text:
I think that result is plausible, but I found the court's path to that result rather frustrating. This post explains why.
I. Introduction to Cell-Site Simulators
First, some background. Cellphones work by communicating with local network base stations known as "cell sites." A cell site will periodically send out a broadcast to nearby phones to know which phones are in the area in case a communication needs to be routed to or from a particular phone. When a local cell site sends out a signal telling phones that the site is nearby, local phones in the area will automatically send back a response giving the cell tower their identifying information.
Cell-site simulators, sometimes known as IMSI catchers or Stingrays, work by simulating local cell sites. The simulators send out broadcasts to phones in the neighborhood just as a real cell site would. Local phones interpret the query as coming from a real site, so they respond with their ID numbers. The person using the simulator who is looking for a particular phone in the area can then move the simulator around and see if the signal back from the target phone becomes stronger or weaker. If the simulator is used in the neighborhood of the target phone and the phone is on, the simulator allows its user to pinpoint the location of that phone to a distance of a matter of feet.
II. Five Possible Fourth Amendment Rules
The question is, does using a cell-site simulator constitute a Fourth Amendment search? And if so, when? I can see five possible ways that existing Fourth Amendment doctrine might plausibly apply to government use of cell-site simulators. Here are the five ways, listed below from the least protective rule to most protective rule, with a short explanation of the legal argument for each rule:
Rule A: Use of a cell-site simulator is never a search. Under Supreme Court cases like Hoffa v. United States, the Fourth Amendment doesn't apply when you voluntarily disclose information to an undercover government agent. Perhaps use of a simulator is not a search because the registration information is voluntarily revealed by the phone to the simulator. The cell-site simulator knows where the phone is located only because the phone is programmed to respond to queries from local towers. The tower asks, "Is anyone here?," and the phone always responds, "Yes, I'm over here." If we can impute the phone's response to the phone's user, then perhaps the user has voluntarily responded to the simulator's signal and there is no Fourth Amendment protection in the response.
Rule B: Use of a cell-site simulator is a search only when it reveals that a phone is inside a home. In the 1980s, the Supreme Court decided two cases on when tracking a suspect using a radio beeper secretly installed in his property amounts to a Fourth Amendment search. In those cases, United States v. Knotts and United States v. Karo, the court held that tracking a suspect's location in public is not a search while it becomes a search when the tracking device enters a home. The basic idea is that people don't have privacy rights in their presence in public but they do have privacy rights in what goes on in their homes. Under the Supreme Court's decisions in Knotts and Karo, use of a secret tracking device is a search only when it reveals that the device is inside a home. If we treat a cell-site simulator like a radio beeper tracking device, then perhaps the same rule applies to cell-site simulators.
Rule C: Use of a cell-site simulator is a search only when used in the aggregate over time. The concurring opinions in United States v. Jones suggested that short-term location surveillance is not a search but that long-term surveillance eventually becomes a search. Long-term surveillance is different, the thinking goes, because it can reveal sensitive information about a suspect's life. Long-term surveillance becomes sufficiently revealing that it violates a person's reasonable expectation of privacy. Perhaps the same approach applies to use of a cell-site simulator. If so, perhaps tracking a phone using a simulator is not a search if done for a short period of time but is a search if the tracking continues for a long period.
Rule D: Use of a cell-site simulator is always a search when it reveals that someone is inside a home, but is a search when it reveals someone's location in public only in the aggregate over time. This approach is a combination of Rules B and C. Perhaps public surveillance is governed by the Jones concurrences and surveillance that reveals a private location is governed by Karo.
Rule E: Use of a cell-site simulator is always a search. Finally, perhaps use of a cell-site simulator is always a search. There are different doctrinal ways to get there, but here's one possibility. United States v. Karo extended Fourth Amendment protection to location tracking in Fourth Amendment protected spaces, and cellphones are usually in protected spaces. Even a cellphone that is just in a suspect's pocket or purse is in a protected space; the government has to conduct a "search" to pat down a suspect or open a pocket or purse to retrieve the phone. So unless the government has specific reason to think the phone is in the open — such as when a person is walking down the street with the phone in his hands — use of a simulator is a search.
III. The Facts of State v. Andrews
That brings us to the new case, State v. Andrews. Kerron Andrews was charged with attempted first degree murder for shooting three people. The police wanted to arrest Andrews but they couldn't locate him. The police used several different cell phone tracking technologies to find him. Because the police knew his cell phone number, they obtained a court order to get real-time GPS information about the location of Andrews's phone from his cellphone provider. The GPS information gave the location of the phone within 200 to 1,600 meters. It could tell the police the neighborhood of the phone but it couldn't identify the phone's exact location.
On a particular day, the cell provider messaged the police that Andrews's cellphone was in the area of 5000 Clifton Ave. in Baltimore City. The police went to that area, where there were a few dozen apartments. They then used a simulator known by the brand "Hailstorm" to pinpoint the location of the phone. The simulator indicated that the phone was inside a house in 5032 Clifton Ave. The officers knocked on the door. A woman answered and allowed the officers inside. Inside the house, Andrews was sitting on a couch with his phone in his pants pocket. The officers placed Andrews under arrest. They then secured the home and obtained a warrant to search the home; the search revealed a gun in the couch cushions.
IV. The Legal Decision
The major question in the case was whether the officers had conducted a Fourth Amendment search when they used the Hailstorm cell-site simulator to pinpoint the location of the phone to 5032 Clifton Ave. According to the court, the answer was "yes."
The precise reasoning of the opinion is a little murky. The opinion runs through a lot of Supreme Court cases without clearly rooting its conclusion in a single case or concept. But here is the statement of the holding:
We determine that cell phone users have an objectively reasonable expectation that their cell phones will not be used as real-time tracking devices through the direct and active interference of law enforcement. We hold, therefore, that the use of a cell site simulator, such as Hailstorm, by the government, requires a search warrant based on probable cause and describing with particularity the object and manner of the search, unless an established exception to the warrant requirement applies.
I think the court is adopting Rule E above — that is, use of a cell-site simulator is always a search even if it only reveals that the phone is out in public.
How does the court get there? Here's the main part of the reasoning:
[T]he State argues that because Andrews's cell phone was "constantly emitting 'pings' giving its location to the nearest cell tower, . . . there can be no reasonable expectation of privacy in [that] information" under Knotts.The State's reliance on Knotts, however, is misplaced. In Karo, the Supreme Court clarified that in Knotts the electronic device "told the authorities nothing about the interior of Knotts' cabin." 468 U.S. at 715. Rather, the information obtained in Knotts was "voluntarily conveyed to anyone who wanted to look[,]" id. (quoting Knotts, 460 U.S. at 281), and the subsequent search warrant was also supported by "intermittent visual surveillance" of the cabin, Knotts, 460 U.S. at 279. As noted in Kyllo, the Supreme Court has long recognized that "[v]isual surveillance [i]s unquestionably lawful because 'the eye cannot by the laws of England be guilty of a trespass.'" 533 U.S. at 31-32 (quoting Boyd v. United States, 116 U.S. 616, 628 (1886)).Here, there was no visual surveillance. The mere fact that police could have located Andrews within the residence by following him as he travelled over public thoroughfares does not change the fact that the police did not know where he was, so they could not follow him. Unlike Knotts, the information obtained in this case did reveal at least one critical detail about the residence; i.e., that its contents included Andrews's cell phone, and therefore, most likely Andrews himself. Further, "pings" from Andrews's cell phone to the nearest tower were not available "to anyone who wanted to look." We find the surreptitious conversion of a cell phone into a tracking device and the electronic interception of location data from that cell phone markedly distinct from the combined use of visual surveillance and a "beeper to signal the presence of [the defendant's] automobile to the police receiver" to track a vehicle over public roads. See Knotts, 460 U.S. at 282. Put simply, the information obtained by police in this case was not readily available and in the public view as it was in Knotts.Cell site simulators, such as Hailstorm, can locate and track the movements of a cell phone and its user across both public and private spaces. Unchecked, the use of this technology would allow the government to discover the private and personal habits of any user. As Justice Sotomayor predicted in her concurring opinion in Jones, supra, we are compelled to ask "whether people reasonably expect that their movements will be recorded and aggregated in a manner that enables the Government to ascertain, more or less at will, their political and religious beliefs, sexual habits, and so on." 132 S. Ct. at 956 (Sotomayor, J., concurring). We conclude that they do not.We agree with the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in United States v. Graham, in declaring, "[w]e cannot accept the proposition that cell phone users volunteer to convey their location information simply by choosing to activate and use their cell phones and to carry the devices on their person." 796 F.3d 332, 355 (4th Cir.), reh'g en banc granted, 624 F. App'x 75 (4th Cir. 2015). . . . We also accept the circuit court's finding in this case that "no one expects that their phone information is being sent directly to the police department on their apparatus." Recognizing that the Fourth Amendment protects people and not simply areas, Katz, 389 U.S. at 353, we conclude that people have a reasonable expectation of privacy in real-time cell phone location information.Moreover, because the use of the cell site simulator in this case revealed the location of the phone and Andrews inside a residence, we are presented with the additional concern that an electronic device not in general public use has been used to obtain information about the contents of a home, not otherwise discernable without physical intrusion. See Kyllo, 533 U.S. at 34-35. Under the applicable precedent, this is undoubtedly an intrusion that rises to the level of a Fourth Amendment "search." See id. Indeed, "the Fourth Amendment draws a firm line at the entrance to the house[.]" Id. at 40 (citation and internal quotation marks omitted).Although we recognize that the use of a cell site simulator to track a phone will not always result in locating the phone within a residence, we agree with the Fourth Circuit's observation that "the government cannot know in advance of obtaining this information how revealing it will be or whether it will detail the cell phone user's movements in private spaces." Graham, 796 F.3d at 350 (citation omitted). The United States District Court for the District of Maryland articulated the same concern when addressing the government's use of a particular cell phone as a tracking device to aid in execution of an arrest warrant. The district court stated:In re Application of United States for an Order Authorizing Disclosure of Location Info. of a Specified Wireless Tel., 849 F. Supp. 2d 526, 540 (D. Md. 2011) (emphasis added).It would be impractical to fashion a rule prohibiting a warrantless search only retrospectively based on the fact that the search resulted in locating the cell phone inside a home or some other constitutionally protected area.
The court then focuses on why the voluntarily disclosure doctrine — Rule A above — doesn't apply:
We agree, once again, with the Graham court and join in the view shared by other courts that, "[t]he fiction that the vast majority of the American population consents to warrantless government access to the records of a significant share of their movements by 'choosing' to carry a cell phone must be rejected." Graham, 796 F.3d at 355-56 (quoting In re United States for an Order Authorizing the Release of Historical Cell-Site Info., 809 F. Supp. 2d 113, 127 (E.D.N.Y. 2011)). Cell phone users do not actively submit their location information to their service provider.In the present case, there was no affirmative act like "dialing." This is made abundantly clear by Det. Haley's testimony stating that "if they're on the phone, then they're already connected to . . . the [] network[, a]nd we're not going to be able to pull them off of that until . . . they hang up the call." Det. Haley's testimony reveals that, in the event that an individual is actively using the cell phone to knowingly transmit signals to nearby cell towers, the cell site simulator will not be able to access the phone.The pin-point location information that led to finding Andrews was obtained directly by law enforcement officers and not through a third-party. It is not the case that Andrews's cell phone transmitted information to the service provider that was then recorded and shared with law enforcement. Thus, it cannot be said that Andrews "assumed the risk" that the information obtained through the use of the Hailstorm device would be shared by the service provider as in Smith. The function of the Hailstorm device foreclosed that possibility.When asked "how do you get information about where the phone is on the [Hailstorm] machine," Det. Haley responded: "[W]hen [Hailstorm] captures that identifier that you put into the machine or the equipment, it then tells you . . . where the signal's coming from[.]" Under the facts of this case, the ultimate location data relied on by the police was never transmitted to a third party voluntarily by Andrews. Because there was no third-party element to the use of the Hailstorm by the BPD to locate Andrews, Smith is inapposite. We conclude the Third Party Doctrine does not apply in this case.
V. A Few Thoughts on the Opinion
As a matter of policy, a rule that a warrant is usually required for the government to use a cell-site simulator seems sound. But that conclusion isn't intellectually interesting, so I want to instead focus on whether the Andrews opinion is strong or weak under existing Fourth Amendment doctrine. My bottom line: I find the result in Andrews plausible, although a significant amount of its reasoning strikes me as weak.
Here's a run-through of which arguments strike me as stronger and weaker.
First, it seems plausible to me that the voluntary disclosure doctrine doesn't apply and that the court was right to rule out Rule A. Cellphones are programmed to respond automatically to cell-tower queries. The query-and-response is completely invisible to the user. Users don't and even can't know when a particular cell tower is sending a query or when the phone is responding.
That is different from cell-site location information disclosed when a user makes a call, which is the issue in the still-pending Graham cell-site case. A person who makes a call and has some idea of how cell phones work knows that he is necessarily disclosing a very general indicator of his location to the cell network. That has to happen for the call to be completed. Use of a cell-site simulator strikes me as somewhat different because the query and response is entirely invisible to the user. Given that, it seems plausible to me that the user can't be deemed to be voluntarily disclosing information even when the user happens to know that phones generally are disclosing information to nearby towers.
Contrary to what Andrews says, however, this has nothing to do with whether there is a third-party element to the disclosure. The Supreme Court's cases on third-party disclosure (such as Smith) applied the Supreme Court's cases on disclosures directly to undercover government agents (such as Hoffa). In the Andrews case, the disclosure was to an undercover agent of sorts — a government simulator posting as a real cell tower — so it shouldn't matter whether there was a "third party element" to the case. The invisibility of the disclosure strikes me as a plausible basis for making the facts more like Karo than Hoffa, but it doesn't matter whether there was a third party involved.
So much for the option of Rule A. How about the other possible rules? I think the court doesn't have a very good answer for why the case isn't governed by the Knotts/Karo line of cases (Rule B) instead of the court's rule that use of a simulator is always a search (Rule E). Yes, it makes sense that locating Andrews in a private home where he was a guest was a search. He had a reasonable expectation of privacy in the home, so learning about what was inside the home was a search under Karo. (Although, to be fair, around pages 50-51 the court seems undecided on whether Andrews was actually an overnight guest with sufficient privacy rights in the home.)
Assuming that is right, though, why should that mean that it is always a search to use a simulator, at least absent an exception to the warrant requirement? Imagine the cell-site simulator reveals that Andrews is walking down a public street nearby talking openly on his phone. Or imagine he was found inside a vacant home that he had illegally entered. Why would the Fourth Amendment be implicated in those cases?
The court offers two reasons, neither of which strikes me as particularly persuasive. The first reason is that Knotts was only about visual surveillance. Use of a beeper to monitor location is only a non-search, the Andrews court suggests, if the officers also are conducting visual surveillance and the tracking device is only modestly assisting them. This doesn't work, I think, as I don't see that limit in Knotts or in Karo's description of Knotts. As I read Karo and Knotts, those cases rest on whether the government could have legally conducted visual surveillance to learn what the government learned using the tracking device, not whether they actually did conduct that visual surveillance.
Second, the Andrews court suggests that an inside/outside distinction should be rejected as "impractical." It's hard for the government to know if a phone is inside his home or outside his home before locating it, so courts should just rule that the warrant requirement always applies. I think this is a weak argument. Yes, it may be difficult for the government to know ex ante if a phone is inside a Fourth-Amendment-protected space. But this problem was already raised and rejected as irrelevant to the constitutional rule in Karo. From Karo:
If agents are required to obtain warrants prior to monitoring a beeper when it has been withdrawn from public view, the Government argues, for all practical purposes they will be forced to obtain warrants in every case in which they seek to use a beeper, because they have no way of knowing in advance whether the beeper will be transmitting its signals from inside private premises. The argument that a warrant requirement would oblige the Government to obtain warrants in a large number of cases is hardly a compelling argument against the requirement.
Under Karo, then, the government can use tracking devices in public but it has the burden of knowing when the device is inside a private home. The government's difficulty applying that standard was not a reason for the Supreme Court to reject that standard then. It's not obvious why a lower court should rule differently now.
Finally, I was a little puzzled by the reliance on Justice Sotomayor's concurring opinion in Jones. Sotomayor's opinion discusses how surveillance over time can allow the government to aggregate and analyze so much information that it lets the government learn of a person's "political and religious beliefs, sexual habits, and so on." In contrast, this case involves a single use of a tool at one discrete time to reveal a suspect's location in one place. I don't see how the concerns raised by Sotomayor's concurring opinion are in play here.


