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Union Office: 701-241-6163
The Summer of Solidarity tour is coming to a city near you!
Two years ago our small Steelworkers local was locked out by Honeywell. The fight seemed overwhelming: 220 of us in Metropolis, Illinois, were taking on one of the most powerful companies in the world. It was David vs. Goliath—but through the 14 months of our lockout we were able to build support from all around the world. Road warriors from our local traveled to New Jersey, Chicago, Madison, Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and even Belgium and Germany to ask for support and put pressure on Honeywell.
We received incredible support, developed amazing relationships, and ended up beating back most of the company's key concession demands and winning a contract we could be proud of. We learned how valuable it is to build solidarity with workers across the country and around the world.
But we also realized that we can't just think about solidarity when we're in crisis. That's why we're working on a project to pay it forward and show some solidarity with our sisters and brothers who are waging amazing struggles around the country.
This summer, a dozen union activists and community partners are traveling coast to coast in a 17-day, 13-city road show called the Summer of Solidarity Tour. At each stop we're working with local unions and community groups to organize actions, educational events, and cultural events to support local struggles.
We're organizing actions against home foreclosures and school closings; in support of public transportation; and in support of contract campaigns and organizing drives. We've coordinated with Jobs for Justice, Fight Back Pittsburgh, People Before Banks, and organizing campaigns with the Washeros and Palermo's workers.
Local union activists who've been through tough fights like our lockout will be on the tour as well: A Steelworker who spent a year on strike against the global mining giant Vale in Sudbury, Ontario. Steelworker local leaders who waged a long campaign to save their refinery in Philadelphia. Activists fighting to win fair contracts for carwash workers in Los Angeles.
And we'll be joined by two top-notch cultural workers—legendary labor singer/songwriter Anne Feeney and Canadian hip-hop artist and union activist Michael O'Brien of Kill the Autocrat. See his hit "Constant Movement" here.
Getting a dozen activists across the country isn't free, and since this is a grassroots effort—not organized by any national union or federation—we're relying on grassroots support. You can make a donation here.
We're still firming up local events in each city, so check out www.SummerofSolidarity.org for the most recent schedule of events as we come through town. If you want to host an event, shoot us an e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Stephen Lech is president of Steelworkers Local 7-669 at the Honeywell uranium enrichment facility in Metropolis, Illinois.- See more at: http://www.labornotes.org/2013/06/summer-solidarity-tour-will-connect-grassroots#sthash.5zaLuHLr.dpu
Heitkamp Launches New Grassroots Effort to Share North Dakota Postal Concerns with USPS, GAO
Senator Visits Western North Dakota with USPS Officials to Give Them Opportunity to Hear Directly from ND CustomersDICKINSON, N.D. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today launched a new grassroots effort to help North Dakotans have their voices heard by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).
Heitkamp, who serves on the Senate committee that oversees the USPS, is calling on North Dakotans to share their stories if they have encountered extensive delivery times or had to deal with other problems with their postal service. Heitkamp will then present the stories to the USPS Postmaster General and the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the independent agency she called on today to investigate the postal delivery standards North Dakotans and other Americans experience.
Heitkamp brought USPS officials to western North Dakota today to hear about the unique issues this part of the state is facing, and why it is important to address the area's postal service problems. Postal stakeholders and North Dakotans who experience USPS everyday got an opportunity to discuss their experiences and the next steps which need to be taken.
"I've heard too many concerns and complaints from North Dakotans about the problems they face with getting their mail on time, and it absolutely needs to be fixed," said Heitkamp. "To help me in my efforts to improve our postal service, I need to hear from North Dakotans. That's what the discussion today is about. And this grassroots effort will build on it by allowing us to share the challenges we face in our state directly with the Postmaster General. I encourage North Dakotans who have a story to go to my website and tell me about it."
To share their stories, North Dakotans should visit www.heitkamp.senate.gov. There, they can fill out a short form with their stories. No personal information will be shared with the USPS or GAO. North Dakotans can also post their stories on Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #FixMyMail.
In a letter to Comptroller General of the United States Gene L. Dodaro, Heitkamp called on the GAO to conduct a study to determine the difference between the delivery service postal customers experience and what USPS measures. There has been a discrepancy between stories from North Dakotans about long delivery times, while USPS says service standards are mostly met. Heitkamp is hopeful that stories from North Dakotans will help shape the study to accurately reflect the conditions on the ground.
As a member of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, Heitkamp plays a leading role in postal service issues, and is proud of her efforts to help improve western North Dakota postal service. During Congress' work on comprehensive postal reform legislation, Heitkamp is committed to making sure rural areas have fair access to the postal service and postal employees are treated fairly.- See more at: http://www.postal-reporter.com/blog/north-dakota-senator-asks-gao-to-conduct-study-on-usps-service-standards/#sthash.PiR1d1GB.dpuf
Posted 2/21/15
The top three PSE Clerks in Fargo were converted to Full-Time Regular career status, effective February 21, 2015. The conversions were the result of residual duty assignments that didn't recieve a bid in late 2014. The jobs were then posted in e-Reassign to impacted employees affected by consolidation and excess for 21 days. After that they were posted in e-Reassign again for another 21-day cycle to all remaining employees desiring a transfer. After passing through both postings, conversion of PSEs is required by the National Agreement.
Local Vice President Daniel Amasah was the third PSE converted today. He and the other two clerks had started in Fargo back in March 2014.
Congratulations to Mahder Tedla, CJ Hoffart and Daniel Amasah!
Posted on 2/3/15
Sales and Service Associate Sue Carnahan retired this past week. Sue started with the USPS in 1986 in the CFS Unit (Centralized Forwarding System). After the CFS Unit was eliminated in Fargo in 2009 Sue became a window clerk at the Main Post Office in downtown Fargo.
During her entire USPS career Carnahan was a huge APWU supporter and activist. She was a shop steward for almost her entire career in CFS, and held various local offiices with the local union such as Recording Secretary and Trustee. She also served as President of the North Dakota APWU from 2004-2014. Her dedication and committment to the union will be greatly missed.
Congratulations Sue and thank you for all your efforts and hard work over the past 28 years! We greatly appreciate it!
Sue poses with coworkers Terry Hovde and Armen Azlamazyan.
Posted by Steven Eltz
Communications Director
Final nominations for local elections were taken at last night's monthly union meeting. Tour 3 Clerk Diane Fitterer will be the next President of the Fargo Area Local APWU, effective April 1, 2015. Diane has served as Shop Steward for many years, and is currently President of the North Dakota APWU. The position is not new to Diane though. She served as local President from 2007-2009.
In other election results, Tour 3 Clerk Brand Nelson will be the new Vice President. Tour 1 Clerk Heather Dick will serve as the newest Trustee. Tour 1 Clerk Michelle Sherven will replace Fitterer as the remaining Trustee.
Because there were no other nominations for each of the vacant positions, no elections were necessary.
Posted 1/6/15
Last Friday was Nancy Carlsrud's last day of work at the Fargo Post Office. She didn't want the usual hoopla and celebration with the customary speeches and large gatherings. She just wanted her last day to go peacefully and quiet, so that's how the day went. The union brought in a few dozen donuts, her co-workers brought in some other food and treats, and Nancy enjoyed her last day at work.
"We're going to miss her greatly," said Window Supervisor Ben Norris. "She was great with the customers, and everyone liked working with her. I never received a single complaint about her, either from a customer or an employee. She was simply the best."
Nancy started working at the Fargo Post Office back in December 1981. Most of her career was spent in the CFS Unit (Central Forwarding System). When CFS was eventually shut down in Fargo in 2009 Nancy bid on a Sales and Service Associate job at the Main Post Office.
Congratulations Nancy, and enjoy your retirement! You will be missed by everyone!
The window clerks at the Main Post Office during Nancy's last day at work, Left to Right: Beth Brewer, Nancy Carlsrud, Sue Carnahan, Beth Swanson and Dondi Koenig.
Posted 12/06/14
The following positions will be available within the Fargo Area Local APWU, effective April 1, 2015. Nominations may be accepted by contacting your local union stewards, the union office (241-6163) or at the Jan. meeting. The deadline for all nominations is the regular monthly union meeting at 7:00 PM on Thursday, January 22, 2015.
President Term: 2 years, April 1, 2015 thru March 31, 2017 Salary: $850.00 per year.
Duties: The President shall preside at all meetings of this local and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. The President, by virtue of this office, shall be a delegate to the ND State APWU Convention, the National APWU Convention, the AFL/CIO Central Labor Council. and the ND State AFL-CIO Convention. The President shall fill by appointment all vacancies in elective offices occasioned by resignation (or otherwise) until filled by the next election. The President shall be empowered to appoint/remove members to/from non-elective positions (e.g. stewards, Safety Rep. etc.) as necessary. The President shall perform such other duties as the rules and usage of the local require.
Vice President Term: 2 years, April 1, 2015 thru March 31, 2017 Salary: $360.00 per year.
