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The snow had finally stopped. For more than a day, a fleet of 678 plows and diggers had churned across Boston chasing the February blizzard, like Sisyphus pushing the boulder uphill.
But then, all at once, almost all the plows went silent.
Many of the drivers had already been behind the wheel for too long, threading broad blades down Boston's narrow, hilly streets. And the slip and slide of cars was about to complicate the task, because the governor had just lifted the state's first travel ban in a generation.
So as Bostonians began digging out from 2 feet of snow that Saturday night, city officials delivered an order: Get off the road, they told the plows, and take a five-hour break.
An analysis of GPS data from the city's snow plows — almost 300,000 pings that recorded the location and movement of each truck during the storm — illustrates the herculean campaign undertaken to cope with the fifth-largest snowfall in Boston history. Colonial-era lanes become overwhelmed when snowfall hits the 18-inch mark, meaning the snow can no longer be pushed by plows and must be slowly dug out by backhoes.
Like any paralyzing snowfall, this storm — and the response to it — generated intense scrutiny. Some side streets, especially narrow ways and dead ends, would be lost for days, impassable and buried under 25 inches of snow, prompting an apology from Mayor Thomas M. Menino. But the administration also defended its response to the storm, saying major roads remained clear and public safety was never imperiled.
The city threw every piece of snow removal equipment it could muster at the storm, which would ultimately cost Boston more than $14 million.
Impassable streets did cause problems. A fire engine heading to a blaze in Dorchester got mired in the snow, forcing firefighters to drag a hose more than a block to douse the flames. In Charlestown, paramedics had to use a sled to evacuate a 91-year-old who had surgery scheduled at Massachusetts General Hospital.
The global positioning data also showed:
■ One plow driver working for a city contractor was toiling on Massachusetts Avenue and crossed the Charles River into Cambridge, clearing several streets in the wrong city. The driver got lost and will not be paid for any of his work, city officials said.
■ Plows spent most of their time scraping the city's major streets, which were largely cleared down to the pavement.
■ There was no discernible pattern as to which side streets were cleared— and which weren't. In some neighborhoods, hills or narrow roads posed an impediment. In others, equipment broke down, and the snow piled up too fast for standard plows to push it.
The global positioning devices — Kyocera DuraMax cellphones handed to all plow drivers — are imprecise. The signal can be off by a few blocks and only transmits location every one to two minutes, making it hard to follow the exact path of every plow. It was impossible, for example, to accurately determine the number of streets left unplowed for days after the storm.
For years, Boston has used outside contractors to do most of its plowing. The city's public works department has 78 plows and salt spreaders, which is only enough for a dusting. Most of the muscle — in the case of the February blizzard, more than 90 percent of the equipment — comes from 10 private companies that bid for three-year contracts. The plowing in that storm cost the city roughly $8.3 million, of which $7.8 million will be paid to contractors. The city spent $6 million more removing massive snow berms from curbs and corners.
'We had a bloody blizzard. There's just no place to put the snow.'Denise Cronin, Charlestown resident whose 91-year-old neighbor was pulled through snow by paramedics in order to get him to the hospital
Private plow drivers report to one of Boston's 10 public works yards, where they are handed a printed map and one of the Kyocera cellphones. The printed maps delineate plow drivers' turf — a few dozen city blocks they are supposed to patrol like a beat cop. Other teams prowl the city's major roads, plowing thoroughfares such as Dorchester and Blue Hill avenues end to end. Public Works sends out inspectors to make sure the job is getting done.
For the blizzard, the city asked contractors for everything they had. After a season without snow, some companies had sold off equipment, city officials said, but contractors still provided an army of plows. By the Friday when the blizzard arrived, the city had more gear on the road than when a major storm struck right after Christmas in 2010.
The Globe found that the plow-driver break that began at 5 p.m. on the Saturday of the blizzard had a significant and perhaps unavoidable impact. In two hours, complaints from residents spiked. Wind gusting up to 35 miles an hour pushed drifts back onto roads. As residents dug out cars, they shoveled snow onto pavement that had been cleared. And the temperature plunged to 15 degrees, freezing snow solid.
The break wasn't optional, city officials said, because safety necessitated giving drivers a few hours to rest. "We didn't want anybody to get hurt," said Elmo Baldassari, the deputy public works commissioner who has overseen Boston's snow removal for a decade.
During the break Saturday night, drivers retreated to public works yards, where cots and hot coffee waited. A handful of city-owned plows continued pushing snow off Washington Street, Dorchester and Hyde Park avenues, and other major thoroughfares.
When the army redeployed after 9 p.m. Saturday, smaller equipment struggled. Many of Boston's old, narrow streets are squeezed on both sides by parked cars. That leaves only enough space for a seven-foot plow blade on a regular pickup truck, a vehicle outmatched by the mass of snow that had fallen.
At least 21 trucks and other pieces of equipment got stuck and 49 more broke down that night, according to the city. The backhoes and front-end loaders began to take over.
"You're there essentially with a shovel," Baldassari said, noting that it took a backhoe five hours to clear Tower Street, a block-long dead end in Jamaica Plain. "It's not that we weren't there. It just takes time to open these streets up a bucket at a time."
Later this month, the Menino administration expects to complete its own assessment of the storm response. In a preliminary analysis, city officials flagged areas that appeared to be problems. In Roslindale, a plow got stuck for more than 90 minutes on Arborough Road. Other equipment had to be diverted, and snow piled up so quickly the street had to be cleared with a backhoe.
City Councilor Charles C. Yancey said he found two dozen streets that remained impassable 24 hours after the storm. "I feel really responsible as an elected official. We let the public down," Yancey said, adding, "I'm not blaming DPW workers."
Yancey called for a hearing at City Hall, which had been scheduled for March 4 but was postponed. Councilor Salvatore LaMattina, chairman of the committee with oversight of plowing, said he wanted to wait until the Menino administration concluded its review. LaMattina said main roads were open, but he was not happy with side streets in Charlestown, many of which were impassable.
"I could have had a hearing and had people complain, but it wouldn't have been productive," LaMattina said. "I'm looking for long-term solutions."
In the future, the city could deploy plows in waves to avoid the need for a five-hour break. The trade-off, city officials said, would be fewer plows on roads at the height of the storm, when more streets could wind up buried.
The city could also institute parking bans on narrow side roads the way it does on main thoroughfares. Barring cars from even one side of a tight street would make room for larger plows, which are less likely to get stuck. The difficulty would be finding places for residents to park their cars.
Looking back, most residents judged the blizzard response with a simple test: How was my street?
"They did a good job," said Lisa Lipson, 47, while standing on Mather Street in Dorchester. "I thought this street was very well plowed."
Around the corner, Lorraine Humphrey offered a starkly different assessment. "It was awful," said Humphrey, 65, who has lived on Nixon Street for 30 years. "We kept calling and calling, constantly. They kept telling us, 'Oh, they are on the way.'"
In that corner of Boston, it mattered more than anywhere. The Saturday the snow stopped, flames tore through a three-story apartment house at 49 Mather St. The first call came at 11:54 p.m., and Ladder 6 barreled down Mather, arriving at 11:58 p.m. to heavy fire and people trapped on the third floor.
Engine 18 had broken a chain on its snow tire earlier in the day, and crews made the mistake of rushing up Nixon Street. At midnight, Engine 18 was stuck, and firefighters dragged their hose the last block to the fire.
More engines and ladder trucks arrived at the three-alarm fire. Firefighters rescued a man from an upper floor. In snowstorms, the department always sends extra equipment in case a truck gets stuck.
"Ultimately, it didn't affect the outcome of the fire," Boston Fire spokesman Steve MacDonald said. "Companies got water on it pretty quick. Nobody was seriously hurt."
On the hills of Charlestown, plows cleared Main, Medford, and Bunker Hill streets. But the snow strangled the narrow lanes that crisscross the neighborhood like rungs on a ladder. Sullivan Street became a sledding hill. Russell Street remained impassable, which worried the neighbors and family of James Crowley. The 91-year-old was scheduled to report to Massachusetts General Hospital on Sunday afternoon to have his foot amputated.
"It was cataclysmic," said Crowley's daughter, Meg. "The amount of snow. The narrow streets. And sorry to say, but stupid people shoveling their cars out and throwing it in the street."
Neighbors flooded City Hall with calls for help. Boston paramedics arrived on Sunday with what looked like a yellow sled. Crowley grinned as they laid him flat on his back. Paramedics pulled him through the snow two blocks to a waiting ambulance.
"We had a bloody blizzard," said Crowley's neighbor, Denise Cronin, 79. "There's just no place to put the snow."
But then, not long after nightfall, "we heard them. It was such a glorious sound to hear the plows coming."Matt Carroll, Alvin Chang, and Gabriel Florit of the Globe staff contributed to this report. Andrew Ryan can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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LONGMONT, Colo. -- Four people were found dead today in Colorado after a woman called police to report a shooting and was apparently shot to death while she was on the phone.
LONGMONT, Colo. -- Four people were found dead today in Colorado after a woman called police to report a shooting and was apparently shot to death while she was on the phone.
Weld County sheriff's spokesman Tim Schwartz says dispatchers heard the woman who called 911 scream "No, no, no," and then they heard a gunshot. Schwartz says a man grabbed the phone and said he was going to kill himself, and dispatchers heard another shot.
The bodies were found in a home in a subdivision east of Longmont, which is about 35 miles north of Denver.
The dead included two men and two women, including one who appeared to be in her late teens or early 20s.
Schwartz says investigators have a possible motive for the shootings, but he refused to release details.
Schwartz said he didn't think anyone escaped alive. He did not know whether all four of the people lived in the home, and he was not sure whether there had been any previous calls to police asking for help.
A handgun believed to be murder weapon was recovered. Police said numerous rounds had been fired from the gun, but further details were not available. Police said they are convinced the gunman was one of the victims.
A neighbor, Joyce Vibbert, said she heard three gunshots and got up to look out her bedroom window. She said she couldn't see anything, but she heard a woman screaming.
"It was just screaming. I couldn't hear what she was saying. It was just screaming," she said.
Desirae Swazoe said she awoke shortly after 4 a.m. and heard a voice shouting over and over, "Weld County Sheriff's Department! Open the back door! Do it now!"
Kathy Tubb said she heard what she thought were gunshots about 4 a.m. and had no idea what was happening.
Tubb said when she went outside to warm up her husband's car to go to work, she saw a policeman wearing a helmet and armed with a rifle standing in the street.
Fearing there might be a gunman still on the loose, she thought, "Oh my God, how can I get back in the house before he starts shooting." She said waited until the officer left before she felt safe.
Today, the home with a well-groomed yard still had Christmas lights shining. A sheriff's department command post bus was parked outside.
Authorities sought a search warrant to before continuing their investigation.