text:
Originally posted on allwomanalltrails.com you can find the article here
For months now, I had my eye on finishing hiking the Appalachian Trail in New York. I had begun the journey last July when I found my love for backpacking and section hiked from New Jersey into New York.
Then I returned in November hiking SOBO (southbound) from Kent, Connecticut to Dennytown Road.
I was anxiously awaiting the three day weekend I was granted from work due to Memorial Day. The plan was to hike SOBO from Dennytown Road to Elk Pen (34.1 miles). This time I even recruited someone to come with me. A woman I met snowshoeing back in early March. This woman, Claudine, was from Massachusetts and was willing to make the trek down to NY to join me. This duo backpacking trip quickly turned into a quadruplet.
Claudine had invited a lady from the New York area, who had never backpacked before and could not put her backpack on her back by herself… She also invited a Russian gentleman, who had some experience hiking, but it was like hiking with a child and he could not do much himself but walk.
Game Plan:
- Day 1 Saturday: Dennytown- Hemlock Campsites 12.5 miles
- Day 2 Sunday: Hemlock Campsites- West Mountain Shelter 12.5 AT miles plus 1
- Day 3 Monday- West Mountain Shelter- Elk Pen 9.5ish miles
Before experiencing the group dynamics, I set off early Saturday morning to the trailhead where I met the group. We took some photos and headed to the trail.
Having planned the trip, I was one the in lead. Never really having planned a group trip before I kept the speed of the group but even that was too much? I was told within the first 15 minutes, "stop and smell the roses." I wasn't even going that fast… Although I didn't screen everyone for this trip, I think it's important to be mindful that everyone has their own intentions when coming on a trip and if you are leading a trip make yours clear. Mine was to finish the state of New York.
Hiking along that day, I was excited to encounter famous people on the trail. AKA people who have been documenting their thru-hikes on social media. I met the Purple People, who are two members of a band hiking with all purple gear, and Turkish who is vlogging his trip. I also met two flip-floppers, Squatch and Old Ranger, who I informed I'd see them again when I start my 6-week trek.
Once we got to the trailside deli, I grabbed a Powerade and got scolded for trying to scoop my own water ice… In my defense, the blue raspberry bucket of water ice was sitting on top of the case with scooper and cups. I saw some already made in the freezer but this one was softer and I figured I'd save them some plastic. An employee walked over and said, "What are you doing? You can't do that." Unfortunately, a thru-hiker witnessed the whole thing and we laughed about it outside. I'm sure that would have landed me a new trail name.
At this point, we had to make a decision. The lady who had never backpacked before was struggling and a day hiker named Jonathan met us on the trail and was parked near the deli. He offered to drive her around, so she could hike the quarter mile to camp. She graciously accepted his ride. (YES!) The rest of us set out to hike the last 3.5 miles to camp.
It was a pretty nice ridge walk until we encountered someone strange. I was a little ahead of my hiking buddies when this man comes walking down the trail in jeans carrying nothing. *Ding-ding* Red flags were already waving inside my head as it was pretty hot and he had no water.
"Hi, how's it going? Are you a day hiker?" said the man. I wasn't about to tell this guy I was sleeping out in the woods. He couldn't yet see my friends who were down the hill a bit.
"Oh, yeah. Day hiker," I replied. At this point, Claudine and Yuri joined me. He asked them the same question but this time Claudine told him we were camping out… darn! This man started randomly telling us he planned to hike 7 miles, he used to weigh 300lbs, how much he lost, and if we could take his picture. When he pulled out his phone, Claudine saw he had photos of naked women … He quickly tried to close it out and shut off his phone. We told him we had to go and get to camp before dark… Thank goodness I wasn't alone.
We couldn't stop talking about what happened and I couldn't stop looking back to make sure he wasn't coming with us.
As we were approaching the camp, there was a bunch of kids with bright yellow shirts on about 20 people. Once I got close enough, their shirts read SED B.A.C. It appeared we would be sharing camp with them. We later found out they were a boy scout like group but had religious affiliations. Our other friend who had gotten a ride was attempting to set up camp but her husband was with her. She had called him and asked if he could come to pick her up. Sorry, not sorry. I was thankful she decided to go home because the next day was going to be even harder but I also hoped she wasn't deterred from ever backpacking again.
Thankfully with Yuri, I was able to hang my bear bag (considering getting a bear can at this point). Yet, I couldn't help but laugh at the amount of food Claudine and Yuri packed and they even gave some back to our friend who was leaving… 3lbs of cheese, 2 big kielbasa sausages, oranges and apples, sourdough bread. At least we went to bed with full bellies and the beautiful sound of the boys singing worship songs around the fire, and listening to them explain how their reasons for being out there had changed from the beginning of the trip the end.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Your Weekly Feed Link Up #5
Do the weeks feel like they are flying by to you? I'm feeling it here I have to say and I'm not getting any closer to packing the house up but that is for another story another day because this is all about dinner! What IS for dinner? I've got my picks from last week and my own recipe for you to try too, Kim at the Land of Zonkt (who I was so delighted to have lunch with this week, an actual real life meet up, yay, she is a gorgeous soul!), has her picks and a great recipe too. If you have a recipe to link up you can from either of our blogs (scroll on down) or if you want to email one through you could do that too.
Sometimes instead of dinner it's about lunch!
Last week we had some beauties linked up to Your Weekly Feed but my 2 picks are going to some comfort food probably because it's so chilly at night here now and who doesn't love comfort food on a cold night (or any time really!).
First up is this delicious looking Beef & Mushroom – one pot wonder from Shari over at Good Food Week. I've got all in the ingredients listed on my shopping list this week am keen to give it a try.
My second pick is a year round favourite in our house, Shepherds Pie but I love how Bindybee has made mini ones topped with sweet potato mash.
This cooler weather in Sydney has got me all souped up. Mum came over for dinner the other night and I made roast chicken. It ended up just being the 2 of us who ate so I had loads of left overs to make something from. I used the carcass for bone broth (overnight in the slow cooker) but the meat went straight into Mulligatawny Soup. I had been wanting to make it for ages and was reminded of it when I saw a recipe for it in a magazine recently. It's such a quick & easy soup to make and so yummy and filling.
It only takes 15 minutes to prepare and 15 minutes to cook, less in a Thermomix and I've got both versions of the recipes for you. Feeds 4 – 6 and some bread slathered in butter goes perfectly with it too!
What you need:
1 BBQ chook (or a roast one)
2 Tbsp olive oil butter or ghee
1 brown onion, finely chopped
1 Tbsp fresh ginger, grated or finely chopped
2 carrots, finely chopped into rounds
2 Tbsp curry powder
1 C dried red lentils or 1 400g tin (whatever you have), rinsed & drained
1 litre chicken stock (or bone broth)
400 g can of diced tomatoes
5 – 6 leaves of spinach, baby spinach or silverbeet
Salt & pepper to taste
What you do:
In a large stockpot, heat the oil/butter/ghee and add the onion, ginger & carrots stirring for a few minutes until they are soft. Add the curry powder and stir through until fragrant (about a minute).
Add the stock, tomatoes and lentils, bring to the boil and then simmer, covered for 10 minutes.
While that is happening shred the chicken and chop the spinach leaves.
Add the chicken and spinach to the soup and stir through for about 2 minutes to heat through.
Season to taste and enjoy!
- 1 brown onion, halved
- 2 carrots roughly chopped
- 2 cm fresh ginger
- 2 Tbsp olive oil/butter or ghee
- 2 Tbsp curry powder
- 1 litre of chicken stock or bone broth
- 400 g tin diced tomatoes
- 1 C red lentils or 400g tin rinsed and drained
- Meat of 1 BBQ or roast chicken
- 5 - 6 leaves of spinach or silverbeet roughly chopped
- Salt & Pepper
- Put onion, carrots and ginger in the bowl and chop 10 seconds / Speed 4. Scrape sides
- Add olive oil/butter or ghee and saute 2 minutes / Varoma/ Speed 1
- Add curry powder and continue sauting 1 minute / 100 C / speed 1
- Add lentils, stock & tomatoes 12 minutes / 100 C / Reverse / Speed 1
- Add chicken and spinach and combine 2 seconds / Speed 4
- Season to taste
- Enjoy
Don't forget to pop over to Land of Zonkt to check out what Kim's up to for dinner too.
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter Google+


