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Discrete Dynamics in Nature and Society
Volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 741318, 10 pages
Diagnosing and Predicting the Earth's Health via Ecological Network Analysis
1Institute of Information Economy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310036, China
2College of Communication Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
3Web Sciences Center, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
4Division of Translational Medicine, Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200003, China
Received 29 October 2013; Accepted 6 December 2013
Academic Editor: Zhen Jin
Copyright © 2013 Zi-Ke Zhang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Ecological balance is one of the most attractive topics in biological, environmental, earth sciences, and so on. However, due to the complexity of ecosystems, it is not easy to find a perfect way to conclusively explain all the potential impacts. In this paper, by considering several important elements, we seek to build a dynamic network model to predict the Earth's health, trying to identify and explain how the human behavior and policies affect the model results. We firstly empirically analyze both the topological properties and time-dependent features of nodes and propose an Earth's health index based on Shannon Entropy. Secondly, we identify the importance of each element by a machine learning approach. Thirdly, we use a spreading model to predict the Earth's health. Finally, we integrate the topological property and the proposed health index to identify the influential nodes in the observed ecological network. Experimental results show that the oceans are the key nodes in affecting the Earth's health, and Big countries are also important nodes in influencing the Earth's health. In addition, the results suggest a possible solution that returning more living lands might be an effective way to solve the dilemma of ecological balance.
1. Introduction
Ecological balance is one of the most attractive topics in biological, environmental, Earth sciences and many other related disciplines [1], especially since the industrialization has been undergoing for about two hundred years. To better understand how biosphere responds to the increasing pressure (e.g., population explosion, water and air pollution, climate change), there is a vast class of researches devoted to discovering possible solutions in alleviating pains of the Earth. However, due to the complexity of ecosystems, it is not easy to find a perfect way to conclusively explain all the potential impacts [2] that is responsible for the ecological fragility [3, 4]. Among various studies, Ecological Network Analysis (ENA) [5, 6] is regarded as one promising methodology to assess the Earth's health [7].
Ecological networks can be extracted from various information, resulting in different kinds of networks, where each node represents a nation, a continent, an ocean, a habitat, or a park, and an edge is present when two nodes are directed or mutually influenced, varying from economic impact, population flow to environmental pollution, economic level, and so forth [5, 8].
Since the network information is not explicitly provided, we start our research by constructing the global ecological network via extracting nodes and links from the world geography map (see Figure 1). We consider each nation or ocean as one node, and a link is present if the two countries/oceans (or country and ocean) are geographically neighboring. For example, the two nodes, China and Russia, are connected since they are neighboring countries. In addition, there is also a link between the Pacific Ocean and China since they are also mutually connected. Figure 2 shows the constructed network. Furthermore, we also consider five time-dependent factors of each node, including the population size, economic level, habitats area size, energy consumption, and air pollution, which might affect the global ecological environment.
After constructing the time-dependent ecological network, we start our research as follows.(i)Firstly, we observe network topological properties by formulating both local features of a node and global topology of the network.(ii)Secondly, we investigate how the dynamical factors evolve and how they affect the Earth's health.(iii)Thirdly, we use a machine learning algorithm to identify the influential factors of the ecological network.(iv)Fourthly, we design a spreading model to predict the Earth's health and perform sensitive analysis to test its robustness.(v)Finally, we use the -core deposition method [9] to identify the influential nodes by considering factors as weights.
Many researches have adopted operation researches (OR) methods, such as minimum spanning tree (MST), to discover mathematical solutions (e.g., the minimum cost/maximum flow). Hill proposed a matrix solution to solve the number of paths with certain length from any two nodes [10]. Finn presented three important indices to evaluate the ecosystem flows, including the Total System Through-Flow (TST), the Average Path Length of an Inflow (APL), and the Cycling Index (CI), which are widely adopted in discussing the mass and energy flow mechanism [11]. However, researches from Network Science (NS) [12–19] consider the ecosystem problem from a very novel perspective. It not only abstracts nodes and affiliated properties, but also takes into account various kinds of interactions and functions among them. Therefore, NS-based methods, including link prediction and navigation, have been introduced, trying to discover the potential global topology via analyzing the local structure and dynamics [20, 21].
2. Methods
In this paper, we adopt the Network Science to analyze the ecological networks mainly because of its robustness and explainable solution in simulating both the static and dynamical properties of graphs. In this section, we shall describe the construction of our network model, including nodes and edges information, property formulation, and the dynamical evolution as well. In particular, we begin our study based on several necessary assumptions.(i)All the data and information about the ecological network are collected from reliable statistical database;(ii)Both the properties and topological position of a node in the network are important to evaluate its influence for the Earth's health;(iii)The spatial network has similar structure and features with real ecological network.
2.1. Static Properties
In the constructed network, a graph is used to describe its structure, where is the node set and is the edge set (Table 1 shows the basic information of the observed ecological network). Here, we consider four respective indices to analyze the static properties of the ecological network.
(i) Degree Index. Degree index [22] indicates how many nodes that a nation/ocean connects to. Naturally, the degree index of node is defined as where if there is a link between node and ; otherwise .
(ii) Betweenness Index. Betweenness [22] is defined as how many shortest paths pass through the target node. The larger the Betweenness is, the more connective role the target node plays. In a given network, the Betweenness is denoted as where if there is a shortest path between node and passing node .
(iii) Closeness Index. Closeness [22] is defined as the reverse distance between the target node and other nodes. The larger the Closeness is, the closer they would be and vice versa. In a given network, the Closeness is denoted as where denotes the length of the shortest path between nodes and .
(iv) -Core Index. -core [23], denoted as , is the core number of a node which is the largest value of a -core containing that node. It is obtained as follows: (i) remove from the graph all nodes of degree less than and (ii) then remove these vertices repeatedly until no further removal is possible. The remaining result, if exists, is the -core. Thus, a network is organized as a set of successively enclosed -cores.
2.2. Dynamical Factors
Besides the static network properties, we collect various data from World Bank (http://data.worldbank.org/) to investigate the dynamical factors of all the nodes in the ecological network. The dataset includes population size, per capita GDP, area of land and marine, energy consumption per unit of GDP, and carbon dioxide emission of each country from year 1962 to 2011. Specifically, we observe the five following factors for each node.(i)Population size, denoted as , is the total population of node in the year . (ii)Economic level, denoted as , is the per capita GDP of node in the year . (iii)Habitats area, denoted as , is the total area of land and marine of node in the year . (iv)Energy consumption, denoted as , is energy consumption per unit of GDP of node in the year . (v)Air pollution, denoted as , is the total amount of carbon dioxide emission of node in the year .
Figure 3 shows how the five factors change from the year 1961 (HA starts from 1990 and EC starts from 1980 due to the data absence) to 2011. It can be seen that, generally, the values of all the factors increase year by year. It also shows that the population size has highly positive relationship with economic level. For example, the population size of China (CHN) and USA are both in the top five nations, and their average GDP also have high ranks among all the 126 nations. Meanwhile, their air pollution is ranked in the worst five nations, which might suggest that the development of economy would have negative impact on the environment. Furthermore, we list the top 20 nodes for both static properties and dynamical factors in Table 2. It can be seen that the Atlantic Ocean (ATO) holds the most significant role in maintaining the robustness of the ecological network because it connects the largest number of nodes (Table 3). Russia (RUS) has high network property, with degree rank number , Betweenness rank number , and Closeness rank number , but simultaneously has a relatively bad air quality (rank number 3). Other nations, such as China (CHN), have the similar situation. Comparatively, USA is not ranked in the top network structure list but has a large population (rank number 3) and a high economic level (rank number 6), which might promote its impact in affecting the global Earth's health.
2.3. Definition of the Earth's Health Index