subset: commoncrawl


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SIGGRAPH has a long commitment to supporting and providing opportunities for students. Students are welcome and encouraged to submit their work to all programs and evens. Opportunities that are particularly appropriate for students, or specially targeted to students:
Additionally, the conference could not function without the help of the team of Student Volunteers - in their distinctive vests and caps - who are chosen by a highly selective process and given complete access to the conference in exchange for their hours of service. And all students receive a generous registration discount to make the conference as accessible as possible.
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Listen to some of the city's finest music, then download the entire album for $9.99. Proceeds from album sales go to support the Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp.
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30 January 2014 at 10.50am | Comment on this article
Don Juan has appeared in a multitude of incarnations. He can be a hero or a villain, an example of unrepentant unruliness, a romantic or political libertine, a lover unrivalled in his talent or in the number of his conquests. Don Juan is often as likeable - and even as commendable - as he is condemnable.
Don Juan was first introduced to the stage in early 17th-century Spain, in El burlador de Sevilla y convidado de piedra (The Trickster of Seville and the Stone Guest). Its protagonist, the handsome trickster Don Juan Tenorio, is certainly a villain. He seduces several women by deception, force or spurious promises of marriage. He kills the father of one of the women and then mocks the tomb of the dead man. His Catholic punishment is that he is taken off to Hell, to burn in the fires of divine justice. His eventual appeal for mercy is dismissed simply because 'Your intention condemns you'. This Juan was a character for his age - his lifestyle as a trickster undermines all the principles upon which a good Catholic society depended and a suitable comeuppance was essential.
But later in the 17th century the French playwright Molière reinvented the anti-hero as an irreverent intellectual who prides himself on playing the 'honest man' as opposed to indulging the 'fashionable vice' of hypocrisy. Molière's Juan is flippant with divine disapproval and remains unrepentant to the end. The play was withdrawn almost as soon as it went on the stage, but those who denounced its bold and irreligious rationalism were as much concerned that the play was so entertaining – that the audience laughed. Less than half a century after Juan had first been dragged to hell, this fate didn't seem enough of a comeuppance. Worse, the whole thing was rather witty.
Our own era has been no less perplexed by Juan's ambiguity. In 2006 Patrick Marber reworked Molière for London's West End. Don Juan in Soho presented 'DJ', an aristocratic, metropolitan playboy as much appalled by contemporary hypocrisy as Molière's Juan. Stan, his long-suffering 'dogsbody', wistfully reflects, 'I wish there was a hell he could burn in forever', but without such divine retribution we are left with the secular justice meted out by the vigilante brother of DJ's abandoned wife. DJ remains defiant to the last and when asked 'Don't you want to live?', he replies 'Yes! But only as I please', before being horribly stabbed to death.
The 1990s sent forth Don Juan in the form of a troubled, handsome and desirable young man (played by Johnny Depp) in Jeremy Leven's 1994 film Don Juan DeMarco. Juan is deluded: he thinks he is the 'original' Don Juan, 'the world's greatest lover', ridiculously dressed in a cape and mask in modern Manhattan. Psychiatrist Jack Mickler (Marlon Brando) tries to cure him of his illusions after he finds him attempting suicide from the top of an advertising billboard.
Juan appeared again in the 2013 film Don Jon, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Jon is an ordinary twenty-something Catholic boy, obsessed with the repetitive, narcissistic rituals of his lifestyle. The only salvation for this modern seducer is his own seduction by an older woman, whose soulful, realist circumspection can undo his obsession with image.
By contrast, Juan, Kasper Holten's 2010 film version of Mozart's opera, captures the sophistication of a self-conscious, civilized, modern Don Juan. Holten's Juan is playful, charming, wealthy and (of course) alluring – but Holten suggests his awareness of the necessity of civil respectability, even if his instincts lead him to upset its norms.
We have certainly not finished re-inventing Don Juan. He exists in the modern mind in a variety of forms: sometimes irredeemably villainous, sometimes irredeemably heroic or romantic. But he is most engaging as a character when he occupies a space somewhere in between.
This is an extract from Will Richmond's article, available to read in full in the Don Giovanni programme book. This is available in the theatre at performance times and from the ROH Shop.
Don Giovanni runs 1–24 February 2014. A small number of tickets are still available. The production will be broadcast live around the world on 12 February. Find your nearest cinema.


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Journey's 'Faithfully' Performed by Hollie Cavanagh on 'American Idol'
Hollie Cavanagh performed Journey's 1983 smash hit ballad 'Faithfully' on 'American Idol' tonight, and though she tried gamely, it seemed some of the song's vocal range and urgency eluded her.
The performance opened with Cavanagh standing in front of a desert highway scene projected upon a giant video screen. The mood was set perfectly for a dramatic delivery of the song's opening "Highway run / Into the midnight sun / Wheels go round and round / You're on my mind" lyric. Unfortunately the young singer faltered in a couple of places, and the spare instrumental accompaniment made it all the more obvious.
As the song proceeded, Cavanagh stayed in a rather safe vocal range, never getting too high or too low and as a result never really delivering any emotion or drama into the normally irresistible song. Now, we're not saying it was terrible, and we really thought that for once we'd be in sync with Steven Tyler and the rest of the judges.
Randy Jackson and his diamond-studded 'YO' pin happily declared "You're peaking at the right time," before turning to Jennifer Lopez and shouting — twice — "Holly wants to have the whole thing, dog!" As for J. Lo, she said the performance "got me a little bit emotional, to see how far you've come."
Surely, Tyler will see things a bit more like we do, right? Well, maybe not, he seems under her spell as well: "Holly I watched you two years ago, you were so young and it was so hard to tell what was going on. Creativity is a very delicate flower, you can make it bloom with positive affirmations, and that's what you've done."


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|International Space Station Imagery
high res (1.0 M) low res (38 K)
|ISS006-E-26867 (16 February 2003) --- View of surface tension demonstration using water that is being held in place by a metal loop. Astronaut Donald R. Pettit, Expedition Six NASA ISS science officer, photographed these demonstrations for educational purposes. The experiment took place in the Destiny laboratory on the International Space Station (ISS).
Curator: JSC PAO Web Team | Responsible NASA Official: Amiko Kauderer | Updated: 10/30/2012


