The 10th Mountain Division conducts a Leader Professional Development class on targeting on Fort Drum, N.Y., Dec. 4, 2019. Targeting is the process of selecting and prioritizing targets and matching the appropriate response while considering operational requirements and capabilities.

(U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Josue Patricio)

On 19 February 2015, on the occasion of the Workshop on Linking Global and Regional Levels in the Management of Marine Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction”, a side event was jointly organized by the EAF-Nansen Project and the FAO Deep-sea Programme.

The event was to present aspects of the survey carried out on the seamounts in the South East Atlantic Fisheries Organization (SEAFO) area by the R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen and share insights on capacity development for the sustainable management of fisheries and biodiversity conservation in ABNJ.

The Side Event was opened and chaired by Merete Tandstad, Fishery Resources Officer at the FAO Marine and Inland Fisheries Branch.

Photo Courtesy of Deborah Catena

In a real fml mood as of late. Taking the steps to make it better. Went back to being generic looking. Re-prioritizing. Trying to get back into school. Figuring out who I want and need around me. Life, is horrid. Best to make the best outta what I have.

Photo Courtesy of IMR

 

For the first time an ecosystem survey with R/V Dr. Fridtjof Nansen will be conducted in the coastal area of Gabon. Identification and abundance of birds, whales, fish, phytoplankton, zooplankton and benthos will be conducted in the period from 9-23 May. In addition environmental parameters such as temperature, salinity, current, chlorophyll and oxygen will be measured. A reception was help onboard the vessel before the start of the cruise and the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food Security, the governor of Port Gentil, and the FAO representative in Central Africa, were among the distinguished guest.

  

Pure selfishness?

 

www.timesofisrael.com/us-rejects-call-by-who-to-stop-givi...

 

US rejects call by WHO to stop giving COVID booster shots

 

White House press secretary says it is a ‘false choice’ to demand wealthy nations halt third doses in order to supply poor countries

 

The United States on Wednesday rejected an appeal from the UN health agency for a moratorium on COVID-19 vaccine booster shots and for rich countries to focus instead on supplying poorer nations.

 

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had urged the countries and companies controlling the supply of doses to change course immediately and prioritize addressing the drastic inequity in vaccine distribution between rich and poor nations.

 

“We definitely feel that it’s a false choice and we can do both,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters, adding that the United States has donated more than any other country and was asking others to step up. “Also in this country [we] have enough supply to ensure that every American has access to a vaccine,” she added.

 

“We will have enough supply to ensure if the FDA decides that boosters are recommended for a portion of the population to provide those as well. We believe we can do both and we don’t need to make that choice,” Psaki added.

 

The WHO has for months been sounding the alarm over a glaring and growing imbalance in vaccine availability against a disease that has killed 4.2 million people worldwide.

 

Some 4.3 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered globally, according to an AFP count.

 

The WHO wants every country to have vaccinated at least 10 percent of its population by the end of September, at least 40% by the end of the year, and 70% by the middle of 2022.

 

In countries categorized as high income by the World Bank, 101 doses per 100 people have been injected. That figure drops to 1.7 doses per 100 people in the 29 lowest-income countries.

 

Israel, Russia and Hungary have already started providing third booster doses to wide swaths of their populations, while Germany and France have announced they will do so starting September 1. Other nations, including the United States and Britain, are considering plans to do so in the wake of the emergence of the highly transmissible Delta variant.

 

Israel began administering COVID vaccine booster doses to the immunosuppressed last month, and rolled them out to all Israelis over age 60 on Sunday.

 

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has urged the elderly population to make appointments to receive a third dose in order to better protect themselves.

 

“The booster, the third vaccine, simply ‘reloads’ the body’s defenses and allows us to save lives,” Bennett said on Tuesday as he accompanied his mother, Myrna, to receive her third dose. “I ask everyone — children, grandchildren and parents: Go and get vaccinated. Vaccinate a third time whoever is over age 60… The more we vaccinate, the more we protect our mothers and fathers and also safeguard an open Israel.”

 

amp.cnn.com/cnn/2021/08/04/health/who-coronavirus-booster...

 

WHO calls for a moratorium on booster shots until at least the end of September

 

(CNN) The World Health Organization is calling for a moratorium on booster shots until at least the end of September, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said during a news briefing in Geneva on Wednesday.

 

"WHO is calling for a moratorium on boosters until at least the end of September to enable at least 10% of the population of every country to be vaccinated. To make that happen, we need everyone's cooperation, especially the handful of countries and companies that control the global supply of vaccines," he said.

 

"Even while hundreds of millions of people are still waiting for their first dose, some rich countries are moving towards booster doses," added Tedros. "So far more than 4 billion vaccine doses have been administered globally. More than 80% have gone to high and upper middle income countries, even though they account for less than half of the world's population."

 

Germany, the UK, and Israel have all announced plans to provide booster shots for certain vulnerable populations.

 

While Tedros said he understood the concern of all governments to protect their people from the Delta variant, "we cannot and we should not accept countries that have already used most of the global supply of vaccines using even more of it while the world's most vulnerable people remain unprotected."

 

In May, Tedros called for global support to enable countries to vaccinate at least 10% of their populations by September. He said that although it's more than halfway to the target date, the world is not on track.

 

When his challenge was issued, high income countries had administered around 50 doses for every 100 people, Tedros said.

 

Since then, the number has doubled, with high income countries having now administered almost 100 doses for every 100 people, while low income countries have been able to administer 1.5 doses for every 100 people due to lack of supply.

 

"We need an urgent reversal from the majority of vaccines going to high income countries to the majority going to low income countries," Tedros said.

 

Tedros called upon the G20 leaders to make concrete commitments to support WHO's global vaccination targets, for vaccine producers to prioritize COVAX, and for everyone with influence to support the call for the moratorium on boosters.

SUN VALLEY - LAFD responded to 9360 North Telfair Avenue at 1:02 AM on Wednesday, June 9, 2021 for an auto fire that spread into nearby vegetation. Firefighters prioritized the brush first, then extinguished the burning auto, without injury. The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.

 

© Photo by Brandon Buckley

 

LAFD Incident: 060921-0073

 

Connect with us: LAFD.ORG | News | Facebook | Instagram | Reddit | Twitter: @LAFD @LAFDtalk

Sea of yarn.

 

I'm trying to crochet a beanie for myself but I can't seem to find time (not able to prioritize) to finish it. Maybe next winter... ;)

Prioritizing Workplace Mental Health

Geneva - Switzerland, 25-29 January 2021. Copyright ©️ World Economic Forum/Pascal Bitz

 

Punit Renjen, Global Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte, USA; International Business Council Garen K. Staglin, Chairman and Co-Founder, One Mind, USA

Miranda Wolpert, Head, Mental Health Priority Area, Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom

Moderated by Sir Philip Campbell, Editor-in-Chief, Springer Nature, United Kingdom

Military Police from across Humphreys and the 718th Ordnance Company, 23rd Chemical Battalion, conducted a joint training exercise replicating a real-life emergency response at Humphreys, Feb. 11. The thorough cooperation between the MP and EOD teams ensures an agile response which reflects Humphreys' continued prioritization of community health and safety. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Matthew Marcellus)

Military Police from across Humphreys and the 718th Ordnance Company, 23rd Chemical Battalion, conducted a joint training exercise replicating a real-life emergency response at Humphreys, Feb. 11. The thorough cooperation between the MP and EOD teams ensures an agile response which reflects Humphreys' continued prioritization of community health and safety. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Matthew Marcellus)

The Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) prioritized shifting gears to ensure that LDCs are firmly in the driver’s seat on the road to prosperity.

 

With less than a decade to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, supporting LDCs as they harness their social and economic development potential is critical. The five-day conference in Doha, Qatar brought world leaders together with the private sector, civil society, parliamentarians, and young people to accelerate efforts in places where it is needed the most.

 

“LDC5 was a once-in-a-decade opportunity to build momentum on meaningful dialogue so that we can best understand what the next era of sustainable development in these countries will look like,” said UNOPS Acting Executive Director Jens Wandel.

 

© UNOPS/Jason Florio

 

Five Eyes and Two Sorcerers

 

Perpetuating wartime structures

Through peacetime violence

Maintaining cultures of violence

An everyday daily life experience

Simply acceptable

Postcolonial trauma

 

From royal decree to state legitimization

The removal of customary values

As basis for social order

Continuous socio-economic upheaval

To prioritize revenue gain

Enforced understanding

Of where each and every one stands

 

All for those at the top

Resources

Benefits

For those at the bottom

Lower health status

Political disarmament

 

Read more: www.jjfbbennett.com/2019/12/melbourne-to-darwin-november-...

 

One-off sponsorship: www.paypal.me/bennettJJFB

The Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) prioritized shifting gears to ensure that LDCs are firmly in the driver’s seat on the road to prosperity.

 

With less than a decade to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, supporting LDCs as they harness their social and economic development potential is critical. The five-day conference in Doha, Qatar brought world leaders together with the private sector, civil society, parliamentarians, and young people to accelerate efforts in places where it is needed the most.

 

“LDC5 was a once-in-a-decade opportunity to build momentum on meaningful dialogue so that we can best understand what the next era of sustainable development in these countries will look like,” said UNOPS Acting Executive Director Jens Wandel.

 

© UNOPS/Jason Florio

 

Credit William Alatriste for the New York City Council

Prioritizing Workplace Mental Health

Geneva - Switzerland, 25-29 January 2021. Copyright ©️ World Economic Forum/Pascal Bitz

 

Punit Renjen, Global Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte, USA; International Business Council Garen K. Staglin, Chairman and Co-Founder, One Mind, USA

Miranda Wolpert, Head, Mental Health Priority Area, Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom

Moderated by Sir Philip Campbell, Editor-in-Chief, Springer Nature, United Kingdom

The Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) prioritized shifting gears to ensure that LDCs are firmly in the driver’s seat on the road to prosperity.

 

With less than a decade to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, supporting LDCs as they harness their social and economic development potential is critical. The five-day conference in Doha, Qatar brought world leaders together with the private sector, civil society, parliamentarians, and young people to accelerate efforts in places where it is needed the most.

 

“LDC5 was a once-in-a-decade opportunity to build momentum on meaningful dialogue so that we can best understand what the next era of sustainable development in these countries will look like,” said UNOPS Acting Executive Director Jens Wandel.

 

© UNOPS/Jason Florio

 

Trump has prioritized environmental rollbacks and fossil fuel extraction on public lands since he took office. Our Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee met on March 12 for answers on the opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development, the weakening of methane and fracking regulations, and the rollback of Obama-era land use planning standards.

Most of the approximately 35,000 culverts along Oregon’s state highway system are now at the end of their designed service lives. A new database will help make prioritized decisions on repairing or replacing culverts.

