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August 15, 2011
Lessons from the Mario Brothers: Finding the Keys to Fighting Fraud
It is a fortunate thing that video games were not yet invented when I was a youngster because I was clearly a candidate for addiction. Even as an adult, I have been sucked into many hours of PacMan (remember?), Mario Brothers, Medal of Honor, Tiger Woods (remember?) Golf, and a wide range of Wii games. Many of these games involve negotiating difficult challenges to get to certain destinations or achieve certain goals necessary to advance to the next level of the game. Jumping, fighting, racing, searching, and other actions were pivotal to avoiding obstacles and a myriad of evildoers to achieve eventual victory.
Although pursuing visionary goals in the payments world is hardly a game, negotiating the landscape of today's payments systems has many of the same challenges and, perhaps, prerequisite skills to achieve success. Focusing the analogy a bit more tightly, the goal of evolving to a "fraud-efficient" or "risk-efficient" payments system is constantly obstructed by any number of challenges and bad actors. It's tempting to hope that we can discover the one secret key that allows us to advance to a new level, but it's increasingly obvious to me that several high-level strategic initiatives must be adopted to vanquish our demons. Let me illustrate.
Measuring the level of distress is critical
A key survival strategy in many video games that involve fighting or racing is to measure what resources you have left. A visible "meter" of strength or inventory of weapons is available, and certain actions can replenish resources. In the U.S. payments system, we are constantly engaged in addressing new attacks and making investments of resources, but for the most part, we do not have good measures of the level of fraud costs and fraud losses, nor do we have a very good appreciation of the magnitude of future risks. Some of this confusion is just environmental uncertainty, but some comes from the lack of any type of comprehensive and statistically credible fraud data that can then be used to assess future investment options. Progress in addressing the lack of central data, whether it comes from industry- or government-led initiatives, will be a pivotal element in driving future actions.
Realigning incentives and disincentives can rationalize change
A lot of electronic games provide incentives to players to take somewhat riskier courses of action in order to obtain bonus points, protective gear, or more powerful weapons that can lower future risks. Those who choose not to do so are generally exposed to greater vulnerabilities or liabilities than those who have invested. The same holds true in payments, where those who have invested more aggressively in fraud mitigation tend to have better results, while others suffer more heavily. However, many of the current approaches to absorbing risk do not seem to allocate the costs of fraud management to those who are in the best position to prevent it, thereby distorting business cases for change. Historically, markets in the aggregate react rationally and predictably to the proper use of incentives and disincentives directed at achieving specific strategic goals. Given increasing fraud trends and the changing economics of the payments industry, it is time for all parties to rebase their business cases around fraud and consider the use of meaningful incentives to drive behavior.
Removing silo walls to pursue overall industry goals
Rigid silos of operation and responsibility have hampered recent efforts to enhance the efficiency and integrity of the payment system within individual organizations and across payment options. Many organizations, particularly in the banking space, find themselves organized to promote the attainment of very specific goals within business silos, as opposed to maximizing the bottom line of the whole organization. Many video games teach us to find allies of like mind to strengthen our forces—or, in games like SimCity (or FarmVille!), to acquire various diverse resources and blend them into a greater whole. Creating an organizational structure with one executive responsible for all payments and related risk will ensure that everyone pursues the overall corporate strategies and financial goals rather than the goals of individual units. At the industry level, fostering better sharing of fraud information across industry payment silos is needed to attack bad actors that simply move to the channel of least resistance.
Self-regulation versus government help: The best defense is a good offense
Over the past three years, we have witnessed a greater enthusiasm in Washington to address emerging problems in our payments systems. This is largely because the outcry about unfair practices reached the halls of Congress, which then acted by passing the CARD Act, overdraft legislation, and the Durbin interchange amendment. Most video games I have played reward smart offensive action as opposed to defensive approaches. It is increasingly clear to me that there is room for the payments industry to develop guidelines, rules, and best practices that can mitigate the possibility that government might choose to "help," particularly in the area of protecting consumers and even as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau gears up to implement their new rule. Taking the offensive with creative "self-regulation" has resulted in better outcomes in other countries.
Getting it done
The question then becomes, "Who should instigate these actions?" It is tempting to answer, "Anyone who cares." However, a better and more directed answer might be: key industry players or associations that represent widespread constituencies and can bring the power of aggregate thinking and decision making to the table.
Visa just announced that it would be moving to EMV-compliant chip technology for cards and mobile phones. This decision is a clear example of an effort to move the ball in the direction I just talked about. Don't get me wrong. Not everyone in the ecosystem will be happy about the way that Visa is going about it, but Visa is defining a roadmap for implementing more secure technologies—the company is clearly playing offense—and creating a system of incentives that will help the program move forward.
By Rich Oliver, executive vice president of the Atlanta Fed and director of the Retail Payments Risk Forum
August 15, 2011 in consumer protection , fraud , payments systems , regulators , risk , risk management | Permalink
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Cafeteria Funds--Allowable Uses
Nutrition Services Division Management Bulletin
|Purpose: Policy, Beneficial Information
|To: All School Nutrition Program Sponsors
All Public School Districts
|Number: NSD-SNP-07-2013
|Attention: Food Service Directors
School Business Officials
District Superintendents
School Administrators
|Date: May 2013
|Subject: Cafeteria Funds—Allowable Uses
|Reference: Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations, parts 210, 220, 3015, 3016, and 3019; Title 2, Code of Federal Regulations, parts 225 and 230; California Education Code; California School Accounting Manual; Management Bulletin NSD-SNP-05-2012
|Supersedes: Child Nutrition and Food Distribution Division Management Bulletin 95-107 (June 1995)
Due to the complexity of cafeteria fund oversight, the California Department of Education (CDE), Nutrition Services Division (NSD) is issuing a series of MBs about the laws and regulations governing revenues accruing to, and expenditures made from, cafeteria funds/accounts. This Management Bulletin (MB) supersedes MB 95-107 (June 1995) and provides updated guidance on allowable and unallowable expenditures from school food services cafeteria funds/accounts.
Expenditures from Cafeteria Funds/Accounts
Expenditures from the cafeteria fund/account are governed by both federal and State laws, specifically:
- Title 7, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 210, 220, 3015, 3016, and 3019
- Title 2, CFR parts 225 and 230 (formerly Office of Management and Budgets
Circulars A-87 and A-122 respectively)
NOTE: CFRs can be accessed from the U.S. Government Printing Office CFR Web page at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/collectionCfr.action?collectionCode=CFR
- California Education Code (EC) sections can be accessed from the official California Legislation Information California Law Web page at http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes.xhtml.
- California Public Contract Code (PCC) sections 20110–20118.4 can be accessed from the official California Legislation Information California Law Web page athttp://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes.xhtml.
- The California School Accounting Manual (CSAM) can be downloaded from the CDE's Definitions, Instructions, and Procedures Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/ac/sa/ or you may purchase a hard copy by contacting the CDE Press, Sales Unit by phone at 916-445-1260 or 800-995-4099, or by written request to:
CDE Press, Sales Office
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Suite 3207
Sacramento, CA 95814-5901
School Food Authorities (SFA) participating in the federal School Nutrition Programs (SNP) must observe both State and federal limitations on the use of cafeteria funds (7 CFR Section 210.9[b][1]); expend nonprofit school food service revenues in accordance with 2 CFR parts 225 and 230; follow generally accepted accounting principles (7 CFR Section 210.14[a]); and adhere to procurement procedures defined in 7 CFR parts 210, 220, 3015, 3016, and 3019, for all cafeteria fund expenditures.
Public school districts and county offices of education that participate only in the State Meal Program or that do not participate in any reimbursable meal program still must observe all State laws (e.g., EC and PCC) relating to the operation of a food service program and the use of school food service program revenues. Food services include the preparation and service of regular and incidental meals, lunches, milk, and/or snacks in connection with school (or after school) activities, and food delivery.
Land and Buildings
SFAs may not use funds (revenues) from the cafeteria account to buy land or buildings or to build buildings without prior approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), and an approved waiver of EC sections 38100 and 38101 from the State Board of Education (SBE). Specifically, 7 CFR Section 210.14(a), nonprofit school food service states:
Revenues received by the nonprofit school food service are to be used only for the operation or improvement of such food service, except that, such revenues shall not be used to purchase land or buildings, unless otherwise approved by FNS [USDA], or to construct buildings. Expenditures of nonprofit school food service revenues shall be in accordance with the financial management system established by the State agency under Section 210.19(a) of this part. [Emphasis added]
State law aligns with the regulation cited above. Specifically, EC Section 38100 states:
The cost of housing and equipping cafeterias is a charge against the funds of the school district.
Costs incurred for repairs and alteration of kitchen facilities that materially increase the value or useful life of facilities also require prior USDA approval (see USDA Approval Requests below) and SBE approval (EC Section 38101). Alterations and repairs to a central food processing plant do not require SBE approval because they are currently allowed in EC sections 38091 and 38100. However, they do require prior USDA approval.
Central Food Processing Plants
A central food processing plant is a facility in which an SFA prepares meals and/or meal components and distributes them to separate sites where meals are served. A kitchen facility is where meals are prepared only for the consumption of students at the same location, and is not considered a central food processing plant; it is a preparation site (aka "prep site" in SNP application documents). EC Section 38100 currently* permits the governing board of any school district to authorize a charge against the cafeteria fund/account the cost of construction, alteration, or improvement of a central food processing plant. The governing board may, at any time within five years after the expenditure, reimburse the school district funds from their cafeteria funds.
However, 7 CFR Section 210.14(a) prohibits this use of cafeteria funds without prior USDA approval. Therefore, the cafeteria fund/account may not be charged for the construction of a central food processing plant without prior USDA approval.
*NOTE: If Assembly Bill (AB) 626 (Statutes of 2013–14, Assembly Members Skinner and Lowenthal) passes, the above EC Section will be amended to align with USDA requirements. The CDE will amend this MB if and when that occurs.
AB 626 is available on the California Legislative Information Web page at http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB626.
Facility Rearrangement and Alteration Costs
SFAs are allowed to charge against the cafeteria fund/account for special rearrangement and alteration costs. Specifically, 2 CFR Part 225, Appendix B, Item 35, Rearrangement and alteration costs states:
Costs incurred for ordinary and normal rearrangement and alteration of facilities are allowable. Special arrangements and alterations costs incurred specifically for a federal award are allowable with the prior approval of the Federal awarding agency.
Examples of allowable ordinary and normal rearrangement and alterations for the kitchen and food service area only, include:
- Replacing flooring in the kitchen and serving area (not in a multi-purpose room)
- Building a partition wall
- Removing a wall
- Enclosing space to create a serving window
Special arrangements and alterations requiring prior USDA approval include:
- Installation of a walk-in freezer
- Installation of a walk-in refrigerator
- Proposal costs (costs associated with requests for proposals or invitations to bid) when they are treated as a direct charge to food services
Rental and Leased Costs of Buildings
Districts may not charge the cafeteria account for the rental or lease of district-owned facilities that are being used by the food service department (EC Section 38100). Districts may, however, rent or lease privately owned facilities for the food service department (2 CFR Part 225, Appendix B, Item 37).
Associated costs of renting or leasing a facility are allowable provided that the rates are reasonable depending upon the following factors:
- Rental costs of comparable property
- Market conditions in the area
- Available alternatives
- The type, life expectancy, condition, and value of the leased property
Reconversion Costs for Rented or Leased Facilities
SFAs are allowed to charge the cafeteria fund/account for reconversion costs. For example, if a district leases facilities and pays to remodel them to meet the needs of food services, the costs associated to convert the building to its original condition at the end of the lease are allowable.
Specifically, 2 CFR Part 225, Appendix B, Item 36, reconversion costs states:
Costs incurred in the restoration or rehabilitation of the governmental unit's facilities to approximately the same condition existing immediately prior to commencement of the school meal program, less costs related to normal wear and tear, are allowable.
The USDA allows the CDE to approve expenditures for food service equipment and repairs, maintenance, or alterations to equipment only if the total equipment cost is less than the capitalization threshold established by the SFA for financial statement purposes; or $5,000. If an equipment cost is greater than the applicable capitalization threshold, it is allowable only with prior USDA approval. If the USDA approves a waiver request, then expenditures for equipment and repair, maintenance, or alterations to equipment are allowable without additional prior SBE approval, provided that the equipment is used exclusively for food preparation, storage, and/or service.
Specifically, 2 CFR Part 225, Appendix B, Item 15(a)(2) defines "equipment" as:
An article of nonexpendable, tangible personal property having a useful life of more than one year and an acquisition cost which equals or exceeds the lesser of the capitalization level established by the governmental unit for financial statement purposes, or $5,000.
Cafeteria Equipment Reserve