text:
Fifi also had her nine month doctor's visit in the afternoon.
She is 18lbs and 28 inches long.
The boys played in the backyard while we ate a 'picnic' dinner on the freshly cut grass. It's a little hard to visit when four kids are running around, but we managed to catch up a bit with each other. I am so blessed to have mama's in my life who "get me".


text:
Purchase this article with an account.
Yuna Rapoport, Amy Chomsky, Laura L Wayman; The Impact of Operative Time on Pain Control during Cataract Surgery within Different Anesthesia Modalities in a Veteran Population. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2014;55(13):2543.
Download citation file:
© ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)
The purpose of the study is to determine if cataract operative time has an impact on pain control within different anesthesia modalities; secondarily, to determine whether some patient characteristics have an impact on operative time.
A retrospective chart review of 330 cataract surgeries within the Nashville Veterans Affairs Medical Center was completed. The cases were divided by time ( > 45 minutes and < 45 minutes). Pain scores between anesthesia modalities (topical with no sedation, topical with sedation, Retrobulbar block [RBB] and general) were analyzed between the time groups. Pain control, age, amount of sedation received, history of anxiety/ post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and 1st or 2nd eye surgery were analyzed between the groups. The data was then controlled for complex cases with the same markers analyzed. Two-sample t tests were used to compare means of the variables.
Of the 330 cases reviewed, 15 had general anesthesia, 146 had RBB, 53 had topical with no sedation, and 116 had topical with sedation. 174 cases were < 45 minutes, and 156 cases were > 45 minutes. Cases < 45 minutes had a lower average pain score irrespective of anesthesia type; however this was not significant. Within each anesthesia group, there was no difference in pain scores between the time groups. Cases > 45 minutes had significantly more sedation (p= 0.0003). Patients with anxiety/ PTSD had significantly longer operative times (p=0.0421). There was no difference in age or 1st or 2nd eye surgery between the time groups. When comparing complex and non-complex cases, complex cases had longer operative times (p=0.0128). However, there was not a difference in pain scores, amount of sedation received and age. Overall RBB had significantly higher pain scores when compared to the other anesthesia modalities (p=0.00943). However, when controlled for complex cases, RBB did not have higher pain scores.
Our data suggests that operative time was not associated with increased pain score. This may at least in part be due to the longer operative times receiving more sedation. This suggests that the operative team prevents and responds well to patient pain. Anxiety/ PTSD history showing increased operative time may reflect the patient needing more guidance through the operation if awake. This study is limited by its retrospective nature and sample size.
This PDF is available to Subscribers Only


text:
Maserati picked Frankfurt to show off their new race car, the Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo. The vehicle will be run in a new, 14-race series next year.
Maserati used Frankfurt as the platform for the debut of their new racecar, the GranTurismo MC Trofeo. Set for a 2010 launch, the racer will be run in a new, championship series comprising of two, 40-minute races on seven different dates across Europe.
The new car is based on the GranTurismo MC Concept shown a year ago. That concept had a 4.7-liter V8 engine that generated up to 444 horsepower and up to 376 ft-lbs of torque, and those stats have remained the same for the Trofeo. Like the Concept, the Trofeo is "much lighter," and features "optimized" aerodynamics, when compared to the GranTurismo S.
Seen on the Trofeo are custom wheels, measuring in at 11"x18" up front, and 13"x18" in back. Mono-bloc calipers and steel discs are used on the non-ABS brakes.
The Maserati GranTurismo MC Trofeo will make its first track appearance in April 2010. Drivers who enroll in the series will receive a full slate of technical an organizational services, whether they sign up as an individual or with a teammate.


text:
After Priory Hall
A chara, – Raising the flag for a State-funded Building Inspectorate as John Graby Director of Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland Ltd has done ("Architects call for building inspectorate to enforce rules", Frank McDonald, October 20th) will seem curious to those who have been aware of Government's plans to develop a mandatory certification process ("House-standard certification planned says Hogan", Michael O'Regan, October 21st). However, Mr Graby's pronouncement does shift attention from the human, social and financial consequences for those who rely upon certificates published by his organisation, the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland Limited.
"In the wake of the Priory Hall debacle", State and semi-State bodies, the courts, solicitors, lenders, insurers and others can no longer claim ignorance of the porosity of those opinions on compliance. Relatively more robust certificates exist from other recognised professional bodies and these can be favoured until Minister Phil Hogan's mandatory certification is proven and firmly established. It may be hoped that certifiers themselves will be similarly moved by their professional obligations to purchasers and the public by immediately ceasing to use ineffectual opinions on compliance. – Yours, etc,


text:
Everything Related to the Steelpan Instrument and Music
November 13, 2016 from 7pm to 11pm – The Jazz Cafe Official launch of Steel Pan Fusion. A contempary take on Steel Pan, Jazz and World music. An exciting, dynamic cultural ensamble. Steel Pan Fusion is driven by the powerful engine of drummer Sam Bl… Organized by Steel Pan Fusion | Type: album, launch
© 2020 Created by When Steel Talks. Powered by


text:
Call NOW about Membership
Download Application Form NOW
How can employee health cover help my business? As an employer you may be considering providing your staff with employee health cover for a number of reasons.
[Read the rest of this article...]
Company health care plans are
under scrutiny as employers want to offer their workforce a comprehensive
health and wellbeing package in order to maintain and recruit their staff. Getting
the best health care plan for your employees need not cost the earth.
How can employer healthcare plans help your business to retain and recruit employees and what are they?
Employer subsidy schemes provide employees with financial
assistance towards healthcare. A company
paying for their employees' membership of a health cash plan helps ensure that
a healthy workforce is maintained in order to reduce absenteeism.
The CIPD Autumn 2015
Quarterly Review found that 49% of companies
are experiencing difficulties recruiting new employees.
Official figures show that nearly one in ten "pensioners" were still
employed, a total of just over one million, an increase of nearly
100,000 in the past 12 months and almost double the level of 10 years
Keep up to date with news about your healthcare plan.
Health &
for Employees


text:
Our team is excited to take part in the world's largest E-commerce show, IRCE! Come visit us from June 25-28th, 2019 at booth #1166. We can't wait to talk more about adapting your paid media tactics.
IRCE is the self-proclaimed "One-Stop-Shop for E-Retailers." Anyone in the E-Commerce space should join the thought leadership at this prestigious conference. We'll see you in Chicago.


