text:
Numerical Simulation and Experiments of Barite Sag in Horizontal Annulus
Yahya Hashemian1, Stefan Miska1,, Mengjiao Yu1, Evren Ozbayoglu1, Nicholas Takach1
1Petroleum Enginerring Department, University of Tulsa, Tulsa, USA
Under certain drilling conditions, the weighting material particles such as barite can settle out of the drilling fluid. This phenomenon, known as barite sag, can lead to a number of drilling problems including lost circulation, well control difficulties, poor cement job, and stuck pipe. This study investigates barite sag, both experimentally and numerically, in the annulus under flow conditions. Experimental work has been conducted on a large flow loop to investigate the effects of major drilling parameters on barite sag by measuring the circulating fluid density. Results of the tests indicate that the highest sag occurs at low annular velocities and rotational speed and also at high inclination angles. It was observed that at inclination angles less than 60°, for any annular velocity, barite sag is not significant. Eccentricity of a non-rotating inner pipe did not have a significant effect on barite sag. However, effects of inner pipe rotation on barite sag for an eccentric annulus are more significant than concentric case. The simulation part of this study is based on a proposed particle tracking method called "Particle Elimination Technique". The traveling path of each solid particle is assumed to be a function of size and shape of the particle, fluid velocity and rheology. Based on the estimated traveling path of particles, density of the fluid is updated considering the number of particles whose paths lead to the bottom of the annulus and become motionless. In order to capture the complexities associated with the solid-liquid flow, a lift force is assigned to the solid particles that enable adjustment of the model with experimental results. Comparing the results of numerical simulation to the experimental study on the effects of annular velocity on barite sag in a horizontal annulus shows a good agreement. The numerical simulation was modified from laboratory scale to real wellbore dimensions for practical drilling applications. Results of the simulation show prediction of the density of the drilling fluid in the horizontal section of a wellbore with various lengths and dimensions under different annular velocities.
At a glance: Figures
Keywords: barite sag, numerical simulation, experiments, annulus, power law, eccentricity
American Journal of Numerical Analysis, 2014 2 (1),
pp 14-19.
DOI: 10.12691/ajna-2-1-4
Received November 08, 2013; Revised December 24, 2013; Accepted January 14, 2014Copyright © 2013 Science and Education Publishing. All Rights Reserved.
Cite this article:
- Hashemian, Yahya, et al. "Numerical Simulation and Experiments of Barite Sag in Horizontal Annulus." American Journal of Numerical Analysis 2.1 (2014): 14-19.
- Hashemian, Y. , Miska, S. , Yu, M. , Ozbayoglu, E. , & Takach, N. (2014). Numerical Simulation and Experiments of Barite Sag in Horizontal Annulus. American Journal of Numerical Analysis, 2(1), 14-19.
- Hashemian, Yahya, Stefan Miska, Mengjiao Yu, Evren Ozbayoglu, and Nicholas Takach. "Numerical Simulation and Experiments of Barite Sag in Horizontal Annulus." American Journal of Numerical Analysis 2, no. 1 (2014): 14-19.
|Import into BibTeX
|Import into EndNote
|Import into RefMan
|Import into RefWorks
1. Introduction
During conventional drilling operation, controlling the sub-surface pressure is achieved by use of high density drilling fluid, which contains high density minerals such as barite. However, under certain drilling conditions, the weighting material particles can settle out of the drilling fluid suspension. This phenomenon, known as barite sag, can lead to a number of drilling problems including lost circulation, well control difficulties, poor cement job, and stuck pipe. The term "barite sag" is used because barite is the most popular weighting material used in drilling fluids to increase density. Unfortunately, barite sag is proving to be a real question for drilling industry and the problem is often unanticipated. Although much has been done, we have no universal solutions that can explain and predict the phenomenon. Moreover, recent advances in drilling technology have resulted in greater numbers of directional wells which limit the application of common remedies to mitigate sag.
Some mathematical models are presented using the principles of continuum mechanics. They are focused on the period during which pumping and rotation are stopped (Acrivos et al. 1979 and Pasaly et al. 2007).
It has been shown that sag can be reduced by increasing pipe rotation (Bern et al. 1998). On the other hand it is pointed out that the rotation serves to generate a low shear rate environment in which barite particles could settle and slip downward more easily (Hemphill et al. 2006). These two conclusions contradict each other.
At high velocity, particularly when turbulence was observed, sag beds are removed and incorporated back into the mud (Hanson et al. 1990). At annular velocities above 100 ft/min, the "magnitude of dynamic sag" is small compared to lower annular velocities. The highest sag occurs at an annular velocity of 40 ft/min. (Dye et al. 1999).
Hanson et al. (1990) showed that the sag tendency is significantly higher in wells with inclination angles of 30-60° from vertical. Bern et al. (1998) concluded that significant barite sag was measured at angles as high as 75° and the most critical range is 60 to 75°.
Eccentricity of drill pipe is shown to exacerbate barite sag (Bern et al. 1998).
Nguyen (2009) conducted several experiments on annular and pipe flow loop. His results show that even at low annular velocities (16 ft/minute) sag can be mitigated with pipe rotation speeds of 20 RPM. He also indicated that pipe rotation has a greater impact on reducing sag when the pipe is eccentric than when it is concentric. His experiments showed that at low annular velocity (lower than 40 ft/min), a barite bed is formed very quickly at the lower side of the test section.
2. Mathematical Approach
Simulation part of study is based on a proposed particle tracking method called "Particle Elimination Technique". An effort is done to simulate the flow of drilling fluid in the annulus. Flow of a non-Newtonian fluid in an annulus is solved numerically to find its velocity profile. Falling velocity of a single particle in power law fluid is assigned to the particles. Based on the diameter of each particle and its location in the annulus, its traveling path is estimated and then particles whose traveling path leads to the bottom of the annulus are set to be stationary and then removed from the main flow stream of the fluid. Density of the fluid is updated, taking into account the portion of particles which are set to stationary.
Lift force due to irregular shape of barite particles is assigned to each particle and the resultant force is updated for calculation of the falling velocity.
Simulation of barite sag in this work is divided into two parts: 1) modeling of laminar flow of non-Newtonian fluid in annulus to obtain velocity profile; and 2) consideration of the solid particles in the fluid to predict the particle traveling path and time.
3. First Part of Mathematical Approach: Obtain Velocity Profile of Laminar Flow of Non-Newtonian Fluid in Eccentric Annulus
To simulate fluid flow in an eccentric annulus when the drill pipe is stationary, governing equations for flow in an eccentric annulus are developed using a Cartesian coordinate system. The Yield Power Law model is used to represent the rheology of the fluid. To solve the flow equations, a boundary fitted coordinate system is utilized to apply numerical technique to the equations. Geometry as well as equations are transformed into a computational domain in a boundary-fitted coordinate system (Figure 1). Equations are discredited and an iterative over relaxation method is used to solve for the velocity field at each grid point, knowing frictional pressure loss in axial direction of the well bore. A relaxation technique is used (after Azouz 1994) to speed up convergence of the solution.
For axial laminar flow, the equation of motion will take the form:
Where, w is the fluid velocity in axial direction and μ is the viscosity that is a function of shear rate. The viscosity function depends on the rheology of the fluid. The shear rate for axial flow can be expressed as:
The applied boundary conditions are zero velocity on the walls of the inner pipe and outer pipe.
Unlike Newtonian fluids, a non-Newtonian fluid does not have a constant viscosity. However, in numerical modeling, the concept of viscosity is used for non-Newtonian fluids to make the governing equations similar to Newtonian fluids. This viscosity is known as apparent viscosity that is a function of shear rate and depends on the rheology of the fluid. Apparent viscosity is generally defined as:
For YPL fluids, the apparent viscosity will be:
View current figure in a new window
The result of this part of the simulation is a velocity profile in the annulus as shown in Figure 1 (bottom). Having the velocity field, flow rate is calculated through numerical integration over the flow region.
4. Comparison of the Results of the First Part of Simulation with Experiments
Results of the simulation were compared with experimental work conducted at The University of Tulsa drilling research projects (TUDRP) by Ahmed (2005).
In his work, extensive flow experiments with polymer-based fluids were carried out using a flow loop (Figure 2). Different formulations of test fluids were prepared. Eccentricities of the annular test sections were varied from 0% to 100%. Annular test sections with four different diameter ratios were investigated. Flow rate was varied from 0.024 to 21.91 gal/min [0.09 to 82.82 liter/min].
Figure 3 (left) shows the results of the simulation on predicting the velocity profile for a wide range of power law fluid behavior index values of 0.1 to 1.0 (Newtonian). In this figure, the dimensionless radius is the ratio of inner pipe radius to outer pipe radius. It starts with 0.3 (on the outer wall of drill pie) and ends with 1.0 (on the inner wall of casing). The calculated velocity is assumed to be equal to the axial velocity of the solid particles. The second component of the solid particle velocity is assumed to be in the direction of gravity as shown in Figure 3 (right).4.1. Second Part of Mathematical Approach: Particle Elimination Technique
The second part of the simulation is based on a proposed particle tracking method called "Particle Elimination Technique". At this technique, solid particles (barite) are taken into consideration. Each particle at one grid point is assumed to have two components of velocity. One component is in the direction of the axial fluid velocity with a magnitude of the fluid velocity calculated at that point. This component of the velocity is already calculated from numerical simulation in the first part of the simulation. The second component of velocity is assumed to be in the direction of gravity normal to the first component.
Considering a specific length of the annulus, and based on the diameter of each particle and its location in the annulus, traveling path is estimated (Figure 4). Particles whose traveling path leads to the bottom of the annulus are set as stationary and then removed from the main flow stream of the fluid. Density of the fluid is updated, taking into account the number of particles which are set as stationary. It is further assumed that if a particle can reach the bottom of the annulus (casing wall) during a specific time period, then all other particles below it, with the same size and density, have already reached the bottom during that time period.
Therefore, by calculating the location of one specific particle that can reach the lower wall of the annulus during a specific time period or length, we can predict settlement of all other particles below that particle. Thus, we can remove those particles from the flow and calculate a new concentration and density for the fluid.4.2. Falling Velocity of a Single Particle in Power Law Fluid
In this study we used an experimental correlation proposed by Shah et al. (2007) for calculating the falling velocity of solid particles in a power law fluid in SI units:
Where is given by and A, B and C could be found as:
The drilling fluid used in this study is an oil based drilling fluid. Result of rheology test on this fluid is shown in Figure 5 (top).
Assuming the average wall shear rate to be and replacing the velocity with the lowest and the highest annular velocity in annulus, we have: .Conductinga rheology test on the drilling fluid shows that it has a good fit with the Power Law model in the range of the average shear rate shown in Figure 5 (top). At this point constants n and K of the Power Law model are obtained, which are needed for calculations of particle settling velocity. At the next stage we need to find the size associated with barite particles.
Barite used in this study complies with the API barite which has a wide range of diameter size and therefore needs to be carefully included in model. Result of particle size distribution test which was conducted by Baker Hughes Company is shown in Figure 5 (bottom).4.4. Lift Force
It was observed from the experiments that barite sag decreases as annular velocity increases. Also it was observed that beyond a certain value of annular velocity, there is almost no barite sag. To capture this effect in the model, a lift force is assigned to the particles. The magnitude of the lift force was chosen so that the results of the simulation could match with results of experiments. The lift coefficient is a number that aerodynamicists use to calculate lift force in order to model the complex dependencies of the shape of solid bodies as well as some flow conditions on the lift. The lift coefficient, CL, is obtained as shown in Eq. 6:
where is density, V is velocity and A is the cross-sectional area. In this study, the lift coefficient is adjusted based on the results of experimental studies on barite sag.
Lift force will reduce the normal weight of the particle, similar to buoyancy force. So the lift force can be incorporated into resultant density of particle as:
5. Experimental Work
A large indoor flow loop was used for investigating the major drilling parameters affecting barite sag. It consists of a 35-ft long annulus with dimensions 4" x 2". It has a 50-gal mud tank equipped with an agitator. A centrifugal pump circulates drilling fluid trough the annular test section and then returns it to the mud tank through a return pie. The inclination angle of the test section is varied from horizontal to vertical. Inner pipe can be rotated and its eccentricity can be set to concentric and fully eccentric positions. Flow rate and temperature of the flow is controlled accurately. Density of the fluid is measured and recorded continuously with time, using coriolis densitometers at both the inlet and outlet of the annular test section.
6. Results of Experimental Work6.1. Effect of Inclination Angel, Rotation and Eccentricity on Barite Sag in Annulus
Results of experimental studies on the effects of inclination angle on barite sag for an eccentric annulus with a constant annular velocity are shown in Figure 7 (top). These plots show that barite sag decreases as inclination angle decreases. For inclination angles less than 60°, for a low annular velocity, barite sag is not significant.
Figure 7 (bottom) shows the effects of rotational speed on barite sag in eccentric and concentric annuli in a horizontal configuration. Comparing the concentric configuration versus the eccentric case shows that effect of rotational speed on barite sag reduction is more significant in eccentric case. The reason could be due to mechanical cleaning of the settled barite by the rotational movement of the inner pipe.
7. Comparison of Mathematical Modeling with Experiments
As shown in Figure 8, a comparison between the results of mathematical modeling and experimental studies of barite sag in a horizontal annulus for the tested velocities show generally good agreement.
The Figure also shows that increase of the annular velocity can decrease barite sag significantly. However equilibrium in density change was not observed, unlike the results of decreasing inclination (Figure 7. top).
8. Application of Model in Wellbore Conditions
The numerical simulation was modified from laboratory scale to real wellbore dimensions for practical drilling applications. The main differences in modified model are the length of the well bore and the "infinite" mud tank volume. The annulus diameters as well as mud properties are chosen to be the same as the experimental configuration so that a comparison could be achieved. The assigned values to the length of the horizontal section of the wellbore are varied from small values (1,000 ft) to very large values (10,000 ft).
The dotted lines in Figure 9 (bottom) show the average traveling time, which is calculated by dividing the length of the horizontal section by the average annular velocity. The above predictions show that barite sag is negligible after the drilling fluid reaches the end of the horizontal section (kick off point). This is in contrast with the results from experiments (as expected). The reason can be due to the difference in the volume of mud tank for the two cases under consideration. The mud tank volume for the lab configuration is too small compared to real field conditions.
9. Summary and Remarks
Results of the tests indicate that the highest sag occurs at low annular velocities and rotational speed and also at high inclination angles.
As annular velocity increases, barite sag decreases significantly.
It was observed that as inclination angle decreases, barite sag decreases consistently, which is in contradiction with some of the results in the literature. At inclination angles less than 60°, under any velocities, barite sag is not significant.
Eccentricity of a non-rotating inner pipe did not have a significant effect on barite sag. However, effects of inner pipe rotation on barite sag for an eccentric annulus are more significant than concentric case.
Comparing the results of numerical simulation to the experimental study on the effects of annular velocity on barite sag in a horizontal annulus shows a good agreement.
The numerical simulation was modified from laboratory scale to real wellbore dimensions for practical drilling applications. Results of the simulation allow prediction of the density of the drilling fluid in the horizontal section of a wellbore of various lengths and dimensions under different annular velocities.
The author would like to thank the drilling research group at The University of Tulsa Drilling Research Projects (TUDRP) for its financial support of this study. TUDRP faculty members, including Dr. Stefan Miska and Dr. Mengjiao Yu, my advisor and co-advisor, respectively, as well as Dr. Evren Ozbayoglu and Dr. Tan Nguyenare also gratefully acknowledged for their advice and help. Thanks also goes to TUDRP research technicians, Mr. Randy Darden and Mr. Donald Harris for their help with the experimental setup. Appreciation is also expressed to Baker Hughes Company for providing the drilling fluid for our tests.
|Acrivos, A. and Herbolzheimer, E. 1979. Enhanced Sedimentation in Settling Tanks with Inclined Walls. J. Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 92, part 3, 435-457.
|In article
|Ahmed, R. 2005. Experimental Study and Modeling of Yield Power-Law Fluid Flow in Pipes and Annuli. TUDRP Semi-Annual Report, May 2005.
|In article
|Azouz, I. 1994. Numerical Simulation of Laminar and Turbulent Flows of Wellbore Fluids in Annular Passages of Arbitrary Cross-Section. University of Tulsa Drilling Research Projects, Ph.D. Dissertation.
|In article
|Bern, P.A., van Oort, E., Neusstadt, B., Ebeltoft, H., Zurdo, C., Zamora, M., and Slater, K. 1998. Barite Sag: Measurement, Modelling and Management. IADC/SPE 47784, IADC/SPE Asia Pacific Drilling Tech, Jakarta, Indonesia, 7-9 Sept., and SPE Drilling & Completion, March 2000, 25-30.
|In article
|Dye, W., Hemphill, T., Gusler, W., and Mullen, G. 1999. Correlation of Ultra-low Shear Rate Viscosity and Dynamic Barite Sag in Invert-Emulsion Drilling Fluids. SPE 56636, Houston, Texas, October.
|In article
|Escudier, M.P, Oliveira, P.J., Pinho, F.T. 2001. Fully Developed Laminar Flow Of Purely Viscous Non-Newtonian Liquids Through Annuli, Including Of Eccentricity And Inner-Cylinder Rotation. Heat and Fluid Flow 23 (2001) 52-73.
|In article
|Haciislamoglu, M. 1989. Non-Newtonian Fluid Flow in Eccentric Annuli and Its Application to Petroleum Engineering Problems.
|In article
|Hanson, P.M., Trigg, T.K., Rachal, G., and Zamora, M. 1990. Investigation of Barite "Sag" in Weighted Drilling Fluids in Highly Deviated Wells. SPE 20423, SPE ATCE, New Orleans, 23-26 Sept.
|In article
|Hashemian A. Y. 2005. Numerical Simulation of Laminar Flow of Non-Newtonian Fluids in Eccentric Annuli. MSc. Thesis, University of Tulsa.
|In article
|Hashemian, Yahya, 2012 "Prediction of Barite Sag in Horizontal Annular Flow," SPE 160916-STU, International Student Paper Contest ATCE Texas.
|In article
|Hashemian A. Y. 2012. Experimental Study and Modeling of Barite Sag in Annular Flow. PhDDissertation, University of Tulsa.
|In article
|Hemphill, T., and Ravi, K. (2006) "Turning on Barite Sag with Drillpipe Rotation: Sometimes Surprises Are Really Not Surprises," AADE, Fluids Conference, Houston, Texas, Nov.
|In article
|Nguyen, T.C., Miska, S., Yu, M., and Takach, N., SPE, University of Tulsa (2009) "Predicting Dynamic barite Sag in Newtonian Oil Based Drilling Fluids" SPE 124137, SPE, New Orleans, 4-7 Oct.
|In article
|Paslay, P.R., Sathuvalli, U.B., and Payne, M.L. (2007) "A Phenomenological Approach to Analysis of Barite Sag in Drilling Muds," SPE 110404, SPE ATCE, Anaheim, 11-14 Nov.
|In article
|Piercy, N.A.V., Hooper, M.S., Winny, H.F. 1933. Viscous flow through pipes with core. London Edinburgh Dublin Phil. Mag. J. Sci., 15 647-676.
|In article
|Shah S.N., Fadili Y. El, Chhabra R.P. 2007. New model for single spherical particle settling velocity in power law (visco inelastic) fluids. Int. J. Multiphase Flow, 33 (2007), pp. 51-66.
|In article