Please note that EC Section 38102 states that "any school district operating school cafeterias may establish and maintain a cafeteria fund reserve…derived from the sale of food in the cafeteria in an amount to be determined by the governing board and…shall be used for the purchase, lease, maintenance, or replacement of cafeteria equipment."
However, SFAs participating in the federal school meal programs may not maintain a separate cafeteria fund reserve for equipment or any other purpose (7 CFR Section 210.2). Federal regulations require SFAs to establish a restricted account in which all of the revenue from all food service operations conducted by the SFA are deposited, retained, and used solely for the operation and improvement of school food services.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Approval Requests
Under the authority of 7 CFR Section 3015.196(c), the USDA has delegated to the CDE a "conditional" waiver of the requirement for prior written approval of certain costs, such as equipment and repairs, maintenance, or alterations to equipment or buildings.
SFAs wanting to use cafeteria funds for the purchase of equipment and repairs, maintenance, or minor alterations to equipment or buildings that exceed the applicable capitalization threshold may do so by obtaining the CDE's delegated USDA approval. However, if it is determined, by audit or otherwise, that the costs do not meet other requirements or tests for allowability specified by the applicable cost principles in 2 CFR Part 225, such as reasonableness and necessity, the costs shall be disallowed (7 CFR Section 3015.196[c]).
NOTE: Unlike the USDA, the CDE does not provide a "conditional" waiver to SFAs. SFAs must obtain the CDE's (and SBE's as needed) pre-approval for each cafeteria fund expenditure that requires approval.
U.S. Department of Agriculture Approval Process
SFAs seeking USDA approval to use cafeteria funds to purchase land or buildings; to construct buildings (including food processing plants); or for special arrangements or alterations, must submit the following information with their USDA pre-approval request to the CDE:
- A detailed description of the project (e.g., type of building: central kitchen, cafeteria, site kitchen, etc.) and how the project will benefit the food service program
- A written statement demonstrating that the expenditure is reasonable and necessary (prudent) and the extent to which the project will be used for food services (e.g., if expenditure is for a multi-purpose room, provide the percentage of use by all programs)
- The amount of funds in the cafeteria account and the proposed expenditure total
- Average monthly expenditures
- Verification that the expenditure was planned and in the cafeteria fund budget
- A written statement as to whether or not the district plans to contribute any funds from other sources and if so, how much SFAs requesting USDA approval must submit their information to the following address:
USDA Approval Request
School Nutrition Programs Unit
Nutrition Services Division
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Suite 4503
Sacramento, CA 95814
NOTE: Although federal regulations allow for SFAs to request a waiver to the restrictions on using cafeteria funds for the purchase of land, buildings, and material improvements to land and buildings (construction), based on the restrictive language of 7 CFR Section 210.14, the USDA has made it very clear that they will not approve expenditure requests that are capital in nature and involve the purchase of buildings, land, the funding of capital projects, or construction. Regardless, because federal law allows for these requests, SFAs may submit a waiver request to the CDE that will be forwarded to the USDA with a recommendation for denial or approval. The CDE will then notify the SFA of the USDA's decision.
Education Code Waiver Requests
In addition to the information outlined above for federal approval(s), if the USDA approves an SFA's project expenditure and the project expenditure is governed by the EC, then the SFA must also submit to the Waiver Office an SBE waiver request of pertinent EC sections 38100 and 38101* (excluding expenditures for building/purchasing food processing plants/central kitchen facilities).
SFAs pursuing a State waiver request as required by EC Section 33050, must include the following:
- A written statement as to whether any affected bargaining unit participated in the development of the waiver and their position regarding the waiver
- Evidence of a public hearing on this issue
- Recommendation by the SFA's school board
Further, pursuant to EC Section 33051(a)(3), SFAs must also submit evidence of the district providing the opportunity to any appropriate school council or advisory committee to review the request and a written summary of their objections (if any).
The SBE will consider waivers on a case-by-case basis at a regularly scheduled SBE meeting. The SBE may ask SFAs seeking waivers to send a representative to the SBE meeting to present their request. More information about the SBE waiver process including the steps to submit the waiver is available on the CDE Waivers Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/lr/wr/.
*NOTE: If Assembly Bill (AB) 626 (Statutes of 2013–14, Assembly Members Skinner and Lowenthal) passes, the above EC Section will be amended to align with the USDA requirements. The CDE will amend this MB if and when that occurs.
Direct Costs
Direct costs are those costs that provide measurable, direct benefits to particular programs. Typical direct costs that may be charged to the cafeteria fund/account include salaries of food service directors, supervisors, managers, cooks, kitchen helpers, and clerks; employee benefits for all employees in this program; food; laundry; costs of purchase and operations of vehicles used in the delivery of food to various locations; insurance on vehicles used solely for food service; repair and maintenance of equipment used in the program (with approval); and acquisition and replacement of related equipment (with approval).
Indirect Costs
Indirect costs are agency-wide, general management costs (i.e., activities for the direction and control of the agency as a whole). General management costs consist of administrative activities necessary for the general operation of the agency, such as accounting, budgeting, payroll preparation, personnel services, purchasing, and centralized data processing. Indirect costs must be claimed based on actual program expenditures rather than on budget estimates, and SFAs can only charge the lesser of the SFA's approved indirect cost rate or the statewide average for food service.
The CDE is the [cognizant] agency authorized to establish indirect cost rates for California SFAs under the terms of a delegation agreement and indirect cost plan negotiated with the U.S. Department of Education. The terms of the agreement are renegotiated periodically and are binding on all federal agencies pursuant to 2 CFR Part 225. The terms of the agreement are reflected in the guidance on indirect costs for California SFAs contained in the CSAM, Procedure 915.
The CDE annually updates indirect cost rates and posts them on the CDE Indirect Costs Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/ac/ic/index.asp.
In addition, the USDA has developed a guidance manual on indirect costs, which the CDE distributed as MB USDA-SNP-22-2011: Indirect Cost Guidance Manual (available on the CDE MB Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/sn/mbusdasnp222011.asp). The USDA's indirect cost manual provides relevant guidance for how and when to charge indirect costs to an SFA's cafeteria fund/account (e.g., an SFA cannot retroactively charge indirect costs to its cafeteria fund/account). The USDA indirect cost manual was issued with Policy Memo SP 41-2011 and can be accessed on the USDA School Meals Policy Memos Web page at http://www.fns.usda.gov/indirect-cost-guidance.
In cases where guidance from sources other than the CSAM Procedure 915 conflicts with the guidance in the CSAM, SFAs must follow the guidance in the CSAM.
Limits on Net Cash Resources
According to 7 CFR Part 210, SFAs must limit their net cash resources to an amount that does not exceed three months' average expenditures. To ensure compliance with these regulations, the CDE is required to monitor, through review, audit, or by other means, the net cash resources of the nonprofit school food service in each SFA participating in the SNP.
"Net cash resources" are defined in 7 CFR Section 210.2 as:
All monies that are available to or have accrued to an SFA's nonprofit school food service at any given time, less accounts payable. Such monies may include, but are not limited to, cash on hand, cash receivable, earnings on investments, cash on deposit and the value of stocks, bonds or other negotiable securities.
Per 7 CFR Section 210.19(a)(1), each state agency is required to:
…ensure that school food authorities comply with the requirements to account for all revenues and expenditures of their nonprofit school food service. School food authorities shall meet the requirements for the allowability of nonprofit school food service expenditures in accordance with this part, and 7 CFR Part 3015 and 7 CFR Part 3016, or 7 CFR Part 3019, as applicable . . . The State agency shall ensure compliance with the requirements to limit net cash resources and shall provide for approval of net cash resources in excess of three months' average expenditures.
…In the event that net cash resources [emphasis added] exceed 3 months' average expenditures for the school food authority's nonprofit school food service…the State agency may require the school food authority to reduce the price children are charged for lunches, improve food quality or take other action designated to improve the nonprofit school food service. In the absence of any such action, the State agency shall make adjustments in the rate of reimbursement under the Program [SNP].
The CDE may approve the SFA's net cash resources in an amount greater than three months' average expenditures if the SFA has a spending plan in place with the NSD for the excess funds. Therefore, the CDE strongly recommends that SFAs with excess net cash resources immediately submit a spending plan for a period of up to three years for approval. The intent of this policy is to enable SFAs to:
- Plan for future cafeteria fund purchases that benefit the school food service
- Avoid mandatory repayment to the cafeteria fund/account of unauthorized transfers to the SFA's General Fund, or for unauthorized expenditures that benefit the local education authority and not food service
- Avoid imposed meal price reductions to lower excess funds to the three month threshold
Examples of appropriate cafeteria fund purchases to improve food quality or improve the nonprofit school food service includes, but are not limited to:
- Mobile salad bar carts that can be rolled to various serving areas
- Mobile school food service carts to increase the number of on campus point of sale service locations for reimbursable meals
- Expanded capacity refrigerator units to support fresh baked and/or speed scratch cooking
- Kitchen equipment to support fresh baked and speed scratch cooking
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
SFAs can submit proposed spending plans in response to an Administrative Review (AR) to:
AR Spending Plan
Field Services Unit
Nutrition Services Division
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Suite 4503
Sacramento, CA 95814
SFAs can submit proposed spending plans as a proactive measure to align their net cash resources to an approximate three-month requirement to:
Spending Plan Request
School Nutrition Programs Unit
Nutrition Services Division
California Department of Education
1430 N Street, Suite 4503
Sacramento, CA 95814
Additional Cafeteria Fund Guidance and Resources
Additional guidance and resources relating to the cafeteria fund/accounts can be found on the CDE SNP MBs Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/nu/sn/mb.asp.
For a limited list of allowable and unallowable expenditures from the cafeteria fund/accounts, please refer to the table below.
Contact Information
If you have any questions regarding this MB or cafeteria fund policy or regulations, please contact the School Nutrition Programs Unit at 800-952-5609, or you can submit your questions to the SNP Cafeteria Fund Team at firstname.lastname@example.com.
If you have questions about the CSAM or how to account for charges to the cafeteria fund, please visit the CSAM Web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/fg/ac/sa/ or contact the School Fiscal Services Division, Financial Accountability and Information Services, by phone at 916-322-1770 or by e-mail at email@example.com.
Below is a limited list of allowable and unallowable expenditures from the cafeteria fund/account.
Purchase of land or buildings, or construction of buildings (excluding food processing plants)
Unallowable without prior USDA approval and SBE approval to waive 7 CFR Section 210.14[a]; and EC sections 38100 & 38101 respectively.
Construction of a food processing plant
Unallowable without prior USDA approval to waive 7 CFR Section 210.14[a]. Allowable under EC Section 38100.
Repairs and alterations to buildings (excluding food processing plants) and maintenance to equipment, which do not add to the permanent value of property or appreciably prolong its intended life
Unallowable without prior USDA approval (USDA conditional approval**). SBE waiver required to waive EC Section 38100).
Alterations or improvement of a central food processing plant, which do not add to the permanent value of property or appreciably prolong its intended life
Unallowable without prior USDA approval (USDA conditional approval**). SBE waiver not required. Allowable under EC sections 38091 & 38100.
Equipment used solely for food service purposes
Allowable if the total equipment cost is less than the capitalization level established for the SFA for financial statement purposes, or $5,000. If equipment is greater than the applicable capitalization threshold, it is allowable only with prior USDA conditional approval**.
Service systems such as air conditioners, heating systems, ventilation systems, intercommunication systems, sanitary systems, sewer systems, telephone, and computer lines
Unallowable (7 CFR Section 210.14[a]); these costs are the district's financial responsibility.
Utility bills (e.g., gas, electricity, water, etc.)
Allowable as a direct cost only if on a meter dedicated to the kitchen. Otherwise, unallowable. Note: Cafeteria funds may not be used to purchase or install meters (meters are considered part of a district's financial responsibility).
Food and laundry
Allowable as a direct cost.
Salaries and benefits of food service personnel including directors, supervisors, managers, cooks, helpers, and clerks
Allowable as a direct cost.
Salaries of non-food service personnel serving as cafeteria monitors (e.g., noon duty aides)
Unallowable as direct or indirect cost; costs of supervising students are the district's financial responsibility .
Food transport vehicles
Allowable (USDA conditional approval**); SBE approval not required.
Point of sale systems
Allowable without prior USDA approval if the total system cost is less than the capitalization threshold established by the governmental unit for financial statement purposes, or $5,000. If cost is greater than the applicable capitalization threshold, it is allowable (USDA conditional approval**). SBE approval not required.
**The USDA will not approve written requests for prior approval of certain costs, but has delegated conditional approval authority to the CDE. Therefore, CDE staff can approve expenditures with an "**" indicated above. Please refer to section "U.S. Department of Agriculture Approval Requests" of this MB for further guidance on the approval process.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Eager Beaver Requirement
- What does a beaver use its tail for?
- Why do beavers have such big front teeth?
- What do beavers eat?
- How do beavers cut down trees? Move large logs?
- How do beavers build dams? Why do they build them?
- How is a beaver's home made?
- Build a beaver dam using small sticks and glue or build a beaver lodge.
- Read a story about beavers, their families, and how parent beavers protect their young.
- How many babies does a mother beaver have? How soon after birth can baby beavers swim?
- Draw or color a picture of what a beaver's lodge looks like, if you slice off one side of a typical beaver lodge.
Note: A beaver puppet is used by many to work on this chip. A nice puppet is available for sale here from AdventSource.