Inspired by previous analyses, we consider that the Earth's health is not just affected by a single factor, but a joint influence resulting from many complicated factors. In this paper, we use the Shannon Entropy [24–26] to integrate the impact of all possible factors to characterize the Earth's health, denoted by , as where is the normalized fraction of factor for node , denotes the set of all the factors defined in Section 2.2, and the final Earth's health value, EH, runs over the sum of all nodes. According to the original definition of Shannon Entropy, the larger the entropy value is, the more equal the distribution will be. Therefore, a large value of EH suggests a good situation of ecological balance both among nations and factors and hence indicates good Earth's health and vice versa (Table 4).
2.4. Identifying the Influential Factor via Machine Learning Approach
2.4.1. Random Forest
We use Random Forest [27] to evaluate the importance of factors. Random Forest is an ensemble regressor/classifier that consists of many decision trees and then outputs the value that is the mode of the values/classes output by individual trees. In this scenario, we apply this method in a regression way and use it to evaluate each feature's importance. Compared with other regression models, we choose the Random Forest model because of its following advantages for our solution:(i)it can tackle high-order variable interactions or correlated predictor variables;(ii)it can be used not only for prediction, but also to assess variable importance;(iii)it can partially overcome the overfitting problem.
2.4.2. Base Learner: Classification and Regression Tree (CART)
Given a training vector , and a label vector , the decision tree recursively partitions the space such that the samples with the same labels can be classified together. Let the data at node be represented by , for each candidate split consisting of a feature and threshold ; partition data into two parts: The impurity at is computed using an impurity function , the choice of which depends on the task being solved: Then, select the parameters that minimize the impurity: After this recurse for subsets and until the maximum allowable depth is reached, . In regression problem, for a node , representing a region with observations, we choose the criterion of Mean Squared Error (MSE) as impurity function :
2.4.3. Construction of Random Forest
Let the number of training cases be and let the number of variables in the regressor be . We are told the number of input variables to be used to determine the decision at a node of the tree; should be much less than .(i)Choose a training set for this tree by choosing times with replacement from all available training cases (i.e., take a bootstrap sample). Use the rest of the cases to estimate the error of the tree.(ii)For each node of the tree, randomly choose variables on which to base the decision at that node. Calculate the best split based on these variables in the training set.(iii)Each tree is fully grown and not pruned (as may be done in constructing a normal tree classifier). For prediction a new sample is pushed down the tree. It is assigned the value of the training sample in the terminal node it ends up in.
2.4.4. Out-of-Bag (OOB) Evaluation
To evaluate the Random Forest model, we use 2/3 of the data as training set and remaining 1/3 (saying Out-of-Bag) are regarded as the test set when constructing the base learner. We calculate the average result from 50-round simulations to alleviate the random fluctuations. For each tree , the Out-of-Bag (OOB) simulation is tested in detail as follows.(i)Consider the associated sample.(ii)Denote by err the error of a single tree t on this sample.(iii)Randomly permute the values of in to get a permuted sample denoted by , the error of predictor on the perturbed sample: where represents th variable of each data. Then we can get for each and normalize it. The bigger the is, the more important the variable is. Figure 4 shows the result for all the five features. It can be seen that, among all the features, the value of habitats area size is the biggest, hence the most important factor for the Earth's health, which is in the agreement with reports by public media that people, especially humans living cities, now occupy smaller and smaller space than before, resulting in comparatively a much worse living condition.
2.5. Predicting the Earth's Health in Ecological Networks
We use a dynamic spreading model [28] to predict the Earth's health by considering the observed ecological network structure. The model runs as follows.(i)At the initial step, each node is set a health value by averaging the Earth's health index ( defined by (4)) from the most recent five years.(ii)We then choose 10% of the nodes as "seed" nodes and add to each seed node. The is calculated by averaging over the incremental values of the most recent five years.(iii)At each time step , each node will affect all its neighbouring nodes' Earth's health index by where is the Earth's health influence from node to and and are tunable parameters.(iv)Then, the node 's Earth's health index at time step is summed over all 's neighbours as where if there is a link between node and node , and otherwise.(v)Finally, the global Earth's health, at time step , is summarized over all the nodes:
3. Results
3.1. Performance Comparison
To test the performance of our spreading model, we set and to predict the global Earth's health in the computer simulation. In addition, we also use Gaussian Fitting to compare with our model. Figure 5 shows the comparison results. It can be seen that our model can better fit the real data, comparing with Gaussian Fitting. In addition, the proposed EH index shows that the Earth's health is getting worse from 2008, which gives us the warning that we should put much more attention to our environment. Correspondingly, results from Section 2.4.4 suggest for us a possible solution that returning more living lands might be the most effective way to solve this dilemma.
3.2. Sensitivity Analysis
We then perform the sensitivity analysis to test the robustness of our model. We randomly delete fraction of the links and see whether our model is reliable or not. Figure 6 reports different prediction results of model for various values of . It can be seen that the prediction result of model is quite robust that even a large fraction of links, 60% for instance, is removed. Therefore, it can be concluded that our model is reliable for predicting the Earth's health.
3.3. Identifying the Influential Node in Ecological Networks
Our Earth's health index tries to diagnose and predict the global Earth's health status. In addition, in order to find which node (saying nation or ocean) plays the most important role in affecting the Earth's health, we additionally perform analysis to rank the node importance. We integrate the -core value, (see Section 2.1), and the Earth's health index to evaluate the node 's importance, , which is consequently defined as
Figure 7 illustrates the node importance in affecting the Earth' health by versus the corresponding rank, where some typical nodes are marked. The oceans (with the highest rank) indeed are the key nodes in affecting the Earth's health; USA, Russia, and China are also important nations in influencing the Earth's health. Some small nations, such as Madagascar (MDG) and Iraq (IRQ), play less important roles for the Earth's health.
4. Conclusion and Discussion
In this paper, we collect various data and construct a 145-nation (including 126 nations, 19 oceans/seas, and 403 edges) world ecological network, with each node representing a nation or an ocean and each edge representing geographical neighboring relationship of the corresponding two nodes. Firstly, we analyze both the topological properties and time-dependant features of nodes. Secondly, we propose an Earth's health index based on Shannon Entropy. Thirdly, we identify the importance of elements by a machine learning approach (Random Forest). Fourthly, we design a spreading model to predict the Earth's health and perform sensitive analysis to test its robustness. Finally, we integrate the topological property (-core index) and the health index to identify the influential nations in the observed ecological network.
The model results indicated that the oceans (with the highest rank) indeed are the key nodes in affecting the Earth's health. The Big countries, for example, USA, Russia, and China, are also important nations in influencing the Earth's health. Correspondingly, it suggests for us a possible solution that returning more living lands might be the most effective way to solve this dilemma. The combination of topological properties and local factors leads to good performance in both predicting the good and bad trends of the Earth's health. The model can be easily extended by considering more factors. However, our model needs empirical support from more sufficient data. Also, the incremental mechanism may hinder long-term prediction.
This work was partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant nos. 11105024, 1147015, 11305043, and 11205040), the EU FP7 Grant 611272 (project GROWTHCOM), and the start-up foundation and Pandeng project of Hangzhou Normal University.
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By Nadia Noir
They tried to make Chris Brown go to rehab and he was like, "Oh, hell no!"
Reports went out this morning that the troublemaking R&B singer was not only kicked out of rehab for some undisclosed indiscretion but also sent straight to jail.
According to TMZ, Brown was booted from "anger rehab" for violating a rule that his Malibu rehab center set up especially for him given his controversial history when Brown beat up Rihanna in 2009: he needed to stay "at least 2 feet away from women."
Brown reportedly broke that rule, touching "elbows and hands." He also allegedly hated on his rehab at a group meeting and refused to get tested for drugs after an outing.
Three strikes you're out still applies to wayward music stars we guess.
According to AP, Brown was in the rehab center for substance abuse, bipolar, and anger management.
It's also been reported that Brown was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. Weirdly, a study came out about that today saying Molly has been tested as a purported cure to post-traumatic disorder. Oh, life.