text:
The warmth and beauty of a Freeloghome's Insu-Log exceeds the standard of traditional construction techniques.
Our conventionally framed and insulated wall system features Freeloghomes's pre-panelized main floor walls. Wall panels from FLH take typical on-site wall framing into a climate-controlled manufacturing environment.
Wall panels are built on square, level tables to control quality, reduce waste and save on-site labour cost. Wall panels are optimized to specific panel lengths and window openings that follow the architectural plans.
Our quality log sidings with full faux corners for the exterior in many profiles, with matching pine or cedar log siding or t&g liners for the interior. Ease of construction, speed, savings add great value to achieve the ECO friendly Log home look you've always wanted!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Series: See inside
By Katie Daynes
Colourful scenes with flaps to reveal details of life in Ancient Rome. Bright, clear illustrations show scenes such as a gladiator fight at the Colosseum, the workings of a Roman Bath and the Roman legion defending the farthest reaches of the Empire. Includes a view of Rome today, with flaps to lift to uncover what stood there in the past. With over 50 flaps to lift revealing fascinating historical detail.
"It would be impossible to praise this series too highly."
Bookseller Back to School June 2007
Katie Daynes has written oodles of books for Usborne, from lifting the flaps on germs and poo, through things to spot in the sea and at school, to the life stories of Nelson Mandela and Marie Antoinette. She wrote My First Chess Book after being taught by her son, Joe Birks, who became the British Under 9 Chess Champion in 2017. She now lives in Yorkshire with her architect husband, two inquisitive children and a hamster called Toffee. When she's not writing books, Katie likes walking on the blustery moors, meeting friends for coffee and playing competitive board games.
For links to specially selected websites with video clips and activities or a pronunciation guide for this book, visit the Usborne Quicklinks website.