The fire station was built in 1925. It is a bit cramped by now, but still being used by Volunteer Fire Department in Dobczyce, because town authorities prioritize construction of muncipal hotel higher than construction of new fire station.

 

Photo Courtesy of IMR

 

Recent studies have shown that two important sources of highly-localised and enriched organic matter in the deep sea are the sunken carcasses of dead whales and large pieces of wood which have been washed out to sea.

These large inputs of organic matter can support a highly specialised microbial and invertebrate fauna. During this 2009-410 Seamount cruise, two moorings, each carrying a package of minke, fin and sperm whale bones and a package of mango wood logs, were deployed to two seamount sites from the Research Vessel Dr Fridtjof Nansen. These moorings will remain in place until recovery by ROV in late 2011.

Photos courtesy of Missouri City

Members of Missouri City's Bond Exploratory Committee meet at the Recreation and Tennis Center.

 

Missouri City Bond Exploratory Committee

Holds Inaugural Meeting to Discuss Future Projects

 

Gathered in a popular "Show Me City" amenity that was constructed using bond funds from a 2008 election, homeowners, Council Members and staff recently launched discussions on another referendum set for May, 2014.

 

The Missouri City Recreation and Tennis Center was a fitting scene for the Bond Exploratory Committee meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 29 as residents were able to see the success of the first-class facility firsthand: players were in full swing on the tennis courts, a youth volleyball league was practicing in the full-size gymnasium, and dozens of members were exercising in the cardio and weight rooms.

 

Surrounded by sights and sounds of success, the Committee assembled in a multipurpose room and listened to Staff presentations on the bond process and possible projects and shared their "wish lists", including:

 

*More infrastructure improvements

*A major medical facility

*A performing arts center

*A museum

*Expansion of the Trails system

*A METRO route

*Monument walls citywide

*More shopping and recreational opportunities

*Career partnerships with Houston Community College

*Continued commitment to public safety and fully-staffed Police and Fire Departments

 

City Council appointed members of the Committee, who represent subdivisions citywide. The homeowners will provide input and feedback on community projects that would be financed through funds approved in the 2014 mandate and determine the amount of money that will be needed.

 

"You will decide over the next month or so what is important to you and prioritize things to include in a bond referendum in May 2014," Mayor Allen Owen told the group. "I think residents made the best decision three years ago with the bond issue that included the new City Centre at Quail Valley and the new Recreation and Tennis Center." He added that "their decision has paid off because we are seeing property values all over the City going up."

 

The primary sources of revenue for Missouri City are property taxes and income taxes. Citing amenities in other nearby cities, Mayor Owen said: "While we may not have some things other nearby cities do; we have companies with 1,500 jobs that want to be in our City because we take care of our infrastructure."

 

City Manager Edward Broussard also addressed the Committee and said, "we will be going on a journey and tonight is setting the stage for that process." He also reviewed the demographics of the City, which reflect a high level of education and household incomes and a growing, diverse population.

 

Several City staff members guided the group through the initial process with presentations concerning the pertinent aspects of different departments. The goal was to help residents determine the types of projects needed in the City, taking into account zoning ordinances, the Comprehensive Plan that was adopted in 2009, the land use plan, development capacity, mobility and transportation planning, and a Parks Master Plan that is determined with citizen input.

 

Past bond elections have provided funding for Public Safety Headquarters-3849 Cartwright Rd., additional equipment and training facilities for the Police and Fire departments, Buffalo Run Park, road improvements, Texas Parkway sidewalks, traffic signal upgrades and the City Centre at Quail Valley-2880 La Quinta Dr.-and the Recreation and Tennis Center-2701 Cypress Point Dr.

 

The City's last bond election was held in 2008 and received support from more than 72 percent of voters citywide. Prior elections were in 2003 and 1995.

 

For updates on the current bond committee's progress, check the City's website, www.missouricitytx.gov, and watch Missouri City Television (Ch. 16 on Comcast and Ch. 99 on AT&T U-verse).

 

Members listen to Staff presentations.

Since not much trawling has been done deeper than 200 meters off the eastern coast of South-Africa, one of the objectives for this survey was to trawl in the deeper areas. However, the waters here are quite challenging with one of the strongest currents, varying vertically in direction and speed (up to 6 knots), and strong winds often blowing in the opposite direction of the surface current. We were therefore only able to conduct 3 trawl stations deeper than 200 m. In total, 22 trawls have been done, from 20-511 m. The catches have mostly been quite small, particularly north of Richards Bay. Overall, catches have been dominated by anchovies (Engraulis), sand soldiers (Pagellus), greeneyes (Chlorophthalmus) and minikob (Johnius). The dominance of anchovies is perhaps surprising as mainly bottom trawls have been used, but these fish form very large shoals and most of them were caught in just two trawls. Few species of commercial interest have been caught, apart from prawns and langoustines on the deep water crustacean trawl grounds. In total 350 different species were caught in the bottom trawl hauls, of which 200 were various fish species. One of these are rarely caught, the sailfin velifer which was presented in an earlier post. We might also have caught a new species in the group called rover fishes (Emmelichthys sp.), but this remains to be confirmed. The fish is preserved and brought back to the South-African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity for further analysis. We also caught a shark which Oddgeir didn't have in his photo archive, the lined catchark (Halaelurus lineolatus). Antoher fish caused us some problems to identify, but in the end the taxonomy experts onboard did agree that is must be a blue and gold fusilier (Caesio caerulaurea).

Text: Sean Fennessy and Kathrine Michalsen,

Photo: trawl catch at 56 m, 198m and 186m - Kerry Sink

A possibly new species among the rover fishes (Emmelichthys sp.) - Oddgeir Alvheim

Blue and gold fusilier- Oddgeir Alvheim

Lined catshark - Oddgeir Alvheim

 

Photo courtesy of Ms. Deborah Catena, FAO.

Casablanca, Morocco. October 2014

Prioritizing Workplace Mental Health

Geneva - Switzerland, 25-29 January 2021. Copyright ©️ World Economic Forum/Pascal Bitz

 

Punit Renjen, Global Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte, USA; International Business Council Garen K. Staglin, Chairman and Co-Founder, One Mind, USA

Miranda Wolpert, Head, Mental Health Priority Area, Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom

Moderated by Sir Philip Campbell, Editor-in-Chief, Springer Nature, United Kingdom

Since not much trawling has been done deeper than 200 meters off the eastern coast of South-Africa, one of the objectives for this survey was to trawl in the deeper areas. However, the waters here are quite challenging with one of the strongest currents, varying vertically in direction and speed (up to 6 knots), and strong winds often blowing in the opposite direction of the surface current. We were therefore only able to conduct 3 trawl stations deeper than 200 m. In total, 22 trawls have been done, from 20-511 m. The catches have mostly been quite small, particularly north of Richards Bay. Overall, catches have been dominated by anchovies (Engraulis), sand soldiers (Pagellus), greeneyes (Chlorophthalmus) and minikob (Johnius). The dominance of anchovies is perhaps surprising as mainly bottom trawls have been used, but these fish form very large shoals and most of them were caught in just two trawls. Few species of commercial interest have been caught, apart from prawns and langoustines on the deep water crustacean trawl grounds. In total 350 different species were caught in the bottom trawl hauls, of which 200 were various fish species. One of these are rarely caught, the sailfin velifer which was presented in an earlier post. We might also have caught a new species in the group called rover fishes (Emmelichthys sp.), but this remains to be confirmed. The fish is preserved and brought back to the South-African Institute of Aquatic Biodiversity for further analysis. We also caught a shark which Oddgeir didn't have in his photo archive, the lined catchark (Halaelurus lineolatus). Antoher fish caused us some problems to identify, but in the end the taxonomy experts onboard did agree that is must be a blue and gold fusilier (Caesio caerulaurea).

Text: Sean Fennessy and Kathrine Michalsen,

Photo: trawl catch at 56 m, 198m and 186m - Kerry Sink

A possibly new species among the rover fishes (Emmelichthys sp.) - Oddgeir Alvheim

Blue and gold fusilier- Oddgeir Alvheim

Lined catshark - Oddgeir Alvheim

 

19 June 2019, Rome, Italy - Jessica Fanzo, The Johns Hopkins University. ESN Seminar The Food Systems Dashboard: Contextualizing national food systems, identifying challenges and prioritizing actions. FAO Headquarters (German Room).

  

Photo credit must be given: ©FAO/Giulio Napolitano. Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO.

The Burmese python (Python bivittatus) is one of the largest species of snakes. It is native to a large area of Southeast Asia and is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Until 2009, it was considered a subspecies of the Indian python, but is now recognized as a distinct species. It is an invasive species in Florida as a result of the pet trade.

 

The Burmese python is a dark-colored non-venomous snake with many brown blotches bordered by black down the back. In the wild, Burmese pythons typically grow to 5 m (16 ft), while specimens of more than 7 m (23 ft) are unconfirmed. This species is sexually dimorphic in size; females average only slightly longer, but are considerably heavier and bulkier than the males. For example, length-weight comparisons in captive Burmese pythons for individual females have shown: at 3.47 m (11 ft 5 in) length, a specimen weighed 29 kg (64 lb), a specimen of just over 4 m (13 ft) weighed 36 kg (79 lb), a specimen of 4.5 m (15 ft) weighed 40 kg (88 lb), and a specimen of 5 m (16 ft) weighed 75 kg (165 lb). In comparison, length-weight comparisons for males found: a specimen of 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) weighed 12 kg (26 lb), 2.97 m (9 ft 9 in) weighed 14.5 kg (32 lb), a specimen of 3 m (9.8 ft) weighed 7 kg (15 lb), and a specimen of 3.05 m (10.0 ft) weighed 18.5 kg (41 lb). In general, individuals over 5 m (16 ft) are rare. The record for maximum length of a Burmese python is 5.79 m (19 ft 0 in) and was caught 10 July 2023 in South Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve. Widely published data of specimens reported to have been several feet longer are not verified. At her death, a Burmese named "Baby" was the heaviest snake recorded in the world at the time at 182.8 kg (403 lb), much heavier than any wild snake ever measured. Her length was measured at 5.74 m (18 ft 10 in) circa 1999. The minimum size for adults is 2.35 m (7 ft 9 in). Dwarf forms occur in Java, Bali, and Sulawesi, with an average length of 2 m (6 ft 7 in) in Bali, and a maximum of 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) on Sulawesi. Wild individuals average 3.7 m (12 ft) long, but have been known to reach 5.79 m (19 ft 0 in).

 

In both their native and invasive range they suffer from Raillietiella orientalis (a pentastome parasitic disease).