text:
A Teesside-based company has begun the task of training more than 1,000 technicians in the Caspian Sea following the opening of a multi-million-pound technical training centre.
TTE International, part of the TTE Management and Technical Training Group, is providing a five-year training programme for BP Caspian and KCA Deutag.
Work has begun following the opening by BP of its £6.5m world-class technical training centre in Baku.
The centre was opened by BP on behalf of its partners in the Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli, Shah Deniz, Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan and South Caucasus pipeline projects.
The opening of the Caspian Technical Training Centre took place at the Sangachal Terminal in a ceremony attended by the President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic, Natig Aliyev, and the president of BP Azerbaijan, David Woodward.
The centre has been developed as part of BP's and its partners' plans for technical and professional development of the national staff working for these projects.
Working with Petrofac Facilities Management International, based in Sharjah, UAE, Middlesbrough-based TTE has formed a new joint venture company, TTE-Petrofac, to operate the centre, which can train 400 staff a year.
It has facilities which include equipment to train drillers to safely and efficiently operate modern drilling equipment on the new platforms in the Caspian Sea.
Andy Buckworth, operations director of TTE-Petrofac, said: "As a world leading technical training specialist in the oil and gas industry, TTE-Petrofac is working and will continue to work in partnership with BP and KCA Deutag to manage and deliver the CTTC and training needs of BP-operated projects in the Caspian region. "
TTE-Petrofac will train more than 1,000 technicians over the next three years.


text:
This is a community area to explore the Nord Anglia Education 'Be Ambitious' philosophy, with opportunity to collaborate with others about how it is used in your workplace.
This area contains information and best practice about assessment across Nord Anglia Schools and is a practical space you can use to collaborate with others after taking our AFL course.
This area is a hub for school EdTech Leaders to collaborate on the NAU Educational Technology Strategy.
This space contains information and best practice around Health and Safety in Nord Anglia Education.
This area of NAU contains help and information about the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) assessments for schools using the MAP tests and also for schools who want to find out more about the MAP project at NAE.
Middle East Initiatives
This area holds documents and training in relation to Quality Assurance (QA) at Nord Anglia Education.
You find the Quality Assurance Toolkit and Early Years Toolkit in this area.
This space contains links and information about safeguarding best practice and requirements at Nord Anglia Education.
You can also find training and support for the NAE safeuarding process including:
- Safeguarding for Recruiters online course


text:
Having feline pee scent around the home or nursery is an unsavory encounter no doubt. No one needs their home to be polluted with the stench of pee. Fortunately in any case, if your house is influenced by feline pee smells the issue can be effectively helped. There are a variety of cleaning arrangements you can use to evacuate feline pee smells and keep them from waiting.
The arrangements go from extravagant locally acquired cleaning operators to basic custom made common cures. Your decision of what to use to dispose of feline pee scents will rely upon your inclinations and spending plan. The least complex arrangement as far as time and exertion is setting off to the store and getting some particular pet pee evacuation fluid. There are a few distinct brands to look over; anyway you should ensure that whatever one you pick does not contain smelling salts.
The purpose behind this is smelling salts is available in pee normally. When you clean with an item that contains alkali your feline can confuse this alkali smell with the smell of another feline's pee. This makes them mark their domain by showering significantly more pee around the influenced region. That is the reason any cleaning operator with smelling salts must be maintained a strategic distance from. In any case in the event that you have somewhat more time on your hands or somewhat less cash you can attempt some home arrangements.
Warm sudsy water
Clearly the most straightforward and ordinarily utilized home answer for feline pee scent evacuation is warm sudsy water. Anyway this is normally just sufficiently able to handle pee recolors that are as yet damp or have been as of late made. For dried in stains something increasingly generous and hard core is generally required for cleaning.
This is the place the innovativeness comes in; you have to look to natures stain evacuating operators. One of which is preparing soft drink/powder blended with lemon juice and hot sudsy water. This will truly air pocket and work away at terrible old pee stains and scents, you need to leave it to set through before washing it retreat. When you have done adding hemp oil for cats this most of the unmistakable stain and the smell of pee ought to be gone.
Litter tray
When you have disposed of the feline pee smell from your home you need to ensure it never returns. Felines should be prepared how to utilize a litter plate to ensure they never pee anyplace else. When your feline is litter box prepared they should remain as such except if there is an adjustment in conditions. A few things can toss a feline out of match up, however by and large once he/she is litter box prepared they will remain as such.


text:
Serviced Office Space to Rent Lower Road, SE16 2XB
Private offices (serviced)
Property Features
Transport Links
0.17 miles (3 min walk) Rotherhithe
0.19 miles (3 min walk) Canada Water
0.40 miles (6 min walk) Wapping
0.42 miles (6 min walk) Bermondsey
0.47 miles (7 min walk) Surrey Quays
4.73 milesLondon City Airport
16.81 milesHeathrow Airport
5.99 milesA1 (M) Junction 8
7.67 milesM11 Junction 4
9.06 milesM1 Junction 1
0.61 milesSouth Bermondsey
This modern business space in Surrey Quays offers a variety of office suits starting from 150 square feet. If needed, units can be combined to accommodate larger companies. Clients will be happy to know that the surrounding area has plenty of natural beauty to brighten up the work environment. Managed or Serviced terms can be agreed upon for the rental of the unfurnished or furnished office suites.
Round-the-clock secure access is provided to the self-contained office space in SE16. The layout offers WC and shower facilities as well as a lounge area. In addition, the support of an administrative staff is available for your postal and secretarial needs. Companies requiring telecoms and internet connections can have their needs met with optional provisions.
Thanks to excellent transport connections, these offices in Lower Road are a great base for business. Rotherhithe is a few minutes away on foot and serves the London Overground. Alternatively, Canada Water Station offers the Jubilee Line. These stations provide the area with excellent connections to the City, the West End, and Greater London. There are also several frequent bus services that serve the area and parking space is available at the site. Southwark Park is just minutes away and features a cafe, wildlife garden, boating lake and an art gallery.
Enquire Now
Or enquire onlineENQUIRE NOW ADD TO SHORTLIST SHORTLISTED
- 100% free service
- No obligation
- Local experts
Enquire now 02038197020
Lower Road Surrey Quays, SE16 Ref: 91548
- 100% free service
- No obligation
- Local experts
Nearby areas
- Canada Water 0.34 miles
- Cannon Wharf 0.38 miles
- Wapping 0.85 miles
- Bermondsey 1 miles
- St Katharine Docks 1.21 miles
- Canary Wharf 1.33 miles
- Marsh Wall 1.36 miles
- Westferry 1.43 miles
- Smithfield 1.44 miles
- Limehouse 1.48 miles


text:
Once you used Instagram for a while you will probably see things in your home feed that you can't figure out how to do in the app. Text over images, creative layouts, or the best hashtags ever. Most likely your friends have discovered some of these apps and tools already.
Taking photos
Hands down my favorite iPhone camera is the VSCOcam. It lets you pick a separate focus and exposure point while taking a photo and it's filter packs are divine. Go get it!
Editing photos
Snapseed, that's the app you need if you want to do real retouching with your thumb.
Text Layovers
Be warned, adding text to images can be very addictive and time consuming, with that said, try out Over. This super easy-to-use app lets you add text and artwork to your photos.
Thank goodness the Instagram developers have come up with a tool, called Layout, which lets you combine multiple images in one frame.
The ultimate compliment to any Instagrammer is when somebody regrams a photo. I like to use Regram or Repost. Both apps let you alter the original captions and place a small banner on the image that gives credit to the original poster. It seems to be ok to repost other people's content as long as you give credit. If you want to make sure, leave them a comment and ask if you can regram. 99% or the time they will be delighted to hear that you want to share their work.
Stop Animations and Hyperlapse
Instagram allows you to post 15 second video clips. Flipagram will bring your feed alive with flip book style animations. Instagram's Hyperlapse makes beautiful timelapse videos.
My secret weapon, the scheduling app Latergramme. Even though I am a committed Instagram user there are times when I can not get to it as much as I like. Every once in a while I upload a bunch of photos to Latergramme and schedule the app to remind me to post them. As Instagram does not allow other apps to post for you, Latergramme only stores photos and reminds you to post. You will find apps that do promise to post for you, but be careful they might either use some shady hacks or way underpaid humans to post for you, with your login info!
Ready to geek out on Instagram stats? Iconosquare shows you your biggest fans, who does not follow you back, which posts performed bests, your hashtag history and performance, and all kinds of other goodies!
I have only dipped my little toe into IF and can already tell you: this tool has lots of potential! "IF lets you create powerful connections with one simple statement—if this then that." For example, you select "If you post a photo on Instagram then share it on Twitter".