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1. Any right that a parent may acquire to reduce his or her court-ordered child support payment in a divorce proceeding because of the child's separate share of the parent's disability or retirement benefits does not automatically translate into a right to take the child's conservatorship funds or assets to pay the full amount of court-ordered child support notwithstanding the source of the conservatorship assets.
2. A conservator is precluded from using any amount of the assets of a minor's conservatorship estate to pay any portion of a parent's court-ordered child support obligation without specific approval of the court that is supervising the conservatorship.
3. When a conservator, without specific court approval, withdraws funds from a minor's conservatorship estate to use for the court-ordered child support payment for that minor, the supervising court must order that the conservator repay the conservatorship estate no less than the amount of those misused funds.
4. K.S.A. 59-3088(f) and K.S.A. 59-3089(d) contemplate that any of the costs to recover misused conservatorship funds or assets allowed by the district court are to be paid to the conservatorship estate.
Appeal from Sedgwick District Court; MICHAEL CORRIGAN, judge. Opinion filed October 20, 2006. Affirmed in part and reversed in part.
T. Michael Wilson, Douglas C. Cranmer, and Jeffrey N. Lowe, of Stinson, Lasswell & Wilson, L.C., of Wichita, for appellant.
Jon S. Womack, of Wichita, for appellee.
Before JOHNSON, P.J., ELLIOTT and BUSER, JJ.
JOHNSON, J.: This is a consolidated appeal from orders entered in the probate proceedings involving three conservatorships, one for each of the children of Thomas Chapman and Deborah Chapman. The overarching question presented is whether Thomas could withdraw funds from the children's conservatorship estates to pay his child support obligations which were court-ordered in a separate divorce proceeding. Finding that Thomas, as conservator of his children's estates, misused conservatorship funds, we reverse and remand.
Our issues arise because of the interface of two scenarios: Thomas' injury and retirement from the Derby Police Department and the marital discord between Thomas and Deborah. Thomas' injury eventually led to the establishment of conservatorships to receive the children's separate share of Thomas' disability/retirement benefits. Thomas' child support obligations were established in two divorce proceedings.
Deborah and Thomas first married in December 1984; their first child, Ethan, was born in April 1989. Effective July 15, 1989, Thomas retired from his job as a police officer with the City of Derby Police Department after an injury left him disabled. Thomas' retirement due to disability entitled him to receive benefits from the Kansas Police and Firemen's Retirement System (KP&F), which is administered by the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS). See K.S.A. 74-4953(1) (creating KP&F as a division of KPERS).
Thomas' benefits as a member of KP&F were computed at 50% of his final average salary. KP&F provided a separate benefit to Ethan initially equal to 10% of Thomas' final average salary. The benefits payable to a member's child or children is in addition to and does not diminish the member's disability/retirement amount. Further, the total benefits paid to a member and his or her children cannot exceed 75% of the predisability salary. See K.S.A. 74-4960(1)(c). Thus, under the statute where a member has three or more children, each child will receive a pro rata share of 25%, rather than 10% each.
Deborah filed for divorce on August 20, 1991, and the decree was filed February 12, 1992. Thomas was ordered to pay monthly child support of $441.
In 1992, the legislature amended K.S.A. 74-4960 to require that KP&F benefits which are payable to a minor must be made to a conservator. L. 1992, ch. 321, sec. 14. Accordingly, on November 13, 1992, Thomas filed a petition to be appointed as Ethan's conservator, and the petition was heard forthwith. Thomas did not give, and the district court did not require, legal notice to any other person, including Deborah. The court did not appoint a guardian ad litem to represent Ethan's interests. Thomas was appointed as Ethan's conservator but was not required to file a surety bond.
Thereafter, Thomas used Ethan's conservatorship funds to pay his $441 monthly child support obligation. Additionally, Thomas reimbursed himself from the conservatorship estate for the child's medical insurance costs.
Thomas and Deborah subsequently reconciled, and Thomas discontinued paying child support from Ethan's conservatorship. On June 21, 1995, the couple had a second child, Matthew. On September 11, 1995, Thomas filed a petition and obtained an order forthwith appointing himself as conservator for Matthew without bond. Thomas reimbursed himself from Matthew's conservatorship for his one-half of the medical bills associated with Matthew's birth. Thereafter, he took the monthly cost of Matthew's health insurance from the child's conservatorship funds.
On March 3, 1997, Thomas and Deborah remarried. A third child, Jared, was born on May 2, 1997. A second divorce action was filed on August 22, 1997. In October 1997, Thomas began withdrawing $200 per month from each of the existing conservatorship estates to apply toward his child support obligation. Thomas' child support obligation the second time around was ultimately set at $775 per month.
On November 20, 1998, Thomas effected a summary, same-day appointment as Jared's conservator, without bond. Thereafter, Thomas took $200 per month from Jared's conservatorship also. The $600 withdrawn from the three conservatorship estates was deposited into Thomas' personal checking account, from which he then paid his child support obligation.
During the period of December 1992 through December 2003, Thomas made disbursements from Ethan's conservatorship for child support and health insurance purposes totaling $36,088.42. During the period of January 1995 through December 2003, Thomas made disbursements from Matthew's conservatorship for child support, health insurance, medical bills, and conservatorship charges totaling $19,560.02. During the period of April 1999 through December 2003, Thomas made disbursements from Jared's conservatorship for child support purposes totaling $11,800.
In January 2004, Deborah filed petitions in each of the conservatorship proceedings, seeking to remove Thomas as conservator for failing to fulfill his conservatorship duties, including wrongfully using the conservatees' assets to pay his personal court-ordered child support obligation. Deborah also requested that Thomas be ordered to reimburse any funds found to have been innocently misused or, in the alternative, to charge Thomas double the value of any funds which were found to have been embezzled or converted for Thomas' personal use. The petition included an additional prayer for lost earnings and the costs to recover the funds or assets, including attorney fees.
Deborah also sought relief in the divorce proceeding. In July 2004, Deborah obtained an income withholding order to effect the payment of all of the child support from Thomas' own share of the KP&F benefits. The following month, a hearing officer ruled the money deposited in the children's conservatorships as a result of Thomas' disability should "be credited/paid/authorized for child support." Deborah appealed to the district court, which reversed the hearing officer's decision in a letter ruling dated September 28, 2004. Specifically, the district court found: "Monies from [Thomas'] disability designated for children cannot and shall not be credited towards [Thomas'] child support obligation prospectively."
For simplicity, we will refer to the district court as the divorce court when referring to actions taken in the divorce proceedings and as the probate court when referring to actions taken in the conservatorship proceedings.
On September 27 and November 2, 2004, the probate court conducted a hearing on Deborah's petition, during which the parties proffered the basic underlying facts. Importantly, Thomas testified and conceded that he never sought or obtained the probate court's approval to use money from the children's conservatorships to satisfy his child support obligations.
Although the probate court acknowledged the divorce court's contrary finding, the probate court nonetheless ruled Thomas "can and should receive credit for the payment of his child support obligation in the amount deposited in the Conservatorship from KPERS for the benefit of each of the children." In doing so, the probate court likened the factual scenario to that found in Andler v. Andler, 217 Kan. 538, 538 P.2d 649 (1975), and In re Marriage of Martin, 32 Kan. App. 2d 1141, 95 P.3d 130 (2004). Apparently equating a right to offset against a child support obligation with the right to withdraw funds from the children's conservatorship estates, the probate court ultimately denied Deborah's requests to remove Thomas as conservator, to appoint a successor conservator, and to order the reimbursement of funds withdrawn by Thomas.
On appeal, Deborah raises four issues, claiming the probate court erred by: (1) finding that the children's KP&F benefits can be used as a credit against Thomas' child support obligation; (2) denying the requested removal of Thomas as conservator and the requested appointment of a successor; (3) refusing to order Thomas to reimburse the conservatorship estates for the monies withdrawn by him to pay his court-ordered obligations; and (4) refusing to order Thomas to pay Deborah's legal fees and expenses. Thomas did not appeal the divorce court's rulings, and he does not cross-appeal any of the probate court's rulings.
Deborah begins by challenging the probate court's finding that Thomas was entitled to a credit against his divorce court child support obligations for the amount of KP&F benefits payable to his children. She essentially attacks the finding on two levels. First, she contends that the probate court was collaterally estopped from relitigating the issue after the divorce court had ruled that no credit was due. Secondly, Deborah argues that the probate court improperly relied upon the Andler and Martin decisions.
Collateral estoppel
Whether the doctrine of collateral estoppel applies is a question of law providing this court with unlimited review. O'Keefe v. Merrill Lynch & Co., 32 Kan. App. 2d 474, 479, 84 P.3d 613, rev. denied 278 Kan. 846 (2004). However, we need not separately analyze the three elements of collateral estoppel. See O'Keefe, 32 Kan. App. 2d at 483 (reciting the requirements to apply collateral estoppel). Deborah did not specifically ask the probate court to apply the doctrine. See Board of Lincoln County Comm'rs v. Nielander, 275 Kan. 257, 268, 62 P.3d 247 (2003) (issue not raised before district court cannot be raised on appeal); In re Marriage of Vargas, 20 Kan. App. 2d 480, 487, 891 P.2d 462 (1994), rev. denied 257 Kan. 1092 (1995) (collateral estoppel argument deemed waived where appellant failed to raise issue prior to district court's judgment).
Additionally, the salutary purposes of collateral estoppel are "(1) to avoid the expense and vexation attending multiple lawsuits, (2) to conserve judicial resources, and (3) to foster reliance on judicial action by minimizing the possibility of inconsistent decisions. [Citation omitted.]" KPERS v. Reimer & Koger Assocs., Inc., 262 Kan. 635, 669, 941 P.2d 1321 (1997). Here, Deborah initiated both proceedings, thus causing the expense of concurrent multiple lawsuits and opening the door for inconsistent rulings. Applying collateral estoppel in this scenario to protect Deborah against the problems she created or facilitated would not serve the purposes of that doctrine.
Application of Andler and Martin
The parties agree that the issue of whether Thomas was entitled to a credit against his child support obligation for payments made by KP&F to the children's conservatorships is one of first impression in Kansas that presents a question of law subject to de novo review. See Munck v. KPERS, 35 Kan. App. 2d 311, 315, 130 P.3d 117 (2006) (proper application of statutory provision is question of law providing appellate court with unlimited review). Cf. Andler, 217 Kan. at 542 (whether Social Security disability payments made for benefit of children of disabled father constituted satisfaction of father's child support obligation is question of law to be resolved by courts). However, given the Andler decision, the issue does not come to us in a vacuum.
In Andler, a divorced father was ordered to pay child support. After the divorce became final, the mother, as the children's custodial parent, began receiving monthly Social Security disability benefits for the benefit of the minor children as a result of the father's disability. Subsequently, the father stopped making child support payments, prompting the mother to file a motion for a citation in contempt and for a determination of child support arrearage. The district court declined to find the father in contempt and ordered the child support payments terminated because the mother was receiving Social Security disability payments for the benefit of the children in an amount that exceeded the father's child support obligation.
Ultimately, our Supreme Court likened Social Security to a private insurance contract "wherein a father insures against his possible future disability and loss of gainful employment by providing for the fulfillment of his moral and legal obligations to his children." 217 Kan. at 542. The Andler court then held:
"[W]here a father who has been ordered to make child support payments becomes totally and permanently disabled, and unconditional Social Security payments for the benefit of the minor children are paid to the divorced mother, the father is entitled to credit for such payments by the government against his liability for child support under the divorce decree. The father is entitled to credit, however, only up to the extent of his obligation for monthly payments of child support, but not exceeding it." 217 Kan. at 544.
Similarly, at issue in Martin was whether a divorced father could receive credit against his child support obligation for Social Security payments received by his children as a result of his retirement, rather than his disability. As in Andler, the minor children received monthly Social Security payments as a result of the father's status, and those payments were sent directly to the mother as the children's custodial parent. The Martin court applied Andler to allow the father credit against child support, adopting the reasoning set forth in McClaskey v. McClaskey, 543 S.W.2d 832, 834 (Mo. App. 1976), which determined that the manner of the child support payment was irrelevant because the nature of the funds was the same. 32 Kan. App. 2d at 1146.
Deborah argues that Andler and its progeny are inapplicable here because of factual distinctions. She attempts to explain how the KP&F benefits differ from Social Security benefits. Her arguments are unpersuasive. Deborah also argues that the KP&F requirement that the children's benefits must be paid to a conservatorship distinguishes those payments from Social Security disability or retirement benefits. Although that requirement has implications which will be addressed below, it does not change the character or nature of the KP&F disability/retirement benefits.
Deborah's most persuasive argument involves the practical result of granting Thomas a child support credit. That is, the children had their money taken from them simply because their parents could not live together compatibly, i.e., the children funded the divorce. As Deborah points out, during the period when she and Thomas were reconciled, the children received and kept all of their benefits. Presumably, during the period of cohabitation, a portion of Thomas' own share of the disability benefits was utilized to comply with his legal duty to support the children in his household. After the parents separated, the children's individual benefits were used to satisfy Thomas' legal support obligation, while Thomas got to keep nearly all of his own KP&F benefits.
In that context, the Andler holding is logical only if the disabled parent's child support obligation is based on his or her predisability income, i.e., the disability occurred after the amount of child support was set. To illustrate, suppose that a parent was making $2,000 per month when the child support was computed, but subsequently had his or her income reduced to $1,000 per month post-injury disability income, with the children collectively receiving $250 per month separate disability benefits. The children's separate $250 in disability benefits could reasonably be viewed as an insurance payment designed to replace their portion of the $1,000 of monthly income which the parent lost due to disability. In that scenario, it makes sense to subtract the children's disability benefits from the child support obligation which was based in part on the lost income. In contrast, when the child support calculation is based on the post-injury income of $1,000 per month and the children's $250 is used to fund that reduced child support, the children have not only been deprived of their share of the "lost" income, but also lose at least a portion of their rightful share of the remaining income.
The child support guidelines utilize the parent's income to arrive at an amount of support which that parent is legally obligated to pay. If an injured parent makes one-half of what he or she formerly made, the child support calculation based upon the post-disability income will reflect that change. Further, if the disability creates an unusual financial hardship for the parent, the guidelines provide for adjustments for special circumstances. It should make no difference whether the current income is derived from KP&F benefits or from working at a relatively low-paying job. It makes scant sense to require a laborer to pay all of the calculated child support on a certain amount of income, while allowing a disability recipient making the same income to avoid paying most, if not all, of his or her calculated legal support obligation. As suggested, the children are receiving additional benefits designed to replace the income lost because of their parent's injury. Crediting the children's share of their parent's former salary against the parent's post-injury child support obligation is unfair to the children and an improper windfall to the parent.