text:
Curious what the most valuable and expensive poetry books are? Below is a small sample of some of the most expensive books that have sold on Biblio.com.au:
From American Song Bag to The Poet's Companion, from The Collected Poems to Arcadian Ballads, we can help you find the poetry books you are looking for. As the world's largest independent marketplace for new, used and rare books, you always get the best in service and value when you buy from Biblio.com.au, and all of your purchases are backed by our return guarantee.


text:
Veronica V-Neck
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Our Veronica V-Neck in Dark Grey combines a feminine design with a soft drape yet flattering fit. Using the latest technology in knits, this eco-friendly top provides wrinkle resistance, reduced pilling, and absorbs moisture for dry, breathable comfort. It's also oh-so-cozy!
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- Approx. 24.25" from center back collar to bottom hem, based on a size Medium
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Identifying "Fake" news calls upon critical thinking skills. Here's how adults can help kids (and teens) develop their critical thinking abilities and, in turn, learn how to distinguish false and misleading information from truth and facts.
Catch up with a book version of the classic fairy tale.
The film 1984 is going to be shown across North America and Europe in April - you can catch it at the Milpitas Library. You can also check out other dystopian visions of the world.
This month we will be cross-stitching bookmarks.
"Young people, you are our hope and our future," said Wangari Maathai. In celebration of trailblazers, heroes, and leaders, explore our many true stories about girls and women who've made a difference in the world! Ask the children's librarian for additional...
National Winner of the VOYA Magazine Teen Poetry Contest: Saratoga teen Aashna Belenje.
Past Silicon Valley Reads authors will help celebrate our 15th anniversary with a panel discussion about the power of books.
Meet Shaka Senghor, author of Writing My Wrongs: Life, Death, and Redemption in an American Prison.
Enter your original poem in our SCCLD 2017 Teen Poetry Contest.
Want suggestions for music you can listen to with the kids that won't drive you crazy? Check out these suggestions!