subset: commoncrawl


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Microsoft SkyDrive Android App Now AvailableFiled under News by Adam on August 28, 2012 at 9:37 PM
After revealing it would make an Android app earlier this month, Microsoft today announced the availability of its SkyDrive app for Android. The app is available for free on Google Play now and requires Android 2.3 and up. The app, which looks like a mix between an Android and Windows Phone app, allows users to view and share documents in their SkyDrive storage, or upload new content to it. Other features include:
- Access all of your SkyDrive content including files shared with you.
- View recently used documents.
- Choose multiple photos or videos to upload from your phone.
- Share your files and photos – send a link in email or in another app.
- Open your SkyDrive files in other Android apps.
- Manage your files – delete, or create new folders.
Download the app at the source link below.


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Expect more love and less war when Felicity enters its make-or-break third season on the WB this fall. In fact, according to executive producer J.J. Abrams, the romance between coeds Ben and Felicity will take center stage.
"That relationship, which I think we prematurely ended last year, is really one of the stories that we're going to be able to track over the course of the season," Abrams tells TV Guide Online, adding that the series ? which will share the Wednesday 9 pm/ET time slot with the inferior Jack & Jill ? will continue down the lighter path it forged toward the end of last season. "We're coming back this year with people not furious at each other, resentful, pissed off. It was a very ugly condition to return to last year after Felicity [alienated everyone by spending the summer with Ben], so this year is a much more fun atmosphere to come back to college."
That's good news for Noel, who spent most of his sophomore year caught up in a pregnancy drama with girlfriend Ruby. "I think Noel next year will feel much more like the Noel of the first year," Abrams says. "Last year we gave him such a sort-of-like serious satellite story, and this year we're giving him a lot more fun stuff to do. I'm very excited about what we're doing with Noel." Still, Abrams says he hopes Amy Smart ? who appeared in the spring sleeper Road Trip ? will return as Ruby. "I love her," he says.
Another character near and dear to Abrams's heart is Javier, who tied the knot with lover Samuel during the drama's season finale. The union was even sealed with a same-gender smooch ? a bus that generated very little fuss. "I know that Dawson's Creek made a big deal about their kiss between two men," says Abrams. "But I sort of loved that we sort of quietly went along and had two men get married in addition to having a kiss."


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Vintage 1980 Clip Clop Wonder Horse w/ Sound on springs
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You are bidding on a Vintage 1980 Clip Clop the Wonder Horse w/ Sound on springs. Made by Gabrial Industries, a division of the Wonder Toy Co., Collierville, Tenn. Made in U.S.A. This piece is in working Very Nice condition, with moderate wear. It measures approx. 48" long x 23" wide, and will be disassembled for shipping. I know nothing of its collectability, so please view the photo and bid accordingly. If you have any questions please email me before bidding because all sales are final. I try to provide you with the most accurate description possible but may, because of my limited knowledge, leave something of importance out that a collector may want to know. I do offer a 100% satisfaction guarentee. If for any reason you are not satisfied with your purchase, please return the product for a full refund no questions asked. Thanks in advance and good luck. I will accept international bids after I have been contacted and shipping charges have been agreed upon.


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Us Coptic Christians worried about Egyptian riots
Coptic Christians in US alarmed at deadly riots in Egypt
Islamic authorities provide counseling to Muslims after attending Methodist Church dinner
Malaysia Muslims get counseling after church meet
Christian movie "Courageous" in top 10 at box office
Christian police drama in top 10 for second weekend
Pope urges southern Italian residents to care for eachother
Pope denounces "inhuman" mafia in southern Italy
Category: General News
New Retirement From Washington State
OLYMPIA, Wash (AP) — Many workers in Washington state government would be shifted out of pensions and into a 401(k)-style retirement system under a bill heard Monday in a state Senate committee. The plan would put new workers and those under the age of 45 into defined-contribution plans funded mostly by the employees. Opponents say the idea would make it more difficult to retain quality teachers and other employees while making it more difficult for workers to have a secure retirement.


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Associated Press
Saturday, March 22, 2014 | 9 a.m.
Related Coverage
Here's the latest installment of the Play of the Day, which uses odds from the South Point..
Our three sports writers started with a $10,000 bankroll — fictional, of course.
Oregon plus-6 against Wisconsin: $550 to win $500
There are a lot of games on the board that I sort of like, yet could easily see going the opposite way. That's basically my NCAA Tournament in a nutshell, so I figured I may as well dance with the date I brought.
Oregon helped me win my biggest bet of our competition with an easy victory against BYU. It was my favorite play of the entire Round of 64, and turned out to be about the only one I actually got right. So although San Diego State laying only a few points, top-seeded Florida as a short favorite and Dayton getting eight against Syracuse all hold intrigue, I'll stick with the Ducks.
Wisconsin more than doubled up American in its Round of 64 game, winning 75-35. That game probably added a point or two more to this spread than it should be, which is why I like the value of Oregon getting six.
Personally, I think the Ducks could win today, but more importantly they're good enough and playing well enough lately to keep this close. Both teams feature very efficient offenses, and we could be in for a shootout. Although that's not always helpful in keeping a game close, I like the fact that this will likely be played at Oregon's pace.
Standings: Bern (16-10, $11,440), Keefer (12-12, $9,297), Brewer (8-13-3, $6,450)
Taylor Bern can be reached at 948-7844 or [email protected]. Follow Taylor on Twitter at twitter.com/taylorbern.


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BERLIN, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Actions by Kazakh security officials against opposition activists suggest the government is moving to silence its critics, Human Rights Watch said.
The rights organization said charges were filed against opposition activists for inciting social frictions. Human Rights Watch said it appears some of the charges are linked to events in the west of the country, where oil workers have held protests.
Hugh Williamson, the director of regional affairs for Human Rights Watch, said, in a statement from Berlin, the Kazakh government promised a transparent investigation into the unrest in the west of the country but has so far only targeted government critics.
"The Kazakhstan authorities' actions will taint the investigation," he said. "A genuinely pluralistic and rights-abiding government tolerates dissent, does not quash it."
Clashes between security forces and demonstrators followed strikes in the oil industry in December that left at least 15 people dead.
Opposition groups in Kazakhstan protested the results of a mid-January election after an election committee said the ruling party won 80 percent of the vote.
The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe described the elections as "well administrated" but short of international standards for democracy. There is no record of open elections in an independent Kazakhstan.


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We offer flat rate & expedited/next day shipping.
Click here for rates.
Rush Processing:
Because we understand that you may need your items sooner than the indicated timeframe, we offer Rush Processing for select items. If you are concerned that your order will not arrive in time for your wedding, please contact us so we can work with you personally.
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Drop Shipped Items:
There are a few items on the Web site that will be shipped to you directly from the manufacturer and will arrive separately from the rest of your order. These items typically include edibles, personalized ribbon, and some personalized embroidery.
International Shipping:
We can now ship internationally via our international shipping agent. We have partnered with Bongo International to fulfill our international orders.
5 out of 5 - Great -
Adriann (Costa Mesa)
These knives were of great quality and look it. It's not too big but not small either. Perfect for any man to have.
Recommend: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.
5 out of 5 - Nice quality -
We jsut received the pocket knives and were very happy with them. They are heavy and seem to be good quality for a great price. The packaging leaves something to be desired, but as long as you are willing to put them in a different box for gift giving, the presentation will be great.
Recommend: Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.
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Did you know that the first Chevy Spark (then Daewoo Matiz) was originally designed to be a Fiat 500? Here's where it all started in '92, the Lucciola concept by Giugiaro.
GM Daewoo Matiz Creative Sparks The Imagination
Daewoo unveiled the Matiz Creative today and, if it looks familiar, it's because this is the Korean version of the Chevy Spark. It goes on sale this September with a 69 HP four-banger good for 40 MPG. [Green Car Congress]