 

The Burmese python occurs throughout Southern and Southeast Asia, including eastern India, southeastern Nepal, western Bhutan, southeastern Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, northern continental Malaysia, and southern China in Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, and Yunnan. It also occurs in Hong Kong, and in Indonesia on Java, southern Sulawesi, Bali, and Sumbawa. It has also been reported in Kinmen.

 

It is an excellent swimmer and needs a permanent source of water. It lives in grasslands, marshes, swamps, rocky foothills, woodlands, river valleys, and jungles with open clearings. It is a good climber and has a prehensile tail. It can stay in water for 30 minutes but mostly stays on land.

 

Python invasion has been particularly extensive, notably across South Florida, where a large number of pythons can now be found in the Florida Everglades. Between 1996 and 2006, the Burmese python gained popularity in the pet trade, with more than 90,000 snakes imported into the U.S. The current number of Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades may have reached a minimum viable population and become an invasive species. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 was deemed responsible for the destruction of a python-breeding facility and zoo, and these escaped snakes spread and populated areas into the Everglades. More than 1,330 have been captured in the Everglades. A genetic study in 2017 revealed that the python population is composed of hybrids between the Burmese python and Indian python. The species also displays cytonuclear discordance which has made phylogenetic studies of its origin more complicated.

 

By 2007, the Burmese python was found in northern Florida and in the coastal areas of the Florida Panhandle. The importation of Burmese pythons was banned in the United States in January 2012 by the U.S. Department of the Interior. A 2012 report stated, "in areas where the snakes are well established, foxes, and rabbits have disappeared. Sightings of raccoons are down by 99.3%, opossums by 98.9%, and white-tailed deer by 94.1%." Road surveys between 2003 and 2011 indicated an 87.3% decrease in bobcat populations, and in some areas rabbits have not been detected at all. Experimental efforts to reintroduce rabbit populations to areas where rabbits have been eliminated have mostly failed "due to high (77% of mortalities) rates of predation by pythons." Bird and coyote populations may be threatened, as well as the already-rare Florida panther. In addition to this correlational relationship, the pythons have also been experimentally shown to decrease marsh rabbit populations, further suggesting they are responsible for many of the recorded mammal declines. They may also outcompete native predators for food.

 

For example, Burmese pythons also compete with the native American alligator, and numerous instances of alligators and pythons attacking—and in some cases, preying on—each other have been reported and recorded.

 

By 2011, researchers identified up to 25 species of birds from nine avian orders in the digestive tract remains of 85 Burmese pythons found in Everglades National Park. Native bird populations are suffering a negative impact from the introduction of the Burmese python in Florida; among these bird species, the wood stork is of specific concern, now listed as federally endangered.

 

Numerous efforts have been made to eliminate the Burmese python population in the last decade. Understanding the preferred habitat of the species is needed to narrow down the python hunt. Burmese pythons have been found to select broad-leafed and low-flooded habitats. Broad-leafed habitats comprise cypress, overstory, and coniferous forest. Though aquatic marsh environments would be a great source for prey, the pythons seem to prioritize environments allowing for morphological and behavioral camouflage to be protected from predators. Also, the Burmese pythons in Florida have been found to prefer elevated habitats, since this provides the optimal conditions for nesting. In addition to elevated habitats, edge habitats are common places where Burmese pythons are found for thermoregulation, nesting, and hunting purposes.

 

One of the Burmese python eradication movements with the biggest influence was the 2013 Florida Python Challenge. This was a month-long contest wherein a total of 68 pythons were removed. The contest offered incentives such as prizes for longest and greatest number of captured pythons. The purpose of the challenge was to raise awareness about the invasive species, increase participation from the public and agency cooperation, and to remove as many pythons as possible from the Florida Everglades. The challenge has run a few times again since then and is now an annual event over the duration of ten days. Recently, in 2023, it resulted in 209 pythons removed by 1,050 participants.

 

A study from 2017 introduced a new method for identifying the presence of Burmese pythons in southern Florida; this method involves the screening of mosquito blood. Since the introduction of the Burmese python in Florida, mosquito communities use the pythons as hosts even though they are recently introduced.

 

Invasive Burmese pythons also face certain physiological changes. Unlike their native South Asian counterparts who spend long periods fasting due to seasonal variation in prey availability, pythons in Florida feed year-round due to the constant availability of food. They are also vulnerable to cold stress, with winter freezes resulting in mortality rates of up to 90%. Genomic data suggests natural selection on these populations favors increased thermal tolerance as a result of these high-mortality freezes.

 

They have carried Raillietiella orientalis, a pentastome parasitic disease, with them from Southeast Asia. Other reptiles in Florida have become infested, and the parasite appears to have become endemic.

 

In April 2019, researchers captured and killed a large Burmese python in Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve. It was more than 5.2 m (17 ft) long, weighed 64 kg (140 lb), and contained 73 developing eggs. In December 2021, a Burmese python was captured in Florida that weighed 98 kg (215 lb) and had a length of 5.5 m (18 ft); it contained a record 122 developing eggs. In July 2023, local hunters captured and killed a 5.8 m (19 ft) long Burmese python that weighed 57 kg (125 lb) in Florida's Big Cypress National Preserve.

 

Burmese pythons are mainly nocturnal rainforest dwellers. When young, they are equally at home on the ground and in trees, but as they gain girth, they tend to restrict most of their movements to the ground. They are also excellent swimmers, being able to stay submerged for up to half an hour. Burmese pythons spend the majority of their time hidden in the underbrush. In the northern parts of its range, the Burmese python may brumate for some months during the cold season in a hollow tree, a hole in the riverbank, or under rocks. Brumation is biologically distinct from hibernation. While the behavior has similar benefits, allowing organisms to endure the winter without moving, it also involves the preparation of both male and female reproductive organs for the upcoming breeding season. The Florida population also goes through brumation.

 

They tend to be solitary and are usually found in pairs only when mating. Burmese pythons breed in the early spring, with females laying clutches of 12–36 eggs in March or April. They remain with the eggs until they hatch, wrapping around them and twitching their muscles in such a way as to raise the ambient temperature around the eggs by several degrees. Once the hatchlings use their egg tooth to cut their way out of their eggs, no further maternal care is given. The newly hatched babies often remain inside their eggs until they are ready to complete their first shedding of skin, after which they hunt for their first meal.

This is just one of several areas currently being studied by WSDOT or our partners to get a better comprehensive picture of the local transportation system and challenges. This will allow us to better prioritize needs and projects with our local partners in the regional transportation plan to make sure we are making the right investments that will provide the most benefit.

Progress Energy created a transition project management application that provides everything from project prioritization and approval process management, to documentation of use cases, test results and user acceptance.

Component 2 Final Piece –

“Why?”

At first glance, it would look like two princesses in fancy dresses and jewellery, posing for a decent photograph. But at a closer look, this painting has a few deep meanings behind it, where the painting prioritizes three meanings symbolized by the gestures and stains of blood; the sad expression of their faces and their eyes, representing sadness and regret, their hands gripping tightly onto each other, representing hope and struggle, and the blood stains on Princess Anastasia of Russia’s dress and Empress Elisabeth of Bavaria’s corset, representing the history of their murders itself. The title “Why?” summarizes the whole meaning of the painting, where the princesses, bound unknown to their fate, with a million questions on their minds only visible through their teary eyes and painfully sad expressions. The strong grip of their hands together symbolizes their struggles as the princesses went through their depressing journeys of pressure and tears, leading to the blood stains on their corset and dress, showing the history of their murder, where Anastasia was executed with her family with her body parts dismembered, along with her family’s, showing the large amount of blood stains on her dress, while Empress Elisabeth was murdered with a direct stab to her heart by an Italian man who only had the reason of “doing the deed” or need to kill a royal family. Another meaning, however is shown also from the grip of their hands; bond. They are both princesses, both ending in cruel fate and both showing regret as I had visualised them. Anastasia did not get to spend any more time with her sisters, mother or literally an older figure of a woman, while Empress Elisabeth never got to spend time with her children, whom some had lost their lives earlier than she had. The feeling of regret brought tears to their eyes, for their fate, loss of time, and history led to a million questions starting with “why?” on their face expressions, supported by the strong grip of struggle, a bit of hope and bond. I have also concentrated on the details of this painting, including the jewellery, the crowns and the veil, showing themselves as indeed, the royal-blooded princesses from two different countries, sharing the same bond of fate. The faint shades of golden yellow on their dresses also symbolises their shining figure as royalty, and I have chosen her coronation dress for Empress Elisabeth because all of her depressing journey to her end began right after the coronation and wedding day, and a court gown for Princess Anastasia, for which both symbolizes the purity and innocence of the two. The dark black with faint golden background also represents engulfing darkness into their lives, even with only a little bit of happiness they had experienced, it had slowly faded along into the overall misty, uncomfortable dark aura that had surrounded and destroyed their lives.

 

The Kard Bar Fire on January 12, 2015, in Cross Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear, England, was a significant event that had a profound impact on the local community and garnered national attention. The fire, which engulfed the iconic Kard Bar music store, marked the end of an era and left a lasting legacy in the city's history.

 

The Kard Bar was a well-known institution in Newcastle upon Tyne, particularly among music enthusiasts. Located in the heart of the city, the store served as a cultural hub and a gathering place for generations of music lovers. The store was renowned for its vast collection of vinyl records, CDs, and other music memorabilia, attracting customers from all walks of life.

 

On that fateful day, January 12, 2015, a fire broke out at the Kard Bar, quickly spreading through the premises. The fire was first reported in the early morning hours, and the emergency services were alerted promptly. Firefighters from the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service rushed to the scene to combat the blaze and prevent it from spreading to neighboring properties.

 

Despite the firefighters' valiant efforts, the fire raged on, fueled by the store's extensive stock of music records and CDs. The iconic wooden structure of the building, along with its accumulated stock, made it difficult for the firefighters to gain control over the inferno. The blaze consumed the entire store, reducing it to ashes within hours.

 

As news of the fire spread throughout Newcastle and beyond, an outpouring of grief and shock swept across the city. The Kard Bar held a special place in the hearts of many, who mourned the loss of a cherished landmark. The store had become synonymous with the vibrant music scene of the city, and its demise marked the end of an era.

 

In the aftermath of the fire, investigations were launched to determine the cause of the incident. The authorities worked tirelessly to piece together the events leading up to the fire. Ultimately, it was revealed that an electrical fault in the building's wiring was the likely cause. The age of the structure and its outdated electrical systems contributed to the rapid spread of the fire.

 

The loss of the Kard Bar was deeply felt by both the local community and the wider music industry. Musicians, artists, and fans rallied together to express their support and solidarity. Benefit concerts and fundraising initiatives were organized to help the store owners and employees recover from the devastating incident. The overwhelming response demonstrated the profound impact the Kard Bar had on the lives of countless individuals.