text:
Murphy will always be my #1 girl and indeed she was my first show dog. I consider her to be one of my foundation bitches.She produced some outstanding babies and many years of Min Pin love.She was shown under 3 AKC Judges & & received her IABKCA International Championship. Murphy was also quite a celebrity in my book. Her photo was used in a couple of Min Pin books. It came about in 1997 when a freelance photographer asked my dog handler if she could take some photos of our dogs while at a dog show in Tucson. She said sure, as long as we can get copies or negatives. She kind of kept her promise & and did send one negative. We had no idea what these people do with pictures, but obviously they sell them to publishers for various products. The next year a new breed book appeared on Min Pins entitled "The New Owner's Guide to Miniature Pinschers". The author is Jacqueline O'Neil. To our surprise we found Murphy pictured on page 49 sitting with her dog pal, Dallas. There is a great picture of her litter sister, Reba on page 103.Also a couple of photos, one a full page, of my handlers daughter with one of my little chocolate boys. This is a nicely done book with alot of xlnt photos that represent our king of toys.
THEN to add to our inflated egos, a couple of months later we found this beautiful photo (shown here) of Murphy, featured not only on the cover but also for the month May in a Min Pin Calendar published by Pet Prints. When I found she was in it, I called the publisher to get a copy (well actually,I bought the 7 they had left because it was already May! Even tho' this was several years ago, I will always think of Murphy as my "calendar girl"! Murphy blessed us with beautiful pups some of which can be found generations back in my pedigrees.Thank you Murphy Brown!! All of my Min Pin kids are raised as pets first. They love traveling with us to the dog shows mostly 'cause they get to sleep with me while we're traveling!
High Society was Grace Kelly's favorite movie. She then turned into a Princess. Somehow our Grace got it into her head that she is a Princess. Personally I think she runs things around here like a dictator! She bosses everyone……..at least all the other dogs. She was just as bossy in the ring while I was showing her. Fortunately for us both she didn't drag this championship out too long. I was always prepared for her to try something she shouldn't. The day she got the points at a show she chomped at the judges flowing skirt as she was walking away after handing us the ribbon. Fortunately the judge didn't feel or see her antics. I swifty scooped her up and exited the ring!
Grace is about 11″ tall and yeah, we do treat her like a Princess……….
AKA "Ziva" (NCIS?) Yes, my Ziva maintains prime status here! She's quite the character. Her nickname is Alligator-mouth! When she is protecting her food she lets the others know she may be small, but she's lethal. Those teeth of hers get their attention. Just don't mess with her food!! I had a great time showing her. She zipped thru the shows to her Grand Championship in no time! Just cute as a button is she.
Unlike her Mother Grace, Freckles just likes to please- everyone. She tried to get along with everyone both human and canine. She is also rather clever. In the morning everyone is invited (actually forced) outside to the patio for morning business. If I don't latch the sliding screen door…Freckles knows how to open it and lets everyone in, prematurely! Otherwise she's a joy to have around even when company comes. She's pictured here with a dear friend, Moni, who was visiting that day getting her Min Pin fix. Moni is also a great Mom to 2 of my Min Pin kids.
AKA Claire. (Homeland Diva Claire Dames) Claire completed her show career with a bang, being awarded a Group 2 placement in Denver in 2016 and a 5 Pt Major win over specials before she reached her championship. She is out of my Grace and her sire is Auggie.
AKA GYPSY! Gypsy would have finished in no time IF she had wanted to! Occasionally there will be a dog that just doesn't like the show thing. Gypsy is one of those dogs. Her sister just couldn't stop showing and showing well. But Gypsy does love being a home girl, annoying the other dogs so they'll leave her humans alone. She sleeps with us and is just my sweetheart. She has a beautiful dark eye, great conformation and produces very pretty puppies!
AKA Troubles. Because I was showing Bonnie and Bart I just couldn't add another to my plate….but Troubles was such a pretty baby I did keep her. She's very nice and probably could have reached her championship with no trouble. She was a Pick of Litter puppy. She is beyond sweet in nature and a beautiful very dark stag in color.


text:
Huffington Post Profitable?
The New Yorker is now proclaiming HuffPo profitable, apparently. Huffington Post said last October, according to PaidContent, that they were finally breaking even, but the numbers that are being bandied about by the New Yorker are a little shakey in that regard. By our counts, they've raised around $11 million total, but the New Yorker piece says that they've got yearly revenues of somewhere "between $6 million to $10 million."
They've launched a number of sites and services we've seen and covered over the last few months, so presumably their still in a ramp up phase (and a spending craze). Unless we see some hard numbers or some corrections on the revenues statements, it doesn't sound like the company can quite call itself profitable.
Still, they don't pay their writing contributors to the site, so perhaps that is where they're making back all their revenue. When I mention the fact that they don't pay content providers to fellow bloggers in the technology space, it always makes them stand jaws agape (and perhaps think to themselves that I'll stop at nothing to badmouth liberals).
It is true, though, and thusly makes me curious how the New Yorker leapt to the conclusion that the HuffPo is the future of journalism. The piece they wrote on the site seems to never tire of drawing comparisons between the newspaper business and the online liberal news blog.
By that measure, I'm also curious as to why there are so few blogging entities outside the tech niche that are truly and really profitable centers. Last I heard, Daily Kos wasn't in the black yet. TownHall and PajamasMedia both are presumably for-profit, but I've heard hide nor hair of their financials. I admit I'm only a fairweather fan of Michelle Malkin's HotAir, but I've heard that several higher-bandwidth projects have had to be shut down or curtailed there because of lack of funds.
There are tons of tech blogs (most of which have taken no VC ) that are far in the black, so why do the political blogs seem to have such a hard time with it? If anything, I'd think political blogs would have an easier time making money. Have you seen the comments area on a typical high-profile blogger's posts? It puts anything we tech bloggers do to shame. A Michelle Malkin post can very easily have around 700 comments on a slow news day.
I have no explanation for it. I've been blogging politics since blogging was a word, but never with the aim to make it my core business (and never really on a grand scale like HuffPo or any top tier bloggers), so I'm not sure where the problem is coming in on this one.


text:
Have you noticed some new words showing up in magazines and newspapers around the country? Words like: cyberattack, cyberwar , cybercrime and cyber... whatever.
Have you noticed some new words showing up in magazines and newspapers around the country? Words like: cyberattack, cyberwar , cybercrime and cyber…. whatever.
This brings up an interesting question: How do you spell cyber… anything? While this may seem like a trivial topic, I do think it matters.
At first glance, spelling cyber just seems all over the map. For example, many people still use two words for Cyber Security. Some still use a dash: Cyber-Security. But more and more articles and books are moving to just one word with a small "s" in the middle – Cybersecurity.
The single word has become the norm in Washington D.C. in government circles – including the White House, Washington Post and other news outlets. Even foreign conventions are starting to combine cyber words.
Another option is to drop "security" altogether and just use the word cyber instead of cybersecurity in some cases. This trend may allow for even more merging of words. For example, "Cyber Security Threat" becomes "Cyber Threat" and eventually we have "Cyberthreat."
Many people have been using the word cyberspace for years. The term can have multiple meanings, but is often used interchangeably with the Internet or the World Wide Web. And yet, other cyber words are evolving within the English (or American-English) language.
If you type in "cyberattack" in Google, you will be asked if you meant to add a space (two words). But interestingly enough, the search results are very different with the space in between. The single word "cyberattack" yields 1.2 million page views, but the two words "cyber attack" yield about 10.5 million page views. More importantly, the top results are very different on these two searches. These different results can come from different spellings of cyber within headlines, books and articles.
Yes - Spelling Does Matter
So why should we care? Are we witnessing a new "cybermania?" Perhaps.
The "cyber" word is showing up everywhere. We now have cyberbullies, cybercars and more. Just adding "cyber" out front is hot - almost the new "e" from a decade ago. We used to hear a lot more about "e-government" and "e-everything." Over time, that terminology became less popular. As we now talk about mobile government. Nevertheless, e-government is still widely used today.
Moving forward, as more areas of society use the Internet, mobile apps and technology, there will be a security component to all these new topics that some call the consumerization of technology. The word "cyber" out front could become the new normal for an ever-growing list of security solutions within technology topics – or just another way of implying "computer-oriented." I suspect we will be seeing more cyberpets, cyberpower and even cybersports in virtual worlds. This may make the security-focused link confusing.
I also believe there is a growing specialization in the various fields of cybersecurity. The new words are a reflection of entirely new industries in specialized security categories – almost like the medical areas where doctors specialize in specific topics. For example, cyberdefense or cyberwar can be considered sub-areas within cybersecurity. That's right – our new cyber language is telling us about future job opportunities for our teenagers - so take note when you hear new cyber words.
Pragmatic Cyber
Beyond technology trends and the evolution of the American (and English) vocabulary, spelling matters for reasons like school spelling bees and computer spell checkers which put little red lines under cyber-words. Our spelling also shows how we talk about various topics and how these new terms are interrelated.
As a practical matter, I recommend trying multiple spellings when researching various "cyber-security" topics. I find very different results by separating-out the word cyber or combing the word cyber with other words or adding a dash.
And yes, this topic does come up in the daily life of a chief security officer. When we were building our Michigan Cyber Initiative document last year, we debated on how to spell "cybersecurity." Should we spell out the two words: "Cyber" and "Security" in the title? Or, should we combine them into one word: Cybersecurity? Or, what?
In the end, the word "Cyber" won out and stood alone to best capture our meaning, since combining cyber words seems to be the new normal.
What we later found interesting was that our document didn't come up (as a first page choice) within a Google search when looking for "State Cybersecurity Initiatives." We did some Search Engine Optimization (SEO) work and got that fixed.
So, how do you spell cyber?
Looking for the latest gov tech news as it happens? Subscribe to GT newsletters.