text:
«— Return to map of Children's Advocacy Centers.
Durant Children's Center 4th Circuit Satellite
510 W. Carolina Ave
Hartsville, SC 29550
Mailing Address: Mailing address: PO Box 1351 — Florence, SC 29503
Phone: 843-332-9299
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Services Provided: Forensic interviews, medical evaluations, individual victim counseling, non-offending parent counseling, family counseling, inpatient consultations at two local hospitals, victims' assistance, and case coordination
Providers: Beth Morphis, MD
Counties Served: Chesterfield, Darlington, Marlboro, Marion, Sumter and Williamsburg. Provide courtesy services to Florence county MDT members upon request at their satellite CAC in Florence.


text:
Bruce Kirkland
By Cece M. Scott cecescott.com
Best known as the Toronto Sun's movie critic for several decades, Bruce Kirkland says, "I had three different careers in my life and I didn't apply for any of them."
"AT THE END OF MY SUMMER INTERNSHIP AT THE Toronto Star, I became the paper's first, full-time music critic, for which I wasn't really qualified," says Kirkland. "This role dramatically broadened my interest in the possibilities of a wide breadth of music genres. If the music was good, I wanted to listen to it."
Moving on to the Ottawa Journal in 1979 as the entertainment editor, Kirkland appointed himself the paper's film critic. He had a little more experience in this field, having watched movies on the family's old television set. "Most of the films were in black and white," says Kirkland. "And if I gave a movie ten minutes, I would watch it to the end. This served me well. I went on to be a film critic for 36 years."
The first interview that Kirkland conducted for the Toronto Sun in 1980 was with Bette Midler, singer, songwriter, actress and comedian. "The interview with Bette was a real kick-start," says Kirkland, "That is one thing that I do miss since retiring – the opportunity to sit down with people like her."
His last interview for the Toronto Sun was in 2016 with the influential filmmaker, Martin Scorsese.
As a young teen, Kirkland was painfully shy. His father was in the RCAF, which necessitated the family moving 16 times in Kirkland's first 16 years. Inadvertently falling into journalism (he signed up for the wrong course at the University of Western Ontario), Kirkland decided to pursue it – a decision that proved to be fruitful.
Kirkland has attended 44 Toronto International Film Festivals (TIFF), 31 Cannes Film Festivals, and covered a dozen Oscars. His interviewees include Tommy Lee Jones (his least favourite personality), Russell Crowe (a casual friend), Toronto filmmaker, writer and actor, David Cronenberg, as well as Canadian film director, Atom Egoyan, William Hurt, Mary Steenburgen, and American politician and environmentalist, Al Gore – to name a few.
When reminiscing about the hype that was attached to the illustrious Cannes Film Festival, Kirkland recounts filing his stories by teletype, which were run by local men, who didn't speak English. They were merely inputting the words that were on the page. "Sometimes it was so garbled my editor didn't know what I was talking about," says Kirkland with a laugh. "After the teletype machines, the technology evolved to crude boxy computers that looked like giant lunch boxes, and probably had the computing power of 1/100th of today's cell phones. High speed internet did not come until much later in my career."
Kirkland could relate scores of celebrity anecdotes, but when the topic turns to birding (a true birder never calls it bird watching) he becomes visibly animated. "I love travelling, especially in Latin America. I love speaking Spanish, which I continue to study. And I love to feed my birding obsession in Costa Rica."
Kirkland's birding preoccupation began in 1976, when he spotted a large gathering of Northern Gannets sitting atop a skyscraper-sized rock on Newfoundland's Avalon Peninsula. "It was like seeing the Manhattan of the bird world," says Kirkland. "The area was later declared a reserve, and became protected land. I felt like I was involved in a little bit of nature history. It was a magical, life changing experience."
At the age of 70, Kirkland is grateful for his physical health. He enjoys working around the house, travelling and hiking. "Walking long distances doesn't bother me in the least," says Kirkland. "It is the excitement of the chase, and it is also good exercise. If you are completely bonkers about birding like I am, you want to see every bird possible."
Kirkland says that his emotional and spiritual wellbeing is a result of his deep friendship with his second wife, Rachel Sa. Sa is an author and former Toronto Sun columnist. She currently works as a public relations manager for an engineering and architectural firm. "Rachel is the love of my life," says Kirkland.
On safari in Kenya last July, the couple were challenged by a young bull elephant, who trumpeted their vehicle. "The guide told us that the situation was dangerous; that even the click of a camera might frighten the elephant," says Kirkland. "It was exhilarating, rather than filling us with fear."
The couple ended up adopting two orphaned elephants (Mukkoka and Enkesha) through the David Sheldrick Foundation. "We got to feel the elephants, experience the texture of their skin and marvel at their eyelashes. We're still in awe."
Kirkland currently co-edits and writes for the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) organization, and contributes his much-loved film column for Active Life magazine. "If you have a good life, embrace it, trust it, and expand it every chance you get."


text:
Mumbai, Jan 14 (IANS) Bollywood actor Aftab Shivdasani is excited to make his digital debut with the upcoming web series "Poison: 2".
"I'm quite excited to be part of Poison Season 2 as I've always wanted to play an edgy character and the script of 'Poison' gave me just that. I'm also excited to work with ZEE5 as well as director Vishal Pandya who has been a friend for a long time. Also, the webspace is something I haven't explored so far so I'm happy to explore that too," said Aftab.
'Poison 2' will also feature Raai Lakshmi, Pooja Chopra, Gautam Gulati and Taher Shabbir.
The show streams on the OTT platform ZEE5 from April.


text:
No products
To take good care of yourself, today you need to be connected. Want proof? Try out all the potential of the Become Smartband!
Warning: Last items in stock!
Availability date:
This smart bracelet has a neat ergonomic design which makes it not only stylish but very comfortable to wear so that nothing prevents you from enjoying its features.
It connects to Android and iOS mobiles through Bluetooth, and thanks to its touch screen you can see what time is it, count the steps, the distances and calories burned. And it synchronizes all the data to your mobile so that you can view them in your "Jyou" App.
This way you have controlled your health and your exercise at all times, helping you to set and achieve concrete goals, and in short, improve your quality of life.
With its other useful functions, such as the alarm clock function, the calls and messages reminder, the anti-lost or smart gesture control, the Become Smartband is the device you need to improve your day-to-day health.
Your well-being is not secondary, take care of it with Become!