Nevertheless, Deborah appears to overlook the most distinguishing aspect of this case. Andler and Martin were appeals in divorce proceedings involving the question of whether a parent could reduce or discontinue making the court-ordered child support payments. Here, the child support that was paid to Deborah, as the custodial parent, was not reduced or eliminated. Presumably, the Chapmans' divorce proceeding records would reflect that Thomas is paid in full. Thomas did not ask the divorce court to reduce his support obligation, and he did not attempt to take any self-help credit by paying a reduced amount. Rather, Thomas fully paid his child support each month by taking money from his children's conservatorships.
The distinction is significant, both practically and legally. If Thomas had taken a credit against child support, Deborah would have contemporaneously received significantly less money through the divorce proceedings. She would not have had access to the children's KP&F benefits, because those monies were going into conservatorships over which Deborah had no control. Thus, as a practical matter, a child support credit would have squarely placed the issues on the table in the beginning, over a decade before Deborah instituted this action.
Legally, the difference is significant for the children. Notwithstanding that a credit against child support would have left their mother with less money, the children would still have all of their accumulated share of KP&F benefits, plus whatever income the funds would have earned over the years. If extreme hardship would have necessitated using some of the children's money for their support, disbursements from the conservatorships would have been subject to court approval and oversight. As it is, we have no way of knowing whether the money taken from the children and given to Deborah was actually used for the children's benefit.
As noted, the divorce court's ruling that Thomas was not due any credit for the children's benefits has not been appealed. The probate court's ruling on that issue was not germane to the issues presented in the conservatorship proceedings. Any right Thomas may have acquired to reduce his court-ordered child support payments in the divorce proceeding because of his children's separate KP&F benefits did not automatically translate into a right to take the children's conservatorship money to pay the full amount of court-ordered child support notwithstanding that the KP&F benefits were paid into the conservatorships. Therefore, we will proceed to consider the questions which were properly before the probate court.
Deborah argues that the probate court erred in refusing to remove Thomas as conservator. She claims that Thomas failed to faithfully and diligently carry out his fiduciary duties and responsibilities as conservator. Principally, she complains that Thomas wrongfully withdrew funds from the conservatorship estates to pay his personal child support obligation without obtaining the requisite court approval. In a separate issue, Deborah contends the probate court should have ordered Thomas to reimburse the conservatorships for the wrongfully withdrawn funds. Both issues hinge upon a determination of whether Thomas violated his conservatorship duties by misusing or converting funds from the conservatorship estates. Neither removal nor reimbursement was required if Thomas' actions were authorized.
Shortly before oral arguments on appeal, the probate court accepted Thomas' resignation as conservator of each child's estate and appointed a successor conservator. The order specifically provided that Thomas was not released from any liability for his acts as conservator. Thus, although the removal question is now moot, much of the discussion on that point is still germane to the liability question.
The parties do not agree on the applicable standard of review. We can perceive of no dispute as to the material facts, but rather view the case as turning upon the resolution of legal questions requiring statutory interpretation. Accordingly, our review is unlimited. See Munck, 35 Kan. App. 2d at 315; In re Estate of Briley, 16 Kan. App. 2d 546, 547, 825 P.2d 1181 (1992).
Our obvious starting point is to review a conservator's statutory duties, responsibilities, and powers, which are set forth in K.S.A. 59-3078. A conservator is required to carry out his or her duties and responsibilities "diligently and in good faith" and is at all times subject to a court's control and direction. K.S.A. 59-3078(a)(1). "A conservator shall at all times act in the best interests of the conservatee and shall exercise reasonable care, diligence and prudence." K.S.A. 59-3078(a)(2). Specific provisions applicable here are:
"(b) A conservator shall have the following general duties, responsibilities, powers and authorities:
(1) To pay the reasonable charges for the support, maintenance, care, treatment, habilitation and education of the conservatee in a manner suitable to the conservatee's station in life and the value of the conservatee's estate; but nothing herein shall be construed to release a natural guardian from the ordinary obligations imposed by law for the support, maintenance, care, treatment, habilitation and education of the natural guardian's minor children;
. . . .
"(f) A conservator shall not have the power:
(1) To use the assets of a minor's estate to pay any obligation imposed by law upon the minor's natural guardian or natural guardians, including the support, maintenance, care, treatment, habilitation or education of the minor, except with the specific approval of the court granted upon a showing of extreme hardship." (Emphasis added.) K.S.A. 59-3078.
Thomas, as a parent of Ethan, Matthew, and Jared, is a "natural guardian" of those conservatees. See K.S.A. 59-3051(l) (defining "natural guardian"). As a parent, Thomas has a duty to support his minor children. See Keller v. Guernsey, 227 Kan. 480, 486, 608 P.2d 896 (1980). Likewise, the divorce court child support orders were obligations imposed by law upon Thomas to provide for his children's support, maintenance, care, treatment, habilitation, and education.
K.S.A. 59-3078(b)(1) clearly provides that Thomas' legal duty to support Ethan, Matthew, and Jared was unaffected by the establishment of their conservatorships. See also K.S.A. 59-3053(b) ("Nothing in this [conservatorship] act shall be construed to relieve a natural guardian of any obligation imposed by law for the support, maintenance, care, treatment, habilitation or education of that natural guardian's minor child."). Emphasizing and clarifying that point, K.S.A. 59-3078(f)(1) specifically denied Thomas the power to use any of the conservatorship funds to pay for his children's support without the probate court's specific approval.
Thomas admitted that he used conservatorship funds to pay court-ordered child support, i.e., he proceeded "[t]o use the assets of a minor's estate to pay [a support] obligation imposed by law upon [him as] the minor's natural guardian." Thomas admitted that he did not attempt to make a showing of extreme hardship in order to obtain the specific approval of the probate court, and he admits that he did not have specific court approval to use conservatorship funds to pay for the children's support. Those admissions place Thomas squarely in violation of the statutory prohibitions on the use of conservatorship funds. In other words, Thomas has admitted to misusing the assets of the conservatorship estates.
Thomas contends that his entitlement to a credit against the court-ordered child-support invested him, as conservator, with the authority to use the conservatorship funds for child support, notwithstanding that such authority is clearly and specifically withheld in K.S.A. 59-3078(f)(1). To the contrary, the conservatorship provisions are unaffected by the amount of the support obligation imposed by law upon a natural guardian. Accordingly, the probate court had no reason to question the efficacy or propriety of the amount of child support imposed by law upon Thomas. Rather, the probate court's job was to protect the conservatees' estates and assure that no amount of conservatorship funds was used to pay Thomas' child support. Thus, the district court erred in finding that a parent's right to reduce his or her child support payment by the amount of separate KP&F disability/retirement benefits paid to his or her children provided an independent authorization to use the assets of the minor's conservatorship estate to pay the parent's legal support obligation.
Thomas suggests that he had court approval for the withdrawals, pointing to the probate court findings that the conservatorship files contained journal entries of periodic review in which the court found that the conservator was serving the needs of the conservatee. Apparently, the periodic reviews were undertaken by the court, sua sponte, without notice to any of the interested parties. The procedure followed is distinguishable from that in which a conservator petitions for court approval of his or her accountings after proper notice and a hearing. Therefore, we find that the journal entries did not provide Thomas with specific approval to pay his child support with conservatorship funds.
Likewise, we are unpersuaded by Thomas' argument that "[a]ll of the money received through the disability payments from KPERS was used for the children in some way." The 1992 legislative requirement that a minor's KP&F benefits must be paid to a conservatorship was in response to a request from KPERS because of its concern that such benefits might not be actually used for the child's benefit. That rationale is effected if the supervising court requires proof that expenditures are made to vendors or service providers for items that directly benefit the child. However, permitting the money to be paid to the custodial parent circumvents the initial purpose of requiring a conservatorship and resurrects the concerns which prompted the 1992 amendment. We have no proof that Deborah actually used the child support money for the direct benefit of her children, any more than KPERS knew whether KP&F children's benefits paid directly to custodial parents were being used for the children's benefit.
Having determined that Thomas misused conservatorship funds, we turn to the appropriate remedy or sanction to be imposed. Again, the legislature has given the district court explicit directions. K.S.A. 59-3088 addresses the procedure for the resignation or removal of a conservator and provides, in relevant part:
"(e) At the conclusion of the hearing, if the court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the guardian or conservator, or both, should be permitted to resign, or should be removed for failure to fulfill the duties or responsibilities of being a guardian or conservator, or for the manner in which the guardian or conservator has exercised the powers or authorities granted to the guardian or conservator, the court may so order and in such case shall revoke the letters of guardianship or conservatorship, or both, previously issued pursuant to K.S.A. 59-3069, and amendments thereto. The court may appoint a successor guardian or conservator, or both. In making any such appointments, the court shall act in accordance with K.S.A. 59-3068 and 59-3069, and amendments thereto.
"(f) If the court finds that the conservator has innocently misused any funds or assets of the conservatee's estate, the court shall order the conservator to repay such funds or return such assets to the conservatee's estate. If the court finds that the conservator has embezzled or converted for the conservator's personal use any funds or assets of the conservatee's estate, the court shall find the conservator liable for double the value of those funds or assets, as provided for in K.S.A. 59-1704, and amendments thereto. In either case, the court may order the forfeiture of the conservator's bond, or such portion thereof as equals the value of such funds or assets, including any lost earnings and the costs of recovering those funds or assets, including reasonable attorney fees, as the court may allow, and may require of the surety satisfaction thereof. Neither the conservator, nor the conservator's estate or surety, shall be finally released from such bond until the satisfaction thereof." (Emphasis added.)
The legislative directive does not grant the district court any discretion with respect to the conservator's repayment; it shall order repayment of innocently misused funds, and it shall find the conservator liable for double the value of converted or embezzled funds. Thus, the only question here is whether Thomas innocently misused conservatorship funds or wrongfully converted conservatorship funds for his personal use.
The district court found that Thomas had not converted the conservatorship funds for his personal use. However, that finding was based upon the erroneous belief that Thomas was authorized to use the children's disability benefits to pay court-ordered child support. We perceive that we need not remand for the district court to reevaluate under the proper legal parameters. The controlling facts are not in dispute, especially Thomas' admission that he withdrew money from the conservatorships to pay child support without court approval. See Briley, 16 Kan. App. 2d at 547 (where controlling facts are based on stipulations and documentary evidence, an appellate court may determine de novo what the facts establish).
On the one hand, Thomas acknowledges that he received a letter from the probate court upon the establishment of each conservatorship, which specifically instructed that
"a parent-conservator of a minor conservatee cannot use the minor's property for support of such minor unless the court has previously signed an order authorizing such expenditures. In which event, you must first cause a Petition to be filed together with an order for hearing and give notice as directed by the Court. Ordinarily, the Court will not authorize the expenditure of funds for the purchase of an automobile for a minor."
Thomas concedes that he did not follow the foregoing instructions and did not have a court order authorizing the expenditure of conservatorship property for the conservatees' support.
On the other hand, the record contains a letter from Thomas' counsel which states:
"I discussed your situation with the Court and the fact that your child support payment exceeds the KPERS retirement benefit, and the Court advised that initially a separate bank account would not have to be opened in this matter. The KPERS check for your son should be made payable to you as Conservator and the simplest way to proceed would be to endorse the check as Conservator, write your child support check and then deposit the KPERS check in the account from which the support payment is paid. Technically you are not suppose[d] to co-mingle conservatorship funds and your funds, but I feel that if you make your child support payment first and then deposit the KPERS check in the same account, you in effect will be reimbursing yourself as you are allowed to do."
Further, the current supervising court believed that Thomas was authorized to use the conservatorship funds to pay child support. Accordingly, it is difficult to characterize Thomas' actions, as a lay person, as rising to the level of culpable wrongdoing which one would contemplate to be necessary to invoke double liability.
Deborah contends the funds were converted for Thomas' personal use because they were used to satisfy his personal debt. Thomas derived the benefit of having his legal child support obligation paid in full. While that is true, Thomas intended for the children to be the ultimate beneficiaries of the withdrawn funds when he paid the money as child support. Indeed, Deborah willingly accepted the child support payments for years without complaining about the source of the payments. If those funds were not expended for the benefit of the children, Deborah would be to blame.
Therefore, we find that the facts established that Thomas innocently misused the funds of the conservatorships when he paid the court-ordered child support and medical obligations with conservatorship funds. Pursuant to K.S.A. 59-3088(f), Thomas must be ordered to repay the conservatorships for the improperly used funds.
Finally, Deborah makes a short, conclusory argument that she is entitled to the attorney fees and expenses she incurred in seeking Thomas' removal as conservator. She relies on K.S.A. 59-3088(f), set forth above, and K.S.A. 59-3089(d), which utilizes identical language with respect to the costs of recovering funds or assets.
However, the precise language of those statutes permits a district court the discretion to "order the forfeiture of the conservator's bond, or such portion thereof as equals the value of such [misused or converted] funds or assets." The statute does not address the situation where the court initially failed to order the filing of a bond. See K.S.A. 59-3069(b) (the court shall require the individual appointed as conservator to file a bond with the court, conditioned upon the faithful discharge of all of the duties of the conservator's trust according to law). Nevertheless, the statute is clearly designed to provide for reimbursement of recovery costs to the conservatorship estates and not individually to Deborah.
One would contemplate that Deborah's remedy would be to file a petition for allowance of demand against the conservatorships for her expenditures that brought money into those estates. We do not read the statutes as allowing an order directing Thomas to directly pay Deborah for the attorney fees and expenses she personally expended. Therefore, upon present showing, the district court's denial of Deborah's attorney fee request is affirmed. We also note that the issue of any earnings that the conservatorship estates may have lost because of the conservator's misuse of funds has not been raised in this appeal.
Affirmed in part and reversed in part.