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Cofrin Library
Circulation Policies
Circulating Materials
Items that can be checked out include books, cds, videos, and most government documents. You must present your UW-Green Bay ID in order to check out circulation or reserve materials.
Additionally, the Library has equipment available for checkout to UW-Green Bay students, staff, and faculty. For a list of equipment, please visit the Equipment guide.
Non-circulating Materials
Items that cannot be checked out include periodicals, archival materials, maps and government reference materials.
Loan Periods
For most books and government documents:
- Undergraduates and Community Members - 28 days
- Graduate Students – Semester loans
- Faculty/Staff - Semester loans
A due date slip can be provided at check out, however due dates are available from the Cofrin Library web site when you log into "My Library Account".
Fines and Overdue Fees
Item due notices are sent out either by e-mail, campus mail, or U.S. mail the day the item is due. If the item is returned late, there may be fees associated with it. Upon return of the overdue item, a fine notice is sent out notifying the patron of any fines that have accrued. If an item is thirty days past due, the patron is sent a bill for any replacement costs, possible processing charges, and overdue fees. Patrons with fines $5.00 and over will be blocked from further check out privileges. For information on the fines appeal process, please visit the Fines Appeal page.
Most Items:
Most items do not have overdue fines. However if an item is part of a collection such as equipment, reserves, or reference, other policies will apply.Once an item is 30 days past the due date a $100.00 replacement fee is assessed per item. This amount is waived when the item is returned within 9 months. Please note some items are charged a replacement fee at actual cost.
Overdue fines of $5.00 per day per item, maximum $15.00 per item will apply.
When an equipment item is 7 days past due, a replacement fee at actual cost and a $15.00 overdue fine is assessed per item. The amount is reduced to $15.00 when the item is returned within 30 days from the billing date.
Reference Items:
Overdue fines of $5.00 per day per item, maximum $15.00 per item.When a reference item is 7 days past due a replacement fee at actual cost and a $15.00 overdue fine is assessed per item. The amount is reduced to $15.00 when the item is returned within 9 months.
For 3-hour items, overdue fines of: $5.00 per hour per item, maximum $15.00 per item.
For 1-day, 3-day, 7-day and 28-day items, overdue fines of: $5.00 per day per item, maximum $15.00 per item.
When a reserve item is 14 days past due a $100.00 replacement fee and a $15.00 overdue fine is assessed per item.
Damaged Items:
Users are responsible for items checked out to them and should make circulation staff aware of any damage before checking out an item. Users who return library materials damaged will be assessed a repair charge. If the item cannot be repaired, the user will be responsible for paying the full replacement fee.
Faculty and graduate students are typically able to renew items up to 3 times. Undergraduate and community members may renew most items twice. To renew materials online consult our renewal page. Renewals can also be made in person or by telephone (465-2540 or 465-2333).
A patron can put items on hold at the main circulation desk provided it is not a Reserve or Non-Circulating item. Books can be held for 10 days, periodicals for one day. If not picked up by the last day, items will be re-shelved.
Missing Items:
If a patron has trouble locating an item, a search card may be filled out for that item at the Public Services desk. A member of the circulation staff will search for it within one business day. When the item is found the patron will be notified and the item will be placed on hold at the Public Services desk.
Community Patrons
Please see our visitor page.


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WHD Cajon, RW Finish
WHD Cajon, RW FinishDetails
The WHD Cajon in Rosewood effect finish is a matte finish laminated member of the percussion family, with a unique internal snare system and a non-slip seating surface and feet for ease of playing. The WHD Cajon comes supplied with a carry bag for ease of transportation, at a very competitive price.
Product Ref: 27331View Full Description
Full DescriptionView Full Description
Comments from customers who bought this item:
The WHD Cajon - A Percussive Box Of Tricks
A cornerstone of Rumba and even Flamenco music, the Cajon originated in the 1800's among Peruvian slaves along the coast of their native country. These Peruvian slaves used fruit crates and dresser drawers to tap out a beat. The modern-day Cajon can can be played in the traditional fashion, or it can even be implemented in drum sets, with a pedal or even a pair of pedals replacing the bass drum in the set.
The WHD Cajon by Gear4music proves itself more than capable of fulfilling these uses; an instrument with real snare wires that can be adjusted to suit a variety of timbres and tones. Unlike some Cajons, the WHD comes fitted with rubber feet and a non-slip seating surface, and is supplied with a durable bag for security and ease of transportation.
The WHD Cajon also sports a Rosewood effect screw fitted laminate frontplate; a higher end feature in the modern cajon for improved resonance and looks, completed in a high gloss, quality matte finish, making the WHD Cajon an instrument that rewards replays.
Press Reviews
The WHD Cajon was recently reviewed by leading online music publication, Music Radar...
"This great-value cajon feels like a wholly natural instrument to play."
"One of the most liberating aspects of this instrument is the ability to zip it up after a gig and head home long before the guitarist has even contemplated wiping down his strings. How cool is that?"
Included Accessories
The Latest in Percussion Design, Components and Sound.
WHD is a premium brand of Gear4music. Bringing together cutting edge percussion design and premium quality components, WHD instruments have been developed for the percussionist looking to take their sound to the next level. The WHD range includes percussion, acoustic drum kits, snares and up-to-the-minute electronic drum kits.
Each is constructed using only the finest materials, ranging from specially sourced Birch, Rosewood and American Oak, to super-tough hardened acrylic and quality aluminium. With design features including double braced hardware across the kits and professional REMO heads fitted on all acoustic drums, WHD goes far beyond what is expected from percussion at this price point. Completed by striking visual appeal and stand out tone, WHD are set to establish themselves as the discerning percussionist's choice, whatever style they play.
The product price includes 6 years' warranty and 180 day money back guarantee.
However, the Gear4music extended warranty scheme provides an enhanced service, and is designed to offer a higher level of protection than many 'free' warranties offered by some retailers and manufacturers.
The highlights of this enhanced warranty service are:
- Warranty is extended to 6 years from the date of delivery.
- Our Money Back guarantee is extended from 30 days to 180 days (terms apply after 30 days)
- Collection and delivery costs are included for the first 2 years
- Claim 50% cash back on the cost of the policy after 6 years if it has not been used!
- Warranty is transferable if the item is re-sold
- Loan or replacement equipment will be provided if the product isn't repaired within 30 days
- If an item can not be repaired, a similar alternative product or cash discount (as defined in this policy) will be offered
- The policy can be cancelled within 30 days, and at any time after that for a pro-rata discount
Please note that this extended warranty is currently only available on products sold within the EU or EEA, and is subject to the terms and conditions as detailed on the extended warranty certificate provided.
For customers in outlying areas of the country, the price of the Extended Warranty may be marginally higher, due to the potential for higher collection and redelivery transport costs.
This enhanced warranty is in addition to the standard Gear4music and manufacturer warranty policies, and the Gear4music terms and conditions of trade. No statement or condition of sale contained within these terms affects or restricts your statutory rights as defined under the Consumer Contracts Regulation 2014.
Once the product is delivered, you have 180 days to decide that you definitely want to keep it. If you decide it is not suitable for any reason, you can return it back to us for replacement or full refund, including standard delivery charges.
All Products are new unless stated, and include a minimum of 2 years warranty.
Some items are only eligible for money back guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging, and in the case of software, unregistered. These items include:
- Software
- CDs & DVDs
- In-ear Monitors
- Earplugs and Ear Protection
- Mouthpieces, Reeds etc… for Woodwind and Brass instruments
- Mouth / Lip Care Products
We are unable to accept returns of any custom made items designed to work together as a unique package, such as computer system built to a customer's personal specifications. Exceptions may only be possible with prior agreement of the vendor, and may be subject to a cancellation fee.
If you also purchase items that do not qualify for free delivery, some delivery charges may be applied to your order which will be shown in your shopping basket.


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Gallery: 400 years of history is brought to an end
AN historic, emotional day. Four hundred years of Sligo Borough Council brought to an end in 77 minutes.
AN historic, emotional day. Four hundred years of Sligo Borough Council brought to an end in 77 minutes.
City Hall had seen many momentous occasions over the Centuries.
None ever like this.
Freemen of the Borough, former Mayors and Councillors, past and present staff and invited guests were in the packed Council Chamber for the last ever meeting of the local authority.
It began at 4.15pm on Thursday.
May Day with a difference and a major change for local democracy.
Members dealt with a number of issues on the Agenda before the Mayor, Councillor Marcella McGarry, ruled that a number of deferred motions would remain so-to allow Councillors have their say at the end of an era. They did it with dignity, some sadness and sincerity.
Many expressed the hope that a Borough Council would return in the future.
Others reflected on the past.
At the end and with the sound of a Piper echoing in the background, the Mayor concluded the meting at 5.32pm.
The Minute book was closed for the final time.
There was spontaneous applause as the concluding chapter was written.
The Chamber was then the scene for a celebration of the Borough Council.
Local historian Fiona Gallagher presented 'Milestones of Sligo.'
The Mayor and County Manager addressed the assembly.
Then, in an act to underline the sense of occasion, two symbols of Sligo Corporation,silver Maces presented in 1842 were handed by the Mayor to the County Manager Ciaran Hayes for exhibition in Sligo Museum.
The County Manager presented an inscribed souvenir to each serving Councillor.
The curtain came down on the Borough Council with performances by representatives from Feis Shlighigh and Feis Ceoil.
Earlier in the day, children from St Brendan's NS, St John's, Gael Scoil Chnoc na Re and St Edward's were among the many visitors to City Hall to view the Sligo 400 Exhibition and view the Council Chamber.
Sligo Champion