text:
GMOs are sticks and stones
Breaking the news about GMO to a group of JR Highers is heavy. They look at you with a weird stare and listen quietly. They remember technical words like genes and virus. They sit still.
Today we talked GMO. I taught this subject several times now, to different 7/8 graders. All reacted the same; almost like they'd been waiting for the information.
I tell them straight that Genetically Modified Organisms break my heart. I get choked up at the thought of GMO's wild in their world, left for them to deal with someday. I don't want to be the one to burst the bubble, but then, I do want to make sure all middle schoolers are introduced to the concept of gene modification before they vanish to high school.
Youth are waiting for the information. They don't get down about the psyco-knarly potential of GMO like I do; they are still kids. But I see their brains working, and every student takes the time to take the information in.
My co-worker Ms. Jenny told me today that she agrees with a youtube video she saw that says universal forces are working together with us Earthlings, to help and guide humanity in the right direction. I agree with them both. GMO-attentive middle schoolers are key to positive cultural evolution.
Worms help us dig
A third grade boy with big brown eyes and freckles raised his hand in reflection circle to share an observation from the day's work. We had spent the class moving rocks and clipping back invasive grass. In the process, we uncovered plenty worms; worms half the length of a spaghetti noodle and the circumference of an electric wire flopping around in their always fascinating Exposed Dance.
He said, "I noticed lots of FBI (Fungus, Bacteria, Invertibrates). And I noticed that worms help us dig. I was finding worm tunnels to get my hand in and help get out the rocks."
"What effect do you think worm holes have on the roots of plants?" I asked?
His eye brows shot up and he said, "I know! The roots can use the holes to grow!"
And poof, just like that these brilliant young gardeners put together something I had to study to know. I read that worms help aerate the soil and provide paths for stretching roots in a book somewhere when I was learning about worms so I could teach about them in garden class just seven years ago. And this boy just taught himself, from his own hands in the soil, at nine.
Kids are back and they are stoked!
School is back in session! The garden is alive with children once again. The garden grew into a bean jungle over the summer months. Ms. Melissa and I tried extra super hard to keep from fighting back the aggressive vine so children could enjoy the remarkable growth.
Student gardeners were absolutely delighted to re-discover their garden. Our bean tunnel grew into a bean cave! Some students discovered a palm-sized garden spider cocooning up a three-inch centipede for lunch. It was like orca vs. great white shark in our garden. Who would have known the spider would win? We watched a gecko snatch a different spider, and then spit it out. The gecko crawled away with the bug the spider had been wrapping up. The spider was left with its' barren web and no lunch. We saw butterflies mating and found a few praying mantis'. Grasshoppers the color of limes were bombing the entire garden - fluttering around disturbed for the first time in months.
I was excited to watch children running for their favorite herb snacks - mint and licorice fennel among their favorites. We dined on juicy starfruit, guava, and bananas. "A monkey was here!" exclaimed a new first grader who discovered empty yellow banana peals on the ground. He looked up and found the rest of the thriry-pound banana pod still on the tree. "Can we eat some too?" he inquired.
The first class I took into the garden found a huge stinging nettle munching some spinach. We were reminded of the bummer and extreme shame that these invasive species bring to our perfect Island habitat. I was thankful that the student was not stung and I got a specimen to show the rest of the garden students. I was reminded that telling the children the truth about the hazards we import into our Island in the name of ornamental palms is the only way to keep them safe; both so our littlest explorers of the wild don't get hurt and so they can make change someday.
I told every class that they are the hope for the future. There was a day in Hawaii where every person was a gardener who knew how to grow the food needed to fill their own bellies and that of their family's. Now, 1-2% of our population are farmers (that statistic is reflected nationally and locally) and the average age of those farmers is 65 years and older.
I hope the satisfaction our students receive from growing their own food while they are in elementary school will produce the radical change we need for a healthy future. Wonder Garden students are planting the seeds for a healthy future and they know it!!
Mathmatical wizardry for the people
With 10 hours before the assembly to spare, I finally totaled our school's data from these many months of recording greywater and paper recycling numbers. Students sat still and quiet as I (with the help of my handsome son assistanting) reviewed total pounds of paper we recycled, how many pencils Mr. G. and I picked up in nooks and crannies all over our campus, and how many gallons of water our garden class' greywater system supplied to thirsty plants.
Students cheered with bold volume as I told them that our school had recycled 1977 pounds of paper. Ocean helped me unfold a perfectly-fine, thrown-away segment of that brown paper that comes on big rolls that I had stowed away for reuse months earlier. With ink just barely dried, the reused paper unfolded at least 6 ft long.
It depicted the mathmatical wizardry of data. With every one of those 1997 pounds accounting for 16 onces, 16 X 1977 is 31,632 ounces. If one piece of paper equals .12 onces, dividing 31632 by .12 equals 263,600 pieces of paper recycled by our school. With our school population totaling 185, dividing 263,600 by 185 is 1425; the number of pieces of paper each student used at our school and recycled last school year. With the words barely out my mouth, I heard two kids in front whisper to each other, "No way, I didn't do that. Nuhuah." I said, "Hey guys and gals, remember when you point blame at other people, you have three fingers pointing back at you." Of course, they all pointed at each other to see if three fingers really do point back. They do.
Wow said the kids. I pulled out three reams of copy paper, 500 each times three, equaling just under the number of papers used by our students. 1425 - the amount of sheets of paper used by each student in 2010/11. Paper makes up the most matter in our landfills, said the graph I showed from a "Begining Reader" pamphlet I picked out of our recycling as I was shleping it around one day. Americans discard over 80 million pounds last year alone. Paper is a biodegradable and recyclable substance that can't biodegrade when it ends up in oxygen-free, toxic as all get out, landfills. We kept 1977 pounds out of our beloved Waikoloa landfill; a sludge basin just a quarter mile mountain of the sea.
Take the math a step further. If one paper-producing pine tree is 850 pounds, our efforts saved two and a quarter trees; a fact I also drew on the unfolded paper.
I asked 7/8 grade students the same question a month earlier when they were pre-fiddling with the data. When I asked them if it was worth it, to haul around all this rubbish (because these kids are the students doing the data recording), they enlightened me with responses. One eighth grade boy I surf with regularly said, "How do you measure microorganisms?" Another seventh grade girl said, "Ms. Krista, you told us that these paper mills are next to rivers so they can put thier pollution there. How do you put a dollar sign on keeping pollution out of a river?"
I didn't stop the assembly to ask how the elementary students felt about saving two trees. When my son and I had been discussing the findings earlier he said, "If we keep that up, we'll save a whole forest."
I went on to talk about our greywater findings. Our garden sink is a shanty-town sink put together out of an old pallet and a dicarded double-bowled stainless steel sink. The drains empty into two five-gallon buckets. We keep track of how many times Ms. Melissa and I dump the filled buckets over thirsty plants through-out the school year. I showed our non-fancy data sheets to the students and unfolded the big sheet that showed our total; 870 gallons of water fed to plants instead of drained down the sewer. The other posters I pulled out showed that 870 gallons equals two hot tubs worth of water and 58 showers (two months worth!). Kids were wowed.
Last item; pencils. We calculated that Mr. G picked up an additional 223 pencils since March, when he had picked up 233 since Sept. Between August and Sept, he had picked up 438 pencils! In all, Mr. G picked up 839 pencils this year!! We love you Mr. G!
Like I told the kids, I feel inspired by this data. It shows that IPCS students are doing some important work, putting rubbish in its new place - the recycler or the compost - more than ever before. No other public schools are doing IPCS style recyling on our Island! Our students are the change we need for a healthy future. I got all choked up and maybe even some of them did too.
My collegue told me she overheard some kids after the assembly, walking to class, saying, "I guess adults do math too." Who knew that math wizardry would be so powerful? That kids can learn recycling and the awesomeness that math can be all in one assembly? That ten-year-olds can save two trees and see the forest? I am still glowing...
3/4 invents a greywater system
What better way to study inventions but to design them yourself? What better way to learn how easy it is to recycle water than to design a drainage system that enables every student to water plants when they wash their hands?
I am bursting with hope for the future to announce that our third and forth grade gardeners have sucessfully designed and implemented a beautiful and functional greywater system off the wasted art room sink water. Where once a drain poured perfectly useful dirty water into the gravel now lies a bamboo french drain irrigating 10 feet of space.
The greywater system is a school-wide effort. Seventh and eighth grade gardeners harvested and hauled old-growth bamboo from a friend's coffee farm. Third and fourth graders worked with IPCS Fascilities Specialist Alex Garcia using a simple wedge to split in half longways yellow-with-green-stripes bamboo the circumference of my thigh and approx 8 feet long. Students loved seeing the power of the humble wedge at work. Mr. G brought the ever-popular power drill so students could take turns drilling drain holes the legnth of the bamboo. And students lined up patiently for their turn with the awesome power sander for the smooth finishing touch.
Another class of third and fourth grades carried the bamboo to the greywater site. They hacked out spider lilies taller than they are with the efficency of a herd of beavers. Students dug a trough to lay the system's pipe, connected the bamboo to the sink drain pipe, and turned on the facet for a test run.
But alas, like any new invention, it did not work right at first. Too wide were the holes, too tall were the segment separaters in the bamboo, and not enough slope prevented water from trickling more than five inches.
I was amazed that within a few powerful seconds of thought, more than one inventor noted that added height would work with gravity to push more water down the bamboo and rocks could easily help plug the holes. We rigged up a support system for the drain connector and dug a trough to help stabalize the bamboo pipe.
Our whole ohana can see now how simple ingenuity can help recycle water. Using greywater efficiently will be a huge resource in upcoming decades. With these inventors at the helm of our country, we should be able to incorporate greywater systems into the everyday fiber of our existance.
Soil Whisperer visits our garden
The Big Island is blessed by the Soil Whisperer. Gene has dedicated his life to studying soil and sharing the information he has discovered. Yesturday, garden students were lucky enough to hear Gene's knowledge and share in his enthusiastic, hopeful vibe. Gene's message is that soil health = plant health = human health. When he talks soil health, he means literally examining the mineral and vitamin content of soil, discovering that added vitamins and minerals in depleted soil means added vitamins and minerals in human bellies. After decades of agricultural poison, synthetic fertilizers, deforestation, and other means of abuse, the earth's soil has become depleted of the vital nutrients that feed the microorganisms and macroorganisms in soil. These important soil organisms ingest nutrients, breaking vitamins and minerals down into forms usable by plant roots. Plants internalize these nutrients, maximizing the plant's health and making them available for human consumption. Without added nutrients in our soil, plants need more water, are ruthlessly attacked by insects that know where to get an easy meal, and humans are eating food empty of the vitamins and minerals needed for optimal health. In Hawaii, we import 90% of our food; food that is depleted of nutrients, transported by boat across the Pacific, and then fumigated to kill bugs. Gene came yesturday to begin the process of amending our school's garden soil so the fruits and veggies we grow are full of the vitamins and minerals children need for healthy growth.
Garden students were happy to learn from the Soil Whisperer. They were shocked to hear that these basic connections between soil health and human health are actually radical scientific thought. Mainstream science does not embrace Gene's methods of improving soil health, instead siding with the use of more chemicals and more water to make up for any soil shortcomings.
Gene the Soil Whisperer is a modern day Rachel Carson, and our school, our Island, are blessed to have him.
Plants keep giving
Twenty one kids went home from the last day before Christmas Break with edible potted plants bedazzled in beach glass soil toppings and glitter dusted plant lables. Kids were intent on making charming "gifts that keep giving." Wide eyed first graders and confident sixth graders and all grades inbetween met at the lunch area; grouped together by crafts where students get to choose two out of about ten holiday merriments. It's pretty significant that edible plants - chives, amaranth, spinach, or pineapple mint - are choosen concidering their competition - candy filled santa jars and sock-stuffed snowdolls. All chose to make the plants as gifts for others. Parent Rick Taylor arrived just in time with much welcomed expertise and a helping hand. Miss Sheyna even stopped by and made some potted gems for her mom. Children had a great time and the potted plants were beautiful.
Ua mau ke ea o ka 'aina i ka pono
Even in the garden, the combination of sparkles and sticky stuff got real messy. A few girls ended up with glitter hair and a couple of the boys were still pealing globules of grass, glue, and glitter off their elbows and forearms after school. Despite the awkwardness of adheasing glitter sitting on lau hala mats with birds and insect distractions every few seconds, all was merry and bright in our garden winter wonderland. Students spent class making garden-inspired ornaments and eating. Kids were devouring lemon slices with a dribble of honey. Definitely got their dose of Vit C. Other students ate IPCS-grown beans scooped with chips. Beans are one of the most popular dishes. There are only about three kids in the whole school who still doubt the beans..
Krista Joan says:
My mission is to teach, train, and testify in resistance to the white supremacy of my ancestors. My personal choices are political, powerful, and practical. Let's trash waste.
July 2019


text:
What a great day! A repeat of 2017 and we will keep coming until there's a change in the destructive policies of President Trump, his administration and any who support them. Resist, Persist, Insist!Women's March 2018
We did it, again!
Update – the 2nd SisterSMATR Fab Lab We did it, again! Fab Lab 2018 -2019 Commencement and Celebration at Robert F. Wagner Jr. Tech and Art High School in Long Island City, NY. The Second Read more…