Duties: The Vice-President (VP) shall assume the duties of the President resulting from the latter's absence, neglect, resignation, death or refusal to discharge the duties of that office. The VP shall assist the President in carrying out the necessary business of the Local, including those tasks related to the areas of organization, education and legislation. The VP shall perform such other duties as the rules and usage of the Local require, including the duties of the Financial Secretary in the latter's absence, or as necessary.
Trustee Term: 3 years, April 1, 2015 thru March 31, 2018 Salary: 0
Duties: Shall audit books of the Financial Sec. at least once a year. Shall audit the annual report of the Financial Sec. and report their findings to the membership at a regularly scheduled membership meeting. Shall be provided appropriate training to the performance of their duties.
Central Labor Council (CLC) Delegates (2 positions)
Term: 1 year Salary: 0
Duties: Attend monthly meetings of the NPULC (Northern Plains United Labor Council).
Support your APWU and volunteer for a position. This is your union, so get involved and make your union a stronger organization. Your efforts will be greatly appreciated!
(Posted on 11/09/14)
The Sioux Falls, SD newspaper, "The Argus Leader" reported on 11/06/14 that former treasurer for the South Dakota Postal Worker's Union has been charged in federal court with embezzlement for a theft of more than $36,000 from the union.
Susan Marie Haugen, 55, was indicted this week on one count of embezzlement and two counts of theft of labor union assets for a series of transactions that took place between May of 2010 and March of 2014.
2012 photo of Haugen, then SD APWU Treasurer
The grand jury accused Haugen of making more than $25,000 in unauthorized cash withdrawals from the union's bank account and using the union's credit and debit cards to spend another $11,000. All the money was used for personal expenses, the indictment says.
Each theft count is punishable by up to five years in prison. Haugen's initial appearance date has not been set.
Hagen is a Clerk at the Sioux Falls, SD Post Office and has been employed with the USPS since 1985.
Former APWU National Officer Imprisoned in 2011
Haugen isn't the first APWU official that been charged with improper use of union funds. In 2011 a National APWU officer was sent to prison for 18 months for his improper activities as Southern Region Coordinator for the APWU. Below is 2011 report from the Department of Justice:
May 2011 (HOUSTON) – Former American Postal Worker's Union (APWU) officer has been sentenced to prison for stealing union funds, United States Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today.
U.S. District Court Judge Lynn N. Hughes sentenced Frankie Sanders, 48, of Houston, to 18 months in federal prison without parole for theft of union funds. Indicted in March 2010, Sanders was convicted by a jury's verdict following a trial for submitting false travel receipts seeking and obtaining more than $10,000 in union funds for reimbursement.
Special agents with the U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Labor Management Standards initiated an investigation after an audit of union funds was conducted by APWU National in Washington, D.C. The audit lead to the discovery of 13 false hotel receipts in excess of $10,000 for purported union travel during a six-month period. Follow-up investigation determined the receipts submitted by Sanders for reimbursement were purported to be from the Hilton Garden Inn - Dallas/Fort Worth and the Hilton Garden Inn - New Orleans, all of which were fraudulent. Receipts submitted for the New Orleans property included alleged stays for time periods during which the hotel was closed to the public due to wind, water and significant roof damages from Hurricane Katrina. In addition, further nvestigation determined that the New Orleans hotel receipts could not have been generated by the Hilton's system because the Hilton's computers, server and smart chip were not operational during the dates of the alleged stays.
Sanders began his employment with the U.S. Postal Service in 1982. From 2004 to 2006, Sanders served as the southern regional coordinator of the APWU based in Houston. In December 2005, Sanders was also appointed trustee of the New Orleans local office to deal with union related issues following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Sanders also served as a national business agent with APWU from 1992 to 2004.
The court has permitted Sanders to remain on bond pending an order to surrender to a Bureau of Prisons facility to be designated in the near future. In addition to the 18-month sentence, Judge Hughes has also imposed a three-year-term of supervised release and ordered Sanders to pay restitution to the APWU in the amount of $10,078.40.
The investigation leading to Sanders' indictment and arrest was conducted by U.S. Department of Labor – Office of Labor Management Standards with the substantial assistance of the APWU National in Washington, D.C. The case was prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorneys Tammie Y. Moore and Demetrius K. Bivins.
Prairiewood Clerk Denise Enervold worked her last day at the Fargo Post Office today. Denise started her career with the USPS in 1983. Most of her career was spent working in CFS (Centralized Forwarding Section) Unit. But in 2009 all CFS jobs were abolished, forcing employees like Denise to bid other duty assignments. She has been working at Prairiewood as a Sales and Service Associate ever since.
Congratulations, and have a happy retirement!
Local President John Durham presents Denise with her retirement certificate.
Prairiewood Clerks Sheila Cogdill, Vicki Nordman (retired) Denise, Carla Dalhquist, Mandy Thomas, Richard Vetter and Pam Palmer.
APWU members Audrey Farol and Pam Palmer help serve cake for everyone. The local APWU purchases cake for all APWU members upon retirement.
Joining Denise (from L-R) is her husband Craig, brothers Scott and Greg, father Truman and mother Darlene.
Denise received a special gift to brighten up her last day working at the window!
(9/21/14 by John Durham)
New Vice President Daniel A. Amasah
Daniel A. Amasah has officially been appointed as Vice President of the Fargo Area Local APWU.
Daniel is a Fargo PSE Clerk assigned to Tour 1. He started with the USPS in March of 2014. He started working in letter automation on the DBCS machines. Lately he starts his day at the Annex, and finishes at the Plant.
When I first met Daniel back in March during New Employee Orientation he was a very positive person. He was always smiling, happy to be with the USPS, and eager to learn. When I asked him if he was interested in serving as local Vice President, he took a few days to think about it. I'm happy he eventually said yes.
The capital city Accra is located on the coast of Ghana, which is near the equator.
Daniel is originally from Accra, Ghana. Accra is the capital city of Ghana, a country located in western Africa. But Daniel is not new to the United States. He has lived here in Fargo, ND for the last year and a half. Daniel worked at Prairie St. John's before landing his job with the Postal Service. He also lived in Georgia and Pennsylvania before moving to Fargo to be closer to family members. Daniel is married and has two daughters, and enjoys soccer in his spare time.
I asked Daniel why he accepted this new job as Vice President.
"Because I think I can help the union and members of the Fargo Area Local APWU."
It's hard to argue with that statement.
Please congratulate Daniel on his appointment and thank him for accepting his new role as VP of our local. Hopefully Daniel will inspire others to also volunteer and get involved!
Former PSE Promoted to Supervisor
A historic move took place in at the Fargo Post Office this week as Tour 1 Clerk Shannon Johnson was promoted to the position of Supervisor of Distribution Operations at the Fargo plant. Shannon started her career with the Postal Service in July 2013 as a PSE Clerk. In December she was converted to Full-Time Regular career status. Now Shannon is a Tour 3 Supervisor, just one year after starting for the United States Postal Service.
Shannon is the first employee promoted to management at the Fargo Post Office who previously served as a Postal Support Employee, City Carrier Assistant or Mail Handler Assistant. These new categories of employees were created in 2011 in a joint effort by management and the unions to help alleviate rising labor costs and keep the USPS financially solvent.
Shannon will take over the Tour 3 Supervisor position that was recently vacated by former Fargo Supervisor Britt Patterson. In June 2014 Patterson was accepted as a Customer Service Supervisor in Bismarck, ND.
Weddington is the Postmaster of Northbrook, a Chicago suburb.
Reported by CBS 2 Chicago on July 10, 2014
Northbrook's postmaster takes long breaks at home after only being at work a short time, then returns to the office for another brief time before knocking off for the day, according to a CBS 2 investigation.
One day, for example, the station tracked Ronald Weddington as he arrived at work at 9:15 a.m., then left at 11:05 a.m. to drive to the bank then home to Park Ridge. He returned to work at 2:15 p.m. and left for the day at 4:39 p.m.
When confronted by a reporter in his driveway, Weddington said "no, I'm not home a lot."
CBS 2 said the U.S. Postal Service declined to be interviewed but said that postmasters are allowed to work irregular schedules.
You can watch the full report above or read it here.
Click on the links above to see the video report.
In January 2014 a Step 3 settlement was reached in Fargo that ordered management to give TACS (Time and Attendance Control System) access and timekeeping duties to all Lead Clerks. But Plant Manager Paul Rowe and his bosses in Sioux Falls refused to comply. Now a second grievance settlement was reached at Step 3 this week that orders local management to comply.
The Lead Clerk position was agreed to in the 2010-2015 National Agreement as a joint effort to phase out the routine use of 204-Bs or Acting Supervisors. Management and the union agreed that long-term use of temporary supervisors was unhealthy. The parties also agreed that many of the administrative duties performed by 204-Bs and floor supervisor should be done by clerks.