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A depth-resolved near-infrared imaging system has been demonstrated for recording three-dimensional images of objects embedded in diffuse media. Time-gated holographic imaging employing rhodium-doped barium titanate as the recording medium is used to acquire whole depth-resolved two-dimensional images in 1 s. Millimeter depth resolution has been achieved with a transverse resolution of ~ 30 μm.
© 1995 Optical Society of AmericaFull Article | PDF Article
OSA Recommended Articles
S. C. W. Hyde, N. P. Barry, R. Jones, J. C. Dainty, and P. M. W. French
Opt. Lett. 20(22) 2330-2332 (1995)
P. Dean, M. R. Dickinson, and D. P. West
Opt. Lett. 30(15) 1941-1943 (2005)
R. Jones, M. Tziraki, P. M. W. French, K. M. Kwolek, D. D. Nolte, and M. R. Melloch
Opt. Express 2(11) 439-448 (1998)


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Thanks for stopping by autismlearningpartners.com, a highly experienced autism services organization. We are leading providers of ASD treatment using autism therapy services in Modesto, CA. Our team is making a difference in the lifestyle of children and families afflicted by the autism disorder. If you are searching for autism services, our company offers professional ABA treatment in Modesto. To learn more, please contact us by phone at 855-295-3276 or by emailing us directly.
At ALP, our intent is to support families in the U.S. that were effected by the autism disease. Our effective ABA therapy was established by countless hours with our efforts working on the autism epidemic. Our dedicated staff's years of experience has provided our team an ability to formulate our utilization of autism therapy services so we can provide a premium care. We are now happy to apply our expertise to aid people debilitated by autism.
Our expert group of committed Behavioral Therapy providers are dedicated to guiding children with autism to unlock their total potential. All therapists on our ABA team endures an in-depth evaluation to determine if they realize our demanding criterion. Our exceptional ABA team has been taught our ABA therapy treatment. Our drive is to ensure that each of our staff members are 100% passionate about contributing to amazing ABA treatments.
Are you thinking about getting autism services in Modesto, feel free to reach out to us at anytime. Our team is standing by to assist you with all ASD-related questions. We understand that this can be a challenging situation for your family. Thus, our team is committed to working with you. Let our ASD treatment therapists assist you with improvement.
Additional Resources
Want to find out if you have the right insurance coverage for autism services? Let ALP do the work! Click below to fill out our quick online form and we will call the insurance company for you! It's easy and less work for you!
We have offices all over the United States to help you with the services you need.
We're committed to giving you and your family every ounce of support, in any form that you need it. Looking for articles? Videos? Other people like you?


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VICKSBURG — A Louisiana company will continue to do annual inspections of the old U.S. 80 Mississippi River bridge in Vicksburg. The Vicksburg Bridge Commission voted Wednesday to keep Baton Rouge-based G.E.C. on retainer for $15,000 a year. The company writes reports annually that note the structural stability of the 83-year old railroad crossing. This year's report concluded the span ...Read More »
Tag Archives: highway
Business community has questions about proposed highway tax
JACKSON — Business groups still aren't ready to raise Mississippi's taxes to repair and build highways and bridges. In August, Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Willie Simmons, D-Cleveland, proposed a $700 million menu of taxes and asked other members of a study committee examining road needs to offer their own alternative revenue and spending plans. Highway officials say the state needs ...Read More »
New flyover bridge nears completion; will open to traffic this week
NATCHEZ — The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is nearing completion of the Highway 61/Highway 84 Flyover Bridge Project in Natchez. The prime contractor is currently preparing the bridge for painting. Crews are placing a concrete island on the northbound lane and working on landscaping by placing sod in the open areas around the flyover bridge. The bridge is anticipated ...Read More »
Transportation study group leader proposes $700M tax for roads, bridges
JACKSON — The leader of a Senate transportation study committee proposes the state should levy $700 million in new taxes to support road maintenance as well as some other non-transportation related projects. Sen. Willie Simmons, D-Cleveland, said yesterday that the proposal, which would be the largest state tax increase in more than 20 years, is only a starting point for ...Read More »
Construction underway on final segment of I-269
HOLLY SPRINGS — The Mississippi Department of Transportation has begun work on the last section of Interstate 269. The project will add more than six miles of I-269 from Shinault Road in Byhalia to Mississippi Highway 302 in Marshall County. Northern District Transportation Commissioner Mike Tagert says in a news release that all sections of the highway are now in ...Read More »
Construction to begin on new hurricane evacuation route
HANCOCK COUNTY — The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) will soon begin work on a comprehensive highway project involving construction of roadway along Highway 607 in Hancock County, creating an additional hurricane evacuation route for local residents. The project was awarded to TCB Construction Company of Poplarville for $15.2 million. Crews will build two new southbound lanes on Highway 607 ...Read More »
Different techniques prove successful in keeping sand on beaches
HARRISON COUNTY — Over the past three months, Harrison County has used two methods of keeping sand off the highway and both worked. Engineer Dax Alexander and Sand Beach director Chuck Loftis told Harrison County supervisors that in the area of beach between Menge and Troutman in Long Beach and Pass Christian, workers removed sand from the seawall and also ...Read More »
County spending its own money on road work
HATTIESBURG — Forrest County will get started this summer on a $5 million project to repave about 65 miles of potholes and pitted roads. The county will spend $3 million of its own money to pave about 40 miles. Another $2 million from the State Aid Road Fund will resurface 25 miles of roads. The Hattiesburg American reports the roads getting ...Read More »
Crews lower sand level in fight to keep highway clear
HARRISON COUNTY — Sand is a road hazard drivers along U.S. Highway 90 in Harrison County know all too well. WLOX-TV reports work is underway that should keep more sand on the beach and off the roadway. While Harrison County crews worked to clear huge amounts of sand from the medians in Biloxi yesterday, over in Pass Christian it was ...Read More »
Officials say port trucks tearing up local roads
WIGGINS — Stone County officials said trucks hauling material to the Port of Gulfport are causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in road damage. County officials went before port commissioners this week, asking them to pay part of the repair bill because they don't have enough money to fix the roads. County officials said the heavy traffic comes from trucks ...Read More »


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Many people assume wrongly, when hearing the word "Brazil," that all of Brazil is jungle. Brazil is as large as the United States and has as many varied landscapes and climates.
Abadiania is located in central Brazil in a countryside of gentle, rolling hills at about 3,000 feet altitude. During the rainy season and for several months after, the vegetation is lush and green, as shown in the above photo. During the several dry months, the area can look much like New Mexico in the summer. Cattle wander the countryside, and visitors can see many different kinds of birds when strolling the country road outside of town, including the occasional wild toucan, scarlet or blue macaw, and emu. Colorful hummingbirds come and go, as do the rare and delightful large, Blue Morph butterflies (usually seen near the sacred waterfall of the Casa which is located in the lush valley in the above photo) and other smaller, multi-colored butterflies.
Early dawn and evening are especially wonderful for listening to the many birdsongs echoing through the valley, and for capturing the magnificent sunrises and sunsets.
During the day, the citizens of Abadiania, population about 13,000 at this time, go about normal small-town activities and commerce. Between the Casa and the highway – about 8 blocks – there are numerous shops catering to visitors and selling white clothes for wearing at the Casa's Wednesday through Friday sessions, as well as other clothing and items for souvenirs. There are also a small number of wonderful health food cafes that serve fresh fruit drinks, smoothies, the wonderful and energizing acai (pronounced ah-sah-eee) drinks, pizza, ice cream and other snacks and meals.
All of these cafes and all hotels and pousadas catering to Casa visitors are very aware of the Casa dietary restrictions, and serve nothing with pork, alcohol or hot peppers. So visitors can relax and not only enjoy the local flora and fauna, but also the local culinary delights without concern!
All in all, Abadiania is a fairly friendly town, now accustomed to the never-ending influx of foreign visitors. Nonetheless, just like anywhere in the world, we advise visitors to use common sense and not go flashing wads of money and expensive jewelry around when out in public. In the evening, it is safe to stroll the main street that passes by the Casa and on which most of the hotels and pousadas are located. There are roving security officers and patrol cars keeping their eye out for our safety. We are simply asked by John of God and the Casa staff to be back in our hotels by 10pm each night, both for general security and in order to get plenty of rest during our stay.


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Become a Sponsor
At Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan we value our business partners. We want to learn about your business and help you investigate meaningful ways to engage with our audience. Every sponsorship includes an optional "Sponsor Night" where your business can pick an evening to bring clients, employees, friends or family to a performance and receive verbal acknowledgement in the pre-show speech as well as an opportunity to engage with our audience in the courtyard before the show and at intermission.
We also have a private reception area with ample seating in two large festival tents with full access to the riverbank and a stunning view of this jewel of Saskatoon. All of this while your guests enjoy our cash bar and private catering if you choose to throw a party before the show! Our gates open at 5PM daily for happy hour with free pre-show entertainment on our community stage beginning at 6:15PM. The main stage play begins at 7:30PM Tuesday to Sunday.
Here are some more details on what we have to offer:
A Summer Destination!
Every summer more than 12,000 people come to downtown Saskatoon and make their way to the riverbank to experience professional theatre at The Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan Festival. Another 3,000 or more people come to enjoy the many other activities offered by Saskatchewan's longest running theatre festival. The iconic plays of William Shakespeare are the centre piece of a large 7 week festival that also features Medieval Feasts, Sunday Tea, Youth Workshops, Post Show Talk Backs, a Lecture Series and live local acts on the Community Stage. For more than 30 years the festival has been dedicated to employing both emerging and professional Saskatchewan artists and using local service providers first and foremost.
Connected to the Community!
Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan's receives over 16,000 website visits each season, and has a growing social media following on Twitter (1,415 followers), Facebook (2,739 likes) and Instagram (846 followers) – a broad connected audience of 5,000 and growing. You can help us create social media strategies that are planned in advance to target your potential customers in our audience! #yxearts #exploresask #exploreyxe
A Saskatoon Institution!
You will be partnering with a world-class charitable arts organization known across Canada and around the world for its longevity and production quality. Saskatonians and patrons from all over Saskatchewan have supported local artists, and helped Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan also develop dedicated national and international followers.
Commitment to our Corporate Partners:
Your brand advertised to a large and diverse number of patrons, more than 12,000 each season:
- 60% from Saskatoon, 40% from other communities or tourism
- Majority of patrons are over the age of 35, the decision-makers in our communities
- Partners are recognized on on-site signage easily seen by the by the tens of thousands of people who spend time on Meewasin Trail, visiting this destination area that features the Mendel Art Gallery and the newly renovated Kinsmen Park. This season extra off-site signage will be provided for our top-level sponsors – an average of 94 people per hour walk past our site all summer, 164 people per hour during peak times!
- Your brand will be recognized on our website, planned social media and in our programs
Your brand will be associated with a popular and respected cultural institution:
- 97% of those surveyed consider the Festival to be an important part of the community; even those who have never attended
- 98% of audience members say they plan to attend again
Where do your Sponsorship Dollars go?
Sponsorships can be invested in capital projects, used to enhance Festival awareness, or to engage in educational and community outreach programs. We take pride in creating local partnerships that are tailored to fit your company's vision and we would love to get your employees involved in opportunities to engage with the public or the artists at the festival.
We endeavour to create meaningful engaging partnerships with each business sponsor. If your business is looking to connect with a specific demographic in our audience, or would like to dicuss fun activation opportunities, please do not hesitate to Alan Long, Director of Marketing and Development at 306-653-2300 ext 225 or here.