 

In the years following the fire, the Kard Bar's legacy lived on through the memories and stories shared by those who had visited the store. The music community in Newcastle united to honor the store's memory and preserve its spirit. Local artists dedicated their performances to the Kard Bar, ensuring that its influence would endure.

 

The Kard Bar Fire also highlighted the importance of fire safety regulations and the need for improved infrastructure maintenance. The incident prompted authorities to review safety protocols, particularly in heritage buildings, to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. The fire served as a wake-up call for both the city of Newcastle and other communities across the country to prioritize the preservation of cultural landmarks and implement effective fire prevention measures.

 

Today, the site where the Kard Bar once stood remains a poignant reminder of the store's rich history and the impact it had on Newcastle's music scene. The memories and stories associated with the Kard Bar continue to resonate, ensuring that its spirit remains alive in the hearts of those who cherished it. The Kard Bar Fire of January 12, 2015, remains a significant event in the city's history, forever etched in the collective memory of Newcastle upon Tyne.

 

Newcastle upon Tyne, or simply Newcastle is a cathedral city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is located on the River Tyne's northern bank, opposite Gateshead to the south. It is the most populous settlement in the Tyneside conurbation and North East England.

 

Newcastle developed around a Roman settlement called Pons Aelius, the settlement became known as Monkchester before taking on the name of a castle built in 1080 by William the Conqueror's eldest son, Robert Curthose. It was one of the world's largest ship building and repair centres during the industrial revolution. Newcastle was part of the county of Northumberland until 1400, when it separated and formed a county of itself. In 1974, Newcastle became part of Tyne and Wear. Since 2018, the city council has been part of the North of Tyne Combined Authority.

 

The history of Newcastle upon Tyne dates back almost 2,000 years, during which it has been controlled by the Romans, the Angles and the Norsemen amongst others. Newcastle upon Tyne was originally known by its Roman name Pons Aelius. The name "Newcastle" has been used since the Norman conquest of England. Due to its prime location on the River Tyne, the town developed greatly during the Middle Ages and it was to play a major role in the Industrial Revolution, being granted city status in 1882. Today, the city is a major retail, commercial and cultural centre.

 

Roman settlement

The history of Newcastle dates from AD 122, when the Romans built the first bridge to cross the River Tyne at that point. The bridge was called Pons Aelius or 'Bridge of Aelius', Aelius being the family name of Roman Emperor Hadrian, who was responsible for the Roman wall built across northern England along the Tyne–Solway gap. Hadrian's Wall ran through present-day Newcastle, with stretches of wall and turrets visible along the West Road, and at a temple in Benwell. Traces of a milecastle were found on Westgate Road, midway between Clayton Street and Grainger Street, and it is likely that the course of the wall corresponded to present-day Westgate Road. The course of the wall can be traced eastwards to the Segedunum Roman fort at Wallsend, with the fort of Arbeia down-river at the mouth of the Tyne, on the south bank in what is now South Shields. The Tyne was then a wider, shallower river at this point and it is thought that the bridge was probably about 700 feet (210 m) long, made of wood and supported on stone piers. It is probable that it was sited near the current Swing Bridge, due to the fact that Roman artefacts were found there during the building of the latter bridge. Hadrian himself probably visited the site in 122. A shrine was set up on the completed bridge in 123 by the 6th Legion, with two altars to Neptune and Oceanus respectively. The two altars were subsequently found in the river and are on display in the Great North Museum in Newcastle.

 

The Romans built a stone-walled fort in 150 to protect the river crossing which was at the foot of the Tyne Gorge, and this took the name of the bridge so that the whole settlement was known as Pons Aelius. The fort was situated on a rocky outcrop overlooking the new bridge, on the site of the present Castle Keep. Pons Aelius is last mentioned in 400, in a Roman document listing all of the Roman military outposts. It is likely that nestling in the shadow of the fort would have been a small vicus, or village. Unfortunately, no buildings have been detected; only a few pieces of flagging. It is clear that there was a Roman cemetery near Clavering Place, behind the Central station, as a number of Roman coffins and sarcophagi have been unearthed there.

 

Despite the presence of the bridge, the settlement of Pons Aelius was not particularly important among the northern Roman settlements. The most important stations were those on the highway of Dere Street running from Eboracum (York) through Corstopitum (Corbridge) and to the lands north of the Wall. Corstopitum, being a major arsenal and supply centre, was much larger and more populous than Pons Aelius.

 

Anglo-Saxon development

The Angles arrived in the North-East of England in about 500 and may have landed on the Tyne. There is no evidence of an Anglo-Saxon settlement on or near the site of Pons Aelius during the Anglo-Saxon age. The bridge probably survived and there may well have been a small village at the northern end, but no evidence survives. At that time the region was dominated by two kingdoms, Bernicia, north of the Tees and ruled from Bamburgh, and Deira, south of the Tees and ruled from York. Bernicia and Deira combined to form the kingdom of Northanhymbra (Northumbria) early in the 7th century. There were three local kings who held the title of Bretwalda – 'Lord of Britain', Edwin of Deira (627–632), Oswald of Bernicia (633–641) and Oswy of Northumbria (641–658). The 7th century became known as the 'Golden Age of Northumbria', when the area was a beacon of culture and learning in Europe. The greatness of this period was based on its generally Christian culture and resulted in the Lindisfarne Gospels amongst other treasures. The Tyne valley was dotted with monasteries, with those at Monkwearmouth, Hexham and Jarrow being the most famous. Bede, who was based at Jarrow, wrote of a royal estate, known as Ad Murum, 'at the Wall', 12 miles (19 km) from the sea. It is thought that this estate may have been in what is now Newcastle. At some unknown time, the site of Newcastle came to be known as Monkchester. The reason for this title is unknown, as we are unaware of any specific monasteries at the site, and Bede made no reference to it. In 875 Halfdan Ragnarsson, the Danish Viking conqueror of York, led an army that attacked and pillaged various monasteries in the area, and it is thought that Monkchester was also pillaged at this time. Little more was heard of it until the coming of the Normans.

 

Norman period

After the arrival of William the Conqueror in England in 1066, the whole of England was quickly subjected to Norman rule. However, in Northumbria there was great resistance to the Normans, and in 1069 the newly appointed Norman Earl of Northumbria, Robert de Comines and 700 of his men were killed by the local population at Durham. The Northumbrians then marched on York, but William was able to suppress the uprising. That same year, a second uprising occurred when a Danish fleet landed in the Humber. The Northumbrians again attacked York and destroyed the garrison there. William was again able to suppress the uprising, but this time he took revenge. He laid waste to the whole of the Midlands and the land from York to the Tees. In 1080, William Walcher, the Norman bishop of Durham and his followers were brutally murdered at Gateshead. This time Odo, bishop of Bayeux, William's half brother, devastated the land between the Tees and the Tweed. This was known as the 'Harrying of the North'. This devastation is reflected in the Domesday Book. The destruction had such an effect that the North remained poor and backward at least until Tudor times and perhaps until the Industrial Revolution. Newcastle suffered in this respect with the rest of the North.

 

In 1080 William sent his eldest son, Robert Curthose, north to defend the kingdom against the Scots. After his campaign, he moved to Monkchester and began the building of a 'New Castle'. This was of the "motte-and-bailey" type of construction, a wooden tower on top of an earthen mound (motte), surrounded by a moat and wooden stockade (bailey). It was this castle that gave Newcastle its name. In 1095 the Earl of Northumbria, Robert de Mowbray, rose up against the king, William Rufus, and Rufus sent an army north to recapture the castle. From then on the castle became crown property and was an important base from which the king could control the northern barons. The Northumbrian earldom was abolished and a Sheriff of Northumberland was appointed to administer the region. In 1091 the parish church of St Nicholas was consecrated on the site of the present Anglican cathedral, close by the bailey of the new castle. The church is believed to have been a wooden building on stone footings.

 

Not a trace of the tower or mound of the motte and bailey castle remains now. Henry II replaced it with a rectangular stone keep, which was built between 1172 and 1177 at a cost of £1,444. A stone bailey, in the form of a triangle, replaced the previous wooden one. The great outer gateway to the castle, called 'the Black Gate', was built later, between 1247 and 1250, in the reign of Henry III. There were at that time no town walls and when attacked by the Scots, the townspeople had to crowd into the bailey for safety. It is probable that the new castle acted as a magnet for local merchants because of the safety it provided. This in turn would help to expand trade in the town. At this time wool, skins and lead were being exported, whilst alum, pepper and ginger were being imported from France and Flanders.

 

Middle Ages

Throughout the Middle Ages, Newcastle was England's northern fortress, the centre for assembled armies. The Border war against Scotland lasted intermittently for several centuries – possibly the longest border war ever waged. During the civil war between Stephen and Matilda, David 1st of Scotland and his son were granted Cumbria and Northumberland respectively, so that for a period from 1139 to 1157, Newcastle was effectively in Scottish hands. It is believed that during this period, King David may have built the church of St Andrew and the Benedictine nunnery in Newcastle. However, King Stephen's successor, Henry II was strong enough to take back the Earldom of Northumbria from Malcolm IV.

 

The Scots king William the Lion was imprisoned in Newcastle, in 1174, after being captured at the Battle of Alnwick. Edward I brought the Stone of Scone and William Wallace south through the town and Newcastle was successfully defended against the Scots three times during the 14th century.

 

Around 1200, stone-faced, clay-filled jetties were starting to project into the river, an indication that trade was increasing in Newcastle. As the Roman roads continued to deteriorate, sea travel was gaining in importance. By 1275 Newcastle was the sixth largest wool exporting port in England. The principal exports at this time were wool, timber, coal, millstones, dairy produce, fish, salt and hides. Much of the developing trade was with the Baltic countries and Germany. Most of the Newcastle merchants were situated near the river, below the Castle. The earliest known charter was dated 1175 in the reign of Henry II, giving the townspeople some control over their town. In 1216 King John granted Newcastle a mayor[8] and also allowed the formation of guilds (known as Mysteries). These were cartels formed within different trades, which restricted trade to guild members. There were initially twelve guilds. Coal was being exported from Newcastle by 1250, and by 1350 the burgesses received a royal licence to export coal. This licence to export coal was jealously guarded by the Newcastle burgesses, and they tried to prevent any one else on the Tyne from exporting coal except through Newcastle. The burgesses similarly tried to prevent fish from being sold anywhere else on the Tyne except Newcastle. This led to conflicts with Gateshead and South Shields.