All the errors in timekeeping prove that Fargo management can't handle the duties. It's time to give the work back to the Clerk Craft!
"Employees are still experiencing pay check errors on a regular basis," said local President John Durham. "Incorrect leave entries, uncorrected badge errors and missing higher level pay are happening every pay period. Management has proven that they are unwilling or unable to correct these ongoing issues. Timekeeping duties should be given back to Clerk Craft where they belong."
Approximately ten years ago Fargo employee two Full-Time Regular Clerks as Time and Attendance Clerks. They were solely responsible for all the timekeeping duties for the entire installation. But management eventually took those duties away from the clerks and gave them to the floor supervisors. Since then a dramatic increase in pay check errors has occurred.
"We never had this many issues with pay check errors when we had Time and Attendance Clerks," says Durham. "Now management will allow an entire shift to run without anyone with TACS access. It's pretty hard to stay on top of things when nobody is performing timekeeping duties for days at a time."
Fargo management hasn't assigned a supervisor at the Plant on Tour 2 for almost a year now. If management doesn't adhere to the recent agreement, the union is certain to file a third grievance on the topic.
Click here to view the most recent Step 3 settlement.
Multiple grievance settlements were signed this week by new Fargo Maintenance Shop Steward Fred Bernhardson and management officials for over $9,100.00. The payments were for improper excessing, improper staffing and Out-Of-Schedule premium pay. Two Fargo maintenance employees will receive lump sum payments of over $2,000 each, the largest individual payments. Several other employees will receive payments of $800 or $900.
Article 38 of the National Agreement outlines specific procedures for posting and filling maintenance duty assignments. But Western Area and Dakotas District officials for the USPS often ignore these rules in the name of operational efficiency.
"Several jobs in Maintenance still need to be filled," said Bernhardson. "If management doesn't get authorization soon, more grievances will be appealed."
In order to keep mail processing machines and equipment running and in order, specific staffing requirements must be met. When management failed to maintain these levels, grievances were eventually filed.
Posted 3/9/14
New Maintenance Steward John Schnabel presents APWU Retirement Certificate to Tour 1 Electronic Technician Glen Pedersen.
Glen Pedersen retired on Friday, February 28, 2014 from the Fargo Post Office. Glen served the USPS for 18 years, starting his career in Grand Forks, ND. Glen was an Electronic Technician on Tour 1, and was always a strong supporter of the APWU. Congratulations Glen, and enjoy your retirement! You earned it!
Glen also received a retirement citation from Fargo Maintenance Manager Kerry Sadowsky.
Senator Visits Western North Dakota with USPS Officials to Give Them Opportunity to Hear Directly from ND Customers
1/10/14--DICKINSON, N.D. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp today launched a new grassroots effort to help North Dakotans have their voices heard by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).
Heitkamp, who serves on the Senate committee that oversees the USPS, is calling on North Dakotans to share their stories if they have encountered extensive delivery times or had to deal with other problems with their postal service. Heitkamp will then present the stories to the USPS Postmaster General and the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the independent agency she called on today to investigate the postal delivery standards North Dakotans and other Americans experience.
Heitkamp brought USPS officials to western North Dakota today to hear about the unique issues this part of the state is facing, and why it is important to address the area's postal service problems. Postal stakeholders and North Dakotans who experience USPS everyday got an opportunity to discuss their experiences and the next steps which need to be taken.
"I've heard too many concerns and complaints from North Dakotans about the problems they face with getting their mail on time, and it absolutely needs to be fixed," said Heitkamp. "To help me in my efforts to improve our postal service, I need to hear from North Dakotans. That's what the discussion today is about. And this grassroots effort will build on it by allowing us to share the challenges we face in our state directly with the Postmaster General. I encourage North Dakotans who have a story to go to my website and tell me about it."
To share their stories, North Dakotans should visit www.heitkamp.senate.gov. There, they can fill out a short form with their stories. No personal information will be shared with the USPS or GAO. North Dakotans can also post their stories on Twitter and Facebook using the hashtag #FixMyMail.
In a letter to Comptroller General of the United States Gene L. Dodaro, Heitkamp called on the GAO to conduct a study to determine the difference between the delivery service postal customers experience and what USPS measures. There has been a discrepancy between stories from North Dakotans about long delivery times, while USPS says service standards are mostly met. Heitkamp is hopeful that stories from North Dakotans will help shape the study to accurately reflect the conditions on the ground.
As a member of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, Heitkamp plays a leading role in postal service issues, and is proud of her efforts to help improve western North Dakota postal service. During Congress' work on comprehensive postal reform legislation, Heitkamp is committed to making sure rural areas have fair access to the postal service and postal employees are treated fairly.
Posted on 12/07/13
The APBS has only one keying station, the rest simply scan bar-coded mail.
Rumors are abound that management is planning to install an APBS (Automated Parcel Bundle Sorter), an updated version of the SPBS (Small Parcel Bundle Sorter) sometime in early 2014 at the Annex facility in north Fargo.
But several key logistical problems have yet to be finalized, including exact space and location for the machine.
To take a look at the complete USPS Handbook on SPBS Operations, click here.
The APBS can be configured several different ways, depending on the need of the office.
You may also view USPS and APWU papers on jurisdictional disputes about which craft should staff by the machine by clicking here.
(Posted March 6, 2012)
If you are a Mail Processing Clerk in Fargo, ND then chances are you've been stuck working in letter automation without a partner for a significant portion of your shift. If so, then a contract violation may exist.
Fargo shop stewards are asking automation clerks to report such incidents by requesting steward time at work. However, another option is now available. Simply go to the "Contact Us" page of this web site, fill in the information, and submit. Your information will be forwarded to the appropriate union official for further action.
Be sure to include as many facts and details as you can. Date of incident, time worked alone, machine # and program will all be critiical in processing a grievance.
Don't try to feed and sweep at the same time, the machine is designed for two operators!
Posted on 3/6/15 by Steven Eltz
A pre-arbitration grievance settlement was signed on 2/23/15 that requires management to post a new Tour 3 Manual Letters job up for bid for the clerks here in Fargo.
Multiple grievances were filed by the local union last year that requested such a job be posted. The union pointed to new contract language found in Article 37 of the National Agreement. This new language requires management to post a FTR duty assignment for bid whenever the union can demonstrate such a job exists. The union pointed to the daily tasks performed by Tour 3 clerk Todd Freden as evidence of a duty assignment. Freden has been an unassigned clerks for years. He regularly works in Manual Letter and Hand Cancel, 1600-0030 with Sat/Sun off days. The union successfully argued that such a preferred job should be posted for all employees to bid, not indefinitely given to an unassigned employee.
The new job should be posted for Fargo Clerks to bid within the next few bidding cycles.
Posted 2/3/15
The Fargo Area Local APWU received a surprisingly large grievance settlement in the mail last week. Mail Processing Equipment Mechanic Andy Nelson was awarded a lump sum payment of $19,000.00.
Maintenance Shop Steward Fred Bernhardson filed the grievance this past summer after local management refused to repost a vacant Electronic Technician position after Tour 1 ET Glen Pedersen retired. Unlike the Clerk Craft, management has very specific rules they must follow when considering reverting maintenance jobs.
The grievance settlement calls for Andy's promotion from Level 9 to Level 10, as well as the lump sum payment.
The payment of $19,000.00 is one of the largest single payments in recent history of the Fargo APWU.
Maybe next time management will think twice before deciding to revert a full-time maintenance position.
Congratulations Andy, and a special "thank you" to Fred for putting in all the hard work in effort to ensure the grievance was filed timely and correctly. Nice job!
Posted 02/03/15
On Monday the APWU signed an agreement with local management to post a newly created FTR position at the Prairiewood Station in south Fargo.
The agreement was reached after the union filed a grievance this past fall. The grievance was initiated after management abolished a FTR position held by Clerk Candi Sellin. But the next week management replaced the FTR job by hiring two PSE clerks. To add insult to injury management guaranteed one of the PSEs every Sunday off.
"If management needs a job with every Sunday off, then they can post it to the career employees for bidding," said the union in its grievance appeal.
The new FTR job at Prairiewood will work 1030-1900 with Sat/Sun off days, with a primary duty of sorting parcels. They may also be asked to help customers at the window during busy times.
In exchange for posting the desirable duty assignment, the union agreed to allow management to repost Sue Carnahan's vacant window job at the MPO as a 4/10 shift with Thur/Fri and Sunday as off days. Posting jobs like this with split days off is prohibited without written permission by the union, thanks to a 2012 agreement.
An identical 4/10 window clerk shift at the MPO was held a few years ago by Clerk Carla Dahlquist. Carnahan retired at the end of January. Her shift was 0730-1600 with Sun/Mon off days.
In honor of Veteran's Day on Tuesday Fargo management honored current postal employees who previously served in the armed forces with a Letter of Appreciation. The veterans also received a commemorative medallion that had isignia of the military branch for which they served.