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Yes, it may be true: as a society we are losing the ability to make human connections. Take a glance around the room at any gathering and you will see dozens of people staring at their phones at what is supposed to be a social… read more →
Today I noticed the first decorations signifying that the holiday shopping season is upon us. Not surprisingly this thought was immediately followed by thoughts of holiday gift giving, finances, and the logistics of celebration. For many parents and children this year's celebrations are impacted by… read more →
When borderline personality disorder makes communication difficult, following the SET method may help. SET stands for support, empathy and truth. It was developed by Jerold J. Kreisman, MD and Hal Straus, the authors of I Hate You, Don't Leave Me and Sometimes I Act Crazy.… read more →


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What does a sound person REALLY want out of a worship leader?
I recently published an article with the title "What does a Worship Leader REALLY want in a sound person?"
In the article I pointed out that Attentiveness and Attitude were the traits in techs that worship leaders desired the most.
I received statements and requests related to what a sound tech wants out of a worship leader.
There were jokes about things like more talent on the stage and less demands for more of the worship leader in the monitor, but what I gathered out the comments and my own experience led me to the following qualities that us sound people desire in a worship leader.
Before we dive in let me state that just as a worship leader expects the sound person to know the gear. The sound person expects that the worship leader has talent and knows how to bring a team of quality musicians together.
So with the expectations out of the way, what is it that a sound person REALLY wants from a worship leader?
First and foremost, every sound person I know desires RESPECT from the worship leader.
This should be a given and respect should be a two way street. In a healthy relationship both the worship leader and the sound person will respect each other.
Nothing is worse for a sound person than being humiliated in front of the band or worse yet in front of the congregation.
A friend recently told me about and event he was a guest at many years ago.
The event was a private concert with Bon Jovi (okay he is not a worship leader but stick with me). There were less than 1000 people in attendance at the club and my friend was lucky enough to be invited in by the front of house engineer. He actually was able to sit at front of house and enjoy the show.
During the first song he noticed that there seemed to be a few missing lighting cues. As he looked over to the lighting desk he saw the lighting director (LD) flirting with a girl. Obviously this was distracting the LD as he kept missing cues.
After about four songs Bon Jovi made a statement between songs to the thoroughly jazzed and engaged crowd. He said something to the effect that their normal lighting guy must have had the night off and he apologized to the crowd, then saying that this current lighting guy, who he thought was a fill-in, would be fired.
My friend inquired to the whereabouts of the regular LD.
The front of house guy responded, "Oh, that is the regular LD, or at least it was." Now the LD was obviously shirking his duties, but I am sure the public rebuking was biting and hurtful.
A recent example of this was when Presidential candidate, Donald Trump, cursed out and threatened not to pay for the sound system during a rally. Now in both of these cases, the operators had failed but the failure could have been dealt with in a less public, and most likely more productive fashion.
I personally worked an event where the worship leader stepped side-stage, between sets, and expressed his displeasure of what was going on sound wise. He asked that the producer of the event fix it. The producer, who happened to be an audio guy, handed over his production responsibilities to the assistant producer and went out to front of house.
At front of house he was able to coach and help a fairly green sound person who had gotten in over his head. The producer finished out the show coaching and co-mixing with the tech. It ended well and most importantly is was handled very respectfully on all counts.
Now if the front of house guy couldn't pull it together, I am sure the producer would have had him step aside and would have taken over. I am certain it would have been done professionally and with dignity.
Respect also means not talking bad or complaining about someone behind their back as well. I too often end up in situations where the worship leader or the sound guy will say disparaging things about the other people on the tech or worship team.
A second thing that sound people want out a worship leader is ORGANIZATION.
In general most sound guys are a bit nerdy and love structure and organization. Nothing drives a nerd personality more nuts than chaos. Rehearsals should be orderly, musicians should show up prepared, there should be a worship order and sequence that is followed and most importantly everyone should show up and be ready at the slated time and the rehearsal should also conclude at a scheduled time.
Really this relates back to respect. Respecting everyone's time and effort that is being put into making worship happen weekly.
The third thing that a sound person wants from a worship leader is INCLUSION.
The sound person is part of the worship team. Make him or her feel that way. Include them in the group, involve them in prayer times. A worship leader should make the effort during rehearsal to go out to the booth area and listen to the mix. After listening appropriate praise and critique should be given.
I heard the story about a worship leader that decided to honor his tech crew and privately asked the musicians to show up 2 hours before rehearsal. The musicians put all of the instrumentation, monitors and mics in place (as best they could). When the tech team showed up an hour ahead of time to set up they were greeted with a stage that was 80 percent set up and ready to go. They were also surprised with hot pizza and some cake to top it off.
I am sure they felt blessed and included by knowing that musicians recognized they extra work that the techs did each week to set up.
If you are around me for any amount of time you will often hear me talk about TnT (Tech and Talent) and how explosive it can be.
When a worship leader respects the techs, is organized (i.e. shows up on time) and includes them as part of the team some beautiful fireworks take place!


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The Earthquake in Japan: The aftershocks continue
Learn why you're at risk... and the steps you can take to protect yourself from the coming nuclear disaster
As I'm writing this to you, the world is in the midst of mourning for those affected by the devastating earthquake in Japan. Of course, by the time this newsletter reaches your mailbox, much of the initial sock will have died down. But there are plenty of aftershocks that will still be rocking the world. One of the biggest: radiation exposure.
With talk of nuclear fallout, containment breaches, "China syndrome," and the like, it's hard to know what's a legitimate concern, and what's just more media hot air. One thing that this natural disaster has made undeniably clear, however, is that the threat of radiation exposure is not limited to nuclear war. A bomb doesn't have to drop on U.S. soil in order for radiation to be a real-life health concern.
Whether it's now or sometime in the future, there is always the possibility of being exposed to radiation. But you can rest assured, because when and if that happens, you'll know what to do to be prepared.
Your survival guide for radiation damage
When radiation interacts with your body, it creates a substantial amount of free radicals, molecules that are known to cause the kind of DNA damage that can lead to all sorts of health problems——including cancer. It doesn't happen right away——it's the beginning of a process that could take decades before it rears its head. But make no mistake: It WILL come back to haunt you... unless you take the steps necessary to shield your body against the damage in the first place.
Step 1: Defend your body's most vulnerable organ
If a nuclear event were to occur (even on a small scale, and even halfway across the globe), radioactive iodine-131 could be released into the upper atmosphere. At that point, where it drops down into the lower atmosphere is anyone's guess.
If you come in contact with radioactive iodine, your thyroid gland will soak it up like a dry sponge. The result would be either a badly injured thyroid—— or a dead one . Trust me, you don't want either.
The good news is you can protect your thyroid from injury or death by loading up on non-radioactive iodine shortly before exposure. Your thyroid can only absorb so much iodine. If you load up on the "good stuff," there won't be any room for the kind that could kill you.
Get some iodine and have it on hand for an emergency, but don't jump the gun and start taking it as part of your daily supplement regimen——especially if you're over 40 years old. When it comes to iodine, more doesn't mean better. Don't take it more often than recommended, and don't take it in higher doses than recommended. Not only could it make you sick, it also wouldn't do any good. For iodine to be the most effective in the event of a radiation emergency, you need to take it as close to exposure time as possible.
Step 2: Build a DNA defense system
Start with tocotrienols.
The U.S. Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute found that this unique form of vitamin E has the potential to protect the whole body from radiation damage . It does this by protecting the stem cells in your bone marrow that are responsible for creating new cells for your entire body.
Haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and haematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) are the life force of blood cells rejuvenation and are must-haves——not just to stay healthy, but to stay alive . When these cells are damaged, you're at an increased risk of circulatory problems, immune system damage, and cancer.
That's where tocotrienols come in.
Researchers exposed mice to non-lethal amounts of radiation, and then fed one group tocotrienols, and the other served as the control group. After being exposed to the radiation, the control group lost 50 percent of their HSCs. The mice fed the tocotrienols, on the other hand, only lost between 14 and 20 percent of their HSCs.
That's great news, but it only gets better from there. Because while the HPCs in the control group only operated at a meager 30-percent for weeks after exposure, those fed tocotrienols experienced a 100-percent recovery after just seven days of being treated .
A bone marrow analysis revealed that taking tocotrienols enabled the bone marrow cells to continue regenerating properly. In other words, it helps prevent persistent DNA damage.
Another animal study showed that treating mice with tocotrienols protected the mice against the most damaging of the free radicals, peroxynitrite. Cutting this free radical off at its knees goes a long way toward protecting your DNA——and keeping you healthy overall, not just now, but for years to come.
Of course, one of the best ways to build your body's natural defense against free radicals is to load up on antioxidants.
The shining star in radiation protection
If you build up antioxidant protection prior to exposure to radiation, you can significantly reduce damage to your brain——as well as most other major organs of your body. If there's one antioxidant that research has proven to be a shining star when it comes to radiation protection, it's a fat- and water-soluble antioxidant called lipoic acid.
Animal studies have shown lipoic acid can protect the tissues of the brain, liver, spleen, kidney, and testes against damage caused by radiation exposure.
Researchers followed the health status of 6,000 of the Latvia workers who cleaned up the Chernobyl Nuclear Power plant. They found that all of the workers suffered from above-average rates of nervous, digestive, respiratory, cardiovascular, cardiovascular, endocrine system, and immunological system problems.
Ten years after the incident, the researchers discovered that taking just 600mg of lipoic acid for two months was able to bring many of their lab "abnormalities" back to normal.
Hopefully you'll never have to take such heroic doses of lipoic acid. However, in order to build up antioxidant protection, it's safe to take 25 to 50mg on a daily basis (unless you're prone to atrial fibrillation, in which case you may not be able to tolerate it).
Repair radiation damage with this tasty treat
I'm talking about green tea. The tasty antioxidant-rich beverage I write about so often——the same green tea that promises protection against heart disease, kidney disease, skin damage, and more——could also offer some of the strongest protection against radiation damage.
Studies have shown that the polyphenols in green tea can not only protect against—— but can actually repair ——white and red blood cells that have been damaged by radiation.
The National Cancer Institute has even looked into green tea's shield-like properties, and they came to the same conclusion: "Green tea and other plant polyphenols can protect human cells against radiation-induced DNA damage."
And in a study conducted by Royal Cornall Hospital, researchers found that when they isolated the green tea polyphenol, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), it could prevent ultraviolet radiation-induced DNA damage.
When it comes to protecting yourself against radiation damage, the key is to "stock up and build up." Stock up on iodine so that you have plenty on hand ——God forbid you ever need it. And build up your body's defense system. Not only will it help prevent long-term DNA damageif you're ever exposed to radiation——it'll also give you the protection you need to stay healthy and disease-free.


