrew Hore hitting the retirement zone, this should have been Elliot's big moment as Steve Hansen begins to build his World Cup squad.
Instead the All Blacks have plumped for Coles, a really exciting although risky option. It is hard to remember a hooker who has ever shown such open field verve.
The great Sean Fitzpatrick may have made a late-career name on the flanks, but the legendary Fitzy tended to rumble along in straight lines.
Coles is a whole new ball game, with an instinct for attack, popping up all over the place, running at angles, with speed and clever hands. There is an impish and skilful devilment to Coles that marks him as a potential game changer.
He may be asked to, or forced to, redesign his game for the test arena. But let's hope he remains the essential Dane Coles, because all sport needs mavericks.
If it works out, Coles has a cult hero future. Test demands could prove beyond him but then again, more than a few of us said that about the mighty Mealamu.


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Anyway, I'm not going to go much further into politics. Mainly because i'm not educated on the subject, and it is not meant to be talked about here. Obviously it gets overlooked on this thread, but I still don't like to do it.
That said he did present a few options for loop holes and deductions to close and get rid of during the debate last night...clearly you missed that part.
Taxes are based on household incomes and for example, My parents (who live literally down the street from the Place MMB used to live) make over 250K annually.
they are not rich, they have to save for things they want they have to pay bills in portion not full every time...they are far from rich, but they are considered rich by Obama.
and that's not even taking into account that many small business's are taxed under personal income tax rates, if you own your own business and your total income for the year is say 400k (so say you profit perhaps 50-60K) you would be considered rich....I don't know about you, but 50-60k in NYC is not rich in my opinion...they should not be paying 50%+ of their income to the government.
Lower the tax rates creates jobs and increases revenue in one fell swoop, the problem Obama has with it is that it wouldn't be the Federal Government coming in to save everyone...in fact it would be the opposite...and that's totally against his morals and Ideals.
Obama believes the government is there to save everyone.
Romney believes the government is there to help everyone save themselves.
Last edited by DavenIII; 10-04-2012 at 01:40 PM.


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(v) to preach sardonically to strangers about their Christian responsibilities and misdeeds, often loudly, from a high foot traffic location that isn't particularly relevant for the expression of religion
As you're walking across the street from campus to the bookstore, you turn to your friend and say "See crazy old Preacher Bill on that street corner? He's there almost every day, trying to embiblify the world. Don't get too close, or he'll try to engage you for not following God's word."
by texasking September 12, 2010
The vengeful act of crapping on a lover's chest while they sleep.Buy the plush


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New law protects farmers
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho - A new law in Idaho will protect farmers and ranchers who have visitors tour their farms.
Idaho Falls grower James Hoff owns a potato and grain farm. Hoff Brothers Incorporated gives tours to people educating them on agriculture.
"We like to do it just so people are aware of what agriculture is about and you know who we are. We're not just hillbillies out here," said Hoff.
The new law defines agritourism as any activity carried out on a farm or ranch that allows people to experience and understand agriculture. Hoff said the Idaho Agritourism Promotion Act will help him feel more secure.
"I think its going to be a good thing for those of us that do agritourism. You know it's sad in my mind that we have to have legislation that helps protects us from stuff like this. I think things happen and we're on a farm and it can be dangerous around equipment," he said.
The law provides certain limited liability if a person should happen to have an accident during a tour, but protection will only be given to growers who post warnings about the risks and hazards on a farm. While taking a tour Monday, Hoff made sure I knew the rules.
"You know if you were to get too close to this machine, this piece could come back and it could get your finger right there," he said.
Hoff said safety is his No.1 priority and the law doesn't change that.
"Most of our equipment has placards on it. You can see the warning sticker there, but if things are moving around we make it very clear to people its very dangerous," he said.
Proponents of the law say the legislation will lighten the concerns of bringing people onto one's farm. There wasn't much opposition in the legislature it passed with a 103-2 vote.
The law doesn't excuse farms or ranches for being negligent during a tour. You can read the entire law at http://legislature.idaho.gov/legislation/2013/H0113.pdf. It goes into effect July 1.