This past Friday job talks were held with employees on all three shifts. In addition to honoring the veterans, management also handed out various service awards to employees for years of service. The annual CFC or Combined Federal Campaign was also presented to employees during the talks.
Tour 2 employees L-R: MPE Mechanic Andy Nelson (Marines), Tour 3 MDO Eric Holte (Navy), Lead MDO Dan Pihlaja (Navy), Maintenance Mechanic Sid Smith (Army), MPE Mechanic Bill Rosten (Marines), Clerk John Durham (Air Force), and Clerk Dondi Koenig (Army).
The front of the medallions had the branch of service...
While the back had the USPS logo with words, "SERVICE TO A GRATEFUL NATION".
Today the USPS received a request for annual leave donations from Fargo Clerk Bonnie Sorensen. Bonnie is a Sales and Service Associate assigned to the Prairiewood Station in south Fargo. Bonnie has fallen ill and has been unable to work for several weeks.
Any Dakotas District career, PSE, CCA or MHA employee who is interested in donating earned annual leave may access PS Form 3970-D, Request to Donate Leave by clicking here.
Donations must be a minimum of eight hours.
Tony Cusher, Roger Eli and Jim Reynolds pose for a morning photo before teeing off.
Retirees Tony Cusher, Maury Godon, Jim Reynolds and Dennis Gustafson were this year's winners of the 2014 Fargo Area Local APWU Golf Tournament. This year's event took place on September 8, 2014 at the Moorhead Country Club in Moorhead, MN.
Jeff Knutson and Maury Godon
Nice weather made for a beautiful day for golfing.
There were 22 golfers that participated in this year's event, lower than previous years.
Top prize this year was a $70.00 gift certificate to the Moorhead Country Club Pro Shop.
A special thanks to Jeff Knutson for organizing the event. Jeff has been in charge of the annual tournament for over 15 years.
A complete list of all the winners and results of the 2014 Tournament can be viewed by clicking here.
Kyle Kuntz and Dave Hassebrock get ready to tee off in the morning.
Fargo Clerk Audrey Farol with retiree Mike Stalboerger. Mike was the Tour 1 Manager in 2002 when he retired. Mike always supported the union and remained an APWU member during his entire postal career!
Renewing old friendships like these retirees is what the tournament is all about.
In May of this year management started telling career employees who previously served as Postal Support Employees that they needed to bring in two additional sets of fingerprints. Management also ordered employees to submit additional background information as well.
The local APWU filed a grievance on the orders, claiming they were redundant and unnecessary. A Step 3 settlement was reached last week. In the document the USPS agrees to reimburse employees for any fees related to the additonal fingerprints.
Fargo Clerks have been asked to submit two more cards like this, even though they already submitted a set when they were first hired as PSEs.
The Fargo Police Department charges $10.00 for the two sets of additional fingerprints.
A total of 31 career clerks in Fargo started working for the USPS as PSEs. After making career, management insists that a separate background check must be completed.
Employees who paid to have the additional fingerprints cards submitted to management can bring a copy of their receipt to the union office to start the reimbursement process.
Updated 5/10/14
Two more Fargo PSE Clerks were converted to FTR career status on May 3, 2014. But shortly after the conversions, management issued Letters of Separation to one PSE Clerk and another recently converted FTR who was still in her probationary period. The removals were for performance and attendance problems.
Not In The Clear Yet...
Once hired, PSEs are on probation for 90 working days or 120 calendar days, whichever comes first.
"If a PSE starts showing signs of poor performance or starts calling off sick, we are probably going to terminate their employment," said a Fargo manager. "It's best to cut ties early and hire a new employee who want to be here."
Once converted to career, the new Full-Time Regular employee enters another career probationary period of 90 calendar days. Management has a right to terminate these employees too, without any grievance from the union.
"I strongly urge these newly converted career clerks to behave as model postal employees," says local President John Durham. "Management has shown a clear willingness to terminate employment with anyone who is in a probationary period, especially the newly converted employees."
In March 2014 Fargo management issued a Letter of Separation to a career clerk who was converted in December 2013 to career status. The employee was only a few days from passing his probationary status when he started calling off sick.
While you may not receive this award from management, maintaining an excellent attendance record during your probationary period just might save your job with the Postal Service.
Turn In VOE Survey For Cash!
Posted on 10/1/13
Every three months the USPS sends out surveys to postal employees at work. Management asks employees to fill out these surveys on-the-clock. But because these surveys have been misued by management, the Fargo Area Local APWU has a standing motion that allows a $10.00 cash payment for any survey turned in to the local union by an APWU member.
So the next time you receive a survey, simply turn in the blank document to us and you will be given a ten-dollar bill. We retain the blank survey until our Trustees perform an audit. After that, the surveys are destroyed.
Union members in West Fargo, Wahpeton, Moorhead, Fergus Falls an Casselton can simply mail their survey to our local address:
Fargo Area Local APWU
PO Box 1874
Fargo, ND 58107
For the last few years we receive approximately 20 surveys every quarter from union members, paying out over $800.00 a year to union members.
Posted on 7/28/13
Has work been getting the best of you lately? Do you ever feel like tossing the mail in the air and walking out the door?
If so, you're not alone. As the USPS continues to shrink the workforce, employees here in Fargo and the surrounding area are faced with more staffing problems and shortages than we've seen in years.
The flat sorter and letter automation machines never have enough workers to get the job done. Trucks are constantly late because we simply don't have enough experienced clerks to go around. Management feels pressured, forcing them to jump in and help sort the mail themselves. Many of us are forced to work longer hours, and we're starting to get a bit crabby.
How can I do my job when they don't give me any help!
But there's a little-known benefit for all employees that management wants to keep secret.
Did you know that you are entitled to visit a counselor of your choice, free, and remain on-the-clock?
This is a seldom used benefit that the APWU negotiated into our National Agreement. It entitles all Clerks and Maintenance employees, including all PSEs, to schedule a meeting with a counselor. And the best part is that management must provide this service to you while you're on-the-clock!
The reason management doesn't want you to know this is simple. If employees start using this benefit, then managers at the District level will see an increase in usage and will start to wonder why. But because the usage is low, upper management thinks everything is OK.
How do I start using this benefit?
The first this you need to do is call 1-800-327-4968. Tell them your name and the Post Office you work at. Then tell them you would like to schedule an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) counseling appointment because of work-related stress. Be sure to also tell them that you've been referred by your local union.
After taking some basic info from you, the operator will then give you a Registration Number. This code is needed when you contact your counselor.
The EAP Operators are not with the USPS at all--they're employed by Maggellan, Inc.
The operator will give you your choice of several counselors in the Fargo-Moorhead area.
After you've made the phone call, you're now free to look at the calendar and figure out the best time and date to schedule your counseling meeting. Make sure to schedule it during your normal time of work, and give then your Registration Number. If you work Tour 1, make sure you use an agency that will accommodate your schedule.
Once you've got your appointment scheduled, simply notify your supervisor of the date and time of your meeting. The contract mandates your release to such meetings, so the supervisor can not deny it!
When leaving for the appointment, management will ask you to badge over to Operation Code 630, Meeting Time.
There you go! It's free, and it's on-the-clock, so you won't have to use your personal time. How nice is that?
Please consider utilizing this seldom-used but very valuable benefit. An increase in usage will help bring attention to our staffing problems and other issues. If we don't use this benefit, we also risk losing it.
Good attitudes are contagious, and counseling has proven to be an effective remedy. Turn that frown upside down today!
Everyone can use some counseling to help alleviate stress and tension in the work place. Sometimes a supervisor or shop steward is not trained or prepared to help. You owe it to your co-workers, your family, and yourself.
More info can be viewed by visiting the official EAP web site by clicking here.
Call 1-800-327-4968 now!
New Fargo PSEs are 100% Union!
As of February 21, 2015 27 PSE Clerks currently work at the Fargo Post Office, and all have immediately joined the union!
Please take some time to introduce yourselves to the new employees and be sure to thank them for joining the APWU!
Current PSE Union Members
Those in RED haven't joined yet
Tuesday, July 28th, 2015 at 7:00 pm
Room #451
Main Post Office 657 2nd Ave N Fargo, ND 58102
Agenda Items:
Local Negotiations
Golf Tournament
Officer/Steward Reports
Open Discussion
One $20.00 Gift Card to West Acres is given out at each meeting to a member whose name is randomly drawn from those in attendance.
Posted 01/09/15
An amendment to the local contract was signed on December 19, 2014 by APWU President John Durham and Fargo Postmaster Greg Johnson. The amendment is effective January 1, 2015 and makes permanent changes to the Fargo LMOU (Local Memorandum of Understanding).
The changes to the local contract now require employees to forfeit or surrender any annual leave for which they don't have a sufficient leave balance. Under the old rules, employees could keep pre-approved leave, even if they didn't have enough vacation time to cover the absence. But now employees will be forced to turn back any dates for which they don't have a sufficient leave balance. Those dates will then be reposted to employees who have saved their vacation time.