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Day's Worst: Twinkies back from the brink
You just knew Twinkies weren't going to die.
Not only do they have the half life of uranium, let's face it. This is America. The home of the fat. We weren't going to give up Twinkies without a fight.
So, news Monday afternoon that Hostess Brands and its striking union members agreed to mediation to stave off bankruptcy proceedings wasn't that surprising at all.
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Jungle Babies Quilt Pattern
Whether you're expecting a boy or a girl, the Jungle Babies quilt pattern will fit right in any nursery!
(3 reviews)
How do you like this product?
Share your thoughts with the Annie's community.
December 29, 2018
Not sure why the previous people had issues with this, but there are 20 pages to the download and it does include the pattern pieces.
January 6, 2016
I read the previous review prior to purchasing this pattern but it was so cute and I could not imagine that what she said was correct, I should have paid more attention to the review. This pattern is just a real size picture of the quilt. There are no pattern pieces at all. I could have accomplished the same task by just enlarging the picture, save your money. Just blow up the picture and cut your pattern from that. Same amount of work, less money.
March 13, 2015
I love this cute pattern. However, you have to copy over the pattern. There are no separate sheets of each area of the animals to use for cutting out. I'm not sure I would have ordered the pattern if I had known this. It's taking a while to do this. For $15.00, those separate pattern pieces should have been included as they have in all my other pattern purchases.