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Claudia Erika Aguilar and James Scott Freeman were united in marriage June 29 during a double ring ceremony performed in St. Augustine by Betty Crosby, notary. Music was provided by Kyle Wehner.
The bride is the daughter of Hugo Eduardo Aguilar, Lake Worth, and Silvia Elizabeth Aguilar, Centereach, N.Y., and the bridegroom is the son of James Kent Freeman and Enriqueta Maria Freeman, Athens, Texas.
The bride, who was given in marriage by her father, wore a white strapless cotton seersucker dress fashioned with empire waistline. Her headdress, a crystal tiara, secured a short veil with rolled piping, and she carried a bouquet of fuchsia and tangerine colored Gerber daisies.
Coral Greaves was honor attendant, and also attending the bride were Robyn Aguilar and Rannie Pereira.
They wore papaya taffeta ballerina-style dresses, and they carried bouquets similar to the bride's.
Bailey Aguilar and Katie Garcia were flower girls, and Colin Aguilar was ring bearer.
James Hull was best man, and Erik Hawkins and Gary Holland were groomsmen.
A reception, hosted by the families of the bridal couple, followed at Historic Hilton Bayfront.
After a wedding trip to Antigua, Guatemala, the newlyweds are now residing in Dallas, Texas.
© 2017. All Rights Reserved. Contact Us


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Two students of Igbinedion University in Okada, Edo State were reportedly beheaded on Sunday during a clash between ex-militants recently enrolled at the school and suspected student cultists in the institution.
The clash, which reportedly began at 7am, led to the destruction of property, while many were said to have been injured.
While the cause of the clash could not be ascertained as at the time of filing this report, some of the students on campus continued to send distress calls to their parents and guardians for help.
State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olayinka Balogun, confirmed the clash.
But Balogun said the Divisional Police Officer of the area had not given full details of the clash, adding that one person was seriously injured.
However, the CP said policemen had been deployed in the school to control the situation.
Recently, 208 ex-militants were enrolled at the university under the Federal Government amnesty programme and its re-integration component for repentant Niger Delta militants.
The clash is coming two weeks after four students of the university were allegedly abducted by suspected kidnappers.
The Public Relations Officer of the school, Jide Olugbon, on the telephone, requested that our correspondent call back, saying he was in a "very noisy place". Subsequent calls made to his mobile telephone number were however left unanswered.
A parent, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone on the condition of anonymity, said his son called him on Sunday morning to inform him of the attack.
He said, "My son called me in the morning to tell me that there is clash in the institution between militants and cult members at about 5am. He also said that the two groups engaged in sporadic shootings. So we advised him to stay indoors and not to come out till the situation is put under control."
Source: Naija.ng


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I could never have anticipated the flurry of activities that would soon surround us. While in my mind I pictured quiet, sunny afternoons with our family all together eating a supper that consisted of something other than nachos or chicken fingers I have decided the Lord had other plans. I have been involved with some committee meetings at church and some difficult days at school. We were a host home for our DNOW weekend, housing 8 girls and a college student. Koby had surgery, Brendan played his final game {for real this time} and Kamdyn started softball practice!
So here are a few snapshots of what we have been up to {which clearly will not include blogging!}...
We were a host home for DNOW at our church last weekend. Brian and I have opened our home for the past few years and we have had all ages. The last two years I have gotten wise and hosted the oldest group of girls. It has worked wonderfully because they don't want to stay up all night and they are passed the age of girl drama. I have decided they can be a bit messier than boys but tend to take home everything they bring unlike boys! I was thrilled to host this particular group of girls this year because I knew it would be their final DNOW and also because I knew I was going to have the BEST college leader, who was a former student of mine. It has been amazing to see how God has worked in her life and I was so glad to hear her be able to relate some of that to the girls we hosted.
Koby had surgery this past Wednesday to repair some torn cartilage in his shoulder. He actually hurt it last summer but toughed it out through football and basketball. We knew if he could survive both sport seasons he would have to have the surgery done as soon as possible.
So, we took this "selfie" before they wheeled him back Wednesday morning! The procedure itself took less than an hour and it was an outpatient surgery so we were home before noon. I think the first 24 hours were pretty rough but by Friday morning his humor was returning. He has stayed in the recliner since coming home and he has watched more movies than I care to admit. Finally, we got him up and outside for some fresh air...
It's not exactly spring break at the beach but close! I can't thank you enough for your prayers because I believe the Lord has answered them. Brian and I actually anticipated much worse and have been thankful that Koby has done so well. We will be going to the doctor Tuesday to have his stitches out and he can't wait! The other side of that will be starting therapy and I'm not so sure it will be that fun for any of us.
Brendan was selected as an All Star for the north half of the state in 1A schools. He was one of 12 on the north team and left for Jackson Wednesday to get checked in. He participated in the three point contest Thursday and came in 7th out of all 40 contestants for 1A-3A schools. I picked Ellie up in Birmingham Thursday night and she and Kamdyn and I drove down to Jackson Friday for the game. It was a little bittersweet watching him play because I knew this was in fact it. Everything he had worked on all those years in the drive way was rewarded in this All Star experience and we are all thankful he had the opportunity to compete.
Yesterday we served in our monthly mission project with the church. This is something that sometimes sneaks up quickly and this month was one of those times. However, I always leave our time spent there thankful, grateful and with a full heart. I think Kamdyn does too because I saw that she posted this picture on her Instagram...
She has the biggest heart to pick up any child and share love with them. The kids climb on her, fix her hair, chase her around and she still keeps smiling. To see her in action never fails to make me stop and say a prayer of thanksgiving for how the Lord will use her for the Kingdom!
So, that is about it from here. We did remember to spring forward and I realize at some point I will be grateful for the extra sun in the evening. However, it was not today because I really am trying to recover from lost sleep over the last week. We are officially on Spring Break and I am not sure what that means for us other than no school, which at this point is good enough for me! I hope to be checking in with you sooner rather than later but no promises this time...I've been known to be wrong before!


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Obama's Fried Chicken in Harlem shut down after multiple violations of health codes from the New York Department of Health.
All together the restaurant received 115 points in violations.
They included citations for evidence of rodents, bugs and flies, as well as improper storage of food. Just last March, Obama's Fried Chicken passed inspection with just 24 points.
Again, this is the location in Harlem. There is another restaurant by the same name in Brooklyn.
Published at 11:43 PM EDT on Oct 19, 2010 | Updated at 3:55 PM EDT on Oct 21, 2010


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Located across the street from the west side of the Denver Art Museum, next to the venerable Camera Obscura, is the city's coziest little art shop, the Emil Nelson Gallery (1307 Bannock Street, 303-534-0996). Into the warren of small rooms that once made up the first floor of an old row house, director Hugo Anderson shoehorns an amazing amount of high-quality material, both historical and contemporary, in and around the windows, woodwork and fireplace. The resulting ambience is wonderful.
The newest offering at Emil Nelson is the fascinating group show Abstractions on Paper, which opens with a reception from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 7. For the exhibit, Anderson selected prints, drawings, watercolors and photographs from the gallery's impressive stock of works by historic artists and supplemented them with pieces by contemporary local artists that are on consignment. All in all, the efforts of more than two dozen artists are included -- making it a very big presentation, given how small the gallery is.
There are some choice items by major artists here, including works by Elaine de Kooning, Stanley Hayter, Mauricio Lasansky and, of course, Herbert Bayer, a gallery favorite. Though works by the late Bayer, who was an Aspen resident, have been included in shows here before, the watercolors in Abstractions are on display for the first time. One of these, "Water" (above), was done in 1947, soon after the artist moved to this state. The scribbled naturalistic lines reveal the influence of Colorado and the Broadmoor Academy style on Bayer, a German emigré.
Among the contemporary artists in the show are Lanse Kleaveland, who's done a series of pieces depicting intertwined organic shapes, and Sarah Vaeth, whose prints are anchored by deep, black fields set down right in the middle. Also very nice are the small square works with a cruciform shape in the center created by Irene Watts, an artist who exhibited frequently in town in the past, but who hasn't been out there for a while.
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Abstractions on Paper has just started its run at the Emil Nelson Gallery, so there's plenty of time to enjoy it before it closes on June 26.