"Every year there are employees who are blocking full weeks of vacation in November and December that don't have any leave," said Durham during an Executive Board Meeting on January 6, 2015. "LWOP should not be on leave calendar. The calendar is strictly for those employees who have earned and saved annual leave."
The amendment also increased the percentage of employees allowed off during the month of December from 5% to 8%.
In exchange for the increased time off during December, the union agreed to get rid of our local Make-Up Overtime Policy. The policy outlined specific restrictions on when and how make-up overtime was to be administered.
Basic make-up overtime rules still apply. Make-up overtime still cannot be used in-lieu of regular overtime.
"Instead of cleaning microwave ovens or throwing UBBM mail, management may now use an employee on regular work assignments," reported Durham.
A copy of the amendment can be viewed by clicking here.
A Moment of Silence...
Posted 1/6/15
Former Fargo Clerk Donald Markay unexpectedly passed away this fall at the young age of 63. Don started as a clerk in Fargo in July 1989. Before that he worked for the USPS in his home area near Chicago, Illinois. He originally started working on Tour 1, but eventually worked for years on Tour 3 as the manual clerk. I remember him working for years on Tour 3 as the Register Room Clerk. That's when the Register Room was in the far SW corner of the plant. He finally retired from the USPS in early 2004.
This rare photo of Don was taken in 2002 with Fargo Clerk Audry Farol. Audrey won a free work party from a local radio station and invited Don for a few hours of fun.
Don was a huge union supporter and loved the APWU. He always wore a blue APWU baseball cap and was a very proud union member. In fact, he always kept his very first pay stub from 1989 in his shirt pocket, and would proudly show it to anybody who started complaining about their lack of pay.
Once Don told me that was given the nickname "Sparky" by his former co-workers in the Chicago area. I would call him Sparky now and then, and he always smiled when I did. I'm not sure if others knew of this nickname, but I got the sense that he enjoyed it.
He served a local APWU editor when he first started with the USPS back in Chicago. So when I asked Don if he would be interested in serving as our local editor in June 1999, he happily accepted. Don served as Editor of our local "Tour Guide" from 1999-2001.
Don might have been considered to be a "loner" to some, as he didn't have many friends, and the few family members he did have all lived in Illinois. In fact, there wasn't even an obituary or notice of his death this past fall in the local newspaper, as there were no next of kin. He was found dead in his home after neighbors began questioning his whereabouts.
Most employees didn't know Don that well and had little contact with him. But I spent endless hours after work talking with him about various subjects. He loved to debate the problems of the USPS on a grand scale. In fact, I would often have to cut him off, as he would talk for hours if you let him. I know there were many times we spent over an hour standing by our cars after work talking about the Postal Service. He was always animated about how postal management was undercutting us workers by allowing the huge discounts to presort companies and large mailers. He couldn't stand management's standard complaint of being broke when he saw the excessive discounts given to bulk mail companies. Of course, I had to throw a few barbs in once in a while to pour gasoline on his fire and keep the debate going. But he knew exactly what I was doing. I also think that deep down, Don simply appreciated the conversation.
As far as I know there was no obituary written after Don's death, nor was there even a funeral. The only family he had was a distant cousin in Illinois. So I thought the least I could do was write a small article here and remember a devoted union member and a good friend.
Rest in Peace Sparky.
2014 COPA Drive
Members at the July union meeting approved a motion to establish a COPAmatic Drive for 2014. Union members who establish a regular COPA donation thru their payroll allotment will be entered into a local drawing.
At the November 2014 Meeting all entires will be verified and placed in a drawing. A $100.00 gift card will be the grand prize.
Start your automatic COPA donations now by logging in to the National APWU web site. You can learn more by clicking here.
Win a Vacation from APWU HQ!
The popular Trip of a Lifetime sweepstakes, which made its debut last year, has returned! Lucky winners will get to pick from a list of fantastic vacations for themselves and a guest.To put a little fun in fundraising, we've expanded the prizes and incentives we offer individuals, locals and state organizations.
But only APWU members who make recurring contributions automatically - COPAmatic givers or COPA Club donors are automatically entered.
Contributing COPAmatically enables our members to donate a modest amount on a regular basis, and provides steady funding for COPA. There are several easy ways to contribute COPAmatically. Participants can make COPAmatic contributions through PostalEASE, Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) and automatic repeat credit card contributions. Retirees also can make COPAmatic contributions via deductions from their annuities via the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
To help give our union a stronger voice in national politics, APWU's Committee on Political Action (COPA) collects donations from union members and distributes them to candidates who will stand up for postal workers and working families. With the support of tens of thousands of APWU members, COPA raised more than $2.5 million during the 2007-2008 election cycle.
Much is at stake in the ongoing debate over the future of the Postal Service and how it treats its workers and customers. Simply put, postal workers need a strong voice in politics. By law, union dues and general treasury funds cannot be used to make contributions to candidates for elective office.
Well-funded mailing industry interests continue to demand below-cost postage discounts that rob the Postal Service of the revenue it needs. In the wake of the postal "reform" legislation passed in 2006, the mailing industry and its pro-privatization allies in Congress will continue to press the same anti-worker agenda adopted by the President's Commission on the Postal Service. That agenda calls for:
This COPA solicitation is paid for by the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO, 1300 L St., N.W., Washington, D.C. (202) 842-4200; it is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Contributions or gifts to COPA are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. COPA will use the contributions it receives for political purposes, including making contributions to candidates for federal, state and local offices, and addressing political issues of public importance. Contributions to COPA are voluntary. More or less than the suggested amount may be given, and the amount given or the refusal to give will not benefit or disadvantage the person being solicited. Federal law requires political action committees to report the name, mailing address, occupation, and employer for each individual whose contributions aggregate in excess of $200 in a calendar year.
Posted 12/1/13
A career postal worker of the Sioux Falls Post Office was terminated after missing work for migraines, the flu and when her son suffered a concussion. All absences were properly documented and accepted as legitimate.
The employee was issued a Notice of Removal after three separate instances of absence. The union filed a grievance, which was denied by the USPS at all steps. An arbitration hearing was held in Sioux Falls, SD on October 24, 2013. One week later Arbitrator Jeffrey Jacobs issued his stern decision, upholding the removal and denying the union's grievance.
Arbitrator Jacobs is assigned to the APWU Dakotas panel, and would likely hear any grievance for Fargo employees as well.
"This should be a huge wake-up call for all employees in the Dakotas District," says local President John Durham. "With an arbitrator that's this tough on attendance, management might start taking a more aggressive stance on unscheduled absences. Employees should be mindful about their sick leave usage."
You can read the entire 20-page award and better understand how and why this happened by clicking here.


text:
This game was classified by the community with the following category scores - Violence=0/3, Sex=0/3, Mature Content=0/3. Control both you and your reflection to solve puzzles. Differences in the reflected world will cause your reflection to take a different path.
Buy Xbox content on Xbox.com. Your Xbox 360 console will automatically download the content next time you turn it on and connect to Xbox Live.Learn More
Click to create and send a link using your email application

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A recent study has suggested that common personality traits could be linked with reproductive differences.
Conducted in rural villages in Senegal, the study found that women with above-average levels of neuroticism tended to have more children.
Approximately 12 per cent more children were born to those women who showed higher levels of anxiety, depression and moodiness.
Men on the other hand, tended to have more offspring if they were extravert by nature.
Dr Virpi Lummaa from the University of Sheffield led the study, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
She commented: "Our results show that personality predicts family size differently in men and women, and those men with [the] largest families have personality aspects different from the women with the largest families."
Studies such as this could prove to be important in determining the role of the individual in the recent changes seen in fertility patterns around the world, the scientist added.
Independent advice on private healthcare


text:
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
The role of diatoms as a source of bioactive compounds has been recently explored. Diatom cells store a high amount of fatty acids, especially certain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). However, many aspects of diatom metabolism and the production of PUFAs remain unclear. This review describes a number of technical strategies, such as modulation of environmental factors (temperature, light, chemical composition of culture medium) and culture methods, to influence the content of PUFAs in diatoms. Genetic engineering, a newly emerging field, also plays an important role in controlling the synthesis of fatty acids in marine microalgae. Several key points in the biosynthetic pathway of PUFAs in diatoms as well as recent progresses are also a critical part and are summarized here.