 

In 1265, the town was granted permission to impose a 'Wall Tax' or Murage, to pay for the construction of a fortified wall to enclose the town and protect it from Scottish invaders. The town walls were not completed until early in the 14th century. They were two miles (3 km) long, 9 feet (2.7 m) thick and 25 feet (7.6 m) high. They had six main gates, as well as some smaller gates, and had 17 towers. The land within the walls was divided almost equally by the Lort Burn, which flowed southwards and joined the Tyne to the east of the Castle. The town began to expand north of the Castle and west of the Lort Burn with various markets being set up within the walls.

 

In 1400 Henry IV granted a new charter, creating a County corporate which separated the town, but not the Castle, from the county of Northumberland and recognised it as a "county of itself" with a right to have a sheriff of its own. The burgesses were now allowed to choose six aldermen who, with the mayor would be justices of the peace. The mayor and sheriff were allowed to hold borough courts in the Guildhall.

 

Religious houses

During the Middle Ages a number of religious houses were established within the walls: the first of these was the Benedictine nunnery of St Bartholomew founded in 1086 near the present-day Nun Street. Both David I of Scotland and Henry I of England were benefactors of the religious house. Nothing of the nunnery remains now.

 

The friary of Blackfriars, Newcastle (Dominican) was established in 1239. These were also known as the Preaching Friars or Shod Friars, because they wore sandals, as opposed to other orders. The friary was situated in the present-day Friars Street. In 1280 the order was granted royal permission to make a postern in the town walls to communicate with their gardens outside the walls. On 19 June 1334, Edward Balliol, claimant to be King of Scotland, did homage to King Edward III, on behalf of the kingdom of Scotland, in the church of the friary. Much of the original buildings of the friary still exist, mainly because, after the Dissolution of the Monasteries the friary of Blackfriars was rented out by the corporation to nine of the local trade guilds.

 

The friary of Whitefriars (Carmelite) was established in 1262. The order was originally housed on the Wall Knoll in Pandon, but in 1307 it took over the buildings of another order, which went out of existence, the Friars of the Sac. The land, which had originally been given by Robert the Bruce, was situated in the present-day Hanover Square, behind the Central station. Nothing of the friary remains now.

 

The friary of Austinfriars (Augustinian) was established in 1290. The friary was on the site where the Holy Jesus Hospital was built in 1682. The friary was traditionally the lodging place of English kings whenever they visited or passed through Newcastle. In 1503 Princess Margaret, eldest daughter of Henry VII of England, stayed two days at the friary on her way to join her new husband James IV of Scotland.

 

The friary of Greyfriars (Franciscans) was established in 1274. The friary was in the present-day area between Pilgrim Street, Grey Street, Market Street and High Chare. Nothing of the original buildings remains.

 

The friary of the Order of the Holy Trinity, also known as the Trinitarians, was established in 1360. The order devoted a third of its income to buying back captives of the Saracens, during the Crusades. Their house was on the Wall Knoll, in Pandon, to the east of the city, but within the walls. Wall Knoll had previously been occupied by the White Friars until they moved to new premises in 1307.

 

All of the above religious houses were closed in about 1540, when Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries.

 

An important street running through Newcastle at the time was Pilgrim Street, running northwards inside the walls and leading to the Pilgrim Gate on the north wall. The street still exists today as arguably Newcastle's main shopping street.

 

Tudor period

The Scottish border wars continued for much of the 16th century, so that during that time, Newcastle was often threatened with invasion by the Scots, but also remained important as a border stronghold against them.

 

During the Reformation begun by Henry VIII in 1536, the five Newcastle friaries and the single nunnery were dissolved and the land was sold to the Corporation and to rich merchants. At this time there were fewer than 60 inmates of the religious houses in Newcastle. The convent of Blackfriars was leased to nine craft guilds to be used as their headquarters. This probably explains why it is the only one of the religious houses whose building survives to the present day. The priories at Tynemouth and Durham were also dissolved, thus ending the long-running rivalry between Newcastle and the church for control of trade on the Tyne. A little later, the property of the nunnery of St Bartholomew and of Grey Friars were bought by Robert Anderson, who had the buildings demolished to build his grand Newe House (also known as Anderson Place).

 

With the gradual decline of the Scottish border wars the town walls were allowed to decline as well as the castle. By 1547, about 10,000 people were living in Newcastle. At the beginning of the 16th century exports of wool from Newcastle were more than twice the value of exports of coal, but during the century coal exports continued to increase.

 

Under Edward VI, John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland, sponsored an act allowing Newcastle to annexe Gateshead as its suburb. The main reason for this was to allow the Newcastle Hostmen, who controlled the export of Tyne coal, to get their hands on the Gateshead coal mines, previously controlled by the Bishop of Durham. However, when Mary I came to power, Dudley met his downfall and the decision was reversed. The Reformation allowed private access to coal mines previously owned by Tynemouth and Durham priories and as a result coal exports increase dramatically, from 15,000 tons in 1500 to 35,000 tons in 1565, and to 400,000 tons in 1625.

 

The plague visited Newcastle four times during the 16th century, in 1579 when 2,000 people died, in 1589 when 1700 died, in 1595 and finally in 1597.

 

In 1600 Elizabeth I granted Newcastle a charter for an exclusive body of electors, the right to elect the mayor and burgesses. The charter also gave the Hostmen exclusive rights to load coal at any point on the Tyne. The Hostmen developed as an exclusive group within the Merchant Adventurers who had been incorporated by a charter in 1547.

 

Stuart period

In 1636 there was a serious outbreak of bubonic plague in Newcastle. There had been several previous outbreaks of the disease over the years, but this was the most serious. It is thought to have arrived from the Netherlands via ships that were trading between the Tyne and that country. It first appeared in the lower part of the town near the docks but gradually spread to all parts of the town. As the disease gained hold the authorities took measures to control it by boarding up any properties that contained infected persons, meaning that whole families were locked up together with the infected family members. Other infected persons were put in huts outside the town walls and left to die. Plague pits were dug next to the town's four churches and outside the town walls to receive the bodies in mass burials. Over the course of the outbreak 5,631 deaths were recorded out of an estimated population of 12,000, a death rate of 47%.

 

In 1637 Charles I tried to raise money by doubling the 'voluntary' tax on coal in return for allowing the Newcastle Hostmen to regulate production and fix prices. This caused outrage amongst the London importers and the East Anglian shippers. Both groups decided to boycott Tyne coal and as a result forced Charles to reverse his decision in 1638.

 

In 1640 during the Second Bishops' War, the Scots successfully invaded Newcastle. The occupying army demanded £850 per day from the Corporation to billet the Scottish troops. Trade from the Tyne ground to a halt during the occupation. The Scots left in 1641 after receiving a Parliamentary pardon and a £4,000,000 loan from the town.

 

In 1642 the English Civil War began. King Charles realised the value of the Tyne coal trade and therefore garrisoned Newcastle. A Royalist was appointed as governor. At that time, Newcastle and King's Lynn were the only important seaports to support the crown. In 1644 Parliament blockaded the Tyne to prevent the king from receiving revenue from the Tyne coal trade. Coal exports fell from 450,000 to 3,000 tons and London suffered a hard winter without fuel. Parliament encouraged the coal trade from the Wear to try to replace that lost from Newcastle but that was not enough to make up for the lost Tyneside tonnage.

 

In 1644 the Scots crossed the border. Newcastle strengthened its defences in preparation. The Scottish army, with 40,000 troops, besieged Newcastle for three months until the garrison of 1,500 surrendered. During the siege, the Scots bombarded the walls with their artillery, situated in Gateshead and Castle Leazes. The Scottish commander threatened to destroy the steeple of St Nicholas's Church by gunfire if the mayor, Sir John Marley, did not surrender the town. The mayor responded by placing Scottish prisoners that they had captured in the steeple, so saving it from destruction. The town walls were finally breached by a combination of artillery and sapping. In gratitude for this defence, Charles gave Newcastle the motto 'Fortiter Defendit Triumphans' to be added to its coat of arms. The Scottish army occupied Northumberland and Durham for two years. The coal taxes had to pay for the Scottish occupation. In 1645 Charles surrendered to the Scots and was imprisoned in Newcastle for nine months. After the Civil War the coal trade on the Tyne soon picked up and exceeded its pre-war levels.

 

A new Guildhall was completed on the Sandhill next to the river in 1655, replacing an earlier facility damaged by fire in 1639, and became the meeting place of Newcastle Town Council. In 1681 the Hospital of the Holy Jesus was built partly on the site of the Austin Friars. The Guildhall and Holy Jesus Hospital still exist.

 

Charles II tried to impose a charter on Newcastle to give the king the right to appoint the mayor, sheriff, recorder and town clerk. Charles died before the charter came into effect. In 1685, James II tried to replace Corporation members with named Catholics. However, James' mandate was suspended in 1689 after the Glorious Revolution welcoming William of Orange. In 1689, after the fall of James II, the people of Newcastle tore down his bronze equestrian statue in Sandhill and tossed it into the Tyne. The bronze was later used to make bells for All Saints Church.

 

In 1689 the Lort Burn was covered over. At this time it was an open sewer. The channel followed by the Lort Burn became the present day Dean Street. At that time, the centre of Newcastle was still the Sandhill area, with many merchants living along the Close or on the Side. The path of the main road through Newcastle ran from the single Tyne bridge, through Sandhill to the Side, a narrow street which climbed steeply on the north-east side of the castle hill until it reached the higher ground alongside St Nicholas' Church. As Newcastle developed, the Side became lined with buildings with projecting upper stories, so that the main street through Newcastle was a narrow, congested, steep thoroughfare.

 

In 1701 the Keelmen's Hospital was built in the Sandgate area of the city, using funds provided by the keelmen. The building still stands today.

 

Eighteenth century

In the 18th century, Newcastle was the country's largest print centre after London, Oxford and Cambridge, and the Literary and Philosophical Society of 1793, with its erudite debates and large stock of books in several languages predated the London Library by half a century.

 

In 1715, during the Jacobite rising in favour of the Old Pretender, an army of Jacobite supporters marched on Newcastle. Many of the Northumbrian gentry joined the rebels. The citizens prepared for its arrival by arresting Jacobite supporters and accepting 700 extra recruits into the local militia. The gates of the city were closed against the rebels. This proved enough to delay an attack until reinforcements arrived forcing the rebel army to move across to the west coast. The rebels finally surrendered at Preston.

 

In 1745, during a second Jacobite rising in favour of the Young Pretender, a Scottish army crossed the border led by Bonnie Prince Charlie. Once again Newcastle prepared by arresting Jacobite supporters and inducting 800 volunteers into the local militia. The town walls were strengthened, most of the gates were blocked up and some 200 cannon were deployed. 20,000 regulars were billeted on the Town Moor. These preparations were enough to force the rebel army to travel south via the west coast. They were eventually defeated at Culloden in 1746.