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Frank's Dead
Frank's Dead
Oran Mor, Glasgow
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Spring hasn't quite sprung yet, but a fresh season of A Play, A Pie And A Pint - with no fewer than 19 new lunchtime productions between now and June - is a timely reminder that there's life, and dramas, after panto time. First up is a two-hander by Stewart Thomson, with the potentially chilling title Frank's Dead. Any nod in the direction of the morbid is, however, intended to amuse.
So - who is Frank? He's a budgie, folks: the total focus of Neil's lonely, bachelor existence before becoming a late budgie on Neil's birthday - six frustrating weeks before he would have clocked up the world record for budgie longevity. Kev, Neil's visiting older brother, is no comfort in this time of disappointment. As the story-line twists in search of black humour, Kev's revelations push the dialogue towards a bitter-tinged expose of battened-down sibling frictions.
While Frank, in his tupperware coffin, sits reproachfully on the table, the brothers exhume the corpse of their childhood along with memories of their long-dead dad. From playing ping-pong with nicely-turned punchlines - Iain Robertson (Neil) and Steven McNicoll (Kev) are both adept at the comedy point-scoring - the script lurches into confessional soul-searching awash with cliche, predictability and sentimental closure. It feels like a bit of a cop-out, even though Robertson keeps Neil balanced on a teeter-board between being the whingeingly ineffectual fall guy and Frank's dogmatically conscientious guardian. McNicoll, meanwhile, finds some depths to Kev beyond his commonplace identity as a re-iterating string of swear words. Thomson's back-ground is in screen-writing, and at times this feels like a pilot for a Neil'n'Kev sit-com - would we be glad? Frankly, not a lot.


text: "Even if we act to erase material poverty, there is another greater task: it is to confront the poverty of satisfaction – purpose and dignity – that afflicts us all. Too much and for too long, we seemed to have surrendered personal excellence and community values in the mere accumulation of material things….GNP…counts air pollution and cigarette advertising, and ambulances toclear our highways of carnage. It counts special locks for our doors and the jails for the people who break them. It counts the destruction of the redwood and the loss of our natural wonder in chaotic sprawl….Yet the GNP does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education or the joy of their play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of our public debate or the integrity of our public officials. It measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country. It measures everything in short, except that which makes life worthwhile." — RFK


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"Now the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives" Exodus 1:15
Who were these midwives who did not carry out the King's command to kill the male babies of the Israelites, but rather "saved the boys" (Exodus 1:17)?
According to Rashi, the two midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, were mother and daughter: Jochebed and Miriam, since for Rashi, the term meyaldot ha-ivriyot (Exodus 1:15) is to be understood literally, as the Hebrew midwives. Another view suggests that the midwives were daughter-in-law and mother-in-law: Jochebed and Elishebah, daughter of Amminadab. In both midrashim these are prominent Hebrew women who were celebrated for their righteousness.
The reason that commentators chose to see them as Israelite women is based on the biblical account that the midwives did not obey the royal edict because they "feared God".
God rewarded them for their actions, as verse 21 attests: "He established households [batim] for them," which the rabbis understand as priestly and levitical households, or as royal households.
However, Sforno disagrees and insists that the midwives were not Hebrews. For Sforno, meyaldot ha-ivriyot is to be understood as the midwives of the Hebrews, rather than "the Hebrew midwives". If this was the case, then what an incredible and brave stance they took. They risked their own lives for the safety of an enslaved people.
This wonderful interpretation is a lesson to us all: the moral imperative that every member of humanity must act. Our responsibility is not only to our own people, but to those around us, as it says: "Do not stand idly by the blood of your brother" (Leviticus 19:16). We are obligated to stand up to injustice wherever and whenever it occurs.
- Chayei Sarah
Chayei Sarah
- Art school apologises after student hangs swastika
Art school apologises after student hangs swastika
- Rabbi is targeted 'every week'
Rabbi is targeted 'every week'
- Man Utd cancels Icke's show after Jewish protest
Man Utd cancels Icke's show after Jewish protest
- Our love turned to hate
Our love turned to hate


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Oakland voters will have a chance to weigh in on new taxes that could help the cash-strapped city stay afloat and keep cops on the streets.
The Oakland City Council voted Monday night to put three tax measures on the November ballot that, if approved, would help close the city's budget gap -- projected to reach $50 million next year.
The council voted to give voters the option of enacting a public safety parcel tax, cannabis tax and/or telephone tax when they vote in the November general election, City Councilman Ignacio De La Fuente said.
The parcel tax measure, known as Measure Y, would impose fees of up to $360 per year and raise up to $53 million annually if passed by voters. It was approved 5-3.
Supporters say the measure would help the city hire more police after 80 officers were recently laid off to help balance the city budget, but others say it will be difficult to get the two-thirds majority support needed to enact the proposed taxes.
The council also voted in favor of a measure that would tax cannabis dispensaries, production and cultivation by 5 percent and recreational use by 10 percent if cannabis is legalized at the state level.


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For five years, Clearspire led the charge in revolutionizing the 21st Century workplace and the delivery of legal services. We built a re-engineered law firm as an alternative to BigLaw and, in the process, challenged the entrenched legal industry to think and act differently.
Our law firm was a laboratory– a proof of concept that demonstrated just how innovative today's lawyers can be. In the process, we redefined client satisfaction, lawyer efficiency, and pioneered the model for the future of legal services delivery.
Now, the time has come to scale. We're taking Clearspire to the next level with a mission to empower not a law firm, but all law firms.
We are actively working to ready our class-leading Legal Services Delivery Platform for you! Stay tuned to these pages in the coming weeks and months for updates on our global deployment of The Next Revolution.
Welcome to Clearspire. Again.More Info >


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To be honest, I just thought my trash removal company simply took the trash I couldn't recycle away and transported my recycling to the nearest facility. Other than being diligent about recycling household waste, bottles and cans, I didn't know what the trash company did beyond collection. I had visions of my unrecyclable trash languishing for years somewhere in my state. Although I realize that the growing amount of trash in our country is still giant problem, I was happy to learn that Waste Management (WM) does far more than simply take trash to a dump.
The first sentence of Waste Management's mission statement doesn't even mention trash – it states that they are North America's leading provider of integrated environmental solutions. It goes on to say that WM collaborates with their customers and communities to manage existing waste and work to reduce it through the collection and disposal process.
It's more than a waste disposal company needs to do in order to do business, but WM goes further, saying that they work to recover valuable resources and create clean, renewable energy. WM lists several energy producing and conservation projects. One project uses waste to make enough energy to power 1 million homes each year (working toward doubling that number by 2020); 119 landfill-gas-to-energy initiatives produce enough energy to power approximately 400,000 homes; by the end of 2009 WM had 800 natural gas-powered trucks in their fleet with the goal making it 1000 by the end of 2010; and WM subsidiary Wheelabrator Technologies owns or operates 16 waste-to-energy plants and five independent power production facilities in the U.S. that can power approximately 900,000 homes.
In addition to all their internal efforts toward recycling and renewable energy, Waste Management has also partnered with the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) to certify wildlife habitat programs and designate land as protected habitats. Formed in 1988, the Wildlife Habitat Council is comprised of corporations, organizations, and individuals that work with extensive landowners, specifically corporations, manage their unused land in an environmentally responsible manner.
In 2007, WM CEO David Steiner pledged WM to achieve 100 WHC-certified programs and 25,000 protected acres by 2020. By November 2010 – ten years early – WM and WHC announced that WM had surpassed its goal by certifying 103 wildlife habitat programs and preserving nearly 26,000 protected acres of land. In 2010 alone, WHC honored several WM locations, Forbes named WM as one of the 20 Most Responsible Companies of 2010, and WM also made the Ethisphere Institute's World's Most Ethical Companies list.
Waste Management has made impressive strides lessening the impact of our waste on the environment, transforming it into energy, and protecting the undeveloped land we have left. Continually setting new goals each year and meeting their WHC targets ten years early shows that WM takes its sustainability initiatives seriously. Now that the climate change issue is heating up and no federal or state guidelines have yet been set, businesses have been left to govern themselves. If and when any protocol is defined, WM looks like it is well on its way to meeting or exceeding them. Now, when I look at my trash I will imagine it being transformed into energy to power a home or run a truck.