text:
F1: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Valtteri Bottas on the Pole
MercedesAMG's Valtteri Bottas will start the final race of the 2017 F1 season on the Pole position after posting the quickest time in Qualifying Saturday in Abu Dhabi on the Yas Marina circuit
Mr. Bottas will line up on the front row alongside MercedesAMG team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who is already confirmed as the world champion, after posting a fast time of time of 1 min, 36.231 secs in the final session.
Ferrari's (NYSE:RACE) Sebastian Vettel will start in 3rd.
Red Bull Racing's Daniel Riccardo in 4th.
Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen 5th
Mr. Hamilton had earlier topped the final practice time sheets, although that mark was beaten again in Qualifying.
All involved seek to finish off the Y 2017 campaign in Top form with a flourish.
Qualifying Recap
Here are the results from qualifying courtesy of the F1 Twitter account:
INITIAL CLASSIFICATION (END OF QUALIFYING): @ValtteriBottas claims his fourth career pole #AbuDhabiGP #Quali #F1
Other F1 news
Pirelli has announced that it is introducing 2 new tire compounds for next season: superhard and hypersoft.
This will provide teams with harder and softer compounds than what is currently available, bringing the number of compounds to seven in total.
Pirelli said it made the decision to address criticism that this season's compounds were perhaps too conservative.
A farewell to F1 on NBC Sports
This weekend's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will be the 98th and final Formula 1 race to be carried by the NBC Sports Group following confirmation of the sport's move away for 2018.
Over five years, NBC Sports Group has grown F1 live viewership by 65 per cent, and is on course to have its most-watched F1 season since acquiring the rights in 2013.
The 98-race stint has seen 3 different drivers – Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg – win world titles, with a further four – Daniel Ricciardo, Max Verstappen, Kimi Raikkonen and Max Verstappen – winning races.
A number of Key F1 figures have bowed out of the sport, including Mark Webber, Jenson Button, Felipe Massa, Ron Dennis, and, to some extent, even Bossman Bernie Ecclestone.
The last 5 years have been among the most important in F1 history with the changes in power both on and off the grid, and it is an era we shall look back on fondly.
2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix – TV/Stream Times
Latest posts by HEFFX Australia (see all)
- Buy Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) Now or Wait for Dip? - October 20, 2020
- Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) Stock Could Fall 50% From Here If Selling Continues, Buy Low Sell High - October 20, 2020
- Is Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) Stock About To Crash? - October 20, 2020


text:
The Cassini Conundrum emerged on the day the Cassini mission ended with the probe plunging into Saturn's atmosphere. Chuck Wendig's prompt that weekend was "You have to break something before it can be mended" (or something like that). I wrote this title down, together with the first few lines. I was so busy, I missed that week and did an excerpt instead. Then it was Flashback Friday. So for 6th October, in honour of the launch of Cassini-Huyghens mission on October 15th 1997 and its completion on 15th September 2017, I give you…
The Cassini Conundrum
"What is it?"
"The collective has been tracking it for several eons. It is not a natural object. Here is the analysis."
Transfer of data between the stratified mind layers was sufficiently unusual for ripple effects to spread through the ether.
Level alpha 5 reported shortly afterwards: "I have found evidence of logical pathways."
"It uses different radiation frequencies for several purposes," reported Level beta 17.
"I have spectral analysis," gamma 2 announced. The collective absorbed the analysis and set its hive mind working.
"The metal elements are arranged in several subsets of connectedness," gamma 21 contributed.
"It is on a collision course."
The announcement caused several frenzied ripples to layers of consciousness that dealt with conformity, well-being and sustained pathways.
"Save it!"
The collective order prompted several layers to work together. One cocooned the object in a magnetron wave bubble, to save it from both impact heat and corrosive possibilities on its fragile metal shell. Tractive force from the densest of the rings supported the magnetron wave to slow the object's descent through the planet's atmosphere. The storm layer sent out an eddy to buoy the object up, slowing it further, and guiding it towards the southern pole.
After one eon, the object was secured in a stasis field above the pole, where the collective could work on it undisturbed.
Five eons later, the analysis was relayed through all layers for consideration.
The object consists of a collection of metal strands, encased in a series of polymers of various shapes and sizes, themselves contained in connected metal shells. Some non-metallic elements are arranged in particular ways suggesting an ordered sequence. One appears to have been a power source.
A directional transmitting capability within the object was broken on first entry. A small nuclear device appears to have a non-aggressive function. The analysis is undecided whether this was for propulsion or for reproduction. The latter seems to be more likely, since we could detect no other reproductive capability. Layers alpha 7 through beta 12 object to that conclusion, arguing that its occurrence here was directed, and would need a propulsion unit to accurately direct it at our home.
As you may gather from this statement, our conclusion is that the object is evidence of alien intelligence. It appears to have been directed at us. Whatever message it carried has not yet been deciphered.
A cacophony of sound rippled across the layers as representatives reacted. Discord provoked several layers of turbulence, sending tsunamis of sound energy out through the vacuum of space. After half an eon, the collective debated with layers and the plan was made: recreate the energy source, reprogramme the logical circuits, and direct the object back towards its point of origin.
"But how do we know its point of origin?"
"Its path is recorded in its memory. Its memory gives us little else, other than graphic representations of our own planet and its moons, compositional analysis, and some co-ordinates for the receiver of its data, which we cannot interpret."
"Why can we not interpret its origin?"
"We lack the necessary reference point."
"What if the aliens come hunting us?"
"What if they are dangerous?"
Many questions of the same nature merged into a dissonance of objection.
Eventually the collective responded.
"We have determined that if an alien mind sent an object to study us, it was intelligent enough to do so. It would not have directed the object to destroy itself in the process unless it was ignorant of our presence. Unless it thought any intelligent life would do as we have, and return the object to it in safety. Therefore any intelligence with these goals in mind would not be dangerous, either to itself or to other life forms."
The waves subsided and further cogitation through the rest of the eon enabled the collective to win its point. The object was set back on a return path, the way it had come, adjusting for perturbation of planetary alignment.
After nearly one complete orbital rotation around the system's star, the collective watched the object enter the atmosphere of the blue planet, the third from the star. Now it would discover whether strange markings on it represented the intelligent life on the planet, and whether the collective's message would be translated.
Two eons on, the collective is still waiting.
Cassini Conundrum © J M Pett 2017
Picture credits: 'Cassini's Last Ring Portrait at Saturn' Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, Space Science Institute, Mindaugas Macijauskas. Available at https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap170926.html


text:
This gallery contains 5 photos.
Here's a link to the article or the entire journal.
Posted by webagent99
Explaining China's Mobile app ecosystem: the potential, players, and pain points.
App creators must track not only the performance of their app, but also the current standing of the app stores. This market moves extremely fast and one can find themselves trailing rather quickly.
Written by:
Masanari Arai is founder and CEO of Kii, an international MBAAS with a presence in China. Masanari has more than 15 years experience in mobile software in Silicon Valley and Japan. He joined Intellisync in 1995 as one of its original members, where he served in various positions, including VP Product Marketing, VP Business Development, GM for Asia and President of Intellisync Japan. Prior to Intellisync, Masanari was at IBM where he was the product manager of the original ThinkPad 700 Series.
Posted in Digital Media, Marketing, Mobile Apps Creation, Mobile Operating Systems, My Projects, Promotion, School, Social Networking, Web Design and Development, Word Press
Tags: Android, App Store, AppStore, Asia, Business, China, Google Play, IBM, Innovation, Intellisync, Japan, Masanari Arai, Sina Weibo
Nov 13
Posted by webagent99
This gallery contains 5 photos.
Here's a link to the article or the entire journal.
Posted in Digital Media.


text:
Hemant Gosain "Sunny," chairman and chief executive officer of Omniquo Inc., has established an internship to support work on next-generation technology at the McMillon Innovation Studio.
Gosain donated $25,000 for the Sunny Gosain Technology Accelerator Internship to fund hourly salaries and support the marketing, materials and management of the program.
Internships are key in the McMillon Innovation Studio helping students create new technologies and learning to think innovatively. Student interns at the studio come from multiple disciplines across the University of Arkansas campus including business, engineering, design, agriculture and mathematics, among others.
Gosain is a seasoned business executive and a serial entrepreneur with a successful track record in heading up large global organizations and in executing start-up ventures in artificial intelligence, cloud, mobility and enterprise software along with being an adviser to growth-based firms.
Over his career he has served in executive leadership roles at PRO Unlimited (board member), inContact Inc., Compiere Inc., Oracle, MCISystemhouse and Fujitsu. He currently serves as a board member of two companies, as an advisory director for Investcorp, Inc., a global private equity firm and is a member of the Walton College Dean's Executive Advisory Board.
Gosain has three technology patents. He holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Delhi and an M.B.A. from the Walton College.