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Listen to Francis Fukuyama in an interview with Rob Steiner, Director of the Fellowships in Global Journalism program, on his book, The Origins of Political Order: From Prehuman Times to the French Revolution.
About the Lionel Gelber Prize
The Lionel Gelber Prize is a literary award for the world's best non-fiction book in English on foreign affairs that seeks to deepen public debate on significant international issues. It was founded in 1989 in the memory of Canadian diplomat Lionel Gelber (1907 – 1989). A prize of $15,000 is awarded to the winner. The award is presented annually by the Lionel Gelber Foundation, in partnership with Foreign Policy Magazine and the Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto. For more information on the Lionel Gelber Prize, click here.
More Interviews Online
Robert Steiner, director of the Fellowships in Global Journalism at the Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto, has interviewed all ten longlisted finalists for the Lionel Gelber Prize. Click here to access those conversations or find them at iTunes, listed under Podcasts.


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Chesterton Tribune
Service Friday for Darrell Easton
Darrell L. Easton, age 54 of Chesterton, Ind., passed away on Tuesday,
August 21, 2012 at the University of Chicago.
He was born on June 24, 1958 to Alfred Easton and Virginia Harding. His
father preceded him in death and his mother survives in Lake Station, Ind.
He is also survived by his wife, Deborah Easton, of Chesterton; sons Charles
(Karen) Easton of Mansfield, Texas and Timothy (Jenny) Easton of Lake
Station, Ind.; step-daughter Jessica Edwards of Woodstock, Ill.; grandsons
CJ and Alexander Easton; brother, Jeff (Carol) Easton of Alabama; father and
mother-in-law Vern and Lillian Phipps of Ill, sister-in-law, Stephanie
(Charlie) Esperson, of Ill.; and brother-in-law Thomas (Jeanie) Hurst of
Georgia. Numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and many friends also
He was also preceded in death by his brother, Alfred Easton.
He was an electrician for Lafarge, Operator's Union 150. Lafarge was more
than just a place of work, it was a family. Just last weekend the company
sponsored a benefit for Darrell.
Darrell was a good husband, loving father and grandfather. He enjoyed
fishing, riding motorcycles, was an avid coin collector and loved visiting
The funeral service will be held at 8 p.m. on Friday, August 24, 2012, at
the White-Love Funeral Home, 525 South 2nd Street, Chesterton, with Father
James Meade officiating. The family will receive friends from 4 until 8 p.m.
that same day, with the funeral service taking place at 8 p.m. Cremation
will follow.
For additional information, please contact White-Love Funeral Home at
Posted 8/24/2012


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April 30, 2017
Sydney home gets an exotic Mediterranean makeover
Αναρτήθηκε από decordemon στις 00:03 0 comment(s)
Labels AUSTRALIA , EXOTIC VIBES , HOUSE , INTERIOR , MEDITERRANEAN STYLE , NATURAL MATERIALS , RENOVATION , WHITE
April 29, 2017
Cycladic Island Dreaming at Rocksplit Villa by Cometa Architects
On the Greek Cycladic island of Kea, is located this private residence that Faidra Matziaraki, Victor Gonzalez Marti and the team at Cometa Architects designed with traditional charm and modern minimalism. Rocksplit, as the project is titled, is built on a narrow plot of land which merges into the hillside, whereby its three volumes are stacked on each other to extend the 115 square meters of the home's footprint upwards.
Αναρτήθηκε από decordemon στις 00:14 0 comment(s)
Labels CYCLADES , GREECE , INTERIOR , NATURAL MATERIALS , TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE , VILLA
April 28, 2017
Ligia Casanova's beautiful house in Lisbon
This beautiful modern house is located in the center of Lisbon and belongs to the interior designer Ligia Casanova. Initially, the interior was created on the contrast between white and sand colors, providing a fresh and light atmosphere. But after a few years the designer decided to change the color of furniture and flooring to light gray, and some walls were painted in dark colors for contrast. Gray color palette brings a sense of comfort and tranquility!
Αναρτήθηκε από decordemon στις 00:08 0 comment(s)
April 27, 2017
A unique Parisian loft
Interior designer Anouk Dossin transformed an old photo studio into a unique Parisian loft
Αναρτήθηκε από decordemon στις 00:06 1 comment(s)
Labels DARK COLORS , FRANCE , INDUSTRIAL ELEMENTS , INTERIOR , LOFT , PARIS


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Smart-alecky, ribald and whimsical, this series rose to become a critical darling and dorm favorite after a rocky start in 1993. Originating from New York's legendary Rockefeller Center, the show features a house band led by longtime drummer of the E Street Band, Max Weinberg. Recurring characters include Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.
Add this show to your queue to receive more information about
Late Night with Conan O'Brien and we will let you know when it becomes available.


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Raekwon (Feat. Ghostface Killah & Method Man) - New Wu
Video for Raekwons street single New Wu off of the upcoming album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II coming out August 11th from EMI. Shout out to K
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Cook, E. T. Homes and Haunts of John Ruskin. London, 1912. Page 207.
Landow, George P. "John Ruskin and W. J. Linton: A New Letter." English Language Notes 10 (1972): 38-41.
Linton, William James. Three-Score and Ten Years, 1820-1890. New York, 1894; published in London the following year as Memories.
Ruskin, John. Works. Ed. E. T. Cook and Alexander Wedderburn. 39 vols. London: Allen, 1903-1912.
Last modified 22 December 2012


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Ridership increasing on flights from Topeka to Chicago
Topeka ? Six months after United Airlines began flying to Chicago out of Topeka Regional Airport, ridership is increasing but airport officials say it needs to continue climbing.
Airport authority president Eric Johnson says the twice-daily flights to Chicago were about 64 percent full in June. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports the numbers increased from 25 percent full in January to 65 percent in May.
Government funds provided about $2 million in revenue guarantees if ticket sales fell short of a revenue goal. Johnson said most of the guarantee funds probably were used in the slow first quarter and the revenue shortfall for the second quarter hasn't been calculated.
He says airport officials want the service to be profitable to ensure that United wants to continue to provide service from Topeka.


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Analytical Ultracentrifugation Conference
|The Svedberg
This conference on Analytical Ultracentrifugation is dedicated to Nobel Laureate The Svedberg (biography) at the 125th anniversary of his birth on August 30, 1884. The Svedberg is the father of the analytical ultracentrifuge, an invention that allowed the determination of particle size distributions of colloids, the determination of molecular weights of macromolecules and the proof that macromolecules exist. The ultracentrifuge helped to put The on his way to the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1926 for his work on disperse systems. The pioneering work of Svedberg and his colleagues on colloids and macromolecular compounds laid the foundations for far-reaching progress in molecular biology, macromolecular chemistry and biochemistry as well as colloid science. The envisaged topics of this special conference try to follow The Svedberg's broad range of scientific interests related to the Analytical Ultracentrifuge.
The conference will be opened by a number of two-day workshops on the best use of the analytical ultracentrifuge for different sample systems and evaluation of the results. These workshops will be given by the world leading experts on the workshop topics.
The actual conference will start with a historical day with presentations by prominent scientists and visits to The Svedberg's Ultracentrifuge Museum and to The Svedberg Laboratory, and a two-day symposium with scientific sessions on current progress in analytical ultracentrifugation.
We are happy to host this conference in Uppsala, at the block of Chemistry, where The Svedberg made his pioneering work on ultracentrifugation and later in several other scientific fields like nuclear chemistry and radiation biology. Most welcome to Uppsala.
Curt Ekström, local contact
Helmut Cölfen, conference chairman