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Black Out (Evie Black Book 1)
Today's Free Kindle eBook: Black Out (Evie Black Book 1)
TWO MURDERSDetermined to start her life anew, Evie Black has moved to New York. She has no friends, no money, and worst of all, hates her job. Life is, in every sense, dull.ONE SUSPECTBut then she meets Calvin Durant, a man on trial for murdering his family. When he insists that he didn't do it, and offers evidence to support his claim, Evie is forced to believe him.NO MEMORYRacing against the clock, Evie embarks on a hunt for the real killer. If she can find him before it's too late, she might just save an innocent man… and get a murderer off the streets."Black Out is a fast-paced, page-turning thriller to kick-start Evie Black's new spin-off series."
Just follow this link to get the freebie:


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PLD Corp Ltd (PLD) CEO, Private Capital Guy F Jaquier sells 61,171 Shares
Posted by: insider (IP Logged)
Date: December 5, 2012 11:06AM
CEO, Private Capital of PLD Corp Ltd (PLD) Guy F Jaquier sells 61,171 shares of PLD on 12/03/2012 at an average price of $34.21 a share.
Pld Corp Ltd has a market cap of $1.88578 million; its shares were traded at around $1.035 .
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For the complete insider trading history of PLD, click here.
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McCarren Park
The Daily Plant : Thursday, November 6, 2003
The presence of runners has always been beneficial to parks, but this year, with ING's new sponsorship of the New York City Marathon, running was directly linked to park improvement. Through ING's innovative "Run for Something Better" program, four of the world's top female marathon runners competed not only to win the marathon but also to raise money for parks in both New York City and in their hometowns. In Sunday's race, Lornah Kiplagat represented McCarren Park, Ludmila Petrova represented Thomas Jefferson Park, Jen Rhines represented Red Hook Park and Marla Runyan represented Astoria Park. Lornah Kiplagat, who finished with a time of 2:23:43, was the winner. As a result of her great race, McCarren Park will receive funding for a major capital improvement within the park.
As ING continues its multi-year sponsorship of the marathon, all four parks will receive funding both for programs and for park improvements. In the future, ING will fund capital improvements for one park per year in the parks represented by the winning runner. The parks chosen for this year's "Run for Something Better" program are currently home to City Parks Foundation's track & field program, which provides free track and field coaching to children ages 8-14. Over the next few years, track and field programs will be have the ability to serve more and more children throughout the city.
The City Parks Foundation also received a second windfall from the global sports brand FILA. The company had a special wager on its running team: if Team FILA took both the women's and men's titles at the Marathon, FILA would make a $100,000 contribution to City Parks Foundation. Thanks to Kenya's (and FILA's) Margaret Okayo and Martin Lel, the women's and men's marathon champions, the City Parks Foundation was also a winner on November 2. Martin Lel's winning time was 2:10:30, while Margaret Okayo's time of 2:22:31 broke the 2:24:21 course record she set in 2001.
Finally, the City Parks Foundation gained from the sweat and tears of Liz Greenstein, City Parks Foundation's Director of Development. In her sixth marathon, she raised over $1,500 for CPF, finishing with a time of 4:46:00. "I saw a lot of my colleagues cheering for me along the route—that really helped me finish the race."
Liz Greenstein wasn't the only Parkie to make it through 26 grueling miles. NRG's Meredith Freimer ran a phenomenal race: she was the 96th female finisher, crossing the finish line with a time of 3:16:08. A second time New York City marathon runner, Meredith said she found the race easier this year. "If I started to get tired, I would concentrate on the people cheering or the bands playing."
Joseph Trimble, Director of Labor Relations, was also a second time marathon runner. "My time was 4:29:50, which was exactly how I ran it four years ago. The weather affected me, but it was still a good race. The crowds were a lot larger than normal and that helped." Marielle Anzelone, another runner from NRG, also found the crowds uplifting: "There are perfect strangers cheering for you along the whole route. There are designated refreshment areas but people also take it upon themselves to come out with their own snacks. People bring paper towels to wipe your head and give you pretzels to make sure you have enough salt." She finished the race with a time of 4:34:19. E-government's Andy Wilson also ran a very respectable race, finishing with a time of 3:55:31. Finally, former Parks & Recreation employee Jake Cooper, who got his start running marathons through Parks & Recreation, turned in the impressive time of 2:43:25, finishing 111th overall and 94th among men.
"The time is out of joint; O cursed spite,
That ever was I born to set it right!"
William Shakespeare
Directions to McCarren Park
Know Before You Go
McCarren Play Center
In observance of the Thanksgiving holiday, this Recreation Center's hours will be reduced. On Wednesday, November 22, the facility opens at its normal time and closes at 5:00 p.m. The class schedule may change as a result, so please call the center. On Thursday, November 23, this facility is closed.
Anticipated Completion: 11/23/2017
- NEW YORKERS ACROSS THE FIVE BOROUGHS "TREE-CYCLE" AT 21st ANNUAL MULCHFEST
- NYC Parks Issues Request For Expressions Of Interest For Ice Skating Rink And/or Winter Activities At Mccarren Park Pool
- NYC Parks Issues Request For Expressions Of Interest For Ice Skating Rink And/or Winter Activities At Mccarren Park Pool


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The Melbourne Statement
The Melbourne Statement
By 2030 the global population – currently growing at around 140 people per minute - is predicted to reach 8 billion, with an extra 2 billion people requiring reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. The world's middle class is also predicted to rise from ~2.5 billion to 4.9 billion, over the same period. The need to feed an extra 2 billion people, coupled with the increased demand for higher quality food from the rising middle class presents a range of challenges for humankind. Firstly, it is the humanitarian challenge to provide nutritional security for the resource-poor, particularly in developing countries. Secondly, the rising middle class presents a major opportunity for Australian agriculture to meet the rising demand for food in higher value markets. More people and more food required, but this extra food will have to be produced from less land, while reducing degradation, with less water, less energy-rich inputs, less greenhouse gas emissions and in a changing climate. Some have called this unprecedented confluence of pressures the 'perfect storm' of food security.
'Sustainable intensification' is emerging as the new paradigm for agriculture to increase production on the existing land area, while also reducing the environmental footprint of food production. However, translating the theory of sustainable intensification into increased Australian farm productivity - and simultaneously, increased ecosystem sustainability - requires new and innovative research.
To address these issues, the University of Melbourne and the Victorian Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources, through the Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre (PICCC), hosted a strategic science 'think tank' on the 30th September 2014, focused on the 'Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture and what it means for South-Eastern Australia?'
The challenge presented to the scientists at the Think Tank with was to address the question:
It is now 2050 and we are looking back at the past 35 years and identifying the key innovations, research, policies and practices, adopted by industry, that allowed us to increase agricultural productivity, while not increasing our impact on the environment or degrading the natural resource base - In other words, we have achieved Sustainable Intensification.
Speakers at the 'think tank' presented their visions for 'sustainably intensified' farms in 2050 and in so doing, identified the priorities for investment in the R,D and E necessary to develop the technologies, practices and policy settings necessary for successful sustainable intensification.
The key outcomes from this Think Tank are captured in the attached '2014 Melbourne Statement on Sustainable Intensification of Agriculture' - click on the link below to download the statement.