text:
"As for the future, your task is not to foresee it, but to enable it".
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
We assist our clients throughout the EU institutions' policy-making and offer them the opportunity of being heard on the European stage so that to influence the rules of the game. Given the growing impact of European legislation on national and regional level, managing the political risk at EU level has become crucial for businesses.
We assist companies to be accredited as important partners in Brussels. We develop tailor-made strategies for their communications needs: spreading the right message at the right time among the right audience makes all the difference. Our public relation draws the attention of politicians, the private sector, NGOs and public opinion on a wide range of topics as well as on the legislation concerning businesses and new projects.
We provide accurate and timely analyses of Brussels' public debate throughout all institutions and relevant fora, in view of assessing the impact on markets and national lawmaking of existing and future EU legislation. We monitor the evolution of the political dynamics in Brussels, in order to create opportunities for discussion between the business community and the institutions.
Luciano Stella is Founder and CEO at MUST & Partners.
He arrived in Brussels for an internship in 2004 and subsequently worked as official at the
European Parliament between 2006 and 2009.
In 2010 he became Partner of an Italian consulting firm and Country Director in Brussels While holding that position, he oversaw the Lobbying and Public Affairs strategies in Brussels for several clients such as Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori Merck Sharp Dohme, Bracco, and British American Tobacco.
In 2012 Luciano founded EPA – European Project Advice, a consulting firm specialized in European funds planning and management.
He was also a consultant in European Affairs for Risorse per Roma", for the IRBM Science Park research center and he is currently consulting for ANCI Associazione Nazionale Comuni Italiani.
He lectures on EU lobbying at the University of Salento, SIOI, LUMSA, Aforisma Il Sole 24 Ore Business School and Confindustria Chairman of IBN (Italian Business Network) an Italian association of Brussels based young professionals, he's Secretary General of TEA TaxiEurope Alliance) and Member of the Executive Council of FEE (Forum d'Etudes Européennes and GII (Gruppo d'Iniziativa Italiana).
He's among the "Top 150 Public Affairs Consultants in 2019 in the BestInBrussels eu's list. In 2014 together with Matteo Mussini, he founded MUST Partners.
Luciano speaks Italian, French and English.
Senior Partner at MUST & PARTNERS.
For the past 5 years Angel has been the Director of ATREVIA in Brussels – a global communication and strategic positioning consultancy. During this period, he has advised large multinational companies, leaders in their sector, in their dialogue with the European institutions. Well versed in the European institutional framework, he worked as adviser in the European Parliament during the legislature 2009-2014. During this period, the active follow-up and participation of Angel in the parliamentary committee of the Internal Market and Consumer Rights stood up. His experience in the working groups on the European Digital Single Market must be highlighted too.
He used to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Official Chamber of Commerce of Spain in Belgium and Luxembourg. Previously he also worked as a foreign trade technician for the General Secretariat of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Spain in Europe (FEDECOM), at its headquarters in Brussels.
He's among the "Top 150 Public Affairs Consultants in 2019" in the BestInBrussels.eu's list.
Angel is also the Founder and CEO of the European Public Affairs consulting firm ARPA, specializing in Public Relations and Corporate Diplomacy.
Giuseppe Antonio Fortunato is a Senior Advisor Legal Strategies of MUST & Partners.
In 1996 he began his work in the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate of the Republic. In 1999 he arrived at the European Parliament, where he remained as a parliamentary assistant until 2006, following the activities of the Commissions of Foreign Affairs, Regional Transport and Tourism Policies.
His interest in foreign policy led him in 2000 to a degree in International and Diplomatic Sciences, in Gorizia – detached branch, to this dedicated course, of the University of Trieste – followed by a research doctorate in Political Geography and Geopolitics in the same university.
In 2006 he was appointed Chief Secretary of the Foreign Minister and Vice-President of the Council Massimo D'Alema, a position he held until the end of the Prodi government in 2008.
In April 2008 he became manager of Finmeccanica, the Italian holding of aerospace and defense, moving to Moscow, as a Director of activities in the Russian Federation and CIS until June 2012. From July 1, 2012, Finmeccanica sends him to head the Brussels office, in charge of relations with the European Union and NATO. During the years as a company manager, he completed his academic training with a master's degree in Law and a master's degree in Economics.
In January 2015 he changed jobs, called by Pier Carlo Padoan, Minister of Economy, to the role of his advisor, dealing with subsidiaries and state subsidiaries, internationalization of the economy, special economic initiatives.
In the course of 2015 he was appointed, in the CONI, a member of the Roma 2024 Committee.
In November of the same year he entered, as Full-time Professor of International Relations for Public Administration, in the National Administration School, at the time presided over by Giovanni Tria.
In January 2016 he left all other positions to enter Poste Italiane, as a manager, playing the role of Head of Institutional Relations of the group, until February 2018. Pugliese by birth, Gorizian by adoption, European by vocation. He cultivates his interest in geography by becoming Secretary General of the Italian Geographic Society in 2015.
Love the sea and sailing, for passion and reflection, not for competition.
In MUST & Partners since January 2016, Marco is responsible for external relations, social media management and communication.
Born in Modena in 1987, he has always been very passionate about journalism and for several years collaborates with some local and national newspapers, including Il Resto del Carlino, Prima Pagina and Outlook Confindustria.
He also manages the blog of political and cultural opinion "Lost in Ambition", takes care of the Instagram profile of food and wine reviews "Stèr Bèin" and has contributed to the creation and publication of a study for F.I.G.C. – Italian Football Federation, concerning the youth football sectors in Europe, divided into two volumes.
In 2007 he co-founded a public relations and event organization company, MCE (Modena Centro Entertainment), active for several years throughout northern Italy.
Since 2014 Marco is President of the non-profit association IDEAL, which gives life to sports festivals, literary meetings and ecological days in the city of Modena and surroundings.
He was among the coordinators of a group of volunteers, active following the earthquake of 2012 and the flood of 2014, which hit some areas of Emilia-Romagna.
Marco graduated in Modern Literature in Bologna, where he worked on the cultural magazine of the "Il Mulino" publishing house, and in International and European Political Relations in Parma, with the thesis "#OccupyVietnam – The foreign policy of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, from Cuba to Southeast Asia ».
He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Communication, Public Affairs and International Relations at the Il Sole 24 Ore Business School in Rome.
Love sports, cinema and TV series; aspiring gourmet and Bruce Springsteen fan.
Italian mother tongue, he speaks English and French correctly.
In MUST & Partners since April 2018, where she manages digital dossier, Annamaria is graduated in Political Science and International Relations – with the thesis "Lobbying and public policies" – at "La Sapienza" University of Rome, where she collaborated with the Internationalization and European programs Area. Editor for "Giovani nel Mondo" association based in Rome, she has published contents for the online platform www.carriereinternazionali.com. Then, she obtained a Master's degree in International Relations with the thesis "The transformation of local authorities in Italy between historical legacies and the process of European integration", carrying out her studies between Rome and the Universiteit Antwerpen in Antwerp, Belgium.
She participated in the course "Communication, Lobbying and Politics" held in Rome by the Running Academy, operating at the public affairs company "Reti". Her project "City growth and new housing policy" was considered one of the best projects of the political school organized by "Italiadecide", an association for the quality of public policies, and it was presented at the "Sala del Mappamondo" of the Italian Parliament.
Involved in social matters, she has coordinated a civic movement and an association of her territory, promoting political, cultural, naturalistic, voluntary and charitable events.
Italian mother tongue, she works in English and understands French.
Great passion for hiking, backpacking, radio news, reading, music and dance.
Claudio Campetta hold a degree in Economics and Business from Roma Tre University, He is a Certified Accountant and statutory auditor since 2008, and is a founding partner of the Public Accountants Firm Baldi & Associati. Between 2013 and 2016 he was Vice-President of the Committee 'Professional Practices Management' of the Certified Public Accountants, Auditors and Advisors Professional Association of Rome. He co-founded European Project Advice Llc, a consultancy operating in the field of the EU co-financing programmes, with an expertise on all the project stages. Claudio is an expert in Corporate and Tax Law, especially on extraordinary and ordinary corporate management operations, with a focus on merger, division and liquidation operations. During his career, he has been Head of several limited companies. He also works as a fiscal and administrative-audit consultant, drafting business plans for start-ups. At MUST & Partners, Claudio is an economic and corporate adviser.
He was born in Rome in 1976.
Olivier lives and works in Brussels since 2014, where he is Chairman of the Board of Directors of Europartners LCC, a consultancy firm operating in the field of employment, training, social policies and entrepreneurship.
He works together with MUST & Partners on common projects. Since 1994 Olivier has developed a strong expertise in programming, accounting, monitoring and evaluation of development programs co-financed with EU funds, especially by the European Social Fund and the European Regional Development Fund.
Since 2000 he has developed skills in planning, partnership management, running and supervision of projects activities for the Public Administration and the private sector. At the same time, he worked with INAPP and the Italian National Council for Economics and Labour as analyst and researcher in the field of labour active market policies. He coordinated several works/projects/activities on employment policies and social inclusion. Olivier holds a degree in Economics and Business at the La Sapienza University of Rome. Italian native speaker, he speaks English fluently.
At MUST & Partners since November 2017, Ida deals with policies and legal affairs mainly in the energy, mobility and public procurement sectors.
Ida graduated in Law at the LUISS Guido Carli in 2014 and, after an internship in a law firm, she passed the bar exam in 2018.
The interest in international law leads her to attend in 2016 the Summer School of the Hague Academy of International Law based at the International Court of Justice.
In 2017 she obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Corporate Communication, Lobbying and Public Affairs from the Sole 24 Ore's Business School.
Ida speaks fluently English, she can understand and read French. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga, tasting wine and discovering new destinations.
In MUST & Partners since November 2017, after a previous experience at the European Parliament, Giovanni follows clients in the transport and tobacco sectors, dealing with the drafting of lobbying plans, legislative monitoring and political intelligence.
Giovanni graduated in Law from University of Milan, with a thesis in Parliamentary Law.
During the University years, he spent a semester in China at Xiamen University, where he had the chance to deepen Chinese Commercial Law and attended short courses at Kings College London and the University of Sarajevo.
Giovanni took a post-graduate course in Corporate Communication and Public Affairs at Sole 24 Ore Business School in Rome.
He speaks English and French.
Francesco studied at NABA – Nuova Accademia of Belle Arti of Milan, specializing as Graphic Designer, Brand and Web Designer and Motion Graphics. He has been working with MUST & Partners for some time, dealing with the graphical and creative aspects of the company communications services. Italian mother tongue, he's fluent in English.
Policy Intern
Policy Intern
7 Mar, 2019
04 Mar, 2018
11 Oct, 2017
28 Jun, 2017
26 Apr, 2017
07 Dec, 2016
16 Nov, 2016
12 Ott, 2016
16 Nov, 2015
13 Ott, 2015
11 Nov, 2014
4 Nov, 2014


text:
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Custom Kokeshi Sneak Peek {C}
Posted by Christina Conway at 12:13 PM
2 comments:
- Desirée said...
These are lovely! I cannot wait for a chance to see them in full.
By any chance, do you know of any resources to purchase kokeshi blanks to paint? Looking at these always gets me so inspired.
- June 25, 2009 at 11:29 PM
- Christina Conway said...
Hi Desirée,
thank you for the compliments!
I have blanks for sale. :) Also, the artist version for this year's show will be available July 11.
these are ready now: http://2winks.blogspot.com/2008/07/new-blank-kokeshi.html
- June 26, 2009 at 11:10 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
Earlier today, USA Today released a new clip from The Master: A LEGO Ninjago Short which will be shown in theaters before Storks. The short clip features Master Wu, voiced by Jackie Chan, going up against a Chicken, voiced by Abbi Jacobson. The LEGO Ninjago Movie will be in theaters September 22, 2017 and is filled with big name actor and actresses including Chan and Jacobson. Check out the clip for The Master: A LEGO Ninjago Short below.
Home LEGO Ninjago The Master: A LEGO Ninjago Short Sneak Peek