text:
Martin Higgins, author of Human+, interviewed me for his The Eternities podcast and published a review on Disinfo | Transhumanist Spirituality — A New Religion for the Modern Age?
I am in very good company: previous guests at The Eternities include Ramez Naam and Dean Radin, and I look forward to the next episodes, "interviews with writers and thinkers on such subjects as consciousness, technology and human potential."
"For the transhumanist thinker, Giulio Prisco, if god doesn't exist, he believes we will create him. Or her. Or, more accurately, perhaps — them," says Martin. "His uncompromising and ultra-optimistic "third way" philosophy combines the traditional aims of religion — existential meaning, eternal life, transcendence — with the ever-advancing means of science." Read more at Disinfo, and join the interesting discussion.
Some notes that I sent to Martin in preparation for the talk:
Our grandfathers found meaning, hope and happiness in religion and spirituality. They lived in a vast universe full of mystery, with benevolent gods, and hoped to continue to live after death and be reunited with loved ones in an afterlife. The hope in an afterlife helped them to cope with fear of death and grief for the loss of loved ones.
We have lost religion, because we know too much science. But future science may achieve all the promises of religion, including benevolent gods and resurrection.
A related loss is that of a sense of the frontier. The frontier is that place beyond the borders of mundane everyday life. In this sense, religion itself is a frontier, but we also had earthly frontiers where the restless could hope to go. Many of our ancestors, including many of the best and brightest, went from Europe to America in search of something new and better. Once in America, they "went West" with a powerful, religious sense of "manifest destiny," following the ever receding frontier until the Pacific coast. It is no wonder, then, that the West Coast culture is so innovative, because there is where the best and brightest restless souls went. The fundamental importance of the frontier for our mental health cannot be overstated.
Today, there is no frontier, and the result is a mental "rats in a cage" syndrome that is beginning to show its very harmful effects.
A few decades ago we briefly thought of space as a new frontier, and those who watched on TV Neil Armstrong walking on the Moon remember that powerful sense of cosmic destiny. Now, space seems a failed dream.
But space is still a new frontier. Only, it is not a frontier for us, but for future generations. Looking at today's world, there is no way we can start space colonization anytime soon. We are, instead, in the same position of Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, the Russian pioneer of space exploration, who dedicated his life to a dream that only future generations could achieve. But also a frontier remote in the future can give us a cosmic sense of purpose, and the drive to move a little closer one little step at a time, if we can hope to be part of that future.
Science is advancing, very fast, but not fast enough for us. Future generations will live very long, perhaps thousands of years and more, indefinite lifespans, and colonize the stars. They will be able to upload their minds to more powerful and durable substrates, leave biology behind, and merge with sentient, super-human artificial intelligences. Among the stars, they will meet super-advanced civilizations with God-like powers, and merge with them in an explosion of intelligence that will drive the future evolution of the universe.
But *they* is not good enough for *us*. We must think that we, ourselves, can be part of the wonderful cosmic adventure of intelligent life in the universe.
And perhaps we can. Perhaps inconceivably advanced intelligences using "magic" technologies based on extremely advanced science are, or will be, able to reach across space-time and resurrect the dead by copying them to their reality. Perhaps our reality is really a "simulation" computed in a reality of higher order, and we can be copied elsewhere after death with our loved ones. Perhaps our consciousness and self really live in the fabric of quantum space-time, and can be retrieved after physical death. Mysticism and spirituality may be based on vague intuitions of a reality beyond reality. These are not certainties, but possibilities compatible with our scientific knowledge and worldview. Contemplating these possibilities may play a role equivalent to religion and offer us meaning, hope and happiness compatible with science.


text: Hills Covered with Snow, a Different Case with the Lake, Fired up Sky, Altogether it is Quite a Scene – HD Natural Scenery Wallpaper Posted on March 29, 2014 by Snodgrass Pat The hills are still covered with snow, yet it is not the case with the lake, the sky seems to have been fired up, it combines quite a wonderful scene. (Visited 349 times, 1 visits today) More RelatedHills Covered with Snow, Lake Seems to be Dark, a Big Contrast in Vision Will be Gained – HD Natural Scenery WallpaperLake Covered with Ice, Will Take Long to Melt, Blue Sky is Revealed in the River, What an Impressive Scene! – HD Natural Scenery WallpaperNatural Scenery Free Wallpaper – A FairylandHills Full of Thick Snow, You See a White and Pure World, At the Top, You Are Close to the Sky – Natural Scenery WallpaperHills Covered with Thick Snow, the Rising Sun, Offering Soft and Generous Sunlight, How Magic Nature is! – HD Natural Scenery WallpaperHills and Beach Both Covered with Snow, Not the Sea, Sea Water is Blue and Clear, a Pure World is Presented – HD Natural Scenery WallpaperTrees and Hills with Thick Snow, the Rising Sun, Snowy Day Can be Quite Fun – HD Natural Scenery WallpaperBeachside Scene and Cloudy Smoking Hills Are Combined, Some Snow is Not Melting – HD Natural Scenery WallpaperTall White Hills Reflected in the Mirror-Like Sea, Both the Sea and the Sky Are Incredibly Blue, What a Scene! – HD Natural Scenery WallpaperFree HD Natural Scenery Wallpaper: Lake Snow Mountain Forest and Snow Mountain reflects In Lake


text:
words/ NATALIE HARMSEN pictures/ MAGDA KNYSZYNSKI
The Peace Tower bells ring out. Loud and clear, they clang, the sound echoing across the sky. But they are not enough to drown out the growing crowd of people spilling out across the grass and snaking around the skating rink, enveloping me from all sides. I am but one girl in a sea of faces; black, brown and white ones, young and old. There are a few men, and I can spot one or two children darting around as they evade the clutches of their mothers. But it is overwhelmingly women.
The crisp winter air is alive with energy. Cool enough to make my hands turn blue, but not cold enough to see my breath. Women hold hands and pose for pictures; their smiles are bright. Shiny smartphones capture every hug. In front of me, an elderly lady with a faux-fur fluorescent pink scarf thrusts a sign into the air. "WOMEN UNITED ARE NEVER DEFEATED" it reads. It is held together by peeling white tape and a slender wooden stick. She holds it with purpose as her hands grip it defiantly. Her black hair is ruffled by the breeze. The scarf cascades down her back, each fibre standing up as if it was fried by an electrical socket. More signs rise up, pointed at the sun in bright pinks, reds and blues.
Many sport pink hats with cat ears, the very same unmistakeable headpieces splashed across newspapers and magazines across the world on this day a year ago. The soft colour is anything but. Each person wearing them emanates a sense of ferocity. A carefree young girl in a flowery snowsuit looks pleased with herself, her round apple cheeks are flushed as she adjusts her hat. It's a simple accessory that has resistance embedded in each stitch of nubby rose-coloured yarn.
The sound swells up as the drummers begin to move, parting the way in a synchronized fashion. Many of them wear long skirts in vivid colours. They glide through the crowd gracefully, falling in a line to lead the way. Everyone follows as if drawn by some magnetic force. With each drum beat, everyone stands tall as we begin to march.
It's as if we are being led into battle. Each person's puffy winter parka and chunky black boots is the armour. I link arms with my friends as we move forward. We move out on to the icy street, dodging salty cracks in the grey pavement. I can't feel my toes, but it doesn't really matter. Everyone else seems to be immune to the cold as the sun beams down on them. It's so bright my eyes water. Police cars turn on their flashing lights, which reflect off of the polished glass windows of sleek office buildings. Everything is drenched in light.
We march on.


text:
Mindy McCready, the 37-year-old country music star and mother of two, was found dead Sunday, after an apparent self-inflicted gunshot to the head.
Her reported suicide — the fourth time she has tried to kill herself since 2005 — follows last month's death of her longtime boyfriend, David Wilson, who shot and killed himself on the porch of the Little Rock, Ark., home they shared, The Associated Press reported. The Daily Mail also reports she shot and killed the family dog before turning the gun on herself.
Ms. McCready topped the country music charts in the 1990s with the hits "10,000 Angels," and "Guys Do It all the Time," according to Fox News.
She's been known more in recent years for her struggles. In April 2010, she appeared on Fox News to discuss her 6-year hiatus from music, during which she said she had been in a lot of trouble, but "seeking redemption." Her death on Sunday came just days after she left court-ordered rehab for alcohol and prescription pill abuses, The Daily Mail reported.
She leaves behind two young sons, AP reports. (Washington Times)


text:
With its economy contracting, Japan's much-heralded, three-pronged Abenomics revival plan is beginning to look like a two-legged stool.
The latest evidence came Monday with a surprise drop in Japan's gross domestic product, which fell at an annual rate of 1.6 percent in the third quarter after plunging 7.3 percent in the second quarter. That followed a rise in the national sales tax, which clobbered consumer spending.
That wasn't the plan when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was elected in 2012 on a pledge to revive Japan's long-moribund economy, the world's third-largest. He promptly announced that he had three arrows in his quiver to meet that target.