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By Belinda Serrano, Sweetwater Reporter Staff Writer -
Some eye-opening results coupled with some optimistic responses are being discovered following the SISD's "Aim For Success" abstinence education program. The data taken from the 788 SISD students that completed and submitted the survey was compared to results from over 80,000 students nationwide who were surveyed during the 2009-10 school year through the Aim for Success initiative. The survey was broken down by gender into four age groups: 11-12 year olds, 13-14 year olds, 15-16 year olds and 17-19 year olds. The majority of those submitting a survey were 13 & 14 year olds, with 145 guys and 146 girls. Barely trailing was the 15 & 16 year old demographic with 117 guys and 133 girls. Eleven and twelve year olds followed with 54 guys and 74 girls completing the survey. The minority came from the 17-19 year old bracket, with 53 guys and 66 girls responding.
On a positive note, a majority of the students (66%) surveyed rated the presentation as "excellent". 27% of students cited the program as "good", while 5% called it "fair" and only 2% deemed it as "poor". The following results, however, show some alarming behavior among Sweetwater's youth. When asked "Have you ever had sex before?", over 70% of SISD students age 17-19 said yes. With the guys at 77% and girls at 71%, both numbers come in above the national average of 66%. Also above the national average were 16-18 year olds, coming in at 44% for boys and a whopping 60% for girls. The national average in this age ranges stands at 36% and 35%, respectively. The numbers take a drastic drop from that point for 13 & 14 year olds, with 10% of boys and 12% of girls surveyed admitting to having sex before. While the guys' numbers came in below average (10%), the girls were 2% over the national average. No students surveyed in the youngest demographic--11 and 12 year olds--were reported as ever having sex before.
The following question, "Have you had sex in the last 6 months?" also ushered in some shocking statistics. 72% of 17-19 year old SISD guys and 62% of girls in the same age group answered yes. A drop in 15 & 16 year olds in the school district is presented, but half of the girls questioned (50%) and 32% of 15 & 16 year old boys said yes. A steep tumble is recorded for 13 & 14 year olds in SISD, with only 5% of girls and 8% of boys answering yes. No 11 & 12 year olds in the school district said they had sex in the past six months.
A brief light of optimism was shown when asked "Will you wait until marriage to have sex?" Out of the 788 SISD students surveyed, 54% said yes. 15% said no, while 31% answered "not sure". Among the 252 sexually active students in the school district, however, only 21% said they would wait until marriage for sex. More than a third (37%) said no, and almost half (42%) said they were not sure.
The final question had outstanding results, as 88% of SISD students responded yes to "Have you learned anything new as a result of the presentation?", equating to almost 700 students (693). "Aim for Success" was presented to SISD middle and high schoolers on May 12, 2011, with an informative parent meeting held the previous day. Following the presentations on making responsible sexual choices, surveys were given and results were compiled by Stacey Sheehan, Data Entry Coordinator with Aim for Success. In light of the results, Sweetwater ISD Superintendent Mr. Terry Pittman stated, "Although this information deals with the personal lives of our students rather than academic, we feel certain that the parents appreciate support with these difficult and extremely pertinent teen topics." Kathy Smartt, Assistant Superintendent of Sweetwater ISD, added, "We were so excited and encouraged that the Aim for Success Parent Meeting was so well attended. The partnership between the parents and the school is so important for the total success of our students."
The Aim for Success abstinence program was made possible for presentation to SISD through generous donations throughout the community. Among the various community donors, SISD would like to thank John McPherson in gathering the funds and bringing the program to the school district.


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Import Vcf Contacts
From Openmoko
m (→Import for ASU/Qtopia)
(→Simple Script)
|Line 116:
|Line 116:
Hint: It should be possible to run the command over ssh using "dbus-launch python ../ac". I haven't tested it since I don't need to import vcf contacts but it'd be nice if someone could test it and edit this section accordingly.
Hint: It should be possible to run the command over ssh using "dbus-launch python ../ac". I haven't tested it since I don't need to import vcf contacts but it'd be nice if someone could test it and edit this section accordingly.
==== Troubleshooting ====
==== Troubleshooting ====
Revision as of 14:18, 10 August 2008
Import for 2007.2
Basic Information
Neo FreeRunner uses Evolution data server (eds) to save contacts. However, the specific version used differs from what is probably used on your desktop (if you have Evolution installed).
You cannot copy your addressbook.db from your desktop to Neo (bug 1119).
Import and Manage Scripts
If you want to import your old contacts to the Neo you could use this script:
If you first want to remove all existing contacts you could use this script.
If you have all contacts in seperate vcf files and just want to import all at once:
Simple script for one big contactsfile
(please add a .py after the filename, sorry my hoster gives an error if i link to .py files, even .py.txt)
In the simple scripts you need to add the following lines
ps = os.popen ('ps auxwwwwe | grep -m 1 DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS') l = ps.read () r = re.compile ('DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS=(\S+)') m = r.search (l) a = m.expand ('\\1') os.environ ['DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS'] = a
Exporting old contacts to VCard format
To use the manage Script you need your Contacts in VCF format.
- on nokia phones i used the nokia phone manager (long time ago)
- on windows mobile phones you could use active sync to sync with Outlook and then use a Outlook export plugin to export as vcf
- on lg phones the backup function to memory card creates one file with multiple VCards.
Exporting from Outlook / ActiveSync to VCF
Doing a quick google I was unable to find a free export plugin for outlook (they all seem to want between $19.95 and $49), so I put together some quick-and-dirty VB code to do it. To use it, Open Outlook, then open the VB editor by pressing ALT-F11, Insert a module, and paste in the following. Change "Z:\OpenMoko\contacts" to wherever you want your vcf files saved (should be an existing, empty directory), and press F5 to run it.
Sub ExportContactsToVCF() 'Cheap and nasty way to export All Contacts to VCF files. 'By Dale Maggee, antisol (at) earthling (dot) net Dim CN As ContactItem Dim NS As NameSpace Dim Fld As MAPIFolder Set NS = Application.GetNamespace("MAPI") Set Fld = NS.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderContacts) For Each CN In Fld.Items Debug.Print CN.FullName CN.SaveAs "z:\OpenMoko\contacts\" & CN.FullName & ".vcf", olVCard Next CN MsgBox "Done!" End Sub
voila! you now have multiple VCF files in whatever directory you chose, suitable to be imported by the python script below.
The script is for the 2007.2 Version (default install on Neo FreeRunner), not for Qtopia
You need Python to use this script so do a
opkg install python-dbus
to install python and the python dbus module
Manage Contacts Script
This script needs all contacts in one big file
You also could run this script on a ssh session!
- Copy your big contacts file (contacts.txt) to your Neo
- Copy script to your Neo
- Connect via ssh to your Neo
- Fix special chars in your contacts file with you favorite text editor
- To import the file run on the SSH shell:
python manage-contacts.py load < contacts.txt
- For a backup your existing contacts on the Neo
python manage-contacts.py dump > contacts.txt
Simple Script
You must run the script in the OM Terminal, not over ssh
The script does a listdir and imports ALL files it found in that dir. (i'm a bad python programmer)
- Copy all vcf files to a separate directory on my freerunner
- Copy the ac script to the parent directory also on my freerunner
- Have the contacts program running (so you have eds running too)
- Go to the terminal on the freerunner and type in the vcf directory: "python ../ac" (root@om-gta02:~/vcf# python ../ac)
- Note: You must call the script in the OM terminal not via Bluetooth or USB or you get a dbus error.
- Done :D
Hint: It should be possible to run the command over ssh using "dbus-launch python ../ac". I haven't tested it since I don't need to import vcf contacts but it'd be nice if someone could test it and edit this section accordingly.
Unfortunatly that doesn't work
- Make sure you have python and python-dbus installed
- Make sure you have no illegal chars (utf) in the filename and inside the vcf files. (I had problems with Ü,Ä etc)
- The characters seem to work if you convert them from =C3=A4 type of format to proper UTF-8, and the vcards also specify UTF-8 charset. you cannot use other charsets besides UTF-8 since they are delivered via DBus which does not allow others.
- Only vcf files should be in your current directory so do a ../ac.
- You must call the script in the OM terminal not via Bluetooth or USB. If you do so a dbus error occur
- Simple script by smurfy - phil <openmoko at smurfy.de>
- Manage Contacts script by Roland Mas <lolando at debian.org>
- Remove all Contacts script / simple script for one big file by Andreas Dalsgaard <andreas.dalsgaard at gmail.com>
Thanks to Import_Sim_Contacts for the original Python Script.
Import for ASU/Qtopia
The Qtopia addressbook application supports import of VCF files out of the box:
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=/opt/Qtopia/lib /opt/Qtopia/bin/addressbook /home/root/addressbook.vcf
You will be asked if you want to import the contacts form addressbook.vcf (the contact name will be taken from the "N:" vCard field).