Marine diatoms have been explored recently as sources of secondary metabolites with biological activity. Diatoms are known to be a reserve source for biofuel, marine drugs, and live feed, owing to their short life cycle, fast growth and simple nutritional requirements [
Certain indispensable fatty acids are important as components of the cell membrane, lipid storage or signal transduction pathways, for instance, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). PUFAs are approximately 18–22 carbon, straight-chain fatty acids that contain two or more double bonds. PUFAs can mainly be classified into two principal families:
Due to the benefits of PUFAs in humans and animals, a large amount of PUFA supplementation is needed. However, the shortage of PUFA biological resources has always restricted their wide application; inexpensive DHA and EPA biological resources have become an urgent demand. It is generally recognized that the main sources of PUFAs on the market are marine fish because there are no reported definitive examples of land plants accumulating EPA and DHA [
Awareness of the benefits of PUFAs and the shortage of fish oil have led to the exploitation of new resources of PUFAs over the last few years. In actuality, fish are not real PUFA producers. Fish accumulate PUFAs through the ingestion of PUFA-rich microalgae. Microalgae, especially those of marine origin, as emerging resources of long-chain PUFAs, have caused increasing concern [
More recently, microalgae biotechnologies have been explored intensively with the aim to increase fatty acid production. Light, one of the most important environmental factors of the marine ecosystem, is of increasing interest to modulate the growth and accumulation of fatty acids in microalgae. Microalgae biomass, fatty acid composition, and pigment and ester concentration are reported to be light sensitive, thus, much attention has been paid to enhancement of fatty acid production using variable light. Light, the source of energy for photosynthesis, can alter photosynthesis products to synthesize metabolites. The spectral property of light acts as a major factor in controlling photosynthetic efficiency. Blue and red light spectra have been revealed to be the most active for photosynthesis [
Temperature plays a critical role in cell growth and metabolite synthesis. As the growth temperature changes, the responses from different species show inconsistent relationships between temperature and percentage of unsaturated fatty acid [
Diatoms are able to rapidly adapt to the changing nutrient conditions. Particularly, in upwelling water environments where nutrients are brought to the surface, diatoms exhibit notable efficiency in the uptake of growth-limiting nutrients such as iron, nitrogen and silica [
The type of nitrogen source can also affect fatty acid content and growth of microalgae. Diatoms are able to utilize a variety of nitrogen sources, including inorganic (NO3−, NH4+) and organic (urea, amino acids) nitrogen, thereby adapting their nitrogen metabolism based on the available nutrients [
Iron, a vital component of the photosynthetic apparatus and mitochondrial electron transport chain, is a growth-limiting nutrient for photosynthetic microalgae. Iron limitation was found to lead to reduced synthesis of chlorophyll and a significant decrease in photosynthetic efficiency as well as slower nitrogen assimilation in diatoms [
In the weakly silicified diatom
Usually, slow growth of microalgae leads to a high proportion of storage lipids, while higher growth rates result in higher fractions of structural lipids. PUFAs as parts of structural biomolecules are essential components of cell membranes. At low growth rates, microalgae tend to accumulate neutral lipids rich in SFA (14:0, 16:0) and MUFA (16:1). These lipids are used to store the excess carbon accumulated during photosynthesis. On the contrary, at high growth rates, the demand for structural components increases, thereby reducing the surplus for neutral lipid accumulation and consequently increasing the proportion of PUFAs [
Growth facilities of diatoms can be set up in aquatic areas, which would not cause an arable land crisis. High-efficiency photobioreactors are required to culture and tap the potential of microalgae [
Open systems for the culture of microalgae, including open ponds and raceways, have been well developed. These open systems possess major advantages, including being of low cost and having simple technical requirements. Open systems can be used for fast-growing species or for species that can be maintained at extreme conditions, such as high salinity or high pH conditions, in which contamination can be controlled. A number of microalgae species have been commercially cultivated at large scale with open systems, such as green algae
Closed photobioreactors have attracted much attention because they allow for better control of the culture conditions than open systems, thereby providing robust culture systems for the culture of a large number of microalgae species [
In both outdoor and indoor cultivation systems, light source and light intensity are key factors affecting the phototrophic growth of microalgae [
Although large-scale cultivation facilities for microalgae are available, their productivity is hampered by the lack of ideal strains that can be selectively optimized for both high biomass productivity and high TAG (triacylglycerol) or PUFA content [
With more and more sequenced genomes, certain metabolic pathways in the corresponding species can be readily proposed. By mapping annotated diatom genes to KEGG (Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes) and taking the reported pathways into account [
Among the 11 open reading frames (ORFs) with significant similarity to fatty acid front-end desaturases in the genome sequence of
Proposed pathway of PUFA synthesis in diatoms.
The pathway was proposed by mapping annotated genes to KEGG pathways based on the genomes of diatoms, including
By heterologous coexpression of the Δ6-elongase from diatom
The large demand for health-benefiting PUFAs cannot be supplied by the current fish harvest. Therefore, new alternative sources of PUFAs have to be exploited. Using diatoms to produce PUFAs has several advantages, such as controlled culture conditions, lack of contamination, and the presence of PUFAs in the polar lipid fraction along with carotenoids, phytosterols, vitamins and antioxidants, which may also contribute to the health benefits of PUFA oils. Unfortunately, the production cost of autotrophic diatoms is still rather high. Nonetheless, further research is needed to create diatom strains with enhanced productivity of PUFAs. Enhancing the level of PUFAs is a major challenge, but reducing the
This work was supported by the National Science and Technology Support Program (2011BAD14B03), Science and Technology Project of Guangdong (2010B030600005, 2009B050600005), and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (21610103).
The authors declare no conflict of interest.


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I manage a retail store in Blacksburg, I'm a professional musician. I was until recently living in Asheville, NC for 7 years touring with various bands mostly traveling the east coast. Taking a much needed break now to focus on other stuff. I live a simple lifestyle. I'm a very down to earth person and I see myself reflected back in others. Yoga/meditation is a big part of my life. I'm have been involved in Virtual Reality/Virtual Worlds creation since 2008. I organize virtual music festials (such as virtual burning man) virtual art gallerys and also film Machinima. (Films shot in Virtual 3D enviroments)
Movies= Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, The Matrix, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Ace Ventura, The Neverending Story, The Wolf of Wall Street, Inception, The Big Lebowski, Back to the Future, Momento, Scarface, Labyrinth, The Muppet Movie,
Food= Mostly Vegan, Fresh Juices, Green Smoothies, Dank Salads, Mixed nuts, Kale, anything way spicy, soups, mexican, thai, raw, I do still love egg sandwiches.
I mostly watch youtube, documentaries and cartoons....I haven't had cable tv in 13 years. I'm like the muppets, south park, family guy and the simpsons.
You like guys that embrace their uniqueness.
You live a healthy lifestyle.
You can express you real feelings.
You have Goddess energy.
You are able to enjoy whatever comes your way.
You want make a friend.
You want to have a cuddle friend.
You want to do some yoga
You love music
You spend some time doing self reflection
You love trees
You enjoy simple things
You are trustworthy
You experience yourself as an expression of love
You can Dance


text:
Summary Edit
A typical Dan McDaid image of the comic Tenth Doctor. (DWM: "Hotel Historia") Un-lettered version from McDaid's website.
Licensing Edit
This is an image of concept artwork, or a final-proof of concept photo and the copyright for it is most likely owned either by the publisher / producer / company of the series to which the concept is from or the artist (inconjunction with the aforementioned) who created the concept. It is believed that the use of this image;
- to illustrate an article discussing the concept or final product in question
- and / or
- to illustrate an article discussing the artist, history or other elements of development of the concept
- on the Tardis Data Core wiki, hosted on servers in the United States by the non-profit Wikia, Inc,
qualifies as fair dealing under the laws of the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, and as fair use under United States copyright law. Other use of this image, on Wikia or elsewhere, may be copyright infringement. See Wikipedia:Fair use for more information.
To the uploader: please add the source of the work and copyright information.
Appears on these pages
Dan McDaid
Dan McDaid was an illustrator for the Doctor Who Storybook 2008 short story The Body Bank. He...
File history
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|21:26, May 17, 2009
|CzechOut (Talk | contribs)
|A typical Dan McDaid image of the comic Tenth Doctor. (DWM: "Hotel Historia") Un-lettered version from McDaid's website.


text:
Services Offered
Before & After
Water2Fire is a 'one stop shop' for your home's exterior cleaning needs.
Established in 2007 in Apex, NC, Water2Fire is owned and operated by Waylon Edelen who has over 10 years experience in the business. From power washing to handyman services, our services are professional, competitively priced and backed by a 100% satisfaction guaranteed.
Call or Email TODAY for a FREE ESTIMATE! Same day appointments available!
$100 HOUSE WASH (up to 2000 sq ft houses)
Includes the bleach solution that will be mixed based on the job. We will ensure that any mold, mildew, dirt, bugs, spider webs, etc are removed and that your surrounding plants and greenery are not destroyed by rinsing the house before and after applying any chemicals. We will also make sure that no water comes through the windows or doors due to the pressure.
Get 2 of your neighbors to get their house washed at the same time & save 30% (that's $30 off a $100 house wash or the discount can be divided equally among the neighbors).
Website Designed
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text:
Eyewitness: Electronics
Explore the fast-moving world of electronics, and see the tiny devices that have changed so many aspects of modern life.