text:
Afghan President annouces transitions
AUSTRALIAN soldiers stationed in Afghanistan's Uruzgan province will start heading home as early as the middle of this year, says Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai.
Australia's mentoring taskforce, which has been training Afghan forces to take over their own defence operations, could be among the first to return home.
Mr Karzai announced on Monday that the third tranche of provinces would begin the transition to Afghan-led security responsibility.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard welcomed the announcement, saying the transition included the mentoring task force, Special Forces and the Provincial Reconstruction team.
She said more than 75% of Afghanistan's population would be living in areas under Afghan security once the third tranche was complete.
"At the Lisbon NATO International Security Assistance Force Summit in November 2010, Afghanistan and ISAF countries agreed that Afghan security forces would take responsibility for security by the end of 2014," Ms Gillard said.
"President Karzai's announcement is a strong signal that the transition process is on track.
"Australia is firmly committed to Afghanistan and to the agreed transition strategy and its implementation.
"Transition is a gradual process, not an event, achieved when the conditions are right on a province-by-province and district-by-district basis," she said.
The transition process could take up to 18 months, with the final tranche of Australia's defence forces in Uruzgan likely to return by the end of 2014.
Ms Gillard said Australia would continue to support Afghanistan after the transition, through training and advice as well as a possible continued special forces role.
"This ongoing commitment to Afghanistan will be a feature of Australia's contribution to the Chicago NATO-ISAF Summit next week, which we will attend," she said.


text:
So, two of the past four weekends, I've forgotten my Sunday Blog. I almost forgot it tonight, as well, but I remembered in time to make this post. Oops.
Mostly, I've just been forgetting to post the things I'm writing. That's partly because I haven't been very good about realizing what day of the week it is, lately (weekends and weekdays have seemed to be a lot alike), but part of it is just that I'm not sure what to write.
I have a lot of posts I've started waiting for completion for this blog, but all of them require more time to write than I usually put into this blog in a week (and, if you've been following this blog for a while, you know how long my blogs can usually get, so you might have some idea why these would take a while).
I could continue to talk up my already released books, like In Treachery Forged, In Forgery Divided, and The Kitsune Stratagem. I could give progress reports on my ongoing projects, such as The Merrimack Event (uh… yeah, I need to do something with that. I haven't done anything with that manuscript since the last time I talked about it, even though it just needs an editor and cover art to be released) or In Division Imperiled (without giving spoilers, I can't really say much about it beyond reciting my depressingly low daily word counts. I'm hoping the writing will speed up before too long, because I like the content I'm writing more than I usually do when my writing slows this much).
However, these are exactly the sorts of things I'm trying to AVOID talking about on this blog. I want to come up with content that is, you know, interesting — not stuff that will drive readers away.
I might have an idea I can get ready by next week, but if anyone has suggestions for what they want to see out of this blog in the future let me know. Otherwise, don't be surprised if posting becomes a bit more irregular.
Note: Comments closed due to spambots.


text:
Bullying and Peer Pressure: Be Safe at School
Part 2 in a 3-Part Series
As teachers and administrators across the country are welcoming students to a new school year, we want to help make sure your child starts 2017-2018 off right. Follow these simple safety steps, adapted from the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC), which are important whether your student is just beginning his educational journey or is close to earning a degree.
School safety is of paramount importance since children spend more hours at school than anywhere besides their own homes. Facing myriad obstacles, such as bullying and peer pressure, and natural or manmade disasters, students now more than ever need to proactively take steps to #BeSafe.
Our first entry focused on how to keep your child safe on the way to and from school. This week, we will cover how to be safe while at school, relative to bullying. To read part one, click here. Our final post will cover school safety before, during and after natural and manmade disasters.
Although bullying was once considered standard procedure, parents, educators, and community leaders today recognize it as a devastating form of abuse that can have long-term repercussions – robbing students of self-esteem, isolating them from peers, and leading to health problems, curtailed education, and even suicide.
According to StopBullying.gov, the core elements of the definition include: "unwanted aggressive behavior; observed or perceived power imbalance; and repetition of behaviors or high likelihood of repetition."
Bullying is now seen as gateway behavior, teaching perpetrators that threats and aggression are acceptable, even in adulthood. ABC News reports that one in every five middle and high school students has complained of being bullied at school. And reports of sexual assault on college campuses (which fit under the broader category of bullying) have more than tripled over the past decade. Most bullying takes place in school, outside on school grounds or on the school bus. Cyberbullying, which is a relatively new phenomenon, occurs via smartphones, social media and other computer applications.
Since bullying can threaten students' physical and emotional safety at school and negatively impact their ability to learn, the best way to address bullying is to be proactive. Talking to your children about bullying will help them know how to respond if they are victims and will also keep them from becoming bullies.
- Pay attention. Ask parents of your child's friends and peers, teachers, guidance counselors, and the school principal if they see signs in your child of bullying or evidence that he is being bullied
- Communicate. Keep the lines of communication open. Talk to your kids about relationships and pressures to fit in. Discuss what bully behavior looks like. Ask your child to pay attention not only to how she is treated but also to identify bullying of other children.
- Stop it in its tracks. Don't wait for bully-behavior to escalate before addressing it. If you suspect your child is a victim or perpetrator, act immediately. Let your child know that bullying is unacceptable and that serious consequences will be faced if the behavior is not checked at home, school, and in the community.
- Teach respect. Regularly engage in dialogue with your child about maintaining a sense of empathy for people who are different. Consider getting involved in a community group where your child can interact with kids who are different. Make sure you remain a good example in your dealings with others.
- Reward good behavior. Students sometimes bully to get attention. So, positive reinforcement can be more powerful than negative discipline. Catch your kids behaving well and when they handle situations in ways that are constructive or positive, take notice and shower them with praise.
Check back, as the final post in our three-part back-to-school safety series will focus on natural and manmade disasters.
About the Allied Universal Fire Life Safety Training System
Safety is important for everyone all year round, not just while at school. A convenient and affordable way to make sure high-rise occupants are prepared for disasters and emergencies of virtually every kind is to subscribe to the Allied Universal Fire Life Safety Training System, which has been designed to help improve and save lives. For more information about the best system out there, or to subscribe, click here.
Tags: Back-to-School Safety, bullying


text:
Seniors, NOW is the time: Can't miss events just for you
Seniors, NOW is time to prepare for your post-graduation plans! Whether you are thinking of graduate school or working after graduation, the Career Center is hosting an event that is just for you.
Thinking of Law School? On Thursday, Sept 16 at 4:00 pm come hear representatives from WCL share insights into legal careers and law school admissions. Learn more and RSVP at http://www.american.edu/careercenter/calendar/?id=2619665
Wondering when to start your job search? On Tuesday, Sept 21 the AU Career Center is hosting Now and Later: Career Spree for Seniors, a full day dedicated just to Seniors. We'll have drop-in advising throughout the day. In the afternoon, we'll host programs that will inform you on why it is important to begin your job search NOW; what not to do in an interview– you'll see mistakes to avoid; and you'll learn how to use Twitter, Facebook, and other social media for your job search. We'll end the day with an informative Employer Round Table Discussion in the evening—hiring managers will tell you what they expect in resumes, interviews, and more! For details on time and place, visit the Career Center events calendar at http://www.american.edu/careercenter/calendar/?id=2606982
Want to find a job or internship? Don't miss our Fall Job and Internship Fair on Wednesday, Sept. 29 in Bender Arena
Interested in applying to grad school? On Thursday, October 7 American University faculty will share their thoughts on what makes a great applicant and application. RSVP at http://www.american.edu/careercenter/calendar/?id=2618612
Remember, through your senior year and beyond, AU Career Advisors are ready to help you plan for your next steps.


text:
No matter who we are or where we're at in our lives or careers, we've once upon a time dreamed a few dreams or set a few goals. Chances are, some of what we've accomplished so far has come from one or two ideas put into action. Opportunities sometimes present themselves in no order or without much effort, however, personal happiness and a sense of fulfillment are almost always the products of visions that have been recognized and acted on.
Having dreams and goals are crucial when it comes to personal development, however, the two are not necessarily interchangeable. Speaker and positive thinking coach, Chuck Gallozzi separates the two by saying:
"Goals show commitment; dreams do not. Dreams are what we would like to have without doing any work."
This is not to say dreaming is a waste of time, but instead we should be setting our goals based on what we dream our ideal self or life to look like. By extracting smaller ideas from complex concepts, we are implementing personal changes that can lead to positive outcomes.
Productive Daydreaming
Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not, a good portion of our life goals come from the time we spend actively dissociated from our reality. According to a study conducted by Harvard University, the average American spends nearly half of their waking hours daydreaming. In fact, the study concluded that our minds wander about 46.9%, with most of it occurring during working hours. While excessive daydreaming, known as maladaptive daydreaming, can seriously interfere with human interactions and constructive thinking, setting professional goals or dreaming up a new destination to explore can give us something to work for in the moment. If we spend our hours at the office daydreaming about a work-from-home position that allows us flexibility and more time with our family, having this idea in the first place can be a sure sign it may be time to consider a new role or simply discuss flex opportunities with an employer.
The key with daydreaming is to use it as constructively as possible. Daydreaming is often used as a form of escapism from stress or unhappiness. This can lead to unrealistic expectations and disappointment in how our time is being spent in the now. While fantasizing about a slimmer physique, a larger salary, or fewer responsibilities can deliver an instant wave of pleasure, it is often followed by sadness and a feeling of personal failure when we come back to reality.
Out with Doubt
When it comes to designing the framework for my aspirations and goals, I'm known to be overly aggressive. I set the bar high, and can say with certainty I simply. never. settle. Whether it's a professional position I desire to obtain, a fitness record I want to set, or a destination I want to immerse myself in, I don't stop until I've devoured every morsel of my vision, or until my course changes direction and I'm manically planning the next great adventure.
No one will argue that ambition is a beautiful thing, but sometimes it can be hard to put the wheels in motion and make your dreams a living and breathing reality. This is where doubt comes creeping in, saying "you'll never have enough money to move to Hawaii," "you don't have enough experience to write a book," "that marathon will take years to train for," and we sink back into our day-to-day routine, putting dreams back on the shelf.
Instead of letting doubt dictate your life, seek a resolution; a middle ground to settle your mind while you work towards your vision. Be practical with whatever tools are already in reach. If a week-long backpacking trip is where your mind wanders to day after day, begin researching areas of interest and setting aside money to purchase the necessary gear. If downsizing or relocating to a new neighborhood remains on the brain time and time again, discuss the logistics of such a decision with your family to see if a transition is truly feasible. Those abstract, out of reach thoughts for the future may be much closer than you think.