 

Newcastle's actions during the 1715 rising in resisting the rebels and declaring for George I, in contrast to the rest of the region, is the most likely source of the nickname 'Geordie', applied to people from Tyneside, or more accurately Newcastle. Another theory, however, is that the name 'Geordie' came from the inventor of the Geordie lamp, George Stephenson. It was a type of safety lamp used in mining, but was not invented until 1815. Apparently the term 'German Geordie' was in common use during the 18th century.

 

The city's first hospital, Newcastle Infirmary opened in 1753; it was funded by public subscription. A lying-in hospital was established in Newcastle in 1760. The city's first public hospital for mentally ill patients, Wardens Close Lunatic Hospital was opened in October 1767.

 

In 1771 a flood swept away much of the bridge at Newcastle. The bridge had been built in 1250 and repaired after a flood in 1339. The bridge supported various houses and three towers and an old chapel. A blue stone was placed in the middle of the bridge to mark the boundary between Newcastle and the Palatinate of Durham. A temporary wooden bridge had to be built, and this remained in use until 1781, when a new stone bridge was completed. The new bridge consisted of nine arches. In 1801, because of the pressure of traffic, the bridge had to be widened.

 

A permanent military presence was established in the city with the completion of Fenham Barracks in 1806. The facilities at the Castle for holding assizes, which had been condemned for their inconvenience and unhealthiness, were replaced when the Moot Hall opened in August 1812.

 

Victorian period

Present-day Newcastle owes much of its architecture to the work of the builder Richard Grainger, aided by architects John Dobson, Thomas Oliver, John and Benjamin Green and others. In 1834 Grainger won a competition to produce a new plan for central Newcastle. He put this plan into effect using the above architects as well as architects employed in his own office. Grainger and Oliver had already built Leazes Terrace, Leazes Crescent and Leazes Place between 1829 and 1834. Grainger and Dobson had also built the Royal Arcade at the foot of Pilgrim Street between 1830 and 1832. The most ambitious project covered 12 acres 12 acres (49,000 m2) in central Newcastle, on the site of Newe House (also called Anderson Place). Grainger built three new thoroughfares, Grey Street, Grainger Street and Clayton Street with many connecting streets, as well as the Central Exchange and the Grainger Market. John Wardle and George Walker, working in Grainger's office, designed Clayton Street, Grainger Street and most of Grey Street. Dobson designed the Grainger Market and much of the east side of Grey Street. John and Benjamin Green designed the Theatre Royal at the top of Grey Street, where Grainger placed the column of Grey's Monument as a focus for the whole scheme. Grey Street is considered to be one of the finest streets in the country, with its elegant curve. Unfortunately most of old Eldon Square was demolished in the 1960s in the name of progress. The Royal Arcade met a similar fate.

 

In 1849 a new bridge was built across the river at Newcastle. This was the High Level Bridge, designed by Robert Stephenson, and slightly up river from the existing bridge. The bridge was designed to carry road and rail traffic across the Tyne Gorge on two decks with rail traffic on the upper deck and road traffic on the lower. The new bridge meant that traffic could pass through Newcastle without having to negotiate the steep, narrow Side, as had been necessary for centuries. The bridge was opened by Queen Victoria, who one year later opened the new Central Station, designed by John Dobson. Trains were now able to cross the river, directly into the centre of Newcastle and carry on up to Scotland. The Army Riding School was also completed in 1849.

 

In 1854 a large fire started on the Gateshead quayside and an explosion caused it to spread across the river to the Newcastle quayside. A huge conflagration amongst the narrow alleys, or 'chares', destroyed the homes of 800 families as well as many business premises. The narrow alleys that had been destroyed were replaced by streets containing blocks of modern offices.

 

In 1863 the Town Hall in St Nicholas Square replaced the Guildhall as the meeting place of Newcastle Town Council.

 

In 1876 the low level bridge was replaced by a new bridge known as the Swing Bridge, so called because the bridge was able to swing horizontally on a central axis and allow ships to pass on either side. This meant that for the first time sizeable ships could pass up-river beyond Newcastle. The bridge was built and paid for by William Armstrong, a local arms manufacturer, who needed to have warships access his Elswick arms factory to fit armaments to them. The Swing Bridge's rotating mechanism is adapted from the cannon mounts developed in Armstrong's arms works. In 1882 the Elswick works began to build ships as well as to arm them. The Barrack Road drill hall was completed in 1890.

 

Industrialisation

In the 19th century, shipbuilding and heavy engineering were central to the city's prosperity; and the city was a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution. Newcastle's development as a major city owed most to its central role in the production and export of coal. The phrase "taking coals to Newcastle" was first recorded in 1538; it proverbially denotes bringing a particular commodity to a place that has more than enough of it already.

 

Innovation in Newcastle and surrounding areas included the following:

 

George Stephenson developed a miner's safety lamp at the same time that Humphry Davy developed a rival design. The lamp made possible the opening up of ever deeper mines to provide the coal that powered the industrial revolution.

George and his son Robert Stephenson were hugely influential figures in the development of the early railways. George developed Blücher, a locomotive working at Killingworth colliery in 1814, whilst Robert was instrumental in the design of Rocket, a revolutionary design that was the forerunner of modern locomotives. Both men were involved in planning and building railway lines, all over this country and abroad.

 

Joseph Swan demonstrated a working electric light bulb about a year before Thomas Edison did the same in the USA. This led to a dispute as to who had actually invented the light bulb. Eventually the two rivals agreed to form a mutual company between them, the Edison and Swan Electric Light Company, known as Ediswan.

 

Charles Algernon Parsons invented the steam turbine, for marine use and for power generation. He used Turbinia, a small, turbine-powered ship, to demonstrate the speed that a steam turbine could generate. Turbinia literally ran rings around the British Fleet at a review at Spithead in 1897.

 

William Armstrong invented a hydraulic crane that was installed in dockyards up and down the country. He then began to design light, accurate field guns for the British army. These were a vast improvement on the existing guns that were then in use.

 

The following major industries developed in Newcastle or its surrounding area:

 

Glassmaking

A small glass industry existed in Newcastle from the mid-15th century. In 1615 restrictions were put on the use of wood for manufacturing glass. It was found that glass could be manufactured using the local coal, and so a glassmaking industry grew up on Tyneside. Huguenot glassmakers came over from France as refugees from persecution and set up glasshouses in the Skinnerburn area of Newcastle. Eventually, glass production moved to the Ouseburn area of Newcastle. In 1684 the Dagnia family, Sephardic Jewish emigrants from Altare, arrived in Newcastle from Stourbridge and established glasshouses along the Close, to manufacture high quality flint glass. The glass manufacturers used sand ballast from the boats arriving in the river as the main raw material. The glassware was then exported in collier brigs. The period from 1730 to 1785 was the highpoint of Newcastle glass manufacture, when the local glassmakers produced the 'Newcastle Light Baluster'. The glassmaking industry still exists in the west end of the city with local Artist and Glassmaker Jane Charles carrying on over four hundred years of hot glass blowing in Newcastle upon Tyne.

 

Locomotive manufacture

In 1823 George Stephenson and his son Robert established the world's first locomotive factory near Forth Street in Newcastle. Here they built locomotives for the Stockton and Darlington Railway and the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, as well as many others. It was here that the famous locomotive Rocket was designed and manufactured in preparation for the Rainhill Trials. Apart from building locomotives for the British market, the Newcastle works also produced locomotives for Europe and America. The Forth Street works continued to build locomotives until 1960.

 

Shipbuilding

In 1296 a wooden, 135 ft (41 m) long galley was constructed at the mouth of the Lort Burn in Newcastle, as part of a twenty-ship order from the king. The ship cost £205, and is the earliest record of shipbuilding in Newcastle. However the rise of the Tyne as a shipbuilding area was due to the need for collier brigs for the coal export trade. These wooden sailing ships were usually built locally, establishing local expertise in building ships. As ships changed from wood to steel, and from sail to steam, the local shipbuilding industry changed to build the new ships. Although shipbuilding was carried out up and down both sides of the river, the two main areas for building ships in Newcastle were Elswick, to the west, and Walker, to the east. By 1800 Tyneside was the third largest producer of ships in Britain. Unfortunately, after the Second World War, lack of modernisation and competition from abroad gradually caused the local industry to decline and die.

 

Armaments

In 1847 William Armstrong established a huge factory in Elswick, west of Newcastle. This was initially used to produce hydraulic cranes but subsequently began also to produce guns for both the army and the navy. After the Swing Bridge was built in 1876 allowing ships to pass up river, warships could have their armaments fitted alongside the Elswick works. Armstrong's company took over its industrial rival, Joseph Whitworth of Manchester in 1897.

 

Steam turbines

Charles Algernon Parsons invented the steam turbine and, in 1889, founded his own company C. A. Parsons and Company in Heaton, Newcastle to make steam turbines. Shortly after this, he realised that steam turbines could be used to propel ships and, in 1897, he founded a second company, Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company in Wallsend. It is there that he designed and manufactured Turbinia. Parsons turbines were initially used in warships but soon came to be used in merchant and passenger vessels, including the liner Mauretania which held the blue riband for the Atlantic crossing until 1929. Parsons' company in Heaton began to make turbo-generators for power stations and supplied power stations all over the world. The Heaton works, reduced in size, remains as part of the Siemens AG industrial giant.

 

Pottery

In 1762 the Maling pottery was founded in Sunderland by French Huguenots, but transferred to Newcastle in 1817. A factory was built in the Ouseburn area of the city. The factory was rebuilt twice, finally occupying a 14-acre (57,000 m2) site that was claimed to be the biggest pottery in the world and which had its own railway station. The pottery pioneered use of machines in making potteries as opposed to hand production. In the 1890s the company went up-market and employed in-house designers. The period up to the Second World War was the most profitable with a constant stream of new designs being introduced. However, after the war, production gradually declined and the company closed in 1963.

 

Expansion of the city

Newcastle was one of the boroughs reformed by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835: the reformed municipal borough included the parishes of Byker, Elswick, Heaton, Jesmond, Newcastle All Saints, Newcastle St Andrew, Newcastle St John, Newcastle St Nicholas, and Westgate. The urban districts of Benwell and Fenham and Walker were added in 1904. In 1935, Newcastle gained Kenton and parts of the parishes of West Brunton, East Denton, Fawdon, Longbenton. The most recent expansion in Newcastle's boundaries took place under the Local Government Act 1972 on 1 April 1974, when Newcastle became a metropolitan borough, also including the urban districts of Gosforth and Newburn, and the parishes of Brunswick, Dinnington, Hazlerigg, North Gosforth and Woolsington from the Castle Ward Rural District, and the village of Westerhope.

 

Meanwhile Northumberland County Council was formed under the Local Government Act 1888 and benefited from a dedicated meeting place when County Hall was completed in the Castle Garth area of Newcastle in 1910. Following the Local Government Act 1972 County Hall relocated to Morpeth in April 1981.