We live in a world made possible by electronic technology -- and Eyewitness Electronics is the perfect way to learn more about it! Discover what the first transistor looked like; what goes on inside telephones, TVs, and computers; and how the binary system works. Superb full-color photographs of original equipment, scientific instruments, and 3-D models make this book a compelling look at electronics.
Please visit Help Page for Questions
regarding ISBN / ISBN-10 / ISBN10, ISBN-13 / ISBN13, EAN / EAN-13, and Amazon
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text:
This is Giant Torayan, a baby-faced fire-breathing robot, made out of aluminum by Kenji Yanobe. It's apparently on display this weekend in Japan.
Here's some video footage of Giant Torayan in action:
There's lots and lots of Kenji's creations on display here. And here's an interview of Kenji by Giant Robot.
*Previously: Baby monitor picks up video from Space Shuttle.
*Buy giant robots at eBay.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Giant baby-faced fire-breathing robot
Posted by John at 7:24 PM
Labels: kenji yanobe, robot


text:
JERUSALEM (Aug. 27)
Israeli authorities and military courts took sharp actions this weekend against Arab resisters in several of the areas occupied by Israel as a result of the Six-Day War, Various Arab groups forced Israel to retaliate against shootings, a strike in Gaza, and other increased hostile acts by Arabs.
In Gaza, yesterday, the military tribunal meted out jail sentences ranging from eight months' imprisonment to 10 months against five prominent Arab merchants who conducted a strike there Friday night and yesterday. Additionally, the men were fined 1,500 Israeli pounds ($500) each.
The Gaza trouble flared after a group of Arab youngsters distributed leaflets claiming that an Israeli soldier had killed a resident of the town. What had happened, actually, was that a group of Arabs had attacked an Israeli soldier who had been forced to fire his rifle in self-defense. In the process of restoring order, three Arabs were wounded.
The Israeli military governor issued an order forbidding businessmen to close their stores. When some of them did shut down, they were arrested immediately and taken before the military court. Some of the youngsters who had distributed the leaflets were also tried and sentenced to jail terms.
At El Arish, in the northern Sinai, an Israeli military tribunal this weekend sentenced four local Arabs to two-year prison terms each for participating in an anti-Israeli demonstration. The four had confessed to having spread nails on highways leading into the city and on principal thoroughfares in El Arish, so that Israeli civilian and military motorcars had their tires punctured. Several of the Israeli cars had been damaged as a result of that action.
At Abu Dis, in occupied Jordanian territory east of Jerusalem, an Israeli border patrol including policemen and paratroopers drew fire from a sniper in an Arab house Friday. A little earlier, a Hebrew University student's automobile had been fired upon at the same location. The student escaped uninjured, but three members of the patrol were wounded.
The Israelis fired back, wounded the sniper, then arrested the man's father and a brother in the house. Finally, they blew up the house, and followed through by arresting six more Arabs and razing five more houses that had been centers of violent resistance. The village is on the west bank of the Jordan River and overlooks a principal highway to Jerusalem, just east of the capital.
The various incidents of Arab resistance, all the way from this capital city to various places in the occupied areas, were seen here today as signs of deterioration of the relations between the Israelis and the Arabs. There seemed to be two causes. One was that the Arabs are uneasy because they don't know what Israel's plans are in regard to the various occupied areas such as the west bank of the Jordan and the Sinai Peninsula or Gaza. The other factor is undoubtedly due to the inciting propaganda broadcast by the Egyptian and Jordanian radio transmissions beamed into the occupied areas.
During one of the Arab demonstrations at El Arish, the resisters were bold enough to hoist the Egyptian flag, which was promptly brought down by the Israeli troops there. Barriers had also been erected against Israeli troop movements in that area. Resistance seemed more subtle on the west bank. An Arab judge had refused to sit in his court, while Arab school teachers have announced they would not cooperate with the Israeli education authorities.
The reprisal actions taken by Israel in the last few days indicated that more stringent security measures may be necessary, some Israelis here said. On the other hand, some Israelis felt that clearer indications must be given of Israel's future plans for the occupied areas.


text:
I'll be totally honest: I had no idea what a Hazmat suit was before embarking on this house project, but eh — I'm teachable. When we first purchased our home, we had found that the previous owners bolted three years prior, leaving the house abandoned, vacant — and with a leak. Needless to say, there was quite a bit of mold remediation to tackle, and because Husband and I both have serious allergies, we didn't mess around.
We purchased two Hazmat suits, along with full face masks and celebrated our recent purchase by cleaning out the belongings of the former owners. This part was GROSS. Really, really gross. I even found a moldy ham sandwich underneath the TV stand, if that gives you any sort of glimpse into the intensity of the situation.
But in a weird way, this was fun. I love hearing the stories of those who lived before me, and the items we had found scattered around the mold and debris told quite the story of a fallen household. It was sad in a way, but I'm hoping the owners have moved on to bigger, better things.
I'll talk more about mold remediation later on (including tips on how to tackle it the right way!), but for now, I'll leave you with an artsy photo my husband took of the previous owner's dining room:
I'm totally framing this and putting it in the existing space. Can. Hardly. Wait.
p.s. That piano? I'm lacquering it black and taking up a new hobby. It's beautiful!


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Added by Ronda on June 21, 2017 at 11:00pm — No Comments
A few months ago we purchased a potty seat for my son, he was starting to show interest in potty training. He has been watching other kids and following us to the restroom for a few months now. After I purchased the potty seat a few months ago, I tried putting my son on the potty. I knew that it was still a bit early and didn't quite show all of the…Continue
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My baby is showing the signs that he is getting close to being ready to potty train. A few weeks ago, he started telling when he has a soiled diaper. He says, "I poop" when he soils his diaper. He hasn't quite figured out the difference between urinating and pooping. I am excited and nervous at the same…Continue
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I was so excited when La-Z-Boy contacted my PiggyToes to host their grand opening store in Monroeville but unfortunately, I couldn't attend! I did however find time to shop weeks after the opening and wrote about my experience in…Continue
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I had searched for some dining chairs and a table for what seemed to be FOREVER...until I saw some vintage chrome chairs on ebay! The only problem was, they were being sold by someone in New York and the auction was for pick up only. Determined to have them, I emailed the seller and begged her to ship them to me. She finally said…Continue
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A FARMER who took his own life may have done so because of the pressures and the rules and regulations imposed on the industry, an inquest heard.
James Thompson was found on the floor of a barn at Hood Ridding Farm, Old Hutton, with a firearm in his hand, which a police officer said was pointing towards his head.
The 54-year-old lived and worked on the farm with his mother Eva Thompson.
When asked by the coroner if there was anything that could have made her son stressed or unhappy, Mrs Thompson replied the 'pressures' and 'rules and regulations' of farming.
But the hearing was told Mr Thompson appeared to be happy on the farm and loved his stock.
Mrs Thompson added that her son had given no clues as to what might have led to his death on February 6, saying it was 'a complete mystery'.
Mr Thompson's sister, Sheila Shuttleworth, described seeing him on the day of his death and said he seemed 'fine – just his normal self'.
A post mortem examination found no evidence of alcohol or drugs in Mr Thompson's system and the inquest heard he had no history of mental health problems.
A pathologist told the inquest the cause of death was a gunshot injury to the head and that the features of it were consistent with a self-inflicted injury.
PC Jason Hesmondhalgh of Cumbria Police, who attended the scene, told the inquest officers had ruled out foul play and third party involvement after an investigation.
Recording a verdict that Mr Thompson took his own life, Coroner Ian Smith said: "This was a deliberate act – the only missing piece is the motive.
"The family are at a total loss, and so am I, to understand why on earth this awful tragedy would have happened."


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Professor of Art and Art History • Specialty: Printmaking • University of Missouri-St. Louis
207 Fine Arts Building • Phone: 314-516-7291 • Fax: 314-516-6103
I am a Professor of Printmaking, I joined the faculty of the University of Missouri - St. Louis in 1998. Before that time I served as Education Director of Tamarind Institute from 1988 to 1998, The Ohio State University from 1985-1988 and in 1981 directed the Quensen Lithographic Studio in Lamspringe, Germany. I received my B.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and my M.F.A. from Arizona State University.
I have have presented over 60 lectures and workshops throughout the world. My prints and mixed media artworks have been exhibited in over 20 solo exhibitions, including exhibitions at the Art Institute, Aguascalientes, Mexico; Sala Negro,EL Instituto Chileno Nortreamericano, Santiago, Chile; the Schmidt Art Center, Belleville, IL: Gallery KO 25, Hanover,Germany: C.D. H., Hanover Germany; Burke Gallery, Marshall University, Huntington, WV; and the Frans Masereel Centrum, Kasterlee, Belgium. He has also participated in over 200 group exhibitions including the Lalit Kala Academy, Madras, India; the Cecille R. Hunt Gallery, Webster University, St. Louis, MO: Haggar Gallery, University of Dallas, Dallas, TX: Steinberg Gallery of Art, Washington University, St. Louis, MO: Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, Laurel MS: the Knoxville Museum of Art, Knoxville, TN: Grunwald Center for the Arts, University of California, Los Angeles: as well as many others.