text:
Facilities Rental
Contact Information
Administrative Services
Brucker Hall, Room 6101
- Dennis Callinan, Director of Administrative Services
Rockland Community College's friendly atmosphere and outstanding facilities - the ideal place to host your event!
RCC is truly here to serve the community and some of our facilities and lovely grounds are available for rental to the public. We host a variety of activities including major trade shows, conferences, and theatrical presentations.
For information about renting/using space at RCC, please call one of the following numbers listed below or Dennis Callinan, Director of Administrative Services at 845-574-4481.
|Contact Person
|Eugene Levy Fieldhouse
|Dennis Callinan
|Fieldhouse Pool
|Dennis Callinan
|Cultural Arts Cafeteria
|Dennis Callinan
|Cultural Arts Theater
|Christopher Plummer
|Student Union Multi-Purpose Room
|Dennis Callinan
|Academic I & II Classrooms
|Dennis Callinan
|Support Personnel
|Contact Person
|Interim Executive Director of Operations /
Interim Chief Law Enforcement Officer
|William Murphy
|Director of Safety
|Robert Rahl
Each facility has certain requirements and restrictions; however, the following is generally common to all spaces:
- The College's first priority is to provide space for College-sponsored functions.
- Normally, facility usage may not be scheduled more than three (3) months in advance. Earlier requests must be approved by College Administration.
All external groups wishing to use RCC's Facilities may check the following links for the space they are interested in. For the Eugene Levy Fieldhouse or Pool see Fieldhouse/Pool Rental. For the Cultural Arts Theater see Theater Guidelines & Procedures. For other facilities on campus see Other Facilities. Please note we cannot put a facility on "hold" until a fully executed application has been received. Once application is received, all external groups must submit a Certificate of Insurance with it.
- A Certificate of Insurance is required for all events on RCC's Campus.
- General Liability each occurrence $1,000,000
- Personal & Adv Injury each occurrence $1,000,000
- Med. Expense any one person each occurrence $5,000
- Damage to Rented Premises $50,000
- General Aggregate $2,000,000
- Excess / Umbrella Liability each occurrence $1,000,000
The group renting space must have Statutory Worker's Compensation and Employer's Liability Insurance for its workers. The Certificate must be submitted to the RCC Department hosting the event fourteen (14) days in advance of the event date. Failure to submit proof of adequate insurance may result in cancellation of a scheduled event. The Certificate of Insurance should name Rockland Community College and the County of Rockland as co-insured and include each specific date (s) of use. Each user will be liable for damages that require repair or replacement. RCC is not responsible for loss or damage to equipment or property owned by the user, its agents, employees, audiences or guests. For selected events, liability limits may be increased and if auto vehicles involved additional auto liability will be required.
- Payment for the use of RCC facilities and charges for personnel assigned to the event, equipment used and additional services are in accordance with the pre-established fee schedule for that space. For the Eugene Levy Fieldhouse or Pool see Fieldhouse/Pool Rental. For the Cultural Arts Theater see Theater Guidelines & Procedures. For other facilities see Other Facilities. Fees involved include rental fees, maintenance fees, security fees, personnel fees and any other associates fees. Invoices will be based on actual use and therefore, will be processed based on the agreement between the user and RCC. Invoices that are more than 30 days past due will be subject to a 5% late fee and if an account remains unpaid, will be subject to an additional 5% late quarterly fee until payment is fully accounted for. RCC reserves the right to require a nonrefundable deposit.
- RCC reserves the right to require one or more part-time professional staff to oversee event logistics at the cost of the Facility User.
- A 501C-3 tax exempt certificate will be required for all groups that claim non-profit status.
- The non profit organization named on the tax exempt certificate must match the non-profit named on the facilities use application.
- Use of alcohol and illegal drugs is prohibited on RCC Facilities. Use of tobacco products is prohibited on RCC Facilities.
- RCC reserves the right to review all advertisements of outside groups using the facility prior to publication.
- RCC reserves the right to deny the use of its facilities to any organization whose goals and philosophies are not consistent with the mission of RCC. RCC reserves the right to require additional security and / or personnel to events at the cost of the facilities user group. Security needs will be determined by the College's Director of Public Safety.
- RCC reserves the right to deny use of its equipment or technicians needed to operate the equipment if they are not available or not in the best interest of the College.
- When RCC is closed due to inclement weather or emergency situations, all campus events will be cancelled. The Eugene Fieldhouse and Cultural Arts Theater will be based on a case by case basis when involving inclement weather but no events will be allowed if the County of Rockland declares an emergency.
- Rental parties will honor the RCC food service contract with Culinart when applicable.
- Certain facilities requests will require additional requirements which will be included in the contract with RCC and that external group for that space.


text:
Fall Into Savings | Up To 20% Off | Shop Now
Fall Into Savings | Up To 20% Off | Shop Now
With 2,500 lbs. of pulling capacity, this workhorse is equipped with premium components, and is ideal for recovering stuck ATVs on the trail or pulling heavy loads on the work site. With an easy-to-use clutch dial, powerful permanent magnet motor, and all-metal gear housing, this winch is a market leader.
In 1948, Arthur Warn founded Warn Industries to construct locking hubs for surplus World War II Jeeps. Ten years later, the Warn winch was manufactured to fill the need for a reliable recovery tool to aid off-roaders stuck in challenging situations. Since then, Warn has grown to offer a wide range of gear with the hallmarks of durability and affordability. 1988 spawned the aftermarket industry's first ATV winch and today their PowerSports line of winches ranks among the most esteemed in the industry and jeepers call on Warn for electric, hydraulic and severe duty components that get the job done. Shop Warn Now


text:
- This event has passed.
Denver Society of Creation – Littleton, CO
September 7, 2017 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Creation Presentation with Mr. Martin Barlau at the Denver Society of Creation in Littleton, CO.
WHEN: September 7, 2017
7:00 PM – "Did God Really Say…?"
WHERE: Ascension Lutheran Church
1701 W Caley Ave
Littleton, CO
CONTACT: Judy Finnessy
Denver Society of Creation Meeting – September 2017
"Did God Really Say…?" Survival of the fittest is a concept deep in the bedrock of the theory of Evolution. As such, it also forms the basis of the worldview of those who deny the account of Creation, or those who are ignorant of it. A Christian must ask whether survival of the fittest, or other aspects of the concept of Evolution, have a place in their life with God. Or, how should our worldview differ? This presentation offers a lay person's perspective on the controversy between Evolution and Creation.
About: Mr. Barlau is a native of Minnesota. He is the eldest son of an LC-MS Pastor and has attended Lutheran schools throughout his childhood education. Barlau continued his schooling at Concordia University in Seward, NE, graduating with a B. S. in education. He served for 10 years at Christ Lutheran Church and School in Norfolk, NE, as a teacher, music director and principal. In 1967, he received a Master's Degree in Elementary Curriculum from Wayne State College in Wayne, NE, and that same year, accepted a call to serve as principal and teacher at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and School in Lakewood, CO. Here, he also served as chairman of Lutheran Educational Administrators of Denver (LEAD), and in 1982 was elected to the Board of Directors of the Colorado (now Rocky Mountain) District of the LC-MS. Since his formal retirement in 2013, he has turned his attention to private consulting services for Lutheran educational ministries. His present ministry is directed toward reaching the children and youth of the church and the nation with the truth about their origins, and about the promise of life with God.