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The first person to go to jail for a Charles Manson-associated murder was Bobby Beausoleil, a charismatic would-be rock star who had put in time as a muse to Kenneth Anger -- child actor-turned-occultist experimental filmmaker and author.
Charles Manson became convinced his best chance at rock stardom was impressing Terry Melcher, a record executive who had made stars out of The Byrds, who was also Doris Day's son and Candice Bergen's boyfriend.
After wearing out his welcome at Dennis Wilson's house, Manson moves his family to Spahn Ranch, a dilapidated Western movie set where the cult starts preparing for Helter Skelter, Manson's made-up apocalypse inspired by The Beatles.
In this episode we'll talk about Charlie Manson's arrival in Los Angeles, discuss Dennis Wilson's life and the role he played in enabling Manson's rock n' roll delusions, and explain how The Beach Boys came to record a song written by Charles Manson.
Today we're tracing Charles Manson's life from his birth to a teenage con artist, through multiple stints in reform schools and prisons, and finally to San Francisco circa 1967, where Manson began to try out his guru act on the local hippie kids.


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Lincoln Wheels / Rims, Mirrors & Lights
Lincoln Wheels – experience the optimal and ultimate driving experiment custom wheels can provide
Sourcing and supply for some, any and all Lincoln aftermarket wheels and Lincoln alloy rims including Lincoln custom wheels, Lincoln chrome rims Aviator, Blackwood, Continental, LS, Mark VII. Mark VIII, Navigator and even Town Car, can be done on our site. We have and call upon our valued global sourcing partners and sellers to provide you with the very best that the industry has to offer. Feel free to browse our different categories and custom rim, wheel/tire combinations, wheel configurations and other options, wheel parts and accessories.
Functioning as a global sourcing partner and custom wheel supplier of excellent repute, trusted track-record and expansive network, we utilize innovative sourcing options and a wide range of products to choose from. We offer clients of distinction, OEM wheels/rims, wheel covers, center caps, replacement wheels/rims, replacement/aftermarket wheel covers, and other related wheel products and accessories.
For any , some or all of your comprehensive, once-of, replacement, single, sets, custom upgrade for all wheel related and automotive products, specifically custom wheels, rims, car rim, car wheel, truck rim, truck wheel, alloy wheel, snow wheel, aluminum wheel, new wheel, chrome rim, steel rim/wheel, white wheel, white rim, refurbished wheel, tire rim, tire wheel, wheels rim, weld wheel, wheels and tires, OEM wheel/RIM, Center cap, Hubcap, Hub cap, wheel covers, custom wheels, replacement wheels, used wheels, used rims, we have quality, high-grade products that await you in our product selection, sourcing and listings. Feel free to browse and search your requirements at anytime.
The Lincoln Navigator has proven to be a popular choice and there is a wide range of wheel-related products and accessories available to make the most of the appearance, look and feel of this vehicle.
A popular up-scale, higher-end custom Lincoln wheel configuration and premium choice for the Lincoln Navigator for example is the Cruiser Alloy 351, 20x9.0, 5/135, Offset +20mm in a chrome finish. Pricing will be in the $1000 plus range.
Where applicable, specific references are made to relevant, matching, ,accurate precision fit and or upsizing wheel parts and accessories. Useful metrics like wheel size/diameter, number of spokes and available colors are also itemized where they add value. There are wide selections, brands, quality OEM, remanufactured and aftermarket products available and space does not necessarily allow us to elaborate on all the possibilities and we partner to explore these together to get you your best-fit, dream-become-reality appearance and performance enhancer. WE LOVE COMPLETING THE PICTURE and getting your WHEELS turning! Happy hunting. Be sure to check out our product listings and options today.


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Version: 9.4.24.v20191120
private support for your internal/customer projects ... custom extensions and distributions ... versioned snapshots for indefinite support ... scalability guidance for your apps and Ajax/Comet projects ... development services for sponsored feature development
As with any constantly evolving software project, there will be issues, features, and bugs. We want to know whats bugging you!
File bugs as Issues in our Github repository Issues at Github


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Albuquerque Rapid Transit or ART combines many features of rail transit with the flexibility of buses. ART is the most cost-effective technology for the City of Albuquerque's current population and future ridership estimates. Some key elements of ART include:
Albuquerque Rapid Transit will provide quick and efficient bus service with increased dependability and timeliness. By purchasing fare tickets at nearby kiosks, ART can reduce dwell time; how long the bus is standing still to pick up passengers which greatly improves service speed. This combined with advanced signal timing and a dedicated lane allows the ART to move more easily through city traffic. ART, while designed to look and operate like trains, is a considerably less costly alternative to light rail.
The important part of the ART station platform is how it interacts with the ART bus. On a regular bus route, passengers have to climb a step or two or the bus kneels or a wheelchair ramp must be folded out. ART stations are like train platforms in that when the bus pulls up, the height of the floor of bus is the same as the station platform. No climbing steps. This allows passengers to simply walk or roll onto the bus. The stations contribute to the permanence and attractiveness of the overall system and often have passenger amenities such as shelters, benches, lighting and potentially, local art work.
Another important means of increasing timeliness and dependability is the reduction of dwell time; the amount of time a ART vehicle is standing at a station while people are getting on and off the bus. With off-board fare purchasing, all passengers are already ticketed when the bus arrives. All the doors open and passengers can quickly get on or off the bus, reducing standing time to mere seconds.
Where possible, ART buses run in their own dedicated lane. The flexibility of the placement of those lanes is one of the great assets of Albuquerque Rapid Transit. The dedicated lanes can go down the curb or down the middle of the street, avoiding congestion and achieving the consistent speeds that set ART apart from ordinary bus service.
ART's flexibility also applies to the ART vehicles themselves. This is a picture of the left side of a bus; notice there are doors here also. This is another flexibility feature of ART; the bus can perform its function of moving passengers from destination to destination - no matter which side of the bus the platform is on. So if the dedicated lane shifts from center lane to outside or curb lane, it doesn't matter.
Another aid that helps to maintain consistent speeds, timeliness, and dependability for the ART is a system of traffic signal-priorities. This signal (in Eugene, Oregon) is of a type borrowed from railroads. The vertical line means the bus can proceed. A horizontal line tells the bus to stop, allowing other vehicles to make their turns.


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- Description
Official Factory Refurbished. Plain Box. May have light cosmetic Blemishes. Charger included.
1 Year
This HP notebook is all about getting the perfect combination of design, reliability, and great features. Style and productivity while keeping your wallet in mind - now that's something to get excited about.
Right features, right price
Reliable storage and dependable power for an unbeatable value.
Extended battery Life
A longer lasting battery means more time outside and more time on the go.
Colourful choices
A range of vibrant colours and a textured fingerprint-proof cover gives you a stylish way to show off.
HP Lounge, get closer to the Artists you love
With unlimited access to music and exclusive content for HP customers, theres no need to search for it, as it comes to you.
Windows 10 Home
Windows 10 Home is here. Do great things confidently with the familiar feel of Windows - only better.
DTS Sound Audio
Dynamic audio nuances provide rich sounds for a concert-like experience with DTS Sound.
High Definition display
See your digital world in a whole new way. Enjoy your movies and photos in amazing clarity with this vivid high definition display.
Packed with ports
Connect to displays, printers, devices, and more with ease.
- Specification
SKU RFB-N9S73EA#ABU Warranty 1 Year Processor Intel Celeron Operating System Edition Home USBPorts 2 × USB 2.0, 1 × USB 3.0 Battery Lithium-ion, 4 cell HDMI 1 × HDMI Memory 2GB Graphics Processing Type Integrated/On-Board Graphics Operating System Windows 10 Card Reader 1 multi-format SD media card reader Primary Drive No Optical Drive Model 14-ac100na Network Card 10/100 BASE-T Ethernet LAN Processor Speed 1.60GHz MPN RFB-N9S73EA#ABU Condition Status Refurbished Bluetooth Bluetooth 4.0 Solid State Capacity 32GB eMMC Speakers DTS Studio Sound with 2 speakers Brand HP Processor Typeo Intel Celeron
- Delivery
Delivery information
To cater the needs of all customers, we offer two delivery options at checkout so you can choose one which best suits your requirements.
Free UK Mainland Delivery
In this option we will deliver your product free of cost but it will take 2 to 4 working days for the product to be delivered.
Next Working Day Delivery
If you want your desired product to be delivered next working day you will have to place your order before 3pm. The delivery charge is £7.99 at the time of placing order. This option does not include delivery on Saturday or Sunday.
- Reviews


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Japanese Scientist Develop Printable Solar Cells Similar to Nanosolar's
The concept of thin, low cost, printable photovoltaic cells appears to be gaining quite a momentum.
While flexable, printing press-ready solar cells made by Nanosolar were receiving praise from Popular Science, researchers in Japan developed their own version of the printable solar film. Endgadget reports that scientists from Toin University in Yokohama in conjunction with the private firm Fujimori Kogyo "managed to eliminate the expensive silicon component of regular solar cells, reducing thickness to just .4mm (.015 inches), and allowing a factory to pump out reams of the material every month -- enough to generate 10 megawatts of juice"
It is unclear who came up with the breakthrough concept first. But kudos to both parties for making enormous strides in streamlining solar power.