 

Twentieth century

In 1925 work began on a new high-level road bridge to span the Tyne Gorge between Newcastle and Gateshead. The capacity of the existing High-Level Bridge and Swing Bridge were being strained to the limit, and an additional bridge had been discussed for a long time. The contract was awarded to the Dorman Long Company and the bridge was finally opened by King George V in 1928. The road deck was 84 feet (26 m) above the river and was supported by a 531 feet (162 m) steel arch. The new Tyne Bridge quickly became a symbol for Newcastle and Tyneside, and remains so today.

 

During the Second World War, Newcastle was largely spared the horrors inflicted upon other British cities bombed during the Blitz. Although the armaments factories and shipyards along the River Tyne were targeted by the Luftwaffe, they largely escaped unscathed. Manors goods yard and railway terminal, to the east of the city centre, and the suburbs of Jesmond and Heaton suffered bombing during 1941. There were 141 deaths and 587 injuries, a relatively small figure compared to the casualties in other industrial centres of Britain.

 

In 1963 the city gained its own university, the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, by act of parliament. A School of Medicine and Surgery had been established in Newcastle in 1834. This eventually developed into a college of medicine attached to Durham University. A college of physical science was also founded and became Armstrong College in 1904. In 1934 the two colleges merged to become King's College, Durham. This remained as part of Durham University until the new university was created in 1963. In 1992 the city gained its second university when Newcastle Polytechnic was granted university status as Northumbria University.

 

Newcastle City Council moved to the new Newcastle Civic Centre in 1968.

 

As heavy industries declined in the second half of the 20th century, large sections of the city centre were demolished along with many areas of slum housing. The leading political figure in the city during the 1960s was T. Dan Smith who oversaw a massive building programme of highrise housing estates and authorised the demolition of a quarter of the Georgian Grainger Town to make way for Eldon Square Shopping Centre. Smith's control in Newcastle collapsed when it was exposed that he had used public contracts to advantage himself and his business associates and for a time Newcastle became a byword for civic corruption as depicted in the films Get Carter and Stormy Monday and in the television series Our Friends in the North. However, much of the historic Grainger Town area survived and was, for the most part, fully restored in the late 1990s. Northumberland Street, initially the A1, was gradually closed to traffic from the 1970s and completely pedestrianised by 1998.

 

In 1978 a new rapid transport system, the Metro, was built, linking the Tyneside area. The system opened in August 1980. A new bridge was built to carry the Metro across the river between Gateshead and Newcastle. This was the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, commonly known as the Metro Bridge. Eventually the Metro system was extended to reach Newcastle Airport in 1991, and in 2002 the Metro system was extended to the nearby city of Sunderland.

 

As the 20th century progressed, trade on the Newcastle and Gateshead quaysides gradually declined, until by the 1980s both sides of the river were looking rather derelict. Shipping company offices had closed along with offices of firms related to shipping. There were also derelict warehouses lining the riverbank. Local government produced a master plan to re-develop the Newcastle quayside and this was begun in the 1990s. New offices, restaurants, bars and residential accommodation were built and the area has changed in the space of a few years into a vibrant area, partially returning the focus of Newcastle to the riverside, where it was in medieval times.

 

The Gateshead Millennium Bridge, a foot and cycle bridge, 26 feet (7.9 m) wide and 413 feet (126 m) long, was completed in 2001. The road deck is in the form of a curve and is supported by a steel arch. To allow ships to pass, the whole structure, both arch and road-deck, rotates on huge bearings at either end so that the road deck is lifted. The bridge can be said to open and shut like a human eye. It is an important addition to the re-developed quayside area, providing a vital link between the Newcastle and Gateshead quaysides.

 

Recent developments

Today the city is a vibrant centre for office and retail employment, but just a short distance away there are impoverished inner-city housing estates, in areas originally built to provide affordable housing for employees of the shipyards and other heavy industries that lined the River Tyne. In the 2010s Newcastle City Council began implementing plans to regenerate these depressed areas, such as those along the Ouseburn Valley.

The Trump Budget for 2021 prioritizes oil and gas extraction and increased logging at the expense of clean water, recreation, and wildlife. Our Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands met on Tuesday, March 10, for a hearing. We questioned Trump officials on their irresponsible decisions to promote polluters, defund climate and science programs and cut budgets for conservation programs Americans need.

The Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) prioritized shifting gears to ensure that LDCs are firmly in the driver’s seat on the road to prosperity.

 

With less than a decade to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, supporting LDCs as they harness their social and economic development potential is critical. The five-day conference in Doha, Qatar brought world leaders together with the private sector, civil society, parliamentarians, and young people to accelerate efforts in places where it is needed the most.

 

“LDC5 was a once-in-a-decade opportunity to build momentum on meaningful dialogue so that we can best understand what the next era of sustainable development in these countries will look like,” said UNOPS Acting Executive Director Jens Wandel.

 

© UNOPS/Jason Florio

 

The Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) prioritized shifting gears to ensure that LDCs are firmly in the driver’s seat on the road to prosperity.

 

With less than a decade to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, supporting LDCs as they harness their social and economic development potential is critical. The five-day conference in Doha, Qatar brought world leaders together with the private sector, civil society, parliamentarians, and young people to accelerate efforts in places where it is needed the most.

 

“LDC5 was a once-in-a-decade opportunity to build momentum on meaningful dialogue so that we can best understand what the next era of sustainable development in these countries will look like,” said UNOPS Acting Executive Director Jens Wandel.

 

© UNOPS/Jason Florio

 

A portrait of mothers, as they have fun with one another in their community in Ndienne, Senegal on July 11, 2016. Photo © Dominic Chavez/The Global Financing Facility

BOX DATE: 2002 & 2003

MANUFACTURER: M.G.A.

DOLLS IN LINE: Cloe; Yasmin; Sasha; Jade; Meygan

RELEASES: 2002 Slumber Party; 2003 Slumber Party; 2024 Slumber Party

BODY TYPE: 2001; bend & snap legs

HEAD MOLD: 2001; closed lips

IMPORTANT NOTES: Unlike the other 2003 Slumber Party dolls, MGA did not make any changes to the Meygan doll. The only way to distinguish the two releases (2002 from 2003) is by using the slippers. 2003 Meygan will have holes punched in the bottoms of her slippers. The 2024 reissue appears to be more or less identical, with subtle manufacturing changes, like a code printed on her back (592075) and painted yellow panties. She is also sold with fewer accessories (see outfit photo for more details).

 

***The doll on the right is the 2024 reissue.

 

PERSONAL FUN FACT: I loved all the Slumber Party dolls when I was growing up. The first time I recall seeing this line was at KB Toys, when I was probably eleven years old. I was fascinated by the dolls' wide eyed expressions and all their fabulous outfits/accessories. Of course since Yasmin was my favorite Bratz character back then, I spent the most time ogling her (that and she had frog themed stuff, and I've always adored frogs). But I'd say that Meygan was the girl I noticed second most. I fell in love with her crimped, light red hair, and sweet demeanor. Unlike my Xpress It! Meygan, who emanated sass and glamour, this Slumber Party girl seemed so much more cherubic and demure. She's by far one of the most darling Bratz dolls ever made. When I first delved back into collecting dolls in early 2011, I decided that the Slumber Party line was one I would have to get my hands on. As a child, it was a secret dream of mine to have some of these dolls, but I never did purchase any, despite being tempted to many times. I was rather lucky, because that first year, I managed to get my hands on 2003 Yasmin, 2002 Yasmin, Meygan, Cloe, and Jade. And in early 2012, I found 2003 Sasha. This Meygan doll, on the left, originated from a massive lot on Craigslist, which Colleen and I dubbed "Craigslist #1." What drew me to the lot initially was the fact that the dolls had so many spare goodies, which I was in desperate need of. But looking back, I think of this as a lot that had loads of family dolls and Meygans. I was a little bummed out that this girl was missing some of her stuff, like one of her spare outfit pieces. But overall, I was grateful to have gotten her at all. She looked super adorable on my rudimentary sleep over themed display, with my other Slumber Party dolls and my childhood Bratz bed. I've had this lady ever so long, that it's weird thinking that I didn't grow up with her. It wouldn't feel like my dolly family without her, and even though it's been years since I first discovered I unknowingly got this doll in a lot, I still feel the same excitement and gratitude when I see her today!

 

Naturally I was ecstatic when I found out that M.G.A. was bringing back the Slumber Party girls in 2024. Meygan was going to be included no matter which wave they opted to reproduce because she was issued in both the 2002 and 2003 lines. I had longed for a second Meygan for years. I like dressing up duplicates in the spare fashions for display. I managed to find many spare pieces of Meygan's over the years at flea markets and in eBay lots. But the doll herself proved to be somewhat elusive. I didn't prioritize getting the reproduction Meygan first from the 2024 collection. There were others I needed more. For instance, I was missing one of Sasha's entire outfits. Cloe had cut hair, I didn't own the Jade doll....you get the idea. The last two I "needed" were Meygan and Yasmin. I stalked them quite religiously on Amazon and did see them discounted on several occasions. I finally pulled the trigger in June of 2025. The new tariffs on imported goods meant the prices of dolls went up in stores substantially. I didn't want to hold out any longer for an even better deal, knowing that the new inflation would make it harder to get them for cheap. So when Meygan was marked down and qualified for a coupon, I nabbed her. Yasmin was also on sale (she was cheaper even without a coupon). I would have liked to get this doll for less than $20, which is what I paid, but I wanted her bad enough to splurge. She's insanely pretty. Her features are slightly more vibrant and her crimps are more defined. It was also a treat getting all the outfits in brand new condition (boy did some of my old fashions look super shabby despite being laundered)!

Prioritizing Workplace Mental Health

Geneva - Switzerland, 25-29 January 2021. Copyright ©️ World Economic Forum/Pascal Bitz

 

Punit Renjen, Global Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte, USA; International Business Council Garen K. Staglin, Chairman and Co-Founder, One Mind, USA

Miranda Wolpert, Head, Mental Health Priority Area, Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom

Moderated by Sir Philip Campbell, Editor-in-Chief, Springer Nature, United Kingdom

Prioritizing Workplace Mental Health

Geneva - Switzerland, 25-29 January 2021. Copyright ©️ World Economic Forum/Pascal Bitz

 

Punit Renjen, Global Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte, USA; International Business Council Garen K. Staglin, Chairman and Co-Founder, One Mind, USA

Miranda Wolpert, Head, Mental Health Priority Area, Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom

Moderated by Sir Philip Campbell, Editor-in-Chief, Springer Nature, United Kingdom

The Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDC5) prioritized shifting gears to ensure that LDCs are firmly in the driver’s seat on the road to prosperity.