My work is represented in numerous public and corporate collections, including the Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO; Bibliotheque Nationale de France, Paris, France, and the Smithsonian National Museum of Art, Washington DC.


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They are a Washington institution, the top source of sports entertainment in a politically obsessed city. Whether the Redskins win or lose each week affects the mood of entire mid-Atlantic region, and their inspirational season-opening victory over the Giants last Sunday is already spawning optimism for the 2011 season. The franchise has struggled since winning three Super Bowls way back when. To see if they can make it back to the top, let's dispense with some popular myths about the burgundy and gold.
1. Get rid of Dan Snyder, and all will be well.
During Snyder's first decade as owner, streams of Redskins and pro-football fans considered him a liability to the team. After all, they asked, how could the Redskins win a Super Bowl, or even challenge in the NFC East, with an impulsive, micromanaging boss? His propensity for meddling in personnel decisions, his reckless spending on free agents (see Deion Sanders, Adam Archuleta, Albert Haynesworth) and his inability to maintain coaching continuity made him seem clueless about what it takes to win in the National Football League.
But Snyder, who bought the team in 1999, has matured. He's realized that patience and a hands-off approach are imperative to success over the long haul. The dismissal of his longtime right-hand executive,the polarizing Vinny Cerrato, late in the dreadful 2009 season was an important step. He hired a true general manager in Bruce Allen and a two-time Super Bowl-winning coach in Mike Shanahan, and he has stepped aside to let those two experienced football minds make personnel decisions.
Snyder has a fierce desire to reach the pinnacle in the NFL. It's not going to happen instantaneously, but he's finally going about it the right way.
2. It will never be as good as the Gibbs era.
It's entirely conceivable that the Redskins could someday duplicate or exceed coach Joe Gibbs's feats in the 1980s and early 1990s, when the team won three Super Bowls. Yes, the NFL is a parity-driven league now, and some experts argue that building an organization capable of reaching multiple Super Bowls in a short time span is unrealistic. But just look at the 21st-century Patriots and Steelers — it can be done.
For the Redskins to become a powerhouse, they must hold on to a talented scouting staff; maintain a competent front office that makes calculated personnel decisions through the draft, trades and free agency; and acquire players hungry to win. (No more mercenaries such as Haynesworth.)
Just as important, the Redskins are a lot younger than in recent years; the team must continue infusing the roster with youth and speed. This season's opening-day roster included nine rookies and 25 players with three years or fewer of pro experience. Two of those rookies, linebacker Ryan Kerrigan and nose tackle Chris Neild, starred in the Redskins' 28-14 win last Sunday against the Giants.
3. President Richard Nixon called a play during a 1971 playoff game.
This story is ingrained in Redskins lore, but the facts are open to interpretation. Nixon never called a play during the Redskins' 24-20 loss to San Francisco in the the 1971 playoffs, and he didn't phone anything in from the Oval Office to the sidelines. He did, however, suggest plays in the days prior to the game.
Two Redskins at the time, defensive endBill Brundige and quarterback Billy Kilmer, told me about the president's suggestions. According to Brundige, coach George Allen said Nixon had remarked in a phone conversation that he'd "like to see" three particular plays against the 49ers, including a draw to fullback Charley Harraway and a reverse to wide receiver Roy Jefferson. Nixon and Allen were good friends; a dozen of Nixon's secretly recorded White House tapes were chats with the Redskins' coach.
Kilmer said he was in Allen's office a few days before the game when Nixon called for the coach, who handed Kilmer the phone. As Kilmer put it, the president said "it'd be good" if the Redskins ran a reverse at some point against the 49ers. The quarterback, who called nearly all of his plays, said that late in the first half a call for an end-around came in from the sideline, from either Allen or offensive coordinator Ted Marchibroda. The Redskins, leading 10-3, were on the 49ers' 8-yard line, and a touchdown or a field goal would have provided valuable momentum heading into the locker room at halftime.
The Redskins ran a risky end-around to Jefferson, who was thrown for a 13-yard loss. Their field goal attempt two plays later was blocked, and the reenergized 49ers went on to win.
4. The Cowboys remain the Redskins' biggest rival.
Washington-Dallas was once among the fiercest rivalries in pro sports, as intense as Yankees-Red Sox or Lakers-Celtics. Allen once even offered to fight Cowboys coach Tom Landry at midfield.
But since Gibbs resigned after the 1992 season, the rivalry has lost its luster. "Dallas Week" doesn't resonate like it once did.Neither squad has been a contender for some time, and games between the two with playoff implications have been virtually nonexistent lately. Many current players from both teams don't even know much about the old rivalry.
So who is the Redskins' top rival? It's probably a tie among their three NFC East opponents: the Cowboys, the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles. Even though the over-hyped Cowboys consistently fail to meet expectations, "America's Team" still triggers resentment. And up I-95, both the Eagles and the Giants have tormented the Redskins in recent seasons, so Washington should be passionate about returning the favor.
Don't count the Baltimore Ravens as a Redskins rival yet. With the teams playing in different conferences, there's no true "Battle of the Beltway."
5. Rex Grossman can't lead this team to the playoffs.
Don't forget that Grossman quarterbacked the Bears to the Super Bowl in 2006, his fourthyear in the NFL, even if cynics say he was along for the ride on a team with a great defense. A more mature quarterback now, he has the talent to take the Redskins to the postseason.
Consider his performance in the win over the Giants: Grossman completed 21 of 34 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns, and he connected with four receivers during a fourth-quarter touchdown drive that sealed the win. That's a confident quarterback. (And even if he turns in a dud this Sunday against the Cardinals, that hardly means he's done; in his 2006 season, he tossed four interceptions and lost two fumbles in a mid-season game against Arizona, and the Bears still won.)
Grossman will never be an elite NFL signal-caller, but the Redskins may not need one to reach the playoffs. Three non-Hall of Famers — Joe Theismann, Doug Williamsand Mark Rypien — quarterbacked the Redskins to Super Bowl wins during the first Gibbs era. Those teams featured an offensive line ("the Hogs") that provided airtight pass protection. One of Grossman's drawbacks is his lack of mobility, but if his line can give him time, he can lead the Redskins to respectable heights.
Michael Richman is the author of "The Redskins Encyclopedia" and "Washington Redskins Football Vault."
Want to challenge everything you know? Visit our "Five myths" archive.
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Fifth-most respectful: RadioShack.com
Privacy score: 86
RadioShack ( RSH) uses a dozen different trackers on its site, but only one, Media Innovation Group, is a very prominent presence. Fortunately, MIG is one of the good guys, itself getting 49 out of 50 possible points in privacyscore's assessment of the company. Fourth-most respectful: Kay.com
Privacy score: 87
The jewelry merchant turns in a solid performance on both sides of the football, so to speak: It gets 40 out of 50 points for its privacy policy and uses its only third-party tracker rather sparingly. Third-most respectful: Zazzle.com
Privacy score: 89
Zazzle.com, a custom apparel site, gets 45 out of 50 possible points for its privacy policy, and most of its tracking is done by Google ( GOOG), which has a perfect privacy score. Second-most respectful: Etsy.com
Privacy score: 90
Like Zazzle, Etsy is another site aimed at creative types, serving as a marketplace for art and other homemade wares. According to privacyscore, it does not appear to use third-party trackers to gather users' browsing data, earning it a coveted perfect 50 on that end of the equation. The most respectful online retailer: Lowes.com
Privacy score: 95
Lowe's ( LOW) does use a couple of third-party trackers, but they show up very rarely and the biggest presence belongs to Google. As such, it gets a perfect 50 on that side of the calculation. On the privacy policy side, the site gets 45 out of 50 possible points, losing only five points because it doesn't promise to alert users in the event of a government data request. Interestingly, that's an area where even the best Web sites tend to fall short -- it seems that very few sites will tell you if the government wants a peek at your data. "We think it's reasonable for users to expect to be told if the government comes asking for personal data," says Jim Brock, founder of privacyscore parent company PrivacyChoice. "Of course, a user can't expect a site to violate the law in doing so, but a site can and should promise to keep them informed when they can do so legally." Dishonorable mention
On the other end of the spectrum were a few online retailers who failed to make the grade when it comes to their privacy and third-party tracking policies. Some of the worst offenders were Brookstone.com (privacy score: 34), with a privacy policy that leaves open the possibility it will share your personal data with unaffiliated companies, and JCrew.com (privacy score: 31), which gets punished for its use of poorly rated trackers such as Baynote and Proclivity. The worst of the worst, though, was Ikea.com (privacy score: 25), which earned zero points for its privacy policy. >To submit a news tip, email: email@example.com. Follow TheStreet on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.