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1. Self-portrait – This one is from the archives, taken around April this year. Yes, you don't see my whole face, but you do get to see my trusty old camera. The one that I've been using all this time. The one that I'm hoping to replace soon. But I know that I'll be hanging on to it for as long as it doesn't conk out on me.
2. Handmade – These are some cereal cups that my friend's 11-year old daughter made for us when we visited them earlier this week. She came home from school and immediately offered to make something for tea and this was what greeted us when we got back inside the house. She had them all lined up in a little tray… so cute! And they were yummy, too!
3. Orange – This was a Halloween display at the entrance of the nature conservation center at one of the local parks. Josh and Zoë just ooh'ed and aah'ed over it. It was pretty cool the way it was set up, with different plants around it (you couldn't see them clearly in this photo, though) and butterflies and pumpkins and bats hanging down from the ceiling.
4. Candle – Because of the kids, I don't light candles around the house as much as I used to before we had children. I'd given away pretty much all of my candle collection, but I'd kept this one. I just love its smell. Hmmmmm!
5. Sign – Sometimes street art is actually pretty. This is a sign along a hiking trail that we took. Somebody took the time out to paint over the actual sign and hand-painted the direction himself.
Do head on over to Ramblings and Photos and check out other entries for Scavenger Hunt Sunday.


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Regular price
Marmot Tempo Jacket
Available in Men's or Women's
Nike Dri-FIT Sport Swoosh Pique Polo
Switch up your solids with this contrast stitch style while staying dry through heated rounds with Dri-FIT moisture management technology. Design details include a flat knit collar, pearlized buttons and open hem sleeves. Features a three-button placket and side vents. The contrast Swoosh design trademark is embroidered on the right chest. Made of 5.6-ounce, 100% polyester Dri-FIT fabric.
Laser Engraved 20 oz. YETI Rambler Tumblers 20 oz
Laser Engraved 20 oz. YETI Rambler Tumblers are stainless steel, double wall vacuum insulated. Keep your drinks ice cold or hot longer and is easy to clean. The YETI Tumblers come with a mag slider lid that lets you see how much drink you have left.
OGIO® Sly Messenger Heather Grey 11.25 " x 16 " x 4 "
OGIO Sly Messenger. The innovative Sly proves you can pack (and safeguard) a lot in a slim messenger. TPE-backed two-tone 600D poly/reverse TPE 600D poly Easy-access top-loading fleece-lined, padded laptop compartment Large main compartment for books, binders and files Deluxe organization panel under front flap External zippered accessories pocket Adjustable, webbing shoulder strap with foam shoulder pad Laptop sleeve: 9.5"h x 13.5"w x 1"d; fits most 13" laptops Dimensions: 11.25"h x 16"w x 4"d Capacity: 700 cu.in./11.5 L Weight: 1.6 lbs./0.62 kg Note: Bags not intended for use by children 12 and under. Includes a California Prop 65 hangtag.
Titleist Pro V1X Golf Balls
You will be the envy of everyone on the golf course using these custom golf balls! The Titleist® Pro V1x™is designed for players with the highest swing speeds and high lift launch conditions. Each ball is made of lonomer and features exceptional distance, consistent flight, low long game spin, excellent durability and Drop-and-Stop™ greenside control. Sold by the dozen.
Aberdeen Black Plaque
Here's a plaque you will be proud to display. The Aberdeen laser plaque features a handsome black piano finish with a majestic black-on-gold engraved plate that will reflect the spirit your great accomplishment. If you would like your brokerage logo included, please contact us at email@example.com
Certificate of Achievement
Customizable Social Items
Lapel Pin and Postcard
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Press Release
$100 Tom Ferry Gift Card
Congrats Letter
Calle Il Large Wedge Cut Award 3.12 " x 8 " x 3.12 "
Large wedge cut crystal block award. Each crystal product is handmade; the size and weight may vary from piece to piece.


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Of course we all know about the argument to maintaining a more sustainable lifestyle and the benefits for the earth. But certain businesses see their future riding on a cleaner planet. Tour operators that offer Maui scuba diving, scenic tours on Oahu, Kauai helicopter tours and the like have a vested interest in conservation in Hawaii. Without the pristine nature of our island chain, few visitors would pay to tour it.
Being that tourism is such a huge economic force for Hawaii, combined with the national trends, means that recycling in Hawaii is thriving. All of the main Hawaiian Islands have active recycling operations including various recycling and redemption centers as well as non-profit and for-profit organizations that have the goal of promoting environmentally sustainable practices including recycling programs for both residential and commercial customers.
On Oahu a company called RRR Recycling designed and built their own recycling truck called the Mobile Redemption Center (MRC) including six Reverse Vending Machines. In addition to recycling beverage containers, RRR Recycling processes white paper, cardboard, and newspaper from both commercial and residential customers.
Reynolds Recycling has 39 locations on four islands: Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and the Big Island, creating Hawaii's largest recycling network dealing with scrap metal and HI-5 redemption centers. Reynolds accepts copper, aluminum, brass, and non-magnetic stainless steel.
Oahu Community Recycling (OCR) offers recycling programs for Oahu communities including businesses as well as houses. OCR also participates in community development programs that help companies cut down on waste.
Recycle Hawaii is located on the Big Island and offers free public recycling education in conjunction with the county. Recycle Hawaii is a non-profit with the mission of promoting resource awareness as well as recycling on the Big Island to promote sustainability. They also run a website and publish a newsletter.
Hawaii's Bottle Bill dictates that a five cent deposit is required on every beverage container that is defined under the law, and this includes aluminum, plastic, and glass beverage containers. In addition, a one-cent non-refundable container fee is charged that helps to pay for the recycling program.
Containers covered under the bottle bill are marked with a "HI 5¢" or "Hawaii 5¢." Consumers can receive this 5¢ back when they take it to a redemption center to recycle it. The bill does not cover containers larger than 68 fluid ounces, nor does it cover liquor and milk.
The 3R's Recycling Program is run by the Kokua Hawaii Foundation and provides resource, training, and recycling bins to Oahu schools at no cost.
The 3R's Recycling Program also helps with recycling pickups when needed. Every classroom in the participating schools is given a bins for cans, bottles, plastic, paper, and cardboard recycling. Income from the program goes back to the schools, and the program promotes the 3 R's: reducing, reusing, and recycling.
Island Recycling on Oahu is located in Campbell Industrial Park and accepts and collects a variety of materials to recycle including cardboard, paper, scrap metal, plastic and appliances Island Recycling is open seven days a week and collects material from both residential and commercial customers.
The Maui Recycling Service offers full service curbside recycling for both commercial and residential customers. All of the company's trucks and their personal cars are fueled by biodiesel made from recycled vegetable oil.
The Maui Recycling Group provides education and training as well as technical assistance in Maui County helping to encourage environmentally sound waste resource practices. The group is a non-profit that works with Maui government agencies and has implemented various recycling based programs including the Maui Green Building Program.


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Very interesting game. Clicker + board game + management = billient-!
Egg Mania
A downloadable game for Windows
Sadly I couldn't finish the game in time.
Please follow me on twitter @i208iN if you are interested in playing the game, I will finish it in the coming days.
I don't advise you to play the game in this state.
Version 0.0.0
First upload of the game ! In this state the game isn't quite playable, you can have a grasp of the gameplay. I uploaded because I force myself to send my submissions to jams even if I couldn't finish on time.
Things that work:
- Click the Essence Egg on the right to earn essence points.
- Essence points are converted into eggs by the factories (the only thing on the board at the beginning).
- Eggs score points while they're on the board.
- The player earn these points as money when an egg is destroyed by either going off the map or bumping into another egg.
- Eggs often loot items when they get destroyed. Such items can be placed on the board by paying their price.
- Items effects on egg work.
- Click to rotate arrows. Shift + Click to shift their changing sequence 1 step forward.
- Loot Items don't cost anything.
- Items descriptions are missing.
- Indication texts are mostly missing.
- The available item set does not allow for a good gameplay.
- The transaction line at the top isn't used.
- The flowers in the balance line at the top don't do anything.
- There is no saving system.
- The game is unplayable due to a resolution issue. This is fixed in 0.0.1.
- There might be an empty item spawning in the loot box.
Version 0.0.1
Quick bug fix for the resolution issue. The game now puts itself in windowed mode with a 640x640 resolution, as intended in its design. This prevents the mouse interaction to go crazy. #badcoding
- Mouse interaction not working due to a resolution issue.
|In development
|Robin NICOLET
|1-bit, clicker, incremental
Click download now to get access to the following files:
Egg Mania 0.0.1 (zip) 11 MB
Log in with itch.io to leave a comment.