 

With less than a decade to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, supporting LDCs as they harness their social and economic development potential is critical. The five-day conference in Doha, Qatar brought world leaders together with the private sector, civil society, parliamentarians, and young people to accelerate efforts in places where it is needed the most.

 

“LDC5 was a once-in-a-decade opportunity to build momentum on meaningful dialogue so that we can best understand what the next era of sustainable development in these countries will look like,” said UNOPS Acting Executive Director Jens Wandel.

 

© UNOPS/Jason Florio

 

15 February 2016, Rome, Italy - Jikun Huang, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China. FAO International Symposium on “The Role of Agricultural Biotechnologies in Sustainable Food Systems and Nutrition”. Parallel Session 3.1. Social and economic impacts of agricultural biotechnologies for smallholders: Taking stock of the evidence and prioritizing future assessments. FAO headquarters (Green room).

 

Photo credit must be given: ©FAO/Pier Paolo Cito. Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO.

The Life and Public Persona of Jiefan Chan

 

Jiefan Chan is a prominent social media personality and model residing in Hunglix City, the capital of Glimmerland on the planet Variclex (Multiverse 0019). [1] As the elder daughter of Xiu Chan, a professional model, and Hao Chan, a sport fighter, Jiefan was raised in an environment that prioritized both aesthetic perfection and physical presence. Standing two years older than her sister, the investigator Aihan Chan, Jiefan’s life is characterized by a devotion to the "hyper-feminine" latex fashion standards of her society and a burgeoning career in the adult entertainment and modeling industries.

  

Professional Career and "Instashine" Presence

 

Jiefan is widely recognized as a "hottie" within the digital landscape of Variclex, primarily through her "Instashine" social media page. Her career is built upon the "shiny" and "sleek" aesthetic that defines femininity in her world. Unlike her sister Aihan, who focuses on intellectual pursuits and law, Jiefan embraces the role of a public spectacle, frequently engaging in street-side selfies with fans and documenting her extensive wardrobe of high-end latex outfits. Her professional trajectory has evolved from standard modeling into more provocative sectors; she has admitted to performing sex toy webcams under the persona of a "shiny rubber doll" and was prepared to begin her first professional adult film shoot at the age of 18.

  

Personality and Social Dynamics

 

Jiefan’s personality is often described as extroverted, attention-seeking, and occasionally volatile. She possesses a "show-off" nature, frequently flaunting her expensive gifts—such as a $80,000 car gifted by a wealthy fan—to her sister and her sister's girlfriend, Erika Sato. This behavior sometimes creates friction, as Aihan perceives Jiefan’s overt displays of sexuality and fashion as a distraction or a potential threat to her own social circle. Despite her "bitchy" or agitated demeanor when stressed—notably during the theft of her vehicle—Jiefan maintains a close, if complex, bond with her family.

  

The Stolen Car Incident

 

A defining moment in Jiefan’s public life was the theft of her custom purple car, which featured a hot-pink interior. [1] The incident occurred during a coordinated power outage in Hunglix City, which disabled local CCTV. Jiefan’s reaction to the theft highlighted her priorities: she was less concerned with the vehicle's mechanical value and more distraught over the loss of her "hot-pink latex sets" and professional "toys" stored in the boot. Although she initially had a "meltdown," the subsequent investigation by Aihan led to the recovery of the vehicle and a financial settlement from the police, which Jiefan accepted with characteristic opportunism, noting that she ended up "rich" without having paid for the original car herself.

  

Physical Appearance and Fashion

 

Jiefan is a practitioner of the "Shiny High" aesthetic, favoring skin-tight, high-gloss materials. Her wardrobe is diverse, ranging from full red latex catsuits to "sexy" model-shoot outfits designed to maximize her appeal on Instashine. Her commitment to this fashion is not merely personal but professional, as her income and social status are directly tied to her ability to maintain a polished, "hyper-feminine" image that aligns with the cultural expectations of Glimmerland.

  

More info on Jiefan

 

Name: Jiefan Chan

 

Sister: Aihan

 

Hight: 5,5

 

Age: 20

 

Hair color: Black, but dyes it white.

 

Eye color: dark-brown

 

Job: latex fashion model, and manager of the latex fashion shop (The latex lady)

 

Favourite color: red

 

Sexually: lesbian

 

Personality: Naughty, sassy and somethings dominant

 

Favourite fashion: Sexy shiny latex clothing,

 

Hobbies: Modeling

 

Obsessions: Looking sexy shiny.

  

More latex land links below.

Sexy shiny me

My latex art - not in SL

Latex time line

Latexmon

Deviantart - Latex land art

Deviantart - Latex Ai art

Flickr Latex Ai art

  

Beings of latex land Rubber-ranks

 

Rubber-rank 1 Latex furrys

Rubber-rank 1 Latex land dolls

Rubber-rank 2 Latex land dolls

Rubber-rank 3 Latex land princesses

Rubber-rank 4 Latex land queen's

Rubber-rank 5 Latex land goddess

The Africa Youth Conference 2018- Unleashing the Potential of Youth: Prioritizing investment in Africa Youth within the Post-2015 Agenda- Organized by the UN Family in Kenya (UN Women, UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Environment, UNIC Nairobi) and with Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) and YMCA Africa Alliance, gathered youth champions from all corners of Africa will gather, from 23 to 25 October 2018, in Nairobi- Kenya, to discuss the challenges of today’s time, including: how to enhance youth access to sustainable livelihoods through social entrepreneurship; youth engagement in governance/political participation leadership and decision making, with a focus on ensuring active participation and decision making by young women; youth action in preventing violence and other harmful practice against young women and girls; and showcasing and documenting youth-led social innovation addressing development challenges facing youth in Africa.

 

UNESCO brought on board 11 young champions- young engineers, innovators and educators- from 11 countries- Côte D’Ivoire, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda- to engage in conversations and make their voices and their needs heard, for the Africa they want, tackling both the 7 Aspirations of Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Agenda 2030.

 

In addition, a panel moderated by UNESCO on United Nations Day, 24 October 2018, from 9 to 10.30 am, looked at opportunities and challenges for youth employment, by creating the pathway for success in Youth Led Enterprise and Business in industry, with founders of social business from Egypt, Nigeria and Uganda.

Prioritizing Workplace Mental Health

Geneva - Switzerland, 25-29 January 2021. Copyright ©️ World Economic Forum/Pascal Bitz

 

Punit Renjen, Global Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte, USA; International Business Council Garen K. Staglin, Chairman and Co-Founder, One Mind, USA

Miranda Wolpert, Head, Mental Health Priority Area, Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom

Moderated by Sir Philip Campbell, Editor-in-Chief, Springer Nature, United Kingdom

Prioritizing Workplace Mental Health

Geneva - Switzerland, 25-29 January 2021. Copyright ©️ World Economic Forum/Pascal Bitz

 

Punit Renjen, Global Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte, USA; International Business Council Garen K. Staglin, Chairman and Co-Founder, One Mind, USA

Miranda Wolpert, Head, Mental Health Priority Area, Wellcome Trust, United Kingdom

Moderated by Sir Philip Campbell, Editor-in-Chief, Springer Nature, United Kingdom

3 February 2018

The survey off the coast of South-Africa has a broad ecosystem approach and will aim at gaining an understanding of ecosystem status in general, as well as of specific ecosystem components. One of many objectives is to check if there are any unique bottom topography features by using the SM710 and SM302 multibeam sonars that are on board. Very little is known of the seafloor of South Africa, so continuous surveying whilst cruising between waypoints, in addition to several focused surveys, are planned. After one week at sea we have exposed several previously unknown seafloor features, that can be included in future overviews of submarine canyons and landslide features. These has been mapped in extremely high definition and has allowed scientists on board to visualize these in 3D (see some of the pictures below). These have also been the basis for planning further bottom sampling as we go along our transects (with grabs and box corers) and trawling. By also including measurements made by the SB300 Topas sub-bottom profiler, the buried substructures associated with deep reefs and trawl grounds, canyon systems and ancient river valleys has been revealed. This is an exciting first step for planning further bottom surveys in the area!

Text: Andrew Green and Kathrine Michalsen

 

A portrait of Ndeye Ngom and her daughter Shady Kaye in her home in Ndienne, Senegal on July 11, 2016. Photo © Dominic Chavez/The Global Financing Facility

Minister of Community and Social Services Rajan Sawhney spoke in Edmonton on Sunday, April 26, 2020, about the variety of supports government is providing to help vulnerable Albertans during this unprecedented public health crisis.

 

A variety of efforts are being made to support vulnerable and at-risk Albertans feeling the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Government is prioritizing support for those who need it most, including people with disabilities, people accessing income support programs, homeless and women’s shelters, and civil society organizations that support Albertans, including food banks.

 

Support is being provided to the disability community to help navigate this crisis. Programs such as Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD), Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) and Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) are still available during the pandemic.

 

Government is working with disability service provider partners to provide personal protective equipment, help maintain staffing, and develop policies to allow for easier access to supports and help ensure the well-being of individuals and families. A reference guide on COVID-19 for people with disabilities has also been developed to provide information on how to stay safe and limit the spread of the virus. This guide is available online.

 

Alberta Supports contact centres remain open, with services accessible by phone or online. Monthly benefits continue to be provided to Albertans accessing AISH and Income Support during the pandemic. Government will be exempting a portion of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) as income for AISH and Income Support recipients.

 

Homeless shelters and community organizations have received financial support to open 14 new shelter facilities to meet physical distancing requirements and are now focusing their efforts on re-housing to take people out of the shelter system. More than 400 people have been housed since the beginning of this crisis.

 

Women’s emergency shelters are helping to protect women and children experiencing domestic violence by providing safe isolation in hotels, adjusting programming to meet physical distancing requirements and hiring additional staff so they can respond to increased crisis calls, while continuing to provide supports to women and children.

 

Government has received 850 applications for the $30 million in funding from charities, not-for-profits and civil society organizations from across the province. These applications are currently being reviewed and urgent requests are being prioritized to deliver the most effective support to vulnerable Albertans.

 

Government also recently provided $5 million to help food banks and charities provide Albertans with food during this crisis. This funding helps ensure safe food distribution to Alberta’s food banks and will assist with efforts to respond to COVID-19. (photography by Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta)

It's not always easy to relax. I have been prioritizing and exploring ambience in my daily life through environmental considerations such as light, sound, temperature, and other sensations. I am searching for relaxation.

 

A sound bath is a practice that uses vibrations as a form of healing. Similar to how loud speakers can shake the floor of a night club, our bodies and molecules also respond to sound through vibrations.

 

Arjun Lal is an interdisciplinary artist from Kjipuktuk working across visual media, performance, and sound.

 

In partnership with Eyelevel Gallery