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Legal Question in Family Law in Illinois
Four years ago my husband sent me a filed copy of our divorce. I remarried. Last year I find out from his girlfriend that he never filed anything and the papers I have are forged. He refiled last week and now it is official. We are divorced. My question is am I now married legally to my second husband or is that marriage invalid?
Asked on 6/22/13, 6:29 am
1 Answer from Attorneys
Jonathan Shimberg SHIMBERG and CROHN, P.C.
Once he got divorced and your new husband stayed with you, knowing you were now divorced, then your second marriage becomes valid as a matter of law. You are legally married.
Answered on 6/22/13, 7:37 am


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Utah Jazz: Scrimmage a bit 'sloppy,' but players pleased with first week of work
SWWeatherGuy South Weber, UTOct. 7, 2013 7:15 p.m.
Trey can handle the ball-- no doubt-- and has tons of potential with regards to running the offense. I hope he sees that, too, and looks to pass first and is able to run pick-and-roll with Favors and/or Kanter, because his shot (assuming he has one) still needs much work.
SWWeatherGuy South Weber, UTOct. 5, 2013 10:14 p.m.
"Point guard Lester Hudson from Tennessee-Martin replaced former Weber State guard Nick Covington on the camp roster last week."
Weber State guard Nick Covington? I don't think so, you might want to double-check that.
The scrimmage was good times but the play was pretty sloppy all around. I still can't hardly wait for this season to get under way. This will be a fun team to watch, win or lose (often).


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Two Arrests Made in Connection with Threat at Lexington High School
Updated 4:16 pm: Lexington Police confirmed to Boston.com that two arrests have been made in connection with the threat made earlier today that resulted in the early dismissal of Lexington High School.
According to the Lexington Police Department: "Earlier today, Lexington High School received information regarding a possible threat to students and staff. Following established emergency response protocols, the principal contacted the Lexington Police and coordinated efforts to investigate the threat. A joint decision was made to dismiss all students and staff at 1:00 p.m. and close the campus for the remainder of the day. No other schools were affected. High School parents where notified by email and voice message about the early dismissal. Lexington Police were present to assist with the dismal procedures. As a result of the investigation, Myles Fulton Penniman, age 20, of 7 Parker Street Lexington, and a juvenile resident of Belmont were arrested off campus. Both were charged with threatening a school under M.G.L. 269, section 14; and disrupting a school, under M.G.L. 272, section 40. Although precautionary measures were taken, both the School and Police Departments have determined that it is now safe to re-open Lexington High School. Classes and activities will resume their regular schedule on Friday, May 23. The investigation is ongoing."
Students at Lexington High School were dismissed at 1 p.m. today as officials investigated a threat.
Lexington Police Lieutenant James Barry told Boston.com: "There was some sort of threat around 1 p.m. The school decided to do an early dismissal.''
Barry said he did not have information about the nature of the threat, or who was responsible, but confirmed that officers from the Lexington Police Department are at the school and that an investigation is underway.
All after-school activities have been canceled.
In an "Urgent Message'' email obtained from the parent of a Lexington High School student Principal Laura Lasa stated that the school "received information regarding a possible threat to our students and staff.'' Lasa also said students were not allowed on campus after dismissal.
Boston.com spoke with Lexington High School freshman, Cameron Davis, who said the school was evacuated while he was in study hall.
"Around 12:45 the loudspeaker came on and someone in the main office said we had to leave. They said it was a serious threat to students and faculty and that we could only exit out the main entrance.''
We'll update this story with more information as it becomes available.


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Don't miss a story. Like us on Facebook. Like Dallas News' Facebook Page
The transformation taking place on Dallas' Maple Avenue is ramping up with a major building overhaul.
Owners of the Oak Lawn Plaza office tower at Maple and Oak Lawn Avenue are going to spend almost $4 million revamping the property.
The office high-rise is right across the street from the landmark Old Parkland campus – a redevelopment where Crow Holdings has spent millions in construction. And the surrounding neighborhood is seeing a building boom with new apartments and townhouses.
"We think the timing is perfect for our renovation," said Belinda Dabliz, vice president of leasing for building owner Gaedeke Group LLC. "There are a lot of positive changes happening in that area and it's time for us to update our property."
Built in 1983, the 8-story, 130,000-square-foot building has been owned by Gaedeke Group since 1998.
Tenants in the building include The Dallas Observer, B2B Web Ventures LLC and HG Deposition and Litigation Services.
The building is known for its giant bottle-brush metal sculpture out front.
While the building is more than 70 percent leased, the owners thought it was time to trade in its 1980s look for something more contemporary.
The groundfloor lobby will be gutted, rebuilt and significantly expanded with additional construction.
"Now it's all dark granite and gray," Dabliz said. "It's going to be white and bright and crisp."
Gaedeke Group plans to begin work on the construction project in October and plans a completion in mid-2015.
The building owner has hired award-winning Dallas-architect Morrison, Dilworth + Walls to redesign the property.
"It seemed pretty clear to me from the beginning that I needed to simplify and open up the lobby," architect Mark Dilworth said.


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For the first time, Credit Valley Artisans (CVA) is offering painting and drawing choices in all mediums— acrylics, oils, watercolours, and pen & pencil. Or maybe you just want the option of finding out what medium is right for you by taking an all-encompassing course to give you a background in art basics.

Whatever your level of expertise – the CVA is able to meet your needs.

The group has engaged professional artists to teach beginners and intermediate and advanced courses in all mediums wherever there is enough demand. Classes are small to allow for the personal interaction between you, other students, and the teacher.

Brian Smith (All day Thursdays – once a month)

Smith has taught classes and workshops on life drawing, portraiture and figurative abstraction for over 20 years and has been on the faculty of the Ontario College of Art and Design, The Koffler Centre for the Arts, Haliburton School of The Arts, Curry's Art School, Visual Arts Mississauga and Neilson Park Creative Centre as well as conducting Master Classes in his own studio.

This exciting, once-a-month figure workshop will challenge painters and drawers of all experience levels to up their game with unusual and fun projects. Each class will begin with a slideshow, lesson and project assignment – and the rest of the day is yours to work out your own unique solution in dry or wet media (or some combination)–with regular and individual feedback from Brian. http://www.drawn2life.com

William Band (Monday mornings from 10am-12:30)

http://www.williambandstudio.com

Band is a local artist who is currently exhibiting in the Main Street Inn. He is teaching a course in watercolours on Mondays during the mornings. For anyone who would like to learn the rudiments of watercolour painting or requires a refresher course, this is a must.

Band will teach you: Introduction to materials and drawing approaches. Working from photographs, transferring images to larger paper, handling clean flat washes in a landscape, landscape with trees and water (reflections), studying the shapes and values in glass, still life with flowing fabric and glass, fast simple landscapes with clouds, flowers and potted plants, snow, trees, rail fence, and shadows.

Steve Rose (Sunday afternoons from 1 to 4)

http://www.steverose.ca

Indulge yourself in a safe and highly creative environment with lots of individual instruction and personal critiques that will challenge you to further develop your artistic vision and practice. This open studio is a wonderful opportunity that is structured around one-on-one consultation with an instructor/mentor on materials, media, techniques, concepts, and process of "idea to execution".

Start projects or a body of new work and learn to assess the evolution of your work and others. Emphasis will be placed on individual expression and the importance of creative process over product. In addition there will be short informal lectures on artists, art movements and related art history.

Margaret Carney

Margaret is a local artist who is a graduate of OCAF and has been helping us to explore a wide range of art-forms including experimental acrylics, pewter casting, mold-making, encaustics, hypertufa, and many more. Classes are during the week and on weekends. You may have seen her giant frog in the library where was a favourite of the kids and adults alike.

Stephanie Schirm (Saturdays from 10am – 2:30pm)

If you have ever wanted to learn how to use the printing press – this course is for you. You will be able to create your own cards and several works suitable for framing. This four-lesson course will enable you to create additive, reductive, and direct offset monotype prints. You will make monotype prints using watercolour paints and found objects. At the end of each class you will have at least one completed printed work ready for framing.

Check out the CVA website at http://www.creditvalleyartisans.ca for more courses and more information.


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Do You Know Clam Chowder?
Get excited, today is a fun, fabulous holiday that celebrates the delicious and hearty clam chowder. That's right happy clam chowder day! I couldn't let this day pass without putting together a quiz. Take it now and find out how much you know about clam chowder.
Do You Know Clam Chowder?
What color is Rhode Island clam chowder?