text:
El Condor closes $2 million financing
Feb 12, 2013, 11:40 ET
US Symbol: ECNRF
VANCOUVER, Feb. 12, 2013 /CNW/ - El Condor Minerals Inc. ("El Condor" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced $2,000,000 financing (the "Financing"). $733,500 of the Financing was completed pursuant to a non-brokered private placement of 14,670,000 common shares at a price of $0.05 per common share (the "Equity Financing"). The sole subscriber in the Equity Financing was Sheridan Platinum Group Ltd. ("Sheridan") who, as a result of the Equity Financing, is now an "insider" of the Company pursuant to applicable securities laws.
The remaining amount of the Financing was completed by way of debt financing (the "Debt Financing"). $866,500 of the Debt Financing was advanced under a non-convertible loan granted by Sheridan, and $400,000 was advanced under a convertible loan by an arm's-length third party. Each of the two concurrent loans are for a term of five years, bear interest at a rate of 5% per annum, payable quarterly, and are secured against the assets of the Company. All or a portion of the principal amount of the convertible loan is convertible for common shares in the Company at the price of $0.10 per common share, in whole or in part at the lender's option, at any time during the 5-year term. However should the 20-day average trading price of the common shares of the Company on the TSX Venture Exchange exceed $1.00, the lender will be obliged to convert the outstanding loan principal to common shares of the Company at the price of $0.10 per share. Both of the loans also include a demand provision whereby the lenders can demand repayment at any time after the second anniversary of closing upon 120 days' notice duly given to the Company.
In connection with the Financing, the Company has agreed to issue 1,600,000 common shares and 800,000 warrants (each, a "Finder's Warrants") to a finder. Each Finder's Warrant is exercisable to acquire an additional common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.10 until February 8, 2015.
All securities issued pursuant to the Financing are subject to a statutory hold period expiring on June 9, 2013. The proceeds from the Financing have been used to retire a $2,000,000 debt of the Company.
About El Condor Minerals Inc.
El Condor Minerals Inc. is currently developing the Horden Lake Cu-Ni Project, an advanced exploration stage copper-nickel deposit in Quebec. Horden Lake is a NI 43-101 compliant resource calculated effective April 2009 using the Ordinary Kriging method and a 0.5% copper cut-off, with 8,759,200 Indicated Tonnes at 0.88% Cu and 0.21% Ni and 7,791,195 Inferred Tonnes at 0.87% Cu and 0.25% Ni. The resource is unbounded at depth as well as along both its northeasterly and southwesterly strike extensions, where historic drilling by INCO continues to intersect the mineralization.
Additional information on El Condor, its properties and its exploration and development activities is available at the Company's website: www.elcondorminerals.com.
"Leigh W. Freeman"
President & CEO
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to a U.S. Person unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date such statements were made. The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
SOURCE: El Condor Minerals Inc.
For further information:
please contact the Company at (604) 689-8336 or [email protected].


text:
"This kind of silly game playing is just counterproductive. I hope they're taking a more serious approach to negotiations with our correctional bargaining team, which is trying hard to fix the crisis in corrections." — Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President
Toronto (31 Jan. 2018) — The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) is expressing grave disappointment in light of a standardized email that some Liberal MPPs are using to respond to the union's campaign on the crisis in Ontario's correctional system.
"It's very discouraging when government MPPs try to deny that our correctional system is in crisis," said Chris Jackel, Chair of the bargaining team for the correctional bargaining unit. "It shows just how completely out of touch the government is with the reality in corrections."
Liberal MPPs avoid answering difficult questions about crisis in corrections
In recent days, some Liberal MPPs have sent out a common response consisting of material gathered from various areas of the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services and the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, which are responsible for the correctional system.
"These messages are highly politicized," Jackel explained. "They're the kind of non-response politicians use at Question Period to avoid answering difficult questions. When you use them to respond to the genuine concerns of workers on the ground, they're just a slap in the face."
As an example, Jackel took the government's assertion that "Ontario's streets are safer than ever." Jackel described the claim as "preposterous." He pointed out that a Global News investigation revealed there are no compliance checks for 50,000 offenders in the community — including sex offenders. Further, Ontario has the country's highest recidivism rates.
More resources needed for workers in corrections
"We desperately need more probation and parole officers with effective compliance powers," said Jackel. "Until then, our streets are not safe — not in the real world."
Further endangering Ontario's communities is a severe and chronic shortage of correctional officers to keep watch over overcrowded prison populations.
"The government boasts of a commitment to hire 2,000 new correctional officers," said Jackel. "In fact, only 1,600 have been hired — part-time officers whose main purpose is back-filling for full-time correctional officers on approved leave. Again, in the real world, that's a zero increase in staff."
OPSEU/NUPGE hopes government takes issues more seriously in bargaining
"Recent corrections ministers' statements had me believing the government had finally clued into the crisis in corrections," said Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of OPSEU/NUPGE. "This kind of silly game playing is just counterproductive. I hope they're taking a more serious approach to negotiations with our correctional bargaining team, which is trying hard to fix the crisis in corrections."
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 390,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. — NUPGE


text:
East Highland Way Route
This is our suggested East Highland Way route. Click on Itineraries and Prices for various route options.
Day 1: Travel to Fort William, the bustling Highland town set against the dramatic backdrop of Ben Nevis, the UK's highest mountain.
Day 2: Fort William to Spean Bridge (11.5 miles / 19 km)
Leaving Fort William and the Nevis Range behind, you may wish to take a short detour from the path to visit the Ben Nevis distillery. The trail becomes more rural and peaceful as you pass through mixed woodland, and you can enjoy views across the Great Glen before stopping at the Highland village of Spean Bridge, famous for its spectacular Commando Memorial.
Day 3: Spean Bridge to Inverlair (10 miles / 15.5 km)
The second stage of the East Highland Way follows forest trails for the majority of the day. The River Spean runs alongside these for the most part and there will be some farmland walking and forestry with mountain views at times. Overnight accommodation is back in Spean Bridge.
Day 4: Inverlair to Feagour (21 miles / 33.5 km)
This is the longest stage of the route, but it is straightforward walking on forestry tracks. Through the plentiful clearings in the trees, you will be able to take in the views of Binnein Shuas and Creag Meagaidh, before walking alongside Loch Laggan, known for its large sandy beaches and Monarch of the Glen fame.
Day 5: Feagour to Newtonmore (14 miles / 22 km)
Today you are rewarded with amazing views from the offset. The day commences with an optional ascent up to the remains of Dun da Lamh, an impressive Pictish Fort. The route then continues through remote Glen Banchor as you make your way towards Newtonmore. Pay close attention to wildlife today – the Newtonmore area is known as prime Wildcat country. With around 100 of these beautiful creatures remaining in the wild, this is a rare opportunity to spot one.
Day 6: Newtonmore to Kincraig (15.5 miles / 24.5 km)
Leaving Newtonmore behind, you will enjoy some leisurely walking today as you make your way towards Loch Gynack. The imposing Ruthven Barracks are en route, and you will pass through the beautiful RSPB Nature Reserve at Insh Marshes after joining the Badenoch Way. After traversing the banks of Loch Insh you will arrive in Kincraig, famed for its Watersports Centre.
Day 7: Kincraig to Aviemore (10.5 miles / 16.5 km)
Today you will enjoy a fitting end to a fantastic walk, combining culture and nature. You'll have the opportunity to visit Frank Bruce's Sculpture Park, enjoy your lunch on the shores of Loch an Eilein, wander through the Caledonian Pine Forest of the Rothiemurchus Estate and finish in Aviemore, in the heart of the spectacular Cairngorms National Park.
Day 8: Onward Travel


text:
Today I have the lovely wedding of Naomi and Fahran, it's such a sweet one, so let's just jump right in, all words from the bride – Naomi.
Fahran is from Kent and I am from Lincolnshire. We met at university in Sheffield where we both studied for the same degree, we got together just after we graduated. Fahran is a Muslim, his parents are both from Mauritius. I am Christian from a white British background.
The Proposal
Fahran asked my dad's permission before he proposed and then took me to a beach where I used to go with my family as a child and wrote 'will you marry me' in the sand ☺ it was the day before my 30th birthday, I was over the moon!
The Wedding
We decided to get married in Sheffield where we had lived ever since we got together. It was really important to both of us to include elements of both of our faiths within the ceremony so we did some research and found a local interfaith marriage celebrant. We worked with Jan (our celebrant) and managed to come up with a ceremony we were both really happy with. Fahran's Dad read some traditional Islamic prayers before the ceremony at the venue with Fahran and I know some of our guests who arrived early really liked being able to be a part of that when they probably hadn't experienced anything like it before.
For us we like to celebrate the similarities between our faiths even though we believe different things and we really felt like we were able to do this through our ceremony.
We had a separate legal ceremony the week before our wedding at Sheffield Registry Office to enable us to include the religious elements in our 'proper' wedding. We kept this as small as possible and just had 2 friends with us to act as witnesses. We held our wedding at Wood Lane Countryside Centre in Sheffield.
The outfits
My dress was by Pronovias and I got it from a supplier near my parents house. It was nothing like I thought I would choose but was the first dress I tried on and I absolutely loved it. I had traditional bridal henna done on my hands and feet and my bridesmaids also had henna on their hands. My shoes were from Kurt Geiger. I did my own make up and one of my bridesmaids did my hair which was amazing.
My bridesmaids all chose their own dresses, the only stipulation was that they had to be blue and they all looked fab. Fahran wore a traditional sherwani for the ceremony which we bought on Green Street in East Ham. He changed into his Moss Bros Bespoke suit for the reception (what a diva!). I can't really remember when we decided on a blue theme but we were so pleased when we got the photos because the colours looked so beautiful.
The Catering
The catering was provided by Barretts Bespoke Catering, we had a bbq which was all halal to cater for our Muslim guests. We did have alcohol served which we provided ourselves and we organised our seating plan so that there were alcohol-free tables.
We made it clear when we sent our invitations out that it would be an interfaith ceremony and that all food would be halal but that alcohol would also be served at the reception. This meant that there were quite a few family and friends from Fahran's side that chose not to attend. We knew that this would probably be the case but it was important to us to have our wedding exactly how we wanted it and not to compromise to try and please other people.
The decor
We bought our flowers from a flower farm in the Peak District, they were delivered in buckets the day before the wedding and the bridesmaids and I made up our own bouquets on the morning of the wedding. We also put flowers around the venue and on the reception tables in jam jars.
We decorated the venue with flowers and fairy lights and my Mum made us some personalised bunting which we hung from the beams. You can see this in some of the photos and it was such a lovely touch.
The venue was originally a farm and is made up of 2 separate barns. We used the second barn as a cake room – lots of our guests made cakes and we laid them all out in here with tea and coffee urns and vintage china cups and saucers.
The Cake
My Mum made our wedding cake cupcakes and they were iced to look like hydrangeas. I love the photos of them, all he colours look fantastic!
The Entertainment
We made playlists for each part of the day and used a laptop connected to a speaker system for the music.
We got our first 'sneak peak' at one of our photos, from Kate Waters Photography, when we were on our honeymoon and we couldn't wait to see the rest! When we got them we couldn't stop looking at them, they brought back all the great memories from the day and captured it all perfectly. For me it was lovely to see photos of everything that happened before I arrived and also photos from throughout the day which captured things we weren't even aware of at the time.
Favourite part of the day
I really can't pick a favourite part of the day, I loved every minute of it!
Wedding Planning
The hardest part of planning was probably trying to cater for everyone and have the wedding we wanted. We knew from the start that we wanted everyone together on one day, not any kind of separate celebrations to cater for our different guests. It probably would have easier to do that and would have kept more people happy but we felt really strongly that our wedding should be a reflection of our relationship and incorporate both of our faiths and traditions.
The easiest part of planning was the bridesmaids/best man outfits as they all chose their own!
My only advice would be to stay true to yourself, don't do things you don't want to just to please other people.
Wedding Suppliers
Photography: Kate Waters Photography
Flowers: Hollow Meadow Flowers
Wedding dress: Pronovias from Wellbert Bridal
Venue: Wood Lane Countryside Centre
Caterer: Barretts Bespoke Catering
Groom's suit: Moss Bros
Bride's shoes: Kurt Geiger
Henna artist: Primrose Henna
Sherwani: From Green Street