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Customer Support
Customer Care Operations
Our future depends on people who are consistently good at turning today's problems into tomorrow's solutions. Seek out persistent problems and fix them once and for all. Analyze customer feedback and share it with multiple teams so everyone can make better decisions. On this team, everything you do will be focused on solutions that improve our customer experience and drive innovation with the new insights you have every day.View all Customer Care Operations jobs
Customer Support
Bring your enthusiasm for solving customer challenges to a team that cares deeply about consumer satisfaction. This isn't a job where you just read a script. You'll be empowered to resolve our customer's questions by using creativity and skill to provide compassionate, practical solutions.View all Customer Support jobs
"Customer feedback helps us make improvements to things our users care about."
- Rolf R., Executive Escalations Senior Specialist
Internal Employees
Grow your career with us. Please access our internal career opportunities while connected to our corporate network.Find new ways to grow your career
Contact us
Questions about a position or an application? We have answers to the most commonly asked questions.How can we help?


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Cecil Ingram Connor Moderator
- Männlich
- 46
- aus Mittelfranken
- Mitglied seit 2. Juni 2005
- Letzte Aktivität
Hello Dear, My Name is Miss TINA,I have a warm and friendly feelings as i saw your profile so i decided to leave a massage for you.If it Touches you to be a friend you can write back in my email address ( email@example.com ) so that i can send you my pictures and tell you more about my self. I believe we can best of friends if giving it a try. Hoping to read your sweet reply on my e-mail address ( email@example.com ) God bless you Tina.


text:
Pause! Put your phone down, or close your computer. Whatever you may be doing, it probably involves some form of technology. In this digital age, technology and devices provides us with incredible opportunities and conveniences but at the same time scientists warn of the hidden dangers.This digital overload keeps our minds fragmented and over stimulated from being constantly connected. Researchers advise taking time to reboot your brain, yes a digital detox.
Some recommend 24 hours while others suggest a couple of hours weekly, off the technology train. This simple pause in usage balances the mind and breaks the additive behavior.
Many spas are responding to this need offering several options to disconnect from the digital grid. So next time your driven to the point of distraction, invest in some off line time to realign your mind.


text: Aspiring interior designer Sheila Marie dreams of buying a big beautiful home and filling it with gorgeous, tasteful things. Sheila is turned on by confidence and charm when it comes to guys and thinks a perfect date should include trying something new and exciting! Check out Sheila's sexy videos and hot pictorials in the members area.


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Dave's Hurtin' Jalapeno Hot Sauce
Yes this is the same Dave of "Insanity" fame and when he puts his mind to it (and stays on his medication!) he can create great tasting sauces without the insane heat. Combining chayote, a Mexican vegetable, with jalapenos, scallions, salt, garlic, cilantro, cane vinegar, lime juice and spices, this is a delicious jalapeno sauce. "So Green, It's Obscene!"
Happy H'eating!
Postal Address
Click Here for a printable order form.
You will need a PDF Reader to view our online Order Form. Get the PDF reader from the Adobe link below.
You can also receive a catalog from us by giving us a call at, 336 596 0454.
Privacy | About Us | Terms & Conditions | Catalog & Order Form | Site Map | Order Form


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Column 1 (M,C,I): Under the child's row number, enter an M if the child is enrolled in the Medicaid program; enter a C if the child is enrolled in the CHIP; or enter an I if the child has private health insurance. If the child has more than one coverage, enter the appropriate letters. If the child was enrolled in the program before enrollment in MHS, circle the appropriate latter. (This information will be needed for PIR.)
Column 2 (Name/Dates): Enter the child's name, with enrollment and departure dates below. If the child leaves the program and later re-enrolls, enter the second enrollment and departure date also.
Column 3 (DOB): Enter child's date of birth with full year, e.g. April 20, 2007 as 04-20-2007.
Column 4 (Physical): Enter a Y (yes) if the child has a current physical on file per licensing regulations. Enter an N (no) if the child does not meet this requirement. If N, this then becomes a priority service.
Column 5 (Well Child): Infants and young toddlers require a well child exam at 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 24 months. After age 2, a child needs an exam annually. Enter the date of the last exam under "Last Date". Determine when the next exam is due and enter that date under "Next Due". If a child has a follow-up need (e.g. treatment) found at the last exam, circle the "FN" box in red. When the follow-up has begun, circle the "FB" box. When the follow-up is completed, circle the "FC" box. Arrange for the next exam when due and continue to track each.
Column 6 (Dental): An annual dental exam done by a dentist is required starting at age 2. An exam for children younger than 2 may be indicated when obvious signs of decay are present or a referral is made by the doctor at the time of the physical exam. The dentist may recommend an exam more often than annually. Enter information for the dental exam as described in the Well Child Exam instructions. Circle "PF" box when cleaning and fluoride is done as recommended.
Column 7 (HCT/HGB): A test for anemia is recommended annually. Track follow-up as described in Well Child Exam instructions.
Column 8 (Lead): Children living in high-risk environmental situations should be screened annually. Migrant children are considered high-risk. Track follow-up.
Column 9 (TB): Annual tuberculin testing by the MANTOUX method of high-risk children is recommended. Migrant children are considered high-risk. Circle the appropriate box for outcome N = Negative; P = Positive; or R = Referral. If the child has had at least one negative test, have the doctor determine if another is necessary. If not, have him/her write "Not Indicated" on the physical form.
Column 10 (Ht/Wt): Note date that initial height and weight is charted on the growth chart.
Column 11 (Health History): Note the date when child's initial or annual updated health history is taken. This may be done by the child's health care provider and a copy obtained for the child's file. If not, the program's HSC must interview the parent and complete the form in the Health Procedures manual.
Column 12 (Nutrition): Note the date when child's nutrition intake is taken. This may be done by WIC and a copy obtained for the child's file. If not, the program's HSC must interview the parent and complete the form in the Health Procedures manual. If the child is not enrolled in WIC, then the program's nutritionist does the nutrition assessment.
PAGE TWO (this form is used for both age groups)
Column 1 (Follow-up): List follow-up needs as tracked on other side of this sheet. Note date of written follow-up plan. (e.g. Dental treatment needed, plan 7-9-2002).
Column 2 (Progress): Briefly note progress made toward completing the written follow-up plan. (e.g. Dental appt. made. First treatment done 7/22/2002. Second treatment done, all complete 8/1/2002).
Column 3 (Doctor): Enter the name and phone number of the doctor the child's family uses while in Illinois.
Column 4 (Medicaid/Insurance): Enter the number from the child's Medicaid or insurance card.
Column 5 (Transition): Briefly note transition needs and dates of records' transition and to whom. (e.g. Overdue for well child exam, records sent to grantee for TX 10-25/2002, or Dental treatment incomplete, records sent to FL MHS program 9/29/2003, or Transitioned to Kinder, record forwarded to Lincoln school 8-20-2003.)
Column 6 (Records to Parents): Note date the parents were given the child's records before leaving. Remember to have parents sign that they received the records.


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Oh, my friends who live inside the computer, Scott and I are leaving tomorrow for Paris. It's our tenth anniversary on Friday, and it was my 40th birthday last week, and since we sold our house we had some cash lying around (technically not lying around; we used it as padding for Charlie's dog bed). So we thought, why aren't we going to Paris? What kind of jerks are we?
So Henry's going to hang out with the grandparents while we cavort and gambol around Paris for six days, and I should be ridiculously excited. Except now that we're getting ready, I'm pretty we're going to die. I don't deserve a nice vacation and therefore the Lord will smite us. Obviously. Here's what's going to happen, in no particular order:
The plane will crash and we will all die
The French will hate us and we will all die
Having forgotten the four years of French I took in high school (Je suis désolée, Madame Goldenberg!) I will be unable to obtain for us food or beverages, and death will ensue
We'll forget to do anything and we'll sit in our hotel room crying (and subsequently die of shame)
The United States will blow up because I wasn't here to keep things non-blow-uppy
Henry will be sad and lonely with his grandparents and we'll have to come home early, and somehow we'll die as a result of that
Something something something death
Needless to say, some of these scenarios are unlikely. Probably we will not die. I went to Paris many years ago and found the French to be largely tolerant of my crude Frenchifying. Henry loves his grandparents way more than us. We have guidebooks and the like. The plane will maybe get us there and back safely. Maybe.
I've been practicing some important phrases, too:
Excuse me, stewardess, please make sure there is no turbulence.
Excusez-moi, hôtesse de l'air, s'il vous plaît assurez-vous il n'y a pas de turbulence.
I thought I said no turbulence. Now I require a bucket of red wine and some horse tranquilizers.
Je pensais que je l'ai dit pas de turbulence. Maintenant, j'ai besoin d'un seau de vin rouge et quelques chevaux de tranquillisants.
Pardon me—does the United States still exist?
Excusez-moi, les États-Unis continuent d'exister?
Do not laugh at me. I have an anxiety disorder.
Ne vous moquez pas de moi. J'ai un trouble anxieux.
That man who is laughing? He is my husband. He is a monster.
Cet homme qui rit? C'est mon mari. Il est un monstre.
I go to the library. I want hamburger and fries.
Je vais à la bibliothèque. Je veux hamburger et des frites.
(I already knew that last one.)
We'll return in a week. Please keep our planes aloft and the Earth safe with the power of your positive thinking or praying or voodoo or whatever it is you do, I really don't care.
(And I just realized I forgot to tell you about the surprise party my husband threw for me. It was incredible. But I'm leaving now so I'm going to have to tell you about it upon our return, IF WE EVER RETURN, of course you will Alice shut up.)