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NSAR is proud to support Nova Scotia's Biggest Potluck in support of FEED NOVA SCOTIA on October 22, 2016!
Members are invited to register their potluck under the NSAR Brand at www.nspotluck.ca.
Here are ten tips to host a stress-free potluck:
1. Email your invitations.
2. Have people make their donation to your potluck online at www.nspotluck.ca
3. Use disposable dishes and cutlery
4. Have one or two people bring beverages as their contribution
5. Assign a category to your guests for their potluck dish (e.g. desert, appetizer, bread, etc)
6. Set a specific start and end time
7. If someone is bringing a hot dish, ask that they bring it to your home, HOT! (Have the oven on low to keep warm)
8. Put a warming pad underneath your table cloth so hot and cold dishes can go right on the table
9. Ask one of your friends to help clean up as their contribution to the potluck
10. Don't forget to post your pics on social media on October 22!
The Nova Scotia Association of REALTORS® represents more than 1,500 brokers, salespeople and affiliate members throughout the province. NSAR serves its members through a wide variety of educational programs, publications and special services. REALTOR® is a trademark, which identifies real estate professionals who are members of The Canadian Real Estate Association and, as such, subscribe to a high standard of professional service and a strict code of ethics.


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Comedienne Chelsea Handler is boycotting Instagram after the site twice deleted a topless photograph of her.
The "This Means War" star was lampooning Russian president Vladimir Putin when she was photographed riding a horse topless in a wooded area. Putin was photographed in a similar pose in 2009.
When Handler first posted the image, she attached the caption, "Anything a man can do, a woman has the right to do better. #kremlin." Instagram cited its nudity guidelines before removed the shot.
The upset star then took to Twitter to post a screenshot of the image, writing, "Taking this down is sexist. I have every right to show I have a better body than Putin."
After posting the shot on Instagram for a second time, the funny woman grumbled about her rights, stating, "If instagram takes this down again, you're saying Vladimir Putin has more 1st amendment rights than me. Talk to your bosses."
If a man posts a photo of his nipples, it's ok, but not a woman? Are we in 1825? http://t.co/utYaq7yr2E
— Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) October 31, 2014
Following the deletion of the second post, Handler went on to declare she would exclusively use Twitter as she feels censored on Instagram.
She added a caption to a picture of her two dogs, writing, "You can now find my dogs and my breasts on Twitter only where my followers have the right to choose what they say (sic). Bye bye instablock."


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by Ian Rogers | :: Jump to Buy Links ::
A dangerous job—but in a world where paranormal has become the norm, someone has to do it. When the daughter of a former client ends up possessed by a supernatural entity, Jerry enlists his friend, private investigator Felix Renn, to help him perform an exorcism. Unfortunately, Jerry is a better salesman than he is an exorcist, and he soon finds himself in over his head, despite the best laid plans of monsters and men.
eISBN: 9781771483681
Other CZP books by Ian Rogers:
Interviews/Guest Posts
Praise for Ian Rogers
"Rogers writes with all his senses, and his characters are deftly developed with an economy of language that is rare these days. . . . Amazing."
—Shroud Magazine
". . . the author's facility with character and atmosphere makes for some provocative journeys into the dark and the frankly weird . . . . His best stories resemble the work of Joss Whedon: contemporary fantasy in which quirky characters confront the uncanny with deadpan aplomb and an appealing degree of competence."
—Quill & Quire
"Rogers brings us into moral grey areas, encouraging us to question stories, delve deep into them and interact with them, and also reminds us that every story contains the potential for both danger as well as ecstasy."
—Speculating Canada
"Ian Rogers' stories are old-fashioned in the very best sense: classic chillers in the spirit of Shirley Jackson and Richard Matheson. Every House Is Haunted is full of well-crafted, satisfying twists, a fine companion for any reader of literate horror."
—Andrew Pyper, author of The Damned and The Demonologist
"Wry and stylishly bizarre, Rogers hits the mark dead on . . . I hope he's on the job for years to come."
—Laird Barron, author of Occultation
"Rogers has . . . a great dark sense of humor."
—CSI Librarian
| Check out Possession is Nine-Tenths of the Law on Goodreads! |
Buy the eBook:
Kindle (Canada)
Kindle (U.S.)
Kindle (U.K.)
Google Play
Weightless Books


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Housewarming: Stone and siding updates adds a little pizazz
The owner of this 1950s house in St-Lambert on the South Shore purchased the property in 1971. He was attracted by the architecture that was very similar to a home he lived in years earlier in British Columbia while attending university. The common feature with the two houses was the not-so-common room layout — the living quarters and dining rooms were in the back of the house. He later found out that both homes were designed by the same architect, a professor from McGill University.
His house in St-Lambert is in the Preville sector of the town, a very peaceful neighbourhood surrounded by a canopy of imposing mature trees, typical of what is found throughout this suburb.
We communicated while he was travelling in Thailand and Cambodia. He felt that the design of the front of the house looked too plain. He didn't like the thin overhang and the homes' insulation was not adequate. He plans to renovate in spring.
Most walls of the house are painted brick. The lower half of the building should be faced with multi-size stones in different shades of warm grey and sand. This section of the facade should wrap around the corners, extending a couple of feet unto the side walls.
I would love to see horizontal siding on the top half of the facade. Just like the new stonework, the siding would fold only two feet over the side walls. It would mean repainting, in a matte finish, the remaining side and back brick walls in the identical colour of the siding, a medium grey with a hint of brown.
The thin overhang needed a design intervention, but first, the hedge, precariously hugging the foundation, had to go.
Injecting more presence to the entrance was just what the doctor ordered. I drew a two-tier fascia on a thicker, longer and deeper overhang that will reach the right extremity of the house. This roof of the overhang should rest on hefty square posts supported by sturdy stone pedestals. The first two stone pedestals should be set on each front corner of the more generous porch landing. The other pedestal will stand a step lower over the right corner of the new patio leading to one of the backyard paths. Its stone top will be at the same level as the others. To maximize function in this free space, a quaint new seating area would set stage for a backup plan as an ideal shaded area.
The material used for the new floors consist of over-scale slabs in medium warm grey that would complement one of the colours of the old driveway pavers. In the driveway, I would prefer that the borders form square shapes instead of angular ones. So, some old paving blocks recuperated from the old porch could be used to fill in the empty portions created by the different configuration. The easier option would be to replace the driveway with new slabs.
For visual equilibrium with the garage door and to create a semblance of a window, a giant louvre is introduced furnishing the empty wall. It is built out of wide planks of cedar or treated wood placed at an angle inside a frame. It should be as wide as the window above and aligned with it. Evenly positioned large charcoal planters hung with thin black chains will be secured under the overhang edge.
Just like the new front door, a new garage door will present rectangular frosted panes to encourage natural light indoors, while providing privacy. All darker components shown on the sketch will be dark warm grey. In the same colour, new casement windows will adorn the facade only. All other windows can be painted in an identical matte colour.
Salt tolerant and low-maintenance botanicals would be selected. In fall, foliage of lime plants will transform into bright red. The tall violet pink plumes of Astilbe Superba along with the ornamental grass inflorescence will demonstrate perpetual motion at the gentlest wind.
Vegetation (left to right):
Acer Kelly's Gold (multiple trunk tree, lime foliage turns red in fall, backyard)
Clematis Jackmanii Superba (climbers, purple blooms, thick layer of black mulch over roots, cut back in spring, fence, tie around overhang post with fishing string)
Calamagrostis Karl Foerster (ornamental grasses, add light soil, cut back in spring, near garage and backyard path)
Buxus Green Gem (persistent shrubs, front path, black mulch)
Impatiens (annuals, white blooms, low on fertilizing, planters) or Begonia Dragon Baby Wing (cascading annuals, white blooms, fertilize, planters)
Senecio mikanioides (cascading greenery, one per planter)
Astilbe Superba (persistent perennials, purplish pink blooms, humid, black mulch, double row, front of patio)
Berberis Aurea Nana (shrubs, yellow lime foliage turns orange red in fall, row in front of Astilbe)
Ajuga Black Scallop (low persistent perennials, purple blooms, near Berberis and Buxus, cut back dead blooms after flowering)


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Price exc vat :
This procedure will reset the drum counter back to zero and allow you to keep using your drum unit long after the Change Drum message appears.
It will not fix any quality issues it will simply allow you to keep printing beyond the set life of the drum unit.
Download the drum reset instructions in pdf format
The answer to this question is YES. Our reset information above will allow you to extend the life of your drum unit considerably, but you will need to replace the drum unit when it can no longer produce a quality printed page.


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How to Create a Chinese Finger Trap. The Chinese finger trap seems to be a toy that children and adults love equally. While the challenge of getting your fingers out of the trap is sometimes frustrating, the process of actually making a Chinese finger trap isn't that complex.
Cut four strips of packing ribbon each 18 inches long.
Use clear tape to connect the ends of two of the strips together. Hold the ends at an angle less than 90 degrees to each other. This is a guess, but try to keep them connected at about 80 degrees, and secure them tightly with tape.
Repeat Step 2 with the other two strips of ribbon. Tape each set of pairs to the end of a wooden stick.
Make sure the pointed, taped ends are pointing towards the top of the stick and the ribbon trails down the stick. Put each set of pairs on opposite sides of each other.
Begin the braiding process by wrapping the ribbons one over top the other, to overlap each other. Continue the pattern of back over front, front over back, all the way to the end of the stick.
Trim the ends once you reach the end of the stick or the end of your ribbon. Tape the ends of all for pieces together.
Take the tape off the top of the stick, and remove the braided ribbon from the stick.
To get your fingers out of a Chinese finger trap ask someone to squeeze the middle of the trap, or try pushing your fingers back together and quickly pulling. If all else fails, pull until the trap rips.