text:
Everyone got their flu shot, right? Right?! I'm kidding, of course, though if everyone did get this season's flu shot–just 30 percent effective–it would likely only make things marginally better. At least 84 children have died nationwide from influenza since the fall of 2017, according to this Feb. 20 Chicago Tribune story. What's more, on Feb. 10 Fortune reported that the flu this season "is killing up to 4,000 Americans a week."
This is bad, but it's not a pandemic, which according to new research spearheaded by University of Hawaii at Manoa Assistant Professor Victoria Fan, will likely hit even harder than scientists first estimated.
Fan is the lead author (along with Lawrence Summers, a former U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury and former President of Harvard University and Dean T. Jamison, Emeritus Professor of Global Health at the University of Washington at Seattle) of a new paper titled "Pandemic Risk: How large are expected losses," published in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.
Here's the paper's abstract, which should drive home exactly how bad things can (will?) get:
There is an unmet need for greater investment in preparedness against major epidemics and pandemics. The arguments in favour of such investment have been largely based on estimates of the losses in national incomes that might occur as the result of a major epidemic or pandemic. Recently, we extended the estimate to include the valuation of the lives lost as a result of pandemic-related increases in mortality. This produced markedly higher estimates of the full value of loss that might occur as the result of a future pandemic. We parametrized an exceedance probability function for a global influenza pandemic and estimated that the expected number of influenza-pandemic-related deaths is about 720,000 per year. We calculated that the expected annual losses from pandemic risk to be about 500 billion United States dollars–or 0.6% of global income–per year. This estimate falls within–but towards the lower end of–the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's estimates of the value of the losses from global warming, which range from 0.2% to 2% of global income. The estimated percentage of annual national income represented by the expected value of losses varied by country income grouping: from a little over 0.3% in high-income countries to 1.6% in lower-middle-income countries. Most of the losses from influenza pandemics come from rare, severe events.
That certainly sounds dire, but it doesn't necessarily mean that there's nothing we can do.
"Policymakers may be able to estimate the economic losses that come with rare but potentially devastating events," said Fan in a Jan. 31 UH Manoa news release. "We hope this can lead to more appropriate adjustments for national policies and investments, and international collaborations on pandemic preparedness."
Click here to read the paper.
Photo of Victoria Fan courtesy UH Manoa


text:
Mission Bay town centre safety improvements Mission Bay town centre safety improvements
Auckland Transport (AT) is working to make changes to roads in Mission Bay town centre to improve safety and accessibility for all road users.
Project status: Consultation - feedback closed 30 April 2019.
Project zone: Central.
Project overview
We are making changes to roads in Mission Bay town centre in order to improve safety and accessibility for all road users, especially vulnerable road users. Vulnerable road users include children, senior citizens, people on motorbikes, people walking and cycling.
80% of all road deaths and serious injuries occur on 50km/h local urban roads. Nearly half of those deaths and injuries involve vulnerable road users. AT is committed to making the roads safer for all road users and these changes will help achieve this.
Within the last 5 years (2013 – 2017) there have been 46 reported crash incidents within the Mission Bay town centre area, which resulted in 14 people being injured. We know many more remain unreported and it is likely much higher in reality.
The project will be partly funded by the regional fuel tax.
Caption: Artists impression of the Tamaki Drive and Marau Crescent intersection.
Proposed improvements
The improvements proposed include:
- Nine new raised zebra crossings within the town centre. See map below for specific locations proposed.
- A new roundabout at the Tamaki Drive and Marau Crescent intersection.
- Improved shared path facilities and planted areas connecting the Tamaki Drive/ Selwyn Avenue intersection and Tamaki Drive/ Marau Crescent intersection.
- Removal of the flush median and widened shared path facilities on Tamaki Drive between Atkin Avenue and Selwyn Avenue.
- Intersection improvements on Patterson Avenue and Marau Crescent.
- Removing 34 public car park spaces on and surrounding Tamaki Drive to make room for the new pedestrian crossings. See below map for specific locations proposed.
Learn more about speed calming measures and their benefits.
Download the map for Mission Bay town centre safety improvements (PDF 545KB).
Detailed design plans of proposed town centre safety improvements
Proposed location of the town centre safety improvements, shown in detailed plans:
- Download the detailed design plans and locations of the proposed safety improvements for Mission Bay town centre (PDF 8MB).
'Construction of the proposed changes is likely to take place during mid to late 2019.
These improvements are part of AT's commitment to reducing the number of deaths and serious injuries on our roads by 60% over the next 10 years.
Find out more about why these changes are needed and how we're reducing speed limits.
Public consultation
Before we make these changes, we wanted to understand if there are any issues or concerns that need to be taken into consideration, what you think about the proposal and any changes you would like to make. Your local knowledge gave us a better understanding of the area and help us make improvements.
Feedback is closed 30 April 2019.
Next steps
We will analyse all of the feedback and use it to help refine the proposal. Your local insights will help us make an informed decision to make your streets safer for everyone.
We will prepare a report on the feedback received and any changes made to the proposal, which will be published online. If you provided your contact details when giving us feedback, we will notify you when the report is available.
We are also advancing a working group to further discuss improvements to the proposal with Ōrākei Local Board, local Councillor, Residents Association, and Business Association representation.
We appreciate your patience while we undertake this process.
Because of the level of interest in this matter AT has undertaken to come back to the community with a revised proposal.
AT may introduce a 30km/h speed limit to Mission Bay town centre in future as part of a wider speed management programme. This would mean in addition to the above changes we would also add '30' surface markings on the road to advise drivers of the reduced limit. Consultation on this proposed new bylaw took place in March 2019. Find out more information about the safer speeds programme.


text:
In the early days of my blog, I did a small little series about the sandwich options around the Ohio Statehouse in Downtown Columbus. Unsurprisingly, the sandwich is a pretty popular lunch vehicle here, as major chains like Subway and Potbelly Deli battle locally established eateries to attract the numerous hungry workers employed in the area.
Perhaps as a testament to that steady demand, many of these places are still plying their trade in some form or another, though in some cases with a twist. For example, social-mission based Freshbox seems to do all its business these days by catering. Meanwhile, Milo's Capital Cafe, located deep within the Ohio Statehouse, has refreshed its concept into the farm-to-table focused Graze.
One thing that this very distinct subset of eateries has been a bit short in is a touch of a worldly element. AJ's Cafe had been a favorite of mine with its grab-and-go creations with a touch of Indian flair, but their departure in September last year left the excellent Peruvian sandwich offerings of Si Señor (which has since expanded into Grandview) essentially all alone in this world. That's why the arrival of Elia Athenian Grill and its Greek-oriented quick grab options perked my interest initially.
Owner Ilias Zervas stated in a Columbus Underground article that he was tired of the "fake" gyros most Americans have been exposed to, and it was nice to see that Zervas was sticking to the plan with servers carving out slices of pork and chicken stacked on spits from behind the counter.
Two standard options are available: a plate is essentially a deconstructed wrap, with sliced pitas and your choice of proteins (including souvlaki) served with various veggies. For me, the pita version is the time-saving favorite with me, combining fries within the wrap for an all encompassing lunch, with the pork version (with the spicy feta sauce) being my favorite so far. If you feel you need this wrapped in a tortilla instead, Elia offers that option as well.
A variety of salads are also on Elia's menu. Served with a side of sliced pitas, the large version makes for a pretty filling lunch. You can add a protein (like I did the first time) but I ended up feeling like I needed a siesta during the afternoon due to my full belly. Other sides such as soups, baklava and pita chips are also available to the visiting diner.
In a new development, downtown workers need only walk just a couple doors north for breakfast food should the Tim Horton's at Broad and High prove too stuffed to the rafters, as it is often. Elia's just announced the launch of its breakfast menu, which includes a pita wrap that adds eggs to your typical gyro ingredients, a souvlaki and eggs platter, as well as Loukoumades, touted as authentic Greek street food donuts.
While sandwiches in general aren't "oh my I've gotta' travel 300 miles for THAT" creations, Elia has shown in its short time that its quick and tasty fare can more than handle itself against similar eateries downtown. I have a feeling that will continue for awhile even as new competitors arrive on the scene, such as the newly opened Stack'd on Third Street as well as Cravings Cafe, which (finally) seems to be in the homestretch of its relocation into the much-longer-lasting-than-hoped-for renovation of the old Saigon Palace space on Front Street.
Elia Athenian Grill
20 N High St. (Downtown - Google Maps)
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 706-4273
Facebook Instagram Website Yelp